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第10节

the lion and the unicorn(狮子与独角兽)-第10节

小说: the lion and the unicorn(狮子与独角兽) 字数: 每页4000字

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tumult; with her hands clasped under her chin。                Her face was colorless; 

but lit with the excitement of the moment; and he saw that she was crying。 

     Lady Gower; from behind her; was clapping her hands delightedly。 

     〃But; my dear Helen;〃 she remonstrated breathlessly; 〃you never told 

me he was so good…looking。〃 

     〃Yes;〃 said Helen; rising abruptly; 〃he isvery good…looking。〃 

     She   crossed   the   box   to  where   her   cloak   was hanging;   but   instead   of 

taking it down buried her face in its folds。 

     〃My  dear   child!〃   cried  Lady  Gower;   in   dismay。       〃What   is   it?   The 

excitement has been too much for you。〃 

     〃No; I am just happy;〃 sobbed Helen。            〃I am just happy for him。〃 

     〃We will go and tell him so then;〃 said Lady Gower。                   〃I am sure he 

would like to hear it from you to…night。〃 

     Philip   was   standing   in   the   centre   of   the   stage;   surrounded   by   many 

pretty    ladies   and   elderly   men。    Wimpole       was    hovering     over   him   as 

though he had claims upon him by the right of discovery。 

     But when Philip saw Helen; he pushed his way toward her eagerly and 

took her hand in both of his。 

     〃I am so glad; Phil;〃 she said。          She felt it all so deeply that she was 

afraid   to   say   more;   but   that   meant   so   much   to   her   that   she   was   sure   he 

would understand。 

     He had planned it very differently。           For a year he had dreamed that; 

on the first night of his play; there would be a supper; and that he would 

rise and drink her health; and tell his friends and the world that she was the 

woman he loved; and that she had agreed to marry him; and that at last he 



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was able; through the success of his play; to make her his wife。 

     And now they met in a crowd to shake hands; and she went her way 

with one of her grand ladies; and he was left among a group of chattering 

strangers。     The great English playwright took him by the hand and in the 

hearing   of   all;   praised   him   gracefully   and   kindly。  It   did   not   matter   to 

Philip whether the older playwright believed what he said or not; he knew 

it was generously meant。 

     〃I   envy  you   this;〃   the   great   man   was   saying。 〃Don't lose   any  of   it; 

stay and listen to all they have to say。           You will never live through the 

first night of your first play but once。〃 

     〃Yes; I hear them;〃 said Philip; nervously; 〃they are all too kind。               But 

I  don't   hear  the   voice  I  have   been   listening   for;〃   he   added in   a   whisper。 

The older man pressed his hand again quickly。              〃My dear boy;〃 he said; 〃I 

am sorry。〃 

     〃Thank you;〃 Philip answered。 

     Within a week he had forgotten the great man's fine words of praise; 

but the clasp of his hand he cherished always。 

     Helen met   Marion   as   she   was   leaving the stage   door   and   stopped   to 

congratulate   her   on   her   success   in   the   new   part。  Marion   was   radiant。 

To Helen she seemed obstreperously happy and jubilant。 

     〃And; Marion;〃 Helen began bravely; 〃I also want to congratulate you 

on   something      else。  Youyouneither        of   you  have   told   me   yet;〃  she 

stammered; 〃but I am such an old friend of both that I will not be kept out 

of the secret。〃     At these words Marion's air of triumphant gayety vanished; 

she regarded Helen's troubled eyes closely and kindly。 

     〃What secret; Helen?〃 she asked。 

     〃I came to the door of Philip's room the other day when you did not 

know   I   was   there;〃   Helen   answered;   〃and   I   could   not   help   seeing   how 

matters were。       And I do congratulate you bothand wish youoh; such 

happiness!〃      Without a word Marion dragged her back down the passage 

to her dressing…room; and closed the door。 

     〃Now tell me what you mean;〃 she said。 

     〃I am sorry if I discovered anything you didn't want known yet;〃 said 

Helen; 〃but the door was open。            Mr。 Wimpole had just left you and had 



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not shut it; and I could not help seeing。〃 

     Marion interrupted her with an eager exclamation of enlightenment。 

     〃Oh; you were there; then;〃 she cried。          〃And you?〃 she asked eagerly… 

…〃you thought Phil cared for methat we are engaged; and it hurt you; you 

are sorry?     Tell me;〃 she demanded; 〃are you sorry?〃 

     Helen drew back and stretched out her hand toward the door。 

     〃How can you! she exclaimed; indignantly。              〃You have no right。〃 

     Marion stood between her and the door。 

     〃I have every right;〃 she said; 〃to help my friends; and I want to help 

you and Philip。       And indeed I do hope you ARE sorry。                I hope you are 

miserable。      And I'm glad you saw me kiss him。              That was the first and 

the   last   time;   and   I   did   it   because   I   was   happy   and   glad   for   him;   and 

because I love him too; but not in the least in the way he loves you。                  No 

one ever loved any one as he loves you。              And it's time you found it out。 

And if I have helped to make you find it out I'm glad; and I don't care how 

much I hurt you。〃 

     〃Marion!〃 exclaimed Helen;〃 what does it mean?                  Do you mean that 

you are not engaged; that〃 

     〃Certainly not;〃 Marion answered。            〃I am going to marry Reggie。           It 

is you that Philip loves; and I am very sorry for you that you don't love 

him。〃 

     Helen clasped Marion's hands in both of hers。 

     〃But; Marion!〃 she cried; 〃I do; oh; I do!〃 

       There was a thick yellow fog the next morning; and with it rain and a 

sticky; depressing dampness which crept through the window… panes; and 

which neither a fire nor blazing gas…jets could overcome。 

     Philip   stood   in   front   of   the   fireplace   with   the   morning   papers   piled 

high on the centre…table and scattered over the room about him。 

     He   had   read   them   all;   and   he   knew   now   what   it   was   to   wake   up 

famous; but he could not taste it。         Now that it had come it meant nothing; 

and   that   it   was   so   complete   a   triumph   only   made   it   the   harder。 In   his 

most optimistic dreams he had never imagined success so satisfying as the 

reality had proved to be; but in his dreams Helen had always held the chief 

part; and without her; success seemed only to mock him。 



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     He   wanted   to   lay   it   all   before   her;   to   say;   〃If   you   are   pleased;   I   am 

happy。     If you are satisfied; then I am content。            It was done for you; and 

I am wholly yours; and all that I do is yours。〃 

     And; as though in answer to his thoughts; there was an instant knock at 

the door; and Helen entered the room and stood smiling at him across the 

table。 

     Her eyes were lit with excitement; and spoke with many emotions; and 

her cheeks   were   brilliant   with   color。     He had never   seen her look   more 

beautiful。 

     〃Why;   Helen!〃   he   exclaimed;   〃how   good   of   you   to   come。        Is   there 

anything wrong?         Is anything the matter?〃 

     She tried to speak; but faltered; and smiled at him appealingly。 

     〃What is it?〃 he asked in great concern。 

     Helen drew in her breath quickly; and at the same moment motioned 

him     awayand      he   stepped     back    and    stood    watching     her   in   much 

perplexity。 

     With her eyes fixed on his she raised her hands to her head; and her 

fingers fumbled with the knot of her veil。              She pulled it loose; and then; 

with a sudden courage; lifted her hat proudly; as though it were a coronet; 

and placed it between them on his table。 

     〃Philip;〃 she stammered; with the tears in her voice and eyes; 〃if you 

will let meI have come to stay。〃 

     The   table   was   no   longer   between   them。      He   caught   her   in   his   arms 

and    kissed    her  face   and   her   uncovered     head    again   and   again。    From 

outside   the   rain   beat   drearily   and   the   fog   rolled   through   the   street;   but 

inside before the fire the two young people sat close together; asking eager 

questions or sitting in silence; staring at the flames with wondering; happy 

eyes。 

       The   Lion   and   the   Unicorn   saw   them   only   once   again。        It   was   a 

month later when they stopped in fron

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