the lion and the unicorn(狮子与独角兽)-第24节
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〃Well； I am writing a bookyes；〃 Mr。 Collier observed； doubtfully；
〃but it's a logbook。 This trip I am on pleasure bent； and I also wish to
consult with you on a personal matter。 However； that can wait。〃 He
glanced out of the windows to where the launch lay in the sun。 〃My wife
came ashore with me； Sir Charles；〃 he said； 〃so that in case there was a
Lady Greville； Mrs。 Collier could call on her； and we could ask if you
would waive etiquette and do us the honor to dine with us to…night on the
yachtthat is； if you are not engaged。〃
Sir Charles smiled。 〃There is no Lady Greville；〃 he said； 〃and I
personally do not think I am engaged elsewhere。〃 He paused in thought；
as though to make quite sure he was not。 〃No；〃 he added； 〃I have no
other engagement。 I will come with pleasure。〃
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Sir Charles rose and clapped his hands for the orderly。 〃Possibly the
ladies will come up to the veranda？〃 he asked。 〃I cannot allow them to
remain at the end of my wharf。〃 He turned； and gave directions to the
orderly to bring limes and bottles of soda and ice； and led the way across
the lawn。
Mrs。 Collier and her friend had not explored the grounds of
Government House for over ten minutes before Sir Charles felt that many
years ago he had personally arranged their visit； that he had known them
for even a longer time； and that； now that they had finally arrived； they
must never depart。
To them there was apparently nothing on his domain which did not
thrill with delightful interest。 They were as eager as two children at a
pantomime； and as unconscious。 As a rule； Sir Charles had found it
rather difficult to meet the women of his colony on a path which they were
capable of treading intelligently。 In fairness to them； he had always
sought out some topic in which they could take an equal partsomething
connected with the conduct of children； or the better ventilation of the new
school…house and chapel。 But these new…comers did not require him to
select topics of conversation； they did not even wait for him to finish those
which he himself introduced。 They flitted from one end of the garden to
the other with the eagerness of two midshipmen on shore leave； and they
found something to enjoy in what seemed to the Governor the most
commonplace of things。 The Zouave uniform of the sentry； the old
Spanish cannon converted into peaceful gate…posts； the aviary with its
screaming paroquets； the botanical station； and even the ice…machine were
all objects of delight。
On the other hand； the interior of the famous palace； which had been
sent out complete from London； and which was wont to fill the wives of
the colonials with awe or to reduce them to whispers； for some reason
failed of its effect。 But they said they 〃loved〃 the large gold V。 R。's on
the back of the Councillors' chairs； and they exclaimed aloud over the red
leather despatch…boxes and the great seal of the colony； and the mysterious
envelopes marked 〃On her Majesty's service。〃
〃Isn't it too exciting； Florence？〃 demanded Mrs。 Collier。 〃This is the
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table where Sir Charles sits and writes letters' on her Majesty's service；'
and presses these buttons； and war…ships spring up in perfect shoals。 Oh；
Robert；〃 she sighed； 〃I do wish you had been a Governor！〃
The young lady called Florence stood looking down into the great
arm…chair in front of the Governor's table。
〃May I？〃 she asked。 She slid fearlessly in between the oak arms of
the chair and smiled about her。 Afterwards Sir Charles remembered her
as she appeared at that moment with the red leather of the chair behind her；
with her gloved hands resting on the carved oak； and her head on one side；
smiling up at him。 She gazed with large eyes at the blue linen envelopes；
the stiff documents in red tape； the tray of black sand； and the goose… quill
pens。
〃I am now the Countess Zika；〃 she announced； 〃no； I am Diana of the
Crossways； and I mean to discover a state secret and sell it to the Daily
Telegraph。 Sir Charles；〃 she demanded； 〃if I press this electric button is
war declared anywhere； or what happens？〃
〃That second button；〃 said Sir Charles； after deliberate scrutiny； 〃is the
one which communicates with the pantry。〃
The Governor would not consider their returning to the yacht for
luncheon。
〃You might decide to steam away as suddenly as you came；〃 he said；
gallantly； 〃and I cannot take that chance。 This is Bachelor's Hall； so you
must pardon my people if things do not go very smoothly。〃 He himself
led them to the great guest…chamber； where there had not been a guest for
many years； and he noticed； as though for the first time； that the halls
through which they passed were bare； and that the floor was littered with
unpacked boxes and gun…cases。 He also observed for the first time that
maps of the colony； with the coffee…plantations and mahogany belt marked
in different inks； were not perhaps so decorative as pictures and mirrors
and family portraits。 And he could have wished that the native servants
had not stared so admiringly at the guests； nor directed each other in such
aggressive whispers。 On those other occasions； when the wives of the
Councillors came to the semi…annual dinners； the native servants had
seemed adequate to all that was required of them。 He recollected with a
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flush that in the town these semi…annual dinners were described as
banquets。 He wondered if to these visitors from the outside world it was
all equally provincial。
But their enjoyment was apparently unfeigned and generous。 It was
evident that they had known each other for many years； yet they received
every remark that any of them made as though it had been pronounced by
a new and interesting acquaintance。 Sir Charles found it rather difficult
to keep up with the talk across the table； they changed the subject so
rapidly； and they half spoke of so many things without waiting to explain。
He could not at once grasp the fact that people who had no other position
in the world save that of observers were speaking so authoritatively of
public men and public measures。 He found； to his delight； that for the
first time in several years he was not presiding at his own table； and that
his guests seemed to feel no awe of him。
〃What's the use of a yacht nowadays？〃 Collier was saying〃 what's
the use of a yacht； when you can go to sleep in a wagon… lit at the Gare du
Nord； and wake up at Vladivostok？ And look at the time it saves； eleven
days to Gib； six to Port Said； and fifteen to Colombothere you are； only
half…way around； and you're already sixteen days behind the man in the
wagon…lit。〃
〃But nobody wants to go to Vladivostok；〃 said Miss Cameron； 〃or
anywhere else in a wagon…lit。 But with a yacht you can explore out…of…
the…way places； and you meet new and interesting people。 We wouldn't
have met Sir Charles if we had waited for a wagon… lit。〃 She bowed her
head to the Governor； and he smiled with gratitude。 He had lost Mr。
Collier somewhere in the Indian Ocean； and he was glad she had brought
them back to the Windless Isles once more。
〃And again I repeat that the answer to that is； 'Why not？ said the
March Hare；'〃 remarked Mr。 Collier； determinedly。
The answer； as an answer； did not strike Sir Charles as a very good one。
But the ladies seemed to comprehend； for Miss Cameron said： 〃Did I tell
you abo
