the lion and the unicorn(狮子与独角兽)-第8节
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am not going to urge and torment you。 I shall wait as I have always
waitedonly now I shall wait in silence。 You know just how little； in one
way； I have to offer you； and you know just how much I have in love to
offer you。 It is now for you to speaksome day； or never。 But you will
have to speak first。 You will never hear a word of love from me again。
Why should you？ You know it is always waiting for you。 But if you
should ever want it； you must come to me； and take off your hat and put it
on my table and say； 'Philip； I have come to stay。' Whether you can ever
do that or not can make no difference in my love for you。 I shall love
you always； as no man has ever loved a woman in this world； but it is you
who must speak first； for me； the rest is silence。〃
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The following morning as Helen was leaving the house she found this
letter lying on the hall…table； and ran back with it to her rooms。 A week
before she would have let it lie on the table and read it on her return。 She
was conscious that this was what she would have done； and it pleased her
to find that what concerned Philip was now to her the thing of greatest
interest。 She was pleased with her own eagernessher own happiness
was a welcome sign； and she was proud and glad that she was learning to
care。
She read the letter with an anxious pride and pleasure in each word
that was entirely new。 Philip's recriminations did not hurt her； they were
the sign that he cared； nor did his determination not to speak of his love to
her hurt her； for she believed him when he said that he would always care。
She read the letter twice； and then sat for some time considering the kind
of letter Philip would have written had he known her secrethad he known
that the ring he had abandoned was now upon her finger。
She rose and； crossing to a desk； placed the letter in a drawer； and then
took it out again and re…read the last page。 When she had finished it she
was smiling。 For a moment she stood irresolute； and then； moving
slowly toward the centre…table； cast a guilty look about her and； raising her
hands； lifted her veil and half withdrew the pins that fastened her hat。
〃Philip；〃 she began in a frightened whisper； 〃I haveI have come to〃
The sentence ended in a cry of protest； and she rushed across the room
as though she were running from herself。 She was blushing violently。
〃Never！〃 she cried； as she pulled open the door； 〃I could never do it
never！〃
The following afternoon； when Helen was to come to tea； Carroll
decided that he would receive her with all the old friendliness； but that he
must be careful to subdue all emotion。
He was really deeply hurt at her treatment； and had it not been that she
came on her own invitation he would not of his own accord have sought to
see her。 In consequence； he rather welcomed than otherwise the arrival
of Marion Cavendish； who came a half…hour before Helen was expected；
and who followed a hasty knock with a precipitate entrance。
〃Sit down；〃 she commanded breathlessly； 〃and listen。 I've been at
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rehearsal all day； or I'd have been here before you were awake。〃 She
seated herself nervously and nodded her head at Carroll in an excited and
mysterious manner。
〃What is it？〃 he asked。 〃Have you and Reggie〃
〃Listen；〃 Marion repeated； 〃our fortunes are made； that is what's the
matterand I've made them。 If you took half the interest in your work I
do； you'd have made yours long ago。 Last night；〃 she began impressively；
〃I went to a large supper at the Savoy； and I sat next to Charley Wimpole。
He came in late； after everybody had finished； and I attacked him while he
was eating his supper。 He said he had been rehearsing 'Caste' after the
performance； that they've put it on as a stop…gap on account of the failure
of the 'Triflers；' and that he knew revivals were of no use； that he would
give any sum for a good modern comedy。 That was my cue； and I told
him I knew of a better comedy than any he had produced at his theatre in
five years； and that it was going begging。 He laughed； and asked where
was he to find this wonderful comedy； and I said； 'It's been in your safe
for the last two months and you haven't read it。' He said； 'Indeed； how do
you know that？' and I said； 'Because if you'd read it； it wouldn't be in your
safe； but on your stage。' So he asked me what the play was about； and I
told him the plot and what sort of a part his was； and some of his scenes；
and he began to take notice。 He forgot his supper； and very soon he grew
so interested that he turned his chair round and kept eying my supper…card
to find out who I was； and at last remembered seeing me in 'The New
Boy'and a rotten part it was； toobut he remembered it； and he told me
to go on and tell him more about your play。 So I recited it； bit by bit； and
he laughed in all the right places and got very much excited； and said
finally that he would read it the first thing this morning。〃 Marion paused；
breathlessly。 〃Oh； yes； and he wrote your address on his cuff；〃 she added；
with the air of delivering a complete and convincing climax。
Carroll stared at her and pulled excitedly on his pipe。
〃Oh； Marion！〃 he gasped； 〃suppose he should？ He won't though；〃 he
added； but eying her eagerly and inviting contradiction。
〃He will；〃 she answered； stoutly； 〃if he reads it。〃
〃The other managers read it；〃 Carroll suggested； doubtfully。
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〃Yes； but what do they know？〃 Marion returned； loftily。 〃He knows。
Charles Wimpole is the only intelligent actor…manager in London。〃
There was a sharp knock at the door； which Marion in her excitement
had left ajar； and Prentiss threw it wide open with an impressive sweep； as
though he were announcing royalty： 〃Mr。 Charles Wimpole；〃 he said。
The actor…manager stopped in the doorway bowing gracefully； his hat
held before him and his hand on his stick as though it were resting on a
foil。 He had the face and carriage of a gallant of the days of Congreve；
and he wore his modern frock…coat with as much distinction as if it were
of silk and lace。 He was evidently amused。 〃I couldn't help overhearing
the last line；〃 he said； smiling。 〃It gives me a good entrance。〃
Marion gazed at him blankly： 〃Oh；〃 she gasped； 〃wewewere just
talking about you。〃
〃If you hadn't mentioned my name；〃 the actor said； 〃I should never
have guessed it。 And this is Mr。 Carroll； I hope。〃
The great man was rather pleased with the situation。 As he read it； it
struck him as possessing strong dramatic possibilities： Carroll was the
struggling author on the verge of starvation： Marion； his sweetheart； flying
to him gave him hope； and he was the good fairy arriving in the nick of
time to set everything right and to make the young people happy and
prosperous。 He rather fancied himself in the part of the good fairy； and
as he seated himself he bowed to them both in a manner which was
charmingly inclusive and confidential。
〃Miss Cavendish； I imagine； has already warned you that you might
expect a visit from me；〃 he said tentatively。 Carroll nodded。 He was
too much concerned to interrupt。
〃Then I need only tell you；〃 Wimpole continued； 〃that I got up at an
absurd hour this morning to read your play； that I did read it； that I like it
immenselyand that if we can come to terms I shall produce it I shall
produce it at once； within a fortnight or three weeks。〃
Carroll was staring at him intently and continued doing so after
Wimpole had finished speaking。 The actor felt he had somehow missed
his point； or that Carroll could not have understood him； and repeated； 〃I
say I shall
