the lion and the unicorn(狮子与独角兽)-第9节
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his point； or that Carroll could not have understood him； and repeated； 〃I
say I shall put it in rehearsal at once。〃
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Carroll rose abruptly； and pushed back his chair。 〃I should be very
glad；〃 he murmured； and strode over to the window； where he stood with
his back turned to his guests。 Wimpole looked after him with a kindly
smile and nodded his head appreciatively。 He had produced even a
greater effect than his lines seemed to warrant。 When he spoke again； it
was quite simply； and sincerely； and though he spoke for Carroll's benefit；
he addressed himself to Marion。
〃You were quite right last night；〃 he said； 〃it is a most charming piece
of work。 I am really extremely grateful to you for bringing it to my
notice。〃 He rose； and going to Carroll； put his hand on his shoulder。
〃My boy；〃 he said； 〃I congratulate you。 I should like to be your age； and
to have written that play。 Come to my theatre to…morrow and we will
talk terms。 Talk it over first with your friends； so that I sha'n't rob you。
Do you think you would prefer a lump sum now； and so be done with it
altogether； or trust that the royalties may〃
〃Royalties；〃 prompted Marion； in an eager aside。
The men laughed。 〃Quite right；〃 Wimpole assented； good…
humoredly； 〃it's a poor sportsman who doesn't back his own horse。
Well； then； until to…morrow。〃
〃But；〃 Carroll began； 〃one moment please。 I haven't thanked you。〃
〃My dear boy；〃 cried Wimpole； waving him away with his stick； 〃it is I
who have to thank you。〃
〃Andand there is a condition；〃 Carroll said； 〃which goes with the
play。 It is that Miss Cavendish is to have the part of Nancy。〃
Wimpole looked serious and considered for a moment。
〃Nancy；〃 he said； 〃the girl who interferesa very good part。 I have
cast Miss Maddox for it in my mind； but； of course； if the author insists〃
Marion； with her elbows on the table； clasped her hands appealingly
before her。
〃Oh； Mr。 Wimpole！〃 she cried； 〃you owe me that； at least。〃
Carroll leaned over and took both of Marion's hands in one of his。
〃It's all right；〃 he said； 〃the author insists。〃
Wimpole waved his stick again as though it were the magic wand of
the good fairy。
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〃You shall have it；〃 he said。 〃I recall your performance in 'The New
Boy' with pleasure。 I take the play； and Miss Cavendish shall be cast for
Nancy。 We shall begin rehearsals at once。 I hope you are a quick
study。〃
〃I'm letter…perfect now｛；｝〃 laughed Marion。
Wimpole turned at the door and nodded to them。 They were both so
young； so eager； and so jubilant that he felt strangely old and out of it。
〃Good…by； then；〃 he said。
〃Good…by； sir；〃 they both chorussed。 And Marion cried after him；
〃And thank you a thousand times。〃
He turned again and looked back at them； but in their rejoicing they
had already forgotten him。 〃Bless you； my children；〃 he said； smiling。
As he was about to close the door a young girl came down the passage
toward it； and as she was apparently going to Carroll's rooms； the actor left
the door open behind him。
Neither Marion nor Carroll had noticed his final exit。 They were
both gazing at each other as though； could they find speech； they would
ask if it were true。
〃It's come at last； Marion；〃 Philip said； with an uncertain voice。
〃I could weep；〃 cried Marion。 〃 Philip；〃 she exclaimed； 〃I would
rather see that play succeed than any play ever written； and I would rather
play that part in it thanOh； Philip；〃 she ended。 〃I'm so proud of you！〃
and rising； she threw her arms about his neck and sobbed on his shoulder。
Carroll raised one of her hands and kissed the tips of her fingers gently。
〃I owe it to you； Marion；〃 he said〃all to you。〃
This was the tableau that was presented through the open door to Miss
Helen Cabot； hurrying on her errand of restitution and good… will； and with
Philip's ring and watch clasped in her hand。 They had not heard her； nor
did they see her at the door； so she drew back quickly and ran along the
passage and down the stairs into the street。
She did not need now to analyze her feelings。 They were only too
evident。 For she could translate what she had just seen as meaning only
one thingthat she had considered Philip's love so lightly that she had not
felt it passing away from her until her neglect had killed ituntil it was too
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late。 And now that it was too late she felt that without it her life could
not go on。 She tried to assure herself that only the fact that she had lost it
made it seem invaluable； but this thought did not comfort hershe was not
deceived by it； she knew that at last she cared for him deeply and entirely。
In her distress she blamed herself bitterly； but she also blamed Philip no
less bitterly for having failed to wait for her。 〃He might have known that
I must love him in time；〃 she repeated to herself again and again。 She
was so unhappy that her letter congratulating Philip on his good fortune in
having his comedy accepted seemed to him cold and unfeeling； and as his
success meant for him only what it meant to her； he was hurt and
grievously disappointed。
He accordingly turned the more readily to Marion； whose interests and
enthusiasm at the rehearsals of the piece seemed in contrast most friendly
and unselfish。 He could not help but compare the attitude of the two girls
at this time； when the failure or success of his best work was still
undecided。 He felt that as Helen took so little interest in his success he
could not dare to trouble her with his anxieties concerning it； and she
attributed his silence to his preoccupation and interest in Marion。 So the
two grew apart； each misunderstanding the other and each troubled in
spirit at the other's indifference。
The first night of the play justified all that Marion and Wimpole had
claimed for it； and was a great personal triumph for the new playwright。
The audience was the typical first…night audience of the class which
Charles Wimpole always commanded。 It was brilliant； intelligent； and
smart； and it came prepared to be pleased。
From one of the upper stage…boxes Helen and Lady Gower watched
the successful progress of the play with an anxiety almost as keen as that
of the author。 To Helen it seemed as though the giving of these lines to
the publicthese lines which he had so often read to her； and altered to her
likingwas a desecration。 It seemed as though she were losing him
indeedas though he now belonged to these strange people； all of whom
were laughing and applauding his words； from the German Princess in the
Royal box to the straight…backed Tommy in the pit。 Instead of the
painted scene before her； she saw the birch…trees by the river at home；
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where he had first read her the speech to which they were now listening so
intenselythe speech in which the hero tells the girl he loves her。 She
remembered that at the time she had thought how wonderful it would be if
some day some one made such a speech to hernot Philipbut a man she
loved。 And now？ If Philip would only make that speech to her now！
He came out at last； with Wimpole leading him； and bowed across a
glaring barrier of lights at a misty but vociferous audience that was
shouting the generous English bravo！ and standing up to applaud。 He
raised his eyes to the box where Helen sat； and saw her staring down at the
tumult； with her hands clasped under her chin。 Her fa
