the law and the lady-第54节

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changed　once　more。　I　heard　his　ringing　cry；　I　heard　the　soft
thump…thump　of　his　hands　on　the　floor。　He　was　going　down　the　room
again；　in　〃Dexter's　Leap…frog；〃　flying　over　the　prostrate　chairs。

In　the　hall；　Ariel　was　on　the　watch　for　me。

As　I　approached　her；　I　happened　to　be　putting　on　my　gloves。　She
stopped　me；　and；　taking　my　right　arm；　lifted　my　hand　toward　her
face。　Was　she　going　to　kiss　it？　or　to　bite　it？〃　Neither。　She
smelt　it　like　a　dogand　dropped　it　again　with　a　hoarse　chuckling
laugh。

〃You　don't　smell　of　his　perfumes；〃　she　said。　〃You　_haven't_
touched　his　beard。　_Now_　I　believe　you。　Want　a　cab？〃

〃Thank　you。　I'll　walk　till　I　meet　a　cab。〃

She　was　bent　on　being　polite　to　menow　I　had　_not_　touched　his
beard。

〃I　say！〃　she　burst　out；　in　her　deepest　notes。

〃Yes？〃

〃I'm　glad　I　didn't　upset　you　in　the　canal。　There　now！〃

She　gave　me　a　friendly　smack　on　the　shoulder　which　nearly　knocked
me　downrelapsed；　the　instant　after；　into　her　leaden　stolidity
of　look　and　manner…and　led　the　way　out　by　the　front　door。　I
heard　her　hoarse　chuckling　laugh　as　she　locked　the　gate　behind
me。　My　star　was　at　last　in　the　ascendant！　In　one　and　the　same　day
I　had　found　my　way　into　the　confidence　of　Ariel　and　Ariel's
master。





CHAPTER　XXXI。

THE　DEFENSE　OF　MRS。　BEAULY。

　THE　days　that　elapsed　before　Major　Fitz…David's　dinner…party
were　precious　days　to　me。

My　long　interview　with　Miserrimus　Dexter　had　disturbed　me　far
more　seriously　than　I　suspected　at　the　time。　It　was　not　until
some　hours　after　I　had　left　him　that　I　really　began　to　feel　how
my　nerves　had　been　tried　by　all　that　I　had　seen　and　heard　during
my　visit　at　his　house。　I　started　at　the　slightest　noises；　I
dreamed　of　dreadful　things；　I　was　ready　to　cry　without　reason　at
one　moment；　and　to　fly　into　a　passion　without　reason　at　another。
Absolute　rest　was　what　I　wanted；　and　（thanks　to　my　good　Benjamin）
was　what　I　got。　The　dear　old　man　controlled　his　anxieties　on　my
account；　and　spared　me　the　questions　which　his　fatherly　interest
in　my　welfare　made　him　eager　to　ask。　It　was　tacitly　understood
between　us　that　all　conversation　on　the　subject　of　my　visit　to
Miserrimus　Dexter　（of　which；　it　is　needless　to　say；　he　strongly
disapproved）　should　be　deferred　until　repose　had　restored　my
energies　of　body　and　mind。　I　saw　no　visitors。　Mrs。　Macallan　came
to　the　cottage；　and　Major　Fitz…David　came　to　the　cottageone　of
them　to　hear　what　had　passed　between　Miserrimus　Dexter　and
myself；　the　other　to　amuse　me　with　the　latest　gossip　about　the
guests　at　the　forthcoming　dinner。　Benjamin　took　it　on　himself　to
make　my　apologies；　and　to　spare　me　the　exertion　of　receiving　my
visitors。　We　hired　a　little　open　carriage；　and　took　long　drives
in　the　pretty　country　lanes　still　left　flourishing　within　a　few
miles　of　the　northern　suburb　of　London。　At　home　we　sat　and　talked
quietly　of　old　times；　or　played　at　backgammon　and　dominoesand
so；　for　a　few　happy　days；　led　the　peaceful　unadventurous　life
which　was　good　for　me。　When　the　day　of　the　dinner　arrived；　I　felt
restored　to　my　customary　health。　I　was　ready　again；　and　eager
again；　for　the　introduction　to　Lady　Clarinda　and　the　discovery　of
Mrs。　Beauly。

Benjamin　looked　a　little　sadly　at　my　flushed　face　as　we　drove　to
Major　Fitz…David's　house。

〃Ah；　my　dear；〃　he　said；　in　his　simple　way；　〃I　see　you　are　well
again！　You　have　had　enough　of　our　quiet　life　already。〃

My　recollection　of　events　and　persons；　in　general；　at　the
dinner…party；　is　singularly　indistinct。

I　remember　that　we　were　very　　merry；　and　as　easy　and　familiar　with
one
　another　as　if　we　had　been　old　friends。　I　remember　that　Madame
Mirliflore　was　unapproachably　superior　to　the　other　women
present；　in　the　perfect　beauty　of　her　dress；　and　in　the　ample
justice　which　she　did　to　the　luxurious　dinner　set　before　us。　I
remember　the　Major's　young　prima　donna；　more　round…eyed；　more
overdressed；　more　shrill　and　strident　as　the　coming　〃Queen　of
Song；〃　than　ever。　I　remember　the　Major　himself；　always　kissing
our　hands；　always　luring　us　to　indulge　in　dainty　dishes　and
drinks；　always　making　love；　always　detecting　resemblances　between
us；　always　〃under　the　charm；〃　and　never　once　out　of　his　character
as　elderly　Don　Juan　from　the　beginning　of　the　evening　to　the　end。
I　remember　dear　old　Benjamin；　completely　bewildered；　shrinking
into　corners；　blushing　when　he　was　personally　drawn　into　the
conversation；　frightened　at　Madame　Mirliflore；　bashful　with　Lady
Clarinda；　submissive　to　the　Major；　suffering　under　the　music；　and
from　the　bottom　of　his　honest　old　heart　wishing　himself　home
again。　And　there；　as　to　the　members　of　that　cheerful　little
gathering；　my　memory　finds　its　limitswith　one　exception。　The
appearance　of　Lady　Clarinda　is　as　present　to　me　as　if　I　had　met
her　yesterday；　and　of　the　memorable　conversation　which　we　two
held　together　privately；　toward　the　close　of　the　evening；　it　is
no　exaggeration　to　say　that　I　can　still　call　to　mind　almost　every
word。

I　see　her　dress；　I　hear　her　voice　again；　while　I　write。

She　was　attired；　I　remember；　with　that　extreme　assumption　of
simplicity　which　always　defeats　its　own　end　by　irresistibly
suggesting　art。　She　wore　plain　white　muslin；　over　white　silk；
without　trimming　or　ornament　of　any　kind。　Her　rich　brown　hair；
dressed　in　defiance　of　the　prevailing　fashion；　was　thrown　back
from　her　forehead；　and　gathered　into　a　simple　knot
behindwithout　adornment　of　any　sort。　A　little　white　ribbon
encircled　her　neck；　fastened　by　the　only　article　of　jewelry　that
she　worea　tiny　diamond　brooch。　She　was　unquestionably　handsome；
but　her　beauty　was　of　the　somewhat　hard　and　angular　type　which　is
so　often　seen　in　English　women　of　her　race：　the　nose　and　chin　too
prominent　and　too　firmly　shaped；　the　well…opened　gray　eyes　full
of　spirit　and　dignity；　but　wanting　in　tenderness　and　mobility　of
expression。　Her　manner　had　all　the　charm　which　fine　breeding　can
conferexquisitely　polite；　easily　cordial；　showing　that　perfect
yet　unobtrusive　confidence　in　herself　which　（in　England）　seems　to
be　the　natural　outgrowth　of　pre…eminent　social　rank。　If　you　had
accepted　her　for　what　she　was；　on　the　surface；　you　would　have
said；　Here　is　the　model　of　a　noble　woman　who　is　perfectly　free
from　pride。　And　if　you　had　taken　a　liberty　with　her；　on　the
strength　of　that　conviction；　she　would　have　made　you　remember　it
to　the　end　of　your　life。

We　got　on　together　admirably。　I　was　introduced　as　〃Mrs。
Woodville；〃　by　previous　arrangement　with　the　Majoreffected
through　Benjamin。　Before　the　dinner　was　over　we　had　promised　to
exchange　visits。　Nothing　but　the　opportunity　was　wanting　to　lead
Lady　Clarinda　into　talking；　as　I　wanted　her　to　talk；　of　Mrs。
Beauly。

Late　in　the　evening　the　opportunity　came。

I　had　taken　refuge　from　the　terrible　bravura　singing　of　the
Major's　strident　prima　donna　in　the　back　drawing…room。　As　I　had
hoped　and　anticipated；　after　a　while　Lady　Clarinda　（missing　me
from　the　group　around　the　piano）　came　in　search　of　me。　She　seated
herself　by　my　side；　out　of　sight　and　out　of　hearing　of　our
friends　in　the　front　room；　and；　to　my　infinite　relief　and
delight；　touched　on　the　subject　of　Miserrimus　Dexter　of　her　own
accord。　Something　I　had　said　of　him；　when　his　name　had　been
accidentally　mentioned　at　dinner；　remained　in　her　memory；　and　led
us；　by　perfectly　natural　gradations；　into　speaking　of　Mrs。
Beauly。　〃At　last；〃　I　thought　to　myself；　〃the　Major's　little
dinner　will　bring　me　my　reward！〃

And　what　a　reward　it　was；　when　it　came！　My　heart　sinks　in　me
againas　it　sank　on　that　never…to…be…forgotten　eveningwhile　I
sit　at　my　desk　thinking　of　it。

　〃So　Dexter　really　spoke　to　you　of　Mrs。　Beauly！〃　exclaimed　Lady
Clarinda。　〃You　have　no　idea　how　you　surprise　me。〃

〃May　I　ask　why？〃

〃He　hates　her！　The　last　time　I　saw　him　he　wouldn't　allow　me　to
mention　her　name。　It　is　one　of　his　innumerable　oddities。　If　any
such　feeling　as　sympathy　is　a　possible　feeling　in　such　a　nature
as　his；　he　ought　to　like　Helena　Beauly。　She　is　the　most
completely　unconventional　person　I　know。　When　she　does　break　out；
poor　dear；　she　says　things　and　does　things　which　are　almost
reckless　enough　to　be　worthy　of　Dexter　himself。　I　wonder　whether
you　would　like　her？〃

〃You　have　kindly　asked　me　to　visit　you；　Lady　Clarinda。　Perhaps　I
may　meet　her　at　your　house？〃

〃I　hope　you　will　not　wait　until　that　is　likely　to　happen；〃　she
said。　〃Helena's　last　whim　is　to　fancy　that　she　has　gotthe　gout；
of　all　the　maladies　in　the　world！　She　is　away　at　some　wonderful
baths　in　Hungary　or　Bohemia　（I　don't　remember　which）and　where
she　will　go；　or　what　she　will　do　next；　it　is　perfectly　impossible
to　say。Dear　Mrs。　Woodville！　is　the　heat　of　the　fire　too　much
for　you？　You　are　looking　quite　pale。〃

I　_felt_　that　I　was　looking　pale。　The　discovery　of　Mrs。　Beauly's
absence　from　England　was　a　shock　for　which　I　was　quite
unprepared。　For　a　moment　it　unnerved　me。

〃Shall　we　go　into　the　other　room？〃　asked　Lady　Clarinda。

To　go　into　the　other　room　would　be　to　drop　the　conversation。　I
was　determined　not　to　let　that　catastrophe　happen。　It　was　just
possible　that　Mrs。　Beauly's　maid　might　have　quitted　her　service；
or　might　have　been　left　behind　in　England。　My　informa