tommy and co[1].(托米和科)-第24节
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sunk her voice unconsciously to a confidential whisper。 〃Tell her the
coming fashions。 Discuss the question whether hat or bonnet makes
you look the younger。 Tell her whether red hair or black is to be the
new colour； what size waist is being worn by the best people。 Oh；
come！〃 laughed Miss Ramsbotham in answer to Peter's shocked
expression； 〃one cannot reform the world and human nature all at once。
You must appeal to people's folly in order to get them to listen to your
wisdom。 Make your paper a success first。 You can make it a power
afterwards。〃
〃But；〃 argued Peter； 〃there are already such paperspapers devoted
toto that sort of thing； and to nothing else。〃
〃At sixpence！〃 replied the practical Miss Ramsbotham。 〃I am
thinking of the lower middle…class woman who has twenty pounds a year
to spend on dress； and who takes twelve hours a day to think about it；
poor creature。 My dear friend； there is a fortune in it。 Think of the
advertisements。〃
Poor Peter groanedold Peter； the dreamer of dreams。 But for
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thought of Tommy！ one day to be left alone to battle with a stony… eyed；
deaf world； Peter most assuredly would have risen in his wrath； would
have said to his distinguished…looking temptress； 〃Get thee behind me；
Miss Ramsbotham。 My journalistic instinct whispers to me that your
scheme； judged by the mammon of unrighteousness； is good。 It is a
new departure。 Ten years hence half the London journals will have
adopted it。 There is money in it。 But what of that？ Shall I for mere
dross sell my editorial soul； turn the temple of the Mighty Pen into a den
ofof milliners！ Good morning； Miss Ramsbotham。 I grieve for you。
I grieve for you as for a fellow…worker once inspired by devotion to a
noble calling； who has fallen from her high estate。 Good morning；
madam。〃
So Peter thought as he sat tattooing with his finger…tips upon the
desk； but only said …
〃It would have to be well done。〃
〃Everything would depend upon how it was done；〃 agreed Miss
Ramsbotham。 〃Badly done； the idea would be wasted。 You would be
merely giving it away to some other paper。〃
〃Do you know of anyone？〃 queried Peter。
〃I was thinking of myself；〃 answered Miss Ramsbotham。
〃I am sorry；〃 said Peter Hope。
〃Why？〃 demanded Miss Ramsbotham。 〃Don't you think I could do
it？〃
〃I think；〃 said Peter； 〃no one could do it better。 I am sorry you
should wish to do itthat is all。〃
〃I want to do it；〃 replied Miss Ramsbotham； a note of doggedness in
her voice。
〃How much do you propose to charge me？〃 Peter smiled。
〃Nothing。〃
〃My dear lady〃
〃I could not in conscience；〃 explained Miss Ramsbotham； 〃take
payment from both sides。 I am going to make a good deal out of it。 I
am going to make out of it at least three hundred a year； and they will be
glad to pay it。〃
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〃Who will？〃
〃The dressmakers。 I shall be one of the most stylish women in
London；〃 laughed Miss Ramsbotham。
〃You used to be a sensible woman；〃 Peter reminded her。
〃I want to live。〃
〃Can't you manage to do it withoutwithout being a fool； my dear。〃
〃No；〃 answered Miss Ramsbotham； 〃a woman can't。 I've tried it。〃
〃Very well；〃 agreed Peter； 〃be it so。〃
Peter had risen。 He laid his shapely； white old hand upon the
woman's shoulder。 〃Tell me when you want to give it up。 I shall be
glad。〃
Thus it was arranged。 Good Humour gained circulation andof more
importance yetadvertisements； and Miss Ramsbotham； as she had
predicted； the reputation of being one of the best…dressed women in
London。 Her reason for desiring such reputation Peter Hope had
shrewdly guessed。 Two months later his suspicions were confirmed。
Mr。 Reginald Peters； his uncle being dead； was on his way back to
England。
His return was awaited with impatience only by the occupants of the
little flat in the Marylebone Road； and between these two the difference
of symptom was marked。 Mistress Peggy； too stupid to comprehend
the change that had been taking place in her； looked forward to her
lover's arrival with delight。 Mr。 Reginald Peters； independently of his
profession； was in consequence of his uncle's death a man of means。
Miss Ramsbotham's tutelage； which had always been distasteful to her；
would now be at an end。 She would be a 〃lady〃 in the true sense of the
wordaccording to Miss Peggy's definition； a woman with nothing to do
but eat and drink； and nothing to think of but dress。 Miss Ramsbotham；
on the other hand； who might have anticipated the home…coming of her
quondam admirer with hope； exhibited a strange condition of alarmed
misery； which increased from day to day as the date drew nearer。
The meetingwhether by design or accident was never knowntook
place at an evening party given by the proprietors of a new journal。
The circumstance was certainly unfortunate for poor Peggy； whom
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Bohemia began to pity。 Mr。 Peters； knowing both women would be
there and so on the look…out； saw in the distance among the crowd of
notabilities a superbly millinered； tall； graceful woman； whose face
recalled sensations he could not for the moment place。 Chiefly
noticeable about her were her exquisite neck and arms； and the air of
perfect breeding with which she moved； talking and laughing； through
the distinguished； fashionable throng。 Beside her strutted； nervously
aggressive； a vulgar； fat； pimply； shapeless young woman； attracting
universal attention by the incongruity of her presence in the room。 On
being greeted by the graceful lady of the neck and arms； the conviction
forced itself upon him that this could be no other than the once Miss
Ramsbotham； plain of face and indifferent of dress； whose very
appearance he had almost forgotten。 On being greeted gushingly as
〃Reggie〃 by the sallow…complexioned； over…dressed young woman he
bowed with evident astonishment； and apologised for a memory that； so
he assured the lady； had always been to him a source of despair。
Of course； he thanked his starsand Miss Ramsbothamthat the
engagement had never been formal。 So far as Mr。 Peters was
concerned； there was an end to Mistress Peggy's dream of an existence
of everlasting breakfasts in bed。 Leaving the Ramsbotham flat； she
returned to the maternal roof； and there a course of hard work and plain
living tended greatly to improve her figure and complexion； so that in
course of time； the gods smiling again upon her； she married a foreman
printer； and passes out of this story。
Meanwhile； Mr。 Reginald Petersolder； and the possessor； perhaps；
of more senselooked at Miss Ramsbotham with new eyes； and now not
tolerated but desired her。 Bohemia waited to assist at the happy
termination of a pretty and somewhat novel roman
