the man between(夹在中间的人)-第12节
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dinners。 However； the Denning dinner was a grand exception。 It gave me
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and the others a sensation。〃
〃I expected that。〃
〃It was beautifully ordered。 Major…domo Parkinson saw to that。 If he
had arranged it for his late employer； the Duke of Richmond； it could not
have been finer。 There was not a break anywhere。〃
〃How many were present？〃
〃Just a dozen。〃
〃Mr。 Denning and Bryce； of course。 Who were the others？〃
〃Mr。 Stanhope； of course。 Granny； he wore his clerical dress。 It made
him look so remarkable。〃
〃He did right。 A clergyman ought to look different from other men。 I
do not believe Basil Stanhope； having assumed the dress of a servant of
God； would put it off one hour for any social exigency。 Why should he？ It
is a grander attire than any military or naval uniform； and no court dress is
comparable； for it is the court dress of the King of kings。〃
〃All right； dear Granny； you always make things clear to me； yet I
meet lots of clergymen in evening dress。〃
〃Then they ought not to be clergymen。 They ought not to wear coats in
which they can hold any kind of opinions。 Who was your companion？〃
〃Jamie Sayer。〃
〃I never heard of the man。〃
〃He is an artist； and is painting Dora's likeness。 He is getting on now；
but in the past； like all artists； he has suffered a deal。〃
〃God's will be done。 Let them suffer。 It is good for genius to suffer。 Is
he in love with you？〃
〃Gracious； Granny！ His head is so full of pictures that no woman
could find room there； and if one did； the next new picture would crowd
her out。〃
〃End that story； it is long enough。〃
〃Do you know Miss Ullman？〃
〃I have heard of her。 Who has not？〃
〃She has Bryce Denning on trial now。 If he marries her I shall pity
him。〃
〃Pity him！ Not I； indeed！ He would have his just reward。 Like to like；
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and Amen to it。〃
〃Then there was Claudine Jeffrys； looking quite ethereal； but very
lovely。〃
〃I know。 Her lover was killed in Cuba； and she has been the type of
faithful grief ever since。 She looks it and dresses it to perfection。〃
〃And feels it？〃
〃Perhaps she does。 I am not skilled in the feelings of pensive； heart…
broken maidens。 But her case is a very common one。 Lovers are nowhere
against husbands； yet how many thousands of good women lose their
husbands every year？ If they are poor； they have to hide their grief and
work for them… selves and their families； if they are rich； very few people
believe that they are really sorry to be widows。 Are any poor creatures
more jeered at than widows？ No man believes they are grieving for the
loss of their husbands。 Then why should they all sympathize with
Claudine about the loss of a lover？〃
〃Perhaps lovers are nicer than husbands。〃
〃Pretty much all alike。 I have known a few good husbands。 Your
grandfather was one； your father another。 But you have said nothing about
Fred。 Did he look handsome？ Did he make a sensation？ Was he a cousin to
be proud of？〃
〃Indeed； Granny； Fred was the whole party。 He is not naturally
handsome； but he has distinction； and he was well…dressed。 And I never
heard anyone talk as he did。 He told the most delightful stories； he was full
of mimicry and wit； and said things that brought everyone into the merry
talk； and I am sure he charmed and astonished the whole party。 Mr。
Denning asked me quietly afterwards ‘what university he was educated at。'
I think he took it all as education； and had some wild ideas of finishing
Bryce in a similar manner。〃
Madam was radiant。 〃I told you so；〃 she said proudly。 〃The Mostyns
have intellect as well as land。 There are no stupid Mostyns。 I hope you
asked him to play。 I think his way of handling a piano would have taught
them a few things Russians and Poles know nothing about。 Poor things！
How can they have any feelings left？〃
〃There was no piano in the room； Granny； and the company separated
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very soon after dinner。〃
〃Somehow you ought to have managed it； Ethel。〃 Then with a touch of
anxiety； 〃I hope all this cleverness was naturalI mean； I hope it wasn't
champagne。 You know； Ethel； we think as we drink； and Fred isn't used to
those frisky wines。 Mostyn cellars are full of old sherry and claret； and
Fred's father was always against frothing； sparkling wines。〃
〃Granny； it was all Fred。 Wine had nothing to do with it； but a certain
woman had； in fact； she was the inspirer； and Fred fell fifty fathoms deep
in love with her the very moment she entered the room。 He heard not； felt
not； thought not； so struck with love was he。 Ruth got him to a window for
a few moments and so hid his emotion until he could get himself
together。〃
〃Oh； what a tale！ What a cobweb tale！ I don't believe a word of it；〃 and
she laughed merrily。
〃 'Tis true as gospel； Granny。〃
〃Name her； then。 Who was the woman？〃
〃Dora。〃
〃It is beyond belief； above belief； out of all reason。 It cannot be； and it
shall not be； and if you are making up a story to tease me； Ethel Rawdon
〃
〃Grandmother； let me tell you just how it came about。 We were all in
the room waiting for Dora； and she suddenly entered。 She was dressed in
soft amber silk from head to feet； diamonds were in her black hair； and on
the bands across her shoulders； on her corsage； on her belt； her hands； and
even her slippers。 Under the electric lights she looked as if she was in a
golden aura； scintillating with stars。 She took Fred's breath away。 He was
talking to Ruth； and he could not finish the word he was saying。 Ruth
thought he was going to faint〃
〃Don't tell me such nonsense。〃
〃Well； grandmother； this nonsense is truth。 As I said before； Ruth took
him aside until he got control of himself； then； as he was Dora's escort； he
had to go to her。 Ruth introduced them； and as she raised her soft； black
eyes to his； and put her hand on his arm； something happened again； but
this time it was like possession。 He was the courtier in a moment； his eyes
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flashed back her glances； he gave her smile for smile； and then when they
were seated side by side he became inspired and talked as I have told you。
It is the truth； grandmother。〃
〃Well； there are many different kinds of fools； but Fred Mostyn is the
worst I ever heard tell of。 Does he not know that the girl is engaged？〃
〃Knows it as well as I do。〃
〃None of our family were ever fools before； and I hope Fred will come
round quickly。 Do you think Dora noticed the impression she made？〃
〃Yes； Aunt Ruth noticed Dora； and Ruth says Dora ‘turned the arrow
in the heart wound' all the evening。〃
〃What rubbish you are talking！ Say in good English what you mean。〃
〃She tried every moment they； were to… gether to make him more and
more in love with her。〃
〃What is her intention？ A girl doesn't carry on that way for nothing。〃
〃I do not know。 Dora has got beyond me lately。 And； grandmother； I
am not troubling about the event as it regards Dora or Fred or Basil
Stanhope； but as it regards Ethel。〃
〃What have you to do with it？〃
〃That is just what I want to have clearly understood。 Aunt Ruth told
me that father and you would be disappointed if I did not marry Fred。〃
〃Well？〃
〃I am sorry to disappoint you； but I never shall marry Fred Mostyn。
Never！〃
〃I rather think you will have to settle that question with your father；
Ethel。〃
〃No。 I have settled it with myself。 The man has given to Dora all the
love that he has to give。 I will have a man's whole heart； and not fragments
and finger…ends of it。〃
〃To be sure； that is right。 But I can't say much； Ethel； when I only
know one side of the case； can I？ I must wait and hear what Fred has to
say。 But I like your spirit and your way of bring
