the man between(夹在中间的人)-第16节
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been more like the thing。〃
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The Man Between
〃I don't want to quarrel with Dora。 After all； I like her。 We have been
friends a long time。〃
〃Well； then； don't make an enemy of her。 One hundred friends are too
few against one enemy。 One hundred friends will wish you well； and one
enemy will DO you ill。 God love you； child！ Take the world as you find it。
Only God can make it any better。 When is this blessed wedding to come
off？〃
〃In two weeks。 You got cards； did you not？〃
〃I believe I did。 They don't matter。 Let Dora and her flirtations alone；
unless you set your own against them。 Like cures like。 If the priest sees
nothing wrong〃
〃He thinks all she does is perfect。〃
〃I dare say。 Priests are a soft lot； they'll believe anything。 He's love…
blind at present。 Some day； like the prophet of Pethor；＇1＇ he will get his
eyes opened。 As for Fred Mostyn； I shall have a good deal to say about
him by and by； so I'll say nothing now。〃
＇1＇ One of the Hebrew prophets。
〃You promised； grandmother； not to talk to me any more about Fred。〃
〃It was a very inconsiderate promise； a very irrational promise！ I am
sorry I made itand I don't intend to keep it。〃
〃Well； it takes two to hold a conversation； grandmother。〃
〃To be sure it does。 But if I talk to you； I hope to goodness you will
have the decency to answer me。 I wouldn't believe anything different。〃
And she looked into Ethel's face with such a smiling confidence in her
good will and obedience； that Ethel could only laugh and give her twenty
kisses as she stood up to put on her hat and coat。
〃You always get your way； Granny；〃 she said； and the old lady； as she
walked with her to the door； answered； 〃I have had my way for nearly
eighty years； dearie； and I've found it a very good way。 I'm not likely to
change it now。〃
〃And none of us want you to change it； dear。 Granny's way is always a
wise way。〃 And she kissed her again ere she ran down the steps to her
carriage。 Yet as the old lady stepped slowly back to the parlor； she
muttered； 〃Fred Mostyn is a fool！ If he had any sense when he left
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England； he has lost it since he came here。〃
Of course nothing good came of this irritable interference。 Meddling
with the conscience of another person is a delicate and difficult affair； and
Ruth had already warned Ethel of its certain futility。 But the days were
rapidly wearing away to the great day； for which so many other days had
been wasted in fatiguing worry； and incredible extravagance of health and
temper and moneyand after it？ There would certainly be a break in
associations。 Temptation would be removed； and Basil Stanhope； relieved
for a time from all the duties of his office； would have continual
opportunities for making eternally secure the affection of the woman he
had chosen。
It was to be a white wedding； and for twenty hours previous to its
celebration it seemed as if all the florists in New York were at work in the
Denning house and in St。 Jude's church。 The sacred place was radiant with
white lilies。 White lilies everywhere； and the perfume would have been
overpowering； had not the weather been so exquisite that open windows
were possible and even pleasant。 To the softest strains of music Dora
entered leaning on her father's arm and her beauty and splendor evoked
from the crowd present an involuntary； simultaneous stir of wonder and
delight。 She had hesitated many days between the simplicity of white
chiffon and lilies of the valley； and the magnificence of brocaded satin in
which a glittering thread of silver was interwoven。 The satin had won the
day； and the sunshine fell upon its beauty； as she knelt at the altar； like
sunshine falling upon snow。 It shone and gleamed and glistened as if it
were an angel's robe； and this scintillating effect was much increased by
the sparkling of the diamonds in her hair； and at her throat and waist and
hands and feet。 Nor was her brilliant youth affected by the overshadowing
tulle usually so unbecoming。 It veiled her from head to feet； and was held
in place by a diamond coronal。 All her eight maids； though lovely girls；
looked wan and of the earth beside her。 For her sake they had been content
with the simplicity of chiffon and white lace hats； and she stood among
them lustrous as some angelic being。 Stanhope was entranced by her
beauty； and no one on this day wondered at his infatuation or thought
remarkable the ecstasy of reverent rapture with which he received the
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hand of his bride。 His sense of the gift was ravishing。 She was now his
love； his wife forever； and when Ethel slipped forward to part and throw
backward the concealing veil； he very gently restrained her； and with his
own hands uncovered the blushing beauty； and kissed her there at the altar。
Then amid a murmur and stir of delighted sympathy he took his wife upon
his arm； and turned with her to the life they were to face together。
Two hours later all was a past dream。 Bride and bridegroom had
slipped quietly away； and the wedding guests had arrived at that rather
noisy indifference which presages the end of an entertainment。 Then
flushed and tired with hurrying congratulations and good wishes that
stumbled over each other； carriage after carriage departed； and Ethel and
her companions went to Dora's parlor to rest awhile and discuss the event
of the day。 But Dora's parlor was in a state of confusion。 It had； too； an air
of loss； and felt like a gilded cage from which the bird had flown。 They
looked dismally at its discomfort and went downstairs。 Men were
removing the faded flowers or sitting at the abandoned table eating and
drinking。 Everywhere there was disorder and waste； and from the servants'
quarter came a noisy sense of riotous feasting。
〃Where is Mrs。 Denning？〃 Ethel asked a footman who was gathering
together the silver with the easy unconcern of a man whose ideas were
rosy with champagne。 He looked up with a provoking familiarity at the
question； and sputtered out； 〃She's lying down crying and making a fuss。
Miss Day is with her； soothing of her。〃
〃Let us go home；〃 said Ethel。
And so； weary with pleasure； and heart… heavy with feelings that had
no longer any reason to exist； pale with fatigue； untidy with crush； their
pretty white gowns sullied and passe； each went her way； in every heart a
wonder whether the few hilarious hours of strange emotions were worth
all they claimed as their right and due。
Ruth had gone home earlier； and Ethel found her resting in her room。
〃I am worn out； Ruth；〃 was her first remark。 〃I am going to bed for three
or four days。 It was a dreadful ordeal。〃
〃One to which you may have to submit。〃
〃Certainly not。 My marriage will be a religious ceremony； with half a
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dozen of my nearest relatives as witnesses。〃
〃I noticed Fred slip away before Dora went。 He looked ill。〃
〃I dare say he is illand no wonder。 Good night； Ruth。 I am going to
sleep。 Tell father all about the wedding。 I don't want to hear it named
againnot as long as I live。〃
CHAPTER VI
THREE days passed and Ethel had regained her health and spirits； but
Fred Mostyn had not called since the wedding。 Ruth thought some inquiry
ought to be made； and Judge Rawdon called at the Holland House。 There
he was told that Mr。 Mostyn had not been well； and the young man's
countenance painfully confessed the same thing。
〃My dear Fred； why did you not send us word you were ill？〃 asked the
Judge。
〃I had fever； sir； and I feared it
