the man between(夹在中间的人)-第3节
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overlooked the park； and she was standing at one of them as Ethel entered
the room。 In a passion of welcoming gladness she turned to her；
exclaiming： 〃I have been watching for you hours and hours； Ethel。 I have
the most wonderful thing to tell you。 I am so happy！ So happy！ No one
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was ever as happy as I am。〃
Then Ethel took both her hands； and； as they stood together； she
looked intently at her friend。 Some new charm transfigured her face； for
her dark； gazelle eyes were not more lambent than her cheeks； though in a
different way； while her black hair in its picturesquely arranged disorder
seemed instinct with life； and hardly to be restrained。 She was constantly
pushing it back； caressing or arranging it； and her white； slender fingers；
sparkling with jewels； moved among the crimped and wavy locks； as if
there was an intelligent sympathy between them。
〃How beautiful you are to…day； Dora！ Who has worked wonders on
you？〃
〃Basil Stanhope。 He loves me！ He loves me！ He told me so last night
in the sweetest words that were ever uttered。 I shall never forget one of
themnever； as long as I live！ Let us sit down。 I want to tell you
everything。〃
〃I am astonished； Dora！〃
〃So was mother； and father； and Bryce。 No one suspected our affection。
Mother used to grumble about my going ‘at all hours' to St。 Jude's church；
but that was because St。 Jude's is so very High Church； and mother is a
Methodist Episcopal。 It was the morning and evening prayers she objected
to。 No one had any suspicion of the clergyman。 Oh； Ethel； he is so
handsome！ So good！ So clever！ I think every woman in the church is in
love with him。〃
〃Then if he is a good man； he must be very unhappy。〃
〃Of course he is quite ignorant of their admiration； and therefore quite
innocent。 I am the only woman he loves； and he never even remembers me
when he is in the sacred office。 If you could see him come out of the
vestry in his white surplice； with his rapt face and prophetic eyes。 So
mystical！ So beautiful！ You would not wonder that I worship him。〃
〃But I do not understandhow did you meet him socially？〃
〃I met him at Mrs。 Taylor's first。 Then he spoke to me one morning as I
came out of church； and the next morning he walked through the park with
me。 And after that all was easy enough。〃
〃I see。 What does your father and mother thinkor rather； what do they
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say？〃
〃Father always says what he thinks； and mother thinks and says what I
do。 This condition simplified matters very much。 Basil wrote to father； and
yesterday after dinner he had an interview with him。 I expected it； and was
quite prepared for any climax that might come。 I wore my loveliest white
frock； and had lilies of the valley in my hair and on my breast； and father
called me ‘his little angel' and piously wondered ‘how I could be his
daughter。' All dinner time I tried to be angelic； and after dinner I sang
‘Little Boy Blue' and some of the songs he loves； and I felt； when Basil's
card came in； that I had prepared the proper atmosphere for the interview。〃
〃You are really very clever； Dora。〃
〃I tried to continue singing and playing； but I could not； the notes all
ran together； the words were lost。 I went to mother's side and put my hand
in hers； and she said softly： ‘I can hear your father storming a little； but he
will settle down the quicker for it。 I dare say he will bring Mr。 Stanhope in
here before long。〃
〃Did he？〃
〃No。 That was Bryce's fault。 How Bryce happened to be in the house at
that hour； I cannot imagine； but it seems to be natural for him to drop into
any interview where he can make trouble。 However； it turned out all for
the best； for when mother heard Bryce's voice above all the other sounds；
she said； ‘Come Dora； we shall have to interfere now。' Then I was
delighted。 I was angelically dressed； and I felt equal to the interview。〃
〃Do you really mean that you joined the three quarreling men？〃
〃Of course。 Mother was quite calmcalm enough to freeze a tempest
but she gave father a look he comprehended。 Then she shook hands with
Basil； and would have made some remark to Bryce； but with his usual
impertinence he took the initiative； and told he： very authoritatively to
‘retire and take me with her'calling me that ‘demure little flirt' in a tone
that was very offensive。 You should have seen father blaze into anger at
his words。 He told Bryce to remember that ‘Mr。 Ben Denning owned the
house； and that Bryce had four or five rooms in it by his courtesy。' He said
also that the ‘ladies present were Mr。 Ben Denning's wife and daughter；
and that it was impertinent in him to order them out of his parlor； where
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they were always welcome。' Bryce was white with passion； but he
answered in his affected way‘Sir； that sly girl with her pretended piety
and her sneak of a lover is my sister； and I shall not permit her to disgrace
my family without making a protest。'〃
〃And then？〃
〃I began to cry； and I put my arms around father's neck and said he
must defend me； that I was not ‘sly；' and Basil was not ‘a sneak；' and
father kissed me； and said he would settle with any man； and every man；
who presumed to call me either sly or a flirt。〃
〃I think Mr。 Denning acted beautifully。 What did Bryce say？〃
〃He turned to Basil； and said： ‘Mr。 Stanhope； if you are not a cad； you
will leave the house。 You have no right to intrude yourself into family
affairs and family quarrels。' Basil had seated mother； and was standing
with one hand on the back of her chair； and he did not answer Brycethere
was no need； father answered quick enough。 He said Mr。 Stanhope had
asked to become one of the family； and for his part he would welcome him
freely； and then he asked mother if she was of his mind； and mother
smiled and reached her hand backward to Basil。 Then father kissed me
again； and somehow Basil's arm was round me； and I know I looked
lovely almost like a bride！ Oh； Ethel； it was just heavenly！〃
〃I am sure it was。 Did Bryce leave the room then？〃
〃Yes； he went out in a passion； declaring he would never notice me
again。 This morning at breakfast I said I was sorry Bryce felt so hurt； but
father was sure Bryce would find plenty of consolation in the fact that his
disapproval of my choice would excuse him from giving me a wedding
present。 You know Bryce is a mean little miser！〃
〃On the contrary； I thought he was very； luxurious and extravagant。〃
〃Where Bryce is concerned； yes； toward everyone else his conduct is
too mean to consider。 Why； father makes him an allowance of 20；000 a
year and he empties father's cigar boxes whenever he can do so without
〃
〃Let us talk about Mr。 Stanhope he is far more interesting。 When are
you going to marry him？〃
〃In the Spring。 Father is going to give me some money and I have the
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fortune Grandmother Cahill left me。 It has been well invested； and father
told me this morning I was a fairly rich little woman。 Basil has some
private fortune； also his stipendwe shall do very well。 Basil's family is
one of the finest among the old Boston aristocrats； and he is closely
connected with the English Stanhopes； who rank with the greatest of the
nobility。〃
〃I wish Americans would learn to rely on their own nobility。 I am tired
of their everlasting attempts to graft on some English noble family。 No
matter how great or clever a man may be； you are sure to read of his
descent from some Scottish chief or English earl。〃
〃They can't help their descent； Ethel。〃
〃They need not pin all they have done on to it。 Ofte
