the man between(夹在中间的人)-第35节
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so void of sophistry that his innuendoes were flagrantly open to detection。
Dora felt a contempt for them； and he had hardly left the room ere she
said：
〃Basil has gone to his vestry in high spirits。 When I told him you were
coming to see me to…day he smiled like an angel。 He believes you will
keep me out of mischief； and he feels a grand confidence in something
which he calls ‘your influence。'〃
〃What do you mean by mischief？〃
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〃Oh； I suppose going about with Fred Mostyn。 I can't help that。 I must
have some one to look after me。 All the young men I used to know pass
me now with a lifted hat or a word or two。 The girls have forgotten me。 I
don't suppose I shall be asked to a single dance this winter。〃
〃The ladies in St。 Jude's church would make a pet of you if〃
〃The old cats and kittens！ No； thank you； I am not going to church
except on Sunday morningsthat is respectable and right； but as to being
the pet of St。 Jude's ladies！ No； no！ How they would mew over my
delinquencies； and what scratches I should get from their velvet…shod
claws！ If I have to be talked about； I prefer the ladies of the world to
discuss my frailties。〃
〃But if I were you； I would give no one a reason for saying a word
against me。 Why should you？〃
〃Fred will supply them with reasons。 I can't keep the man away from
me。 I don't believe I want tohe is very nice and useful。〃
〃You are talking nonsense； things you don't mean； Dora。 You are not
such a foolish woman as to like to be seen with Fred Mostyn； that little
monocular snob； after the aristocratic； handsome Basil Stanhope。 The
comparison is a mockery。 Basil is the finest gentleman I ever saw。 Socially；
he is perfection； and〃
〃He is only a clergyman。〃
〃Even as a clergyman he is of religiously royal descent。 There are
generations of clergymen behind him； and he is a prince in the pulpit。
Every man that knows him gives him the highest respect； every woman
thinks you the most fortunate of wives。 No one cares for Fred Mostyn。
Even in his native place he is held in contempt。 He had nine hundred votes
to young Rawdon's twelve thousand。〃
〃I don't mind that。 I am going to the matinee to…morrow with Fred。 He
wanted to take me out in his auto this afternoon； but when I said I would
go if you would he drew back。 What is the reason？ Did he make you offer
of his hand？ Did you refuse it？〃
〃He never made me an offer。 I count that to myself as a great
compliment。 If he had done such a thing； he would certainly have been
refused。〃
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〃I can tell that he really hates you。 What dirty trick did you serve him
about Rawdon Court？〃
〃So he called the release of Squire Rawdon a ‘dirty trick'？ It would
have been a very dirty trick to have let Fred Mostyn get his way with
Squire Rawdon。〃
〃Of course； Ethel； when a man lends his money as an obligation he
expects to get it back again。〃
〃Mostyn got every farthing due him； and he wanted one of the finest
manors in Eng… land in return for the obligation。 He did not get it； thank
God and my father！〃
〃He will not forget your father's interference。〃
〃I hope he will remember it。〃
〃Do you know who furnished the money to pay Fred？ He says he is
sure your father did not have it。〃
〃Tell him to ask my father。 He might even ask your father。 Whether my
father had the money or not was immaterial。 Father could borrow any sum
he wanted； I think。〃
〃Whom did he borrow from？〃
〃I am sure that Fred told you to ask that question。 Is he writing to you；
Dora？〃
〃Suppose he is？〃
〃I cannot suppose such a thing。 It is too impossible。〃
This was the beginning of a series of events all more or less qualified
to bring about unspeakable misery in Basil's home。 But there is nothing in
life like the marriage tie。 The tugs it will bear and not break； the wrongs it
will look over； the chronic misunderstandings it will forgive； make it one
of the mysteries of humanity。 It was not in a day or a week that Basil
Stanhope's dream of love and home was shattered。 Dora had frequent and
then less frequent times of return to her better self； and every such time
renewed her husband's hope that she was merely passing through a period
of transition and assimilation； and that in the end she would be all his
desire hoped for。
But Ethel saw what he did not see； that Mostyn was gradually
inspiring her with his own opinions； perhaps even with his own passion。 In
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this emergency； however； she was gratified to find that Dora's mother
appeared to have grasped the situation。 For if Dora went to the theater with
Mostyn； Mrs。 Denning or Bryce was also there； and the reckless auto
driving； shopping； and lunching had at least a show of respectable
association。 Yet when the opera season opened； the constant
companionship of Mostyn and Dora became entirely too remarkable； not
only in the public estimation； but in Basil's miserable conception of his
own wrong。 The young husband used every art and persuasionand failed。
And his failure was too apparent to be slighted。 He became feverish and
nervous； and his friends read his misery in eyes heavy with unshed tears；
and in the wasting pallor caused by his sleepless； sorrowful nights。
Dora also showed signs of the change so rapidly working on her。 She
was sullen and passionate by turns； she complained bitterly to Ethel that
her youth and beauty had been wasted； that she was only nineteen； and her
life was over。 She wanted to go to Paris； to get away from New York
anywhere and anyhow。 She began to dislike even the presence of Basil。
His stately beauty offended her； his low； calm voice was the very keynote
of irritation。
One morning near Christmas he came to her with a smiling； radiant
face。 〃Dora；〃 he said； 〃Dora； my love； I have something so interesting to
tell you。 Mrs。 Colby and Mrs。 Schaffler and some other ladies have a
beautiful idea。 They wish to give all the children of the church under eight
years old the grandest Christmas tree imaginable really rich presents and
they thought you might like to have it here。〃
〃What do you say； Basil！〃
〃You were always so fond of children。 You〃
〃I never could endure them。〃
〃We all thought you might enjoy it。 Indeed； I was so sure that I
promised for you。 It will be such a pleasure to me also； dear。〃
〃I will have no such childish nonsense in my house。〃
〃I promised it； Dora。〃
〃You had no right to do so。 This is my house。 My father bought it and
gave me it； and it is my own。 I〃
〃It seems； then； that I intrude in your house。 Is it so？ Speak； Dora。〃
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〃If you will ask questions you must take the answer。 You do intrude
when you come with such ridiculous proposalsin fact； you intrude very
often lately。〃
〃Does Mr。 Mostyn intrude？〃
〃Mr。 Mostyn takes me out； gives me a little sensible pleasure。 You
think I can be interested in a Christmas tree。 The idea！〃
〃Alas； alas； Dora； you are tired of me！ You do not love me！ You do not
love me！〃
〃I love nobody。 I am sorry I got married。 It was all a mistake。 I will go
home and then you can get a divorce。〃
At this last word the whole man changed。 He was suffused；
transfigured with an anger that was at once righteous and impetuous。
〃How dare you use that word to me？〃 he demanded。 〃To the priest of
God no such word exists。 I do not know it。 You are my wife； willing or
unwilling。 You are my wife forever；
