the man between(夹在中间的人)-第38节
按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
It was a lovely day in the beginning of May； nearly two years after
their first meeting； when Tyrrel reached New York。 Ethel knew at what
hour his train would arrive； she was watching and listening for his step。
They met in each other's arms； and the blessed hours of that happy
evening were an over… payment of delight for the long months of their
separation。
In the morning Ethel was to introduce her lover to Madam Rawdon；
and side by side； almost hand in hand； they walked down the avenue
together。 Walked？ They were so happy they hardly knew whether their feet
touched earth or not。 They had a constant inclination to clasp hands； to run
as little children run； They wished to smile at everyone； to bid all the
world good morning。 Madam had resolved to be cool and careful in her
advances； but she quickly found herself unable to resist the sight of so
much love and hope and happiness。 The young people together took her
heart by storm； and she felt herself compelled to express an interest in
their future； and to question Tyrrel about it。
〃What are you going to do with yourself or make of yourself？〃 she
asked Tyrrel one evening when they were sitting together。 〃I do hope
you'll find some kind of work。 Anything is better than loafing about clubs
and such like places。〃
〃I am going to study law with Judge Rawdon。 My late experience has
taught me its value。 I do not think I shall loaf in his office。〃
132
… Page 133…
The Man Between
〃Not if he is anywhere around。 He works and makes others work。
Lawyering is a queer business； but men can be honest in it if they want
to。〃
〃And； grandmother；〃 said Ethel； 〃my father says Tyrrel has a
wonderful gift for public speaking。 He made a fine speech at father's club
last night。 Tyrrel will go into politics。〃
〃Will he； indeed？ Tyrrel is a wonder。 If he manages to walk his shoes
straight in the zigzaggery ways of the law； he will be one of that grand
breed called ‘exceptions。' As for politics； I don't like them； far from it。
Your grandfather used to say they either found a man a rascal or made him
one。 However； I'm ready to compromise on law and politics。 I was afraid
with his grand voice he would set up for a tenor。〃
Tyrrel laughed。 〃I did once think of that role；〃 he said。
〃I fancied that。 Whoever taught you to use your voice knew a thing or
two about singing。 I'll say that much。〃
〃My mother taught me。〃
〃Never！ I wonder now！〃
〃She was a famous singer。 She was a great and a good woman。 I owe
her for every excellent quality there is in me。〃
〃No； you don't。 You have got your black eyes and hair her way； I'll
warrant that； but your solid make…up； your pluck and grit and perseverance
is the Rawdon in you。 Without Rawdon you would very likely now be
strutting about some opera stage； playing at kings and lovemaking。〃
〃As it is〃
〃As it is； you will be lord consort of Rawdon Manor； with a silver
mine to back you。〃
〃I am sorry about the Manor；〃 said Tyrrel。 〃I wish the dear old Squire
were alive to meet Ethel and myself。〃
〃To be sure you do。 But I dare say that he is glad now to have passed
out of it。 Death is a mystery to those left； but I have no doubt it is
satisfying to those who have gone away。 He died as he lived； very prop…
erly； walked in the garden that morning as far as the strawberry beds； and
the gardener gave him the first ripe half…dozen in a young cabbage leaf；
and he ate them like a boy； and said they tasted as if grown in Paradise；
133
… Page 134…
The Man Between
then strolled home and asked Joel to shake the pillows on the sofa in the
hall； laid himself down； shuffled his head easy among them； and fell on
sleep。 So Death the Deliverer found him。 A good going home！ Nothing to
fear in it。〃
〃Ethel tells me that Mr。 Mostyn is now living at Mostyn Hall。〃
〃Yes； he married that girl he would have sold his soul for and took her
there； four months only after her husband's death。 When I was young he
durst not have done it； the Yorkshire gentry would have cut them both。〃
〃I think；〃 said Tyrrel； 〃American gentlemen of to…day felt much the
same。 Will Madison told me that the club cut him as soon as Mrs。
Stanhope left her husband。 He went there one day after it was known； and
no one saw him； finally he walked up to McLean； and would have sat
down； but McLean said； ‘Your company is not desired； Mr。 Mostyn。'
Mostyn said something in re… ply； and McLean answered sternly； ‘True； we
are none of us saints； but there are lines the worst of us will not pass； and
if there is any member of this club willing to interfere between a
bridegroom and his bride； I would like to kick him out of it。' Mostyn
struck the table with some exclamation； and McLean continued；
‘Especially when the wronged husband is a gentleman of such stainless
character and unsuspecting nature as Basil Stanhopea clergyman also！
Oh； the thing is beyond palliation entirely！' And he walked away and left
Mostyn。〃
〃Well；〃 said Madam； 〃if it came to kicking； two could play that game。
Fred is no coward。 I don't want to hear another word about them。 They
will punish each other without our help。 Let them alone。 I hope you are not
going to have a crowd at your wedding。 The quietest weddings are the
luckiest ones。〃
〃About twenty of our most intimate friends are invited to the church；〃
said Ethel。 〃There will be no reception until we return to New York in the
fall。〃
〃No need of fuss here； there will be enough when you reach Monk…
Rawdon。 The village will be garlanded and flagged； the bells ring… ing；
and all your tenants and retainers out to meet you。〃
〃We intend to get into our own home without anyone being aware of it。
134
… Page 135…
The Man Between
Come； Tyrrel； my dressmaker is waiting； I know。 It is my wedding gown；
dear Granny； and oh； so lovely！〃
〃You will not be any smarter than I intend to be； miss。 You are shut off
from color。 I can outdo you。〃
〃I am sure you canand will。 Here comes father。 What can he want？〃
They met him at the door； and with a few laughing words left him with
Madam。 She looked curiously into his face and asked； 〃What is it；
Edward？〃
〃I suppose they have told you all the arrangements。 They are very
simple。 Did they say anything about Ruth？〃
〃They never named her。 They said they were going to Washington for
a week； and then to Rawdon Court。 Ruth seems out of it all。 Are you going
to turn her adrift； or present her with a few thousand dollars？ She has been
a mother to Ethel。 Something ought to be done for Ruth Bayard。〃
〃I intend to marry her。〃
〃I thought so。〃
〃She will go to her sister's in Philadelphia for a month 's preparation。 I
shall marry her there； and bring her home as my wife。 She is a sweet；
gentle； docile woman。 She will make me happy。〃
〃Sweet； gentle； docile！ Yes； that is the style of wife Rawdon men
prefer。 What does Ethel say？〃
〃She is delighted。 It was her idea。 I was much pleased with her
thoughtfulness。 Any serious break in my life would now be a great
discomfort。 You need not look so satirical； mother； I thought of Ruth's life
also。〃
〃Also an afterthought； but Ruth is gentle and docile； and she is
satisfied； and I am satisfied； so then everything is proper and everyone
content。 Come for me at ten on Wednesday morning。 I shall be ready。 No
refreshments； I suppose。 I must look after my own breakfast。 Won't you
feel a bit shabby； Edward？ 〃And then the look and handclasp between
them turned
