the man between(夹在中间的人)-第44节
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wanted Ethel to admire it with her。
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〃We will dine with you to…morrow； Ruth；〃 said Ethel； 〃and I will come
very early and see all the improvements。 I feel sure the house is lovely；
and I am glad father made you such a pretty nest。 Nothing is too pretty for
you； Ruth。〃 And there was no insincerity in this compliment。 These two
women knew and loved and trusted each other without a shadow of doubt
or variableness。
So Ruth went to her home； and Ethel hastened to Gramercy Park。
Madam was eagerly watching for her arrival。
〃I have been impatient for a whole hour； all in a quiver； dearie；〃 she
cried。 〃It is nearly noon。〃
〃I have been impatient also； Granny； but father and Ruth met us at the
pier and stayed to breakfast with us； and you know how men talk and
talk。〃
〃Ruth and father down at the pier！ How you dream！〃
〃They were really there。 And they do seem so happy； grandmother。
They are so much in love with each other。〃
〃I dare say。 There are no fools like old fools。 So you have sold the
Court to Nicholas Rawdon； and a cotton…spinner is Lord of the Manor。
Well； well； how are the mighty fallen！〃
〃I made twenty thousand pounds by the sale。 Nicholas Rawdon is a
gentleman； and John Thomas is the most popular man in all the
neighborhood。 And； Granny； he has two sonstwinsthe handsomest little
chaps you ever saw。 No fear of a Rawdon to heir the Manor now。〃
〃Fortune is a baggage。 When she is ill to a man she knows no reason。
She sent John Thomas to Parliament； and kept Fred out at a loss； too。 She
took the Court from Fred and gave it to John Thomas； and she gives him
two sons about the same time she gives Fred one； and that one she kidnaps
out of his sight and knowledge。 Poor Fred！〃
〃Well； grandmother； it is ‘poor Fred's' own doing； and； I assure you；
Fred would have been most unwelcome at the Court。 And the squires and
gentry round did not like a woman in the place； they were at a loss what to
do with me。 I was no good for dinners and politics and hunting。 I
embarrassed them。〃 〃Of course you would。 They would have to talk
decently and behave politely； and they would not be able to tell their
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choicest stories。 Your presence would be a bore； but could not Tyrrel take
your place？〃
〃Granny； Tyrrel was really unhappy in that kind of life。 And he was a
foreigner； so was I。 You know what Yorkshire people think of foreigners。
They were very courteous； but they were glad to have the Yorkshire
Rawdons in our place。 And Tyrrel did not like working with the earth； he
loves machinery and electricity。〃
〃To be sure。 When a man has got used to delving for gold or silver；
cutting grass and wheat does seem a slow kind of business。〃
〃And he disliked the shut…up feeling the park gave him。 He said we
were in the midst of solitude three miles thick。 It made him depressed and
lonely。〃
〃That is nonsense。 I am sure on the Western plains he had solitude
sixty miles thickoften。〃
〃Very likely； but then he had an horizon； even if it were sixty miles
away。 And no matter how far he rode； there was always that line where
earth seemed to rise to heaven。 But the park was surrounded by a brick
wall fourteen feet high。 It had no horizon。 You felt as if you were in a large；
green box at least Tyrrel did。 The wall was covered with roses and ivy；
but still it was a boundary you could not pass； and could not see over。
Don't you understand； Granny； how Tyrrel would feel this？〃
〃I can't say I do。 Why didn't he come with you？〃
〃He had to go to the Customs about our trunks； and there were other
things。 He will see you to…morrow。 Then we are going to dine with father；
and if you will join us； we will call at six for you。 Do； Granny。〃
〃Very well； I shall be ready。〃 But after a moment's thought she
continued； 〃No； I will not go。 I am only a mortal woman； and the company
of angels bores me yet。〃
〃Now； Granny； dear。〃
〃I mean what I say。 Your father has married such a piece of perfection
that I feel my shortcomings in her presence more than I can bear。 But I'll
tell you what； dearie； Tyrrel may come for me Saturday night at six； and I
will have my dinner with you。 I want to see the dining…room of a swell
hotel in full dress； and I will wear my violet satin and white Spanish lace；
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and look as smart as can be； dear。 And Tyrrel may buy me a bunch of
white violets。 I am none too old to wear them。 Who knows but I may go to
the theater also？〃
〃Oh； Granny； you are just the dearest young lady I know！ Tyrrel will
be as proud as a peacock。〃
〃Well； I am not as young as I might be； but I am a deal younger than I
look。 Listen； dearie； I have never FELT old yet！ Isn't that a thing to be
grateful for？ I don't read much poetry； except it be in the Church Hymnal；
but I cut a verse out of a magazine a year ago which just suits my idea of
life； and； what is still more wonderful； I took the trouble to learn it。 Oliver
Wendell Holmes wrote it； and I'll warrant him for a good； cheerful； trust…
in…God man； or he'd never have thought of such sensible words。〃
〃I am listening； Granny； for the verse。〃
〃Yes； and learn it yourself。 It will come in handy some day； when
Tyrrel and you are getting white…haired and handsome； as everyone ought
to get when they have passed their half…century and are facing the light of
the heavenly world：
〃At sixty…two life has begun； At seventy…three begins once
more； Fly swifter as thou near'st the sun； And brighter shine at
eighty…four。 At ninety…five； Should thou
arrive； Still wait on God； and work and thrive。〃
Such words as those； Ethel； keep a woman young； and make her right
glad that she was born and thankful that she lives。〃
〃Thank you for them； dear Granny。 Now I must run away as fast as I
can。 Tyrrel will be wondering what has happened to me。〃
In this conjecture she was right。 Tyrrel was in evening dress； and
walking restlessly about their private parlor。 〃Ethel；〃 he said； plaintively；
〃I have been so uneasy about you。〃
〃I am all right； dearest。 I was with grandmother。 I shall be ready in half
an hour。〃
Even if she had been longer； she would have earned the delay； for she
returned to him in pink silk and old Venice point de rose； with a pretty
ermine tippet across her shoulders。 It was a joy to see her； a delight to hear
her speak； and she walked as if she heard music。 The dining…room was
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crowded when they entered； but they made a sensation。 Many rose and
came to welcome them home。 Others smiled across the busy space and
lifted their wineglass in recognition。 The room was electric； sensitive and
excited。 It was flooded with a soft light； it was full of the perfume of
flowers。 The brilliant coloring of silks and satins； and the soft miracle of
white lace blended with the artistically painted walls and roof。 The aroma
of delicate food； the tinkle of crystal； the low murmur of happy voices； the
thrill of sudden laughter； and the delicious accompaniment of soft；
sensuous music completed the charm of the room。 To eat in such
surroundings was as far beyond the famous flower…crowned feasts of
Rome and Greece as the east is from the west。 It was impossible to resist
its influence。 From the point of the senses； the soul was drinking life out of
a cup of overflowing delight。 And it was only natural that in their hearts
both Tyrrel and Ethel should make a s
