the man between(夹在中间的人)-第9节
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grieved； dear。〃
〃I know； Dodoforgive me！ It was all my fault。 I think I was jealous of
you； it was hard to find that you loved a stranger better than you loved me。
Kiss me； and be my own sweet； beautiful sister again。 I shall try to like all
the people you likefor your sake； you know。〃
Then Dora was charming。 She sat and talked and planned and told him
all that had been done and all that was yet to do。 And Bryce never once
named either Ethel or Mr。 Mostyn。 He knew Dora was a shrewd little
woman； and that he would have to be very careful in introducing the
subject of Mr。 Mostyn； or else she would be sure to reach the central truth
of his submission to her。 But； somehow； things happen for those who are
content to leave their desires to contingencies and accidentals。 The next
morning he breakfasted with the family and felt himself repaid for his
concession to Dora by the evident pleasure their renewed affection gave
his father and mother； and though the elder Denning made no remark in
the renewed family solidarity； Bryce anticipated many little favors and
accommodations from his father's satisfaction。
After breakfast he sat down； lit his cigar and waited。 Both his mother
and Dora had much to tell him； and he listened； and gave them such
excellent advice that they were compelled to regret the arrangements
already made had lacked the benefit of his counsels。
〃But you had Ethel Rawdon；〃 he said。 〃I thought she was everybody
rolled into one。〃
〃Oh； Ethel doesn't know as much as she thinks she does；〃 said Mrs。
Denning。 〃I don't agree with lots of things she advises。〃
〃Then take my advice； mother。〃
〃Oh； Bryce； it is the best of all。〃
〃Bryce does not know about dress and such things； mother。 Ethel finds
out what she does not know。 Bryce cannot go to modistes and milliners
with me。〃
〃Well； Ethel does not pay as much atten… tion as she mightshe is
always going somewhere or other with that Englishman； that she says is a
relativefor my part； I doubt it。〃
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〃Oh； mother！〃
〃Girls will say anything； Dora； to hide a love affair。 Why does she
never bring him here to call？〃
〃Because I asked her not。 I do not want to make new friends；
especially English ones； now。 I am so busy all day； and of course my
evenings belong to Basil。〃
〃Yes； and there is no one to talk to me。 Ethel and the Englishman
would pass an hour or two very nicely； and your father is very fond of
foreigners。 I think you ought to ask Ethel to introduce him to us； then we
could have a little dinner for him and invite him to our opera boxdon't
you agree with me； Bryce？〃
〃If Dora does。 Of course； at this time； Dora's wishes and engagements
are the most important。 I have seen the young man at the club with Shaw
McLaren and about town with Judge Rawdon and others。 He seems a nice
little fellow。 Jack Lacy wanted to introduce me to him yesterday； but I told
him I could live without the honor。 Of course； if Dora feels like having
him here that is a very dif… ferent matter。 He is certainly distinguished
looking； and would give an air to the wedding。〃
〃Is he handsome； Bryce？〃
〃Yesand no。 Women would rave about him； men would think him
finical and dandified。 He looks as if he were the happiest fellow in the
worldin fact； he looked to me so provokingly happy that I disliked him；
but now that Dodo is my little sister again； I can be happy enough to envy
no one。〃
Then Dora slipped her hand into her brother's hand； and Bryce knew
that he might take his way to his little office in William Street； the advent
of Mr。 Mostyn into his life being now as certain as anything in this
questionable； fluctuating world could be。 As he was sauntering down the
avenue he met Ethel and he turned and walked back with her to the
Denning house。 He was so good…natured and so good…humored that Ethel
could not avoid an inquisitive look at the usually glum young man； and he
caught it with a laugh and said； 〃I suppose you wonder what is the matter
with me； Miss Rawdon？〃
〃You look more than usually happy。 If I suppose you have found a
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wife or a fortune； shall I be wrong？〃
〃You come near the truth； I have found a sister。 Do you know I am
very fond of Dora and we have made up our quarrel？〃
Then Ethel looked at him again。 She did not believe him。 She was sure
that Dora was not the only evoker of the unbounded satisfaction in Bryce
Denning's face and manner。 But she let the reason pass； she had no likely
arguments to use against it。 And that day Mrs。 Denning； with a slight air of
injury； opened the subject of Mr。 Mostyn's introduction to them。 She
thought Ethel had hardly treated the Dennings fairly。 Everyone was
wondering they had not met him。 Of course； she knew they were not
aristocrats and she supposed Ethel was ashamed of them； but； for her part；
she thought they were as good as most people； and if it came to money；
they could put down dollar for dollar with any multi…millionaire in
America； or England either； for that matter。
When the reproach took this tone there seemed to be only one thing for
Ethel to say or to do； but that one thing was exactly what she did not say
or do。 She took up Mrs。 Denning's reproach and complained that 〃her
relative and friend had been purposely and definitely ignored。 Dora had
told her plainly she did not wish to make Mr。 Mostyn's acquaintance； and；
in accord with this feeling； no one in the Denning family had called on Mr。
Mostyn； or shown him the least courtesy。 She thought the whole Rawdon
family had the best of reasons for feeling hurt at the neglect。〃
This view of the case had not entered Mrs。 Denning's mind。 She was
quickly sorry and apologetic for Dora's selfishness and her own
thoughtlessness； and Ethel was not difficult to pacify。 There was then no
duty so imperative as the arrangement of a little dinner for Mr。 Mostyn。
〃We will make it quite a family affair；〃 said Mrs。 Denning； 〃then we can
go to the opera afterwards。 Shall I call on Mr。 Mostyn at the Holland
House？〃 she asked anxiously。
〃I will ask Bryce to call；〃 said Dora。 〃Bryce will do anything to please
me now； mother。〃
In this way； Bryce Denning's desires were all arranged for him； and
that evening Dora made her request。 Bryce heard it with a pronounced
pout of his lips； but finally told Dora she was 〃irresistible；〃 and as his time
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for pleasing her was nearly out； he would even call on the Englishman at
her request。
〃Mind！〃 he added； 〃I think he is as proud as Lucifer； and I may get
nothing for my civility but the excuse of a previous engagement。〃
But Bryce Denning expected much more than this； and he got all that
he expected。 The young men had a common ground to meet on； and they
quickly became as intimate as ever Frederick Mostyn permitted himself to
be with a stranger。 Bryce could hardly help catching enthusiasm from
Mostyn on the subject of New York； and he was able to show his new
acquaintance phases of life in the marvelous city which were of the
greatest interest to the inquisitive Yorkshire squire Chinese theaters and
opium dives； German； Italian； Spanish； Jewish； French cities sheltering
themselves within the great arms of the great American city； queer
restaurants； where he could eat of the national dishes of every civilized
country under the sun； places of amusement； legal and illegal； and the vast
under side of the evident lifeall the uncared for toiling of the thousands
who work through the midnight hours。 In t
