phyllis of philistia-第51节
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an appreciable influence upon the quarter's revenue of the country。 The probate duty paid by the executors was a large fortune in itself； and Ella was； as Mr。 Ayrton had predicted she would be； one of the richest women in England。 The hundred thousand pounds bequeathed to some unostentatious charitiescharities that existed for the cause of charity； not for the benefit of the official staff made no difference worth speaking of in the position of Mrs。 Linton as one of the richest women in England。
But the codicil to the will which surprised most people was that which placed in the hands of Mrs。 Linton and the Rev。 George Holland as joint trustees the sum of sixty thousand pounds； for the building and endowment of a church； the character and aims of which would be in sympathy with the principles recently formulated by the Rev。 George Holland in his book entitled 〃Revised Versions；〃 and in his magazine article entitled 〃The Enemy to Christianity；〃 the details to be decided by the Rev。 George Holland and Mrs。 Linton as joint trustees。
The codicil was； of course； a very recent one； but it was executed in proper form； it required two pages of engrossing to make the testator's desires plain to every intelligence that had received a thorough training in legal technicalities。 It was susceptible of a good deal of interpretation to an ordinary intelligence。
When it was explained to Mrs。 Linton； she also was at first a good deal surprised。 It read very like a jest of some subtlety： for she had no idea that her husband had the slightest feeling one way or another on the subject of the development of one Church or another； and as for the establishment of an entirely new Churchyes； it struck her at first that her solicitor was making a bold and certainly quite an unusual attempt to cheer her up in her bereavement by bringing under her notice a jest of the order /pachydermato/。
But soon it dawned upon her that her husband meant a good deal by this codicil of his。
〃I am getting to understand him better every day；〃 she said to Phyllis。 〃He knew that I loved him and him only。 He has given me this work to do； and with God's help I will do it thoroughly。 You did not believe in the value of George Holland's doctrines。 Neither did I： I never thought about them。 I will accept my husband's judgment regarding them； and perhaps I may think about them later on。 Our Church will be the most potent influence for good that the century has yet seen。 Yes； I will throw myself heart and soul into the work。 After all； it must be admitted that the Church has never done its duty as a Church。〃
Phyllis said nothing。
But the Rev。 George Holland had a good deal to say on the subject of the codicil； when he was alone with Mrs。 Linton； a few days later。 He had by no means made up his mind to sever his connection with the dear old mother Church； he said。 He could not see that there was any need for his taking so serious a stepan irrevocable step。 It was his feeling at that moment； he declared； that he might be able to effect the object of his lifewhich was； of course； the reform of the Church better by remaining within its walls than by severing himself from it。 He must take time to consider his position。
He left Mrs。 Linton greatly disappointed。 It had been her belief that Mr。 Holland would jump at the chancethat was the phrase which she employed in expressing her disappointment to Phyllisof becoming the founder of a brand…new religion。
She was greatly disappointed in Mr。 Holland。 If Buddha or Edward Irving； or some of the other founders of new religions had had such a chance offered to them in early life； would they not have embraced it eagerly？ she asked。
And it was to be such a striking Church！ She had made up her mind to that。 It was to be a lasting memorial to the largeness of soul of her husbandto his appreciation of the requirements of the thinking men and women of the age。 She had made up her mind already as to the character of the painted windows。 The church would itself； of course； be the purest Gothic。 As for the services； she rather thought that the simplicity of the Early Church might be effectively combined with some of the most striking elements of Modern Ritualism。 However； that would have to be decided later on。
But when the bishop heard of the codicil he had another interview with George Holland； and imparted to that young cleric his opinion that he should avail himself of the opportunity offered to him of trying what would undoubtedly be a most interesting experiment； and one to the carrying out of which all true churchmen would look forward most hopefully。 Who could say； he inquired； if the larger freedom which would be enjoyed by an earnest； sincere； and highly intellectual clergyman； not in immediate contact with the Establishment； might not avail him to perfect such a scheme of reform as would eventually be adopted by the Church？
That interview was very helpful to George Holland in making up his mind on the subject of the new Church。 He resigned his pastorate； greatly to the regret of the churchwardens； though no expression of such regret was ever heard from the bishop。
But then a bishop is supposed to have his feeling thoroughly under control。
This happened three weeks after the death of Stephen Linton； and during these weeks Herbert Courtland had never once asked to see Ella Linton。
CHAPTER XXXVI。
MARRIAGE IS THE PICTURESQUE GATEWAY LEADING TO A COMMONPLACE ESTATE。
So soon as Phyllis Ayrton had returned home； she got a letter from Herbert Courtland； asking her if she would be good enough to grant him an interview。 She replied at once that it would please her very much to see him on the following afternoonshe was going to Scotland with her father in a week； if Parliament had risen by that time。
He came to her。 She was alone in the drawing room where she had always received him previously。
The servant had scarcely left the room before he had told her he had come to tell her that he loved herto ask her if he might hope to have some of her love in return。
He had not seated himself； nor had she。 They remained standing together in the middle of the room。 He had not even retained her hand。
〃Why have you come to meto /me/？〃 she asked him。 Her face was pale and her lips； when he had been speaking to her； were firmly set。
〃I have come to you； not because I am worthy of the priceless gift of your love；〃 said he； 〃but because you have taught me not merely to love youyou have taught me what love itself is。 You have saved my soul。〃
〃No； no！ do not say that； it pains me；〃 she cried。
〃I cannot but say it； it is the truth。 You have saved me from a degradation such as you could not understand。 Great God！ how should I feel to…day if you had not come forward to save me？〃
He walked away from her。 He stood with his back turned to her； looking out of the window。
She remained where he had left her。 She did not speak。 Why should she speak？
He suddenly faced her once again。 The expression upon his face astonished her。 She had never before seen a man so completely in the power of a strong emotion。 She saw him making the attempt to speak； but not succeeding for some time。 Her heart was full of pity for him。
〃Youyou cannot understand；〃 he managed to say。 〃You cannot understand； and I cannot； I dare not； try to explain anything of the peril from which you snatched me。 You know nothing of the baseness； the cruelty； of a man who allows himself to be swayed by his own passions。 But you saved meyou saved me！〃
〃I thank God for that；〃 she said slowly。 〃But you must not come to me to ask me for my love。 It is not to me you should come。 It is for her who was ready to sacrifice everything for you。 You must go to her when the time comes； not nowshe has not recovered from her shock。〃
〃You knowshe has told you？〃
〃I knew all that terrible storythat pitiful storybefore I heard it from her lips。〃
〃And yetyetyou could speak to meyou could be with me day after day？〃
〃Oh； I know what you would say！ You would say that I led you onthat I gave you to believe that I loved you。 That is what you would say； and it would be the truth。 I made up my mind to lead you on； I gave you to understand that I cared for you。 But I confess to you now that I did so because I hoped to save her。 You see it was a plot on my part the plot of one woman anxious to save her sister from destruction。 I succeeded。 Thank God for thatthank God for that！〃
〃You succeededyou succeeded indeed。〃 He spoke slowly and in a low tone； his eyes fixed upon her burning face。 〃Yes； you led me onyou led me from earth to heaven。 You saved heryou saved me。 That is why I am here to…day。〃
〃Oh； it is not here you should be； Mr。 Courtland。〃 She had turned quickly away from him with a gesture of impatience and had walked to the other end of the room。 There was more than a suspicion of indignation in her voice。 〃You should be with the woman whom you loved； the woman who showed you how she loved you； the woman who was ready to give up everythinghonorhusbandGodfor you。 Go to her to herwhen the numbness has passed away from her； and there is no barrier between you and her。 That is all I have to say to you； Mr。 Courtland。〃
〃Is it indeed all； Phyllis？〃 he
