the man between-第36节

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e　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；　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　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　swift；　though　silent；　comparison　between　this　feast　of　sensation　and　flow　of　human　attraction　and　the　still；　sweet　order　of　the　Rawdon　dining…room；　with　its　noiseless　service；　and　its　latticed　win…　dows　open　to　all　the　wandering　scents　and　songs　of　the　garden。

Perhaps　the　latter　would　have　the　sweetest　and　dearest　and　most　abiding　place　in　their　hearts；　but　just　in　the　present　they　were　enthralled　and　excited　by　the　beauty　and　good　comradeship　of　the　social　New　York　dinner　function。　Their　eyes　were　shining；　their　hearts　thrilling；　they　went　to　their　own　apartments　hand　in　hand；　buoyant；　vivacious；　feeling　that　life　was　good　and　love　unchangeable。　And　the　windows　being　open；　they　walked　to　one　and　stood　looking　out　upon　the　avenue。　All　signs　of　commerce　had　gone　from　the　beautiful　street；　but　it　was　busy　and　noisy　with　the　traffic　of　pleasure；　and　the　hum　of　multitudes；　the　rattle　of　carriages；　the　rush　of　autos；　the　light；　hurrying　footsteps　of　pleasure…seekers　insistently　demanded　their　sympathy。

〃We　cannot　go　out　to…night；〃　said　Ethel。　〃We　are　both　more　weary　than　we　know。〃

〃No；　we　cannot　go　to…night；　but；　oh；　Ethel；　we　are　in　New　York　again！　Is　not　that　joy　enough？　I　am　so　happy！　I　am　so　happy。　We　are　in　New　York　again！　There　is　no　city　like　it　in　all　the　world。　Men　live　here；　they　work　here；　they　enjoy　here。　How　happy；　how　busy　we　are　going　to　be；　Ethel！〃

During　these　joyful；　hopeful　expectations　he　was　walking　up　and　down　the　room；　his　eyes　dilating　with　rapture；　and　Ethel　closed　the　window　and　joined　him。　They　magnified　their　joy；　they　wondered　at　it；　they　were　sure　no　one　before　them　had　ever　loved　as　they　loved。　〃And　we　are　going　to　live　here；　Ethel；　going　to　have　our　home　here！　Upon　my　honor；　I　cannot　speak　the　joy　I　feel；　but〃　and　he　went　impetuously　to　the　piano　and　opened　it〃but　I　can　perhaps　sing　it

　　〃‘There　is　not　a　spot　in　this　wide…peopled　earth　　　So　dear　to　the　heart　as　the　Land　of　our　Birth；　　　'Tis　the　home　of　our　childhood；　the　beautiful　spot　　　Which　Memory　retains　when　all　else　is　forgot。　　　May　the　blessing　of　God　ever　hallow　the　sod；　　　And　its　valleys　and　hills　by　our　children　be　trod！

　　〃‘May　Columbia　long　lift　her　white　crest　o'er　the　wave；　　　The　birthplace　of　science　and　the　home　of　the　brave。　　　In　her　cities　may　peace　and　prosperity　dwell；　　　And　her　daughters　in　virtue　and　beauty　excel。　　　May　the　blessing　of　God　ever　hallow　the　sod；　　　And　its　valleys　and　hills　by　our　children　be　trod。'〃


With　the　patriotic　music　warbling　in　his　throat　he　turned　to　Ethel；　and　looked　at　her　as　a　lover　can；　and　she　answered　the　look；　and　thus　leaning　toward　each　other　in　visible　beauty　and　affection　their　new　life　began。　Between　smiles　and　kisses　they　sat　speaking；　not　of　the　past　with　all　its　love　and　loveliness；　but　of　the　high　things　calling　to　them　from　the　future；　the　work　and　duties　of　life　set　to　great　ends　both　for　public　and　private　good。　And　as　they　thus　communed　Tyrrel　took　his　wife's　hand　and　slowly　turned　on　her　finger　the　plain　gold　wedding　ring　behind　its　barrier　of　guarding　gems。

〃Ethel；〃　he　said　tenderly；　〃what　enchantments　are　in　this　ring　of　gold！　What　romances　I　used　to　weave　around　it；　and；　dearest；　it　has　turned　every　Romance　into　Reality。〃

〃And；　Tyrrel；　it　will　also　turn　all　our　Realities　into　Romances。　Nothing　in　our　life　will　ever　become　common。　Love　will　glorify　everything。〃

〃And　we　shall　always　love　as　we　love　now？〃

〃We　shall　love　far　better；　far　stronger；　far　more　tenderly。〃

〃Even　to　the　end　of　our　lives；　Ethel？〃

〃Yes；　to　the　very　end。〃



CHAPTER　XIII


A　PAUSE　of　blissful　silence　followed　this　assurance。　It　was　broken　by　a　little　exclamation　from　Ethel。　〃Oh；　dear；〃　she　said；　〃how　selfishly　thoughtless　my　happiness　makes　me！　I　have　forgotten　to　tell　you；　until　this　moment；　that　I　have　a　letter　from　Dora。　It　was　sent　to　grandmother's　care；　and　I　got　it　this　afternoon；　also　one　from　Lucy　Rawdon。　The　two　together　bring　Dora's　affairs；　I　should　say；　to　a　pleasanter　termination　than　we　could　have　hoped　for。〃

〃Where　is　the　Enchantress？〃

〃In　Paris　at　present。〃

〃I　expected　that　answer。〃

〃But　listen；　she　is　living　the　quietest　of　lives；　the　most　devoted　daughter　cannot　excel　her。〃

〃Is　she　her　own　authority　for　that　astonishing　statement？　Do　you　believe　it？〃

〃Yes；　under　the　circumstances。　Mr。　Denning　went　to　Paris　for　a　critical　and　painful　operation；　and　Dora　is　giving　all　her　love　and　time　toward　ma