manalive-第9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！


in　her　flamboyant　white　hat；　boa；　and　parasol；　stood　framed　in　the　doorway。
She　was　in　a　breathing　heat；　and　on　her　open　face　was　an　expression　of
the　most　infantile　astonishment。

〃Well；　here's　a　fine　game！〃　she　said；　panting。　　〃What　am　I　to　do　now；
I　wonder？　　I've　wired　for　Dr。　Warner；　that's　all　I　can　think　of　doing。〃

〃What　is　the　matter？〃　asked　Diana；　rather　sharply；　but　moving
forward　like　one　used　to　be　called　upon　for　assistance。

〃It's　Mary；〃　said　the　heiress；　〃my　companion　Mary　Gray：
that　cracked　friend　of　yours　called　Smith　has　proposed　to　her
in　the　garden；　after　ten　hours'　acquaintance；　and　he　wants
to　go　off　with　her　now　for　a　special　licence。〃

Arthur　Inglewood　walked　to　the　open　French　windows　and　looked
out　on　the　garden；　still　golden　with　evening　light。
Nothing　moved　there　but　a　bird　or　two　hopping　and　twittering；
but　beyond　the　hedge　and　railings；　in　the　road　outside
the　garden　gate；　a　hansom　cab　was　waiting；　with　the　yellow
Gladstone　bag　on　top　of　it。




　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　Chapter　IV

　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　The　Garden　of　the　God


Diana　Duke　seemed　inexplicably　irritated　at　the　abrupt　entrance
and　utterance　of　the　other　girl。

〃Well；〃　she　said　shortly；　〃I　suppose　Miss　Gray　can　decline　him　if　she
doesn't　want　to　marry　him。〃

〃But　she　DOES　want　to　marry　him！〃　cried　Rosamund　in　exasperation。
〃She's　a　wild；　wicked　fool；　and　I　won't　be　parted　from　her。〃

〃Perhaps；〃　said　Diana　icily；　〃but　I　really　don't　see　what　we　can　do。〃

〃But　the　man's　balmy；　Diana；〃　reasoned　her　friend　angrily。
〃I　can't　let　my　nice　governess　marry　a　man　that's　balmy！
You　or　somebody　MUST　stop　it！Mr。　Inglewood；　you're　a　man；
go　and　tell　them　they　simply　can't。〃

〃Unfortunately；　it　seems　to　me　they　simply　can；〃　said　Inglewood；
with　a　depressed　air。　　〃I　have　far　less　right　of　intervention
than　Miss　Duke；　besides　having；　of　course；　far　less　moral
force　than　she。〃

〃You　haven't　either　of　you　got　much；〃　cried　Rosamund；
the　last　stays　of　her　formidable　temper　giving　way；
〃I　think　I'll　go　somewhere　else　for　a　little　sense　and　pluck。
I　think　I　know　some　one　who　will　help　me　more　than　you　do；
at　any　rate。。。　he's　a　cantankerous　beast；　but　he's　a　man；
and　has　a　mind；　and　knows　it。。。〃　And　she　flung　out　into　the　garden；
with　cheeks　aflame；　and　the　parasol　whirling　like　a　Catherine　wheel。

She　found　Michael　Moon　standing　under　the　garden　tree；　looking　over
the　hedge；　hunched　like　a　bird　of　prey；　with　his　large　pipe　hanging　down
his　long　blue　chin。　　The　very　hardness　of　his　expression　pleased　her；
after　the　nonsense　of　the　new　engagement　and　the　shilly…shallying
of　her　other　friends。

〃I　am　sorry　I　was　cross；　Mr。　Moon；〃　she　said　frankly。　　〃I　hated　you
for　being　a　cynic；　but　I've　been　well　punished；　for　I　want　a　cynic
just　now。　　I've　had　my　fill　of　sentimentI'm　fed　up　with　it。
The　world's　gone　mad；　Mr。　Moonall　except　the　cynics；　I　think。
That　maniac　Smith　wants　to　marry　my　old　friend　Mary；　and　she
and　shedoesn't　seem　to　mind。〃

Seeing　his　attentive　face　still　undisturbedly　smoking；　she　added　smartly；
〃I'm　not　joking；　that's　Mr。　Smith's　cab　outside。　　He　swears　he'll
take　her　off　now　to　his　aunt's；　and　go　for　a　special　licence。
Do　give　me　some　practical　advice；　Mr。　Moon。〃

Mr。　Moon　took　his　pipe　out　of　his　mouth；　held　it　in　his　hand
for　an　instant　reflectively；　and　then　tossed　it　to　the　other　side
of　the　garden。　　〃My　practical　advice　to　you　is　this；〃　he　said：
〃Let　him　go　for　his　special　licence；　and　ask　him　to　get　another
one　for　you　and　me。〃

〃Is　that　one　of　your　jokes？〃　asked　the　young　lady。
〃Do　say　what　you　really　mean。〃

〃I　mean　that　Innocent　Smith　is　a　man　of　business；〃
said　Moon　with　ponderous　precision〃a　plain；　practical　man：
a　man　of　affairs；　a　man　of　facts　and　the　daylight。
He　has　let　down　twenty　ton　of　good　building　bricks　suddenly
on　my　head；　and　I　am　glad　to　say　they　have　woken　me　up。
We　went　to　sleep　a　little　while　ago　on　this　very　lawn；　in　this
very　sunlight。　　We　have　had　a　little　nap　for　five　years　or　so；
but　now　we're　going　to　be　married；　Rosamund；　and　I　can't　see
why　that　cab。。。〃

〃Really；〃　said　Rosamund　stoutly；　〃I　don't　know　what　you　mean。〃

〃What　a　lie！　cried　Michael；　advancing　on　her　with　brightening　eyes。
〃I'm　all　for　lies　in　an　ordinary　way；　but　don't　you　see　that　to…night
they　won't　do？　　We've　wandered　into　a　world　of　facts；　old　girl。
That　grass　growing；　and　that　sun　going　down；　and　that　cab　at　the　door；
are　facts。　　You　used　to　torment　and　excuse　yourself　by　saying　I
was　after　your　money；　and　didn't　really　love　you。　　But　if　I　stood
here　now　and　told　you　I　didn't　love　youyou　wouldn't　believe　me：
for　truth　is　in　this　garden　to…night。〃

〃Really；　Mr。　Moon。。。〃　said　Rosamund；　rather　more　faintly。

He　kept　two　big　blue　magnetic　eyes　fixed　on　her　face。
〃Is　my　name　Moon？〃　he　asked。　　〃Is　your　name　Hunt？　　On　my　honour；
they　sound　to　me　as　quaint　and　as　distant　as　Red　Indian　names。
It's　as　if　your　name　was　‘Swim'　and　my　name　was　‘Sunrise。'　But　our
real　names　are　Husband　and　Wife；　as　they　were　when　we　fell　asleep。〃

〃It　is　no　good；〃　said　Rosamund；　with　real　tears　in　her　eyes；
〃one　can　never　go　back。〃

〃I　can　go　where　I　damn　please；〃　said　Michael；　〃and　I　can　carry
you　on　my　shoulder。〃

〃But　really；　Michael；　really；　you　must　stop　and　think！〃
cried　the　girl　earnestly。　　〃You　could　carry　me　off　my　feet；　I　dare　say；
soul　and　body；　but　it　may　be　bitter　bad　business　for　all　that。
These　things　done　in　that　romantic　rush；　like　Mr。　Smith's；　they
they　do　attract　women；　I　don't　deny　it。　　As　you　say；　we're　all
telling　the　truth　to…night。　They've　attracted　poor　Mary；　for　one。
They　attract　me；　Michael。　　But　the　cold　fact　remains：
imprudent　marriages　do　lead　to　long　unhappiness　and　disappointment
you've　got　used　to　your　drinks　and　thingsI　shan't　be
pretty　much　longer〃

〃Imprudent　marriages！〃　roared　Michael。　　〃And　pray　where　in　earth
or　heaven　are　there　any　prudent　marriages？　　Might　as　well　talk
about　prudent　suicides。　　You　and　I　have　dawdled　round　each　other
long　enough；　and　are　we　any　safer　than　Smith　and　Mary　Gray；
who　met　last　night？　　You　never　know　a　husband　till　you　marry　him。
Unhappy！　of　course　you'll　be　unhappy。　　Who　the　devil　are　you
that　you　shouldn't　be　unhappy；　like　the　mother　that　bore　you？
Disappointed！　of　course　we'll　be　disappointed。　　I；　for　one；
don't　expect　till　I　die　to　be　so　good　a　man　as　I　am　at　this　minute
a　tower　with　all　the　trumpets　shouting。〃

〃You　see　all　this；〃　said　Rosamund；　with　a　grand　sincerity　in　her　solid　face；
〃and　do　you　really　want　to　marry　me？〃

〃My　darling；　what　else　is　there　to　do？〃　reasoned　the　Irishman。　　〃What　other
occupation　is　there　for　an　active　man　on　this　earth；　except　to
marry　you？　　What's　the　alternative　to　marriage；　barring　sleep？
It's　not　liberty；　Rosamund。　　Unless　you　marry　God；　as　our　nuns　do　in　Ireland；
you　must　marry　Manthat　is　Me。　　The　only　third　thing　is　to　marry　yourself
yourself；　yourself；　yourselfthe　only　companion　that　is　never　satisfied
and　never　satisfactory。〃

〃Michael；〃　said　Miss　Hunt；　in　a　very　soft　voice；　〃if　you　won't　talk　so　much；
I'll　marry　you。〃

〃It's　no　time　for　talking；〃　cried　Michael　Moon；　singing　is　the　only　thing。
Can't　you　find　that　mandoline　of　yours；　Rosamund？〃

〃Go　and　fetch　it　for　me；〃　said　Rosamund；　with　crisp　and　sharp　authority。

The　lounging　Mr。　Moon　stood　for　one　split　second　astonished；
then　he　shot　away　across　the　lawn；　as　if　shod　with　the　feathered
shoes　out　of　the　Greek　fairy　tale。　　He　cleared　three　yards
and　fifteen　daisies　at　a　leap；　out　of　mere　bodily　levity；
but　when　he　came　within　a　yard　or　two　of　the　open　parlour　windows；
his　flying　feet　fell　in　their　old　manner　like　lead；
he　twisted　round　and　came　back　slowly；　whistling。　　The　events
of　that　enchanted　evening　were　not　at　an　end。

Inside　the　dark　sitting…room　of　which　Moon　had　caught　a　glimpse　a　curious
thing　had　happened；　almost　an　instant　after　the　intemperate　exit
of　Rosamund。　　It　was　something　which；　occurring　in　that　obscure　parlour；
seemed　to　Arthur　Inglewood　like　heaven　and　earth　turning　head　over　heels；
the　sea　being　the　ceiling　and　the　stars　the　floor。　　No　words　can　express
how　it　astonished　him；　as　it　astonishes　all　simple　men　when　it　happens。
Yet　the　stiffest　female　stoicism　seems　separated　from　it　only　by　a　sheet　of
paper　or　a　sheet　of　steel。　　It　indicates　no　surrender；　far　less　any　sympathy。
The　most　rigid　and　ruthless　woman　can　begin　to　cry；　just　as　the　most
effeminate　man　can　grow　a　beard。　　It　is　a　separate　sexual　power；
and　proves　nothing　one　way　or　the　other　about　force　of　character。
But　to　young　men　ignorant　of　women；　like　Arthur　Inglewood；　to　see　Diana　Duke
crying　was　like　seeing　a　motor…car　shedding　tears　of　petrol。

He　could　never　have　given　（even　if　his　really　manly　modesty　had　permitted　it）
any　vaguest　vision　of　what　he　did　when　he　saw　that　portent。　　He　acted
as　men　do　when　a　theatre　catches　firevery　differently　from　how　they
would　have　conceived　themselves　as　acting；　whether　for　better　or　worse。
He　had　a　faint　memory　of　certain　half…stifled　explanations；　that　the　heiress
was　the　one　really　paying　guest；　and　she　would　go；　and　the　bailiffs
（in　consequence）　would　come；　but　after　that　he　knew　nothing　of　his　own
conduct　ex