the red cross girl(红十字姑娘)-第34节
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if he wanted a new pair of gloves or a hair…cut。 For Philip Endicott； while
rich in birth and education and charm of manner； had no money at all。
When； in May； he came from New York to lay siege to London and to the
heart of Helen Carey he had with him； all told； fifteen hundred dollars。
That was all he possessed in the world； and unless the magazines bought
his stories there was no prospect of his getting any more。
Friends who knew London told him that； if you knew London well； it
was easy to live comfortably there and to go about and even to entertain
modestly on three sovereigns a day。 So； at that rate； Philip calculated he
could stay three months。 But he found that to know London well enough
to be able to live there on three sovereigns a day you had first to spend so
many five…pound notes in getting acquainted with London that there were
no sovereigns left。 At the end of one month he had just enough money to
buy him a second…class passage back to New York； and he was as far from
Helen as ever。
Often he had read in stories and novels of men who were too poor to
marry。 And he had laughed at the idea。 He had always said that when two
people truly love each other it does not matter whether they have money
or not。 But when in London； with only a five…pound note； and face to face
with the actual proposition of asking Helen Carey not only to marry him
but to support him； he felt that money counted for more than he had
supposed。 He found money was many different thingsit was self…respect；
and proper pride； and private honors and independence。 And； lacking these
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things； he felt he could ask no girl to marry him； certainly not one for
whom he cared as he cared for Helen Carey。 Besides； while he knew how
he loved her； he had no knowledge whatsoever that she loved him。 She
always seemed extremely glad to see him； but that might be explained in
different ways。 It might be that what was in her heart for him was really a
sort of 〃old home week〃 feeling； that to her it was a relief to see any one
who spoke her own language； who did not need to have it explained when
she was jesting； and who did not think when she was speaking in perfectly
satisfactory phrases that she must be talking slang。
The Ambassador and his wife had been very kind to Endicott； and； as a
friend of Helen's； had asked him often to dinner and had sent him cards for
dances at which Helen was to be one of the belles and beauties。 And Helen
herself had been most kind； and had taken early morning walks with him
in Hyde Park and through the National Galleries； and they had fed buns to
the bears in the Zoo； and in doing so had laughed heartily。 They thought it
was because the bears were so ridiculous that they laughed。 Later they
appreciated that the reason they were happy was because they were
together。 Had the bear pit been empty； they still would have laughed。
On the evening of the thirty…first of May； Endicott had gone to bed
with his ticket purchased for America and his last five…pound note to last
him until the boat sailed。 He was a miserable young man。 He knew now
that he loved Helen Carey in such a way that to put the ocean between
them was liable to unseat his courage and his self…control。 In London he
could； each night； walk through Carlton House Terrace and； leaning
against the iron rails of the Carlton Club； gaze up at her window。 But； once
on the other side of the ocean； that tender exercise must be abandoned。 He
must even consider her pursued by most attractive guardsmen； diplomats；
and belted earls。 He knew they could not love her as he did； he knew they
could not love her for the reasons he loved her； because the fine and
beautiful things in her that he saw and worshipped they did not seek； and
so did not find。 And yet； for lack of a few thousand dollars； he must
remain silent； must put from him the best that ever came into his life； must
waste the wonderful devotion he longed to give； must starve the love that
he could never summon for any other woman。
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On the thirty…first of May he went to sleep utterly and completely
miserable。 On the first of June he woke hopeless and unrefreshed。
And then the miracle came。
Prichard； the ex…butler who valeted all the young gentlemen in the
house where Philip had taken chambers； brought him his breakfast。 As he
placed the eggs and muffins on the tables to Philip it seemed as though
Prichard had said： 〃I am sorry he is leaving us。 The next gentleman who
takes these rooms may not be so open…handed。 He never locked up his
cigars or his whiskey。 I wish he'd give me his old dress…coat。 It fits me；
except across the shoulders。〃
Philip stared hard at Prichard； but the lips of the valet had not moved。
In surprise and bewilderment； Philip demanded：
〃How do you know it fits？ Have you tried it on？〃
〃I wouldn't take such a liberty；〃 protested Prichard。 〃Not with any of
our gentlemen's clothes。〃
〃How did you know I was talking about clothes；〃 demanded Philip。
〃You didn't say anything about clothes； did you？〃
〃No； sir； I did not； but you asked me； sir； and I〃
〃Were you thinking of clothes？〃
〃Well； sir； you might say； in a way； that I was； answered the valet。
〃Seeing as you're leaving； sir； and they're not over…new； I thought 〃
〃It's mental telepathy；〃 said Philip。
〃I beg your pardon；〃 exclaimed Prichard。
〃You needn't wait；〃 said Philip。
The coincidence puzzled him； but by the time he had read the morning
papers he had forgotten about it； and it was not until he had emerged into
the street that it was forcibly recalled。 The street was crowded with people；
and as Philip stepped in among them； It was as though every one at whom
he looked began to talk aloud。 Their lips did not move； nor did any sound
issue from between them； but； without ceasing； broken phrases of thoughts
came to him as clearly as when； in passing in a crowd； snatches of talk are
carried to the ears。 One man thought of his debts； another of the weather；
and of what disaster it might bring to his silk hat； another planned his
luncheon； another was rejoicing over a telegram he had but that moment
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received。 To himself he kept repeating the words of the telegram〃No
need to come； out of danger。〃 To Philip the message came as clearly as
though he were reading it from the folded slip of paper that the stranger
clutched in his hand。
Confused and somewhat frightened； and in order that undisturbed he
might consider what had befallen him； Philip sought refuge from the
crowded street in the hallway of a building。 His first thought was that for
some unaccountable cause his brain for the moment was playing tricks
with him； and he was inventing the phrases he seemed to hear； that he was
attributing thoughts to others of which they were entirely innocent。 But；
whatever it was that had befallen him； he knew it was imperative that he
should at once get at the meaning of it。
The hallway in which he stood opened from Bond Street up a flight of
stairs to the studio of a fashionable photographer； and directly in front of
the hallway a young woman of charming appearance had halted。 Her
glance was troubled； her manner ill at ease。 To herself she kept repeating：
〃Did I tell Hudson to be here at a quarter to eleven； or a quarter past？ Will
she get the telephone message to bring the ruff？ Without the ruff it would
be absurd to be photographed。 Without her ruff Mary Queen of Scots
would look ridiculous！〃
Although the young woman had spoken not a single word； although
indeed she was biting impatiently at her lower lip； Philip had distinguished
the words clearly。 Or； if he had not distinguished them； he surely was
going mad。 It was a matter to be at once determined； and the young
woman should determi
