the red cross girl(红十字姑娘)-第36节
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his thoughts were these： 〃She is the best that ever lived； and I am the most
ungrateful of fools。 How happy were we in the house of yellow stucco！
Only now； when she has closed its doors to me； do I know how happy！ If
she would give me another chance； never again would I distress or deceive
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her。〃
So far had the young man progressed in his thoughts when an
automobile of surprising smartness swept around the corner and drew up
in front of the house of yellow stucco； and from it descended a charming
young person。 She was of the Dresden… shepherdess type； with large blue
eyes of haunting beauty and innocence。
〃My wife！〃 exclaimed the blond youth at the railings。 And instantly he
dodged behind a horse that； while still attached to a four…wheeler； was
contentedly eating from a nose…bag。
With a key the Dresden shepherdess opened the door to the yellow
house and disappeared。
The calling of the reporter trains him in audacity； and to act quickly。
He shares the troubles of so many people that to the troubles of other
people he becomes callous； and often will rush in where friends of the
family fear to tread。 Although Philip was not now acting as a reporter； he
acted quickly。 Hardly had the door closed upon the young lady than he had
mounted the steps and rung the visitor's bell。 As he did so； he could not
resist casting a triumphant glance in the direction of the outlawed husband。
And； in turn； what the outcast husband； peering from across the back of
the cab horse； thought of Philip； of his clothes； of his general appearance；
and of the manner in which he would delight to alter all of them； was
quickly communicated to the American。 They were thoughts of a nature so
violent and uncomplimentary that Philip hastily cut off all connection。
As Philip did not know the name of the Dresden…china doll； it was
fortunate that on opening the door； the butler promptly announced：
〃Her ladyship is not receiving。〃
〃Her ladyship will； I think； receive me；〃 said Philip pleasantly； 〃when
you tell her I come as the special ambassador of his lordship。〃
From a tiny reception…room on the right of the entrance…hall there
issued a feminine exclamation of surprise； not unmixed with joy； and in
the hall the noble lady instantly appeared。
When she saw herself confronted by a stranger； she halted in
embarrassment。 But as； even while she halted； her only thought had been；
〃Oh！ if he will only ask me to forgive him！〃 Philip felt no embarrassment
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whatsoever。 Outside； concealed behind a cab horse； was the erring but
bitterly repentant husband； inside； her tenderest thoughts racing
tumultuously toward him； was an unhappy child…wife begging to be
begged to pardon。
For a New York reporter； and a Harvard graduate of charm and good
manners； it was too easy。
〃I do not know you；〃 said her ladyship。 But even as she spoke she
motioned to the butler to go away。 〃You must be one of his new friends。〃
Her tone was one of envy。
〃Indeed； I am his newest friend；〃 Philip assured her； 〃but I can safely
say no one knows his thoughts as well as I。 And they are all of you！〃
The china shepherdess blushed with happiness； but instantly she shook
her head。
〃They tell me I must not believe him；〃 she announced。 〃They tell me
〃
〃Never mind what they tell you；〃 commanded Philip。 〃Listen to ME。
He loves you。 Better than ever before； he loves you。 All he asks is the
chance to tell you so。 You cannot help but believe him。 Who can look at
you； and not believe that he loves you！ Let me；〃 he begged； 〃bring him to
you。〃 He started from her when； remembering the somewhat violent
thoughts of the youthful husband； he added hastily： 〃Or perhaps it would
be better if you called him yourself。〃
〃Called him！〃 exclaimed the lady。 〃He is in Paris…at the raceswith
her！〃
〃If they tell you that sort of thing；〃 protested Philip indignantly； 〃you
must listen to me。 He is not in Paris。 He is not with her。 There never was a
her！〃
He drew aside the lace curtains and pointed。 〃He is there behind that
ancient cab horse； praying that you will let him tell you that not only did
he never do it； but； what is much more important； he will never do it
again。〃
The lady herself now timidly drew the curtains apart； and then more
boldly showed herself upon the iron balcony。 Leaning over the scarlet
geraniums； she beckoned with both hands。 The result was instantaneous。
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Philip bolted for the front door； leaving it open； and； as he darted down the
steps； the youthful husband； in strides resembling those of an ostrich； shot
past him。 Philip did not cease running until he was well out of Berkeley
Square。 Then； not ill…pleased with the adventure； he turned and smiled
back at the house of yellow stucco。
〃Bless you； my children；〃 he murmured； 〃bless you！〃
He continued to the Ritz； and； on crossing Piccadilly to the quieter
entrance to the hotel in Arlington Street； found gathered around it a
considerable crowd drawn up on either side of a red carpet that stretched
down the steps of the hotel to a court carriage。 A red carpet in June； when
all is dry under foot and the sun is shining gently； can mean only royalty；
and in the rear of the men in the street Philip halted。 He remembered that
for a few days the young King of Asturia and the Queen Mother were at
the Ritz incognito； and； as he never had seen the young man who so
recently and so tragically had been exiled from his own kingdom； Philip
raised himself on tiptoe and stared expectantly。
As easily as he could read their faces could he read the thoughts of
those about him。 They were thoughts of friendly curiosity； of pity for the
exiles； on the part of the policemen who had hastened from a cross street；
of pride at their temporary responsibility； on the part of the coachman of
the court carriage； of speculation as to the possible amount of his
Majesty's tip。 The thoughts were as harmless and protecting as the warm
sunshine。
And then； suddenly and harshly； like the stroke of a fire bell at
midnight； the harmonious chorus of gentle； hospitable thoughts was
shattered by one that was discordant； evil； menacing。 It was the thought of
a man with a brain diseased； and its purpose was murder。
〃When they appear at the doorway；〃 spoke the brain of the maniac； 〃I
shall lift the bomb from my pocket。 I shall raise it above my head。 I shall
crash it against the stone steps。 It will hurl them and all of these people
into eternity and me with them。 But I shall LIVEa martyr to the Cause。
And the Cause will flourish！〃
Through the unsuspecting crowd； like a football player diving for a
tackle； Philip hurled himself upon a little dark man standing close to the
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open door of the court carriage。 From the rear Philip seized him around the
waist and locked his arms behind him； elbow to elbow。 Philip's face；
appearing over the man's shoulder； stared straight into that of the
policeman。
〃He has a bomb in his right…hand pocket！〃 yelled Philip。 〃I can hold
him while you take it！ But； for Heaven's sake； don't drop it！〃 Philip turned
upon the crowd。 〃Run！ all of you！〃 he shouted。 〃Run like the devil！〃
At that instant the boy King and his Queen Mother； herself still young
and beautiful； and cloaked with a dignity and sorrow that her robes of
mourning could not intensify； appeared in the doorway。
〃Go back； sir！〃 warned Philip。 〃He means to kill you！〃
At the words and at sight of the struggling men； the great lady swayed
helplessly； her eyes filled with terror。
