some short stories-第13部分

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〃But　sometimes　we　flounder　out。〃

It　immediately　touched　in　Colonel　Voyt　the　spring　of　a　genial
derision。　　〃That's　just　where　I　expected　YOU　would！　　One　always
sees　it　come。〃

〃He　has；　you　notice；〃　Mrs。　Dyott　parenthesised　to　Maud；　〃seen　it
come　so　often　I；　and　he　has　always　waited　for　it　and　met　it。〃

〃Met　it；　dear　lady；　simply　enough！　　It's　the　old　story；　Mrs。
Blessingbourne。　　The　relation's　innocent　that　the　heroine　gets　out
of。　　The　book's　innocent　that's　the　story　of　her　getting　out。　　But
what　the　devilin　the　name　of　innocencewas　she　doing　IN？〃

Mrs。　Dyott　promptly　echoed　the　question。　　〃You　have　to　be　in；　you
know；　to　GET　out。　　So　there　you　are　already　with　your　relation。
It's　the　end　of　your　goodness。〃

〃And　the　beginning；〃　said　Voyt；　〃of　your　play！〃

〃Aren't　they　all；　for　that　matter；　even　the　worst；〃　Mrs。　Dyott
pursued；　〃supposed　SOME　time　or　other　to　get　out？　　But　if　meanwhile
they've　been　in；　however　briefly；　long　enough　to　adorn　a　tale？〃

〃They've　been　in　long　enough　to　point　a　moral。　　That　is　to　point
ours！〃　　With　which；　and　as　if　a　sudden　flush　of　warmer　light　had
moved　him；　Colonel　Voyt　got　up。　　The　veil　of　the　storm　had　parted
over　a　great　red　sunset。

Mrs。　Dyott　also　was　on　her　feet；　and　they　stood　before　his　charming
antagonist；　who；　with　eyes　lowered　and　a　somewhat　fixed　smile；　had
not　moved。

〃We've　spoiled　her　subject！〃　the　elder　lady　sighed。

〃Well；〃　said　Voyt；　〃it's　better　to　spoil　an　artist's　subject　than
to　spoil　his　reputation。　　I　mean；〃　he　explained　to　Maud　with　his
indulgent　manner；　〃his　appearance　of　knowing　what　he　has　got　hold
of；　for　that；　in　the　last　resort；　is　his　happiness。〃

She　slowly　rose　at　this；　facing　him　with　an　aspect　as　handsomely
mild　as　his　own。　　〃You　can't　spoil　my　happiness。〃

He　held　her　hand　an　instant　as　he　took　leave。　　〃I　wish　I　could　add
to　it！〃



CHAPTER　III



When　he　had　quitted　them　and　Mrs。　Dyott　had　candidly　asked　if　her
friend　had　found　him　rude　or　crude；　Maud　repliedthough　not
immediatelythat　she　had　feared　showing　only　too　much　how　charming
she　found　him。　　But　if　Mrs。　Dyott　took　this　it　was　to　weigh　the
sense。　　〃How　could　you　show　it　too　much？〃

〃Because　I　always　feel　that　that's　my　only　way　of　showing　anything。
It's　absurd；　if　you　like；〃　Mrs。　Blessingbourne　pursued；　〃but　I
never　know；　in　such　intense　discussions；　what　strange　impression　I
may　give。〃

Her　companion　looked　amused。　　〃Was　it　intense？〃

〃_I_　was；〃　Maud　frankly　confessed。

〃Then　it's　a　pity　you　were　so　wrong。　　Colonel　Voyt；　you　know；　is
right。〃　　Mrs。　Blessingbourne　at　this　gave　one　of　the　slow　soft
silent　headshakes　to　which　she　often　resorted　and　which；　mostly
accompanied　by　the　light　of　cheer；　had　somehow；　in　spite　of　the
small　obstinacy　that　smiled　in　them；　a　special　grace。　　With　this
grace；　for　a　moment；　her　friend；　looking　her　up　and　down；　appeared
impressed；　yet　not　too　much　so　to　take　the　next　minute　a　decision。
〃Oh　my　dear；　I'm　sorry　to　differ　from　any　one　so　lovelyfor　you're
awfully　beautiful　to…night；　and　your　frock's　the　very　nicest　I've
ever　seen　you　wear。　　But　he's　as　right　as　he　can　be。〃

Maud　repeated　her　motion。　　〃Not　so　right；　at　all　events　as　he
thinks　he　is。　　Or　perhaps　I　can　say；〃　she　went　on；　after　an
instant；　〃that　I'm　not　so　wrong。　　I　do　know　a　little　what　I'm
talking　about。〃

Mrs。　Dyott　continued　to　study　her。　　〃You　ARE　vexed。　　You　naturally
don't　like　itsuch　destruction。〃

〃Destruction？〃

〃Of　your　illusion。〃

〃I　HAVE　no　illusion。　　If　I　had　moreover　it　wouldn't　be　destroyed。
I　have　on　the　whole；　I　think；　my　little　decency。〃

Mrs。　Dyott　stared。　　〃Let　us　grant　it　for　argument。　　What；　then？〃

〃Well；　I've　also　my　little　drama。〃

〃An　attachment　？〃

〃An　attachment。〃

〃That　you　shouldn't　have？〃

〃That　I　shouldn't　have。〃

〃A　passion？〃

〃A　passion。〃

〃Shared？〃

〃Ah　thank　goodness；　no！〃

Mrs。　Dyott　continued　to　gaze。　　〃The　object's　unaware？〃

〃Utterly。〃

Mrs。　Dyott　turned　it　over。　　〃Are　you　sure？〃

〃Sure。〃

〃That's　what　you　call　your　decency？　　But　isn't　it；〃　Mrs。　Dyott
asked；　〃rather　his？〃

〃Dear　no。　　It's　only　his　good　fortune。〃

Mrs。　Dyott　laughed。　　〃But　yours；　darlingyour　good　fortune：　　where
does　THAT　come　in？〃

〃Why；　in　my　sense　of　the　romance　of　it。〃

〃The　romance　of　what？　　Of　his　not　knowing？〃

〃Of　my　not　wanting　him　to。　　If　I　did〃Maud　had　touchingly　worked
it　out〃where　would　be　my　honesty？〃

The　inquiry；　for　an　instant；　held　her　friend；　yet　only；　it　seemed；
for　a　stupefaction　that　was　almost　amusement。　　〃Can　you　want　or　not
want　as　you　like？　　Where　in　the　world；　if　you　don't　want；　is　your
romance？〃

Mrs。　Blessingbourne　still　wore　her　smile；　and　she　now；　with　a　light
gesture　that　matched　it；　just　touched　the　region　of　her　heart。
〃There！〃

Her　companion　admiringly　marvelled。　　〃A　lovely　place　for　it；　no
doubt！but　not　quite　a　place；　that　I　can　see；　to　make　the
sentiment　a　relation。〃

〃Why　not？　　What　more　is　required　for　a　relation　for　me？〃

〃Oh　all　sorts　of　things；　I　should　say！　　And　many　more；　added　to
those；　to　make　it　one　for　the　person　you　mention。〃

〃Ah　that　I　don't　pretend　it　either　should　be　or　CAN　be。　　I　only
speak　for　myself。〃

This　was　said　in　a　manner　that　made　Mrs。　Dyott；　with　a　visible
mixture　of　impressions；　suddenly　turn　away。　　She　indulged　in　a
vague　movement　or　two；　as　if　to　look　for　something；　then　again
found　herself　near　her　friend；　on　whom　with　the　same　abruptness；　in
fact　with　a　strange　sharpness；　she　conferred　a　kiss　that　might　have
represented　either　her　tribute　to　exalted　consistency　or　her　idea
of　a　graceful　close　of　the　discussion。　　〃You　deserve　that　one
should　speak　FOR　you！〃

Her　companion　looked　cheerful　and　secure。　　〃How　CAN　you　without
knowing？〃

〃Oh　by　guessing！　　It's　not？〃

But　that　was　as　far　as　Mrs。　Dyott　could　get。　　〃It's　not；〃　said
Maud；　〃any　one　you've　ever　seen。〃

〃Ah　then　I　give　you　up！〃

And　Mrs。　Dyott　conformed　for　the　rest　of　Maud's　stay　to　the　spirit
of　this　speech。　　It　was　made　on　a　Saturday　night；　and　Mrs。
Blessingbourne　remained　till　the　Wednesday　following；　an　interval
during　which；　as　the　return　of　fine　weather　was　confirmed　by　the
Sunday；　the　two　ladies　found　a　wider　range　of　action。　　There　were
drives　to　be　taken；　calls　made；　objects　of　interest　seen　at　a
distance；　with　the　effect　of　much　easy　talk　and　still　more　easy
silence。　　There　had　been　a　question　of　Colonel　Voyt's　probable
return　on　the　Sunday；　but　the　whole　time　passed　without　a　sign　from
him；　and　it　was　merely　mentioned　by　Mrs。　Dyott；　in　explanation；
that　he　must　have　been　suddenly　called；　as　he　was　so　liable　to　be；
to　town。　　That　this　in　fact　was　what　had　happened　he　made　clear　to
her　on　Thursday　afternoon；　when；　walking　over　again　late；　he　found
her　alone。　　The　consequence　of　his　Sunday　letters　had　been　his
taking；　that　day；　the　4。15。　　Mrs。　Voyt　had　gone　back　on　Thursday；
and　he　now；　to　settle　on　the　spot　the　question　of　a　piece　of　work
begun　at　his　place；　had　rushed　down　for　a　few　hours　in　anticipation
of　the　usual　collective　move　for　the　week's　end。　　He　was　to　go　up
again　by　the　late　train；　and　had　to　count　a　littlea　fact　accepted
by　his　hostess　with　the　hard　pliancy　of　practicehis　present　happy
moments。　　Too　few　as　these　were；　however；　he　found　time　to　make　of
her　an　inquiry　or　two　not　directly　bearing　on　their　situation。　　The
first　was　a　recall　of　the　question　for　which　Mrs。　Blessingbourne's
entrance　on　the　previous　Saturday　had　arrested　her　answer。　　Had
that　lady　the　idea　of　anything　between　them？

〃No。　　I'm　sure。　　There's　one　idea　she　has　got；〃　Mrs。　Dyott　went　on；
〃but　it's　quite　different　and　not　so　very　wonderful。〃

〃What　then　is　it？〃

〃Well；　that　she's　herself　in　love。〃

Voyt　showed　his　interest。　　〃You　mean　she　told　you？〃

〃I　got　it　out　of　her。〃

He　showed　his　amusement。　　〃Poor　thing！　　And　with　whom？〃

〃With　you。〃

His　surprise；　if　the　distinction　might　be　made；　was　less　than　his
wonder。　　〃You　got　that　out　of　her　too？〃

〃Noit　remains　in。　　Which　is　much　the　best　way　for　it。　　For　you　to
know　it　would　be　to　end　it。〃

He　looked　rather　cheerfully　at　sea。　　〃Is　that　then　why　you　tell
me？〃

〃I　mean　for　her　to　know　you　know　it。　　Therefore　it's　in　your
interest　not　to　let　her。〃

〃I　see；〃　Voyt　after　a　moment　returned。　　〃Your　real　calculation　is
that　my　interest　will　be　sacrificed　to　my　vanityso　that；　if　your
other　idea　is　just；　the　flame　will　in　fact；　and　thanks　to　her
morbid　conscience；　expire　by　her　taking　fright　at　seeing　me　so
pleased。　　But　I　promise　you；〃　he　declared；　〃that　she　shan't　see　it。
So　there　you　are！〃　　She　kept　her　eyes　on　him　and　had　evidently　to
admit　after　a　little　that　there　she　was。　　Distinct　as　he　had　made
the　case；　however；　he　wasn't　yet　quite　satisfied。　　〃Why　are　you　so
sure　I'm　the　man？〃

〃From　the　way　she　denies　you。〃

〃You　put　it　to　her？〃

〃Straight。　　If　you　hadn't　been　she'd　of　course　have　confessed　to
youto　keep　me　in　the　dark　about　the　real　one。〃

Poor　Voyt　laughed　out　again。　　〃Oh　you　dear　souls！〃

〃Besides；〃　his　companion　pursued；　〃I　wasn't　in　want　of　that
evidence。〃

〃Then　what　other　had　you？〃

〃Her　state　before　you　camewhich　was　what　made　me　ask　you　how　much
you　had　seen　her。　　And　her　state　after　it；〃　Mrs。　Dyott　added。　　〃And
her　state；〃　she　wound　up；　〃while　you　were　here。〃

〃But　her　state　while　I　was　here　was　charming。〃

〃Charming。　　That's　just　what　I　say。〃

She　said　it　in　a　tone　that　placed　the　matter　in　its　right　lighta
light　in　which　they　appeared　kindly；　quite　tenderly；　to　watch　Maud
wander　away　into　space　with　her　lovely　head　bent　under　a　theory
rather　too　big　for　it。　　Voyt's　last　word；　however；　was　that　there
was　just　enough　in　itin　the　theoryfor　them　to　allow　that　she
had　not　shown　herself；　on　the　occasion　of　their　talk；　wholly　bereft
of　sense。　　Her　consciousness；　if　they　let　it　aloneas　they　of
course　after　this　mercifully　mustWAS；　in　the　last　analysis；　a
kind　of　shy　romance。　　Not　a　romance　like　their　own；　a　thing　to　make
the　fortune　of　any　author　up　to　the　markone　who　should　have　the
invention　or　who　COULD　have　the　courage；　but　a　small　scared　starved
subjective　satisfaction　that　would　do　her　no　harm　and　nobody　else
any　good。　　Who　but　a　dufferhe　stuck　to　his　contentionwould　see
the　sh