some short stories-第22部分

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if　slightly　blind　tribute　to　her　possession　of　an　idea；　and　as
such；　in　its　celerity；　made　her　so　admire　him；　and　their　common
wit；　that　she　on　the　spot　more　than　forgave　him　his　queerness。　　He
was　right。　　He　could　be　as　queer　as　he　liked！　　The　queerer　the
better！　　It　was　at　the　foot　of　the　stairs；　when　she　had　got　her
guest　down；　that　what　she　had　assured　Mrs。　Medwin　would　come　did
indeed　come。　　〃DID　you　meet　him　here　yesterday？〃

〃Dear　yes。　　Isn't　he　too　funny？〃

〃Yes；〃　said　Mamie　gloomily。　　〃He　IS　funny。　　But　had　you　ever　met
him　before？〃

〃Dear　no！〃

〃Oh！〃and　Mamie's　tone　might　have　meant　many　things。

Lady　Wantridge　however；　after　all；　easily　overlooked　it。　　〃I　only
knew　he　was　one　of　your　odd　Americans。　　That's　why；　when　I　heard
yesterday　here　that　he　was　up　there　awaiting　your　return；　I　didn't
let　that　prevent　me。　　I　thought　he　might　be。　　He　certainly；〃　her
ladyship　laughed；　〃IS。〃

〃Yes；　he's　very　American；〃　Mamie　went　on　in　the　same　way。

〃As　you　say；　we　ARE　fond　of　you！　　Good…bye；〃　said　Lady　Wantridge。

But　Mamie　had　not　half　done　with　her。　　She　felt　more　and　moreor
she　hoped　at　leastthat　she　looked　strange。　　She　WAS；　no　doubt；　if
it　came　to　that；　strange。　　〃Lady　Wantridge；〃　she　almost
convulsively　broke　out；　〃I　don't　know　whether　you'll　understand　me；
but　I　seem　to　feel　that　I　must　act　with　youI　don't　know　what　to
call　it！responsibly。　　He　IS　my　brother。〃

〃Surelyand　why　not？〃　Lady　Wantridge　stared。　　〃He's　the　image　of
you！〃

〃Thank　you！〃and　Mamie　was　stranger　than　ever。

〃Oh　he's　good…looking。　　He's　handsome；　my　dear。　　Oddlybut
distinctly！〃　　Her　ladyship　was　for　treating　it　much　as　a　joke。

But　Mamie；　all　sombre；　would　have　none　of　this。　　She　boldly　gave
him　up。　　〃I　think　he's　awful。〃

〃He　is　indeeddelightfully。　　And　where　DO　you　get　your　ways　of
saying　things？　　It　isn't　anythingand　the　things　aren't　anything。
But　it's　so　droll。〃

〃Don't　let　yourself；　all　the　same；〃　Mamie　consistently　pursued；　〃be
carried　away　by　it。　　The　thing　can't　be　donesimply。〃

Lady　Wantridge　wondered。　　〃'Done　simply'？〃

〃Done　at　all。〃

〃But　what　can't　be？〃

〃Why；　what　you　might　thinkfrom　his　pleasantness。　　What　he　spoke
of　your　doing　for　him。〃

Lady　Wantridge　recalled。　　〃Forgiving　him？〃

〃He　asked　you　if　you　couldn't。　　But　you　can't。　　It's　too　dreadful
for　me；　as　so　near　a　relation；　to　have；　loyallyloyally　to　YOUto
say　it。　　But　he's　impossible。〃

It　was　so　portentously　produced　that　her　ladyship　had　somehow　to
meet　it。　　〃What's　the　matter　with　him？〃

〃I　don't　know。〃

〃Then　what's　the　matter　with　YOU？〃　Lady　Wantridge　inquired。

〃It's　because　I　WON'T　know；〃　Mamienot　without　dignityexplained。

〃Then　_I_　won't　either。〃

〃Precisely。　　Don't。　　It's　something；〃　Mamie　pursued；　with　some
inconsequence；　〃thatsomewhere　or　other；　at　some　time　or　otherhe
appears　to　have　done。　　Something　that　has　made　a　difference　in　his
life。〃

〃'Something'？〃　Lady　Wantridge　echoed　again。　　〃What　kind　of　thing？〃

Mamie　looked　up　at　the　light　above　the　door；　through　which　the
London　sky　was　doubly　dim。　　〃I　haven't　the　least　idea。〃

〃Then　what　kind　of　difference？〃

Mamie's　gaze　was　still　at　the　light。　　〃The　difference　you　see。〃

Lady　Wantridge；　rather　obligingly；　seemed　to　ask　herself　what　she
saw。　　〃But　I　don't　see　any！　　It　seems；　at　least；〃　she　added；　〃such
an　amusing　one！　　And　he　has　such　nice　eyes。〃

〃Oh　DEAR　eyes！〃　Mamie　conceded；　but　with　too　much　sadness；　for　the
moment；　about　the　connexions　of　the　subject；　to　say　more。

It　almost　forced　her　companion　after　an　instant　to　proceed。　　〃Do
you　mean　he　can't　go　home？〃

She　weighed　her　responsibility。　　〃I　only　make　outmore's　the
pity！that　he　doesn't。〃

〃Is　it　then　something　too　terrible？〃

She　thought　again。　　〃I　don't　know　whatfor　menIS　too　terrible。〃

〃Well　then　as　you　don't　know　what　'is'　for　women　eithergood…bye！〃
her　visitor　laughed。

It　practically　wound　up　the　interview；　which；　however；　terminating
thus　on　a　considerable　stir　of　the　air；　was　to　give　Miss　Cutter　for
several　days　the　sense　of　being　much　blown　about。　　The　degree　to
which；　to　begin　with；　she　had　been　drawnor　perhaps　rather　pushed…
…closer　to　Scott　was　marked　in　the　brief　colloquy　that　she　on　her
friend's　departure　had　with　him。　　He　had　immediately　said　it。
〃You'll　see　if　she　doesn't　ask　me　down！〃

〃So　soon？〃

〃Oh　I've　known　them　at　placesat　Cannes；　at　Pau；　at　Shanghaido
it　sooner　still。　　I　always　know　when　they　will。　　You　CAN'T　make　out
they　don't　love　me！〃　　He　spoke　almost　plaintively；　as　if　he　wished
she　could。

〃Then　I　don't　see　why　it　hasn't　done　you　more　good。〃

〃Why　Mamie；〃　he　patiently　reasoned；　〃what　more　good　COULD　it？　　As　I
tell　you；〃　he　explained；　〃it　has　just　been　my　life。〃

〃Then　why　do　you　come　to　me　for　money？〃

〃Oh　they　don't　give　me　THAT！〃　Scott　returned。

〃So　that　it　only　means　then；　after　all；　that　I；　at　the　best；　must
keep　you　up？〃

He　fixed　on　her　the　nice　eyes　Lady　Wantridge　admired。　　〃Do　you　mean
to　tell　me　that　alreadyat　this　very　momentI'm　not　distinctly
keeping　you？〃

She　gave　him　back　his　look。　　〃Wait　till　she　HAS　asked　you；　and
then；〃　Mamie　added；　〃decline。〃

Scott；　not　too　grossly；　wondered。　　〃As　acting　for　YOU？〃

Mamie's　next　injunction　was　answer　enough。　　〃But　BEFOREyes
call。〃

He　took　it　in。　　〃Callbut　decline。　　Good！〃

〃The　rest；〃　she　said；　〃I　leave　to　you。〃　　And　she　left　it　in　fact
with　such　confidence　that　for　a　couple　of　days　she　was　not　only
conscious　of　no　need　to　give　Mrs。　Medwin　another　turn　of　the　screw；
but　positively　evaded；　in　her　fortitude；　the　reappearance　of　that
lady。　　It　was　not　till　the　fourth　day　that　she　waited　upon　her；
finding　her；　as　she　had　expected；　tense。

〃Lady　Wantridge　WILL？〃

〃Yes；　though　she　says　she　won't。〃

〃She　says　she　won't？　　O…oh！〃　Mrs。　Medwin　moaned。

〃Sit　tight　all　the　same。　　I　HAVE　her！〃

〃But　how？〃

〃Through　Scottwhom　she　wants。〃

〃Your　bad　brother！〃　Mrs。　Medwin　stared。　　〃What　does　she　want　of
him？〃

〃To　amuse　them　at　Catchmore。　　Anything　for　that。　　And　he　WOULD。
But　he　shan't！〃　Mamie　declared。　　〃He　shan't　go　unless　she　comes。
She　must　meet　you　firstyou're　my　condition。〃

〃O…o…oh！〃　Mrs。　Medwin's　tone　was　a　wonder　of　hope　and　fear。　　〃But
doesn't　he　want　to　go？〃

〃He　wants　what　I　want。　　She　draws　the　line　at　YOU。　　I　draw　the　line
at　HIM。〃

〃But　SHEdoesn't　she　mind　that　he's　bad？〃

It　was　so　artless　that　Mamie　laughed。　　〃Noit　doesn't　touch　her。
Besides；　perhaps　he　isn't。　　It　isn't　as　for　youpeople　seem　not　to
know。　　He　has　settled　everything；　at　all　events；　by　going　to　see
her。　　It's　before　her　that　he's　the　thing　she'll　have　to　have。〃

〃Have　to？〃

〃For　Sundays　in　the　country。　　A　featureTHE　feature。〃

〃So　she　has　asked　him？〃

〃Yesand　he　has　declined。〃

〃For　ME？〃　Mrs。　Medwin　panted。

〃For　me；〃　said　Mamie　on　the　door…step。　　〃But　I　don't　leave　him　for
long。〃　　Her　hansom　had　waited。　　〃She'll　come。〃

Lady　Wantridge　did　come。　　She　met　in　South　Audley　Street；　on　the
fourteenth；　at　tea；　the　ladies　whom　Mamie　had　named　to　her；
together　with　three　or　four　others；　and　it　was　rather　a　master…
stroke　for　Miss　Cutter　that　if　Mrs。　Medwin　was　modestly　present
Scott　Homer　was　as　markedly　not。　　This　occasion；　however；　is　a
medal　that　would　take　rare　casting；　as　would　also；　for　that　matter；
even　the　minor　light　and　shade；　the　lower　relief；　of　the　pecuniary
transaction　that　Mrs。　Medwin's　flushed　gratitude　scarce　awaited　the
dispersal　of　the　company　munificently　to　complete。　　A　new
understanding　indeed　on　the　spot　rebounded　from　it；　the　conception
of　which；　in　Mamie's　mind；　had　promptly　bloomed。　　〃He　shan't　go　now
unless　he　takes　you。〃　　Then；　as　her　fancy　always　moved　quicker　for
her　client　than　her　client's　own〃Down　with　him　to　Catchmore！
When　he　goes　to　amuse　them　YOU；〃　she　serenely　developed；　〃shall
amuse　them　too。〃　　Mrs。　Medwin's　response　was　again　rather　oddly
divided；　but　she　was　sufficiently　intelligible　when　it　came　to
meeting　the　hint　that　this　latter　provision　would　represent　success
to　the　tune　of　a　separate　fee。　　〃Say；〃　Mamie　had　suggested；　〃the
same。〃

〃Very　well；　the　same。〃

The　knowledge　that　it　was　to　be　the　same　had　perhaps　something　to
do　also　with　the　obliging　spirit　in　which　Scott　eventually　went。
It　was　all　at　the　last　rather　hurrieda　party　rapidly　got　together
for　the　Grand　Duke；　who　was　in　England　but　for　the　hour；　who　had
good…naturedly　proposed　himself；　and　who　liked　his　parties　small；
intimate　and　funny。　　This　one　was　of　the　smallest　and　was　finally
judged　to　conform　neither　too　little　nor　too　much　to　the　other
conditionsafter　a　brief　whirlwind　of　wires　and　counterwires；　and
an　iterated　waiting　of　hansoms　at　various　doorsto　include　Mrs。
Medwin。　　It　was　from　Catchmore　itself　that；　snatching；　a　momenton
the　wondrous　Sunday　afternoon；　this　lady　had　the　harmonious　thought
of　sending　the　new　cheque。　　She　was　in　bliss　enough；　but　her
scribble　none　the　less　intimated　that　it　was　Scott　who　amused　them
most。　　He　WAS　the　feature。







End