dolly dialogues-第1部分

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Dolly　Dialogues

by　Anthony　Hope



CONTENTS

I。　　　　A　Liberal　Education
II。　　　　Cordial　Relations
III。　　　Retribution
IV。　　　　The　Perverseness　of　It
V。　　　　　A　Matter　of　Duty
VI。　　　　My　Last　Chance
VII。　　　The　Little　Wretch
VIII。　　An　Expensive　Privilege
IX。　　　　A　Very　Dull　Affair
X。　　　　　Strange　but　True
XI。　　　　The　Very　Latest　Thing
XII。　　　An　Uncounted　Hour
XIII。　　A　Reminiscence
XIV。　　　A　Fine　Day
XV。　　　　The　House　Opposite
XVI。　　　A　Quick　Change
XVII。　　A　Slight　Mistake
XVIII。　The　Other　Lady
XIX。　　　What　Might　Have　Been
XX。　　　　One　Way　In




A　LIBERAL　EDUCATION

〃There's　ingratitude　for　you！〃　Miss　Dolly　Foster　exclaimed　suddenly。

〃Where！〃　I　asked；　rousing　myself　from　meditation。

She　pointed　to　a　young　man　who　had　just　passed　where　we　sat。　　He　was　dressed　very　smartly；　and　was　walking　with　a　lady　attired　in　the　height　of　the　fashion。

〃I　made　that　man；〃　said　Dolly；　〃and　now　he　cuts　me　dead　before　the　whole　of　the　Row！　　It's　atrocious。　　Why；　but　for　me；　do　you　suppose　he'd　be　at　this　moment　engaged　to　three　thousand　a　year　andand　the　plainest　girl　in　London？〃

〃Not　that；〃　I　pleaded；　〃think　of〃

〃Well；　very　plain　anyhow。　　I　was　quite　ready　to　bow　to　him。　I　almost　did。〃

〃In　fact　you　did？〃

〃I　didn't。　　I　declare　I　didn't。〃

〃Oh；　well；　you　didn't　then。　　It　only　looked　like　it。〃

〃I　met　him；〃　said　Miss　Dolly；　〃three　years　ago。　　At　that　time　he　wasoh；　quite　unpresentable。　He　was　everything　he　shouldn't　be。　　He　was　a　teetotaler；　you　know；　and　he　didn't　smoke；　and　he　was　always　going　to　concerts。　　Oh；　and　he　wore　his　hair　long；　and　his　trousers　short；　and　his　hat　on　the　back　of　his　head。　　And　his　umbrella〃

〃Where　did　he　wear　that？〃

〃He　carried　that；　Mr。　Carter。　　Don't　be　silly！　　Carried　it　unrolled；　you　know；　and　generally　a　paper　parcel　in　the　other　hand；　and　he　had　spectacles　too。〃

〃He　has　certainly　changed；　outwardly　at　least。

〃Yes；　I　know；　well；　I　did　that。　　I　took　him　in　hand；　and　I　just　taught　him；　and　now！〃

〃Yes；　I　know　that。　　But　how　did　you　teach　him？　　Give　him　Saturday　evening　lectures；　or　what？〃

〃Oh；　every…evening　lectures；　and　most…morning　walks。　　And　I　taught　him　to　dance；　and　broke　his　wretched　fiddle　with　my　own　hands！〃

〃What　very　arbitrary　distinctions　you　draw！〃

〃I　don't　know　that　you　mean。　　I　do　like　a　man　to　be　smart；　anyhow。　　Don't　　you；　Mr。　Carter？　You're　not　so　smart　as　you　might　be。　　Now；　shall　I　take　you　in　hand？〃　　And　she　smiled　upon　me。

〃Let's　hear　your　method。　　What　did　you　do　to　him。？〃

〃To　Phil　Meadows？　　Oh；　nothing。　　I　just　slipped　in　a　remark　here　and　there；　whenever　he　talked　nonsense。　　I　used　to　speak　just　at　the　right　time；　you　know。〃

〃But　how　had　your　words　such　influence；　Miss　Foster？〃

〃Oh；　well；　you　know；　Mr。　Carter；　I　made　it　a　condition　that　he　should　do　just　what　I　wanted　in　little　things　like　that。　　Did　he　think　I　was　going　to　walk　about　with　a　man　carrying　a　brown　paper　parcelas　if　we　had　been　to　the　shop　for　a　pound　of　tea？〃

〃Still；　I　don't　see　why　he　should　alter　all　his〃

〃Oh；　you　are　stupid！　　Of　course；　he　liked　me；　you　know。〃

〃Oh；　did　he？　　I　see。〃

〃You　seem　to　think　that　very　funny。〃

〃Not　that　he　didbut　that；　apparently；　he　doesn't。〃

〃Well　you　got　out　of　that　rather　neatlyfor　you。　　No；　he　doesn't　now。　　You　see；　he　misunderstood　my　motive。　　He　thoughtwell；　I　do　believe　he　thought　I　cared　for　him；　you　know。　　Of　course　I　didn't。〃

〃Not　a　bit？〃

〃Just　as　a　friendand　a　pupil；　you　know。　　And　when　he'd　had　his　hair　cut　and　bought　a　frock　coat　（fancy　he'd　never　had　one！）；　he　looked　quite　nice。　　He　has　nice　eyes。　　Did　you　notice　them。〃

〃Lord；　no！〃

〃Well；　you're　so　unobservant。〃

〃Oh；　not　always。　　I've　observed　that　your〃

〃Please　don't！　　It's　no　use；　is　it？〃

I　looked　very　unhappy。　　There　is　an　understanding　that　I　am　very　unhappy　since　Miss　Foster's　engagement　to　the　Earl　of　Mickleham　was　announced。

〃What　was　I　saying　beforebefore　youyou　knowoh；　about　Phil　Meadows；　of　course。　　I　did　like　him　very　much；　you　know；　or　I　shouldn't　have　taken　all　that　trouble。　　Why；　his　own　mother　thanked　me！〃

〃I　have　no　more　to　say；〃　said　I。

〃But　she　wrote　me　a　horrid　letter　afterward。〃

〃You're　so　very　elliptical。〃

〃So　very　what；　Mr。　Carter？〃

〃You　leave　so　much　out；　I　mean。　　After　what？〃

〃Why；　after　I　sent　him　away。　　Didn't　I　tell　you？　　Oh；　we　had　the　most　awful　scene。　　He　raved；　Mr。　Carter。　　He　called　me　the　most　horrid　names；　and〃

〃Tore　his　hair？〃

〃It　wasn't　long　enough　to　get　hold　of；〃　she　tittered。　　〃But　don't　laugh。　　It　was　really　dreadful。　And　so　unjust！　　And　then；　next　day；　when　I　thought　it　was　comfortably　over；　you　know；　he　came　back；　andand　apologized；　and　called　himself　the　most　awful　names；　andwell；　that　was　really　worse。〃

〃What　did　the　fellow　complain　of？〃　I　asked　in　wondering　tones。

〃Oh；　he　said　I'd　destroyed　his　faith　in　women；　you　know；　and　that　I'd　led　him　on；　and　that　I　waswell；　he　was　very　rude　indeed。　　And　he　went　on　writing　me　letters　like　that　for　a　whole　year？　　It　made　me　quite　uncomfortable。〃

〃But　he　didn't　go　back　to　short　trousers　and　a　fiddle；　did　he？〃　I　asked　anxiously。

〃Oh；　no。　　But　he　forgot　all　he　owed　me；　and　he　told　me　that　his　heart　was　dead；　and　that　he　should　never　love　any　one　again。〃

〃But　he's　going　to　marry　that　girl。〃

〃Oh；　he　doesn't　care　about　her；〃said　Miss　Dolly　reassuringly。　　〃It's　the　money；　　you　know。　　He　hadn't　a　farthing　of　his　own。　　Now　he'll　be　set　up　for　life。〃

〃And　it's　all　due　to　you！〃　said　I　admiringly。

〃Well；　it　is；　really。〃

〃I　don't　call　her　such　a　bad…looking　girl；　though。〃　　（I　hadn't　seen　her　face。）

〃Mr。　Carter！　　She's　hideous！〃

I　dropped　that　subject。

〃And　now；〃　said　Miss　Dolly　again；　〃he　cuts　me　dead！〃

〃It　is　the　height　of　ingratitude。　　Why；　to　love　you　was　a　liberal　education！〃

〃Yes；　wasn't　it？　　How　nicely　you　put　that。　　A　liberal　education！'　　I　shall　tell　Archie。〃　　（Archie　is　Lord　Mickleham。）

〃What；　about　Phil　Meadows？〃

〃Goodness　me；　no；　Mr。　Carter。　　Just　what　you　said；　you　know。〃

〃But　why　not　tell　Mickleham　about　Phil　Meadows？〃　I　urged。　　〃It's　all　to　your　credit；　you　know。〃

〃I　know；　but　men　are　so　foolish。　　You　see；　Archie　thinks〃

〃Of　course　he　does。〃

〃You　might　let　me　finish。〃

〃Archie　thinks　you　were　never　in　love　before。〃

〃Yes；　he　does。　　Well；　of　course；　I　wasn't　in　love　with　Phil〃

〃Not　a　little　bit？〃

〃Oh；　well〃

〃Nor　with　any　one　else？〃

Miss　Dolly　looked　for　an　instant　in　my　direction。

〃Nor　with　any　one　else？　said　I。

Miss　Dolly　looked　straight　in　front　of　her。

〃Nor　with〃　I　began。

〃Hullo；　old　chappie；　where　did　you　spring　from？〃

〃Why；　Archie！〃　cried　Miss　Dolly。

〃Oh；　how　are　you；　Mickleham；　old　man？　　Take　this　seat；　I'm　just　offjust　off。　　Yes；　I　was；　upon　my　honorgot　to　meet　a　man　at　the　club。　　Goodbye；　Miss　Foster。　　Jove！　　I'm　late！〃

And　as　I　went　I　heard　Miss　Dolly　say；　〃I　thought　you　were　never　coming；　Archie；　dear！〃　　Well；　she　didn't　think　he　was　coming　just　then。　　No　more　did　I。



CORDIAL　RELATIONS

The　other　day　I　paid　a　call　on　Miss　Dolly　Foster　for　the　purpose　of　presenting　to　her　my　small　offering　on　the　occasion　of　her　marriage　to　Lord　Mickleham。　　It　was　a　pretty　little　bit　of　jewelrya　pearl　heart；　broken　（rubies　played　the　part　of　blood）　and　held　together　by　a　gold　pin；　set　with　diamonds；　the　whole　surmounted　by　an　earl's　coronet。　　I　had　taken　some　trouble　about　it；　and　was　grateful　when　Miss　Dolly　asked　me　to　explain　the　symbolism。

〃It　is　my　heart；〃　I　observed。　　〃The　fracture　is　your　making；　the　pin〃

Here　Miss　Dolly　interrupted；　to　tell　the　truth　I　was　not　sorry；　for　I　was　fairly　graveled　for　the　meaning　of　the　pin。

〃What　nonsense；　Mr。　Carter！〃　she　said；　〃but　it's　awfully　pretty。　　Thanks　so　very　very　much。　Aren't　relations　funny　people？〃

〃If　you　wish　to　change　the　subject；　pray　do；〃　said　I。　　〃I'll　change　anything　except　my　affections。〃

〃Look　here；〃　she　pursued；　holding　out　a　bundle　of　letters。　　〃Here　are　the　congratulatory　epistles　from　relations。　　Shall　I　read　you　a　few？〃

〃It　will　be　a　most　agreeable　mode　of　passing　the　time；〃　said　I。

〃This　is　from　Aunt　Georgianashe's　a　widowlives　at　Cheltenham。　　'My　dearest　Dorothea'〃

〃Who？〃

〃Dorothea's　my　name；　Mr。　Carter。　　It　means　the　gift　of　heaven；　you　know。〃

〃　'My　dearest　Dorothea；　I　have　heard　the　news　of　your　engagement　to　Lord　Mickleham　with　deep　thankfulness。　　To　obtain　the　love　of　an　honest　man　is　a　great　prize。　　I　hope　you　will　prove　worthy　of　it。　　Marriage　is　a　trial　and　an　opportunity'〃

〃Hear；　hear！〃　said　I。　　〃A　trial　for　the　husband　and〃

〃Be　quiet；　Mr。　Carter。　'A　trial　and　an　opportunity。　　It　searches　the　heart　and　affords　a　sphere　of　usefulness　which'　So　she　goes　on；　you　know。　　I　don't　see　why　I　need　be　lectured　just　because　I'm　going　to　be　married；　do　you；　Mr。　Carter？〃

〃Let's　try　another；〃　said　I。　　〃Who's　that　on　pink　paper？〃

〃Oh；　that's　Georgy　Vane。　　She's　awful　fun。　'Dear　old　Dolly；So　you've　brought　it　off。　　Hearty　congrats。　　I　thought　you　were　going　to　be　silly　and　throw　away'　　There's　nothing　else　there；　Mr。　Carter。　　Look　here。　　Listen　to　this。　　It's　from　Uncle　William。　　He's　a　clergyman；　you　know。　'My　dear　Niece；I　have　heard　with　great　gratification　of　your　engagement。　　Your　aunt　and　I　unite　in　all　good　wishes。　　I　recollect　Lord　Mickleham's　father　when　I　had　a　curacy　near　Worcester。　　He　was　a　regular　attendant　at　church　and　a　supporter　of　all　good　works　in　the　diocese。　　If　only　his　son　takes　after　him　（fancy　Archie！）　You　have　secured　a　prize。　　I　hope　you　have　a　proper　sense　of　the　responsibilities　you　are　undertaking。　　Marriage　affords　no　small　opportunities；　it　also　entails　certain　trials'〃

〃Why；　you're　reading　Aunt　Georgiana　again。〃

〃Am　I？　　No；　it's　Uncle　William。〃

〃Then　let's　try　a　fresh　castunless　you'll　finish　Georgy　Vane's。〃

〃Well；　here's　Cousin　Susan's。　　She's　an　old　maid；　you　know。　　It's　very　long。　　Here's　a　bit：　'Woman　has　it　in　her　power　to　exercise　a　sacred　influence。　　I　have　not　the　pleasure　of　knowing　Lord　Mickleham；　but　I　hope；　my　dear；　that　you　will　use　your　power　over　him　for　good。　　It　is　useless　for　me　to　deny　that　when　you　stayed　with　me；　I　thought　you　were　addicted　to　frivolity。　Doubtless　marriage　will　sober　you。　　Try　to　make　a　good　use　of　its　lessons　　I　am　sending　you　a　biscuit　tin'and　so　on