dolly dialogues-第10部分

快捷操作: 按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页 按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页 按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部! 如果本书没有阅读完，想下次继续接着阅读，可使用上方 "收藏到我的浏览器" 功能 和 "加入书签" 功能！



〃By　Jove！〃　remarked　Archie；　coming　up　behind　us；　pipe　in　mouth；　〃there　was　a　lot　of　rain　last　night。　　I've　just　measured　it　in　the　gauge。〃

〃Some　people　measure　everything；〃　said　I；　with　a　displeased　air。　　〃It　is　a　detestable　habit。〃

〃Archie；　what　does　Pereunt　et　imputantur　mean？〃

〃Eh？　　Oh；　I　see。　　Well；　I　say；　Carter！Oh；　well；　you　know；　I　suppose　it　means　you've　got　to　pay　for　your　fun；　doesn't　it？〃

〃Oh；　is　that　all？　　I　was　afraid　it　was　something　horrid。　　Why　did　you　frighten　me；　Mr。　Carter？〃

〃I　think　it　is　rather　horrid；〃　said　I。

〃Why；　it　isn't　even　true；〃　said　Dolly　scornfully。

Now　when　I　heard　this　ancient　and　respectable　legend　thus　cavalierly　challenged；　I　fell　to　studying　it　again；　and　presently　I　exclaimed：

〃Yes；　you're　right！　　If　it　said　that；　it　wouldn't　be　true；　but　Archie　translated　it　wrong。〃

〃Well；　you　have　a　shot；〃　suggested　Archie。

〃The　oysters　are　eaten　and　put　down　in　the　bill；〃　said　I。　　〃And　you　will　observe；　Archie；　that　it　does　not　say　in　whose　bill。〃

〃Ah！〃　said　Dolly。

〃Well；　somebody's　got　to　pay；〃　persisted　Archie。

〃Oh；　yes；　somebody；〃　laughed　Dolly。

〃Well；　I　don't　know；〃　said　Archie。　　〃I　suppose　the　chap　that　has　the　fun〃

〃It's　not　always　a　chap；〃　observed　Dolly。

〃Well；　then　the　individual；〃　amended　Archie。　　〃I　suppose　he'd　have　to　pay。〃

〃It　doesn't　say　so；〃　I　remarked　mildly。　　〃And　according　to　my　small　experience〃

〃I'm　quite　sure　your　meaning　is　right；　Mr。　Carter；〃　said　Dolly　in　an　authoritative　tone。

〃As　for　the　other　motto；　Archie；〃　said　I；　〃it　merely　means　that　a　woman　considers　all　hours　wasted　which　she　does　not　spend　in　the　society　of　her　husband。〃

〃Oh；　come；　you　don't　gammon　me；〃　said　Archie。　　〃It　means　that　the　sun　don't　shine　unless　it's　fine；　you　know。〃

Archie　delivered　this　remarkable　discovery　in　a　tone　of　great　self　satisfaction。

〃Oh；　you　dear　old　thing！〃　said　Dolly。

〃Well；　it　does　you　know；〃　said　he。

There　was　a　pause。　　Archie　kissed　his　wife　（I　am　not　complaining；　he　has；　of　course；　a　perfect　right　to　kiss　his　wife）　and　strolled　away　toward　the　hothouses。

I　lit　another　cigarette。　　Then　Dolly；　pointing　to　the　stem　of　the　dial；　cried：

〃Why；　here's　another　inscriptionoh；　and　in　English？〃

She　was　right。　　There　was　anothercarelessly　scratched　on　the　old　battered　columnnearly　effaced；　for　the　characters　had　been　but　lightly　markedand　yet　not；　as　I　conceived　from　the　tenor　of　the　words；　very　old。

〃What　is　it？〃　asked　Dolly；　peering　over　my　shoulder；　as　I　bent　down　to　read　the　letters；　and　shading　her　eyes　with　her　hand。　　（Why　didn't　she　put　on　her　hat？　　We　touch　the　Incomprehensible。）

〃It　is；〃　said　I；　〃a　singularly　poor；　shallow；　feeble；　and　undesirable　little　verse。〃

〃Read　it　out；〃　said　Dolly。

So　I　read　it。　　The　silly　fellow　had　written：

Life　is　Love；　the　poets　tell　us；　In　the　little　books　they　sell　us；　But　pray；　ma'amwhat's　of　Life　the　Use；　If　Life　be　Love？　　For　Love's　the　Deuce。

Dolly　began　to　laugh　gently；　digging　the　pin　again　into　her　hat。

〃I　wonder；〃　she　said；　〃whether　they　used　to　come　and　sit　by　this　old　dial　just　as　we　did　this　morning！〃

〃I　shouldn't　be　at　all　surprised；〃　said　I。　　〃And　another　point　occurs　to　me；　Lady　Mickleham。〃

〃Oh；　does　it？　　What's　that；　Mr。　Carter？〃

〃Do　you　think　that　anybody　measured　the　rain　gauge！〃

Dolly　looked　at　me　very　gravely。

〃I'm　so　sorry　when　you　do　that；〃　said　she　pathetically。

I　smiled。

〃I　really　am；〃　said　dolly。　　〃But　you　don't　mean　it；　do　you？〃

〃Certainly　not；〃　said　I。

Dolly　smiled。

〃No　more　than　he　did！〃　said　I；　pointing　to　the　sun　dial。

And　then　we　both　smiled。

〃Will　this　hour　count；　Mr。　Carter？〃　asked　Dolly；　as　she　turned　away。

〃That　would　be　rather　strict；〃　said　I。



A　　REMINISCENCE

〃I　know　exactly　what　your　mother　wants；　Phyllis；〃　observed　Mrs。　Hilary。

〃It's　just　to　teach　them　the　ordinary　things；〃　said　little　Miss　Phyllis。

〃What　are　the　ordinary　things？〃　I　ventured　to　ask。

〃What　all　girls　are　taught；　of　course；　Mr。　Carter；〃　said　Mrs。　Hilary。　　〃I'll　write　about　it　at　once。〃　And　she　looked　at　me　as　if　she　thought　that　I　might　be　about　to　go。

〃It　is　a　comprehensive　curriculum；〃　I　remarked；　crossing　my　legs；　〃if　one　may　judge　from　the　results。　　How　old　are　your　younger　sisters；　Miss　Phyllis？〃

〃Fourteen　and　sixteen；〃　she　answered。

〃It　is　a　pity；〃　said　I；　〃that　this　didn't　happen　a　little　while　back。　　I　knew　a　governess　who　would　have　suited　the　place　to　a　　t。'〃

Mrs。　Hilary　smiled　scornfully。

〃We　used　to　meet〃　I　continued。

〃Who　used　to　meet？〃　asked　Miss　Phyllis。

〃The　governess　and　myself；　to　be　sure；〃　said　I；　〃under　the　old　apple　tree　in　the　garden　at　the　back　of　the　house。〃

〃What　house；　Mr。　Carter？〃

〃My　father's　house；　of　course；　Miss　Phyllis。　　And〃

〃Oh；　but　that　must　be　ages　ago！〃　cried　she。

Mrs。　Hilary　rose；　cast　one　glance　at　me；　and　turned　to　the　writing　table。　　Her　pen　began　to　scratch　almost　immediately。

〃And　under　the　apple　tree；〃　I　pursued；　〃we　had　many　pleasant　conversations。〃

〃What　about？〃　asked　Miss　Phyllis。

〃One　thing　and　another；〃　I　returned。　　〃The　schoolroom　windows　looked　out　that　waya　circumstance　which　made　matters　more　comfortable　for　everybody。〃

〃I　should　have　thought〃　began　Miss　Phyllis；　smiling　slightly；　but　keeping　an　apprehensive　eye　on　Mrs。　Hilary's　back。

〃Not　at　all；〃　I　interrupted。　　〃My　sisters　saw　us；　you　see。　　Well；　of　course　they　entertained　an　increased　respect　for　me；　which　was　all　right；　and　a　decreased　respect　for　the　governess；　which　was　also　all　right。　　We　met　in　the　hour　allotted　to　French　lessonsby　an　undesigned　but　appropriate　coincidence。〃

〃I　shall　say　about　thirty…five；　Phyllis；〃　called　Mrs。　Hilary　from　the　writing　table。

〃Yes；　Cousin　Mary；〃　called　Miss　Phyllis。　　〃Did　you　meet　often；　Mr。　Carter？〃

〃Every　evening　in　the　French　hour；〃　said　I。

〃She'll　have　got　over　any　nonsense　by　then；〃　called　Mrs。　Hilary。　　〃They　are　often　full　of　it。〃

〃She　had　remarkably　pretty　hair；〃　I　continued；　〃very　soft　it　was。　　Dear　me！　　I　was　just　twenty。〃

〃How　old　was　she？〃　asked　Miss　Phyllis。

〃One's　first　love；〃　said　I；　〃is　never　any　age。　　Everything　went　very　well。　　Happiness　was　impossible。　　I　was　heartbroken；　and　the　governess　was　far　from　happy。　　Ah；　happy；　happy　times！〃

〃But　you　don't　seem　to　have　been　happy；〃　objected　Miss　Phyllis。

〃Then　came　a　terrible　evening〃

〃She　ought　to　be　a　person　of　active　habits；〃　called　Mrs。　Hilary。

〃I　think　so；　yes；　Cousin　Mary；　oh；　what　happened；　Mr。　Carter？〃

〃And　an　early　riser；〃　added　Mrs。　Hilary。

〃Yes；　Cousin　Mary。　　What　did　happen；　Mr。　Carter？〃

〃My　mother　came　in　during　the　French　hour。　　I　don't　know　whether　you　have　observed；　Miss　Phyllis；　how　easy　it　is　to　slip　into　the　habit　of　entering　rooms　when　you　had　better　remain　outside。　　Now；　even　my　friend　ArchHowever；　that's　neither　here　nor　there。　　My　mother；　as　I　say；　came　in。〃

〃Church　of　England；　of　course；　Phyllis？〃　called　Mrs。　Hilary。

〃Oh；　of　course；　cousin　Mary；〃　cried　little　Miss　Phyllis。

〃The　sect　makes　no　difference；〃　I　observed。　　〃Well；　my　sisters；　like　good　girls；　began　to　repeat　the　irregular　verbs。　　But　it　was　no　use。　　We　were　discovered。　　That　night；　Miss　Phyllis；　I　nearly　drowned　myself。〃

〃You　must　have　beenOh；　how　awful；　Mr。　Carter！〃

〃That　is　to　say；　I　thought　how　effective　it　would　be　if　I　drowned　myself。　　Ah；　well；　it　couldn't　last！〃

〃And　the　governess？〃

〃She　left　next　morning。〃

There　was　a　pause。　　Miss　Phyllis　looked　sad　and　thoughtful；　I　smiled　pensively　and　beat　my　cane　against　my　leg。

〃Have　you　ever　seen　her　since？〃　asked　Miss　Phyllis。

〃No。〃

〃Shouldn'tshouldn't　you　like　to；　Mr。　Carter？〃

〃Heaven　forbid！〃　said　I。

Suddenly　Mrs。　Hilary　pushed　back　her　chair；　and　turned　round　to　us。

〃Well；　I　declare；〃　said　she；　〃I　must　be　growing　stupid。　　Here　have　I　been　writing　to　the　Agency；　when　I　know　of　the　very　thing　myself！　　The　Polwheedles'　governess　is　just　leaving　them；　she's　been　there　over　fifteen　years。　　Lady　Polwheedle　told　me　she　was　a　treasure。　　I　wonder　if　she'd　go！〃

〃Is　she　what　mamma　wants？〃

〃My　dear；　you'll　be　most　lucky　to　get　her。　　I'll　write　at　once　and　ask　her　to　come　to　lunch　tomorrow。　　I　met　her　there。　　She's　an　admirable　person。〃

Mrs。　Hilary　wheeled　round　again。　　I　shook　my　head　at　Miss　Phyllis。

〃Poor　children！〃　said　I。　　〃Manage　a　bit　of　fun　for　them　sometimes。〃

Miss　Phyllis　assumed　a　staid　and　virtuous　air。

〃They　must　be　properly　brought　up；　Mr。　Carter；〃　said　she。

〃Is　there　a　House　Opposite？〃　I　asked；　and　Miss　Phyllis　blushed。

Mrs。　Hilary　advanced；　holding　out　a　letter。

〃You　may　as　well　post　this　for　me；〃　said　she。　　〃Oh；　and　would　you　like　to　come　to　lunch　tomorrow？〃

〃To　meet　the　Paragon？〃

〃No。　　She'll　be　there；　of　course；　but　you　see　it's　Saturday；　and　Hilary　will　be　here；　and　I　thought　you　might　take　him　off　somewhere　and　leave　Phyllis　and　me　to　have　a　quiet　talk　with　her。〃

〃That　won't　amuse　her　much；〃　I　ventured　to　remark。

〃She's　not　coming　to　be　amused；〃　said　Mrs。　Hilary　severely。

〃All　right；　I'll　come；〃　said　I；　taking　my　hat。

〃Here's　the　note　for　Miss　Bannerman；〃　said　Mrs。　Hilary。

That　sort　of　thing　never　surprises　me。　　I　looked　at　the　letter　and　read　〃Miss　M。　E。　Bannerman。〃　〃M。　E。〃　stood　for　〃Maud　Elizabeth。〃　　I　put　my　hat　back　on　the　table。

〃What　sort　of　a　looking　person　is　this　Miss　Bannerman？〃　I　asked。

〃Oh；　a　spare；　upright　womanhair　a　little　gray；　andI　don't　know　how　to　describe　ither　face　looks　a　little　weather…beaten。　　She　wears　glasses。〃

〃Thank　you；〃　said　I。　　〃And　what　sort　of　a　looking　person　am　I？〃

Mrs。　Hilary　looked　scornful。　　Miss　Phyllis　opened　her　eyes。

〃How　old　do　I　look；　Miss　Phyllis？〃　I　asked。

〃I　don't　know；〃　she　said　uncomfortably。

〃Guess；〃　said　I　sternly。

〃F…forty…threeoh；　or　forty…two？〃　she　asked；　with　a　timid　upward　glance。

〃When　you've　done　your　nonsense〃　began　Mrs。　Hilary；　but　I　laid　a　hand　on　her　arm。

〃Should　you　call　me　fat？〃　I　asked。

〃Oh；　no；　not　fat；〃　said　Mrs。　Hilary；　with　a　smile；　which　she　strove　to　render　reassuring。

〃I　am　undoubtedly　bald；〃　I　observed。

〃You're　certainly　bald；〃　said　Mrs。　Hilary；　with　regretful　candor。

I　took　my　hat　and　remarked：　〃A　man　has　a　right　to　think　of　himself；　but　I　am　not　thinking　mainly　of　myself。　　I　sh