dolly dialogues-第14部分

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〃If　I　had　a　wife　who　cared　for　me；　I　should　be　a　better　man；〃　said　I　solemnly。

〃But　you'd　probably　be　very　dull；〃　said　Dolly。　　〃And　you　wouldn't　be　allowed　to　drive　with　me。〃

〃Perhaps　it's　all　for　the　best；〃　said　I；　brightening　up。　　〃Goodbye；　Mrs。　Wiggins。〃

Dolly　walked　on。　　Mrs。　Wiggins　held　my　hand　for　a　moment。

〃Young　man；〃　said　she　sternly；　〃are　you　sure　it's　not　your　own　fault？〃

〃I'm　not　at　all　sure；　Mrs。　Wiggins；〃　said　I。　　〃But　don't　be　distressed　about　it。　　It's　of　no　consequence。　　I　don't　let　it　make　me　unhappy。　　Goodbye；　so　many　thanks。　　Charming　girls　you　have　hereespecially　that　one　in　the　fifthI　mean；　charming；　all　of　them。　　Goodbye。〃

I　hastened　to　the　carriage。　　Mrs。　Wiggins　stood　and　watched。　　I　got　in　and　sat　down　by　Dolly。

〃Oh；　Mrs。　Wiggins；〃　said　Dolly；　dimpling；　〃don't　tell　Mrs。　Hilary　that　Archie　wasn't　with　us；　or　we　shall　get　into　trouble。〃　　And　she　added　to　me；　〃Are　you　all　right？〃

〃Rather！〃　said　I　appreciatively；　and　we　drove　off；　leaving　Mrs。　Wiggins　on　her　doorstep。

A　fortnight　later　I　went　to　call　on　Mrs。　Hilary。　　After　some　conversation　she　remarked：

〃I'm　going　to　the　school　again　tomorrow。〃

〃Really！〃　said　I。

〃And　I'm　so　delightedI've　persuaded　Hilary　to　come。〃

She　paused；　and　then　added：

〃You　really　seemed　interested　last　time。〃

〃Oh；　I　was。〃

〃Would　you　like　to　come　again　tomorrow？〃

〃No；　I　think　not；　thanks；〃　said　I　carelessly。

〃That's　just　like　you！〃　she　said　severely。　　〃You　never　do　any　real　good　because　you　never　stick　to　anything。〃

〃There　are　some　things　one　can't　stick　to；〃　said　I。

〃Oh；　nonsense！〃　said　Mrs。　Hilary。

But　there　areand　I　didn't　go。



THE　OTHER　LADY

〃By　the　merest　chance；〃　I　observed　meditatively；　〃I　attended　a　reception　last　night。〃

〃I　went　to　three；〃　said　Lady　Mickleham；　selecting　a　sardine　sandwich　with　care。

〃I　might　not　have　gone；〃　I　mused；　〃I　might　easily　not　have　gone。〃

〃I　can't　see　what　difference　it　would　have　made　if　you　hadn't；〃　said　she。

〃I　thought　three　times　about　going。　　It's　a　curious　world。〃

〃What　happened？　　You　may　smoke；　you　know。〃

〃I　fell　in　love；〃　said　I；　lighting　a　cigarette。

Lady　Mickleham　placed　her　feet　on　the　fenderit　was　a　chilly　afternoonand　turned　her　face　to　me；　shielding　it　from　the　fire　with　her　handkerchief。

〃Men　of　your　age；〃　she　remarked；　〃have　no　business　to　be　thinking　of　such　things。〃

〃I　was　not　thinking　of　it；〃　said　I。　　〃I　was　thinking　of　going　home。　　Then　I　was　introduced　to　her。〃

〃And　you　stayed　a　little；　I　suppose？〃

〃I　stayed　two　hoursor　two　minutes；I　forget　which〃；　　and；　I　added；　nodding　my　head　at　Lady　Mickleham；　〃There　was　something　irresistible　about　me　last　night。〃

Lady　Mickleham　laughed。

〃You　seem　very　pleased　with　yourself；〃　she　said；　reaching　for　a　fan　to　replace　the　handkerchief。

〃Yes；　take　care　of　your　complexion；〃　said　I　approvingly。　　〃She　has　a　lovely　complexion。〃

Lady　Mickleham　laid　down　the　fan。

〃I　am　very　pleased　with　myself；〃　I　continued。　　〃She　was　delighted　with　me。〃

〃I　suppose　you　talked　nonsense　to　her。〃

〃I　have　not　the　least　idea　what　I　talked　to　her。　　It　was　quite　immaterial。　　The　language　of　the　eyes〃

〃Oh；　you　might　be　a　boy！〃

〃I　was；〃　said　I；　nodding　again。

There　was　a　long　silence。　　Dolly　looked　at　me；　I　looked　at　the　fire。　　I　did　not；　however；　see　the　fire。　　I　saw　something　quite　different。

〃She　liked　me　very　much；〃　I　observed；　stretching　my　hands　out　toward　the　blaze。

〃You　absurd　old　man！〃　said　Dolly。　　〃Was　she　very　charming？〃

〃She　was　perfect。〃

〃How？　　Clever？〃

I　waved　my　hand　impatiently。

〃Pretty；　Mr。　Carter？〃

〃Why；　of　course；　the　prettiest　picture　I　everbut　that　goes　without　saying。〃

〃It　would　have　gone　better　without　saying；〃　remarked　Dolly。　　〃Considering〃

To　have　asked　〃Considering　what？〃　would　have　been　the　acme　of　bad　taste。

I　merely　smiled；　and　waved　my　hand　again。

〃You're　quite　serious　about　it；　aren't　you？〃　said　Dolly。

〃I　should　think　I　was；〃　said　I　indignantly。　　〃Not　to　be　serious　in　such　a　matter　is　to　waste　it　utterly。〃

〃I'll　come　to　the　wedding；〃　said　Dolly。

〃There　won't　be　a　wedding；〃　said　I。　　〃There　are　Reasons。〃

〃Oh！　　You're　very　unlucky；　Mr。　Carter。〃

〃That；〃　I　observed；　〃is　as　it　may　be；　Lady　Mickleham。〃

〃Were　the　Reasons　at　the　reception？〃

〃They　were。　　It　made　no　difference。〃

〃It's　very　curious；〃　remarked　Dolly　with　a　compassionate　air；　〃that　you　always　manage　to　admire　people　whom　somebody　else　has　married。〃

〃It　would　be　very　curious；〃　I　rejoined；　〃if　somebody　had　not　married　the　people　whom　I　admire。　Last　night；　though；　I　made　nothing　of　his　sudden　removal；　my　fancy　rioted　in　accidental　deaths　for　him。〃

〃He　won't　die；〃　said　Dolly。

〃I　hate　that　sort　of　superstition；〃　said　I　irritably。　　〃He's　just　as　likely　to　die　as　any　other　man　is。〃

〃He　certainly　won't　die；〃　said　Dolly。

〃Well；　I　know　he　won't。　　Do　let　it　alone；〃　said　I；　much　exasperated。　　It　was　probably　only　kindness；　but　Dolly　suddenly　turned　her　eyes　away　from　me　and　fixed　them　on　the　fire；　she　took　the　fan　up　again　and　twirled　it　in　her　hand；　a　queer　little　smile　bent　her　lips。

〃I　hope　the　poor　man　won't　die；〃　said　Dolly　in　a　low　voice。

〃If　he　had　died　last　night！〃　I　cried　longingly。　　Then；　with　a　regretful　shrug　of　my　shoulders；　I　added；　〃Let　him　live　now　to　the　crack　of　doom！〃

Somehow　this　restored　my　good　humor。　　I　rose　and　stood　with　my　back　to　the　fire；　stretching　myself　and　sighing　luxuriously。　　Dolly　leant　back　in　her　chair　and　laughed　at　me。

〃Do　you　expect　to　be　forgiven？〃　she　asked。

〃No；　no；〃　said　I；　〃I　had　too　good　an　excuse。〃

〃I　wish　I'd　been　thereat　the　reception；　I　mean。〃

〃I'm　extremely　glad　you　weren't；　Lady　Mickleham。　　As　it　was　I　forgot　all　my　troubles。〃

Dolly　is　not　resentful；　she　did　not　mind　the　implied　description。　　She　leant　back；　smiling　still。　　I　sighed　again；　smiled　at　Dolly；　and　took　my　hat。　　Then　I　turned　to　the　mirror　over　the　mantelpiece；　arranged　my　necktie；　and　gave　my　hair　a　touch。

〃No　one；〃　I　observed；　〃can　afford　to　neglect　the　niceties　of　the　toilet。　　Those　dainty　little　curls　on　the　forehead〃

〃You've　had　none　there　for　ten　years；〃　cried　Lady　Mickleham。

〃I　did　not　mean　my　forehead；〃　said　I。

Sighing　once　again；　I　held　out　my　hand　to　Dolly。

〃Are　you　doing　anything　this　evening？〃　she　asked。

〃That　depends　on　what　I'm　asked　to　do；〃　said　I　cautiously。

〃Well；　Archie's　going　to　be　at　the　House；　and　I　thought　you　might　take　me　to　the　Phaetons'　party。　It's　quite　a　long　drive；　a　horrible　long　drive；　Mr。　Carter。〃

I　stood　for　a　moment　considering　this　proposal。

〃I　don't　think；〃　said　I；　〃that　it　would　be　proper。〃

〃Why；　Archie　suggested　it！　　You're　making　an　excuse。　　You　know　you　are！〃　and　Lady　Mickleham　looked　very　indignant。　　〃As　if；〃　she　added　scornfully；　〃you　cared　about　what　was　proper！〃

I　dropped　into　a　chair；　and　said；　in　a　confidential　tone；　〃I　don't　care　a　pin。　　It　was　a　mere　excuse。　I　don't　want　to　come。〃

〃You're　very　rude；　indeed。　　Many　women　would　never　speak　to　you　again。〃

〃They　would；〃　said　I；　〃all　do　just　as　you　will。〃

〃And　what's　that；　Mr。　Carter。〃

〃Ask　me　again　on　the　first　opportunity。〃

〃Why　won't　you　come？〃　said　Dolly；　waiving　this　question。

I　bent　forward；　holding　my　hat　in　my　left　hand　and　sawing　the　air　with　my　right　forefinger。

〃You　fail　to　allow；〃　said　I　impressively；　〃for　the　rejuvenescence　which　recent　events　have　produced　in　me。　　If　I　came　with　you　this　evening；　I　should　be　quite　capable〃　I　paused。

〃Of　anything　dreadful？〃　asked　Dolly。

〃Of　paying　you　pronounced　attentions；〃　said　I　gravely。

〃That；〃　said　Dolly　with　equal　gravity；　〃would　be　very　regrettable。　　It　would　be　unjust　to　meand　very　insulting　to　her；　Mr。　Carter。〃

〃It　would　be　the　finest　testimonial　to　her；〃　I　cried。

〃And　you'll　spend　the　evening　thinking　of　her？〃　asked　Dolly。

〃I　shall　go　through　the　evening；〃　said　I；　〃in　the　best　way　I　can。〃　　And　I　smiled　contentedly。

〃What's　her　husband？〃　asked　Dolly　suddenly。

〃Her　husband；〃　I　rejoined；　〃is　nothing　at　all。〃

Dolly；　receiving　this　answer；　looked　at　me　with　a　pathetic　air。

〃It's　not　quite　fair；〃　she　observed。　　〃Do　you　know　what　I'm　thinking　about；　Mr。　Carter？〃

〃Certainly　I　do；　Lady　Mickleham。　　You　are　thinking　that　you　would　like　to　meet　me　for　the　first　time。〃

〃Not　at　all。　　I　was　thinking　that　it　would　be　amusing　if　you　met　me　for　the　first　time。〃

I　said　nothing。　　Dolly　rose　and　walked　to　the　window。　　She　swung　the　tassel　of　the　blind　and　it　bumped　against　the　window。　　The　failing　sun　caught　her　ruddy　brown　hair。　　There　were　curls　on　her　forehead；　too。

〃It's　a　grand　world；〃　said　I。　　〃And；　after　all；　one　can　grow　old　very　gradually。〃

〃You're　not　really　old；〃　said　Dolly；　with　the　fleetest　glance　at　me。　　A　glance　should　not　be　over…long。

〃Gradually　and　disgracefully；〃　I　murmured。

〃If　you　met　me　for　the　first　time〃　said　Dolly；　swinging　the　tassel。

〃By　Heaven；　it　should　be　the　last！〃　I　cried；　and　I　rose　to　my　feet。

Dolly　let　the　tassel　go；　and　made　me　a　very　pretty　curtsey。

〃I　am　going　to　another　party　tonight；〃　said　I；　nodding　my　head　significantly。

〃Ah！〃　said　Dolly。

〃And　I　shall　again；〃　I　pursued；　〃spend　my　time　with　the　prettiest　woman　in　the　room。〃

〃Shall　you？〃　asked　Dolly；　smiling。

〃I　am　a　very　fortunate　fellow；〃　I　observed。　　〃And　as　for　Mrs。　Hilary；　she　may　say　what　she　likes。〃

〃Oh；　does　Mrs。　Hilary　know　the　Other　Lady？〃

I　walked　toward　the　door。

〃There　is；〃　said　I；　laying　my　hand　on　the　door；　〃no　Other　Lady。〃

〃I　shall　get　there　about　eleven；〃　said　Dolly。



WHAT　MIGHT　HAVE　BEEN

Unfortunately　it　was　Sunday；　therefore　the　gardeners　could　not　be　ordered　to　shift　the　long　row　of　flower　pots　from　the　side　of　the　terrace　next　the　house；　where　Dolly　had　ordered　them　to　be　put；　to　the　side　remote　from　the　house；　where　Dolly　now　wished　them　to　stand。　　Yet　Dolly　could　not　think　of　living　with　the　pots　where　they　were　till　Monday。　　It　would　kill　her；　she　said。　　So　Archie　left　the　cool　shade　of　the　great　trees；　where　Dolly　sat　doing　nothing；　and　Nellie　Phaeton　sat　splicing　the　gig　whip；　and　I　lay　in　a　deck　chair　with　something　iced　beside　me。　　Outside　the　sun　was　broiling　hot　and　poor　Archie　mopped　his　brow　at　every　weary　journey　across　the　broad　te