dolly dialogues-第4部分

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　don't　get　up　out　of　your　favorite　chair　when　you　come　in。〃

〃I　agree；〃　said　I；　〃that　a　soupcon　of　unfamiliarity　is　not　amiss。〃

〃Of　course　it's　nice　to　be　one　of　the　family；〃　she　continued。

〃The　cat　is　that；〃　said　I。　　〃I　would　not　give　a　fig　for　it。〃

〃And　the　Dowager　taught　me　the　ways　of　the　house。〃

〃Ah；　she　taught　me　the　way　out　of　it。〃

〃And　showed　me　how　to　be　most　disagreeable　to　the　servants。〃

〃It　is　the　first　lesson　of　a　housekeeper。〃

〃And　told　me　what　Archie　particularly　liked；　and　how　bad　it　was　for　him；　poor　boy。〃

〃What　should　we　do　without　our　mothers？　　I　do　not；　however；　see　how　I　can　help　in　all　this；　Lady　Mickleham。〃

〃How　funny　that　sounds！〃

〃Aren't　you　accustomed　to　your　dignity　yet？〃

〃I　meant　from　you；　Mr。　Carter。〃

I　smiled。　　That　is　Dolly's　way。　　As　Miss　Phaeton　says；　she　means　no　harm；　and　it　is　admirably　conducive　to　the　pleasure　of　a　tete…a…tete。

〃It　wasn't　that　I　wanted　to　ask　you　about；〃　she　continued；　after　she　had　indulged　in　a　pensive　sigh　（with　a　dutifully　bright　smile　and　a　glance　at　Archie's　photograph　to　follow。　　Her　behavior　always　reminds　me　of　a　varied　and　well　assorted　menu）。　　〃It　was　about　something　much　more　difficult。　　You　won't　tell　Archie；　will　you？〃

〃This　becomes　interesting；〃　I　remarked；　putting　my　hat　down。

〃You　know；　Mr。　Carter；　that　before　I　was　marriedoh；　how　long　ago　it　seems！〃

〃Not　at　all。〃

〃Don't　interrupt。　　That　before　I　was　married　I　had　severalthat　is　to　say；　severalwell；　several〃

〃Start　quite　afresh；〃　I　suggested　encouragingly。

〃Well；　then；　several　men　were　silly　enough　to　think　themselvesyou　know。〃

〃No　one　better；〃　I　assented　cheerfully。

〃Oh；　if　you　won't　be　sensible！Well；　you　see；　many　of　them　are　Archie's　friends　as　well　as　mine；　and；　of　course；　they've　been　to　call。〃

〃It　is　but　good　manners；〃　said　I。

〃One　of　them　waited　to　be　sent　for；　though。〃

〃Leave　that　fellow　out；〃　said　I。

〃What　I　want　to　ask　you　is　thisand　I　believe　you're　not　silly；　really；　you　know；　except　when　you　choose　to　be。〃

〃Walk　in　the　Row　any　afternoon；〃　said　I；　〃and　you　won't　find　ten　wiser　men。〃

〃It's　this。　　Ought　I　to　tell　Archie？〃

〃Good　gracious！　　Here's　a　problem！〃

〃Of　course；〃　pursued　Lady　Mickleham；　opening　her　fan；　〃it's　in　some　ways　more　comfortable　that　he　shouldn't　know。〃

〃For　him？〃

〃Yesand　for　me。　　But　then　it　doesn't　seem　quite　fair。〃

〃To　him？〃

〃Yesand　to　me。　　Because　if　he　came　to　know　from　anybody　else；　he　might　exaggerate　the　things；　you　know。〃

〃Impossible！〃

〃Mr。　Carter！〃

〃Iermean　he　knows　you　too　well　to　do　such　a　thing。〃

〃Oh；　I　see。　　Thank　you。　　Yes。　　What　do　you　think？〃

〃What　does　the　Dowager　say？〃

〃I　haven't　mentioned　it　to　the　Dowager。〃

〃But　surely；　on　such　a　point；　her　experience〃

〃She　can't　have　any；〃　said　Lady　Mickleham　decisively。　　〃I　believe　in　her　husband；　because　I　must。　　But　nobody　else！　　You're　not　giving　me　your　opinion。〃

I　reflected　for　a　moment。

〃Haven't　we　left　out　one　point　to　view？〃　I　ventured　to　suggest。

〃I've　thought　it　all　over　very　carefully；〃　said　she；　〃both　as　it　would　affect　me　and　as　it　would　affect　Archie。〃

〃Quite　so。　　Now　suppose　you　think　how　it　would　affect　them？〃

〃Who？〃

〃Why；　the　men。〃

Lady　Mickleham　put　down　her　cup　of　tea。　　〃What　a　very　curious　idea！〃　she　exclaimed。

〃Give　it　time　to　sink　in；〃　said　I；　helping　myself　to　another　piece　of　toast。　　She　sat　silent　for　a　few　momentspresumably　to　allow　of　the　permeation　I　suggested。　　I　finished　my　tea　and　leant　back　comfortably。　　Then　I　said：

〃Let　me　take　my　own　case。　　Shouldn't　I　feel　rather　awkward？〃

〃Oh；　it's　no　good　taking　your　case；〃　she　interrupted。

〃Why　not　mine　as　well　as　another？〃

〃Because　I　told　him　about　you　long　ago。〃

I　was　not　surprised。　　But　I　could　not　permit　Lady　Mickleham　to　laugh　at　me　in　the　unconscionable　manner　in　which　she　proceeded　to　laugh。　　I　spread　out　my　hands　and　observed　blandly：

〃Why　not　be　guidedas　to　the　others；　I　meanby　your　husband's　example？〃

〃Archie's　example？　　What's　that？〃

〃I　don't　know；　but　you　do；　I　suppose。〃

〃What　do　you　mean；　Mr。　Carter？〃　she　asked；　sitting　upright。

〃Well；　has　he　ever　told　you　about　Maggie　Adeane？〃

〃I　never　heard　of　her。〃

〃Or　Lilly　Courtenay？〃

〃That　girl！〃

〃Or　Alice　Layton？〃

〃The　red…haired　Layton？〃

〃Or　Florence　Cunliffe？〃

〃Who　was　she？〃

〃Or　Millie　Trehearne？〃

〃She　squints；　Mr。　Carter。〃

〃Or〃

〃Stop；　stop！　　What　do　you　mean？　　What　should　he　tell　me？〃

〃Oh；　I　see　he　hasn't。　　Nor；　I　suppose；　about　Sylvia　Fenton；　or　that　little　Delancy　girl；　or　handsome　Misswhat　was　her　name？〃

〃Hold　your　tongueand　tell　me　what　you　mean。〃

〃Lady　Mickleham；〃　said　I　gravely；　〃if　your　husband　has　not　thought　fit　to　mention　these　ladiesand　others　whom　I　could　nameto　you；　how　could　I　presume？〃

〃Do　you　mean　to　tell　me　that　Archie？〃

〃He'd　only　known　you　three　years；　you　see。〃

〃Then　it　was　before？〃

〃Some　of　them　were　before；〃　said　I。

Lady　Mickleham　drew　a　long　breath。

〃Archie　will　be　in　soon；〃　said　she。

I　took　my　hat。

〃It　seems　to　me；〃　I　observed；　〃that　what　is　saucethat；　I　should　say；　husband　and　wife　ought　to　stand　on　an　equal　footing　in　these　matters。　　Since　he　hasno　doubt　for　good　reasonsnot　mentioned　to　you〃

〃Alice　Layton　was　a　positive　fright。〃

〃She　came　last；〃　said　I。　　〃Just　before　you；　you　know。　　However；　as　I　was　saying〃

〃And　that　horrible　Sylvia　Fenton〃

〃Oh；　he　couldn't　have　known　you　long　then。　　As　I　was　saying；　I　should；　if　I　were　you；　treat　him　as　he　has　treated　you。　　In　my　case　it　seems　to　be　too　late。〃

〃I'm　sorry　I　told　him　that。〃

〃Oh；　pray　don't　mind；　it's　of　no　consequence。　　As　to　the　others〃

〃I　should　never　have　thought　it　of　Archie！〃

〃One　never　knows；〃　said　I；　with　an　apologetic　smile。　〃I　don't　suppose　he　thinks　it　of　you。〃

〃I　won't　tell　him　a　single　word。　　He　may　find　out　if　he　likes。　　Who　was　the　last　girl　you　mentioned？〃

〃Is　it　any　use　trying　to　remember　all　their　names？〃　I　asked　in　a　soothing　tone。　　〃No　doubt　he's　forgotten　them　by　nowjust　as　you've　forgotten　the　others。〃

〃And　the　Dowager　told　me　that　he　had　never　had　an　attachment　before。〃

〃Oh；　if　the　Dowager　said　that！　　Of　course；　the　Dowager　would　know！〃

〃Don't　be　so　silly；　for　goodness　sake！　　Are　you　going？〃

〃Certainly　I　am。　　It　might　annoy　Archie　to　find　me　here　when　he　wants　to　talk　to　you。〃

〃Well；　I　want　to　talk　to　him。〃

〃Of　course　you　won't　repeat　what　I've〃

〃I　shall　find　out　for　myself；〃　she　said。

〃Goodbye。　　I　hope　I've　removed　all　your　troubles？〃

〃O；　yes；　thank　you。　　I　know　what　to　do　now；　Mr。　Carter。〃

〃Always　send　for　me　if　you're　in　any　trouble。　　I　have　some　exp〃

〃Goodbye；　Mr。　Carter。〃

〃Goodbye；　Lady　Mickleham。　　And　remember　that　Archie；　like　you〃

〃Yes；　yes；　I　know。　　Must　you　go？〃

I'm　afraid　I　must。　　I've　enjoyed　our　talk　so〃

〃There's　Archie's　step。〃

I　left　the　room。　　On　the　stairs　I　met　Archie。　　I　shook　hands　sympathetically。　　I　was　sorry　for　Archie。　　But　in　great　causes　the　individual　cannot　be　considered。　　I　had　done　my　duty　to　my　sex。



MY　LAST　CHANCE

〃Now　mind；〃　said　Mrs。　Hilary　Musgrave；　impressively；　〃this　is　the　last　time　I　shall　take　any　trouble　about　you。　　She's　a　very　nice　girl；　quite　pretty；　and　she'll　have　a　lot　of　money。　　You　can　be　very　pleasant　when　you　like〃

〃This　unsolicited　testimonial〃

〃Which　isn't　oftenand　if　you　don't　do　it　this　time　I　wash　my　hands　of　you。　　Why；　how　old　are　you？〃

〃Hush；　Mrs。　Hilary；〃

〃You　must　be　nearly〃

〃It's　falsefalsefalse！〃

〃Come　along；〃　said　Mrs。　Hilary；　and　she　added　over　her　shoulder；　〃she　has　a　slight　north…country　accent。〃

〃It　might　have　been　Scotch；〃　said　I。

〃She　plays　the　piano　a　good　deal。〃

〃It　might　have　been　the　fiddle；〃　said　I。

〃She's　very　fond　of　Browning。〃

〃It　might　have　been　Ibsen；〃　said　I。

Mrs。　Hilary；　seeing　that　I　was　determined　to　look　on　the　bright　side；　smiled　graciously　on　me　and　introduced　me　to　the　young　lady。　　She　was　decidedly　good…looking；　fresh　and　sincere　of　aspect；　with　large　inquiring　eyeseyes　which　I　felt　would　demand　a　little　too　much　of　me　at　breakfastbut　then　a　large　tea…urn　puts　that　all　right。

〃Miss　Sophia　MiltonMr。　Carter；〃　said　Mrs。　Hilary；　and　left　us。

Well；　we　tried　the　theaters　first；　but　as　she　had　only　been　to　the　Lyceum　and　I　had　only　been　to　the　Gaioety；　we　soon　got　to　the　end　of　that。　　Then　we　tried　Art：　she　asked　me　what　I　thought　of　Degas：　　I　evaded　the　question　by　criticizing　a　drawing　of　a　horse　in　last　week's　Punchwhich　she　hadn't　seen。　　Upon　this　she　started　literature。　　She　said　〃Some　Qualms　and　a　Shiver〃　was　the　book　of　the　season。　　I　put　my　money　on　〃The　Queen　of　the　Quorn。〃　　Dead　stop　again！　　And　I　saw　Mrs。　Hilary's　eye　upon　me；　there　was　wrath　in　her　face。　　Something　must　be　done。　　A　brilliant　idea　seized　me。　　I　had　read　that　four…fifths　of　the　culture　of　England　were　Conservative。　　I　also　was　a　Conservative。　　It　was　four　to　one　on！　　I　started　politics。　　I　could　have　whooped　for　joy　when　I　elicited　something　particularly　incisive　about　the　ignorance　of　the　masses。

〃I　do　hope　you　agree　with　me；〃　said　Miss　Milton。　　〃The　more　one　reads　and　thinks；　the　more　one　sees　how　fatally　false　a　theory　it　is　that　the　ignorant　massespeople　such　as　I　have　describedcan　ever　rule　a　great　Empire。〃

〃The　Empire　wants　gentlemen；　that's　what　it　wants；〃　said　I；　nodding　my　head　and　glancing　triumphantly　at　Mrs。　Hilary。

〃Men　and　women；〃　said　she；　〃who　are　acquainted　with　the　best　that　has　been　said　and　thought　on　all　important　subjects。〃

At　the　time　I　believed　this　observation　to　be　original；　but　I　have　since　been　told　that　it　was　borrowed。　　I　was　delighted　with　it。

〃Yes；〃　said　I；　〃and　have　got　a　stake　in　the　country；　you　know；　and　know　how　to　behave　　emselves　in　the　House；　don't　you　know？〃

〃What　we　have　to　do；〃　pursued　Miss　Milton；　〃is　to　guide　the　voters。　　These　poor　rustics　need　to　be　informed〃

〃Just　so；〃　I　broke　in。　　〃They　have　to　be　told〃

〃Of　　the　real　nature　of　the　questions〃

〃And　which　candidate　to　support。〃

〃Or　they　must　infallibly〃she　exclaimed。

〃Get　their　marching　orders；〃　I　cried；　in　rapture。　　It　was　exactly　what　I　always　did　on　my　small　property。

〃Oh；　I　didn't　quite　mean　that；〃　she　said　reproachfully。

〃Oh；　well；　neither　did　Iquite；〃　I