dolly dialogues-第5部分

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rty。

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

〃Oh；　well；　neither　did　Iquite；〃　I　responded　adroitly。　　What　was　wrong　with　the　girl　now？

〃But　with　the　help　of　the　League〃　she　went　on。

〃Do　you　belong？〃　I　cried；　more　delighted　than　ever。

〃O；　yes；〃　said　she。　　〃I　think　it's　a　duty。　　I　worked　very　hard　at　the　last　election。　　I　spent　days　distributing　packages　of〃

Then　I　made；　I'm　sorry　to　say；　a　false　step。　　I　observed；　interrupting：

〃But　it's　ticklish　work　now；　eh？　　Six　months'　'hard'　wouldn't　be　pleasant；　would　it？〃

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

I　was　still　blind。　　I　believe　I　winked；　and　I'm　sure　I　whispered；　〃Tea。〃

Miss　Milton　drew　herself　up　very　straight。

〃I　do　not　bribe；〃　she　said。　　〃What　I　distribute　is　pamphlets。〃

Now　I　suppose　that　〃pamphlets〃　and　〃blankets　don't　really　sound　much　alike；　but　I　was　agitated。

〃Quite　right；〃　said　I。　　〃Poor　old　things！　　They　can't　afford　proper　fuel。〃

She　rose　to　her　feet。

〃I　was　not　joking；〃　she　said　with　horrible　severity。

〃Neither　was　I；〃　I　declared　in　humble　apology。　　〃Didn't　you　say　　blankets？'〃

〃Pamphlets。〃

〃Oh！〃

There　was　a　long　pause。　　I　glanced　at　Mrs。　Hilary。　　Things　had　not　fallen　out　as　happily　as　they　might；　but　I　did　not　mean　to　give　up　yet。

〃I　see　you're　right；〃　I　said；　still　humbly。　　〃To　descend　to　such　means　as　I　had　in　my　mind　is〃

〃To　throw　away　our　true　weapons；〃　said　she　earnestly。　　（She　sat　down　againgood　sign。）

〃What　we　really　need〃　I　began。

〃Is　a　reform　of　the　upper　classes；〃　said　she。

〃Let　them　give　an　example　of　duty；　of　self…denial；　of　frugality。〃

I　was　not　to　be　caught　out　again。

〃Just　what　I　always　say；〃　I　observed；　impressively。

〃Let　them　put　away　their　horse　racing；　their　betting；　their　luxurious　living；　their〃

〃You're　right；　Miss　Milton；〃　said　I。

〃Let　them　set　an　example　of　morality。〃

〃They　should；〃　I　assented。

Miss　Milton　smiled。

〃I　thought　we　agreed　really；〃　said　she。

〃I'm　sure　we　do；〃　cried　I；　and　I　winked　with　my　〃off〃　eye　at　Mrs。　Hilary　as　I　sat　down　beside　Miss　Milton。

〃Now　I　heard　of　a　man　the　other　day；〃　said　she；　〃who's　nearly　40。　　He's　got　an　estate　in　the　country。　　He　never　goes　there；　except　for　a　few　days'　shooting。　　He　lives　in　town。　　He　spends　too　much。　　He　passes　an　absolutely　vacant　existence　in　a　round　of　empty　gaiety。　　He　has　by　no　means　a　good　reputation。　　He　dangles　about；　wasting　his　time　and　his　money。　　Is　that　the　sort　of　example？〃

〃He's　a　traitor　to　his　class；〃　said　I　warmly。

〃If　you　want　him；　you　must　look　on　a　race　course；　or　at　a　tailor's；　or　in　some　fashionable　woman's　boudoir。　　And　his　estate　looks　after　itself。　　He's　too　selfish　to　marry；　too　idle　to　work；　too　silly　to　think。〃

I　began　to　be　sorry　for　this　man；　in　spite　of　his　peccadilloes。

〃I　wonder　if　I've　met　him；〃　said　I。　　〃I'm　occasionally　in　town；　when　I　can　get　time　to　run　up。　What's　his　name？〃

〃I　don't　think　I　heardor　I've　forgotten。　　But　he's　got　the　place　next　to　a　friend　of　mine　in　the　country；　and　she　told　me　all　about　him。　　She's　exactly　the　opposite　sort　of　personor　she　wouldn't　be　my　friend。〃

〃I　should　think　not；　Miss　Milton；〃　said　I　admiringly。

〃Oh；　I　should　like　to　meet　that　man；　and　tell　him　what　I　think　of　him！〃　said　she。　　〃Such　men　as　he　do　more　harm　than　a　dozen　agitators。　　So　contemptible；　too！〃

〃It's　revolting　to　think　of；〃　said　I。

〃I'm　so　glad　you〃　began　Miss　Milton；　quite　confidentially；　I　pulled　my　chair　a　trifle　closer；　and　cast　an　apparently　careless　glance　towards　Mrs。　Hilary。　　Suddenly　I　heard　a　voice　behind　me。

〃Eh；　what？　　Upon　my　honor　it　is！　　Why；　Carter；　my　boy；　how　are　you？　　Eh；　what？　　Miss　Milton；　too；　I　declare！　　Well；　now；　what　a　pity　Annie　didn't　come！〃

I　disagreed。　　I　hate　Annie。　　But　I　was　very　glad　to　see　my　friend　and　neighbor；　Robert　Dinnerly。　He's　a　sensible　manhis　wife's　a　little　prig。

〃Oh；　Mr。　Dinnerly；〃　cried　Miss　Milton；　〃how　funny　that　you　should　come　just　now？　　I　was　just　trying　to　remember　the　name　of　a　man　Mrs。　Dinnerly　told　me　about。　　I　was　telling　Mr。　Carter　about　him。　　You　know　him。〃

〃Well；　Miss　Milton；　perhaps　I　do。　　Describe　him。〃

〃I　don't　believe　Annie　ever　told　me　his　name；　but　she　was　talking　about　him　at　our　house　yesterday。〃

〃But　I　wasn't　there；　Miss　Milton。〃

〃No；〃　said　Miss　Milton；　〃but　he's　got　the　next　place　to　yours　in　the　country。〃

I　positively　leaped　from　my　seat。

〃Why；　good　gracious；　Carter　himself；　you　mean？〃　cried　Dinnerly；　laughing。　　〃Well；　that　is　a　good　　unha…ha…ha！〃

She　turned　a　stony　glare　on　me。

〃Do　you　live　next　to　Mr。　Dinnerly　in　the　country？〃　she　asked。

I　would　have　denied　it　if　Dinnerly　had　not　been　there。　　As　it　was；　I　blew　my　nose。

〃I　wonder；〃　said　Miss　Milton；　〃what　has　become　of　Aunt　Emily。〃

〃Miss　Milton；〃　said　I；　〃by　a　happy　chance　you　have　enjoyed　a　luxury。　　You　have　told　the　man　what　you　think　of　him。〃

〃Yes；〃　said　she；　〃and　I　have　only　to　add　that　he　is　also　a　hypocrite。〃

Pleasant；　wasn't　it？　　Yet　Mrs。　Hilary　says　it　was　my　fault。　　That's　a　woman　all　over！



THE　LITTLE　WRETCH

Seeing　that　little　Johnny　Tompkins　was　safely　out　of　the　country；　under　injunctions　to　make　a　new　man　of　himself；　and　to　keep　that　new　man；　when　made；　at　the　Antipodes；　I　could　not　see　anything　indiscreet　in　touching　on　the　matter　in　the　course　of　conversation　with　Mrs。　Hilary　Musgrave。　　In　point　of　fact；　I　was　curious　to　find　out　what　she　knew；　and　supposing　she　knew；　what　she　thought。　　So　I　mentioned　little　Johnny　Tompkins。

〃Oh；　the　little　wretch！〃　cried　Mrs。　Hilary。　　〃You　know　he　came　here　two　or　three　times？　Anybody　can　impose　on　Hilary。〃

〃Happy　woman　II　mean　unhappy　man；　Mrs。　Hilary。〃

〃And　how　much　was　it　he　stole？〃

〃Hard　on　a　thousand；〃　said　I。　　〃For　a　time；　you　know；　he　was　quite　a　man　of　fashion。〃

〃Oh；　I　know。　　He　came　here　in　his　own　hansom；　perfectly　dressed；　and〃

〃Behaved　all　right；　didn't　he？〃

〃Yes。　　Of　course　there　was　a　something。〃

〃Or　you　wouldn't　have　been　deceived！〃　said　I；　with　a　smile。

〃I　wasn't　deceived；〃　said　Mrs。　Hilary；　an　admirable　flush　appearing　on　her　cheeks。

〃That　is　to　say；　Hilary　wouldn't。〃

〃Oh；　Hilary！　　Why　didn't　his　employers　prosecute　him；　Mr。　Carter？〃

〃In　the　first　place；　he　had　that　inestimable　advantage　in　a　career　of　dishonestyrespectable　relations。〃

〃Well；　but　still〃

〃His　widowed　mother　was　a　trump；　you　know。〃

〃Do　you　mean　a　good　woman。〃

〃Doubtless　she　was；　but　I　mean　a　good　card。　　However；　there　was　another　reason。〃

〃I　can't　see　any；〃　declared　Mrs。　Hilary。

〃I'm　going　to　surprise　you；〃　said　I。　　〃Hilary　interceded　for　him。〃

〃Hilary？〃

〃You　didn't　know　it？　　I　thought　not。　　Well；　he　did。〃

〃Why；　he　always　pretended　to　want　him　to　be　convicted。〃

〃Cunning　Hilary！〃　said　I。

〃He　used　to　speak　most　strongly　against　him。〃

〃That　was　his　guile；〃　said　I。

〃Oh；　but　why　in　the　world？〃　she　began；　then　she　paused；　and　went　on　again：　〃It　was　nothing　to　do　with　Hilary。〃

〃Hilary　went　with　me　to　see　him；　you　know；　while　they　had　him　under　lock　and　key　at　the　firm's　offices。〃

〃Did　he？　　I　never　heard　that。〃

〃And　he　was　much　impressed　with　his　bearing。〃

〃Well；　I　suppose；　Mr。　Carter；　that　if　he　was　really　penitent〃

〃Never　saw　a　man　less　penitent；〃　I　interrupted。　　〃He　gloried　in　his　crime；　if　I　remember　his　exact　expression；　it　was　that　the　jam　was　jolly　well　worth　the　powder；　and　if　they　liked　to　send　him　to　chokee　they　could　and　beand　suffer　accordingly；　you　know。〃

〃And　after　that；　Hilary！〃

〃Oh；　anybody　can　impose　on　Hilary；　you　know。　　Hilary　only　asked　what　the　jam　　was。〃

〃It's　a　horrid　expression；　but　I　suppose　it　meant　acting　the　part　of　a　gentleman；　didn't　it？〃

〃Not　entirely。　　According　to　what　he　told　Hilary；　Johnny　was　in　love。〃

〃Oh；　and　he　stole　for　some　wretched？〃

〃Now　do　be　careful。　　What　do　you　know　about　the　lady？〃

〃The　lady！　　I　can　imagine　Johnny　Tompkin's's　ideal？〃

〃So　can　I；　if　you　come　to　that。〃

〃And　she　must　have　known　his　money　wasn't　his　own。〃

〃Why　must　she？〃　　I　asked。　　〃According　to　what　he　told　Hilary；　she　didn't。〃

〃I　don't　believe　it；〃　said　Mrs。　Hilary；　with　decision。

〃Hilary　believed　it！〃

〃Oh；　Hilary！〃

〃But；　then　Hilary　knew　the　girl。〃

〃Hilary　knew！　　You　mean　to　say　Hilary　knew？

〃No　one　better；〃　said　I　composedly。

Mrs。　Hilary　rose　to　her　feet。　　〃Who　was　the　creature？〃　she　asked　sharply。

〃Come；〃　I　expostulated；　〃how　would　you　like　it　if　your　young　man　had　taken　to　theft　and〃

〃Oh；　nonsense。　　Tell　me　her　name；　please；　Mr。　Carter。〃

〃Johnny　told　Hilary　that　just　to　see　her　and　talk　to　her　and　sit　by　her　side　was　'worth　all　the　money'but　then；　to　be　sure；　it　was　somebody　else's　moneyand　that　he'd　do　it　again　to　get　what　he　had　got　over　again。　　Then；　I'm　sorry　to　say；　he　swore。〃

〃And　Hilary　believed　that　stuff？〃

〃Hilary　agreed　with　him；〃　said　I。　　〃Hilary；　you　see；　knows　the　lady。〃

〃What's　her　name；　Mr。　Carter？〃

〃Didn't　you　notice　his　attentions　to　any　one？〃

〃I　notice！　　You　don't　mean　that　I've　seen　her？〃

〃Certainly　you　have。〃

〃Was　she　ever　here？'

〃Yes；　Mrs。　Hilary。　　Hilary　takes　care　of　that。〃

〃I　shall　be　angry　in　a　minute；　Mr。　Carter。　　Oh；　I'll　have　this　out　of　Hilary！〃

〃I　should。〃

〃Who　was　she？〃

〃According　to　what　he　told　Hilary；　she　was　the　most　fascinating　woman　in　the　world；　Hilary　thought　so；　too。〃

Mrs。　Hilary　began　to　walk　up　and　down。

〃Oh；　so　Hilary　helped　to　let　him　go；　because　they　both？〃

〃Precisely；〃　said　I。

〃And　you　dare　to　come　and　tell　me？〃

〃Well；　I　thought　you　ought　to　know；〃　said　I。　　〃Hilary's　just　as　mad　about　her　as　Johnnyin　fact；　he　said　he'd　be　hanged　if　he　wouldn't　have　done　the　same　himself。〃

I　have　once　seen　Madame　Ristori　play　Lady　Macbeth。　　Her　performance　was　recalled　to　me　by　the　tones　in　which　Mrs。　Hilary　asked：

〃Who　is　this　woman；　if　you　please；　Mr。　Carter？〃

〃So　Hilary　got　him　offgave　him　fifty　pounds　too。〃

〃Glad　to　get　him　away；　perhaps；〃　she　burst　out；　in　angry　scorn。

〃Who　knows？〃　said　I。　　〃Perhaps。〃

〃Her　name？〃　demanded　Lady　MacbethI　mean　Mrs。　Hilaryagain。

〃I　shan't　tell　you；　unless　you　promise　to　say　nothing　to　Hilary。〃

〃To　say　nothing！　　Well；　really〃

〃Oh；　all　right！〃　and　I　took　up　my　hat。

〃But　I　can　watch　them；　can't　I？〃

〃As　much　as　you　like