dolly dialogues-第6部分

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〃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。〃

〃Won't　you　tell　me？〃

〃If　you　promise。〃

〃Well；　then；　I　promise。〃

〃Look　in　the　glass。〃

〃What　for？〃

〃To　see　your　face；　to　be　sure。〃

She　started；　blushed　red；　and　moved　a　step　towards　me。

〃You　don't　mean？〃　she　cried。

〃Thou　art　the　woman；〃　said　I。

〃Oh；　but　he　never　said　a　word〃

〃Johnny　had　his　code；〃　said　I。　　〃And　in　some　ways　it　was　better　than　some　people'sin　some；　alas！　　worse。〃

〃And　Hilary？〃

〃Really　you　know　better　than　I　do　whether　I've　told　the　truth　about　Hilary。〃

A　pause　ensued。　　Then　Mrs。　Hilary　made　three　short　remarks；　which　I　give　in　their　order：

（1）　〃The　little　wretch！〃　（2）　〃Dear　old　Hilary！〃　（3）　〃Poor　little　man！〃

I　took　my　hat。　　I　knew　that　Hilary　was　due　from　the　city　in　a　few　minutes。　　Mrs。　Hilary　sat　down　by　the　fire。

〃How　dare　you　torment　me　so？〃　she　asked；　but　not　in　the　least　like　Lady　Macbeth。

〃I　must　have　my　little　amusements；〃　said　I。

〃What　an　audacious　little　creature！〃　said　Mrs。　Hilary。　　〃Fancy　his　daring！Aren't　you　astounded？〃

〃Oh；　yes；　I　am。　　But　Hilary；　you　see〃

〃It's　nearly　his　time；〃　said　Mrs。　Hilary。

I　buttoned　my　left　glove　and　held　out　my　right　hand。

〃I've　a　good　mind　not　to　shake　hands　with　you；〃　said　she。　　〃Wasn't　it　absurd　of　Hilary？〃

〃Horribly。〃

〃He　ought　to　have　been　all　the　more　angry。〃

〃Of　course　he　ought。〃

〃The　presumption　of　it！〃　　And　Mrs。　Hilary　smiled。　　I　also　smiled。

〃That　poor　old　mother　of　his；〃　reflected　Mrs。　Hilary。　　〃Where　did　you　say　she　lived？〃

〃Hilary　knows　the　address；〃　said　I。

〃Silly　little　wretch！〃　mused　Mrs。　Hilary；　still　smiling。

〃Goodbye；〃　said　I。

〃Goodbye；〃　said　Mrs。　Hilary。

I　turned　toward　the　door　and　had　laid　my　hand　on　the　knob；　when　Mrs。　Hilary　called　softly：

〃Mr。　Carter。〃

〃Yes；〃　said　I；　turning。

〃Do　you　know　where　the　little　wretch　has　gone？〃

〃Oh；　yes；〃　said　I。

〃II　suppose　you　don't　ever　write　to　him？〃

〃Dear　me；　no；〃　said　I。

〃But　youcould？〃　suggested　Mrs。　Hilary。

〃Of　course；〃　said　I。

She　jumped　up　and　ran　towards　me。　　Her　purse　was　in　one　hand；　and　a　bit　of　paper　fluttered　in　the　other。

〃Send　him　thatdon't　tell　him；〃　she　whispered；　and　her　voice　had　a　little　catch　in　it。　　〃Poor　little　wretch！〃　said　she。

As　for　me；　I　smiled　cynicallyquite　cynically；　you　know；　for　it　was　very　absurd。

〃Please　do；〃　said　Mrs。　Hilary。

And　I　went。

Supposing　it　had　been　another　woman？　　Well；　I　wonder！



AN　　EXPENSIVE　　PRIVILEGE

A　rather　uncomfortable　thing　happened　the　other　day　which　threatened　a　schism　in　my　acquaintance　and　put　me　in　a　decidedly　awkward　position。　　It　was　no　other　than　this：　Mrs。　Hilary　Musgrave　had　definitely　informed　me　that　she　did　not　approve　of　Lady　Mickleham。　　The　attitude　is；　no　doubt；　a　conceivable　one；　but　I　was　surprised　that　a　woman　of　Mrs。　Hilary's　large　sympathies　should　adopt　it。　　Besides；　Mrs。　Hilary　is　quite　good…looking　herself。

The　history　of　the　affair　is　much　as　follows：　I　called　on　Mrs。　Hilary　to　see　whether　I　could　do　anything；　and　she　told　me　all　about　it。　　It　appears　that　Mrs。　Hilary　had　a　bad　cold　and　a　cousin　up　from　the　country　about　the　same　time　（she　was　justly　aggrieved　at　the　double　event）；　and　being　unable　to　go　to　the　Duchess　of　Dexminster's　〃squash；〃　she　asked　Dolly　Mickleham　to　chaperon　little　Miss　Phyllis。　　Little　Miss　Phyllis；　of　course；　knew　no　one　therethe　Duchess　least　of　all（but　then　very　few　of　usyes；　I　was　thereknew　the　Duchess；　and　the　Duchess　didn't　know　any　of　us；　I　saw　her　shake　hands　with　a　waiter　myself；　just　to　be　on　the　safe　side）；　and　an　hour　after　the　party　began　she　was　discovered　wandering　about　in　a　most　desolate　condition。　　Dolly　had　told　her　that　she　would　be　in　a　certain　place；　and　when　Miss　Phyllis　came；　Dolly　was　not　there。　　The　poor　little　lady　wandered　about　for　another　hour；　looking　so　lost　that　one　was　inclined　to　send　for　a　policeman；　and　then　she　sat　down　on　a　seat　by　the　wall；　and；　in　desperation；　asked　her　next…door　neighbor　if　he　knew　Lady　Mickleham　by　sight；　and　had　he　seen　her　lately？　　The　next…door　neighbor；　by　way　of　reply；　called　out　to　a　quiet　elderly　gentleman　who　was　sidling　unobtrusively　about；　〃Duke；　are　there　any　particularly　snug　corners　in　your　house？〃　　The　Duke　stopped；　searched　his　memory；　and　said　that　at　the　end　of　the　Red　Corridor　there　was　a　passage；　and　that　a　few　yards　down　the　passage；　if　you　turned　very　suddenly　to　the　right；　you　would　come　on　a　little　nook　under　the　stairs。　　The　little　nook　just　held　a　settee；　and　the　settee　（the　Duke　thought）　might　just　hold　two　people。　　The　next…door　neighbor　thanked　the　Duke；　and　observed　to　Miss　Phyllis

〃It　will　give　me　great　pleasure　to　take　you　to　Lady　Mickleham。〃　　So　they　went；　it　being　then；　according　to　Miss　Phyllis'　sworn　statement　precisely　two　hours　and　five　minutes　since　Dolly　had　disappeared；　and；　pursuing　the　route　indicated　by　the　Duke；　they　found　Lady　Mickleham。　　And　Lady　Mickleham　exclaimed；　〃Good　gracious；　my　dear；　I'd　quite　forgotten　you！　　Have　you　had　an　ice？　　Do　take　her　to　have　an　ice；　Sir　John。〃　　（Sir　John　Berry　was　the　next…door　neighbor。）　　And　with　that　Lady　Mickleham　is　said　to　have　resumed　her　conversation。

〃Did　you　ever　hear　anything　more　atrocious？〃　concluded　Mrs。　Hilary。　　〃I　really　cannot　think　what　Lord　Mickleham　is　doing。〃

〃You　surely　mean；　what　Lady　Mickleham？〃

〃No；　I　don't；〃　said　Mrs。　Hilary；　with　extraordinary　decision。　　〃Anything　might　have　happened　to　that　poor　child！〃

〃Oh；　there　were　not　many　of　the　aristocracy　present；〃　said　I　soothingly。

〃But　it's　not　that　so　much　as　the　thing　itself。　　She's　the　most　disgraceful　flirt　in　London。〃

〃How　do　you　know　she　was　flirting？〃　　I　inquired　with　a　smile。

〃How　do　I　know？〃　echoed　Mrs。　Hilary。

〃It　is　a　very　hasty　conclusion；〃　I　persisted。　　〃Sometimes　I　stay　talking　with　you　for　an　hour　or　more。　　Are　you；　therefore；　flirting　with　me？〃

〃With　you！〃　exclaimed　Mrs。　Hilary；　with　a　little　laugh。

〃Absurd　as　the　supposition　is；〃　I　remarked；　〃it　yet　serves　to　point　the　argument。　　Lady　Mickleham　might　have　been　talking　with　a　friend；　just　in　the　quiet　rational　way　in　which　we　are　talking　now。〃

〃I　don't　think　that's　likely；〃　said　Mrs。　Hilary；　andwell；　I　do　not　like　to　say　that　she　sniffedit　would　convey　too　strong　an　idea；　but　she　did　make　an　odd　little　sound　something　like　a　much　etherealized　sniff。

I　smiled　again；　and　more　broadly。　　I　was　enjoying　beforehand　the　little　victory　which　I　was　to　enjoy　over　Mrs。　Hilary。　　〃Yet　it　happens　to　be　true；〃　said　I。

Mrs。　Hilary　was　magnificently　contemptuous。

〃Lord　Mickleham　told　you　so；　I　suppose？〃　she　asked。　　〃And　I　suppose　Lady　Mickleham　told　himpoor　man！〃

〃Why　do　you　call　him　'poor　man'？〃

〃Oh；　never　mind。　　Did　he　tell　you？〃

〃Certainly　not。　　The　fact　is；　Mrs。　Hilaryand　really；　you　must　excuse　me　for　having　kept　you　in　the　dark　a　littleit　amused　me　so　much　to　hear　your　suspicions。〃

Mrs。　Hilary　rose　to　her　feet。

〃Well；　what　are　you　going　to　say？〃　she　asked。

I　laughed；　as　I　answered：　〃Why；　I　was　the　man　with　Lady　Mickleham　when　your　friend　and　Berry　interwhen　they　arrived；　you　know。〃

Well；　I　should　have　thoughtI　should　still　thinkthat　she　would　have　been　pleasedrelieved；　you　know；　to　find　her　uncharitable　opinion　erroneous；　and　pleased　to　have　it　altered　on　the　best　authority。　　I'm　sure　that　is　how　I　should　have　felt。　　It　was　not；　however；　how　Mrs。　Hilary　felt。

〃I　am　deeply　pained；〃　she　observed　after　a　long　pause；　and　then　she　held　out　her　hand。

〃I　was　sure　you'd　forgive　my　little　deception；〃　said　I；　grasping　it。　　I　thought　still　that　she　meant　to　bury　all　unkindness。

〃I　should　never　have　thought　it　of　you；〃　she　went　on。

〃I　didn't　know　your　friend　was　there　at　all；〃　I　pleaded；　for　by　now　I　was　alarmed。

〃Oh；　please　don't　shuffle　like　that；〃　said　Mrs。　Hilary。

She　continued　to　stand；　and　I　rose　to　my　feet。　　Mrs。　Hilary　held　out　her　hand　again。

〃Do　you　mean　that　I'm　to　go？〃　said　I。

〃I　hope　we　shall　see　you　again　some　day；〃　said　Mrs。　Hilary；　the　tone　suggested　that　she　was　looking　forward　to　some　future　existence；　when　my　earthly　sins　should　have　been　sufficiently　purged。　　It　reminded　me　for　the　moment　of　King　Arthur　and　Queen　Guinevere。

〃But　I　protest；〃　I　began；　〃that　my　only　object　in　telling　you　was　to　show　you　how　absurd〃

〃Is　it　any　good　talking　about　it　now？〃　asked　Mrs。　Hilary。　　A　discussion　might　possibly　be　fruitful　in　the　dim　futurity　before　mentionedbut　not　nowthat　was　what　she　seemed　to　say。

〃Lady　Mickleham　and　I；　on　the　occasion　in　question〃　I　began　with　dignity。

〃Pray；　spare　me；〃　quote　Mrs。　Hilary；　with　much　greater　dignity。

I　took　my　hat。

〃Shall　you　be　at　home　as　usual　on　Thursday？〃　I　asked。

〃I　have　a　great　many　people　coming　already；〃　she　remarked。

〃I　can　take　a　hint；〃　said　I。

〃I　wish　you'd　take　warning；〃　said　Mrs。　Hilary。

〃I　will　take　my　leave；〃　said　Iand　I　did；　leaving　Mrs。　Hilary　in　a　tragic　attitude　in　the　middle　of　the　room。　　Never　again　shall　I　go　out　of　my　way　to　lull　Mrs。　Hilary's　suspicions。

A　day　or　two　after　this　very　trying　interview；　Lady　Mickleham's　victoria　happened　to　stop　opposite　where　I　was　seated　in　the　park。　　I　went　to　pay　my　respects。

〃Do　you　mean　to　leave　me　nothing　in　the　world；〃　I　asked；　just　by　way　of　introducing　the　subject　of　Mrs。　Hilary。　　〃One　of　my　best　friends　has　turned　me　out　of　her　house　on　your　account。〃

〃Oh；　do　tell　me；〃　said　Dolly；　dimpling　all　over　her　face。

So　I　told　her；　I　made　the　story　as　long　as　I　could　for　reasons　connected　with　the　dimples。

〃What　fun！〃　exclaimed　Dolly。　　〃I　told　you　at　the　time　that　a　young　unmarried　person　like　you　ought　to　be　more　careful。〃

〃I　am　just　debating；〃　I　observed；　〃whether　to　sacrifice　you。〃

〃To　sacrifice　me；　Mr。　Carter？〃

〃Of　course；〃　I　explained；　〃if　I　dropped　you；　Mrs。　Hilary　would　let　me　come　again。〃

〃How　charming　that　would　be！〃　cried　Dolly。　　〃You　would　enjoy　her　nice　serious　conversationall　about　Hilary！〃

〃She　is　apt；　I　conceded；　〃to　touch　on　Hilary。　　But　she　is　very　picturesque。〃

〃Oh；　yes；　she's　handsome；〃　said　Dolly。

There　was　a　pause。　　Then　Dolly　said；　〃Well？〃

〃Well？〃　said　I　in　return。

〃It　is　goodbye？〃　asked　Dolly；　drawing　down　t