dolly dialogues-第7部分

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〃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　the　corners　of　her　mouth。

〃It　comes　to　this；〃　I　remarked。　　〃Supposing　I　forgive　you〃

〃As　if　it　was　my　fault？〃

〃And　risk　Mrs。　Hilary's　wrathdid　you　speak？〃

〃No；　I　laughed；　Mr。　Carter。〃

〃What　shall　I　get　out　of　it？〃

The　sun　was　shining　brightly；　it　shone　on　Dolly；　she　had　raised　her　parasol；　but　she　blinked　a　little　beneath　it。　　She　was　smiling　slightly　still；　and　the　dimple　stuck　to　its　postlike　a　sentinel；　ready　to　rouse　the　rest　from　their　brief　repose。　　Dolly　lay　back　in　the　victoria；　nestling　luxuriously　against　the　soft　cushions。　　She　turned　her　eyes　for　a　moment　on　me。

〃Why　are　you　looking　at　me？〃　she　asked。

〃Because；〃　said　I；　〃there　is　nothing　better　to　look　at。〃

〃Do　you　like　doing　it？〃　asked　Dolly。

〃It　is　a　privilege；〃　said　I　politely。

〃Well；　then！〃　said　Dolly。

〃But；〃　I　ventured　to　observe；　〃it's　rather　an　expensive　one。〃

〃Then　you　mustn't　have　it　very　often。〃

〃And　it　is　shared　by　so　many　people。〃

〃Then；〃　said　Dolly；　smiling　indulgently；　〃you　must　have　ita　little　oftener。　　Home；　Roberts；　please。〃

I　am　not　yet　allowed　at　Mrs。　Hilary　Musgrave's。



A　　VERY　　DULL　　AFFAIR

〃To　hear　you　talk；〃　remarked　Mrs。　Hilary　Musgraveand；　if　any　one　is　surprised　to　find　me　at　her　house；　I　can　only　say　that　Hilary；　when　he　asked　me　to　take　a　pot…luck；　was　quite　ignorant　of　any　ground　of　difference　between　his　wife　and　myself；　and　that　Mrs。　Hilary　could　not　very　well　eject　me　on　my　arrival　in　evening　dress　at　ten　minutes　to　eight〃to　hear　you　talk　one　would　think　that　there　was　no　such　thing　as　real　love。〃

She　paused。　　I　smiled。

〃Now；〃　she　continued；　turning　a　fine；　but　scornful　eye　upon　me；　〃I　have　never　cared　for　any　man　in　the　world　except　my　husband。〃

I　smiled　again。　　Poor　Hilary　looked　very　uncomfortable。　　With　an　apologetic　air　he　began　to　stammer　something　about　Parish　Councils。　　I　was　not　to　be　diverted　by　any　such　maneuver。　　It　was　impossible　that　he　could　really　wish　to　talk　on　that　subject。

〃Would　a　person　who　had　never　eaten　anything　but　beef　make　a　boast　of　it？〃　I　asked。

Hilary　grinned　covertly。　　Mrs。　Hilary　pulled　the　lamp　nearer；　and　took　up　her　embroidery。

〃Do　you　always　work　the　same　pattern？〃　said　I。

Hilary　kicked　me　gently。　　Mrs。　Hilary　made　no　direct　reply；　but　presently　she　began　to　talk。

〃I　was　just　about　Phyllis's　age（by　the　way；　little　Miss　Phyllis　was　there）when　I　first　saw　Hilary。　　You　remember；　Hilary？　At　Bournemouth？〃

〃Oherwas　it　Bournemouth？〃　said　Hilary；　with　much　carelessness。

〃I　was　on　the　pier；〃　pursued　Mrs。　Hilary。　　〃I　had　a　red　frock　on；　I　remember；　and　one　of　those　big　hats　they　wore　that　year。　　Hilary　wore〃

〃Blue　serge；〃　I　interpolated；　encouragingly。

〃Yes；　blue　serge；〃　said　she　fondly。　　〃He　had　been　yachting；　and　he　was　beautifully　burnt。　　I　was　horribly　burntwasn't　I；　Hilary？〃

Hilary　began　to　pat　the　dog。

〃Then　we　got　to　know　one　another。〃

〃Stop　a　minute；〃　said　I。　　〃How　did　that　happen？〃　　Mrs。　Hilary　blushed。

〃Well；　we　were　both　always　on　the　pier；〃　she　explained。　　〃Andand　somehow　Hilary　got　to　know　father；　andand　father　introduced　him　to　me。〃

〃I'm　glad　it　was　no　worse；〃　said　I。　　I　was　considering　Miss　Phyllis；　who　sat　listening；　open…eyed。

〃And　then　you　know；　father　wasn't　always　there；　and　once　or　twice　we　met　on　the　cliff。　　Do　you　remember　that　morning；　Hilary？〃

〃What　morning？〃　asked　Hilary；　patting　the　dog　with　immense　assiduity。

〃Why；　the　morning　I　had　my　white　serge　on。　　I'd　been　bathing；　and　my　hair　was　down　to　dry；　and　you　said　I　looked　like　a　mermaid。〃

〃Do　mermaids　wear　white　serge？〃　I　asked；　but　nobody　took　the　least　notice　of　mequite　properly。

〃And　you　told　me　such　a　lot　about　yourself；　and　then　we　found　we　were　late　for　lunch。〃

〃Yes；〃　said　Hilary；　suddenly　forgetting　the　dog；　〃and　your　mother　gave　me　an　awful　glance。〃

〃Yes；　and　then　you　told　me　that　you　were　very　poor；　but　that　you　couldn't　help　it；　and　you　said　you　supposed　I　couldn't　possibly〃

〃Well；　I　didn't　think！〃

〃And　I　said　you　were　a　silly　old　thing；　and　then〃　　Mrs。　Hilary　stopped　abruptly。

〃How　lovely；〃　remarked　little　Miss　Phyllis　in　a　wistful　voice。

〃And　do　you　remember；〃　pursued　Mrs。　Hilary；　laying　down　her　embroidery　and　clasping　her　hands　on　her　knees；　〃the　morning　you　went　to　see　father？〃

〃What　a　row　there　was！〃　said　Hilary。

〃And　what　an　awful　week　it　was　after　that！　　I　was　never　so　miserable　in　all　my　life。　　I　cried　till　my　eyes　were　quite　red；　and　then　I　bathed　them　for　an　hour；　and　then　I　went　to　the　pier；　and　you　were　thereand　I　mightn't　speak　to　you！〃

〃I　remember；〃　said　Hilary；　nodding　gently。

〃And　then；　Hilary；　father　sent　for　me　and　told　me　it　was　no　use；　and　I　said　I'd　never　marry　any　one　else。　　And　father　said；　　'There；　there；　don't　cry。　　We'll　see　what　mother　says。'〃

〃Your　mother　was　a　brick；〃　said　Hilary；　poking　the　fire。

〃And　that　night　they　never　told　me　anything　about　it；　and　I　didn't　even　change　my　frock；　but　came　down；　looking　horrible；　just　as　I　was；　in　an　old　black　ragno；　Hilary；　don't　say　it　was　pretty！〃

Hilary；　unconvinced；　shook　his　head。

〃And　when　I　walked　into　the　drawing　room　there　was　nobody　there　but　just　you；　and　we　neither　of　us　said　anything　for　ever　so　long。　　And　then　father　and　mother　came　in　anddo　you　remember　after　dinner；　Hilary？〃

〃I　remember；〃　said　Hilary。

There　was　a　long　pause。　　Mrs。　Hilary　was　looking　into　the　fire；　little　Miss　Phyllis's　eyes　were　fixed；　in　rapt　gaze；　on　the　ceiling；　Hilary　was　looking　at　his　wifeI；　thinking　it　safest；　was　regarding　my　own　boots。

At　last　Miss　Phyllis　broke　the　silence。

〃How　perfectly　lovely！〃　she　said。

〃Yes；〃　said　Mrs。　Hilary；　reflectively。　　〃And　we　were　married　three　months　afterwards。〃

〃Tenth　of　June；〃　said　Hilary　reflectively。

〃And　we　had　the　most　charming　little　rooms　in　the　world！　　Do　you　remember　those　first　rooms；　dear？　　So　tiny！〃

〃Not　bad　little　rooms；〃　said　Hilary。

〃How　awfully　lovely；〃　cried　little　Miss　Phyllis。

I　felt　that　it　was　time　to　interfere。

〃And　is　that　all？〃　I　asked。

〃All？　　How　do　you　mean？〃　said　Mrs。　Hilary；　with　a　slight　start。

〃Well；　I　mean；　did　nothing　else　happen？　　Weren't　there　any　complications？　　Weren't　there　any　more　troubles；　or　any　more　opposition；　or　any　misunderstandings；　or　anything？〃

〃No；〃　said　Mrs。　Hilary。

〃You　never　quarreled；　or　broke　it　off？〃

〃No。〃

〃Nobody　came　between　you？〃

〃No。　　It　all　went　just　perfectly。　　Why；　of　course　it　did。〃

〃Hilary's　people　made　themselves　nasty；　perhaps？〃　I　suggested；　with　a　ray　of　hope。

〃They　fell　in　love　with　her　on　the　spot；〃　said　Hilary。

Then　I　rose　and　stood　with　my　back　to　the　fire。

〃I　do　not　know；〃　I　observed；〃　what　Miss　Phyllis　thinks　about　it〃

〃I　think　it　was　just　perfect；　Mr。　Carter。〃

〃But　for　my　part；　I　can　only　say　that　I　never　heard　of　such　a　dull　affair　in　all　my　life。〃

〃Dull！〃　gasped　Miss　Phyllis。

〃Dull！〃　murmured　Mrs。　Hilary。

〃Dull！〃　chuckled　Hilary。

〃It　was；〃　said　I　severely；　〃without　a　spark　of　interest　from　beginning　to　end。　　Such　things　happen　by　thousands。　　It's　commonplaceness　itself。　　I　had　some　hopes　when　you　father　assumed　a　firm　attitude；　but〃

〃Mother　was　such　a　dear；〃　interrupted　Mrs。　Hilary。

〃Just　so。　　She　gave　away　the　whole　situation。　　Then　I　did　trust　that　Hilary　would　lose　his　place；　or　develop　an　old　flame；　or　do　something　just　a　little　interesting。〃

〃It　was　a　perfect　time；〃　said　Mrs。　Hilary。

〃I　wonder　why　in　the　world　you　told　me　about　it；〃　I　pursued。

〃I　don't　know　why　I　did；〃　said　Mrs。　Hilary　dreamily。

〃The　only　possible　excuse　for　an　engagement　like　that；〃　I　observed；　〃is　to　be　found　in　intense　post…nuptial　unhappiness。〃

Hilary　rose；　and　advanced　towards　his　wife。

〃Your　embroidery's　falling　on　the　floor；〃　said　he。

〃Not　a　bit　of　it；〃　said　I。

〃Yes；　it　is；〃　he　persisted；　and　he　picked　it　up　and　gave　it　to　her。　　Miss　Phyllis　smiled　delightedly。　Hilary　had　squeezed　his　wife's　hand。

〃Then　we　don't　excuse　it；〃　said　he。

I　took　out　my　watch。　　I　was　not　finding　much　entertainment。

〃Surely　it's　quite　early；　old　man？〃　said　Hilary。

〃It's　nearly　eleven。　　We've　spent　half…an…hour　on　the　thing；〃　said　I　peevishly；　holding　out　my　hand　to　my　hostess。

〃Oh；　are　you　going？　　Good　night；　Mr。　Carter。〃

I　turned　to　Miss　Phyllis。

〃I　hope　you　won't　think　all　love　affairs　are　like　that；〃　I　said；　but　I　saw　her　lips　begin　to　shape　into　〃lovely；〃　and　I　hastily　left　the　room。

Hilary　came　to　help　me　on　with　my　coat。　　He　looked　extremely　apologetic；　and　very　much　ashamed　of　himself。

〃Awfully　sorry；　old　chap；〃　said　he；　〃that　we　bored　you　with　our　reminiscences。　　I　know；　of　course；　that　they　can't　be　very　interesting　to　other　people。　　Women　are　so　confoundedly　romantic。〃

〃Don't　try　that　on　me；〃　said　I；　much　disgusted。　　〃You　were　just　as　bad　yourself。〃

He　laughed；　as　he　leant　against　the　door。

〃She　did　look　ripping　in　that　white　frock；〃　he　said；　〃with　her　hair〃

〃Stop；〃　said　I　firmly。　　〃She　looked　just　like　a　lot　of　other　girls。〃

〃I'm　hanged　if　she　did！〃　said　Hilary。

Then　he　glanced　at　me　with　a　puzzled　sort　of　expression。

〃I　say；　old　man；　weren't　you　ever　that　way　yourself？〃　he　asked。

I　hailed　a　hansom　cab。

〃Because；　if　you　were；　you　know；　you'd　understand　how　a　fellow　remembers　every〃

〃Good　night；〃　said　I。　　〃At　least　I　suppose　you're　not　coming　to　the　club？〃

〃Well；　I　think　not；〃　said　Hilary。　　〃Ta…ta；　old　fellow。　　Sorry　we　bored　you。　　Of　course；　if　a　man　has　never〃

〃Never！〃　I　groaned。　　〃A　score　of　times！〃

〃Well；　then；　doesn't　it？

〃No；〃　said　I。　　〃It's　just　that　that　makes　stories　like　yours　so　infernally〃

〃What？〃　asked　Hilary；　for　I　had　paused　to　light　a　cigarette。

〃Uninteresting；〃　said　I；　getting　into　my　cab。



STRANGE；　　BUT　　TRUE

The　other　day　my　young　cousin　George　lunched　with　me。　　He　is　a　cheery　youth；　and　a　member　of　the　University　of　Oxford。　　He　refreshes　me　very　much；　and　I　believe　that　I　have　the　pleasure　of　affording　him　some　matter　for　thought。　　On　this　occasion；　however；　he　was　extremely　silent　and　depressed。　　I　said　little；　but　made　an　extremely　good　luncheon。　　Afterwards　we　proceeded