dolly dialogues-第8部分

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d　to　take　a　stroll　in　the　Park。

〃Sam；　old　boy；〃　said　George　suddenly；　〃I'm　the　most　miserable　devil　alive。〃

〃I　don't　know　what　else　you　expect　at　your　age；〃　I　observed；　lighting　a　cigar。　　He　walked　on　in　silence　for　a　few　moments。

〃I　say；　Sam；　old　boy；　when　you　were　young；　were　you　ever？〃　　he　paused；　arranged　his　neckcloth　（it　was　more　like　a　bed…quiltoh；　the　fashion；　of　course；　I　know　that）；　and　blushed　a　fine　crimson。

〃Was　I　ever　what；　George？〃　I　had　the　curiosity　to　ask。

〃Oh；　well；　hard　hit；　you　knowa　girl；　you　know。〃

〃In　love；　you　mean；　George？　　No；　I　never　was。〃

〃Never？〃

〃No。　　Are　you？〃

〃Yes。　　Hang　it！〃　　Then　he　looked　at　me　with　a　puzzled　air　and　continued：

〃I　say；　though；　Sam；　it's　awfully　funny　you　shouldn't　havedon't　you　know　what　it's　like；　then？〃

〃How　should　I？〃　I　inquired　apologetically。　　〃What　is　it　like；　George？〃

George　took　my　arm。

〃It's　just　Hades；〃　he　informed　me　confidentially。

〃Then；〃　I　remarked；　〃I　have　no　reason　to　regret？〃

〃Still；　you　know；〃　interrupted　George；　〃it's　not　half　bad。〃

〃That　appears　to　me　to　be　a　paradox；〃　I　observed。

〃It's　precious　hard　to　explain　it　to　you　if　you've　never　felt　it；〃　said　George；　in　rather　an　injured　tone。　　〃But　what　I　say　is　quite　true。〃

〃I　shouldn't　think　of　contradicting　you；　my　dear　fellow；〃　I　hastened　to　say。

〃Let's　sit　down；〃　said　he；　〃and　watch　the　people　driving。　　We　may　see　somebodysomebody　we　know；　you　know；　Sam。〃

〃So　we　may；〃　said　I；　and　we　sat　down。

〃A　fellow；〃　pursued　George；　with　knitted　brows；　〃is　all　turned　upside　down；　don't　you　know？〃

〃How　very　peculiar？〃　I　exclaimed。

〃One　moment　he's　the　happiest　dog　in　the　world；　and　the　nextwell；　the　next；　it's　the　deuce。〃

〃But；〃　I　objected；　〃not　surely　without　good　reason　for　such　a　change？〃

〃Reason？　　Bosh！　　The　least　thing　does　it。〃

I　flicked　the　ash　from　my　cigar。

〃It　may；〃　I　remarked；　〃affect　you　in　this　extraordinary　way；　but　surely　it　is　not　so　with　most　people？〃

〃Perhaps　not；〃　George　conceded。　　〃Most　people　are　cold…blooded　asses。〃

〃Very　likely　the　explanation　lies　in　that　fact；〃　said　I。

〃I　didn't　mean　you；　old　chap；〃　said　George；　with　a　penitence　which　showed　that　he　had　meant　me。

〃Oh；　all　right；　all　right；〃　said　I。

〃But　when　a　man's　really　far　gone　there's　nothing　else　in　the　world　but　it。〃

〃That　seems　to　me　not　to　be　a　healthy　condition；〃　said　I。

〃Healthy？　　Oh；　you　old　idiot；　Sam！　　Who's　talking　of　health？　　Now；　only　last　night　I　met　her　at　a　dance。　　I　had　five　dances　with　hertalked　to　her　half　the　evening；　in　fact。　　Well；　you'd　think　that　would　last　some　time；　wouldn't　you？〃

〃I　should　certainly　have　supposed　so；〃　I　assented。

〃So　it　would　with　most　chaps；　I　dare　say；　but　with　meconfound　it；　I　feel　as　if　I　hadn't　seen　her　for　six　months！〃

〃But；　my　dear　George；　that's　surely　rather　absurd？　　As　you　tell　me；　you　spent　a　long　while　with　the　young　person〃

〃Theyoung　person！〃

〃You've　not　told　me　her　name；　you　see。〃

〃No；　and　I　shan't。　　I　wonder　if　she'll　be　at　the　Musgraves'　tonight！〃

〃You're　sure；〃　said　I　soothingly；　〃to　meet　her　somewhere　in　the　course　of　the　next　few　weeks。〃

George　looked　at　me。　　Then　he　observed　with　a　bitter　laugh：

〃It's　pretty　evident　you've　never　had　it。　　You're　as　bad　as　those　chaps　who　write　books。〃

〃Well；　but　surely　they　often　describe　with　sufficient　warmth　andercolor〃

〃Oh；　I　dare　say；　but　it's　all　wrong。　　At　least；　it's　not　what　I　feel。　　Then　look　at　the　girls　in　books！　All　beasts！〃

George　spoke　with　much　vehemence；　so　that　I　was　led　to　say：

〃The　lady　you　are　preoccupied　with　is；　I　suppose；　handsome？〃

George　turned　swiftly　round　on　me。

〃Look　here；　can　you　hold　your　tongue；　Sam？〃

I　nodded。

〃Then　I'm　hanged　if　I　won't　point　her　out　to　you？〃

〃That's　uncommon　good　of　you；　George；〃　said　I。

〃Then　you'll　see；〃　continued　George。　　〃But　it's　not　only　her　looks；　you　know；　she's　the　most〃

He　stopped。　　Looking　round　to　see　why；　I　observed　that　his　face　was　red；　he　clutched　his　walking　stick　tightly　in　his　left　hand；　his　right　hand　was　trembling；　as　if　it　wanted　to　jump　up　to　his　hat。　〃Here　she　comes！　　Look；　look！〃　he　whispered。

Directing　my　eyes　towards　the　lines　of　carriages　which　rolled　past　us；　I　observed　a　girl　in　a　victoria；　by　her　side　sat　a　portly　lady　of　middle　age。　　The　girl　was　decidedly　like　the　lady；　a　description　of　the　lady　would　not；　I　imagine；　be　interesting。　　The　girl　blushed　slightly　and　bowed。　George　and　I　lifted　our　hats。　　The　victoria　and　its　occupants　were　gone。　　George　leant　back　with　a　sigh。　　After　a　moment；　he　said：

〃Well；　that　was　her。〃

There　was　expectancy　in　his　tone。

〃She　has　an　extremely　prepossessing　appearance；〃　I　observed。

〃There　isn't；〃　said　George；　〃a　girl　in　London　to　touch　her。　　Sam；　old　boy；　I　believeI　believe　she　likes　me　a　bit。〃

〃I'm　sure　she　must；　George；〃　said　I；　and　indeed；　I　thought　so。

〃The　Governor's　infernally　unreasonable；〃　said　George；　fretfully。

〃Oh；　you've　mentioned　it　to　him？〃

〃I　sounded　him。　　Oh；　you　may　be　sure　he　didn't　see　what　I　was　up　to。　　I　put　it　quite　generally。　　He　talked　rot　about　getting　on　in　the　world。　　Who　wants　to　get　on？〃

〃Who；　indeed？〃　said　I。　　〃It　is　only　changing　what　you　are　for　something　no　better。〃

〃And　about　waiting　till　I　know　my　own　mind。　　Isn't　it　enough　to　look　at　her？〃

〃Ample；　in　my　opinion；〃　said　I。

George　rose　to　his　feet。

〃They've　gone　to　a　party；　they　won't　come　round　again；〃　said　he。　　〃We　may　as　well　go；　mayn't　we？〃

I　was　very　comfortable；　so　I　said　timidly：

〃We　might　see　somebody　else　we　know。〃

〃Oh；　somebody　else　be　hanged！　　Who　wants　to　see　　em？〃

〃I'm　sure　I　don't。〃　said　I　hastily；　as　I　rose　from　my　armchair；　which　was　at　once　snapped　up。

We　were　about　to　return　to　the　club；　when　I　observed　Lady　Mickleham's　barouche　standing　under　the　trees。　　I　invited　George　to　come　and　be　introduced。

He　displayed　great　indifference。

〃She　gives　a　good　many　parties；〃　said　I；　〃and　perhaps〃

〃By　Jove！　　Yes；　I　may　as　well；〃　said　George。　　〃Glad　you　had　the　sense　to　think　of　that；　old　man。〃

So　I　took　him　up　to　Dolly　and　presented　him。　　Dolly　was　very　gracious；　George　is　an　evidently　presentable　boy。　　We　fell　into　conversation。

〃My　cousin；　Lady　Mickleham；〃　said　I；　〃has　been　telling　me〃

〃Oh；　shut　up；　Sam！〃　said　George；　not；　however；　appearing　very　angry。

〃About　a　subject　on　which　you　can　assist　him　more　than　I　can；　inasmuch　as　you　are　married。　　He　is　in　love。〃

Dolly　glanced　at　George。

〃Oh；　what　fun！〃　said　she。

〃Fun！〃　cried　George。

〃I　mean；　how　awfully　interesting；〃　said　Dolly；　suddenly　transforming　her　expression。

〃And　he　wanted　to　be　introduced　to　you　because　you　might　ask　her　and　him　to〃

George　became　red；　and　began　to　stammer　an　apology。

〃Oh；　I　don't　believe　him；〃　said　Dolly　kindly；　〃he　always　makes　people　uncomfortable　if　he　can。　What　were　you　telling　him；　Mr。　George？〃

〃It's　no　use　telling　him　anything。　　He　can't　understand；〃　said　George。

〃Is　she　very？〃　asked　Dolly；　fixing　doubtfully　grave　eyes　on　my　young　cousin。

〃Sam's　seen　her；〃　said　he；　in　an　excess　of　shyness。

Dolly　turned　to　me　for　an　opinion；　and　I　gave　one：

〃She　is　just；〃　said　I；　〃as　charming　as　he　thinks　her。〃

Dolly　leant　over　to　my　cousin；　and　whispered；　〃Tell　me　her　name。〃　　And　he　whispered　something　back　to　Dolly。

〃It's　awfully　kind　of　you；　Lady　Mickleham；〃　he　said。

〃I　am　a　kind　old　thing；〃　said　Dolly；　all　over　dimples。　　〃I　can　easily　get　to　know　them。〃

〃Oh；　you　really　are　awfully　kind；　Lady　Mickleham。〃

Dolly　smiled　upon　him；　waved　her　hand　to　me；　and　drove　off；　crying

〃Do　try　to　make　Mr。　Carter　understand！〃

We　were　left　along。　　George　wore　a　meditative　smile。　　Presently　he　roused　himself　to　say：

〃She's　really　a　very　kind　woman。　　She's　so　sympathetic。　　She's　not　like　you。　　I　expect　she　felt　it　once　herself；　you　know。〃

〃One　can　never　tell；〃　said　I　carelessly。　　〃Perhaps　she　didonce。〃

George　fell　to　brooding　again。　　I　thought　I　would　try　an　experiment。

〃Not　altogether　bad…looking；　either；　is　she？〃　I　asked；　lighting　a　cigarette。

George　started。

〃What？　　Oh；　well；　I　don't　know。　　I　suppose　some　people　might　think　so。〃

He　paused；　and　added；　with　a　bashful；　knowing　smile

〃You　can　hardly　expect　me　to　go　into　raptures　about　her；　can　you；　old　man？〃

I　turned　my　head　away；　but　he　caught　me。

〃Oh；　you　needn't　smile　in　that　infernally　patronizing　way；〃　he　cried　angrily。

〃Upon　my　word；　George；〃　said　I；　〃I　don't　know　that　I　need。〃



THE　VERY　LATEST　THING

〃It's　the　very　latest　thing；〃　said　Lady　Mickleham；　standing　by　the　table　in　the　smoking　room；　and　holding　an　album　in　her　hand。

〃I　wish　it　had　been　a　little　later　still；〃　said　I；　for　I　felt　embarrassed。

〃You　promise；　on　your　honor；　to　be　absolutely　sincere；　you　know；　and　then　you　write　what　you　think　of　me。　　See　what　a　lot　of　opinions　I've　got　already；〃　and　she　held　up　the　thick　album。

〃It　would　be　extremely　interesting　to　read　them；〃　I　observed。

〃Oh！〃　but　they're　quite　confidential；〃　said　Dolly。　　〃That's　part　of　the　fun。〃

〃I　don't　appreciate　that　part；〃　said　I。

〃Perhaps　you　will　when　you've　written　yours；〃　suggested　Lady　Mickleham。

〃Meanwhile；　mayn't　I　see　the　Dowager's？〃

〃Well；　I'll　show　you　a　little　bit　of　the　Dowager's。　　Look　here：　　Our　dear　Dorothea　is　still　perhaps　just　a　thought　wanting　in　seriousness；　but　the　sense　of　her　position　is　having　a　sobering　effect。'〃

〃I　hope　not；〃　I　exclaimed　apprehensively。　　〃Whose　is　this？〃

〃Archie's。〃

〃May　I　see　a　bit？〃

〃Not　a　bit；〃　said　Dolly。　　〃Archie's　isis　rather　foolish；　Mr。　Carter。〃

〃So　I　suppose；〃　said　I。

〃Dear　boy！〃　said　Dolly　reflectively。

〃I　hate　sentiment；〃　said　I。　　〃Here's　a　long　one。　　Who　wrote？〃

〃Oh；　you　mustn't　look　at　thatnot　at　that；　above　all！〃

〃Why　above　all？〃　I　asked　with　some　severity。

Dolly　smiled；　then　she　observed　in　a　soothing　tone。

〃Perhaps　it　won't　be　'above　all'　when　you've　written　yours；　Mr。　Carter。〃

〃By　the　way；〃　I　said　carelessly；　〃I　suppose　Archie　sees　all　of　them？〃

〃He　has　never　asked　to　see　them；〃　answered　Lady　Mickleham。

The　reply　seemed　satisfactory；　of　course；　Archie　had　only　to　ask。　　I　took　a　clean　quill　and　prepared　to　write。

〃You　promise　to　be　sincere；　you　know；〃　Dolly　reminded　me。