dolly dialogues-第9部分

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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。

I　laid　down　my　pen。

〃Impossible！〃　said　I　firmly。

〃O；　but　why；　Mr。　Carter？〃

〃There　would　be　an　end　of　our　friendship。〃

〃Do　you　think　as　badly　of　me　as　all　that？〃　asked　Dolly　with　a　rueful　air。

I　leant　back　in　my　chair；　and　looked　at　Dolly。　　She　looked　at　me。　　She　smiled。　　I　may　have　smiled。

〃Yes；〃　said　I。

〃Then　you　needn't　write　it　quite　all　down；〃　said　Dolly。

〃I　am　obliged；〃　said　I；　taking　up　my　pen。

〃You　mustn't　say　what　isn't　true；　but　you　needn't　say　everything　that　isthat　might　betrue；〃　explained　Dolly。

This；　again；　seemed　satisfactory。　　I　began　to　write；　Dolly　sitting　opposite　me　with　her　elbows　on　the　table；　and　watching　me。

After　ten　minutes'　steady　work；　which　included　several　pauses　for　reflection；　I　threw　down　the　pen；　leant　back　in　my　chair；　and　lit　a　cigarette。

〃Now　read　it；〃　said　Dolly；　her　chin　in　her　hands　and　her　eyes　fixed　on　me。

〃It　is；　on　the　whole；〃　I　observed；　〃complimentary。〃

〃No；　really；〃　said　Dolly。　　〃Yet　you　promised　to　be　sincere。〃

〃You　would　not　have　had　me　disagreeable？〃　I　asked。

〃That's　a　different　thing；〃　said　Dolly。　　〃Read　it；　please。〃

〃Lady　Mickleham；〃　I　read；　〃is　usually　accounted　a　person　of　considerable　attractions。　　She　is　widely　popular；　and　more　than　one　woman　has　been　known　to　like　her。〃

〃I　don't　quite　understand　that；〃　interrupted　Dolly。

〃It　is　surely　simple；〃　said　I；　and　I　read　on　without　delay。　　〃She　is　kind　even　to　her　husband；　and　takes　the　utmost　pains　to　conceal　from　her　mother…in…law　anything　calculated　to　distress　that　lady。〃

〃I　suppose　you　mean　that　to　be　nice？〃　said　Dolly。

〃Of　course；〃　I　answered；　and　I　proceeded：　〃She　never　gives　pain　to　any　one；　except　with　the　object　of　giving　pleasure　to　somebody　else；　and　her　kindness　is　no　less　widely　diffused　than　it　is　hearty　and　sincere。〃

〃That　really　is　nice；〃　said　Dolly；　smiling。

〃Thank　you；〃　said　I；　smiling　also。　　〃She　is　very　charitable；　she　takes　a　pleasure　in　encouraging　the　shy　and　bashful〃

〃How　do　you　know　that？〃　asked　Dolly。

〃While；〃　I　pursued；　〃suffering　without　impatience　a　considerable　amount　of　self…assurance。〃

〃You　can't　know　whether　I'm　patient　or　not；〃　remarked　Dolly。　　〃I'm　polite。〃

〃She　thinks；〃　I　read　on；　〃no　evil　of　the　most　attractive　of　women；　and　has　a　smile　for　the　most　unattractive　of　men。〃

〃You　put　that　very　nicely；〃　said　Dolly；　nodding。

〃The　former　may　constantly　be　seen　in　her　houseand　the　latter　at　least　as　often　as　many　people　would　think　desirable。〃　　（Here　for　some　reason　Dolly　laughed。）　　〃Her　intellectual　powers　are　not　despicable。〃

〃Thank　you；　Mr。　Carter。〃

〃She　can　say　what　she　means　on　the　occasions　on　which　she　wishes　to　do　so；　and　she　is；　at　other　times；　equally　capable　of　meaning　much　more　than　she　would　be　likely　to　say。〃

〃How　do　you　mean　that；　Mr。　Carter；　　please？〃

〃It　explains　itself；〃　said　I；　and　I　proceeded：　〃The　fact　of　her　receiving　a　remark　with　disapprobation　does　not　necessarily　mean　that　it　causes　her　displeasure；　nor　must　it　be　assumed　that　she　did　not　expect　a　visitor　merely　on　the　ground　that　she　greets　him　with　surprise。〃

Here　I　observed　Lady　Mickleham　looking　at　me　rather　suspiciously。

〃I　don't　think　that's　quite　nice　of　you；　Mr。　Carter；〃　she　said　pathetically。

〃Lady　Mickleham　is；　in　short；〃　I　went　on；　coming　to　my　peroration；　〃equally　deserving　of　esteem　and　affection〃

〃Esteem　and　affection！　　That　sounds　just　right；〃　said　Dolly　approvingly。

〃And　those　who　have　been　admitted　to　the　enjoyment　of　her　friendship　are　unanimous　in　discouraging　all　others　from　seeking　a　similar　privilege。〃

〃I　beg　your　pardon？〃　cried　Lady　Mickleham。

〃Are　unanimous；〃　I　repeated；　slowly　and　distinctly；　〃in　discouraging　all　others　from　seeking　a　similar　privilege。〃

Dolly　looked　at　me；　with　her　brow　slightly　puckered。　　I　leant　back；　puffing　at　my　cigarette。　Presentlyfor　there　was　quite　a　long　pauseDolly's　lips　curved。

〃My　mental　powers　are　not　despicable；〃　she　observed。

〃I　have　said　so；〃　said　I。

〃I　think　I　see；〃　she　remarked。

〃Is　there　anything　wrong？〃　I　asked　anxiously。

〃N…no；〃　said　Dolly；　〃not　exactly　wrong。　　In　fact；　I　rather　think　I　like　that　last　bit　best。　　Still；　don't　you　think？

She　rose；　came　round　the　table；　took　up　the　pen；　and　put　it　back　in　my　hand。　　〃What's　this　for？〃　I　asked。

〃To　correct　the　mistake；〃　said　Dolly。

〃Do　you　really　think　so？〃　said　I。

〃I'm　afraid　so；〃　said　Dolly。

I　took　the　pen　and　made　a　certain　alteration。　　Dolly　took　up　the　album。

〃　'Are　unanimous；'〃　she　read；　〃　in　encouraging　all　others　to　seek　a　similar　privilege。'　　Yes；　you　meant　that；　you　know；　Mr。　Carter。〃

〃I　suppose　I　must　have；〃　said　I　rather　sulkily。

〃The　other　was　nonsense；〃　urged　Dolly。

〃Oh；　utter　nonsense；〃　said　I。

〃And　you　had　to　write　the　truth！〃

〃Yes；　I　had　to　write　some　of　it。〃

〃And　nonsense　can't　be　the　truth；　can　it；　Mr。　Carter？〃

〃Of　course　it　can't；　Lady　Mickleham。〃

〃Where　are　you　going；　Mr。　Carter？〃　she　asked；　for　I　rose　from　my　chair。

〃To　have　a　quiet　smoke；〃　said　I。

〃Alone？〃　asked　Dolly。

〃Yes；　alone；〃　said　I。

I　walked　towards　the　door。　　Dolly　stood　by　the　table　fingering　the　album。　　I　had　almost　reached　the　door；　then　I　happened　to　look　round。

〃Mr。　Carter！〃　said　Dolly；　as　though　a　new　idea　had　struck　her。

〃What　is　it；　Lady　Mickleham？〃

〃Well；　you　know；　Mr。　Carter；　II　shall　try　to　forget　that　mistake　of　yours。〃

〃You're　very　kind；　Lady　Mickleham。〃

〃But；〃　said　Dolly　with　a　troubled　smile；　〃II'm　quite　afraid　I　shan't　succeed；　Mr。　Carter。〃

After　all；　the　smoking　room　is　meant　for　smoking。



AN　UNCOUNTED　HOUR

We　were　standing；　Lady　Mickleham　and　I；　at　a　door　which　led　from　the　morning　room　to　the　terrace　at　The　Towers。　　I　was　on　a　visit　to　the　historic　pile　（by　Vanbrughout　of　the　money　accumulated　by　the　third　EarlPaymaster　to　the　Forcestemp。　　Queen　Anne）。　　The　morning　room　is　a　large　room。　　Archie　was　somewhere　in　it。　　Lady　Mickleham　held　a　jar　containing　pate　de　foie　gras；　from　time　to　time　she　dug　a　piece　out　with　a　fork　and　flung　the　morsel　to　a　big　retriever　which　was　sitting　on　the　terrace。　　The　morning　was　fine；　but　cloudy。　　Lady　Mickleham　wore　blue。　　The　dog　swallowed　the　pate　with　greediness。

〃It's　so　bad　for　him；〃　sighed　she；　〃but　the　dear　likes　it　so　much。〃

〃How　human　the　creatures　are；〃　said　I。

〃Do　you　know；〃　pursued　Lady　Mickleham；　〃that　the　Dowager　says　I'm　extravagant。　　She　thinks　dogs　ought　not　to　be　fed　on　pate　de　foie　gras。〃

〃Your　extravagance；〃　I　observed；　〃is　probably　due　to　your　having　been　brought　up　on　a　moderate　income。　　I　have　felt　the　effect　myself。〃

〃Of　course；〃　said　Dolly；　〃we　are　hit　by　the　agricultural　depression。〃

〃The　Carters　also；〃　I　murmured；　〃are　landed　gentry。〃

〃After　all；　I　don't　see　much　point　in　economy；　do　you；　Mr。　Carter？〃

〃Economy；〃　I　remarked；　putting　my　hands　in　my　pockets；　〃is　going　without　something　you　do　want　in　case　you　should；　some　day；　want　something　which　you　probably　won't　want。〃

〃Isn't　that　clever？〃　asked　Dolly　in　an　apprehensive　tone。

〃Oh；　dear；　no；〃　I　answered　reassuringly。　　〃Anybody　can　do　thatif　they　care　to　try；　you　know。〃

Dolly　tossed　a　piece　of　pate　to　the　retriever。

〃I　have　made　a　discovery　lately；〃　I　observed。

〃What　are　you　two　talking　about？〃　called　Archie。

〃You're　not　meant　to　hear；〃　said　Dolly；　without　turning　round。

〃Yet；　if　it's　a　discovery；　he　ought　to　hear　it。〃

〃He's　made　a　good　many　lately；〃　said　Dolly。

She　dug　out　the　last　bit　of　pate；　flung　it　to　the　dog；　and　handed　the　empty　pot　to　me。

〃Don't　be　so　allegorical；〃　I　implored。　　〃Besides；　it's　really　not　just　to　Archie。　　No　doubt　the　dog　is　a　nice　one；　but〃

〃How　foolish　you　are　this　morning！　　What's　the　discovery？〃

〃An　entirely　surprising　one。〃

〃Oh；　but　let　me　hear！　　It's　nothing　about　Archie；　is　it？〃

〃No；　I've　told　you　all　Archie's　sins。〃

〃Nor　Mrs。　Hilary？　　I　wish　it　was　Mrs。　Hilary！〃

〃Shall　we　walk　on　the　terrace？〃　I　suggested。

〃Oh；　yes；　let's；〃　said　Dolly；　stepping　out；　and　putting　on　a　broad…brimmed；　low…crowned　hat；　which　she　caught　up　from　a　chair　hard　by。　　〃It　isn't　Mrs。　Hilary？〃　she　added；　sitting　down　on　a　garden　seat。

〃No；〃　said　I；　leaning　on　a　sundial　which　stood　by　the　seat。

〃Well；　what　is　it？〃

〃It　is　simple；〃　said　I；　〃and　serious。　　It　is　not；　therefore；　like　you；　Lady　Mickleham。〃

〃It's　like　Mrs。　Hilary；〃　said　Dolly。

〃No；　because　it　isn't　pleasant。　　By　the　way；　you　are　jealous　of　Mrs。　Hilary？〃

Dolly　said　nothing　at　all。　　She　took　off　　her　hat；　roughened　her　hair　a　little；　and　assumed　an　effective　pose。　　Still；　it　is　a　fact　（for　what　it　is　worth）　that　she　doesn't　care　much　about　Mrs。　Hilary。

〃The　discovery；〃　I　continued；　〃is　that　I'm　growing　middle…aged。〃

〃You　are　middle…aged；〃　said　Dolly；　spearing　her　hat　with　its　long　pin。

I　was；　very　naturally；　nettled　at　this。

〃So　will　you　be　soon；〃　I　retorted。

〃Not　soon；〃　said　Dolly。

〃Some　day；〃　I　insisted。

After　a　pause　of　about　half　a　minute；　Dolly　said；　〃I　suppose　so。〃

〃You　will　become；〃　I　pursued；　idly　drawing　patterns　with　my　finger　on　the　sundial；　〃wrinkled；　rough；　fatand；　perhaps；　good。〃

〃You're　very　disagreeable　today；〃　said　Dolly。

She　rose　and　stood　by　me。

〃What　do　the　mottoes　mean？〃　she　asked。

There　were　two；　I　will　not　say　they　contradicted　one　another；　but　they　looked　at　life　from　different　points　of　view。

〃Pereunt　et　imputantur；〃　I　read。

〃Well；　what's　that；　Mr。　Carter？〃

〃A　trite；　but　offensive；　assertion；〃　said　I；　lighting　a　cigarette。

〃But　what　does　it　mean？〃　she　asked；　a　pucker　on　her　forehead。

〃What　does　it　matter？〃　said　I。　　〃Let's　try　the　other。〃

〃The　other　is　longer。〃

〃And　better。　　Horas　non　numero　nisi　serenas。〃

〃And　what's　that？〃

I　translated　literally。　　Dolly　clapped　her　hands；　and　her　face　gleamed　with　smiles。

〃I　like　that　one；〃　she　cried。

〃Stop！〃　said　I　imperatively。　　〃You'll　set　it　moving！〃

〃It's　very　sensible；〃　said　she。

〃More　freely　rendered；　it　means；　　I　live　only　when　you〃

〃By　Jove！〃　remarked　Archie；　coming　up　behind　us；　pipe　in　mouth；　〃there　was　a　lot　of　rain　last　night。　　I've　just　me