the well-beloved--a sketch of a temperament-第22部分

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'Not　now；　sir！'　she　said；　her　pretty　pink　face　and　brown　eyes　turned　in
simple　appeal　to　him　from　her　pedestal。　　'I　will　tell　you　all　to…
morrow；　an　that　I　will！'

He　retreated　to　his　own　room　and　lay　down　meditating。　　Some　quarter　of
an　hour　after　she　had　retreated　to　hers　the　mouse…trap　clicked　again；
and　Pierston　raised　himself　on　his　elbow　to　listen。　　The　place　was　so
still　and　the　jerry…built　door…panels　so　thin　that　he　could　hear　the
mouse　jumping　about　inside　the　wires　of　the　trap。　　But　he　heard　no
footstep　this　time。　　As　he　was　wakeful　and　restless　he　again　arose；
proceeded　to　the　kitchen　with　a　light；　and　removing　the　mouse　reset　the
trap。　　Returning　he　listened　once　more。　　He　could　see　in　the　far
distance　the　door　of　Avice's　room；　but　that　thoughtful　housewife　had
not　heard　the　second　capture。　　From　the　room　came　a　soft　breathing　like
that　of　an　infant。

He　entered　his　own　chamber　and　reclined　himself　gloomily　enough。　　Her
lack　of　all　consciousness　of　him；　the　aspect　of　the　deserted　kitchen；
the　cold　grate；　impressed　him　with　a　deeper　sense　of　loneliness　than　he
had　ever　felt　before。

Foolish　he　was；　indeed；　to　be　so　devoted　to　this　young　woman。　　Her
defencelessness；　her　freedom　from　the　least　thought　that　there　lurked　a
danger　in　their　propinquity；　were　in　fact　secondary　safeguards；　not
much　less　strong　than　that　of　her　being　her　mother's　image；　against
risk　to　her　from　him。　　Yet　it　was　out　of　this　that　his　depression　came。

At　sight　of　her　the　next　morning　Pierston　felt　that　he　must　put　an　end
to　such　a　state　of　things。　　He　sent　Avice　off　to　the　studio；　wrote　to
an　agent　for　a　couple　of　servants；　and　then　went　round　to　his　work。
Avice　was　busy　righting　all　that　she　was　allowed　to　touch。　　It　was　the
girl's　delight　to　be　occupied　among　the　models　and　casts；　which　for　the
first　time　she　regarded　with　the　wistful　interest　of　a　soul　struggling
to　receive　ideas　of　beauty　vaguely　discerned　yet　ever　eluding　her。
That　brightness　in　her　mother's　mind　which　might　have　descended　to　the
second　Avice　with　the　maternal　face　and　form；　had　been　dimmed　by
admixture　with　the　mediocrity　of　her　father's；　and　by　one　who
remembered　like　Pierston　the　dual　organization　the　opposites　could　be
often　seen　wrestling　internally。

They　were　alone　in　the　studio；　and　his　feelings　found　vent。　　Putting
his　arms　round　her　he　said；　'My　darling；　sweet　little　Avice！　　I　want　to
ask　you　somethingsurely　you　guess　what？　　I　want　to　know　this：　　will
you　be　married　to　me；　and　live　here　with　me　always　and　ever？'

'O；　Mr。　Pierston；　what　nonsense！'

'Nonsense？'　said　he；　shrinking　somewhat。

'Yes；　sir。'

'Well；　why？　　Am　I　too　old？　　Surely　there's　no　serious　difference？'

'O　noI　should　not　mind　that　if　it　came　to　marrying。　　The　difference
is　not　much　for　husband　and　wife；　though　it　is　rather　much　for　keeping
company。'

She　struggled　to　get　free；　and　when　in　the　movement　she　knocked　down
the　Empress　Faustina's　head　he　did　not　try　to　retain　her。　　He　saw　that
she　was　not　only　surprised　but　a　little　alarmed。

'You　haven't　said　why　it　is　nonsense！'　he　remarked　tartly。

'Why；　I　didn't　know　you　was　thinking　of　me　like　that。　　I　hadn't　any
thought　of　it！　　And　all　alone　here！　　What　shall　I　do？'

'Say　yes；　my　pretty　Avice！　　We'll　then　go　out　and　be　married　at　once；
and　nobody　be　any　the　wiser。'

She　shook　her　head。　　'I　couldn't；　sir。'

'It　would　be　well　for　you。　　You　don't　like　me；　perhaps？'

'Yes　I　dovery　much。　　But　not　in　that　sort　of　wayquite。　　Still；　I
might　have　got　to　love　you　in　time；　if'

'Well；　then；　try；'　he　said　warmly。　　'Your　mother　did！'

No　sooner　had　the　words　slipped　out　than　Pierston　would　have　recalled
them。　　He　had　felt　in　a　moment　that　they　jeopardized　his　cause。

'Mother　loved　you？'　said　Avice；　incredulously　gazing　at　him。

'Yes；'　he　murmured。

'You　were　not　her　false　young　man；　surely？　　That　one　who'

'Yes；　yes！　　Say　no　more　about　it。'

'Who　ran　away　from　her？'

'Almost。'

'Then　I　can　NEVER；　NEVER　like　you　again！　　I　didn't　know　it　was　a
gentlemanII　thought'

'It　wasn't　a　gentleman；　then。'

'O；　sir；　please　go　away！　　I　can't　bear　the　sight　of　'ee　at　this　moment！
Perhaps　I　shall　get　toto　like　you　as　I　did；　but'

'No；　I'm　dd　if　I'll　go　away！'　said　Pierston；　thoroughly　irritated。
'I　have　been　candid　with　you；　you　ought　to　be　the　same　with　me！'

'What　do　you　want　me　to　tell？'

'Enough　to　make　it　clear　to　me　why　you　don't　accept　this　offer。
Everything　you　have　said　yet　is　a　reason　for　the　reverse。　　Now；　my
dear；　I　am　not　angry。'

'Yes　you　are。'

'No　I'm　not。　　Now　what　is　your　reason？'

'The　name　of　it　is　Isaac　Pierston；　down　home。'

'How？'

'I　mean　he　courted　me；　and　led　me　on　to　island　custom；　and　then　I　went
to　chapel　one　morning　and　married　him　in　secret；　because　mother　didn't
care　about　him；　and　I　didn't　either　by　that　time。　　And　then　he
quarrelled　with　me；　and　just　before　you　and　I　came　to　London　he　went
away　to　Guernsey。　　Then　I　saw　a　soldier；　I　never　knew　his　name；　but　I
fell　in　love　with　him　because　I　am　so　quick　at　that！　　Still；　as　it　was
wrong；　I　tried　not　to　think　of　him；　and　wouldn't　look　at　him　when　he
passed。　　But　it　made　me　cry　very　much　that　I　mustn't。　　I　was　then　very
miserable；　and　you　asked　me　to　come　to　London。　　I　didn't　care　what　I
did　with　myself；　and　I　came。'

'Heaven　above　us！'　said　Pierston；　his　pale　and　distressed　face　showing
with　what　a　shock　this　announcement　had　come。　　'Why　have　you　done　such
extraordinary　things？　　Or；　rather；　why　didn't　you　tell　me　of　this
before？　　Then；　at　the　present　moment　you　are　the　wife　of　a　man　who　is
in　Guernsey；　whom　you　do　not　love　at　all；　but　instead　of　him　love　a
soldier　whom　you　have　never　spoken　to；　while　I　have　nearly　brought
scandal　upon　us　both　by　your　letting　me　love　you。　　Really；　you　are　a
very　wicked　woman！'

'No；　I　am　not！'　she　pouted。

Still；　Avice　looked　pale　and　rather　frightened；　and　did　not　lift　her
eyes　from　the　floor。　　'I　said　it　was　nonsense　in　you　to　want　to　have
me！'　she　went　on；　'and；　even　if　I　hadn't　been　married　to　that　horrid
Isaac　Pierston；　I　couldn't　have　married　you　after　you　told　me　that　you
was　the　man　who　ran　away　from　my　mother。'

'I　have　paid　the　penalty！'　he　said　sadly。　　'Men　of　my　sort　always　get
the　worst　of　it　somehow。　　Though　I　never　did　your　mother　any　harm。
Now；　AviceI'll　call　you　dear　Avice　for　your　mother's　sake　and　not　for
your　ownI　must　see　what　I　can　do　to　help　you　out　of　the　difficulty
that　unquestionably　you　are　in。　　Why　can't　you　love　your　husband　now
you　have　married　him？'

Avice　looked　aside　at　the　statuary　as　if　the　subtleties　of　her
organization　were　not　very　easy　to　define。

'Was　he　that　black…bearded　typical　local　character　I　saw　you　walking
with　one　Sunday？　　The　same　surname　as　mine；　though；　of　course；　you
don't　notice　that　in　a　place　where　there　are　only　half…a…dozen
surnames？'

'Yes；　that　was　Ike。　　It　was　that　evening　we　disagreed。　　He　scolded　me；
and　I　answered　him　（you　must　have　heard　us）；　and　the　next　day　he　went
away。'

'Well；　as　I　say；　I　must　consider　what　it　will　be　best　to　do　for　you　in
this。　　The　first　thing；　it　seems　to　me；　will　be　to　get　your　husband
home。'

She　impatiently　shrugged　her　shoulders。　　'I　don't　like　him！'

'Then　why　did　you　marry　him？'

'I　was　obliged　to；　after　we'd　proved　each　other　by　island　custom。'

'You　shouldn't　have　thought　of　such　a　thing。　　It　is　ridiculous　and　out
of　date　nowadays。'

'Ah；　he's　so　old…fashioned　in　his　notions　that　he　doesn't　think　like
that。　　However；　he's　gone。'

'Ahit　is　only　a　tiff　between　you；　I　dare　say。　　I'll　start　him　in
business　if　he'll　come。　。　。　。　　Is　the　cottage　at　home　still　in　your
hands？'

'Yes；　it　is　my　freehold。　　Grammer　Stockwool　is　taking　care　o'　it　for
me。'

'Good。　　And　back　there　you　go　straightway；　my　pretty　madam；　and　wait
till　your　husband　comes　to　make　it　up　with　you。'

'I　won't　go！I　don't　want　him　to　come！'　she　sobbed。　　'I　want　to　stay
here　with　you；　or　anywhere；　except　where　he　can　come！'

'You　will　get　over　that。　　Now；　go　back　to　the　flat；　there's　a　dear
Avice；　and　be　ready　in　one　hour；　waiting　in　the　hall　for　me。'

'I　don't　want　to！'

'But　I　say　you　shall！'

She　found　it　was　no　use　to　disobey。　　Precisely　at　the　moment　appointed
he　met　her　there　himself；　burdened　only　with　a　valise　and　umbrella；　she
with　a　box　and　other　things。　　Directing　the　porter　to　put　Avice　and　her
belongings　into　a　four…wheeled　cab　for　the　railway…station；　he　walked
onward　from　the　door；　and　kept　looking　behind；　till　he　saw　the　cab
approaching。　　He　then　entered　beside　the　astonished　girl；　and　onward
they　went　together。

They　sat　opposite　each　other　in　an　empty　compartment；　and　the　tedious
railway　journey　began。　　Regarding　her　closely　now　by　the　light　of　her
revelation　he　wondered　at　himself　for　never　divining　her　secret。
Whenever　he　looked　at　her　the　girl's　eyes　grew　rebellious；　and　at　last
she　wept。

'I　don't　want　to　go　to　him！'　she　sobbed　in　a　miserable　voice。

Pierston　was　almost　as　much　distressed　as　she。　　'Why　did　you　put
yourself　and　me　in　such　a　position？'　he　said　bitterly。　　'It　is　no　use
to　regret　it　now！　　And　I　can't　say　that　I　do。　　It　affords　me　a　way　out
of　a　trying　position。　　Even　if　you　had　not　been　married　to　him　you
would　not　have　married　me！'

'Yes；　I　would；　sir。'

'What！　　You　would？　　You　said　you　wouldn't　not　long　ago。'

'I　like　you　better　now！　　I　like　you　more　and　more！'

Pierston　sighed；　for　emotionally　he　was　not　much　older　than　she。　　That
hitch　in　his　development；　rendering　him　the　most　lopsided　of　God's
creatures；　was　his　standing　misfortune。　　A　proposal　to　her　which
crossed　his　mind　was　dismissed　as　disloyalty；　particularly　to　an
inexperienced　fellow…islander　and　one　who　was　by　race　and　traditions
almost　a　kinswoman。

Little　more　passed　between　the　twain　on　that　wretched；　never…to…be…
forgotten　day。　　Aphrodite；　Ashtaroth；　Freyja；　or　whoever　the　love…queen
of　his　isle　might　have　been；　was　punishing　him　sharply；　as　she　knew　but
too　well　how　to　punish　her　votaries　when　they　reverted　from　the
ephemeral　to　the　stable　mood。　　When　was　it　to　endthis　curse　of　his
heart　not　ageing　while　his　frame　moved　naturally　onward？　　Perhaps　only
with　life。

His　first　act　the　da