tommy and co.-第16部分

快捷操作: 按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页 按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页 按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部! 如果本书没有阅读完，想下次继续接着阅读，可使用上方 "收藏到我的浏览器" 功能 和 "加入书签" 功能！


pimples　grew　in　size　and　number。　　The　cream　and　white　of　her　
complexion　was　merging　into　a　general　yellow。　　A　certain　greasiness　
of　skin　was　manifesting　itself。　　Babyish　ways　in　connection　with　a　
woman　who　must　have　weighed　about　eleven　stone　struck　Bohemia　as　
incongruous。　　Her　manners；　judged　alone；　had　improved。　　But　they　
had　not　improved　her。　　They　did　not　belong　to　her；　they　did　not　fit　
her。　　They　sat　on　her　as　Sunday　broadcloth　on　a　yokel。　　She　had　
learned　to　employ　her　〃h's〃　correctly；　and　to　speak　good　grammar。　　
This　gave　to　her　conversation　a　painfully　artificial　air。　　The　
little　learning　she　had　absorbed　was　sufficient　to　bestow　upon　her　
an　angry　consciousness　of　her　own　invincible　ignorance。

Meanwhile；　Miss　Ramsbotham　had　continued　upon　her　course　of　
rejuvenation。　　At　twenty…nine　she　had　looked　thirty…five；　at　
thirty…two　she　looked　not　a　day　older　than　five…and…twenty。　　
Bohemia　felt　that　should　she　retrograde　further　at　the　same　rate　
she　would　soon　have　to　shorten　her　frocks　and　let　down　her　hair。　　A　
nervous　excitability　had　taken　possession　of　her　that　was　playing　
strange　freaks　not　only　with　her　body；　but　with　her　mind。　　What　it　
gave　to　the　one　it　seemed　to　take　from　the　other。　　Old　friends；　
accustomed　to　enjoy　with　her　the　luxury　of　plain　speech；　wondered　
in　vain　what　they　had　done　to　offend　her。　　Her　desire　was　now　
towards　new　friends；　new　faces。　　Her　sense　of　humour　appeared　to　be　
departing　from　her；　it　became　unsafe　to　jest　with　her。　　On　the　
other　hand；　she　showed　herself　greedy　for　admiration　and　flattery。　　
Her　former　chums　stepped　back　astonished　to　watch　brainless　young　
fops　making　their　way　with　her　by　complimenting　her　upon　her　
blouse；　or　whispering　to　her　some　trite　nonsense　about　her　
eyelashes。　　From　her　work　she　took　a　good　percentage　of　her　brain　
power　to　bestow　it　on　her　clothes。　　Of　course；　she　was　successful。　　
Her　dresses　suited　her；　showed　her　to　the　best　advantage。　　
Beautiful　she　could　never　be；　and　had　sense　enough　to　know　it；　but　
a　charming；　distinguished…looking　woman　she　had　already　become。　　
Also；　she　was　on　the　high　road　to　becoming　a　vain；　egotistical；　
commonplace　woman。

It　was　during　the　process　of　this；　her　metamorphosis；　that　Peter　
Hope　one　evening　received　a　note　from　her　announcing　her　intention　
of　visiting　him　the　next　morning　at　the　editorial　office　of　Good　
Humour。　　She　added　in　a　postscript　that　she　would　prefer　the　
interview　to　be　private。

Punctually　to　the　time　appointed　Miss　Ramsbotham　arrived。　　Miss　
Ramsbotham；　contrary　to　her　custom；　opened　conversation　with　the　
weather。　　Miss　Ramsbotham　was　of　opinion　that　there　was　every　
possibility　of　rain。　　Peter　Hope's　experience　was　that　there　was　
always　possibility　of　rain。

〃How　is　the　Paper　doing？〃　demanded　Miss　Ramsbotham。

The　Paperfor　a　paper　not　yet　two　years　oldwas　doing　well。　　〃We　
expect　very　shortlyvery　shortly　indeed；〃　explained　Peter　Hope；　
〃to　turn　the　corner。〃

〃Ah！　that　'corner；'〃　sympathised　Miss　Ramsbotham。

〃I　confess；〃　smiled　Peter　Hope；　〃it　doesn't　seem　to　be　exactly　a　
right…angled　corner。　　One　reaches　it　as　one　thinks。　　But　it　takes　
some　getting　roundwhat　I　should　describe　as　a　cornery　corner。〃

〃What　you　want；〃　thought　Miss　Ramsbotham；　〃are　one　or　two　popular　
features。〃

〃Popular　features；〃　agreed　Peter　guardedly；　scenting　temptation；　
〃are　not　to　be　despised；　provided　one　steers　clear　of　the　vulgar　
and　the　commonplace。〃

〃A　Ladies'　Page！〃　suggested　Miss　Ramsbotham〃a　page　that　should　
make　the　woman　buy　it。　　The　women；　believe　me；　are　going　to　be　of　
more　and　more　importance　to　the　weekly　press。〃

〃But　why　should　she　want　a　special　page　to　herself？〃　demanded　Peter　
Hope。　　〃Why　should　not　the　paper　as　a　whole　appeal　to　her？〃

〃It　doesn't；〃　was　all　Miss　Ramsbotham　could　offer　in　explanation。

〃We　give　her　literature　and　the　drama；　poetry；　fiction；　the　higher　
politics；　the〃

〃I　know；　I　know；〃　interrupted　Miss　Ramsbotham；　who　of　late；　among　
other　failings　new　to　her；　had　developed　a　tendency　towards　
impatience；　〃but　she　gets　all　that　in　half　a　dozen　other　papers。　　I　
have　thought　it　out。〃　　Miss　Ramsbotham　leaned　further　across　the　
editorial　desk　and　sunk　her　voice　unconsciously　to　a　confidential　
whisper。　　〃Tell　her　the　coming　fashions。　　Discuss　the　question　
whether　hat　or　bonnet　makes　you　look　the　younger。　　Tell　her　whether　
red　hair　or　black　is　to　be　the　new　colour；　what　size　waist　is　being　
worn　by　the　best　people。　　Oh；　come！〃　laughed　Miss　Ramsbotham　in　
answer　to　Peter's　shocked　expression；　〃one　cannot　reform　the　world　
and　human　nature　all　at　once。　　You　must　appeal　to　people's　folly　in　
order　to　get　them　to　listen　to　your　wisdom。　　Make　your　paper　a　
success　first。　　You　can　make　it　a　power　afterwards。〃

〃But；〃　argued　Peter；　〃there　are　already　such　paperspapers　devoted　
toto　that　sort　of　thing；　and　to　nothing　else。〃

〃At　sixpence！〃　replied　the　practical　Miss　Ramsbotham。　　〃I　am　
thinking　of　the　lower　middle…class　woman　who　has　twenty　pounds　a　
year　to　spend　on　dress；　and　who　takes　twelve　hours　a　day　to　think　
about　it；　poor　creature。　　My　dear　friend；　there　is　a　fortune　in　it。　　
Think　of　the　advertisements。〃

Poor　Peter　groanedold　Peter；　the　dreamer　of　dreams。　　But　for　
thought　of　Tommy！　one　day　to　be　left　alone　to　battle　with　a　stony…
eyed；　deaf　world；　Peter　most　assuredly　would　have　risen　in　his　
wrath；　would　have　said　to　his　distinguished…looking　temptress；　〃Get　
thee　behind　me；　Miss　Ramsbotham。　　My　journalistic　instinct　whispers　
to　me　that　your　scheme；　judged　by　the　mammon　of　unrighteousness；　is　
good。　　It　is　a　new　departure。　　Ten　years　hence　half　the　London　
journals　will　have　adopted　it。　　There　is　money　in　it。　　But　what　of　
that？　　Shall　I　for　mere　dross　sell　my　editorial　soul；　turn　the　
temple　of　the　Mighty　Pen　into　a　den　ofof　milliners！　　Good　
morning；　Miss　Ramsbotham。　　I　grieve　for　you。　　I　grieve　for　you　as　
for　a　fellow…worker　once　inspired　by　devotion　to　a　noble　calling；　
who　has　fallen　from　her　high　estate。　　Good　morning；　madam。〃

So　Peter　thought　as　he　sat　tattooing　with　his　finger…tips　upon　the　
desk；　but　only　said　…

〃It　would　have　to　be　well　done。〃

〃Everything　would　depend　upon　how　it　was　done；〃　agreed　Miss　
Ramsbotham。　　〃Badly　done；　the　idea　would　be　wasted。　　You　would　be　
merely　giving　it　away　to　some　other　paper。〃

〃Do　you　know　of　anyone？〃　queried　Peter。

〃I　was　thinking　of　myself；〃　answered　Miss　Ramsbotham。

〃I　am　sorry；〃　said　Peter　Hope。

〃Why？〃　demanded　Miss　Ramsbotham。　　〃Don't　you　think　I　could　do　it？〃

〃I　think；〃　said　Peter；　〃no　one　could　do　it　better。　　I　am　sorry　you　
should　wish　to　do　itthat　is　all。〃

〃I　want　to　do　it；〃　replied　Miss　Ramsbotham；　a　note　of　doggedness　in　
her　voice。

〃How　much　do　you　propose　to　charge　me？〃　Peter　smiled。

〃Nothing。〃

〃My　dear　lady〃

〃I　could　not　in　conscience；〃　explained　Miss　Ramsbotham；　〃take　
payment　from　both　sides。　　I　am　going　to　make　a　good　deal　out　of　it。　　
I　am　going　to　make　out　of　it　at　least　three　hundred　a　year；　and　
they　will　be　glad　to　pay　it。〃

〃Who　will？〃

〃The　dressmakers。　　I　shall　be　one　of　the　most　stylish　women　in　
London；〃　laughed　Miss　Ramsbotham。

〃You　used　to　be　a　sensible　woman；〃　Peter　reminded　her。

〃I　want　to　live。〃

〃Can't　you　manage　to　do　it　withoutwithout　being　a　fool；　my　dear。〃

〃No；〃　answered　Miss　Ramsbotham；　〃a　woman　can't。　　I've　tried　it。〃

〃Very　well；〃　agreed　Peter；　〃be　it　so。〃

Peter　had　risen。　　He　laid　his　shapely；　white　old　hand　upon　the　
woman's　shoulder。　　〃Tell　me　when　you　want　to　give　it　up。　　I　shall　
be　glad。〃

Thus　it　was　arranged。　　Good　Humour　gained　circulation　andof　more　
importance　yetadvertisements；　and　Miss　Ramsbotham；　as　she　had　
predicted；　the　reputation　of　being　one　of　the　best…dressed　women　in　
London。　　Her　reason　for　desiring　such　reputation　Peter　Hope　had　
shrewdly　guessed。　　Two　months　later　his　suspicions　were　confirmed。　　
Mr。　Reginald　Peters；　his　uncle　being　dead；　was　on　his　way　back　to　
England。

His　return　was　awaited　with　impatience　only　by　the　occupants　of　the　
little　flat　in　the　Marylebone　Road；　and　between　these　two　the　
difference　of　symptom　was　marked。　　Mistress　Peggy；　too　stupid　to　
comprehend　the　change　that　had　been　taking　place　in　her；　looked　
forward　to　her　lover's　arrival　with　delight。　　Mr。　Reginald　Peters；　
independently　of　his　profession；　was　in　consequence　of　his　uncle's　
death　a　man　of　means。　　Miss　Ramsbotham's　tutelage；　which　had　always　
been　distasteful　to　her；　would　now　be　at　an　end。　　She　would　be　a　
〃lady〃　in　the　true　sense　of　the　wordaccording　to　Miss　Peggy's　
definition；　a　woman　with　nothing　to　do　but　eat　and　drink；　and　
nothing　to　think　of　but　dress。　　Miss　Ramsbotham；　on　the　other　hand；　
who　might　have　anticipated　the　home…coming　of　her　quondam　admirer　
with　hope；　exhibited　a　strange　condition　of　alarmed　misery；　which　
increased　from　day　to　day　as　the　date　drew　nearer。

The　meetingwhether　by　design　or　accident　was　never　knowntook　
place　at　an　evening　party　given　by　the　proprietors　of　a　new　
journal。　　The　circumstance　was　certainly　unfortunate　for　poor　
Peggy；　whom　Bohemia　began　to　pity。　　Mr。　Peters；　knowing　both　women　
would　be　there　and　so　on　the　look…out；　saw　in　the　distance　among　
the　crowd　of　notabilities　a　superbly　millinered；　tall；　graceful　
woman；　whose　face　recalled　sensations　he　could　not　for　the　moment　
place。　　Chiefly　noticeable　about　her　were　her　exquisite　neck　and　
arms；　and　the　air　of　perfect　breeding　with　which　she　moved；　talking　
and　laughing；　through　the　distinguished；　fashionable　throng。　　
Beside　her　strutted；　nervously　aggressive；　a　vulgar；　fat；　pimply；　
shapeless　young　woman；　attracting　universal　attention　by　the　
incongruity　of　her　presence　in　the　room。　　On　being　greeted　by　the　
graceful　lady　of　the　neck　and　arms；　the　conviction　forced　itself　
upon　him　that　this　could　be　no　other　than　the　once　Miss　Ramsbotham；　
plain　of　face　and　indifferent　of　dress；　whose　very　appearance　he　
had　almost　forgotten。　　On　being　greeted　gushingly　as　〃Reggie〃　by　
the　sallow…complexioned；　over…dressed　young　woman　he　bowed　with　
evident　astonishment；　and　apologised　for　a　memory　that；　so　he　
assured　the　lady；　had　always　been　to　him　a　source　of　despa