tommy and co.-第18部分

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ever…increasing　income　from　his　pen；　with　a　tastefully　furnished　
house　overlooking　Regent's　Park；　an　excellent　and　devoted　cook　and　
house…keeper；　and　relatives　mostly　settled　in　the　Colonies；　Joseph　
Loveredge；　though　inexperienced　girls　might　pass　him　by　with　a　
contemptuous　sniff；　was　recognised　by　ladies　of　maturer　judgment　as　
a　prize　not　too　often　dangled　before　the　eyes　of　spinsterhood。　　Old　
foxesso　we　are　assured　by　kind…hearted　country　gentlemen　rather　
enjoy　than　otherwise　a　day　with　the　hounds。　　However　that　may　be；　
certain　it　is　that　Joseph　Loveredge；　confident　of　himself；　one　
presumes；　showed　no　particular　disinclination　to　the　chase。　　
Perhaps　on　the　whole　he　preferred　the　society　of　his　own　sex；　with　
whom　he　could　laugh　and　jest　with　more　freedom；　to　whom　he　could　
tell　his　stories　as　they　came　to　him　without　the　trouble　of　having　
to　turn　them　over　first　in　his　own　mind；　but；　on　the　other　hand；　
Joey　made　no　attempt　to　avoid　female　company　whenever　it　came　his　
way；　and　then　no　cavalier　could　render　himself　more　agreeable；　more　
unobtrusively　attentive。　　Younger　men　stood　by；　in　envious　
admiration　of　the　ease　with　which　in　five　minutes　he　would　
establish　himself　on　terms　of　cosy　friendship　with　the　brilliant　
beauty　before　whose　gracious　coldness　they　had　stood　shivering　for　
months；　the　daring　with　which　he　would　tuck　under　his　arm；　so　to　
speak；　the　prettiest　girl　in　the　room；　smooth　down　as　if　by　magic　
her　hundred　prickles；　and　tease　her　out　of　her　overwhelming　sense　
of　her　own　self…importance。　　The　secret　of　his　success　was；　
probably；　that　he　was　not　afraid　of　them。　　Desiring　nothing　from　
them　beyond　companionableness；　a　reasonable　amount　of　appreciation　
for　his　jokeswhich　without　being　exceptionally　stupid　they　would　
have　found　it　difficult　to　withholdwith　just　sufficient　
information　and　intelligence　to　make　conversation　interesting；　
there　was　nothing　about　him　by　which　they　could　lay　hold　of　him。　　
Of　course；　that　rendered　them　particularly　anxious　to　lay　hold　of　
him。　　Joseph's　lady　friends　might；　roughly　speaking；　be　divided　
into　two　groups：　　the　unmarried；　who　wanted　to　marry　him　to　
themselves；　and　the　married；　who　wanted　to　marry　him　to　somebody　
else。　　It　would　be　a　social　disaster；　the　latter　had　agreed　among　
themselves；　if　Joseph　Loveredge　should　never　wed。

〃He　would　make　such　an　excellent　husband　for　poor　Bridget。〃

〃Or　Gladys。　　I　wonder　how　old　Gladys　really　is？〃

〃Such　a　nice；　kind　little　man。〃

〃And　when　one　thinks　of　the　sort　of　men　that　ARE　married；　it　does　
seem　such　a　pity！〃

〃I　wonder　why　he　never　has　married；　because　he's　just　the　sort　of　
man　you'd　think　WOULD　have　married。〃

〃I　wonder　if　he　ever　was　in　love。〃

〃Oh；　my　dear；　you　don't　mean　to　tell　me　that　a　man　has　reached　the　
age　of　forty　without　ever　being　in　love！〃

The　ladies　would　sigh。

〃I　do　hope　if　ever　he　does　marry；　it　will　be　somebody　nice。　　Men　
are　so　easily　deceived。〃

〃I　shouldn't　be　surprised　myself　a　bit　if　something　came　of　it　with　
Bridget。　　She's　a　dear　girl；　Bridgetso　genuine。〃

〃Well；　I　think　myself；　dear；　if　it's　anyone；　it's　Gladys。　　I　should　
be　so　glad　to　see　poor　dear　Gladys　settled。〃

The　unmarried　kept　their　thoughts　more　to　themselves。　　Each　one；　
upon　reflection；　saw　ground　for　thinking　that　Joseph　Loveredge　had　
given　proof　of　feeling　preference　for　herself。　　The　irritating　
thing　was　that；　on　further　reflection；　it　was　equally　clear　that　
Joseph　Loveredge　had　shown　signs　of　preferring　most　of　the　others。

Meanwhile　Joseph　Loveredge　went　undisturbed　upon　his　way。　　At　eight　
o'clock　in　the　morning　Joseph's　housekeeper　entered　the　room　with　a　
cup　of　tea　and　a　dry　biscuit。　　At　eight…fifteen　Joseph　Loveredge　
arose　and　performed　complicated　exercises　on　an　indiarubber　pulley；　
warranted；　if　persevered　in；　to　bestow　grace　upon　the　figure　and　
elasticity　upon　the　limbs。　　Joseph　Loveredge　persevered　steadily；　
and　had　done　so　for　years；　and　was　himself　contented　with　the　
result；　which；　seeing　it　concerned　nobody　else；　was　all　that　could　
be　desired。　　At　half…past　eight　on　Mondays；　Wednesdays；　and　
Fridays；　Joseph　Loveredge　breakfasted　on　one　cup　of　tea；　brewed　by　
himself；　one　egg；　boiled　by　himself；　and　two　pieces　of　toast；　the　
first　one　spread　with　marmalade；　the　second　with　butter。　　On　
Tuesdays；　Thursdays；　and　Saturdays　Joseph　Loveredge　discarded　eggs　
and　ate　a　rasher　of　bacon。　　On　Sundays　Joseph　Loveredge　had　both　
eggs　and　bacon；　but　then　allowed　himself　half　an　hour　longer　for　
reading　the　paper。　　At　nine…thirty　Joseph　Loveredge　left　the　house　
for　the　office　of　the　old…established　journal　of　which　he　was　the　
incorruptible　and　honoured　City　editor。　　At　one…forty…five；　having　
left　his　office　at　one…thirty；　Joseph　Loveredge　entered　the　
Autolycus　Club　and　sat　down　to　lunch。　　Everything　else　in　Joseph's　
life　was　arranged　with　similar　preciseness；　so　far　as　was　possible　
with　the　duties　of　a　City　editor。　　Monday　evening　Joseph　spent　with　
musical　friends　at　Brixton。　　Friday　was　Joseph's　theatre　night。　　On　
Tuesdays　and　Thursdays　he　was　open　to　receive　invitations　out　to　
dinner；　on　Wednesdays　and　Saturdays　he　invited　four　friends　to　dine　
with　him　at　Regent's　Park。　　On　Sundays；　whatever　the　season；　Joseph　
Loveredge　took　an　excursion　into　the　country。　　He　had　his　regular　
hours　for　reading；　his　regular　hours　for　thinking。　　Whether　in　
Fleet　Street；　or　the　Tyrol；　on　the　Thames；　or　in　the　Vatican；　you　
might　recognise　him　from　afar　by　his　grey　frock…coat；　his　patent…
leather　boots；　his　brown　felt　hat；　his　lavender　tie。　　The　man　was　a　
born　bachelor。　　When　the　news　of　his　engagement　crept　through　the　
smoky　portals　of　the　Autolycus　Club　nobody　believed　it。

〃Impossible！〃　asserted　Jack　Herring。　　〃I've　known　Joey's　life　for　
fifteen　years。　　Every　five　minutes　is　arranged　for。　　He　could　never　
have　found　the　time　to　do　it。〃

〃He　doesn't　like　women；　not　in　that　way；　I've　heard　him　say　so；〃　
explained　Alexander　the　Poet。　　〃His　opinion　is　that　women　are　the　
artists　of　Societydelightful　as　entertainers；　but　troublesome　to　
live　with。〃

〃I　call　to　mind；〃　said　the　Wee　Laddie；　〃a　story　he　told　me　in　this　
verra　room；　barely　three　months　agone：　　Some　half　a　dozen　of　them　
were　gong　home　together　from　the　Devonshire。　　They　had　had　a　joyous　
evening；　and　one　of　themJoey　did　not　notice　whichsuggested　
their　dropping　in　at　his　place　just　for　a　final　whisky。　　They　were　
laughing　and　talking　in　the　dining…room；　when　their　hostess　
suddenly　appeared　upon　the　scene　in　a　costumeso　Joey　described　
itthe　charm　of　which　was　its　variety。　　She　was　a　nice…looking　
woman；　Joey　said；　but　talked　too　much；　and　when　the　first　lull　
occurred；　Joey　turned　to　the　man　sitting　nighest　to　him；　and　who　
looked　bored；　and　suggested　in　a　whisper　that　it　was　about　time　
they　went。

〃'Perhaps　you　had　better　go；'　assented　the　bored…looking　man。　　
'Wish　I　could　come　with　you；　but；　you　see；　I　live　here。'〃

〃I　don't　believe　it；〃　said　Somerville　the　Briefless。　　〃He's　been　
cracking　his　jokes；　and　some　silly　woman　has　taken　him　seriously。〃

But　the　rumour　grew　into　report；　developed　detail；　lost　all　charm；　
expanded　into　plain　recital　of　fact。　　Joey　had　not　been　seen　within　
the　Club　for　more　than　a　weekin　itself　a　deadly　confirmation。　　
The　question　became：　　Who　was　shewhat　was　she　like？

〃It's　none　of　our　set；　or　we　should　have　heard　something　from　her　
side　before　now；〃　argued　acutely　Somerville　the　Briefless。

〃Some　beastly　kid　who　will　invite　us　to　dances　and　forget　the　
supper；〃　feared　Johnny　Bulstrode；　commonly　called　the　Babe。　　〃Old　
men　always　fall　in　love　with　young　girls。〃

〃Forty；〃　explained　severely　Peter　Hope；　editor　and　part　proprietor　
of　Good　Humour；　〃is　not　old。〃

〃Well；　it　isn't　young；〃　persisted　Johnny。

〃Good　thing　for　you；　Johnny；　if　it　is　a　girl；〃　thought　Jack　
Herring。　　〃Somebody　for　you　to　play　with。　　I　often　feel　sorry　for　
you；　having　nobody　but　grown…up　people　to　talk　to。〃

〃They　do　get　a　bit　stodgy　after　a　certain　age；〃　agreed　the　Babe。

〃I　am　hoping；〃　said　Peter；　〃it　will　be　some　sensible；　pleasant　
woman；　a　little　over　thirty。　　He　is　a　dear　fellow；　Loveredge；　and　
forty　is　a　very　good　age　for　a　man　to　marry。〃

〃Well；　if　I'm　not　married　before　I'm　forty〃　said　the　Babe。

〃Oh；　don't　you　fret；〃　Jack　Herring　interrupted　him〃a　pretty　boy　
like　you！　　We　will　give　a　ball　next　season；　and　bring　you　out；　if　
you're　goodget　you　off　our　hands　in　no　time。〃

It　was　August。　　Joey　went　away　for　his　holiday　without　again　
entering　the　Club。　　The　lady's　name　was　Henrietta　Elizabeth　Doone。　　
It　was　said　by　the　Morning　Post　that　she　was　connected　with　the　
Doones　of　Gloucestershire。

Doones　of　GloucestershireDoones　of　Gloucestershire　mused　Miss　
Ramsbotham；　Society　journalist；　who　wrote　the　weekly　Letter　to　
Clorinda；　discussing　the　matter　with　Peter　Hope　in　the　editorial　
office　of　Good　Humour。　　〃Knew　a　Doon　who　kept　a　big　second…hand　
store　in　Euston　Road　and　called　himself　an　auctioneer。　　He　bought　a　
small　place　in　Gloucestershire　and　added　an　'e'　to　his　name。　　
Wonder　if　it's　the　same？〃

〃I　had　a　cat　called　Elizabeth　once；〃　said　Peter　Hope。

〃I　don't　see　what　that's　got　to　do　with　it。〃

〃No；　of　course　not；〃　agreed　Peter。　　〃But　I　was　rather　fond　of　it。　　
It　was　a　quaint　sort　of　animal；　considered　as　a　catwould　never　
speak　to　another　cat；　and　hated　being　out　after　ten　o'clock　at　
night。〃

〃What　happened　to　it？〃　demanded　Miss　Ramsbotham。

〃Fell　off　a　roof；〃　sighed　Peter　Hope。　　〃Wasn't　used　to　them。〃

The　marriage　took　place　abroad；　at　the　English　Church　at　Montreux。　　
Mr。　and　Mrs。　Loveredge　returned　at　the　end　of　September。　　The　
Autolycus　Club　subscribed　to　send　a　present　of　a　punch…bowl；　left　
cards；　and　waited　with　curiosity　to　see　the　bride。　　But　no　
invitation　arrived。　　Nor　for　a　month　was　Joey　himself　seen　within　
the　Club。　　Then；　one　foggy　afternoon；　waking　after　a　doze；　with　a　
cold　cigar　in　his　mouth；　Jack　Herring　noticed　he　was　not　the　only　
occupant　of　the　smoking…room。　　In　a　far　corner；　near　a　window；　sat　
Joseph　Loveredge　reading　a　magazine。　　Jack　Herring　rubbed　his　eyes；　
then　rose　and　crossed　the　room。

〃I　thought　at　fir