the lion and the unicorn-第6部分

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and　in　the　note　in　which　he　thanked　Helen　for　the　flowers　and
welcomed　her　to　tea；　he　declared　his　ultimatum。

〃You　know　how　terribly　I　feel；〃　he　wrote；　〃I　don't　have　to　tell
you　that；　but　I　cannot　always　go　on　dragging　out　my　love　and
holding　it　up　to　excite　your　pity　as　beggars　show　their　sores。　　I
cannot　always　go　on　praying　before　your　altar；　cutting　myself
with　knives　and　calling　upon　you　to　listen　to　me。　　You　know
that　there　is　no　one　else　but　you；　and　that　there　never　can　be
any　one　but　you；　and　that　nothing　is　changed　except　that　after
this　I　am　not　going　to　urge　and　torment　you。　　I　shall　wait　as　I
have　always　waitedonly　now　I　shall　wait　in　silence。　　You　know
just　how　little；　in　one　way；　I　have　to　offer　you；　and　you　know
just　how　much　I　have　in　love　to　offer　you。　　It　is　now　for　you　to
speaksome　day；　or　never。　　But　you　will　have　to　speak　first。　
You　will　never　hear　a　word　of　love　from　me　again。　　Why　should
you？　　You　know　it　is　always　waiting　for　you。　　But　if　you　should
ever　want　it；　you　must　come　to　me；　and　take　off　your　hat　and　put
it　on　my　table　and　say；　'Philip；　I　have　come　to　stay。'　　Whether
you　can　ever　do　that　or　not　can　make　no　difference　in　my　love　for
you。　　I　shall　love　you　always；　as　no　man　has　ever　loved　a　woman
in　this　world；　but　it　is　you　who　must　speak　first；　for　me；　the
rest　is　silence。〃

The　following　morning　as　Helen　was　leaving　the　house　she　found
this　letter　lying　on　the　hall…table；　and　ran　back　with　it　to　her
rooms。　　A　week　before　she　would　have　let　it　lie　on　the　table
and　read　it　on　her　return。　　She　was　conscious　that　this　was　what
she　would　have　done；　and　it　pleased　her　to　find　that　what
concerned　Philip　was　now　to　her　the　thing　of　greatest　interest。　
She　was　pleased　with　her　own　eagernessher　own　happiness　was　a
welcome　sign；　and　she　was　proud　and　glad　that　she　was　learning　to
care。

She　read　the　letter　with　an　anxious　pride　and　pleasure　in　each
word　that　was　entirely　new。　　Philip's　recriminations　did　not　hurt
her；　they　were　the　sign　that　he　cared；　nor　did　his　determination
not　to　speak　of　his　love　to　her　hurt　her；　for　she　believed　him
when　he　said　that　he　would　always　care。　　She　read　the　letter
twice；　and　then　sat　for　some　time　considering　the　kind　of　letter
Philip　would　have　written　had　he　known　her　secrethad　he　known
that　the　ring　he　had　abandoned　was　now　upon　her　finger。

She　rose　and；　crossing　to　a　desk；　placed　the　letter　in　a　drawer；
and　then　took　it　out　again　and　re…read　the　last　page。　　When　she
had　finished　it　she　was　smiling。　　For　a　moment　she　stood
irresolute；　and　then；　moving　slowly　toward　the　centre…table；　cast
a　guilty　look　about　her　and；　raising　her　hands；　lifted　her
veil　and　half　withdrew　the　pins　that　fastened　her　hat。

〃Philip；〃　she　began　in　a　frightened　whisper；　〃I　haveI　have　come
to〃

The　sentence　ended　in　a　cry　of　protest；　and　she　rushed　across　the
room　as　though　she　were　running　from　herself。　　She　was　blushing
violently。

〃Never！〃　she　cried；　as　she　pulled　open　the　door；　〃I　could　never
do　itnever！〃

The　following　afternoon；　when　Helen　was　to　come　to　tea；　Carroll
decided　that　he　would　receive　her　with　all　the　old　friendliness；
but　that　he　must　be　careful　to　subdue　all　emotion。

He　was　really　deeply　hurt　at　her　treatment；　and　had　it　not　been
that　she　came　on　her　own　invitation　he　would　not　of　his　own
accord　have　sought　to　see　her。　　In　consequence；　he　rather
welcomed　than　otherwise　the　arrival　of　Marion　Cavendish；　who　came
a　half…hour　before　Helen　was　expected；　and　who　followed　a　hasty
knock　with　a　precipitate　entrance。

〃Sit　down；〃　she　commanded　breathlessly；　〃and　listen。　　I've　been
at　rehearsal　all　day；　or　I'd　have　been　here　before　you　were
awake。〃　　She　seated　herself　nervously　and　nodded　her　head　at
Carroll　in　an　excited　and　mysterious　manner。

〃What　is　it？〃　he　asked。　　〃Have　you　and　Reggie〃

〃Listen；〃　Marion　repeated；　〃our　fortunes　are　made；　that　is　what's
the　matterand　I've　made　them。　　If　you　took　half　the　interest　in
your　work　I　do；　you'd　have　made　yours　long　ago。　　Last　night；〃　she
began　impressively；　〃I　went　to　a　large　supper　at　the　Savoy；　and　I
sat　next　to　Charley　Wimpole。　　He　came　in　late；　after　everybody
had　finished；　and　I　attacked　him　while　he　was　eating　his　supper。　
He　said　he　had　been　rehearsing　'Caste'　after　the　performance；
that　they've　put　it　on　as　a　stop…gap　on　account　of　the　failure　of
the　'Triflers；'　and　that　he　knew　revivals　were　of　no　use；　that　he
would　give　any　sum　for　a　good　modern　comedy。　　That　was　my　cue；
and　I　told　him　I　knew　of　a　better　comedy　than　any　he　had　produced
at　his　theatre　in　five　years；　and　that　it　was　going　begging。　　He
laughed；　and　asked　where　was　he　to　find　this　wonderful　comedy；
and　I　said；　　'It's　been　in　your　safe　for　the　last　two　months
and　you　haven't　read　it。'　　He　said；　'Indeed；　how　do　you　know
that？'　and　I　said；　'Because　if　you'd　read　it；　it　wouldn't　be　in
your　safe；　but　on　your　stage。'　　So　he　asked　me　what　the　play　was
about；　and　I　told　him　the　plot　and　what　sort　of　a　part　his　was；
and　some　of　his　scenes；　and　he　began　to　take　notice。　　He　forgot
his　supper；　and　very　soon　he　grew　so　interested　that　he　turned
his　chair　round　and　kept　eying　my　supper…card　to　find　out　who　I
was；　and　at　last　remembered　seeing　me　in　'The　New　Boy'and　a
rotten　part　it　was；　toobut　he　remembered　it；　and　he　told　me　to
go　on　and　tell　him　more　about　your　play。　　So　I　recited　it；　bit　by
bit；　and　he　laughed　in　all　the　right　places　and　got　very　much
excited；　and　said　finally　that　he　would　read　it　the　first　thing
this　morning。〃　　Marion　paused；　breathlessly。　　〃Oh；　yes；　and　he
wrote　your　address　on　his　cuff；〃　she　added；　with　the　air　of
delivering　a　complete　and　convincing　climax。

Carroll　stared　at　her　and　pulled　excitedly　on　his　pipe。

〃Oh；　Marion！〃　he　gasped；　〃suppose　he　should？　　He　won't
though；〃　he　added；　but　eying　her　eagerly　and　inviting
contradiction。

〃He　will；〃　she　answered；　stoutly；　〃if　he　reads　it。〃

〃The　other　managers　read　it；〃　Carroll　suggested；　doubtfully。

〃Yes；　but　what　do　they　know？〃　Marion　returned；　loftily。　　〃He
knows。　　Charles　Wimpole　is　the　only　intelligent　actor…manager　in
London。〃

There　was　a　sharp　knock　at　the　door；　which　Marion　in　her
excitement　had　left　ajar；　and　Prentiss　threw　it　wide　open　with　an
impressive　sweep；　as　though　he　were　announcing　royalty：　　〃Mr。
Charles　Wimpole；〃　he　said。

The　actor…manager　stopped　in　the　doorway　bowing　gracefully；　his
hat　held　before　him　and　his　hand　on　his　stick　as　though　it　were
resting　on　a　foil。　　He　had　the　face　and　carriage　of　a　gallant　of
the　days　of　Congreve；　and　he　wore　his　modern　frock…coat　with　as
much　distinction　as　if　it　were　of　silk　and　lace。　　He　was
evidently　amused。　　〃I　couldn't　help　overhearing　the　last　line；〃
he　said；　smiling。　　〃It　gives　me　a　good　entrance。〃

Marion　gazed　at　him　blankly：　〃Oh；〃　she　gasped；　〃wewewere　just
talking　about　you。〃

〃If　you　hadn't　mentioned　my　name；〃　the　actor　said；　〃I　should
never　have　guessed　it。　　And　this　is　Mr。　Carroll；　I　hope。〃

The　great　man　was　rather　pleased　with　the　situation。　　As　he　read
it；　it　struck　him　as　possessing　strong　dramatic　possibilities：
Carroll　was　the　struggling　author　on　the　verge　of　starvation：
Marion；　his　sweetheart；　flying　to　him　gave　him　hope；　and　he　was
the　good　fairy　arriving　in　the　nick　of　time　to　set　everything
right　and　to　make　the　young　people　happy　and　prosperous。　　He
rather　fancied　himself　in　the　part　of　the　good　fairy；　and　as　he
seated　himself　he　bowed　to　them　both　in　a　manner　which　was
charmingly　inclusive　and　confidential。

〃Miss　Cavendish；　I　imagine；　has　already　warned　you　that　you　might
expect　a　visit　from　me；〃　he　said　tentatively。　　Carroll　nodded。　
He　was　too　much　concerned　to　interrupt。

〃Then　I　need　only　tell　you；〃　Wimpole　continued；　〃that　I　got　up　at
an　absurd　hour　this　morning　to　read　your　play；　that　I　did
read　it；　that　I　like　it　immenselyand　that　if　we　can　come　to
terms　I　shall　produce　it　I　shall　produce　it　at　once；　within　a
fortnight　or　three　weeks。〃

Carroll　was　staring　at　him　intently　and　continued　doing　so　after
Wimpole　had　finished　speaking。　　The　actor　felt　he　had　somehow
missed　his　point；　or　that　Carroll　could　not　have　understood　him；
and　repeated；　〃I　say　I　shall　put　it　in　rehearsal　at　once。〃

Carroll　rose　abruptly；　and　pushed　back　his　chair。　　〃I　should　be
very　glad；〃　he　murmured；　and　strode　over　to　the　window；　where　he
stood　with　his　back　turned　to　his　guests。　　Wimpole　looked　after
him　with　a　kindly　smile　and　nodded　his　head　appreciatively。　　He
had　produced　even　a　greater　effect　than　his　lines　seemed　to
warrant。　　When　he　spoke　again；　it　was　quite　simply；　and
sincerely；　and　though　he　spoke　for　Carroll's　benefit；　he
addressed　himself　to　Marion。

〃You　were　quite　right　last　night；〃　he　said；　〃it　is　a　most
charming　piece　of　work。　　I　am　really　extremely　grateful　to　you
for　bringing　it　to　my　notice。〃　　He　rose；　and　going　to
Carroll；　put　his　hand　on　his　shoulder。　　〃My　boy；〃　he　said；　〃I
congratulate　you。　　I　should　like　to　be　your　age；　and　to　have
written　that　play。　　Come　to　my　theatre　to…morrow　and　we　will　talk
terms。　　Talk　it　over　first　with　your　friends；　so　that　I　sha'n't
rob　you。　　Do　you　think　you　would　prefer　a　lump　sum　now；　and　so　be
done　with　it　altogether；　or　trust　that　the　royalties　may〃

〃Royalties；〃　prompted　Marion；　in　an　eager　aside。

The　men　laughed。　　〃Quite　right；〃　Wimpole　assented；　good…
humoredly；　〃it's　a　poor　sportsman　who　doesn't　back　his　own　horse。

Well；　then；　until　to…morrow。〃

〃But；〃　Carroll　began；　〃one　moment　please。　　I　haven't　thanked
you。〃

〃My　dear　boy；〃　cried　Wimpole；　waving　him　away　with　his　stick；　〃it
is　I　who　have　to　thank　you。〃

〃Andand　there　is　a　condition；〃　Carroll　said；　〃which　goes　with
the　play。　　It　is　that　Miss　Cavendish　is　to　have　the　part　of
Nancy。〃

Wimpole　looked　serious　and　considered　for　a　moment。

〃Nancy；〃　he　said；　〃the　girl　who　interferesa　very　good　part。　
I　have　cast　Miss　Maddox　for　it　in　my　mind；　but；　of　course；　if　the
author　insists〃

Marion；　with　her　elbows　on　the　table；　clasped　her　hands
appealingly　before　her。

〃Oh；　Mr。　Wimpole！〃　she　cried；　〃you　owe　me　that；　at　least。〃

Carroll　leaned　over　and　took　both　of　Marion's　hands　in　one　of
his。

〃It's　all　right；〃　he　said；　〃the　author　insists。〃