my lady caprice(我的无常夫人)-第7部分
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of Nottingham … 〃
〃I beg your pardon；〃 exc1aimed Mr。 Selwyn indignantly； turning
upon me with a fiery eye。
〃Every one recollects the immortal exploits of Robin and his 'merrie
men；'〃 I continued； 〃and you will； of course； remember that they had a
habit of capturing the sheriff and tying him up to trees and things。
Naturally the Imp did not proceed to that extreme。 He contented himself
with merely capturing the Sheriff's hat … I think that you will agree that
those 'ambushes' worked line a charm； Mr。 Selwyn？〃
〃Miss Elizabeth；〃 he said； disdaining any reply； 〃I am aware of the af …
affection you lavish upon your nephew； I hope that you will take measures
to restrain him from such pranks … such very disgraceful pranks … in the
future。 I myself should suggest a change of companionship ＇here he
glanced at me＇ as the most salutary method。 Good…afternoon； Miss
Elizabeth。〃 So saying； Mr。 Selwyn raised his hat； bowed stiffly to me； and
turning upon an indignant heel； strode haughtily away。
〃Well！〃 exclaimed Lisbeth； with a look of very real concern。
〃Very well； indeed！〃 I nodded； 〃we are alone at last。〃
〃Oh； Dick！ but to have offended him like this！〃
〃A highly estimable young gentleman；〃 I said； 〃though deplorably
lacking in that saving sense of humour which … 〃
〃Aunt Agatha seems to think a great deal of him。〃
〃So I understand；〃 I nodded。
〃Only this morning I received a letter from her； in which； among other
things； she pointed out what a very excellent match h would be。〃
〃And what do you think？〃
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〃Oh； I agree with her； of course； his family dates back ages and ages
before the Conqueror； and he has two or three estates besides Selwyn Park；
and one in Scotland。〃
〃Do you know； Lisbeth； that reminds me of another house … not at all
big or splendid； but of great age； a house which stands not far from the
village of Down； in Kent； a house which is going to rack and ruin for want
of a mistress。 Sometimes； just as evening comes on； I think it must
dream of the light feet and gentle hands it has known so many years ago；
and feels its loneliness more than ever。〃
〃Poor old house！〃 said Lisbeth softly。
〃Yes； a house is very human； Lisbeth； especially an old one； and feels
the need of that loving care which only a woman can bestow； just as we do
ourselves。〃
〃Dear old house 1〃 said Lisbeth； more softly than before。
〃How much longer must it wait … when will you come and care for it；
Lisbeth？〃
She started； and I thought her cheeks seemed a trifle pinker than usual
as her eyes met mine。
〃Dick；〃 she said wistfully； 〃I do wish you would get the ladder； it's
horribly uncomfortable to sit in a tree for hours and … 〃
〃First of all； Lisbeth； you will forgive the Imp … full and freely； won't
you？〃
〃He shall go to bed without any tea whatever。〃
〃That will be rank cruelty； Lisbeth； remember he is a growing boy。〃
〃And I have been perched up here … between heaven and earth … all the
afternoon。〃
〃Then why not come down？〃 I inquired。
〃If you will only get the ladder … 〃
〃If you will just put your right foot in my … 〃
〃I won't！〃 said Lisbeth。
〃As you please；〃 I nodded； and sitting down； mechanically took out
my pipe and began to fill it； while she opened her book； frowning。 And
after she had read very studiously for perhaps two minutes； she drew out
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My Lady Caprice
and consulted her watch。 I did the same。
〃A quarter to five！〃 I said。
Lisbeth glanced down at me with the air of one who is deliberating
upon two courses of action； and when at length she spoke； every trace of
irritation had vanished completely。
〃Dick； I'm awfully hungry。〃
〃So am I；〃 I nodded。
〃It would be nice to have tea here under the trees； wouldn't it？〃
〃It would be positively idyllic！〃 I said。
〃Then if you will please find that ladder … 〃
〃If you will promise to forgive the Imp … 〃
〃Certainly not！〃 she retorted。
〃So be it！〃 I sighed； and sat down again。 As I did so she launched her
book at me。
〃Beast！〃 she exclaimed。
〃Which means that you are ready to descend？〃 I inquired； rising and
depositing the maltreated volume side by side with my pipe on a rustic
table near…by； 〃very good。 Place your right foot in … 〃
〃Oh； all right；〃 she said quite pettishly； and next moment I had her in
my arms。
〃Dick！ put me down…at once！〃
〃One moment； Lisbeth； that boy is a growing boy … 〃
〃And shall go to bed without any tea！〃 she broke in。
〃Very well； then；〃 I said； and reading the purpose in my eyes； she
attempted； quite vainly； to turn her head aside。
〃You will find it quite useless to struggle； Lisbeth；〃 I warned。 〃Your
only course is to remember that he is a growing boy。〃
〃And you are a brute！〃 she cried。
〃Undoubtedly；〃 I answered； bending my head nearer her petulant lips。
〃But think of the Imp in bed； lying there； sleepless； tealess； and
growing all the while as fast as he can。〃
Lisbeth surrendered； of course； but my triumph was greatly tempered
with disappointment。
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〃You will then forgive him for the 'ambushes' and cherish him with
much tea？〃 I stipulated； winking away a tress of hair that tickled most
provokingly。
〃Yes；〃 said Lisbeth。
〃And no bed until the usual hour？〃
〃No；〃 she answered； quite subdued； 〃and now please do put me down。〃
So I sighed and perforce obeyed。
She stood for a moment patting her rebellious hair into order with deft；
white fingers； looking up at me meanwhile with a laugh in her eyes that
seemed almost a challenge。 I took a hasty step toward her； but as I did so
the Imp hove into view； and the opportunity was lost。
〃Hallo； Auntie Lisbeth！〃 he exclaimed； eyeing her wonderingly； then
his glance wandered round as if in quest of something。
〃How did she do it； Uncle Dick？〃 he inquired。
〃Do what； my Imp？〃
〃Why； get out of the tree？〃 I smiled and looked at Lisbeth。
〃Did she climb down？〃
〃No；〃 said I； shaking my head。
〃Did she…jump down？〃
〃No； she didn't jump down； my Imp。〃
〃Well； did she … did she fly down？〃
〃No； nor fly down … she just came down。〃
〃Yes； but how did she … 〃
〃Reginald；〃 said Lisbeth； 〃run and tell the maids to bring tea out here …
for three。〃
〃Three？〃 echoed the Imp。 〃But Dorothy has gone out to tea； you
know … is Uncle Dick going to … 〃
〃To be sure； Imp；〃 I nodded。
〃Oh； that is fine … hurrah； Little…John！〃 he cried； and darted off to ward
the house。
〃And you； Lisbeth？〃 I said； imprisoning her hands； 〃are you glad
also？〃
Lisbeth did not speak； yet I was satisfied nevertheless。
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III
THE DESPERADOES
Fane Court stands bowered in trees； with a wide stretch of the
greenest of green lawns sloping down to the river stairs。
They are quaint old stairs； with a marble rail and carved balusters；
worn and crumbling； yet whose decay is half hid by the kindly green of
lichens and mosses； stairs indeed for an idle fellow to dream over on a hot
summer's afternoon … and they were； moreover； a favourite haunt of
Lisbeth。 It was here that I had moored my boat； therefore and now lay
back； pipe in mouth and with a cushion beneath my head； in that blissful
state between Sleeping and waking。
Now； as I lay； from the blue wreaths of my pipe I wove me fair
fancies：
And lo！ the stairs were no longer deserted； there were fine gentlemen；
patched and powdered； in silks and satins； with shoe…buckles that flashed
in the sun； there were dainty ladies in quilted petticoats and flowered
gowns； with most wonderful coiffures； and there was Lisbeth； fairer and
daintier than them all； and there； too； was I。 And behold how demurely
she courtesied and smiled behind her ivory fan！ With what a grace I took
a pinch of snuff！ With what an air I ogled and bowed with hand on heart！
Then； somehow； it seemed we were alone； she on the top stair； I on the
lower。 And standing thus I raised my arms to her with an appealing
gesture。 Her eyes looked down into mine； the patch quivered at the
corner of her scarlet mouth； and there beside it was the dimple。 Beneath
her petticoat I saw her foot in a little pink satin shoe come slowly toward
me and stop again。 I watched scarce bre
