fennel and rue-第6部分

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〃Shirley；〃　she　said；　and　trailed　before　him　through　the　door　he　opened。

He　felt　that　he　did　not　do　it　as　a　man　of　the　world　would　have　done　it；
and　in　putting　her　into　the　ramshackle　carryall　he　knew　that　he　had　not
the　grace　of　the　sort　of　man　who　does　nothing　else。　　But　Miss　Shirley
seemed　to　have　grace　enough；　of　a　feeble　and　broken　sort；　for　both；　and
he　resolved　to　supply　his　own　lack　with　sincerity。　　He　therefore　set　his
jaw　firmly　and　made　its　upper　angles　jut　sharply　through　his　clean…shaven
cheeks。　　It　was　well　that　Miss　Shirley　had　some　beauty　to　spare；　too；　for
Verrian　had　scarcely　enough　for　himself。　　Such　distinction　as　he　had　was
from　a　sort　of　intellectual　tenseness　which　showed　rather　in　the　gaunt
forms　of　his　face　than　in　the　gray　eyes；　heavily　lashed　above　and　below；
and　looking　serious　but　dull　with　their　rank；　black　brows。　　He　was
chewing　a　cud　of　bitterness　in　the　accusal　he　made　himself　of　having
forced　Miss　Shirley　to　give　her　name；　but　with　that　interesting
personality　at　his　side；　under　the　same　tattered　and　ill…scented　Japanese
goat…skin；　he　could　not　refuse　to　be　glad；　with　all　his　self…blame。

〃I'm　afraid　it's　rather　a　long　drive…for　you；　Miss　Shirley；〃　he　ventured；
with　a　glance　at　her　face；　which　looked　very　little　under　her　hat。　　〃The
driver　says　it's　five　miles　round　through　the　marshes。〃

〃Oh；　I　shall　not　mind；〃　she　said；　courageously；　if　not　cheerfully；　and　he
did　not　feel　authorized　further　to　recognize　the　fact　that　she　was　an
invalid；　or　at　best　a　convalescent。

〃These　wintry　tree…forms　are　fine；　though；〃　he　found　himself　obliged　to
conclude　his　apology；　rather　irrelevantly；　as　the　wheels　of　the　rattling；
and　tilting　carry　all　crunched　the　surface　of　the　road　in　the　succession
of　jerks　responding　to　the　alternate　walk　and　gallop　of　the　horse。

〃Yes；　they　are；〃　Miss　Shirley　answered；　looking　around　with　a　certain
surprise；　as　if　seeing　them　now　for　the　first　time。　　〃So　much　variety　of
color；　and　that　burnished　look　that　some　of　them　have。〃　　The　trees；　far
and　near；　were　giving　their　tones　and　lustres　in　the　low　December　sun。

〃Yes；〃　he　said；　〃it's　decidedly　more　refined　than　the　autumnal　coloring
we　brag　of。〃

〃It　is；〃　she　approved；　as　with　novel　conviction。　　〃The　landscape　is
really　beautiful。　　So　nice　and　flat；〃　she　added。

He　took　her　intention；　and　he　said；　as　he　craned　his　neck　out　of　the
carryall　to　include　the　nearer　roadside　stretches；　with　their　low　bushes
lifting　into　remoter　trees；　〃It's　restful　in　a　way　that　neither　the
mountains　nor　the　sea；　quite　manage。〃

〃Oh　yes；〃　she　sighed；　with　a　kind　of　weariness　which　explained　itself　in
what　she　added：　〃It's　the　kind　of　thing　you'd　like　to　have　keep　on　and
on。〃　　She　seemed　to　say　that　more　to　herself　than　to　him；　and　his　eyes
questioned　her。　　She　smiled　slightly　in　explaining：　〃I　suppose　I　find　it
all　the　more　beautiful　because　this　is　my　first　real　look　into　the　world
after　six　months　indoors。〃

〃Oh！〃　he　said；　and　there　was　no　doubt　a　prompting　in　his　tone。

She　smiled　still。　　〃Sick　people　are　terribly；　egotistical；　and　I　suppose
it's　my　conceit　of　having　been　the　centre　of　the　universe　so　lately　that
makes　me　mention　it。〃　　And　here　she　laughed　a　little　at　herself；　showing
a　charming　little　peculiarity　in　the　catch　of　her　upper　lip　on　her　teeth。　
〃But　this　is　divinethis　air　and　this　sight。〃　　She　put　her　head　out　of
her　side　of　the　carryall；　and　drank　them　in　with　her　lungs　and　eyes。

When　she　leaned　back　again　on　the　seat　she　said；　〃I　can't　get　enough　of
it。〃

〃But　isn't　this　old　rattletrap　rather　too　rough　for　you？〃　he　asked。

〃Oh　no；〃　she　said；　visiting　him　with　a　furtive　turn　of　her　eyes。　　〃It's
quite　ideally　what　invalids　in　easy　circumstances　are　advised　to　take
carriage　exercise。〃

〃Yes；　it's　certainly　carriage　exercise；〃　Verrian　admitted　in　the　same
spirit；　if　it　was　a　drolling　spirit。　　He　could　not　help　being　amused　by
the　situation　in　which　they　had　been　brought　together；　through　the
vigorous　promptitude　of　Miss　Macroyd　in　making　the　victoria　her　own；　and
the　easy　indifference　of　Mrs。　Westangle　as　to　how　they　should　get　to　her
house。　　If　he　had　been　alone　he　might　have　felt　the　indifference　as　a
slight；　but　as　it　was　he　felt　it　rather　a　favor。　　If　Miss　Shirley　was
feeling　it　a　slight；　she　was　too　secret　or　too　sweet　to　let　it　be　known；
and　he　thought　that　was　nice　of　her。　　Still；　he　believed　he　might
recognize　the　fact　without　deepening　a　possible　hurt　of　hers；　and　he
added；　with　no　apparent　relevance；　〃If　Mrs。　Westangle　was　not　looking　for　
us　on　this　train；　she　will　find　that　it　is　the　unexpected　which　happens。〃

〃We　are　certainly　going　to　happen；〃　the　girl　said；　with　an　acceptance　of
the　plural　which　deepened　the　intimacy　of　the　situation；　and　which　was
not　displeasing　to　Verrian　when　she　added；　〃If　our　friend's　vehicle　holds
out。〃　　Then　she　turned　her　face　full　upon　him；　with　what　affected　him　as
austere　resolution；　in　continuing；　〃But　I　can't　let　you　suppose　that
you're　conveying　a　society　person；　or　something　of　that　sort；　to　Mrs。
Westangle's。〃　　His　own　face　expressed　his　mystification；　and　she
concluded；　〃I'm　simply　going　there　to　begin　my　work。〃

He　smiled　provisionally　in　temporizing　with　the　riddle。　　〃You　women　are
wonderful；　nowadays；　for　the　work　you　do。〃

〃Oh；　but；〃　she　protested；　nervously；　anxiously；　〃it　isn't　good　work　that
I'm　going　to　doI　understand　what　you　meanit's　work　for　a　living。　
I've　no　business　to　be　arriving　with　an　invited　guest；　but　it　seemed　to
be　a　question　of　arriving　or　not　at　the　time　when　I　was　due。〃




IX。

Verrian　stared　at　her　now　from　a　visage　that　was　an　entire　blank；　though
behind　it　conjecture　was　busy；　and　he　was　asking　himself　whether　his
companion　was　some　new　kind　of　hair…dresser；　or　uncommonly　cultivated
manicure；　or　a　nursery　governess　obeying　a　hurry　call　to　take　a　place　in
Mrs。　Westangle's　household；　or　some　sort　of　amateur　housekeeper　arriving
to　supplant　a　professional。　　But　he　said　nothing。

Miss　Shirley　said；　with　a　distress　which　was　genuine；　though　he　perceived
a　trace　of　amusement　in　it；　too；　〃I　see　that　I　will　have　to　go　on。〃

〃Oh；　do！〃　he　made　out　to　utter。

〃I　am　going　to　Mrs。　Westangle's　as　a　sort　of　mistress　of　the　revels。　　The
business　is　so　new　that　it　hasn't　got　its　name　yet；　but　if　I　fail　it
won't　need　any。　　I　invented　it　on　a　hint　I　got　from　a　girl　who　undertakes
the　floral　decorations　for　parties。　　I　didn't　see　why　some　one　shouldn't
furnish　suggestions　for　amusements；　as　well　as　flowers。　　I　was　always
rather　lucky　at　that　in　my　own　famat　my　father's〃　She　pulled　herself
sharply　up；　as　if　danger　lay　that　way。　　〃I　got　an　introduction　to　Mrs。
Westangle；　and　she's　to　let　me　try。　　I　am　going　to　her　simply　as　part　of
the　catering；　and　I'm　not　to　have　any　recognition　in　the　hospitalities。　
So　it　wasn't　necessary　for　her　to　send　for　me　at　the　station；　except　as　a
means　of　having　me　on　the　ground　in　good　season。　　I　have　to　thank　you　for
that；　andI　thank　you。〃　　She　ended　in　a　sigh。

〃It's　very　interesting；〃　Verrian　said；　and　he　hoped　he　was　not　saying　it
in　any　ignoble　way。

He　was　very　presently　to　learn。　　Round　a　turn　of　the　road　there　came　a
lively　clacking　of　horses'　shoes　on　the　hard　track；　with　the　muted　rumble
of　rubber…tired　wheels；　and　Mrs。　Westangle's　victoria　dashed　into　view。　
The　coachman　had　made　a　signal　to　Verrian's　driver；　and　the　vehicles
stopped　side　by　side。　　The　footman　instantly　came　to　the　door　of　the
carryall；　touching　his　hat　to　Verrian。

〃Going　to　Mrs。　Westangle's；　sir？〃

〃Yes。〃

〃Mrs。　Westangle's　carriage。　　Going　to　the　station　for　you；　sir。〃

〃Miss　Shirley；〃　Verrian　said；　〃　will　you　change？〃

〃Oh　no；〃　she　answered；　quickly；　〃it's　better　for　me　to　go　on　as　I　am。　
But　the　carriage　was　sent　for　you。　　You　must〃

Verrian　interrupted　to　ask　the　footman；　〃How　far　is　it　yet　to　Mrs。
Westangle's？〃

〃About　a　mile；　sir。〃

〃I　think　I　won't　change　for　such　a　short　distance。　　I'll　keep　on　as　I
am；〃　Verrian　said；　and　he　let　the　goatskin；　which　he　had　half　lifted　to
free　Miss　Shirley　for　dismounting；　fall　back　again。　　〃Go　ahead；　driver。〃

She　had　been　making　several　gasping　efforts　at　speech；　accompanied　with
entreating　and　protesting　glances　at　Verrian　in　the　course　of　his　brief
colloquy　with　the　footman。　　Now；　as　the　carryall　lurched　forward　again；
and　the　victoria　wheeled　and　passed　them　on　its　way　back；　she　caught　her
handkerchief　to　her　face；　and　to　Verrian's　dismay　sobbed　into　it。　　He　let
her　cry；　as　he　must；　in　the　distressful　silence　which　he　could　not　be　the
first　to　break。　　Besides；　he　did　not　know　how　she　was　taking　it　all　till
she　suddenly　with　threw　her　handkerchief　and　pulled　down　her　veil。　　Then
she　spoke　three　heart…broken　words；　〃How　could　you！〃　and　he　divined　that
he　must　have　done　wrong。

〃What　ought　I　to　have　done？〃　he　asked；　with　sullen　humility。

〃You　ought　to　have　taken　the　victoria。〃

〃How　could　I？〃

〃You　ought　to　have　done　it。〃

〃I　think　you　ought　to　have　done　it　yourself；　Miss　Shirley；〃　Verrian　said；
feeling　like　the　worm　that　turns。　　He　added；　less　resentfully；　〃We　ought
both　to　have　taken　it。〃

〃No；　Mrs。　Westangle　might　have　felt；　very　properly；　that　it　was
presumptuous　in　me；　whether　I　came　alone　in　it　or　with　you。　　Now　we　shall
arrive　together　in　this　thing；　and　she　will　be　mortified　for　you　and
vexed　with　me。　　She　will　blame　me　for　it；　and　she　will　be　right；　for　it
would　have　been　very　well　for　me　to　drive　up　in　a　shabby　station
carryall；　but　an　invited　guest〃

〃　No；　indeed；　she　shall　not　blame　you；　Miss　Shirley。　　I　will　make　a　point
of　taking　the　whole　responsibility。　　I　will　tell　her〃

〃Mr。　Merriam！〃　she　cried；　in　anguish。　　〃Will　you　please　do　nothing　of　the
kind？　　Do　you　want　to　make　bad　worse？　　Leave　the　explaining　altogether　to
me；　please。　　Will　you　promise　that？〃

〃I　will　promise　thator　anythingif　you　insist；〃　Verrian　sulked。

She　instantly　relented　a　little。　　〃You　mustn't　think　me　unreasonable。　
But　I　was　determined　to　carry　my　undertaking　through　on　business
principles；　and　you　have　spoiled　my　chanceI　know　you　meant　it　kindly
or；　if　not　spoiled；　made　it　more　difficult。　　Don't　think　me　ungrateful。　
Mr。　Merriam〃

〃My　name　isn't　Me