pgw.adamselindistress-第30部分

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　〃I'm　here！〃
　Maud　advanced　quickly。　His　eyes　had　grown　accustomed　to　the　murk；　and　he　could　see　her　dimly。　The　smell　of　her　damp　raincoat　came　to　him　like　a　breath　of　ozone。　He　could　even　see　her　eyes　shining　in　the　darkness；　so　close　was　she　to　him。
　〃I　hope　you've　not　been　waiting　long？〃
　George's　heart　was　thundering　against　his　ribs。　He　could　scarcely　speak。　He　contrived　to　emit　a　No。
　〃I　didn't　think　at　first　I　could　get　away。　I　had　to　。　。　。〃　She　broke　off　with　a　cry。　The　rat；　fond　of　exercise　like　all　rats；　had　made　another　of　its　excitable　sprints　across　the　floor。
　A　hand　clutched　nervously　at　George's　arm；　found　it　and　held　it。　And　at　the　touch　the　last　small　fragment　of　George's　self…control　fled　from　him。　The　world　became　vague　and　unreal。　　There　remained　of　it　but　one　solid　factthe　fact　that　Maud　was　in　his　arms　and　that　he　was　saying　a　number　of　things　very　rapidly　in　a　voice　that　seemed　to　belong　to　somebody　he　had　never　met　before。
　
　CHAPTER　19。
　
　With　a　shock　of　dismay　so　abrupt　and　overwhelming　that　it　was　like　a　physical　injury；　George　became　aware　that　something　was　wrong。　Even　as　he　gripped　her；　Maud　had　stiffened　with　a　sharp　cry；　and　now　she　was　struggling；　trying　to　wrench　herself　free。　She　broke　away　from　him。　He　could　hear　her　breathing　hard。
　〃Youyou〃　She　gulped。
　〃Maud！〃
　〃How　dare　you！〃
　There　was　a　pause　that　seemed　to　George　to　stretch　on　and　on　endlessly。　The　rain　pattered　on　the　leafy　roof。　Somewhere　in　the　distance　a　dog　howled　dismally。　The　darkness　pressed　down　like　a　blanket；　stifling　thought。
　〃Good　night；　Mr。　Bevan。〃　Her　voice　was　ice。　〃I　didn't　think　you　werethat　kind　of　man。〃
　She　was　moving　toward　the　door；　and；　as　she　reached　it；　George's　stupor　left　him。　He　came　back　to　life　with　a　jerk；　shaking　from　head　to　foot。　All　his　varied　emotions　had　bee　one　emotiona　cold　fury。
　〃Stop！〃
　Maud　stopped。　Her　chin　was　tilted；　and　she　was　wasting　a　baleful　glare　on　the　darkness。
　〃Well；　what　is　it？〃
　Her　tone　increased　George's　wrath。　The　injustice　of　it　made　him　dizzy。　At　that　moment　he　hated　her。　He　was　the　injured　party。　It　was　he；　not　she；　that　had　been　deceived　and　made　a　fool　of。
　〃I　want　to　say　something　before　you　go。〃
　〃I　think　we　had　better　say　no　more　about　it！〃
　By　the　exercise　of　supreme　self…control　George　kept　himself　from　speaking　until　he　could　choose　milder　words　than　those　that　rushed　to　his　lips。
　〃I　think　we　will！〃　he　said　between　his　teeth。
　Maud's　anger　became　tinged　with　surprise。　Now　that　the　first　shock　of　the　wretched　episode　was　over；　the　calmer　half　of　her　mind　was　endeavouring　to　soothe　the　infuriated　half　by　urging　that　George's　behaviour　had　been　but　a　momentary　lapse；　and　that　a　man　may　lose　his　head　for　one　wild　instant；　and　yet　remain　fundamentally　a　gentleman　and　a　friend。　She　had　begun　to　remind　herself　that　this　man　had　helped　her　once　in　trouble；　and　only　a　day　or　two　before　had　actually　risked　his　life　to　save　her　from　embarrassment。　When　she　heard　him　call　to　her　to　stop；　she　supposed　that　his　better　feelings　had　reasserted　themselves；　and　she　had　prepared　herself　to　receive　with　dignity　a　broken；　stammered　apology。　But　the　voice　that　had　just　spoken　with　a　crisp；　biting　intensity　was　not　the　voice　of　remorse。　　It　was　a　very　angry　man；　not　a　penitent　one；　who　was　mandingnot　beggingher　to　stop　and　listen　to　him。
　〃Well？〃　she　said　again；　more　coldly　this　time。　She　was　quite　unable　to　understand　this　attitude　of　his。　She　was　the　injured　party。　It　was　she；　not　he　who　had　trusted　and　been　betrayed。
　〃I　should　like　to　explain。〃
　〃Please　do　not　apologize。〃
　George　ground　his　teeth　in　the　gloom。
　〃I　haven't　the　slightest　intention　of　apologizing。　I　said　I　would　like　to　explain。　When　I　have　finished　explaining；　you　can　go。〃
　〃I　shall　go　when　I　please；〃　flared　Maud。
　This　man　was　intolerable。
　〃There　is　nothing　to　be　afraid　of。　There　will　be　no　repetition　of　theincident。〃
　Maud　was　outraged　by　this　monstrous　misinterpretation　of　her　words。
　〃I　am　not　afraid！〃
　〃Then；　perhaps；　you　will　be　kind　enough　to　listen。　I　won't　detain　you　long。　My　explanation　is　quite　simple。　I　have　been　made　a　fool　of。　I　seem　to　be　in　the　position　of　the　tinker　in　the　play　whom　everybody　conspired　to　delude　into　the　belief　that　he　was　a　king。　First　a　friend　of　yours；　Mr。　Byng；　came　to　me　and　told　me　that　you　had　confided　to　him　that　you　loved　me。〃
　Maud　gasped。　Either　this　man　was　mad；　or　Reggie　Byng　was。　She　choose　the　politer　solution。
　〃Reggie　Byng　must　have　lost　his　senses。〃
　〃So　I　supposed。　At　least；　I　imagined　that　he　must　be　mistaken。　But　a　man　in　love　is　an　optimistic　fool；　of　course；　and　I　had　loved　you　ever　since　you　got　into　my　cab　that　morning　。　。　。〃
　〃What！〃
　〃So　after　a　while；〃　proceeded　George；　ignoring　the　interruption；　〃I　almost　persuaded　myself　that　miracles　could　still　happen；　and　that　what　Byng　said　was　true。　And　when　your　father　called　on　me　and　told　me　the　very　same　thing　I　was　convinced。　It　seemed　incredible；　but　I　had　to　believe　it。　Now　it　seems　that；　for　some　inscrutable　reason；　both　Byng　and　your　father　were　making　a　fool　of　me。　That's　all。　Good　night。〃
　Maud's　reply　was　the　last　which　George　or　any　man　would　have　expected。　There　was　a　moment's　silence；　and　then　she　burst　into　a　peal　of　laughter。　It　was　the　laughter　of　over…strained　nerves；　but　to　George's　ears　it　had　the　ring　of　genuine　amusement。
　〃I'm　glad　you　find　my　story　entertaining；〃　he　said　dryly。　　He　was　convinced　now　that　he　loathed　this　girl；　and　that　all　he　desired　was　to　see　her　go　out　of　his　life　for　ever。　〃Later；　no　doubt；　the　funny　side　of　it　will　hit　me。　Just　at　present　my　sense　of　humour　is　rather　dormant。〃
　Maud　gave　a　little　cry。
　〃I'm　sorry！　I'm　so　sorry；　Mr。　Bevan。　It　wasn't　that。　It　wasn't　that　at　all。　Oh；　I　am　so　sorry。　I　don't　know　why　I　laughed。　It　certainly　wasn't　because　I　thought　it　funny。　It's　tragic。　There's　been　a　dreadful　mistake！〃
　〃I　noticed　that；〃　said　George　bitterly。　The　darkness　began　to　afflict　his　nerves。　〃I　wish　to　God　we　had　some　light。〃
　The　glare　of　a　pocket…torch　smote　upon　him。
　〃I　brought　it　to　see　my　way　back　with；〃　said　Maud　in　a　curious；　small　voice。　〃It's　very　dark　across　the　fields。　I　didn't　light　it　before；　because　I　was　afraid　somebody　might　see。〃
　She　came　towards　him；　holding　the　torch　over　her　head。　The　beam　showed　her　face；　troubled　and　sympathetic；　and　at　the　sight　all　George's　resentment　left　him。　There　were　mysteries　here　beyond　his　unravelling；　but　of　one　thing　he　was　certain：　this　girl　was　not　to　blame。　She　was　a　thoroughbred；　as　straight　as　a　wand。　She　was　pure　gold。
　〃I　came　here　to　tell　you　everything；〃　she　said。　She　placed　the　torch　on　the　wagon…wheel　so　that　its　ray　fell　in　a　pool　of　light　on　the　ground　between　them。　〃I'll　do　it　now。　Onlyonly　it　isn't　so　easy　now。　Mr。　Bevan；　there's　a　manthere's　a　man　that　father　and　Reggie　Byng　mistookthey　thought　。　。　。　You　see；　they　knew　it　was　you　that　I　was　with　that　day　in　the　cab；　and　so　they　naturally　thought；　when　you　came　down　here；　that　you　were　the　man　I　had　gone　to　meet　that　daythe　man　II〃
　〃The　man　you　love。〃
　〃Yes；〃　said　Maud　in　a　small　voice；　and　there　was　silence　again。
　George　could　feel　nothing　but　sympathy。　It　mastered　other　emotion　in　him；　even　the　grey　despair　that　had　e　her　words。　He　could　feel　all　that　she　was　feeling。
　〃Tell　me　all　about　it；〃　he　said。
　〃I　met　him　in　Wales　last　year。〃　Maud's　voice　was　a　whisper。　　〃The　family　found　out；　and　I　was　hurried　back　here；　and　have　been　here　ever　since。　That　day　when　I　met　you　I　had　managed　to　slip　away　from　home。　I　had　found　out　that　he　was　in　London；　and　I　was　going　to　meet　him。　Then　I　saw　Percy；　and　got　into　your　cab。　It's　all　been　a　horrible　mistake。　I'm　sorry。〃
　〃I　see；〃　said　George　thoughtfully。　〃I　see。〃
　His　heart　ached　like　a　living　wound。　She　had　told　so　and　he　could　guess　so　much。　This　unknown　man　who　triumphed　seemed　to　sneer　scornfully　at　him　from　shadows。
　〃I'm　sorry；〃　said　Maud　again。
　〃You　mustn't　feel　like　that。　How　can　I　help　you？　That's　the　point。　What　is　it　you　want　me　to　do？〃
　〃But　I　can't　ask　you　now。〃
　〃Of　course　you　can。　Why　not？〃
　〃Whyoh；　I　couldn't！〃
　George　managed　to　laugh。　It　was　a　laugh　that　did　not　sound　convincing　even　to　himself；　but　it　served。
　〃That's　morbid；〃　he　said。　〃Be　sensible。　You　need　help；　and　I　may　be　able　to　give　it。　Surely　a　man　isn't　barred　for　ever　from　doing　you　a　service　just　because　he　happens　to　love　you？　　Suppose　you　were　drowning　and　Mr。　Plummer　was　the　only　swimmer　within　call；　wouldn't　you　let　him　rescue　you？〃
　〃Mr。　Plummer？　What　do　you　mean？〃
　〃You've　not　forgotten　that　I　was　a　reluctant　ear…witness　to　his　recent　proposal　of　marriage？〃
　Maud　uttered　an　exclamation。
　〃I　never　asked！　How　terrible　of　me。　Were　you　much　hurt？〃
　〃Hurt？〃　George　could　not　follow　her。
　〃That　night。　When　you　were　on　the　balcony；　and〃
　〃Oh！〃　George　understood。　〃Oh；　no；　hardly　at　all。　A　few　scratches。　I　scraped　my　hands　a　little。〃
　〃It　was　a　wonderful　thing　to　do；〃　said　Maud；　her　admiration　glowing　for　a　man　who　could　treat　such　a　leap　so　lightly。　She　had　always　had　a　private　theory　that　Lord　Leonard；　after　performing　the　same　feat；　had　bragged　about　it　for　the　rest　of　his　life。
　〃No；　no；　nothing；〃　said　George；　who　had　since　wondered　why　he　had　ever　made　such　a　to…do　about　climbing　up　a　perfectly　stout　sheet。
　〃It　was　splendid！〃
　George　blushed。
　〃We　are　wandering　from　the　main　theme；〃　he　said。　〃I　want　to　help　you。　I　came　here　at　enormous　expense　to　help　you。　　How　can　I　do　it？〃
　Maud　hesitated。
　〃I　think　you　may　be　offended　at　my　asking　such　a　thing。〃
　〃You　needn't。〃
　〃You　see；　the　whole　trouble　is　that　I　can't　get　in　touch　with　Geoffrey。　He's　in　London；　and　I'm　here。　And　any　chance　I　might　have　of　getting　to　London　vanished　that　day　I　met　you；　when　Percy　saw　me　in　Piccadilly。〃
　〃How　did　your　people　find　out　it　was　you？〃
　〃They　asked　mestraight　out。〃
　〃And　you　owned　up？〃
　〃I　had　to。　I　couldn't　tell　them　a　direct　lie。〃
　George　thrilled。　This　was　the　girl　he　had　had　doubts　of。
　〃So　then　it　was　worse　then　ever；〃　continued　Maud。　〃I　daren't　risk　writing　to　Geoffrey　and　having　the　letter　intercepted。　　I　was　wonderingI　had　the　idea　almost　as　soon　as　I　found　that　you　had　e　here〃