pgw.adamselindistress-第31部分

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！


ea　almost　as　soon　as　I　found　that　you　had　e　here〃
　〃You　want　me　to　take　a　letter　from　you　and　see　that　it　reaches　him。　And　then　he　can　write　back　to　my　address；　and　I　can　smuggle　the　letter　to　you？〃
　〃That's　exactly　what　I　do　want。　But　I　almost　didn't　like　to　ask。〃
　〃Why　not？　I'll　be　delighted　to　do　it。〃
　〃I'm　so　grateful。〃
　〃Why；　it's　nothing。　I　thought　you　were　going　to　ask　me　to　look　in　on　your　brother　and　smash　another　of　his　hats。〃
　Maud　laughed　delightedly。　The　whole　tension　of　the　situation　had　been　eased　for　her。　More　and　more　she　found　herself　liking　George。　Yet；　deep　down　in　her；　she　realized　with　a　pang　that　for　him　there　had　been　no　easing　of　the　situation。　She　was　sad　for　George。　The　Plummers　of　this　world　she　had　consigned　to　what　they　declared　would　be　perpetual　sorrow　with　scarcely　a　twinge　of　regret。　But　George　was　different。
　〃Poor　Percy！〃　she　said。　〃I　don't　suppose　he'll　ever　get　over　it。　He　will　have　other　hats；　but　it　won't　be　the　same。〃　She　came　back　to　the　subject　nearest　her　heart。　〃Mr。　Bevan；　I　wonder　if　you　would　do　just　a　little　more　for　me？〃
　〃If　it　isn't　criminal。　Or；　for　that　matter；　if　it　is。〃
　〃Could　you　go　to　Geoffrey；　and　see　him；　and　tell　him　all　about　me　andand　e　back　and　tell　me　how　he　looks；　and　what　he　said　andand　so　on？〃
　〃Certainly。　What　is　his　name；　and　where　do　I　find　him？〃
　〃I　never　told　you。　How　stupid　of　me。　His　name　is　Geoffrey　Raymond；　and　he　lives　with　his　uncle；　Mr。　Wilbur　Raymond；　at　11a；　Belgrave　Square。〃
　〃I'll　go　to　him　tomorrow。〃
　〃Thank　you　ever　so　much。〃
　George　got　up。　The　movement　seemed　to　put　him　in　touch　with　the　outer　world。　He　noticed　that　the　rain　had　stopped；　and　that　stars　had　climbed　into　the　oblong　of　the　doorway。　He　had　an　impression　that　he　had　been　in　the　barn　a　very　long　time；　and　confirmed　this　with　a　glance　at　his　watch；　though　the　watch；　he　felt；　understated　the　facts　by　the　length　of　several　centuries。　He　was　abstaining　from　too　close　an　examination　of　his　emotions　from　a　prudent　feeling　that　he　was　going　to　suffer　soon　enough　without　assistance　from　himself。
　〃I　think　you　had　better　be　going　back；〃　he　said。　〃It's　rather　late。　They　may　be　missing　you。〃
　Maud　laughed　happily。
　〃I　don't　mind　now　what　they　do。　But　I　suppose　dinners　must　be　dressed　for；　whatever　happens。〃　They　moved　together　to　the　door。　〃What　a　lovely　night　after　all！　I　never　thought　the　rain　would　stop　in　this　world。　It's　like　when　you're　unhappy　and　think　it's　going　on　for　ever。〃
　〃Yes；〃　said　George。
　Maud　held　out　her　hand。
　〃Good　night；　Mr。　Bevan。〃
　〃Good　night。〃
　He　wondered　if　there　would　be　any　allusion　to　the　earlier　passages　of　their　interview。　There　was　none。　Maud　was　of　the　class　whose　education　consists　mainly　of　a　training　in　the　delicate　ignoring　of　delicate　situations。
　〃Then　you　will　go　and　see　Geoffrey？〃
　〃Tomorrow。〃
　〃Thank　you　ever　so　much。〃
　〃Not　at　all。〃
　George　admired　her。　The　little　touch　of　formality　which　she　had　contrived　to　impart　to　the　conversation　struck　just　the　right　note；　created　just　the　atmosphere　which　would　enable　them　to　part　without　weighing　too　heavily　on　the　deeper　aspect　of　that　parting。
　〃You're　a　real　friend；　Mr。　Bevan。〃
　〃Watch　me　prove　it。〃
　〃Well；　I　must　rush；　I　suppose。　Good　night！〃
　〃Good　night！〃
　She　moved　off　quickly　across　the　field。　Darkness　covered　her。　　The　dog　in　the　distance　had　begun　to　howl　again。　He　had　his　troubles；　too。
　
　CHAPTER　20。
　
　Trouble　sharpens　the　vision。　In　our　moments　of　distress　we　can　see　clearly　that　what　is　wrong　with　this　world　of　ours　is　the　fact　that　Misery　loves　pany　and　seldom　gets　it。　Toothache　is　an　unpleasant　ailment；　but；　if　toothache　were　a　natural　condition　of　life；　if　all　mankind　were　afflicted　with　toothache　at　birth；　we　should　not　notice　it。　It　is　the　freedom　from　aching　teeth　of　all　those　with　whom　we　e　in　contact　that　emphasizes　the　agony。　And；　as　with　toothache；　so　with　trouble。　Until　our　private　affairs　go　wrong；　we　never　realize　how　bubbling　over　with　happiness　the　bulk　of　mankind　seems　to　be。　Our　aching　heart　is　apparently　nothing　but　a　desert　island　in　an　ocean　of　joy。
　George；　waking　next　morning　with　a　heavy　heart；　made　this　discovery　before　the　day　was　an　hour　old。　The　sun　was　shining；　and　birds　sang　merrily；　but　this　did　not　disturb　him。　Nature　is　ever　callous　to　human　woes；　laughing　while　we　weep；　and　we　grow　to　take　her　callousness　for　granted。　What　jarred　upon　George　was　the　infernal　cheerfulness　of　his　fellow　men。　They　seemed　to　be　doing　it　on　purposetriumphing　over　himglorying　in　the　fact；　that；　however　Fate　might　have　shattered　him；　they　were　all　right。
　People　were　happy　who　had　never　been　happy　before。　Mrs。　Platt；　for　instance。　A　grey；　depressed　woman　of　middle　age；　she　had　seemed　hitherto　to　have　few　pleasures　beyond　breaking　dishes　and　relating　the　symptoms　of　sick　neighbours　who　were　not　expected　to　live　through　the　week。　She　now　sang。　George　could　hear　her　as　she　prepared　his　breakfast　in　the　kitchen。　At　first　he　had　had　a　hope　that　she　was　moaning　with　pain；　but　this　was　dispelled　when　he　had　finished　his　toilet　and　proceeded　downstairs。　The　sounds　she　emitted　suggested　anguish；　but　the　words；　when　he　was　able　to　distinguish　them；　told　another　story。　　Incredible　as　it　might　seem；　on　this　particular　morning　Mrs。　　Platt　had　elected　to　be　light…hearted。　What　she　was　singing　sounded　like　a　dirge；　but　actually　it　was　〃Stop　your　tickling；　Jock！〃　And。　later；　when　she　brought　George　his　coffee　and　eggs；　she　spent　a　full　ten　minutes　prattling　as　he　tried　to　read　his　paper；　pointing　out　to　him　a　number　of　merry　murders　and　sprightly　suicides　which　otherwise　he　might　have　missed。　The　woman　went　out　of　her　way　to　show　him　that　for　her；　if　not　for　less　fortunate　people；　God　this　morning　was　in　His　heaven　and　all　was　right　in　the　world。
　Two　tramps　of　supernatural　exuberance　called　at　the　cottage　shortly　after　breakfast　to　ask　George；　whom　they　had　never　even　consulted　about　their　marriages；　to　help　support　their　wives　and　children。　Nothing　could　have　been　more　care…free　and　debonnaire　than　the　demeanour　of　these　men。
　And　then　Reggie　Byng　arrived　in　his　grey　racing　car；　more　cheerful　than　any　of　them。
　Fate　could　not　have　mocked　George　more　subtly。　A　sorrow's　crown　of　sorrow　is　remembering　happier　things；　and　the　sight　of　Reggie　in　that　room　reminded　him　that　on　the　last　occasion　when　they　had　talked　together　across　this　same　table　it　was　he　who　had　been　in　a　Fool's　Paradise　and　Reggie　who　had　borne　a　weight　of　care。　Reggie　this　morning　was　brighter　than　the　shining　sun　and　gayer　than　the　carolling　birds。
　〃Hullo…ullo…ullo…ullo…ullo…ullo…ul…Lo！　Topping　morning；　isn't　it！〃　observed　Reggie。　〃The　sunshine！　The　birds！　　The　absolute　what…do…you…call…it　of　everything　and　so　forth；　and　all　that　sort　of　thing；　if　you　know　what　I　mean！　I　feel　like　a　two…year…old！〃
　George；　who　felt　older　than　this　by　some　ninety…eight　years；　groaned　in　spirit。　This　was　more　than　man　was　meant　to　bear。
　〃I　say；〃　continued　Reggie；　absently　reaching　out　for　a　slice　of　bread　and　smearing　it　with　marmalade；　〃this　business　of　marriage；　now；　and　all　that　species　of　rot！　What　I　mean　to　say　is；　what　about　it？　Not　a　bad　scheme；　taking　it　big　and　large？　　Or　don't　you　think　so？〃
　George　writhed。　The　knife　twisted　in　the　wound。　Surely　it　was　bad　enough　to　see　a　happy　man　eating　bread　and　marmalade　without　having　to　listen　to　him　talking　about　marriage。
　〃Well；　anyhow；　be　that　as　it　may；〃　said　Reggie；　biting　jovially　and　speaking　in　a　thick　but　joyous　voice。　〃I'm　getting　married　today；　and　chance　it。　This　morning；　this　very　morning；　I　leap　off　the　dock！〃
　George　was　startled　out　of　his　despondency。
　〃What！〃
　〃Absolutely；　laddie！〃
　George　remembered　the　conventions。
　〃I　congratulate　you。〃
　〃Thanks；　old　man。　And　not　without　reason。　I'm　the　luckiest　fellow　alive。　I　hardly　knew　I　was　alive　till　now。〃
　〃Isn't　this　rather　sudden？〃
　Reggie　looked　a　trifle　furtive。　His　manner　became　that　of　a　conspirator。
　〃I　should　jolly　well　say　it　is　sudden！　It's　got　to　be　sudden。　Dashed　sudden　and　deuced　secret！　If　the　mater　were　to　hear　of　it；　there's　no　doubt　whatever　she　would　form　a　flying　wedge　and　bust　up　the　proceedings　with　no　uncertain　voice。　You　see；　laddie；　it's　Miss　Faraday　I'm　marrying；　and　the　materdear　old　soulhas　other　ideas　for　Reginald。　Life's　a　rummy　thing；　isn't　it！　What　I　mean　to　say　is；　it's　rummy；　don't　you　know；　and　all　that。〃
　〃Very；〃　agreed　George。
　〃Who'd　have　thought；　a　week　ago；　that　I'd　be　sitting　in　this　jolly　old　chair　asking　you　to　be　my　best　man？　Why；　a　week　ago　I　didn't　know　you；　and；　if　anybody　had　told　me　Alice　Faraday　was　going　to　marry　me；　I'd　have　given　one　of　those　hollow；　mirthless　laughs。〃
　〃Do　you　want　me　to　be　your　best　man？〃
　〃Absolutely；　if　you　don't　mind。　You　see；〃　said　Reggie　confidentially；　〃it's　like　this。　I've　got　lots　of　pals；　of　course；　buzzing　about　all　over　London　and　its　outskirts；　who'd　be　glad　enough　to　rally　round　and　join　the　execution…squad；　but　you　know　how　it　is。　Their　maters　are　all　pals　of　my　mater；　and　I　don't　want　to　get　them　into　trouble　for　aiding　and　abetting　my　little　show；　if　you　understand　what　I　mean。　Now；　you're　different。　You　don't　know　the　mater；　so　it　doesn't　matter　to　you　if　she　rolls　around　and　puts　the　Curse　of　the　Byngs　on　you；　and　all　that　sort　of　thing。　Besides；　I　don't　know。〃　Reggie　mused。　　〃Of　course；　this　is　the　happiest　day　of　my　life；〃　he　proceeded；　〃and　I'm　not　saying　it　isn't；　but　you　know　how　it　isthere's　absolutely　no　doubt　that　a　chappie　does　not　show　at　his　best　when　he's　being　married。　What　I　mean　to　say　is；　he's　more　or　less　bound　to　look　a　fearful　ass。　And　I'm　perfectly　certain　it　would　put　me　right　off　my　stroke　if　I　felt　that　some　chump　like　Jack　Ferris　or　Ronnie　Fitzgerald　was　trying　not　to　giggle　in　the　background。　So；　if　you　will　be　a　sportsman　and　e　and　hold　my　hand　till　the　thing's　over；　I　shall　be　eternally　grateful。〃
　〃Where　are　you　going　to　be　married？〃
　〃In　London。　Alice　sneaked　off　there　last　night。　It　was　easy；　as　it　happened；　because　by　a　bit　of　luck　old　Marshmoreton　had　gone　to　town　yesterday　morningnobody　knows　why：　he　doesn't　go　up　to　London　more　than　a　couple　of　times　a　year。　　She's　going　to　meet　me　at　the　Savoy；　and　then　the