pgw.piccadillyjim-第15部分

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　〃Don't　take　the　joy　out　of　life；　Bayliss。　I　may　be　a　chump；　but　try　to　forget　it。　Use　your　willpower。〃
　〃Good　evening；　Mr。　Bayliss；〃　said　a　voice　behind　them。　They　both　turned。　The　butler　was　gazing　rather　coyly　at　a　vision　in　a　grey　tailor…made　suit。
　〃Good　evening；　miss；〃　he　said　doubtfully。
　Ann　looked　at　him　in　astonishment；　then　broke　into　a　smile。
　〃How　stupid　of　me！　I　meant　this　Mr。　Bayliss。　Your　son！　We　met　at　the　steamship　offices。　And　before　that　he　saved　my　life。　So　we　are　old　friends。〃
　Bayliss；　gaping　perplexedly　and　feeling　unequal　to　the　intellectual　pressure　of　the　conversation；　was　surprised　further　to　perceive　a　warning　scowl　on　the　face　of　his　Mr。　James。　Jimmy　had　not　foreseen　this　thing；　but　he　had　a　quick　mind　and　was　equal　to　it。
　〃How　are　you；　Miss　Chester？　My　father　has　e　down　to　see　me　off。　This　is　Miss　Chester；　dad。〃
　A　British　butler　is　not　easily　robbed　of　his　poise；　but　Bayliss　was　frankly　unequal　to　the　sudden　demand　on　his　presence　of　mind。　He　lowered　his　jaw　an　inch　or　two；　but　spoke　no　word。
　〃Dad's　a　little　upset　at　my　going；〃　whispered　Jimmy　confidentially。　〃He's　not　quite　himself。〃
　Ann　was　a　girl　possessed　of　ready　tact　but　of　a　kind　heart。　She　had　summed　up　Mr。　Bayliss　at　a　glance。　Every　line　of　him　proclaimed　him　a　respectable　upper　servant。　No　girl　on　earth　could　have　been　freer　than　she　of　snobbish　prejudice；　but　she　could　not　check　a　slight　thrill　of　surprise　and　disappointment　at　the　discovery　of　Jimmy's　humble　origin。　She　understood　everything；　and　there　were　tears　in　her　eyes　as　she　turned　away　to　avoid　intruding　on　the　last　moments　of　the　parting　of　father　and　son。
　〃I'll　see　you　on　the　boat；　Mr。　Bayliss；〃　she　said。
　〃Eh？〃　said　Bayliss。
　〃Yes；　yes；〃　said　Jimmy。　〃Good…bye　till　then。〃
　Ann　walked　on　to　her　partment。　She　felt　as　if　she　had　just　read　a　whole　long　novel；　one　of　those　chunky　younger…English…novelist　things。　She　knew　the　whole　story　as　well　as　if　it　had　been　told　to　her　in　detail。　She　could　see　the　father；　the　honest　steady　butler；　living　his　life　with　but　one　aim；　to　make　a　gentleman　of　his　beloved　only　son。　Year　by　year　he　had　saved。　Probably　he　had　sent　the　son　to　college。　And　now；　with　a　father's　blessing　and　the　remains　of　a　father's　savings；　the　boy　was　setting　out　for　the　New　World；　where　dollar…bills　grew　on　trees　and　no　one　asked　or　cared　who　any　one　else's　father　might　be。
　There　was　a　lump　in　her　throat。　Bayliss　would　have　been　amazed　if　he　could　have　known　what　a　figure　of　pathetic　fineness　he　seemed　to　her。　And　then　her　thoughts　turned　to　Jimmy；　and　she　was　aware　of　a　glow　of　kindliness　towards　him。　His　father　had　succeeded　in　his　life's　ambition。　He　had　produced　a　gentleman！　How　easily　and　simply；　without　a　trace　of　snobbish　shame；　the　young　man　had　introduced　his　father。　There　was　the　right　stuff　in　him。　He　was　not　ashamed　of　the　humble　man　who　had　given　him　his　chance　in　life。　She　found　herself　liking　Jimmy　amazingly　。　。　。
　The　hands　of　the　clock　pointed　to　three　minutes　to　the　hour。　Porters　skimmed　to　and　fro　like　water…beetles。
　〃I　can't　explain；〃　said　Jimmy。　〃It　wasn't　temporary　insanity；　it　was　necessity。〃
　〃Very　good；　Mr。　James。　I　think　you　had　better　be　taking　your　seat　now。〃
　〃Quite　right；　I　had。　It　would　spoil　the　whole　thing　if　they　left　me　behind。　Bayliss；　did　you　ever　see　such　eyes？　Such　hair！　Look　after　my　father　while　I　am　away。　Don't　let　the　dukes　worry　him。　Oh；　and；　Bayliss〃Jimmy　drew　his　hand　from　his　pocket〃as　one　pal　to　another〃
　Bayliss　looked　at　the　crackling　piece　of　paper。
　〃I　couldn't；　Mr。　James；　I　really　couldn't！　A　five…pound　note！　I　couldn't！〃
　〃Nonsense！　Be　a　sport！〃
　〃Begging　your　pardon；　Mr。　James；　I　really　couldn't。　You　cannot　afford　to　throw　away　your　money　like　this。　You　cannot　have　a　great　deal　of　it；　if　you　will　excuse　me　for　saying　so。〃
　〃I　won't　do　anything　of　the　sort。　Grab　it！　Oh；　Lord；　the　train's　starting！　Good…bye；　Bayliss！〃
　The　engine　gave　a　final　shriek　of　farewell。　The　train　began　to　slide　along　the　platform；　pursued　to　the　last　by　optimistic　boys　offering　buns　for　sale。　It　gathered　speed。　Jimmy；　leaning　out　the　window；　was　amazed　at　a　spectacle　so　unusual　as　practically　to　amount　to　a　modern　miraclethe　spectacled　Bayliss　running。　The　butler　was　not　in　the　pink　of　condition；　but　he　was　striding　out　gallantly。　He　reached　the　door　of　Jimmy's　partment；　and　raised　his　hand。
　〃Begging　your　pardon；　Mr。　James；〃　he　panted；　〃for　taking　the　liberty；　but　I　really　couldn't！〃
　He　reached　up　and　thrust　something　into　Jimmy's　hand；　something　crisp　and　crackling。　Then；　his　mission　performed；　fell　back　and　stood　waving　a　snowy　handkerchief。　The　train　plunged　into　the　tunnel。
　Jimmy　stared　at　the　five…pound　note。　He　was　aware；　like　Ann　farther　along　the　train；　of　a　lump　in　his　throat。　He　put　the　note　slowly　into　his　pocket。
　The　train　moved　on。
　
　CHAPTER　VII
　ON　THE　BOAT…DECK
　
　RISING　waters　and　a　fine　flying　scud　that　whipped　stingingly　over　the　side　had　driven　most　of　the　passengers　on　the　Atlantic　to　the　shelter　of　their　staterooms　or　to　the　warm　stuffiness　of　the　library。　It　was　the　fifth　evening　of　the　voyage。　For　five　days　and　four　nights　the　ship　had　been　racing　through　a　placid　ocean　on　her　way　to　Sandy　Hook：　but　in　the　early　hours　of　this　afternoon　the　wind　had　shifted　to　the　north；　bringing　heavy　seas。　Darkness　had　begun　to　fall　now。　The　sky　was　a　sullen　black。　The　white　crests　of　the　rollers　gleamed　faintly　in　the　dusk；　and　the　wind　sang　in　the　ropes。
　Jimmy　and　Ann　had　had　the　boat…deck　to　themselves　for　half　an　hour。　Jimmy　was　a　good　sailor：　it　exhilarated　him　to　fight　the　wind　and　to　walk　a　deck　that　heaved　and　dipped　and　shuddered　beneath　his　feet；　but　he　had　not　expected　to　have　Ann's　pany　on　such　an　evening。　But　she　had　e　out　of　the　saloon　entrance；　her　small　face　framed　in　a　hood　and　her　slim　body　shapeless　beneath　a　great　cloak；　and　joined　him　in　his　walk。
　Jimmy　was　in　a　mood　of　exaltation。　He　had　passed　the　last　few　days　in　a　condition　of　intermittent　melancholy；　consequent　on　the　discovery　that　he　was　not　the　only　man　on　board　the　Atlantic　who　desired　the　society　of　Ann　as　an　alleviation　of　the　tedium　of　an　ocean　voyage。　The　world；　when　he　embarked　on　this　venture；　had　consisted　so　exclusively　of　Ann　and　himself　that；　until　the　ship　was　well　on　its　way　to　Queenstown；　he　had　not　conceived　the　possibility　of　intrusive　males　forcing　their　unwele　attentions　on　her。　And　it　had　added　bitterness　to　the　bitter　awakening　that　their　attentions　did　not　appear　to　be　at　all　unwele。　Almost　immediately　after　breakfast　on　the　very　first　day　a　creature　with　a　small　black　moustache　and　shining　teeth　had　descended　upon　Ann　and；　vocal　with　surprise　and　pleasure　at　meeting　her　againhe　claimed；　damn　him！；　to　have　met　her　before　at　Palm　Beach；　Bar　Harbor；　and　a　dozen　other　placeshad　carried　her　off　to　play　an　idiotic　game　known　as　shuffle…board。　Nor　was　this　an　isolated　case。　It　began　to　be　borne　in　upon　Jimmy　that　Ann；　whom　he　had　looked　upon　purely　in　the　light　of　an　Eve　playing　opposite　his　Adam　in　an　exclusive　Garden　of　Eden；　was　an　extremely　well…known　and　popular　character。　The　clerk　at　the　shipping…office　had　lied　absurdly　when　he　had　said　that　very　few　people　were　crossing　on　the　Atlantic　this　voyage。　The　vessel　was　crammed　till　its　sides　bulged；　it　was　loaded　down　in　utter　defiance　of　the　Plimsoll　law；　with　Rollos　and　Clarences　and　Dwights　and　Twombleys　who　had　known　and　golfed　and　ridden　and　driven　and　motored　and　swum　and　danced　with　Ann　for　years。　A　ghastly　being　entitled　Edgar　Something　or　Teddy　Something　had　beaten　Jimmy　by　a　short　head　in　the　race　for　the　deck…steward；　the　prize　of　which　was　the　placing　of　his　deck…chair　next　to　Ann's。　Jimmy　had　been　driven　from　the　promenade　deck　by　the　spectacle　of　this　beastly　creature　lying　swathed　in　rugs　reading　best…sellers　to　her。
　He　had　scarcely　seen　her　to　speak　to　since　the　beginning　of　the　voyage。　When　she　was　not　walking　with　Rolly　or　playing　shuffle…board　with　Twombley；　she　was　down　below　ministering　to　the　fort　of　a　chronically　sea…sick　aunt；　referred　to　in　conversation　as　〃poor　aunt　Nesta〃。　Sometimes　Jimmy　saw　the　little　manpresumably　her　unclein　the　smoking…room；　and　once　he　came　upon　the　stout　boy　recovering　from　the　effects　of　a　cigar　in　a　quiet　corner　of　the　boat…deck：　but　apart　from　these　meetings　the　family　was　as　distant　from　him　as　if　he　had　never　seen　Ann　at　alllet　alone　saved　her　life。
　And　now　she　had　dropped　down　on　him　from　heaven。　They　were　alone　together　with　the　good　clean　wind　and　the　bracing　scud。　Rollo；　Clarence；　Dwight；　and　Twombley；　not　to　mention　Edgar　or　possibly　Teddy；　were　down　belowhe　hoped；　dying。　They　had　the　world　to　themselves。
　〃I　love　rough　weather；〃　said　Ann；　lifting　her　face　to　the　wind。　Her　eyes　were　very　bright。　She　was　beyond　any　doubt　or　question　the　only　girl　on　earth。　〃Poor　aunt　Nesta　doesn't。　She　was　bad　enough　when　it　was　quite　calm；　but　this　storm　has　finished　her。　I've　just　been　down　below；　trying　to　cheer　her　up。〃
　Jimmy　thrilled　at　the　picture。　Always　fascinating；　Ann　seemed　to　him　at　her　best　in　the　role　of　ministering　angel。　He　longed　to　tell　her　so；　but　found　no　words。　They　reached　the　end　of　the　deck；　and　turned。　Ann　looked　up　at　him。
　〃I've　hardly　seen　anything　of　you　since　we　sailed；〃　she　said。　She　spoke　almost　reproachfully。　〃Tell　me　all　about　yourself；　Mr。　Bayliss。　Why　are　you　going　to　America？〃
　Jimmy　had　had　an　impassioned　indictment　of　the　Rollos　on　his　tongue；　but　she　had　closed　the　opening　for　it　as　quickly　as　she　had　made　it。　In　face　of　her　direct　demand　for　information　he　could　not　hark　back　to　it　now。　After　all；　what　did　the　Rollos　matter？　They　had　no　part　in　this　little　wind…swept　world：　they　were　where　they　belonged；　in　some　nether　hell　on　the　C。　or　D。　deck；　moaning　for　death。
　〃To　make　a　fortune；　I　hope；〃　he　said。
　Ann　was　pleased　at　this　confirmation　of　her　diagnosis。　She　had　deduced　this　from　the　evidence　at　Paddington　Station。
　〃How　pleased　your　father　will　be　if　you　do！〃
　The　slight　plexity　of　Jimmy's　affairs　caused　him　to　pause　for　a　moment　to　sort　out　his　fathers；　but　an　instant's　reflection　told　him　that　she　must　be　referring　to　Bayliss　the　butler。
　〃Yes。〃
　〃He's　a　dear　old　man；〃　said　Ann。　〃I　suppose　he's　very　prou