pgw.adamselindistress-第19部分

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nfirmed　babbler　off　the　links；　became　while　in　action　a　stern；　silent；　intent　person；　his　whole　being　centred　on　the　game。　With　the　exception　of　a　casual　remark　of　a　technical　nature　when　he　met　George　on　the　various　tees；　and　an　occasional　expletive　when　things　went　wrong　with　his　ball；　he　eschewed　conversation。　It　was　not　till　the　end　of　the　round　that　he　became　himself　again。
　〃If　I'd　known　you　were　such　hot　stuff；〃　he　declared　generously；　as　George　holed　his　eighteenth　putt　from　a　distance　of　ten　feet；　〃I'd　have　got　you　to　give　me　a　stroke　or　two。〃
　〃I　was　on　my　game　today；〃　said　George　modestly。　〃Some　times　I　slice　as　if　I　were　cutting　bread　and　can't　putt　to　hit　a　haystack。〃
　〃Let　me　know　when　one　of　those　times　es　along；　and　I'll　take　you　on　again。　I　don't　know　when　I've　seen　anything　fruitier　than　the　way　you　got　out　of　the　bunker　at　the　fifteenth。　　It　reminded　me　of　a　match　I　saw　between〃　Reggie　became　technical。　At　the　end　of　his　observations　he　climbed　into　the　grey　car。
　〃Can　I　drop　you　anywhere？〃
　〃Thanks；〃　said　George。　〃If　it's　not　taking　you　out　your　way。〃
　〃I'm　staying　at　Belpher　Castle。〃
　〃I　live　quite　near　there。　Perhaps　you'd　care　to　e　in　and　have　a　drink　on　your　way？〃
　〃A　ripe　scheme；〃　agreed　Reggie
　Ten　minutes　in　the　grey　car　ate　up　the　distance　between　the　links　and　George's　cottage。　Reggie　Byng　passed　these　minutes；　in　the　intervals　of　eluding　carts　and　foiling　the　apparently　suicidal　intentions　of　some　stray　fowls；　in　jerky　conversation　on　the　subject　of　his　iron…shots；　with　which　he　expressed　a　deep　satisfaction。
　〃Topping　little　place！　Absolutely！〃　was　the　verdict　he　pronounced　on　the　exterior　of　the　cottage　as　he　followed　George　in。　〃I've　often　thought　it　would　be　a　rather　sound　scheme　to　settle　down　in　this　sort　of　shanty　and　keep　chickens　and　grow　a　honey　coloured　beard；　and　have　soup　and　jelly　brought　to　you　by　the　vicar's　wife　and　so　forth。　Nothing　to　worry　you　then。　Do　you　live　all　alone　here？〃
　George　was　busy　squirting　seltzer　into　his　guest's　glass。
　〃Yes。　Mrs。　Platt　es　in　and　cooks　for　me。　The　farmer's　wife　next　door。〃
　An　exclamation　from　the　other　caused　him　to　look　up。　　Reggie　Byng　was　staring　at　him；　wide…eyed。
　〃Great　Scott！　Mrs。　Platt！　Then　you're　the　Chappie？〃
　George　found　himself　unequal　to　the　intellectual　pressure　of　the　conversation。
　〃The　Chappie？〃
　〃The　Chappie　there's　all　the　row　about。　The　mater　was　telling　me　only　this　morning　that　you　lived　here。〃
　〃Is　there　a　row　about　me？〃
　〃Is　there　what！〃　Reggie's　manner　became　solicitous。　〃I　say；　my　dear　old　sportsman；　I　don't　want　to　be　the　bearer　of　bad　tidings　and　what　not；　if　you　know　what　I　mean；　but　didn't　you　know　there　was　a　certain　amount　of　angry　passion　rising　and　so　forth　because　of　you？　At　the　castle；　I　mean。　I　don't　want　to　seem　to　be　discussing　your　private　affairs；　and　all　that　sort　of　thing；　but　what　I　mean　is。。。　Well；　you　don't　expect　you　can　e　charging　in　the　way　you　have　without　touching　the　family　on　the　raw　a　bit。　The　daughter　of　the　house　falls　in　love　with　you；　the　son　of　the　house　languishes　in　chokey　because　he　has　a　row　with　you　in　Piccadilly；　and　on　top　of　all　that　you　e　here　and　camp　out　at　the　castle　gates！　Naturally　the　family　are　a　bit　peeved。　Only　natural；　eh？　I　mean　to　say；　what？〃
　George　listened　to　this　address　in　bewilderment。　Maud　in　love　with　him！　It　sounded　incredible。　That　he　should　love　her　after　their　one　meeting　was　a　different　thing　altogether。　　That　was　perfectly　natural　and　in　order。　But　that　he　should　have　had　the　incredible　luck　to　win　her　affection。　The　thing　struck　him　as　grotesque　and　ridiculous。
　〃In　love　with　me？〃　he　cried。　〃What　on　earth　do　you　mean？〃　　Reggie's　bewilderment　equalled　his　own。
　〃Well；　dash　it　all；　old　top；　it　surely　isn't　news　to　you？　She　must　have　told　you。　Why；　she　told　me！〃
　〃Told　you？　Am　I　going　mad？〃
　〃Absolutely！　I　mean　absolutely　not！　Look　here。〃　Reggie　hesitated。　The　subject　was　delicate。　But；　once　started；　it　might　as　well　be　proceeded　with　to　some　conclusion。　A　fellow　couldn't　go　on　talking　about　his　iron…shots　after　this　just　as　if　nothing　had　happened。　This　was　the　time　for　the　laying　down　of　cards；　the　opening　of　hearts。　〃I　say；　you　know；〃　he　went　on；　feeling　his　way；　〃you'll　probably　think　it　deuced　rummy　of　me　talking　like　this。　Perfect　stranger　and　what　not。　Don't　even　know　each　other's　names。〃
　〃Mine's　Bevan；　if　that'll　be　any　help。〃
　〃Thanks　very　much；　old　chap。　Great　help！　Mine's　Byng。　Reggie　Byng。　Well；　as　we're　all　pals　here　and　the　meeting's　tiled　and　so　forth；　I'll　start　by　saying　that　the　mater　is　most　deucedly　set　on　my　marrying　Lady　Maud。　Been　pals　all　our　lives；　you　know。　Children　together；　and　all　that　sort　of　rot。　　Now　there's　nobody　I　think　a　more　corking　sportsman　than　Maud；　if　you　know　what　I　mean；　butthis　is　where　the　catch　es　inI'm　most　frightfully　in　love　with　somebody　else。　　Hopeless；　and　all　that　sort　of　thing；　but　still　there　it　is。　And　all　the　while　the　mater　behind　me　with　a　bradawl；　sicking　me　on　to　propose　to　Maud　who　wouldn't　have　me　if　I　were　the　only　fellow　on　earth。　You　can't　imagine；　my　dear　old　chap；　what　a　relief　it　was　to　both　of　us　when　she　told　me　the　other　day　that　she　was　in　love　with　you；　and　wouldn't　dream　of　looking　at　anybody　else。　　I　tell　you；　I　went　singing　about　the　place。〃
　George　felt　inclined　to　imitate　his　excellent　example。　A　burst　of　song　was　the　only　adequate　expression　of　the　mood　of　heavenly　happiness　which　this　young　man's　revelations　had　brought　upon　him。　The　whole　world　seemed　different。　Wings　seemed　to　sprout　from　Reggie's　shapely　shoulders。　The　air　was　filled　with　soft　music。　Even　the　wallpaper　seemed　moderately　attractive。
　He　mixed　himself　a　second　whisky　and　soda。　It　was　the　next　best　thing　to　singing。
　〃I　see；〃　he　said。　It　was　difficult　to　say　anything。　Reggie　was　regarding　him　enviously。
　〃I　wish　I　knew　how　the　deuce　fellows　set　about　making　a　girl　fall　in　love　with　them。　Other　chappies　seem　to　do　it；　but　I　can't　even　start。　She　seems　to　sort　of　gaze　through　me；　don't　you　know。　She　kind　of　looks　at　me　as　if　I　were　more　to　be　pitied　than　censured；　but　as　if　she　thought　I　really　ought　to　do　something　about　it。　Of　course；　she's　a　devilish　brainy　girl；　and　I'm　a　fearful　chump。　Makes　it　kind　of　hopeless；　what？〃
　George；　in　his　new…born　happiness；　found　a　pleasure　in　encouraging　a　less　lucky　mortal。
　〃Not　a　bit。　What　you　ought　to　do　is　to〃
　〃Yes？〃　said　Reggie　eagerly。
　George　shook　his　head。
　〃No；　I　don't　know；〃　he　said。
　〃Nor　do　I；　dash　it！〃　said　Reggie。
　George　pondered。
　〃It　seems　to　me　it's　purely　a　question　of　luck。　Either　you're　lucky　or　you're　not。　Look　at　me；　for　instance。　What　is　there　about　me　to　make　a　wonderful　girl　love　me？〃
　〃Nothing！　I　see　what　you　mean。　At　least；　what　I　mean　to　say　is〃
　〃No。　You　were　right　the　first　time。　It's　all　a　question　of　luck。　There's　nothing　anyone　can　do。〃
　〃I　hang　about　a　good　deal　and　get　in　her　way；〃　said　Reggie。　　〃She's　always　tripping　over　me。　I　thought　that　might　help　a　bit。〃
　〃It　might；　of　course。〃
　〃But　on　the　other　hand；　when　we　do　meet；　I　can't　think　of　anything　to　say。〃
　〃That's　bad。〃
　〃Deuced　funny　thing。　I'm　not　what　you'd　call　a　silent　sort　of　chappie　by　nature。　But；　when　I'm　with　herI　don't　know。　　It's　rum！〃　He　drained　his　glass　and　rose。　〃Well；　I　suppose　I　may　as　well　be　staggering。　Don't　get　up。　Have　another　game　one　of　these　days；　what？〃
　〃Splendid。　Any　time　you　like。〃
　〃Well；　so　long。〃
　〃Good…bye。〃
　George　gave　himself　up　to　glowing　thoughts。　For　the　first　time　in　his　life　he　seemed　to　be　vividly　aware　of　his　own　existence。　　It　was　as　if　he　were　some　newly…created　thing。　Everything　around　him　and　everything　he　did　had　taken　on　a　strange　and　novel　interest。　He　seemed　to　notice　the　ticking　of　the　clock　for　the　first　time。　When　he　raised　his　glass　the　action　had　a　curious　air　of　newness。　All　his　senses　were　oddly　alert。　He　could　even
　〃How　would　it　be；〃　enquired　Reggie；　appearing　in　the　doorway　like　part　of　a　conjuring　trick。　〃If　I　gave　her　a　flower　or　two　every　now　and　then？　Just　thought　of　it　as　I　was　starting　the　car。　She's　fond　of　flowers。〃
　〃Fine！〃　said　George　heartily。　He　had　not　heard　a　word。　　The　alertness　of　sense　which　had　e　to　him　was　acpanied　by　a　strange　inability　to　attend　to　other　people's　speech。　This　would　no　doubt　pass；　but　meanwhile　it　made　him　a　poor　listener。
　〃Well；　it's　worth　trying；〃　said　Reggie。　〃I'll　give　it　a　whirl。　Toodleoo！〃
　〃Good…bye。〃
　〃Pip…pip！〃
　Reggie　withdrew；　and　presently　came　the　noise　of　the　car　starting。　George　returned　to　his　thoughts。
　Time；　as　we　understand　it；　ceases　to　exist　for　a　man　in　such　circumstances。　Whether　it　was　a　minute　later　or　several　hours；　George　did　not　know；　but　presently　he　was　aware　of　a　small　boy　standing　beside　hima　golden…haired　boy　with　blue　eyes；　who　wore　the　uniform　of　a　page。　He　came　out　of　his　trance。　This；　he　recognized；　was　the　boy　to　whom　he　had　given　the　note　for　Maud。　He　was　different　from　any　other　intruder。　He　meant　something　in　George's　scheme　of　things。
　〃'Ullo！〃　said　the　youth。
　〃Hullo；　Alphonso！〃　said　George。
　〃My　name's　not　Alphonso。〃
　〃Well；　you　be　very　careful　or　it　soon　may　be。〃
　〃Got　a　note　for　yer。　From　Lidy　Mord。〃
　〃You'll　find　some　cake