pgw.adamselindistress-第37部分

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abit　and　all　that。　I've　been　so　accustomed　for　years　to　jumping　through　hoops　and　shamming　dead　when　the　mater　lifted　a　little　finger；　that　it　absolutely　never　occurred　to　me　that　I　had　a　soul　of　my　Own。　I　give　you　my　honest　word　I　never　saw　it　till　this　moment。〃
　〃And　now　it's　too　late！〃
　〃Eh？〃
　George　indicated　Alice　with　a　gesture。　The　newly…made　Mrs。　Byng　smiled。
　〃Mr。　Bevan　means　that　now　you've　got　to　jump　through　hoops　and　sham　dead　when　I　lift　a　little　finger！〃
　Reggie　raised　her　hand　to　his　lips；　and　nibbled　at　it　gently。
　〃Blessums　'ittle　finger！　It　shall　lift　it　and　have　'ums　Reggie　jumping　through。　。　。　。〃　He　broke　off　and　tendered　George　a　manly　apology。　〃Sorry；　old　top！　Forgot　myself　for　the　moment。　Shan't　occur　again！　Have　another　chicken　or　an　eclair　or　some　soup　or　something！〃
　Over　the　cigars　Reggie　became　expansive。
　〃Now　that　you've　lifted　the　frightful　weight　of　the　mater　off　my　mind；　dear　old　lad；〃　he　said；　puffing　luxuriously；　〃I　find　myself　surveying　the　future　in　a　calmer　spirit。　It　seems　to　me　that　the　best　thing　to　do；　as　regards　the　mater　and　everybody　else；　is　simply　to　prolong　the　merry　wedding…trip　till　Time　the　Great　Healer　has　had　a　chance　to　cure　the　wound。　Alice　wants　to　put　in　a　week　or　so　in　Paris。　。　。　。〃
　〃Paris！〃　murmured　the　bride　ecstatically。
　〃Then　I　would　like　to　trickle　southwards　to　the　Riviera。　。　。〃
　〃If　you　mean　Monte　Carlo；　dear；〃　said　his　wife　with　gentle　firmness；　〃no！〃
　〃No；　no；　not　Monte　Carlo；〃　said　Reggie　hastily；　〃though　it's　a　great　place。　Airsceneryand　what　not！　But　Nice　and　Bordighera　and　Mentone　and　other　fairly　ripe　resorts。　You'd　enjoy　them。　And　after　that　。　。　。　I　had　a　scheme　for　buying　back　my　yacht；　the　jolly　old　Siren；　and　cruising　about　the　Mediterranean　for　a　month　or　so。　I　sold　her　to　a　local　sportsman　when　I　was　in　America　a　couple　of　years　ago。　But　I　saw　in　the　paper　yesterday　that　the　poor　old　buffer　had　died　suddenly；　so　I　suppose　it　would　be　difficult　to　get　hold　of　her　for　the　time　being。〃　Reggie　broke　off　with　a　sharp　exclamation。
　〃My　sainted　aunt！〃
　〃What's　the　matter？〃
　Both　his　panions　were　looking　past　him；　wide…eyed。　　George　occupied　the　chair　that　had　its　back　to　the　door；　and　was　unable　to　see　what　it　was　that　had　caused　their　consternation；　but　he　deduced　that　someone　known　to　both　of　them　must　have　entered　the　restaurant；　and　his　first　thought；　perhaps　naturally；　was　that　it　must　be　Reggie's　〃mater〃。　Reggie　dived　behind　a　menu；　which　he　held　before　him　like　a　shield；　and　his　bride；　after　one　quick　look；　had　turned　away　so　that　her　face　was　hidden。　　George　swung　around；　but　the　newer；　whoever　he　or　she　was；　was　now　seated　and　indistinguishable　from　the　rest　of　the　lunchers。
　〃Who　is　it？〃
　Reggie　laid　down　the　menu　with　the　air　of　one　who　after　a　momentary　panic　rallies。
　〃Don't　know　what　I'm　making　such　a　fuss　about；〃　he　said　stoutly。　〃I　keep　forgetting　that　none　of　these　blighters　really　matter　in　the　scheme　of　things。　I've　a　good　mind　to　go　over　and　pass　the　time　of　day。〃
　〃Don't！〃　pleaded　his　wife。　〃I　feel　so　guilty。〃
　〃Who　is　it？〃　asked　George　again。　〃Your　step…mother？〃
　〃Great　Scott；　no！〃　said　Reggie。　〃Nothing　so　bad　as　that。　　It's　old　Marshmoreton。〃
　〃Lord　Marshmoreton！〃
　〃Absolutely！　And　looking　positively　festive。〃
　〃I　feel　so　awful；　Mr。　Bevan；〃　said　Alice。　〃You　know；　I　left　the　castle　without　a　word　to　anyone；　and　he　doesn't　know　yet　that　there　won't　be　any　secretary　waiting　for　him　when　he　gets　back。〃
　Reggie　took　another　look　over　George's　shoulder　and　chuckled。
　〃It's　all　right；　darling。　Don't　worry。　We　can　nip　off　secretly　by　the　other　door。　He's　not　going　to　stop　us。　He's　got　a　girl　with　him！　The　old　boy　has　e　to　lifeabsolutely！　　He's　gassing　away　sixteen　to　the　dozen　to　a　frightfully　pretty　girl　with　gold　hair。　If　you　slew　the　old　bean　round　at　an　angle　of　about　forty…five；　Bevan；　old　top；　you　can　see　her。　Take　a　look。　　He　won't　see　you。　He's　got　his　back　to　us。〃
　〃Do　you　call　her　pretty？〃　asked　Alice　disparagingly。
　〃Now　that　I　take　a　good　look；　precious；〃　replied　Reggie　with　alacrity；　〃no！　Absolutely　not！　Not　my　style　at　all！〃
　His　wife　crumbled　bread。
　〃I　think　she　must　know　you；　Reggie　dear；〃　she　said　softly。　　〃She's　waving　to　you。〃
　〃She's　waving　to　ME；〃　said　George；　bringing　back　the　sunshine　to　Reggie's　life；　and　causing　the　latter's　face　to　lose　its　hunted　look。　〃I　know　her　very　well。　Her　name's　Dore。　　Billie　Dore。〃
　〃Old　man；〃　said　Reggie；　〃be　a　good　fellow　and　slide　over　to　their　table　and　cover　our　retreat。　I　know　there's　nothing　to　be　afraid　of　really；　but　I　simply　can't　face　the　old　boy。〃
　〃And　break　the　news　to　him　that　I've　gone；　Mr。　Bevan；〃　added　Alice。
　〃Very　well；　I'll　say　good…bye；　then。〃
　〃Good…bye；　Mr。　Bevan；　and　thank　you　ever　so　much。〃
　Reggie　shook　George's　hand　warmly。
　〃Good…bye；　Bevan　old　thing；　you're　a　ripper。　I　can't　tell　you　how　bucked　up　I　am　at　the　sportsmanlike　way　you've　rallied　round。　I'll　do　the　same　for　you　one　of　these　days。　Just　hold　the　old　boy　in　play　for　a　minute　or　two　while　we　leg　it。　And；　if　he　wants　us；　tell　him　our　address　till　further　notice　is　Paris。　What　ho！　What　ho！　What　ho！　Toodle…oo；　laddie；　toodle…oo！〃
　George　threaded　his　way　across　the　room。　Billie　Dore　weled　him　with　a　friendly　smile。　The　earl；　who　had　turned　to　observe　his　progress；　seemed　less　delighted　to　see　him。　His　weather…beaten　face　wore　an　almost　furtive　look。　He　reminded　George　of　a　schoolboy　who　has　been　caught　in　some　breach　of　the　law。
　〃Fancy　seeing　you　here；　George！〃　said　Billie。　〃We're　always　meeting；　aren't　we？　How　did　you　e　to　separate　yourself　from　the　pigs　and　chickens？　I　thought　you　were　never　going　to　leave　them。〃
　〃I　had　to　run　up　on　business；〃　explained　George。　〃How　are　you；　Lord　Marshmoreton？〃
　The　earl　nodded　briefly。
　〃So　you're　on　to　him；　too？〃　said　Billie。　〃When　did　you　get　wise？〃
　〃Lord　Marshmoreton　was　kind　enough　to　call　on　me　the　other　morning　and　drop　the　incognito。〃
　〃Isn't　dadda　the　foxiest　old　thing！〃　said　Billie　delightedly。　〃Imagine　him　standing　there　that　day　in　the　garden；　kidding　us　along　like　that！　I　tell　you；　when　they　brought　me　his　card　last　night　after　the　first　act　and　I　went　down　to　take　a　slant　at　this　Lord　Marshmoreton　and　found　dadda　hanging　round　the　stage　door；　you　could　have　knocked　me　over　with　a　whisk…broom。〃
　〃I　have　not　stood　at　the　stage…door　for　twenty…five　years；〃　said　Lord　Marshmoreton　sadly。
　〃Now；　it's　no　use　your　pulling　that　Henry　W。　Methuselah　stuff；〃　said　Billie　affectionately。　〃You　can't　get　away　with　it。　　Anyone　can　see　you're　just　a　kid。　Can't　they；　George？〃　She　indicated　the　blushing　earl　with　a　wave　of　the　hand。　〃Isn't　dadda　the　youngest　thing　that　ever　happened？〃
　〃Exactly　what　I　told　him　myself。〃
　Lord　Marshmoreton　giggled。　There　is　no　other　verb　that　describes　the　sound　that　proceeded　from　him。
　〃I　feel　young；〃　he　admitted。
　〃I　wish　some　of　the　juveniles　in　the　shows　I've　been　in；〃　said　Billie；　〃were　as　young　as　you。　It's　getting　so　nowadays　that　one's　thankful　if　a　juvenile　has　teeth。〃　She　glanced　across　the　room。　〃Your　pals　are　walking　out　on　you；　George。　The　people　you　were　lunching　with；〃　she　explained。　〃They're　leaving。〃
　〃That's　all　right。　I　said　good…bye　to　them。〃　He　looked　at　Lord　Marshmoreton。　It　seemed　a　suitable　opportunity　to　break　the　news。　〃I　was　lunching　with　Mr。　and　Mrs。　Byng；〃　he　said。
　Nothing　appeared　to　stir　beneath　Lord　Marshmoreton's　tanned　forehead。
　〃Reggie　Byng　and　his　wife；　Lord　Marshmoreton；〃　added　George。
　This　time　he　secured　the　earl's　interest。　Lord　Marshmoreton　started。
　〃What！〃
　〃They　are　just　off　to　Paris；〃　said　George。
　〃Reggie　Byng　is　not　married！〃
　〃Married　this　morning。　I　was　best　man。〃
　〃Busy　little　creature！〃　interjected　Billie。
　〃Butbut！〃
　〃You　know　his　wife；〃　said　George　casually。　〃She　was　a　Miss　Faraday。　I　think　she　was　your　secretary。〃
　It　would　have　been　impossible　to　deny　that　Lord　Marshmoreton　showed　emotion。　His　mouth　opened；　and　he　clutched　the　tablecloth。　　But　just　what　the　emotion　was　George　was　unable　to　say　till；　with　a　sigh　that　seemed　to　e　from　his　innermost　being；　the　other　exclaimed　〃Thank　Heaven！〃
　George　was　surprised。
　〃You're　glad？〃
　〃Of　course　I'm　glad！〃
　〃It's　a　pity　they　didn't　know　how　you　were　going　to　feel。　It　would　have　saved　them　a　lot　of　anxiety。　I　rather　gathered　they　supposed　that　the　shock　was　apt　to　darken　your　whole　life。〃
　〃That　girl；〃　said　Lord　Marshmoreton　vehemently；　〃was　driving　me　crazy。　Always　bothering　me　to　e　and　work　on　that　damned　family　history。　Never　gave　me　a　moment's　peace　。　。　。〃
　〃I　liked　her；〃　said　George。
　〃Nice　enough　girl；〃　admitted　his　lordship　grudgingly。　〃But　a　damned　nuisance　about　the　house；　always　at　me　to　go　on　with　the　family　history。　As　if　there　weren't　better　things　to　do　with　one's　time　than　writing　all　day　about　my　infernal　fools　of　ancestors！〃
　〃Isn't　dadda　fractious　today？〃　said　Billie　reprovingly；　giving　the　Earl's　hand　a　pat。　〃Quit　knocking　your　ancestors！　You're　very　lucky　to　have　ancestors。　I　wish　I　had。　The　Dore　family　seems　to　go　back　about　as　far　as　the　presidency　of　Willard　Filmore；　and　then　it　kind　of　gets　discouraged　and　quite　cold。　　Gee！　I'd　like　to　feel　that　my　great…great…great…grandmother　had　helped　Q