pgw.adamselindistress-第46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！


　Indignation　at　the　injustice　of　Fate　in　causing　her　to　give　her　heart　to　a　man　and　then　changing　him　into　another　and　quite　different　man　fought　with　a　cold　terror；　which　grew　as　she　realized　more　and　more　clearly　the　magnitude　of　the　mistake　she　had　made。　She　felt　that　she　must　escape。　And　yet　how　could　she　escape？　She　had　definitely　pledged　herself　to　this　man。　　（〃Ah！〃　cried　Geoffrey　gaily；　as　the　pats　of　butter　arrived。　　〃That's　more　like　it！〃　He　began　to　smear　the　toast。　Maud　averted　her　eyes。）　She　had　told　him　that　she　loved　him；　that　he　was　the　whole　world　to　her；　that　there　never　would　be　anyone　else。　He　had　e　to　claim　her。　How　could　she　refuse　him　just　because　he　was　about　thirty　pounds　overweight？
　Geoffrey　finished　his　meal。　He　took　out　a　cigarette。　（〃No　smoking；　please！〃　said　the　distressed　gentlewoman。）　He　put　the　cigarette　back　in　its　case。　There　was　a　new　expression　in　his　eyes　now；　a　tender　expression。　For　the　first　time　since　they　had　met　Maud　seemed　to　catch　a　far…off　glimpse　of　the　man　she　had　loved　in　Wales。　Butter　appeared　to　have　softened　Geoffrey。
　〃So　you　couldn't　wait！〃　he　said　with　pathos。
　Maud　did　not　understand。
　〃I　waited　over　a　quarter　of　an　hour。　It　was　you　who　were　late。〃
　〃I　don't　mean　that。　I　am　referring　to　your　engagement。　I　saw　the　announcement　in　the　Morning　Post。　Well；　I　hope　you　will　let　me　offer　you　my　best　wishes。　This　Mr。　George　Bevan；　whoever　he　is；　is　lucky。〃
　Maud　had　opened　her　mouth　to　explain；　to　say　that　it　was　all　a　mistake。　She　closed　it　again　without　speaking。
　〃So　you　couldn't　wait！〃　proceeded　Geoffrey　with　gentle　regret。　〃Well；　I　suppose　I　ought　not　to　blame　you。　You　are　at　an　age　when　it　is　easy　to　forget。　I　had　no　right　to　hope　that　you　would　be　proof　against　a　few　months'　separation。　I　expected　too　much。　But　it　is　ironical；　isn't　it！　There　was　I；　thinking　always　of　those　days　last　summer　when　we　were　everything　to　each　other；　while　you　had　forgotten　meForgotten　me！〃　sighed　Geoffrey。　He　picked　a　fragment　of　cake　absently　off　the　tablecloth　and　inserted　it　in　his　mouth。
　The　unfairness　of　the　attack　stung　Maud　to　speech。　She　looked　back　over　the　months；　thought　of　all　she　had　suffered；　and　ached　with　self…pity。
　〃I　hadn't；〃　she　cried。
　〃You　hadn't？　But　you　let　this　other　man；　this　George　Bevan；　make　love　to　you。〃
　〃I　didn't！　That　was　all　a　mistake。〃
　〃A　mistake？〃
　〃Yes。　It　would　take　too　long　to　explain；　but　。　。　。〃　She　stopped。　It　had　e　to　her　suddenly；　in　a　flash　of　clear　vision；　that　the　mistake　was　one　which　she　had　no　desire　to　correct。　　She　felt　like　one　who；　lost　in　a　jungle；　es　out　after　long　wandering　into　the　open　air。　For　days　she　had　been　thinking　confusedly；　unable　to　interpret　her　own　emotions：　and　now　everything　had　abruptly　bee　clarified。　It　was　as　if　the　sight　of　Geoffrey　had　been　the　key　to　a　cipher。　She　loved　George　Bevan；　the　man　she　had　sent　out　of　her　life　for　ever。　She　knew　it　now；　and　the　shock　of　realization　made　her　feel　faint　and　helpless。　And；　mingled　with　the　shock　of　realization；　there　came　to　her　the　mortification　of　knowing　that　her　aunt；　Lady　Caroline；　and　her　brother；　Percy；　had　been　right　after　all。　What　she　had　mistaken　for　the　love　of　a　lifetime　had　been；　as　they　had　so　often　insisted；　a　mere　infatuation；　unable　to　survive　the　spectacle　of　a　Geoffrey　who　had　been　eating　too　much　butter　and　had　put　on　flesh。
　Geoffrey　swallowed　his　piece　of　cake；　and　bent　forward。
　〃Aren't　you　engaged　to　this　man　Bevan？〃
　Maud　avoided　his　eye。　She　was　aware　that　the　crisis　had　arrived；　and　that　her　whole　future　hung　on　her　next　words。
　And　then　Fate　came　to　her　rescue。　Before　she　could　speak；　there　was　an　interruption。
　〃Pardon　me；〃　said　a　voice。　〃One　moment！〃
　So　intent　had　Maud　and　her　panion　been　on　their　own　affairs　that　neither　of　them　observed　the　entrance　of　a　third　party。　　This　was　a　young　man　with　mouse…coloured　hair　and　a　freckled；　badly…shaven　face　which　seemed　undecided　whether　to　be　furtive　or　impudent。　He　had　small　eyes；　and　his　costume　was　a　blend　of　the　flashy　and　the　shabby。　He　wore　a　bowler　hat；　tilted　a　little　rakishly　to　one　side；　and　carried　a　small　bag；　which　he　rested　on　the　table　between　them。
　〃Sorry　to　intrude；　miss。〃　He　bowed　gallantly　to　Maud；　〃but　I　want　to　have　a　few　words　with　Mr。　Spenser　Gray　here。〃
　Maud；　looking　across　at　Geoffrey；　was　surprised　to　see　that　his　florid　face　had　lost　much　of　its　colour。　His　mouth　was　open；　and　his　eyes　had　taken　a　glassy　expression。
　〃I　think　you　have　made　a　mistake；〃　she　said　coldly。　She　disliked　the　young　man　at　sight。　〃This　is　Mr。　Raymond。〃
　Geoffrey　found　speech。
　〃Of　course　I'm　Mr。　Raymond！〃　he　cried　angrily。　〃What　do　you　mean　by　ing　and　annoying　us　like　this？〃
　The　young　man　was　not　disposed。　He　appeared　to　be　used　to　being　unpopular。　He　proceeded　as　though　there　had　been　no　interruption。　He　produced　a　dingy　card。
　〃Glance　at　that；〃　he　said。　〃Messrs。　Willoughby　and　Son；　Solicitors。　I'm　son。　The　guv'nor　put　this　little　matter　into　my　hands。　I've　been　looking　for　you　for　days；　Mr。　Gray；　to　hand　you　this　paper。〃　He　opened　the　bag　like　a　conjurer　performing　a　trick；　and　brought　out　a　stiff　document　of　legal　aspect。　〃You're　a　witness；　miss；　that　I've　served　the　papers。　You　know　what　this　is；　of　course？〃　he　said　to　Geoffrey。　〃Action　for　breach　of　promise　of　marriage。　Our　client；　Miss　Yvonne　Sinclair；　of　the　Regal　Theatre；　is　suing　you　for　ten　thousand　pounds。　And；　if　you　ask　me；〃　said　the　young　man　with　genial　candour；　dropping　the　professional　manner；　〃I　don't　mind　telling　you；　I　think　it's　a　walk…over！　It's　the　best　little　action　for　breach　we've　handled　for　years。〃　He　became　professional　again。　〃Your　lawyers　will　no　doubt　municate　with　us　in　due　course。　And；　if　you　take　my　advice；〃　he　concluded；　with　another　of　his　swift　changes　of　manner；　〃you'll　get　'em　to　settle　out　of　court；　for；　between　me　and　you　and　the　lamp…post；　you　haven't　an　earthly！〃
　Geoffrey　had　started　to　his　feet。　He　was　puffing　with　outraged　innocence。
　〃What　the　devil　do　you　mean　by　this？〃　he　demanded。　〃Can't　you　see　you've　made　a　mistake？　My　name　is　not　Gray。　This　lady　has　told　you　that　I　am　Geoffrey　Raymond！〃
　〃Makes　it　all　the　worse　for　you；〃　said　the　young　man　imperturbably；　〃making　advances　to　our　client　under　an　assumed　name。　We've　got　letters　and　witnesses　and　the　whole　bag　of　tricks。　And　how　about　this　photo？〃　He　dived　into　the　bag　again。　〃Do　you　recognize　that；　miss？〃
　Maud　looked　at　the　photograph。　It　was　unmistakably　Geoffrey。　And　it　had　evidently　been　taken　recently；　for　it　showed　the　later　Geoffrey；　the　man　of　substance。　It　was　a　full…length　photograph　and　across　the　stout　legs　was　written　in　a　flowing　hand　the　legend；　〃To　Babe　from　her　little　Pootles〃。　　Maud　gave　a　shudder　and　handed　it　back　to　the　young　man；　just　as　Geoffrey；　reaching　across　the　table；　made　a　grab　for　it。
　〃I　recognize　it；〃　she　said。
　Mr。　Willoughby　junior　packed　the　photograph　away　in　his　bag；　and　turned　to　go。
　〃That's　all　for　today；　then；　I　think；〃　he　said；　affably。
　He　bowed　again　in　his　courtly　way；　tilted　the　hat　a　little　more　to　the　left；　and；　having　greeted　one　of　the　distressed　gentlewomen　who　loitered　limply　in　his　path　with　a　polite　〃If　you　please；　Mabel！〃　which　drew　upon　him　a　freezing　stare　of　which　he　seemed　oblivious；　he　passed　out；　leaving　behind　him　strained　silence。
　Maud　was　the　first　to　break　it。
　〃I　think　I'll　be　going；〃　she　said。
　The　words　seemed　to　rouse　her　panion　from　his　stupor。
　〃Let　me　explain！〃
　〃There's　nothing　to　explain。〃
　〃It　was　just　a　。　。　。　it　was　just　a　passing　。　。　。　It　was　nothing　。　。　。　nothing。〃
　〃Pootles！〃　murmured　Maud。
　Geoffrey　followed　her　as　she　moved　to　the　door。
　〃Be　reasonable！〃　pleaded　Geoffrey。　〃Men　aren't　saints！　It　was　nothing！　。　。　。　Are　you　going　to　end　。　。　。　everything　。　。　。　just　because　I　lost　my　head？〃
　Maud　looked　at　him　with　a　smile。　She　was　conscious　of　an　overwhelming　relief。　The　dim　interior　of　Ye　Cosy　Nooke　no　longer　seemed　depressing。　She　could　have　kissed　this　unknown　〃Babe〃　whose　businesslike　action　had　enabled　her　to　close　a　regrettable　chapter　in　her　life　with　a　clear　conscience。
　〃But　you　haven't　only　lost　your　head；　Geoffrey；〃　she　said。　　〃You've　lost　your　figure　as　well。〃
　She　went　out　quickly。　With　a　convulsive　bound　Geoffrey　started　to　follow　her；　but　was　checked　before　he　had　gone　a　yard。
　There　are　formalities　to　be　observed　before　a　patron　can　leave　Ye　Cosy　Nooke。
　〃If　you　please！〃　said　a　distressed　gentlewomanly　voice。
　The　lady　whom　Mr。　Willoughby　had　addressed　as　Mabelerroneously；　for　her　name　was　Ernestinewas　standing　beside　him　with　a　slip　of　paper。
　〃Six　and　twopence；〃　said　Ernestine。
　For　a　moment　this　appalling　statement　drew　the　unhappy　man's　mind　from　the　main　issue。
　〃Six　and　twopence　for　a　cup　of　chocolate　and　a　few　cakes？〃　he　cried；　aghast。　〃It's　robbery！〃
　〃Six　and　twopence；　please！〃　said　the　queen　of　the　bandits　with　undisturbed　calm。　She　had　been　through　this　sort　of　thing　before。　Ye　Cosy　Nooke　did　not　get　many　customers；　but　it　made　the　most　of　those　it　did　get。
　〃Here！〃　Geoffrey　produced　a　half…sovereign。　〃I　haven't　time　to　argue！〃
　The　distressed　brigand　showed　no　gratification。　She　had　the　air　of　one　who　is　aloof　from　worldly　things。　All　she　wante