the garden party(园会)-第44节
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need for you to go to the office。 It only makes it very awkward for us
when people persist in saying how tired you're looking。 Here's this huge
house and garden。 Surely you could be happy ininappreciating it for a
change。 Or you could take up some hobby。〃
And Lola the baby had chimed in loftily； 〃All men ought to have
hobbies。 It makes life impossible if they haven't。〃
Well； well！ He couldn't help a grim smile as painfully he began to
climb the hill that led into Harcourt Avenue。 Where would Lola and her
sisters and Charlotte be if he'd gone in for hobbies； he'd like to know？
Hobbies couldn't pay for the town house and the seaside bungalow； and
their horses； and their golf； and the sixty…guinea gramophone in the music…
room for them to dance to。 Not that he grudged them these things。 No；
they were smart； good…looking girls； and Charlotte was a remarkable
woman； it was natural for them to be in the swim。 As a matter of fact； no
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other house in the town was as popular as theirs； no other family
entertained so much。 And how many times old Mr。 Neave； pushing the
cigar box across the smoking…room table； had listened to praises of his
wife； his girls； of himself even。
〃You're an ideal family； sir； an ideal family。 It's like something one
reads about or sees on the stage。〃
〃That's all right； my boy；〃 old Mr。 Neave would reply。 〃Try one of
those； I think you'll like them。 And if you care to smoke in the garden；
you'll find the girls on the lawn； I dare say。〃
That was why the girls had never married； so people said。 They
could have married anybody。 But they had too good a time at home。
They were too happy together； the girls and Charlotte。 H'm； h'm！ Well；
well。 Perhaps so。。。
By this time he had walked the length of fashionable Harcourt Avenue；
he had reached the corner house； their house。 The carriage gates were
pushed back； there were fresh marks of wheels on the drive。 And then he
faced the big white…painted house； with its wide…open windows； its tulle
curtains floating outwards； its blue jars of hyacinths on the broad sills。
On either side of the carriage porch their hydrangeasfamous in the town…
… were coming into flower； the pinkish； bluish masses of flower lay like
light among the spreading leaves。 And somehow； it seemed to old Mr。
Neave that the house and the flowers； and even the fresh marks on the
drive； were saying； 〃There is young life here。 There are girls〃
The hall； as always； was dusky with wraps； parasols； gloves； piled on
the oak chests。 From the music…room sounded the piano； quick； loud and
impatient。 Through the drawing…room door that was ajar voices floated。
〃And were there ices？〃 came from Charlotte。 Then the creak； creak
of her rocker。
〃Ices！〃 cried Ethel。 〃My dear mother； you never saw such ices。
Only two kinds。 And one a common little strawberry shop ice； in a
sopping wet frill。〃
〃The food altogether was too appalling；〃 came from Marion。
〃Still； it's rather early for ices；〃 said Charlotte easily。
〃But why； if one has them at all 。。。〃 began Ethel。
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〃Oh； quite so； darling；〃 crooned Charlotte。
Suddenly the music…room door opened and Lola dashed out。 She
started； she nearly screamed； at the sight of old Mr。 Neave。
〃Gracious； father！ What a fright you gave me！ Have you just come
home？ Why isn't Charles here to help you off with your coat？〃
Her cheeks were crimson from playing； her eyes glittered； the hair fell
over her forehead。 And she breathed as though she had come running
through the dark and was frightened。 Old Mr。 Neave stared at his
youngest daughter； he felt he had never seen her before。 So that was
Lola； was it？ But she seemed to have forgotten her father； it was not for
him that she was waiting there。 Now she put the tip of her crumpled
handkerchief between her teeth and tugged at it angrily。 The telephone
rang。 A…ah！ Lola gave a cry like a sob and dashed past him。 The door
of the telephone… room slammed； and at the same moment Charlotte called；
〃Is that you； father？〃
〃You're tired again；〃 said Charlotte reproachfully； and she stopped the
rocker and offered her warm plum…like cheek。 Bright…haired Ethel
pecked his beard； Marion's lips brushed his ear。
〃Did you walk back； father？〃 asked Charlotte。
〃Yes； I walked home；〃 said old Mr。 Neave； and he sank into one of the
immense drawing…room chairs。
〃But why didn't you take a cab？〃 said Ethel。 〃There are hundred of
cabs about at that time。〃
〃My dear Ethel；〃 cried Marion； 〃if father prefers to tire himself out； I
really don't see what business of ours it is to interfere。〃
〃Children； children？〃 coaxed Charlotte。
But Marion wouldn't be stopped。 〃No； mother； you spoil father； and
it's not right。 You ought to be stricter with him。 He's very naughty。〃
She laughed her hard； bright laugh and patted her hair in a mirror。
Strange！ When she was a little girl she had such a soft； hesitating voice；
she had even stuttered； and now； whatever she saideven if it was only
〃Jam； please； father〃it rang out as though she were on the stage。
〃Did Harold leave the office before you； dear？〃 asked Charlotte；
beginning to rock again。
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〃I'm not sure；〃 said Old Mr。 Neave。 〃I'm not sure。 I didn't see him
after four o'clock。〃
〃He said〃 began Charlotte。
But at that moment Ethel； who was twitching over the leaves of some
paper or other； ran to her mother and sank down beside her chair。
〃There； you see；〃 she cried。 〃That's what I mean； mummy。 Yellow；
with touches of silver。 Don't you agree？〃
〃Give it to me； love；〃 said Charlotte。 She fumbled for her tortoise…
shell spectacles and put them on； gave the page a little dab with her plump
small fingers； and pursed up her lips。 〃Very sweet！〃 she crooned vaguely；
she looked at Ethel over her spectacles。 〃But I shouldn't have the train。〃
〃Not the train！〃 wailed Ethel tragically。 〃But the train's the whole
point。〃
〃Here； mother； let me decide。〃 Marion snatched the paper playfully
from Charlotte。 〃I agree with mother；〃 she cried triumphantly。 〃The
train overweights it。〃
Old Mr。 Neave； forgotten； sank into the broad lap of his chair； and；
dozing； heard them as though he dreamed。 There was no doubt about it；
he was tired out； he had lost his hold。 Even Charlotte and the girls were
too much for him to…night。 They were too。。。too。。。But all his drowsing
brain could think of wastoo rich for him。 And somewhere at the back
of everything he was watching a little withered ancient man climbing up
endless flights of stairs。 Who was he？
〃I shan't dress to…night；〃 he muttered。
〃What do you say； father？〃
〃Eh； what； what？〃 Old Mr。 Neave woke with a start and stared across
at them。 〃I shan't dress to…night；〃 he repeated。
〃But； father； we've got Lucile coming； and Henry Davenport； and Mrs。
Teddie Walker。〃
〃It will look so very out of the picture。〃
〃Don't you feel well； dear？〃
〃You needn't make any effort。 What is Charles for？〃
〃But if you're really not up to it；〃 Charlotte wavered。
〃Very well！ Very well！〃 Old Mr。 Neave got up and went to join that
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