novel notes-第31节

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the　odds　so　long　as　yer　'appy。　　'Ave　a　wet？'

〃I　declined　the　wet；　and　left　him　playing　sentimental　airs　to　himself　upon　the　concertina。

〃One　afternoon；　about　a　month　later；　the　servant　came　to　me　with　a　card　on　which　was　engraved　the　name　of　'Mr。　Joseph　Smythe。'　　I　requested　her　to　show　him　up。　　He　entered　with　his　usual　air　of　languid　superciliousness；　and　seated　himself　in　a　graceful　attitude　upon　the　sofa。

〃'Well；'　I　said；　as　soon　as　the　girl　had　closed　the　door　behind　her；　'so　you've　got　rid　of　Smith？'

〃A　sickly　smile　passed　over　his　face。　　'You　have　not　mentioned　it　to　any　one？'　he　asked　anxiously。

〃'Not　to　a　soul；'　I　replied；　'though　I　confess　I　often　feel　tempted　to。'

〃'I　sincerely　trust　you　never　will；'　he　said；　in　a　tone　of　alarm。　'You　can　have　no　conception　of　the　misery　the　whole　thing　causes　me。　I　cannot　understand　it。　　What　possible　affinity　there　can　be　between　myself　and　that　disgusting　little　snob　passes　my　comprehension。　　I　assure　you；　my　dear　Mac；　the　knowledge　that　I　was　a　ghoul；　or　a　vampire；　would　cause　me　less　nausea　than　the　reflection　that　I　am　one　and　the　same　with　that　odious　little　Whitechapel　bounder。　　When　I　think　of　him　every　nerve　in　my　body'

〃'Don't　think　about　him　any　more；'　I　interrupted；　perceiving　his　strongly…suppressed　emotion。　　'You　didn't　come　here　to　talk　about　him；　I'm　sure。　　Let　us　dismiss　him。'

〃'Well；'　he　replied；　'in　a　certain　roundabout　way　it　is　slightly　connected　with　him。　　That　is　really　my　excuse　for　inflicting　the　subject　upon　you。　　You　are　the　only　man　I　CAN　speak　to　about　itif　I　shall　not　bore　you？'

〃'Not　in　the　least；'　I　said。　　'I　am　most　interested。'　　As　he　still　hesitated；　I　asked　him　point…blank　what　it　was。

〃He　appeared　embarrassed。　　'It　is　really　very　absurd　of　me；'　he　said；　while　the　faintest　suspicion　of　pink　crossed　his　usually　colourless　face；　'but　I　feel　I　must　talk　to　somebody　about　it。　　The　fact　is；　my　dear　Mac；　I　am　in　love。'

〃'Capital！'　I　cried；　'I'm　delighted　to　hear　it。'　　（I　thought　it　might　make　a　man　of　him。）　　'Do　I　know　the　lady？'

〃'I　am　inclined　to　think　you　must　have　seen　her；'　he　replied；　'she　was　with　me　on　the　pier　at　Yarmouth　that　evening　you　met　me。'

〃'Not　'Liza！'　I　exclaimed。

〃'That　was　she；'　he　answered；　'Miss　Elizabeth　Muggins。'　　He　dwelt　lovingly　upon　the　name。

〃'But；'　I　said；　'you　seemedI　really　could　not　help　noticing；　it　was　so　pronouncedyou　seemed　to　positively　dislike　her。　　Indeed；　I　gathered　from　your　remark　to　a　friend　that　her　society　was　distinctly　distasteful　to　you。'

〃'To　Smith；'　he　corrected　me。　　'What　judge　would　that　howling　little　blackguard　be　of　a　woman's　worth！　　The　dislike　of　such　a　man　as　that　is　a　testimonial　to　her　merit！'

〃'I　may　be　mistaken；'　I　said；　'but　she　struck　me　as　a　bit　common。'

〃'She　is　not；　perhaps；　what　the　world　would　call　a　lady；'　he　admitted；　'but　then；　my　dear　Mac；　my　opinion　of　the　world　is　not　such　as　to　render　ITS　opinion　of　much　value　to　me。　　I　and　the　world　differ　on　most　subjects；　I　am　glad　to　say。　　She　is　beautiful；　and　she　is　good；　and　she　is　my　choice。'

〃'She's　a　jolly　enough　little　girl；'　I　replied；　'and；　I　should　say；　affectionate；　but　have　you　considered；　Smythe；　whether　she　is　quite…　…what　shall　we　sayquite　as　intellectual　as　could　be　desired？'

〃'Really；　to　tell　the　truth；　I　have　not　troubled　myself　much　about　her　intellect；'　he　replied；　with　one　of　his　sneering　smiles。　　'I　have　no　doubt　that　the　amount　of　intellect　absolutely　necessary　to　the　formation　of　a　British　home；　I　shall　be　able　to　supply　myself。　I　have　no　desire　for　an　intellectual　wife。　　One　is　compelled　to　meet　tiresome　people；　but　one　does　not　live　with　them　if　one　can　avoid　it。'

〃'No；'　he　continued；　reverting　to　his　more　natural　tone；　'the　more　I　think　of　Elizabeth　the　more　clear　it　becomes　to　me　that　she　is　the　one　woman　in　the　world　for　whom　marriage　with　me　is　possible。　　I　perceive　that　to　the　superficial　observer　my　selection　must　appear　extraordinary。　　I　do　not　pretend　to　explain　it；　or　even　to　understand　it。　　The　study　of　mankind　is　beyond　man。　　Only　fools　attempt　it。　　Maybe　it　is　her　contrast　to　myself　that　attracts　me。　Maybe　my；　perhaps；　too　spiritual　nature　feels　the　need　of　contact　with　her　coarser　clay　to　perfect　itself。　　I　cannot　tell。　　These　things　must　always　remain　mysteries。　　I　only　know　that　I　love　her　that；　if　any　reliance　is　to　be　placed　upon　instinct；　she　is　the　mate　to　whom　Artemis　is　leading　me。'

〃It　was　clear　that　he　was　in　love；　and　I　therefore　ceased　to　argue　with　him。　　'You　kept　up　your　acquaintanceship　with　her；　then；　after　you'I　was　going　to　say　'after　you　ceased　to　be　Smith；'　but　not　wishing　to　agitate　him　by　more　mention　of　that　person　than　I　could　help；　I　substituted；　'after　you　returned　to　the　Albany？'

〃'Not　exactly；'　he　replied；　'I　lost　sight　of　her　after　I　left　Yarmouth；　and　I　did　not　see　her　again　until　five　days　ago；　when　I　came　across　her　in　an　aerated　bread　shop。　　I　had　gone　in　to　get　a　glass　of　milk　and　a　bun；　and　SHE　brought　them　to　me。　　I　recognised　her　in　a　moment。'　　His　face　lighted　up　with　quite　a　human　smile。　　'I　take　tea　there　every　afternoon　now；'　he　added；　glancing　towards　the　clock；　'at　four。'

〃'There's　not　much　need　to　ask　HER　views　on　the　subject；'　I　said；　laughing；　'her　feelings　towards　you　were　pretty　evident。'

〃'Well；　that　is　the　curious　part　of　it；'　he　replied；　with　a　return　to　his　former　embarrassment；　'she　does　not　seem　to　care　for　me　now　at　all。　　Indeed；　she　positively　refuses　me。　　She　saysto　put　it　in　the　dear　child's　own　racy　languagethat　she　wouldn't　take　me　on　at　any　price。　　She　says　it　would　be　like　marrying　a　clockwork　figure　without　the　key。　　She's　more　frank　than　complimentary；　but　I　like　that。'

〃'Wait　a　minute；'　I　said；　'an　idea　occurs　to　me。　　Does　she　know　of　your　identity　with　Smith？'

〃'No；'　he　replied；　alarmed；　'I　would　not　have　her　know　it　for　worlds。　　Only　yesterday　she　told　me　that　I　reminded　her　of　a　fellow　she　had　met　at　Yarmouth；　and　my　heart　was　in　my　mouth。'

〃'How　did　she　look　when　she　told　you　that？'　I　asked。

〃'How　did　she　look？'　he　repeated；　not　understanding　me。

〃'What　was　her　expression　at　that　moment？'　I　said'was　it　severe　or　tender？'

〃'Well；'　he　replied；　'now　I　come　to　think　of　it；　she　did　seem　to　soften　a　bit　just　then。'

〃'My　dear　boy；'　I　said；　'the　case　is　as　clear　as　day…light。　　She　loves　Smith。　　No　girl　who　admired　Smith　could　be　attracted　by　Smythe。　　As　your　present　self　you　will　never　win　her。　　In　a　few　weeks'　time；　however；　you　will　be　Smith。　　Leave　the　matter　over　until　then。　　Propose　to　her　as　Smith；　and　she　will　accept　you。　After　marriage　you　can　break　Smythe　gently　to　her。'

〃'By　Jove！'　he　exclaimed；　startled　out　of　his　customary　lethargy；　'I　never　thought　of　that。　　The　truth　is；　when　I　am　in　my　right　senses；　Smith　and　all　his　affairs　seem　like　a　dream　to　me。　　Any　idea　connected　with　him　would　never　enter　my　mind。'

〃He　rose　and　held　out　his　hand。　　'I　am　so　glad　I　came　to　see　you；'　he　said；　'your　suggestion　has　almost　reconciled　me　to　my　miserable　fate。　　Indeed；　I　quite　look　forward　to　a　month　of　Smith；　now。'

〃'I'm　so　pleased；'　I　answered；　shaking　hands　with　him。　　'Mind　you　come　and　tell　me　how　you　get　on。　　Another　man's　love　affairs　are　not　usually　absorbing；　but　there　is　an　element　of　interest　about　yours　that　renders　the　case　exceptional。'

〃We　parted；　and　I　did　not　see　him　again　for　another　month。　　Then；　late　one　evening；　the　servant　knocked　at　my　door　to　say　that　a　Mr。　Smith　wished　to　see　me。

〃'Smith；　Smith；'　I　repeated；　'what　Smith？　didn't　he　give　you　a　card？'

〃'No；　sir；'　answered　the　girl；　'he　doesn't　look　the　sort　that　would　have　a　card。　　He's　not　a　gentleman；　sir；　but　he　says　you'll　know　him。'　　She　evidently　regarded　the　statement　as　an　aspersion　upon　myself。

〃I　was　about　to　tell　her　to　say　I　was　out；　when　the　recollection　of　Smythe's　other　self　flashed　into　my　mind；　and　I　directed　her　to　send　him　up。

〃A　minute　passed；　and　then　he　entered。　　He　was　wearing　a　new　suit　of　a　louder　pattern；　if　possible；　than　before。　　I　think　he　must　have　designed　it　himself。　　He　looked　hot　and　greasy。　　He　did　not　offer　to　shake　hands；　but　sat　down　awkwardly　on　the　extreme　edge　of　a　small　chair；　and　gaped　about　the　room　as　if　he　had　never　seen　it　before。

〃He　communicated　his　shyness　to　myself。　　I　could　not　think　what　to　say；　and　we　sat　for　a　while　in　painful　silence。

〃'Well；'　I　said；　at　last；　plunging　head…foremost　into　the　matter；　according　to　the　method　of　shy　people；　'and　how's　'Liza？'

〃'Oh；　SHE'S　all　right；'　he　replied；　keeping　his　eyes　fixed　on　his　hat。

〃'Have　you　done　it？'　I　continued。

〃'Done　wot？'　he　asked；　looking　up。

〃'Married　her。'

〃'No；'　he　answered；　returning　to　the　contemplation　of　his　hat。

〃'Has　she　refused　you　then？'　I　said。

〃'I　ain't　arst　'er；'　he　returned。

He　seemed　unwilling　to　explain　matters　of　his　own　accord。　　I　had　to　put　the　conversation　into　the　form　of　a　cross…examination。

〃'Why　not？'　I　asked；　'don't　you　think　she　cares　for　you　any　longer？'

He　burst　into　a　harsh　laugh。　　'There　ain't　much　fear　o'　that；'　he　said；　'it's　like　'aving　an　Alcock's　porous　plaster　mashed　on　yer；　blowed　if　it　ain't。　　There's　no　gettin'　rid　of　'er。　　I　wish　she'd　giv'　somebody　else　a　turn。　　I'm　fair　sick　of　'er。'