phyllis of philistia-第6部分

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　had　seen　the　day；　not　so　very　long　ago；　when　he　would　have　been　frightened　at　it　himself。　At　any　rate　he　felt　sure　that　Phyllis　would　be　able　to　differentiate　between　the　case　of　the　author　of　〃Revised　Versions〃　and　the　case　of　the　mediocre　clergyman　who　defied　his　bishop　on　a　question　ofwhat　was　the　question？something　concerning　the　twirling　of　his　thumbs　from　east　to　west；　instead　of　from　west　to　east；　yes；　or　an　equally　trivial　matter。　He　trusted　that　she　was　too　discriminating　a　girl　to　bracket　him　with　that　wretched；　shallow…minded　person　who　endeavored　to　pose　as　a　martyr；　because　he　would　not　be　permitted　to　do　whatever　he　tried　to　insist　on　doing。　Mr。　Holland　thought　it　had　something　to　say　to　the　twirling　of　his　thumbs　at　a　certain　part　of　the　service　for　the　day；　but　if　anyone　had　said　that　his　memory　was　at　faultthat　the　contumacious　curate　only　wanted　to　make　some　gestures　at　the　psychological；　or；　perhaps；　the　spiritual；　moment；　he　would　not　have　been　surprised。　He　had　always　thought　that　curate　a　very　silly　person。　He　thanked　his　God　that　he　was　not　such　a　man；　and　he　thought　that　he　might　trust　Phyllis　to　understand　the　difference　between　the　position　which　he　assumed　and　the　posturing　of　the　silly　curate。

His　knowledge　of　her　powers　of　discrimination　was　not　at　fault。　Phyllis　never　for　a　moment　thought　of　him　as　posturing。　She　did　him　more　than　justice。　She　regarded　him　as　terribly　in　earnest；　no　man　unless　one　who　was　terribly　in　earnest　could　have　written　that　booka　book　which　she　felt　was　bound　to　alienate　from　him　all　the　people　who　had　previously　honored　him　and　delighted　to　listen　to　his　preaching。　Someone　had　said　in　her　hearing　that　the　preaching　of　George　Holland　was；　compared　to　the　preaching　of　the　average　clergyman；　as　the　electric　light　is　to　the　gasthe　gas　of　a　street　lamp。　She　had　flushed　with　pleasure；that　had　been　six　months　ago；when　it　first　occurred　to　her　that　to　be　the　wife　of　a　distinguished　clergyman；　who　was　also　a　scholar；　was　the　highest　vocation　to　which　a　woman　could　aspire。　She　had　told　her　father　of　this　testimony　to　the　ability　of　the　rector　of　St。　Chad'spride　had　been　in　her　voice　and　eyes。

〃The　man　who　said　that　was　a　true　critic；〃　her　father　had　remarked。　〃Electric　light？　Quite　so。　In　the　absence　of　sunlight　the　electric　light　does　extremely　well　for　the　requirements　of　the　average　man　and　woman。　Your　critic　said　nothing　about　volts？〃

That　was　how　her　father　became　irritating　to　her　occasionallyleading　up　to　some　phrase　which　he　had　in　his　collection　of　bric…a…brac。　〃Volts！〃

Yes；　she　felt　that　the　sincerity　of　George　Holland　would　alienate　from　him　all　the　people　who　had　previously　held　him　in　high　esteem。　Although　she　was　a　daughter　of　Philistia；　it　had　never　occurred　to　her　that　there　is　such　a　thing　as　a　/succes　scandale/；　and　that　the　effect　of　such　an　incident　in　connection　with　the　rector　of　a　fashionable　church　rarely　leads　to　his　isolation。

She　did　George　Holland　more　than　justice；　for　she　could　not　conceive　his　looking　forward　to　a　crowded　and　interested　attendance　at　his　church　on　the　following　Sunday　and　perhaps　many　successive　Sundays。　She　could　not　conceive　his　thinking　what　effect　the　noticing　of　such　an　attendance　would　have　upon　her。　To　her；　as　to　most　girls；　the　heroic　man　is　all　heroic。　The　picture　of　the　Duke　of　Marlborough　taking　a　list　of　the　linen　to　be　sent　to　the　wash　while　his　troops　were　getting　into　position　for　a　great　battle　is　one　from　which　they　turn　away。　She　could　not　think　of　George　Holland's　calculating　upon　the　effect　of　a　crowded　church；　with　newspaper　reporters　scattered　throughout　the　building；　taking　down　every　word　that　might　fall　from　his　lips。　She　regarded　him　as　a　man　who　had　been　compelled；　by　the　insidious　influence　of　what　he　called　scientific　thought；　to　write　a　shocking　book；　but　one　that　he　certainly　believed　was　destined　to　effect　a　great　reform　in　the　world。　Her　eyes　had　filled　with　tears　as　he　stood　before　her　with　the　gleam　of　martyrdom　in　his　eyes；　and　for　an　instant　she　felt　a　woman's　impulsethat　was　a　factor　which　George　Holland　had　taken　into　consideration　before　he　had　spokento　give　both　her　hands　to　him　and　to　promise　to　stand　by　his　side　in　his　hour　of　trial。　But　she　thought　of　Ruth　and　restrained　herself。　Before　he　had　reached　the　door　she　thought　of　him　as　the　man　from　whom　she　had　managed　to　escape　before　it　was　too　late。

She　wondered　if　any　of　those　young　women　of　the　church；　who　had　gone　back　to　their　butterfly　garments　on　hearing　that　Mr。　Holland　had　asked　her　to　marry　him；　would　hunt　out　the　sober　garments　which　they　had　discarded　and　wear　them　when　they　would　hear　that　she　was　not　going　to　marry　Mr。　Holland。

She　rather　thought　that　they　would　get　new　dresses　and　hats　of　the　right　degree　of　sobriety。　Fashions　change　so　quickly　between　February　and　May。

And　then　there　was　the　question　of　sleeves！

Anyhow　they　would；　she　felt；　regard　themselves　as　having　another　chance。　That　was　how　they　would　put　it。

Only　for　an　instant　did　she　become　thoughtful。　Then　she　sprang　to　her　feet　from　the　sofa　on　which　she　had　thrown　herself　when　her　tears　were　threatening；　and　cried：

〃Let　them　have　himlet　them　all　have　himallall！〃

That　would　have　been　absurd。



CHAPTER　VI。

IF　A　GIRL　REALLY　LOVES　A　MAN　SHE　WILL　MARRY　HIM；　EVEN　THOUGH　HE　SHOULD　WRITE　A　BOOK。

Phyllis　meant　the　half　hour　which　would　elapse　before　her　tea　was　brought　to　her　to　be　a　very　grateful　space。　She　meant　to　dwell　upon　the　achievement　of　her　freedom；　for　the　feeling　that　she　was　free　was　very　sweet　to　her。　The　fetters　that　had　bound　her　had　been　flung　away；　and　she　now　only　had　a　splendid　sense　of　freedom。　So　sweet　was　this　sense　that　she　made　up　her　mind　that　in　future　it　would　never　do　for　her　to　run　any　such　risk　as　that　to　which　she　had　just　subjected　herself。　How　could　she　ever　have　been　such　a　fool　as　to　promise　to　marry　George　Holland？　That　was　what　she　was　asking　herself　as　she　lay　back　on　the　pillows　of　the　French　sofa；　and　listened　to　the　soft　sound　of　the　carriage　wheels　of　the　callers　at　the　other　houses　in　the　square。

What　a　singular　wish　that　was　of　hersto　become　the　wife　of　a　clergyman！　It　seemed　very　singular　to　her　just　now。　Just　now　she　did　not　want　to　become　the　wife　of　anyone；　and　she　hoped　that　no　one　would　ask　her。　She　did　not　want　the　worry　of　it。　Ah；　she　would　be　very　careful　in　the　future：　she　would　take　very　good　care　that　the　fact　of　other　girls　wanting　to　marry　one　particular　man　would　not　make　her　anxious　to　have　him　all　to　herself。

Before　her　resolutions　on　this　very　important　point　had　been　fully　considered　in　all　their　bearings；　her　maid　entered　to　ask　if　she　was　at　home。　The　butler　had　sent　a　footman　to　her　to　make　that　inquiry；　the　fact　being　that　her　particular　friend；　Mrs。　Linton；　had　called　to　see　her。

Phyllis　jumped　up；　saying：

〃Of　course　I　am　home　to　Mrs。　Linton。　She　will　have　tea　with　me。〃

She　went　to　a　glass　to　see　if　the　tears　which　had　been　in　her　eyes　they　had　not　fallenhad　left　any　traces　that　the　acuteness　of　Ella　Linton　might　detect。　The　result　of　her　observation　was　satisfactory；　she　would　not　even　need　to　sit　with　her　back　to　the　light。

Then　Mrs。　Linton　was　announced；　and　flowed　into　the　arms　of　her　friend　Phyllis；　crying：

〃Of　course　I　knew　that　you　would　be　at　home　to　me；　my　beloved；　even　though　you　might　be　in　the　midst　of　one　of　those　brilliant　speeches　which　you　write　out　for　your　father　to　deliver　in　the　House　and　cause　people　to　fancy　that　he　is　the　wittiest　man　in　placeso　unlike　that　dreadful　teetotal　man　who　grins　through　the　horse　collar　and　thinks　that　people　are　imposed　on。　Now　let　me　look　at　you；　you　lucky　girl！　You　are　a　lucky　girl；　you　know。〃

〃Yes；〃　said　Phyllis；　〃you　have　called　on　me。　We　shall　have　tea　in　a　minute。　How　good　of　you　to　come　to　me　the　first　day　you　arrived　in　town！　How　well　you　are　looking；　my　Ella！〃

〃So　glad　you　think　so；〃　said　Ella。　〃I　haven't　aged　much　during　the　eight　months　we　have　been　apart。　I　have　had　a　very　good　time　on　the　whole；　and　so　had　Stephen；　though　he　was　with　me　for　close　upon　a　month；　poor　little　man！　But　it　is　you；　Phyllis；　it　is　you　who　are　the　girl　of　the　hour。　Heavens！　you　were　farsighted！　Who　could　have　imagined　that　he　would　become　so　famous　all　in　a　moment？　I　must　confess　that　when　you　wrote　to　me　that　letter　telling　me　of　your　engagement；　and　how　happy　you　were；　I　was　a　little　cross。　I　could　not　clearly　see　you　the　wife　of　a　parson；　even　so　presentable　a　parson　as　Mr。　Holland。　Oh；　of　course　I　wrote　you　the　usual　exuberant　letter　what　would　be　the　good　of　doing　anything　else？　But　now　that　he　has　become　famousOh；　I　want　you　to　bring　him　with　you　to　my　first　At　HomeTuesday　week。　It's　very　short　notice；　I　know；　but　you　must　come；　and　bring　him。　You　are　both　certain　to　be　in　great　demand。　Why　do　you　shake　your　head　that　way？　You　need　not　say　that　you　are　engaged　for　Tuesday　week。〃

〃I　will　not　say　that　I　am　engaged　at　all；　in　any　sense；〃　said　Phyllis；　with　a　very　shallow　laugh；　at　laugh　that　sounded　like　a　ripple　among　pebbles；　her　usual　laugh　was　like　a　ripple　upon　a　silver　sand。

〃In　any　sensefor　Tuesday　week？〃

Ella　raised　her　eyebrows　to　the　extent　of　the　eighth　of　an　inch。　She　lowered　them　in　a　moment；　however；　for　the　tea　was　being　brought　in。　It　required　two　able…bodied　men　（in　plush）　to　carry　in　a　dainty　little　silver　tray；　with　a　little　silver　tea…pot　of　a　pattern　that　silversmiths；　for　reasons　which　have　never　been　fully　explained；　call　〃Queen　Anne。〃　One　of　the　men；　however；　devoted　himself　to　the　care　of　the　hot　cakes　of　various　subtle　types　which　were　inclosed　in　silver　covered　dishes。

With　the　lowering　of　her　eyebrows　Mrs。　Linton's　voice　lost　its　previous　inflection。

〃I　have　been　fortunate　enough　to　hit　upon　something　distinctly　new　in　that　way〃she　indicated　the　muffin　dishes。　〃A　cake　that　may　be　eaten　hot　without　removing　one's　gloves。〃

〃What　a　boon！〃　cried　Phyllis。　〃You　got　it　at　Vienna；　of　course。〃

〃Of　course。　You　will　learn　all　about　it　when　you　come。〃

The　able…bodied　men　withdrew；　and　before　the　door　was　quite　closed　behind　them；　Ella　was　gazing　at　her　friend；　her　face　alight　with　inquiry。

〃Now　pray　explain　yourself；〃　she　whispered。　〃Not　engaged　in　any　sense　those　we