the red cross girl(红十字姑娘)-第31部分
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the bears in the Zoo； and in doing so had laughed heartily。 They thought it
was because the bears were so ridiculous that they laughed。 Later they
appreciated that the reason they were happy was because they were
together。 Had the bear pit been empty； they still would have laughed。
On the evening of the thirty…first of May； Endicott had gone to bed
with his ticket purchased for America and his last five…pound note to last
him until the boat sailed。 He was a miserable young man。 He knew now
that he loved Helen Carey in such a way that to put the ocean between
them was liable to unseat his courage and his self…control。 In London he
could； each night； walk through Carlton House Terrace and； leaning
against the iron rails of the Carlton Club； gaze up at her window。 But； once
on the other side of the ocean； that tender exercise must be abandoned。 He
must even consider her pursued by most attractive guardsmen； diplomats；
and belted earls。 He knew they could not love her as he did； he knew they
could not love her for the reasons he loved her； because the fine and
beautiful things in her that he saw and worshipped they did not seek； and
so did not find。 And yet； for lack of a few thousand dollars； he must
remain silent； must put from him the best that ever came into his life； must
waste the wonderful devotion he longed to give； must starve the love that
he could never summon for any other woman。
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On the thirty…first of May he went to sleep utterly and completely
miserable。 On the first of June he woke hopeless and unrefreshed。
And then the miracle came。
Prichard； the ex…butler who valeted all the young gentlemen in the
house where Philip had taken chambers； brought him his breakfast。 As he
placed the eggs and muffins on the tables to Philip it seemed as though
Prichard had said： 〃I am sorry he is leaving us。 The next gentleman who
takes these rooms may not be so open…handed。 He never locked up his
cigars or his whiskey。 I wish he'd give me his old dress…coat。 It fits me；
except across the shoulders。〃
Philip stared hard at Prichard； but the lips of the valet had not moved。
In surprise and bewilderment； Philip demanded：
〃How do you know it fits？ Have you tried it on？〃
〃I wouldn't take such a liberty；〃 protested Prichard。 〃Not with any of
our gentlemen's clothes。〃
〃How did you know I was talking about clothes；〃 demanded Philip。
〃You didn't say anything about clothes； did you？〃
〃No； sir； I did not； but you asked me； sir； and I〃
〃Were you thinking of clothes？〃
〃Well； sir； you might say； in a way； that I was； answered the valet。
〃Seeing as you're leaving； sir； and they're not over…new； I thought 〃
〃It's mental telepathy；〃 said Philip。
〃I beg your pardon；〃 exclaimed Prichard。
〃You needn't wait；〃 said Philip。
The coincidence puzzled him； but by the time he had read the morning
papers he had forgotten about it； and it was not until he had emerged into
the street that it was forcibly recalled。 The street was crowded with people；
and as Philip stepped in among them； It was as though every one at whom
he looked began to talk aloud。 Their lips did not move； nor did any sound
issue from between them； but； without ceasing； broken phrases of thoughts
came to him as clearly as when； in passing in a crowd； snatches of talk are
carried to the ears。 One man thought of his debts； another of the weather；
and of what disaster it might bring to his silk hat； another planned his
luncheon； another was rejoicing over a telegram he had but that moment
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received。 To himself he kept repeating the words of the telegram〃No
need to come； out of danger。〃 To Philip the message came as clearly as
though he were reading it from the folded slip of paper that the stranger
clutched in his hand。
Confused and somewhat frightened； and in order that undisturbed he
might consider what had befallen him； Philip sought refuge from the
crowded street in the hallway of a building。 His first thought was that for
some unaccountable cause his brain for the moment was playing tricks
with him； and he was inventing the phrases he seemed to hear； that he was
attributing thoughts to others of which they were entirely innocent。 But；
whatever it was that had befallen him； he knew it was imperative that he
should at once get at the meaning of it。
The hallway in which he stood opened from Bond Street up a flight of
stairs to the studio of a fashionable photographer； and directly in front of
the hallway a young woman of charming appearance had halted。 Her
glance was troubled； her manner ill at ease。 To herself she kept repeating：
〃Did I tell Hudson to be here at a quarter to eleven； or a quarter past？ Will
she get the telephone message to bring the ruff？ Without the ruff it would
be absurd to be photographed。 Without her ruff Mary Queen of Scots
would look ridiculous！〃
Although the young woman had spoken not a single word； although
indeed she was biting impatiently at her lower lip； Philip had distinguished
the words clearly。 Or； if he had not distinguished them； he surely was
going mad。 It was a matter to be at once determined； and the young
woman should determine it。 He advanced boldly to her； and raised his hat。
〃Pardon me；〃 he said； 〃but I believe you are waiting for your maid
Hudson？〃
As though fearing an impertinence； the girl regarded him in silence。
〃I only wish to make sure；〃 continued Philip； 〃that you are she for
whom I have a message。 You have an appointment； I believe； to be
photographed in fancy dress as Mary Queen of Scots？〃
〃Well？〃 assented the girl。
〃And you telephoned Hudson；〃 he continued； 〃to bring you your
muff。〃
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The girl exclaimed with vexation。
〃Oh！〃 she protested； 〃I knew they'd get it wrong！ Not muff； ruff！ I
want my ruff。〃
Philip felt a cold shiver creep down his spine。
〃For the love of Heaven！〃 he exclaimed in horror； 〃it's true！〃
〃What's true？〃 demanded the young woman in some alarm。
〃That I'm a mind reader；〃 declared Philip。 〃I've read your mind！ I can
read everybody's mind。 I know just what you're thinking now。 You're
thinking I'm mad！〃
The actions of the young lady showed that again he was correct。 With
a gasp of terror she fled past him and raced up the stairs to the studio。
Philip made no effort to follow and to explain。 What was there to explain？
How could he explain that which； to himself； was unbelievable？ Besides；
the girl had served her purpose。 If he could read the mind of one； he could
read the minds of all。 By some unexplainable miracle； to his ordinary
equipment of senses a sixth had been added。 As easily as； before that
morning； he could look into the face of a fellow…mortal； he now could look
into the workings of that fellow…mortal's mind。 The thought was appalling。
It was like living with one's ear to a key…hole。 In his dismay his first idea
was to seek medical advicethe best in London。 He turned instantly in the
direction of Harley Street。 There； he determined； to the most skilled
alienist in town he would explain his strange plight。 For only as a
misfortune did the miracle appear to him。 But as he made his way through
the streets his pace slackened。
Was he wise； he asked himself； in allowing others to know he
possessed this strange power？ Would they not at once treat him as a
madman？ Might they not place him under observation； or even deprive
him of his liberty？ At the thought he came to an abrupt halt His own
definition of the miracle as a 〃power〃 had opened a new line of
speculation。 If this strange gift （already he was beginning to consider it
more leniently） were concealed from others； could he not honorably put it
to some useful purpose？ For； among the blind； the man with one eye is a
god。 Was not heamong all other men the only one able to read the minds
of all other mena god？ Turning into Bruton Street； he paced its quiet
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length considering the possibilities that lay within him。
It was apparent that the gift would lead to countless embarrassments。
If it were once known that he possessed it； would not even his friends
avoid him？ For how could any one； knowing his most secret thought was
at the mercy of another； be happy in that othe
