michael-第7部分

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istress　of　an　empire　and　the　seas　that　guarded　it。　Probably　he　would　have　been　proud　of　belonging　to　that　even　if　he　had　not　been　〃one　of　us〃；　as　it　was；　the　high　position　which　he　occupied　in　it　caused　that　pride　to　be　slightly　mixed　with　the　pride　that　was　concerned　with　the　notion　of　the　Empire　belonging　to　him　and　his　peers。

But　though　he　was　the　most　profound　of　Tories；　he　would　truthfully　have　professed　（as　indeed　he　practised　in　the　management　of　his　estates）　the　most　Liberal　opinions　as　to　schemes　for　the　amelioration　of　the　lower　classes。　　Only；　just　as　the　music　he　was　good　enough　to　listen　to　had　to　be　played　for　him；　so　the　tenants　and　farmers　had　to　be　his　dependents。　　He　looked　after　them　very　well　indeed；　conceiving　this　to　be　the　prime　duty　of　a　great　landlord；　but　his　interest　in　them　was　really　proprietary。　　It　was　of　his　bounty；　and　of　his　complete　knowledge　of　what　his　duties　as　〃one　of　us〃　were；　that　he　did　so；　and　any　legislation　which　compelled　him　to　part　with　one　pennyworth　of　his　property　for　the　sake　of　others　less　fortunate　he　resisted　to　the　best　of　his　ability　as　a　theft　of　what　was　his。　　The　country；　in　fact；　if　it　went　to　the　dogs　（and　certain　recent　legislation　distinctly　seemed　to　point　kennelwards）；　would　go　to　the　dogs　because　ignorant　politicians；　who　were　most　emphatically　not　〃of　us；〃　forced　him　and　others　like　him　to　recognise　the　rights　of　dependents　instead　of　trusting　to　their　instinctive　fitness　to　dispense　benefits　not　as　rights　but　as　acts　of　grace。　　If　England　trusted　to　her　aristocracy　（to　put　the　matter　in　a　nutshell）　all　would　be　well　with　her　in　the　future　even　as　it　had　been　in　the　past；　but　any　attempt　to　curtail　their　splendours　must　inevitably　detract　from　the　prestige　and　magnificence　of　the　Empire。　。　。　。　　And　he　responded　suitably　to　the　obsequious　salute　of　the　professional；　and　remembered　that　the　entire　golf　links　were　his　property；　and　that　the　Club　paid　a　merely　nominal　rental　to　him；　just　the　tribute　money　of　a　penny　which　was　due　to　Caesar。


For　the　next　hour　or　two　after　her　husband　had　left　her；　Lady　Ashbridge　occupied　herself　in　the　thoroughly　lady…like　pursuit　of　doing　nothing　whatever；　she　just　existed　in　her　comfortable　chair；　since　Barbara　might　come　any　moment；　and　she　would　have　to　entertain　her；　which　she　frequently　did　unawares。　　But　as　Barbara　continued　not　to　come；　she　took　up　her　perennial　piece　of　needlework；　feeling　rather　busy　and　pressed；　and　had　hardly　done　so　when　her　sister…in…law　arrived。

She　was　preceded　by　an　enormous　stag…hound；　who；　having　been　shut　up　in　her　motor　all　the　way　from　London；　bounded　delightedly；　with　the　sense　of　young　limbs　released；　on　to　the　terrace；　and　made　wild　leaps　in　a　circle　round　the　horrified　Petsy；　who　had　just　received　a　second　saucerful　of　cream。　　Once　he　dashed　in　close；　and　with　a　single　lick　of　his　tongue　swept　the　saucer　dry　of　nutriment；　and　with　hoarse　barkings　proceeded　again　to　dance　corybantically　about；　while　Lady　Ashbridge　with　faint　cries　of　dismay　waved　her　embroidery　at　him。　　Then；　seeing　his　mistress　coming　out　of　the　French　window　from　the　drawing…room；　he　bounded　calf…like　towards　her；　and　Petsy；　nearly　sick　with　cream　and　horror；　was　gathered　to　Lady　Ashbridge's　bosom。

〃My　dear　Barbara；〃　she　said；　〃how　upsetting　your　dog　is！　　Poor　Petsy's　heart　is　beating　terribly；　she　does　not　like　dogs。　　But　I　am　very　pleased　to　see　you；　and　I　have　given　you　the　blue　room。〃

It　was　clearly　suitable　that　Barbara　Jerome　should　have　a　large　dog；　for　both　in　mind　and　body　she　was　on　the　large　scale　herself。　She　had　a　pleasant；　high…coloured　face；　was　very　tall；　enormously　stout；　and　moved　with　great　briskness　and　vigour。　　She　had　something　to　say　on　any　subject　that　came　on　the　board；　and；　what　was　less　usual　in　these　days　of　universal　knowledge；　there　was　invariably　some　point　in　what　she　said。　　She　had；　in　the　ordinary　sense　of　the　word；　no　manners　at　all；　but　essentially　made　up　for　this　lack　by　her　sincere　and　humourous　kindliness。　　She　saw　with　acute　vividness　the　ludicrous　side　of　everybody；　herself　included；　and　to　her　mind　the　arch…humourist　of　all　was　her　brother；　whom　she　was　quite　unable　to　take　seriously。　　She　dressed　as　if　she　had　looted　a　milliner's　shop　and　had　put　on　in　a　great　hurry　anything　that　came　to　hand。　　She　towered　over　her　sister…in…law　as　she　kissed　her；　and　Petsy；　safe　in　her　citadel；　barked　shrilly。

〃My　dear；　which　is　the　blue　room？〃　she　said。　　〃I　hope　it　is　big　enough　for　Og　and　me。　　Yes；　that　is　Og；　which　is　short　for　dog。　　He　takes　two　mutton…chops　for　dinner；　and　a　little　something　during　the　night　if　he　feels　disposed；　because　he　is　still　growing。　　Tony　drove　down　with　me；　and　is　in　the　car　now。　　He　would　not　come　in　for　fear　of　seeing　Robert；　so　I　ventured　to　tell　them　to　take　him　a　cup　of　tea　there；　which　he　will　drink　with　the　blinds　down；　and　then　drive　back　to　town　again。　　He　has　been　made　American　ambassador；　by　the　way；　and　will　go　in　to　dinner　before　Robert。　　My　dear；　I　can　think　of　few　things　which　Robert　is　less　fitted　to　bear　than　that。　　However；　we　all　have　our　crosses；　even　those　of　us　who　have　our　coronets　also。〃

Lady　Ashbridge's　hospitable　instincts　asserted　themselves。　　〃But　your　husband　must　come　in；〃　she　said。　　〃I　will　go　and　tell　him。　And　Robert　has　gone　to　play　golf。〃

Barbara　laughed。

〃I　am　quite　sure　Tony　won't　come　in；〃　she　said。　　〃I　promised　him　he　shouldn't；　and　he　only　drove　down　with　me　on　the　express　stipulation　that　no　risks　were　to　be　run　about　his　seeing　Robert。　We　must　take　no　chances；　so　let　him　have　his　tea　quietly　in　the　motor　and　then　drive　away　again。　　And　who　else　is　there？　　Anybody？　Michael？〃

〃Michael　comes　this　evening。〃

〃I　am　glad；　I　am　particularly　fond　of　Michael。　　Also　he　will　play　to　us　after　dinner；　and　though　I　don't　know　one　note　from　another；　it　will　relieve　me　of　sitting　in　a　stately　circle　watching　Robert　cheat　at　patience。　　I　always　find　the　evenings　here　rather　trying；　they　remind　me　of　being　in　church。　　I　feel　as　if　I　were　part　of　a　corporate　body；　which　leads　to　misplaced　decorum。　　Ah！　there　is　the　sound　of　Tony's　retreating　motor；　his　strategic　movement　has　come　off。　　And　now　give　me　some　news；　if　you　can　get　in　a　word。　　Dear　me；　there　is　Robert　coming　back　across　the　lawn。　　What　a　mercy　that　Tony　did　not　leave　the　motor。　　Robert　always　walks　as　if　he　was　dancing　a　minuet。　　Look；　there　is　Og　imitating　him！　　Or　is　he　stalking　him；　thinking　he　is　an　enemy。　　Og；　come　here！〃

She　whistled　shrilly　on　her　fingers；　and　rose　to　greet　her　brother；　whom　Og　was　still　menacing；　as　he　advanced　towards　her　with　staccato　steps。　　Barbara；　however；　got　between　Og　and　his　prey；　and　threw　her　parasol　at　him。

〃My　dear；　how　are　you？〃　she　said。　　〃And　how　did　the　golf　go？　　And　did　you　beat　the　professional？〃

He　suspected　flippancy　here；　and　became　markedly　dignified。

〃An　excellent　match；〃　he　said；　〃and　Macpherson　tells　me　I　played　a　very　sound　game。　　I　am　delighted　to　see　you；　Barbara。　　And　did　Michael　come　down　with　you？〃

〃No。　　I　drove　from　town。　　It　saves　time；　but　not　expense；　with　your　awful　trains。〃

〃And　you　are　well；　and　Mr。　Jerome？〃　he　asked。　　He　always　called　his　brother…in…law　Mr。　Jerome；　to　indicate　the　gulf　between　them。　Barbara　gave　a　little　spurt　of　laughter。

〃Yes；　his　excellency　is　quite　well；〃　she　said。　　〃You　must　call　him　excellency　now；　my　dear。〃

〃Indeed！　　That　is　a　great　step。〃

〃Considering　that　Tony　began　as　an　office…boy。　　How　richly　rewarding　you　are；　my　dear。　　And　shan't　I　make　an　odd　ambassadress！　I　haven't　been　to　a　Court　since　the　dark　ages；　when　I　went　to　those　beloved　States。　　We　will　practise　after　dinner；　dear；　and　you　and　Marion　shall　be　the　King　and　Queen；　and　I　will　try　to　walk　backwards　without　tumbling　on　my　head。　　You　will　like　being　the　King；　Robert。　　And　then　we　will　be　ourselves　again；　all　except　Og；　who　shall　be　Tony　and　shall　go　out　of　the　room　before　you。〃

He　gave　his　treble　little　giggle；　for　on　the　whole　it　answered　better　not　to　be　dignified　with　Barbara；　whenever　he　could　remember　not　to　be；　and　Lady　Ashbridge；　still　nursing　Petsy；　threw　a　bombshell　of　the　obvious　to　explode　the　conversation。

〃Og　has　two　mutton…chops　for　his　dinner；〃　she　said；　〃and　he　is　growing　still。　　Fancy！〃

Lord　Ashbridge　took　a　refreshing　glance　at　the　broad　stretch　of　country　that　all　belonged　to　him。

〃I　am　rather　glad　to　have　this　opportunity　of　talking　to　you；　my　dear　Barbara；〃　he　said；　〃before　Michael　comes。〃

〃His　train　gets　in　half　an　hour　before　dinner〃　said　Lady　Ashbridge。　〃He　has　to　change　at　Stoneborough。〃

〃Quite　so。　　I　heard　from　Michael　this　morning；　saying　that　he　has　resigned　his　commission　in　the　Guards；　and　is　going　to　take　up　music　seriously。〃

Barbara　gave　a　delighted　exclamation。

〃But　how　perfectly　splendid！〃　she　said。　　〃Fancy　a　Comber　doing　anything　original！　　Michael　and　I　are　the　only　Combers　who　ever　have；　since　Combers　'arose　from　out　the　azure　main'　in　the　year　one。　　I　married　an　American；　that's　something；　though　it's　not　up　to　Michael！〃

〃That　is　not　quite　my　view　of　it；〃　said　he。　　〃As　for　its　being　original；　it　would　be　original　enough　if　Marion　eloped　with　a　Patagonian。〃

Lady　Ashbridge　let　fall　her　embroidery　at　this　monstrous　suggestion。

〃You　are　talking　very　wildly；　Robert；〃　she　said；　in　a　pained　voice。

〃My　dear；　get　on　with　your　sacred　carpet；〃　said　he。　　〃I　am　talking　to　Barbara。　　I　have　already　ascertained　youryour　lack　of　views　on　the　subject。　　I　was　saying；　Barbara；　that　mere　originality　is　not　a　merit。〃

〃No；　you　never　said　that；〃　remarked　Lady　Ashbridge。

〃I　should　have　if　you　had　allowed　me　to。　　And　as　for　your　saying　that　he　has　done　it；　Barbara；　that　is　very　wide　of　the　mark；　and　I　intend　shall　continue　to　be　so。〃

〃Dear　great　Bashaw；　that　is　just　what　you　said　to　me　when　I　told　you　I　was　going　to　marry　his　Excellency。　　But　I　did。　　And　I　think　it　is　a　glorious　move　on　Michael's　part。　　It　requires　brain　to　find　out　what　you　like；　and　character　to　go　and　do　it。　　Combers　haven't　got　brains　as　a　rule；　you　see。　　If　they　ever　had　any；　they　have　degenerated　into　conservative　instincts。〃

He　again　refreshed　himself　with　the　landscape。　　The　roofs　of　Ashbridge　were　visible　in　the　clear　sunset。　。　。　。　　Ashbridge　paid　it