the little white bird-第36部分
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could at first reply only with hysterical sounds。 But soon he
was pelting home to his mother with the glorious news。
And that is how we let Barbara in。
XXVI
The Dedication
It was only yesterday afternoon； dear reader； exactly three weeks
after the birth of Barbara； that I finished the book； and even
then it was not quite finished； for there remained the
dedication； at which I set to elatedly。 I think I have never
enjoyed myself more； indeed； it is my opinion that I wrote the
book as an excuse for writing the dedication。
〃Madam〃 （I wrote wittily）； 〃I have no desire to exult over you；
yet I should show a lamentable obtuseness to the irony of things
were I not to dedicate this little work to you。 For its
inception was yours； and in your more ambitious days you thought
to write the tale of the little white bird yourself。 Why you so
early deserted the nest is not for me to inquire。 It now appears
that you were otherwise occupied。 In fine； madam； you chose the
lower road； and contented yourself with obtaining the Bird。 May
I point out； by presenting you with this dedication； that in the
meantime I am become the parent of the Book？ To you the shadow；
to me the substance。 Trusting that you will accept my little
offering in a Christian spirit； I am； dear madam；〃 etc。
It was heady work； for the saucy words showed their design
plainly through the varnish； and I was re…reading in an ecstasy；
when； without warning； the door burst open and a little boy
entered； dragging in a faltering lady。
〃Father；〃 said David； 〃this is mother。〃
Having thus briefly introduced us； he turned his attention to the
electric light； and switched it on and off so rapidly that； as
was very fitting； Mary and I may be said to have met for the
first time to the accompaniment of flashes of lightning。 I think
she was arrayed in little blue feathers； but if such a costume is
not seemly； I swear there were； at least； little blue feathers in
her too coquettish cap； and that she was carrying a muff to
match。 No part of a woman is more dangerous than her muff； and
as muffs are not worn in early autumn； even by invalids； I saw in
a twink； that she had put on all her pretty things to wheedle me。
I am also of opinion that she remembered she had worn blue in
the days when I watched her from the club…window。 Undoubtedly
Mary is an engaging little creature； though not my style。 She
was paler than is her wont； and had the touching look of one whom
it would be easy to break。 I daresay this was a trick。 Her
skirts made music in my room； but perhaps this was only because
no lady had ever rustled in it before。 It was disquieting to me
to reflect that despite her obvious uneasiness； she was a very
artful woman。
With the quickness of David at the switch； I slipped a blotting…
pad over the dedication； and then； 〃Pray be seated；〃 I said
coldly； but she remained standing； all in a twitter and very much
afraid of me； and I know that her hands were pressed together
within the muff。 Had there been any dignified means of escape； I
think we would both have taken it。
〃I should not have come；〃 she said nervously； and then seemed to
wait for some response； so I bowed。
〃I was terrified to come； indeed I was；〃 she assured me with
obvious sincerity。
〃But I have come；〃 she finished rather baldly。
〃It is an epitome； ma'am；〃 said I； seeing my chance； 〃of your
whole life；〃 and with that I put her into my elbow…chair。
She began to talk of my adventures with David in the Gardens； and
of some little things I have not mentioned here； that I may have
done for her when I was in a wayward mood； and her voice was as
soft as her muff。 She had also an affecting way of pronouncing
all her r's as w's； just as the fairies do。 〃And so；〃 she said；
〃as you would not come to me to be thanked； I have come to you to
thank you。〃 Whereupon she thanked me most abominably。 She also
slid one of her hands out of the muff； and though she was smiling
her eyes were wet。
〃Pooh； ma'am；〃 said I in desperation； but I did not take her
hand。
〃I am not very strong yet；〃 she said with low cunning。 She said
this to make me take her hand； so I took it； and perhaps I patted
it a little。 Then I walked brusquely to the window。 The truth
is； I begun to think uncomfortably of the dedication。
I went to the window because； undoubtedly； it would be easier to
address her severely from behind； and I wanted to say something
that would sting her。
〃When you have quite done； ma'am；〃 I said； after a long pause；
〃perhaps you will allow me to say a word。〃
I could see the back of her head only； but I knew； from David's
face； that she had given him a quick look which did not imply
that she was stung。 Indeed I felt now； as I had felt before；
that though she was agitated and in some fear of me； she was also
enjoying herself considerably。
In such circumstances I might as well have tried to sting a sand…
bank； so I said； rather off my watch； 〃If I have done all this
for you； why did I do it？〃
She made no answer in words； but seemed to grow taller in the
chair； so that I could see her shoulders； and I knew from this
that she was now holding herself conceitedly and trying to look
modest。 〃Not a bit of it； ma'am；〃 said I sharply； 〃that was not
the reason at all。〃
I was pleased to see her whisk round； rather indignant at last。
〃I never said it was；〃 she retorted with spirit； 〃I never thought
for a moment that it was。〃 She added； a trifle too late in the
story； 〃Besides； I don't know what you are talking of。〃
I think I must have smiled here； for she turned from me quickly；
and became quite little in the chair again。
〃David；〃 said I mercilessly； 〃did you ever see your mother
blush？〃
〃What is blush？〃
〃She goes a beautiful pink colour。〃
David； who had by this time broken my connection with the head
office； crossed to his mother expectantly。
〃I don't； David；〃 she cried。
〃I think；〃 said I； 〃she will do it now；〃 and with the instinct of
a gentleman I looked away。 Thus I cannot tell what happened； but
presently David exclaimed admiringly； 〃Oh； mother； do it again！〃
As she would not； he stood on the fender to see in the mantel…
glass whether he could do it himself； and then Mary turned a most
candid face on me； in which was maternity rather than reproach。
Perhaps no look given by woman to man affects him quite so much。
〃You see；〃 she said radiantly and with a gesture that disclosed
herself to me； 〃I can forgive even that。 You long ago earned the
right to hurt me if you want to。〃
It weaned me of all further desire to rail at Mary； and I felt an
uncommon drawing to her。
〃And if I did think that for a little while；〃 she went on； with
an unsteady smile。
〃Think what？〃 I asked； but without the necessary snap。
〃What we were talking of；〃 she replied wincing； but forgiving me
again。 〃If I once thought that； it was pretty to me while it
lasted and it lasted but a little time。 I have long been sure
that your kindness to me was due to some other reason。〃
〃Ma'am；〃 said I very honestly； 〃I know not what was the reason。
My concern for you was in the beginning a very fragile and even a
selfish thing； yet not altogether selfish； for I think that what
first stirred it was the joyous sway of the little nursery
governess as she walked down Pall Mall to meet her lover。 It
seemed such a mighty fine thing to you to be loved that I thought
you had better continue to be loved for a little longer。 And
perhaps having helped you once by dropping a letter I was charmed
by the ease with which you could be helped； for you must know
that I am one who has chosen the easy way for more than twenty
years。〃
She shook her head and smiled。 〃On my soul；〃 I assured her； 〃I
can think of no other reason。〃
〃A kind heart；〃 said she。
〃More likely a whim；〃 said I。
〃Or another woman；〃 said she。
I was very much taken aback。
〃More than twenty years ago；〃 she said with a soft huskiness in
her voice； and a tremor and a sweetness； as if she did not know
that in twenty years all love stories are grown mouldy。
On my honour as a soldier this explanation of my early solicitude
for Mary was one that had never struck me； but the more I
pondered it now。 I raised her hand and touched it with my lips；
as we whimsical old fellows do when some gracious girl makes us
to hear the key in the lock of long ago。 〃Why； ma'am；〃 I said；
〃it is a pretty notion； and there may be something in it。 Let us
leave it at that。〃
But there was still that accursed dedication； lying； you
remember； beneath the blotting…pad。 I had no longer any desire
to crush her with it。 I wished that she had succeeded in writing
the book on which her longings had been so set。
〃If only you had been less ambitious；〃 I said； much troubled that
she should be disappointed in her heart's desire。
〃I wanted all the dear delicious things；〃 she admitted
contritely。
〃It was unreasonable；〃 I said eagerly； appealing to her
intellect。 〃Especially this last thing。〃
〃Yes；〃 she agreed frankly； 〃I know。〃 And then to my amazement
she added triumphantly； 〃But I got it。〃
I suppose my look admonished her； for she continued
apologetically but still as if she really thought hers had been a
romantic career； 〃I know I have not deserved it； but I got it。〃
〃Oh； ma'am；〃 I cried reproachfully； 〃reflect。 You have not got
the great thing。〃 I saw her counting the great things in her
mind； her wondrous husband and his obscure success； David；
Barbara； and the other trifling contents of her jewel…box。
〃I think I have；〃 said she。
〃Come； madam；〃 I cried a little nettled； 〃you know that there is
lacking the one thing you craved for most of all。〃
Will you believe
