按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
went away without exhibiting further interest in the London journey。
〃I do wish Dora would let us alone；〃 said Ruth。 〃She always brings
disappointment or worry of some kind。 And I wonder what is the meaning
of this unexpected London visit。 I thought she was in Holland。〃
〃She said in her last letter that London would be impossible before
August。〃
〃Is it an appointmentor a coincidence？〃
And Ethel； lifting her shoulders sarcastically； as if in hostile surrender
to the inevitable； answered：
〃It is a fatality！〃
CHAPTER VIII
THREE days afterward Ethel called on Dora Stanhope at the Savoy。
She found her alone； and she had evidently been crying。 Indeed； she
frankly admitted the fact； declaring that she had been 〃so bored and so
homesick； that she relieved she had cried her beauty away。〃 She glanced at
Ethel's radiant face and neat fresh toilet with envy； and added； 〃I am so
glad to see you； Ethel。 But I was sure that you would come as soon as you
knew I wanted you。〃
〃Oh； indeed； Dora； you must not make yourself too sure of such a
thing as that！ I really came to London to get some new gowns。 I have been
84
… Page 85…
The Man Between
shopping all morning。〃
〃I thought you had come in answer to my letter。 I was expecting you。
That is the reason I did not go out with Basil。〃
〃Don't you expect a little too much； Dora？ I have a great many
interests and duties〃
〃I used to be first。〃
〃When a girl marries she is supposed to〃
〃Please don't talk nonsense。 Basil does not take the place of everyone
and everything else。 I think we are often very tired of each other。 This
morning； when I was telling him what trouble I had with my maid； Julia；
he actually yawned。 He tried to smother the yawn； but he could not； and of
course the honeymoon is over when your bridegroom yawns in your face
while you are telling him your troubles。〃
〃I should think you would be glad it was over。 Of all the words in the
English language ‘honeymoon' is the most ridiculous and imbecile。〃
〃I suppose when you get married you will take a honeymoon。〃
〃I shall have more sense and more selfishness。 A girl could hardly
enter a new life through a medium more trying。 I am sure it would need
long…tested affections and the sweetest of tempers to make it endurable。〃
〃I cannot imagine what you mean。〃
〃I mean that all traveling just after marriage is a great blunder。
Traveling makes the sunniest disposition hasty and peevish； for women
don't love changes as men do。 Not one in a thousand is seen at her best
while traveling； and the majority are seen at their very worst。 Then there is
the discomfort and desolation of European hotels their mysterious
methods and hours； and the ways of foreigners； which are not as our
ways。〃
〃Don't talk of them； Ethel。 They are dreadful places； and such queer
people。〃
〃Add to these troubles ignorance of language and coinage； the utter
weariness of railway travel； the plague of customs； the trunk that won't
pack； the trains that won't wait； the tiresome sight…seeing； the climatic
irritability； broiling suns； headache； loneliness； fretfulnessconsequently
the pitiful boredom of the new husband。〃
85
… Page 86…
The Man Between
〃Ethel； what you say is certainly too true。 I am weary to death of it all。
I want to be at Newport with mother； who is having a lovely time there。 Of
course Basil is very nice to me； and yet there have been little tiffs and
strugglesvery gentle onesfor the mastery； which he is not going to get。
To…day he wanted me to go with him and Canon Shackleton to see
something or other about the poor of London。 I would not do it。 I am so
lonely； Ethel； I want to see some one。 I feel fit to cry all the time。 I like
Basil best of anyone in the world； but〃
〃But in the solitude of a honeymoon among strangers you find out that
the person you like best in the world can bore you as badly as the person
you don't like at all。 Is that so？〃
〃Exactly。 Just fancy if we were among our friends in Newport。 I
should have some pleasure in dressing and looking lovely。 Why should I
dress here？ There is no one to see me。〃
〃Basil。〃
〃Of course； but Basil spends all the time in visiting cathedrals and
clergymen。 If we go out； it is to see something about the poor； or about
schools and such like。 We were not in London two hours until he was off
to Westminster Abbey； and I didn't care a cent about the old place。 He says
I must not ask him to go to theaters； but historical old houses don't interest
me at all。 What does it matter if Cromwell slept in a certain ancient shabby
room？ And as for all the palaces I have seen； my father's house is a great
deal handsomer； and more convenient； and more comfortable； and I wish I
were there。 I hate Europe； and England I hate worst of all。〃
〃You have not seen England。 We are all enraptured with its beauty and
its old houses and pleasant life。〃
〃You are among friendsat home； as it were。 I have heard all about
Rawdon Court。 Fred Mostyn told me。 He is going to buy it。〃
〃When？〃
〃Some time this fall。 Then next year he will entertain us； and that will
be a little different to this desolate hotel； I think。〃
〃How long will you be in London？〃
〃I cannot say。 We are invited to Stanhope Castle； but I don't want to go
there。 We stayed with the Stanhopes a week when we first came over。
86
… Page 87…
The Man Between
They were then in their London house； and I got enough of them。〃
〃Did you dislike the family？〃
〃No； I cared nothing about them。 They just bored me。 They are
extremely religious。 We had prayers night and morning； and a prayer
before and after every meal。 They read only very good books； and the
Honorable Misses Stanhope sew for the poor old women and teach the
poor young ones。 They work harder than anyone I ever knew； and they call
it ‘im