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！
about my being。〃 And drinking off the tumbler of tea which Mrs。 Petty
was holding to his lips； he sank almost immediately into a deep slumber。
VI
MAKES A MISTAKE； AND MEETS A MOON…CAT
The old lady； whose name was Sinkin； and whose interest in Mr。 Lavender
had become so deep； lived in a castle in Frognal； and with her lived her
young nephew； a boy of forty…five； indissolubly connected with the Board
of Guardians。 It was entirely due to her representations that he
presented himself at Mr。 Lavender's on the following day； and； sending in
his card； was admitted to our hero's presence。
Mr。 Lavender； pale and stiff； was sitting in his study； with Blink on his
feet； reading a speech。
〃Excuse my getting up； sir；〃 he said； 〃and pray be seated。〃
The nephew； who had a sleepy； hairless face and little Chinese eyes；
bowed； and sitting down； stared at Mr。 Lavender with a certain
embarrassment。
〃I have come；〃 he said at last； 〃to ask you a few questions on behalf
of〃
〃By all means；〃 said Mr。 Lavender； perceiving at once that he was being
interviewed。 〃I shall be most happy to give you my views。 Please take a
cigarette； for I believe that is usual。 I myself do not smoke。 If it is
the human touch you want； you may like to know that I gave it up when
that appeal in your contemporary flooded the trenches with cigarettes and
undermined the nerves of our heroes。 By setting an example of
abstinence； and at the same time releasing more tobacco for our men；
I felt that I was but doing my duty。 Please don't mention that； though。
And while we are on the personal note； which I sincerely deprecate； you
might like to stroll round the room and look at the portrait of my
father； behind the door； and of my mother； over the fireplace。 Forgive
my not accompanying you。 The fact isthis is an interesting touchI
have always been rather subject to lumbago。〃 And seeing the nephew
Sinkin； who had risen to his suggestion； standing somewhat irresolutely
in front of him； he added： 〃Perhaps you would like to look a little more
closely at my eyes。 Every now and then they flash with an almost uncanny
insight。〃 For by now he had quite forgotten his modesty in the
identification he felt with the journal which was interviewing him。〃
I am fifty…eight； 〃 he added quickly； 〃but I do not look my years； though
my hair； still thick and full of vigour； is prematurely whiteso often
the case with men whose brains are。 continually on the stretch。 The
little home； far from grandiose； which forms the background to this most
interesting personality is embowered in trees。 Cats have made their mark
on its lawns； and its owner's love of animals was sharply illustrated by
the sheep…dog which lay on his feet clad in Turkish slippers。 Get up；
Blink！〃
Blink； disturbed by the motion of her master's feet； rose and gazed long
into his face。
〃Look！〃 said Mr。 Lavender；〃 she has the most beautiful eyes in the
world。〃
At this remark； which appeared to him no saner than the others he had
heardso utterly did he misjudge Mr。 Lavender's characterthe nephew
put down the notebook he had taken out of his pocket； and said：
〃Has there ever been anythingerremarkable about your family？〃
〃Indeed； yes；〃 said Mr。 Lavender。 Born of poor but lofty parentage in
the city of Rochester； my father made his living as a publisher； my
mother was a true daughter of the bards； the scion of a stock tracing its
decent from the Druids； her name was originally Jones。〃
〃Ah！〃 said the nephew Sinkin； writing。
〃She has often told me at her knee；〃 continued Mr。 Lavender； 〃that there
was a strong vein of patriotism in her family。〃
〃She did not dieinin〃
〃No； indeed；〃 interrupted Mr。 Lavender； she is still living there。〃
〃Ah！〃 said the nephew。 〃And your brothers and sisters？〃
〃One of my brothers；〃 replied Mr。 Lavender； with pardonable pride； 〃is
the editor of Cud Bits。 The other is a clergyman。〃
〃Eccentric；〃 murmured the nephew absently。 〃Tell me； Mr。 Lavender； do
you find your work a great strain？ Does it〃 and he touched the top
of his head； covered with moist black hair。
Mr。 Lavender sighed。 〃At a time like this；〃 he said； 〃we must all be
prepared to sacrifice our health。 No public man； as you know； can call
his head his own for a moment。 I should count myself singularly lacking
if I stopped to considerersuch a consideration。〃
Considerersuch a consideration；〃 repeated the nephew； jotting it
down。
〃He carries on；〃 murmured Mr。 Lavender； once more identifying himself
with the journal； 〃grappling with the intricacies of this enormous
problem； happy in the thought that nothingnot even reason itselfis
too precious to sacrifice on the altar of his duty to his country。 The
public may rest confident in the knowledge that he will so carry on till
they carry him out on his shield。〃 And aware subconsciously that the
interview could go no further than that phrase； Mr。 Lavender was silent；
gazing up with rather startled eyes。
〃I see；〃 said the nephew； 〃I am very much obliged to you。 Is your dog
safe？〃 For Blink had begun to growl in a low and uneasy manner。
〃The gentlest creature in the world；〃 replied Lavender； 〃and the most
sociable。 I sometimes think；〃 he went on in a changed voice； 〃that we
have all gone mad； and that animals alone retain the sweet reasonableness
which used to be esteemed a virtue in human society。 Don't take that
down；〃 he added quickly； 〃we are all subject to moments of weakness。 It
was just an 'obiter dictum'。〃
〃Make your mind easy；〃 said the nephew； rising； 〃it does not serve my
purpose。 Just one thing； Mr。 Lavender。〃
At this moment Blink； whose instinct had long been aware of some sinister
purpose in this tall and heavy man； whose trousers did not smell of dogs；
seeing him approach too near； bit him gently in the calf。
The nephew started back。 〃She's bitten me！〃 he said； in a hushed voice。
〃My God！〃 ejaculated Mr。 Lavender and falling back again； so stiff was
he。 〃Is it possible？ There must be some good reason。 Blink！〃
Blink wagged her little tail； thrust her nose into his hand； removed it；
and growled again。
〃She is quite well； I assure you；〃 Mr。 Lavender added hastily； 〃her nose
is icy。〃
〃She's bitten me；〃 repeated the nephew； pulling up his trouser leg。
〃There's no mark； but she distinctly bit me。〃
〃Treasure！〃 said Mr。 Lavender； endeavouring to interest him in the dog。
〃Do you notice how dark the rims of her eyes are； and how clear the
whites？ Extraordinarily well bred。 Blink！〃
Aware that she was being talked of Blink cont1inued to be torn between
the desire to wag her tail and to growl。 Unable to make up her mind； she
sighed heavily and fell on her side against her side against her master's
legs。
〃Wonderful with sheep； too；〃 said Mr。 Lavender； 〃at least； she would be
if they would let her。。。。 You should se