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！
gentlemen friends were enjoying themselves at Hymettus； they
resolved upon a little trip； partly for the purpose of looking into
some small investments of their own； and partly for the fun of the
thing。 What funny experiences they had！ How； in particular； one
horrid inquisitive； vulgar wretch had been boring a European fellow
passenger who was going to Hymettus； finally asking him where he
had come from last； and when he answered 〃Hymettus；〃 thought the
man was insulting him
〃But；〃 interrupted the laughing Barker； 〃that passenger may have
been Demorest； who has just come from Greece； and surely Kitty
would have recognized him。〃
Mrs。 Horncastle instantly saw her blunder； and not only retrieved
it； but turned it to account。 Ah； yes！ but by that time poor
Kitty； unused to long journeys and the heat； was utterly fagged
out； was asleep； and perfectly unrecognizable in veils and dusters
on the back seat of the coach。 And this brought her to the point
which was； that she was sorry to say； on arriving； the poor child
was nearly wild with a headache from fatigue and had gone to bed；
and she had promised not to disturb her。
The undisguised amusement； mingled with relief； that had overspread
Barker's face during this lively recital might have pricked the
conscience of Mrs。 Horncastle； but for some reason I fear it did
not。 But it emboldened her to go on。 〃I said I promised her that
I would see she wasn't disturbed； but； of course； now that YOU； her
HUSBAND； have come； if〃
〃Not for worlds；〃 interrupted Barker earnestly。 〃I know poor
Kitty's headaches； and I never disturb her； poor child； except when
I'm thoughtless。〃 And here one of the most thoughtful men in the
world in his sensitive consideration of others beamed at her with
such frank and wonderful eyes that the arch hypocrite before him
with difficulty suppressed a hysterical desire to laugh； and felt
the conscious blood flush her to the root of her hair。 〃You know；〃
he went on； with a sigh； half of relief and half of reminiscence；
〃that I often think I'm a great bother to a clear…headed； sensible
girl like Kitty。 She knows people so much better than I do。 She's
wonderfully equipped for the world； and； you see； I'm only 'lucky；'
as everybody says； and I dare say part of my luck was to have got
her。 I'm very glad she's a friend of yours； you know； for somehow
I fancied always that you were not interested in her； or that you
didn't understand each other until now。 It's odd that nice women
don't always like nice women； isn't it？ I'm glad she was with you；
I was quite startled to learn she was here； and couldn't make it
out。 I thought at first she might have got anxious about our
little Sta； who is with me and the nurse at Hymettus。 But I'm glad
it was only a lark。 I shouldn't wonder；〃 he added； with a laugh；
〃although she always declares she isn't one of those 'doting；
idiotic mothers；' that she found it a little dull without the boy；
for all she thought it was better for ME to take him somewhere for
a change of air。〃
The situation was becoming more difficult for Mrs。 Horncastle than
she had conceived。 There had been a certain excitement in its
first direct appeal to her tact and courage； and even； she
believed； an unselfish desire to save the relations between husband
and wife if she could。 But she had not calculated upon his
unconscious revelations； nor upon their effect upon herself。 She
had concluded to believe that Kitty had； in a moment of folly； lent
herself to this hare…brained escapade； but it now might be possible
that it had been deliberately planned。 Kitty had sent her husband
and child away three weeks before。 Had she told the whole truth？
How long had this been going on？ And if the soulless Van Loo had
deserted her now； was it not； perhaps； the miserable ending of an
intrigue rather than its beginning？ Had she been as great a dupe
of this woman as the husband before her？ A new and double
consciousness came over her that for a moment prevented her from
meeting his honest eyes。 She felt the shame of being an accomplice
mingled with a fierce joy at the idea of a climax that might
separate him from his wife forever。
Luckily he did not notice it； but with a continued sense of relief
threw himself back in his chair； and glancing familiarly round the
walls broke into his youthful laugh。 〃Lord！ how I remember this
room in the old days。 It was Kitty's own private sitting…room； you
know； and I used to think it looked just as fresh and pretty as
she。 I used to think her crayon drawing wonderful； and still more
wonderful that she should have that unnecessary talent when it was
quite enough for her to be just 'Kitty。' You know； don't you； how
you feel at those times when you're quite happy in being inferior〃
He stopped a moment with a sudden recollection that Mrs。 Horncastle's
marriage had been notoriously unhappy。 〃I mean；〃 he went on with a
shy little laugh and an innocent attempt at gallantry which the very
directness of his simple nature made atrociously obvious；〃I mean
what you've made lots of young fellows feel。 There used to be a
picture of Colonel Brigg on the mantelpiece； in full uniform； and
signed by himself 'for Kitty；' and Lord！ how jealous I was of it；
for Kitty never took presents from gentlemen； and nobody even was
allowed in here； though she helped her father all over the hotel。
She was awfully strict in those days；〃 he interpolated； with a
thoughtful look and a half…sigh； 〃but then she wasn't married。 I
proposed to her in this very room！ Lord！ I remember how frightened
I was。〃 He stopped for an instant； and then said with a certain
timidity； 〃Do you mind my telling you something about it？〃
Mrs。 Horncastle was hardly prepared to hear these ingenuous
domestic details； but she smiled vaguely； although she could not
suppress a somewhat impatient movement with her hands。 Even Barker
noticed it； but to her surprise moved a little nearer to her； and
in a half…entreating way said； 〃I hope I don't bore you； but it's
something confidential。 Do you know that she first REFUSED me？〃
Mrs。 Horncastle smiled； but could not resist a slight toss of her
head。 〃I believe they all do when they are sure of a man。〃
〃No！〃 said Barker eagerly； 〃you don't understand。 I proposed to
her because I thought I was rich。 In a foolish moment I thought I
had discovered that some old stocks I had had acquired a fabulous
value。 She believed it； too； but because she thought I was now a
rich man and she only a poor girla mere servant to her father's
guestsshe refused me。 Refused me because she thought I might
regret it in the future； because she would not have it said that
she had taken advantage of my proposal only when I was rich enough
to make it。〃
〃Well？〃 said Mrs。 Horncastle incredulously； gazing straight before
her； 〃and then？〃
〃In about an hour I discovered my error； that my stocks were
worth