pgw.uneasymoney-第27部分

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　While　he　was　trying　to　make　clear　to　himself　just　what　it　was　about　Claire's　voice　that　he　had　not　liked　he　was　granted　the　opportunity　of　analysing　by　means　of　direct　observation　its　failure　to　meet　his　vocal　ideals；　for　at　this　moment　it　spoke　behind　him。
　'Bill！'
　She　was　standing　in　the　road；　her　head　still　covered　with　that　white；　filmy　something　which　had　mended　itself　to　Mr　Pickering's　eyes。　She　was　looking　at　him　in　a　way　that　seemed　somehow　to　strike　a　note　of　appeal。　She　conveyed　an　atmosphere　of　softness　and　repentance；　a　general　suggestion　of　prodigal　daughters　revisiting　old　homesteads。
　'We　seem　always　to　be　meeting　at　gates；　don't　we？'　she　said；　with　a　faint　smile。
　It　was　a　deprecating　smile；　wistful。
　'Bill！'　she　said　again；　and　stopped。　She　laid　her　left　hand　lightly　on　the　gate。　Bill　had　a　sort　of　impression　that　there　was　some　meaning　behind　this　action；　that；　if　he　were　less　of　a　chump　than　Nature　had　made　him；　he　would　at　this　point　receive　some　sort　of　a　revelation。　But；　being　as　Nature　had　made　him；　he　did　not　get　it。
　He　was　one　of　those　men　to　whom　a　girl's　left　hand　is　simply　a　girl's　left　hand；　irrespective　of　whether　it　wears　rings　on　its　third　finger　or　not。
　This　having　bee　evident　to　Claire　after　a　moment　of　silence；　she　withdrew　her　hand　in　rather　a　disappointed　way　and　prepared　to　attack　the　situation　from　another　angle。
　'Bill；　I've　e　to　say　something　to　you。'
　Bill　was　looking　at　her　curiously。　He　could　not　have　believed　that；　even　after　what　had　happened；　he　could　face　her　with　such　plete　detachment；　that　she　could　so　extraordinarily　not　matter。　He　felt　no　resentment　toward　her。　It　was　simply　that　she　had　gone　out　of　his　life。
　'Bill；　I've　been　a　fool。'
　He　made　no　reply　to　this　for　he　could　think　of　no　reply　that　was　sufficiently　polite。　'Yes？'　sounded　as　if　he　meant　to　say　that　that　was　just　what　he　had　expected。　'Really？'　had　a　sarcastic　ring。　He　fell　back　on　facial　expression；　to　imply　that　he　was　interested　and　that　she　might　tell　all。
　Claire　looked　away　down　the　road　and　began　to　speak　in　a　low；　quick　voice：
　'I've　been　a　fool　all　along。　I　lost　you　through　being　a　fool。　When　I　saw　you　dancing　with　that　girl　in　the　restaurant　I　didn't　stop　to　think。　I　was　angry。　I　was　jealous。　I　ought　to　have　trusted　you；　butOh；　well；　I　was　a　fool。'
　'My　dear　girl；　you　had　a　perfect　right'
　'I　hadn't。　I　was　an　idiot。　Bill；　I've　e　to　ask　you　if　you　can't　forgive　me。'
　'I　wish　you　wouldn't　talk　like　thatthere's　nothing　to　forgive。'
　The　look　which　Claire　gave　him　in　answer　to　this　was　meek　and　affectionate；　but　inwardly　she　was　wishing　that　she　could　bang　his　head　against　the　gate。　His　slowness　was　maddening。　Long　before　this　he　should　have　leaped　into　the　road　in　order　to　fold　her　in　his　arms。　Her　voice　shook　with　the　effort　she　had　to　make　to　keep　it　from　sharpness。
　'I　mean；　is　it　too　late？　I　mean；　can　you　really　forgive　me？　Oh；　Bill'she　stopped　herself　by　the　fraction　of　a　second　from　adding　'you　idiot''can't　we　be　the　same　again　to　each　other？　Can't　wepretend　all　this　has　never　happened？'
　Exasperating　as　Bill's　wooden　failure　to　play　the　scene　in　the　spirit　in　which　her　imagination　had　conceived　it　was　to　Claire；　several　excuses　may　be　offered　for　him：　He　had　opened　the　evening　with　a　shattering　blow　at　his　faith　in　woman。　He　had　walked　twenty　miles　at　a　rapid　pace。　He　had　heard　shots　and　found　a　corpse；　and　carried　the　latter　by　the　tail　across　country。　Finally；　he　had　had　the　stunning　shock　of　discovering　that　Elizabeth　Boyd　loved　him。　He　was　not　himself。　He　found　a　difficulty　in　concentrating。　With　the　result　that；　in　answer　to　this　appeal　from　a　beautiful　girl　whom　he　had　once　imagined　that　he　loved；　all　he　could　find　to　say　was：　'How　do　you　mean？'
　Claire；　never　an　adept　at　patience；　just　succeeded　in　swallowing　the　remark　that　sprang　into　her　mind。　It　was　incredible　to　her　that　a　man　could　exist　who　had　so　little　intuition。　She　had　not　anticipated　the　necessity　of　being　pelled　to　put　the　substance　of　her　meaning　in　so　many　blunt　words；　but　it　seemed　that　only　so　could　she　make　him　understand。
　'I　mean；　can't　we　be　engaged　again；　Bill？'
　Bill's　overtaxed　brain　turned　one　convulsive　hand…spring；　and　came　to　rest　with　a　sense　of　having　dislocated　itself。　This　was　too　much。　This　was　not　right。　No　fellow　at　the　end　of　a　hard　evening　ought　to　have　to　grapple　with　this　sort　of　thing。　What　on　earth　did　she　mean；　springing　questions　like　that　on　him？　How　could　they　be　engaged？　She　was　going　to　marry　someone　else；　and　so　was　he。　Something　of　these　thoughts　he　managed　to　put　into　words：
　'But　you're　engaged　to'
　'I've　broken　my　engagement　with　Mr　Pickering。'
　'Great　Scot！　When？'
　'To…night。　I　found　out　his　true　character。　He　is　cruel　and　treacherous。　Something　happenedit　may　sound　nothing　to　you；　but　it　gave　me　an　insight　into　what　he　really　was。　Polly　Wetherby　had　a　little　monkey；　and　just　because　it　bit　Mr　Pickering　he　shot　it。'
　'Pickering！'
　'Yes。　He　wasn't　the　sort　of　man　I　should　have　expected　to　do　a　mean；　cruel　thing　like　that。　It　sickened　me。　I　gave　him　back　his　ring　then　and　there。　Oh；　what　a　relief　it　was！　What　a　fool　I　was　ever　to　have　got　engaged　to　such　a　man。'
　Bill　was　puzzled。　He　was　one　of　those　simple　men　who　take　their　fellows　on　trust；　but　who；　if　once　that　trust　is　shattered；　can　never　recover　it。　Like　most　simple　men；　he　was　tenacious　of　ideas　when　he　got　them；　and　the　belief　that　Claire　was　playing　fast　and　loose　was　not　lightly　to　be　removed　from　his　mind。　He　had　found　her　out　during　his　self…munion　that　night；　and　he　could　never　believe　her　again。　He　had　the　feeling　that　there　was　something　behind　what　she　was　saying。　He　could　not　put　his　finger　on　the　clue；　but　that　there　was　a　clue　he　was　certain。
　'I　only　got　engaged　to　him　out　of　pique。　I　was　angry　with　you；　andWell；　that's　how　it　happened。'
　Still　Bill　could　not　believe。　It　was　plausible。　It　sounded　true。　And　yet　some　instinct　told　him　that　it　was　not　true。　And　while　he　waited；　perplexed；　Claire　made　a　false　step。
　The　thing　had　been　so　close　to　the　top　of　her　mind　ever　since　she　had　e　to　the　knowledge　of　it　that　it　had　been　hard　for　her　to　keep　it　down。　Now　she　could　keep　it　down　no　longer。
　'How　wonderful　about　old　Mr　Nutbe；　Bill！'　she　said。
　A　vast　relief　rolled　over　Bill。　Despite　his　instinct；　he　had　been　wavering。　But　now　he　understood。　He　had　found　the　clue。
　'You　got　my　letter；　then？'
　'Yes；　it　was　forwarded　on　from　the　theatre。　I　got　it　to…night。'
　Too　late　she　realized　what　she　had　said　and　the　construction　that　an　intelligent　man　would　put　on　it。　Then　she　reflected　that　Bill　was　not　an　intelligent　man。　She　shot　a　swift　glance　at　him。　To　all　appearances　he　had　suspected　nothing。
　'It　went　all　over　the　place；'　she　hurried　on。　'The　people　at　the　Portsmouth　theatre　sent　it　to　the　London　office；　who　sent　it　home；　and　mother　mailed　it　on　to　me。'
　'I　see。'
　There　was　a　silence。　Claire　drew　a　step　nearer。
　'Bill！'　she　said　softly。
　Bill　shut　his　eyes。　The　moment　had　e　which　he　had　dreaded。　Not　even　the　thought　that　she　was　crooked；　that　she　had　been　playing　with　him；　could　make　it　any　better。　She　was　a　woman　and　he　was　a　man。　That　was　all　that　mattered；　and　nothing　could　alter　it。
　'I'm　sorry；'　he　said。　'It's　impossible。'
　Claire　stared　at　him　in　amazement。　She　had　not　been　prepared　for　this。　He　met　her　eyes；　but　every　nerve　in　his　body　was　protesting。
　'Bill！'
　'I'm　sorry。
　'But；　Bill！'
　He　set　his　teeth。　It　was　just　as　bad　as　he　had　thought　it　would　be。
　'But；　Bill；　I've　explained。　I've　told　you　how'
　'I　know。'
　Claire's　eyes　opened　wide。
　'I　thought　you　loved　me。'　She　came　closer。　She　pulled　at　his　sleeve。　Her　voice　took　on　a　note　of　soft　raillery。　'Don't　be　absurd；　Bill！　You　mustn't　behave　like　a　sulky　schoolboy。　It　isn't　like　you；　this。　You　surely　don't　want　me　to　humble　myself　more　than　I　have　done。'　She　gave　a　little　laugh。　'Why；　Bill；　I'm　proposing　to　you！　I　know　I've　treated　you　badly；　but　I've　explained　why。　You　must　be　just　enough　to　see　that　it　wasn't　altogether　my　fault。　I'm　only　human。　And　if　I　made　a　mistake　I've　done　all　I　can　do　to　undo　it。　I'
　'Claire；　listen：　I'm　engaged！'
　She　fell　back。　For　the　first　time　the　sense　of　defeat　came　to　her。　She　had　anticipated　many　things。　She　had　looked　for　difficulties。　But　she　had　not　expected　this。　A　feeling　of　cold　fury　surged　over　her　at　the　way　fate　had　tricked　her。　She　had　gambled　recklessly　on　her　power　of　fascination；　and　she　had　lost。
　Mr　Pickering；　at　that　moment　brooding　in　solitude　in　the　smoking…room　of　Lady　Wetherby's　house；　would　have　been　relieved　could　he　have　known　how　wistfully　she　was　thinking　of　him。
　'You're　engaged？'
　'Yes。'
　'Well！'　She　forced　another　laugh。　'How　veryrapid　of　you！　To　whom？'
　'To　Elizabeth　Boyd。'
　'I'm　afraid　I'm　very　ignorant；　but　who　is　Elizabeth　Boyd？　The　ornate　lady　you　were　dancing　with　at　the　restaurant？'
　'No！'
　'Who　then？'
　'She　is　old　Ira　Nutbe's　niece。　The　money　ought　to　have　been　left　to　her。　That　was　why　I　came　over　to　America；　to　see　if　I　could　do　anything　for　her。'
　'And　you're　going　to　marry　her？　How　very　romanticand　convenient！　What　an　excellent　arrangement　for　her。　Which　of　you　suggested　it？'
　Bill　drew　in　a　deep　breath。　All　this　was；　he　supposed；　unavoidable；　but　it　was　not　pleasant。
　Claire　suddenly　abandoned　her　pose　of　cool　amusement。　The　fire　behind　it　blazed　through。
　'You　fool！'　she　cried　passionately。　'Are　you　blind？　Can't　you　see　that　this　girl　is　simply　after　your　money？　A　child　could　see　it。'
　Bill　looked　at　her　steadily。
　'You're　quite　wrong。　She　doesn't　know　who　I　am。'
　'Doesn't　know　who　you　are？　What　do　you　mean？　She　must　know　by　this　time　that　her　uncle　left　his　money　to　you。'
　'But　she　doesn't　know　that　I　am　Lord　Dawlish。　I　came　to　America　under　another　name。　She　knows　me　as　Chalmers。'
　Claire　was　silent　for　a　moment。
　'How　did　you　get　to　know　her？'　she　asked；　more　quietly。
　'I　met　her　brother　by　chance　in　New　York。'
　'By　chance！'
　'Quite　by　chance。　A　man　I　knew　in　England　lent　me　his　rooms　in　New　York。　He　happened　to　be　a　friend　of　Boyd's。　Boyd　came　to　call　on　him　one　night；　and　found　me。'
　'Odd！　Had　your　mutual　friend　been　away　from　New　York　long？'
　'Some　months。'
　'And　in　all　that　time　Mr　Boyd　had　not　discovered　that　he　had　left。　They　must　have　been　great　friends！　What　happened　then？'
　'Boyd　invited　me　down　here。'
　'Down　here？'
　'They　live　in　this　house。'
　'Is　Miss　Boyd　the　girl　who　keeps　the　bee…farm？'
　'She　is。'
　Claire's　eyes　suddenly　lit　up。　She　began　to　speak　in　a　louder　voice：
　'Bill；　you're　an　infant；　a　perfect　infant！　Of　course；　she's　after　your　money。　Do　you　really　imagine　for　one　instant　that　this　Elizabeth　Boyd　of　yours　and　her　brother　don't　know　as　well　as　I　do　that　you　are　really　Lord　Dawlish？　I　always　thought　you　had　a　trustful　nature！　You　tell　me　the　brother　met　you　by　chance。　Chance！　And　invited　you　down　here。　I　bet　he　did！　He　knew　his　business！　And　now　you're　going　to　marry　the　girl　so　that　they　will　get　the　money　after　all！　Splendid！　Oh；　Bill；　you're　a　wonderful；　wonderful　creature！　Your　innocence　is　touching。'
　She　swung　round。
　'Good　night；'　she　called　over　her　shoulder。
　He　could　hear　her　laughing　as　she　went　down