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第11章

the pupil-第11章

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was divided between the impulse to show his present charge as a

vain; a wasted incentive; and the sense of something in them that

publicity would profane。  The opulent youth went up in due course

and failed to pass; but it seemed to add to the presumption that

brilliancy was not expected of him all at once that his parents;

condoning the lapse; which they good…naturedly treated as little as

possible as if it were Pemberton's; should have sounded the rally

again; begged the young coach to renew the siege。



The young coach was now in a position to lend Mrs。 Moreen three

louis; and he sent her a post…office order even for a larger

amount。  In return for this favour he received a frantic scribbled

line from her:  〃Implore you to come back instantly … Morgan dread

fully ill。〃  They were on there rebound; once more in Paris … often

as Pemberton had seen them depressed he had never seen them crushed

… and communication was therefore rapid。  He wrote to the boy to

ascertain the state of his health; but awaited the answer in vain。

He accordingly; after three days; took an abrupt leave of the

opulent youth and; crossing the Channel; alighted at the small

hotel; in the quarter of the Champs Elysees; of which Mrs。 Moreen

had given him the address。  A deep if dumb dissatisfaction with

this lady and her companions bore him company:  they couldn't be

vulgarly honest; but they could live at hotels; in velvety

entresols; amid a smell of burnt pastilles; surrounded by the most

expensive city in Europe。  When he had left them in Venice it was

with an irrepressible suspicion that something was going to happen;

but the only thing that could have taken place was again their

masterly retreat。  〃How is he? where is he?〃 he asked of Mrs。

Moreen; but before she could speak these questions were answered by

the pressure round hid neck of a pair of arms; in shrunken sleeves;

which still were perfectly capable of an effusive young foreign

squeeze。



〃Dreadfully ill … I don't see it!〃 the young man cried。  And then

to Morgan:  〃Why on earth didn't you relieve me?  Why didn't you

answer my letter?〃



Mrs。 Moreen declared that when she wrote he was very bad; and

Pemberton learned at the same time from the boy that he had

answered every letter he had received。  This led to the clear

inference that Pemberton's note had been kept from him so that the

game practised should not be interfered with。  Mrs。 Moreen was

prepared to see the fact exposed; as Pemberton saw the moment he

faced her that she was prepared for a good many other things。  She

was prepared above all to maintain that she had acted from a sense

of duty; that she was enchanted she had got him over; whatever they

might say; and that it was useless of him to pretend he didn't know

in all his bones that his place at such a time was with Morgan。  He

had taken the boy away from them and now had no right to abandon

him。  He had created for himself the gravest responsibilities and

must at least abide by what he had done。



〃Taken him away from you?〃 Pemberton exclaimed indignantly。



〃Do it … do it for pity's sake; that's just what I want。  I can't

stand THIS … and such scenes。  They're awful frauds … poor dears!〃

These words broke from Morgan; who had intermitted his embrace; in

a key which made Pemberton turn quickly to him and see that he had

suddenly seated himself; was breathing in great pain; and was very

pale。



〃NOW do you say he's not in a state; my precious pet?〃 shouted his

mother; dropping on her knees before him with clasped hands; but

touching him no more than if he had been a gilded idol。  〃It will

pass … it's only for an instant; but don't say such dreadful

things!〃



〃I'm all right … all right;〃 Morgan panted to Pemberton; whom he

sat looking up at with a strange smile; his hands resting on either

side of the sofa。



〃Now do you pretend I've been dishonest; that I've deceived?〃 Mrs。

Moreen flashed at Pemberton as she got up。



〃It isn't HE says it; it's I!〃 the boy returned; apparently easier;

but sinking back against the wall; while his restored friend; who

had sat down beside him; took his hand and bent over him。



〃Darling child; one does what one can; there are so many things to

consider;〃 urged Mrs。 Moreen。  〃It's his PLACE … his only place。

You see YOU think it is now。〃



〃Take me away … take me away;〃 Morgan went on; smiling to Pemberton

with his white face。



〃Where shall I take you; and how … oh HOW; my boy?〃 the young man

stammered; thinking of the rude way in which his friends in London

held that; for his convenience; with no assurance of prompt return;

he had thrown them over; of the just resentment with which they

would already have called in a successor; and of the scant help to

finding fresh employment that resided for him in the grossness of

his having failed to pass his pupil。



〃Oh we'll settle that。  You used to talk about it;〃 said Morgan。

〃If we can only go all the rest's a detail。〃



〃Talk about it as much as you like; but don't think you can attempt

it。  Mr。 Moreen would never consent … it would be so VERY hand…to…

mouth;〃 Pemberton's hostess beautifully explained to him。  Then to

Morgan she made it clearer:  〃It would destroy our peace; it would

break our hearts。  Now that he's back it will be all the same

again。  You'll have your life; your work and your freedom; and

we'll all be happy as we used to be。  You'll bloom and grow

perfectly well; and we won't have any more silly experiments; will

we?  They're too absurd。  It's Mr。 Pemberton's place … every one in

his place。  You in yours; your papa in his; me in mine … n'est…ce

pas; cheri?  We'll all forget how foolish we've been and have

lovely times。〃



She continued to talk and to surge vaguely about the little draped

stuffy salon while Pemberton sat with the boy; whose colour

gradually came back; and she mixed up her reasons; hinting that

there were going to be changes; that the other children might

scatter (who knew? … Paula had her ideas) and that then it might be

fancied how much the poor old parent…birds would want the little

nestling。  Morgan looked at Pemberton; who wouldn't let him move;

and Pemberton knew exactly how he felt at hearing himself called a

little nestling。  He admitted that he had had one or two bad days;

but he protested afresh against the wrong of his mother's having

made them the ground of an appeal to poor Pemberton。  Poor

Pemberton could laugh now; apart from the comicality of Mrs。

Moreen's mustering so much philosophy for her defence … she seemed

to shake it out of her agitated petticoats; which knocked over the

light gilt chairs … so little did their young companion; MARKED;

unmistakeably marked at the best; strike him as qualified to

repudiate any advantage。



He himself was in for it at any rate。  He should have Morgan on his

hands again indefinitely; though indeed he saw the lad had a

private theory to produce which would be intended to smooth this

down。  He was obliged to him for it in advance; but the suggested

amendment didn't keep his heart rather from sinking; any more than

it prevented him from accepting the prospect on the spot; with some

confidence moreover that he should do so even better if he could

have a little supper。  Mrs。 Moreen threw out more hints about the

changes that were to be looked for; but she was such a mixture of

smiles and shudders … she confessed she was very nervous … that he

couldn't tell if she were in high feather or only in hysterics。  If

the family was really at last going to pieces why shouldn't she

recognise the necessity of pitching Morgan into some sort of

lifeboat?  This presumption was fostered by the fact that they were

established in luxurious quarters in the capital of pleasure; that

was exactly where they naturally WOULD be established in view of

going to pieces。  Moreover didn't she mention that Mr。 Moreen and

the others were enjoying them

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