the man between-第1章

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！



The　Man　Between

by　Amelia　E。　Barr


PART　FIRST

O　LOVE　WILL　VENTURE　IN！



THE　MAN　BETWEEN

CHAPTER　I

THE　thing　that　I　know　least　about　is　my　beginning。　For　it　is　possible　to　introduce　Ethel　Rawdon　in　so　many　picturesque　ways　that　the　choice　is　embarrassing；　and　forces　me　to　the　conclusion　that　the　actual　circumstances；　though　commonplace；　may　be　the　most　suitable。　Certainly　the　events　that　shape　our　lives　are　seldom　ushered　in　with　pomp　or　ceremony；　they　steal　upon　us　unannounced；　and　begin　their　work　without　giving　any　premonition　of　their　importance。

Consequently　Ethel　had　no　idea　when　she　returned　home　one　night　from　a　rather　stupid　entertainment　that　she　was　about　to　open　a　new　and　important　chapter　of　her　life。　Hitherto　that　life　had　been　one　of　the　sweetest　and　simplest　characterthe　lessons　and　sports　of　childhood　and　girlhood　had　claimed　her　nineteen　years；　and　Ethel　was　just　at　that　wonderful　age　when；　the　brook　and　the　river　having　met；　she　was　feeling　the　first　swell　of　those　irresistible　tides　which　would　carry　her　day　by　day　to　the　haven　of　all　days。

It　was　Saturday　night　in　the　January　of　1900；　verging　toward　twelve　o'clock。　When　she　entered　her　room；　she　saw　that　one　of　the　windows　was　open；　and　she　stood　a　moment　or　two　at　it；　looking　across　the　straight　miles　of　white　lights；　in　whose　illumined　shadows　thousands　of　sleepers　were　holding　their　lives　in　pause。

〃It　is　not　New　York　at　all；〃　she　whispered；　〃it　is　some　magical　city　that　I　have　seen；　but　have　never　trod。　It　will　vanish　about　six　o'clock　in　the　morning；　and　there　will　be　only　common　streets；　full　of　common　people。　Of　course；〃　and　here　she　closed　the　window　and　leisurely　removed　her　opera　cloak；　〃of　course；　this　is　only　dreaming；　but　to　dream　waking；　or　to　dream　sleeping；　is　very　pleasant。　In　dreams　we　can　have　men　as　we　like　them；　and　women　as　we　want　them；　and　make　all　the　world　happy　and　beautiful。〃

She　was　in　no　hurry　of　feeling　or　movement。　She　had　been　in　a　crowd　for　some　hours；　and　was　glad　to　be　quite　alone　and　talk　to　herself　a　little。　It　was　also　so　restful　to　gradually　relinquish　all　the　restraining　gauds　of　fashionable　attire；　and　as　she　leisurely　performed　these　duties；　she　entered　into　conversation　with　her　own　hearttalked　over　with　it　the　events　of　the　past　week；　and　decided　that　its　fretless　days；　full　of　good　things；　had　been；　from　the　beginning　to　the　end；　sweet　as　a　cup　of　new　milk。　For　a　woman's　heart　is　very　talkative；　and　requires　little　to　make　it　eloquent　in　its　own　way。

In　the　midst　of　this　intimate　companionship　she　turned　her　head；　and　saw　two　letters　lying　upon　a　table。　She　rose　and　lifted　them。　One　was　an　invitation　to　a　studio　reception；　and　she　let　it　flutter　indeterminately　from　her　hand；　the　other　was　both　familiar　and　appealing；　none　of　her　correspondents　but　Dora　Denning　used　that　peculiar　shade　of　blue　paper；　and　she　instantly　began　to　wonder　why　Dora　had　written　to　her。

〃I　saw　her　yesterday　afternoon；〃　she　reflected；　〃and　she　told　me　everything　she　had　to　telland　what　does　she…mean　by　such　a　tantalizing　message　as　this？　‘Dearest　Ethel：　I　have　the　most　extraordinary　news。　Come　to　me　immediately。　Dora。'　How　exactly　like　Dora！〃　she　commented。　〃Come　to　me　im…　mediatelywhether　you　are　in　bed　or　asleep　whether　you　are　sick　or　wellwhether　it　is　midnight　or　high　nooncome　to　me　immediately。　Well；　Dora；　I　am　going　to　sleep　now；　and　to…morrow　is　Sunday；　and　I　never　know　what　view　father　is　going　to　take　of　Sunday。　He　may　ask　me　to　go　to　church　with　him；　and　he　may　not。　He　may　want　me　to　drive　in　the　afternoon；　and　again　he　may　not；　but　Sunday　is　father's　home　day；　and　Ruth　and　I　make　a　point　of　obliging　him　in　regard　to　it。　That　is　one　of　our　family　principles；　and　a　girl　ought　to　have　a　few　principles　of　conduct　involving　self…denial。　Aunt　Ruth　says；　‘Life　cannot　stand　erect　without　self…denial；'　and　aunt　is　usually　rightbut　I　do　wonder　what　Dora　wants！　I　cannot　imagine　what　extraordinary　news　has　come。　I　must　try　and　see　her　to…morrowit　may　be　difficultbut　I　must　make　the　effort〃and　with　this　satisfying　resolution　she　easily　fell　asleep。

When　she　awoke　the　church　bells　were　ringing　and　she　knew　that　her　father　and　aunt　would　have　breakfasted。　The　feet　did　not　trouble　her。　It　was　an　accidental　sleep…over；　she　had　not　planned　it；　and　circumstances　would　take　care　of　themselves。　In　any　case；　she　had　no　fear　of　rebuke。　No　one　was　ever　cross　with　Ethel。　It　was　a　matter　of　pretty　general　belief　that　whatever　Ethel　did　was　just　right。　So　she　dressed　herself　becomingly　in　a　cloth　suit；　and；　with　her　plumed　hat　on　her　head；　went　down　to　see　what　the　day　had　to　offer　her。

〃The　first　thing　is　coffee；　and　then；　all　being　agreeable；　Dora。　I　shall　not　look　further　ahead；〃　she　thought。

As　she　entered　the　room　she　called　〃Good　morning！〃　and　her　voice　was　like　the　voice　of　the　birds　when　they　call　〃Spring！〃；　and　her　face　was　radiant　with　smiles；　and　the　touch　of　her　lips　and　the　clasp　of　her　hand　warm　with　love　and　life；　and　her　father　and　aunt　forgot　that　she　was　late；　and　that　her　breakfast　was　yet　to　order。

She　took　up　the　reproach　herself。　〃I　am　so　sorry；　Aunt　Ruth。　I　only　want　a　cup　of　coffee　and　a　roll。〃

〃My　dear；　you　cannot　go　without　a　proper　breakfast。　Never　mind　the　hour。　What　would　you　like　best？〃

〃You　are　so　good；　Ruth。　I　should　like　a　nice　breakfasta　breast　of　chicken　and　mushrooms；　and　some　hot　muffins　and　marmalade　would　do。　How　comfortable　you　look　here！　Father；　you　are　buried　in　newspapers。　Is　anyone　going　to　church？〃

Ruth　ordered　the　desired　breakfast　and　Mr。　Rawdon　took　out　his　watch〃I　am　afraid　you　have　delayed　us　too　long　this　morning；　Ethel。〃

〃Am　I　to　be　the　scapegoat？　Now；　I　do　not　believe　anyone　wanted　to　go　to　church。　Ruth　had　her　book；　you；　the　newspapers。　It　is　warm　and　pleasant　here；　it　is　cold　and　windy　outside。　I　know　what　confession　would　be　made；　if　honesty　were　the　fashion。〃

〃Well；　my　little　girl；　honesty　is　the　fashion　in　this　house。　I　believe　in　going　to　church。　Religion　is　the　Mother　of　Duty；　and　we　should　all　make　a　sad　mess　of　life　without　duty。　Is　not　that　so；　Ruth？〃

〃Truth　itself；　Edward；　but　religion　is　not　going　to　church　and　listening　to　sermons。　Those　who　built　the　old　cathedrals　of　Europe　had　no　idea　that　sitting　in　comfortable　pews　and　listening　to　some　man　talking　was　worshiping　God。　Those　great　naves　were　intended　for　men　and　women　to　stand　or　kneel　in　before　God。　And　there　were　no　high　or　low　standing　or　kneeling　places；　all　were　on　a　level　before　Him。　It　is　our　modern　Protestantism　which　has　brought　in　lazy　lolling　in　cushioned　pews；　and　the　gallery；　which　makes　a　church　as　like　a　playhouse　as　possible！〃

〃What　are　you　aiming　at；　Ruth？〃

〃I　only　meant　to　say；　I　would　like　going　to　church　much　better　if　we　went　solely　to　praise　God；　and　entreat　His　mercy。　I　do　not　care　to　hear　sermons。〃

〃My　dear　Ruth；　sermons　are　a　large　fact　in　our　social　economy。　When　a　million　or　two　are　preached　every　year；　they　have　a　strong　claim　on　our　attention。　To　use　a　trade　phrase；　sermons　are　firm；　and　I　believe　a　moderate　tax　on　them　would　yield　an　astonishing　income。〃

〃See　how　you　talk　of　them；　Edward；　as　if　they　were　a　commercial　commodity。　If　you　respected　them〃

〃I　do。　I　grant　them　a　steady　pneumatic　pressure　in　the　region　of　morals；　and　even　faith。　Picture　to　yourself；　Ruth；　New　York　without　sermons。　The　dear　old　city　would　be　like　a　ship　without　ballast；　heeling　over　with　every　wind；　and　letting　in　the　waters　of　immorality　and　scepticism。　Remove　this　pulpit　balance　just　for　one　week　from　New　York　City；　and　where　should　we　be？〃

〃Well　then；〃　said　Ethel；　〃the　clergy　ought　to　give　New　York　a　first…rate　article　in　sermons；　either　of　home　or　foreign　manufacture。　New　York　expects　the　very　best　of　everything；　and　when　she　gets　it；　she　opens　her　heart　and　her　pocketbook　enjoys　it；　and　pays　for　it。〃

〃That　is　the　truth；　Ethel。　I　was　thinking　of　your　grandmother　Rawdon。　You　have　your　hat　onare　you　going　to　see　her？〃

〃I　am　going　to　see　Dora　Denning。　I　had　an　urgent　note　from　her　last　night。　She　says　she　has　‘extraordinary　news'　and　begs　me　to　‘come　to　her　immediately。'　I　cannot　imagine　what　her　news　is。　I　saw　her　Friday　afternoon。〃

〃She　ha