the yellow god-第21章

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with　aching　eyes　he　shut　up　the　stained　and　tattered　volume；　and　at
last；　just　as　the　day　was　breaking；　fell　asleep。

At　eleven　o'clock　on　that　same　morning；　for　he　had　slept　late；　Alan
rose　from　his　breakfast　and　went　to　smoke　his　pipe　at　the　open　door　of
the　beautiful　old　hall　in　Yarleys　that　was　clad　with　brown　Elizabethan
oak　for　which　any　dealer　would　have　given　hundreds　of　pounds。　It　was　a
charming　morning；　one　of　those　that　comes　to　us　sometimes　in　an
English　April　when　the　air　is　soft　like　that　of　Italy　and　the　smell　of
the　earth　rises　like　that　of　incense；　and　little　clouds　float　idly
across　a　sky　of　tender　blue。　Standing　thus　he　looked　out　upon　the　park
where　the　elms　already　showed　a　tinge　of　green　and　the　ash…buds　were
coal　black。　Only　the　walnuts　and　the　great　oaks；　some　of　them　pollards
of　a　thousand　years　of　age；　remained　stark　and　stern　in　their　winter
dress。

Alan　was　in　a　reflective　mood　and　involuntarily　began　to　wonder　how
many　of　his　forefathers　had　stood　in　that　same　spot　upon　such　April
mornings　and　looked　out　upon　those　identical　trees　wakening　in　the
breath　of　spring。　Only　the　trees　and　the　landscape　knew；　those　trees
which　had　seen　every　one　of　them　borne　to　baptism；　to　bridal　and　to
burial。　The　men　and　women　themselves　were　forgotten。　Their　portraits；
each　in　the　garb　of　his　or　her　generation；　hung　here　and　there　upon
the　walls　of　the　ancient　house　which　once　they　had　owned　or　inhabited；
but　who　remembered　anything　of　them　to…day？　In　many　cases　their　names
even　were　lost；　for　believing　that　they；　so　important　in　their　time；
could　never　sink　into　oblivion；　they　had　not　thought　it　necessary　to
record　them　upon　their　pictures。

And　now　the　thing　was　coming　to　an　end。　Unless　in　this　way　or　in　that
he　could　save　it；　what　remained　of　the　old　place；　for　the　outlying
lands　had　long　since　been　sold；　must　go　to　the　hammer　and　become　the
property　of　some　pushing　and　successful　person　who　desired　to　found　a
family；　and　perhaps　in　days　to　be　would　claim　these　very　pictures　that
hung　upon　the　walls　as　those　of　his　own　ancestors；　declaring　that　he
had　brought　in　the　estate　because　he　was　a　relative　of　the　ancient　and
ruined　race。

Well；　it　was　the　way　of　the　world；　and　perhaps　it　must　be　so；　but　the
thought　of　it　made　Alan　Vernon　sad。　If　he　could　have　continued　that
business；　it　might　have　been　otherwise。　By　this　hour　his　late
partners；　Sir　Robert　Aylward　and　Mr。　Champers…Haswell；　were　doubtless
sitting　in　their　granite　office　in　the　City；　probably　in　consultation
with　Lord　Specton；　who　had　taken　his　place　upon　the　Board　of　the　great
Company　which　was　being　subscribed　that　day。　No　doubt　applications　for
shares　were　pouring　in　by　the　early　posts　and　by　telegram；　and　from
time　to　time　Mr。　Jeffreys　respectfully　reported　their　number　and
amount；　while　Sir　Robert　looked　unconcerned　and　Mr。　Haswell　rubbed　his
hands　and　whistled　cheerfully。　Almost　he　could　envy　them；　these　men
who　were　realizing　great　fortunes　amidst　the　bustle　and　excitement　of
that　fierce　financial　life；　whilst　he　stood　penniless　and　stared　at
the　trees　and　the　ewes　which　wandered　among　them　with　their　lambs；　he
who；　after　all　his　work；　was　but　a　failure。　With　a　sigh　he　turned　away
to　fetch　his　cap　and　go　out　walkingthere　was　a　tenant　whom　he　must
see；　a　shifty；　new…fangled　kind　of　man　who　was　always　clamouring　for
fresh　buildings　and　reductions　in　his　rent。　How　was　he　to　pay　for　more
buildings？　He　must　put　him　off；　or　let　him　go。

Just　then　a　sharp　sound　caught　his　ear；　that　of　an　electric　bell。　It
came　from　the　telephone　which；　since　he　had　been　a　member　of　a　City
firm；　he　had　caused　to　be　put　into　Yarleys　at　considerable　expense　in
order　that　he　might　be　able　to　communicate　with　the　office　in　London。
〃Were　they　calling　him　up　from　force　of　habit？〃　he　wondered。　He　went
to　the　instrument　which　was　fixed　in　a　little　room　he　used　as　a　study；
and　took　down　the　receiver。

〃Who　is　it？〃　he　asked。　〃I　am　Yarleys。　Alan　Vernon。〃

〃And　I　am　Barbara；〃　came　the　answer。　〃How　are　you；　dear？　Did　you　sleep
well？〃

〃No；　very　badly。〃

〃NervesAlan；　you　have　got　nerves。　Now　although　I　had　a　worse　day
than　you　did；　I　went　to　bed　at　nine；　and　protected　by　a　perfect
conscience；　slumbered　till　nine　this　morning；　exactly　twelve　hours。
Isn't　it　clever　of　me　to　think　of　this　telephone；　which　is　more　than
you　would　ever　have　done？　My　uncle　has　departed　to　London　vowing　that
no　letter　from　you　shall　enter　this　house；　but　he　forgot　that　there　is
a　telephone　in　every　room；　and　in　fact　at　this　moment　I　am　speaking
round　by　his　office　within　a　yard　or　two　of　his　head。　However；　he
can't　hear；　so　that　doesn't　matter。　My　blessing　be　on　the　man　who
invented　telephones；　which　hitherto　I　have　always　thought　an　awful
nuisance。　Are　you　feeling　cheerful；　Alan？〃

〃Very　much　the　reverse；〃　he　answered；　〃never　was　more　gloomy　in　my
life；　not　even　when　I　thought　I　had　to　die　within　six　hours　of
blackwater　fever。　Also　I　have　lots　that　I　want　to　talk　to　you　about
and　I　can't　do　it　at　the　end　of　this　confounded　wire　that　your　uncle
may　be　tapping。〃

〃I　thought　it　might　be　so；〃　answered　Barbara；　〃so　I　just　rang　you　up
to　wish　you　good…morning　and　to　say　that　I　am　coming　over　in　the　motor
to　lunch　with　my　maid　Snell　as　chaperone。　All　right；　don't
remonstrate；　I　/am　coming/　over　to　lunchI　can't　hear　younever　mind
what　people　will　say。　I　am　coming　over　to　lunch　at　one　o'clock；　mind
you　are　in。　Good…bye；　I　don't　want　much　to　eat；　but　have　something　for
Snell　and　the　chauffeur。　Good…bye。〃

Then　the　wire　went　dead；　nor　could　all　Alan's　〃Hello's〃　and　〃Are　you
there's？〃　extract　another　syllable。

Having　ordered　the　best　luncheon　that　his　old　housekeeper　could
provide　Alan　went　off　for　his　walk　in　much　better　spirits；　which　were
further　improved　by　his　success　in　persuading　the　tenant　to　do　without
the　new　buildings　for　another　year。　In　a　year；　he　reflected；　anything
might　happen。　Then　he　returned　by　the　wood　where　a　number　of　new…
felled　oaks　lay　ready　for　barking。　This　was　not　a　cheerful　sight；　it
seemed　so　cruel　to　kill　the　great　trees　just　as　they　were　pushing
their　buds　for　another　summer　of　life。　But　he　consoled　himself　by
recalling　that　they　had　been　too　crowded　and　that　the　timber　was
really　needed　on　the　estate。　As　he　reached　the　house　again　carrying　a
bunch　of　white　violets　which　he　had　plucked　in　a　sheltered　place　for
Barbara；　he　perceived　a　motor　travelling　at　much　more　than　the　legal
speed　up　the　walnut　avenue　which　was　the　pride　of　the　place。　In　it　sat
that　young　lady　herself；　and　her　maid；　Snell；　a　middle…aged　woman　with
whom；　as　it　chanced；　he　was　on　very　good　terms；　as　once；　at　some
trouble　to　himself；　he　had　been　able　to　do　her　a　kindness。

The　motor　pulled　up　at　the　front　door　and　out　of　it　sprang　Barbara；
laughing　pleasantly　and　looking　fresh　and　charming　as　the　spring
itself。

〃There　will　be　a　row　over　this；　dear；〃　said　Alan；　shaking　his　head
doubtfully　when　at　last　they　were　alone　together　in　the　hall。

〃Of　course；　there'll　be　a　row；〃　she　answered。　〃I　mean　that　there
should　be　a　row。　I　mean　to　have　a　row　every　day　if　necessary；　until
they　leave　me　alone　to　follow　my　own　road；　and　if　they　won't；　as　I
said；　to　go　to　the　Court　of　Chancery　for　protection。　Oh！　by　the　way；　I
have　brought　you　a　copy　of　/The　Judge/。　There's　a　most　awful　article
in　it　about　that　Sahara　flotation；　and　among　other　things　it　announces
that　you　have　left　the　firm　and　congratulates　you　upon　having　done
so。〃

〃They'll　think　I　have　put　it　in；〃　groaned　Alan　as　he　glanced　at　the
head　lines；　which　were　almost　libellous　in　their　vigour；　and　the
summaries　of　the　financial　careers　of　Sir　Robert　Aylward　and　Mr。
Champers…Haswell。　〃It　will　make　them　hate　me　more　than　ever；　and　I
say；　Barbara；　we　can't　live　in　an　atmosphere　of　perpetual　warfare　for
the　next　two　years。〃

〃I　can；　if　need　be；〃　answered　that　determined　young　woman。　〃But　I
admit　that　it　would　be　trying　for　you；　if　you　stay　here。〃

〃That's　just　the　point；　Barbara。　I　must　not　stay　here；　I　must　go　away；
the　further　the　better；　until　you　are　your　own　mistress。〃

〃Where　to；　Alan？〃

〃To　West　Africa；　I　think。〃

〃To　West　Africa？〃　repeate