phyllis of philistia-第12章
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Seeing that she did not know what he meant； her father thanked Heaven that Heaven had given him a daughter who was unlike other daughters。 He prayed that she might never become like other daughters。 He thought that it would be good for his daughter to remain without experience of those overwhelming passions which make up the life of a woman and a man。
Phyllis went out a good deal during the week； and everywhere she found herself looked at with interest； sometimes she found herself being examined through a /pince…nez/ as if she were a curious specimen； and a woman or two smiled derisively at her。 She did not know what was meant by their curiositytheir derisionuntil one day an old lady named Mrs。 Haddon went up to her and kissed her； saying：
〃I made up my mind that I would kiss you； my dear； the first chance I had。 God bless you； my child！ You have given your testimony as a woman should； in these days of scoffing at the truth。〃
〃Testimony？〃 said Phyllis； quite puzzled。 Had not her father felt a thrill of gratitude on reflecting that she had none of the qualities of the prig about her？ 〃Testimony？〃
〃You have testified to the truth； Miss Ayrton； and you shall have your reward。 You have shown that the truth is more to you thanthan love the love of manall that women hold sweet in life。 You are right Miss Ayrton； and all true women must love and respect you。〃
Phyllis turned a very brilliant color； and kept her eyes fixed on the parquet pattern of the floor。
The dear old lady said a good deal more to her； all in praise of her act of having given Mr。 Holland his /conge/ on account of his having written that shockingly unorthodox book。
By the end of the week Phyllis Ayrton was looked on as quite as much a heroine for having given Mr。 Holland his /conge/； as Mr。 Holland was a hero for having braved the bishop in writing the book。 She wore her laurels meekly； though she had been rather embarrassed when a ray of intelligence appeared among the dark sayings of the dear old lady。 She could not help wondering how all the world had become possessed of the knowledge that she had said good…by to her lover。 She considered if it were possible that Mr。 Holland had spread abroad the account of her ill…treatment of himhe would naturally allude to it as ill… treatment。 The quick judgment of Ella Linton had enabled her to perceive how valuable to Mr。 Holland was the incident of his rejection by Phyllis。 As a beginning of his persecution； its importance could scarcely be overestimated。 But it did not take Phyllis long to reassure herself on this matter。 It was； of course； Ella who had given the incident publicity。 She had done so for two reasons： first； in order that her little afternoon At Home might have additional luster attached to it by the presence of a young woman who had； in these days of a marriage market overstocked with young women （and old women； for that matter）； thrown over an eligible man for conscience' sake； and secondly； in order that her At Home might have additional luster attached to it from the presence of the man who allowed himself to be thrown over by a delightful girl rather than refrain from publishing what he believed to be the truth。
Mrs。 Linton achieved both the objects which； as a good hostess； she had in view。 Mr。 Holland put in an appearance in one of Mrs。 Linton's big drawing rooms； and so did Phyllis Ayrton。
Everyone admitted that only a woman of the social capacitysome people called it geniusof Mrs。 Linton could accomplish such a feat as the bringing into the same room two persons who had given unmistakable evidence of possessing a conscience apiecethe woman who had sacrificed the man for conscience' sake； and the man who had sacrificed the woman under the same influence。 It was a social triumph； beyond doubt。
People talked in whispers of conscience； the advantages and the disadvantages of its possession； and the consensus of opinion was of its being quite appropriate in regard to a clergyman； and that it was not altogether out of place on the part of a spinster； provided that she had counteracting virtues； but； on the whole； it was perhaps wiser to leave the conscience with the Nonconformists。
Phyllis did not see George Holland until she had got halfway up the first of Mrs。 Linton's rooms。 She did not hear her friend Ella say to someone； in a low voice of apprehension：
〃For Heaven's sake； keep them apart！ They are just the sort of people to greet each other quite cordially； and if they do； no one here will believe that their engagement is off。 People here don't understand how a delicate conscience works。〃
That was what Ella murmured to a man who had been invited in order that he might make himself generally useful。 She gave him his instructions too late； however。 Before she had quite completed her greeting of Phyllis； Mr。 Holland was beside them。
He had not forced himself forward with any measure of persistency； no one seemed to notice any movement on his part until he had shaken hands with Phyllis； and was chatting with her and Mrs。 Linton quite pleasantlymuch too pleasantly for a man with a conscience； someone said later in the afternoon； but that was someone who wanted to talk to Phyllis himself。
People watched her when she suffered herself to be gradually withdrawn from the center of the room to a seat that chanced to be vacant； just behind the open door of the conservatory。 Could it be possible； they asked one another； that she had indeed given his dismissal to Mr。 Holland the previous week？ Why； they were chatting together as pleasantly as they had ever chatted。 Had not the people who talked so glibly of conscience and its mysterious operations spoken a little too soon？ Or had the quarrel been patched up？ If so； which of the two had got rid of the conscience that had brought about the original rupture？
These questions were answered at divers places by divers persons； all the time that George Holland and Phyllis Ayrton remained side by side at the entrance to the conservatory； at the further end of which a vocal quartette party sang delightfullydelightfully； sufficiently loud to enable all the guests who wanted to talk to do so without inconvenience； and at the same time not so loud as to become obtrusive。 It is so seldom that a quartette party manage to hit this happy medium； people said。 They generally sing as if they fancy that people come together to hear them； not remembering that the legitimate object of music at an At Home is to act as an accompaniment to the conversation。
When Phyllis was leaving the house half an hour later； a man was just entering the first drawing rooma man with a face burnt to the color of an old mezzotint。
He looked at her for a moment as he passed her； for her face had suddenly lighted up； as such a face as hers does upon occasions。
The man could scarcely fail to perceive that she knew his name was Herbert Courtland。
But then he was accustomed to be recognized by women as well as men in every part of Europe； since he had returned from New Guinea with the tail feathers of the meteor…bird； which were now being made into a fan for Mrs。 Linton。
CHAPTER IX。
MY FATHER HAS HIS IDEAS ON WHAT'S CALLED REALISM。
The last rumble of applause had died away at the Parthenon Theater； but the audience were leaving very slowly； they wished to linger as long as possible within the atmosphere of the building； though； like the atmosphere of many sacred places； that of the Parthenon was； just at that time； a trifle unsavory。 The first performance of the drama of 〃Cagliostro〃 had just taken place； and； as the first nights at the Parthenon are invariably regarded as the most exclusive functions of the year； the stalls and boxes had been crowded。 And the distinction which in Mayfair and Belgravia attaches to those who have been in the boxes and stalls on Parthenon first night is not greater than that which； in Bloomsbury and Camden Town； accrues to those who have occupied placesnot necessarily seatsin the other parts of the house。 It is understood； too； that the good will of Bloomsbury and Camden Town is much more valuable to a play than the best wishes of Mayfair and Belgravia。
The gracious manager had made his customary speech of t
