phyllis of philistia-第47章
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r out of the thoughts of temptation which I suppose come naturally to a daughter of Evethe first woman who thought about temptation and was therefore tempted。 My wife is a perfectly good woman； and you will be surprised to find out when I am dead how fond of me she wasshe will be the most surprised of all。 But she is a woman。 If she were not so much of a woman I don't suppose I should ever have cared so much for her as I do。 I cared so much for her； Mr。 Holland； that I remained away from her in Paris for three months so that I might school myself to my fate； making no sign that would lead her to suspect the truth。 Why should she have six months' additional misery？ I have strayed。 The Church。 I want to give my wife an aim in life； to make her feel that she is doing something worthyto keep her from thinking of less worthy things。 Now； I think you will agree with me that there is nothing women are really so fond of as a Church of some sort。 To be devout is as much a part of a woman's disposition as to lovethe passion of devoutness sometimes takes the place of the passion of love in her nature。 Now； I want to give her this idea of a Church to work out when I am dead。 I want you to carry out as joint trustee with her your theories in regard to the ritual； the art； the sermon； and for this purpose I should of course provide an ample endowmentsay three or four thousand a year； anything you may suggest： I shall leave a great deal of money behind me。〃
〃Your project startles me； Mr。 Linton；〃 said George Holland。 〃It startles me as greatly as the first revelation you made to me did。 They may be mistakenthe doctors； I have known cases where the highest authorities were ludicrously in error。 Let us hope that。〃
〃Well； we may hope； I may live long enough to lay the foundation stone of the Church myself。 But I am most anxious that you should give the whole matter your earnest attention。〃
〃I am quite dazed。 Do you suggest that I should leave the Church of England？〃
〃By no means。 That is a question which I leave entirely to your own decision。 My own idea is that you would like a free hand。 You will have to leave the Church sooner or later。 A man with your advanced ideas cannot regulate your pace to that of an old woman。 In twenty years the Church will think precisely as you think to…day。 That is the way with the Church。 It opposes everything in the way of an innovation。 You stated the case very fairly in your paper。 The Church opposes every discovery and every new thing as long as possible。 It then only accepts grudgingly what all civilization has accepted cordially。 Oh； yes； you'll find it impossible to remain in the Church； Mr。 Holland。 'Crabbed age and youth；' you know。〃
〃I should part from the Church with the greatest reluctance； Mr。 Linton。〃
〃Then don't part from it； only don't place yourself in its power。 Don't be beholden to it for your income。 Don't go to the heads of the Church for orders。 Be your own master and in plain words； run the concern on your own lines。 The widow of the founder will have no power to interfere with you in the matter of such arrangements。〃
〃I shall have to give the matter a good deal of thought。 I should naturally have to reform a good deal of the ritual。〃
〃Naturally。 The existing ritual is only a compromise。 And as for the hymns which are sung； why is it necessary for them to be doggerel before they are devotional？〃
〃The hymns are for the most part doggerel。 We should have a first…rate choir and anthemsnot necessarily taken from the Bible。 Why should not Shakspere be sung in churchesShakspere's divine poetry instead of the nonsense…rhymes that people call hymns？ Shakspere and Milton； Shelley I would not debar； Wordsworth's sonnets。 But the scheme will require a great deal of thought。〃
〃A great deal； that is why I leave it in your hands。 You are a thinking manyou are not afraid of tradition。〃
〃Traditiontradition！ the ruts made in the road by the vehicles that have passed over it in years gone by！〃
〃The road to the Church is sadly in need of macadamizing； Mr。 Holland or； better still； asphalting。 Make a bicycle road of it； and you are all right。 Now； come with me to my club and have lunch。 We'll talk no more just now about this matter。〃
They went out together。
CHAPTER XXX。
THERE IS NO ONE I LIKE BETTER THAN PHYLLIS。
Phyllis Ayrton had spent a considerable time pondering over that problem of how best to save a man and a woman from destruction social； perhaps； eternal； for certain。 She felt that it had been laid upon her to save them both； and she remembered the case of one Jonah； a prophet； who； in endeavoring to escape from the disagreeable duty with which he had been intrusted； had had an experience that was practically unique； even among prophets。 She would not try to evade her responsibility in this matter。
A few days after Herbert Courtland had witnessed by the side of Ella the representation of 〃Carmen；〃 he had met Phyllis at an At Home。 He had seen her in the distance through a vista of crowded rooms； and had crushed his way to her side。 He could scarcely fail to see the little light that came to her face as she put out her hand to him； nor could her companion of the momenthe was one of the coming men in science； consequently like most coming men； he had been forced into a prominent place in the drawing roomfail to perceive that his farewell moment with that pretty Miss Ayrton had come。 She practically turned her back upon him when Herbert Courtland came up。
For some moments they chatted together； and then it occurred to him that she might like some iced coffee。 His surmise proved correct； and as there was at that moment a stream of people endeavoring to avoid the entertainment of the high…class pianoforte player which was threatened in a neighboring apartment； Phyllis and her companion had no trouble in slipping aside from the panic…stricken people into the tea room。
It was a sultry day； and the French windows of the room were open。 It was Phyllis who discovered that there was a narrow veranda； with iron… work covered with creepers； running halfway round the house from window to window； and when he suggested to her that they might drink their coffee on this veranda； she hailed the suggestion as a very happy one。 How did it come that none of the rest of the people had thought of that？ she wondered。
In another instant they were standing together at the space between the windows outside； the long…leaved creepers mingling with the decorations of her hat； and making a very effective background for his well…shaped head。
For the next half…hour people were intermittently coming to one of the windows； putting their heads out and then turning away； the girls with gentle little pursings of the mouth and other forms that the sneer feminine assumes； the men with winks and an occasional chuckle； suggestive of an exchange of confidence too deep for words。
One woman had poked her head outit was gray at the roots and golden at the tipsand asked her companion in a voice that had a large circumference where was Mrs。 Linton。
Now； Herbert Courtland had not lived so long far from the busy haunts of men （white） as to be utterly ignorant of the fact that no young woman but one who is disposed to be quite friendly with a man； would adopt such a suggestion as he had made to her； and spend half an hour drinking half a cup of iced coffee by his side in that particular place。 The particular place might have accommodated six persons； but he knew； and he knew that she knew also； that it was one of the unwritten laws of good society that such particular places are overcrowded if occupied by three persons。 It was on this account the old men and maidens and the young men and matronsthat is how they pair themselves nowadayshad avoided the veranda so carefully； refusing to contribute to its congestion as a place of resort。
Herbert Courtland could not but feel that Phyllis intended to be friendly with himeven at the risk of being within audible distance of the strong man who was fighting a duel /a outrance/ with a grand piano； and as he desired to be on friendly terms with a girl in whom he was greatly interested； he was very much pleased to find her showing no disposition to
