phyllis of philistia-第49章
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es； or looked after Mrs。 Linton's husband； but it appeared that Herbert Courtland had not been consulted on this subject； the result being that Mrs。 Linton's arrangements had been thrown into confusion。
The consensus of opinion among the guests was to the effect that Mrs。 Linton's arrangements had been thrown very much awry indeed。 But then the guests were amused； and as it is getting more and more difficult every year to amuse one's guests； especially those forming a house… party at a season when nothing lends itself to laughter； Mrs。 Linton would have had every reason to congratulate herself upon the success of her party； had she been made aware of the innocent mirth which prevailed for some days among her guests。
She would possibly have been greatly diverted also at the overshrewdness of her guests； who were； of course； quite ignorant of the conversation regarding Phyllis Ayrton which had immediately preceded her invitation to Herbert to spend a few days on the river。
But though Ella had undoubtedly given Herbert to understand that she was anxious to have him at The Mooring while Phyllis was there； in order that he might have an opportunity of seeing more of her； and to obtain his agreement that her theory that the man who truly loves a woman should be ready to marry that woman's dearest friend； still it must be confessed that she was surprised to observe the course adopted by both Phyllis and Herbert。 She had expected that all her tact and diplomacy would be required in order to bring the young peoplewith all the arrogance of the wife of twenty…six years of age she alluded to a girl of twenty…three and a man of thirty…two as the young people together。
She had had visions of sitting in the stern of an out…rigger built for two； remonstrating with Herberthe would of course be at the oars for choosing to paddle her up the river while he allowed some of the other men to carry off Phyllis in； say； the Canadian canoe。 A picture had come before her of the aggrieved expression upon the face of Herbert when she would insist on his going out by the side of Phyllis to feed the peacocks on the terraces in the twilight； and she had more than once seemed to hear his sigh of resignation as she； with a firmness which she would take pains to develop； pleaded a headache so that he and Phyllis might play a game of billiards together。
She soon found out that her imagination had not been prophetic。 Immediately after drinking teait was a few minutes past sixon the evening of the arrival of Herbert； she went out of doors to find him and give him a lecture on the need there was for him to refrain from waiting about the garden far from the other guests until she； Ella； could go on the river with him for a quiet drift before dinner； the other guests would certainly think him worse than rude； she was ready to explain。 The explanation was not needed； she learned that Mr。 Courtland had just taken Miss Ayrton out in one of the punts。
Of course she was pleasedafter an hour by the side of her husband to perceive that Herbert had lost no time in making an effort to prove to her how amply he recognized her object in asking him to The Mooring。 But at the same time； if pleased； she was also surprised。 At any rate； she would take good care that he did not lapse in his attentions to Phyllis； as she knew lovers are but too apt to lapse； especially when they begin well。 She would； for instance； send him from her side in the garden after dinner； to walk with Phyllis up to the woods where a nightingale was said to be in the habit of singing when the lovely summer twilight had waned into the lovely summer night。 With the nightingale's song in their ears； two ordinary young persons with no preconceived theories on the subject of love； have been known； she was well aware； to become lovers of the most aggressive type。 Yes； she had great hopes of the nightingale。
So； apparently； had Herbert Courtland。
After dinner there was smoking in the garden； some feeding of the peacocks on the terraces； while the blackbirds uttered protests against such an absorption by foreign immigrants of the bread that was baked for native consumption。 Then there was some talk of the nightingale。 One man suggested that it was a nightingale attached to a music box which the enterprise of a local inn had hired for the summer months； sending a man to wind it up every night for the attraction of visitors。 Then it was that Mr。 Courtland said he knew a spot where a nightingale had been in the habit of singing long ago； when his explorations of the Thames River had preceded those of the Fly River。 He found three persons who expressed their willingness to accept his guidance on the spot； if it were not too far away。 One of these was Phyllis； the other two were notorious lovers。 Off they started without hats or caps。
This Ella heard when she returned to the garden； whence she had been called away for ten minutes to interview a man who had an electric launch for sale。
The news； communicated to her by her husband in answer to her inquiry； had surprised her。 That was why she had given a little laugh with a tone of derision in it when she had said：
〃A nightingale！ How lovely！ I hope they may find it。 It shouldn't prove so arduous as the quest of the meteor…bird。 I do hope that those children will not catch cold。 It is a trifle imprudent。〃
〃Imprudent？〃
〃Going off that way with nothing on their heads。〃
〃Or in them。 Happy children！〃 cried a moralizing novelist； who was smoking an extremely good cigarit had not come from his own tobacconist。
〃We can't all be novel…writers；〃 said one of the women。
〃Thank the Lord！〃 said one of the men； with genuine piety。
In three…quarters of an hour the members of the quest party returned。 They had been fully rewarded for their trouble； they had been listening to the nightingale for nearly twenty minutes； they said； it had been very lovely； they agreed； without a single dissentient voice。 It probably was； at any rate they were very silent for the rest of the night。
〃You have begun well；〃 said Ella to Herbert； when they found themselves together in the drawing room； later on； shortly before midnight。 Someone was playing on the piano； so that the general conversation and yawning were not interfered with。 〃You have begun well。 You will soon get to know her if your others days here are like to…day。 That nightingale！ Oh； yes； you will soon get to know her。〃
He shook his head。
〃I doubt it；〃 said he； in a low tone。 His eyes were turned in the direction of Phyllis。 She was on a seat at an open window； the twilight of moonlight and lamplight glimmering about her hair。 〃I doubt it。 It takes a man such as I am a long time to know such a girl as Phyllis Ayrton。〃
That was a saying which had a certain amount of irritation for Ella。 He had never said anything in the past about her； Ella； being beyond the knowledge of ordinary men。
〃That's a very good beginning；〃 said she； with a little laugh that meant much。 〃But don't despair。 After all； girls are pretty much alike。 I was a girl onceit seems a long time ago。 I thought then that I knew a great deal about men。 Alas！ all that I have learned since is simply that they know a great deal about me。 Am I different from other women； I wonder？ Am I more shallowmore transparent？ Was I ever an enigma to you； Bertie？〃
〃You were always a woman；〃 he said。 〃That is why〃
〃That is why〃
〃That is why I am here to…night。 If you were not a true woman I should be far away。〃
〃You are far awayfrom me； Bertie。〃
〃No； no！ I am only beginning to appreciate youto understand you。〃
〃I am to be understood through the medium of Phyllis Ayrton？ Isn't that like looking at happiness through another's eyes？〃
He did not appear to catch her meaning at once。 He looked at her and then his eyes went across the room to Phyllis。 At the same instant the performance on the piano ceased。 Everyone said 〃Thanks； awfully good；〃 and there were some audible yawns。
There was a brandy and soda yearning in the men's eyes。
〃We'll get off to bed； someone may begin to play something else；〃 whispered the hostess to one of her lady guests。
The men looked as if they had heard the suggestion and heartily approved of i
