phyllis of philistia-第54章

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ur　dearest　wishI　did　not　then　believe　it　possible〃

〃And　do　you　fancy　that　I　believed　it　possible？〃　she　asked；　with　some　sadness　in　her　voice。

〃Great　Heavens！　Ella；　do　you　mean　to　tell　me　that　you　Oh；　no；　it　is　impossible！　You　knew　me。〃

〃I　fancied　that　I　knew　you；　Bertie。　I　fancied　that　I　knew　myself。〃

〃Ella；　Ella；　for　God's　sake　don't　let　us　drift　again。　Have　you　no　recollection　of　that　terrible　time　through　which　we　both　passedthat　ordeal　by　fire。　Ella；　we　were　plucked　from　the　fireshe　plucked　us　from　the　very　fire　of　hell　itselfoh；　don't　let　us　drift　in　that　direction　again！〃

He　had　walked　away　from　her。　He　was　beginning　to　recall　too　vividly　the　old　days；　under　the　influence　of　her　gracious　presence　so　close　to　himnot　so　close　as　it　had　been；　but　still　close　enough　to　bring　back　old　memories。

〃Come　here　and　stand　beside　me；　Bertie；〃　said　she。

After　a　moment's　hesitation　he　went　to　her；　slowly；　not　with　the　rapture　of　a　lovernot　with　the　old　passion　trembling　in　his　hands；　on　his　lips。

He　went　to　her。

She　put　her　hands　behind　her　and　looked　at　him　in　the　face　for　a　long　time。　The　even…songs　of　the　birds　mixed　with　the　scent　of　the　roses；　the　blue　shadow　of　the　twilight　was　darkening　over　the　trees　at　the　foot　of　her　garden。

〃Do　you　remember　the　oleanders？〃　she　said。　〃I　never　breathe　in　such　a　twilight　as　this　without　seeing　before　me　the　oleanders　outlined　against　its　blue。　It　was　very　sweet　at　that　old　place　on　the　Arno。〃

〃Ella；　Ellafor　God's　sake〃

〃You　told　me　that　terrible　secret　of　your　lifethat　you　loved　me。　I　wonder　if　I　knew　what　it　meant；　Bertie？　I　told　you　that　I　loved　you：　that　was　more　terrible　still。　I　wonder　if　you　knew　what　that　meant；　Bertie？〃

He　did　not　speak。

The　bird's　songs　outside　were　becoming　softer　and　more　intermittent。

She　gave　a　sudden　cry　as　if　stung　with　pain；　and　started　away　from　the　window。　She　threw　herself　down　on　the　couch；　burying　her　face　in　the　pillowshe　could　see　through　the　dim　room　the　whiteness　of　her　arms。　She　was　breathing　convulsively；　but　she　was　not　sobbing。

He　remained　beside　the　open　window。　He；　too；　was　not　breathing　so　regularly　as　he　had　breathed　a　short　time　before。

He　heard　the　sigh　that　came　from　her　as　she　raised　her　head　from　the　pillow。

Then　she　said：

〃I　wonder　if　you　ever　really　loved　me；　Bertie。〃

〃Oh；　my　God！〃

〃I　wonder　if　you　ever　loved　me；　and　I　wonder　if　I　ever　loved　you　until　this　moment。〃

There　was　a　silence。　Outside　there　was　a　little　whisper　of　moving　wings；　but　no　voice　of　bird。

There　was　a　silence；　and　out　of　it　a　low　voice　cried　softly；　softly：

〃Bertie；　Bertie；　my　love；　come　to　me。〃

He　took　a　step　toward　her；　a　second　stepand　then　he　stood；　rigid；　breathless；　for　he　heard　another　soft　voice　that　said：

〃/His　honor　is　the　honor　of　his　mother　and　his　sister；　upon　which　no　stain　must　come。/〃

He　heard　that　voice；　and　with　a　cry　he　covered　his　face　with　his　hands；　and　turning；　fled　through　the　open　window　into　the　garden。



She　lay　there　on　her　couch；　that　lovely　white　creature　who　had　been　saved　so　as　by　fire。　There　are　two　fires：　the　one　is　the　fire　that　consumes　the　heart　until　all　that　is　left　of　it　is　the　dust　of　ashes；　the　other　is　the　fire　that　purifies　the　soul　even　unto　its　salvation；　and　yet　both　fires　burn　alike；　so　that　men　and　women　know　not　which　is　burning　within　them。

Did　she　know　that　she　was　saved　so　as　by　fire？

She　laughed　as　though　he　could　still　hear　her；　but　after　her　laugh　there　came　a　few　moments　of　overwhelming　bitterness　that　sent　her　on　her　knees　by　the　side　of　the　couch　in　self…abasement。

〃Kill　mekill　me；　O　God！〃　she　wailed。　〃Kill　me；　for　I　am　not　fit　to　live！〃

But　she　was　spared。

After　a　time　she　found　strength　to　rise。　She　seemed　surprised　to　find　that　the　room　was　in　darkness。　She　struck　a　light；　and　in　a　few　minutes　a　dozen　candles　were　flaring　round　the　walls；　and　then　she　went　mechanically　to　close　the　window。　One　side　she　had　just　fastened　when　it　seemed　to　her　that　she　heard　the　sound　of　voices　approaching。　She　listened；　her　head　bent　forward　through　the　side　of　the　window　that　remained　unclosed。

Yes；　their　voices　were　sounding　clearly　through　the　still　nighthis　voice　andwhat　trick　was　being　played　upon　her　by　her　hearing？　Phyllis'　voice？　How　could　it　be　Phyllis'　voice？　Phyllis　had　returned　to　London。　Oh；　it　was　some　trick！　Her　nerves　were　playing　some　trick　upon　herthey　were　out　of　order；　they　were　beyond　her　control。　Phyllis'　voice　Great　Heavens！　it　was　Phyllis　herself　who　was　walking　through　the　garden　by　his　side！

Ella　stood　at　the　open　side　of　the　window　staring　out　at　them。　They　stood　at　the　foot　of　the　half　dozen　steps　that　lead　up　to　the　window。　Phyllis　laughed；was　there　a　trace　of　mockery　in　her　laugh？but　he　was　silent。

〃I　don't　wonder　at　your　fancying　that　I　am　a　ghost；　Ella；〃　cried　the　girl。　〃I　feel　that　I　deserve　to　be　treated　as　discourteously　as　most　poor　ghosts　are　treated　when　they　visit　their　friends。　You　never　yet　heard　of　a　ghost　being　asked　to　stay　to　dinner；　did　you；　Mr。　Courtland？　But　a　ghost　may　fairly　claim　to　be　asked　to　enter　the　house　of　her　dearest　friend；　especially　after　a　double　railway　journey。〃

Ella　had　not　moved　from　her　place　at　the　open　space　of　the　window　while　Phyllis　was　speaking；　but　the　moment　that　the　girl's　laugh　sounded；　she　too　laughed。　She　ran　down　the　steps　and　put　her　arms　about　Phyllis；　kissing　her　on　the　face。

〃This　is　more　than　the　most　exacting　of　ghosts　could　reasonable　look　for；〃　cried　Phyllis。　〃Oh；　Ella！　I'm　so　glad　that　I　followed　my　own　impulse　and　came　back　to　you。　I　thought　you　were　here　all　alonehow　could　I　know　that　Mr。　Courtland　would　return　in　the　meantime　to　complete　his　visit？and　when　I　looked　out　on　the　dust　and　the　smoke　of　the　town　and　thought　of　thisthisthis　exquisite　stillness；you　can　just　hear　the　water　of　the　weir；this　garden；　this　scent　of　roses；　but　chiefly　when　I　thought　of　you　sitting　in　your　loneliness　Well；　is　it　any　wonder　that　I　am　here　now？you　implored　of　me　to　stay；　you　know；　Ella。〃

〃It　is　no　wonder　indeed；　being　what　you　area　good　angel；　my　good　angel；　Phyllis；〃　cried　the　woman。　〃Oh；　dearest；　you　are　welcome！　Why　did　you　leave　me　Phyllis？　Why　did　you　leave　me？　Oh；　the　good　angels　can　never　be　trusted。　You　should　not　have　left　me　to　myself；　dear。　I　am　only　a　woman。　Ah；　you　don't　yet　know　what　a　woman　is。　That　is　the　worst　of　angels　and　men；　they　don't　know　what　a　woman　is。　Come　into　the　house；　Phyllis。　Come　in；　Herbert。　How　did　you　manage　to　meet？〃

〃You　know　I　went　out　to　the　garden〃　said　the　man。

〃Yes；　I　knew　thatyou　left　me　alone；〃　said　the　woman；　and　she　gave　a　laugh。

〃I　strolled　from　the　garden　to　the　roadI　had　to　ask　the　people　at　the　Old　Bell　to　keep　a　room　for　me；　of　course。〃

〃Of　course。〃

〃And　just　outside　the　inn　I　came　face　to　face　with　Miss　Ayrton's　fly。　Miss　Ayrton　was　good　enough　to　get　out　and　walk　with　me；　sending　the　fly　on　with　her　maid。　I　told　the　man　to　wait　in　order　to　take　my　portmanteau　to　the　inn。　It　must　be　at　the　hall　door　now。　We　entered　by　the　garden　gate。〃

〃Nothing　could　be　simpler；〃　said　Ella。　They　had　by　this　time　walked　up　the　steps　into　the　drawing　room。　〃Nothing　could　be　simpler。〃　Then　she　turned　to　Phyllis。　〃But　how　did　you　contrive　to　evade　the　great　function　to…night？〃

〃Papa　did　not　feel　very　well；〃　said　Phyllis；　〃and　I　know　that　he　was　only　too　glad　of　an　excuse　to　stay　at　home。〃

〃And　you　forsook　your　sick　father　to　come　to　me？　Oh；　my　dear　Phyllis；　what　have　you　done？〃

〃If　you　ask　me　in　confidence　I　should　say　that　papa　is　not　quite　so　ill　as　to　stand　in　need　of　a　nurse；〃　she　whispered。　〃Oh；　no！　Make　your　mind　easy。　I　have　neglected　no　duty　in　coming　to　you。〃

〃Except　your　duty　to　yourself；　you　could　not　have　had　time　to　take　any　dinner　at　home。　I　shall　have　you　a　servants'　hall　supper　in　ten　minutes。〃

〃Please　get　nothing　for　me。　I　had　a　capital　sort　of　dinner　at　home。　But　I　should　dearly　like　a　cup　of　tea。〃

〃It　will　be　ready　for　you　the　moment　you　return　from　taking　off　your　hat。　I'll　go　up　with　you　to　your　room；　Mr。　Courtland　knows　that　even　I　make　myself　at　home　in　this　house。　He　will　pardon　us。〃

〃I　mustn't　keep　the　fly　waiting　for　my　portmanteau；〃　said　Mr。　Court