an unsocial socialist-第11章

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Smilash　intently　marking　out　the　courts　and　setting　up　the　nets。
She　made　the　others　laugh　too；　for　her　hidden　excitement；
sharpened　by　irrepressible　shootings　of　dread；　stimulated　her；
and　the　romance　of　Smilash's　disguise　gave　her　a　sensation　of
dreaming。　Her　imagination　was　already　busy　upon　a　drama；　of　which
she　was　the　heroine　and　Smilash　the　hero；　though；　with　the　real
man　before　her；　she　could　not　indulge　herself　by　attributing　to
him　quite　as　much　gloomy　grandeur　of　character　as　to　a　wholly
ideal　personage。　The　plot　was　simple；　and　an　old　favorite　with
her。　One　of　them　was　to　love　the　other　and　to　die　broken…hearted
because　the　loved　one　would　not　requite　the　passion。　For　Agatha；
prompt　to　ridicule　sentimentality　in　her　companions；　and　gifted
with　an　infectious　spirit　of　farce；　secretly　turned　for
imaginative　luxury　to　visions　of　despair　and　death；　and　often
endured　the　mortification　of　the　successful　clown　who　believes；
whilst　the　public　roar　with　laughter　at　him；　that　he　was　born　a
tragedian。　There　was　much　in　her　nature；　she　felt；　that　did　not
find　expression　in　her　popular　representation　of　the　soldier　in
the　chimney。

By　three　o'clock　the　local　visitors　had　arrived；　and　tennis　was
proceeding　in　four　courts；　rolled　and　prepared　by　Smilash。　The
two　curates　were　there；　with　a　few　lay　gentlemen。　Mrs。　Miller；
the　vicar；　and　some　mothers　and　other　chaperons　looked　on　and
consumed　light　refreshments；　which　were　brought　out　upon　trays　by
Smilash；　who　had　borrowed　and　put　on　a　large　white　apron；　and　was
making　himself　officiously　busy。

At　a　quarter　past　the　hour　a　message　came　from　Miss　Wilson；
requesting　Miss　Wylie's　attendance。　The　visitors　were　at　a　loss
to　account　for　the　sudden　distraction　of　the　young　ladies'
attention　which　ensued。　Jane　almost　burst　into　tears；　and
answered　Josephs　rudely　when　he　innocently　asked　what　the　matter
was。　Agatha　went　away　apparently　unconcerned；　though　her　hand
shook　as　she　put　aside　her　racket。

In　a　spacious　drawing…room　at　the　north　side　of　the　college　she
found　her　mother；　a　slight　woman　in　widow's　weeds；　with　faded
brown　hair；　and　tearful　eyes。　With　her　were　Mrs。　Jansenius　and
her　daughter。　The　two　elder　ladies　kept　severely　silent　whilst
Agatha　kissed　them；　and　Mrs。　Wylie　sniffed。　Henrietta　embraced
Agatha　effusively。

〃Where's　Uncle　John？〃　said　Agatha。　〃Hasn't　he　come？〃

〃He　is　in　the　next　room　with　Miss　Wilson；〃　said　Mrs。　Jansenius
coldly。　〃They　want　you　in　there。〃

〃I　thought　somebody　was　dead；〃　said　Agatha；　〃you　all　look　so
funereal。　Now；　mamma；　put　your　handkerchief　back　again。　If　you
cry　I　will　give　Miss　Wilson　a　piece　of　my　mind　for　worrying　you。〃

〃No；　no；〃　said　Mrs。　Wylie；　alarmed。　〃She　has　been　so　nice！〃

〃So　good！〃　said　Henrietta。

〃She　has　been　perfectly　reasonable　and　kind；〃　said　Mrs。
Jansenius。

〃She　always　is；〃　said　Agatha　complacently。　〃You　didn't　expect　to
find　her　in　hysterics；　did　you？〃

〃Agatha；〃　pleaded　Mrs。　Wylie；　〃don't　be　headstrong　and　foolish。〃

〃Oh；　she　won't；　I　know　she　won't；〃　said　Henrietta　coaxingly。
〃Will　you；　dear　Agatha？〃

〃You　may　do　as　you　like；　as　far　as　I　am　concerned；〃　said　Mrs。
Jansenius。　〃But　I　hope　you　have　more　sense　than　to　throw　away
your　education　for　nothing。〃

〃Your　aunt　is　quite　right；〃　said　Mrs。　Wylie。　〃And　your　Uncle　John
is　very　angry　with　you。　He　will　never　speak　to　you　again　if　you
quarrel　with　Miss　Wilson。〃

〃He　is　not　angry；〃　said　Henrietta；　〃but　he　is　so　anxious　that　you
should　get　on　well。〃

〃He　will　naturally　be　disappointed　if　you　persist　in　making　a
fool　of　yourself；〃　said　Mrs。　Jansenius。

〃All　Miss　Wilson　wants　is　an　apology　for　the　dreadful　things　you
wrote　in　her　book；〃　said　Mrs。　Wylie。　〃You'll　apologize；　dear；
won't　you？〃

〃Of　course　she　will；〃　said　Henrietta。

〃I　think　you　had　better；〃　said　Mrs。　Jansenius。

〃Perhaps　I　will；〃　said　Agatha。

〃That's　my　own　darling；〃　said　Mrs。　Wylie；　catching　her　hand。

〃And　perhaps；　again；　I　won't。〃

〃You　will；　dear；〃　urged　Mrs。　Wylie；　trying　to　draw　Agatha；　who
passively　resisted；　closer　to　her。　〃For　my　sake。　To　oblige　your
mother；　Agatha。　You　won't　refuse　me；　dearest？〃

Agatha　laughed　indulgently　at　her　parent；　who　had　long　ago　worn
out　this　form　of　appeal。　Then　she　turned　to　Henrietta；　and　said；
〃How　is　your　caro　sposo？　I　think　it　was　hard　that　I　was　not　a
bridesmaid。〃

The　red　in　Henrietta's　cheeks　brightened。　Mrs。　Jansenius　hastened
to　interpose　a　dry　reminder　that　Miss　Wilson　was　waiting。

〃Oh；　she　does　not　mind　waiting；〃　said　Agatha；　〃because　she　thinks
you　are　all　at　work　getting　me　into　a　proper　frame　of　mind。　That
was　the　arrangement　she　made　with　you　before　she　left　the　room。
Mamma　knows　that　I　have　a　little　bird　that　tells　me　these　things。
I　must　say　that　you　have　not　made　me　feel　any　goody…goodier　so
far。　However；　as　poor　Uncle　John　must　be　dreadfully　frightened
and　uncomfortable；　it　is　only　kind　to　put　an　end　to　his　suspense。
Good…bye！〃　And　she　went　out　leisurely。　But　she　looked　in　again　to
say　in　a　low　voice：　〃Prepare　for　something　thrilling。　I　feel　just
in　the　humor　to　say　the　most　awful　things。〃　She　vanished；　and
immediately　they　heard　her　tapping　at　the　door　of　the　next　room。

Mr。　Jansenius　was　indeed　awaiting　her　with　misgiving。　Having
discovered　early　in　his　career　that　his　dignified　person　and　fine
voice　caused　people　to　stand　in　some　awe　of　him；　and　to　move　him
into　the　chair　at　public　meetings；　he　had　grown　so　accustomed　to
deference　that　any　approach　to　familiarity　or　irreverence
disconcerted　him　exceedingly。　Agatha；　on　the　other　hand；　having
from　her　childhood　heard　Uncle　John　quoted　as　wisdom　and
authority　incarnate；　had　begun　in　her　tender　years　to　scoff　at
him　as　a　pompous　and　purseproud　city　merchant；　whose　sordid　mind
was　unable　to　cope　with　her　transcendental　affairs。　She　had
habitually　terrified　her　mother　by　ridiculing　him　with　an
absolute　contempt　of　which　only　childhood　and　extreme　ignorance
are　capable。　She　had　felt　humiliated　by　his　kindness　to　her　（he
was　a　generous　giver　of　presents）；　and；　with　the　instinct　of　an
anarchist；　had　taken　disparagement　of　his　advice　and　defiance　of
his　authority　as　the　signs　wherefrom　she　might　infer　surely　that
her　face　was　turned　to　the　light。　The　result　was　that　he　was　a
little　tired　of　her　without　being　quite　conscious　of　it；　and　she
not　at　all　afraid　of　him；　and　a　little　too　conscious　of　it。

When　she　entered　with　her　brightest　smile　in　full　play；　Miss
Wilson　and　Mr。　Jansenius；　seated　at　the　table；　looked　somewhat
like　two　culprits　about　to　be　indicted。　Miss　Wilson　waited　for
him　to　speak；　deferring　to　his　imposing　presence。　But　he　was　not
ready；　so　she　invited　Agatha　to　sit　down。

〃Thank　you；〃　said　Agatha　sweetly。　〃Well；　Uncle　John；　don't　you
know　me？〃

〃I　have　heard　with　regret　from　Miss　Wilson　that　you　have　been
very　troublesome　here；〃　he　said；　ignoring　her　remark；　though
secretly　put　out　by　it。

〃Yes；〃　said　Agatha　contritely。　〃I　am　so　very　sorry。〃

Mr。　Jansenius；　who　had　been　led　by　Miss　Wilson　to　expect　the
utmost　contumacy；　looked　to　her　in　surprise。

〃You　seem　to　think；〃　said　Miss　Wilson；　conscious　of　Mr。
Jansenius's　movement；　and　annoyed　by　it；　〃that　you　may　transgress
over　and　over　again；　and　then　set　yourself　right　with　us；〃　（Miss
Wilson　never　spoke　of　offences　as　against　her　individual
authority；　but　as　against　the　school　community）　〃by　saying　that
you　are　sorry。　You　spoke　in　a　very　different　tone　at　our　last
meeting。〃

〃I　was　angry　then；　Miss　Wilson。　And　I　thought　I　had　a
grievanceeverybody　thinks　they　have　the　same　one。　Besides；　we
were　quarrellingat　least　I　was；　and　I　always　behave　badly　when
I　quarrel。　I　am　so　very　sorry。〃

〃The　book　was　a　serious　matter；〃　said　Miss　Wilson　gravely。　〃You
do　not　seem　to　think　so。〃

〃I　understand　Agatha　to　say　that　she　is　now　sensible　of　the　folly
of　her　conduct　with　regard　to　the　book；　and　that　she　is　sorry　for
it；〃　said　Mr。　Jansenius；　instinctively　inclining　to　Agatha's
party　as　the　stronger　one　and　the　least　dependent　on　him　in　a
pecuniary　sense。　Have　you　seen　the　book？〃　said　Agatha　eagerly。

〃No。　Miss　Wilson　has　described　what　has　occurred。〃

〃Oh；　do　let　me　get　it；〃　she　cried；　rising。　〃It　will　m