heartbreak house-第15章

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！



ELLIE。　Oh；　no。　Shakespeare　thought　they　could　have　happened。

MRS　HUSHABYE。　Hm！　Desdemona　thought　they　could　have　happened。　But
they　didn't。

ELLIE。　Why　do　you　look　so　enigmatic　about　it？　You　are　such　a
sphinx：　I　never　know　what　you　mean。

MRS　HUSHABYE。　Desdemona　would　have　found　him　out　if　she　had
lived；　you　know。　I　wonder　was　that　why　he　strangled　her！

ELLIE。　Othello　was　not　telling　lies。

MRS　HUSHABYE。　How　do　you　know？

ELLIE。　Shakespeare　would　have　said　if　he　was。　Hesione；　there　are
men　who　have　done　wonderful　things：　men　like　Othello；　only；　of
course；　white；　and　very　handsome；　and

MRS　HUSHABYE。　Ah！　Now　we're　coming　to　it。　Tell　me　all　about　him。
I　knew　there　must　be　somebody；　or　you'd　never　have　been　so
miserable　about　Mangan：　you'd　have　thought　it　quite　a　lark　to
marry　him。

ELLIE　＇blushing　vividly＇。　Hesione；　you　are　dreadful。　But　I　don't
want　to　make　a　secret　of　it；　though　of　course　I　don't　tell
everybody。　Besides；　I　don't　know　him。

MRS　HUSHABYE。　Don't　know　him！　What　does　that　mean？

ELLIE。　Well；　of　course　I　know　him　to　speak　to。

MRS　HUSHABYE。　But　you　want　to　know　him　ever　so　much　more
intimately；　eh？

ELLIE。　No；　no：　I　know　him　quitealmost　intimately。

MRS　HUSHABYE。　You　don't　know　him；　and　you　know　him　almost
intimately。　How　lucid！

ELLIE。　I　mean　that　he　does　not　call　on　us。　II　got　into
conversation　with　him　by　chance　at　a　concert。

MRS　HUSHABYE。　You　seem　to　have　rather　a　gay　time　at　your
concerts；　Ellie。

ELLIE。　Not　at　all：　we　talk　to　everyone　in　the　greenroom　waiting
for　our　turns。　I　thought　he　was　one　of　the　artists：　he　looked　so
splendid。　But　he　was　only　one　of　the　committee。　I　happened　to
tell　him　that　I　was　copying　a　picture　at　the　National　Gallery。　I
make　a　little　money　that　way。　I　can't　paint　much；　but　as　it's
always　the　same　picture　I　can　do　it　pretty　quickly　and　get　two　or
three　pounds　for　it。　It　happened　that　he　came　to　the　National
Gallery　one　day。

MRS　HUSHABYE。　One　students'　day。　Paid　sixpence　to　stumble　about
through　a　crowd　of　easels；　when　he　might　have　come　in　next　day
for　nothing　and　found　the　floor　clear！　Quite　by　accident？

ELLIE　＇triumphantly＇。　No。　On　purpose。　He　liked　talking　to　me。　He
knows　lots　of　the　most　splendid　people。　Fashionable　women　who　are
all　in　love　with　him。　But　he　ran　away　from　them　to　see　me　at　the
National　Gallery　and　persuade　me　to　come　with　him　for　a　drive
round　Richmond　Park　in　a　taxi。

MRS　HUSHABYE。　My　pettikins；　you　have　been　going　it。　It's
wonderful　what　you　good　girls　can　do　without　anyone　saying　a
word。

ELLIE。　I　am　not　in　society；　Hesione。　If　I　didn't　make
acquaintances　in　that　way　I　shouldn't　have　any　at　all。

MRS　HUSHABYE。　Well；　no　harm　if　you　know　how　to　take　care　of
yourself。　May　I　ask　his　name？

ELLIE　＇slowly　and　musically＇。　Marcus　Darnley。

MRS　HUSHABYE　＇echoing　the　music＇。　Marcus　Darnley！　What　a　splendid
name！

ELLIE。　Oh；　I'm　so　glad　you　think　so。　I　think　so　too；　but　I　was
afraid　it　was　only　a　silly　fancy　of　my　own。

MRS　HUSHABYE。　Hm！　Is　he　one　of　the　Aberdeen　Darnleys？

ELLIE。　Nobody　knows。　Just　fancy！　He　was　found　in　an　antique
chest

MRS　HUSHABYE。　A　what？

ELLIE。　An　antique　chest；　one　summer　morning　in　a　rose　garden；
after　a　night　of　the　most　terrible　thunderstorm。

MRS　HUSHABYE。　What　on　earth　was　he　doing　in　the　chest？　Did　he　get
into　it　because　he　was　afraid　of　the　lightning？

ELLIE。　Oh；　no；　no：　he　was　a　baby。　The　name　Marcus　Darnley　was
embroidered　on　his　baby　clothes。　And　five　hundred　pounds　in　gold。

MRS　HUSHABYE　＇Looking　hard　at　her＇。　Ellie！

ELLIE。　The　garden　of　the　Viscount

MRS　HUSHABYE。　de　Rougemont？

ELLIE　＇innocently＇。　No：　de　Larochejaquelin。　A　French　family。　A
vicomte。　His　life　has　been　one　long　romance。　A　tiger

MRS　HUSHABYE。　Slain　by　his　own　hand？

ELLIE。　Oh；　no：　nothing　vulgar　like　that。　He　saved　the　life　of　the
tiger　from　a　hunting　party：　one　of　King　Edward's　hunting　parties
in　India。　The　King　was　furious：　that　was　why　he　never　had　his
military　services　properly　recognized。　But　he　doesn't　care。　He　is
a　Socialist　and　despises　rank；　and　has　been　in　three　revolutions
fighting　on　the　barricades。

MRS　HUSHABYE。　How　can　you　sit　there　telling　me　such　lies？　You；
Ellie；　of　all　people！　And　I　thought　you　were　a　perfectly　simple；
straightforward；　good　girl。

ELLIE　＇rising；　dignified　but　very　angry＇。　Do　you　mean　you　don't
believe　me？

MRS　HUSHABYE。　Of　course　I　don't　believe　you。　You're　inventing
every　word　of　it。　Do　you　take　me　for　a　fool？

Ellie　stares　at　her。　Her　candor　is　so　obvious　that　Mrs　Hushabye
is　puzzled。

ELLIE。　Goodbye；　Hesione。　I'm　very　sorry。　I　see　now　that　it　sounds
very　improbable　as　I　tell　it。　But　I　can't　stay　if　you　think　that
way　about　me。

MRS　HUSHABYE　＇catching　her　dress＇。　You　shan't　go。　I　couldn't　be
so　mistaken：　I　know　too　well　what　liars　are　like。　Somebody　has
really　told　you　all　this。

ELLIE　＇flushing＇。　Hesione；　don't　say　that　you　don't　believe　him。
I　couldn't　bear　that。

MRS　HUSHABYE　＇soothing　her＇。　Of　course　I　believe　him；　dearest。
But　you　should　have　broken　it　to　me　by　degrees。　＇Drawing　her　back
to　her　seat＇。　Now　tell　me　all　about　him。　Are　you　in　love　with
him？

ELLIE。　Oh；　no。　I'm　not　so　foolish。　I　don't　fall　in　love　with
people。　I'm　not　so　silly　as　you　think。

MRS　HUSHABYE。　I　see。　Only　something　to　think　aboutto　give　some
interest　and　pleasure　to　life。

ELLIE。　Just　so。　That's　all；　really。

MRS　HUSHABYE。　It　makes　the　hours　go　fast；　doesn't　it？　No　tedious
waiting　to　go　to　sleep　at　nights　and　wondering　whether　you　will
have　a　bad　night。　How　delightful　it　makes　waking　up　in　the
morning！　How　much　better　than　the　happiest　dream！　All　life
transfigured！　No　more　wishing　one　had　an　interesting　book　to
read；　because　life　is　so　much　happier　than　any　book！　No　desire
but　to　be　alone　and　not　to　have　to　talk　to　anyone：　to　be　alone
and　just　think　about　it。

ELLIE　＇embracing　her＇。　Hesione；　you　are　a　witch。　How　do　you　know？
Oh；　you　are　the　most　sympathetic　woman　in　the　world！

MRS　HUSHABYE　＇caressing　her＇。　Pettikins；　my　pettikins；　how　I　envy
you！　and　how　I　pity　you！

ELLIE。　Pity　me！　Oh；　why？

A　very　handsome　man　of　fifty；　with　mousquetaire　moustaches；
wearing　a　rather　dandified　curly　brimmed　hat；　and　carrying　an
elaborate　walking…stick；　comes　into　the　room　from　the　hall；　and
stops　short　at　sight　of　the　women　on　the　sofa。

ELLIE　＇seeing　him　and　rising　in　glad　surprise＇。　Oh！　Hesione：　this
is　Mr　Marcus　Darnley。

MRS　HUSHABYE　＇rising＇。　What　a　lark！　He　is　my　husband。

ELLIE。　But　now＇she　stops　suddenly：　then　turns　pale　and　sways＇。

MRS　HUSHABYE　＇catching　her　and　sitting　down　with　her　on　the
sofa＇。　Steady；　my　pettikins。

THE　MAN　＇with　a　mixture　of　confusion　and　effrontery；　depositing
his　hat　and　stick　on　the　teak　table＇。　My　real　name；　Miss　Dunn；　is
Hector　Hushabye。　I　leave　you　to　judge　whether　that　is　a　name　any
sensitive　man　would　care　to　confess　to。　I　never　use　it　when　I　can
possibly　help　it。　I　have　been　away　for　nearly　a　month；　and　I　had
no　idea　you　knew　my　wife；　or　that　you　were　coming　here。　I　am　none
the　less　delighted　to　find　you　in　our　little　house。

ELLIE　＇in　great　distress＇。　I　don't　know　what　to　do。　Please；　may　I
speak　to　papa？　Do　leave　me。　I　can't　bear　it。

MRS　HUSHABYE。　Be　off；　Hector。

HECTOR。　I

MRS　HUSHABYE。　Quick；　quick。　Get　out。

HECTOR。　If　you　think　it　better＇he　goes　out；　taking　his　hat　with
him　but　leaving　the　stick　on　the　table＇。

MRS　HUSHABYE　＇laying　Ellie　down　at　the　end　of　the　sofa＇。　Now；
pettikins；　he　is　gone。　There's　nobody　but　me。　You　can　let
yourself　go。　Don't　try　to　control　yourself。　Have　a　good　cry。

ELLIE　＇raising　her　head＇。　Damn！

MRS　HUSHABYE。　Splendid！　Oh；　what　a　relief！　I　thought　you　were
going　to　be　broken…hearted。　Never　mind　me。　Damn　him　again。

ELLIE。　I　am　not　damning　him。　I　am　damning　myself　for　being　such　a
fool。　＇Rising＇。　How　could　I　let　myself　be　taken　in　so？　＇She
begins　prowling　to　and　fro；　her　bloom　gone；　looking　curiously
older　and　harder＇。

MRS　HUSHABYE　＇cheerfully＇。　Why　not；　pettikins？　Very　few　young
women　can　resist　Hector。　I　couldn't　when　I　was　your　age。　He　is
really　rather　splendid；　you　know。

ELLIE　＇turning　on　her＇。　Splendid！　Yes；　splendid　looking；　of
course。　But　how　can　you　love　a　liar？