the quest of the golden girl-第30章

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etticoat　and　such　a　name；　Sylvia　herself　cannot　be　otherwise　than　charming。〃

Indeed；　now　I　could　see　that　the　petticoat　was　nothing　short　of　a　portrait　of　her；　and　that　any　one　learned　in　the　physiognomy　of　clothes　would　have　been　able　to　pick　Sylvia　out　of　a　thousand　by　that　spirited；　spoilt；　and　petted　garment。

〃What　is　that　sly　smile　about？〃　she　repeated　presently。

〃I　only　chanced　to　think　of　an　absurd　little　fairy　story　I　read　the　other　day；〃　I　said；　〃which　is　quite　irrelevant　at　the　moment。　　You　know　the　idle　way　things　come　and　go　through　one's　head。〃

〃I　don't　believe　you；〃　she　replied；　〃but　tell　me　the　story。　　I　love　fairy　tales。〃

〃Certainly；〃　I　said；　for　I　wasn't　likely　to　get　a　better　opportunity。　　〃There's　nothing　much　in　it；　it's　merely　a　variation　of　Cinderella's　slipper。　　Well；　once　upon　a　time　there　was　an　eccentric　young　prince　who'd　had　his　fling　in　his　day；　but　had　arrived　at　the　lonely　age　of　thirty　without　having　met　a　woman　whom　he　could　love　enough　to　make　his　wife。　　He　was　a　rather　fanciful　young　prince；　accustomed　to　follow　his　whims；　and　one　day；　being　more　than　usually　bored　with　existence；　he　took　it　into　his　head　to　ramble　incognito　through　his　kingdom　in　search　of　his　ideal　wife；‘The　Golden　Girl；'　as　he　called　her。　　He　had　hardly　set　out　when　in　a　country　lane　he　came　across　a　peasant　girl　hanging　out　clothes　to　dry；　and　he　fell　to　talk　with　her　while　she　went　on　with　her　charming　occupation。　　Presently　he　observed；　pegged　on　the　line；　strangely　incongruous　among　the　other　homespun　garments；　a　wonderful　petticoat；　so　exquisite　in　material　and　design　that　it　aroused　his　curiosity。　　At　the　same　moment　he　noticed　a　pair　of　stockings；　round　the　tops　of　which　one　of　the　daintiest　artists　in　the　land　had　wrought　an　exquisite　little　frieze。　　The　prince　was　learned　in　every　form　of　art；　and　had　not　failed　to　study　this　among　other　forms　of　decoration。　　No　sooner　did　he　see　this　petticoat　than　the　whim　seized　him　that　he　would　find　and　marry　the　wearer；　whoever　she　might　be〃

〃Rather　rash　of　him；〃　interrupted　Sylvia；　〃for　it　is　usually　old　ladies　who　have　the　prettiest　petticoats。　　They　can　best　afford　them〃

〃He　questioned　the　girl　as　to　their　owner；〃　I　continued；　〃and　after　vainly　pretending　that　they　were　her　own；　she　confessed　that　they　had　belonged　to　a　young　and　beautiful　lady　who　had　once　lodged　there　and　left　them　behind。　　Then　the　prince　gave　her　a　purse　of　gold　in　exchange　for　the　finery；　and　on　the　waistband　of　the　petticoat　he　read　a　beautiful　name；　and　he　said；　‘This　and　no　other　shall　be　my　wife；　this　unknown　beautiful　woman；　and　on　our　marriage　night　she　shall　wear　this　petticoat。'　　And　then　the　prince　went　forth　seeking〃

〃There's　not　much　point　in　it；〃　interrupted　Sylvia。

〃No；〃　I　said；　〃I'm　afraid　I've　stupidly　missed　the　point。〃

〃Why；　what　was　it？〃

〃The　name　upon　the　petticoat！〃

〃Why；　what　name　was　it？〃　she　asked；　somewhat　mystified。

〃The　inscription　upon　the　petticoat　was；　to　be　quite　accurate；　‘Sylvia　Joy；　No。　6。'　〃

〃Whatever　are　you　talking　about？〃　she　said　with　quite　a　stormy　blush。　　〃I'm　afraid　you've　had　more　than　your　share　of　the　champagne。〃

As　I　finished；　I　slipped　out　of　my　pocket　a　dainty　little　parcel　softly　folded　in　white　tissue　paper。　　Very　softly　I　placed　it　on　the　table。　　It　contained　one　of　the　precious　stockings；　and　half　opening　it；　I　revealed　to　Sylvia's　astonished　eyes　the　cunning　little　frieze　of　Bacchus　and　Ariadne；　followed　by　a　troop　of　Satyrs　and　Bacchantes；　which　the　artist　had　designed　to　encircle　one　of　the　white　columns　of　that　little　marble　temple　which　sat　before　me。

〃You　know；〃　I　said；　〃how　in　fairy　tales；　when　the　wandering　hero　or　the　maiden　in　distress　has　a　guiding　dream；　the　dream　often　leaves　something　behind　on　the　pillow　to　assure　them　of　its　authenticity。　　‘When　you　wake　up；'　the　dream　will　say；　‘you　will　find　a　rose　or　an　oak…leaf　or　an　eagle's　feather；　or　whatever　it　may　be；　on　your　pillow。'　　Well；　I　have　brought　this　stocking　for　which；　if　I　might　but　use　them；　I　have　at　the　moment　a　stock　of　the　most　appropriately　endearing　adjectivesfor　the　same　purpose。　　By　this　token　you　will　know　that　the　fairy　tale　I　have　been　telling　you　is　true；　and　to…morrow；　if　you　will；　you　shall　see　your　autograph　petticoat。〃

〃Why；　wherever　did　you　come　across　them？　　And　what　a　mad　creature　you　must　be！　and　what　an　odd　thing　that　you　should　really　meet　me；　after　all！〃　exclaimed　Sylvia；　all　in　a　breath。　　〃Of　course；　I　remember；〃　she　said　frankly；　and　with　a　shade　of　sadness　passing　over　her　face。　　〃I　was　spending　a　holiday　with　Jack　Wentworth；why；　it　must　be　nearly　two　years　ago。　　Poor　Jack！　he　was　killed　in　the　Soudan；〃　and　poor　Jack　could　have　wished　no　prettier　resurrection　than　the　look　of　tender　memory　that　came　into　her　face　as　she　spoke　of　him；　and　the　soft　baby　tears　filled　her　eyes。

〃I'm　so　sorry；〃　I　said。　　〃Of　course　I　didn't　know。　　Let's　come　for　a　little　stroll。　There　seems　to　be　a　lovely　moon。〃

〃Of　course　you　didn't；　she　said；　patting　my　cheek　with　a　kind　little　hand。　　〃Yes；　do　let　us　go　for　a　stroll。〃



CHAPTER　XI


〃THE　HOUR　FOR　WHICH　THE　YEARS　DID　SIGH〃

This　unexpected　awakening　of　an　old　tenderness　naturally　prevented　my　speaking　any　more　of　my　mind　to　Sylvia　that　evening。　No　doubt　the　reader　may　be　a　little　astonished　to　hear　that　I　had　decided　to　offer　her　marriage；not　taking　my　serious　view　of　a　fanciful　vow。　　Doubtless　Sylvia　was　not　entirely　suitable　to　me；　and　to　marry　her　was　to　be　faithless　to　that　vision　of　the　highest；　that　wonderful　unknown　woman　of　the　apocalyptic　moorland；　whose　face　Sylvia　had　not　even　momentarily　banished　from　my　dreams；　and　whom；　with　an　unaccountable　certitude；　I　still　believed　to　be　the　woman　God　had　destined　for　me；　but；　all　things　considered；　Sylvia　was　surely　as　pretty　an　answer　to　prayer　as　a　man　could　reasonably　hope　for。　　Many　historic　vows　had　met　with　sadly　less　lucky　fulfilment。

So；　after　dinner　the　following　evening；　I　suggested　that　we　should　for　once　take　a　little　walk　up　along　the　river…side；　and　when　we　were　quiet　in　the　moonlight；　dappling　the　lovers'　path　we　were　treading；　and　making　sharp　contrasts　of　ink　and　silver　down　in　the　river…bed；I　spoke。

〃Sylvia；〃　I　said；　plagiarising　a　dream　which　will　be　found　in　Chapter　IV。；〃Sylvia；　I　have　sought　you　through　the　world　and　found　you　at　last；　and　with　your　gracious　permission；　having　found　you；　I　mean　to　stick　to　you。〃

〃What　do　you　mean；　silly　boy？〃　she　said；　as　an　irregularity　in　the　road　threw　her　soft　weight　the　more　fondly　upon　my　arm。

〃I　mean；　dear；　that　I　want　you　to　be　my　wife。〃

〃Your　wife？　　Not　for　worlds！no；　forgive　me；　I　didn't　mean　that。　　You're　an　awful　dear　boy；　and　I　like　you　very　much；　and　I　think　you're　rather　fond　of　me；　but　well；　the　truth　is；　I　was　never　meant　to　be　married；　and　don't　care　about　itand　when　you　think　of　it；　why　should　I？〃

〃You　mean；〃　I　said；　〃that　you　are　fortunate　in　living　in　a　society　where；　as　in　heaven；　there　is　neither　marrying　nor　giving　in　marriage；　where　in　fact　nobody　minds　whether　you're　married　or　not；　and　where　morals　are　very　properly　regarded　as　a　personal　and　private　matter〃

〃Yes；　that's　what　I　mean；〃　said　Sylvia；　〃the　people　I　care　aboutdear　good　peoplewill　think　no　more　of　me　for　having　a　wedding…ring；　and　no　less　for　my　being　without；　and　why　should　one　put　a　yoke　round　one's　neck　when　nobody　expects　it？　　A　wedding…ring　is　like　a　top…hat；you　only　wear　it　when　you　mustBut　it's　very　sweet　of　you；　all　the　same；　and　you　can　kiss　me　if　you　like。　　Here's　a　nice　sentimental　patch　of　moonlight。〃

I　really　felt　very　dejected　at　this　not　of　course　entirely　unexpected　rejection；if　one　might　use　the　word　for　a　situation　on　which　had　just　been　set　the　seal　of　so　unmistakable　a　kiss；　but　the　vision　in　my　heart　seemed　to　smile　at　me　in　high　and　happy　triumph。　　To　have　won　Sylvia　would　have　been　to　have　lost　her。　　My　ideal　had；　as　it　were；　held　her　breath　till　Sylvia　answered；　now　she　breathed　again。

〃At　all　events；　we　can　go　on　being　chums；　can't　we？〃　I　said。

For　answer　Sylvia　hummed　the　first　verse　of　that　famous　song　writ　by　Kit　Marlowe。

〃Yes！〃　she　said　presently。　　〃I　will　sing　for　you；　dance　for　you；　andperhapsflirt　with　you；　bu