the lion and the unicorn-第9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！


pleased。

From　one　of　the　upper　stage…boxes　Helen　and　Lady　Gower　watched
the　successful　progress　of　the　play　with　an　anxiety　almost　as
keen　as　that　of　the　author。　　To　Helen　it　seemed　as　though　the
giving　of　these　lines　to　the　publicthese　lines　which　he　had　so
often　read　to　her；　and　altered　to　her　likingwas　a　desecration。　
It　seemed　as　though　she　were　losing　him　indeedas　though　he　now
belonged　to　these　strange　people；　all　of　whom　were　laughing　and
applauding　his　words；　from　the　German　Princess　in　the　Royal　box
to　the　straight…backed　Tommy　in　the　pit。　　Instead　of　the　painted
scene　before　her；　she　saw　the　birch…trees　by　the　river　at　home；
where　he　had　first　read　her　the　speech　to　which　they　were　now
listening　so　intenselythe　speech　in　which　the　hero　tells　the
girl　he　loves　her。　　She　remembered　that　at　the　time　she　had
thought　how　wonderful　it　would　be　if　some　day　some　one　made　such
a　speech　to　hernot　Philipbut　a　man　she　loved。　　And　now？　
If　Philip　would　only　make　that　speech　to　her　now！

He　came　out　at　last；　with　Wimpole　leading　him；　and　bowed　across　a
glaring　barrier　of　lights　at　a　misty　but　vociferous　audience　that
was　shouting　the　generous　English　bravo！　and　standing　up　to
applaud。　　He　raised　his　eyes　to　the　box　where　Helen　sat；　and　saw
her　staring　down　at　the　tumult；　with　her　hands　clasped　under　her
chin。　　Her　face　was　colorless；　but　lit　with　the　excitement　of　the
moment；　and　he　saw　that　she　was　crying。

Lady　Gower；　from　behind　her；　was　clapping　her　hands　delightedly。

〃But；　my　dear　Helen；〃　she　remonstrated　breathlessly；　〃you　never
told　me　he　was　so　good…looking。〃

〃Yes；〃　said　Helen；　rising　abruptly；　〃he　isvery　good…looking。〃

She　crossed　the　box　to　where　her　cloak　was　hanging；　but　instead
of　taking　it　down　buried　her　face　in　its　folds。

〃My　dear　child！〃　cried　Lady　Gower；　in　dismay。　　〃What　is　it？　　The
excitement　has　been　too　much　for　you。〃

〃No；　I　am　just　happy；〃　sobbed　Helen。　　〃I　am　just　happy　for　him。〃

〃We　will　go　and　tell　him　so　then；〃　said　Lady　Gower。　　〃I　am　sure
he　would　like　to　hear　it　from　you　to…night。〃

Philip　was　standing　in　the　centre　of　the　stage；　surrounded　by
many　pretty　ladies　and　elderly　men。　　Wimpole　was　hovering　over
him　as　though　he　had　claims　upon　him　by　the　right　of　discovery。

But　when　Philip　saw　Helen；　he　pushed　his　way　toward　her　eagerly
and　took　her　hand　in　both　of　his。

〃I　am　so　glad；　Phil；〃　she　said。　　She　felt　it　all　so　deeply　that
she　was　afraid　to　say　more；　but　that　meant　so　much　to　her　that
she　was　sure　he　would　understand。

He　had　planned　it　very　differently。　　For　a　year　he　had　dreamed
that；　on　the　first　night　of　his　play；　there　would　be　a　supper；
and　that　he　would　rise　and　drink　her　health；　and　tell　his　friends
and　the　world　that　she　was　the　woman　he　loved；　and　that　she　had
agreed　to　marry　him；　and　that　at　last　he　was　able；　through　the
success　of　his　play；　to　make　her　his　wife。

And　now　they　met　in　a　crowd　to　shake　hands；　and　she　went　her　way
with　one　of　her　grand　ladies；　and　he　was　left　among　a　group　of
chattering　strangers。　　The　great　English　playwright　took　him　by
the　hand　and　in　the　hearing　of　all；　praised　him　gracefully　and
kindly。　　It　did　not　matter　to　Philip　whether　the　older　playwright
believed　what　he　said　or　not；　he　knew　it　was　generously　meant。

〃I　envy　you　this；〃　the　great　man　was　saying。　　〃Don't　lose　any　of
it；　stay　and　listen　to　all　they　have　to　say。　　You　will　never　live
through　the　first　night　of　your　first　play　but　once。〃

〃Yes；　I　hear　them；〃　said　Philip；　nervously；　〃they　are　all　too
kind。　　But　I　don't　hear　the　voice　I　have　been　listening　for；〃　he
added　in　a　whisper。　　The　older　man　pressed　his　hand　again
quickly。　　〃My　dear　boy；〃　he　said；　〃I　am　sorry。〃

〃Thank　you；〃　Philip　answered。

Within　a　week　he　had　forgotten　the　great　man's　fine　words　of
praise；　but　the　clasp　of　his　hand　he　cherished　always。

Helen　met　Marion　as　she　was　leaving　the　stage　door　and　stopped　to
congratulate　her　on　her　success　in　the　new　part。　　Marion　was
radiant。　　To　Helen　she　seemed　obstreperously　happy　and　jubilant。

〃And；　Marion；〃　Helen　began　bravely；　〃I　also　want　to　congratulate
you　on　something　else。　　Youyouneither　of　you　have　told　me
yet；〃　she　stammered；　〃but　I　am　such　an　old　friend　of　both　that　I
will　not　be　kept　out　of　the　secret。〃　　At　these　words　Marion's　air
of　triumphant　gayety　vanished；　she　regarded　Helen's　troubled　eyes
closely　and　kindly。

〃What　secret；　Helen？〃　she　asked。

〃I　came　to　the　door　of　Philip's　room　the　other　day　when　you　did
not　know　I　was　there；〃　Helen　answered；　〃and　I　could　not　help
seeing　how　matters　were。　　And　I　do　congratulate　you　bothand
wish　youoh；　such　happiness！〃　　Without　a　word　Marion　dragged　her
back　down　the　passage　to　her　dressing…room；　and　closed　the　door。

〃Now　tell　me　what　you　mean；〃　she　said。

〃I　am　sorry　if　I　discovered　anything　you　didn't　want　known　yet；〃
said　Helen；　〃but　the　door　was　open。　　Mr。　Wimpole　had　just　left
you　and　had　not　shut　it；　and　I　could　not　help　seeing。〃

Marion　interrupted　her　with　an　eager　exclamation　of
enlightenment。

〃Oh；　you　were　there；　then；〃　she　cried。　　〃And　you？〃　she　asked
eagerly〃you　thought　Phil　cared　for　methat　we　are　engaged；　and
it　hurt　you；　you　are　sorry？　　Tell　me；〃　she　demanded；　〃are　you
sorry？〃

Helen　drew　back　and　stretched　out　her　hand　toward　the　door。

〃How　can　you！　she　exclaimed；　indignantly。　　〃You　have　no　right。〃

Marion　stood　between　her　and　the　door。

〃I　have　every　right；〃　she　said；　〃to　help　my　friends；　and　I　want
to　help　you　and　Philip。　　And　indeed　I　do　hope　you　ARE　sorry。　
I　hope　you　are　miserable。　　And　I'm　glad　you　saw　me　kiss　him。　
That　was　the　first　and　the　last　time；　and　I　did　it　because　I　was
happy　and　glad　for　him；　and　because　I　love　him　too；　but　not　in
the　least　in　the　way　he　loves　you。　　No　one　ever　loved　any　one　as
he　loves　you。　　And　it's　time　you　found　it　out。　　And　if　I　have
helped　to　make　you　find　it　out　I'm　glad；　and　I　don't　care　how
much　I　hurt　you。〃

〃Marion！〃　exclaimed　Helen；〃　what　does　it　mean？　　Do　you　mean
that　you　are　not　engaged；　that〃

〃Certainly　not；〃　Marion　answered。　　〃I　am　going　to　marry　Reggie。　
It　is　you　that　Philip　loves；　and　I　am　very　sorry　for　you　that　you
don't　love　him。〃

Helen　clasped　Marion's　hands　in　both　of　hers。

〃But；　Marion！〃　she　cried；　〃I　do；　oh；　I　do！〃


There　was　a　thick　yellow　fog　the　next　morning；　and　with　it　rain
and　a　sticky；　depressing　dampness　which　crept　through　the　window…
panes；　and　which　neither　a　fire　nor　blazing　gas…jets　could
overcome。

Philip　stood　in　front　of　the　fireplace　with　the　morning　papers
piled　high　on　the　centre…table　and　scattered　over　the　room　about
him。

He　had　read　them　all；　and　he　knew　now　what　it　was　to　wake　up
famous；　but　he　could　not　taste　it。　　Now　that　it　had　come　it　meant
nothing；　and　that　it　was　so　complete　a　triumph　only　made　it　the
harder。　　In　his　most　optimistic　dreams　he　had　never　imagined
success　so　satisfying　as　the　reality　had　proved　to　be；　but　in
his　dreams　Helen　had　always　held　the　chief　part；　and　without　her；
success　seemed　only　to　mock　him。

He　wanted　to　lay　it　all　before　her；　to　say；　〃If　you　are　pleased；
I　am　happy。　　If　you　are　satisfied；　then　I　am　content。　　It　was
done　for　you；　and　I　am　wholly　yours；　and　all　that　I　do　is　yours。〃

And；　as　though　in　answer　to　his　thoughts；　there　was　an　instant
knock　at　the　door；　and　Helen　entered　the　room　and　stood　smiling
at　him　across　the　table。

Her　eyes　were　lit　with　excitement；　and　spoke　with　many　emotions；
and　her　cheeks　were　brilliant　with　color。　　He　had　never　seen　her
look　more　beautiful。

〃Why；　Helen！〃　he　exclaimed；　〃how　good　of　you　to　come。　　Is　there
anything　wrong？　　Is　anything　the　matter？〃

She　tried　to　speak；　but　faltered；　and　smiled　at　him　appealingly。

〃What　is　it？〃　he　asked　in　great　concern。

Helen　drew　in　her　breath　quickly；　and　at　the　same　moment　motioned
him　awayand　he　stepped　back　and　stood　watching　her　in　much
perplexity。

With　her　eyes　fixed　on　his　she　raised　her　hands　to　her　head；
and　her　fingers　fumbled　with　the　knot　of　her　veil。　　She　pulled　it
loose；　and　then；　with　a　sudden　courage；　lifted　her　hat　proudly；
as　though　it　were　a　coronet；　and　placed　it　between　them　on　his
table。

〃Philip；〃　she　stammered；　wit