the three partners-第20章

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for　he　was　more　loyal　to　that　passion　that　had　brought　them

together　and　its　responsibilities　than　she　was。　　She　had　suffered

the　perils　and　pangs　of　maternity；　and　yet　had　only　the　mere　animal

yearning　for　her　offspring；　while　he　had　taken　over　the　toil　and

duty；　and　even　the　devotion；　of　parentage　himself。　　But　then　she

remembered　also　how　he　had　fascinated　hera　simple　schoolgirlby

his　sheer　domineering　strength；　and　how　the　objections　of　her

parents　to　this　coarse　and　common　man　had　forced　her　into　a

clandestine　intimacy　that　ended　in　her　complete　subjection　to　him。

She　remembered　the　birth　of　an　infant　whose　concealment　from　her

parents　and　friends　was　compassed　by　his　low　cunning；　she

remembered　the　late　atonement　of　marriage　preferred　by　the　man　she

had　already　begun　to　loathe　and　fear；　and　who　she　now　believed　was

eager　only　for　her　inheritance。　　She　remembered　her　abject

compliance　through　the　greater　fear　of　the　world；　the　stormy　scenes

that　followed　their　ill…omened　union；　her　final　abandonment　of　her

husband；　and　the　efforts　of　her　friends　and　family　who　had　rescued

the　last　of　her　property　from　him。　　She　was　glad　she　remembered　it；

she　dwelt　upon　it；　upon　his　cruelty；　his　coarseness　and　vulgarity；

until　she　saw；　as　she　honestly　believed；　the　hidden　springs　of　his

affection　for　their　child。　　It　was　HIS　child　in　nature；　however　it

might　have　favored　her　in　looks；　it　was　HIS　own　brutal　SELF　he　was

worshiping　in　his　brutal　progeny。　　How　else　could　it　have　ignored

HERits　own　mother？　　She　never　doubted　the　truth　of　what　he　had

told　hershe　had　seen　it　in　his　own　triumphant　eyes。　　And　yet　she

would　have　made　a　kind　mother；　she　remembered　with　a　smile　and　a

slight　rising　of　color　the　affection　of　Barker's　baby　for　her；　she

remembered　with　a　deepening　of　that　color　the　thrill　of　satisfaction

she　had　felt　in　her　husband's　fulmination　against　Mrs。　Barker；　and；

more　than　all；　she　felt　in　his　blind　and　foolish　hatred　of　Barker

himself　a　delicious　condonation　of　the　strange　feeling　that　had

sprung　up　in　her　heart　for　Barker's　simple；　straightforward　nature。

How　could　HE　understand；　how　could　THEY　understand　（by　the　plural

she　meant　Mrs。　Barker　and　Horncastle）；　a　character　so　innately

noble。　　In　her　strange　attraction　towards　him　she　had　felt　a

charming　sense　of　what　she　believed　was　a　superior　and　even　matronly

protection；　in　the　utter　isolation　of　her　life　nowand　with　her

husband's　foolish　abuse　of　him　ringing　in　her　earsit　seemed　a

sacred　duty。　　She　had　lost　a　son。　　Providence　had　sent　her　an　ideal

friend　to　replace　him。　　And　this　was　quite　consistent；　too；　with　a

faint　smile　that　began　to　play　about　her　mouth　as　she　recalled　some

instances　of　Barker's　delightful　and　irresistible　youthfulness。



There　was　a　clatter　of　hoofs　and　the　sound　of　many　voices　from　the

street。　　Mrs。　Horncastle　knew　it　was　the　down　coach　changing

horses；　it　would　be　off　again　in　a　few　moments；　and；　no　doubt；

bearing　her　husband　away　with　it。　　A　new　feeling　of　relief　came

over　her　as　she　at　last　heard　the　warning　〃All　aboard！〃　and　the

great　vehicle　clattered　and　rolled　into　the　darkness；　trailing　its

burning　lights　across　her　walls　and　ceiling。　　But　now　she　heard

steps　on　the　staircase；　a　pause　before　her　room；　a　whisper　of

voices；　the　opening　of　the　door；　the　rustle　of　a　skirt；　and　a

little　feminine　cry　of　protest　as　a　man　apparently　tried　to　follow

the　figure　into　the　room。　　〃No；　no！　　I　tell　you　NO！〃　remonstrated

the　woman's　voice　in　a　hurried　whisper。　　〃It　won't　do。　　Everybody

knows　me　here。　　You　must　not　come　in　now。　　You　must　wait　to　be

announced　by　the　servant。　　Hush！　　Go！〃



There　was　a　slight　struggle；　the　sound　of　a　kiss；　and　the　woman

succeeded　in　finally　shutting　the　door。　　Then　she　walked　slowly；

but　with　a　certain　familiarity　towards　the　mantel；　struck　a　match

and　lit　the　candle。　　The　light　shone　upon　the　bright　eyes　and

slightly　flushed　face　of　Mrs。　Barker。　　But　the　motionless　woman　in

the　chair　had　recognized　her　voice　and　the　voice　of　her　companion

at　once。　　And　then　their　eyes　met。



Mrs。　Barker　drew　back；　but　did　not　utter　a　cry。　　Mrs。　Horncastle；

with　eyes　even　brighter　than　her　companion's；　smiled。　　The　red

deepened　in　Mrs。　Barker's　cheek。



〃This　is　my　room！〃　she　said　indignantly；　with　a　sweeping　gesture

around　the　walls。



〃I　should　judge　so；〃　said　Mrs。　Horncastle；　following　the　gesture；

〃but；〃　she　added　quietly；　〃they　put　ME　into　it。　　It　appears；

however；　they　did　not　expect　you。〃



Mrs。　Barker　saw　her　mistake。　　〃No；　no；〃　she　said　apologetically；

〃of　course　not。〃　　Then　she　added；　with　nervous　volubility；　sitting

down　and　tugging　at　her　gloves；　〃You　see；　I　just　ran　down　from

Marysville　to　take　a　look　at　my　father's　old　house　on　my　way　to

Hymettus。　　I　hope　I　haven't　disturbed　you。　　Perhaps；〃　she　said；

with　sudden　eagerness；　〃you　were　asleep　when　I　came　in！〃



〃No；〃　said　Mrs。　Horncastle；　〃I　was　not　sleeping　nor　dreaming。　　I

heard　you　come　in。〃



〃Some　of　these　men　are　such　idiots；〃　said　Mrs。　Barker；　with　a　half…

hysterical　laugh。　　〃They　seem　to　think　if　a　woman　accepts　the　least

courtesy　from　them　they've　a　right　to　be　familiar。　　But　I　fancy

that　fellow　was　a　little　astonished　when　I　shut　the　door　in　his

face。〃



〃I　fancy　he　WAS；〃　returned　Mrs。　Horncastle　dryly。　　〃But　I　shouldn't

call　Mr。　Van　Loo　an　idiot。　　He　has　the　reputation　of　being　a

cautious　business　man。〃



Mrs。　Barker　bit　her　lip。　　Her　companion　had　been　recognized。　　She

rose　with　a　slight　flirt　of　her　skirt。　　〃I　suppose　I　must　go　and

get　a　room；　there　was　nobody　in　the　office　when　I　came。　　Everything

is　badly　managed　here　since　my　father　took　away　the　best　servants

to　Hymettus。〃　　She　moved　with　affected　carelessness　towards　the

door；　when　Mrs。　Horncastle；　without　rising　from　her　seat；　said：



〃Why　not　stay　here？〃



Mrs。　Barker　brightened　for　a　moment。　　〃Oh；〃　she　said；　with　polite

deprecation；　〃I　couldn't　think　of　turning　you　out。〃



〃I　don't　intend　you　shall；〃　said　Mrs。　Horncastle。　　〃We　will　stay

here　together　until　you　go　with　me　to　Hymettus；　or　until　Mr。　Van

Loo　leaves　the　hotel。　　He　will　hardly　attempt　to　come　in　here　again

if　I　remain。〃



Mrs。　Barker；　with　a　half…laugh；　sat　down　irresolutely。　　Mrs。

Horncastle　gazed　at　her　curiously；　she　was　evidently　a　novice　in

this　sort　of　thing。　　But；　strange　to　say；and　I　leave　the　ethics

of　this　for　the　sex　to　settle；the　fact　did　not　soften　Mrs。

Horncastle's　heart；　nor　in　the　least　qualify　her　attitude　towards

the　younger　woman。　　After　an　awkward　pause　Mrs。　Barker　rose　again。

〃Well；　it's　very　good　of　you；　andand…I'll　just　run　out　and　wash

my　hands　and　get　the　dust　off　me；　and　come　back。〃



〃No；　Mrs。　Barker；〃　said　Mrs。　Horncastle；　rising　and　approaching

her；　〃you　will　first　wash　your　hands　of　this　Mr。　Van　Loo；　and　get

some　of　the　dust　of　the　rendezvous　off　you　before　you　do　anything

else。　　You　CAN　do　it　by　simply　telling　him；　SHOULD　YOU　MEET　HIM　IN

THE　HALL；　that　I　was　sitting　here　when　he　came　in；　and　heard

EVERYTHING！　　Depend　upon　it；　he　won't　trouble　you　again。〃



But　Mrs。　Barker；　though　inexperienced　in　love；　was　a　good　fighter。

The　best　of　the　sex　are。　　She　dropped　into　the　rocking…chair；　and

began　rocking　backwards　and　forwards　while　still　tugging　at　her

gloves；　and　said；　in　a　gradually　warming　voice；　〃I　certainly　shall

not　magnify　Mr。　Van　Loo's　silliness　to　that　importance。　　And　I　have

yet　to　learn　what　you　mean　by　talking　about　a　rendezvous！　　And　I

want　to　know；〃　she　continued；　suddenly　stopping　her　rocking　and

tilting　the　rockers　impertinently　behind　her；　as；　with　her　elbows

squared　on　the　chair　arms；　she　tilted　her　own　face　defiantly　up

into　Mrs。　Horncastle's；　〃how　a　woman　in　your　positionwho　doesn't

live　with　her　husbanddares　to　talk　to　ME！〃



There　was　a　lull　before　the　storm。　　Mrs。　Horncastle　approached

nearer；　and；　laying　her　hand　on　the　back　of　the　chair；　leaned　over

her；　and；　with　a　white　face　and　a　metallic　ring　in　h