novel notes- 第29部分

〃'Oh！　　Mr。　MacShaughnassy；'　he　burst　out；　with　a　ring　of　genuine　manliness　in　his　voice；　'you　don't　know　'ow　good；　'ow　beautiful　she　is。　　I　ain't　fit　to　breathe　'er　name　in　my　thoughts。　　An'　she's　so　clever。　　I　met　'er　at　that　Toynbee　'All。　　There　was　a　party　of　toffs　there　all　together。　　You　would　'ave　enjoyed　it；　Mr。　MacShaughnassy；　if　you　could　'ave　'eard　'er；　she　was　makin'　fun　of　the　pictures　and　the　people　round　about　to　'er　pasuch　wit；　such　learnin'；　such　'aughtiness。　　I　follered　them　out　and　opened　the　carriage　door　for　'er；　and　she　just　drew　'er　skirt　aside　and　looked　at　me　as　if　I　was　the　dirt　in　the　road。　　I　wish　I　was；　for　then　perhaps　one　day　I'd　kiss　'er　feet。'

〃His　emotion　was　so　genuine　that　I　did　not　feel　inclined　to　laugh　at　him。　　'Did　you　find　out　who　she　was？'　I　asked。

〃'Yes；'　he　answered；　'I　'eard　the　old　gentleman　say　〃'Ome〃　to　the　coachman；　and　I　ran　after　the　carriage　all　the　way　to　'Arley　Street。　Trevior's　'er　name；　Hedith　Trevior。'

〃'Miss　Trevior！'　I　cried；　'a　tall；　dark　girl；　with　untidy　hair　and　rather　weak　eyes？'

〃'Tall　and　dark；'　he　replied　'with　'air　that　seems　tryin'　to　reach　'er　lips　to　kiss　'em；　and　heyes；　light　blue；　like　a　Cambridge　necktie。　　A　'undred　and　seventy…three　was　the　number。'

〃'That's　right；'　I　said；　'my　dear　Smith；　this　is　becoming　complicated。　　You've　met　the　lady　and　talked　to　her　for　half　an　houras　Smythe；　don't　you　remember？'

〃'No；'　he　said；　after　cogitating　for　a　minute；　'carn't　say　I　do；　I　never　can　remember　much　about　Smythe。　　He　allers　seems　to　me　like　a　bad　dream。'

〃'Well；　you　met　her；'　I　said；　'I'm　positive。　　I　introduced　you　to　her　myself；　and　she　confided　to　me　afterwards　that　she　thought　you　a　most　charming　man。'

〃'Nodid　she？'　he　remarked；　evidently　softening　in　his　feelings　towards　Smythe；　'and　did　I　like　'ER？'

〃'Well；　to　tell　the　truth；'　I　answered；　'I　don't　think　you　did。　　You　looked　intensely　bored。'

〃'The　Juggins；'　I　heard　him　mutter　to　himself；　and　then　he　said　aloud：　　'D'yer　think　I　shall　get　a　chance　o'　seein'　'er　agen；　when　I'mwhen　I'm　Smythe？'

〃'Of　course；'　I　said；　'I'll　take　you　round　myself。　　By　the　bye；'　I　added；　jumping　up　and　looking　on　the　mantelpiece；　'I've　got　a　card　for　a　Cinderella　at　their　placesomething　to　do　with　a　birthday。　Will　you　be　Smythe　on　November　the　twentieth？'

〃'Yeas；'　he　replied；　'oh；　yasbound　to　be　by　then。'

〃'Very　well；　then；'　I　said；　'I'll　call　round　for　you　at　the　Albany；　and　we'll　go　together。'

〃He　rose　and　stood　smoothing　his　hat　with　his　sleeve。　　'Fust　time　I've　ever　looked　for'ard　to　bein'　that　hanimated　corpse；　Smythe；'　he　said　slowly。　　'Blowed　if　I　don't　try　to　'urry　it　up'pon　my　sivey　I　will。'

〃'He'll　be　no　good　to　you　till　the　twentieth；'　I　reminded　him。　'And；'　I　added；　as　I　stood　up　to　ring　the　bell；　'you're　sure　it's　a　genuine　case　this　time。　　You　won't　be　going　back　to　'Liza？'

〃'Oh；　don't　talk　'bout　'Liza　in　the　same　breath　with　Hedith；'　he　replied；　'it　sounds　like　sacrilege。'

〃He　stood　hesitating　with　the　handle　of　the　door　in　his　hand。　　At　last；　opening　it　and　looking　very　hard　at　his　hat；　he　said；　'I'm　goin'　to　'Arley　Street　now。　　I　walk　up　and　down　outside　the　'ouse　every　evening；　and　sometimes；　when　there　ain't　no　one　lookin'；　I　get　a　chance　to　kiss　the　doorstep。'

〃He　disappeared；　and　I　returned　to　my　chair。

〃On　November　twentieth；　I　called　for　him　according　to　promise。　　I　found　him　on　the　point　of　starting　for　the　club：　　he　had　forgotten　all　about　our　appointment。　　I　reminded　him　of　it；　and　he　with　difficulty　recalled　it；　and　consented；　without　any　enthusiasm；　to　accompany　me。　　By　a　few　artful　hints　to　her　mother　（including　a　casual　mention　of　his　income）；　I　manoeuvred　matters　so　that　he　had　Edith　almost　entirely　to　himself　for　the　whole　evening。　　I　was　proud　of　what　I　had　done；　and　as　we　were　walking　home　together　I　waited　to　receive　his　gratitude。

〃As　it　seemed　slow　in　coming；　I　hinted　my　expectations。

〃'Well；'　I　said；　'I　think　I　managed　that　very　cleverly　for　you。'

〃'Managed　what　very　cleverly？'　said　he。

〃'Why；　getting　you　and　Miss　Trevior　left　together　for　such　a　long　time　in　the　conservatory；'　I　answered；　somewhat　hurt；　'I　fixed　that　for　you。'

〃'Oh；　it　was　YOU；　was　it；'　he　replied；　'I've　been　cursing　Providence。'

〃I　stopped　dead　in　the　middle　of　the　pavement；　and　faced　him。　'Don't　you　love　her？'　I　said。

〃'Love　her！'　he　repeated；　in　the　utmost　astonishment；　'what　on　earth　is　there　in　her　to　love？　　She's　nothing　but　a　bad　translation　of　a　modern　French　comedy；　with　the　interest　omitted。'

〃This　'tired'　meto　use　an　Americanism。　　'You　came　to　me　a　month　ago；'　I　said；　'raving　over　her；　and　talking　about　being　the　dirt　under　her　feet　and　kissing　her　doorstep。'

〃He　turned　very　red。　　'I　wish；　my　dear　Mac；'　he　said；　'you　would　pay　me　the　compliment　of　not　mistaking　me　for　that　detestable　little　cad　with　whom　I　have　the　misfortune　to　be　connected。　　You　would　greatly　oblige　me　if　next　time　he　attempts　to　inflict　upon　you　his　vulgar　drivel　you　would　kindly　kick　him　downstairs。'

〃'No　doubt；'　he　added；　with　a　sneer；　as　we　walked　on；　'Miss　Trevior　would　be　his　ideal。　　She　is　exactly　the　type　of　woman；　I　should　say；　to　charm　that　type　of　man。　　For　myself；　I　do　not　appreciate　the　artistic　and　literary　female。'

〃'Besides；'　he　continued；　in　a　deeper　tone；　'you　know　my　feelings。　I　shall　never　care　for　any　other　woman　but　Elizabeth。'

〃'And　she？'　I　said

〃'She；'　he　sighed；　'is　breaking　her　heart　for　Smith。'

〃'Why　don't　you　tell　her　you　are　Smith？'　I　asked。

〃'I　cannot；'　he　replied；　'not　even　to　win　her。　　Besides；　she　would　not　believe　me。'

〃We　said　good…night　at　the　corner　of　Bond　Street；　and　I　did　not　see　him　again　till　one　afternoon　late　in　the　following　March；　when　I　ran　against　him　in　Ludgate　Circus。　　He　was　wearing　his　transition　blue　suit　and　bowler　hat。　　I　went　up　to　him　and　took　his　arm。

〃'Which　are　you？'　I　said。

〃'Neither；　for　the　moment；'　he　replied；　'thank　God。　　Half　an　hour　ago　I　was　Smythe；　half　an　hour　hence　I　shall　be　Smith。　　For　the　present　half…hour　I　am　a　man。'

〃There　was　a　pleasant；　hearty　ring　in　his　voice；　and　a　genial；　kindly　light　in　his　eyes；　and　he　held　himself　like　a　frank　gentleman。

〃'You　are　certainly　an　improvement　upon　both　of　them；'　I　said。

〃He　laughed　a　sunny　laugh；　with　just　the　shadow　of　sadness　dashed　across　it。　　'Do　you　know　my　idea　of　Heaven？'　he　said。

〃'No；'　I　replied；　somewhat　surprised　at　the　question。

〃'Ludgate　Circus；'　was　the　answer。　　'The　only　really　satisfying　moments　of　my　life；'　he　said；　'have　been　passed　in　the　neighbourhood　of　Ludgate　Circus。　　I　leave　Piccadilly　an　unhealthy；　unwholesome　prig。　　At　Charing　Cross　I　begin　to　feel　my　blood　stir　in　my　veins。　From　Ludgate　Circus　to　Cheapside　I　am　a　human　thing　with　human　feeling　throbbing　in　my　heart；　and　human　thought　throbbing　in　my　brainwith　fancies；　sympathies；　and　hopes。　　At　the　Bank　my　mind　becomes　a　blank。　　As　I　walk　on；　my　senses　grow　coarse　and　blunted；　and　by　the　time　I　reach　Whitechapel　I　am　a　poor　little　uncivilised　cad。　　On　the　return　journey　it　is　the　same　thing　reversed。'

〃'Why　not　live　in　Ludgate　Circus；'　I　said；　'and　be　always　as　you　are　now？'

〃'Because；'　he　answered；　'man　is　a　pendulum；　and　must　travel　his　arc。'

〃'My　dear　Mac；'　said　he；　laying　his　hand　upon　my　shoulder；　'there　is　only　one　good　thing　about　me；　and　that　is　a　moral。　　Man　is　as　God　made　him：　　don't　be　so　sure　that　you　can　take　him　to　pieces　and　improve　him。　　All　my　life　I　have　sought　to　make　myself　an　unnaturally　superior　person。　　Nature　has　retaliated　by　making　me　also　an　unnaturally　inferior　person。　　Nature　abhors　lopsidedness。　She　turns　out　man　as　a　whole；　to　be　developed　as　a　whole。　　I　always　wonder；　whenever　I　come　across　a　supernaturally　pious；　a　supernaturally　moral；　a　supernaturally　cultured　person；　if　they　also　have　a　reverse　self。'

〃I　was　shocked　at　his　suggested　argument；　and　walked　by　his　side　for　a　while　without　speaking。　　At　last；　feeling　curious　on　the　subject；　I　asked　him　how　his　various　love　affairs　were　progressing。

〃'Oh；　as　usual；'　he　replied；　'in　and　out　of　a　cul　de　sac。　　When　I　am　Smythe　I　love　Eliza；　and　Eliza　loathes　me。　　When　I　am　Smith　I　love　Edith；　and　the　mere　sight　of　me　makes　her　shudder。　　It　is　as　unfortunate　for　them　as　for　me。　　I　am　not　saying　it　boastfully。　Heaven　knows　it　is　an　added　draught　of　misery　in　my　cup；　but　it　is　a　fact　that　Eliza　is　literally　pining　away　for　me　as　Smith；　andas　Smith　I　find　it　impossible　to　be　even　civil　to　her；　while　Edith；　poor　girl；　has　been　foolish　enough　to　set　her　heart　on　me　as　Smythe；　and　as　Smythe　she　seems　to　me　but　the　skin　of　a　woman　stuffed　with　the　husks　of　learning；　and　rags　torn　from　the　corpse　of　wit。'

〃I　remained　absorbed　in　my　own　thoughts　for　some　time；　and　did　not　come　out　of　them　till　we　were　crossing　the　Minories。　　Then；　the　idea　suddenly　occurring　to　me；　I　said：

〃'Why　don't　you　get　a　new　girl　altogether？　　There　must　be　medium　girls　that　both　Smith　and　Smythe　could　like；　and　that　would　put　up　with　both　of　you。'

〃'No　more　girls　for　this　child；'　he　answered　'they're　more　trouble　than　they're　worth。　　Those　yer　want　yer　carn't　get；　and　those　yer　can　'ave；　yer　don't　want。'

〃I　started；　and　looked　up　at　him。　　He　was　slouching　along　with　his　hands　in　his　pockets；　and　a　vacuous　look　in　his　face。

〃A　sudden　repulsion　seized　me。　　'I　must　go　now；'　I　said；　stopping。　'I'd　no　idea　I　had　come　so　far。'

〃He　seemed　as　glad　to　be　rid　of　me　as　I　to　be　rid　of　him。　　'Oh；　must　yer；'　he　said；　holding　out　his　hand。　　'Well；　so　long。'

〃We　shook　hands　carelessly。　　He　disappeared　in　the　crowd；　and　that　is　the　last　I　have　ever　seen　of　him。〃


〃Is　that　a　true　story？〃　asked　Jephson。

〃Well；　I've　altered　the　names　and　dates；〃　said　MacShaughnassy；　〃but　the　main　facts　you　can　rely　upon。〃



CHAPTER　X



The　final　question　discussed　at　our　last　meeting　been：　　What　shall　our　hero　be？　　MacShaughnassy　had　suggested　an　author；　with　a　critic　for　the　villain。　　My　idea　was　a　stockbroker；　with　an　undercurrent　of　romance　in　his　nature。　　Said　Jephson；　who　has　a　practical　mind：　〃The　question　is　not　what　we　like；　but　what　the　female　novel…reader　likes。〃

〃That　is　so；〃　agreed　MacShaughnassy。　　〃I　propose　that　we　collect　feminine　opinion　upon　this　point。　　I　will　write　t