Bertie had dashed to her rescue with a stable fork and driven the beast
off in the nick of time。
〃It was touch and go！ She threw her niblick at it； but that didn't
stop it。 In another moment she would have been crushed beneath its
hoofs；〃 panted Mrs。 Yonelet。
〃The animal is not safe；〃 said Teresa； handing her agitated guest a
cup of tea。 〃I forget if you take sugar。 I suppose the solitary life it
leads has soured its temper。 There are muffins in the grate。 It's not
my fault； I've tried to get it a mate for ever so long。 You don't know
of anyone with a lady elk for sale or exchange； do you？〃 she asked the
company generally。
But Mrs。 Yonelet was in no humour to listen to talk of elk marriages。
152
… Page 153…
BEASTS AND SUPER…BEASTS
The mating of two human beings was the subject uppermost in her mind；
and the opportunity for advancing her pet project was too valuable to be
neglected。
〃Teresa；〃 she exclaimed impressively； 〃after those two young people
have been thrown together so dramatically； nothing can be quite the
same again between them。 Bertie has done more than save Dora's life；
he has earned her affection。 One cannot help feeling that Fate has
consecrated them for one another。〃
〃Exactly what the vicar's wife said when Bertie saved Sybil from the
elk a year or two ago；〃 observed Teresa placidly； 〃I pointed out to her
that he had rescued Mirabel Hicks from the same predicement a few
months previously； and that priority really belonged to the gardener's
boy； who had been rescued in the January of that year。 There is a good
deal of sameness in country life； you know。〃
〃It seems to be a very dangerous animal；〃 said one of the guests。
〃That's what the mother of the gardener's boy said；〃 remarked Teresa；
〃she wanted me to have it destroyed； but I pointed out to her that she had
eleven children and I had only one elk。 I also gave her a black silk skirt；
she said that though there hadn't been a funeral in her family she felt as
if there had been。 Anyhow； we parted friends。 I can't offer you a silk
skirt； Emily； but you may have another cup of tea。 As I have already
remarked； there are muffins in the grate。〃
Teresa dosed the discussion； having deftly conveyed the impression
that she considered the mother of the gardener's boy had shown a far
more reasonable spirit than the parents of other elk…assaulted victims。
〃Teresa is devoid of feeling；〃 said Mrs。 Yonelet afterwards to the
vicar's wife； 〃to sit there； talking of muffins； with an appalling tragedy
only narrowly averted … 〃
〃Of course you know whom she really intends Bertie to marry？〃
asked the vicar's wife； 〃I've noticed it for some time。 The Bickelbys'
German governess。〃
〃A German governess！ What an idea！〃 gasped Mrs。 Yonelet。
〃She's of quite good family； I believe；〃 said the vicar's wife； 〃and not
at all the mouse…in…the…back… ground sort of person that governesses are
153
… Page 154…
BEASTS AND SUPER…BEASTS
usually supposed to be。 In fact； next to Teresa； she's about the most
assertive and combative personality in the neighbourhood。 She's
pointed out to my husband all sorts of errors in his sermons； and she
gave Sir Laurence a public lecture on how he ought to handle the hounds。
You know how sensitive Sir Laurence is about any criticism of his
Mastership； and to have a governess laying down the law to him nearly
drove him into a fit。 She's behaved like that to every one； except； of
course； Teresa； and every one has been defensively rude to her in return。
The Bickelbys are simply too afraid of her to get rid of her。 Now isn't
that exactly the sort of woman whom Teresa would take a delight in
installing as her successor？ Imagine the discomfort and awkwardness
in the county if we suddenly found that she was to be the future
hostess at the Hall。 Teresa's only regret will be that she won't be alive
to see it。〃
〃But；〃 objected Mrs。 Yonelet； 〃surely Bertie hasn't shown the least
sign of being attracted in that quarter？〃
〃Oh； she's quite nice…looking in a way； and dresses well； and plays a
good game of tennis。 She often comes across the park with messages
from the Bickelby mansion； and one of these days Bertie will rescue her
from the elk； which has become almost a habit with him； and Teresa
will say that Fate has consecrated them to one another。 Bertie might not
be disposed to pay much attention to the consecrations of Fate； but he
would not dream of opposing his grandmother。〃
The vicar's wife spoke with the quiet authority of one who has
intuitive knowledge； and in her heart of hearts Mrs。 Yonelet believed her。
Six months later the elk had to be destroyed。 In a fit of exceptional
moroseness it had killed the Bickelbys' German governess。 It was an
irony of its fate that it should achieve popularity in the last moments of
its career； at any rate； it established； the record of being the only living
thing that had permanently thwarted Teresa Thropplestance's plans。
Dora Yonelet broke off her engagement with an Indian civilian； and
married Bertie three months after his grandmother's death … Teresa did
not long survive the German governess fiasco。 At Christmas time
every year young Mrs。 Thropplestance hangs an extra large festoon of
154
… Page 155…
BEASTS AND SUPER…BEASTS
evergreens on the elk horns that decorate the hall。
〃It was a fearsome beast；〃 she observes to Bertie； 〃but I always feel
that it was instrumental in bringing us together。〃
Which； of course； was true。
〃DOWN PENS〃
〃HAVE you written to thank the Froplinsons for what they sent
us？〃 asked Egbert。
〃No；〃 said Janetta； with a note of tired defiance in her voice； 〃I've
written eleven letters to…day expressing surprise and gratitude for sundry
unmerited gifts； but I haven't written to the Froplinsons。〃
〃Some one will have to write to them；〃 said Egbert。
〃I don't dispute the necessity； but I don't think the some one should
be me；〃 said Janetta。 〃I wouldn't mind writing a letter of angry
recrimination or heartless satire to some suitable recipient； in fact； I
should rather enjoy it； but I've come to the end of my capacity for
expressing servile amiability。 Eleven letters to…day and nine yesterday；
all couched in the same strain of ecstatic thankfulness： really； you can't
expect me to sit down to another。 There is such a thing as writing
oneself out。〃
〃I've written nearly as many；〃 said Egbert； 〃and I've had my usual
business correspondence to get through； too。 Besides； I don't know
what it was that the Froplinsons sent us。〃
〃A William the Conqueror calendar；〃 said Janetta； 〃with a quotation
of one of his great thoughts for every day in the year。〃
〃Impossible；〃 said Egbert； 〃he didn't have three hundred and sixty…
five thoughts in the whole of his life； or； if he did； he kept them to
himself。 He was a man of action； not of introspection。〃
〃Well； it was William Wordsworth； then；〃 said Janetta； 〃I know
William came into it somewhere。〃
〃That sounds more probable；〃 said Egbert； 〃well； let's collaborate on
this letter of thanks and get it done。 I'll dictate； and you can scribble it
down。 'Dear Mrs。 Froplinson … thank you and your husband so much
for the very pretty calendar you sent us。 It was very good of you to
think of us。' 〃
155
… Page 156…
BEASTS AND SUPER…BEASTS
〃You can't possibly say that；〃 said Janetta； laying down her pen。
〃It's what I always do say； and what every one says to me；〃 protested
Egbert。
〃We sent them something on the twenty…second；〃 said Janetta； 〃so
they simply HAD to think of us。 There was no getting away from it。〃
〃What did we send them？〃 asked Egbert gloomily。
〃Bridge…markers
小提示：按 回车 [Enter] 键 返回书目，按 ← 键 返回上一页， 按 → 键 进入下一页。
赞一下
添加书签加入书架