the lion and the unicorn- 第7部分

Carroll　leaned　over　and　took　both　of　Marion's　hands　in　one　of
his。

〃It's　all　right；〃　he　said；　〃the　author　insists。〃

Wimpole　waved　his　stick　again　as　though　it　were　the　magic　wand　of
the　good　fairy。

〃You　shall　have　it；〃　he　said。　　〃I　recall　your　performance　in　'The
New　Boy'　with　pleasure。　　I　take　the　play；　and　Miss　Cavendish
shall　be　cast　for　Nancy。　　We　shall　begin　rehearsals　at　once。　　I
hope　you　are　a　quick　study。〃

〃I'm　letter…perfect　now｛；｝〃　laughed　Marion。

Wimpole　turned　at　the　door　and　nodded　to　them。　　They　were　both　so
young；　so　eager；　and　so　jubilant　that　he　felt　strangely　old　and
out　of　it。　　〃Good…by；　then；〃　he　said。

〃Good…by；　sir；〃　they　both　chorussed。　　And　Marion　cried　after
him；　〃And　thank　you　a　thousand　times。〃

He　turned　again　and　looked　back　at　them；　but　in　their　rejoicing
they　had　already　forgotten　him。　　〃Bless　you；　my　children；〃　he
said；　smiling。　　As　he　was　about　to　close　the　door　a　young　girl
came　down　the　passage　toward　it；　and　as　she　was　apparently　going
to　Carroll's　rooms；　the　actor　left　the　door　open　behind　him。

Neither　Marion　nor　Carroll　had　noticed　his　final　exit。　　They　were
both　gazing　at　each　other　as　though；　could　they　find　speech；　they
would　ask　if　it　were　true。

〃It's　come　at　last；　Marion；〃　Philip　said；　with　an　uncertain
voice。

〃I　could　weep；〃　cried　Marion。　　〃　Philip；〃　she　exclaimed；　〃I　would
rather　see　that　play　succeed　than　any　play　ever　written；　and　I
would　rather　play　that　part　in　it　thanOh；　Philip；〃　she　ended。　
〃I'm　so　proud　of　you！〃　and　rising；　she　threw　her　arms　about　his
neck　and　sobbed　on　his　shoulder。

Carroll　raised　one　of　her　hands　and　kissed　the　tips　of　her
fingers　gently。　　〃I　owe　it　to　you；　Marion；〃　he　said〃all　to
you。〃

This　was　the　tableau　that　was　presented　through　the　open　door　to
Miss　Helen　Cabot；　hurrying　on　her　errand　of　restitution　and　good…
will；　and　with　Philip's　ring　and　watch　clasped　in　her　hand。　　They
had　not　heard　her；　nor　did　they　see　her　at　the　door；　so　she　drew
back　quickly　and　ran　along　the　passage　and　down　the　stairs　into
the　street。

She　did　not　need　now　to　analyze　her　feelings。　　They　were　only　too
evident。　　For　she　could　translate　what　she　had　just　seen　as
meaning　only　one　thingthat　she　had　considered　Philip's　love　so
lightly　that　she　had　not　felt　it　passing　away　from　her　until　her
neglect　had　killed　ituntil　it　was　too　late。　　And　now　that　it
was　too　late　she　felt　that　without　it　her　life　could　not　go　on。　
She　tried　to　assure　herself　that　only　the　fact　that　she　had　lost
it　made　it　seem　invaluable；　but　this　thought　did　not　comfort
hershe　was　not　deceived　by　it；　she　knew　that　at　last　she　cared
for　him　deeply　and　entirely。　　In　her　distress　she　blamed　herself
bitterly；　but　she　also　blamed　Philip　no　less　bitterly　for　having
failed　to　wait　for　her。　　〃He　might　have　known　that　I　must　love
him　in　time；〃　she　repeated　to　herself　again　and　again。　　She
was　so　unhappy　that　her　letter　congratulating　Philip　on　his　good
fortune　in　having　his　comedy　accepted　seemed　to　him　cold　and
unfeeling；　and　as　his　success　meant　for　him　only　what　it　meant　to
her；　he　was　hurt　and　grievously　disappointed。

He　accordingly　turned　the　more　readily　to　Marion；　whose　interests
and　enthusiasm　at　the　rehearsals　of　the　piece　seemed　in　contrast
most　friendly　and　unselfish。　　He　could　not　help　but　compare　the
attitude　of　the　two　girls　at　this　time；　when　the　failure　or
success　of　his　best　work　was　still　undecided。　　He　felt　that　as
Helen　took　so　little　interest　in　his　success　he　could　not　dare　to
trouble　her　with　his　anxieties　concerning　it；　and　she　attributed
his　silence　to　his　preoccupation　and　interest　in　Marion。　　So　the
two　grew　apart；　each　misunderstanding　the　other　and　each　troubled
in　spirit　at　the　other's　indifference。

The　first　night　of　the　play　justified　all　that　Marion　and　Wimpole
had　claimed　for　it；　and　was　a　great　personal　triumph　for　the　new
playwright。　　The　audience　was　the　typical　first…night
audience　of　the　class　which　Charles　Wimpole　always　commanded。　　It
was　brilliant；　intelligent；　and　smart；　and　it　came　prepared　to　be
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