The flirtation which was thus perennially4 restored to its old-time footing owed its longevity5 more to the enterprising solicitude6 of Miss McQuade than to any conscious sentimental7 effort on the part of Youghal himself. Molly McQuade was known to her neighbours in a minor8 hunting shire as a hard-riding conventionally unconventional type of young woman, who came naturally into the classification, “a good sort.” She was just sufficiently9 good-looking, sufficiently reticent10 about her own illnesses, when she had any, and sufficiently appreciative11 of her neighbours’ gardens, children and hunters to be generally popular. Most men liked her, and the percentage of women who disliked her was not inconveniently12 high. One of these days, it was assumed, she would marry a brewer13 or a Master of Otter14 Hounds, and, after a brief interval15, be known to the world as the mother of a boy or two at Malvern or some similar seat of learning. The romantic side of her nature was altogether unguessed by the countryside.
Her romances were mostly in serial16 form and suffered perhaps in fervour from their disconnected course what they gained in length of days. Her affectionate interest in the several young men who figured in her affairs of the heart was perfectly17 honest, and she certainly made no attempt either to conceal18 their separate existences, or to play them off one against the other. Neither could it be said that she was a husband hunter; she had made up her mind what sort of man she was likely to marry, and her forecast did not differ very widely from that formed by her local acquaintances. If her married life were eventually to turn out a failure, at least she looked forward to it with very moderate expectations. Her love affairs she put on a very different footing and apparently19 they were the all-absorbing element in her life. She possessed20 the happily constituted temperament21 which enables a man or woman to be a “pluralist,” and to observe the sage22 precaution of not putting all one’s eggs into one basket. Her demands were not exacting23; she required of her affinity24 that he should be young, good-looking, and at least, moderately amusing; she would have preferred him to be invariably faithful, but, with her own example before her, she was prepared for the probability, bordering on certainty, that he would be nothing of the sort. The philosophy of the “Garden of Kama” was the compass by which she steered25 her barque and thus far, if she had encountered some storms and buffeting26, she had at least escaped being either shipwrecked or becalmed.
Courtenay Youghal had not been designed by Nature to fulfil the role of an ardent28 or devoted29 lover, and he scrupulously30 respected the limits which Nature had laid down. For Molly, however, he had a certain responsive affection. She had always obviously admired him, and at the same time she never beset31 him with crude flattery; the principal reason why the flirtation had stood the test of so many years was the fact that it only flared32 into active existence at convenient intervals33. In an age when the telephone has undermined almost every fastness of human privacy, and the sanctity of one’s seclusion34 depends often on the ability for tactful falsehood shown by a club pageboy, Youghal was duly appreciative of the circumstance that his lady fair spent a large part of the year pursuing foxes, in lieu of pursuing him. Also the honestly admitted fact that, in her human hunting, she rode after more than one quarry35, made the inevitable36 break-up of the affair a matter to which both could look forward without a sense of coming embarrassment37 and recrimination. When the time for gathering38 ye rosebuds39 should be over, neither of them could accuse the other of having wrecked27 his or her entire life. At the most they would only have disorganised a week-end.
On this particular afternoon, when old reminiscences had been gone through, and the intervening gossip of past months duly recounted, a lull40 in the conversation made itself rather obstinately41 felt. Molly had already guessed that matters were about to slip into a new phase; the affair had reached maturity42 long ago, and a new phase must be in the nature of a wane43.
“You’re a clever brute,” she said, suddenly, with an air of affectionate regret; “I always knew you’d get on in the House, but I hardly expected you to come to the front so soon.”
“I’m coming to the front,” admitted Youghal, judicially44; “the problem is, shall I be able to stay there. Unless something happens in the financial line before long, I don’t see how I’m to stay in Parliament at all. Economy is out of the question. It would open people’s eyes, I fancy, if they knew how little I exist on as it is. And I’m living so far beyond my income that we may almost be said to be living apart.”
“It will have to be a rich wife, I suppose,” said Molly, slowly; “that’s the worst of success, it imposes so many conditions. I rather knew, from something in your manner, that you were drifting that way.”
Youghal said nothing in the way of contradiction; he gazed steadfastly45 at the aviary46 in front of him as though exotic pheasants were for the moment the most absorbing study in the world. As a matter of fact, his mind was centred on the image of Elaine de Frey, with her clear untroubled eyes and her Leonardo da Vinci air. He was wondering whether he was likely to fall into a frame of mind concerning her which would be in the least like falling in love.
“I shall mind horribly,” continued Molly, after a pause, “but, of course, I have always known that something of the sort would have to happen one of these days. When a man goes into politics he can’t call his soul his own, and I suppose his heart becomes an impersonal47 possession in the same way.”
“Most people who know me would tell you that I haven’t got a heart,” said Youghal.
“I’ve often felt inclined to agree with them,” said Molly; “and then, now and again, I think you have a heart tucked away somewhere.”
“I hope I have,” said Youghal, “because I’m trying to break to you the fact that I think I’m falling in love with somebody.”
Molly McQuade turned sharply to look at her companion, who still fixed48 his gaze on the pheasant run in front of him.
“Don’t tell me you’re losing your head over somebody useless, someone without money,” she said; “I don’t think I could stand that.”
For the moment she feared that Courtenay’s selfishness might have taken an unexpected turn, in which ambition had given way to the fancy of the hour; he might be going to sacrifice his Parliamentary career for a life of stupid lounging in momentarily attractive company. He quickly undeceived her.
“She’s got heaps of money.”
Molly gave a grunt49 of relief. Her affection for Courtenay had produced the anxiety which underlay50 her first question; a natural jealousy51 prompted the next one.
“Is she young and pretty and all that sort of thing, or is she just a good sort with a sympathetic manner and nice eyes? As a rule that’s the kind that goes with a lot of money.”
“Young and quite good-looking in her way, and a distinct style of her own. Some people would call her beautiful. As a political hostess I should think she’d be splendid. I imagine I’m rather in love with her.”
“And is she in love with you?”
Youghal threw back his head with the slight assertive52 movement that Molly knew and liked.
“She’s a girl who I fancy would let judgment53 influence her a lot. And without being stupidly conceited54, I think I may say she might do worse than throw herself away on me. I’m young and quite good-looking, and I’m making a name for myself in the House; she’ll be able to read all sorts of nice and horrid55 things about me in the papers at breakfast-time. I can be brilliantly amusing at times, and I understand the value of silence; there is no fear that I shall ever degenerate56 into that fearsome thing — a cheerful talkative husband. For a girl with money and social ambitions I should think I was rather a good thing.”
“You are certainly in love, Courtenay,” said Molly, “but it’s the old love and not a new one. I’m rather glad. I should have hated to have you head-over-heels in love with a pretty woman, even for a short time. You’ll be much happier as it is. And I’m going to put all my feelings in the background, and tell you to go in and win. You’ve got to marry a rich woman, and if she’s nice and will make a good hostess, so much the better for everybody. You’ll be happier in your married life than I shall be in mine, when it comes; you’ll have other interests to absorb you. I shall just have the garden and dairy and nursery and lending library, as like as two peas to all the gardens and dairies and nurseries for hundreds of miles round. You won’t care for your wife enough to be worried every time she has a finger-ache, and you’ll like her well enough to be pleased to meet her sometimes at your own house. I shouldn’t wonder if you were quite happy. She will probably be miserable57, but any woman who married you would be.”
There was a short pause; they were both staring at the pheasant cages. Then Molly spoke58 again, with the swift nervous tone of a general who is hurriedly altering the disposition59 of his forces for a strategic retreat.
“When you are safely married and honey-mooned and all that sort of thing, and have put your wife through her paces as a political hostess, some time, when the House isn’t sitting, you must come down by yourself, and do a little hunting with us. Will you? It won’t be quite the same as old times, but it will be something to look forward to when I’m reading the endless paragraphs about your fashionable political wedding.”
“You’re looking forward pretty far,” laughed Youghal; “the lady may take your view as to the probable unhappiness of a future shared with me, and I may have to content myself with penurious60 political bachelorhood. Anyhow, the present is still with us. We dine at Kettner’s to-night, don’t we?”
“Rather,” said Molly, “though it will be more or less a throat-lumpy feast as far as I am concerned. We shall have to drink to the health of the future Mrs. Youghal. By the way, it’s rather characteristic of you that you haven’t told me who she is, and of me that I haven’t asked. And now, like a dear boy, trot61 away and leave me. I haven’t got to say good-bye to you yet, but I’m going to take a quiet farewell of the Pheasantry. We’ve had some jolly good talks, you and I, sitting on this seat, haven’t we? And I know, as well as I know anything, that this is the last of them. Eight o’clock to-night, as punctually as possible.”
She watched his retreating figure with eyes that grew slowly misty62; he had been such a jolly comely63 boy-friend, and they had had such good times together. The mist deepened on her lashes64 as she looked round at the familiar rendezvous65 where they had so often kept tryst66 since the day when they had first come there together, he a schoolboy and she but lately out of her teens. For the moment she felt herself in the thrall67 of a very real sorrow.
Then, with the admirable energy of one who is only in town for a fleeting68 fortnight, she raced away to have tea with a world-faring naval69 admirer at his club. Pluralism is a merciful narcotic70.
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1
secluded
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| adj.与世隔绝的；隐退的；偏僻的v.使隔开，使隐退( seclude的过去式和过去分词) | |
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flirtation
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| n.调情，调戏，挑逗 | |
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exuberance
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| n.丰富；繁荣 | |
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perennially
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| adv.经常出现地；长期地；持久地；永久地 | |
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longevity
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| n.长命；长寿 | |
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solicitude
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| n.焦虑 | |
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sentimental
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| adj.多愁善感的，感伤的 | |
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minor
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| adj.较小(少)的，较次要的；n.辅修学科；vi.辅修 | |
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9
sufficiently
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| adv.足够地，充分地 | |
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reticent
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| adj.沉默寡言的；言不如意的 | |
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appreciative
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| adj.有鉴赏力的，有眼力的；感激的 | |
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inconveniently
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| ad.不方便地 | |
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brewer
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| n. 啤酒制造者 | |
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otter
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| n.水獭 | |
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interval
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| n.间隔，间距；幕间休息，中场休息 | |
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serial
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| n.连本影片，连本电视节目；adj.连续的 | |
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17
perfectly
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| adv.完美地，无可非议地，彻底地 | |
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18
conceal
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| v.隐藏，隐瞒，隐蔽 | |
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apparently
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| adv.显然地；表面上，似乎 | |
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possessed
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| adj.疯狂的；拥有的，占有的 | |
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temperament
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| n.气质，性格，性情 | |
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sage
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| n.圣人，哲人；adj.贤明的，明智的 | |
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exacting
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| adj.苛求的，要求严格的 | |
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affinity
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| n.亲和力，密切关系 | |
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steered
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| v.驾驶( steer的过去式和过去分词 )；操纵；控制；引导 | |
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26
buffeting
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| 振动 | |
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wrecked
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| adj.失事的，遇难的 | |
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ardent
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| adj.热情的，热烈的，强烈的，烈性的 | |
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devoted
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| adj.忠诚的，忠实的，热心的，献身于...的 | |
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30
scrupulously
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| adv.一丝不苟地；小心翼翼地，多顾虑地 | |
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beset
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| v.镶嵌；困扰，包围 | |
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32
Flared
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| adj. 端部张开的, 爆发的, 加宽的, 漏斗式的 动词flare的过去式和过去分词 | |
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33
intervals
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| n.[军事]间隔( interval的名词复数 )；间隔时间；[数学]区间；（戏剧、电影或音乐会的）幕间休息 | |
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34
seclusion
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| n.隐遁，隔离 | |
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35
quarry
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| n.采石场；v.采石；费力地找 | |
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inevitable
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| adj.不可避免的，必然发生的 | |
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embarrassment
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| n.尴尬；使人为难的人(事物)；障碍；窘迫 | |
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gathering
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| n.集会，聚会，聚集 | |
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39
rosebuds
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| 蔷薇花蕾，妙龄少女，初入社交界的少女( rosebud的名词复数 ) | |
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40
lull
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| v.使安静，使入睡，缓和，哄骗；n.暂停，间歇 | |
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41
obstinately
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| ad.固执地，顽固地 | |
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42
maturity
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| n.成熟；完成；(支票、债券等)到期 | |
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43
wane
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| n.衰微，亏缺，变弱；v.变小，亏缺，呈下弦 | |
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44
judicially
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| 依法判决地，公平地 | |
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45
steadfastly
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| adv.踏实地，不变地；岿然；坚定不渝 | |
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46
aviary
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| n.大鸟笼，鸟舍 | |
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47
impersonal
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| adj.无个人感情的，与个人无关的，非人称的 | |
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48
fixed
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| adj.固定的，不变的，准备好的；(计算机)固定的 | |
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49
grunt
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| v.嘟哝；作呼噜声；n.呼噜声，嘟哝 | |
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50
underlay
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| v.位于或存在于（某物）之下( underlie的过去式 )；构成…的基础（或起因），引起n.衬垫物 | |
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51
jealousy
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| n.妒忌，嫉妒，猜忌 | |
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52
assertive
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| adj.果断的，自信的，有冲劲的 | |
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53
judgment
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| n.审判；判断力，识别力，看法，意见 | |
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54
conceited
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| adj.自负的，骄傲自满的 | |
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55
horrid
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| adj.可怕的；令人惊恐的；恐怖的；极讨厌的 | |
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56
degenerate
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| v.退步，堕落；adj.退步的，堕落的；n.堕落者 | |
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57
miserable
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| adj.悲惨的，痛苦的；可怜的，糟糕的 | |
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58
spoke
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| n.（车轮的）辐条；轮辐；破坏某人的计划；阻挠某人的行动 v.讲，谈（speak的过去式）；说；演说；从某种观点来说 | |
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59
disposition
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| n.性情，性格；意向，倾向；排列，部署 | |
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60
penurious
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| adj.贫困的 | |
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61
trot
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| n.疾走，慢跑；n.老太婆；现成译本；(复数）trots:腹泻（与the 连用）；v.小跑，快步走，赶紧 | |
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62
misty
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| adj.雾蒙蒙的，有雾的 | |
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comely
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| adj.漂亮的，合宜的 | |
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64
lashes
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| n.鞭挞( lash的名词复数 )；鞭子；突然猛烈的一击；急速挥动v.鞭打( lash的第三人称单数 )；煽动；紧系；怒斥 | |
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65
rendezvous
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| n.约会，约会地点，汇合点；vi.汇合，集合；vt.使汇合，使在汇合地点相遇 | |
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66
tryst
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| n.约会；v.与…幽会 | |
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67
thrall
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| n.奴隶；奴隶制 | |
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68
fleeting
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| adj.短暂的，飞逝的 | |
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69
naval
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| adj.海军的，军舰的，船的 | |
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70
narcotic
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| n.麻醉药，镇静剂；adj.麻醉的，催眠的 | |
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