Infernal tortures the devils say;
And men? They call it—Love.
“By the way, dear,” said Lady Cantourne to her niece the next afternoon, “I have asked a Miss Gordon to come to tea this afternoon. I met her last night at the Fitzmannerings. She lives in Loango and knows Jack1. I thought you might like to know her. She is exceptionally ladylike and rather pretty.”
And straightway Miss Millicent Chyne went upstairs to put on her best dress.
We men cannot expect to understand these small matters—these exigencies2, as it were, of female life. But we may be permitted to note feebly en passant through existence that there are occasions when women put on their best clothes without the desire to please. And, while Millicent Chyne was actually attiring3 herself, Jocelyn Gordon, in another house not so far away, was busy with that beautiful hair of hers, patting here, drawing out there, pinning, poking4, pressing with all the cunning that her fingers possessed5.
When they met a little later in Lady Cantourne's uncompromisingly solid and old-fashioned drawing-room, one may be certain that nothing was lost.
“My aunt tells me,” began Millicent at once, with that degage treatment of certain topics hitherto held sacred which obtains among young folks to-day, “that you know Loango.”
“Oh yes—I live there.”
“And you know Mr. Meredith?”
“Yes, and Mr. Oscard also.”
There was a little pause, while two politely smiling pairs of eyes probed each other.
“She knows something—how much?” was behind one pair of eyes.
“She cannot find out—I am not afraid of her,” behind the other.
And Lady Cantourne, the proverbial looker-on, slowly rubbed her white hands one over the other.
“Ah, yes,” said Millicent unblushingly—that was her strong point, blushing in the right place, but not in the wrong—“Mr. Oscard is associated with Mr. Meredith, is he not, in this hare-brained scheme?”
“I believe they are together in it—the Simiacine, you mean?” said Jocelyn.
“What else could she mean?” reflected the looker-on.
“Yes—the Simiacine. Such a singular name, is it not? I always say they will ruin themselves suddenly. People always do, don't they? But what do you think of it? I SHOULD like to know.”
“I think they certainly will make a fortune,” replied Jocelyn—and she noted6 the light in Millicent's eyes with a sudden feeling of dislike—“unless the risks prove too great and they are forced to abandon it.”
“Well, of course, the Ogowe river is most horribly unhealthy, and there are other risks. The natives in the plains surrounding the Simiacine Plateau are antagonistic8. Indeed, the Plateau was surrounded and quite besieged9 when we left Africa.”
It may have hurt Millicent, but it hurt Jocelyn more—for the smile had left her hearer's face. She was off her guard, as she had been once before when Sir John was near, and Millicent's face betrayed something which Jocelyn saw at once with a sick heart—something that Sir John knew from the morning when he had seen Millicent open two letters—something that Lady Cantourne had known all along.
“And was Mr. Meredith on the Plateau when it was besieged?” asked Millicent, with a drawn10, crooked11 smile.
“Yes,” answered Jocelyn. She could not help seizing the poor little satisfaction of this punishment; but she felt all the while that it was nothing to the punishment she was bearing, and would bear all her life. There are few more contradictory12 things than the heart of a woman who really loves. For one man it is very tender; for the rest of the world it is the hardest heart on earth if it is called upon to defend the object of its love or the love itself.
“But,” cried Millicent, “of course something was done. They could never leave Mr. Meredith unprotected.”
“Yes,” answered Jocelyn quietly, “Mr. Oscard went up and rescued him. My brother heard yesterday that the relief had been effected.”
Millicent smiled again in her light-hearted way.
“That is all right,” she said. “What a good thing we did not know! Just think, auntie dear, what a lot of anxiety we have been spared!”
“In the height of the season, too!” said Jocelyn.
“Ye—es,” replied Millicent, rather doubtfully.
Lady Cantourne was puzzled. There was something going on which she did not understand. Within the sound of the pleasant conversation there was the cliquetis of the foil; behind the polite smile there was the gleam of steel. She was rather relieved to turn at this moment and see Sir John Meredith entering the room with his usual courtly bow. He always entered her drawing-room like that. Ah! that little secret of a mutual14 respect. Some people who are young now will wish, before they have grown old, that they had known it.
He shook hands with Lady Cantourne and with Millicent. Then he stood with a deferential15 half-bow, waiting for the introduction to the girl who was young enough to be his daughter—almost to be his granddaughter. There was something pathetic and yet proud in this old man's uncompromising adherence16 to the lessons of his youth.
“Sir John Meredith—Miss Gordon.”
The beginning—the thin end of the wedge, as the homely17 saying has it—the end which we introduce almost every day of our lives, little suspecting to what it may broaden out.
“I had the pleasure of seeing you last night,” said Sir John at once, “at Lady Fitzmannering's evening party, or 'At Home,' I believe we call them nowadays. Some of the guests read the invitation too much au pied de la lettre for my taste. They were so much at home that I, fearing to intrude18, left rather early.”
“I believe the skirt-dancing frightened you away, Sir John,” said Millicent merrily.
“Even old birds, my dear young lady, may sometimes be alarmed by a scarecrow.”
“I missed you quite early in the evening,” put in Lady Cantourne, sternly refusing to laugh. She had not had an opportunity of seeing him since her conversation with Jocelyn, and the dangers of the situation were fully13 appreciated by such an experienced woman of the world.
“They began to clear the upper end of the room,” he explained, “and I assisted them in the most practical manner in my power.”
He was beginning to wonder why he had been invited—nay, almost commanded—to come, by an imperious little note. And of late, whenever Sir John began to wonder he began also to feel old. His fingers strayed towards his unsteady lips as if he were about to make one of those little movements of senile helplessness to which he sometimes gave way.
For a moment Lady Cantourne hesitated between two strokes of social diplomacy—but only for a moment. She had heard the bell ring, and trusted that at the other end of the wire there might be one of those fatuous19 young men who nibbled20 at that wire like foolish fish round a gilt21 spoon-bait. Her ladyship decided22 to carry on the social farce23 a few minutes longer, instead of offering the explanation which all were awaiting.
At this moment the door opened, and there entered a complex odour of hairwash and perfumery—a collar which must have been nearly related to a cuff25, and a pair of tight patent-leather boots, all attached to and somewhat overpowering a young man.
“Ah, my dear Mr. Grubb,” said Lady Cantourne, “how good of you to call so soon! You will have some tea. Millicent, give Mr. Grubb some tea.”
“Not too strong,” added Sir John, apparently26 to himself, under the cover of Mr. Grubb's somewhat scrappy greeting.
Then Lady Cantourne went to the conservatory27 and left Sir John and Jocelyn at the end of the long room together. There is nothing like a woman's instinct. Jocelyn spoke28 at once.
“Lady Cantourne,” she said, “kindly asked me to meet you to-day on purpose. I live at Loango; I know your son, Mr. Meredith, and we thought you might like to hear about him and about Loango.”
She knew that with a man like Sir John any indirect approach to the subject would be courting failure. His veiled old eyes suddenly lighted up, and he turned to glance over his shoulder.
“Yes,” he said, with a strange hesitation29, “yes—you are kind. Of course I am interested. I wonder,” he went on, with a sudden change of manner, “I wonder how much you know?”
His unsteady hand was resting on her gloved fingers, and he blinked at it as if wondering how it got there.
Jocelyn did not seem to notice.
“I know,” she answered, “that you have had a difference of opinion—but no one else knows. You must not think that Mr. Meredith has spoken of his private affairs to any one else. The circumstances were exceptional, and Mr. Meredith thought that it was due to me to give me an explanation.”
Sir John looked a little puzzled, and Jocelyn went on rather hastily to explain
“My brother and Mr. Meredith were at Eton together. They met somewhere up the Coast, and my brother asked Mr. Meredith to come and stay. It happened that Maurice was away when Mr. Meredith arrived, and I did not know who he was, so he explained.”
“I see,” said Sir John. “And you and your brother have been kind to my boy.”
Somehow he seemed to have forgotten to be cynical30. He had never known what it is to have a daughter, and she was ignorant of the pleasant everyday amenities31 of a father's love. As there is undoubtedly32 such a thing as love at first sight, so must there be sympathy at first sight. For Jocelyn it was comprehensible—nay, it was most natural. This was Jack's father. In his manner, in everything about him, there were suggestions of Jack. This seemed to be a creature hewn, as it were, from the same material, moulded on the same lines, with slightly divergent tools. And for him—who can tell? The love that was in her heart may have reached out to meet almost as great a love locked up in his proud soul. It may have shown itself to him, openly, fearlessly, recklessly, as love sometimes does when it is strong and pure.
He had carefully selected a seat within the shadow of the curtains; but Jocelyn saw quite suddenly that he was an older man than she had taken him to be the evening before. She saw through the deception33 of the piteous wig—the whole art that strove to conceal34 the sure decay of the body, despite the desperate effort of a mind still fresh and vigorous.
“And I dare say,” he said, with a somewhat lame35 attempt at cynicism, “that you have heard no good of me?”
But Jocelyn would have none of that. She was no child to be abashed36 by sarcasm37, but a woman, completed and perfected by her love.
“Excuse me,” she said sharply; “but that is not the truth, and you know it. You know as well as I do that your son would never say a word against you.”
Sir John looked hastily round. Lady Cantourne had come into the room and was talking to the two young people: Millicent was glancing uneasily over Mr. Grubb's brainless cranium towards them. Sir John's stiff, unsteady fingers fumbled38 for a moment round his lips.
“Yes,” he said, “I was wrong.”
“He has always spoken of you with the greatest love and respect,” said Jocelyn; “more than that, with admiration39. But he very rarely spoke of you at all, which I think means more.”
Sir John blinked, and suddenly pulled himself together with a backward jerk of the arms which was habitual40 with him. It almost seemed as if he said to himself, as he squared his shoulders, “Come, no giving way to old age!”
“Has his health been good?” he asked, rather formally.
“I believe so, until quite lately. My brother heard yesterday by telegram that he was at Loango in broken health,” replied Jocelyn.
“No,” she answered, “not exactly. But it seems to me that no one realises what he is doing out in Africa—what risks he is running.”
“Tell me,” he said, drawing in his chair. “I will not interrupt you. Tell me all you know from beginning to end. I am naturally—somewhat interested.”
So Jocelyn told him. And what she said was only a recapitulation of facts known to such as have followed these pages to this point. But the story did not sound quite the same as that related to Millicent. It was fuller, and there were certain details touched upon lightly which had before been emphasised—details of dangers run and risks incurred43. Also was it listened to in a different spirit, without shallow comment, with a deeper insight. Suddenly he broke into the narrative44. He saw—keen old worldling that he was—a discrepancy45.
“But,” he said, “there was no one in Loango connected with the scheme who”—he paused, touching46 her sleeve with a bony finger—“who sent the telegram home to young Oscard—the telegram calling him out to Jack's relief?”
“Oh,” she explained lightly, “I did. My brother was away, so there was no one else to do it, you see!”
“Yes—I see.”
And perhaps he did.
Lady Cantourne helped them skilfully47. But there came a time when Millicent would stand it no longer, and the amiable48 Grubb wriggled49 out of the room, crushed by a too obvious dismissal.
Sir John rose at once, and when Millicent reached them they were talking of the previous evening's entertainment.
Sir John took his leave. He bowed over Jocelyn's hand, and Millicent, watching them keenly, could see nothing—no gleam of a mutual understanding in the politely smiling eyes.
“Perhaps,” he said, “I may have the pleasure of meeting you again?”
“I am afraid it is doubtful,” she answered, with something that sounded singularly like exultation50 in her voice. “We are going back to Africa almost at once.”
And she, also, took her leave of Lady Cantourne.
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1
jack
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| n.插座，千斤顶，男人；v.抬起，提醒，扛举；n.（Jake）杰克 | |
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exigencies
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| n.急切需要 | |
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attiring
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| v.使穿上衣服，使穿上盛装( attire的现在分词 ) | |
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4
poking
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| n. 刺，戳，袋 vt. 拨开，刺，戳 vi. 戳，刺，捅，搜索，伸出，行动散慢 | |
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5
possessed
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| adj.疯狂的；拥有的，占有的 | |
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noted
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| adj.著名的，知名的 | |
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7
modulate
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| v.调整，调节(音的强弱)；变调 | |
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8
antagonistic
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| adj.敌对的 | |
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besieged
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| 包围，围困，围攻( besiege的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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10
drawn
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| v.拖，拉，拔出；adj.憔悴的，紧张的 | |
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11
crooked
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| adj.弯曲的；不诚实的，狡猾的，不正当的 | |
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12
contradictory
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| adj.反驳的，反对的，抗辩的；n.正反对，矛盾对立 | |
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13
fully
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| adv.完全地，全部地，彻底地；充分地 | |
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mutual
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| adj.相互的，彼此的；共同的，共有的 | |
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15
deferential
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| adj. 敬意的，恭敬的 | |
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adherence
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| n.信奉，依附，坚持，固着 | |
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17
homely
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| adj.家常的，简朴的；不漂亮的 | |
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18
intrude
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| vi.闯入；侵入；打扰，侵扰 | |
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fatuous
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| adj.愚昧的；昏庸的 | |
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20
nibbled
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| v.啃，一点一点地咬（吃）( nibble的过去式和过去分词 )；啃出（洞），一点一点咬出（洞）；慢慢减少；小口咬 | |
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gilt
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| adj.镀金的；n.金边证券 | |
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decided
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| adj.决定了的，坚决的；明显的，明确的 | |
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farce
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| n.闹剧，笑剧，滑稽戏；胡闹 | |
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24
deterred
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| v.阻止，制止( deter的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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25
cuff
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| n.袖口；手铐；护腕；vt.用手铐铐；上袖口 | |
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26
apparently
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| adv.显然地；表面上，似乎 | |
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27
conservatory
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| n.温室，音乐学院；adj.保存性的，有保存力的 | |
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28
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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29
hesitation
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| n.犹豫，踌躇 | |
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30
cynical
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| adj.(对人性或动机)怀疑的，不信世道向善的 | |
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31
amenities
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| n.令人愉快的事物；礼仪；礼节；便利设施；礼仪( amenity的名词复数 )；便利设施；（环境等的）舒适；（性情等的）愉快 | |
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32
undoubtedly
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| adv.确实地，无疑地 | |
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33
deception
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| n.欺骗，欺诈；骗局，诡计 | |
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34
conceal
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| v.隐藏，隐瞒，隐蔽 | |
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35
lame
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| adj.跛的，(辩解、论据等)无说服力的 | |
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36
abashed
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| adj.窘迫的，尴尬的v.使羞愧，使局促，使窘迫( abash的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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37
sarcasm
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| n.讥讽，讽刺，嘲弄，反话 （adj.sarcastic） | |
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38
fumbled
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| （笨拙地）摸索或处理（某事物）( fumble的过去式和过去分词 )； 乱摸，笨拙地弄； 使落下 | |
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39
admiration
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| n.钦佩，赞美，羡慕 | |
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40
habitual
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| adj.习惯性的；通常的，惯常的 | |
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41
lashless
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| adj.无睫毛的 | |
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42
disquiet
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| n.担心，焦虑 | |
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43
incurred
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| [医]招致的，遭受的； incur的过去式 | |
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44
narrative
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| n.叙述，故事；adj.叙事的，故事体的 | |
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45
discrepancy
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| n.不同；不符；差异；矛盾 | |
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46
touching
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| adj.动人的，使人感伤的 | |
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47
skilfully
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| adv. (美skillfully)熟练地 | |
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48
amiable
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| adj.和蔼可亲的，友善的，亲切的 | |
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49
wriggled
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| v.扭动，蠕动，蜿蜒行进( wriggle的过去式和过去分词 )；（使身体某一部位）扭动；耍滑不做，逃避（应做的事等） | |
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50
exultation
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| n.狂喜，得意 | |
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