Very pretty the supper-table looked, though, it must be confessed, rather disorderly. It was not a very large table, but accommodated the present company admirably, and under the soft light of the tapers8, with which the room was illuminated9, the silver and glass sparked brilliantly. Half-filled glasses of champagne10 and burgundy, crumbs11 on the white table-cloth, and a general array of disorderly plates, showed that supper was over. The guests had pushed away their chairs, and were smoking and chatting, while a light breeze came in through the open French window, and somewhat cooled the temperature of the room. The smoky atmosphere, the flashing of the light on the bare shoulders of the women, gay feminine, laughter, and the general air of unconventionality, fascinated Keith as he sat beside his hostess, listening to the desultory12 conversation, and occasionally joining in. Slingsby was speaking about a new book which had come out, and this gave rise to a brilliant rattle13 of pungent14 wit.
"It's called 'Connie's Crime,' a mixture of blood and atheism15."
"Yes, so they say; a hash-up of the Newgate Calendar and Queen Mab, with a dash of realism to render it attractive."
"Awfully16 bad for the public."
"Bah! they read worse in papers. The Penny Whistle was bewailing the prevalence of criminal literature, yet you can't take up a night's issue without finding a divorce case or a murder--the pot calling the kettle black with a vengeance17."
"Don't suppose either it or shilling shockers have much to do with the morals of the public--we're all going to the deuce."
"Pessimistic!"
"But true. It's a game of follow my leader, with Father Adam at the head."
"Gad18, he ought to have arrived at his destination by this time!"
"Oh! we'll all find that out when we get there."
"But' you forget we start in this new country with all the old-world civilisation19."
"Yes, and all the old-world vices20."
"Which are a natural concomitant of aforesaid civilisation."
"How abusive you all are," said Kitty, shrugging her shoulders; "people are not so bad as you make out."
"No, they're worse," said Delp lightly. "Put on your diamonds and go through Victoria like that young person in Moore's song, 'Rich and rare were the gems21 she wore,' you won't be treated as well, I promise you."
"I'm afraid I'm very careless of my diamonds," laughed Kitty; "I certainly take them home from the theatre every night, but I generally put the case safely away in the drawer of my looking-glass."
"A very safe place," observed Lazarus approvingly; "for illustration see Poe's story of 'The Purloined22 Letter.'"
"All the same, I wouldn't trust to fiction for suggestions," said Fenton gaily23; "some night you'll be minus your jewels."
"I'll take the risk," retorted Kitty rising. "I'm going into the drawing-room. Mr. Lazarus, you come also. I have got the score of that new opera-bouffé 'Eblis,' and I want you to try it."
"Bah! a failure in town," growled24 Mortimer.
"That doesn't necessarily mean a failure in Melbourne," replied Kitty, and with this parting shot she went away, followed by the ladies and Ezra Lazarus. Keith remained behind, and, lighting25 a fresh cigarette, listened to the conversation, which was now slightly horsey.
"I know what's going to win the cup.
"Never knew a man who didn't."
"This is true, 'Devil-may-care.'"
"An outsider."
"They generally win, but don't prophesy26 too soon."
"No, or like Casandra, your prophecies won't be believed."
"Who is Casandra--another dark 'un?"
"No--a woman."
"Talking about women, I wish you'd get more chorus girls, Mortimer."
"Got quite enough."
"Of course--quantity, not quality."
"They've been snubbing you?"
"Wrong again; they never snub any one who can give them diamonds."
"Which you can't."
"No, by Jove. I wish I had some myself--say Caprice's."
"Don't grudge27 them to her, dear boy--the savings28 of years."
Every one grinned.
Meanwhile, Keith grew tired of this scintillating29 talk, and leaving Ezra rattling30 away at a gallop31 in the drawing-room, he arose and went out into the hall. Glancing carelessly up the stairs, he saw a little figure in white coming down.
"Why, Meg," said Keith, going to the foot of the stairs to receive her, "what are you doing at this hour of the night?"
"Meg wants mumsey," said the child, putting her arms round his neck.
"Mumsey's busy," replied Keith, lifting her up. "I'll take you back to bed, dear."
"Don't want to go to bed," said the child, though she could hardly keep her eyes open.
Keith laughed, and rocked her slowly to and fro in his arms for a few minutes, humming softly till Meg grew tired.
"Will Meg go to bed now?" he whispered, seeing she had closed her eyes.
"Yes! Meg's sleepy."
Keith went upstairs with the quiet little figure in his arms, and seeing an open door leading to a room in which there was a subdued32 light, caused by the lowering of the gas, he went in, and finding Meg's cot, placed her in it, and tucked her carefully in.
"Good-night, dear," he whispered, kissing her.
"Good-night, mumsey; good-night, God," murmured Meg, thinking she was saying her prayers, and fell fast asleep.
Keith went downstairs again, and met Fenton in the hall.
"Say!" exclaimed that gentleman, "where have you been?"
"Putting Meg to bed," replied Stewart, laughing. "I found her wandering about like an unquiet spirit," and having no desire for a conversation with Fenton, he strolled off to the drawing-room leaving the American looking after him with an angry frown.
No one was in the drawing-room but Ezra and the ladies--the former being seated at the piano playing over the music of "Eblis," while Kitty Marchurst stood beside him, looking over his shoulder. Lazarus had just finished a valse, which was not by any means original, being made out of reminiscences of other music.
"There's only one decent thing in the whole opera," said Kitty impatiently--"this," and she hummed a few bars; "it's called, 'Woman's Deceit.'"
"Disagreeable title," said Keith idly.
"But a capital song," retorted Kitty "Eblis sings it--that's the principal character."
"You seem anxious to play the devil," said Stewart, with a smile.
"What do you mean?"
Keith shrugged33 his shoulders.
"Eblis is the Oriental name for the Devil."
"Oh, I understand." Kitty's quick perception seized the idea at once. "Yes, there would be some fun in playing such a character."
"Then give myself and Lazarus a commission to write you a part. I am anxious to make a start, and I think Lazarus would write charming music. I'll be librettist34, and, of course, can write the character to suit you."
Kitty glanced critically at him.
"Can you compose music," she asked Lazarus.
In answer, he played a charming gavotte, bright and crisp, with a quaint35 rhythm.
"Very pretty," said Kitty critically, "but not my style. Play something with a little more 'go' in it."
"Like this?" He brought his hands down on the ivory keys with a tremendous crash, and plunged36 into a wild fantastic galop that made everybody long to dance. Kitty clapped her hands, and her whole face lighted up with enthusiasm as the brilliancy and dash of the melody carried her away.
"Bravo!" she cried, when he finished. "That's what I want; write me music like that, and I'll engage to have it produced. You'll do. Now, sir," turning to Keith, "what's your idea?"
"Rather a burlesque37 than opera-bouffe," he answered; "what would you say to 'Faust Upset?'"
"Ah, bah! we've had so many burlesques38 on Faust."
"Not such a one as I propose to write. I intend to twist the whole legend round; make Miss Faust a Girton girl who has grown old, and longs for love, invokes39 the Power of Evil, enter Caprice as Miss Mephistopheles, a female demon40, rejuvenates41 Miss Faust by paint and powder, takes her to see Mr. Marguerite, who is a young athlete, and so throughout the whole legend; to conclude with Miss Mephistopheles falling in love with Mr. Marguerite, and disputing possession with Miss Faust."
"Ha! ha!" laughed Kitty, "what a capital idea. It will be new, at all events; but I won't decide till I see the first act complete; if it's as good as it promises, I'll get Mortimer to stage it after 'Prince Carnival42.'"
Keith was delighted, as now he seemed to have obtained a chance of seeing what he could do. Ezra smiled, and nodded to Stewart.
"I told you she'd be a good friend," he said.
The gentlemen all came into the room, and in a short time there was a perfect babel of voices talking about everything and everyone. Suddenly Fenton, with a half-smoked cigar in his hand, entered the room and crossed over to Kitty.
"There's a rough-looking man outside who wants to see you," he said quietly.
"What's his name?"
"Villiers."
Kitty turned a little pale.
"The husband of Madame Midas," she said, in an annoyed tone. "Where is he?"
"Walking up and down in front of the dining-room."
"Remain here; I'll see him," she said, in a decided43 tone, and, without being noticed, left the room.
On entering the dining-room, she found Mr. Villiers seated at the supper-table drinking champagne from a half-empty bottle, having entered through the window.
"What do you want?" she asked, coming down to him.
Mr. Villiers was in his usual condition of intoxication44, and began to weep.
"It's Kitty, dear little Kitty," he said, in a maudlin45 tone, "the friend of my dear wife."
"Your dear wife," said Kitty scornfully; "the woman you deceived so shamefully46; she was well quit of you when she went to live in England."
"She left me to die alone," wept Villiers, filling his glass again, "and only lets me have a hundred pounds a year, and she's rolling in money."
"Quite enough for you to get drunk on," retorted Kitty. "What do you want?"
"Money."
"You sha'n't get a penny."
"Yes I shall. You talk about me treating my wife badly; what about you--eh?"
Kitty clenched47 her hands.
"I did treat her badly," she said, with a cry. "God help me, I've repented49 it often enough since!"
"You were a nice girl till you met Vandeloup," said Villiers. "Ah, that confounded Frenchman, how he made me suffer!"
"Leave Vandeloup alone; he's dead, and it will do no good you reviling50 him now. At all events, he was a man, not a drunkard."
"She loves him still, blow me!" hiccupped Mr. Villiers rising--"loves him still."
"Here's a sovereign," said Kitty, thrusting some money into his hand. "Now, go away at once."
"I want more."
"You won't get more. Get away, or I'll order my servants to turn you out."
Villiers staggered up to her.
"Will you, indeed? Who are you to talk to me like this? I'll go now, but I'll come back, my beauty! Don't try your fine airs on me. I'll get money from you when I want it; if I don't, I'll make you repent48 it."
Kitty stood looking at him like a statue of marble, and pointed51 to the open window.
"I spare you for your wife's sake," she said coldly. "Go!"
Villiers lurched towards the window, then, turning round, shook his fist at her.
"I've not done with you yet, my fine madam," he said thickly. "You'll be sorry for these fine airs, you----"
He staggered out without saying the vile52 word, and disappeared in the darkness.
A vile word, and yet what was that Mrs. Malton said about her child blushing for her father? God help her, would Meg live to blush for her mother? Kitty put out her hands with a sob53, when a burst of laughter from the next room sounded in her ears. The momentary54 fit of tenderness was over, and, with a harsh laugh, she poured out a glass of champagne and drank it off.
"My world is there," she muttered. "I must part with the child for her own good, and she will lead that virtuous55, happy life which a miserable56 wretch57 like myself can never hope to reach."
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1
delightful
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| adj.令人高兴的，使人快乐的 | |
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permeated
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| 弥漫( permeate的过去式和过去分词 )； 遍布； 渗入； 渗透 | |
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contagious
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| adj.传染性的，有感染力的 | |
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witty
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| adj.机智的，风趣的 | |
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caustic
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| adj.刻薄的，腐蚀性的 | |
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sarcastic
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| adj.讥讽的，讽刺的，嘲弄的 | |
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profusion
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| n.挥霍；丰富 | |
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tapers
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| （长形物体的）逐渐变窄( taper的名词复数 )； 微弱的光； 极细的蜡烛 | |
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illuminated
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| adj.被照明的；受启迪的 | |
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champagne
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| n.香槟酒；微黄色 | |
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crumbs
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| int. (表示惊讶)哎呀 n. 碎屑 名词crumb的复数形式 | |
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desultory
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| adj.散漫的，无方法的 | |
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rattle
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| v.飞奔，碰响；激怒；n.碰撞声；拨浪鼓 | |
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pungent
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| adj.（气味、味道）刺激性的，辛辣的；尖锐的 | |
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atheism
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| n.无神论，不信神 | |
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awfully
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| adv.可怕地，非常地，极端地 | |
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vengeance
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| n.报复，报仇，复仇 | |
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gad
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| n.闲逛；v.闲逛 | |
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civilisation
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| n.文明，文化，开化，教化 | |
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vices
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| 缺陷( vice的名词复数 )； 恶习； 不道德行为； 台钳 | |
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gems
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| growth； economy； management； and customer satisfaction 增长 | |
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purloined
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| v.偷窃( purloin的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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gaily
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| adv.欢乐地，高兴地 | |
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growled
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| v.（动物）发狺狺声， （雷）作隆隆声( growl的过去式和过去分词 )；低声咆哮着说 | |
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lighting
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| n.照明，光线的明暗，舞台灯光 | |
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prophesy
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| v.预言；预示 | |
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grudge
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| n.不满，怨恨，妒嫉；vt.勉强给，不情愿做 | |
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savings
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| n.存款，储蓄 | |
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scintillating
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| adj．才气横溢的,闪闪发光的; 闪烁的 | |
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30
rattling
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| adj. 格格作响的, 活泼的, 很好的 adv. 极其, 很, 非常 动词rattle的现在分词 | |
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gallop
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| v./n.(马或骑马等)飞奔；飞速发展 | |
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subdued
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| adj. 屈服的，柔和的，减弱的 动词subdue的过去式和过去分词 | |
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shrugged
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| vt.耸肩（shrug的过去式与过去分词形式） | |
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librettist
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| n.(歌剧、音乐剧等的)歌词作者 | |
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quaint
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| adj.古雅的，离奇有趣的，奇怪的 | |
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plunged
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| v.颠簸( plunge的过去式和过去分词 )；暴跌；骤降；突降 | |
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37
burlesque
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| v.嘲弄，戏仿；n.嘲弄，取笑，滑稽模仿 | |
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burlesques
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| n.滑稽模仿( burlesque的名词复数 )；（包括脱衣舞的）滑稽歌舞杂剧v.（嘲弄地）模仿，（通过模仿）取笑( burlesque的第三人称单数 ) | |
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39
invokes
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| v.援引( invoke的第三人称单数 )；行使（权利等）；祈求救助；恳求 | |
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40
demon
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| n.魔鬼，恶魔 | |
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rejuvenates
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| 使变得年轻，使恢复活力( rejuvenate的第三人称单数 ) | |
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42
carnival
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| n.嘉年华会，狂欢，狂欢节，巡回表演 | |
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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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intoxication
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| n.wild excitement;drunkenness；poisoning | |
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maudlin
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| adj.感情脆弱的，爱哭的 | |
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46
shamefully
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| 可耻地； 丢脸地； 不体面地； 羞耻地 | |
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47
clenched
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| v.紧握，抓紧，咬紧( clench的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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48
repent
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| v.悔悟，悔改，忏悔，后悔 | |
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49
repented
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| 对（自己的所为）感到懊悔或忏悔( repent的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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50
reviling
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| v.辱骂，痛斥( revile的现在分词 ) | |
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51
pointed
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| adj.尖的，直截了当的 | |
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52
vile
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| adj.卑鄙的，可耻的，邪恶的；坏透的 | |
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53
sob
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| n.空间轨道的轰炸机；呜咽，哭泣 | |
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momentary
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| adj.片刻的，瞬息的；短暂的 | |
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55
virtuous
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| adj.有品德的，善良的，贞洁的，有效力的 | |
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56
miserable
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| adj.悲惨的，痛苦的；可怜的，糟糕的 | |
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wretch
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| n.可怜的人，不幸的人；卑鄙的人 | |
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