She looked full young to hold the post of house-keeper to a barrister of the Inner Temple, for she was not yet thirteen; but there was an uncommonly3 capable intentness in her deep blue eyes as she watched the bacon, sizzling on the grill4, for the right moment to turn the rashers. She never missed it. Now and again those deep blue eyes sparkled at the thought that the Honourable John Ruffin would presently give her news of her brilliant friend.
She heard him come out of his bedroom, and at once dished up his bacon, and carried it into his sitting-room5. She found him already reading the letter, and saw that it was giving him no pleasure. His lips were set in a thin line; there was a frown on his brow and an angry gleam in his grey eyes. She knew that of all the emotions which moved him, anger was the rarest; indeed she could only remember having once seen him angry: on the occasion on which he had smitten6 Mr. Montague Fitzgerald on the head when that shining moneylender was trying to force from her the key of his chambers7; and she wondered what had been happening to the Esmeralda to annoy him. She was too loyal to suppose that anything that the Esmeralda had herself done could be annoying him.
He ate his breakfast more slowly than usual, and with a brooding air. His eyes never once, as was their custom, rested with warm appreciation8 on Pollyooly's beautiful face, set in its aureole of red hair; he did not enliven his meal by talking to her about the affairs of the moment. She respected his musing9, and waited on him in silence. She had cleared away the breakfast tray and was folding the table-cloth when, at last, he broke his thoughtful silence.
"There's nothing the matter with the Esmeralda, sir?" said Pollyooly with quick anxiety.
"There's something very much the matter with the Esmeralda—a Moldo-Wallachian," said the Honourable John Ruffin with stern coldness.
"Is it an illness, sir?" said Pollyooly yet more anxiously.
"No; it's a nobleman," said the Honourable John Ruffin with even colder sternness.
Pollyooly pondered the matter for a few seconds; then she said: "Is he—is he persecuting11 her, sir, like Senor Perez did when I was dancing with her in 'Titania's Awakening'?"
"It ought to be a persecution13; but I fear it isn't," said the Honourable John Ruffin grimly. "I gather from this letter that she is regarding his attentions, which, I am sure, consist chiefly of fulsome14 flattery and uncouth15 gifts, with positive approbation16."
Pollyooly pondered this information also; then she said:
"Is she going to marry him, sir?"
"She is not!" said the Honourable John Ruffin in a tone of the deepest conviction but rather loudly.
Pollyooly looked at him and waited for further information to throw light on his manifest disturbance17 of spirit.
"Constancy to the ideal, though perhaps out of place in a man, is alike woman's privilege and her duty. I should be sorry—indeed I should be deeply shocked if the Esmeralda were to fail in that duty."
"Yes, sir," said Pollyooly in polite sympathy, though she had not the slightest notion what he meant.
"Especially since I took such pains to present to her the true ideal—the English ideal," he went on. "Whereas this Moldo-Wallachian—at least that's what I gather from this letter—is merely handsome in that cheap and obvious South-European way—that is to say he has big, black eyes, probably liquid, and a large, probably flowing, moustache. Therefore I go to Buda-Pesth."
"Yes, sir," said Pollyooly with the same politeness and in the same ignorance of his reason for going.
"I shall wire to her to-day—to give her pause—and to-morrow I shall start." He paused, looking at her thoughtfully for a moment, then went on: "I should like to take you with me, for I know how helpful you can be in the matter of these insolent19 and infatuated foreigners. But Buda-Pesth is too far away. And the question is what I am going to do with you while I'm away."
"We can stay here all right, sir—the Lump and me," said Pollyooly quickly, with a note of surprise in her voice.
Her little brother, Roger, who lived with her in the airy attic20 above the Honourable John Ruffin's chambers, had acquired the name of "The Lump" from his admirable placidity21.
"I don't like the idea of your doing that," he said, shaking his head and frowning. "I don't know how long I may be away—the affirmation of the ideal is sometimes a lengthy22 process. Of course the Temple is a quiet place; but I don't like to leave two small children alone in it for a fortnight, or three weeks. It isn't as if Mr. Gedge-Tomkins were at home. If he were at hand—just across the landing, it would be a very different matter."
"But I'm sure we should be all right, sir," said Pollyooly with entire confidence.
"Oh, I'm bound to say that if any child in the world could take care of herself and a little brother, it's you," he said handsomely. "But I want to devote all my energies to the affirmation of the ideal; and I must not be troubled by anxiety about you. I shall have to dispose of you safely somehow."
With that he rose, lighted a cigar, and presently sallied forth23 into the world. The matter of learning the quickest way to Buda-Pesth and procuring24 a ticket for the morrow took him little more than half an hour. Then the matter of disposing safely of Pollyooly and the Lump during his absence rose again to his mind and he walked along pondering it. Presently there came to him a happy thought: there was their common friend, Hilary Vance, an artist who had employed Pollyooly as his model for a set of stories for The Blue Magazine. Hilary Vance was devoted25 to Pollyooly, and he had a spare bedroom. But for a while the Honourable John Ruffin hesitated; the artist was a man of an uncommonly mercurial26, irresponsible temperament27. Was it safe to entrust28 two small children to his care? Then he reflected that Pollyooly was a strong corrective of irresponsibility, and took a taxicab to Chelsea.
Hilary Vance, very broad, very thick, very round, with a fine, rebellious29 mop of tow-coloured hair, which had fallen forward so as nearly to hide his big, simple eyes, opened the door to him. At the sight of his visitor a spacious30 round smile spread over his spacious face; and he welcomed him with an effusive31 enthusiasm.
At his christening the good fairy had given to the Honourable John Ruffin a very lively interest in his fellow-creatures and a considerable power of observation with which to gratify it. He was used to the splendid expansiveness of Hilary Vance; but it seemed to him that to-day he was boiling with an added exuberance32; and that curiosity was aroused. He took up a chair and hammered its back on the floor so that the dust fell off the seat, sat down astride it, and, bending forward a little, proceeded to observe the artist with very keen eyes. Hilary Vance, who was very busy, fell to work again, and after his manner, grew grandiloquent33 about the pleasures of the day before, which he had spent in the country.
Soon it grew clear to the Honourable John Ruffin that his friend had swollen34 with the insolent happiness so hateful to the Fates, and he said:
"You seem to be uncommonly cheerful, Vance. What's the matter?"
Hilary Vance looked at him gravely, drew himself upright in his chair, laid down his pencil, and said in a tone of solemnity calculated to awaken12 the deepest respect and awe35:
"Ruffin, I have found a woman—a WOMAN!"
The quality of the Honourable John Ruffin's gaze changed; his eyes rested on the face of his friend with a caressing36, almost cherishing, delight.
"I don't know what you mean," said Hilary Vance with splendid dignity. "But this is different. This is a WOMAN!"
His face filled with an expression of the finest beatitude.
"They so often are," said the Honourable John Ruffin. "Does James know about her?"
At the sound of the name of the mentor38 and friend who had rescued him from so many difficulties, something of guilt39 mingled40 with the beatitude on Hilary Vance's face, and he said in a less assured tone:
"James is in Scotland."
The Honourable John Ruffin sprang from his chair with a briskness41 which made Hilary Vance himself jump, and cried in a tone of the liveliest commiseration42 and dismay:
"Good Heavens! Then you're lost—lost!"
"What do you mean?" said Hilary Vance quite sharply.
"I mean that your case is hopeless," said the Honourable John Ruffin in a less excited tone. "James is in Scotland; I'm off to Buda-Pesth; and you have found a WOMAN—probably THE WOMAN."
"I don't know what you mean," said Hilary Vance, frowning.
"That's the worst of it! That's why it's so hopeless!" said the Honourable John Ruffin in a tone of deep depression.
"Good-bye, old chap; good-bye," said the Honourable John Ruffin in the most mournful tone and with the most mournful air. "I can not save you. I've got to go to Buda-Pesth." He walked half-way to the door, turned sharply on his heel, clapped his hand to his head with the most dramatic gesture, and cried: "Stay! I'll wire to James!"
"I must! I must!" cried the Honourable John Ruffin, still dramatic.
"You don't know his address, thank goodness!" growled45 Hilary Vance triumphantly46. "And you won't get it from me."
"I shan't? Then it's hopeless indeed," said the Honourable John Ruffin with a gesture of despair. He stood and seemed to plunge47 into deep reflection, while Hilary Vance scowled48 an immense scowl49 at him.
The Honourable John Ruffin allowed a faint air of hope to lighten his gloom; then he said:
"There's a chance—there's yet a chance!"
"I don't want any chance!" cried Hilary Vance stormily. "You can jolly well mind your own business and leave me alone. I can look after myself without any help from you—or James either."
"Whom the gods wish to destroy they first madden young," said the Honourable John Ruffin sadly. "But there's always Pollyooly; she may save you yet. I came to suggest that while I'm away in Buda-Pesth you should let Pollyooly and the Lump occupy that spare bedroom of yours. I don't like leaving them alone in the Temple; and I thought that you might like to have them here for a while, though I fear Pollyooly will clean the place." He looked round the studio gloomily. "But you can stand that for once, I expect," he went on more cheerfully. "At any rate it would be worth your while, because you'd learn what grilled50 bacon really is."
At the mention of the name of Pollyooly the scowl on Hilary Vance's face began to smooth out; as the Honourable John Ruffin developed his suggestion it slowly disappeared.
"Oh, yes; I'll put them up. I shall be delighted to," he said eagerly. "Pollyooly gives more delight to my eye than any one I know. And there are so few people in town, and I'm lonely at times. I wish I liked bacon, since she is so good at grilling51 it; but I don't."
The Honourable John Ruffin came several steps down the room wearing an air of the wildest amazement52:
"You don't like bacon?" he cried in astounded53 tones. "That explains everything. I've always wondered about you. Now I know. You are one of those whom the gods love; and I can't conceive why you didn't die younger."
"You don't? Well, it doesn't matter. But I'm really very much obliged to you for relieving me of all anxiety about those children."
They discussed the hour at which Pollyooly and the Lump should come, and then the Honourable John Ruffin held out his hand.
But Hilary Vance rose and came to the front door with him. On the threshold he coughed gently and said:
"I should like you to see Flossie."
"Flossie?" said the Honourable John Ruffin. "Ah—the WOMAN." He looked at Hilary Vance very earnestly. "Yes, I see—I see—of course her name would be Flossie." Then he added sternly:
"No; if I saw her James might accuse me of having encouraged you. He would, in fact. He always does."
"She's only at the florist's just at the end of the street," said Hilary Vance in a persuasive56 tone.
"She would be," said the Honourable John Ruffin in a tone of extraordinary patience. "I don't know why it is that the WOMAN is so often at a florist's at the end of the street. It seems to be one of nature's strange whims57." His face grew very gloomy again and in a very sad tone he added:
"Good-bye, poor old chap; good-bye!"
He shook hands firmly with his puzzled friend and started briskly up the street. Ten yards up it he paused, turned and called back:
"She's everything that's womanly, isn't she?"
"Yes—everything," cried Hilary Vance with fervour.
The Honourable John Ruffin shook his head sadly and without another word walked briskly on.
Hilary Vance, still looking puzzled, shut the door and went back to his studio. He failed, therefore, to perceive the Honourable John Ruffin enter the florist's shop at the end of the street. He did not come out of it for a quarter of an hour, and then he came out smiling. Seeing that he only brought with him a single rose, he had taken some time over its selection.
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1
triumphant
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| adj.胜利的，成功的；狂欢的，喜悦的 | |
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honourable
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| adj.可敬的；荣誉的，光荣的 | |
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uncommonly
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| adv. 稀罕(极，非常) | |
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grill
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| n.烤架，铁格子，烤肉；v.烧，烤，严加盘问 | |
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sitting-room
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| n.（BrE）客厅，起居室 | |
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6
smitten
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| 猛打，重击，打击( smite的过去分词 ) | |
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7
chambers
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| n.房间( chamber的名词复数 )；（议会的）议院；卧室；会议厅 | |
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8
appreciation
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| n.评价；欣赏；感谢；领会，理解；价格上涨 | |
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9
musing
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| n. 沉思，冥想 adj. 沉思的, 冥想的 动词muse的现在分词形式 | |
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10
resolute
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| adj.坚决的，果敢的 | |
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11
persecuting
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| （尤指宗教或政治信仰的）迫害(~sb. for sth.)( persecute的现在分词 )； 烦扰，困扰或骚扰某人 | |
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12
awaken
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| vi.醒，觉醒；vt.唤醒，使觉醒，唤起，激起 | |
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13
persecution
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| n. 迫害,烦扰 | |
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14
fulsome
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| adj.可恶的，虚伪的，过分恭维的 | |
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15
uncouth
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| adj.无教养的，粗鲁的 | |
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16
approbation
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| n.称赞；认可 | |
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disturbance
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| n.动乱，骚动；打扰，干扰；(身心)失调 | |
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18
tattoo
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| n.纹身，(皮肤上的)刺花纹；vt.刺花纹于 | |
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19
insolent
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| adj.傲慢的，无理的 | |
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attic
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| n.顶楼，屋顶室 | |
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placidity
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| n.平静，安静，温和 | |
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22
lengthy
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| adj.漫长的，冗长的 | |
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forth
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| adv.向前；向外，往外 | |
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24
procuring
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| v.（努力）取得， （设法）获得( procure的现在分词 )；拉皮条 | |
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25
devoted
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| adj.忠诚的，忠实的，热心的，献身于...的 | |
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mercurial
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| adj.善变的，活泼的 | |
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temperament
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| n.气质，性格，性情 | |
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entrust
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| v.信赖，信托，交托 | |
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29
rebellious
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| adj.造反的，反抗的，难控制的 | |
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30
spacious
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| adj.广阔的，宽敞的 | |
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effusive
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| adj.热情洋溢的；感情(过多)流露的 | |
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32
exuberance
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| n.丰富；繁荣 | |
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33
grandiloquent
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| adj.夸张的 | |
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34
swollen
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| adj.肿大的，水涨的；v.使变大，肿胀 | |
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35
awe
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| n.敬畏，惊惧；vt.使敬畏，使惊惧 | |
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caressing
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| 爱抚的，表现爱情的，亲切的 | |
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blandly
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| adv.温和地，殷勤地 | |
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38
mentor
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| n.指导者，良师益友；v.指导 | |
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39
guilt
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| n.犯罪；内疚；过失，罪责 | |
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40
mingled
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| 混合，混入( mingle的过去式和过去分词 )； 混进，与…交往[联系] | |
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41
briskness
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| n.敏捷，活泼 | |
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42
commiseration
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| n.怜悯，同情 | |
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43
bellow
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| v.吼叫，怒吼；大声发出，大声喝道 | |
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44
bellowed
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| v.发出吼叫声，咆哮（尤指因痛苦）( bellow的过去式和过去分词 )；（愤怒地）说出（某事），大叫 | |
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45
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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46
triumphantly
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| ad.得意洋洋地；得胜地；成功地 | |
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47
plunge
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| v.跳入，(使)投入，(使)陷入；猛冲 | |
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48
scowled
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| 怒视，生气地皱眉( scowl的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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49
scowl
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| vi.(at)生气地皱眉，沉下脸，怒视；n.怒容 | |
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50
grilled
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| adj. 烤的, 炙过的, 有格子的 动词grill的过去式和过去分词形式 | |
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51
grilling
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| v.烧烤( grill的现在分词 )；拷问，盘问 | |
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52
amazement
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| n.惊奇，惊讶 | |
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53
astounded
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| v.使震惊(astound的过去式和过去分词)；愕然；愕；惊讶 | |
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54
bristling
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| a.竖立的 | |
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55
scowling
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| 怒视，生气地皱眉( scowl的现在分词 ) | |
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56
persuasive
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| adj.有说服力的，能说得使人相信的 | |
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57
WHIMS
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| 虚妄，禅病 | |
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