CHAPTER III
關燈
小
中
大
dyou.”
Hepusheduphisgogglesandgazedather,absolutelybewildered.Horrorsmotehertotheheart,forevenshebegantosuspectthattheywereatcross-purposes,andthatshehadcommencedhermissionbysomehideousblunder.
“MissSchlegelandmyself?”heasked,compressinghislips.
“Itrusttherehasbeennomisunderstanding,”quaveredMrs.Munt.“Herlettercertainlyreadthatway.”
“Whatway?”
“Thatyouandshe—”Shepaused,thendroopedhereyelids.
“IthinkIcatchyourmeaning,”hesaidstickily.“Whatanextraordinarymistake!”
“Thenyoudidn’ttheleast—”shestammered,gettingblood-redintheface,andwishingshehadneverbeenborn.
“Scarcely,asIamalreadyengagedtoanotherlady.”Therewasamoment’ssilence,andthenhecaughthisbreathandexplodedwith,“Oh,goodGod!Don’ttellmeit’ssomesillinessofPaul’s.”
“ButyouarePaul.”
“I’mnot.”
“Thenwhydidyousaysoatthestation?”
“Isaidnothingofthesort.”
“Ibegyourpardon,youdid.”
“Ibegyourpardon,Ididnot.MynameisCharles.”
“Younger”maymeansonasopposedtofather,orsecondbrotherasopposedtofirst.Thereismuchtobesaidforeitherview,andlaterontheysaidit.Buttheyhadotherquestionsbeforethemnow.
“DoyoumeantotellmethatPaul—”
Butshedidnotlikehisvoice.Hesoundedasifhewastalkingtoaporter,and,certainthathehaddeceivedheratthestation,shetoogrewangry.
“DoyoumeantotellmethatPaulandyourniece—”
Mrs.Munt—suchishumannature—determinedthatshewouldchampionthelovers.Shewasnotgoingtobebulliedbyasevereyoungman.“Yes,theycareforoneanotherverymuchindeed,”shesaid.“Idaresaytheywilltellyouaboutitby-and-by.Weheardthismorning.”
AndCharlesclenchedhisfistandcried,“Theidiot,theidiot,thelittlefool!”
Mrs.Munttriedtodivestherselfofherrugs.“Ifthatisyourattitude,Mr.Wilcox,Iprefertowalk.”
“Ibegyouwilldonosuchthing.Itakeyouupthismomenttothehouse.Letmetellyouthething’simpossible,andmustbestopped.”
Mrs.Muntdidnotoftenlosehertemper,andwhenshediditwasonlytoprotectthosewhomsheloved.Onthisoccasionsheblazedout.“Iquiteagree,sir.Thethingisimpossible,andIwillcomeupandstopit.Mynieceisaveryexceptionalperson,andIamnotinclinedtositstillwhileshethrowsherselfawayonthosewhowillnotappreciateher.”
Charlesworkedhisjaws.
“ConsideringshehasonlyknownyourbrothersinceWednesday,andonlymetyourfatherandmotheratastrayhotel—”
“Couldyoupossiblyloweryourvoice?Theshopmanwilloverhear.”
Espritdeclasse—ifonemaycointhephrase—wasstronginMrs.Munt.Shesatquiveringwhileamemberofthelowerordersdepositedametalfunnel,asaucepan,andagardensquirtbesidetherollofoilcloth.
“Rightbehind?”
“Yes,sir.”Andthelowerordersvanishedinacloudofdust.
“Iwarnyou:Paulhasn’tapennyit’suseless.”
“Noneedtowarnus,Mr.Wilcox,Iassureyou.Thewarningisalltheotherway.Myniecehasbeenveryfoolish,andIshallgiveheragoodscoldingandtakeherbacktoLondonwithme.”
“HehastomakehiswayoutinNigeria.Hecouldn’tthinkofmarryingforyears,andwhenhedoesitmustbeawomanwhocanstandtheclimate,andisinotherways—Whyhasn’thetoldus?Ofcoursehe’sashamed.Heknowshe’sbeenafool.Andsohehas—adownrightfool.”
Shegrewfurious.
“WhereasMiss
