CHAPTER XVII
關燈
小
中
大
ghlyOldEnglish.Don’tyouagree?”
“Yes,”saidMargaret,whodidn’t.Theorderwasgiven,thejointrolledup,andthecarver,underMr.Wilcox’sdirection,cutthemeatwhereitwassucculent,andpiledtheirplateshigh.Mr.Cahillinsistedonsirloin,butadmittedthathehadmadeamistakelateron.HeandEviesoonfellintoaconversationofthe“No,Ididn’tyes,youdid”type—conversationwhich,thoughfascinatingtothosewhoareengagedinit,neitherdesiresnordeservestheattentionofothers.
“It’sagoldenruletotipthecarver.Tipeverywhere’smymotto.”
“Perhapsitdoesmakelifemorehuman.”
“Thenthefellowsknowoneagain.EspeciallyintheEast,ifyoutip,theyrememberyoufromyear’sendtoyear’send.”
“HaveyoubeenintheEast?”
“Oh,GreeceandtheLevant.IusedtogooutforsportandbusinesstoCyprussomemilitarysocietyofasortthere.Afewpiastres,properlydistributed,helptokeepone’smemorygreen.Butyou,ofcourse,thinkthisshockinglycynical.How’syourdiscussionsocietygettingon?AnynewUtopiaslately?”
“No,I’mhouse-hunting,Mr.Wilcox,asI’vealreadytoldyouonce.Doyouknowofanyhouses?”
“AfraidIdon’t.”
“Well,what’sthepointofbeingpracticalifyoucan’tfindtwodistressedfemalesahouse?Wemerelywantasmallhousewithlargerooms,andplentyofthem.”
“Evie,Ilikethat!MissSchlegelexpectsmetoturnhouse-agentforher!”
“What’sthat,father?”
“IwantanewhomeinSeptember,andsomeonemustfindit.Ican’t.”
“Percy,doyouknowofanything?”
“Ican’tsayIdo,”saidMr.Cahill.
“Howlikeyou!You’reneveranygood.”
“Neveranygood.Justlistentoher!Neveranygood.Oh,come!”
“Well,youaren’t.MissSchlegel,ishe?”
Thetorrentoftheirlove,havingsplashedthesedropsatMargaret,sweptawayonitshabitualcourse.Shesympathisedwithitnow,foralittlecomforthadrestoredhergeniality.Speechandsilencepleasedherequally,andwhileMr.Wilcoxmadesomepreliminaryinquiriesaboutcheese,hereyessurveyedtherestaurant,andaireditswell-calculatedtributestothesolidityofourpast.ThoughnomoreOldEnglishthantheworksofKipling,ithadselecteditsreminiscencessoadroitlythathercriticismwaslulled,andtheguestswhomitwasnourishingforimperialpurposesboretheoutersemblanceofParsonAdamsorTomJones.Scrapsoftheirtalkjarredoddlyontheear.“Rightyouare!I’llcableouttoUgandathisevening,”camefromthetablebehind.“TheirEmperorwantswarwell,lethimhaveit,”wastheopinionofaclergyman.Shesmiledatsuchincongruities.“Nexttime,”shesaidtoMr.Wilcox,“yous
