按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
ea almost as soon as I found that you had e here〃
〃You want me to take a letter from you and see that it reaches him。 And then he can write back to my address； and I can smuggle the letter to you？〃
〃That's exactly what I do want。 But I almost didn't like to ask。〃
〃Why not？ I'll be delighted to do it。〃
〃I'm so grateful。〃
〃Why； it's nothing。 I thought you were going to ask me to look in on your brother and smash another of his hats。〃
Maud laughed delightedly。 The whole tension of the situation had been eased for her。 More and more she found herself liking George。 Yet； deep down in her； she realized with a pang that for him there had been no easing of the situation。 She was sad for George。 The Plummers of this world she had consigned to what they declared would be perpetual sorrow with scarcely a twinge of regret。 But George was different。
〃Poor Percy！〃 she said。 〃I don't suppose he'll ever get over it。 He will have other hats； but it won't be the same。〃 She came back to the subject nearest her heart。 〃Mr。 Bevan； I wonder if you would do just a little more for me？〃
〃If it isn't criminal。 Or； for that matter； if it is。〃
〃Could you go to Geoffrey； and see him； and tell him all about me andand e back and tell me how he looks； and what he said andand so on？〃
〃Certainly。 What is his name； and where do I find him？〃
〃I never told you。 How stupid of me。 His name is Geoffrey Raymond； and he lives with his uncle； Mr。 Wilbur Raymond； at 11a； Belgrave Square。〃
〃I'll go to him tomorrow。〃
〃Thank you ever so much。〃
George got up。 The movement seemed to put him in touch with the outer world。 He noticed that the rain had stopped； and that stars had climbed into the oblong of the doorway。 He had an impression that he had been in the barn a very long time； and confirmed this with a glance at his watch； though the watch； he felt； understated the facts by the length of several centuries。 He was abstaining from too close an examination of his emotions from a prudent feeling that he was going to suffer soon enough without assistance from himself。
〃I think you had better be going back；〃 he said。 〃It's rather late。 They may be missing you。〃
Maud laughed happily。
〃I don't mind now what they do。 But I suppose dinners must be dressed for； whatever happens。〃 They moved together to the door。 〃What a lovely night after all！ I never thought the rain would stop in this world。 It's like when you're unhappy and think it's going on for ever。〃
〃Yes；〃 said George。
Maud held out her hand。
〃Good night； Mr。 Bevan。〃
〃Good night。〃
He wondered if there would be any allusion to the earlier passages of their interview。 There was none。 Maud was of the class whose education consists mainly of a training in the delicate ignoring of delicate situations。
〃Then you will go and see Geoffrey？〃
〃Tomorrow。〃
〃Thank you ever so much。〃
〃Not at all。〃
George admired her。 The little touch of formality which she had contrived to impart to the conversation struck just the right note； created just the atmosphere which would enable them to part without weighing too heavily on the deeper aspect of that parting。
〃You're a real friend； Mr。 Bevan。〃
〃Watch me prove it。〃
〃Well； I must rush； I suppose。 Good night！〃
〃Good night！〃
She moved off quickly across the field。 Darkness covered her。 The dog in the distance had begun to howl again。 He had his troubles； too。
CHAPTER 20。
Trouble sharpens the vision。 In our moments of distress we can see clearly that what is wrong with this world of ours is the fact that Misery loves pany and seldom gets it。 Toothache is an unpleasant ailment； but； if toothache were a natural condition of life； if all mankind were afflicted with toothache at birth； we should not notice it。 It is the freedom from aching teeth of all those with whom we e in contact that emphasizes the agony。 And； as with toothache； so with trouble。 Until our private affairs go wrong； we never realize how bubbling over with happiness the bulk of mankind seems to be。 Our aching heart is apparently nothing but a desert island in an ocean of joy。
George； waking next morning with a heavy heart； made this discovery before the day was an hour old。 The sun was shining； and birds sang merrily； but this did not disturb him。 Nature is ever callous to human woes； laughing while we weep； and we grow to take her callousness for granted。 What jarred upon George was the infernal cheerfulness of his fellow men。 They seemed to be doing it on purposetriumphing over himglorying in the fact； that； however Fate might have shattered him； they were all right。
People were happy who had never been happy before。 Mrs。 Platt； for instance。 A grey； depressed woman of middle age； she had seemed hitherto to have few pleasures beyond breaking dishes and relating the symptoms of sick neighbours who were not expected to live through the week。 She now sang。 George could hear her as she prepared his breakfast in the kitchen。 At first he had had a hope that she was moaning with pain； but this was dispelled when he had finished his toilet and proceeded downstairs。 The sounds she emitted suggested anguish； but the words； when he was able to distinguish them； told another story。 Incredible as it might seem； on this particular morning Mrs。 Platt had elected to be light…hearted。 What she was singing sounded like a dirge； but actually it was 〃Stop your tickling； Jock！〃 And。 later； when she brought George his coffee and eggs； she spent a full ten minutes prattling as he tried to read his paper； pointing out to him a number of merry murders and sprightly suicides which otherwise he might have missed。 The woman went out of her way to show him that for her； if not for less fortunate people； God this morning was in His heaven and all was right in the world。
Two tramps of supernatural exuberance called at the cottage shortly after breakfast to ask George； whom they had never even consulted about their marriages； to help support their wives and children。 Nothing could have been more care…free and debonnaire than the demeanour of these men。
And then Reggie Byng arrived in his grey racing car； more cheerful than any of them。
Fate could not have mocked George more subtly。 A sorrow's crown of sorrow is remembering happier things； and the sight of Reggie in that room reminded him that on the last occasion when they had talked together across this same table it was he who had been in a Fool's Paradise and Reggie who had borne a weight of care。 Reggie this morning was brighter than the shining sun and gayer than the carolling birds。
〃Hullo…ullo…ullo…ullo…ullo…ullo…ul…Lo！ Topping morning； isn't it！〃 observed Reggie。 〃The sunshine！ The birds！ The absolute what…do…you…call…it of everything and so forth； and all that sort of thing； if you know what I mean！ I feel like a two…year…old！〃
George； who felt older than this by some ninety…eight years； groaned in spirit。 This was more than man was meant to bear。
〃I say；〃 continued Reggie； absently reaching out for a slice of bread and smearing it with marmalade； 〃this business of marriage； now； and all that species of rot！ What I mean to say is； what about it？ Not a bad scheme； taking it big and large？ Or don't you think so？〃
George writhed。 The knife twisted in the wound。 Surely it was bad enough to see a happy man eating bread and marmalade without having to listen to him talking about marriage。
〃Well； anyhow； be that as it may；〃 said Reggie； biting jovially and speaking in a thick but joyous voice。 〃I'm getting married today； and chance it。 This morning； this very morning； I leap off the dock！〃
George was startled out of his despondency。
〃What！〃
〃Absolutely； laddie！〃
George remembered the conventions。
〃I congratulate you。〃
〃Thanks； old man。 And not without reason。 I'm the luckiest fellow alive。 I hardly knew I was alive till now。〃
〃Isn't this rather sudden？〃
Reggie looked a trifle furtive。 His manner became that of a conspirator。
〃I should jolly well say it is sudden！ It's got to be sudden。 Dashed sudden and deuced secret！ If the mater were to hear of it； there's no doubt whatever she would form a flying wedge and bust up the proceedings with no uncertain voice。 You see； laddie； it's Miss Faraday I'm marrying； and the materdear old soulhas other ideas for Reginald。 Life's a rummy thing； isn't it！ What I mean to say is； it's rummy； don't you know； and all that。〃
〃Very；〃 agreed George。
〃Who'd have thought； a week ago； that I'd be sitting in this jolly old chair asking you to be my best man？ Why； a week ago I didn't know you； and； if anybody had told me Alice Faraday was going to marry me； I'd have given one of those hollow； mirthless laughs。〃
〃Do you want me to be your best man？〃
〃Absolutely； if you don't mind。 You see；〃 said Reggie confidentially； 〃it's like this。 I've got lots of pals； of course； buzzing about all over London and its outskirts； who'd be glad enough to rally round and join the execution…squad； but you know how it is。 Their maters are all pals of my mater； and I don't want to get them into trouble for aiding and abetting my little show； if you understand what I mean。 Now； you're different。 You don't know the mater； so it doesn't matter to you if she rolls around and puts the Curse of the Byngs on you； and all that sort of thing。 Besides； I don't know。〃 Reggie mused。 〃Of course； this is the happiest day of my life；〃 he proceeded； 〃and I'm not saying it isn't； but you know how it isthere's absolutely no doubt that a chappie does not show at his best when he's being married。 What I mean to say is； he's more or less bound to look a fearful ass。 And I'm perfectly certain it would put me right off my stroke if I felt that some chump like Jack Ferris or Ronnie Fitzgerald was trying not to giggle in the background。 So； if you will be a sportsman and e and hold my hand till the thing's over； I shall be eternally grateful。〃
〃Where are you going to be married？〃
〃In London。 Alice sneaked off there last night。 It was easy； as it happened； because by a bit of luck old Marshmoreton had gone to town yesterday morningnobody knows why： he doesn't go up to London more than a couple of times a year。 She's going to meet me at the Savoy； and then the scheme was to toddle round to the nearest registrar and request the lad to unleash the marriage service。 I'm whizzing up in the car； and I'm hoping to be able to persuade you to e with me。 Say the word； laddie！〃
George reflected。 He liked Reggie； and there was no particular reason in the world why he should not give him aid and fort in this crisis。 True； in his present frame of mind； it would be torture to witness a wedding ceremony； but he ought not to let that stand in the way of helping a friend。
〃All right；〃 he said。
〃Stout fellow！ I don't know how to thank you。 It isn't putting you out or upsetting your plans； I hope； or anything on those lines？〃
〃Not at all。 I had to go up to London today； anyway。〃
〃Well； you can't get there quicker than in my car。 She's a hummer。 By the way； I forgot to ask。 How is your little affair ing along？ Everything going all right？〃
〃In a way；〃 said George。 He was not equal to confiding his troubles to Reggie。
〃Of course； your trouble isn't like mine was。 What I mean is； Maud loves you； and all that； and all you've got to think out is a scheme for laying the jolly old family a stymie。 It's a pityalmostthat yours isn't a case of having to win the girl； like me； because by Jove； laddie；〃 said Reggie with solemn emphasis； 〃I could help you there。 I've got the thing down fine。 I've got the infallible dope。〃
George smiled bleakly。
〃You have？ You're a useful fellow to have around。 I wish you would tell me what it is。〃
〃But you don't need it。〃
〃No； of course not。 I was forgetting。〃
Reggie looked at his watch。
〃We ought to be shifting in a quarter of an hour or so。 I don't want to be late。 It appears that there's a catch of some sort in this business of getting married。 As far as I can make out； if you roll in after a certain hour； the Johnnie in charge of the proceedings gives you the miss…in…baulk； and you have to turn up again next day。 However； we shall be all right unless we have a breakdown； and there's not much chance of that。 I've been tunin