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！
legitimately at his disposal。 Within the lax limits of mercantile morality；
Richard Turlington had a conscience。 He put on his hat and took his false
security to the money…lenders； without feeling at all lowered in his own
estimation as an honest man。
Bulpit Brothers； long desirous of having such a name as his on their
books； received him with open arms。 The security （covering the amount
borrowed） was accepted as a matter of course。 The money was lent； for
three months； with a stroke of the pen。 Turlington stepped out again into
the street； and confronted the City of London in the character of the
noblest work of mercantile creationa solvent man。*
The Fallen Angel； walking invisibly behind； in Richard's shadow；
flapped his crippled wings in triumph。 From that moment the Fallen Angel
had got him。 … * It may not be amiss to remind the incredulous
reader that a famous firm in the City accepted precisely the same security
as that here accepted by Bulpit Brothers； with the same sublime
33
… Page 34…
Miss or Mrs。？
indifference to troubling themselves by making any inquiry about it。
34
… Page 35…
Miss or Mrs。？
FOURTH SCENE。
Muswell Hill。
The next day Turlington drove to the suburbs； on the chance of
finding the Graybrookes at home again。 Sir Joseph disliked London； and
could not prevail on himself to live any nearer to the metropolis than
Muswell Hill。 When Natalie wanted a change； and languished for balls；
theaters； flower…shows； and the like； she had a room especially reserved
for her in the house of Sir Joseph's married sister； Mrs。 Sancroft； living in
that central deep of the fashionable whirlpool known among mortals as
Berkeley Square。
On his way through the streets； Turlington encountered a plain proof
that the Graybrookes must have returned。 He was passed by Launce；
driving； in company with a gentleman； in a cab。 The gentleman was
Launce's brother； and the two were on their way to the Commissioners of
Police to make the necessary arrangements for instituting an inquiry into
Turlington's early life。
Arrived at the gate of the villa； the information received only partially
fulfilled the visitor's expectations。 The family had returned on the previous
evening。 Sir Joseph and his sister were at home； but Natalie was away
again already。 She had driven into town to lunch with her aunt。 Turlington
went into the house。
〃Have you lost any money？〃 Those were the first words uttered by Sir
Joseph when he and Richard met again； after the parting on board the
yacht。
〃Not a farthing。 I might have lost seriously； if I had not got back in
time to set things straight。 Stupidity on the part of my people left in
chargenothing more。 It's all right now。〃
Sir Joseph lifted his eyes； with heartfelt devotion； to the ceiling。
〃Thank God； Richard！〃 he said； in tones of the deepest feeling。 He rang
the bell。 〃Tell Miss Graybrooke Mr。 Turlington is here。〃 He turned again to
35
… Page 36…
Miss or Mrs。？
Richard。 〃Lavinia is like me Lavinia has been so anxious about you。 We
have both of us passed a sleepless night。〃 Miss Lavinia came in。 Sir
Joseph hurried to meet her； and took her affectionately by both hands。 〃My
dear！ the best of all good news； Richard has not lost a farthing。〃 Miss
Lavinia lifted _her_ eyes to the ceiling with heartfelt devotion； and said；
〃Thank God； Richard！〃like the echo of her brother's voice； a little late；
perhaps； for its reputation as an echo； but accurate to half a note in its
perfect repetition of sound。
Turlington asked the question which it had been his one object to put
in paying his visit to Muswell Hill。
〃Have you spoken to Natalie？〃
〃This morning；〃 replied Sir Joseph。 〃An opportunity offered itself after
breakfast。 I took advantage of it； Richardyou shall hear how。〃
He settled himself in his chair for one of his interminable stories； he
began his opening sentenceand stopped； struck dumb at the first word。
There was an unexpected obstacle in the way his sister was not attending
to him； his sister had silenced him at starting。 The story touching； this time；
on the question of marriage； Miss Lavinia had her woman's interest in
seeing full justice done to the subject。 She seized on her brother's narrative
as on property in her own right。
〃Joseph should have told you；〃 she began； addressing herself to
Turlington； 〃that our dear girl was unusually depressed in spirits this
morning。 Quite in the right frame of mind for a little serious talk about her
future life。 She ate nothing at breakfast； poor child； but a morsel of dry
toast。〃
〃And marmalade；〃 said Sir Joseph； striking in at the first opportunity。
The story； on this occasion； being Miss Lavinia's story； the polite
contradictions necessary to its successful progress were naturally
transferred from the sister to the brother； and became contradictions on Sir
Joseph's side。
〃No；〃 said Miss Lavinia； gently； 〃if you _will_ have it； Joseph jam。〃
〃I beg your pardon；〃 persisted Sir Joseph； 〃marmalade。〃
〃What _does_ it matter； brother？〃
36
… Page 37…
Miss or Mrs。？
〃Sister！ the late great and good Doctor Johnson said accuracy ought
always to be studied even in the most trifling things。〃
〃You _will_ have your way； Joseph〃（this was the formula
answering to Sir Joseph's 〃Let us waive the point〃which Miss Lavinia
used； as a means of conciliating her brother； and getting a fresh start for
her story）。 〃Well； we took dear Natalie out between us； after breakfast； for
a little walk in the grounds。 My brother opened the subject with infinite
delicacy and tact。 'Circumstances；' he said； 'into which it was not then
necessary to enter； made it very desirable； young as she was； to begin to
think of her establishment in life。' And then he referred； Richard （so
nicely）； to your faithful and devoted attachment〃
〃Excuse me； Lavinia。 I began with Richard's attachment； and then I got
on to her establishment in life。〃
〃Excuse _me_； Joseph。 You managed it much more delicately than you
suppose。 You didn't drag Richard in by the head and shoulders in that
way。〃
〃Lavinia！ I began with Richard。〃
〃Joseph！ your memory deceives you。〃
Turlington's impatience broke through all restraint。
〃How did it end？〃 he asked。 〃Did you propose to her that we should be
married in the first week of the New Year？〃
〃Yes！〃 said Miss Lavinia。
〃No！〃 said Sir Joseph。
The sister looked at the brother with an expression of affectionate
surprise。 The brother looked at the sister with a fund of amiable
contradiction； expressed in a low bow。
〃Do you really mean to deny； Joseph； that you told Natalie we had
decided on the first week in the New Year？〃
〃I deny the New Year； Lavinia。 I said early in January。〃
〃You _will_ have your way； Joseph！ We were walking in the shrubbery
at the time。 I had our dear girl's arm in mine； and I felt it tremble。 She
suddenly stopped。 'Oh；' she said； 'not so soon！' I said； 'My dear； consider
Richard！' She turned to her father。 She said； 'Don't； pray don't press it so
37
… Page 38…
Miss or Mrs。？
soon； papa！ I respect Richard； I like Richard as your true and faithful
friend； but I don't love him as I ought to love him if I am to be his wife。'
Imagine her talking in that way！ What could she possibly know about it？
Of