pgw.uneasymoney-第14部分

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ed'　was　the　adjective　that　would　have　described　him。　He　was　inclined　to　stoutness；　but　not　unpardonably　so；　his　hair　was　thin；　but　he　was　not　aggressively　bald；　his　face　was　dull；　but　certainly　not　stupid。　There　was　nothing　in　his　outer　man　which　his　millions　would　not　offset。　As　regarded　his　other　qualities；　his　conversation　was　certainly　not　exhilarating。　But　that　also　was　not；　under　certain　conditions；　an　unforgivable　thing。　No；　looking　at　the　matter　all　round　and　weighing　it　with　care；　the　real　obstacle；　Claire　decided；　was　not　any　quality　or　lack　of　qualities　in　Dudley　Pickeringit　was　Lord　Dawlish　and　the　simple　fact　that　it　would　be　extremely　difficult；　if　she　discarded　him　in　favour　of　a　richer　man　without　any　ostensible　cause；　to　retain　her　self…respect。
　'I　think　he's　weakening。'
　'Yes？'
　Yes；　that　was　the　crux　of　the　matter。　She　wanted　to　retain　her　good　opinion　of　herself。　And　in　order　to　achieve　that　end　it　was　essential　that　she　find　some　excuse；　however　trivial；　for　breaking　off　the　engagement。
　'Yes？'
　A　waiter　approached　the　table。
　'Mr　Pickering！'
　The　thwarted　lover　came　to　life　with　a　start。
　'Eh？'
　'A　gentleman　wishes　to　speak　to　you　on　the　telephone。'
　'Oh；　yes。　I　was　expecting　a　long…distance　call；　Lady　Wetherby；　and　left　word　I　would　be　here。　Will　you　excuse　me？'
　Lady　Wetherby　watched　him　as　he　bustled　across　the　room。
　'What　do　you　think　of　him；　Claire？'
　'Mr　Pickering？　I　think　he's　very　nice。'
　'He　admires　you　frantically。　I　hoped　he　would。　That's　why　I　wanted　you　to　e　over　on　the　same　ship　with　him。'
　'Polly！　I　had　no　notion　you　were　such　a　schemer。'
　'I　would　just　love　to　see　you　two　fix　it　up；'　continued　Lady　Wetherby；　earnestly。　'He　may　not　be　what　you　might　call　a　genius；　but　he's　a　darned　good　sort；　and　all　his　millions　help；　don't　they？　You　don't　want　to　overlook　these　millions；　Claire！'
　'I　do　like　Mr　Pickering。'
　'Claire；　he　asked　me　if　you　were　engaged。'
　'What！'
　'When　I　told　him　you　weren't；　he　beamed。　Honestly；　you've　only　got　to　lift　your　little　finger　andOh；　good　Lord；　there's　Algie！'
　Claire　looked　up。　A　dapper；　trim　little　man　of　about　forty　was　threading　his　way　among　the　tables　in　their　direction。　It　was　a　year　since　Claire　had　seen　Lord　Wetherby；　but　she　recognized　him　at　once。　He　had　a　red；　weather…beaten　face　with　a　suspicion　of　side…whiskers；　small；　pink…rimmed　eyes　with　sandy　eyebrows；　the　smoothest　of　sandy　hair；　and　a　chin　so　cleanly　shaven　that　it　was　difficult　to　believe　that　hair　had　ever　grown　there。　Although　his　evening…dress　was　perfect　in　every　detail；　he　conveyed　a　subtle　suggestion　of　horsiness。　He　reached　the　table　and　sat　down　without　invitation　in　the　vacant　chair。
　'Pauline！'　he　said；　sorrowfully。
　'Algie！'　said　Lady　Wetherby；　tensely。　'I　don't　know　what　you've　e　here　for；　and　I　don't　remember　asking　you　to　sit　down　and　put　your　elbows　on　that　table；　but　I　want　to　begin　by　saying　that　I　will　not　be　called　Pauline。　My　name's　Polly。　You've　got　a　way　of　saying　Pauline；　as　if　it　were　a　gentlemanly　cuss…word；　that　makes　me　want　to　scream。　And　while　you're　about　it；　why　don't　you　say　how…d'you…do　to　Claire？　You　ought　to　remember　her；　she　was　my　bridesmaid。'
　'How　do　you　do；　Miss　Fenwick。　Of　course；　I　remember　you　perfectly。　I'm　glad　to　see　you　again。'
　'And　now；　Algie；　what　is　it？　Why　have　you　e　here？'　Lord　Wetherby　looked　doubtfully　at　Claire。　'Oh；　that's　all　right；'　said　Lady　Wetherby。　'Claire　knows　all　about　itI　told　her。'
　'Then　I　appeal　to　Miss　Fenwick；　if；　as　you　say；　she　knows　all　the　facts　of　the　case；　to　say　whether　it　is　reasonable　to　expect　a　man　of　my　temperament；　a　nervous；　highly…strung　artist；　to　wele　the　presence　of　snakes　at　the　breakfast…table。　I　trust　that　I　am　not　an　unreasonable　man；　but　I　decline　to　admit　that　a　long；　green　snake　is　a　proper　thing　to　keep　about　the　house。'
　'You　had　no　right　to　strike　the　poor　thing。'
　'In　that　one　respect　I　was　perhaps　a　little　hasty。　I　happened　to　be　stirring　my　tea　at　the　moment　his　head　rose　above　the　edge　of　the　table。　I　was　not　entirely　myself　that　morning。　My　nerves　were　somewhat　disordered。　I　had　lain　awake　much　of　the　night　planning　a　canvas。'
　'Planning　a　what？'
　'A　canvasa　picture。'
　Lady　Wetherby　turned　to　Claire。
　'I　want　you　to　listen　to　Algie；　Claire。　A　year　ago　he　did　not　know　one　end　of　a　paint…brush　from　the　other。　He　didn't　know　he　had　any　nerves。　If　you　had　brought　him　the　artistic　temperament　on　a　plate　with　a　bit　of　watercress　round　it；　he　wouldn't　have　recognized　it。　And　now；　just　because　he's　got　a　studio；　he　thinks　he　has　a　right　to　go　up　in　the　air　if　you　speak　to　him　suddenly　and　run　about　the　place　hitting　snakes　with　teaspoons　as　if　he　were　Michelangelo！'
　'You　do　me　an　injustice。　It　is　true　that　as　an　artist　I　developed　lateBut　why　should　we　quarrel？　If　it　will　help　to　pave　the　way　to　a　renewed　understanding　between　us；　I　am　prepared　to　apologize　for　striking　Clarence。　That　is　conciliatory；　I　think；　Miss　Fenwick？'
　'Very。'
　'Miss　Fenwick　considers　my　attitude　conciliatory。'
　'It's　something；'　admitted　Lady　Wetherby；　grudgingly。
　Lord　Wetherby　drained　the　whisky…and…soda　which　Dudley　Pickering　had　left　behind　him；　and　seemed　to　draw　strength　from　it；　for　he　now　struck　a　firmer　note。
　'But；　though　expressing　regret　for　my　momentary　loss　of　self…control；　I　cannot　recede　from　the　position　I　have　taken　up　as　regards　the　essential　unfitness　of　Clarence's　presence　in　the　home。'
　Lady　Wetherby　looked　despairingly　at　Claire。
　'The　very　first　words　I　heard　Algie　speak；　Claire；　were　at　Newmarket　during　the　three　o'clock　race　one　May　afternoon。　He　was　hanging　over　the　rail；　yelling　like　an　Indian；　and　what　he　was　yelling　was；　〃e　on；　you　blighter；　e　on！　By　the　living　jingo；　Brickbat　wins　in　a　walk！〃　And　now　he's　talking　about　receding　from　essential　positions！　Oh；　well；　he　wasn't　an　artist　then！'
　'My　dear　PauPolly。　I　am　purposely　picking　my　words　on　the　present　occasion　in　order　to　prevent　the　possibility　of　further　misunderstandings。　I　consider　myself　an　ambassador。'
　'You　would　be　shocked　if　you　knew　what　I　consider　you！'
　'I　am　endeavouring　to　the　best　of　my　ability'
　'Algie；　listen　to　me！　I　am　quite　calm　at　present；　but　there's　no　knowing　how　soon　I　may　hit　you　with　a　chair　if　you　don't　e　to　earth　quick　and　talk　like　an　ordinary　human　being。　What　is　it　that　you　are　driving　at？'
　'Very　well；　it's　this：　I'll　e　home　if　you　get　rid　of　that　snake。'
　'Never！'
　'It's　surely　not　much　to　ask　of　you；　Polly？'
　'I　won't！'
　Lord　Wetherby　sighed。
　'When　I　led　you　to　the　altar；'　he　said；　reproachfully；　'you　promised　to　love；　honour；　and　obey　me。　I　thought　at　the　time　it　was　a　bit　of　swank！'
　Lady　Wetherby's　manner　thawed。　She　became　more　friendly。
　'When　you　talk　like　that；　Algie；　I　feel　there's　hope　for　you　after　all。　That's　how　you　used　to　talk　in　the　dear　old　days　when　you'd　e　to　me　to　borrow　half…a…crown　to　put　on　a　horse！　Listen；　now　that　at　last　you　seem　to　be　getting　more　reasonable；　I　wish　I　could　make　you　understand　that　I　don't　keep　Clarence　for　sheer　love　of　him。　He's　a　mercial　asset。　He's　an　advertisement。　You　must　know　that　I　have　got　to　have　something　to'
　'I　admit　that　may　be　so　as　regards　the　monkey；　Eustace。　Monkeys　as　aids　to　publicity　have；　I　believe；　been　tested　and　found　valuable　by　other　artistes。　I　am　prepared　to　accept　Eustace；　but　the　snake　is　worthless。'
　'Oh；　you　don't　object　to　Eustace；　then？'
　'I　do　strongly；　but　I　concede　his　uses。'
　'You　would　live　in　the　same　house　as　Eustace？'
　'I　would　endeavour　to　do　so。　But　not　in　the　same　house　as　Eustace　and　Clarence。'
　There　was　a　pause。
　'I　don't　know　that　I'm　so　stuck　on　Clarence　myself；'　said　Lady　Wetherby；　weakly。
　'My　darling！'
　'Wait　a　minute。　I've　not　said　I　would　get　rid　of　him。'
　'But　you　will？'
　Lady　Wetherby's　hesitation　lasted　but　a　moment。　'All　right；　Algie。　I'll　send　him　to　the　Zoo　to…morrow。'
　'My　precious　pet！'
　A　hand；　reaching　under　the　table；　enveloped　Claire's　in　a　loving　clasp。
　From　the　look　on　Lord　Wetherby's　face　she　supposed　that　he　was　under　the　delusion　that　he　was　bestowing　this　attention　on　his　wife。
　'You　know；　Algie；　darling；'　said　Lady　Wetherby；　melting　pletely；　'when　you　get　that