pgw.adamselindistress-第39部分

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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