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！
course I know she would never let him alone。〃
〃How COULD shefancy！when he had so compromised her？〃
The most artless cry they had ever uttered broke； at this； from the
younger pair of lips。 〃HAD he so？〃
〃Why； don't you know the scandal？〃
Our heroine thought； recollected there was something； whatever it
was； that she knew after all much more of than Mrs。 Jordan。 She
saw him again as she had seen him come that morning to recover the
telegramshe saw him as she had seen him leave the shop。 She
perched herself a moment on this。 〃Oh there was nothing public。〃
〃Not exactly publicno。 But there was an awful scare and an awful
row。 It was all on the very point of coming out。 Something was
lostsomething was found。〃
〃Ah yes；〃 the girl replied； smiling as if with the revival of a
blurred memory； 〃something was found。〃
〃It all got aboutand there was a point at which Lord Bradeen had
to act。〃
〃Had toyes。 But he didn't。〃
Mrs。 Jordan was obliged to admit it。 〃No； he didn't。 And then；
luckily for them； he died。〃
〃I didn't know about his death；〃 her companion said。
〃It was nine weeks ago； and most sudden。 It has given them a
prompt chance。〃
〃To get married？〃this was a wonder〃within nine weeks？〃
〃Oh not immediately； butin all the circumstancesvery quietly
and； I assure you； very soon。 Every preparation's made。 Above all
she holds him。〃
〃Oh yes； she holds him！〃 our young friend threw off。 She had this
before her again a minute； then she continued： 〃You mean through
his having made her talked about？〃
〃Yes； but not only that。 She has still another pull。〃
〃Another？〃
Mrs。 Jordan hesitated。 〃Why； he was IN something。〃
Her comrade wondered。 〃In what？〃
〃I don't know。 Something bad。 As I tell you； something was
found。〃
The girl stared。 〃Well？〃
〃It would have been very bad for him。 But； she helped him some
wayshe recovered it； got hold of it。 It's even said she stole
it！〃
Our young woman considered afresh。 〃Why it was what was found that
precisely saved him。〃
Mrs。 Jordan； however； was positive。 〃I beg your pardon。 I happen
to know。〃
Her disciple faltered but an instant。 〃Do you mean through Mr。
Drake？ Do they tell him these things？〃
〃A good servant；〃 said Mrs。 Jordan； now thoroughly superior and
proportionately sententious； 〃doesn't need to be told！ Her
ladyship savedas a woman so often saves！the man she loves。〃
This time our heroine took longer to recover herself； but she found
a voice at last。 〃Ah wellof course I don't know！ The great
thing was that he got off。 They seem then； in a manner；〃 she
added； 〃to have done a great deal for each other。〃
〃Well； it's she that has done most。 She has him tight。〃
〃I see； I see。 Good…bye。〃 The women had already embraced； and
this was not repeated； but Mrs。 Jordan went down with her guest to
the door of the house。 Here again the younger lingered； reverting；
though three or four other remarks had on the way passed between
them； to Captain Everard and Lady Bradeen。 〃Did you mean just now
that if she hadn't saved him； as you call it； she wouldn't hold him
so tight？〃
〃Well； I dare say。〃 Mrs。 Jordan； on the doorstep； smiled with a
reflexion that had come to her； she took one of her big bites of
the brown gloom。 〃Men always dislike one when they've done one an
injury。〃
〃But what injury had he done her？〃
〃The one I've mentioned。 He MUST marry her； you know。〃
〃And didn't he want to？〃
〃Not before。〃
〃Not before she recovered the telegram？〃
Mrs。 Jordan was pulled up a little。 〃Was it a telegram？〃
The girl hesitated。 〃I thought you said so。 I mean whatever it
was。〃
〃Yes； whatever it was； I don't think she saw THAT。〃
〃So she just nailed him？〃
〃She just nailed him。〃 The departing friend was now at the bottom
of the little flight of steps； the other was at the top； with a
certain thickness of fog。 〃And when am I to think of you in your
little home？next month？〃 asked the voice from the top。
〃At the very latest。 And when am I to think of you in yours？〃
〃Oh even sooner。 I feel； after so much talk with you about it； as
if I were already there！〃 Then 〃GOOD…bye！〃 came out of the fog。
〃Good…BYE！〃 went into it。 Our young lady went into it also； in the
opposed quarter； and presently； after a few sightless turns； came
out on the Paddington canal。 Distinguishing vaguely what the low
parapet enclosed she stopped close to it and stood a while very
intently； but perhaps still sightlessly； looking down on it。 A
policeman； while she remained； strolled past her； then； going his
way a little further and half lost in the atmosphere； paused and
watched her。 But she was quite unawareshe was full of her
thoughts。 They were too numerous to find a place just here； but
two of the number may at least be mentioned。 One of these was
that； decidedly； her little home must be not for next month； but
for next week； the other； which came indeed as she resumed her walk
and went her way； was that it was strange such a matter should be
at last settled for her by Mr。 Drake
End