蓝色特快上的秘密-蓝色列车之谜-蓝色列车(英文版)-第7章

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She　made　her　call　about　three　o'clock。　

〃My　dear；　I'm　so　glad；〃　she　said　warmly；　as　she　squeezed　Katherine's　hand。　〃And　everyone　in　the　village　will　be　glad　too。〃　

〃It's　very　nice　of　you　to　e　and　tell　me；〃　said　Katherine。　〃I　hoped　you　would　e；　because　I　wanted　to　ask　about　Johnnie。〃　

〃Oh！　Johnnie。　Well　…〃　

Johnnie　was　Mrs　Harrison's　youngest　son。　In　another　minute　she　was　off；　retailing　a　long　history　in　which　Johnnie's　adenoids　and　tonsils　bulked　largely。　Katherine　listened　sympathetically。　Habits　die　hard。　Listening　had　been　her　portion　for　ten　years　now。　〃My　dear；　I　wonder　if　I　ever　told　you　about　that　naval　ball　at　Portsmouth？　When　Lord　Charles　admired　my　gown？〃　And　posedly；　kindly；　Katherine　would　reply：　〃I　rather　think　you　have；　Mrs　Harfield；　but　I've　forgotten　about　it。　Won't　you　tell　it　me　again？〃　And　then　the　old　lady　would　start　off　full　swing；　with　numerous　details。　And　half　of　Katherine's　mind　would　be　listening；　saying　the　right　things　mechanically　when　the　old　lady　paused。。。　

Now；　with　that　same　curious　feeling　of　duality　to　which　she　was　accustomed；　she　listened　to　Mrs　Harrison。　

At　the　end　of　half　an　hour；　the　latter　recalled　herself　suddenly。　

〃I've　been　talking　about　myself　all　this　time；〃　she　exclaimed。　〃And　I　came　here　to　talk　about　you　and　your　plans。〃　

〃I　don't　know　that　I've　got　any　yet。〃　

〃My　dear　…　you're　not　going　to　stay　on　here。〃　

Katherine　smiled　at　the　horror　in　the　other's　tone。　

〃No；　I　think　I　want　to　travel。　I've　never　seen　much　of　the　world；　you　know。〃　

〃I　should　think　not。　It　must　have　been　an　awful　life　for　you　cooped　up　here　all　these　years。〃　

〃I　don't　know；〃　said　Katherine。　〃It　gave　me　a　lot　of　freedom。〃　

She　caught　the　other's　gasp；　and　reddened　a　little。　

〃It　must　sound　foolish　…　saying　that。　Of　course；　I　hadn't　much　freedom　in　the　downright　physical　sense　…〃　

〃I　should　think　not；〃　breathed　Mrs　Harrison；　remembering　that　Katherine　had　seldom　had　that　useful　thing　as　a　〃day　off。〃　

〃But；　in　a　way；　being　tied　physically　gives　you　lots　of　scope　mentally。　You're　always　free　to　think。　I've　had　a　lovely　feeling　always　of　mental　freedom。〃　

Mrs　Harrison　shook　her　head。　

〃I　can't　understand　that。〃　

〃Oh！　you　would　if　you'd　been　in　my　place。　But；　all　the　same；　I　feel　I　want　a　change。　I　want　…　well；　I　want　things　to　happen。　Oh！　Not　to　me　…　I　don't　mean　that。　But　to　be　in　the　midst　of　things；　exciting　things　…　even　if　I'm　only　the　looker…on。　You　know；　things　don't　happen　in　St　Mary　Mead。〃　

〃They　don't　indeed；〃　said　Mrs　Harrison；　with　fervour。　

〃I　shall　go　to　London　first；〃　said　Katherine。　〃I　have　to　see　the　solicitors；　anyway。　After　that；　I　shall　go　abroad；　I　think。〃　

〃Very　nice。〃　

〃But；　of　course；　first　of　all　…〃　

〃Yes？〃　

〃I　must　get　some　clothes。〃　

〃Exactly　what　I　said　to　Arthur　this　morning；〃　cried　the　doctor's　wife。　〃You　know；　Katherine；　you　could　look　possibly　positively　beautiful　if　you　tried。〃　

Miss　Grey　laughed　unaffectedly。　

〃Oh；　I　don't　think　you　could　ever　make　a　beauty　out　of　me；〃　she　said　sincerely。　〃But　I　shall　enjoy　having　some　really　good　clothes。　I'm　afraid　I'm　talking　about　myself　an　awful　lot。〃　

Mrs　Harrison　looked　at　her　shrewdly。　

〃It　must　be　quite　a　novel　experience　for　you；〃　she　said　drily。　

Katherine　went　to　say　good…bye　to　old　Miss　Viner　before　leaving　the　village。　Miss　Viner　was　two　years　older　than　Mrs　Harfield；　and　her　mind　was　mainly　taken　up　with　her　own　success　in　outliving　her　dead　friend。　

〃You　wouldn't　have　thought　I'd　have　outlasted　Jane　Harfield；　would　you？〃　she　demanded　triumphantly　of　Katherine。　〃We　were　at　school　together；　she　and　I。　And　here　we　are；　she　taken；　and　I　left。　Who　would　have　thought　it？〃　

〃You've　always　eaten　brown　bread　for　supper；　haven't　you？〃　murmured　Katherine　mechanically。　

〃Fancy　your　remembering　that；　my　dear。　Yes；　if　Jane　Harfield　had　had　a　slice　of　brown　bread　every　evening　and　taken　a　little　stimulant　with　her　meals　she　might　be　here　today。〃　

The　old　lady　paused；　nodding　her　head　triumphantly；　then　added　in　sudden　remembrance：　

〃And　so　you've　e　into　a　lot　of　money；　I　hear？　Well；　well。　Take　care　of　it。　And　you're　going　up　to　London　to　have　a　good　time？　Don't　think　you'll　get　married；　though；　my　dear；　because　you　won't。　You're　not　the　kind　to　attract　the　men。　And；　besides；　you're　getting　on。　How　old　are　you　now？〃　

〃Thirty…three；〃　Katherine　told　her。　

〃Well；〃　remarked　Miss　Viner　doubtfully；　〃that's　not　so　very　bad。　You've　lost　your　first　freshness；　of　course。〃　

〃I'm　afraid　so；〃　said　Katherine；　much　entertained。　

〃But　you're　a　very　nice　girl；〃　said　Miss　Viner　kindly。　〃And　I'm　sure　there's　many　a　man　might　do　worse　than　take　you　for　a　wife　instead　of　one　of　these　flibbertigibbets　running　about　nowadays　showing　more　of　their　legs　than　the　Creator　ever　intended　them　to。　Good…bye；　my　dear；　and　I　hope　you'll　enjoy　yourself；　but　things　are　seldom　what　they　seem　in　this　life。〃　

Heartened　by　these　prophecies；　Katherine　took　her　departure。　Half　the　village　came　to　see　her　off　at　the　station；　including　the　little　maid　of　all　work；　Alice；　who　brought　a　stiff　wired　nosegay　and　cried　openly。　

〃There　ain't　a　many　like　her；〃　sobbed　Alice　when　the　train　had　finally　departed。　〃I'm　sure　when　Charlie　went　back　on　me　with　that　girl　from　the　Dairy；　nobody　could　have　been　kinder　than　Miss　Grey　was；　and　though　particular　about　the　brasses　and　the　dust；　she　was　always　one　to　notice　when　you'd　give　a　thing　an　extra　rub。　Cut　myself　in　little　pieces　for　her；　I　would；　any　day。　A　real　lady；　that's　what　I　call　her。〃　

Such　was　Katherine's　departure　from　St　Mary　Mead。　

Chapter　8　

LADY　TAMPLIN　WRITES　A　LETTER

〃Well；〃　said　Lady　Tamplin；　〃well。〃　

She　laid　down　the　continental　Daily　Mail　and　stared　out　across　the　blue　waters　of　the　Mediterranean。　A　branch　of　golden　mimosa；　hanging　just　above　her　head；　made　an　effective　frame　for　a　very　charming　picture。　A　golden…haired；　blue…eyed　lady　in　a　very　being　negligee。　That　the　golden　hair　owed　something　to　art；　as　did　the　pink…and…white　plexion；　was　undeniable；　but　the　blue　of　the　eyes　was　Nature's　gift；　and　at　forty…four　Lady　Tamplin　could　still　rank　as　a　beauty。　

Charming　as　she　looked；　Lady　Tamplin　was；　for　once；　not　thinking　of　herself。　That　is　to　say；　she　was　not　thinking　of　her　appearance。　She　was　intent　on　graver　matters。　Lady　Tamplin　was　a　well…known　figure　on　the　Riviera；　and　her　parties　at　the　Villa　Marguerite　were　justly　celebrated。　She　was　a　woman　of　considerable　experience；　and　had　had　four　husbands。　The　first　had　been　merely　an　indiscretion；　and　so　was　seldom　referred　to　by　the　lady。　He　had　had　the　good　sense　to　die　with　mendable　promptitude；　and　his　widow　thereupon　espoused　a　rich　manufacturer　of　buttons。　He　too　had　departed　for　another　sphere　after　three　years　of　married　life　…　it　was　said　after　a　congenial　evening　with　some　good　panions。　After　him　came　Viscount　Tamplin；　who　had　placed　Rosalie　securely　on　those　heights　where　she　wished　to　tread。　She　had　retained　her　title　when　she　married　for　a　fourth　time。　This　fourth　venture　had　been　undertaken　for　pure　pleasure。　Mr　Charles　Evans；　an　extremely　good…looking　young　man　of　twenty…seven；　with　delightful　manners；　a　keen　love　of　sport；　and　an　appreciation　of　this　world's　goods；　had　no　money　of　his　own　whatsoever。　Lady　Tamplin　was　very　pleased　and　satisfied　with　life　generally；　but　she　had　occasional　faint　preoccupations　about　money。　

The　button　manufacturer　had　left　his　widow　a　considerable　fortune；　but；　as　Lady　Tamplin　was　wont　to　say；　〃what　with　one　thing　and　another　…〃　（one　thing　being　the　depreciation　of　stocks　owing　to　the　war；　and　the　other　the　extravagances　of　the　late　Lord　Tamplin）。　She　was　still　fortably　off。　But　to　be　merely　fortably　off　is　hardly　satisfactory　to　one　of　Rosalie　Tamplin's　temperament。　

So；　on　this　particular　January　morning；　she　opened　her　blue　eyes　extremely　wide　as　she　read　a　certain　item　of　news　and　uttered　that　nonmittal　monosyllable　〃Well。〃　

The　only　other　occupant　of　the　balcony　was　her　daughter；　the　Hon　Lenox　Tamplin。　A　daughter　such　as　Lenox　was　a　sad　thorn　in　Lady　Tamplin's　side；　a　girl　with　no　kind　of　tact；　who　actually　looked　older　than　her　age；　and　whose　peculiar　sardonic　form　of　humour　was；　to　say　the　least　of　it；　unfortable。　

〃Darling；〃　said　Lady　Tamplin；　〃just　fancy。〃　

〃What　is　it？〃　

Lady　Tamplin　picked　up　the　Daily　Mail；　handed　it　to　her　daughter；　and　indicated　with　an　agitated　forefinger　the　paragraph　of　interest。　

Lenox　read　it　without　any　of　the　signs　of　agitation　shown　by　her　mother。　She　handed　back　the　paper。　

〃What　about　it？〃　she　asked。　〃It　is　the　sort　of　thing　that　is　always　happening。　Cheeseparing　old　women　are　always　dying　in　villages　and　leaving　fortunes　of　millions　to　their　humble　panions。〃　

〃Yes；　dear；　I　know；〃　said　her　mother；　〃and　I　dare　say　the　fortune　is　not　anything　like　as　large　as　they　say　it　is；　newspapers　are　so　inaccurate。　But　even　if　you　cut　it　down　by　half　…〃　

〃Well；〃　said　Lenox；　〃it　has　not　been　left　to　us。〃　

〃Not　exactly；　dear；〃　said　Lady　Tamplin；　〃but　this　girl；　this　Katherine　Grey；　is　actually　a　cousin　of　mine。　One　of　the　Worcestershire　Greys；　the　Edgeworth　lot。　My　very　own　cousin！　Fancy！〃　

〃Ah…ha；〃　said　Lenox。　

〃And　I　was　wondering　…〃　said　her　mother。　

〃What　there　was　in　it　for　us；〃　finished　Lenox；　with　that　sideways　smile　that　her　mother　always　found　difficult　to　understand。　

〃Oh；　darling；〃　said　Lady　Tamplin；　on　a　faint　note　of　reproach。　

It　was　very　faint；　because　Rosalie　Tamplin　was　used　to　her　daughter's　outspokenness　and　to　what　she　called　Lenox's　unfortable　way　of　putting　things。　

〃I　was　wondering；〃　said　Lady　Tamplin；　again　drawing　her　artistically　pencilled　brows　together；　〃whether　…　oh；　good　morning；　Chubby　darling；　are　you　going　to　play　tennis？　How　nice！〃　

Chubby；　thus　addressed；　smiled　kindly　at　her；　remarked　perfunctorily；　〃How　topping　you　look　in　that　peach…coloured　thing；〃　and　drifted　past　them　and　down　the　steps。　

〃The　dear　thing；〃　said　Lady　Tamplin；　looking　affectionately　after　her　husband。　

〃Let　me　see；　what　was　I　saying？　Ah！〃　She　switched　her　mind　back　to　business　once　more。　〃I　was　wondering　…〃　

〃Oh；　for　God's　sake　get　on　with　it。　That　is　the　third　time　you　have　said　that。〃　

〃Well；　dear；〃　said　Lady　Tamplin；　〃I　was　thinking　that　if　would　be　very　nice　if　I　wrote　to　dear　Katherine　and　suggested　that　she　should　pay　us　a　little　visit　out　here。　Naturally；　she　is　quite　out　of　touch　with　Society。　It　would　be　nicer　for　her　to　be　launched　by　one　of　her　own　people。　An　advantage　for　her　and　an　advantage　for　us。〃　

〃How　much　do　you　think　you　would　get　her　to　cough　up？〃　asked　Lenox。　

Her　mother　looked　at　her　reproachfully　and　murmured。　

〃We　should　have　to　e　to　some　financial　arrangement；　of　course。　What　with　one　thing　and　another　…　the　war　…　your　poor　father　…〃　

〃And　Chubby　now；〃　said　Lenox。　〃He　is　an　expensive　luxury　if　you　like。〃　

〃She　was　a　nice　girl　as　I　remember　her；〃　murmured　Lady　Tamplin；　pursuing　her　own　line　of　thought　…〃quiet；　never　wanted　to　shove　herself　forward；　not　a　beauty；　and　never　a　man…hunter。〃　

〃She　will　leave　Chubby　alone；　then？〃　said　Lenox。　

Lady　Tamplin　looked　at　her　in　protest。　

〃Chubby　would　never　…〃　she　began。　

〃No；〃　said　Lenox；　〃I　don't　believe　he　would；　he　kn