THE ESSENTIAL GEORGE BERNARD SHAW COLLECTION. GEORGE BERNARD SHAW

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СКАЧАТЬ that black is white, it is a quality anyone may acquire by telling a lie and sticking to it.”

      “But I dont maintain that black is white. Only it seems to me that as regards white, you are color blind. Where I see white, you see black; and —— hush! Here is Constance.”

      “Yes,” whispered Elinor: “she comes back quickly enough when it occurs to her that we are talking about her.”

      Instead of simply asking why Constance should not behave in this very natural manner if she chose to, Marian was about to defend Constance warmly by denying all motive to her return, when that event took place and stopped the discussion. Marian and Nelly spent a considerable part of their lives in bandying their likes and dislikes under the impression that they were arguing important points of character and conduct.

      They knew that Constance wanted to answer Marmaduke’s letter; so they alleged correspondence of their own, and left her to herself.

      Lady Constance went to her brother’s study, where there was a comfortable writing-table. She began to write without hesitation, and her pen gabbled rapidly until she had covered two sheets of paper, when, instead of taking a fresh sheet, she wrote across the lines already written. After signing the letter, she read it through, and added two postscripts. Then she remembered something she had forgotten to say; but there was no more room on her two sheets, and she was reluctant to use a third, which might, in a letter to France, involve extra postage. Whilst she was hesitating her brother entered.

      “Am I in your way?” she said. “I shall have done in a moment.”

      “No, I am not going to write. By-the-bye, they tell me you had a letter from Marmaduke this morning. Has he anything particular to say?”

      “Nothing very particular. He is in Paris.”

      “Indeed? Are you writing to him?”

      “Yes,” said Constance, irritated by his disparaging tone. “Why not?”

      “Do as you please, of course. I am afraid he is a scamp.”

      “Are you? You know a great deal about him, I dare say.”

      “I am not much reassured by those who do know about him.”

      “And who may they be? The only person you know who has seen much of him is Marian, and she doesnt speak ill of people behind their backs.”

      “Marian takes rather a rose-colored view of everybody, Marmaduke included. You should talk to Nelly about him.”

      “I knew it. I knew, the minute you began to talk, who had set you on.”

      “I am afraid Nelly’s opinion is worth more than Marians.”

      “Her opinion! Everybody knows what her opinion is. She is bursting with jealousy of me.”

      “Jealousy!”

      “What else? Marmaduke has never taken the least notice of her, and she is madly in love with him.”

      “This is quite a new light upon the affair. Constance, are you sure you are not romancing?”

      “Romancing! Why, she cannot conceal her venom. She taunted me this morning in the summer-house because Marmaduke has never made me a formal proposal. It was the letter that made her do it. Ask Marian.”

      “I can hardly believe it: I should not have supposed, from what I have observed, that she cared about him.”

      You should not have supposed it from what she said: is that what you mean? I dont care whether you believe it or not.”

      “Well, if you are so confident, there is no occasion to be acrimonious about Elinor. She is more to be pitied than blamed.”

      “Yes, everybody is to pity Elinor because she cant have her wish and make me wretched,” said Constance, beginning to cry. Whereupon Lord Carbury immediately left the room.

      CHAPTER IV

       Table of Contents

      Long before the harvest was home, preparations were made at Towers

       Cottage to receive another visitor. The Rev. George Lind was coming.

       Lord Carbury drove in the wagonet to the railway station, and met him on

       the platform.

      “How are you, my dear fellow?” cried the clergyman, shaking the earl’s hand. “Why did you trouble to meet me? I could have taken a fly. Most kind of you, I am sure. How is your dear mother? And Constance: how is she?”

      “All quite well, thank you. Just show my fellow your traps; he will see to them.”

      “Oh, there is no need to trouble him. I myself or a porter — oh, thank you, I am sure; the brown one with G.L. on it — and that small green metal box too, if you will be so good. Thank you very much. And how are you, Jasper, if I may call you so? Studious still, eh? I hope he will be careful of the box. No, not a word to him, I beg: it does not matter at all. What a charming little trap! What air! Happy man, Jasper! These fields are better than the close alleys and garrets to which my profession leads me.”

      “Jump in.”

      “Thank you. And how is Marian?”

      “Quite well, thank you. Everybody is quite well. The girls are at a tennis party, or they would have come to meet you. Constance desired me particularly to apologize.”

      “Oh, needless, most needless. Why should they not enjoy themselves? What a landscape! The smiling beauty of nature in the country is like a — like a message to us. This is indeed a delightful drive.”

      “Yes, she is a capital trotter, this mare of mine. What do you think of her?”

      “A noble animal, Jasper. Although I never studied horseflesh much, even in my university days, I can admire a spirited nag on occasion. But I have to content myself with humbler means of locomotion in my own calling. A poor parson cannot entertain his friends as a magnate like you can. Have you any one at the hall now, besides the girls?”

      “No. The place will be rather dull for you, I am afraid.”

      “Not at all, my dear fellow, not at all. I shall be satisfied and thankful under all circumstances.”

      “We have led a humdrum life for the past month. Marian and Elinor have begun to potter about in my laboratory. They come there every day for an hour to work and study, as they call it.”

      “Indeed! I have no doubt Marian will find the study of nature most improving. It is very generous of you to allow her to trespass on you.”

      “I occupy myself chiefly with Nelly McQuinch. Marian is my assistant’s pupil, and he has made a very expert workwoman of her already. With a little direction, she can put a machine together as well as I can.”

      “I am delighted to hear it. And dear Nelly?”

      “Oh, СКАЧАТЬ