malvina of brittany-第6章
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！
altogether different the way she will put it。〃） 〃You're sure you
don't mind？〃
Malvina hadn't the slightest objection。 She accomplished her
curtsyor rather it looked as if the coat were curtsyingquite
gracefully； and with a dignity one would not have expected from it。
〃I am the fairy Malvina；〃 she explained to the Professor。 〃You may
have heard of me。 I was the favourite of Harbundia； Queen of the
White Ladies of Brittany。 But that was long ago。〃
The friendly magician was staring at her with a pair of round eyes
that in spite of their amazement looked kindly and understanding。
They probably encouraged Malvina to complete the confession of her
sad brief history。
〃It was when King Heremon ruled over Ireland；〃 she continued。 〃I
did a very foolish and a wicked thing； and was punished for it by
being cast out from the companionship of my fellows。 Since
then〃the coat made the slightest of pathetic gestures〃I have
wandered alone。〃
It ought to have sounded so ridiculous to them both； told on English
soil in the year One Thousand Nine Hundred and Fourteen to a smart
young officer of Engineers and an elderly Oxford Professor。 Across
the road the doctor's odd man was opening garage doors； a noisy milk
cart was clattering through the village a little late for the London
train； a faint odour of eggs and bacon came wafted through the
garden； mingled with the scent of lavender and pinks。 For Commander
Raffleton； maybe； there was excuse。 This story； so far as it has
gone； has tried to make that clear。 But the Professor！ He ought to
have exploded in a burst of Homeric laughter； or else to have shaken
his head at her and warned her where little girls go to who do this
sort of thing。
Instead of which he stared from Commander Raffleton to Malvina； and
from Malvina back to Commander Raffleton with eyes so astonishingly
round that they might have been drawn with a compass。
〃God bless my soul！〃 said the Professor。 〃But this is most
extraordinary！〃
〃Was there a King Heremon of Ireland？〃 asked Commander Raffleton。
The Professor was a well…known authority on these matters。
〃Of course there was a King Heremon of Ireland；〃 answered the
Professor quite petulantlyas if the Commander had wanted to know
if there had ever been a Julius Caesar or a Napoleon。 〃And so there
was a Queen Harbundia。 Malvina is always spoken of in connection
with her。〃
〃What did she do？〃 inquired Commander Raffleton。 They both of them
seemed to be oblivious of Malvina's presence。
〃I forget for the moment；〃 confessed the professor。 〃I must look it
up。 Something； if I remember rightly； in connection with the
daughter of King Dancrat。 He founded the Norman dynasty。 William
the Conqueror and all that lot。 Good Lord！〃
〃Would you mind her staying with you for a time until I can make
arrangements；〃 suggested Commander Raffleton。 〃I'd be awfully
obliged if you would。〃
What the Professor's answer might have been had he been allowed to
exercise such stock of wits as he possessed； it is impossible to
say。 Of course he was interestedexcited； if you will。 Folklore；
legend； tradition； these had been his lifelong hobbies。 Apart from
anything else； here at least was a kindred spirit。 Seemed to know a
thing or two。 Where had she learned it？ Might not there be sources
unknown to the Professor？
But to take her in！ To establish her in the only spare bedroom。 To
introduce heras what？ to English village society。 To the new
people at the Manor House。 To the member of Parliament with his
innocent young wife who had taken the vicarage for the summer。 To
Dawson； R。A。； and the Calthorpes！
He might； had he thought it worth his while； have found some
respectable French family and boarded her out。 There was a man he
had known for years at Oxford； a cabinetmaker； the wife a most
worthy woman。 He could have gone over there from time to time； his
notebook in his pocket； and have interviewed her。
Left to himself； he might have behaved as a sane and rational
citizen； or he might not。 There are records favouring the latter
possibility。 The thing is not certain。 But as regards this
particular incident in his career he must be held exonerated。 The
decision was taken out of his hands。
To Malvina； on first landing in England； Commander Raffleton had
stated his intention of leaving her temporarily in the care of the
wise and learned Christopher。 To Malvina； regarding the Commander
as a gift from the gods； that had settled the matter。 The wise and
learned Christopher； of course； knew of this coming。 In all
probability it was heunder the guidance of the godswho had
arranged the whole sequence of events。 There remained only to
tender him her gratitude。 She did not wait for the Professor's
reply。 The coat a little hindered her but； on the other hand； added
perhaps an appealing touch of its own。 Taking the wise and learned
Christopher's hand in both her own； she knelt and kissed it。
And in that quaint archaic French of hers； that long study of the
Chronicles of Froissart enabled the Professor to understand：
〃I thank you；〃 she said； 〃for your noble courtesy and hospitality。〃
In some mysterious way the whole affair had suddenly become imbued
with the dignity of an historical event。 The Professor had the
sudden impressionand indeed it never altogether left him so long
as Malvina remainedthat he was a great and powerful personage。 A
sister potentate； incidentallythough； of course； in high politics
such points are immaterialthe most bewilderingly beautiful being
he had ever seen； had graciously consented to become his guest。 The
Professor； with a bow that might have been acquired at the court of
King Rene； expressed his sense of the honour done to him。 What else
could a self…respecting potentate do？ The incident was closed。
Flight Commander Raffleton seems to have done nothing in the
direction of re…opening it。 On the contrary； he appears to have
used this precise moment for explaining to the Professor how
absolutely necessary it was that he should depart for Farnborough
without another moment's loss of time。 Commander Raffleton added
that he would 〃look them both up again〃 the first afternoon he could
get away； and was sure that if the Professor would get Malvina to
speak slowly； he would soon find her French easy to understand。
It did occur to the Professor to ask Commander Raffleton where he
had found Malvinathat is； if he remembered。 Also what he was
going to do about herthat is； if he happened to know。 Commander
Raffleton； regretting his great need of haste； explained that he had
found Malvina asleep beside a menhir not far from Huelgoat； in
Brittany； and was afraid that he had woke her up。 For further
particulars； would the Professor kindly apply to Malvina？ For
himself； he would never； he felt sure； be able to thank the
professor sufficiently。
In conclusion； and without giving further opportunity for
discussion； the Commander seems to have shaken his Cousin
Christopher by the hand with much enthusiasm； and then to have
turned to Malvina。 She did not move； but her eyes were fixed on
him。 And he came to her slowly。 And without a word he kissed her
full upon the lips。
〃That is twice you have kissed me；〃 said Malvinaand a curious
little smile played round her mouth。 〃The third time I shall
become a woman。〃
IV。 HOW IT WAS KEPT FROM MRS。 ARLINGTON。
What surprised the Professor himself； when he came to think of it；
was that； left alone with Malvina； and in spite of all the
circumstances； he felt neither embarrassment nor perplexity。 It was
as if； so far as they two were concerned； the whole thing was quite
simplealmost humorous。 It would be the other people who would
have to worry。
The little serving maid was hovering about the garden。 She was
evidently curious and trying to get a peep。 Mrs。 Muldoon's voice
could be heard calling to her from the kitchen。 There was this
question of clothes。
〃You haven't brought anything with you？〃 asked the Professor。 〃I
mean； in the way of a frock of any sort。〃
Malvina； with a smile； gave a little gesture。 It implied that all
there was of h
