beasts and super-beasts(野兽与超级野兽)-第49章
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his time in falling in love with anyone who would come under his
grandmother's veto。 The favourable recommendation would have to
come from Mrs。 Thropplestance。
Teresa's house…parties were always rounded off with a plentiful
garnishing of presentable young women and alert； attendant mothers； but
the old lady was emphatically discouraging whenever any one of her girl
guests became at all likely to outbid the others as a possible
granddaughter…in…law。 It was the inheritance of her fortune and estate
that was in question； and she was evidently disposed to exercise and
enjoy her powers of selection and rejection to the utmost。 Bertie's
preferences did not greatly matter； he was of the sort who can be stolidly
happy with any kind of wife； he had cheerfully put up with his
grandmother all his life； so was not likely to fret and fume over anything
that might befall him in the way of a helpmate。
The party that gathered under Teresa's roof in Christmas week of the
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year nineteen…hundred…and…something was of smaller proportions than
usual； and Mrs。 Yonelet； who formed one of the party； was inclined to
deduce hopeful augury from this circumstance。 Dora Yonelet and
Bertie were so obviously made for one another； she confided to the
vicar's wife； and if the old lady were accustomed to seeing them about a
lot together she might adopt the view that they would make a suitable
married couple。
〃People soon get used to an idea if it is dangled constantly before
their eyes；〃 said Mrs。 Yonelet hopefully； 〃and the more often Teresa sees
those young people together； happy in each other's company； the more
she will get to take a kindly interest in Dora as a possible and desirable
wife for Bertie。〃
〃My dear；〃 said the vicar's wife resignedly； 〃my own Sybil was
thrown together with Bertie under the most romantic circumstances … I'll
tell you about it some day … but it made no impression whatever on
Teresa； she put her foot down in the most uncompromising fashion； and
Sybil married an Indian civilian。〃
〃Quite right of her；〃 said Mrs。 Yonelet with vague approval； 〃it's
what any girl of spirit would have done。 Still； that was a year or two
ago； I believe； Bertie is older now； and so is Teresa。 Naturally she must
be anxious to see him settled。〃
The vicar's wife reflected that Teresa seemed to be the one person
who showed no immediate anxiety to supply Bertie with a wife； but she
kept the thought to herself。
Mrs。 Yonelet was a woman of resourceful energy and generalship；
she involved the other members of the house… party； the deadweight； so to
speak； in all manner of exercises and occupations that segregated them
from Bertie and Dora； who were left to their own devisings … that is to
say； to Dora's devisings and Bertie's accommodating acquiescence。
Dora helped in the Christmas decorations of the parish church； and
Bertie helped her to help。 Together they fed the swans； till the birds
went on a dyspepsia…strike； together they played billiards； together they
photographed the village almshouses； and； at a respectful distance； the
tame elk that browsed in solitary aloofness in the park。 It was 〃tame〃
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in the sense that it had long ago discarded the least vestige of fear of the
human race； nothing in its record encouraged its human neighbours to
feel a reciprocal confidence。
Whatever sport or exercise or occupation Bertie and Dora indulged
in together was unfailingly chronicled and advertised by Mrs。 Yonelet
for the due enlightenment of Bertie's grandmother。
〃Those two inseparables have just come in from a bicycle ride；〃 she
would announce； 〃quite a picture they make； so fresh and glowing after
their spin。〃
〃A picture needing words；〃 would be Teresa's private comment； and
as far as Bertie was concerned she was determined that the words should
remain unspoken。
On the afternoon after Christmas Day Mrs。 Yonelet dashed into the
drawing…room； where her hostess was sitting amid a circle of guests and
teacups and muffin… dishes。 Fate had placed what seemed like a trump…
card in the hands of the patiently…manoeuvring mother。 With eyes
blazing with excitement and a voice heavily escorted with exclamation
marks she made a dramatic announcement。
〃Bertie has saved Dora from the elk！〃
In swift； excited sentences； broken with maternal emotion； she gave
supplementary information as to how the treacherous animal had
ambushed Dora as she was hunting for a strayed golf ball； and how
Bertie had dashed to her rescue with a stable fork and driven the beast
off in the nick of time。
〃It was touch and go！ She threw her niblick at it； but that didn't
stop it。 In another moment she would have been crushed beneath its
hoofs；〃 panted Mrs。 Yonelet。
〃The animal is not safe；〃 said Teresa； handing her agitated guest a
cup of tea。 〃I forget if you take sugar。 I suppose the solitary life it
leads has soured its temper。 There are muffins in the grate。 It's not
my fault； I've tried to get it a mate for ever so long。 You don't know
of anyone with a lady elk for sale or exchange； do you？〃 she asked the
company generally。
But Mrs。 Yonelet was in no humour to listen to talk of elk marriages。
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The mating of two human beings was the subject uppermost in her mind；
and the opportunity for advancing her pet project was too valuable to be
neglected。
〃Teresa；〃 she exclaimed impressively； 〃after those two young people
have been thrown together so dramatically； nothing can be quite the
same again between them。 Bertie has done more than save Dora's life；
he has earned her affection。 One cannot help feeling that Fate has
consecrated them for one another。〃
〃Exactly what the vicar's wife said when Bertie saved Sybil from the
elk a year or two ago；〃 observed Teresa placidly； 〃I pointed out to her
that he had rescued Mirabel Hicks from the same predicement a few
months previously； and that priority really belonged to the gardener's
boy； who had been rescued in the January of that year。 There is a good
deal of sameness in
