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！
Paris could achieve to the true and original costume as described by
the good Friar Bonnet； the which had been woven in a single night by
the wizard spider Karai out of moonlight。 Malvina accepted it with
gracious thanks； and was evidently pleased to find herself again in
fit and proper clothes。 It was hidden away for rare occasions where
only Malvina knew。 But the lady who had first kissed her； and whose
speciality was fairies； craving permission； Malvina consented to
wear it while sitting for her portrait。 The picture one may still
see in the Palais des Beaux Arts at Nantes （the Bretonne Room）。 It
represents her standing straight as an arrow； a lone little figure
in the centre of a treeless moor。 The painting of the robe is said
to be very wonderful。 〃Malvina of Brittany〃 is the inscription； the
date being Nineteen Hundred and Thirteen。
The next year Malvina was no longer there。 Madame Lavigne； folding
knotted hands； had muttered her last paternoster。 Pere Jean had
urged the convent。 But for the first time； with him； she had been
frankly obstinate。 Some fancy seemed to have got into the child's
head。 Something that she evidently connected with the vast treeless
moor rising southward to where the ancient menhir of King Taramis
crowned its summit。 The good man yielded； as usual。 For the
present there were Madame Lavigne's small savings。 Suzanne's wants
were but few。 The rare shopping necessary Father Jean could see to
himself。 With the coming of winter he would broach the subject
again； and then be quite firm。 Just these were the summer nights
when Suzanne loved to roam； and as for danger！ there was not a lad
for ten leagues round who would not have run a mile to avoid
passing； even in daylight； that cottage standing where the moor dips
down to the sealands。
But one surmises that even a fairy may feel lonesome。 Especially a
banished fairy； hanging as it were between earth and air； knowing
mortal maidens kissed and courted； while one's own companions kept
away from one in hiding。 Maybe the fancy came to her that； after
all these years； they might forgive her。 Still； it was their
meeting place； so legend ran； especially of midsummer nights。 Rare
it was now for human eye to catch a glimpse of the shimmering robes；
but high on the treeless moor to the music of the Lady of the
Fountain； one might still hear； were one brave enough to venture；
the rhythm of their dancing feet。 If she sought them； softly
calling； might they not reveal themselves to her； make room for her
once again in the whirling circle？ One has the idea that the
moonlight frock may have added to her hopes。 Philosophy admits that
feeling oneself well dressed gives confidence。
If all of them had not disappearedbeen kissed three times upon the
lips by mortal man and so become a woman？ It seems to have been a
possibility for which your White Lady had to be prepared。 That is；
if she chose to suffer it。 If not； it was unfortunate for the too
daring mortal。 But if he gained favour in her eyes！ That he was
brave； his wooing proved。 If； added thereto； he were comely； with
kind strong ways； and eyes that drew you？ History proves that such
dreams must have come even to White Ladies。 Maybe more especially
on midsummer nights when the moon is at its full。 It was on such a
night that Sir Gerylon had woke Malvina's sister Sighile with a
kiss。 A true White Lady must always dare to face her fate。
It seems to have befallen Malvina。 Some told Father Jean how he had
arrived in a chariot drawn by winged horses； the thunder of his
passing waking many in the sleeping villages beneath。 And others
how he had come in the form of a great bird。 Father Jean had heard
strange sounds himself； and certain it was that Suzanne had
disappeared。
Father Jean heard another version a few weeks later； told him by an
English officer of Engineers who had ridden from the nearest station
on a bicycle and who arrived hot and ravenously thirsty。 And Father
Jean； under promise of seeing Suzanne on the first opportunity；
believed it。 But to most of his flock it sounded an impossible
rigmarole； told for the purpose of disguising the truth。
So ends my storyor rather the story I have pieced together from
information of a contradictory nature received。 Whatever you make
of it； whether with the Doctor you explain it away； or whether with
Professor Littlecherry； LL。D。； F。R。S。； you believe the world not
altogether explored and mapped； the fact remains that Malvina of
Brittany has passed away。 To the younger Mrs。 Raffleton； listening
on the Sussex Downs to dull； distant sounds that make her heart
beat； and very nervous of telegraph boys； has come already some of
the disadvantages attendant on her new rank of womanhood。 And yet
one gathers； looking down into those strange deep eyes； that she
would not change anything about her； even if now she could。
THE STREET OF THE BLANK WALL。
I had turned off from the Edgware Road into a street leading west；
the atmosphere of which had appealed to me。 It was a place of quiet
houses standing behind little gardens。 They had the usual names
printed on the stuccoed gateposts。 The fading twilight was just
sufficient to enable one to read them。 There was a Laburnum Villa；
and The Cedars； and a Cairngorm； rising to the height of three
storeys； with a curious little turret that branched out at the top；
and was crowned with a conical roof； so that it looked as if wearing
a witch's hat。 Especially when two small windows just below the
eaves sprang suddenly into light； and gave one the feeling of a pair
of wicked eyes suddenly flashed upon one。
The street curved to the right； ending in an open space through
which passed a canal beneath a low arched bridge。 There were still
the same quiet houses behind their small gardens； and I watched for
a while the lamplighter picking out the shape of the canal； that
widened just above the bridge into a lake with an island in the
middle。 After that I must have wandered in a circle； for later on I
found myself back in the same spot； though I do not suppose I had
passed a dozen people on my way； and then I set to work to find my
way back to Paddington。
I thought I had taken the road by which I had come； but the half
light must have deceived me。 Not that it mattered。 They had a
lurking mystery about them； these silent streets with their
suggestion of hushed movement behind drawn curtains； of whispered
voices behind the flimsy walls。 Occasionally there would escape the
sound of laughter； suddenly stifled as it seemed； and once the
sudden cry of a child。
It was in a short street of semi…detached villas facing a high blank
wall that； as I passed； I saw a blind move half…way up； revealing a
woman's face。 A gas lamp； the only one the street possessed； was
nearly opposite。 I thought at first it was the face of a girl； and
then； as I looked again； it might have been the face of an old
woman。 One could not distinguish the colouring。 In any case； the
cold； blue gaslight would have made it seem pallid。
The remarkable feature was the eyes。 It might have been； of course；
that they alone caught the light and held it； rendering them
uncannily large and brilliant。 Or it might have been that the rest
of the face was small and delicate； out of all proportion to them。
She may have seen me； for the blind was drawn down again； and I
passed on。
There was no particular reason why； but the incident lingered with
me。 The sudden raising of the blind； as of the curtain of some
small theatre； the barely furnished room coming dimly into view； and
the woman standing there； close to the footlights； as to my fancy it
seemed。 And then the sudden ringing down of the curtain before the
play had begun。 I turned at the corner of the street。 The blind
had been drawn up again； and I saw again the slight； girlish figure
silhouetted against the side panes of the bow window。
At the same moment a man knocked up against me。 It was not his
fault。 I had stopped abruptly； not giving him time to avoid me。 We
both apologised； blaming the darkness。 It may have been my fancy；
but I had the feeling that； instead of going on his way； he had
turned and was following me。 I waited till the next corner； and
then swung round on my heel。 But there was no sign of him； and
after a while I found myself back in the Edgware Road。
Once or twice； in idle mood； I sought the street again； but without
success； and the thing would； I expect； have faded from my memory；
but that one evening； on my way home from Paddington； I came across
the woman in the Harrow Road。 There was no mistaking her。 She
almost touched me as she came out of a fishmonger's shop； and
unconsciously； at the beginning； I found myself following her。 This
time I noticed the turnings； and five minutes' walking brought us to
the street。 Half a dozen times I must have been within a hundred
yards of it。 I lingered at the corner。 She had not noticed me； and
just as she reached the house a man came out of the shadows beyond
the lamp…post and joined her。
I was due at a bachelor gathering that evening； and after dinner