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THE LION AND THE UNICORN
his bedroom； and lock it for the night。
The next morning he bought many geraniums from Prentiss and placed
them along the broad cornice that stretched across the front of the house
over the shop window。 The flowers made a band of scarlet on either side
of the Lion as brilliant as a Tommy's jacket。
〃I am trying to propitiate the British Lion by placing flowers before his
altar；〃 the American said that morning to a visitor。
〃The British public you mean；〃 said the visitor； 〃they are each likely to
tear you to pieces。〃
〃Yes； I have heard that the pit on the first night of a bad play is
something awful；〃 hazarded the American。
〃Wait and see；〃 said the visitor。
〃Thank you；〃 said the American； meekly。
Every one who came to the first floor front talked about a play。 It
seemed to be something of great moment to the American。 It was only a
bundle of leaves printed in red and black inks and bound in brown paper
covers。 There were two of them； and the American called them by
different names： one was his comedy and one was his tragedy。
〃They are both likely to be tragedies；〃 the Lion heard one of the
visitors say to another； as they drove away together。 〃Our young friend
takes it too seriously。〃
The American spent most of his time by his desk at the window
writing on little blue pads and tearing up what he wrote； or in reading over
one of the plays to himself in a loud voice。 In time the number of his
visitors increased； and to some of these he would read his play； and after
they had left him he was either depressed and silent or excited and jubilant。
The Lion could always tell when he was happy because then he would go
to the side table and pour himself out a drink and say； 〃Here's to me；〃 but
when he was depressed he would stand holding the glass in his hand； and
finally pour the liquor back into the bottle again and say； 〃What's the use
of that？〃
After he had been in London a month he wrote less and was more
frequently abroad； sallying forth in beautiful raiment； and coming home by
daylight。
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THE LION AND THE UNICORN
And he gave suppers too； but they were less noisy than the Captain's
had been； and the women who came to them were much more beautiful；
and their voices when they spoke were sweet and low。 Sometimes one of
the women sang； and the men sat in silence while the people in the street
below stopped to listen； and would say； 〃Why； that is So…and…So singing；〃
and the Lion and the Unicorn wondered how they could know who it was
when they could not see her。
The lodger's visitors came to see him at all hours。 They seemed to
regard his rooms as a club； where they could always come for a bite to eat
or to write notes； and others treated it like a lawyer's office and asked
advice on all manner of strange subjects。 Sometimes the visitor wanted
to know whether the American thought she ought to take L*10 a week and
go on tour； or stay in town and try to live on L*8； or whether she should
paint landscapes that would not sell； or racehorses that would； or whether
Reggie really loved her and whether she really loved Reggie； or whether
the new part in the piece at the Court was better than the old part at Terry's；
and wasn't she getting too old to play 〃ingenues〃 anyway。
The lodger seemed to be a general adviser； and smoked and listened
with grave consideration； and the Unicorn thought his judgment was most
sympathetic and sensible。
Of all the beautiful ladies who came to call on the lodger the one the
Unicorn liked the best was the one who wanted to know whether she loved
Reggie and whether Reggie loved her。 She discussed this so interestingly
while she consumed tea and thin slices of bread that the Unicorn almost
lost his balance in leaning forward to listen。 Her name was Marion
Cavendish and it was written over many photographs which stood in silver
frames in the lodger's rooms。 She used to make the tea herself； while the
lodger sat and smoked； and she had a fascinating way of doubling the thin
slices of bread into long strips and nibbling at them like a mouse at a piece
of cheese。 She had wonderful little teeth and Cupid's…bow lips； and she
had a fashion of lifting her veil only high enough for one to see the two
Cupid…bow lips。 When she did that the American used to laugh； at
nothing apparently； and say； 〃Oh； I guess Reggie loves you well enough。〃
〃But do I love Reggie？〃 she would ask sadly； with her tea…cup held poised
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THE LION AND THE UNICORN
in air。 〃 I am sure I hope not；〃 the lodger would reply； and she
would put down the veil quickly； as one would drop a curtain over a
beautiful picture； and rise with great dignity and say； 〃if you talk like that I
shall not come again。〃 She was sure that if she could only get some
work to do her head would be filledwith more important matters than
whether Reggie loved her or not。
〃But the managers seem inclined to cut their cavendish very fine just
at present；〃 she said。 〃If I don't get a part soon；〃 she announced； 〃I shall
ask Mitchell to put me down on the list for recitations at evening parties。〃
〃That seems a desperate revenge；〃 said the American； 〃and besides； I
don't want you to get a part； because some one might be idiotic enough to
take my comedy； and if he should； you must play Nancy。〃
〃I would not ask for any salary if I could play Nancy；〃 Miss Cavendish
answered。
They spoke of a great many things； but their talk always ended by her
saying that there must be some one with sufficient sense to see that his
play was a great play； and by his saying that none but she must play
Nancy。
The Lion preferred the tall girl with masses and folds of brown hair；
who came from America to paint miniatures of the British aristocracy。
Her name was Helen Cabot； and he liked her because she was so brave
and fearless； and so determined to be independent of every one； even of
the lodgerespecially of the lodger； who it appeared had known her very
well at home。 The lodger； they gathered； did not wish her to be
independent of him and the two Americans had many arguments and
disputes about it； but she always said； 〃It does no good； Philip； it only
hurts us both when you talk so。 I care for nothing； and for no one but my
art； and； poor as it is； it means everything to me； and you do not； and； of
course； the man I am to marry； must。〃 Then Carroll would talk； walking
up and down； and looking very fierce and determined； and telling her how
he loved her in such a way that it made her look even more proud and
beautiful。 And she would say more gently； 〃It is very fine to think that
any one can care for like that； and very helpful。 But unless I cared in the
same way it would be wicked of me to marry you； and besides〃 She
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THE LION AND THE UNICORN
would add very quickly to prevent his speaking again〃 I don't want to
marry you or anybody； and I never shall。 I want to be free and to succeed
in my work； just as you want to succeed in your work。 So please never
speak of this again。〃 When she went away the lodger used to sit smoking
in the big arm…chair and beat the arms with his hands； and he would pace
up and down the room while his work would lie untouched and his
engagements pass forgotten。
Summer came and London was deserted； dull； and dusty； but the
lodger stayed on in Jermyn Street。 Helen Cabot had departed on a round
of visits to country houses in Scotland； where； as she wrote him； she was
painting miniatures of her hosts and studying the game of golf。 Miss
Cavendish divided her days between the river and one of the West End