the wheels of chance-第16章

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　There　is　very　little　deliberate　wickedness　in　the　world。　The　stupidity　of　our　selfishness　gives　much　the　same　results　indeed；　but　in　the　ethical　laboratory　it　shows　a　different　nature。　And　when　the　disaster　came；　Mrs。　Milton's　remorse　for　their　gradual　loss　of　sympathy　and　her　share　in　the　losing　of　it；　was　genuine　enough。

You　may　imagine　the　comfort　she　got　from　her　friends；　and　how　West　Kensington　and　Notting　Hill　and　Hampstead；　the　literary　suburbs；　those　decent　penitentiaries　of　a　once　Bohemian　calling；　hummed　with　the　business；　Her　'Men'as　a　charming　literary　lady　she　had；　of　course；　an　organised　corpswere　immensely　excited；　and　were　sympathetic；　helpfully　energetic；　suggestive；　alert；　as　their　ideals　of　their　various　dispositions　required　them　to　be。　〃Any　news　of　Jessie？〃　was　the　pathetic　opening　of　a　dozen　melancholy　but　interesting　conversations。　To　her　Men　she　was　not　perhaps　so　damp　as　she　was　to　her　women　friends；　but　in　a　quiet　way　she　was　even　more　touching。　For　three　days；　Wednesday　that　is；　Thursday；　and　Friday；　nothing　was　heard　of　the　fugitives。　It　was　known　that　Jessie；　wearing　a　patent　costume　with　buttonup　skirts；　and　mounted　on　a　diamond　frame　safety　with　Dunlops；　and　a　loofah　covered　saddle；　had　ridden　forth　early　in　the　morning；　taking　with　her　about　two　pounds　seven　shillings　in　money；　and　a　grey　touring　case　packed；　and　there；　save　for　a　brief　note　to　her　stepmother；a　declaration　of　independence；　it　was　said；　an　assertion　of　her　Ego　containing　extensive　and　very　annoying　quotations　from　〃A　Soul　Untrammelled；〃　and　giving　no　definite　intimation　of　her　plansknowledge　ceased。　That　note　was　shown　to　few；　and　then　only　in　the　strictest　confidence。

But　on　Friday　evening　late　came　a　breathless　Man　Friend；　Widgery；　a　correspondent　of　hers；　who　had　heard　of　her　trouble　among　the　first。　He　had　been　touring　in　Sussex；his　knapsack　was　still　on　his　back；and　he　testified　hurriedly　that　at　a　place　called　Midhurst；　in　the　bar　of　an　hotel　called　the　Angel；　he　had　heard　from　a　barmaid　a　vivid　account　of　a　Young　Lady　in　Grey。　Descriptions　tallied。　But　who　was　the　man　in　brown？〃The　poor；　misguided　girl！　I　must　go　to　her　at　once；〃　she　said；　choking；　and　rising　with　her　hand　to　her　heart。

〃It's　impossible　to…night。　There　are　no　more　trains。　I　looked　on　my　way。〃

〃A　mother's　love；〃　she　said。　〃I　bear　her　THAT。〃

〃I　know　you　do。〃　He　spoke　with　feeling；　for　no　one　admired　his　photographs　of　scenery　more　than　Mrs。　Milton。　〃it's　more　than　she　deserves。〃

〃Oh；　don't　speak　unkindly　of　her！　She　has　been　misled。〃

It　was　really　very　friendly　of　him。　He　declared　he　was　only　sorry　his　news　ended　there。　Should　he　follow　them；　and　bring　her　back？　He　had　come　to　her　because　he　knew　of　her　anxiety。　〃It　is　GOOD　of　you；〃　she　said；　and　quite　instinctively　took　and　pressed　his　hand。　〃And　to　think　of　that　poor　girltonight！　It's　dreadful。〃　She　looked　into　the　fire　that　she　had　lit　when　he　came　in；　the　warm　light　fell　upon　her　dark　purple　dress；　and　left　her　features　in　a　warm　shadow。　She　looked　such　a　slight；　frail　thing　to　be　troubled　so。　〃We　must　follow　her。〃　Her　resolution　seemed　magnificent。　〃I　have　no　one　to　go　with　me。〃

〃He　must　marry　her；〃　said　the　man。

〃She　has　no　friends。　We　have　no　one。　After　allTwo　women。So　helpless。〃

And　this　fair…haired　little　figure　was　the　woman　that　people　who　knew　her　only　from　her　books；　called　bold；　prurient　even！　Simply　because　she　was　great…heartedintellectual。　He　was　overcome　by　the　unspeakable　pathos　of　her　position。

〃Mrs。　Milton；〃　he　said。　〃Hetty！〃

She　glanced　at　him。　The　overflow　was　imminent。　〃Not　now；〃　she　said；　〃not　now。　I　must　find　her　first。〃

〃Yes；〃　he　said　with　intense　emotion。　（He　was　one　of　those　big；　fat　men　who　feel　deeply。）　〃But　let　me　help　you。　At　least　let　me　help　you。〃

　〃But　can　you　spare　time？〃　she　said。　〃For　ME。〃

　〃For　you〃

　〃But　what　can　I　do？　what　can　WE　do？〃

〃Go　to　Midhurst。　Follow　her　on。　Trace　her。　She　was　there　on　Thursday　night；　last　night。　She　cycled　out　of　the　town。　Courage！〃　he　said。　〃We　will　save　her　yet！〃

She　put　out　her　hand　and　pressed　his　again。

〃Courage！〃　he　repeated；　finding　it　so　well　received。

There　were　alarms　and　excursions　without。　She　turned　her　back　to　the　fire；　and　he　sat　down　suddenly　in　the　big　armchair；　which　suited　his　dimensions　admirably。　Then　the　door　opened；　and　the　girl　showed　in　Dangle；　who　looked　curiously　from　one　to　the　other。　There　was　emotion　here；　he　had　heard　the　armchair　creaking；　and　Mrs。　Milton；　whose　face　was　flushed；　displayed　a　suspicious　alacrity　to　explain。　〃You；　too；〃　she　said；　〃are　one　of　my　good　friends。　And　we　have　news　of　her　at　last。〃

It　was　decidedly　an　advantage　to　Widgery；　but　Dangle　determined　to　show　himself　a　man　of　resource。　In　the　end　he；　too；　was　accepted　for　the　Midhurst　Expedition；　to　the　intense　disgust　of　Widgery；　and　young　Phipps；　a　callow　youth　of　few　words；　faultless　collars；　and　fervent　devotion；　was　also　enrolled　before　the　evening　was　out。　They　would　scour　the　country；　all　three　of　them。　She　appeared　to　brighten　up　a　little；　but　it　was　evident　she　was　profoundly　touched。　She　did　not　know　what　she　had　done　to　merit　such　friends。　Her　voice　broke　a　little；　she　moved　towards　the　door；　and　young　Phipps；　who　was　a　youth　of　action　rather　than　of　words；　sprang　and　opened　itproud　to　be　first。

〃She　is　sorely　troubled；〃　said　Dangle　to　Widgery。　〃We　must　do　what　we　can　for　her。〃

〃She　is　a　wonderful　woman；〃　said　Dangle。　〃So　subtle；　so　intricate；　so　many　faceted。　She　feels　this　deeply。〃

Young　Phipps　said　nothing；　but　he　felt　the　more。

And　yet　they　say　the　age　of　chivalry　is　dead！

But　this　is　only　an　Interlude；　introduced　to　give　our　wanderers　time　to　refresh　themselves　by　good；　honest　sleeping。　For　the　present；　therefore；　we　will　not　concern　ourselves　with　the　starting　of　the　Rescue　Party；　nor　with　Mrs。　Milton's　simple　but　becoming　grey　dress；　with　the　healthy　Widgery's　Norfolk　jacket　and　thick　boots；　with　the　slender　Dangle's　energetic　bearing；　nor　with　the　wonderful　chequerings　that　set　off　the　legs　of　the　golf…suited　Phipps。　They　are　after　us。　In　a　little　while　they　will　be　upon　us。　You　must　imagine　as　you　best　can　the　competitive　raidings　at　Midhurst　of　Widgery；　Dangle；　and　Phipps。　How　Widgery　was　great　at　questions；　and　Dangle　good　at　inference；　and　Phipps　so　conspicuously　inferior　in　everything　that　he　felt　it；　and　sulked　with　Mrs。　Milton　most　of　the　day；　after　the　manner　of　your　callow　youth　the　whole　world　over。　Mrs。　Milton　stopped　at　the　Angel　and　was　very　sad　and　charming　and　intelligent；　and　Widgery　paid　the　bill。　in　the　afternoon　of　Saturday；　Chichester　was　attained。　But　by　that　time　our　fugitivesAs　you　shall　immediately　hear。　



THE　AWAKENING　OF　MR。　HOOPDRIVER

XXVII

Mr。　Hoopdriver　stirred　on　his　pillow；　opened　his　eyes；　and；　staring　unmeaningly；　yawned。　The　bedclothes　were　soft　and　pleasant。　He　turned　the　peaked　nose　that　overrides　the　insufficient　moustache；　up　to　the　ceiling；　a　pinkish　projection　over　the　billow　of　white。　You　might　see　it　wrinkle　as　he　yawned　again；　and　then　became　quiet。　So　matters　remained　for　a　space。　Very　slowly　recollection　returned　to　him。　Then　a　shock　of　indeterminate　brown　hair　appeared；　and　first　one　watery　grey　eye　a…wondering；　and　then　two　；　the　bed　upheaved；　and　you　had　him；　his　thin　neck　projecting　abruptly　from　the　clothes　he　held　about　him；　his　face　staring　about　the　room。　He　held　the　clothes　about　him；　I　hope　I　may　explain；　because　his　night…shirt　was　at　Bognor　in　an　American…cloth　packet；　derelict。　He　yawned　a　third　time；　rubbed　his　eyes；　smacked　his　lips。　He　was　recalling　almost　everything　now。　The　pursuit；　the　hotel；　the　tremulous　daring　of　his　entry；　the　swift　adventure　of　the　inn　yard；　the　moonlightAbruptly　he　threw　the　clothes　back　and　rose　into　a　sitting　position　on　the　edge　of　the　bed。　Without　was　the　noise　of　shutters　being　unfastened　and　doors　unlocked；　and　the　passing　of　hoofs　and　wheels　in　the　street。　He　looked　at　his　watch。　Half…past　six。　He　surveyed　the　sumptuous　room　again。

〃Lord！〃　said　Mr。　Hoopdriver。　〃It　wasn't　a　dream；　after　all。〃

〃I　wonder　what　they　charge　for　these　Juiced　rooms！〃　said　Mr。　Hoopdriver；　nursing　one　rosy　foot。

He　became　meditative；　tugging　at　his　insufficient　moustache。　Suddenly　he　gave　vent　to　a　noiseless　laugh。　〃What　a　rush　it　was！　Rushed　in　and　off　with　his　girl　right　under　his　nose。　Planned　it　well　too。　Talk　of　highway　robbery！　Talk　of　brigands　Up　and　off！　How　juiced　SOLD　he　must　be　feeling　It　was　a　shave　tooin　the　coach　yard！〃

Suddenly　he　became　silent。　Abruptly　his　eyebrows　rose　and　his　jaw　fell。　〃I　sa…a…ay！〃　said　Mr。　Hoopdriver。

He　had　never　thought　of　it　before。　Perhaps　you　will　understand　the　whirl　he　had　been　in　overnight。　But　one　sees　things　clearer　in　the　daylight。　〃I'm　hanged　if　I　haven't　been　and　stolen　a　blessed　bicycle。〃　

〃Who　cares？〃　said　Mr。　Hoopdriver；　presently；　and　his　face　supplied　the　answer。

Then　he　thought　of　the　Young　Lady　in　Grey　again；　and　tried　to　put　a　more　heroic　complexion　on　the　business。　But　of　an　early　morning；　on　an　empty　stomach　（as　with　characteristic　coarseness；　medical　men　put　it）　heroics　are　of　a　more　difficult　growth　than　by　moonlight。　Everything　had　seemed　exceptionally　fine　and　brilliant；　but　quite　natural；　the　evening　before。

Mr。　Hoopdriver　reached　out　his　hand；　took　his　Norfolk　jacket；　laid　it　over　his　knees；　and　took　out　the　money　from　the　little　ticket　pocket。　〃　Fourteen　and　six…half；〃　he　said；　holding　the　coins　in　his　left　hand　and　stroking　his　chin　with　his　right。　He　verified；　by　patting；　the　presence　of　a　pocketbook　in　the　breast　pocket。　〃Five；　fourteen；　six…half；〃　said　Mr。　Hoopdriver。　〃Left。〃

With　the　Norfolk　jacket　still　on　his　knees；　he　plunged　into　another　silent　meditation。　〃That　wouldn't　matter；〃　he　said。　〃It's　the　bike's　the　bother。

〃No　good　going　back　to　Bognor。

〃Might　send　it　back　by　carrier；　of　course。　Thanking　him　for　the　loan。　Having　no　further　use〃　Mr。　Hoopdriver　chuckled　and　lapsed　into　the　silent　concoction　of　a　delightfully　impudent　letter。　〃Mr。　J。　Hoopdriver　presents　his　compliments。〃　But　the　grave　note　reasserted　itself。

〃Might　trundle　back　there　in　an　hour；　of　course；　and　exchange　them。　MY　old　crock's　so　blessed　shabby。　He's　sure　to　be　spiteful　too。　Have　me　run　in；　perhaps。　Then　she'd　be　in　just　the　same　old　fix；　only　worse。　You　see；　I'm　her　Knight…errant。　It　complicates　things　so。〃

His　eye；　wandering　loosely；　rested　on　the　sponge　bath。　〃What　the　juice　do　they　want　with　cream　pans　in　a　bedroom？〃　said　Mr。　Hoopdriver；　en　passant。

〃Best　thing　we　can　do　is　to　set　out　of　here　as　soon　as　possible；　anyhow。　I　suppose　she'll　go　home　to　her　friends。　That　bicycle　is　a　juicy　nuisance；　anyhow。　Juicy　nuisance！〃

He　jumped　to　his　feet　with　a　sudden　awakening　of　energy；　to　proceed　with　his　toilet。　Then　with　a　certain　horror　he　remembered　that　the　simple　necessaries　of　that　process　were　at　Bognor！〃Lord！〃　he　remarked；　and　whistled　silently　for　a　space。　〃Rummy　go！　profit　and　loss；　profit；　one　sister　with　bicycle　complete；　wot　offers？cheap　for　tooth　and　'air　brush；　vests；　night…shirt；　stockings；　and　sundries。

〃Make　the　best　of　it；〃　and　presently；　when　it　came　to　hair…brushing；　he　had　to　smooth　his　troubled　locks　with　his　hands。　It　was　a　poor　result。　〃Sneak　out　and　get　a　shave；　I　suppose；　and