jeremy-第30章

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looked　around　her　at　the　very　plain　but　useful　garments　worn　by　her
family；　her　husband　in　faded　grey　flannel　trousers　and　a　cricketing
shirt；　Helen　and　Mary　in　the　simplest　blue　cotton；　and　Jeremy　in　his
two…year…old　sailor　suit。　She　had　intended　to　bring　their　bathing
things　in　a　bundle；　but　now　she　put　them　aside。　It　was　obvious　that
the　Le　Pages　had　no　intention　of　bathing。　She　sighed　and　foresaw　a
difficult　day　ahead　of　her。

It　was　evident　that　the　Le　Pages　did　not　intend　to　come　one　step
farther　into　Cow　Farm　than　was　necessary。

〃Dear　Mrs。　Cole；　on　a　hot　dayhow　can　you　endure　the　smells　of　a
farm　。　。　。　such　a　charming　farm；　too；　with　all　its　cows　and　pigs；
but　in　this　weather。　。　。　Charlotte　darling；　you　don't　feel　the　heat？
No？　Hold　your　sun…shade　a　little　more　to　the　right；　love。　That's
right。　She　was　not　quite　the　thing　last　night；　Mrs。　Cole。　I　had　some
doubts　about　bringing　her；　but　I　knew　you'd　all　be　so　disappointed。
She's　looking　rather　lovely　to…day；　don't　you　think？　You　must
forgive　a　mother's　partiality。　。　。　Oh；　you're　not　bringing　that
little　dog；　are　you？　Surely〃

Jeremy；　who　had　from　the　first　hated　Mrs。　Le　Page；　forgot　his
shyness　and　brought　out　fiercely：

〃Of　course　he's　coming。　Hamlet　always　goes　everywhere　with　us。〃

〃Hamlet！〃　said　Mr。　Le　Page　in　his　deep　bass　voice。

〃What　a　strange　name　for　a　dog！〃　said　Mrs。　Le　Page　in　tones　of　vague
distrust。

At　last　it　was　settled　that　one　member　of　the　Cole　party　should　ride
with　the　Le　Pages；　and　Mary　was　selected。　Poor　Mary！　inevitably
chosen　when　something　unpleasant　must　be　done。　To…day　it　was
especially　hard　for　her；　because　she　entertained　so　implacable　a
hatred　for　the　lovely　Charlotte　and　looked；　it　must　be　confessed；　so
plain　and　shabby　by　the　side　of　her。　Indeed；　to　any　observer　with　a
heart　it　must　have　been　touching　to　see　Mary　driven　away　in　that
magnificent　black　carriage；　staring　with　agonised　hostility　in　front
of　her　through　her　large　spectacles；　compelled　to　balance　herself
exactly　between　the　magnificent　sunshade　of　Mrs。　Le　Page　and　the
smaller　but　also　magnificent　sunshade　of　the　lovely　Charlotte。　Mrs。
Cole；　glancing　in　that　direction；　may　have　felt　with　a　pang　that　she
would　never　be　able　to　make　her　children　handsome　and　gay　as　she
would　like　to　dobut　it　was　certainly　a　pang　of　only　a　moment's
duration。

She　would　not　have　exchanged　her　Mary　for　a　wagon…load　of
Charlottes。

And　Jeremy；　bumping　along　in　the　jingle；　also　felt　the　contrast。　Why
could　not　Mary　wear　her　straw　hat　straight；　and　why　must　she　have
elastic　under　her　chin？　Why　did　she　look　so　cross　and　so　stupid？　Why
did　she　bother　him　so　with　her　worries？　Charlotte　would　never　worry
him。　She　would　just　sit　there；　looking　beautiful；　with　her　golden
hair；　and　blue　eyes　and　pink　cheeks。　Next　week　was　to　be　Miss
Jones's　birthday；　and　in　preparation　for　this　he　had　bought　for　her
in　Polchester　a　silver　thimble。　He　wondered　whether　he　would　not
give　Charlotte　this　thimble　instead　of　Miss　Jones。　He　could　give
Miss　Jones　some　old　thing　he　would　find　somewhere；　or　he　would　go
out　and　pick　for　her　some　flowers。　She　would　be　pleased　with
anything。　He　wondered　what　Charlotte　would　say　when　he　gave　her　the
thimble。　She　would　like　it；　of　course。　She　would　smile。　She　would
open　her　eyes　and　look　at　him。　Fortunately　he　had　the　thimble　even
now　in　his　pocket。　He　had　bought　it　when　he　was　wearing　this　same
suit。　Yes；　he　would　give　it　to　her。　As　he　decided　this　he　looked　at
Miss　Jones　guiltily；　but　she　was　making　such　odd　faces　as　she
squinted　to　escape　from　the　sun　that　he　did　not　feel　ashamed。

They　came　to　that　steep　hill　just　beyond　Garth　woods；　and　Bob；　of
course；　refused　to　move。　The　superb　Le　Page　affair　dashed　past　them；
shouted　something　at　them；　and　disappeared　over　the　brow　of　the
hill。　The　last　thing　to　be　seen　of　them　were　the　fierce　despairing
eyes　of　the　imprisoned　Mary。　A　strange　sensation　of　relief　instantly
settled　upon　the　Coles。　For　a　moment　they　were　alone；　they　began
slowly　to　walk　up　the　hill；　dragging　with　them　the　reluctant　Bob。
About　them　was　peace；　absolute　and　unstained。　The　hard　glitter　of
the　day　shone　upon　the　white　road；　but　behind　them　the　wood　was　dark
and　cool；　a　green　cloud　against　the　sky。　Behind　the　steep　hedges　the
harvesters　were　moving。　In　the　air　a　lark　was　singing；　and　along　the
ditch　at　the　road　side　a　tiny　stream　tumbled。　And　beyond　these
sounds　there　was　a　vast　tranquil　silence。

The　Coles　moved　up　the　hill　very　slowly；　only　Hamlet　racing　ahead　to
find　spots　of　shadow　where　he　might　lie　down　and　pant。　They　would
not　confess　to　themselves　that　this　promised　to　be　the　happiest
moment　of　their　day。　They　went　bravely　forward。

On　the　bend　of　the　hill　the　Le　Pages　were　waiting　for　them。　What
Mrs。　Cole　had　foreseen　had　in　truth　occurred。　The　Le　Page　carriage
would　not　go　down　the　Rafiel　Lane。　No；　it　would；　not。　。　。　Nothing
would　induce　it　to。

〃James；〃　said　Mrs。　Le　Page　to　her　stout　and　disdainful　attendant。

〃Nothing；　ma'am；〃　said　James。

〃Dear　me；　dear　me；〃　said　Mrs。　Le　Page。　〃Well　then；　we　must　walk；〃
said　the　deep　despairing　voice　of　the　Pirate　King。

And　walk　they　did。

That　walk　was；　as　Mrs。　Cole　afterwards　said；　〃a　pity；〃　because　it
destroyed　the　Le　Page　tempers　when　the　day　was　scarcely　begun。　Mr。
Le　Page　was；　it　was　quickly　descried；　not　intended　for　walking。
Strong　and　fierce　though　he　seemed；　heat　instantly　crumpled　him　up。
The　perfect　crease　of　his　white　trousers　vanished；　his　collar　was　no
longer　spotless；　little　beads　of　perspiration　appeared　almost　at
once　on　his　forehead；　and　his　black　beard　dripped　moisture。　Mrs。　Le
Page；　with　her　skirts　raised；　walked　as　though　she　were　passing
through　the　Valley　of　Destruction；　every　step　was　a　risk　and　a
danger；　and　the　difficulty　of　holding　her　skirts　and　her　sunshade　at
the　same　time；　and　of　seeing　that　her　shoes　were　not　soiled　and　her
hat　not　caught　by　an　offending　bough　gave　her　face　an　expression　of
desperate　despair。

There　was；　unfortunately；　one　spot　very　deep　down　in　the　lane　where
the　ground　was　never　dry　even　in　the　height　of　the　hottest　summer。

A　little　stream　ran　here　across　the　path；　and　the　ground　on　either
side　was　soft　and　sodden。　Mrs。　Le　Page；　struggling　to　avoid　an
overhanging　branch；　stepped　into　the　mud；　one　foot　stuck　there；　and
it　needed　Mr。　Cole's　strong　arm　to　pull　her　out　of　it。

〃Charlotte！　Charlotte！〃　she　cried。　〃Don't　let　Charlotte　step　into
that！　Mr。　Cole！　Mr。　Cole！　I　charge　youmy　child！〃　Charlotte　was
conveyed　across；　but　the　damage　was　done。　One　of　Mrs。　Le　Page's
beautiful　shoes　was　thick　with　mud。

When；　therefore；　the　party；　climbing　out　of　the　Lane；　came　suddenly
upon　the　path　leading　down　to　the　Cove；　with　the　sea；　like　a　blue
cloud　in　front　of　them；　no　one　exclaimed　at　the　view。　It　was　a　very
beautiful　viewone　of　the　finest　of　its　kind　in　the　United
Kingdom；　the　high　rocks　closing　in　the　Cove　and　the　green　hills
closing　in　the　rocks。　On　the　hill　to　the　right　was　the　Rafiel　Old
Church；　with　its　graveyard　that　ran　to　the　very　edge　of　the　cliff；
and　behind　the　Cove　was　a　stream　and　a　green　orchard　and　a　little
wood。　The　sand　of　the　Cove　was　bright　gold；　and　the　low　rocks　to
either　side　of　it　were　a　dark　redthe　handsomest　place　in　the
world；　with　the　water　so　clear　that　you　could　see　down；　far　down；
into　green　caverns　laced　with　silver　sand。　Unfortunately；　at　the
moment　when　the　Coles　and　their　friends　beheld　it；　it　was　blazing　in
the　sun；　soon　the　sun　would　pass　and；　during　the　whole　afternoon；
half　of　it　at　least　would　lie　in　shadow；　but　the　Le　Pages　could　not
be　expected　to　think　of　that。

The　basket　was　unloaded　from　the　jingle　and　carried　down　to　the
beach　by　Mr。　Cole　and　Jim。　Jeremy；　finding　himself　at　the　side　of
the　lovely　Charlotte；　was　convulsed　with　shyness；　the　more　that　he
knew　that　the　unhappy　Mary　was　listening　with　jealous　ears。
Charlotte；　walking　like　Agag；　〃delicately；〃　had　a　piteous　expression
in　her　eyes　as　though　she　were　being　led　to　the　torture。

Jeremy　coughed　and　began：　〃We　always　come　here　every　year。　Don't　you
like　it？〃

〃Yes；〃　she　said　miserably。

〃And　we　paddle　and　bathe。　Do　you　like　bathing？〃

〃Going　into　the　sea？〃

〃Yes。〃

〃Oh；　no！　Mother　says　I　mustn't；　because　it'll　hurt　my　hair。　Do　you
like　my　hair？〃

〃Yes；〃　said　Jeremy；　blushing　at　so　direct　an　invitation　to
compliment。

〃Mother　says　I've　got　to　be　very　careful　of　my　hair　because　it's　my
chief　beauty。〃

〃Yes；〃　said　Jeremy。

〃I　have　a　maid；　Alice；　and　she　brushes　a　whole　hour　every　morning
and　a　whole　hour　every　evening。〃

〃Don't　you　get　very　tired？〃　asked　Jeremy。　〃I　know　I　should。〃

〃Mother　says　if　you　have　such　beautiful　hair　you　must　take　trouble
with　it；〃　Charlotte　gravely　replied。

Her　voice　was　so　like　the　voice　of　a　parrot　that　Jeremy's
grandmother　had　once　possessed　that　it　didn't　seem　as　though　a　human
being　was　speaking　at　all。　They　were　near　the　beach　now　and　could
see　the　blue　slipping　in；　turning　into　white　bubbles；　then　slipping
out　again。

〃Do　you　like　my　frock？〃　said　Charlotte。

〃Yes；〃　said　Jeremy。

〃It　was　bought　in　London。　All　my　clothes　are　bought　in　London。〃

〃Mary's　and　Helen's　aren't；〃　said　Jeremy　with　some　faint　idea　of
protecting　his　sisters。　〃They're　bought　in　Polchester。〃

〃Mother　says；〃　said　Charlotte；　〃that　if　you're　not　pretty　it　doesn't
matter　where　you　buy　your　clothes。〃

They　arrived　on　the　beach　and　stared　about　them。　It　became　at　once　a
great　question　as　to　where　Mrs。　Le　Page　would　sit。　She　could　not　sit
on　the　sand　which　looked　damp；　nor　equally；　of　course；　on　a　rock
that　was　spiky　and　hard。　What　to　do　with　her？　She　stood　in　the
middle　of　the　beach；　still　holding　up　her　skirts；　gazing　desperately
about　her；　looking　first　at　one　spot　and　then　at　another。

〃Oh；　dear；　the　heat！〃　she　exclaimed。　〃Is　there　no　shade　anywhere？
Perhaps　in　that　farm…house　over　there。　。　。〃　It　was　probable　enough
that　no　member　of　the　Cole　family　would　have　minded　banishing　Mrs。
Le　Page　into　the　farmhouse；　but　it　would　have　meant　that　the　whole
party　must　accompany　her。　That　was　impossible。　They　had　come　for　a
picnic　and　a　picnic　they　would　have。

Mrs。　Cole　watched；　with　growing　agitation；　the　whole　situation。　She
saw　from　her　husband's　face　that　he　was　rapidly　losing　his　temper；
and　she　had　learnt；　after　many　experiences；　that　when　he　lost　his
temper　he　was　capable　of　anything。　That　does　not　mean；　of　course；
that　he　ever　was　angry　to　the　extent　of　swearing　or　striking　out
with　his　fistsno；　he　simply　grew　sadder；　and　sadder；　and　sadder；
and　this　melancholy　had　a　way　of　reducing　to　despair　all　the　people
with　whom　he　happened　to　be　at　the　time。

〃What　does　everyone　say　to　our　having　lunch　now？〃　cried　Mrs。　Cole
cheerfully。　〃It's　after　one；　and　I'm　sure　everyone's　hungry。〃

No　one　said　anything；　so　preparations　were　begun。　A　minute　piece　of
shade　was　found　for　Mrs。　Le　Page；　and　here　she　sat　on　a　flat　piece
of　rock　with　her　skirts　drawn　close　about　her　as　though　she　were
afraid　of　rats　or　crabs。　A　tablecloth　was　laid　on　the　sand　and　the
provisions　spread　outpasties　for　everybody；　egg…sandwiches；　seed…
cake；　and　jam…puffsand　ginger　beer。　It　looked　a　fine　feast　when　it
was　all　there；