jeremy-第39章

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Jeremy's　eye　and　to　beg　him　to　come　to　him。　He　rode　more　securely
than　the　rest；　rising　nobly　like　a　horse　of　fine　breeding；　falling
again　with　an　implication　of　restrained　force　as　though　he　would
say：　〃I　have　only　to　let　myself　go　and　there；　my　word；　you　would　see
where　I'd　get　to。〃　His　bold　black　eyes　turned　beseechingly　to
Jeremysurely　it　was　not　only　a　trick　of　the　waving　gas；　the　boy
drew　closer　and　closer；　never　moving　his　gaze　from　the　horses　who
had　hitherto　been　whirling　at　a　bacchanalian　pace；　but　now；　as　at
some　sudden　secret　command；　suddenly　slackened；　hesitated；　fell　into
a　gentle　jog…trot；　then　scarcely　rose；　scarcely　fell；　were　suddenly
still。　Jeremy　saw　what　it　was　that　you　did　if　you　wanted　to　ride。　A
stout　dirty　man　came　out　amongst　the　horses　and；　resting　his　hands
on　their　backs　as　though　they　were　less　than　nothing　to　him；
shouted：　〃Now's　your　chance；　lidies　and　gents！　Now；　lidies　and
gents！　Come　along　hup！　Come　along　hup！　The　ride　of　your　life　now！　A
'alfpenny　a　time！　A　'alfpenny　a　time；　and　the　finest　ride　of　your
life！〃

People　began　to　mount　the　steps　that　led　on　to　the　platform　where
the　horses　stood。　A　woman；　then　a　man　and　a　boy；　then　two　men；　then
two　girls　giggling　together；　then　a　man　and　a　girl。

And　the　stout　fellow　shouted：　〃Come　along　hup！　Come　along　hup！　Now；
lidies　and　gents！　A　'alfpenny　a　ride！　Come　along　hup！〃

Jeremy　noticed　then　that　the　fine　horse　with　the　black　mane　had
stopped　close　beside　him。　Impossible　to　say　whether　the　horse　had
intended　it　or　no！　He　was　staring　now　in　front　of　him　with　the
innocent　stupid　gaze　that　animals　can　assume　when　they　do　not　wish
to　give　themselves　away。　But　Jeremy　could　see　that　he　was　taking　it
for　granted　that　Jeremy　understood　the　affair。　〃If　you're　such　a
fool　as　not　to　understand；〃　he　seemed　to　say；　〃well；　then；　I　don't
want　you。〃　Jeremy　gazed；　and　the　reproach　in　those　eyes　was　more
than　he　could　endure。　And　at　any　moment　someone　else　might　settle
himself　on　that　beautiful　back！　There；　that　stupid　fat　giggling
girl！　Noshe　had　moved　elsewhere。　。　。　He　could　endure　it　no　longer
and；　with　a　thumping　heart；　clutching　a　scalding　penny　in　a　red…hot
hand；　he　mounted　the　steps。　〃One　ridelittle　gen'elman。　'Ere　you
are！　'Old　on　now！　Oh；　you　wants　that　one；　do　yer？　Eight　yer　areyer
pays　yer　money　and　yer　takes　yer　choice。〃　He　lifted　Jeremy　up。　〃Put
yer　arms　round　'is　neck　now'e　won't　bite　yer！〃

Bite　him　indeed！　Jeremy　felt；　as　he　clutched　the　cool　head　and　let
his　hand　slide　over　the　stiff　black　mane；　that　he　knew　more　about
that　horse　than　his　owner　did。　He　seemed　to　feel　beneath　him　the
horse's　response　to　his　clutching　knees；　the　head　seemed　to　rise　for
a　moment　and　nod　to　him　and　the　eyes　to　say：　〃It's　all　right。　I'll
look　after　you。　I'll　give　you　the　best　ride　of　your　life！〃　He　felt；
indeed；　that　the　gaze　of　the　whole　world　was　upon　him；　but　he
responded　to　it　proudly；　staring　boldly　around　him　as　though　he　had
been　seated　on　merry…go…　rounds　all　his　days。　Perhaps　some　in　the
gaping　crowd　knew　him　and　were　saying：　〃Why；　there's　the　Rev。　Cole's
kid〃　Never　mind；　he　was　above　scandal。　From　where　he　was　he　could
see　the　Fair　lifted　up　and　translated　into　a　fantastic　splendour。
Nothing　was　certain；　nothing　definedabove　him　a　canopy　of　evening
sky；　with　circles　and　chains　of　stars　mixed　with　the　rosy　haze　of
the　flame　of　the　Fair；　opposite　him　was　the　Palace　of　〃The　Two…
Headed　Giant　from　the　Caucasus；〃　a　huge　man　as　portrayed　in　the
picture　hanging　on　his　outer　walls；　a　giant　naked；　save　for　a
bearskin；　with　one　head　black　and　one　yellow；　and　white　protruding
teeth　in　both　mouths。　Next　to　him　was　the　Fortune　Teller's；　and
outside　this　a　little　man　with　a　hump　beat　a　drum。　Then　there　was
〃The　Theatre　of　Tragedy　and　Mirth；〃　with　a　poster　on　one　side　of　the
door　portraying　a　lady　drowning　in　the　swiftest　of　rivers；　but　with
the　prospect　of　being　saved　by　a　stout　gentleman　who　leaned　over
from　the　bank　and　grasped　her　hair。　Then　there　was　the　〃Chamber　of
the　Fat　Lady　and　the　Six　Little　Dwarfs；〃　and　the　entry　to　this　was
guarded　by　a　dirty　sour…looking　female　who　gnashed　her　teeth　at　a
hesitating　public；　before　whom；　with　a　splendid　indifference　to
appearance；　she　consumed；　out　of　a　piece　of　newspaper；　her　evening
meal。

All　these　things　were　in　Jeremy's　immediate　vision；　and　beyond　them
was　a　haze　that　his　eyes　could　not　penetrate。　It　held；　he　knew；　wild
beasts；　because　he　could　hear　quite　clearly　from　time　to　time　the
lion　and　the　elephant　and　the　tiger；　it　held　music；　because　from
somewhere　through　all　the　noise　and　confusion　the　tune　of　a　band
penetrated；　it　held　buyers　and　sellers　and　treasures　and　riches；　and
all　the　inhabitants　of　the　worldsurely　all　the　world　must　be　here
to…night。　And　then；　beyond　the　haze；　there　were　the　silent　and
mysterious　gipsy　caravans。　Dark　with　their　little　square　windows；
and　their　coloured　walls；　and　their　round　wheels；　and　the　smell　of
wood　fires；　and　the　noise　of　hissing　kettles　and　horses　cropping　the
grass；　and　around　them　the　still　night　world　with　the　thick　woods
and　the　dark　river。

He　did　not　see　it　all　as　he　sat　on　his　horsehe　was；　as　yet；　too
young；　but　he　did　feel　the　contrast　between　the　din　and　glare　around
him　and　the　silence　and　dark　beyond；　and；　afterwards；　looking　back；
he　knew　that　he　had　found　in　that　same　contrast　the　very　heart　of
romance。　As　it　was；　he　simply　clutched　his　horse's　beautiful　head
and　waited　for　the　ride　to　begin。　。　。

They　were　off！　He　felt　his　horse　quiver　under　him；　he　saw　the
mansions　of　the　Two…Headed　Giant　and　the　Fat　Lady　slip　to　the　right；
the　light　seemed　to　swing　like　the　skirt　of　someone's　dress；　upwards
across　the　floor；　and　from　the　heart　of　the　golden　woman　and　the
king　and　the　minstrel　a　scream　burst　forth　as　though　they　were
announcing　the　end　of　the　world。　After　that　he　had　no　clear　idea　as
to　what　occurred。　He　was　swung　into　space；　and　all　the　life　that　had
been　so　stationary；　the　booths；　the　lights；　the　men　and　women；　the
very　stars　went　swinging　with　him　as　though　to　cheer　him　on；　the
horse　under　him　galloped　before；　and　the　faster　he　galloped　the
wilder　was　the　music　and　the　dizzier　the　world。　He　was　exultant；
omnipotent；　supreme。　He　had　long　known　that　this　glory　was　somewhere
if　it　could　only　he　found；　all　his　days　he　seemed　to　have　been
searching　for　it；　he　beat　his　horse's　neck；　he　drove　his　legs
against　his　sides。　〃Go　on！　Go　on！　Go　on！〃　he　cried。　〃Faster！　Faster！
Faster！〃

The　strangest　things　seemed　to　rise　to　his　notice　and　then　fall
againa　peaked　policeman's　hat；　flowers；　a　sudden　flame　of　gas；　the
staring　eyes　and　dead　white　arms　of　the　golden　woman；　the　flying
forms　of　the　horses　in　front　of　him。　All　the　world　was　on　horseback；
all　the　world　was　racing　higher　and　higher；　faster　and　faster。　He
saw　someone　near　him　rise　on　to　his　horse's　back　and　stand　on　it；
waving　his　arms。　He　would　like　to　have　done　that；　but　he　found　that
he　was　part　of　his　horse；　as　though　he　had　been　glued　to　it。　He
shouted；　he　cried　aloud；　he　was　so　happy　that　he　thought　of　no　one
and　nothing。　。　。　The　flame　danced　about　him　in　a　circle；　he　seemed
to　rise　so　high　that　there　was　a　sudden　stillness；　he　was　in　the
very　heart　of　the　stars；　then　came　the　supreme　moment　when；　as　he
had　always　known；　that　one　day　he　would　be；　he　was　master　of　the
world。　。　。　Then；　like　Lucifer；　he　fell。　Slowly　the　stars　receded；
the　music　slackened；　people　rocked　on　to　their　feet　again。　。　。　The
Two…Headed　Giant　slipped　hack　once　more　into　his　place；　he　saw　the
sinister　lady　still　devouring　her　supper；　women　looking　up　at　him
gaped。　His　horse　gave　a　last　little　leap　and　died。

This　marvellous　experience　he　repeated　four　times；　and　every　time
with　an　ecstasy　more　complete　than　the　last。　He　rushed　to　a　height；
he　fell；　he　rushed　again；　he　fell；　and　at　every　return　to　a　sober
life　his　one　intention　was　instantly　to　be　off　on　his　steed　once
more。　He　was　about　to　start　on　his　fifth　journey；　he　had　paid　his
halfpenny；　he　was　sitting　forward　with　his　hands　on　the　black　mane；
his　eyes；　staring；　were　filled　already　with　the　glory　that　he　knew
was　coming　to　him；　his　cheeks　were　crimson；　his　hat　on　the　back　of
his　head；　his　hair　flying。　He　heard　a　voice；　quiet　and　cool；　a
little　below　him；　but　very　near：

〃Jeremy。　。　。　Jeremy。　Come　off　that。　You've　got　to　go　home。〃

He　looked　down　and　saw　his　Uncle　Samuel。




IV


It　was　all　over；　he　knew　at　once　that　it　was　all　over。

As　he　slipped　down　from　his　dear　horse　he　gave　the　glossy　dark　mane
one　last　pat；　then；　with　a　little　sigh；　he　found　his　feet；　stumbled
over　the　wooden　steps　and　was　at　his　uncle's　side。

Uncle　Samuel　looked　queer　enough　with　a　squashy　black　hat；　a　black
cloak　flung　over　his　shoulders；　and　a　large　cherry…wood　pipe　in　his
mouth。　Jeremy　looked　up　at　him　defiantly。

〃Well；〃　said　Uncle　Samuel　sarcastically。　〃It's　nothing　to　you；　I
suppose；　that　the　town…crier　is　at　this　moment　ringing　his　bell　for
you　up　and　down　the　Market　Place？〃

〃Does　father　know？〃　Jeremy　asked　quickly。

〃He　does；〃　answered　Uncle　Samuel。

Jeremy　cast　one　last　look　around　the　place；　the　merry…　go…round　was
engaged　once　more　upon　its　wild　course；　the　horses　rising　and
falling；　the　golden　woman　clashing　the　cymbals；　the　minstrel
striking；　with　his　dead　eyes　fixed　upon　space；　his　harp。　All　about
men　were　shouting；　the　noise　of　the　coconut　stores；　of　the　circus；
of　the　band；　of　the　hucksters　and　the　charlatans；　the　crying　of
children；　the　laughter　of　womenall　the　noise　of　the　Fair　bathed
Jeremy　up　to　his　forehead。

He　swam　in　it　for　the　last　time。　He　tried　to　catch　one　last　glimpse
of　his　coal…black　charger；　then；　with　a　sigh；　he　said；　turning　to
his　uncle：　〃I　suppose　we'd　better　be　going。〃

〃Yes；　I　suppose　we　had；〃　said　Uncle　Samuel。

They　threaded　their　way　through　the　Fair；　passed　the　wooden　stile；
and　were　once　again　in　the　streets；　dark　and　ancient　under　the　moon；
with　all　the　noise　and　glare　behind　them。　Jeremy　was　thinking　to
himself：　〃It　doesn't　matter　what　Father　does；　or　how　angry　he　is；
that　was　worth　it。〃　It　was　strange　how　little　afraid　he　was。　Only　a
year　ago　to　be　punished　by　his　father　had　been　a　terrible　thing。
Now；　since　his　mother's　illness　in　the　summer；　his　father　had　seemed
to　have　no　influence　over　him。

〃Did　they　bend　you；　or　did　you　just　come　yourself；　Uncle？〃　asked
Jeremy。

〃I　happened　to　be　taking　the　air　in　that　direction；〃　said　Uncle
Samuel。

〃I　hope　you　didn't　come　away　before　you　wanted　to；〃　said　Jeremy
politely。

〃I　did　not；〃　said　his　uncle。

〃Is　Father　very　angry？〃　asked　Jeremy。

〃It's　more　than　likely　he　may　be。　The　Town　Crier's　expensive。〃

〃I　didn't　think　they'd　know；〃　explained　Jeremy。　〃I　meant　to　get　back
in　time。〃

〃Your　father　didn't　go　to　church；〃　said　Uncle　Samuel。　〃So　your　sins
were　quickly　discovered。〃

Jeremy　said　nothing。

Just　as　they　were　climbing　Orange　Street　he　said：

〃Uncle　Samuel；　I　think　I'll　be　a　horse…trainer。〃

〃Oh；　will　you？　。　。　。　Well；　before　you　train　horses　you've　got　to
train　yourself。　Think　of　others　beside　yourself。　A　fine　state　you've
put　your　mother　into　to…night。〃

Jeremy　looked　distressed。　〃She'd　know　if　I　was　dead；　someone　would