an unsocial socialist-第12章

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me　to　the　tune　of　two　shillings。　But　all　I　ask　is　the　ninepence；
and　let　the　lady　keep　the　one　and　threppence　as　the　reward　of
abstinence。　Exploitation　of　labor　at　the　rate　of　a　hundred　and
twenty…five　per　cent。；　that　is。　Come；　give　us　ninepence；　and　I'll
go　straight　off。〃

〃Here　is　a　shilling；〃　said　Miss　Wilson。　〃Now　go。〃

〃Threppence　change！〃　cried　Smilash。　〃Honesty　has　ever　been〃

〃You　may　keep　the　change。〃

〃You　have　a　noble　'art；　lady；　but　you're　flying　in　the　face　of
the　law　of　supply　and　demand。　If　you　keep　payin'　at　this　rate；
there'll　be　a　rush　of　laborers　to　the　college；　and　competition'll
soon　bring　you　down　from　a　shilling　to　sixpence；　let　alone
ninepence。　That's　the　way　wages　go　down　and　death　rates　goes　up；
worse　luck　for　the　likes　of　hus；　as　has　to　sell　ourselves　like
pigs　in　the　market。〃

He　was　about　to　continue　when　the　policeman　took　him　by　the　arm；
turned　him　towards　the　gate；　and　pointed　expressively　in　that
direction。　Smilash　looked　vacantly　at　him　for　a　moment。　Then；
with　a　wink　at　Fairholme；　he　walked　gravely　away；　amid　general
staring　and　silence。



CHAPTER　V

What　had　passed　between　Smilash　and　Henrietta　remained　unknown
except　to　themselves。　Agatha　had　seen　Henrietta　clasping　his　neck
in　her　arms；　but　had　not　waited　to　hear　the　exclamation　of
〃Sidney；　Sidney；〃　which　followed；　nor　to　see　him　press　her　face
to　his　breast　in　his　anxiety　to　stifle　her　voice　as　he　said；　〃My
darling　love；　don't　screech　I　implore　you。　Confound　it；　we　shall
have　the　whole　pack　here　in　a　moment。　Hush！〃

〃Don't　leave　me　again；　Sidney；〃　she　entreated；　clinging　faster　to
him　as　his　perplexed　gaze；　wandering　towards　the　entrance　to　the
shrubbery；　seemed　to　forsake　her。　A　din　of　voices　in　that
direction　precipitated　his　irresolution。

〃We　must　run　away；　Hetty；〃　he　said　〃Hold　fast　about　my　neck；　and
don't　strangle　me。　Now　then。〃　He　lifted　her　upon　his　shoulder　and
ran　swiftly　through　the　grounds。　When　they　were　stopped　by　the
wall；　he　placed　her　atop　of　it；　scrabbled　over；　and　made　her　jump
into　his　arms。　Then　he　staggered　away　with　her　across　the　fields；
gasping　out　in　reply　to　the　inarticulate　remonstrances　which
burst　from　her　as　he　stumbled　and　reeled　at　every　hillock；　〃Your
weight　is　increasing　at　the　rate　of　a　stone　a　second；　my　love。　If
you　stoop　you　will　break　my　back。　Oh；　Lord；　here's　a　ditch！〃

〃Let　me　down；〃　screamed　Henrietta　in　an　ecstasy　of　delight　and
apprehension。　〃You　will　hurt　yourself；　andOh；　DO　take〃

He　struggled　through　a　dry　ditch　as　she　spoke；　and　came　out　upon
a　grassy　place　that　bordered　the　towpath　of　the　canal。　Here；　on
the　bank　of　a　hollow　where　the　moss　was　dry　and　soft；　he　seated
her；　threw　himself　prone　on　his　elbows　before　her；　and　said；
panting：

〃Nessus　carrying　off　Dejanira　was　nothing　to　this！　Whew！　Well；　my
darling；　are　you　glad　to　see　me？〃

〃But〃

〃But　me　no　buts；　unless　you　wish　me　to　vanish　again　and　for　ever。
Wretch　that　I　am；　I　have　longed　for　you　unspeakably　more　than
once　since　I　ran　away　from　you。　You　didn't　care；　of　course？〃

〃I　did。　I　did；　indeed。　Why　did　you　leave　me；　Sidney？〃

〃Lest　a　worse　thing　might　befall。　Come；　don't　let　us　waste　in
explanations　the　few　minutes　we　have　left。　Give　me　a　kiss。〃

〃Then　you　are　going　to　leave　me　again。　Oh；　Sidney〃

〃Never　mind　to…morrow；　Hetty。　Be　like　the　sun　and　the　meadow；
which　are　not　in　the　least　concerned　about　the　coming　winter。　Why
do　you　stare　at　that　cursed　canal；　blindly　dragging　its　load　of
filth　from　place　to　place　until　it　pitches　it　into　the　seajust
as　a　crowded　street　pitches　its　load　into　the　cemetery？　Stare　at
ME；　and　give　me　a　kiss。〃

She　gave　him　several；　and　said　coaxingly；　with　her　arm　still　upon
his　shoulder：　〃You　only　talk　that　way　to　frighten　me；　Sidney；　I
know　you　do。〃

〃You　are　the　bright　sun　of　my　senses；〃　he　said；　embracing　her。　〃I
feel　my　heart　and　brain　wither　in　your　smile；　and　I　fling　them　to
you　for　your　prey　with　exultation。　How　happy　I　am　to　have　a　wife
who　does　not　despise　me　for　doing　sowho　rather　loves　me　the
more！〃

〃Don't　be　silly；〃　said　Henrietta；　smiling　vacantly。　Then；　stung
by　a　half　intuition　of　his　meaning；　she　repulsed　him　and　said
angrily；　〃YOU　despise　ME。〃

〃Not　more　than　I　despise　myself。　Indeed；　not　so　much；　for　many
emotions　that　seem　base　from　within　seem　lovable　from　without。〃

〃You　intend　to　leave　me　again。　I　feel　it。　I　know　it。〃

〃You　think　you　know　it　because　you　feel　it。　Not　a　bad　reason；
either。〃

〃Then　you　ARE　going　to　leave　me？〃

〃Do　you　not　feel　it　and　know　it？　Yes；　my　cherished　Hetty；　I
assuredly　am。〃

She　broke　into　wild　exclamations　of　grief；　and　he　drew　her　head
down　and　kissed　her　with　a　tender　action　which　she　could　not
resist；　and　a　wry　face　which　she　did　not　see。

〃My　poor　Hetty；　you　don't　understand　me。〃

〃I　only　understand　that　you　hate　me；　and　want　to　go　away　from
me。〃

〃That　would　be　easy　to　understand。　But　the　strangeness　is　that　I
LOVE　you　and　want　to　go　away　from　you。　Not　for　ever。　Only　for　a
time。〃

〃But　I　don't　want　you　to　go　away。　I　won't　let　you　go　away；〃　she
said；　a　trace　of　fierceness　mingling　with　her　entreaty。　〃Why　do
you　want　to　leave　me　if　you　love　me？〃

〃How　do　I　know？　I　can　no　more　tell　you　the　whys　and　wherefores　of
myself　than　I　can　lift　myself　up　by　the　waistband　and　carry
myself　into　the　next　county；　as　some　one　challenged　a　speculator
in　perpetual　motion　to　do。　I　am　too　much　a　pessimist　to　respect
my　own　affections。　Do　you　know　what　a　pessimist　is？〃

〃A　man　who　thinks　everybody　as　nasty　as　himself；　and　hates　them
for　it。〃

〃So；　or　thereabout。　Modern　English　polite　society；　my　native
sphere；　seems　to　me　as　corrupt　as　consciousness　of　culture　and
absence　of　honesty　can　make　it。　A　canting；　lie…loving；
fact…hating；　scribbling；　chattering；　wealth…hunting；
pleasure…hunting；　celebrity…hunting　mob；　that；　having　lost　the
fear　of　hell；　and　not　replaced　it　by　the　love　of　justice；　cares
for　nothing　but　the　lion's　share　of　the　wealth　wrung　by　threat　of
starvation　from　the　hands　of　the　classes　that　create　it。　If　you
interrupt　me　with　a　silly　speech；　Hetty；　I　will　pitch　you　into
the　canal；　and　die　of　sorrow　for　my　lost　love　afterwards。　You　
know　what　I　am；　according　to　the　conventional　description：　a
gentleman　with　lots　of　money。　Do　you　know　the　wicked　origin　of
that　money　and　gentility？〃

〃Oh；　Sidney；　have　you　been　doing　anything？〃

〃No；　my　best　beloved；　I　am　a　gentleman；　and　have　been　doing
nothing。　That　a　man　can　do　so　and　not　starve　is　nowadays　not　even
a　paradox。　Every　halfpenny　I　possess　is　stolen　money；　but　it　has
been　stolen　legally；　and；　what　is　of　some　practical　importance　to
you；　I　have　no　means　of　restoring　it　to　the　rightful　owners　even
if　I　felt　inclined　to。　Do　you　know　what　my　father　was？〃

〃What　difference　can　that　make　now？　Don't　be　disagreeable　and
full　of　ridiculous　fads；　Sidney　dear。　I　didn't　marry　your
father。〃

〃No；　but　you　marriedonly　incidentally；　of　coursemy　father's
fortune。　That　necklace　of　yours　was　purchased　with　his　money；　and
I　can　almost　fancy　stains　of　blood　〃

〃Stop；　Sidney。　I　don't　like　this　sort　of　romancing。　It's　all
nonsense。　DO　be　nice　to　me。〃

〃There　are　stains　of　sweat　on　it；　I　know。〃

〃You　nasty　wretch！〃

〃I　am　thinking；　not　of　you；　my　dainty　one；　but　of　the　unfortunate
people　who　slave　that　we　may　live　idly。　Let　me　explain　to　you　why
we　are　so　rich。　My　father　was　a　shrewd；　energetic；　and　ambitious
Manchester　man；　who　understood　an　exchange　of　any　sort　as　a
transaction　by　which　one　man　should　lose　and　the　other　gain。　He
made　it　his　object　to　make　as　many　exchanges　as　possible；　and　to
be　always　the　gaining　party　in　them。　I　do　not　know　exactly　what
he　was；　for　he　was　ashamed　both　of　his　antecedents　and　of　his
relatives；　from　which　I　can　only　infer　that　they　were　honest；
and；　therefore；　unsuccessful　people。　However；　he　acquired　some
knowledge　of　the　cotton　trade；　saved　some　money；　borrowed　some
more　on　the　security　of　his　reputation　for　getting　the　better　of
other　people　in　business；　and；　as　he　accurately　told　me
afterwards；　started　FOR　HIMSELF。　He　bought　a　factory　and　some　raw
cotton。　Now　you　must　know　that　a　man；　by　laboring　some　time　on　a
piece　of　raw　cotton；　can　turn　it　into　a　piece　of　manufactured
cotton　fit　for　making　into　sheets　and　shifts　and　the　like。　The
manufactured　cotton　is　more　valuable　than　the　raw　cotton；　because
the　manufacture　costs　wear　and　tear　of　machinery；　wear　and　tear
of　the　factory；　rent　of　the　ground　upon　which　the　factory　is
built；　and　human　labor；　or　wear　and　tear　of　live　men；　which　has
to　be　made　good　by　food；　shelter；　and　rest。　Do　you　understand
that？〃

〃We　used　to　learn　all　about　it　at　college。　I　don't　see　what　it
has　to　do　with　us；　since　you　are　not　in　the　cotton　trade。〃

〃You　learned　as　much　as　it　was　thought　safe　to　teach　you；　no
doubt；　but　not　quite　all；　I　should　think。　When　my　father　started
for　himself；　there　were　many　men　in　Manchester　who　were　willing
to　labor　in　this　way；　but　they　had　no　factory　to　work　in；　no
machinery　to　work　with；　and　no　raw　cotton　to　work　on；　simply
because　all　this　indispensable　plant；　and　the　materials　for
producing　a　fresh　supply　of　it；　had　been　appropriated　by　earlier
comers。　So　they　found　themselves　with　gaping　stomachs；　shivering
limbs；；　and　hungry　wives　and　children；　in　a　place　called　their
own　country；　in　which；　nevertheless；　every　scrap　of　ground　and
possible　source　of　subsistence　was　tightly　locked　up　in　the　hands
of　others　and　guarded　by　armed　soldiers　and　policemen。　In　this
helpless　condition；　the　poor　devils　were　ready　to　beg　for　access
to　a　factory　and　to　raw　cotton　on　any　conditions　compatible　with
life。　My　father　offered　them　the　use　of　his　factory；　his
machines；　and　his　raw　cotton　on　the　following　conditions：　They
were　to　work　long　and　hard；　early　and　late；　to　add　fresh　value　to
his　raw　cotton　by　manufacturing　it。　Out　of　the　value　thus　created
by　them；　they　were　to　recoup　him　for　what　he　supplied　them　with：
rent；　shelter；　gas；　water；　machinery；　raw　cottoneverything；　and
to　pay　him　for　his　own　services　as　superintendent；　manager；　and
salesman。　So　far　he　asked　nothing　but　just　remuneration。　But
after　this　had　been　paid；　a　balance　due　solely　to　their　own　labor
remained。　'Out　of　this；'　said　my　father；　'you　shall　keep　just
enough　to　save　you　from　starving；　and　of　the　rest　you　shall　make
me　a　present　to　reward　me　for　my　virtue　in　saving　money。　Such　is
the　bargain　I　propose。　It　is；　in　my　opinion；　fair　and　calculated
to　encourage　thrifty　habits。　If　it　does　not　strike　you　in　that
light；　you　can　get　a　factory　and　raw　cotton　for　yourselves；　you
shall　not　use　mine。'　In　other　words；　they　might　go　to　the　devil
and　starveHobson's　choice！for　all　the　other　factories　were
owned　by　men　who　offered　no　better　terms。　The　Manchesterians
could　not　bear　to　starve　or　to　see　their　children　starve；　and　so
they　accepted　his　terms　and　went　into　the　factory。　The　terms；　you
see；　did　not　admit　of　their　beginning　to　save　for　themselves　as
he　had　done。　Well；　they　created　great　wealth　by　their　labor；　and
lived　on　very　little；　so　that　the　balance　they　gave　for　nothing
to　my　father　was　large。　He　bought　more　cotton；　and　more
machinery；　and　more　factories　with　it；　employed　mor