five tales-第36章

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uffering；　wretched；　pitiful　face！　　A　man　had　no　business　to　give　you　a　look　like　that！　　The　prisoner　passed　on　down　the　stairs；　and　vanished。　　Mr。　Bosengate　went　out　and　across　the　market　place　to　the　garage　of　the　hotel　where　he　had　left　his　car。　The　sun　shone　fiercely　and　he　thought：　'I　must　do　some　watering　in　the　garden。'　　He　brought　the　car　out；　and　was　about　to　start　the　engine；　when　someone　passing　said：　'Good　evenin'。　　Seedy…lookin'　beggar　that　last　prisoner；　ain't　he？　　We　don't　want　men　of　that　stamp。〃　　It　was　his　neighbour　on　the　jury；　the　commercial　traveller；　in　a　straw　hat；　with　a　little　brown　bag　already　in　his　hand　and　the　froth　of　an　interrupted　drink　on　his　moustache。　　Answering　curtly：　〃Good　evening！〃　and　thinking：　'Nor　of　yours；　my　friend！'　　Mr。　Bosengate　started　the　car　with　unnecessary　clamour。　　But　as　if　brought　back　to　life　by　the　commercial　traveller's　remark；　the　prisoner's　figure　seemed　to　speed　along　too；　turning　up　at　Mr。　Bosengate　his　pitifully　unhappy　eyes。　　Want　of　his　wife！queer　excuse　that　for　trying　to　put　it　out　of　his　power　ever　to　see　her　again！　　Why！　　Half　a　loaf；　even　a　slice；　was　better　than　no　bread。　Not　many　of　that　neurotic　type　in　the　Armythank　Heaven！　　The　lugubrious　figure　vanished；　and　Mr。　Bosengate　pictured　instead　the　form　of　his　own　wife　bending　over　her　〃G3oire　de　Dijon　roses〃　in　the　rosery；　where　she　generally　worked　a　little　before　tea　now　that　they　were　short　of　gardeners。　　He　saw　her；　as　often　he　had　seen　her；　raise　herself　and　stand；　head　to　one　side；　a　gloved　hand　on　her　slender　hip；　gazing　as　it　were　ironically　from　under　drooped　lids　at　buds　which　did　not　come　out　fast　enough。　　And　the　word　'Caline；'　for　he　was　something　of　a　French　scholar；　shot　through　his　mind：　'Kath3een…　Caline！'　If　he　found　her　there　when　he　got　in；　he　would　steal　up　on　the　grass　andah！　but　with　great　care　not　to　crease　her　dress　or　disturb　her　hair！　　'If　only　she　weren't　quite　so　self…contained；'　he　thought；　'It's　like　a　cat　you　can't　get　near；　not　really　near！'

The　car；　returning　faster　than　it　had　come　down　that　morning；　had　already　passed　the　outskirt　villas；　and　was　breasting　the　hill　to　where；　among　fields　and　the　old　trees；　Charm3eigh　lay　apart　from　commoner　life。　　Turning　into　his　drive；　Mr。　Bosengate　thought　with　a　certain　surprise：　'I　wonder　what　she　does　think　of！　　I　wonder！'　　He　put　his　gloves　and　hat　down　in　the　outer　hall　and　went　into　the　lavatory；　to　dip　his　face　in　cool　water　and　wash　it　with　sweet…　smelling　soapdelicious　revenge　on　the　unclean　atmosphere　in　which　he　had　been　stewing　so　many　hours。　　He　came　out　again　into　the　hall　dazed　by　soap　and　the　mellowed　light；　and　a　voice　from　half…way　up　the　stairs　said：　〃Daddy！　　Look！〃　　His　little　daughter　was　standing　up　there　with　one　hand　on　the　banisters。　　She　scrambled　on　to　them　and　came　sliding　down；　her　frock　up　to　her　eyes；　and　her　holland　knickers　to　her　middle。　　Mr。　Bosengate　said　mildly：

〃Well；　that's　elegant！〃

〃Tea's　in　the　summer…house。　　Mummy's　waiting。　　Come　on！〃

With　her　hand　in　his；　Mr。　Bosengate　went　on；　through　the　drawing…　room；　long　and　cool；　with　sun…blinds　down；　through　the　billiard…room；　high　and　cool；　through　the　conservatory；　green　and　sweet…smelling；　out　on　to　the　terrace　and　the　upper　lawn。　　He　had　never　felt　such　sheer　exhilarated　joy　in　his　home　surroundings；　so　cool；　glistening　and　green　under　the　July　sun；　and　he　said：

〃Well；　Kit；　what　have　you　all　been　doing？〃

〃I've　fed　my　rabbits　and　Harry's；　and　we've　been　in　the　attic；　Harry　got　his　leg　through　the　skylight。〃

Mr。　Bosengate　drew　in　his　breath　with　a　hiss。

〃It's　all　right；　Daddy；　we　got　it　out　again；　it's　only　grazed　the　skin。　　And　we've　been　making　swabsI　made　seventeen；　Mummy　made　thirty…three；　and　then　she　went　to　the　hospital。　　Did　you　put　many　men　in　prison？〃

Mr。　Bosengate　cleared　his　throat。　　The　question　seemed　to　him　untimely。

〃Only　two。〃

〃What's　it　like　in　prison；　Daddy？〃

Mr。　Bosengate；　who　had　no　more　knowledge　than　his　little　daughter；　replied　in　an　absent　voice：

〃Not　very　nice。〃

They　were　passing　under　a　young　oak　tree；　where　the　path　wound　round　to　the　rosery　and　summer…house。　　Something　shot　down　and　clawed　Mr。　Bosengate's　neck。　　His　little　daughter　began　to　hop　and　suffocate　with　laughter。

〃Oh；　Daddy！　　Aren't　you　caught！　　I　led　you　on　purpose！〃

Looking　up；　Mr。　Bosengate　saw　his　small　son　lying　along　a　low　branch　above　himlike　the　leopard　he　was　declaring　himself　to　be　（for　fear　of　error）；　and　thought　blithely：　'What　an　active　little　chap　it　is！'　〃Let　me　drop　on　your　shoulders；　Daddylike　they　do　on　the　deer。〃

〃Oh；　yes！　　Do　be　a　deer；　Daddy！〃

Mr。　Bosengate　did　not　see　being　a　deer；　his　hair　had　just　been　brushed。　　But　he　entered　the　rosery　buoyantly　between　his　offspring。　His　wife　was　standing　precisely　as　he　had　imagined　her；　in　a　pale　blue　frock　open　at　the　neck；　with　a　narrow　black　band　round　the　waist；　and　little　accordion　pleats　below。　　She　looked　her　coolest。　Her　smile；　when　she　turned　her　head；　hardly　seemed　to　take　Mr。　Bosengate　seriously　enough。　　He　placed　his　lips　below　one　of　her　half…drooped　eyelids。　　She　even　smelled　of　roses。　　His　children　began　to　dance　round　their　mother；　and　Mr。　Bosengate；firmly　held　between　them；　was　also　compelled　to　do　this；　until　she　said：

〃When　you've　quite　done；　let's　have　tea！〃

It　was　not　the　greeting　he　had　imagined　coming　along　in　the　car。　Earwigs　were　plentiful　in　the　summer…houseused　perhaps　twice　a　year；　but　indispensable　to　every　country　residenceand　Mr。　Bosengate　was　not　sorry　for　the　excuse　to　get　out　again。　　Though　all　was　so　pleasant；　he　felt　oddly　restless；　rather　suffocated；　and　lighting　his　pipe；　began　to　move　about　among　the　roses；　blowing　tobacco　at　the　greenfly；　in　war…time　one　was　never　quite　idle！　　And　suddenly　he　said：

〃We're　trying　a　wretched　Tommy　at　the　assizes。〃

His　wife　looked　up　from　a　rose。

〃What　for？〃

〃Attempted　suicide。〃

〃Why　did　he？〃

〃Can't　stand　the　separation　from　his　wife。〃

She　looked　at　him；　gave　a　low　laugh；　and　said：

〃Oh　dear！〃

Mr。　Bosengate　was　puzzled。　　Why　did　she　laugh？　　He　looked　round；　saw　that　the　children　were　gone；　took　his　pipe　from　his　mouth；　and　approached　her。

〃You　look　very　pretty；〃　he　said。　　〃Give　me　a　kiss！〃

His　wife　bent　her　body　forward　from　the　waist；　and　pushed　her　lips　out　till　they　touched　his　moustache。　　Mr。　Bosengate　felt　a　sensation　as　if　he　had　arisen　from　breakfast；　without　having　eaten　marmalade。　He　mastered　it；　and　said：

〃That　jury　are　a　rum　lot。〃

His　wife's　eyelids　flickered。　　〃I　wish　women　sat　on　juries。〃

〃Why？〃

〃It　would　be　an　experience。〃

Not　the　first　time　she　had　used　that　curious　expression！　　Yet　her　life　was　far　from　dull；　so　far　as　he　could　see；　with　the　new　interests　created　by　the　war；　and　the　constant　calls　on　her　time　made　by　the　perfection　of　their　home　life；　she　had　a　useful　and　busy　existence。　　Again　the　random　thought　passed　through　him：　'But　she　never　tells　me　anything！'　　And　suddenly　that　lugubrious　khaki…clad　figure　started　up　among　the　rose　bushes。　　〃We've　got　a　lot　to　be　thankful　for！〃　he　said　abruptly。　　〃I　must　go　to　work！〃　　His　wife；　raising　one　eyebrow；　smiled。　　〃And　I　to　weep！〃　　Mr。　Bosengate　laughedshe　had　a　pretty　wit！　　And　stroking　his　comely　moustache　where　it　had　been　kissed；　he　moved　out　into　the　sunshine。　　All　the　evening；　throughout　his　labours；　not　inconsiderable；　for　this　jury　business　had　put　him　behind　time；　he　was　afflicted　by　that　restless　pleasure　in　his　surroundings；　would　break　off　in　mowing　the　lower　lawn　to　look　at　the　house　through　the　trees；　would　leave　his　study　and　committee　papers；　to　cross　into　the　drawing…room　and　sniff　its　dainty　fragrance；　paid　a　special　good…night　visit　to　the　children　having　supper　in　the　schoolroom；　pottered　in　and　out　from　his　dressing　room　to　admire　his　wife　while　she　was　changing　for　dinner；　dined　with　his　mind　perpetually　on　the　next　course；　talked　volubly　of　the　war；　and　in　the　billiard　room　afterwards；　smoking　the　pipe　which　had　taken　the　place　of　his　cigar；　could　not　keep　still；　but　roamed　about；　now　in　conservatory；　now　in　the　drawing…room；　where　his　wife　and　the　governess　were　still　making　swabs。　　It　seemed　to　him　that　he　could　not　have　enough　of　anything。　　About　eleven　o'clock　he　strolled　out　beautiful　night；　only　just　dark　enoughunder　the　new　arrangement　with　Timeand　went　down　to　the　little　round　fountain　below　the　terrace。　　His　wife　was　playing　the　piano。　　Mr。　Bosengate　looked　at　the　water　and　the　flat　dark　water　lily　leaves　which　floated　there；　looked　up　at　the　house；　where　only　narrow　chinks　of　light　showed；　because　of　the　Lighting　Order。　　The　dreamy　music　　drifted　out；　there　was　a　scent　of　heliotrope。　　He　moved　a　few　steps　back；　and　sat　in　the　children's　swing　under　an　old　lime　tree。　　Jollyblissfulin　the　warm；　bloomy　dark！　　Of　all　hours　of　the　day；　this　before　going　to　bed　was　perhaps　the　pleasantest。　　He　saw　the　light　go　up　in　his　wife's　bed　room；　unscreened　for　a　full　minute；　and　thought：　'Aha！　　If　I　did　my　duty　as　a　special；　I　should　〃strafe〃　her　for　that。'　　She　came　to　the　window；　her　figure　lighted；　hands　up　to　the　back　of　her　head；　so　that　her　bare　arms　gleamed。　　Mr。　Bosengate　wafted　her　a　kiss；　knowing　he　could　not　be　seen。　　'Lucky　chap！'　he　mused；　'she's　a　great　joy！'　Up　went　her　arm；　down　came　the　blind　the　house　was　dark　again。　　He　drew　a　long　breath。　　'Another　ten　minutes；'　he　thought；　'then　I'll　go　in　and　shut　up。　　By　Jove！　　The　limes　are　beginning　to　smell　already！'　And；　the　better　to　take　in　that　acme　of　his　well…being；　he　tilted　the　swing；　lifted　his　feet　from　the　ground；　and　swung　himself　toward　the　scented　blossoms。　　He　wanted　to　whelm　his　senses　in　their　perfume；　and　closed　his　eyes。　　But　instead　of　the　domestic　vision　he　expected；　the　face　of　the　little　Welsh　soldier；　hare…eyed；　shadowy；　pinched　and　dark　and　pitiful；　started　up　with　such　disturbing　vividness　that　he　opened　his　eyes　again　at　once。　　Curse！　　The　fellow　almost　haunted　one！　　Where　would　he　be　now　poor　little　devil！lying　in　his　cell；　thinkingthinking　of　his　wife！　　Feeling　suddenly　morbid；　Mr。　Bosengate　arrested　the　swing　and　stood　up。　Absurd！all　his　well…　being　and　mood　of　warm　anticipation　had　deserted　him！　　'A　d…d　world！'　he　thought。　　'Such　a　lot　of　misery！　　Why　should　I　have　to　sit　in　judgment　on　that　poor　beggar；　and　condemn　him？'　　He　moved　up　on　to　the　terrace　and　walked　briskly；　to　rid　himself　of　this　disturbance　before　going　in。　　'That　commercial　traveller　chap；'　he　thought；　'the　rest　of　those　fellowsthey　see　nothing！'　　And；　abruptly　turning　up　the　three　stone　steps；　he　entered　the　conservatory；　locked　it；　passed　into　the　billiard　room；　and　drank　his　barley　water。　　One　of　the　pictures　was　hanging　crooked；　he　went　up　to　put　it　straight。　　Still　life。　　Grapes　and　apples；　andlobsters！　　They　struck　him　as　odd　for　the　first　time。　　Why　lobsters？　　The　whole　picture　seemed　dead　and　oily。　　He　turned　off　the　light；　and　went　upstairs；　passed　his　wife's　door；　into　his　own　room；　and　undressed。　　Clothed　in　his　pyjamas　he　opened　the　door　between　the　rooms。　　By　the　light　coming　from　his　own　he　could　see　her　dark　head　on　the　pillow。　　Was　she　asleep？　　Nonot　asleep；　certainly。　　The　moment　of　fruition　had　come；　the　crowning　of　his　pride　and　pleasure　in　his　home。　　But　he　continued　to　stand　there。　He