fraternity-第17章

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〃She　looked　ever　so　much　prettier　in　it　than　she　used　to　in　her　old　brown　skirt；　I　thought　。。。。　　Uncle　Hilary　came　to　dinner　last　night。　We　talked　of　social　questions；　we　always　discuss　things　when　he　comes。　　I　can't　help　liking　Uncle　Hilary；　he　has　such　kind　eyes；　and　he's　so　gentle　that　you　never　lose　your　temper　with　him。　　Martin　calls　him　weak　and　unsatisfactory　because　he's　not　in　touch　with　life。　　I　should　say　it　was　more　as　if　he　couldn't　bear　to　force　anyone　to　do　anything；　he　seems　to　see　both　sides　of　every　question；　and　he's　not　good　at　making　up　his　mind；　of　course。　　He's　rather　like　Hamlet　might　have　been；　only　nobody　seems　to　know　now　what　Hamlet　was　really　like。　　I　told　him　what　I　thought　about　the　lower　classes。　　One　can　talk　to　him。　　I　hate　father's　way　of　making　feeble　little　jokes；　as　if　nothing　were　serious。　　I　said　I　didn't　think　it　was　any　use　to　dabble；　we　ought　to　go　to　the　root　of　everything。　　I　said　that　money　and　class　distinctions　are　two　bogeys　we　have　got　to　lay。　　Martin　says；　when　it　comes　to　real　dealing　with　social　questions　and　the　poor；　all　the　people　we　know　are　amateurs。　　He　says　that　we　have　got　to　shake　ourselves　free　of　all　the　old　sentimental　notions；　and　just　work　at　putting　everything　to　the　test　of　Health。　　Father　calls　Martin　a　'Sanitist'；；　and　Uncle　Hilary　says　that　if　you　wash　people　by　law　they'll　all　be　as　dirty　again　tomorrow。。。。〃

Thyme　paused　again。　　A　blackbird　in　the　garden　of　the　Square　was　uttering　a　long；　low；　chuckling　trill。　　She　ran　to　the　window　and　peeped　out。　　The　bird　was　on　a　plane…tree；　and；　with　throat　uplifted；　was　letting　through　his　yellow　beak　that　delicious　piece　of　self…　expression。　　All　things　he　seemed　to　praisethe　sky；　the　sun；　the　trees；　the　dewy　grass；　himself：

'You　darling！'　thought　Thyme。　　With　a　shudder　of　delight　she　dropped　her　notebook　back　into　the　drawer；　flung　off　her　nightgown；　and　flew　into　her　bath。

That　same　morning　she　slipped　out　quietly　at　ten　o'clock。　　Her　Saturdays　were　free　of　classes；　but　she　had　to　run　the　gauntlet　of　her　mother's　liking　for　her　company　and　her　father's　wish　for　her　to　go　with　him　to　Richmond　and　play　golf。

For　on　Saturdays　Stephen　almost　always　left　the　precincts　of　the　Courts　before　three　o'clock。　　Then；　if　he　could　induce　his　wife　or　daughter　to　accompany　him；　he　liked　to　get　a　round　or　two　in　preparation　for　Sunday；　when　he　always　started　off　at　half…past　ten　and　played　all　day。　　If　Cecilia　and　Thyme　failed　him；　he　would　go　to　his　club；　and　keep　himself　in　touch　with　every　kind　of　social　movement　by　reading　the　reviews。

Thyme　walked　along　with　her　head　up　and　a　wrinkle　in　her　brow；　as　though　she　were　absorbed　in　serious　reflection；　if　admiring　glances　were　flung　at　her；　she　did　not　seem　aware　of　them。　　Passing　not　far　from　Hilary's；　she　entered　the　Broad　Walk；　and　crossed　it　to　the　farther　end。

On　a　railing；　stretching　out　his　long　legs　and　observing　the　passers…　by；　sat　her　cousin；　Martin　Stone。　　He　got　down　as　she　came　up。

〃Late　again；〃　he　said。　　〃Come　on！〃

〃Where　are　we　going　first？〃　　Thyme　asked。

〃The　Notting　Hill　district's　all　we　can　do　to…day　if　we're　to　go　again　to　Mrs。　Hughs'。　　I　must　be　down　at　the　hospital　this　afternoon。〃

Thyme　frowned。　　〃I　do　envy　you　living　by　yourself；　Martin。　　It's　silly　having　to　live　at　home。〃

Martin　did　not　answer；　but　one　nostril　of　his　long　nose　was　seen　to　curve；　and　Thyme　acquiesced　in　this　without　remark。　　They　walked　for　some　minutes　between　tall　houses；　looking　about　them　calmly。　　Then　Martin　said：　〃All　Purceys　round　here。〃

Thyme　nodded。　　Again　there　was　silence；　but　in　these　pauses　there　was　no　embarrassment；　no　consciousness　apparently　that　it　was　silence；　and　their　eyesthose　young；　impatient；　interested　eyeswere　for　ever　busy　observing。

〃Boundary　line。　　We　shall　be　in　a　patch　directly。〃

〃Black？〃　　asked　Thyme。

〃Dark　blueblack　farther　on。〃

They　were　passing　down　a　long；　grey；　curving　road；　whose　narrow　houses；　hopelessly　unpainted；　showed　marks　of　grinding　poverty。　　The　Spring　wind　was　ruffling　straw　and　little　bits　of　paper　in　the　gutters；　under　the　bright　sunlight　a　bleak　and　bitter　struggle　seemed　raging。　　Thyme　said：

〃This　street　gives　me　a　hollow　feeling。〃

Martin　nodded。　　〃　Worse　than　the　real　article。　　There's　half　a　mile　of　this。　　Here　it's　all　grim　fighting。　　Farther　on　they've　given　it　up。〃

And　still　they　went　on　up　the　curving　street；　with　its　few　pinched　shops　and　its　unending　narrow　grimness。

At　the　corner　of　a　by…street　Martin　said：　〃We'll　go　down　here。〃

Thyme　stood　still；　wrinkling　her　nose。　　Martin　eyed　her。

〃Don't　funk！〃

〃I'm　not　funking；　Martin；　only　I　can't　stand　the　smells。〃

〃You'll　have　to　get　used　to　them。〃

〃Yes；　I　know；　butbut　I　forgot　my　eucalyptus。〃

The　young　man　took　out　a　handkerchief　which　had　not　yet　been　unfolded。

〃Here；　take　mine。〃

〃They　do　make　me　feel　soit's　a　shame　to　take　yours；〃　and　she　took　the　handkerchief。

〃That's　all　right；〃　said　Martin。　　〃Come　on！〃

The　houses　of　this　narrow　street；　inside　and　out；　seemed　full　of　women。　　Many　of　them　had　babies　in　their　arms；　they　were　working　or　looking　out　of　windows　or　gossiping　on　doorsteps。　　And　all　stopped　to　stare　as　the　young　couple　passed。　　Thyme　stole　a　look　at　her　companion。　　His　long　stride　had　not　varied；　there　was　the　usual　pale；　observant；　sarcastic　expression　on　his　face。　　Clenching　the　handkerchief　in　readiness；　and　trying　to　imitate　his　callous　air；　she　looked　at　a　group　of　five　women　on　the　nearest　doorstep。

Three　were　seated　and　two　were　standing。　　One　of　these；　a　young　woman　with　a　round；　open　face；　was　clearly　very　soon　to　have　a　child；　the　other；　with　a　short；　dark　face　and　iron…grey；　straggling　hair；　was　smoking　a　clay　pipe。　　Of　the　three　seated；　one；　quite　young；　had　a　face　as　grey　white　as　a　dirty　sheet；　and　a　blackened　eye；　the　second；　with　her　ragged　dress　disarranged；　was　nursing　a　baby；　the　third；　in　the　centre；　on　the　top　step；　with　red　arms　akimbo；　her　face　scored　with　drink；　was　shouting　friendly　obscenities　to　a　neighbour　in　the　window　opposite。　　In　Thyme's　heart　rose　the　passionate　feeling；　'How　disgusting！　how　disgusting！'　and　since　she　did　not　dare　to　give　expression　to　it；　she　bit　her　lips　and　turned　her　head　from　them；　resenting；　with　all　a　young　girl's　horror；　that　her　sex　had　given　her　away。　　The　women　stared　at　her；　and　in　those　faces；　according　to　their　different　temperaments；　could　be　seen　first　the　same　vague；　hard　interest　that　had　been　Thyme's　when　she　first　looked　at　them；　then　the　same　secret　hostility　and　criticism；　as　though　they　too　felt　that　by　this　young　girl's　untouched　modesty；　by　her　gushed　cheeks　and　unsoiled　clothes；　their　sex　had　given　them　away。　　With　contemptuous　movements　of　their　lips　and　bodies；　on　that　doorstep　they　proclaimed　their　emphatic　belief　in　the　virtue　and　reality　of　their　own　existences　and　in　the　vice　and　unreality　of　her　intruding　presence。

〃Give　the　doll　to　Bill；　'e'd　make　'er　work　for　once；　the…〃　　In　a　burst　of　laughter　the　epithet　was　lost。

Martin's　lips　curled。

〃Purple　just　here；〃　he　said。

Thyme's　cheeks　were　crimson。

At　the　end　of　the　little　street　he　stopped　before　a　shop。

〃Come　on；〃　he　said；　〃you'll　see　the　sort　of　place　where　they　buy　their　grub。〃

In　the　doorway　were　standing　a　thin　brown　spaniel；　a　small　fair　woman　with　a　high；　bald　forehead；　from　which　the　hair　was　gleaned　into　curlpapers；　and　a　little　girl　with　some　affection　of　the　skin。

Nodding　coolly；　Martin　motioned　them　aside。　　The　shop　was　ten　feet　square；　its　counters；　running　parallel　to　two　of　the　walls；　were　covered　with　plates　of　cake；　sausages；　old　ham…bones；　peppermint　sweets；　and　household　soap；　there　was　also　bread；　margarine；　suet　in　bowls；　sugar；　bloatersmany　bloatersCaptain's　biscuits；　and　other　things　besides。　　Two　or　three　dead　rabbits　hung　against　the　wall。　All　was　uncovered；　so　that　what　flies　there　were　sat　feeding　socialistically。　　Behind　the　counter　a　girl　of　seventeen　was　serving　a　thin…faced　woman　with　portions　of　a　cheese　which　she　was　holding　down　with　her　strong；　dirty　hand；　while　she　sawed　it　with　a　knife。　On　the　counter；　next　the　cheese；　sat　a　quiet…looking　cat。

They　all　glanced　round　at　the　two　young　people；　who　stood　and　waited。

〃Finish　what　you're　at；〃　said　Martin；　〃then　give　me　three　pennyworth　of　bull's…eyes。〃

The　girl；　with　a　violent　effort；　finished　severing　the　cheese。　　The　thin…faced　woman　took　it；　and；　coughing　above　it；　went　away。　　The　girl；　who　could　not　take　her　eyes　off　Thyme；　now　served　them　with　three　pennyworth　of　bull's…eyes；　which　she　took　out　with　her　fingers；　for　they　had　stuck。　　Putting　them　in　a　screw　of　newspaper；　she　handed　them　to　Martin。　　The　young　man；　who　had　been　observing　negligently；　touched　Thyme's　elbow。　　She；　who　had　stood　with　eyes　cast　down；　now　turned。　　They　went　out；　Martin　handing　the　bull's…eyes　to　the　little　girl　with　an　affection　of　the　skin。

The　street　now　ended　in　a　wide　road　formed　of　little　low　houses。

〃Black；〃　said　Martin；　〃here；　all　down　this　road…casual　labour；　criminals；　loafers；　drunkards；　consumps。　　Look　at　the　faces！〃

Thyme　raised　her　eyes　obediently。　　In　this　main　thoroughfare　it　was　not　as　in　the　by…street；　and　only　dull　or　sullen　glances；　or　none　at　all；　were　bent　on　her。　　Some　of　the　houses　had　ragged　plants　on　the　window…sills；　in　one　window　a　canary　was　singing。　　Then；　at　a　bend；　they　came　into　a　blacker　reach　of　human　river。　　Here　were　outbuildings；　houses　with　broken　windows；　houses　with　windows　boarded　up；　fried…fish　shops；　low　public…houses；　houses　without　doors。　　There　were　more　men　here　than　women；　and　those　men　were　wheeling　barrows　full　of　rags　and　bottles；　or　not　even　full　of　rags　and　bottles；　or　they　were　standing　by　the　public…houses　gossiping　or　quarrelling　in　groups　of　three　or　four；　or　very　slowly　walking　in　the　gutters；　or　on　the　pavements；　as　though　trying　to　remember　if　they　were　alive。　　Then　suddenly　some　young　man　with　gaunt　violence　in　his　face　would　pass；　pushing　his　barrow　desperately；　striding　fiercely　by。　　And　every　now　and　then；　from　a　fried…fish　or　hardware　shop；　would　come　out　a　man　in　a　dirty　apron　to　take　the　sun　and　contemplate　the　scene；　not　finding　in　it；　seemingly；　anything　that　in　any　way　depressed　his　spirit。　Amongst　the　constant；　crawling；　shifting　stream　of　passengers　were　seen　women　carrying　food　wrapped　up　in　newspaper；　or　with　bundles　beneath　their　shawls。　　The　faces　of　these　women　were　generally　either　very　red　and　coarse　or　of　a　sort　of　bluish…white；　they　wore　the　expression　of　such　as　know　themselves　to　be　existing　in　the　way　that　Providence　has　arranged　they　should　exist。　　No　surprise；　revolt；　dismay；　or　shame　was　ever　to　be　seen　on　those　faces；　in　place　of　these　emotions　a　drab　and　brutish　acquiescence　or　mechanical　coarse　jocularity。　　To　pass　like　this　about　their　business　was　their　occupation　each　morning　of　the　year；　it　was　needful　to　accept　it。　Not　having　any　hope　of　ever；　being　different；　not　being　able　to　imagine　any　other　life；　they　were　not　so　wasteful　of　their　strength　as　to　attempt　either　to　hope　or　to　imagine。　　Here　and　there；　too；　very　slowly　passed　old　men　and　women；　crawling　along；　like　winter　bees　who；　in　some　strange　and　evil　moment；　had　forgotten　to　die　in　the　sunlight　of　their　toil；　and；　too