fraternity-第18章

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o　old　to　be　of　use；　had　been　chivied　forth　from　their　hive　to　perish　slowly　in　the　cold　twilight　of　their　days。

Down　the　centre　of　the　street　Thyme　saw　a　brewer's　dray　creeping　its　way　due　south　under　the　sun。　　Three　horses　drew　it；　with　braided　tails　and　beribboned　manes；　the　brass　glittering　on　their　harness。　High　up；　like　a　god；　sat　the　drayman；　his　little　slits　of　eyes　above　huge　red　cheeks　fixed　immovably　on　his　horses'　crests。　　Behind　him；　with　slow；　unceasing　crunch；　the　dray　rolled；　piled　up　with　hogsheads；　whereon　the　drayman's　mate　lay　sleeping。　　Like　the　slumbrous　image　of　some　mighty　unrelenting　Power；　it　passed；　proud　that　its　monstrous　bulk　contained　all　the　joy　and　blessing　those　shadows　on　the　pavement　had　ever　known。

The　two　young　people　emerged　on　to　the　high　road　running　east　and　west。

〃Cross　here；〃　said　Martin；　〃and　cut　down　into　Kensington。　　Nothing　more　of　interest　now　till　we　get　to　Hound　Street。　　Purceys　and　Purceys　all　round　about　this　part。〃

Thyme　shook　herself。

〃O　Martin；　let's　go　down　a　road　where　there's　some　air。　　I　feel　so　dirty。〃　　She　put　her　hand　up　to　her　chest。

〃There's　one　here；〃　said　Martin。

They　turned　to　the　left　into　a　road　that　had　many　trees。　　Now　that　she　could　breathe　and　look　about　her；　Thyme　once　more　held　her　head　erect　and　began　to　swing　her　arms。

〃Martin；　something　must　be　done！〃

The　young　doctor　did　not　reply；　his　face　still　wore　its　pale；　sarcastic；　observant　look。　　He　gave　her　arm　a　squeeze　with　a　half…　contemptuous　smile。




CHAPTER　XV

SECOND　PILGRIMAGE　TO　HOUND　STREET

Arriving　in　Hound　Street；　Martin　Stone　and　his　companion　went　straight　up　to　Mrs。　Hughs'　front　room。　　They　found　her　doing　the　week's　washing；　and　hanging　out　before　a　scanty　fire　part　of　the　little　that　the　week　had　been　suffered　to　soil。　　Her　arms　were　bare；　her　face　and　eyes　red；　the　steam　of　soapsuds　had　congealed　on　them。

Attached　to　the　bolster　by　a　towel；　under　his　father's　bayonet　and　the　oleograph　depicting　the　Nativity；　sat　the　baby。　　In　the　air　there　was　the　scent　of　him；　of　walls；　and　washing；　and　red　herrings。　　The　two　young　people　took　their　seat　on　the　window…sill。

〃May　we　open　the　window；　Mrs。　Hughs？〃　　said　Thyme。　　〃Or　will　it　hurt　the　baby？〃

〃No；　miss。〃

〃What's　the　matter　with　your　wrists？〃　　asked　Martin。

The　seamstress；　muffing　her　arms　with　the　garment　she　was　dipping　in　soapy　water；　did　not　answer。

〃Don't　do　that。　　Let　me　have　a　look。〃

Mrs。　Hughs　held　out　her　arms；　the　wrists　were　swollen　and　discoloured。

〃The　brute！〃　cried　Thyme。

The　young　doctor　muttered：　〃Done　last　night。　　Got　any　arnica？〃

〃No；　Sir。〃

〃Of　course　not。〃　　He　laid　a　sixpence　on　the　sill。　　〃Get　some　and　rub　it　in。　　Mind　you　don't　break　the　skin。〃

Thyme　suddenly　burst　out：　〃Why　don't　you　leave　him；　Mrs。　Hughs？　　Why　do　you　live　with　a　brute　like　that？〃

Martin　frowned。

〃Any　particular　row；〃　he　said；　〃or　only　just　the　ordinary？〃

Mrs。　Hughs　turned　her　face　to　the　scanty　fire。　　Her　shoulders　heaved　spasmodically。

Thus　passed　three　minutes；　then　she　again　began　rubbing　the　soapy　garment。

〃If　you　don't　mind；　I'll　smoke；〃　said　Martin。　　〃What's　your　baby's　name？　　Bill？　　Here；　Bill！〃　He　placed　his　little　finger　in　the　baby's　hand。　　〃Feeding　him　yourself？〃

〃Yes；　sir。〃

〃What's　his　number？〃

〃I've　lost　three；　sir；　there's　only　his　brother　Stanley　now。〃

〃One　a　year？〃

〃No；　Sir。　　I　missed　two　years　in　the　war；　of　course。〃

〃Hughs　wounded　out　there？〃

〃Yes；　sirin　the　head。〃

〃Ah！　　And　fever？〃

〃Yes；　Sir。〃

Martin　tapped　his　pipe　against　his　forehead。　　〃Least　drop　of　liquor　goes　to　it；　I　suppose？〃

Mrs。　Hughs　paused　in　the　dipping　of　a　cloth；　her　tear…stained　face　expressed　resentment；　as　though　she　had　detected　an　attempt　to　find　excuses　for　her　husband。

〃He　didn't　ought　to　treat　me　as　he　does；〃　she　said。

All　three　now　stood　round　the　bed；　over　which　the　baby　presided　with　solemn　gaze。

Thyme　said：　〃I　wouldn't　care　what　he　did；　Mrs。　Hughs；　I　wouldn't　stay　another　day　if　I　were　you。　　It's　your　duty　as　a　woman。〃

To　hear　her　duty　as　a　woman　Mrs。　Hughs　turned；　slow　vindictiveness　gathered　on　her　thin　face。

〃Yes；　miss？〃　　she　said。　　〃I　don't　know　what　to　do。

〃Take　the　children　and　go。　　What's　the　good　of　waiting？　　We'll　give　you　money　if　you　haven't　got　enough。〃

But　Mrs。　Hughs　did　not　answer。

〃Well？〃　　said　Martin；　blowing　out　a　cloud　of　smoke。

Thyme　burst　out　again：　〃Just　go；　the　very　minute　your　little　boy　comes　back　from　school。　　Hughs　'll　never　find　you。　　It　'll　serve　him　right。　　No　woman　ought　to　put　up　with　what　you　have；　it's　simply　weakness；　Mrs。　Hughs。〃

As　though　that　word　had　forced　its　way　into　her　very　heart　and　set　the　blood　free　suddenly；　Mrs。　Hughs'　face　turned　the　colour　of　tomatoes。　　She　poured　forth　words：

〃And　leave　him　to　that　young　girland　leave　him　to　his　wickedness！　After　I've　been　his　wife　eight　years　and　borne　him　five！　after　I've　done　what　I　have　for　him！　　I　never　want　no　better　husband　than　what　he　used　to　be；　till　she　came　with　her　pale　face　and　her　prinky　manners；　andand　her　mouth　that　you　can　tell　she's　bad　by。　　Let　her　keep　to　her　professionsitting　naked's　what　she's　fit　forcoming　here　to　decent　folk…〃　　And　holding　out　her　wrists　to　Thyme；　who　had　shrunk　back；　she　cried：　〃He's　never　struck　me　before。　　I　got　these　all　because　of　her　new　clothes！〃

Hearing　his　mother　speak　with　such　strange　passion；　the　baby　howled。　Mrs。　Hughs　stopped；　and　took　him　up。　　Pressing　him　close　to　her　thin　bosom；　she　looked　above　his　little　dingy　head　at　the　two　young　people。

〃I　got　my　wrists　like　this　last　night；　wrestling　with　him。　　He　swore　he'd　go　and　leave　me；　but　I　held　him；　I　did。　　And　don't　you　ever　think　that　I'll　let　him　go　to　that　young　girlnot　if　he　kills　me　first！〃

With　those　words　the　passion　in　her　face　died　down。　　She　was　again　a　meek；　mute　woman。

During　this　outbreak；　Thyme；　shrinking；　stood　by　the　doorway　with　lowered　eyes。　　She　now　looked　up　at　Martin；　clearly　asking　him　to　come　away。　　The　latter　had　kept　his　gaze　fixed　on　Mrs。　Hughs；　smoking　silently。　　He　took　his　pipe　out　of　his　mouth；　and　pointed　with　it　at　the　baby。

〃This　gentleman；〃　he　said；　〃can't　stand　too　much　of　that。〃

In　silence　all　three　bent　their　eyes　on　the　baby。　　His　little　fists；　and　nose；　and　forehead；　even　his　little　naked；　crinkled　feet；　were　thrust　with　all　his　feeble　strength　against　his　mother's　bosom；　as　though　he　were　striving　to　creep　into　some　hole　away　from　life。　There　was　a　sort　of　dumb　despair　in　that　tiny　pushing　of　his　way　back　to　the　place　whence　he　had　come。　　His　head；　covered　with　dingy　down；　quivered　with　his　effort　to　escape。　　He　had　been　alive　so　little；　that　little　had　sufficed。　　Martin　put　his　pipe　back　into　his　mouth。

〃This　won't　do；　you　know；〃　he　said。　　〃He　can't　stand　it。　　And　look　here！　　If　you　stop　feeding　him；　I　wouldn't　give　that　for　him　tomorrow！〃　　He　held　up　the　circle　of　his　thumb　and　finger。　　〃You're　the　best　judge　of　what　sort　of　chance　you've　got　of　going　on　in　your　present　state　of　mind！〃　　Then；　motioning　to　Thyme；　he　went　down　the　stairs。




CHAPTER　XVI

BENEATH　THE　ELMS

Spring　was　in　the　hearts　of　men；　and　their　tall　companions；　trees。　Their　troubles；　the　stiflings　of　each　other's　growth；　and　all　such　things；　seemed　of　little　moment。　　Spring　had　them　by　the　throat。　　It　turned　old　men　round；　and　made　them　stare　at　women　younger　than　themselves。　　It　made　young　men　and　women　walking　side　by　side　touch　each　other；　and　every　bird　on　the　branches　tune　his　pipe。　　Flying　sunlight　speckled　the　fluttered　leaves；　and　gushed　the　cheeks　of　crippled　boys　who　limped　into　the　Gardens；　till　their　pale　Cockney　faces　shone　with　a　strange　glow。

In　the　Broad　Walk；　beneath　those　dangerous　trees；　the　elms；　people　sat　and　took　the　suncheek　by　jowl；　generals　and　nursemaids；　parsons　and　the　unemployed。　　Above；　in　that　Spring　wind；　the　elm…tree　boughs　were　swaying；　rustling；　creaking　ever　so　gently；　carrying　on　the　innumerable　talk　of　treestheir　sapient；　wordless　conversation　over　the　affairs　of　men。　　It　was　pleasant；　too；　to　see　and　hear　the　myriad　movement　of　the　million　little　separate　leaves；　each　shaped　differently；　flighting　never　twice　alike；　yet　all　obedient　to　the　single　spirit　of　their　tree。

Thyme　and　Martin　were　sitting　on　a　seat　beneath　the　largest　of　all　the　elms。　　Their　manner　lacked　the　unconcern　and　dignity　of　the　moment；　when；　two　hours　before；　they　had　started　forth　on　their　discovery　from　the　other　end　of　the　Broad　Walk。　　Martin　spoke：

〃It's　given　you　the　hump！　　First　sight　of　blood；　and　you're　like　all　the　rest　of　them！〃

〃I'm　not；　Martin。　　How　perfectly　beastly　of　you！〃

〃Oh　yes；　you　are。　　There's　plenty　of　aestheticism　about　you　and　your　peopleplenty　of　good　intentionsbut　not　an　ounce　of　real　business！〃

〃Don't　abuse　my　people；　they're　just　as　kind　as　you！〃

〃Oh；　they're　kind　enough；　and　they　can　see　what's　wrong。　　It's　not　that　which　stops　them。　　But　your　dad's　a　regular　official。　　He's　got　so　much　sense　of　what　he　ought　not　to　do　that　he　never　does　anything；　Just　as　Hilary's　got　so　much　consciousness　of　what　he　ought　to　do　that　be　never　does　anything。　　You　went　to　that　woman's　this　morning　with　your　ideas　of　helping　her　all　cut　and　dried；　and　now　that　you　find　the　facts　aren't　what　you　thought；　you're　stumped！〃

〃One　can't　believe　anything　they　say。　　That's　what　I　hate。　　I　thought　Hughs　simply　knocked　her　about。　　I　didn't　know　it　was　her　jealousy〃

〃Of　course　you　didn't。　　Do　you　imagine　those　people　give　anything　away　to　our　sort　unless　they're　forced？　　They　know　better。〃

〃Well；　I　hate　the　whole　thingit's　all　so　sordid！〃

〃O　Lord！〃

〃Well；　it　is！　　I　don't　feel　that　I　want　to　help　a　woman　who　can　say　and　feel　such　horrid　things；　or　the　girl；　or　any　of　them。〃

〃Who　cares　what　they　say　or　feel？　that's　not　the　point。　　It's　simply　a　case　of　common　sense：　Your　people　put　that　girl　there；　and　they　must　get　her　to　clear　out　again　sharp。　　It's　just　a　question　of　what's　healthy。〃

〃Well；　I　know　it's　not　healthy　for　me　to　have　anything　to　do　with；　and　I　won't！　　I　don't　believe　you　can　help　people　unless　they　want　to　be　helped。〃

Martin　whistled。

〃You're　rather　a　brute；　I　think；〃　said　Thyme。

〃A　brute；　not　rather　a　brute。　　That's　all　the　difference。〃

〃For　the　worse！〃

〃I　don't　think　so；　Thyme！〃

There　was　no　answer。

〃Look　at　me。〃

Very　slowly　Thyme　turned　her　eyes。

〃Well？〃

〃Are　you　one　of　us；　or　are　you　not？〃

〃Of　course　I　am。〃

〃You're　not！〃

〃I　am。〃

〃Well；　don't　let's　fight　about　it。　　Give　me　your　hand。〃

He　dropped　his　hand　on　hers。　　Her　face　had　flushed　rose　colour。　Suddenly　she　freed　herself。　　〃Here's　Uncle　Hilary！〃

It　was　indeed　Hilary；　with　Miranda；　trotting　in　advance。　　His　hands　were　crossed　behind　him；　his　face　bent　towards　the　ground。　　The　two　young　people　on　the　bench　sat　looking　at　him。

〃Buried　in　self…contemplation；〃　murmured　Martin；　〃that's　the　way　he　always　walks。　　I　shall　tell　him　about　this！〃

The　colour　of　Thyme's　face　deepened　from　rose　to　crimson。

〃No！〃

〃Why　not？〃

〃Wellthose　new…〃　　She　could　not　bring　out　that　word　〃clothes。〃　It　would　have　given　her　thoughts　away。

Hilary　seemed　making　for　their　seat；　but　Miranda；　aware　of　Martin；　stopped。　　〃A　man　of　action！〃　she　appeared　to