fraternity-第23章

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her　eyes　a　look　leaped　such　as　one　may　see　in　dogs'　eyes　lifted　in　adoration　to　their　masters'　faces。　　Manifestly　disconcerted；　Hilary　turned　to　Mr。　Stone。　　The　old　man　was　standing　very　still；　a　thought　had　evidently　struck　him。　　〃I　have　not；　I　think；〃　he　said；　〃given　enough　consideration　to　the　question　whether　force　is　absolutely；　or　only　relatively；　evil。　　If　I　saw　a　man　ill…treat　a　cat；　should　I　be　justified　in　striking　him？〃

Accustomed　to　such　divagations；　Hilary　answered：　〃I　don't　know　whether　you　would　be　justifed；　but　I　believe　that　you　would　strike　him。〃

〃I　am　not　sure；〃　said　Mr。　Stone。　　〃We　are　going　to　feed　the　birds。〃

The　little　model　took　the　paper　bag。　　〃It's　all　dropping　out；〃　she　said。　　From　across　the　road　she　turned　her　head。。。。'Won't　you　come；　too？'　she　seemed　to　say。

But　Hilary　passed　rather　hastily　into　the　garden　and　shut　the　gate　behind　him。　　He　sat　in　his　study；　with　Miranda　near　him；　for　fully　an　hour；　without　doing　anything　whatever；　sunk　in　a　strange；　half…　pleasurable　torpor。　　At　this　hour　he　should　have　been　working　at　his　book；　and　the　fact　that　his　idleness　did　not　trouble　him　might　well　have　given　him　uneasiness。　　Many　thoughts　passed　through　his　mind；　imaginings　of　things　he　had　thought　left　behind　foreversensations　and　longings　which　to　the　normal　eye　of　middle　age　are　but　dried　forms　hung　in　the　museum　of　memory。　　They　started　up　at　the　whip　of　the　still…living　youth；　the　lost　wildness　at　the　heart　of　every　man。　Like　the　reviving　flame　of　half…spent　fires；　longing　for　discovery　leaped　and　flickered　in　Hilaryto　find　out　once　again　what　things　were　like　before　he　went　down　the　hill　of　age。

No　trivial　ghost　was　beckoning　him；　it　was　the　ghost；　with　unseen　face　and　rosy　finger；　which　comes　to　men　when　youth　has　gone。

Miranda；　hearing　him　so　silent；　rose。　　At　this　hour　it　was　her　master's　habit　to　scratch　paper。　　She；　who　seldom　scratched　anything；　because　it　was　not　delicate；　felt　dimly　that　this　was　what　he　should　be　doing。　　She　held　up　a　slim　foot　and　touched　his　knee。　　Receiving　no　discouragement；　she　delicately　sprang　into　his　lap；　and；　forgetting　for　once　her　modesty；　placed　her　arms　on　his　chest；　and　licked　his　face　all　over。

It　was　while　receiving　this　embrace　that　Hilary　saw　Mr。　Stone　and　the　little　model　returning　across　the　garden。　　The　old　man　was　walking　very　rapidly；　holding　out　the　fragment　of　a　broken　stick。　　He　was　extremely　pink。

Hilary　went　to　meet　them。

〃What's　the　matter；　sir？〃　　he　said。

〃I　cut　him　over　the　legs；〃　said　Mr。　Stone。　　〃I　do　not　regret　it〃；　and　he　walked　on　to　his　room。

Hilary　turned　to　the　little　model。

〃It　was　a　little　dog。　　The　man　kicked　it；　and　Mr。　Stone　hit　him。　　He　broke　his　stick。　　There　were　several　men；　they　threatened　us。〃　　She　looked　up　at　Hilary。　　〃I…I　was　frightened。　　Oh！　　Mr。　Dallison；　isn't　he　funny？〃

〃All　heroes　are　funny；〃　murmured　Hilary。

〃He　wanted　to　hit　them　again；　after　his　stick　was　broken。　　Then　a　policeman　came；　and　they　all　ran　away。〃

〃That　was　quite　as　it　should　be；〃　said　Hilary。　　〃And　what　did　you　do？〃

Perceiving　that　she　had　not　as　yet　made　much　effect；　the　little　model　cast　down　her　eyes。

〃I　shouldn't　have　been　frightened　if　you　had　been　there！〃

〃Heavens！〃　muttered　Hilary。　　〃Mr。　Stone　is　far　more　valiant　than　I。〃

〃I　don't　think　he　is；〃　she　replied　stubbornly；　and　again　looked　up　at　him。

〃Well；　good…night！〃　said　Hilary　hastily。　　〃You　must　run　off。。。。〃

That　same　evening；　driving　with　his　wife　back　from　a　long；　dull　dinner；　Hilary　began：

〃I've　something　to　say　to　you。〃

An　ironic　〃Yes？〃　　came　from　the　other　corner　of　the　cab。

〃There　is　some　trouble　with　the　little　model。〃

〃Really！〃

〃This　man　Hughs　has　become　infatuated　with　her。　　He　has　even　said；　I　believe；　that　he　was　coming　to　see　you。〃

〃What　about？〃

〃Me。〃

〃And　what　is　he　going　to　say　about　you？〃

〃I　don't　know；　some　vulgar　gossipnothing　true。〃

There　was　a　silence；　and　in　the　darkness　Hilary　moistened　his　dry　lips。

Bianca　spoke：　〃May　I　ask　how　you　knew　of　this？〃

〃Cecilia　told　me。〃

A　curious　noise；　like　a　little　strangled　laugh；　fell　on　Hilary's　ears。

〃I　am　very　sorry；〃　he　muttered。

Presently　Bianca　said：

〃It　was　good　of　you　to　tell　me；　considering　that　we　go　our　own　ways。　What　made　you？〃

〃I　thought　it　right。〃

〃Andof　course；　the　man　might　have　come　to　me！〃

〃That　you　need　not　have　said。〃

〃One　does　not　always　say　what　one　ought。〃

〃I　have　made　the　child　a　present　of　some　clothes　which　she　badly　needed。　　So　far　as　I　know；　that's　all　I've　done！〃

〃Of　course！〃

This　wonderful　〃of　course〃　acted　on　Hilary　like　a　tonic。　　He　said　dryly：

〃What　do　you　wish　me　to　do？〃

〃I？〃　　No　gust　of　the　east　wind；　making　the　young　leaves　curl　and　shiver；　the　gas　jets　flare　and　die　down　in　their　lamps；　could　so　have　nipped　the　flower　of　amity。　　Through　Hilary's　mind　flashed　Stephen's　almost　imploring　words：　〃Oh；　I　wouldn't　go　to　her！　　Women　are　so　funny！〃

He　looked　round。　　A　blue　gauze　scarf　was　wrapped　over　his　wife's　dark　head。　　There；　in　her　corner；　as　far　away　from　him　as　she　could　get；　she　was　smiling。　　For　a　moment　Hilary　had　the　sensation　of　being　stiffed　by　fold　on　fold　of　that　blue　gauze　scarf；　as　if　he　were　doomed　to　drive　for　ever；　suffocated；　by　the　side　of　this　woman　who　had　killed　his　love　for　her。

〃You　will　do　what　you　like；　of　course；〃　she　said　suddenly。

A　desire　to　laugh　seized　Hilary。　　〃What　do　you　wish　me　to　do？〃　　〃You　will　do　what　you　like；　of　course！〃　　Could　civilised　restraint　and　tolerance　go　further？

〃B。〃　he　said；　with　an　effort；　〃the　wife　is　jealous。　　We　put　the　girl　into　that　housewe　ought　to　get　her　out。〃

Blanca's　reply　came　slowly。

〃From　the　first；〃　she　said；　〃the　girl　has　been　your　property；　do　what　you　like　with　her。　　I　shall　not　meddle。〃

〃I　am　not　in　the　habit　of　regarding　people　as　my　property。〃

〃No　need　to　tell　me　thatI　have　known　you　twenty　years。〃

Doors　sometimes　slam　in　the　minds　of　the　mildest　and　most　restrained　of　men。

〃Oh；　very　well！　　I　have　told　you；　you　can　see　Hughs　when　he　comesor　not；　as　you　like。〃

〃I　have　seen　him。〃

Hilary　smiled。

〃Well；　was　his　story　very　terrible？〃

〃He　told　me　no　story。〃

〃How　was　that？〃

Blanca　suddenly　sat　forward；　and　threw　back　the　blue　scarf；　as　though　she；　too；　were　stifling。　　In　her　flushed　face　her　eyes　were　bright　as　stars；　her　lips　quivered。

〃Is　it　likely；〃　she　said；　〃that　I　should　listen？　　That's　enough；　please；　of　these　people。〃

Hilary　bowed。　　The　cab；　bearing　them　fast　home；　turned　into　the　last　short　cut。　　This　narrow　street　was　full　of　men　and　women　circling　round　barrows　and　lighted　booths。　　The　sound　of　coarse　talk　and　laughter　floated　out　into　air　thick　with　the　reek　of　paraffin　and　the　scent　of　frying　fish。　　In　every　couple　of　those　men　and　women　Hilary　seemed　to　see　the　Hughs；　that　other　married　couple；　going　home　to　wedded　happiness　above　the　little　model's　head。　　The　cab　turned　out　of　the　gay　alley。

〃Enough；　please；　of　these　people！〃

That　same　night；　past　one　o'clock；　he　was　roused　from　sleep　by　hearing　bolts　drawn　back。　　He　got　up；　hastened　to　the　window；　and　looked　out。　　At　first　he　could　distinguish　nothing。　　The　moonless　night；　like　a　dark　bird；　had　nested　in　the　garden；　the　sighing　of　the　lilac　bushes　was　the　only　sound。　　Then；　dimly；　just　below　him；　on　the　steps　of　the　front　door；　he　saw　a　figure　standing。

〃Who　is　that？〃　　he　called。

The　figure　did　not　move。

〃Who　are　you？〃　　said　Hilary　again。

The　figure　raised　its　face；　and　by　the　gleam　of　his　white　beard　Hilary　knew　that　it　was　Mr。　Stone。

〃What　is　it；　sir？〃　　he　said。　　〃Can　I　do　anything？〃

〃No；〃　answered　Mr。　Stone。　　〃I　am　listening　to　the　wind。　　It　has　visited　everyone　to…night。〃　　And　lifting　his　hand；　he　pointed　out　into　the　darkness。




CHAPTER　XXI

A　DAY　OF　REST

Cecilia's　house　in　the　Old　Square　was　steeped　from　roof　to　basement　in　the　peculiar　atmosphere　brought　by　Sunday　to　houses　whose　inmates　have　no　need　of　religion　or　of　rest。

Neither　she　nor　Stephen　had　been　to　church　since　Thyme　was　christened；　they　did　not　expect　to　go　again　till　she　was　married；　and　they　felt　that　even　to　go　on　these　occasions　was　against　their　principles；　but　for　the　sake　of　other　people's　feelings　they　had　made　the　sacrifice；　and　they　meant　to　make　it　once　more；　when　the　time　came。　　Each　Sunday；　therefore；　everything　tried　to　happen　exactly　as　it　happened　on　every　other　day；　with　indifferent　success。　　This　was　because；　for　all　Cecilia's　resolutions；　a　joint　of　beef　and　Yorkshire　pudding　would　appear　on　the　luncheon…table；　notwithstanding　the　fact　that　Mr。　Stonewho　came　when　he　remembered　that　it　was　Sundaydid　not　devour　the　higher　mammals。　　Every　week；　when　it　appeared；　Cecilia；　who　for　some　reason　carved　on　Sundays；　regarded　it　with　a　frown。　　Next　week　she　would　really　discontinue　it；　but　when　next　week　came；　there　it　was；　with　its　complexion　that　reminded　her　so　uncomfortably　of　cabmen。　　And　she　would　partake　of　it　with　unexpected　heartiness。　　Something　very　old　and　deep；　some　horrible　whole…hearted　appetite；　derived；　no　doubt；　from　Mr。　Justice　Carfax；　rose　at　that　hour　precisely　every　week　to　master　her。　　Having　given　Thyme　the　second　helping　which　she　invariably　took；　Cecilia；　who　detested　carving；　would　look　over　the　fearful　joint　at　a　piece　of　glass　procured　by　her　in　Venice；　and　at　the　daffodils　standing　upright　in　it；　apparently　without　support。　　Had　it　not　been　for　this　joint　of　beef；　which　had　made　itself　smelt　all　the　morning；　and　would　make　itself　felt　all　the　afternoon；　it　need　never　have　come　into　her　mind　at　all　that　it　was　Sundayand　she　would　cut　herself　another　slice。

To　have　told　Cecilia　that　there　was　still　a　strain　of　the　Puritan　in　her　would　have　been　to　occasion　her　some　uneasiness；　and　provoked　a　strenuous　denial；　yet　her　way　of　observing　Sunday　furnished　indubitable　evidence　of　this　singular　fact。　　She　did　more　that　day　than　any　other。　　For；　in　the　morning　she　invariably　〃cleared　off〃　her　correspondence；　at　lunch　she　carved　the　beef；　after　lunch　she　cleared　off　the　novel　or　book　on　social　questions　she　was　reading；　went　to　a　concert；　clearing　off　a　call　on　the　way　back；　and　on　first　Sundaysa　great　borestayed　at　home　to　clear　off　the　friends　who　came　to　visit　her。　　In　the　evening　she　went　to　some　play　or　other；　produced　by　Societies　for　the　benefit　of　persons　compelled；　like　her；　to　keep　a　Sunday　with　which　they　felt　no　sympathy。

On　this　particular　〃first　Sunday；〃　having　made　the　circuit　of　her　drawing…room；　which　extended　the　whole　breadth　of　her　house；　and　through　long；　low　windows　cut　into　leaded　panes；　looked　out　both　back　and　front；　she　took　up　Mr。　Balladyce's　latest　book。　　She　sat；　with　her　paper…knife　pressed　against　the　tiny　hollow　in　her　flushed　cheek；　and　pretty　little　bits　of　lace　and　real　old　jewellery　nestling　close　to　her。　　And　while　she　turned　the　pages　of　Mr。　Balladyce's　book　Thyme　sat　opposite　in　a　bright　blue　frock；　and　turned　the　pages　of　Darwin's　work　on　earthworms。

Regarding　her　〃little　daughter；〃　who　was　so　much　more　solid　than　herself；　Cecilia's　face　wore　a　very　sweet；　faintly　surprised　expression。

'My　kitten　is　a　bonny　thing；'　it　seemed　to　say。　　'It　is　queer　that　I　should　have　a　thing　so　large。'

Outside　in　the　Square　Gardens　a　sho