fraternity-第24章

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'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　shower；　the　sunlight；　and　blossoms；　were　entangled。　　It　was　the　time　of　year　when　all　the　world　had　kittens；　young　things　were　everywheresoft；　sweet；　uncouth。　　Cecilia　felt　this　in　her　heart。　　It　brought　depth　into　her　bright；　quick　eyes。　　What　a　secret　satisfaction　it　was　that　she　had　once　so　far　committed　herself　as　to　have　borne　a　child！　　What　a　queer　vague　feeling　she　sometimes　experienced　in　the　Springalmost　amounting　to　a　desire　to　bear　another！　　So　one　may　mark　the　warm　eye　of　a　staid　mare；　following　with　her　gaze　the　first　strayings　of　her　foal。　　'I　must　get　used　to　it；'　she　seems　to　say。　　'I　certainly　do　miss　the　little　creature；　though　I　used　to　threaten　her　with　my　hoofs；　to　show　I　couldn't　be　bullied　by　anything　of　that　age。　　And　there　she　goes！　Ah；　well！'

Remembering　suddenly；　however；　that　she　was　sitting　there　to　clear　off　Mr。　Balladyce；　because　it　was　so　necessary　to　keep　up　with　what　he　wrote；　Cecilia　dropped　her　gaze　to　the　page　before　her；　and　instantly；　by　uncomfortable　chance；　not　the　choice　pastures　of　Mr。　Balladyce　appeared；　where　women　might　browse　at　leisure；　but　a　vision　of　the　little　model。　　She　had　not　thought　of　her　for　quite　an　hour；　she　had　tired　herself　out　with　thinking…not；　indeed；　of　her；　but　of　all　that　hinged　on　her；　ever　since　Stephen　had　spoken　of　his　talk　with　Hilary。　　Things　Hilary　had　said　seemed　to　Cecilia's　delicate。　and　rather　timid　soul　so　ominous；　so　unlike　himself。　　Was　there　really　going　to　be　complete　disruption　between　him　and　Biancaworse；　an　ugly　scandal？　　She；　who　knew　her　sister　better；　perhaps；　than　anyone；　remembered　from　schoolroom　days　Bianca's　moody　violence　when　anything　had　occurred　to　wound　herremembered；　too；　the　long　fits　of　brooding　that　followed。　　This　affair；　which　she　had　tried　to　persuade　herself　was　exaggerated；　loomed　up　larger　than　ever。　　It　was　not　an　isolated　squib；　it　was　a　lighted　match　held　to　a　train　of　gunpowder。　This　girl　of　the　people；　coming　from　who　knew　where；　destined　for　who　knew　whatthis　young；　not　very　beautiful；　not　even　clever　child；　with　nothing　but　a　sort　of　queer　haunting　naivete'　to　give　her　charm　might　even　be　a　finger　used　by　Fate！　　Cecilia　sat　very　still　before　that　sudden　vision　of　the　girl。　　There　was　no　staid　mare　to　guard　that　foal　with　the　dark　devotion　of　her　eye。　　There　was　no　wise　whinnying　to　answer　back　those　tiny　whinnies；　no　long　look　round　to　watch　the　little　creature　nodding　to　sleep　on　its　thin　trembling　legs　in　the　hot　sunlight；　no　ears　to　prick　up　and　hoofs　to　stamp　at　the　approach　of　other　living　things。　　These　thoughts　passed　through　Cecilia's　mind　and　were　gone；　being　too　far　and　pale　to　stay。　Turning　the　page　which　she　had　not　been　reading；　she　heaved　a　sigh。　Thyme　sighed　also。

〃These　worms　are　fearfully　interesting；〃　she　said。　　〃Is　anybody　coming　in　this　afternoon？〃

〃Mrs。　Tallents　Smallpeace　was　going　to　bring　a　young　man　in；　a　Signor　Pozzi…Egregio　Pozzi；　or　some　such　name。　　She　says　he　is　the　coming　pianist。〃　　Cecilia's　face　was　spiced　with　faint　amusement。　　Some　strain　of　her　breeding　（the　Carfax　strain；　no　doubt）　still　heard　such　names　and　greeted　such　proclivities　with　an　inclination　to　derision。

Thyme　snatched　up　her　book。　　〃Well；〃　she　said；　〃I　shall　be　in　the　attic。　　If　anyone　interesting　comes　you　might　send　up　to　me。〃

She　stood；　luxuriously　stretching；　and　turning　slowly　round　in　a　streak　of　sunlight　so　as　to　bathe　her　body　in　it。　　Then；　with　a　long　soft　yawn；　she　flung　up　her　chin　till　the　sun　streamed　on　her　face。　Her　eyelashes　rested　on　cheeks　already　faintly　browned；　her　lips　were　parted；　little　shivers　of　delight　ran　down　her；　her　chestnut　hair　glowed；　burnished　by　the　kisses　of　the　sun。

'Ah！'　Cecilia　thought；　'if　that　other　girl　were　like　this；　now；　I　could　understand　well　enough！'

〃Oh；　Lord！〃　said　Thyme；　〃there　they　are！〃　She　flew　towards　the　door。

〃My　dear；〃　murmured　Cecilia；　〃if　you　must　go；　do　please　tell　Father。〃

A　minute　later　Mrs。　Tallents　Smallpeace　came　in；　followed　by　a　young　man　with　an　interesting；　pale　face　and　a　crop　of　dusky　hair。

Let　us　consider　for　a　minute　the　not　infrequent　case　of　a　youth　cursed　with　an　Italian　mother　and　a　father　of　the　name　of　Potts；　who　had　baptised　him　William。　　Had　he　emanated　from　the　lower　classes；　he　might　with　impunity　have　ground　an　organ　under　the　name　of　Bill；　but　springing　from　the　bourgeoisie；　and　playing　Chopin　at　the　age　of　four；　his　friends　had　been　confronted　with　a　problem　of　no　mean　difficulty。　　Heaven；　on　the　threshold　of　his　career；　had　intervened　to　solve　it。　　Hovering；　as　it　were；　with　one　leg　raised　before　the　gladiatorial　arena　of　musical　London；　where　all　were　waiting　to　turn　their　thumbs　down　on　the　figure　of　the　native　Potts；　he　had　received　a　letter　from　his　mother's　birthplace。　　It　was　inscribed：　〃Egregio　Signor　Pozzi。〃　　He　was　saved。　　By　the　simple　inversion　of　the　first　two　words；　the　substitution　of　z's　for　t's；　without　so　fortunately　making　any　difference　in　the　sound；　and　the　retention　of　that　i；　all　London　knew　him　now　to　be　the　rising　pianist。

He　was　a　quiet；　well…mannered　youth；　invaluable　just　then　to　Mrs。　Tallents　Smallpeace；　a　woman　never　happy　unless　slightly　leading　a　genius　in　strings。

Cecilia；　while　engaging　them　to　right　and　left　in　her　half…　sympathetic；　faintly　mocking　wayas　if　doubting　whether　they　really　wanted　to　see　her　or　she　themheard　a　word　of　fear。

〃Mr。　Purcey。〃

'Oh　Heaven！'　she　thought。

Mr。　Purcey；　whose　A。i。　Damyer　could　be　heard　outside；　advanced　in　his　direct　and　simple　way。

〃I　thought　I'd　give　my　car　a　run；〃　he　said。　　〃How's　your　sister？〃　And　seeing　Mrs。　Tallents　Smallpeace；　he　added：　〃How　do　you　do？　　We　met　the　other　day。〃

〃We　did；〃　said　Mrs。　Tallents　Smallpeace；　whose　little　eyes　were　sparkling。　　〃We　talked　about　the　poor；　do　you　remember？〃

Mr。　Purcey；　a　sensitive　man　if　you　could　get　through　his　skin；　gave　her　a　shrewd　look。　　'I　don't　quite　cotton　to　this　woman；'　he　seemed　saying；　'there's　a　laugh　about　her　I　don't　like。'

〃Ah！　　yesyou　were　tellin'　me　about　them。〃

〃Oh；　Mr。　Purcey；　but　you　had　heard　of　them；　you　remember！〃

Mr。　Purcey　made　a　movement　of　his　face　which　caused　it　to　seem　all　jaw。　　It　was　a　sort　of　unconscious　declaration　of　a　somewhat　formidable　character。　　So　one　may　see　bulldogs；　those　amiable　animals；　suddenly　disclose　their　tenacity。

〃It's　rather　a　blue　subject；〃　he　said　bluntly。

Something　in　Cecilia　fluttered　at　those　words。　　It　was　like　the　saying　of　a　healthy　man　looking　at　a　box　of　pills　which　he　did　not　mean　to　open。　　Why　could　not　she　and　Stephen　keep　that　lid　on；　too？　And　at　this　moment；　to　her　deep　astonishment；　Stephen　entered。　　She　had　sent　for　him；　it　is　true；　but　had　never　expected　he　would　come。

His　entrance；　indeed；　requires　explanation。

Feeling；　as　he　said；　a　little　〃off　colour；〃　Stephen　had　not　gone　to　Richmond　to　play　golf。　　He　had　spent　the　day　instead　in　the　company　of　his　pipe　and　those　ancient　coins；　of　which　he　had　the　best　collection　of　any　man　he　had　ever　met。　　His　thoughts　had　wandered　from　them；　more　than　he　thought　proper；　to　Hilary　and　that　girl。　　He　had　felt　from　the　beginning　that　he　was　so　much　more　the　man　to　deal　with　an　affair　like　this　than　poor　old　Hilary。　　When；　therefore；　Thyme　put　her　head　into　his　study　and　said；　〃Father；　Mrs。　Tallents　Smallpeace！〃　he　had　first　thought；　'That　busybody！'　and　then；　'I　wonderperhaps　I'd　better　go　and　see　if　I　can　get　anything　out　of　her。'

In　considering　Stephen's　attitude　towards　a　woman　so　firmly　embedded　in　the　various　social　movements　of　the　day；　it　must　be　remembered　that　he　represented　that　large　class　of　men　who；　unhappily　too　cultivated　to　put　aside；　like　Mr。　Purcey；　all　blue　subjects；　or　deny　the　need　for　movements　to　make　them　less　blue；　still　could　not　move；　for　fear　of　being　out　of　order。　　He　was　also　temperamentally　distrustful　of　anything　too　feminine；　and　Mrs。　Tallents　Smallpeace　was　undoubtedly　extremely　feminine。　　Her　merit；　in　his　eyes；　consisted　of　her　attachment　to　Societies。　　So　long　as　mankind　worked　through　Societies；　Stephen；　who　knew　the　power　of　rules　and　minute　books；　did　not　despair　of　too　little　progress　being　made。　　He　sat　down　beside　her；　and　turned　the　conversation　on　her　chief　work〃the　Maids　in　Peril。〃

Searching　his　face　with　those　eyes　so　like　little　black　bees　sipping　honey　from　all　the　flowers　that　grew；　Mrs。　Tallents　Smallpeace　said：

〃Why　don't　you　get　your　wife　to　take　an　interest　in　our　work？〃

To　Stephen　this　question　was　naturally　both　unexpected　and　annoying；　one's　wife　being　the　last　person　he　wished　to　interest　in　other　people's　movements。　　He　kept　his　head。

〃Ah　well！〃　he　said；　〃we　haven't　all　got　a　talent　for　that　sort　of　thing。〃

The　voice　of　Mr。　Purcey　travelled　suddenly　across　the　room。

〃Do　tell　me！　　How　do　you　go　to　work　to　worm　things　out　of　them？〃

Mrs。　Tallents　Smallpeace；　prone　to　laughter；　bubbled。

〃Oh；　that　is　such　a　delicious　expression；　Mr。　Purcey！　　I　almost　think　we　ought　to　use　it　in　our　Report。　　Thank　you！〃

Mr。　Purcey　bowed。　　〃Not　at　all！〃　he　said。

Mrs。　Tallents　Smallpeace　turned　again　to　Stephen。

〃We　have　our　trained　inquirers。　　That　is　the　advantage　of　Societies　such　as　ours；　so　that　we　don't　personally　have　the　unpleasantness。　Some　cases　do　baffle　everybody。　　It's　such　very　delicate　work。〃

〃You　sometimes　find　you　let　in　a　rotter？〃　　said　Mr。　Purcey；　〃or；　I　should　say；　a　rotter　lets　you　in！　　Ha；　ha！〃

Mrs。　Tallents　Smallpeace's　eyes　flew　deliciously　down　his　figure。

〃Not　often；〃　she　said；　and　turning　rather　markedly　once　more　to　Stephen：　　〃Have　you　any　special　case　that　you　are　interested　in；　Mr。　Dallison？〃

Stephen　consulted　Cecilia　with　one　of　those　masculine　half…glances　so　discreet　that　Mrs。　Tallents　Smallpeace　intercepted　it　without　looking　up。　　She　found　it　rather　harder　to　catch　Cecilia's　reply；　but　she　caught　it　before　Stephen　did。　　It　was；　'You'd　better　wait；　perhaps；'　conveyed　by　a　tiny　raising　of　the　left　eyebrow　and　a　slight　movement　to　the　right　of　the　lower　lip。　　Putting　two　and　two　together；　she　felt　within　her　bones　that　they　were　thinking　of　the　little　model。　And　she　remembered　the　interesting　moment　in　the　omnibus　when　that　attractive…looking　man　had　got　out　so　hastily。

There　was　no　danger　whatever　from　Mrs。　Tallents　Smallpeace　feeling　anything。　　The　circle　in　which　she　moved　did　not　now　talk　scandal；　or；　indeed；　allude　to　matters　of　that　sort　without　deep　　sympathy；　and　in　the　second　place　she　was　really　far　too　good　a　fellow；　with　far　too　dear　a　love　of　life；　to　interfere　with　anybody　else's　love　of　it。　　At　the　same　time　it　was　interesting。

〃That　little　model；　now；〃　she　said；　〃what　about　her？〃

〃Is　that　the　girl　I　saw？〃　　broke　in　Mr。　Purcey；　with　his　accustomed　shrewdness。

Stephen　gave　him　the　look　with　which　he　was　accustomed　to　curdle　the　blood　of　persons　who　gave　evidence　before　Commissions。

'This　fellow　is　impossible；'　he　thought。

The　little　black　bees　flying　below　Mrs。　Tallents　Smallpeace's　dark　hair；　done　in　the　Early　Italian　fashion；　tranquilly　sucked　honey　from　Stephen's　face。

〃She　seemed　to　me；〃　she　answered；　〃such　a　very　likely　type。〃

〃Ah！〃　murmured　Stephen；　〃there　woul