fraternity-第26章

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With　a　feeling　that　was　almost　misery；　therefore；　he　waited　for　her　on　Monday　afternoon；　walking　to　and　fro　in　his　study；　where　all　the　walls　were　white；　and　all　the　woodwork　coloured　like　the　leaf　of　a　cigar；　where　the　books　were　that　colour　too；　in　Hilary's　special　deerskin　binding；　where　there　were　no　flowers　nor　any　sunlight　coming　through　the　windows；　but　plenty　of　sheets　of　papera　room　which　youth　seemed　to　have　left　for　ever；　the　room　of　middle　age！

He　called　her　in　with　the　intention　of　at　once　saying　what　he　had　to　say；　and　getting　it　over　in　the　fewest　words。　　But　he　had　not　reckoned　fully　either　with　his　own　nature　or　with　woman's　instinct。　Nor　had　he　allowedbeing；　for　all　his　learning；　perhaps　because　of　it；　singularly　unable　to　gauge　the　effects　of　simple　actionsfor　the　proprietary　relations　he　had　established　in　the　girl's　mind　by　giving　her　those　clothes。

As　a　dog　whose　master　has　it　in　his　mind　to　go　away　from　him；　stands　gazing　up　with　tragic　inquiry　in　his　eyes；　scenting　to　his　soul　that　coming　crueltyas　a　dog　thus　soon　to　be　bereaved；　so　stood　the　little　model。

By　the　pose　of　every　limb；　and　a　fixed　gaze　bright　as　if　tears　were　behind　it；　and　by　a　sort　of　trembling；　she　seemed　to　say：　'I　know　why　you　have　sent　for　me。'

When　Hilary　saw　her　stand　like　that　he　felt　as　a　man　might　when　told　to　flog　his　fellow…creature。　　To　gain　time　he　asked　her　what　she　did　with　herself　all　day。　　The　little　model　evidently　tried　to　tell　herself　that　her　foreboding　had　been　needless。

Now　that　the　mornings　were　niceshe　said　with　some　animationshe　got　up　much　earlier；　and　did　her　needlework　first　thing；　she　then　〃did　out〃　the　room。　　There　were　mouse…holes　in　her　room；　and　she　had　bought　a　trap。　　She　had　caught　a　mouse　last　night。　　She　hadn't　liked　to　kill　it；　she　had　put　it　in　a　tin　box；　and　let　it　go　when　she　went　out。　　Quick　to　see　that　Hilary　was　interested　in　this；　as　well　he　might　be；　she　told　him　that　she　could　not　bear　to　see　cats　hungry　or　lost　dogs；　especially　lost　dogs；　and　she　described　to　him　one　that　she　had　seen。　　She　had　not　liked　to　tell　a　policeman；　they　stared　so　hard。　　Those　words　were　of　strange　omen；　and　Hilary　turned　his　head　away。　　The　little　model；　perceiving　that　she　had　made　an　effect　of　some　sort；　tried　to　deepen　it。　　She　had　heard　they　did　all　sorts　of　things　to　peoplebut；　seeing　at　once　from　Hilary's　face　that　she　was　not　improving　her　effect；　she　broke　off　suddenly；　and　hastily　began　to　tell　him　of　her　breakfast；　of　how　comfortable　she　was　now　she　had　got　her　clothes；　how　she　liked　her　room；　how　old　Mr。　Creed　was　very　funny；　never　taking　any　notice　of　her　when　he　met　her　in　the　morning。　Then　followed　a　minute　account　of　where　she　had　been　trying　to　get　work；　of　an　engagement　promised；　Mr。　Lennard；　too；　still　wanted　her　to　pose　to　him。　　At　this　she　gashed　a　look　at　Hilary；　then　cast　down　her　eyes。　　She　could　get　plenty　of　work　if　she　began　that　way。　　But　she　hadn't；　because　he　had　told　her　not；　and；　of　course；　she　didn't　want　to；　she　liked　coming　to　Mr。　Stone　so　much。　　And　she　got　on　very　well；　and　she　liked　London；　and　she　liked　the　shops。　　She　mentioned　neither　Hughs　nor　Mrs。　Hughs。　　In　all　this　rigmarole；　told　with　such　obvious　purpose；　stolidity　was　strangely　mingled　with　almost　cunning　quickness　to　see　the　effect　made；　but　the　dog…like　devotion　was　never　quite　out　of　her　eyes　when　they　were　fixed　on　Hilary。

This　look　got　through　the　weakest　places　in　what　little　armour　Nature　had　bestowed　on　him。　　It　touched　one　of　the　least　conceited　and　most　amiable　of　men　profoundly。　　He　felt　it　an　honour　that　anything　so　young　as　this　should　regard　him　in　that　way。　　He　had　always　tried　to　keep　out　of　his　mind　that　which　might　have　given　him　the　key　to　her　special　feeling　for　himselfthose　words　of　the　painter　of　still　life：　〃She's　got　a　story　of　some　sort。〃　　But　it　flashed　across　him　suddenly　like　an　inspiration：　If　her　story　were　the　simplest　of　all　storiesthe　direct；　rather　brutal；　love　affair　of　a　village　boy　and　girlwould　not　she；　naturally　given　to　surrender；　be　forced　this　time　to　the　very　antithesis　of　that　young　animal　amour　which　had　brought　on　her　such；　sharp　consequences？

But；　wherever　her　devotion　came　from；　it　seemed　to　Hilary　the　grossest　violation　of　the　feelings　of　a　gentleman　to　treat　it　ungratefully。　　Yet　it　was　as　if　for　the　purpose　of　saying；　〃You　are　a　nuisance　to　me；　or　worse！〃　that　he　had　asked　her　to　his　study。　　Her　presence　had　hitherto　chiefly　roused　in　him　the　half…amused；　half…　tender　feelings　of　one　who　strokes　a　foal　or　calf；　watching　its　soft　uncouthness；　now；　about　to　say　good…bye　to　her；　there　was　the　question　of　whether　that　was　the　only　feeling。

Miranda；　stealing　out　between　her　master　and　his　visitor；　growled。

The　little　model；　who　was　stroking　a　china　ash…tray　with　her　ungloved；　inky　fingers；　muttered；　with　a　smile；　half　pathetic；　half　cynical：　〃She　doesn't　like　me！　　She　knows　I　don't　belong　here。　　She　hates　me　to　come。　　She's　jealous！〃

Hilary　said　abruptly：

〃Tell　me！　　Have　you　made　any　friends　since　you've　been　in　London？〃

The　girl　flashed　a　look　at　him　that　said：

'Could　I　make　you　jealous？'

Then；　as　though　guilty　of　afar　too　daring　thought；　drooped　her　head；　and　answered：

〃No。〃

〃Not　one？〃

The　little　model　repeated　almost　passionately：　〃No。　　I　don't　want　any　friends；　I　only　want　to　be　let　alone。〃

Hilary　began　speaking　rapidly。

〃But　these　Hughs　have　not　left　you　alone。　　I　told　you；　I　thought　you　ought　to　move；　I've　taken　another　room　for　you　quite　away　from　them。　Leave　your　furniture　with　a　week's　rent；　and　take　your　trunk　quietly　away　to…morrow　in　a　cab　without　saying　a　word　to　anyone。　　This　is　the　new　address；　and　here's　the　money　for　your　expenses。　　They're　dangerous　for　you；　those　people。〃

The　little　model　muttered　desperately：　〃But　I　don't　care　what　they　do！〃

Hilary　went　on：　〃Listen！　　You　mustn't　come　here　again；　or　the　man　will　trace　you。　　We　will　take　care　you　have　what's　necessary　till　you　can　get　other　work。〃

The　little　model　looked　up　at　him　without　a　word。　　Now　that　the　thin　link　which　bound　her　to　some　sort　of　household　gods　had　snapped；　all　the　patience　and　submission　bred　in　her　by　village　life；　by　the　hard　facts　of　her　story；　and　by　these　last　months　in　London；　served　her　well　enough。　　She　made　no　fuss。　　Hilary　saw　a　tear　roll　down　her　cheek。

He　turned　his　head　away；　and　said：　〃Don't　cry；　my　child！〃

Quite　obediently　the　little　model　swallowed　the　tear。　　A　thought　seemed　to　strike　her：

〃But　I　could　see　you；　Mr。　Dallison；　couldn't　I；　sometimes？〃

Seeing　from　his　face　that　this　was　not　in　the　programme；　she　stood　silent　again；　looking　up　at　him。

It　was　a　little　difficult　for　Hilary　to　say：　〃I　can't　see　you　because　my　wife　is　jealous！〃　　It　was　cruel　to　tell　her：　〃I　don't　want　to　see　you！　〃besides；　it　was　not　true。

〃You'll　soon　be　making　friends；〃　he　said　at　last；　〃and　you　can　always　write　to　me〃；　and　with　a　queer　smile　he　added：　〃You're　only　just　beginning　life；　you　mustn't　take　these　things　to　heart；　you'll　find　plenty　of　people　better　able　to　advise　and　help　you　than　ever　I　shall　be！〃

The　little　model　answered　this　by　seizing　his　hand　with　both　of　hers。　She　dropped　it　again　at　once；　as　if　guilty　of　presumption；　and　stood　with　her　head　bent。　　Hilary；　looking　down　on　the　little　hat　which；　by　his　special　wish；　contained　no　feathers；　felt　a　lump　rise　in　his　throat。

〃It's　funny；〃　he　said；　〃I　don't　know　your　Christian　name。〃

〃Ivy；〃　muttered　the　little　model。

〃Ivy！　　Well；　I'll　write　to　you。　　But　you　must　promise　me　to　do　exactly　as　I　said。〃

The　girl　looked　up；　her　face　was　almost　uglylike　a　child's　in　whom　a　storm　of　feeling　is　repressed。

〃Promise！〃　repeated　Hilary。

With　a　bitter　droop　of　her　lower　lip；　she　nodded；　and　suddenly　put　her　hand　to　her　heart。　　That　action；　of　which　she　was　clearly　unconscious；　so　naively；　so　almost　automatically　was　it　done；　nearly　put　an　end　to　Hilary's　determination。

〃Now　you　must　go；〃　he　said。

The　little　model　choked；　grew　very　red；　and　then　quite　white。

〃Aren't　I　even　to　say　good…bye　to　Mr。　Stone？〃

Hilary　shook　his　head。

〃He'll　miss　me；〃　she　said　desperately。　　〃He　will。　　I　know　he　will！〃

〃So　shall　I；〃　said　Hilary。　　〃We　can't　help　that。〃

The　little　model　drew　herself　up　to　her　full　height；　her　breast　heaved　beneath　the　clothes　which　had　made　her　Hilary's。　　She　was　very　like　〃The　Shadow〃　at　that　moment；　as　though　whatever　Hilary　might　do　there　she　would　bea　little　ghost；　the　spirit　of　the　helpless　submerged　world；　for　ever　haunting　with　its　dumb　appeal　the　minds　of　men。

〃Give　me　your　hand；〃　said　Hilary。

The　little　model　put　out　her　not　too　white；　small　hand。　　It　was　soft；　clinging：　and　as　hot　as　fire。

〃Good…bye；　my　dear；　and　bless　you！〃

The　little　model　gave　him　a　look　with　who…knows…what　of　reproach　in　it；　and；　faithful　to　her　training；　went　submissively　away。

Hilary　did　not　look　after　her；　but；　standing　by　the　lofty　mantelpiece　above　the　ashes　of　the　fire；　rested　his　forehead　on　his　arm。　　Not　even　a　fly's　buzzing　broke　the　stillness。　　There　was　sound　for　all　that…not　of　distant　music；　but　of　blood　beating　in　his　ears　and　temples。




CHAPTER　XXIII

THE　〃BOOK　OF　UNIVERSAL　BROTHERHOOD〃

It　is　fitting　that　a　few　words　should　be　said　about　the　writer　of　the　〃Book　of　Universal　Brotherhood。〃

Sylvanus　Stone；　having　graduated　very　highly　at　the　London　University；　had　been　appointed　at　an　early　age　lecturer　to　more　than　one　Public　Institution。　　He　had　soon　received　the　professorial　robes　due　to　a　man　of　his　profound　learning　in　the　natural　sciences；　and　from　that　time　till　he　was　seventy　his　life　had　flowed　on　in　one　continual　round　of　lectures；　addresses；　disquisitions；　and　arguments　on　the　subjects　in　which　he　was　a　specialist。　　At　the　age　of　seventy；　long　after　his　wife's　death　and　the　marriages　of　his　three　children；　he　had　for　some　time　been　living　by　himself；　when　a　very　serious　illnessthe　result　of　liberties　taken　with　an　iron　constitution　by　a　single　mindprostrated　him。

During　the　long　convalescence　following　this　illness　the　power　of　contemplation；　which　the　Professor　had　up　to　then　given　to　natural　science；　began　to　fix　itself　on　life　at　large。　　But　the　mind　which　had　made　of　natural　science　an　idea；　a　passion；　was　not　content　with　vague　reflections　on　life。　　Slowly；　subtly；　with　irresistible　centrifugal　forcewith　a　force　which　perhaps　it　would　not　have　acquired　but　for　that　illnessthe　idea；　the　passion　of　Universal　Brotherhood　had　sucked　into　itself　all　his　errant　wonderings　on　the　riddle　of　existence。　　The　single　mind　of　this　old　man；　divorced　by　illness　from　his　previous　existence；　pensioned　and　permanently　shelved；　began　to　worship　a　new　star；　that　with　every　week　and　month　and　year　grew　brighter；　till　all　other　stars　had　lost　their　glimmer　and　died　out。

At　the　age　of　seventy…four　he　had　begun　his　book。　　Under　the　spell　of　his　subject　and　of　advancing　age；　his　extreme　inattention　to　passing　matters　became　rapidly　accentuated。　　His　figure　had　become　almost　too　publicly　conspicuous　before　Bianca；　finding　him　one　day　seated　on　the　roof　of　his　lonely　little　top…story　flat；　the　better　to　contemplate　his　darling　Universe；　had　inveigled　him　home　with　her；　and　installed　him　in　a　room　in　her　own　house。