fraternity-第29章

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d　have　done　other　than　they　had　done。　　Reading　their　hearts　by　the　light　of　knowledge　such　as　this；　he　would　not　have　been　surprised　that；　brought　into　this　place　of　remedy；　they　seemed　to　enter　into　a　sudden　league。　　A　look　passed　between　them。　　It　was　not　friendly；　it　had　no　appeal；　but　it　sufficed。　　There　seemed　to　be　expressed　in　it　the　knowledge　bred　by　immemorial　experience　and　immemorial　time：　This　law　before　which　we　stand　was　not　made　by　us！　　As　dogs；　when　they　hear　the　crack　of　a　far　whip；　will　shrink；　and　in　their　whole　bearing　show　wary　quietude；　so　Hughs　and　Mrs。　Hughs；　confronted　by　the　questionings　of　Law；　made　only　such　answers　as　could　be　dragged　from　them。　　In　a　voice　hardly　above　a　whisper　Mrs。　Hughs　told　her　tale。　They　had　fallen　out。　　What　about？　　She　did　not　know。　　Had　he　attacked　her？　　He　had　had　it　in　his　hand。　　What　then？　　She　had　slipped；　and　hurt　her　wrist　against　the　point。　　At　this　statement　Hughs　turned　his　eyes　on　her；　and　seemed　to　say：　〃You　drove　me　to　it；　I've　got　to　suffer；　for　all　your　trying　to　get　me　out　of　what　I've　done。　　I　gave　you　one；　and　I　don't　want　your　help。　　But　I'm　glad　you　stick　to　me　against　this　Law！〃　　Then；　lowering　his　eyes；　he　stood　motionless　during　her　breathless　little　outburst。　　He　was　her　husband；　she　had　borne　him　five；　he　had　been　wounded　in　the　war。　　She　had　never　wanted　him　brought　here。

No　mention　of　the　little　model。。。。

The　old　butler　dwelt　on　this　reticence　of　Mrs。　Hughs；　when；　two　hours　afterwards；　in　pursuance　of　his　instinctive　reliance　on　the　gentry；　he　called　on　Hilary。

The　latter；　surrounded　by　books　and　papersfor；　since　his　dismissal　of　the　girl；　he　had　worked　with　great　activitywas　partaking　of　lunch；　served　to　him　in　his　study　on　a　tray。

〃There's　an　old　gentleman　to　see　you；　sir；　he　says　you　know　him；　his　name　is　Creed。〃

〃Show　him　in；〃　said　Hilary。

Appearing　suddenly　from　behind　the　servant　in　the　doorway；　the　old　butler　came　in　at　a　stealthy　amble；　he　looked　round；　and；　seeing　a　chair；　placed　his　hat　beneath　it；　then　advanced；　with　nose　and　spectacles　upturned；　to　Hilary。　　Catching　sight　of　the　tray；　he　stopped；　checked　in　an　evident　desire　to　communicate　his　soul。

〃Oh　dear；〃　he　said；　〃I'm　intrudin'　on　your　luncheon。　　I　can　wait；　I'll　go　and　sit　in　the　passage。〃

Hilary；　however；　shook　his　hand；　faded　now　to　skin　and　bone；　and　motioned　him　to　a　chair。

He　sat　down　on　the　edge　of　it；　and　again　said：

〃I'm　intrudin'　on　yer。〃

〃Not　at　all。　　Is　there　anything　I　can　do？〃

Creed　took　off　his　spectacles；　wiped　them　to　help　himself　to　see　more　clearly　what　he　had　to　say；　and　put　them　on　again。

〃It's　a…concerning　of　these　domestic　matters；〃　he　said。　　〃I　come　up　to　tell　yer；　knowing　as　you're　interested　in　this　family。〃

〃Well；〃　said　Hilary。　　〃What　has　happened？〃

〃It's　along　of　the　young　girl's　having　left　them；　as　you　may　know。〃

〃Ah！〃

〃It's　brought　things　to　a　crisax；〃　explained　Creed。

〃Indeed；　how's　that？〃

The　old　butler　related　the　facts　of　the　assault。　　〃I　took　'is　bayonet　away　from　him；〃　he　ended；　〃he　didn't　frighten　me。〃

〃Is　he　out　of　his　mind？〃　　asked　Hilary。

〃I've　no　conscience　of　it；〃　replied　Creed。　　〃His　wife；　she's　gone　the　wrong　way　to　work　with　him；　in　my　opinion；　but　that's　particular　to　women。　　She's　a…goaded　of　him　respecting　a　certain　party。　　I　don't　say　but　what　that　young　girl's　no　better　than　what　she　ought　to　be；　look　at　her　profession；　and　her　a　country　girl；　too！　　She　must　be　what　she　oughtn't　to。　　But　he　ain't　the　sort　o'　man　you　can　treat　like　that。　　You　can't　get　thorns　from　figs；　you　can't　expect　it　from　the　lower　orders。　　They　only　give　him　a　month；　considerin'　of　him　bein'　wounded　in　the　war。　　It'd　been　more　if　they'd　a…known　he　was　a…　hankerin'　after　that　young　girla　married　man　like　him；　don't　ye　think　so；　sir？〃

Hilary's　face　had　assumed　its　retired　expression。　　'I　cannot　go　into　that　with　you；'　it　seemed　to　say。

Quick　to　see　the　change；　Creed　rose。　　〃But　I'm　intrudin'　on　your　dinner；〃　he　said〃your　luncheon；　I　should　say。　　The　woman　goes　on　irritatin'　of　him；　but　he　must　expect　of　that；　she　bein'　his　wife。　But　what　a　misfortune！　　He'll　be　back　again　in　no　time；　and　what'll　happen　then？　　It　won't　improve　him；　shut　up　in　one　of　them　low　prisons！〃　　Then；　raising　his　old　face　to　Hilary：　〃Oh　dear！　　It's　like　awalkin'　on　a　black　night；　when　ye　can't　see　your　'and　before　yer。〃

Hilary　was　unable　to　find　a　suitable　answer　to　this　simile。

The　impression　made　on　him　by　the　old　butler's　recital　was　queerly　twofold；　his　more　fastidious　side　felt　distinct　relief　that　he　had　severed　connection　with　an　episode　capable　of　developments　so　sordid　and　conspicuous。　　But　all　the　side　of　himand　Hilary　was　a　complicated　productwhich　felt　compassion　for　the　helpless；　his　suppressed　chivalry；　in　fact；　had　also　received　its　fillip。　　The　old　butler's　references　to　the　girl　showed　clearly　how　the　hands　of　all　men　and　women　were　against　her。　　She　was　that　pariah；　a　young　girl　without　property　or　friends；　spiritually　soft；　physically　alluring。

To　recompense　〃Westminister〃　for　the　loss　of　his　day's　work；　to　make　a　dubious　statement　that　nights　were　never　so　black　as　they　appeared　to　be；　was　all　that　he　could　venture　to　do。　　Creed　hesitated　in　the　doorway。

〃Oh　dear；〃　he　said；　〃there's　a…one　thing　that　the　woman　was　a…saying　that　I've　forgot　to　tell　you。　　It's　a…concernin'　of　what　this　'ere　man　was　boastin'　in　his　rage。　　'Let　them；'　he　says；　'as　is　responsive　for　the　movin'　of　her　look　out；'　he　says；　'I　ain't　done　with　them！'　That's　conspiracy；　I　should　think！〃

Smiling　away　this　diagnosis　of　Hughs'　words；　Hilary　shook　the　old　man's　withered　hand；　and　closed　the　door。　　Sitting　down　again　at　his　writing…table；　he　buried　himself　almost　angrily　in　his　work。　　But　the　queer；　half…pleasurable；　fevered　feeling；　which　had　been　his；　since　the　night　he　walked　down　Piccadilly；　and　met　the　image　of　the　little　model；　was　unfavourable　to　the　austere　process　of　his　thoughts。




CHAPTER　XXV

MR。　STONE　IN　WAITING

That　same　afternoon；　；while　Mr。　Stone　was　writing；　he　heard　a　voice　saying：

〃Dad；　stop　writing　just　a　minute；　and　talk　to　me。〃

Recognition　came　into　his　eyes。　　It　was　his　younger　daughter。

〃My　dear；〃　he　said；　〃are　you　unwell？〃

Keeping　his　hand；　fragile　and　veined　and　chill；　under　her　own　warm　grasp；　Bianca　answered：　〃Lonely。〃

Mr。　Stone　looked　straight　before　him。

〃Loneliness；〃　he　said；　〃is　man's　chief　fault〃；　and　seeing　his　pen　lying　on　the　desk；　he　tried　to　lift　his　hand。　　Bianca　held　it　down。　At　that　hot　clasp　something　seemed　to　stir　in　Mr。　Stone。　　His　cheeks　grew　pink。

〃Kiss　me；　Dad。〃

Mr。　Stone　hesitated。　　Then　his　lips　resolutely　touched　her　eye。　　〃It　is　wet；〃　he　said。　　He　seemed　for　a　moment　struggling　to　grasp　the　meaning　of　moisture　in　connection　with　the　human　eye。　　Soon　his　face　again　became　serene。　　〃The　heart；〃　he　said；　〃is　a　dark　well；　its　depth　unknown。　　I　have　lived　eighty　years。　　I　am　still　drawing　water。〃

〃Draw　a　little　for　me；　Dad。〃

This　time　Mr。　Stone　looked　at　his　daughter　anxiously；　and　suddenly　spoke；　as　if　afraid　that　if　he　waited　he　might　forget。

〃You　are　unhappy！〃

Bianca　put　her　face　down　to　his　tweed　sleeve。　　〃How　nice　your　coat　smells！〃　she　murmured。

〃You　are　unhappy；〃　repeated　Mr。　Stone。

Bianca　dropped　his　hand；　and　moved　away。

Mr。　Stone　followed　her。　　〃Why？〃　　he　said。　　Then；　grasping　his　brow；　he　added：　〃If　it　would　do　you　any　good；　my　dear；　to　hear　a　page　or　two；　I　could　read　to　you。〃

Bianca　shook　her　head。

〃No；　talk　to　me！〃

Mr。　Stone　answered　simply：　〃I　have　forgotten。〃

〃You　talk　to　that　little　girl；〃　murmured　Bianca。

Mr。　Stone　seemed　to　lose　himself　in　reverie。

〃If　that　is　true；〃　he　said；　following　out　his　thoughts；　〃it　must　be　due　to　the　sex　instinct　not　yet　quite　extinct。　　It　is　stated　that　the　blackcock　will　dance　before　his　females　to　a　great　age；　though　I　have　never　seen　it。〃

〃If　you　dance　before　her；〃　said　Bianca；　with　her　face　averted；　〃can't　you　even　talk　to　me？〃

〃I　do　not　dance；　my　dear；〃　said　Mr。　Stone；　〃　I　will　do　my　best　to　talk　to　you。〃

There　was　a　silence；　and　he　began　to　pace　the　room。　　Bianca；　by　the　empty　fireplace；　watched　a　shower　of　rain　driving　past　the　open　window。

〃This　is　the　time　of　year；〃　said　Mr。　Stone　suddenly；　〃when　lambs　leap　off　the　ground　with　all　four　legs　at　a　time。〃　　He　paused　as　though　for　an　answer；　then；　out　of　the　silence；　his　voice　rose　againit　sounded　different：　〃There　is　nothing　in　Nature　more　symptomatic　of　that　principle　which　should　underlie　all　life。　　Live　in　the　future；　regret　nothing；　leap！　　A　lamb　which　has　left　earth　with　all　four　legs　at　once　is　the　symbol　of　true　life。　　That　she　must　come　down　again　is　but　an　inevitable　accident。　　'In　those　days　men　were　living　on　their　pasts。　　They　leaped　with　one；　or；　at　the　most；　two　legs　at　a　time；　they　never　left　the　ground；　or　in　leaving；　they　wished　to　know　the　reason　why。　　It　was　this　paralysis'〃Mr。　Stone　did　not　pause；　but；　finding　himself　close　beside　his　desk；　took　up　his　pen〃'it　was　this　paralysis　of　the　leaping　nerve　which　undermined　their　progress。　Instead　of　millions　of　leaping　lambs；　ignorant　of　why　they　leaped；　they　were　a　flock　of　sheep　lifting　up　one　leg　and　asking　whether　it　was　or　was　not　worth　their　while　to　lift　another。'〃

The　words　were　followed　by　a　silence；　broken　only　by　the　scratching　of　the　quill　with　which　Mr。　Stone　was　writing。

Having　finished；　he　again　began　to　pace　the　room；　and　coming　suddenly　on　his　daughter；　stopped　short。　　Touching　her　shoulder　timidly；　he　said：　〃I　was　talking　to　you；　I　think；　my　dear；　where　were　we？〃

Bianca　rubbed　her　cheek　against　his　hand。

〃In　the　air；　I　think。〃

〃Yes；　yes；〃　said　Mr。　Stone；　〃I　remember。　　You　must　not　let　me　wander　from　the　point　again。〃

〃No；　dear。〃

〃Lambs；〃　said　Mr。　Stone；　〃remind　me　at　times　of　that　young　girl　who　comes　to　copy　for　me。　　I　make　her　skip　to　promote　her　circulation　before　tea。　　I　myself　do　this　exercise。〃　　Leaning　against　the　wall；　with　his　feet　twelve　inches　from　it；　he　rose　slowly　on　his　toes。　　〃Do　you　know　that　exercise？　　It　is　excellent　for　the　calves　of　the　legs；　and　for　the　lumbar　regions。〃　　So　saying；　Mr。　Stone　left　the　wall；　and　began　again　to　pace　the　room；　the　whitewash　had　also　left　the　wall；　and　clung　in　a　large　square　patch　on　his　shaggy　coat。　　〃I　have　seen　sheep　in　Spring；〃　he　said；　〃actually　imitate　their　lambs　in　rising　from　the　ground　with　all　four　legs　at　once。〃　　He　stood　still。　　A　thought　had　evidently　struck　him。

〃If　Life　is　not　all　Spring；　it　is　of　no　value　whatsoever；　better　to　die；　and　to　begin　again。　　Life　is　a　tree　putting　on　a　new　green　gown；　it　is　a　young　moon　risingno；　that　is　not　so；　we　do　not　see　the　young　moon　risingit　is　a　young　moon　setting；　never　younger　than　when　we　are　about　to　die〃

Bianca　cried　out　sharply：　〃Don't；　Father！　　Don't　talk　like　that；　it's　so　untrue！　　Life　is　all　autumn；　it　seems　to　me！〃

Mr。　Stone's　eyes　grew　very　blue。

〃That　is　a　foul　heresy；〃　he　stammered；　〃I　cannot　listen　to　it。　　Life　is　the　cuckoo's　song；　it　is　a　hill…side　bursting　into　leaf；　it　is　the　wind；　I　feel　it　in　me　every　day！〃

He　was　trembling　like　a　leaf　in　the　wind　he　spoke　of；　and　Bianca　moved　hastily　towards　him；　holding　out　her　arms。　　Suddenly　his　lips　began　to　move；　she　heard　hi