fraternity-第3章

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〃I　fancied　perhaps　you　might　feel　that　our　Society…hers　is　an　unsatisfactory　profession　for　young　girls！〃

Cecilia　saw　the　back　of　Hilary's　neck　grow　red。　　She　turned　her　head　away。

〃Of　course；　there　are　many　very　nice　models　indeed；〃　said　the　voice　of　Mrs。　Tallents　Smallpeace。　　〃I　don't　mean　that　they　are　necessarily　at　allif　they're　girls　of　strong　character；　and　especially　if　they　don't　sit　for　thethe　altogether。〃

Hilary's　dry；　staccato　answer　came　to　Cecilia's　ears：　〃Thank　you；　it's　very　kind　of　you。〃

〃Oh；　of　course；　if　it's　not　necessary。　　Your　wife's　picture　was　so　clever；　Mr。　Dallisonsuch　an　interesting　type。〃

Without　intention　Cecilia　found　herself　before　that　picture。　　It　stood　with　its　face　a　little　turned　towards　the　wall；　as　though　somewhat　in　disgrace；　portraying　the　full…length　figure　of　a　girl　standing　in　deep　shadow；　with　her　arms　half　outstretched；　as　if　asking　for　something。　　Her　eyes　were　fixed　on　Cecilia；　and　through　her　parted　lips　breath　almost　seemed　to　come。　　The　only　colour　in　the　picture　was　the　pale　blue　of　those　eyes；　the　pallid　red　of　those　parted　lips；　the　still　paler　brown　of　the　hair；　the　rest　was　shadow。　In　the　foreground　light　was　falling　as　though　from　a　street…lamp。

Cecilia　thought：　〃That　girl's　eyes　and　mouth　haunt　me。　　Whatever　made　Blanca　choose　such　a　subject？　　It　is　clever；　of　coursefor　her。〃




CHAPTER　II

A　FAMILY　DISCUSSION

The　marriage　of　Sylvanus　Stone；　Professor　of　the　Natural　Sciences；　to　Anne；　daughter　of　Mr。　Justice　Carfax；　of　the　well…known　county　familythe　Carfaxes　of　Spring　Deans；　Hantswas　recorded　in　the　sixties。　　The　baptisms　of　Martin；　Cecilia；　and　Bianca；　son　and　daughters　of　Sylvanus　and　Anne　Stone；　were　to　be　discovered　registered　in　Kensington　in　the　three　consecutive　years　following；　as　though　some　single…minded　person　had　been　connected　with　their　births。　　After　this　the　baptisms　of　no　more　offspring　were　to　be　found　anywhere；　as　if　that　single　mind　had　encountered　opposition。　But　in　the　eighties　there　was　noted　in　the　register　of　the　same　church　the　burial　of　〃Anne；　nee　Carfax；　wife　of　Sylvanus　Stone。〃　　In　that　〃nee　Carfax〃　there　was；　to　those　who　knew；　something　more　than　met　the　eye。　　It　summed　up　the　mother　of　Cecilia　and　Bianca；　and；　in　more　subtle　fashion；　Cecilia　and　Bianca；　too。　　It　summed　up　that　fugitive；　barricading　look　in　their　bright　eyes；　which；　though　spoken　of　in　the　family　as　〃the　Carfax　eyes；〃　were　in　reality　far　from　coming　from　old　Mr。　Justice　Carfax。　　They　had　been　his　wife's　in　turn；　and　had　much　annoyed　a　man　of　his　decided　character。　　He　himself　had　always　known　his　mind；　and　had　let　others　know　it；　too；　reminding　his　wife　that　she　was　an　impracticable　woman；　who　knew　not　her　own　mind；　and　devoting　his　lawful　gains　to　securing　the　future　of　his　progeny。　　It　would　have　disturbed　him　if　he　had　lived　to　see　his　grand…daughters　and　their　times。　　Like　so　many　able　men　of　his　generation；　far…seeing　enough　in　practical　affairs；　he　had　never　considered　the　possibility　that　the　descendants　of　those　who；　like　himself；　had　laid　up　treasure　for　their　children's　children　might　acquire　the　quality　of　taking　time；　balancing　pros　and　cons；　looking　ahead；　and　not　putting　one　foot　down　before　picking　the　other　up。　　He　had　not　foreseen；　in　deed；　that　to　wobble　might　become　an　art；　in　order　that；　before　anything　was　done；　people　might　know　the　full　necessity　for　doing　some　thing；　and　how　impossible　it　would　be　to　do　indeed；　foolish　to　attempt　to　dothat　which　would　fully　meet　the　case。　　He；　who　had　been　a　man　of　action　all　his　life；　had　not　perceived　how　it　would　grow　to　be　matter　of　common　instinct　that　to　act　was　to　commit　oneself；　and　that；　while　what　one　had　was　not　precisely　what　one　wanted；　what　one　had　not　（if　one　had　it）　would　be　as　bad。　　He　had　never　been　self…consciousit　was　not　the　custom　of　his　generationand；　having　but　little　imagination；　had　never　suspected　that　he　was　laying　up　that　quality　for　his　descendants；　together　with　a　competence　which　secured　them　a　comfortable　leisure。

Of　all　the　persons　in　his　grand…daughter's　studio　that　afternoon；　that　stray　sheep　Mr。　Purcey　would　have　been；　perhaps；　the　only　one　whose　judgments　he　would　have　considered　sound。　　No　one　had　laid　up　a　competence　for　Mr。　Purcey；　who　had　been　in　business　from　the　age　of　twenty。

It　is　uncertain　whether　the　mere　fact　that　he　was　not　in　his　own　fold　kept　this　visitor　lingering　in　the　studio　when　all　other　guests　were　gone；　or　whether　it　was　simply　the　feeling　that　the　longer　he　stayed　in　contact　with　really　artistic　people　the　more　distinguished　he　was　becoming。　　Probably　the　latter；　for　the　possession　of　that　Harpignies；　a　good　specimen；　which　he　had　bought　by　accident；　and　subsequently　by　accident　discovered　to　have　a　peculiar　value；　had　become　a　factor　in　his　life；　marking　him　out　from　all　his　friends；　who　went　in　more　for　a　neat　type　of　Royal　Academy　landscape；　together　with　reproductions　of　young　ladies　in　eighteenth…century　costumes　seated　on　horseback；　or　in　Scotch　gardens。　　A　junior　partner　in　a　banking…house　of　some　importance；　he　lived　at　Wimbledon；　whence　he　passed　up　and　down　daily　in　his　car。　　To　this　he　owed　his　acquaintance　with　the　family　of　Dallison。　　For　one　day；　after　telling　his　chauffeur　to　meet　him　at　the　Albert　Gate；　he　had　set　out　to　stroll　down　Rotten　Row；　as　he　often　did　on　the　way　home；　designing　to　nod　to　anybody　that　he　knew。　　It　had　turned　out　a　somewhat　barren　expedition。　　No　one　of　any　consequence　had　met　his　eye；　and　it　was　with　a　certain　almost　fretful　longing　for　distraction　that　in　Kensington　Gardens　he　came　on　an　old　man　feeding　birds　out　of　a　paper　bag。　　The　birds　having　flown　away　on　seeing　him；　he　approached　the　feeder　to　apologize。

〃I'm　afraid　I　frightened　your　birds；　sir；〃　he　began。

This　old　man；　who　was　dressed　in　smoke…grey　tweeds　which　exhaled　a　poignant　scent　of　peat；　looked　at　him　without　answering。

〃I'm　afraid　your　birds　saw　me　coming；〃　Mr。　Purcey　said　again。

〃In　those　days；〃　said　the　aged　stranger；　〃birds　were　afraid　of　men。〃

Mr。　Purcey's　shrewd　grey　eyes　perceived　at　once　that　he　had　a　character　to　deal　with。

〃Ah；　yes！〃　he　said；　〃I　seeyou　allude　to　the　present　time。　　That's　very　nice。　　Ha；　ha！〃

The　old　man　answered：　〃The　emotion　of　fear　is　inseparably　connected　with　a　primitive　state　of　fratricidal　rivalry。〃

This　sentence　put　Mr。　Purcey　on　his　guard。

'The　old　chap；'　he　thought；　'is　touched。　　He　evidently　oughtn't　to　be　out　here　by　himself。'　　He　debated；　therefore；　whether　he　should　hasten　away　toward　his　car；　or　stand　by　in　case　his　assistance　should　be　needed。　　Being　a　kind…hearted　man；　who　believed　in　his　capacity　for　putting　things　to　rights；　and　noticing　a　certain　delicacya　〃sort　of　something　rather　distinguished；〃　as　he　phrased　it　afterwardsin　the　old　fellow's　face　and　figure；　he　decided　to　see　if　he　could　be　of　any　service。　　They　walked　along　together；　Mr。　Purcey　watching　his　new　friend　askance；　and　directing　the　march　to　where　he　had　ordered　his　chauffeur　to　await　him。

〃You　are　very　fond　of　birds；　I　suppose；〃　he　said　cautiously。

〃The　birds　are　our　brothers。〃

The　answer　was　of　a　nature　to　determine　Mr。　Purcey　in　his　diagnosis　of　the　case。

〃I've　got　my　car　here；〃　he　said。　　〃Let　me　give　you　a　lift　home。〃

This　new　but　aged　acquaintance　did　not　seem　to　hear；　his　lips　moved　as　though　he　were　following　out　some　thought。

〃In　those　days；〃　Mr。　Purcey　heard　him　say；　〃the　congeries　of　men　were　known　as　rookeries。　　The　expression　was　hardly　just　towards　that　handsome　bird。〃

Mr。　Purcey　touched　him　hastily　on　the　arm。

〃I've　got　my　car　here；　sir；〃　he　said。　　〃Do　let　me　put　you　down！〃

Telling　the　story　afterwards；　he　had　spoken　thus：

〃The　old　chap　knew　where　he　lived　right　enough；　but　dash　me　if　I　believe　he　noticed　that　I　was　taking　him　there　in　my　carI　had　the　A。　i。　Damyer　out。　　That's　how　I　came　to　make　the　acquaintance　of　these　Dallisons。　　He's　the　writer；　you　know；　and　she　paintsrather　the　new　schoolshe　admires　Harpignies。　　Well；　when　I　got　there　in　the　car　I　found　Dallison　in　the　garden。　　Of　course　I　was　careful　not　to　put　my　foot　into　it。　　I　told　him：　'I　found　this　old　gentleman　wandering　about。　　I've　just　brought　him　back　in　my　car。'　　Who　should　the　old　chap　turn　out　to　be　but　her　father！　　They　were　awfully　obliged　to　me。　　Charmin'　people；　but　very　what　d'you　call　it　'fin　de　siecle'like　all　these　professors；　these　artistic　pigsseem　to　know　rather　a　queer　set；　advanced　people；　and　all　that　sort　of　cuckoo；　always　talkin'　about　the　poor；　and　societies；　and　new　religions；　and　that　kind　of　thing。〃

Though　he　had　since　been　to　see　them　several　times；　the　Dallisons　had　never　robbed　him　of　the　virtuous　feeling　of　that　good　actionthey　had　never　let　him　know　that　he　had　brought　home；　not；　as　he　imagined；　a　lunatic；　but　merely　a　philosopher。

It　had　been　somewhat　of　a　quiet　shock　to　him　to　find　Mr。　Stone　close　to　the　doorway　when　he　entered　Bianca's　studio　that　afternoon；　for　though　he　had　seen　him　since　the　encounter　in　Kensington　Gardens；　and　knew　that　he　was　writing　a　book；　he　still　felt　that　he　was　not　quite　the　sort　of　old　man　that　one　ought　to　meet　about。　　He　had　at　once　begun　to　tell　him　of　the　hanging　of　the　Shoreditch　murderer；　as　recorded　in　the　evening　papers。　　Mr。　Stone's　reception　of　that　news　had　still　further　confrmed　his　original　views。　　When　all　the　guests　were　gonewith　the　exception　of　Mr。　and　Mrs。　Stephen　Dallison　and　Miss　Dallison；　〃that　awfully　pretty　girl；〃　and　the　young　man　〃who　was　always　hangin'　about　her〃he　had　approached　his　hostess　for　some　quiet　talk。　　She　stood　listening　to　him；　very　well　bred；　with　just　that　habitual　spice　of　mockery　in　her　smile；　which　to　Mr。　Purcey's　eyes　made　her　〃a　very　strikin'…lookin'　woman；　but　rather…〃　　There　he　would　stop；　for　it　required　a　greater　psychologist　than　he　to　describe　a　secret　disharmony　which　a　little　marred　her　beauty。　　Due　to　some　too　violent　cross　of　blood；　to　an　environment　too　unsuited；　to　what　notit　was　branded　on　her。　　Those　who　knew　Bianca　Dallison　better　than　Mr。　Purcey　were　but　too　well　aware　of　this　fugitive；　proud　spirit　permeating　one　whose　beauty　would　otherwise　have　passed　unquestioned。

She　was　a　little　taller　than　Cecilia；　her　figure　rather　fuller　and　more　graceful；　her　hair　darker；　her　eyes；　too；　darker　and　more　deeply　set；　her　cheek…bones　higher；　her　colouring　richer。　　That　spirit　of　the　age；　Disharmony；　must　have　presided　when　a　child　so　vivid　and　dark…coloured　was　christened　Bianca。

Mr。　Purcey；　however；　was　not　a　man　who　allowed　the　finest　shades　of　feeling　to　interfere　with　his　enjoyments。　　She　was　a　〃strikin'…　lookin'　woman；〃　and　there　was；　thanks　to　Harpignies；　a　link　between　them。

〃Your　father　and　I；　Mrs。　Dallison；　can't　quite　understand　each　other；〃　he　began。　　〃Our　views　of　life　don't　seem　to　hit　it　off　exactly。〃

〃Really；〃　murmured　Bianca；　〃I　should　have　thought　that　you'd　have　got　on　so　well。〃

〃He's　a　little　bit　tooerscriptural　for　me；　perhaps；〃　said　Mr。　Purcey；　with　some　delicacy。

〃Did　we　never　tell　you；〃　Bianca　answered　softly；　〃that　my　father　was　a　rather　wellknown　man　of　science　before　his　illness？〃

〃Ah！〃　replied　Mr。　Purcey；　a　little　puzzled；　〃that；　of　course。　　D'you　know；　of　all　your　pictures；　Mrs。　Dallison；　I　think　that　one　you　call　'The　Shado