fraternity-第4章

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e　Shadow'　is　the　most　rippin'。　　There's　a　something　about　it　that　gets　hold　of　you。　　That　was　the　original；　wasn't　it；　at　your　Christmas　partyattractive　girlit's　an　awf'ly　good　likeness。〃

Bianca's　face　had　changed；　but　Mr。　Purcey　was　not　a　man　to　notice　a　little　thing　like　that。

〃If　ever　you　want　to　part　with　it；〃　he　said；　〃I　hope　you'll　give　me　a　chance。　　I　mean　it'd　be　a　pleasure　to　me　to　have　it。　　I　think　it'll　be　worth　a　lot　of　money　some　day。〃

Bianca　did　not　answer；　and　Mr。　Purcey；　feeling　suddenly　a　little　awkward；　said：　〃I've　got　my　car　waiting。　　I　must　be　offreally。〃　Shaking　hands　with　all　of　them；　he　went　away。

When　the　door　had　closed　behind　his　back；　a　universal　sigh　went　up。　It　was　followed　by　a　silence；　which　Hilary　broke。

〃We'll　smoke；　Stevie；　if　Cis　doesn't　mind。〃

Stephen　Dallison　placed　a　cigarette　between　his　moustacheless　lips；　always　rather　screwed　up；　and　ready　to　nip　with　a　smile　anything　that　might　make　him　feel　ridiculous。

〃Phew！〃　he　said。　　〃Our　friend　Purcey　becomes　a　little　tedious。　　He　seems　to　take　the　whole　of　Philistia　about　with　him。〃

〃He's　a　very　decent　fellow；〃　murmured　Hilary。

〃A　bit　heavy；　surely！〃　Stephen　Dallison's　face；　though　also　long　and　narrow；　was　not　much　like　his　brother's。　　His　eyes；　though　not　unkind；　were　far　more　scrutinising；　inquisitive；　and　practical；　his　hair　darker；　smoother。

Letting　a　puff　；of　smoke　escape；　he　added：

〃Now；　that's　the　sort　of　man　to　give　you　a　good　sound　opinion。　　You　should　have　asked　him；　Cis。〃

Cecilia　answered　with　a　frown：

〃Don't　chaff；　Stephen；　I'm　perfectly　serious　about　Mrs。　Hughs。〃

〃Well；　I　don't　see　what　I　can　do　for　the　good　woman；　my　dear。　　One　can't　interfere　in　these　domestic　matters。〃

〃But　it　seems　dreadful　that　we　who　employ　her　should　be　able　to　do　nothing　for　her。　　Don't　you　think　so；　B。？〃

〃I　suppose　we　could　do　something　for　her　if　we　wanted　to　badly　enough。〃

Bianca's　voice；　which　had　the　self…distrustful　ring　of　modern　music；　suited　her　personality。

A　glance　passed　between　Stephen　and　his　wife。

〃That's　B。　　all　over！〃　it　seemed　to　say。。。。

〃Hound　Street；　where　they　live；　is　a　horrid　place。〃

It　was　Thyme　who　spoke；　and　everybody　looked　round　at　her。

〃How　do　you　know　that？〃　　asked　Cecilia。

〃I　went　to　see。〃

〃With　whom？〃

〃Martin。〃

The　lips　of　the　young　man　whose　name　she　mentioned　curled　sarcastically。

Hilary　asked　gently：

〃Well；　my　dear；　what　did　you　see？〃

〃Most　of　the　doors　are　open…〃

Bianca　murmured：　〃That　doesn't　tell　us　much。〃

〃On　the　contrary；〃　said　Martin　suddenly；　in　a　deep　bass　voice；　〃it　tells　you　everything。　　Go　on。〃

〃The　Hughs　live　on　the　top　floor　at　No。　1。　　It's　the　best　house　in　the　street。　　On　the　ground…floor　are　some　people　called　Budgen；　he's　a　labourer；　and　she's　lame。　　They've　got　one　son。　　The　Hughs　have　let　off　the　first…floor　front…room　to　an　old　man　named　Creed…〃

〃Yes；　I　know；〃　Cecilia　muttered。

〃He　makes　about　one　and　tenpence　a　day　by　selling　papers。　　The　back…　room　on　that　floor　they　let；　of　course；　to　your　little　model；　Aunt　B。〃

〃She　is　not　my　model　now。〃

There　was　a　silence　such　as　falls　when　no　one　knows　how　far　the　matter　mentioned　is　safe　to；　touch　on。　　Thyme　proceeded　with　her　report。

〃Her　room's　much　the　best　in　the　house；　it's　airy；　and　it　looks　out　over　someone's　garden。　　I　suppose　she　stays　there　because　it's　so　cheap。　　The　Hughs'　rooms　are…〃　　She　stopped；　wrinkling　her　straight　nose。

〃So　that's　the　household；〃　said　Hilary。　　〃Two　married　couples；　one　young　man；　one　young　girl〃his　eyes　travelled　from　one　to　another　of　the　two　married　couples；　the　young　man；　and　the　young　girl；　collected　in　this　room…〃　and　one　old　man；〃　he　added　softly。

〃Not　quite　the　sort　of　place　for　you　to　go　poking　about　in；　Thyme；〃　Stephen　said　ironically。　　〃Do　you　think　so；　Martin？〃

〃Why　not？〃

Stephen　raised　his　brows；　and　glanced　towards　his　wife。　　Her　face　was　dubious；　a　little　scared。　　There　was　a　silence。　　Then　Bianca　spoke：

〃Well？〃　　That　word；　like　nearly　all　her　speeches；　seemed　rather　to　disconcert　her　hearers。

〃So　Hughs　ill…treats　her？〃　　said　Hilary。

〃She　says　so；〃　replied　Cecilia…〃　at　least；　that's　what　I　understood。　　Of　course；　I　don't　know　any　details。〃

〃She　had　better　get　rid　of　him；　I　should　think；〃　Bianca　murmured。

Out　of　the　silence　that　followed　Thyme's　clear　voice　was　heard　saying：

〃She　can't　get　a　divorce；　she　could　get　a　separation。〃

Cecilia　rose　uneasily。　　These　words　concreted　suddenly　a　wealth　of　half…acknowledged　doubts　about　her　little　daughter。　　This　came　of　letting　her　hear　people　talk；　and　go　about　with　Martin！　　She　might　even　have　been　listening　to　her　grandfathersuch　a　thought　was　most　disturbing。　　And；　afraid；　on　the　one　hand；　of　gainsaying　the　liberty　of　speech；　and；　on　the　other；　of　seeming　to　approve　her　daughter's　knowledge　of　the　world；　she　looked　at　her　husband。

But　Stephen　did　not　speak；　feeling；　no　doubt；　that　to　pursue　the　subject　would　be　either　to　court　an　ethical；　even　an　abstract；　disquisition；　and　this　one　did　not　do　in　anybody's　presence；　much　less　one's　wife's　or　daughter's；　or　to　touch　on　sordid　facts　of　doubtful　character；　which　was　equally　distasteful　in　the　circumstances。　　He；　too；　however；　was　uneasy　that　Thyme　should　know　so　much。

The　dusk　was　gathering　outside；　the　fire　threw　a　flickering　light；　fitfully　outlining　their　figures；　making　those　faces；　so　familiar　to　each　other；　a　little　mysterious。

At　last　Stephen　broke　the　silence。　　〃Of　course；　I'm　very　sorry　for　her；　but　you'd　better　let　it　aloneyou　can't　tell　with　that　sort　of　people；　you　never　can　make　out　what　they　wantit's　safer　not　to　meddle。　　At　all　events；　it's　a　matter　for　a　Society　to　look　into　first！〃

Cecilia　answered：　〃But　she's；　on　my　conscience；　Stephen。〃

〃They're　all　on　my　conscience；〃　muttered　Hilary。

Bianca　looked　at　him　for　the　first　time；　then；　turning　to　her　nephew；　said：　〃What　do　you　say；　Martin？〃

The　young　man；　whose　face　was　stained　by　the　firelight　the　colour　of　pale　cheese；　made　no　answer。

But　suddenly　through　the　stillness　came　a　voice：

〃I　have　thought　of　something。〃

Everyone　turned　round。　　Mr。　Stone　was　seen　emerging　from　behind　〃The　Shadow〃；　his　frail　figure；　in　its　grey　tweeds；　his　silvery　hair　and　beard；　were　outlined　sharply　against　the　wall。

〃Why；　Father；〃　Cecilia　said；　〃we　didn't　know　that　you　were　here！〃

Mr。　Stone　looked　round　bewildered；　it　seemed　as　if　he；　too；　had　been　ignorant　of　that　fact。

〃What　is　it　that　you've　thought　of？〃

The　firelight　leaped　suddenly　on　to　Mr。　Stone's　thin　yellow　hand。

〃Each　of　us；〃　he　said；　〃has　a　shadow　in　those　placesin　those　streets。〃

There　was　a　vague　rustling；　as　of　people　not　taking　a　remark　too　seriously；　and　the　sound　of　a　closing　door。




CHAPTER　III

HILARY'S　BROWN　STUDY

What　do　you　really　think；　Uncle　Hilary？〃

Turning　at　his　writing…table　to　look　at　the　face　of　his　young　niece；　Hilary　Dallison　answered：

〃My　dear；　we　have　had　the　same　state　of　affairs　since　the　beginning　of　the　world。　　There　is　no　chemical　process；　so　far　as　my　knowledge　goes；　that　does　not　make　waste　products。　　What　your　grandfather　calls　our　'shadows'　are　the　waste　products　of　the　social　process。　　That　there　is　a　submerged　tenth　is　as　certain　as　that　there　is　an　emerged　fiftieth　like　ourselves；　exactly　who　they　are　and　how　they　come；　whether　they　can　ever　be　improved　away；　is；　I　think；　as　uncertain　as　anything　can　be。〃

The　figure　of　the　girl　seated　in　the　big　armchair　did　not　stir。　　Her　lips　pouted　contemptuously；　a　frown　wrinkled　her　forehead。

〃Martin　says　that　a　thing　is　only　impossible　when　we　think　it　so。〃

〃Faith　and　the　mountain；　I'm　afraid。〃

Thyme's　foot　shot　forth；　it　nearly　came　into　contact　with　Miranda；　the　little　bulldog。

〃Oh；　duckie！〃

But　the　little　moonlight　bulldog　backed　away。

〃I　hate　these　slums；　uncle；　they're　so　disgusting！〃

Hilary　leaned　his　face　on　his　thin　hand；　it　was　his　characteristic　attitude。

〃They　are　hateful；　disgusting；　and　heartrending。　　That　does　not　make　the　problem　any　the　less　difficult；　does　it？〃

〃I　believe　we　simply　make　the　difficulties　ourselves　by　seeing　them。〃

Hilary　smiled。　　〃Does　Martin　say　that　too？〃

〃Of　course　he　does。〃

〃Speaking　broadly；〃　murmured　Hilary；　〃I　see　only　one　difficulty　human　nature。〃

Thyme　rose。　　〃I　think　it　horrible　to　have　a　low　opinion　of　human　nature。〃

〃My　dear；〃　said　Hilary；　〃don't　you　think　perhaps　that　people　who　have　what　is　called　a　low　opinion　of　human　nature　are　really　more　tolerant　of　it；　more　in　love　with　it；　in　fact；　than　those　who；　looking　to　what　human　nature　might　be；　are　bound　to　hate　what　human　nature　is。〃

The　look　which　Thyme　directed　at　her　uncle's　amiable；　attractive　face；　with　its　pointed　beard；　high　forehead；　and　special　little　smile；　seemed　to　alarm　Hilary。

〃I　don't　want　you　to　have　an　unnecessarily　low　opinion　of　me；　my　dear。　　I'm　not　one　of　those　people　who　tell　you　that　everything's　all　right　because　the　rich　have　their　troubles　as　well　as　the　poor。　　A　certain　modicum　of　decency　and　comfort　is　obviously　necessary　to　man　before　we　can　begin　to　do　anything　but　pity　him；　but　that　doesn't　make　it　any　easier　to　know　how　you're　going　to　insure　him　that　modicum　of　decency　and　comfort；　does　it？〃

〃We've　got　to　do　it；〃　said　Thyme；　〃it　won't　wait　any　longer。〃

〃My　dear；〃　said　Hilary；　〃think　of　Mr。　Purcey！　　What　proportion　of　the　upper　classes　do　you　imagine　is　even　conscious　of　that　necessity？　We；　who　have　got　what　I　call　the　social　conscience；　rise　from　the　platform　of　Mr。　Purcey；　we're　just　a　gang　of　a　few　thousands　to　Mr。　Purcey's　tens　of　thousands；　and　how　many　even　of　us　are　prepared；　or；　for　the　matter　of　that；　fitted；　to　act　on　our　consciousness？　　In　spite　of　your　grandfather's　ideas；　I'm　afraid　we're　all　too　much　divided　into　classes；　man　acts；　and　always　has　acted；　in　classes。〃

〃Ohclasses！〃　answered　Thyme〃that's　the　old　superstition；　uncle。〃

〃Is　it？　　I　thought　one's　class；　perhaps；　was　only　oneself　exaggeratednot　to　be　shaken　off。　　For　instance；　what　are　you　and　I；　with　our　particular　prejudices；　going　to　do？〃

Thyme　gave　him　the　cruel　look　of　youth；　which　seemed　to　say：　'You　are　my　very　good　uncle；　and　a　dear；　but　you　are　more　than　twice　my　age。　That；　I　think；　is　conclusive！'

〃Has　something　been　settled　about　Mrs。　Hughs？〃　　she　asked　abruptly。

〃What　does　your　father　say　this　morning？〃

Thyme　picked　up　her　portfolio　of　drawings；　and　moved　towards　the　door。

〃Father's　hopeless。　　He　hasn't　an　idea　beyond　referring　her　to　the　S。P。B。〃

She　was　gone；　and　Hilary；　with　a　sigh；　took　his　pen　up；　but　he　wrote　nothing　down　。。。。

Hilary　and　Stephen　Dallison　were　grandsons　of　that　Canon　Dallison；　well　known　as　friend；　and　sometime　adviser；　of　a　certain　Victorian　novelist。　　The　Canon；　who　came　of　an　old　Oxfordshire　family；　which　for　three　hundred　years　at　least　had　served　the　Church　or　State；　was　himself　the　author　of　two　volumes　of　〃Socratic　Dialogues。〃　　He　had　bequeathed　to　his　sona　permanent　official　in　the　Foreign　Officeif　not　his　literary　talent；　the　tradition　at　all　events　of　culture。　This　tradition　had　in　turn　been　handed　on　to　Hilary　and　Stephen。

Educated　at　a　public　school　and　Cambridge；　blessed　with　competent；　though　not　large；　independent　incomes；　and　bro