all roads lead to calvary-第13节

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〃It's　all　right；〃　answered　Madge。　　〃She　doesn't　really　want　our　opinion　of　himor　rather　she　doesn't　want　our　real　opinion　of　him。　She　only　wants　us　to　confirm　hers。　　She's　engaged　to　him。〃

〃Flossie　engaged！〃　Joan　seemed　surprised。

〃Yes；〃　answered　Madge。　　〃It　used　to　be　a　custom。　　Young　men　used　to　ask　young　women　to　marry　them。　　And　if　they　consented　it　was　called　'　being　engaged。'　　Still　prevails；　so　I　am　told；　in　certain　classes。〃

〃Thanks；〃　said　Joan。　　〃I　have　heard　of　it。〃

〃I　thought　perhaps　you　hadn't　from　your　tone；〃　explained　Madge。

〃But　if　she's　already　engaged　to　him；　why　risk　criticism　of　him；〃　argued　Joan；　ignoring　Madge's　flippancy。　　〃It's　too　late。〃

〃Oh；　she's　going　to　break　it　off　unless　we　all　assure　her　that　we　find　him　brainy；〃　Madge　explained　with　a　laugh。　　〃It　seems　her　father　wasn't　brainy　and　her　mother　was。　　Or　else　it　was　the　other　way　about：　　I'm　not　quite　sure。　　But　whichever　it　was；　it　led　to　ructions。　　Myself；　if　he's　at　all　possible　and　seems　to　care　for　her；　I　intend　to　find　him　brilliant。〃

〃And　suppose　she　repeats　her　mother's　experience；〃　suggested　Joan。

〃There　were　the　Norton…Browns；〃　answered　Madge。　　〃Impossible　to　have　found　a　more　evenly　matched　pair。　　They　both　write　novels　very　good　novels；　too；　and　got　jealous　of　one　another；　and　threw　press…notices　at　one　another's　head　all　breakfast…time；　until　they　separated。　　Don't　know　of　any　recipe　myself　for　being　happy　ever　after　marriage；　except　not　expecting　it。〃

〃Or　keeping　out　of　it　altogether；〃　added　Joan。

〃Ever　spent　a　day　at　the　Home　for　Destitute　Gentlewomen　at　East　Sheen？〃　demanded　Madge。

〃Not　yet；〃　admitted　Joan。　　〃May　have　to；　later　on。〃

〃It　ought　to　be　included　in　every　woman's　education；〃　Madge　continued。　　〃It　is　reserved　for　spinsters　of　over　forty…five。　Susan　Fleming　wrote　an　article　upon　it　for　the　Teacher's　Friend；　and　spent　an　afternoon　and　evening　there。　　A　month　later　she　married　a　grocer　with　five　children。　　The　only　sound　suggestion　for　avoiding　trouble　that　I　ever　came　across　was　in　a　burlesque　of　the　Blue　Bird。　　You　remember　the　scene　where　the　spirits　of　the　children　are　waiting　to　go　down　to　earth　and　be　made　into　babies？　Someone　had　stuck　up　a　notice　at　the　entrance　to　the　gangway：　'Don't　get　born。　　It　only　means　worry。'〃

Flossie　had　her　dwelling…place　in　a　second　floor　bed…sitting…room　of　a　lodging　house　in　Queen's　Square；　Bloomsbury；　but　the　drawing…　room　floor　being　for　the　moment　vacant；　Flossie　had　persuaded　her　landlady　to　let　her　give　her　party　there；　it　seemed　as　if　fate　approved　of　the　idea。　　The　room　was　fairly　full　when　Joan　arrived。　Flossie　took　her　out　on　the　landing；　and　closed　the　door　behind　them。

〃You　will　be　honest　with　me；　won't　you？〃　pleaded　Flossie；　〃because　it's　so　important；　and　I　don't　seem　able　to　think　for　myself。　　As　they　say；　no　man　can　be　his　own　solicitor；　can　he？　　Of　course　I　like　him；　and　all　thatvery　much。　　And　I　really　believe　he　loves　me。　　We　were　children　together　when　Mummy　was　alive；　and　then　he　had　to　go　abroad；　and　has　only　just　come　back。　　Of　course；　I've　got　to　think　of　him；　too；　as　he　says。　　But　then；　on　the　other　hand；　I　don't　want　to　make　a　mistake。　　That　would　be　so　terrible；　for　both　of　us；　and　of　course　I　am　clever；　and　there　was　poor　Mummy　and　Daddy。　　I'll　tell　you　all　about　them　one　day。　　It　was　so　awfully　sad。　　Get　him　into　a　corner　and　talk　to　him。　　You'll　be　able　to　judge　in　a　moment；　you're　so　wonderful。　　He's　quiet　on　the　outside；　but　I　think　there's　depth　in　him。　　We　must　go　in　now。〃

She　had　talked　so　rapidly　Joan　felt　as　if　her　hat　were　being　blown　away。　　She　had　difficulty　in　recognizing　Flossie。　　All　the　cock…　sure　pertness　had　departed。　　She　seemed　just　a　kid。

Joan　promised　faithfully；　and　Flossie；　standing　on　tiptoe；　suddenly　kissed　her　and　then　bustled　her　in。

Flossie's　young　man　was　standing　near　the　fire　talking；　or　rather　listening；　to　a　bird…like　little　woman　in　a　short　white　frock　and　blue　ribbons。　　A　sombre　lady　just　behind　her；　whom　Joan　from　the　distance　took　to　be　her　nurse；　turned　out　to　be　her　secretary；　whose　duty　it　was　to　be　always　at　hand；　prepared　to　take　down　any　happy　idea　that　might　occur　to　the　bird…like　little　woman　in　the　course　of　conversation。　　The　bird…like　little　woman　was　Miss　Rose　Tolley；　a　popular　novelist。　　She　was　explaining　to　Flossie's　young　man；　whose　name　was　Sam　Halliday；　the　reason　for　her　having　written　〃Running　Waters；〃　her　latest　novel。

〃It　is　daring；〃　she　admitted。　　〃I　must　be　prepared　for　opposition。　But　it　had　to　be　stated。〃

〃I　take　myself　as　typical；〃　she　continued。　　〃When　I　was　twenty　I　could　have　loved　you。　　You　were　the　type　of　man　I　did　love。〃

Mr。　Halliday；　who　had　been　supporting　the　weight　of　his　body　upon　his　right　leg；　transferred　the　burden　to　his　left。

〃But　now　I'm　thirty…five；　and　I　couldn't　love　you　if　I　tried。〃　　She　shook　her　curls　at　him。　　〃It　isn't　your　fault。　　It　is　that　I　have　changed。　　Suppose　I'd　married　you？〃

〃Bit　of　bad　luck　for　both　of　us；〃　suggested　Mr。　Halliday。

〃A　tragedy；〃　Miss　Tolley　corrected　him。　　〃There　are　millions　of　such　tragedies　being　enacted　around　us　at　this　moment。　　Sensitive　women　compelled　to　suffer　the　embraces　of　men　that　they　have　come　to　loathe。　　What's　to　be　done？〃

Flossie；　who　had　been　hovering　impatient；　broke　in。

〃Oh；　don't　you　believe　her；〃　she　advised　Mr。　Halliday。　　〃She　loves　you　still。　　She's　only　teasing　you。　　This　is　Joan。〃

She　introduced　her。　　Miss　Tolley　bowed；　and　allowed　herself　to　be　drawn　away　by　a　lank…haired　young　man　who　had　likewise　been　waiting　for　an　opening。　　He　represented　the　Uplift　Film　Association　of　Chicago；　and　was　wishful　to　know　if　Miss　Tolley　would　consent　to　altering　the　last　chapter　and　so　providing　〃Running　Waters〃　with　a　happy　ending。　　He　pointed　out　the　hopelessness　of　it　in　its　present　form；　for　film　purposes。

The　discussion　was　brief。　　〃Then　I'll　send　your　agent　the　contract　to…morrow；〃　Joan　overheard　him　say　a　minute　later。

Mr。　Sam　Halliday　she　liked　at　once。　　He　was　a　clean…shaven；　square…　jawed　young　man；　with　quiet　eyes　and　a　pleasant　voice。

〃Try　and　find　me　brainy；〃　he　whispered　to　her；　as　soon　as　Flossie　was　out　of　earshot。　　〃Talk　to　me　about　China。　　I'm　quite　intelligent　on　China。〃

They　both　laughed；　and　then　shot　a　guilty　glance　in　Flossie's　direction。

〃Do　the　women　really　crush　their　feet？〃　asked　Joan。

〃Yes；〃　he　answered。　　〃All　those　who　have　no　use　for　them。　　About　one　per　cent。　of　the　population。　　To　listen　to　Miss　Tolley　you　would　think　that　half　the　women　wanted　a　new　husband　every　ten　years。　　It's　always　the　one　per　cent。　that　get　themselves　talked　about。　　The　other　ninety…nine　are　too　busy。〃

〃You　are　young　for　a　philosopher；〃　said　Joan。

He　laughed。　　〃I　told　you　I'd　be　all　right　if　you　started　me　on　China；〃　he　said。

〃Why　are　you　marrying。　　Flossie？〃　Joan　asked　him。　　She　thought　his　point　of　view　would　be　interesting。

〃Not　sure　I　am　yet；〃　he　answered　with　a　grin。　　〃It　depends　upon　how　I　get　through　this　evening。〃　　He　glanced　round　the　room。　　〃Have　I　got　to　pass　all　this　crowd；　I　wonder？〃　he　added。

Joan's　eyes　followed。　　It　was　certainly　an　odd　collection。　Flossie；　in　her　hunt　for　brains；　had　issued　her　invitations　broadcast；　and　her　fate　had　been　that　of　the　Charity　concert。　　Not　all　the　stars　upon　whom　she　had　most　depended　had　turned　up。　　On　the　other　hand　not　a　single　freak　had　failed　her。　　At　the　moment；　the　centre　of　the　room　was　occupied　by　a　gentleman　and　two　ladies　in　classical　drapery。　　They　were　holding　hands　in　an　attitude　suggestive　of　a　bas…relief。　　Joan　remembered　them；　having　seen　them　on　one　or　two　occasions　wandering　in　the　King's　Road；　Chelsea；　still　maintaining；　as　far　as　the　traffic　would　allow；　the　bas…　relief　suggestion；　and　generally　surrounded　by　a　crowd　of　children；　ever　hopeful　that　at　the　next　corner　they　would　stop　and　do　something　really　interesting。　　They　belonged　to　a　society　whose　object　was　to　lure　the　London　public　by　the　force　of　example　towards　the　adoption　of　the　early　Greek　fashions　and　the　simpler　Greek　attitudes。　　A　friend　of　Flossie's　had　thrown　in　her　lot　with　them；　but　could　never　be　induced　to　abandon　her　umbrella。　　They　also；　as　Joan　told　herself；　were　reformers。　　Near　to　them　was　a　picturesque　gentleman　with　a　beard　down　to　his　waist　whose　〃stunt〃…　…as　Flossie　would　have　termed　itwas　hygienic　clothing；　it　seemed　to　contain　an　undue　proportion　of　fresh　air。　　There　were　ladies　in　coats　and　stand…up　collars；　and　gentlemen　with　ringlets。　　More　than　one　of　the　guests　would　have　been　better；　though　perhaps　not　happier；　for　a　bath。

〃I　fancy　that's　the　idea；〃　said　Joan。　　〃What　will　you　do　if　you　fail？　　Go　back　to　China？〃

〃Yes；〃　he　answered。　　〃And　take　her　with　me。　　Poor　little　girl。〃

Joan　rather　resented　his　tone。

〃We　are　not　all　alike；〃　she　remarked。　　〃Some　of　us　are　quite　sane。〃

He　looked　straight　into　her　eyes。　　〃You　are；〃　he　said。　　〃I　have　been　reading　your　articles。　　They　are　splendid。　　I'm　going　to　help。〃

〃How　can　you？〃　she　said。　　〃I　mean；　how　will　you？〃

〃Shipping　is　my　business；〃　he　said。　　〃I'm　going　to　help　sailor　men。　See　that　they　have　somewhere　decent　to　go　to；　and　don't　get　robbed。　And　then　there　are　the　Lascars；　poor　devils。　　Nobody　ever　takes　their　part。