all roads lead to calvary-第24节
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She very much wanted to look at him； but she would not。 It seemed to her quite a time before he replied。
〃Yes；〃 he answered； 〃I'm strong enough to fight him。 Shall rather enjoy doing it。 And it's time that somebody did。 Whether I'm strong enough to win has got to be seen。〃
She turned and looked at him then。 She wondered why she had ever thought him ugly。
〃You can face it；〃 she said： 〃the possibility of all your life's work being wasted？〃
〃It won't be wasted；〃 he answered。 〃The land is there。 I've seen it from afar and it's a good land； a land where no man shall go hungry。 If not I； another shall lead the people into it。 I shall have prepared the way。〃
She liked him for that touch of exaggeration。 She was so tired of the men who make out all things little； including themselves and their own work。 After all； was it exaggeration？ Might he not have been chosen to lead the people out of bondage to a land where there should be no more fear。
〃You're not angry with me？〃 he asked。 〃I haven't been rude； have I？〃
〃Abominably rude；〃 she answered； 〃you've defied my warnings； and treated my embassy with contempt。〃 She turned to him and their eyes met。 〃I should have despised you； if you hadn't；〃 she added。
There was a note of exultation in her voice； and； as if in answer； something leapt into his eyes that seemed to claim her。 Perhaps it was well that just then the bell rang for a division； and the moment passed。
He rose and held out his hand。 〃We will fight him；〃 he said。 〃And you can tell him this； if he asks； that I'm going straight for him。 Parliament may as well close down if a few men between them are to be allowed to own the entire Press of the country； and stifle every voice that does not shout their bidding。 We haven't dethroned kings to put up a newspaper Boss。 He shall have all the fighting he wants。〃
They met more often from that day； for Joan was frankly using her two columns in the Sunday Post to propagate his aims。 Carleton； to her surprise； made no objection。 Nor did he seek to learn the result of his ultimatum。 It looked； they thought； as if he had assumed acceptance； and was willing for Phillips to choose his own occasion。 Meanwhile replies to her articles reached Joan in weekly increasing numbers。 There seemed to be a wind arising； blowing towards Protection。 Farm labourers； especially； appeared to be enthusiastic for its coming。 From their ill…spelt； smeared epistles； one gathered that； after years of doubt and hesitation； they hadhowever reluctantlyarrived at the conclusion that without it there could be no hope for them。 Factory workers； miners； engineersmore fluent； less apologeticwrote as strong supporters of Phillips's scheme； but saw clearly how upon Protection its success depended。 Shopmen； clerksonly occasionally ungrammaticalfelt sure that Robert Phillips； the tried friend of the poor； would insist upon the boon of Protection being no longer held back from the people。 Wives and mothers claimed it as their children's birthright。 Similar views got themselves at the same time； into the correspondence columns of Carleton's other numerous papers。 Evidently Democracy had been throbbing with a passion for Protection hitherto unknown； even to itself。
〃He means it kindly；〃 laughed Phillips。 〃He is offering me an excuse to surrender gracefully。 We must have a public meeting or two after Christmas； and clear the ground。〃 They had got into the habit of speaking in the plural。
Mrs。 Phillips's conversion Joan found more difficult than she had anticipated。 She had persuaded Phillips to take a small house and let her furnish it upon the hire system。 Joan went with her to the widely advertised 〃Emporium〃 in the City Road； meaning to advise her。 But； in the end； she gave it up out of sheer pity。 Nor would her advice have served much purpose； confronted by the 〃rich and varied choice〃 provided for his patrons by Mr。 Krebs； the 〃Furnisher for Connoisseurs。〃
〃We've never had a home exactly；〃 explained Mrs。 Phillips； during their journey in the tram。 〃It's always been lodgings； up to now。 Nice enough； some of them； but you know what I mean； everybody else's taste but your own。 I've always fancied a little house with one's own things in it。 You know； things that you can get fond of。〃
Oh； the things she was going to get fond of！ The things that her poor； round foolish eyes gloated upon the moment that she saw them！ Joan tried to enlist the shopman on her side； descending even to flirtation。 Unfortunately he was a young man with a high sense of duty； convinced that his employer's interests lay in his support of Mrs。 Phillips。 The sight of the furniture that； between them； they selected for the dining…room gave Joan a quite distinct internal pain。 They ascended to the floor above； devoted to the exhibition of 〃Recherche drawing…room suites。〃 Mrs。 Phillips's eye instinctively fastened with passionate desire upon the most atrocious。 Joan grew vehement。 It was impossible。
〃I always was a one for cheerful colours；〃 explained Mrs。 Phillips。
Even the shopman wavered。 Joan pressed her advantage； directed Mrs。 Phillips's attention to something a little less awful。 Mrs。 Phillips yielded。
〃Of course you know best； dear；〃 she admitted。 〃Perhaps I am a bit too fond of bright things。〃
The victory was won。 Mrs。 Phillips had turned away。 The shopman was altering the order。 Joan moved towards the door； and accidentally caught sight of Mrs。 Phillips's face。 The flabby mouth was trembling。 A tear was running down the painted cheek。
Joan slipped her hand through the other's arm。
〃I'm not so sure you're not right after all；〃 she said； fixing a critical eye upon the rival suites。 〃It is a bit mousey； that other。〃
The order was once more corrected。 Joan had the consolation of witnessing the childish delight that came again into the foolish face； but felt angry with herself at her own weakness。
It was the woman's feebleness that irritated her。 If only she had shown a spark of fight； Joan could have been firm。 Poor feckless creature； what could have ever been her attraction for Phillips！
She followed； inwardly fuming； while Mrs。 Phillips continued to pile monstrosity upon monstrosity。 What would Phillips think？ And what would Hilda's eyes say when they looked upon that recherche drawing…room suite？ Hilda； who would have had no sentimental compunctions！ The woman would be sure to tell them both that she； Joan； had accompanied her and helped in the choosing。 The whole ghastly house would be exhibited to every visitor as the result of their joint taste。 She could hear Mr。 Airlie's purring voice congratulating her。
She ought to have insisted on their going to a decent shop。 The mere advertisement ought to have forewarned her。 It was the posters that had captured Mrs。 Phillips： those dazzling apartments where bejewelled society reposed upon the 〃high…class but inexpensive designs〃 of Mr。 Krebs。 Artists ought to have more self…respect than to sell their talents for such purposes。
The contract was concluded in Mr。 Krebs' private office： a very stout gentleman with a very thin voice； whose dream had always been to one day be of service to the renowned Mr。 Robert Phillips。 He was clearly under the impression that he had now accomplished it。 Even as Mrs。 Phillips took up the pen to sign； the wild idea occurred to Joan of snatching the paper away from her； hustling her into a cab； and in some quiet street or square making the woman see for herself that she was a useless fool； that the glowing dreams and fancies she had cherished in her silly head for fifteen years must all be given up； that she must stand aside； knowing herself of no account。
It could be done。 She felt it。 If only one could summon up the needful brutality。 If only one could stifle that still； small voice of Pity。
Mrs。 Phillips signed amid splutterings and blots。 Joan added her signature as witness。
She did effect an improvement in the poor lady's dress。 On Madge's advice she took her to a voluble little woman in the Earl's Court Road who was struck at once by Madame Phillips's remarkable resemblance to the Baroness von Stein。 Had not Joan noticed it？ Whatever suited the Baroness von Steinallowed by common consent to be one of the best…dressed women in Londonwas bound to show up Madame Phillips to equal advantage。 By curious coincidence a costume for the Baroness had been put in hand only the day before。 It was sent for and pinned upon the delighted Madame Phillips。 Perfection！ As the Baroness herself would always say： 〃My frock must be a framework for my personality。 It must never obtrude。〃 The supremely well…dressed woman！ One never notices what she has on： that is the test。 It seemed it was what Mrs。 Phillips had always felt herself。 Joan could have kissed the voluble； emphatic little woman。
But the dyed hair and the paint put up a fight for themselves。
〃I want you to do something very brave；〃 said Joan。 She had invited herself to tea with Mrs。 Phillips； and they were alone in the small white…panelled room that they were soon to say good…bye to。 The new house would be ready at Christmas。 〃It will be a little hard at first；〃 continued J
