an unsocial socialist-第21节

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to　a　sitting　posture　he　became　aware　that　eight　young　ladies　were
watching　his　proceedings　with　interest。

〃This　comes　of　a　common　man　putting　himself　above　his　station　by
getting　into　gentlemen's　skates；〃　he　said。　〃Had　I　been　content
with　a　humble　slide；　as　my　fathers　was；　I　should　ha'　been　a
happier　man　at　the　present　moment。〃　He　sighed；　rose；　touched　his
hat　to　Miss　Ward；　and　took　off　his　skates；　adding：　〃Good…morning；
Miss。　Miss　Wilson　sent　me　word　to　be　here　sharp　at　six　to　put　on
the　young　ladies'　skates；　and　I　took　the　liberty　of　trying　a
figure　or　two　to　keep　out　the　cold。〃

〃Miss　Wilson　did　not　tell　me　that　she　ordered　you　to　come；〃　said
Miss　Ward。

〃Just　like　her　to　be　thoughtful　and　yet　not　let　on　to　be！　She　is
a　kind　lady；　and　a　learnedlike　yourself；　Miss。　Sit　yourself
down　on　the　camp…stool。　and　give　me　your　heel；　if　I　may　be　so
bold　as　to　stick　a　gimlet　into　it。〃

His　assistance　was　welcome；　and　Miss　Ward　allowed　him　to　put　on
her　skates。　She　was　a　Canadian；　and　could　skate　well。　Jane；　the
first　to　follow　her；　was　anxious　as　to　the　strength　of　the　ice；
but　when　reassured；　she　acquitted　herself　admirably；　for　she　was
proficient　in　outdoor　exercises；　and　had　the　satisfaction　of
laughing　in　the　field　at　those　who　laughed　at　her　in　the　study。
Agatha；　contrary　to　her　custom；　gave　way　to　her　companions；　and
her　boots　were　the　last　upon　which　Smilash　operated。

〃How　d'you　do；　Miss　Wylie？〃　he　said；　dropping　the　Smilash　manner
now　that　the　rest　were　out　of　earshot。

〃I　am　very　well；　thank　you；〃　said　Agatha；　shy　and　constrained。
This　phase　of　her　being　new　to　him；　he　paused　with　her　heel　in
his　hand　and　looked　up　at　her　curiously。　She　collected　herself；
returned　his　gaze　steadily；　and　said：　〃How　did　Miss　Wilson　send
you　word　to　come？　She　only　knew　of　our　party　at　half…past　nine
last　night。〃

〃Miss　Wilson　did　not　send　for　me。〃

〃But　you　have　just　told　Miss　Ward　that　she　did。〃

〃Yes。　I　find　it　necessary　to　tell　almost　as　many　lies　now　that　I
am　a　simple　laborer　as　I　did　when　I　was　a　gentleman。　More；　in
fact。〃

〃I　shall　know　how　much　to　believe　of　what　you　say　in　the　future。〃

〃The　truth　is　this。　I　am　perhaps　the　worst　skater　in　the　world；
and　therefore；　according　to　a　natural　law；　I　covet　the　faintest
distinction　on　the　ice　more　than　immortal　fame　for　the　things　in
which　nature　has　given　me　aptitude　to　excel。　I　envy　that　large
friend　of　yoursJane　is　her　name；　I　thinkmore　than　I　envy
Plato。　I　came　down　here　this　morning；　thinking　that　the　skating
world　was　all　a…bed；　to　practice　in　secret。〃

〃I　am　glad　we　caught　you　at　it；〃　said　Agatha　maliciously；　for　he
was　disappointing　her。　She　wanted　him　to　be　heroic　in　his
conversation；　and　he　would　not。

〃I　suppose　so；〃　he　replied。　〃I　have　observed　that　Woman's　dearest
delight　is　to　wound　Man's　self…conceit；　though　Man's　dearest
delight　is　to　gratify　hers。　There　is　at　least　one　creature　lower
than　Man。　Now；　off　with　you。　Shall　I　hold　you　until　your　ankles
get　firm？〃

〃Thank　you；〃　she　said；　disgusted：　〃_I_　can　skate　pretty　well；　and
I　don't　think　you　could　give　me　any　useful　assistance。〃　And　she
went　off　cautiously；　feeling　that　a　mishap　would　be　very
disgraceful　after　such　a　speech。

He　stood　on　the　shore；　listening　to　the　grinding；　swaying　sound
of　the　skates；　and　watching　the　growing　complexity　of　the　curves
they　were　engraving　on　the　ice。　As　the　girls　grew　warm　and
accustomed　to　the　exercise　they　laughed；　jested；　screamed
recklessly　when　they　came　into　collision；　and　sailed　before　the
wind　down　the　whole　length　of　the　pond　at　perilous　speed。　The
more　animated　they　became；　the　gloomier　looked　Smilash。　〃Not
two…penn'orth　of　choice　between　them　and　a　parcel　of　puppies；〃　he
said；　〃except　that　some　of　them　are　conscious　that　there　is　a　man
looking　at　them；　although　he　is　only　a　blackguard　laborer。　They
remind　me　of　Henrietta　in　a　hundred　ways。　Would　I　laugh；　now；　if
the　whole　sheet　of　ice　were　to　burst　into　little　bits　under
them？〃

Just　then　the　ice　cracked　with　a　startling　report；　and　the
skaters；　except　Jane；　skimmed　away　in　all　directions。

〃You　are　breaking　the　ice　to　pieces；　Jane；〃　said　Agatha；　calling
from　a　safe　distance。　〃How　can　you　expect　it　to　bear　your
weight？〃

〃Pack　of　fools！〃　retorted　Jane　indignantly。　〃The　noise　only　shows
how　strong　it　is。〃

The　shock　which　the　report　had　given　Smilash　answered　him　his
question。　〃Make　a　note　that　wishes　for　the　destruction　of　the
human　race；　however　rational　and　sincere；　are　contrary　to
nature；〃　he　said；　recovering　his　spirits。　〃Besides；　what　a
precious　fool　I　should　be　if　I　were　working　at　an　international
association　of　creatures　only　fit　for　destruction！　Hi；　lady！　One
word；　Miss！〃　This　was　to　Miss　Ward；　who　had　skated　into　his
neighborhood。　〃It　bein'　a　cold　morning；　and　me　havin'　a　poor　and
common　circulation；　would　it　be　looked　on　as　a　liberty　if　I　was
to　cut　a　slide　here　or　take　a　turn　in　the　corner　all　to　myself？〃

〃You　may　skate　over　there　if　you　wish；〃　she　said；　after　a　pause
for　consideration；　pointing　to　a　deserted　spot　at　the　leeward　end
of　the　pond；　where　the　ice　was　too　rough　for　comfortable　skating。

〃Nobly　spoke！〃　he　cried；　with　a　grin；　hurrying　to　the　place
indicated；　where；　skating　being　out　of　the　question；　he　made　a
pair　of　slides；　and　gravely　exercised　himself　upon　them　until　his
face　glowed　and　his　fingers　tingled　in　the　frosty　air。　The　time
passed　quickly；　when　Miss　Ward　sent　for　him　to　take　off　her
skates　there　was　a　general　groan　and　declaration　that　it　could
not　possibly　be　half…past　eight　o'clock　yet。　Smilash　knelt　before
the　camp…stool；　and　was　presently　busy　unbuckling　and　unscrewing。
When　Jane's　turn　came；　the　camp…stool　creaked　beneath　her　weight。
Agatha　again　remonstrated　with　her；　but　immediately　reproached
herself　with　flippancy　before　Smilash；　to　whom　she　wished　to
convey　an　impression　of　deep　seriousness　of　character。

〃Smallest　foot　of　the　lot；〃　he　said　critically；　holding　Jane's
foot　between　his　finger　and　thumb　as　if　it　were　an　art　treasure
which　he　had　been　invited　to　examine。　〃And　belonging　to　the
finest　built　lady。〃

Jane　snatched　away　her　foot；　blushed；　and　said：

〃Indeed！　What　next；　I　wonder？〃

〃T'other　'un　next；〃　he　said；　setting　to　work　on　the　remaining
skate。　When　it　was　off；　he　looked　up　at　her；　and　she　darted　a
glance　at　him　as　she　rose　which　showed　that　his　compliment　（her
feet　were；　in　fact；　small　and　pretty）　was　appreciated。

〃Allow　me；　Miss；〃　he　said　to　Gertrude；　who　was　standing　on　one
leg；　leaning　on　Agatha；　and　taking　off　her　own　skates。

〃No；　thank　you；〃　she　said　coldly。　〃I　don't　need　your　assistance。〃

〃I　am　well　aware　that　the　offer　was　overbold；〃　he　replied；　with　a
self…complacency　that　made　his　profession　of　humility
exasperating。　〃If　all　the　skates　is　off；　I　will；　by　Miss　Wilson's
order；　carry　them　and　the　camp…stool　back　to　the　college。〃

Miss　Ward　handed　him　her　skates　and　turned　away。　Gertrude　placed
hers　on　the　stool　and　went　with　Miss　Ward。　The　rest　followed；
leaving　him　to　stare　at　the　heap　of　skates　and　consider　how　he
should　carry　them。　He　could　think　of　no　better　plan　than　to
interlace　the　straps　and　hang　them　in　a　chain　over　his　shoulder。
By　the　time　he　had　done　this　the　young　ladies　were　out　of　sight；
and　his　intention　of　enjoying　their　society　during　the　return　to
the　college　was　defeated。　They　had　entered　the　building　long
before　he　came　in　sight　of　it。

Somewhat　out　of　conceit　with　his　folly；　he　went　to　the　servants'
entrance　and　rang　the　bell　there。　When　the　door　was　opened；　he
saw　Miss　Ward　standing　behind　the　maid　who　admitted　him。

〃Oh；〃　she　said；　looking　at　the　string　of　skates　as　if　she　had
hardly　expected　to　see　them　again；　〃so　you　have　brought　our
things　back？〃

〃Such　were　my　instructions；〃　he　said；　taken　aback　by　her　manner。
〃You　had　no　instructions。　What　do　you　mean　by　getting　our　skates
into　your　charge　under　false　pretences？　I　was　about　to　send　the
police　to　take　them　from　you。　How　dare　you　tell　me　that　you　were
sent　to　wait　on　me；　when　you　know　very　well　that　you　were　nothing
of　the　sort？〃

〃I　couldn't　help　it；　Miss；〃　he　replied　submissively。　〃I　am　a
natural　born　liaralways　was。　I　know　that　it　must　appear
dreadful　to　you　that　never　told　a　lie；　and　don't　hardly　know　what
a　lie　is；　belonging　as　you　do　to　a　class　where　none　is　ever　told。
But　common　people　like　me　tells　lies　just　as　a　duck　swims。　I　ask
your　pardon；　Miss；　most　humble；　and　I　hope　the　young　ladies'll　be
able　to　tell　one　set　of　skates　from　t'other；　for　I'm　blest　if　I
can。〃

〃Put　them　down。　Miss　Wilson　wishes　to　speak　to　you　before　you　go。
Susan；　show　him　the　way。〃

〃Hope　you　ain't　been　and　got　a　poor　cove　into　trouble；　Miss？〃

〃Miss　Wilson　knows　how　you　have　behaved。〃

He　smiled　at　her　benevolently　and　followed　Susan　upstairs。　On
their　way　they　met　Jane；　who　stole　a　glance　at　him；　and　was　about
to　pass　by；　when　he　said：

〃Won't　you　say　a　word　to　Miss　Wilson　for　a　poor　common　fellow；
honored　young　lady？　I　have　got　into　dreadful　trouble　for　having
made　bold　to　assist　you　this　morning。〃

〃You　needn't　give　yourself　the　pains　to　talk　like　that；〃　replied
Jane　in　an　impetuous　whisper。　〃We　all　know　that　you're　only