an unsocial socialist-第8节

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manner　he　led　the　rest　to　the　vehicles；　in　which　they　packed
themselves　with　some　difficulty。　Agatha；　who　came　last　but　one；
gave　him　threepence。

〃You　have　a　noble　'art　and　an　expressive　hi；　Miss；〃　he　said；
apparently　much　moved。　〃Blessings　on　both！　Blessings　on　both！〃

He　went　back　for　Jane；　who　slipped　on　the　wet　grass　and　fell。　He
had　to　put　forth　his　strength　as　he　helped　her　to　rise。　〃Hope　you
ain't　sopped　up　much　of　the　rainfall；　Miss；〃　he　said。　〃You　are　a
fine　young　lady　for　your　age。　Nigh　on　twelve　stone；　I　should
think。〃

She　reddened　and　hurried　to　the　cab；　where　Agatha　was。　But　it　was
full；　and　Jane；　much　against　her　will；　had　to　get　into　the　coach；
considerably　diminishing　the　space　left　for　Miss　Wilson；　to　whom
Smilash　had　returned。

〃Now；　dear　lady；〃　he　said；　〃take　care　you　don't　slip。　Come
along。〃

Miss　Wilson；　ignoring　the　invitation；　took　a　shilling　from　her
purse。

〃No；　lady；〃　said　Smilash　with　a　virtuous　air。　〃I　am　an　honest　man
and　have　never　seen　the　inside　of　a　jail　except　four　times；　and
only　twice　for　stealing。　Your　youngest　daughterher　with　the
expressive　hihave　paid　me　far　beyond　what　is　proper。〃

〃I　have　told　you　that　these　young　ladies　are　not　my　daughters；〃
said　Miss　Wilson　sharply。　〃Why　do　you　not　listen　to　what　is　said
to　you？〃

〃Don't　be　too　hard　on　a　common　man；　lady；〃　said　Smilash
submissively。　〃The　young　lady　have　just　given　me　three
'arf…crowns。〃

〃Three　half…crowns！〃　exclaimed　Miss　Wilson；　angered　at　such
extravagance。

〃Bless　her　innocence；　she　don't　know　what　is　proper　to　give　to　a
low　sort　like　me！　But　I　will　not　rob　the　young　lady。　'Arf…a…crown
is　no　more　nor　is　fair　for　the　job；　and　arf…a…crown　will　I　keep；
if　agreeable　to　your　noble　ladyship。　But　I　give　you　back　the　five
bob　in　trust　for　her。　Have　you　ever　noticed　her　expressive　hi？〃

〃Nonsense；　sir。　You　had　better　keep　the　money　now　that　you　have
got　it。〃

〃Wot！　Sell　for　five　bob　the　high　opinion　your　ladyship　has　of　me！
No；　dear　lady；　not　likely。　My　father's　very　last　words　to　me
was〃

〃You　said　just　now　that　you　were　a　foundling；〃　said　Fairholme。
〃What　are　we　to　believe？　Eh？〃

〃So　I　were；　sir；　but　by　mother's　side　alone。　Her　ladyship　will
please　to　take　back　the　money；　for　keep　it　I　will　not。　I　am　of
the　lower　orders；　and　therefore　not　a　man　of　my　word；　but　when　I
do　stick　to　it；　I　stick　like　wax。〃

〃Take　it；〃　said　Fairholme　to　Miss　Wilson。　〃Take　it；　of　course。
Seven　and　sixpence　is　a　ridiculous　sum　to　give　him　for　what　he
has　done。　It　would　only　set　him　drinking。〃

〃His　reverence　says　true；　lady。　The　one　'arfcrown　will　keep　me
comfortably　tight　until　Sunday　morning；　and　more　I　do　not
desire。〃

〃Just　a　little　less　of　your　tongue；　my　man；〃　said　Fairholme；
taking　the　two　coins　from　him　and　handing　them　to　Miss　Wilson；
who　bade　the　clergymen　good　afternoon；　and　went　to　the　coach
under　the　umbrella。

〃If　your　ladyship　should　want　a　handy　man　to　do　an　odd　job　up　at
the　college　I　hope　you　will　remember　me；〃　Smilash　said　as　they
went　down　the　slope。

〃Oh；　you　know　who　I　am；　do　you？〃　said　Miss　Wilson　drily。

〃All　the　country　knows　you；　Miss；　and　worships　you。　I　have　few
equals　as　a　coiner；　and　if　you　should　require　a　medal　struck　to
give　away　for　good　behavior　or　the　like；　I　think　I　could　strike
one　to　your　satisfaction。　And　if　your　ladyship　should　want　a
trifle　of　smuggled　lace〃

〃You　had　better　be　careful　or　you　will　get　into　trouble；　I
think；〃　said　Miss　Wilson　sternly。　〃Tell　him　to　drive　on。〃

The　vehicles　started；　and　Smilash　took　the　liberty　of　waving　his
hat　after　them。　Then　he　returned　to　the　chalet；　left　the　umbrella
within；　came　out　again；　locked　the　door；　put　the　key　in　his
pocket；　and　walked　off　through　the　rain　across　the　hill　without
taking　the　least　notice　of　the　astonished　parsons。

In　the　meantime　Miss　Wilson；　unable　to　contain　her　annoyance　at
Agatha's　extravagance；　spoke　of　it　to　the　girls　who　shared　the
coach　with　her。　But　Jane　declared　that　Agatha　only　possessed
threepence　in　the　world；　and　therefore　could　not　possibly　have
given　the　man　thirty　times　that　sum。　When　they　reached　the
college；　Agatha；　confronted　with　Miss　Wilson；　opened　her　eyes　in
wonder；　and　exclaimed；　laughing：　〃I　only　gave　him　threepence。　He
has　sent　me　a　present　of　four　and　ninepence！〃



CHAPTER　IV

Saturday　at　Alton　College；　nominally　a　half　holiday；　was　really　a
whole　one。　Classes　in　gymnastics；　dancing；　elocution；　and　drawing
were　held　in　the　morning。　The　afternoon　was　spent　at　lawn　tennis；
to　which　lady　guests　resident　in　the　neighborhood　were　allowed　to
bring　their　husbands；　brothers；　and　fathersMiss　Wilson　being
anxious　to　send　her　pupils　forth　into　the　world　free　from　the
uncouth　stiffness　of　schoolgirls　unaccustomed　to　society。

Late　in　October　came　a　Saturday　which　proved　anything　but　a
holiday　for　Miss　Wilson。　At　half…past　one；　luncheon　being　over；
she　went　out　of　doors　to　a　lawn　that　lay　between　the　southern
side　of　the　college　and　a　shrubbery。　Here　she　found　a　group　of
girls　watching　Agatha　and　Jane；　who　were　dragging　a　roller　over
the　grass。　One　of　them；　tossing　a　ball　about　with　her　racket；
happened　to　drive　it　into　the　shrubbery；　whence；　to　the　surprise
of　the　company；　Smilash　presently　emerged；　carrying　the　ball；
blinking；　and　proclaiming　that；　though　a　common　man；　he　had　his
feelings　like　another；　and　that　his　eye　was　neither　a　stick　nor　a
stone。　He　was　dressed　as　before；　but　his　garments；　soiled　with
clay　and　lime；　no　longer　looked　new。

〃What　brings　you　here；　pray？〃　demanded　Miss　Wilson。

〃I　was　led　into　the　belief　that　you　sent　for　me；　lady；〃　he
replied。　〃The　baker's　lad　told　me　so　as　he　passed　my　'umble　cot
this　morning。　I　thought　he　were　incapable　of　deceit。〃

〃That　is　quite　right；　I　did　send　for　you。　But　why　did　you　not　go
round　to　the　servants'　hall？〃

〃I　am　at　present　in　search　of　it；　lady。　I　were　looking　for　it
when　this　ball　cotch　me　here　〃　（touching　his　eye）。　〃A　cruel　blow
on　the　hi'　nat'rally　spires　its　vision　and　expression　and　makes　a
honest　man　look　like　a　thief。〃

〃Agatha；〃　said　Miss　Wilson；　〃come　here。〃

〃My　dooty　to　you；　Miss；〃　said　Smilash；　pulling　his　forelock。

〃This　is　the　man　from　whom　I　had　the　five　shillings；　which　he
said　you　had　just　given　him。　Did　you　do　so　？〃

〃Certainly　not。　I　only　gave　him　threepence。〃

〃But　I　showed　the　money　to　your　ladyship；〃　said　Smilash；　twisting
his　hat　agitatedly。　〃I　gev　it　you。　Where　would　the　like　of　me　get
five　shillings　except　by　the　bounty　of　the　rich　and　noble？　If　the
young　lady　thinks　I　hadn't　ort　to　have　kep'　the　tother　'arfcrown；
I　would　not　object　to　its　bein'　stopped　from　my　wages　if　I　were
given　a　job　of　work　here。　But〃

〃But　it's　nonsense；〃　said　Agatha。　〃I　never　gave　you　three
half…crowns。〃

〃Perhaps　you　mout　'a'　made　a　mistake。　Pence　is　summat　similar　to
'arf…crowns；　and　the　day　were　very　dark。〃

〃I　couldn't　have；〃　said　Agatha。　〃Jane　had　my　purse　all　the
earlier　part　of　the　week；　Miss　Wilson；　and　she　can　tell　you　that
there　was　only　threepence　in　it。　You　know　that　I　get　my　money　on
the　first　of　every　month。　It　never　lasts　longer　than　a　week。　The
idea　of　my　having　seven　and　sixpence　on　the　sixteenth　is
ridiculous。〃

〃But　I　put　it　to　you；　Miss；　ain't　it　twice　as　ridiculous　for　me；
a　poor　laborer；　to　give　up　money　wot　I　never　got？〃

Vague　alarm　crept　upon　Agatha　as　the　testimony　of　her　senses　was
contradicted。　〃All　I　know　is；〃　she　protested；　〃that　I　did　not
give　it　to　you；　so　my　pennies　must　have　turned　into　half…crowns
in　your　pocket。〃

〃Mebbe　so；〃　said　Smilash　gravely。　〃I've　heard；　and　I　know　it　for
a　fact；　that　money　grows　in　the　pockets　of　the　rich。　Why　not　in
the　pockets　of　the　poor　as　well？　Why　should　you　be　su'prised　at
wot　'appens　every　day？〃

〃Had　you　any　money　of　your　own　about　you　at　the　time？〃

〃Where　could　the　like　of　me　get　money？asking　pardon　for　making
so　bold　as　to　catechise　your　ladyship。〃

〃I　don't　know　where　you　could　get　it；〃　said　Miss　Wilson　testily；
〃I　ask　you；　had　you　any？〃

〃Well；　lady；　I　disremember。　I　will　not　impose　upon　you。　I
disremember。〃

〃Then　you've　made　a　mistake；〃　said　Miss　Wilson；　handing　him　back
his　money。　〃Here。　If　it　is　not　yours；　it　is　not　ours；　so　you　had
better　keep　it。〃

〃Keep　it！　Oh；　lady；　but　this　is　the　heighth　of　nobility！　And　what
shall　I　do　to　earn　your　bounty；　lady？〃

〃It　is　not　my　bounty：　I　give　it　to　you　because　it　does　not　belong
to　me；　and；　I　suppose；　must　belong　to　you。　You　seem　to　be　a　very
simple　man。〃

〃I　thank　your　ladyship；　I　hope　I　am。　Respecting　the　day's　work；
now；　lady；　was　you　thinking　of　employing　a　poor　man　at　all？〃

〃No；　thank　you；　I　have　no　occasion　for　your　services。　I　have　also
to　give　you　the　shilling　I　promised　you　for　getting　the　cabs。
Here　it　is。〃

〃Another　shillin'！〃　cried　Smilash；　stupefied。

〃Yes；〃　said　Miss　Wilson；　beginning　to　feel　very　angry。　〃Let　me
hear　no　more　about　it；　please。　Don't　you　understand　that　you　have
earned　it？〃

〃I　am　a　common　man；　and　understand　next　to　nothing；〃　he　replied
reverently。　〃But　if　your　ladyship　would　give　me　a　day's　work　to
keep　me　goin'；　I　could　put　up　all　this　money　in　a　little　wooden
savings　bank　I　have　at　home；　and　keep　it　to　spend　when　sickness