fraternity-第10节

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ments　were　hanging　on　nails；　pans　lay　about　the　hearth；　a　sewing…machine　stood　on　a　bare　deal　table。　　Over　the　bed　was　hung　an　oleograph；　from　a　Christmas　supplement；　of　the　birth　of　Jesus；　and　above　it　a　bayonet；　under　which　was　printed　in　an　illiterate　hand　on　a　rough　scroll　of　paper：　〃Gave　three　of　em　what　for　at　Elandslaagte。　　S。　Hughs。〃　　Some　photographs　adorned　the　walls；　and　two　drooping　ferns　stood　on　the　window…ledge。　　The　room　withal　had　a　sort　of　desperate　tidiness；　in　a　large　cupboard；　slightly　open；　could　be　seen　stowed　all　that　must　not　see　the　light　of　day。　　The　window　of　the　baby's　kingdom　was　tightly　closed；　the　scent　was　the　scent　of　walls　and　washing　and　red　herrings；　andof　other　things。

Hilary　looked　at　the　baby；　and　the　baby　looked　at　him。　　The　eyes　of　that　tiny　scrap　of　grey　humanity　seemed　saying：

'You　are　not　my　mother；　I　believe？'

He　stooped　down　and　touched　its　cheek。　　The　baby　blinked　its　black　eyes　once。

'No；'　it　seemed；　to　say　again；　'you　are　not　my　mother。'

A　lump　rose　in　Hilary's　throat；　he　turned　and　went　downstairs。　Pausing　outside　the　little　model's　door；　he　knocked；　and；　receiving　no　answer；　turned　the　handle。　　The　little　square　room　was　empty；　it　was　neat　and　clean　enough；　with　a　pink…flowered　paper　of　comparatively　modern　date。　　Through　its　open　window　could　be　seen　a　pear…tree　in　full　bloom。　　Hilary　shut　the　door　again　with　care；　ashamed　of　having　opened　it。

On　the　half…landing；　staring　up　at　him　with　black　eyes　like　the　baby's；　was　a　man　of　medium　height　and　active　build；　whose　short　face；　with　broad　cheekbones；　cropped　dark　hair；　straight　nose；　and　little　black　moustache；　was　burnt　a　dark　dun　colour。　　He　was　dressed　in　the　uniform　of　those　who　sweep　the　streetsa　loose　blue　blouse；　and　trousers　tucked　into　boots　reaching　half…way　up　his　calves；　he　held　a　peaked　cap　in　his　hand。

After　some　seconds　of　mutual　admiration；　Hilary　said：

〃Mr。　Hughs；　I　believe？〃　　Yes。

〃I've　been　up　to　see　your　wife。〃

〃Have　you？〃

〃You　know　me；　I　suppose？〃

〃Yes；　I　know　you。〃

〃Unfortunately；　there's　only　your　baby　at　home。〃

Hughs　motioned　with　his　cap　towards　the　little　model's　room。　　〃I　thought　perhaps　you'd　been　to　see　her；〃　he　said。　　His　black　eyes　smouldered；　there　was　more　than　class　resentment　in　the　expression　of　his　face。

Flushing　slightly　and　giving　him　a　keen　look；　Hilary　passed　down　the　stairs　without　replying。　　But　Miranda　had　not　followed。　　She　stood；　with　one　paw　delicately　held　up　above　the　topmost　step。

'I　don't　know　this　man；'　she　seemed　to　say；　'and　I　don't　like　his　looks。'

Hughs　grinned。　　〃I　never　hurt　a　dumb　animal；〃　he　said；　〃come　on；　tykie！〃

Stimulated　by　a　word　she　had　never　thought　to　hear；　Miranda　descended　rapidly。

'He　meant　that　for　impudence；'　thought　Hilary　as　he　walked　away。

〃Westminister；　sir？　　Oh　dear！〃

A　skinny　trembling　hand　was　offering　him　a　greenish　newspaper。

〃Terrible　cold　wind　for　the　time　o'　year！〃

A　very　aged　man　in　black…rimmed　spectacles；　with　a　distended　nose　and　long　upper　lip　and　chin；　was　tentatively　fumbling　out　change　for　sixpence。

〃I　seem　to　know　your　face；〃　said　Hilary。

〃Oh　dear；　yes。　　You　deals　with　this　'ere　shopthe　tobacco　department。　　I've　often　seen　you　when　you've　a…been　agoin'　in。　Sometimes　you　has　the　Pell　Mell　off　o'　this　man　here。〃　　He　jerked　his　head　a　trifle　to　the　left；　where　a　younger　man　was　standing　armed　with　a　sheaf　of　whiter　papers。　　In　that　gesture　were　years　of　envy；　heart…burning；　and　sense　of　wrong。　　'That's　my　paper；'　it　seemed　to　say；　'by　all　the　rights　of　man；　and　that　low…class　fellow　sellin'　it；　takin'　away　my　profits！'

〃I　sells　this　'ere　Westminister。　　I　reads　it　on　Sundaysit's　a　gentleman's　paper；　'igh…class　papernotwithstandin'　of　its　politics。　But；　Lor'；　sir；　with　this　'ere　man　a…sellin'　the　Pell　Mell〃lowering　his　voice；　he　invited　Hilary　to　confidence〃so　many　o'　the　gentry　takes　that；　an'　there　ain't　too　many　o'　the　gentry　about　'ereI　mean；　not　o'　the　real　gentrythat　I　can　afford　to　'ave　'em　took　away　from　me。〃

Hilary；　who　had　stopped　to　listen　out　of　delicacy；　had　a　flash　of　recollection。　　〃You　live　in　Hound　Street？〃

The　old　man　answered　eagerly：　〃Oh　dear！　　Yes；　sirNo。　1；　name　of　Creed。　　You're　the　gentleman　where　the　young　person　goes　for　to　copy　of　a　book！〃

〃It's　not　my　book　she　copies。〃

〃Oh　no；　it's　an　old　gentleman；　I　know　'im。　　He　come　an'　see　me　once。　He　come　in　one　Sunday　morning。　　'Here's　a　pound　o'　tobacca　for　you！'　'e　says。　　'You　was　a　butler；'　'e　says。　　'Butlers！'　'e　says；　'there'll　be　no　butlers　in　fifty　years。'　　An'　out　'e　goes。　　Not　quite〃he　put　a　shaky　hand　up　to　his　head〃not　quiteoh　dear！〃

〃Some　people　called　Hughs　live　in　your　house；　I　think？〃

〃I　rents　my　room　off　o'　them。　　A　lady　was　a…speakin'　to　me　yesterday　about　'em；　that's　not　your　lady；　I　suppose；　sir？〃

His　eyes　seemed　to　apostrophise　Hilary's　hat；　which　was　of　soft　felt：　'Yes；　yesI've　seen　your　sort　a…stayin'　about　in　the　best　houses。　They　has　you　down　because　of　your　learnin'；　and　quite　the　manners　of　a　gentleman　you've　got。'

〃My　wife's　sister；　I　expect。〃

〃Oh　dear！　　She　often　has　a　paper　off　o'　me。　　A　real　ladynot　one　o'　these〃again　he　invited　Hilary　to　confidence〃you　know　what　I　mean；　sirthat　buys　their　things　a'　ready…made　at　these　'ere　large　establishments。　　Oh；　I　know　her　well。〃

〃The　old　gentleman　who　visited　you　is　her　father。〃

〃Is　he？　　Oh　dear！〃　　The　old　butler　was　silent；　evidently　puzzled。

Hilary's　eyebrows　began　to　execute　those　intricate　manoeuvres　which　always　indicated　that　he　was　about　to　tax　his　delicacy。

〃How…how　does　Hughs　treat　the　little　girl　who　lives　in　the　next　room　to　you？〃

The　old　butler　replied　in　a　rather　gloomy　tone：

〃She　takes　my　advice；　and　don't　'ave　nothin'　to　say　to　'im。　　Dreadful　foreign…lookin'　man　'e　is。　　Wherever　'e　was　brought　up　I　can't　think！〃

〃A　soldier；　wasn't　he？〃

〃So　he　says。　　He's　one　o'　these　that　works　for　the　Vestry；　an'　then　'e'll　go　an'　get　upon　the　drink；　an'　when　that　sets　'im　off；　it　seems　as　if　there　wasn't　no　respect　for　nothing　in　'im；　he　goes　on　against　the　gentry；　and　the　Church；　and　every　sort　of　institution。　　I　never　met　no　soldiers　like　him。　　Dreadful　foreignWelsh；　they　tell　me。〃

〃What　do　you　think　of　the　street　you're　living　in？〃

〃I　keeps　myself　to　myself；　low　class　o'　street　it　is；　dreadful　low　class　o'　person　thereno　self…respect　about　'em。〃

〃Ah！〃　said　Hilary。

〃These　little　'ouses；　they　get　into　the　hands　o'　little　men；　and　they　don't　care　so　long　as　they　makes　their　rent　out　o'　them。　　They　can't　help　themselveslow　class　o'　man　like　that；　'e's　got　to　do　the　best　'e　can　for　'imself。　　They　say　there's　thousands　o'　these　'ouses　all　over　London。　　There's　some　that's　for　pullin'　of　'em　down；　but　that's　talkin'　rubbish；　where　are　you　goin'　to　get　the　money　for　to　do　it？　These　'ere　little　men；　they　can't　afford　not　even　to　put　a　paper　on　the　walls；　and　the　big　ground　landlords…you　can't　expect　them　to　know　what's　happenin'　behind　their　backs。　　There's　some　ignorant　fellers　like　this　Hughs　talks　a　lot　o'　wild　nonsense　about　the　duty　o'　ground　landlords；　but　you　can't　expect　the　real　gentry　to　look　into　these　sort　o'　things。　　They've　got　their　estates　down　in　the　country。　　I've　lived　with　them；　and　of　course　I　know。〃

The　little　bulldog；　incommoded　by　the　passers…by；　now　took　the　opportunity　of　beating　with　her　tail　against　the　old　butler's　legs。

〃Oh　dear！　what's　this？　　He　don't　bite；　do　'e？　　Good　Sambo！〃

Miranda　sought　her　master's　eye　at　once。　　'You　see　what　happens　to　her　if　a　lady　loiters　in　the　streets；'　she　seemed　to　say。

〃It　must　be　hard　standing　about　here　all　day；　after　the　life　you've　led；〃　said　Hilary。

〃I　mustn't　complain；　it's　been　the　salvation　o'　me。〃

〃Do　you　get　shelter？〃

Again　the　old　butler　seemed　to　take　him　into　confidence。

〃Sometimes　of　a　wet　night　they　lets　me　stand　up　in　the　archway　there；　they　know　I'm　respectable。　　'T　wouldn't　never　do　for　that　man〃he　nodded　at　his　rival〃or　any　of　them　boys　to　get　standin'　there；　obstructin'　of　the　traffic。〃

〃I　wanted　to　ask　you；　Mr。　Creed；　is　there　anything　to　be　done　for　Mrs。　Hughs？〃

The　frail　old　body　quivered　with　the　vindictive　force　of　his　answer。

〃Accordin'　to　what　she　says；　if　I'm　a…to　believe　'er；　I'd　have　him　up　before　the　magistrate；　sure　as　my　name's　Creed；　an'　get　a　separation；　an'　I　wouldn't　never　live　with　'im　again：　that's　what　she　ought　to　do。　　An'　if　he　come　to　go　for　her　after　that；　I'd　have　'im　in　prison；　if　'e　killed　me　first！　　I've　no　patience　with　a　low　class　o'　man　like　that！　　He　insulted　of　me　this　morning。〃

〃Prison's　a　dreadful　remedy；〃　murmured　Hilary。

The　old　butler　answered　stoutly：　〃There　ain't　but　one　way　o'　treatin'　them　low　fellersketch　hold　o'　them　until　they　holler！〃

Hilary　was　about　to　reply　when　he　found　himself　alone。　　At　the　edge　of　the　pavement　some　yards　away；　Creed；　his　face　upraised　to　heaven；　was　embracing　with　all　his　force　the　second　edition　of　the　Westminster　Gazette；　which　had　been　thrown　him　from　a　cart。

'Well；'　thought　Hilary；　walking　on；　'you　know　your　own　mind；　anyway！'

And　trotting　by　his　side；　with　her　jaw　set　very　firm；　his　little　bulldog　looked　up　above　her　eyes；　and　seemed　to　say：　'It　was　time　we　left　that　man　of　actio