fraternity-第14节

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〃It　is　strange；〃　he　said；　〃how　you　came　to　be　my　daughter！〃

To　Cecilia；　too；　this　had　often　seemed　a　problem。

〃There　is　a　great　deal　in　atavism；〃　said　Mr。　Stone；　〃that　we　know　nothing　of　at　present。〃

Cecilia　cried　with　heat；　〃I　do　wish　you　would　attend　a　minute；　Father；　it's　really　an　important　matter；〃　and　she　turned　towards　the　window；　tears　being　very　near　her　eyes。

The　voice　of　Mr。　Stone　said　humbly：　〃I　will　try；　my　dear。〃

But　Cecilia　thought：　'I　must　give　him　a　good　lesson。　　He　really　is　too　self…absorbed'；　and　she　did　not　move；　conveying　by　the　posture　of　her　shoulders　how　gravely　she　was　vexed。

She　could　see　nursemaids　wheeling　babies　towards　the　Gardens；　and　noted　their　faces　gazing；　not　at　the　babies；　but；　uppishly；　at　other　nursemaids；　or；　with　a　sort　of　cautious　longing；　at　men　who　passed。　How　selfish　they　looked！　　She　felt　a　little　glow　of　satisfaction　that　she　was　making　this　thin　and　bent　old　man　behind　her　conscious　of　his　egoism。

'He　will　know　better　another　time；'　she　thought。　　Suddenly　she　heard　a　whistling；　squeaking　soundit　was　Mr。　Stone　whispering　the　third　page　of　his　manuscript：

〃'…animated　by　some　admirable　sentiments；　but　whose　doctrines　riddled　by　the　fact　that　life　is　but　the　change　of　form　to　formwere　too　constricted　for　the　evils　they　designed　to　remedy；　this　little　sect；　who　had　as　yet　to　learn　the　meaning　of　universal　love；　were　making　the　most　strenuous　efforts；　in　advance　of　the　community　at　large；　to　understand　themselves。　　The　necessary；　movement　which　they　voicedreaction　against　the　high…tide　of　the　fratricidal　system　then　prevailingwas　young；　and　had　the　freshness　and　honesty　of　youth。。。。'〃

Without　a　word　Cecilia　turned　round　and　hurried　to　the　door。　　She　saw　her　father　drop　the　sheet　of　paper；　she　saw　his　face；　all　pink　and　silver；　stooping　after　it；　and　remorse　visited　her　anger。

In　the　corridor　outside　she　was　arrested　by　a　noise。　　The　uncertain　light　of　London　halls　fell　there；　on　close　inspection　the　sufferer　was　seen　to　be　Miranda；　who；　unable　to　decide　whether　she　wanted　to　be　in　the　garden　or　the　house；　was　seated　beneath　the　hatrack　snuffling　to　herself。　　On　seeing　Cecilia　she　came　out。

〃What　do　you　want；　you　little　beast？〃

Peering　at　her　over　the　tops　of　her　eyes；　Miranda　vaguely　lifted　a　white　foot。　　'Why　ask　me　that？'　she　seemed　to　say。　　'How　am　I　to　know？　　Are　we　not　all　like　this？'

Her　conduct；　coming　at　that　moment；　over…tried　Cecilia's　nerves。　　She　threw　open　Hilary's　study…door；　saying　sharply：　〃Go　in　and　find　your　master！〃

Miranda　did　not　move；　but　Hilary　came　out　instead。　　He　had　been　correcting　proofs　to　catch　the　post；　and　wore　the　look　of　a　man　abstracted；　faintly　contemptuous　of　other　forms　of　life。

Cecilia；　once　more　saved　from　the　necessity　of　approaching　her　sister；　the　mistress　of　the　house；　so　fugitive；　haunting；　and　unseen；　yet　so　much　the　centre　of　this　situation；　said：

〃Can　I　speak　to　you　a　minute；　Hilary？〃

They　went　into　his　study；　and　Miranda　came　creeping　in　behind。

To　Cecilia　her　brother…in…law　always　seemed　an　amiable　and　more　or　less　pathetic　figure。　　In　his　literary　preoccupations　he　allowed　people　to　impose　on　him。　　He　looked　unsubstantial　beside　the　bust　of　Socrates；　which　moved　Cecilia　strangelyit　was　so　very　massive　and　so　very　ugly！　　She　decided　not　to　beat　about　the　bush。

〃I've　been　hearing　some　odd　things　from　Mrs。　Hughs　about　that　little　model；　Hilary。〃

Hilary's　smile　faded　from　his　eyes；　but　remained　clinging　to　his　lips。

〃Indeed！〃

Cecilia　went　on　nervously：　〃Mrs。　Hughs　says　it's　because　of　her　that　Hughs　behaves　so　badly。　　I　don't　want　to　say　anything　against　the　girl；　but　she　seemsshe　seems　to　have…〃

〃Yes？〃　　said　Hilary。

〃To　have　cast　a　spell　on　Hughs；　as　the　woman　puts　it。〃

〃On　Hughs！〃　repeated　Hilary。

Cecilia　found　her　eyes　resting　on　the　bust　of　Socrates；　and　hastily　proceeded：

〃She　says　he　follows　her　about；　and　comes　down　here　to　lie　in　wait　for　her。　　It's　a　most　strange　business　altogether。　　You　went　to　see　them；　didn't　you？〃

Hilary　nodded。

〃I've　been　speaking　to　Father；〃　Cecilia　murmured；　〃but　he's　hopeless…　I；　couldn't　get　him　to　pay　the　least　attention。〃

Hilary　seemed　thinking　deeply。

〃I　wanted　him；〃　she　went　on；　〃to　get　some　other　girl　instead　to　come　and　copy　for　him。〃

〃Why？〃

Under　the　seeming　impossibility　of　ever　getting　any　farther；　without　saying　what　she　had　come　to　say；　Cecilia　blurted　out：

〃Mrs。　Hughs　says　that　Hughs　has　threatened　you。〃

Hilary's　face　became　ironical。

〃Really！〃　he　said。　　〃That's　good　of　him！　　What　for？〃

The　frightful　indelicacy　of　her　situation　at　this　moment；　the　feeling　of　unfairness　that　she　should　be　placed　in　it；　almost　overwhelmed　Cecilia。　　〃Goodness　knows　I　don't　want　to　meddle。　　I　never　meddle　in　anything…it's　horrible！〃

Hilary　took　her　hand。

〃My　dear　Cis；〃　he　said；　〃of　course！　　But　we'd　better　have　this　out！〃

Grateful　for　the　pressure　of　his　hand；　she　gave　it　a　convulsive　squeeze。

〃It's　so　sordid；　Hilary！〃

〃Sordid！　　H'm！　　Let's　get　it　over；　then。〃

Cecilia　had　grown　crimson。　　〃Do　you　want　me　to　tell　you　everything？〃

〃Certainly。〃

〃Well；　Hughs　evidently　thinks　you're　interested　in　the　girl。　　You　can't　keep　anything　from　servants　and　people　who　work　about　your　house；　they　always　think　the　worst　of　everythingand；　of　course；　they　know　that　you　and　B。　don'taren't…〃

Hilary　nodded。

〃Mrs。　Hughs　actually　said　the　man　meant　to　go　to　B。！〃

Again　the　vision　of　her　sister　seemed　to　float　into　the　room；　and　she　went　on　desperately：　〃And；　Hilary；　I　can　see　Mrs。　Hughs　really　thinks　you　are　interested。　　Of　course；　she　wants　to；　for　if　you　were；　it　would　mean　that　a　man　like　her　husband　could　have　no　chance。〃

Astonished　at　this　flash　of　cynical　inspiration；　and　ashamed　of　such　plain　speaking；　she　checked　herself。　　Hilary　had　turned　away。

Cecilia　touched　his　arm。　　〃Hilary；　dear；〃　she　said；　〃isn't　there　any　chance　of　you　and　B…〃

Hilary's　lips　twitched。　　〃I　should　say　not。〃

Cecilia　looked　sadly　at　the　floor。　　Not　since　Stephen　was　bad　with　pleurisy　had　she　felt　so　worried。　　The　sight　of　Hilary's　face　brought　back　her　doubts　with　all　their　force。　　It　might；　of　course；　be　only　anger　at　the　man's　impudence；　but　it　might　beshe　hardly　liked　to　frame　her　thoughta　more　personal　feeling。

〃Don't　you　think；〃　she　said；　〃that；　anyway；　she　had　better　not　come　here　again？〃

Hilary　paced　the　room。

〃It's　her　only　safe　and　certain　piece　of　work；　it　keeps　her　independent。　　It's　much　more　satisfactory　than　this　sitting。　　I　can't　have　any　hand　in　taking　it　away　from　her。〃

Cecilia　had　never　seen　him　moved　like　this。　　Was　it　possible　that　he　was　not　incorrigibly　gentle；　but　had　in　him　some　of　that　animality　which　she；　in　a　sense；　admired？　　This　uncertainty　terribly　increased　the　difficulties　of　the　situation。

〃But；　Hilary；〃　she　said　at　last；　〃are　you　satisfied　about　the　girlI　mean；　are　you　satisfied　that　she　really　is　worth　helping？〃

〃I　don't　understand。〃

〃I　mean；〃　murmured　Cecilia；　〃that　we　don't　know　anything　about　her　past。〃　　And；　seeing　from　the　movement　of　his　eyebrows　that　she　was　touching　on　what　had　evidently　been　a　doubt　with　him；　she　went　on　with　great　courage：　〃Where　are　her　friends　and　relations？　　I　mean；　she　may　have　had　aadventures。〃

Hilary　withdrew　into　himself。

〃You　can　hardly　expect　me；〃　he　said；　〃to　go　into　that　with　her。〃

His　reply　made　Cecilia　feel　ridiculous。

〃Well；〃　she　said　in　a　hard　little　voice；　〃if　this　is　what　comes　of　helping　the　poor；　I　don't　see　the　use　of　it。〃

The　outburst　evoked　no　reply　from　Hilary；　she　felt　more　tremulous　than　ever。　　The　whole　thing　was　so　confused；　so　unnatural。　　What　with　the　dark；　malignant　Hughs　and　that　haunting　vision　of　Bianca；　the　matter　seemed　almost　Italian。　　That　a　man　of　Hughs'　class　might　be　affected　by　the　passion　of　love　had　somehow　never　come　into　her　head。　She　thought　of　the　back　streets　she　had　looked　out　on　from　her　bedroom　window。　　Could　anything　like　passion　spring　up　in　those　dismal　alleys？　　The　people　who　lived　there；　poor　downtrodden　things；　had　enough　to　do　to　keep　themselves　alive。　　She　knew　all　about　them；　they　were　in　the　air；　their　condition　was　deplorable！　　Could　a　person　whose　condition　was　deplorable　find　time　or　strength　for　any　sort　of　lurid　exhibition　such　as　this？　　It　was　incredible。

She　became　aware　that　Hilary　was　speaking。

〃I　daresay　the　man　is　dangerous！〃

Hearing　her　fears　confirmed；　and　in　accordance　with　the　secret　vein　of　hardness　which　kept　her　living；　amid　all　her　sympathies　and　hesitations；　Cecilia　felt　suddenly　that　she　had　gone　as　far　as　it　was　in　her　to　go。

〃I　shall　have　no　more　to　do　with　them；〃　she　said；　〃I've　tried　my　best　for　Mrs。　Hughs。　　I　know　quite　as　good　a　needlewoman；　who'll　be　only　too　glad　to　come　instead。　　Any　other　girl　will　do　as　well　to　copy　father's　book。　　If　you　take　my　advice；　Hilary；　you'll　give　up　trying　to　help　them　too。〃

Hilary's　smile　puzzled　and　annoyed　her。　　If　she　had　known；　this　was　the　smile　that　stood　between　him　and　her　sister。

〃You　may　be　right；〃　he　said；　and　shrugged　his　shoulders：

〃Very　well；〃　said　Cecilia；　〃I've　done　all　I　can。　　I　must　go　now。　Good…bye。〃

During　her　progress　to　the　door　she　gave　one　look　behind。