fraternity-第27节

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　let　light　through　its　holes。　A　glass　or　two　of　beer；　the　fumes　of　which　his　wounded　head　no　longer　dominated；　and　he　at　once　became　〃dreadful　foreign。〃　　Unfortunately；　it　was　his　custom；　on　finishing　his　work；　to　call　at　the　〃Green　Glory。〃　　On　this　particular　afternoon　the　glass　had　become　three；　and　in　sallying　forth　he　had　felt　a　confused　sense　of　duty　urging　him　to　visit　the　house　where　this　girl　for　whom　he　had　conceived　his　strange　infatuation　〃carried　on　her　games。〃　　The　〃no…tale…bearing〃　tradition　of　a　soldier　fought　hard　with　this　sense　of　duty；　his　feelings　were　mixed　when　he　rang　the　bell　and　asked　for　Mrs。　Dallison。　　Habit；　however；　masked　his　face；　and　he　stood　before　her　at　〃attention；〃　his　black　eyes　lowered；　clutching　his　peaked　cap。

Blanca　noted　curiously　the　scar　on　the　left　side　of　his　cropped　black　head。

Whatever　Hughs　had　to　say　was　not　said　easily。

〃I've　come；〃　he　began　at　last　in　a　dogged　voice；　〃to　let　you　know。　　I　never　wanted　to　come　into　this　house。　　I　never　wanted　to　see　no　one。〃

Blanca　could　see　his　lips　and　eyelids　quivering　in　a　way　strangely　out　of　keeping　with　his　general　stolidity。

〃My　wife　has　told　you　tales　of　me；　I　suppose。　　She's　told　you　I　knock　her　about；　I　daresay。　　I　don't　care　what　she　tells　you　or　any　o'　the　people　that　she　works　for。　　But　this　I'll　say：　I　never　touched　her　but　she　touched　me　first。　　Look　here！　that's　marks　of　hers！〃　and；　drawing　up　his　sleeve　he　showed　a　scratch　on　his　sinewy　tattooed　forearm。　　〃I've　not　come　here　about　her；　that's　no　business　of　anyone's。〃

Bianca　turned　towards　her　pictures。　　〃Well？〃　　she　said；　〃but　what　have　you　come　about；　please？　　You　see　I'm　busy。〃

Hughs'　face　changed。　　Its　stolidity　vanished；　the　eyes　became　as　quick；　passionate；　and　leaping　as　a　dark　torrent。　　He　was　more　violently　alive　than　she　had　ever　seen　a　man。　　Had　it　been　a　woman　she　would　have　feltas　Cecilia　had　felt　with　Mrs。　Hughsthe　indecency；　the　impudence　of　this　exhibition；　but　from　that　male　violence　the　feminine　in　her　derived　a　certain　satisfaction。　　So　in　Spring；　when　all　seems　lowering　and　grey；　the　hedges　and　trees　suddenly　flare　out　against　the　purple　clouds；　their　twigs　all　in　flame。　　The　next　moment　that　white　glare　is　gone；　the　clouds　are　no　longer　purple；　fiery　light　no　longer　quivers　and　leaps　along　the　hedgerows。　　The　passion　in　Hughs'　face　was　gone　as　soon。　　Bianca　felt　a　sense　of　disappointment；　as　though　she　could　have　wished　her　life　held　a　little　more　of　that。　　He　stole　a　glance　at　her　out　of　his　dark　eyes；　which；　when　narrowed；　had　a　velvety　look；　like　the　body　of　a　wild　bee；　then　jerked　his　thumb　at　the　picture　of　the　little　model。

〃It's　about　her　I　come　to　speak。〃

Blanca　faced　him　frigidly。

〃I　have　not　the　slightest　wish　to　hear。〃

Hughs　looked　round；　as　though　to　find　something　that　would　help　him　to　proceed；　his　eyes　lighted　on　Hilary's　portrait。

〃Ah！　　I'd　put　the　two　together　if　I　was　you；〃　he　said。

Blanca　walked　past　him　to　the　door。

〃Either　you　or　I　must　leave　the　room。〃

The　man's　face　was　neither　sullen　now　nor　passionate；　but　simply　miserable。

〃Look　here；　lady；〃　he　said；　〃don't　take　it　hard　o'　me　coming　here。　I'm　not　out　to　do　you　a　harm。　　I've　got　a　wife　of　my　own；　and　Gawd　knows　I've　enough　to　put　up　with　from　her　about　this　girl。　　I'll　be　going　in　the　water　one　of　these　days。　　It's　him　giving　her　them　clothes　that　set　me　coming　here。〃

Blanca　opened　the　door。　　〃Please　go；〃　she　said。

〃I'll　go　quiet　enough；〃　he　muttered；　and；　hanging　his　head；　walked　out。

Having　seen　him　through　the　side　door　out　into　the　street；　Blanca　went　back　to　where　she　had　been　standing　before　he　came。　　She　found　some　difficulty　in　swallowing；　for　once　there　was　no　armour　on　her　face。　　She　stood　there　a　long　time　without　moving；　then　put　the　pictures　back　into　their　places　and　went　down　the　little　passage　to　the　house。　　Listening　outside　her　father's　door；　she　turned　the　handle　quietly　and　went　in。

Mr。　Stone；　holding　some　sheets　of　paper　out　before　him；　was　dictating　to　the　little　model；　who　was　writing　laboriously　with　her　face　close　above　her　arm。　　She　stopped　at　Blanca's　entrance。　　Mr。　Stone　did　not　stop；　but；　holding　up　his　other　hand；　said：

〃I　will　take　you　through　the　last　three　pages　again。　　Follow！〃

Blanca　sat　down　at　the　window。

Her　father's　voice；　so　thin　and　slow；　with　each　syllable　disjointed　from　the　other；　rose　like　monotony　itself。

〃'There　were　tra…cea…able　indeed；　in　those　days；　certain　rudi…men…　tary　at…tempts　to　f…u…s…e　the　classes。。。。'〃

It　went　on　unwavering；　neither　rising　high　nor　falling　low；　as　though　the　reader　knew　he　had　yet　far　to　go；　like　a　runner　that　brings　great　news　across　mountains；　plains；　and　rivers。

To　Blanca　that　thin　voice　might　have　been　the　customary　sighing　of　the　wind；　her　attention　was　so　fast　fixed　on　the　girl；　who　sat　following　the　words　down　the　pages　with　her　pen's　point。

Mr。　Stone　paused。

〃Have　you　got　the　word　'insane'？〃　　he　asked。

The　little　model　raised　her　face。　　〃Yes；　Mr。　Stone。〃

〃Strike　it　out。〃

With　his　eyes　fixed　on　the　trees　he　stood　breathing　audibly。　　The　little　model　moved　her　fingers；　freeing　them　from　cramp。　　Blanca's　curious；　smiling　scrutiny　never　left　her；　as　though　trying　to　fix　an　indelible　image　on　her　mind。　　There　was　something　terrifying　in　that　stare；　cruel　to　herself；　cruel　to　the　girl。

〃The　precise　word；〃　said　Mr。　Stone；　〃eludes　me。　　Leave　a　blank。　Follow！。。。　　'Neither　that　sweet　fraternal　interest　of　man　in　man；　nor　a　curiosity　in　phenomena　merely　as　phenomena。。。。'〃　　His　voice　pursued　its　tenuous　path　through　spaces；　frozen　by　the　calm　eternal　presence　of　his　beloved　idea；　which；　like　a　golden　moon；　far　and　cold；　presided　glamorously　above　the　thin　track　of　words。　　And　still　the　girl's　pen…point　traced　his　utterance　across　the　pages：　Mr。　Stone　paused　again；　and　looking　at　his　daughter　as　though　surprised　to　see　her　sitting　there；　asked：

〃Do　you　wish　to　speak　to　me；　my　dear？〃

Blanca　shook　her　head。

〃Follow！〃　said　Mr。　Stone。

But　the　little　model's　glance　had　stolen　round　to　meet　the　scrutiny　fixed　on　her。

A　look　passed　across　her　face　which　seemed　to　say：　'What　have　I　done　to　you；　that　you　should　stare　at　me　like　this？'

Furtive　and　fascinated；　her　eyes　remained　fixed　on　Bianca；　while　her　hand　moved；　mechanically　ticking　the　paragraphs。　　That　silent　duel　of　eyes　went　onthe　woman's　fixed；　cruel；　smiling；　the　girl's　uncertain；　resentful。　　Neither　of　them　heard　a　word　that　Mr。　Stone　was　reading。　　They　treated　it　as；　from　the　beginning；　Life　has　treated　Philosophyand　to　the　end　will　treat　it。

Mr。　Stone　paused　again；　seeming　to　weigh　his　last　sentences。

〃That；　I　think；〃　he　murmured　to　himself；　〃is　true。〃　　And　suddenly　he　addressed　his　daughter。　　〃Do　you　agree　with　me；　my　dear？〃

He　was　evidently　waiting　with　anxiety　for　her　answer；　and　the　little　silver　hairs　that　straggled　on　his　lean　throat　beneath　his　beard　were　clearly　visible。

〃Yes；　Father；　I　agree。〃

〃Ah！〃　said　Mr。　Stone；　〃I　am　glad　that　you　confirm　me。　　I　was　anxious。　Follow！〃

Bianca　rose。　　Burning　spots　of　colour　had　settled　in　her　cheeks。　　She　went　towards　the　door；　and　the　little　model　pursued　her　figure　with　a　long　look；　cringing；　mutinous；　and　wistful。




CHAPTER　XX

THE　HUSBAND　AND　THE　WIFE

It　was　past　six　o'clock　when　Hilary　at　length　reached　home；　preceded　a　little　by　Miranda；　who　almost　felt　within　her　the　desire　to　eat。　The　lilac　bushes；　not　yet　in　flower；　were　giving　forth　spicy　fragrance。　　The　sun　still　netted　their　top　boughs；　as　with　golden　silk；　and　a　blackbird；　seated　on　a　low　branch　of　the　acacia…tree；　was　summoning　the　evening。　　Mr。　Stone；　accompanied　by　the　little　model；　dressed　in　her　new　clothes；　was　coming　down　the　path。　　They　were　evidently　going　for　a　walk；　for　Mr。　Stone　wore　his　hat；　old　and　soft　and　black；　with　a　strong　green　tinge；　and　carried　a　paper　parcel；　which　leaked　crumbs　of　bread　at　every　step。

The　girl　grew　very　red。　　She　held　her　head　down；　as　though　afraid　of　Hilary's　inspection　of　her　new　clothes。　　At　the　gate　she　suddenly　looked　up。　　His　face　said：　'Yes；　you　look　very　nice！'　　And　into　her　eyes　a　look　leaped　such　as　one　may　see　in　dogs'　eyes　lifted　in　adoration　to　their　masters'　faces。　　Manifestly　disconcerted；　Hilary　turned　to　Mr。　Stone。　　The　old　man　was　standing　very　still；　a　thought　had　evidently　struck　him。　　〃I　have　not；　I　think；〃　he　said；　〃given　enough　consideration　to　the　question　whether　force　is　absolutely；　or　only　relatively；　evil。　　If　I　saw　a　man　ill…treat　a　cat；　should　I　be　justified　in　striking　him？〃

Accustomed　to　such　divagations；　Hilary　answered：　〃I　don't　know　whether　you　would　be　justifed；　but　I　believe　that　you　would　strike　him。〃

〃I　am　not　sure；〃　said　Mr。　Stone。　　〃We　are　going　to　feed　the　birds。〃

The　little　model　took　the　paper　bag。　　〃It's　all　dropping　out；〃　she　said。　　From　across　the　road　she　turned　her　head。。。。'Won't　you　come；　too？'　she　seemed　to　say。

But　Hilary　passed　rather　hastily　into　the　garden　and　shut　the　gate　behind　him。　　He　sat　in　his　study；　with　Miranda　near　him；　for　fully　an　hour；　without　doing　anything　whatever；　sunk　in　a　strange；　half…　pleasurable　torpor。　　At　this　hour　he　should　have　been　working　at　his　book；　and　the　fact　that　his　idleness　did　no