fraternity-第30节

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who　knew　the　power　of　rules　and　minute　books；　did　not　despair　of　too　little　progress　being　made。　　He　sat　down　beside　her；　and　turned　the　conversation　on　her　chief　work〃the　Maids　in　Peril。〃

Searching　his　face　with　those　eyes　so　like　little　black　bees　sipping　honey　from　all　the　flowers　that　grew；　Mrs。　Tallents　Smallpeace　said：

〃Why　don't　you　get　your　wife　to　take　an　interest　in　our　work？〃

To　Stephen　this　question　was　naturally　both　unexpected　and　annoying；　one's　wife　being　the　last　person　he　wished　to　interest　in　other　people's　movements。　　He　kept　his　head。

〃Ah　well！〃　he　said；　〃we　haven't　all　got　a　talent　for　that　sort　of　thing。〃

The　voice　of　Mr。　Purcey　travelled　suddenly　across　the　room。

〃Do　tell　me！　　How　do　you　go　to　work　to　worm　things　out　of　them？〃

Mrs。　Tallents　Smallpeace；　prone　to　laughter；　bubbled。

〃Oh；　that　is　such　a　delicious　expression；　Mr。　Purcey！　　I　almost　think　we　ought　to　use　it　in　our　Report。　　Thank　you！〃

Mr。　Purcey　bowed。　　〃Not　at　all！〃　he　said。

Mrs。　Tallents　Smallpeace　turned　again　to　Stephen。

〃We　have　our　trained　inquirers。　　That　is　the　advantage　of　Societies　such　as　ours；　so　that　we　don't　personally　have　the　unpleasantness。　Some　cases　do　baffle　everybody。　　It's　such　very　delicate　work。〃

〃You　sometimes　find　you　let　in　a　rotter？〃　　said　Mr。　Purcey；　〃or；　I　should　say；　a　rotter　lets　you　in！　　Ha；　ha！〃

Mrs。　Tallents　Smallpeace's　eyes　flew　deliciously　down　his　figure。

〃Not　often；〃　she　said；　and　turning　rather　markedly　once　more　to　Stephen：　　〃Have　you　any　special　case　that　you　are　interested　in；　Mr。　Dallison？〃

Stephen　consulted　Cecilia　with　one　of　those　masculine　half…glances　so　discreet　that　Mrs。　Tallents　Smallpeace　intercepted　it　without　looking　up。　　She　found　it　rather　harder　to　catch　Cecilia's　reply；　but　she　caught　it　before　Stephen　did。　　It　was；　'You'd　better　wait；　perhaps；'　conveyed　by　a　tiny　raising　of　the　left　eyebrow　and　a　slight　movement　to　the　right　of　the　lower　lip。　　Putting　two　and　two　together；　she　felt　within　her　bones　that　they　were　thinking　of　the　little　model。　And　she　remembered　the　interesting　moment　in　the　omnibus　when　that　attractive…looking　man　had　got　out　so　hastily。

There　was　no　danger　whatever　from　Mrs。　Tallents　Smallpeace　feeling　anything。　　The　circle　in　which　she　moved　did　not　now　talk　scandal；　or；　indeed；　allude　to　matters　of　that　sort　without　deep　　sympathy；　and　in　the　second　place　she　was　really　far　too　good　a　fellow；　with　far　too　dear　a　love　of　life；　to　interfere　with　anybody　else's　love　of　it。　　At　the　same　time　it　was　interesting。

〃That　little　model；　now；〃　she　said；　〃what　about　her？〃

〃Is　that　the　girl　I　saw？〃　　broke　in　Mr。　Purcey；　with　his　accustomed　shrewdness。

Stephen　gave　him　the　look　with　which　he　was　accustomed　to　curdle　the　blood　of　persons　who　gave　evidence　before　Commissions。

'This　fellow　is　impossible；'　he　thought。

The　little　black　bees　flying　below　Mrs。　Tallents　Smallpeace's　dark　hair；　done　in　the　Early　Italian　fashion；　tranquilly　sucked　honey　from　Stephen's　face。

〃She　seemed　to　me；〃　she　answered；　〃such　a　very　likely　type。〃

〃Ah！〃　murmured　Stephen；　〃there　would　be；　I　suppose；　a　danger…〃　And　he　looked　angrily　at　Cecilia。

Without　ceasing　to　converse　with　Mr。　Purcey　and　Signor　Egregio　Pozzi；　she　moved　her　left　eye　upwards。　　Mrs。　Tallents　Smallpeace　understood　this　to　mean：　'Be　frank；　and　guarded！'　Stephen；　however；　interpreted　it　otherwise。　　To　him　it　signified：　'What　the　deuce　do　you　look　at　me　for？'　And　he　felt　justly　hurt。　　He　therefore　said　abruptly：

〃What　would　you　do　in　a　case　like　that？〃

Mrs。　Tallents　Smallpeace；　sliding　her　face　sideways；　with　a　really　charming　little　smile；　asked　softly：

〃In　a　case　like　what？〃

And　her　little　eyes　fled　to　Thyme；　who　had　slipped　into　the　room；　and　was　whispering　to　her　mother。

Cecilia　rose。

〃You　know　my　daughter；〃　she　said。　　〃Will　you　excuse　me　just　a　minute？　I'm　so　very　sorry。〃　　She　glided　towards　the　door；　and　threw　a　flying　look　back。　　It　was　one　of　those　social　moments　precious　to　those　who　are　escaping　them。

Mrs。　Tallents　Smallpeace　was　smiling；　Stephen　frowning　at　his　boots；　Mr。　Purcey　stared　admiringly　at　Thyme；　and　Thyme；　sitting　very　upright；　was　calmly　regarding　the　unfortunate　Egregio　Pozzi；　who　apparently　could　not　bring　himself　to　speak。

When　Cecilia　found　herself　outside；　she　stood　still　a　moment　to　compose　her　nerves。　　Thyme　had　told　her　that　Hilary　was　in　the　dining…room；　and　wanted　specially　to　see　her。

As　in　most　women　of　her　class　and　bringing…up；　Cecilia's　qualities　of　reticence　and　subtlety；　the　delicate　treading　of　her　spirit；　were　seen　to　advantage　in　a　situation　such　as　this。　　Unlike　Stephen；　who　had　shown　at　once　that　he　had　something　on　his　mind；　she　received　Hilary　with　that　exact　shade　of　friendly；　intimate；　yet　cool　affection　long　established　by　her　as　the　proper　manner　towards　her　husband's　brother。　　It　was　not　quite　sisterly；　but　it　was　very　nearly　so。　　It　seemed　to　say：　'We　understand　each　other　as　far　as　it　is　right　and　fitting　that　we　should；　we　even　sympathise　with　the　difficulties　we　have　each　of　us　experienced　in　marrying　the　other's　sister　or　brother；　as　the　case　may　be。　　We　know　the　worst。　　And　we　like　to　see　each　other；　too；　because　there　are　bars　between　us；　which　make　it　almost　piquant。'

Giving　him　her　soft　little　hand；　she　began　at　once　to　talk　of　things　farthest　from　her　heart。　　She　saw　that　she　was　deceiving　Hilary；　and　this　feather　in　the　cap　of　her　subtlety　gave　her　pleasure。　　But　her　nerves　fluttered　at　once　when　he　said：　〃I　want　to　speak　to　you；　Cis。　You　know　that　Stephen　and　I　had　a　talk　yesterday；　I　suppose？〃

Cecilia　nodded。

〃I　have　spoken　to　B。！〃

〃Oh！〃　Cecilia　murmured。　　She　longed　to　ask　what　Bianca　had　said；　but　did　not　dare；　for　Hilary　had　his　armour　on；　the　retired；　ironical　look　he　always　wore　when　any　subject　was　broached　for　which　he　was　too　sensitive。

She　waited。

〃The　whole　thing　is　distasteful　to　me；〃　he　said；　〃but　I　must　do　something　for　this　child。　　I　can't　leave　her　completely　in　the　lurch。〃

Cecilia　had　an　inspiration。

〃Hilary；〃　she　said　softly；　〃Mrs。　Tallents　Smallpeace　is　in　the　drawing…room。　　She　was　just　speaking　of　the　girl　to　Stephen。　　Won't　you　come　in；　and　arrange　with　her　quietly？〃

Hilary　looked　at　his　sister…in…law　for　a　moment　without　speaking；　then　said：

〃I　draw　the　line　there。　　No；　thank　you。　　I'll　see　this　through　myself。〃

Cecilia　fluttered　out：

〃Oh；　but；　Hilary；　what　do　you　mean？〃

〃I　am　going　to　put　an　end　to　it。〃

It　needed　all　Cecilia's　subtlety　to　hide　her　consternation。　　End　to　what？　　Did　he　mean　that　he　and　B。　were　going　to　separate？

〃I　won't　have　all　this　vulgar　gossip　about　the　poor　girl。　　I　shall　go　and　find　another　room　for　her。〃

Cecilia　sighed　with　relief。

〃Would　you…would　you　like　me　to　come　too；　Hilary？〃

〃It's　very　good　of　you；〃　said　Hilary　dryly。　　〃My　actions　appear　to　rouse　suspicions。〃

Cecilia　blushed。

〃Oh；　that's　absurd！　　Still；　no　one　could　think　anything　if　I　come　with　you。　　Hilary；　have　you　thought　that　if　she　continues　coming　to　Father…〃

〃I　shall　tell　her　that　she　mustn't！〃

Cecilia's　heart　gave　two　thumps；　the　first　with　pleasure；　the　second　with　sympathy。

〃It　will　be　horrid　for　you；〃　she　said。　　〃You　hate　doing　anything　of　that　sort。〃

Hilary　nodded。

〃But　I'm　afraid　it's　the　only　way；〃　went　on　Cecilia；　rather　hastily。　〃And；　of　course；　it　will　be　no　good　saying　anything　to　Father；　one　must　simply　let　him　suppose　that　she　has　got　tired　of　it。〃

Again　Hilary　nodded。

〃He　will　think　it　very　funny；〃；　murmured　Cecilia　pensively。　　〃Oh；　and　have　you　thought　that　taking　her　away　from　where　she　is　will　only　make　those　people　talk　the　more？〃

Hilary　shrugged　his　shoulders。

〃It　may　make　that　man　furious；〃　Cecilia　added。

〃It　will。〃

〃Oh；　but　then；　of　course；　if　you　don't　see　her　afterwards；　they　will　have　nono　excuse　at　all。〃

〃I　shall　not　see　her　afterwards；〃　said　Hilary；　〃if　I　can　avoid　it。〃

Cecilia　looked　at　him。

〃It's　very　sweet　of　you；　Hilary。〃

〃What　is　sweet？〃　　asked　Hilary　stonily。

〃Why；　to　take　all　this　trouble。　　Is　it　really　necessary　for　you　to　do　anything？〃　　But　looking　in　his　face；　she　went　on　hastily：　〃Yes；　yes；　it's　best。　　Let's　go　at　once。　　Oh；　those　people　in　the　drawing…room！　Do　wait　ten　minutes。〃

A　little　later；　running　up　to　put　her　hat　on；　she　wondered　why　it　was　that　Hilary　always　made　her　want　to　comfort　him。　　Stephen　never　affected　her　like　this。

Having　little　or　no　notion　where　to　go；　they　walked　in　the　direction　of　Bayswater。　　To　place　the　Park　between　Hound　Street　and　the　little　model　was　the　first　essential。　　On　arriving　at　the　other　side　of　the　Broad　Walk；　they　made　instinctively　away　from　every　sight　of　green。　In　a　long；　grey　street　of　dismally　respectable　appearance　they　found　what　they　were　looking　for；　a　bed…sitting　room　furnished；　advertised　on　a　card　in　the　window。　　The　door　was　opened　by　the　landlady；　a　tall　woman　of　narrow　build；　with　a　West…Country　accent；　and　a　rather　hungry　sweetness　running　through　her　hardness。　　They　stood　talking　with　her　in　a　passage；　whose　oilcloth　of　variegated　pattern　emitted　a　faint　odour。　　The　staircase　could　be　seen　climbing　steeply　up　past　walls　covered　with　a　shining　paper　cut　by　narrow　red　lines　int