tommy and co[1].(托米和科)-第44节
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to disappoint them。 It is really becoming quite a curse to me。 If I use
it to stop a 'bus； three or four hansoms dash up and quarrel over me。 I
can't do anything I want to do。 I want to live simply and inexpensively：
it will not let me。〃
Tommy laughed。 〃Can't you lose it？〃
The stranger laughed also。 〃Lose it！ You have no idea how honest
people are。 I hadn't myself。 The whole world has gone up in my
estimation within the last few weeks。 People run after me for quite
long distances and force it into my handpeople on rainy days who
haven't got umbrellas of their own。 It is the same with this hat。〃 The
stranger sighed as he took it up。 〃I am always trying to get OFF with
something reasonably shabby in exchange for it。 I am always found
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out and stopped。〃
〃Why don't you pawn them？〃 suggested the practicable Tommy。
The stranger regarded her with admiration。
〃Do you know； I never thought of that；〃 said the stranger。 〃Of
course。 What a good idea！ Thank you so much。〃
The stranger departed； evidently much relieved。
〃Silly fellow；〃 mused Tommy。 〃They won't give him a quarter of the
value； and he will say： 'Thank you so much；' and be quite contented。〃
It worried Tommy a good deal that day； the thought of that stranger's
helplessness。
The stranger's name was Richard Danvers。 He lived the other side
of Holborn； in Featherstone Buildings； but much of his time came to be
spent in the offices of Good Humour。
Peter liked him。 〃Full of promise；〃 was Peter's opinion。 〃His
criticism of that article of mine on 'The Education of Woman' showed
both sense and feeling。 A scholar and a thinker。〃
Flipp； the office…boy （spelt Philip）； liked him； and Flipp's attitude； in
general； was censorial。 〃He's all right；〃 pronounced Flipp； 〃nothing
stuck…up about him。 He's got plenty of sense； lying hidden away。〃
Miss Ramsbotham liked him。 〃The menthe men we think about at
all；〃 explained Miss Ramsbotham〃may be divided into two classes：
the men we ought to like； but don't； and the men there is no particular
reason for our liking； but that we do。 Personally I could get very fond
of your friend Dick。 There is nothing whatever attractive about him
except himself。〃
Even Tommy liked him in her way； though at times she was severe
with him。
〃If you mean a big street；〃 grumbled Tommy； who was going over
proofs； 〃why not say a big street？ Why must you always call it a 'main
artery'？〃
〃I am sorry；〃 apologised Danvers。 〃It is not my own idea。 You
told me to study the higher…class journals。〃
〃I didn't tell you to select and follow all their faults。 Here it is
again。 Your crowd is always a 'hydra…headed monster'； your tea 'the
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cup that cheers but not inebriates。'〃
〃I am afraid I am a deal of trouble to you；〃 suggested the staff。
〃I am afraid you are；〃 agreed the sub…editor。
〃Don't give me up；〃 pleaded the staff。 〃I misunderstood you； that is
all。 I will write English for the future。〃
〃Shall be glad if you will；〃 growled the sub…editor。
Dick Danvers rose。 〃I am so anxious not to get what you call 'the
sack' from here。〃
The sub…editor； mollified； thought the staff need be under no
apprehension； provided it showed itself teachable。
〃I have been rather a worthless fellow； Miss Hope；〃 confessed Dick
Danvers。 〃I was beginning to despair of myself till I came across you
and your father。 The atmosphere hereI don't mean the material
atmosphere of Crane Courtis so invigorating： its simplicity； its
sincerity。 I used to have ideals。 I tried to stifle them。 There is a set
that sneers at all that sort of thing。 Now I see that they are good。 You
will help me？〃
Every woman is a mother。 Tommy felt for the moment that she
wanted to take this big boy on her knee and talk to him for his good。
He was only an overgrown lad。 But so exceedingly overgrown！
Tommy had to content herself with holding out her hand。 Dick
Danvers grasped it tightly。
Clodd was the only one who did not approve of him。
〃How did you get hold of him？〃 asked Clodd one afternoon； he and
Peter alone in the office。
〃He came。 He came in the usual way；〃 explained Peter。
〃What do you know about him？〃
〃Nothing。 What is there to know？ One doesn't ask for a character
with a journalist。〃
〃No； I suppose that wouldn't work。 Found out anything about him
since？〃
〃Nothing against him。 Why so suspicious of everybody？〃
〃Because you are just a woolly lamb and want a dog to look after
you。 Who is he？ On a first night he gives away his stall and sneaks
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into the pit。 When you send him to a picture…gallery； he dodges the
private view and goes on the first shilling day。 If an invitation comes to
a public dinner； he asks me to go and eat it for him and tell him what it's
all about。 That doesn't suggest the frank and honest journalist； does it？〃
〃It is unusual； it certainly is unusual；〃 Peter was bound to admit。
〃I distrust the man；〃 said Clodd。 〃He's not our class。 What is he
doing here？〃
〃I will ask him； Clodd； I will ask him straight out。〃
〃And believe whatever he tells you。〃
〃No； I shan't。〃
〃Then what's the good of asking him？〃
〃Well； what am I to do？〃 demanded the bewildered Peter。
〃Get rid of him；〃 suggested Clodd。
〃Get rid of him？〃
〃Get him away！ Don't have him in and out of the office all day
long…looking at her with those collie…dog eyes of his； arguing art and
poetry with her in that cushat…dove voice of his。 Get him clean away
if it isn't too late already。〃
〃Nonsense；〃 said Peter； who had turned white； however。 〃She's not
that sort of girl。〃
〃Not that sort of girl！〃 Clodd had no patience with Peter Hope； and
told him so。 〃Why are there never inkstains on her fingers now？
There used to be。 Why does she always keep a lemon in her drawer？
When did she last have her hair cut？ I'll tell you if you care to know
the week before he came； five months ago。 She used to have it cut
once a fortnight： said it tickled her neck。 Why does she jump on
people when they call her Tommy and tell them that her name is Jane？
It never used to be Jane。 Maybe when you're a bit older you'll begin to
notice things for yourself。〃
Clodd jammed his hat on his head and flung himself down the stairs。
Peter； slipping out a minute later； bought himself an ounce of snuff。
〃Fiddle…de…dee！〃 said Peter as he helped himself to his thirteenth
pinch。 〃Don't believe it。 I'll sound her。 I shan't say a word I'll just
sound her。〃
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Peter stood with his back to the fire。 Tommy sat at her desk；
correcting proofs of a fanciful story： The Man Without a Past。
〃I shall miss him；〃 said Peter； 〃I know I shall。〃
〃Miss whom？〃
