all roads lead to calvary-第46部分

快捷操作: 按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页 按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页 按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部! 如果本书没有阅读完，想下次继续接着阅读，可使用上方 "收藏到我的浏览器" 功能 和 "加入书签" 功能！

self　off　into　a　corner　after　a　time；　where　he　played　quietly　to　himself；　and　Joan　was　able　to　join　in　the　conversation。

Greyson　spoke　with　an　enthusiasm　that　was　unusual　to　him。　　So　many　of　our　wars　had　been　mean　warswars　for　the　wrong；　sordid　wars　for　territory；　for　gold　mines；　wars　against　the　weak　at　the　bidding　of　our　traders；　our　financiers。　　〃Shouldering　the　white　man's　burden；〃　we　called　it。　　Wars　for　the　right　of　selling　opium；　wars　to　perpetuate　the　vile　rule　of　the　Turk　because　it　happened　to　serve　our　commercial　interests。　　This　time；　we　were　out　to　play　the　knight；　to　save　the　smaller　peoples；　to　rescue　our　once　〃sweet　enemy；〃　fair　France。　　Russia　was　the　disturbing　thought。　　It　somewhat　discounted　the　knight…errant　idea；　riding　stirrup　to　stirrup　beside　that　barbarian　horseman。　　But　there　were　possibilities　about　Russia。　　Idealism　lay　hid　within　that　sleeping　brain。　　It　would　be　a　holy　war　for　the　Kingdom　of　the　Peoples。　With　Germany　freed　from　the　monster　of　blood　and　iron　that　was　crushing　out　her　soul；　with　Russia　awakened　to　life；　we　would　build　the　United　States　of　Europe。　　Even　his　voice　was　changed。　　Joan　could　almost　fancy　it　was　some　excited　schoolboy　that　was　talking。

Mary　had　been　clasping　and　unclasping　her　hands；　a　habit　of　hers　when　troubled。　　Could　good　ever　come　out　of　evil？　　That　was　her　doubt。　　Did　war　ever　do　anything　but　sow　the　seeds　of　future　violence；　substitute　one　injustice　for　another；　change　wrong　for　wrong。　　Did　it　ever　do　anything　but　add　to　the　world's　sum　of　evil；　making　God's　task　the　heavier？

Suddenly；　while　speaking；　she　fell　into　a　passionate　fit　of　weeping。　　She　went　on　through　her　tears：

〃It　will　be　terrible；〃　she　said。　　〃It　will　last　longer　than　you　say。　　Every　nation　will　be　drawn　into　it。　　There　will　be　no　voice　left　to　speak　for　reason。　　Every　day　we　shall　grow　more　brutalized；　more　pitiless。　　It　will　degrade　us；　crush　the　soul　out　of　us。　Blood　and　iron！　　It　will　become　our　God　too：　　the　God　of　all　the　world。　　You　say　we　are　going　into　it　with　clean　hands；　this　time。　How　long　will　they　keep　clean？　　The　people　who　only　live　for　making　money：　　how　long　do　you　think　they　will　remain　silent？　　What　has　been　all　the　talk　of　the　last　ten　years　but　of　capturing　German　trade。　　We　shall　be　told　that　we　owe　it　to　our　dead　to　make　a　profit　out　of　them；　that　otherwise　they　will　have　died　in　vain。　Who　will　care　for　the　people　but　to　use　them　for　killing　one　anotherto　hound　them　on　like　dogs。　　In　every　country　nothing　but　greed　and　hatred　will　be　preached。　　Horrible　men　and　women　will　write　to　the　papers　crying　out　for　more　blood；　more　cruelty。　Everything　that　can　make　for　anger　and　revenge　will　be　screamed　from　every　newspaper。　　Every　plea　for　humanity　will　be　jeered　at　as　'sickly　sentimentality。'　　Every　man　and　woman　who　remembers　the　ideals　with　which　we　started　will　be　shrieked　at　as　a　traitor。　　The　people　who　are　doing　well　out　of　it；　they　will　get　hold　of　the　Press；　appeal　to　the　passions　of　the　mob。　　Nobody　else　will　be　allowed　to　speak。　　It　always　has　been　so　in　war。　　It　always　will　be。　　This　will　be　no　exception　merely　because　it's　bigger。　　Every　country　will　be　given　over　to　savagery。　　There　will　be　no　appeal　against　it。　　The　whole　world　will　sink　back　into　the　beast。〃

She　ended　by　rising　abruptly　and　wishing　them　goodnight。　　Her　outburst　had　silenced　Joan's　impish　drummer；　for　the　time。　　He　appeared　to　be　nervous　and　depressed；　but　bucked　up　again　on　the　way　to　the　bus。　　Greyson　walked　with　her　as　usual。　　They　took　the　long　way　round　by　the　outer　circle。

〃Poor　Mary！〃　he　said。　　〃I　should　not　have　talked　before　her　if　I　had　thought。　　Her　horror　of　war　is　almost　physical。　　She　will　not　even　read　about　them。　　It　has　the　same　effect　upon　her　as　stories　of　cruelty。〃

〃But　there's　truth　in　a　good　deal　that　she　says；〃　he　added。　　〃War　can　bring　out　all　that　is　best　in　a　people；　but　also　it　brings　out　the　worst。　　We　shall　have　to　take　care　that　the　ideals　are　not　lost　sight　of。〃

〃I　wish　this　wretched　business　of　the　paper　hadn't　come　just　at　this　time；〃　said　Joan：　　〃just　when　your　voice　is　most　needed。

〃Couldn't　you　get　enough　money　together　to　start　something　quickly；〃　she　continued；　the　idea　suddenly　coming　to　her。　　〃I　think　I　could　help　you。　　It　wouldn't　matter　its　being　something　small　to　begin　with。　　So　long　as　it　was　entirely　your　own；　and　couldn't　be　taken　away　from　you。　　You'd　soon　work　it　up。〃

〃Thanks；〃　he　answered。　　〃I　may　ask　you　to　later　on。　　But　just　now　〃　　He　paused。

Of　course。　　For　war　you　wanted　men；　to　fight。　　She　had　been　thinking　of　them　in　the　lump：　　hurrying　masses　such　as　one　sees　on　cinema　screens；　blurred　but　picturesque。　　Of　course；　when　you　came　to　think　of　it；　they　would　have　to　be　made　up　of　individuals　gallant…hearted；　boyish　sort　of　men　who　would　pass　through　doors；　one　at　a　time；　into　little　rooms；　give　their　name　and　address　to　a　soldier　man　seated　at　a　big　deal　table。　　Later　on；　one　would　say　good…bye　to　them　on　crowded　platforms；　wave　a　handkerchief。　　Not　all　of　them　would　come　back。　　〃You　can't　make　omelettes　without　breaking　eggs；〃　she　told　herself。

It　annoyed　her；　that　silly　saying　having　come　into　her　mind。　　She　could　see　them　lying　there；　with　their　white　faces　to　the　night。　Surely　she　might　have　thought　of　some　remark　less　idiotic　to　make　to　herself；　at　such　a　time。

He　was　explaining　to　her　things　about　the　air　service。　　It　seemed　he　had　had　experience　in　flyingsome　relation　of　his　with　whom　he　had　spent　a　holiday　last　summer。

It　would　mean　his　getting　out　quickly。　　He　seemed　quite　eager　to　be　gone。

〃Isn't　it　rather　dangerous　work？〃　she　asked。　　She　felt　it　was　a　footling　question　even　as　she　asked　it。　　Her　brain　had　become　stodgy。

〃Nothing　like　as　dangerous　as　being　in　the　Infantry；〃　he　answered。　〃And　that　would　be　my　only　other　alternative。　　Besides　I　get　out　of　the　drilling。〃　　He　laughed。　　〃I　should　hate　being　shouted　at　and　ordered　about　by　a　husky　old　sergeant。〃

They　neither　spoke　again　till　they　came　to　the　bridge；　from　the　other　side　of　which　the　busses　started。

〃I　may　not　see　you　again　before　I　go；〃　he　said。　　〃Look　after　Mary。　I　shall　try　to　persuade　her　to　go　down　to　her　aunt　in　Hampshire。　It's　rather　a　bit　of　luck；　as　it　turns　out；　the　paper　being　finished　with。　　I　shouldn't　have　quite　known　what　to　do。〃

He　had　stopped　at　the　corner。　　They　were　still　beneath　the　shadow　of　the　trees。　　Quite　unconsciously　she　put　her　face　up；　and　as　if　it　had　always　been　the　custom　at　their　partings；　he　drew　her　to　him　and　kissed　her；　though　it　really　was　for　the　first　time。

She　walked　home　instead　of　taking　the　bus。　　She　wanted　to　think。　　A　day　or　two　would　decide　the　question。　　She　determined　that　if　the　miracle　did　not　happen；　she　would　go　down　to　Liverpool。　　Her　father　was　on　the　committee　of　one　of　the　great　hospitals；　and　she　knew　one　or　two　of　the　matrons。　　She　would　want　to　be　doing　something　to　get　out　to　the　front；　if　possible。　　Maybe；　her　desire　to　serve　was　not　altogether　free　from　curiosityfrom　the　craving　for　adventure。　　There's　a　spice　of　the　man　even　in　the　best　of　women。

Her　conscience　plagued　her　when　she　thought　of　Mrs。　Denton。　　For　some　time　now；　they　had　been　very　close　together；　and　the　old　lady　had　come　to　depend　upon　her。　　She　waited　till　all　doubt　was　ended　before　calling　to　say　good…bye。　　Mrs。　Denton　was　seated　before　an　old　bureau　that　had　long　stood　locked　in　a　corner　of　the　library。　The　drawers　were　open　and　books　and　papers　were　scattered　about。

Joan　told　her　plans。　　〃You'll　be　able　to　get　along　without　me　for　a　little　while？〃　she　asked　doubtfully。

Mrs。　Denton　laughed。　　〃I　haven't　much　more　to　do；〃　she　answered。　〃Just　tidying　up；　as　you　see；　and　two　or　three　half…finished　things　I　shall　try　to　complete。　　After　that；　I'll　perhaps　take　a　rest。〃

She　took　from　among　the　litter　a　faded　photograph　and　handed　it　to　Joan。　　〃Odd；〃　she　said。　　〃I've　just　turned　it　out。〃

It　represented　a　long；　thin　line　of　eminently　respectable　ladies　and　gentlemen　in　early　Victorian　costume。　　The　men　in　peg…top　trousers　and　silk　stocks；　the　women　in　crinolines　and　poke　bonnets。　Among　them；　holding　the　hand　of　a　benevolent…looking；　stoutish　gentleman；　was　a　mere　girl。　　The　terminating　frills　of　a　white　unmentionable　garment　showed　beneath　her　skirts。　　She　wore　a　porkpie　hat　with　a　feather　in　it。

〃My　first　public　appearance；〃　explained　Mrs。　Denton。　　〃I　teased　my　father　into　taking　me　with　him。　　We　represented　Great　Britain　and　Ireland。　　I　suppose　I'm　the　only　one　left。〃

〃I　shouldn't　have　recognized　you；〃　laughed　Joan。　　〃What　was　the　occasion？〃

〃The　great　International　Peace　Congress　at　Paris；〃　explained　Mrs。　Denton；　〃just　after　the　Crimean　war。　　It　made　quite　a　stir　at　the　time。　　The　Emperor　opened　our　proceedings　in　person；　and　the　Pope　and　the　Archbishop　of　Canterbury　both　sent　us　their　blessing。　　We　had　a　copy　of　the　speeches　presented　to　us　on　leaving；　in　every　known　language　in　Europe；　bound　in　vellum。　　I'm　hoping　to　find　it。　And　the　Press　was　enthusiastic。　　There　were　to　be　Acts　of　Parliament；　Courts　of　Arbitration；　International　Laws；　Diplomatic　Treaties。　　A　Sub…Committee　was　appointed　to　prepare　a　special　set　of　prayers　and　a　Palace　of　Peace　was　to　be　erected。　　There　was　only　one