all roads lead to calvary-第7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！

　I　guess　we　hurt　the　old　folks　quite　enough　as　it　is。〃

The　bell　rang　and　Madge　opened　the　door　herself。　　It　turned　out　to　be　Flossie。　　Joan　had　not　seen　her　since　they　had　been　at　Girton　together；　and　was　surprised　at　Flossie's　youthful　〃get　up。〃　Flossie　explained；　and　without　waiting　for　any　possible　attack　flew　to　her　own　defence。

〃The　revolution　that　the　world　is　waiting　for；〃　was　Flossie's　opinion；　〃is　the　providing　of　every　man　and　woman　with　a　hundred　and　fifty　a　year。　　Then　we　shall　all　be　able　to　afford　to　be　noble　and　high…minded。　　As　it　is；　nine…tenths　of　the　contemptible　things　we　do　comes　from　the　necessity　of　our　having　to　earn　our　living。　　A　hundred　and　fifty　a　year　would　deliver　us　from　evil。〃

〃Would　there　not　still　be　the　diamond　dog…collar　and　the　motor　car　left　to　tempt　us？〃　suggested　Madge。

〃Only　the　really　wicked；〃　contended　Flossie。　　〃It　would　classify　us。　　We　should　know　then　which　were　the　sheep　and　which　the　goats。　At　present　we're　all　jumbled　together：　　the　ungodly　who　sin　out　of　mere　greed　and　rapacity；　and　the　just　men　compelled　to　sell　their　birthright　of　fine　instincts　for　a　mess　of　meat　and　potatoes。〃

〃Yah；　socialist；〃　commented　Madge；　who　was　busy　with　the　tea　things。

Flossie　seemed　struck　by　an　idea。

〃By　Jove；〃　she　exclaimed。　　〃Why　did　I　never　think　of　it。　　With　a　red　flag　and　my　hair　down；　I'd　be　in　all　the　illustrated　papers。　It　would　put　up　my　price　no　end。　　And　I'd　be　able　to　get　out　of　this　silly　job　of　mine。　　I　can't　go　on　much　longer。　　I'm　getting　too　well　known。　　I　do　believe　I'll　try　it。　　The　shouting's　easy　enough。〃　　She　turned　to　Joan。　　〃Are　you　going　to　take　up　socialism？〃　she　demanded。

〃I　may；〃　answered　Joan。　　〃Just　to　spank　it；　and　put　it　down　again。　I'm　rather　a　believer　in　temptationthe　struggle　for　existence。　　I　only　want　to　make　it　a　finer　existence；　more　worth　the　struggle；　in　which　the　best　man　shall　rise　to　the　top。　　Your　'universal　security'that　will　be　the　last　act　of　the　human　drama；　the　cue　for　ringing　down　the　curtain。〃

〃But　do　not　all　our　Isms　work　towards　that　end？〃　suggested　Madge。

Joan　was　about　to　reply　when　the　maid's　announcement　of　〃Mrs。　Denton〃　postponed　the　discussion。

Mrs。　Denton　was　a　short；　grey…haired　lady。　　Her　large　strong　features　must　have　made　her；　when　she　was　young；　a　hard…looking　woman；　but　time　and　sorrow　had　strangely　softened　them；　while　about　the　corners　of　the　thin　firm　mouth　lurked　a　suggestion　of　humour　that　possibly　had　not　always　been　there。　　Joan；　waiting　to　be　introduced；　towered　head　and　shoulders　above　her；　yet　when　she　took　the　small　proffered　hand　and　felt　those　steely　blue　eyes　surveying　her；　she　had　the　sensation　of　being　quite　insignificant。　　Mrs。　Denton　seemed　to　be　reading　her；　and　then　still　retaining　Joan's　hand　she　turned　to　Madge　with　a　smile。

〃So　this　is　our　new　recruit；〃　she　said。　　〃She　is　come　to　bring　healing　to　the　sad；　sick　worldto　right　all　the　old；　old　wrongs。〃

She　patted　Joan's　hand　and　spoke　gravely。　　〃That　is　right；　dear。　That　is　youth's　metier；　to　take　the　banner　from　our　failing　hands；　bear　it　still　a　little　onward。〃　　Her　small　gloved　hand　closed　on　Joan's　with　a　pressure　that　made　Joan　wince。

〃And　you　must　not　despair；〃　she　continued；　〃because　in　the　end　it　will　seem　to　you　that　you　have　failed。　　It　is　the　fallen　that　win　the　victories。〃

She　released　Joan's　hand　abruptly。　　〃Come　and　see　me　to…morrow　morning　at　my　office；〃　she　said。　　〃We　will　fix　up　something　that　shall　be　serviceable　to　us　both。〃

Madge　flashed　Joan　a　look。　　She　considered　Joan's　position　already　secured。　　Mrs。　Denton　was　the　doyen　of　women　journalists。　　She　edited　a　monthly　review　and　was　leader　writer　of　one　of　the　most　important　dailies；　besides　being　the　controlling　spirit　of　various　social　movements。　　Anyone　she　〃took　up〃　would　be　assured　of　steady　work。　　The　pay　might　not　be　able　to　compete　with　the　prices　paid　for　more　popular　journalism；　but　it　would　afford　a　foundation；　and　give　to　Joan　that　opportunity　for　influence　which　was　her　main　ambition。

Joan　expressed　her　thanks。　　She　would　like　to　have　had　more　talk　with　the　stern　old　lady；　but　was　prevented　by　the　entrance　of　two　new　comers。　　The　first　was　Miss　Lavery；　a　handsome；　loud…toned　young　woman。　　She　ran　a　nursing　paper；　but　her　chief　interest　was　in　the　woman's　suffrage　question；　just　then　coming　rapidly　to　the　front。　　She　had　heard　Joan　speak　at　Cambridge　and　was　eager　to　secure　her　adherence；　being　wishful　to　surround　herself　with　a　group　of　young　and　good…looking　women　who　should　take　the　movement　out　of　the　hands　of　the　〃frumps；〃　as　she　termed　them。　　Her　doubt　was　whether　Joan　would　prove　sufficiently　tractable。　　She　intended　to　offer　her　remunerative　work　upon　the　Nursing　News　without　saying　anything　about　the　real　motive　behind；　trusting　to　gratitude　to　make　her　task　the　easier。

The　second　was　a　clumsy…looking；　over…dressed　woman　whom　Miss　Lavery　introduced　as　〃Mrs。　Phillips；　a　very　dear　friend　of　mine；　who　is　going　to　be　helpful　to　us　all；〃　adding　in　a　hurried　aside　to　Madge；　〃I　simply　had　to　bring　her。　　Will　explain　to　you　another　time。〃　　An　apology　certainly　seemed　to　be　needed。　　The　woman　was　absurdly　out　of　her　place。　　She　stood　there　panting　and　slightly　perspiring。　　She　was　short　and　fat；　with　dyed　hair。　　As　a　girl　she　had　possibly　been　pretty　in　a　dimpled；　giggling　sort　of　way。　　Joan　judged　her；　in　spite　of　her　complexion；　to　be　about　forty。

Joan　wondered　if　she　could　be　the　wife　of　the　Member　of　Parliament　who　occupied　the　rooms　below　her　in　Cowley　Street。　　His　name；　so　the　landlady　had　told　her；　was　Phillips。　　She　put　the　suggestion　in　a　whisper　to　Flossie。

〃Quite　likely；〃　thought　Flossie；　〃just　the　type　that　sort　of　man　does　marry。　　A　barmaid；　I　expect。〃

Others　continued　to　arrive　until　altogether　there　must　have　been　about　a　dozen　women　present。　　One　of　them　turned　out　to　be　an　old　schoolfellow　of　Joan's　and　two　had　been　with　her　at　Girton。　　Madge　had　selected　those　who　she　knew　would　be　sympathetic；　and　all　promised　help：　　those　who　could　not　give　it　direct　undertaking　to　provide　introductions　and　recommendations；　though　some　of　them　were　frankly　doubtful　of　journalism　affording　Joan　anything　more　than　the　meansnot　always；　too　honestof　earning　a　living。

〃I　started　out　to　preach　the　gospel：　　all　that　sort　of　thing；〃　drawled　a　Miss　Simmonds　from　beneath　a　hat　that；　if　she　had　paid　for　it；　would　have　cost　her　five　guineas。　　〃Now　my　chief　purpose　in　life　is　to　tickle　silly　women　into　spending　twice　as　much　upon　their　clothes　as　their　husbands　can　afford；　bamboozling　them　into　buying　any　old　thing　that　our　Advertising　Manager　instructs　me　to　boom。〃

〃They　talk　about　the　editor's　opinions；〃　struck　in　a　fiery　little　woman　who　was　busy　flinging　crumbs　out　of　the　window　to　a　crowd　of　noisy　sparrows。　　〃It's　the　Advertiser　edits　half　the　papers。　　Write　anything　that　three　of　them　object　to；　and　your　proprietor　tells　you　to　change　your　convictions　or　go。　　Most　of　us　change。〃　　She　jerked　down　the　window　with　a　slam。

〃It's　the　syndicates　that　have　done　it；〃　was　a　Mrs。　Elliot's　opinion。　　She　wrote　〃Society　Notes〃　for　a　Labour　weekly。　　〃When　one　man　owned　a　paper　he　wanted　it　to　express　his　views。　　A　company　is　only　out　for　profit。　　Your　modern　newspaper　is　just　a　shop。　　It's　only　purpose　is　to　attract　customers。　　Look　at　the　Methodist　Herald；　owned　by　the　same　syndicate　of　Jews　that　runs　the　Racing　News。　　They　work　it　as　far　as　possible　with　the　same　staff。〃

〃We're　a　pack　of　hirelings；〃　asserted　the　fiery　little　woman。　　〃Our　pens　are　for　sale　to　the　highest　bidder。　　I　had　a　letter　from　Jocelyn　only　two　days　ago。　　He　was　one　of　the　original　staff　of　the　Socialist。　　He　writes　me　that　he　has　gone　as　leader　writer　to　a　Conservative　paper　at　twice　his　former　salary。　　Expected　me　to　congratulate　him。〃

〃One　of　these　days　somebody　will　start　a　Society　for　the　Reformation　of　the　Press；〃　thought　Flossie。　　〃I　wonder　how　the　papers　will　take　it？〃

〃Much　as　Rome　took　Savonarola；〃　thought　Madge。

Mrs。　Denton　had　risen。

〃They　are　right　to　a　great　extent；〃　she　said　to　Joan。　　〃But　not　all　the　temple　has　been　given　over　to　the　hucksters。　　You　shall　place　your　preaching　stool　in　some　quiet　corner；　where　the　passing　feet　shall　pause　awhile　to　listen。〃

Her　going　was　the　signal　for　the　breaking　up　of　the　party。　　In　a　short　time　Joan　and　Madge　found　themselves　left　with　only　Flossie。

〃What　on　earth　induced　Helen　to　bring　that　poor　old　Dutch　doll　along　with　her？〃　demanded　Flossie。　　〃The　woman　never　opened　her　mouth　all　the　time。　　Did　she　tell　you？〃

〃No；〃　answered　Madge；　〃but　I　think　I　can　guess。　　She　hopesor　perhaps　'fears'　would　be　more　correctthat　her　husband　is　going　to　join　the　Cabinet；　and　is　trying　to　fit　herself　by　suddenly　studying　political　and　social　questions。　　For　a　month　she's　been　clinging　like　a　leech　to　Helen　Lavery；　who　takes　her　to　meetings　and　gatherings。　　I　suppose　they've　struck　up　some　sort　of　a　bargain。　It's　rather　pathetic。〃

〃Good　Heavens！　　What　a　tragedy　for　the　man；〃　commented　Flossie。

〃What　is　he　like？〃　asked　Joan。

〃Not　much　to　look　at；　if　that's　what　you　mean；〃　answered　Madge。　〃Began　life　as　a　miner；　I　believe。　　Looks　like　ending　as　Prime　Minister。〃

〃I　heard　him　at　the　Albert　Hall　la