fraternity-第17部分

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by　a　feeling　more　impersonal；　as　though　the　God　of　Pity　had　shaken　wings　overhead；　and　dropped　a　tiny　feather。

So　walking；　and　exciting　vague　interest；　they　reached　the　first　of　the　hundred　doors　of　Messrs。　Rose　and　Thorn。

Hilary　had　determined　on　this　end　door；　for；　as　the　adventure　grew　warmer；　he　was　more　alive　to　its　dangers。　　To　take　this　child　into　the　very　shop　frequented　by　his　wife　and　friends　seemed　a　little　mad；　but　that　same　reason　which　caused　them　to　frequent　itthe　fact　that　there　was　no　other　shop　of　the　sort　half　so　handywas　the　reason　which　caused　Hilary　to　go　there　now。　　He　had　acted　on　impulse；　he　knew　that　if　he　let　his　impulse　cool　he　would　not　act　at　all。　　The　bold　course　was　the　wise　one；　this　was　why　he　chose　the　end　door　round　the　corner。　　Standing　aside　for　her　to　go　in　first；　he　noticed　the　girl's　brightened　eyes　and　cheeks；　she　had　never　looked　so　pretty。　　He　glanced　hastily　round；　the　department　was　barren　for　their　purposes；　filled　entirely　with　pyjamas。　　He　felt　a　touch　on　his　arm。　　The　little　model；　rather　pink；　was　looking　up　at　him。

〃Mr。　Dallison；　am　I　to　get　more　than　one　set　ofunderthings？〃

〃Three…three；〃　muttered　Hilary；　and　suddenly　he　saw　that　they　were　on　the　threshold　of　that　sanctuary。　　〃Buy　them；〃　he　said；　〃and　bring　me　the　bill。〃

He　waited　close　beside　a　man　with　a　pink　face；　a　moustache；　and　an　almost　perfect　figure；　who　was　standing　very　still；　dressed　from　head　to　foot　in　blue…and…white　stripes。　　He　seemed　the　apotheosis　of　what　a　man　should　be；　his　face　composed　in　a　deathless　simper：　〃Long；　long　have　been　the　struggles　of　man；　but　civilization　has　produced　me　at　last。　　Further　than　this　it　cannot　go。　　Nothing　shall　make　me　continue　my　line。　　In　me　the　end　is　reached。　　See　my　back：　'The　Amateur。　　This　perfect　style；　8s。　11d。　　Great　reduction。'〃

He　would　not　talk　to　Hilary；　and　the　latter　was　compelled　to　watch　the　shopmen。　　It　was　but　half　an　hour　to　closing　time；　the　youths　were　moving　languidly；　bickering　a　little；　in　the　absence　of　their　customerslike　flies　on　a　pane　unable　to　get　out　into　the　sun。　　Two　of　them　came　and　asked　him　what　they　might　serve　him　with；　they　were　so　refined　and　pleasant　that　Hilary　was　on　the　point　of　buying　what　he　did　not　want。　　The　reappearance　of　the　little　model　saved　him。

〃It's　thirty　shillings；　five　and　eleven　was　the　cheapest；　and　stockings；　and　I　bought　some　sta…〃

Hilary　produced　the　money　hastily。

〃This　is　a　very　dear　shop；〃　she　said。

When　she　had　paid　the　bill；　and　Hilary　had　taken　from　her　a　large　brown…paper　parcel；　they　journeyed　on　together。　　He　had　armoured　his　face　now　in　a　slightly　startled　quizzicality；　as　though；　himself　detached；　he　were　watching　the　adventure　from　a　distance。

On　the　central　velvet　seat　of　the　boot　and　shoe　department；　a　lady；　with　an　egret　in　her　hat；　was　stretching　out　a　slim　silk…stockinged　foot；　waiting　for　a　boot。　　She　looked　with　negligent　amusement　at　this　common　little　girl　and　her　singular　companion。　　This　look　of　hers　seemed　to　affect　the　women　serving；　for　none　came　near　the　little　model。　　Hilary　saw　them　eyeing　her　boots；　and；　suddenly　forgetting　his　role　of　looker…on；　he　became　very　angry。　　Taking　out　his　watch；　he　went　up　to　the　eldest　woman。

〃If　somebody；〃　he　said；　〃does　not　attend　this　young　lady　within　a　minute；　I　shall　make　a　personal　complaint　to　Mr。　Thorn。〃

The　hand　of　the　watch；　however；　had　not　completed　its　round　before　a　woman　was　at　the　little　model's　side。　　Hilary　saw　her　taking　off　her　boot；　and　by　a　sudden　impulse　he　placed　himself　between　her　and　the　lady。　　In　doing　this；　he　so　far　forgot　his　delicacy　as　to　fix　his　eyes　on　the　little　model's　foot。　　The　sense　of　physical　discomfort　which　first　attacked　him　became　a　sort　of　aching　in　his　heart。　　That　brown；　dingy　stocking　was　darned　till　no　stocking；　only　darning；　and　one　toe　and　two　little　white　bits　of　foot　were　seen；　where　the　threads　refused　to　hold　together　any　longer。

The　little　model　wagged　the　toe　uneasilyshe　had　hoped；　no　doubt；　that　it　would　not　protrude；　then　concealed　it　with　her　skirt。　　Hilary　moved　hastily　away；　when　he　looked　again；　it　was　not　at　her；　but　at　the　lady。

Her　face　had　changed；　it　was　no　longer　amused　and　negligent；　but　stamped　with　an　expression　of　offence。　　'Intolerable；'　it　seemed　to　say；　'to　bring　a　girl　like　that　into　a　shop　like　this！　　I　shall　never　come　here　again！'　　The　expression　was　but　the　outward　sign　of　that　inner　physical　discomfort　Hilary　himself　had　felt　when　he　first　saw　the　little　model's　stocking。　　This　naturally　did　not　serve　to　lessen　his　anger；　especially　as　he　saw　her　animus　mechanically　reproduced　on　the　faces　of　the　serving　women。

He　went　back　to　the　little　model；　and　sat　down　by　her　side。

〃Does　it　fit？　　You'd　better　walk　in　it　and　see。〃

The　little　model　walked。

〃It　squeezes　me；〃　she　said。

〃Try　another；　then；〃　said　Hilary。

The　lady　rose；　stood　for　a　second　with　her　eyebrows　raised　and　her　nostrils　slightly　distended；　then　went　away；　and　left　a　peculiarly　pleasant　scent　of　violets　behind。

The　second　pair　of　boots　not　〃squeezing〃　her；　the　little　model　was　soon　ready　to　go　down。　　She　had　all　her　trousseau　now；　except　the　dressselected　and；　indeed；　paid　for；　but　which；　as　she　told　Hilary；　she　was　coming　back　to　try　on　tomorrow；　whenwhen…。　　She　had　obviously　meant　to　say　when　she　was　all　new　underneath。　　She　was　laden　with　one　large　and　two　small　parcels；　and　in　her　eyes　there　was　a　holy　look。

Outside　the　shop　she　gazed　up　in　his　face。

〃Well；　you　are　happy　now？〃　　asked　Hilary。

Between　the　short　black　lashes　were　seen　two　very　bright；　wet　shining　eyes；　her　parted　lips　began　to　quiver。

〃Good…night；　then；〃　he　said　abruptly；　and　walked　away。

But　looking　round；　he　saw　her　still　standing　there；　half　buried　in　parcels；　gazing　after　him。　　Raising　his　hat；　he　turned　into　the　High　Street　towards　home。。。。

The　old　man；　known　to　that　low　class　of　fellow　with　whom　he　was　now　condemned　to　associate　as　〃Westminister；〃　was　taking　a　whiff　or　two　out　of　his　old　clay　pipe；　and　trying　to　forget　his　feet。　　He　saw　Hilary　coming；　and　carefully　extended　a　copy　of　the　last　edition。

〃Good…evenin'；　sir！　　Quite　seasonable　to…day　for　the　time　of　year！　Ho；　yes！　　'Westminister！'〃

His　eyes　followed　Hilary's　retreat。　　He　thought：

〃Oh　dear！　　He's　a…given　me　an　'arf…a…crown。　　He　does　look　wellI　like　to　see　'im　look　as　well　as　thatquite　young！　　Oh　dear！〃

The　sun…that　smoky；　faring　ball；　which　in　its　time　had　seen　so　many　last　editions　of　the　Westminster　Gazettewas　dropping　down　to　pass　the　night　in　Shepherd's　Bush。　　It　made　the　old　butler's　eyelids　blink　when　he　turned　to　see　if　the　coin　really　was　a　half…crown；　or　too　good　to　be　true。

And　all　the　spires　and　house…roofs；　and　the　spaces　up　above　and　underneath　them；　glittered　and　swam；　and　men　and　horses　looked　as　if　they　had　been　powdered　with　golden　dust。




CHAPTER　XI

PEAR　BLOSSOM

Weighed　down　by　her　three　parcels；　the　little　model　pursued　her　way　to　Hound　Street。　　At　the　door　of　No。　1　the　son　of　the　lame　woman；　a　tall　weedy　youth　with　a　white　face；　was　resting　his　legs　alternately；　and　smoking　a　cigarette。　　Closing　one　eye；　he　addressed　her　thus：

〃'Allo；　miss！　　Kerry　your　parcels　for　you？〃

The　little　model　gave　him　a　look。　　'Mind　your　own　business！'　it　said；　but　there　was　that　in　the　flicker　of　her　eyelashes　which　more　than　nullified　this　snub。

Entering　her　room；　she　deposited　the　parcels　on　her　bed；　and　untied　the　strings　with　quick；　pink　fingers。　　When　she　had　freed　the　garments　from　wrappings　and　spread　them　out；　she　knelt　down；　and　began　to　touch　them；　putting　her　nose　down　once　or　twice　to　sniff　the　linen　and　feel　its　texture。　　There　were　little　frills　attached　here　and　there；　and　to　these　she　paid　particular　attention；　ruffling　their　edges　with　the　palms　of　her　hands；　while　the　holy　look　came　back　to　her　face。　　Rising　at　length；　she　locked　the　door；　drew　down　the　blind；　undressed　from　head　to　foot；　and　put　on　the　new　garments。　Letting　her　hair　down；　she　turned　herself　luxuriously　round　and　round　before　the　too…small　looking…glass。　　There　was　utter　satisfaction　in　each　gesture　of　that　whole　operation；　as　if　her　spirit；　long　starved；　were　having　a　good　meal。　　In　this　rapt　contemplation　of　herself；　all　childish　vanity　and　expectancy；　and　all　that　wonderful　quality　found　in　simple　unspiritual　natures　of　delighting　in　the　present　moment；　were　perfectly　displayed。　　So；　motionless；　with　her　hair　loose　on　her　neck；　she　was　like　one　of　those　half…hours　of　Spring　that　have　lost　their　restlessness　and　are　content　just　to　be。

Presently；　however；　as　though　suddenly　remembering　that　her　happiness　was　not　utterly　complete；　she　went　to　a　drawer；　took　out　a　packet　of　pear…drops；　and　put　one　in　her　mouth。

The　sun；　near　to　setting；　had　found　its　way　through　a　hole　in　the　blind；　and　touched　her　neck。　　She　turned　as　though　she　had　received　a　kiss；　and；　raising　a　corner　of　the　blind；　peered　out。　　The　pear…tree；　which；　to　the　annoyance　of　its　proprietor；　was　placed　so　close　to　the　back　court　of　this　low…class　house　as　almost　to　seem　to　belong　to　it；　was　bathed　in　slanting　sunlight。　　No　tree　in　all　the　world　could　have　looked　more　fair　than　it　did　just　then　in　its　garb　of　gilded　bl