fraternity-第37部分

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〃Oh！　　you　think　so？〃

〃You　just　treat　all　these　people　as　if　they　were　in　hospital。〃

The　young　man's　nostrils　quivered。　　〃Well；　and　how　should　they　be　treated？〃

〃How　would　you　like　to　be　looked　at　as　a　'case'？〃　　muttered　Thyme。

Martin　moved　his　hand　in　a　slow　half…circle。

〃These　houses　and　these　people；〃　he　said；　〃are　in　the　wayin　the　way　of　you　and　me；　and　everyone。〃

Thyme's　eyes　followed　that　slow；　sweeping　movement　of　her　cousin's　hand。　　It　seemed　to　fascinate　her。

〃Yes；　of　course；　I　know；〃　she　murmured。　　〃Something　must　be　done！〃

And　she　reared　her　head　up；　looking　from　side　to　side；　as　if　to　show　him　that　she；　too；　could　sweep　away　things。　　Very　straight；　and　solid；　fair；　and　fresh；　she　looked　just　then。

Thus；　in　the　hypnotic　silence　of　high　thoughts；　the　two　young　〃Sanitists〃　arrived　in　Hound　Street。

In　the　doorway　of　No。　1　the　son　of　the　lame　woman；　Mrs。　Budgenthe　thin；　white　youth　as　tall　as　Martin；　but　not　so　broad…stood；　smoking　a　dubious…looking　cigarette。　　He　turned　his　lack…lustre；　jeering　gaze　on　the　visitors。

〃Who　d'you　want？〃　　he　said。　　〃If　it's　the　girl；　she's　gone　away；　and　left　no　address。〃

〃I　want　Mrs。　Hughs；〃　said　Martin。

The　young　man　coughed。　　〃Right…o！　　You'll　find　her；　but　for　him；　apply　Wormwood　Scrubs。〃

〃Prison！　What　for？〃

〃Stickin'　her　through　the　wrist　with　his　bayonet；〃　and　the　young　man　let　a　long；　luxurious　fume　of　smoke　trickle　through　his　nose。

〃How　horrible！〃　said　Thyme。

Martin　regarded　the　young　man；　unmoved。　　〃That　stuff'　you're　smoking's　rank；〃　he　said。　　〃Have　some　of　mine；　I'll　show　you　how　to　make　them。　　It'll　save　you　one　and　three　per　pound　of　baccy；　and　won't　rot　your　lungs。〃

Taking　out　his　pouch；　he　rolled　a　cigarette。　　The　white　young　man　bent　his　dull　wink　on　Thyme；　who；　wrinkling　her　nose；　was　pretending　to　be　far　away。

Mounting　the　narrow　stairs　that　smelt　of　walls　and　washing　and　red　herrings；　Thyme　spoke：　〃Now；　you　see；　it　wasn't　so　simple　as　you　thought。　　I　don't　want　to　go　up；　I　don't　want　to　see　her。　　I　shall　wait　for　you　here。〃　　She　took　her　stand　in　the　open　doorway　of　the　little　model's　empty　room。　　Martin　ascended　to　the　second　floor。

There；　in　the　front　room；　Mrs。　Hughs　was　seen　standing　with　the　baby　in　her　arms　beside　the　bed。　　She　had　a　frightened　and　uncertain　air。　After　examining　her　wrist；　and　pronouncing　it　a　scratch；　Martin　looked　long　at　the　baby。　　The　little　creature's　toes　were　stiffened　against　its　mother's　waist；　its　eyes　closed；　its　tiny　fingers　crisped　against　her　breast。　　While　Mrs。　Hughs　poured　forth　her　tale；　Martin　stood　with　his　eyes　still　fixed　on　the　baby。　　It　could　not　be　gathered　from　his　face　what　he　was　thinking；　but　now　and　then　he　moved　his　jaw；　as　though　he　were　suffering　from　toothache。　　In　truth；　by　the　look　of　Mrs。　Hughs　and　her　baby；　his　recipe　did　not　seem　to　have　achieved　conspicuous　success。　　He　turned　away　at　last　from　the　trembling；　nerveless　figure　of　the　seamstress；　and　went　to　the　window。　　Two　pale　hyacinth　plants　stood　on　the　inner　edge；　their　perfume　penetrated　through　the　other　savours　of　the　roomand　very　strange　they　looked；　those　twin；　starved　children　of　the　light　and　air。

〃These　are　new；〃　he　said。

〃Yes；　sir；〃　murmured　Mrs。　Hughs。　　〃I　brought　them　upstairs。　　I　didn't　like　to　see　the　poor　things　left　to　die。〃

》From　the　bitter　accent　of　these　words　Martin　understood　that　they　had　been　the　little　model's。

〃Put　them　outside；〃　he　said；　〃they'll　never　live　in　here。　　They　want　watering；　too。　　Where　are　your　saucers？〃

Mrs。　Hughs　laid　the　baby　down；　and；　going　to　the　cupboard　where　all　the　household　gods　were　kept；　brought　out　two　old；　dirty　saucers。　Martin　raised　the　plants；　and　as　he　held　them；　from　one　close；　yellow　petal　there　rose　up　a　tiny　caterpillar。　　It　reared　a　green；　transparent　body；　feeling　its　way　to　a　new　resting…place。　　The　little　writhing　shape　seemed；　like　the　wonder　and　the　mystery　of　life；　to　mock　the　young　doctor；　who　watched　it　with　eyebrows　raised；　having　no　hand　at　liberty　to　remove　it　from　the　plant。

〃She　came　from　the　country。　　There's　plenty　of　men　there　for　her！〃

Martin　put　the　plants　down；　and　turned　round　to　the　seamstress。

〃Look　here！〃　he　said；　〃it's　no　good　crying　over　spilt　milk。　　What　you've　got　to　do　is　to　set　to　and　get　some　work。〃

〃Yes；　sir。〃

〃Don't　say　it　in　that　sort　of　way；〃　said　Martin；　〃you　must　rise　to　the　occasion。〃

〃Yes；　sir。〃

〃You　want　a　tonic。　　Take　this　half…crown；　and　get　in　a　dozen　pints　of　stout；　and　drink　one　every　day。〃

And　again　Mrs。　Hughs　said；　〃Yes；　sir。〃

〃And　about　that　baby。〃

Motionless；　where　it　had　been　placed　against　the　footrail　of　the　bed；　the　baby　sat　with　its　black　eyes　closed。　　The　small　grey　face　was　curled　down　on　the　bundle　of　its　garments。

〃It's　a　silent　gentleman；〃　Martin　muttered。

〃It　never　was　a　one　to　cry；〃　said　Mrs。　Hughs。

〃That's　lucky；　anyway。　　When　did　you　feed　it　last？〃

Mrs。　Hughs　did　not　reply　at　first。　　〃About　half…past　six　last　evening；　sir。〃

〃What？〃

〃It　slept　all　night；　but　to…day；　of　course；　I've　been　all　torn　to　pieces；　my　milk's　gone。　　I've　tried　it　with　the　bottle；　but　it　wouldn't　take　it。〃

Martin　bent　down　to　the　baby's　face；　and　put　his　finger　on　its　chin；　bending　lower　yet；　he　raised　the　eyelid　of　the　tiny　eye。。。。

〃It's　dead；〃　he　said。

At　the　word　〃dead〃　Mrs。　Hughs；　stooping　behind　him；　snatched　the　baby　to　her　throat。　　With　its　drooping　head　close　to　her　she；　she　clutched　and　rocked　it　without　sound。　　Full　five　minutes　this　desperate　mute　struggle　with　eternal　silence　lastedthe　feeling；　and　warming；　and　breathing　on　the　little　limbs。　　Then；　sitting　down；　bent　almost　double　over　her　baby；　she　moaned。　　That　single　sound　was　followed　by　utter　silence。　　The　tread　of　footsteps　on　the　creaking　stairs　broke　it。　　Martin；　rising　from　his　crouching　posture　by　the　bed；　went　towards　the　door。

His　grandfather　was　standing　there；　with　Thyme　behind　him。

〃She　has　left　her　room；〃　said　Mr。　Stone。　　〃Where　has　she　gone？〃

Martin；　understanding　that　he　meant　the　little　model；　put　his　finger　to　his　lips；　and；　pointing　to　Mrs。　Hughs；　whispered：

〃This　woman's　baby　has　just　died。〃

Mr。　Stone's　face　underwent　the　queer　discoloration　which　marked　the　sudden　summoning　of　his　far　thoughts。　　He　stepped　past　Martin；　and　went　up　to　Mrs。　Hughs。

He　stood　there　a　long　time　gazing　at　the　baby；　and　at　the　dark　head　bending　over　it　with　such　despair。　　At　last　he　spoke：

〃Poor　woman！　　He　is　at　peace。〃

Mrs。　Hughs　looked　up；　and；　seeing　that　old　face；　with　its　hollows　and　thin　silver　hair；　she　spoke：

〃He's　dead；　sir。〃

Mr。　Stone　put　out　his　veined　and　fragile　hand；　and　touched　the　baby's　toes。　　〃He　is　flying；　he　is　everywhere；　he　is　close　to　the　sun　Little　brother！〃　　And　turning　on　his　heel；　he　went　out。

Thyme　followed　him　as　he　walked　on　tiptoe　down　stairs　which　seemed　to　creak　the　louder　for　his　caution。　　Tears　were　rolling　down　her　cheeks。

Martin　sat　on；　with　the　mother　and　her　baby；　in　the　close；　still　room；　where；　like　strange　visiting　spirits；　came　stealing　whiffs　of　the　perfume　of　hyacinths。




CHAPTER　XXVII

STEPHEN'S　PRIVATE　LIFE

Mr。　Stone　and　Thyme；　going　out；　again　passed　the　tall；　white　young　man。　　He　had　thrown　away　the　hand…made　cigarette；　finding　that　it　had　not　enough　saltpetre　to　make　it　draw；　and　was　smoking　one　more　suited　to　the　action　of　his　lungs。　　He　directed　towards　them　the　same　lack…　lustre；　jeering　stare。

Unconscious；　seemingly；　of　where　he　went；　Mr。　Stone　walked　with　his　eyes　fixed　on　space。　　His　head　jerked　now　and　then；　as　a　dried　flower　will　shiver　in　a　draught。

Scared　at　these　movements；　Thyme　took　his　arm。　　The　touch　of　that　soft　young　arm　squeezing　his　own　brought　speech　back　to　Mr。　Stone。

〃In　those　places。。。。〃　　he　said；　〃in　those　streets！　。。。I　shall　not　see　the　flowering　of　the　aloeI　shall　not　see　the　living　peace！　　'As　with　dogs；　each　couched　over　his　proper　bone；　so　men　were　living　then！'〃　　Thyme；　watching　him　askance；　pressed　still　closer　to　his　side；　as　though　to　try　and　warm　him　back　to　every　day。

'Oh！'　went　her　guttered　thoughts。　　'I　do　wish　grandfather　would　say　something　one　could　understand。　　I　wish　he　would　lose　that　dreadful　stare。'

Mr。　Stone　spoke　in　answer　to　his　granddaughter's　thoughts。

〃I　have　seen　a　vision　of　fraternity。　　A　barren　hillside　in　the　sun；　and　on　it　a　man　of　stone　talking　to　the　wind。　　I　have　heard　an　owl　hooting　in　the　daytime；　a　cuckoo　singing　in　the　night。〃

〃Grandfather；　grandfather！〃

To　that　appeal　Mr。　Stone　responded：　〃Yes；　what　is　it？〃

But　Thyme；　thus　challenged；　knew　not　what　to　say；　having　spoken　out　of　terror。

〃If　the　poor　baby　had　lived；〃　she　stammered　out；　〃it　would　have　grown　up。。。。　　It's　all　for　the　best；　isn't　it？〃

〃Everything　is　for　the　best；〃　said　Mr。　Stone。　　〃'In　those　days　men；　possessed　by　thoughts　of　individual　life；　made　moan　at　death；　careless　of　the　great　truth　that　the　world　was　one　unending　song。'〃

Thyme　thought：　'I　have　never　seen　him　as　bad　as　this！'　She　drew　him　on　more　quickly。　　With　deep　relief　she　saw　her　father；　latchkey　in　hand；　turning　into　the　Old　Square。

Stephen；　who　was　still　walking　with　his　springy　step；　though　he　had　come　on　foot　the　whole　way　from　the　Temple；　hailed　them　with　his　h