fraternity-第53部分

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　into　new　life；　and　self　is　at　its　feeblest。

And　Stephen's　self；　feeling　the　magnetic　currents　of　that　ebb…tide　drawing　it　down　into　murmurous　slumber；　out　beyond　the　sand…bars　of　individuality　and　class；　threw　up　its　little　hands　and　began　to　cry　for　help。　　The　purple　sea　of　self…forgetfulness；　under　the　dim；　impersonal　sky；　seemed　to　him　so　cold　and　terrible。　　It　had　no　limit　that　he　could　see；　no　rules　but　such　as　hung　too　far　away；　written　in　the　hieroglyphics　of　paling　stars。　　He　could　feel　no　order　in　the　lift　and　lap　of　the　wan　waters　round　his　limbs。　　Where　would　those　waters　carry　him？　　To　what　depth　of　still　green　silence？　　Was　his　own　little　daughter　to　go　down　into　this　sea　that　knew　no　creed　but　that　of　self…forgetfulness；　that　respected　neither　class　nor　personthis　sea　where　a　few　wandering　streaks　seemed　all　the　evidence　of　the　precious　differences　between　mankind？　　God　forbid　it

And；　turning　on　his　elbow；　he　looked　at　her　who　had　given　him　this　daughter。　　In　the　mystery　of　his　wife's　sleeping　facethe　face　of　her　most　near　and　dear　to　himhe　tried　hard　not　to　see　a　likeness　to　Mr。　Stone。　　He　fell　back　somewhat　comforted　with　the　thought：　'That　old　chap　has　his　one　ideahis　Universal　Brotherhood。　　He's　absolutely　absorbed　in　it。　　I　don't　see　it　in　Cis's　face　a　bit。　Quite　the　contrary。'

But　suddenly　a　flash　of　clear；　hard　cynicism　amounting　to　inspiration　utterly　disturbed　him：　The　old　chap；　indeed；　was　so　wrapped　up　in　himself　and　his　precious　book　as　to　be　quite　unconscious　that　anyone　else　was　alive。　　Could　one　be　everybody's　brother　if　one　were　blind　to　their　existence？　　But　this　freak　of　Thyme's　was　an　actual　try　to　be　everybody's　sister。　　For　that；　he　supposed；　one　must　forget　oneself。　　Why；　it　was　really　even　a　worse　case　than　that　of　Mr。　Stone！　　And　to　Stephen　there　was　something　awful　in　this　thought。

The　first　small　bird　of　morning；　close　to　the　open　window；　uttered　a　feeble　chirrup。　　Into　Stephen's　mind　there　leaped　without　reason　recollection　of　the　morning　after　his　first　term　at　school；　when；　awakened　by　the　birds；　he　had　started　up　and　fished　out　from　under　his　pillow　his　catapult　and　the　box　of　shot　he　had　brought　home　and　taken　to　sleep　with　him。　　He　seemed　to　see　again　those　leaden　shot　with　their　bluish　sheen；　and　to　feel　them；　round；　and　soft；　and　heavy；　rolling　about　his　palm。　　He　seemed　to　hear　Hilary's　surprised　voice　saying：　〃Hallo；　Stevie！　you　awake？〃

No　one　had　ever　had　a　better　brother　than　old　Hilary。　　His　only　fault　was　that　he　had　always　been　too　kind。　　It　was　his　kindness　that　had　done　for　him；　and　made　his　married　life　a　failure。　　He　had　never　asserted　himself　enough　with　that　woman；　his　wife。　　Stephen　turned　over　on　his　other　side。　　'All　this　confounded　business；'　he　thought；　'comes　from　over…sympathising。　　That's　what's　the　matter　with　Thyme；　too。'　　Long　he　lay　thus；　while　the　light　grew　stronger；　listening　to　Cecilia's　gentle　breathing；　disturbed　to　his　very　marrow　by　these　thoughts。

The　first　post　brought　no　letter　from　Thyme；　and　the　announcement　soon　after；　that　Mr。　Hilary　had　come　to　breakfast；　was　received　by　both　Stephen　and　Cecilia　with　a　welcome　such　as　the　anxious　give　to　anything　which　shows　promise　of　distracting　them。

Stephen　made　haste　down。　　Hilary；　with　a　very　grave　and　harassed　face；　was　in　the　dining…room。　　It　was　he；　however；　who；　after　one　look　at　Stephen；　said：

〃What's　the　matter；　Stevie？〃

Stephen　took　up　the　Standard。　　In　spite　of　his　self…control；　his　hand　shook　a　little。

〃It's　a　ridiculous　business；〃　he　said。　　〃That　precious　young　Sanitist　has　so　worked　his　confounded　theories　into　Thyme　that　she　has　gone　off　to　the　Euston　Road　to　put　them　into　practice；　of　all　things！〃

At　the　half…concerned　amusement　on　Hilary's　face　his　quick　and　rather　narrow　eyes　glinted。

〃It's　not　exactly　for　you　to　laugh；　Hilary；〃　he　said。　　〃It's　all　of　a　piece　with　your　cursed　sentimentality　about　those　Hughs；　and　that　girl。　　I　knew　it　would　end　in　a　mess。〃

Hilary　answered　this　unjust　and　unexpected　outburst　by　a　look；　and　Stephen；　with　the　strange　feeling　of　inferiority　which　would　come　to　him　in　Hilary's　presence　against　his　better　judgment；　lowered　his　own　glance。

〃My　dear　boy；〃　said　Hilary；　〃if　any　bit　of　my　character　has　crept　into　Thyme；　I'm　truly　sorry。〃

Stephen　took　his　brother's　hand　and　gave　it　a　good　grip；　and；　Cecilia　coming　in；　they　all　sat　down。

Cecilia　at　once　noted　what　Stephen　in　his　preoccupation　had　notthat　Hilary　had　come　to　tell　them　something。　　But　she　did　not　like　to　ask　him　what　it　was；　though　she　knew　that　in　the　presence　of　their　trouble　Hilary　was　too　delicate　to　obtrude　his　own。　　She　did　not　like；　either；　to　talk　of　her　trouble　in　the　presence　of　his。　　They　all　talked；　therefore；　of　indifferent　thingswhat　music　they　had　heard；　what　plays　they　had　seeneating　but　little；　and　drinking　tea。　In　the　middle　of　a　remark　about　the　opera；　Stephen；　looking　up；　saw　Martin　himself　standing　in　the　doorway。　　The　young　Sanitist　looked　pale；　dusty；　and　dishevelled。　　He　advanced　towards　Cecilia；　and　said　with　his　usual　cool　determination：

〃I've　brought　her　back；　Aunt　Cis。〃

At　that　moment；　fraught　with　such　relief；　such　pure　joy；　such　desire　to　say　a　thousand　things；　Cecilia　could　only　murmur：　〃Oh；　Martin！〃

Stephen；　who　had　jumped　up；　asked：　〃Where　is　she？〃

〃Gone　to　her　room。〃

〃Then　perhaps；〃　said　Stephen；　regaining　at　once　his　dry　composure；　〃you　will　give　us　some　explanation　of　this　folly。〃

〃She's　no　use　to　us　at　present。〃

〃Indeed！〃

〃None。〃

〃Then；〃　said　Stephen；　〃kindly　understand　that　we　have　no　use　for　you　in　future；　or　any　of　your　sort。〃

Martin　looked　round　the　table；　resting　his　eyes　on　each　in　turn。

〃You're　right；〃　he　said。　　〃Good…bye！〃

Hilary　and　Cecilia　had　risen；　too。　　There　was　silence。　　Stephen　crossed　to　the　door。

〃You　seem　to　me；〃　he　said　suddenly；　in　his　driest　voice；　〃with　your　new　manners　and　ideas；　quite　a　pernicious　youth。〃

Cecilia　stretched　her　hands　out　towards　Martin；　and　there　was　a　faint　tinkling　as　of　chains。

〃You　must　know；　dear；〃　she　said；　〃how　anxious　we've　all　been。　　Of　course；　your　uncle　doesn't　mean　that。〃

The　same　scornful　tenderness　with　which　he　was　wont　to　look　at　Thyme　passed　into　Martin's　face。

〃All　right；　Aunt　Cis；〃　he　said；　〃if　Stephen　doesn't　mean　it；　he　ought　to。　　To　mean　things　is　what　matters。〃　　He　stooped　and　kissed　her　forehead。　　〃Give　that　to　Thyme　for　me；〃　he　said。　　〃I　shan't　see　her　for　a　bit。〃

〃You'll　never　see　her；　sir；〃　said　Stephen　dryly；　〃if　I　can　help　it！　The　liquor　of　your　Sanitism　is　too　bright　and　effervescent。〃

Martin's　smile　broadened。　　〃For　old　bottles；〃　he　said；　and　with　another　slow　look　round　went　out。

Stephen's　mouth　assumed　its　driest　twist。　　〃Bumptious　young　devil！〃　he　said。　　〃If　that　is　the　new　young　man；　defend　us！〃

Over　the　cool　dining…room；　with　its　faint　scent　of　pinks；　of　melon；　and　of　ham；　came　silence。　　Suddenly　Cecilia　glided　from　the　room。　Her　light　footsteps　were　heard　hurrying；　now　that　she　was　not　visible；　up　to　Thyme。

Hilary；　too；　had　moved　towards　the　door。　　In　spite　of　his　preoccupation；　Stephen　could　not　help　noticing　how　very　worn　his　brother　looked。

〃You　look　quite　seedy；　old　boy；〃　he　said。　　〃Will　you　have　some　brandy？〃

Hilary　shook　his　head。

〃Now　that　you've　got　Thyme　back；〃　he　said；　〃I'd　better　let　you　know　my　news。　　I'm　going　abroad　to…morrow。　　I　don't　know　whether　I　shall　come　back　again　to　live　with　B。〃

Stephen　gave　a　low　whistle；　then；　pressing　Hilary's　arm；　he　said：　〃Anything　you　decide；　old　man；　I'll　always　back　you　in；　but〃

〃I'm　going　alone。〃

In　his　relief　Stephen　violated　the　laws　of　reticence。

〃Thank　Heaven　for　that！　　I　was　afraid　you　were　beginning　to　lose　your　head　about　that　girl〃

〃I'm　not　quite　fool　enough；〃　said　Hilary；　〃to　imagine　that　such　a　liaison　would　be　anything　but　misery　in　the　long…run。　　If　I　took　the　child　I　should　have　to　stick　to　her；　but　I'm　not　proud　of　leaving　her　in　the　lurch；　Stevie。〃

The　tone　of　his　voice　was　so　bitter　that　Stephen　seized　his　hand。

〃My　dear　old　man；　you're　too　kind。　　Why；　she's　no　hold　on　younot　the　smallest　in　the　world！〃

〃Except　the　hold　of　this　devotion　I've　roused　in　her；　God　knows　how；　and　her　destitution。〃

〃You　let　these　people　haunt　you；〃　said　Stephen。　　〃It's　quite　a　mistakeit　really　is。〃

〃I　had　forgotten　to　mention　that　I　am　not　an　iceberg；〃　muttered　Hilary。

Stephen　looked　into　his　face　without　speaking；　then　with　the　utmost　earnestness　he　said：

〃However　much　you　may　be　attracted；　it's　simply　unthinkable　for　a　man　like　you　to　go　outside　his　class。〃

〃Class！　　Yes！〃　muttered　Hilary：　〃Good…bye！〃

And　with　a　long　grip　of　his　brother's　hand　he　went　away。

Stephen　turned　to　the　window。　　For　all　the　care　and　contrivance　bestowed　on　the　view；　far　away　to　the　left　the　back　courts　of　an　alley　could　be　seen；　and　as　though　some　gadfly　had　planted　in　him　its　small　poisonous　sting；　he　moved　back　from　the　sight　at　once。　'Confusion！'　he　thought。　　'Are　we　never　to　get　rid　of　these　infernal　people？'

His　eyes　lighted　on　the　melon。　　A　single　slice　lay　by　itself　on　a　blue…green　dish。　　Leaning　over　a　plate；　with　a　desperation　quite　unlike　himself；　he　took　an　enormous　bite。　　Again　and　again　he　bit　the　sl