fraternity-第56部分

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He　watched　the　broad…faced　woman；　Mrs。　Budgen；　in　whose　grey　eyes　the　fighting　light　so　fortunately　never　died；　painfully　doing　out　her　rooms；　and　propping　herself　against　the　chest　of　drawers　whereon　clustered　china　cups　and　dogs　as　thick　as　toadstools　on　a　bank。

〃I've　told　my　Charlie；〃　she　said；　〃to　keep　clear　of　Hughs　a　bit。　They　comes　out　as　prickly　as　hedgehogs。　　Pick　a　quarrel　as　soon　as　look　at　you；　they　will。〃

'Oh　dear；'　thought　Creed；　'she's　full　o'　cold　comfort。'　But；　careful　of　his　dignity；　he　answered；　〃I'm　a…waitin'　here　to　engage　the　situation。　　You　don't　think　he'll　attack　of　me　with　definition　at　this　time　in　the　mornin'？〃

The　lame　woman　shrugged　her　shoulders。　　〃He'll　have　had　a　drop　of　something；〃　she　said；　〃before　he　comes　home。　　They　gets　a　cold　feelin'　in　the　stomach　in　them　places；　poor　creatures！〃

The　old　butler's　heart　quavered　up　into　his　mouth。　　He　lifted　his　shaking　hand；　and　put　it　to　his　lips；　as　though　to　readjust　himself。

〃Oh　yes；〃　he　said；　〃I　ought　to　ha'　given　notice；　and　took　my　things　away；　but　there；　poor　woman；　it　seemed　a…hittin'　of　her　when　she　was　down。　　And　I　don't　want　to　make　no　move。　　I　ain't　got　no　one　else　that's　interested　in　me。　　This　woman's　very　good　about　mendin'　of　my　clothes。　Oh　dear；　yes；　she　don't　grudge　a　little　thing　like　that！〃

The　lame　woman　hobbled　from　her　post　of　rest；　and　began　to　make　the　bed　with　the　frown　that　always　accompanied　a　task　which　strained　the　contracted　muscles　of　her　leg。　　〃If　you　don't　help　your　neighbour；　your　neighbour　don't　help　you；〃　she　said　sententiously。

Creed　fixed　his　iron…rimmed　gaze　on　her　in　silence。　　He　was　considering　perhaps　how　he　stood　with　regard　to　Hughs　in　the　light　of　that　remark。

〃I　attended　of　his　baby's　funeral；〃　he　said。　　〃Oh　dear；　he's　here　a'ready！〃

The　family　of　Hughs；　indeed；　stood　in　the　doorway。　　The　spiritual　process　by　which　〃Westminister〃　had　gone　through　life　was　displayed　completely　in　the　next　few　seconds。　　'It's　so　important　for　me　to　keep　alive　and　well；'　his　eyes　seemed　saying。　　'I　know　the　class　of　man　you　are；　but　now　you're　here　it's　not　a　bit　o'　use　my　bein'　frightened。　　I'm　bound　to　get　up…sides　with　you。　　Ho！　　yes；　keep　yourself　to　yourself；　and　don't　you　let　me　hev　any　o'　your　nonsense；　'cause　I　won't　stand　it。　　Oh　dear；　no！'

Beads　of　perspiration　stood　thick　on　his　patchily　coloured　forehead；　with　lips　stiffening；　and　intently　staring　eyes；　he　waited　for　what　the　released　prisoner　would　say。

Hughs；　whose　face　had　blanched　in　the　prison　to　a　sallow　grey…white　hue；　and　whose　black　eyes　seemed　to　have　sunk　back　into　his　head；　slowly　looked　the　old　man　up　and　down。　　At　last　he　took　his　cap　off；　showing　his　cropped　hair。

〃You　got　me　that；　daddy；〃　he　said；　〃but　I　don't　bear　you　malice。　Come　up　and　have　a　cup　o'　tea　with　us。〃

And；　turning　on　his　heel；　he　began　to　mount　the　stairs；　followed　by　his　wife　and　child。　　Breathing　hard；　the　old　butler　mounted　too。

In　the　room　on　the　second　floor；　where　the　baby　no　longer　lived；　a　haddock　on　the　table　was　endeavouring　to　be　fresh；　round　it　were　slices　of　bread　on　plates；　a　piece　of　butter　in　a　pie…dish；　a　teapot；　brown　sugar　in　a　basin；　and；　side　by　side　a　little　jug　of　cold　blue　milk　and　a　half…empty　bottle　of　red　vinegar。　　Close　to　one　plate　a　bunch　of　stocks　and　gilly　flowers　reposed　on　the　dirty　tablecloth；　as　though　dropped　and　forgotten　by　the　God　of　Love。　　Their　faint　perfume　stole　through　the　other　odours。　　The　old　butler　fixed　his　eyes　on　it。

'The　poor　woman　bought　that；'　he　thought；　'hopin'　for　to　remind　him　of　old　days。　　She　had　them　flowers　on　her　weddin'…day；　I　shouldn't　wonder！〃　　This　poetical　conception　surprising　him；　he　turned　towards　the　little　boy；　and　said　〃This　'll　be　a　memorial　to　you；　as　you　gets　older。〃　　And　without　another　word　all　sat　down。　　They　ate　in　silence；　and　the　old　butler　thought　'That　'addick　ain't　what　it　was；　but　a　beautiful　cup　o'　tea。　　He　don't　eat　nothing；　he's　more　ameniable　to　reason　than　I　expected。　　There's　no　one　won't　be　too　pleased　to　see　him　now！〃

His　eyes；　travelling　to　the　spot　from　which　the　bayonet　had　been　removed；　rested　on　the　print　of　the　Nativity。　　〃'Suffer　little　children　to　come　unto　Me；'〃　he　thought；　〃'and　forbid　them　not。〃　He'll　be　glad　to　hear　there　was　two　carriages　followed　him　home。'

And；　taking　his　time；　he　cleared　his　throat　in　preparation　for　speech。　　But　before　the　singular　muteness　of　this　family　sounds　would　not　come。　　Finishing　his　tea；　he　tremblingly　arose。　　Things　that　he　might　have　said　jostled　in　his　mind。　　'Very　pleased　to　'a　seen　you。　Hope　you're　in　good　health　at　the　present　time　of　speaking。　　Don't　let　me　intrude　on　you。　　We've　all　a…got　to　die　some　time　or　other！'　They　remained　unuttered。　　Making　a　vague　movement　of　his　skinny　hand；　he　walked　feebly　but　quickly　to　the　door。　　When　he　stood　but　half…way　within　the　room；　he　made　his　final　effort。

〃I'm　not　a…goin'　to　say　nothing；〃　he　said；　〃that'd　be　superlative！　　I　wish　you　a　good…morning。〃

Outside　he　waited　a　second；　then　grasped　the　banister。

'For　all　he　sets　so　quiet；　they've　done　him　no　good　in　that　place；'　he　thought。　　'Them　eyes　of　his！'　　And　slowly　he　descended；　full　of　a　sort　of　very　deep　surprise。　　'I　misjudged　of　him；'　he　was　thinking；　'he　never　was　nothing　but　a　'armless　human　being。　　We　all　has　our　predijuicesI　misjudged　of　him。　　They've　broke　his　'eart　between　'emthat　they　have。'

The　silence　in　the　room　continued　after　his　departure。　　But　when　the　little　boy　had　gone　to　school；　Hughs　rose　and　lay　down　on　the　bed。　He　rested　there；　unmoving；　with　his　face　towards　the　wall；　his　arms　clasped　round　his　head　to　comfort　it。　　The　seamstress；　stealing　about　her　avocations；　paused　now　and　then　to　look　at　him。　　If　he　had　raged　at　her；　if　he　had　raged　at　everything；　it　would　not　have　been　so　terrifying　as　this　utter　silence；　which　passed　her　comprehension　this　silence　as　of　a　man　flung　by　the　sea　against　a　rock；　and　pinned　there　with　the　life　crushed　out　of　him。　　All　her　inarticulate　longing；　now　that　her　baby　was　gone；　to　be　close　to　something　in　her　grey　life；　to　pass　the　unfranchisable　barrier　dividing　her　from　the　world；　seemed　to　well　up；　to　flow　against　this　wall　of　silence　and　to　recoil。

Twice　or　three　times　she　addressed　him　timidly　by　name；　or　made　some　trivial　remark。　　He　did　not　answer；　as　though　in　very　truth　he　had　been　the　shadow　of　a　man　lying　there。　　And　the　injustice　of　this　silence　seemed　to　her　so　terrible。　　Was　she　not　his　wife？　　Had　she　not　borne　him　five；　and　toiled　to　keep　him　from　that　girl？　　Was　it　her　fault　if　she　had　made　his　life　a　hell　with　her　jealousy；　as　he　had　cried　out　that　morning　before　he　went　for　her；　and　was　〃put　away〃？　　He　was　her　〃man。〃　　It　had　been　her　rightnay；　more；　her　duty！

And　still　he　lay　there　silent。　　From　the　narrow　street　where　no　traffic　passed；　the　cries　of　a　coster　and　distant　whistlings　mounted　through　the　unwholesome　air。　　Some　sparrows　in　the　eave　were　chirruping　incessantly。　　The　little　sandy　house…cat　had　stolen　in；　and；　crouched　against　the　doorpost；　was　fastening　her　eyes　on　the　plate　which；　held　the　remnants　of　the　fish。　　The　seamstress　bowed　her　forehead　to　the　flowers　on　the　table；　unable　any　longer　to　bear　the　mystery　of　this　silence；　she　wept。　　But　the　dark　figure　on　the　bed　only　pressed　his　arms　closer　round　his　head；　as　though　there　were　within　him　a　living　death　passing　the　speech　of　men。

The　little　sandy　cat；　creeping　across　the　floor；　fixed　its　claws　in　the　backbone　of　the　fish；　and　drew　it　beneath　the　bed。




CHAPTER　XXXIX

THE　DUEL

Bianca　did　not　see　her　husband　after　their　return　together　from　the　Round　Pond。　　She　dined　out　that　evening；　and　in　the　morning　avoided　any　interview。　　When　Hilary's　luggage　was　brought　down　and　the　cab　summoned；　she　slipped　up　to　take　shelter　in　her　room。　　Presently　the　sound　of　his　footsteps　coming　along　the　passage　stopped　outside　her　door。　　He　tapped。　　She　did　not　answer。

Good…bye　would　be　a　mockery！　　Let　him　go　with　the　words　unsaid！　　And　as　though　the　thought　had　found　its　way　through　the　closed　door；　she　heard　his　footsteps　recede　again。　　She　saw　him　presently　go　out　to　the　cab　with　his　head　bent　down；　saw　him　stoop　and　pat　Miranda。　　Hot　tears　sprang　into　her　eyes。　　She　heard　the　cab…wheels　roll　away。

The　heart　is　like　the　face　of　an　Eastern　womanwarm　and　glowing；　behind　swathe　on　swathe　of　fabric。　　At　each　fresh　touch　from　the　fingers　of　Life；　some　new　corner；　some　hidden　curve　or　angle；　comes　into　view；　to　be　seen　last　of　all　perhaps　never　to　be　seen　by　the　one　who　owns　them。

When　the　cab　had　driven　away　there　came　into　Bianca's　heart　a　sense　of　the　irreparable；　and；　mysteriously　entwined　with　that　arid　ache；　a　sort　of　bitter　pity：　What　would　happen　to　this　wretched　girl　now　that　he　was　gone？　　Would　she　go　completely　to　the　badtill　she　became　one　of　those　poor　creatures　like　the　figure　in　〃The　Shadow；〃　who　stood　beneath　lampposts　in　the　streets？　　Out　of　this　speculation；　which　was　bitter　as　the　taste　of　aloes；　there　came　to　her　a　craving　for　some　palliative；　some　sweetness；　some　expression　of　that　instinct　of　fellow…feeling　deep　in　each　human　breast；　however　disharmonic。　　But　even　with　that　craving　was　mingled　the　itch　to　justify　herself；　and　prove