fraternity-第50部分

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！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！



〃I　am　not　going；〃　he　stammered；　〃to　ask　you　any　more。　　I　could　not　pry　into　a　private　matter。　　That　would　not　be…〃　　His　voice　failed；　he　looked　down。

Hilary　bowed；　touched　to　the　quick　by　the　return　to　life　of　this　old　man；　so　long　lost　to　facts；　and　by　the　delicacy　in　that　old　face。

〃I　will　not　intrude　further　on　your　trouble；〃　said　Mr。　Stone；　〃whatever　it　may　be。　　I　am　sorry　that　you　are　unhappy；　too。〃

Very　slowly；　and　without　again　looking　up　at　his　son…in…law；　he　went　out。

Hilary　remained　standing　where　he　had　been　left　against　the　wall。




CHAPTER　XXXVIII

THE　HOME…COMING　OF　HUGHS

Hilary　had　evidently　been　right　in　thinking　the　little　model　was　not　speaking　the　truth　when　she　said　she　had　seen　Hughs；　for　it　was　not　until　early　on　the　following　morning　that　three　persons　traversed　the　long　winding　road　leading　from　Wormwood　Scrubs　to　Kensington。　　They　preserved　silence；　not　because　there　was　nothing　in　their　hearts　to　be　expressed；　but　because　there　was　too　much；　and　they　walked　in　the　giraffe…like　formation　peculiar　to　the　lower　classesHughs　in　front；　Mrs。　Hughs　to　the　left；　a　foot　or　two　behind；　and　a　yard　behind　her；　to　the　left　again；　her　son　Stanley。　　They　made　no　sign　of　noticing　anyone　in　the　road　besides　themselves；　and　no　one　in　the　road　gave　sign　of　noticing　that　they　were　there；　but　in　their　three　minds；　so　differently　fashioned；　a　verb　was　dumbly；　and　with　varying　emotion；　being　conjugated：

〃I've　been　in　prison。〃　　〃You've　been　in　prison。'　〃He's　been　in　prison。〃

Beneath　the　seeming　acquiescence　of　a　man　subject　to　domination　from　his　birth　up；　those　four　words　covered　in　Hughs　such　a　whirlpool　of　surging　sensation；　such　ferocity　of　bitterness；　and　madness；　and　defiance；　that　no　outpouring　could　have　appreciably　relieved　its　course。　　The　same　four　words　summed　up　in　Mrs。　Hughs　so　strange　a　mingling　of　fear；　commiseration；　loyalty；　shame；　and　trembling　curiosity　at　the　new　factor　which　had　come　into　the　life　of　all　this　little　family　walking　giraffe…like　back　to　Kensington　that　to　have　gone　beyond　them　would　have　been　like　plunging　into　a　wintry　river。　To　their　son　the　four　words　were　as　a　legend　of　romance；　conjuring　up　no　definite　image；　lighting　merely　the　glow　of　wonder。

〃Don't　lag；　Stanley。　　Keep　up　with　your　father。〃

The　little　boy　took　three　steps　at　an　increased　pace；　then　fell　behind　again。　　His　black　eyes　seemed　to　answer：　'You　say　that　because　you　don't　know　what　else　to　say。'　And　without　alteration　in　their　giraffe…like　formation；　but　again　in　silence；　the　three　proceeded。

In　the　heart　of　the　seamstress　doubt　and　fear　were　being　slowly　knit　into　dread　of　the　first　sound　to　pass　her　husband's　lips。　　What　would　he　ask？　　How　should　she　answer？　　Would　he　talk　wild；　or　would　he　talk　sensible？　　Would　he　have　forgotten　that　young　girl；　or　had　he　nursed　and　nourished　his　wicked　fancy　in　the　house　of　grief　and　silence？　Would　he　ask　where　the　baby　was？　　Would　he　speak　a　kind　word　to　her？　But　alongside　her　dread　there　was　guttering　within　her　the　undying　resolution　not　to　'let　him　go　from　her；　if　it　were　ever　so；　to　that　young　girl'

〃Don't　lag；　Stanley！〃

At　the　reiteration　of　those　words　Hughs　spoke。

〃Let　the　boy　alone！　　You'll　be　nagging　at　the　baby　next！〃

Hoarse　and　grating；　like　sounds　issuing　from　a　damp　vault；　was　this　first　speech。

The　seamstress's　eyes　brimmed　over。

〃I　won't　get　the　chance；〃　she　stammered　out。　　〃He's　gone！〃

Hughs'　teeth　gleamed　like　those　of　a　dog　at　bay。

〃Who's　taken　him？　　You　let　me　know　the　name。

Tears　rolled　down　the　seamstress's　cheeks；　she　could　not　answer。　　Her　little　son's　thin　voice　rose　instead：

〃Baby's　dead。　　We　buried　him　in　the　ground。　　I　saw　it。　　Mr。　Creed　came　in　the　cab　with　me。〃

White　flecks　appeared　suddenly　at　the　corners　of　Hughs'　lips。　　He　wiped　the　back　of　his　hand　across　his　mouth；　and　once　more；　giraffe…　like；　the　little　family　marched　on。。。。

〃Westminister；〃　in　his　threadbare　summer　jacketfor　the　day　was　warmhad　been　standing　for　some　little　time　in　Mrs。　Budgen's　doorway　on　the　ground　floor　at　Hound　Street。　　Knowing　that　Hughs　was　to　be　released　that　morning　early；　he　had；　with　the　circumspection　and　foresight　of　his　character；　reasoned　thus：　'I　shan't　lie　easy　in　my　bed；　I　shan't　hev　no　peace　until　I　know　that　low　feller's　not　a…goin'　to　misdemean　himself　with　me。　　It's　no　good　to　go　a…puttin'　of　it　off。　　I　don't　want　him　comin'　to　my　room　attackin'　of　old　men。　　I'll　be　previous　with　him　in　the　passage。　　The　lame　woman　'll　let　me。　　I　shan't　trouble　her。　　She'll　be　palliable　between　me　and　him；　in　case　he　goes　for　to　attack　me。　　I　ain't　afraid　of　him。'

But；　as　the　minutes　of　waiting　went　by；　his　old　tongue；　like　that　of　a　dog　expecting　chastisement；　appeared　ever　more　frequently　to　moisten　his　twisted；　discoloured　lips。　　'This　comes　of　mixin'　up　with　soldiers；'　he　thought；　'and　a　lowclass　o'　man　like　that。　　I　ought　to　ha'　changed　my　lodgin's。　　He'll　be　askin'　me　where　that　young　girl　is；　I　shouldn't　wonder；　an'　him　lost　his　character　and　his　job；　and　everything；　and　all　because　o'　women！'

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；　f