fraternity-第51部分

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'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　that　she　could　rise　above　jealousy。

She　made　her　way　to　the　little　model's　lodging。

A　child　admitted　her　into　the　bleak　passage　that　served　for　hall。　The　strange　medley　of　emotions　passing　through　Bianca's　breast　while　she　stood　outside　the　girl's　door　did　not　show　in　her　face；　which　wore　its　customary　restrained；　half…mocking　look。

The　little　model's　voice　faintly　said：　〃Come　in。〃

The　room　was　in　disorder；　as　though　soon　to　be　deserted。　　A　closed　and　corded　trunk　stood　in　the　centre　of　the　floor；　the　bed；　stripped　of　clothing；　lay　disclosed　in　all　the　barrenness　of　discoloured　ticking。　　The　china　utensils　of　the　washstand　were　turned　head　downwards。　　Beside　that　washstand　the　little　model；　with　her　hat　on　the　hat　with　the　purplish…pink　roses　and　the　little　peacock's　feather…stood　in　the　struck；　shrinking　attitude　of　one　who；　coming　forward　in　the　expectation　of　a　kiss；　has　received　a　blow。

〃You　are　leaving　here；　then？〃　　Bianca　said　quietly。

〃Yes；〃　the　girl　murmured。

〃Don't　you　like　this　part？　　Is　it　too　far　from　your　work？〃

Again　the　little　model　whispered：　〃Yes。〃

Bianca's　eyes　travelled　slowly　over　the　blue　beflowered　walls　and　rust…red　doors；　through　the　dusty　closeness　of　this　dismantled　room　a　rank　scent　of　musk　and　violets　rose；　as　though　a　cheap　essence　had　been　scattered　as　libation。　　A　small　empty　scent…bottle　stood　on　the　shabby　looking…glass。

〃Have　you　found　new　lodgings？〃

The　little　model　edged　closer　to　the　window。　　A　stealthy　watchfulness　was　creeping　into　her　shrinking；　dazed　face。

She　shook　her　head。

〃I　don't　know　where　I'm　going。〃

Obeying　a　sudden　impulse　to　see　more　clearly；　Bianca　lifted　her　veil。　〃I　came　to　tell　you；〃　she　said；　〃that　I　shall　always　be　ready　to　help　you。〃

The　girl　did　not　answer；　but　suddenly　through　her　black　lashes　she　stole　a　look　upward　at　her　visitor。　　'Can　you；'　it　seemed　to　say；　'youhelp　me？　　Oh　no；　I　think　not！'　　And；　as　though　she　had　been　stung　by　that　glance；　Bianca　said　with　deadly　slowness：

〃It　is　my　business；　of　course；　entirely；　now　that　Mr。　Dallison　has　gone　abroad。〃

The　little　model　received　this　saying　with　a　quivering　jerk。　　It　might　have　been　an　arrow　transfixing　her　white　throat。　　For　a　moment　she　seemed　almost　about　to　fall；　but；　gripping　the　window…sill；　held　herself　erect。　　Her　eyes；　like　an　animal's　in　pain；　darted　here；　there；　everywhere；　then　rested　on　her　visitor's　breast；　quite　motionless。　　This　stare；　which　seemed　to　see　nothing；　but　to　be　doing；　as　it　were；　some　fateful　calculation；　was　uncanny。　　Colour　came　gradually　back　into　her　lips　and　eyes　and　cheeks；　she　seemed　to　have　succeeded　in　her　calculation；　to　be　reviving　from　that　stab。

And　suddenly　Bianca　understood。　　This　was　the　meaning　of　the　packed　trunk；　the　dismantled　room。　　He　was　going　to　take　her；　after　all！

In　the　turmoil　of　this　discovery　two　words　alone　escaped　her：

〃I　see！〃

They　were　enough。　　The　girl's　face　at　once　lost　all　trace　of　its　look　of　desperate　calculation；　brightened；　became　guilty；　and　from　guilty　sullen。

The　antagonism　of　all　the　long　past　months　was　now　declared　between　these　twoBianca's　pride　could　no　longer　conceal；　the　girl's　submissiveness　no　longer　obscure　it。　　They　stood　like　duellists；　one　on　each　side　of　the　trunkthat　common；　brown…Japanned；　tin　trunk；　corded　with　rope。　　Bianca　looked　at　it。

〃You；〃　she　said；　〃and　he？　　Ha；　ha；　ha；　ha！　　Ha；　ha；　ha！〃

Against　that　cruel　laughtermore　poignant　than　a　hundred　homilies　on　caste；　a　thousand　scornful　wordsthe　little　model　literally　could　not　stand；　she　sat　down　in　the　low　chair　where　she　had　evidently　been　sitting　to　watch　the　street。　　But　as　a　taste　of　blood　will　infuriate　a　hound；　so　her　own　laughter　seemed　to　bereave　Bianca　of　all　restraint。

〃What　do　you　imagine　he's　taking　you　for；　girl？　　Only　out　of　pity！　It's　not　exactly　the　emotion　to　live　on　in　exile。　　In　exilebut　that　you　do　not　understand！〃

The　little　model　staggered　to　her　feet　again。　　Her　face　had　grown　painfully　red。

〃He　wants　me！〃　she　said。

〃Wants　you？　　As　he　wants　his　dinner。　　And　when　he's　eaten　itwhat　then？　　No；　of　course　he'll　never　abandon　you；　his　conscience　is　too　tender。　　But　you'll　be　round　his　necklike　this！〃　　Bianca　raised　her　arms；　looped；　and　dragged　them　slowly　down；　as　a　mermaid's　arms　drag　at　a　drowning　sailor。

The　little　model　stammered：　〃I'll　do　what　he　tells　me！　　I'll　do　what　he　tells　me！〃

Bianca　stood　silent；　looking　at　the　girl；　whose　heaving　breast　and　little　peacock's　feather；　whose　small　round　hands　twisting　in　front　of　her；　and　scent　about　her　clothes；　all　seemed　an　offence。

〃And　do　you　suppose　that　he'll　tell　you　what　he　wants？　　Do　you　imagine　he'll　have　the　necessary　brutality　to　get　rid　of　you？　　He'll　think　himself　bound　to　keep　you　till　you　leave　him；　as　I　suppose　you　will　some　day！〃

The　girl　dropped　her　hands。　　〃I'll　never　leave　himnever！〃　she　cried　out　passionately。

〃Then　Heaven　help　him！〃　said　Bianca。

The　little　model's　eyes　seemed　to　lose　all　pupil；　like　two　chicory　flowers　that　have　no　dark　centres。　　Through　them；　all　that　she　was　feeling　struggled　to　find　an　outlet；　but；　too　deep　for　words；　those　feelings　would　not　pass　her　lips；　utterly　unused　to　express　emotion。　She　could　only　stammer：

〃I'm　notI'm　notI　will…〃　and　press　her　hands　again　to　her　breast。

Bianca's　lip　curled。

〃I　see；　you　imagine　yourself　capable　of　sacrifice。　　Well；　you　have　your　chance。　　Take　it！〃　She　pointed　to　the　corded　trunk。　　〃Now's　your　time；　you　have　only　to　disappear！〃

The　little　model　shrank　back　against　the　windowsill。　　〃He　wants　me！〃　she　muttered。　　〃I　know　he　wants　me。〃

Bianca　bit　her　lips　till　the　blood　came。

〃Your　idea　of　sacrifice；〃　she　said；　〃is　perfect！　　If　you　went　now；　in　a　month's　time　he'd　never　think　of　you　again。〃

The　girl　gulped。　　There　was　something　so　pitiful　in　the　movements　of　her　hands　that　Bianca　turned　away。　　She　stood　for　several　seconds　staring　at　the　door；　then；　turning　round　again；　said：

〃Well？〃

But　the　girl's　whole　face　had　changed。　　All　tear…stained；　indeed；　she　had　already　masked