the ragged trousered philanthropists-第33章

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！


；　brushing　and　combing　and　curling　the　long　yellow　locks　into　ringlets　round　her　fingers；　‘the　only　thing　I　don't　like　is　having　my　hair　done。　　You　know　all　these　curls　are　quite　unnecessary。　I'm　sure　it　would　save　you　a　lot　of　trouble　if　you　wouldn't　mind　cutting　them　off。'

Nora　did　not　answer：　somehow　or　other　she　was　unwilling　to　comply　with　this　often…repeated　entreaty。　　It　seemed　to　her　that　when　this　hair　was　cut　off　the　child　would　have　become　a　different　individual　…　more　separate　and　independent。

‘If　you　don't　want　to　cut　it　off　for　your　own　sake；　you　might　do　it　for　my　sake；　because　I　think　it's　the　reason　some　of　the　big　boys　don't　want　to　play　with　me；　and　some　of　them　shout　after　me　and　say　I'm　a　girl；　and　sometimes　they　sneak　up　behind　me　and　pull　it。　　Only　yesterday　I　had　to　have　a　fight　with　a　boy　for　doing　it：　and　even　Charley　Linden　laughs　at　me；　and　he's　my　best　friend　…　except　you　and　Dad　of　course。

‘Why　don't　you　cut　it　off；　Mum？'

‘I　am　going　to　cut　it　as　I　promised　you；　after　your　next　birthday。'

‘Then　I　shall　be　jolly　glad　when　it　comes。　　Won't　you？　　Why；　what's　the　matter；　Mum？　　What　are　you　crying　for？'　　Frankie　was　so　concerned　that　he　began　to　cry　also；　wondering　if　he　had　done　or　said　something　wrong。　　He　kissed　her　repeatedly；　stroking　her　face　with　his　hand。　What's　the　matter；　Mother？'

‘I　was　thinking　that　when　you're　over　seven　and　you've　had　your　hair　cut　short　you　won't　be　a　baby　any　more。'

‘Why；　I'm　not　a　baby　now；　am　I？　Here；　look　at　this！'

He　strode　over　to　the　wall　and；　dragging　out　two　chairs；　he　placed　them　in　the　middle　of　the　room；　back　to　back；　about　fifteen　inches　apart；　and　before　his　mother　realized　what　he　was　doing　he　had　climbed　up　and　stood　with　one　leg　on　the　back　of　each　chair。

‘I　should　like　to　see　a　baby　who　could　do　this；'　he　cried；　with　his　face　wet　with　tears。　　‘You　needn't　lift　me　down。　　I　can　get　down　by　myself。　　Babies　can't　do　tricks　like　these　or　even　wipe　up　the　spoons　and　forks　or　sweep　the　passage。　　But　you　needn't　cut　it　off　if　you　don't　want　to。　　I'll　bear　it　as　long　as　you　like。　　Only　don't　cry　any　more；　because　it　makes　me　miserable。　　If　I　cry　when　I　fall　down　or　when　you　pull　my　hair　when　you're　combing　it　you　always　tell　me　to　bear　it　like　a　man　and　not　be　a　baby；　and　now　you're　crying　yourself　just　because　I'm　not　a　baby。　　You　ought　to　be　jolly　glad　that　I'm　nearly　grown　up　into　a　man；　because　you　know　I've　promised　to　build　you　a　house　with　the　money　I　earn；　and　then　you　needn't　do　no　more　work。　　We'll　have　a　servant　the　same　as　the　people　downstairs；　and　Dad　can　stop　at　home　and　sit　by　the　fire　and　read　the　paper　or　play　with　me　and　Maud　and　have　pillow　fights　and　tell　stories　and　…'

‘It's　all　right；　dearie；'　said　Nora；　kissing　him。　　‘I'm　not　crying　now；　and　you　mustn't　either；　or　your　eyes　will　be　all　red　and　you　won't　be　able　to　go　with　Charley　at　all。'

When　she　had　finished　dressing　him；　Frankie　sat　for　some　time　in　silence；　apparently　lost　in　thought。　　At　last　he　said：

‘Why　don't　you　get　a　baby；　Mother？　　You　could　nurse　it；　and　I　could　have　it　to　play　with　instead　of　going　out　in　the　street。'

‘We　can't　afford　to　keep　a　baby；　dear。　　You　know；　even　as　it　is；　sometimes　we　have　to　go　without　things　we　want　because　we　haven't　the　money　to　buy　them。　　Babies　need　many　things　that　cost　lots　of　money。'

‘When　I　build　our　house　when　I'm　a　man；　I'll　take　jolly　good　care　not　to　have　a　gas…stove　in　it。　　That's　what　runs　away　with　all　the　money；　we're　always　putting　pennies　in　the　slot。　　And　that　reminds　me：　Charley　said　I'll　have　to　take　a　ha'penny　to　put　in　the　mishnery　box。　Oh；　dear；　I'm　tired　of　sitting　still。　　I　wish　he'd　come。　What　time　is　it　now；　Mother？'

Before　she　could　answer　both　Frankie's　anxiety　and　the　painful　ordeal　of　sitting　still　were　terminated　by　the　loud　peal　at　the　bell　announcing　Charley's　arrival；　and　Frankie；　without　troubling　to　observe　the　usual　formality　of　looking　out　of　the　window　to　see　if　it　was　a　runaway　ring；　had　clattered　half…way　downstairs　before　he　heard　his　mother　calling　him　to　come　back　for　the　halfpenny；　then　he　clattered　up　again　and　then　down　again　at　such　a　rate　and　with　so　much　noise　as　to　rouse　the　indignation　of　all　the　respectable　people　in　the　house。

When　he　arrived　at　the　bottom　of　the　stairs　he　remembered　that　he　had　omitted　to　say　goodbye；　and　as　it　was　too　far　to　go　up　again　he　rang　the　bell　and　then　went　into　the　middle　of　the　road　and　looked　up　at　the　window　that　Nora　opened。

‘Goodbye；　Mother；'　he　shouted。　　‘Tell　Dad　I　forgot　to　say　it　before　I　came　down。'

The　School　was　not　conducted　in　the　chapel　itself；　but　in　a　large　lecture　hall　under　it。　　At　one　end　was　a　small　platform　raised　about　six　inches　from　the　floor；　on　this　was　a　chair　and　a　small　table。　　A　number　of　groups　of　chairs　and　benches　were　arranged　at　intervals　round　the　sides　and　in　the　centre　of　the　room；　each　group　of　seats　accommodating　a　separate　class。　　On　the　walls　…　which　were　painted　a　pale　green　…　were　a　number　of　coloured　pictures：　Moses　striking　the　Rock；　the　Israelites　dancing　round　the　Golden　Calf；　and　so　on。　　As　the　reader　is　aware；　Frankie　had　never　been　to　a　Sunday　School　of　any　kind　before；　and　he　stood　for　a　moment　looking　in　at　the　door　and　half　afraid　to　enter。　　The　lessons　had　already　commenced；　but　the　scholars　had　not　yet　settled　down　to　work。

The　scene　was　one　of　some　disorder：　some　of　the　children　talking；　laughing　or　playing；　and　the　teachers　alternately　threatening　and　coaxing　them。　　The　girls'　and　the　very　young　children's　classes　were　presided　over　by　ladies：　the　boys'　teachers　were　men。

The　reader　already　has　some　slight　knowledge　of　a　few　of　these　people。　There　was　Mr　Didlum；　Mr　Sweater；　Mr　Rushton　and　Mr　Hunter　and　Mrs　Starvem　（Ruth　Easton's　former　mistress）。　　On　this　occasion；　in　addition　to　the　teachers　and　other　officials　of　the　Sunday　School；　there　were　also　present　a　considerable　number　of　prettily　dressed　ladies　and　a　few　gentlemen；　who　had　come　in　the　hope　of　meeting　the　Rev。　John　Starr；　the　young　clergyman　who　was　going　to　be　their　minister　for　the　next　few　weeks　during　the　absence　of　their　regular　shepherd；　Mr　Belcher；　who　was　going　away　for　a　holiday　for　the　benefit　of　his　health。　　Mr　Belcher　was　not　suffering　from　any　particular　malady；　but　was　merely　‘run　down'；　and　rumour　had　it　that　this　condition　had　been　brought　about　by　the　rigorous　asceticism　of　his　life　and　his　intense　devotion　to　the　arduous　labours　of　his　holy　calling。

Mr　Starr　had　conducted　the　service　in　the　Shining　Light　Chapel　that　morning；　and　a　great　sensation　had　been　produced　by　the　young　minister's　earnest　and　eloquent　address；　which　was　of　a　very　different　style　from　that　of　their　regular　minister。　　Although　perhaps　they　had　not　quite　grasped　the　real　significance　of　all　that　he　had　said；　most　of　them　had　been　favourably　impressed　by　the　young　clergyman's　appearance　and　manner　in　the　morning：　but　that　might　have　arisen　from　prepossession　and　force　of　habit；　for　they　were　accustomed；　as　a　matter　of　course；　to　think　well　of　any　minister。　　There　were；　however；　one　or　two　members　of　the　congregation　who　were　not　without　some　misgivings　and　doubts　as　to　the　soundness　of　his　doctrines。　　Mr　Starr　had　promised　that　he　would　look　in　some　time　during　the　afternoon　to　say　a　few　words　to　the　Sunday　School　children；　and　consequently　on　this　particular　afternoon　all　the　grown…ups　were　looking　forward　so　eagerly　to　hearing　him　again　that　not　much　was　done　in　the　way　of　lessons。　　Every　time　a　late　arrival　entered　all　eyes　were　directed　towards　the　door　in　the　hope　and　expectation　that　it　was　he。

When　Frankie；　standing　at　the　door；　saw　all　the　people　looking　at　him　he　drew　back　timidly。

‘Come　on；　man；'　said　Charley。　　‘You　needn't　be　afraid；　it's　not　like　a　weekday　school；　they　can't　do　nothing　to　us；　not　even　if　we　don't　behave　ourselves。　　There's　our　class　over　in　that　corner　and　that's　our　teacher；　Mr　Hunter。　　You　can　sit　next　to　me。　Come　on！'

Thus　encouraged；　Frankie　followed　Charley　over　to　the　class；　and　both　sat　down。　　The　teacher　was　so　kind　and　spoke　so　gently　to　the　children　that　in　a　few　minutes　Frankie　felt　quite　at　home。

When　Hunter　noticed　how　well　cared　for　and　well　dressed　he　was　he　thought　the　child　must　belong　to　well…to…do；　respectable　parents。　Frankie　did　not　pay　much　attention　to　the　lesson；　for　he　was　too　much　interested　in　the　pictures　on　the　walls　and　in　looking　at　the　other　children。　　He　also　noticed　a　very　fat　man　who　was　not　teaching　at　all；　but　drifted　aimlessly　about　he　room　from　one　class　to　another。　　After　a　time　he　came　and　stood　by　the　class　where　Frankie　was；　and；　after　nodding　to　Hunter；　remained　near；　listening　and　smiling　patronizingly　at　the　children。　　He　was　arrayed　in　a　long　garment　of　costly　black　cloth；　a　sort　of　frock　coat；　and　by　the　rotundity　of　his　figure　he　seemed　to　be　one　of　those　accustomed　to　sit　in　the　chief　places　at　feasts。　　This　was　the　Rev。　Mr　Belcher；　minister　of　the　Shining　Light　Chapel。　　His　short；　thick　neck　was　surrounded　by　a　studless　collar；　and　apparently　buttonless；　being　fastened　n　some　mysterious　way　known　only　to　himself；　and　he　showed　no　shirt　front。

The　long　garment　beforementioned　was　unbuttoned　and　through　the　opening　there　protruded　a　vast　expanse　of　waistcoat　and　trousers；　distended　almost　to　bursting　by　the　huge　globe　of　flesh　they　contained。　　A　gold　watch…chain　with　a　locket　extended　partly　across　the　visible　portion　of　the　envelope　of　the　globe。　　He　had　very　large　feet　which　were　carefully　encased　in　soft　calfskin　boots。　　If　he　had　removed　the　long　garment；　this　individual　would　have　resembled　a　balloon：　the　feet　representing　the　car　and　the　small　head　that　surmounted　the　globe；　the　safety　valve；　as　it　was　it　did　actually　serve　the　purpose　of　a　safety　valve；　the　owner　being；　in　consequence　of　gross　overfeeding　and　lack　of　natural　exercise；　afflicted　with　chronic　flatulence；　which　manifested　itself　in　frequent　belchings　forth　through　the　mouth　of　the　foul　gases　generated　in　the　stomach　by　the　decomposition　of　the　foods　with　which　it　was　generally　loaded。　But　as　the　Rev。　Mr　Belcher　had　never　been　seen　with　his　coat　off；　no　one　ever　noticed　the　resemblance。　　It　was　not　necessary　for　him　to　take　his　coat　off：　his　part　in　life　was　not　to　help　to　produce；　but　to　help　to　devour　the　produce　of　the　labour　of　others。

After　exchanging　a　few　words　and　grins　with　Hunter；　he　moved　on　to　another　class；　and　presently　Frankie　with　a　feeling　of　awe　noticed　that　the　confused　murmuring　sound　that　had　hitherto　pervaded　the　place　was　hushed。　　The　time　allotted　for　lessons　had　expired；　and　the　teachers　were　quietly　distributing　hymn…books　to　the　children。　Meanwhile　the　balloon　had　drifted　up　to　the　end　of　the　hall　and　had　ascended　the　platform；　where　it　remained　stationary　by　the　side　of　the　table；　occasionally　emitting　puffs　of　gas　through　the　safety　valve。　On　the　table　were　several　books；　and　also　a　pile　of　folded　cards。　These　latter　were　about　six　inches　by　three　inches；　there　was　some　printing　on　the　outside：　one　of　them　was　lying　open　on　the　table；　showing　the　inside；　which　was　ruled　and　had　money　columns。

Presently　Mr　Belcher　reached　out　a　flabby　white　hand　and；　taking　up　one　of　the　folded　cards；　he　looked　around　upon　the　under…fed；　i