the wheels of chance-第18章

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〃You　know；　Mr。I've　forgotten　your　name　again。〃

Mr。　Hoopdriver　seemed　lost　in　abstraction。　〃You　can't　go　back　of　course；　quite　like　that；〃　he　said　thoughtfully。　His　ears　waxed　suddenly　red　and　his　cheeks　flushed。

〃But　what　IS　your　name？〃

〃Name！〃　said　Mr。　Hoopdriver。　〃Why！Benson；　of　course。〃

〃Mr。　Bensonyes　it's　really　very　stupid　of　me。　But　I　can　never　remember　names。　I　must　make　a　note　on　my　cuff。〃　She　clicked　a　little　silver　pencil　and　wrote　the　name　down。　〃If　I　could　write　to　my　friend。　I　believe　she　would　be　able　to　help　me　to　an　independent　life。　I　could　write　to　heror　telegraph。　Write；　I　think。　I　could　scarcely　explain　in　a　telegram。　I　know　she　would　help　me。〃

Clearly　there　was　only　one　course　open　to　a　gentleman　under　the　circumstances。　〃In　that　case；〃　said　Mr。　Hoopdriver；　〃if　you　don't　mind　trusting　yourself　to　a　stranger；　we　might　continue　as　we　are　perhaps。　For　a　day　or　so。　Until　you　heard。〃　（Suppose　thirty　shillings　a　day；　that　gives　four　days；　say　four　thirties　is　hun'　and　twenty；　six　quid；well；　three　days；　say；　four　ten。）

〃You　are　very　good　to　me。〃

His　expression　was　eloquent。

〃Very　well；　then；　and　thank　you。　It's　wonderfulit's　more　than　I　deserve　that　you〃　She　dropped　the　theme　abruptly。　〃What　was　our　bill　at　Chichester？〃

〃Eigh？〃　said　Mr。　Hoopdriver；　feigning　a　certain　stupidity。　There　was　a　brief　discussion。　Secretly　he　was　delighted　at　her　insistence　in　paying。　She　carried　her　point。　Their　talk　came　round　to　their　immediate　plans　for　the　day。　They　decided　to　ride　easily；　through　Havant；　and　stop；　perhaps；　at　Fareham　or　Southampton。　For　the　previous　day　had　tried　them　both。　Holding　the　map　extended　on　his　knee；　Mr。　Hoopdriver's　eye　fell　by　chance　on　the　bicycle　at　his　feet。　〃That　bicycle；〃　he　remarked；　quite　irrelevantly；　〃wouldn't　look　the　same　machine　if　I　got　a　big；　double　Elarum　instead　of　that　little　bell。〃

〃Why？〃

〃Jest　a　thought。〃　A　pause。

〃Very　well；　then；Havant　and　lunch；〃　said　Jessie；　rising。

〃I　wish；　somehow；　we　could　have　managed　it　without　stealing　that　machine；〃　said　Hoopdriver。　〃Because　it　IS　stealing　it；　you　know；　come　to　think　of　it。〃

〃Nonsense。　If　Mr。　Bechamel　troubles　youI　will　tell　the　whole　worldif　need　be。〃

〃I　believe　you　would；〃　said　Mr。　Hoopdriver；　admiring　her。　〃You're　plucky　enoughgoodness　knows。〃

Discovering　suddenly　that　she　was　standing；　he；　too；　rose　and　picked　up　her　machine。　She　took　it　and　wheeled　it　into　the　road。　Then　he　took　his　own。　He　paused；　regarding　it。　〃I　say！〃said　he。　〃How'd　this　bike　look；　now；　if　it　was　enamelled　grey？〃　She　looked　over　her　shoulder　at　his　grave　face。　〃Why　try　and　hide　it　in　that　way？〃

〃It　was　jest　a　passing　thought；〃　said　Mr。　Hoopdriver；　airily。　〃Didn't　MEAN　anything；　you　know。〃　

As　they　were　riding　on　to　Havant　it　occurred　to　Mr。　Hoopdriver　in　a　transitory　manner　that　the　interview　had　been　quite　other　than　his　expectation。　But　that　was　the　way　with　everything　in　Mr。　Hoopdriver's　experience。　And　though　his　Wisdom　looked　grave　within　him；　and　Caution　was　chinking　coins；　and　an　ancient　prejudice　in　favour　of　Property　shook　her　head；　something　else　was　there　too；　shouting　in　his　mind　to　drown　all　these　saner　considerations；　the　intoxicating　thought　of　riding　beside　Her　all　to…day；　all　to…morrow；　perhaps　for　other　days　after　that。　Of　talking　to　her　familiarly；　being　brother　of　all　her　slender　strength　and　freshness；　of　having　a　golden；　real；　and　wonderful　time　beyond　all　his　imaginings。　His　old　familiar　fancyings　gave　place　to　anticipations　as　impalpable　and　fluctuating　and　beautiful　as　the　sunset　of　a　summer　day。

At　Havant　he　took　an　opportunity　to　purchase；　at　small　hairdresser's　in　the　main　street；　a　toothbrush；pair　of　nail　scissors；　and　a　little　bottle　of　stuff　to　darken　the　moustache；　an　article　the　shopman　introduced　to　his　attention；　recommended　highly；　and　sold　in　the　excitement　of　the　occasion。



THE　UNEXPECTED　ANECDOTE　OF　THE　LION

XXIX

They　rode　on　to　Cosham　and　lunched　lightly　but　expensively　there。　Jessie　went　out　and　posted　her　letter　to　her　school　friend。　Then　the　green　height　of　Portsdown　Hill　tempted　them；　and　leaving　their　machines　in　the　village　they　clambered　up　the　slope　to　the　silent　red…brick　fort　that　crowned　it。　Thence　they　had　a　view　of　Portsmouth　and　its　cluster　of　sister　towns；　the　crowded　narrows　of　the　harbour；　the　Solent　and　the　Isle　of　Wight　like　a　blue　cloud　through　the　hot　haze。　Jessie　by　some　miracle　had　become　a　skirted　woman　in　the　Cosham　inn。　Mr。　Hoopdriver　lounged　gracefully　on　the　turf；　smoked　a　Red　Herring　cigarette；　and　lazily　regarded　the　fortified　towns　that　spread　like　a　map　away　there；　the　inner　line　of　defence　like　toy　fortifications；　a　mile　off　perhaps　；　and　beyond　that　a　few　little　fields　and　then　the　beginnings　of　Landport　suburb　and　the　smoky　cluster　of　the　multitudinous　houses。　To　the　right　at　the　head　of　the　harbour　shallows　the　town　of　Porchester　rose　among　the　trees。　Mr。　Hoopdriver's　anxiety　receded　to　some　remote　corner　of　his　brain　and　that　florid　half…voluntary　imagination　of　his　shared　the　stage　with　the　image　of　Jessie。　He　began　to　speculate　on　the　impression　he　was　creating。　He　took　stock　of　his　suit　in　a　more　optimistic　spirit；　and　reviewed；　with　some　complacency；　his　actions　for　the　last　four　and　twenty　hours。　Then　he　was　dashed　at　the　thought　of　her　infinite　perfections。

She　had　been　observing　him　quietly；　rather　more　closely　during　the　last　hour　or　so。　She　did　not　look　at　him　directly　because　he　seemed　always　looking　at　her。　Her　own　troubles　had　quieted　down　a　little；　and　her　curiosity　about　the　chivalrous；　worshipping；　but　singular　gentleman　in　brown；　was　awakening。　She　had　recalled；　too；　the　curious　incident　of　their　first　encounter。　She　found　him　hard　to　explain　to　herself。　You　must　understand　that　her　knowledge　of　the　world　was　rather　less　than　nothing；　having　been　obtained　entirely　from　books。　You　must　not　take　a　certain　ignorance　for　foolishness。

She　had　begun　with　a　few　experiments。　He　did　not　know　French　except　'sivver　play；'　a　phrase　he　seemed　to　regard　as　a　very　good　light　table　joke　in　itself。　His　English　was　uncertain；　but　not　such　as　books　informed　her　distinguished　the　lower　classes。　His　manners　seemed　to　her　good　on　the　whole；　but　a　trifle　over…respectful　and　out　of　fashion。　He　called　her　I　Madam'　once。　He　seemed　a　person　of　means　and　leisure；　but　he　knew　nothing　of　recent　concerts；　theatres；　or　books。　How　did　he　spend　his　time？　He　was　certainly　chivalrous；　and　a　trifle　simpleminded。　She　fancied　（so　much　is　there　in　a　change　of　costume）　that　she　had　never　met　with　such　a　man　before。　What　COULD　he　be？

〃Mr。　Benson；〃　she　said；　breaking　a　silence　devoted　to　landscape。

He　rolled　over　and　regarded　her；　chin　on　knuckles。

〃At　your　service。〃

〃Do　you　paint？　Are　you　an　artist？〃

〃Well。〃　Judicious　pause。　〃I　should　hardly　call　myself　a　Nartist。〃　you　know。　I　DO　paint　a　little。　And　sketch；　you　knowskitty　kind　of　things。〃

He　plucked　and　began　to　nibble　a　blade　of　grass。　It　was　really　not　so　much　lying　as　his　quick　imagination　that　prompted　him　to　add；　〃In　Papers；　you　know；　and　all　that。〃

〃I　see；〃　said　Jessie；　looking　at　him　thoughtfully。　Artists　were　a　very　heterogeneous　class　certainly；　and　geniuses　had　a　trick　of　being　a　little　odd。　He　avoided　her　eye　and　bit　his　grass。　〃I　don't　do　MUCH；　you　know。〃

〃It's　not　your　profession？　

〃Oh；　no；〃　said　Hoopdriver；　anxious　now　to　hedge。　〃I　don't　make　a　regular　thing　of　it；　you　know。　jest　now　and　then　something　comes　into　my　head　and　down　it　goes。　NoI'm　not　a　regular　artist。〃

〃Then　you　don't　practise　any　regular　profession？　Mr。　Hoopdriver　looked　into　her　eyes　and　saw　their　quiet　unsuspicious　regard。　He　had　vague　ideas　of　resuming　the　detective　role。　〃It's　like　this；〃　he　said；　to　gain　time。　〃I　have　a　sort　of　profession。　Only　there's　a　kind　of　reasonnothing　much；　you　know　〃

〃I　beg　your　pardon　for　cross…examining　you。〃

〃No　trouble；〃　said　Mr。　Hoopdriver。　〃Only　I　can't　very　wellI　leave　it　to　you；　you　know。　I　don't　want　to　make　any　mystery　of　it；　so　far　as　that　goes。〃　Should　he　plunge　boldly　and　be　a　barrister？　That　anyhow　was　something　pretty　good。　But　she　might　know　about　barristry。

〃I　think　I　could　guess　what　you　are。〃

〃Wellguess；〃　said　Mr。　Hoopdriver。

〃You　come　from　one　of　the　colonies？〃

〃Dear　me！〃　said　Mr。　Hoopdriver；　veering　round　to　the　new　wind。　〃How　did　you　find　out　THAT？〃　（the　man　was　born　in　a　London　suburb；　dear　Reader。）

〃I　guessed；〃　she　said。

He　lifted　his　eyebrows　as　one　astonished；　and　clutched　a　new　piece　of　grass。

〃You　were　educated　up　country。〃

〃Good　again；〃　said　Hoopdriver；　rolling　over　again　into　her　elbow。　〃You're　a　CLAIRVOY　ant。〃　He　bit　at　the　grass；　smiling。　〃Which　colony　was　it？〃

〃That　I　don't　know。〃

〃You　must　guess；〃　said　Hoopdriver。

〃South　Africa；〃　she　said。　〃I　strongly　incline　to　South　Africa。〃　

〃South　Africa's　quite　a　large　place；〃　he　said。

〃But　South　Africa　is　right？〃

〃You're　warm；〃　said　Hoopdriver；　〃anyhow；〃　and　the　while　his　imagination　was　eagerly　exploring　this　new　province。

〃South　Africa　IS　right？〃　she　insisted。

He　turned　over　again　and　nodded；　smiling　reassuringly　into　her　eyes。

〃What　made　me　think　of　South　Africa　was　that　novel　of　Olive　Schreiner's；　you　knowThe　Story　of　an　African　Farm。'　Gregory　Rose　is　so　like　you。〃

〃I　never　read　'The　Story　of　an　African　Farm；'〃　said　Hoopdriver。　〃I　must。　What's　he　like？〃

〃You　must　read　the　book。　But　it's　a　wonderful　place；　with　its　mixture　of　races；　and　its　brand…new　civilisation　jostling　the　old　savagery。　Were　you　near　Khama？〃

〃He　was　a　long　way　off　from　our　place；〃　said　Mr。　Hoopdriver。　〃We　had　a　little　ostrich　farm；　you　knowJust　a　few　hundred　of　'em；　out　Johannesburg　way。〃

〃On　the　Karroowas　it　called？〃

〃That's　the　term。　Some　of　it　was　freehold　though。　Luckily。　We　got　along　very　well　in　the　old　days。But　there's　no　ostriches　on　that　farm　now。〃　He　had　a　diamond　mine　in　his　head；　just　at　the　moment；　but　he　stopped　and　left　a　little　to　the　girl's　imagination。　Besides　which　it　had　occurred　to　him　with　a　kind　of　shock　that　he　was　lying。

〃What　became　of　the　ostriches？〃

〃We　sold　'em　off；　when　we　parted　with　the　farm。　Do　you　mind　if　I　have　another　cigarette？　That　was　when　I　was　quite　a　little　chap；　you　know；　that　we　had　this　ostrich　farm。〃

〃Did　you　have　Blacks　and　Boers　about　you？〃

〃Lots；〃　said　Mr。　Hoopdriver；　striking　a　match　on　his　instep　and　beginning　to　feel　hot　at　the　new　responsibility　he　had　brought　upon　himself。

〃How　interesting！　Do　you　know；　I've　never　been　out　of　England　except　to　Paris　and　Mentone　and　Switzerland。〃

〃One　gets　tired　of　travelling　（puff）　after　a　bit；　of　course。〃

〃You　must　tell　me　about　your　farm　in　South　Africa。　It　always　stimulates　my　imagination　to　think　of　these　places。　I　can　fancy　all　the　tall　ostriches　being　driven　out　by　a　black　herdto　graze；　I　suppose。　How　do　ostriches　feed？〃

〃Well；〃　said　Hoopdriver。　〃That's　rather　various。　They　have　their　fancies；　you　know。　There's　fruit；　of　course；　and　that　kind　of　thing。　And　chicken　food；　and　so　forth。　You　have　to　use　judgment。〃

〃Did　you　ever　see　a　lion？〃　〃They　weren't　very　common　in　our　district；〃　said　Hoopdriver；　quite　modestly。　〃But　I've　seen　them；　of　course。　Once　or　twice。〃

〃Fancy　seeing　a　lion！　Weren't　you　frightened？〃

Mr。　Hoopdriver　was　now