the wheels of chance-第2章

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bility；　and　unfading　excellence　of　the　goods　they　sell　you。　The　decision　comes　at　last。　〃That'll　do　me　very　well；〃　said　Mr。　Hoopdriver；　terminating　the　pause。

The　die　is　cast。

The　shop…walker　makes　a　note　of　it　and　goes　on　to　Briggs　in　the　　〃dresses；〃　the　next　in　the　strict　scale　of　precedence　of　the　Drapery　Emporium。　Mr。　Hoopdriver　in　alternating　spasms　anon　straightens　his　gingham　and　anon　becomes　meditative；　with　his　tongue　in　the　hollow　of　his　decaying　wisdom　tooth。



III

At　supper　that　night；　holiday　talk　held　undisputed　sway。　Mr。　Pritchard　spoke　of　〃Scotland；〃　Miss　Isaacs　clamoured　of　Bettws…y…Coed；　Mr。　Judson　displayed　a　proprietary　interest　in　the　Norfolk　Broads。　〃I？〃　said　Hoopdriver　when　the　question　came　to　him。　〃Why；　cycling；　of　course。〃

〃You're　never　going　to　ride　that　dreadful　machine　of　yours；　day　after　day？〃　said　Miss　Howe　of　the　Costume　Department。

〃I　am；〃　said　Hoopdriver　as　calmly　as　possible；　pulling　at　the　insufficient　moustache。　〃I'm　going　for　a　Cycling　Tour。　Along　the　South　Coast。〃

〃Well；　all　I　hope；　Mr。　Hoopdriver；　is　that　you'll　get　fine　weather；〃　said　Miss　Howe。　〃And　not　come　any　nasty　croppers。〃

〃And　done　forget　some　tinscher　of　arnica　in　yer　bag；〃　said　the　junior　apprentice　in　the　very　high　collar。　（He　had　witnessed　one　of　the　lessons　at　the　top　of　Putney　Hill。）

〃You　stow　it；〃　said　Mr。　Hoopdriver；　looking　hard　and　threateningly　at　the　junior　apprentice；　and　suddenly　adding　in　a　tone　of　bitter　contempt；　〃　Jampot。〃

〃I'm　getting　fairly　safe　upon　it　now；〃　he　told　Miss　Howe。

At　other　times　Hoopdriver　might　have　further　resented　the　satirical　efforts　of　the　apprentice；　but　his　mind　was　too　full　of　the　projected　Tour　to　admit　any　petty　delicacies　of　dignity。　He　left　the　supper　table　early；　so　that　he　might　put　in　a　good　hour　at　the　desperate　gymnastics　up　the　Roehampton　Road　before　it　would　be　time　to　come　back　for　locking　up。　When　the　gas　was　turned　off　for　the　night　he　was　sitting　on　the　edge　of　his　bed；　rubbing　arnica　into　his　kneea　new　and　very　big　placeand　studying　a　Road　Map　of　the　South　of　England。　Briggs　of　the　　〃dresses；〃　who　shared　the　room　with　him；　was　sitting　up　in　bed　and　trying　to　smoke　in　the　dark。　Briggs　had　never　been　on　a　cycle　in　his　life；　but　he　felt　Hoopdriver's　inexperience　and　offered　such　advice　as　occurred　to　him。

〃Have　the　machine　thoroughly　well　oiled；〃　said　Briggs；　〃carry　one　or　two　lemons　with　you；　don't　tear　yourself　to　death　the　first　day；　and　sit　upright。　Never　lose　control　of　the　machine；　and　always　sound　the　bell　on　every　possible　opportunity。　You　mind　those　things；　and　nothing　very　much　can't　happen　to　you；　Hoopdriveryou　take　my　word。〃

He　would　lapse　into　silence　for　a　minute；　save　perhaps　for　a　curse　or　so　at　his　pipe；　and　then　break　out　with　an　entirely　different　set　of　tips。

〃Avoid　running　over　dogs；　Hoopdriver；　whatever　you　do。　It's　one　of　the　worst　things　you　can　do　to　run　over　a　dog。　Never　let　the　machine　bucklethere　was　a　man　killed　only　the　other　day　through　his　wheel　bucklingdon't　scorch；　don't　ride　on　the　foot…path；　keep　your　own　side　of　the　road；　and　if　you　see　a　tram…　line；　go　round　the　corner　at　once；　and　hurry　off　into　the　next　countyand　always　light　up　before　dark。　You　mind　just　a　few　little　things　like　that；　Hoopdriver；　and　nothing　much　can't　happen　to　youyou　take　my　word。〃

〃Right　you　are！〃　said　Hoopdriver。　〃Good…night；　old　man。〃

〃Good…night；〃　said　Briggs；　and　there　was　silence　for　a　space；　save　for　the　succulent　respiration　of　the　pipe。　Hoopdriver　rode　off　into　Dreamland　on　his　machine；　and　was　scarcely　there　before　he　was　pitched　back　into　the　world　of　sense　again。Something　what　was　it　？

〃Never　oil　the　steering。　It's　fatal；〃　a　voice　that　came　from　round　a　fitful　glow　of　light；　was　saying。　〃And　clean　the　chain　daily　with　black…lead。　You　mind　just　a　few　little　things　like　that〃

〃Lord　LOVE　us！〃　said　Hoopdriver；　and　pulled　the　bedclothes　over　his　ears。



THE　RIDING　FORTH　OF　MR。　HOOPDRIVER

IV。

Only　those　who　toil　six　long　days　out　of　the　seven；　and　all　the　year　round；　save　for　one　brief　glorious　fortnight　or　ten　days　in　the　summer　time；　know　the　exquisite　sensations　of　the　First　Holiday　Morning。　All　the　dreary；　uninteresting　routine　drops　from　you　suddenly；　your　chains　fall　about　your　feet。　All　at　once　you　are　Lord　of　yourself；　Lord　of　every　hour　in　the　long；　vacant　day；　you　may　go　where　you　please；　call　none　Sir　or　Madame；　have　a　lappel　free　of　pins；　doff　your　black　morning　coat；　and　wear　the　colour　of　your　heart；　and　be　a　Man。　You　grudge　sleep；　you　grudge　eating；　and　drinking　even；　their　intrusion　on　those　exquisite　moments。　There　will　be　no　more　rising　before　breakfast　in　casual　old　clothing；　to　go　dusting　and　getting　ready　in　a　cheerless；　shutterdarkened；　wrappered…up　shop；　no　more　imperious　cries　of；　〃Forward；　Hoopdriver；〃　no　more　hasty　meals；　and　weary　attendance　on　fitful　old　women；　for　ten　blessed　days。　The　first　morning　is　by　far　the　most　glorious；　for　you　hold　your　whole　fortune　in　your　hands。　Thereafter；　every　night；　comes　a　pang；　a　spectre；　that　will　not　be　exorcisedthe　premonition　of　the　return。　The　shadow　of　going　back；　of　being　put　in　the　cage　again　for　another　twelve　months；　lies　blacker　and　blacker　across　the　sunlight。　But　on　the　first　morning　of　the　ten　the　holiday　has　no　past；　and　ten　days　seems　as　good　as　infinity。

And　it　was　fine；　full　of　a　promise　of　glorious　days；　a　deep　blue　sky　with　dazzling　piles　of　white　cloud　here　and　there；　as　though　celestial　haymakers　had　been　piling　the　swathes　of　last　night's　clouds　into　cocks　for　a　coming　cartage。　There　were　thrushes　in　the　Richmond　Road；　and　a　lark　on　Putney　Heath。　The　freshness　of　dew　was　in　the　air；　dew　or　the　relics　of　an　overnight　shower　glittered　on　the　leaves　and　grass。　Hoopdriver　had　breakfasted　early　by　Mrs。　Gunn's　complaisance。　He　wheeled　his　machine　up　Putney　Hill；　and　his　heart　sang　within　him。　Halfway　up；　a　dissipated…looking　black　cat　rushed　home　across　flile　road　and　vanished　under　a　gate。　All　the　big　red…brick　houses　behind　the　variegated　shrubs　and　trees　had　their　blinds　down　still；　and　he　would　not　have　changed　places　with　a　soul　in　any　one　of　them　for　a　hundred　pounds。

He　had　on　his　new　brown　cycling　suita　handsome　Norfolk　jacket　thing　for　30/and　his　legsthose　martyr　legswere　more　than　consoled　by　thick　chequered　stockings；　〃thin　in　the　foot；　thick　in　the　leg；〃　for　all　they　had　endured。　A　neat　packet　of　American　cloth　behind　the　saddle　contained　his　change　of　raiment；　and　the　bell　and　the　handle…bar　and　the　hubs　and　lamp；　albeit　a　trifle　freckled　by　wear；　glittered　blindingly　in　the　rising　sunlight。　And　at　the　top　of　the　hill；　after　only　one　unsuccessful　attempt；　which；　somehow；　terminated　on　the　green；　Hoopdriver　mounted；　and　with　a　stately　and　cautious　restraint　in　his　pace；　and　a　dignified　curvature　of　path；　began　his　great　Cycling　Tour　along　the　Southern　Coast。

There　is　only　one　phrase　to　describe　his　course　at　this　stage；　and　that　isvoluptuous　curves。　He　did　not　ride　fast；　he　did　not　ride　straight；　an　exacting　critic　might　say　he　did　not　ride　well…　…but　he　rode　generously；　opulently；　using　the　whole　road　and　even　nibbling　at　the　footpath。　The　excitement　never　flagged。　So　far　he　had　never　passed　or　been　passed　by　anything；　but　as　yet　the　day　was　young　and　the　road　was　clear。　He　doubted　his　steering　so　much　that；　for　the　present；　he　had　resolved　to　dismount　at　the　approach　of　anything　else　upon　wheels。　The　shadows　of　the　trees　lay　very　long　and　blue　across　the　road；　the　morning　sunlight　was　like　amber　fire。　

At　the　cross…roads　at　the　top　of　West　Hill；　where　the　cattle　trough　stands；　he　turned　towards　Kingston　and　set　himself　to　scale　the　little　bit　of　ascent。　An　early　heath…keeper；　in　his　velveteen　jacket；　marvelled　at　his　efforts。　And　while　he　yet　struggled；　the　head　of　a　carter　rose　over　the　brow。

At　the　sight　of　him　Mr。　Hoopdriver；　according　to　his　previous　determination；　resolved　to　dismount。　He　tightened　the　brake；　and　the　machine　stopped　dead。　He　was　trying　to　think　what　he　did　with　his　right　leg　whilst　getting　off。　He　gripped　the　handles　and　released　the　brake；　standing　on　the　left　pedal　and　waving　his　right　foot　in　the　air。　Thenthese　things　take　so　long　in　the　tellinghe　found　the　machine　was　falling　over　to　the　right。　While　he　was　deciding　upon　a　plan　of　action；　gravitation　appears　to　have　been　busy。　He　was　still　irresolute　when　he　found　the　machine　on　the　ground；　himself　kneeling　upon　it；　and　a　vague　feeling　in　his　mind　that　again　Providence　had　dealt　harshly　with　his　shin。　This　happened　when　he　was　just　level　with　the　heathkeeper。　The　man　in　the　approaching　cart　stood　up　to　see　the　ruins　better。

〃THAT　ain't　the　way　to　get　off；〃　said　the　heathkeeper。

Mr。　Hoopdriver　picked　up　the　machine。　The　handle　was　twisted　askew　again　He　said　something　under　his　breath。　He　would　have　to　unscrew　the　beastly　thing。

〃THAT　ain't　the　way　to　get　off；〃　repeated　the　heathkeeper；　after　a　silence。

〃_I_　know　that；〃　said　Mr。　Hoopdriver；　testily；　determined　to　overlook　the　new　specimen　on　his　shin　at　any　cost。　He　unbuckled　the　wallet　behind　the　saddle；　to　get　out　a　screw　hammer。

〃If　you　know　it　ain't　the　way　to　get　offwhaddyer　do　it　for？〃　said　the　heath…keeper；　in　a　tone　of　friendly　controversy。

Mr。　Hoopdriver　got　out　his　screw　hammer　and　went　to　the　handle。　He　was　annoyed。　〃That's　my　business；　I　suppose；〃　he　said；　fumbling　with　the　screw。　The　unusual　exertion　had　made　his　hands　shake　frightfully。

The　heath…keeper　became　meditative；　and　twisted　his　stick　in　his　hands　behind　his　back。　〃You've　broken　yer　'andle；　ain't　yer？〃　he　said　presently。　Just　then　the　screw　hammer　slipped　off　the　nut。　Mr。　Hoopdriver　used　a　nasty；　low　word。

〃They're　trying　things；　them　bicycles；〃　said　the　heath…keeper；　charitably。　〃Very　trying。〃　Mr。　Hoopdriver　gave　the　nut　a　vicious　turn　and　suddenly　stood　uphe　was　holding　the　front　wheel　between　his　knees。　〃I　wish；〃　said　he；　with　a　catch　in　his　voice；　〃I　wish　you'd　leave　off　staring　at　me。〃

Then　with　the　air　of　one　who　has　delivered　an　ultimatum；　he　began　replacing　the　screw　hammer　in　the　wallet。

The　heath…keeper　never　moved。　Possibly　he　raised　his　eyebrows；　and　certainly　he　stared　harder　than　he　did　before。　〃You're　pretty　unsociable；〃　he　said　slowly；　as　Mr。　Hoopdriver　seized　the　handles　and　stood　ready　to　mount　as　soon　as　the　cart　had　passed。

The　indignation　gathered　slowly　but　surely。　〃Why　don't　you　ride　on　a　private　road　of　your　own　if　no　one　ain't　to　speak　to　you？〃　asked　the　heath…keeper；　perceiving　more　and　more　clearly　the　bearing　of　the　matter。　〃Can't　no　one　make　a　passin'　remark　to　you；　Touchy？　Ain't　I　good　enough　to　speak　to　you？　Been　struck　wooden　all　of　a　sudden？〃

Mr。　Hoopdriver　stared　into　the　Immensity　of　the　Future。　He　was　rigid　with　emotion。　It　was　like　abusing　the　Lions　in　Trafalgar　Square。　But　the　heathkeeper　felt　his　honour　was　at　stake。

〃Don't　you　make　no　remarks　to　'IM；〃　said　the　keeper　as　the　carter　came　up　broadside　to　them。　〃'E's　a　bloomin'　dook；　'e　is。　'E　don't　converse　with　no　one　under　a　earl。　'E's　off　to　Windsor；　'e　is；　that's　why　'e's　stickin'　his　be'ind　out　so　haughty。　Pride！　Why；　'e's　got　so　much　of　it；　'e　has　to　carry　some　of　it　in　that　there　bundle　there；　for　fear　'e'd　bust　if　'e　didn't　ease　hisself　a　bit…　…'E〃　

But　Mr。　Hoopdriver　hear