the wheels of chance-第20章

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Dangle　was　puffed　up　to　find　that　his　guess　of　Havant　was　right。　In　view　of　the　fact　that　beyond　Havant　the　Southampton　road　has　a　steep　hill　continuously　on　the　right…hand　side；　and　the　sea　on　the　left；　he　hit　upon　a　magnificent　scheme　for　heading　the　young　folks　off。　He　and　Mrs。　Milton　would　go　to　Fareham；　Widgery　and　Phipps　should　alight　one　each　at　the　intermediate　stations　of　Cosham　and　Porchester；　and　come　on　by　the　next　train　if　they　had　no　news。　If　they　did　not　come　on；　a　wire　to　the　Fareham　post　office　was　to　explain　why。　It　was　Napoleonic；　and　more　than　consoled　Dangle　for　the　open　derision　of　the　Havant　street　boys　at　the　handkerchief　which　still　protected　his　damaged　eye。

Moreover；　the　scheme　answered　to　perfection。　The　fugitives　escaped　by　a　hair's　breadth。　They　were　outside　the　Golden　Anchor　at　Fareham；　and　preparing　to　mount；　as　Mrs。　Milton　and　Dangle　came　round　the　corner　from　the　station。　〃It's　her！〃　said　Mrs。　Milton；　and　would　have　screamed。　〃Hist！〃　said　Dangle；　gripping　the　lady's　arm；　removing　his　handkerchief　in　his　excitement；　and　leaving　the　piece　of　meat　over　his　eye；　an　extraordinary　appearance　which　seemed　unexpectedly　to　calm　her。　〃Be　cool！〃　said　Dangle；　glaring　under　the　meat。　〃They　must　not　see　us。　They　will　get　away　else。　Were　there　flys　at　the　station？〃　The　young　couple　mounted　and　vanished　round　the　corner　of　the　Winchester　road。　Had　it　not　been　for　the　publicity　of　the　business；　Mrs。　Milton　would　have　fainted。　〃SAVE　HER！〃　she　said。

〃Ah！　A　conveyance；〃　said　Dangle。　〃One　minute。〃

He　left　her　in　a　most　pathetic　attitude；　with　her　hand　pressed　to　her　heart；　and　rushed　into　the　Golden　Anchor。　Dog　cart　in　ten　minutes。　Emerged。　The　meat　had　gone　now；　and　one　saw　the　cooling　puffiness　over　his　eye。　〃I　will　conduct　you　back　to　the　station；〃　said　Dangle；　〃hurry　back　here；　and　pursue　them。　You　will　meet　Widgery　and　Phipps　and　tell　them　I　am　in　pursuit。〃

She　was　whirled　back　to　the　railway　station　and　left　there；　on　a　hard；　blistered；　wooden　seat　in　the　sun。　She　felt　tired　and　dreadfully　ruffled　and　agitated　and　dusty。　Dangle　was；　no　doubt；　most　energetic　and　devoted　；　but　for　a　kindly；　helpful　manner　commend　her　to　Douglas　Widgery。

Meanwhile　Dangle；　his　face　golden　in　the　evening　sun；　was　driving　（as　well　as　he　could）　a　large；　black　horse　harnessed　into　a　thing　called　a　gig；　northwestward　towards　Winchester。　Dangle；　barring　his　swollen　eye；　was　a　refined…looking　little　man；　and　be　wore　a　deerstalker　cap　and　was　dressed　in　dark　grey。　His　neck　was　long　and　slender。　Perhaps　you　know　what　gigs　are；　huge；　big；　wooden　things　and　very　high　and　the　horse；　too；　was　huge　and　big　and　high；　with　knobby　legs；　a　long　face；　a　hard　mouth；　and　a　whacking　trick　of　pacing。　Smack；　smack；　smack；　smack　it　went　along　the　road；　and　hard　by　the　church　it　shied　vigorously　at　a　hooded　perambulator。

The　history　of　the　Rescue　Expedition　now　becomes　confused。　It　appears　that　Widgery　was　extremely　indignant　to　find　Mrs。　Milton　left　about　upon　the　Fareham　platform。　The　day　had　irritated　him　somehow；　though　he　had　started　with　the　noblest　intentions；　and　he　seemed　glad　to　find　an　outlet　for　justifiable　indignation。　〃He's　such　a　spasmodic　creature；〃　said　Widgery。　〃Rushing　off！　And　I　suppose　we're　to　wait　here　until　he　comes　back！　It's　likely。　He's　so　egotistical；　is　Dangle。　Always　wants　to　mismanage　everything　himself。〃

〃He　means　to　help　me；〃　said　Mrs。　Milton；　a　little　reproachfully；　touching　his　arm。　Widgery　was　hardly　in　the　mood　to　be　mollified　all　at　once。　〃He　need　not　prevent　ME；〃　he　said；　and　stopped。　〃It's　no　good　talking；　you　know；　and　you　are　tired。〃

〃I　can　go　on；〃　she　said　brightly；　〃if　only　we　find　her。〃　〃　While　I　was　cooling　my　heels　in　Cosham　I　bought　a　county　map。〃　He　produced　and　opened　it。　〃Here；　you　see；　is　the　road　out　of　Fareham。〃　He　proceeded　with　the　calm　deliberation　of　a　business　man　to　develop　a　proposal　of　taking　train　forthwith　to　Winchester。　〃They　MUST　be　going　to　Winchester；〃　he　explained。　It　was　inevitable。　To…morrow　Sunday；　Winchester　a　cathedral　town；　road　going　nowhere　else　of　the　slightest　importance；

〃But　Mr。　Dangle？〃

〃He　will　simply　go　on　until　he　has　to　pass　something；　and　then　he　will　break　his　neck。　I　have　seen　Dangle　drive　before。　It's　scarcely　likely　a　dog…cart；　especially　a　hired　dog…cart；　will　overtake　bicycles　in　the　cool　of　the　evening。　Rely　upon　me；　Mrs。　Milton〃

〃I　am　in　your　hands；〃　she　said；　with　pathetic　littleness；　looking　up　at　him；　and　for　the　moment　he　forgot　the　exasperation　of　the　day。

Phipps；　during　this　conversation；　had　stood　in　a　somewhat　depressed　attitude；　leaning　on　his　stick；　feeling　his　collar；　and　looking　from　one　speaker　to　the　other。　The　idea　of　leaving　Dangle　behind　seemed　to　him　an　excellent　one。　〃We　might　leave　a　message　at　the　place　where　he　got　the　dog…cart；〃　he　suggested；　when　he　saw　their　eyes　meeting。　There　was　a　cheerful　alacrity　about　all　three　at　the　proposal。

But　they　never　got　beyond　Botley。　For　even　as　their　train　ran　into　the　station；　a　mighty　rumbling　was　heard；　there　was　a　shouting　overhead；　the　guard　stood　astonished　on　the　platform；　and　Phipps；　thrusting　his　head　out　of　the　window；　cried；　〃There　he　goes！〃　and　sprang　out　of　the　carriage。　Mrs。　Milton；　following　in　alarm；　just　saw　it。　From　Widgery　it　was　hidden。　Botley　station　lies　in　a　cutting；　overhead　was　the　roadway；　and　across　the　lemon　yellows　and　flushed　pinks　of　the　sunset；　there　whirled　a　great　black　mass；　a　horse　like　a　long…nosed　chess　knight；　the　upper　works　of　a　gig；　and　Dangle　in　transit　from　front　to　back。　A　monstrous　shadow　aped　him　across　the　cutting。　It　was　the　event　of　a　second。　Dangle　seemed　to　jump；　hang　in　the　air　momentarily；　and　vanish；　and　after　a　moment's　pause　came　a　heart…rending　smash。　Then　two　black　heads　running　swiftly。

〃Better　get　out；〃　said　Phipps　to　Mrs。　Milton；　who　stood　fascinated　in　the　doorway。

In　another　moment　all　three　were　hurrying　up　the　steps。　They　found　Dangle；　hatless；　standing　up　with　cut　hands　extended；　having　his　hands　brushed　by　an　officious　small　boy。　A　broad；　ugly　road　ran　downhill　in　a　long　vista；　and　in　the　distance　was　a　little　group　of　Botley　inhabitants　holding　the　big；　black　horse。　Even　at　that　distance　they　could　see　the　expression　of　conscious　pride　on　the　monster's　visage。　It　was　as　wooden…faced　a　horse　as　you　can　imagine。　The　beasts　in　the　Tower　of　London；　on　which　the　men　in　armour　are　perched；　are　the　only　horses　I　have　ever　seen　at　all　like　it。　However；　we　are　not　concerned　now　with　the　horse；　but　with　Dangle。　〃　Hurt？〃　asked　Phipps；　eagerly；　leading。

〃Mr。　Dangle！〃　cried　Mrs。　Milton；　clasping　her　hands。　

〃Hullo！〃　said　Dangle；　not　surprised　in　the　slightest。　〃Glad　you've　come。　I　may　want　you。　Bit　of　a　mess　I'm　ineigh？　But　I've　caught　'em。　At　the　very　place　I　expected；　too。〃

〃Caught　them！〃　said　Widgery。　Where　are　they？〃

〃Up　there；〃　he　said；　with　a　backward　motion　of　his　head。　〃About　a　mile　up　the　hill。　I　left　'em。　I　HAD　to。〃

〃I　don't　understand；〃　said　Mrs。　Milton；　with　that　rapt；　painful　look　again。　〃Have　you　found　Jessie？〃

〃I　have。　I　wish　I　could　wash　the　gravel　out　of　my　hands　somewhere。　It　was　like　this；　you　know。　Came　on　them　suddenly　round　a　corner。　Horse　shied　at　the　bicycles。　They　were　sitting　by　the　roadside　botanising　flowers。　I　just　had　time　to　shout；　'Jessie　Milton；　we've　been　looking　for　you；'　and　then　that　confounded　brute　bolted。　I　didn't　dare　turn　round。　I　had　all　my　work　to　do　to　save　myself　being　turned　over；　as　it　wasso　long　as　I　did；　I　mean。　I　just　shouted；　'Return　to　your　friends。　All　will　be　forgiven。'　And　off　I　came；　clatter；　clatter。　Whether　they　heard〃

〃TAKE　ME　TO　HER；〃　said　Mrs。　Milton；　with　intensity；　turning　towards　Widgery。

〃Certainly；〃　said　Widgery；　suddenly　becoming　active。　〃How　far　is　it；　Dangle？〃

〃Mile　and　a　half　or　two　miles。　I　was　determined　to　find　them；　you　know。　I　say　thoughLook　at　my　hands！　But　I　beg　your　pardon；　Mrs。　Milton。〃　He　turned　to　Phipps。　〃Phipps；　I　say；　where　shall　I　wash　the　gravel　out？　And　have　a　look　at　my　knee？〃

〃There's　the　station；〃　said　Phipps；　becoming　helpful。　Dangle　made　a　step；　and　a　damaged　knee　became　evident。　〃Take　my　arm；〃　said　Phipps。

〃Where　can　we　get　a　conveyance？〃　asked　Widgery　of　two　small　boys。

The　two　small　boys　failed　to　understand。　They　looked　at　one　another。

〃There's　not　a　cab；　not　a　go…cart；　in　sight；〃　said　Widgery。　〃It's　a　case　of　a　horse；　a　horse；　my　kingdom　for　a　horse。〃

〃There's　a　harse　all　right；〃　said　one　of　the　small　boys　with　a　movement　of　the　head。

〃Don't　you　know　where　we　can　hire　traps？　asked　Widgery。　〃Or　a　cart　or　anything？〃　asked　Mrs。　Milton。

〃John　Ooker's　gart　a　cart；　but　no　one　can't　'ire'n；〃　said　the　larger　of　the　small　boys；　partially　averting　his　face　and　staring　down　the　road　and　making　a　song　of　it。　〃And　so's　my　feyther；　for's　leg　us　broke。〃

〃Not　a　cart　even！　Evidently。　What　shall　we　do？〃　

It　occurred　to　Mrs。　Milton　that　if　Widgery　was　the　man　for　courtly　devotion；　Dangle　was　infinitely　readier　of　resource。　〃I　suppose〃　she　said；　timidly。　〃Perhaps　if　you　were　to　ask　Mr。　Dangle〃

And　then　all　the　gilt　came　off　Widgery。　He　answered　quite　rudely。　〃Confound　Dangle！　Hasn't　he　messed　us　up　enough？　He　must　needs　drive　after　them　in　a　trap　to　tell　them　we're　coming；　and　now　you　want　me　to　ask　him〃

Her　beautiful　blue　eyes　were　filled　with　tears。　He　stopped　abruptly。　〃I'll　go　and　ask　Dangle；〃　he　said；　shortly。　〃If　you　wish　it。〃　And　went　striding　into　the　station　and　down　the　steps；　leaving　her　in　the　road　under　the　quiet　inspection　of　the　two　little　boys；　and　with　a　kind　of　ballad　refrain　running　through　her　head；　〃Where　are　the　Knights　of　the　Olden　Time？〃　and　feeling　tired　to　death　and　hungry　and　dusty　and　out　of　curl；　and；　in　short；　a　martyr　woman。



XXXI

It　goes　to　my　heart　to　tell　of　the　end　of　that　day；　how　the　fugitives　vanished　into　Immensity；　how　there　were　no　more　trains　how　Botley　stared　unsympathetically　with　a　palpable　disposition　to　derision；　denying　conveyances　how　the　landlord　of　the　Heron　was　suspicious；　how　the　next　day　was　Sunday；　and　the　hot　summer's　day　had　crumpled　the　collar　of　Phipps　and　stained　the　skirts　of　Mrs。　Milton；　and　dimmed　the　radiant　emotions　of　the　whole　party。　Dangle；　with　sticking…plaster　and　a　black　eye；　felt　the　absurdity　of　the　pose　of　the　Wounded　Knight；　and　abandoned　it　after　the　faintest　efforts。　Recriminations　never；　perhaps；　held　the　foreground　of　the　talk；　but　they　played　like　summer　lightning　on　the　edge　of　the　conversation。　And　deep　in　the　hearts　of　all　was　a　galling　sense　of　the　ridiculous。　Jessie；　they　thought；　was　most　to　blame。　Apparently；　too；　the　worst；　which　would　have　made　the　whole　business　tragic；　was　not　happening。　Here　was　a　young　woman　young　woman　do　I　say？　a　mere　girl！had　chosen　to　leave　a　comfortable　home　in　Surbiton；　and　all　the　delights　of　a　refined　and　intellectual　circle；　and　had　rushed　off；　trailing　us　after　her；　posing　hard；　mutually　jealous；　and　now　tired　and　weather…worn；　to　flick　us　off　at　last；　mere　mud　from　her　wheel；　into　this　detestable　village　beer…house　on　a　Saturday　night！　And　she　had　done　it；　not　for　Love　and　Passion；　which　are　serious　excuses　one　may　recognise　even　if　one　must　reprobate；　but　just　for　a　Freak；　just　for　a　fantastic　Idea　；　for　nothing；　in　fact；　but　the　outraging　of　Common　Sense。