the wheels of chance-第21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！


n　Sense。　Yet　withal；　such　was　our　restraint；　that　we　talked　of　her　still　as　one　much　misguided；　as　one　who　burthened　us　with　anxiety；　as　a　lamb　astray；　and　Mrs。　Milton　having　eaten；　continued　to　show　the　finest　feelings　on　the　matter。

She　sat；　I　may　mention；　in　the　cushioned　basket…chair；　the　only　comfortable　chair　in　the　room；　and　we　sat　on　incredibly　hard；　horsehair　things　having　antimacassars　tied　to　their　backs　by　means　of　lemon…coloured　bows。　It　was　different　from　those　dear　old　talks　at　Surbiton；　somehow。　She　sat　facing　the　window；　which　was　open　（the　night　was　so　tranquil　and　warm）；　and　the　dim　light…　…for　we　did　not　use　the　lampsuited　her　admirably。　She　talked　in　a　voice　that　told　you　she　was　tired；　and　she　seemed　inclined　to　state　a　case　against　herself　in　the　matter　of　〃A　Soul　Untrammelled。〃　It　was　such　an　evening　as　might　live　in　a　sympathetic　memoir；　but　it　was　a　little　dull　while　it　lasted。

〃I　feel；〃　she　said；　〃that　I　am　to　blame。　I　have　Developed。　That　first　book　of　mineI　do　not　go　back　upon　a　word　of　it；　mind；　but　it　has　been　misunderstood；　misapplied。〃

〃It　has；〃　said　Widgery；　trying　to　look　so　deeply　sympathetic　as　to　be　visible　in　the　dark。　〃Deliberately　misunderstood。〃

〃Don't　say　that；〃　said　the　lady。　〃Not　deliberately。　I　try　and　think　that　critics　are　honest。　After　their　lights。　I　was　not　thinking　of　critics。　But　sheI　mean〃　She　paused；　an　interrogation。

〃It　is　possible；〃　said　Dangle；　scrutinising　his　sticking…plaster。

〃I　write　a　book　and　state　a　case。　I　want　people　to　THINK　as　I　recommend；　not　to　DO　as　I　recommend。　It　is　just　Teaching。　Only　I　make　it　into　a　story。　I　want　to　Teach　new　Ideas；　new　Lessons；　to　promulgate　Ideas。　Then　when　the　Ideas　have　been　spread　abroadThings　will　come　about。　Only　now　it　is　madness　to　fly　in　the　face　of　the　established　order。　Bernard　Shaw；　you　know；　has　explained　that　with　regard　to　Socialism。　We　all　know　that　to　earn　all　you　consume　is　right；　and　that　living　on　invested　capital　is　wrong。　Only　we　cannot　begin　while　we　are　so　few。　It　is　Those　Others。〃

〃Precisely；〃　said　Widgery。　〃It　is　Those　Others。　They　must　begin　first。〃

〃And　meanwhile　you　go　on　banking〃

〃If　I　didn't；　some　one　else　would。〃

〃And　I　live　on　Mr。　Milton's　Lotion　while　I　try　to　gain　a　footing　in　Literature。〃

〃TRY！〃　said　Phipps。　〃You　HAVE　done　so。〃　And；　〃That's　different；〃　said　Dangle；　at　the　same　time。

〃You　are　so　kind　to　me。　But　in　this　matter。　Of　course　Georgina　Griffiths　in　my　book　lived　alone　in　a　flat　in　Paris　and　went　to　life　classes　and　had　men　visitors；　but　then　she　was　over　twenty…one。〃

〃Jessica　is　only　seventeen；　and　girlish　for　that；〃　said　Dangle。

〃It　alters　everything。　That　child！　It　is　different　with　a　woman。　And　Georgina　Griffiths　never　flaunted　her　freedom　on　a　bicycle；　in　country　places。　In　this　country。　Where　every　one　is　so　particular。　Fancy；　SLEEPING　away　from　home。　It's　dreadful　If　it　gets　about　it　spells　ruin　for　her。〃

〃Ruin；〃　said　Widgery。

〃No　man　would　marry　a　girl　like　that；〃　said　Phipps。

〃It　must　be　hushed　up；〃　said　Dangle。

〃It　always　seems　to　me　that　life　is　made　up　of　individuals；　of　individual　cases。　We　must　weigh　each　person　against　his　or　her　circumstances。　General　rules　don't　apply〃

〃I　often　feel　the　force　of　that；〃　said　Widgery。　〃Those　are　my　rules。　Of　course　my　books〃

〃It's　different；　altogether　different；〃　said　Dangle。　〃A　novel　deals　with　typical　cases。〃

〃And　life　is　not　typical；〃　said　Widgery；　with　immense　profundity。

Then　suddenly；　unintentionally；　being　himself　most　surprised　and　shocked　of　any　in　the　room；　Phipps　yawned。　The　failing　was　infectious；　and　the　gathering　having；　as　you　can　easily　understand；　talked　itself　weary；　dispersed　on　trivial　pretences。　But　not　to　sleep　immediately。　Directly　Dangle　was　alone　he　began；　with　infinite　disgust；　to　scrutinise　his　darkling　eye；　for　he　was　a　neat…minded　little　man　in　spite　of　his　energy。　The　whole　businessso　near　a　capturewas　horribly　vexatious。　Phipps　sat　on　his　bed　for　some　time　examining；　with　equal　disgust；　a　collar　he　would　have　thought　incredible　for　Sunday　twenty…four　hours　before。　Mrs。　Milton　fell　a…musing　on　the　mortality　of　even　big；　fat　men　with　dog…like　eyes；　and　Widgery　was　unhappy　because　he　had　been　so　cross　to　her　at　the　station；　and　because　so　far　he　did　not　feel　that　he　had　scored　over　Dangle。　Also　he　was　angry　with　Dangle。　And　all　four　of　them；　being　souls　living　very　much　upon　the　appearances　of　things；　had　a　painful；　mental　middle　distance　of　Botley　derisive　and　suspicious；　and　a　remoter　background　of　London　humorous；　and　Surbiton　speculative。　Were　they　really；　after　all；　behaving　absurdly？



MR。　HOOPDRIVER；　KNIGHT　ERRANT

XXXII

As　Mr。　Dangle　bad　witnessed；　the　fugitives　had　been　left　by　him　by　the　side　of　the　road　about　two　miles　from　Botley。　Before　Mr。　Dangle's　appearance；　Mr。　Hoopdriver　had　been　learning　with　great　interest　that　mere　roadside　flowers　had　names；star…flowers；　wind…stars；　St。　John's　wort；　willow　herb；　lords　and　ladies；　bachelor's　buttons；most　curious　names；　some　of　them。　〃The　flowers　are　all　different　in　South　Africa；　y'know；〃　he　was　explaining　with　a　happy　fluke　of　his　imagination　to　account　for　his　ignorance。　Then　suddenly；　heralded　by　clattering　sounds　and　a　gride　of　wheels；　Dangle　had　flared　and　thundered　across　the　tranquillity　of　the　summer　evening；　Dangle；　swaying　and　gesticulating　behind　a　corybantic　black　horse；　had　hailed　Jessie　by　her　name；　had　backed　towards　the　hedge　for　no　ostensible　reason；　and　vanished　to　the　accomplishment　of　the　Fate　that　had　been　written　down　for　him　from　the　very　beginning　of　things。　Jessie　and　Hoopdriver　had　scarcely　time　to　stand　up　and　seize　their　machines；　before　this　tumultuous；　this　swift　and　wonderful　passing　of　Dangle　was　achieved。　He　went　from　side　to　side　of　the　road；worse　even　than　the　riding　forth　of　Mr。　Hoopdriver　it　was；　and　vanished　round　the　corner。

〃He　knew　my　name；〃　said　Jessie。　〃Yesit　was　Mr。　Dangle。〃

〃That　was　our　bicycles　did　that；〃　said　Mr。　Hoopdriver　simultaneously；　and　speaking　with　a　certain　complacent　concern。　〃I　hope　he　won't　get　hurt。〃

〃That　was　Mr。　Dangle；〃　repeated　Jessie；　and　Mr。　Hoopdriver　heard　this　time；　with　a　violent　start。　His　eyebrows　went　up　spasmodically。

〃What！　someone　you　know？〃　

〃Yes。〃　

〃Lord！〃

〃He　was　looking　for　me；〃　said　Jessie。　〃I　could　see。　He　began　to　call　to　me　before　the　horse　shied。　My　stepmother　has　sent　him。〃

Mr。　Hoopdriver　wished　he　had　returned　the　bicycle　after　all；　for　his　ideas　were　still　a　little　hazy　about　Bechamel　and　Mrs。　Milton。　Honesty　IS　the　best　policyoften；　he　thought。　He　turned　his　head　this　way　and　that。　He　became　active。　〃After　us；　eigh？　Then　he'll　come　back。　He's　gone　down　that　hill；　and　he　won't　be　able　to　pull　up　for　a　bit；　I'm　certain。〃　

Jessie；　he　saw；　had　wheeled　her　machine　into　the　road　and　was　mounting。　Still　staring　at　the　corner　that　had　swallowed　up　Dangle；　Hoopdriver　followed　suit。　And　so；　just　as　the　sun　was　setting；　they　began　another　flight　together；riding　now　towards　Bishops　Waltham；　with　Mr。　Hoopdriver　in　the　post　of　dangerthe　rearever　and　again　looking　over　his　shoulder　and　swerving　dangerously　as　he　did　so。　Occasionally　Jessie　had　to　slacken　her　pace。　He　breathed　heavily；　and　hated　himself　because　his　mouth　fell　open；　After　nearly　an　hour's　hard　riding；　they　found　themselves　uncaught　at　Winchester。　Not　a　trace　of　Dangle　nor　any　other　danger　was　visible　as　they　rode　into　the　dusky；　yellow…lit　street。　Though　the　bats　had　been　fluttering　behind　thehedges　and　the　evening　star　was　bright　while　they　were　still　two　miles　from　Winchester；　Mr。　Hoopdriver　pointed　out　the　dangers　of　stopping　in　such　an　obvious　abiding…place；　and　gently　but　firmly　insisted　upon　replenishing　the　lamps　and　riding　on　towards　Salisbury。　From　Winchester；　roads　branch　in　every　direction；　and　to　turn　abruptly　westward　was　clearly　the　way　to　throw　off　the　chase。　As　Hoopdriver　saw　the　moon　rising　broad　and　yellow　through　the　twilight；　he　thought　he　should　revive　the　effect　of　that　ride　out　of　Bognor；　but　somehow；　albeit　the　moon　and　all　the　atmospheric　effects　were　the　same；　the　emotions　were　different。　They　rode　in　absolute　silence；　and　slowly　after　they　had　cleared　the　outskirts　of　Winchester。　Both　of　them　were　now　nearly　tired　out；the　level　was　tedious；　and　even　a　little　hill　a　burden；　and　so　it　came　about　that　in　the　hamlet　of　Wallenstock　they　were　beguiled　to　stop　and　ask　for　accommodation　in　an　exceptionally　prosperouslooking　village　inn。　A　plausible　landlady　rose　to　the　occasion。

Now；　as　they　passed　into　the　room　where　their　suppers　were　prepared；　Mr。　Hoopdriver　caught　a　glimpse　through　a　door　ajar　and　floating　in　a　reek　of　smoke；　of　three　and　a　half　faces　for　the　edge　of　the　door　cut　one　downand　an　American　cloth…covered　table　with　several　glasses　and　a　tankard。　And　he　also　heard　a　remark。　In　the　second　before　he　heard　that　remark；　Mr。　Hoopdriver　had　been　a　proud　and　happy　man；　to　particularize；　a　baronet's　heir　incognito。　He　had　surrendered　their　bicycles　to　the　odd　man　of　the　place　with　infinite　easy　dignity；　and　had　bowingly　opened　the　door　for　Jessie。　〃Who's　that；　then？〃　he　imagined　people　saying；　and　then；　〃Some'n　pretty　well　orfjudge　by　the　bicycles。〃　Then　the　imaginary　spectators　would　fall　a…talking　of　the　fashionableness　of　bicycling；how　judges　And　stockbrokers　and　actresses　and；　in　fact；　all　the　best　people　rode；　and　how　that　it　was　often　the　fancy　of　such　great　folk　to　shun　the　big　hotels；　the　adulation　of　urban　crowds；　and　seek；　incognito；　the　cosy　quaintnesses　of　village　life。　Then；　maybe；　they　would　think　of　a　certain　nameless　air　of　distinction　about　the　lady　who　had　stepped　across　the　doorway；　and　about　the　handsome；　flaxen…moustached；　blue…eyed　Cavalier　who　had　followed　her　in；　and　they　would　look　one　to　another。　〃Tell　you　what　it　is；〃　one　of　the　village　elders　would　sayjust　as　they　do　in　novelsvoicing　the　thought　of　all；　in　a　low；　impressive　tone：　〃There's　such　a　thinas　entertaining　barranets　unawares…not　to　mention　no　higher　things〃

Such；　I　say；　had　been　the　filmy；　delightful　stuff　in　Mr。　Hoopdriver's　head　the　moment　before　he　heard　that　remark。　But　the　remark　toppled　him　headlong。　What　the　precise　remark　was　need　not　concern　us。　It　was　a　casual　piece　of　such　satire　as　Strephon　delights　in。　Should　you　be　curious；　dear　lady；　as　to　its　nature；　you　have　merely　to　dress　yourself　in　a　really　modern　cycling　costume；　get　one　of　the　feeblest…looking　of　your　men　to　escort　you；　and　ride　out；　next　Saturday　evening；　to　any　public　house　where　healthy；　homely　people　gather　together。　Then　you　will　hear　quite　a　lot　of　the　kind　of　thing　Mr。　Hoopdriver　heard。　More；　possibly；　than　you　will　desire。

The　remark；　I　must　add；　implicated　Mr。　Hoopdriver。　It　indicated　an　entire　disbelief　in　his　social　standing。　At　a　blow；　it　shattered　all　the　gorgeous　imaginative　fabric　his　mind　had　been　rejoicing　in。　All　that　foolish　happiness　vanished　like　a　dream。　And　there　was　nothing　to　show　for　it；　as　there　is　nothing　to　show　for　any　spiteful　remark　that　has　ever　been　made。　Perhaps　the　man　who　said　the　thing　had　a　gleam　of　satisfaction　at　the　idea　of　taking　a　complacent…looking　fool　down　a　peg；　but　it　is　just　as　possible　he　did　not　know　at　the　time　that　his　stray　shot　had　hit。　He　had　thrown　it　as　a　boy　throws　a　stone　at　a　bird。　A