the wheels of chance-第25章

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〃I　wonder。〃

〃I　don't；〃　said　Mr。　Hoopdriver。　〃I'm　fair　ashamed　of　myself。　But　anyhowI've　stopped　deceiving　you。〃

〃I　THOUGHT；〃　said　the　Young　Lady　in　Grey；　〃that　story　of　the　lion〃

〃Lord！〃　said　Mr。　Hoopdriver。　〃Don't　remind　me　of　THAT。〃

〃I　thought；　somehow；　I　FELT；　that　the　things　you　said　didn't　ring　quite　true。〃　She　suddenly　broke　out　in　laughter；　at　the　expression　of　his　face。　〃Of　COURSE　you　are　honest；〃　she　said。　〃How　could　I　ever　doubt　it？　As　if　_I_　had　never　pretended！　I　see　it　all　now。〃

Abruptly　she　rose；　and　extended　her　hand　across　the　breakfast　things。　He　looked　at　her　doubtfully；　and　saw　the　dancing　friendliness　in　her　eyes。　He　scarcely　understood　at　first。　He　rose；　holding　the　marmalade　spoon；　and　took　her　proffered　hand　with　abject　humility。　〃Lord；〃　he　broke　out；　〃if　you　aren't　enoughbut　there！〃

〃I　see　it　all　now。〃　A　brilliant　inspiration　had　suddenly　obscured　her　humour。　She　sat　down　suddenly；　and　he　sat　down　too。　〃You　did　it；〃　she　said；　〃because　you　wanted　to　help　me。　And　you　thought　I　was　too　Conventional　to　take　help　from　one　I　might　think　my　social　inferior。〃

〃That　was　partly　it；〃　said　Mr。　Hoopdriver。

〃How　you　misunderstood　me！〃　she　said。

〃You　don't　mind？〃　

〃It　was　noble　of　you。　But　I　am　sorry；〃　she　said；　〃you　should　think　me　likely　to　be　ashamed　of　you　because　you　follow　a　decent　trade。〃　

〃I　didn't　know　at　first；　you　see；〃　said　Mr。　Hoopdriver。

And　he　submitted　meekly　to　a　restoration　of　his　self…respect。　He　was　as　useful　a　citizen　as　could　be；it　was　proposed　and　carried；and　his　lying　was　of　the　noblest。　And　so　the　breakfast　concluded　much　more　happily　than　his　brightest　expectation；　and　they　rode　out　of　ruddy　little　Blandford　as　though　no　shadow　of　any　sort　had　come　between　them。　



XXXVI

As　they　were　sitting　by　the　roadside　among　the　pine　trees　half…way　up　a　stretch　of　hill　between　Wimborne　and　Ringwood；　however；　Mr。　Hoopdriver　reopened　the　question　of　his　worldly　position。

〃Ju　think；〃　he　began　abruptly；　removing　a　meditative　cigarette　from　his　mouth；　〃that　a　draper's　shopman　IS　a　decent　citizen？〃

〃Why　not？〃

〃When　he　puts　people　off　with　what　they　don't　quite　want；　for　instance？〃

〃Need　he　do　that？〃

〃Salesmanship；〃　said　Hoopdriver。　〃Wouldn't　get　a　crib　if　he　didn't。It's　no　good　your　arguing。　It's　not　a　particularly　honest　nor　a　particularly　useful　trade；　it's　not　very　high　up　；　there's　no　freedom　and　no　leisureseven　to　eight…thirty　every　day　in　the　week；　don't　leave　much　edge　to　live　on；　does　it？real　workmen　laugh　at　us　and　educated　chaps　like　bank　clerks　and　solicitors'　clerks　look　down　on　us。　You　look　respectable　outside；　and　inside　you　are　packed　in　dormitories　like　convicts；　fed　on　bread　and　butter　and　bullied　like　slaves。　You're　just　superior　enough　to　feel　that　you're　not　superior。　Without　capital　there's　no　prospects；　one　draper　in　a　hundred　don't　even　earn　enough　to　marry　on；　and　if　he　DOES　marry；　his　G。V。　can　just　use　him　to　black　boots　if　he　likes；　and　he　daren't　put　his　back　up。　That's　drapery！　And　you　tell　me　to　be　contented。　Would　YOU　be　contented　if　you　was　a　shop　girl？〃

She　did　not　answer。　She　looked　at　him　with　distress　in　her　brown　eyes；　and　he　remained　gloomily　in　possession　of　the　field。

Presently　he　spoke。　〃I've　been　thinking；〃　he　said；　and　stopped。

She　turned　her　face；　resting　her　cheek　on　the　palm　of　her　hand。　There　was　a　light　in　her　eyes　that　made　the　expression　of　them　tender。　Mr。　Hoopdriver　had　not　looked　in　her　face　while　he　had　talked。　He　had　regarded　the　grass；　and　pointed　his　remarks　with　redknuckled　hands　held　open　and　palms　upwards。　Now　they　hung　limply　over　his　knees。

〃Well？〃　she　said。

〃I　was　thinking　it　this　morning；〃　said　Mr。　Hoopdriver。

〃Yes？〃

〃Of　course　it's　silly。〃　〃Well？〃

〃It's　like　this。　I'm　twenty…three；　about。　I　had　my　schooling　all　right　to　fifteen；　say。　Well；　that　leaves　me　eight　years　behind。Is　it　too　late？　I　wasn't　so　backward。　I　did　algebra；　and　Latin　up　to　auxiliary　verbs；　and　French　genders。　I　got　a　kind　of　grounding。〃

〃And　now　you　mean；　should　you　go　on　working？〃

〃Yes；〃　said　Mr。　Hoopdriver。　〃That's　it。　You　can't　do　much　at　drapery　without　capital；　you　know。　But　if　I　could　get　really　educated。　I've　thought　sometimes。　。　。〃

〃Why　not？　said　the　Young　Lady　in　Grey。

Mr。　Hoopdriver　was　surprised　to　see　it　in　that　light。　〃You　think？〃　he　said。　〃Of　course。　You　are　a　Man。　You　are　free〃　She　warmed。　〃I　wish　I　were　you　to　have　the　chance　of　that　struggle。〃

〃Am　I　Man　ENOUGH？〃　said　Mr。　Hoopdriver　aloud；　but　addressing　himself。　〃There's　that　eight　years；〃　he　said　to　her。

〃You　can　make　it　up。　What　you　call　educated　menThey're　not　going　on。　You　can　catch　them。　They　are　quite　satisfied。　Playing　golf；　and　thinking　of　clever　things　to　say　to　women　like　my　stepmother；　and　dining　out。　You're　in　front　of　them　already　in　one　thing。　They　think　they　know　everything。　You　don't。　And　they　know　such　little　things。〃

〃Lord！〃　said　Mr。　Hoopdriver。　〃How　you　encourage　a　fellow！〃　

〃If　I　could　only　help　you；〃　she　said；　and　left　an　eloquent　hiatus。　He　became　pensive　again。

〃It's　pretty　evident　you　don't　think　much　of　a　draper；〃　he　said　abruptly。

Another　interval。　〃Hundreds　of　men；〃　she　said；　〃have　come　from　the　very　lowest　ranks　of　life。　There　was　Burns；　a　ploughman；　and　Hugh　Miller；　a　stonemason；　and　plenty　of　others。　Dodsley　was　a　footman〃

〃But　drapers！　We're　too　sort　of　shabby　genteel　to　rise。　Our　coats　and　cuffs　might　get　crumpled〃

〃Wasn't　there　a　Clarke　who　wrote　theology？　He　was　a　draper。〃

〃There　was　one　started　a　sewing　cotton；　the　only　one　I　ever　heard　tell　of。〃

〃Have　you　ever　read　'Hearts　Insurgent'？〃

〃Never；〃　said　Mr。　Hoopdriver。　He　did　not　wait　for　her　context；　but　suddenly　broke　out　with　an　account　of　his　literary　requirements。　〃The　fact　isI've　read　precious　little。　One　don't　get　much　of　a　chance；　situated　as　I　am。　We　have　a　library　at　business；　and　I've　gone　through　that。　Most　Besant　I've　read；　and　a　lot　of　Mrs。　Braddon's　and　Rider　Haggard　and　Marie　Corelliand；　wella　Ouida　or　so。　They're　good　stories；　of　course；　and　first…class　writers；　but　they　didn't　seem　to　have　much　to　do　with　me。　But　there's　heaps　of　books　one　hears　talked　about；　I　HAVEN'T　read。〃　

〃Don't　you　read　any　other　books　but　novels？〃

〃Scarcely　ever。　One　gets　tired　after　business；　and　you　can't　get　the　books。　I　have　been　to　some　extension　lectures；　of　course；　'Lizabethan　Dramatists；'　it　was；　but　it　seemed　a　little　high…flown；　you　know。　And　I　went　and　did　wood…carving　at　the　same　place。　But　it　didn't　seem　leading　nowhere；　and　I　cut　my　thumb　and　chucked　it。〃

He　made　a　depressing　spectacle；　with　his　face　anxious　and　his　hands　limp。　〃It　makes　me　sick；〃　he　said；　〃to　think　how　I've　been　fooled　with。　My　old　schoolmaster　ought　to　have　a　juiced　HIDING。　He's　a　thief。　He　pretended　to　undertake　to　make　a　man　of　me；　and　be's　stole　twenty…three　years　of　my　life；　filled　me　up　with　scraps　and　sweepings。　Here　I　am！　I　don't　KNOW　anything；　and　I　can't　DO　anything；　and　all　the　learning　time　is　over。〃

〃Is　it？〃　she　said　；　but　he　did　not　seem　to　hear　her。　〃My　o'　people　didn't　know　any　better；　and　went　and　paid　thirty　pounds　premiumthirty　pounds　down　to　have　me　made　THIS。　The　G。V。　promised　to　teach　me　the　trade；　and　he　never　taught　me　anything　but　to　be　a　Hand。　It's　the　way　they　do　with　draper's　apprentices。　If　every　swindler　was　locked　upwell；　you'd　have　nowhere　to　buy　tape　and　cotton。　It's　all　very　well　to　bring　up　Burns　and　those　chaps；　but　I'm　not　that　make。　Yet　I'm　not　such　muck　that　I　might　not　have　been　betterwith　teaching。　I　wonder　what　the　chaps　who　sneer　and　laugh　at　such　as　me　would　be　if　they'd　been　fooled　about　as　I've　been。　At　twenty…threeit's　a　long　start。〃

He　looked　up　with　a　wintry　smile；　a　sadder　and　wiser　Hoopdriver　indeed　than　him　of　the　glorious　imaginings。　〃It's　YOU　done　this；〃　he　said。　〃You're　real。　And　it　sets　me　thinking　what　I　really　am；　and　what　I　might　have　been。　Suppose　it　was　all　different〃

〃MAKE　it　different。〃

〃How？〃

〃WORK。　Stop　playing　at　life。　Face　it　like　a　man。〃　

〃Ah！〃　said　Hoopdriver；　glancing　at　her　out　of　the　corners　of　his　eyes。　〃And　even　then〃　

〃No！　It's　not　much　good。　I'm　beginning　too　late。〃

And　there；　in　blankly　thoughtful　silence；　that　conversation　ended。　



IN　THE　NEW　FOREST

XXXVII

At　Ringwood　they　lunched；　and　Jessie　met　with　a　disappointment。　There　was　no　letter　for　her　at　the　post　office。　Opposite　the　hotel；　The　Chequered　Career；　was　a　machine　shop　with　a　conspicuously　second…hand　Marlborough　Club　tandem　tricycle　displayed　in　the　window；　together　with　the　announcement　that　bicycles　and　tricycles　were　on　hire　within。　The　establishment　was　impressed　on　Mr。　Hoopdriver's　mind　by　the　proprietor's　action　in　coming　across　the　road　and　narrowly　inspecting　their　machines。　His　action　revived　a　number　of　disagreeable　impressions；　but；　happily；　came　to　nothing。　While　they　were　still　lunching；　a　tall　clergyman；　with　a　heated　face；　entered　the　room　and　sat　down　at　the　table　next　to　theirs。　He　was　in　a　kind　of　holiday　costume；　that　is　to　say；　he　had　a　more　than　usually　high　collar；　fastened　behind　and　rather　the　worse　for　the　weather；　and　his　long…tail　coat　had　been　replaced　by　a　black　jacket　of　quite　remarkable　brevity。　He　had　faded　brown　shoes　on　his　feet；　his　trouser　legs　were　grey　with　dust；　and　he　wore　a　hat　of　piebald　straw　in　the　place　of　the　customary　soft　felt。　He　was　evidently　socially　inclined。

〃A　most　charming　day；　sir；〃　he　said；　in　a　ringing　tenor。

〃Charming；〃　said　Mr。　Hoopdriver；　over　a　portion　of　pie。

〃You　are；　I　perceive；　cycling　through　this　delightful　country；〃　said　the　clergyman。

〃Touring；〃　explained　Mr。　Hoopdriver。　〃I　can　imagine　that；　with　a　properly　oiled　machine；　there　can　be　no　easier　nor　pleasanter　way　of　seeing　the　country。〃

〃No；〃　said　Mr。　Hoopdriver；　〃it　isn't　half　a　bad。　way　of　getting　about。〃

〃For　a　young　and　newly　married　couple；　a　tandem　bicycle　must　be；　I　should　imagine；　a　delightful　bond。〃

〃Quite　so；〃　said　Mr。　Hoopdriver；　reddening　a　little。

〃Do　you　ride　a　tandem？〃

〃Nowe're　separate；〃　said　Mr。　Hoopdriver。

〃The　motion　through　the　air　is　indisputably　of　a　very　exhilarating　description。〃　With　that　decision；　the　clergyman　turned　to　give　his　orders　to　the　attendant；　in　a　firm；　authoritative　voice；　for　a　cup　of　tea；　two　gelatine　lozenges；　bread　and　butter；　salad；　and　pie　to　follow。　〃The　gelatine　lozenges　I　must　have。　I　require　them　to　precipitate　the　tannin　in　my　tea；〃　he　remarked　to　the　room　at　large；　and　folding　his　hands；　remained　for　some　time　with　his　chin　thereon；　staring　fixedly　at　a　little　picture　over　Mr。　Hoopdriver's　head。

〃I　myself　am　a　cyclist；〃　said　the　clergyman；　descending　suddenly　upon　Mr。　Hoopdriver。

〃Indeed！〃　said　Mr。　Hoopdriver；　attacking　the　moustache。　〃What　machine；　may　I　ask？〃

〃I　have　recently　become　possessed　of　a　tricycle。　A　bicycle　is；　I　regret　to　say；　considered　toohow　shall　I　put　it？　flippant　by　my　parishioners。　So　I　have　a　tricycle。　I　have　just　been　hauling　it　hither。〃

〃Hauling！〃　said　Jessie；　surprised。

〃With　a　shoe　lace。　And　partly　carrying　it　on　my　back。〃

The　pause　was　unexpected。　Jessie　had　some　trouble　with　a　crumb。　Mr。　Hoopdriver's　face　passed　through　several　phases　of　surprise。　Then　he　saw　the　explanation。　〃Had　an　accident？〃

〃I　can　hardly　call　it　an　accident