the wheels of chance-第27章

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hem　jumping　the　ditch　into　the　bracken　under　the　trees；　leaving　the　way　clear　for　Jessie。

Then　the　road　rose　quietly　but　persistently；　the　treadles　grew　heavy；　and　Mr。　Hoopdriver's　breath　sounded　like　a　saw。　The　tandem　appeared；　making　frightful　exertions；　at　the　foot；　while　the　chase　was　still　climbing。　Then；　thank　Heaven！　a　crest　and　a　stretch　of　up　and　down　road；　whose　only　disadvantage　was　its　pitiless　exposure　to　the　afternoon　sun。　The　tandem　apparently　dismounted　at　the　hill；　and　did　not　appear　against　the　hot　blue　sky　until　they　were　already　near　some　trees　and　a　good　mile　away。

〃We're　gaining；〃　said　Mr。　Hoopdriver；　with　a　little　Niagara　of　perspiration　dropping　from　brow　to　cheek。　〃That　hill〃

But　that　was　their　only　gleam　of　success。　They　were　both　nearly　spent。　Hoopdriver；　indeed；　was　quite　spent；　and　only　a　feeling　of　shame　prolonged　the　liquidation　of　his　bankrupt　physique。　From　that　point　the　tandem　grained　upon　them　steadily。　At　the　Rufus　Stone；　it　was　scarcely　a　hundred　yards　behind。　Then　one　desperate　spurt；　and　they　found　themselves　upon　a　steady　downhill　stretch　among　thick　pine　woods。　Downhill　nothing　can　beat　a　highly　geared　tandem　bicycle。　Automatically　Mr。　Hoopdriver　put　up　his　feet；　and　Jessie　slackened　her　pace。　In　another　moment　they　heard　the　swish　of　the　fat　pneumatics　behind　them；　and　the　tandem　passed　Hoopdriver　and　drew　alongside　Jessie。　Hoopdriver　felt　a　mad　impulse　to　collide　with　this　abominable　machine　as　it　passed　him。　His　only　consolation　was　to　notice　that　its　riders；　riding　violently；　were　quite　as　dishevelled　as　himself　and　smothered　in　sandy　white　dust。

Abruptly　Jessie　stopped　and　dismounted；　and　the　tandem　riders　shot　panting　past　them　downhill。　〃Brake；〃　said　Dangle；　who　was　riding　behind；　and　stood　up　on　the　pedals。　For　a　moment　the　velocity　of　the　thing　increased；　and　then　they　saw　the　dust　fly　from　the　brake；　as　it　came　down　on　the　front　tire。　Dangle's　right　leg　floundered　in　the　air　as　he　came　off　in　the　road。　The　tandem　wobbled。　〃Hold　it！〃　cried　Phipps　over　his　shoulder；　going　on　downhill。　I　can't　get　off　if　you　don't　hold　it。〃　He　put　on　the　brake　until　the　machine　stopped　almost　dead；　and　then　feeling　unstable　began　to　pedal　again。　Dangle　shouted　after　him。　〃Put　out　your　foot；　man；〃　said　Dangle。

In　this　way　the　tandem　riders　were　carried　a　good　hundred　yards　or　more　beyond　their　quarry。　Then　Phipps　realized　his　possibilities；　slacked　up　with　the　brake；　and　let　the　thing　go　over　sideways；　dropping　on　to　his　right　foot。　With　his　left　leg　still　over　the　saddle；　and　still　holding　the　handles；　he　looked　over　his　shoulder　and　began　addressing　uncomplimentary　remarks　to　Dangle。　〃You　only　think　of　yourself；〃　said　Phipps；　with　a　florid　face。

〃They　have　forgotten　us；〃　said　Jessie；　turning　her　machine。

〃There　was　a　road　at　the　top　of　the　hillto　Lyndhurst；〃　said　Hoopdriver；　following　her　example。

〃It's　no　good。　There's　the　money。　We　must　give　it　up。　But　let　us　go　back　to　that　hotel　at　Rufus　Stone。　I　don't　see　why　we　should　be　led　captive。〃

So　to　the　consternation　of　the　tandem　riders；　Jessie　and　her　companion　mounted　and　rode　quietly　back　up　the　hill　again。　As　they　dismounted　at　the　hotel　entrance；　the　tandem　overtook　them；　and　immediately　afterwards　the　dogcart　came　into　view　in　pursuit。　Dangle　jumped　off。

〃Miss　Milton；　I　believe；〃　said　Dangle；　panting　and　raising　a　damp　cap　from　his　wet　and　matted　hair。

〃I　SAY；〃　said　Phipps；　receding　involuntarily。　〃Don't　go　doing　it　again；　Dangle。　HELP　a　chap。〃

〃One　minute；〃　said　Dangle；　and　ran　after　his　colleague。

Jessie　leant　her　machine　against　the　wall；　and　went　into　the　hotel　entrance。　Hoopdriver　remained　in　the　hotel　entrance；　limp　but　defiant。



AT　THE　RUFUS　STONE　

XXXVIII

He　folded　his　arms　as　Dangle　and　Phipps　returned　towards　him。　Phipps　was　abashed　by　his　inability　to　cope　with　the　tandem；　which　he　was　now　wheeling；　but　Dangle　was　inclined　to　be　quarrelsome。　〃Miss　Milton？〃　he　said　briefly。

Mr。　Hoopdriver　bowed　over　his　folded　arms。

〃Miss　Milton　within？〃　said　Dangle。

AND　not　to　be　disturved；〃　said　Mr。　Hoopdriver。

〃You　are　a　scoundrel；　sir；〃　said　Mr。　Dangle。

〃Et　your　service；〃　said　Mr。　Hoopdriver。　〃She　awaits　'er　stepmother；　sir。〃

Mr。　Dangle　hesitated。　〃She　will　be　here　immediately；〃　he　said。　〃Here　is　her　friend；　Miss　Mergle。〃

Mr。　Hoopdriver　unfolded　his　arms　slowly；　and；　with　an　air　of　immense　calm；　thrust　his　hands　into　his　breeches　pockets。　Then　with　one　of　those　fatal　hesitations　of　his；　it　occurred　to　him　that　this　attitude　was　merely　vulgarly　defiant　he　withdrew　both；　returned　one　and　pulled　at　the　insufficient　moustache　with　the　other。　Miss　Mergle　caught　him　in　confusion。　〃Is　this　the　man？〃　she　said　to　Dangle；　and　forthwith；　〃How　DARE　you；　sir？　How　dare　you　face　me？　That　poor　girl！〃


〃You　will　permit　me　to　observe；〃　began　Mr。　Hoopdriver；　with　a　splendid　drawl；　seeing　himself；　for　the　first　time　in　all　this　business；　as　a　romantic　villain。

〃Ugh；〃　said　Miss　Mergle；　unexpectedly　striking　him　about　the　midriff　with　her　extended　palms；　and　sending　him　staggering　backward　into　the　hall　of　the　hotel。

〃Let　me　pass　said　Miss　Mergle；　in　towering　indignation。　〃How　dare　you　resist　my　passage？〃　and　so　swept　by　him　and　into　the　dining…room；　wherein　Jessie　had　sought　refuge。

As　Mr。　Hoopdriver　struggled　for　equilibrium　with　the　umbrella…stand；　Dangle　and　Phipps；　roused　from　their　inertia　by　Miss　Mergle's　activity；　came　in　upon　her　heels；　Phipps　leading。　〃How　dare　you　prevent　that　lady　passing？〃　said　Phipps。

Mr。　Hoopdriver　looked　obstinate；　and；　to　Dangle's　sense；　dangerous；　but　he　made　no　answer。　A　waiter　in　full　bloom　appeared　at　the　end　of　the　passage；　guardant。　〃It　is　men　of　your　stamp；　sir；〃　said　Phipps；　〃who　discredit　manhood。〃

Mr。　Hoopdriver　thrust　his　hands　into　his　pockets。　〃Who　the　juice　are　you？〃　shouted　Mr。　Hoopdriver；　fiercely。

〃Who　are　YOU；　sir？〃　retorted　Phipps。　〃Who　are　you？　That's　the　question。　What　are　YOU；　and　what　are　you　doing；　wandering　at　large　with　a　young　lady　under　age？〃

〃Don't　speak　to　him；〃　said　Dangle。

〃I'm　not　a…going　to　tell　all　my　secrets　to　any　one　who　comes　at　me；〃　said　Hoopdriver。　〃Not　Likely。〃　And　added　fiercely；　〃And　that　I　tell　you；　sir。〃

He　and　Phipps　stood；　legs　apart　and　both　looking　exceedingly　fierce　at　one　another；　and　Heaven　alone　knows　what　might　not　have　happened；　if　the　long　clergyman　had　not　appeared　in　the　doorway；　heated　but　deliberate。　〃Petticoated　anachronism；〃　said　the　long　clergyman　in　the　doorway；　apparently　still　suffering　from　the　antiquated　prejudice　that　demanded　a　third　wheel　and　a　black　coat　from　a　clerical　rider。　He　looked　at　Phipps　and　Hoopdriver　for　a　moment；　then　extending　his　hand　towards　the　latter；　he　waved　it　up　and　down　three　times；　saying；　〃Tchak；　tchak；　tchak；〃　very　deliberately　as　he　did　so。　Then　with　a　concluding　〃Ugh！〃　and　a　gesture　of　repugnance　he　passed　on　into　the　dining…room　from　which　the　voice　of　Miss　Mergle　was　distinctly　audible　remarking　that　the　weather　was　extremely　hot　even　for　the　time　of　year。　

This　expression　of　extreme　disapprobation　had　a　very　demoralizing　effect　upon　Hoopdriver；　a　demoralization　that　was　immediately　completed　by　the　advent　of　the　massive　Widgery。

〃Is　this　the　man？〃　said　Widgery　very　grimly；　and　producing　a　special　voice　for　the　occasion　from　somewhere　deep　in　his　neck。

〃Don't　hurt　him！〃　said　Mrs。　Milton；　with　clasped　hands。　〃However　much　wrong　he　has　done　herNo　violence！〃

〃'Ow　many　more　of　you？〃　said　Hoopdriver；　at　bay　before　the　umbrella　stand。　〃Where　is　she？　What　has　he　done　with　her？〃　said　Mrs。　Milton。

〃I'm　not　going　to　stand　here　and　be　insulted　by　a　lot　of　strangers；〃　said　Mr。　Hoopdriver。　〃So　you　needn't　think　it。〃

〃Please　don't　worry；　Mr。　Hoopdriver；〃　said　Jessie；　suddenly　appearing　in　the　door　of　the　dining…room。　〃I'm　here；　mother。〃　Her　face　was　white。

Mrs。　Milton　said　something　about　her　child；　and　made　an　emotional　charge　at　Jessie。　The　embrace　vanished　into　the　dining…room。　Widgery　moved　as　if　to　follow；　and　hesitated。　〃You'd　better　make　yourself　scarce；〃　he　said　to　Mr。　Hoopdriver。

〃I　shan't　do　anything　of　the　kind；〃　said　Mr。　Hoopdriver；　with　a　catching　of　the　breath。　〃I'm　here　defending　that　young　lady。〃

〃You've　done　her　enough　mischief；　I　should　think；〃　said　Widgery；　suddenly　walking　towards　the　dining…room；　and　closing　the　door　behind　him；　leaving　Dangle　and　Phipps　with　Hoopdriver。

〃Clear！〃　said　Phipps；　threateningly。

〃I　shall　go　and　sit　out　in　the　garden；〃　said　Mr。　Hoopdriver；　with　dignity。　〃There　I　shall　remain。〃

〃Don't　make　a　row　with　him；〃　said　Dangle。

And　Mr。　Hoopdriver　retired；　unassaulted；　in　almost　sobbing　dignity。　



XXXIX

So　here　is　the　world　with　us　again；　and　our　sentimental　excursion　is　over。　In　the　front　of　the　Rufus　Stone　Hotel　conceive　a　remarkable　collection　of　wheeled　instruments；　watched　over　by　Dangle　and　Phipps　in　grave　and　stately　attitudes；　and　by　the　driver　of　a　stylish　dogcart　from　Ringwood。　In　the　garden　behind；　in　an　attitude　of　nervous　prostration；　Mr。　Hoopdriver　was　seated　on　a　rustic　seat。　Through　the　open　window　of　a　private　sitting…room　came　a　murmur　of　voices；　as　of　men　and　women　in　conference。　Occasionally　something　that　might　have　been　a　girlish　sob。

〃I　fail　to　see　what　status　Widgery　has；〃　says　Dangle；　〃thrusting　himself　in　there。〃

〃He　takes　too　much　upon　himself；〃　said　Phipps。

〃I've　been　noticing　little　things；　yesterday　and　to…day；〃　said　Dangle；　and　stopped。

〃They　went　to　the　cathedral　together　in　the　afternoon。〃

〃Financially　it　would　be　a　good　thing　for　her；　of　course；〃　said　Dangle；　with　a　gloomy　magnanimity。

He　felt　drawn　to　Phipps　now　by　the　common　trouble；　in　spite　of　the　man's　chequered　legs。　〃Financially　it　wouldn't　be　half　bad。〃

〃He's　so　dull　and　heavy；〃　said　Phipps。

Meanwhile；　within；　the　clergyman　had；　by　promptitude　and　dexterity；　taken　the　chair　and　was　opening　the　case　against　the　unfortunate　Jessie。　I　regret　to　have　to　say　that　my　heroine　had　been　appalled　by　the　visible　array　of　public　opinion　against　her　excursion；　to　the　pitch　of　tears。　She　was　sitting　with　flushed　cheeks　and　swimming　eyes　at　the　end　of　the　table　opposite　to　the　clergyman。　She　held　her　handkerchief　crumpled　up　in　her　extended　hand。　Mrs。　Milton　sat　as　near　to　her　as　possible；　and　occasionally　made　little　dabs　with　her　hand　at　Jessie's　hand；　to　indicate　forgiveness。　These　advances　were　not　reciprocated；　which　touched　Widgery　very　much。　The　lady　in　green；　Miss　Mergle　（B。　A。）；　sat　on　the　opposite　side　near　the　clergyman。　She　was　the　strong…minded　schoolmistress　to　whom　Jessie　had　written；　and　who　had　immediately　precipitated　the　pursuit　upon　her。　She　had　picked　up　the　clergyman　in　Ringwood；　and　had　told　him　everything　forthwith；　having　met　him　once　at　a　British　Association　meeting。　He　had　immediately　constituted　himself　administrator　of　the　entire　business。　Widgery；　having　been　foiled　in　an　attempt　to　conduct　the　proceedings；　stood　with　his　legs　wide　apart　in　front　of　the　fireplace　ornament；　and　looked　profound　and　sympathetic。　Jessie's　account　of　her　adventures　was　a　chary　one　and　given　amidst　frequent　interruptions。　She　surprised　herself　by　skilfully　omitting　any　allusion　to　the　Bechamel　episode。　She　completely　exonerated　Hoopdriver　from　the　charge　of　being　more　than