the wheels of chance-第28章

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ion　to　the　Bechamel　episode。　She　completely　exonerated　Hoopdriver　from　the　charge　of　being　more　than　an　accessory　to　her　escapade。　But　public　feeling　was　heavy　against　Hoopdriver。　Her　narrative　was　inaccurate　and　sketchy；　but　happily　the　others　were　too　anxious　to　pass　opinions　to　pin　her　down　to　particulars。　At　last　they　had　all　the　facts　they　would　permit。

〃My　dear　young　lady；〃　said　the　clergyman；　〃I　can　only　ascribe　this　extravagant　and　regrettable　expedition　of　yours　to　the　wildest　misconceptions　of　your　place　in　the　world　and　of　your　duties　and　responsibilities。　Even　now；　it　seems　to　me；　your　present　emotion　is　due　not　so　much　to　a　real　and　sincere　penitence　for　your　disobedience　and　folly　as　to　a　positive　annoyance　at　our　most　fortunate　interference〃

〃Not　that；〃　said　Mrs。　Milton；　in　a　low　tone。　〃Not　that。〃

〃But　WHY　did　she　go　off　like　this？〃　said　Widgery。　〃That's　what　_I_　want　to　know。〃

Jessie　made　an　attempt　to　speak；　but　Mrs。　Milton　said　〃Hush！〃　and　the　ringing　tenor　of　the　clergyman　rode　triumphantly　over　the　meeting。　〃I　cannot　understand　this　spirit　of　unrest　that　has　seized　upon　the　more　intelligent　portion　of　the　feminine　community。　You　had　a　pleasant　home；　a　most　refined　and　intelligent　lady　in　the　position　of　your　mother；　to　cherish　and　protect　you〃

〃If　I　HAD　a　mother；〃　gulped　Jessie；　succumbing　to　the　obvious　snare　of　self…pity；　and　sobbing。

〃To　cherish；　protect；　and　advise　you。　And　you　must　needs　go　out　of　it　all　alone　into　a　strange　world　of　unknown　dangers…〃

〃I　wanted　to　learn；〃　said　Jessie。

〃You　wanted　to　learn。　May　you　never　have　anything　to　UNlearn。〃

〃AH！〃　from　Mrs。　Milton；　very　sadly。

〃It　isn't　fair　for　all　of　you　to　argue　at　me　at　once；〃　submitted　Jessie；　irrelevantly。

〃A　world　full　of　unknown　dangers；〃　resumed　the　clergyman。　〃Your　proper　place　was　surely　the　natural　surroundings　that　are　part　of　you。　You　have　been　unduly　influenced；　it　is　only　too　apparent；　by　a　class　of　literature　which；　with　all　due　respect　to　distinguished　authoress　that　shall　be　nameless；　I　must　call　the　New　Woman　Literature。　In　that　deleterious　ingredient　of　our　book　boxes〃

〃I　don't　altogether　agree　with　you　there；〃　said　Miss　Mergle；　throwing　her　head　back　and　regarding　him　firmly　through　her　spectacles；　and　Mr。　Widgery　coughed。

〃What　HAS　all　this　to　do　with　me？〃　asked　Jessie；　availing　herself　of　the　interruption。

〃The　point　is；〃　said　Mrs。　Milton；　on　her　defence；　〃that　in　my　books〃

〃All　I　want　to　do；〃　said　Jessie；　〃is　to　go　about　freely　by　myself。　Girls　do　so　in　America。　Why　not　here？〃

〃Social　conditions　are　entirely　different　in　America；〃　said　Miss　Mergle。　〃Here　we　respect　Class　Distinctions。〃

〃It's　very　unfortunate。　What　I　want　to　know　is；　why　I　cannot　go　away　for　a　holiday　if　I　want　to。〃

〃With　a　strange　young　man；　socially　your　inferior；〃　said　Widgery；　and　made　her　flush　by　his　tone。

〃Why　not？〃　she　said。　〃With　anybody。〃　

〃They　don't　do　that；　even　in　America；〃　said　Miss　Mergle。

〃My　dear　young　lady；〃　said　the　clergyman；　〃the　most　elementary　principles　of　decorumA　day　will　come　when　you　will　better　understand　how　entirely　subservient　your　ideas　are　to　the　very　fundamentals　of　our　present　civilisation；　when　you　will　better　understand　the　harrowing　anxiety　you　have　given　Mrs。　Milton　by　this　inexplicable　flight　of　yours。　We　can　only　put　things　down　at　present；　in　charity；　to　your　ignorance〃

〃You　have　to　consider　the　general　body　of　opinion；　too；〃　said　Widgery。

〃Precisely；〃　said　Miss　Mergle。　〃There　is　no　such　thing　as　conduct　in　the　absolute。〃　〃If　once　this　most　unfortunate　business　gets　about；〃　said　the　clergyman；　〃it　will　do　you　infinite　harm。〃

〃But　I'VE　done　nothing　wrong。　Why　should　I　be　responsible　for　other　people's〃

〃The　world　has　no　charity；〃　said　Mrs。　Milton。

〃For　a　girl；〃　said　Jessie。　〃No。〃

〃Now　do　let　us　stop　arguing；　my　dear　young　lady；　and　let　us　listen　to　reason。　Never　mind　how　or　why；　this　conduct　of　yours　will　do　you　infinite　harm；　if　once　it　is　generally　known。　And　not　only　that；　it　will　cause　infinite　pain　to　those　who　care　for　you。　But　if　you　will　return　at　once　to　your　home；　causing　it　to　be　understood　that　you　have　been　with　friends　for　these　last　few　days〃

〃Tell　lies；〃　said　Jessie。　〃Certainly　not。　Most　certainly　not。　But　I　understand　that　is　how　your　absence　is　understood　at　present；　and　there　is　no　reason〃

Jessie's　grip　tightened　on　her　handkerchief。　〃I　won't　go　back；〃　she　said；　〃to　have　it　as　I　did　before。　I　want　a　room　of　my　own；　what　books　I　need　to　read；　to　be　free　to　go　out　by　myself　alone；　Teaching〃

〃Anything；〃　said　Mrs。　Milton　；〃anything　in　reason。〃

〃But　will　you　keep　your　promise？〃　said　Jessie。

〃Surely　you　won't　dictate　to　your　mother！〃　said　Widgery。

〃My　stepmother！　I　don't　want　to　dictate。　I　want　definite　promises　now。〃

〃This　is　most　unreasonable；〃　said　the　clergyman。　〃Very　well；〃　said　Jessie；　swallowing　a　sob　but　with　unusual　resolution。　〃Then　I　won't　go　back。　My　life　is　being　frittered　away〃

〃LET　her　have　her　way；〃　said　Widgery。

〃A　room　then。　All　your　Men。　I'm　not　to　come　down　and　talk　away　half　my　days〃

〃My　dear　child；　if　only　to　save　you；〃　said　Mrs。　Milton。　〃If　you　don't　keep　your　promise〃

〃Then　I　take　it　the　matter　is　practically　concluded；〃　said　the　clergyman。　〃And　that　you　very　properly　submit　to　return　to　your　proper　home。　And　now；　if　I　may　offer　a　suggestion；　it　is　that　we　take　tea。　Freed　of　its　tannin；　nothing；　I　think；　is　more　refreshing　and　stimulating。〃　

〃There's　a　train　from　Lyndhurst　at　thirteen　minutes　to　six；〃　said　Widgery；　unfolding　a　time　table。　〃That　gives　us　about　half　an　hour　or　three…quarters　hereif　a　conveyance　is　obtainable；　that　is。〃

〃A　gelatine　lozenge　dropped　into　the　tea　cup　precipitates　the　tannin　in　the　form　of　tannate　of　gelatine；〃　said　the　clergyman　to　Miss　Mergle；　in　a　confidential　bray。

Jessie　stood　up；　and　saw　through　the　window　a　depressed　head　and　shoulders　over　the　top　of　the　back　of　a　garden　seat。　She　moved　towards　the　door。　〃While　you　have　tea；　mother；〃　she　said；　〃I　must　tell　Mr。　Hoopdriver　of　our　arrangements。〃

〃Don't　you　think　I〃　began　the　clergyman。

〃No；〃　said　Jessie；　very　rudely；　〃I　don't。〃

〃But；　Jessie；　haven't　you　already〃

〃You　are　already　breaking　the　capitulation；〃　said　Jessie。

〃Will　you　want　the　whole　half　hour？〃　said　Widgery；　at　the　bell。　

〃Every　minute；〃　said　Jessie；　in　the　doorway。　〃He's　behaved　very　nobly　to　me。〃

〃There's　tea；〃　said　Widgery。

〃I've　had　tea。〃

〃He　may　not　have　behaved　badly；〃　said　the　clergyman。　〃But　he's　certainly　an　astonishingly　weak　person　to　let　a　wrong…headed　young　girl〃

Jessie　closed　the　door　into　the　garden。


Meanwhile　Mr。　Hoopdriver　made　a　sad　figure　in　the　sunlight　outside。　It　was　over；　this　wonderful　excursion　of　his；　so　far　as　she　was　concerned；　and　with　the　swift　blow　that　separated　them；　he　realised　all　that　those　days　had　done　for　him。　He　tried　to　grasp　the　bearings　of　their　position。　Of　course；　they　would　take　her　away　to　those　social　altitudes　of　hers。　She　would　become　an　inaccessible　young　lady　again。　Would　they　let　him　say　good…bye　to　her？

How　extraordinary　it　had　all　been！　He　recalled　the　moment　when　he　had　first　seen　her　riding；　with　the　sunlight　behind　her；　along　the　riverside　road；　he　recalled　that　wonderful　night　at　Bognor；　remembering　it　as　if　everything　had　been　done　of　his　own　initiative。　〃Brave；　brave！〃　she　had　called　him。　And　afterwards；　when　she　came　down　to　him　in　the　morning；　kindly；　quiet。　But　ought　he　to　have　persuaded　her　then　to　return　to　her　home？　He　remembered　some　intention　of　the　sort。　Now　these　people　snatched　her　away　from　him　as　though　he　was　scarcely　fit　to　live　in　the　same　world　with　her。　No　more　he　was！　He　felt　he　had　presumed　upon　her　worldly　ignorance　in　travelling　with　her　day　after　day。　She　was　so　dainty；　so　delightful；　so　serene。　He　began　to　recapitulate　her　expressions；　the　light　of　her　eyes；　the　turn　of　her　face　。　。　。

He　wasn't　good　enough　to　walk　in　the　same　road　with　her。　Nobody　was。　Suppose　they　let　him　say　good…bye　to　her；　what　could　he　say？　That？　But　they　were　sure　not　to　let　her　talk　to　him　alone；　her　mother　would　be　there　aswhat　was　it？　Chaperone。　He'd　never　once　had　a　chance　of　saying　what　he　felt；　indeed；　it　was　only　now　he　was　beginning　to　realise　what　he　felt。　Love　I　he　wouldn't　presume。　It　was　worship。　If　only　he　could　have　one　more　chance。　He　must　have　one　more　chance；　somewhere；　somehow。　Then　he　would　pour　out　his　soul　to　her　eloquently。　He　felt　eloquently；　and　words　would　come。　He　was　dust　under　her　feet　。　。　。

His　meditation　was　interrupted　by　the　click　of　a　door　handle；　and　Jessie　appeared　in　the　sunlight　under　the　verandah。　〃Come　away　from　here；〃　she　said　to　Hoopdriver；　as　he　rose　to　meet　her。　〃I'm　going　home　with　them。　We　have　to　say　good…bye。〃

Mr。　Hoopdriver　winced；　opened　and　shut　his　mouth；　and　rose　without　a　word。



XL

At　first　Jessie　Milton　and　Mr。　Hoopdriver　walked　away　from　the　hotel　in　silence。　He　heard　a　catching　in　her　breath　and　glanced　at　her　and　saw　her　ips　pressed　tight　and　a　tear　on　her　cheek。　Her　face　was　hot　and　bright。　She　was　looking　straight　before　her。　He　could　think　of　nothing　to　say；　and　thrust　his　hands　in　his　pockets　and　looked　away　from　her　intentionally。　After　a　while　she　began　to　talk。　They　dealt　disjointedly　with　scenery　first；　and　then　with　the　means　of　self…education。　She　took　his　address　at　Antrobus's　and　promised　to　send　him　some　books。　But　even　with　that　it　was　spiritless；　aching　talk；　Hoopdriver　felt；　for　the　fighting　mood　was　over。　She　seemed；　to　him；　preoccupied　with　the　memories　of　her　late　battle；　and　that　appearance　hurt　him。

〃It's　the　end；〃　he　whispered　to　himself。　〃It's　the　end。〃

They　went　into　a　hollow　and　up　a　gentle　wooded　slope；　and　came　at　last　to　a　high　and　open　space　overlooking　a　wide　expanse　of　country。　There；　by　a　common　impulse；　they　stopped。　She　looked　at　her　watcha　little　ostentatiously。　They　stared　at　the　billows　of　forest　rolling　away　beneath　them；　crest　beyond　crest；　of　leafy　trees；　fading　at　last　into　blue。

〃The　end〃　ran　through　his　mind；　to　the　exclusion　of　all　speakable　thoughts。

〃And　so；〃　she　said；　presently；　breaking　the　silence；　〃it　comes　to　good…bye。〃

For　half　a　minute　he　did　not　answer。　Then　he　gathered　his　resolution。　〃There　is　one　thing　I　MUST　say。〃

〃Well？〃　she　said；　surprised　and　abruptly　forgetting　the　recent　argument。　〃I　ask　no　return。　But〃

Then　he　stopped。　〃I　won't　say　it。　It's　no　good。　It　would　be　rot　from　menow。　I　wasn't　going　to　say　anything。　Good…bye。〃

She　looked　at　him　with　a　startled　expression　in　her　eyes。　〃No；〃　she　said。　〃But　don't　forget　you　are　going　to　work。　Remember；　brother　Chris；　you　are　my　friend。　You　will　work。　You　are　not　a　very　strong　man；　you　know；　nowyou　will　forgive　menor　do　you　know　all　you　should。　But　what　will　you　be　in　six　years'　time？〃

He　stared　hard　in　front　of　him　still；　and　the　lines　about　his　weak　mouth　seemed　to　strengthen。　He　knew　she　understood　what　he　could　not　say。　

〃I'll　work；〃　he　said；　concisely。　They　stood　side　by　side　for　a　moment。　Then　he　said；　with　a　motion　of　his　head；　〃I　won't　come　back　to　THEM。　Do　you　mind？　Going　back　alone？〃

She　took　ten　seconds　to　think。　〃No。〃　she　said；　and　held　out　her　hand；　biting　her　nether　lip。　〃GOOD…BYE；〃　she　whispered。

He　turned；　with　a　whi