the wheels of chance-第8章

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was　full　of　a　sinuous　grace　he　had　never　noticed　before。　〃What　can　I　have　the　pleasure？〃　said　Mr。　Hoopdriver　at　once；　and　she　said；　〃The　Ripley　road。〃　So　he　got　out　the　Ripley　road　and　unrolled　it　and　showed　it　to　her；　and　she　said　that　would　do　very　nicely；　and　kept　on　looking　at　him　and　smiling；　and　he　began　measuring　off　eight　miles　by　means　of　the　yard　measure　on　the　counter；　eight　miles　being　a　dress　length；　a　rational　dress　length；　that　is；　and　then　the　other　man　in　brown　came　up　and　wanted　to　interfere；　and　said　Mr。　Hoopdriver　was　a　cad；　besides　measuring　it　off　too　slowly。　And　as　Mr。　Hoopdriver　began　to　measure　faster；　the　other　man　in　brown　said　the　Young　Lady　in　Grey　had　been　there　long　enough；　and　that　he　WAS　her　brother；　or　else　she　would　not　be　travelling　with　him；　and　he　suddenly　whipped　his　arm　about　her　waist　and　made　off　with　her。　It　occurred　to　Mr。　Hoopdriver　even　at　the　moment　that　this　was　scarcely　brotherly　behaviour。　Of　course　it　wasn't！　The　sight　of　the　other　man　gripping　her　so　familiarly　enraged　him　frightfully；　he　leapt　over　the　counter　forthwith　and　gave　chase。　They　ran　round　the　shop　and　up　an　iron　staircase　into　the　Keep；　and　so　out　upon　the　Ripley　road。　For　some　time　they　kept　dodging　in　and　out　of　a　wayside　hotel　with　two　front　doors　and　an　inn　yard。　The　other　man　could　not　run　very　fast　because　he　had　hold　of　the　Young　Lady　in　Grey；　but　Mr。　Hoopdriver　was　hampered　by　the　absurd　behaviour　of　his　legs。　They　would　not　stretch　out；　they　would　keep　going　round　and　round　as　if　they　were　on　the　treadles　of　a　wheel；　so　that　he　made　the　smallest　steps　conceivable。　This　dream　came　to　no　crisis。　The　chase　seemed　to　last　an　interminable　time；　and　all　kinds　of　people；　heathkeepers；　shopmen；　policemen；　the　old　man　in　the　Keep；　the　angry　man　in　drab；　the　barmaid　at　the　Unicorn；　men　with　flying…machines；　people　playing　billiards　in　the　doorways；　silly；　headless　figures；　stupid　cocks　and　hens　encumbered　with　parcels　and　umbrellas　and　waterproofs；　people　carrying　bedroom　candles；　and　such…like　riffraff；　kept　getting　in　his　way　and　annoying　him；　although　he　sounded　his　electric　bell；　and　said；　〃Wonderful；　wonderful！〃　at　every　corner。。。。



HOW　MR。　HOOPDRIVER　WENT　TO　HASLEMERE

XIII

There　was　some　little　delay　in　getting　Mr。　Hoopdriver's　breakfast；　so　that　after　all　he　was　not　free　to　start　out　of　Guildford　until　just　upon　the　stroke　of　nine。　He　wheeled　his　machine　from　the　High　Street　in　some　perplexity。　He　did　not　know　whether　this　young　lady；　who　had　seized　hold　of　his　imagination　so　strongly；　and　her　unfriendly　and　possibly　menacing　brother；　were　ahead　of　him　or　even　now　breakfasting　somewhere　in　Guildford。　In　the　former　case　he　might　loiter　as　he　chose；　in　the　latter　he　must　hurry；　and　possibly　take　refuge　in　branch　roads。

It　occurred　to　him　as　being　in　some　obscure　way　strategic；　that　he　would　leave　Guildford　not　by　the　obvious　Portsmouth　road；　but　by　the　road　running　through　Shalford。　Along　this　pleasant　shady　way　he　felt　suffficiently　secure　to　resume　his　exercises　in　riding　with　one　hand　off　the　handles；　and　in　staring　over　his　shoulder。　He　came　over　once　or　twice；　but　fell　on　his　foot　each　time；　and　perceived　that　he　was　improving。　Before　he　got　to　Bramley　a　specious　byway　snapped　him　up；　ran　with　him　for　half　a　mile　or　more；　and　dropped　him　as　a　terrier　drops　a　walkingstick；　upon　the　Portsmouth　again；　a　couple　of　miles　from　Godalming。　He　entered　Godalming　on　his　feet；　for　the　road　through　that　delightful　town　is　beyond　dispute　the　vilest　in　the　world；　a　mere　tumult　of　road　metal；　a　way　of　peaks　and　precipices；　and；　after　a　successful　experiment　with　cider　at　the　Woolpack；　he　pushed　on　to　Milford。

All　this　time　he　was　acutely　aware　of　the　existence　of　the　Young　Lady　in　Grey　and　her　companion　in　brown；　as　a　child　in　the　dark　is　of　Bogies。　Sometimes　he　could　hear　their　pneumatics　stealing　upon　him　from　behind；　and　looking　round　saw　a　long　stretch　of　vacant　road。　Once　he　saw　far　ahead　of　him　a　glittering　wheel；　but　it　proved　to　be　a　workingman　riding　to　destruction　on　a　very　tall　ordinary。　And　he　felt　a　curious；　vague　uneasiness　about　that　Young　Lady　in　Grey；　for　which　he　was　altogether　unable　to　account。　Now　that　he　was　awake　he　had　forgotten　that　accentuated　〃Miss　Beaumont　that　had　been　quite　clear　in　his　dream。　But　the　curious　dream　conviction；　that　the　girl　was　not　really　the　man's　sister；　would　not　let　itself　be　forgotten。　Why；　for　instance；　should　a　man　want　to　be　alone　with　his　sister　on　the　top　of　a　tower？　At　Milford　his　bicycle　made；　so　to　speak；　an　ass　of　itself。　A　finger…post　suddenly　jumped　out　at　him；　vainly　indicating　an　abrupt　turn　to　the　right；　and　Mr。　Hoopdriver　would　have　slowed　up　and　read　the　inscription；　but　no！the　bicycle　would　not　let　him。　The　road　dropped　a　little　into　Milford；　and　the　thing　shied；　put　down　its　head　and　bolted；　and　Mr。　Hoopdriver　only　thought　of　the　brake　when　the　fingerpost　was　passed。　Then　to　have　recovered　the　point　of　intersection　would　have　meant　dismounting。　For　as　yet　there　was　no　road　wide　enough　for　Mr。　Hoopdriver　to　turn　in。　So　he　went　on　his　wayor　to　be　precise；　he　did　exactly　the　opposite　thing。　The　road　to　the　right　was　the　Portsmouth　road；　and　this　he　was　on　went　to　Haslemere　and　Midhurst。　By　that　error　it　came　about　that　he　once　more　came　upon　his　fellow　travellers　of　yesterday；　coming　on　them　suddenly；　without　the　slightest　preliminary　announcement　and　when　they　least　expected　it；　under　the　Southwestern　Railway　arch。　〃It's　horrible；〃　said　a　girlish　voice；　〃it's　brutalcowardly〃　And　stopped。

His　expression；　as　he　shot　out　from　the　archway　at　them；　may　have　been　something　between　a　grin　of　recognition　and　a　scowl　of　annoyance　at　himself　for　the　unintentional　intrusion。　But　disconcerted　as　he　waas；　he　was　yet　able　to　appreciate　something　of　the　peculiarity　of　their　mutual　attitudes。　The　bicycles　were　Iying　by　the　roadside；　and　the　two　riders　stood　face　to　face。　The　other　man　in　brown's　attitude；　as　it　flashed　upon　Hoopdriver；　was　a　deliberate　pose；　he　twirled　his　moustache　and　smiled　faintly；　and　he　was　conscientiously　looking　amused。　And　the　girl　stood　rigid；　her　arms　straight　by　her　side；　her　handkerchief　clenched　in　her　hand；　and　her　face　was　flushed；　with　the　faintest　touch　of　red　upon　her　eyelids。　She　seemed　to　Mr。　Hoopdriver's　sense　to　be　indignant。　But　that　was　the　impression　of　a　second。　A　mask　of　surprised　recognition　fell　across　this　revelation　of　emotion　as　she　turned　her　head　towards　him；　and　the　pose　of　the　other　man　in　brown　vanished　too　in　a　momentary　astonishment。　And　then　he　had　passed　them；　and　was　riding　on　towards　Haslemere　to　make　what　he　could　of　the　swift　picture　that　had　photographed　itself　on　his　brain。

〃Rum；〃　said　Mr。　Hoopdriver。　〃It's　DASHED　rum！〃

〃They　were　having　a　row。〃

〃Smirking〃　What　he　called　the　other　man　in　brown　need　not　trouble　us。

〃Annoying　her！〃　That　any　human　being　should　do　that！

〃WHY？〃

The　impulse　to　interfere　leapt　suddenly　into　Mr。　Hoopdriver's　mind。　He　grasped　his　brake；　descended；　and　stood　looking　hesitatingly　back。　They　still　stood　by　the　railway　bridge；　and　it　seemed　to　Mr。　Hoopdriver's　fancy　that　she　was　stamping　her　foot。　He　hesitated；　then　turned　his　bicycle　round；　mounted；　and　rode　back　towards　them；　gripping　his　courage　firmly　lest　it　should　slip　away　and　leave　him　ridiculous。　〃I'll　offer　'im　a　screw　'ammer；〃　said　Mr。　Hoopdriver。　Then；　with　a　wave　of　fierce　emotion；　he　saw　that　the　girl　was　crying。　In　another　moment　they　heard　him　and　turned　in　surprise。　Certainly　she　had　been　crying；　her　eyes　were　swimming　in　tears；　and　the　other　man　in　brown　looked　exceedingly　disconcerted。　Mr。　Hoopdriver　descended　and　stood　over　his　machine。

〃Nothing　wrong；　I　hope？〃　he　said；　looking　the　other　man　in　brown　squarely　in　the　face。　〃No　accident？〃

〃Nothing；〃　said　the　other　man　in　brown　shortly。　〃Nothing　at　all；　thanks。〃

〃But；〃　said　Mr。　Hoopdriver；　with　a　great　effort；　〃the　young　lady　is　crying。　I　thought　perhaps〃

The　Young　Lady　in　Grey　started；　gave　Hoopdriver　one　swift　glance；　and　covered　one　eye　with　her　handkerchief。　〃It's　this　speck；〃　she　said。　〃This　speck　of　dust　in　my　eye。〃

〃This　lady；〃　said　the　other　man　in　brown；　explaining；　〃has　a　gnat　in　her　eye。〃

There　was　a　pause。　The　young　lady　busied　herself　with　her　eye。　〃I　believe　it's　out；〃　she　said。　The　other　man　in　brown　made　movements　indicating　commiserating　curiosity　concerning　the　alleged　fly。　Mr。　Hoopdriverthe　word　is　his　ownstood　flabber…gastered。　He　had　all　the　intuition　of　the　simple…minded。　He　knew　there　was　no　fly。　But　the　ground　was　suddenly　cut　from　his　feet。　There　is　a　limit　to　knighterrantry　dragons　and　false　knights　are　all　very　well；　but　flies！　Fictitious　flies！　Whatever　the　trouble　was；　it　was　evidently　not　his　affair。　He　felt　he　had　made　a　fool　of　himself　again。　He　would　have　mumbled　some　sort　of　apology；　but　the　other　man　in　brown　gave　him　no　time；　turned　on　him　abruptly；　even　fiercely。　〃I　hope；〃　he　said；　〃that　your　curiosity　is　satisfied？〃

〃Certainly；〃　said　Mr。　Hoopdriver。

〃Then　we　won't　detain　you。〃

And；　ignominiously；　Mr。　Hoopdriver　turned　his　machine　about；　struggled　upon　it；　and　resumed　the　road　southward。　And　when　he　learnt　that　he　was　not　on　the　Portsmouth　road；　it　was　impossible　to　turn　and　go　back；　for　that　would　be　to　face　his　shame　again；　and　so　he　had　to　ride　on　by　Brook　Street　up　the　hill　to　Haslemere。　And　away　to　the　right　the　Portsmouth　road　mocked　at　him　and　made　off　to　its　fastnesses　amid　the　sunlit　green　and　purple　masses　of　Hindhead；　where　Mr。　Grant　Allen　writes　his　Hill　Top　Novels　day　by　day。

The　sun　shone；　and　the　wide　blue　hill　views　and　pleasant　valleys　one　saw　on　either　hand　from　the　sandscarred　roadway；　even　the　sides　of　the　road　itself　set　about　with　grey　heather　scrub　and　prickly　masses　of　gorse；　and　pine　trees　with　their　year's　growth　still　bright　green；　against　the　darkened　needles　of　the　previous　years；　were　fresh　and　delightful　to　Mr。　Hoopdriver's　eyes　But　the　brightness　of　the　day　and　the　day…old　sense　of　freedom　fought　an　uphill　fight　against　his　intolerable　vexation　at　that　abominable　encounter；　and　had　still　to　win　it　when　he　reached　Haslemere。　A　great　brown　shadow；　a　monstrous　hatred　of　the　other　man　in　brown；　possessed　him。　He　had　conceived　the　brilliant　idea　of　abandoning　Portsmouth；　or　at　least　giving　up　the　straight　way　to　his　fellow…wayfarers；　and　of　striking　out　boldly　to　the　left；　eastward。　He　did　not　dare　to　stop　at　any　of　the　inviting　public…houses　in　the　main　street　of　Haslemere；　but　turned　up　a　side　way　and　found　a　little　beer…shop；　the　Good　Hope；　wherein　to　refresh　himself。　And　there　he　ate　and　gossipped　condescendingly　with　an　aged　labourer；　assuming　the　while　for　his　own　private　enjoyment　the　attributes　of　a　Lost　Heir；　and　afterwards　mounted　and　rode　on　towards　Northchapel；　a　place　which　a　number　of　finger…posts　conspired　to　boom；　but　which　some　insidious　turning　prevented　him　from　attaining。



HOW　MR。　HOOPDRIVER　REACHED　MIDHURST

XIV

It　was　one　of　my　uncle's　profoundest　remarks　that　human　beings　are　the　only　unreasonable　creatures。　This　observation　was　so　far　justified　by　Mr。　Hoopdriver　that；　after　spending　the　morning　tortuously　avoiding　the　other　man　in　brown　and　the　Young　Lady　in　Grey；　he　spent　a　considerable　part　of　the　afternoon　in　thinking　a