the island pharisees-第37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！





〃What　are　we　doing　after　lunch？〃　asked　the　Commodore。



〃The　next　field；〃　said　the　host；　〃is　pasture。　　We　line　up　along　the

hedge；　and　drive　that　mustard　towards　the　roots；　there　ought　to　be　a

good　few　birds。〃



〃Shelton　rose；　and；　crouching；　stole　softly　to　the　gate：



〃On　the　twelfth；　shootin'　in　two　parties；〃　followed　the　voice　of

Mabbey　from　the　distance。



Whether　from　his　walk　or　from　his　sleepless　night；　Shelton　seemed　to

ache　in　every　limb；　but　he　continued　his　tramp　along　the　road。　　He

was　no　nearer　to　deciding　what　to　do。　　It　was　late　in　the　afternoon

when　he　reached　Maidenhead；　and；　after　breaking　fast；　got　into　a

London　train　and　went　to　sleep。　　At　ten　o'clock　that　evening　he

walked　into　St。　James's　Park　and　there　sat　down。



The　lamplight　dappled　through　the　tired　foliage　on　to　these　benches

which　have　rested　many　vagrants。　　Darkness　has　ceased　to　be　the

lawful　cloak　of　the　unhappy；　but　Mother　Night　was　soft　and　moonless；

and　man　had　not　despoiled　her　of　her　comfort；　quite。



Shelton　was　not　alone　upon　the　seat；　for　at　the　far　end　was　sitting　a

young　girl　with　a　red；　round；　sullen　face；　and　beyond；　and　further

still；　were　dim　benches　and　dim　figures　sitting　on　them；　as　though

life's　institutions　had　shot　them　out　in　an　endless　line　of　rubbish。



〃Ah！〃　　thought　Shelton；　in　the　dreamy　way　of　tired　people；　〃the

institutions　are　all　right；　it's　the　spirit　that's　all…〃



〃Wrong？〃　　said　a　voice　behind　him；　〃why；　of　course！　　You've　taken　the

wrong　turn；　old　man。〃



He　saw　a　policeman；　with　a　red　face　shining　through　the　darkness；

talking　to　a　strange　old　figure　like　some　aged　and　dishevelled　bird。



〃Thank　you；　constable；〃　the　old　man　said；　〃as　I've　come　wrong　I'll

take　a　rest。〃　　Chewing　his　gums；　he　seemed　to　fear　to　take　the

liberty　of　sitting　down。



Shelton　made　room；　and　the　old　fellow　took　the　vacant　place。



〃You'll　excuse　me；　sir；　I'm　sure；〃　he　said　in　shaky　tones；　and

snatching　at　his　battered　hat；　〃I　see　you　was　a　gentleman〃and

lovingly　he　dwelt　upon　the　word〃would　n't　disturb　you　for　the

world。　　I'm　not　used　to　being　out　at　night；　and　the　seats　do　get　so

full。　　Old　age　must　lean　on　something；　you'll　excuse　me；　sir；　I　'm

sure。〃



〃Of　course；〃　said　Shelton　gently。



〃I'm　a　respectable　old　man；　really；〃　said　his　neighbour；　〃I　never

took　a　liberty　in　my　life。　　But　at　my　age；　sir；　you　get　nervous；

standin'　about　the　streets　as　I　been　this　last　week；　an'　sleepin'　in

them　doss…housesOh；　they're　dreadful　rough　placesa　dreadful　rough

lot　there！　　Yes；〃　the　old　man　said　again；　as　Shelton　turned　to　look

at　him；　struck　by　the　real　self…pity　in　his　voice；　〃dreadful　rough

places！〃



A　movement　of　his　head；　which　grew　on　a　lean；　plucked　neck　like　that

of　an　old　fowl；　had　brought　his　face　into　the　light。　　It　was　long；

and　run　to　seed；　and　had　a　large；　red　nose；　its　thin；　colourless　lips

were　twisted　sideways　and　apart；　showing　his　semi…toothless　mouth；

and　his　eyes　had　that　aged　look　of　eyes　in　which　all　colour　runs　into

a　thin　rim　round　the　iris；　and　over　them　kept　coming　films　like　the

films　over　parrots'　eyes。　　He　was；　or　should　have　been；　clean…shaven。

His　hairfor　he　had　taken　off　his　hat　was　thick　and　lank；　of　dusty

colour；　as　far　as　could　be　seen；　without　a　　speck　of　grey；　and　parted

very　beautifully　just　about　the　middle。



〃I　can　put　up　with　that；〃　he　said　again。　　〃I　never　interferes　with

nobody；　and　nobody　don't　interfere　with　me；　but　what　frightens　me〃

his　voice　grew　steady；　as　if　too　terrified　to　shake；　is　never　knowin'

day　to　day　what　's　to　become　of　yer。　　Oh；　that　'a　dreadful；　that　is！〃



〃It　must　be；〃　answered　Shelton。



〃Ah！　it　is；〃　the　old　man　said；　〃and　the　winter　cumin'　on。　　I　never

was　much　used　to　open　air；　bein'　in　domestic　service　all　my　life；　but

I　don't　mind　that　so　long　as　I　can　see　my　way　to　earn　a　livin'。

Well；　thank　God！　　I've　got　a　job　at　last〃；　and　his　voice　grew

cheerful　suddenly。　　〃Sellin'　papers　is　not　what　I　been　accustomed　to；

but　the　Westminister；　they　tell　me　that's　one　of　the　most　respectable

of　the　evenin'　papersin　fact；　I　know　it　is。　　So　now　I'm　sure　to　get

on；　I　try　hard。〃



〃How　did　you　get　the　job？〃　asked　Shelton。



〃I　've　got　my　character；〃　the　old　fellow　said；　making　a　gesture　with

a　skinny　hand　towards　his　chest；　as　if　it　were　there　he　kept　his

character。



〃Thank　God；　nobody　can't　take　that　away！　　I　never　parts　from　that〃；

and　fumbling；　he　produced　a　packet；　holding　first　one　paper　to　the

light；　and　then　another；　and　he　looked　anxiously　at　Shelton。　　〃In

that　house　where　I　been　sleepin'　they're　not　honest；　they　've　stolen

a　parcel　of　my　thingsa　lovely　shirt　an'　a　pair　of　beautiful　gloves

a　gentleman　gave　me　for　holdin'　of　his　horse。　　Now；　would　n't　you

prosecute　'em；　sir？〃



〃It　depends　on　what　you　can　prove。〃



〃I　know　they　had　'em。　　A　man　must　stand　up　for　his　rights；　that's

only　proper。　　I　can't　afford　to　lose　beautiful　things　like　them。　　I

think　I　ought　to　prosecute；　now；　don't　you；　sir？〃



Shelton　restrained　a　smile。



〃There！〃　　said　the　old　man；　smoothing　out　a　piece　of　paper　shakily；

〃that's　Sir　George！〃　　and　his　withered　finger…tips　trembled　on　the

middle　of　the　page：　'Joshua　Creed；　in　my　service　five　years　as

butler；　during　which　time　I　have　found　him　all　that　a　servant　should

be。'　　And　this　'ere'he　fumbled　with　another〃this　'ere　's　Lady

Glengow　：　'Joshua　Creed'　I　thought　I'd　like　you　to　read　'em　since

you've　been　so　kind。〃



〃Will　you　have　a　pipe？〃



〃Thank　　ye；　sir；〃　replied　the　aged　butler；　filling　his　clay　from

Shelton's　pouch；　then；　taking　a　front　tooth　between　his　finger　and

his　thumb；　he　began　to　feel　it　tenderly；　working　it　to　and　fro　with　a

sort　of　melancholy　pride。



〃My　teeth's　a…comin'　out；〃　he　said；　〃but　I　enjoys　pretty　good　health

for　a　man　of　my　age。〃



〃How　old　is　that？〃



〃Seventy…two！　　Barrin'　my　cough；　and　my　rupture；　and　this　'ere

affliction〃he　passed　his　hand　over　his　face〃　I　've　nothing　to

complain　of；　everybody　has　somethink；　it　seems。　　I'm　a　wonder　for　my

age；　I　think。〃



Shelton；　for　all　his　pity；　would　have　given　much　to　laugh。



〃Seventy…two！〃　he　said；　〃yes；　a　great　age。　　You　remember　the　country

when　it　was　very　different　to　what　it　is　now？〃



〃Ah！〃　said　the　old　butler；　〃there　was　gentry　then；　I　remember　them

drivin'　down　to　Newmarket　（my　native　place；　sir）　with　their　own

horses。　　There　was　n't　so　much　o'　these　here　middle　classes　then。

There　was　more；　too；　what　you　might　call　the　milk　o'　human　kindness

in　people　thennone　o'　them　amalgamated　stores；　every　man　keepin'

his　own　little　shop；　not　so　eager　to　cut　his　neighbour's　throat；　as

you　might　say。　　And　then　look　at　the　price　of　bread！　　O　dear！　　why；

it　is　n't　a　quarter　what　it　was！〃



〃And　are　people　happier　now　than　they　were　then？〃　asked　Shelton。



The　old　butler　sucked　his　pipe。



〃No；〃　he　answered；　shaking　his　old　head；　〃they've　lost　the　contented

spirit。　　I　see　people　runnin'　here　and　runnin'　there；　readin'　books；

findin'　things　out；　they　ain't　not　so　self…contented　as　they　were。〃



〃Is　that　possible？〃　thought　Shelton。



〃No；〃　repeated　the　old　man；　again　sucking　at　his　pipe；　and　this　time

blowing　out　a　lot　of　smoke；　〃I　don't　see　as　much　happiness　about；　not

the　same　look　on　the　faces。　　'T　isn't　likely。　　See　these　'ere　motor…

cars；　too；　they　say　'orses　is　goin'　out〃；　and；　as　if　dumbfounded　at

his　own　conclusion；　he　sat　silent　for　some　time；　engaged　in　the

lighting　and　relighting　of　his　pipe。



The　girl　at　the　far　end　stirred；　cleared　her　throat；　and　settled　down

again；　her　movement　disengaged　a　scent　of　frowsy　clothes。　　The

policeman　had　approached　and　scrutinised　these　ill…assorted　faces；

his　glance　was　jovially　contemptuous　till　he　noticed　Shelton；　and

then　was　modified　by　curiosity。



〃There's　good　men　in　the　police；〃　the　aged　butler　said；　when　the

policeman　had　passed　on〃　there's　good　men　in　the　police；　as　good

men　as　you　can　see；　and　there　's　them　that　treats　you　like　the　dirt

a　dreadful　low　class　of　man。　　Oh　dear；　yes！　　when　they　see　you　down

in　the　world；　they　think　they　can　speak　to　you　as　they　like；　I　don't

give　them　no　chance　to　worry　me；　I　keeps　myself　to　myself；　and　speak

civil　to　all　the　world。　　You　have　to　hold　the　candle　to　them；　for；　oh

dear！　if　they　're　crossedsome　of　themthey　're　a　dreadful

unscrup'lous　lot　of　men！〃



〃Are　you　going　to　spend　the　night　here？〃



〃It's　nice　and　warm　to…night；〃　replied　the　aged　butler。　　〃I　said　to

the　man　at　that　low　place　I　said：　'Don't　you　ever　speak　to　me　again；'

I　said；　'don't　you　come　near　me！'　　Straightforward　and　honest　's　been

my　motto　all　my　life；　I　don't　want　to　have　nothing　to　say　to　them　low

fellows〃he　made　an　annihilating　gesture〃after　the　way　they

treated　me；　takin'　my　things　like　that。　　Tomorrow　I　shall　get　a　room

for　three　shillin's　a　week；　don't　you　think　so；　sir？　　Well；　then　I

shall　be　all　right。　　I　'm　not　afraid　now；　the　mind　at　rest。　　So　long

as　I　ran　keep　myself；　that's　all　I　want。　　I　shall　do　first…rate；　I

think〃；　and　he　stared　at　Shelton；　but　the　look　in　his　eyes　and　the

half…scared　optimism　of　his　voice　convinced　the　latter　that　he　lived

in　dread。　　〃So　long　as　I　can　keep　myself；〃　he　said　again；　〃I　sha'n't

need　no　workhouse　nor　lose　respectability。〃



〃No；〃　thought　Shelton；　and　for　some　time　sat　without　a　word。　　〃When

you　can；〃　he　said　at　last；　〃come　and　see　me；　here's　my　card。〃



The　aged　butler　became　conscious　with　a　jerk；　for　he　was　nodding。



〃Thank　ye；　sir；　I　will；〃　he　said；　with　pitiful　alacrity。　　〃Down　by

Belgravia？　　Oh；　I　know　it　well；　I　lived　down　in　them　parts　with　a

gentleman　of　the　name　of　Batesonperhaps　you　knew　him；　he　's　dead

nowthe　Honourable　Bateson。　　Thank　ye；　sir；　I'll　be　sure　to　come〃；

and；　snatching　at　his　battered　hat；　he　toilsomely　secreted　Shelton's

card　amongst　his　character。　　A　minute　later　he　began　again　to　nod。



The　policeman　passed　a　second　time；　his　gaze　seemed　to　say；　〃Now；

what's　a　toff　doing　on　that　seat　with　those　two　rotters？〃　　And

Shelton　caught　his　eye。



〃Ah！〃　　he　thought；　〃exactly！　　You　don't　know　what　to　make　of　mea

man　of　my　position　sitting　here！　　Poor　devil！　to　spend　your　days　in

spying　on　your　fellow…creatures！　　Poor　devil！　　But　you　don't　know

that　you　're　a　poor　devil；　and　so　you　're　not　one。〃



The　man　on　the　next　bench　sneezeda　shrill　and　disapproving　sneeze。



The　policeman　passed　again；　and；　seeing　that　the　lower　creatures　were

both　dozing；　he　spoke　to　Shelton：



〃Not　very　safe　on　these　'ere　benches；　sir；〃　he　said；　〃you　never　know

who　you　may　be　sittin'　next　to。　　If　I　were　you；　sir；　I　should　be

gettin'　onif　you　're　not　goin'　to　spend　the　night　here；　that　is〃；

and　he　laughed；　as　at　an　admirable　joke。



Shelton　looked　at　him；　and　itched　to　say；　〃Why　shouldn't　I？〃　but　it

struck　him　that　it　would　sound　very　odd。　　〃Besides；〃　he　thought；　〃I

shall　only　catch　a　cold