all roads lead to calvary-第18章

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Joan　was　puzzled　what　to　say。　　She　knew　exactly　what　she　ought　to　say：　　what　she　would　have　said　to　any　ordinary　child。　　But　to　say　it　to　this　uncannily　knowing　little　creature　did　not　promise　much　good。

〃Who　told　you　I　persuaded　him？〃　she　asked。

〃Nobody；〃　answered　the　child。　　〃I　knew。〃

Joan　seated　herself；　and　drew　the　child　towards　her。

〃It　isn't　as　terrible　as　you　think；〃　she　said。　　〃Many　men　who　have　risen　and　taken　a　high　place　in　the　world　were　married　to　kind；　good　women　unable　to　share　their　greatness。　　There　was　Shakespeare；　you　know；　who　married　Anne　Hathaway　and　had　a　clever　daughter。　　She　was　just　a　nice；　homely　body　a　few　years　older　than　himself。　　And　he　seems　to　have　been　very　fond　of　her；　and　was　always　running　down　to　Stratford　to　be　with　her。〃

〃Yes；　but　he　didn't　bring　her　up　to　London；〃　answered　the　child。　〃Mama　would　have　wanted　to　come；　and　Papa　would　have　let　her；　and　wouldn't　have　gone　to　see　Queen　Elizabeth　unless　she　had　been　invited　too。〃

Joan　wished　she　had　not　mentioned　Shakespeare。　　There　had　surely　been　others；　men　who　had　climbed　up　and　carried　their　impossible　wives　with　them。　　But　she　couldn't　think　of　one；　just　then。

〃We　must　help　her；〃　she　answered　somewhat　lamely。　　〃She's　anxious　to　learn；　I　know。〃

The　child　shook　her　head。　　〃She　doesn't　understand；〃　she　said。　〃And　Papa　won't　tell　her。　　He　says　it　would　only　hurt　her　and　do　no　good。〃　　The　small　hands　were　clenched。　　〃I　shall　hate　her　if　she　spoils　his　life。〃

The　atmosphere　was　becoming　tragic。　　Joan　felt　the　need　of　escaping　from　it。　　She　sprang　up。

〃Oh；　don't　be　nonsensical；〃　she　said。　　〃Your　father　isn't　the　only　man　married　to　a　woman　not　as　clever　as　himself。　　He　isn't　going　to　let　that　stop　him。　　And　your　mother's　going　to　learn　to　be　the　wife　of　a　great　man　and　do　the　best　she　can。　　And　if　they　don't　like　her　they've　got　to　put　up　with　her。　　I　shall　talk　to　the　both　of　them。〃　A　wave　of　motherliness　towards　the　entire　Phillips　family　passed　over　her。　　It　included　Hilda。　　She　caught　the　child　to　her　and　gave　her　a　hug。　　〃You　go　back　to　school；〃　she　said；　〃and　get　on　as　fast　as　you　can；　so　that　you'll　be　able　to　be　useful　to　him。〃

The　child　flung　her　arms　about　her。　　〃You're　so　beautiful　and　wonderful；〃　she　said。　　〃You　can　do　anything。　　I'm　so　glad　you　came。〃

Joan　laughed。　　It　was　surprising　how　easily　the　problem　had　been　solved。　　She　would　take　Mrs。　Phillips　in　hand　at　once。　　At　all　events　she　should　be　wholesome　and　unobtrusive。　　It　would　be　a　delicate　mission；　but　Joan　felt　sure　of　her　own　tact。　　She　could　see　his　boyish　eyes　turned　upon　her　with　wonder　and　gratitude。

〃I　was　so　afraid　you　would　not　be　back　before　I　went；〃　said　the　child。　　〃I　ought　to　have　gone　this　afternoon；　but　Papa　let　me　stay　till　the　evening。〃

〃You　will　help？〃　she　added；　fixing　on　Joan　her　great；　grave　eyes。

Joan　promised；　and　the　child　went　out。　　She　looked　pretty　when　she　smiled。　　She　closed　the　door　behind　her　noiselessly。

It　occurred　to　Joan　that　she　would　like　to　talk　matters　over　with　Greyson。　　There　was　〃Clorinda's〃　attitude　to　be　decided　upon；　and　she　was　interested　to　know　what　view　he　himself　would　take。　　Of　course　he　would　be　on　P…'s　side。　　The　Evening　Gazette　had　always　supported　the　〃gas　and　water　school〃　of　socialism；　and　to　include　the　people's　food　was　surely　only　an　extension　of　the　principle。　She　rang　him　up　and　Miss　Greyson　answered；　asking　her　to　come　round　to　dinner：　　they　would　be　alone。　　And　she　agreed。

The　Greysons　lived　in　a　small　house　squeezed　into　an　angle　of　the　Outer　Circle；　overlooking　Regent's　Park。　　It　was　charmingly　furnished；　chiefly　with　old　Chippendale。　　The　drawing…room　made　quite　a　picture。　　It　was　home…like　and　restful　with　its　faded　colouring；　and　absence　of　all　show　and　overcrowding。　　They　sat　there　after　dinner　and　discussed　Joan's　news。　　Miss　Greyson　was　repairing　a　piece　of　old　embroidery　she　had　brought　back　with　her　from　Italy；　and　Greyson　sat　smoking；　with　his　hands　behind　his　head；　and　his　long　legs　stretched　out　towards　the　fire。

〃Carleton　will　want　him　to　make　his　food　policy　include　Tariff　Reform；〃　he　said。　　〃If　he　prove　pliable；　and　is　willing　to　throw　over　his　free　trade　principles；　all　well　and　good。〃

〃What's　Carleton　got　to　do　with　it？〃　demanded　Joan　with　a　note　of　indignation。

He　turned　his　head　towards　her　with　an　amused　raising　of　the　eyebrows。　　〃Carleton　owns　two　London　dailies；〃　he　answered；　〃and　is　in　treaty　for　a　third：　　together　with　a　dozen　others　scattered　about　the　provinces。　　Most　politicians　find　themselves；　sooner　or　later；　convinced　by　his　arguments。　　Phillips　may　prove　the　exception。〃

〃It　would　be　rather　interesting；　a　fight　between　them；〃　said　Joan。　〃Myself　I　should　back　Phillips。〃

〃He　might　win　through；〃　mused　Greyson。　　〃He's　the　man　to　do　it；　if　anybody　could。　　But　the　odds　will　be　against　him。〃

〃I　don't　see　it；〃　said　Joan；　with　decision。

〃I'm　afraid　you　haven't　yet　grasped　the　power　of　the　Press；〃　he　answered　with　a　smile。　　〃Phillips　speaks　occasionally　to　five　thousand　people。　　Carleton　addresses　every　day　a　circle　of　five　million　readers。〃

〃Yes；　but　when　Phillips　does　speak；　he　speaks　to　the　whole　country；〃　retorted　Joan。

〃Through　the　medium　of　Carleton　and　his　like；　and　just　so　far　as　they　allow　his　influence　to　permeate　beyond　the　platform；〃　answered　Greyson。

〃But　they　report　his　speeches。　　They　are　bound　to；〃　explained　Joan。

〃It　doesn't　read　quite　the　same；〃　he　answered。　　〃Phillips　goes　home　under　the　impression　that　he　has　made　a　great　success　and　has　roused　the　country。　　He　and　millions　of　other　readers　learn　from　the　next　morning's　headlines　that　it　was　'A　Tame　Speech'　that　he　made。　　What　sounded　to　him　'Loud　Cheers'　have　sunk　to　mild　'Hear；　Hears。'　　That　five　minutes'　hurricane　of　applause；　during　which　wildly　excited　men　and　women　leapt　upon　the　benches　and　roared　themselves　hoarse；　and　which　he　felt　had　settled　the　whole　question；　he　searches　for　in　vain。　　A　few　silly　interjections；　probably　pre…arranged　by　Carleton's　young　lions；　become　'renewed　interruptions。'　　The　report　is　strictly　truthful；　but　the　impression　produced　is　that　Robert　Phillips　has　failed　to　carry　even　his　own　people　with　him。　　And　then　follow　leaders　in　fourteen　widely…circulated　Dailies；　stretching　from　the　Clyde　to　the　Severn；　foretelling　how　Mr。　Robert　Phillips　could　regain　his　waning　popularity　by　the　simple　process　of　adopting　Tariff　Reform：　　or　whatever　the　pet　panacea　of　Carleton　and　Co。　may；　at　the　moment；　happen　to　be。〃

〃Don't　make　us　out　all　alike；〃　pleaded　his　sister　with　a　laugh。　〃There　are　still　a　few　old…fashioned　papers　that　do　give　their　opponents　fair　play。〃

〃They　are　not　increasing　in　numbers；〃　he　answered；　〃and　the　Carleton　group　is。　　There　is　no　reason　why　in　another　ten　years　he　should　not　control　the　entire　popular　press　of　the　country。　　He's　got　the　genius　and　he's　got　the　means。〃

〃The　cleverest　thing　he　has　done；〃　he　continued；　turning　to　Joan；　〃is　your　Sunday　Post。　　Up　till　then；　the　working　classes　had　escaped　him。　　With　the　Sunday　Post；　he　has　solved　the　problem。　They　open　their　mouths；　and　he　gives　them　their　politics　wrapped　up　in　pictures　and　gossipy　pars。〃

Miss　Greyson　rose　and　put　away　her　embroidery。　　〃But　what's　his　object？〃　she　said。　　〃He　must　have　more　money　than　he　can　spend；　and　he　works　like　a　horse。　　I　could　understand　it；　if　he　had　any　beliefs。〃

〃Oh；　we　can　all　persuade　ourselves　that　we　are　the　Heaven…ordained　dictator　of　the　human　race；〃　he　answered。　　〃Love　of　power　is　at　the　bottom　of　it。　　Why　do　our　Rockefellers　and　our　Carnegies　condemn　themselves　to　the　existence　of　galley　slaves；　ruining　their　digestions　so　that　they　never　can　enjoy　a　square　meal。　　It　isn't　the　money；　it's　the　trouble　of　their　lives　how　to　get　rid　of　that。　It　is　the　notoriety；　the　power　that　they　are　out　for。　　In　Carleton's　case；　it　is　to　feel　himself　the　power　behind　the　throne；　to　know　that　he　can　make　and　unmake　statesmen；　has　the　keys　of　peace　and　war　in　his　pocket；　is　able　to　exclaim：　　Public　opinion？　It　is　I。〃

〃It　can　be　a　respectable　ambition；〃　suggested　Joan。

〃It　has　been　responsible　for　most　of　man's　miseries；〃　he　answered。　〃Every　world's　conqueror　meant　to　make　it　happy　after　he　had　finished　knocking　it　about。　　We　are　all　born　with　it；　thanks　to　the　devil。〃　　He　shifted　his　position　and　regarded　her　with　critical　eyes。　　〃You've　got　it　badly；〃　he　said。　　〃I　can　see　it　in　the　tilt　of　your　chin　and　the　quivering　of　your　nostrils。　　You　beware　of　it。〃

Miss　Greyson　left　them。　　She　had　to　finish　an　article。　　They　debated　〃Clorinda's〃　views；　and　agreed　that；　as　a　practical　housekeeper；　she　would　welcome　attention　being　given　to　the　question　of　the　nation's　food。　　The　Evening　Gazette　would　support　Phillips　in　principle；　while　reserving　to　itself　the　right　of　criticism　when　it　came　to　details。

〃What's　he　like　in　himself？〃　he　asked　her。　　〃You've　been　seeing　something　of　him；　haven't　you？〃

〃Oh；　a　little；〃　she　answered。　　〃He's　absolutely　sincere；　and　he　means　business。　　He　won't　stop　at　the　bottom　of　the　ladder　now　he's　once　got　his　foot　upon　it。〃

〃But　he's　quite　common；　isn't　he？〃　he　asked　again。　　〃I've　only　met　him　in　public。〃

〃No；　that's　precisely　what　he　isn't；〃　answered　Joan。　　〃You　feel　that　he　belongs　to　no　class；　but　his　own。　　The　class　of　the　Abraham　Lincolns；　and　the　Dantons。〃

〃England's　a　different　proposition；〃　he　mused。　　〃Society　counts　for　so　much　with　us。　　I　doubt　if　we　should　accept　even　an　Abraham　Lincoln：　　unless　in　some　supreme　crisis。　　His　wife　rather　handicaps　him；　too；　doesn't　she？〃

〃She　wasn't　born　to　be　the　chatelaine　of　Downing　Street；〃　Joan　admitted。　　〃But　it's　not　an　official　position。〃

〃I'm　not　so　sure　that　it　isn't；〃　he　laughed。　　〃It's　the　dinner…　table　that　rules　in　England。　　We　settle　everything　round　a　dinner…　table。〃

She　was　sitting　in　front　of　the　fire　in　a　high…backed　chair。　　She　never　cared　to　loll；　and　the　shaded　light　from　the　electric　sconces　upon　the　mantelpiece　illumined　her。

〃If　the　world　were　properly　stage…managed；　that's　what　you　ought　to　be；〃　he　said；　〃the　wife　of　a　Prime　Minister。　　I　can　see　you　giving　such　an　excellent　performance。〃

〃I　must　talk　to　Mary；〃　he　added；　〃see　if　we　can't　get　you　off　on　some　promising　young　Under　Secretary。〃

〃Don't　give　me　ideas　above　my　station；〃　laughed　Joan。　　〃I'm　a　journalist。〃

〃That's　the　pity　of　it；〃　he　said。　　〃You're　wasting　the　most　important　thing　about　you；　your　personality。　　You　would　do　more　good　in　a　drawing…room；　influencing　the　rulers；　than　you　will　ever　do　hiding　behind　a　pen。　　It　was　the　drawing…room　that　made　the　French　Revolution。〃

The　firelight　played　about　her　hair。　　〃I　suppose　every　woman　dreams　of　reviving　the　old　French　Salon；〃　she　answered。　　〃They　must　have　been　gloriously　interesting。〃　　He　was　leaning　forward　with　clasped　hands。　　〃Why　shouldn't　she？〃　he　said。　　〃The　reason　that　our　drawing…rooms　have　ceased　to　lead　is　that　our　beautiful　women　are　generally　frivolous　and　our　clever　women　unfeminine。　　What　we　are　waiting　for　is　an　English　Madame　Roland。〃

Joan　laughed。　　〃Perhaps　I　shall　some　day；〃　she　answered。

He　insisted　on　seeing　her　as　far　as　the　bus。　　It　was　a　soft；　mild　night；　and　they　walked　round　the　Circle　to　Gloucester　Gate。　　He　thought　there　would　be　more　room　i