an unsocial socialist-第10章

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of　apologizing；　he　changed　countenance；　hastily　held　up　the　tray
like　a　shield　before　his　face；　and　began　to　walk　backward　from
her；　stumbling　presently　against　Miss　Lindsay；　who　was　running　to
return　a　ball。　Without　heeding　her　angry　look　and　curt　rebuke；　he
half　turned；　and　sidled　away　into　the　shrubbery；　whence　the　tray
presently　rose　into　the　air；　flew　across　the　laurel　hedge；　and
descended　with　a　peal　of　stage　thunder　on　the　stooped　shoulders
of　Josephs。　Miss　Wilson；　after　asking　the　housekeeper　with　some
asperity　why　she　had　allowed　that　man　to　interfere　in　the
attendance；　explained　to　the　guests　that　he　was　the　idiot　of　the
countryside。　Mr。　Jansenius　laughed；　and　said　that　he　had　not　seen
the　man's　face；　but　that　his　figure　reminded　him　forcibly　of　some
one；　he　could　not　just　then　recollect　exactly　whom。

Smilash；　making　off　through　the　shrubbery；　found　the　end　of　his
path　blocked　by　Agatha　and　a　young　lady　whose　appearance　alarmed
him　more　than　had　that　of　Mrs。　Jansenius。　He　attempted　to　force
his　tray　through　the　hedge；　but　in　vain；　the　laurel　was
impenetrable；　and　the　noise　he　made　attracted　the　attention　of
the　approaching　couple。　He　made　no　further　effort　to　escape；　but
threw　his　borrowed　apron　over　his　head　and　stood　bolt　upright
with　his　back　against　the　bushes。

〃What　is　that　man　doing　there？〃　said　Henrietta；　stopping
mistrustfully。

Agatha　laughed；　and　said　loudly；　so　that　he　might　hear：　〃It　is
only　a　harmless　madman　that　Miss　Wilson　employs。　He　is　fond　of
disguising　himself　in　some　silly　way　and　trying　to　frighten　us。
Don't　be　afraid。　Come　on。〃

Henrietta　hung　back；　but　her　arm　was　linked　in　Agatha's；　and　she
was　drawn　along　in　spite　of　herself。　Smilash　did　not　move。　Agatha
strolled　on　coolly；　and　as　she　passed　him；　adroitly　caught　the
apron　between　her　finger　and　thumb　and　twitched　it　from　his　face。
Instantly　Henrietta　uttered　a　piercing　scream；　and　Smilash　caught
her　in　his　arms。

〃Quick；〃　he　said　to　Agatha；　〃she　is　fainting。　Run　for　some　water。
Run！〃　And　he　bent　over　Henrietta；　who　clung　to　him　frantically。
Agatha；　bewildered　by　the　effect　of　her　practical　joke；　hesitated
a　moment；　and　then　ran　to　the　lawn。

〃What　is　the　matter？〃　said　Fairholme。

〃Nothing。　I　want　some　waterquick；　please。　Henrietta　has　fainted
in　the　shrubbery；　that　is　all。〃

〃Please　do　not　stir；〃　said　Miss　Wilson　authoritatively；　〃you　will
crowd　the　path　and　delay　useful　assistance。　Miss　Ward；　kindly　get
some　water　and　bring　it　to　us。　Agatha；　come　with　me　and　point　out
where　Mrs。　Trefusis　is。　You　may　come　too；　Miss　Carpenter；　you　are
so　strong。　The　rest　will　please　remain　where　they　are。〃

Followed　by　the　two　girls；　she　hurried　into　the　shrubbery；　where
Mr。　Jansenius　was　already　looking　anxiously　for　his　daughter。　He
was　the　only　person　they　found　there。　Smilash　and　Henrietta　were
gone。

At　first　the　seekers；　merely　puzzled；　did　nothing　but　question
Agatha　incredulously　as　to　the　exact　spot　on　which　Henrietta　had
fallen。　But　Mr。　Jansenius　soon　made　them　understand　that　the
position　of　a　lady　in　the　hands　of　a　half…witted　laborer　was　one
of　danger。　His　agitation　infected　them；　and　when　Agatha
endeavored　to　reassure　him　by　declaring　that　Smilash　was　a
disguised　gentleman；　Miss　Wilson；　supposing　this　to　be　a　mere
repetition　of　her　former　idle　conjecture；　told　her　sharply　to
hold　her　tongue；　as　the　time　was　not　one　for　talking　nonsense。
The　news　now　spread　through　the　whole　company；　and　the　excitement
became　intense。　Fairholme　shouted　for　volunteers　to　make　up　a
searching　party。　All　the　men　present　responded；　and　they　were
about　to　rush　to　the　college　gates　in　a　body　when　it　Occurred　to
the　cooler　among　them　that　they　had　better　divide　into　several
parties；　in　order　that　search　might　be　made　at　once　in　different
quarters。　Ten　minutes　of　confusion　followed。　Mr。　Jansenius
started　several　times　in　quest　of　Henrietta；　and；　when　he　had
gone　a　few　steps；　returned　and　begged　that　no　more　time　should　be
wasted。　Josephs；　whose　faith　was　simple；　retired　to　pray；　and　did
good；　as　far　as　it　went；　by　withdrawing　one　voice　from　the　din　of
plans；　objections；　and　suggestions　which　the　rest　were　making；
each　person　trying　to　be　heard　above　the　others。

At　last　Miss　Wilson　quelled　the　prevailing　anarchy。　Servants　were
sent　to　alarm　the　neighbors　and　call　in　the　village　police。
Detachments　were　sent　in　various　directions　under　the　command　of
Fairholme　and　other　energetic　spirits。　The　girls　formed　parties
among　themselves；　which　were　reinforced　by　male　deserters　from
the　previous　levies。　Miss　Wilson　then　went　indoors　and　conducted
a　search　through　the　interior　of　the　college。　Only　two　persons
were　left　on　the　tennis　groundAgatha　and　Mrs。　Jansenius；　who
had　been　surprisingly　calm　throughout。

〃You　need　not　be　anxious；〃　said　Agatha；　who　had　been　standing
aloof　since　her　rebuff　by　Miss　Wilson。　〃I　am　sure　there　is　no
danger。　It　is　most　extraordinary　that　they　have　gone　away；　but
the　man　is　no　more　mad　than　I　am；　and　I　know　he　is　a　gentleman　He
told　me　so。〃

〃Let　us　hope　for　the　best；〃　said　Mrs。　Jansenius；　smoothly。　〃I
think　I　will　sit　downI　feel　so　tired。　Thanks。〃　（Agatha　had
handed　her　a　chair。）　〃What　did　you　say　he　told　youthis　man？〃

Agatha　related　the　circumstances　of　her　acquaintance　with
Smilash；　adding；　at　Mrs。　Jansenius's　request；　a　minute
description　of　his　personal　appearance。　Mrs。　Jansenius　remarked
that　it　was　very　singular；　and　that　she　was　sure　Henrietta　was
quite　safe。　She　then　partook　of　claret…cup　and　sandwiches。
Agatha；　though　glad　to　find　someone　disposed　to　listen　to　her；
was　puzzled　by　her　aunt's　coolness；　and　was　even　goaded　into
pointing　out　that　though　Smilash　was　not　a　laborer；　it　did　not
follow　that　he　was　an　honest　man。　But　Mrs。　Jansenius　only　said：
〃Oh；　she　is　safequite　safe！　At　least；　of　course；　I　can　only
hope　so。　We　shall　have　news　presently；〃　and　took　another
sandwich。

The　searchers　soon　began　to　return；　baffled。　A　few　shepherds；　the
only　persons　in　the　vicinity；　had　been　asked　whether　they　had
seen　a　young　lady　and　a　laborer。　Some　of　them　had　seen　a　young
woman　with　a　basket　of　clothes；　if　that　mout　be　her。　Some　thought
that　Phil　Martin　the　carrier　would　see　her　if　anybody　would。　None
of　them　had　any　positive　information　to　give。

As　the　afternoon　wore　on；　and　party　after　party　returned　tired
and　unsuccessful；　depression　replaced　excitement；　conversation；
no　longer　tumultuous；　was　carried　on　in　whispers；　and　some　of　the
local　visitors　slipped　away　to　their　homes　with　a　growing
conviction　that　something　unpleasant　had　happened；　and　that　it
would　be　as　well　not　to　be　mixed　up　in　it。　Mr。　Jansenius；　though
a　few　words　from　his　wife　had　surprised　and　somewhat　calmed　him；
was　still　pitiably　restless　and　uneasy。

At　last　the　police　arrived。　At　sight　of　their　uniforms　excitement
revived；　there　was　a　general　conviction　that　something　effectual
would　be　done　now。　But　the　constables　were　only　mortal；　and　in　a
few　moments　a　whisper　spread　that　they　were　fooled。　They　doubted
everything　told　them；　and　expressed　their　contempt　for　amateur
searching　by　entering　on　a　fresh　investigation；　prying　with　the
greatest　care　into　the　least　probable　places。　Two　of　them　went
off　to　the　chalet　to　look　for　Smilash。　Then　Fairholme；　sunburnt；
perspiring；　and　dusty；　but　still　energetic；　brought　back　the
exhausted　remnant　of　his　party；　with　a　sullen　boy；　who　scowled
defiantly　at　the　police；　evidently　believing　that　he　was　about　to
be　delivered　into　their　custody。

Fairholme　had　been　everywhere；　and；　having　seen　nothing　of　the
missing　pair；　had　come　to　the　conclusion　that　they　were　nowhere。
He　had　asked　everybody　for　information；　and　had　let　them　know
that　he　meant　to　have　it　too；　if　it　was　to　be　had。　But　it　was　not
to　be　had。　The　sole　resort　of　his　labor　was　the　evidence　of　the
boy　whom　he　didn't　believe。

〃'Im！〃　said　the　inspector；　not　quite　pleased　by　Fairholme's　zeal；
and　yet　overborne　by　it。　〃You're　Wickens's　boy；　ain't　you？〃

〃Yes；　I　am　Wickens's　boy；〃　said　the　witness；　partly　fierce；
partly　lachrymose；　〃and　I　say　I　seen　him；　and　if　anyone　sez　I
didn't　see　him；　he's　a　lie。〃

〃Come；〃　said　the　inspector　sharply；　〃give　us　none　of　your　cheek；
but　tell　us　what　you　saw；　or　you'll　have　to　deal　with　me
afterwards。〃

〃I　don't　care　who　I　deal　with；〃　said　the　boy；　at　bay。　〃I　can't　be
took　for　seein'　him；　because　there's　no　lor　agin　it。　I　was　in　the
gravel　pit　in　the　canal　meadow〃

〃What　business　had　you　there？〃　said　the　inspector；　interrupting。

〃I　got　leave　to　be　there；〃　said　the　boy　insolently；　but
reddening。

〃Who　gave　you　leave？〃　said　the　inspector；　collaring　him。　〃Ah；〃　he
added；　as　the　captive　burst　into　tears；　〃I　told　you　you'd　have　to
deal　with　me。　Now　hold　your　noise；　and　remember　where　you　are　and
who　you're　speakin'　to；　and　perhaps　I　mayn't　lock　you　up　this
time。　Tell　me　what　you　saw　when　you　were　trespassin'　in　the
meadow。〃

〃I　sor　a　young　'omen　and　a　man。　And　I　see　her　kissin'　him；　and
the　gentleman　won't　believe　me。〃

〃You　mean　you　saw　him　kissing　her；　more　likely。〃

〃No；　I　don't。　I　know　wot　it　is　to　have　a　girl　kiss　you　when　you
don't　want。　And　I　gev　a　screech　to　friken　'em。　And　he　called　me
and　gev　me　tuppence；　and　sez；　'You　go　to　the　devil；'　he　sez；　'and
don't　tell　no　one　you　seen　me　here；　or　else；'　he　sez；　'I　might　be
tempted　to　drownd　you；'　he　sez；　'and　wot　a　shock　that　would　be　to
your　parents！　'　'Oh；　yes；　very　likely；'　I　sez；　jes'　like　that。
Then　I　went　away；　because　he　knows　Mr。　Wickens；　and　I　was　afeerd
of　his　telling　on　me。〃

The　boy　being　now　subdued；　questions　were　put　to　him　from　all
sides。　But　his　powers　of　observation　and　description　went　no
further。　As　he　was　anxious　to　propitiate　his　captors；　he　answered
as　often　as　possible　in　the　affirmative。　Mr。　Jansenius　asked　him
whether　the　young　woman　he　had　seen　was　a　lady；　and　he　said　yes。
Was　the　man　a　laborer？　Yesafter　a　moment's　hesitation。　How　was
she　dressed？　He　hadn't　taken　notice。　Had　she　red　flowers　in　her
hat？　Yes。　Had　she　a　green　dress？　Yes。　Were　the　flowers　in　her　hat
yellow？　（Agatha's　question。）　Yes。　Was　her　dress　pink？　Yes。　Sure
it　wasn't　black？　No　answer。

〃I　told　you　he　was　a　liar；〃　said　Fairholme　contemptuously。

〃Well；　I　expect　he's　seen　something；〃　said　the　inspector；　〃but
what　it　was；　or　who　it　was；　is　more　than　I　can　get　out　of　him。〃

There　was　a　pause；　and　they　looked　askance　upon　Wickens's　boy。
His　account　of　the　kissing　made　it　almost　an　insult　to　the
Janseniuses　to　identify　with　Henrietta　the　person　he　had　seen。
Jane　suggested　dragging　the　canal；　but　was　silenced　by　an
indignant　〃sh…sh…sh；〃　accompanied　by　apprehensive　and　sympathetic
glances　at　the　bereaved　parents。　She　was　displaced　from　the　focus
of　attention　by　the　appearance　of　the　two　policemen　who　had　been
sent　to　the　chalet。　Smilash　was　between　them；　apparently　a
prisoner。　At　a　distance；　he　seemed　to　have　suffered　some
frightful　injury　to　his　head；　but　when　he　was　brought　into　the
midst　of　the　company　it　appeared　that　he　had　twisted　a　red
handkerchief　about　his　face　as　if　to　soothe　a　toothache。　He　had　a
particularly　hangdog　expression　as　he　stood　before　the　inspector
with　his　head　bowed　and　his　countenance　averted　from　Mr。