an unsocial socialist-第16章

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whirlwind　that　tore　round　the　hall；　snatched　at　the　women's
draperies；　and　blew　out　the　lights。　Agatha；　by　a　hash　of
lightning；　saw　for　an　instant　two　men　straining　at　the　door　like
sailors　at　a　capstan。　Then　she　knew　by　the　cessation　of　the
whirlwind　that　they　had　shut　it。　Matches　were　struck；　the　candles
relighted；　and　the　newcomers　clearly　perceived。

Smilash；　bareheaded；　without　a　coat；　his　corduroy　vest　and
trousers　heavy　with　rain；　a　rough…looking；　middle…aged　man；
poorly　dressed　like　a　shepherd；　wet　as　Smilash；　with　the
expression；　piteous；　patient；　and　desperate；　of　one　hard　driven
by　ill…fortune；　and　at　the　end　of　his　resources；　two　little
children；　a　boy　and　a　girl；　almost　naked；　cowering　under　an　old
sack　that　had　served　them　as　an　umbrella；　and；　lying　on　the
settee　where　the　two　men　had　laid　it；　a　heap　of　wretched　wearing
apparel；　sacking；　and　rotten　matting；　with　Smilash's　coat　and
sou'wester；　the　whole　covering　a　bundle　which　presently　proved　to
be　an　exhausted　woman　with　a　tiny　infant　at　her　breast。　Smilash's
expression；　as　he　looked　at　her；　was　ferocious。

〃Sorry　fur　to　trouble　you；　lady；〃　said　the　man；　after　glancing
anxiously　at　Smilash；　as　if　he　had　expected　him　to　act　as
spokesman；　〃but　my　roof　and　the　side　of　my　house　has　gone　in　the
storm；　and　my　missus　has　been　having　another　little　one；　and　I　am
sorry　to　ill…convenience　you；　Miss；　butbut〃　

〃Inconvenience！〃　exclaimed　Smilash。　〃It　is　the　lady's　privilege
to　relieve　youher　highest　privilege！〃

The　little　boy　here　began　to　cry　from　mere　misery；　and　the　woman
roused　herself　to　say；　〃For　shame；　Tom！　before　the　lady；〃　and
then　collapsed；　too　weak　to　care　for　what　might　happen　next　in
the　world。　Smilash　looked　impatiently　at　Miss　Wilson；　who
hesitated；　and　said　to　him：

〃What　do　you　expect　me　to　do？〃

〃To　help　us；〃　he　replied。　Then；　with　an　explosion　of　nervous
energy；　he　added：　〃Do　what　your　heart　tells　you　to　do。　Give　your
bed　and　your　clothes　to　the　woman；　and　let　your　girls　pitch　their
books　to　the　devil　for　a　few　days　and　make　something　for　these
poor　little　creatures　to　wear。　The　poor　have　worked　hard　enough
to　clothe　THEM。　Let　them　take　their　turn　now　and　clothe　the
poor。〃

〃No；　no。　Steady；　master；〃　said　the　man；　stepping　forward　to
propitiate　Miss　Wilson；　and　evidently　much　oppressed　by　a　sense
of　unwelcomeness。　〃It　ain't　any　fault　of　the　lady's。　Might　I　make
so　bold　as　to　ask　you　to　put　this　woman　of　mine　anywhere　that　may
be　convenient　until　morning。　Any　sort　of　a　place　will　do；　she's
accustomed　to　rough　it。　Just　to　have　a　roof　over　her　until　I　find
a　room　in　the　village　where　we　can　shake　down。〃　Here；　led　by　his
own　words　to　contemplate　the　future；　he　looked　desolately　round
the　cornice　of　the　hall；　as　if　it　were　a　shelf　on　which　somebody
might　have　left　a　suitable　lodging　for　him。

Miss　Wilson　turned　her　back　decisively　and　contemptuously　on
Smilash。　She　had　recovered　herself。　〃I　will　keep　your　wife　here；〃
she　said　to　the　man。　〃Every　care　shall　be　taken　of　her。　The
children　can　stay　too。〃

〃Three　cheers　for　moral　science！〃　cried　Smilash；　ecstatically
breaking　into　the　outrageous　dialect　he　had　forgotten　in　his
wrath。　〃Wot　was　my　words　to　you；　neighbor；　when　I　said　we　should
bring　your　missus　to　the　college；　and　you　said；　ironical…like；
'Aye；　and　bloomin'　glad　they'll　be　to　see　us　there。'　Did　I　not
say　to　you　that　the　lady　had　a　noble　'art；　and　would　show　it　when
put　to　the　test　by　sech　a　calamity　as　this？〃

〃Why　should　you　bring　my　hasty　words　up　again'　me　now；　master；
when　the　lady　has　been　so　kind？〃　said　the　man　with　emotion。　〃I　am
humbly　grateful　to　you；　Miss；　and　so　is　Bess。　We　are　sensible　of
the　ill…convenience　we〃

Miss　Wilson；　who　had　been　conferring　with　the　housekeeper；　cut
his　speech　short　by　ordering　him　to　carry　his　wife　to　bed；　which
he　did　with　the　assistance　of　Smilash；　now　jubilant。　Whilst　they
were　away；　one　of　the　servants；　bidden　to　bring　some　blankets　to
the　woman's　room；　refused；saying　that　she　was　not　going　to　wait
on　that　sort　of　people。　Miss　Wilson　gave　her　warning　almost
fiercely　to　quit　the　college　next　day。　This　excepted；　no　ill…will
was　shown　to　the　refugees。　The　young　ladies　were　then　requested
to　return　to　bed。

Meanwhile　the　man；　having　laid　his　wife　in　a　chamber　palatial　in
comparison　with　that　which　the　storm　had　blown　about　her　ears；
was　congratulating　her　on　her　luck；　and　threatening　the　children
with　the　most　violent　chastisement　if　they　failed　to　behave
themselves　with　strict　propriety　whilst　they　remained　in　that
house。　Before　leaving　them　he　kissed　his　wife；　and　she；　reviving；
asked　him　to　look　at　the　baby。　He　did　so；　and　pensively
apostrophized　it　with　a　shocking　epithet　in　anticipation　of　the
time　when　its　appetite　must　be　satisfied　from　the　provision　shop
instead　of　from　its　mother's　breast。　She　laughed　and　cried　shame
on　him；　and　so　they　parted　cheerfully。　When　he　returned　to　the
hall　with　Smilash　they　found　two　mugs　of　beer　waiting　for　them。
The　girls　had　retired；　and　only　Miss　Wilson　and　the　housekeeper
remained。

〃Here's　your　health；　mum；〃　said　the　man；　before　drinking；　〃and
may　you　find　such　another　as　yourself　to　help　you　when　you're　in
trouble；　which　Lord　send　may　never　come！〃

〃Is　your　house　quite　destroyed？〃　said　Miss　Wilson。　〃Where　will
you　spend　the　night？〃

〃Don't　you　think　of　me；　mum。　Master　Smilash　here　will　kindly　put
me　up　'til　morning。〃

〃His　health！〃　said　Smilash；　touching　the　mug　with　his　lips。

〃The　roof　and　south　wall　is　browed　right　away；〃　continued　the
man；　after　pausing　for　a　moment　to　puzzle　over　Smilash's　meaning。
〃I　doubt　if　there's　a　stone　of　it　standing　by　this。〃

〃But　Sir　John　will　build　it　for　you　again。　You　are　one　of　his
herds；　are　you　not？〃

〃I　am；　Miss。　But　not　he；　he'll　be　glad　it's　down。　He　don't　like
people　livin'　on　the　land。　I　have　told　him　time　and　again　that
the　place　was　ready　to　fall；　but　he　said　I　couldn't　expect　him　to
lay　out　money　on　a　house　that　he　got　no　rent　for。　You　see；　Miss；
I　didn't　pay　any　rent。　I　took　low　wages；　and　the　bit　of　a　hut　was
a　sort　of　set…off　again'　what　I　was　paid　short　of　the　other　men。
I　couldn't　afford　to　have　it　repaired；　though　I　did　what　I　could
to　patch　and　prop　it。　And　now　most　like　I　shall　be　blamed　for
letting　it　be　blew　down；　and　shall　have　to　live　in　half　a　room　in
the　town　and　pay　two　or　three　shillin's　a　week；　besides　walkin'
three　miles　to　and　from　my　work　every　day。　A　gentleman　like　Sir
John　don't　hardly　know　what　the　value　of　a　penny　is　to　us
laborin'　folk；　nor　how　cruel　hard　his　estate　rules　and　the　like
comes　on　us。〃

〃Sir　John's　health！〃　said　Smilash；　touching　the　mug　as　before。
The　man　drank　a　mouthful　humbly；　and　Smilash　continued；　〃Here's
to　the　glorious　landed　gentry　of　old　England：　bless　'em！〃

〃Master　Smilash　is　only　jokin'；〃　said　the　man　apologetically。
〃It's　his　way。〃

〃You　should　not　bring　a　family　into　the　world　if　you　are　so
poor；〃　said　Miss　Wilson　severely。　〃Can　you　not　see　that　you
impoverish　yourself　by　doing　soto　put　the　matter　on　no　higher
grounds。〃

〃Reverend　Mr。　Malthus's　health！〃　remarked　Smilash；　repeating　his
pantomime。　

〃Some　say　it's　the　children；　and　some　say　it's　the　drink；　Miss；〃
said　the　man　submissively。　〃But　from　what　I　see；　family　or　no
family；　drunk　or　sober；　the　poor　gets　poorer　and　the　rich　richer
every　day。〃

〃Ain't　it　disgustin'　to　hear　a　man　so　ignorant　of　the　improvement
in　the　condition　of　his　class？〃　said　Smilash；　appealing　to　Miss
Wilson。

〃If　you　intend　to　take　this　man　home　with　you；〃　she　said；　turning
sharply　on　him；　〃you　had　better　do　it　at　once。〃

〃I　take　it　kind　on　your　part　that　you　ask　me　to　do　anythink；
after　your　up　and　telling　Mr。　Wickens　that　I　am　the　last　person
in　Lyvern　you　would　trust　with　a　job。〃

〃So　you　arethe　very　last。　Why　don't　you　drink　your　beer？〃

〃Not　in　scorn　of　your　brewing；　lady；　but　because；　bein'　a　common
man；　water　is　good　enough　for　me。〃

〃I　wish　you　good…night；　Miss；〃　said　the　man；　〃and　thank　you
kindly　for　Bess　and　the　children。〃

〃Good…night；〃　she　replied；　stepping　aside　to　avoid　any　salutation
from　Smilash。　But　he　went　up　to　her　and　said　in　a　low　voice；　and
with　the　Trefusis　manner　and　accent：

〃Good…night；　Miss　Wilson。　If　you　should　ever　be　in　want　of　the
services　of　a　dog；　a　man；　or　a　domestic　engineer；　remind　Smilash
of　Bess　and　the　children；　and　he　will　act　for　you　in　any　of　those
capacities。〃

They　opened　the　door　cautiously；　and　found　that　the　wind；
conquered　by　the　rain；　had　abated。　Miss　Wilson's　candle；　though
it　flickered　in　the　draught；　was　not　extinguished　this　time；　and
she　was　presently　left　with　the　housekeeper；　bolting　and　chaining
the　door；　and　listening　to　the　crunching　of　feet　on　the　gravel
outside　dying　away　through　the　steady　pattering　of　the　rain。



CHAPTER　VII

Agatha　was　at　this　time　in　her　seventeenth　year。　She　had　a　lively
perception　of　the　foibles　of　others；　and　no　reverence　for　her
seniors；　whom　she　thought　dull；　cautious；　and　ridiculously
amenable　by　commonplaces。　But　she　was　subject　to　the　illusion
which　disables　youth　in　spite　of　its　superiority　to　age。　She
thought　herself　an　exception。　Crediting　Mr。　Jansenius　and　the
general　mob　of　mankind　with　nothing　but　a　grovelling
consciousness　of　some　few　material　facts；　she　felt　in　herself　an
exquisite　sense　and　all…embracing　conception　of　nature；　shared
only　by　her　favorite　poets　and　heroes　of　romance　and　history。
Hence　she　was　in　the　common　youthful　case　of　being　a　much　better
judge　of　other　people's　affairs　than　of　her　own。　At　the
fellow…student　who　adored　some　Henry　or　Augustus；　not　from　the
drivelling　sentimentality　which　the　world　calls　love；　but　because
this　particular　Henry　or　Augustus　was　a　phoenix　to　whom　the　laws
that　govern　the　relations　of　ordinary　lads　and　lasses　did　not
apply；　Agatha　laughed　in　her　sleeve。　The　more　she　saw　of　this
weakness　in　her　fellows；　the　more　satisfied　she　was　that；　being
forewarned；　she　was　also　forearmed　against　an　attack　of　it　on
herself；　much　as　if　a　doctor　were　to　conclude　that　he　could　not
catch　smallpox　because　he　had　seen　many　cases　of　it；　or　as　if　a
master　mariner；　knowing　that　many　ships　are　wrecked　in　the
British　channel；　should　venture　there　without　a　pilot；　thinking
that　he　knew　its　perils　too　well　to　run　any　risk　of　them。　Yet；　as
the　doctor　might　hold　such　an　opinion　if　he　believed　himself　to
be　constituted　differently　from　ordinary　men；　or　the　shipmaster
adopt　such　a　course　under　the　impression　that　his　vessel　was　a
star；　Agatha　found　false　security　in　the　subjective　difference
between　her　fellows　seen　from　without　and　herself　known　from
within。　When；　for　instance；　she　fell　in　love　with　Mr。　Jefferson
Smilash　（a　step　upon　which　she　resolved　the　day　after　the　storm）；
her　imagination　invested　the　pleasing　emotion　with　a　sacredness
which；　to　her；　set　it　far　apart　and　distinct　from　the　frivolous
fancies　of　which　Henry　and　Augustus　had　been　the　subject；　and　she
the　confidant。

〃I　can　look　at　him　quite　coolly　and　dispassionately；〃　she　said　to
herself。　〃Though　his　face　has　a　strange　influence　that　must；　I
know；　correspond　to　some　unexplained　power　within　me；　yet　it　is
not　a　perfect　face。　I　have　seen　many　men　who　are；　st