an unsocial socialist-第21章

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religion　of　love　of　which　poets　are　the　high…priests。　Each
worshipper　knows　that　his　own　love　is　either　a　transient　passion
or　a　sham　copied　from　his　favorite　poem；　but　he　believes　honestly
in　the　love　of　others　for　him。　Ho；　ho！　Is　it　not　a　silly　world；
my　dear？〃

〃You　had　no　right　to　make　love　to　Agatha。　You　have　no　right　to
make　love　to　anyone　but　me；　and　I　won't　bear　it。〃

〃You　are　angry　because　Agatha　has　infringed　your　monopoly。　Always
monopoly！　Why；　you　silly　girl；　do　you　suppose　that　I　belong　to
you；　body　and　soul？that　I　may　not　be　moved　except　by　your
affection；　or　think　except　of　your　beauty？〃

〃You　may　call　me　as　many　names　as　you　please；　but　you　have　no
right　to　make　love　to　Agatha。〃

〃My　dearest；　I　do　not　recollect　calling　you　any　names。　I　think
you　said　something　about　a　selfish　brute。〃

〃I　did　not。　You　called　me　a　silly　girl。〃

〃But；　my　love；　you　are。〃

〃And　so　YOU　are。　You　are　thoroughly　selfish。〃

〃I　don't　deny　it。　But　let　us　return　to　our　subject。　What　did　we
begin　to　quarrel　about？〃

〃I　am　not　quarrelling；　Sidney。　It　is　you。〃

〃Well；　what　did　I　begin　to　quarrel　about？〃

〃About　Agatha　Wylie。〃

〃Oh；　pardon　me；　Hetty；　I　certainly　did　not　begin　to　quarrel　about
her。　I　am　very　fond　of　hermore　so；　it　appears；　than　she　is　of
me。　One　moment；　Hetty；　　before　you　recommence　your　reproaches。
Why　do　you　dislike　my　saying　pretty　things　to　Agatha？〃

Henrietta　hesitated；　and　said：　〃Because　you　have　no　right　to。　It
shows　how　little　you　care　for　me。〃

〃It　has　nothing　to　do　with　you。　It　only　shows　how　much　I　care　for
her。〃

〃I　will　not　stay　here　to　be　insulted；〃　said　Hetty；　her　distress
returning。　〃I　will　go　home。〃

〃Not　to…night；　there　is　no　train。〃

〃I　will　walk。〃

〃It　is　too　far。〃

〃I　don't　care。　I　will　not　stay　here；　though　I　die　of　cold　by　the
roadside。〃

〃My　cherished　one；　I　have　been　annoying　you　purposely　because　you
show　by　your　anger　that　you　have　not　ceased　to　care　for　me。　I　am
in　the　wrong；　as　I　usually　am；　and　it　is　all　my　fault。　Agatha
knows　nothing　about　our　marriage。〃

〃I　do　not　blame　you　so　much；〃　said　Henrietta；　suffering　him　to
place　her　head　on　his　shoulder；　〃but　I　will　never　speak　to　Agatha
again。　She　has　behaved　shamefully　to　me；　and　I　will　tell　her　so。〃

〃No　doubt　she　will　opine　that　it　is　all　your　fault；　dearest；　and
that　I　have　behaved　admirably。　Between　you　I　shall　stand
exonerated。　And　now；　since　it　is　too　cold　for　walking；　since　it
is　late；　since　it　is　far　to　Lyvern　and　farther　to　London；　I　must
improvise　some　accommodation　for　you　here。〃

〃But〃

〃But　there　is　no　help　for　it。　You　must　stay。〃

　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　

CHAPTER　IX

Next　day　Smilash　obtained　from　his　wife　a　promise　that　she　would
behave　towards　Agatha　as　if　the　letter　had　given　no　offence。
Henrietta　pleaded　as　movingly　as　she　could　for　an　immediate
return　to　their　domestic　state；　but　he　put　her　off　with　endearing
speeches；　promised　nothing　but　eternal　affection；　and　sent　her
back　to　London　by　the　twelve　o'clock　express。　Then　his
countenance　changed；　he　walked　back　to　Lyvern；　and　thence　to　the
chalet；　like　a　man　pursued　by　disgust　and　remorse。　Later　in　the
afternoon；　to　raise　his　spirits；　he　took　his　skates　and　went　to
Wickens's　pond；　where；　it　being　Saturday；　he　found　the　ice
crowded　with　the　Alton　students　and　their　half…holiday　visitors。
Fairholme；　describing　circles　with　his　habitual　air　of　compressed
hardihood；　stopped　and　stared　with　indignant　surprise　as　Smilash
lurched　past　him。

〃Is　that　man　here　by　your　permission？〃　he　said　to　Farmer　Wickens；
who　was　walking　about　as　if　superintending　a　harvest。

〃He　is　here　because　he　likes；　I　take　it；〃　said　Wickens
stubbornly。　〃He　is　a　neighbor　of　mine　and　a　friend　of　mine。　Is
there　any　objections　to　my　having　a　friend　on　my　own　pond；　seein'
that　there　is　nigh　on　two　or　three　ton　of　other　people's　friends
on　it　108　without　as　much　as　a　with…your…leave　or　a　by…your…
leave。〃

〃Oh；　no；〃　said　Fairholme；　somewhat　dashed。　〃If　you　are　satisfied
there　can　be　no　objection。〃

〃I'm　glad　on　it。　I　thought　there　mout　be。〃

〃Let　me　tell　you；〃　said　Fairholme；　nettled；　〃that　your　landlord
would　not　be　pleased　to　see　him　here。　He　sent　one　of　Sir　John's
best　shepherds　out　of　the　country；　after　filling　his　head　with
ideas　above　his　station。　I　heard　Sir　John　speak　very　warmly　about
it　last　Sunday。〃

〃Mayhap　you　did；　Muster　Fairholme。　I　have　a　lease　of　this
landand　gravelly；　poor　stuff　it　isand　I　am　no　ways　beholden
to　Sir　John's　likings　and　dislikings。　A　very　good　thing　too　for
Sir　John　that　I　have　a　lease；　for　there　ain't　a　man　in　the
country　'ud　tak'　a　present　o'　the　farm　if　it　was　free　to…morrow。
And　what's　a'　more；　though　that　young　man　do　talk　foolish　things
about　the　rights　of　farm　laborers　and　such…like　nonsense；　if　Sir
John　was　to　hear　him　layin'　it　down　concernin'　rent　and
improvements；　and　the　way　we　tenant　farmers　is　put　upon；　p'raps
he'd　speak　warmer　than　ever　next　Sunday。〃

And　Wickens；　with　a　smile　expressive　of　his　sense　of　having
retorted　effectively　upon　the　parson；　nodded　and　walked　away。

Just　then　Agatha；　skating　hand　in　hand　with　Jane　Carpenter；　heard
these　words　in　her　ear：　〃I　have　something　very　funny　to　tell　you。
Don't　look　round。〃

She　recognized　the　voice　of　Smilash　and　obeyed。

〃I　am　not　quite　sure　that　you　will　enjoy　it　as　it　deserves；〃　he
added；　and　darted　off　again；　after　casting　an　eloquent　glance　at
Miss　Carpenter。

Agatha　disengaged　herself　from　her　companion；　made　a　circuit；　and
passed　near　Smilash；　saying：　〃What　is　it？〃

Smilash　flitted　away　like　a　swallow；　traced　several　circles
around　Fairholme；　and　then　returned　to　Agatha　and　proceeded　side
by　side　with　her。

〃I　have　read　the　letter　you　wrote　to　Hetty；〃　he　said。

Agatha's　face　began　to　glow。　She　forgot　to　maintain　her　balance；
and　almost　fell。

〃Take　care。　And　so　you　are　not　fond　of　mein　the　romantic
sense？〃

No　answer。　Agatha　dumb　and　afraid　to　lift　her　eyelids。

〃That　is　fortunate；〃　he　continued；　〃becausegood　evening；　Miss
Ward；　I　have　done　nothing　but　admire　your　skating　for　the　last
hourbecause　men　were　deceivers　ever；　and　I　am　no　exception；　as
you　will　presently　admit。〃

Agatha　murmured　something；　but　it　was　unintelligible　amid　the　din
of　skating。

〃You　think　not？　Well；　perhaps　you　are　right；　I　have　said　nothing
to　you　that　is　not　in　a　measure　true。　You　have　always　had　a
peculiar　charm　for　me。　But　I　did　not　mean　you　to　tell　Hetty。　Can
you　guess　why？〃

Agatha　shook　her　head。

〃Because　she　is　my　wife。〃

Agatha's　ankles　became　limp。　With　an　effort　she　kept　upright
until　she　reached　Jane；　to　whom　she　clung　for　support。

〃Don't；〃　screamed　Jane。　〃You'll　upset　me。〃

〃I　must　sit　down；〃　said　Agatha。　〃I　am　tired。　Let　me　lean　on　you
until　we　get　to　the　chairs。〃

〃Bosh！　I　can　skate　for　an　hour　without　sitting　down；〃　said　Jane。
However；　she　helped　Agatha　to　a　chair　and　left　her。　Then　Smilash；
as　if　desiring　a　rest　also；　sat　down　close　by　on　the　margin　of
the　pond。

〃Well；〃　he　said；　without　troubling　himself　as　to　whether　their
conversation　attracted　attention　or　not；　〃what　do　you　think　of　me
now？〃

〃Why　did　you　not　tell　me　before；　Mr。　Trefusis？〃

〃That　is　the　cream　of　the　joke；〃　he　replied；　poising　his　heels　on
the　ice　so　that　his　skates　stood　vertically　at　legs'　length　from
him；　and　looking　at　them　with　a　cynical　air。　〃I　thought　you　were
in　love　with　me；　and　that　the　truth　would　be　too　severe　a　blow　to
you。　Ha！　ha！　And；　for　the　same　reason；　you　generously　forbore　to
tell　me　that　you　were　no　more　in　love　with　me　than　with　the　man
in　the　moon。　Each　played　a　farce；　and　palmed　it　off　on　the　other
as　a　tragedy。〃

〃There　are　some　things　so　unmanly；　so　unkind；　and　so　cruel；〃　said
Agatha；　〃that　I　cannot　understand　any　gentleman　saying　them　to　a
girl。　Please　do　not　speak　to　me　again。　Miss　Ward！　Come　to　me　for
a　moment。　II　am　not　well。〃

Ward　hurried　to　her　side。　Smilash；　after　staring　at　her　for　a
moment　in　astonishment；　and　in　some　concern；　skimmed　away　into
the　crowd。　When　he　reached　the　opposite　bank　he　took　off　his
skates　and　asked　Jane；　who　strayed　intentionally　in　his
direction；　to　tell　Miss　Wylie　that　he　was　gone；　and　would　skate
no　more　there。　Without　adding　a　word　of　explanation　he　left　her
and　made　for　his　dwelling。　As　he　went　down　into　the　hollow　where
the　road　passed　through　the　plantation　on　the　college　side　of　the
chalet　he　descried　a　boy；　in　the　uniform　of　the　post　office；
sliding　along　the　frozen　ditch。　A　presentiment　of　evil　tidings
came　upon　him　like　a　darkening　of　the　sky。　He　quickened　his　pace。

〃Anything　for　me？〃　he　said。

The　boy；　who　knew　him；　fumbled　in　a　letter　case　and　produced　a
buff　envelope。　It　contained　a　telegram。

From　Jansenius；　London。

TO　J。　Smilash；　Chamoounix　Villa；　Lyvern。
_________________________________________

Henrietta　dangerously　ill　after　journey　
wants　to　see　you　doctors　say　must　come　at　once
_________________________________________

There　was　a　pause。　Then　he　folded　the　paper　methodically　and　put
it　in　his　pocket；　as　if　quite　done　with　it。

〃And　so；〃　he　said；　〃perhaps　the　tragedy　is　to　follow　the　farce
after　all。〃

He　looked　at　the　boy；　who　retreated；　not　liking　his　expression。

〃Did　you　slide　all　the　way　from　Lyvern？〃

〃Only　to　come　quicker；〃　said　the　messenger；　faltering。　〃I　came　as
quick　as　I　could。〃

〃You　carried　news　heavy　enough　to　break　the　thickest　ice　ever
frozen。　I　have　a　mind　to　throw　you　over　the　top　of　that　tree
instead　of　giving　you　this　half…crown。〃

〃You　let　me　alone；〃　whimpered　the　boy；　retreating　another　pace。

〃Get　back　to　Lyvern　as　fast　as　you　can　run　or　slide；　and　tell　Mr。
Marsh　to　send　me　the　fastest　trap　he　has；　to　drive　me　to　the
railway　station。　Here　is　your　half…crown。　Off　with　you；　and　if　I
do　not　find　the　trap　ready　when　I　want　it；　woe　betide　you。〃

The　boy　came　for　the　money　mistrustfully；　and　ran　off　with　it　as
fast　as　he　could。　Smilash　went　into　the　chalet　and　never
reappeared。　Instead；　Trefusis；　a　gentleman　in　an　ulster；　carrying
a　rug；　came　out；　locked　the　door；　and　hurried　along　the　road　to
Lyvern；　where　he　was　picked　up　by　the　trap；　and　carried　swiftly
to　the　railway　station；　just　in　time　to　catch　the　London　train。

〃Evening　paper；　sir？〃　said　a　voice　at　the　window；　as　he　settled
himself　in　the　corner　of　a　first…class　carriage。

〃No；　thank　you。〃

〃Footwarmer；　sir？〃　said　a　porter；　appearing　in　the　news…vender's
place。

〃Ah；　that's　a　good　idea。　Yes；　let　me　have　a　footwarmer。〃

The　footwarmer　was　brought；　and　Trefusis　composed　himself
comfortably　for　his　journey。　It　seemed　very　short　to　him；　he
could　hardly　believe；　when　the　train　arrived　in　London；　that　he
had　been　nearly　three　hours　on　the　way。

There　was　a　sense　of　Christmas　about　the　travellers　and　the
people　who　were　at　the　terminus　to　meet　them。　The　porter　who　came
to　the　carriage　door　reminded　Trefusis　by　his　manner　and　voice
that　the　season　was　one　at　which　it　becomes　a　gentleman　to　be
festive　and　liberal。

〃Wot　luggage；　sir？　Hansom　or　fourweoll；　sir？〃

For　a　moment　Trefusis　felt　a　vagabond　impulse　to　resume　the
language　of　Smilash　and　fable　to　the　man　of　hampers　of　turkey　and
plum…pudding　in　the　van。　But　he　repressed　it；　got　into　a　hansom；
and　was