an unsocial socialist-第39章

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harvest　they　have　sown　for。〃

〃Take　care。　Some　of　your　lady　proselytes　may　get　the　better　of
you　some　day。　The　future　husband　to　be　contradicted　may　be　Sidney
Trefusis。　Ha！　ha！　ha！〃　Sir　Charles　had　emptied　a　second　large
goblet　of　wine；　and　was　a　little　flushed　and　boisterous。

〃No；〃　said　Trefusis；　〃I　have　had　enough　of　love　myself；　and　am
not　likely　to　inspire　it。　Women　do　not　care　for　men　to　whom；　as
Erskine　says；　everything　is　a　question　of　figures。　I　used　to
flirt　with　women；　now　I　lecture　them；　and　abhor　a　man…flirt　worse
than　I　do　a　woman　one。　Some　more　wine？　Oh；　you　must　not　waste　the
remainder　of　this　bottle。〃

〃I　think　we　had　better　go；　Brandon；〃　said　Erskine；　his　mistrust
of　Trefusis　growing。　〃We　promised　to　be　back　before　two。〃

〃So　you　shall；〃　said　Trefusis。　〃It　is　not　yet　a　quarter　past　one。
By…the…bye；　I　have　not　shown　you　Donovan　Brown's　pet　instrument
for　the　regeneration　of　society。　Here　it　is。　A　monster　petition
praying　that　the　holding　back　from　the　laborer　of　any　portion　of
the　net　value　produced　by　his　labor　be　declared　a　felony。　That　is
all。〃

Erskine　nudged　Sir　Charles；　who　said　hastily；　〃Thank　you；　but　I
had　rather　not　sign　anything。〃

〃A　baronet　sign　such　a　petition！〃　exclaimed　Trefusis。　〃I　did　not
think　of　asking　you。　I　only　show　it　to　you　as　an　interesting
historical　document；　containing　the　autographs　of　a　few　artists
and　poets。　There　is　Donovan　Brown's　for　example。　It　was　he　who
suggested　the　petition；　which　is　not　likely　to　do　much　good；　as
the　thing　cannot　be　done　in　any　such　fashion　However；　I　have
promised　Brown　to　get　as　many　signatures　as　I　can；　so　you　may　as
well　sign　it；　Erskine。　It　says　nothing　in　blank　verse　about　the
holiness　of　slaying　a　tyrant；　but　it　is　a　step　in　the　right
direction。　You　will　not　stick　at　such　a　trifleunless　the
reviews　have　frightened　you。　Come；　your　name　and　address。〃

Erskine　shook　his　head。

〃Do　you　then　only　commit　yourself　to　revolutionary　sentiments
when　there　is　a　chance　of　winning　fame　as　a　poet　by　them？〃

〃I　will　not　sign；　simply　because　I　do　not　choose　to；〃　said
Erskine　warmly。

〃My　dear　fellow；〃　said　Trefusis；　almost　affectionately；　〃if　a　man
has　a　conscience　he　can　have　no　choice　in　matters　of　conviction。
I　have　read　somewhere　in　your　book　that　the　man　who　will　not　shed
his　blood　for　the　liberty　of　his　brothers　is　a　coward　and　a
slave。　Will　you　not　shed　a　drop　of　inkmy　ink；　toofor　the
right　of　your　brothers　to　the　work　of　their　hands？　I　at　first
sight　did　not　care　to　sign　this　petition；　because　I　would　as　soon
petition　a　tiger　to　share　his　prey　with　me　as　our　rulers　to　relax
their　grip　of　the　stolen　labor　they　live　on。　But　Donovan　Brown
said　to　me；　'You　have　no　choice。　Either　you　believe　that　the
laborer　should　have　the　fruit　of　his　labor　or　you　do　not。　If　you
do；　put　your　conviction　on　record；　even　if　it　should　be　as
useless　as　Pilate's　washing　his　hands。'　So　I　signed。〃

〃Donovan　Brown　was　right；〃　said　Sir　Charles。　〃I　will　sign。〃　And
he　did　so　with　a　flourish。

〃Brown　will　be　delighted；〃　said　Trefusis。　〃I　will　write　to　him
to…day　that　I　have　got　another　good　signature　for　him。〃

〃Two　more；〃　said　Sir　Charles。　〃You　shall　sign；　Erskine；　hang　me
if　you　shan't！　It　is　only　against　rascals　that　run　away　without
paying　their　men　their　wages。〃

〃Or　that　don't　pay　them　in　full；〃　observed　Trefusis；　with　a
curious　smile。　〃But　do　not　sign　if　you　feel　uncomfortable　about
it。〃

〃If　you　don't　sign　after　me；　you　are　a　sneak；　Chester；〃　said　Sir
Charles。

〃I　don't　know　what　it　means；〃　said　Erskine；　wavering。　〃I　don't
understand　petitions。〃

〃It　means　what　it　says；　you　cannot　be　held　responsible　for　any
meaning　that　is　not　expressed　in　it；〃　said　Trefusis。　〃But　never
mind。　You　mistrust　me　a　little；　I　fancy；　and　would　rather　not
meddle　with　my　petitions；　but　you　will　think　better　of　that　as
you　grow　used　to　me。　Meanwhile；　there　is　no　hurry。　Don't　sign
yet。〃

〃Nonsense！　I　don't　doubt　your　good　faith；〃　said　Erskine；　hastily
disavowing　suspicions　which　he　felt　but　could　not　account　for。
〃Here　goes！〃　And　he　signed。

〃Well　done！〃　said　Trefusis。　〃This　will　make　Brown　happy　for　the
rest　of　the　month。〃

〃It　is　time　for　us　to　go　now；〃　said　Erskine　gloomily。

〃Look　in　upon　me　at　any　time；　you　shall　be　welcome；〃　said
Trefusis。　〃You　need　not　stand　upon　any　sort　of　ceremony。〃

Then　they　parted；　Sir　Charles　assuring　Trefusis　that　he　had　never
spent　a　more　interesting　morning；　and　shaking　hands　with　him　at
considerable　length　three　times。　Erskine　said　little　until　he　was
in　the　Riverside　Road　with　his　friend；　when　he　suddenly　burst
out：

〃What　the　devil　do　you　mean　by　drinking　two　tumblers　of　such
staggering　stuff　at　one　o'clock　in　the　day　in　the　house　of　a
dangerous　man　like　that？　I　am　very　sorry　I　went　into　the　fellow's
place。　I　had　misgivings　about　it；　and　they　have　been　fully　borne
out。〃

〃How　so？〃　said　Sir　Charles；　taken　aback。

〃He　has　overreached　us。　I　was　a　deuced　fool　to　sign　that　paper；
and　so　were　you。　It　was　for　that　that　he　invited　us。〃

〃Rubbish；　my　dear　boy。　It　was　not　his　paper；　but　Donovan
Brown's。〃

〃I　doubt　it。　Most　likely　he　talked　Brown　into　signing　it　just　as
he　talked　us。　I　tell　you　his　ways　are　all　crooked；　like　his
ideas。　Did　you　hear　how　he　lied　about　Miss　Lindsay？〃

〃Oh；　you　were　mistaken　about　that。　He　does　not　care　two　straws
for　her　or　for　anyone。〃

〃Well；　if　you　are　satisfied；　I　am　not。　You　would　not　be　in　such
high　spirits　over　it　if　you　had　taken　as　little　wine　as　I。〃

〃Pshaw！　you're　too　ridiculous。　It　was　capital　wine。　Do　you　mean
to　say　I　am　drunk？〃

〃No。　But　you　would　not　have　signed　if　you　had　not　taken　that
second　goblet。　If　you　had　not　forced　meI　could　not　get　out　of
it　after　you　set　the　exampleI　would　have　seen　him　dd　sooner
than　have　had　anything　to　do　with　his　petition。〃

〃I　don't　see　what　harm　can　come　of　it；〃　said　Sir　Charles；　braving
out　some　secret　disquietude。

〃I　will　never　go　into　his　house　again；〃　said　Erskine　moodily。　〃We
were　just　like　two　flies　in　a　spider's　web。〃

Meanwhile；　Trefusis　was　fulfilling　his　promise　to　write　to
Donovan　Brown。

〃Sallust's　House。

〃Dear　Brown：　I　have　spent　the　forenoon　angling　for　a　couple　of
very　young　fish；　and　have　landed　them　with　more　trouble　than　they
are　worth。　One　has　gaudy　scales：　he　is　a　baronet；　and　an　amateur
artist；　save　the　mark。　All　my　arguments　and　my　little　museum　of
photographs　were　lost　on　him；　but　when　I　mentioned　your　name；　and
promised　him　an　introduction　to　you；　he　gorged　the　bait　greedily。
He　was　half　drunk　when　he　signed；　and　I　should　not　have　let　him
touch　the　paper　if　I　had　not　convinced　myself　beforehand　that　he
means　well；　and　that　my　wine　had　only　freed　his　natural
generosity　from　his　conventional　cowardice　and　prejudice。　We　must
get　his　name　published　in　as　many　journals　as　possible　as　a
signatory　to　the　great　petition；　it　will　draw　on　others　as　your
name　drew　him。　The　second　novice；　Chichester　Erskine；　is　a　young
poet。　He　will　not　be　of　much　use　to　us；　though　he　is　a　devoted
champion　of　liberty　in　blank　verse；　and　dedicates　his　works　to
Mazzini；　etc。　He　signed　reluctantly。　All　this　hesitation　is　the
uncertainty　that　comes　of　ignorance；they　have　not　found　out　the
truth　for　themselves；　and　are　afraid　to　trust　me；　matters　having
come　to　the　pass　at　which　no　man　dares　trust　his　fellow。

〃I　have　met　a　pretty　young　lady　here　who　might　serve　you　as　a
model　for　Hypatia。　She　is　crammed　with　all　the　prejudices　of　the
peerage；　but　I　am　effecting　a　cure。　I　have　set　my　heart　on
marrying　her　to　Erskine；　who；　thinking　that　I　am　making　love　to
her　on　my　own　account；　is　jealous。　The　weather　is　pleasant　here；
and　I　am　having　a　merry　life　of　it；　but　I　find　myself　too　idle。
Etc。；　etc。；　etc。〃



CHAPTER　XVI

One　sunny　forenoon；　as　Agatha　sat　reading　on　the　doorstep　of　the
conservatory；　the　shadow　of　her　parasol　deepened；　and　she；
looking　up　for　something　denser　than　the　silk　of　it；　saw
Trefusis。

〃Oh！〃

She　offered　him　no　further　greeting；　having　fallen　in　with　his
habit　of　dispensing；　as　far　as　possible；　with　salutations　and
ceremonies。　He　seemed　in　no　hurry　to　speak；　and　so；　after　a
pause；　she　began；　〃Sir　Charles〃

〃Is　gone　to　town；〃　he　said。　〃Erskine　is　out　on　his　bicycle。　Lady
Brandon　and　Miss　Lindsay　have　gone　to　the　village　in　the
wagonette；　and　you　have　come　out　here　to　enjoy　the　summer　sun　and
read　rubbish。　I　know　all　your　news　already。〃

〃You　are　very　clever；　and；　as　usual；　wrong。　Sir　Charles　has　not
gone　to　town。　He　has　only　gone　to　the　railway　station　for　some
papers；　he　will　be　back　for　luncheon。　How　do　you　know　so　much　of
our　affairs？〃

〃I　was　on　the　roof　of　my　house　with　a　field…glass。　I　saw　you　come
out　and　sit　down　here。　Then　Sir　Charles　passed。　Then　Erskine。
Then　Lady　Brandon；　driving　with　great　energy；　and　presenting　a
remarkable　contrast　to　the　disdainful　repose　of　Gertrude。〃

〃Gertrude！　I　like　your　cheek。〃

〃You　mean　that　you　dislike　my　presumption。〃

〃No；　I　think　cheek　a　more　expressive　word　than　presumption；　and　I
mean　that　I　like　itthat　it　amuses　me。〃

〃Really！　What　are　you　reading？〃

〃Rubbish；　you　said　just　now。　A　novel。〃

〃That　is；　a　lying　story　of　two　people　who　never　existed；　and　who
would　have　acted　very　differently　if　they　had　existed。〃

〃Just　so。〃

〃Could　you　not　imagine　something　just　as　amusing　for　yourself？〃

〃Perhaps　so；　but　it　would　be　too　much　trouble。　Besides；　cooking
takes　away　one's　appetite　for　eating。　I　should　not　relish　stories
of　my　own　confection。〃

〃Which　volume　are　you　at？〃

〃The　third。〃

〃Then　the　hero　and　heroine　are　on　the　point　of　being　united？〃

〃I　really　don't　know。　This　is　one　of　your　clever　novels。　I　wish
the　characters　would　not　talk　so　much。〃

〃No　matter。　Two　of　them　are　in　love　with　one　another；　are　they
not？〃

〃Yes。　It　would　not　be　a　novel　without　that。〃

〃Do　you　believe；　in　your　secret　soul；　AgathaI　take　the　liberty
of　using　your　Christian　name　because　I　wish　to　be　very　solemndo
you　really　believe　that　any　human　being　was　ever　unselfish　enough
to　love　another　in　the　story…book　fashion？〃

〃Of　course。　At　least　I　suppose　so。　I　have　never　thought　much
about　it。〃

〃I　doubt　it。　My　own　belief　is　that　no　latter…day　man　has　any
faith　in　the　thoroughness　or　permanence　of　his　affection　for　his
mate。　Yet　he　does　not　doubt　the　sincerity　of　her　professions；　and
he　conceals　the　hollowness　of　his　own　from　her；　partly　because　he
is　ashamed　of　it；　and　partly　out　of　pity　for　her。　And　she；　on　the
other　side；　is　playing　exactly　the　same　comedy。〃

〃I　believe　that　is　what　men　do；　but　not　women。〃

〃Indeed！　Pray　do　you　remember　pretending　to　be　very　much　in　love
with　me　once　when〃

Agatha　reddened　and　placed　her　palm　on　the　step　as　if　about　to
spring　up。　But　she　checked　herself　and　said：　〃Stop；　Mr。　Trefusis。
If　you　talk　about　that　I　shall　go　away。　I　wonder　at　you！　Have　you
no　taste？'；

〃None　whatever。　And　as　I　was　the　aggrieved　party　on　thatstay；
don't　go。　I　will　never　allude　to　it　again。　I　am　growing　afraid　of
you。　You　used　to　be　afraid　of　me。〃

〃Yes；　and　you　used　to　bully　me。　You　have　a　habit　of　bullying
women　who　are　weak　enough　to　fear　you。　You　are　a　great　deal
cleverer　than　I；　and　know　much　more；　I　dare　say；　but