an unsocial socialist-第5章

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〃You　are　exceedingly　rude；　Miss　Carpenter；〃　said　Gertrude。

〃My　manners　are　as　good　as　yours；　and　perhaps　better；〃　retorted
Jane。　〃My　family　is　as　good；　anyhow。〃

〃Children；　children；〃　said　Agatha；　admonitorily；　〃do　not　forget
that　you　are　sworn　friends。〃

〃We　didn't　swear；〃　said　Jane。　〃We　were　to　have　been　three　sworn
friends；　and　Gertrude　and　I　were　willing；　but　you　wouldn't　swear；
and　so　the　bargain　was　cried　off。〃

〃Just　so；〃　said　Agatha；　〃and　the　result　is　that　I　spend　all　my
time　in　keeping　peace　between　you。　And　now；　to　go　back　to　our
subject；　may　I　ask　whether　it　has　ever　occurred　to　you　that　no
one　ever　considers　me？〃

〃I　suppose　you　think　that　very　funny。　You　take　good　care　to　make
yourself　considered；〃　sneered　Jane。

〃You　cannot　say　that　I　do　not　consider　you；〃　said　Gertrude
reproachfully。

〃Not　when　I　tickle　you；　dear。〃

〃I　consider　you；　and　I　am　not　ticklesome；〃　said　Jane　tenderly。

〃Indeed！　Let　me　try；〃　said　Agatha；　slipping　her　arm　about　Jane's
ample　waist；　and　eliciting　a　piercing　combination　of　laugh　and
scream　from　her。

〃Shsh；〃　whispered　Gertrude　quickly。　〃Don't　you　see　the　Lady
Abbess？〃

Miss　Wilson　had　just　entered　the　room。　Agatha；　without　appearing
to　be　aware　of　her　presence；　stealthily　withdrew　her　arm；　and
said　aloud：

〃How　can　you　make　such　a　noise；　Jane？　You　will　disturb　the　whole
house。〃

Jane　reddened　with　indignation；　but　had　to　remain　silent；　for　the
eyes　of　the　principal　were　upon　her。　Miss　Wilson　had　her　bonnet
on。　She　announced　that　she　was　going　to　walk　to　Lyvern；　the
nearest　village。　Did　any　of　the　sixth　form　young　ladies　wish　to
accompany　her？

Agatha　jumped　from　her　seat　at　once；　and　Jane　smothered　a　laugh。

〃Miss　Wilson　said　the　sixth　form；　Miss　Wylie；〃　said　Miss　Ward；
who　had　entered　also。　〃You　are　not　in　the　sixth　form。〃

〃No；〃　said　Agatha　sweetly；　〃but　I　want　to　go；　if　I　may。〃

Miss　Wilson　looked　round。　The　sixth　form　consisted　of　four
studious　young　ladies；　whose　goal　in　life　for　the　present　was　an
examination　by　one　of　the　Universities；　or；　as　the　college　phrase
was；　〃the　Cambridge　Local。〃　None　of　them　responded。

〃Fifth　form；　then；〃　said　Miss　Wilson。

Jane；　Gertrude；　and　four　others　rose　and　stood　with　Agatha。

〃Very　well；〃　said　Miss　Wilson。　〃Do　not　be　long　dressing。〃

They　left　the　room　quietly；　and　dashed　at　the　staircase　the
moment　they　were　out　of　sight。　Agatha；　though　void　of　emulation
for　the　Cambridge　Local；　always　competed　with　ardor　for　the　honor
of　being　first　up　or　down　stairs。

They　soon　returned；　clad　for　walking；　and　left　the　college　in
procession；　two　by　two；　Jane　and　Agatha　leading；　Gertrude　and
Miss　Wilson　coming　last。　The　road　to　Lyvern　lay　through　acres　of
pasture　land；　formerly　arable；　now　abandoned　to　cattle；　which
made　more　money　for　the　landlord　than　the　men　whom　they　had
displaced。　Miss　Wilson's　young　ladies；　being　instructed　in
economics；　knew　that　this　proved　that　the　land　was　being　used　to
produce　what　was　most　wanted　from　it；　and　if　all　the　advantage
went　to　the　landlord；　that　was　but　natural；　as　he　was　the　chief
gentleman　in　the　neighborhood。　Still　the　arrangement　had　its
disagreeable　side；　for　it　involved　a　great　many　cows；　which　made
them　afraid　to　cross　the　fields；　a　great　many　tramps；　who　made
them　afraid　to　walk　the　roads；　and　a　scarcity　of　gentlemen
subjects　for　the　maiden　art　of　fascination。

The　sky　was　cloudy。　Agatha；　reckless　of　dusty　stockings；　waded
through　the　heaps　of　fallen　leaves　with　the　delight　of　a　child
paddling　in　the　sea；　Gertrude　picked　her　steps　carefully；　and　the
rest　tramped　along；　chatting　subduedly；　occasionally　making　some
scientific　or　philosophical　remark　in　a　louder　tone；　in　order
that　Miss　Wilson　might　overhear　and　give　them　due　credit。　Save　a
herdsman；　who　seemed　to　have　caught　something　of　the　nature　and
expression　of　the　beasts　he　tended；　they　met　no　one　until　they
approached　the　village；　where；　on　the　brow　of　an　acclivity；
masculine　humanity　appeared　in　the　shape　of　two　curates：　one
tall；　thin；　close…shaven；　with　a　book　under　his　arm；　and　his　neck
craned　forward；　the　other　middle…sized；　robust；　upright；　and
aggressive；　with　short　black　whiskers；　and　an　air　of　protest
against　such　notions　as　that　a　clergyman　may　not　marry；　hunt；
play　cricket；　or　share　the　sports　of　honest　laymen。　The　shaven
one　was　Mr。　Josephs；　his　companion　Mr。　Fairholme。　Obvious
scriptural　perversions　of　this　brace　of　names　had　been　introduced
by　Agatha。

〃Here　come　Pharaoh　and　Joseph；〃　she　said　to　Jane。　〃Joseph　will
blush　when　you　look　at　him。　Pharaoh　won't　blush　until　he　passes
Gertrude；　so　we　shall　lose　that。〃

〃Josephs；　indeed！〃　said　Jane　scornfully。

〃He　loves　you；　Jane。　Thin　persons　like　a　fine　armful　of　a　woman。
Pharaoh；　who　is　a　cad；　likes　blue　blood　on　the　same　principle　of
the　attraction　of　opposites。　That　is　why　he　is　captivated　by
Gertrude's　aristocratic　air。〃

〃If　he　only　knew　how　she　despises　him！〃

〃He　is　too　vain　to　suspect　it。　Besides；　Gertrude　despises
everyone；　even　us。　Or；　rather；　she　doesn't　despise　anyone　in
particular；　but　is　contemptuous　by　nature；　just　as　you　are
stout。〃

〃Me！　I　had　rather　be　stout　than　stuck…up。　Ought　we　to　bow？〃

〃I　will；　certainly。　I　want　to　make　Pharoah　blush；　if　I　can。〃

The　two　parsons　had　been　simulating　an　interest　in　the　cloudy
firmament　as　an　excuse　for　not　looking　at　the　girls　until　close
at　hand。　Jane　sent　an　eyeflash　at　Josephs　with　a　skill　which
proved　her　favorite　assertion　that　she　was　not　so　stupid　as
people　thought。　He　blushed　and　took　off　his　soft；　low…crowned
felt　hat。　Fairholme　saluted　very　solemnly；　for　Agatha　bowed　to
him　with　marked　seriousness。　But　when　his　gravity　and　his　stiff
silk　hat　were　at　their　highest　point　she　darted　a　mocking　smile
at　him；　and　he　too　blushed；　all　the　deeper　because　he　was　enraged
with　himself　for　doing　so。

〃Did　you　ever　see　such　a　pair　of　fools？〃　whispered　Jane；
giggling。

〃They　cannot　help　their　sex。　They　say　women　are　fools；　and　so
they　are；　but　thank　Heaven　they　are　not　quite　so　bad　as　men！　I
should　like　to　look　back　and　see　Pharaoh　passing　Gertrude；　but　if
he　saw　me　he　would　think　I　was　admiring　him；　and　he　is　conceited
enough　already　without　that。〃

The　two　curates　became　redder　and　redder　as　they　passed　the
column　of　young　ladies。　Miss　Lindsay　would　not　look　to　their　side
of　the　road；　and　Miss　Wilson's　nod　and　smile　were　not　quite
sincere。　She　never　spoke　to　curates；　and　kept　up　no　more
intercourse　with　the　vicar　than　she　could　not　avoid。　He　suspected
her　of　being　an　infidel；　though　neither　he　nor　any　other　mortal
in　Lyvern　had　ever　heard　a　word　from　her　on　the　subject　of　her
religious　opinions。　But　he　knew　that　〃moral　science〃　was　taught
secularly　at　the　college；　and　he　felt　that　where　morals　were　made
a　department　of　science　the　demand　for　religion　must　fall　off
proportionately。

〃What　a　life　to　lead　and　what　a　place　to　live　in！〃　exclaimed
Agatha。　〃We　meet　two　creatures；　more　like　suits　of　black　than
men；　and　that　is　an　incident　a　startling　incidentin　our
existence！〃

〃I　think　they're　awful　fun；〃　said　Jane；　〃except　that　Josephs　has
such　large　ears。〃

The　girls　now　came　to　a　place　where　the　road　dipped　through　a
plantation　of　sombre　sycamore　and　horsechestnut　trees。　As　they
passed　down　into　it；　a　little　wind　sprang　up；　the　fallen　leaves
stirred；　and　the　branches　heaved　a　long；　rustling　sigh。

〃I　hate　this　bit　of　road；〃　said　Jane；　hurrying　on。　〃It's　just　the
sort　of　place　that　people　get　robbed　and　murdered　in。〃

〃It　is　not　such　a　bad　place　to　shelter　in　if　we　get　caught　in　the
rain；　as　I　expect　we　shall　before　we　get　back；〃　said　Agatha；
feeling　the　fitful　breeze　strike　ominously　on　her　cheek。　〃A　nice
pickle　I　shall　be　in　with　these　light　shoes　on！　I　wish　I　had　put
on　my　strong　boots。　If　it　rains　much　I　will　go　into　the　old
chalet。〃

〃Miss　Wilson　won't　let　you。　It's　trespassing。〃

〃What　matter！　Nobody　lives　in　it；　and　the　gate　is　off　its　hinges。
I　only　want　to　stand　under　the　verandanot　to　break　into　the
wretched　place。　Besides；　the　landlord　knows　Miss　Wilson；　he　won't
mind。　There's　a　drop。〃

Miss　Carpenter　looked　up；　and　immediately　received　a　heavy
raindrop　in　her　eye。

〃Oh！〃　she　cried。　〃It's　pouring。　We　shall　be　drenched。〃

Agatha　stopped；　and　the　column　broke　into　a　group　about　her。

〃Miss　Wilson；〃　she　said；　〃it　is　going　to　rain　in　torrents；　and
Jane　and　I　have　only　our　shoes　on。〃

Miss　Wilson　paused　to　consider　the　situation。　Someone　suggested
that　if　they　hurried　on　they　might　reach　Lyvern　before　the　rain
came　down。

〃More　than　a　mile；〃　said　Agatha　scornfully；　〃and　the　rain　coming
down　already！〃

Someone　else　suggested　returning　to　the　college。

〃More　than　two　miles；〃　said　Agatha。　〃We　should　be　drowned。〃

〃There　is　nothing　for　it　but　to　wait　here　under　the　trees；〃　said
Miss　Wilson。

〃The　branches　are　very　bare；〃　said　Gertrude　anxiously。　〃If　it
should　come　down　heavily　they　will　drip　worse　than　the　rain
itself。〃

〃Much　worse；〃　said　Agatha。　〃I　think　we　had　better　get　under　the
veranda　of　the　old　chalet。　It　is　not　half　a　minute's　walk　from
here。〃

〃But　we　have　no　right〃　Here　the　sky　darkened　threateningly。
Miss　Wilson　checked　herself　and　said；　〃I　suppose　it　is　still
empty。〃

〃Of　course；〃　replied　Agatha；　impatient　to　be　moving。　〃It　is
almost　a　ruin。〃

〃Then　let　us　go　there；　by　all　means；〃　said　Miss　Wilson；　not
disposed　to　stand　on　trifles　at　the　risk　of　a　bad　cold。

They　hurried　on；　and　came　presently　to　a　green　hill　by　the
wayside。　On　the　slope　was　a　dilapidated　Swiss　cottage；　surrounded
by　a　veranda　on　slender　wooden　pillars；　about　which　clung　a　few
tendrils　of　withered　creeper；　their　stray　ends　still　swinging
from　the　recent　wind；　now　momentarily　hushed　as　if　listening　for
the　coming　of　the　rain。　Access　from　the　roadway　was　by　a　rough
wooden　gate　in　the　hedge。　To　the　surprise　of　Agatha；　who　had　last
seen　this　gate　off　its　hinges　and　only　attached　to　the　post　by　a
rusty　chain　and　padlock；　it　was　now　rehung　and　fastened　by　a　new
hasp。　The　weather　admitting　of　no　delay　to　consider　these
repairs；　she　opened　the　gate　and　hastened　up　the　slope；　followed
by　the　troop　of　girls。　Their　ascent　ended　with　a　rush；　for　the
rain　suddenly　came　down　in　torrents。

When　they　were　safe　under　the　veranda；　panting；　laughing；
grumbling；　or　congratulating　themselves　on　having　been　so　close
to　a　place　of　shelter；　Miss　Wilson　observed；　with　some
uneasiness；　a　spadenew；　like　the　hasp　of　the　gatesticking
upright　in　a　patch　of　ground　that　someone　had　evidently　been
digging　lately。　She　was　about　to　comment　on　this　sign　of
habitation；　when　the　door　of　the　chalet　was　flung　open；　and　Jane
screamed　as　a　man　darted　out　to　the　spade；　which　he　was　about　to
carry　in　out　of　the　wet；　when　he　perceived　the　company　under　the
veranda；　and　stood　still　in　amazement。　He　was　a　young　laborer
with　a　reddish…brown　beard　of　a　week's　growth。　He　wore　corduroy
trousers　and　a　linen…sleeved　corduroy　vest；　both；　like　the　hasp
and　spade；　new。　A　coarse　blue　shirt；　with　a　vulgar　red…and…orange
neckerchief；　also　new；　completed　his　dress；　and；　to　shield
himself　from　the　rain；　he　held　up　a　silk　umbrella　with　a
silver…mounted　ebony　handle；　which　he　seemed　unlikely　to　have