an unsocial socialist-第7章

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〃Oh；　you　know　who　I　am；　do　you？〃　said　Miss　Wilson　drily。

〃All　the　country　knows　you；　Miss；　and　worships　you。　I　have　few
equals　as　a　coiner；　and　if　you　should　require　a　medal　struck　to
give　away　for　good　behavior　or　the　like；　I　think　I　could　strike
one　to　your　satisfaction。　And　if　your　ladyship　should　want　a
trifle　of　smuggled　lace〃

〃You　had　better　be　careful　or　you　will　get　into　trouble；　I
think；〃　said　Miss　Wilson　sternly。　〃Tell　him　to　drive　on。〃

The　vehicles　started；　and　Smilash　took　the　liberty　of　waving　his
hat　after　them。　Then　he　returned　to　the　chalet；　left　the　umbrella
within；　came　out　again；　locked　the　door；　put　the　key　in　his
pocket；　and　walked　off　through　the　rain　across　the　hill　without
taking　the　least　notice　of　the　astonished　parsons。

In　the　meantime　Miss　Wilson；　unable　to　contain　her　annoyance　at
Agatha's　extravagance；　spoke　of　it　to　the　girls　who　shared　the
coach　with　her。　But　Jane　declared　that　Agatha　only　possessed
threepence　in　the　world；　and　therefore　could　not　possibly　have
given　the　man　thirty　times　that　sum。　When　they　reached　the
college；　Agatha；　confronted　with　Miss　Wilson；　opened　her　eyes　in
wonder；　and　exclaimed；　laughing：　〃I　only　gave　him　threepence。　He
has　sent　me　a　present　of　four　and　ninepence！〃



CHAPTER　IV

Saturday　at　Alton　College；　nominally　a　half　holiday；　was　really　a
whole　one。　Classes　in　gymnastics；　dancing；　elocution；　and　drawing
were　held　in　the　morning。　The　afternoon　was　spent　at　lawn　tennis；
to　which　lady　guests　resident　in　the　neighborhood　were　allowed　to
bring　their　husbands；　brothers；　and　fathersMiss　Wilson　being
anxious　to　send　her　pupils　forth　into　the　world　free　from　the
uncouth　stiffness　of　schoolgirls　unaccustomed　to　society。

Late　in　October　came　a　Saturday　which　proved　anything　but　a
holiday　for　Miss　Wilson。　At　half…past　one；　luncheon　being　over；
she　went　out　of　doors　to　a　lawn　that　lay　between　the　southern
side　of　the　college　and　a　shrubbery。　Here　she　found　a　group　of
girls　watching　Agatha　and　Jane；　who　were　dragging　a　roller　over
the　grass。　One　of　them；　tossing　a　ball　about　with　her　racket；
happened　to　drive　it　into　the　shrubbery；　whence；　to　the　surprise
of　the　company；　Smilash　presently　emerged；　carrying　the　ball；
blinking；　and　proclaiming　that；　though　a　common　man；　he　had　his
feelings　like　another；　and　that　his　eye　was　neither　a　stick　nor　a
stone。　He　was　dressed　as　before；　but　his　garments；　soiled　with
clay　and　lime；　no　longer　looked　new。

〃What　brings　you　here；　pray？〃　demanded　Miss　Wilson。

〃I　was　led　into　the　belief　that　you　sent　for　me；　lady；〃　he
replied。　〃The　baker's　lad　told　me　so　as　he　passed　my　'umble　cot
this　morning。　I　thought　he　were　incapable　of　deceit。〃

〃That　is　quite　right；　I　did　send　for　you。　But　why　did　you　not　go
round　to　the　servants'　hall？〃

〃I　am　at　present　in　search　of　it；　lady。　I　were　looking　for　it
when　this　ball　cotch　me　here　〃　（touching　his　eye）。　〃A　cruel　blow
on　the　hi'　nat'rally　spires　its　vision　and　expression　and　makes　a
honest　man　look　like　a　thief。〃

〃Agatha；〃　said　Miss　Wilson；　〃come　here。〃

〃My　dooty　to　you；　Miss；〃　said　Smilash；　pulling　his　forelock。

〃This　is　the　man　from　whom　I　had　the　five　shillings；　which　he
said　you　had　just　given　him。　Did　you　do　so　？〃

〃Certainly　not。　I　only　gave　him　threepence。〃

〃But　I　showed　the　money　to　your　ladyship；〃　said　Smilash；　twisting
his　hat　agitatedly。　〃I　gev　it　you。　Where　would　the　like　of　me　get
five　shillings　except　by　the　bounty　of　the　rich　and　noble？　If　the
young　lady　thinks　I　hadn't　ort　to　have　kep'　the　tother　'arfcrown；
I　would　not　object　to　its　bein'　stopped　from　my　wages　if　I　were
given　a　job　of　work　here。　But〃

〃But　it's　nonsense；〃　said　Agatha。　〃I　never　gave　you　three
half…crowns。〃

〃Perhaps　you　mout　'a'　made　a　mistake。　Pence　is　summat　similar　to
'arf…crowns；　and　the　day　were　very　dark。〃

〃I　couldn't　have；〃　said　Agatha。　〃Jane　had　my　purse　all　the
earlier　part　of　the　week；　Miss　Wilson；　and　she　can　tell　you　that
there　was　only　threepence　in　it。　You　know　that　I　get　my　money　on
the　first　of　every　month。　It　never　lasts　longer　than　a　week。　The
idea　of　my　having　seven　and　sixpence　on　the　sixteenth　is
ridiculous。〃

〃But　I　put　it　to　you；　Miss；　ain't　it　twice　as　ridiculous　for　me；
a　poor　laborer；　to　give　up　money　wot　I　never　got？〃

Vague　alarm　crept　upon　Agatha　as　the　testimony　of　her　senses　was
contradicted。　〃All　I　know　is；〃　she　protested；　〃that　I　did　not
give　it　to　you；　so　my　pennies　must　have　turned　into　half…crowns
in　your　pocket。〃

〃Mebbe　so；〃　said　Smilash　gravely。　〃I've　heard；　and　I　know　it　for
a　fact；　that　money　grows　in　the　pockets　of　the　rich。　Why　not　in
the　pockets　of　the　poor　as　well？　Why　should　you　be　su'prised　at
wot　'appens　every　day？〃

〃Had　you　any　money　of　your　own　about　you　at　the　time？〃

〃Where　could　the　like　of　me　get　money？asking　pardon　for　making
so　bold　as　to　catechise　your　ladyship。〃

〃I　don't　know　where　you　could　get　it；〃　said　Miss　Wilson　testily；
〃I　ask　you；　had　you　any？〃

〃Well；　lady；　I　disremember。　I　will　not　impose　upon　you。　I
disremember。〃

〃Then　you've　made　a　mistake；〃　said　Miss　Wilson；　handing　him　back
his　money。　〃Here。　If　it　is　not　yours；　it　is　not　ours；　so　you　had
better　keep　it。〃

〃Keep　it！　Oh；　lady；　but　this　is　the　heighth　of　nobility！　And　what
shall　I　do　to　earn　your　bounty；　lady？〃

〃It　is　not　my　bounty：　I　give　it　to　you　because　it　does　not　belong
to　me；　and；　I　suppose；　must　belong　to　you。　You　seem　to　be　a　very
simple　man。〃

〃I　thank　your　ladyship；　I　hope　I　am。　Respecting　the　day's　work；
now；　lady；　was　you　thinking　of　employing　a　poor　man　at　all？〃

〃No；　thank　you；　I　have　no　occasion　for　your　services。　I　have　also
to　give　you　the　shilling　I　promised　you　for　getting　the　cabs。
Here　it　is。〃

〃Another　shillin'！〃　cried　Smilash；　stupefied。

〃Yes；〃　said　Miss　Wilson；　beginning　to　feel　very　angry。　〃Let　me
hear　no　more　about　it；　please。　Don't　you　understand　that　you　have
earned　it？〃

〃I　am　a　common　man；　and　understand　next　to　nothing；〃　he　replied
reverently。　〃But　if　your　ladyship　would　give　me　a　day's　work　to
keep　me　goin'；　I　could　put　up　all　this　money　in　a　little　wooden
savings　bank　I　have　at　home；　and　keep　it　to　spend　when　sickness
or　odd　age　shall；　in　a　manner　of　speaking；　lay　their　'ends　upon
me。　I　could　smooth　that　grass　beautiful；　them　young　ladies　'll
strain　themselves　with　that　heavy　roller。　If　tennis　is　the　word；
I　can　put　up　nets　fit　to　catch　birds　of　paradise　in。　If　the
courts　is　to　be　chalked　out　in　white；　I　can　draw　a　line　so
straight　that　you　could　hardly　keep　yourself　from　erecting　an
equilateral　triangle　on　it。　I　am　honest　when　well　watched；　and　I
can　wait　at　table　equal　to　the　Lord　Mayor　o'　London's　butler。〃

〃I　cannot　employ　you　without　a　character；〃　said　Miss　Wilson；
amused　by　his　scrap　of　Euclid；　and　wondering　where　he　had　picked
it　up。

〃I　bear　the　best　of　characters；　lady。　The　reverend　rector　has
known　me　from　a　boy。〃

〃I　was　speaking　to　him　about　you　yesterday；〃　said　Miss　Wilson；
looking　hard　at　him；　〃and　he　says　you　are　a　perfect　stranger　to
him。〃

〃Gentlemen　is　so　forgetful；〃　said　Smilash　sadly。　〃But　I　alluded
to　my　native　rectormeaning　the　rector　of　my　native　village；
Auburn。　'Sweet　Auburn；　loveliest　village　of　the　plain；'　as　the
gentleman　called　it。〃

〃That　was　not　the　name　you　mentioned　to　Mr。　Fairholme。　I　do　not
recollect　what　name　you　gave；　but　it　was　not　Auburn；　nor　have　I
ever　heard　of　any　such　place。〃

〃Never　read　of　sweet　Auburn！〃

〃Not　in　any　geography　or　gazetteer。　Do　you　recollect　telling　me
that　you　have　been　in　prison？〃

〃Only　six　times；〃　pleaded　Smilash；　his　features　working
convulsively。　〃Don't　bear　too　hard　on　a　common　man。　Only　six
times；　and　all　through　drink。　But　I　have　took　the　pledge；　and
kep'　it　faithful　for　eighteen　months　past。〃

Miss　Wilson　now　set　down　the　man　as　one　of　those　keen；
half…witted　country　fellows；　contemptuously　styled　originals；　who
unintentionally　make　themselves　popular　by　flattering　the　sense
of　sanity　in　those　whose　faculties　are　better　adapted　to
circumstances。

〃You　have　a　bad　memory；　Mr。　Smilash；〃　she　said　good…humoredly。
〃You　never　give　the　same　account　of　yourself　twice。〃

〃I　am　well　aware　that　I　do　not　express　myself　with　exactability。
Ladies　and　gentlemen　have　that　power　over　words　that　they　can
always　say　what　they　mean；　but　a　common　man　like　me　can't。　Words
don't　come　natural　to　him。　He　has　more　thoughts　than　words；　and
what　words　he　has　don't　fit　his　thoughts。　Might　I　take　a　turn
with　the　roller；　and　make　myself　useful　about　the　place　until
nightfall；　for　ninepence？〃

Miss　Wilson；　who　was　expecting　more　than　her　usual　Saturday
visitors；　considered　the　proposition　and　assented。　〃And
remember；〃　she　said；　〃that　as　you　are　a　stranger　here；　your
character　in　Lyvern　depends　upon　the　use　you　make　of　this
opportunity。〃

〃I　am　grateful　to　your　noble　ladyship。　May　your　ladyship's
goodness　sew　up　the　hole　which　is　in　the　pocket　where　I　carry　my
character；　and　which　has　caused　me　to　lose　it　so　frequent。　It's　a
bad　place　for　men　to　keep　their　characters　in；　but　such　is　the
fashion。　And　so　hurray　for　the　glorious　nineteenth　century！〃

He　took　off　his　coat；　seized　the　roller；　and　began　to　pull　it
with　an　energy　foreign　to　the　measured　millhorse　manner　of　the
accustomed　laborer。　Miss　Wilson　looked　doubtfully　at　him；　but；
being　in　haste；　went　indoors　without　further　comment。　The　girls
mistrusting　his　eccentricity；　kept　aloof。　Agatha　determined　to
have　another　and　better　look　at　him。　Racket　in　hand；　she　walked
slowly　across　the　grass　and　came　close　to　him　just　as　he；　unaware
of　her　approach；　uttered　a　groan　of　exhaustion　and　sat　down　to
rest。

〃Tired　already；　Mr。　Smilash？〃　she　said　mockingly。

He　looked　up　deliberately；　took　off　one　of　his　washleather
gloves；　fanned　himself　with　it；　displaying　a　white　and　fine　hand；
and　at　last　replied；　in　the　tone　and　with　the　accent　of　a
gentleman：

〃Very。〃

Agatha　recoiled。　He　fanned　himself　without　the　least　concern。

〃Youyou　are　not　a　laborer；〃　she　said　at　last。

〃Obviously　not。〃

〃I　thought　not。〃

He　nodded。

〃Suppose　I　tell　on　you；〃　she　said；　growing　bolder　as　she
recollected　that　she　was　not　alone　with　him。

〃If　you　do　I　shall　get　out　of　it　just　as　I　got　out　of　the
half…crowns；　and　Miss　Wilson　will　begin　to　think　that　you　are
mad。〃

〃Then　I　really　did　not　give　you　the　seven　and　sixpence；〃　she
said；　relieved。

〃What　is　your　own　opinion？〃　he　answered；　taking　three　pennies
from　his　pocket；　jingling　them　in　his　palm。　〃What　is　your　name？〃

〃I　shall　not　tell　you；〃　said　Agatha　with　dignity。

He　shrugged　his　shoulders。　〃Perhaps　you　are　right；〃　he　said。　〃I
would　not　tell　you　mine　if　you　asked　me。〃

〃I　have　not　the　slightest　intention　of　asking　you。〃

〃No？　Then　Smilash　shall　do　for　you；　and　Agatha　will　do　for　me。〃

〃You　had　better　take　care。〃

〃Of　what？〃

〃Of　what　you　say；　andare　you　not　afraid　of　being　found　out？〃

〃I　am　found　out　alreadyby　you；　and　I　am　none　the　worse。〃

〃Suppose　the　police　find　you　out！〃

〃Not　they。　Besides；　I　am　not　hiding　from　the　police。　I　have　a
right　to　wear　corduroy　if　I　prefer　it　to　broadcloth。　Consider　the
advantages　of　it！　It　has　procured　me　admission　to　Alton　College；
and　the　pleasure　of　your　acquain