an unsocial socialist-第28部分

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！


half　infantile　loveliness　which　smote　even　grave　men　with　a
desire　to　clasp　her　in　their　arms　and　kiss　her。　This　desire　had
scattered　the　desultory　intellectual　culture　of　Sir　Charles　at
first　sight。　His　imagination　invested　her　with　the　taste　for　the
fine　arts　which　ho　required　from　a　wife；　and　he　married　her　in
her　first　season；　only　to　discover　that　the　amativeness　in　her
temperament　was　so　little　and　languid　that　she　made　all　his
attempts　at　fondness　ridiculous；　and　robbed　the　caresses　for
which　he　had　longed　of　all　their　anticipated　ecstasy。
Intellectually　she　fell　still　further　short　of　his　hopes。　She
looked　upon　his　favorite　art　of　painting　as　a　pastime　for　amateur
and　a　branch　of　the　house…furnishing　trade　for　professional
artists。　When　he　was　discussing　it　among　his　friends；　she　would
offer　her　opinion　with　a　presumption　which　was　the　more　trying　as
she　frequently　blundered　upon　a　sound　conclusion　whilst　he　was
reasoning　his　way　to　a　hollow　one　with　his　utmost　subtlety　and
seriousness。　On　such　occasions　his　disgust　did　not　trouble　her　in
the　least；　she　triumphed　in　it。　She　had　concluded　that　marriage
was　a　greater　folly；　and　men　greater　fools；　than　she　had
supposed；　but　such　beliefs　rather　lightened　her　sense　of
responsibility　than　disappointed　her；　and；　as　she　had　plenty　of
money；　plenty　of　servants；　plenty　of　visitors；　and　plenty　of
exercise　on　horseback；　of　which　she　was　immoderately　fond；　her
time　passed　pleasantly　enough。　Comfort　seemed　to　her　the　natural
order　of　life；　trouble　always　surprised　her。　Her　husband's
friends；　who　mistrusted　every　future　hour；　and　found　matter　for
bitter　reflection　in　many　past　ones；　were　to　her　only　examples　of
the　power　of　sedentary　habits　and　excessive　reading　to　make　men
tripped　and　dull。

One　fine　May　morning；　as　she　cantered　along　the　avenue　at　Brandon
Beeches　on　a　powerful　bay　horse；　the　gates　at　the　end　opened　and
a　young　man　sped　through　them　on　a　bicycle。　He　was　of　slight
frame；　with　fine　dark　eyes　and　delicate　nostrils。　When　he
recognized　Lady　Brandon　he　waved　his　cap；　and　when　they　met　he
sprang　from　his　inanimate　steed；　at　which　the　bay　horse　shied。

〃Don't；　you　silly　beast！〃　she　cried；　whacking　the　animal　with　the
butt　of　her　whip。　〃Though　it's　natural　enough；　goodness　knows！
How　d'ye　do？　The　idea　of　anyone　rich　enough　to　afford　a　horse
riding　on　a　wheel　like　that！〃　

〃But　I　am　not　rich　enough　to　afford　a　horse；〃　he　said；
approaching　her　to　pat　the　bay；　having　placed　the　bicycle　against
a　tree。　〃Besides；　I　am　afraid　of　horses；　not　being　accustomed　to
them；　and　I　know　nothing　about　feeding　them。　My　steed　needs　no
food。　He　doesn't　bite　nor　kick。　He　never　goes　lame；　nor　sickens；
nor　dies；　nor　needs　a　groom；　nor〃

〃That's　all　bosh；〃　said　Lady　Brandon　impetuously。　〃It　stumbles；
and　gives　you　the　most　awful　tosses；　and　it　goes　lame　by　its
treadles　and　thingamejigs　coming　off；　and　it　wears　out；　and　is
twice　as　much　trouble　to　keep　clean　and　scrape　the　mud　off　as　a
horse；　and　all　sorts　of　things。　I　think　the　most　ridiculous　sight
in　the　world　is　a　man　on　a　bicycle；　working　away　with　his　feet　as
hard　as　he　possibly　can；　and　believing　that　his　horse　is　carrying
him　instead　of；　as　anyone　can　see；　he　carrying　the　horse。　You
needn't　tell　me　that　it　isn't　easier　to　walk　in　the　ordinary　way
than　to　drag　a　great　dead　iron　thing　along　with　you。　It's　not
good　sense。〃

〃Nevertheless　I　can　carry　it　a　hundred　miles　further　in　a　day
than　I　can　carry　myself　alone。　Such　are　the　marvels　of　machinery。
But　I　know　that　we　cut　a　very　poor　figure　beside　you　and　that
magnificent　creature　not　that　anyone　will　look　at　me　whilst　you
are　by　to　occupy　their　attention　so　much　more　worthily。〃

She　darted　a　glance　at　him　which　clouded　his　vision　and　made　his
heart　beat　more　strongly。　This　was　an　old　habit　of　hers。　She　kept
it　up　from　love　of　fun；　having　no　idea　of　the　effect　it　produced
on　more　ardent　temperaments　than　her　own。　He　continued　hastily：

〃Is　Sir　Charles　within　doors？〃

〃Oh；　it's　the　most　ridiculous　thing　I　ever　heard　of　in　my　life；〃
she　exclaimed。　〃A　man　that　lives　by　himself　in　a　place　down　by
the　Riverside　Road　like　a　toy　savings　bankdon't　you　know　the
things　I　mean？called　Sallust's　House；　says　there　is　a　right　of
way　through　our　new　pleasure　ground。　As　if　anyone　could　have　any
right　there　after　all　the　money　we　have　spent　fencing　it　on　three
sides；　and　building　up　the　wall　by　the　road；　and　levelling；　and
planting；　and　draining；　and　goodness　knows　what　else！　And　now　the
man　says　that　all　the　common　people　and　tramps　in　the
neighborhood　have　a　right　to　walk　across　it　because　they　are　too
lazy　to　go　round　by　the　road。　Sir　Charles　has　gone　to　see　the　man
about　it。　Of　course　he　wouldn't　do　as　I　wanted　him。〃

〃What　was　that？〃

〃Write　to　tell　the　man　to　mind　his　own　business；　and　to　say　that
the　first　person　we　found　attempting　to　trespass　on　our　property
should　be　given　to　the　police。〃

〃Then　I　shall　find　no　one　at　home。　I　beg　your　pardon　for　calling
it　so；　but　it　is　the　only　place　like　home　to　me。〃

〃Yes；　it　is　so　comfortable　since　we　built　the　billiard　room　and
took　away　those　nasty　hangings　in　the　hall。　I　was　ever　so　long
trying　to　per〃

She　was　interrupted　by　an　old　laborer；　who　hobbled　up　as　fast　as
his　rheumatism　would　allow　him；　and　began　to　speak　without
further　ceremony　than　snatching　off　his　cap。

〃Th'ave　coom　to　the　noo　groups；　my　lady；　crowds　of　'em。　An'　a
parson　with　'em；　an'　a　flag！　Sur　Chorles　he　don't　know　what　to
say；　an'　sooch　doin's　never　was。〃

Lady　Brandon　turned　pale　and　pulled　at　her　horse　as　if　to　back
him　out　of　some　danger。　Her　visitor；　puzzled；　asked　the　old　man
what　he　meant。

〃There's　goin'　to　be　a　proceyshon　through　the　noo　groups；〃　he
replied；　〃an'　the　master　can't　stop　'em。　Th'ave　throon　down　the
wall；　three　yards　of　it　is　lyin'　on　Riverside　Road。　An'　there's　a
parson　with　'em；　and　a　flag。　An'　him　that　lives　in　Sallust's
hoos；　he's　there；　hoddin''em　on。〃

〃Thrown　down　the　wall！〃　exclaimed　Lady　Brandon；　scarlet　with
indignation　and　pale　with　apprehension　by　turns。　〃What　a
disgraceful　thing！　Where　are　the　police？　Chester；　will　you　come
with　me　and　see　what　they　are　doing？　Sir　Charles　is　no　use。　Do
you　think　there　is　any　danger？〃

〃There's　two　police；〃　said　the　old　man；　〃an'　him　that　lives　at
Sallust's　dar'd　them　stop　him。　They're　lookin'　on。　An'　there's　a
parson　among　'em。　I　see　him　pullin'　away　at　the　wall　with　his　own
han's。〃

〃I　will　go　and　see　the　fun；〃　said　Chester。

Lady　Brandon　hesitated。　But　her　anger　and　curiosity　vanquished
her　fears。　She　overtook　the　bicycle；　and　they　went　together
through　the　gates　and　by　the　highroad　to　the　scene　the　old　man
had　described。　A　heap　of　bricks　and　mortar　lay　in　the　roadway　on
each　side　of　a　breach　in　the　newly　built　wall；　over　which　Lady
Brandon；　from　her　eminence　on　horseback；　could　see；　coming
towards　her　across　the　pleasure　ground；　a　column　of　about　thirty
persons。　They　marched　three　abreast　in　good　order　and　in　silence；
the　expression　of　all　except　a　few　mirthful　faces　being　that　of
devotees　fulfilling　a　rite。　The　gravity　of　the　procession　was
deepened　by　the　appearance　of　a　clergyman　in　its　ranks；　which
were　composed　of　men　of　the　middle　class；　and　a　few　workmen
carrying　a　banner　inscribed　THE　SOIL　or　ENGLAND　THE　BIRTHRIGHT　OF
ALL　HER　PEOPLE。　There　were　also　four　women；　upon　whom　Lady
Brandon　looked　with　intense　indignation　and　contempt。　None　of　the
men　of　the　neighborhood　had　dared　to　join；　they　stood　in　the　road
whispering；　and　occasionally　venturing　to　laugh　at　the　jests　of　a
couple　of　tramps　who　had　stopped　to　see　the　fun；　and　who　cared
nothing　for　Sir　Charles。

He；　standing　a　little　way　within　the　field；　was　remonstrating
angrily　with　a　man　of　his　own　class；　who　stood　with　his　back　to
the　breach　and　his　hands　in　the　pockets　of　his　snuff…colored
clothes；　contemplating　the　procession　with　elate　satisfaction。
Lady　Brandon；　at　once　suspecting　that　this　was　the　man　from
Sallust's　House；　and　encouraged　by　the　loyalty　of　the　crowd；　most
of　whom　made　way　for　her　and　touched　their　hats；　hit　the　bay
horse　smartly　with　her　whip　and　rode　him；　with　a　clatter　of　hoofs
and　scattering　of　clods；　right　at　the　snuff…colored　enemy；　who
had　to　spring　hastily　aside　to　avoid　her。　There　was　a　roar　of
laughter　from　the　roadway；　and　the　man　turned　sharply　on　her。　But
he　suddenly　smiled　affably；　replaced　his　hands　in　his　pockets
after　raising　his　hat；　and　said：

〃How　do　you　do；　Miss　Carpenter？　I　thought　you　were　a　charge　of
cavalry。〃

〃I　am　not　Miss　Carpenter；　I　am　Lady　Brandon；　and　you　ought　to　be
ashamed　of　yourself；　Mr。　Smilash；　if　it　is　you　that　have　brought
these　disgraceful　people　here。〃

His　eyes　as　he　replied　were　eloquent　with　reproach　to　her　for
being　no　longer　Miss　Carpenter。　〃I　am　not　Smilash；〃　he　said；　〃I
am　Sidney　Trefusis。　I　have　just　had　the　pleasure　of　meeting　Sir
Charles　for　the　first　time；　and　we　shall　be　the　best　friends
possible　when　I　have　convinced　him　that　it　is　hardly　fair　to
seize　on　a　path　belonging　to　the　people　and　compel　them　to　walk　a
mile　and　a　half　round　his　estate　instead　of　four　hundred　yards
between　two　portions　of　it。〃　

〃I　have　already　told　you；　sir；〃　said　Sir　Charles；　〃that　I　intend
to　open　a　still　shorter　path；　and　to　allow　all　the　well…conducted
work…people　to　pass　through　twice　a　day。　This　will　enable　them　to
go　to　their　work　and　return　from　it；　and　I　will　be　at　the　cost　of
keeping　the　path　in　repair。〃

〃Thank　you；〃　said　Trefusis　drily；　〃but　why　should　we　trouble　you
when　we　have　a　path　of　our　own　to　use　fifty　times　a　day　if　we
choose；　without　any　man　barring　our　way　until　our　conduct　happens
to　please　him？　Besides；　your　next　heir　would　probably　shut　the
path　up　the　moment　he　came　into　possession。〃

〃Offering　them　a　path　is　just　what　makes　them　impudent；〃　said
Lady　Brandon　to　her　husband。　〃Why　did　you　promise　them　anything？
They　would　not　think　it　a　hardship　to　walk　a　mile　and　a　half；　or
twenty　miles；　to　a　public…house；　but　when　they　go　to　their　work
they　think　it　dreadful　to　have　to　walk　a　yard。　Perhaps　they　would
like　us　to　lend　them　the　wagonette　to　drive　in？〃

〃I　have　no　doubt　they　would；〃　said　Trefusis；　beaming　at　her