an unsocial socialist-第7部分

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with　Jane；　and　finally　at　Smilash；　who　knuckled　his　forehead
without　waiting　to　be　addressed。

〃Have　you　a　boy　whom　you　can　send　to　Lyvern　to　get　us　a
conveyancea　carriage？　I　will　give　him　a　shilling　for　his
trouble。〃

〃A　shilling！〃　said　Smilash　joyfully。　〃Your　ladyship　is　a　noble
lady。　Two　four…wheeled　cabs。　There's　eight　on　you。〃

〃There　is　only　one　cab　in　Lyvern；〃　said　Miss　Wilson。　〃Take　this
card　to　Mr。　Marsh；　the　jotmaster；　and　tell　him　the　predicament　we
are　in。　He　will　send　vehicles。〃

Smilash　took　the　card　and　read　it　at　a　glance。　He　then　went　into
the　chalet。　Reappearing　presently　in　a　sou'wester　and　oilskins；
he　ran　off　through　the　rain　and　vaulted　over　the　gate　with
ridiculous　elegance。　No　sooner　had　he　vanished　than；　as　often
happens　to　remarkable　men；　he　became　the　subject　of　conversation。

〃A　decent　workman；〃　said　Josephs。　〃A　well…mannered　man；
considering　his　class。〃

〃A　born　fool；　though；〃　said　Fairholme。

〃Or　a　rogue；〃　said　Agatha；　emphasizing　the　suggestion　by　a
glitter　of　her　eyes　and　teeth；　whilst　her　schoolfellows；　rather
disapproving　of　her　freedom；　stood　stiffly　dumb。　〃He　told　Miss
Wilson　that　he　had　a　sister；　and　that　he　had　been　to　church　last
Sunday；　and　he　has　just　told　you　that　he　is　a　foundling；　and　that
he　only　came　last　Wednesday。　His　accent　is　put　on；　and　he　can
read；　and　I　don't　believe　he　is　a　workman　at　all。　Perhaps　he　is　a
burglar；　come　down　to　steal　the　college　plate。〃

〃Agatha；〃　said　Miss　Wilson　gravely；　〃you　must　be　very　careful　how
you　say　things　of　that　kind。〃

〃But　it　is　so　obvious。　His　explanation　about　the　umbrella　was
made　up　to　disarm　suspicion。　He　handled　it　and　leaned　on　it　in　a
way　that　showed　how　much　more　familiar　it　was　to　him　than　that
new　spade　he　was　so　anxious　about。　And　all　his　clothes　are　new。〃

〃True；〃　said　Fairholme；　〃but　there　is　not　much　in　all　that。
Workmen　nowadays　ape　gentlemen　in　everything。　However；　I　will
keep　an　eye　on　him。〃

〃Oh；　thank　you　so　much；〃　said　Agatha。　Fairholme；　suspecting
mockery；　frowned；　and　Miss　Wilson　looked　severely　at　the　mocker。
Little　more　was　said；　except　as　to　the　chancesmanifestly
smallof　the　rain　ceasing；　until　the　tops　of　a　cab；　a　decayed
mourning　coach；　and　three　dripping　hats　were　seen　over　the　hedge。
Smilash　sat　on　the　box　of　the　coach；　beside　the　driver。　When　it
stopped；　he　alighted；　re…entered　the　chalet　without　speaking；
came　out　with　the　umbrella；　spread　it　above　Miss　Wilson's　head；
and　said：

〃Now；　if　your　ladyship　will　come　with　me；　I　will　see　you　dry　into
the　stray；　and　then　I'll　bring　your　honored　nieces　one　by　one。〃

〃I　shall　come　last；〃　said　Miss　Wilson；　irritated　by　his
assumption　that　the　party　was　a　family　one。　〃Gertrude；　you　had
better　go　first。〃

〃Allow　me；〃　said　Fairholme；　stepping　forward；　and　attempting　to
take　the　umbrella。

〃Thank　you；　I　shall　not　trouble　you；〃　she　said　frostily；　and
tripped　away　over　the　oozing　field　with　Smilash；　who　held　the
umbrella　over　her　with　ostentatious　solicitude。　In　the　same
manner　he　led　the　rest　to　the　vehicles；　in　which　they　packed
themselves　with　some　difficulty。　Agatha；　who　came　last　but　one；
gave　him　threepence。

〃You　have　a　noble　'art　and　an　expressive　hi；　Miss；〃　he　said；
apparently　much　moved。　〃Blessings　on　both！　Blessings　on　both！〃

He　went　back　for　Jane；　who　slipped　on　the　wet　grass　and　fell。　He
had　to　put　forth　his　strength　as　he　helped　her　to　rise。　〃Hope　you
ain't　sopped　up　much　of　the　rainfall；　Miss；〃　he　said。　〃You　are　a
fine　young　lady　for　your　age。　Nigh　on　twelve　stone；　I　should
think。〃

She　reddened　and　hurried　to　the　cab；　where　Agatha　was。　But　it　was
full；　and　Jane；　much　against　her　will；　had　to　get　into　the　coach；
considerably　diminishing　the　space　left　for　Miss　Wilson；　to　whom
Smilash　had　returned。

〃Now；　dear　lady；〃　he　said；　〃take　care　you　don't　slip。　Come
along。〃

Miss　Wilson；　ignoring　the　invitation；　took　a　shilling　from　her
purse。

〃No；　lady；〃　said　Smilash　with　a　virtuous　air。　〃I　am　an　honest　man
and　have　never　seen　the　inside　of　a　jail　except　four　times；　and
only　twice　for　stealing。　Your　youngest　daughterher　with　the
expressive　hihave　paid　me　far　beyond　what　is　proper。〃

〃I　have　told　you　that　these　young　ladies　are　not　my　daughters；〃
said　Miss　Wilson　sharply。　〃Why　do　you　not　listen　to　what　is　said
to　you？〃

〃Don't　be　too　hard　on　a　common　man；　lady；〃　said　Smilash
submissively。　〃The　young　lady　have　just　given　me　three
'arf…crowns。〃

〃Three　half…crowns！〃　exclaimed　Miss　Wilson；　angered　at　such
extravagance。

〃Bless　her　innocence；　she　don't　know　what　is　proper　to　give　to　a
low　sort　like　me！　But　I　will　not　rob　the　young　lady。　'Arf…a…crown
is　no　more　nor　is　fair　for　the　job；　and　arf…a…crown　will　I　keep；
if　agreeable　to　your　noble　ladyship。　But　I　give　you　back　the　five
bob　in　trust　for　her。　Have　you　ever　noticed　her　expressive　hi？〃

〃Nonsense；　sir。　You　had　better　keep　the　money　now　that　you　have
got　it。〃

〃Wot！　Sell　for　five　bob　the　high　opinion　your　ladyship　has　of　me！
No；　dear　lady；　not　likely。　My　father's　very　last　words　to　me
was〃

〃You　said　just　now　that　you　were　a　foundling；〃　said　Fairholme。
〃What　are　we　to　believe？　Eh？〃

〃So　I　were；　sir；　but　by　mother's　side　alone。　Her　ladyship　will
please　to　take　back　the　money；　for　keep　it　I　will　not。　I　am　of
the　lower　orders；　and　therefore　not　a　man　of　my　word；　but　when　I
do　stick　to　it；　I　stick　like　wax。〃

〃Take　it；〃　said　Fairholme　to　Miss　Wilson。　〃Take　it；　of　course。
Seven　and　sixpence　is　a　ridiculous　sum　to　give　him　for　what　he
has　done。　It　would　only　set　him　drinking。〃

〃His　reverence　says　true；　lady。　The　one　'arfcrown　will　keep　me
comfortably　tight　until　Sunday　morning；　and　more　I　do　not
desire。〃

〃Just　a　little　less　of　your　tongue；　my　man；〃　said　Fairholme；
taking　the　two　coins　from　him　and　handing　them　to　Miss　Wilson；
who　bade　the　clergymen　good　afternoon；　and　went　to　the　coach
under　the　umbrella。

〃If　your　ladyship　should　want　a　handy　man　to　do　an　odd　job　up　at
the　college　I　hope　you　will　remember　me；〃　Smilash　said　as　they
went　down　the　slope。

〃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