jeremy-第42章
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〃Yes；〃 said Jeremy。
〃It was bought in London。 All my clothes are bought in London。〃
〃Mary's and Helen's aren't；〃 said Jeremy with some faint idea of
protecting his sisters。 〃They're bought in Polchester。〃
〃Mother says；〃 said Charlotte； 〃that if you're not pretty it doesn't
matter where you buy your clothes。〃
They arrived on the beach and stared about them。 It became at once a
great question as to where Mrs。 Le Page would sit。 She could not sit
on the sand which looked damp； nor equally； of course； on a rock
that was spiky and hard。 What to do with her？ She stood in the
middle of the beach； still holding up her skirts； gazing desperately
about her； looking first at one spot and then at another。
〃Oh； dear； the heat！〃 she exclaimed。 〃Is there no shade anywhere？
Perhaps in that farm…house over there。 。 。〃 It was probable enough
that no member of the Cole family would have minded banishing Mrs。
Le Page into the farmhouse； but it would have meant that the whole
party must accompany her。 That was impossible。 They had come for a
picnic and a picnic they would have。
Mrs。 Cole watched； with growing agitation； the whole situation。 She
saw from her husband's face that he was rapidly losing his temper；
and she had learnt； after many experiences； that when he lost his
temper he was capable of anything。 That does not mean； of course；
that he ever was angry to the extent of swearing or striking out
with his fistsno； he simply grew sadder； and sadder； and sadder；
and this melancholy had a way of reducing to despair all the people
with whom he happened to be at the time。
〃What does everyone say to our having lunch now？〃 cried Mrs。 Cole
cheerfully。 〃It's after one； and I'm sure everyone's hungry。〃
No one said anything； so preparations were begun。 A minute piece of
shade was found for Mrs。 Le Page； and here she sat on a flat piece
of rock with her skirts drawn close about her as though she were
afraid of rats or crabs。 A tablecloth was laid on the sand and the
provisions spread outpasties for everybody； egg…sandwiches； seed…
cake； and jam…puffsand ginger beer。 It looked a fine feast when it
was all there； and Mrs。 Cole； as she gave the final touch to it by
placing a drinking glass containing two red rose…buds in the middle；
felt proud of her efforts and hoped that after all the affair might
pass off bravely。 But alas； how easily the proudest plans fall to
the ground。
〃I hope； Alice； you haven't forgotten the salt！〃
Instantly Mrs。 Cole knew that she had forgotten it。 She could see
herself standing there in Mrs。 Monk's kitchen forgetting it。 How
could she？ And Mrs。 Monk； how could SHE？ It had never been forgotten
before。
〃Oh； no；〃 she said wildly。 〃Oh； no！ I'm sure I can't have forgotten
it。〃
She plunged about； her red face all creased with anxiety； her hat on
one side； her hands searching everywhere； under the tablecloth； in
the basket； amongst the knives and forks。
〃Jim； you haven't dropped anything？〃
〃No； mum。 Beggin' your pardon； mum； the basket was closed； so to
speakclosed it was。〃
No； she knew that she had forgotten it。
〃I'm so sorry； Mrs。 Le Page； I'm afraid〃
〃My dear Mrs。 Cole！ What does it matter？ Not in the least； I assure
you。 In this heat it's impossible to feel hungry； isn't it？ I assure
you I don't feel as though I could touch a thing。 A little fruit；
perhapsan apple or a peach〃
Fruit？ Why hadn't Mrs。 Cole brought fruit？ She might so easily have
done so； and she had never thought about it。 They themselves were
rather tired of fruit； and so
〃I'm afraid we've no fruit； but an egg…sandwich〃
〃Eggs need salt； don't you think？ Not that it matters in the very
least； but so that you shouldn't think me fussy。 Really； dear Mrs。
Cole； I never felt less hungry in my life。 Just a drop of milk and
I'm perfectly satisfied。〃
〃Jeremy shall run up to the farm for the milk。 You don't mind；
Jeremy dear； do you？ It's only a step。 Just take this sixpence；
dear； and say we'll send the jug back this afternoon if they'll
spare one。〃
Jeremy did mind。 He was enjoying his luncheon； and he was gazing at
Charlotte； and he was teasing Hamlet with scrapshe was very happy。
Nevertheless； he started off。
So soon as he left the sands the noise of the sea was shut off from
him； and he was climbing the little green path up which the Scarlet
Admiral had once stalked。
Suddenly he rememberedin his excitement about Charlotte he had
forgotten the Admiral。 He stood for a moment； listening。 The green
hedge shut off the noise of the seaonly above his head some birds
were twittering。 He fancied that he heard footsteps； then that
beyond the hedge something was moving。 It seemed to him that the
birds were also listening for something。 〃Well； it's the middle of
the afternoon； anyway。〃 He thought to himself； 〃He never comes
thereonly in the morning or evening；〃 but he hurried forward after
that； wishing that he had called to Hamlet to accompany him。 It was
a pleasant climb to the farm through the green orchard； and he found
at the farm door an agreeable woman who smiled at him when she gave
him the milk。 He had to come down the hill carefully； lest the milk
should be spilt。 He walked along very happily； humming to himself
and thinking in a confused summer afternoon kind of manner of
Charlotte； Hamlet； Mrs。 Le Page and himself。 〃Shall I give her the
thimble or shan't I？ I could take her to the pools where the little
crabs are。 She'd like them。 I wonder whether we're going to bathe。
Mrs。 Le Page will look funny bathing。 。 。〃 Then he was in the green
lane again； and at once his discomfort returned to him； and he
looked around his shoulder and into the hedges； and stopped once and
again to listen。 There was no sound。 The birds； it seemed； had all
fallen to sleep。 The hedges； he thought； were closer about him。 It
was very hot here； with no breeze and no comforting sound of the
sea。 〃I wonder whether he really does come；〃 he thought。 〃It must be
horrid to see himcoming quite close。〃 And the thought of the Fool
also frightened him。 The Fool with his tongue out and his shaking
legs； like the idiot who lived near the Cathedral at home。 At the
thought of this Jeremy suddenly took to his legs and ran； covering
the top of his jug with his hand； then； when he came out on to the
strip of grass that crossed the top of the beach； he stopped；
suddenly ashamed of himself。 Scarlet Admirals！ Scarlet Admirals！ How
could there be Scarlet Admirals in a world that also contained so
blazing a sun； so blue a sea； and the gorgeous realities of the Le
Page family。 He arrived at the luncheon party hot and proud and
smiling； so cheerful and stolid and agreeable that even Mrs。 Le Page
was compelled to say； 〃Really； Mrs。 Cole； that's a very nice little
boy of yours。 Come here； little Jeremy； and talk to me！〃 How deeply
he hated being called 〃little Jeremy〃 only Mary and Helen knew。
Their eyes flew to his face to see how he would take it。 He took it
very well。 He sat down beside Mrs。 Le Page； who very gracefully and
languidly sipped at her glass of milk。
〃How old are you； Jeremy dear？〃 she asked him。
〃Eight；〃 he answered； wriggling。
〃What a nice age！ And one day you'll go to school？〃
〃In September。〃
〃And what will you be when you're a man？〃
〃Oh； I don't know。 I'll be a soldier； perhaps。〃
〃Oh； I'm sure you wouldn't like to be a soldier and kill people。〃
〃Yes； I would。 There's lots of people I'd like to kill。〃
Mrs。 Le Page drew her skirts back a little。
〃How horrible！ I'm sure your mother wouldn't like to hear that。〃
But Mr。 Cole had caught the last words of the dialogue and
interrupted with：
〃But what could be finer； Mrs。 Le Page； than the defence of one's
country？ Would you have our young lads grow up faint…hearted and
fail their Motherland when she calls？ What can be finer； I say； than
to die for Queen and country？ Would not every mother have her son
shed his blood for liberty and freedom？ 。 。 。 No； Jeremy； not
another。 You've had quite enough。 It would indeed be a disheartening
sight if we elders were to watch our sons and grandchildren turning
their swords into ploughshares〃
He was interrupted by a shrill cry fr
