jeremy-第51章
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he did was to encourage Jeremy's independence； and this was done； in
the first place； by the walks to and fro。
He had only been going to Mr。 Somerset's a day or two when the
announcements of the Fair appeared on the walls of the town。 He
could not help but see them； there was a large cue on the boarding
half…way down Orange Street； just opposite the Doctor's； a poster
with a coloured picture of 〃Wombwell's Circus；〃 a fine affair； with
spangled ladies jumping through hoops； elephants sitting on stools；
tigers prowling； a clown cracking a whip； and； best of all； a
gentleman； with an anxious face and a scanty but elegant costume；
balanced above a gazing multitude on a tight…rope。 There was also a
bill of the Fair setting forth that there would be a 〃Cattle Market；
Races； Roundabout； Swings； Wrestling； Boxing； Fat Women； Dwarfs； and
the Two…Headed Giant from the Caucasus。〃 During a whole week； once a
day； Jeremy read this bill from the top to the bottom； at the end of
the week he could repeat it all by heart。
He asked Mr。 Somerset whether he was going。
〃Oh； I shall slip along one evening； I've no doubt；〃 replied that
gentleman。 〃But it's a borea whole week of itupsets one's work。〃
〃It needn't；〃 said Jeremy； 〃if you stay indoors。〃
This amused Mr。 Somerset immensely。 He laughed a great deal。
〃We always have to；〃 said Jeremy； rather hurt。 〃We're not allowed
farther than the garden。〃
〃Ah； but I'm older than you are；〃 said Mr。 Somerset。 〃It was the
same with me once。〃
〃And what did you do？ Did you go all the same？〃
〃You bet； I did；〃 said the red…faced hero； more intent on his
reminiscences than on the effect that this might have on the morals
of his pupil。
Jeremy waited then for the parental command that was always issued。
It was： 〃Now； children； you must promise me never to go outside the
house this week unless you have asked permission first。〃 And then：
〃And on no account to speak to any stranger about anything
whatever。〃 And then： 〃Don't look out of the back windows； mind。〃
（From the extreme corners of the bedroom windows you could see a
patch of the meadow whereon the gipsy…vans settled。） These commands
had been as regular as the Fair； and always； of course； the children
had promised obedience。 Jeremy told his conscience that if； this
year； he gave his promise； he would certainly keep it。 He wondered；
at the same time； whether he might not possibly manage to be out of
the house when the commands were issued。 He formed a habit of
suddenly slipping out of the room when he saw his father's mouth
assuming the shape of a 〃command。〃 He took the utmost care not to be
alone with his father。
But he need not have been alarmed。 This year no command appeared。
Perhaps Mr。 Cole thought that it was no longer necessary； it was
obvious that the children were not to go； and they were； after all；
old enough now to think for themselves。 Or； perhaps； it was that Mr。
Cole had other things on his mind； he was changing curates just
then； and a succession of white…faced； soft…voiced； and loud…booted
young men were appearing at the Coles' hospitable table。
〃Here's this tiresome Fair come round again；〃 said Mrs。 Cole。
〃Wicked！〃 said Aunt Amy； with an envious shudder。 〃Satan finds work；
indeed； in this town。〃
〃I don't suppose it's worse than anywhere else；〃 said Mrs。 Cole。
On the late afternoon of the day before the opening； Jeremy； on his
way to Mr。 Somerset's； caught the tailend of Wombwell's Circus
Procession moving； in misty splendour； across the market。
He could see but little； although he stood on the pedestal of a
lamp…post； but Britannia； rocking high in the air； flashing her
silver sceptre in the evening air； and followed by two enormous and
melancholy elephants； caught his gaze。 Strains of a band lingered
about him。 He entered Mr。 Somerset's in a frenzy of excitement； but
he said nothing。 He felt that Mr。 Somerset would laugh at him。
He returned to his home that night haunted by Britannia。 He ate
Britannia for his supper； he had Britannia for his dreams； and he
greeted Rose as Britannia the next morning when she called him。
Early upon that day there were borne into the heart of the house
strains of the Fair。 It was no use whatever to close the windows；
lock the doors； and read Divinity。 The strains persisted； a heavenly
murmur； rising at moments into a muffled shriek or a jumbling shout；
hanging about the walls as a romantic echo； dying upon the air a
chastened wail。 〃No use for Mr。 Cole to say：
〃We must behave as though the Fair was not。〃
For a whole week it would be there； and everyone knew it。
Jeremy did not mean to be disobedient； but after that glimpse of
Britannia he knew that he would go。
III
It had； at first； been thought advisable that Jeremy should not go
to Mr。 Somerset's during Fair Week。 Perhaps Mr。 Somerset could come
to the Coles'。 No； he was very sorry。 He must be in his rooms at
that particular hour in case parishioners should need his advice or
assistance。
〃Pity for him to miss all this week； especially as there will be
only four days left after that。 I am really anxious for him to have
a little grounding in Latin。〃
Mrs。 Cole smiled confidently。 〃I think Jeremy is to be trusted。 He
would never do anything that you wouldn't like。〃
Mr。 Cole was not so sure。 〃He's not quite so obedient as I should
wish。 He shows an independence〃
However； after some hesitation it was decided that Jeremy might be
trusted。
But even after that he was never put upon his honour。 〃If I don't
promise； I needn't mind；〃 he said to himself； and waited
breathlessly； but nothing came。 Only Aunt Amy said：
〃I hope you don't speak to little boys in the street； Jeremy。〃 To
which he replied scornfully： 〃Of course not。〃
He investigated his money…box； removing the top with a tin…opener。
He found that he had there 3s。 3 1/2d。； a large sum； and enough to
give him a royal time。
Mary caught him。
〃Oh； Jeremy； what are you doing？〃
〃Just counting my money；〃 he said； with would…be carelessness。
〃You're going to the Fair？〃 she whispered breathlessly。
He frowned。 How could she know？ She always knew everything。
〃Perhaps；〃 he whispered back； 〃but if you tell anyone I'll〃
〃Of course I wouldn't tell；〃 she replied； deeply offended。
This little conversation strengthened his purpose。 He had not
admitted to himself that he was really going。 Now he knew。
Wednesday would be the night。 On Wednesday evenings his father had a
service which prevented him from returning home until half…past
eight。 He would go to Somerset's at half…past four； and would he
expected home at half…past six； there would be no real alarm about
him until his father's return from church； and he could； therefore；
be sure of two hours' bliss。 For the consequences he did not care at
all。 He was going to do no harm to anyone or anything。 They would be
angry； perhaps； but that would not hurt him； and； in any case； he
was going to school next week。 No one at school would mind whether
he had been to the Fair or no。
He felt aloof and apart； as though no one could touch him。 He would
not have minded simply going into them all and saying： 〃I'm off to
the Fair。〃 The obvious drawback to that would have been that he
would have been shut up in his room； and then they might make him
give his word 。 。 。 He would not break any promises。
When Wednesday came it was a lovely day。 Out in the field just
behind the Coles' house they were burning a huge bonfire of dead
leaves。 At first only a heavy column of grey smoke rose； then flames
broke through； little； thin golden flames like paper； then a sudden
fierce red tongue shot out and went licking up into the air until it
faded like tumbling water against the sunlight。 On the outer edge of
the bonfire there was thin grey smoke through which you could see as
through glass。 The smell was heavenly； and even through closed
windows the crackling of the burnt leaves could be heard。 The sight
of the bonfire excited Jeremy。 It seemed to him a signal of
encouragement； a spur to perseverance。 All the morning the flames
crackled； and men came with wheelbarrows full of leaves and emptied
them in
