all roads lead to calvary-第16章

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〃Oh；〃　said　Miss　Tolley。　　〃And　were　there　any　children？〃

〃Only　two；〃　answered　the　Human　Document；　〃both　girls。〃

〃What　has　become　of　them？〃　persisted　Miss　Tolley。

The　Human　Document　looked　offended。　　〃You　do　not　think　I　would　have　permitted　any　power　on　earth　to　separate　them　from　me；　do　you？〃　she　answered。　　〃I　said　to　him；　'They　are　mine；　mine。　　Where　I　go；　they　go。　　Where　I　stay；　they　stay。'　　He　saw　the　justice　of　my　argument。〃

〃And　they　are　with　you　now？〃　concluded　Miss　Tolley。

〃You　must　come　and　see　them；〃　the　Human　Document　insisted。　　〃Such　dear；　magnetic　creatures。　　I　superintend　their　entire　education　myself。　　We　have　a　cottage　in　Surrey。　　It's　rather　a　tight　fit。　You　see；　there　are　seven　of　us　now。　　But　the　three　girls　can　easily　turn　in　together　for　a　night；　Abner　will　be　delighted。〃

〃Abner　is　your　second？〃　suggested　Miss　Tolley。

〃My　third；〃　the　Human　Document　corrected　her。　　〃After　Eustace；　I　married　Ivanoff。　　I　say　'married'　because　I　regard　it　as　the　holiest　form　of　marriage。　　He　had　to　return　to　his　own　country。　There　was　a　political　movement　on　foot。　　He　felt　it　his　duty　to　go。　I　want　you　particularly　to　meet　the　boy。　　He　will　interest　you。〃

Miss　Tolley　appeared　to　be　getting　muddled。　　〃Whose　boy？〃　she　demanded。

〃Ivanoff's；〃　explained　the　Human　Document。　　〃He　was　our　only　child。〃

Flossie　appeared；　towing　a　white…haired；　distinguished…looking　man；　a　Mr。　Folk。　　She　introduced　him　and　immediately　disappeared。　　Joan　wished　she　had　been　left　alone　a　little　longer。　　She　would　like　to　have　heard　more。　　Especially　was　she　curious　concerning　Abner；　the　lady's　third。　　Would　the　higher　moral　law　compel　him；　likewise；　to　leave　the　poor　lady　saddled　with　another　couple　of　children？　　Or　would　she；　on　this　occasion；　get　inor　rather；　get　off；　first？　Her　own　fancy　was　to　back　Abner。　　She　did　catch　just　one　sentence　before　Miss　Tolley；　having　obtained　more　food　for　reflection　than　perhaps　she　wanted；　signalled　to　her　secretary　that　the　note…book　might　be　closed。

〃Woman's　right　to　follow　the　dictates　of　her　own　heart；　uncontrolled　by　any　law；〃　the　Human　Document　was　insisting：　　〃That　is　one　of　the　first　things　we　must　fight　for。〃

Mr。　Folk　was　a　well…known　artist。　　He　lived　in　Paris。　　〃You　are　wonderfully　like　your　mother；〃　he　told　Joan。　　〃In　appearance；　I　mean；〃　he　added。　　〃I　knew　her　when　she　was　Miss　Caxton。　　I　acted　with　her　in　America。〃

Joan　made　a　swift　effort　to　hide　her　surprise。　　She　had　never　heard　of　her　mother　having　been　upon　the　stage。

〃I　did　not　know　that　you　had　been　an　actor；〃　she　answered。

〃I　wasn't　really；〃　explained　Mr。　Folk。　　〃I　just　walked　and　talked　naturally。　　It　made　rather　a　sensation　at　the　time。　　Your　mother　was　a　genius。　　You　have　never　thought　of　going　on　the　stage　yourself？〃

〃No；〃　said　Joan。　　〃I　don't　think　I've　got　what　you　call　the　artistic　temperament。　　I　have　never　felt　drawn　towards　anything　of　that　sort。〃

〃I　wonder；〃　he　said。　　〃You　could　hardly　be　your　mother's　daughter　without　it。〃

〃Tell　me；〃　said　Joan。　　〃What　was　my　mother　like？　　I　can　only　remember　her　as　more　or　less　of　an　invalid。〃

He　did　not　reply　to　her　question。　　〃Master　or　Mistress　Eminent　Artist；〃　he　said；　〃intends　to　retire　from　his　or　her　particular　stage；　whatever　it　may　be。　　That　paragraph　ought　always　to　be　put　among　the　obituary　notices。〃

〃What's　your　line？〃　he　asked　her。　　〃I　take　it　you　have　one　by　your　being　here。　　Besides；　I　am　sure　you　have。　　I　am　an　old　fighter。　　I　can　tell　the　young　soldier。　　What's　your　regiment？〃

Joan　laughed。　　〃I'm　a　drummer　boy；〃　she　answered。　　〃I　beat　my　drum　each　week　in　a　Sunday　newspaper；　hoping　the　lads　will　follow。〃

〃You　feel　you　must　beat　that　drum；〃　he　suggested。　　〃Beat　it　louder　and　louder　and　louder　till　all　the　world　shall　hear　it。〃

〃Yes；〃　Joan　agreed；　〃I　think　that　does　describe　me。〃

He　nodded。　　〃I　thought　you　were　an　artist；〃　he　said。　　〃Don't　let　them　ever　take　your　drum　away　from　you。　　You'll　go　to　pieces　and　get　into　mischief　without　it。〃

〃I　know　an　old　actress；〃　he　continued。　　〃She's　the　mother　of　four。　They　are　all　on　the　stage　and　they've　all　made　their　mark。　　The　youngest　was　born　in　her　dressing…room；　just　after　the　curtain　had　fallen。　　She　was　playing　the　Nurse　to　your　mother's　Juliet。　　She　is　still　the　best　Nurse　that　I　know。　　'Jack's　always　worrying　me　to　chuck　it　and　devote　myself　to　the　children；'　she　confided　to　me　one　evening；　while　she　was　waiting　for　her　cue。　　'But；　as　I　tell　him；　I'm　more　helpful　to　them　being　with　them　half　the　day　alive　than　all　the　day　dead。'　　That's　an　anecdote　worth　remembering；　when　your　time　comes。　　If　God　gives　woman　a　drum　he　doesn't　mean　man　to　take　it　away　from　her。　　She　hasn't　got　to　be　playing　it　for　twenty…four　hours　a　day。　　I'd　like　you　to　have　seen　your　mother's　Cordelia。〃

Flossie　was　tacking　her　way　towards　them。　　Joan　acted　on　impulse。　〃I　wish　you'd　give　me　your　address；〃　she　said　〃where　I　could　write　to　you。　　Or　perhaps　you　would　not　mind　my　coming　and　seeing　you　one　day。　　I　would　like　you　to　tell　me　more　about　my　mother。〃

He　gave　her　his　address　in　Paris　where　he　was　returning　almost　immediately。

〃Do　come；〃　he　said。　　〃It　will　take　me　back　thirty…three　years。　　I　proposed　to　your　mother　on　La　Grande　Terrasse　at　St。　Germain。　　We　will　walk　there。　　I'm　still　a　bachelor。〃　　He　laughed；　and；　kissing　her　hand；　allowed　himself　to　be　hauled　away　by　Flossie；　in　exchange　for　Mrs。　Phillips；　for　whom　Miss　Lavery　had　insisted　on　an　invitation。

Joan　had　met　Mrs。　Phillips　several　times；　and　once；　on　the　stairs；　had　stopped　and　spoken　to　her；　but　had　never　been　introduced　to　her　formally　till　now。

〃We　have　been　meaning　to　call　on　you　so　often；〃　panted　Mrs。　Phillips。　　The　room　was　crowded　and　the　exertion　of　squeezing　her　way　through　had　winded　the　poor　lady。　　〃We　take　so　much　interest　in　your　articles。　　My　husband〃　she　paused　for　a　second；　before　venturing　upon　the　word；　and　the　aitch　came　out　somewhat　over…　aspirated〃reads　them　most　religiously。　　You　must　come　and　dine　with　us　one　evening。〃

Joan　answered　that　she　would　be　very　pleased。

〃I　will　find　out　when　Robert　is　free　and　run　up　and　let　you　know；〃　she　continued。　　〃Of　course；　there　are　so　many　demands　upon　him；　especially　during　this　period　of　national　crisis；　that　I　spare　him　all　the　social　duties　that　I　can。　　But　I　shall　insist　on　his　making　an　exception　in　your　case。〃

Joan　murmured　her　sense　of　favour；　but　hoped　she　would　not　be　allowed　to　interfere　with　more　pressing　calls　upon　Mr。　Phillips's　time。

〃It　will　do　him　good；〃　answered　Mrs。　Phillips；　〃getting　away　from　them　all　for　an　hour　or　two。　　I　don't　see　much　of　him　myself。〃

She　glanced　round　and　lowered　her　voice。　　〃They　tell　me；〃　she　said；　〃that　you're　a　B。A。〃

〃Yes；〃　answered　Joan。　　〃One　goes　in　for　it　more　out　of　vanity；　I'm　afraid；　than　for　any　real　purpose　that　it　serves。〃

〃I　took　one　or　two　prizes　myself；〃　said　Mrs。　Phillips。　　〃But；　of　course；　one　forgets　things。　　I　was　wondering　if　you　would　mind　if　I　ran　up　occasionally　to　ask　you　a　question。　　Of　course；　as　you　know；　my　'usband　'as　'ad　so　few　advantages〃the　lady's　mind　was　concerned　with　more　important　matters；　and　the　aspirates；　on　this　occasion；　got　themselves　neglected〃It　is　wonderful　what　he　'as　done　without　them。　　But　if；　now　and　then；　I　could　'elp　him〃

There　was　something　about　the　poor；　foolish　painted　face；　as　it　looked　up　pleadingly；　that　gave　it　a　momentary　touch　of　beauty。

〃Do；〃　said　Joan；　speaking　earnestly。　　〃I　shall　be　so　very　pleased　if　you　will。〃

〃Thank　you；〃　said　the　woman。　　Miss　Lavery　came　up　in　a　hurry　to　introduce　her　to　Miss　Tolley。　　〃I　am　telling　all　my　friends　to　read　your　articles；〃　she　added；　resuming　the　gracious　patroness；　as　she　bowed　her　adieus。

Joan　was　alone　again　for　a　while。　　A　handsome　girl；　with　her　hair　cut　short　and　parted　at　the　side；　was　discussing　diseases　of　the　spine　with　a　curly…headed　young　man　in　a　velvet　suit。　　The　gentleman　was　describing　some　of　the　effects　in　detail。　　Joan　felt　there　was　danger　of　her　being　taken　ill　if　she　listened　any　longer；　and　seeing　Madge's　brother　near　the　door；　and　unoccupied；　she　made　her　way　across　to　him。

Niel　Singleton；　or　Keeley；　as　he　called　himself　upon　the　stage；　was　quite　unlike　his　sister。　　H