all roads lead to calvary-第20章

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　If　they　would　only　let　you。　　She　had　no　opposition　to　contend　withno　thwarting　and　hampering　at　every　turnthe　very　people　you　are　working　for　hounded　on　against　you。　The　difficulty　of　a　man　like　myself；　who　wants　to　do　something；　who　could　do　something；　is　that　for　the　best　part　of　his　life　he　is　fighting　to　be　allowed　to　do　it。　　By　the　time　I've　lived　down　their　lies　and　got　my　chance；　my　energy　will　be　gone。〃

He　knocked　the　ashes　from　his　pipe　and　relit　it。

〃I've　no　quarrel　with　the　rich；〃　he　said。　　〃I　don't　care　how　many　rich　men　there　are；　so　long　as　there　are　no　poor。　　Who　does？　　I　was　riding　on　a　bus　the　other　day；　and　there　was　a　man　beside　me　with　a　bandaged　head。　　He'd　been　hurt　in　that　railway　smash　at　Morpeth。　He　hadn't　claimed　damages　from　the　railway　company　and　wasn't　going　to。　　'Oh；　it's　only　a　few　scratches；'　he　said。　　'They'll　be　hit　hard　enough　as　it　is。'　　If　he'd　been　a　poor　devil　on　eighteen　shillings　a　week　it　would　have　been　different。　　He　was　an　engineer　earning　good　wages；　so　he　wasn't　feeling　sore　and　bitter　against　half　the　world。　　Suppose　you　tried　to　run　an　army　with　your　men　half　starved　while　your　officers　had　more　than　they　could　eat。　It's　been　tried　and　what's　been　the　result？　　See　that　your　soldiers　have　their　proper　rations；　and　the　General　can　sit　down　to　his　six…　course　dinner；　if　he　will。　　They　are　not　begrudging　it　to　him。

〃A　nation　works　on　its　stomach。　　Underfeed　your　rank　and　file；　and　what　sort　of　a　fight　are　you　going　to　put　up　against　your　rivals。　I　want　to　see　England　going　ahead。　　I　want　to　see　her　workers　properly　fed。　　I　want　to　see　the　corn　upon　her　unused　acres；　the　cattle　grazing　on　her　wasted　pastures。　　I　object　to　the　food　being　thrown　into　the　sealeft　to　rot　upon　the　ground　while　men　are　hungryside…tracked　in　Chicago；　while　the　children　grow　up　stunted。　　I　want　the　commissariat　properly　organized。〃

He　had　been　staring　through　her　rather　than　at　her；　so　it　had　seemed　to　Joan。　　Suddenly　their　eyes　met；　and　he　broke　into　a　smile。

〃I'm　so　awfully　sorry；〃　he　said。　　〃I've　been　talking　to　you　as　if　you　were　a　public　meeting。　　I'm　afraid　I'm　more　used　to　them　than　I　am　to　women。　　Please　forgive　me。〃

The　whole　man　had　changed。　　The　eyes　had　a　timid　pleading　in　them。

Joan　laughed。　　〃I've　been　feeling　as　if　I　were　the　King　of　Bavaria；〃　she　said。

〃How　did　he　feel？〃　he　asked　her；　leaning　forward。

〃He　had　his　own　private　theatre；〃　Joan　explained；　〃where　Wagner　gave　his　operas。　　And　the　King　was　the　sole　audience。〃

〃I　should　have　hated　that；〃　he　said；　〃if　I　had　been　Wagner。〃

He　looked　at　her；　and　a　flush　passed　over　his　boyish　face。

〃All　right；〃　he　said；　〃if　it　had　been　a　queen。〃

Joan　found　herself　tracing　patterns　with　her　spoon　upon　the　tablecloth。　　〃But　you　have　won　now；〃　she　said；　still　absorbed　apparently　with　her　drawing；　〃you　are　going　to　get　your　chance。〃

He　gave　a　short　laugh。　　〃A　trick；〃　he　said；　〃to　weaken　me。　　They　think　to　shave　my　locks；　show　me　to　the　people　bound　by　their　red　tape。　　To　put　it　another　way；　a　rat　among　the　terriers。〃

Joan　laughed。　　〃You　don't　somehow　suggest　the　rat；〃　she　said：　〃rather　another　sort　of　beast。〃

〃What　do　you　advise　me？〃　he　asked。　　〃I　haven't　decided　yet。〃

They　were　speaking　in　whispered　tones。　　Through　the　open　doors　they　could　see　into　the　other　room。　　Mrs。　Phillips；　under　Airlie's　instructions；　was　venturing　upon　a　cigarette。

〃To　accept；〃　she　answered。　　〃They　won't　influence　youthe　terriers；　as　you　call　them。　　You　are　too　strong。　　It　is　you　who　will　sway　them。　　It　isn't　as　if　you　were　a　mere　agitator。　　Take　this　opportunity　of　showing　them　that　you　can　build；　plan；　organize；　that　you　were　meant　to　be　a　ruler。　　You　can't　succeed　without　them；　as　things　are。　　You've　got　to　win　them　over。　　Prove　to　them　that　they　can　trust　you。〃

He　sat　for　a　minute　tattooing　with　his　fingers　on　the　table；　before　speaking。

〃It's　the　frills　and　flummery　part　of　it　that　frightens　me；〃　he　said。　　〃You　wouldn't　think　that　sensitiveness　was　my　weak　point。　But　it　is。　　I've　stood　up　to　a　Birmingham　mob　that　was　waiting　to　lynch　me　and　enjoyed　the　experience；　but　I'd　run　ten　miles　rather　than　face　a　drawing…room　of　well…dressed　people　with　their　masked　faces　and　ironic　courtesies。　　It　leaves　me　for　days　feeling　like　a　lobster　that　has　lost　its　shell。〃

〃I　wouldn't　say　it；　if　I　didn't　mean　it；〃　　answered　Joan；　〃but　you　haven't　got　to　trouble　yourself　about　that　。　。　。　You're　quite　passable。〃　　She　smiled。　　It　seemed　to　her　that　most　women　would　find　him　more　than　passable。

He　shook　his　head。　　〃With　you；〃　he　said。　　〃There's　something　about　you　that　makes　one　ashamed　of　worrying　about　the　little　things。　But　the　others：　　the　sneering　women　and　the　men　who　wink　over　their　shoulder　while　they　talk　to　you；　I　shall　never　be　able　to　get　away　from　them；　and；　of　course；　wherever　I　go〃

He　stopped　abruptly　with　a　sudden　tightening　of　the　lips。　　Joan　followed　his　eyes。　　Mrs。　Phillips　had　swallowed　the　smoke　and　was　giggling　and　spluttering　by　turns。　　The　yellow　ostrich　feather　had　worked　itself　loose　and　was　rocking　to　and　fro　as　if　in　a　fit　of　laughter　of　its　own。

He　pushed　back　his　chair　and　rose。　　〃Shall　we　join　the　others？〃　he　said。

He　moved　so　that　he　was　between　her　and　the　other　room；　his　back　to　the　open　doors。　　〃You　think　I　ought　to？〃　he　said。

〃Yes；〃　she　answered　firmly；　as　if　she　were　giving　a　command。　　But　he　read　pity　also　in　her　eyes。

〃Well；　have　you　two　settled　the　affairs　of　the　kingdom？　　Is　it　all　decided？〃　asked　Airlie。

〃Yes；〃　he　answered；　laughing。　　〃We　are　going　to　say　to　the　people；　'Eat；　drink　and　be　wise。'〃

He　rearranged　his　wife's　feather　and　smoothed　her　tumbled　hair。　She　looked　up　at　him　and　smiled。

Joan　set　herself　to　make　McKean　talk；　and　after　a　time　succeeded。　They　had　a　mutual　friend；　a　raw…boned　youth　she　had　met　at　Cambridge。　　He　was　engaged　to　McKean's　sister。　　His　eyes　lighted　up　when　he　spoke　of　his　sister　Jenny。　　The　Little　Mother；　he　called　her。

〃She's　the　most　beautiful　body　in　all　the　world；〃　he　said。　　〃Though　merely　seeing　her　you　mightn't　know　it。〃

He　saw　her　〃home〃；　and　went　on　up　the　stairs　to　his　own　floor。

Joan　stood　for　a　while　in　front　of　the　glass　before　undressing；　but　felt　less　satisfied　with　herself。　　She　replaced　the　star　in　its　case；　and　took　off　the　regal…looking　dress　with　the　golden　girdle　and　laid　it　carelessly　aside。　　She　seemed　to　be　growing　smaller。

In　her　white　night　dress；　with　her　hair　in　two　long　plaits；　she　looked　at　herself　once　more。　　She　seemed　to　be　no　one　of　any　importance　at　all：　　just　a　long　little　girl　going　to　bed。　　With　no　one　to　kiss　her　good　night。

She　blew　out　the　candle　and　climbed　into　the　big　bed；　feeling　very　lonesome　as　she　used　to　when　a　child。　　It　had　not　troubled　her　until　to…night。　　Suddenly　she　sat　up　again。　　She　needn't　be　back　in　London　before　Tuesday　evening；　and　to…day　was　only　Friday。　　She　would　run　down　home　and　burst　in　upon　her　father。　　He　would　be　so　pleased　to　see　her。

She　would　make　him　put　his　arms　around　her。



CHAPTER　VIII



She　reached　home　in　the　evening。　　She　thought　to　find　her　father　in　his　study。　　But　they　told　her　that；　now；　he　usually　sat　alone　in　the　great　drawing…room。　　She　opened　the　door　softly。　　The　room　was　dark　save　for　a　flicker　of　firelight；　she　could　see　nothing。　　Nor　was　there　any　sound。

〃Dad；〃　she　cried；　〃are　you　here？〃

He　rose　slowly　from　a　high…backed　chair　beside　the　fire。

〃It　is　you；〃　he　said。　　He　seemed　a　little　dazed。

She　ran　to　him　and；　seizing　his　listless　arms；　put　them　round　her。

〃Give　me　a　hug；　Dad；〃　she　commanded。　　〃A　real　hug。〃

He　held　her　to　him　for　what　seemed　a　long　while。　　There　was　strength　in　his　arms；　in　spite　of　the　bowed　shoulders　and　white　hair。

〃I　was　afraid　you　had　forgotten　how　to　do　it；〃　she　laughed；　when　at　last　he　released　her。　　〃Do　you　know；　you　haven't　hugged　me；　Dad；　since　I　was　five　years　old。　　That's　nineteen　years　ago。　　You　do　love　me；　don't　you？〃

〃Yes；〃　he　answered。　　〃I　have　always　loved　you。〃

She　would　not　let　him　light　the　gas。　　〃I　have　dinedin　the　train；〃　she　explained。　　〃Let　us　talk　by　the　firelight。〃

She　forced　him　gently　back　into　his　chair；　and　seated　herself　upon　the　floor　between　his　kn