all roads lead to calvary-第27章

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〃Abominably　rude；〃　she　answered；　〃you've　defied　my　warnings；　and　treated　my　embassy　with　contempt。〃　　She　turned　to　him　and　their　eyes　met。　　〃I　should　have　despised　you；　if　you　hadn't；〃　she　added。

There　was　a　note　of　exultation　in　her　voice；　and；　as　if　in　answer；　something　leapt　into　his　eyes　that　seemed　to　claim　her。　　Perhaps　it　was　well　that　just　then　the　bell　rang　for　a　division；　and　the　moment　passed。

He　rose　and　held　out　his　hand。　　〃We　will　fight　him；〃　he　said。　　〃And　you　can　tell　him　this；　if　he　asks；　that　I'm　going　straight　for　him。　Parliament　may　as　well　close　down　if　a　few　men　between　them　are　to　be　allowed　to　own　the　entire　Press　of　the　country；　and　stifle　every　voice　that　does　not　shout　their　bidding。　　We　haven't　dethroned　kings　to　put　up　a　newspaper　Boss。　　He　shall　have　all　the　fighting　he　wants。〃

They　met　more　often　from　that　day；　for　Joan　was　frankly　using　her　two　columns　in　the　Sunday　Post　to　propagate　his　aims。　　Carleton；　to　her　surprise；　made　no　objection。　　Nor　did　he　seek　to　learn　the　result　of　his　ultimatum。　　It　looked；　they　thought；　as　if　he　had　assumed　acceptance；　and　was　willing　for　Phillips　to　choose　his　own　occasion。　　Meanwhile　replies　to　her　articles　reached　Joan　in　weekly　increasing　numbers。　　There　seemed　to　be　a　wind　arising；　blowing　towards　Protection。　　Farm　labourers；　especially；　appeared　to　be　enthusiastic　for　its　coming。　　From　their　ill…spelt；　smeared　epistles；　one　gathered　that；　after　years　of　doubt　and　hesitation；　they　hadhowever　reluctantlyarrived　at　the　conclusion　that　without　it　there　could　be　no　hope　for　them。　　Factory　workers；　miners；　engineersmore　fluent；　less　apologeticwrote　as　strong　supporters　of　Phillips's　scheme；　but　saw　clearly　how　upon　Protection　its　success　depended。　　Shopmen；　clerksonly　occasionally　ungrammaticalfelt　sure　that　Robert　Phillips；　the　tried　friend　of　the　poor；　would　insist　upon　the　boon　of　Protection　being　no　longer　held　back　from　the　people。　　Wives　and　mothers　claimed　it　as　their　children's　birthright。　　Similar　views　got　themselves　at　the　same　time；　into　the　correspondence　columns　of　Carleton's　other　numerous　papers。　　Evidently　Democracy　had　been　throbbing　with　a　passion　for　Protection　hitherto　unknown；　even　to　itself。

〃He　means　it　kindly；〃　laughed　Phillips。　　〃He　is　offering　me　an　excuse　to　surrender　gracefully。　　We　must　have　a　public　meeting　or　two　after　Christmas；　and　clear　the　ground。〃　　They　had　got　into　the　habit　of　speaking　in　the　plural。

Mrs。　Phillips's　conversion　Joan　found　more　difficult　than　she　had　anticipated。　　She　had　persuaded　Phillips　to　take　a　small　house　and　let　her　furnish　it　upon　the　hire　system。　　Joan　went　with　her　to　the　widely　advertised　〃Emporium〃　in　the　City　Road；　meaning　to　advise　her。　　But；　in　the　end；　she　gave　it　up　out　of　sheer　pity。　　Nor　would　her　advice　have　served　much　purpose；　confronted　by　the　〃rich　and　varied　choice〃　provided　for　his　patrons　by　Mr。　Krebs；　the　〃Furnisher　for　Connoisseurs。〃

〃We've　never　had　a　home　exactly；〃　explained　Mrs。　Phillips；　during　their　journey　in　the　tram。　　〃It's　always　been　lodgings；　up　to　now。　Nice　enough；　some　of　them；　but　you　know　what　I　mean；　everybody　else's　taste　but　your　own。　　I've　always　fancied　a　little　house　with　one's　own　things　in　it。　　You　know；　things　that　you　can　get　fond　of。〃

Oh；　the　things　she　was　going　to　get　fond　of！　　The　things　that　her　poor；　round　foolish　eyes　gloated　upon　the　moment　that　she　saw　them！　Joan　tried　to　enlist　the　shopman　on　her　side；　descending　even　to　flirtation。　　Unfortunately　he　was　a　young　man　with　a　high　sense　of　duty；　convinced　that　his　employer's　interests　lay　in　his　support　of　Mrs。　Phillips。　　The　sight　of　the　furniture　that；　between　them；　they　selected　for　the　dining…room　gave　Joan　a　quite　distinct　internal　pain。　　They　ascended　to　the　floor　above；　devoted　to　the　exhibition　of　〃Recherche　drawing…room　suites。〃　　Mrs。　Phillips's　eye　instinctively　fastened　with　passionate　desire　upon　the　most　atrocious。　　Joan　grew　vehement。　　It　was　impossible。

〃I　always　was　a　one　for　cheerful　colours；〃　explained　Mrs。　Phillips。

Even　the　shopman　wavered。　　Joan　pressed　her　advantage；　directed　Mrs。　Phillips's　attention　to　something　a　little　less　awful。　　Mrs。　Phillips　yielded。

〃Of　course　you　know　best；　dear；〃　she　admitted。　　〃Perhaps　I　am　a　bit　too　fond　of　bright　things。〃

The　victory　was　won。　　Mrs。　Phillips　had　turned　away。　　The　shopman　was　altering　the　order。　　Joan　moved　towards　the　door；　and　accidentally　caught　sight　of　Mrs。　Phillips's　face。　　The　flabby　mouth　was　trembling。　　A　tear　was　running　down　the　painted　cheek。

Joan　slipped　her　hand　through　the　other's　arm。

〃I'm　not　so　sure　you're　not　right　after　all；〃　she　said；　fixing　a　critical　eye　upon　the　rival　suites。　　〃It　is　a　bit　mousey；　that　other。〃

The　order　was　once　more　corrected。　　Joan　had　the　consolation　of　witnessing　the　childish　delight　that　came　again　into　the　foolish　face；　but　felt　angry　with　herself　at　her　own　weakness。

It　was　the　woman's　feebleness　that　irritated　her。　　If　only　she　had　shown　a　spark　of　fight；　Joan　could　have　been　firm。　　Poor　feckless　creature；　what　could　have　ever　been　her　attraction　for　Phillips！

She　followed；　inwardly　fuming；　while　Mrs。　Phillips　continued　to　pile　monstrosity　upon　monstrosity。　　What　would　Phillips　think？　　And　what　would　Hilda's　eyes　say　when　they　looked　upon　that　recherche　drawing…room　suite？　　Hilda；　who　would　have　had　no　sentimental　compunctions！　　The　woman　would　be　sure　to　tell　them　both　that　she；　Joan；　had　accompanied　her　and　helped　in　the　choosing。　　The　whole　ghastly　house　would　be　exhibited　to　every　visitor　as　the　result　of　their　joint　taste。　　She　could　hear　Mr。　Airlie's　purring　voice　congratulating　her。

She　ought　to　have　insisted　on　their　going　to　a　decent　shop。　　The　mere　advertisement　ought　to　have　forewarned　her。　　It　was　the　posters　that　had　captured　Mrs。　Phillips：　　those　dazzling　apartments　where　bejewelled　society　reposed　upon　the　〃high…class　but　inexpensive　designs〃　of　Mr。　Krebs。　　Artists　ought　to　have　more　self…respect　than　to　sell　their　talents　for　such　purposes。

The　contract　was　concluded　in　Mr。　Krebs'　private　office：　　a　very　stout　gentleman　with　a　very　thin　voice；　whose　dream　had　always　been　to　one　day　be　of　service　to　the　renowned　Mr。　Robert　Phillips。　　He　was　clearly　under　the　impression　that　he　had　now　accomplished　it。　Even　as　Mrs。　Phillips　took　up　the　pen　to　sign；　the　wild　idea　occurred　to　Joan　of　snatching　the　paper　away　from　her；　hustling　her　into　a　cab；　and　in　some　quiet　street　or　square　making　the　woman　see　for　herself　that　she　was　a　useless　fool；　that　the　glowing　dreams　and　fancies　she　had　cherished　in　her　silly　head　for　fifteen　years　must　all　be　given　up；　that　she　must　stand　aside；　knowing　herself　of　no　account。

It　could　be　done。　　She　felt　it。　　If　only　one　could　summon　up　the　needful　brutality。　　If　only　one　could　stifle　that　still；　small　voice　of　Pity。

Mrs。　Phillips　signed　amid　splutterings　and　blots。　　Joan　added　her　signature　as　witness。

She　did　effect　an　improvement　in　the　poor　lady's　dress。　　On　Madge's　advice　she　took　her　to　a　voluble　little　woman　in　the　Earl's　Court　Road　who　was　struck　at　once　by　Madame　Phillips's　remarkable　resemblance　to　the　Baroness　von　Stein。　　Had　not　Joan　noticed　it？　Whatever　suited　the　Baroness　von　Steinallowed　by　common　consent　to　be　one　of　the　best…dressed　women　in　Londonwas　bound　to　show　up　Madame　Phillips　to　equal　advantage。　　By　curious　coincidence　a　costume　for　the　Baroness　had　been　put　in　hand　only　the　day　before。　It　was　sent　for　and　pinned　upon　the　delighted　Madame　Phillips。　Perfection！　　As　the　Baroness　herself　would　always　say：　　〃My　frock　must　be　a　framework　for　my　personality。　　It　must　never　obtrude。〃　The　supremely　well…dressed　woman！　　One　never　notices　what　she　has　on：　　that　is　the　test。　　It　seemed　it　was　what　Mrs。　Phillips　had　always　felt　herself。　　Joan　could　have　kissed　the　voluble；　emphatic　little　woman。

But　the　dyed　hair　and　the　paint　put　up　a　fight　for　themselves。

〃I　want　you　to　do　something　very　brave；〃　said　Joan。　　She　had　invited　herself　to　tea　with　Mrs。　Phillips；　and　they　were　alone　in　the　small　white…panelled　room　that　they　were　soon　to　say　good…bye　to。　　The　new　house　would　be　ready　at　Christmas。　　〃It　will　be　a　little　hard　at　first；〃　continued　Joan；　〃but　afterwards　you　will