all roads lead to calvary-第29章

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ple　in　Hampshire。　　Flossie　was　on　a　sea　voyage　with　Sam　and　his　mother；　and　even　Madge　had　been　struck　homesick。　　It　happened　to　be　a　Sunday；　too；　of　all　days　in　the　week；　and　London　in　a　drizzling　rain　was　just　about　the　limit。　　She　worked　till　late　in　the　afternoon；　but；　sitting　down　to　her　solitary　cup　of　tea；　she　felt　she　wanted　to　howl。　　From　the　basement　came　faint　sounds　of　laughter。　　Her　landlord　and　lady　were　entertaining　guests。　　If　they　had　not　been；　she　would　have　found　some　excuse　for　running　down　and　talking　to　them；　if　only　for　a　few　minutes。

Suddenly　the　vision　of　old　Chelsea　Church　rose　up　before　her　with　its　little　motherly　old　pew…opener。　　She　had　so　often　been　meaning　to　go　and　see　her　again；　but　something　had　always　interfered。　　She　hunted　through　her　drawers　and　found　a　comparatively　sober…coloured　shawl；　and　tucked　it　under　her　cloak。　　The　service　was　just　commencing　when　she　reached　the　church。　　Mary　Stopperton　showed　her　into　a　seat　and　evidently　remembered　her。　　〃I　want　to　see　you　afterwards；〃　she　whispered；　and　Mary　Stopperton　had　smiled　and　nodded。　　The　service；　with　its　need　for　being　continually　upon　the　move；　bored　her；　she　was　not　in　the　mood　for　it。　　And　the　sermon；　preached　by　a　young　curate　who　had　not　yet　got　over　his　Oxford　drawl；　was　uninteresting。　　She　had　half　hoped　that　the　wheezy　old　clergyman；　who　had　preached　about　Calvary　on　the　evening　she　had　first　visited　the　church；　would　be　there　again。　　She　wondered　what　had　become　of　him；　and　if　it　were　really　a　fact　that　she　had　known　him　when　she　was　a　child；　or　only　her　fancy。　　It　was　strange　how　vividly　her　memory　of　him　seemed　to　pervade　the　little　church。　　She　had　the　feeling　he　was　watching　her　from　the　shadows。　　She　waited　for　Mary　in　the　vestibule；　and　gave　her　the　shawl；　making　her　swear　on　the　big　key　of　the　church　door　that　she　would　wear　it　herself　and　not　give　it　away。　　The　little　old　pew…opener's　pink　and　white　face　flushed　with　delight　as　she　took　it；　and　the　thin；　work…worn　hands　fingered　it　admiringly。　　〃But　I　may　lend　it？〃　she　pleaded。

They　turned　up　Church　Street。　　Joan　confided　to　Mary　what　a　rotten　Christmas　she　had　had；　all　by　herself；　without　a　soul　to　speak　to　except　her　landlady；　who　had　brought　her　meals　and　had　been　in　such　haste　to　get　away。

〃I　don't　know　what　made　me　think　of　you；〃　she　said。　　〃I'm　so　glad　I　did。〃　　She　gave　the　little　old　lady　a　hug。　　Mary　laughed。　　〃Where　are　you　going　now；　dearie？〃　she　asked。

〃Oh；　I　don't　mind　so　much　now；〃　answered　Joan。　　〃Now　that　I've　seen　a　friendly　face；　I　shall　go　home　and　go　to　bed　early。〃

They　walked　a　little　way　in　silence。　　Mary　slipped　her　hand　into　Joan's。　　〃You　wouldn't　care　to　come　home　and　have　a　bit　of　supper　with　me；　would　you；　dearie？〃　she　asked。

〃Oh；　may　I？〃　answered　Joan。

Mary's　hand　gave　Joan's　a　little　squeeze。　　〃You　won't　mind　if　anybody　drops　in？〃　she　said。　　〃They　do　sometimes　of　a　Sunday　evening。〃

〃You　don't　mean　a　party？〃　asked　Joan。

〃No；　dear；〃　answered　Mary。　　〃It's　only　one　or　two　who　have　nowhere　else　to　go。〃

Joan　laughed。　　She　thought　she　would　be　a　fit　candidate。

〃You　see；　it　makes　company　for　me；〃　explained　Mary。

Mary　lived　in　a　tiny　house　behind　a　strip　of　garden。　　It　stood　in　a　narrow　side　street　between　two　public…houses；　and　was　covered　with　ivy。　　It　had　two　windows　above　and　a　window　and　a　door　below。　　The　upstairs　rooms　belonged　to　the　churchwardens　and　were　used　as　a　storehouse　for　old　parish　registers；　deemed　of　little　value。　　Mary　Stopperton　and　her　bedridden　husband　lived　in　the　two　rooms　below。　Mary　unlocked　the　door；　and　Joan　passed　in　and　waited。　　Mary　lit　a　candle　that　was　standing　on　a　bracket　and　turned　to　lead　the　way。

〃Shall　I　shut　the　door？〃　suggested　Joan。

Mary　blushed　like　a　child　that　has　been　found　out　just　as　it　was　hoping　that　it　had　not　been　noticed。

〃It　doesn't　matter；　dearie；〃　she　explained。　　〃They　know；　if　they　find　it　open；　that　I'm　in。〃

The　little　room　looked　very　cosy　when　Mary　had　made　up　the　fire　and　lighted　the　lamp。　　She　seated　Joan　in　the　worn　horsehair　easy…　chair；　out　of　which　one　had　to　be　careful　one　did　not　slip　on　to　the　floor；　and　spread　her　handsome　shawl　over　the　back　of　the　dilapidated　sofa。

〃You　won't　mind　my　running　away　for　a　minute；〃　she　said。　　〃I　shall　only　be　in　the　next　room。〃

Through　the　thin　partition；　Joan　heard　a　constant　shrill；　complaining　voice。　　At　times；　it　rose　into　an　angry　growl。　　Mary　looked　in　at　the　door。

〃I'm　just　running　round　to　the　doctor's；〃　she　whispered。　　〃His　medicine　hasn't　come。　　I　shan't　be　long。〃

Joan　offered　to　go　in　and　sit　with　the　invalid。　　But　Mary　feared　the　exertion　of　talking　might　be　too　much　for　him。　　〃He　gets　so　excited；〃　she　explained。　　She　slipped　out　noiselessly。

It　seemed；　in　spite　of　its　open　door；　a　very　silent　little　house　behind　its　strip　of　garden。　　Joan　had　the　feeling　that　it　was　listening。

Suddenly　she　heard　a　light　step　in　the　passage；　and　the　room　door　opened。　　A　girl　entered。　　She　was　wearing　a　large　black　hat　and　a　black　boa　round　her　neck。　　Between　them　her　face　shone　unnaturally　white。　　She　carried　a　small　cloth　bag。　　She　started；　on　seeing　Joan；　and　seemed　about　to　retreat。

〃Oh；　please　don't　go；〃　cried　Joan。　　〃Mrs。　Stopperton　has　just　gone　round　to　the　doctor's。　　She　won't　be　long。　　I'm　a　friend　of　hers。〃

The　girl　took　stock　of　her　and；　apparently　reassured；　closed　the　door　behind　her。

〃What's　he　like　to…night？〃　she　asked；　with　a　jerk　of　her　head　in　the　direction　of　the　next　room。　　She　placed　her　bag　carefully　upon　the　sofa；　and　examined　the　new　shawl　as　she　did　so。

〃Well；　I　gather　he's　a　little　fretful；〃　answered　Joan　with　a　smile。

〃That's　a　bad　sign；〃　said　the　girl。　　〃Means　he's　feeling　better。〃　She　seated　herself　on　the　sofa　and　fingered　the　shawl。　　〃Did　you　give　it　her？〃　she　asked。

〃Yes；〃　admitted　Joan。　　〃I　rather　fancied　her　in　it。〃

〃She'll　only　pawn　it；〃　said　the　girl；　〃to　buy　him　grapes　and　port　wine。〃

〃I　felt　a　bit　afraid　of　her；〃　laughed　Joan；　〃so　I　made　her　promise　not　to　part　with　it。　　Is　he　really　very　ill；　her　husband？〃

〃Oh；　yes；　there's　no　make…believe　this　time；〃　answered　the　girl。　〃A　bad　thing　for　her　if　he　wasn't。〃

〃Oh；　it's　only　what's　known　all　over　the　neighbourhood；〃　continued　the　girl。　　〃She's　had　a　pretty　rough　time　with　him。　　Twice　I've　found　her　getting　ready　to　go　to　sleep　for　the　night　by　sitting　on　the　bare　floor　with　her　back　against　the　wall。　　Had　sold　every　stick　in　the　place　and　gone　off。　　But　she'd　always　some　excuse　for　him。　　It　was　sure　to　be　half　her　fault　and　the　other　half　he　couldn't　help。　　Now　she's　got　her　'reward'　according　to　her　own　account。　　Heard　he　was　dying　in　a　doss…house；　and　must　fetch　him　home　and　nurse　him　back　to　life。　　Seems　he's　getting　fonder　of　her　every　day。　　Now　that　he　can't　do　anything　else。〃

〃It　doesn't　seem　to　depress　her　spirits；〃　mused　Joan。

〃Oh；　she！　　She's　all　right；〃　agreed　the　girl。　　〃Having　the　time　of　her　life：　　someone　to　look　after　for　twenty…four　hours　a　day　that　can't　help　themselves。〃

She　examined　Joan　awhile　in　silence。　　〃Are　you　on　the　stage？〃　she　asked。

〃No；〃　answered　Joan。　　〃But　my　mother　was。　　Are　you？〃

〃Thought　you　looked　a　bit　like　it；〃　said　the　girl。　　〃I'm　in　the　chorus。　　It's　better　than　being　in　service　or　in　a　shop：　　that's　all　you　can　say　for　it。〃

〃But　you'll　get　out　of　that；〃　suggested　Joan。　　〃You've　got　the　actress　face。〃

The　girl　flushed　with　pleasure。　　It　was　a　striking　face；　with　intelligent　eyes　and　a　mobile；　sensitive　mouth。　　〃Oh；　yes；〃　she　said；　〃I　could　act　all　right。　　I　feel　it。　　But　you　don't　get　out　of　the　chorus。　　Except　at　a　price。〃

Joan　looked　at　her。　　〃I　thought　that　sort　of　thing　was　dying　out；〃　she　said。

The　girl　shrugged　her　shoulders。　　〃Not　in　my　shop；〃　she　answered。　〃Anyhow；　it　was　the　only　chance　I　ever　had。　　Wish　sometimes　I'd　taken　it。　　It　was　quite　a　good　part。〃

〃They　must　have　felt　sure　you　could　act；〃　said　Joan。　　〃Next　time　it　will　be　a　clean　offer。〃

The　girl　shook　her　head。　　〃There's　no　next　time；〃　she　said；　〃once　you're　put　down　as　one　of　the　stand…offs。　　Plenty　of　others　to　take　your　place。〃

〃Oh；　I　don't　blame　them；〃　she　added。　　〃It　isn't　a　thing　to　be　dismissed　with　a　toss　of　your　head。　　I　thought　i