an unsocial socialist-第21章

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signboard　served　thenceforth　only　for　the　amusement　of　pedestrian
tourists　and　of　shepherd　boys　with　a　taste　for　stone　throwing。

One　night　a　great　storm　blew　over　Lyvern；　and　those　young　ladies
at　Alton　College　who　were　afraid　of　lightning；　said　their　prayers
with　some　earnestness。　At　half…past　twelve　the　rain；　wind；　and
thunder　made　such　a　din　that　Agatha　and　Gertrude　wrapped
themselves　in　shawls；　stole　downstairs　to　the　window　on　the
landing　outside　Miss　Wilson's　study；　and　stood　watching　the
flashes　give　vivid　glimpses　of　the　landscape；　and　discussing　in
whispers　whether　it　was　dangerous　to　stand　near　a　window；　and
whether　brass　stair…rods　could　attract　lightning。　Agatha；　as
serious　and　friendly　with　a　single　companion　as　she　was
mischievous　and　satirical　before　a　larger　audience；　enjoyed　the
scene　quietly。　The　lightning　did　not　terrify　her；　for　she　knew
little　of　the　value　of　life；　and　fancied　much　concerning　the
heroism　of　being　indifferent　to　it。　The　tremors　which　the　more
startling　flashes　caused　her；　only　made　her　more　conscious　of　her
own　courage　and　its　contrast　with　the　uneasiness　of　Gertrude；　who
at　last；　shrinking　from　a　forked　zigzag　of　blue　flame；　said：

〃Let　us　go　back　to　bed；　Agatha。　I　feel　sure　that　we　are　not　safe
here。〃

〃Quite　as　safe　as　in　bed；　where　we　cannot　see　anything。　How　the
house　shakes！　I　believe　the　rain　will　batter　in　the　windows
before〃

〃Hush；〃　whispered　Gertrude；　catching　her　arm　in　terror。　〃What　was
that？〃

〃What？〃

〃I　am　sure　I　heard　the　bellthe　gate　bell。　Oh；　do　let　us　go　back
to　bed。〃

〃Nonsense！　Who　would　be　out　on　such　a　night　as　this？　Perhaps　the
wind　rang　it。〃

They　waited　for　a　few　moments；　Gertrude　trembling；　and　Agatha
feeling；　as　she　listened　in　the　darkness；　a　sensation　familiar　to
persons　who　are　afraid　of　ghosts。　Presently　a　veiled　clangor
mingled　with　the　wind。　A　few　sharp　and　urgent　snatches　of　it　came
unmistakably　from　the　bell　at　the　gate　of　the　college　grounds。　It
was　a　loud　bell；　used　to　summon　a　servant　from　the　college　to
open　the　gates；　for　though　there　was　a　porter's　lodge；　it　was
uninhabited。

〃Who　on　earth　can　it　be？〃　said　Agatha。　〃Can't　they　find　the
wicket；　the　idiots？〃

〃Oh；　I　hope　not！　Do　come　upstairs；　Agatha。〃

〃No；　I　won't。　Go　you；　if　you　like。〃　But　Gertrude　was　afraid　to　go
alone。　〃I　think　I　had　better　waken　Miss　Wilson；　and　tell　her；〃
continued　Agatha。　〃It　seems　awful　to　shut　anybody　out　on　such　a
night　as　this。〃

〃But　we　don't　know　who　it　is。〃

〃Well；　I　suppose　you　are　not　afraid　of　them；　in　any　case；〃　said
Agatha；　knowing　the　contrary；　but　recognizing　the　convenience　of
shaming　Gertrude　into　silence。

They　listened　again。　The　storm　was　now　very　boisterous；　and　they
could　not　hear　the　bell。　Suddenly　there　was　a　loud　knocking　at
the　house　door。　Gertrude　screamed；　and　her　cry　was　echoed　from
the　rooms　above；　where　several　girls　had　heard　the　knocking　also；
and　had　been　driven　by　it　into　the　state　of　mind　which
accompanies　the　climax　of　a　nightmare。　Then　a　candle　flickered　on
the　stairs；　and　Miss　Wilson's　voice；　reassuringly　firm；　was
heard。

〃Who　is　that？〃

〃It　is　I；　Miss　Wilson；　and　Gertrude。　We　have　been　watching　the
storm；　and　there　is　some　one　knocking　at　the〃　A　tremendous
battery　with　the　knocker；　followed　by　a　sound；　confused　by　the
gale；　as　of　a　man　shouting；　interrupted　her。

〃They　had　better　not　open　the　door；〃　said　Miss　Wilson；　in　some
alarm。　〃You　are　very　imprudent；　Agatha；　to　stand　here。　You　will
catch　your　death　ofDear　me！　What　can　be　the　matter？　She　hurried
down；　followed　by　Agatha；　Gertrude；　and　some　of　the　braver
students；　to　the　hall；　where　they　found　a　few　shivering　servants
watching　the　housekeeper；　who　was　at　the　keyhole　of　the　house
door；　querulously　asking　who　was　there。　She　was　evidently　not
heard　by　those　without；　for　the　knocking　recommenced　whilst　she
was　speaking；　and　she　recoiled　as　if　she　had　received　a　blow　on
the　mouth。　Miss　Wilson　then　rattled　the　chain　to　attract
attention；　and　demanded　again　who　was　there。

〃Let　us　in；〃　was　returned　in　a　hollow　shout　through　the　keyhole。
〃There　is　a　dying　woman　and　three　children　here。　Open　the　door。〃

Miss　Wilson　lost　her　presence　of　mind。　To　gain　time；　she　replied；
〃II　can't　hear　you。　What　do　you　say？〃

〃Damnation！〃　said　the　voice；　speaking　this　time　to　some　one
outside。　〃They　can't　hear。〃　And　the　knocking　recommenced　with
increased　urgency。　Agatha；　excited；　caught　Miss　Wilson's　dressing
gown；　and　repeated　to　her　what　the　voice　had　said。　Miss　Wilson
had　heard　distinctly　enough；　and　she　felt；　without　knowing
clearly　why；　that　the　door　must　be　opened；　but　she　was　almost
over…mastered　by　a　vague　dread　of　what　was　to　follow。　She　began
to　undo　the　chain；　and　Agatha　helped　with　the　bolts。　Two　of　the
servants　exclaimed　that　they　were　all　about　to　be　murdered　in
their　beds；　and　ran　away。　A　few　of　the　students　seemed　inclined
to　follow　their　example。　At　last　the　door；　loosed；　was　blown　wide
open；　flinging　Miss　Wilson　and　Agatha　back；　and　admitting　a
whirlwind　that　tore　round　the　hall；　snatched　at　the　women's
draperies；　and　blew　out　the　lights。　Agatha；　by　a　hash　of
lightning；　saw　for　an　instant　two　men　straining　at　the　door　like
sailors　at　a　capstan。　Then　she　knew　by　the　cessation　of　the
whirlwind　that　they　had　shut　it。　Matches　were　struck；　the　candles
relighted；　and　the　newcomers　clearly　perceived。

Smilash；　bareheaded；　without　a　coat；　his　corduroy　vest　and
trousers　heavy　with　rain；　a　rough…looking；　middle…aged　man；
poorly　dressed　like　a　shepherd；　wet　as　Smilash；　with　the
expression；　piteous；　patient；　and　desperate；　of　one　hard　driven
by　ill…fortune；　and　at　the　end　of　his　resources；　two　little
children；　a　boy　and　a　girl；　almost　naked；　cowering　under　an　old
sack　that　had　served　them　as　an　umbrella；　and；　lying　on　the
settee　where　the　two　men　had　laid　it；　a　heap　of　wretched　wearing
apparel；　sacking；　and　rotten　matting；　with　Smilash's　coat　and
sou'wester；　the　whole　covering　a　bundle　which　presently　proved　to
be　an　exhausted　woman　with　a　tiny　infant　at　her　breast。　Smilash's
expression；　as　he　looked　at　her；　was　ferocious。

〃Sorry　fur　to　trouble　you；　lady；〃　said　the　man；　after　glancing
anxiously　at　Smilash；　as　if　he　had　expected　him　to　act　as
spokesman；　〃but　my　roof　and　the　side　of　my　house　has　gone　in　the
storm；　and　my　missus　has　been　having　another　little　one；　and　I　am
sorry　to　ill…convenience　you；　Miss；　butbut〃　

〃Inconvenience！〃　exclaimed　Smilash。　〃It　is　the　lady's　privilege
to　relieve　youher　highest　privilege！〃

The　little　boy　here　began　to　cry　from　mere　misery；　and　the　woman
roused　herself　to　say；　〃For　shame；　Tom！　before　the　lady；〃　and
then　collapsed；　too　weak　to　care　for　what　might　happen　next　in
the　world。　Smilash　looked　impatiently　at　Miss　Wilson；　who
hesitated；　and　said　to　him：

〃What　do　you　expect　me　to　do？〃

〃To　help　us；〃　he　replied。　Then；　with　an　explosion　of　nervous
energy；　he　added：　〃Do　what　your　heart　tells　you　to　do。　Give　your
bed　and　your　clothes　to　the　woman；　and　let　your　girls　pitch　their
books　to　the　devil　for　a　few　days　and　make　something　for　these
poor　little　creatures　to　wear。　The　poor　have　worked　hard　enough
to　clothe　THEM。　Let　them　take　their　turn　now　and　clothe　the
poor。〃

〃No；　no。　Steady；　master；〃　said　the　man；　stepping　forward　to
propitiate　Miss　Wilson；　and　evidently　much　oppressed　by　a　sense
of　unwelcomeness。　〃It　ain't　any　fault　of　the　lady's。　Might　I　make
so　bold　as　to　ask　you　to　put　this　woman　of　mine　anywhere　that　may
be　convenient　until　morning。　Any　sort　of　a　place　will　do；　she's
accustomed　to　rough　it。　Just　to　have　a　roof　over　her　until　I　find
a　room　in　the　village　where　we　can　shake　down。〃　Here；　led　by　his
own　words　to　contemplate　the　future；　he　looked　desolately　round
the　cornice　of　the　hall；　as　if　it　were　a　shelf　on　which　somebody
might　have　left　a　suitable　lodging　for　him。

Miss　Wilson　turned　her　back　decisively　and　contemptuously　on
Smilash。　She　had　recovered　herself。　〃I　will　keep　your　wife　here；〃
she　said　to　the　man。　〃Every　care　shall　be　taken　of　her。　The
children　can　stay　too。〃

〃Three　cheers　for　moral　science！〃　cried　Smilash；　ecstatically
breaking　into　the　outrageous　dialect　he　had　forgotten　in　his