an unsocial socialist-第24章

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skaters；　except　Jane；　skimmed　away　in　all　directions。

〃You　are　breaking　the　ice　to　pieces；　Jane；〃　said　Agatha；　calling
from　a　safe　distance。　〃How　can　you　expect　it　to　bear　your
weight？〃

〃Pack　of　fools！〃　retorted　Jane　indignantly。　〃The　noise　only　shows
how　strong　it　is。〃

The　shock　which　the　report　had　given　Smilash　answered　him　his
question。　〃Make　a　note　that　wishes　for　the　destruction　of　the
human　race；　however　rational　and　sincere；　are　contrary　to
nature；〃　he　said；　recovering　his　spirits。　〃Besides；　what　a
precious　fool　I　should　be　if　I　were　working　at　an　international
association　of　creatures　only　fit　for　destruction！　Hi；　lady！　One
word；　Miss！〃　This　was　to　Miss　Ward；　who　had　skated　into　his
neighborhood。　〃It　bein'　a　cold　morning；　and　me　havin'　a　poor　and
common　circulation；　would　it　be　looked　on　as　a　liberty　if　I　was
to　cut　a　slide　here　or　take　a　turn　in　the　corner　all　to　myself？〃

〃You　may　skate　over　there　if　you　wish；〃　she　said；　after　a　pause
for　consideration；　pointing　to　a　deserted　spot　at　the　leeward　end
of　the　pond；　where　the　ice　was　too　rough　for　comfortable　skating。

〃Nobly　spoke！〃　he　cried；　with　a　grin；　hurrying　to　the　place
indicated；　where；　skating　being　out　of　the　question；　he　made　a
pair　of　slides；　and　gravely　exercised　himself　upon　them　until　his
face　glowed　and　his　fingers　tingled　in　the　frosty　air。　The　time
passed　quickly；　when　Miss　Ward　sent　for　him　to　take　off　her
skates　there　was　a　general　groan　and　declaration　that　it　could
not　possibly　be　half…past　eight　o'clock　yet。　Smilash　knelt　before
the　camp…stool；　and　was　presently　busy　unbuckling　and　unscrewing。
When　Jane's　turn　came；　the　camp…stool　creaked　beneath　her　weight。
Agatha　again　remonstrated　with　her；　but　immediately　reproached
herself　with　flippancy　before　Smilash；　to　whom　she　wished　to
convey　an　impression　of　deep　seriousness　of　character。

〃Smallest　foot　of　the　lot；〃　he　said　critically；　holding　Jane's
foot　between　his　finger　and　thumb　as　if　it　were　an　art　treasure
which　he　had　been　invited　to　examine。　〃And　belonging　to　the
finest　built　lady。〃

Jane　snatched　away　her　foot；　blushed；　and　said：

〃Indeed！　What　next；　I　wonder？〃

〃T'other　'un　next；〃　he　said；　setting　to　work　on　the　remaining
skate。　When　it　was　off；　he　looked　up　at　her；　and　she　darted　a
glance　at　him　as　she　rose　which　showed　that　his　compliment　（her
feet　were；　in　fact；　small　and　pretty）　was　appreciated。

〃Allow　me；　Miss；〃　he　said　to　Gertrude；　who　was　standing　on　one
leg；　leaning　on　Agatha；　and　taking　off　her　own　skates。

〃No；　thank　you；〃　she　said　coldly。　〃I　don't　need　your　assistance。〃

〃I　am　well　aware　that　the　offer　was　overbold；〃　he　replied；　with　a
self…complacency　that　made　his　profession　of　humility
exasperating。　〃If　all　the　skates　is　off；　I　will；　by　Miss　Wilson's
order；　carry　them　and　the　camp…stool　back　to　the　college。〃

Miss　Ward　handed　him　her　skates　and　turned　away。　Gertrude　placed
hers　on　the　stool　and　went　with　Miss　Ward。　The　rest　followed；
leaving　him　to　stare　at　the　heap　of　skates　and　consider　how　he
should　carry　them。　He　could　think　of　no　better　plan　than　to
interlace　the　straps　and　hang　them　in　a　chain　over　his　shoulder。
By　the　time　he　had　done　this　the　young　ladies　were　out　of　sight；
and　his　intention　of　enjoying　their　society　during　the　return　to
the　college　was　defeated。　They　had　entered　the　building　long
before　he　came　in　sight　of　it。

Somewhat　out　of　conceit　with　his　folly；　he　went　to　the　servants'
entrance　and　rang　the　bell　there。　When　the　door　was　opened；　he
saw　Miss　Ward　standing　behind　the　maid　who　admitted　him。

〃Oh；〃　she　said；　looking　at　the　string　of　skates　as　if　she　had
hardly　expected　to　see　them　again；　〃so　you　have　brought　our
things　back？〃

〃Such　were　my　instructions；〃　he　said；　taken　aback　by　her　manner。
〃You　had　no　instructions。　What　do　you　mean　by　getting　our　skates
into　your　charge　under　false　pretences？　I　was　about　to　send　the
police　to　take　them　from　you。　How　dare　you　tell　me　that　you　were
sent　to　wait　on　me；　when　you　know　very　well　that　you　were　nothing
of　the　sort？〃

〃I　couldn't　help　it；　Miss；〃　he　replied　submissively。　〃I　am　a
natural　born　liaralways　was。　I　know　that　it　must　appear
dreadful　to　you　that　never　told　a　lie；　and　don't　hardly　know　what
a　lie　is；　belonging　as　you　do　to　a　class　where　none　is　ever　told。
But　common　people　like　me　tells　lies　just　as　a　duck　swims。　I　ask
your　pardon；　Miss；　most　humble；　and　I　hope　the　young　ladies'll　be
able　to　tell　one　set　of　skates　from　t'other；　for　I'm　blest　if　I
can。〃

〃Put　them　down。　Miss　Wilson　wishes　to　speak　to　you　before　you　go。
Susan；　show　him　the　way。〃

〃Hope　you　ain't　been　and　got　a　poor　cove　into　trouble；　Miss？〃

〃Miss　Wilson　knows　how　you　have　behaved。〃

He　smiled　at　her　benevolently　and　followed　Susan　upstairs。　On
their　way　they　met　Jane；　who　stole　a　glance　at　him；　and　was　about
to　pass　by；　when　he　said：

〃Won't　you　say　a　word　to　Miss　Wilson　for　a　poor　common　fellow；
honored　young　lady？　I　have　got　into　dreadful　trouble　for　having
made　bold　to　assist　you　this　morning。〃

〃You　needn't　give　yourself　the　pains　to　talk　like　that；〃　replied
Jane　in　an　impetuous　whisper。　〃We　all　know　that　you're　only
pretending。〃

〃Well；　you　can　guess　my　motive；〃　he　whispered；　looking　tenderly
at　her。

〃Such　stuff　and　nonsense！　I　never　heard　of　such　a　thing　in　my
life；〃　said　Jane；　and　ran　away；　plainly　understanding　that　he　had
disguised　himself　in　order　to　obtain　admission　to　the　college　and
enjoy　the　happiness　of　looking　at　her。

〃Cursed　fool　that　I　am！〃　he　said　to　himself；　〃I　cannot　act　like　a
rational　creature　for　five　consecutive　minutes。〃

The　servant　led　him　to　the　study　and　announced；　〃The　man；　if　you
please；　ma'am。〃

〃Jeff　Smilash；〃　he　added　in　explanation。

〃Come　in；〃　said　Miss　Wilson　sternly。

He　went　in；　and　met　the　determined　frown　which　she　cast　on　him
from　her　seat　behind　the　writing　table；　by　saying　courteously：

〃Good…morning；　Miss　Wilson。〃

She　bent　forward　involuntarily；　as　if　to　receive　a　gentleman。
Then　she　checked　herself　and　looked　implacable。

〃I　have　to　apologize；〃　he　said；　〃for　making　use　of　your　name
unwarrantably　this　morningtelling　a　lie；　in　fact。　I　happened　to
be　skating　when　the　young　ladies　came　down；　and　as　they　needed
some　assistance　which　they　would　hardly　have　accepted　from　a
common　manexcuse　my　borrowing　that　tiresome　expression　from　our
acquaintance　SmilashI　set　their　minds　at　ease　by　saying　that
you　had　sent　for　me。　Otherwise；　as　you　have　given　me　a　bad
characterthough　not　worse　than　I　deservethey　would　probably
have　refused　to　employ　me；　or　at　least　I　should　have　been
compelled　to　accept　payment；　which　I；　of　course；　do　not　need。〃

Miss　Wilson　affected　surprise。　〃I　do　not　understand　you；〃　she
said。

〃Not　altogether；〃　he　said　smiling。　〃But　you　understand　that　I　am
what　is　called　a　gentleman。〃

〃No。　The　gentlemen　with　whom　I　am　conversant　do　not　dress　as　you
dress；　nor　speak　as　you　speak；　nor　act　as　you　act。〃

He　looked　at　her；　and　her　countenance　confirmed　the　hostility　of
her　tone。　He　instantly　relapsed　into　an　aggravated　phase　of
Smilash。

〃I　will　no　longer　attempt　to　set　myself　up　as　a　gentleman；〃　he
said。　〃I　am　a　common　man；　and　your　ladyship's　hi　recognizes　me　as
such　and　is　not　to　be　deceived。　But　don't　go　for　to　say　that　I　am
not　candid　when　I　am　as　candid　as　ever　you　will　let　me　be。　What
fault；　if　any；　do　you　find　with　my　putting　the　skates　on　the
young　ladies；　and　carryin'　the　campstool　for　them？〃

〃If　you　are　a　gentleman；〃　said　Miss　Wilson；　reddening；　〃your
conduct　in　persisting　in　these　antics　in　my　presence　is　insulting
to　me。　Extremely　so。〃

〃Miss　Wilson；〃　he　replied；　unruffled；　〃if　you　insist　on　Smilash；
you　shall　have　Smilash；　I　take　an　insane　pleasure　in　personating
him。　If　you　want　Sidneymy　real　Christian　nameyou　can　command
him。　But　allow　me　to　say　that　you　must　have　either　one　or　the
other。　If　you　become　frank　with　me；　I　will　understand　that　you
are　addressing　Sidney。　If　distant　and　severe；　Smilash。〃

〃No　matter　what　your　name　may　be；〃　said　Miss　Wilson；　much
annoyed；　〃I　forbid　you　to　come　here　or　to　hold　any　communication
whatever　with　the　young　ladies　in　my　charge。〃

〃Why？〃

〃Because　I　choose。