fraternity-第24章

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They　all　glanced　round　at　the　two　young　people；　who　stood　and　waited。

〃Finish　what　you're　at；〃　said　Martin；　〃then　give　me　three　pennyworth　of　bull's…eyes。〃

The　girl；　with　a　violent　effort；　finished　severing　the　cheese。　　The　thin…faced　woman　took　it；　and；　coughing　above　it；　went　away。　　The　girl；　who　could　not　take　her　eyes　off　Thyme；　now　served　them　with　three　pennyworth　of　bull's…eyes；　which　she　took　out　with　her　fingers；　for　they　had　stuck。　　Putting　them　in　a　screw　of　newspaper；　she　handed　them　to　Martin。　　The　young　man；　who　had　been　observing　negligently；　touched　Thyme's　elbow。　　She；　who　had　stood　with　eyes　cast　down；　now　turned。　　They　went　out；　Martin　handing　the　bull's…eyes　to　the　little　girl　with　an　affection　of　the　skin。

The　street　now　ended　in　a　wide　road　formed　of　little　low　houses。

〃Black；〃　said　Martin；　〃here；　all　down　this　road…casual　labour；　criminals；　loafers；　drunkards；　consumps。　　Look　at　the　faces！〃

Thyme　raised　her　eyes　obediently。　　In　this　main　thoroughfare　it　was　not　as　in　the　by…street；　and　only　dull　or　sullen　glances；　or　none　at　all；　were　bent　on　her。　　Some　of　the　houses　had　ragged　plants　on　the　window…sills；　in　one　window　a　canary　was　singing。　　Then；　at　a　bend；　they　came　into　a　blacker　reach　of　human　river。　　Here　were　outbuildings；　houses　with　broken　windows；　houses　with　windows　boarded　up；　fried…fish　shops；　low　public…houses；　houses　without　doors。　　There　were　more　men　here　than　women；　and　those　men　were　wheeling　barrows　full　of　rags　and　bottles；　or　not　even　full　of　rags　and　bottles；　or　they　were　standing　by　the　public…houses　gossiping　or　quarrelling　in　groups　of　three　or　four；　or　very　slowly　walking　in　the　gutters；　or　on　the　pavements；　as　though　trying　to　remember　if　they　were　alive。　　Then　suddenly　some　young　man　with　gaunt　violence　in　his　face　would　pass；　pushing　his　barrow　desperately；　striding　fiercely　by。　　And　every　now　and　then；　from　a　fried…fish　or　hardware　shop；　would　come　out　a　man　in　a　dirty　apron　to　take　the　sun　and　contemplate　the　scene；　not　finding　in　it；　seemingly；　anything　that　in　any　way　depressed　his　spirit。　Amongst　the　constant；　crawling；　shifting　stream　of　passengers　were　seen　women　carrying　food　wrapped　up　in　newspaper；　or　with　bundles　beneath　their　shawls。　　The　faces　of　these　women　were　generally　either　very　red　and　coarse　or　of　a　sort　of　bluish…white；　they　wore　the　expression　of　such　as　know　themselves　to　be　existing　in　the　way　that　Providence　has　arranged　they　should　exist。　　No　surprise；　revolt；　dismay；　or　shame　was　ever　to　be　seen　on　those　faces；　in　place　of　these　emotions　a　drab　and　brutish　acquiescence　or　mechanical　coarse　jocularity。　　To　pass　like　this　about　their　business　was　their　occupation　each　morning　of　the　year；　it　was　needful　to　accept　it。　Not　having　any　hope　of　ever；　being　different；　not　being　able　to　imagine　any　other　life；　they　were　not　so　wasteful　of　their　strength　as　to　attempt　either　to　hope　or　to　imagine。　　Here　and　there；　too；　very　slowly　passed　old　men　and　women；　crawling　along；　like　winter　bees　who；　in　some　strange　and　evil　moment；　had　forgotten　to　die　in　the　sunlight　of　their　toil；　and；　too　old　to　be　of　use；　had　been　chivied　forth　from　their　hive　to　perish　slowly　in　the　cold　twilight　of　their　days。

Down　the　centre　of　the　street　Thyme　saw　a　brewer's　dray　creeping　its　way　due　south　under　the　sun。　　Three　horses　drew　it；　with　braided　tails　and　beribboned　manes；　the　brass　glittering　on　their　harness。　High　up；　like　a　god；　sat　the　drayman；　his　little　slits　of　eyes　above　huge　red　cheeks　fixed　immovably　on　his　horses'　crests。　　Behind　him；　with　slow；　unceasing　crunch；　the　dray　rolled；　piled　up　with　hogsheads；　whereon　the　drayman's　mate　lay　sleeping。　　Like　the　slumbrous　image　of　some　mighty　unrelenting　Power；　it　passed；　proud　that　its　monstrous　bulk　contained　all　the　joy　and　blessing　those　shadows　on　the　pavement　had　ever　known。

The　two　young　people　emerged　on　to　the　high　road　running　east　and　west。

〃Cross　here；〃　said　Martin；　〃and　cut　down　into　Kensington。　　Nothing　more　of　interest　now　till　we　get　to　Hound　Street。　　Purceys　and　Purceys　all　round　about　this　part。〃

Thyme　shook　herself。

〃O　Martin；　let's　go　down　a　road　where　there's　some　air。　　I　feel　so　dirty。〃　　She　put　her　hand　up　to　her　chest。

〃There's　one　here；〃　said　Martin。

They　turned　to　the　left　into　a　road　that　had　many　trees。　　Now　that　she　could　breathe　and　look　about　her；　Thyme　once　more　held　her　head　erect　and　began　to　swing　her　arms。

〃Martin；　something　must　be　done！〃

The　young　doctor　did　not　reply；　his　face　still　wore　its　pale；　sarcastic；　observant　look。　　He　gave　her　arm　a　squeeze　with　a　half…　contemptuous　smile。




CHAPTER　XV

SECOND　PILGRIMAGE　TO　HOUND　STREET

Arriving　in　Hound　Street；　Martin　Stone　and　his　companion　went　straight　up　to　Mrs。　Hughs'　front　room。　　They　found　her　doing　the　week's　washing；　and　hanging　out　before　a　scanty　fire　part　of　the　little　that　the　week　had　been　suffered　to　soil。　　Her　arms　were　bare；　her　face　and　eyes　red；　the　steam　of　soapsuds　had　congealed　on　them。

Attached　to　the　bolster　by　a　towel；　under　his　father's　bayonet　and　the　oleograph　depicting　the　Nativity；　sat　the　baby。　　In　the　air　there　was　the　scent　of　him；　of　walls；　and　washing；　and　red　herrings。　　The　two　young　people　took　their　seat　on　the　window…sill。

〃May　we　open　the　window；　Mrs。　Hughs？〃　　said　Thyme。　　〃Or　will　it　hurt　the　baby？〃

〃No；　miss。〃

〃What's　the　matter　with　your　wrists？〃　　asked　Martin。

The　seamstress；　muffing　her　arms　with　the　garment　she　was　dipping　in　soapy　water；　did　not　answer。

〃Don't　do　that。　　Let　me　have　a　look。〃

Mrs。　Hughs　held　out　her　arms；　the　wrists　were　swollen　and　discoloured。

〃The　brute！〃　cried　Thyme。

The　young　doctor　muttered：　〃Done　last　night。　　Got　any　arnica？〃

〃No；　Sir。〃

〃Of　course　not。〃　　He　laid　a　sixpence　on　the　sill。　　〃Get　some　and　rub　it　in。　　Mind　you　don't　break　the　skin。〃

Thyme　suddenly　burst　out：　〃Why　don't　you　leave　him；　Mrs。　Hughs？　　Why　do　you　live　with　a　brute　like　that？〃

Martin　frowned。

〃Any　particular　row；〃　he　said；　〃or　only　just　the　ordinary？〃

Mrs。　Hughs　turned　her　face　to　the　scanty　fire。　　Her　shoulders　heaved　spasmodically。

Thus　passed　three　minutes；　then　she　again　began　rubbing　the　soapy　garment。

〃If　you　don't　mind；　I'll　smoke；〃　said　Martin。　　〃What's　your　baby's　name？　　Bill？　　Here；　Bill！〃　He　placed　his　little　finger　in　the　baby's　hand。　　〃Feeding　him　yourself？〃

〃Yes；　sir。〃

〃What's　his　number？〃

〃I've　lost　three；　sir；　there's　only　his　brother　Stanley　now。〃

〃One　a　year？〃

〃No；　Sir。　　I　missed　two　years　in　the　war；　of　course。〃

〃Hughs　wounded　out　there？〃

〃Yes；　sirin　the　head。〃

〃Ah！　　And　fever？〃

〃Yes；　Sir。〃

Martin　tapped　his　pipe　against　his　forehead。　　〃Least　drop　of　liquor　goes　to　it；　I　suppose？〃

Mrs。　Hughs　paused　in　the　dipping　of　a　cloth；　her　tear…stained　face　expressed　resentment；　as　though　she　had　detected　an　attempt　to　find　excuses　for　her　husband。

〃He　didn't　ought　to　treat　me　as　he　does；〃　she　said。

All　three　now　stood　round　the　bed；　over　which　the　baby　presided　with　solemn　gaze。

Thyme　said：　〃I　wouldn't　care　what　he　did；　Mrs。　Hughs；　I　wouldn't　stay　another　day　if　I　were　you。　　It's　your　duty　as　a　woman。〃

To　hear　her　duty　as　a　woman　Mrs。　Hughs　turned；　slow　vindictiveness　gathered　on　her　thin　face。

〃Yes；　miss？〃　　she　said。　　〃I　don't　know　what　to　do。

〃Take　the　children　and　go。　　What's　the　good　of　waiting？　　We'll　give　you　money　if　you　haven't　got　enough。〃

But　Mrs。　Hughs　did　not　answer。

〃Well？〃　　said　Martin；　blowing　out　a　cloud　of　smoke。

Thyme　burst　out　again：　〃Just　go；　the　very　minute　your　little　boy　comes　back　from　school。　　Hughs　'll　never　find　you。　　It　'll　serve　him　right。　　No　woman　ought　to　put　up　with　what　you　have；　it's　simply　weakness；　Mrs。　Hughs。〃

As　though　that　word　had　forced　its　way　into　her　very　heart　and　set　the　blood　free　suddenly；　Mrs。　Hughs'　face　turned　the　colour　of　tomatoes。　　She　poured　forth　words：

〃And　leave　him　to　that　young　girland　leave　him　to　his　wickedness！　After　I've　been　his　wife　eight　years　and　borne　him　five！　after　I've　done　what　I　have　for　him！　　I　never　want　no　better　husband　than　what　he　used　to　be；　till　she　came　with　her　pale　face　and　her　prinky　manners；　andand　her　mouth　that　you　can　tell　she's　bad　by。　　Let　her