fraternity-第36章
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The girl flashed a look at him that said：
'Could I make you jealous？'
Then； as though guilty of afar too daring thought； drooped her head； and answered：
〃No。〃
〃Not one？〃
The little model repeated almost passionately： 〃No。 I don't want any friends； I only want to be let alone。〃
Hilary began speaking rapidly。
〃But these Hughs have not left you alone。 I told you； I thought you ought to move； I've taken another room for you quite away from them。 Leave your furniture with a week's rent； and take your trunk quietly away to…morrow in a cab without saying a word to anyone。 This is the new address； and here's the money for your expenses。 They're dangerous for you； those people。〃
The little model muttered desperately： 〃But I don't care what they do！〃
Hilary went on： 〃Listen！ You mustn't come here again； or the man will trace you。 We will take care you have what's necessary till you can get other work。〃
The little model looked up at him without a word。 Now that the thin link which bound her to some sort of household gods had snapped； all the patience and submission bred in her by village life； by the hard facts of her story； and by these last months in London； served her well enough。 She made no fuss。 Hilary saw a tear roll down her cheek。
He turned his head away； and said： 〃Don't cry； my child！〃
Quite obediently the little model swallowed the tear。 A thought seemed to strike her：
〃But I could see you； Mr。 Dallison； couldn't I； sometimes？〃
Seeing from his face that this was not in the programme； she stood silent again； looking up at him。
It was a little difficult for Hilary to say： 〃I can't see you because my wife is jealous！〃 It was cruel to tell her： 〃I don't want to see you！ 〃besides； it was not true。
〃You'll soon be making friends；〃 he said at last； 〃and you can always write to me〃； and with a queer smile he added： 〃You're only just beginning life； you mustn't take these things to heart； you'll find plenty of people better able to advise and help you than ever I shall be！〃
The little model answered this by seizing his hand with both of hers。 She dropped it again at once； as if guilty of presumption； and stood with her head bent。 Hilary； looking down on the little hat which； by his special wish； contained no feathers； felt a lump rise in his throat。
〃It's funny；〃 he said； 〃I don't know your Christian name。〃
〃Ivy；〃 muttered the little model。
〃Ivy！ Well； I'll write to you。 But you must promise me to do exactly as I said。〃
The girl looked up； her face was almost uglylike a child's in whom a storm of feeling is repressed。
〃Promise！〃 repeated Hilary。
With a bitter droop of her lower lip； she nodded； and suddenly put her hand to her heart。 That action； of which she was clearly unconscious； so naively； so almost automatically was it done； nearly put an end to Hilary's determination。
〃Now you must go；〃 he said。
The little model choked； grew very red； and then quite white。
〃Aren't I even to say good…bye to Mr。 Stone？〃
Hilary shook his head。
〃He'll miss me；〃 she said desperately。 〃He will。 I know he will！〃
〃So shall I；〃 said Hilary。 〃We can't help that。〃
The little model drew herself up to her full height； her breast heaved beneath the clothes which had made her Hilary's。 She was very like 〃The Shadow〃 at that moment； as though whatever Hilary might do there she would bea little ghost； the spirit of the helpless submerged world； for ever haunting with its dumb appeal the minds of men。
〃Give me your hand；〃 said Hilary。
The little model put out her not too white； small hand。 It was soft； clinging： and as hot as fire。
〃Good…bye； my dear； and bless you！〃
The little model gave him a look with who…knows…what of reproach in it； and； faithful to her training； went submissively away。
Hilary did not look after her； but； standing by the lofty mantelpiece above the ashes of the fire； rested his forehead on his arm。 Not even a fly's buzzing broke the stillness。 There was sound for all that…not of distant music； but of blood beating in his ears and temples。
CHAPTER XXIII
THE 〃BOOK OF UNIVERSAL BROTHERHOOD〃
It is fitting that a few words should be said about the writer of the 〃Book of Universal Brotherhood。〃
Sylvanus Stone； having graduated very highly at the London University； had been appointed at an early age lecturer to more than one Public Institution。 He had soon received the professorial robes due to a man of his profound learning in the natural sciences； and from that time till he was seventy his life had flowed on in one continual round of lectures； addresses； disquisitions； and arguments on the subjects in which he was a specialist。 At the age of seventy； long after his wife's death and the marriages of his three children； he had for some time been living by himself； when a very serious illnessthe result of liberties taken with an iron constitution by a single mindprostrated him。
During the long convalescence following this illness the power of contemplation； which the Professor had up to then given to natural science； began to fix itself on life at large。 But the mind which had made of natural science an idea； a passion； was not content with vague reflections on life。 Slowly； subtly； with irresistible centrifugal forcewith a force which perhaps it would not have acquired but for that illnessthe idea； the passion of Universal Brotherhood had sucked into itself all his errant wonderings on the riddle of existence。 The single mind of this old man； divorced by illness from his previous existence； pensioned and permanently shelved； began to worship a new star； that with every week and month and year grew brighter； till all other stars had lost their glimmer and died out。
At the age of seventy…four he had begun his book。 Under the spell of his subject and of advancing age； his extreme inattention to passing matters became rapidly accentuated。 His figure had become almost too publicly conspicuous before Bianca； finding him one day seated on the roof of his lonely little top…story flat； the better to contemplate his darling Universe； had inveigled him home with her； and installed him in a room in her own house。 After the first day or two he had not noticed any change to speak of。
His habits in his new home were soon formed； and once formed； they varied not at all； for he admitted into his life nothing which took him from the writing of his book。
On the afternoon following Hilary's dismissal of the little model； being disappointed of his amanuensis； Mr。 Stone had waited for an hour； reading his pages over and over to himself。 He had then done his exercises。 At the usual time for tea he had sat down； and； with his cup and brown bread…and…butter alternately at his lips； had looked long and fixedly at the place where the girl was wont to sit。 Having finished； he left the room and went about the house。 He found no one but Miranda； who； seated in the passage leading to the studio； was trying to keep one eye on the absence of her master and the other on the absence of her mistress。 She joined Mr。 Stone； maintaining a respect…compelling interval behind him when he went before； and before him when he went behind。 When they had finished hunting； Mr。 Stone went down to the garden gate。 Here Bianca found him presently motionless； without a hat； in the full sun； craning his white head in the direction from which he knew the little model habitually came。 The mistress of the house was herself returning from her annual visit to the Royal Academy； where she still went； as dogs； from some perverted sense； will go and sniff round other dogs to whom they have long taken a dislike。 A loose…hanging veil depended from her mushroom…shaped and coloured hat。 Her eyes were brightened by her visit。 Mr。 Stone soon seemed to take in who she was； and stood regarding her a minute without speaking。 His attitude towards his daughters was rather like that of an old drake towards two swans whom he has inadvertently begottenthere was inquiry in it； disapproval； admiration； and faint surprise。
〃Why has she not come？〃 he said。
Bianca winced behind her veil。 〃Have you asked Hilary？〃
〃I cannot find him；〃 answered Mr。 Sto
