fraternity-第51章
按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
CHAPTER XXXI
SWAN SONG
The new wine； if it does not break the old bottle； after fierce effervescence seethes and bubbles quietly。
It was so in Mr。 Stone's old bottle； hour by hour and day by day； throughout the month。 A pinker； robuster look came back to his cheeks； his blue eyes； fixed on distance； had in them more light； his knees regained their powers； he bathed； and； all unknown to him； for he only saw the waters he cleaved with his ineffably slow stroke； Hilary and Martin； on alternate weeks； and keeping at a proper distance； for fear he should see them doing him a service； attended at that function in case Mr。 Stone should again remain too long seated at the bottom of the Serpentine。 Each morning after his cocoa and porridge he could be heard sweeping out his room with extraordinary vigour； and as ten o'clock came near anyone who listened would remark a sound of air escaping； as he moved up and down on his toes in preparation for the labours of the day。 No letters； of course； nor any newspapers disturbed the supreme and perfect self…containment of this life devoted to Fraternityno letters； partly because he lacked a known address； partly because for years he had not answered them； and with regard to newspapers； once a month he went to a Public Library； and could be seen with the last four numbers of two weekly reviews before him； making himself acquainted with the habits of those days； and moving his lips as though in prayer。 At ten each morning anyone in the corridor outside his room was startled by the whirr of an alarum clock； perfect silence followed； then rose a sound of shuffling； whistling； rustling； broken by sharply muttered words； soon from this turbid lake of sound the articulate； thin fluting of an old man's voice streamed forth。 This； alternating with the squeak of a quill pen； went on till the alarum clock once more went off。 Then he who stood outside could smell that Mr。 Stone would shortly eat； if； stimulated by that scent； he entered； he might see the author of the 〃Book of Universal Brotherhood〃 with a baked potato in one hand and a cup of hot milk in the other； on the table； too； the ruined forms of eggs； tomatoes； oranges； bananas； figs； prunes； cheese； and honeycomb； which had passed into other forms already； together with a loaf of wholemeal bread。 Mr。 Stone would presently emerge in his cottage… woven tweeds； and old hat of green…black felt； or； if wet； in a long coat of yellow gaberdine； and sou'wester cap of the same material； but always with a little osier fruit…bag in his hand。 Thus equipped； he walked down to Rose and Thorn's； entered； and to the first man he saw handed the osier fruit…bag； some coins； and a little book containing seven leaves； headed 〃Food： Monday； Tuesday； Wednesday；〃 and so forth。 He then stood looking through the pickles in some jar or other at things beyond； with one hand held out； fingers upwards； awaiting the return of his little osier fruit…bag。 Feeling。 presently that it had been restored to him； he would turn and walk out of the shop。 Behind his back； on the face of the department； the same protecting smile always rose。 Long habit had perfected it。 All now felt that； though so very different from themselves； this aged customer was dependent on them。 By not one single farthing or one pale slip of cheese would they have defrauded him for all the treasures of the moon； and any new salesman who laughed at that old client was promptly told to 〃shut his head。〃
Mr。 Stone's frail form； bent somewhat to one side by the increased gravamen of the osier bag； was now seen moving homewards。 He arrived perhaps ten minutes before the three o'clock alarum； and soon passing through preliminary chaos； the articulate； thin fluting of his voice streamed forth again； broken by the squeaking and spluttering of his quill。
But towards four o'clock signs of cerebral excitement became visible； his lips would cease to utter sounds； his pen to squeak。 His face； with a flushed forehead； would appear at the open window。 As soon as the little model came in sighther eyes fixed； not on his window； but on Hilary'she turned his back； evidently waiting for her to enter by the door。 His first words were uttered in a tranquil voice： 〃I have several pages。 I have placed your chair。 Are you ready？ Follow！〃
Except for that strange tranquillity of voice and the disappearance of the flush on his brow； there was no sign of the rejuvenescence that she brought； of such refreshment as steals on the traveller who sits down beneath a lime…tree toward the end of along day's journey； no sign of the mysterious comfort distilled into his veins by the sight of her moody young face； her young； soft limbs。 So from some stimulant men very near their end will draw energy； watching； as it were； a shape beckoning them forward； till suddenly it disappears in darkness。
In the quarter of an hour sacred to their tea and conversation he never noticed that she was always listening for sounds beyond； it was enough that in her presence he felt singleness of purpose strong within him。
When she had gone； moving languidly； moodily away； her eyes darting about for signs of Hilary； Mr。 Stone would sit down rather suddenly and fall asleep； to dream； perhaps； of YouthYouth with its scent of sap； its close beckonings； Youth with its hopes and fears； Youth that hovers round us so long after it is dead！ His spirit would smile behind its coveringthat thin china of his face； and； as dogs hunting in their sleep work their feet； so he worked the fingers resting on his woollen knees。
The seven o'clock alarum woke him to the preparation of the evening meal。 This eaten； he began once more to pace up and down； to pour words out into the silence； and to drive his squeaking quill。
So was being written a book such as the world had never seen！
But the girl who came so moodily to bring him refreshment； and went so moodily away； never in these days caught a glimpse of that which she was seeking。
Since the morning when he had left her abruptly； Hilary had made a point of being out in the afternoons and not returning till past six o'clock。 By this device he put off facing her and himself； for he could no longer refuse to see that he had himself to face。 In the few minutes of utter silence when the girl sat beside him； magnetic； quivering with awakening force； he had found that the male in him was far from dead。 It was no longer vague； sensuous feeling； it was warm； definite desire。 The more she was in his thoughts； the less spiritual his feeling for this girl of the people had become。
In those days he seemed much changed to such as knew him well。 Instead of the delicate； detached； slightly humorous suavity which he had accustomed people to expect from him； the dry kindliness which seemed at once to check confidence and yet to say； 'If you choose to tell me anything； I should never think of passing judgment on you； whatever you have done'instead of that rather abstracted； faintly quizzical air； his manner had become absorbed and gloomy。 He seemed to jib away from his friends。 His manner at the 〃Pen and Ink〃 was wholly unsatisfying to men who liked to talk。 He was known to be writing a new book； they suspected him of having 〃got into a hat〃 this Victorian expression； found by Mr。 Balladyce in some chronicle of post…Thackerayan manners； and revived by him in his incomparable way； as who should say； 'What delicious expressions those good bourgeois had！' now flourished in second childhood。
In truth； Hilary's difficulty with his new book was merely the one of not being able to work at it at all。 Even the housemaid who 〃did〃 his study noticed that day after day she was confronted by Chapter XXIV。； in spite of her employer's staying in； as usual； every morning。
The change in his manner and face； which had grown strained and harassed； had been noticed by Bianca； though she would have died sooner than admit she had noticed anything about him。 It was one of those periods in the lives of households like an hour of a late summer's daybrooding； electric； as yet quiescent； but charged with the currents of coming storms。
Twice only in those weeks while Hughs was in prison did Hilary see the girl。 O
