fraternity-第61章

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〃Are　you　taking　her？〃

It　was　beautifully　uttered；　without　a　trace　of　bias　or　curiosity；　with　an　unforced　accent；　neither　indifferent　nor　too　interestedno　one　could　have　told　whether　it　was　meant　for　generosity　or　malice。　Hilary　took　it　for　the　former。

〃Thank　you；〃　he　said；　〃but　that　comedy　is　finished。〃

Close　to　the　edge　of　the　Round　Pond　a　swanlike　cutter　was　putting　out　to　sea；　in　the　wake　of　this　fair　creature　a　tiny　scooped…out　bit　of　wood；　with　three　feathers　for　masts；　bobbed　and　trembled；　and　the　two　small　ragged　boys　who　owned　that　little　galley　were　stretching　bits　of　branch　out　towards　her　over　the　bright　waters。

Bianca　looked；　without　seeing；　at　this　proof　of　man's　pride　in　his　own　property。　　A　thin　gold　chain　hung　round　her　neck；　suddenly　she　thrust　it　into　the　bosom　of　her　dress。　　It　had　broken　into　two；　between　her　fingers。

They　reached　home　without　another　word。

At　the　door　of　Hilary's　study　sat　Miranda。　　The　little　person　answered　his　caress　by　a　shiver　of　her　sleek　skin；　then　curled　herself　down　again　on　the　spot　she　had　already　warmed。

〃Aren't　you　coming　in　with　me？〃　　he　said。

Miranda　did　not　move。

The　reason　for　her　refusal　was　apparent　when　Hilary　had　entered。　Close　to　the　long　bookcase；　behind　the　bust　of　Socrates；　stood　the　little　model。　　Very　still；　as　if　fearing　to　betray　itself　by　sound　or　movement；　was　her　figure　in　its　blue…green　frock；　and　a　brimless　toque　of　brown　straw；　with　two　purplish　roses　squashed　together　into　a　band　of　darker　velvet。　　Beside　those　roses　a　tiny　peacock's　feather　had　been　slipped　inunholy　little　visitor；　slanting　backward；　trying；　as　it　were；　to　draw　all　eyes；　yet　to　escape　notice。　　And；　wedged　between　the　grim　white　bust　and　the　dark　bookcase；　the　girl　herself　was　like　some　unlawful　spirit　which　had　slid　in　there；　and　stood　trembling　and　vibrating；　ready　to　be　shuttered　out。

Before　this　apparition　Hilary　recoiled　towards　the　door；　hesitated；　and　returned。

〃You　should　not　have　come　here；〃　he　muttered；　〃after　what　we　said　to　you　yesterday。〃

The　little　model　answered　quickly：　〃But　I've　seen　Hughs；　Mr。　Dallison。　　He's　found　out　where　I　live。　　Oh；　he　does　look　dreadful；　he　frightens　me。　　I　can't　ever　stay　there　now。〃

She　had　come　a　little　out　of　her　hiding…place；　and　stood　fidgeting　her　hands　and　looking　down。

'She's　not　speaking　the　truth；'　thought　Hilary。

The　little　model　gave　him　a　furtive　glance。　　〃I　did　see　him；〃　she　said。　　〃I　must　go　right　away　now；　it　wouldn't　be　safe；　would　it？〃　Again　she　gave　him　that　swift　look。

Hilary　thought　suddenly：　'She　is　using　my　own　weapon　against　me。　　If　she　has　seen　the　man；　he　didn't　frighten　her。　　It　serves　me　right！'　With　a　dry　laugh；　he　turned　his　back。

There　was　a　rustling　round。　　The　little　model　had　moved　out　of　her　retreat；　and　stood　between　him　and　the　door。　　At　this　stealthy　action；　Hilary　felt　once　more　the　tremor　which　had　come　over　him　when　he　sat　beside　her　in　the　Broad　Walk　after　the　baby's　funeral。　Outside　in　the　garden　a　pigeon　was　pouring　forth　a　continuous　love。　song；　Hilary　heard　nothing　of　it；　conscious　only　of　the　figure　of　the　girl　behind　him…that　young。　　figure　which　had　twined　itself　about　his　senses。

〃Well；　what　is　it　you　want？〃　　he　said　at　last。

The　little　model　answered　by　another　question。

'Are　you　really　going　away；　Mr。　Dallison？〃

〃I　am。〃

She　raised　her　hands　to　the　level　of　her　breast；　as　though　she　meant　to　clasp　them　together；　without　doing　so；　however；　she　dropped　them　to　her　sides。　　They　were　cased　in　very　worn　suede　gloves；　and　in　this　dire　moment　of　embarrassment　Hilary's　eyes　fastened　themselves　on　those　slim　hands　moving　against　her　skirt。

The　little　model　tried　at　once　to　slip　them　away　behind　her。　Suddenly　she　said　in　her　matter…of…fact　voice：　〃I　only　wanted　to　ask　Can't　I　come　too？〃

At　this　question；　whose　simplicity　might　have　made　an　angel　smile；　Hilary　experienced　a　sensation　as　if　his　bones　had　been　turned　to　water。　　It　was　strangedeliciousas　though　he　had　been　suddenly　offered　all　that　he　wanted　of　her；　without　all　those　things　that　he　did　not　want。　　He　stood　regarding　her　silently。　　Her　cheeks　and　neck　were　red；　there　was　a　red　tinge；　too；　in　her　eyelids；　deepening　the　〃chicory…flower〃　colour　of　her　eyes。　　She　began　to　speak；　repeating　a　lesson　evidently　learned　by　heart。

〃　I　wouldn't　be　in　your　way。　　I　wouldn't　cost　much。　　I　could　do　everything　you　wanted。　　I　could　learn　typewriting。　　I　needn't　live　too　near；　or　that；　if　you　didn't　want　me；　because　of　people　talking；　I'm　used　to　being　alone。　　Oh；　Mr。　Dallison；　I　could　do　everything　for　you。　　I　wouldn't　mind　anything；　and　I'm　not　like　some　girls；　I　do　know　what　I'm　talking　about。〃

〃Do　you？〃

The　little　model　put　her　hands　up；　and；　covering　her　face；　said：

〃If　you'd　try　and　see！〃

Hilary's　sensuous　feeling　almost　vanished；　a　lump　rose　in　his　throat　instead。

〃My　child；〃　he　said；　〃you　are　too　generous！〃

The　little　model　seemed　to　know　instinctively　that　by　touching　his　spirit　she　had　lost　ground。　　Uncovering　her　face；　she　spoke　breathlessly；　growing　very　pale：

〃Oh　no；　I'm　not。　　I　want　to　be　let　come；　I　don't　want　to　stay　here。　I　know　I'll　get　into　mischief　if　you　don't　take　meoh；　I　know　I　will！〃

〃If　I　were　to　let　you　come　with　me；〃　said　Hilary；　〃what　then？　　What　sort　of　companion　should　I　be　to　you；　or　you　to　me？　　You　know　very　well。　　Only　one　sort。　　It's　no　use　pretending；　child；　that　we've　any　interests　in　common。〃

The　little　model　came　closer。

〃I　know　what　I　am；〃　she　said；　〃and　I　don't　want　to　be　anything　else。　I　can　do　what　you　tell　me　to；　and　I　shan't　ever　complain。　　I'm　not　worth　any　more！〃

〃You're　worth　more；〃　muttered　Hilary；　〃than　I　can　ever　give　you；　and　I'm　worth　more　than　you　can　ever　give　me。〃

The　little　model　tried　to　answer；　but　her　words　would　not　pass　her　throat；　she　threw　her　head　back　trying　to　free　them；　and　stood；　swaying。　　Seeing　her　like　this　before　him；　white　as　a　sheet；　with　her　eyes　closed　and　her　lips　parted；　as　though　about　to　faint；　Hilary　seized　her　by　the　shoulders。　　At　the　touch　of　those　soft　shoulders；　his　face　became　suffused　with　blood；　his　lips　trembled。　　Suddenly　her　eyes　opened　ever　so　little　between　their　lids；　and　looked　at　him。　And　the　perception　that　she　was　not　really　going　to　faint；　that　it　was　a　little　desperate　wile　of　this　child　Delilah；　made　him　wrench　away　his　hands。　　The　moment　she　felt　that　grasp　relax　she　sank　down　and　clasped　his　knees；　pressing　them　to　her　bosom　so　that　he　could　not　stir。　　Closer　and　closer　she　pressed　them　to　her；　till　it　seemed　as　though　she　must　be　bruising　her　flesh。　　Her　breath　came　in　sobs；　her　eyes　were　closed；　her　lips　quivered　upwards。　　In　the　clutch　of　her　clinging　body　there　seemed　suddenly　the　whole　of　woman's　power　of　self…abandonment。　　It　was　just　that；　which；　at　this　moment；　so　horribly　painful　to　him；　prevented　Hilary　from　seizing　her　in　his　arms　just　that　queer　seeming　self…effacement；　as　though　she　were　lost　to　knowledge　of　what　she　did。　　It　seemed　too　brutal；　too　like　taking　advantage　of　a　child。

》From　calm　is　born　the　wind；　the　ripple　from　the　still　pool；　self　out　of　nothingnessso　all　passes　imperceptibly；　no　man　knows　how。　　The　little　model's　moment　of　self…oblivion　passed；　and　into　her　wet　eyes　her　plain；　twisting　spirit　suddenly　writhed　up　again；　for　all　the　world　as　if　she　had　said：　'I　won't　let　you　go；　I'll　keep　youI'll　keep　you。'

Hilary　broke　away　from　her；　and　she　fell　forward　on　her　face。

〃Get　up；　child；〃　he　said〃get　up；　for　God's　sake；　don't　lie　there！〃

She　rose　obediently；　choking　down　her　sobs；　mopping　her　face　with　a　small；　dirty　handkerchief。　　Suddenly；　taking　a　step　towards　him；　she　clenched　both　her　hands　and　struck　them　downwards。

〃I'll　go　to　the　bad；〃　she　said…〃　I　willif　you　don't　take　me！〃　And；　her　breast　heaving；　her　hair　all　loose；　she　stared　straight　into　his　face　with　her　red…rimmed　eyes。　　Hilary　turned　suddenly；　took　a　book　up　from　the　writing…table；　and　opened　it。　　His　face　was　again　suffused　with　blood；　his　hands　and　lips　trembled；　his　eyes　had　a　queer　fixed　stare。

〃Not　now；　not　now；〃　he　muttered；　〃go　away　now。　　I'll　come　to　you　to…morrow。〃

The　little　model　gave　him　the　look　a　dog　gives　you　when　it　asks　if　you　are