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bitterness。
〃You bet it's 'a pair' that will take your 'two knaves；' you and your Lord
Brownstone；〃 returned Golly； dropping a mock courtesy。 〃Ta…ta； I'm going
on the stage。〃
BOOK III
She went first into a tobacconist'sand sold cigarettes。 Sometimes
she suffered from actual want； and ate fried fish。 〃Do you know how
nice fried fish tastes in London；you on 'the Oilan'？〃 she wrote gayly。
〃I'm getting on splendidly； so's John Gale； I suppose； though he's looking
cadaverous from starving himself all round。 Tell aunty I haven't seen the
Queen yet； though after all I really believe she has not seen me。〃
Then； after a severe struggle； she succeeded in getting on the stage as a
song and dance girl。 She sang melodiously and danced divinely； so
remarkably that the ignorant public； knowing her to be a Manx girl； and
vaguely associating her with the symbol of the Isle of Man； supposed she
had three legs。 She was the success of the season； her cup of ambition
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was filled。 It was slightly embittered by the news that her friend Jinny
Jones had killed herself in the church at the wedding of her recreant lover
and the American heiress。 But the affair was scarcely alluded to by the
Society paperswho were naturally shocked at the bad taste of the
deceased。 And even Golly forgot it allon the stage。
BOOK IV
Meanwhile John Gale； or Brother Boreas； as he was known in the
monastery； was submittingamong other rigorsto an exceptionally
severe winter in Bishopsgate Street； which seemed to have an Arctic
climate of its own；possibly induced by the 〃freezing…out〃 process of
certain stock companies in its vicinity。
〃You are miserable； and eager to get out in the wicked world again； my
son； said the delightful old Superior； as he sat by the only fire； sipping a
glass of mulled port； when John came in from shoveling snow outside。 〃I；
therefore； merely to try you； shall make you gatekeeper。 The keys of the
monastery front door are under the door…mat in my cell； but I am a sound
sleeper。〃 He smiled seraphically； and winked casually as he sipped his
port。 〃We will call it； if you pleasea penance。〃
John threw himself in an agony of remorse and shame at the feet of the
Superior。 〃It isn't of myself I'm thinking；〃 he confessed wildly； 〃but of
that poor young man； Brother Bones； in the next cell to mine。 He is a
living skeleton； has got only one lung and an atrophied brain。 A night out
might do him good。〃
The Father Superior frowned。 〃Do you know who he is？〃
〃No。〃
〃His real name is Jones。 Why do you start？ You have heard it
before？〃
John had started； thinking of Jinny Jones； Golly's deserted and self…
immolated friend。
〃It is an uncommon name；〃 he stammered〃for a monastery； I mean。〃
〃He is or was an uncommon man！〃 said the Superior gravely。 〃But；〃
he added resignedly； 〃we cannot pick and choose our company here。 Most
of us have done something and have our own reasons for this retreat。
Brother Polygamus escaped here from the persecutions of his sixth wife。
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Even I；〃 continued the Superior with a gentle smile； putting his feet
comfortably on the mantelpiece； 〃have had my little fling； and the dear
boys used to sayahem！but this is mere worldly vanity。 You alone； my
dear son； he went on with slight severity； 〃seem to be wanting in some
criminality； orshall I say？some appropriate besetting sin to qualify you
for this holy retreat。 An absolutely gratuitous and blameless idiocy
appears to be your only peculiarity； and for this you must do penance。
From this day henceforth； I make you doorkeeper！ Go on with your
shoveling at present； and shut the door behind you； there's a terrible
draught in these corridors。〃
For three days John Gale underwent an agony of doubt and
determination； and it still snowed in Bishopsgate Street。
On the fourth evening he went to Brother Bones。
〃Would you like to have an evening out？〃
〃I would；〃 said Brother Bones。
〃What would you do？〃
〃I would go to see my remaining sister。〃 His left eyelid trembled
slowly in his cadaverous face。
〃But if you should hear she was ruined like the other？ What would
you do？〃
A shudder passed over the man。 〃I have not got my little knife；〃 he
said vacantly。
True； he had not！ The Brotherhood had no pockets；or rather only a
corporate one； which belonged to the Superior。 John Gale lifted his eyes
in sublime exaltation。 〃You shall go out；〃 he said with decision。
〃Muffle up until you are well out of Bishopsgate Street； where it still
snows。〃
〃But how did you get the keys？〃 said Brother Bones。
〃From under the Father Superior's door…mat。〃
〃But that was wrong； Brother。〃
〃The mat bore the inscription； 'Salve；' which you know in Latin means
'Welcome；'〃 returned John Gale。 〃It was logically a permission。〃
The two men gazed at each other silently。 A shudder passed over the
two left eyelids of their wan spiritual faces。
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〃But I have no money；〃 said Brother Bones。
〃Nor have I。 But here is a 'bus ticket and a free pass to the Gaiety。
You will probably find Golly somewhere about。 Tell her；〃 he said in a
hollow voice； 〃that I'm getting on。〃
〃I will；〃 said Brother Bones； with a deep cough。
The gate opened and he disappeared in the falling snow。 The
bloodhound kept by the monasteryone of the real Bishopsgate breed
bayed twice； and licked its huge jaws in ghastly anticipation。 〃I wonder；〃
said John Gale as he resumed his shoveling； 〃if I have done exactly right。
Candor compels me to admit that it is an open question。〃
BOOK V
Early the ne