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！
too often some cold night； and all because he has something in him
which will not accept things as they are； believing always that they
should be better。 'Il n'y a riens de plus tragique'！〃
〃According to you； then；〃 said Sheltonand the conversation seemed
to him of a sudden to have taken too personal a turn〃rebellion of
any sort is fatal。〃
〃Ah！〃 replied the little man； with the eagerness of one whose ideal
it is to sit under the awning of a caf？ and talk life upside down；
〃you pose me a great problem there！ If one makes rebellion； it is
always probable that one will do no good to any one and harm one's
self。 The law of the majority arranges that。 But I would draw your
attention to this〃and he paused； as if it were a real discovery to
blow smoke through his nose〃if you rebel it is in all likelihood
because you are forced by your nature to rebel； this is one of the
most certain things in life。 In any case； it is necessary to avoid
falling between two stoolswhich is unpardonable；〃 he ended with
complacence。
Shelton thought he had never seen a man who looked more completely as
if he had fallen between two stools； and he had inspiration enough to
feel that the little barber's intellectual rebellion and the action
logically required by it had no more than a bowing acquaintanceship。
〃By nature；〃 went on the little man； 〃I am an optimist； it is in
consequence of this that I now make pessimism。 I have always had
ideals； seeing myself cut off from them for ever； I must complain； to
complain； monsieur； is very sweet！〃
Shelton wondered what these ideals had been； but had no answer ready；
so he nodded； and again held out his cigarettes； for； like a true
Southerner； the little man had thrown the first away； half smoked。
〃The greatest pleasure in life；〃 continued the Frenchman； with a bow；
〃is to talk a little to a being who is capable of understanding you。
At present we have no one here； now that that old actor's dead。 Ah！
there was a man who was rebellion incarnate！ He made rebellion as
other men make money； 'c'etait son metier'； when he was no longer
capable of active revolution； he made it getting drunk。 At the last
this was his only way of protesting against Society。 An interesting
personality； 'je le regrette beaucoup'。 But； as you see； he died in
great distress； without a soul to wave him farewell； because as you
can well understand； monsieur； I don't count myself。 He died drunk。
'C'etait un homme'！〃
Shelton had continued staring kindly at the little man； the barber
added hastily：
〃It's difficult to make an end like that one has moments of
weakness。〃
〃Yes；〃 assented Shelton； 〃one has indeed。〃
The little barber looked at him with cynical discretion。
〃Oh！〃 he said； 〃it 's to the destitute that such things are
important。 When one has money； all these matters…〃
He shrugged his shoulders。 A smile had lodged amongst his crow's…
feet； he waved his hand as though to end the subject。
A sense of having been exposed came over Shelton。
〃You think； then；〃 said he； 〃that discontent is peculiar to the
destitute？〃
〃Monsieur；〃 replied the little barber； 〃a plutocrat knows too well
that if he mixes in that 'galere' there 's not a dog in the streets
more lost than he。〃
Shelton rose。
〃The rain is over。 I hope you 'll soon be better； perhaps you 'll
accept this in memory of that old actor；〃 and he slipped a sovereign
into the little Frenchman's hand。
The latter bowed。
〃Whenever you are passing； monsieur；〃 he said eagerly； 〃I shall be
charmed to see you。〃
And Shelton walked away。 〃'Not a dog in the streets more lost；'〃
thought he； 〃now what did he mean by that？〃
Something of that 〃lost dog〃 feeling had gripped his spirit。 Another
month of waiting would kill all the savour of anticipation； might
even kill his love。 In the excitement of his senses and his nerves；
caused by this strain of waiting； everything seemed too vivid； all
was beyond life size； like Artwhose truths； too strong for daily
use； are thus； unpopular with healthy people。 As will the； bones ；in
a worn face； the spirit underlying things had reached the surface；
the meanness and intolerable measure of hard facts； were too
apparent。 Some craving for help； some instinct； drove him into
Kensington； for he found himself before his； mother's house。
Providence seemed bent on flinging him from pole to pole。
Mrs。 Shelton was in town； and； though it was the first of June； sat
warming her feet before a fire； her face； with its pleasant colour；
was crow's…footed like the little barber's； but from optimism； not
rebellion。 She； smiled when she saw her son； and the wrinkles round
her eyes twinkled； with vitality。
〃Well； my dear boy；〃 she said； 〃it's lovely to see you。 And how is
that sweet girl？〃
〃Very well； thank you；〃 replied Shelton。
〃She must be such a dear！〃
〃Mother；〃 stammered Shelton； 〃I must give it up。〃
〃Give it up？ My dear Dick； give what up？ You look quite worried。
Come and sit down； and have a cosy chat。 Cheer up！〃 And Mrs。
Shelton； with her head askew； gazed at her son quite irrepressibly。
Mother；〃 said Shelton； who； confronted by her optimism； had never；
since his time of trial began； felt so wretchedly dejected； 〃I can't
go on waiting about like this。〃
〃My dear boy； what is the matter？〃；
〃Everything is wrong！
〃Wrong？〃 cried Mrs。 Shelton。 〃Come； tell me all； about it！〃
But Shelton； shook his head。
〃You surely have not had a quarrel〃
Mrs。 Shelton stopped； the question seemed so vulgarone might have
asked it of a groom。
〃No；〃 said Shelton； and his answer sounded like a groan。
〃You know； my dear old Dick；〃 murmured his mother； 〃it seems a little
mad。〃
〃I know it seems mad。〃
〃Come！〃 said Mrs。 Shelton； taking his hand between her own； 〃you
never used to be like this。〃
〃No；〃 said Shelton； with a laugh； 〃I never used to be like this。〃
Mrs。 Shelton snuggled in her Chuda shawl。
〃Oh；〃 she said； with cheery sympathy； 〃I know exactly how you feel！〃
Shelton； holding his head； stared at the fire； which played and
bubbled like his mother's face。
〃But you're so fond of each other；〃 she began again。 〃Such a sweet
girl！〃
〃You don't understand；〃 muttered Shelton gloomily； 〃it 's not her
it's nothingit'smyself！〃
Mrs。 Shelton again seized his hand； and this time pressed it to her
soft； warm cheek； that had lost the elasticity of youth。
〃Oh！〃 she cried again； 〃I understand。 I know exactly what you 're
feeling。〃 But Shelton saw from the fixed beam in her eyes that she
had not an inkling。 To do him justice； he was not so foolish as to
try to give her one。 Mrs。 Shelton sighed。 〃It would be so lovely if
you could wake up
to…morrow and think differently。 If I were you； my dear； I would
have a good long walk； and then a Turkish bath； and then I would ju