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！
his probation； and the end seemed long in coming。 To be so near
Antonia； and as far as if he lived upon another planet； was worse
than ever。 Each day he took a sculling skiff； and pulled down to
near Holm Oaks； on the chance of her being on the river； but the
house was two miles off； and the chance but slender。 She never came。
After spending the afternoons like this he would return； pulling hard
against the stream； with a queer feeling of relief； dine heartily；
and fall adreaming over his cigar。 Each morning he awoke in an
excited mood； devoured his letter if he had one； and sat down to
write to her。 These letters of his were the most amazing portion of
that fortnight。 They were remarkable for failing to express any
single one of his real thoughts； but they were full of sentiments
which were not what he was truly feeling； and when he set himself to
analyse； he had such moments of delirium that he was scared； and
shocked； and quite unable to write anything。 He made the discovery
that no two human beings ever tell each other what they really feel；
except； perhaps； in situations with which he could not connect
Antonia's ice…blue eyes and brilliant smile。 All the world was too
engaged in planning decency。
Absorbed by longings； he but vaguely realised the turmoil of
Commemoration； which had gathered its hundreds for their annual cure
of salmon mayonnaise and cheap champagne。 In preparation for his
visit to Holm Oaks he shaved his beard and had some clothes sent down
from London。 With them was forwarded a letter from Ferrand； which
ran as follows：
IMPERIAL PEACOCK HOTEL；
FOLKESTONE；
June 20。
MY DEAR SIR；
Forgive me for not having written to you before； but I have been so
bothered that I have felt no taste for writing； when I have the time；
I have some curious stories to tell you。 Once again I have
encountered that demon of misfortune which dogs my footsteps。 Being
occupied all day and nearly all night upon business which brings me a
heap of worries and next to no profit； I have no chance to look after
my things。 Thieves have entered my room； stolen everything； and left
me an empty box。 I am once again almost without clothes； and know
not where to turn to make that figure necessary for the fulfilment of
my duties。 You see； I am not lucky。 Since coming to your country；
the sole piece of fortune I have had was to tumble on a man like you。
Excuse me for not writing more at this moment。 Hoping that you are
in good health； and in affectionately pressing your hand；
I am；
Always your devoted
LOUIS FERRAND。
Upon reading this letter Shelton had once more a sense of being
exploited； of which he was ashamed； he sat down immediately and wrote
the following reply：
BISHOPS HEAD HOTEL；
OXFORD；
June 25。
MY DEAR FERRAND；
I am grieved to hear of your misfortunes。 I was much hoping that you
had made a better start。 I enclose you Post Office Orders for four
pounds。 Always glad to hear from you。
Yours sincerely；
RICHARD SHELTON。
He posted it with the satisfaction that a man feels who nobly shakes
off his responsibilities。
Three days before July he met with one of those disturbing incidents
which befall no persons who attend quietly to their； property and
reputation。
The night was unbearably hot； and he had wandered out with his cigar；
a woman came sidling up and spoke to him。 He perceived her to be one
of those made by men into mediums for their pleasure； to feel
sympathy with whom was sentimental。 Her face was flushed； her
whisper hoarse； she had no attractions but the curves of a tawdry
figure。 Shelton was repelled by her proprietary tone； by her blowzy
face； and by the scent of patchouli。 Her touch on his arm startled
him； sending a shiver through his marrow； he almost leaped aside； and
walked the faster。 But her breathing as she followed sounded
laboured； it suddenly seemed pitiful that a woman should be panting
after him like that。
〃The least I can do；〃 he thought； 〃is to speak to her。〃 He stopped；
and； with a mixture of hardness and compassion； said； 〃It 's
impossible。〃
In spite of her smile； he saw by her disappointed eyes that she
accepted the impossibility。
〃I 'm sorry；〃 he said。
She muttered something。 Shelton shook his head。
〃I 'm sorry；〃 he said once more。 〃Good。…night。〃
The woman bit her lower lip。
〃Good…night；〃 she answered dully。
At the corner of the street he turned his head。 The woman was
hurrying uneasily； a policeman coming from behind had caught her by
the arm。
His heart began to beat。 〃Heavens！〃 he thought； 〃what shall I do
now？〃 His first impulse was to walk away； and think no more about it
to act； indeed； like any averagely decent man who did not care to
be concerned in such affairs。
He retraced his steps； however； and halted half a dozen paces from
their figures。
〃Ask the gentleman！ He spoke to me；〃she was saying in her brassy
voice； through the emphasis of which Shelton could detect her fear。
〃That's all right；〃 returned the policeman； 〃we know all about that。〃
〃Youpolice！〃 cried the woman tearfully； 〃I 've got to get my
living； have n't I； the same as you？〃
Shelton hesitated； then； catching the expression in her frightened
face； stepped forward。 The policeman turned； and at the sight of his
pale； heavy jowl； cut by the cheek…strap； and the bullying eyes； he
felt both hate and fear； as if brought face to face with all that he
despised and loathed； yet strangely dreaded。 The cold certainty of
law and order upholding the strong； treading underfoot the weak； the
smug front of meanness that only the purest spirits may attack；
seemed to be facing him。 And the odd thing was； this man was only
carrying out his duty。 Shelton moistened his lips。
〃You're not going to charge her？〃
〃Aren't I？〃 returned the policeman。
〃Look here； constable； you 're making a mistake。〃
The policeman took out his note…book。
〃Oh； I 'm making a mistake？ I 'll take your name and address；
please； we have to report these things。〃
〃By all means；〃 said Shelton； angrily giving it。 〃I spoke to her
first。〃
〃Perhaps you'll come up to the court tomorrow morning； and repeat
that；〃 replied the policeman； with incivility。
Shelton looked at him with all the force at his command。
〃You had better be careful； constable；〃 he said； but in the act of
uttering these words he thought how pitiable they sounded。
〃We 're not to be trifled with；〃 returned the policeman in a
threatening voice。
Shelton could think of nothing but to repeat：
〃You had better be careful； constable。〃
〃You're a gentleman；〃 replied the policeman。 〃I'm only a policeman。
You've got the riches； I've got the power。〃
Grasping the woman's arm； he began to move along with her。
She