all roads lead to calvary-第12部分

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ue　Bird。　　You　remember　the　scene　where　the　spirits　of　the　children　are　waiting　to　go　down　to　earth　and　be　made　into　babies？　Someone　had　stuck　up　a　notice　at　the　entrance　to　the　gangway：　'Don't　get　born。　　It　only　means　worry。'〃

Flossie　had　her　dwelling…place　in　a　second　floor　bed…sitting…room　of　a　lodging　house　in　Queen's　Square；　Bloomsbury；　but　the　drawing…　room　floor　being　for　the　moment　vacant；　Flossie　had　persuaded　her　landlady　to　let　her　give　her　party　there；　it　seemed　as　if　fate　approved　of　the　idea。　　The　room　was　fairly　full　when　Joan　arrived。　Flossie　took　her　out　on　the　landing；　and　closed　the　door　behind　them。

〃You　will　be　honest　with　me；　won't　you？〃　pleaded　Flossie；　〃because　it's　so　important；　and　I　don't　seem　able　to　think　for　myself。　　As　they　say；　no　man　can　be　his　own　solicitor；　can　he？　　Of　course　I　like　him；　and　all　thatvery　much。　　And　I　really　believe　he　loves　me。　　We　were　children　together　when　Mummy　was　alive；　and　then　he　had　to　go　abroad；　and　has　only　just　come　back。　　Of　course；　I've　got　to　think　of　him；　too；　as　he　says。　　But　then；　on　the　other　hand；　I　don't　want　to　make　a　mistake。　　That　would　be　so　terrible；　for　both　of　us；　and　of　course　I　am　clever；　and　there　was　poor　Mummy　and　Daddy。　　I'll　tell　you　all　about　them　one　day。　　It　was　so　awfully　sad。　　Get　him　into　a　corner　and　talk　to　him。　　You'll　be　able　to　judge　in　a　moment；　you're　so　wonderful。　　He's　quiet　on　the　outside；　but　I　think　there's　depth　in　him。　　We　must　go　in　now。〃

She　had　talked　so　rapidly　Joan　felt　as　if　her　hat　were　being　blown　away。　　She　had　difficulty　in　recognizing　Flossie。　　All　the　cock…　sure　pertness　had　departed。　　She　seemed　just　a　kid。

Joan　promised　faithfully；　and　Flossie；　standing　on　tiptoe；　suddenly　kissed　her　and　then　bustled　her　in。

Flossie's　young　man　was　standing　near　the　fire　talking；　or　rather　listening；　to　a　bird…like　little　woman　in　a　short　white　frock　and　blue　ribbons。　　A　sombre　lady　just　behind　her；　whom　Joan　from　the　distance　took　to　be　her　nurse；　turned　out　to　be　her　secretary；　whose　duty　it　was　to　be　always　at　hand；　prepared　to　take　down　any　happy　idea　that　might　occur　to　the　bird…like　little　woman　in　the　course　of　conversation。　　The　bird…like　little　woman　was　Miss　Rose　Tolley；　a　popular　novelist。　　She　was　explaining　to　Flossie's　young　man；　whose　name　was　Sam　Halliday；　the　reason　for　her　having　written　〃Running　Waters；〃　her　latest　novel。

〃It　is　daring；〃　she　admitted。　　〃I　must　be　prepared　for　opposition。　But　it　had　to　be　stated。〃

〃I　take　myself　as　typical；〃　she　continued。　　〃When　I　was　twenty　I　could　have　loved　you。　　You　were　the　type　of　man　I　did　love。〃

Mr。　Halliday；　who　had　been　supporting　the　weight　of　his　body　upon　his　right　leg；　transferred　the　burden　to　his　left。

〃But　now　I'm　thirty…five；　and　I　couldn't　love　you　if　I　tried。〃　　She　shook　her　curls　at　him。　　〃It　isn't　your　fault。　　It　is　that　I　have　changed。　　Suppose　I'd　married　you？〃

〃Bit　of　bad　luck　for　both　of　us；〃　suggested　Mr。　Halliday。

〃A　tragedy；〃　Miss　Tolley　corrected　him。　　〃There　are　millions　of　such　tragedies　being　enacted　around　us　at　this　moment。　　Sensitive　women　compelled　to　suffer　the　embraces　of　men　that　they　have　come　to　loathe。　　What's　to　be　done？〃

Flossie；　who　had　been　hovering　impatient；　broke　in。

〃Oh；　don't　you　believe　her；〃　she　advised　Mr。　Halliday。　　〃She　loves　you　still。　　She's　only　teasing　you。　　This　is　Joan。〃

She　introduced　her。　　Miss　Tolley　bowed；　and　allowed　herself　to　be　drawn　away　by　a　lank…haired　young　man　who　had　likewise　been　waiting　for　an　opening。　　He　represented　the　Uplift　Film　Association　of　Chicago；　and　was　wishful　to　know　if　Miss　Tolley　would　consent　to　altering　the　last　chapter　and　so　providing　〃Running　Waters〃　with　a　happy　ending。　　He　pointed　out　the　hopelessness　of　it　in　its　present　form；　for　film　purposes。

The　discussion　was　brief。　　〃Then　I'll　send　your　agent　the　contract　to…morrow；〃　Joan　overheard　him　say　a　minute　later。

Mr。　Sam　Halliday　she　liked　at　once。　　He　was　a　clean…shaven；　square…　jawed　young　man；　with　quiet　eyes　and　a　pleasant　voice。

〃Try　and　find　me　brainy；〃　he　whispered　to　her；　as　soon　as　Flossie　was　out　of　earshot。　　〃Talk　to　me　about　China。　　I'm　quite　intelligent　on　China。〃

They　both　laughed；　and　then　shot　a　guilty　glance　in　Flossie's　direction。

〃Do　the　women　really　crush　their　feet？〃　asked　Joan。

〃Yes；〃　he　answered。　　〃All　those　who　have　no　use　for　them。　　About　one　per　cent。　of　the　population。　　To　listen　to　Miss　Tolley　you　would　think　that　half　the　women　wanted　a　new　husband　every　ten　years。　　It's　always　the　one　per　cent。　that　get　themselves　talked　about。　　The　other　ninety…nine　are　too　busy。〃

〃You　are　young　for　a　philosopher；〃　said　Joan。

He　laughed。　　〃I　told　you　I'd　be　all　right　if　you　started　me　on　China；〃　he　said。

〃Why　are　you　marrying。　　Flossie？〃　Joan　asked　him。　　She　thought　his　point　of　view　would　be　interesting。

〃Not　sure　I　am　yet；〃　he　answered　with　a　grin。　　〃It　depends　upon　how　I　get　through　this　evening。〃　　He　glanced　round　the　room。　　〃Have　I　got　to　pass　all　this　crowd；　I　wonder？〃　he　added。

Joan's　eyes　followed。　　It　was　certainly　an　odd　collection。　Flossie；　in　her　hunt　for　brains；　had　issued　her　invitations　broadcast；　and　her　fate　had　been　that　of　the　Charity　concert。　　Not　all　the　stars　upon　whom　she　had　most　depended　had　turned　up。　　On　the　other　hand　not　a　single　freak　had　failed　her。　　At　the　moment；　the　centre　of　the　room　was　occupied　by　a　gentleman　and　two　ladies　in　classical　drapery。　　They　were　holding　hands　in　an　attitude　suggestive　of　a　bas…relief。　　Joan　remembered　them；　having　seen　them　on　one　or　two　occasions　wandering　in　the　King's　Road；　Chelsea；　still　maintaining；　as　far　as　the　traffic　would　allow；　the　bas…　relief　suggestion；　and　generally　surrounded　by　a　crowd　of　children；　ever　hopeful　that　at　the　next　corner　they　would　stop　and　do　something　really　interesting。　　They　belonged　to　a　society　whose　object　was　to　lure　the　London　public　by　the　force　of　example　towards　the　adoption　of　the　early　Greek　fashions　and　the　simpler　Greek　attitudes。　　A　friend　of　Flossie's　had　thrown　in　her　lot　with　them；　but　could　never　be　induced　to　abandon　her　umbrella。　　They　also；　as　Joan　told　herself；　were　reformers。　　Near　to　them　was　a　picturesque　gentleman　with　a　beard　down　to　his　waist　whose　〃stunt〃…　…as　Flossie　would　have　termed　itwas　hygienic　clothing；　it　seemed　to　contain　an　undue　proportion　of　fresh　air。　　There　were　ladies　in　coats　and　stand…up　collars；　and　gentlemen　with　ringlets。　　More　than　one　of　the　guests　would　have　been　better；　though　perhaps　not　happier；　for　a　bath。

〃I　fancy　that's　the　idea；〃　said　Joan。　　〃What　will　you　do　if　you　fail？　　Go　back　to　China？〃

〃Yes；〃　he　answered。　　〃And　take　her　with　me。　　Poor　little　girl。〃

Joan　rather　resented　his　tone。

〃We　are　not　all　alike；〃　she　remarked。　　〃Some　of　us　are　quite　sane。〃

He　looked　straight　into　her　eyes。　　〃You　are；〃　he　said。　　〃I　have　been　reading　your　articles。　　They　are　splendid。　　I'm　going　to　help。〃

〃How　can　you？〃　she　said。　　〃I　mean；　how　will　you？〃

〃Shipping　is　my　business；〃　he　said。　　〃I'm　going　to　help　sailor　men。　See　that　they　have　somewhere　decent　to　go　to；　and　don't　get　robbed。　And　then　there　are　the　Lascars；　poor　devils。　　Nobody　ever　takes　their　part。〃

〃How　did　you　come　across　them？〃　she　asked。　　〃The　articles；　I　mean。　Did　Flo　give　them　to　you？〃

〃No；〃　he　answered。　　〃Just　chance。　　Caught　sight　of　your　photo。〃

〃Tell　me；〃　she　said。　　〃If　it　had　been　the　photo　of　a　woman　with　a　bony　throat　and　a　beaky　nose　would　you　have　read　them？〃

He　thought　a　moment。　　〃Guess　not；〃　he　answered。　　〃You're　just　as　bad；〃　he　continued。　　〃Isn't　it　the　pale…faced　young　clergyman　with　the　wavy　hair　and　the　beautiful　voice　that　you　all　flock　to　hear？　No　getting　away　from　nature。　　But　it　wasn't　only　that。〃　　He　hesitated。

〃I　want　to　know；〃　she　said。

〃You　looked　so　young；〃　he　answered。　　〃I　had　always　had　the　idea　that　it　was　up　to　the　old　people　to　put　the　world　to　rightsthat　all　I　had　to　do　was　to　look　after　myself。　　It　came　to　me　suddenly　while　you　were　talking　to　meI　mean　while　I　was　reading　you：　　that　if　you　were　worrying　yourself　about　it；　I'd　got　to　come　in；　too　that　it　would　be　mean　of　me　not　to。　　It　wasn't　like　being　preached　to。　　It　was　somebody　calling　for　help。〃

Instinctively　she　held　out　her　hand　and　he　grasped　it。

Flossie　came　up　at　the　same　instant。　　She　wanted　to　introduce　him　to　Miss　Lavery；　who　had　just　arrived。

〃Hullo！〃　she　said。　　〃Are　you　two　concluding　a　bargain？〃

〃Yes；〃　said　Joan。　　〃We　are　founding　the　League　of　Youth。　　You've　got　to　be　in　it。　　We　are　going　to　establish　branches　all　round　the　world。〃

Flossie's　young　man　was　whisked　away。　　Joan；　who　had　seated　herself　in　a　small　chair；　was　alone　for　a　few　minutes。

Miss　Tolley　had　chanced　upon　a　Human　Document；　with　the　help　of　which　she　was　hopeful　of　starting　a　〃Press　Controversy〃　concerning　the　morality；　or　otherwise；　of　〃Running　Waters。〃　　The　secretary　stood　just　behind　her；　taking　notes。　　They　had　drifted　quite　close。　Joan　could　not　help　overhearing。

〃It　always　seemed　to　me　immoral；　the　marriage　ceremony；〃　the　Human　Document　was　explaining。　　She　was　a　thin；　sallow　woman；　with　an　untidy　head　and　restless　eyes　that　seemed　to　be　always　seeking　something　to　look　at　and　never　finding　it。　　〃How　can　we　pledge　the　future？　　To　bind　oneself　to　live　with　a　man　when　perhaps　we　have　ceased　to　care　for　him；　it's　hideous。〃

Miss　Tolley　murmured　agreement。

〃Our　love　was　beautiful；〃　continued　the　Human　Document；　eager；　apparently；　to　relate　her　experience　for　the　common　good；　〃just　because　it　was　a　free　gift。　　We　were　not　fettered　to　one　another。　At　any　moment　either　of　us　could　have　walked　out　of　the　house。　　The　idea　never　occurred　to　us；　not　for　yearsfive；　to　be　exact。〃

The　secretary；　at　a　sign　from　Miss　Tolley；　made　a　memorandum　of　it。

〃And　then　did　your　feelings　towards　him　change　suddenly？〃　questioned　Miss　Tolley。

〃No；〃　explained　the　Human　Document；　in　the　same　quick；　even　tones；　〃so　far　as　I　was　concerned；　I　was　not　conscious　of　any　alteration　in　my　own　attitude。　　But　he　felt　the　need　of　more　solitudefor　his　development。　　We　parted　quite　good　friends。〃

〃Oh；〃　said　Miss　Tolley。　　〃And　were　there　any　children？〃

〃Only　two；〃　answered　the　Human　Document；　〃both　girls。〃

〃What　has　become　of　them？〃　persisted　Mi