all roads lead to calvary-第9部分

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s　eloquent　as　you　could　ever　be　are　shouting　to　them　every　day。　　Who　takes　any　notice　of　them？　　Why　should　they　listen　any　the　more　to　youanother　cranky　highbrow：　　some　old　maid；　most　likely；　with　a　bony　throat　and　a　beaky　nose。　　If　Woman　is　going　to　come　into　the　fight　she　will　have　to　use　her　own　weapons。　　If　she　is　prepared　to　do　that　she'll　make　things　hum　with　a　vengeance。　　She's　the　biggest　force　going；　if　she　only　knew　it。〃

He　had　risen　and　was　pacing　the　room。

〃The　advertiser　has　found　that　out；　and　is　showing　the　way。〃　　He　snatched　at　an　illustrated　magazine；　fresh　from　the　press；　that　had　been　placed　upon　his　desk；　and　opened　it　at　the　first　page。　〃Johnson's　Blacking；〃　he　read　out；　〃advertised　by　a　dainty　little　minx；　showing　her　ankles。　　Who's　going　to　stop　for　a　moment　to　read　about　somebody's　blacking？　　If　a　saucy　little　minx　isn't　there　to　trip　him　up　with　her　ankles！〃

He　turned　another　page。　　〃Do　you　suffer　from　gout？　　Classical　lady　preparing　to　take　a　bath　and　very　nearly　ready。　　The　old　Johnny　in　the　train　stops　to　look　at　her。　　Reads　the　advertisement　because　she　seems　to　want　him　to。　　Rubber　heels。　　Save　your　boot　leather！　Lady　in　evening　dressjolly　pretty　shoulderswaves　them　in　front　of　your　eyes。　　Otherwise　you'd　never　think　of　them。〃

He　fluttered　the　pages。　　Then　flung　the　thing　across　to　her。

〃Look　at　it；〃　he　said。　　〃Fountain　pensCorn　plastersCharitable　appealsMotor　carsSoapsGrand　pianos。　　It's　the　girl　in　tights　and　spangles　outside　the　show　that　brings　them　trooping　in。〃

〃Let　them　see　you；〃　he　continued。　　〃You　say　you　want　soldiers。　Throw　off　your　veil　and　call　for　them。　　Your　namesake　of　France！　Do　you　think　if　she　had　contented　herself　with　writing　stirring　appeals　that　Orleans　would　have　fallen？　　She　put　on　a　becoming　suit　of　armour　and　got　upon　a　horse　where　everyone　could　see　her。　Chivalry　isn't　dead。　　You　modern　women　are　ashamed　of　yourselves　ashamed　of　your　sex。　　You　don't　give　it　a　chance。　　Revive　it。　　Stir　the　young　men's　blood。　　Their　souls　will　follow。〃

He　reseated　himself　and　leant　across　towards　her。

〃I'm　not　talking　business；〃　he　said。　　〃This　thing's　not　going　to　mean　much　to　me　one　way　or　the　other。　　I　want　you　to　win。　　Farm　labourers　bringing　up　families　on　twelve　and　six　a　week。　　Shirt　hands　working　half　into　the　night　for　three　farthings　an　hour。　Stinking　dens　for　men　to　live　in。　　Degraded　women。　　Half　fed　children。　　It's　damnable。　　Tell　them　it's　got　to　stop。　　That　the　Eternal　Feminine　has　stepped　out　of　the　poster　and　commands　it。〃

A　dapper　young　man　opened　the　door　and　put　his　head　into　the　room。

〃Railway　smash　in　Yorkshire；〃　he　announced。

Carleton　sat　up。　　〃Much　of　a　one？〃　he　asked。

The　dapper　gentleman　shrugged　his　shoulders。　　〃Three　killed；　eight　injured；　so　far；〃　he　answered。

Carleton's　interest　appeared　to　collapse。

〃Stop　press　column？〃　asked　the　dapper　gentleman。

〃Yes；　I　suppose　so。〃　　replied　Carleton。　　〃Unless　something　better　turns　up。〃

The　dapper　young　gentleman　disappeared。　　Joan　had　risen。

〃May　I　talk　it　over　with　a　friend？〃　she　asked。　　〃Myself；　I'm　inclined　to　accept。〃

〃You　will；　if　you're　in　earnest；〃　he　answered。　　〃I'll　give　you　twenty…four　hours。　　Look　in　to…morrow　afternoon；　and　see　Finch。　　It　will　be　for　the　Sunday　Postthe　Inset。　　We　use　surfaced　paper　for　that　and　can　do　you　justice。　　Finch　will　arrange　about　the　photograph。〃　　He　held　out　his　hand。　　〃Shall　be　seeing　you　again；〃　he　said。

It　was　but　a　stone's　throw　to　the　office　of　the　Evening　Gazette。　She　caught　Greyson　just　as　he　was　leaving　and　put　the　thing　before　him。　　His　sister　was　with　him。

He　did　not　answer　at　first。　　He　was　walking　to　and　fro；　and；　catching　his　foot　in　the　waste　paper　basket；　he　kicked　it　savagely　out　of　his　way；　so　that　the　contents　were　scattered　over　the　room。

〃Yes；　he's　right；〃　he　said。　　〃It　was　the　Virgin　above　the　altar　that　popularized　Christianity。　　Her　face　has　always　been　woman's　fortune。　　If　she's　going　to　become　a　fighter；　it　will　have　to　be　her　weapon。〃

He　had　used　almost　the　same　words　that　Carleton　had　used。

〃I　so　want　them　to　listen　to　me；〃　she　said。　　〃After　all；　it's　only　like　having　a　very　loud　voice。〃

He　looked　at　her　and　smiled。　　〃Yes；〃　he　said；　〃it's　a　voice　men　will　listen　to。〃

Mary　Greyson　was　standing　by　the　fire。　　She　had　not　spoken　hitherto。

〃You　won't　give　up　'Clorinda'？〃　she　asked。

Joan　had　intended　to　do　so；　but　something　in　Mary's　voice　caused　her；　against　her　will；　to　change　her　mind。

〃Of　course　not；〃　she　answered。　　〃I　shall　run　them　both。　　It　will　be　like　writing　Jekyll　and　Hyde。〃

〃What　will　you　sign　yourself？〃　he　asked。

〃My　own　name；　I　think；〃　she　said。　　〃Joan　Allway。〃

Miss　Greyson　suggested　her　coming　home　to　dinner　with　them；　but　Joan　found　an　excuse。　　She　wanted　to　be　alone。



CHAPTER　V



The　twilight　was　fading　as　she　left　the　office。　　She　turned　northward；　choosing　a　broad；　ill…lighted　road。　　It　did　not　matter　which　way　she　took。　　She　wanted　to　think；　or；　rather；　to　dream。

It　would　all　fall　out　as　she　had　intended。　　She　would　commence　by　becoming　a　power　in　journalism。　　She　was　reconciled　now　to　the　photograph　ideawas　even　keen　on　it　herself。　　She　would　be　taken　full　face　so　that　she　would　be　looking　straight　into　the　eyes　of　her　readers　as　she　talked　to　them。　　It　would　compel　her　to　be　herself；　just　a　hopeful；　loving　woman：　　a　little　better　educated　than　the　majority；　having　had　greater　opportunity：　　a　little　further　seeing；　maybe；　having　had　more　leisure　for　thought：　　but　otherwise；　no　whit　superior　to　any　other　young；　eager　woman　of　the　people。　　This　absurd　journalistic　pose　of　omniscience；　of　infallibilitythis　non…existent　garment　of　supreme　wisdom　that；　like　the　King's　clothes　in　the　fairy　story；　was　donned　to　hide　his　nakedness　by　every　strutting　nonentity　of　Fleet　Street！　　She　would　have　no　use　for　it。　　It　should　be　a　friend；　a　comrade；　a　fellow…　servant　of　the　great　Master；　taking　counsel　with　them；　asking　their　help。　　Government　by　the　people　for　the　people！　　It　must　be　made　real。　　These　silent；　thoughtful…looking　workers；　hurrying　homewards　through　the　darkening　streets；　these　patient；　shrewd…planning　housewives　casting　their　shadows　on　the　drawn…down　blinds：　　it　was　they　who　should　be　shaping　the　world；　not　the　journalists　to　whom　all　life　was　but　so　much　〃copy。〃　　This　monstrous　conspiracy；　once　of　the　Sword；　of　the　Church；　now　of　the　Press；　that　put　all　Government　into　the　hands　of　a　few　stuffy　old　gentlemen；　politicians；　leader　writers；　without　sympathy　or　understanding：　　it　was　time　that　it　was　swept　away。　　She　would　raise　a　new　standard。　It　should　be；　not　〃Listen　to　me；　oh　ye　dumb；〃　but；　〃Speak　to　me。　Tell　me　your　hidden　hopes；　your　fears；　your　dreams。　　Tell　me　your　experience；　your　thoughts　born　of　knowledge；　of　suffering。〃

She　would　get　into　correspondence　with　them；　go　among　them；　talk　to　them。　　The　difficulty；　at　first；　would　be　in　getting　them　to　write　to　her；　to　open　their　minds　to　her。　　These　voiceless　masses　that　never　spoke；　but　were　always　being　spoken　for　by　self…appointed　〃leaders；〃　〃representatives；〃　who　immediately　they　had　climbed　into　prominence　took　their　place　among　the　rulers；　and　then　from　press　and　platform　shouted　to　them　what　they　were　to　think　and　feel。　　It　was　as　if　the　Drill…Sergeant　were　to　claim　to　be　the　〃leader；〃　the　〃representative〃　of　his　squad；　or　the　sheep…dog　to　pose　as　the　〃delegate〃　of　the　sheep。　　Dealt　with　always　as　if　they　were　mere　herds；　mere　flocks；　they　had　almost　lost　the　power　of　individual　utterance。　　One　would　have　to　teach　them；　encourage　them。

She　remembered　a　Sunday　class　she　had　once　conducted；　and　how　for　a　long　time　she　had　tried　in　vain　to　get　the　children　to　〃come　in；〃　to　take　a　hand。　　That　she　might　get　in　touch　with　them；　understand　their　small　problems；　she　had　urged　them　to　ask　questions。　　And　there　had　fallen　such　long　silences。　　Until；　at　last；　one　cheeky　ragamuffin　had　piped　out：

〃Please；　Miss；　have　you　got　red　hair　all　over　you？　　Or　only　on　your　head？〃

For　answer　she　had　rolled　up　her　sleeve；　and　let　them　examine　her　arm。　　And　then；　in　her　turn；　had　insisted　on　rolling　up　his　sleeve；　revealing　the　fact　that　his　arms　above　the　wrists　had　evidently　not　too　recently　been　washed；　and　the　episode　had　ended　in　laughter　and　a　babel　of　shrill　voices。　　And；　at　once；　they　were　a　party　of　chums；　discussing　matters　together。

They　were　but　children；　these　tired　men　and　women；　just　released　from　their　day's　toil；　hastening　homeward　to　their　play；　or　to　their　evening　tasks。　　A　little　humour；　a　little　understanding；　a　recognition　of　the　wonderful　likeness　of　us　all　to　one　another　underneath　our　outward　coverings　was　all　that　was　needed　to　break　down　the　barrier；　establish　comradeship。　　She　stood　aside　a　moment　to　watch　them　streaming　by。　　Keen；　strong　faces　were　among　them；　high；　thoughtful　brows；　kind　eyes；　they　must　learn　to　think；　to　speak　for　themselves。

She　would　build　again　the　Forum。　　The　people's　business　should　no　longer　be　settled　for　them　behind　lackey…guarded　doors。　　The　good　of　the　farm　labourer　should　be　determined　not　exclusively　by　the　squire　and　his　relations。　　The　man　with　the　hoe；　the　man　with　the　bent　back　and　the　patient　ox…like　eyes：　　he；　too；　should　be　invited　to　the　Council　board。　　Middle…class　domestic　problems　should　be　solved　not　solely　by　fine　gentlemen　from　Oxford；　the　wife　of　the　little　clerk　should　be　allowed　her　say。　　War　or　peace；　it　should　no　longer　be　regarded　as　a　question　concerning　only　the　aged　rich。　The　common　peoplethe　cannon　fodder；　the　men　who　would　die；　and　the　women　who　would　weep：　　they　should　be　given　something　more　than　the　privilege　of　either　cheering　platform　patriots　or　being　summoned　for　interrupting　public　meetings。

From　a　dismal　side　street　there　darted　past　her　a　small；　shapeless　figure　in　crumpled　cap　and　apron：　　evidently　a　member　of　that　lazy；　over…indulged　class；　the　domestic　servant。　　Judging　from　the　talk　of　the　drawing…rooms；　the　correspondence　in　the　papers；　a　singularly　unsatisfactory　body。　　They　toiled　not；　lived　in　luxury　and　demanded　grand　pianos。　　Someone　had　proposed　doing　something　for　them。　　They　themselvesit　seemed　that　even　they　had　a　sort　of　consciencewere　up　in　arms　against　it。　　Too　much　kindness　even　they