the well-beloved--a sketch of a temperament-第21部分

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person；　and　demand　to　be　sent　home。　　A　charwoman　came　every　two　or
three　days；　effecting　an　extraordinary　consumption　of　food　and
alcoholic　liquids：　　yet　it　was　not　for　this　that　Pierston　dreaded　her
presence；　but　lest；　in　conversing　with　Avice；　she　should　open　the
girl's　eyes　to　the　oddity　of　her　situation。　　Avice　could　see　for
herself　that　there　must　have　been　two　or　three　servants　in　the　flat
during　his　former　residence　there：　　but　his　reasons　for　doing　without
them　seemed　never　to　strike　her。

His　intention　had　been　to　keep　her　occupied　exclusively　at　the　studio；
but　accident　had　modified　this。　　However；　he　sent　her　round　one
morning；　and　entering　himself　shortly　after　found　her　engaged　in　wiping
the　layers　of　dust　from　the　casts　and　models。

The　colour　of　the　dust　never　ceased　to　amaze　her。　　'It　is　like　the　hold
of　a　Budmouth　collier；'　she　said；　'and　the　beautiful　faces　of　these
clay　people　are　quite　spoilt　by　it。'

'I　suppose　you'll　marry　some　day；　Avice？'　remarked　Pierston；　as　he
regarded　her　thoughtfully。

'Some　do　and　some　don't；'　she　said；　with　a　reserved　smile；　still
attending　to　the　casts。'

'You　are　very　offhand；'　said　he。

She　archly　weighed　that　remark　without　further　speech。　　It　was
tantalizing　conduct　in　the　face　of　his　instinct　to　cherish　her；
especially　when　he　regarded　the　charm　of　her　bending　profile；　the　well…
characterized　though　softly　lined　nose；　the　round　chin　with；　as　it
were；　a　second　leap　in　its　curve　to　the　throat；　and　the　sweep　of　the
eyelashes　over　the　rosy　cheek　during　the　sedulously　lowered　glance。
How　futilely　he　had　laboured　to　express　the　character　of　that　face　in
clay；　and；　while　catching　it　in　substance；　had　yet　lost　something　that
was　essential！

That　evening　after　dusk；　in　the　stress　of　writing　letters；　he　sent　her
out　for　stamps。　　She　had　been　absent　some　quarter　of　an　hour　when；
suddenly　drawing　himself　up　from　over　his　writing…table；　it　flashed
upon　him　that　he　had　absolutely　forgotten　her　total　ignorance　of
London。

The　head　post…office；　to　which　he　had　sent　her　because　it　was　late；　was
two　or　three　streets　off；　and　he　had　made　his　request　in　the　most
general　manner；　which　she　had　acceded　to　with　alacrity　enough。　　How
could　he　have　done　such　an　unreflecting　thing？

Pierston　went　to　the　window。　　It　was　half…past　nine　o'clock；　and　owing
to　her　absence　the　blinds　were　not　down。　　He　opened　the　casement　and
stepped　out　upon　the　balcony。　　The　green　shade　of　his　lamp　screened　its
rays　from　the　gloom　without。　　Over　the　opposite　square　the　moon　hung；
and　to　the　right　there　stretched　a　long　street；　filled　with　a
diminishing　array　of　lamps；　some　single；　some　in　clusters；　among　them
an　occasional　blue　or　red　one。　　From　a　corner　came　the　notes　of　a
piano…organ　strumming　out　a　stirring　march　of　Rossini's。　　The　shadowy
black　figures　of　pedestrians　moved　up；　down；　and　across　the　embrowned
roadway。　　Above　the　roofs　was　a　bank　of　livid　mist；　and　higher　a
greenish…blue　sky；　in　which　stars　were　visible；　though　its　lower　part
was　still　pale　with　daylight；　against　which　rose　chimney…pots　in　the
form　of　elbows；　prongs；　and　fists。

From　the　whole　scene　proceeded　a　ground　rumble；　miles　in　extent；　upon
which　individual　rattles；　voices；　a　tin　whistle；　the　bark　of　a　dog；
rode　like　bubbles　on　a　sea。　　The　whole　noise　impressed　him　with　the
sense　that　no　one　in　its　enormous　mass　ever　required　rest。

In　this　illimitable　ocean　of　humanity　there　was　a　unit　of　existence；
his　Avice；　wandering　alone。

Pierston　looked　at　his　watch。　　She　had　been　gone　half　an　hour。　　It　was
impossible　to　distinguish　her　at　this　distance；　even　if　she　approached。
He　came　inside；　and　putting　on　his　hat　determined　to　go　out　and　seek
her。　　He　reached　the　end　of　the　street；　and　there　was　nothing　of　her　to
be　seen。　　She　had　the　option　of　two　or　three　routes　from　this　point　to
the　post…office；　yet　he　plunged　at　random　into　one；　till　he　reached　the
office　to　find　it　quite　deserted。　　Almost　distracted　now　by　his　anxiety
for　her　he　retreated　as　rapidly　as　he　had　come；　regaining　home　only　to
find　that　she　had　not　returned。

He　recollected　telling　her　that　if　she　should　ever　lose　her　way　she
must　call　a　cab　and　drive　home。　　It　occurred　to　him　that　this　was　what
she　would　do　now。　　He　again　went　out　upon　the　balcony；　the　dignified
street　in　which　he　lived　was　almost　vacant；　and　the　lamps　stood　like
placed　sentinels　awaiting　some　procession　which　tarried　long。　　At　a
point　under　him　where　the　road　was　torn　up　there　stood　a　red　light；　and
at　the　corner　two　men　were　talking　in　leisurely　repose；　as　if　sunning
themselves　at　noonday。　　Lovers　of　a　feline　disposition；　who　were　never
seen　by　daylight；　joked　and　darted　at　each　other　in　and　out　of　area
gates。

His　attention　was　fixed　on　the　cabs；　and　he　held　his　breath　as　the
hollow　clap　of　each　horse's　hoofs　drew　near　the　front　of　the　house；
only　to　go　onward　into　the　square。　　The　two　lamps　of　each　vehicle　afar
dilated　with　its　near　approach；　and　seemed　to　swerve　towards　him。　　It
was　Avice　surely？　　No；　it　passed　by。

Almost　frantic　he　again　descended　and　let　himself　out　of　the　house；
moving　towards　a　more　central　part；　where　the　roar　still　continued。
Before　emerging　into　the　noisy　thoroughfare　he　observed　a　small　figure
approaching　leisurely　along　the　opposite　side；　and　hastened　across　to
find　it　was　she。



2。　XII。　　A　GRILLE　DESCENDS　BETWEEN

'O　Avice！'　he　cried；　with　the　tenderly　subdued　scolding　of　a　mother。
'What　is　this　you　have　done　to　alarm　me　so！'

She　seemed　unconscious　of　having　done　anything；　and　was　altogether
surprised　at　his　anxiety。　　In　his　relief　he　did　not　speak　further　till
he　asked　her　suddenly　if　she　would　take　his　arm　since　she　must　be
tired。

'O　no；　sir！'　she　assured　him；　'I　am　not　a　bit　tired；　and　I　don't
require　any　help　at　all；　thank　you。'

They　went　upstairs　without　using　the　lift；　and　he　let　her　and　himself
in　with　his　latchkey。　　She　entered　the　kitchen；　and　he；　following；　sat
down　in　a　chair　there。

'Where　have　you　been？'　he　said；　with　almost　angered　concern　on　his
face。　　'You　ought　not　to　have　been　absent　more　than　ten　minutes。'

'I　knew　there　was　nothing　for　me　to　do；　and　thought　I　should　like　to
see　a　little　of　London；'　she　replied　naively。　　'So　when　I　had　got　the
stamps　I　went　on　into　the　fashionable　streets；　where　ladies　are　all
walking　about　just　as　if　it　were　daytime！　　'Twas　for　all　the　world　like
coming　home　by　night　from　Martinmas　Fair　at　the　Street　o'　Wells；　only
more　genteel。'

'O　Avice；　Avice；　you　must　not　go　out　like　this！　　Don't　you　know　that　I
am　responsible　for　your　safety？　　I　am　yourwell；　guardian；　in　fact；
and　am　bound　by　law　and　morals；　and　I　don't　know　what…all；　to　deliver
you　up　to　your　native　island　without　a　scratch　or　blemish。　　And　yet　you
indulge　in　such　a　midnight　vagary　as　this！'

'But　I　am　sure；　sir；　the　gentlemen　in　the　street　were　more　respectable
than　they　are　anywhere　at　home！　　They　were　dressed　in　the　latest
fashion；　and　would　have　scorned　to　do　me　any　harm；　and　as　to　their
love…making；　I　never　heard　anything　so　polite　before。'

'Well；　you　must　not　do　it　again。　　I'll　tell　you　some　day　why。　　What's
that　you　have　in　your　hand？'

'A　mouse…trap。　　There　are　lots　of　mice　in　this　kitchensooty　mice；　not
clean　like　oursand　I　thought　I'd　try　to　catch　them。　　That　was　what　I
went　so　far　to　buy；　as　there　were　no　shops　open　just　about　here。　　I'll
set　it　now。'

She　proceeded　at　once　to　do　so；　and　Pierston　remained　in　his　seat
regarding　the　operation；　which　seemed　entirely　to　engross　her。　　It　was
extraordinary；　indeed；　to　observe　how　she　wilfully　limited　her
interests；　with　what　content　she　received　the　ordinary　things　that　life
offered；　and　persistently　refused　to　behold　what　an　infinitely　extended
life　lay　open　to　her　through　him。　　If　she　had　only　said　the　word　he
would　have　got　a　licence　and　married　her　the　next　morning。　　Was　it
possible　that　she　did　not　perceive　this　tendency　in　him？　　She　could
hardly　be　a　woman　if　she　did　not；　and　in　her　airy；　elusive；　offhand
demeanour　she　was　very　much　of　a　woman　indeed。

'It　only　holds　one　mouse；'　he　said　absently。

'But　I　shall　hear　it　throw　in　the　night；　and　set　it　again。'

He　sighed　and　left　her　to　her　own　resources　and　retired　to　rest；　though
he　felt　no　tendency　to　sleep。　　At　some　small　hour　of　the　darkness；
owing；　possibly；　to　some　intervening　door　being　left　open；　he　heard　the
mouse…trap　click。　　Another　light　sleeper　must　have　heard　it　too；　for
almost　immediately　after　the　pit…pat　of　naked　feet；　accompanied　by　the
brushing　of　drapery；　was　audible　along　the　passage　towards　the　kitchen。
After　her　absence　in　that　apartment　long　enough　to　reset　the　trap；　he
was　startled　by　a　scream　from　the　same　quarter。　　Pierston　sprang　out　of
bed；　jumped　into　his　dressing…gown；　and　hastened　in　the　direction　of
the　cry。

Avice；　barefooted　and　wrapped　in　a　shawl；　was　standing　in　a　chair；　the
mouse…trap　lay　on　the　floor；　the　mouse　running　round　and　round　in　its
neighbourhood。

'I　was　trying　to　take　en　out；'　said　she　excitedly；　'and　he　got　away
from　me！'

Pierston　secured　the　mouse　while　she　remained　standing　on　the　chair。
Then；　having　set　the　trap　anew；　his　feeling　burst　out　petulantly

'A　girl　like　you　to　throw　yourself　away　upon　such　a　commonplace　fellow
as　that　quarryman！　　Why　do　you　do　it！'

Her　mind　was　so　intently　fixed　upon　the　matter　in　hand　that　it　was　some
moments　before　she　caught　his　irrelevant　subject。　　'Because　I　am　a
foolish　girl；'　she　said　quietly。

'What！　　Don't　you　love　him？'　said　Jocelyn；　with　a　surprised　stare　up　at
her　as　she　stood；　in　her　concern　appearing　the　very　Avice　who　had
kissed　him　twenty　years　earlier。

'It　is　not　much　use　to　talk　about　that；'　said　she。

'Then；　is　it　the　soldier？'

'Yes；　though　I　have　never　spoken　to　him。'

'Never　spoken　to　the　soldier？'

'Never。'

'Has　either　one　treated　you　badlydeceived　you？'

'No。　　Certainly　not。'

'Well；　I　can't　make　you　out；　and　I　don't　wish　to　know　more　than　you
choose　to　tell　me。　　Come；　Avice；　why　not　tell　me　exactly　how　things
are？'

'Not　now；　sir！'　she　said；　her　pretty　pink　face　and　brown　eyes　turned　in
simple　appeal　to　him　from　her　pedestal。　　'I　will　tell　you　all　to…
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