tommy and co.-第2部分

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whole　thing　was　the　veriest　sentiment；　and　sentiment　was　Mr。　Peter　
Hope's　abomination。　　Had　he　not　penned　articles　innumerable　
pointing　out　its　baneful　influence　upon　the　age？　　Had　he　not　always　
condemned　it；　wherever　he　had　come　across　it　in　play　or　book？　　Now　
and　then　the　suspicion　had　crossed　Peter's　mind　that；　in　spite　of　
all　this；　he　was　somewhat　of　a　sentimentalist　himselfthings　had　
suggested　this　to　him。　　The　fear　had　always　made　him　savage。

〃You　wait　here　till　I　come　back；〃　he　growled；　seizing　the　
astonished　Tommy　by　the　worsted　comforter　and　spinning　it　into　the　
centre　of　the　room。　　〃Sit　down；　and　don't　you　dare　to　move。〃　　And　
Peter　went　out　and　slammed　the　door　behind　him。

〃Bit　off　his　chump；　ain't　he？〃　remarked　Tommy　to　Elizabeth；　as　the　
sound　of　Peter's　descending　footsteps　died　away。　　People　had　a　way　
of　addressing　remarks　to　Elizabeth。　　Something　in　her　manner　
invited　this。

〃Oh；　well；　it's　all　in　the　day's　work；〃　commented　Tommy　cheerfully；　
and　sat　down　as　bid。

Five　minutes　passed；　maybe　ten。　　Then　Peter　returned；　accompanied　
by　a　large；　restful　lady；　to　whom　surpriseone　felt　it　
instinctivelyhad　always　been；　and　always　would　remain；　an　unknown　
quantity。

Tommy　rose。

〃That's　thethe　article；〃　explained　Peter。

Mrs。　Postwhistle　compressed　her　lips　and　slightly　tossed　her　head。　　
It　was　the　attitude　of　not　ill…natured　contempt　from　which　she　
regarded　most　human　affairs。

〃That's　right；〃　said　Mrs。　Postwhistle；　〃I　remember　seeing　'er　
thereleastways；　it　was　an　'er　right　enough　then。　　What　'ave　you　
done　with　your　clothes？〃

〃They　weren't　mine；〃　explained　Tommy。　　〃They　were　things　what　Mrs。　
Hammond　had　lent　me。〃

〃Is　that　your　own？〃　asked　Mrs。　Postwhistle；　indicating　the　blue　
silk　garibaldi。

〃Yes。〃

〃What　went　with　it？〃

〃Tights。　　They　were　too　far　gone。〃

〃What　made　you　give　up　the　tumbling　business　and　go　to　Mrs。　
'Ammond's？〃

〃It　gave　me　up。　　Hurt　myself。〃

〃Who　were　you　with　last？〃

〃Martini　troupe。〃

〃And　before　that？〃

〃Oh！　heaps　of　'em。〃

〃Nobody　ever　told　you　whether　you　was　a　boy　or　a　girl？〃

〃Nobody　as　I'd　care　to　believe。　　Some　of　them　called　me　the　one；　
some　of　them　the　other。　　It　depended　upon　what　was　wanted。〃

〃How　old　are　you？〃

〃I　dunno。〃

Mrs。　Postwhistle　turned　to　Peter；　who　was　jingling　keys。

〃Well；　there's　the　bed　upstairs。　　It's　for　you　to　decide。〃

〃What　I　don't　want　to　do；〃　explained　Peter；　sinking　his　voice　to　a　
confidential　whisper；　〃is　to　make　a　fool　of　myself。〃

〃That's　always　a　good　rule；〃　agreed　Mrs。　Postwhistle；　〃for　those　to　
whom　it's　possible。〃

〃Anyhow；〃　said　Peter；　〃one　night　can't　do　any　harm。　　To…morrow　we　
can　think　what's　to　be　done。〃

〃To…morrow〃had　always　been　Peter's　lucky　day。　　At　the　mere　mention　
of　the　magic　date　his　spirits　invariably　rose。　　He　now　turned　upon　
Tommy　a　countenance　from　which　all　hesitation　was　banished。

〃Very　well；　Tommy；〃　said　Mr。　Peter　Hope；　〃you　can　sleep　here　to…
night。　　Go　with　Mrs。　Postwhistle；　and　she'll　show　you　your　room。〃

The　black　eyes　shone。

〃You're　going　to　give　me　a　trial？〃

〃We'll　talk　about　all　that　to…morrow。〃　　The　black　eyes　clouded。

〃Look　here。　　I　tell　you　straight；　it　ain't　no　good。〃

〃What　do　you　mean？　　What　isn't　any　good？〃　demanded　Peter。

〃You'll　want　to　send　me　to　prison。〃

〃To　prison！〃

〃Oh；　yes。　　You'll　call　it　a　school；　I　know。　　You　ain't　the　first　
that's　tried　that　on。　　It　won't　work。〃　　The　bright；　black　eyes　were　
flashing　passionately。　　〃I　ain't　done　any　harm。　　I'm　willing　to　
work。　　I　can　keep　myself。　　I　always　have。　　What's　it　got　to　do　with　
anybody　else？〃

Had　the　bright；　black　eyes　retained　their　expression　of　passionate　
defiance；　Peter　Hope　might　have　retained　his　common　sense。　　Only　
Fate　arranged　that　instead　they　should　suddenly　fill　with　wild　
tears。　　And　at　sight　of　them　Peter's　common　sense　went　out　of　the　
room　disgusted；　and　there　was　born　the　history　of　many　things。

〃Don't　be　silly；〃　said　Peter。　　〃You　didn't　understand。　　Of　course　
I'm　going　to　give　you　a　trial。　　You're　going　to　'do'　for　me。　　I　
merely　meant　that　we'd　leave　the　details　till　to…morrow。　　Come；　
housekeepers　don't　cry。〃

The　little　wet　face　looked　up。

〃You　mean　it？　　Honour　bright？〃

〃Honour　bright。　　Now　go　and　wash　yourself。　　Then　you　shall　get　me　
my　supper。〃

The　odd　figure；　still　heaving　from　its　paroxysm　of　sobs；　stood　up。

〃And　I　have　my　grub；　my　lodging；　and　sixpence　a　week？〃

〃Yes；　yes；　I　think　that's　a　fair　arrangement；〃　agreed　Mr。　Peter　
Hope；　considering。　　〃Don't　you；　Mrs。　Postwhistle？〃

〃With　a　frockor　a　suit　of　trousersthrown　in；〃　suggested　Mrs。　
Postwhistle。　　〃It's　generally　done。〃

〃If　it's　the　custom；　certainly；〃　agreed　Mr。　Peter　Hope。　　〃Sixpence　
a　week　and　clothes。〃

And　this　time　it　was　Peter　that；　in　company　with　Elizabeth；　sat　
waiting　the　return　of　Tommy。

〃I　rather　hope；〃　said　Peter；　〃it's　a　boy。　　It　was　the　fogs；　you　
know。　　If　only　I　could　have　afforded　to　send　him　away！〃

Elizabeth　looked　thoughtful。　　The　door　opened。

〃Ah！　that's　better；　much　better；〃　said　Mr。　Peter　Hope。　　〃'Pon　my　
word；　you　look　quite　respectable。〃

By　the　practical　Mrs。　Postwhistle　a　working　agreement；　benefiting　
both　parties；　had　been　arrived　at　with　the　long…trained　skirt；　
while　an　ample　shawl　arranged　with　judgment　disguised　the　nakedness　
that　lay　below。　　Peter；　a　fastidious　gentleman；　observed　with　
satisfaction　that　the　hands；　now　clean；　had　been　well　cared　for。

〃Give　me　that　cap；〃　said　Peter。　　He　threw　it　in　the　glowing　fire。　　
It　burned　brightly；　diffusing　strange　odours。

〃There's　a　travelling　cap　of　mine　hanging　up　in　the　passage。　　You　
can　wear　that　for　the　present。　　Take　this　half…sovereign　and　get　me　
some　cold　meat　and　beer　for　supper。　　You'll　find　everything　else　
you　want　in　that　sideboard　or　else　in　the　kitchen。　　Don't　ask　me　a　
hundred　questions；　and　don't　make　a　noise；〃　and　Peter　went　back　to　
his　work。

〃Good　idea；　that　half…sovereign；〃　said　Peter。　　〃Shan't　be　bothered　
with　'Master　Tommy'　any　more；　don't　expect。　　Starting　a　nursery　at　
our　time　of　life。　　Madness。〃　　Peter's　pen　scratched　and　spluttered。　　
Elizabeth　kept　an　eye　upon　the　door。

〃Quarter　of　an　hour；〃　said　Peter；　looking　at　his　watch。　　〃Told　you　
so。〃　　The　article　on　which　Peter　was　now　engaged　appeared　to　be　of　
a　worrying　nature。

〃Then　why；〃　said　Peter；　〃why　did　he　refuse　that　shilling？　　
Artfulness；〃　concluded　Peter；　〃pure　artfulness。　　Elizabeth；　old　
girl；　we've　got　out　of　this　business　cheaply。　　Good　idea；　that　
half…sovereign。〃　　Peter　gave　vent　to　a　chuckle　that　had　the　effect　
of　alarming　Elizabeth。

But　luck　evidently　was　not　with　Peter　that　night。

〃Pingle's　was　sold　out；〃　explained　Tommy；　entering　with　parcels；　
〃had　to　go　to　Bow's　in　Farringdon　Street。〃

〃Oh！〃　said　Peter；　without　looking　up。

Tommy　passed　through　into　the　little　kitchen　behind。　　Peter　wrote　
on　rapidly；　making　up　for　lost　time。

〃Good！〃　murmured　Peter；　smiling　to　himself；　〃that's　a　neat　phrase。　　
That　ought　to　irritate　them。〃

Now；　as　he　wrote；　while　with　noiseless　footsteps　Tommy；　unseen　
behind　him；　moved　to　and　fro　and　in　and　out　the　little　kitchen；　
there　came　to　Peter　Hope　this　very　curious　experience：　　it　felt　to　
him　as　if　for　a　long　time　he　had　been　illso　ill　as　not　even　to　
have　been　aware　of　itand　that　now　he　was　beginning　to　be　himself　
again；　consciousness　of　things　returning　to　him。　　This　solidly　
furnished；　long；　oak…panelled　room　with　its　air　of　old…world　
dignity　and　reposethis　sober；　kindly　room　in　which　for　more　than　
half　his　life　he　had　lived　and　workedwhy　had　he　forgotten　it？　　It　
came　forward　greeting　him　with　an　amused　smile；　as　of　some　old　
friend　long　parted　from。　　The　faded　photos；　in　stiff；　wooden　frames　
upon　the　chimney…piece；　among　them　that　of　the　fragile　little　woman　
with　the　unadaptable　lungs。

〃God　bless　my　soul！〃　said　Mr。　Peter　Hope；　pushing　back　his　chair。　　
〃It's　thirty　years　ago。　　How　time　does　fly！　　Why；　let　me　see；　I　
must　be〃

〃D'you　like　it　with　a　head　on　it？〃　demanded　Tommy；　who　had　been　
waiting　patiently　for　signs。

Peter　shook　himself　awake　and　went　to　his　supper。

A　bright　idea　occurred　to　Peter　in　the　night。　　〃Of　course；　why　
didn't　I　think　of　it　before？　　Settle　the　question　at　once。〃　　Peter　
fell　into　an　easy　sleep。

〃Tommy；〃　said　Peter；　as　he　sat　himself　down　to　breakfast　the　next　
morning。　　〃By…the…by；〃　asked　Peter　with　a　puzzled　expression；　
putting　down　his　cup；　〃what　is　this？〃

〃Cauffee；〃　informed　him　Tommy。　　〃You　said　cauffee。〃

〃Oh！〃　replied　Peter。　　〃For　the　future；　Tommy；　if　you　don't　mind；　I　
will　take　tea　of　a　morning。〃

〃All　the　same　to　me；〃　explained　the　agreeable　Tommy；　〃it's　your　
breakfast。〃

〃What　I　was　about　to　say；〃　continued　Peter；　〃was　that　you're　not　
looking　very　well；　Tommy。〃

〃I'm　all　right；〃　asserted　Tommy；　〃never　nothing　the　matter　with　
me。〃

〃Not　that　you　know　of；　perhaps；　but　one　can　be　in　a　very　bad　way；　
Tommy；　without　being　aware　of　it。　　I　cannot　have　anyone　about　me　
that　I　am　not　sure　is　in　thoroughly　sound　health。〃

〃If　you　mean　you've　changed　your　mind　and　want　to　get　rid　of　me〃　
began　Tommy；　with　its　chin　in　the　air。

〃I　don't　want　any　of　your　uppishness；〃　snapped　Peter；　who　had　wound　
himself　up　for　the　occasion　to　a　degree　of　assertiveness　that　
surprised　even　himself。　　〃If　you　are　a　thoroughly　strong　and　
healthy　person；　as　I　think　you　are；　I　shall　be　very　glad　to　retain　
your　services。　　But　upon　that　point　I　must　be　satisfied。　　It　is　the　
custom；〃　explained　Peter。　　〃It　is　always　done　in　good　families。　　
Run　round　to　this　address〃Peter　wrote　it　upon　a　leaf　of　his　
notebook〃and　ask　Dr。　Smith　to　come　and　see　me　before　he　begins　
his　round。　　You　go　at　once；　and　don't　let　us　have　any　argument。〃

〃That　is　the　way　to　talk　to　that　young　personclearly；〃　said　Peter　
to　himself；　listening　to　Tommy's　footsteps　dying　down　the　stairs。

Hearing　the　street…door　slam；　Peter　stole　into　the　kitchen　and　
brewed　himself　a　cup　of　coffee。

Dr。　Smith；　who　had　commenced　life　as　Herr　Schmidt；　but　who　in　
consequence　of　difference　of　opinion　with　his　Government　was　now　an　
Englishman　with　strong　Tory　prejudices；　had　but　one　sorrow：　　it　was　
t