tommy and co.-第26部分

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Postwhistle；　who　was　knitting。

〃Some　girls；　so　I　have　heard；〃　remarked　Miss　Bulstrode；　〃smoke　
cigarettes。〃

〃Not　nice　girls；〃　thought　Mrs。　Postwhistle。

〃One　of　the　nicest　girls　I　ever　knew；〃　remarked　Miss　Bulstrode；　
〃always　smoked　a　cigarette　after　supper。　　Said　it　soothed　her　
nerves。〃

〃Wouldn't　'ave　thought　so　if　I'd　'ad　charge　of　'er；〃　said　Mrs。　
Postwhistle。

〃I　think；〃　said　Miss　Bulstrode；　who　seemed　restless；　〃I　think　I　
shall　go　for　a　little　walk　before　turning　in。〃

〃Perhaps　it　would　do　us　good；〃　agreed　Mrs。　Postwhistle；　laying　down　
her　knitting。

〃Don't　you　trouble　to　come；〃　urged　the　thoughtful　Miss　Bulstrode。　　
〃You　look　tired。〃

〃Not　at　all；〃　replied　Mrs。　Postwhistle。　　〃Feel　I　should　like　it。〃

In　some　respects　Mrs。　Postwhistle　proved　an　admirable　companion。　　
She　asked　no　questions；　and　only　spoke　when　spoken　to；　which；　
during　that　walk；　was　not　often。　　At　the　end　of　half　an　hour；　Miss　
Bulstrode　pleaded　a　headache　and　thought　she　would　return　home　and　
go　to　bed。　　Mrs。　Postwhistle　thought　it　a　reasonable　idea。

〃Well；　it's　better　than　tramping　the　streets；〃　muttered　Johnny；　as　
the　bedroom　door　was　closed　behind　him；　〃and　that's　all　one　can　say　
for　it。　　Must　get　hold　of　a　smoke　to…morrow；　if　I　have　to　rob　the　
till。　　What's　that？〃　　Johnny　stole　across　on；　tiptoe。　　〃Confound　
it！〃　said　Johnny；　〃if　she　hasn't　locked　the　door！〃

Johnny　sat　down　upon　the　bed　and　took　stock　of　his　position。　　〃It　
doesn't　seem　to　me；〃　thought　Johnny；　〃that　I'm　ever　going　to　get　
out　of　this　mess。〃　　Johnny；　still　muttering；　unfastened　his　stays。　　
〃Thank　God；　that's　off！〃　ejaculated　Johnny　piously；　as　he　watched　
his　form　slowly　expanding。　　〃Suppose　I'll　be　used　to　them　before　
I've　finished　with　them。〃

Johnny　had　a　night　of　dreams。

For　the　whole　of　next　day；　which　was　Friday；　Johnny　remained　〃Miss　
Bulstrode；〃　hoping　against　hope　to　find　an　opportunity　to　escape　
from　his　predicament　without　confession。　　The　entire　Autolycus　Club　
appeared　to　have　fallen　in　love　with　him。

〃Thought　I　was　a　bit　of　a　fool　myself；〃　mused　Johnny；　〃where　a　
petticoat　was　concerned。　　Don't　believe　these　blithering　idiots　
have　ever　seen　a　girl　before。〃

They　came　in　ones；　they　came　in　little　parties；　and　tendered　him　
devotion。　　Even　Mrs。　Postwhistle；　accustomed　to　regard　human　
phenomena　without　comment；　remarked　upon　it。

〃When　you　are　all　tired　of　it；〃　said　Mrs。　Postwhistle　to　Jack　
Herring；　〃let　me　know。〃

〃The　moment　we　find　her　brother；〃　explained　Jack　Herring；　〃of　
course　we　shall　take　her　to　him。〃

〃Nothing　like　looking　in　the　right　place　for　a　thing　when　you've　
finished　looking　in　the　others；〃　observed　Mrs。　Postwhistle。

〃What　do　you　mean？〃　demanded　Jack。

〃Just　what　I　say；〃　answered　Mrs。　Postwhistle。

Jack　Herring　looked　at　Mrs。　Postwhistle。　　But　Mrs。　Postwhistle's　
face　was　not　of　the　expressive　order。

〃Post　office　still　going　strong？〃　asked　Jack　Herring。

〃The　post　office　'as　been　a　great　'elp　to　me；〃　admitted　Mrs。　
Postwhistle；　〃and　I'm　not　forgetting　that　I　owe　it　to　you。〃

〃Don't　mention　it；〃　murmured　Jack　Herring。

They　brought　her　presentsnothing　very　expensive；　more　as　tokens　
of　regard：　　dainty　packets　of　sweets；　nosegays　of　simple　flowers；　
bottles　of　scent。　　To　Somerville　〃Miss　Bulstrode〃　hinted　that　if　he　
really　did　desire　to　please　her；　and　wasn't　merely　talking　through　
his　hatMiss　Bulstrode　apologised　for　the　slang；　which；　she　
feared；　she　must　have　picked　up　from　her　brotherhe　might　give　her　
a　box　of　Messani's　cigarettes；　size　No。　2。　　The　suggestion　pained　
him。　　Somerville　the　Briefless　was　perhaps　old…fashioned。　　Miss　
Bulstrode　cut　him　short　by　agreeing　that　he　was；　and　seemed　
disinclined　for　further　conversation。

They　took　her　to　Madame　Tussaud's。　　They　took　her　up　the　Monument。　　
They　took　her　to　the　Tower　of　London。　　In　the　evening　they　took　her　
to　the　Polytechnic　to　see　Pepper's　Ghost。　　They　made　a　merry　party　
wherever　they　went。

〃Seem　to　be　enjoying　themselves！〃　remarked　other　sightseers；　
surprised　and　envious。

〃Girl　seems　to　be　a　bit　out　of　it；〃　remarked　others；　more　
observant。

〃Sulky…looking　bit　o'　goods；　I　call　her；〃　remarked　some　of　the　
ladies。

The　fortitude　with　which　Miss　Bulstrode　bore　the　mysterious　
disappearance　of　her　brother　excited　admiration。

〃Hadn't　we　better　telegraph　to　your　people　in　Derbyshire？〃　
suggested　Jack　Herring。

〃Don't　do　it；〃　vehemently　protested　the　thoughtful　Miss　Bulstrode；　
〃it　might　alarm　them。　　The　best　plan　is　for　you　to　lend　me　a　couple　
of　sovereigns　and　let　me　return　home　quietly。〃

〃You　might　be　robbed　again；〃　feared　Jack　Herring。　　〃I'll　go　down　
with　you。〃

〃Perhaps　he'll　turn　up　to…morrow；〃　thought　Miss　Bulstrode。　　〃Expect　
he's　gone　on　a　visit。〃

〃He　ought　not　to　have　done　it；〃　thought　Jack　Herring；　〃knowing　you　
were　coming。〃

〃Oh！　he's　like　that；〃　explained　Miss　Bulstrode。

〃If　I　had　a　young　and　beautiful　sister〃　said　Jack　Herring。

〃Oh！　let's　talk　of　something　else；〃　suggested　Miss　Bulstrode。　　〃You　
make　me　tired。〃

With　Jack　Herring；　in　particular；　Johnny　was　beginning　to　lose　
patience。　　That　〃Miss　Bulstrode's〃　charms　had　evidently　struck　Jack　
Herring　all　of　a　heap；　as　the　saying　is；　had　in　the　beginning　
amused　Master　Johnny。　　Indeedas　in　the　seclusion　of　his　
bedchamber　over　the　little　grocer's　shop　he　told　himself　with　
bitter　self…reproachhe　had　undoubtedly　encouraged　the　man。　　From　
admiration　Jack　had　rapidly　passed　to　infatuation；　from　infatuation　
to　apparent　imbecility。　　Had　Johnny's　mind　been　less　intent　upon　
his　own　troubles；　he　might　have　been　suspicious。　　As　it　was；　and　
after　all　that　had　happened；　nothing　now　could　astonish　Johnny。　　
〃Thank　Heaven；〃　murmured　Johnny；　as　he　blew　out　the　light；　〃this　
Mrs。　Postwhistle　appears　to　be　a　reliable　woman。〃

Now；　about　the　same　time　that　Johnny's　head　was　falling　thus　upon　
his　pillow；　the　Autolycus　Club　sat　discussing　plans　for　their　next　
day's　entertainment。

〃I　think；〃　said　Jack　Herring；　〃the　Crystal　Palace　in　the　morning　
when　it's　nice　and　quiet。〃

〃To　be　followed　by　Greenwich　Hospital　in　the　afternoon；〃　suggested　
Somerville。

〃Winding　up　with　the　Moore　and　Burgess　Minstrels　in　the　evening；〃　
thought　Porson。

〃Hardly　the　place　for　the　young　person；〃　feared　Jack　Herring。　　
〃Some　of　the　jokes〃

〃Mr。　Brandram　gives　a　reading　of　Julius　Caesar　at　St。　George's　
Hall；〃　the　Wee　Laddie　informed　them　for　their　guidance。

〃Hallo！〃　said　Alexander　the　Poet；　entering　at　the　moment。　　〃What　
are　you　all　talking　about？〃

〃We　were　discussing　where　to　take　Miss　Bulstrode　to…morrow　
evening；〃　informed　him　Jack　Herring。

〃Miss　Bulstrode；〃　repeated　the　Poet　in　a　tone　of　some　surprise。　　
〃Do　you　mean　Johnny　Bulstrode's　sister？〃

〃That's　the　lady；〃　answered　Jack。　　〃But　how　do　you　come　to　know　
about　her？　　Thought　you　were　in　Yorkshire。〃

〃Came　up　yesterday；〃　explained　the　Poet。　　〃Travelled　up　with　her。〃

〃Travelled　up　with　her？〃

〃From　Matlock　Bath。　　What's　the　matter　with　you　all？〃　demanded　the　
Poet。　　〃You　all　of　you　look〃

〃Sit　down；〃　said　the　Briefless　one　to　the　Poet。　　〃Let's　talk　this　
matter　over　quietly。〃

Alexander　the　Poet；　mystified；　sat　down。

〃You　say　you　travelled　up　to　London　yesterday　with　Miss　Bulstrode。　　
You　are　sure　it　was　Miss　Bulstrode？〃

〃Sure！〃　retorted　the　Poet。　　〃Why；　I've　known　her　ever　since　she　was　
a　baby。〃

〃About　what　time　did　you　reach　London？〃

〃Three…thirty。〃

〃And　what　became　of　her？　　Where　did　she　say　she　was　going？〃

〃I　never　asked　her。　　The　last　I　saw　of　her　she　was　getting　into　a　
cab。　　I　had　an　appointment　myself；　and　wasI　say；　what's　the　
matter　with　Herring？〃

Herring　had　risen　and　was　walking　about　with　his　head　between　his　
hands。

〃Never　mind　him。　　Miss　Bulstrode　is　a　lady　of　abouthow　old？〃

〃Eighteenno；　nineteen　last　birthday。〃

〃A　tall；　handsome　sort　of　girl？〃

〃Yes。　　I　say；　has　anything　happened　to　her？〃

〃Nothing　has　happened　to　her；〃　assured　him

Somerville。　　〃SHE'S　all　right。　　Been　having　rather　a　good　time；　on　
the　whole。〃

The　Poet　was　relieved　to　hear　it。

〃I　asked　her　an　hour　ago；〃　said　Jack　Herring；　who　was　still　holding　
his　head　between　his　hands　as　if　to　make　sure　it　was　there；　〃if　she　
thought　she　could　ever　learn　to　love　me。　　Would　you　say　that　could　
be　construed　into　an　offer　of　marriage？〃

The　remainder　of　the　Club　was　unanimously　of　opinion　that；　
practically　speaking；　it　was　a　proposal。

〃I　don't　see　it；〃　argued　Jack　Herring。　　〃It　was　merely　in　the　
nature　of　a　remark。〃

The　Club　was　of　opinion　that　such　quibbling　was　unworthy　of　a　
gentleman。

It　appeared　to　be　a　case　for　prompt　action。　　Jack　Herring　sat　down　
and　then　and　there　began　a　letter　to　Miss　Bulstrode；　care　of　Mrs。　
Postwhistle。

〃But　what　I　don't　understand〃　said　Alexander　the　Poet。

〃Oh！　take　him　away　somewhere　and　tell　him；　someone；〃　moaned　Jack　
Herring。　　〃How　can　I　think　with　all　this　chatter　going　on？〃

〃But　why　did　Bennett〃　whispered　Porson。

〃Where　is　Bennett？〃　demanded　half　a　dozen　fierce　voices。

Harry　Bennett　had　not　been　seen　all　day。

Jack's　letter　was　delivered　to　〃Miss　Bulstrode〃　the　next　morning　at　
breakfast…time。　　Having　perused　it；　Miss　Bulstrode　rose　and　
requested　of　Mrs。　Postwhistle　the　loan　of　half　a　crown。

〃Mr。　Herring's　particular　instructions　were；〃　explained　Mrs。　
Postwhistle；　〃that；　above　all　things；　I　was　not　to　lend　you　any　
money。〃

〃When　you　have　read　that；〃　replied　Miss　Bulstrode；　handing　her　the　
letter；　〃perhaps　you　will　agree　with　me　that　Herring　isan　ass。〃

Mrs。　Postwhistle　read　the　letter　and　produced　the　half…crown。

〃Better　get　a　shave　with　part　of　it；〃　suggested　Mrs。　Postwhistle。　　
〃That　is；　if　you　are　going　to　play　the　fool　much　longer。〃

〃Miss　Bulstrode〃　opened　his　eyes。　　Mrs。　Postwhistle　went　on　with　
her　breakfast。

〃Don't　tell　them；〃　said　Johnny；　〃not　just　for　a　little　while；　at　
all　events。〃

〃Nothing　to　do　with　me；〃　replied　Mrs。　Postwhistle。

Twenty　minutes　later；　the　real　Miss　Bulstrode；　on　a　visit　to　her　
aunt　in　Kensington；　was　surprised　at　receiving；　enclosed　in　an　
envelope；　the　following　hastily　scrawled　note：…

〃Want　to　speak　to　you　at　onceALONE。　　Don't　yell　when　you　see