tommy and co.-第28部分

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quite　so　clever。〃

The　old　doctor　rummaged　among　dusty　files　of　papers　in　a　corner。　　
Clodd　found　it　on　the　mantelpiece　concealed　beneath　the　hollow　foot　
of　a　big　brass　candlestick；　and　handed　it　to　Peter。

Peter　had　one　vicethe　taking　in　increasing　quantities　of　snuff；　
which　was　harmful　for　him；　as　he　himself　admitted。　　Tommy；　
sympathetic　to　most　masculine　frailties；　was　severe；　however；　upon　
this　one。

〃You　spill　it　upon　your　shirt　and　on　your　coat；〃　had　argued　Tommy。　　
〃I　like　to　see　you　always　neat。　　Besides；　it　isn't　a　nice　habit。　　I　
do　wish；　dad；　you'd　give　it　up。〃

〃I　must；〃　Peter　had　agreed。　　〃I'll　break　myself　of　it。　　But　not　all　
at　onceit　would　be　a　wrench；　by　degrees；　Tommy；　by　degrees。〃

So　a　compromise　had　been　compounded。　　Tommy　was　to　hide　the　snuff…
box。　　It　was　to　be　somewhere　in　the　room　and　to　be　accessible；　but　
that　was　all。　　Peter；　when　self…control　had　reached　the　breaking…
point；　might　try　and　find　it。　　Occasionally；　luck　helping　Peter；　he　
would　find　it　early　in　the　day；　when　he　would　earn　his　own　bitter　
self…reproaches　by　indulging　in　quite　an　orgie。　　But　more　often　
Tommy's　artfulness　was　such　that　he　would　be　compelled；　by　want　of　
time；　to　abandon　the　search。　　Tommy　always　knew　when　he　had　failed　
by　the　air　of　indignant　resignation　with　which　he　would　greet　her　
on　her　return。　　Then　perhaps　towards　evening；　Peter；　looking　up；　
would　see　the　box　open　before　his　nose；　above　it；　a　pair　of　
reproving　black　eyes；　their　severity　counterbalanced　by　a　pair　of　
full　red　lips　trying　not　to　smile。　　And　Peter；　knowing　that　only　
one　pinch　would　be　permitted；　would　dip　deeply。

〃I　want　her；〃　said　Peter　Hope；　feeling　with　his　snuff…box　in　his　
hand　more　confidence　in　his　own　judgment；　〃to　be　a　sensible；　clever　
woman；　capable　of　earning　her　own　living　and　of　being　independent；　
not　a　mere　helpless　doll；　crying　for　some　man　to　come　and　take　care　
of　her。〃

〃A　woman's　business；〃　asserted　Clodd；　〃is　to　be　taken　care　of。〃

〃Some　women；　perhaps；〃　admitted　Peter；　〃but　Tommy；　you　know　very　
well；　is　not　going　to　be　the　ordinary　type　of　woman。　　She　has　
brains；　she　will　make　her　way　in　the　world。〃

〃It　doesn't　depend　upon　brains；〃　said　Clodd。　　〃She　hasn't　got　the　
elbows。〃

〃The　elbows？〃

〃They　are　not　sharp　enough。　　The　last　'bus　home　on　a　wet　night　
tells　you　whether　a　woman　is　capable　of　pushing　her　own　way　in　the　
world。　　Tommy's　the　sort　to　get　left　on　the　kerb。〃

〃She's　the　sort；〃　retorted　Peter；　〃to　make　a　name　for　herself　and　
to　be　able　to　afford　a　cab。　　Don't　you　bully　me！〃　　Peter　sniffed　
self…assertiveness　from　between　his　thumb　and　finger。

〃Yes；　I　shall；〃　Clodd　told　him；　〃on　this　particular　point。　　The　
poor　girl's　got　no　mother。〃

Fortunately　for　the　general　harmony　the　door　opened　at　the　moment　
to　admit　the　subject　of　discussion。

〃Got　that　Daisy　Blossom　advertisement　out　of　old　Blatchley；〃　
announced　Tommy；　waving　triumphantly　a　piece　of　paper　over　her　
head。

〃No！〃　exclaimed　Peter。　　〃How　did　you　manage　it？〃

〃Asked　him　for　it；〃　was　Tommy's　explanation。

〃Very　odd；〃　mused　Peter；　〃asked　the　old　idiot　for　it　myself　only　
last　week。　　He　refused　it　point…blank。〃

Clodd　snorted　reproof。　　〃You　know　I　don't　like　your　doing　that　sort　
of　thing。　　It　isn't　proper　for　a　young　girl〃

〃It's　all　right；〃　assured　him　Tommy；　〃he's　bald！〃

〃That　makes　no　difference；〃　was　Clodd's　opinion。

〃Yes　it　does；〃　was　Tommy's。　　〃I　like　them　bald。〃

Tommy　took　Peter's　head　between　her　hands　and　kissed　it；　and　in　
doing　so　noticed　the　tell…tale　specks　of　snuff。

〃Just　a　pinch；　my　dear；〃　explained　Peter；　〃the　merest　pinch。〃

Tommy　took　up　the　snuff…box　from　the　desk。　　〃I'll　show　you　where　
I'm　going　to　put　it　this　time。〃　　She　put　it　in　her　pocket。　　Peter's　
face　fell。

〃What　do　you　think　of　it？〃　said　Clodd。　　He　led　her　to　the　corner。　　
〃Good　idea；　ain't　it？〃

〃Why；　where's　the　piano？〃　demanded　Tommy。

Clodd　turned　in　delighted　triumph　to　the　others。

〃Humbug！〃　growled　Peter。

〃It　isn't　humbug；〃　cried　Clodd　indignantly。　　〃She　thought　it　was　a　
bookcaseanybody　would。　　You'll　be　able　to　sit　there　and　practise　
by　the　hour；〃　explained　Clodd　to　Tommy。　　〃When　you　hear　anybody　
coming　up　the　stairs；　you　can　leave　off。〃

〃How　can　she　hear　anything　when　she〃　　A　bright　idea　occurred　to　
Peter。　　〃Don't　you　think；　Clodd；　as　a　practical　man；〃　suggested　
Peter　insinuatingly；　adopting　the　Socratic　method；　〃that　if　we　got　
her　one　of　those　dummy　pianosyou　know　what　I　mean；　it's　just　like　
an　ordinary　piano；　only　you　don't　hear　it？〃

Clodd　shook　his　head。　　〃No　good　at　all。　　Can't　tell　the　effect　she　
is　producing。〃

〃Quite　so。　　Then；　on　the　other　hand；　Clodd；　don't　you　think　that　
hearing　the　effect　they　are　producing　may　sometimes　discourage　the　
beginner？〃

Clodd's　opinion　was　that　such　discouragement　was　a　thing　to　be　
battled　with。

Tommy；　who　had　seated　herself；　commenced　a　scale　in　contrary　
motion。

〃Well；　I'm　going　across　to　the　printer's　now；〃　explained　Clodd；　
taking　up　his　hat。　　〃Got　an　appointment　with　young　Grindley　at　
three。　　You　stick　to　it。　　A　spare　half…hour　now　and　then　that　you　
never　miss　does　wonders。　　You've　got　it　in　you。〃　　With　these　
encouraging　remarks　to　Tommy；　Clodd　disappeared。

〃Easy　for　him；〃　muttered　Peter　bitterly。　　〃Always　does　have　an　
appointment　outside　the　moment　she　begins。〃

Tommy　appeared　to　be　throwing　her　very　soul　into　the　performance。　　
Passers…by　in　Crane　Court　paused；　regarded　the　first…floor　windows　
of　the　publishing　and　editorial　offices　of　Good　Humour　with　
troubled　looks；　then　hurried　on。

〃She　hasremarkably　firm　douch！〃　shouted　the　doctor　into　Peter's　
ear。　　〃Will　see　youevening。　　Sometingsay　to　you。〃

The　fat　little　doctor　took　his　hat　and　departed。　　Tommy；　ceasing　
suddenly；　came　over　and　seated　herself　on　the　arm　of　Peter's　chair。

〃Feeling　grumpy？〃　asked　Tommy。

〃It　isn't；〃　explained　Peter；　〃that　I　mind　the　noise。　　I'd　put　up　
with　that　if　I　could　see　the　good　of　it。〃

〃It's　going　to　help　me　to　get　a　husband；　dad。　　Seems　to　me　an　odd　
way　of　doing　it；　but　Billy　says　so；　and　Billy　knows　all　about　
everything。〃

〃I　can't　understand　you；　a　sensible　girl；　listening　to　such　
nonsense；〃　said　Peter。　　〃It's　that　that　troubles　me。〃

〃Dad；　where　are　your　wits？〃　demanded　Tommy。　　〃Isn't　Billy　acting　
like　a　brick？　　Why；　he　could　go　into　Fleet　Street　to　half　a　dozen　
other　papers　and　make　five　hundred　a　year　as　advertising…agentyou　
know　he　could。　　But　he　doesn't。　　He　sticks　to　us。　　If　my　making　
myself　ridiculous　with　that　tin　pot　they　persuaded　him　was　a　piano　
is　going　to　please　him；　isn't　it　common　sense　and　sound　business；　
to　say　nothing　of　good　nature　and　gratitude；　for　me　to　do　it？　　Dad；　
I've　got　a　surprise　for　him。　　Listen。〃　　And　Tommy；　springing　from　
the　arm　of　Peter's　chair；　returned　to　the　piano。

〃What　was　it？〃　questioned　Tommy；　having　finished。　　〃Could　you　
recognise　it？〃

〃I　think；〃　said　Peter；　〃it　sounded　like　It　wasn't　'Home；　Sweet　
Home；'　was　it？〃

Tommy　clapped　her　hands。　　〃Yes；　it　was。　　You'll　end　by　liking　it　
yourself；　dad。　　We'll　have　musical　'At　Homes。'〃

〃Tommy；　have　I　brought　you　up　properly；　do　you　think？〃

〃No　dad；　you　haven't。　　You　have　let　me　have　my　own　way　too　much。　　
You　know　the　proverb：　　'Good　mothers　make　bad　daughters。'　　Clodd's　
right；　you've　spoilt　me；　dad。　　Do　you　remember；　dad；　when　I　first　
came　to　you；　seven　years　ago；　a　ragged　little　brat　out　of　the　
streets；　that　didn't　know　itself　whether　'twas　a　boy　or　a　girl？　　Do　
you　know　what　I　thought　to　myself　the　moment　I　set　eyes　on　you？　　
'Here's　a　soft　old　juggins；　I'll　be　all　right　if　I　can　get　in　
here！'　　It　makes　you　smart；　knocking　about　in　the　gutters　and　being　
knocked　about；　you　read　faces　quickly。〃

〃Do　you　remember　your　cooking；　Tommy？　　You　'had　an　aptitude　for　
it；'　according　to　your　own　idea。〃

Tommy　laughed。　　〃I　wonder　how　you　stood　it。〃

〃You　were　so　obstinate。　　You　came　to　me　as　'cook　and　housekeeper；'　
and　as　cook　and　housekeeper；　and　as　nothing　else；　would　you　remain。　　
If　I　suggested　any　change；　up　would　go　your　chin　into　the　air。　　I　
dared　not　even　dine　out　too　often；　you　were　such　a　little　tyrant。　　
The　only　thing　you　were　always　ready　to　do；　if　I　wasn't　satisfied；　
was　to　march　out　of　the　house　and　leave　me。　　Wherever　did　you　get　
that　savage　independence　of　yours？〃

〃I　don't　know。　　I　think　it　must　have　been　from　a　womanperhaps　she　
was　my　mother；　I　don't　knowwho　used　to　sit　up　in　the　bed　and　
cough；　all　night　it　seemed　to　me。　　People　would　come　to　see　us
ladies　in　fine　clothes；　and　gentlemen　with　oily　hair。　　I　think　they　
wanted　to　help　us。　　Many　of　them　had　kind　voices。　　But　always　a　
hard　look　would　come　into　her　face；　and　she　would　tell　them　what　
even　then　I　knew　to　be　untrueit　was　one　of　the　first　things　I　can　
recollectthat　we　had　everything　we　wanted；　that　we　needed　no　help　
from　anyone。　　They　would　go　away；　shrugging　their　shoulders。　　I　
grew　up　with　the　feeling　that　seemed　to　have　been　burnt　into　my　
brain；　that　to　take　from　anybody　anything　you　had　not　earned　was　
shameful。　　I　don't　think　I　could　do　it　even　now；　not　even　from　you。　　
I　am　useful　to　you；　dadI　do　help　you？〃

There　had　crept　a　terror　into　Tommy's　voice。　　Peter　felt　the　little　
hands　upon　his　arm　trembling。

〃Help　me？　　Why；　you　work　like　a　niggerlike　a　nigger　is　supposed　
to　work；　but　doesn't。　　No　onewhatever　we　paid　himwould　do　half　
as　much。　　I　don't　want　to　make　your　head　more　swollen　than　it　is；　
young　woman；　but　you　have　talent；　I　am　not　sure　it　is　not　genius。〃　　
Peter　felt　the　little　hands　tighten　upon　his　arm。

〃I　do　want　this　paper　to　be　a　success；　that　is　why　I　strum　upon　the　
piano　to　please　Clodd。　　Is　it　humbug？〃

〃I　am　afraid　it　is；　but　humbug　is　the　sweet　oil　that　helps　this　
whirling　world　of　ours　to　spin　round　smoothly。　　Too　much　of　it　
cloys：　　we　drop　it　very　gently。〃

〃But　you　are　sure　it　is　only　humbug；　Tommy？〃　　It　was　Peter's　voice　
into　which　fear　had　entered　now。　　〃It　is　not　that　you　think　he　
understands　you　better　than　I　dowould　do　more　for　you？〃

〃You　want　me　to　tell　you　all　I　think　of　you；　and　that　isn't　good　
for　you；　dadnot　too　often。　　It　would　be　you　who　would　have　
swel