all roads lead to calvary-第24章

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e　victory。

The　moon　had　risen　clear　of　the　entangling　pines。　　It　rode　serene　and　free。

Her　father　came　to　the　station　with　her　in　the　morning。　　The　train　was　not　in：　　and　they　walked　up　and　down　and　talked。　　Suddenly　she　remembered：　　it　had　slipped　her　mind。

〃Could　I；　as　a　child；　have　known　an　old　clergyman？〃　she　asked　him。　〃At　least　he　wouldn't　have　been　old　then。　　I　dropped　into　Chelsea　Church　one　evening　and　heard　him　preach；　and　on　the　way　home　I　passed　him　again　in　the　street。　　It　seemed　to　me　that　I　had　seen　his　face　before。　　But　not　for　many　years。　　I　meant　to　write　you　about　it；　but　forgot。〃

He　had　to　turn　aside　for　a　moment　to　speak　to　an　acquaintance　about　business。

〃Oh；　it's　possible；〃　he　answered　on　rejoining　her。　　〃What　was　his　name？〃

〃I　do　not　know；〃　she　answered。　　〃He　was　not　the　regular　Incumbent。　But　it　was　someone　that　I　seemed　to　know　quite　wellthat　I　must　have　been　familiar　with。〃

〃It　may　have　been；〃　he　answered　carelessly；　〃though　the　gulf　was　wider　then　than　it　is　now。　　I'll　try　and　think。　　Perhaps　it　is　only　your　fancy。〃

The　train　drew　in；　and　he　found　her　a　corner　seat；　and　stood　talking　by　the　window；　about　common　things。

〃What　did　he　preach　about？〃　he　asked　her　unexpectedly。

She　was　puzzled　for　the　moment。　　〃Oh；　the　old　clergyman；〃　she　answered；　recollecting。　　〃Oh；　Calvary。　　All　roads　lead　to　Calvary；　he　thought。　　It　was　rather　interesting。〃

She　looked　back　at　the　end　of　the　platform。　　He　had　not　moved。



CHAPTER　IX



A　pile　of　correspondence　was　awaiting　her　and；　standing　by　the　desk；　she　began　to　open　and　read　it。　　Suddenly　she　paused；　conscious　that　someone　had　entered　the　room　and；　turning；　she　saw　Hilda。　　She　must　have　left　the　door　ajar；　for　she　had　heard　no　sound。　　The　child　closed　the　door　noiselessly　and　came　across；　holding　out　a　letter。

〃Papa　told　me　to　give　you　this　the　moment　you　came　in；〃　she　said。　Joan　had　not　yet　taken　off　her　things。　　The　child　must　have　been　keeping　a　close　watch。　　Save　for　the　signature　it　contained　but　one　line：　　〃I　have　accepted。〃

Joan　replaced　the　letter　in　its　envelope；　and　laid　it　down　upon　the　desk。　　Unconsciously　a　smile　played　about　her　lips。

The　child　was　watching　her。　　〃I'm　glad　you　persuaded　him；〃　she　said。

Joan　felt　a　flush　mount　to　her　face。　　She　had　forgotten　Hilda　for　the　instant。

She　forced　a　laugh。　　〃Oh；　I　only　persuaded　him　to　do　what　he　had　made　up　his　mind　to　do；〃　she　explained。　　〃It　was　all　settled。〃

〃No；　it　wasn't；〃　answered　the　child。　　〃Most　of　them　were　against　it。　　And　then　there　was　Mama；〃　she　added　in　a　lower　tone。

〃What　do　you　mean；〃　asked　Joan。　　〃Didn't　she　wish　it？〃

The　child　raised　her　eyes。　　There　was　a　dull　anger　in　them。　　〃Oh；　what's　the　good　of　pretending；〃　she　said。　　〃He's　so　great。　　He　could　be　the　Prime　Minister　of　England　if　he　chose。　　But　then　he　would　have　to　visit　kings　and　nobles；　and　receive　them　at　his　house；　and　Mama〃　　She　broke　off　with　a　passionate　gesture　of　the　small　thin　hands。

Joan　was　puzzled　what　to　say。　　She　knew　exactly　what　she　ought　to　say：　　what　she　would　have　said　to　any　ordinary　child。　　But　to　say　it　to　this　uncannily　knowing　little　creature　did　not　promise　much　good。

〃Who　told　you　I　persuaded　him？〃　she　asked。

〃Nobody；〃　answered　the　child。　　〃I　knew。〃

Joan　seated　herself；　and　drew　the　child　towards　her。

〃It　isn't　as　terrible　as　you　think；〃　she　said。　　〃Many　men　who　have　risen　and　taken　a　high　place　in　the　world　were　married　to　kind；　good　women　unable　to　share　their　greatness。　　There　was　Shakespeare；　you　know；　who　married　Anne　Hathaway　and　had　a　clever　daughter。　　She　was　just　a　nice；　homely　body　a　few　years　older　than　himself。　　And　he　seems　to　have　been　very　fond　of　her；　and　was　always　running　down　to　Stratford　to　be　with　her。〃

〃Yes；　but　he　didn't　bring　her　up　to　London；〃　answered　the　child。　〃Mama　would　have　wanted　to　come；　and　Papa　would　have　let　her；　and　wouldn't　have　gone　to　see　Queen　Elizabeth　unless　she　had　been　invited　too。〃

Joan　wished　she　had　not　mentioned　Shakespeare。　　There　had　surely　been　others；　men　who　had　climbed　up　and　carried　their　impossible　wives　with　them。　　But　she　couldn't　think　of　one；　just　then。

〃We　must　help　her；〃　she　answered　somewhat　lamely。　　〃She's　anxious　to　learn；　I　know。〃

The　child　shook　her　head。　　〃She　doesn't　understand；〃　she　said。　〃And　Papa　won't　tell　her。　　He　says　it　would　only　hurt　her　and　do　no　good。〃　　The　small　hands　were　clenched。　　〃I　shall　hate　her　if　she　spoils　his　life。〃

The　atmosphere　was　becoming　tragic。　　Joan　felt　the　need　of　escaping　from　it。　　She　sprang　up。

〃Oh；　don't　be　nonsensical；〃　she　said。　　〃Your　father　isn't　the　only　man　married　to　a　woman　not　as　clever　as　himself。　　He　isn't　going　to　let　that　stop　him。　　And　your　mother's　going　to　learn　to　be　the　wife　of　a　great　man　and　do　the　best　she　can。　　And　if　they　don't　like　her　they've　got　to　put　up　with　her。　　I　shall　talk　to　the　both　of　them。〃　A　wave　of　motherliness　towards　the　entire　Phillips　family　passed　over　her。　　It　included　Hilda。　　She　caught　the　child　to　her　and　gave　her　a　hug。　　〃You　go　back　to　school；〃　she　said；　〃and　get　on　as　fast　as　you　can；　so　that　you'll　be　able　to　be　useful　to　him。〃

The　child　flung　her　arms　about　her。　　〃You're　so　beautiful　and　wonderful；〃　she　said。　　〃You　can　do　anything。　　I'm　so　glad　you　came。〃

Joan　laughed。　　It　was　surprising　how　easily　the　problem　had　been　solved。　　She　would　take　Mrs。　Phillips　in　hand　at　once。　　At　all　events　she　should　be　wholesome　and　unobtrusive。　　It　would　be　a　delicate　mission；　but　Joan　felt　sure　of　her　own　tact。　　She　could　see　his　boyish　eyes　turned　upon　her　with　wonder　and　gratitude。

〃I　was　so　afraid　you　would　not　be　back　before　I　went；〃　said　the　child。　　〃I　ought　to　have　gone　this　afternoon；　but　Papa　let　me　stay　till　the　evening。〃

〃You　will　help？〃　she　added；　fixing　on　Joan　her　great；　grave　eyes。

Joan　promised；　and　the　child　went　out。　　She　looked　pretty　when　she　smiled。　　She　closed　the　door　behind　her　noiselessly。

It　occurred　to　Joan　that　she　would　like　to　talk　matters　over　with　Greyson。　　There　was　〃Clorinda's〃　attitude　to　be　decided　upon；　and　she　was　interested　to　know　what　view　he　himself　would　take。　　Of　course　he　would　be　on　P…'s　side。　　The　Evening　Gazette　had　always　supported　the　〃gas　and　water　school〃　of　socialism；　and　to　include　the　people's　food　was　surely　only　an　extension　of　the　principle。　She　rang　him　up　and　Miss　Greyson　answered；　asking　her　to　come　round　to　dinner：　　they　would　be　alone。　　And　she　agreed。

The　Greysons　lived　in　a　small　house　squeezed　into　an　angle　of　the　Outer　Circle；　overlooking　Regent's　Park。　　It　was　charmingly　furnished；　chiefly　with　old　Chippendale。　　The　drawing…room　made　quite　a　picture。　　It　was　home…like　and　restful　with　its　faded　colouring；　and　absence　of　all　show　and　overcrowding。　　They　sat　there　after　dinner　and　discussed　Joan's　news。　　Miss　Greyson　was　repairing　a　piece　of　old　embroidery　she　had　brought　back　with　her　from　Italy；　and　Greyson　sat　smoking；　with　his　hands　behind　his　head；　and　his　long　legs　stretched　out　towards　the　fire。

〃Carleton　will　want　him　to　make　his　food　policy　include　Tariff　Reform；〃　he　said。　　〃If　he　prove　pliable；　and　is　willing　to　throw　over　his　free　trade　principles；　all　well　and　good。〃

〃What's　Carleton　got　to　do　with　it？〃　demanded　Joan　with　a　note　of　indignation。

He　turned　his　head　towards　her　with　an　amused　raising　of　the　eyebrows。　　〃Carleton　owns　two　London　dailies；〃　he　answered；　〃and　is　in　treaty　for　a　third：　　together　with　a　dozen　others　scattered　about　the　provinces。　　Most　politicians　find　themselves；　sooner　or　later；　convinced　by　his　arguments。　　Phillips　may　prove　the　exception。〃

〃It　would　be　rather　interesting；　a　fight　between　them；〃　said　Joan。　〃Myself　I　should　back　Phillips。〃

〃He　might　win　through；〃　mused　Greyson。　　〃He's　the　man　to　do　it；　if　anybody　could。　　But　the　odds　will　be　against　him。〃

〃I　don't　see　it；〃　said　Joan；　with　decision。

〃I'm　afraid　you　haven't　yet　grasped　the　power　of　the　Press；〃　he　answered　with　a　smile。　　〃Phillips　speaks　occasionally　to　five　thousand　people。　　Carleton　addresses　every　day　a　circle　of　five　million　readers。〃

〃Yes；　but　when　Phillips　does　speak；　he　speaks　to　the　whole　country；〃　retorted　Joan。

〃Through　the　medium　of　Carleton　and　his　lik