the wheels of chance-第3节

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oad　and　even　nibbling　at　the　footpath。　The　excitement　never　flagged。　So　far　he　had　never　passed　or　been　passed　by　anything；　but　as　yet　the　day　was　young　and　the　road　was　clear。　He　doubted　his　steering　so　much　that；　for　the　present；　he　had　resolved　to　dismount　at　the　approach　of　anything　else　upon　wheels。　The　shadows　of　the　trees　lay　very　long　and　blue　across　the　road；　the　morning　sunlight　was　like　amber　fire。　

At　the　cross…roads　at　the　top　of　West　Hill；　where　the　cattle　trough　stands；　he　turned　towards　Kingston　and　set　himself　to　scale　the　little　bit　of　ascent。　An　early　heath…keeper；　in　his　velveteen　jacket；　marvelled　at　his　efforts。　And　while　he　yet　struggled；　the　head　of　a　carter　rose　over　the　brow。

At　the　sight　of　him　Mr。　Hoopdriver；　according　to　his　previous　determination；　resolved　to　dismount。　He　tightened　the　brake；　and　the　machine　stopped　dead。　He　was　trying　to　think　what　he　did　with　his　right　leg　whilst　getting　off。　He　gripped　the　handles　and　released　the　brake；　standing　on　the　left　pedal　and　waving　his　right　foot　in　the　air。　Thenthese　things　take　so　long　in　the　tellinghe　found　the　machine　was　falling　over　to　the　right。　While　he　was　deciding　upon　a　plan　of　action；　gravitation　appears　to　have　been　busy。　He　was　still　irresolute　when　he　found　the　machine　on　the　ground；　himself　kneeling　upon　it；　and　a　vague　feeling　in　his　mind　that　again　Providence　had　dealt　harshly　with　his　shin。　This　happened　when　he　was　just　level　with　the　heathkeeper。　The　man　in　the　approaching　cart　stood　up　to　see　the　ruins　better。

〃THAT　ain't　the　way　to　get　off；〃　said　the　heathkeeper。

Mr。　Hoopdriver　picked　up　the　machine。　The　handle　was　twisted　askew　again　He　said　something　under　his　breath。　He　would　have　to　unscrew　the　beastly　thing。

〃THAT　ain't　the　way　to　get　off；〃　repeated　the　heathkeeper；　after　a　silence。

〃_I_　know　that；〃　said　Mr。　Hoopdriver；　testily；　determined　to　overlook　the　new　specimen　on　his　shin　at　any　cost。　He　unbuckled　the　wallet　behind　the　saddle；　to　get　out　a　screw　hammer。

〃If　you　know　it　ain't　the　way　to　get　offwhaddyer　do　it　for？〃　said　the　heath…keeper；　in　a　tone　of　friendly　controversy。

Mr。　Hoopdriver　got　out　his　screw　hammer　and　went　to　the　handle。　He　was　annoyed。　〃That's　my　business；　I　suppose；〃　he　said；　fumbling　with　the　screw。　The　unusual　exertion　had　made　his　hands　shake　frightfully。

The　heath…keeper　became　meditative；　and　twisted　his　stick　in　his　hands　behind　his　back。　〃You've　broken　yer　'andle；　ain't　yer？〃　he　said　presently。　Just　then　the　screw　hammer　slipped　off　the　nut。　Mr。　Hoopdriver　used　a　nasty；　low　word。

〃They're　trying　things；　them　bicycles；〃　said　the　heath…keeper；　charitably。　〃Very　trying。〃　Mr。　Hoopdriver　gave　the　nut　a　vicious　turn　and　suddenly　stood　uphe　was　holding　the　front　wheel　between　his　knees。　〃I　wish；〃　said　he；　with　a　catch　in　his　voice；　〃I　wish　you'd　leave　off　staring　at　me。〃

Then　with　the　air　of　one　who　has　delivered　an　ultimatum；　he　began　replacing　the　screw　hammer　in　the　wallet。

The　heath…keeper　never　moved。　Possibly　he　raised　his　eyebrows；　and　certainly　he　stared　harder　than　he　did　before。　〃You're　pretty　unsociable；〃　he　said　slowly；　as　Mr。　Hoopdriver　seized　the　handles　and　stood　ready　to　mount　as　soon　as　the　cart　had　passed。

The　indignation　gathered　slowly　but　surely。　〃Why　don't　you　ride　on　a　private　road　of　your　own　if　no　one　ain't　to　speak　to　you？〃　asked　the　heath…keeper；　perceiving　more　and　more　clearly　the　bearing　of　the　matter。　〃Can't　no　one　make　a　passin'　remark　to　you；　Touchy？　Ain't　I　good　enough　to　speak　to　you？　Been　struck　wooden　all　of　a　sudden？〃

Mr。　Hoopdriver　stared　into　the　Immensity　of　the　Future。　He　was　rigid　with　emotion。　It　was　like　abusing　the　Lions　in　Trafalgar　Square。　But　the　heathkeeper　felt　his　honour　was　at　stake。

〃Don't　you　make　no　remarks　to　'IM；〃　said　the　keeper　as　the　carter　came　up　broadside　to　them。　〃'E's　a　bloomin'　dook；　'e　is。　'E　don't　converse　with　no　one　under　a　earl。　'E's　off　to　Windsor；　'e　is；　that's　why　'e's　stickin'　his　be'ind　out　so　haughty。　Pride！　Why；　'e's　got　so　much　of　it；　'e　has　to　carry　some　of　it　in　that　there　bundle　there；　for　fear　'e'd　bust　if　'e　didn't　ease　hisself　a　bit…　…'E〃　

But　Mr。　Hoopdriver　heard　no　more。　He　was　hopping　vigorously　along　the　road；　in　a　spasmodic　attempt　to　remount。He　missed　the　treadle　once　and　swore　viciously；　to　the　keeper's　immense　delight。　〃Nar！　Nar！〃　said　the　heath…keeper。

In　another　moment　Mr。　Hoopdriver　was　up；　and　after　one　terrific　lurch　of　the　machine；　the　heathkeeper　dropped　out　of　earshot。　Mr。　Hoopdriver　would　have　liked　to　look　back　at　his　enemy；　but　he　usually　twisted　round　and　upset　if　he　tried　that。　He　had　to　imagine　the　indignant　heath…keeper　telling　the　carter　all　about　it。　He　tried　to　infuse　as　much　disdain　aspossible　into　his　retreating　aspect。

He　drove　on　his　sinuous　way　down　the　dip　by　the　new　mere　and　up　the　little　rise　to　the　crest　of　the　hill　that　drops　into　Kingston　Vale；　and　so　remarkable　is　the　psychology　of　cycling；　that　he　rode　all　the　straighter　and　easier　because　the　emotions　the　heathkeeper　had　aroused　relieved　his　mind　of　the　constant　expectation　of　collapse　that　had　previously　unnerved　him。　To　ride　a　bicycle　properly　is　very　like　a　love　affairchiefly　it　　is　a　matter　of　faith。　Believe　you　do　it；　and　the　thing　is　done；　doubt；　and；　for　the　life　of　you；　you　cannot。

Now　you　may　perhaps　imagine　that　as　he　rode　on；　his　feelings　towards　the　heath…keeper　were　either　vindictive　or　remorseful；vindictive　for　the　aggravation　or　remorseful　for　his　own　injudicious　display　of　ill　temper。　As　a　matter　of　fact；　they　were　nothing　of　the　sort。　A　sudden；　a　wonderful　gratitude；　possessed　him。　The　Glory　of　the　Holidays　had　resumed　its　sway　with　a　sudden　accession　of　splendour。　At　the　crest　of　the　hill　he　put　his　feet　upon　the　footrests；　and　now　riding　moderately　straight；　went；　with　a　palpitating　brake；　down　that　excellent　descent。　A　new　delight　was　in　his　eyes；　quite　over　and　above　the　pleasure　of　rushing　through　the　keen；　sweet；　morning　air。　He　reached　out　his　thumb　and　twanged　his　bell　out　of　sheer　happiness。

〃'He's　a　bloomin'　Dookhe　is！'〃　said　Mr。　Hoopdriver　to　himself；　in　a　soft　undertone；　as　he　went　soaring　down　the　hill；　and　again；　〃'He's　a　bloomin'　Dook！〃'　He　opened　his　mouth　in　a　silent　laugh。　It　was　having　a　decent　cut　did　it。　His　social　superiority　had　been　so　evident　that　even　a　man　like　that　noticed　it。　No　more　Manchester　Department　for　ten　days！　Out　of　Manchester；　a　Man。　The　draper　Hoopdriver；　the　Hand；　had　vanished　from　existence。　Instead　was　a　gentleman；　a　man　of　pleasure；　with　a　five…pound　note；　two　sovereigns；　and　some　silver　at　various　convenient　points　of　his　person。　At　any　rate　as　good　as　a　Dook；　if　not　precisely　in　the　peerage。　Involuntarily　at　the　thought　of　his　funds　Hoopdriver's　right　hand　left　the　handle　and　sought　his　breast　pocket；　to　be　immediately　recalled　by　a　violent　swoop　of　the　machine　towards　the　cemetery。　Whirroo！　Just　missed　that　half…brick！　Mischievous　brutes　there　were　in　the　world　to　put　such　a　thing　in　the　road。　Some　blooming　'Arry　or　other！　Ought　to　prosecute　a　few　of　these　roughs；　and　the　rest　would　know　better。　That　must　be　the　buckle　of　the　wallet　was　rattling　on　the　mud…guard。　How　cheerfully　the　wheels　buzzed！

The　cemetery　was　very　silent　and　peaceful；　but　the　Vale　was　waking；　and　windows　rattled　and　squeaked　up；　and　a　white　dog　came　out　of　one　of　the　houses　and　yelped　at　him。　He　got　off；　rather　breathless；　at　the　foot　of　Kingston　Hill；　and　pushed　up。　Halfway　up；　an　early　milk　chariot　rattled　by　him；　two　dirty　men　with　bundles　came　hurrying　down。　Hoopdriver　felt　sure　they　were　burglars；　carrying　home　the　swag。

It　was　up　Kingston　Hill　that　he　first　noticed　a　peculiar　feeling；　a　slight　tightness　at　his　knees；　but　he　noticed；　too；　at　the　top　that　he　rode　straighter　than　he　did　before。　The　pleasure　of　riding　straight　blotted　out　these　first　intimations　of　fatigue。　A　man　on　horseback　appeared；　Hoopdriver；　in　a　tumult　of　soul　at　his　own　temerity；　passed　him。　Then　down　the　hill　into　Kingston；　with　the　screw　hammer；　behind　in　the　wallet；　rattling　against　the　oil　can。　He　passed；　without　misadventure；　a　fruiterer's　van　and　a　sluggish　cartload　of　bricks。　And　in　Kingston　Hoopdriver；　with　the　most　exquisite　sensations；　saw　the　shutters　half　removed　from　a　draper's　shop；　and　two　yawning　youths；　in　dusty　old　black　jackets　and　with　dirty　white　comforters　about　their　necks；　clearing　up　the　planks　and　boxes　and　wrappers　in　the　window；　preparatory　to　dressing　it　out。　Even　so　had　Hoopdriver　been　on　the　previous　day。　But　now；　was　he　not　a　bloomin'　Dook；　palpably　in　the　sight　of　common　men？　Then　round　the　corner　to　the　rightbell　banged　furiouslyand　so　along　the　road　to　Surbiton。

Whoop　for　Freedom　and　Adventure！　Every　now　and　then　a　house　with　an　expression　of　sleepy　surprise　would　open　its　eye　as　he　passed；　and　to　the　right　of　him　for　a　mile　or　so　the　weltering　Thames　flashed　and　glittered。　Talk　of　your　joie　de　vivre。　Albeit　with　a　certain　cramping　sensation　about　the　knees　and　calves　slowly　forcing　itself　upon　his　attention。



THE　SHAMEFUL　EPISODE　OF　THE　YOUNG　LADY　IN　GREY

V

Now　you　must　understand　that　Mr。　Hoopdriver　was　not　one　of　your　fast　young　men。　If　he　had　been　King　Lemuel；　he　could　not　have　profited　more　by　his　mother's　inst