all roads lead to calvary-第23节
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He thought there would be more room in the buses at that point。
〃I wish you would come oftener；〃 he said。 〃Mary has taken such a liking to you。 If you care to meet people； we can always whip up somebody of interest。〃
She promised that she would。 She always felt curiously at home with the Greysons。
They were passing the long sweep of Chester Terrace。 〃I like this neighbourhood with its early Victorian atmosphere；〃 she said。 〃It always makes me feel quiet and good。 I don't know why。〃
〃I like the houses； too；〃 he said。 〃There's a character about them。 You don't often find such fine drawing…rooms in London。〃
〃Don't forget your promise；〃 he reminded her； when they parted。 〃I shall tell Mary she may write to you。〃
She met Carleton by chance a day or two later； as she was entering the office。 〃I want to see you；〃 he said； and took her up with him into his room。
〃We must stir the people up about this food business；〃 he said； plunging at once into his subject。 〃Phillips is quite right。 It overshadows everything。 We must make the country self…supporting。 It can be done and must。 If a war were to be sprung upon us we could be starved out in a month。 Our navy； in face of these new submarines； is no longer able to secure us。 France is working day and night upon them。 It may be a bogey； or it may not。 If it isn't； she would have us at her mercy； and it's too big a risk to run。 You live in the same house with him； don't you？ Do you often see him？〃
〃Not often；〃 she answered。
He was reading a letter。 〃You were dining there on Friday night； weren't you？〃 he asked her； without looking up。
Joan flushed。 What did he mean by cross…examining her in this way？ She was not at all used to impertinence from the opposite sex。
〃Your information is quite correct；〃 she answered。
Her anger betrayed itself in her tone； and he shot a swift glance at her。
〃I didn't mean to offend you；〃 he said。 〃A mutual friend； a Mr。 Airlie； happened to be of the party； and he mentioned you。〃
He threw aside the letter。 〃I'll tell you what I want you to do；〃 he said。 〃It's nothing to object to。 Tell him that you've seen me and had a talk。 I understand his scheme to be that the country should grow more and more food until it eventually becomes self… supporting； and that the Government should control the distribution。 Tell him that with that I'm heart and soul in sympathy； and would like to help him。〃 He pushed aside a pile of papers and； leaning across the desk； spoke with studied deliberation。 〃If he can see his way to making his policy dependent upon Protection； we can work together。〃
〃And if he can't？〃 suggested Joan。
He fixed his large； colourless eyes upon her。 〃That's where you can help him；〃 he answered。 〃If he and I combine forces； we can pull this through in spite of the furious opposition that it is going to arouse。 Without a good Press he is helpless； and where is he going to get his Press backing if he turns me down？ From half a dozen Socialist papers whose support will do him more harm than good。 If he will bring the working class over to Protection I will undertake that the Tariff Reformers and the Agricultural Interest shall accept his Socialism。 It will be a victory for both of us。
〃If he gain his end； what do the means matter？〃 he continued； as Joan did not answer。 〃Food may be dearer； the Unions can square that by putting up wages； while the poor devil of a farm labourer will at last get fair treatment。 We can easily insist upon that。 What do you think； yourself？〃
〃About Protection；〃 she answered。 〃It's one of the few subjects I haven't made up my mind about。〃
He laughed。 〃You will find all your pet reforms depend upon it； when you come to work them out；〃 he said。 〃You can't have a minimum wage without a minimum price。〃
They had risen。
〃I'll give him your message；〃 said Joan。 〃But I don't see him exchanging his principles even for your support。 I admit it's important。〃
〃Talk it over with him；〃 he said。 〃And bear this in mind for your own guidance。〃 He took a step forward； which brought his face quite close to hers： 〃If he fails； and all his life's work goes for nothing； I shall be sorry； but I shan't break my heart。 He will。〃
Joan dropped a note into Phillips's letter…box on her return home； saying briefly that she wished to see him； and he sent up answer asking her if she would come to the gallery that evening； and meet him after his speech； which would be immediately following the dinner hour。
It was the first time he had risen since his appointment； and he was received with general cheers。 He stood out curiously youthful against the background of grey…haired and bald…headed men behind him； and there was youth also in his clear； ringing voice that not even the vault…like atmosphere of that shadowless chamber could altogether rob of its vitality。 He spoke simply and good… humouredly； without any attempt at rhetoric； relying chiefly upon a crescendo of telling facts that gradually； as he proceeded； roused the House to that tense stillness that comes to it when it begins to think。
〃A distinctly dangerous man；〃 Joan overheard a little old lady behind her comment to a friend。 〃If I didn't hate him； I should like him。〃
He met her in the corridor； and they walked up and down and talked； too absorbed to be aware of the curious eyes that were turned upon them。 Joan gave him Carleton's message。
〃It was clever of him to make use of you；〃 he said。 〃If he'd sent it through anybody else； I'd have published it。〃
〃You don't think it even worth considering？〃 suggested Joan。
〃Protection？〃 he flashed out scornfully。 〃Yes； I've heard of that。 I've listened； as a boy； while the old men told of it to one another； in thin； piping voices； round the fireside； how the labourers were flung eight…and…sixpence a week to die on； and the men starved in the towns； while the farmers kept their hunters； and got drunk each night on fine old crusted port。 Do you know what their toast was in the big hotels on market day； with the windows open to the street： 'To a long war and a bloody one。' It would be their toast to…morrow； if they had their way。 Does he think I am going to be a party to the putting of the people's neck again under their pitiless yoke？〃
〃But the people are more powerful now；〃 argued Joan。 〃If the farmer demanded higher prices； they could demand higher wages。〃
〃They would never overtake the farmer；〃 he answered； with a laugh。 〃And the last word would always be with him。 I am out to get rid of the landlords；〃 he continued； 〃not to establish them as the permanent rulers of the country； as they are in Germany。 The people are more powerfuljust a little； because they are no longer dependent on the land。 They can say to the farmer； 'All right； my son； if that's your figure； I'm going to the shop next doorto South America； to Canada； to Russia。' It isn't a satisfactory solution。 I want to see England happy and healthy before I bother about the Argentine。 It drives our men into the slums when they might be living fine lives in God's fresh air。 In the case of war it might be disastrous。 There； I agree with him。 We must be able to shut our door without fear of having to open it ourselves to ask for bread。 How would Protection accomplish that？ Did he tell you？〃
〃Don't eat me；〃 laughed Joan。 〃I haven't been sent to you as a missionary。 I'm only a humble messenger。 I suppose the argument is that； good profits assured to him； the farmer would bustle up and produce more。〃
〃Can you see him bustling up？〃 he answered with a laugh； 〃organizing himself into a body； and working the thing out from the point of view of the public weal？ I'll tell you what nine…tenths of him would do： grow just as much or little as suited his own purposes； and then go to sleep。 And Protection would be his security against ever being awakened。〃
〃I'm afraid you don't like him；〃 Joan commented。
〃He will be all right in his proper place；〃 he answered： 〃as the servant of the public： told what to do； and turned out of his job if he doesn't do it。 My scheme does depend upon Protection。 You can tell him that。 But this time； it's going to be Protection for the people。〃
They were at the far end of the corridor； and the few others still promenading were some distance away。 She had not delivered the whole of her message。 She crossed to a seat； and he followed her。 She spoke with her face turned away from him。
〃You have got to consider the cost of refusal；〃 she said。 〃His offer wasn't help or neutrality： it was help or opposition by every means in his power。 He left me in no kind of doubt as to that。 He's not used to being challenged and he won't be squeamish。 You will have the whole of his Press against you； and every other journalistic and political influence that he possesses。 He's getting a hold upon the working classes。 The Sunday Post has an enormous sale in the manufacturing towns； and he's talking of starting another。 Are you strong enough to fight him？〃
She very much wanted to look at him； but she would not。 It seemed to her quite a time before he replied。
〃Yes；〃 he answered； 〃I'm strong enough to fight him。 Shall rather enjoy doin
