the friendly road(友好的路)-第35节
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looked out from under coarse； thick； gray brows。 A very remarkable face
and figure he presented。 I soon learned that he was R… D…； the leader of
whom I had often heard； and heard no good thing。 He was quite a different
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type from Bill Hahn： he was the man of authority； the organizer； the
diplomatas Bill was the prophet； preaching a holy war。
How wonderful human nature is！ Only a short time before I had been
thrilled by the intensity of the passion of the throng； but here the mood
suddenly changed to one of friendly gayety。 Fully a third of those present
were women； some of them plainly from the mills and some of them
curiously differentwomen from other walks in life who had thrown
themselves heart and soul into the strike。 Without ceremony but with much
laughing and joking； they found their places around the tables。 A cook；
who appeared in a dim doorway was greeted with a shout； to which he
responded with a wide smile； waving the long spoon which he held in his
hand。
I shall not attempt to give any complete description of the gathering or
of what they said or did。 I think I could devote a dozen pages to the single
man who was placed next to me。 I was interested in him from the outset。
The first thing that struck me about him was an air of neatness； even
fastidiousness； about his personthough he wore no stiff collar； only a soft
woollen shirt without a necktie。 He had the long sensitive； beautiful hands
of an artist； but his face was thin and marked with the pallor peculiar to the
indoor worker。 I soon learned that he was a weaver in the mills； an
Englishman by birth； and we had not talked two minutes before I found
that； while he had never had any education in the schools； he had been a
gluttonous reader of books all kind of booksand； what is more； had
thought about them and was ready with vigorous （and narrow） opinions
about this author or that。 And he knew more about economics and
sociology； I firmly believe； than half the college professors。 A truly
remarkable man。
It was an Italian restaurant； and I remember how； in my hunger； I
assailed the generous dishes of boiled meat and spaghetti。 A red wine was
served in large bottles which circulated rapidly around the table； and
almost immediately the room began to fill with tobacco smoke。 Every one
seemed to be talking and laughing at once； in the liveliest spirit of good
fellowship。 They joked from table to table； and sometimes the whole room
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would quiet down while some one told a joke； which invariably wound up
with a roar of laughter。
〃Why；〃 I said； 〃these people have a whole life； a whole society； of their
own！〃
In the midst of this jollity the clear voice of a girl rang out with the
first lines of a song。 Instantly the room was hushed：
Arise； ye prisoners of starvation； Arise； ye wretched of the earth； For
justice thunders condemnation A better world's in birth。
These were the words she sang； and when the clear； sweet voice died
down the whole company； as though by a common impulse； arose from
their chairs； and joined in a great swelling chorus：
It is the final conflict； Let each stand in his place； The Brotherhood of
Man Shall be the human race。
It was beyond belief； to me； the spirit with which these words were
sung。 In no sense with jollityall that seemed to have been dropped when
they came to their feetbut with an unmistakable fervour of faith。 Some of
the things I had thought and dreamed about secretly among the hills of my
farm all these years； dreamed about as being something far off and as
unrealizable as the millennium； were here being sung abroad？ with jaunty
faith by these weavers of Kilburn； these weavers and workers whom I had
schooled myself to regard with a sort of distant pity。
Hardly had the company sat down again； with a renewal of the flow of
jolly conversation When I heard a rapping on one of the tables。 I saw the
great form of R… D… slowly rising。
〃Brothers and sisters；〃 he said； 〃a word of caution。 The authorities will
lose no chance of putting us in the wrong。 Above all we must comport
ourselves here and in the strike with great care。 We are fighting a great
battle； bigger than we are〃
At this instant the door from the dark hallway suddenly opened and a
man in a policeman's uniform stepped in。 There fell an instant's dead
silencean explosive silence。 Every person there seemed to be petrified in
the position in which his attention was attracted。 Every eye was fixed on
the figure at the door。 For an instant no one said a word； then I heard a
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woman's shrill voice； like a rifle…shot：
〃Assassin！〃
I cannot imagine what might have happened next； for the feeling in the
room； as in the city itself； was at the tenses； had not the leader suddenly
brought the goblet which he held in his hand down with a bang upon the
table。
〃As I was saying；〃 he continued in a steady； clear voice； 〃we are
fighting to…day the greatest of battles； and we cannot permit trivial
incidents； or personal bitterness； or small persecutions； to turn us from the
great work we have in hand。 However our opponents may comport
themselves； we must be calm； steady； sure； patient； for we know that our
cause is just and will prevail。〃
〃You're right；〃 shouted a voice back in the room。
Instantly the tension relaxed； conversation started again and every one
turned away from the policeman at the door。 In a few minutes； he
disappeared without having said a word。
There was no regular speaking； and about midnight the party began to
break up。 I leaned over and said to my friend Bill Hahn：
〃Can you find me a place to sleep tonight？〃
〃Certainly I can；〃 he said heartily。
There was to be a brief conference of the leaders after the supper； and
those present soon departed。 I went down the long； dark stairway and out
into the almost deserted street。 Looking up between the buildings I could
see the clear blue sky and the stars。 And I walked slowly up and down
awaiting my friend and trying； vainly to calm my whirling emotions。
He came at last and I went with him。 That night I slept scarcely at all；
but lay looking up into the darkness。 And it seemed as though； as I lay
there； listening； that I could hear the city moving in its restless sleep and
sighing as with heavy pain。 All night long I lay there thinking。
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CHAPTER XI。 I COME TO
GRAPPLE WITH THE CITY
I have laughed heartily many times since I came home to think of the
Figure of Tragedy I felt myself that morning in the city of Kilburn。 I had
not slept well； had not slept at all； I think； and the experiences and
emotions of the previous night still lay heavy upon me。 Not before in
many years had I felt such a depression of the spirits。
It was all so different from the things I love！ Not so much as a spear of
grass or a leafy tree to comfort the eye； or a bird to sing； no quiet hills； no
sight of the sun coming up in the morning over dewy fields； no sound of
cattle in the lane； no cheerful cackling of fowls； nor buzzing of bees！ That
morning； I remember； when I first went out into those squalid streets and
saw everywhere the evidences of poverty； dirt； and ignoranceand the
sweet； clean country not two miles awaythe thought of my own home
among the hills （with Harriet there in the doorway） came upon me with
incredible longing。
〃I must go home； I must go home！〃 I caught myself saying aloud。
I remember how glad I was when I found that my friend Bill Hahn and
other leaders of the strike were to be engaged in conferences during the
foreno
