the wheels of chance-第32部分

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〃I'm　very　unsettled；〃　said　Jessie。　〃You　are　thinking　of　writing　Books？〃

〃Or　doing　journalism；　or　teaching；　or　something　like　that。〃

〃And　keeping　yourself　independent　of　your　stepmother？〃

〃Yes。〃

〃How　long'd　it　take　now；　to　get　anything　of　that　sort　to　do？〃

〃I　don't　know　at　all。　I　believe　there　are　a　great　many　women　journalists　and　sanitary　inspectors；　and　black…and…white　artists。　But　I　suppose　it　takes　time。　Women；　you　know；　edit　most　papers　nowadays；　George　Egerton　says。　I　ought；　I　suppose；　to　communicate　with　a　literary　agent。〃

〃Of　course；〃　said　Hoopdriver；　〃it's　very　suitable　work。　Not　being　heavy　like　the　drapery。〃

〃There's　heavy　brain　labour；　you　must　remember。〃

〃That　wouldn't　hurt　YOU；〃　said　Mr。　Hoopdriver；　turning　a　compliment。

〃It's　like　this；〃　he　said；　ending　a　pause。　〃It's　a　juiced　nuisance　alluding　to　these　matters；　butwe　got　very　little　more　money。〃

He　perceived　that　Jessie　started；　though　he　did　not　look　at　her。　〃I　was　counting；　of　course；　on　your　friend's　writing　and　your　being　able　to　take　some　action　to…day。〃　'Take　some　action'　was　a　phrase　he　had　learnt　at　his　last　'swop。'　

〃Money；〃　said　Jessie。　〃I　didn't　think　of　money。〃

〃Hullo！　Here's　a　tandem　bicycle；〃　said　Mr。　Hoopdriver；　abruptly；　and　pointing　with　his　cigarette。

She　looked；　and　saw　two　little　figures　emerging　from　among　the　trees　at　the　foot　of　the　slope。　The　riders　were　bowed　sternly　over　their　work　and　made　a　gallant　but　unsuccessful　attempt　to　take　the　rise。　The　machine　was　evidently　too　highly　geared　for　hill　climbing；　and　presently　the　rearmost　rider　rose　on　his　saddle　and　hopped　off；　leaving　his　companion　to　any　fate　he　found　proper。　The　foremost　rider　was　a　man　unused　to　such　machines　and　apparently　undecided　how　to　dismount。　He　wabbled　a　few　yards　up　the　hill　with　a　long　tail　of　machine　wabbling　behind　him。　Finally；　he　made　an　attempt　to　jump　off　as　one　does　off　a　single　bicycle；　hit　his　boot　against　the　backbone；　and　collapsed　heavily；　falling　on　his　shoulder。

She　stood　up。　〃Dear　me！〃　she　said。　〃I　hope　he　isn't　hurt。〃

The　second　rider　went　to　the　assistance　of　the　fallen　man。

Hoopdriver　stood　up；　too。　The　lank；　shaky　machine　was　lifted　up　and　wheeled　out　of　the　way；　and　then　the　fallen　rider；　being　assisted；　got　up　slowly　and　stood　rubbing　his　arm。　No　serious　injury　seemed　to　be　done　to　the　man；　and　the　couple　presently　turned　their　attention　to　the　machine　by　the　roadside。　They　were　not　in　cycling　clothes　Hoopdriver　observed。　One　wore　the　grotesque　raiment　for　which　the　Cockney　discovery　of　the　game　of　golf　seems　indirectly　blamable。　Even　at　this　distance　the　flopping　flatness　of　his　cap；　the　bright　brown　leather　at　the　top　of　his　calves；　and　the　chequering　of　his　stockings　were　perceptible。　The　other；　the　rear　rider；　was　a　slender　little　man　in　grey。

〃Amatoors；〃　said　Mr。　Hoopdriver。

Jessie　stood　staring；　and　a　veil　of　thought　dropped　over　her　eyes。　She　no　longer　regarded　the　two　men　who　were　now　tinkering　at　the　machine　down　below　there。

〃How　much　have　you？〃　she　said。

He　thrust　his　right　hand　into　his　pocket　and　produced　six　coins；　counted　them　with　his　left　index　finger；　and　held　them　out　to　her。　〃Thirteen　four　half；〃　said　Mr。　Hoopdriver。　〃Every　penny。〃

〃I　have　half　a　sovereign；〃　she　said。　〃Our　bill　wherever　we　stop〃　The　hiatus　was　more　eloquent　than　many　words。　

〃I　never　thought　of　money　coming　in　to　stop　us　like　this；〃　said　Jessie。

〃It's　a　juiced　nuisance。〃　

〃Money；〃　said　Jessie。　〃Is　it　possibleSurely！　Conventionality！　May　only　people　of　meansLive　their　own　Lives？　I　never　thought　。。。〃

Pause。

〃Here's　some　more　cyclists　coming；〃　said　Mr。　Hoopdriver。

The　two　men　were　both　busy　with　their　bicycle　still；　but　now　from　among　the　trees　emerged　the　massive　bulk　of　a　'Marlborough　Club'　tandem；　ridden　by　a　slender　woman　in　grey　and　a　burly　man　in　？　Norfolk　jacket。　Following　close　upon　this　came　lank　black　figure　in　a　piebald　straw　hat；　riding　a　tricycle　of　antiquated　pattern　with　two　large　wheels　in　front。　The　man　in　grey　remained　bowed　over　the　bicycle；　with　his　stomach　resting　on　the　saddle；　but　his　companion　stood　up　and　addressed　some　remark　to　the　tricycle　riders。　Then　it　seemed　as　if　he　pointed　up　hill　to　where　Mr。　Hoopdriver　and　his　companion　stood　side　by　side。　A　still　odder　thing　followed；　the　lady　in　grey　took　out　her　handkerchief；　appeared　to　wave　it　for　a　moment；　and　then　at　a　hasty　motion　from　her　companion　the　white　signal　vanished。

〃Surely；〃　said　Jessie；　peering　under　her　hand。　〃It's　never〃

The　tandem　tricycle　began　to　ascend　the　hill；　quartering　elaborately　from　side　to　side　to　ease　the　ascent。　It　was　evident；　from　his　heaving　shoulders　and　depressed　head；　that　the　burly　gentleman　was　exerting　himself。　The　clerical　person　on　the　tricycle　assumed　the　shape　of　a　note　of　interrogation。　Then　on　the　heels　of　this　procession　came　a　dogcart　driven　by　a　man　in　a　billycock　hat　and　containing　a　lady　in　dark　green。

〃Looks　like　some　sort　of　excursion；〃　said　Hoopdriver。

Jessie　did　not　answer。　She　was　still　peering　under　her　hand。　〃Surely；〃　she　said。

The　clergyman's　efforts　were　becoming　convulsive。　With　a　curious　jerking　motion；　the　tricycle　he　rode　twisted　round　upon　itself；　and　he　partly　dismounted　and　partly　fell　off。　He　turned　his　machine　up　hill　again　immediately　and　began　to　wheel　it。　Then　the　burly　gentleman　dismounted；　and　with　a　courtly　attentiveness　assisted　the　lady　in　grey　to　alight。　There　was　some　little　difference　of　opinion　as　to　assistance；　she　so　clearly　wished　to　help　push。　Finally　she　gave　in；　and　the　burly　gentleman　began　impelling　the　machine　up　hill　by　his　own　unaided　strength。　His　face　made　a　dot　of　brilliant　colour　among　the　greys　and　greens　at　the　foot　of　the　hill。　The　tandem　bicycle　was　now；　it　seems；　repaired；　and　this　joined　the　tail　of　the　procession；　its　riders　walking　behind　the　dogcart；　from　which　the　lady　in　green　and　the　driver　had　now　descended。　

〃Mr。　Hoopdriver；〃　said　Jessie。　〃Those　peopleI'm　almost　sure〃

〃Lord！〃　said　Mr。　Hoopdriver；　reading　the　rest　in　her　face；　and　he　turned　to　pick　up　his　machine　at　once。　Then　he　dropped　it　and　assisted　her　to　mount。

At　the　sight　of　Jessie　mounting　against　the　sky　line　the　people　coming　up　the　hill　suddenly　became　excited　and　ended　Jessie's　doubts　at　once。　Two　handkerchiefs　waved；　and　some　one　shouted。　The　riders　of　the　tandem　bicycle　began　to　run　it　up　hill；　past　the　other　vehicles。　But　our　young　people　did　not　wait　for　further　developments　of　the　pursuit。　In　another　moment　they　were　out　of　sight；　riding　hard　down　a　steady　incline　towards　Stoney　Cross。

Before　they　had　dropped　among　the　trees　out　of　sight　of　the　hill　brow；　Jessie　looked　back　and　saw　the　tandem　rising　over　the　crest；　with　its　rear　rider　just　tumbling　into　the　saddle。　〃They're　coming；〃　she　said；　and　bent　her　head　over　her　handles　in　true　professional　style。

They　whirled　down　into　the　valley；　over　a　white　bridge；　and　saw　ahead　of　them　a　number　of　shaggy　little　ponies　frisking　in　the　roadway。　Involuntarily　they　slackened。　〃Shoo！〃　said　Mr。　Hoopdriver；　and　the　ponies　kicked　up　their　heels　derisively。　At　that　Mr。　Hoopdriver　lost　his　temper　and　charged　at　them；　narrowly　missed　one；　and　sent　them　jumping　the　ditch　into　the　bracken　under　the　trees；　leaving　the　way　clear　for　Jessie。

Then　the　road　rose　quietly　but　persistently；　the　treadles　grew　heavy；　and　Mr。　Hoopdriver's　breath　sounded　like　a　saw。　The　tandem　appeared；　making　frightful　exertions；　at　the　foot；　while　the　chase　was　still　climbing。　Then；　thank　Heaven！　a　crest　and　a　stretch　of　up　and　down　road；　whose　only　disadvantage　was　its　pitiless　exposure　to　the　afternoon　sun。　The　tandem　apparently　dismounted　at　the　hill；　and　did　not　appear　against　the　hot　blue　sky　until　they　were　already　near　some　trees　and　a　good　mile　away。

〃We're　gaining；〃　said　Mr。　Hoopdriver；　with　a　little　Niagara　of　perspiration　dropping　from　brow　to　cheek。　〃That　hill〃

But　that　was　their　only　gleam　of　success。　They　were　both　nearly　spent。　Hoopdriver；　indeed；　was　quite　spent；　and　only　a　feeling　of　shame　prolonged　the　liquidation　of　his　bankrupt　physique。　From　that　point　the　tandem　grained　upon　them　steadily。　At　the　Rufus　Stone；　it　was　scarcely　a　hundred　yards　behind。　Then　one　desperate　spurt；　and　they　found　themselves　upon　a　steady　downhill　stretch　among　thick　pine　woods。　Downhill　nothing　can　beat　a　highly　geared　tandem　bicycle。　Automatically　Mr。　Hoopdriver　put　up　his　feet；　and　Jessie　slackened　her　pace。　In　another　moment　they　heard　the　swish　of　the　fat　pneumatics　behind　them；　and　the　tandem　passed　Hoopdriver　and　drew　alongside　Jessie。　Hoopdriver　felt　a　mad　impulse　to　collide　with　this　abominable　machine　as　it　passed　him。　His　only　consolation　was　to　notice　that　its　riders；　riding　violently；　were　quite　as　dishevelled　as　himself　and　smothered　in　sandy　white　dust。

Abruptly　Jessie　stopped　and　dismounted；　and　the　tandem　riders　shot　panting　past　them　downhill。　〃Brake；〃　said　Dangle；　who　was　riding　behind；　and　stood　up　on　the　pedals。　For　a　moment　the　velocity　of　the　thing　increased；　and　then　they　saw　the　dust　fly　from　the　brake；　as　it　came　down　on　the　front　tire。　Dangle's　right　leg　floundered　in　the　air　as　he　came　off　in　the　road。　The　tandem　wobbled。　〃Hold　it！〃　cried　Phipps　over　his　shoulder；　goin