As the Campaign rolled on its way, the wiser Conservatives shook their heads, openly maintaining that the whole business was a direct abnegation of everything for which their party had stood in history, while the Liberals became increasingly restive10: Mr. Geddes, uneasy at the inaction of the Government, Mr. Geddes truculent11 to meet the truculence12 of the enemy. The only man who openly rejoiced was Joe Burt.
"The Tory Reds have lit such a candle by God's grace in England as'll never be put out," he said to Ernie.
The engineer had always now a newspaper cutting in his waistcoat pocket, and a quotation13 pat upon his lips.
"They're all shots for the locker14 in the only war that matters," he told the Colonel. "And they'll all coom in handy one day. A paste em into a lil book nights: Tips for Traitors15; an ammunition16 magazine, A call it."
For him Sir Edward Carson's famous confession17 of faith, I despise the Will of the People—words Joe had inscribed18 as motto on the cover of his ammunition magazine—gave the key to the whole movement. And he never met the Colonel now but he discharged a broadside into the helpless body of his victim.
It was not, however, till early in 1914, just when his pursuit of Ruth was at the hottest, that he woke to the fact that the Tories were tampering19 with the Army. That maddened Joe.
"If this goes on A shall go back to ma first love," he told Ruth with a characteristic touch of impudence20.
"And a good job too," she answered tartly21. "I don't want you."
"And you can go back to your Ernie," continued the engineer, glad to have got a rise.
"I shan't go back to him," retorted Ruth, "because I never left him."
The statement was not wholly true: for if Ruth had not left Ernie, since the affair of the Goffs she had according to her promise turned her back on him. When on the first opportunity that offered she had announced his fate to the offender22, he had blinked, refused to understand, argued, insisted, coaxed—to no purpose.
"You got to be a man afoor I marry you again," she told him coldly. "I'm no'hun of a no-man's woman."
Ernie at first refused to accept defeat. He became eloquent23 about his rights.
"They're nothing to my wrongs," Ruth answered briefly24; and turned a deaf ear to all his pleas.
Thereafter Ernie found himself glad to escape the home haunted by the woman he still loved, who tantalised and thwarted25 him. That was why when Joe girded on his armour26 afresh and went forth27 to fight the old enemy in the new disguise, Ernie accompanied him.
The pair haunted unionist meetings, Ernie quiescent28, the other aggressive to rowdiness. Young Stanley Bessemere, who had returned from Ireland (where he now spent all his leisure caracoling on a war-horse at the distinguished29 tail of the caracoling Captain Smith) to address a series of gatherings30 in his constituency in justification31 of the Ulster movement, and his own share in it, was the favoured target for his darts32. Joe followed him round from the East-end to Meads, and from Meads to Old Town, and even pursued him into the country. He acquired a well-earned reputation as a heckler, and was starred as dangerous by the Tory bloods. Mark that man! the word went round.
Joe knew it, and was only provoked to increased aggressiveness.
"Go on, ma lad!" he would roar from the back of the hall. "Yon's the road to revolution aw reet!"
There came a climax33 at a meeting in the Institute, Old Town. Joe at question time had proved himself unusually bland34 and provocative35. The stewards36 had tried to put him out; and there had been a rough and tumble in the course of which somebody had hit the engineer a crack on the head from behind with the handle of a motor-car. Joe dropped; and Ernie stood over him in the ensuing scuffle. The news that there was trouble drew a little crowd. Ruth, on her evening marketings in Church Street, looked in. She found Joe sitting up against the wall, dazed; and Ernie kneeling beside him and having words with Stanley Bessemere, who was strolling towards the door.
"Brought his troubles on his own head," said the young member casually37.
"Hit a man from behind!" retorted Ernie, quiet but rather white. "English, ain't it?"
"It was your own brother, then!" volunteered an onlooker38.
Joe rallied, rubbed his head, looked up, saw Ruth and reassured39 her.
"A'm maself," he said.
He rose unsteadily on Ernie's arm.
"He must come home along of us," said Ruth.
"Of course he must then," Ernie answered with the asperity40 of the thwarted male.
The night-air revived the wounded man. Arrived at the cottage he sat in the kitchen, still a little stupid, but amused with his adventure.
"They'd ha kicked me in stoomach when A was down only for you, Ern," he said. "That's the Gentlemen of England's notion of politics, that is."
"You'd ha done the same by them, Joe, if you'd the chance," answered Ern.
The other grinned.
"A would that, by Guy—and all for loov," he admitted.
Ruth brought him a hot drink. He sipped41 it, one eye still on his saviour42.
"I owe this to you, Ern. Here's to you!"
"Come to that, Joe, I owe you something," Ernie answered.
"What's that then?" Joe sat as a man with a stiff neck, screwing up his eye at the other.
Ern nodded significantly at Ruth's back.
"Why that little bit o tiddley you done for me afore the beaks," he whispered.
"That's nowt," answered Joe sturdily. "What was it Saul said to Jonathan—If a feller can't tiddle it a liddel bit for his pal43, what the hell use is he?—Book o Judges."
Ruth in the background watched the two men. It was as though she were weighing them in the balance. There was a touch of masterful tenderness about Ern's handling of his damaged friend that surprised and pleased her.
Joe made an effort to get up.
"A'd best be shiftin," he said.
"Never!" cried Ern, authoritatively44. "You'll bide45 the night along o us. She'll make you a bed on the couch here."
"Nay," said Ruth. "You'll sleep in the bed along o Ernie."
Joe eyed her.
"Where'll you sleep then?" he asked.
"In the spare room," Ruth answered, winking46 at Ernie.
There was no spare room; but she made up a shake-down for herself on the settle in the kitchen. Ernie, after packing away the visitor upstairs, came down to help her. It also gave him an opportunity to ventilate his grievance47.
"One thing. It won't make much difference to me," he said.
"Your own fault," Ruth answered remorselessly. "And you aren't the only one, though I know you think you are. Men do ... We'd be out in the street now, the lot of us, only for Joe telling lies for you."
Next morning she took her visitor breakfast in bed and kept him there till Mr. Trupp had come, who told Joe he must not return to work for a week.
The engineer got up that afternoon and was sitting in the kitchen still rather shaky, when Alf, who had not fulfilled his threat and given Ruth notice, called for the rent.
Ruth greeted him with unusual friendliness48.
"Come in, won't you?" she said—"while I get the money."
Alf, who in some respects was simple almost as Ernie, entered the trap to find Joe, huddled49 in a chair and glowering50 murder at him. He tried to withdraw, but Ruth stood between him and the door, twice his size, and with glittering eyes.
"There's a friend of yours," she said. "Saw him last night, at the meeting, didn't you?—I thart you'd be glad to meet him."
Alf quaked.
"Been in the wars then?" he said shakily.
"What d'you know about it?" rumbled51 Joe.
"I don't know nothin," answered Alf sharply, almost shrilly52.
Just then little Alice entered. Alf took advantage of her entrance to establish his line of retreat. Once set in the door with a clear run for the open his courage returned to him.
"And what may be your name?" he asked the child with deliberate insolence53.
"Alice Caspar," she answered, staring wide-eyed.
Alf sneered54.
"That it ain't—I know," he said, and went out without his rent, and laughing horribly.
Little Alice ran out again.
"What's he mean?" asked Joe.
Ruth regarded him with wary55 curiosity.
"Didn't Ern never tell you then?" she asked.
"Never!" said Joe.
Ruth was thoughtful. That was nice of Ern—like Ern—the gentleman in him coming out.
That night she softened56 to him. He noticed it in a flash and approached her—only to be repulsed57 abruptly58.
"No," she said. "I don't care about you no more. You've lost me. That's where it is."
"O, I beg pardon," answered Ernie, quivering. "I thart we was married."
"So we was one time o day, I believe," Ruth answered. "And might be again yet. Who knaws?"
He stood over her as she composed herself for the night on the settle.
"How long's that Joe going to stop in my house?" he asked.
"Just as long as I like," she answered coolly.
Next day when Joe came in for tea he found Ruth sitting in the kitchen, nursing little Alice, who was crying her heart out on her mother's shoulder.
"They've been tormenting59 her at school," Ruth explained. "It's Alf."
"I'll lay it is," muttered Joe. "Ern and me, we'll just go round when he comes back from work."
Ruth looked frightened.
"Don't tell Ern for all's sake, Joe!" she whispered.
"Why not then?"
"He'd kill Alf."
Joe's face betrayed his scepticism.
"Ah, you don't knaw Ern, when he's mad," Ruth warned him.
An hour later Ernie came home. He was still, suppressed, as often now. There was nobody in the kitchen but Ruth.
"Where's your Joe, then?" he asked.
"He's left," Ruth answered.
Ernie relaxed ever so little.
"He might ha stopped to say good-bye," he muttered.
Ruth rose.
"I got something to tell you, Ern," she said.
He turned on her abruptly.
"It's little Alice. They've been getting at her at school—that!—you knaw."
Ernie was breathing hard.
"Who split?"
"Alf. He told Mrs. Ticehurst—I see him; and she told the lot."
Ern went out slowly, and slowly up the stairs in the dark to the children's room.
A little voice called—"Daddy!"
"I'm comin, sweet-heart," he answered tenderly.
He felt his way to the child's bed, knelt beside it, and struck a match. A tear like a star twinkled on her cheek. She put out her little arms to him and clasped him round the neck.
"Daddy, you are my daddy, aren't you?" she sobbed60, her heart breaking in her voice.
He laid his cheek against hers. Both were wet.
"Of course I am," he answered, the water floods sounding in his throat. "I'm your daddy; and you're my darling. And if we got nobody else we got each other, ain't we?"
Ruth, in the dark at the foot of the stairs, heard, gave a great gulp61, and crept back to the kitchen.
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1
theatrical
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| adj.剧场的，演戏的；做戏似的，做作的 | |
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outskirts
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| n.郊外，郊区 | |
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elongated
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| v.延长，加长( elongate的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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savage
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| adj.野蛮的；凶恶的，残暴的；n.未开化的人 | |
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sham
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| n./adj.假冒(的)，虚伪(的) | |
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gaudy
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| adj.华而不实的；俗丽的 | |
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alleged
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| a.被指控的，嫌疑的 | |
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gaped
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| v.目瞪口呆地凝视( gape的过去式和过去分词 )；张开，张大 | |
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jeer
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| vi.嘲弄，揶揄；vt.奚落；n.嘲笑，讥评 | |
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restive
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| adj.不安宁的，不安静的 | |
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truculent
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| adj.野蛮的，粗野的 | |
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truculence
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| n.凶猛，粗暴 | |
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13
quotation
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| n.引文，引语，语录；报价，牌价，行情 | |
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locker
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| n.更衣箱，储物柜，冷藏室，上锁的人 | |
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15
traitors
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| 卖国贼( traitor的名词复数 )； 叛徒； 背叛者； 背信弃义的人 | |
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16
ammunition
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| n.军火，弹药 | |
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confession
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| n.自白，供认，承认 | |
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18
inscribed
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| v.写，刻( inscribe的过去式和过去分词 )；内接 | |
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19
tampering
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| v.窜改( tamper的现在分词 )；篡改；（用不正当手段）影响；瞎摆弄 | |
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impudence
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| n.厚颜无耻；冒失；无礼 | |
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tartly
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| adv.辛辣地，刻薄地 | |
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22
offender
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| n.冒犯者，违反者，犯罪者 | |
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eloquent
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| adj.雄辩的，口才流利的；明白显示出的 | |
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briefly
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| adv.简单地，简短地 | |
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25
thwarted
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| 阻挠( thwart的过去式和过去分词 )； 使受挫折； 挫败； 横过 | |
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26
armour
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| （=armor）n.盔甲；装甲部队 | |
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forth
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| adv.向前；向外，往外 | |
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quiescent
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| adj.静止的，不活动的，寂静的 | |
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29
distinguished
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| adj.卓越的，杰出的，著名的 | |
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30
gatherings
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| 聚集( gathering的名词复数 )； 收集； 采集； 搜集 | |
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justification
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| n.正当的理由；辩解的理由 | |
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32
darts
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| n.掷飞镖游戏；飞镖( dart的名词复数 )；急驰，飞奔v.投掷，投射( dart的第三人称单数 )；向前冲，飞奔 | |
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33
climax
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| n.顶点；高潮；v.(使)达到顶点 | |
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bland
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| adj.淡而无味的，温和的，无刺激性的 | |
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provocative
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| adj.挑衅的，煽动的，刺激的，挑逗的 | |
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36
stewards
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| （轮船、飞机等的）乘务员( steward的名词复数 )； （俱乐部、旅馆、工会等的）管理员； （大型活动的）组织者； （私人家中的）管家 | |
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casually
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| adv.漠不关心地，无动于衷地，不负责任地 | |
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onlooker
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| n.旁观者，观众 | |
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39
reassured
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| adj.使消除疑虑的；使放心的v.再保证，恢复信心( reassure的过去式和过去分词) | |
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40
asperity
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| n.粗鲁，艰苦 | |
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41
sipped
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| v.小口喝，呷，抿( sip的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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42
saviour
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| n.拯救者，救星 | |
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43
pal
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| n.朋友，伙伴，同志；vi.结为友 | |
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44
authoritatively
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| 命令式地，有权威地，可信地 | |
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45
bide
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| v.忍耐；等候；住 | |
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46
winking
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| n.瞬眼，目语v.使眼色( wink的现在分词 )；递眼色（表示友好或高兴等）；（指光）闪烁；闪亮 | |
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47
grievance
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| n.怨愤，气恼，委屈 | |
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48
friendliness
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| n.友谊，亲切，亲密 | |
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49
huddled
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| 挤在一起（huddle的过去式与过去分词形式） | |
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50
glowering
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| v.怒视( glower的现在分词 ) | |
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51
rumbled
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| 发出隆隆声，发出辘辘声( rumble的过去式和过去分词 )； 轰鸣着缓慢行进； 发现…的真相； 看穿（阴谋） | |
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52
shrilly
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| 尖声的； 光亮的，耀眼的 | |
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53
insolence
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| n.傲慢；无礼；厚颜；傲慢的态度 | |
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54
sneered
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| 讥笑，冷笑( sneer的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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55
wary
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| adj.谨慎的，机警的，小心的 | |
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56
softened
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| （使）变软( soften的过去式和过去分词 )； 缓解打击； 缓和； 安慰 | |
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57
repulsed
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| v.击退( repulse的过去式和过去分词 )；驳斥；拒绝 | |
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58
abruptly
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| adv.突然地，出其不意地 | |
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59
tormenting
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| 使痛苦的，使苦恼的 | |
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60
sobbed
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| 哭泣，啜泣( sob的过去式和过去分词 )； 哭诉，呜咽地说 | |
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61
gulp
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| vt.吞咽，大口地吸（气）；vi.哽住；n.吞咽 | |
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