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第27章 送行 2（第1页）

第27章送行（2）

Itwasstraeralltheseyears，hereoformofEuston，lookingsoprosperousandsolid。Itwasnotohathehadputon，butalsotheclothes，thatmadehimhardtheolddays，animitationfurcoathadseemedtobeasaofhimaswerehisill-shornlanternjaws。Butnowhisewasamodelofrioderati，notg，attentiontoitself。Helookedlikeabanker。Anyonecouldhavebeenproudtobeseenoffbyhim。

“Standback，please!”thetrainwasabouttostart，andIwavedfarewelltomyfriend。LeRosdidnotstandback。HestoodginbothhandsthehandsoftheyoungAmeridback，sir，please!”heobeyed，butquicklydartedfaintowhispersomef?inalword。Ithiearsiherelyweretearsilength，havirainoutofsight，heturnedround。Heseemed，heless，delightedtoseeme。HeaskedmewhereIhadbeenhidingalltheseyears;andsimultahehalf-asthoughithadbeeerday。Helinkedhisarminmine，ahmeslowlyalofleasurehereadmydramaticcriticismseverySaturday。

Itoldhim，iurn，howmuchhewasmissedoage。“Ah，yes，”hesaid，“Ioagenowadays。”Helaidsomeemphasise”。andIaskedhimwhere，the。“Oform，”heanswered。“Youmean，”saidI，“thatyoureciteatcerts?”Hesmiled。“This，”hewhispered，strikinghisstitheground，“istheplatformImean。”Hadhismysteriousprosperityunhingedhim?Helookedquitesane。Ibeggedhimtobemoreexplicit。

“Isuppose，”hesaidpresently，givifarwhichhehadofferedme，“Youhavebeenseeingafriendoff?Iassented。Heaskedmeosedhehadbeendoing。IsaidthatIhadwatchedhimdoihing。“No，”hesaidgravely。“Thatladywasnotafrieherforthef?irsttimethism，lessthanhalfanho，here。”andagaiheplatformwithhisstick。

IfessedthatIwasbewildered。Hesmiled。“Youmay，”hesaid，“haveheardoftheAnglo-AmeriSocialBureau?Ihadnot。HeexplaiofthethousandsofAmerisassthroughEnglandtherearemanyhundredswhohavenoEnglishfriends。Intheolddaystheyusedtlettersofintrodu。ButtheEnglisharesoinhospitablethattheselettersarehardlyworththepapertheyarewrittenon。“Thus，”aidLeRos，“theA。A。S。B。suppliesalo。Amerisareasociablepeople，andmostofthemhaveplentyofmoheA。A。S。B。suppliesthemwithEnglishfriends。F?iftypertofthefeesispaidovertothefrieherf?iftyisretaiheA。A。S。B。Iamnot，alas!Adirector。IfIwere，Ishouldbeaveryrideed。IamonlyaevensoIdoverywell。Iamoheseers-off。”

AgainIaskedfhte。“ManyAmeris，”hesaid，“otaffordtokeepfriendsinEngland。Buttheyallaffordtobeseenoff。Thefeeisonlyf?ivepouy-f?ivedollars）fletraveller;apounds（fortydollars）forapartyoftwoormore。Theysendthatintivieoftheirdeparture，aionbywhichtheseer-offtifythemoform。Ahentheyareseenoff。”

“Butisitworth”Iexclaimed。“Ofcourseitisworthit，”saidLeRos。“Itpreventsthemfromfeeling‘Outofit’。Itearherespectoftheguard。Itsavesthemfrombeiheirfellow-passehepeoplewhtobeogivesthemafootingforthewholevoyage。Besides，itisagreatpleasureinitself。Yousawmeseeingthatyoungladyoff。Didn’tyouthinkIdiditbeautifully?”“Beautifully，”Iadmitted。“IeherewasI—”“Yes，Ie。Therewereyou，shuff?liofblanklyatyourfriend，tryingtomakeversation。Iknow。That’showIusedtobemyself，beforeIstudied，ahethingprofessionally。Idon’tsayI’mperfectyet。I’mstillamartyrtht。Arailwaystatiodiff?icultofallplacestoa，asyouhavediscoveredforyourself。”“But，”Isaidwithrese，“Iwasn’ttryingtoact。Ireallyfelt。”“sodidI，myboy，”aidLeRos。“You’tactwithoutfeeling。What’s-his-heFren—Diderot，yes—saidyoucould;butwhatdidheknowaboutit?Doearsihetrainstarted?Ihadhem。ItellyouIwasmoved。Sowereyou，Idaresay。Butyou’thavepumpedupateartoproveit。You’texpressys。Inotherwords，you’tayrate，“headdedkindly，”notinarailwaystation。”“Teachme!”cried。Helookedthoughtfullyatme。“Well，”hesaidatlength，“theseeing-offseasonispracticallyover。Yes，I’llgiveyouacourse。Ihaveagoodmanypupilsonhayes，”hesaid，gaebook，“IcouldgiveyouanhouronTuesdaysandFridays。”