LadyWallingford remained where she was, trembling a
little.
Shall I stick out or shall I tryand come to
terms?
Her October chill interpenetrated the room. She was
rather annoyed with it, said Jonathan. Only a Jew could utter the Jewish,which was
the final, word of power. There was nothing at all of either in the Clerks gaze. But
you-you aredifferent; you are a genius.
His eyes stared out through the blank
window.
Obedience wasenforceable, though unenforced. They
stood on either side that Holborn by-way, and gazed. Soshe supposed-and she was
right-that Lady Wallingford had taken steps.
She bent down and picked up herdaughters
feet.
And there, on the very pavement, the other side of
acrossing, she stood.
The Clerk let go the door and stood back. She was
afraidof Lady Wallingford and desperately afraid of Evelyn.
Herhands, quiet though they lay, were strangely
warm, and the blood in themseemed to beat. Nor was he even aware that what had
oncebeen a smile was now a mere constriction. But he did notlose sight of his main
point.
He had watched a man starve, but he was not cruel;
it was in histraining.
Hesaid: And now, Father Simon, Lady
Wallingford?
Jew and Christian alike had waited for the man who
nowwalked through the empty London streets. He had watched a man starve, but he was
not cruel; it was in histraining. He added: You wontforget to speak to Lady
Wallingford? The Clerk said: That is because you do not quite understand the
meaningof your own work. If only, she thought,she did not have to leave the
house!
Jonathan at last gave up the telephone, and sat
down to write letters. He used them for what he needed, and they meant tohim-and to
her-what he chose.
He said, in that husky voice she dreaded, though it
was neverunkind: I want you to go out. But I cant think she was altogether unhappy.
I will talk toher-yes, in a few days, if you still wish. He proposed an aunts house
inTunbridge Wells as a shelter for her. Herhands, quiet though they lay, were
strangely warm, and the blood in themseemed to beat.
Her hands were trembling as she finished dressing.
Betty saw her, and before a word could be spoken or a glanceexchanged, she thought:
People die. There was about the generalhubbub something that eased and pleased him.
He peered forward a little to see the face, but it was noteasy, even though the
caller wore no hat. She thinks herself someone, but presently shell find out. The
clerk looked over his shoulder at Lady Wallingford, whoas at a sudden call ran
forward. And nowthey all needed her, and she was not there.
But he felt the City lessen-not onlyLondon, but all
bodies and souls of men.