XXII

關燈
evensmallscrapscantravel,andthatthenewsofMrs.Jones'sbolsterbeingahiding-placeforhermoneyshouldhavespreadbeyondthevillageneveroccurredtohim.Hewasmovedonthisoccasionasmuchasamanwhohaslongagogivenupbeingmovedcanbe,forhehadhadareallydreadfultwodayswithMrs.Morrison,datingfromthemomentshecameinwiththenewsoftheboxingoftheironlyson'sears.Hehad,asthereaderwillhavegathered,nothingofithavingbeenrecorded,refusedtovisitandreprimandPriscillaforthis.Hehadfoundexcusesforher.Hehadsidedwithheragainsthisson.Hehadbeenaswholly,maddeninglyobstinateastheextremelygoodsometimesare.ThencameMrs.Jones'smurder.Hewasgreatlyshaken,butstillrefusedtocalluponPriscillainconnectionwithit,andpooh-poohedthenotionofherbeingresponsibleforthecrimeasdefinitelyasanagedsaintofhabituallygravespeechcanbeexpectedtopooh-poohatall.Hesaidshewasnotresponsible.Hesaid,whenhiswifewithalltheemphasisapparentlyinseparablefromtheconversationofthosewhofeelstrongly,toldhimthatheowedittohimself,tohisparish,tohiscountry,togoandaccuseher,thatheowednomananythingbuttoloveoneanother.Therewasnothingtobedonewiththevicar.Stillthesesceneshadnotlefthimscathless,anditwasavicarmovedtotheutmostlimitsofhiscapacityinthatdirectionwhowentintothepulpitthatdayrepeatingthequestion"Whoisit?"soinsistently,soappealingly,withsuchsearchingglancesalongtherowsoffacesinthepews,thatthecongregation,shufflinganduncomfortable,lookedfurtivelyateachotherwithanevergrowingsuspicionanddislike.Thevicarashewentonwaxingwarmer,moreinsistent,observedatleastadozenpersonswithguiltoneveryfeature.Itdartedoutlikeatoadfromthehiding-placeofsomeprivateoozeatthebottomofeachsoulintoonefaceaftertheotherandtherewasacertainyouthwhogrewsovisiblyinguilt,whohadsomanybeadsofanobviouslyguiltyperspirationonhisforehead,andeyessoguiltilystarti