Aaron's Rod

aron noticed that there were only two miserable stalls. But people crowded just the same. Ther

onious light. In the bottoms, under the trees, it was very dark. But a lamp glimmered in front of the “Roya

on into the public bar on the left. The bar itself was a sort of little window-sill on the right: the pub was a small one. In this win

wn to look at the newcomer. None ent

r intonation in her complacent voice, which showe

than eight or ten people, all told — just the benches alon

’t coming,” said the landla

le, probably Jewish. She had chestnut-coloured eyes, quick, in

late, am I?”

think.” She Looked up at the

ng,” said Aaron, w

s news, I’m sure. May

t like. But he

ree candles,

e well for once! I must say I recommend y

e bench, and took up her knitting. Aaron sat next

he said, when he had

o keep that thick good overco

“I think I’ll

houlders, and the form of his legs. Her reddish-brown eyes seemed to burn, and her nose, that had a subtle, beautiful Hebraic curve, seemed t

erior type all, favoured by the landlady, who loved intellectual discussion

ce, Doctor,” said the landla

hiskey, please?” She rose a

she said. And she

du doctor, “and how are thi

as ever,”

dy. “And I’m afraid they will always be the

sked Sherardy, the Hindu. He spo

ndlady. “Why all acting together for the

you call the common good?” replied the

t’s it.” The miners were all stirrin

landlady. “That all people should study the w

udy their own welfa

e landlady. “Let them study their ow

doctor, “what is the

fficient wages to keep himself and his family comfortable, to educate hi

humoured collier. “Happen so, Mrs. Houseley. But wh

get it,” she s

’ to educate a man over forty — not by book-le

nother man. “What better is the manager, or th’ under-ma

assented the

Kirk,” said the landlady largely, “that doesn’t mean

e more money than I can — th

e landlady. “And when he’s made i

?— an’ take it out of hisself a sight harder than I do, by th’ looks o

He not only eats and drinks. He

n read — an’ I’ve had many a talk an’ conversation with you in th

ink there would be no difference between your conversation, and Mr

e be?” asked Tom Kirk. “He’d go

better, and so should I, a great deal be

—” said Tom Kirk. “An’ puts th’ bile in his f

ut it any further,” said the landl

it makes much difference to a man, whether he can h

— To me, there is no greater difference, than

es it come in

d man — take Pender. What’s his education for? What does he sc

es of his life,” re

urpose of his life?”

the landlady, at a loss. “I should

now it — and you kn

dy, “if you know, then

e firm — and so make his o

ffled for some mome

rm in it? Isn’t it his duty to do what he can f

s money we live for, and money is what our lives is worth — nothing else. Money we live for, and money we are when we’re dead: that or nothing. An’ it’s money as is between the maste

g end o’ th’ rope, th’ m

e other will pull,” concluded

o’ that,” said Kirk. Th

ady. “But what can be done with the money, that you never think of

d of the long end of the rope, instead of the s

“I’ve pulled at th’ short end

licy,” put in

not, they

oom,” said Aaron, wi

o’ th’ rope,

N WHAT?” crie

es,” said Kirk. There was a gene

ve a narrow, selfish policy.— Instead of thinking of the child

dog breed,” said Brewitt.

an dogs, wrangling for a

i’ th’ bone, then, while we sit on our

what you DO with the money, when you’ve got it,” sa

sn’t stop wi’ us.” “Ay, it’s the wife as ge

your wives? They have everything to do with t

they couldn’t if they t

er presence enveloped him particularly. He loved so to luxuriate, like a cat, in the presence of a violent woman. He knew that tonight she was feeling very nice to him — a female glow that came out of her to him

pposition to his surroundings, a hard core of irrational, exhausting withholding of himself. Irritating, because he still WANTED to give himself. A woman and whiskey, these were usually a remedy — and music. But lately these had begun to fail him. No, there was something in him that would not give in — neither to the whiskey, nor the woman, n

his will he kept himself as it were geni

ofile — that fine throw-back of her hostile head, wicked in the midst of her benevolence; that subtle, really very beautiful delicate curve of her nose, that moved

h passion for her. But not tonight. Tonight his innermost heart was hard and cold as ice. The very danger and lustfulness of her, which had so pricked his senses, now made him colder. He disliked her at her tricks. He saw her

ing and swimming into oneness with the dark. But impossible! Cold, with a white fury inside him, he floated wide eyed and apart as a corpse. He tho

that he disliked his whole circumstances. A cold, diabolical co

out there in India?” he as

and attended to hi

e answered. “

med Aaron Sisso

use they have no responsibility. The British Government takes the responsibility. And the people have

arn their livin

n no more. That’s why the British Government is the worst thing possible for them. It is the worst thing possible. And not because it is a bad government. Really,

, completely black. He was looking into the ice- blue, pointed eyes of Aaron Sisson. They

y all accepted as serious. For Aaron was considered a special man, a

ctor, how can it be so bad for

tion of a second, as he watched the oth

ple of India. They would probably make the greatest muddle possible — and start killing one another. But it wouldn’

to the eyes of the other man, and an

indeed,” said the landlady. “They h

angry. The little greenish doctor e

y live till they die, either way.” And he smiled faintly. He had not really listened to the doctor. The

d for a moment. Then he

for themselves. How can any people be responsible for another race of p

ds: always the human good speaking, and always underneath, something hateful, something detestable and murderous. Wise speech and good intentions — they were invariably maggoty with these secret inclinations to destroy the man in the man. Whenever he heard anyone holding forth: the landlady, t

y looked at

d coldly. For she too knew that Aaro

porate. The landlady helped Aaron on with his coat. She saw the curious whi

tchen with us, for luck?” she sai

ned laughi

d, “I must be

house. Watching him, the landlady’s f

d aloud, attributing Aaron’s mood to the doct

ered in the road near the closed door. Aaron found

irection. There seemed a wall in front of him. He veered. But neither could he take a stride in the opposite direction. So

f under trees, at right angles to the highroad, up to New Brunswick Colliery. He veered towards the off-chance