ragged lady, v2-第39章

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〃That　is　what　I　mean；〃　said　Clementina。　　〃If　we　ah'　going　to　begin
togetha；　now；　it's　got　to　be　as　if　we　had　neva　begun　before。　　And　you
mustn't　think；　or　say；　or　look　as　if　the'e　had　been　anything　in　oua　lives
but　ouaselves。　　Will　you？　　Do　you　promise？〃　　She　stopped；　and　put　her
hand　on　his　breast；　and　pushed　against　it　with　a　nervous　vehemence。

〃No！〃　he　said。　　〃I　don't　promise；　for　I　couldn't　keep　my　promise。　　What
you　ask　is　impossible。　　The　past　is　part　of　us；　it　can't　be　ignored　any
more　than　it　can　be　destroyed。　　If　we　take　each　other；　it　must　be　for　all
that　we　have　been　as　well　as　all　that　we　are。　　If　we　haven't　the　courage
for　that　we　must　part。〃

He　dropped　the　little　one's　hand　which　he　had　been　holding；　and　moved　a
few　steps　aside。　　〃Don't！〃　she　said。　　〃They'll　think　I've　made　you；〃　and
he　took　the　child's　hand　again。

They　had　emerged　from　the　shadow　of　the　woods；　and　come　in　sight　of　her
father's　house。　　Claxon　was　standing　coatless　before　the　door　in　full
enjoyment　of　the　late　afternoon　air；　his　wife　beside　him；　at　sight　of
Gregory；　quelled　a　natural　impulse　to　run　round　the　corner　of　the　house
from　the　presence　of　strangers。

〃I　wonda　what　they'a　sayin'；〃　she　fretted。

〃It　looks　some　as　if　she　was　sayin'　yes；〃　said　Claxon；　with　an　impersonal
enjoyment　of　his　conjecture。　　〃I　guess　she　saw　he　was　bound　not　to　take
no　for　an　answa。〃

〃I　don't　know　as　I　should　like　it　very　much；〃　his　wife　relucted。
〃Clem's　doin'　very　well；　as　it　is。　　She　no　need　to　marry　again。〃

〃Oh；　I　guess　it　a'n't　that　altogetha。　　He's　a　good　man。〃　　Claxon　mused　a
moment　upon　the　figures　which　had　begun　to　advance　again；　with　the　little
one　between　them；　and　then　gave　way　in　a　burst　of　paternal　pride；　〃And　I
don't　know　as　I　should　blame　him　so　very　much　for　wantin'　Clem。　　She
always　did　want　to　be　of　moa　useBut　I　guess　she　likes　him　too。〃










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