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an episode of fiddletown-第10章

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former writing master in such gratuitous variety of elegant

calligraphic trifling as to abate considerably the serious value of

the composition; to three views of Genoa from the Institute; which

nobody ever recognized; taken on the spot by the drawing teacher;

from two illuminated texts of Scripture in an English letter; so

gratuitously and hideously remote as to chill all human interest;

to a large photograph of the senior class; in which the prettiest

girls were Ethiopian in complexion; and sat; apparently; on each

other's heads and shoulders。  His fingers had turned listlessly the

leaves of school…catalogues; the SERMONS of Dr。 Crammer; the POEMS

of Henry Kirke White; the LAYS OF THE SANCTUARY and LIVES OF

CELEBRATED WOMEN。  His fancy; and it was a nervously active one;

had gone over the partings and greetings that must have taken place

here; and wondered why the apartment had yet caught so little of

the flavor of humanity; indeed; I am afraid he had almost forgotten

the object of his visit when the door opened; and Carry Tretherick

stood before him。



It was one of those faces he had seen the night before; prettier

even than it had seemed then; and yet I think he was conscious of

some disappointment; without knowing exactly why。  Her abundant

waving hair was of a guinea…golden tint; her complexion of a

peculiar flowerlike delicacy; her brown eyes of the color of

seaweed in deep water。  It certainly was not her beauty that

disappointed him。



Without possessing his sensitiveness to impression; Carry was; on

her part; quite as vaguely ill at ease。  She saw before her one of

those men whom the sex would vaguely generalize as 〃nice;〃 that is

to say; correct in all the superficial appointments of style;

dress; manners; and feature。  Yet there was a decidedly

unconventional quality about him: he was totally unlike anything or

anybody that she could remember; and as the attributes of

originality are often as apt to alarm as to attract people; she was

not entirely prepossessed in his favor。



〃I can hardly hope;〃 he began pleasantly; 〃that you remember me。

It is eleven years ago; and you were a very little girl。  I am

afraid I cannot even claim to have enjoyed that familiarity that

might exist between a child of six and a young man of twenty…one。

I don't think I was fond of children。  But I knew your mother very

well。  I was editor of the AVALANCHE in Fiddletown when she took

you to San Francisco。〃



〃You mean my stepmother; she wasn't my mother; you know;〃

interposed Carry hastily。



Mr。 Prince looked at her curiously。  〃I mean your stepmother;〃 he

said gravely。  〃I never had the pleasure of meeting your mother。〃



〃No; MOTHER hasn't been in California these twelve years。〃



There was an intentional emphasizing of the title and of its

distinction that began to interest coldly Prince after his first

astonishment was past。



〃As I come from your stepmother now;〃 he went on with a slight

laugh; 〃I must ask you to go back for a few moments to that point。

After your father's death; your motherI mean your stepmother

recognized the fact that your mother; the first Mrs。 Tretherick;

was legally and morally your guardian and; although much against

her inclination and affections; placed you again in her charge。〃



〃My stepmother married again within a month after father died; and

sent me home;〃 said Carry with great directness; and the faintest

toss of her head。



Mr。 Prince smiled so sweetly; and apparently so sympathetically;

that Carry began to like him。  With no other notice of the

interruption he went on; 〃After your stepmother had performed this

act of simple justice; she entered into an agreement with your

mother to defray the expenses of your education until your

eighteenth year; when you were to elect and choose which of the two

should thereafter be your guardian; and with whom you would make

your home。  This agreement; I think; you are already aware of; and;

I believe; knew at the time。〃



〃I was a mere child then;〃 said Carry。



〃Certainly;〃 said Mr。 Prince; with the same smile。  〃Still the

conditions; I think; have never been oppressive to you nor your

mother; and the only time they are likely to give you the least

uneasiness will be when you come to make up your mind in the choice

of your guardian。  That will be on your eighteenth birthdaythe

twentieth; I think; of the present month。〃



Carry was silent。



〃Pray do not think that I am here to receive your decision; even if

it be already made。  I only came to inform you that your

stepmother; Mrs。 Starbottle; will be in town tomorrow; and will

pass a few days at the hotel。  If it is your wish to see her before

you make up your mind; she will be glad to meet you。  She does not;

however; wish to do anything to influence your judgment。



〃Does Mother know she is coming?〃 said Carry hastily。



〃I do not know;〃 said Prince gravely。  〃I only know that if you

conclude to see Mrs。 Starbottle; it will be with your mother's

permission。  Mrs。 Starbottle will keep sacredly this part of the

agreement; made ten years ago。  But her health is very poor; and

the change and country quiet of a few days may benefit her。〃  Mr。

Prince bent his keen; bright eyes upon the young girl; and almost

held his breath until she spoke again。



〃Mother's coming up today or tomorrow;〃 she said; looking up。



〃Ah!〃 said Mr。 Prince with a sweet and languid smile。



〃Is Colonel Starbottle here too?〃 asked Carry; after a pause。



〃Colonel Starbottle is dead。  Your stepmother is again a widow。〃



〃Dead!〃 repeated Carry。



〃Yes;〃 replied Mr。 Prince。  〃Your stepmother has been singularly

unfortunate in surviving her affections。〃



Carry did not know what he meant; and looked so。  Mr。 Prince smiled

reassuringly。



Presently Carry began to whimper。



Mr。 Prince softly stepped beside her chair。



〃I am afraid;〃 he said with a very peculiar light in his eye; and a

singular dropping of the corners of his mustache〃I am afraid you

are taking this too deeply。  It will be some days before you are

called upon to make a decision。  Let us talk of something else。  I

hope you caught no cold last evening。〃



Carry's face shone out again in dimples。



〃You must have thought us so queer!  It was too bad to give you so

much trouble。〃



〃None whatever; I assure you。  My sense of propriety;〃 he added

demurely; 〃which might have been outraged had I been called upon to

help three young ladies out of a schoolroom window at night。  was

deeply gratified at being able to assist them in again。〃  The

doorbell rang loudly; and Mr。 Prince rose。  〃Take your own time;

and think well before you make your decision。〃  But Carry's ear and

attention were given to the sound of voices in the hall。  At the

same moment; the door was thrown open; and a servant announced;

〃Mrs。 Tretherick and Mr。 Robinson。〃



The afternoon train had just shrieked out its usual indignant

protest at stopping at Genoa at all as Mr。 Jack Prince entered the

outskirts of the town; and drove toward his hotel。  He was wearied

and cynical。  A drive of a dozen miles through unpicturesque

outlying villages; past small economic farmhouses; and hideous

villas that violated his fastidious taste; had; I fear; left that

gentleman in a captious state of mind。  He would have even avoided

his taciturn landlord as he drove up to the door; but that

functionary waylaid him on the steps。  〃There's a lady in the

sittin'…room; waitin' for ye。〃  Mr。 Prince hurried upstairs; and

entered the room as Mrs。 Starbottle flew toward him。



She had changed sadly in the last ten years。  Her figure was wasted

to half its size。  The beautiful curves of her bust and shoulders

were broken or inverted。  The once full; rounded arm was shrunken

in its sleeve; and the golden hoops that encircled her wan wrists

almost slipped from her hands as her long; scant fingers closed

convul

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