an episode of fiddletown-第11章
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in its sleeve; and the golden hoops that encircled her wan wrists
almost slipped from her hands as her long; scant fingers closed
convulsively around Jack's。 Her cheekbones were painted that
afternoon with the hectic of fever: somewhere in the hollows of
those cheeks were buried the dimples of long ago; but their graves
were forgotten。 Her lustrous eyes were still beautiful; though the
orbits were deeper than before。 Her mouth was still sweet;
although the lips parted more easily over the little teeth; even in
breathing; and showed more of them than she was wont to do before。
The glory of her blond hair was still left: it was finer; more
silken and ethereal; yet it failed even in its plenitude to cover
the hollows of the blue…veined temples。
〃Clara!〃 said Jack reproachfully。
〃Oh; forgive me; Jack!〃 she said; falling into a chair; but still
clinging to his hand〃forgive me; dear; but I could not wait
longer。 I should have died; Jackdied before another night。 Bear
with me a little longer (it will not be long); but let me stay。 I
may not see her; I know; I shall not speak to her: but it's so
sweet to feel that I am at last near her; that I breathe the same
air with my darling。 I am better already; Jack; I am indeed。 And
you have seen her today? How did she look? What did she say?
Tell me all; everything; Jack。 Was she beautiful? They say she
is。 Has she grown? Would you have known her again? Will she
come; Jack? Perhaps she has been here already; perhaps〃she had
risen with tremulous excitement; and was glancing at the door
〃perhaps she is here now。 Why don't you speak; Jack? Tell me
all。〃
The keen eyes that looked down into hers were glistening with an
infinite tenderness that none; perhaps; but she would have deemed
them capable of。 〃Clara;〃 he said gently and cheerily; 〃try and
compose yourself。 You are trembling now with the fatigue and
excitement of your journey。 I have seen Carry; she is well and
beautiful。 Let that suffice you now。〃
His gentle firmness composed and calmed her now; as it had often
done before。 Stroking her thin hand; he said; after a pause; 〃Did
Carry ever write to you?〃
〃Twice; thanking me for some presents。 They were only schoolgirl
letters;〃 she added; nervously answering the interrogation of his
eyes。
〃Did she ever know of your own troubles? of your poverty; of the
sacrifices you made to pay her bills; of your pawning your clothes
and jewels; of your〃
〃No; no!〃 interrupted the woman quickly: 〃no! How could she? I
have no enemy cruel enough to tell her that。〃
〃But if sheor if Mrs。 Tretherickhad heard of it? If Carry
thought you were poor; and unable to support her properly; it might
influence her decision。 Young girls are fond of the position that
wealth can give。 She may have rich friends; maybe a lover。〃
Mrs。 Starbottle winced at the last sentence。 〃But;〃 she said
eagerly; grasping Jack's hand; 〃when you found me sick and helpless
at Sacramento; when youGod bless you for it; Jack!offered to
help me to the East; you said you knew of something; you had some
plan; that would make me and Carry independent。〃
〃Yes;〃 said Jack hastily; 〃but I want you to get strong and well
first。 And; now that you are calmer; you shall listen to my visit
to the school。〃
It was then that Mr。 Jack Prince proceeded to describe the
interview already recorded; with a singular felicity and discretion
that shames my own account of that proceeding。 Without suppressing
a single fact; without omitting a word or detail; he yet managed to
throw a poetic veil over that prosaic episode; to invest the
heroine with a romantic roseate atmosphere; which; though not
perhaps entirely imaginary; still; I fear; exhibited that genius
which ten years ago had made the columns of THE FIDDLETOWN
AVALANCHE at once fascinating and instructive。 It was not until he
saw the heightening color; and heard the quick breathing; of his
eager listener; that he felt a pang of self…reproach。 〃God help
her and forgive me!〃 he muttered between his clinched teeth; 〃but
how can I tell her ALL now!〃
That night; when Mrs。 Starbottle laid her weary head upon her
pillow; she tried to picture to herself Carry at the same moment
sleeping peacefully in the great schoolhouse on the hill; and it
was a rare comfort to this yearning; foolish woman to know that she
was so near。 But at this moment Carry was sitting on the edge of
her bed; half…undressed; pouting her pretty lips and twisting her
long; leonine locks between her fingers as Miss Kate Van Corlear
dramatically wrapped in a long white counterpane; her black eyes
sparkling; and her thoroughbred nose thrown high in airstood over
her like a wrathful and indignant ghost; for Carry had that evening
imparted her woes and her history to Miss Kate; and that young lady
had 〃proved herself no friend〃 by falling into a state of fiery
indignation over Carry's 〃ingratitude;〃 and openly and shamelessly
espousing the claims of Mrs。 Starbottle。 〃Why; if the half you
tell me is true; your mother and those Robinsons are making of you
not only a little coward; but a little snob; miss。 Respectability;
forsooth! Look you; my family are centuries before the
Trethericks; but if my family had ever treated me in this way; and
then asked me to turn my back on my best friend; I'd whistle them
down the wind;〃 and here Kate snapped her fingers; bent her black
brows; and glared around the room as if in search of a recreant Van
Corlear。
〃You just talk this way because you have taken a fancy to that Mr。
Prince;〃 said Carry。
In the debasing slang of the period; that had even found its way
into the virgin cloisters of the Crammer Institute; Miss Kate; as
she afterward expressed it; instantly 〃went for her。〃
First; with a shake of her head; she threw her long black hair over
one shoulder; then; dropping one end of the counterpane from the
other like a vestal tunic; she stepped before Carry with a
purposely exaggerated classic stride。 〃And what if I have; miss!
What if I happen to know a gentleman when I see him! What if I
happen to know that among a thousand such traditional;
conventional; feeble editions of their grandfathers as Mr。 Harry
Robinson; you cannot find one original; independent; individualized
gentleman like your Prince! Go to bed; miss; and pray to Heaven
that he may be YOUR Prince indeed。 Ask to have a contrite and
grateful heart; and thank the Lord in particular for having sent
you such a friend as Kate Van Corlear。〃 Yet; after an imposing
dramatic exit; she reappeared the next moment as a straight white
flash; kissed Carry between the brows; and was gone。
The next day was a weary one to Jack Prince。 He was convinced in
his mind that Carry would not come; yet to keep this consciousness
from Mrs。 Starbottle; to meet her simple hopefulness with an equal
degree of apparent faith; was a hard and difficult task。 He would
have tried to divert her mind by taking her on a long drive; but
she was fearful that Carry might come during her absence; and her
strength; he was obliged to admit; had failed greatly。 As he
looked into her large and awe…inspiring clear eyes; a something he
tried to keep from his mindto put off day by day from
contemplationkept asserting itself directly to his inner
consciousness。 He began to doubt the expediency and wisdom of his
management。 He recalled every incident of his interview with
Carry; and half…believed that its failure was due to himself。 Yet
Mrs。 Starbottle was very patient and confident; her very confidence
shook his faith in his own judgment。 When her strength was equal
to the exertion; she was propped up in her chair by the window;
where she could see the school and the entrance to the hotel。 In
the intervals she would elaborate pleasant plans for the future;
and would sketch a country home。 She had taken a strange fancy; as
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