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第12章

an episode of fiddletown-第12章

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and would sketch a country home。  She had taken a strange fancy; as

it seemed to Prince; to the present location; but it was notable

that the future; always thus outlined; was one of quiet and repose。

She believed she would get well soon; in fact; she thought she was

now much better than she had been; but it might be long before she

should be quite strong again。  She would whisper on in this way

until Jack would dash madly down into the barroom; order liquors

that he did not drink; light cigars that he did not smoke; talk

with men that he did not listen to; and behave generally as our

stronger sex is apt to do in periods of delicate trials and

perplexity。



The day closed with a clouded sky and a bitter; searching wind。

With the night fell a few wandering flakes of snow。  She was still

content and hopeful; and; as Jack wheeled her from the window to

the fire; she explained to him how that; as the school term was

drawing near its close; Carry was probably kept closely at her

lessons during the day; and could only leave the school at night。

So she sat up the greater part of the evening; and combed her

silken hair; and as far as her strength would allow; made an

undress toilet to receive her guest。  〃We must not frighten the

child; Jack;〃 she said apologetically; and with something of her

old coquetry。



It was with a feeling of relief that; at ten o'clock; Jack received

a message from the landlord; saying that the doctor would like to

see him for a moment downstairs。  As Jack entered the grim; dimly

lighted parlor; he observed the hooded figure of a woman near the

fire。  He was about to withdraw again when a voice that he

remembered very pleasantly said:



〃Oh; it's all right!  I'm the doctor。〃



The hood was thrown back; and Prince saw the shining black hair and

black; audacious eyes of Kate Van Corlear。



〃Don't ask any questions。  I'm the doctor; and there's my

prescription;〃 and she pointed to the half…frightened; half…sobbing

Carry in the corner〃to be taken at once。〃



〃Then Mrs。 Tretherick has given her permission?〃



〃Not much; if I know the sentiments of that lady;〃 replied Kate

saucily。



〃Then how did you get away?〃 asked Prince gravely。



〃BY THE WINDOW。〃



When Mr。 Prince had left Carry in the arms of her stepmother; he

returned to the parlor。



〃Well?〃 demanded Kate。



〃She will stayYOU will; I hope; alsotonight。〃



〃As I shall not be eighteen; and my own mistress on the twentieth;

and as I haven't a sick stepmother; I won't。〃



〃Then you will give me the pleasure of seeing you safely through

the window again?〃



When Mr。 Prince returned an hour later; he found Carry sitting on a

low stool at Mrs。 Starbottle's feet。  Her head was in her

stepmother's lap; and she had sobbed herself to sleep。  Mrs。

Starbottle put her finger to her lip。  〃I told you she would come。

God bless you; Jack! and good night。〃



The next morning Mrs。 Tretherick; indignant; the Rev。 Asa Crammer;

principal; injured; and Mr。 Joel Robinson; Sr。; complacently

respectable; called upon Mr。 Prince。  There was a stormy meeting;

ending in a demand for Carry。  〃We certainly cannot admit of this

interference;〃 said Mrs。 Tretherick; a fashionably dressed;

indistinctive…looking woman。  〃It is several days before the

expiration of our agreement; and we do not feel; under the

circumstances; justified in releasing Mrs。 Starbottle from its

conditions。〃  〃Until the expiration of the school term; we must

consider Miss Tretherick as complying entirely with its rules and

discipline;〃 imposed Dr。 Crammer。  〃The whole proceeding is

calculated to injure the prospects; and compromise the position; of

Miss Tretherick in society;〃 suggested Mr。 Robinson。



In vain Mr。 Prince urged the failing condition of Mrs。 Starbottle;

her absolute freedom from complicity with Carry's flight; the

pardonable and natural instincts of the girl; and his own assurance

that they were willing to abide by her decision。  And then; with a

rising color in his cheek; a dangerous look in his eye; but a

singular calmness in his speech; he added:



〃One word more。  It becomes my duty to inform you of a circumstance

which would certainly justify me; as an executor of the late Mr。

Tretherick; in fully resisting your demands。  A few months after

Mr。 Tretherick's death; through the agency of a Chinaman in his

employment; it was discovered that he had made a will; which was

subsequently found among his papers。  The insignificant value of

his bequestmostly land; then quite valuelessprevented his

executors from carrying out his wishes; or from even proving the

will; or making it otherwise publicly known; until within the last

two or three years; when the property had enormously increased in

value。  The provisions of that bequest are simple; but

unmistakable。  The property is divided between Carry and her

stepmother; with the explicit condition that Mrs。 Starbottle shall

become her legal guardian; provide for her education; and in all

details stand to her IN LOCO PARENTIS。〃



〃What is the value of this bequest?〃 asked Mr。 Robinson。  〃I cannot

tell exactly; but not far from half a million; I should say;〃

returned Prince。  〃Certainly; with this knowledge; as a friend of

Miss Tretherick I must say that her conduct is as judicious as it

is honorable to her;〃 responded Mr。 Robinson。  〃I shall not presume

to question the wishes; or throw any obstacles in the way of

carrying out the intentions; of my dead husband;〃 added Mrs。

Tretherick; and the interview was closed。



When its result was made known to Mrs。 Starbottle; she raised

Jack's hand to her feverish lips。  〃It cannot add to MY happiness

now; Jack; but tell me; why did you keep it from her?〃  Jack

smiled; but did not reply。



Within the next week the necessary legal formalities were

concluded; and Carry was restored to her stepmother。  At Mrs。

Starbottle's request; a small house in the outskirts of the town

was procured; and thither they removed to wait the spring; and Mrs。

Starbottle's convalescence。  Both came tardily that year。



Yet she was happy and patient。  She was fond of watching the

budding of the trees beyond her windowa novel sight to her

Californian experienceand of asking Carry their names and

seasons。  Even at this time she projected for that summer; which

seemed to her so mysteriously withheld; long walks with Carry

through the leafy woods; whose gray; misty ranks she could see

along the hilltop。  She even thought she could write poetry about

them; and recalled the fact as evidence of her gaining strength;

and there is; I believe; still treasured by one of the members of

this little household a little carol so joyous; so simple; and so

innocent that it might have been an echo of the robin that called

to her from the window; as perhaps it was。



And then; without warning; there dropped from Heaven a day so

tender; so mystically soft; so dreamily beautiful; so throbbing and

alive with the fluttering of invisible wings; so replete and

bounteously overflowing with an awakening and joyous resurrection

not taught by man or limited by creed; that they thought it fit to

bring her out and lay her in that glorious sunshine that sprinkled

like the droppings of a bridal torch the happy lintels and doors。

And there she lay beatified and calm。



Wearied by watching; Carry had fallen asleep by her side; and Mrs。

Starbottle's thin fingers lay like a benediction on her head。

Presently she called Jack to her side。



〃Who was that;〃 she whispered; 〃who just came in?〃



〃Miss Van Corlear;〃 said Jack; answering the look in her great

hollow eyes。



〃Jack;〃 she said; after a moment's silence; 〃sit by me a moment;

dear Jack: I've something I must say。  If I ever seemed hard; or

cold; or coquettish to you in the old days; it was because I loved

you; Jack; too well to mar your future by linking it with my own。

I always loved you

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