the red cross girl(红十字姑娘)-第6章
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〃Why for me？〃 said the girl。
In the distress at the thought Sam was jabbing his stick into the gravel
walk as though driving the manicuring idea into a deep grave。 He did not
see that the girl was smiling at him mockingly。
〃You？〃 protested Sam。 〃You in a barber's shop washing men's fingers
who are not fit to wash the streets you walk on I Good Lord！〃 His
vehemence was quite honest。 The girl ceased smiling。 Sam was still
jabbing at the gravel walk； his profile toward herand； unobserved； she
could study his face。 It was an attractive face strong； clever； almost
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THE RED CROSS GIRL
illegally good…looking。 It explained why； as ； he had complained to the city
editor； his chief trouble in New York was with the women。 With his eyes
full of concern； Sam turned to her abruptly。 〃How much do they give you
a month？〃 〃Forty dollars；〃 answered Sister Anne。 〃This is what hurts me
about it；〃 said Sam。
It is that you should have to work and wait on other people when there
are so many strong； hulking men who would count it God's blessing to
work for you； to wait on you； and give their lives for you。 However；
probably you know that better than I do。〃
〃No； I don't know that；〃 said Sister Anne。
Sam recognized that it was quite absurd that it should be so； but this
statement gave him a sense of great elation； a delightful thrill of relief。
There was every reason why the girl should not confide in a complete
strangereven to deceive him was quite within her rights； but； though Sam
appreciated this； he preferred to be deceived。
〃I think you are working too hard；〃 he said； smiling happily。 〃I think
you ought to have a change。 You ought to take a day off！ Do they ever
give you a day off？〃
〃Next Saturday；〃 said Sister Anne。 〃Why？〃
〃Because；〃 explained Sam； 〃if you won't think it too presumptuous； I
was going to prescribe a day off for youa day entirely away from
iodoform and white enamelled cots。 It is what you need； a day in the city
and a lunch where they have music； and a matinee； where you can laugh
or cry； if you like that betterand then； maybe； some fresh air in the park
in a taxi； and after that dinner and more theatre； and then I'll see you safe
on the train for Greenwich。 Before you answer；〃 he added hurriedly； 〃I
want to explain that I contemplate taking a day off myself and doing all
these things with you； and that if you want to bring any of the other forty
nurses along as a chaperon； I hope you will。 Only； honestly； I hope you
won't！〃
The proposal apparently gave Sister Anne much pleasure。 She did not
say so； but her eyes shone and when she looked at Sam she was almost
laughing with happiness。
〃I think that would be quite delightful；〃 said Sister Anne；〃 quite
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THE RED CROSS GIRL
delightful！ Only it would be frightfully expensive； even if I don't bring
another girl； which I certainly would not； it would cost a great deal of
money。 I think we might cut out the taxicaband walk in the park and feed
the squirrels。〃
〃Oh！〃 exclaimed Sam in disappointment；〃then you know Central
Park？〃
Sister Anne's eyes grew quite expressionless。
〃I once lived near there；〃 she said。
〃In Harlem？〃
〃Not exactly in Harlem； but near it。 I was quite young；〃 said Sister
Anne。 〃Since then I have always lived in the country or inother places。〃
Sam's heart was singing with pleasure。
〃It's so kind of you to consent；〃 he cried。 〃Indeed； you are the kindest
person in all the world。 I thought so when I saw you bending over these
sick people； and； now I know。〃
〃It is you who are kind；〃 protested Sister Anne； 〃to take pity on me。〃
〃Pity on you！〃 laughed Sam。 〃You can't pity a person who can do more
with a smile than old man Flagg can do with all his millions。 Now；〃 he
demanded in happy anticipation；〃 where are we to meet？〃
〃That's it；〃 said Sister Anne。 〃Where are we to meet？〃
〃Let it be at the Grand Central Station。 The day can't begin too soon；〃
said Sam； 〃and before then telephone me what theatre and restaurants you
want and I'll reserve seats and tables。 Oh；〃 exclaimed Sam joyfully； 〃it will
be a wonderful daya wonderful day！〃
Sister Anne looked at him curiously and； so； it seemed； a little
wistfully。 She held out her hand。
〃I must go back to my duties；〃 she said。 〃Good…by。〃
〃Not good…by；〃 said Sam heartily； 〃only until Saturdayand my name's
Sam Ward and my address is the city room of the REPUBLIC。 What's
your name？〃
〃Sister Anne；〃 said the girl。 〃In the nursing order to which I belong we
have no last names。〃
〃So；〃 asked Sam； 〃I'll call you Sister Anne？〃
〃No； just Sister；〃 said the girl。
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〃Sister！〃 repeated Sam； 〃Sister！〃 He breathed the word rather than
spoke it； and the way he said it and the way he looked when he said it
made it carry almost the touch of a caress。 It was as if he had said
〃Sweetheart！ or 〃Beloved！〃 〃I'll not forget；〃 said Sam。
Sister Anne gave an impatient； annoyed laugh。
〃Nor I；〃 she said。
Sam returned to New York in the smoking…car； puffing feverishly at his
cigar and glaring dreamily at the smoke。 He was living the day over again
and； in anticipation； the day off； still to come。 He rehearsed their next
meeting at the station； he considered whether or not he would meet her
with a huge bunch of violets or would have it brought to her when they
were at luncheon by the head waiter。 He decided the latter way would be
more of a pleasant surprise。 He planned the luncheon。 It was to be the
most marvellous repast he could evolve； and； lest there should be the
slightest error； he would have it prepared in advanceand it should cost
half his week's salary。
The place where they were to dine he would leave to her； because he
had observed that women had strange ideas about clothessome of them
thinking that certain clothes must go with certain restaurants。 Some of
them seemed to believe that； instead of their conferring distinction upon
the restaurant； the restaurant conferred distinction upon them。 He was sure
Sister Anne would not be so foolish； but it might be that she must always
wear her nurse's uniform and that she would prefer not to be conspicuous；
so he decided that the choice of where they would dine he would leave to
her。 He calculated that the whole day ought to cost about eighty dollars；
which； as star reporter； was what he was then earning each week。 That was
little enough to give for a day that would be the birthday of his life！ No； he
contradicted the day he had first met her must always be the birthday of
his life； for never had he met one like her and he was sure there never
would be one like her。 She was so entirely superior to all the others； so
fine； so difficultin her manner there was something that rendered her
