the sleeping-car(卧车)-第7节
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＇He patrols the car from end to end； and quells some rising murmurs；
halting at the rebellious berths as he passes。＇
MRS。 ROBERTS （enraptured by his companionship）。 Oh； he MUST
be some connection。 ＇She glances through the window。＇ I do believe
that was Newton； or Newtonville； or West Newton； or Newton Centre。 I
must run and wake up baby； and get him dressed。 I shan't want to wait an
instant after we get in。 Why； we're slowing up！ Why； I do believe we're
there！ Edward； we're there！ Only fancy being there already！
MR。 ROBERTS。 Yes； my dear。 Only we're not quite there yet。
Hadn't we better call your aunt Mary？
MRS。 ROBERTS。 I'd forgotten her。
CAMPBELL。 Is Aunt Mary with you？
MRS。 ROBERTS。 To be sure she is。 Didn't I tell you？ She came
on expressly to meet you。
CAMPBELL （starting up impetuously）。 Which berth is she in？
MRS。 ROBERTS。 Right over baby。
CAMPBELL。 And which berth is baby in？
MRS。 ROBERTS （distractedly）。 Why； that's just what I can't TELL。
It was bad enough when they were all filled up； but now since the people
have begun to come out of them； and some of them are made into seats I
can't tell。
THE CALIFORNIAN。 I'll look for you； ma'am。 I should like to
wake up all the wrong passengers on this car。 I'd take a pleasure in it。
If you could make sure of any berth that AIN'T the one； I'll begin on that。
MRS。 ROBERTS。 I can't even be sure of the wrong one。 No； no；
you mustn't＇THE CALIFORNIAN moves away； and pauses in front of
one of the berths； looking back inquiringly at MRS。 ROBERTS。＇ Oh；
don't ask ME！ _I_ can't tell。 ＇To CAMPBELL。＇ ISN'T he amusing？
So like all those Californians that one reads ofso chivalrous and SO
humorous！
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THE SLEEPING…CAR
AUNT MARY （thrusting her head from the curtains of the berth before
which THE CALIFORNIAN is standing）。 Go along with you！ What do
you want？
THE CALIFORNIAN。 Aunt Mary。
AUNT MARY。 Go away。 Aunt Mary； indeed！
MRS。 ROBERTS （running toward her； followed by CAMPBELL and
MR。 ROBERTS）。 Why； Aunt Mary； it IS you！ And here's Willis； and
here's Edward。
AUNT MARY。 Nonsense！ How did they get aboard？
MRS。 ROBERTS。 Edward came on at Worcester and Willis at
Framingham； to surprise me。
AUNT MARY。 And a very silly performance。 Let them wait till I'm
dressed； and then I'll talk to them。 Send for the porter。 ＇She withdraws
her head behind the curtain； and then thrusts it out again。＇ And who； pray；
may THIS be？
＇She indicates THE CALIFORNIAN。＇
MRS。 ROBERTS。 Oh； a friend of ours from California； who's been
so kind to us all night； and who's going home with us。
AUNT MARY。 Another ridiculous surprise； I suppose。 But he shall
not surprise ME。 Young man； isn't your name Sawyer？
THE CALIFORNIAN。 Yes； ma'am。
AUNT MARY。 Abram？
THE CALIFORNIAN。 Abram Sawyer。 You're right there； ma'am。
MRS。 ROBERTS。 Oh！ oh！ I knew it！ I knew that he must be
somebody belonging to us。 Oh； thank you； aunty； for thinking …
AUNT MARY。 Don't be absurd； Agnes。 Then you're my …
A VOICE from one of the berths。 Lost step…son。 Found！ found at
last！
＇THE CALIFORNIAN looks vainly round in an endeavor to identify
the speaker； and then turns again to AUNT MARY。＇
AUNT MARY。 Weren't your parents from Bath？
THE CALIFORNIAN （eagerly）。 Both of 'em； ma'amboth of 'em。
THE VOICE。 O my prophetic soul； my uncle！
AUNT MARY。 Then you're my old friend Kate Harris's daughter？
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THE SLEEPING…CAR
THE CALIFORNIAN。 I might be her SON； ma'am； but MY
mother's name was Susan Wakeman。
AUNT MARY （in sharp disgust）。 Call the porter； please。
＇She withdraws her head and pulls her curtains together； the rest look
blankly at one another。＇
CAMPBELL。 Another failure； and just when we thought we were
sure of you。 I don't know what we shall do about you； Mr。 Sawyer。
THE VOICE。 Adopt him。
CAMPBELL。 That's a good idea。 We will adopt you。 You shall
be our adoptive …
THE VOICE。 Baby boy。
ANOTHER VOICE。 Wife。
A THIRD VOICE。 Brother。
A FOURTH VOICE。 Early friend。
A FIFTH VOICE。 Kate Harris's daughter。
CAMPBELL （laying his hand on THE CALIFORNIAN'S shoulder；
and breaking into a laugh）。 Don't mind them。 They don't mean
anything。 It's just their way。 You come home with my sister； and spend
Christmas； and let us devote the rest of our lives to making your declining
years happy。
VOICES。 〃Good for you； Willis！〃 〃We'll all come！〃 〃No
ceremony！〃 〃Small and early！〃
CAMPBELL （looking round）。 We appear to have fallen in with a
party of dry…goods drummers。 It makes a gentleman feel like an intruder。
＇The train stops； he looks out of the window。＇ We've arrived。 Come；
Agnes； come； Roberts； come； Mr。 Sawyerlet's be going。
＇They gather up their several wraps and bags； and move with great
dignity toward the door。＇
AUNT MARY （putting out her head）。 Agnes！ If you must forget
your aunt； at least remember your child。
MRS。 ROBERTS （running back in an agony of remorse）。 Oh； BABY；
did I forget you？
CAMPBELL。 Oh； AUNTY； did she forget you？ ＇He runs back； and
extends his arms to his aunt。＇ Let me help you down； Aunt Mary。
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THE SLEEPING…CAR
AUNT MARY。 Nonsense； Willis。 Send the porter。
CAMPBELL （turning round and confronting THE PORTER）。 He
was here upon instinct。 Shall he fetch a step…ladder？
AUNT MARY。 HE will know what to do。 Go away； Willis； go
away with that child； Agnes。 If I should happen to fall on you＇They
retreat； the curtain drops； and her voice is heard behind it addressing THE
PORTER。＇ Give me your hand； now your back； now your knee。 So！
And very well done。 Thanks。
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