ragged lady, v1-第4节

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was　left　for　her；　but　in　her　presence　he　always　denied　that　there　was
anything　the　matter　with　him；　though　he　was　apt　to　follow　the　doctor　out
of　the　room；　and　get　a　prescription　from　him　for　some　ailment　which　he
professed　not　to　believe　in　himself；　but　wanted　to　quiet　Mrs。　Lander's
mind　about。

He　rose　early；　both　from　long　habit；　and　from　the　scant　sleep　of　an
elderly　man；　he　could　not　lie　in　bed；　but　his　wife　always　had　her
breakfast　there　and　remained　so　long　that　the　chambermaid　had　done　up
most　of　the　other　rooms　and　had　leisure　for　talk　with　her。　　As　soon　as　he
was　awake；　he　stole　softly　out　and　was　the　first　in　the　dining…room　for
breakfast。　　He　owned　to　casual　acquaintance　in　moments　of　expansion　that
breakfast　was　his　best　meal；　but　he　did　what　he　could　to　make　it　his
worst　by　beginning　with　oranges　and　oatmeal；　going　forward　to　beefsteak
and　fried　potatoes；　and　closing　with　griddle　cakes　and　syrup；　washed　down
with　a　cup　of　cocoa；　which　his　wife　decided　to　be　wholesomer　than　coffee。
By　the　time　he　had　finished　such　a　repast；　he　crept　out　of　the　dining…
room　in　a　state　of　tension　little　short　of　anguish；　which　he　confided　to
the　sympathy　of　the　bootblack　in　the　washroom。

He　always　went　from　having　his　shoes　polished　to　get　a　toothpick　at　the
clerk's　desk；　and　at　the　Middlemount　House；　the　morning　after　he　had　been
that　drive　with　Mrs。　Lander；　he　lingered　a　moment　with　his　elbows　beside
the　register。　　〃How　about　a　buckboa'd？〃　he　asked。

〃Something　you　can　drive　yourself　〃the　clerk　professionally　dropped　his
eye　to　the　register〃Mr。　Lander？〃

〃Well；　no；　I　guess　not；　this　time；〃　the　little　man　returned；　after　a
moment's　reflection。　　〃Know　anything　of　a　family　named　Claxon；　down　the
road；　here；　a　piece？〃　　He　twisted　his　head　in　the　direction　he　meant。

〃This　is　my　first　season　at　Middlemount；　but　I　guess　Mr。　Atwell　will
know。〃　　The　clerk　called　to　the　landlord；　who　was　smoking　in　his　private
room　behind　the　office；　and　the　landlord　came　out。　　The　clerk　repeated
Mr。　Lander's　questions。

〃Pootty　good　kind　of　folks；　I　guess；〃　said　the　landlord　provisionally；
through　his　cigar…smoke。　　〃Man's　a　kind　of　univussal　genius；　but　he's　got
a　nice　family　of　children；　smaht　as　traps；　all　of　'em。〃

〃How　about　that　oldest　gul？〃　asked　Mr。　Lander。

〃Well；　the'a；〃　said　the　landlord；　taking　the　cigar　out　of　his　mouth。
〃I　think　she's　about　the　nicest　little　thing　goin'。　　We've　had　her　up
he'e；　to　help　out　in　a　busy　time；　last　summer；　and　she's　got　moo　sense
than　guls　twice　as　old。　　Takes　hold　likelightnin'。〃

〃About　how　old　did　you　say　she　was？〃

〃Well；　you've　got　me　the'a；　Mr。　Landa；　I　guess　I'll　ask　Mis'　Atwell。〃

〃The'e's　no　hurry；〃　said　Lander。　　〃That　buckboa'd　be　round　pretty　soon？〃
he　asked　of　the　clerk。

〃Be　right　along　now；　Mr。　Lander；〃　said　the　clerk；　soothingly。　　He　stepped
out　to　the　platform　that　the　teams　drove　up　to　from　the　stable；　and　came
back　to　say　that　it　was　coming。　　〃I　believe　you　said　you　wanted　something
you　could　drive　yourself？〃

〃No；　I　didn't；　young　man；〃　answered　the　elder　sharply。　　But　the　next
moment　he　added；　〃Come　to　think　of　it；　I　guess　it's　just　as　well。　　You
needn't　get　me　no　driver。　　I　guess　I　know　the　way　well　enough。　　You　put
me　in　a　hitchin'　strap。〃

〃All　right；　Mr。　Lander；〃　said　the　clerk；　meekly。

The　landlord　had　caught　the　peremptory　note　in　Lander's　voice；　and　he
came　out　of　his　room　again　to　see　that　there　was　nothing　going　wrong。

〃It's　all　right；〃　said　Lander；　and　went　out　and　got　into　his　buckboard。

〃Same　horse　you　had　yesterday；〃　said　the　young　clerk。　　〃You　don't　need　to
spare　the　whip。〃

〃I　guess　I　can　look　out　for　myself；〃　said　Lander；　and　he　shook　the　reins
and　gave　the　horse　a　smart　cut；　as　a　hint　of　what　he　might　expect。

The　landlord　joined　the　clerk　in　looking　after　the　brisk　start　the　horse
made。　　〃Not　the　way　he　set　off　with　the　old　lady；　yesterday；〃　suggested
the　clerk。

The　landlord　rolled　his　cigar　round　in　his　tubed　lips。　　〃I　guess　he's
used　to　ridin'　after　a　good　hoss。〃　　He　added　gravely　to　the　clerk；　〃You
don't　want　to　make　very　free　with　that　man；　Mr。　Pane。　　He　won't　stan'　it；
and　he's　a　class　of　custom　that　you　want　to　cata　to　when　it　comes　in　your
way。　　I　suspicioned　what　he　was　when　they　came　here　and　took　the　highest
cost　rooms　without　tu'nin'　a　haia。　　They're　a　class　of　custom　that　you
won't　get　outside　the　big　hotels　in　the　big　reso'ts。　　Yes；　sir；〃　said　the
landlord　taking　a　fresh　start；　〃they're　them　kind　of　folks　that　live　the
whole　yea'　round　in　hotels；　no'th　in　summa；　south　in　winta；　and　city
hotels　between　times。　　They　want　the　best　their　money　can　buy；　and　they
got　plenty　of　it。　　She〃he　meant　Mrs。　Lander〃has　been　tellin'　my　wife
how　they　do；　she　likes　to　talk　a　little　betta　than　he　doos；　and　I　guess
when　it　comes　to　society；　they're　away　up；　and　they　won't　stun'　any
nonsense。〃




III。

Lander　came　into　his　wife's　room　between　ten　and　eleven　o'clock；　and
found　her　still　in　bed；　but　with　her　half…finished　breakfast　on　a　tray
before　her。　　As　soon　as　he　opened　the　door　she　said；　〃I　do　wish　you　would
take　some　of　that　heat…tonic　of　mine；　Albe't；　that　the　docta　left　for　me
in　Boston。　　You'll　find　it　in　the　upper　right　bureau　box；　the'a；　and　I
know　it'll　be　the　very　thing　for　you。　　It'll　relieve　you　of　that
suffocatin'　feeling　that　I　always　have；　comin'　up　stars。　　Dea'！　　I　don't
see　why　they　don't　have　an　elevata；　they　make　you　pay　enough；　and　I　wish
you'd　get　me　a　little　more　silva；　so's't　I　can　give　to　the　chambamaid　and
the　bell…boy；　I　do　hate　to　be　out　of　it。　　I　guess　you　been　up　and　out
long　ago。　　They　did　make　that　polonaise　of　mine　too　tight　after　all　I
said；　and　I've　been　thinkin'　how　I　could　get　it　alt'ed；　but　I　presume
there　ain't　a　seamstress　to　be　had　around　he'e　for　love　or　money。　　Well；
now；　that's　right；　Albe't；　I'm　glad　to　see　you　doin'　it。〃

Lander　had　opened　the　lid　of　the　bureau　box；　and　uncorked　a　bottle　from
it；　and　tilted　this　to　his　lips。

〃Don't　take　too　much；〃　she　cautioned　him；　〃or　you'll　lose　the　effects。
When　I　take　too　much　of　a　medicine；　it's　wo'se　than　nothing；　as　fah's　I
can　make　out。　　When　I　had　that　spell　in　Thomasville　spring　before　last；
I　believe　I　should　have　been　over　it　twice　as　quick　if　I　had　taken　just
half　the　medicine　I　did。　　You　don't　really　feel　anyways　bad　about　the
heat；　do　you；　Albe't？〃

〃I'm　all　right；〃　said　Lander。　　He　put　back　the　bottle　in　its　place　and
sat　down。

Mrs。　Lander　lifted　herself　on　her　elbow　and　looked　over　at　him。
〃Show　me　on　the　bottle　how　much　you　took。〃

He　got　the　bottle　out　again　and　showed　her　with　his　thumb　nail　a　point
which　he　chose　at　random。

〃Well；　that　was　just　about　the　dose　for　you；〃　she　said；　and　she　sank　down
in　bed　again　with　the　air　of　having　used　a　final　precaution。　　〃You　don't
want　to　slow　your　heat　up　too　quick。〃

Lander　did　not　put　the　bottle　back　this　time。　　He　kept　it　in　his　hand；
with　his　thumb　on　the　cork；　and　rocked　it　back　and　forth　on　his　knees　as
he　spoke。　　〃Why　don't　you　get　that　woman　to　alter　it　for　you？〃

〃What　woman　alta　what？〃

〃Your　polonaise。　　The　one　whe'e　we　stopped　yestaday。〃

〃Oh！　　Well；　I've　been　thinkin'　about　that　child；　Albe't；　I　did　before　I
went　to　sleep；　and　I　don't　believe　I　want　to　risk　anything　with　her。　　It
would　be　a　ca'e；〃　said　Mrs。　Lander　with　a　sigh；　〃and　I　guess　I　don't　want
to　take　any　moa　ca'e　than　what　I've　got　now。　　What　makes　you　think　she
could　alta　my　polonaise？〃

〃Said　she　done　dress…makin'；〃　said　Lander；　doggedly。

〃You　ha'n't　been　the'a？〃

He　nodded。

〃You　didn't　say　anything　to　her　about　her　daughta？〃

〃Yes；　I　did；〃　said　Lander。

〃Well；　you　ce'tainly　do　equal　anything；〃　said　his　wife。　　She　lay　still
awhile；　and　then　she　roused　herself　with　indignant　energy。　　〃Well；　then；
I　can　tell　you　what；　Albe't　Landa：　yon　can　go　right　straight　and　take
back　everything　you　said。　　I　don't　want　the　child；　and　I　won't　have　her。
I've　got　care　enough　to　worry　me　now；　I　should　think；　and　we　should　have
her　whole　family　on　our　hands；　with　that　shiftless　father　of　hers；　and
the　whole　pack　of　her　brothas　and　sistas。　　What　made　you　think　I　wanted
you　to　do　such　a　thing？〃

〃You　wanted　me　to　do　it　last　night。　　Wouldn't　ha'dly　let　me　go　to　bed。〃

〃Yes！　　And　how　many　times　have　I　told　you　nova　to　go　off　and　do　a　thing
that　I　wanted　you　to；　unless　you　asked　me　if　I　did？　　Must　I　die　befo'e
you　can　find　out　that　there　is　such　a　thing　as　talkin'；　and　such　anotha
thing　as　doin'？　　You　wouldn't　get　yourself　into　half　as　many　scrapes　if
you　talked　more　and　done　less；　in　this　wo'ld。〃　　Lander　rose。

〃Wait！　　Hold　on！　　What　are　you　going　to　say　to　the　pooa　thing？　　She'll　be
so　disappointed！〃

〃I　don't　know　as　I　shall　need　to　say　anything　myself；〃　answered　the
little　man；　at　his　dryest。　　〃Leave　that　to　you。〃

〃Well；　I　can　tell　you；〃　returned　his　wife；　〃I'm　not　goin'　nea'　them
again；　and　if　you　think　What　did　you　ask　the　woman；　anyway？〃

〃I　asked　her；〃　he　said；　〃if　she　wanted　to　let　the　gul　come　and　see　you
about　some　sewing　you　had　to　have　done；　and　she　said　she　did。〃

〃And　you　didn't　speak　about　havin'　her　come　to　live　with　us？〃

〃No。〃

〃Well；　why　in　the　land　didn't　you　say　so　before；　Albe't？〃