ragged lady, v1-第6节

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realize　your　age　so　much。　　My；　but　you　do　all　of　you　know　how　to　do
things！〃

〃I'm　about　the　only　one　that　don't；　Mrs。　Atwell；〃　said　the　girl。　　〃If　it
hadn't　been　for　mother；　I　don't　believe　I　could　have　eva　finished　this
dress。〃　　She　began　to　laugh　at　something　passing　in　her　mind；　and　Mrs。
Atwell　laughed　too；　in　sympathy；　though　she　did　not　know　what　at　till
Clementina　said；　〃Why；　Mrs。　Atwell；　nea'ly　the　whole　family　wo'ked　on
this　dress。　　Jim　drew　the　patte'n　of　it　from　the　dress　of　one　of　the
summa　boa'das　that　he　took　a　fancy　to　at　the　Centa；　and　fatha　cut　it　out；
and　I　helped　motha　make　it。　　I　guess　every　one　of　the　children　helped　a
little。〃

〃Well；　it's　just　as　I　said；　you　can　all　of　you　do　things；〃　said　Mrs。
Atwell。　　〃But　I　guess　you　ah'　the　one　that　keeps　'em　straight。　　What　did
you　say　Mr。　Landa　said　his　wife　wanted　of　you？〃

〃He　said　some　kind　of　sewing　that　motha　could　do。〃

〃Well；　I'll　tell　you　what！　　Now；　if　she　ha'n't　really　got　anything　that
your　motha'll　want　you　to　help　with；　I　wish　you'd　come　here　again　and
help　me。　　I　tuned　my　foot；　here；　two…three　weeks　back；　and　I　feel　it；
times；　and　I　should　like　some　one　to　do　about　half　my　steppin'　for　me。
I　don't　want　to　take　you　away　from　her；　but　IF。　　You　sha'n't　go　int'　the
dinin'room；　or　be　under　anybody's　oddas　but　mine。　　Now；　will　you？〃

〃I'll　see；　Mrs。　Atwell。　　I　don't　like　to　say　anything　till　I　know　what
Mrs。　Landa　wants。〃

〃Well；　that's　right。　　I　decla'e；　you've　got　moa　judgment！　　That's　what　I
used　to　say　about　you　last　summa　to　my　husband：　she's　got　judgment。
Well；　what's　wanted？〃　　Mrs。　Atwell　spoke　to　her　husband；　who　had　opened
her　door　and　looked　in；　and　she　stopped　rocking；　while　she　waited　his
answer。

〃I　guess　you　don't　want　to　keep　Clementina　from　Mr。　Landa　much　longa。
He's　settin'　out　there　on　the　front　piazza　waitin'　for　her。〃

〃Well；　the'a！〃　cried　Mrs。　Atwell。　　〃Ain't　that　just　like　me？　　Why　didn't
you　tell　me　sooner；　Alonzo？　　Don't　you　forgit　what　I　said；　Clem！〃




IV。

Mrs。　Lander　had　taken　twice　of　a　specific　for　what　she　called　her　nerve…
fag　before　her　husband　came　with　Clementina；　and　had　rehearsed　aloud　many
of　the　things　she　meant　to　say　to　the　girl。　　In　spite　of　her　preparation；
they　were　all　driven　out　of　her　head　when　Clementina　actually　appeared；
and　gave　her　a　bow　like　a　young　birch's　obeisance　in　the　wind。

〃Take　a　chaia；〃　said　Lander；　pushing　her　one；　and　the　girl　tilted　over
toward　him；　before　she　sank　into　it。　　He　went　out　of　the　room；　and　left
Mrs。　Lander　to　deal　with　the　problem　alone。　　She　apologized　for　being　in
bed；　but　Clementina　said　so　sweetly；　〃Mr。　Landa　told　me　you　were　not
feeling　very　well；　'm；〃　that　she　began　to　be　proud　of　her　ailments；　and
bragged　of　them　at　length；　and　of　the　different　doctors　who　had　treated
her　for　them。　　While　she　talked　she　missed　one　thing　or　another；　and
Clementina　seemed　to　divine　what　it　was　she　wanted；　and　got　it　for　her；
with　a　gentle　deference　which　made　the　elder　feel　her　age　cushioned　by
the　girl's　youth。　　When　she　grew　a　little　heated　from　the　interest　she
took　in　her　personal　annals；　and　cast　off　one　of　the　folds　of　her　bed
clothing；　Clementina　got　her　a　fan；　and　asked　her　if　she　should　put　up
one　of　the　windows　a　little。

〃How　you　do　think　of　things！〃　said　Mrs。　Lander。　　〃I　guess　I　will　let　you。
I　presume　you　get　used　to　thinkin'　of　othas　in　a　lahge　family　like　youas。
I　don't　suppose　they　could　get　along　without　you　very　well；〃　she
suggested。

〃I've　neva　been　away　except　last　summa；　for　a　little　while。〃

〃And　where　was　you　then？〃

〃I　was　helping　Mrs。　Atwell。〃

〃Did　you　like　it？〃

〃I　don't　know；〃　said　Clementina。　　〃It's　pleasant　to　be　whe'e　things　ah'
going　on。〃

〃Yesfor　young　folks；〃　said　Mrs。　Lander；　whom　the　going　on　of　things　had
long　ceased　to　bring　pleasure。

〃It's　real　nice　at　home；　too；〃　said　Clementina。　　〃We　have　very　good
timesevenings　in　the　winta；　in　the　summer　it's　very　nice　in　the　woods；
around　there。　　It's　safe　for　the　children；　and　they　enjoy　it；　and　fatha
likes　to　have　them。　　Motha　don't　ca'e　so　much　about　it。　　I　guess　she'd
ratha　have　the　house　fixed　up　more；　and　the　place。　　Fatha's　going　to　do
it　pretty　soon。　　He　thinks　the'e's　time　enough。〃

〃That's　the　way　with　men；〃　said　Mrs。　Lander。　　〃They　always　think　the's
time　enough；　but　I　like　to　have　things　over　and　done　with。　　What　chuhch
do　you　'tend？〃

〃Well；　there　isn't　any　but　the　Episcopal；〃　Clementina　answered。　　〃I　go　to
that；　and　some　of　the　children　go　to　the　Sunday　School。　　I　don't　believe
fatha　ca'es　very　much　for　going　to　chuhch；　but　he　likes　Mr。　Richling；
he's　the　recta。　　They　take　walks　in　the　woods；　and　they　go　up　the
mountains　togetha。〃

〃They　want；〃　said　Mrs。　Lander；　severely；　〃to　be　ca'eful　how　they　drink　of
them　cold　brooks　when　they're　heated。　　Mr。　Richling　a　married　man？〃

〃Oh；　yes'm　！　　But　they　haven't　got　any　family。〃

〃If　I　could　see　his　wife；　I　sh'd　caution　her　about　lettin'　him　climb
mountains　too　much。　　A'n't　your　father　afraid　he'll　ovado？〃

〃I　don't　know。　　He　thinks　he　can't　be　too　much　in　the　open　air　on　the
mountains。〃

〃Well；　he　may　not　have　the　same　complaint　as　Mr。　Landa；　but　I　know　if　I
was　to　climb　a　mountain；'　it　would　lay　me　up　for　a　yea'。〃

The　girl　did　not　urge　anything　against　this　conviction。　　She　smiled
politely　and　waited　patiently　for　the　next　turn　Mrs。　Lander's　talk　should
take；　which　was　oddly　enough　toward　the　business　Clementina　had　come
upon。

〃I　declare　I　most　forgot　about　my　polonaise。　　Mr。　Landa　said　your　motha
thought　she　could　do　something　to　it　for　me。〃

〃Yes'm。〃

〃Well；　I　may　as　well　'let　you　see　it。　　If　you'll　reach　into　that　fuhthest
closet；　you'll　find　it　on　the　last　uppa　hook　on　the　right　hand；　and　if
you'll　give　it　to　me；　I'll　show　you　what　I　want　done。　　Don't　mind　the
looks　of　that　closet；　I've　just　tossed　my　things　in；　till　I　could　get　a
little　time　and　stren'th　to　put　'em　in　odda。〃

Clementina　brought　the　polonaise　to　Mrs。　Lander；　who　sat　up　and　spread　it
before　her　on　the　bed；　and　had　a　happy　half　hour　in　telling　the　girl
where　she　had　bought　the　material　and　where　she　had　it　made　up；　and　how
it　came　home　just　as　she　was　going　away；　and　she　did　not　find　out　that　it
was　all　wrong　till　a　week　afterwards　when　she　tried　it　on。　　By　the　end　of
this　time　the　girl　had　commended　herself　so　much　by　judicious　and
sympathetic　assent；　that　Mrs。　Lander　learned　with　a　shock　of
disappointment　that　her　mother　expected　her　to　bring　the　garment　home
with　her；　where　Mrs。　Lander　was　to　come　and　have　it　fitted　over　for　the
alterations　she　wanted　made。

〃But　I　supposed；　from　what　Mr。　Landa　said；　that　your　motha　would　come
here　and　fit　me！〃　　she　lamented。

〃I　guess　he　didn't　undastand；　'm。　　Motha　doesn't　eva　go　out　to　do　wo'k；〃
said　Clementina　gently　but　firmly。

〃Well；　I　might　have　known　Mr。　Landa　would　mix　it　up；　if　it　could　be
mixed；　〃Mrs。　Lander's　sense　of　injury　was　aggravated　by　her　suspicion
that　he　had　brought　the　girl　in　the　hope　of　pleasing　her；　and　confirming
her　in　the　wish　to　have　her　with　them；　she　was　not　a　woman　who　liked　to
have　her　way　in　spite　of　herself；　she　wished　at　every　step　to　realize
that　she　was　taking　it；　and　that　no　one　else　was　taking　it　for　her。

〃Well；〃　she　said　dryly；　〃　I　shall　have　to　see　about　it。　　I'm　a　good　deal
of　an　invalid；　and　I　don't　know　as　I　could　go　back　and　fo'th　to　try　on。
I'm　moa　used　to　havin'　the　things　brought　to　me。〃

〃Yes'm；〃　said　Clementina。　　She　moved　a　little　from　the　bed；　on　her　way　to
the　door；　to　be　ready　for　Mrs。　Lander　in　leave…taking。

〃I'm　real　sorry；〃　said　Mrs。　Lander。　　〃I　presume　it's　a　disappointment　for
you；　too。〃

〃Oh；　not　at　all；〃　answered　Clementina。　　〃I'm　sorry　we　can't　do　the　wo'k
he'a；　but　I　know　mocha　wouldn't　like　to。　　Good…mo'ning；'m！〃

〃No；　no！　　Don't　go　yet　a　minute！　　Won't　you　just　give　me　my　hand　bag　off
the　bureau　the'a？　　〃Mrs。　Lander　entreated；　and　when　the　girl　gave　her　the
bag　she　felt　about　among　the　bank…notes　which　she　seemed　to　have　loose　in
it；　and　drew　out　a　handful　of　them　without　regard　to　their　value。
〃He'a！〃　she　said；　and　she　tried　to　put　the　notes　into　Clementina's　hand；
〃I　want　you　should　get　yourself　something。〃

The　girl　shrank　back。　　〃Oh；　no'm；〃　she　said；　with　an　effect　of　seeming　to
know　that　her　refusal　would　hurt；　and　with　the　wish　to　soften　it。
〃Icouldn't；　indeed　I　couldn't。〃

〃Why　couldn't　you？　　Now　you　must！　　If　I　can't　let　you　have　the　wo'k　the
way　you　want；　I　don't　think　it's　fair；　and　you　ought　to　have　the　money
for　it　just　the　same。〃

Clementina　shook　her　head　smiling。　　〃I　don't　believe　motha　would　like　to
have　me　take　it。〃

〃Oh；　now；　pshaw！〃　said　Mrs。　Lander；　inadequately。　　〃I　want　you　should
take　this　for　youaself；　and　if　you　don't　want　to　buy　anything　to　wea'；
you　can　get　something　to　fix　your　room　up　with。　　Don't　you　be　afraid　of
robbin'　us。　　Land！　　We　got　moa　money！　　Now　you　take　this。〃

Mrs。　Lander　reached　the　money　as　far　toward　Clementina　as　she　could　and
shook　it　in　the　vehemence　of　her　desire。

〃Thank　you；　I　couldn't　take　it；〃　Clementina　persisted。　　〃I'm　afraid　I
must　be　going；　I　guess　I　must　bid　you　good…mo'ning。〃

〃Why；　I　believe　the　child's　sca'ed　of　me！　　But　you　needn't　be。