ragged lady, v1-第9节

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always　want　to　do　it；　if　it's　the　right　way。〃

〃It's　the　right　way；〃　said　Gregory　coldly。

〃And　don't　they；〃　she　urged；　〃don't　they　really　say　Sir　and　Ma'am；　whe'e
whe'e　you　came　from？〃

He　said　gloomily；　〃Not　ladies　and　gentlemen。　　Servants　do。　　Waiterslike
me。〃　　He　inflicted　this　stab　to　his　pride　with　savage　fortitude　and　he
bore　with　self…scorn　the　pursuit　of　her　innocent　curiosity。

〃But　I　thoughtI　thought　you　was　a　college　student。〃

〃Were；〃　Gregory　corrected　her；　involuntarily；　and　she　said；　〃Were；　I
mean。〃

〃I'm　a　student　at　college；　and　here　I'm　a　servant！　　It's　all　right！〃　he
said　with　a　suppressed　gritting　of　the　teeth；　and　he　added；　〃My　Master
was　the　servant　of　the　meanest；　and　I　must　I　beg　your　pardon　for
meddling　with　your　manner　of　speaking〃

〃Oh；　I'm　very　much　obliged　to　you；　indeed　I　am。　　And　I　shall　not　care　if
you　tell　me　of　anything　that's　out　of　the　way　in　my　talking；〃　said
Clementina；　generously。

〃Thank　you；　I　think　I　won't　wait　any　longer　for　Mr。　Fane。〃

〃Why；　I'm　su'a　he'll　be　back　very　soon；　now。　　I'll　try　not　to　disturb　you
any　moa。〃

Gregory　turned　from　taking　some　steps　towards　the　door；　and　said；　〃I　wish
you　would　tell　Mr。　Fane　something。〃

〃For　you？　　Why；　suttainly！〃

〃No。　　For　you。　　Tell　him　that　it's　all　right　about　his　calling　you　Boss。〃

The　indignant　color　came　into　Clementina's　face。　　〃He　had　no　business　to
call　me　that。〃

〃No；　and　he　doesn't　think　he　had；　now。　　He's　truly　sorry　for　it。〃

〃I'll　see；〃　said　Clementina。

She　had　not　seen　by　the　time　Fane　got　back。　　She　received　his　apologies
for　being　gone　so　long　coldly；　and　went　away　to　Mrs。　Atwell；　whom　she
told　what　had　passed　between　Gregory　and　herself。

〃Is　he　truly　so　proud？〃　　she　asked。

〃He's　a　very　good　young　man；〃　said　Mrs。　Atwell；　〃but　I　guess　he's　proud。
He　can't　help　it；　but　you　can　see　he　fights　against　it。　　If　I　was　you；
Clem；　I　wouldn't　say　anything　to　the　guls　about　it。〃

〃Oh；　no'mI　mean；　no；　indeed。　　I　shouldn't　think　of　it。　　But　don't　you
think　that　was　funny；　his　bringing　in　Christ；　that　way？〃

〃Well；　he's　going　to　be　a　minister；　you　know。〃

〃Is　he　really？〃　　Clementina　was　a　while　silent。　　At　last　she　said；　〃Don't
you　think　Mr。　Gregory　has　a　good　many　freckles？〃

〃Well；　them　red…complected　kind　is　liable　to　freckle；〃　said　Mrs。　Atwell；
judicially。

After　rather　a　long　pause　for　both　of　them；　Clementina　asked；　〃Do　you
think　it　would　be　nice　for　me　to　ask　Mr。　Gregory　about　things；　when　I
wasn't　suttain？〃

〃Like　what？〃

〃Oh…wo'ds；　and　pronunciation；　and　books　to　read。〃

〃Why；　I　presume　he'd　love　to　have　you。　　He's　always　correctin'　the　guls；
I　see　him　take　up　a　book　one　day；　that　one　of　'em　was　readin'；　and　when
she　as't　him　about　it；　he　said　it　was　rubbage。　　I　guess　you　couldn't　have
a　betta　guide。〃

〃Well；　that　was　what　I　was　thinking。　　I　guess　I　sha'n't　do　it；　though。
I　sh'd　neva　have　the　courage。〃　　Clementina　laughed　and　then　fell　rather
seriously　silent　again。




VII。

One　day　the　shoeman　stopped　his　wagon　at　the　door　of　the　helps'　house；
and　called　up　at　its　windows；　〃Well；　guls；　any　of　you　want　to　git　a　numba
foua　foot　into　a　rumba　two　shoe；　to…day？　　Now's　youa　chance；　but　you　got
to　be　quick　abort　it。　　The'e　ha'r't　but　just　so　many　numba　two　shoes
made；　and　the　wohld's　full　o'　rumba　foua　feet。〃

The　windows　filled　with　laughing　faces　at　the　first　sound　of　the
shoeman's　ironical　voice；　and　at　sight　of　his　neat　wagon；　with　its
drawers　at　the　rear　and　sides；　and　its　buggy…hood　over　the　seat　where　the
shoeman　lounged　lazily　holding　the　reins；　the　girls　flocked　down　the
stairs；　and　out　upon　the　piazza　where　the　shoe　man　had　handily　ranged　his
vehicle。

They　began　to　ask　him　if　he　had　not　this　thing　and　that；　but　he　said　with
firmness；　〃Nothin'　but　shoes；　guls。　　I　did　carry　a　gen'l　line；　one　while；
of　what　you　may　call　ankle…wea'；　such　as　spats；　and　stockin's；　and
gaitas；　but　I　nova　did　like　to　speak　of　such　things　befoa　ladies；　and　now
I　stick　ex…elusively　to　shoes。　　You　know　that　well　enough；　guls；　what's
the　use？〃

He　kept　a　sober　face　amidst　the　giggling　that　his　words　aroused；and　let
his　voice　sink　into　a　final　note　of　injury。

〃Well；　if　you　don't　want　any　shoes；　to…day；　I　guess　I　must　be　goin'。〃
He　made　a　feint　of　jerking　his　horse's　reins；　but　forebore　at　the
entreaties　that　went　up　from　the　group　of　girls。

〃Yes；　we　do！〃　　〃　Let's　see　them！〃　　〃Oh；　don't　go！〃　they　chorused　in　an
equally　histrionic　alarm；　and　the　shoeman　got　down　from　his　perch　to　show
his　wares。

〃Now；　the'a；　ladies；〃　he　said；　pulling　out　one　of　the　drawers；　and
dangling　a　pair　of　shoes　from　it　by　the　string　that　joined　their　heels；
〃the'e's　a　shoe　that　looks　as　good　as　any　Sat'd'y…night　shoe　you　eva　see。
Looks　as　han'some　as　if　it　had　a　pasteboa'd　sole　and　was　split　stock　all
through；　like　the　kind　you　buy　for　a　dollar　at　the　store；　and　kick　out　in
the　fust　walk　you　take　with　your　fella'r　some　other　gul's　fella；　I
don't　ca'e　which。　　And　yet　that's　an　honest　shoe；　made　of　the　best　of
material　all　the　way　through；　and　in　the　best　manna。　　Just　look　at　that
shoe；　ladies；　ex…amine　it；　sha'n't　cost　you　a　cent；　and　I'll　pay　for　youa
lost　time　myself；　if　any　complaint　is　made。〃　　He　began　to　toss　pairs　of
the　shoes　into　the　crowd　of　girls；　who　caught　them　from　each　other　before
they　fell；　with　hysterical　laughter；　and　ran　away　with　them　in…doors　to
try　them　on。　　〃This　is　a　shoe　that　I'm　intaducin'；〃　the　shoeman　went　on；
〃and　every　pair　is　warrantedwarranted　numba　two；　don't　make　any　otha
size；　because　we　want　to　cata　to　a　strictly　numba　two　custom。　　If　any
lady　doos　feel　'em　a　little　mite　too　snug；　I'm　sorry　for　her；　but　I　can't
do　anything　to　help　her　in　this　shoe。〃

〃Too　snug　！〃　　came　a　gay　voice　from　in…doors。　　〃Why　my　foot　feels
puffectly　lost　in　this　one。〃

〃All　right；〃　the　shoeman　shouted　back。　　〃Call　it　a　numba　one　shoe　and
then　see　if　you　can't　find　that　lost　foot　in　it；　some'eres。　　Or　try　a
little　flour；　and　see　if　it　won't　feel　more　at　home。　　I've　hea'd　of　a
shoe　that　give　that　sensation　of　looseness　by　not　goin'　on　at　all。〃

The　girls　exulted　joyfully　together　at　the　defeat　of　their　companion；
but　the　shoeman　kept　a　grave　face；　while　he　searched　out　other　sorts　of
shoes　and　slippers；　and　offered　them；　or　responded　to　some　definite
demand　with　something　as　near　like　as　he　could　hope　to　make　serve。
The　tumult　of　talk　and　laughter　grew　till　the　chef　put　his　head　out　of
the　kitchen　door；　and　then　came　sauntering　across　the　grass　to　the　helps'
piazza。　　At　the　same　time　the　clerk　suffered　himself　to　be　lured　from　his
post　by　the　excitement。　　He　came　and　stood　beside　the　chef；　who　listened
to　the　shoeman's　flow　of　banter　with　a　longing　to　take　his　chances　with
him。

〃That's　a　nice　hawss；〃　he　said。　　〃What'll　you　take　for　him？〃

〃Why；　hello！〃　said　the　shoeman；　with　an　eye　that　dwelt　upon　the　chef's
official　white　cap　and　apron；　〃You　talk　English；　don't　you？　　Fust　off；　I
didn't　know　but　it　was　one　of　them　foreign　dukes　come　ova　he'a　to　marry
some　oua　poor　millionai'es　daughtas。〃　　The　girls　cried　out　for　joy；　and
the　chef　bore　their　mirth　stoically；　but　not　without　a　personal　relish　of
the　shoeman's　up…and…comingness。　　〃Want　a　hawss？〃　asked　the　shoeman　with
an　air　of　business。　　〃What'll　you　give？〃

〃I'll　give　you　thutty…seven　dollas　and　a　half；〃　said　the　chef。

〃Sorry　I　can't　take　it。　　That　hawss　is　sellin'　at　present　for　just　one
hundred　and　fifty　dollas。〃

〃Well；〃　said　the　chef；　〃I'll　raise　you　a　dolla　and　a　quahta。　　Say　thutty…
eight　and　seventy…five。〃

〃W…ell　now；　you're　gittin'　up　among　the　figgas　where　you're　liable　to　own
a　hawss。　　You　just　keep　right　on　a　raisin'　me；　while　I　sell　these　ladies
some　shoes；　and　maybe　you'll　hit　it　yit；　'fo'e　night。〃

The　girls　were　trying　on　shoes　on　every　side　now；　and　they　had　dispensed
with　the　formality　of　going　in…doors　for　the　purpose。　　More　than　one　put
out　her　foot　to　the　clerk　for　his　opinion　of　the　fit；　and　the　shoeman　was
mingling　with　the　crowd；　testing　with　his　hand；　advising　from　his
professional　knowledge；　suggesting；　urging；　and　in　some　cases　artfully
agreeing　with　the　reluctance　shown。

〃This　man；〃　said　the　chef；　indicating　Fane；　〃says　you　can　tell　moa　lies
to　the　square　inch　than　any　man　out　o'　Boston。〃

〃Doos　he？〃　　asked　the　shoeman；　turning　with　a　pair　of　high…heeled　bronze
slippers　in　his　hand　from　the　wagon。　　〃Well；　now；　if　I　stood　as　nea'　to
him　as　you　do；　I　believe　I　sh'd　hit　him。〃

〃Why；　man；　I　can't　dispute　him！〃　said　the　chef；　and　as　if　he　had　now　at
last　scored　a　point；　he　threw　back　his　head　and　laughed。　　When　he　brought
down　his　head　again；　it　was　to　perceive　the　approach　of　Clementina。
〃Hello；〃　he　said　for　her　to　hear；　〃he'e　comes　the　Boss。　　Well；　I　guess　I
must　be　goin'；〃　he　added；　in　mock　anxiety。　　〃I'm　a　goin'；　Boss；　I'm　a
goin'。〃

Clementina　ignored　him。　　〃Mr。　Atwell　wants　to　see　you　a　moment；　Mr。
Fane；〃　she　said　to　the　clerk。

〃All　right；　Miss　Claxon；〃　Fane　answered；　with　the　sorrowful　respect　which
he　always　showed　Clementina；　now；　〃I'll　be　right　there。〃　　But　he　waited　a
moment；　either　in　expression　of　his　personal　independence；　or　from
curiosity　to　know　what　the　shoeman　was　going　to　say　of　the