villa rubein and other stories-第28节
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asleep； she would toss from side to side； muttering feverish prayers。
She spent hours at her little table in the schoolroom； writing
letters to Harz that were never sent。 Once she wrote these words： 〃I
am the most wicked of all creaturesI have even wished that he may
die！〃 A few minutes afterwards Miss Naylor found her with her head
buried on her arms。 Christian sprang up； tears were streaming down
her cheeks。 〃Don't touch me！〃 she cried； and rushed away。 Later；
she stole into her uncle's room； and sank down on the floor beside
the bed。 She sat there silently； unnoticed all the evening。 When
night came she could hardly be persuaded to leave the room。
One day Mr。 Treffry expressed a wish to see Herr Paul； it was a long
while before the latter could summon courage to go in。
〃There's a few dozen of the Gordon sherry at my Chambers； in London；
Paul；〃 Mr。 Treffry said； 〃I'd be glad to think you had 'em。 And my
man； Dominique； I've made him all right in my will； but keep your eye
on him； he's a good sort for a foreigner； and no chicken； but sooner
or later； the women'll get hold of him。 That's all I had to say。
Send Chris to me。〃
Herr Paul stood by the bedside speechless。 Suddenly he blurted out。
〃Ah！ my dear！ Courage！ We are all mortal。 You will get well！〃 All
the morning he walked about quite inconsolable。 〃It was frightful to
see him； you know； frightful！ An iron man could not have borne it。〃
When Christian came to him； Mr。 Treffry raised himself and looked at
her a long while。
His wistful face was like an accusation。 But that very afternoon the
news came from the sickroom that he was better； having had no pain
for several hours。
Every one went about with smiles lurking in their eyes； and ready to
break forth at a word。 In the kitchen Barbi burst out crying； and；
forgetting to toss the pan； spoiled a Kaiser…Schmarn she was making。
Dominique was observed draining a glass of Chianti； and solemnly
casting forth the last drops in libation。 An order was given for tea
to be taken out under the acacias； where it was always cool； it was
felt that something in the nature of high festival was being held。
Even Herr Paul was present； but Christian did not come。 Nobody spoke
of illness； to mention it might break the spell。
Miss Naylor； who had gone into the house； came back； saying：
〃There is a strange man standing over there by the corner of the
house。〃
〃Really！〃 asked Mrs。 Decie； 〃what does he want？〃
Miss Naylor reddened。 〃I did not ask him。 Idon'tknowwhether
he is quite respectable。 His coat is buttoned very close； and he
doesn't seemto have acollar。〃
〃Go and see what he wants； dear child；〃 Mrs。 Decie said to Greta。
〃I don't knowI really do not know〃 began Miss Naylor； 〃he has
veryhighboots；〃 but Greta was already on her way； with hands
clasped behind her； and demure eyes taking in the stranger's figure。
〃Please？〃 she said； when she was close to him。
The stranger took his cap off with a jerk。
〃This house has no bells；〃 he said in a nasal voice； 〃it has a
tendency to discourage one。〃
〃Yes；〃 said Greta gravely； 〃there is a bell； but it does not ring
now； because my uncle is so ill。〃
〃I am very sorry to hear that。 I don't know the people here； but I
am very sorry to hear that。
I would be glad to speak a few words to your sister； if it is your
sister that I want。〃
And the stranger's face grew very red。
〃Is it；〃 said Greta； 〃that you are a friend of Herr Harz？ If you are
a friend of his； you will please come and have some tea； and while
you are having tea I will look for Chris。〃
Perspiration bedewed the stranger's forehead。
〃Tea？ Excuse me！ I don't drink tea。〃
〃There is also coffee；〃 Greta said。
The stranger's progress towards the arbour was so slow that Greta
arrived considerably before him。
〃It is a friend of Herr Harz；〃 she whispered； 〃he will drink coffee。
I am going to find Chris。〃
〃Greta！〃 gasped Miss Naylor。
Mrs。 Decie put up her hand。
〃Ah！〃 she said； 〃if it is so； we must be very nice to him for
Christian's sake。〃
Miss Naylor's face grew soft。 …
〃Ah； yes！〃 she said； 〃of course。〃
〃Bah！〃 muttered Herr Paul； 〃that recommences。'
〃Paul！〃 murmured Mrs。 Decie； 〃you lack the elements of wisdom。〃
Herr Paul glared at the approaching stranger。
Mrs。 Decie had risen； and smilingly held out her hand。
〃We are so glad to know you； you are an artist too； perhaps？ I take
a great interest in art； and especially in that school which Mr。 Harz
represents。〃
The stranger smiled。
〃He is the genuine article； ma'am；〃 he said。 〃He represents no
school； he is one of that kind whose corpses make schools。〃
〃Ah！〃 murmured Mrs。 Decie； 〃you are an American。 That is so nice。
Do sit down！ My niece will soon be here。〃
Greta came running back。
〃Will you come； please？〃 she said。 〃Chris is ready。〃
Gulping down his coffee； the stranger included them all in a single
bow； and followed her。
〃Ach！〃 said Herr Paul； 〃garcon tres chic； celui…la！〃
Christian was standing by her little table。 The stranger began。
〃I am sending Mr。 Harz's things to England； there are some pictures
here。 He would be glad to have them。〃
A flood of crimson swept over her face。
〃I am sending them to London；〃 the stranger repeated； 〃perhaps you
could give them to me to…day。〃
〃They are ready； my sister will show you。〃
Her eyes seemed to dart into his soul； and try to drag something from
it。 The words rushed from her lips
〃Is there any message for me？〃
The stranger regarded her curiously。
〃No；〃 he stammered； 〃no！ I guess not。 He is well。。。。 I wish。。。。〃 He
stopped； her white face seemed to flash scorn； despair； and entreaty
on him all at once。 And turning； she left him standing there。
XXVII
When Christian went that evening to her uncle's room he was sitting
up in bed； and at once began to talk。 〃Chris；〃 he said； 〃I can't
stand this dying by inches。 I'm going to try what a journey'll do
for me。 I want to get back to the old country。 The doctor's
promised。 There's a shot in the locker yet！ I believe in that young
chap； he's stuck to me like a man。。。。 It'll be your birthday； on
Tuesday； old girl； and you'll be twenty。 Seventeen years since your
father died。 You've been a lot to me。。。。 A parson came here today。
That's a bad sign。 Thought it his duty！ Very civil of him！
I wouldn't see him； though。 If there's anything in what they tell
you； I'm not going to sneak in at this time o' day。 There's one
thing that's rather badly on my mind。 I took advantage of Mr。 Harz
with this damned pitifulness of mine。 You've a right to look at me
as I've seen you sometimes when you thought I was asleep。 If I
hadn't been ill he'd never have left you。 I don't blame you； Chris
not I！ You love me？ I know that； my dear。 But one's alone when it
comes to the run…in。 Don't cry！ Our minds aren't Sunday…school
books； you're finding it out； that's all！〃 He sighed and turned
away。
The noise of sun…blinds being raised vibrated through the house。 A
feeling of terror seized on the girl； he lay so still； and yet the
drawing of each breath was a fight。 If she could only suffer in his
place！ She went close； and bent over him。
〃It's air we want； both you and I！〃 he muttered。 Christian beckoned
to the nurse； and stole out through the window。
A regiment was passing in the road； she stood half…hidden amongst the
lilac bushes watching。 The poplar leaves drooped lifeless and almost
black above her head； the dust raised by the soldiers' feet hung in
the air； it seemed as if in all the world no freshness and no life
were stirring。 The tramp of feet died away。 Suddenly within arm's
length of her a man appeared； his stick shouldered like a sword。 He
raised his hat。
〃Good…evening！ You do not remember me？ Sarelli。 Pardon！ You looked
like a ghost standing there。 How badly those fellows marched！ We
hang； you see； on the skirts of our profession and criticise； it is
all we are fit for。〃 His black eyes； restless and malevolent like a
swan's； seemed to stab her face。 〃A fine evening！ Too hot。 The
storm is wanted； you feel that？ It is weary waiting for the storm；
but after the storm； my dear young lady； comes peace。〃 He smiled；
gently； this time； and baring his head again； was lost to view in the
shadow of the trees。
His figure had seemed to Christian like the sudden vision of a
threatening； hidden force。 She thrust out her hands； as though to
keep it off。
No use； it was within her； nothing could keep it away！ She went to
Mrs。 Decie's room； where her aunt and Miss Naylor were conversing in
low tones。 To hear their voices brought back the touch of this world
of everyday which had no part or lot in
