by shore and sedge(沙滩和苔草旁)-第18节
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indicated that the solitary worker dwelt and slept beside his work。
The truth flashed upon the young girl's active brain； quickened by
seclusion and fed by solitary books。 She read with keen eyes the miserable
secret of her father's strange guest in the poverty… stricken walls； in the
mute evidences of menial handicraft performed in loneliness and privation；
in this piteous adaptation of an accident to save the conscious shame of
premeditated toil。 She knew now why he had stammeringly refused to
receive her father's offer to buy back the goods he had given him； she
knew now how hardly gained was the pittance that paid his rent and
supported his childish vanity and grotesque pride。 From a peg in the
corner hung the familiar masquerade that hid his povertythe pearl…gray
trousers； the black frock coat； the tall shining hatin hideous contrast to
the penury of his surroundings。 But if THEY were here； where was HE；
and in what new disguise had he escaped from his poverty？ A vague
uneasiness caused her to hesitate and return to the open door。 She had
nearly reached it when her eye fell on the pallet which it partly illuminated。
A singular resemblance in the ragged heap made her draw closer。 The
faded quilt was a dressing… gown； and clutching its folds lay a white；
wasted hand。
The emigrant childhood of Rose Nott had been more than once
shadowed by scalping knives； and she was acquainted with Death。 She
went fearlessly to the couch； and found that the dressing…gown was only
an enwrapping of the emaciated and lifeless body of de Ferrieres。 She did
not retreat or call for help； but examined him closely。 He was unconscious；
but not pulseless； he had evidently been strong enough to open the door
for air or succor； but had afterward fallen in a fit on the couch。 She flew to
her father's locker and the galley fire； returned； and shut the door behind
her； and by the skillful use of hot water and whisky soon had the
satisfaction of seeing a faint color take the place of the faded rouge in the
ghastly cheeks。 She was still chafing his hands when he slowly opened his
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eyes。 With a start； he made a quick attempt to push aside her hands and
rise。 But she gently restrained him。
〃Ehwhat！〃 he stammered； throwing his face back from hers with an
effort and trying to turn it to the wall。
〃You have been ill；〃 she said quietly。 〃Drink this。〃
With his face still turned away he lifted the cup to his chattering teeth。
When he had drained it he threw a trembling glance around the room and
at the door。
〃There's no one been here but myself；〃 she said quickly。 〃I happened
to see the door open as I passed。 I didn't think it worth while to call any
one。〃
The searching look he gave her turned into an expression of relief；
which； to her infinite uneasiness； again feebly lightened into one of
antiquated gallantry。 He drew the dressing…gown around him with an air。
〃Ah！ it is a goddess； Mademoiselle； that has deigned to enter the cell
wherewhereIamuse myself。 It is drollis it not？ I came here to make…
…what you callthe experiment of your father's fabric。 I make myselfha！
ha！like a workman。 Ah； bah！ the heat； the darkness； the plebeian motion
make my head to go round。 I stagger； I faint； I cry out； I fall。 But what of
that？ The great God hears my cry and sends me an angel。 Voila！〃
He attempted an easy gesture of gallantry； but overbalanced himself
and fell sideways on the pallet with a gasp。 Yet there was so much genuine
feeling mixed with his grotesque affectation； so much piteous
consciousness of the ineffectiveness of his falsehood； that the young girl；
who had turned away； came back and laid her hand upon his arm。
〃You must lie still and try to sleep；〃 she said gently。 〃I will return
again。 Perhaps；〃 she added； 〃there is some one I can send for？〃
He shook his head violently。 Then in his old manner added； 〃After
Mademoiselleno one。〃
〃I mean〃 she hesitated〃have you no friends？〃
〃Friends；ah！ without doubt。〃 He shrugged his shoulders。 〃But
Mademoiselle will comprehend〃
〃You are better now；〃 said Rosey quickly； 〃and no one need know
anything if you don't wish it。 Try to sleep。 You need not lock the door
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when I go； I will see that no one comes in。〃
He flushed faintly and averted his eyes。 〃It is too droll； Mademoiselle；
is it not？〃
〃Of course it is；〃 said Rosey； glancing round the miserable room。
〃And Mademoiselle is an angel。〃
He carried her hand to his lips humblyhis first purely unaffected
action。 She slipped through the door； and softly closed it behind her。
Reaching the upper deck she was relieved to find her father had not
returned； and her absence had been unnoticed。 For she had resolved to
keep de Ferrieres's secret to herself from the moment that she had
unwittingly discovered it； and to do this and still be able to watch over him
without her father's knowledge required some caution。 She was conscious
of his strange aversion to the unfortunate man without understanding the
reason； but as she was in the habit of entertaining his caprices more from
affectionate tolerance of his weakness than reverence of his judgment； she
saw no disloyalty to him in withholding a confidence that might be
disloyal to another。 〃It won't do father any good to know it；〃 she said to
herself； 〃and if it DID it oughtn't to；〃 she added with triumphant feminine
logic。 But the impression made upon her by the spectacle she had just
witnessed was stronger than any other consideration。 The revelation of de
Ferrieres's secret poverty seemed a chapter from a romance of her own
weaving； for a moment it lifted the miserable hero out of the depths of his
folly and selfishness。 She forgot the weakness of the man in the strength of
his dramatic surroundings。 It partly satisfied a craving she had felt； it was
not exactly the story of the ship； as she had dreamed it； but it was an
episode in her experience of it that broke its monotony。 That she should
soon learn； perhaps from de Ferrieres's own lips； the true reason of his
strange seclusion； and that it involved more than appeared to her now； she
never for a moment doubted。
At the end of an hour she again knocked softly at the door； carrying
some light nourishment she had prepared for him。 He was asleep； but she
was astounded to find that in the interval he had managed to dress himself
completely in his antiquated finery。 It was a momentary shock to the
illusion she had been fostering； but she forgot it in the pitiable contrast
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between his haggard face and his pomatumed hair and beard； the
jauntiness of his attire； and the collapse of his invalid figure。 When she
had satisfied herself that his sleep was natural； she busied herself softly in
arranging the miserable apartment。 With a few feminine touches she
removed the slovenliness of misery； and placed the loose material and
ostentatious evidences of his work on one side。 Finding that he still slept；
and knowing the importance of this natural medication； she placed the
refreshment she had brought by his side and noiselessly quitted the
apartment。 Hurrying through the gathering darkness between decks； she
once or twice thought she had heard footsteps； and paused； but
encountering no one； attributed the impression to her over…consciousness。
Yet she thought it prudent to go to the galley first； where she lingered a
few moments before returning to the cabin。 On entering she was a little
s
