by shore and sedge(沙滩和苔草旁)-第9节
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with pathetic fidelity by the French doll at her feet。 The attitude must have
been dreadfully uncomfortable； and maintained only as being replete with
some vague insults to the person who had put her down； as exhibiting a
wild indecorum of silken stocking。 A mystified kittenSarah Walker's
inseparablewas held as rigidly under one arm with equal dumb
aggressiveness。 Following the stiff line of her half…recumbent figure； her
head suddenly appeared perpendicularly erectyet the only mobile part of
her body。 A dazzling sunburst of silky hair； the color of burnished copper；
partly hid her neck and shoulders and the back of the chair。 Her eyes were
a darker shade of the same colorthe orbits appearing deeper and larger
from the rubbing in of habitual tears from long wet lashes。 Nothing so far
seemed inconsistent with her infelix reputation； but； strange to say； her
other features were marked by delicacy and refinement； and her mouth
that sorely exercised and justly dreaded memberwas small and pretty；
albeit slightly dropped at the corners。
The immediate effect of my intrusion was limited solely to the
nursemaid。 Swooping suddenly upon Sarah Walker's too evident
deshabille； she made two or three attempts to pluck her into propriety； but
the child； recognizing the cause as well as the effect； looked askance at me
and only stiffened herself the more。 〃Sarah Walker； I'm shocked。〃
〃It ain't HIS room anyway；〃 said Sarah； eying me malevolently。
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〃What's he doing here？〃
There was so much truth in this that I involuntarily drew back abashed。
The nurse…maid ejaculated 〃Sarah！〃 and lifted her eyes in hopeless protest。
〃And he needn't come seeing YOU；〃 continued Sarah； lazily rubbing
the back of her head against the chair； 〃my papa don't allow it。 He warned
you 'bout the other gentleman； you know。〃
〃Sarah Walker！〃
I felt it was necessary to say something。 〃Don't you want to come with
me and look at the sea？〃 I said with utter feebleness of invention。 To my
surprise； instead of actively assaulting me Sarah Walker got up； shook her
hair over her shoulders； and took my hand。
〃With your hair in that state？〃 almost screamed the domestic。 But
Sarah Walker had already pulled me into the hall。 What particularly
offensive form of opposition to authority was implied in this prompt
assent to my proposal I could only darkly guess。 For myself I knew I must
appear to her a weak impostor。 What would there possibly be in the sea to
interest Sarah Walker？ For the moment I prayed for a water…spout； a
shipwreck； a whale； or any marine miracle to astound her and redeem my
character。 I walked guiltily down the hall； holding her hand bashfully in
mine。 I noticed that her breast began to heave convulsively； if she cried I
knew I should mingle my tears with hers。 We reached the veranda in
gloomy silence。 As I expected； the sea lay before us glittering in the sun
vacant； staring； flat； and hopelessly and unquestionably uninteresting。
〃I knew it all along；〃 said Sarah Walker； turning down the corners of
her mouth； 〃there never was anything to see。 I know why you got me to
come here。 You want to tell me if I'm a good girl you'll take me to sail
some day。 You want to say if I'm bad the sea will swallow me up。 That's all
you want； you horrid thing； you！〃
〃Hush！〃 I said； pointing to the corner of the veranda。
A desperate idea of escape had just seized me。 Bolt upright in the
recess of a window sat a nursemaid who had succumbed to sleep equally
with her helpless charge in the perambulator beside her。 I instantly
recognized the infanta popular organism known as 〃Baby Buckly〃the
prodigy of the Greyport Hotel； the pet of its enthusiastic womanhood。 Fat
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and featureless； pink and pincushiony； it was borrowed by gushing
maidenhood； exchanged by idiotic maternity； and had grown unctuous and
tumefacient under the kisses and embraces of half the hotel。 Even in its
present repose it looked moist and shiny from indiscriminate and
promiscuous osculation。
〃Let's borrow Baby Buckly；〃 I said recklessly。
Sarah Walker at once stopped crying。 I don't know how she did it； but
the cessation was instantaneous； as if she had turned off a tap somewhere。
〃And put it in Mr。 Peters' bed！〃 I continued。
Peters being notoriously a grim bachelor； the bare suggestion bristled
with outrage。 Sarah Walker's eyes sparkled。
〃You don't mean it！go 'way！〃she said with affected coyness。
〃But I do！ Come。〃
We extracted it noiselessly togetherthat is； Sarah Walker did； with
deft womanlinesscarried it darkly along the hall to No。 27； and deposited
it in Peters' bed； where it lay like a freshly opened oyster。 We then returned
hand in hand to my room； where we looked out of the window on the sea。
It was observable that there was no lack of interest in Sarah Walker now。
Before five minutes had elapsed some one breathlessly passed the
open door while we were still engaged in marine observation。 This was
followed by return footsteps and a succession of swiftly rustling garments；
until the majority of the women in our wing had apparently passed our
room； and we saw an irregular stream of nursemaids and mothers
converging towards the hotel out of the grateful shadow of arbors； trees；
and marquees。 In fact we were still engaged in observation when Sarah
Walker's nurse came to fetch her away； and to inform her that 〃by rights〃
Baby Buckly's nurse and Mr。 Peters should both be made to leave the hotel
that very night。 Sarah Walker permitted herself to be led off with dry but
expressive eyes。 That evening she did not cry； but； on being taken into the
usual custody for disturbance； was found to be purple with suppressed
laughter。
This was the beginning of my intimacy with Sarah Walker。 But while
it was evident that whatever influence I obtained over her was due to my
being particeps criminis； I think it was accepted that a regular abduction of
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infants might become in time monotonous if not dangerous。 So she was
satisfied with the knowledge that I could not now； without the most
glaring hypocrisy； obtrude a moral superiority upon her。 I do not think she
would have turned state evidence and accused me； but I was by no means
assured of her disinterested regard。 She contented herself； for a few days
afterwards； with meeting me privately and mysteriously communicating
unctuous reminiscences of our joint crime； without suggesting a repetition。
Her intimacy with me did not seem to interfere with her general relations
to her own species in the other children in the hotel。 Perhaps I should have
said before that her popularity with them was by no means prejudiced by
her infelix reputation。 But while she was secretly admired by all； she had
few professed followers and no regular associates。 Whether the few whom
she selected for that baleful preeminence were either torn from her by
horrified guardians； or came to grief through her dangerous counsels； or
whether she really did not care for them； I could not say。 Their elevation
was brief； their retirement unregretted。 It was however permitted me；
through felicitous circumstances； to become acquainted with the probable
explanation of her unsociability。
The very hot weather culminated one afternoon in a dead faint of earth
and sea and sky。 An Alpine cloudland of snow that had mocked the
upturned eyes of Greyport for hours； began to darken under the folding
shadow of a black and velvety wing。 The atmosphere seemed to thicken as
the gloom increased； the lazy dust； thrown up by hurrying feet that sought
a refuge； hung almost motionless in the air。 Suddenly it was blown to the
four quarters in one fierce gust that as quickly dispersed the loungers
dro
