the cost-第10节

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〃Human！〃　　He　glanced　at　her　and　instantly　glanced　away。

〃Do　leave　that　window；〃　she　begged。　　〃We　must　get　the　Vergil　now。　　I'm　reading　an　essay　at　the　society　to…nightthey've　fined　me　twice　for　neglecting　it。　　But　if　you　stand　there　reminding　me　of　what's　going　on　outside　I'll　not　be　able　to　resist。〃

〃How　this　would　look　from　Indian　Rock！〃

She　flung　open　a　Vergil　text…book　with　a　relentless　shake　of　the　head。　　〃I've　got　the　place。　　Book　three；　line　two　forty…five

〃‘Una　in　praecelsa　consedit　rupe　Celaeno'　〃

〃It　doesn't　matter　what　that　hideous　old　Harpy　howled　at　the　pious　Aeneas；〃　he　grumbled。　　〃Let's　　go　out　and　watch　the　Great　God　Pan　dedicate　his　brand…new　temple。〃

〃Do　sit　there！〃　　She　pointed　a　slim　white　forefinger　at　the　chair　at　the　opposite　side　of　the　tablethe　side　nearer　him。　　〃I'll　be　generous　and　work　the　dictionary　to…day。〃　　And　she　opened　a　fat；　black；　dull…looking　book　beside　the　Vergil。

〃Where's　the　Johnnie？〃　he　asked；　reluctantly　dropping　into　the　chair。

She　laid　Dryden's　translation　of　the　Aeneid　on　his　side　of　the　table。　　They　always　read　the　poetical　version　before　they　began　to　translate　for　the　class…roomDryden　was　near　enough　to　the　original　to　give　them　its　spirit；　far　enough　to　quiet　their　consciences。　　〃Find　the　place　yourself；〃　said　she。　　〃I'm　not　going　to　do　everything。〃

He　opened　the　Dryden　and　languidly　turned　the　pages。　　〃‘At　length　rebuff'd；　they　leave　their　mangled'　〃　he　began。

〃Notwo　or　three　lines　farther　down；〃　she　interrupted。　　〃That　was　in　the　last　lesson。〃

He　pushed　back　the　rebellious　lock　that　insisted　on　falling　down　the　middle　of　his　forehead；　plunged　his　elbows　fiercely　upon　the　table；　put　his　fists　against　his　temples；　and　began　again：

　　　　　〃‘High　on　a　craggy　cliff　Celaeno　sate　　　　　　　　　　　　　And　thus　her　dismal　errand　did　relate'

Have　you　got　the　place　in　the　Latin？〃　he　interrupted　himself。

Fortunately　he　did　not　look　up；　for　she　was　watching　the　waving　boughs。　　〃Yes；〃　she　replied；　hastily　returning　to　the　book。　　〃You　do　your　part　and　I'll　do　mine。〃

He　read　a　few　lines　in　an　absent…minded　sing…song；　then　interrupted　himself　once　more：　　〃Did　you　ever　smell　anything　like　that　breeze？〃

〃Never。　　‘Bellum　etiam　pro　caede　bovum'go　onI'm　listeningor　trying　to。〃

He　read：

　　〃‘But　know　that　ere　your　promised　walls　you　build；　　　My　curse　shall　severely　be　fulfilled。　　　　Fierce　famine　is　your　lotfor　this　misdeed；　　　　Reduced　to　grind　the　plates　on　which　you　feed。'　〃

He　glanced　at　her。　　She　was　leaning　on　her　elbow；　obviously　weaving　day…dreams　round　those　boughs　as　they　trembled　with　the　ecstasy　of　spring。

〃You　are　happy　to…day？〃　he　said。

〃Yeshappier　than　I　have　been　for　a　year。〃　　She　smiled　mysteriously。　　〃I've　had　good　news。〃　　She　turned　abruptly；　looked　him　in　the　eyes　with　that　frank；　clear　expressionhis　favorite　among　his　memory…pictures　of　her　had　it。　　〃There's　one　thing　that　worries　meit's　never　off　my　mind　longer　than　a　few　minutes。　　And　when　I'm　blue；　as　I　usually　am　on　rainy　days；　it　makes　mehorribly　uncomfortable。　　I've　often　almost　asked　your　advice　about　it。〃

〃If　you'd　be　sorry　afterward　that　you　told　me；〃　said　he；　〃I　hope　you　won't。　　But　if　I　can　help　you；　you　know　how　glad　I'd　be。〃

〃It's　no　use　to　tell　Olivia；〃　Pauline　went　on。　　〃She's　bitterly　prejudiced。　　But　ever　since　the　first　month　I　knew　you；　I　felt　that　I　could　trust　you；　that　you　were　a　real　friend。　　And　you're　so　fair　in　judging　people　and　things。〃

His　eyes　twinkled。

〃I'm　afraid　I'd　tilt　the　scalesjust　a　littlewhere　you　were　concerned。〃

〃Oh；　I　want　you　to　do　that；〃　she　answered　with　a　smile。　　〃Last　fall　I　did　somethingwell；　it　was　foolish；　though　I　wouldn't　admit　that　to　any　one　else。　　I　was　carried　away　by　an　impulse。　　Not　that　I　regret。　　In　the　only　really　important　way；　I　wouldn't　undo　it　if　I　couldI　think。〃　　Those　last　two　words　came　absently；　as　if　she　were　debating　the　matter　with　herself。

〃If　it's　done　and　can't　be　undone；〃　he　said　cheerfully；　〃I　don't　see　that　advice　is　needed。〃

〃Butyou　don't　understand。〃　　She　seemed　to　be　casting　about　for　words。　　〃As　I　said；　it　was　last　fallhere。　　In　Saint　X　there　was　a　manand　he　and　Iwe'd　cared　for　each　other　ever　since　we　were　children。　　And　then　he　went　away　to　college。　　He　did　several　things　father　didn't　like。　　You　know　how　older　people　arethey　don't　make　allowances。　　And　though　father's　the　gentlest；　bestat　any　rate；　he　turned　against　Jack；　and〃

Scarborough　abruptly　went　to　the　window　and　stood　with　his　back　to　her。

After　a　pause　Pauline　said；　in　a　rush；　〃And　he　came　here　last　fall　and　we　got　married。〃

There　was　a　long　silence。

〃It　was　DREADFUL；　wasn't　it？〃　she　said　in　the　tone　of　one　who　has　just　made　a　shocking　discovery。

Scarborough　did　not　answer。

〃I　never　realized　till　this　minute；〃　she　went　on　after　a　while。　　〃Not　that　I'm　sorry　or　that　I　don'tdon't　CAREjust　as　I　always　did。　　But　somehow；　telling　it　out　loud　to　some　one　else　has　made　me　see　it　in　a　different　light。　　It　didn't　seem　like　treachery　to　themto　father　and　motherthen。　　It　hasn't　seemed　like　aa　marriage　REALLY　marriageuntil　now。〃　　

Another　long　silence。　　Then　she　burst　out　appealingly：　　〃Oh；　I　don't　see　how　I'm　ever　going　to　tell　them！〃　　　　　　

Scarborough　came　back　to　his　chair　and　seated　himself。　　His　face　was　curiously　white。　　It　was　in　an　unnatural　voice　that　he　said：　　〃How　old　is　he？〃　　　　　　

〃Twenty…five；〃　she　replied；　then　instantly　flared　up；　as　if　he　had　attacked　Dumont：　　〃But　it　wasn't　his　faultnot　in　the　least。　　I　knew　what　I　was　doingand　I　wanted　to　do　it。　　You　mustn't　get　a　false　impression　of　him；　Hampden。　　You'd　admire　and　respect　him。　　Youany　onewould　have　done　as　he　did　in　the　same　circumstances。〃　　She　blushed　slightly。　　〃You　and　he　are　ever　so　much　alikeeven　in　looks。　　It　was　that　that　made　me　tell　you；　that　made　me　like　you　as　I　haveand　trust　you。〃　　　　　　

Scarborough　winced。　　Presently　he　began：　　〃Yet　you　regret〃　　　　　　　〃Nono！〃　she　protestedtoo　vehemently。　　〃I　do　NOT　regret　marrying　him。　　That　was　certain　to　be　sooner　or　later。　　All　I　regret　is　that　I　did　something　that　seems　underhanded。　　Perhaps　I'm　really　only　sorry　I　didn't　tell　them　as　soon　as　I'd　done　it。〃　

She　waited　until　she　saw　he　was　not　going　to　speak。　〃And　now；〃　she　said；　〃I　don't　know　HOW　to　tell　them。〃　　Again　she　waited；　but　he　did　not　speak；　continued　to　look　steadily　out　into　the　sky。　　〃What　do　you　think？〃　she　asked　nervously。　　〃But　I　can　see　without　your　saying。　　Only　Iwish　you'd　SAY　it。〃　　　　　　

〃No；　I　don't　condemn　you；〃　he　said　slowly。　　〃I　know　you。　　YOU　couldn't　possibly　do　anything　underhanded。　　If　you'd　been　where　you'd　have　had　to　conceal　it　directly；　face　to　face；　from　some　one　who　had　the　right　to　knowyou'd　never　have　done　it。〃　　He　rested　his　arms　on　the　table　and　looked　straight　at　her。　　〃I　feel　I　must　tell　you　what　I　think。　　And　I　feel；　too；　it　wouldn't　be　fair　and　honest　if　I　didn't　let　you　see　why　you　might　not　want　to　take　my　advice。〃

She　returned　his　gaze　inquiringly。

〃I　love　you；〃　he　went　on　calmly。　　〃I've　known　it　ever　since　I　missed　you　so　at　the　Christmas　holidays。　　I　love　you　for　what　you　are；　and　for　what　you're　as　certain　to　be　asas　a　rosebud　is　certain　to　be　a　full…blown　rose。　　I　love　you　as　my　father　loved　my　mother。　　I　shall　love　you　always。〃　　His　manner　was　calm；　matter…of…fact；　but　there　was　in　his　musical；　magical　voice　a　certain　quality　which　set　her　nerves　and　her　blood　suddenly　to　vibrating。　　She　felt　as　if　she　were　struggling　in　a　great　seathe　sea　of　his　love　for　herstruggling　to　reach　the　safety　of　the　shore。

〃OhI　WISH　you　hadn't　told　me！〃　she　exclaimed。

〃Suppose　I　hadn't；　suppose　you　had　taken　my　advice？　　No〃he　shook　his　head　slowly〃I　couldn't　do　that；　Paulinenot　even　to　win　you。〃

〃I'm　sorry　I　said　anything　to　you　about　it。〃

〃You　needn't　be。　　You　haven't　harmed　yourself。　　And　maybe　I　can　help　you。〃

〃Nowe　won't　talk　of　it；〃　she　saidshe　was　pressing　her　hand　on　her　bosom　where　she　could　feel　her　wedding　ring。　　〃It　wouldn't　be　right；　now。　　I　don't　wish　your　advice。〃

〃But　I　must　give　it。　　I'm　years　and　years　older　than　youmany；　many　years　more　than　the　six　between　us。　　And〃

〃I　don't　wish　to　hear。〃

〃For　his　sake；　for　your　own　sake；　Pauline；　tell　them！　　And　they'll　surely　help　you　to　wait　till　you're　older　before　you　do　anythingirrevocable。〃

〃But　I　care　for　him；〃　she　saidangrily；　though　it　could　not　have　been　what　he　was　saying　so　gently　that　angered　her。　　〃You　forget　that　I　care　for　him。　　It　IS　irrevocable　now。　　And　I'm　glad　it　is！〃

〃You　LIKE　him。　　You　don't　LOVE　him。　　Andhe's　not　worthy　of　your　love。　　I'm　sure　it　isn't　prejudice　that　makes　me　say　it。　　If　he　were；　he'd　have　waited〃

She　was　on　her　feet；　her　eyes　blazing。

〃I　asked　for　advice；　not　a　lecture。　　I　DESPISE　you！　　Attacking　the　man　I　love　and　behind　his　back！　　I　wish　to　be　alone。〃

He　rose　but　met　her　look　without　flinching。

〃You　can　send　ME　away；〃　he　said　gently；　〃but　you　can't　send　away　my　words。　　And　if　they're　true　you'll　feel　them　when　you　get　over　your　anger。　　You'll　do　what　you　think　right。　　Butbe　SURE；　Pauline。　　Be　SURE！〃　　In　his　eyes　there　was　a　lookthe　secret　altar　with　the　never…to…be…extinguished　flame　upon　it。　　〃Be　SURE！；　Pauline。　Be　SURE。〃

Her　anger　fell；　she　sank；　forlorn；　in