the make-believe man(说服者)-第9节
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directly into mine。 Drawing in the oars； she leaned upon them and
smiled。
〃Now； then；〃 she commanded； 〃tell us all about it。〃
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THE MAKE…BELIEVE MAN
Before I could speak there came from behind her a sudden radiance；
and as though a curtain had been snatched aside； the fog flew apart； and
the sun； dripping； crimson； and gorgeous； sprang from the waters。 From
the others there was a cry of wonder and delight； and from Lord Ivy a
shriek of incredulous laughter。
Lady Moya clapped her hands joyfully and pointed past me。 I turned
and looked。 Directly behind me； not fifty feet from us； was a shelving
beach and a stone wharf； and above it a vine…covered cottage； from the
chimney of which smoke curled cheerily。 Had the yawl； while Lady
Moya was taking the oars； NOT swung in a circle； and had the sun NOT
risen； in three minutes more we would have bumped ourselves into the
State of Connecticut。 The cottage stood on one horn of a tiny harbor。
Beyond it； weather…beaten shingled houses； sail…lofts； and wharfs stretched
cosily in a half…circle。 Back of them rose splendid elms and the delicate
spire of a church； and from the unruffled surface of the harbor the masts of
many fishing…boats。 Across the water； on a grass…grown point； a
whitewashed light…house blushed in the crimson glory of the sun。 Except
for an oyster…man in his boat at the end of the wharf； and the smoke from
the chimney of his cottage； the little village slept； the harbor slept。 It was
a picture of perfect content； confidence； and peace。 〃Oh！〃 cried the Lady
Moya； 〃how pretty； how pretty！〃
Lord Ivy swung the bow about and raced toward the wharf。 The
others stood up and cheered hysterically。
At the sound and at the sight of us emerging so mysteriously from the
fog； the man in the fishing…boat raised himself to his full height and stared
as incredulously as though he beheld a mermaid。 He was an old man； but
straight and tall； and the oysterman's boots stretching to his hips made him
appear even taller than he was。 He had a bristling white beard and his
face was tanned to a fierce copper color； but his eyes were blue and young
and gentle。 They lit suddenly with excitement and sympathy。
〃Are you from the Patience？〃 he shouted。 In chorus we answered
that we were； and Ivy pulled the yawl alongside the fisherman's boat。
But already the old man had turned and； making a megaphone of his
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THE MAKE…BELIEVE MAN
hands； was shouting to the cottage。
〃Mother！〃 he cried； 〃mother； here are folks from the wreck。 Get
coffee and blankets andand baconand eggs！〃
〃May the Lord bless him！〃 exclaimed the Lady Moya devoutly。
But Aldrich； excited and eager； pulled out a roll of bills and shook
them at the man。
〃Do you want to earn ten dollars？〃 he demanded； 〃then chase yourself
to the village and bring the constable。〃
Lady Moya exclaimed bitterly； Lord Ivy swore； Kinney in despair
uttered a dismal howl and dropped his head in his hands。
〃It's no use； Mr。 Aldrich；〃 I said。 Seated in the stern； the others had
hidden me from the fisherman。 Now I stood up and he saw me。 I laid
one hand on his； and pointed to the tin badge on his suspender。
〃He is the village constable himself；〃 I explained。 I turned to the
lovely lady。 〃Lady Moya；〃 I said； 〃I want to introduce you to my father！〃
I pointed to the vine…covered cottage。 〃That's my home；〃 I said。 I
pointed to the sleeping town。 〃That；〃 I told her； 〃is the village of Fairport。
Most of it belongs to father。 You are all very welcome。〃
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