the riverman-第24节
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restlessness。 The place seemed to interest her。 She wandered here
and there in the room； looking now at the walnut…framed photograph
of Uncle Jim Orde； now at the great pink conch shells either side
the door； now at the marble…topped table with its square paper…
weight of polished agate and its glass 〃bell；〃 beneath which stood a
very life…like robin。 This 〃back sitting…room〃 contained little in
the way of ornament。 It was filled； on the contrary； with old
comfortable chairs； and worn calf…backed books。 The girl peered at
the titles of these； but the gas…jets had been turned low in favour
of the firelight； and she had to give over the effort to identify
the volumes。 Once she wandered close to Grandma Orde's cushioned
wooden rocker； and passed her hand lightly over the old lady's
shoulder。
〃Do you mind if I look at things？〃 she asked。 〃It's so dear and
sweet and old and different from our New York homes。〃
〃Look all you want to； dearie；〃 said Grandma Orde。
After a moment she passed into the dining…room。 Here Orde found
her； her hands linked in front of her。
〃Oh； it is so quaint and delightful；〃 she exhaled slowly。 〃This
dear； dear old house with its low ceilings and its queer haphazard
lines； and its deep windows； and its old pictures； and queer
unexpected things that take your breath away。〃
〃It is one of the oldest houses in town；〃 said Orde； 〃and I suppose
it is picturesque。 But； you see； I was brought up here； so I'm used
to it。〃
〃Wait until you leave it；〃 said she prophetically； 〃and live away
from it。 Then all these things will come back to you to make your
heart ache for them。〃
They rambled about together； Orde's enthusiasm gradually kindling at
the flame of her own。 He showed her the marvellous and painstaking
pencil sketch of Napoleon looking out over a maltese…cross sunset
done by Aunt Martha at the age of ten。 It hung framed in the upper
hall。
〃It has always been there； ever since I can remember；〃 said Orde；
〃and it has seemed to belong there。 I've never thought of it as
good or bad； just as belonging。〃
〃I know；〃 she nodded。
In this spirit also they viewed the plaster statue of Washington in
the lower hall； and the Roger's group in the parlour。 The glass
cabinet of 〃curiosities〃 interested her greatlythe carved ivory
chessmen； the dried sea…weeds； the stone from Sugar Loaf Rock； the
bit from thl you write me occasionally？〃 he begged。
〃As to that〃 she began〃I'm a very poor correspondent。〃
〃But won't you write？〃 he insisted。
〃I do not make it a custom de
especially had an infinitude of details on his hands。 The fat note…
book in his side pocket filled rapidly with rough sketches； lists；
and estimates。 Constantly he interviewed men of all kinds
rivermen； mill men； contractors； boat builders； hardware dealers；
pile…driver captains； builders； wholesale grocery men； cooks； axe…
men； chore boysall a little world in itself。
The signs of progress soon manifested themselves。 Below Big Bend
the pile…drivers were at work； the square masses of their hammers
rising rapidly to the tops of the derricks； there to pause a moment
before dropping swiftly to a dull THUMP！ They were placing a long；
compact row； which should be the outer bulwarks separating the
sorting…booms from the channel of the river。 Ashore the carpenters
were knocking together a long； low structure for the cook…house and
a larger building； destined to serve as bunk…house for the regular
boom…crew。 There would also be a blacksmith's forge； a storehouse；
a tool and supply…house； a barn； and small separate shanties for the
married men。 Below more labourers with picks； e wreck of the NORTH STAR； the
gold and silver shells；
the glittering geodes and pyrites； the sandal…wood fan； and all the
hundred and one knick…knacks it was then the custom to collect under
glass。 They even ventured part way up the creaky attic stairs； but
it was too dark to enter that mysterious region。
〃I hear the drip of water；〃 she whispered； her finger on her lips。
〃It's the tank；〃 said Orde。
〃And has it a Dark Place behind it？〃 she begged。
〃That's just what it has；〃 said he。
〃Andtell meare there real hair trunks with brass knobs on 'em？〃
〃Yes； mother has two or three。〃
〃O…o…h！〃 she breathed softly。 〃Don't tell me what's in them。 I
want to believe in brocades and sashes。 Do you know；〃 she looked at
him soberly； 〃I never had any dark places behind the tank； nor
mysterious trunks； when I was a child。〃
〃You might begin now；〃 suggested Orde。
〃Do you mean to insinuate I haven't grown up？〃 she mocked。 〃Thank
you！ Look OUT！〃 she cried suddenly； 〃the Boojum will catch us；〃 and
picking up her skirts she fairly flew down the narrow stairs。 Orde
could hear the light swish of her draperies down the hall； and then
the pat of her feet on the stair carpet of the lower flight。
He followed rather dreamily。 A glance into the sitting…room showed
the group gathered close around the fire listening to Lem Collin's
attempt at a ghost story。 She was not there。 He found her； then；
in the parlour。 She was kneeling on the floor before the glass
cabinet of curiosities； and she had quite flattened her little nose
against the pane。 At his exclamation she looked up with a laugh。
〃This is the proper altitude from which to view a cabinet of
curiosities；〃 said she； 〃and something tells me you ought to flatten
your nose； too。〃 She held out both hands to be helped up。 〃Oh；
WHAT a house for a child！〃 she cried。
After the company had gone； Orde stood long by the front gate
looking up into the infinite spaces。 Somehow； and vaguely； he felt
the night to be akin to her elusive spirit。 Farther and farther his
soul penetrated into its depths； and yet other depths lay beyond；
other mysteries； other unguessed realms。 And yet its beauty was the
simplicity of space and dark and the stars。
The next time he saw her was at her own houseor rather the house
of the friend she visited。 Orde went to call on Friday evening and
was lucky enough to find the girls home and alone。 After a decent
interval Jane made an excuse and went out。 They talked on a great
variety of subjects； and with a considerable approach toward
intimacy。 Not until nearly time to go did Orde stumble to write to young men。〃
〃Oh！〃 he cried； believing himself enlightened。 〃Will you answer if
I write you？〃
〃That depends。〃
〃On what？〃
〃On whether there is a reply to make。〃
〃But may I write you？〃
〃I suppose I couldn't very well prevent you； if you were sure to put
on a three…cent stamp。〃
〃Do you want me to？〃 persisted Orde。
She began gently to laugh； quite to herself； as though enjoying a
joke entirely within her own personal privilege。
〃You are so direct and persistent and boy…like；〃 said she presently。
〃Now if you'll be very good； and not whisper to the other little
pupils； I'll tell you how they do such things usually。〃 She sat up
straight from the depths of her chair； her white； delicately
tapering forearms resting lightly on her knees。 〃Young men desiring
to communicate with young ladies do not ask them bluntly。 They make
some excuse； like sending a book； a magazine； a marked newspaper； or
even a bit of desired information。 At the same time； they send
notes informing the girl of the fact。 The girl is naturally
expected to acknowledge the politeness。 If she wishes the
correspondence to continue； she asks a question； or in some other
way leaves an opening。 Do you see？〃
〃Yes； I see；〃 said Orde； slightly crestfallen。 〃But that's a long
time to wait。 I like to feel settled about a thing。 I wanted to
know。〃
She dropped back against the cushioned slant of her easy chair； and
laughed again。
〃And so you just up and asked！〃 she teased。
〃I beg your pardon if I was rude；〃 he said humbly。
The laughter died slowly from her eyes。
〃Don't；〃 she said。 〃It would be asking pardon for being yourself。
You wanted to know： so you asked。 And I'm going to answer。 I shall
be very glad to correspond with you and tell you about my sort of
things； if you happen to be interested in them。 I warn you： they
are not very exciting。〃
〃They are yours；〃 said he。
She half rose to bow in mock graciousness； caught herself； and sank
back。
〃No； I won't；〃 she said； more than half to herself。 She sat
brooding for a moment； then suddenly her mood changed。 She sprang
up； shook her skirts free； and seated herself at the piano。 To
Orde； who had also arisen； she made a quaint grimace over her
shoulder。
〃Admire your handiwork！〃 she told him。 〃You are rapidly bringing me
to 'tell the truth and shame the devil。' Oh； he must be dying of
mortification this evening！〃
