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小说: an open-eyed conspiracy 字数: 每页4000字

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corrected too soon。〃

This time I could not resent his insinuation; for since he had begun
to speak I had become guiltily aware of having felt a sort of ease
in regard to Kendricks's modesty of competence from a belief; given
me; I suspect; by the talk of Deering; that Mr。 Gage had plenty of
money; and could come to the rescue in any amount needed。  I could
only say; 〃Mr。 Gage; all this is so far beyond my control that I
ought not to allow you to say it to me。  It is something that you
must say to Mr。 Kendricks。〃

As I spoke I saw the young fellow come round the corner of the
street; and mount the hotel steps。  He did not see me; for he did
not look toward the little corner of lawn where Mr。 Gage and I had
put our chairs for the sake of the morning shade; and for the
seclusion that the spot afforded us。  It was at the angle of the
house farthest from our peculiar corner of the piazza; whither I had
the belief that the girl had withdrawn when she left me to her
father。  I was sure that Kendricks would seek her there; far enough
beyond eyeshot or earshot of us; and I had no doubt that she was
expecting him。

〃You are Mr。 Kendricks's friend〃

〃I have tried much more to be Miss Gage's friend; and Mrs。 March〃
It came into my mind that she was most selfishly and shamelessly
keeping out of the way; and I could not go on and celebrate her
magnanimous impartiality; her eager and sleepless vigilance。

〃I have no doubt of that;〃 said the little man; 〃and I am very much
obliged to you for all the trouble you have taken on my daughter's
account。  But you are his friend; and I can speak to you much more
fully and frankly than I could to him。〃

I did not know just what to say to this; and he went on:  〃In point
of fact; I don't think that I shall speak to him at all。〃

〃That is quite your affair; my dear sir;〃 I said dryly。  〃It isn't
to be supposed that you would seek an interview with him。〃

〃And if he seeks an interview with me; I shall decline it。〃  He
looked at me defiantly and yet interrogatively。  I could see that he
was very angry; and yet uncertain。

〃I must say; then; Mr。 Gage; that I don't think you would be right。〃

〃How; not right?〃

〃I should say that in equity he had a full and perfect right to meet
you; and to talk this matter over with you。  He has done you no
wrong whatever in admiring your daughter; and wishing to marry her。
It's for you and her to decide whether you will let him。  But as far
as his wish goes; and his expression of it to her; he is quite
within his rights。  You must see that yourself。〃

〃I consider;〃 he answered; 〃that he has done me a wrong in that very
thing。  A man without means; or any stated occupation; he had no
business to speak to my daughter without speaking to me。  He took
advantage of the circumstances。  What does he think?  Does he
suppose I am MADE of money?  Does he suppose I want to support a
son…in…law?  I can tell you that if I were possessed of unlimited
means; I should not do it。〃  I began to suspect that Deering was
nearer right; after all; in his representations of the man's
financial ability; I fancied something of the anxiety; the tremor of
avarice; in his resentment of poor Kendricks's possible; or rather
impossible; designs upon his pocket。  〃If he had any profession; or
any kind of business; I should feel differently; and I should be
willing to assist him to a reasonable degree; or if he had a
business training; I might take him in with me; but as it is; I
should have a helpless burden on my hands; and I can tell you I am
not going in for that sort of thing。  I shall make short work of it。
I shall decline to meet Mr。 Hendricks; or Kendricks; and I shall ask
you to say as much to him from me。〃

〃And I shall decline to be the bearer of any such message from you;
Mr。 Gage;〃 I answered; and I saw; not without pleasure; the
bewilderment that began to mix with his arrogance。

〃Very well; then; sir;〃 he answered; after a moment; 〃I shall simply
take my daughter away with me; and that will end it。〃

The prim little; grim little man looked at me with his hard eyes;
and set his lips so close that the beard on the lower one stuck out
at me with a sort of additional menace I felt that he was too
capable of doing what he said; and I lost myself in a sense of his
sordidness; a sense which was almost without a trace of compassion。

It seemed as if I were a long time under the spell of this; and the
sight of his repugnant face; but it could really have been merely a
moment; when I heard a stir of drapery on the grass near us; and the
soft; rich voice of Miss Gage saying; 〃Papa!〃

We both started to our feet。  I do not know whether she had heard
what he said or not。  We had spoken low; and in the utmost vehemence
of his speech he did not lift his voice。  In any case; she did not
heed what he said。

〃Papa;〃 she repeated; 〃I want you to come up and see Mrs。 March on
the piazza。  AndMr。 Kendricks is there。〃

I had a wild desire to laugh at what followed; and yet it was not
without its pathos。  〃IIhm! hm!  Icannot see Mr。 Kendricks
just at present。  Ithe fact is; I do not want to see him。  It is
betternot。  I think you had better get ready to go home with me at
once; daughter。  Ihm!cannot approve of any engagement to Mr。
Kendricks; and Iprefer not to meet him。〃  He stopped。

Miss Gage said nothing; and I cannot say that she looked anything。
She simply CLOUDED UP; if I may so express the effect that came and
remained upon her countenance; which was now the countenance she had
shown me the first evening I saw her; when I saw the Deerings
cowering in its shadow。  I had no need to look at the adamantine
little man before her to know that he was softening into wax; and;
in fact; I felt a sort of indecency in beholding his inteneration;
for I knew that it came from his heart; and had its consecration
through his love for her。

That is why I turned away; and do not know to this moment just how
the change she desired in him was brought about。  I will not say
that I did not look back from a discreet distance; and continue
looking until I saw them start away together and move in the
direction of that corner of the piazza where Kendricks was waiting
with Mrs。 March。

It appeared; from her account; that Mr。 Gage; with no uncommon show
of ill…will; but with merely a natural dryness; suffered Kendricks
to be presented to him; and entered upon some preliminary banalities
with him; such as he had used in opening a conversation with me。
Before these came to a close Mrs。 March had thought it well to leave
the three together。

Afterward; when we knew the only result that the affair could have;
she said; 〃The girl has a powerful will。  I wonder what the mother
was like。〃

〃Yes; evidently she didn't get that will from her father。  I have
still a sense of exhaustion from it in our own case。  What do you
think it portends for poor Kendricks!〃

〃Poor Kendricks!〃 she repeated thoughtfully。  〃Yes; in that sense I
suppose you might call him poor。  It isn't an equal thing as far as
nature; as character; goes。  But isn't it always dreadful to see two
people who have made up their minds to get married?〃

〃It's very common;〃 I suggested。

〃That doesn't change the fact; or lessen the risk。  She is very
beautiful; and now he is in love with her beautiful girlhood。  But
after a while the girlhood will go。〃

〃And the girl will remain;〃 I said。







End 

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