lahoma(拉霍马)-第31节
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manager； and never makes mistakes except such as happen to be the fad of
the hour。 And Mr。 Edgerton Compton could be splendid； for he seems to
know everything； and when we travel with him； or go to the parks and all
that； people do just as he says； as if he were a prince； he has a magnificent
way of showering money on porters and waiters and cabmen that is
dazzling； and he holds himself perfectly WITHOUT TRYING； and dresses
so that you are glad you're with him in a crowd； he knows what to do ALL
the time about EVERYTHING。 But there he stops。 I mean； he isn't trying
to do anything that matters。 Neither are any of the rest。
〃What they are working at now； is all they expect to work at as long as
they liveand it takes awfully hard work to keep up with their set。 They
call it 'keeping in the swim；' and let me tell you what it reminds me ofa
strong young steer out in a 'tank；' using all the strength he has just to keep
on top of the water； instead of swimming to shore and going somewhere。
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Society people don't go anywhere； they use all their energy staying right
where they are； and if one of them loses grip and goes under
GOODNESS！
〃I know what Mrs。 Sellimer has set her heart on； because she has
already begun instructing me in her ideals。 She wants her daughter to
marry a rich man； and Mr。 Edgerton Compton isn't rich； he only looks like
he is。 Mrs。 Sellimer feels that she's terribly poor； herself； it's the kind of
poverty that has all it wants to eat and wear； but hasn't as many horses and
servants as it wants。 It's just as hard on her as it would be on you if the
bacon gave out and you couldn't go for more。 Annabelthat's Miss
Sellimerlikes Mr。 Compton very； very much； but she feels like her
mother about marrying a rich man； and I don't think he has much chance。
One trouble is that he thinks he must marry a rich girl； so they just go on；
loving each other； and looking about for 'chances。'
〃I feel like I oughtn't to be wasting my time telling about my friends
when there are all these wonderful lights and carpets and decorations and
conveniences； so much more interesting。 Whenever you want hot water；
instead of bringing a bucketful from the spring and building a fire and
sitting down to watch it simmer； you just turn a handle and out it comes；
smoking； and whenever you want ice…water； you touch a button and give a
boy ten cents。
〃The funny thing to me is that Annabel and Mr。 Compton both think
they HAVE to marry somebody rich； or not marry at all。 They really don't
know they COULD marry each other； because imagining they would be
unable to keep the wolf from the door。 That's because they can't imagine
themselves living behind anything but a door on one of the 'best streets。'
We know； don't we； Brick and Bill； that it takes mighty little to keep the
coyote from the dugout！ And there's something else we know that these
people haven't dreampt ofthat there's happiness and love in many and
many a dugout。 I don't know what's behind the doors on the 'best streets。'
〃We are not going straight on to Chicago。 A gentleman has invited the
Sellimers； which of course includes me； to a house…party in the country not
far from Kansas City。 He is a very rich man of middle age； so they tell me；
a widower； who is interested in our sex and particularly in Annabel
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Sellimer。 Mr。 Edgerton Compton isn't invited。 You see； he's a sort of rival
a poor rival。 This middle…aged man has known the Sellimers a long time；
and he has been trying to win Annabel for a year or two。 If it hadn't been
for Mr。 Compton she'd have married HIS HOUSE before now； I gather。
The house is said to be immense； in a splendid estate near the river。 I am
all excitement when I think of going there for ten days。 There are to be
fifty guests and the other forty…nine are invited as a means of getting
Annabel under his roof。 Won't I feel like a little girl in an old English
novel！ The best of it is that nobody will bother MEI'm too poor to be
looked at a second time； I mean； what THEY call poor。 Sometimes I laugh
when I'm alone； for I feel like I'm a gold mine filled with rich ore that
nobody has discovered。 Remember the 'fool's gold' we used to see among
the granite mountains？ I think the gold that lies on the surface must always
be fool's gold。 The name of the country…house we are to visit is the same
as that of the man who owns it〃
Wilfred Compton held the letter closer to the light。
Brick Willock spoke impatiently： 〃No use to stare at that there word
we couldn't make it out。 I guess she got it wrong； first； then wrote it over。
Just go ahead。〃
Bill suggested； 〃I think the first letter is an 'S。'〃
Wilfred scrutinized the name closely。
〃Besides；〃 said Willock； 〃we knows none of them high people； the
name wouldn't be nothing to usand her next letter will likely have it
more'n once。〃
Wilfred resumed the letter： 〃I must tell you good…by； now； for
Annabel's maid has come to help me dress for dinner； and it takes longer
than it did to do up the washing； at the cove； and is more tiresome。 But I
like it。 I like these fine； soft； beautiful things。 I like the big world； and I
would like to live in it forever and ever； if you could bring the dugout and
be near enough for me to run in； any time of the day。 I wish I could run in
this minute and tell you the thousands and thousands of things I'll never
have time to write。
〃Your loving； adoring； half…homesick； half…bewildered； somewhat
dizzy little girl；
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〃Lahoma。
〃P。 S。 Nobody has been able to tell from word or look of mine that I
have ever been surprised at a single thing I have heard or seen。 You may
be quite sure of that。〃
〃I bet you！〃 cried Willock admiringly。 〃NOW； what do you think of
it？〃
〃She won't be there long；〃 remarked Bill； waving his arm； 〃till she
finds out what I learned long agothat there's nothing to it。 If you want to
cultivate a liking for a dugout； just live a while in the open。〃
〃I don't know as to that；〃 Willock said。 〃I sorter doubts if Lahoma will
ever care for dugouts again； except as she stays on the outside of 'em； and
gets to romancing。 A mouthful of real ice…cream spoils your taste
everlasting for frozen starch and raw eggs。〃
〃Lahoma is a real person；〃 declared Bill； 〃and a dugout is grounded
and bedded in a real thingthis very solid and very real old earth； if you
ask to know what I mean。〃
〃Lord； _I_ knows what you mean；〃 retorted Willock。 〃You've lived in a
hole in the ground most of your life； and are pretty near ripe to be laid
away in another one； smaller I grant you； but dark and deep； according。
We'll never get Lahoma back the same as when we let her flutter forth
hunting a green twig over the face of the waters。 She may bring back the
first few leaves she finds； but a time's going to come。。。。〃 He broke off
abruptly； his eyes wide and troubled； as if already viewing the dismal
prospect。
〃Maybe I AM old；〃 Bill grudgingly conceded； 〃but I don't set up to be
no Noah's ark。〃
〃Oh；〃 cried Willock； his sudden sense of future loss causing him to
speak with unwonted irony； 〃maybe you're just a Shem； or Ham or that
other kind of Fat What's the matter； Wilfred？ Can't you let go of that
letter？〃
〃I've made out the name of that widower who's paying court to my old
sweetheart；〃 he said； 〃but it's one I never heard of before； that's why it
looked so strangeit's Gledware。〃
Willock uttered a sharp exclamation。 〃Let me see it。〃 He started up
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abruptly； and bent over the page。
〃What of it？〃
