the pit-第13节

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Between　the　two　women　the　conversation　began　slowly；　with　detached　phrases　and　observations　that　did　not　call　necessarily　for　answersmere　beginnings　that　they　did　not　care　to　follow　up。

〃They　tell　me；〃　said　Mrs。　Cressler；　〃that　that　Gretry　girl　smokes　ten　cigarettes　every　night　before　she　goes　to　bed。　　You　know　the　Gretrysthey　were　at　the　opera　the　other　night。〃

Laura　permitted　herself　an　indefinite　murmur　of　interest。　　Her　head　to　one　side；　she　drew　the　brush　in　slow；　deliberate　movements　downward　underneath　the　long；　thick　strands　of　her　hair。　　Mrs。　Cressler　watched　her　attentively。

〃Why　don't　you　wear　your　hair　that　new　way；　Laura；〃　she　remarked；　〃farther　down　on　your　neck？　　I　see　every　one　doing　it　now。〃

The　house　was　very　still。　　Outside　the　double　windows　they　could　hear　the　faint　murmuring　click　of　the　frozen　snow。　　A　radiator　in　the　hallway　clanked　and　strangled　for　a　moment；　then　fell　quiet　again。

〃What　a　pretty　room　this　is；〃　said　Laura。　　〃I　think　I'll　have　to　do　our　guest　room　something　like　thisa　sort　of　white　and　gold　effect。　　My　hair？　　Oh；　I　don't　know。　　Wearing　it　low　that　way　makes　it　catch　so　on　the　hooks　of　your　collar；　and；　besides；　I　was　afraid　it　would　make　my　head　look　so　flat。〃

There　was　a　silence。　　Laura　braided　a　long　strand；　with　quick；　regular　motions　of　both　hands；　and　letting　it　fall　over　her　shoulder；　shook　it　into　place　with　a　twist　of　her　head。　　She　stepped　out　of　her　skirt；　and　Mrs。　Cressler　handed　her　her　dressing…gown；　and　brought　out　a　pair　of　quilted　slippers　of　red　satin　from　the　wardrobe。

In　the　grate；　the　fire　that　had　been　lighted　just　before　they　had　come　upstairs　was　crackling　sharply。　Laura　drew　up　an　armchair　and　sat　down　in　front　of　it；　her　chin　in　her　hand。　　Mrs。　Cressler　stretched　herself　upon　the　bed；　an　arm　behind　her　head。

〃Well；　Laura；〃　she　began　at　length；　〃I　have　some　real　news　for　you。　　My　dear；　I　believe　you've　made　a　conquest。〃

〃I！〃　murmured　Laura；　looking　around。　　She　feigned　a　surprise；　though　she　guessed　at　once　that　Mrs。　Cressler　had　Corthell　in　mind。

〃That　Mr。　Jadwinthe　one　you　met　at　the　opera。〃

Genuinely　taken　aback；　Laura　sat　upright　and　stared　wide…eyed。

〃Mr。　Jadwin！〃　she　exclaimed。　　〃Why；　we　didn't　have　five　minutes'　talk。　　Why；　I　hardly　know　the　man。　　I　only　met　him　last　night。〃

But　Mrs。　Cressler　shook　her　head；　closing　her　eyes　and　putting　her　lips　together。

〃That　don't　make　any　difference；　Laura。　　Trust　me　to　tell　when　a　man　is　taken　with　a　girl。　　My　dear；　you　can　have　him　as　easy　as　_that。_〃　She　snapped　her　fingers。

〃Oh；　I'm　sure　you're　mistaken；　Mrs。　Cressler。〃

〃Not　in　the　least。　　I've　known　Curtis　Jadwin　now　for　fifteen　yearsnobody　better。　　He's　as　old　a　family　friend　as　Charlie　and　I　have。　　I　know　him　like　a　book。　And　I　tell　you　the　man　is　in　love　with　you。〃

〃Well；　I　hope　he　didn't　tell　you　as　much；〃　cried　Laura；　promising　herself　to　be　royally　angry　if　such　was　the　case。　　But　Mrs。　Cressler　hastened　to　reassure　her。

〃Oh　my；　no。　　But　all　the　way　home　last　nighthe　came　home　with　us；　you　knowhe　kept　referring　to　you；　and　just　so　soon　as　the　conversation　got　on　some　other　subject　he　would　lose　interest。　　He　wanted　to　know　all　about　youoh；　you　know　how　a　man　will　talk；〃　she　exclaimed。　　〃And　he　said　you　had　more　sense　and　more　intelligence　than　any　girl　he　had　ever　known。〃

〃Oh；　well；〃　answered　Laura　deprecatingly；　as　if　to　say　that　that　did　not　count　for　much　with　her。

〃And　that　you　were　simply　beautiful。　　He　said　that　he　never　remembered　to　have　seen　a　more　beautiful　woman。〃

Laura　turned　her　head　away；　a　hand　shielding　her　cheek。　She　did　not　answer　immediately；　then　at　length：

〃Has　hethis　Mr。　Jadwinhas　he　ever　been　married　before？〃

〃No；　no。　　He's　a　bachelor；　and　rich！　He　could　buy　and　sell　us。　　And　don't　think；　Laura　dear；　that　I'm　jumping　at　conclusions。　　I　hope　I'm　woman　of　the　world　enough　to　know　that　a　man　who's　taken　with　a　pretty　face　and　smart　talk　isn't　going　to　rush　right　into　matrimony　because　of　that。　　It　wasn't　so　much　what　Curtis　Jadwin　saidthough；　dear　me　_suz；_　he　talked　enough　about　youas　what　he　didn't　say。　　I　could　tell。　　He　was　thinking　hard。　　He　was　_hit；_　Laura。　　I　know　he　was。　And　Charlie　said　he　spoke　about　you　again　this　morning　at　breakfast。　　Charlie　makes　me　tired　sometimes；〃　she　added　irrelevantly。

〃Charlie？〃　repeated　Laura。

〃Well；　of　course　I　spoke　to　him　about　Jadwin；　and　how　taken　he　seemed　with　you；　and　the　man　roared　at　me。〃

〃_He_　didn't　believe　it；　then。〃

〃Yes　he　didwhen　I　could　get　him　to　talk　seriously　about　it；　and　when　I　made　him　remember　how　Mr。　Jadwin　had　spoken　in　the　carriage　coming　home。〃

Laura　curled　her　leg　under　her　and　sat　nursing　her　foot　and　looking　into　the　fire。　　For　a　long　time　neither　spoke。　　A　little　clock　of　brass　and　black　marble　began　to　chime；　very　prettily；　the　half　hour　of　nine。　　Mrs。　Cressler　observed：

〃That　Sheldon　Corthell　seems　to　be　a　very　agreeable　kind　of　a　young　man；　doesn't　he？〃

〃Yes；〃　replied　Laura　thoughtfully；　〃he　is　agreeable。〃

〃And　a　talented　fellow；　too；〃　continued　Mrs。　Cressler。　〃But　somehow　it　never　impressed　me　that　there　was　very　much　_to_　him。〃

〃Oh；〃　murmured　Laura　indifferently；　〃I　don't　know。〃

〃I　suppose；〃　Mrs。　Cressler　went　on；　in　a　tone　of　resignation；　〃I　suppose　he　thinks　the　world　and　all　of　_you？_〃

Laura　raised　a　shoulder　without　answering。

〃Charlie　can't　abide　him；〃　said　Mrs。　Cressler。　　〃Funny；　isn't　it　what　prejudices　men　have？　　Charlie　always　speaks　of　him　as　though　he　were　a　higher　order　of　glazier。　　Curtis　Jadwin　seems　to　like　him。。。。　　What　do　you　think　of　him；　Lauraof　Mr。　Jadwin？〃

〃I　don't　know；〃　she　answered；　looking　vaguely　into　the　fire。　　〃I　thought　he　was　a　_strong_　manmentally　I　mean；　and　that　he　would　be　kindly　andandgenerous。　Somehow；〃　she　said；　musingly；　〃I　didn't　think　he　would　be　the　sort　of　man　that　women　would　take　to；　at　first　but　then　I　don't　know。　　I　saw　very　little　of　him；　as　I　say。　　He　didn't　impress　me　as　being　a　_woman's_　man。〃

〃All　the　better；〃　said　the　other。　　〃Who　would　want　to　marry　a　woman's　man？　　I　wouldn't。　　Sheldon　Corthell　is　that。　　I　tell　you　one　thing；　Laura；　and　when　you　are　as　old　as　I　am；　you'll　know　it's　true：　the　kind　of　a　man　that　_men_　likenot　womenis　the　kind　of　a　man　that　makes　the　best　husband。〃

Laura　nodded　her　head。

〃Yes；〃　she　answered；　listlessly；　〃I　suppose　that's　true。〃

〃You　said　Jadwin　struck　you　as　being　a　kindly　man；　a　generous　man。　　He's　just　that；　and　that　charitable！　You　know　he　has　a　Sunday…school　over　on　the　West　Side；　a　Sunday…school　for　mission　children；　and　I　do　believe　he's　more　interested　in　that　than　in　his　business。　　He　wants　to　make　it　the　biggest　Sunday…school　in　Chicago。　It's　an　ambition　of　his。　　I　don't　want　you　to　think　that　he's　good　in　a　goody…goody　way；　because　he's　not。　Laura；〃　she　exclaimed；　〃he's　a　_fine　man_。　　I　didn't　intend　to　brag　him　up　to　you；　because　I　wanted　you　to　like　him。　　But　no　one　knowsas　I　sayno　one　knows　Curtis　Jadwin　better　than　Charlie　and　I；　and　we　just　_love_　him。　　The　kindliest；　biggest…hearted　fellowoh；　well；　you'll　know　him　for　yourself；　and　then　you'll　see。　　He　passes　the　plate　in　our　church。〃

〃Dr。　Wendell's　church？〃　asked　Laura。

〃Yes　you　knowthe　Second　Presbyterian。〃

〃I'm　Episcopalian　myself；〃　observed　Laura；　still　thoughtfully　gazing　into　the　fire。

〃I　know；　I　know。　　But　Jadwin　isn't　the　blue…nosed　sort。　And　now　see　here；　Laura；　I　want　to　tell　you。　　J。　that's　what　Charlie　and　I　call　JadwinJ。　was　talking　to　us　the　other　day　about　supporting　a　ward　in　the　Children's　Hospital　for　the　children　of　his　Sunday…　school　that　get　hurt　or　sick。　　You　see　he　has　nearly　eight　hundred　boys　and　girls　in　his　school；　and　there's　not　a　week　passes　that　he　don't　hear　of　some　one　of　them　who　has　been　hurt　or　taken　sick。　　And　he　wants　to　start　a　ward　at　the　Children's　Hospital；　that　can　take　care　of　them。　　He　says　he　wants　to　get　other　people　interested；　too；　and　so　he　wants　to　start　a　contribution。　　He　says　he'll　double　any　amount　that's　raised　in　the　next　six　monthsthat　is；　if　there's　two　thousand　raised；　he'll　make　it　four　thousand；　understand？　　And　so　Charlie　and　I　and　the　Gretrys　are　going　to　get　up　an　amateur　playa　charity　affairand　raise　as　much　money　as　we　can。　　J。　thinks　it's　a　good　idea；　andhere's　the　pointwe　were　talking　about　it　coming　home　in　the　carriage；　and　J。　said　he　wondered　if　that　Miss　Dearborn　wouldn't　take　part。　　And　we　are　all　wild　to　have　you。　　You　know　you　do　that　sort　of　thing　so　well。　　Now　don't　say　yes　or　no　to…night。　　You　sleep　over　it。　　J。　is　crazy　to　have　you　in　it。〃

〃I'd　love　to　do　it；〃　answered　Laura。　　〃But　I　would　have　to　seeit　takes　so　long　to　get　settled；　and　there's　so　much　to　do　about　a　big　house　like　ours；　I　might　not　have　time。　　But　I　will　let　you　know。〃

Mrs。　Cressler　told　her　in　detail　about　the　proposed　play。　　Landry　Court　was　to　take　part；　and　she　enlisted　Laura's　influence　to　get　Sheldon　Corthell　to　undertake　a　role。　　Page；　it　appeared；　had　already　promised　to　help。　　Laura　remembered　now　that　she　had　heard　her　speak　of　it。　　However；　the　plan　was　so　immature　as　yet；　that　it　hardly　admitted　of　very　much　discussion；　and　inevitably　the　conversation　came　back　to　its　starting…　point　。

〃You　know；〃　Laura　had　remarked　in　answer　to　o