the pit-第22节

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or　the　curtain；　and　count　three。〃　　He　backed　away　and；　tucking　the　play…　book　under　his　arm；　struck　his　palms　together。　　〃Now；　onetwo_three。_〃

But　this　time　Isabel　Gretry；　in　remembering　her　〃business；〃　confused　her　stage　directions　once　more

〃'Ah；　the　old　home'〃

〃Left…centre；〃　interrupted　the　coach；　in　a　tone　of　long…suffering　patience。

She　paused　bewildered；　and　believing　that　she　had　spoken　her　lines　too　abruptly；　began　again：

〃'See；　the　clambering'〃

〃_Left_…centre。〃

〃'Ah；　the　old　home'〃

Monsieur　Gerardy　settled　himself　deliberately　in　his　chair　and　resting　his　head　upon　one　hand　closed　his　eyes。　　His　manner　was　that　of　Galileo　under　torture　declaring　〃still　it　moves。〃

〃_Left_…centre。〃

〃Ohoh；　yes。　　I　forgot。〃

Monsieur　Gerardy　apostrophized　the　chandelier　with　mirthless　humour。

〃Oh；　ha；　ha！　She　forgot。〃

Still　another　time　Marion　tried　the　entrance；　and；　as　she　came　on；　Monsieur　Gerardy　made　vigorous　signals　to　Page；　exclaiming　in　a　hoarse　whisper：

〃Lady　Mary；　ready。　　In　a　minute　you　come　on。　　Remember　the　cue。〃

Meanwhile　Marion　had　continued：

〃'See　the　clambering　vines'〃

〃Roses。〃

〃'The　clambering　rose　vines'〃

〃Roses；　pure　and　simple。〃

〃'See！　The　clambering　roses；　pure　and'〃

〃Mademoiselle　Gretry；　will　you　do　me　the　extreme　obligation　to　bound　yourself　by　the　lines　of　the　book？〃

〃I　thought　you　said〃

〃Go　on；　go　on；　go　on！　Is　it　God…possible　to　be　thus　stupid？　　Lady　Mary；　ready。〃

〃'See；　the　clambering　roses　have　wrapped　the　old　stones　in　a　loving　embrace。　　The　birds　build　in　the　same　old　nests'〃

〃Well；　well；　Lady　Mary；　where　are　you？　　You　enter　from　the　porch。〃

〃I'm　waiting　for　my　cue；〃　protested　Page。　　〃My　cue　is：　'Are　there　none　that　will　remember　me。'〃

〃Say；〃　whispered　Landry；　coming　up　behind　Page；　〃it　would　look　bully　if　you　could　come　out　leading　a　greyhound。〃

〃Ah；　so；　Mademoiselle　Gretry；〃　cried　Monsieur　Gerardy；　〃you　left　out　the　cue。〃　　He　became　painfully　polite。　〃Give　the　speech　once　more；　if　you　please。〃

〃A　dog　would　look　bully　on　the　stage；〃　whispered　Landry。　　〃And　I　know　where　I　could　get　one。〃

〃Where？〃

〃A　friend　of　mine。　　He's　got　a　beauty；　blue　grey〃

They　become　suddenly　aware　of　a　portentous　silence　The　coach；　his　arms　folded；　was　gazing　at　Page　with　tightened　lips。

〃'None　who　will　remember　me；'〃　he　burst　out　at　last。　〃Three　times　she　gave　it。〃

Page　hurried　upon　the　scene　with　the　words：

〃'Ah；　another　glorious　morning。　　The　vines　are　drenched　in　dew。'〃　Then；　raising　her　voice　and　turning　toward　the　〃house；〃　〃'Arthur。'〃

〃'Arthur；'〃　warned　the　coach。　　〃That's　you。　　Mr。　Corthell。　　Ready。　　Well　then；　Mademoiselle　Gretry；　you　have　something　to　say　there。〃

〃I　can't　say　it；〃　murmured　the　Gretry　girl；　her　handkerchief　to　her　face。

〃What　now？　　Continue。　　Your　lines　are　'I　must　not　be　seen　here。　　It　would　betray　all；'　then　conceal　yourself　in　the　arbor。　　Continue。　　Speak　the　line。　　It　is　the　cue　of　Arthur。〃

〃I　can't；〃　mumbled　the　girl　behind　her　handkerchief。

〃Can't？　　Why；　then？〃

〃II　have　the　nose…bleed。〃

Upon　the　instant　Monsieur　Gerardy　quite　lost　his　temper。　　He　turned　away；　one　hand　to　his　head；　rolling　his　eyes　as　if　in　mute　appeal　to　heaven；　then；　whirling　about；　shook　his　play…book　at　the　unfortunate　Marion；　crying　out　furiously：

〃Ah；　it　lacked　but　that。　　You　ought　to　understand　at　last；　that　when　one　rehearses　for　a　play　one　does　not　have　the　nose…bleed。　　It　is　not　decent。〃

Miss　Gretry　retired　precipitately；　and　Laura　came　forward　to　say　that　she　would　read　Marion's　lines。

〃No；　no！〃　cried　Monsieur　Gerardy。　　〃Youah；　if　they　were　all　like　you！　You　are　obliging；　but　it　does　not　suffice。　　I　am　insulted。〃

The　others；　astonished；　gathered　about　the　〃coach。〃　They　laboured　to　explain。　　Miss　Gretry　had　intended　no　slight。　　In　fact　she　was　often　taken　that　way；　she　was　excited；　nervous。　　But　Monsieur　Gerardy　was　not　to　be　placated。　　Ah；　no！　He　knew　what　was　due　a　gentleman。　He　closed　his　eyes　and　raised　his　eyebrows　to　his　very　hair；　murmuring　superbly　that　he　was　offended。　　He　had　but　one　phrase　in　answer　to　all　their　explanations：

〃One　does　not　permit　one's　self　to　bleed　at　the　nose　during　rehearsal。〃

Laura　began　to　feel　a　certain　resentment。　　The　unfortunate　Gretry　girl　had　gone　away　in　tears。　　What　with　the　embarrassment　of　the　wrong　gown；　the　brow…　beating；　and　the　nose…bleed；　she　was　not　far　from　hysterics。　　She　had　retired　to　the　dining…room　with　Mrs。　Cressler　and　from　time　to　time　the　sounds　of　her　distress　made　themselves　heard。　　Laura　believed　it　quite　time　to　interfere。　　After　all；　who　was　this　Gerardy　person；　to　give　himself　such　airs？　　Poor　Miss　Gretry　was　to　blame　for　nothing。　　She　fixed　the　little　Frenchman　with　a　direct　glance；　and　Page；　who　caught　a　glimpse　of　her　face；　recognised　〃the　grand　manner；〃　and　whispered　to　Landry：

〃He'd　better　look　out；　he's　gone　just　about　as　far　as　Laura　will　allow。〃

〃It　is　not　convenient；〃　vociferated　the　〃coach。〃　　〃It　is　not　permissible。　　I　am　offended。〃

〃Monsieur　Gerardy；〃　said　Laura；　〃we　will　say　nothing　more　about　it；　if　you　please。〃

There　was　a　silence。　　Monsieur　Gerardy　had　pretended　not　to　hear。　　He　breathed　loud　through　his　nose；　and　Page　hastened　to　observe　that　anyhow　Marion　was　not　on　in　the　next　scenes。　　Then　abruptly；　and　resuming　his　normal　expression；　Monsieur　Gerardy　said：

〃Let　us　proceed。　　It　advances　nothing　to　lose　time。　Come。　　Lady　Mary　and　Arthur；　ready。〃

The　rehearsal　continued。　　Laura；　who　did　not　come　on　during　the　act；　went　back　to　her　chair　in　the　corner　of　the　room。

But　the　original　group　had　been　broken　up。　　Mrs。　Cressler　was　in　the　dining…room　with　the　Gretry　girl；　while　Jadwin；　Aunt　Wess'；　and　Cressler　himself　were　deep　in　a　discussion　of　mind…reading　and　spiritualism。

As　Laura　came　up；　Jadwin　detached　himself　from　the　others　and　met　her。

〃Poor　Miss　Gretry！〃　he　observed。　　〃Always　the　square　peg　in　the　round　hole。　　I've　sent　out　for　some　smelling　salts。〃

It　seemed　to　Laura　that　the　capitalist　was　especially　well…looking　on　this　particular　evening。　　He　never　dressed　with　the　〃smartness〃　of　Sheldon　Corthell　or　Landry　Court；　but　in　some　way　she　did　not　expect　that　he　should。　　His　clothes　were　not　what　she　was　aware　were　called　〃stylish；〃　but　she　had　had　enough　experience　with　her　own　tailor…made　gowns　to　know　that　the　material　was　the　very　best　that　money　could　buy。　The　apparent　absence　of　any　padding　in　the　broad　shoulders　of　the　frock　coat　he　wore；　to　her　mind；　more　than　compensated　for　the　〃ready…made〃　scarf；　and　if　the　white　waistcoat　was　not　fashionably　cut；　she　knew　that　_she_　had　never　been　able　to　afford　a　pique　skirt　of　just　that　particular　grade。

〃Suppose　we　go　into　the　reception…room；〃　he　observed　abruptly。　　〃Charlie　bought　a　new　clock　last　week　that's　a　marvel。　　You　ought　to　see　it。〃

〃No；〃　she　answered。　　〃I　am　quite　comfortable　here；　and　I　want　to　see　how　Page　does　in　this　act。〃

〃I　am　afraid；　Miss　Dearborn；〃　he　continued；　as　they　found　their　places；　〃that　you　did　not　have　a　very　good　time　Sunday　afternoon。〃

He　referred　to　the　Easter　festival　at　his　mission　school。　　Laura　had　left　rather　early；　alleging　neuralgia　and　a　dinner　engagement。

〃Why；　yes　I　did；〃　she　replied。　　〃Only；　to　tell　the　truth；　my　head　ached　a　little。〃　　She　was　ashamed　that　she　did　not　altogether　delight　in　her　remembrance　of　Jadwin　on　that　afternoon。　　He　had　〃addressed〃　the　school；　with　earnestness　it　was　true；　but　in　a　strain　decidedly　conventional。　　And　the　picture　he　made　leading　the　singing；　beating　time　with　the　hymn…book；　and　between　the　verses　declaring　that　〃he　wanted　to　hear　everyone's　voice　in　the　next　verse；〃　did　not　appeal　very　forcibly　to　her　imagination。　　She　fancied　Sheldon　Corthell　doing　these　things；　and　could　not　forbear　to　smile。　　She　had　to　admit；　despite　the　protests　of　conscience；　that　she　did　prefer　the　studio　to　the　Sunday…school。

〃Oh；〃　remarked　Jadwin；　〃I'm　sorry　to　hear　you　had　a　headache。　　I　suppose　my　little　micks〃　（he　invariably　spoke　of　his　mission　children　thus）〃　do　make　more　noise　than　music。〃

〃I　found　them　very　interesting。〃

〃No；　excuse　me；　but　I'm　afraid　you　didn't。　　My　little　micks　are　not　interestingto　look　at　nor　to　listen　to。　But　I；　kind　ofwell；　I　don't　know；〃　he　began　pulling　his　mustache。　　〃It　seems　to　_suit_　me　to　get　down　there　and　get　hold　of　these　people。　　You　know　Moody　put　me　up　to　it。　　He　was　here　about　five　years　ago；　and　I　went　to　one　of　his　big　meetings；　and　then　to　all　of　them。　　And　I　met　the　fellow；　too；　and　I　tell　you；　Miss　Dearborn；　he　stirred　me　all　up。　　I　didn't　〃get　religion。〃　　No；　nothing　like　that。　　But　I　got　a　notion　it　was　time　to　be　up　and　doing；　and　I　figured　it　out　that　business　principles　were　as　good　in　religion　as　they　arewell；　in　La　Salle　Street；　and　that　if　the　church　peoplethe　men　I　meanput　as　much　energy；　and　shrewdness；　and　competitive　spirit　into　the　saving　of　souls　as　they　did　into　the　saving　of　dollars　that　we　might　get　somewhere。　And　so　I　took　hold　of　a　half　dozen　broken…down；　bankrupt　Sunday…school　concerns　over　here　on　Archer　Avenue　that　were　fighting　each　other　all　the　time；　and　amalgamated　them　alla　regular　trust；　just　as　if　they　were　iron　foundriesand　turned　the　incompetents　out　and　put　my　subordinates　in；　and　p