the pit-第29节

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ed　to　marry　her　too。　　My　goodness；　she　must　have　brought　him　up　with　a　round　turn。　　I　can　see　Laura　when　she　is　really　angry。　　Poor　fellow！〃

〃If　you　_women_　would　let　that　boy　alone；　he　might　amount　to　something。〃

〃He　told　me　his　life　was　ruined。〃

Cressler　threw　his　cigar　from　him　with　vast　impatience。

〃Oh；　rot！〃　he　muttered。

〃He　took　it　terribly；　seriously；　Charlie；　just　the　same。〃

〃I'd　like　to　take　that　young　boy　in　hand　and　shake　some　of　the　nonsense　out　of　him　that　you　women　have　filled　him　with。　　He's　got　a　level　head。　　On　the　floor　every　day；　and　never　yet　bought　a　hatful　of　wheat　on　his　own　account。　　Don't　know　the　meaning　of　speculation　and　don't　want　to。　　There's　a　boy　with　some　sense。〃

〃It's　just　as　well；〃　persisted　Mrs。　Cressler　reflectively；　〃that　Laura　wouldn't　have　him。　　Of　course　they're　not　made　for　each　other。　　But　I　thought　that　Corthell　would　have　made　her　happy。　　But　she　won't　ever　marry　'J。'　He　asked　her　to；　she　didn't　tell　me；　but　I　know　he　did。　　And　she's　refused　him　flatly。　　She　won't　marry　anybody；　she　says。　　Said　she　didn't　love　anybody；　and　never　would。　　I'd　have　loved　to　have　seen　her　married　to　'J。；'　but　I　can　see　now　that　they　wouldn't　have　been　congenial；　and　if　Laura　wouldn't　have　Sheldon　Corthell；　who　was　just　made　for　her；　I　guess　it　was　no　use　to　expect　she'd　have　'J。'　Laura's　got　a　temperament；　and　she's　artistic；　and　loves　paintings；　and　poetry；　and　Shakespeare；　and　all　that；　and　Curtis　don't　care　for　those　things　at　all。　　They　wouldn't　have　had　anything　in　common。　　But　Corthellthat　was　different。　　And　Laura　did　care　for　him；　in　a　way。　　He　interested　her　immensely。　　When　he'd　get　started　on　art　subjects　Laura　would　just　hang　on　every　word。　　My　lands；　I　wouldn't　have　gone　away　if　I'd　been　in　his　boots。　　You　mark　my　words；　Charlie；　there　was　the　man　for　Laura　Dearborn；　and　she'll　marry　him　yet；　or　I'll　miss　my　guess。〃

〃That's　just　like　you；　Carrieyou　and　the　rest　of　the　women；〃　exclaimed　Cressler；　〃always　scheming　to　marry　each　other　off。　　Why　don't　you　let　the　girl　alone？　Laura's　all　right。　　She　mind's　her　own　business；　and　she's　perfectly　happy。　　But　you'd　go　to　work　and　get　up　a　sensation　about　her；　and　say　that　your　'heart　bleeds　for　her；'　and　that　she's　born　to　trouble；　and　has　sad　eyes。　　If　she　gets　into　trouble　it'll　be　because　some　one　else　makes　it　for　her。　　You　take　my　advice；　and　let　her　paddle　her　own　canoe。　　She's　got　the　head　to　do　it；　don't　you　worry　about　that。　　By　the　way〃　Cressler　interrupted　himself；　seizing　the　opportunity　to　change　the　subject。　　〃By　the　way；　Carrie；　Curtis　has　been　speculating　again。　　I'm　sure　of　it。〃

〃Too　bad；〃　she　murmured。

〃So　it　is；〃　Cressler　went　on。　　〃He　and　Gretry　are　thick　as　thieves　these　days。　　Gretry；　I　understand；　has　been　selling　September　wheat　for　him　all　last　week；　and　only　this　morning　they　closed　out　another　schemesome　corn　game。　　It　was　all　over　the　Floor　just　about　closing　time。　　They　tell　me　that　Curtis　landed　between　eight　and　ten　thousand。　　Always　seems　to　win。　　I'd　give　a　lot　to　keep　him　out　of　it；　but　since　his　deal　in　May　wheat　he's　been　getting　into　it　more　and　more。〃

〃Did　he　sell　that　property　on　Washington　Street？〃　she　inquired。

〃Oh；〃　exclaimed　her　husband；　〃I'd　forgot。　　I　meant　to　tell　you。　　No；　he　didn't　sell　it。　　But　he　did　better。　He　wouldn't　sell；　and　those　department　store　people　took　a　lease。　　Guess　what　they　pay　him。　　Three　hundred　thousand　a　year。　　'J。'　is　getting　richer　all　the　time；　and　why　he　can't　be　satisfied　with　his　own　business　instead　of　monkeying　'round　La　Salle　Street　is　a　mystery　to　me。〃

But；　as　Mrs。　Cressler　was　about　to　reply；　Laura　came　to　the　open　window　of　the　parlour。

〃Oh；　Mrs。　Cressler；〃　she　called；　〃I　don't　seem　to　find　your　'Idylls'　after　all。　　I　thought　they　were　in　the　little　book…case。〃

〃Wait。　　I'll　find　them　for　you；〃　exclaimed　Mrs。　Cressler。

〃Would　you　mind？〃　answered　Laura；　as　Mrs。　Cressler　rose。

Inside；　the　gas　had　not　been　lighted。　　The　library　was　dark　and　cool；　and　when　Mrs。　Cressler　had　found　the　book　for　Laura　the　girl　pleaded　a　headache　as　an　excuse　for　remaining　within。　　The　two　sat　down　by　the　raised　sash　of　a　window　at　the　side　of　the　house；　that　overlooked　the　〃side　yard；〃　where　the　morning…glories　and　nasturtiums　were　in　full　bloom。

〃The　house　_is_　cooler；　isn't　it？〃　observed　Mrs。　Cressler。

Laura　settled　herself　in　her　wicker　chair；　and　with　a　gesture　that　of　late　had　become　habitual　with　her　pushed　her　heavy　coils　of　hair　to　one　side　and　patted　them　softly　to　place。

〃It　is　getting　warmer；　I　do　believe；〃　she　said；　rather　listlessly。　　〃I　understand　it　is　to　be　a　very　hot　summer。〃　　Then　she　added；　〃I'm　to　be　married　in　July；　Mrs。　Cressler。〃

Mrs。　Cressler　gasped；　and　sitting　bolt　upright　stared　for　one　breathless　instant　at　Laura's　face；　dimly　visible　in　the　darkness。　　Then；　stupefied；　she　managed　to　vociferate：

〃What！　Laura！　Married？　　My　darling　girl！〃

〃Yes；〃　answered　Laura　calmly。　　〃In　Julyor　maybe　sooner。〃

〃Why；　I　thought　you　had　rejected　Mr。　Corthell。　　I　thought　that's　why　he　went　away。〃

〃Went　away？　　He　never　went　away。　　I　mean　it's　not　Mr。　Corthell。　　It's　Mr。　Jadwin。〃

〃Thank　God！〃　declared　Mrs。　Cressler　fervently；　and　with　the　words　kissed　Laura　on　both　cheeks。　　〃My　dear；　dear　child；　you　can't　tell　how　glad　I　am。　　From　the　very　first　I've　said　you　were　made　for　one　another。　　And　I　thought　all　the　time　that　you'd　told　him　you　wouldn't　have　him。〃

〃I　did；〃　said　Laura。　　Her　manner　was　quiet。　　She　seemed　a　little　grave。　　〃I　told　him　I　did　not　love　him。　　Only　last　week　I　told　him　so。〃

〃Well；　then；　why　did　you　promise？〃

〃My　goodness！〃　exclaimed　Laura；　with　a　show　of　animation。　　〃You　don't　realize　what　it's　been。　　Do　you　suppose　you　can　say　'no'　to　that　man？〃

〃Of　course　not；　of　course　not；〃　declared　Mrs。　Cressler　joyfully。　　〃That's　'J。'　all　over。　　I　might　have　known　he'd　have　you　if　he　set　out　to　do　it。〃

〃Morning；　noon；　and　night；〃　Laura　continued。　　〃He　seemed　willing　to　wait　as　long　as　I　wasn't　definite；　but　one　day　I　wrote　to　him　and　gave　him　a　square　'No；'　so　as　he　couldn't　mistake；　and　just　as　soon　as　I'd　said　that　hehebegan。　　I　didn't　have　any　peace　until　I'd　promised　him；　and　the　moment　I　had　promised　he　had　a　ring　on　my　finger。　　He'd　had　it　ready　in　his　pocket　for　weeks　it　seems。　　No；〃　she　explained；　as　Mrs。　Cressler　laid　her　fingers　upon　her　left　hand；　〃That　I　would　not　haveyet。〃

〃Oh；　it　was　like　'J。'　to　be　persistent；〃　repeated　Mrs。　Cressler。

〃Persistent！〃　murmured　Laura。　　〃He　simply　wouldn't　talk　of　anything　else。　　It　was　making　him　sick；　he　said。　And　he　did　have　a　feveroften。　　But　he　would　come　out　to　see　me　just　the　same。　　One　night；　when　it　was　pouring　rainWell；　I'll　tell　you。　　He　had　been　to　dinner　with　us；　and　afterwards；　in　the　drawing…room；　I　told　him　'no'　for　the　hundredth　time　just　as　plainly　as　I　could；　and　he　went　away　earlyit　wasn't　eight。　　I　thought　that　now　at　last　he　had　given　up。　　But　he　was　back　again　before　ten　the　same　evening。　　He　said　he　had　come　back　to　return　a　copy　of　a　book　I　had　loaned　him　'Jane　Eyre'　it　was。　　Raining！　I　never　saw　it　rain　as　it　did　that　night。　　He　was　drenched；　and　even　at　dinner　he　had　had　a　low　fever。　　And　then　I　was　sorry　for　him。　　I　told　him　he　could　come　to　see　me　again。　　I　didn't　propose　to　have　him　come　down　with　pneumonia；　or　typhoid；　or　something。　　And　so　it　all　began　over　again。〃

〃But　you　loved　him；　Laura？〃　demanded　Mrs。　Cressler。　〃You　love　him　now？〃

Laura　was　silent。　　Then　at　length：

〃I　don't　know；〃　she　answered。

〃Why；　of　course　you　love　him；　Laura；〃　insisted　Mrs。　Cressler。　　〃You　wouldn't　have　promised　him　if　you　hadn't。　　Of　course　you　love　him；　don't　you？〃

〃Yes；　II　suppose　I　must　love　him；　oras　you　sayI　wouldn't　have　promised　to　marry　him。　　He　does　everything；　every　little　thing　I　say。　　He　just　seems　to　think　of　nothing　else　but　to　please　me　from　morning　until　night。　　And　when　I　finally　said　I　would　marry　him；　why；　Mrs。　Cressler；　he　choked　all　up；　and　the　tears　ran　down　his　face；　and　all　he　could　say　was；　'May　God　bless　you！　May　God　bless　you！'　over　and　over　again；　and　his　hand　shook　so　thatOh；　well；〃　she　broke　off　abruptly。　　Then　added；　〃Somehow　it　makes　tears　come　to　my　eyes　to　think　of　it。〃

〃But；　Laura；〃　urged　Mrs。　Cressler；　〃you　love　Curtis；　don't　you？　　Youyou're　such　a　strange　girl　sometimes。　Dear　child；　talk　to　me　as　though　I　were　your　mother。　There's　no　one　in　the　world　loves　you　more　than　I　do。　You　love　Curtis；　don't　you？〃

Laura　hesitated　a　long　moment。

〃Yes；〃　she　said；　slowly　at　length。　　〃I　think　I　love　him　very　muchsometimes。　　And　then　sometimes　I　think　I　don't。　　I　can't　tell。　　There　are　days　when　I'm　sure　of　it；　and　there　are　others　when　I　wonder　if　I　want　to　be　married；　after　all。　　I　thought　when　love　came　it　was　to　beoh；　uplifting；　something　glorious　like　Juliet's　love　or　Marguerite's。　　Something　that　would〃　Suddenly　she　struck　her　hand　to　her　breast；　her　fingers　shut　tight；　closing　to　a　fist。　　〃Oh；　something　that　would　shake　me　all　to　pieces。　　I　thought　that　was　the　only　kind　of　love　there　was。〃

〃Oh；　that's　what　you　read　about　in　trashy　novels；〃　Mrs。　Cressler　assured　her；　〃or　the　kind　you　see　at　the　matinees。　　I　wouldn't　let　that　bother　me；　Laura。　There's　no　doubt　that　'_J。_'　loves　_you。_〃

Lau