the pit-第55节

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wadays；　when　the　trio　went　to　one　of　their　interminable　concerts　or　lectures；　Landry　stayed　over　night　at　the　house。

〃Any　message　for　your　husband；　Mrs。　Jadwin？〃　inquired　Landry；　as　he　prepared　to　go　down　town　after　breakfast。　〃I　always　see　him　in　Mr。　Gretry's　office　the　first　thing。　　Any　message　for　him？〃

〃No；〃　answered　Laura；　simply。

〃Oh；　by　the　way；〃　spoke　up　Aunt　Wess'；　〃we　met　that　Mr。　Corthell　on　the　corner　last　night；　just　as　he　was　leaving。　　I　was　real　sorry　not　to　get　home　here　before　he　left。　　I've　never　heard　him　play　on　that　big　organ；　and　I've　been　wanting　to　for　ever　so　long。　　I　hurried　home　last　night；　hoping　I　might　have　caught　him　before　he　left。　　I　was　regularly　disappointed。〃

〃That's　too　bad；〃　murmured　Laura；　and　then；　for　obscure　reasons；　she　had　the　stupidity　to　add：　〃And　we　were　in　the　art　gallery　the　whole　evening。　　He　played　beautifully。〃

Towards　eleven　o'clock　that　morning　Laura　took　her　usual　ride；　but　she　had　not　been　away　from　the　house　quite　an　hour　before　she　turned　back。

All　at　once　she　had　remembered　something。　　She　returned　homeward；　now　urging　Crusader　to　a　flying　gallop；　now　curbing　him　to　his　slowest　ambling　walk。　　That　which　had　so　abruptly　presented　itself　to　her　mind　was　the　fact　that　Corthell's　match　boxhis　name　engraved　across　its　frontstill　lay　in　plain　sight　upon　the　table　in　her　sitting…roomthe　peculiar　and　particular　place　of　her　privacy。

It　was　so　much　her　own；　this　room；　that　she　had　given　orders　that　the　servants　were　to　ignore　it　in　their　day's　routine。　　She　looked　after　its　order　herself。　Yet；　for　all　that；　the　maids　or　the　housekeeper　often　passed　through　it；　on　their　way　to　the　suite　beyond；　and　occasionally　Page　or　Aunt　Wess'　came　there　to　read；　in　her　absence。　　The　family　spoke　of　the　place　sometimes　as　the　〃upstairs　sitting…room；〃　sometimes　simply　as　〃Laura's　room。〃

Now；　as　she　cantered　homeward；　Laura　had　it　vividly　in　her　mind　that　she　had　not　so　much　as　glanced　at　the　room　before　leaving　the　house　that　morning。　　The　servants　would　not　touch　the　place。　　But　it　was　quite　possible　that　Aunt　Wess'　or　Page

Laura；　the　blood　mounting　to　her　forehead；　struck　the　horse　sharply　with　her　crop。　　The　pettiness　of　the　predicament；　the　small　meanness　of　her　situation　struck　across　her　face　like　the　flagellations　of　tiny　whips。　That　she　should　stoop　to　this！　She　who　had　held　her　head　so　high。

Abruptly　she　reined　in　the　horse　again。　　No；　she　would　not　hurry。　　Exercising　all　her　self…control；　she　went　on　her　way　with　deliberate　slowness；　so　that　it　was　past　twelve　o'clock　when　she　dismounted　under　the　carriage　porch。

Her　fingers　clutched　tightly　about　her　crop；　she　mounted　to　her　sitting…room　and　entered；　closing　the　door　behind　her；

She　went　directly　to　the　table；　and　then；　catching　her　breath；　with　a　quick；　apprehensive　sinking　of　the　heart；　stopped　short。　　The　little　heart…shaped　match　box　was　gone；　and　on　the　couch　in　the　corner　of　the　room　Page；　her　book　fallen　to　the　floor　beside　her；　lay　curled　up　and　asleep。

A　loop　of　her　riding…habit　over　her　arm；　the　toe　of　her　boot　tapping　the　floor　nervously；　Laura　stood　motionless　in　the　centre　of　the　room；　her　lips　tight　pressed；　the　fingers　of　one　gloved　hand　drumming　rapidly　upon　her　riding…crop。　　She　was　bewildered；　and　an　anxiety　cruelly　poignant；　a　dread　of　something　she　could　not　name；　gripped　suddenly　at　her　throat。

Could　she　have　been　mistaken？　　Was　it　upon　the　table　that　she　had　seen　the　match　box　after　all？　　If　it　lay　elsewhere　about　the　room；　she　must　find　it　at　once。　Never　had　she　felt　so　degraded　as　now；　when；　moving　with　such　softness　and　swiftness　as　she　could　in　her　agitation　command；　she　went　here　and　there　about　the　room；　peering　into　the　corners　of　her　desk；　searching　upon　the　floor；　upon　the　chairs；　everywhere；　anywhere；　her　face　crimson；　her　breath　failing　her；　her　hands　opening　and　shutting。

But　the　silver　heart　with　its　crown　of　worn　gold　was　not　to　be　found。　　Laura；　at　the　end　of　half　an　hour；　was　obliged　to　give　over　searching。　　She　was　certain　the　match　box　lay　upon　the　mahogany　table　when　last　she　left　the　room。　　It　had　not　been　mislaid；　of　that　she　was　now　persuaded。

But　while　she　sat　at　the　desk；　still　in　habit　and　hat；　rummaging　for　the　fourth　time　among　the　drawers　and　shelves；　she　was　all　at　once　aware；　even　without　turning　around；　that　Page　was　awake　and　watching　her。　Laura　cleared　her　throat。

〃Have　you　seen　my　blue　note　paper；　Page？〃　she　asked。　〃I　want　to　drop　a　note　to　Mrs。　Cressler；　right　away。〃

〃No；〃　said　Page；　as　she　rose　from　the　couch。　　〃No；　I　haven't　seen　it。〃　　She　came　towards　her　sister　across　the　room。　　〃I　thought；　maybe；〃　she　added；　gravely；　as　she　drew　the　heart…shaped　match　box　from　her　pocket；　〃that　you　might　be　looking　for　this。　　I　took　it。　　I　knew　you　wouldn't　care　to　have　Mr。　Jadwin　find　it　here。〃

Laura　struck　the　little　silver　heart　from　Page's　hand；　with　a　violence　that　sent　it　spinning　across　the　room；　and　sprang　to　her　feet。

〃You　took　it！〃　she　cried。　　〃You　took　it！　How　dare　you！　What　do　you　mean？　　What　do　I　care　if　Curtis　should　find　it　here？　　What's　it　to　me　that　he　should　know　that　Mr。　Corthell　came　up　here？　　Of　course　he　was　here。〃

But　Page；　though　very　pale；　was　perfectly　calm　under　her　sister's　outburst。

〃If　you　didn't　care　whether　any　one　knew　that　Mr。　Corthell　came　up　here；〃　she　said；　quietly；　〃why　did　you　tell　us　this　morning　at　breakfast　that　you　and　he　were　in　the　art　gallery　the　whole　evening？　　I　thought；〃　she　added；　with　elaborate　blandness；　〃I　thought　I　would　be　doing　you　a　service　in　hiding　the　match　box。〃

〃A　service！　You！　What　have　I　to　hide？〃　cried　Laura；　almost　inarticulate。　　〃Of　course　I　said　we　were　in　the　art　gallery　the　whole　evening。　　So　we　were。　　We　didI　do　remember　nowwe　did　come　up　here　for　an　instant；　to　see　how　my　picture　hung。　　We　went　downstairs　again　at　once。　　We　did　not　so　much　as　sit　down。　　He　was　not　in　the　room　two　minutes。〃

〃He　was　here；〃　returned　Page；　〃long　enough　to　smoke　half　a　dozen　times。〃　　She　pointed　to　a　silver　pen　tray　on　the　mahogany　table；　hidden　behind　a　book　rack　and　littered　with　the　ashes　and　charred　stumps　of　some　five　or　six　cigarettes。

〃Really；　Laura；〃　Page　remarked。　　〃Really；　you　manage　very　awkwardly；　it　seems　to　me。〃

Laura　caught　her　riding…crop　in　her　right　hand

〃Don't　youdon't　you　make　me　forget　myself；〃　she　cried；　breathlessly。

〃It　seems　to　me；〃　observed　Page；　quietly；　〃that　you've　done　that　long　since；　yourself。〃

Laura　flung　the　crop　down　and　folded　her　arms。

〃Now；〃　she　cried；　her　eyes　blazing　and　rivetted　upon　Page's。　　〃Now；　just　what　do　you　mean？　　Sit　down；〃　she　commanded；　flinging　a　hand　towards　a　chair；　〃sit　down；　and　tell　me　just　what　you　mean　by　all　this。〃

But　Page　remained　standing。　　She　met　her　sister's　gaze　without　wavering。

〃Do　you　want　me　to　believe；〃　she　answered；　〃that　it　made　no　difference　to　you　that　Mr。　Corthell's　match　safe　was　here？〃

〃Not　the　least；〃　exclaimed　Laura。　　〃Not　the　least。〃

〃Then　why　did　you　search　for　it　so　when　you　came　in？　　I　was　not　asleep　all　of　the　time。　　I　saw　you。〃

〃Because；〃　answered　Laura；　〃becauseIbecause〃　Then　all　at　once　she　burst　out　afresh：　〃Have　I　got　to　answer　to　you　for　what　I　do？　　Have　I　got　to　explain？　　All　your　life　long　you've　pretended　to　judge　your　sister。　Now　you've　gone　too　far。　　Now　I　forbid　itfrom　this　day　on。　　What　I　do　is　my　affair；　I'll　ask　nobody's　advice。　　I'll　do　as　I　please；　do　you　understand？〃　The　tears　sprang　to　her　eyes；　the　sobs　strangled　in　her　throat。　　〃I'll　do　as　I　please；　as　I　please；〃　and　with　the　words　she　sank　down　in　the　chair　by　her　desk　and　struck　her　bare　knuckles　again　and　again　upon　the　open　lid；　crying　out　through　her　tears　and　her　sobs；　and　from　between　her　tight…shut　teeth：　〃I'll　do　as　I　please；　do　you　understand？　　As　I　please；　as　I　please！　I　will　be　happy。　　I　will；　I　will；　I　will！〃

〃Oh；　darling；　dearest〃　cried　Page；　running　forward。　But　Laura；　on　her　feet　once　more；　thrust　her　back。

〃Don't　touch　me；〃　she　cried。　　〃I　hate　you！〃　She　put　her　fists　to　her　temples　and；　her　eyes　closed；　rocked　herself　to　and　fro。　　〃Don't　you　touch　me。　　Go　away　from　me；　go　away　from　me。　　I　hate　you；　I　hate　you　all。　　I　hate　this　house；　I　hate　this　life。　　You　are　all　killing　me。　　Oh；　my　God；　if　I　could　only　die！〃

She　flung　herself　full　length　upon　the　couch；　face　downward。　　Her　sobs　shook　her　from　head　to　foot。

Page　knelt　at　her　side；　an　arm　about　her　shoulder；　but　to　all　her　sister's　consolations　Laura；　her　voice　muffled　in　her　folded　arms；　only　cried：

〃Let　me　alone；　let　me　alone。　　Don't　touch　me。〃

For　a　time　Page　tried　to　make　herself　heard；　then；　after　a　moment's　reflection；　she　got　up　and　drew　out　the　pin　in　Laura's　hat。　　She　took　off　the　hat；　loosened　the　scarf　around　Laura's　neck；　and　then　deftly；　silently；　while　her　sister　lay　inert　and　sobbing　beneath　her　hands；　removed　the　stiff；　tight　riding…　habit。　　She　brought　a　towel　dipped　in　cold　water　from　the　adjoining　room　and　bathed　Laura's　face　and　hands。

But　her　sister　would　not　be　comforted；　would　not　respond　to　her　entreaties　or　caresses。　　The　better　part　of　an　hour　went　by；　Page；　knowing　her　sister's　nature；　in　the　end　held　her　peace；　waiting　for　the　paroxysm　to　wear　itself　out。

After　a　while　Laura