the pit-第56节

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ture；　in　the　end　held　her　peace；　waiting　for　the　paroxysm　to　wear　itself　out。

After　a　while　Laura's　weeping　resolved　itself　into　long；　shuddering　breaths；　and　at　length　she　managed　to　say；　in　a　faint；　choked　voice：

〃Will　you　bring　me　the　cologne　from　my　dressing…table；　honey？　　My　head　aches　so。〃

And；　as　Page　ran　towards　the　door；　she　added：　〃And　my　hand　mirror；　too。　　Are　my　eyes　all　swollen？〃

And　that　was　the　last　word　upon　the　subject　between　the　two　sisters。

But　the　evening　of　the　same　day；　between　eight　and　nine　o'clock；　while　Laura　was　searching　the　shelves　of　the　library　for　a　book　with　which　to　while　away　the　long　evening　that　she　knew　impended；　Corthell's　card　was　brought　to　her。

〃I　am　not　at　home；〃　she　told　the　servant。　　〃Orwait；〃　she　added。　　Then；　after　a　moment's　thought；　she　said：　〃Very　well。　　Show　him　in　here。〃

Laura　received　the　artist；　standing　very　erect　and　pale　upon　the　great　white　rug　before　the　empty　fireplace。　Her　hands　were　behind　her　back　when　he　came　in；　and　as　he　crossed　the　room　she　did　not　move。

〃I　was　not　going　to　see　you　at　first；〃　she　said。　　〃I　told　the　servant　I　was　not　at　home。　　But　I　changed　my　mindI　wanted　to　say　something　to　you。〃

He　stood　at　the　other　end　of　the　fireplace；　an　elbow　upon　an　angle　of　the　massive　mantel；　and　as　she　spoke　the　last　words　he　looked　at　her　quickly。　　As　usual；　they　were　quite　alone。　　The　heavy；　muffling　curtain　of　the　doorway　shut　them　in　effectually。

〃I　have　something　to　say　to　you；〃　continued　Laura。　Then；　quietly　enough；　she　said：

〃You　must　not　come　to　see　me　any　more。〃

He　turned　abruptly　away　from　her；　and　for　a　moment　did　not　speak。　　Then　at　last；　his　voice　low；　he　faced　her　again　and　asked：

〃Have　I　offended？〃

She　shook　her　head。

〃No；〃　he　said；　quietly。　　〃No；　I　knew　it　was　not　that。〃　There　was　a　long　silence。　　The　artist　looked　at　the　floor　his　hand　slowly　stroking　the　back　of　one　of　the　big　leather　chairs。

〃I　knew　it　must　come；〃　he　answered；　at　length；　〃sooner　or　later。　　You　are　rightof　course。　　I　should　not　have　come　back　to　America。　　I　should　not　have　believed　that　I　was　strong　enough　to　trust　myself。　　Then〃he　looked　at　her　steadily。　　His　words　came　from　his　lips　one　by　one；　very　slowly。　　His　voice　was　hardly　more　than　a　whisper。　　〃Then；　I　amnever　to　see　youagain。。。　Is　that　it？〃

〃Yes。〃

〃Do　you　know　what　that　means　for　me？〃　he　cried。　　〃Do　you　realise〃　he　drew　in　his　breath　sharply。　　〃Never　to　see　you　again！　To　lose　even　the　little　that　is　left　to　me　now。　　II〃　　He　turned　away　quickly　and　walked　to　a　window　and　stood　a　moment；　his　back　turned；　looking　out；　his　hands　clasped　behind　him。　　Then；　after　a　long　moment；　he　faced　about。　　His　manner　was　quiet　again；　his　voice　very　low。

〃But　before　I　go；〃　he　said；　〃will　you　answer　me；　at　least；　thisit　can　do　no　harm　now　that　I　am　to　leave　youanswer　me；　and　I　know　you　will　speak　the　truth：　Are　you　happy；　Laura？〃

She　closed　her　eyes。

〃You　have　not　the　right　to　know。〃

〃You　are　not　happy；〃　he　declared。　　〃I　can　see　it；　I　know　it。　　If　you　were；　you　would　have　told　me　so。。。。　If　I　promise　you；〃　he　went　on。　　〃If　I　promise　you　to　go　away　now；　and　never　to　try　to　see　you　again；　may　I　come　once　moreto　say　good…by？〃

She　shook　her　head。

〃It　is　so　little　for　you　to　grant；〃　he　pleaded；　〃and　it　is　so　incalculably　much　for　me　to　look　forward　to　in　the　little　time　that　yet　remains。　　I　do　not　even　ask　to　see　you　alone。　　I　will　not　harass　you　with　any　heroics。〃

〃Oh；　what　good　will　it　do；〃　she　cried；　wearily；　〃for　you　to　see　me　again？　　Why　will　you　make　me　more　unhappy　than　I　am？　　Why　did　you　come　back？〃

〃Because；〃　he　answered；　steadily；　〃because　I　love　you　more　than〃he　partly　raised　a　clenched　fist　and　let　it　fall　slowly　upon　the　back　of　the　chair；〃　more　than　any　other　consideration　in　the　world。〃

〃Don't！〃　she　cried。　　〃You　must　not。　　Never；　never　say　that　to　me　again。　　Will　you　goplease？〃

〃Oh；　if　I　had　not　gone　from　you　four　years　ago！〃　he　cried。　　〃If　I　had　only　stayed　then！　Not　a　day　of　my　life　since　that　I　have　not　regretted　it。　　You　could　have　loved　me　then。　　I　know　it；　I　know　it；　and；　God　forgive　me；　but　I　know　you　could　love　me　now〃

〃Will　you　go？〃　she　cried。

〃I　dare　you　to　say　you　could　not；〃　he　flashed　out

Laura　shut　her　eyes　and　put　her　hands　over　her　ears。　〃I　could　not；　I　could　not；〃　she　murmured；　monotonously；　over　and　over　again。　　〃I　could　not；　I　could　not。〃

She　heard　him　start　suddenly；　and　opened　her　eyes　in　time　to　see　him　come　quickly　towards　her。　　She　threw　out　a　defensive　hand；　but　he　caught　the　arm　itself　to　him　and；　before　she　could　resist；　had　kissed　it　again　and　again　through　the　interstices　of　the　lace　sleeve。　Upon　her　bare　shoulder　she　felt　the　sudden　passion　of　his　lips。

A　quick；　sharp　gasp；　a　sudden　qualm　of　breathlessness　wrenched　through　her；　to　her　very　finger　tips；　with　a　fierce　leap　of　the　blood；　a　wild　bound　of　the　heart。

She　tore　back　from　him　with　a　violence　that　rent　away　the　lace　upon　her　arm；　and　stood　off　from　him；　erect　and　rigid；　a　fine；　delicate；　trembling　vibrating　through　all　her　being。　　On　her　pale　cheeks　the　colour　suddenly　flamed。

〃Go；　go；〃　was　all　she　had　voice　to　utter。

〃And　may　I　see　you　once　moreonly　once？〃

〃Yes；　yes；　anything；　only　go；　goif　you　love　me！〃

He　left　the　room。　　In　another　moment　she　heard　the　front　door　close。


〃Curtis；〃　said　Laura；　when　next　she　saw　her　husband；　〃Curtis；　you　could　notstay　with　me；　that　last　time。　Remember？　　When　we　were　to　go　for　a　drive。　　Can　you　spend　this　evening　with　me？　　Just　us　two；　here　at　home　or　I'll　go　out　with　you。　　I'll　do　anything　you　say。〃　She　looked　at　him　steadily　an　instant。　　〃It　is　notnot　easy　for　a　woman　to　askfor　me　to　ask　favours　like　this。　　Each　time　I　tell　myself　it　will　be　the　last。　　I　amyou　must　remember　this；　Curtis；　I　amperhaps　I　am　a　little　proud。　　Don't　you　see？〃

They　were　at　breakfast　table　again。　　It　was　the　morning　after　Laura　had　given　Corthell　his　dismissal。　　As　she　spoke　Jadwin　brought　his　hand　down　upon　the　table　with　a　bang。

〃You　bet　I　will；〃　he　exclaimed；　〃you　bet　I'll　stay　with　you　to…night。　　Business　can　go　to　the　devil！　And　we　won't　go　out　either；　we'll　stay　right　here。　　You　get　something　to　read　to　me；　and　we'll　have　one　of　our　old　evenings　again。　　We〃

All　at　once　Jadwin　paused；　laid　down　his　knife　and　fork；　and　looked　strangely　to　and　fro　about　the　room。

〃We'll　have　one　of　our　old　evenings　again；〃　he　repeated；　slowly。

〃What　is　it；　Curtis？〃　demanded　his　wife。　　〃What　is　the　matter？〃

〃Ohnothing；〃　he　answered。

〃Why；　yes　there　was。　　Tell　me。〃

〃No；　no。　　I'm　all　right　now；〃　he　returned；　briskly　enough。

〃No；〃　she　insisted。　　〃You　must　tell　me。　　Are　you　sick？〃

He　hesitated　a　moment。　　Then：

〃Sick？〃　he　queried。　　〃No；　indeed。　　ButI'll　tell　you。　Since　a　few　days　I've　had；〃　he　put　his　fingers　to　his　forehead　between　his　eyes；　〃I've　had　a　queer　sensation　right　there。　　It　comes　and　goes。〃

〃A　headache？〃

〃N…no。　　It's　hard　to　describe。　　A　sort　of　numbness。　Sometimes　it's　as　though　there　was　a　heavy　iron　capa　helmet　on　my　head。　　And　sometimes　itI　don't　know　it　seems　as　if　there　were　fog；　or　something　or　other；　inside。　　I'll　take　a　good　long　rest　this　summer；　as　soon　as　we　can　get　away。　　Another　month　or　six　weeks；　and　I'll　have　things　ship…shape　and　so　as　I　can　leave　them。　　Then　we'll　go　up　to　Geneva；　and；　by　Jingo；　I'll　loaf。〃　　He　was　silent　for　a　moment；　frowning；　passing　his　hand　across　his　forehead　and　winking　his　eyes。　Then；　with　a　return　of　his　usual　alertness；　he　looked　at　his　watch。

〃Hi！〃　he　exclaimed。　　〃I　must　be　off。　　I　won't　be　home　to　dinner　to…night。　　But　you　can　expect　me　by　eight　o'clock；　sure。　　I　promise　I'll　be　here　on　the　minute。

But；　as　he　kissed　his　wife　good…by；　Laura　put　her　arms　about　his　neck。

〃Oh；　I　don't　want　you　to　leave　me　at　all；　ever；　ever！　Curtis；　love　me；　love　me　always；　dear。　　And　be　thoughtful　of　me　and　kind　to　me。　　And　remember　that　you　are　all　I　have　in　the　world；　you　are　father　and　mother　to　me；　and　my　dear　husband　as　well。　　I　know　you　do　love　me；　but　there　are　timesOh；〃　she　cried；　suddenly　〃if　I　thought　you　did　not　love　melove　me　better　than　anything；　anythingI　could　not　love　you；　Curtis；　I　could　not；　I　could　not。　　No；　no；〃　she　cried；　〃don't　interrupt。　　Hear　me　out。　　Maybe　it　is　wrong　of　me　to　feel　that　way；　but　I'm　only　a　woman；　dear。　　I　love　you　but　I　love　Love　too。　　Women　are　like　that；　right　or　wrong；　weak　or　strong；　they　must　bemust　be　loved　above　everything　else　in　the　world。　　Now　go；　go　to　your　business；　you　mustn't　be　late。　　Hark；　there　is　Jarvis　with　the　team。　　Go　now。　　Good…by；　good…by；　and　I'll　expect　you　at　eight。〃

True　to　his　word；　Jadwin　reached　his　home　that　evening　promptly　at　the　promised　hour。　　As　he　came　into　the　house；　however；　the　door…man　met　him　in　the　hall；　and；　as　he　took　his　master's　hat　and　stick；　explained　that　Mrs。　Jadwin　was　in　the　art　gallery；　and　that　she　had　said　he　was　to　come　there　at　once。

Laura　had　planned　a　little　surprise。　　The　art　gallery　was　darkened。　　Here　and　there　behind　the　dull…blue　shades　a　light　burned　low。　　But　one　of　the　movable　reflectors　that　were　used　to　throw　a　light　upon　the　pictures　in　the　topmost　rows　was　burning　brilliantly。　It　was　turned　from　Jadwin　as　he　entered；　and　its　broad　cone　of　intens