the pit-第75节

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great　trouble；　in　great　straits；　that　there　was　an　excuse。　　But　instantly　she　repudiated　the　notion。

〃No；　no；〃　she　cried；　beneath　her　breath。　　〃He　should　come；　no　matter　what　has　happened。　　Or　even；　at　the　very　least；　he　could　send　word。〃

The　minutes　dragged　by。　　No　roll　of　wheels　echoed　under　the　carriage　porch；　no　step　sounded　at　the　outer　door。　The　house　was　still；　the　street　without　was　still；　the　silence　of　the　midsummer　evening　widened；　unbroken　around　her；　like　a　vast　calm　pool。　　Only　the　musical　Gregorians　of　the　newsboys　chanting　the　evening's　extras　from　corner　to　corner　of　the　streets　rose　into　the　air　from　time　to　time。　　She　was　once　more　alone。　Was　she　to　fail　again？　　Was　she　to　be　set　aside　once　more；　as　so　often　heretoforeset　aside；　flouted；　ignored；　forgotten？　　〃If　you　love　me；〃　she　had　said。

And　this　was　to　be　the　supreme　test。　　This　evening　was　to　decide　which　was　the　great　influence　of　his　life　was　to　prove　whether　or　not　love　was　paramount。　　This　was　the　crucial　hour。　　〃And　he　knows　it；〃　cried　Laura。　〃He　knows　it。　　He　did　not　forget；　could　not　have　forgotten。〃

The　half　hour　passed；　then　the　hour；　and　as　eight　o'clock　chimed　from　the　clock　over　the　mantelshelf　Laura　stopped；　suddenly　rigid；　in　the　midst　of　the　floor。

Her　anger　leaped　like　fire　within　her。　　All　the　passion　of　the　woman　scorned　shook　her　from　head　to　foot。　　At　the　very　moment　of　her　triumph　she　had　been　flouted；　in　the　pitch　of　her　pride！　And　this　was　not　the　only　time。　All　at　once　the　past　disappointments；　slights；　and　humiliations　came　again　to　her　memory。　　She　had　pleaded；　and　had　been　rebuffed　again　and　again；　she　had　given　all　and　had　received　neglectshe；　Laura；　beautiful　beyond　other　women；　who　had　known　love；　devoted　service；　and　the　most　thoughtful　consideration　from　her　earliest　girlhood；　had　been　cast　aside。

Suddenly　she　bent　her　head　quickly；　listening　intently。　Then　she　drew　a　deep　breath；　murmuring　〃At　last；　at　last！〃

For　the　sound　of　a　footstep　in　the　vestibule　was　unmistakable。　　He　had　come　after　all。　　But　so　late；　so　late！　No；　she　could　not　be　gracious　at　once；　he　must　be　made　to　feel　how　deeply　he　had　offended；　he　must　sue　humbly；　very　humbly；　for　pardon。　　The　servant's　step　sounded　in　the　hall　on　the　way　towards　the　front　door。

〃I　am　in　here；　Matthew；〃　she　called。　　〃In　the　library。　Tell　him　I　am　in　here。〃

She　cast　a　quick　glance　at　herself　in　the　mirror　close　at　hand；　touched　her　hair　with　rapid　fingers；　smoothed　the　agitation　from　her　forehead；　and　sat　down　in　a　deep　chair　near　the　fireplace；　opening　a　book；　turning　her　back　towards　the　door。

She　heard　him　come　in；　but　did　not　move。　　Even　as　he　crossed　the　floor　she　kept　her　head　turned　away。　　The　footsteps　paused　near　at　hand。　　There　was　a　moment's　silence。　　Then　slowly　Laura；　laying　down　her　book；　turned　and　faced　him。

〃With　many　very；　very　happy　returns　of　the　day；〃　said　Sheldon　Corthell；　as　he　held　towards　her　a　cluster　of　deep…blue　violets。

Laura　sprang　to　her　feet；　a　hand　upon　her　cheek；　her　eyes　wide　and　flashing。

〃You？〃　was　all　she　had　breath　to　utter。　　〃You？〃

The　artist　smiled　as　he　laid　the　flowers　upon　the　table。　　〃I　am　going　away　again　to…morrow；〃　he　said；　〃for　always；　I　think。　　Have　I　startled　you？　　I　only　came　to　say　good…byand　to　wish　you　a　happy　birthday。〃

〃Oh　you　remembered！〃　she　cried。　　〃_You_　remembered！　I　might　have　known　you　would。〃

But　the　revulsion　had　been　too　great。　　She　had　been　wrong　after　all。　　Jadwin　had　forgotten。　　Emotions　to　which　she　could　put　no　name　swelled　in　her　heart　and　rose　in　a　quick；　gasping　sob　to　her　throat。　　The　tears　sprang　to　her　eyes。　　Old　impulses；　forgotten　impetuosities　whipped　her　on。

〃Oh；　you　remembered；　you　remembered！〃　she　cried　again；　holding　out　both　her　hands。

He　caught　them　in　his　own。

〃Remembered！〃　he　echoed。　　〃I　have　never　forgotten。〃

〃No；　no；〃　she　replied；　shaking　her　head；　winking　back　the　tears。　　〃You　don't　understand。　　I　spoke　before　I　thought。　　You　don't　understand。〃

〃I　do；　believe　me；　I　do；〃　he　exclaimed。　　〃I　understand　you　better　than　you　understand　yourself。〃

Laura's　answer　was　a　cry。

〃Oh；　then；　why　did　you　ever　leave　meyou　who　did　understand　me？　　Why　did　you　leave　me　only　because　I　told　you　to　go？　　Why　didn't　you　make　me　love　you　then？　　Why　didn't　you　make　me　understand　myself？〃　　She　clasped　her　hands　tight　together　upon　her　breast；　her　words；　torn　by　her　sobs；　came　all　but　incoherent　from　behind　her　shut　teeth。　　〃No；　no！〃　she　exclaimed；　as　he　made　towards　her。　　〃Don't　touch　me；　don't　touch　me！　It　is　too　late。〃

〃It　is　not　too　late。　　Listenlisten　to　me。〃

〃Oh；　why　weren't　you　a　man；　strong　enough　to　know　a　woman's　weakness？　　You　can　only　torture　me　now。　　Ah；　I　hate　you！　I　hate　you！〃

〃You　love　me！　I　tell　you；　you　love　me！〃　he　cried；　passionately；　and　before　she　was　aware　of　it　she　was　in　his　arms；　his　lips　were　against　her　lips；　were　on　her　shoulders；　her　neck。

〃You　love　me！〃　he　cried。　　〃You　love　me！　I　defy　you　to　say　you　do　not。〃

〃Oh；　_make_　me　love　you；　then；〃　she　answered。　　〃_Make_　me　believe　that　you　do　love　me。〃

〃Don't　you　know；〃　he　cried；　〃don't　you　know　how　I　have　loved　you？　　Oh；　from　the　very　first！　My　love　has　been　my　life；　has　been　my　death；　my　one　joy；　and　my　one　bitterness。　　It　has　always　been　you；　dearest；　year　after　year；　hour　after　hour。　　And　now　I've　found　you　again。　　And　now　I　shall　never；　never　let　you　go。〃

〃No；　no！　Ah；　don't；　don't！〃　she　begged。　　〃I　implore　you。　　I　am　weak；　weak。　　Just　a　word；　and　I　would　forget　everything。〃

〃And　I　do　speak　that　word；　and　your　own　heart　answers　me　in　spite　of　you；　and　you　will　forgetforget　everything　of　unhappiness　in　your　life〃

〃Please；　please；〃　she　entreated；　breathlessly。　　Then；　taking　the　leap：　〃Ah；　I　love　you；　I　love　you！〃

〃Forget　all　your　unhappiness；〃　he　went　on；　holding　her　close　to　him。　　〃Forget　the　one　great　mistake　we　both　made。　　Forget　everything；　everything；　everything　but　that　we　love　each　other。〃

〃Don't　let　me　think；　then；〃　she　cried。　　〃Don't　let　me　think。　　Make　me　forget　everything；　every　little　hour；　every　little　moment　that　has　passed　before　this　day。　Oh；　if　I　remembered　once；　I　would　kill　you；　kill　you　with　my　hands！　I　don't　know　what　I　am　saying；〃　she　moaned；　〃I　don't　know　what　I　am　saying。　　I　am　mad；　I　think。　　YesIit　must　be　that。〃　　She　pulled　back　from　him；　looking　into　his　face　with　wide…opened　eyes。

〃What　have　I　said；　what　have　we　done；　what　are　you　here　for？〃

〃To　take　you　away；〃　he　answered；　gently；　holding　her　in　his　arms；　looking　down　into　her　eyes。　　〃To　take　you　far　away　with　me。　　To　give　my　whole　life　to　making　you　forget　that　you　were　ever　unhappy。〃

〃And　you　will　never　leave　me　alonenever　once？〃

〃Never；　never　once。〃

She　drew　back　from　him；　looking　about　the　room　with　unseeing　eyes；　her　fingers　plucking　and　tearing　at　the　lace　of　her　dress；　her　voice　was　faint　and　small；　like　the　voice　of　a　little　child。

〃II　am　afraid　to　be　alone。　　Oh；　I　must　never　be　alone　again　so　long　as　I　shall　live。　　I　think　I　should　die。〃

〃And　you　never　shall　be；　never　again。　　Ah；　this　is　my　birthday；　too；　sweetheart。　　I　am　born　again　to…night。〃

Laura　clung　to　his　arm；　it　was　as　though　she　were　in　the　dark；　surrounded　by　the　vague　terrors　of　her　girlhood。　　〃And　you　will　always　love　me；　love　me；　love　me？〃　she　whispered。　　〃Sheldon；　Sheldon；　love　me　always；　always；　with　all　your　heart　and　soul　and　strength。〃

Tears　stood　in　Corthell's　eyes　as　he　answered：

〃God　forgive　whoeverwhatever　has　brought　you　to　this　pass；〃　he　said。

And；　as　if　it　were　a　realisation　of　his　thought；　there　suddenly　came　to　the　ears　of　both　the　roll　of　wheels　upon　the　asphalt　under　the　carriage　porch　and　the　trampling　of　iron…shod　hoofs。

〃Is　that　your　husband？〃　Corthell's　quick　eye　took　in　Laura's　disarranged　coiffure；　one　black　lock　low　upon　her　neck；　the　roses　at　her　shoulder　crushed　and　broken；　and　the　bright　spot　on　either　cheek。

〃Is　that　your　husband？〃

〃My　husbandI　don't　know。〃　　She　looked　up　at　him　with　unseeing　eyes。　　〃Where　is　my　husband？　　I　have　no　husband。　_You　are　letting　me　remember；_〃　she　cried；　in　terror。　　〃You　are　letting　me　remember。　　Ah；　no；　no；　you　don't　love　me！　I　hate　you！〃

Quickly　he　bent　and　kissed　her。

〃I　will　come　for　you　to…morrow　evening；〃　he　said。　　〃You　will　be　ready　then　to　go　with　me？〃

〃Ready　then？　　Yes；　yes；　to　go　with　you　anywhere。〃

He　stood　still　a　moment；　listening。　　Somewhere　a　door　closed。　　He　heard　the　hoofs　upon　the　asphalt　again。

〃Good…by；〃　he　whispered。　　〃God　bless　you！　Good…by　till　to…morrow　night。〃　　And　with　the　words　he　was　gone。　　The　front　door　of　the　house　closed　quietly。

Had　he　come　back　again？　　Laura　turned　in　her　place　on　the　long　divan　at　the　sound　of　a　heavy　tread　by　the　door　of　the　library。

Then　an　uncertain　hand　drew　the　heavy　curtain　aside。　Jadwin；　her　husband；　stood　before　her；　his　eyes　sunken　deep　in　his　head；　his　face　dead　white；　his　hand　shaking。　　He　stood　for　a　long　instant　in　the　middle　of　the　room；　looking　at　her。　　Then　at　last　his　lips　moved：

〃Old　girl。。。。　Honey。〃

Laura　rose；　and　all　but　groped　her　way　towards　him；　her　heart　beating；　the　tears　streaming　down　her　face。

〃My　husband；　my　husband！〃

Together　they　made　their　way　to　the　divan；　and　sank　down　upon　it　side　by　side