the pit-第9节

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It　was　nearly　ten　o'clock　before　breakfast；　such　as　it　was；　was　over。　　They　ate　it　on　the　kitchen　table；　with　the　kitchen　knives　and　forks；　and　over　the　meal；　Page　having　remarked：　〃Well；　what　will　we　do　first？〃　discussed　the　plan　of　campaign。

〃Landry　Court　does　not　have　to　work　to…dayhe　told　me　why；　but　I've　forgottenand　he　said　he　was　coming　up　to　help；〃　observed　Laura；　and　at　once　Aunt　Wess'　smiled。　　Landry　Court　was　openly　and　strenuously　in　love　with　Laura；　and　no　one　of　the　new　house…hold　ignored　the　fact。　　Aunt　Wess'　chose　to　consider　the　affair　as　ridiculous；　and　whenever　the　subject　was　mentioned　spoke　of　Landry　as　〃that　boy。〃

Page；　however；　bridled　with　seriousness　as　often　as　the　matter　came　up。　　Yes；　that　was　all　very　well；　but　Landry　was　a　decent；　hard…working　young　fellow；　with　all　his　way　to　make　and　no　time　to　waste；　and　if　Laura　didn't　mean　that　it　should　come　to　anything　it　wasn't　very　fair　to　him　to　keep　him　dangling　along　like　that。

〃I　guess；〃　Laura　was　accustomed　to　reply；　looking　significantly　at　Aunt　Wess'；　〃that　our　little　girlie　has　a　little　bit　of　an　eye　on　a　certain　hard…working　young　fellow　herself。〃　　And　the　answer　invariably　roused　Page。

〃Now；　Laura；〃　she　would　cry；　her　eyes　snapping；　her　breath　coming　fast。　　〃Now；　Laura；　that　isn't　right　at　all；　and　you　know　I　don't　like　it；　and　you　just　say　it　because　you　know　it　makes　me　cross。　　I　won't　have　you　insinuate　that　I　would　run　after　any　man　or　care　in　the　least　whether　he's　in　love　or　not。　　I　just　guess　I've　got　some　self…respect；　and　as　for　Landry　Court；　we're　no　more　nor　less　than　just　good　friends；　and　I　appreciate　his　business　talents　and　the　way　he　rustles　'round；　and　he　merely　respects　me　as　a　friend；　and　it　don't　go　any　farther　than　that。　　'　An　eye　on　him；'　I　do　declare！　As　if　I　hadn't　yet　to　see　the　man　I'd　so　much　as　look　at　a　second　time。〃

And　Laura；　remembering　her　〃Shakespeare；〃　was　ever　ready　with　the　words：


　　　　　〃The　lady　doth　protest　too　much；　methinks。〃


Just　after　breakfast；　in　fact；　Landry　did　appear。

〃Now；〃　he　began；　with　a　long　breath；　addressing　Laura；　who　was　unwrapping　the　pieces　of　cut　glass　and　bureau　ornaments　as　Page　passed　them　to　her　from　the　depths　of　a　crate。　　〃Now；　I've　done　a　lot　already。　　That's　what　made　me　late。　　I've　ordered　your　newspaper　sent　here；　and　I've　telephoned　the　hotel　to　forward　any　mail　that　comes　for　you　to　this　address；　and　I　sent　word　to　the　gas　company　to　have　your　gas　turned　on〃

〃Oh；　that's　good；〃　said　Laura。

〃Yes；　I　thought　of　that；　the　man　will　be　up　right　away　to　fix　it；　and　I've　ordered　a　cake　of　ice　left　here　every　day；　and　told　the　telephone　company　that　you　wanted　a　telephone　put　in。　　Oh；　yes；　and　the　bottled…　milk　manI　stopped　in　at　a　dairy　on　the　way　up。　　Now；　what　do　we　do　first？〃

He　took　off　his　coat；　rolled　up　his　shirt　sleeves；　and　plunged　into　the　confusion　of　crates　and　boxes　that　congested　the　rooms　and　hallways　on　the　first　floor　of　the　house。　　The　two　sisters　could　hear　him　attacking　his　task　with　tremendous　blows　of　the　kitchen　hammer。　From　time　to　time　he　called　up　the　stairway：

〃Hey；　what　do　you　want　done　with　this　jardiniere　thing？　。。。　Where　does　this　hanging　lamp　go；　Laura？〃

Laura；　having　unpacked　all　the　cut…glass　ornaments；　came　down…stairs；　and　she　and　Landry　set　about　hanging　the　parlour　curtains。

Landry　fixed　the　tops　of　the　window　mouldings　with　a　piercing　eye；　his　arms　folded。

〃I　see；　I　see；〃　he　answered　to　Laura's　explanations。　〃I　see。　　Now　where's　a　screw…driver；　and　a　step…ladder？　Yes；　and　I'll　have　to　have　some　brass　nails；　and　your　hired　man　must　let　me　have　that　hammer　again。〃

He　sent　the　cook　after　the　screw…driver；　called　the　hired　man　from　the　furnace；　shouted　upstairs　to　Page　to　ask　for　the　whereabouts　of　the　brass　nails；　and　delegated　Laura　to　steady　the　step…ladder。

〃Now；　Landry；〃　directed　Laura；　〃those　rods　want　to　be　about　three　inches　from　the　top。〃

〃Well；〃　he　said；　climbing　up；　〃I'll　mark　the　place　with　the　screw　and　you　tell　me　if　it　is　right。〃

She　stepped　back；　her　head　to　one　side。

〃No；　higher；　Landry。　　There；　that's　about　itor　a　_little_　lowerso。　　That's　_just_　right。　　Come　down　now　and　help　me　put　the　hooks　in。〃

They　pulled　a　number　of　sofa　cushions　together　and　sat　down　on　the　floor　side　by　side；　Landry　snapping　the　hooks　in　place　where　Laura　had　gathered　the　pleats。　Inevitably　his　hands　touched　hers；　and　their　heads　drew　close　together。　　Page　and　Mrs。　Wessels　were　unpacking　linen　in　the　upstairs　hall。　　The　cook　and　hired　man　raised　a　great　noise　of　clanking　stove　lids　and　grates　as　they　wrestled　with　the　range　in　the　kitchen。

〃Well；〃　said　Landry；　〃you　are　going　to　have　a　pretty　home。〃　　He　was　meditating　a　phrase　of　which　he　purposed　delivering　himself　when　opportunity　afforded。　　It　had　to　do　with　Laura's　eyes；　and　her　ability　of　understanding　him。　　She　understood　him；　she　was　to　know　that　he　thought　so；　that　it　was　of　immense　importance　to　him。　　It　was　thus　he　conceived　of　the　manner　of　love　making。　　The　evening　before　that　palavering　artist　seemed　to　have　managed　to　monopolise　her　about　all　of　the　time。　　Now　it　was　his　turn；　and　this　day　of　household　affairs；　of　little　domestic　commotions；　appeared　to　him　to　be　infinitely　more　desirous　than　the　pomp　and　formality　of　evening　dress　and　opera　boxes。　This　morning　the　relations　between　himself　and　Laura　seemed　charming；　intimate；　unconventional；　and　full　of　opportunities。　　Never　had　she　appeared　prettier　to　him。　She　wore　a　little　pink　flannel　dressing…sack　with　full　sleeves；　and　her　hair；　carelessly　twisted　into　great　piles；　was　in　a　beautiful　disarray；　curling　about　her　cheeks　and　ears。　〃I　didn't　see　anything　of　you　at　all　last　night；〃　he　grumbled。

〃Well；　you　didn't　try。〃

〃Oh；　it　was　the　Other　Fellow's　turn；〃　he　went　on。　〃Say；〃　he　added；　〃how　often　are　you　going　to　let　me　come　to　see　you　when　you　get　settled　here？　　Twice　a　weekthree　times？〃

〃As　if　you　wanted　to　see　me　as　often　as　that。　　Why；　Landry；　I'm　growing　up　to　be　an　old　maid。　　You　can't　want　to　lose　your　time　calling　on　old　maids。〃

He　was　voluble　in　protestations。　　He　was　tired　of　young　girls。　　They　were　all　very　well　to　dance　with；　but　when　a　man　got　too　old　for　that　sort　of　thing；　be　wanted　some　one　with　sense　to　talk　to。　　Yes；　he　did。　　Some　one　with　_sense。_　　Why；　he　would　rather　talk　five　minutes　with　her

〃Honestly；　Landry？〃　she　asked；　as　though　he　were　telling　a　thing　incredible。

He　swore　to　her　it　was　true。　　His　eyes　snapped。　　He　struck　his　palm　with　his　fist。

〃An　old　maid　like　me？〃　repeated　Laura。

〃Old　maid　nothing！〃　he　vociferated。　　〃Ah；〃　he　cried；　〃you　seem　to　understand　me。　　When　I　look　at　you；　straight　into　your　eyes〃

From　the　doorway　the　cook　announced　that　the　man　with　the　last　load　of　furnace　coal　had　come；　and　handed　Laura　the　voucher　to　sign。　　Then　needs　must　that　Laura　go　with　the　cook　to　see　if　the　range　was　finally　and　properly　adjusted；　and　while　she　was　gone　the　man　from　the　gas　company　called　to　turn　on　the　meter；　and　Landry　was　obliged　to　look　after　him。　　It　was　half　an　hour　before　he　and　Laura　could　once　more　settle　themselves　on　the　cushions　in　the　parlour。

〃Such　a　lot　of　things　to　do；〃　she　said；　〃and　you　are　such　a　help；　Landry。　　It　was　so　dear　of　you　to　want　to　come。〃

〃I　would　do　anything　in　the　world　for　you；　Laura；〃　he　exclaimed；　encouraged　by　her　words；　〃anything。　　You　know　I　would。　　It　isn't　so　much　that　I　want　you　to　care　for　meand　I　guess　I　want　_that_　bad　enoughbut　it's　because　I　love　to　be　with　you；　and　be　helping　you；　and　all　that　sort　of　thing。　　Now；　all　this；〃　he　waved　a　hand　at　the　confusion　of　furniture；　〃all　this　to…dayI　just　feel；〃　he　declared　with　tremendous　earnestness；　〃I　just　feel　as　though　I　were　entering　into　your　life。　And　just　sitting　here　beside　you　and　putting　in　these　curtain　hooks；　I　want　you　to　know　that　it's　inspiring　to　me。　　Yes；　it　is；　inspiring；　it's　elevating。　　You　don't　know　how　it　makes　a　man　feel　to　have　the　companionship　of　a　good　and　lovely　woman。〃

〃Landry；　as　though　I　were　all　that。　　Here；　put　another　hook　in　here。〃

She　held　the　fold　towards　him。　　But　he　took　her　hand　as　their　fingers　touched　and　raised　it　to　his　lips　and　kissed　it。　　She　did　not　withdraw　it；　nor　rebuke　him；　crying　out　instead；　as　though　occupied　with　quite　another　matter：

〃Landry；　careful；　my　dear　boy；　you'll　make　me　prick　my　fingers。　　Ahthere；　you　did。〃

He　was　all　commiseration　and　self…reproach　at　once；　and　turned　her　hand　palm　upwards；　looking　for　the　scratch。

〃Um！〃　she　breathed。　　〃It　hurts。〃

〃Where　now；〃　he　cried；　〃where　was　it？　　Ah；　I　was　a　beast；　I'm　so　ashamed。〃　　She　indicated　a　spot　on　her　wrist　instead　of　her　fingers；　and　very　naturally　Landry　kissed　it　again。

〃How　foolish！〃　she　remonstrated。　　〃The　idea！　As　if　I　wasn't　old　enough　to　be〃

〃You're　not　so　old　but　what　you're　going　to　marry　me　some　day；〃　he　declared。

〃How　perfectly　silly；　Landry！〃　she　retorted。　　〃Aren't　you　done　with　my　hand　yet？〃

〃No；　indeed；〃　he　cried；　his　clasp　tightening　over　her　fingers。　　〃It's　mine。　　You　can't　have　it　till　I　sayor　till　you　say　thatsome　dayyou'll　give　it　to　me　for　goodfor　better　or　for　worse。〃

〃As　if　you　really　meant　that；〃　she　said；　willing　to　prolong　the　little　situation。　　It　was　very　sweet