the haunted bookshop(闹鬼的书店)-第27节
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At the glass sentry…box in front of the theatre Aubrey insisted on
buying the tickets。
〃We came out right after supper；〃 said Titania as they entered； 〃so as to
get in before the crowd。〃
It is not so easy； however； to get ahead of Brooklyn movie fans。 They
had to stand for several minutes in a packed lobby while a stern young
man held the waiting crowd in check with a velvet rope。 Aubrey sustained
delightful spasms of the protective instinct in trying to shelter Titania from
buffets and pushings。 Unknown to her； his arm extended behind her like an
iron rod to absorb the onward impulses of the eager throng。 A rustling
groan ran through these enthusiasts as they saw the preliminary footage of
the great Tarzan flash onto the screen； and realized they were missing
something。 At last； however； the trio got through the barrier and found
three seats well in front； at one side。 From this angle the flying pictures
were strangely distorted； but Aubrey did not mind。
〃Isn't it lucky I got here when I did；〃 whispered Titania。 〃Mr。 Mifflin
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has just had a telephone call from Philadelphia asking him to go over on
Monday to make an estimate on a library that's going to be sold so I'll be
able to look after the shop for him while he's gone。〃
〃Is that so？〃 said Aubrey。 〃Well； now； I've got to be in Brooklyn on
Monday； on business。 Maybe Mrs。 Mifflin would let me come in and
buy some books from you。〃
〃Customers always welcome；〃 said Mrs。 Mifflin。
〃I've taken a fancy to that Cromwell book；〃 said Aubrey。 〃What do you
suppose Mr。 Mifflin would sell it for？〃
〃I think that book must be valuable；〃 said Titania。 〃Somebody came
in this afternoon and wanted to buy it； but Mr。 Mifflin wouldn't part with it。
He says it's one of his favourites。 Gracious； what a weird film this is！〃
The fantastic absurdities of Tarzan proceeded on the screen； tearing
celluloid passions to tatters； but Aubrey found the strong man of the jungle
coming almost too close to his own imperious instincts。 Was not he； too
he thought naivelya poor Tarzan of the advertising jungle； lost among the
elephants and alligators of commerce； and sighing for this dainty and
unattainable vision of girlhood that had burst upon his burning gaze！ He
stole a perilous side…glance at her profile； and saw the racing flicker of the
screen reflected in tiny spangles of light that danced in her eyes。 He was
even so unknowing as to imagine that she was not aware of his
contemplation。 And then the lights went up。
〃What nonsense； wasn't it？〃 said Titania。 〃I'm so glad it's over！ I was
quite afraid one of those elephants would walk off the screen and tread on
us。〃
〃I never can understand；〃 said Helen； 〃why they don't film some of the
really good booksthink of Frank Stockton's stuff； how delightful that
would be。 Can't you imagine Mr。 and Mrs。 Drew playing in Rudder
Grange！〃
〃Thank goodness！〃 said Titania。 〃Since I entered the book business；
that's the first time anybody's mentioned a book that I've read。 Yesdo you
remember when Pomona and Jonas visit an insane asylum on their
honeymoon？ Do you know； you and Mr。 Mifflin remind me a little of Mr。
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THE HAUNTED BOOKSHOP
and Mrs。 Drew。〃
Helen and Aubrey chuckled at this innocent correlation of ideas。 Then
the organ began to play 〃O How I Hate To Get Up in the Morning〃 and the
ever…delightful Mr。 and Mrs。 Drew appeared on the screen in one of their
domestic comedies。 Lovers of the movies may well date a new screen
era from the day those whimsical pantomimers set their wholesome and
humane talent at the service of the arc light and the lens。 Aubrey felt a
serene and intimate pleasure in watching them from a seat beside Titania。
He knew that the breakfast table scene shadowed before them was only a
makeshift section of lath propped up in some barnlike motion picture
studio； yet his rocketing fancy imagined it as some arcadian suburb where
he and Titania； by a jugglery of benign fate； were bungalowed together。
Young men have a pioneering imagination： it is doubtful whether any
young Orlando ever found himself side by side with Rosalind without
dreaming himself wedded to her。 If men die a thousand deaths before this
mortal coil is shuffled； even so surely do youths contract a thousand
marriages before they go to the City Hall for a license。
Aubrey remembered the opera glasses； which were still in his pocket；
and brought them out。 The trio amused themselves by watching Sidney
Drew's face through the magnifying lenses。 They were disappointed in the
result； however； as the pictures； when so enlarged； revealed all the cobweb
of fine cracks on the film。 Mr。 Drew's nose； the most amusing feature
known to the movies； lost its quaintness when so augmented。
〃Why；〃 cried Titania； 〃it makes his lovely nose look like the map of
Florida。〃
〃How on earth did you happen to have these in your pocket？〃 asked
Mrs。 Mifflin； returning the glasses。
Aubrey was hard pressed for a prompt and reasonable fib； but
advertising men are resourceful。
〃Oh；〃 he said； 〃I sometimes carry them with me at night to study the
advertising sky…signs。 I'm a little short sighted。 You see； it's part of my
business to study the technique of the electric signs。〃
After some current event pictures the programme prepared to repeat
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itself； and they went out。 〃Will you come in and have some cocoa with
us？〃 said Helen as they reached the door of the bookshop。 Aubrey was
eager enough to accept； but feared to overplay his hand。 〃I'm sorry；〃 he
said； 〃but I think I'd better not。 I've got some work to do to…night。 Perhaps
I can drop in on Monday when Mr。 Mifflin's away； and put coal on the
furnace for you； or something of that sort？〃
Mrs。 Mifflin laughed。 〃Surely！〃 she said。 〃You're welcome any
time。〃 The door closed behind them； and Aubrey fell into a profound
melancholy。 Deprived of the heavenly rhetoric of her eye； Gissing Street
seemed flat and dull。
It was still earlynot quite ten o'clockand it occurred to Aubrey that
if he was going to patrol the neighbourhood he had better fix its details in
his head。 Hazlitt； the next street below the bookshop； proved to be a
quiet little byway； cheerfully lit with modest dwellings。 A few paces
down Hazlitt Street a narrow cobbled alley ran through to Wordsworth
Avenue； passing between the back yards of Gissing Street and Whittier
Street。 The alley was totally dark； but by counting off the correct number
of houses Aubrey identified the rear entrance of the bookshop。 He tried the
yard gate cautiously； and found it unlocked。 Glancing in he could see a
light in the kitchen window and assumed that the cocoa was being brewed。
Then a window glowed upstairs； and he was thrilled to see Titania shining
in the lamplight。 She moved to the window and pulled down the blind。
For a moment he saw her head and shoulders silhouetted against the
curtain； then the light went out。
Aubrey stood briefly in sentimental thought。 If he only had a couple
of blankets； he mused； he could camp out here in Roger's back yard all
night。 Surely no harm could come to the girl while he kept watch
beneath her casement！ The idea was just fantastic enough to appeal to
him。 Then； as he stood in the open gateway； he heard distant footfalls
coming down the alley； and a grumble of voices。 Perhaps two policemen
on their rounds； he thought： it would be awkward to be surprised
skulking about back doors at
