太子爷小说网 > 英语电子书 > an episode of fiddletown >

第3节

an episode of fiddletown-第3节

小说: an episode of fiddletown 字数: 每页4000字

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页,按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页,按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部!
————未阅读完?加入书签已便下次继续阅读!




to work with querulous and fretful haste to pack her wardrobe。  She

tore her best dress in taking it from the hook on which it hung:

she scratched her soft hands twice with an ambushed pin。  All the

while; she kept up an indignant commentary on the events of the

past few moments。  She said to herself she saw it all。  Tretherick

had sent for this child of his first wifethis child of whose

existence he had never seemed to carejust to insult her; to fill

her place。  Doubtless the first wife herself would follow soon; or

perhaps there would be a third。  Red hair; not auburn; but REDof

course the child; this Caroline; looked like its mother; and; if

so; she was anything but pretty。  Or the whole thing had been

prepared: this red…haired child; the image of its mother; had been

kept at a convenient distance at Sacramento; ready to be sent for

when needed。  She remembered his occasional visits there on

business; as he said。  Perhaps the mother already was there; but

no; she had gone East。  Nevertheless; Mrs。 Tretherick; in her then

state of mind; preferred to dwell upon the fact that she might be

there。  She was dimly conscious; also; of a certain satisfaction in

exaggerating her feelings。  Surely no woman had ever been so

shamefully abused。  In fancy; she sketched a picture of herself

sitting alone and deserted; at sunset; among the fallen columns of

a ruined temple; in a melancholy yet graceful attitude; while her

husband drove rapidly away in a luxurious coach…and…four; with a

red…haired woman at his side。  Sitting upon the trunk she had just

packed; she partly composed a lugubrious poem describing her

sufferings as; wandering alone and poorly clad; she came upon her

husband and 〃another〃 flaunting in silks and diamonds。  She

pictured herself dying of consumption; brought on by sorrowa

beautiful wreck; yet still fascinating; gazed upon adoringly by the

editor of the AVALANCHE and Colonel Starbottle。  And where was

Colonel Starbottle all this while?  Why didn't he come?  He; at

least; understood her。  Heshe laughed the reckless; light laugh

of a few moments before; and then her face suddenly grew grave; as

it had not a few moments before。



What was that little red…haired imp doing all this time?  Why was

she so quiet?  She opened the door noiselessly; and listened。  She

fancied that she heard; above the multitudinous small noises and

creakings and warpings of the vacant house; a smaller voice singing

on the floor above。  This; as she remembered; was only an open

attic that had been used as a storeroom。  With a half…guilty

consciousness; she crept softly upstairs and; pushing the door

partly open; looked within。



Athwart the long; low…studded attic; a slant sunbeam from a single

small window lay; filled with dancing motes; and only half

illuminating the barren; dreary apartment。  In the ray of this

sunbeam she saw the child's glowing hair; as if crowned by a red

aureole; as she sat upon the floor with her exaggerated doll

between her knees。  She appeared to be talking to it; and it was

not long before Mrs。 Tretherick observed that she was rehearsing

the interview of a half…hour before。  She catechized the doll

severely; cross…examining it in regard to the duration of its stay

there; and generally on the measure of time。  The imitation of Mrs。

Tretherick's manner was exceedingly successful; and the

conversation almost a literal reproduction; with a single

exception。  After she had informed the doll that she was not her

mother; at the close of the interview she added pathetically; 〃that

if she was dood; very dood; she might be her mamma; and love her

very much。〃



I have already hinted that Mrs。 Tretherick was deficient in a sense

of humor。  Perhaps it was for this reason that this whole scene

affected her most unpleasantly; and the conclusion sent the blood

tingling to her cheek。  There was something; too; inconceivably

lonely in the situation。  The unfurnished vacant room; the half…

lights; the monstrous doll; whose very size seemed to give a

pathetic significance to its speechlessness; the smallness of the

one animate; self…centered figureall these touched more or less

deeply the half…poetic sensibilities of the woman。  She could not

help utilizing the impression as she stood there; and thought what

a fine poem might be constructed from this material if the room

were a little darker; the child loneliersay; sitting beside a

dead mother's bier; and the wind wailing in the turrets。  And then

she suddenly heard footsteps at the door below; and recognized the

tread of the colonel's cane。



She flew swiftly down the stairs; and encountered the colonel in

the hall。  Here she poured into his astonished ear a voluble and

exaggerated statement of her discovery; and indignant recital of

her wrongs。  〃Don't tell me the whole thing wasn't arranged

beforehand; for I know it was!〃 she almost screamed。  〃And think;〃

she added; 〃of the heartlessness of the wretch; leaving his own

child alone here in that way。〃



〃It's a blank shame!〃 stammered the colonel; without the least idea

of what he was talking about。  In fact; utterly unable as he was to

comprehend a reason for the woman's excitement; with his estimate

of her character; I fear he showed it more plainly than he

intended。  He stammered; expanded his chest; looked stern; gallant;

tender; but all unintelligently。  Mrs。 Tretherick; for an instant;

experienced a sickening doubt of the existence of natures in

perfect affinity。



〃It's of no use;〃 said Mrs。 Tretherick with sudden vehemence; in

answer to some inaudible remark of the colonel's; and withdrawing

her hand from the fervent grasp of that ardent and sympathetic man。

〃It's of no use: my mind is made up。  You can send for my trunk as

soon as you like; but I shall stay here; and confront that man with

the proof of his vileness。  I will put him face to face with his

infamy。〃



I do not know whether Colonel Starbottle thoroughly appreciated the

convincing proof of Tretherick's unfaithfulness and malignity

afforded by the damning evidence of the existence of Tretherick's

own child in his own house。  He was dimly aware; however; of some

unforeseen obstacle to the perfect expression of the infinite

longing of his own sentimental nature。  But; before he could say

anything; Carry appeared on the landing above them; looking

timidly; and yet half…critically; at the pair。



〃That's her;〃 said Mrs。 Tretherick excitedly。  In her deepest

emotions; in either verse or prose; she rose above a consideration

of grammatical construction。



〃Ah!〃 said the colonel; with a sudden assumption of parental

affection and jocularity that was glaringly unreal and affected。

〃Ah! pretty little girl; pretty little girl!  How do you do?  How

are you?  You find yourself pretty well; do you; pretty little

girl?〃  The colonel's impulse also was to expand his chest and

swing his cane; until it occurred to him that this action might be

ineffective with a child of six or seven。  Carry; however; took no

immediate notice of this advance; but further discomposed the

chivalrous colonel by running quickly to Mrs。 Tretherick and hiding

herself; as if for protection; in the folds of her gown。

Nevertheless; the colonel was not vanquished。  Falling back into an

attitude of respectful admiration; he pointed out a marvelous

resemblance to the 〃Madonna and Child。〃  Mrs。 Tretherick simpered;

but did not dislodge Carry as before。  There was an awkward pause

for a moment; and then Mrs。 Tretherick; motioning significantly to

the child; said in a whisper: 〃Go now。  Don't come here again; but

meet me tonight at the hotel。〃  She extended her hand: the colonel

bent over it gallantly and; raising his hat; the next moment was

gone。



〃Do you think;〃 said Mrs。 Tretherick with an embarrassed voice and

a prodigious blush; looking down; and addressing the fiery curls

just visible in the folds of her dress〃do you think you will be

'dood' if I let you stay in here and sit with me?〃



〃And let me tall you Mamma?〃 queried Carry; looking up。



〃And let you call me Mamma!〃 assented Mrs。 Tretherick with an

embarrassed laugh。



〃Yeth;〃 said Carry promptly。



They entered the bedroom together。  Carry's eye instantly caught

sight of the trunk。



〃Are you dowin' away adain; Mamma?〃 she said with a quick nervous

look; and a clutch at the woman's dress。



〃No…o;〃 said Mrs。 Tretherick; looking out of the window。



〃Only playing your dowin' away;〃 suggested Carry with a laugh。

〃Let me play too。〃



Mrs。 Tretherick assented。  Carry flew into the next room; and

presently reappeared dragging a small trunk; into which she gravely

proceeded to pack her clothes。  Mrs。 Tretherick noticed that they

were not many。  A question or two regarding them brought out some

further replies from the child; and before many minutes had

elapsed; Mrs。 Tretherick was in possession of all her e

返回目录 上一页 下一页 回到顶部 0 0

你可能喜欢的