classic mystery and detective stories-第85节

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had　handed　him　over　to　the　charge　of　a　bright…eyed　Western　girl；　to

whom　the　whole　story　had　been　told；　and　who　showed　herself　ready

and　anxious　to　help　in　building　up　again　the　broken　life　of　her

English　lover。　　To　judge　from　the　letters　that　we　have　since

received；　she　has　shown　herself　well　fitted　for　the　task。　　Among

other　things　she　has　money；　and　Jack's　worldly　affairs　have　so

prospered　that　George　declares　that　he　can　well　afford　now　to　waste

some　of　his　superfluous　cash　upon　farming　a　few　of　his　elder

brother's　acres。　　The　idea　seems　to　smile　upon　Jack；　and　I　have

every　hope　this　winter　of　being　able　to　institute　an　actual

comparison　between　our　small　boy；　his　namesake；　and　his　own　three…

year…old　Alan。　　The　comparison；　by　the　way；　will　have　to　be

conditional；　for　Jacketthe　name　by　which　my　son　and　heir　is

familiarly　knownis　but　a　little　more　than　two。



I　turn　my　eyes　for　a　moment；　and　they　fall　upon　the　northern　corner

of　the　East　Room；　which　shows　round　the　edge　of　the　house。　　Then

the　skeleton　leaps　from　the　cupboard　of　my　memory；　the　icy　hand

which　lies　ever　near　my　soul　grips　it　suddenly　with　a　chill

shudder。　　Not　for　nothing　was　that　wretched　woman's　life　interwoven

with　my　own；　if　only　for　an　hour；　not　for　nothing　did　my　spirit

harbor　a　conflict　and　an　agony；　which；　thank　God；　are　far　from　its

own　story。　　Though　Margaret　Mervyn's　dagger　failed　to　pierce　my

flesh；　the　wound　in　my　soul　may　never　wholly　be　healed。　　I　know

that　that　is　so；　and　yet　as　I　turn　to　start　through　the　sunshine　to

the　cedar　shade　and　its　laughing　occupants；　I　whisper　to　myself

with　fervent　conviction；　〃It　was　worth　it。〃











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