frances waldeaux-第20节
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。 The times were hard that winter； which of course was against him。 Besides； his critical； haughty air naturally did not prepossess employers in his favor when he came to ask for a job。
At the end of the second year the man broke down。
〃The work of the world；〃 he told Frances； 〃belongs to specialists。 Even a bootblack knows his trade。 I know nothing。 I can do nothing。 I am a mass of flabby pretences。〃
Every month she filled his pocket…book。 She found at last that he did not touch the money。 He sold his clothes and his jewelry to keep himself alive while he tramped the streets of New York looking for work。 He starved himself to make this money last。 His flesh was lead…colored from want of proper food； and he staggered from weakness。 〃‘He that will not work neither let him eat；'〃 he said grimly。
It was about this time that Miss Vance came home。 Mrs。 Waldeaux in a moment of weakness gave her a hint of his defeat。
〃Is the world blind；〃 she cried； 〃to deny work to a man of George's capacity？ What does it mean？〃
Clara heard of George's sufferings with equanimity。 〃The truth is；〃 she said； when she told the story to Miss Dunbar； 〃Frances brought that boy up to believe that he was a Grand Llama among men。 There is no work for Grand Llamas in this country； and when he understands that he is made of very ordinary clay indeed； he will probably be of some use in the world。〃
Lucy was watering her roses。 〃It is a matter of indifference to me；〃 she said； 〃what the people of New York think of Mr。 Waldeaux。〃
Clara looked at her quickly。 〃I do not quite catch your meaning？〃 she said。
But Lucy filled her can； and forgot to answer。
CHAPTER XVII
Clara had brought Miss Dunbar back and established her in her own house near Weir； under the care of a deaf widowed aunt。 Dunbar Place was a stately colonial house； set in a large demesne； and all Kent County waited breathless to know what revelations the heiress would make to it； in the way of equi…pages； marqueterie furniture； or Paris gowns。
Mrs。 Waldeaux found Lucy one day； a month after her arrival； seated at her sewing on the broad； rose…covered piazza； looking as if she never had left it。
〃Have you come to stay now； my dear；〃 she said； 〃or will Prince Wolfburgh〃
〃Oh； that is an old story；〃 interrupted Clara。 〃Lucy handed the little prince over to Jean Hassard； who married him after he had a long fight with her father about her dot。 He won the dot； but Count Odo is now the head of the house。 Jean； I hear； is in Munich fighting her way up among the Herrschaft。〃
〃Jean has good fighting qualities；〃 Lucy said。 〃She will win。〃
〃I had a letter from her to…day；〃 said Miss Vance。 〃Here it is。 She says； ‘I mean to rebuild the Schloss； and I have put a stop to the soap…boiling business。 I will have no fumes of scorching fat in our ancestral halls。 Four of the princesses live with us here in the flat。 Gussy Carson from Pond City is staying with me now。 We have an American tea every Wednesday。 Gus receives with me。'〃
〃Poor princesses！〃 said Lucy。
Miss Vance folded the letter with a complacent nod。 〃I am glad that Jean is settled so satisfactorily；〃 she said。 〃As for Lucy〃
No one answered。 Lucy threaded her needle。
〃I start next week to Chicago； did you know； Frances？ The Bixbystwo orphan heiresseswish me to take them to Australia； coming back by India。 And I suppose；〃 she said； rising impatiently； 〃if I were to stay away forty years I should find Lucy when I came back； with white hair maybe； but sitting calmly sewing； not caring whether there was a man in the world or not！〃
Lucy laughed； but did not even blush。
Mrs。 Waldeaux presently said good…by； and Clara went home with her to spend the night。 Lucy was left alone upon the piazza。 It was there that George Waldeaux saw her again。
This had been the hardest day of his life。 He rose that morning telling himself with an oath that he would earn the money to buy his own food or never eat again。 His mother had sent him a cheque by post。 He tore it up and went out of his cheap lodging…house without breakfast。 There was a queer change in hima sudden lofty independencea sudden loathing of himself。 He knew now that it was not in him to do good work in the world； but at least he would pay his own way。 He had been a mass of vanity and now he was so mean in his own eyes that he shrank from the passers…by。 Perhaps the long strain had damaged the gray matter of the brain； or some nervous centreI do not know what change a physician would have found in him； but the man was changed。
A clerk was needed in a provision shop on Green Street。 George placed himself in the line of dirty； squalid applicants。 The day was hot； the air of the shop was foul with the smells of rotting meat and vegetables。 He felt himself stagger against a stall。 He seemed to be asleep； but he heard the butchers laughing。 They called him a drunken tramp； and then he was hurled out on the muddy pavement。
〃Too much whiskey for this time o' day！〃 a policeman said； hauling him to his feet。
〃Move along； young man！〃
Whiskey？ That was what he wanted。 He turned into a shop and bought a dram with his last pennies。 It made him comfortable for a few hours； then he began to cry and swear。 George Waldeaux had never been drunk in his life。 The ascetic； stainless priest in him stood off and looked at this dog of the gutter with his obscene talk； and then came defeat of soul and body。
〃I give up！〃 he said quietly。 〃I'll never try again。〃
He wandered unconsciously to the ferry and； having his yearly book of tickets in his pocket； took the train for home from force of habit。 He left the cars at a station several miles from Weir； and wandered across the country。 Just at sundown； covered with mud and weak from hunger and drunkenness； he crossed the lawn before Lucy's house and； looking up； saw her。
He had stumbled into a world of peace and purity！ A soft splendor filled the sky and the bay and the green slopes； with their clumps of mighty forest trees。 The air was full of the scents of flowers and the good…night song of happy birds。 And in the midst of it all； lady of the great domain； under her climbing rose vines； sat the young； fair woman； clad in some fleecy white garments； her head bent； her blue eyes fixed on the distancewaiting。
George stopped； sobered by a sudden wrench of his heart。 There was the world to which he belongedthere！ His keen eye noted every delicate detail of her beauty and of her dress。 He was of her sort； her kindhe； kicked into the gutter from that foul shop as a tramp！
This is what I have lost！ his soul cried to him。
He had not as yet recognized Lucy。 But now she saw him； and with a little inarticulate cry like that of a bird； she flew down the steps。 〃Ah！ It is you！〃 she said。 〃I thought you would come to welcome me some time！〃
Her voice was like a soft breath； her airy draperies blew against him。 It was as if a wonderful； beautiful dream were folding him inand in。
He drew back。 〃I am not fit； Miss Dunbar。 I did not know you were here。 Whylook at me！〃
〃Oh！ You are ill！ You have had an accident！〃 she cried。 She had laid her little white fingers on his hand and now； feeling it burn and tremble at her touch； she caught it in both of her own and drew him into the house。
〃Mr。 Waldeaux；〃 she said to a servant who appeared； 〃has had a fall。 Bring him water and towels。 Take care of him； Stephen。〃 She spoke quietly； but her voice trembled with fright。
The man led George to an inner room。
〃Were you thrown； sir？〃 he asked sympathetically。
George hesitated。 〃Yes； I was thrown；〃 he said grimly。
He made himself clean in angry haste； taking the whisk from the man and brushing off the dry mud with a vicious fury。
Lucy came to meet him； with a pale； anxious smile。 〃You must not go without a cup of hot coffee；〃 she said； leading him to a lounge in the hall。 It was very sweet to be treated like a sick man！
〃And God knows I am sick； body and soul！〃 he thought； sinking down。
Beside the lounge was a little table with one cover。 He noted with keen pleasure the delicate napery； the silver candlesticks； the bowl of roses； with which the substantial meal was set out。 Lucy waited on him with the quick intelligence of a trained nurse。 She scarcely spoke； yet her every motion； as she served him； seemed a caress。 When he had finished he began to stammer out his thanks。
〃No；〃 she said； rising decisively。 〃You are too weak to talk to me to…night； Mr。 Waldeaux。 The coupe is at the door。 John will drive you home。 You need sleep now。〃
As he sank down into the luxurious cushions and drove away through the twilight； he saw the little white figure in the door； and the grave wistful face looking after him。
〃Did she suspect！〃 he suddenly cried； starting up。
But George Waldeaux never knew how much Lucy suspected that night。
Meanwhile Mrs。 Waldeaux's mare had jogged on leisurely； dragging her mistress and Miss Vance home through the shady country lanes。
〃Phebe is old；〃 apologized Frances。 〃She really is a retired car horse。〃
〃You used to take pride in your horses； Frances？〃
〃Yes。〃 Mrs。 Waldeaux added after
