frances waldeaux-第21节

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！



〃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　a　pause。　　〃My　income　is　small。　　Of　course　George　soon　will　be　coining　money；　but　just　now　　The　peach　crop　failed　this　year　too。　　And　I　save　every　dollar　for　Jack's　education。〃

〃But　what　of　the　jokes　for　the　New　York　paper？　　They　were　profitable。〃

〃Oh；　I　gave　them　up　long　ago。〃　She　glanced　around　cautiously。　　〃Never　speak　of　that；　Clara。　　I　would　not　have　George　know　for　the　world；　I　never　would　hold　up　my　head　if　he　knew　that　I　was　‘Quigg。'〃

Miss　Vance　gave　a　contemptuous　sniff；　but　Mrs。　Waldeaux　went　on　eagerly；　〃I　have　a　plan！　　You　know　that　swampy　tract　of　ours　near　Lewes？　　When　I　have　enough　money　I'll　drain　it　and　lay　out　a　summer　resorthotelscottages。　　I'll　develop　it　as　I　sell　the　lots。　　Oh；　Jack　shall　have　his　millions　yet　to　do　great　work　in　the　world！〃　her　eyes　sparkling。　　〃Though　perhaps　he　may　choose　to　strip　himself　of　everything　to　give　to　the　poor；　like　Francis　d'Assisi！　　That　would　be　best　of　all。　　It's　not　unlikely。　　He　is　the　most　generous　boy！〃

〃Stuff！〃　said　Miss　Vance。　　〃St。　Francis；　indeed！　　I　observe；　by　the　way；　that　he　crosses　himself　after　his　meals。　　Are　you　making　a　Romanist　of　the　child？　　And　you　speak　French　to　him；　too？〃

Mrs。　Waldeaux's　color　rose。　　〃His　mother　was　French　and　Catholic；〃　she　said。　　〃I　will　not　have　Lisa　forgotten。〃

They　went　on　in　silence。　　Miss　Vance　was　lost　in　thought。　　Was　George　Waldeaux　equally　eager　to　keep　his　wife's　memory　alive？　　Now　that　the　conceit　had　been　beaten　out　of　him；　he　would　not　make　a　bad　husband。　　And　her　child　Lucy　had　alwaysesteemed　him　highly。



CHAPTER　XVIII

The　next　day　was　Sunday。　　George　jumped　out　of　bed　with　the　dawn。　　He　whistled　and　sang　scraps　of　songs　as　he　took　his　bath。　　The　sun　shone。　　What　a　full；　happy　world　it　was；　anyhow！　　And　he　had　given　up　the　game　last　night？　　Why；　life　was　just　beginning　for　him！　　He　was　nothing　but　a　boynot　yet　thirty。　　He　would　make　a　big　success　soon；　and　then　try　to　winto　win　　He　stopped；　breathless；　looking　into　the　distance；　and　his　eyes　slowly　grew　wet　with　passion　and　longing。

He　left　the　house　and　struck　across　the　country　through　the　woodland　and　farms。　　He　did　not　know　why　he　wenthe　had　to　go。　　When　he　reached　the　Dunbar　woods；　he　stood　in　the　thicket　for　hours；　watching　the　house。　　She　came　out　at　last　and　sat　down　on　the　steps　to　play　with　the　dog。　　Last　night　in　her　white；　delicate　beauty　she　had　not　seemed　realshe　was　far　off；　like　an　angel　coming　down　into　his　depths　of　misery。

But　to…day　she　sat　on　the　steps　in　her　pretty　blue　gown；　and　laughed　and　rolled　Tramp　over；　and　sung　snatches　of　songs；　and　was　nothing　but　a　foolish　girl。　　For　so　many　years　he　had　been　thinking　of　work　and　money…making　and　bosses。　　All　of　that　mean　drudgery　fell　out　of　sight　now。　　He　was　a　man；　young；　alone；　on　fire　with　hope　and　passion。　　His　share　of　life　had　been　mean　and　pinched；　yonder　was　youth　and　gladness　and　tranquillity。　　The　world　was　empty；　save　for　themselves。　　He　was　here；　and　there　was　the　one　woman　in　itthe　one　woman。

He　looked　at　his　tanned；　rough　fingers。　　Last　night　she　had　folded　them　in　her　two　soft　little　hands；　and　drawn　him　onon　into　home！

He　would　go　up　to　her　now　and　tell　her

George　pushed　aside　the　bushes；　but　at　that　moment　Lucy　rose　and　went　into　the　house。　　After　a　moment　he　crossed　the　lawn　and　sat　down　on　the　piazza；　calling　the　dog　to　him。　　She　would　come　back　soon。　　Tramp's　head　rested　on　his　knee　as　he　stroked　it。　　It　was　here　her　hand　had　touched　itand　here

The　scent　of　roses　was　heavy　in　the　sunshine；　the　bees　hummed；　he　sat　there　in　a　hazy　dream；　waiting　for　the　door　to　open　and　the　joy　of　his　life　to　begin。

He　was　dragged　roughly　enough　out　of　his　dream。

Miss　Dunbar's　landau　drove　to　the　door　to　take　her　to　church。　　George　looked　up；　carelessly　noting　how　quiet　and　perfectly　appointed　it　was；　from　the　brown　liveries　of　the　negro　coachman　and　footman　to　the　trappings　on　the　black　ponies。　　There　were　no　horses　of　such　high　breed　in　Delaware。　　He　stood　up　suddenly；　his　jaws　pale　as　if　he　had　been　struck。　　What　money　there　was　in　it！　　He　had　forgotten。　　She　was　a　great　heiress。

She　came　out　at　the　moment。　　He　scanned　her　fiercely；　the　plain；　costly　gown；　the　ruby　blazing　on　her　ungloved　hand。　　Then　he　glanced　down　at　his　own　shabby　Sunday　suit。　　She　was　the　richest　woman　in　Delaware；　and　he　had　not　a　dollar　in　his　pocket；　and　no　way　to　earn　one。

He　went　up　to　her；　courteously　took　her　hand　when　she　held　it　out；　blushing　and　dimpling；　bowed　to　her　aunt；　saying　that　he　had　merely　walked　over　to　put　her　into　her　carriage；　and；　having　shut　the　door；　looked　after　them；　hat　in　hand；　smiling　when　she　glanced　shyly　back　at　him。

Then　he　laughed　loudly。　　If　he　had　the　salary　that　she　paid　her　negro　driver　he　would　be　lucky！　　And　he　had　meant　to　marry　her。　　He　laughed　again　and　took　his　way　homeward。


CHAPTER　XIX

His　mother　was　waiting　to　give　George　his　breakfast。　　Whether　he　chose　to　lie　in　bed　until　noon　or　to　walk　twenty　miles　at　dawn；　she　smiled　a　joyful　approval。　　But　neither　the　crisp　toast；　nor　the　fried　chicken；　nor　any　of　her　funny　stories；　would　penetrate　the　blackness　of　his　gloom。

〃Oh；　by　the　way！〃　she　said；　〃here　is　a　letter　that　came　by　last　night's　mail。　　I　forgot　to　give　it　to　you。〃

He　glanced　at　the　envelope。　　〃Great　Heavens！　　It　is　life　and　death　to　me；　and　you　forget　it　to　tell　Jack's　pert　sayings！〃　　He　read　the　letter　and　threw　it　down。

〃What　is　it；　George？〃　she　asked　humbly。

〃Burnett　&　Hoyle　offer　me　a　place　in　their　house。〃

〃Mr。　Hoyle　is　an　old　friend　of　mine。　　I　wrote　to　him。　　What　is　the　salary；　George？〃

〃Forty　dollars　a　week。　　I　could　earn　more　as　a　coachmanfor　some　rich　heiress。〃

〃But　George　dear　　It　would　be　a　beginning。　　They　are　brokers；　and　there　are　so　many　short　cuts　to　fortune　in　that　business！　　Do　try　it；　my　son。〃

〃Of　course　I'll　try　it。　　Do　you　think　I'm　a　fool？　　It　will　keep　me　from　starving。　　But　I　want　something　else　in　life　than　to　be　kept　from　starving；　mother。〃

He　stretched　out　his　arms　with　a　groan；　and　walked　to　the　window。　　She　followed　him　with　wretched；　comprehending　eyes。　　Why　did　not　Lucy　give　him　her　fortune？　　Any　woman　would　be　honored　who　could　give　George　her　fortune。

〃I　always　have　heard　that　brokers　know　the　short　cuts　to　wealth；〃　she　said　calmly。　　〃You　go　on　the　Street　some　day；　and　come　back　a　millionaire。〃

〃That　is　a　woman's　idea　of　business。　　Instead；　I　will　sit　on　a　high　stool　and　drudge　all　day；　and　on　Saturday　get　my　wages；　and　after　three　or　four　years　I'll　make　a　fight　for　ten　dollars　more　a　week；　and　thank　God　if　I　get　it。　　‘A　short　cut　to　fortune！'〃

Mrs。　Waldeaux　carefully　averted　her　eyes　from　him。　〃You　may　marry；〃　she　said；　〃and　it　may　happen　that　your　wife　also　will　have　some　little　income〃

〃Mother！　　Look　at　me！〃　he　interrupted　her　sternly。　　〃I　will　never　be　dependent　on　my　wife；　so　help　me　God！　〃

〃No；　George；　no！　　Of　course　not。　　Don't　speak　so　loud。　　Only；　I　thought　if　she　had　a　small　sum　of　her　own；　she　would　feel　more　comfortable；　that's　all。〃


In　spite　of　his　ill　temper　George　threw　himself　into　his　work　with　zeal。　　After　a　couple　of　months　he　came　home　for　a　day。　　He　was　dressed　with　the　quiet　elegance　which　once　had　been　so　important　in　his　eyes。

His　mother　noted　it　shrewdly。　　〃A　man　has　more　courage　to　face　life；　decently　clothed；〃　she　said　to　herself。

He　did　not　come　again　until　winter。　　Lucy　happened　to　be　spending　the　day　with　Mrs。　Waldeaux。　　There　were　no　liveried　servants；　no　priceless　rings；　no　Worth　gown　in　sight。　　She　was　just　the　shy；　foolish　girl　whom　he　had　once　for　an　hour　looked　upon　as　his　wife。　　George　talked　about　Wall　Street　to　her；　being　now　wise　as　to　stocks；　took　her　out　sleighing；　and　when　in　the　evening　she　took　Jack　in　her　arms　and　sang　him　to　sleep；　sat　listening　with　his　head　buried　in　his　hands。　　Mrs。　Waldeaux　carried　the　boy　up　to　bed；　and　Lucy　and　George　were　left　alone。　　They　talked　long　and　earnestly。

〃She　consulted　me　about　her　affairs；〃　he　said；　after　she　was　gone；　his　eyes　shining。

〃I　am　afraid　she　does　not　understand　business！〃　Mrs。　Waldeaux　replied　anxiously。

〃Oh；　like　a　woman！　　That　is；　not　at　all。　　Her　whole　property　is　in　the　hands　of　The　Consolidated　Good　Faith　Companies。　　I　reminded　her　of　the　old　adage；　‘Never　put　all　of　your　eggs　into　one　basket。'〃

〃But　that　is　so　sound　a　basket；　George！〃　〃Yes。　　It　is　thought　so；〃　with　a　shrug。

〃Poor　child！　　She　needs　a　guardian　to　advise　her。〃

Waldeaux's　countenance　grew　black。　　〃She　should　employ　an　attorney。　　It　certainly　will　never　be　my　duty　to　advise　Miss　Dunbar；〃　he　retorted　irritably。


George　showed　himself　shrewd　and　able　in　his　work。　　Mr。　Hoyle　was　a　powerful　backer。　　Before　spring　his　salary　was　doubled。　　But　what　was　that？　　The　gulf　between　him　and　the　great　heiress　gaped；　impassable。

Lucy　spent　much　time　with　her　old　friend；　and　Frances　at　last　broke　the　silence　concerning　him。

〃The　boy　never　before　knew　what　love　was。　　And　it　is　you　that　he　loves；　child。〃

〃He　has　not　told　me　so；〃　said　Lucy　coldly。

〃No。　　And　never　will。　　It　is　your　wealth