the fortune hunter(闯世界的人)-第4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！
her cheeks reddened； and she talked fast and laughed a great deal。 As
they passed near him she laughed loudly and called out to Sophie as if she
were not at her elbowshe feared he would not see。 Mr。 Feuerstein
turned his picturesque head； slowly lifted his hat and joined them。 At
once Hilda became silent； listening with rapt attention to the
commonplaces he delivered in sonorous； oracular tones。
As he deigned to talk only to Hilda； who was walking between Sophie
and him； Sophie was free to gaze round。 She spied Otto Heilig drooping
dejectedly along。 She adroitly steered her party so that it crossed his path。
He looked up to find himself staring at Hilda。 She frowned at this
disagreeable apparition into her happiness； and quickened her step。 But
Sophie； without letting go of Hilda's hand； paused and spoke to Otto。
Thus Hilda was forced to stop and to say ungraciously： ‘‘Mr。 Feuerstein；
Mr。 Heilig。''
Then she and Mr。 Feuerstein went on； and Sophie drew the reluctant
Otto in behind them。 She gradually slackened her pace； so that she and
Heilig dropped back until several couples separated them from Hilda and
Mr。 Feuerstein。 A few minutes and Hilda and Mr。 Feuerstein were seated
on a bench in the deep shadow of a tree； Sophie and Heilig walking slowly
to and fro a short distance away。
Heilig was miserable with despondent jealousy。 He longed to inquire
about this remarkable…looking new friend of Hilda's。 For Mr。 Feuerstein
12
… Page 13…
THE FORTUNE HUNTER
seemed to be of that class of strangers whom Avenue A condemns on
their very appearance。 It associates respectability with work only； and it
therefore suspects those who look as if they did not work and did not
know how。 Sophie was soon answering of her own accord the questions
Heilig as a gentleman could not ask。 ‘‘You must have heard of Mr。
Feuerstein？ He's an actor at the German Theater。 I don't think he's
much of an actorhe's one of the kind that do all their acting off the stage。''
Heilig laughed unnaturally。 He did not feel like laughing； but wished
to show his gratitude to Sophie for this shrewd blow at his enemy。 ‘‘He's
rigged out like a lunatic； isn't he？'' Otto was thinking of the long hair； the
low…rolling shirt collar and the velvet collar on his coat；light gray； to
match his hat and suit。
‘‘I don't see what Hilda finds in him；'' continued Sophie。 ‘‘It makes
me laugh to look at him； and when he talks I can hardly keep from
screaming in his face。 But Hilda's crazy over him； as you see。 He tells
all sorts of romances about himself； and she believes every word。 I think
she'll marry himyou know； her father lets her do as she pleases。 Isn't it
funny that a sensible girl like Hilda can be so foolish？''
Heilig did not answer this； nor did he heed the talk on love and
marriage which the over…eager Sophie proceeded to give。 And it was talk
worth listening to； as it presented love and marriage in the interesting；
romantic…sensible Avenue A light。 Otto was staring gloomily at the
shadow of the tree。 He would have been gloomier could he have
witnessed the scene to which the unmoral old elm was lending its
impartial shade。
Mr。 Feuerstein was holding Hilda's hand while he looked soulfully
down into her eyes。 She was returning his gaze； her eyes expressing all
the Schwarmerei of which their dark depths were capable at nineteen。
He was telling her what a high profession the actor's was； how great he
was as an actor； how commonplace her life there； how beautiful he could
make it if only he had money。 It was an experience to hear Mr。
Feuerstein say the word ‘‘money。'' Elocution could go no further in
surcharging five letters with contempt。 His was one of those lofty
13
… Page 14…
THE FORTUNE HUNTER
natures that scorn all such matters of intimate concern to the humble； hard…
pressed little human animal as food； clothing and shelter。 He so loathed
money that he would not deign to work for it； and as rapidly as possible
got rid of any that came into his possession。
‘‘Yes； my adorable little princess；'' he rolled out； in the tones which
wove a spell over Hilda。 ‘‘I adore you。 How strange that _I_ should
have wandered into THIS region for my soul's brideand should have
found her！''
Hilda pressed his clasping hand and her heart fluttered。 But she was
as silent and shy as Heilig with her。 What words had she fit to express
response to these exalted emotions？ ‘‘II feel it；'' she said timidly。
‘‘But I can't say it to you。 You must think me very foolish。''
‘‘Noyou need not speak。 I know what you would say。 Our hearts
speak each to the other without words； my beautiful jewel。 And what do
you think your parents will say？''
‘‘II don't know；'' stammered Hilda。
‘‘They are so set on my marrying''she glanced toward Ottohow
ordinary he looked！‘‘marrying anothera merchant like my father。
They think only of what is practical。 I'm so afraid they won't understand…
…US。''
Feuerstein sighedthe darkness prevented her from seeing that he was
also frowning with impatience and irritation。
‘‘But it must be settled at once； my heart's bride；'' he said gently。
‘‘Secrecy； deception are horrible to me。 And I am mad to claim you as
my own。 I could not take you without their consentthat would be
unworthy。 No； I could not grieve their honest hearts！''
Hilda was much disturbed。 She was eminently practical herself；
aside from her fondness for romance； which Mr。 Feuerstein was
developing in a way so unnatural in her surroundings； so foreign to her
education； and she could see just how her father would look upon her
lover。 She feared he would vent plain speech that would cut Mr。
Feuerstein's sensitive soul and embattle his dignity and pride against his
love。 ‘‘I'll speak to them as soon as I can；'' she said。 ‘‘Then you will
14
… Page 15…
THE FORTUNE HUNTER
speak to them to…morrow or next day； my treasure； and I shall see you on
Sunday afternoon。''
‘‘Nonot Sunday afternoon。 I must stay at homefather has ordered
it。''
‘‘Disappointmentdeception postponement！'' Feuerstein struck his
hand upon his brow and sighed tragically。 ‘‘Oh； my little Erebus…haired
angel； how you do test my love！''
Hilda was almost in tearsit was all intensely real to her。 She felt
that he was superfine； that he suffered more than ordinary folk； like herself
and her people。 ‘‘I'll do the best I can；'' she pleaded。
‘‘It would be best for you to introduce them to me at once and let ME
speak。''
‘‘Nono；'' she protested earnestly； terror in her voice and her hand
trembling in his。 ‘‘That would spoil everything。 You wouldn't
understand them； or they you。 I'll speakand see you Monday night。''
‘‘Let it be so；'' he conceded。 ‘‘But I must depart。 I am studying a
new role。'' He had an engagement to take supper with several of his
intimates at the Irving Place cafe； where he could throw aside the heaviest
parts of his pose and give way to his appetite for beer and Schweizerkase
sandwiches。 ‘‘How happy we shall be！'' he murmured tenderly； kissing
her cheek and thinking how hard it was to be practical and k
