the pupil-第12节
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protection； it would leave Mr。 Moreen and herself so much more free
to give the proper attention （too little； alas！ had been given） to
the readjustment of their affairs。
〃We trust you … we feel we CAN；〃 said Mrs。 Moreen； slowly rubbing
her plump white hands and looking with compunction hard at Morgan；
whose chin； not to take liberties； her husband stroked with a
paternal forefinger。
〃Oh yes … we feel that we CAN。 We trust Mr。 Pemberton fully；
Morgan；〃 Mr。 Moreen pursued。
Pemberton wondered again if he might pretend not to understand； but
everything good gave way to the intensity of Morgan's
understanding。 〃Do you mean he may take me to live with him for
ever and ever？〃 cried the boy。 〃May take me away； away； anywhere
he likes？〃
〃For ever and ever？ Comme vous…y…allez！〃 Mr。 Moreen laughed
indulgently。 〃For as long as Mr。 Pemberton may be so good。〃
〃We've struggled； we've suffered；〃 his wife went on； 〃but you've
made him so your own that we've already been through the worst of
the sacrifice。〃
Morgan had turned away from his father … he stood looking at
Pemberton with a light in his face。 His sense of shame for their
common humiliated state had dropped； the case had another side …
the thing was to clutch at THAT。 He had a moment of boyish joy；
scarcely mitigated by the reflexion that with this unexpected
consecration of his hope … too sudden and too violent； the turn
taken was away from a GOOD boy's book … the 〃escape〃 was left on
their hands。 The boyish joy was there an instant； and Pemberton
was almost scared at the rush of gratitude and affection that broke
through his first abasement。 When he stammered 〃My dear fellow；
what do you say to THAT？〃 how could one not say something
enthusiastic？ But there was more need for courage at something
else that immediately followed and that made the lad sit down
quietly on the nearest chair。 He had turned quite livid and had
raised his hand to his left side。 They were all three looking at
him； but Mrs。 Moreen suddenly bounded forward。 〃Ah his darling
little heart！〃 she broke out； and this time； on her knees before
him and without respect for the idol； she caught him ardently in
her arms。 〃You walked him too far； you hurried him too fast！〃 she
hurled over her shoulder at Pemberton。 Her son made no protest；
and the next instant； still holding him； she sprang up with her
face convulsed and with the terrified cry 〃Help； help！ he's going；
he's gone！〃 Pemberton saw with equal horror； by Morgan's own
stricken face； that he was beyond their wildest recall。 He pulled
him half out of his mother's hands； and for a moment； while they
held him together； they looked all their dismay into each other's
eyes； 〃He couldn't stand it with his weak organ；〃 said Pemberton …
〃the shock； the whole scene； the violent emotion。〃
〃But I thought he WANTED to go to you！〃； wailed Mrs。 Moreen。
〃I TOLD you he didn't； my dear；〃 her husband made answer。 Mr。
Moreen was trembling all over and was in his way as deeply affected
as his wife。 But after the very first he took his bereavement as a
man of the world。
End
