one basket(一个篮子)-第37节
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go home to dinner； but would bring their lunches and cook coffee over a
little gas heater in the corner。 Julia Gold； especially； drank quantities of
coffee。 Aunt Sophy had hired her from Chicago。 She had been with her
for five years。 She said Julia was the best trimmer she had ever had。
Aunt Sophy often took her to New York or Chicago on her buying trips。
Julia had not much genius for original design； or she never would have
been content to be head milliner in a small…town shop。 But she could
copy a fifty…dollar model from memory down to the last detail of crown
and brim。 It was a gift that made her invaluable。
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The boy； Eugene； used to like to look at Julia Gold。 Her hair was
very black and her face was very white； and her eyebrows met in a thick
dark line。 Her face as she bent over her work was sullen and brooding；
but when she lifted her head suddenly； in conversation； you were startled
by a vivid flash of teeth and eyes and smile。 Her voice was deep and low。
She made you a little uncomfortable。 Her eyes seemed always to be
asking something。 Around the worktable； mornings； she used to relate
the dream she had had the night before。 In these dreams she was always
being pursued by a lover。 〃And then I woke up； screaming。〃 Neither
she nor the sewing girls knew what she was revealing in these confidences
of hers。 But Aunt Sophy； the shrewd； somehow sensed it。
〃You're alone too much； evenings。 That's what comes of living in a
boardinghouse。 You come over to me for a week。 The change will do
you good； and it'll be nice for me； too； having somebody to keep me
company。〃
Julia often came for a week or ten days at a time。 Julia； about the
house after supper； was given to those vivid splashy negligees with big
flower patterns strewn over them。 They made her hair look blacker and
her skin whiter by contrast。 Sometimes Eugene or Adele or both would
drop in and the four would play bridge。 Aunt Sophy played a shrewd and
canny game； Adele a rather brilliant one； Julia a wild and disastrous hand；
always； and Eugene so badly that only Julia would take him on as a
partner。 Mrs。 Baldwin never knew about these evenings。
It was on one of these occasions that Aunt Sophy； coming
unexpectedly into the living room from the kitchen； where she and Adele
were foraging for refreshments after the game； beheld Julia Gold and
Eugene； arms clasped about each other； cheek to cheek。 They started up
as she came in and faced her； the woman defiantly； the boy bravely。 Julia
Gold was thirty （with reservations） at that time； and the boy not quite
twenty…one。 〃How long？〃 said Aunt Sophy； quietly。 She had a
mayonnaise spoon and a leaf of lettuce in her hand then； and still she did
not look comic。
〃I'm crazy about her；〃 said Eugene。 〃We're crazy about each other。
We're going to be married。〃
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Aunt Sophy listened for the reassuring sound of Adele's spoons and
plates in the kitchen。 She came forward。 〃Now； listen〃 she began。
〃I love him；〃 said Julia Gold； dramatically。 〃I love him！〃
Except that it was very white and； somehow； old…looking； Aunt
Sophy's face was as benign as always。 〃Now； look here； Julia； my girl。
That isn't love； and you know it。 I'm an old maid； but I know what love
is when I see it。 I'm ashamed of you； Julia。 Sensible woman like you；
hugging and kissing a boy like that； and old enough to be his mother。〃
〃Now； look here； Aunt Sophy！ If you're going to talk that way
Why； she's wonderful。 She's taught me what it means to really〃
〃Oh； my land！〃 Aunt Sophy sat down； looking suddenly very ill。
And then； from the kitchen； Adele's clear young voice： 〃Heh！
What's the idea！ I'm not going to do all the work。 Where's everybody？〃
Aunt Sophy started up again。 She came up to them and put a hand
a capable； firm； steadying handon the arm of each。 The woman drew
back； but the boy did not。
〃Will you promise me not to do anything for a week？ Just a week！
Will you promise me？ Will you？〃
〃Are you going to tell Father？〃
〃Not for a week； if you'll promise not to see each other in that week。
No； I don't want to send you away； Julia； I don't want to。 。 。 。 You're not a
bad girl。 It's justhe's never hadat home they never gave him a chance。
Just a week； Julia。 Just a week； Eugene。 We can talk things over then。〃
Adele's footsteps coming from the kitchen。
〃Quick！〃
〃I promise；〃 said Eugene。 Julia said nothing。
〃Well； really；〃 said Adele； from the doorway； 〃you're a nervy lot；
sitting around while I slave in the kitchen。 Gene； see if you can open the
olives with this fool can opener。 I tried。〃
There is no knowing what she expected to do in that week； Aunt
Sophy； what miracle she meant to perform。 She had no plan in her mind。
Just hope。 She looked strangely shrunken and old； suddenly。 But when；
three days later； the news came that America was to go into the war she
had her answer。
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Flora was beside herself。 〃Eugene won't have to go。 He isn't old
enough； thank God！ And by the time he is it will be over。 Surely。〃
She was almost hysterical。
Eugene was in the room。 Aunt Sophy looked at him and he looked at
Aunt Sophy。 In her eyes was a question。 In his was the answer。 They
said nothing。 The next day Eugene enlisted。 In three days he was gone。
Flora took to her bed。 Next day Adele； a faint； unwonted color marking
her cheeks； walked into her mother's bedroom and stood at the side of the
recumbent figure。 Her father； his hands clasped behind him； was pacing
up and down； now and then kicking a cushion that had fallen to the floor。
He was chewing a dead cigar； one side of his face twisted curiously over
the cylinder in his mouth so that he had a sinister and crafty look。
〃Charnsworth； won't you please stop ramping up and down like that！
My nerves are killing me。 I can't help it if the war has done something or
other to your business。 I'm sure no wife could have been more
economical than I have。 Nothing matters but Eugene； anyway。 How
could he do such a thing！ I've given my whole life to my children〃
H。 Charnsworth kicked the cushion again so that it struck the wall at
the opposite side of the room。 Flora drew her breath in between her teeth
as though a knife had entered her heart。
Adele still stood at the side of the bed； looking at her mother。 Her
hands were clasped behind her； too。 In that moment； as she stood there；
she resembled her mother and her father so startlingly and simultaneously
that the two； had they been less absorbed in their own affairs； must have
marked it。
The girl's head came up stiffly。 〃Listen。 I'm going to marry Daniel
Oakley。〃
Daniel Oakley was fifty； and a friend of her father's。 For years he had
been coming to the house and for years she had ridiculed him。 She and
Eugene had called him Sturdy Oak because he was always talking about
his strength and endurance； his walks； his rugged health； pounding his
chest meanwhile and planting his feet far apart。 He and Baldwin had had
business relations as well as friendly ones。
At this announcement Flora screamed and sat up in bed。 H。
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Charnsworth stopped short in his pacing
