one basket(一个篮子)-第38节
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Charnsworth stopped short in his pacing and regarded his daughter with a
queer look； a concentrated look； as though what she had said had set in
motion a whole mass of mental machinery within his brain。
〃When did he ask you？〃
〃He's asked me a dozen times。 But it's different now。 All the men
will be going to war。 There won't be any left。 Look at England and
France。 I'm not going to be left。〃 She turned squarely toward her father；
her young face set and hard。 〃You know what I mean。 You know what
I mean。〃
Flora； sitting up in bed； was sobbing。 〃I think you might have told
your mother； Adele。 What are children coming to！ You stand there and
say； ‘I'm going to marry Daniel Oakley。' Oh； I am so faint 。 。 。 all of a
sudden 。 。 。 Get the spirits of ammonia。〃
Adele turned and walked out of the room。 She was married six
weeks later。 They had a regular prewar weddingveil； flowers； dinner；
and all。 Aunt Sophy arranged the folds of her gown and draped her veil。
The girl stood looking at herself in the mirror； a curious half smile twisting
her lips。 She seemed slighter and darker than ever。
〃In all this white； and my veil； I look just like a fly in a quart of milk；〃
she said； with a laugh。 Then； suddenly； she turned to her aunt； who stood
behind her； and clung to her； holding her tight； tight。 〃I can't！〃 she
gasped。 〃I can't！ I can't！〃
Aunt Sophy held her off and looked at her； her eyes searching the girl。
〃What do you mean； Della？ Are you just nervous or do you mean
you don't want to marry him？ Do you mean that？ Then what are you
marrying for？ Tell me！ Tell your Aunt Sophy。〃
But Adele was straightening herself and pulling out the crushed folds
of her veil。 〃To pay the mortgage on the old homestead； of course。 Just
like the girl in the play。〃 She laughed a little。 But Aunt Sophy did not。
〃Now look here； Della。 If you're〃
But there was a knock at the door。 Adele caught up her flowers。
〃It's all right；〃 she said。 Aunt Sophy stood with her back against the door。
〃If it's money；〃 she said。 〃It is！ It is； isn't it！ I've got money saved。
It was for you children。 I've always been afraid。 I knew he was sailing
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pretty close； with his speculations and all； since the war。 He can have it
all。 It isn't too late yet。 Adele！ Della； my baby。〃
〃Don't； Aunt Sophy。 It wouldn't be enough； anyway。 Daniel has
been wonderful； really。 Dad's been stealing money for years。 Dan's。
Don't look like that。 I'd have hated being poor； anyway。
Never could have got used to it。 It is ridiculous； though； isn't it？
Like something in the movies。 I don't mind。 I'm lucky； really； when
you come to think of it。 A plain little black thing like me。〃
〃But your mother〃
〃Mother doesn't know a thing。〃
Flora wept mistily all through the ceremony； but Adele was composed
enough for two。
When； scarcely a month later； Baldwin came to Sophy Decker； his face
drawn and queer； Sophy knew。
〃How much？〃 she said。
〃Thirty thousand will cover it。 If you've got more than that〃
〃I thought OakleyAdele said〃
〃He did； but he won't any more； and this thing's got to be met。 It's
this damned war that's done it。 I'd have been all right。 People got
scared。 They wanted their money。 They wanted it in cash。〃
〃Speculating with it； were you？〃
〃Oh； well； a woman doesn't understand these business deals。〃
〃No； naturally；〃 said Aunt Sophy； 〃a butterfly like me。〃
〃Sophy； for God's sake don't joke now。 I tell you this will cover it；
and everything will be all right。 If I had anybody else to go to for the
money I wouldn't ask you。 But you'll get it back。 You know that。〃
Aunt Sophy got up； heavily； and went over to her desk。 〃It was for
the children； anyway。 They won't need it now。〃
He looked up at that。 Something in her voice。 〃Who won't？ Why
won't they？〃
〃I don't know what made me say that。 I had a dream。〃
〃Eugene？〃
〃Yes。〃
〃Oh； well； we're all nervous。 Flora has dreams every night and
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presentiments every fifteen minutes。 Now； look here； Sophy。 About
this money。 You'll never know how grateful I am。 Flora doesn't
understand these things； but I can talk to you。 It's like this〃
〃I might as well be honest about it；〃 Sophy interrupted。 〃I'm doing it；
not for you； but for Flora； and Dellaand Eugene。 Flora has lived such a
sheltered life。 I sometimes wonder if she ever really knew any of you。
Her husband； or her children。 I sometimes have the feeling that Della
and Eugene are my childrenwere my children。〃
When he came home that night Baldwin told his wife that old Soph
was getting queer。 〃She talks about the children being hers；〃 he said。
〃Oh； well； she's awfully fond of them；〃 Flora explained。 〃And she's
lived her little； narrow life； with nothing to bother her but her hats and her
house。 She doesn't know what it means to suffer as a mother suffers
poor Sophy。〃
〃Um；〃 Baldwin grunted。
When the official notification of Eugene's death came from the War
Department； Aunt Sophy was so calm it might have appeared that Flora
had been right。 She took to her bed now in earnest； did Flora。 Sophy
neglected everything to give comfort to the stricken two。
〃How can you sit there like that！〃 Flora would rail。 〃How can you
sit there like that！ Even if you weren't his mother； surely you must feel
something。〃
〃It's the way he died that comforts me；〃 said Aunt Sophy。
〃What difference does that make！〃
AMERICAN RED CROSS （Croix Rouge Americaine）
MY DEAR MRS。 BALDWIN： I am sure you must have been
officially notified by the U。S。 War Dept。 of the death of your son； Lieut。
Eugene H。 Baldwin。 But I want to write you what I can of his last hours。
I was with him much of that time as his nurse。 I'm sure it must mean
much to a mother to hear from a woman who was privileged to be with her
boy at the last。 Your son was brought to our hospital one night badly
gassed from the fighting in the Argonne Forest。 Ordinarily we do not
receive gassed patients； as they are sent to a special hospital near here。
But two nights before； the Germans wrecked that hospital； so many gassed
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patients have come to us。 Your son was put in the officers' ward；
where the doctors who examined him told me there was absolutely no
hope for him； as he had inhaled so much gas that it was only a matter of a
few hours。
I could scarcely believe that a man so big and strong as he was could
not pull through。 The first bad attack he had； losing his breath and
nearly choking； rather frightened him； although the doctor and I were both
with him。 He held my hand tightly in his； begging me not to leave him；
and repeating； over and over； that it was good to have a woman near。 He
was propped high in bed and put his head on my shoulder while I fanned
him until he breathed more easily。 I stayed with him all that night；
though I was not on duty。 You see； his eyes also were badly burned。
But before he died he was able to see very well。 I stayed with him every
minute of that night and have never seen a finer character than he showed
during all that fight for life。 He had several bad attacks that night and
came through each one simply because
