sally dows-第23节

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possession　of　a　woman　who　was　seated　calmly　by　the　table。

The　stranger　turned　on　Mrs。　Bunker　that　frankly　insolent　glance　and
deliberate　examination　which　only　one　woman　can　give　another。　　In
that　glance　Mrs。　Bunker　felt　herself　in　the　presence　of　a　superior；
even　if　her　own　eyes　had　not　told　her　that　in　beauty；　attire；　and
bearing　the　intruder　was　of　a　type　and　condition　far　beyond　her
own；　or　even　that　of　any　she　had　known。　　It　was　the　more　crushing
that　there　also　seemed　to　be　in　this　haughty　woman　the　same
incongruousness　and　sharp　contrast　to　the　plain　and　homely
surroundings　of　the　cottage　that　she　remembered　in　HIM。

〃Yo'　aw　Mrs。　Bunker；　I　believe；〃　she　said　in　languid　Southern
accents。　　〃How　de　doh？〃

〃I　am　Mrs。　Bunker；〃　said　Mrs。　Bunker　shortly。

〃And　so　this　is　where　Cunnle　Marion　stopped　when　he　waited　fo'　the
boat　to　take　him　off；〃　said　the　stranger；　glancing　lazily　around；
and　delaying　with　smiling　insolence　the　explanation　she　knew　Mrs。
Bunker　was　expecting。　　〃The　cunnle　said　it　was　a　pooh　enough　place；
but　I　don't　see　it。　　I　reckon；　however；　he　was　too　worried　to　judge
and　glad　enough　to　get　off。　　Yo'　ought　to　have　made　him　talkhe
generally　don't　want　much　prompting　to　talk　to　women；　if　they're
pooty。〃

〃He　didn't　seem　in　a　hurry　to　go；〃　said　Mrs。　Bunker　indignantly。
The　next　moment　she　saw　her　error；　even　before　the　cruel；　handsome
smile　of　her　unbidden　guest　revealed　it。

〃I　thought　so；〃　she　said　lazily；　〃this　IS　the　place　and　here's
where　the　cunnle　stayed。　　Only　yo'　oughtn't　have　given　him　and
yo'self　away　to　the　first　stranger　quite　so　easy。　　The　cunnle　might
have　taught　yo'　THAT　the　two　or　three　hours　he　was　with　yo'。〃

〃What　do　you　want　with　me？〃　demanded　Mrs。　Bunker　angrily。

〃I　want　a　letter　yo'　have　for　me　from　Cunnle　Marion。〃

〃I　have　nothing　for　you；〃　said　Mrs。　Bunker。　　〃I　don't　know　who　you
are。〃

〃You　ought　to；　considering　you've　been　acting　as　messenger　between
the　cunnle　and　me；〃　said　the　lady　coolly。

〃That's　not　true；〃　said　Mrs。　Bunker　hotly；　to　combat　an　inward
sinking。

The　lady　rose　with　a　lazy；　languid　grace；　walked　to　the　door　and
called　still　lazily；　〃O　Pedro！〃

The　solitary　rower　clambered　up　the　rocks　and　appeared　on　the
cottage　threshold。

〃Is　this　the　lady　who　gave　you　the　letters　for　me　and　to　whom　you
took　mine？〃

〃Si；　senora。〃

〃They　were　addressed　to　a　Mr。　Kirby；〃　said　Mrs。　Bunker　sullenly。
〃How　was　I　to　know　they　were　for　Mrs。　Kirby？〃

〃Mr。　Kirby；　Mrs。　Kirby；　and　myself　are　all　the　same。　　You　don't
suppose　the　cunnle　would　give　my　real　name　and　address？　　Did　you
address　yo'r　packet　to　HIS　real　name　or　to　some　one　else。　　Did　you
let　your　husband　know　who　they　were　for？〃

Oddly；　a　sickening　sense　of　the　meanness　of　all　these　deceits　and
subterfuges　suddenly　came　over　Mrs。　Bunker。　　Without　replying　she
went　to　her　bedroom　and　returned　with　Colonel　Marion's　last　letter；
which　she　tossed　into　her　visitor's　lap。

〃Thank　yo'；　Mrs。　Bunker。　　I'll　be　sure　to　tell　the　cunnle　how
careful　yo'　were　not　to　give　up　his　correspondence　to　everybody。
It'll　please　him　mo'　than　to　hear　yo'　are　wearing　his　ringwhich
everybody　knowsbefore　people。〃

〃He　gave　it　to　mehehe　knew　I　wouldn't　take　money；〃　said　Mrs。
Bunker　indignantly。

〃He　didn't　have　any　to　give；〃　said　the　lady　slowly；　as　she　removed
the　envelope　from　her　letter　and　looked　up　with　a　dazzling　but
cruel　smile。　　〃A　So'th'n　gentleman　don't　fill　up　his　pockets　when
he　goes　out　to　fight。　　He　don't　tuck　his　maw's　Bible　in　his　breast…
pocket；　clap　his　dear　auntie's　locket　big　as　a　cheese　plate　over
his　heart；　nor　let　his　sole　leather　cigyar　case　that　his　gyrl　gave
him　lie　round　him　in　spots　when　he　goes　out　to　take　another
gentleman's　fire。　　He　leaves　that　to　Yanks！〃

〃Did　you　come　here　to　insult　my　husband？〃　said　Mrs。　Bunker　in　the
rage　of　desperation。

〃To　insult　yo'　husband！　　WellI　came　here　to　get　a　letter　that　his
wife　received　from　his　political　and　natural　enemy　andperhaps　I
DID！〃　　With　a　side　glance　at　Mrs。　Bunker's　crimson　cheek　she　added
carelessly；　〃I　have　nothing　against　Captain　Bunker；　he's　a
straightforward　man　and　must　go　with　his　kind。　　He　helped　those
hounds　of　Vigilantes　because　he　believes　in　them。　　We　couldn't
bribe　him　if　we　wanted　to。　　And　we　don't。〃

If　she　only　knew　something　of　this　woman's　relations　to　Marion
which　she　only　instinctively　suspectedand　could　retaliate　upon
her；　Mrs。　Bunker　felt　she　would　have　given　up　her　life　at　that
moment。

〃Colonel　Marion　seems　to　find　plenty　that　he　can　bribe；〃　she　said
roughly；　〃and　I've　yet　to　know　who　YOU　are　to　sit　in　judgment　on
them。　　You've　got　your　letter；　take　it　and　go！　　When　he　wants　to
send　you　another　through　me；　somebody　else　must　come　for　it；　not
you。　　That's　all！〃

She　drew　back　as　if　to　let　the　intruder　pass；　but　the　lady；　without
moving　a　muscle；　finished　the　reading　of　her　letter；　then　stood　up
quietly　and　began　carefully　to　draw　her　handsome　cloak　over　her
shoulders。　　〃Yo'　want　to　know　who　I　am；　Mrs。　Bunker；〃　she　said；
arranging　the　velvet　collar　under　her　white　oval　chin。　　〃Well；　I'm
a　So'th'n　woman　from　Figinya；　and　I'm　Figinyan　first；　last；　and　all
the　time。〃　　She　shook　out　her　sleeves　and　the　folds　of　her　cloak。
〃I　believe　in　State　rights　and　slaveryif　you　know　what　that
means。　　I　hate　the　North；　I　hate　the　East；　I　hate　the　West。　　I　hate
this　nigger　Government；　I'd　kill　that　man　Lincoln　quicker　than
lightning！〃　　She　began　to　draw　down　the　fingers　of　her　gloves；
holding　her　shapely　hands　upright　before　her。　　〃I'm　hard　and　fast
to　the　Cause。　　I　gave　up　house　and　niggers　for　it。〃　　She　began　to
button　her　gloves　at　the　wrist　with　some　difficulty；　tightly
setting　together　her　beautiful　lips　as　she　did　so。　　〃I　gave　up　my
husband　for　it；　and　I　went　to　the　man　who　loved　it　better　and　had
risked　more　for　it　than　ever　he　had。　　Cunnle　Marion's　my　friend。
I'm　Mrs。　Fairfax；　Josephine　Hardee　that　was；　HIS　disciple　and
follower。　　Well；　maybe　those　puritanical　No'th'n　folks　might　give
it　another　name！〃

She　moved　slowly　towards　the　door；　but　on　the　threshold　paused；
as　Colonel　Marion　had；　and　came　back　to　Mrs。　Bunker　with　an
outstretched　hand。　　〃I　don't　see　that　yo'　and　me　need　quo'll。　　I
didn't　come　here　for　that。　　I　came　here　to　see　yo'r　husband；　and
seeing　YO'　I　thought　it　was　only　right　to　talk　squarely　to　yo'；　as
yo'　understand　I　WOULDN'T　talk　to　yo'r　husband。　　Mrs。　Bunker；　I
want　yo'r　husband　to　take　me　awayI　want　him　to　take　me　to　the
cunnle。　　If　I　tried　to　go　in　any　other　way　I'd　be　watched；　spied
upon　and　followed；　and　only　lead　those　hounds　on　his　track。　　I
don't　expect　yo'　to　ASK　yo'　husband　for　me；　but　only　not　to
interfere　when　I　do。〃

There　was　a　touch　of　unexpected　weakness　in　her　voice　and　a　look　of
pain　in　her　eyes　which　was　not　unlike　what　Mrs。　Bunker　had　seen　and
pitied　in　Marion。　　But　they　were　the　eyes　of　a　woman　who　had
humbled　her；　and　Mrs。　Bunker　would　have　been　unworthy　her　sex　if
she　had　not　felt　a　cruel　enjoyment　in　it。　　Yet　the　dominance　of　the
stranger　was　still　so　strong　that　she　did　not　dare　to　refuse　the
proffered　hand。　　She；　however；　slipped　the　ring　from　her　finger　and
laid　it　in　Mrs。　Fairfax's　palm。

〃You　can　take　that　with　you；〃　she　said；　with　a　desperate　attempt　to
imitate　the　other's　previous　indifference。　　〃I　shouldn't　like　to
deprive　you　and　YOUR　FRIEND　of　the　opportunity　of　making　use　of　it
again。　　As　for　MY　husband；　I　shall　say　nothing　of　you　to　him　as
long　as　you　say　nothing　to　him　of　mewhich　I　suppose　is　what　you
mean。〃

The　insolent　look　came　back　to　Mrs。　Fairfax's　face。　　〃I　reckon　yo'
're　right；〃　she　said　quietly；　putting　the　ring　in　her　pocket　as　she
fixed　her　dark　eyes　on　Mrs。　Bunker；　〃and　the　ring　may　be　of　use
again。　　Good…by；　Mrs。　Bunker。〃

She　waved　her　hand　carelessly；　and　turning　away　passed　out　of　the
house。　　A　moment　later　the　boat　and　its　two　occupants　pushed　from
the　shore；　and　disappeared　round　the　Point。

Then　Mrs。　Bunker　looked　round　the　room；　and　down　upon　her　empty
finger；　and　knew　that　it　was　the　end　of　her　dream。　　It　was　all　over
nowindeed；　with　the　picture　of　that　proud；　insolent　woman　before
her　she　wondered　if　it　had　ever　begun。　　This　was　the　woman　she　had
allowed　herself　to　think　SHE　might　be。　　This　was　the　woman　HE　was
thinking　of　when　he　sat　there；　this　was　the　Mrs。　Fairfax　the
officers　had　spoken　of；　and　who　had　made　herMrs。　Bunkerthe　go…
between　for　their　love…making！　　All　the　work　that　she　had　done　for
him；　the　deceit　she　had　practiced　on　her　husband；　was　to　bring　him
and　this　woman　together！　　And　they　both　knew　it；　and　had　no　doubt
laughed　at　her　and　her　pretensions！

It　was　with　a　burning　cheek　that　she　thought　how　she　had　intended
to　go　to　Marion；　and　imagined　herself　arriving　perhaps　to　find　that
shameless　woman　already　there。　　In　her　vague　unformulated　longings
she　had　never　before　realized　the　degradation　into　which　her
foolish　romance　might　lead　her。　　She　saw　it　now；　that　humiliating
moral　lesson　we　are　all　apt　to　experience　in　the　accidental　display
of　our　own　particular　vices　in　the　person　we　hate；　she　had　just
felt　in　Mrs。　Fairfax's　presence。　　With　it　came　the　paralyzing　fear
of　her　husband's　discovery　of　her　secret。　　Secu