the fortunes of oliver horn-第78节

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Dr。　Wallace　detected　the　movementhe　knew　its　causeand　passed　out　of　the　sick　chamber　to　where　Oliver　stood　with　Miss　Clendenning。

〃Better　go　down；　Oliver；　and　see　that　the　hot　water　is　sent　up　right　away；〃　he　said。　〃Poor　old　Hannah　seems　to　have　lost　her　head。〃

〃Has　there　been　any　further　change；　Doctor！〃　Oliver　asked；　as　he　started　for　the　stairs。

〃No；　not　since　you　went。　He　is　holding　his　own。　His　hands　feel　cold；　that　is　all。〃　To　Miss　Lavinia　he　said：　〃It　is　only　a　question　of　hours；〃　and　went　back　into　the　room。

Oliver　hurried　after　Hannah。　He　intended　to　send　Malachi　up　with　the　hot　water　and　then　persuade　　the　old　woman　to　go　to　bed。　When　he　reached　the　lower　hall　it　was　empty；　so　were　the　parlors　and　the　dining…room。　At　the　kitchen…door　he　met　Hannah。　　She　had　filled　the　pitcher　and　had　turned　to　carry　it　upstairs。　Oliver　stopped　her。

〃Where　is　Malachi；　aunty？〃

Hannah　pointed　through　the　open　door　to　Richard's　　little　shop　in　the　back　yard　and　hurried　on。　Oliver　walked　quickly　through　the　damp；　brick…　paved　yard；　now　filled　with　the　sombre　shadows　of　the　night；　and　pushed　open　the　green　door。　The　place　was　dark　except　for　a　slant　of　moonlight　which　had　struggled　through　the　window…pane　and　was　illumining　the　motor　where　it　rested　in　its　customary　place　under　the　sash。

〃Malachi；　are　you　here？〃

A　sob　was　the　only　answer。

Oliver　stepped　inside。　The　old　man　was　on　his　knees；　his　head　and　arms　lying　flat　on　Richard's　work…bench。　Oliver　bent　down　and　laid　his　hand　on　the　old　servant's　head。

〃Mally！〃

〃I　hear　ye；　Marse　Ollie；　an'　I　hearn　Hannah。　I　tell　you　same　as　I　tol'　herain't　no　use　fetchin'　no　water；　ain't　no　use　no　mo'　for　no　doctor；　ain't　no　use；　ain't　no　use。　I　ain't　never　goin'　to　say　no　mo'　to　him；　'Chairs　all　ready；　Marse　Richard。'　I　ain't　never　goin'　to　wait　on　him　no　mo'；　Come　close　to　me；　Marse　Ollie；　get　down　an'　let　me　tell　ye；　son。〃

He　had　lifted　his　head　now；　and　was　looking　up　into　Oliver's　eyes；　the　tears　streaming　down　his　face。

〃He　freed　me；　he　gimme　a　home。　He　ain't　neber　done　nothin'　but　love　me　an'　take　care　o'　me。　When　I　bin　sick　he　come　in　an'　he　set　by　me。　'You　got　a　fever；　I　think；　Malachi；'　he　say。　'Go　to　bed　dis　minute。　Cold；　is　you？　Git　dat　blanket　out'n　my　room　an'　put　it　on　yo'　bed。　Don't　let　me　hab　to　tell　ye　dat　agin；　Malachi。'　'Marse　Richard；'　I'd　say　to　him；　'I　ain't　got　no　coat　fit　to　wear。'　Dat　was　in　de　ol'　days；　when　you　warn't　nuffin　but　a　chile；　Marse　Ollie。　'Who　says　so；　Malachi；'　he　say。　'I　say　so；　Marse　Richard。'　'Lemme　see；'　he'd　say。　'Dat's　so；　dat　ain't　fit　fer　nobody　to　wear。　Go　upstairs　to　my　closet；　Malachi；　an'　git　dat　coat　I　was　a…wearin'　　yisterday。　I　reckon　I　kin　git　on　widout　it。〃

Malachi　had　his　head　in　his　hands　now；　his　body　swaying　from　side　to　side。　Oliver　stood　silent。

〃When　he　come　home　de　udder　day　an'　I　lif'　him　in　de　bed；　he　say；　'Don't　you　strain　yo'se'f；　Malachi。　'Member；　you　ain't　spry　as　you　was。'　Oh；　Gawd！　Oh；　Gawd！　What's　Malachi　gwine　to　do？〃

Oliver　sat　down　beside　him。　There　was　nothing　to　say。　The　old　servant's　grief　was　only　his　own。

〃Ebery　night；　Marse　Ollie；　sence　he　bin　sick；　I　git　so　lonesome　dat　I　wait　till　de　house　git　still　an'　den　I　git　out'n　de　bed　and　crope　down…stairs　an'　listen　　at　de　bedroom　door。　Den　I　hear　de　mistis　say：　'In　pain；　dear？'　and　he　say；　'No；　Sallie。'　An'　den　I　crope　up　agin　an'　go　to　bed　kind　o'　comforted。　I　was　down　agin　las'　nightmos'　mawnin'a…listenin'；　　an'　de　mistis　say：　'Kin　I　do　sumpin'　to　ease　de　pain；　dear？'　an'　he　don't　answer；　only　groan；　and　den　I　hear　de　bed　creak；　an'　dat　SHORT　BREF　COME。　Pat's　the　sign！　I　knows　it。　In　de　mawnin'　he'll　be　gone。　Can't　fool　Malachi；　I　knows　de　signs。〃

A　gentle　tap　at　the　front　door　on　the　street　sounded　through　the　stillness。　Oliver　had　left　all　the　intervening　doors　between　the　dining…room　and　the　shop　open　in　his　search　for　Malachi。

The　old　servant；　with　the　lifelong　habit　upon　him；　started　up　to　answer　the　summons。

〃No；　Mally；　stay　here；〃　said　Oliver。　〃I'll　go。　Some　neighbor；　perhaps；　wanting　to　know　how　father　is。〃

Oliver　walked　rapidly　through　the　yard；　tiptoed　through　the　hall；　and　carefully　turned　the　knob。

Amos　Cobb　stepped　in。

〃I　saw　the　light；　Oliver；〃　he　said；　in　a　low　tone；　〃and　I　knew　you　were　up。　I　have　an　important　telegram　from　New　York　in　answer　to　one　I　sent　this　morning　from　my　office　here。　Would　it　be　possible　　for　me　to　see　your　father？　I　know　it　is　very　late；　but　the　matter　is　most　urgent。〃

〃I'm　afraid　not；　Mr。　Cobb。　He　is　very　low。〃

〃Not　serious？〃　Amos　exclaimed；　in　alarm。

〃Doctor　Wallace　thinks　it　is。〃

〃You　don't　tell　me　so！　I　had　no　idea　he　was　so　ill！〃

〃Nor　did　we；　sir；　a　change　for　the　worse　set　in　this　evening。〃

Amos　leaned　back　against　the　wall；　his　hat　in　his　hand。　The　light　from　the　eight…sided　hall　lamp　fell　on　his　thick…set　shoulders　and　square；　determined；　honest　face。　The　keen…eyed；　blunt　Vermonter's　distress　at　the　news　was　sincere；　and　heartfelt。

〃Could　I　attend　to　it；　Mr。　Cobb？〃　asked　Oliver。

〃Perhaps　so。　I've　got　those　fellows　now　where　the　hair　is　short；　and　I'm　going　to　make　'em　pay　for　it。〃

〃What　is　it　about？〃

Amos　Cobb　took　a　double　telegram　from　his　pocket。　It　was　closely　written　and　contained　a　long　message。

〃It's　about　your　father's　patents。　This　telegram　is　from　the　attorneys　of　the　Gorton〃

Oliver　laid　his　fingers　on　the　open　telegram　in　Cobb's　hand；　and　said；　in　a　positive　tone：

〃He　will　not　rob　this　man　of　his　rights；　Mr。　Cobb。〃

〃It's　not　that！　It　is　the　other　way。　The　attorneys　　of　the　Gorton　Company　refuse　to　rob　your　father　of　HIS　rights。　Further；　the　bankers　will　not　endorse　the　Gorton　stock　until　your　father's　patent　I　think　it　is　No。　18；131〃and　he　examined　the　telegram　closely〃yes；　August　13；　1856；　18；131　is　out　of　the　way。　They　are　prepared　to　pay　a　large　price　for　it　at　once；　and　have　asked　me　to　see　your　father　and　arrange　it　on　the　best　terms　I　can。　The　offer　is　most　liberal。　I　don't　feel　like　risking　an　hour's　delay；　that's　why　I'm　here　so　late。　What　had　I　better　do？〃

Oliver　caught　Mr。　Cobb's　hand　in　his　and　a　flash　of　exultant　joy　passed　over　his　face　as　he　thought　of　his　father's　triumph　and　all　it　meant　to　him。　Then　Margaret's　eyes　looked　into　his　and　next　his　mother's；　　he　knew　what　it　meant　to　them　all。　Then　the　wasted　figure　of　his　father　rose　in　his　mind；　and　his　tears　blinded　him。

Amos　stood　watching　him；　trying　to　read　his　thoughts。　He　saw　the　tears　glistening　on　Oliver's　lashes；　but　he　misunderstood　the　cause。　Only　the　practical　side　of　the　situation　appealed　to　the　Vermonter　　at　the　moment。　These　New　York　men　had　cast　discredit　on　his　endorsement　of　Richard's　priority　　in　the　invention　and　had　tried　to　ignore　them　both。　Now　he　held　them　tight　in　his　grasp。　Horn　was　a　rich　man。

〃I'll　be　very　quiet；　Oliver；〃　he　continued；　in　a　half…pleading　tone；　〃and　will　make　it　as　short　as　I　can。　Just　let　me　go　up。　It　can't　hurt　him〃and　he　laid　his　hand　on　Oliver's　shoulder　with　a　tenderness　　that　surprised　him。　〃I　would　never　forgive　myself　if　he　should　pass　away　without　learning　of　his　success。　He's　worked　so　hard。〃

Before　Oliver　could　reply　another　low　tap　was　heard　at　the　door。　Cobb　turned　the　knob　gently　and　Nathan　stepped　inside　the　hall。　The　old　man　had　gone　home　and　to　bed；　tired　out　with　his　ceaseless　　watching　by　Richard's　bedside；　and　was　only　half　dressed。

〃Still　with　us？〃　he　asked　in　trembling　tones；　his　eyes　searching　Oliver's　face。　〃Oh；　thank　God！　Thank　God！　I'll　go　up　at　once〃and　he　passed　on　toward　the　stairway。　Amos　and　Oliver　followed。

As　Nathan's　foot　touched　the　first　step　Doctor　Wallace's　voice　sounded　over　the　bannisters。

〃Oliver！　Malachi！　Both　of　youquick！〃　The　three　bounded　noiselessly　up…stairs　and　entered　　the　room。　Richard　lay　high　up　on　the　pillows；　the　face　in　shadow；　his　eyes　closed。　Margaret　was　still　on　her　knees；　her　head　on　the　coverlet。　Mrs。　Horn　stood　on　the　other　side　of　the　bed；　the　same　calm；　fixed　expression　on　her　face；　as　if　she　was　trying　to　read　the　unknowable。　Dr。　Wallace　sat　on　a　chair　beside　his　patient；　his　fingers　on　Richard's　pulse。

〃Is　he　gone？〃　asked　Oliver；　stepping　quickly　to　his　father's　side；　his　voice　choking。

Dr。　Wallace　shook　his　head。

Amos　Cobb　drew　near；　and　whispered　in　the　doctor's　　ear。　The　old　physician　listened　quietly；　and　nodded　in　assent。　Then　he　leaned　over　his　patient。

〃Mr。　Cobb　has　some　good　news　for　you；　Richard；〃　　he　said；　calmly。　〃The　bankers　have　recognized　　your　patents；　and　are　ready　to　pay　the　money〃

The　dying　man's　eyes　opened　slowly。

Amos　stepped　in　front　of　the　doctor；　and　bent　down　close　to　the　bed。

〃It's　all　right；　Hornall　right！　They　can't　get　along　without　your　first　patent。　Here's　the　telegram。〃　　He　spoke　with　an　encouraging　cheeriness　in　his　voice；　as　one　would　in　helping　a　child　across　a　dangerous　place。

The　brow　of　the　dying　man　suddenly　cleared；　the　eyes　burned　with　their　old　steadiness；　then　the　lips　parted。

〃Read　it；〃　he　muttered。　The　words　were　barely　audible。

Cobb　held　the　paper　so　the　dim　light　should　fall　upon　it　and　read　the　contents　slowly；　emphasizing　each　word。

〃Raise　me　up。〃

The　voice　seemed　to　come　from　his　throat；　as　if　his　lungs　were　closed。　Oliver　started　forward；