whirligigs-第14节

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！



isn't　a　case　of　that　kind。　　I　merely　wanted　the　address。

How　much　shall　I　pay　you？〃



〃One　day's　work；〃　said　the　sleuth。　　〃A　tenner　will

cover　it。〃



Hartley　paid　the　man　and　dismissed　him。　　Then　he

left　the　office　and　boarded　a　Broadway　car。　　At　the　first

large　crosstown　artery　of　travel　he　took　an　eastbound　car

that　deposited　him　in　a　decaying　avenue；　whose　ancient

structures　once　sheltered　the　pride　and　glory　of　the　town。



Walking　a　few　squares；　he　came　to　the　building　that　he

sought。　　It　was　a　new　flathouse；　bearing　carved　upon　its

cheap　stone　portal　its　sonorous　name；　〃The　Vallambrosa。〃

Fire…escapes　zigzagged　down　its　front　　these　laden

with　household　goods；　drying　clothes；　and　squalling

children　evicted　by　the　midsummer　heat。　　Here　and

there　a　pale　rubber　plant　peeped　from　the　miscellaneous

mass；　as　if　wondering　to　what　kingdom　it　belonged　

vegetable；　animal　or　artificial。



Hartley　pressed　the　〃McComus〃　button。　　The　door

latch　clicked　spasmodically　　now　hospitably；　now　doubt…

fully；　as　though　in　anxiety　whether　it　might　be　admitting

friends　or　duns。　　Hartley　entered　and　began　to　climb　the

stairs　after　the　manner　of　those　who　seek　their　friends　in

city　flat…houses　　which　is　the　manner　of　a　boy　who

climbs　an　apple…tree；　stopping　when　he　comes　upon　what

he　wants。



On　the　fourth　floor　he　saw　Vivienne　standing　in　an

open　door。　　She　invited　him　inside；　with　a　nod　and　a

bright；　genuine　smile。　　She　placed　a　chair　for　him　near

a　window；　and　poised　herself　gracefully　upon　the　edge

of　one　of　those　Jekyll…and…Hyde　pieces　of　furniture　that

are　masked　and　mysteriously　hooded；　unguessable　bulks

by　day　and　inquisitorial　racks　of　torture　by　night。



Hartley　cast　a　quick；　critical；　appreciative　glance　at

her　before　speaking；　and　told　himself　that　his　taste　in

choosing　had　been　flawless。



Vivienne　was　about　twenty…one。　　She　was　of　the　purest

Saxon　type。　　Her　hair　was　a　ruddy　golden；　each　filament

of　the　neatly　gathered　mass　shining　with　its　own　lustre

and　delicate　graduation　of　colour。　　In　perfect　harmony

were　her　ivory…clear　complexion　and　deep　sea…blue　eyes

that　looked　upon　the　world　with　the　ingenuous　calmness

of　a　mermaid　or　the　pixie　of　an　undiscovered　mountain

stream。　　Her　frame　was　strong　and　yet　possessed　the

grace　of　absolute　naturalness。　　And　yet　with　all　her　North…

ern　clearness　and　frankness　of　line　and　colouring；　there

seemed　to　be　something　of　the　tropics　in　her　　something

of　languor　in　the　droop　of　her　pose；　of　love　of　ease　in　her

ingenious　complacency　of　satisfaction　and　comfort　in

the　mere　act　of　breathing　　something　that　seemed　to

claim　for　her　a　right　as　a　perfect　work　of　nature　to　exist

and　be　admired　equally　with　a　rare　flower　or　some　beauti…

ful；　milk…white　dove　among　its　sober…hued　companions。



She　was　dressed　in　a　white　waist　and　dark　skirt　…　that

discreet　masquerade　of　goose…girl　and　duchess。



〃Vivienne；〃　said　Hartley；　looking　at　her　pleadingly；

〃you　did　not　answer　my　last　letter。　　It　was　only　by　nearly

a　week's　search　that　I　found　where　you　had　moved　to。

Why　have　you　kept　me　in　suspense　when　you　knew　how

anxiously　I　was　waiting　to　see　you　and　hear　from　you？〃



The　girl　looked　out　the　window　dreamily。



〃Mr。　Hartley；〃　she　said　hesitatingly；　〃I　hardly　know

what　to　say　to　you。　　I　realize　all　the　advantages　of　your

offer；　and　sometimes　I　feel　sure　that　I　could　be　contented

with　you。　　But；　again；　I　am　doubtful。　　I　was　born　a

city　girl；　and　I　am　afraid　to　bind　myself　to　a　quiet　sub…

urban　life。〃



〃My　dear　girl；〃　said　Hartley；　ardently；　〃have　I　not

told　you　that　you　shall　have　everything　that　your　heart

can　desire　that　is　in　my　power　to　give　you？　　You　shall

come　to　the　city　for　the　theatres；　for　shopping　and　to　visit

your　friends　as　often　as　you　care　to。　　You　can　trust　me；

can　you　not？〃



〃To　the　fullest；〃　she　said；　turning　her　frank　eyes　upon

him　with　a　smile。　　〃I　know　you　are　the　kindest　of　men；

and　that　the　girl　you　get　will　be　a　lucky　one。　　I　learned

all　about　you　when　I　was　at　the　Montgomerys'。〃



〃Ah！〃　　exclaimed　Hartley；　with　a　tender；　reminiscent

light　in　his　eye；　〃I　remember　well　the　evening　I　first　saw

you　at　the　Montgomerys'。　　Mrs。　Montgomery　was　sound…

ing　your　praises　to　me　all　the　evening。　　And　she　hardly

did　you　justice。　　I　shall　never　forget　that　supper。　　Come；

Vivienne；　promise　me。　　I　want　you。　　You'll　never

regret　coming　with　me。　　No　one　else　will　ever　give　you

as　pleasant　a　home。〃



The　girl　sighed　and　looked　down　at　her　folded　hands。



A　sudden　jealous　suspicion　seized　Hartley。



〃Tell　me；　Vivienne；〃　he　asked；　regarding　her　keenly；

〃is　there　another　　is　there　some　one　else　？〃



A　rosy　flush　crept　slowly　over　her　fair　cheeks　and

neck。



〃You　shouldn't　ask　that；　Mr。　Hartley；〃　she　said；　in

some　confusion。　　〃But　I　will　tell　you。　　There　is　one

other　　but　he　has　no　right　　I　have　promised　him

nothing。〃



〃His　name？〃　　demanded　Hartley；　sternly。



〃Townsend。〃



〃Rafford　Townsend！〃　　exclaimed　Hartley；　with　a　grim

tightening　of　his　jaw。　　〃How　did　that　man　come　to　know

you？　　After　all　I've　done　for　him　　〃



〃His　auto　has　just　stopped　below；〃　said　Vivienne；

bending　over　the　window…sill。　　〃He's　coming　for　his

answer。　　Oh　I　don't　know　what　to　do！〃



The　bell　in　the　flat　kitchen　whirred。　　Vivienne　hurried

to　press　the　latch　button。



〃Stay　here；〃　said　Hartley。　　〃I　will　meet　him　in　the

hall。〃



Townsend；　looking　like　a　Spanish　grandee　in　his　light

tweeds；　Panama　hat　and　curling　black　mustache；　came

up　the　stairs　three　at　a　time。　　He　stopped　at　sight　of

Hartley　and　looked　foolish。



〃Go　back；〃　said　Hartley；　firmly；　pointing　downstairs

with　his　forefinger。



〃Hullo！〃　　said　Townsend；　feigning　surprise。　　〃What's

up？　　What　are　you　doing　here；　old　man？〃



〃Go　back；〃　repeated　Hartley；　inflexibly。　　〃The　Law

of　the　Jungle。　　Do　you　want　the　Pack　to　tear　you　in

pieces？　　The　kill　is　mine。〃



〃I　came　here　to　see　a　plumber　about　the　bathroom

connections；〃　said　Townsend；　bravely。



〃All　right；〃　said　Hartley。　　〃You　shall　have　that　lying

plaster　to　stick　upon　your　traitorous　soul。　　But；　go　back。〃

Townsend　went　downstairs；　leaving　a　bitter　word　to

be　wafted　up　the　draught　of　the　staircase。　　Hartley　went

back　to　his　wooing。



〃Vivienne；〃　said　he；　masterfully。　　〃I　have　got　to

have　you。　　I　will　take　no　more　refusals　or　dilly…dallying。〃



〃When　do　you　want　me？〃　　she　asked。



〃Now。　　As　soon　as　you　can　get　ready。〃



She　stood　calmly　before　him　and　looked　him　in　the

eye。



〃Do　you　think　for　one　moment；〃　she　said；　〃that

I　would　enter　your　home　while　H閘oise　is　there？〃



Hartley　cringed　as　if　from　an　unexpected　blow。　　He

folded　his　arms　and　paced　the　carpet　once　or　twice。



〃She　shall　go；〃　he　declared　grimly。　　Drops　stood　upon

his　brow。　　〃Why　should　I　let　that　woman　make　my

life　miserable？　　Never　have　I　seen　one　day　of　freedom

from　trouble　since　I　have　known　her。　　You　are　right；

Vivienne。　　H閘oise　must　be　sent　away　before　I　can　take

you　home。　　But　she　shall　go。　　I　have　decided。　　I　will

turn　her　from　my　doors。〃



〃When　will　you　do　this？〃　　asked　the　girl。



Hartley　clinched　his　teeth　and　bent　his　brows　together。



〃To…night；〃　he　said；　resolutely。　　〃I　will　send　her

away　to…night。〃



〃Then；〃　said　Vivienne；　〃my　answer　is　'yes。'　Come

for　me　when　you　will。〃



She　looked　into　his　eyes　with　a　sweet；　sincere　light　in

her　own。　　Hartley　could　scarcely　believe　that　her　sur…

render　was　true；　it　was　so　swift　and　complete。



〃Promise　me；〃　he　said　feelingly；　〃on　your　word　and

honour。〃



〃On　my　word　and　honour；〃　repeated　Vivienne；　softly。



At　the　door　he　turned　and　gazed　at　her　happily；　but

yet　as　one　who　scarcely　trusts　the　foundations　of　his　joy。



〃To…morrow；〃　he　said；　with　a　forefinger　of　reminder

uplifted。



〃To…morrow；〃　she　repeated　with　a　smile　of　truth　and

candour。



In　an　hour　and　forty　minutes　Hartley　stepped　off　the

train　at　Floralhurst。　　A　brisk　walk　of　ten　minutes　brought

him　to　the　gate　of　a　handsome　two…story　cottage　set　upon

a　wide　and　well…tended　lawn。　　Halfway　to　the　house　he

was　met　by　a　woman　with　jet…black　braided　hair　and

flowing　white　summer　gown；　who　half　strangled　him

without　apparent　cause。



When　they　stepped　into　the　hall　she　said：



〃Mamma's　here。　　The　auto　is　coming　for　her　in　half

an　hour。　　She　came　to　dinner；　but　there's　no　dinner。〃



〃I've　something　to　tell　you；〃　said　Hartley。　　〃I　thought

to　break　it　to　you　gently；　but　since　your　mother　is　here

we　may　as　well　out　with　it。〃



He　stooped　and　whispered　something　at　her　ear。



His　wife　screamed。　　Her　mother　came　running　into

the　hall。　　The　dark…haired　woman　screamed　again…

the　joyful　scream　of　a　well…beloved　and　petted　woman。



〃Oh；　mamma！〃　　she　cried　ecstatically；　〃what　do　you

think？　　Vivienne　is　coming　to　cook　for　us！　　She　is　the

one　that　stayed　wit