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第46节

whirligigs-第46节

小说: whirligigs 字数: 每页4000字

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but this time in another direction。  His conductor was

serenely silent; and Lorison followed his example to the

extent of seldom speaking。  Serene he could not be。  His

heart beat suffocatingly in his breast。  The following of

this blind; menacing trail was pregnant with he knew not

what humiliating revelation to be delivered at its end。



They came into a more pretentious street; where trade;

it could be surmised; flourished by day。  And again the

priest paused; this time before a lofty building; whose

great doors and windows in the lowest floor were carefully

shuttered and barred。  Its higher apertures were dark;

save in the third story; the windows of which were bril…

liantly lighted。  Lorison's ear caught a distant; regular;

pleasing thrumming; as of music above。  They stood at

an angle of the building。  Up; along the side nearest them;

mounted an iron stairway。  At its top was an upright;

illuminated parallelogram。  Father Rogan had stopped;

and stood; musing。



〃I will say this much;〃 he remarked; thoughtfully:

〃I believe you to be a better man than you think yourself

to be; and a better man than I thought some hours ago。

But do not take this;〃 he added; with a smile; 〃as much

praise。  I promised you a possible deliverance from an

unhappy perplexity。  I will have to modify that promise。

I can only remove the mystery that enhanced that per…

plexity。  Your deliverance depends upon yourself。

Come。〃



He led his companion up the stairway。  Halfway up;

Lorison caught him by the sleeve。  〃Remember;〃 he

gasped; 〃I love that woman。〃



〃You desired to know。



〃I  Go on。〃



The priest reached the landing at the top of the stairway。

Lorison; behind him; saw that the illuminated space was

the glass upper half of a door opening into the lighted

room。  The rhythmic music increased as they neared

it; the stairs shook with the mellow vibrations。



Lorison stopped breathing when he set foot upon the

highest step; for the priest stood aside; and motioned him

to look through the glass of the door。



His eye; accustomed to the darkness; met first a blind…

ing glare; and then he made out the faces and forms of

many people; amid an extravagant display of splendid

robings  billowy laces; brilliant…hued finery; ribbons;

silks and misty drapery。  And then he caught the mean。

ing of that jarring hum; and he saw the tired; pale; happy

face of his wife; bending; as were a score of others; over

her sewing machine  toiling; toiling。  Here was the

folly she pursued; and the end of his quest。



But not his deliverance; though even then remorse

struck him。  His shamed soul fluttered once more before

it retired to make room for the other and better one。

For; to temper his thrill of joy; the shine of the satin and

the glimmer of ornaments recalled the disturbing figure

of the bespangled Amazon; and the base duplicate histories

it by the glare of footlights and stolen diamonds。  It is

past the wisdom of him who only sets the scenes; either to

praise or blame the man。  But this time his love over…

came his scruples。  He took a quick step; and reached

out his hand for the doorknob。  Father Rogan was

quicker to arrest it and draw him back。



〃You use my trust in you queerly;〃 said the priest

sternly。  〃What are you about to do?〃



〃I am going to my wife;〃 said Lorison。  〃Let me pass。〃



〃Listen;〃 said the priest; holding him firmly by the

arm。  〃I am about to put you in possession of a piece of

knowledge of which; thus far; you have scarcely proved

deserving。  I do not think you ever will; but I will not

dwell upon that。  You see in that room the woman you

married; working for a frugal living for herself; and a

generous comfort for an idolized brother。  This building

belongs to the chief costumer of the city。  For months the

advance orders for the coming Mardi Gras festivals have

kept the work going day and night。  I myself secured

employment here for Norah。  She toils here each night

from nine o'clock until daylight; and; besides; carries

home with her some of the finer costumes; requiring more

delicate needlework; and works there part of the day。

Somehow; you two have remained strangely ignorant of

each other's lives。  Are you convinced now that your

wife is not walking the streets?〃



〃Let me go to her;〃 cried Lorison; again struggling;

〃and beg her forgiveness!'



〃Sir;〃 said the priest; 〃do you owe me nothing?  Be

quiet。  It seems so often that Heaven lets fall its choicest

gifts into hands that must be taught to hold them。  Listen

again。  You forgot that repentant sin must not comprom…

ise; but look up; for redemption; to the purest and best。

You went to her with the fine…spun sophistry that peace

could be found in a mutual guilt; and she; fearful of losing

what her heart so craved; thought it worth the price to

buy it with a desperate; pure; beautiful lie。  I have known

her since the day she was born; she is as innocent and

unsullied in life and deed as a holy saint。  In that lowly

street where she dwells she first saw the light; and she

has lived there ever since; spending her days in generous

self…sacrifice for others。  Och; ye spalpeen!〃  continued

Father Rogan; raising his finger in kindly anger at Lorison。

〃What for; I wonder; could she be after making a fool

of hersilf; and shamin' her swate soul with lies; for the

like of you!〃



〃Sir;〃 said Lorison; trembling; 〃say what you please

of me。  Doubt it as you must; I will yet prove my gratitude

to you; and my devotion to her。  But let me speak to her

once now; let me kneel for just one moment at her feet;

and  〃



〃Tut; tut!〃  said the priest。  〃How many acts of a

love drama do you think an old bookworm like me capable

of witnessing?  Besides; what kind of figures do we cut;

spying upon the mysteries of midnight millinery!  Go

to meet your wife to…morrow; as she ordered you; and obey

her thereafter; and maybe some time I shall get forgive…

ness for the part I have played in this night's work。  Off

wid yez down the shtairs; now!  'Tis late; and an ould

man like me should be takin' his rest。〃







          MADAME BO…PEEP; OF THE RANCHES

                 

〃AUNT ELLEN;〃 said Octavia; cheerfully; as she threw

her black kid gloves carefully at the dignified Persian cat

on the window…seat; 〃I'm a pauper。〃



〃You are so extreme in your statements; Octavia;

dear;〃 said Aunt Ellen; mildly; looking up from her paper。



〃If you find yourself temporarily in need of some small

change for bonbons; you will find my purse in the drawer

of the writing desk。〃



Octavia Beaupree removed her hat and seated herself

on a footstool near her aunt's chair; clasping her hands

about her knees。 Her slim and flexible figure; clad in a

modish mourning costume; accommodated itself easily

and gracefully to the trying position。 Her bright and

youthful face; with its pair of sparkling; life…enamoured

eyes; tried to compose itself to the seriousness that the

occasion seemed to demand。



〃You good auntie; it isn't a case of bonbons; it is abject;

staring; unpicturesque poverty; with ready…made clothes;

gasolined gloves; and probably one o'clock dinners all

waiting with the traditional wolf at the door。 I've just

come from my lawyer; auntie; and; 'Please; ma'am; I

ain't got nothink 't all。 Flowers; lady? Buttonhole;

gentleman? Pencils; sir; three for five; to help a poor

widow?' Do I do it nicely; auntie; or; as a bread…winner

accomplishment; were my lessons in elocution entirely

wasted?〃



〃Do be serious; my dear;〃 said Aunt Ellen; letting her

paper fall to the floor; 〃long enough to tell me what you

mean。 Colonel Beaupree's estate  〃



〃Colonel Beaupree's estate;〃 interrupted Octavia;

emphasizing her words with appropriate dramatic ges…

tures; 〃is of Spanish castellar architecture。 Colonel

Beaupree's resources are  wind。 Colonel Beaupree's

stocks are  water。 Colonel Beaupree's income is 

all in。 The statement lacks the legal technicalities to

which I have been listening for an hour; but that is what

it means when translated。〃



〃Octavia!〃  Aunt Ellen was now visibly possessed by

consternation。 〃I can hardly believe it。 And it was the

impression that he was worth a million。 And the De

Peysters themselves introduced him!〃



Octavia rippled out a laugh; and then became properly

grave。



〃De mortuis nil; auntie  not even the rest of it。 The

dear old colonel  what a gold brick he was; after all!

I paid for my bargain fairly  I'm all here; am I not? 

 items: eyes; fingers; toes; youth; old family; unques…

tionable position in society as called for in the contract

no wild…cat stock here。〃 Octavia picked up the

morning paper from the floor。 〃But I'm not going to

'squeal'  isn't that what they call it when you rail at

Fortune because you've; lost the game?〃 She turned

the pages of the paper calmly。 

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