the patagonia-第15节

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board　and　I　had　already　made　out　Mr。　Porterfield　at　a　distance。　　He

was　looking　up　at　the　side　of　the　great　vessel　with　disappointment

writtenfor　my　strained　eyesin　his　face；　disappointment　at　not

seeing　the　woman　he　had　so　long　awaited　lean　over　it　and　wave　her

handkerchief　to　him。　　Every　one　was　looking　at　him；　every　one　but

shehis　identity　flew　about　in　a　momentand　I　wondered　if　it　didn't

strike　him。　　He　used　to　be　gaunt　and　angular；　but　had　grown　almost

fat　and　stooped　a　little。　　The　interval　between　us　diminishedhe　was

on　the　plank　and　then　on　the　deck　with　the　jostling　agents　of　the

Customs；　too　soon　for　my　equanimity。　　I　met　him　instantly；　however；

to　save　him　from　exposurelaid　my　hand　on　him　and　drew　him　away；

though　I　was　sure　he　had　no　impression　of　having　seen　me　before。　　It

was　not　till　afterwards　that　I　thought　this　rather　characteristically

dull　of　him。　　I　drew　him　far　awayI　was　conscious　of　Mrs。　Peck　and

Mrs。　Gotch；　looking　at　us　as　we　passedinto　the　empty　stale　smoking…

room：　　he　remained　speechless；　and　that　struck　me　as　like　him。　　I　had

to　speak　first；　he　couldn't　even　relieve　me　by　saying　〃Is　anything

the　matter？〃　　I　broke　ground　by　putting　it；　feebly；　that　she　was　ill。

It　was　a　dire　moment。









End