ragged lady, v2-第11节

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ought　to　be　willing　to　give　up　one　of　youa　junketin's　for　me。　　I'm　sure　I
don't　know　what　you　see　in　'em；　anyway。〃

〃Oh；　I　am　willing；　Mrs。　Lander；　I'm　glad　I　hadn't　stahted　before　it
began。〃　　Clementina　busied　herself　with　the　pillows　under　Mrs。　Lander's
dishevelled　head；　and　the　bedclothes　disordered　by　her　throes；　while　Mrs。
Lander　went　on。

〃I　don't　see　what's　the　use　of　so　much　gaddin'；　anyway。　　I　don't　see　as
anything　comes　of　it；　but　just　to　get　a　passal　of　wo'thless　fellas　afta
you　that　think　you'a　going　to　have　money。　　There's　such　a　thing　as　two
sides　to　everything；　and　if　the　favas　is　goin'　to　be　all　on　one　side　I
guess　there'd　betta　be　a　clear　undastandin'　about　it。　　I　think　I　got　a
right　to　a　little　attention；　as　well　as　them　that　ha'n't　done　anything；
and　if　I'm　goin'　to　be　left　alone　he'e　to　die　among　strangers　every　time
one　of　my　attacks　comes　on〃

The　doctor　interposed；　〃I　don't　think　you're　going　to　have　a　very　bad
attack；　this　time；　Mrs。　Lander。〃

〃Oh；　thank　you；　thank　you；　docta！　　But　you　can　undastand；　can't　you；　how
I　shall　want　to　have　somebody　around　that　can　undastand　a　little
English？〃

The　doctor　said；　〃Oh　yes。　　And　Miss　Claxon　and　I　can　understand　a　good
deal；　between　us；　and　we're　going　to　stay；　and　see　how　a　little　morphine
behaves　with　you。〃

Mrs。　Lander　protested；　〃Oh；　I　can't　bea'　mo'phine；　docta。〃

〃Did　you　ever　try　it？〃　he　asked；　preparing　his　little　instrument　to
imbibe　the　solution。

〃No；　but　Mr。　Landa　did；　and　it　'most　killed　him；　it　made　him　sick。〃

〃Well；　you're　about　as　sick　as　you　can　be；　now；　Mrs。　Lander；　and　if　you
don't　die　of　this　pin…prick　〃　he　pushed　the　needle…point　under　the　skin
of　her　massive　fore…arm〃　I　guess　you'll　live　through　it。〃

She　shrieked；　but　as　the　pain　began　to　abate；　she　gathered　courage；　and
broke　forth　joyfully。　　〃Why；　it's　beautiful；　a'n't　it？　　I　declare　it
wo'ks　like　a　cha'm。　　Well；　I　shall　always　keep　mo'phine　around　after
this；　and　when；　I　feel　one　of　these　attacks　comin'　on〃

〃Send　for　a　physician；　Mrs。　Lander；〃　said　Dr。　Welwright；　〃and　he'll　know
what　to　do。〃

〃I　an't　so　sure　of　that；〃　returned　Mrs。　Lander　fondly。　　〃He　would　if　you
was　the　one。　　I　declare　I　believe　I　could　get　up　and　walk　right　off；　I
feel　so　well。〃

〃That's　good。　　If　you'll　take　a　walk　day　after　tomorrow　it　will　help　you
a　great　deal　more。〃

〃Well；　I　shall　always　say　that　you've　saved　my　life；　this　time；　doctor；
and　Clementina　she's　stood　by；　nobly；　I'll　say　that　for　her。〃　　She
twisted　her　big　head　round　on　the　pillow　to　get　sight　of　the　girl。　　〃I'm
all　right；　now；　and　don't　you　mind　what　I　said。　　It's　just　my　misery
talkin'；　I　don't　know　what　I　did　say；　I　felt　so　bad。　　But　I'm　fustrate；
now；　and　I　believe　I　could　drop　off　to　sleep；　this　minute。　　Why　don't　you
go　to　your　tea？　　You　can；　just　as　well　as　not！〃

〃Oh；　I　don't　want　to　go；　now；　Mrs。　Lander；　I'd　ratha　stay。〃

〃But　there　a'n't　any　more　danger　now；　is　the'e；　docta？〃　Mrs。　Lander
appealed。

〃No。　　There　wasn't　any　danger　before。　　But　when　you're　quite　yourself；
I　want　to　have　a　little　talk　with　you；　Mrs。　Lander；　about　your　diet。　　We
must　look　after　that。〃

〃Why；　docta；　that's　what　I　do　do；　now。　　I　eat　all　the　healthy　things　I
lay　my　hands　on；　don't　I；　Clementina？　　And　ha'n't　you　always　at　me　about
it？〃

Clementina　did　not　answer；　and　the　doctor　laughed。　　Well；　I　should　like
to　know　what　more　I　could　do！〃

〃Perhaps　you　could　do　less。　　We'll　see　about　that。　　Better　go　to　sleep；
now；　if　you　feel　like　it。〃

〃Well；　I　will；　if　you'll　make　this　silly　child　go　to　her　tea。　　I　s'pose
she　won't　because　I　scolded　her。　　She's　an　awful　hand　to　lay　anything　up
against　you。　　You　know　you　ah'；　Clementina！　　But　I　can　say　this；　doctor：
a　betta　child　don't　breathe；　and　I　just　couldn't　live　without　her。　　Come
he'e；　Clementina；　I　want　to　kiss　you　once；　before　I　go　to　sleep；　so's　to
make　su'a　you　don't　bea'　malice。〃　　She　pulled　Clementina　down　to　kiss
her；　and　babbled　on　affectionately　and　optimistically；　till　her　talk
became　the　voice　of　her　dreams；　and　then　ceased　altogether。

〃You　could　go；　perfectly　well；　Miss　Claxon；〃　said　the　doctor。

〃No；　I　don't　ca'e　to　go；〃　answered　Clementina。　　I'd　ratha　stay。　　If　she
should　wake〃

〃She　won't　wake；　until　long　after　you've　got　back；　I'll　answer　for　that。
I'm　going　to　stay　here　awhile。　　Go！　I'll　take　the　responsibility。〃

Clementina's　face　brightened。　　She　wanted　very　much　to　go。　　She　should
meet　some　pleasant　people；　she　always　did；　at　Miss　Milray's。　　Then　the
light　died　out　of　her　gay　eyes；　and　she　set　her　lips。　　〃No；　I　told　her　I
shouldn't　go。〃

〃I　didn't　hear　you；〃　said　Dr。　Welwright。　　〃A　doctor　has　no　eyes　and　ears
except　for　the　symptoms　of　his　patients。〃

〃Oh；　I　know；〃　said　Clementina。　　She　had　liked　Dr。　Welwright　from　the
first；　and　she　thought　it　was　very　nice　of　him　to　stay　on；　after　he　left
Mrs。　Lander's　bedside；　and　help　to　make　her　lonesome　evening　pass
pleasantly　in　the　parlor。　　He　jumped　up　finally；　and　looked　at　his　watch。
〃Bless　my　soul！〃　　he　said；　and　he　went　in　for　another　look　at　Mrs。
Lander。　　When　he　came　back；　he　said；　〃She's　all　right。　　But　you've　made
me　break　an　engagement；　Miss　Claxon。　　I　was　going　to　tea　at　Miss
Milray's。　　She　promised　me　I　should　meet　you　there。〃

It　seemed　a　great　joke；　and　Clementina　offered　to　carry　his　excuses　to
Miss　Milray；　when　she　went　to　make　her　own。

She；　went　the　next　morning。　　Mrs。　Lander　insisted　that　she　should　go；　she
said　that　she　was　not　going　to　have　Miss　Milray　thinking　that　she　wanted
to　keep　her　all　to　herself。

Miss　Milray　kissed　the　girl　in　full　forgiveness；　but　she　asked；　〃Did　Dr。
Welwright　think　it　a　very　bad　attack？〃

〃Has　he　been　he'a？〃　returned　Clementina。

Miss　Milray　laughed。　　〃Doctors　don't　betray　their　patientsgood　doctors。
No；　he　hasn't　been　here；　if　that　will　help　you。　　I　wish　it　would　help　me；
but　it　won't；　quite。　　I　don't　like　to　think　of　that　old　woman　using　you
up；　Clementina。〃

〃Oh；　she　doesn't；　Miss　Milray。　　You　mustn't　think　so。　　You　don't　know　how
good　she　is　to　me。〃

〃Does　she　ever　remind　you　of　it？〃

Clementina's　eyes　fell。　　〃She　isn't　like　herself　when　she　doesn't　feel
well。〃

〃I　knew　it！〃　Miss　Milray　triumphed。　　〃I　always　knew　that　she　was　a
dreadful　old　tabby。　　I　wish　you　were　safely　out　of　her　clutches。　　Come
and　live　with　me；　my　dear；　when　Mrs。　Lander　gets　tired　of　you。　　But
she'll　never　get　tired　of　you。　　You're　just　the　kind　of　helpless　mouse
that　such　an　old　tabby　would　make　her　natural　prey。　　But　she　sha'n't；
even　if　another　sort　of　cat　has　to　get　you！　　I'm　sorry　you　couldn't　come
last　night。　　Your　little　Russian　was　here；　and　went　away　early　and　very
bitterly　because　you　didn't　come。　　He　seemed　to　think　there　was　nobody；
and　said　so；　in　everything　but　words。〃

〃Oh！〃　said　Clementina。　　〃Don't　you　think　he's　very　nice；　Miss　Milray？〃

〃He's　very　mystical；　or　else　so　very　simple　that　he　seems　so。　　I　hope　you
can　make　him　out。〃

Don't　you　think　he's　very　much　in　ea'nest？

〃Oh；　as　the　grave；　or　the　asylum。　　I　shouldn't　like　him　to　be　in　earnest
about　me；　if　I　were　you。〃

〃But　that's　just　what　he　is！　　〃　Clementina　told　how　the　Russian　had
lectured　her；　and　wished　her　to　go　back　to　the　country　and　work　in　the
fields。

〃Oh；　if　that's　all！〃　cried　Miss　Milray。　I　was　afraid　it　was　another　kind
of　earnestness：　the　kind　I　shouldn't　like　if　I　were　you。〃

〃There's　no　danger　of　that；　I　guess。〃　　Clementina　laughed；　and　Miss
Milray　went　on：

〃Another　of　your　admirers　was　here；　but　be　was　not　so　inconsolable；　or
else　be　found　consolation　in　staying　on　and　talking　about　you；　or
joking。〃

〃Oh；　yes；　Mr。　Hinkle；〃　cried　Clementina　with　the　smile　that　the　thought
of　him　always　brought。　　He's　lovely。〃

〃Lovely？　　Well；　I　don't　know　why　it　isn't　the　word。　　It　suits　him　a　great
deal　better　than　some　insipid　girls　that　people　give　it　to。　　Yes；　I　could
really　fall　in　love　with　Mr。　Hinkle。　　He's　the　only　man　I　ever　saw　who
would　know　how　to　break　the　fall！〃

It　was　lunch…time　before　their　talk　had　begun　to　run　low；　and　it　swelled
again　over　the　meal。　　Miss　Milray　returned　to　Mrs。　Lander；　and　she　made
Clementina　confess　that　she　was　a　little　trying　sometimes。　　But　she
insisted　that　she　was　always　good；　and　in　remorse　she　went　away　as　soon
as　Miss　Milray　rose　from　table。

She　found　Mrs。　Lander　very　much　better；　and　willing　to　have　had　her　stay
the　whole　afternoon　with　Miss　Milray。　　〃I　don't　want　she　should　have
anything　to　say　against　me；　to　you；　Clementina；　she'd　be　glad　enough　to。
But　I　guess　it's　just　as　well　you'a　back。　　That　scratched…out　baron　has
been　he'e　twice；　and　he's　waitin'　for　you　in　the　pahla'；　now。　　I　presume
he'll　keep　comin'　till　you　do　see　him。　　I　guess　you　betta　have　it　ova；
whatever　it　is。〃

〃I　guess　you're　right；　Mrs。　Lander。〃

Clementina　found　the　Russian　walking　up　and　down　the　room；　and　as　soon　as
their　greeting　was　over；　he　asked　leave　to　continue　his　promenade；　but　he
stopped　abruptly　before　her　when　she　had　sunk　upon　a　sofa。

〃I　have　come　to　tell　you　a　strange　story；〃　he　said。

〃It　is　the　story　of　that　American　friend　of　mine。　　I　tell　it　to　you
because　I　think　you　can　understand；　and　will　know　what　to　advise；　what　to
do。〃

He　turn