ragged lady, v2-第18节

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XXIX。

In　the　time　of　provisional　quiet　that　followed　for　Clementina；　she　was
held　from　the　remorses　and　misgivings　that　had　troubled　her　before　Hinkle
came。　　She　still　thought　that　she　had　let　Dr。　Welwright　go　away　believing
that　she　had　not　cared　enough　for　the　offer　which　had　surprised　her　so
much；　and　she　blamed　herself　for　not　telling　him　how　doubly　bound　she　was
to　Gregory；　though　when　she　tried　to　put　her　sense　of　this　in　words　to
herself　she　could　not　make　out　that　she　was　any　more　bound　to　him　than
she　had　been　before　they　met　in　Florence；　unless　she　wished　to　be　so。
Yet　somehow　in　this　time　of　respite；　neither　the　regret　for　Dr。　Welwright
nor　the　question　of　Gregory　persisted　very　strongly；　and　there　were　whole
days　when　she　realized　before　she　slept　that　she　had　not　thought　of
either。

She　was　in　full　favor　again　with　Mrs。　Lander；　whom　there　was　no　one　to
embitter　in　her　jealous　affection。　　Hinkle　formed　their　whole　social
world；　and　Mrs。　Lander　made　the　most　of　him。　　She　was　always　having　him
to　the　dinners　which　her　landlord　served　her　from　a　restaurant　in　her
apartment；　and　taking　him　out　with　Clementina　in　her　gondola。　　He　came
into　a　kind　of　authority　with　them　both　which　was　as　involuntary　with　him
as　with　them；　and　was　like　an　effect　of　his　constant　wish　to　be　doing
something　for　them。

One　morning　when　they　were　all　going　out　in　Mrs。　Lander's　gondola；　she
sent　Clementina　back　three　times　to　their　rooms　for　outer　garments　of
differing　density。　　When　she　brought　the　last　Mrs。　Lander　frowned。

〃This　won't　do。　　I've　got　to　have　something　elsesomething　lighter　and
warma。〃

〃I　can't　go　back　any　moa；　Mrs。　Landa；〃　cried　the　girl；　from　the
exasperation　of　her　own　nerves。

〃Then　I　will　go　back　myself；〃　said　Mrs。　Lander　with　dignity；　〃and　we
sha'n't　need　the　gondoler　any　more　this　mo'ning；〃　she　added；　〃unless　you
and　Mr。　Hinkle　wants　to　ride。〃

She　got　ponderously　out　of　the　boat　with　the　help　of　the　gondolier's
elbow；　and　marched　into　the　house　again；　while　Clementina　followed　her。
She　did　not　offer　to　help　her　up　the　stairs；　Hinkle　had　to　do　it；　and　he
met　the　girl　slowly　coming　up　as　he　returned　from　delivering　Mrs。　Lander
over　to　Maddalena。

〃She's　all　right；　now；〃　he　ventured　to　say；　tentatively。

〃Is　she？〃　Clementina　coldly　answered。

In　spite　of　her　repellent　air；　he　persisted；　〃She's　a　pretty　sick　woman；
isn't　she？〃

〃The　docta　doesn't　say。〃

〃Well；　I　think　it　would　be　safe　to　act　on　that　supposition。　　Miss
ClementinaI　think　she　wants　to　see　you。〃

〃I'm　going　to　her　directly。〃

Hinkle　paused；　rather　daunted。　　〃She　wants　me　to　go　for　the　doctor。〃

〃She's　always　wanting　the　docta。〃　　Clementina　lifted　her　eyes　and　looked
very　coldly　at　him。

〃If　I　were　you　I'd　go　up　right　away；〃　he　said；　boldly。

She　felt　that　she　ought　to　resent　his　interference；　but　the　mild　entreaty
of　his　pale　blue　eyes；　or　the　elder…brotherly　injunction　of　his　smile；
forbade　her。　　〃Did　she　ask　for　me？〃

〃No。〃

〃I'll　go　to　her；〃　she　said；　and　she　kept　herself　from　smiling　at　the　long
sigh　of　relief　he　gave　as　she　passed　him　on　the　stairs。

Mrs。　Lander　began　as　soon　as　she　entered　her　room；　〃Well；　I　was　just
wonderin'　if　you　was　goin'　to　leave　me　here　all　day　alone；　while　you
staid　down　the'e；　carryin'　on　with　that　simpleton。　　I　don't　know　what's
got　into　the　men。〃

〃Mr。　Hinkle　has　gone　for　the　docta；〃　said　Clementina；　trying　to　get　into
her　voice　the　kindness　she　was　trying　to　feel。

〃Well；　if　I　have　one　of　my　attacks；　now；　you'll　have　yourself　to　thank
for　it。〃

By　the　time　Dr。　Tradonico　appeared　Mrs。　Lander　was　so　much　better　that　in
her　revulsion　of　feeling　she　was　all　day　rather　tryingly　affectionate　in
her　indirect　appeals　for　Clementina's　sympathy。

〃I　don't　want　you　should　mind　what　I　say；　when　I　a'n't　feelin'　just
right；〃　she　began　that　evening；　after　she　had　gone　to　bed；　and　Clementina
sat　looking　out　of　the　open　window；　on　the　moonlit　lagoon。

〃Oh；　no；〃　the　girl　answered；　wearily。

Mrs。　Lander　humbled　herself　farther。　　〃I'm　real　sorry　I　plagued　you　so；
to…day；　and　I　know　Mr。　Hinkle　thought　I　was　dreadful；　but　I　couldn't　help
it。　　I　should　like　to　talk　with　you；　Clementina；　about　something　that's
worryin'　me；　if　you　a'n't　busy。〃

〃I'm　not　busy；　now；　Mrs。　Lander；〃　said　Clementina；　a　little　coldly；　and
relaxing　the　clasp　of　her　hands；　to　knit　her　fingers　together　had　been
her　sole　business；　and　she　put　even　this　away；

She　did　not　come　nearer　the　bed；　and　Mrs。　Lander　was　obliged　to　speak
without　the　advantage　of　noting　the　effect　of　her　words　upon　her　in　her
face。　　〃It's　like　this：　What　am　I　agoin'　to　do　for　them　relations　of　Mr。
Landa's　out　in　Michigan？〃

〃I　don't　know。　　What　relations？〃

〃I　told　you　about　'em：　the　only　ones　he's　got：　his　half…sista's　children。
He　neva　saw　'em；　and　he　neva　wanted　to；　but　they're　his　kin；　and　it　was
his　money。　　It　don't　seem　right　to　pass　'em　ova。　　Do　you　think　it　would
yourself；　Clementina？〃

Why；　of　cou'se　not；　Mrs。　Lander。　　It　wouldn't　be　right　at　all。〃

Mrs。　Lander　looked　relieved；　and　she　said；　as　if　a　little　surprised；　〃I'm
glad　you　feel　that　way；　I　should　feel　just　so；　myself。　　I　mean　to　do　by
you　just　what　I　always　said　I　should。　　I　sha'n't　forget　you；　but　whe'e
the'e's　so　much　I　got　to　thinkin'　the'e'd　ought　to　some　of　it　go　to　his
folks；　whetha　he　ca'ed　for　'em　or　not。　　It's　worried　me　some；　and　I　guess
if　anything　it's　that　that's　made　me　wo'se　lately。〃

〃Why　by　Mrs。　Landa；〃　said　the　girl；　〃Why　don't　you　give　it　all　to　them？〃

〃You　don't　know　what　you'a　talkin'　about；〃　said　Mrs。　Lander；　severely。〃　I
guess　if　I　give　'em　five　thousand　or　so　amongst'em；　it's　full　moa　than
they　eve　thought　of　havin'；　and　it's　moa　than　they　got　any　right　to。
Well；　that's　all　right；　then；　and　we　don't　need　to　talk　about　it　any　moa。
Yes；〃　she　resumed；　after　a　moment；　〃that's　what　I　shall　do。　　I　hu'n't　eva
felt　just　satisfied　with　that　last　will　I　got　made；　and　I　guess　I　shall
tear　it　up；　and　get　the　fust　American　lawyer　that　comes　along　to　make　me
a　new　one。　　The　prop'ty's　all　goin'　to　you；　but　I　guess　I　shall　leave
five　thousand　apiece　to　the　two　families　out　the'e。　　You　won't　miss　it；
any；　and　I　presume　it's　what　Mr。　Landa　would　expect　I　should　do；　though
why　he　didn't　do　it　himself；　I　can't　undastand；　unless　it　was　to　show　his
confidence　in　me。〃

She　began　to　ask　Clementina　how　she　felt　about　staying　in　Venice　all
summer；　she　said　she　had　got　so　much　better　there　already　that　she
believed　she　should　be　well　by　fall　if　she　stayed　on。　　She　was　certain
that　it　would　put　her　all　back　if　she　were　to　travel　now；　and　in　Europe；
where　it　was　so　hard　to　know　how　to　get　to　places；　she　did　not　see　how
they　could　pick　out　any　that　would　suit　them　as　well　as　Venice　did。

Clementina　agreed　to　it　all；　more　or　less　absentmindedly；　as　she　sat
looking　into　the　moonlight；　and　the　day　that　had　begun　so　stormily　ended
in　kindness　between　them。

The　next　morning　Mrs。　Lander　did　not　wish　to　go　out；　and　she　sent
Clementina　and　Hinkle　together　as　a　proof　that　they　were　all　on　good
terms　again。　　She　did　not　spare　the　girl　this　explanation　in　his
presence；　and　when　they　were　in　the　gondola　he　felt　that　he　had　to　say；
〃I　was　afraid　you　might　think　I　was　rather　meddlesome　yesterday。〃

〃Oh；　no；〃　she　answered。　　〃I　was　glad　you　did。〃

〃Yes；〃　he　returned；　〃I　thought　you　would　be　afterwards。〃　　He　looked　at
her　wistfully　with　his　slanted　eyes　and　his　odd　twisted　smile　and　they
both　gave　way　in　the　same　conscious　laugh。　　〃What　I　like；〃　he　explained
further；　〃is　to　be　understood　when　I've　said　something　that　doesn't　mean
anything；　don't　you？　　You　know　anybody　can　understand　you　if　you　really
mean　something；　but　most　of　the　time　you　don't；　and　that's　when　a　friend
is　useful。　　I　wish　you'd　call　on　me　if　you're　ever　in　that　fix。〃

〃Oh；　I　will；　Mr。　Hinkle；〃　Clementina　promised；　gayly。

〃Thank　you；〃　he　said；　and　her　gayety　seemed　to　turn　him　graver。　　〃Miss
Clementina；　might　I　go　a　little　further　in　this　direction；　without
danger？〃

〃What　direction？〃　she　added；　with　a　flush　of　sudden　alarm。

〃Mrs。　Lander。〃

〃Why；　suttainly！〃　she　answered；　in　quick　relief。

〃I　wish　you'd　let　me　do　some　of　the　worrying　about　her　for　you；　while　I'm
here。　　You　know　I　haven't　got　anything　else　to　do！〃

〃Why；　I　don't　believe　I　worry　much。　　I'm　afraid　I　fo'get　about　her　when
I'm　not　with　her。　　That's　the　wo'st　of　it。〃

〃No；　no；〃　he　entreated；　〃that's　the　best　of　it。　　But　I　want　to　do　the
worrying　for　you　even　when　you're　with　her。　　Will　you　let　me？〃

〃Why；　if　you　want　to　so　very　much。〃

〃Then　it's　settled；〃　he　said；　dismissing　the　subject。

But　she　recurred　to　it　with　a　lingering　compunction。

〃I　presume　that　I　don't　remember　how　sick　she　is　because　I've　neva　been
sick　at　all；　myself。〃

〃Well；〃　he　returned；　〃You　needn't　be　sorry　for　that　altogether。　　There
are　worse　things　than　being　well；　though　sick　people　don't　always　think
so。　　I've　wasted　a　good　deal　of　time　the　other　way；　though　I've　reformed；
now。〃

They　went　on　to　talk　about　themselves；　sometimes　they　talked　about
others；　in　excursions　which　were　more　or　less　perfunctory；　and　were
merely　in　the　way　of　illustration　or　instanc