heartbreak house-第10节

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drawing…table　with　drawing…board；　T…square；　straightedges；　set
squares；　mathematical　instruments；　saucers　of　water　color；　a
tumbler　of　discolored　water；　Indian　ink；　pencils；　and　brushes　on
it。　The　drawing…board　is　set　so　that　the　draughtsman's　chair　has
the　window　on　its　left　hand。　On　the　floor　at　the　end　of　the
table；　on　its　right；　is　a　ship's　fire　bucket。　On　the　port　side　of
the　room；　near　the　bookshelves；　is　a　sofa　with　its　back　to　the
windows。　It　is　a　sturdy　mahogany　article；　oddly　upholstered　in
sailcloth；　including　the　bolster；　with　a　couple　of　blankets
hanging　over　the　back。　Between　the　sofa　and　the　drawing…table　is
a　big　wicker　chair；　with　broad　arms　and　a　low　sloping　back；　with
its　back　to　the　light。　A　small　but　stout　table　of　teak；　with　a
round　top　and　gate　legs；　stands　against　the　port　wall　between　the
door　and　the　bookcase。　It　is　the　only　article　in　the　room　that
suggests　（not　at　all　convincingly）　a　woman's　hand　in　the
furnishing。　The　uncarpeted　floor　of　narrow　boards　is　caulked　and
holystoned　like　a　deck。

The　garden　to　which　the　glass　doors　lead　dips　to　the　south　before
the　landscape　rises　again　to　the　hills。　Emerging　from　the　hollow
is　the　cupola　of　an　observatory。　Between　the　observatory　and　the
house　is　a　flagstaff　on　a　little　esplanade；　with　a　hammock　on　the
east　side　and　a　long　garden　seat　on　the　west。

A　young　lady；　gloved　and　hatted；　with　a　dust　coat　on；　is　sitting
in　the　window…seat　with　her　body　twisted　to　enable　her　to　look
out　at　the　view。　One　hand　props　her　chin：　the　other　hangs　down
with　a　volume　of　the　Temple　Shakespeare　in　it；　and　her　finger
stuck　in　the　page　she　has　been　reading。

A　clock　strikes　six。

The　young　lady　turns　and　looks　at　her　watch。　She　rises　with　an
air　of　one　who　waits；　and　is　almost　at　the　end　of　her　patience。
She　is　a　pretty　girl；　slender；　fair；　and　intelligent　looking；
nicely　but　not　expensively　dressed；　evidently　not　a　smart　idler。

With　a　sigh　of　weary　resignation　she　comes　to　the　draughtsman's
chair；　sits　down；　and　begins　to　read　Shakespeare。　Presently　the
book　sinks　to　her　lap；　her　eyes　close；　and　she　dozes　into　a
slumber。

An　elderly　womanservant　comes　in　from　the　hall　with　three
unopened　bottles　of　rum　on　a　tray。　She　passes　through　and
disappears　in　the　pantry　without　noticing　the　young　lady。　She
places　the　bottles　on　the　shelf　and　fills　her　tray　with　empty
bottles。　As　she　returns　with　these；　the　young　lady　lets　her　book
drop；　awakening　herself；　and　startling　the　womanservant　so　that
she　all　but　lets　the　tray　fall。

THE　WOMANSERVANT。　God　bless　us！　＇The　young　lady　picks　up　the　book
and　places　it　on　the　table＇。　Sorry　to　wake　you；　miss；　I'm　sure；
but　you　are　a　stranger　to　me。　What　might　you　be　waiting　here　for
now？

THE　YOUNG　LADY。　Waiting　for　somebody　to　show　some　signs　of
knowing　that　I　have　been　invited　here。

THE　WOMANSERVANT。　Oh；　you're　invited；　are　you？　And　has　nobody
come？　Dear！　dear！

THE　YOUNG　LADY。　A　wild…looking　old　gentleman　came　and　looked　in
at　the　window；　and　I　heard　him　calling　out；　〃Nurse；　there　is　a
young　and　attractive　female　waiting　in　the　poop。　Go　and　see　what
she　wants。〃　Are　you　the　nurse？

THE　WOMANSERVANT。　Yes；　miss：　I'm　Nurse　Guinness。　That　was　old
Captain　Shotover；　Mrs　Hushabye's　father。　I　heard　him　roaring；　but
I　thought　it　was　for　something　else。　I　suppose　it　was　Mrs
Hushabye　that　invited　you；　ducky？

THE　YOUNG　LADY。　I　understood　her　to　do　so。　But　really　I　think　I'd
better　go。

NURSE　GUINNESS。　Oh；　don't　think　of　such　a　thing；　miss。　If　Mrs
Hushabye　has　forgotten　all　about　it；　it　will　be　a　pleasant
surprise　for　her　to　see　you；　won't　it？

THE　YOUNG　LADY。　It　has　been　a　very　unpleasant　surprise　to　me　to
find　that　nobody　expects　me。

NURSE　GUINNESS。　You'll　get　used　to　it；　miss：　this　house　is　full
of　surprises　for　them　that　don't　know　our　ways。

CAPTAIN　SHOTOVER　＇looking　in　from　the　hall　suddenly：　an　ancient
but　still　hardy　man　with　an　immense　white　beard；　in　a　reefer
jacket　with　a　whistle　hanging　from　his　neck＇。　Nurse；　there　is　a
hold…all　and　a　handbag　on　the　front　steps　for　everybody　to　fall
over。　Also　a　tennis　racquet。　Who　the　devil　left　them　there？

THE　YOUNG　LADY。　They　are　mine；　I'm　afraid。

TAE　CAPTAIN　＇advancing　to　the　drawing…table＇。　Nurse；　who　is　this
misguided　and　unfortunate　young　lady？

NURSE　GUINNESS。　She　says　Miss　Hessy　invited　her；　sir。

THE　CAPTAIN。　And　had　she　no　friend；　no　parents；　to　warn　her
against　my　daughter's　invitations？　This　is　a　pretty　sort　of
house；　by　heavens！　A　young　and　attractive　lady　is　invited　here。
Her　luggage　is　left　on　the　steps　for　hours；　and　she　herself　is
deposited　in　the　poop　and　abandoned；　tired　and　starving。　This　is
our　hospitality。　These　are　our　manners。　No　room　ready。　No　hot
water。　No　welcoming　hostess。　Our　visitor　is　to　sleep　in　the
toolshed；　and　to　wash　in　the　duckpond。

NURSE　GUINNESS。　Now　it's　all　right；　Captain：　I'll　get　the　lady
some　tea；　and　her　room　shall　be　ready　before　she　has　finished　it。
＇To　the　young　lady＇。　Take　off　your　hat；　ducky；　and　make　yourself
at　home　＇she　goes　to　the　door　leading　to　the　hall＇。

THE　CAPTAIN　＇as　she　passes　him＇。　Ducky！　Do　you　suppose；　woman；
that　because　this　young　lady　has　been　insulted　and　neglected；　you
have　the　right　to　address　her　as　you　address　my　wretched
children；　whom　you　have　brought　up　in　ignorance　of　the　commonest
decencies　of　social　intercourse？

NURSE　GUINNESS。　Never　mind　him；　doty。　＇Quite　unconcerned；　she
goes　out　into　the　hall　on　her　way　to　the　kitchen＇。

THE　CAPTAIN。　Madam；　will　you　favor　me　with　your　name？　＇He　sits
down　in　the　big　wicker　chair＇。

THE　YOUNG　LADY。　My　name　is　Ellie　Dunn。

THE　CAPTAIN。　Dunn！　I　had　a　boatswain　whose　name　was　Dunn。　He　was
originally　a　pirate　in　China。　He　set　up　as　a　ship's　chandler　with
stores　which　I　have　every　reason　to　believe　he　stole　from　me。　No
doubt　he　became　rich。　Are　you　his　daughter？

ELLIE　＇indignant＇。　No；　certainly　not。　I　am　proud　to　be　able　to
say　that　though　my　father　has　not　been　a　successful　man；　nobody
has　ever　had　one　word　to　say　against　him。　I　think　my　father　is
the　best　man　I　have　ever　known。

THE　CAPTAIN。　He　must　be　greatly　changed。　Has　he　attained　the
seventh　degree　of　concentration？

ELLIE。　I　don't　understand。

THE　CAPTAIN。　But　how　could　he；　with　a　daughter？　I；　madam；　have
two　daughters。　One　of　them　is　Hesione　Hushabye；　who　invited　you
here。　I　keep　this　house：　she　upsets　it。　I　desire　to　attain　the
seventh　degree　of　concentration：　she　invites　visitors　and　leaves
me　to　entertain　them。　＇Nurse　Guinness　returns　with　the　tea…tray；
which　she　places　on　the　teak　table＇。　I　have　a　second　daughter　who
is；　thank　God；　in　a　remote　part　of　the　Empire　with　her　numskull
of　a　husband。　As　a　child　she　thought　the　figure…head　of　my　ship；
the　Dauntless；　the　most　beautiful　thing　on　earth。　He　resembled
it。　He　had　the　same　expression：　wooden　yet　enterprising。　She
married　him；　and　will　never　set　foot　in　this　house　again。

NURSE　GUINNESS　＇carrying　the　table；　with　the　tea…things　on　it；　to
Ellie's　side＇。　Indeed　you　never　were　more　mistaken。　She　is　in
England　this　very　moment。　You　have　been　told　three　times　this
week　that　she　is　coming　home　for　a　year　for　her　health。　And　very
glad　you　should　be　to　see　your　own　daughter　again　after　all　these
years。

THE　CAPTAIN。　I　am　not　glad。　The　natural　term　of　the　affection　of
the　human　animal　for　its　offspring　is　six　years。　My　daughter
Ariadne　was　born　when　I　was　forty…six。　I　am　now　eighty…eight。　If
she　comes；　I　am　not　at　home。　If　she　wants　anything；　let　her　take
it。　If　she　asks　for　me；　let　her　be　informed　that　I　am　extremely
old；　and　have　totally　forgotten　her。

NURSE　GUINNESS。　That's　no　talk　to　offer　to　a　young　lady。　Here；
ducky；　have　some　tea；　and　don't　listen　to　him　＇she　pours　out　a
cup　of　tea＇。

THE　CAPTAIN　＇rising　wrathfully＇。　Now　before　high　heaven　they　have
given　this　innocent　child　Indian　tea：　the　stuff　they　tan　their
own　leather　insides　with。　＇He　seizes　the　cup　and　the　tea…pot　and
empties　both　into　the　leathern　bucket＇。

ELLIE　＇almost　in　tears＇。　Oh；　please！　I　am　so　tired。　I　should　have
been　glad　of　anything。

NURSE　GUINNESS。　Oh；　what　a　thing　to　do！　The　poor　lamb　is　ready　to
drop。

THE　CAPTAIN。　You　shall　have　some　of　my　tea。　Do　not　touch　that
fly…blown　cake：　nobody　eats　it　here　except　the　dogs。　＇He
disappears　into　the　pantry＇。

NURSE　GUINNESS。　There's　a　man　for　you！　They　say　he　sold　himself
to　the　devil　in　Zanzibar　before　he　was　a　captain；　and　the　older
he　grows　the　more　I　believe　them。

A　WOMAN'S　VOICE　＇in　the　hall＇。　Is　anyone　at　home？　Hesione！　Nurse！
Papa！　Do　come；　somebody；　and　take　in　my　luggage。

Thumping　heard；　as　of　an　umbrella；　on　the　wainscot。

NURSE　GUINNESS。　My　gracious！　It's　Miss　Addy；　Lady　Utterword；　Mrs
Hushabye's　sister：　the　one　I　told　the　captain　about。　＇Calling＇。
Coming；　Miss；　coming。

She　carries　the　table　back　to　its　place　by　the　door　and　is
harrying　out　when　she　is　intercepted　by　Lady　Utterword；　who
bursts　in　much　flustered。　Lady　Utterword；　a　blonde；　is　very
handsome；　very　well　dressed；　and　so　precipitate　in　speech　and
action　that　the　first　impression　（erroneous）　is　one　of　comic
silliness。

LADY　UTTERWORD。　Oh；　is　that　you；　Nurse？　How　are　you？　You　don't
look　a　day　older。　Is　nobody　at