the portygee-第66节

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She　interrupted。　　〃Oh；　don't！〃　she　cried。　　〃Don't！　　I　don't　care
about　the　old　book。　　I'm　not　thinking　about　that。　　I'm　thinking
about　you。　　YOU　aren't　the　samethe　same　toward　me。〃

〃Toward　you；　Madeline？　　I　don't　understand　what　you　mean。〃

〃Yes；　you　do。　　Of　course　you　do。　　If　you　were　the　same　as　you　used
to　be；　you　would　let　Father　help　you。　　We　used　to　talk　about　that
very　thing　andand　you　didn't　resent　it　then。〃

〃Didn't　I？　　Well；　perhaps　I　didn't。　　But　I　think　I　remember　our
speaking　sometimes　of　sacrificing　everything　for　each　other。　　We
were　to　live　in　poverty；　if　necessary；　and　I　was　to　write；　you
know；　and〃

〃Stop！　　All　that　was　nonsense；　nonsense！　you　know　it。〃

〃Yes；　I'm　afraid　it　was。〃

〃You　know　it　was。　　And　if　you　were　as　you　used　to　be；　if　you〃

〃Madeline！〃

〃What？　　Why　did　you　interrupt　me？〃

〃Because　I　wanted　to　ask　you　a　question。　　Do　you　think　YOU　are
exactly　the　sameas　you　used　to　be？〃

〃What　do　you　mean？〃

〃Haven't　YOU　changed　a　little？　　Are　you　as　sure　as　you　were　then
as　sure　of　your　feeling　toward　me？〃

She　gazed　at　him；　wide…eyed。　　〃WHAT　do　you　mean？〃

〃I　mean　ARE　you　sure？　　It　has　seemed　to　me　that　perhapsI　was　out
of　your　life　for　a　long　time；　you　know；　and　during　a　good　deal　of
that　time　it　seemed　certain　that　I　had　gone　forever。　　I　am　not
blaming　you；　goodness　knows；　butMadeline；　isn't　there　　Well；　if
I　hadn't　come　back；　mightn't　there　have　been　some　oneelse？〃

She　turned　pale。

〃What　do〃　she　stammered；　inarticulate。　　〃Why；　why〃

〃It　was　Captain　Blanchard；　wasn't　it？〃

The　color　came　back　to　her　cheeks　with　a　rush。　　She　blushed
furiously　and　sprang　to　her　feet。

〃Howhow　can　you　say　such　things！〃　she　cried。　　〃What　do　you　mean？
How　DARE　you　say　Captain　Blanchard　took　advantage　of　　Howhow
DARE　you　say　I　was　not　loyal　to　you？　　It　is　not　true。　　It　is　not
true。　　I　was。　　I　am。　　There　hasn't　been　a　worda　word　between　us
sincesince　the　news　came　that　you　were　　I　told　himI　said
And　he　has　been　splendid！　　Splendid！　　And　now　you　say　　Oh；　what
AM　I　saying？　　What　SHALL　I　do？〃

She　collapsed　once　more　among　the　cushions。　　He　leaned　forward。

〃My　dear　girl〃　he　began；　but　she　broke　in。

〃I　HAVEN'T　been　disloyal；〃　she　cried。　　〃I　have　tried　　Oh；　I　have
tried　so　hard〃

〃Hush；　Madeline；　hush。　　I　understand。　　I　understand　perfectly。　　It
is　all　right；　really　it　is。〃

〃And　I　should　have　kept　on　trying　alwaysalways。〃

〃Yes；　dear；　yes。　　But　do　you　think　a　married　life　with　so　much
trying　in　it　likely　to　be　a　happy　one？　　It　is　better　to　know　it
now；　isn't　it；　a　great　deal　better　for　both　of　us？　　Madeline；　I　am
going　to　my　room。　　I　want　you　to　think；　to　think　over　all　this；　and
then　we　will　talk　again。　　I　don't　blame　you。　　I　don't；　dear；
really。　　I　think　I　realize　everythingall　of　it。　　Good　night；
dear。〃

He　stooped　and　kissed　her。　　She　sobbed；　but　that　was　all。　　The　next
morning　a　servant　came　to　his　room　with　a　parcel　and　a　letter。　　The
parcel　was　a　tiny　one。　　It　was　the　ring　he　had　given　her；　in　its
case。　　The　letter　was　short　and　much　blotted。　　It　read：


Dear　Albert：

I　have　thought　and　thought；　as　you　told　me　to；　and　I　have　concluded
that　you　were　right。　　It　IS　best　to　know　it　now。　　Forgive　me；
please；　PLEASE。　　I　feel　wicked　and　horrid　and　I　HATE　myself；　but　I
think　this　is　best。　　Oh；　do　forgive　me。　　Good…by。

MADELINE。


His　reply　was　longer。　　At　its　end　he　wrote：


Of　course　I　forgive　you。　　In　the　first　place　there　is　nothing　to
forgive。　　The　unforgivable　thing　would　have　been　the　sacrifice　of
your　happiness　and　your　future　to　a　dream　and　a　memory。　　I　hope　you
will　be　very　happy。　　I　am　sure　you　will　be；　for　Blanchard　is；　I
know；　a　fine　fellow。　　The　best　of　fortune　to　you　both。


The　next　forenoon　he　sat　once　more　in　the　car　of　the　morning　train
for　Cape　Cod；　looking　out　of　the　window。　　He　had　made　the　journey
from　New　York　by　the　night　boat　and　had　boarded　the　Cape　train　at
Middleboro。　　All　the　previous　day；　and　in　the　evening　as　he　tramped
the　cold　wind…swept　deck　of　the　steamer；　he　had　been　trying　to
collect　his　thoughts；　to　readjust　them　to　the　new　situation；　to
comprehend　in　its　entirety　the　great　change　that　had　come　in　his
life。　　The　vague　plans；　the　happy　indefinite　dreams；　all　the
rainbows　and　roses　had　gone；　shivered　to　bits　like　the　reflection
in　a　broken　mirror。　　Madeline；　his　Madeline；　was　his　no　longer。
Nor　was　he　hers。　　In　a　way　it　seemed　impossible。

He　tried　to　analyze　his　feelings。　　It　seemed　as　if　he　should　have
been　crushed；　grief…stricken；　broken。　　He　was　inclined　to　reproach
himself　because　he　was　not。　　Of　course　there　was　a　sadness　about
it；　a　regret　that　the　wonder　of　those　days　of　love　and　youth　had
passed。　　But　the　sorrow　was　not　bitter；　the　regret　was　but　a
wistful　longing；　the　sweet；　lingering　fragrance　of　a　memory；　that
was　all。　　Toward　her；　Madeline；　he　feltand　it　surprised　him；　too；
to　find　that　he　feltnot　the　slightest　trace　of　resentment。　　And
more　surprising　still　he　felt　none　toward　Blanchard。　　He　had　meant
what　he　said　in　his　letter；　he　wished　for　them　both　the　greatest
happiness。

Andthere　was　no　use　attempting　to　shun　the　facthis　chief
feeling；　as　he　sat　there　by　the　car　window　looking　out　at　the
familiar　landscape；　was　a　great　relief；　a　consciousness　of　escape
from　what　might　have　been　a　miserable；　crushing　mistake　for　him　and
for　her。　　And　with　this　a　growing　sense　of　freedom；　of　buoyancy。
It　seemed　wicked　to　feel　like　that。　　Then　it　came　to　him；　the
thought　that　Madeline；　doubtless；　was　experiencing　the　same
feeling。　　And　he　did　not　mind　a　bit；　he　hoped　she　was；　bless　her！

A　youthful　cigar　〃drummer；〃　on　his　first　Down…East　trip；　sat　down
beside　him。

〃Kind　of　a　flat；　bare　country；　ain't　it？〃　observed　the　drummer；
with　a　jerk　of　his　head　toward　the　window。　　〃Looks　bleak　enough　to
me。　　Know　anything　about　this　neck　of　the　woods；　do　you？〃

Albert　turned　to　look　at　him。

〃Meaning　the　Cape？〃　he　asked。

〃Sure。〃

〃Indeed　I　do。　　I　know　all　about　it。〃

〃That　so！　　Say；　you　sound　as　if　you　liked　it。〃

Albert　turned　back　to　the　window　again。

〃Like　it！〃　he　repeated。　　〃I　love　it。〃　　Then　he　sighed；　a　sigh　of
satisfaction；　and　added：　　〃You　see；　I　BELONG　here。〃

His　grandparents　and　Rachel　were　surprised　when　he　walked　into　the
house　that　noon　and　announced　that　he　hoped　dinner　was　ready；
because　he　was　hungry。　　But　their　surprise　was　more　than　balanced
by　their　joy。　　Captain　Zelotes　demanded　to　know　how　long　he　was
going　to　stay。

〃As　long　as　you'll　have　me；　Grandfather；〃　was　the　answer。

〃Eh？　　Well；　that　would　be　a　consider'ble　spell；　if　you　left　it　to
us；　but　I　cal'late　that　girl　in　New　York　will　have　somethin'　to　say
as　to　time　limit；　won't　she？〃

Albert　smiled。　　〃I'll　tell　you　about　that　by　and　by；〃　he　said。

He　did　not　tell　them　until　that　evening　after　supper。　　It　was
Friday　evening　and　Olive　was　going　to　prayer…meeting；　but　she
delayed　〃putting　on　her　things〃　to　hear　the　tale。　　The　news　that
the　engagement　was　off　and　that　her　grandson　was　not；　after　all；　to
wed　the　daughter　of　the　Honorable　Fletcher　Fosdick；　shocked　and
grieved　her　not　a　little。

〃Oh；　dear！〃　she　sighed。　　〃I　suppose　you　know　what's　best；　Albert；
and　maybe；　as　you　say；　you　wouldn't　have　been　happy；　but　I　DID　feel
sort　of　proud　to　think　my　boy　was　goin'　to　marry　a　millionaire's
daughter。〃

Captain　Zelotes　made　no　commentthen。　　He　asked　to　be　told　more
particulars。　　Albert　described　the　life　at　the　Fosdick　home；　the
receptions；　his　enforced　exhibitions　and　readings。　　At　length　the
recital　reached　the　point　of　the　interview　in　Fosdick's　office。

〃So　he　offered　you　to　take　you　into　the　firmeh；　son？〃　he
observed。

〃Yes；　sir。〃

〃Humph！　　Fosdick；　Williamson　and　Hendricks　are　one　of　the　biggest
brokerage　houses　goin'；　so　a　good　many　New　Yorkers　have　told　me。〃

〃No　doubt。　　But；　Grandfather；　you've　had　some　experience　with　me
as　a　business　man；　how　do　you　think　I　would　fit　into　a　firm　of
stockbrokers？〃

Captain　Lote's　eye　twinkled；　but　he　did　not　answer　the　question。
Instead　he　asked：

〃Just　what　did　you　give　Fosdick　as　your　reason　for　not　sayin'　yes？〃

Albert　laughed。　　〃Well；　Grandfather；〃　he　said；　〃I'll　tell　you。　　I
said　that　I　appreciated　his　kindness　and　all　that；　but　that　I　would
not　draw　a　big　salary　for　doing　nothing　except　to　be　a　little；
damned　tame　house…poet　led　around　in　leash　and　shown　off　at　his
wife's　club　meetings。〃

Mrs。　Snow　uttered　a　faint　scream。　　〃Oh；　Albert！〃　she　exclaimed。
She　might　have　said　more；　but　a　shout　from　her　husband　prevented
her　doing　so。

Captain　Zelotes　had　risen　and　his　mighty　hand　descended　with　a
stinging　slap　upon　his　grandson's　shoulder。

〃Bully　for　you；　boy！〃　he　cried。　　Then；　turning　to　Olive；　he　added；
〃Mother；　I've　always　kind　of　cal'lated　that　you　had　one　man　around
this　house。　　Now；　by　the　Lord　A'Mighty；　I　know　you've　got　TWO！〃

Olive　rose。　　〃Well；〃　she　declared　emphatically；　〃that　may　be；　but
if　both　those　men　are　goin'　to　start　in　swearin'　right　here　in　the
sittin'　room；　I　think　it's　high　time　SOMEBODY　in　that　family　went
to　church。〃

So　to　prayer　meeting　she　went；　with　Mrs。　Ellis　as　escort；　and　her
husband　and　grandson；　seated　in　armchairs　before　the　sitting　room