drift from two shores(漂流)-第7章
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indeed； on the whole； a rather pleasant week。 For there was a delicate
flattery in being domineered by a wholesome and handsome woman； and
Mr。 James North had by this time made up his mind that she was both。
Once or twice he found himself contemplating her splendid figure with a
recollection of the doctor's compliment； and later； emulating her own
frankness； told her of it。
〃And what did YOU say？〃 she asked。
〃Oh； I laughed and saidnothing。〃
And so did she。
A month after this interchange of frankness； she asked him if he could
spend the next evening at her house。 〃You see；〃 she said； 〃there's to be a
dance down at the hall at Eureka； and I haven't kicked a fut since last
spring。 Hank Fisher's comin' up to take me over； and I'm goin' to let the
shanty slide for the night。〃
〃But what's to become of the baby？〃 asked North； a little testily。
〃Well；〃 said Miss Robinson； facing him somewhat aggressively； 〃I
reckon it won't hurt ye to take care of it for a night。 Dad can't and if he
could； he don't know how。 Liked to have pizened me after mar died。
No； young man； I don't propose to ask Hank Fisher to tote thet child over
to Eureka and back； and spile his fun。〃
〃Then I suppose I must make way for Mr。 HankHankFisher？〃 said
North； with the least tinge of sarcasm in his speech。
〃Of course。 You've got nothing else to do； you know。〃
North would have given worlds to have pleaded a previous
engagement on business of importance； but he knew that Bessy spoke
truly。 He had nothing to do。 〃And Fisher has； I suppose？〃 he asked。
〃Of courseto look after ME！〃
A more unpleasant evening James North had not spent since the first
day of his solitude。 He almost began to hate the unconscious cause of his
absurd position； as he paced up and down the floor with it。 〃Was there ever
such egregious folly？〃 he began； but remembering he was quoting Maria
North's favorite resume of his own conduct； he stopped。 The child cried；
missing； no doubt； the full rounded curves and plump arm of its nurse。
North danced it violently； with an inward accompaniment that was not
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musical； and thought of the other dancers。 〃Doubtless；〃 he mused； 〃she
has told this beau of hers that she has left the baby with the 'looney' Man
on the Beach。 Perhaps I may be offered a permanent engagement as a
harmless simpleton accustomed to the care of children。 Mothers may cry
for me。 The doctor is at Eureka。 Of course； he will be there to see his
untranslated goddess； and condole with her over the imbecility of the Man
on the Beach。〃 Once he carelessly asked Joe who the company were。
〃Well；〃 said Joe； mournfully； 〃thar's Widder Higsby and darter； the
four Stubbs gals； in course Polly Doble will be on hand with that feller
that's clerking over at the Head for Jones； and Jones's wife。 Then thar's
French Pete； and Whisky Ben； and that chap that shot Archer；I
disremember his name；and the barberwhat's that little mulatto's name
that 'ar Kanaka？ I swow！〃 continued Joe； drearily； 〃I'll be forgettin' my
own nextand〃
〃That will do；〃 interrupted North； only half concealing his disgust as
he rose and carried the baby to the other room； beyond the reach of names
that might shock its ladylike ears。 The next morning he met the from…
dance…returning Bessy abstractedly； and soon took his leave； full of a
disloyal plan； conceived in the sleeplessness of her own bedchamber。 He
was satisfied that he owed a duty to its unknown parents to remove the
child from the degrading influences of the barber Kanaka； and Hank
Fisher especially； and he resolved to write to his relatives； stating the case；
asking a home for the waif and assistance to find its parents。 He
addressed this letter to his cousin Maria； partly in consideration of the
dramatic farewell of that young lady； and its possible influence in turning
her susceptible heart towards his protege。 He then quietly settled back to
his old solitary habits； and for a week left the Robinsons unvisited。 The
result was a morning call by Trinidad Joe on the hermit。 〃It's a whim of
my gal's； Mr。 North；〃 he said； dejectedly； 〃and ez I told you before and
warned ye； when that gal hez an idee； fower yoke of oxen and seving men
can't drag it outer her。 She's got a idee o' larnin'never hevin' hed much
schoolin'； and we ony takin' the papers； permiskiss likeand she says
YOU can teach her not hevin' anythin' else to do。 Do ye folly me？〃
〃Yes；〃 said North； 〃certainly。〃
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〃Well； she allows ez mebbee you're proud； and didn't like her takin'
care of the baby for nowt； and she reckons that ef you'll gin her some book
larnin'； and get her to sling some fancy talk in fash'n'ble stylewhy； she'll
call it squar。〃
〃You can tell her；〃 said North； very honestly； 〃that I shall be only too
glad to help her in any way； without ever hoping to cancel my debt of
obligation to her。〃
〃Then it's a go？〃 said the mystified Joe； with a desperate attempt to
convey the foregoing statement to his own intellect in three Saxon words。
〃It's a go；〃 replied North； cheerfully。
And he felt relieved。 For he was not quite satisfied with his own
want of frankness to her。 But here was a way to pay off the debt he owed
her； and yet retain his own dignity。 And now he could tell her what he
had done； and he trusted to the ambitious instinct that prompted her to
seek a better education to explain his reasons for it。
He saw her that evening and confessed all to her frankly。 She kept
her head averted； but when she turned her blue eyes to him they were wet
with honest tears。 North had a man's horror of a ready feminine
lachrymal gland； but it was not like Bessy to cry； and it meant something；
and then she did it in a large； goddess…like way； without sniffling； or
chocking； or getting her nose red； but rather with a gentle deliquescence； a
harmonious melting； so that he was fain to comfort her with nearer contact；
gentleness in his own sad eyes； and a pressure of her large hand。
〃It's all right； I s'pose；〃 she said； sadly； 〃but I didn't reckon on yer
havin' any relations； but thought you was alone； like me。〃
James North； thinking of Hank Fisher and the 〃mullater；〃 could not
help intimating that his relations were very wealthy and fashionable
people； and had visited him last summer。 A recollection of the manner in
which they had so visited him and his own reception of them prevented his
saying more。 But Miss Bessy could not forego a certain feminine
curiosity； and asked；
〃Did they come with Sam Baker's team？〃
〃Yes。〃
〃Last July？〃
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〃Yes。〃
〃And Sam drove the horses here for a bite？〃
〃I believe so。〃
〃And them's your relations？〃
〃They are。〃
Miss Robinson reached over the cradle and enfolded the sleeping
infant in her powerful arms。 Then she lifted her eyes； wrathful through
her still glittering tears； and said； slowly； 〃They don't havethischild
then！〃
〃But why？〃
〃Oh； why？ I saw them！ That's why； and enough！ You can't play
any such gay and festive skeletons on this poor baby for flesh and blood
parents。 No； sir！〃
〃I think you judge them hastily； Miss Bessy；〃 said North； secretly
amused； 〃my aunt may not； at first； favorably impress strangers； yet she
has many friends。 But surely you do not object to my cousin Maria； the
young lady？〃
〃What！ that dried cuttle…fish； with nothing livin' about her but her eyes？
James North； ye may be a fool like the old woman； perhaps it's in the
family；but ye ain't a devil； like that gal！ That ends it。〃
And it did。 North dispatched a second letter to Maria saying that he
had already made other arrangements for the baby。 Pleased with her easy
victory； Miss Bessy became more than usually gracious； and the next day
bowed her shapely neck meekly to the yoke of her teacher； and became a
docile pupil。 James North could not have helped noticing her ready
intelligence； even had he been less prejudiced in her favor than he was fast
becoming now。 If he had found it pleasant before to be admonished by
her there was still more delicious flattery in her perfect trust in his
omniscient skill as a pilot over this unknown sea。 There was a certain
enjoyment in guiding her hand over the writing…book； that I fear he could
not have obtained from an intellect less graciously sustained by its
physical nature。 The weeks flew quickly by on gossamer wings； and
when she placed a bunch of larkspurs and poppies in his hand one
morning； he remembered for the first that it was spring。
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I cannot say that there was more to record of Miss Bessy's education
than this。 Once North； half jestingly； remarked that he had never yet seen
her admirer； Mr。 Hank Fisher。 Miss Bessy （coloring but cool）〃You
never will！〃 North （white but hot） 〃Why
