an episode of fiddletown-第8章

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〃I　do　not　know；〃　said　Prince　gravely。　　〃I　only　know　that　if　you

conclude　to　see　Mrs。　Starbottle；　it　will　be　with　your　mother's

permission。　　Mrs。　Starbottle　will　keep　sacredly　this　part　of　the

agreement；　made　ten　years　ago。　　But　her　health　is　very　poor；　and

the　change　and　country　quiet　of　a　few　days　may　benefit　her。〃　　Mr。

Prince　bent　his　keen；　bright　eyes　upon　the　young　girl；　and　almost

held　his　breath　until　she　spoke　again。



〃Mother's　coming　up　today　or　tomorrow；〃　she　said；　looking　up。



〃Ah！〃　said　Mr。　Prince　with　a　sweet　and　languid　smile。



〃Is　Colonel　Starbottle　here　too？〃　asked　Carry；　after　a　pause。



〃Colonel　Starbottle　is　dead。　　Your　stepmother　is　again　a　widow。〃



〃Dead！〃　repeated　Carry。



〃Yes；〃　replied　Mr。　Prince。　　〃Your　stepmother　has　been　singularly

unfortunate　in　surviving　her　affections。〃



Carry　did　not　know　what　he　meant；　and　looked　so。　　Mr。　Prince　smiled

reassuringly。



Presently　Carry　began　to　whimper。



Mr。　Prince　softly　stepped　beside　her　chair。



〃I　am　afraid；〃　he　said　with　a　very　peculiar　light　in　his　eye；　and　a

singular　dropping　of　the　corners　of　his　mustache〃I　am　afraid　you

are　taking　this　too　deeply。　　It　will　be　some　days　before　you　are

called　upon　to　make　a　decision。　　Let　us　talk　of　something　else。　　I

hope　you　caught　no　cold　last　evening。〃



Carry's　face　shone　out　again　in　dimples。



〃You　must　have　thought　us　so　queer！　　It　was　too　bad　to　give　you　so

much　trouble。〃



〃None　whatever；　I　assure　you。　　My　sense　of　propriety；〃　he　added

demurely；　〃which　might　have　been　outraged　had　I　been　called　upon　to

help　three　young　ladies　out　of　a　schoolroom　window　at　night。　　was

deeply　gratified　at　being　able　to　assist　them　in　again。〃　　The

doorbell　rang　loudly；　and　Mr。　Prince　rose。　　〃Take　your　own　time；

and　think　well　before　you　make　your　decision。〃　　But　Carry's　ear　and

attention　were　given　to　the　sound　of　voices　in　the　hall。　　At　the

same　moment；　the　door　was　thrown　open；　and　a　servant　announced；

〃Mrs。　Tretherick　and　Mr。　Robinson。〃



The　afternoon　train　had　just　shrieked　out　its　usual　indignant

protest　at　stopping　at　Genoa　at　all　as　Mr。　Jack　Prince　entered　the

outskirts　of　the　town；　and　drove　toward　his　hotel。　　He　was　wearied

and　cynical。　　A　drive　of　a　dozen　miles　through　unpicturesque

outlying　villages；　past　small　economic　farmhouses；　and　hideous

villas　that　violated　his　fastidious　taste；　had；　I　fear；　left　that

gentleman　in　a　captious　state　of　mind。　　He　would　have　even　avoided

his　taciturn　landlord　as　he　drove　up　to　the　door；　but　that

functionary　waylaid　him　on　the　steps。　　〃There's　a　lady　in　the

sittin'…room；　waitin'　for　ye。〃　　Mr。　Prince　hurried　upstairs；　and

entered　the　room　as　Mrs。　Starbottle　flew　toward　him。



She　had　changed　sadly　in　the　last　ten　years。　　Her　figure　was　wasted

to　half　its　size。　　The　beautiful　curves　of　her　bust　and　shoulders

were　broken　or　inverted。　　The　once　full；　rounded　arm　was　shrunken

in　its　sleeve；　and　the　golden　hoops　that　encircled　her　wan　wrists

almost　slipped　from　her　hands　as　her　long；　scant　fingers　closed

convulsively　around　Jack's。　　Her　cheekbones　were　painted　that

afternoon　with　the　hectic　of　fever：　somewhere　in　the　hollows　of

those　cheeks　were　buried　the　dimples　of　long　ago；　but　their　graves

were　forgotten。　　Her　lustrous　eyes　were　still　beautiful；　though　the

orbits　were　deeper　than　before。　　Her　mouth　was　still　sweet；

although　the　lips　parted　more　easily　over　the　little　teeth；　even　in

breathing；　and　showed　more　of　them　than　she　was　wont　to　do　before。

The　glory　of　her　blond　hair　was　still　left：　it　was　finer；　more

silken　and　ethereal；　yet　it　failed　even　in　its　plenitude　to　cover

the　hollows　of　the　blue…veined　temples。



〃Clara！〃　said　Jack　reproachfully。



〃Oh；　forgive　me；　Jack！〃　she　said；　falling　into　a　chair；　but　still

clinging　to　his　hand〃forgive　me；　dear；　but　I　could　not　wait

longer。　　I　should　have　died；　Jackdied　before　another　night。　　Bear

with　me　a　little　longer　（it　will　not　be　long）；　but　let　me　stay。　　I

may　not　see　her；　I　know；　I　shall　not　speak　to　her：　but　it's　so

sweet　to　feel　that　I　am　at　last　near　her；　that　I　breathe　the　same

air　with　my　darling。　　I　am　better　already；　Jack；　I　am　indeed。　　And

you　have　seen　her　today？　　How　did　she　look？　　What　did　she　say？

Tell　me　all；　everything；　Jack。　　Was　she　beautiful？　　They　say　she

is。　　Has　she　grown？　　Would　you　have　known　her　again？　　Will　she

come；　Jack？　　Perhaps　she　has　been　here　already；　perhaps〃she　had

risen　with　tremulous　excitement；　and　was　glancing　at　the　door

〃perhaps　she　is　here　now。　　Why　don't　you　speak；　Jack？　　Tell　me

all。〃



The　keen　eyes　that　looked　down　into　hers　were　glistening　with　an

infinite　tenderness　that　none；　perhaps；　but　she　would　have　deemed

them　capable　of。　　〃Clara；〃　he　said　gently　and　cheerily；　〃try　and

compose　yourself。　　You　are　trembling　now　with　the　fatigue　and

excitement　of　your　journey。　　I　have　seen　Carry；　she　is　well　and

beautiful。　　Let　that　suffice　you　now。〃



His　gentle　firmness　composed　and　calmed　her　now；　as　it　had　often

done　before。　　Stroking　her　thin　hand；　he　said；　after　a　pause；　〃Did

Carry　ever　write　to　you？〃



〃Twice；　thanking　me　for　some　presents。　　They　were　only　schoolgirl

letters；〃　she　added；　nervously　answering　the　interrogation　of　his

eyes。



〃Did　she　ever　know　of　your　own　troubles？　of　your　poverty；　of　the

sacrifices　you　made　to　pay　her　bills；　of　your　pawning　your　clothes

and　jewels；　of　your〃



〃No；　no！〃　interrupted　the　woman　quickly：　〃no！　How　could　she？　　I

have　no　enemy　cruel　enough　to　tell　her　that。〃



〃But　if　sheor　if　Mrs。　Tretherickhad　heard　of　it？　　If　Carry

thought　you　were　poor；　and　unable　to　support　her　properly；　it　might

influence　her　decision。　　Young　girls　are　fond　of　the　position　that

wealth　can　give。　　She　may　have　rich　friends；　maybe　a　lover。〃



Mrs。　Starbottle　winced　at　the　last　sentence。　　〃But；〃　she　said

eagerly；　grasping　Jack's　hand；　〃when　you　found　me　sick　and　helpless

at　Sacramento；　when　youGod　bless　you　for　it；　Jack！offered　to

help　me　to　the　East；　you　said　you　knew　of　something；　you　had　some

plan；　that　would　make　me　and　Carry　independent。〃



〃Yes；〃　said　Jack　hastily；　〃but　I　want　you　to　get　strong　and　well

first。　　And；　now　that　you　are　calmer；　you　shall　listen　to　my　visit

to　the　school。〃



It　was　then　that　Mr。　Jack　Prince　proceeded　to　describe　the

interview　already　recorded；　with　a　singular　felicity　and　discretion

that　shames　my　own　account　of　that　proceeding。　　Without　suppressing

a　single　fact；　without　omitting　a　word　or　detail；　he　yet　managed　to

throw　a　poetic　veil　over　that　prosaic　episode；　to　invest　the

heroine　with　a　romantic　roseate　atmosphere；　which；　though　not

perhaps　entirely　imaginary；　still；　I　fear；　exhibited　that　genius

which　ten　years　ago　had　made　the　columns　of　THE　FIDDLETOWN

AVALANCHE　at　once　fascinating　and　instructive。　　It　was　not　until　he

saw　the　heightening　color；　and　heard　the　quick　breathing；　of　his

eager　listener；　that　he　felt　a　pang　of　self…reproach。　　〃God　help

her　and　forgive　me！〃　he　muttered　between　his　clinched　teeth；　〃but

how　can　I　tell　her　ALL　now！〃



That　night；　when　Mrs。　Starbottle　laid　her　weary　head　upon　her

pillow；　she　tried　to　picture　to　herself　Carry　at　the　same　moment

sleeping　peacefully　in　the　great　schoolhouse　on　the　hill；　and　it

was　a　rare　comfort　to　this　yearning；　foolish　woman　to　know　that　she

was　so　near。　　But　at　this　moment　Carry　was　sitting　on　the　edge　of

her　bed；　half…undressed；　pouting　her　pretty　lips　and　twisting　her

long；　leonine　locks　between　her　fingers　as　Miss　Kate　Van　Corlear

dramatically　wrapped　in　a　long　white　counterpane；　her　black　eyes

sparkling；　and　her　thoroughbred　nose　thrown　high　in　airstood　over

her　like　a　wrathful　and　indignant　ghost；　for　Carry　had　that　evening

imparted　her　woes　and　her　history　to　Miss　Kate；　and　that　young　lady

had　〃proved　herself　no　friend〃　by　falling　into　a　state　of　fiery

indignation　over　Carry's　〃ingratitude；〃　and　openly　and　shamelessly

espousing　the　claims　of　Mrs。　Starbottle。　　〃Why；　if　the　half　you

tell　me　is　true；　your　mother　and　those　Robinsons　are　making　of　you

not　only　a　little　coward；　but　a　little　snob；　miss。　　Respectability；

forsooth！　　Look　you；　my　family　are　centuries　before　the

Trethericks；　but　if　my　family　had　ever　treated　me　in　this　way；　and

then　asked　me　to　turn　my　back　on　my　best　friend；　I'd　whistle　them

down　the　wind；〃　and　here　Kate　snapped　her　fingers；　bent　her　black

brows；　and　glared　around　the　room　as　if　in　search　of　a　recreant　Van

Corlear。



〃You　just　talk　this　way　because　you　have　taken　a　fancy　to　that　Mr。

Prince；〃　said　Carry。



In　the　debasing　slang　of　the　period；　that　had　even　found　its　way

into　the　virgin　cloisters　of　the　Crammer　Institute；　Miss　Kate；　as

she　afterward　expressed　it；　instantly　〃went　for　her。〃



First；　with　a　shake　of　her　head；　she　threw　her　long　black　hair　over

one　shoulder；　then；　dropping　one　end　of　the　counterpane　from　the

other　like　a　vestal　tunic；　she　stepped　before　Carry　with　a

purposely　exaggerated　classic　stride。　　〃And　what　if　I　have；　miss！

What　if　I　happen　to　know　a　gentleman　when　I　see　him！　　What　if　I

happen　to　know　that　among　a　thousand　such　traditional；

conventional；　feeble　editions　of　their　grandfathers　as　Mr。　Harry

Robinson；　you　cannot　find　one　original；　independent；　individualized

gentleman　like　your　Prince！　　Go　to　bed；　miss；　and　pray　to　Heaven

that　he　may　be　YOUR　Prince　indeed。　　Ask　to　have　a　contrite　and

grateful　heart；　and　thank　the　Lord　in　particular　for　having　sent

you　such　a　friend　as　Kate　Van　Corlear。〃　　Yet；　after　an　imposing

dramatic　exit；　she　reappeared　the　next　moment　as　a　straight　white

flash；　kissed　Carry　between　the　brows；　and　was　gone。



The　next　day　was　a　weary　one　to　Jack　Prince。　　He　was　convinced　in

his　mind　that　Carry　would　not　come；　yet　to　keep　this　consciousness

from　Mrs。　Starbottle；　to　meet　her　simple　hopefulness　with　an　equal

degree　of　apparent　faith；　was　a　hard　and　difficult　task。　　He　would

have　tried　to　divert　her　mind　by　taking　her　on　a　long　drive；　but

she　was　fearful　that　Carry　might　come　during　her　absence；　and　her

strength；　he　was　obliged　to　admit；　had　failed　greatly。　　As　he

looked　into　her　large　and　awe…inspiring　clear　eyes；　a　something　he

tried　to　keep　from　his　mindto　put　off　day　by　day　from

contemplationkept　asserting　itself　directly　to　his　inner

consciousness。　　He　began　to　doubt　the　expediency　and　wisdom　of　his

management。　　He　recalled　every　incident　of　his　interview　with

Carry；　and　half…believed　that　its　failure　was　due　to　himself。　　Yet

Mrs。　Starbottle　was　very　patient　and　confident；　her　very　confidence

shook　his　faith　in　his　own　judgment。　　When　her　strength　was　equal

to　the　exertion；　she　was　propped　up　in　her　chair　by　the　window；

where　she　could　see　the　school　and　the　entrance　to　the　hotel。　　In

the　intervals　she　would　elaborate　pleasant　plans　for　the　future；

and　would　sketch　a　country　home。　　She　had　taken　a　strange　fancy；　as

it　seemed　to　Prince；　to