malvina of brittany-第23章

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！


mistaken　for　amazing　impertinence　and　love　of　interference。

It　was　kindnessa　genuine　desire　to　be　useful；　that　prompted　him　to
point　out　to　Ann　her　undoubted　faults　and　failings；　nerved　him　to
the　task　of　bringing　her　up　in　the　way　she　should　go。　　Mrs。　Travers
had　long　since　washed　her　hands　of　the　entire　business。　　Uncle　Ab；
as　Matthew　also　called　him；　had　proved　himself　a　weakling。
Providence；　so　it　seemed　to　Matthew；　must　have　been　waiting
impatiently　for　his　advent。　　Ann　at　first　thought　it　was　some　new
school　of　humour。　　When　she　found　he　was　serious　she　set　herself　to
cure　him。　　But　she　never　did。　　He　was　too　conscientious　for　that。
The　instincts　of　the　guide；　philosopher；　and　friend　to　humanity　in
general　were　already　too　strong　in　him。　　There　were　times　when　Abner
almost　wished　that　Matthew　Pole　senior　had　lived　a　little　longer。

But　he　did　not　lose　hope。　　At　the　back　of　his　mind　was　the　fancy
that　these　two　children　of　his　loves　would　come　together。　　Nothing
is　quite　so　sentimental　as　a　healthy　old　bachelor。　　He　pictured　them
making　unity　from　his　confusions；　in　imagination　heard　the　patter　on
the　stairs　of　tiny　feet。　　To　all　intents　and　purposes　he　would　be　a
grandfather。　　Priding　himself　on　his　cunning；　he　kept　his　dream　to
himself；　as　he　thought；　but　under…estimated　Ann's　smartness。

For　days　together　she　would　follow　Matthew　with　her　eyes；　watching
him　from　behind　her　long　lashes；　listening　in　silence　to　everything
he　said；　vainly　seeking　to　find　points　in　him。　　He　was　unaware　of
her　generous　intentions。　　He　had　a　vague　feeling　he　was　being
criticised。　　He　resented　it　even　in　those　days。

〃I　do　try；〃　said　Ann　suddenly　one　evening　apropos　of　nothing　at　all。
〃No　one　will　ever　know　how　hard　I　try　not　to　dislike　him。〃

Abner　looked　up。

〃Sometimes；〃　continued　Ann；　〃I　tell　myself　I　have　almost　succeeded。
And　then　he　will　go　and　do　something　that　will　bring　it　all　on
again。〃

〃What　does　he　do？〃　asked　Abner。

〃Oh；　I　can't　tell　you；〃　confessed　Ann。　　〃If　I　told　you　it　would
sound　as　if　it　was　my　fault。　　It's　all　so　silly。　　And　then　he　thinks
such　a　lot　of　himself。　　If　one　only　knew　why！　　He　can't　tell　you
himself　when　you　ask　him。〃

〃You　have　asked　him？〃　queried　Abner。

〃I　wanted　to　know；〃　explained　Ann。　　〃I　thought　there　might　be
something　in　him　that　I　could　like。〃

〃Why　do　you　want　to　like　him？〃　asked　Abner；　wondering　how　much　she
had　guessed。

〃I　know；〃　wailed　Ann。　　〃You　are　hoping　that　when　I　am　grown　up　I
shall　marry　him。　　And　I　don't　want　to。　　It's　so　ungrateful　of　me。〃

〃Well；　you're　not　grown　up　yet；〃　Abner　consoled　her。　　〃And　so　long
as　you　are　feeling　like　that　about　it；　I'm　not　likely　to　want　you　to
marry　him。〃

〃It　would　make　you　so　happy；〃　sobbed　Ann。

〃Yes；　but　we've　got　to　think　of　the　boy；　don't　forget　that；〃　laughed
Abner。　　〃Perhaps　he　might　object。〃

〃He　would。　　I　know　he　would；〃　cried　Ann　with　conviction。　　〃He's　no
better　than　I　am。〃

〃Have　you　been　asking　him　to？〃　demanded　Abner；　springing　up　from　his
chair。

〃Not　to　marry　me；〃　explained　Ann。　　〃But　I　told　him　he　must　be　an
unnatural　little　beast　not　to　try　to　like　me　when　he　knew　how　you
loved　me。〃

〃Helpful　way　of　putting　it；〃　growled　Abner。　　〃And　what　did　he　say　to
that？〃

〃Admitted　it；〃　flashed　Ann　indignantly。　　〃Said　he　had　tried。〃

Abner　succeeded　in　persuading　her　that　the　path　of　dignity　and
virtue　lay　in　her　dismissing　the　whole　subject　from　her　mind。

He　had　made　a　mistake；　so　he　told　himself。　　Age　may　be　attracted　by
contrast；　but　youth　has　no　use　for　its　opposite。　　He　would　send
Matthew　away。　　He　could　return　for　week…ends。　　Continually　so　close
to　one　another；　they　saw　only　one　another's　specks　and　flaws；　there
is　no　beauty　without　perspective。　　Matthew　wanted　the　corners　rubbed
off　him；　that　was　all。　　Mixing　more　with　men；　his　priggishness　would
be　laughed　out　of　him。　　Otherwise　he　was　quite　a　decent　youngster；
clean　minded；　high　principled。　　Clever；　too：　　he　often　said　quite
unexpected　things。　　With　approaching　womanhood；　changes　were　taking
place　in　Ann。　　Seeing　her　every　day　one　hardly　noticed　them；　but
there　were　times　when；　standing　before　him　flushed　from　a　walk　or
bending　over　him　to　kiss　him　before　starting　for　some　friendly
dance；　Abner　would　blink　his　eyes　and　be　puzzled。　　The　thin　arms
were　growing　round　and　firm；　the　sallow　complexion　warming　into
olive；　the　once　patchy；　mouse…coloured　hair　darkening　into　a　rich
harmony　of　brown。　　The　eyes　beneath　her　level　brows；　that　had　always
been　her　charm；　still　reminded　Abner　of　her　mother；　but　there　was
more　light　in　them；　more　danger。

〃I'll　run　down　to　Albany　and　talk　to　Jephson　about　him；〃　decided
Abner。　　〃He　can　come　home　on　Saturdays。〃

The　plot　might　have　succeeded：　　one　never　can　tell。　　But　a　New　York
blizzard　put　a　stop　to　it。　　The　cars　broke　down；　and　Abner；　walking
home　in　thin　shoes　from　a　meeting；　caught　a　chill；　which；　being
neglected；　proved　fatal。

Abner　was　troubled　as　he　lay　upon　his　bed。　　The　children　were
sitting　very　silent　by　the　window。　　He　sent　Matthew　out　on　a
message；　and　then　beckoned　Ann　to　come　to　him。　　He　loved　the　boy；
too；　but　Ann　was　nearer　to　him。

〃You　haven't　thought　any　more；〃　he　whispered；　〃about〃

〃No；〃　answered　Ann。　　〃You　wished　me　not　to。〃

〃You　must　never　think；〃　he　said；　〃to　show　your　love　for　my　memory　by
doing　anything　that　would　not　make　you　happy。　　If　I　am　anywhere
around；〃　he　continued　with　a　smile；　〃it　will　be　your　good　I　shall　be
watching　for；　not　my　own　way。　　You　will　remember　that？〃

He　had　meant　to　do　more　for　them；　but　the　end　had　come　so　much
sooner　than　he　had　expected。　　To　Ann　he　left　the　house　（Mrs。　Travers
had　already　retired　on　a　small　pension）　and　a　sum　that；　judiciously
invested；　the　friend　and　attorney　thought　should　be　sufficient　for
her　needs；　even　supposingThe　friend　and　attorney；　pausing　to　dwell
upon　the　oval　face　with　its　dark　eyes；　left　the　sentence　unfinished。

To　Matthew　he　wrote　a　loving　letter；　enclosing　a　thousand　dollars。
He　knew　that　Matthew；　now　in　a　position　to　earn　his　living　as　a
journalist；　would　rather　have　taken　nothing。　　It　was　to　be　looked
upon　merely　as　a　parting　gift。　　Matthew　decided　to　spend　it　on
travel。　　It　would　fit　him　the　better　for　his　journalistic　career；　so
he　explained　to　Ann。　　But　in　his　heart　he　had　other　ambitions。　　It
would　enable　him　to　put　them　to　the　test。

So　there　came　an　evening　when　Ann　stood　waving　a　handkerchief　as　a
great　liner　cast　its　moorings。　　She　watched　it　till　its　lights　grew
dim；　and　then　returned　to　West　Twentieth　Street。　　Strangers　would
take　possession　of　it　on　the　morrow。　　Ann　had　her　supper　in　the
kitchen　in　company　with　the　nurse；　who　had　stayed　on　at　her　request；
and　that　night；　slipping　noiselessly　from　her　room；　she　lay　upon　the
floor；　her　head　resting　against　the　arm　of　the　chair　where　Abner　had
been　wont　to　sit　and　smoke　his　evening　pipe；　somehow　it　seemed　to
comfort　her。　　And　Matthew　the　while；　beneath　the　stars；　was　pacing
the　silent　deck　of　the　great　liner　and　planning　out　the　future。

To　only　one　other　being　had　he　ever　confided　his　dreams。　　She　lay　in
the　churchyard；　and　there　was　nothing　left　to　encourage　him　but　his
own　heart。　　But　he　had　no　doubts。　　He　would　be　a　great　writer。　　His
two　hundred　pounds　would　support　him　till　he　had　gained　a　foothold。
After　that　he　would　climb　swiftly。　　He　had　done　right；　so　he　told
himself；　to　turn　his　back　on　journalism：　　the　grave　of　literature。
He　would　see　men　and　cities；　writing　as　he　went。　　Looking　back；
years　later；　he　was　able　to　congratulate　himself　on　having　chosen
the　right　road。　　He　thought　it　would　lead　him　by　easy　ascent　to　fame
and　fortune。　　It　did　better　for　him　than　that。　　It　led　him　through
poverty　and　loneliness；　through　hope　deferred　and　heartachethrough
long　nights　of　fear；　when　pride　and　confidence　fell　upon　him；
leaving　him　only　the　courage　to　endure。

His　great　poems；　his　brilliant　essays；　had　been　rejected　so　often
that　even　he　himself　had　lost　all　love　for　them。　　At　the　suggestion
of　an　editor　more　kindly　than　the　general　run；　and　urged　by　need；　he
had　written　some　short　pieces　of　a　less　ambitious　nature。　　It　was　in
bitter　disappointment　he　commenced　them；　regarding　them　as　mere
pot…boilers。　　He　would　not　give　them　his　name。　　He　signed　them
〃Aston　Rowant。〃　　It　was　the　name　of　the　village　in　Oxfordshire　where
he　had　been　born。　　It　occurred　to　him　by　chance。　　It　would　serve　the
purpose　as　well　as　another。　　As　the　work　progressed　it　grew　upon
him。　　He　made　his　stories　out　of　incidents　and　people　he　had　seen；
everyday　comedies　and　tragedies　that　he　had　lived　among；　of　things
that　he　had　felt；　and　when　after　their　appearance　in　the　magazine　a
publisher　was　found　willing　to　make　them　into　a　book；　hope　revived
in　him。

It　was　but　short…lived。　　The　few　reviews　that　reached　him　contained
nothing　but　ridicule。　　So　he　had　no　place　even　as　a　literary　hack！

He　was　living　in　Paris　at　the　time　in　a　noisy；　evil…smelling　street
leading　out　of　the　Quai　Saint…Michel。　　He　thought　of　Chatterton；　and
would　loaf　on　the　bridges　looking　down　into　the　river　where　the
drowned　lights　twinkled。

And　then　one　day　there　came　to　him　a　letter；　sent　on　to　him　from　the
publisher　of　his　one　book。　　It　was　signed　〃Sylvia；〃　nothing　else；
and　bore　no　address。　　Matthew　picked　up　the　envelope。　　The　postmark
was　〃London；　S。E。〃

It　was　a　childish　letter。　　A　prosperous；　well…fed　genius；　familiar
with　such；　might　have　smiled　at　it。　　To　Matthew　in　his　despair　it
brought　healing。　　She　had　found　the　book　lying　in　an　empty　railway
carriage；　and　undeterred　by　moral　scruples　had　taken　it　home　with
her。　　It　had　remained　forgotten　for　a　time；　until　when　the　end
really　seemed　to　have　come　her　hand　by　chance　had　fallen　on　it。　　She
fancied　some　kind　little　wandering　spiritthe　spirit　perhaps　of
someone　who　had　known　what　it　was　to　be　lonely　and　very　sad　and　just
about　broken　almostmust　have　manoeuvred　the　whole　thing。　　It　had
seemed　to　her　as　though　some　strong　and　gentle　hand　had　been　laid
upon　her　in　the　darkness。　　She　no　longer　felt　friendless。　　And　so
on。

The　book；　he　remembered；　contained　a　reference　to　the　magazine　in
which　the　sketches　had　first　appeared。　　She　would　be　sure　to　have
noticed　this。　　He　would　send　her　his　answer。　　He　drew　his　chair　up
to　the　flimsy　table；　and　all　that　night　he　wrote。

He　did　not　have　to　think。　　It　came　to　him；　and　for　the　first　time
since　the　beginning　of　things　he　had　no　fear　of　its　not　being
accepted。　　It　was　mostly　about　himself；　and　the　rest　was　about　her；
but　to　most　of　those　who　read　it　two　months　later　it　seemed　to　be
about　themselves。　　The　editor　wrote　a　charming　letter；　thanking　him
for　it；　but　at　the　time　the　chief　thing　that　worried　him　was　whether
〃Sylvia〃　had　seen　it。　　He　waited　anxiously　for　a　few　weeks；　and　then
received　her　second　letter。　　It　was　a　more　womanly　letter　than　the
first。　　She　had　understood　the　story；　and　her　words　of　thanks　almost
conveyed　to　him　the　flush　of　pleasure　with　which　she　had　read　it。
His　friendship；　she　confessed；　would　be　very　sweet　to　her；　and　still
more　delightful　the　thought　that　he　had　need　of　her：　　that　she　also
had　something　to　give。　　She　would　write；　as　he　wished；