°®°®Ð¡ËµÍø > ÆäËûµç×ÓÊé > the red acorn >

µÚ7ÕÂ

the red acorn-µÚ7ÕÂ

С˵£º the red acorn ×ÖÊý£º ÿҳ3500×Ö

°´¼üÅÌÉÏ·½Ïò¼ü ¡û »ò ¡ú ¿É¿ìËÙÉÏÏ·­Ò³£¬°´¼üÅÌÉ쵀 Enter ¼ü¿É»Øµ½±¾ÊéĿ¼ҳ£¬°´¼üÅÌÉÏ·½Ïò¼ü ¡ü ¿É»Øµ½±¾Ò³¶¥²¿£¡
¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ªÎ´ÔĶÁÍꣿ¼ÓÈëÊéÇ©ÒѱãÏ´μÌÐøÔĶÁ£¡



ose¡¡who¡¡envied¡¡or¡¡disliked¡¡her¡¡an¡¡unprotected¡¡spot¡¡upon¡¡which¡¡to¡¡launch¡¡their¡¡irritating¡¡little¡¡darts¡£

All¡¡the¡¡sewing£»¡¡dorcas¡¡and¡¡mite¡¡societies¡¡of¡¡the¡¡several¡¡churches¡¡in¡¡Sardis¡¡had¡¡been¡¡merged¡¡into¡¡one¡¡consolidated¡¡Lint¡­Scraping¡¡and¡¡Bandage¡­Making¡¡Union£»¡¡in¡¡whose¡¡enlarged¡¡confines¡¡the¡¡waves¡¡of¡¡gossip¡¡flowed¡¡with¡¡as¡¡much¡¡more¡¡force¡¡and¡¡volume¡¡as¡¡other¡¡waves¡¡gain¡¡when¡¡the¡¡floods¡¡unite¡¡a¡¡number¡¡of¡¡small¡¡pools¡¡into¡¡one¡¡great¡¡lake¡£

In¡¡other¡¡days¡¡a¡¡sensational¡¡ripple¡¡starting£»¡¡say¡¡in¡¡the¡¡Episcopalian¡¡¡¨Dorcas£»¡¨¡¡was¡¡stilled¡¡into¡¡calmness¡¡ere¡¡it¡¡passed¡¡the¡¡calm¡¡and¡¡stately¡¡church¡¡boundaries¡£¡¡¡¡It¡¡would¡¡not¡¡do¡¡to¡¡let¡¡its¡¡existence¡¡be¡¡even¡¡suspected¡¡by¡¡the¡¡keen¡¡eyes¡¡of¡¡the¡¡freely¡­censorious¡¡Presbyterian¡¡dames£»¡¡or¡¡the¡¡sharp¡­witted£»¡¡agile¡­tongued¡¡Methodist¡¡ladies¡£

And£»¡¡much¡¡as¡¡these¡¡latter¡¡were¡¡disposed¡¡to¡¡talk¡¡over¡¡the¡¡weaknesses¡¡and¡¡foibles¡¡of¡¡their¡¡absent¡¡sisters¡¡in¡¡the¡¡confidential¡¡environments¡¡of¡¡the¡¡Mite¡¡Society¡¡or¡¡the¡¡Sewing¡¡Circle£»¡¡they¡¡were¡¡as¡¡reluctant¡¡to¡¡expose¡¡these¡¡to¡¡the¡¡invidious¡¡criticisms¡¡of¡¡the¡¡women¡¡of¡¡the¡¡other¡¡churches¡¡as¡¡if¡¡the¡¡discussed¡¡ones¡¡had¡¡been¡¡their¡¡sisters¡¡in¡¡fact£»¡¡and¡¡not¡¡simply¡¡through¡¡sectarian¡¡affiliation¡£¡¡¡¡Church¡¡pride£»¡¡if¡¡nothing¡¡else£»¡¡contributed¡¡to¡¡the¡¡bridling¡¡of¡¡their¡¡tongues£»¡¡and¡¡checking¡¡the¡¡free¡¡circulation¡¡of¡¡gossip¡£

¡¨Them¡¡stuck¡­up¡¡Presbyterian¡¡and¡¡Episcopalian¡¡women¡¡think¡¡little¡¡enough¡¡on¡¡us¡¡now£»¡¡the¡¡land¡¡knows£»¡¨¡¡Mrs¡£¡¡Deborah¡¡Pancake¡¡explained¡¡to¡¡a¡¡newly¡­received¡¡sister£»¡¡whom¡¡she¡¡was¡¡instructing¡¡in¡¡elementary¡¡duties¡£¡¡¡¡¡¨There's¡¡no¡¡use¡¡giving¡¡'em¡¡more¡¡reason¡¡for¡¡looking¡¡down¡¡upon¡¡us¡£¡¡¡¡We¡¡may¡¡talk¡¡over¡¡each¡¡other's¡¡short¡­comings¡¡among¡¡ourselves£»¡¡private¡¡like£»¡¡because¡¡the¡¡Bible¡¡tells¡¡us¡¡to¡¡admonish¡¡and¡¡watch¡¡over¡¡each¡¡other¡£¡¡¡¡But¡¡it¡¡don't¡¡say¡¡that¡¡we're¡¡to¡¡give¡¡outsiders¡¡any¡¡chance¡¡to¡¡speak¡¡ill¡¡of¡¡our¡¡sisters¡­in¡­Christ¡£¡¨

And¡¡Mrs¡£¡¡Euphrosyne¡¡Pursifer¡¡remarked¡¡to¡¡the¡¡latest¡¡agreeable¡¡accession¡¡to¡¡the¡¡parish¡¡of¡¡St¡£¡¡Marks£»¡¡with¡¡that¡¡graceful¡¡indirection¡¡that¡¡gave¡¡her¡¡the¡¡reputation¡¡in¡¡Sardis¡¡of¡¡being¡¡a¡¡feminine¡¡Talleyrand£º

¡¨Undoubtedly¡¡the¡¡ladies¡¡in¡¡these¡¡outside¡¡denominations¡¡are¡¡very¡¡worthy¡¡women£»¡¡dear£»¡¡but¡¡a¡¡certain¡¡circumspection¡¡seems¡¡advisable¡¡in¡¡conversing¡¡with¡¡them¡¡on¡¡subjects¡¡that¡¡we¡¡may¡¡speak¡¡of¡¡rather¡¡freely¡¡among¡¡ourselves¡£¡¨

The¡¡rising¡¡fervor¡¡of¡¡the¡¡war¡¡spirit¡¡melted¡¡away¡¡most¡¡of¡¡these¡¡barriers¡¡to¡¡a¡¡free¡¡interchange¡¡of¡¡gossip¡£¡¡¡¡With¡¡the¡¡first¡¡thrill¡¡of¡¡pleasure¡¡at¡¡finding¡¡that¡¡patriotism¡¡had¡¡drawn¡¡together¡¡those¡¡whom¡¡the¡¡churches¡¡had¡¡long¡¡held¡¡aloof¡¡came¡¡to¡¡all¡¡the¡¡gushing¡¡impulse¡¡to¡¡cement¡¡the¡¡newly¡­formed¡¡relationship¡¡by¡¡confiding¡¡to¡¡each¡¡other¡¡secrets¡¡heretofore¡¡jealously¡¡guarded¡£¡¡¡¡Nor¡¡should¡¡be¡¡forgotten¡¡the¡¡¡¨narrative¡¡stimulus¡¨¡¡every¡¡one¡¡feels¡¡on¡¡gaining¡¡new¡¡listeners¡¡to¡¡old¡¡stories¡£

It¡¡was¡¡so¡¡graciously¡¡condescending¡¡in¡¡Mrs¡£¡¡Euphrosyne¡¡Pursifer¡¡to¡¡communicate¡¡to¡¡Mrs¡£¡¡Elizabeth¡¡Baker¡¡some¡¡few¡¡particulars¡¡in¡¡which¡¡her¡¡aristocratic¡¡associates¡¡of¡¡St¡£¡¡Marks¡¡had¡¡grieved¡¡her¡¡by¡¡not¡¡rising¡¡to¡¡her¡¡standard¡¡of¡¡womanly¡¡dignity¡¡and¡¡Christian¡¡duty£»¡¡that¡¡Mrs¡£¡¡Baker¡¡in¡¡turn¡¡was¡¡only¡¡too¡¡happy¡¡to¡¡reciprocate¡¡with¡¡a¡¡similar¡¡confidence¡¡in¡¡regard¡¡to¡¡her¡¡intimate¡¡friends¡¡of¡¡Wesley¡¡Chapel¡£

It¡¡was¡¡this¡¡sudden¡¡lapsing¡¡of¡¡all¡¡restraint¡¡that¡¡made¡¡the¡¡waves¡¡of¡¡gossip¡¡surge¡¡like¡¡sweeping¡¡billows¡£

And¡¡the¡¡flotsam¡¡that¡¡appeared¡¡most¡¡frequently¡¡of¡¡late¡¡on¡¡their¡¡crests£»¡¡and¡¡that¡¡was¡¡tossed¡¡most¡¡relentlessly¡¡hither¡¡and¡¡thither£»¡¡was¡¡Rachel¡¡Bond's¡¡and¡¡Harry¡¡Glen's¡¡conduct¡¡and¡¡relations¡¡to¡¡each¡¡other¡£

The¡¡Consolidated¡¡Lint¡­scraping¡¡and¡¡Bandage¡­making¡¡Union¡¡was¡¡holding¡¡a¡¡regular¡¡session£»¡¡and¡¡gossip¡¡was¡¡at¡¡spring¡­tide¡£

¡¨It¡¡is¡¡certainly¡¡queer£»¡¨¡¡said¡¡Mrs¡£¡¡Tufis£»¡¡one¡¡of¡¡her¡¡regulation¡¡smiles¡¡illuminating¡¡her¡¡very¡¡artificial¡¡countenance£»¡¡¡¨it¡¡is¡¡singular¡¡to¡¡the¡¡last¡¡degree¡¡that¡¡we¡¡don't¡¡have¡¡Miss¡¡Rachel¡¡Bond¡¡among¡¡us¡£¡¡She¡¡is¡¡such¡¡a¡¡LOVELY¡¡girl¡£¡¡¡¡I¡¡am¡¡very£»¡¡very¡¡fond¡¡of¡¡her£»¡¡and¡¡her¡¡heart¡¡is¡¡thoroughly¡¡in¡¡unison¡¡with¡¡our¡¡objects¡£¡¡¡¡It¡¡would¡¡seem¡¡impossible¡¡for¡¡her¡¡to¡¡keep¡¡away¡£¡¨

All¡¡this¡¡with¡¡the¡¡acrid¡¡sub¡­flavor¡¡of¡¡irony¡¡and¡¡insincerity¡¡with¡¡which¡¡an¡¡insincere¡¡woman¡¡can¡¡not¡¡help¡¡tainting¡¡even¡¡her¡¡most¡¡sincere¡¡words¡£

¡¨Yes£»¡¨¡¡said¡¡Mrs¡£¡¡Tabitha¡¡Grimes£»¡¡with¡¡a¡¡premeditated¡¡acerbity¡¡apparent¡¡even¡¡in¡¡the¡¡threading¡¡of¡¡her¡¡needle£»¡¡into¡¡the¡¡eye¡¡of¡¡which¡¡she¡¡thrust¡¡the¡¡thread¡¡as¡¡if¡¡piercing¡¡the¡¡flesh¡¡of¡¡an¡¡enemy¡¡with¡¡a¡¡barb£»¡¡¡¨yes£»¡¨¡¡she¡¡pulled¡¡the¡¡thread¡¡through¡¡with¡¡a¡¡motion¡¡as¡¡if¡¡she¡¡enjoyed¡¡its¡¡rasping¡¡against¡¡the¡¡steel¡£¡¡¡¡¡¨Rachel¡¡Bond¡¡started¡¡into¡¡this¡¡work¡¡quite¡¡as¡¡brash¡¡as¡¡Harry¡¡Glen¡¡started¡¡into¡¡the¡¡war¡£¡¡¡¡Her¡¡enthusiasm¡¡died¡¡out¡¡about¡¡as¡¡quickly¡¡as¡¡his¡¡courage£»¡¡when¡¡it¡¡came¡¡to¡¡the¡¡actual¡¡business£»¡¡and¡¡she¡¡found¡¡there¡¡was¡¡nobody¡¡to¡¡admire¡¡her¡¡industry£»¡¡or¡¡the¡¡way¡¡she¡¡got¡¡herself¡¡up£»¡¡except¡¡a¡¡parcel¡¡of¡¡married¡¡women¡£¡¨

The¡¡milk¡¡of¡¡human¡¡kindness¡¡had¡¡begun¡¡to¡¡curdle¡¡in¡¡Mrs¡£¡¡Grimes's¡¡bosom£»¡¡at¡¡an¡¡early¡¡and¡¡now¡¡rather¡¡remote¡¡age¡£¡¡¡¡Years¡¡of¡¡unavailing¡¡struggle¡¡to¡¡convince¡¡Mr¡£¡¡Jason¡¡Grimes¡¡that¡¡more¡¡of¡¡his¡¡valuable¡¡time¡¡should¡¡be¡¡devoted¡¡to¡¡providing¡¡for¡¡the¡¡wants¡¡of¡¡his¡¡family£»¡¡and¡¡less¡¡to¡¡leading¡¡the¡¡discussion¡¡on¡¡the¡¡condition¡¡of¡¡the¡¡country¡¡in¡¡the¡¡free¡¡parliament¡¡that¡¡met¡¡around¡¡the¡¡stove¡¡in¡¡the¡¡corner¡¡grocery£»¡¡had¡¡carried¡¡forward¡¡this¡¡lacteal¡¡fermentation¡¡until¡¡it¡¡had¡¡converted¡¡the¡¡milky¡¡fluid¡¡into¡¡a¡¡vinegarish¡¡whey¡£

¡¨Well£»¡¡why¡¡not£¿¡¨¡¡asked¡¡Elmira¡¡Spelter£»¡¡the¡¡main¡¡grief¡¡of¡¡whose¡¡life¡¡was¡¡time's¡¡cruel¡¡inflexibility¡¡in¡¡scoring¡¡upon¡¡her¡¡face¡¡unconcealable¡¡tallies¡¡of¡¡every¡¡one¡¡of¡¡his¡¡yearly¡¡flights¡¡over¡¡her¡¡head£»¡¡¡¨why¡¡shouldn't¡¡she¡¡enjoy¡¡these¡¡golden¡¡days£¿¡¡¡¡Youth¡¡is¡¡passing£»¡¡to¡¡her¡¡and¡¡to¡¡all¡¡of¡¡us£»¡¡like¡¡an¡¡arrow¡¡from¡¡the¡¡bow¡£¡¡¡¡It'd¡¡be¡¡absurd¡¡for¡¡her¡¡to¡¡waste¡¡her¡¡time¡¡in¡¡this¡¡stuffy¡¡old¡¡place£»¡¡when¡¡there¡¡are¡¡so¡¡many¡¡more¡¡attractive¡¡ones¡£¡¡¡¡It¡¡ought¡¡to¡¡be¡¡enough¡¡that¡¡those¡¡of¡¡us¡¡who¡¡have¡¡only¡¡a¡¡few¡¡remnants¡¡of¡¡beauty¡¡left£»¡¡should¡¡devote¡¡them¡¡to¡¡this¡¡work¡£¡¨

¡¨Well£»¡¨¡¡snapped¡¡Mrs¡£¡¡Grimes£»¡¡¡¨your¡¡donation¡¡of¡¡good¡¡looks¡¡to¡¡the¡¡causeeven¡¡if¡¡you¡¡give¡¡all¡¡you¡¡gotwill¡¡be¡¡quite¡¡modest£»¡¡something¡¡on¡¡the¡¡widow's¡¡mite¡¡order¡£¡¡¡¡You¡¡might¡¡easily¡¡obey¡¡the¡¡scriptural¡¡injunction£»¡¡and¡¡give¡¡them¡¡with¡¡your¡¡right¡¡hand¡¡without¡¡your¡¡left¡¡knowing¡¡what¡¡was¡¡being¡¡done¡£¡¨

Elmira¡¡winced¡¡under¡¡this¡¡spiteful¡¡bludgeoning£»¡¡but¡¡she¡¡rallied¡¡and¡¡came¡¡back¡¡at¡¡her¡¡antagonist¡£

¡¨Well£»¡¡my¡¡dear£»¡¨¡¡she¡¡said¡¡quietly£»¡¡¡¨the¡¡thought¡¡often¡¡occurs¡¡to¡¡me£»¡¡that¡¡one¡¡great¡¡reason¡¡why¡¡we¡¡both¡¡have¡¡been¡¡able¡¡to¡¡keep¡¡in¡¡the¡¡straight¡¡and¡¡narrow¡¡path£»¡¡is¡¡the¡¡entire¡¡lack¡¡of¡¡that¡¡beauty¡¡which¡¡so¡¡often¡¡proves¡¡a¡¡snare¡¡to¡¡the¡¡feet¡¡of¡¡even¡¡the¡¡best¡­intentioned¡¡women¡£¡¨

It¡¡was¡¡Mrs¡£¡¡Grimes's¡¡turn¡¡to¡¡wince¡£

¡¨A¡¡hit£¡¡¡a¡¡palpable¡¡hit£¡¡¨¡¡laughed¡¡pretty¡¡Anna¡¡Bayne£»¡¡who¡¡studied¡¡and¡¡quoted¡¡Shakespeare¡£

¡¨The¡¡mention¡¡of¡¡snares¡¡reminds¡¡me£»¡¨¡¡said¡¡Mrs¡£¡¡Grimes£»¡¡¡¨that¡¡I£»¡¡at¡¡least£»¡¡did¡¡not¡¡have¡¡to¡¡spread¡¡any¡¡to¡¡catch¡¡a¡¡husband¡£¡¨

¡¨No£»¡¨¡¡returned¡¡Elmira£»¡¡with¡¡irritating¡¡composure£»¡¡¡¨the¡¡poorer¡¡kinds¡¡of¡¡game¡¡are¡¡caught¡¡without¡¡taking¡¡that¡¡trouble¡£¡¨

¡¨Well¡¨Mrs¡£¡¡Grimes's¡¡temper¡¡was¡¡rising¡¡so¡¡rapidly¡¡that¡¡she¡¡was¡¡losing¡¡her¡¡usual¡¡skill¡¡in¡¡this¡¡verbal¡¡fence¡¨Jason¡¡Grimes£»¡¡no¡¡doubt£»¡¡has¡¡his¡¡faults£»¡¡as¡¡all¡¡men¡¡have£»¡¡but¡¡he¡¡is¡¡certainly¡¡better¡¡than¡¡no¡¡husband¡¡at¡¡all¡£¡¨

¡¨That's¡¡the¡¡way¡¡for¡¡you¡¡to¡¡think£»¡¨¡¡said¡¡Elmira£»¡¡composedly£»¡¡disregarding¡¡the¡¡thrust¡¡at¡¡her¡¡own¡¡celibacy¡£¡¡¡¡¡¨It's¡¡very¡¡nice¡¡in¡¡you¡¡to¡¡take¡¡so¡¡cheerful¡¡a¡¡view¡¡of¡¡it¡£¡¡¡¡SOMEBODY¡¡had¡¡to¡¡marry¡¡him£»¡¡doubtless£»¡¡and¡¡it's¡¡real¡¡gratifying¡¡to¡¡see¡¡one¡¡accepting¡¡the¡¡visitations¡¡of¡¡Providence¡¡in¡¡so¡¡commendable¡¡a¡¡spirit¡£¡¨

To¡¡use¡¡the¡¡language¡¡of¡¡diplomacy£»¡¡the¡¡relations¡¡between¡¡these¡¡ladies¡¡had¡¡now¡¡become¡¡so¡¡strained¡¡that¡¡a¡¡rupture¡¡seemed¡¡unavoidable¡£

¡¨Heavens£»¡¡will¡¡this¡¡quarrel¡¡ne'er¡¡be¡¡mended£¿¡¨¡¡quoted¡¡Anna¡¡Bayne£»¡¡not¡¡all¡¡sorry¡¡that¡¡these¡¡veteran¡¡word¡­swordsmen£»¡¡dreaded¡¡by¡¡everybody£»¡¡were¡¡for¡¡once¡¡turning¡¡their¡¡weapons¡¡on¡¡each¡¡other¡£

Peace¡­making¡¡was¡¡one¡¡of¡¡the¡¡prerogatives¡¡assumed¡¡by¡¡Mrs¡£¡¡Tufis£»¡¡as¡¡belonging¡¡to¡¡the¡¡social¡¡leadership¡¡to¡¡which¡¡she¡¡had¡¡elected¡¡herself¡£¡¡She¡¡now¡¡hastened¡¡to¡¡check¡¡the¡¡rapidly¡­opening¡¡breach¡£

¡¨Ladies£»¡¨¡¡she¡¡said¡¡blandly£»¡¡¡¨the¡¡discussion¡¡has¡¡wandered¡£¡¡¡¡Our¡¡first¡¡remarks¡¡were£»¡¡I¡¡believe¡¡about¡¡Miss¡¡Bond£»¡¡and¡¡there¡¡was¡¡a¡¡surmise¡¡as¡¡to¡¡her¡¡reasons¡¡for¡¡discontinuing¡¡attendance¡¡upon¡¡our¡¡meetings¡£¡¨

The¡¡diversion¡¡had¡¡the¡¡anticipated¡¡effect¡£¡¡¡¡The¡¡two¡¡disputants¡¡gladly¡¡quit¡¡each¡¡other£»¡¡to¡¡turn¡¡upon¡¡and¡¡rend¡¡the¡¡object¡¡flung¡¡in¡¡between¡¡them¡£

¡¨Why¡¡Rachel¡¡Bond¡¡don't¡¡come¡¡here¡¡any¡¡more£¿¡¨¡¡said¡¡Mrs¡£¡¡Grimes£»¡¡with¡¡a¡¡sniff¡¡that¡¡was¡¡one¡¡of¡¡the¡¡keenest¡­edged¡¡weapons¡¡in¡¡her¡¡controversial¡¡armory¡£¡¡¡¡¡¨When¡¡you¡¡know¡¡how¡¡little¡¡likely¡¡she¡¡is¡¡to¡¡do¡¡anything¡¡that's¡¡not¡¡going¡¡to¡¡be¡¡for¡¡her¡¡benefit¡¡in¡¡some¡¡way¡£¡¡¡¡She's¡¡mighty¡¡particular¡¡in¡¡everything£»¡¡but¡¡more¡¡particular¡¡in¡¡that¡¡than¡¡in¡¡anything¡¡else¡£¡¨

¡¨I'll¡¡admit¡¡that¡¡there¡¡is¡¡reason¡¡to¡¡suspect¡¡a¡¡strain¡¡of¡¡selfishness¡¡in¡¡Rachel's¡¡nature£»¡¨¡¡said¡¡Anna¡¡Bayne£»¡¡¡¨but¡¡it's¡¡the¡¡only¡¡blemish¡¡among¡¡her¡¡many¡¡good¡¡qualities¡£¡¡¡¡Still£»¡¡I¡¡think¡¡you¡¡do¡¡her¡¡an¡¡injustice¡¡in¡¡attributing¡¡her¡¡absence¡¡from¡¡our¡¡meetings¡¡to¡¡purely¡¡selfish¡¡motives¡£¡¨

¡¨Of¡¡course£»¡¡we¡¡all¡¡know¡¡what¡¡you¡¡mean£»¡¨¡¡said¡¡Elmira¡£¡¡¡¡¡¨She¡¡set¡¡her¡¡cap¡¡for¡¡Harry¡¡Glen£»¡¡and¡¡played¡¡her¡¡cards¡¡so¡¡openly¡¡and¡¡boldly¡¨

¡¨I¡¡should¡¡say¡¡'shamelessly£»'¡¨¡¡interrupted¡¡Mrs¡£¡¡Grimes¡£

¡¨Shamelessly£»¡¡my¡¡dear£¿¡¨¡¡¡¡This¡¡from¡¡Mrs¡£¡¡Tufis£»¡¡as¡¡if¡¡in¡¡mild¡¡expostulation¡£

¡¨Shamelessly£»¡¨¡¡repeated¡¡Mrs¡£¡¡Grimes£»¡¡firmly¡£

¡¨Well£»¡¡so¡¡shamelessly£»¡¡if¡¡you¡¡choose£»¡¨¡¡continued¡¡Elmira£»¡¡¡¨as¡¡to¡¡incur¡¡the¡¡ill¡­will¡¡of¡¡all¡¡the¡¡rest¡¡of¡¡the¡¡girls¡¨

¡¨Whom¡¡she¡¡beat¡¡at¡¡a¡¡game¡¡in¡¡which¡¡they¡¡all¡¡played¡¡their¡¡best£»¡¨¡¡interrupted¡¡Anna¡£

¡¨That's¡¡an¡¡unworthy¡¡insinuation£»¡¨¡¡said¡¡Elmira£»¡¡getting¡¡very¡¡red¡£¡¡¡¨At¡¡least£»¡¡no¡¡one¡¡can¡¡say¡¡I¡¡played¡¡any¡¡cards¡¡for¡¡that¡¡stake¡£¡¨

¡¨Wasn't¡¡it¡¡because¡¡all¡¡your¡¡trumps¡¡and¡¡suit¡¡had¡¡been¡¡played¡¡out¡¡in¡¡previous¡¡games£¿¡¨¡¡¡¡This¡¡from¡¡Mrs¡£¡¡Grimes£»¡¡whose¡¡smarting¡¡wounds¡¡still¡¡called¡¡for¡¡vengeance¡£

For¡¡an¡¡instant¡¡a¡¡resumption¡¡of¡¡hostilities¡¡was¡¡threatened¡£¡¡¡¡Mrs¡£¡¡Tufis¡¡hastened¡¡to¡¡interpose£º

¡¨There's¡¡no¡¡doubt¡¡in¡¡my¡¡mind¡¡that¡¡the¡¡poor£»¡¡dear¡¡girl¡¡really¡¡took¡¡very¡¡deeply¡¡to¡¡heart¡¡the¡¡stories¡¡that¡¡have¡¡been¡¡circulated¡¡about¡¡Harry¡¡Glen's¡¡conduct£»¡¡though¡¡there¡¡are¡¡people¡¡ready¡¡to¡¡say¡¡that¡¡she¡¡was¡¡quite¡¡willing¡¡to¡¡play¡¡the¡¡role¡¡of¡¡the¡¡stricken¡¡one¡£¡¡¡¡It¡¡really¡¡makes¡¡her¡¡look¡¡very¡¡interesting¡£¡¡¡¡Mourning¡¡and¡¡the¡¡plain¡¡style¡¡of¡¡wearing¡¡her¡¡hair¡¡suit¡¡her¡¡very£»¡¡VERY¡¡well¡£¡¡¡¡I¡¡do¡¡not¡¡think¡¡I¡¡ever¡¡saw¡¡her¡¡looking¡¡so¡¡lovely¡¡as¡¡she¡¡has¡¡lately£»¡¡and¡¡I¡¡have¡¡heard¡¡quite¡¡a¡¡number¡¡of¡¡GENTLEMEN¡¡say¡¡the¡¡same¡¡thing¡£

¡¨If¡¡she'd¡¡had¡¡real¡¡spirit£»¡¨¡¡said¡¡Mrs¡£¡¡Grimes£»¡¡¡¨she'd¡¡have¡¡dropped¡¡Harry¡¡Glen¡¡without¡¡all¡¡this¡¡heroine¡­of¡­a¡­yellow¡­covered¡­novel¡¡demonstration£»¡¡and¡¡showed¡¡her¡¡contempt¡¡of¡¡the¡¡fellow¡¡by¡¡going¡¡ahead¡¡just¡¡as¡¡usual£»¡¡pretending¡¡that¡¡his¡¡conduct¡¡was¡¡nothing¡¡to¡¡her£»¡¡but¡¡she's¡¡a¡¡deep¡¡one¡£¡¡¡¡I'll¡¡venture¡¡anything¡¡she's¡¡got¡¡a¡¡well¡­laid¡¡scheme£»¡¡that¡¡none¡¡of¡¡us¡¡dream¡¡of¡£¡¨

¡¨Mrs¡£¡¡Tufis£»¡¨it¡¡was¡¡the¡¡calm£»¡¡even¡¡tones¡¡of¡¡Rachel¡¡Bond's¡¡voice¡¡that¡¡fell¡¡upon¡¡the¡¡startled¡¡ears¡¡of¡¡the¡¡little¡¡coterie¡¡of¡¡gossipers¡£¡¡She¡¡had¡¡glided¡¡in¡¡unobserved¡¡by¡¡them¡¡in¡¡the¡¡earnestness¡¡of¡¡their¡¡debate¡£¡¡¡¡¡¨How¡¡long¡¡has¡¡she¡¡been¡¡here¡¡and¡¡what¡¡has¡¡she¡¡heard£¿¡¨¡¡was¡¡the¡¡thrilling¡¡question¡¡that¡¡each¡¡addressed¡¡to¡¡herself¡£¡¡¡¡When¡¡they¡¡summoned¡¡courage¡¡to¡¡look¡¡up¡¡at¡¡her£»¡¡they¡¡saw¡¡her¡¡standing¡¡with¡¡perfectly¡¡composed¡¡mien£»¡¡her¡¡pale¡¡face¡¡bearing¡¡the¡¡pensive¡¡expression¡¡it¡¡had¡¡worn¡¡for¡¡weeks¡£¡¡¡¡With¡¡subdued¡¡and¡¡kindly¡¡manner¡¡she¡¡returned¡¡the¡¡affectionate¡¡greetings¡¡that¡¡each¡¡bestowed¡¡on¡¡her£»¡¡in¡¡imitation¡¡of¡¡Mrs¡£¡¡Tufis£»¡¡who¡¡was¡¡the¡¡first¡¡to¡¡recover¡¡her¡¡wits¡¡and¡¡then¡¡continued£º

¡¨Mrs¡£¡¡Tufis£»¡¡I¡¡come¡¡to¡¡you£»¡¡as¡¡president¡¡of¡¡this¡¡society£»¡¡to¡¡apologize¡¡for¡¡my¡¡absence¡¡from¡¡so¡¡many¡¡of¡¡your¡¡meetings£»¡¡and¡¡to¡¡excuse¡¡myself¡¡on¡¡the¡¡g

·µ»ØĿ¼ ÉÏÒ»Ò³ ÏÂÒ»Ò³ »Øµ½¶¥²¿ ÔÞ£¨0£© ²È£¨0£©

Äã¿ÉÄÜϲ»¶µÄ