the argonauts of north liberty-第3部分

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him　in　the　hall　for　an　instant　thrilled　him；　but　he　remembered　it
was　Sunday；　and　that　she　was　probably　engaged　in　some　devotional
reading　or　exercise。　　He　hesitatingly　opened　the　back…parlor　door
with　a　consciousness　of　committing　some　unreasonable　trespass；　and
entered。

She　was　there；　sitting　quietly　before　a　large；　round；　shining
centre…table；　whose　sterile　emptiness　was　relieved　only　by　a　shaded
lamp　and　a　large　black　and　gilt　open　volume。　　A　single　picture　on
the　opposite　wallthe　portrait　of　an　elderly　gentleman　stiffened
over　a　corresponding　volume；　which　he　held　in　invincible　mortmain
in　his　rigid　hand；　and　apparently　defied　posterity　to　take　from
himseemed　to　offer　a　not　uncongenial　companionship。　　Yet　the
greenish　light　of　the　shade　fell　upon　a　young　and　pretty　face；
despite　the　color　it　extracted　from　it；　and　the　hand　that　supported
her　low　white　forehead　over　which　her　full　hair　was　simply　parted；
like　a　brown　curtain；　was　slim　and　gentle…womanly。　　In　spite　of　her
plain　lustreless　silk　dress；　in　spite　of　the　formal　frame　of　sombre
heavy　horsehair　and　mahogany　furniture　that　seemed　to　set　her　off；
she　diffused　an　atmosphere　of　cleanly　grace　and　prim　refinement
through　the　apartment。　　The　priestess　of　this　ascetic　temple；　the
femininity　of　her　closely　covered　arms；　her　pink　ears；　and　a　little
serviceable　morocco　house…shoe　that　was　visible　lower　down；　resting
on　the　carved　lion's　paw　that　upheld　the　centre…table；　appeared　to
be　only　the　more　accented。　　And　the　precisely　rounded　but　softly
heaving　bosom；　that　was　pressed　upon　the　edges　of　the　open　book　of
sermons　before　her；　seemed　to　assert　itself　triumphantly　over　the
rigors　of　the　volume。

At　least　so　her　husband　and　lover　thought；　as　he　moved　tenderly
towards　her。　　She　met　his　first　kiss　on　her　forehead；　the　second；
a　supererogatory　one；　based　on　some　supposed　inefficiency　in　the
first；　fell　upon　a　shining　band　of　her　hair；　beside　her　neck。　　She
reached　up　her　slim　hands；　caught　his　wrists　firmly；　and；　slightly
putting　him　aside；　said：

〃There；　Edward？〃

〃I　drove　out　from　Warensboro；　so　as　to　get　here　to…night；　as　I　have
to　return　to　the　city　on　Tuesday。　　I　thought　it　would　give　me　a
little　more　time　with　you；　Joan；〃　he　said；　looking　around　him；　and；
at　last；　hesitatingly　drawing　an　apparently　reluctant　chair　from
its　formal　position　at　the　window。　　The　remembrance　that　he　had
ever　dared　to　occupy　the　same　chair　with　her；　now　seemed　hardly
possible　of　credence。

〃If　it　was　a　question　of　your　travelling　on　the　Lord's　Day；　Edward；
I　would　rather　you　should　have　waited　until　to…morrow；〃　she　said；
with　slow　precision。

〃ButII　thought　I'd　get　here　in　time　for　the　meeting；〃　he　said；
weakly。

〃And　instead；　you　have　driven　through　the　town；　I　suppose；　where
everybody　will　see　you　and　talk　about　it。　　But；〃　she　added；　raising
her　dark　eyes　suddenly　to　his；　〃where　else　have　you　been？　　The
train　gets　into　Warensboro　at　six；　and　it's　only　half　an　hour's
drive　from　there。　　What　have　you　been　doing；　Edward？〃

It　was　scarcely　a　felicitous　moment　for　the　introduction　of
Demorest's　name；　and　he　would　have　avoided　it。　　But　he　reflected
that　he　had　been　seen；　and　he　was　naturally　truthful。　　〃I　met　Dick
Demorest　near　the　church；　and　as　he　had　something　to　tell　me；　we
drove　down　the　turnpike　a　little　wayso　as　to　be　out　of　the　town；
you　know；　Joanandand〃

He　stopped。　　Her　face　had　taken　upon　itself　that　appalling　and
exasperating　calmness　of　very　good　people　who　never　get　angry；　but
drive　others　to　frenzy　by　the　simple　occlusion　of　an　adamantine
veil　between　their　own　feelings　and　their　opponents'。　　〃I'll　tell
you　all　about　it　after　I've　put　up　the　horse；〃　he　said　hurriedly；
glad　to　escape　until　the　veil　was　lifted　again。　　〃I　suppose　the
hired　man　is　out。〃

〃I　should　hope　he　was　in　church；　Edward；　but　I　trust　YOU　won't
delay　taking　care　of　that　poor　dumb　brute　who　has　been　obliged　to
minister　to　your　and　Mr。　Demorest's　Sabbath　pleasures。〃

Blandford　did　not　wait　for　a　further　suggestion。　　When　the　door　had
closed　behind　him；　Mrs。　Blandford　went　to　the　mantel…shelf；　where　a
grimly　allegorical　clock　cut　down　the　hours　and　minutes　of　men　with
a　scythe；　and　consulted　it　with　a　slight　knitting　of　her　pretty
eyebrows。　　Then　she　fell　into　a　vague　abstraction；　standing　before
the　open　book　on　the　centre…table。　　Then　she　closed　it　with　a　snap；
and　methodically　putting　it　exactly　in　the　middle　of　the　top　of　a
black　cabinet　in　the　corner；　lifted　the　shaded　lamp　in　her　hand　and
passed　slowly　with　it　up　the　stairs　to　her　bedroom；　where　her　light
steps　were　heard　moving　to　and　fro。　　In　a　few　moments　she　reappeared；
stopping　for　a　moment　in　the　hall　with　the　lighted　lamp　as　if　to
watch　and　listen　for　her　husband's　return。　　Seen　in　that　favorable
light；　her　cheeks　had　caught　a　delicate　color；　and　her　dark　eyes
shone　softly。　　Putting　the　lamp　down　in　exactly　the　same　place　as
before；　she　returned　to　the　cabinet　for　the　book；　brought　it　again
to　the　table；　opened　it　at　the　page　where　she　had　placed　her
perforated　cardboard　book…marker；　sat　down　beside　it；　and　with　her
hands　in　her　lap　and　her　eyes　on　the　page　began　abstractedly　to　tear
a　small　piece　of　paper　into　tiny　fragments。　　When　she　had　reduced　it
to　the　smallest　shreds；　she　scraped　the　pieces　out　of　her　silk　lap
and　again　collected　them　in　the　pink　hollow　of　her　little　hand；
kneeling　down　on　the　scrupulously　well…swept　carpet　to　peck　up　with
a　bird…like　action　of　her　thumb　and　forefinger　an　escaped　atom　here
and　there。　　These　and　the　contents　of　her　hand　she　poured　into　the
chilly　cavity　of　a　sepulchral…looking　alabaster　vase　that　stood　on
the　etagere。　　Returning　to　her　old　seat；　and　making　a　nest　for　her
clasped　fingers　in　the　lap　of　her　dress；　she　remained　in　that
attitude；　her　shoulders　a　little　narrowed　and　bent　forward；　until
her　husband　returned。

〃I've　lit　the　fire　in　the　bedroom　for　you　to　change　your　clothes
by；〃　she　said；　as　he　entered；　then　evading　the　caress　which　this
wifely　attention　provoked；　by　bending　still　more　primly　over　her
book；　she　added；　〃Go　at　once。　　You're　making　everything　quite　damp
here。〃

He　returned　in　a　few　moments　in　his　slippers　and　jacket；　but
evidently　found　the　same　difficulty　in　securing　a　conjugal　and
confidential　contiguity　to　his　wife。　　There　was　no　apparent　social
centre　or　nucleus　of　comfort　in　the　apartment；　its　fireplace；
sealed　by　an　iron　ornament　like　a　monumental　tablet　over　dead
ashes；　had　its　functions　superseded　by　an　air…tight　drum　in　the
corner；　warmed　at　second…hand　from　the　dining…room　below；　and
offered　no　attractive　seclusion；　the　sofa　against　the　wall　was
immovable　and　formally　repellent。　　He　was　obliged　to　draw　a　chair
beside　the　table；　whose　every　curve　seemed　to　facilitate　his　wife's
easy　withdrawal　from　side…by…side　familiarity。

〃Demorest　has　been　urging　me　very　strongly　to　go　to　California；
but；　of　course；　I　spoke　of　you；〃　he　said；　stealing　his　hand　into
his　wife's　lap；　and　possessing　himself　of　her　fingers。

Mrs。　Blandford　slowly　lifted　her　fingers　enclosed　in　his　clasping
hand　and　placed　them　in　shameless　publicity　on　the　volume　before
her。　　This　implied　desecration　was　too　much　for　Blandford；　he
withdrew　his　hand。

〃Does　that　man　propose　to　go　with　you？〃　asked　Mrs。　Blandford；
coldly。

〃No；　he's　preoccupied　with　other　matters　that　he　wanted　me　to　talk
to　you　about；〃　said　her　husband；　hesitatingly。　　〃He　is〃

〃Because〃continued　Mrs。　Blandford　in　the　same　measured　tone；　〃if
he　does　not　add　his　own　evil　company　to　his　advice；　it　is　the　best
he　has　ever　given　yet。　　I　think　he　might　have　taken　another　day
than　the　Lord's　to　talk　about　it；　but　we　must　not　despise　the　means
nor　the　hour　whence　the　truth　comes。　　Father　wanted　me　to　take　some
reasonable　moment　to　prepare　you　to　consider　it　seriously；　and　I
thought　of　talking　to　you　about　it　to…morrow。　　He　thinks　it　would
be　a　very　judicious　plan。　　Even　Deacon　Truesdail〃

〃Having　sold　his　invoice　of　damaged　sugar　kettles　for　mining
purposes；　is　converted；〃　said　Blandford；　goaded　into　momentary
testiness　by　his　wife's　unexpected　acquiescence　and　a　sudden
recollection　of　Demorest's　prophecy。　　〃You　have　changed　your
opinion；　Joan；　since　last　fall；　when　you　couldn't　bear　to　think　of
my　leaving　you；〃　he　added　reproachfully。

〃I　couldn't　bear　to　think　of　your　joining　the　mob　of　lawless　and
sinful　men　who　use　that　as　an　excuse　for　leaving　their　wives　and
families。　　As　for　my　own　feelings；　Edward；　I　have　never　allowed
them　to　stand　between　me　and　what　I　believed　best　for　our　home　and
your　Christian　welfare。　　Though　I　have　no　cause　to　admire　the
influence　that　I　find　this　man；　Demorest；　still　holds　over　you；　I
am　willing　to　acquiesce；　as　you　see；　in　what　he　advises　for　your
good。　　You　can　hardly　reproach　ME；　Edward；　for　worldly　or　selfish
motives。

Blandford　felt　keenly　the　bitter　truth　of　his　wife's　speech。　　For
the　moment　he　would　gladly　have　exchanged　it　for　a　more　illogical
and　selfish　affection；　but　he　reflected　that　he　had　married　this
religious　girl　for　the　security　of　an　affection　which　he　felt　was
not　subject　to　the　temptations　of　the　worldor　even　its　own
weaknessas　was　too　often　the　case　with　the　giddy　maidens　whom　he
had　known　through　Demorest's　companionship。　　It　was；　therefore；
more　with　a　sense　of　recalling　this　distinctive　quality　of　his　wife
than　any　loyalty　to　Demorest　that　he　suddenly　resolved　to　confide
to　her　the　latter's　fatuous　folly。

〃I　know　it；　dear；〃　he　said；　apologetically；　〃and　we'll　talk　it　over
to…morrow；　and　it　may　be　possible　to　arrange　it　so　that　you　shall
go　with　me。　　But；　speaking　of　Demorest；　I　think　you　don't　quite　do
HIM　justice。　　He　really　respects　YOUR　feelings　and　your　knowledge
of　right　and　wrong　more　than　you　imagine。　　I　actually　believe　he
came　here　to…night　merely　to　get　me　to　interest　you　in　an
extraordinary　love　affair　of　his。　　I　mean；　Joan；〃　he　added　hastily；
seeing　the　same　look　of　dull　repression　come　over　her　face；　〃I
mean；　Joanthat　is；　you　know；　from　all　I　can　judgeit　is
something　really　serious　this　time。　　He　intends　to　reform。　　And
this　is　because　he　has　become　violently　smitten　with　a　young　woman
whom　he　has　only　seen　half　a　doz