marm lisa-第11部分

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smartly　slapped　by　Atlantic　for　putting　the　elastic　of　his　hat　behind　his　ears；　kissed　his　hand　as　if　it　had　offered　a　caress。　　'He's　so　little；'　she　said　apologetically；　looking　up　with　wet　eyes　to　Edith；　who　stood　near。



CHAPTER　IXMARM　LISA'S　QUEST



It　was　not　long　after　this　conversation　that　the　twins　awoke　one　morning　with　a　very　frenzy　of　adventure　upon　them。　　It　was　accompanied　by　a　violent　reaction　against　all　the　laws　of　God　and　man；　and　a　desire　to　devour　the　tree　of　knowledge；　fruit；　limbs；　and　trunk；　no　matter　at　what　cost。

We　have　no　means　of　knowing　whether　there　was　an　excess　of　electricity　in　the　atmosphere；　whether　their　youthful　livers　were　disordered；　or　whether　the　Evil　One　was　personally　conducting　the　day's　exercises；　judged　by　the　light　of　subsequent　events；　all　of　these　suppositions　might　easily　have　been　true。　　During　the　morning　they　so　demeaned　themselves　that　all　Mistress　Mary's　younger　neophytes　became　apostates　to　the　true　faith；　and　went　over　in　a　body　to　the　theory　of　the　total　depravity　of　unbaptized　infants。

In　the　afternoon　they　did　not　appear；　nor　did　Marm　Lisa。　　This　was　something　that　had　never　occurred　before；　save　when　Pacific　had　a　certain　memorable　attack　of　mumps　that　would　have　carried　off　any　child　who　was　fitted　for　a　better　world；　or　one　who　was　especially　beloved。

'Do　you　suppose　anything　is　wrong？'　asked　Mary　nervously。

'Of　course　not；'　said　Edith。　　'I　remember　seeing　Lisa　in　the　playground　at　one　o'clock；　but　my　impression　is　that　she　was　alone；　and　stayed　only　a　moment。　　At　any　rate；　I　was　very　busy　and　did　not　speak　to　her。　　Mrs。　Grubb　has　probably　taken　the　twins　to　have　their　hair　cut；　or　something　of　that　sort。'

'What　a　ridiculous　suggestion！'　exclaimed　Rhoda。　　'You　know　perfectly　well　that　Mrs。　Grubb　would　never　think　of　cutting　their　hair；　if　it　swept　the　earth！　　She　may　possibly　have　taken　them　to　join　a　band；　they　must　be　getting　to　a　proper　age　for　membership。　　At　any　rate；　I　will　call　there　and　inquire；　on　my　way　home；　although　I　can　never　talk　to　Mrs。　Grubb　two　minutes　without　wanting　to　shake　her。'

Rhoda　made　her　promised　visit；　but　the　house　was　closed　and　the　neighbours　knew　nothing　of　the　whereabouts　of　the　children　beyond　the　fact　that　Mrs。　Grubb　was　seen　talking　to　them　as　she　went　into　the　yard；　a　little　after　twelve　o'clock。　　Rhoda　naturally　concluded；　therefore；　that　Edith's　supposition　must　be　correct；　and　that　Mrs。　Grubb　had　for　once　indulged　in　a　family　excursion。

Such　was　not　the　case；　however。　　After　luncheon；　Marm　Lisa　had　washed　the　twins'　hands　and　faces　in　the　back…yard　as　usual；　and　left　them　for　an　instant　to　get　a　towel　from　the　kitchen。　　When　she　returned；　she　looked　blankly　about；　for　there　was　no　sign　of　the　two　dripping　faces　and　the　uplifted　streaming　hands。　　They　had　a　playful　habit　of　hiding　from　her；　knowing　that　in　no　other　way　could　they　make　her　so　unhappy；　so　she　stood　still　for　some　moments；　calling　them；　at　first　sharply；　then　piteously；　but　with　no　result。　　She　ran　to　the　front　gate；　it　was　closed；　the　rope…fastening　was　out　of　reach；　and　plainly　too　complicated　even　for　their　preternatural　powers。　　She　hurried　back　to　the　house；　and　searched　every　room　in　a　bewildered　sort　of　fashion；　finding　nothing。　　As　she　came　out　again；　her　eye　caught　sight　of　a　kitchen　chair　in　the　corner　of　the　yard。　　They　had　climbed　the　picket　fence；　then。　　Yes；　Atlantic；　while　availing　himself　of　its　unassuming　aid；　had　left　a　clue　in　a　fragment　of　his　trousers。　　She　opened　the　gate；　and　ran　breathlessly　along　the　streets　to　that　Garden　of　Eden　where　joy　had　always　hitherto　awaited　her。　　Some　instinct　of　fear　or　secrecy　led　her　to　go　quietly　through　all　the　rooms　and　search　the　playground　without　telling　any　one　of　her　trouble。　　That　accomplished　fruitlessly；　she　fled　home　again；　in　the　vain　hope　of　finding　the　children　in　some　accustomed　haunt　overlooked　in　her　first　search。　　She　began　to　be　thoroughly　alarmed　now；　and　thoroughly　confused。　　With　twitching　hands　and　nervous　shaking　of　the　head；　she　hurried　through　the　vacant　rooms；　growing　more　and　more　aimless　in　her　quest。　　She　climbed　on　a　tall　bureau　and　looked　in　a　tiny　medicine　cupboard；　then　under　the　benches　and　behind　the　charts　in　the　parlour；　even　under　the　kitchen　sink；　among　the　pots　and　pans；　and　in　the　stove；　where　she　poked　tremulously　among　the　ashes。　　Her　newfound　wit　seemed　temporarily　to　have　deserted　her；　and　she　was　a　pitiable　thing　as　she　wandered　about；　her　breath　coming　in　long…drawn　sighs；　with　now　and　then　a　half…stifled　sob。

Suddenly　she　darted　into　the　street　again。　　Perhaps　they　had　followed　their　aunt　Cora。　　Distance　had　no　place　in　her　terror…stricken　heart。　She　traversed　block　after　block；　street　after　street；　until　she　reached　Pocahontas　Hall；　a　building　and　locality　she　knew　well。　　She　crept　softly　up　the　main　stairs；　and　from　the　landing　slipped　into　the　gallery　above。　　Mrs。　Grubb　sat　in　the　centre　of　the　stage；　with　a　glass　of　water；　a　bouquet　of　roses；　and　a　bundle　of　papers　and　tracts　on　the　table　by　her　side。　　In　the　audience　were　twenty　or　thirty　women　and　a　dozen　men；　their　laps　filled；　and　their　pockets　bulging；　with　propaganda。　　They　stood　at　intervals　to　ask　superfluous　or　unanswerable　questions；　upon　which　Mrs。　Grubb　would　rise　and　reply；　with　cheeks　growing　pink　and　pinker；　with　pleasant　smile　and　gracious　manner；　and　a　voice　fairly　surcharged　with　conviction。　　Most　of　the　ladies　took　notes；　and　a　girl　with　a　receding　chin　was　seated　at　a　small　table　in　front　of　the　platform；　making　a　stenographic　report。

All　this　Marm　Lisa　saw；　but　her　eyes　rested　on　nothing　she　longed　to　see。　　Mrs。　Grubb's　lecture　voice　rose　and　fell　melodiously；　floating　up　to　her　balcony　heights　in　a　kind　of　echo　that　held　the　tone；　but　not　the　words。　　The　voice　made　her　drowsy；　for　she　was　already　worn　out　with　emotion；　but　she　roused　herself　with　an　effort；　and　stole　down　the　stairs　to　wander　into　the　street　again。　　Ah；　there　was　an　idea！　　The　coat…shop！　　Why　had　she　not　thought　of　it　before？

The　coat…shop　was　a　sort　of　clothing　manufactory　on　a　small　scale；　a　tall；　narrow　building　four　stories　high；　where　she　had　often　gone　with　Atlantic　and　Pacific。　　There　were　sewing…machines　on　the　ground…　floor；　the　cutters　and　pressers　worked　in　the　middle　stories；　and　at　the　top　were　the　finishers。　　It　was　neither　an　extensive　nor　an　exciting　establishment；　and　its　only　fascination　lay　in　the　fact　that　the　workwomen　screamed　with　laughter　at　the　twins'　conversation；　and　after　leading　them　to　their　utmost　length；　teasing　and　goading　them　into　a　towering　passion；　would　stuff　them　with　nuts　or　dates　or　cheap　sweetmeats。　　The　coat…shop　was　two　or　three　miles　from　the　hall；　and　it　was　closing　time　and　quite　dark　when　Lisa　arrived。　　She　came　out　of　the　door　after　having　looked　vainly　in　every　room；　and　sat　down　dejectedly　in　the　entrance；　with　her　weary　head　leaning　against　the　wall。　　There　was　but　a　moment's　respite　for　her；　for　the　manager　came　out　of　his　office；　and；　stumbling　over　her　in　the　dusk；　took　her　by　the　shoulders　and　pushed　her　into　the　street　with　an　oath。

'Go　and　sit　on　your　own　doorstep；　can't　you？'　he　muttered；　'and　not　make　me　break　my　legs　over　you！'

She　was　too　spent　to　run　any　further。　　She　dragged　her　heavy　feet　along　slowly；　almost　unconsciously；　neither　knowing　nor　caring　whither　they　led　her。　　Home　she　could　not；　dared　not　go；　bearing　that　heavy　burden　of　remorse！　　Mrs。　Grubb　would　ask　for　Atlantic　and　Pacific；　and　then　what　would　become　of　her？　　Mr。　Grubb　would　want　to　give　Pacific　her　milk。　　No；　Mr。　Grubb　was　dead。　　There！　she　hadn't　looked　in　the　perambulator。　　No；　there　wasn't　any　perambulator。　　That　was　dead；　too；　and　gone　away　with　Mr。　Grubb。　　There　used　to　be　babies；　two　babies；　in　the　perambulator。　　What　had　become　of　them？　Were　they　lost；　too？　　And　the　umbrella　that　she　used　to　hold　until　her　arm　ached；　and　the　poor；　pale；　weeping　mother　always　lying　on　a　bed；were　they　all　gone　together？　　Her　head　buzzed　with　worrying；　unrelated　thoughts；　so　that　she　put　up　her　hands　and　held　it　in　place　on　her　shoulders　as　she　shuffled　wearily　along。　　A　heavy；　dripping　mist　began　to　gather　and　fall；　and　she　shivered　in　the　dampness；　huddling　herself　together　and　leaning　against　the　houses　for　a　shelter。　　She　sat　down　on　the　curb…stone　and　tried　to　think；　staring　haggardly　at　the　sign　on　the　corner　fruit…shop。　　In　that　moment　she　suddenly　forgot　the　reason　of　her　search。　　She　had　lostwhat？　　She　could　not　go　home　to　Eden　Place；　but　why？　　Oh　yes！　　It　came　to　her　now：　　there　was　something　about　a　perambulator；　but　it　all　seemed　vague　to　her。　　Suddenly　a　lamplighter　put　his　ladder　against　a　post　in　front　of　her；　and；　climbing　up　nimbly；　lighted　the　gas…jet　inside　of　the　glass　frame。　　It　shone　full　on　a　flight　of　broad　steps；　a　picture　so　much　a　part　of　her　life…dream　that　she　would　go　up　to　the　very　gate　of　heaven　with　its　lines　burned　into　her　heart　and　brain。

She　crept　up　and　turned　the　knob　of　the　outer　door。　　It　was　unlocked；　and　she　stole　into　the　inner　room；　the　Paradise；　place　of　joy　and　sweet　content；　heart's　rest；　soul's　heaven；　love's　own　abode。　　The　very　atmosphere　soothed　her。　　She　heard　the　janitress　clatter　through　the　halls；　lock　the　door；　and　descend　the　stairs　to　her　own　rooms　in　the　basement。　　The　light　from　the　street　lamps　shone　in　at　the　two　end　windows；　so　that　the　room　was　not　in　utter　darkness。　　She　would　lie　down　here　and　die　with　Mr。　Grubb　and　the　babies　and　the　umbrella。　Atlantic　and　Pacific　would　be　sure　to　come　back；　nobody　who　had　ever　known　it　could　live　without　this　place。　　Miss　Mary　would　find　them。　She　would　make　everything　right。　　The　mere　thought　of　Mistress　Mary　brought　a　strange　peace　into　poor　Lisa's　over…wrought；　distraught　mind。

She　opened　the　closet　door。　　It　was　as　dainty　and　neat　as　Mistress　Mary　herself；　and　the　mere　sight　of　it　bred　order　in　Lisa's　thoughts。　On　the　top　of　a　pile　of　envelopes　lay　the　sewing…picture　that　Atlantic　had　spoiled　that　day。　　It　had　been　a　black　morning；　and　the　bit　of　cardboard　was　torn　and　soiled　and　bent。　　Lisa　looked　at　it　with　a　maternal　and　a　prophetic　eye。　　She　could　see　the　firm　line　of　Rhoda's　lip　as　she　bore　down　upon　the　destructive　urchin。　　She　could　almost　hear　the　b