marm lisa-第13部分

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ace；　and　howl　in　such　a　manner　that　there　could　be　no　mistake　as　to　the　significance　of　the　proceeding；　when　the　crowd　collected；for　naturally　a　crowd　would　collect；simply　demand　supper　and　bed；　no　matter　what　supper　nor　which　bed；　eat　the　first；　lie　down　in　the　second；　and　there　you　are！　　If　the　twins　had　been　older　and　more　experienced；　they　would　have　known　that　people　occasionally　do　demand　the　necessities　of　life　without　receiving　them；　but　in　that　case　they　would　also　have　known　that　such　a　misfortune　would　never　fall　upon　a　couple　of　lost　children　who　confide　their　woes　to　the　public。　　There　was　no　preconcerted　plan　between　them；　no　system。　　They　acted　without　invention；　premonition；　or　reflection。　　It　was　their　habit　to　scream；　while　holding　the　breath　as　long　as　possible；　whenever　the　universe　was　unfriendly；　and　particularly　when　Nature　asserted　herself　in　any　way；　it　was　a　curious　fact　that　they　resented　the　intervention　of　Nature　and　Providence　with　just　as　much　energy　as　they　did　the　discipline　of　their　caretakers。　　They　screamed　now；　the　moment　that　the　entertainment　palled　and　they　could　not　keep　their　eyes　open　without　effort；　and　never　had　they　been　more　successful　in　holding　their　breath　and　growing　black　in　the　face；　indeed；　Pacific；　in　the　midst　of　her　performance；　said　to　Atlantic；　'Yours　is　purple；　how　is　mine？'

A　crowd　did　gather；　inevitably；　for　the　twins'　lungs　were　capable　of　a　body　of　tone　more　piercing　than　that　of　a　Chinese　orchestra；　and　the　wonder　is　that　poor　Lisa　did　not　hear　them　as　she　sat　shivering　on　the　curbstone；　miles　away；　for　it　was　her　name　with　which　they　conjured。

The　populace　amused　itself　for　a　short　space　of　time；　watching　the　fine　but　misdirected　zeal　of　the　performance；　and　supposing　that　the　parents　of　the　chanting　cherubs　were　within　easy　reach。　　It　became　unpleasant　after　a　while；　however；　and　a　policeman；　inquiring　into　the　matter；　marched　the　two　dirty；　weary　little　protestants　off　to　a　station　near　by；a　march　nearly　as　difficult　and　bloody　as　Sherman's　memorable　'march　to　the　sea'；　for　the　children　associated　nothing　so　pleasant　as　supper　and　bed　with　a　blue…coated；　brass…buttoned　person；　and　resisted　his　well…meant　advances　with　might　and　main；　and　tooth　and　nail。

The　policeman　was　at　last　obliged　to　confine　himself　to　Atlantic；　and　called　a　brother…in…arms　to　take　charge　of　Pacific。　　He　was　a　man　who　had　achieved　distinction　in　putting　down　railroad　riots；　so　he　was　well　calculated　for　the　task；　although　he　was　somewhat　embarrassed　by　the　laughter　of　the　bystanders　when　his　comrade　called　out　to　him；　'Take　your　club；　Mike；　but　don't　use　firearms　unless　your　life's　in　danger！'

The　station　reached；　the　usual　examination　took　place。　　Atlantic　never　could　tell　the　name　of　the　street　in　which　he　lived；　nor　the　number　of　the　house。　　Pacific　could；　perhaps；　but　would　not；　and　it　must　be　said；　in　apology　for　her　abnormal　defiance；　that　her　mental　operations　were　somewhat　confused；　owing　to　copious　indulgence　in　strong　tea；　ginger；　sugar…cane；　and　dried　fish。　　She　had　not　been　wisely　approached　in　the　first　place；　and　she　was　in　her　sulkiest　and　most　combative　humour；　in　fact；　when　too　urgently　pressed　for　information　as　to　her　age；　ancestry；　and　abiding…place；　she　told　the　worthy　police…officer　to　go　to　a　locality　for　which　he　felt　utterly　unsuited；　after　a　life　spent　in　the　exaltation　of　virtue　and　the　suppression　of　vice。　　（The　vocabulary　of　the　twins　was　somewhat　poverty…stricken　in　respect　to　the　polite　phrases　of　society；　but　in　profanity　it　would　have　been　rich　for　a　parrot　or　a　pirate。）　　The　waifs　were　presently　given　to　the　care　of　the　police　matron；　and　her　advice；　sought　later；　was　to　the　effect　that　the　children　had　better　be　fed　and　put　to　bed；　and　as　little　trouble　expended　upon　them　as　was　consistent　with　a　Christian　city　government。

'It　is　possible　their　parents　may　call　for　them　in　the　morning；'　she　said　acidly；　'but　I　think　it　is　more　than　likely　that　they　have　been　deserted。　　I　know　if　they　belonged　to　me　they'd　be　lost　for　ever　before　I　tried　to　find　them！'　and　she　rubbed　a　black…and…blue　spot　on　her　person；　which；　if　exposed；　would　have　betrayed　the　shape；　size；　and　general　ground…plan　of　Pacific's　boot。



CHAPTER　XIRHODA　FREES　HER　MIND



Morning　dawned；　and　Mistress　Mary　and　Rhoda　went　up　the　flight　of　broad　steps　rather　earlier　than　usual；so　early　that　the　janitress；　who　had　been　awake　half　the　night　with　an　ailing　baby；　was　just　going　in　to　dust　the　rooms。

It　was　she　who　first　caught　sight　of　the　old　sofa　and　its　occupant；　and　her　exclamation　drew　Mary　and　Rhoda　to　the　spot。　　There　lay　poor　Marm　Lisa　in　the　dead　sleep　of　exhaustion；　her　dress　torn　and　wrinkled；　her　shoes　travel…stained；　her　hair　tangled　and　matted。　Their　first　idea　was　that　the　dreaded　foe　might　have　descended　upon　her；　and　that　she　had　had　some　terrible　seizure　with　no　one　near　to　aid　and　relieve　her。　　But　the　longer　they　looked；　the　less　they　feared　this；　her　face；　though　white　and　tear…stained；　was　tranquil；　her　lips　only　slightly　pale；　and　her　breathing　calm　and　steady。　　Mary　finally　noted　the　pathetic　grouping　of　little　objects　in　the　red　chair；　and；　touched　by　this；　began　to　apprehend　the　significance　of　her　own　white　apron　close　clasped　in　the　child's　loyal　arms；　and　fell　a…weeping　softly　on　Rhoda's　shoulder。　　'She　needed　me；　Rhoda；'　she　said。　　'I　do　not　know　for　what；　but　I　am　sure　she　needed　me。'

'I　see　it　all；'　said　Rhoda；　administering　soft　strokes　of　consolation：　　'it　is　something　to　do　with　those　little　beasts；　yes；　I　will　call　them　beasts；　and　if　you　don't　let　me；　I'll　call　them　brutes。　　They　lost　themselves　yesterday；　of　course；　and　dear　old　Lisa　searched　for　them　all　the　afternoon　and　half　the　night；　for　aught　we　know；　and　then　came　here　to　be　comforted；　I　supposethe　blessed　thing！'

'Hush！　don't　touch　her；'　Mary　whispered；　as　Rhoda　went　impetuously　down　on　her　knees　by　the　sofa；　'and　we　must　not　talk　in　this　room；　for　fear　of　waking　her。　　Suppose　you　go　at　once　to　Mrs。　Grubb's；　dear；　and；　whatever　you　learn　about　the　twins　there；　I　shall　meanwhile　call　a　carriage　and　take　Lisa　home　to　my　own　bed。　　The　janitress　can　send　Edith　to　me　as　soon　as　she　comes；　and　I　will　leave　her　with　Lisa　while　I　run　back　here　to　consult　with　you　and　Helen。　　I　shall　telegraph　for　Dr。　Thorne；　also；　to　be　sure　that　this　sleep　is　as　natural　and　healing　a　thing　as　it　appears　to　be。'

Mrs。　Grubb　was　surprised；　even　amused；　at　Rhoda's　exciting　piece　of　news；　but　she　was　perfectly　tranquil。

'Well；　don't　they　beat　all！'　she　exclaimed；　leaning　against　the　door…　frame　and　taking　her　side　hair　out　of　waving…pins　as　she　talked。　'No；　I　haven't　seen　them　since　noon　yesterday。　　I　was　out　to　a　picnic　supper　at　the　Army　Headquarters　at　night；　and　didn't　get　home　till　later　than　usual；　so　I　didn't　go　up　to　their　room。　　I　thought　they　were　in　bed；　they　always　have　been　in　bed　when　it　was　bedtime；　ever　since　they　were　born。'　　Here　she　removed　the　last　pin；　and　put　it　with　the　others　in　the　bosom　of　her　dress　for　safe…keeping。　　'This　morning；　when　they　didn't　turn　up；　I　thought　some　of　you　girls　had　taken　a　fancy　to　keep　them　overnight；　I　didn't　worry；　supposing　that　Lisa　was　with　them。'

'Nobody　on　earth　could　take　a　fancy　to　the　twins　or　keep　them　an　hour　longer　than　necessary；　and　you　know　it；　Mrs。　Grubb；'　said　Rhoda；　who　seldom　minced　matters；　'and　in　case　no　one　should　ever　have　the　bad　manners　to　tell　you　the　whole　truth；　I　want　to　say　here　and　now　that　you　neglect　everything　good　and　sensible　and　practical；all　the　plain；　simple　duties　that　stare　you　directly　in　the　face；and　waste　yourself　on　matters　that　are　of　no　earthly　use　to　anybody。　　Those　children　would　have　been　missed　last　night　if　you　had　one　drop　of　mother's　blood　in　your　veins！　　You　have　three　helpless　children　under　what　you　are　pleased　to　call　your　care'　（and　here　Rhoda's　lip　curled　so　scornfully　that　Mrs。　Grubb　was　tempted　to　stab　her　with　a　curling…　pin）；　'and　you　went　to　sleep　without　knowing　to　a　certainty　whether　they　had　had　supper　or　bed！　　I　don't　believe　you　are　a　woman　at　all　you　are　just　a　vague　abstraction；　and　the　only　things　you've　ever　borne　or　nursed　or　brooded　in　your　life　have　been　your　miserable；　bloodless　little　clubs　and　bands　and　unions！'

Rhoda's　eyes　flashed　summer　lightning；　her　nostrils　quivered；　her　cheeks　flamed　scarlet；　and　Mrs。　Grubb　sat　down　suddenly　and　heavily　on　the　front　stairs　and　gasped　for　breath。　　According　to　her　own　belief；　her　whole　life　had　been　passed　in　a　search　for　truth；　but　it　is　safe　to　say　she　had　never　before　met　it　in　so　uncompromising　and　disagreeable　a　shape。

'Perhaps　when　you　are　quite　through　with　your　billingsgate；'　she　finally　said；　'you　will　take　yourself　off　my　steps　before　you　are　ejected。　　You！　to　presume　to　criticise　me！　　You；　that　are　so　low　in　the　scale　of　being；　you　can　no　more　understand　my　feelings　and　motives　than　a　jellyfish　can　comprehend　a　star！　　Go　back　and　tell　Miss　Mary；'　she　went　on　majestically；　as　she　gained　confidence　and　breath；　'that　it　is　her　duty　and　business　to　find　the　children；　since　they　were　last　seen　with　her；　and　unless　she　proves　more　trustworthy　they　will　not　be　allowed　to　return　to　her。　　Tell　her；　too；　that　when　she　wishes　to　communicate　with　me；　she　must　choose　some　other　messenger　besides　you；　you　impudent；　grovelling　little　earthworm！　Get　out　of　my　sight；　or　you　will　unfit　me　for　my　classes！'

Mrs。　Grubb　was　fairly　superb　as　she　launched　these　thunderbolts　of　invective；　the　staircase　her　rostrum；　her　left　hand　poised　impressively　on　the　baluster；　and　the　three　snaky　strands　of　brown　hair　that　had　writhed　out　of　the　waving…pins　hissing　Medusa…wise　on　each　side　of　her　bead。

Rhoda　was　considerably　taken　aback　by　the　sudden　and　violent　slamming　of　the　door　of　No。　1　Eden　Place；　and　she　felt　an　unwelcome　misgiving　as　to　her　wisdom　in　bringing　Mrs。　Grubb　face　to　face　with　truth。　　Her　rage　had　somewhat　subsided　by　the　time　she　reached　Mistress　Mary's　side；　for　she　had　stopped　on　the　way　to　ask　a　policeman　to　telephone　the　various　stations　for　news　of　the　lost　children；　and　report　at　once　to　her。　　'There　is　one　good　thing；'　she　thought：　　'wherever　they　may　be；　their　light　cannot　be　hid　any　more　than　that　of　a　city　that　is　set