marm lisa-第14部分

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thought：　　'wherever　they　may　be；　their　light　cannot　be　hid　any　more　than　that　of　a　city　that　is　set　on　a　hill。　　There　will　be　plenty　of　traces　of　their　journey；　for　once　seen　they　are　never　forgotten。　　Nobody　but　a　hero　would　think　of　kidnapping　them；　and　nobody　but　an　idiot　would　expect　a　ransom　for　them！'

'I　hope　you　didn't　upbraid　Mrs。　Grubb；'　said　Mary；　divining　from　Rhoda's　clouded　brow　that　her　interview　had　not　been　a　pleasant　one。　'You　know　our　only　peaceful　way　of　rescuing　Lisa　from　her　hold　is　to　make　a　friend　of　her；　and　convert　her　to　our　way　of　thinking。　　Was　she　much　disturbed　about　the　children？'

'Disturbed！'　sniffed　Rhoda　disdainfully。　　'Imagine　Mrs。　Grubb　disturbed　about　anything　so　trivial　as　a　lost　child！　　If　it　had　been　a　lost　amendment；　she　might　have　been　ruffled！'

'What　is　she　doing　about　it；　and　in　what　direction　is　she　searching？'

'She　is　doing　nothing；　and　she　will　do　nothing；　she　has　gone　to　a　Theosophy　lecture；　and　we　are　to　find　the　twins；　and　she　says　it's　your　fault；　anyway；　and　unless　you　prove　more　trustworthy　the　seraphs　will　be　removed　from　your　care；　and　you　are　not　to　send　me　again　as　a　messenger；　if　you　please；　because　I　am　an　impudent；　grovelling　little　earthworm！'

'Rhoda！'

'Yes'm！'

'Did　she　call　you　that？'

'Yes'm；　and　a　jellyfish　besides；　in　fact；　she　dragged　me　through　the　entire　animal　kingdom；　but　she　is　a　stellar　beingshe　said　so。'

'What　did　you　say　to　her　to　provoke　that；　Rhoda？　　She　is　thoroughly　illogical　and　perverse；　but　she　is　very　amiable。'

'Yes；　when　you　don't　interfere　with　her。　　You　should　catch　her　with　her　hair　in　waving…pins；　just　after　she　has　imbibed　apple…sauce！　　Oh；　I　can't　remember　exactly　what　I　said；　for　I　confess　I　was　a　trifle　heated；　and　at　the　moment　I　thought　only　of　freeing　my　mind。　　Let　me　see：　　I　told　her　she　neglected　all　the　practical　duties　that　stared　her　directly　in　the　face；　and　squandered　herself　on　useless　fads　and　vagariesthat's　about　all。　　No…o；　now　that　I　come　to　think　of　it；　I　did　say　that　the　children　would　have　been　missed　and　found　last　night；　if　she　had　had　a　drop　of　mother's　blood　in　her　veins。'

'That's　terse　and　strongand　tactful；'　said　Mary；　'anything　more？'

'No；　I　don't　think　so。　　Oh　yes！　now　that　I　reflect；　I　said　I　didn't　believe　she　was　a　woman　at　all。　　That　seemed　to　enrage　her　beyond　anything；　somehow；　and　when　I　explained　it；　and　tried　to　modify　it　by　saying　I　meant　that　she　had　never　borne　or　loved　or　brooded　anything　in　her　life　but　her　nasty　little　clubs；　she　was　white　with　anger；　and　told　me　I　was　too　low　in　the　scale　of　being　to　understand　her。　　Good　gracious！　　I　wish　she　understood　herself　half　as　well　as　I　understand　her！'

Mary　gave　a　hysterical　laugh。　　'I　can't　pretend　you　didn't　speak　the　truth；　Rhoda；　but　I　am　sadly　afraid　it　was　ill　advised　to　wound　Mrs。　Grubb's　vanity。　　Do　you　feel　a　good　deal　better？'

'No；'　confessed　Rhoda　penitently。　　'I　did　for　fifteen　minutes；yes；　nearly　half　an　hour；　but　now　I　feel　worse　than　ever。'

'That　is　one　of　the　commonest　symptoms　of　freeing　one's　mind；'　observed　Mary　quietly。

It　was　scarcely　an　hour　later　when　Atlantic　and　Pacific　were　brought　in　by　an　officer；　very　dirty　and　dishevelled；　but　gay　and　irresponsible　as　larks；　nonchalant；　amiable；　and　unrepentant。　　As　Rhoda　had　prophesied；　there　had　been　no　difficulty　in　finding　them；　and　as　everybody　had　prophesied；　once　found　there　had　not　been　a　second's　delay　in　delivery。　　Moved　by　fiery　hatred　of　the　police　matron；　who　had　illustrated　justice　more　than　mercy；　and　illustrated　it　with　the　back　of　a　hair…brush　on　their　reversed　persons；　lured　also　by　two　popcorn　balls；　a　jumping…jack；　and　a　tin　horse；　they　accepted　the　municipal　escort　with　alacrity；　and　nothing　was　ever　jauntier　than　the　manner　in　which　Pacific；　all　smiles　and　molasses；　held　up　her　sticky　lips　for　an　expected　salutean　unusual　offer　which　was　respectfully　declined　as　a　matter　of　discipline。

Mary　longed　for　Rhoda's　young　minister　in　the　next　half…hour；　which　she　devoted　to　private　spiritual　instruction。　　Psychology　proved　wholly　unequal　to　the　task　of　fathoming　the　twins；　and　she　fancied　that　theology　might　have　been　more　helpful。　　Their　idea　seemed　to　be…　…if　the　rudimentary　thing　she　unearthed　from　their　consciousness　could　be　called　an　ideathat　they　would　not　mind　repenting　if　they　could　see　anything　of　which　to　repent。　　Of　sin；　as　sin；　they　had　no　apparent　knowledge；　either　by　sight；　by　hearsay　or　by　actual　acquaintance。　　They　sat　stolidly　in　their　little　chairs；　eyes　roving　to　the　windows；　the　blackboard；　the　pictures；　they　clubbed　together　and　fished　a　pin　from　a　crack　in　the　floor　during　one　of　Mary's　most　thrilling　appeals；　finally　they　appeared　so　bored　by　the　whole　proceeding　that　she　felt　a　certain　sense　of　embarrassment　in　the　midst　of　her　despair。　　She　took　them　home　herself　at　noon；　apologised　to　the　injured　Mrs。　Grubb　for　Rhoda's　unfortunate　remarks；　and　told　that　lady；　gently　but　firmly；　that　Lisa　could　not　be　moved　until　she　was　decidedly　better。

'She　was　wandering　about　the　streets　searching　for　the　twins　from　noon　till　long　after　dark；　Mrs。　Grubbthere　can　be　no　doubt　of　it；　and　she　bears　unmistakable　signs　of　having　suffered　deeply。　　I　have　called　in　a　physician；　and　we　must　all　abide　by　his　advice。'

'That's　well　enough　for　the　present；'　agreed　Mrs。　Grubb　reluctantly；　'but　I　cannot　continue　to　have　my　studies　broken　in　upon　by　these　excitements。　　I　really　cannot。　　I　thought　I　had　made　an　arrangement　with　Madame　Goldmarker　to　relieve　me；　but　she　has　just　served　me　a　most　unladylike　and　deceitful　trick；　and　the　outcome　of　it　will　be　that　I　shall　have　to　send　Lisa　to　the　asylum。　　I　can　get　her　examined　by　the　commissioners　some　time　before　Christmas；　and　if　they　decide　she's　imbecile　they'll　take　her　off　my　hands。　　I　didn't　want　to　part　with　her　till　the　twins　got　older；　but　I've　just　found　a　possible　home　for　them　if　I　can　endure　their　actions　until　New　Year's。　　Our　Army　of　Present　Perfection　isn't　progressing　as　it　ought　to；　and　it's　going　to　found　a　colony　down　in　San　Diego　County；　and　advertise　for　children　to　bring　up　in　the　faith。　　A　certain　number　of　men　and　women　have　agreed　to　go　and　start　the　thing　and　I'm　sure　my　sister；　if　she　was　alive　would　be　glad　to　donate　her　children　to　such　a　splendid　enterprise。　　If　the　commissioners　won't　take　Lisa；　she　can　go　to　Soul　Haven；　toothat's　the　name　of　the　place；but　no；　of　course　they　wouldn't　want　any　but　bright　children；　that　would　grow　up　and　spread　the　light。'　（Mary　smiled　at　the　thought　of　the　twins　engaged　in　the　occupation　of　spreading　light。）　　'I　shall　not　join　the　community　myself；　though　I　believe　it's　a　good　thing；　but　a　very　different　future　is　unveiling　itself　before　me'　（her　tone　was　full　of　mystery　here）；　'and　some　time；　if　I　can　ever　pursue　my　investigations　in　peace；　you　will　knock　at　this　door　and　I　shall　have　vanished！　　But　I　shall　know　of　your　visit；　and　the　very　sound　of　your　footfall　will　reach　my　ear；　even　if　I　am　inhabiting　some　remote　mountain　fastness！'


When　Lisa　awoke　that　night；　she　heard　the　crackling　of　a　wood　fire　on　the　hearth；　she　felt　the　touch　of　soft　linen　under　her　aching　body；　and　the　pressure　of　something　cool　and　fragrant　on　her　forehead。　　Her　right　hand；　feebly　groping　the　white　counterpane；　felt　a　flower　in　its　grasp。　　Opening　her　eyes；　she　saw　the　firelight　dancing　on　tinted　walls；　and　an　angel　of　deliverance　sitting　by　her　bedsidea　dear　familiar　woman　angel；　whose　fair　crowned　head　rose　from　a　cloud　of　white；　and　whose　sweet　downward　gaze　held　all　of　benignant　motherhood　that　God　could　put　into　woman's　eyes。

Marm　Lisa　looked　up　dumbly　and　wonderingly　at　first；　but　the　mind　stirred；　thought　flowed　in　upon　it；　a　wave　of　pain　broke　over　her　heart；　and　she　remembered　all；　for　remembrance；　alas；　is　the　price　of　reason。

'Lost！　my　twinnies；　all　lost　and　gone！'　she　whispered　brokenly；　with　long；　shuddering　sobs　between　the　words。　　'I　looklooklook；　never；　never　find！'

'No；　no；　dear；'　Mary　answered；　stroking　the　lines　from　her　forehead；　'not　lost　any　more；　found；　Lisado　you　understand？　　They　are　found；　they　are　safe　and　well；　and　nobody　blames　you；　and　you　are　safe；　too；　your　new　self；　your　best　self　unharmed；　thank　God；　so　go　to　sleep；　little　sister；　and　dream　happy　dreams！'

Glad　tears　rushed　from　the　poor　child's　eyes；　tears　of　conscious　happiness；　and　the　burden　rolled　away　from　her　heart　now；　as　yesterday's　whirring　shuttles　in　her　brain　had　been　hushed　into　silence　by　her　long　sleep。　　She　raised　her　swimming　eyes　to　Mistress　Mary's　with　a　look　of　unspeakable　trust。　　'I　love　you！　oh；　I　love；　love；　love　you！'　she　whispered；　and；　holding　the　flower　close　to　her　breast；　she　breathed　a　sigh　of　sweet　content；　and　sank　again　into　quiet　slumber。



CHAPTER　XIIFLOTSAM　AND　JETSAM



It　may　be　said　in　justice　to　Mrs。　Grubb　that　she　was　more　than　usually　harassed　just　at　this　time。

Mrs。　Sylvester；　her　voluble　next…door　neighbour；　who　had　lifted　many　sordid　cares　from　her　shoulders；　had　suddenly　become　tired　of　the　'new　method　of　mental　healing；'　and　during　a　brief　absence　of　Mrs。　Grubb　from　the　city　had　issued　a　thousand　embossed　gilt…edged　cards；　announcing　herself　as　the　Hand　Reader　in　the　following　terms


TO　THE　ELITE　LADIES　AND　GENTLEMEN　OF　THE　CITY！

I　take　this　method　of　introducing　myself　to　your　kind　consideration　as　a　Hand　Reader　of　RARE　and　GENUINE　MERIT；　catering　merely　to　the　Creme　du　le　Creme　of　this　city。　　No　others　need　apply。

Having　been　educated　carefully　and　refinedly；　speaking　French　fluently；　therefore　I　only　wish　to　deal　with　the　elite　of　the　bon…　ton。

I　do　not　advertise　in　papers　nor　at　residence。　Ladies　1。50。　　Gents　2。　Yours　truly；

MRS。　PANSY　SYLVESTER；　3　Eden　Place　near　4th；　Lower　bell

PS。　　Pupil　of　S。　CORA　GRUBB。


Inasmuch　as　Mrs。　Sylvester　had　imbibed　all　her　knowledge　from　Mrs。　Grubb；　that　prophet　and　scholar　thought；　not　unnaturally；　that　she　might　have　been　consulted　about　the　enterprise；　particularly　as　the　cards　were　of　a　nature　to　prejudice　the　better　class　of　patients；　and　lower　the　social　tone　of　the　temple　of　healing。

As　if　this　were　not　vexatious　enough；　her　plans　were　disarranged　in　another　and　more　important　particular。　　Mrs。　Sylvester's　manicure　had　se