marm lisa-第15部分

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As　if　this　were　not　vexatious　enough；　her　plans　were　disarranged　in　another　and　more　important　particular。　　Mrs。　Sylvester's　manicure　had　set　up　a　small　establishment　for　herself；　and　admitted　as　partner　a　certain　chiropodist　named　Boone。　　The　two　artists　felt　that　by　sharing　expenses　they　might　increase　profits；　and　there　was　a　sleeping　thought　in　both　their　minds　that　the　partnership　might　ripen　into　marriage　if　the　financial　returns　of　the　business　were　satisfactory。　　It　was　destined；　however；　to　be　a　failure　in　both　respects；　for　Dr。　Boone　looked　upon　Madame　Goldmarker；　the　vocal　teacher　in　No。　13　Eden　Place；　and　to　look　upon　her　was　to　love　her　madly；　since　she　earned　seventy…five　dollars　a　month；　while　the　little　manicure　could　barely　eke　out　a　slender　and　uncertain　twenty。　In　such　crises　the　heart　can　be　trusted　to　leap　in　the　right　direction　and　beat　at　the　proper　rate。

Mrs。　Grubb　would　have　had　small　interest　in　these　sordid　romances　had　it　not　been　that　Madame　Goldmarker　had　faithfully　promised　to　look　after　Lisa　and　the　twins；　so　that　Mrs。　Grubb　might　be　free　to　hold　classes　in　the　adjoining　towns。　　The　little　blind　god　had　now　overturned　all　these　well…laid　plans；　and　Mrs。　Grubb　was　for　the　moment　the　victim　of　inexorable　circumstances。

Dr。　Boone　fitted　up　princely　apartments　next　his　office；　and　Madame　Goldmarker　Boone　celebrated　her　nuptials　and　her　desertion　of　Eden　Place　by　making　a　formal　debut　at　a　concert　in　Pocahontas　Hall。　　The　next　morning；　the　neighbourhood　that　knew　them　best；　and　many　other　neighbourhoods　that　knew　them　not　at　all；　received　neat　printed　circulars　thrust　under　the　front　door。　　Upon　one　side　of　the　paper　were　printed　the　words　and　music　of　'Home；　Sweet　Home；'　'as　sung　by　Madame　Goldmarker　Boone　at　her　late　concert　in　Pocahontas　Hall。'　　On　the　reverse　side　appeared　a　picture　of　the　doctor；　a　neat　cut　of　a　human　foot；　a　schedule　of　prices；　and　the　alluring　promise　that　the　Madame's　vocal　pupils　would　receive　treatment　at　half　the　regular　rates。

Many　small　disputes　and　quarrels　were　consequent　upon　these　business；　emotional；　and　social　convulsions；　and　each　of　the　parties　concerned；　from　Mrs。　Grubb　to　the　chiropodist；　consulted　Mistress　Mary　and　solicited　her　advice　and　interference。

This　seemed　a　little　strange；　but　Mistress　Mary's　garden　was　the　sort　of　place　to　act　as　a　magnet　to　reformers；　eccentrics；　professional　philanthropists；　and　cranks。　　She　never　quite　understood　the　reason；　and　for　that　matter　nobody　else　did；　unless　it　were　simply　that　the　place　was　a　trifle　out　of　the　common；　and　she　herself　a　person　full　of　ideas；　and　eminently　sympathetic　with　those　of　other　people。　Anybody　could　'drop　in；'　and　as　a　consequence　everybody　did　grandmothers；　mothers　with　babes　in　arms；　teachers；　ministers；　photographers；　travellers；　and　journalists。　　A　Russian　gentleman　who　had　escaped　from　Siberia　was　a　frequent　visitor。　　He　wanted　to　marry　Edith　and　open　a　boarding…house　for　Russian　exiles；　and　was　perfectly　confident　of　making　her　happy；　as　he　spoke　seven　languages　and　had　been　a　good　husband　to　two　Russian　ladies　now　deceased。　　An　Alaskan　missionary；　home　on　a　short　leave；　called　periodically；　and　attempted　to　persuade　Mary　to　return　with　him　to　his　heathen。　　These　suitors　were　disposed　of　summarily　when　they　made　their　desires　known；　but　there　were　other　visitors；　part　of　the　flotsam　and　jetsam　of　a　great　city；　who　appeared　and　disappeared　mysteriouslyships　passing　Mistress　Mary　in　the　night　of　sorrow；　and；　after　some　despairing；　half…comprehended　signal；　vanishing　into　the　shadows　out　of　which　they　had　come。　　Sometimes；　indeed；　inspired　by　the　good　cheer　of　the　place；　they　departed；　looking　a　little　less　gloomy；　sometimes；　too；　they　grew　into　a　kind　of　active　if　transitory　relation　with　the　busy　little　world；　and　became；　for　a　time；　a　part　of　it。

Mistress　Mary　went　down　to　the　street　corner　with　the　children　one　noon　to　see　them　safely　over　the　crossing。　　There　was　generally　a　genial　policeman　who　made　it　a　part　of　his　duty　to　stand　guard　there；　and　guide　the　reckless　and　stupid　and　bewildered　ones　among　the　youngsters　over　the　difficulties　that　lay　in　their　path。　　Sometimes　he　would　devote　himself　exclusively　to　Atlantic　and　Pacific　Simonson；　who　really　desired　death；　though　they　were　not　spiritually　fitted　for　it；　and　bent　all　their　energies　towards　getting　under　trucks　rather　than　away　from　them。　　Marm　Lisa　never　approached　the　spot　without　a　nervous　trembling　and　a　look　of　terror　in　her　eyes；　and　before　the　advent　of　the　helpful　officer　had　always　taken　a　twin　by　each　arm；　and　the　three　had　gone　over　thus　as　a　solid　body；　no　matter　how　strong　the　resistance。

On　this　special　morning　there　was　no　guardian　of　the　peace　in　evidence；　but　standing　on　the　crossing　was　a　bearded　man　of　perhaps　forty　years。　　Rather　handsome　he　was；　and　well　though　carelessly　dressed；　but　he　stood　irresolutely　with　his　hands　in　his　pockets；　as　if　quite　undecided　what　to　do　next。　　Mary　simply　noted　him　as　an　altogether　strange　figure　in　the　neighbourhood；　but　the　unexpected　appearance　of　a　large　dog　on　the　scene　scattered　the　babies；　and　they　fell　on　her　in　a　weeping　phalanx。

'Will　you　kindly　help　a　little？'　she　asked　after　a　moment's　waiting；　in　which　any　chivalrous　gentleman；　she　thought；　should　have　flung　himself　into　the　breach。

'I？'　he　asked　vaguely。　　'How　do　you　mean？　　What　shall　I　do？'

She　longed　to　say；　'Wake　up；　and　perhaps　an　idea　will　come　to　you'；　but　she　did　say；　with　some　spirit；　'Almost　anything；　thank　you。　Drive　the　dog　away；　and　help　some　of　the　smallest　children　across　the　street；　please。　　You　can　have　these　two'　（indicating　the　twins　smilingly）；　'or　the　other　ninety…eightwhichever　you　like。'

He　obeyed　orders；　though　not　in　a　very　alert　fashion；　but　showed　a　sense　of　humour　in　choosing　the　ninety…eight　rather　than　the　two；　and　Mary　left　him　on　the　corner　with　a　pleasant　word　of　thanks　and　a　cheery　remark。

The　next　morning　he　appeared　at　the　garden　gate；　and　asked　if　he　might　come　in　and　sit　a　while。　　He　was　made　welcome；　but　it　was　a　busy　morning；　and　he　was　so　silent　a　visitor　that　everybody　forgot　his　existence。

He　made　a　curious　impression；　which　can　hardly　be　described；　save　that　any　student　of　human　nature　would　say　at　once；　'He　is　out　of　relation　with　the　world。'　　He　had　something　of　the　expression　one　sees　in　a　recluse　or　a　hermit。　　If　you　have　ever　wandered　up　a　mountain　side；　you　may　have　come　suddenly　upon　a　hut；　a　rude　bed　within　it；　and　in　the　door　a　man　reading；　or　smoking；　or　gazing　into　vacancy。　　You　remember　the　look　you　met　in　that　man's　eyes。　　He　has　tasted　life　and　found　it　bitter；　has　sounded　the　world　and　found　it　hollow；　has　known　man　or　woman　and　found　them　false。　　Friendship　to　him　is　without　savour；　and　love　without　hope。

After　watching　the　children　for　an　hour；　the　stranger　slipped　out　quietly。　　Mistress　Mary　followed　him　to　the　door；　abashed　at　her　unintentional　discourtesy　in　allowing　him　to　go　without　a　good　morning。　　She　saw　him　stand　at　the　foot　of　the　steps；　look　first　up；　then　down　the　street；　then　walk　aimlessly　to　the　corner。　　There；　with　hands　in　pockets；　he　paused　again；　glancing　four　ways；　then；　with　a　shrug　and　a　gait　that　seemed　to　say；　'It　makes　no　difference；'　he　slouched　away。

'He　is　simply　a　stranger　in　a　strange　city；　pining　for　his　home；'　thought　Mary；　'or　else　he　is　a　stranger　in　every　city；　and　has　nowhere　a　home。'

He　came　again　a　few　days　later；　and　then　again；　apologising　for　the　frequency　of　his　visits；　but　giving　no　special　reason　for　them。　　The　neophytes　called　him　'the　Solitary；'　but　the　children　christened　him　after　a　fashion　of　their　own；　and　began　to　ask　small　favours　of　him。　'Thread　my　needle；　please；　Mr。　Man！'　　'More　beads；'　or　'More　paper；　Mr。　Man；　please。'

It　is　impossible　to　keep　out　of　relation　with　little　children。　　One　of　these　mites　of　humanity　would　make　a　man　out　of　your　mountain　hermit；　resist　as　he　might。　　They　set　up　a　claim　on　one　whether　it　exists　or　not；　and　one　has　to　allow　it；　and　respond　to　it　at　least　in　some　perfunctory　fashion。　　More　than　once；　as　Mr。　Man　sat　silently　near　the　circle；　the　chubby　Baker　baby　would　fall　over　his　feet；　and　he　would　involuntarily　stoop　to　pick　her　up；　straighten　her　dress；　and　soothe　her　woe。　　There　was　no　hearty　pleasure　in　his　service　even　now。　　Nobody　was　certain　that　he　felt　any　pleasure　at　all。　　His　helpfulness　was　not　spontaneous；　it　seemed　a　kind　of　reflex　action；　a　survival　of　some　former　state　of　mind　or　heart；　for　he　did　his　favours　in　a　dream；　nor　heard　any　thanks：　　yet　the　elixir　was　working　in　his　veins。

'He　is　dreadfully　in　the　way；'　grumbled　Edith；　'he　is　more　ever…　present　than　my　ardent　Russian。'

'So　long　as　he　insists　on　coming；　let　us　make　him　supply　the　paternal　element；'　suggested　Rhoda。　　'It　may　be　a　degrading　confession；　but　we　could　afford　to　part　with　several　women　here　if　we　could　only　secure　a　really　fatherly　man。　　The　Solitary　cannot　indulge　in　any　day…dreams　or　trances；　if　we　accept　him　as　the　patriarch　of　the　institution。'

Whereupon　they　boldly　asked　him；　on　his　subsequent　visits；　to　go　upon　errands；　and　open　barrels　of　apples；　and　order　intoxicated　gentlemen　off　the　steps；　and　mend　locks　and　window…fastenings；　and　sharpen　lead…pencils；　and　put　on　coal；　and　tell　the　lady　in　the　rear　that　her　parrot　interfered　with　their　morning　prayers　by　shrieking　the　hymns　in　impossible　keys。　　He　accepted　these　tasks　without　protest；　and　performed　them　conscientiously；　save　in　the　parrot　difficulty；　in　which　case　he　gave　one　look　at　the　lady；　and　fled　without　opening　the　subject。

It　could　not　be　said　that　he　appeared　more　cheerful；　the　sole　sign　of　any　increased　exhilaration　of　spirits　being　the　occasional　straightening　of　his　cravat　and　the　smoothing　of　his　hair　refinements　of　toilet　that　had　heretofore　been　much　neglected；　though　he　always　looked　unmistakably　the　gentleman。

He　seemed　more　attracted　by　Lisa　than　by　any　of　the　smaller　children；　but　that　may　have　been　because　Mary　had　told　him　her　story；　thinking　that　other　people's　stories　were　a　useful　sort　of　thing　to　tell　people　who　had　possible　stories　of　their　own。

Lisa　was　now　developing　a　curious　and　unexpected　facility　and　talent　in　the　musical　games。　　She　played