marm lisa-第20部分

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cord　of　their　fulfilment　indelibly　written　in　the　memories　of　two　hundred　small　personagespersonages　in　whom　adult　caprice　and　flexibility　of　conduct　had　bred　a　tendency　to　suspicion。

The　Tree；　therefore；　had　been　coming　for　a　fortnight；　and　on　the　22nd　it　came！　　Neither　did　it　come　alone；　for　it　was　accompanied　by　a　forest　of　holly　and　mistletoe；　and　ropes　of　evergreen；　and　wreaths　and　garlands　of　laurel；　and　green　stars　by　the　dozen。　　And　in　a　great　box；　at　present　hidden　from　the　children；　were　heaps　of　candles；　silver　and　crystal　baubles；　powdered　snowflakes；　glass　icicles；　gilded　nuts；　parti…coloured　spheres；　cornucopias　full　of　goodies；　and；　above　all；　two　wonderful　Christmas　angels；　and　a　snow…white　dove！

Neither　tree；　nor　garlands；　nor　box　contained　any　hint　of　the　donor；　to　the　great　disappointment　of　the　neophytes。　　Rhoda　had　an　idea；　for　Cupid　had　'clapped　her　i'　the　shoulder；'　and　her　intuitions　were　preternaturally　keen　just　now。　　Mary　almost　knew；　though　she　had　never　been　in　love　in　her　life；　and　her　faculties　were　working　only　in　their　every…day　fashion；　but　she　was　not　in　the　least　surprised　when　she　drew　a　letter　from　under　the　white　dove's　wing。　　Seeing　that　it　was　addressed　to　her；　she　waited　until　everybody　had　gone；　and　sat　under　the　pepper…tree　in　the　deserted　playground；　where　she　might　read　it　in　solitude。


'DEAR　MISTRESS　MARY；'　it　said；　'do　you　care　to　hear　of　my　life？

〃Pas　Ewig…Weibliche　Zieht　uns　hinan；〃

and　I　am　growing　olives。　　Do　you　remember　what　the　Spanish　monk　said　to　the　tree　that　he　pruned；　and　that　cried　out　under　his　hook？　〃It　is　not　beauty　that　is　wanted　of　you；　nor　shade；　but　olives。〃　　The　sun　is　hot；　and　it　has　not　rained　for　many　a　long　week；　it　seems　to　me；　but　the　dew　of　your　influence　falls　ever　sweet　and　fresh　on　the　dust　of　my　daily　task。

'Enclosed　please　find　the　wherewithal　for　Lisa's　next　step　higher。　As　she　needs　more　it　will　come。　　I　give　it　for　sheer　gratitude；　as　the　good　folk　gave　their　pennies　to　Pastor　Von　Bodelschwingh。　　Why　am　I　grateful？　　For　your　existence；　to　be　sure！　　I　had　lived　my　life　haunted　by　the　feeling　that　there　was　such　a　woman；　and　finally　the　mysterious　wind　of　destiny　blew　me　to　her；　〃as　the　tempest　brings　the　rose…tree　to　the　pollard　willow。〃

'Do　not　be　troubled　about　me；　little　mother…of…many！　　There　was　once　upon　a　time　a　common　mallow　by　the　roadside；　and　being　touched　by　Mohammed's　garment　as　he　passed；　it　was　changed　at　once　into　a　geranium；　and　best　of　all；　it　remained　a　geranium　for　ever　after。

'YOUR　SOLITARY。'



CHAPTER　XVICLEANSING　FIRES



It　was　the　afternoon　of　the　day　before　Christmas；　and　all　the　little　people　had　gone　home；　leaving　the　room　vacant　for　the　decking　of　the　Wonderful　Tree。　　Edith；　Helen；　and　others　were　perched　on　step…　ladders；　festooning　garlands　and　wreaths　from　window　to　window　and　post　to　post。　　Mary　and　Rhoda　were　hanging　burdens　of　joy　among　the　green　branches　of　the　tree。

The　room　began　to　look　more　and　more　lovely　as　the　evergreen　stars　were　hung　by　scarlet　ribbons　in　each　of　the　twelve　windows；　and　the　picture…frames　were　crowned　with　holly　branches。　　Then　Mistress　Mary　was　elevated　to　a　great　height　on　a　pyramid　of　tables　and　chairs；　and　suspended　the　two　Christmas　angels　by　invisible　wires　from　the　ceiling。　　When　the　chorus　of　admiration　had　subsided；　she　took　the　white　dove　from　Rhoda's　upstretched　hands　（and　what　a　charming　Christmas　picture　they　madethe　eager；　upturned　rosy　face　of　the　one；　the　gracious　fairness　of　the　other！）；　and　laying　its　soft　breast　against　her　cheek　for　a　moment；　perched　it　on　the　topmost　branch　of　waving　green　with　a　thought　of　'Mr。　Man；'　and　a　hope　that　the　blessed　day　might　bring　him　a　tithe　of　the　cheer　he　had　given　them。　　The　effect　of　the　dove　and　the　angels　was　so　electrical　that　all　the　fresh　young　voices　burst　into　the　chorus　of　the　children's　hymn：


'He　was　born　upon　this　day　In　David's　town　so　far　away；　He　the　good　and　loving　One；　Mary's　ever…blessed　Son。

Let　us　all　our　voices　lend；　For　he　was　the　children's　Friend；　He　so　lovely；　He　so　mild；　Jesus；　blessed　Christmas　Child！'


As　the　last　line　of　the　chorus　floated　through　the　open　windows；　an　alarm　of　fire　sounded；　followed　by　a　jangle　of　bells　and　a　rumble　of　patrol　wagons。　　On　going　to　the　west　window；　Edith　saw　a　blaze　of　red　light　against　the　sky；　far　in　the　distance；　in　the　direction　of　Lone　Mountain。　　Soon　after；　almost　on　the　heels　of　the　first；　came　another　alarm　with　its　attendant　clangings；　its　cries　of　'Fire！'　its　chatterings　and　conjectures；　its　rushing　of　small　boys　in　all　directions；　its　tread　of　hurrying　policemen；　its　hasty　flinging　up　of　windows　and　grouping　of　heads　therein。

The　girls　were　too　busy　labelling　the　children's　gifts　to　listen　attentively　to　the　confused　clamour　in　the　streets；fires　were　common　enough　in　a　city　built　of　wood；　but　when；　half　an　hour　after　the　first　and　second　alarms；　a　third　sounded；　they　concluded　it　must　be　a　conflagration；　and　Rhoda；　dropping　her　nuts　and　cornucopias；　ran　to　the　corner　for　news。　　She　was　back　again　almost　immediately；　excited　and　breathless。

'Oh；　Mary！'　she　exclaimed；　her　hand　on　her　panting　side；　'unless　they　are　mistaken；　it　is　three　separate　fires：　　one；　a　livery…stable　and　carriage…house　out　towards　Lone　Mountain；　another　fearful　one　on　Telegraph　Hilla　whole　block　of　houses；　and　they　haven't　had　enough　help　there　because　of　the　Lone　Mountain　fire；　now　there's　a　third　alarm；　and　they　say　it's　at　the　corner　of　Sixth　and　Dutch　streets。　If　it　is；　we　have　a　tenement　house　next　door；　isn't　that　clothing…　place　on　the　corner？　　Yes；　I　know　it　is；　make　haste！　　Edith　and　Helen　will　watch　the　Christmas　things。'

Mary　did　not　need　to　be　told　to　hasten。　　She　had　her　hat　in　her　hand　and　was　on　the　sidewalk　before　Rhoda　had　fairly　finished　her　sentence。

They　hurried　through　the　streets；　guided　by　the　cloud　of　smoke　that　gushed　from　the　top　of　a　building　in　the　near　distance。　　Almost　everybody　was　running　in　the　opposite　direction；　attracted　by　the　Telegraph　Hill　fire　that　flamed　vermilion　and　gold　against　the　grey　sky；　looking　from　its　elevation　like　a　mammoth　bonfire；　or　like　a　hundred　sunsets　massed　in　one　lurid　pile　of　colour。

'Is　it　the　Golden　Gate　tenement　house？'　they　asked　of　the　neighbourhood　locksmith；　who　was　walking　rapidly　towards　them。

'No；　it's　the　coat　factory　next　door；'　he　answered　hurredly。　''Twouldn't　be　so　much　of　a　blaze　if　they　could　get　the　fire　company　here　to　put　it　out　before　it　gets　headway；　but　it's　one　o'　those　blind　fires　that's　been　sizzling　away　inside　the　walls　for　an　hour。　The　folks　didn't　know　they　was　afire　till　a　girl　ran　in　and　told　'em…　…your　Lisa　it　was；and　they　didn't　believe　her　at　first；　but　it　warn't　a　minute　before　the　flames　burst　right　through　the　plastering　in　half　a　dozen　places　to　once。　　I　tell　you　they　just　dropped　everything　where　it　was　and　run　for　their　lives。　　There　warn't　but　one　man　on　the　premises；　and　he　was　such　a　blamed　fool　he　wasted　five　minutes　trying　to　turn　the　alarm　into　the　letter…box　on　the　lamp…　post；　'stead　of　the　right　one　alongside。　　I'm　going　home　for　some　toolsHullo！　there's　the　flames　coming　through　one　corner　o'　the　roof；　that's　the　last　o'　the　factory；　I　guess；　but　it　ain't　much　loss；　any　way；　it's　a　regular　sweatin'…shop。　　They'll　let　it　go　now；　and　try　to　save　the　buildings　each　side　of　itthat's　what　they'll　do。'

That　is　what　they　were　doing　when　Mary　and　Rhoda　broke　away　from　the　voluble　locksmith　in　the　middle　of　his　discourse　and　neared　the　scene　of　excitement。　　The　firemen　had　not　yet　come；　though　it　was　rumoured　that　a　detachment　was　on　the　way。　　All　the　occupants　of　the　tenement　house　were　taking　their　goods　and　chattels　outrunning　down　the　narrow　stairways　with　feather…beds；　dropping　clocks　and　china　ornaments　from　the　windows；　and　endangering　their　lives　by　crawling　down　the　fire…escapes　with　small　articles　of　no　value。　　Men　were　scarce　at　that　hour　in　that　locality；　but　there　was　a　good　contingent　of　small　shopkeepers　and　gentlemen…of…steady…leisure；　who　were　on　the　roof　pouring…water　over　wet　blankets　and　comforters　and　carpets。　　A　crazy…looking　woman　in　the　fourth　story　kept　dipping　a　child's　handkerchief　in　and　out　of　a　bowl　of　water　and　wrapping　it　about　a　tomato…can　with　a　rosebush　planted　in　it。　　Another；　very　much　intoxicated；　leaned　from　her　window；　and；　regarding　the　whole　matter　as　an　agreeable　entertainment；　called　down　humorous　remarks　and　ribald　jokes　to　the　oblivious　audience。　　There　was　an　improvised　hook…and…ladder　company　pouring　water　where　it　was　least　needed；　and　a　zealous　self…appointed　commanding　officer　who　did　nothing　but　shout　contradictory　orders；　but　as　nobody　obeyed　them；　and　every　man　did　just　as　he　was　inclined；　it　did　not　make　any　substantial　difference　in　the　result。

Mary　and　Rhoda　made　their　way　through　the　mass　of　interested　spectators；　not　so　many　here　as　on　the　cooler　side　of　the　street。　Where　was　Lisa？　　That　was　the　first；　indeed　the　only　question。　　How　had　she　come　there？　　Where　had　she　gone？　　There　was　a　Babel　of　confusion；　but　nothing　like　the　uproar　that　would　have　been　heard　had　not　part　of　the　district's　population　fled　to　the　more　interesting　fire；　and　had　not　the　whole　thing　been　so　quiet　and　so　lightning…　quick　in　its　progress。　　The　whole　scene　now　burst　upon　their　view。　　A　few　harassed　policemen　had　stretched　ropes　across　the　street；　and　were　trying　to　keep　back　the　rebellious　ones　in　the　crowd　who　ever　and　anon　would　struggle　under　the　line　and　have　to　be　beaten　back　by　force。

As　Mary　and　Rhoda　approached；　a　group　on　the　outskirts　cried　out；　'Here　she　is！　　'Tain't　more　'n　a　minute　sence　they　went　to　tell　her！　Here　she　is　now！'

The　expected　fire…brigade　could　hardly　be　called　'she；'　Mary　thought；　as　she　glanced　over　her　shoulder。　　She　could　see　no　special　reason　for　any　interest　in　her　own　movements。　　She　took　advantage　of　the　parting　of　the　crowd；　however；　and　as　she　made　her　way　she　heard；　as　in　a　waking　dream；　disjointed　sentences　that　had　no　meaning　at　first；　but　being　pieced　together　grew　finally　into　an　awful　whole。

'Why　didn't　the　factory　girls　bring　'em　out？　　Didn't　know　they　was　there？'

'Say；　one　of　'em　was　saved；　warn't　it？'

'Which　one　of　'em　did　she　get　down