the register-第4部分

快捷操作: 按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页 按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页 按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部! 如果本书没有阅读完，想下次继续接着阅读，可使用上方 "收藏到我的浏览器" 功能 和 "加入书签" 功能！


the　heat　down　below。〃

GRINNIDGE；　smoking　peacefully　through　the　silence　which　his　friend
has　absent…mindedly　let　follow　upon　his　last　words：　　〃Well；　you　seem
disposed　to　take　your　time　about　it。〃

RANSOM：　　〃About　what？　　Oh；　yes！　　Well〃　…

MISS　REED：　　〃'Sh！　　Listen。〃

MISS　SPAULDING：　　〃I　won't　listen！　　It's　shameful：　　it's　wicked！　　I
don't　see　how　you　can　do　it；　Ethel！〃　　She　remains；　however；　kneeling
near　the　register；　and　she　involuntarily　inclines　a　little　more
toward　it。

RANSOM：　　〃It　isn't　a　thing　that　I　care　to　shout　from　the　house…
tops。〃　　He　returns　from　the　window　to　the　chimney…piece。　　〃I　wrote
the　rudest　kind　of　note；　and　sent　back　her　letter　and　her　money　in
it。　　She　had　said　that　she　hoped　our　acquaintance　was　not　to　end　with
the　summer；　but　that　we　might　sometimes　meet　in　Boston；　and　I
answered　that　our　acquaintance　had　ended　already；　and　that　I　should
be　sorry　to　meet　her　anywhere　again。〃

GRINNIDGE：　　〃Well；　if　you　wanted　to　make　an　ass　of　yourself；　you　did
it　pretty　completely。〃

MISS　REED；　whispering：　　〃How　witty　he　is！　　Those　men　are　always　so
humorous　with　each　other。〃

RANSOM：　　〃Yes；　I　didn't　do　it　by　halves。〃

MISS　REED；　whispering：　　〃Oh；　THAT'S　funny；　too！〃

GRINNIDGE：　　〃It　didn't　occur　to　you　that　she　might　feel　bound　to　pay
you　for　the　first　half…dozen；　and　was　embarrassed　how　to　offer　to　pay
for　them　alone？〃

MISS　REED：　　〃How　he　DOES　go　to　the　heart　of　the　matter！〃　　She　presses
Miss　Spaulding's　hand　in　an　ecstasy　of　approval。

RANSOM：　　〃Yes；　it　didafterward。〃

MISS　REED；　in　a　tender　murmur：　　〃Oh；　POOR　Oliver！〃

RANSOM：　　〃And　it　occurred　to　me　that　she　was　perfectly　right　in　the
whole　affair。〃

MISS　REED：　　〃Oh；　how　generous！　how　noble！〃

RANSOM：　　〃I　had　had　a　thousand　opportunities；　and　I　hadn't　been　man
enough　to　tell　her　that　I　was　in　love　with　her。〃

MISS　REED：　　〃How　can　he　say　it　right　out　so　bluntly？　　But　if　it's
true〃　…

RANSOM：　　〃I　COULDN'T　speak。　　I　was　afraid　of　putting　an　end　to　the
affairof　frightening　herdisgusting　her。〃

MISS　REED：　　〃Oh；　how　little　they　know　us；　Nettie！〃

RANSOM：　　〃She　seemed　so　much　above　me　in　every　wayso　sensitive；　so
refined；　so　gentle；　so　good；　so　angelic！〃

MISS　REED：　　〃There！　　NOW　do　you　call　it　eavesdropping？　　If　listeners
never　hear　any　good　of　themselves；　what　do　you　say　to　that？　　It
proves　that　I　haven't　been　listening。〃

MISS　SPAULDING：　　〃'Sh！　　They're　saying　something　else。〃

RANSOM：　　〃But　all　that's　neither　here　nor　there。　　I　can　see　now　that
under　the　circumstances　she　couldn't　as　a　lady　have　acted　otherwise
than　she　did。　　She　was　forced　to　treat　our　whole　acquaintance　as　a
business　matter；　and　I　had　forced　her　to　do　it。〃

MISS　REED：　　〃You　HAD；　you　poor　thing！〃

GRINNIDGE：　　〃Well；　what　do　you　intend　to　do　about　it？〃

RANSOM：　　〃Well〃　…

MISS　REED：　　〃'Sh！〃

MISS　SPAULDING：　　〃'Sh！〃

RANSOM：　　〃that's　what　I　want　to　submit　to　you；　Grinnidge。　　I　must
see　her。〃

GRINNIDGE：　　〃Yes。　　I'm　glad　_I_　mustn't。〃

MISS　REED；　stifling　a　laugh　on　Miss　Spaulding's　shoulder：　　〃They're
actually　AFRAID　of　us；　Nettie！〃

RANSOM：　　〃See　her；　and　go　down　in　the　dust。〃

MISS　REED：　　〃My　very　words！〃

RANSOM：　　〃I　have　been　trying　to　think　what　was　the　very　humblest　pie
I　could　eat；　by　way　of　penance；　and　it　appears　to　me　that　I　had
better　begin　by　saying　that　I　have　come　to　ask　her　for　the　money　I
refused。〃

MISS　REED；　enraptured：　　〃Oh！　doesn't　it　seem　just　likelike
inspiration；　Nettie？〃

MISS　SPAULDING：　　〃'Sh！　　Be　quiet；　do！　　You'll　frighten　them　away！〃

GRINNIDGE：　　〃And　then　what？〃

RANSOM：　　〃What　then？　　I　don't　know　what　then。　　But　it　appears　to　me
that；　as　a　gentleman；　I've　got　nothing　to　do　with　the　result。　　All
that　I've　got　to　do　is　to　submit　to　my　fate；　whatever　it　is。〃

MISS　REED；　breathlessly：　　〃What　princely　courage！　　What　delicate
magnanimity！　　Oh；　he　needn't　have　the　LEAST　fear！　　If　I　could　only
tell　him　that！〃

GRINNIDGE；　after　an　interval　of　meditative　smoking：　　〃Yes；　I　guess
that's　the　best　thing　you　can　do。　　It　will　strike　her　fancy；　if　she's
an　imaginative　girl；　and　she'll　think　you　a　fine　fellow。〃

MISS　REED：　　〃Oh；　the　horrid　thing！〃

GRINNIDGE：　　〃If　you　humble　yourself　to　a　woman　at　all；　do　it
thoroughly。　　If　you　go　halfway　down　she'll　be　tempted　to　push　you　the
rest　of　the　way。　　If　you　flatten　out　at　her　feet　to　begin　with；　ten
to　one　but　she　will　pick　you　up。〃

RANSOM：　　〃Yes；　that　was　my　idea。〃

MISS　REED：　　〃Oh；　was　it；　indeed！　　Well！〃

RANSOM：　　〃But　I've　nothing　to　do　with　her　picking　me　up　or　pushing　me
down。　　All　that　I've　got　to　do　is　to　go　and　surrender　myself。〃

GRINNIDGE：　　〃Yes。　　Well；　I　guess　you　can't　go　too　soon。　　I　like　your
company；　but　I　advise　you　as　a　friend　not　to　lose　time。　　Where　does
she　live？〃

RANSOM：　　〃That's　the　remarkable　part　of　it：　　she　lives　in　this
house。〃

MISS　REED　and　Miss　Spaulding；　in　subdued　chorus：　　〃Oh！〃

GRINNIDGE；　taking　his　pipe　out　of　his　mouth　in　astonishment：　　〃No！〃

RANSOM：　　〃I　just　came　in　here　to　give　my　good　resolutions　a　rest
while　I　was　screwing　my　courage　up　to　ask　for　her。〃

MISS　REED：　　〃Don't　you　think　he's　VERY　humorous？　　Give　his　good
resolutions　a　rest！　　That's　the　way　he　ALWAYS　talks。〃

MISS　SPAULDING：　　〃'Sh！〃

GRINNIDGE：　　〃You　said　you　came　for　my　advice。〃

RANSOM：　　〃So　I　did。　　But　I　didn't　promise　to　act　upon　it。　　Well！〃　　He
goes　toward　the　door。

GRINNIDGE；　without　troubling　himself　to　rise：　　〃Well；　good　luck　to
you！〃

MISS　REED：　　〃How　droll　they　are　with　each　other！　　Don't　you　LIKE　to
hear　them　talk？　　Oh；　I　could　listen　all　day。〃

GRINNIDGE；　calling　after　Ransom：　　〃You　haven't　told　me　your　duck's
name。〃

MISS　REED：　　〃Is　THAT　what　they　call　us？　　Duck！　　Do　you　think　it's
very　respectful；　Nettie？　　I　don't　believe　I　like　it。　　Or；　yes；　why
not？　　It's　no　harmif　I　AM　his　duck！〃

RANSOM；　coming　back：　　〃Well；　I　don't　propose　to　go　shouting　it　round。
Her　name　is　Miss　ReedEthel　Reed。〃

MISS　REED：　　〃How　CAN　he？〃

GRINNIDGE：　　〃Slender；　willowy　party；　with　a　lot　of　blond　hair　that
looks　as　if　it　might　be　indigenous？　　Rather　pensive…looking？〃

MISS　REED：　　〃Indigenous！　　I　should　hope　so！〃

RANSOM：　　〃Yes。　　But　she　isn't　pensive。　　She's　awfully　deep。　　It　makes
me　shudder　to　think　how　deep　that　girl　is。　　And　when　I　think　of　my
courage　in　daring　to　be　in　love　with　hera　stupid；　straightforward
idiot　like　meI　begin　to　respect　myself　in　spite　of　being　such　an
ass。　　Well；　I'm　off。　　If　I　stay　any　longer　I　shall　never　go。〃　　He
closes　the　door　after　him；　and　Miss　Reed　instantly　springs　to　her
feet。

MISS　REED：　　〃Now　he'll　have　to　go　down　to　the　parlor　and　send　up　his
name；　and　that　just　gives　me　time　to　do　the　necessary　prinking。　　You
stay　here　and　receive　him；　Nettie。〃

MISS　SPAULDING：　　〃Never！　　After　what's　happened　I　can　never　look　him
in　the　face　again。　　Oh；　how　low；　and　mean；　and　guilty　I　feel！〃

MISS　REED；　with　surprise：　　〃Why；　how　droll！　　Now　_I_　don't　feel　the
least　so。〃

MISS　SPAULDING：　　〃Oh；　it's　very　different　with　YOU。　　YOU'RE　in　love
with　him。〃

MISS　REED：　　〃For　shame；　Nettie！　　I'm　NOT　in　love　with　him。〃

MISS　SPAULDING：　　〃And　you　can　explain　and　justify　it。　　But　I　never
can　justify　it　to　myself；　much　less　to　him。　　Let　me　go；　Ethel！　　I
shall　tell　Mrs。　McKnight　that　we　must　change　this　room　instantly。
And　just　after　I'd　got　it　so　nearly　in　order！　　Go　down　and　receive
him　in　the　parlor；　Ethel。　　I　CAN'T　see　him。〃

MISS　REED：　　〃Receive　him　in　the　parlor！　　Why；　Nettie；　dear；　you're
crazy！　　I'm　going　to　ACCEPT　him：　　and　how　can　I　accept　himwith　all
the　consequencesin　a　public　parlor？　　No；　indeed！　　If　you　won't　meet
him　here　for　a　moment；　just　to　oblige　me；　you　can　go　into　the　other
room。　　Or；　noyou'd　be　listening　to　every　word　through　the　key…hole；
you're　so　demoralized！〃

MISS　SPAULDING：　　〃Yes；　yes；　I　deserve　your　contempt；　Ethel。〃

MISS　REED；　laughing：　　〃You　will　have　to　go　out　for　a　walk；　you　poor
thing；　and　I'm　not　going　to　have　you　coming　back　in　five　or　ten
minutes。　　You　have　got　to　stay　out　a　good　hour。〃

MISS　SPAULDING；　running　to　get　her　things　from　the　next　room：　　〃Oh；
I'll　stay　out　till　midnight！〃

MISS　REED；　responding　to　a　tap　at　the　door：　　〃Ye…e…s！　　Come　in！
You're　caught；　Nettie。〃

A　MAID…SERVANT；　appearing　with　a　card：　　〃This　gentleman　is　asking　for
you　in　the　parlor；　Miss　Reed。〃

MISS　REED：　　〃Oh！　　Ask　him　to　come　up　here；　please。Nettie！　　Nettie！〃
She　calls　to　her　friend　in　the　next　room。　　〃He's　coming　right　up；　and
if　you　don't　run　you're　trapped。〃

MISS　SPAULDING；　re…appearing；　cloaked　and　bonneted：　　〃I　don't　blame
YOU；　Ethel；　comparatively　speaking。　　You　can　say　that　everything　is
fair　in　love。　　He　will　like　it；　and　laugh　at　it　in　you；　because　he'll
like　everything　you've　done。　　Besides；　you've　no　principles；　and　I
HAVE。〃

MISS　REED：　　〃Oh；　I've　lots　of　principles；　Nettie；　but　I've　no
practice！〃

MISS　SPAULDING：　　〃No　matter。　　There's　no　excuse　for　me。　　I　listened
simply　because　I　was　a　woman；　and　couldn't　help　it；　and；　oh；　what
will　he　think　of　me？〃

MISS　REED：　　〃I　won't　give　you　away；　if　you　really　feel　so　badly〃　…

MISS　SPAULDING：　　〃Oh；　DO　you　think　you　can　keep　from　telling　him；
Ethel　dear？　　Try！　　And　I　will　be　your　slave　forever！〃　　Steps　are
heard　on　the　stairs　outside。　　〃Oh；　there　he　comes！〃　　She　dashes　out
of　the　door；　and　closes　it　after　her；　a　moment　before　the　maid…
servant；　followed　by　Mr。　Ransom；　taps　at　it。



III。



SCENE：　　Miss　Reed　opens　the　door；　and　receives　Mr。　Ransom　with　well…
affected　surprise　and　state；　suffering　him　to　stand　awkwardly　on　the
threshold　for　a　moment。


SHE；　coldly：　　〃Oh！Mr。　Ransom！〃

HE；　abruptly：　　〃I've　come〃　…

SHE：　　〃Won't　you　come　in？〃

HE；　advancing　a　few　paces　into　the　room：　　〃I've　come〃　…

SHE；　indicating　a　chair：　　〃Will　you　sit　down？〃

HE：　　〃I　must　stand　for　the　present。　　I've　come　to　ask　you　for　that
money；　Miss　Reed；　which　I　refused　yesterday；　in　terms　that　I　blush　to
think　of。　　I　was　altogether　and　wholly　in　the　wrong；　and　I'm　ready　to
offer　any　imaginable　apology　or　reparation。　　I'm　ready　to　take　the
money　and　to　sign　a　receipt；　and　then　to　be　dismissed　with　whatever
ignominy　you　please。　　I　deserve　anythingeverything！〃

SHE：　　〃The　money？　　Excuse　me；　I　don't　knowI'm　afraid　that　I'm　not
prepared　to