the register-第5部分

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ignominy　you　please。　　I　deserve　anythingeverything！〃

SHE：　　〃The　money？　　Excuse　me；　I　don't　knowI'm　afraid　that　I'm　not
prepared　to　pay　you　the　whole　sum　to…day。〃

HE；　hastily：　　〃Oh；　no　matter！　no　matter！　　I　don't　care　for　the　money
now。　　I　merely　wish　toto　assure　you　that　I　thought　you　were
perfectly　right　in　offering　it；　and　toto〃　…

SHE：　　〃What？〃

HE：　　〃Nothing。　　That　isahah〃　…

SHE：　　〃It's　extremely　embarrassing　to　have　people　refuse　their　money
when　it's　offered　them；　and　then　come　the　next　day　for　it；　when
perhaps　it　isn't　so　convenient　to　pay　itVERY　embarrassing。〃

HE；　hotly：　　〃But　I　tell　you　I　don't　want　the　MONEY！　　I　never　wanted
it；　and　wouldn't　take　it　on　any　account。〃

SHE：　　〃Oh！　　I　thought　you　said　you　came　to　get　it？〃

HE：　　〃I　saidI　didn't　sayI　meantthat　isahI〃He　stops；　open…
mouthed。

SHE；　quietly：　　〃I　could　give　you　part　of　the　money　now。〃

HE：　　〃Oh；　whatever　you　like；　it's　indifferent〃　…

SHE：　　〃Please　sit　down　while　I　write　a　receipt。〃　　She　places　herself
deliberately　at　the　table；　and　opens　her　portfolio。　　〃I　will　pay　you
now；　Mr。　Ransom；　for　the　first　six　lessons　you　gave　methe　ones
before　you　told　me　that　I　could　never　learn　to　do　anything。〃

HE；　sinking　mechanically　into　the　chair　she　indicates：　　〃Oh；　just　as
you　like！〃　　He　looks　up　at　the　ceiling　in　hopeless　bewilderment；
while　she　writes。

SHE；　blotting　the　paper：　　〃There！　　And　now　let　me　offer　you　a　little
piece　of　advice；　Mr。　Ransom；　which　may　be　useful　to　you　in　taking
pupils　hereafter。〃

HE；　bursting　out：　　〃I　never　take　pupils！〃

SHE：　　〃Never　take　pupils！　　I　don't　understand。　　You　took　ME。〃

HE；　confusedly：　　〃I　took　youyes。　　You　seemed　to　wishyou　seemed
the　case　was　peculiarpeculiar　circumstances。〃

SHE；　with　severity：　　〃May　I　ask　WHY　the　circumstances　were　peculiar？
I　saw　nothing　peculiar　about　the　circumstances。　　It　seemed　to　me　it
was　a　very　simple　matter。　　I　told　you　that　I　had　always　had　a　great
curiosity　to　see　whether　I　could　use　oil　paints；　and　I　asked　you　a
very　plain　question；　whether　you　would　let　me　study　with　you。　　Didn't
I？〃

HE：　　〃Yes。〃

SHE：　　〃Was　there　anything　wronganything　queer　about　my　asking　you？〃

HE：　　〃No；　no！　　Not　at　allnot　in　the　least。〃

SHE：　　〃Didn't　you　wish　me　to　take　the　lessons　of　you？　　If　you　didn't；
it　wasn't　kind　of　you　to　let　me。〃

HE：　　〃Oh；　I　was　perfectly　willingvery　glad　indeed；　very　much　so
certainly！〃

SHE：　　〃If　it　wasn't　your　CUSTOM　to　take　pupils；　you　ought　to　have
told　me；　and　I　wouldn't　have　forced　myself　upon　you。〃

HE；　desperately：　　〃It　wasn't　forcing　yourself　upon　me。　　The　Lord
knows　how　humbly　grateful　I　was。　　It　was　like　a　hope　of　heaven！〃

SHE：　　〃Really；　Mr。　Ransom；　this　is　very　strange　talk。　　What　am　I　to
understand　by　it？　　Why　should　you　be　grateful　to　teach　me？　　Why
should　giving　me　lessons　be　like　a　hope　of　heaven？〃

HE：　　〃Oh；　I　will　tell　you！〃

SHE：　　〃Well？〃

HE；　after　a　moment　of　agony：　　〃Because　to　be　with　you〃　…

SHE：　　〃Yes？〃

HE：　　〃Because　I　wished　to　be　with　you。　　Becausethose　days　in　the
woods；　when　you　read；　and　I〃　…

SHE：　　〃Painted　on　my　pictures〃　…

HE：　　〃Were　the　happiest　of　my　life。　　BecauseI　loved　you！〃

SHE：　　〃Mr。　Ransom！〃

HE：　　〃Yes；　I　must　tell　you　so。　　I　loved　you；　I　love　you　still。　　I
shall　always　love　you；　no　matter　what〃　…

SHE：　　〃You　forget　yourself；　Mr。　Ransom。　　Has　there　been　anything　in
my　mannerconductto　justify　you　in　using　such　language　to　me？〃

HE：　　〃Nono〃　…

SHE：　　〃Did　you　suppose　that　because　I　first　took　lessons　of　you　from…
…froman　enthusiasm　for　art；　and　then　continued　them　forfor
amusement；　that　I　wished　you　to　make　love　to　me？〃

HE：　　〃No；　I　never　supposed　such　a　thing。　　I'm　incapable　of　it。　　I
beseech　you　to　believe　that　no　one　could　have　more　respect
reverence〃He　twirls　his　hat　between　his　hands；　and　casts　an
imploring　glance　at　her。

SHE：　　〃Oh；　respectreverence！　　I　know　what　they　mean　in　the　mouths
of　men。　　If　you　respected；　if　you　reverenced　me；　could　you　dare　to
tell　me；　after　my　unguarded　trust　of　you　during　the　past　months；　that
you　had　been　all　the　time　secretly　in　love　with　me？〃

HE；　plucking　up　a　little　courage：　　〃I　don't　see　that　the　three　things
are　incompatible。〃

SHE：　　〃Oh；　then　you　acknowledge　that　you　did　presume　upon　something
you　thought　you　saw　in　me　to　tell　me　that　you　loved　me；　and　that　you
were　in　love　with　me　all　the　time？〃

HE；　contritely：　　〃I　have　no　right　to　suppose　that　you　encouraged　me；
and　yetI　can't　deny　it　nowI　was　in　love　with　you　all　the　time。〃

SHE：　　〃And　you　never　said　a　word　to　let　me　believe　that　you　had　any
such　feeling　toward　me！〃

HE：　　〃II〃　…

SHE：　　〃You　would　have　parted　from　me　without　a　syllable　to　suggest
itperhaps　parted　from　me　forever？〃　　After　a　pause　of　silent
humiliation　for　him：　　〃Do　you　call　that　brave　or　generous？　　Do　you
call　it　manlysupposing；　as　you　hoped；　that　_I_　had　any　such
feeling？〃

HE：　　〃No；　it　was　cowardly；　it　was　mean；　it　was　unmanly。　　I　see　it
now；　but　I　will　spend　my　life　in　repairing　the　wrong；　if　you　will
only　let　me。〃　　He　impetuously　advances　some　paces　toward　her；　and
then　stops；　arrested　by　her　irresponsive　attitude。

SHE；　with　a　light　sigh；　and　looking　down　at　the　paper；　which　she　has
continued　to　hold　between　her　hands：　　〃There　was　a　timea　moment
when　I　might　have　answered　as　you　wish。〃

HE：　　〃Oh！　then　there　will　be　again。　　If　you　have　changed　once；　you
may　change　once　more。　　Let　me　hope　that　some　timeany　time；　dearest〃
…

SHE；　quenching　him　with　a　look：　　〃Mr。　Ransom；　I　shall　NEVER　change
toward　you！　　You　confess　that　you　had　your　opportunity；　and　that　you
despised　it。〃

HE：　　〃Oh！　NOT　despised　it！〃

SHE：　　〃Neglected　it。〃

HE：　　〃Not　wilfullyno。　　I　confess　that　I　was　stupidly；　vilely；
pusillanpusillanillani〃　…

SHE：　　〃'Monsly〃　…

HE：　　〃Thanks'mously　unworthy　of　it；　but　I　didn't　despise　it；　I
didn't　neglect　it；　and　if　you　will　only　let　me　show　by　a　lifetime　of
devotion　how　dearly　and　truly　I　have　loved　you　from　the　first　moment
I　drove　that　cow　away〃　…

SHE：　　〃Mr。　Ransom；　I　have　told　you　that　I　should　never　change　toward
you。　　That　cow　was　nothing　when　weighed　in　the　balance　against　your
being　willing　to　leave　a　poor　girl；　whom　you　supposed　interested　in
you；　and　to　whom　you　had　paid　the　most　marked　attention；　without　a
word　to　show　her　that　you　cared　for　her。　　What　is　a　cow；　or　a　whole
herd　of　cows；　as　compared　with　obliging　a　young　lady　to　offer　you
money　that　you　hadn't　earned；　and　then　savagely　flinging　it　back　in
her　face？　　A　yoke　of　oxen　would　be　nothingor　a　mad　bull。〃

HE：　　〃Oh；　I　acknowledge　it！　　I　confess　it。〃

SHE：　　〃And　you　own　that　I　am　right　in　refusing　to　listen　to　you　now？〃

HE；　desolately：　　〃Yes；　yes。〃

SHE：　　〃It　seems　that　you　gave　me　lessons　in　order　to　be　with　me；　and
if　possible　to　interest　me　in　you；　and　then　you　were　going　away
without　a　word。〃

HE；　with　a　groan：　　〃It　was　only　because　I　was　afraid　to　speak。〃

SHE：　　〃Oh；　is　THAT　any　excuse？〃

HE：　　〃No；　none。〃

SHE：　　〃A　man　ought　always　to　have　courage。〃　　After　a　pause；　in　which
he　stands　before　her　with　bowed　head：　　〃Then　there's　nothing　for　me
but　to　give　you　this　money。〃

HE；　with　sudden　energy：　　〃This　is　too　much！　　I〃　…

SHE；　offering　him　the　bank…notes：　　〃No；　it　is　the　exact　sum。　　I
counted　it　very　carefully。〃

HE：　　〃I　won't　take　it；　I　can't！　　I'll　never　take　it！〃

SHE；　standing　with　the　money　in　her　outstretched　hand：　　〃I　have　your
word　as　a　gentleman　that　you　will　take　it。〃

HE；　gasping：　　〃Oh；　wellI　will　take　itI　will〃He　clutches　the
money；　and　rushes　toward　the　door。　　〃Good…evening；　ahgood…by〃　…

SHE；　calling　after　him：　　〃The　receipt；　Mr。　Ransom！　　Please　sign　this
receipt！〃　　She　waves　the　paper　in　the　air。

HE：　　〃Oh；　yes；　certainly！　　Where　is　itwhatwhich〃He　rushes　back
to　her；　and　seizing　the　receipt；　feels　blindly　about　for　the　pen　and
ink。　　〃Where　shall　I　sign？〃

SHE：　　〃Read　it　first。〃

HE：　　〃Oh；　it's　allall　right〃　…

SHE：　　〃I　insist　upon　your　reading　it。　　It's　a　business　transaction。
Read　it　aloud。〃

HE；　desperately：　　〃Well；　well！〃　　He　reads。　　〃'Received　from　Miss
Ethel　Reed；　in　full；　for　twenty…five　lessons　in　oil…painting；　one
hundred　and　twenty…five　dollars；　and　her　hand；　heart；　and　dearest
love　forever。'〃　　He　looks　up　at　her。　　〃Ethel！〃

SHE；　smiling：　　〃Sign　it；　sign　it！〃

HE；　catching　her　in　his　arms　and　kissing　her：　　〃Oh；　yesHERE！〃

SHE；　pulling　a　little　away　from　him；　and　laughing：　　〃Oh；　oh！　　I　only
wanted　ONE　signature！　　Twenty　autographs　are　too　many；　unless　you'll
let　me　trade　them　off；　as　the　collectors　do。〃

HE：　　〃No；　keep　them　all！　　I　couldn't　think　of　letting　any　one　else
have　them。　　One　more！〃

SHE：　　〃No；　it's　quite　enough！〃

SHE　frees　herself；　and　retires　beyond　the　table。　　〃This　unexpected
affection〃　…

HE：　　〃IS　it　unexpectedseriously？〃

SHE：　　〃What　do　you　mean？〃

HE：　　〃Oh；　nothing！〃

SHE：　　〃Yes；　tell　me！〃

HE：　　〃I　hopedI　thoughtperhapsthat　you　might　have　been　prepared
for　some　such　demonstration　on　my　part。〃

SHE：　　〃And　why　did　you　thinkhopeperhapsTHAT；　Mr。　Ransom；　may　I
ask？〃

HE：　　〃If　I　hadn't；　how　should　I　have　dared　to　speak？〃

SHE：　　〃Dared？　　You　were　obliged　to　speak！　　Well；　since　it's　all　over；
I　don't　mind　saying　that　I　DID　have　some　slight　apprehensions　that
something　in　the　way　of　a　declaration　might　be　extorted　from　you。〃

HE：　　〃Extorted？　　Oh！〃　　He　makes　an　impassioned　rush　toward　her。

SHE；　keeping　the　table　between　them：　　〃No；　no。〃

HE：　　〃Oh；　I　merely　wished　to　ask　why　you　chose　to　make　me　suffer　so；
after　I　had　come　to　the　point。〃

SHE：　　〃Ask　it　across　the　table；　then。〃　　After　a　moment's　reflection；
〃I　made　you　sufferI　made　you　sufferso　that　you　might　have　a
realizing　sense　of　what　you　had　made　ME　suffer。〃

HE；　enraptured　by　this　confession：　　〃Oh；　you　angel！〃

SHE；　with　tender　magnanimity：　　〃No；　only　a　womana　poor；　trusting；
foolish　woman！〃　　She　permits　him　to　surround　the　table；　with
imaginable　results。　　Then；　with　her　head　on　his　shoulder：　　〃You'll
NEVER　let　me　regret　it；　will　you；　darling？　　You'll　never　oblige　me　to
punish　you　again；　dearest；　will　you？　　Oh；　it　hurt　ME　far　worse　to　SEE
your　pain　than　it　did　you　totofeel　it！〃　　On　the　other　side　of　the
partition；　Mr。　Grinnidge's　pipe　falls　from　his　lips；　parted　in
slu