the dwelling place of ligh-第30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　oven　and　took　off　the　lids。

〃I'm　afraid　I　don't　know　much　about　stoves；〃　she　told　him。　　〃But　I'll
trust　your　judgment。　　How　much　is　it？〃　she　inquired　hesitatingly。

He　ran　his　hand　through　his　corkscrewed　hair；　his　familiar　gesture。

〃Well；　I'm　willing　to　let　ye　have　it　for　twenty…five　dollars。　　If　that's
too　muchmebbe　we　can　find　another。〃

〃Can　you　put　it　in　to…morrow　morning？〃　she　asked。

〃I　can　that；〃　he　said。　　She　drew　out　her　purse。　　〃Ye　needn't　be　paying
for　it　all　at　once；〃　he　protested；　laying　a　hand　on　her　arm。　　〃You　won't
be　running　away。〃

〃Oh；　I'd　ratherI　have　the　money；〃　she　declared　hurriedly；　and　she
turned　her　back　that　he　might　not　perceive；　when　she　had　extracted　the
bills；　how　little　was　left　in　her　purse。

〃I'll　wager　ye　won't　be　wanting　another　soon；〃　he　said；　as　he　escorted
her　to　the　door。　　And　he　held　it　open；　politely；　looking　after　her；　until
she　had　crossed　the　street；　calling　out　a　cheerful　〃Goodnight〃　that　had
in　it　something　of　a　benediction。　　She　avoided　the　dining…room　and　went
straight　to　bed；　in　a　strange　medley　of　feelings。　　The　self…sacrifice　had
brought　a　certain　self…satisfaction　not　wholly　unpleasant。　　She　had　been
equal　to　the　situation；　and　a　part　of　her　being　approved　of　this；a　part
which　had　been　suppressed　in　another　mood　wherein　she　had　become
convinced　that　self…realization　lay　elsewhere。　　Life　was　indeed　a
bewildering　thing。。。。

The　next　morning；　at　breakfast；　though　her　mother's　complaints　continued；
Janet　was　silent　as　to　her　purchase；　and　she　lingered　on　her　return　home
in　the　evening　because　she　now　felt　a　reluctance　to　appear　in　the　role　of
protector　and　preserver　of　the　family。　　She　would　have　preferred；　if
possible；　to　give　the　stove　anonymously。　　Not　that　the　expression　of
Hannah's　gratitude　was　maudlin；　she　glared　at　Janet　when　she　entered　the
dining…room　and　exclaimed：　〃You　hadn't　ought　to　have　gone　and　done　it！〃

And　Janet　retorted；　with　almost　equal　vehemence：

〃Somebody　had　to　do　itdidn't　they？　　Who　else　was　there？〃

〃It's　a　shame　for　you　to　spend　your　money　on　such　things。　　You'd　ought　to
save　it　you'll　need　it；〃　Hannah　continued　illogically。

〃It's　lucky　I　had　the　money；〃　said　Janet。

Both　Janet　and　Hannah　knew　that　these　recriminations；　from　the　other；
were　the　explosive　expressions　of　deep　feeling。　　Janet　knew　that　her
mother　was　profoundly　moved　by　her　sacrifice。　　She　herself　was　moved　by
Hannah's　plight；　but　tenderness　and　pity　were　complicated　by　a　renewed
sense　of　rebellion　against　an　existence　that　exacted　such　a　situation。

〃I　hope　the　stove's　all　right；　mother；〃　she　said。　　〃Mr。　Tiernan　seemed　to
think　it　was　a　good　one。〃

〃It's　a　different　thing；〃　declared　Hannah。　　〃I　was　just　wondering　this
evening；　before　you　came　in；　how　I　ever　made　out　to　cook　anything　on　the
other。　　Come　and　see　how　nice　it　looks。〃

Janet　followed　her　into　the　kitchen。　　As　they　stood　close　together　gazing
at　the　new　purchase　Janet　was　uncomfortably　aware　of　drops　that　ran　a
little　way　in　the　furrows　of　Hannah's　cheeks；　stopped；　and　ran　on　again。
She　seized　her　apron　and　clapped　it　to　her　face。

〃You　hadn't　ought　to　be　made　to　do　it！〃　she　sobbed。

And　Janet　was　suddenly　impelled　to　commit　an　act　rare　in　their
intercourse。　　She　kissed　her；　swiftly；　on　the　cheek；　and　fled　from　the
room。。。。

Supper　was　an　ordeal。　　Janet　did　not　relish　her　enthronement　as　a
heroine；　she　deplored　and　even　resented　her　mother's　attitude　toward　her
father；　which　puzzled　her；　for　the　studied　cruelty　of　it　seemed　to　belie
her　affection　for　him。　　Every　act　and　gesture　and　speech　of　Hannah's　took
on　the　complexion　of　an　invidious　reference　to　her　reliability　as
compared　with　Edward's　worthlessness　as　a　provider；　and　she　contrived　in
some　sort　to　make　the　meal　a　sacrament　in　commemoration　of　her　elder
daughter's　act。

〃I　guess　you　notice　the　difference　in　that　pork；〃　she　would　exclaim；　and
when　he　praised　it　and　attributed　its　excellence　to　Janet's　gift　Hannah
observed：　〃As　long　as　you　ain't　got　a　son；　you're　lucky　to　have　a
daughter　like　her！〃

Janet　squirmed。　　Her　father's　acceptance　of　his　comparative　worthlessness
was　so　abject　that　her　pity　was　transferred　to　him；　though　she　scorned
him；　as　on　former　occasions；　for　the　self…depreciation　that　made　him
powerless　before　her　mother's　reproaches。　　After　the　meal　was　over　he　sat
listlessly　on　the　sofa；　like　a　visitor　whose　presence　is　endured；
pathetically　refraining　from　that　occupation　in　which　his　soul　found
refreshment　and　peace；　the　compilation　of　the　Bumpus　genealogy。　　That
evening　the　papers　remained　under　the　lid　of　the　desk　in　the　corner；
untouched。

What　troubled　Janet　above　all；　however；　was　the　attitude　of　Lise；　who
also　came　in　for　her　share　of　implied　reproach。　　Of　late　Lise　had　become
an　increased　source　of　anxiety　to　Hannah；　who　was　unwisely　resolved　to
make　this　occasion　an　object　lesson。　　And　though　parental　tenderness　had
often　moved　her　to　excuse　and　defend　Lise　for　an　increasing　remissness　in
failing　to　contribute　to　the　household　expenses；　she　was　now　quite
relentless　in　her　efforts　to　wring　from　Lise　an　acknowledgment　of　the
nobility　of　her　sister's　act；　of　qualities　in　Janet　that　she；　Lise；　might
do　well　to　cultivate。　　Lise　was　equally　determined　to　withhold　any　such
acknowledgment；　in　her　face　grew　that　familiar　mutinous　look　that　Hannah
invariably　failed　to　recognize　as　a　danger　signal；　and　with　it　another
the　sophisticated　expression　of　one　who　knows　life　and　ridicules　the　lack
of　such　knowledge　in　others。　　Its　implication　was　made　certain　when　the
two　girls　were　alone　in　their　bedroom　after　supper。　　Lise；　feverishly
occupied　with　her　toilet；　on　her　departure　broke　the　silence　there　by
inquiring：

〃Say；　if　I　had　your　easy　money；　I　might　buy　a　stove；　too。　　How　much　does
Ditmar　give　you；　sweetheart？〃

Janet；　infuriated；　flew　at　her　sister。　　Lise　struggled　to　escape。

〃Leave　me　go〃　she　whimpered　in　genuine　alarm；　and　when　at　length　she　was
released　she　went　to　the　mirror　and　began　straightening　her　hat；　which
had　flopped　to　one　side　of　her　head。　　〃I　didn't　mean　nothin'；　I　was　only
kiddie'　youwhat's　the　use　of　gettin'　nutty　over　a　jest？〃

〃I'm　not　like…you；〃　said　Janet。

〃I　was　only　kiddin'；　I　tell　you；〃　insisted　Lise；　with　a　hat　pin　in　her
mouth。　　〃Forget　it。〃

When　Lise　had　gone　out　Janet　sat　down　in　the　rocking…chair　and　began　to
rock　agitatedly。　　What　had　really　made　her　angry；　she　began　to　perceive；
was　the　realization　of　a　certain　amount　of　truth　in　her　sister's
intimation　concerning　Ditmar。　　Why　should　she　have；　in　Lise；　continually
before　her　eyes　a　degraded　caricature　of　her　own　aspirations　and　ideals？
or　was　Lise　a　mirrorsomewhat　tarnished；　indeedin　which　she　read　the
truth　about　herself？　　For　some　time　Janet　had　more　than　suspected　that
her　sister　possessed　a　new　lovera　lover　whom　she　refrained　from
discussing；　an　ominous　sign；　since　it　had　been　her　habit　to　dangle　her
conquests　before　Janet's　eyes；　to　discuss　their　merits　and　demerits　with
an　engaging　though　cynical　freedom。　　Although　the　existence　of　this
gentleman　was　based　on　evidence　purely　circumstantial；　Janet　was　inclined
to　believe　him　of　a　type　wholly　different　from　his　predecessors；　and　the
fact　that　his　attentions　were　curiously　intermittent　and　irregular
inclined　her　to　the　theory　that　he　was　not　a　resident　of　Hampton。　　What
was　he　like？　　It　revolted　her　to　reflect　that　he　might　in　some　ways
possibly　resemble　Ditmar。　　Thus　he　became　the　object　of　a　morbid
speculation；　especially　at　such　times　as　this；　when　Lise　attired　herself
in　her　new　winter　finery　and　went　forth　to　meet　him。　　Janet；　also；　had
recently　been　self…convicted　of　sharing　with　Lise　the　same　questionable
tendency　toward　self…adornment　to　please　the　eye　of　man。　　The　very　next
Saturday　night　after　she　had　indulged　in　that　mad　extravagance　of　the
blue　suit；　Lise　had　brought　home　from　the　window　of　The　Paris　in　Faber
Street　a　hat　that　had　excited　the　cupidity　and　admiration　of　Miss　Schuler
and　herself；　and　in　front　of　which　they　had　stood　languishing　on　three
successive　evenings。　　In　its　acquisition　Lise　had　expended　almost　the
whole　of　a　week's　salary。　　Its　colour　was　purple；　on　three　sides　were
massed　drooping　lilac　feathers；　but　over　the　left　ear　the　wide　brim　was
caught　up　and　held　by　a　crescent　of　brilliant　paste　stones。　　Shortly
after　this　purchasethe　next　week；　in　fact；The　Paris　had　alluringly
and　craftily　displayed；　for　the　tempting　sum　of　6。29；　the　very　cloak
ordained　by　providence　to　〃go〃　with　the　hat。　　Miss　Schuler　declared　it
would　be　a　crime　to　fail　to　take　advantage　of　such　an　opportunity　but　the
trouble　was　that　Lise　had　had　to　wait　for　two　more　pay…days　and　endure
the　suspense　arising　from　the　possibility　that　some　young　lady　of　taste
and　means　might　meanwhile　become　its　happy　proprietor。　　Had　not　the
saleslady　been　obdurate；　Lise　would　have　had　it　on　credit；　but　she　did
succeed；　by　an　initial　payment　the　ensuing　Saturday；　in　having　it
withdrawn　from　public　gaze。　　The　second　Saturday　Lise　triumphantly
brought　the　cloak　home；　a　velvet　cloak；if　the　eyes　could　be　believed；
velvet　bordering　on　plush；　with　a　dark　purple　ground　delicately　and
artistically　spotted　with　a　lilac　to　match　the　hat　feathers；　and　edged
with　a　material　whichif　not　too　impudently　examined　and　no　questions
askedmight　be　mistaken；　by　the　uninitiated　male；　for　the　fur　of　a　white
fox。　　Both　investments　had　been　made；　needless　to　say；　on　the　strength　of
Janet's　increased　salary；　and　Lise；　when　Janet　had　surprised　her　before
the　bureau　rapturously　surveying　the　combination；　justified　herself　with
a　defiant　apology。

〃I　just　had　to　have　somethingwhat　with　winter　coming　on；〃　she　declared；
seizing　the　hand　mirror　in　order　to　view　the　back。　　〃You　might　as　well
get　your　clothes　chick；　while　you're　about　itand　I　didn't　have　to　dig
up　twenty　bones；　neithernor　anything　like　it〃　a　reflection　on　Janet's
moest　blue　suit　and　her　abnormal　extravagance。　　For　it　was　Lise's　habit
to　carry　the　war　into　the　enemy's　country。　　〃Sadie's　dippy　about　itsays
it　puts　her　in　mind　of　one　of　the　swells　snapshotted　in　last　Sunday's
supplement。　　Well；　dearie；　how　does　the　effect　get　you？〃　a