the red cross girl-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！


understand　the　ministering　angel　part　of　it；　but　youI'm　not
talking　about　anybody　else；　I'm　talking　about　youyou　are
too　young！　Somehow　you　are　different；　you　are　not　meant　to
wear　yourself　out　fighting　disease　and　sickness；　measuring
beef　broth　and　making　beds。〃

Sister　Anne　laughed　with　delight。

〃I　beg　your　pardon；〃　said　Sam　stiffly。

〃Nopardon　me；〃　said　Sister　Anne；　〃but　your　ideas　of　the
duties　of　a　nurse　are　so　quaint。〃

〃No　matter　what　the　duties　are；〃　declared　Sam；　〃You　should
not　be　here！〃

Sister　Anne　shrugged　her　shoulders；　they　were　charming
shouldersas　delicate　as　the　pinions　of　a　bird。

〃One　must　live；〃　said　Sister　Anne。

They　had　passed　through　the　last　cold　corridor；　between　the
last　rows　of　rigid　white　cots；　and　had　come　out　into　the
sunshine。　Below　them　stretched　Connecticut；　painted　in　autumn
colors。　Sister　Anne　seated　herself　upon　the　marble　railing　of
the　terrace　and　looked　down　upon　the　flashing　waters　of　the
Sound。

〃Yes；　that's　it；〃　she　repeated　softly〃one　must　live。〃

Sam　looked　at　herbut；　finding　that　to　do　so　made　speech
difficult；　looked　hurriedly　away。　He　admitted　to　himself　that
it　was　one　of　those　occasions；　only　too　frequent　with　him；
when　his　indignant　sympathy　was　heightened　by　the　fact　that
〃the　woman。　was　very　fair。〃　He　conceded　that。　He　was　not
going　to　pretend　to　himself　that　he　was　not　prejudiced　by　the
outrageous　beauty　of　Sister　Anne；　by　the　assault　upon　his
feelings　made　by　her　uniformmade　by　the　appeal　of　her
profession；　the　gentlest　and　most　gracious　of　all
professions。　He　was　honestly　disturbed　that　this　young　girl
should　devote　her　life　to　the　service　of　selfish　sick　people。

〃If　you　do　it　because　you　must　live；　then　it　can　easily　be
arranged；　for　there　are　other　ways　of　earning　a　living。〃

The　girl　looked　at　him　quickly；　but　he　was　quite　sincereand
again　she　smiled。

〃Now　what　would　you　suggest？〃　she　asked。　〃You　see；〃　she　said；
〃I　have　no　one　to　advise　meno　man　of　my　own　age。　I　have　no
brothers　to　go　to。　I　have　a　father；　but　it　was　his　idea　that
I　should　come　here；　and　so　I　doubt　if　he　would　approve　of　my
changing　to　any　other　work。　Your　own　work　must　make　you
acquainted　with　many　women　who　earn　their　own　living。　Maybe
you　could　advise　me？〃

Sam　did　not　at　once　answer。　He　was　calculating　hastily　how
far　his　salary　would　go　toward　supporting　a　wife。　He　was
trying　to　remember　which　of　the　men　in　the　office　were
married；　and　whether　they　were　those　whose　salaries　were
smaller　than　his　own。　Collins；　one　of　the　copy　editors；　he
knew；　was　very　ill…paid；　but　Sam　also　knew　that　Collins　was
married；　because　his　wife　used　to　wait　for　him　in　the　office
to　take　her　to　the　theatre；　and　often　Sam　had　thought　she　was
extremely　well　dressed。　Of　course　Sister　Anne　was　so
beautiful　that　what　she　might　wear　would　be　a　matter　of
indifference；　but　then　women　did　not　always　look　at　it　that
way。　Sam　was　so　long　considering　offering　Sister　Anne　a　life
position　that　his　silence　had　become　significant；　and　to
cover　his　real　thoughts　he　said　hurriedly：

〃Take　type…writing；　for　instance。　That　pays　very　well。　The
hours　are　not　difficult。〃

〃And　manicuring？〃　suggested　Sister　Anne。

Sam　exclaimed　in　horror。

〃You！〃　he　cried　roughly。　〃For　you！　Quite　impossible！〃

〃Why　for　me？〃　said　the　girl。

In　the　distress　at　the　thought　Sam　was　jabbing　his　stick　into
the　gravel　walk　as　though　driving　the　manicuring　idea　into　a
deep　grave。　He　did　not　see　that　the　girl　was　smiling　at　him
mockingly。

〃You？〃　protested　Sam。　〃You　in　a　barber's　shop　washing　men's
fingers　who　are　not　fit　to　wash　the　streets　you　walk　on　I
Good　Lord！〃　His　vehemence　was　quite　honest。　The　girl　ceased
smiling。　Sam　was　still　jabbing　at　the　gravel　walk；　his
profile　toward　herand；　unobserved；　she　could　study　his
face。　It　was　an　attractive　face　strong；　clever；　almost
illegally　good…looking。　It　explained　why；　as　；　he　had
complained　to　the　city　editor；　his　chief　trouble　in　New　York
was　with　the　women。　With　his　eyes　full　of　concern；　Sam　turned
to　her　abruptly。　〃How　much　do　they　give　you　a　month？〃　〃Forty
dollars；〃　answered　Sister　Anne。　〃This　is　what　hurts　me　about
it；〃　said　Sam。

It　is　that　you　should　have　to　work　and　wait　on　other　people
when　there　are　so　many　strong；　hulking　men　who　would　count　it
God's　blessing　to　work　for　you；　to　wait　on　you；　and　give
their　lives　for　you。　However；　probably　you　know　that　better
than　I　do。〃

〃No；　I　don't　know　that；〃　said　Sister　Anne。

Sam　recognized　that　it　was　quite　absurd　that　it　should　be　so；
but　this　statement　gave　him　a　sense　of　great　elation；　a
delightful　thrill　of　relief。　There　was　every　reason　why　the
girl　should　not　confide　in　a　complete　strangereven　to
deceive　him　was　quite　within　her　rights；　but；　though　Sam
appreciated　this；　he　preferred　to　be　deceived。

〃I　think　you　are　working　too　hard；〃　he　said；　smiling　happily。
〃I　think　you　ought　to　have　a　change。　You　ought　to　take　a　day
off！　Do　they　ever　give　you　a　day　off？〃

〃Next　Saturday；〃　said　Sister　Anne。　〃Why？〃

〃Because；〃　explained　Sam；　〃if　you　won't　think　it　too
presumptuous；　I　was　going　to　prescribe　a　day　off　for
youa　day　entirely　away　from　iodoform　and　white　enamelled
cots。　It　is　what　you　need；　a　day　in　the　city　and　a　lunch
where　they　have　music；　and　a　matinee；　where　you　can　laughor
cry；　if　you　like　that　betterand　then；　maybe；　some　fresh　air
in　the　park　in　a　taxi；　and　after　that　dinner　and　more
theatre；　and　then　I'll　see　you　safe　on　the　train　for
Greenwich。　Before　you　answer；〃　he　added　hurriedly；　〃I　want　to
explain　that　I　contemplate　taking　a　day　off　myself　and　doing
all　these　things　with　you；　and　that　if　you　want　to　bring　any
of　the　other　forty　nurses　along　as　a　chaperon；　I　hope　you
will。　Only；　honestly；　I　hope　you　won't！〃

The　proposal　apparently　gave　Sister　Anne　much　pleasure。　She
did　not　say　so；　but　her　eyes　shone　and　when　she　looked　at　Sam
she　was　almost　laughing　with　happiness。

〃I　think　that　would　be　quite　delightful；〃　said　Sister　Anne；〃
quite　delightful！　Only　it　would　be　frightfully　expensive；
even　if　I　don't　bring　another　girl；　which　I　certainly　would
not；　it　would　cost　a　great　deal　of　money。　I　think　we　might
cut　out　the　taxicaband　walk　in　the　park　and　feed　the
squirrels。〃

〃Oh！〃　exclaimed　Sam　in　disappointment；〃then　you　know
Central　Park？〃

Sister　Anne's　eyes　grew　quite　expressionless。

〃I　once　lived　near　there；〃　she　said。

〃In　Harlem？〃

〃Not　exactly　in　Harlem；　but　near　it。　I　was　quite　young；〃　said
Sister　Anne。　〃Since　then　I　have　always　lived　in　the　country
or　inother　places。〃

Sam's　heart　was　singing　with　pleasure。

〃It's　so　kind　of　you　to　consent；〃　he　cried。　〃Indeed；　you　are
the　kindest　person　in　all　the　world。　I　thought　so　when　I　saw
you　bending　over　these　sick　people；　and；　now　I　know。〃

〃It　is　you　who　are　kind；〃　protested　Sister　Anne；　〃to　take
pity　on　me。〃

〃Pity　on　you！〃　laughed　Sam。　〃You　can't　pity　a　person　who　can
do　more　with　a　smile　than　old　man　Flagg　can　do　with　all　his
millions。　Now；〃　he　demanded　in　happy　anticipation；〃　where　are
we　to　meet？〃

〃That's　it；〃　said　Sister　Anne。　〃Where　are　we　to　meet？〃

〃Let　it　be　at　the　Grand　Central　Station。　The　day　can't　begin
too　soon；〃　said　Sam；　〃and　before　then　telephone　me　what
theatre　and　restaurants　you　want　and　I'll　reserve　seats　and
tables。　Oh；〃　exclaimed　Sam　joyfully；　〃it　will　be　a　wonderful
daya　wonderful　day！〃

Sister　Anne　looked　at　him　curiously　and；　so；　it　seemed；　a
little　wistfully。　She　held　out　her　hand。

〃I　must　go　back　to　my　duties；〃　she　said。　〃Good…by。〃

〃Not　good…by；〃　said　Sam　heartily；　〃only　until　Saturdayand
my　name's　Sam　Ward　and　my　address　is　the　city　room　of　the
REPUBLIC。　What's　your　name？〃

〃Sister　Anne；〃　said　the　girl。　〃In　the　nursing　order　to　which
I　belong　we　have　no　last　names。〃

〃So；〃　asked　Sam；　〃I'll　call　you　Sister　Anne？〃

〃No；　just　Sister；〃　said　the　girl。

〃Sister！〃　repeated　Sam；　〃Sister！〃　He　breathed　the　word　rather
than　spoke　it；　and　the　way　he　said　it　and　the　way　he　looked
when　he　said　it　made　it　carry　almost　the　touch　of　a　caress。
It　was　as　if　he　had　said　〃Sweetheart！　or　〃Beloved！〃　〃I'll　not
forget；〃　said　Sam。

Sister　Anne　gave　an　impatient；　annoyed　laugh。

〃Nor　I；〃　she　said。

Sam　returned　to　New　York　in　the　smoking…car；　puffing
feverishly　at　his　cigar　and　glaring　dreamily　at　the　smoke。　He
was　living　the　day　over　again　and；　in　anticipation；　the　day
off；　still　to　come。　He　rehearsed　their　next　meeting　at　the
station；　he　considered　whether　or　not　he　would　meet　her　with
a　huge　bunch　of　violets　or　would　have　it　brought　to　her　when
they　were　at　luncheon　by　the　head　waiter。　He　decided　the
latter　way　would　be　more　of　a　pleasant　surprise。　He　planned
the　luncheon。　It　was　to　be　the　most　marvellous　repast　he
could　evolve；　and；　lest　there　should　be　the　slightest　error；
he　would　have　it　prepared　in　advanceand　it　should　cost　half
his　week's　salary。

The　place　where　they　were　to　dine　he　would　leave　to　her；
because　he　had　observed　that　women　had　strange　ideas　about
clothessome　of　them　thinking　that　certain　clothes　must　go
with　certain　restaurants。　Some　of　them　seemed　to　believe
that；　instead　of　their　conferring　distinction　upon　the
restaurant；　the　restaurant　conferred　distinction　upon　them。
He　was　sure　Sister　Anne　would　not　be　so　foolish；　but　it　might
be　that　she　must　always　wear　her　nurse's　uniform　and　that　she
would　prefer　not　to　be　conspicuous；　so　he　decided　that　the
choice　of　where　they　would　dine　he　would　leave　to　her。　He
calculated　that　the　whole　day　ought　to　cost　about　eighty
dollars；　which；　as　star　reporter；　was　what　he　was　then
earning　each　week。　That　was　little　enough　to　give　for　a　day
that　would　be　the　birthday　of　his　life！　No；　he　contradicted
the　day　he　had　first　met　her　must　always　be　the　birthday　of
his　life；　for　never　had　he　met　one　like　her　and　he　was　sure
there　never　would　be　one　like　her。　She　was　so　entirely
superior　to　all　the　others；　so　fine；　so　difficultin　her
manner　there　was　something　that　rendered　her
unapproachable。　Even　her　simple　nurse's　gown　was　worn　with　a
difference。　She　might　have　been　a　princess　in　fancy　dress。
And　yet；　how　humble　she　had　been　when　he　begged　her　to　let
him　for　one　day　personally　conduct　her　over　the　great　city！
〃You　are　so　kin