ragged lady, v2-第11部分

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his　walk；　and　allowed　an　impressive　silence　to　ensue　upon　his　words。

〃Time　passed：　days；　months；　years；　and　he　did　not　see　her　again。　　He
pursued　his　studies　in　the　university；　at　their　completion；　he　entered
upon　the　course　of　divinity；　and　he　is　soon　to　be　a　minister　of　his
church。　　In　all　that　time　the　image　of　the　young　girl　has　remained　in　his
heart；　and　has　held　him　true　to　the　only　love　he　has　ever　known。　　He　will
know　no　other　while　he　lives。〃

Again　he　stopped　in　front　of　Clementina；　she　looked　helplessly　up　at　him；
and　he　resumed　his　walk。

〃He；　with　his　dreams　of　renunciation；　of　abnegation；　had　thought　some　day
to　return　to　her　and　ask　her　to　be　his。　　He　believed　her　capable　of　equal
sacrifice　with　himself；　and　he　hoped　to　win　her　not　for　himself　alone；
but　for　the　religion　which　he　put　before　himself。　　He　would　have　invited
her　to　join　her　fate　with　his　that　they　might　go　together　on　some　mission
to　the　paganin　the　South　Seas；　in　the　heart　of　Africa；　in　the　jungle　of
India。　　He　had　always　thought　of　her　as　gay　but　good；　unworldly　in　soul；
and　exalted　in　spirit。　　She　has　remained　with　him　a　vision　of　angelic
loveliness；　as　he　had　seen　her　last　in　the　moonlight；　on　the　banks　of　a
mountain　torrent。　　But　he　believes　that　he　has　disgraced　himself　before
her；　that　the　very　scruple　for　her　youth；　her　ignorance；　which　made　him
entreat　her　to　forget　him；　must　have　made　her　doubt　and　despise　him。　　He
has　never　had　the　courage　to　write　to　her　one　word　since　all　those　years；
but　he　maintains　himself　bound　to　her　forever。〃　　He　stopped　short　before
Clementina　and　seized　her　hands。　　〃If　you　knew　such　a　girl；　what　would
you　have　her　do？　　Should　she　bid　him　hope　again？　　Would　you　have　her　say
to　him　that　she；　too；　had　been　faithful　to　their　dream；　and　that　she
too〃

〃Let　me　go；　Mr。　Belsky；　let　me　go；　I　say！〃　Clementina　wrenched　her　hands
from　him；　and　ran　out　of　the　room。　　Belsky　hesitated；　then　he　found　his
hat；　and　after　a　glance　at　his　face　in　the　mirror；　left　the　house。




XXIV。

The　tide　of　travel　began　to　set　northward　in　April。　　Many　English；　many
Americans　appeared　in　Florence　from　Naples　and　Rome；　many　who　had
wintered　in　Florence　went　on　to　Venice　and　the　towns　of　northern　Italy；
on　their　way　to　Switzerland　and　France　and　Germany。

The　spring　was　cold　and　rainy；　and　the　irresolute　Italian　railroads　were
interrupted　by　the　floods。　　A　tawny　deluge　rolled　down　from　the　mountains
through　the　bed　of　the　Arno；　and　kept　the　Florentine　fire…department　on
the　alert　night　and　day。　　〃It　is　a　curious　thing　about　this　country；〃
said　Mr。　Hinkle；　encountering　Baron　Belsky　on　the　Ponte　Trinita；　〃that
the　only　thing　they　ever　have　here　for　a　fire　company　to　put　out　is　a
freshet。　　If　they　had　a　real　conflagration　once；　I　reckon　they　would　want
to　bring　their　life…preservers。〃

The　Russian　was　looking　down　over　the　parapet　at　the　boiling　river。　　He
lifted　his　head　as　if　he　had　not　heard　the　American；　and　stared　at　him　a
moment　before　he　spoke。　　It　is　said　that　the　railway　to　Rome　is　broken　at
Grossetto。〃

〃Well；　I'm　not　going　to　Rome；〃　said　Hinkle；　easily。　　〃Are　you？〃

〃I　was　to　meet　a　friend　there；　but　he　wrote　to　me　that　be　was　starting　to
Florence；　and　now〃

〃He's　resting　on　the　way？　　Well；　he'll　get　here　about　as　quick　as　he
would　in　the　ordinary　course　of　travel。　　One　good　thing　about　Italy　is；
you　don't　want　to　hurry；　if　you　did；　you'd　get　left。〃

Belsky　stared　at　him　in　the　stupefaction　to　which　the　American　humor
commonly　reduced　him。　　〃If　he　gets　left　on　the　Grossetto　line；　he　can　go
back　and　come　up　by　Orvieto；　no？〃

〃He　can；　if　he　isn't　in　a　hurry；〃　Hinkle　assented。

〃It's　a　good　way；　if　you've　got　time　to　burn。〃

Belsky　did　not　attempt　to　explore　the　American's　meaning。　　〃Do　you　know；〃
he　asked；　〃whether　Mrs。　Lander　and　her　young　friend　are　still　in
Florence？

〃I　guess　they　are。〃

〃It　was　said　they　were　going　to　Venice　for　the　summer。〃

〃That's　what　the　doctor　advised　for　the　old　lady。　　But　they　don't　start
for　a　week　or　two　yet。〃

〃Oh！〃

〃Are　you　going　to　Miss　Milray's；　Sunday　night？　　Last　of　the　season；　I
believe。〃

Belsky　seemed　to　recall　himself　from　a　distance。

〃Nono；〃　he　said；　and　he　moved　away；　forgetful　of　the　ceremonious
salutation　which　he　commonly　used　at　meeting　and　parting。　　Hinkle　looked
after　him　with　the　impression　people　have　of　a　difference　in　the
appearance　and　behavior　of　some　one　whose　appearance　and　behavior　do　not
particularly　concern　them。

The　day　that　followed；　Belsky　haunted　the　hotel　where　Gregory　was　to
arrive　with　his　pupil；　and　where　the　pupil's　family　were　waiting　for
them。　　That　night；　long　after　their　belated　train　was　due；　they　came；　the
pupil　was　with　his　father　and　mother；　and　Gregory　was　alone；　when　Belsky
asked　for　him；　the　fourth　or　fifth　time。

〃You　are　not　well；〃　he　said；　as　they　shook　bands。　　You　are　fevered！〃

〃I'm　tired；〃　said　Gregory。　　〃We've　bad　a　bad　time　getting　through。〃

〃I　come　inconveniently！　　You　have　not　dined；　perhaps？〃

〃Yes；　Yes。　　I've　had　dinner。　　Sit　down。　　How　have　you　been　yourself？〃

〃Oh；　always　well。〃　　Belsky　sat　down；　and　the　friends　stared　at　each
other。　　〃I　have　strange　news　for　you。〃

〃For　me？〃

〃You。　　She　is　here。〃

〃She？〃

Yes。　　The　young　girl　of　whom　you　told　me。　　If　I　had　not　forbidden　myself
by　my　loyalty　to　youif　I　had　not　said　to　myself　every　moment　in　her
presence；　'No；　it　is　for　your　friend　alone　that　she　is　beautiful　and
good！'But　you　will　have　nothing　to　reproach　me　in　that　regard。〃

〃What　do　you　mean？〃　demanded　Gregory。

〃I　mean　that　Miss　Claxon　is　in　Florence；　with　her　protectress；　the　rich
Mrs。　Lander。　　The　most　admired　young　lady　in　society；　going　everywhere；
and　everywhere　courted　and　welcomed；　the　favorite　of　the　fashionable　Miss
Milray。　　But　why　should　this　surprise　you？〃

〃You　said　nothing　about　it　in　your　letters。　　You〃

〃I　was　not　sure　it　was　she；　you　never　told　me　her　name。　　When　I　had
divined　the　fact；　I　was　so　soon　to　see　you；　that　I　thought　best　to　keep
it　till　we　met。〃

Gregory　tried　to　speak；　but　he　let　Belsky　go　on。

〃If　you　think　that　the　world　has　spoiled　her；　that　she　will　be　different
from　what　she　was　in　her　home　among　your　mountains；　let　me　reassure　you。
In　her　you　will　find　the　miracle　of　a　woman　whom　no　flattery　can　turn　the
head。　　I　have　watched　her　in　your　interest；　I　have　tested　her。　　She　is
what　you　saw　her　last。〃

〃Surely；〃　asked　Gregory；　in　an　anguish　for　what　he　now　dreaded；　〃you
haven't　spoken　to　her　of　me？〃

〃Not　by　name；　no。　　I　could　not　have　that　indiscretion〃

〃The　name　is　nothing。　　Have　you　said　that　you　knew　me　Of　course　not！
But　have　you　hinted　at　any　knowledge　Because〃

〃You　will　hear！〃　said　Belsky；　and　he　poured　out　upon　Gregory　the　story　of
what　he　had　done。　　〃She　did　not　deny　anything。　　She　was　greatly　moved；
but　she　did　not　refuse　to　let　me　bid　you　hope〃

〃Oh！〃　　Gregory　took　his　head　between　his　hands。　　〃You　have　spoiled　my
life！〃

〃Spoiled〃　Belsky　stopped　aghast。

〃I　told　you　my　story　in　a　moment　of　despicable　weaknessof　impulsive
folly。　　But　how　could　I　dream　that　you　would　ever　meet　her？　　How　could　I
imagine　that　you　would　speak　to　her　as　you　have　done？〃　　He　groaned；　and
began　to　creep　giddily　about　the　room　in　his　misery。　　〃Oh；　oh；　oh！
What　shall　I　do？〃

〃But　I　do　not　understand！〃　Belsky　began。　　〃If　I　have　committed　an　error〃

〃Oh；　an　error　that　never　could　be　put　right　in　all　eternity！〃

〃Then　let　me　go　to　herlet　me　tell　her〃

〃Keep　away　from　her！〃　shouted　Gregory。　　〃Do　you　hear？　　Never　go　near　her
again！〃

〃Gregory！〃

〃Ah；　I　beg　your　pardon！　　I　don't　know　what　I'm　doing…saying。　　What　will
she　thinkwhat　will　she　think　of　me！〃　　He　had　ceased　to　speak　to　Belsky；
he　collapsed　into　a　chair；　and　hid　his　face　in　his　arms　stretched　out　on
the　table　before　him。

Belsky　watched　him　in　the　stupefaction　which　the　artistic　nature　feels
when　life　proves　sentient　under　its　hand；　and　not　the　mere　material　of
situations　and　effects。　　He　could　not　conceive　the　full　measure　of　the
disaster　he　had　wrought；　the　outrage　of　his　own　behavior　had　been　lost　to
him　in　his　preoccupation　with　the　romantic　end　to　be　accomplished。　　He
had　meant　to　be　the　friend；　the　prophet；　to　these　American　lovers；　whom
he　was　reconciling　and　interpreting　to　each　other；　but　in　some　point　he
must　have　misunderstood。　　Yet　the　error　was　not　inexpiable；　and　in　his
expiation　he　could　put　the　seal　to　his　devotion。　　He　left　the　room；　where
Gregory　made　no　effort　to　keep　him。

He　walked　down　the　street　from　the　hotel　to　the　Arno；　and　in　a　few
moments　he　stood　on　the　bridge；　where　he　had　talked　with　that　joker　in
the　morning；　as　they　looked　down　together　on　the　boiling　river。　　He　had　a
strange　wish　that　the　joker　might　have　been　with　him　again；　to　learn　that
there　were　some　things　which　could　not　be　joked　away。

The　night　was　blustering；　and　the　wind　that　blew　the　ragged　clouds　across
the　face　of　the　moon；　swooped　in　sudden　gusts　upon　the　bridge；　and　the
deluge　rolling　under　it　and　hoarsely　washing　against　its　piers。　　Belsky
leaned　over　the　parapet　and　looked　down　into　the　eddies　and　currents　as
the　fitful　light　revealed　them。　　He　had　a　fantastic　pleasure　in　studying
them；　and　choosing　the　moment　when　he　should　leap　the　parapet　and　be　lost
in　them。　　The　incident　could　not　be　used　in　any　novel　of　his；　and　no　one
else　could　do　such　perfect　justice　to　the　situation；　but　perhaps
afterwards；　when　the　facts　leading　to　his　death　should　be　known　through
the　remorse　of　the　lovers　whom　he　had　sought　to　serve；　some　other　artist…
nature　could　distil　their　subtlest　meaning　in　a　memoir　delicate　as　the
aroma　of　a　faded　flower。

He　was　willing　to　make　this　sacrifice；　too；　and　he　stepped　back　a　pace
from　the　parapet　when　the　fitful　blast　caught　his　hat　from　his　head；　and
whirled　it　along　the　bridge。　　The　whole　current　of　his　purpose　changed；
and　as　if　it　had　been　impossible　to　drown　himself　in　his　bare　head；　he
set　out　in　chase　of　his　hat；　which　rolled　and　gamboled　away；　and　escaped
from　his　clutch　whenever　he　stooped　for　it；　till　a　final　whiff　of　wind
flung　it　up　and　tossed　it　over　the　bridge　into　the　river；　where　he
helplessly　watched　it　floating　down　the　flood