热爱生命-love of life(英文版)-第2部分

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laughed。〃Do　you　know　how　cold　it　actually　is？〃　the　doctor　demanded。The　other　shook　his　head。〃Well；　I'll　tell　you。　　Seventy…four　below　zero　by　spirit　thermometer　on　the　sled。〃〃That's　one　hundred　and　six　below　freezing　point　…　too　cold　for　travelling；　eh？〃〃Practically　suicide；〃　was　the　doctor's　verdict。　　〃One　exerts　himself。　　He　breathes　heavily；　taking　into　his　lungs　the　frost　itself。　　It　chills　his　lungs；　freezes　the　edges　of　the　tissues。　　He　gets　a　dry；　hacking　cough　as　the　dead　tissue　sloughs　away；　and　dies　the　following　summer　of　pneumonia；　wondering　what　it's　all　about。　　I'll　stay　in　this　cabin　for　a　week；　unless　the　thermometer　rises　at　least　to　fifty　below。〃〃I　say；　Tess；〃　he　said；　the　next　moment；　〃don't　you　think　that　coffee's　boiled　long　enough！〃At　the　sound　of　the　woman's　name；　John　Messner　became　suddenly　alert。　　He　looked　at　her　quickly；　while　across　his　face　shot　a　haunting　expression；　the　ghost　of　some　buried　misery　achieving　swift　resurrection。　　But　the　next　moment；　and　by　an　effort　of　will；　the　ghost　was　laid　again。　　His　face　was　as　placid　as　before；　though　he　was　still　alert；　dissatisfied　with　what　the　feeble　light　had　shown　him　of　the　woman's　face。Automatically；　her　first　act　had　been　to　set　the　coffee…pot　back。　　It　was　not　until　she　had　done　this　that　she　glanced　at　Messner。　　But　already　he　had　posed　himself。　　She　saw　only　a　man　sitting　on　the　edge　of　the　bunk　and　incuriously　studying　the　toes　of　his　moccasins。　　But；　as　she　turned　casually　to　go　about　her　cooking；　he　shot　another　swift　look　at　her；　and　she；　glancing　as　swiftly　back；　caught　his　look。　　He　shifted　on　past　her　to　the　doctor；　though　the　slightest　smile　curled　his　lip　in　appreciation　of　the　way　she　had　trapped　him。She　drew　a　candle　from　the　grub…box　and　lighted　it。　　One　look　at　her　illuminated　face　was　enough　for　Messner。　　In　the　small　cabin　the　widest　limit　was　only　a　matter　of　several　steps；　and　the　next　moment　she　was　alongside　of　him。　　She　deliberately　held　the　candle　close　to　his　face　and　stared　at　him　out　of　eyes　wide　with　fear　and　recognition。　　He　smiled　quietly　back　at　her。〃What　are　you　looking　for；　Tess？〃　the　doctor　called。〃Hairpins；〃　she　replied；　passing　on　and　rummaging　in　a　clothes…bag　on　the　bunk。They　served　their　meal　on　their　grub…box；　sitting　on　Messner's　grub…box　and　facing　him。　　He　had　stretched　out　on　his　bunk　to　rest；　lying　on　his　side；　his　head　on　his　arm。　　In　the　close　quarters　it　was　as　though　the　three　were　together　at　table。〃What　part　of　the　States　do　you　e　from？〃　Messner　asked。〃San　Francisco；〃　answered　the　doctor。　　〃I've　been　in　here　two　years；　though。〃〃I　hail　from　California　myself；〃　was　Messner's　announcement。The　woman　looked　at　him　appealingly；　but　he　smiled　and　went　on：〃Berkeley；　you　know。〃The　other　man　was　being　interested。〃U。　C。？〃　he　asked。〃Yes；　Class　of　'86。〃〃I　meant　faculty；〃　the　doctor　explained。　　〃You　remind　me　of　the　type。〃〃Sorry　to　hear　you　say　so；〃　Messner　smiled　back。　　〃I'd　prefer　being　taken　for　a　prospector　or　a　dog…musher。〃〃I　don't　think　he　looks　any　more　like　a　professor　than　you　do　a　doctor；〃　the　woman　broke　in。〃Thank　you；〃　said　Messner。　　Then；　turning　to　her　panion；　〃By　the　way；　Doctor；　what　is　your　name；　if　I　may　ask？〃〃Haythorne；　if　you'll　take　my　word　for　it。　　I　gave　up　cards　with　civilization。〃〃And　Mrs。　Haythorne；〃　Messner　smiled　and　bowed。She　flashed　a　look　at　him　that　was　more　anger　than　appeal。Haythorne　was　about　to　ask　the　other's　name。　　His　mouth　had　opened　to　form　the　question　when　Messner　cut　him　off。〃e　to　think　of　it；　Doctor；　you　may　possibly　be　able　to　satisfy　my　curiosity。　　There　was　a　sort　of　scandal　in　faculty　circles　some　two　or　three　years　ago。　　The　wife　of　one　of　the　English　professors　…　er；　if　you　will　pardon　me；　Mrs。　Haythorne　…　disappeared　with　some　San　Francisco　doctor；　I　understood；　though　his　name　does　not　just　now　e　to　my　lips。　　Do　you　remember　the　incident？〃Haythorne　nodded　his　head。　　〃Made　quite　a　stir　at　the　time。　　His　name　was　Womble　…　Graham　Womble。　　He　had　a　magnificent　practice。　　I　knew　him　somewhat。〃〃Well；　what　I　was　trying　to　get　at　was　what　had　bee　of　them。　　I　was　wondering　if　you　had　heard。　　They　left　no　trace；　hide　nor　hair。〃〃He　covered　his　tracks　cunningly。〃　　Haythorne　cleared　his　throat。　　〃There　was　rumor　that　they　went　to　the　South　Seas　…　were　lost　on　a　trading　schooner　in　a　typhoon；　or　something　like　that。〃〃I　never　heard　that；〃　Messner　said。　　〃You　remember　the　case；　Mrs。　Haythorne？〃〃Perfectly；〃　she　answered；　in　a　voice　the　control　of　which　was　in　amazing　contrast　to　the　anger　that　blazed　in　the　face　she　turned　aside　so　that　Haythorne　might　not　see。The　latter　was　again　on　the　verge　of　asking　his　name；　when　Messner　remarked：〃This　Dr。　Womble；　I've　heard　he　was　very　handsome；　and　…　er　…　quite　a　success；　so　to　say；　with　the　ladies。〃〃Well；　if　he　was；　he　finished　himself　off　by　that　affair；〃　Haythorne　grumbled。〃And　the　woman　was　a　termagant　…　at　least　so　I've　been　told。　　It　was　generally　accepted　in　Berkeley　that　she　made　life　…　er　…　not　exactly　paradise　for　her　husband。〃〃I　never　heard　that；〃　Haythorne　rejoined。　　〃In　San　Francisco　the　talk　was　all　the　other　way。〃〃Woman　sort　of　a　martyr；　eh？　…　crucified　on　the　cross　of　matrimony？〃The　doctor　nodded。　　Messner's　gray　eyes　were　mildly　curious　as　he　went　on：〃That　was　to　be　expected　…　two　sides　to　the　shield。　　Living　in　Berkeley　I　only　got　the　one　side。　　She　was　a　great　deal　in　San　Francisco；　it　seems。〃〃Some　coffee；　please；〃　Haythorne　said。The　woman　refilled　his　mug；　at　the　same　time　breaking　into　light　laughter。〃You're　gossiping　like　a　pair　of　beldames；〃　she　chided　them。〃It's　so　interesting；〃　Messner　smiled　at　her；　then　returned　to　the　doctor。　　〃The　husband　seems　then　to　have　had　a　not　very　savory　reputation　in　San　Francisco？〃〃On　the　contrary；　he　was　a　moral　prig；〃　Haythorne　blurted　out；　with　apparently　undue　warmth。　　〃He　was　a　little　scholastic　shrimp　without　a　drop　of　red　blood　in　his　body。〃〃Did　you　know　him？〃〃Never　laid　eyes　on　him。　　I　never　knocked　about　in　university　circles。〃〃One　side　of　the　shield　again；〃　Messner　said；　with　an　air　of　weighing　the　matter　judicially。　　While　he　did　not　amount　to　much；　it　is　true　…　that　is；　physically　…　I'd　hardly　say　he　was　as　bad　as　all　that。　　He　did　take　an　active　interest　in　student　athletics。　　And　he　had　some　talent。　　He　once　wrote　a　Nativity　play　that　brought　him　quite　a　bit　of　local　appreciation。　　I　have　heard；　also；　that　he　was　slated　for　the　head　of　the　English　department；　only　the　affair　happened　and　he　resigned　and　went　away。　　It　quite　broke　his　career；　or　so　it　seemed。　　At　any　rate；　on　our　side　the　shield；　it　was　considered　a　knock…out　blow　to　him。　　It　was　thought　he　cared　a　great　deal　for　his　wife。〃Haythorne；　finishing　his　mug　of　coffee；　grunted　uninterestedly　and　lighted　his　pipe。〃It　was　fortunate　they　had　no　children；〃　Messner　continued。But　Haythorne；　with　a　glance　at　the　stove；　pulled　on　his　cap　and　mittens。〃I'm　going　out　to　get　some　wood；〃　he　said。　　〃Then　I　can　take　off　my　moccasins　and　he　fortable。〃The　door　slammed　behind　him。　　For　a　long　minute　there　was　silence。　　The　man　continued　in　the　same　position　on　the　bed。　　The　woman　sat　on　the　grub…box；　facing　him。〃What　are　you　going　to　do？〃　she　asked　abruptly。Messner　looked　at　her　with　lazy　indecision。　　〃What　do　you　think　I　ought　to　do？　　Nothing　scenic；　I　hope。　　You　see　I　am　stiff　and　trail…sore；　and　this　bunk　is　so　restful。〃She　gnawed　her　lower　lip　and　fumed　dumbly。〃But　…　〃　she　began　vehemently；　then　clenched　her　hands　and　stopped。〃I　hope　you　don't　want　me　to　kill　Mr。　…er　…　Haythorne；〃　he　said　gently；　almost　pleadingly。　　〃It　would　be　most　distressing；　and；　I　assure　you；　really　it　is　unnecessary。〃〃But　you　must　do　something；〃　she　cried。〃On　the　contrary；　it　is　quite　conceivable　that　I　do　not　have　to　do　anything。〃〃You　would　stay　here？〃He　nodded。She　glanced　desperately　around　the　cabin　and　at　the　bed　unrolled　on　the　other　bunk。　　〃Night　is　ing　on。　　You　can't　stop　here。　　You　can't！　　I　tell　you；　you　simply　can't！〃〃Of　course　I　can。　　I　might　remind　you　that　I　found　this　cabin　first　and　that　you　are　my　guests。〃Again　her　eyes　travelled　around　the　room；　and　the　terror　in　them　leaped　up　at　sight　of　the　other　bunk。〃Then　we'll　have　to　go；〃　she　announced　decisively。〃Impossible。　　You　have　a　dry；　hacking　cough　…　the　sort　Mr。　…　er　…　Haythorne　so　aptly　described。　　You've　already　slightly　chilled　your　lungs。　　Besides；　he　is　a　physician　and　knows。　　He　would　never　permit　it。〃〃Then　what　are　you　going　to　do？〃　she　demanded　again；　with　a　tense；　quiet　utterance　that　boded　an　outbreak。Messner　regarded　her　in　a　way　that　was　almost　paternal；　what　of　the　profundity　of　pity　and　patience　with　which　he　contrived　to　suffuse　it。〃My　dear　Theresa；　as　I　told　you　before；　I　don't　know。　　I　really　haven't　thought　about　it。〃〃Oh！　　You　drive　me　mad！〃　　She　sprang　to　her　feet；　wringing　her　hands　in　impotent　wrath。　　〃You　never　used　to　be　this　way。〃〃I　used　to　be　all　softness　and　gentleness；〃　he　nodded　concurrence。　　〃Was　that　why　you　left　me？〃〃You　are　so　different；　so　dreadfully　calm。　　You　frighten　me。　　I　feel　you　have　something　terrible　planned　all　the　while。　　But　whatever　you　do；　don't　do　anything　rash。　　Don't　get　excited　…　〃〃I　don't　get　excited　any　more；〃　he　interrupted。　　〃Not　since　you　went　away。〃〃You　have　improved　…　remarkably；〃　she　retorted。He　smiled　acknowledgment。　　〃While　I　am　thinking　about　what　I　shall　do；　I'll　tell　you　what　you　will　have　to　do　…　tell　Mr。　…　er　…　Haythorne　who　I　am。　　It　may　make　our　stay　in　this　cabin　more　…　may　I　say；　sociable？〃〃Why　have　you　followed　me　into　this　frightful　country？〃　she　asked　irrelevantly。〃Don't　think　I　came　here　looking　for　you；　Theresa。　　Your　vanity　shall　not　be　tickled　by　any　such　misapprehension。　　Our　meeting　is　wholly　fortuitous。　　I　broke　with　the　life　academic　and　I　had　to　go　somewhere。　　To　be　honest；　I　came　into　the　Klondike　because　I　thought　it　the　place　you　were　least　liable　to　be　in。〃There　was　a　fumbling　at　the　latch；　then　the　door　swung　in　and　Haythorne　entered　with　an　armful　of　firewood。　　At　the　first　warning；　Theresa　began　casually　to　clear　away　the　dishes。　　Haythorne　went　out　again　after　more　wood。〃Why　didn't　you　introduce　us？〃　Messner　queried。〃I'll　tell　him；〃　she　replied；　with　a　toss　of　her　head。　　〃Don't　think　I'm　afraid。〃〃I　never　knew　you　to　be　afraid；　very　much；　of　anything。〃〃And　I'm　not　afraid　of　confession；　either；〃　she　said；　with　s