the riverman-第25部分
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collar； 〃don't do such things any more。 They aren't nice。〃
Trivial as the incident was； it served to draw Orde to the
particular notice of an elderly man leaning against the rear rail。
He was a very well…groomed man； dressed in garments whose fit was
evidently the product of the highest art； well buttoned up； well
brushed； well cared for in every way。 In his buttonhole he wore a
pink carnation； and in his gloved hand he carried a straight； gold…
headed cane。 A silk hat covered his head； from beneath which showed
a slightly empurpled countenance； with bushy white eyebrows； a white
moustache； and a pair of rather bloodshot； but kindly； blue eyes。
In spite of his somewhat pudgy rotundity； he carried himself quite
erect； in a manner that bespoke the retired military man。
〃You have courage； sir；〃 said this gentleman； inclining his bead
gravely to Orde。
The young man laughed in his good…humoured fashion。
〃Not much courage required to root out that kind of a skunk；〃 said
he cheerfully。
〃I refer to the courage of your convictions。 The young men of this
generation seem to prefer to avoid public disturbances。 That breed
is quite capable of making a row； calling the police； raising the
deuce； and all that。〃
〃What of it？〃 said Orde。
The elderly gentleman puffed out his cheeks。
〃You are from the West； are you not？〃 he stated； rather than asked。
〃We call it the East out there；〃 said Orde。 〃It's Michigan。〃
〃I should call that pretty far west；〃 said the old gentleman。
Nothing more was said。 After a block or two Orde descended on his
way to a small hotel just off Broadway。 The old gentleman saluted。
Orde nodded good…humouredly。 In his private soul he was a little
amused at the old boy。 To his view a man and clothes carried to
their last refinement were contradictory terms。
Orde ate； dressed； and set out afoot in search of Miss Bishop's
address。 He arrived in front of the house a little past eight
o'clock； and； after a moment's hesitation； mounted the steps and
rang the bell。
The door swung silently back to frame an impassive man…servant
dressed in livery。 To Orde's inquiry he stated that Miss Bishop had
gone out to the theatre。 The young man left his name and a message
of regret。 At this the footman； with an irony so subtle as to be
quite lost on Orde； demanded a card。 Orde scribbled a line in his
note…book； tore it out； folded it； and left it。 In it he stated his
regret； his short residence in the city； and desired an early
opportunity to call。 Then he departed down the brownstone steps；
totally unconscious of the contempt he had inspired in the heart of
the liveried man behind him。
He retired early and arose early； as had become his habit。 When he
descended to the office the night clerk； who had not yet been
relieved； handed him a note delivered the night before。 Orde ripped
it open eagerly。
〃MY DEAR MR。 ORDE：
〃I was so sorry to miss you that evening because of a stupid play。
Come around as early as you can to…morrow morning。 I shall expect
you。
〃Sincerely yours；
〃CARROLL BISHOP。〃
Orde glanced at the clock； which pointed to seven。 He breakfasted；
read the morning paper； finally started leisurely in the direction
of West Ninth Street。 He walked slowly； so as to consume more time；
then at University Place was seized with a panic； and hurried
rapidly to his destination。 The door was answered by the same man
who had opened the night before； but now； in some indefinable way；
his calm； while flawless externally； seemed to have lifted to a mere
surface； as though he might hastily have assumed his coat。 To
Orde's inquiry he stated with great brevity that Miss Bishop was not
yet visible； and prepared to close the door。
〃You are mistaken；〃 said Orde； with equal brevity； and stepped
inside。 〃I have an engagement with Miss Bishop。 Tell her Mr。 Orde
is here。〃
The man departed in some doubt； leaving Orde standing in the gloomy
hall。 That young man； however； quite cheerfully parted the heavy
curtains leading into a parlour； and sat down in a spindle…legged
chair。 At his entrance； a maid disappeared out another door；
carrying with her the implements of dusting and brushing。
Orde looked around the room with some curiosity。 It was long；
narrow； and very high。 Tall windows admitted light at one end。 The
illumination was； however； modified greatly by hangings of lace
covering all the windows； supplemented by heavy draperies drawn back
to either side。 The embrasure was occupied by a small table； over
which seemed to flutter a beautiful marble Psyche。 A rubber plant；
then as now the mark of the city and suburban dweller； sent aloft
its spare； shiny leaves alongside a closed square piano。 The lack
of ornaments atop the latter bespoke the musician。 Through the
filtered gloom of the demi…light Orde surveyed with interest the
excellent reproductions of the Old World masterpieces framed on the
walls〃Madonnas〃 by Raphael； Murillo； and Perugino； the 〃Mona
Lisa；〃 and Botticelli's 〃Spring〃the three oil portraits occupying
the large spaces； the spindle…legged chairs and tables； the tea
service in the corner； the tall bronze lamp by the piano； the neat
little grate…hearth； with its mantel of marble； the ormolu clock；
all the decorous and decorated gentility which marked the
irreproachable correctness of whoever had furnished the apartment。
Dark and heavy hangings depended in front of a double door leading
into another room beyond。 Equally dark and heavy hangings had
closed behind Orde as he entered。 An absolute and shrouded
stillness seemed to settle down upon him。 The ormolu clock ticked
steadily。 Muffled sounds came at long intervals from behind the
portieres。 Orde began to feel oppressed and subdued。
For quite three quarters of an hour he waited without hearing any
other indications of life than the muffled sounds just remarked
upon。 Occasionally he shifted his position； but cautiously； as
though he feared to awaken some one。 The three oil portraits stared
at him with all the reserved aloofness of their painted eyes。 He
began to doubt whether the man had announced him at all。
Then； breaking the stillness with almost startling abruptness； he
heard a clear； high voice saying something at the top of the stairs
outside。 A rhythmical SWISH of skirts； punctuated by the light PAT…
PAT of a girl tripping downstairs； brought him to his feet。 A
moment later the curtains parted and she entered； holding out her
hand。
〃Oh； I did keep you waiting such a long time！〃 she cried。
He stood holding her hand； suddenly unable to say a word； looking at
her hungrily。 A flood of emotion； of which he had had no prevision；
swelled up within him to fill his throat。 An almost irresistible
impulse all but controlled him to crush her to him； to kiss her lips
and her throat； to lose his fingers in the soft； shadowy fineness of
her hair。 The crest of the wave passed almost immediately； but it
left him shaken。 A faint colour deepened under the transparence of
her skin； her fathomless black eyes widened ever so little； she
released her hand。
〃It was good of you to come so promptly；〃 said she。 〃I'm so anxious
to hear all about the dear people at Redding。〃
She settled gracefully in one of the little chairs。 Orde sat down；
once more master of himself； but still inclined to devour her with
his gaze。 She was dressed in a morning gown； all laces and ribbons
and long； flowing lines。 Her hair was done low on the back of her
head and on the nape of her neck。 The blood ebbed and flowed
beneath her clear skin。 A faint fragrance of cleanliness diffused
itself about herthe cool； sweet fragrance of daintiness。 They
entered busily into conversation。 Her attitudes were no longer
relaxed and languidly graceful as in the easy chairs under the
lamplight。 She sat forward； her hands crossed on her lap； a fire
smouldering deep beneath the cool surface lights of her eyes。
The sounds in the next room increased in volume； as though several
people must have entered that apartment。 In a moment or so the
curtains to the hall parted to frame the servant。
〃Mrs。 Bishop wishes to know； miss；〃 said that functionary； 〃if
you're not coming to breakfast。〃
Orde sprang to his feet。
〃Haven't you had your breakfast yet？〃 he cried； conscience stricken。
〃Didn't you gather the fact that I'm just up？〃 she mocked him。 〃I
assure you it doesn't matter。 The family has just come down。〃
〃But；〃 cried Orde； 〃I wasn't here until nine o'clock。 I thought； of
course； you'd be around。 I'm mighty sorry〃
〃Oh； la la！〃 she cried； cutting him short。 〃What a bother about
nothing。 Don't you seeI'm ahead a whole hour of good talk。〃
〃You see； you told me in your note to come early；〃 said Orde。
〃I forgot you were one of those dreadful outdoor men。 You didn't
see any worms； did you？ Next time I'll tell you to come the day
after。〃
Orde was for taking his leave； but this she would not have。
〃You must meet my family；〃 she negatived。 〃For if you're here for
so short a time we want to see something of you。 Come right out
now。〃
Orde thereupon followed her down a narrow； dark hall； squeezed
between the stairs and the wall； to a door that opened slantwise
into a dining…room the exact counterpart in shape to the parlour at
the other side of the house。 Only in this case the morning sun and
more diaphanous curtains lent an air of brightness； further enhanced
by a wire stand of flowers in the bow…windows。
The centre of the room was occupied by a round table； about which
were grouped several people of different ages。 With her back to the
bow…window sat a woman well
