the awakening and selected short stories(苏醒)-第45部分
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！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
had been accustomed to other pleasant things。 She carried them without
wrapping。 As well as she could she lifted her skirts at the crossings。
Her stockings and boots and well fitting gloves had worked marvels in her
bearinghad given her a feeling of assurance； a sense of belonging to the
well…dressed multitude。
She was very hungry。 Another time she would have stilled the
cravings for food until reaching her own home； where she would have
brewed herself a cup of tea and taken a snack of anything that was
available。 But the impulse that was guiding her would not suffer her to
entertain any such thought。
There was a restaurant at the corner。 She had never entered its doors；
from the outside she had sometimes caught glimpses of spotless damask
and shining crystal； and soft…stepping waiters serving people of fashion。
When she entered her appearance created no surprise； no consternation；
as she had half feared it might。 She seated herself at a small table alone；
and an attentive waiter at once approached to take her order。 She did not
want a profusion； she craved a nice and tasty bitea half dozen blue…points；
a plump chop with cress； a something sweeta creme…frappee； for instance；
a glass of Rhine wine； and after all a small cup of black coffee。
While waiting to be served she removed her gloves very leisurely and
laid them beside her。 Then she picked up a magazine and glanced
through it； cutting the pages with a blunt edge of her knife。 It was all
very agreeable。 The damask was even more spotless than it had seemed
through the window； and the crystal more sparkling。 There were quiet
ladies and gentlemen； who did not notice her； lunching at the small tables
like her own。 A soft； pleasing strain of music could be heard； and a
gentle breeze； was blowing through the window。 She tasted a bite； and
she read a word or two； and she sipped the amber wine and wiggled her
toes in the silk stockings。 The price of it made no difference。 She
counted the money out to the waiter and left an extra coin on his tray；
168
… Page 169…
The Awakening and Selected Short Stories
whereupon he bowed before her as before a princess of royal blood。
There was still money in her purse； and her next temptation presented
itself in the shape of a matinee poster。
It was a little later when she entered the theatre； the play had begun
and the house seemed to her to be packed。 But there were vacant seats
here and there； and into one of them she was ushered； between brilliantly
dressed women who had gone there to kill time and eat candy and display
their gaudy attire。 There were many others who were there solely for the
play and acting。 It is safe to say there was no one present who bore quite
the attitude which Mrs。 Sommers did to her surroundings。 She gathered
in the wholestage and players and people in one wide impression； and
absorbed it and enjoyed it。 She laughed at the comedy and weptshe and
the gaudy woman next to her wept over the tragedy。 And they talked a
little together over it。 And the gaudy woman wiped her eyes and sniffled
on a tiny square of filmy； perfumed lace and passed little Mrs。 Sommers
her box of candy。
The play was over； the music ceased； the crowd filed out。 It was like
a dream ended。 People scattered in all directions。 Mrs。 Sommers went
to the corner and waited for the cable car。
A man with keen eyes； who sat opposite to her； seemed to like the
study of her small； pale face。 It puzzled him to decipher what he saw
there。 In truth； he saw nothing…unless he were wizard enough to detect a
poignant wish； a powerful longing that the cable car would never stop
anywhere； but go on and on with her forever。
169
… Page 170…
The Awakening and Selected Short Stories
The Locket
I
One night in autumn a few men were gathered about a fire on the slope
of a hill。 They belonged to a small detachment of Confederate forces and
were awaiting orders to march。 Their gray uniforms were worn beyond
the point of shabbiness。 One of the men was heating something in a tin
cup over the embers。 Two were lying at full length a little distance away；
while a fourth was trying to decipher a letter and had drawn close to the
light。 He had unfastened his collar and a good bit of his flannel shirt
front。
〃What's that you got around your neck； Ned？〃 asked one of the men
lying in the obscurity。
Nedor Edmondmechanically fastened another button of his shirt
and did not reply。 He went on reading his letter。
〃Is it your sweet heart's picture？〃
〃‘Taint no gal's picture；〃 offered the man at the fire。 He had removed
his tin cup and was engaged in stirring its grimy contents with a small
stick。 〃That's a charm； some kind of hoodoo business that one o' them
priests gave him to keep him out o' trouble。 I know them Cath'lics。
That's how come Frenchy got permoted an never got a scratch sence he's
been in the ranks。 Hey； French！ aint I right？〃 Edmond looked up
absently from his letter。
〃What is it？〃 he asked。
〃Aint that a charm you got round your neck？〃
〃It must be； Nick；〃 returned Edmond with a smile。 〃I don't know
how I could have gone through this year and a half without it。〃
The letter had made Edmond heart sick and home sick。 He stretched
himself on his back and looked straight up at the blinking stars。 But he
was not thinking of them nor of anything but a certain spring day when the
bees were humming in the clematis； when a girl was saying good bye to
him。 He could see her as she unclasped from her neck the locket which
she fastened about his own。 It was an old fashioned golden locket
170
… Page 171…
The Awakening and Selected Short Stories
bearing miniatures of her father and mother with their names and the date
of their marriage。 It was her most precious earthly possession。 Edmond
could feel again the folds of the girl's soft white gown； and see the droop
of the angel…sleeves as she circled her fair arms about his neck。 Her
sweet face； appealing； pathetic； tormented by the pain of parting； appeared
before him as vividly as life。 He turned over； burying his face in his arm
and there he lay； still and motionless。
The profound and treacherous night with its silence and semblance of
peace settled upon the camp。 He dreamed that the fair Octavie brought
him a letter。 He had no chair to offer her and was pained and
embarrassed at the condition of his garments。 He was ashamed of the
poor food which comprised the dinner at which he begged her to join
them。
He dreamt of a serpent coiling around his throat； and when he strove to
grasp it the slimy thing glided away from his clutch。 Then his dream was
clamor。
〃Git your duds！ you！ Frenchy！〃 Nick was bellowing in his face。
There was what appeared to be a scramble and a rush rather than any
regulated movement。 The hill side was alive with clatter and motion；
with sudden up…springing lights among the pines。 In the east the dawn was
unfolding out of the darkness。 Its glimmer was yet dim in the plain below。
〃What's it all about？〃 wondered a big black bird perched in the top of
the tallest tree。 He was an old solitary and a wise one； yet he was not
wise enough to guess what it was all about。 So all day long he kept
blinking and wondering。
The noise reached far out over the plain and across the hills and awoke
the little babes that were sleeping in their cradles。 The smoke curled up
toward the sun and shadowed the plain so that the stupid birds thought it
was going to rain； but the wise one knew better。
〃They are children playing a game；〃 thought he。 〃I shall know more
about it if I watch long enough。〃
At the approach of night they had all vanished away with their din and
smoke。 Then the old bird plumed his feathers。 At last he had
understood！ With a flap of his great； black wings he shot downward；
171
… Page 172…
The Awakening and Selected Short Stories
circling toward the plain。
A man was picking his way across the plain。 He was dressed in the
garb of a clergyman。 His mission was to administer the consolations of
religion to any of the prostrate figures in whom there might yet linger a
spark of life。 A negro accompanied him； bearing a bucket of water and a
flask of
