the parlor-car-第2部分

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inconveniencing　you？〃

MISS　GALBRAITH：　　〃Oh；　not　at　all。〃

MR。　RICHARDS：　　〃Well；　now　then；　pull　hard！〃　　He　lifts　the　window　with
a　great　effort；　the　polonaise　comes　free　with　a　start；　and　she
strikes　violently　against　him。　　In　supporting　the　shock　he　cannot
forbear　catching　her　for　an　instant　to　his　heart。　　She　frees　herself；
and　starts　indignantly　to　her　feet。

MISS　GALBRAITH：　　〃Oh；　what　a　cowardlysubterfuge！〃

MR。　RICHARDS：　　〃Cowardly？　　You've　no　idea　how　much　courage　it　took。〃
Miss　Galbraith　puts　her　handkerchief　to　her　face；　and　sobs。　　〃Oh；
don't　cry！　　Bless　my　heart；I'm　sorry　I　did　it！　　But　you　know　how
dearly　I　love　you；　Lucy；　though　I　do　think　you've　been　cruelly
unjust。　　I　told　you　I　never　should　love　any　one　else；　and　I　never
shall。　　I　couldn't　help　it；　upon　my　soul；　I　couldn't。　　Nobody　could。
Don't　let　it　vex　you；　my〃He　approaches　her。

MISS　GALBRAITH：　　〃Please　not　touch　me；　sir！　　You　have　no　longer　any
right　whatever　to　do　so。〃

MR。　RICHARDS：　　〃You　misinterpret　a　very　inoffensive　gesture。　　I　have
no　idea　of　touching　you；　but　I　hope　I　may　be　allowed；　as　a　special
favor；　　topick　up　my　hat；　which　you　are　in　the　act　of　stepping　on。〃
Miss　Galbraith　hastily　turns；　and　strikes　the　hat　with　her　whirling
skirts；　it　rolls　to　the　other　side　of　the　parlor；　and　Mr。　Richards；
who　goes　after　it；　utters　an　ironical　〃Thanks！〃　　He　brushes　it；　and
puts　it　on；　looking　at　her　where　she　has　again　seated　herself　at　the
window　with　her　back　to　him；　and　continues；　〃As　for　any　further
molestation　from　me〃　…

MISS　GALBRAITH：　　〃If　you　WILL　talk　to　me〃　…

MR。　RICHARDS：　　〃Excuse　me；　I　am　not　talking　to　you。〃

MISS　GALBRAITH：　　〃What　were　you　doing？〃

MR。　RICHARDS：　　〃I　was　beginning　to　think　aloud。　　II　was
soliloquizing。　　I　suppose　I　may　be　allowed　to　soliloquize？〃

MISS　GALBRAITH；　very　coldly：　　〃You　can　do　what　you　like。〃

MR。　RICHARDS：　　〃Unfortunately　that's　just　what　I　can't　do。　　If　I
could　do　as　I　liked；　I　should　ask　you　a　single　question。〃

MISS　GALBRAITH；　after　a　moment：　　〃Well；　sir；　you　may　ask　your
question。〃　　She　remains　as　before；　with　her　chin　in　her　hand；　looking
tearfully　out　of　the　window；　her　face　is　turned　from　Mr。　Richards；
who　hesitates　a　moment　before　he　speaks。

MR。　RICHARDS：　　〃I　wish　to　ask　you　just　this；　Miss　Galbraith：　　if　you
couldn't　ride　backwards　in　the　other　car；　why　do　you　ride　backwards
in　this？〃

MISS　GALBRAITH；　burying　her　face　in　her　handkerchief；　and　sobbing：
〃Oh；　oh；　oh！　　This　is　too　bad！〃

MR。　RICHARDS：　　〃Oh；　come　now；　Lucy。　　It　breaks　my　heart　to　hear　you
going　on　so；　and　all　for　nothing。　　Be　a　little　merciful　to　both　of
us；　and　listen　to　me。　　I've　no　doubt　I　can　explain　everything　if　I
once　understand　it；　but　it's　pretty　hard　explaining　a　thing　if　you
don't　understand　it　yourself。　　Do　turn　round。　　I　know　it　makes　you
sick　to　ride　in　that　way；　and　if　you　don't　want　to　face　methere！〃
wheeling　in　his　chair　so　as　to　turn　his　back　upon　her〃you　needn't。
Though　it's　rather　trying　to　a　fellow's　politeness；　not　to　mention
his　other　feelings。　　Now；　what　in　the　name〃　…

PORTER；　who　at　this　moment　enters　with　his　step…ladder；　and　begins　to
light　the　lamps：　　〃Going　pretty　slow　ag'in；　sah。〃

MR。　RICHARDS：　　〃Yes；　what's　the　trouble？〃

PORTER：　　〃Well；　I　don't　know　exactly；　sah。　　Something　de　matter　with
de　locomotive。　　We　sha'n't　be　into　Albany　much　'fore　eight　o'clock。〃

MR。　RICHARDS：　　〃What's　the　next　station？〃

PORTER：　　〃Schenectady。〃

MR。　RICHARDS：　　〃Is　the　whole　train　as　empty　as　this　car？〃

PORTER；　laughing：　　〃Well；　no；　sah。　　Fact　is；　dis　cah　don't　belong　on
dis　train。　　It's　a　Pullman　that　we　hitched　on　when　you　got　in；　and
we's　taking　it　along　for　one　of　de　Eastern　roads。　　We　let　you　in
'cause　de　Drawing…rooms　was　all　full。　　Same　with　de　lady；〃looking
sympathetically　at　her；　as　he　takes　his　steps　to　go　out。　　〃Can　I　do
anything　for　you　now；　miss？〃

MISS　GALBRAITH；　plaintively：　　〃No；　thank　you；　nothing　whatever。〃　　She
has　turned　while　Mr。　Richards　and　The　Porter　have　been　speaking；　and
now　faces　the　back　of　the　former；　but　her　veil　is　drawn　closely。　　The
Porter　goes　out。

MR。　RICHARDS；　wheeling　round　so　as　to　confront　her：　　〃I　wish　you
would　speak　to　me　half　as　kindly　as　you　do　to　that　darky；　Lucy。〃

MISS　GALBRAITH：　　〃HE　is　a　GENTLEMAN！〃

MR。　RICHARDS：　　〃He　is　an　urbane　and　well…informed　nobleman。　　At　any
rate；　he's　a　man　and　a　brother。　　But　so　am　I。〃　　Miss　Galbraith　does
not　reply；　and　after　a　pause　Mr。　Richards　resumes。　　〃Talking　of
gentlemen；　I　recollect；　once；　coming　up　on　the　day…boat　to
Poughkeepsie；　there　was　a　poor　devil　of　a　tipsy　man　kept　following　a
young　fellow　about；　and　annoying　him　to　deathtrying　to　fight　him；
as　a　tipsy　man　will；　and　insisting　that　the　young　fellow　had　insulted
him。　　By　and　by　he　lost　his　balance　and　went　overboard；　and　the　other
jumped　after　him　and　fished　him　out。〃　　Sensation　on　the　part　of　Miss
Galbraith；　who　stirs　uneasily　in　her　chair；　looks　out　of　the　window；
then　looks　at　Mr。　Richards；　and　drops　her　head。　　〃There　was　a　young
lady　on　board；　who　had　seen　the　whole　thinga　very　charming　young
lady　indeed；　with　pale　blond　hair　growing　very　thick　over　her
forehead；　and　dark　eyelashes　to　the　sweetest　blue　eyes　in　the　world。
Well；　this　young　lady's　papa　was　amongst　those　who　came　up　to　say
civil　things　to　the　young　fellow　when　he　got　aboard　again；　and　to　ask
the　honorhe　said　the　HONORof　his　acquaintance。　　And　when　he　came
out　of　his　stateroom　in　dry　clothes；　this　infatuated　old　gentleman
was　waiting　for　him；　and　took　him　and　introduced　him　to　his　wife　and
daughter；　and　the　daughter　said；　with　tears　in　her　eyes；　and　a
perfectly　intoxicating　impulsiveness；　that　it　was　the　grandest　and
the　most　heroic　and　the　noblest　thing　that　she　had　ever　seen；　and　she
should　always　be　a　better　girl　for　having　seen　it。　　Excuse　me；　Miss
Galbraith；　for　troubling　you　with　these　facts　of　a　personal　history；
which；　as　you　say；　is　a　matter　of　perfect　indifference　to　you。　　The
young　fellow　didn't　think　at　the　time　he　had　done　anything
extraordinary；　but　I　don't　suppose　he　DID　expect　to　live　to　have　the
same　girl　tell　him　he　was　no　gentleman。〃

MISS　GALBRAITH；　wildly：　　〃O　Allen；　Allen！　　You　KNOW　I　think　you　are　a
gentleman；　and　I　always　did！〃

MR。　RICHARDS；　languidly：　　〃Oh；　I　merely　had　your　word　for　it；　just
now；　that　you　didn't。〃　　Tenderly；　〃Will　you　hear　me；　Lucy？〃

MISS　GALBRAITH；　faintly：　　〃Yes。〃

MR。　RICHARDS：　　〃Well；　what　is　it　I've　done？　　Will　you　tell　me　if　I
guess　right？〃

MISS　GALBRAITH；　with　dignity：　　〃I　am　in　no　humor　for　jesting；　Allen。
And　I　can　assure　you　that　though　I　consent　to　hear　what　you　have　to
say；　or　ask；　NOTHING　will　change　my　determination。　　All　is　over
between　us。〃

MR。　RICHARDS：　　〃Yes；　I　understand　that；　perfectly。　　I　am　now　asking
merely　for　general　information。　　I　do　not　expect　you　to　relent；　and；
in　fact；　I　should　consider　it　rather　frivolous　if　you　did。　　No。　　What
I　have　always　admired　in　your　character；　Lucy；　is　a　firm；　logical
consistency；　a　clearness　of　mental　vision　that　leaves　no　side　of　a
subject　unsearched；　and　an　unwavering　constancy　of　purpose。　　You　may
say　that　these　traits　are　characteristic　of　ALL　women；　but　they　are
pre…eminently　characteristic　of　you；　Lucy。〃　　Miss　Galbraith　looks
askance　at　him；　to　make　out　whether　he　is　in　earnest　or　not；　he
continues；　with　a　perfectly　serious　air。　　〃And　I　know　now　that　if
you're　offended　with　me；　it's　for　no　trivial　cause。〃　　She　stirs
uncomfortably　in　her　chair。　　　What　I　have　done　I　can't　imagine；　but
it　must　be　something　monstrous；　since　it　has　made　life　with　me　appear
so　impossible　that　you　are　ready　to　fling　away　your　own　happiness
for　I　know　you　DID　love　me；　Lucyand　destroy　mine。　　I　will　begin
with　the　worst　thing　I　can　think　of。　　Was　it　because　I　danced　so　much
with　Fanny　Watervliet？〃

MISS　GALBRAITH；　indignantly：　　〃How　can　you　insult　me　by　supposing
that　I　could　be　jealous　of　such　a　perfect　little　goose　as　that？　　No；
Allen！　　Whatever　I　think　of　you；　I　still　respect　you　too　much　for
that。〃

MR。　RICHARDS：　　〃I'm　glad　to　hear　that　there　are　yet　depths　to　which
you　think　me　incapable　of　descending；　and　that　Miss　Watervliet　is　one
of　them。　　I　will　now　take　a　little　higher　ground。　　Perhaps　you　think
I　flirted　with　Mrs。　Dawes。　　I　thought；　myself；　that　the　thing　might
begin　to　have　that　appearance；　but　I　give　you　my　word　of　honor　that
as　soon　as　the　idea　occurred　to　me；　I　dropped　herrather　rudely；
too。　　The　trouble　was；　don't　you　know；　that　I　felt　so　perfectly　safe
with　a　MARRIED　friend　of　yours。　　I　couldn't　be　hanging　about　you　all
the　time；　and　I　was　afraid　I　might　vex　you　if　I　went　with　the　other
girls；　and　I　didn't　know　what　to　do。〃

MISS　GALBRAITH：　　〃I　think　you　behaved　rather　silly；　giggling　so　much
with　her。　　But〃　…

MR。　RICHARDS：　　〃I　own　it；　I　know　it　was　silly。　　But〃　…

MISS　GALBRAITH：　　〃It　wasn't　that；　it　wasn't　that！〃

MR。　RICHARDS：　　〃Was　it　my　forgetting　to　bring　you　those　things　from
your　mother？〃

MISS　GALBRAITH：　　〃No！〃

MR。　RICHARDS：　　〃Was　it　because　I　hadn't　given　up　smoking　yet？〃

MISS　GALBRAITH：　　〃You　KNOW　I　never　asked　you　to　give　up　smoking。　　It
was　entirely　your　own　proposition。〃

MR。　RICHARDS：　　〃That's　true。　　That's　what　made　me　so　easy　about　it。
I　knew　I　could　leave　it　off　ANY　time。　　Well；　I　will　not　disturb　you
any　longer；　Miss　Galbraith。〃　　He　throws　his　overcoat　across　his　arm；
and　takes　up　his　travelling…bag。　　〃I　have　failed　to　guess　your　fatal…
…conundrum；　and　I　have　no　longer　any　excuse　for　remaining。　　I　am
going　into　the　smoking…car。　　Shall　I　send　the　porter　to　you　for
anything？〃

MISS　GALBRAITH：　　〃No；　thanks。〃　　She　puts　up　her　handkerchief　to　her
face。

MR。　RICHARDS：　　〃Lucy；　do　you　send　me　away？〃

MISS　GALBRAITH；　behind　her　handkerchief：　　〃You　were　going；　yourself。〃

MR。　RICHARDS；　over　his　shoulder：　　〃Shall　I　come　back？〃

MISS　GALBRAITH：　　〃I　have　no　right　to　drive　you　from　the　car。〃

MR。　RICHARDS；　coming　back；　and　sitting　down　in　the　chair　nearest　her：
〃Lucy；　dearest；　tell　me　what's　the　matter。〃

MISS　GALBRAITH：　　〃O　Allen！　your　not　KNOWING　makes　it　all　the　more
hopeless　and　killing。　　It　shows　me　that　we　MUST　part；　that　you　would
go　on；　breaking　my　heart；　and　grinding　me　into　the　dust　as　long　as　we
lived。〃