the parlor-car-第3部分

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go　on；　breaking　my　heart；　and　grinding　me　into　the　dust　as　long　as　we
lived。〃　　She　sobs。　　〃It　shows　me　that　you　never　understood　me；　and
you　never　will。　　I　know　you're　good　and　kind　and　all　that；　but　that
only　makes　your　not　understanding　me　so　much　the　worse。　　I　do　it
quite　as　much　for　your　sake　as　my　own；　Allen。〃

MR。　RICHARDS：　　〃I'd　much　rather　you　wouldn't　put　yourself　out　on　my
account。〃

MISS　GALBRAITH；　without　regarding　him：　　〃If　you　could　mortify　me
before　a　whole　roomful　of　people；　as　you　did　last　night；　what　could　I
expect　after　marriage　but　continual　insult？〃

MR。　RICHARDS；　in　amazement：　　〃HOW　did　I　mortify　you？　　I　thought　that
I　treated　you　with　all　the　tenderness　and　affection　that　a　decent
regard　for　the　feelings　of　others　would　allow。　　I　was　ashamed　to　find
I　couldn't　keep　away　from　you。〃

MISS　GALBRAITH：　　〃Oh；　you　were　ATTENTIVE　enough；　Allen；　nobody　denies
that。　　Attentive　enough　in　non…essentials。　　Oh；　yes！〃

MR。　RICHARDS：　　〃Well；　what　vital　matters　did　I　fail　in？　　I'm　sure　I
can't　remember。〃

MISS　GALBRAITH：　　〃I　dare　say！　　I　dare　say　they　won't　appear　vital　to
you；　Allen。　　Nothing　does。　　And　if　I　had　told　you；　I　should　have　been
met　with　ridicule；　I　suppose。　　But　I　knew　BETTER　than　to　tell；　I
respected　myself　too　MUCH。〃

MR。　RICHARDS：　　〃But　now　you　mustn't　respect　yourself　QUITE　so　much；
dearest。　　And　I　promise　you　I　won't　laugh　at　the　most　serious　thing。
I'm　in　no　humor　for　it。　　If　it　were　a　matter　of　life　and　death；　even；
I　can　assure　you　that　it　wouldn't　bring　a　smile　to　my　countenance。
No；　indeed！　　If　you　expect　me　to　laugh；　now；　you　must　say　something
particularly　funny。〃

MISS　GALBRAITH：　　〃I　was　not　going　to　say　anything　funny；　as　you　call
it；　and　I　will　say　nothing　at　all；　if　you　talk　in　that　way。〃

MR。　RICHARDS：　　〃Well；　I　won't；　then。　　But　do　you　know　what　I　suspect；
Lucy？　　I　wouldn't　mention　it　to　everybody；　but　I　will　to　youin
strict　confidence：　　I　suspect　that　you're　rather　ashamed　of　your
grievance；　if　you　have　any。　　I　suspect　it's　nothing　at　all。〃

MISS　GALBRAITH；　very　sternly　at　first；　with　a　rising　hysterical
inflection：　　〃Nothing；　Allen！　　Do　you　call　it　NOTHING；　to　have　Mrs。
Dawes　come　out　with　all　that　about　your　accident　on　your　way　up　the
river；　and　ask　me　if　it　didn't　frighten　me　terribly　to　hear　of　it；
even　after　it　was　all　over；　and　I　had　to　say　you　hadn't　told　me　a
word　of　it？　　'Why；　Lucy！'〃angrily　mimicking　Mrs。　Dawes；　〃'you　must
teach　him　better　than　that。　　I　make　Mr。　Dawes　tell　me　everything。'
Little　simpleton！　　And　then　to　have　them　all　laughOh；　dear；　it's
too　much！〃

MR。　RICHARDS：　　〃Why；　my　dear　Lucy〃　…

MISS　GALBRAITH；　interrupting　him：　　〃I　saw　just　how　it　was　going　to
be；　and　I'm　thankful；　THANKFUL　that　it　happened。　　I　saw　that　you
didn't　care　enough　for　me　to　take　me　into　your　whole　life；　that　you
despised　and　distrusted　me；　and　that　it　would　get　worse　and　worse　to
the　end　of　our　days；　that　we　should　grow　farther　and　farther　apart；
and　I　should　be　left　moping　at　home；　while　you　ran　about　making
confidantes　of　other　women　whom　you　considered　WORTHY　of　your
confidence。　　It　all　FLASHED　upon　me　in　an　INSTANT；　and　I　resolved　to
break　with　you；　then　and　there；　and　I　did；　just　as　soon　as　ever　I
could　go　to　my　room　for　your　things；　and　I'm　glad；yes；Oh；　hu；　hu；
hu；　hu；　hu！SO　glad　I　did　it！〃

MR。　RICHARDS；　grimly：　　〃Your　joy　is　obvious。　　May　I　ask〃　…

MISS　GALBRAITH：　　〃Oh；　it　wasn't　the　FIRST　proof　you　had　given　me　how
little　you　really　cared　for　me；　but　I　was　determined　it　should　be　the
last。　　I　dare　say　you've　forgotten　them！　　I　dare　say　you　don't
remember　telling　Mamie　Morris　that　you　didn't　like　embroidered　cigar…
cases；　when　you'd　just　TOLD　me　that　you　did；　and　let　me　be　such　a
fool　as　to　commence　one　for　you；　but　I'm　thankful　to　say　THAT　went
into　the　fire；oh；　yes；　INSTANTLY！　　And　I　dare　say　you've　forgotten
that　you　didn't　tell　me　your　brother's　engagement　was　to　be　kept；　and
let　me　come　out　with　it　that　night　at　the　Rudges'；　and　then　looked
perfectly　aghast；　so　that　everybody　thought　I　had　been　blabbing！
Time　and　again；　Allen；　you　have　made　me　suffer　agonies；　yes；　AGONIES；
but　your　power　to　do　so　is　at　an　end。　　I　am　free　and　happy　at　last。〃
She　weeps　bitterly。

MR。　RICHARDS；　quietly：　　〃Yes；　I　HAD　forgotten　those　crimes；　and　I
suppose　many　similar　atrocities。　　I　own　it；　I　AM　forgetful　and
careless。　　I　was　wrong　about　those　things。　　I　ought　to　have　told　you
why　I　said　that　to　Miss　Morris：　　I　was　afraid　she　was　going　to　work
me　one。　　As　to　that　accident　I　told　Mrs。　Dawes　of；　it　wasn't　worth
mentioning。　　Our　boat　simply　walked　over　a　sloop　in　the　night；　and
nobody　was　hurt。　　I　shouldn't　have　thought　twice　about　it；　if　she
hadn't　happened　to　brag　of　their　passing　close　to　an　iceberg　on　their
way　home　from　Europe；　then　I　trotted　out　MY　pretty…near　disaster　as　a
match　for　hers；confound　her！　　I　wish　the　iceberg　had　sunk　them！
Only　it　wouldn't　have　sunk　her；she's　so　light；　she'd　have　gone
bobbing　about　all　over　the　Atlantic　Ocean；　like　a　cork；　she's　got　a
perfect　life…preserver　in　that　mind　of　hers。〃　　Miss　Galbraith　gives　a
little　laugh；　and　then　a　little　moan。　　〃But　since　you　are　happy；　I
will　not　repine；　Miss　Galbraith。　　I　don't　pretend　to　be　very　happy
myself；　but　then；　I　don't　deserve　it。　　Since　you　are　ready　to　let　an
absolutely　unconscious　offence　on　my　part　cancel　all　the　past；　since
you　let　my　devoted　love　weigh　as　nothing　against　the　momentary　pique
that　a　malicious　little　rattle…pateshe　was　vexed　at　my　leaving　her…
…could　make　you　feel；　and　choose　to　gratify　a　wicked　resentment　at
the　cost　of　any　suffering　to　me；　why；　I　can　be　glad　and　happy　too。〃
With　rising　anger；　〃Yes；　Miss　Galbraith。　　All　IS　over　between　us。
You　can　go！　　I　renounce　you！〃

MISS　GALBRAITH；　springing　fiercely　to　her　feet：　　〃Go；　indeed！
Renounce　me！　　Be　so　good　as　to　remember　that　you　haven't　got　me　TO
renounce！〃

MR。　RICHARDS：　　〃Well；　it's　all　the　same　thing。　　I'd　renounce　you　if　I
had。　　Good…evening；　Miss　Galbraith。　　I　will　send　back　your　presents
as　soon　as　I　get　to　town；　it　won't　be　necessary　to　acknowledge　them。
I　hope　we　may　never　meet　again。〃　　He　goes　out　of　the　door　towards　the
front　of　the　ear；　but　returns　directly；　and　glances　uneasily　at　Miss
Galbraith；　who　remains　with　her　handkerchief　pressed　to　her　eyes。
〃Ahathat　isI　shall　be　obliged　to　intrude　upon　you　again。　　The
fact　is〃　…

MISS　GALBRAITH；　anxiously：　　〃Why；　the　cars　have　stopped！　　Are　we　at
Schenectady？〃

MR。　RICHARDS：　　〃Well；　no；　not　EXACTLY；　not　stopped　exactly　at
SCHENECTADY〃　…

MISS　GALBRAITH：　　〃Then　what　station　is　this？　　Have　they　carried　me
by？〃　　Observing　his　embarrassment；　〃Allen；　what　is　the　matter？　　What
has　happened？　　Tell　me　instantly！　　Are　we　off　the　track？　　Have　we　run
into　another　train？　　Have　we　broken　through　a　bridge？　　Shall　we　be
burnt　alive？　　Tell　me；　Allen；　tell　me；I　can　bear　it！are　we
telescoped？〃　　She　wrings　her　hands　in　terror。

MR。　RICHARDS；　unsympathetically：　　〃Nothing　of　the　kind　has　happened。
This　car　has　simply　come　uncoupled；　and　the　rest　of　the　train　has
gone　on　ahead；　and　left　us　standing　on　the　track；　nowhere　in
particular。〃　　He　leans　back　in　his　chair；　and　wheels　it　round　from
her。

MISS　GALBRAITH；　mortified；　yet　anxious：　　〃Well？〃

MR。　RICHARDS：　　〃Well；　until　they　miss　us；　and　run　back　to　pick　us　up；
I　shall　be　obliged　to　ask　your　indulgence。　　I　will　try　not　to　disturb
you；　I　would　go　out　and　stand　on　the　platform；　but　it's　raining。〃

MISS　GALBRAITH；　listening　to　the　rain…fall　on　the　roof：　　〃Why；　so　it
is！〃　　Timidly；　〃Did　you　notice　when　the　car　stopped？〃

MR。　RICHARDS：　　〃No。〃　　He　rises　and　goes　out　at　the　rear　door；　comes
back；　and　sits　down　again

MISS　GALBRAITH；　rises；　and　goes　to　the　large　mirror　to　wipe　away　her
tears。　　She　glances　at　Mr。　Richards；　who　does　not　move。　　She　sits
down　in　a　seat　nearer　him　than　the　chair　she　has　left。　　After　some
faint　murmurs　and　hesitations；　she　asks；　〃Will　you　please　tell　me　why
you　went　out　just　now？〃

MR。　RICHARDS；　with　indifference：　　〃Yes。　　I　went　to　see　if　the　rear
signal　was　out。〃

MISS　GALBRAITH；　after　another　hesitation：　　〃Why？〃

MR。　RICHARDS：　　〃Because；　if　it　wasn't　out；　some　train　might　run　into
us　from　that　direction。〃

MISS　GALBRAITH；　tremulously：　　〃Oh！　　And　was　it？〃

MR。　RICHARDS；　dryly：　　〃Yes。〃

MISS　GALBRAITH　returns　to　her　former　place；　with　a　wounded　air；　and
for　a　moment　neither　speaks。　　Finally　she　asks　very　meekly；　〃And
there's　no　danger　from　the　front？〃

MR。　RICHARDS；　coldly：　　〃No。〃

MISS　GALBRAITH；　after　some　little　noises　and　movements　meant　to　catch
Mr。　Richards's　attention：　　〃Of　course；　I　never　meant　to　imply　that
you　were　intentionally　careless　or　forgetful。〃

MR。　RICHARDS；　still　very　coldly：　　〃Thank　you。〃

MISS　GALBRAITH：　　〃I　always　did　justice　to　your　good…heartedness；
Allen；　you're　perfectly　lovely　that　way；　and　I　know　that　you　would　be
sorry　if　you　knew　you　had　wounded　my　feelings；　however　accidentally。〃
She　droops　her　head　so　as　to　catch　a　sidelong　glimpse　of　his　face；
and　sighs；　while　she　nervously　pinches　the　top　of　her　parasol；
resting　the　point　on　the　floor。　　Mr。　Richards　makes　no　answer。　　〃That
about　the　cigar…case　might　have　been　a　mistake；　I　saw　that　myself；
and；　as　you　explain　it；　why；　it　was　certainly　very　kind　and　very
creditable　toto　your　thoughtfulness。　　It　WAS　thoughtful！〃

MR。　RICHARDS：　　〃I　am　grateful　for　your　good　opinion。〃

MISS　GALBRAITH：　　〃But　do　you　think　it　was　exactlyit　was　quite
nice；　not　to　tell　me　that　your　brother's　engagement　was　to　be　kept；
when　you　know；　Allen；　I　can't　bear　to　blunder　in　such　things？〃
Tenderly；　〃DO　you？　　You　CAN'T　say　it　was？〃

MR。　RICHARDS：　　〃I　never　said　it　was。〃

MISS　GALBRAITH；　plaintively：　　〃No；　Allen。　　That's　what　I　always
admired　in　your　character。　　You　always　owned　up。　　Don't　you　think
it's　easier　for　men　to　own　up　than　it　is　for　women？〃

MR。　RICHARDS：　　〃I　don't　know。　　I　never　knew　any　woman　to　do　it。〃

MISS　GALBRAITH：　　〃Oh；　yes；　Allen！　　You　know　I　OFTEN　own　up。〃

MR。　RICHARDS：　　〃No；　I　don't。〃

MISS　GALBRAITH：　　〃Oh；　how　can　you　bear　to　say　so？　　When　I'm　rash；　or
anything　of　that　kind；　you　know　I　acknowledge　it。〃

MR。　RICHARDS：　　〃Do　you　acknowledge　it　now？〃

MISS　GALBRAITH：　　〃Why；　how　can　I；　when