ragged lady, v1-第13部分

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〃I'm　not　going；〃　Clementina　answered；　and　she　did　not　move。

〃Not　goin'！　　Why　the　land　o'〃

〃Oh；　I　can't　go；　Mrs。　Atwell。　　Don't　ask　me！　　Tell　Mrs。　Milray；　please！〃

〃I　will；　when　I　got　something　to　tell；〃　said　Mrs。　Atwell。　　〃Now；　you　just
say　what's　happened；　Clementina　Claxon！　　〃Clementina　suffered　the　woful
truth　to　be　drawn　from　her。　　〃But　you　don't　know　whether　it's　so　or　not；〃
the　landlady　protested。

〃Yes；　yes；　I　do！　　It　was　the　fast　thing　I　thought　of；　and　the　chef
wouldn't　have　said　it　if　he　didn't　believe　it。〃

〃That's　just　what　he　would　done；〃　cried　Mrs。　Atwell。　　〃And　I'll　give　him
such　a　goin'　ova；　for　his　teasin'；　as　he　ain't　had　in　one　while。　　He　just
said　it　to　tease。　　What　you　goin'　to　say　to　Mrs。　Milray？〃

〃Oh；　tell　her　I'm　not　a　bit　well；　Mrs。　Atwell！　　My　head　does　ache；
truly。〃

〃Why；　listen；〃　said　Mrs。　Atwell；　recklessly。　　〃If　you　believe　he　done　it
and　he　no　business　towhy　don't　you　just　go　to　the　dance；　in　'em；　and
then　give　'em　back　to　him　after　it's　ova？　　It　would　suv　him　right。〃

Clementina　listened　for　a　moment　of　temptation；　and　then　shook　her　head。
〃It　wouldn't　do；　Mrs。　Atwell；　you　know　it　wouldn't；〃　she　said；　and　Mrs。
Atwell　had　too　little　faith　in　her　suggestion　to　make　it　prevail。　　She
went　away　to　carry　Clementina's　message　to　Mrs。　Milray；　and　her　task　was
greatly　eased　by　the　increasing　difficulty　Mrs。　Milray　had　begun　to　find；
since　the　way　was　perfectly　smoothed　for　her；　in　imagining　the　management
of　Clementina　at　the　dance：　neither　child　nor　woman；　neither　servant　nor
lady；　how　was　she　to　be　carried　successfully　through　it；　without　sorrow
to　herself　or　offence　to　others？　　In　proportion　to　the　relief　she　felt；
Mrs。　Milray　protested　her　irreconcilable　grief；　but　when　the　simpler　Mrs。
Atwell　proposed　her　going　and　reasoning　with　Clementina；　she　said；　No；
no；　better　let　her　alone；　if　she　felt　as　she　did；　and　perhaps　after　all
she　was　right。




XI。

Clementina　listened　to　the　music　of　the　dance；　till　the　last　note　was
played；　and　she　heard　the　gay　shouts　and　laughter　of　the　dancers　as　they
issued　from　the　ball　room　and　began　to　disperse　about　the　halls　and
verandas；　and　presently　to　call　good　night　to　one　another。　　Then　she
lighted　her　lamp；　and　put　the　slippers　back　into　the　box　and　wrapped　it
up　in　the　nice　paper　it　had　come　in；　and　tied　it　with　the　notched　ribbon。
She　thought　how　she　had　meant　to　put　the　slippers　away　so；　after　the
dance；　when　she　had　danced　her　fill　in　them；　and　how　differently　she　was
doing　it　all　now。　　She　wrote　the　clerk's　。name　on　the　parcel；　and　then
she　took　the　box；　and　descended　to　the　office　with　it。　　There　seemed　to
be　nobody　there；　but　at　the　noise　of　her　step　Fane　came　round　the　case　of
letter…boxes；　and　advanced　to　meet　her　at　the　long　desk。

〃What's　wanted；　Miss　Claxon？〃　he　asked；　with　his　hopeless　respectfulness。
〃Anything　I　can　do　for　you？〃

She　did　not　answer；　but　looked　him　solemnly　in　the　eyes　and　laid　the
parcel　down　on　the　open　register；　and　then　went　out。

He　looked　at　the　address　on　the　parcel；　and　when　he　untied　it；　the　box
fell　open　and　the　shoes　fell　out　of　it；　as　they　had　with　Clementina。　　He
ran　with　them　behind　the　letter…box　frame；　and　held　them　up　before
Gregory；　who　was　seated　there　on　the　stool　he　usually　occupied；　gloomily
nursing　his　knee。

〃What　do　you　suppose　this　means；　Frank？〃

Gregory　looked　at　the　shoes　frowningly。　　〃They're　the　slippers　she　got
to…day。　　She　thinks　you　sent　them　to　her。〃

〃And　she　wouldn't　have　them　because　she　thought　I　sent　them！　　As　sure　as
I'm　standing　here；　I　never　did　it；〃　said　the　clerk；　solemnly。

〃I　know　it；〃　said　Gregory。　　〃I　sent　them。〃

〃You！〃

〃What's　so　wonderful？〃　　Gregory　retorted。　　〃I　saw　that　she　wanted　them
that　day　when　the　shoe　peddler　was　here。　　I　could　see　it；　and　you　could。〃

〃Yes。〃

〃I　went　across　into　the　woods；　and　the　man　overtook　me　with　his　wagon。　　I
was　tempted；　and　I　bought　the　slippers　of　him。　　I　wanted　to　give　them　to
her　then；　but　I　resisted；　and　I　thought　I　should　never　give　them。　　To…
day；　when　I　heard　that　she　was　going　to　that　dance；　I　sent　them　to　her
anonymously。　　That's　all　there　is　about　it。〃

The　clerk　had　a　moment　of　bitterness。　　〃If　she'd　known　it　was　you；　she
wouldn't　have　given　them　back。〃

〃That's　to　be　seen。　　I　shall　tell　her；　now。　　I　never　meant　her　to　know；
but　she　must；　because　she's　doing　you　wrong　in　her　ignorance。〃

Gregory　was　silent；　and　Fane　was　trying　to　measure　the　extent　of　his　own
suffering；　and　to　get　the　whole　bearing　of　the　incident　in　his　mind。　　In
the　end　his　attempt　was　a　failure。　　He　asked　Gregory；　〃And　do　you　think
you've　done　just　right　by　me？〃

〃I've　done　right　by　nobody；〃　said　Gregory；　〃not　even　by　myself；　and　I　can
see　that　it　was　my　own　pleasure　I　had　in　mind。　　I　must　tell　her　the
truth；　and　then　I　must　leave　this　place。〃

〃I　suppose　you　want　I　should　keep　it　quiet；〃　said　Fane。

〃I　don't　ask　anything　of　you。〃

〃And　she　wouldn't；〃　said　Fane；　after　reflection。　　〃But　I　know　she'd　be
glad　of　it；　and　I　sha'n't　say　anything。　　Of　course；　she　never　can　care
for　me；　andthere's　my　hand　with　my　word；　if　you　want　it。〃　　Gregory
silently　took　the　hand　stretched　toward　him　and　Fane　added：　〃All　I'll　ask
is　that　you'll　tell　her　I　wouldn't　have　presumed　to　send　her　the　shoes。
She　wouldn't　be　mad　at　you　for　it。〃

Gregory　took　the　box；　and　after　some　efforts　to　speak；　he　went　away。　　It
was　an　old　trouble；　an　old　error；　an　old　folly；　he　had　yielded　to　impulse
at　every　step；　and　at　every　step　he　had　sinned　against　another　or　against
himself。　　What　pain　he　had　now　given　the　simple　soul　of　Fane；　what　pain
he　had　given　that　poor　child　who　had　so　mistaken　and　punished　the　simple
soul！　　With　Fane　it　was　over　now；　but　with　Clementina　the　worst　was
perhaps　to　come　yet。　　He　could　not　hope　to　see　the　girl　before　morning；
and　then；　what　should　he　say　to　her？　　At　sight　of　a　lamp　burning　in　Mrs。
Atwell's　room；　which　was　on　a　level　with　the　veranda　where　he　was
walking；　it　came　to　him　that　first　of　all　he　ought　to　go　to　her；　and
confess　the　whole　affair；　if　her　husband　were　with　her；　he　ought　to
confess　before　him；　they　were　there　in　the　place　of　the　child's　father
and　mother；　and　it　was　due　to　them。　　As　he　pressed　rapidly　toward　the
light　he　framed　in　his　thought　the　things　he　should　say；　and　he　did　not
notice；　as　he　turned　to　enter　the　private　hallway　leading　to　Mrs。
Atwell's　apartment；　a　figure　at　the　door。　　It　shrank　back　from　his
contact；　and　he　recognized　Clementina。　　His　purpose　instantly　changed；
and　he　said；　〃Is　that　you；　Miss　Claxon？　　I　want　to　speak　with　you。　　Will
you　come　a　moment　where　I　can？〃

〃II　don't　know　as　I'd　betta；〃　she　faltered。　　But　she　saw　the　box　under
his　arm；　and　she　thought　that　he　wished　to　speak　to　her　about　that；　and
she　wanted　to　hear　what　he　would　say。　　She　had　been　waiting　at　the　door
there；　because　she　could　not　bear　to　go　to　her　room　without　having
something　more　happen。

〃You　needn't　be　afraid。　　I　shall　not　keep　you。　　Come　with　me　a　moment。
There　is　something　I　must　tell　you　at　once。　　You　have　made　a　mistake。
And　it　is　my　fault。　　Come！〃

Clementina　stepped　out　into　the　moonlight　with　him；　and　they　walked
across　the　grass　that　sloped　between　the　hotel　and　the　river。　　There　were
still　people　about；　late　smokers　singly；　and　in　groups　along　the　piazzas；
and　young　couples；　like　themselves；　strolling　in　the　dry　air；　under　the
pure　sky。

Gregory　made　several　failures　in　trying　to　begin；　before　he　said：　〃I　have
to　tell　you　that　you　are　mistaken　about　Mr。　Fane。　　I　was　there　behind　the
letter　boxes　when　you　came　in；　and　I　know　that　you　left　these　shoes
because　you　thought　he　sent　them　to　you。　　He　didn't　send　them。〃
Clementina　did　not　say　anything；　and　Gregory　was　forced　to　ask：　〃Do　you
wish　to　know　who　sent　them？　　I　won't　tell　you　unless　you　do　wish　it。〃

〃I　think　I　ought　to　know；〃　she　said；　and　she　asked；　〃Don't　you？〃

〃Yes；　for　you　must　blame　some　one　else　now；　for　what　you　thought　Fane
did。　　I　sent　them　to　you。〃

Clementina's　heart　gave　a　leap　in　her　breast；　and　she　could　not　say
anything。　　He　went　on。

〃I　saw　that　you　wanted　them　that　day；　and　when　the　peddler　happened　to
overtake　me　in　the　woods　where　I　was　walking；　after　I　left　you；　I　acted
on　a　sudden　impulse；　and　I　bought　them　for　you。　　I　meant　to　send　them　to
you　anonymously；　then。　　I　had　committed　one　error　in　acting　upon　impulse…
my　rashness　is　my　besetting　sinand　I　wished　to　add　a　species　of　deceit
to　that。　　But　I　was　kept　from　it　until…to…day。　　I　hoped　you　would　like　to
wear　them　to　the　dance　to…night；　and　I　put　them　in　the　post…office　for
you　myself。　　Mr。　Fane　didn't　know　anything　about　it。　　That　is　all。　　I　am
to　blame；　and　no　one　else。〃

He　waited　for　her　to　speak；　but　Clementina　could　only　say；　〃I　don't　know
what　to　say。〃

〃You　can't　say　anything　that　would　be　punishment　enough　for　me。　　I　have
acted　foolishly；　cruelly。〃

Clementina　did　not　think　so。　　She　was　not　indignant；　as　she　was　when　she
thought　Fane　had　taken　this　liberty　with　her；　but　if　Mr。　Gregory　thought
it　was　so　very　bad；　it　must　be　something　much　more　serious　than　she　had
imagined。　　She　said；　〃I　don't　see　why　you　wanted　to　do　it；〃　hoping　that
he　would　be　able　to　tell　her　something　that　would　make　his　behavior　seem
less　dreadful　than　he　appeared　to　think　it　was。

〃There　is　only　one　thing　that　could　justify　it；　and　that　is　something
that　I　cannot　justify。〃　　It　was　very　mysterious；　but　youth　loves　mystery；
and　Clementina　was　very　young。　　〃I　did　it；〃　said　Gregory　solemnly；　and　he
felt　that　now　he　was　acting　from　no　impulse；　but　from　a　wisely　considered
decision　which　he　might　not　fail　in　without　culpability；　〃because　I　love
you。〃

〃Oh！〃　said　Clementina；　and　she　started　away　from　him。

〃I　knew　that　it　would　make　me　detestable！〃　he　cried；　bitterly。　　〃I　had　to
tell　you；　to　explain　what　I　did。　　I　couldn't　help　doing　it。　　But　now　if
you　can　forget　it；　and　never　think　of　me　again；　I　can　go　away；　and　try　to
atone　for　it　somehow。　　I　shall　be　guided。〃

Clementina　did　not　know　why　she　ought　to　feel　affronted　or　injured　by
what　he　had　said　to　her；　but　if　Mr。　Gregory　thought　it　was　wrong　for　him
to　have　spoken　so；　it　must　be　wrong。　　She　did　not　w