ragged lady, v1-第4部分

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〃No；　I　didn't；　young　man；〃　answered　the　elder　sharply。　　But　the　next
moment　he　added；　〃Come　to　think　of　it；　I　guess　it's　just　as　well。　　You
needn't　get　me　no　driver。　　I　guess　I　know　the　way　well　enough。　　You　put
me　in　a　hitchin'　strap。〃

〃All　right；　Mr。　Lander；〃　said　the　clerk；　meekly。

The　landlord　had　caught　the　peremptory　note　in　Lander's　voice；　and　he
came　out　of　his　room　again　to　see　that　there　was　nothing　going　wrong。

〃It's　all　right；〃　said　Lander；　and　went　out　and　got　into　his　buckboard。

〃Same　horse　you　had　yesterday；〃　said　the　young　clerk。　　〃You　don't　need　to
spare　the　whip。〃

〃I　guess　I　can　look　out　for　myself；〃　said　Lander；　and　he　shook　the　reins
and　gave　the　horse　a　smart　cut；　as　a　hint　of　what　he　might　expect。

The　landlord　joined　the　clerk　in　looking　after　the　brisk　start　the　horse
made。　　〃Not　the　way　he　set　off　with　the　old　lady；　yesterday；〃　suggested
the　clerk。

The　landlord　rolled　his　cigar　round　in　his　tubed　lips。　　〃I　guess　he's
used　to　ridin'　after　a　good　hoss。〃　　He　added　gravely　to　the　clerk；　〃You
don't　want　to　make　very　free　with　that　man；　Mr。　Pane。　　He　won't　stan'　it；
and　he's　a　class　of　custom　that　you　want　to　cata　to　when　it　comes　in　your
way。　　I　suspicioned　what　he　was　when　they　came　here　and　took　the　highest
cost　rooms　without　tu'nin'　a　haia。　　They're　a　class　of　custom　that　you
won't　get　outside　the　big　hotels　in　the　big　reso'ts。　　Yes；　sir；〃　said　the
landlord　taking　a　fresh　start；　〃they're　them　kind　of　folks　that　live　the
whole　yea'　round　in　hotels；　no'th　in　summa；　south　in　winta；　and　city
hotels　between　times。　　They　want　the　best　their　money　can　buy；　and　they
got　plenty　of　it。　　She〃he　meant　Mrs。　Lander〃has　been　tellin'　my　wife
how　they　do；　she　likes　to　talk　a　little　betta　than　he　doos；　and　I　guess
when　it　comes　to　society；　they're　away　up；　and　they　won't　stun'　any
nonsense。〃




III。

Lander　came　into　his　wife's　room　between　ten　and　eleven　o'clock；　and
found　her　still　in　bed；　but　with　her　half…finished　breakfast　on　a　tray
before　her。　　As　soon　as　he　opened　the　door　she　said；　〃I　do　wish　you　would
take　some　of　that　heat…tonic　of　mine；　Albe't；　that　the　docta　left　for　me
in　Boston。　　You'll　find　it　in　the　upper　right　bureau　box；　the'a；　and　I
know　it'll　be　the　very　thing　for　you。　　It'll　relieve　you　of　that
suffocatin'　feeling　that　I　always　have；　comin'　up　stars。　　Dea'！　　I　don't
see　why　they　don't　have　an　elevata；　they　make　you　pay　enough；　and　I　wish
you'd　get　me　a　little　more　silva；　so's't　I　can　give　to　the　chambamaid　and
the　bell…boy；　I　do　hate　to　be　out　of　it。　　I　guess　you　been　up　and　out
long　ago。　　They　did　make　that　polonaise　of　mine　too　tight　after　all　I
said；　and　I've　been　thinkin'　how　I　could　get　it　alt'ed；　but　I　presume
there　ain't　a　seamstress　to　be　had　around　he'e　for　love　or　money。　　Well；
now；　that's　right；　Albe't；　I'm　glad　to　see　you　doin'　it。〃

Lander　had　opened　the　lid　of　the　bureau　box；　and　uncorked　a　bottle　from
it；　and　tilted　this　to　his　lips。

〃Don't　take　too　much；〃　she　cautioned　him；　〃or　you'll　lose　the　effects。
When　I　take　too　much　of　a　medicine；　it's　wo'se　than　nothing；　as　fah's　I
can　make　out。　　When　I　had　that　spell　in　Thomasville　spring　before　last；
I　believe　I　should　have　been　over　it　twice　as　quick　if　I　had　taken　just
half　the　medicine　I　did。　　You　don't　really　feel　anyways　bad　about　the
heat；　do　you；　Albe't？〃

〃I'm　all　right；〃　said　Lander。　　He　put　back　the　bottle　in　its　place　and
sat　down。

Mrs。　Lander　lifted　herself　on　her　elbow　and　looked　over　at　him。
〃Show　me　on　the　bottle　how　much　you　took。〃

He　got　the　bottle　out　again　and　showed　her　with　his　thumb　nail　a　point
which　he　chose　at　random。

〃Well；　that　was　just　about　the　dose　for　you；〃　she　said；　and　she　sank　down
in　bed　again　with　the　air　of　having　used　a　final　precaution。　　〃You　don't
want　to　slow　your　heat　up　too　quick。〃

Lander　did　not　put　the　bottle　back　this　time。　　He　kept　it　in　his　hand；
with　his　thumb　on　the　cork；　and　rocked　it　back　and　forth　on　his　knees　as
he　spoke。　　〃Why　don't　you　get　that　woman　to　alter　it　for　you？〃

〃What　woman　alta　what？〃

〃Your　polonaise。　　The　one　whe'e　we　stopped　yestaday。〃

〃Oh！　　Well；　I've　been　thinkin'　about　that　child；　Albe't；　I　did　before　I
went　to　sleep；　and　I　don't　believe　I　want　to　risk　anything　with　her。　　It
would　be　a　ca'e；〃　said　Mrs。　Lander　with　a　sigh；　〃and　I　guess　I　don't　want
to　take　any　moa　ca'e　than　what　I've　got　now。　　What　makes　you　think　she
could　alta　my　polonaise？〃

〃Said　she　done　dress…makin'；〃　said　Lander；　doggedly。

〃You　ha'n't　been　the'a？〃

He　nodded。

〃You　didn't　say　anything　to　her　about　her　daughta？〃

〃Yes；　I　did；〃　said　Lander。

〃Well；　you　ce'tainly　do　equal　anything；〃　said　his　wife。　　She　lay　still
awhile；　and　then　she　roused　herself　with　indignant　energy。　　〃Well；　then；
I　can　tell　you　what；　Albe't　Landa：　yon　can　go　right　straight　and　take
back　everything　you　said。　　I　don't　want　the　child；　and　I　won't　have　her。
I've　got　care　enough　to　worry　me　now；　I　should　think；　and　we　should　have
her　whole　family　on　our　hands；　with　that　shiftless　father　of　hers；　and
the　whole　pack　of　her　brothas　and　sistas。　　What　made　you　think　I　wanted
you　to　do　such　a　thing？〃

〃You　wanted　me　to　do　it　last　night。　　Wouldn't　ha'dly　let　me　go　to　bed。〃

〃Yes！　　And　how　many　times　have　I　told　you　nova　to　go　off　and　do　a　thing
that　I　wanted　you　to；　unless　you　asked　me　if　I　did？　　Must　I　die　befo'e
you　can　find　out　that　there　is　such　a　thing　as　talkin'；　and　such　anotha
thing　as　doin'？　　You　wouldn't　get　yourself　into　half　as　many　scrapes　if
you　talked　more　and　done　less；　in　this　wo'ld。〃　　Lander　rose。

〃Wait！　　Hold　on！　　What　are　you　going　to　say　to　the　pooa　thing？　　She'll　be
so　disappointed！〃

〃I　don't　know　as　I　shall　need　to　say　anything　myself；〃　answered　the
little　man；　at　his　dryest。　　〃Leave　that　to　you。〃

〃Well；　I　can　tell　you；〃　returned　his　wife；　〃I'm　not　goin'　nea'　them
again；　and　if　you　think　What　did　you　ask　the　woman；　anyway？〃

〃I　asked　her；〃　he　said；　〃if　she　wanted　to　let　the　gul　come　and　see　you
about　some　sewing　you　had　to　have　done；　and　she　said　she　did。〃

〃And　you　didn't　speak　about　havin'　her　come　to　live　with　us？〃

〃No。〃

〃Well；　why　in　the　land　didn't　you　say　so　before；　Albe't？〃

〃You　didn't　ask　me。　　What　do　you　want　I　should　say　to　her　now？〃

〃Say　to　who？〃

〃The　gul。　　She's　down　in　the　pahlor；　waitin'。〃

〃Well；　of　all　the　men！〃　　cried　Mrs。　Lander。　　But　she　seemed　to　find
herself；　upon　reflection；　less　able　to　cope　with　Lander　personally　than
with　the　situation　generally。　　〃Will　you　send　her　up；　Albe't？〃　she　asked；
very　patiently；　as　if　he　might　be　driven　to　further　excesses；　if　not
delicately　handled。　　As　soon　as　he　had　gone　out　of　the　room　she　wished
that　she　had　told　him　to　give　her　time　to　dress　and　have　her　room　put　in
order；　before　he　sent　the　child　up；　but　she　could　only　make　the　best　of
herself　in　bed　with　a　cap　and　a　breakfast　jacket；　arranged　with　the　help
of　a　handglass。　　She　had　to　get　out　of　bed　to　put　her　other　clothes　away
in　the　closet　and　she　seized　the　chance　to　push　the　breakfast　tray　out　of
the　door；　and　smooth　up　the　bed；　while　she　composed　her　features　and　her
ideas　to　receive　her　visitor。　　Both；　from　long　habit　rather　than　from　any
cause　or　reason；　were　of　a　querulous　cast；　and　her　ordinary　tone　was　a
snuffle　expressive　of　deep…seated　affliction。　　She　was　at　once　plaintive
and　voluable；　and　in　moments　of　excitement　her　need　of　freeing　her　mind
was　so　great　that　she　took　herself　into　her　own　confidence；　and　found　a
more　sympathetic　listener　than　when　she　talked　to　her　husband。　　As　she
now　whisked　about　her　room　in　her　bed…gown　with　an　activity　not
predicable　of　her　age　and　shape；　and　finally　plunged　under　the　covering
and　drew　it　up　to　her　chin　with　one　hand　while　she　pressed　it　out
decorously　over　her　person　with　the　other；　she　kept　up　a　rapid　flow　of
lamentation　and　conjecture。　　〃I　do　suppose　he'll　be　right　back　with　her
before　I'm　half　ready；　and　what　the　man　was　thinkin'　of　to　do　such　a
thing　anyway；　I　don't　know。　　I　don't　know　as　she'll　notice　much；　comin'
out　of　such　a　lookin'　place　as　that；　and　I　don't　know　as　I　need　to　care
if　she　did。　　But　if　the'e's　care　anywhe's　around；　I　presume　I'm　the　one
to　have　it。　　I　presume　I　did　take　a　fancy　to　her；　and　I　guess　I　shall　be
glad　to　see　how　I　like　her　now；　and　if　he's　only　told　her　I　want　some
sewin'　done；　I　can　scrape　up　something　to　let　her　carry　home　with　her。
It's　well　I　keep　my　things　where　I　can　put　my　hand　on　'em　at　a　time　like
this；　and　I　don't　believe　I　shall　sca'e　the　child；　as　it　is。　　I　do　hope
Albe't　won't　hang　round　half　the　day　before　he　brings　her；　I　like　to　have
a　thing　ova。〃

Lander　wandered　about　looking　for　the　girl　through　the　parlors　and　the
piazzas；　and　then　went　to　the　office　to　ask　what　had　become　of　her。

The　landlord　came　out　of　his　room　at　his　question　to　the　clerk。　　〃Oh；　I
guess　she's　round　in　my　wife's　room；　Mr。　Landa。　　She　always　likes　to　see
Clementina；　and　I　guess　they　all　do。　　She's　a　so't　o'　pet　amongst　'em。〃

〃No　hurry；〃　said　Lander；　〃I　guess　my　wife　ain't　quite　ready　for　her　yet。〃

〃Well；　she'll　be　right　out；　in　a　minute　or　so；〃　said　the　landlord。

The　old　man　tilted　his　hat　forward　over　his　eyes；　and　went　to　sit　on　the
veranda　and　look　at　the　landscape　while　he　waited。　　It　was　one　of　the
loveliest　landscapes　in　the　mountains；　the　river　flowed　at　the　foot　of　an
abrupt　slope　from　the　road　before　the　hotel；　stealing　into　and　out　of　the
valley；　and　the　mountains；　gray　in　the　farther　distance；　were　draped　with
folds　of　cloud　hanging　upon　their　flanks　and　tops。　　But　Lander　was　tired
of　nearly　all　kinds　of　views　and　prospects；　though　he　put'　up　with　them；
in　his　perpetual　movement　from　place　to　place；　in　the　same　resignation
that　he　suffered　the　limitations　of　comfort　in　parlor　cars　and　sleepers；
and　the　unwholesomeness　of　hotel　tables。　　He　was　chained　to　the　restless
pursuit　of　an　ideal　not　his　own；　but　doomed　to　suffer　for　its
impossibility　as　if　he　contrived　each　of　his　wife's　disappointments　from
it。　　He　did　not　philosophize　his　situation；　but　accepted　it　as　in　an
order　of　Providence　which　it　would　be　useless　for　him　to　oppose；　though
there　were　moments　when　he　permitted　himself　to　feel　a　modest　doubt　of
it