cwilleford.cockfighter-第17部分

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　　Wele　news。　After　dropping　my　guitar　case　on　the　sofa　I　headed　for　the　bar。
　　〃There's　plenty　of　gin　if　you　don't　want　Scotch；〃　Tommy　suggested。
　　I　poured　two　ounces　of　Scotch　into　a　tall　glass　in　reply；　and　added　ice　cubes　and　soda。　An　uneasy　silence　settled　over　the　room　as　I　hooked　my　elbows　over　the　bar　and　faced　the　group。　Bernice；　or　Tommy；　one；　had　evidently　informed　them　about　my　inability　to　talk；　and　they　were　disturbed　by　my　silence。　The　two　matrons；　bulging　in　strapless　evening　gowns；　had　difficulty　in　averting　their　eyes　from　my　face。　I　doubt　if　they　meant　to　be　rude；　but　they　couldn't　keep　from　staring　at　me。　Dr。　McGuire；　standing　with　his　back　to　the　fireplace；　lit　a　cigar　and　studied　the　tip　through　his　bifocals。　Only　Bernice　was　at　ease；　sitting　fortably　on　the　long　bench　in　front　of　the　baby　grand　piano；　apparently　unaware　of　her　guests'　disfort。　Mr。　Hungerford；　Sr。；　cleared　his　throat　and　set　his　glass　down　on　a　low　coffee　table。
　　〃Bernice　tells　us　you　studied　under　Segovia；　Mr。　Mansfield；〃　he　said。
　　〃Yes；〃　Bernice　replied　for　me；　〃That's　what　Mr。　Vernon　told　us；　didn't　he；　Tommy？〃
　　〃That's　right。　And　he　played　a　beautiful　thing　written　by　Dr。　Albert　Schweitzet　I　hope　he'll　play　it　again　for　us。〃
　　〃African　rock　'n'　roll；　I　suppose；〃　Dr。　McGuire　chuckled　from　the　fireplace。　〃That　would　be　a　treat！〃　When　no　one　joined　him　in　his　laughter；　he　said　quickly；　〃We're　very　grateful　you　came　out　to　play　for　us；　Mr。　Mansfield。〃
　　I　finished　my　drink；　lifted　my　eyebrows　for　Tommy　Hungerford　to　mix　me　another。　I　took　my　guitar　out　of　the　case；　and　started　to　resting　it　with　another　〃G〃　string　to　replace　the　broken　one。　While　I　restrung　the　guitar；　Mrs。　Hungerford　asked　her　brother　and　the　doctor　to　move　chairs　into　the　center　of　the　room　and　form　a　line。　She　then　had　her　guests　sit　in　the　rearranged　chairs　facing　me；　as　I　stood　with　one　foot　on　the　piano　bench。　Tommy　Hungerford；　smiling　at　the　new　seating　arrangements；　remained　standing　at　the　bar。　I　plucked　and　tightened　the　new　string；　and　Bernice　hit　the　〃G〃　on　the　piano　for　me　until　I　had　the　guitar　in　tune。　Satisfied；　I　put　the　guitar　on　the　bench　and　returned　to　the　bar　for　my　fresh　drink。　The　small　audience　waited　patiently；　but　Dr。　McGuire　glowered　when　Tommy　insisted　that　I　have　another　before　I　began。　I　shook　my　head；　picked　up　my　guitar　and　played　through　my　threesong　repertoire　without　pause。
　　The　moment　I　hit　the　last　chord　I　smiled；　bowed　from　the　waist　and　put　the　guitar　back　in　the　case。　Bernice　Hungerford；　who　had　hovered　anxiously　behind　the　row　of　chairs　during　my　short　concert；　led　the　applause。
　　〃Is　that　all　he's　going　to　play；　Bernice？〃　the　doctor　asked。　〃I'd　like　to　hear　more。〃
　　〃I　think　we　all　would；〃　his　fat　wife　echoed。
　　I　shrugged；　and　joined　Tommy　at　the　bar　for　another　drink。
　　〃No；　that's　enough；〃　Bernice　said。　〃Mr。　Mansfield　has　been　playing　all　evening　and　he's　tired。　We　shouldn't　coax　him。　The　concert　is　all　over。　Go　on　home。　You've　been　fed；　you've　had　your　drinks；　now　go　on　home。〃
　　Bernice　herded　the　two　wives　out　of　the　room　to　get　their　wraps；　and　their　husbands　joined　Tommy　and　me　at　the　bar　for　a　nightcap。
　　〃You　play　very　well；　young　man；〃　Dr。　McGuire　said。　〃Did　you　ever　play　on　television？〃
　　I　shook　my　head；　and　added　Scotch　to　my　glass　to　cut　the　soda。
　　〃I　think　you　should　consider　television；　don't　you；　Tommy？〃
　　〃Not　really；　sir；〃　Tommy　wrinkled　his　brow。　〃I'm　not　so　sure　that　the　mass　audience　is　ready　for　classical　guitar　music。　I'm　trying　to　recall；　but　I　can't　remember　ever　hearing　or　seeing　a　string　quartet　on　television。　If　I　did；　I　can't　remember　it。〃
　　〃By　God；　I　haven't　either〃　the　doctor　said　strongly。　〃And　certainly　the　string　quartet　is　the　most　civilized　entertainment　in　the　world！　Don't　you　agree；　Mr。　Mansfield？〃
　　I　shrugged　my　shoulders　inside　my　jacket；　and　lit　a　cigarette。
　　He　didn't　want　a　reply；　anyway。　〃But　there's　a　definite　need　for　serious　music　on　TV；〃　he　continued。　〃And；　by　God；　the　public　should　be　forced　to　listen！　No　matter　how　stupid　people　are　today；　they　can　be　taught　to　appreciate　good　music。〃　He　banged　his　fist　on　the　bar。
　　The　two　middle…aged　men　drained　their　glasses　quickly　as　Bernice　came　into　the　room；　and　turned　to　join　their　wives　in　the　foyer。　Bernice　crossed　the　room；　and　placed　a　hand　on　my　arm。　So　far；　she　had　never　missed　a　chance　to　touch　me。
　　〃Mrs。　McGuire　would　like　to　know　if　you'd　consent　to　play　for　her　guests　next　Saturday　night。　She's　giving　a　party　quite　a　large　one；　and　she's　willing　to…〃
　　I　shook　my　head；　and　crushed　out　my　cigarette　in　a　white　Cinzano　ashtray。
　　〃It's　'no；　then？〃
　　I　nodded。　She　smiled；　turned　away　and　returned　to　the　foyer　to　say　good　night　to　her　guests　and　break　the　news　to　Mrs。　McGuire。
　　〃Tell　me　something；　Mr。　Mansfield；〃　Tommy　said　hesitantly。　〃Did　you　really　study　under　Segovia？〃
　　I　grinned；　and　shook　my　head。　After　setting　my　glass　down；　I　picked　up　my　guitar　case。　Tommy　laughed；　throwing　his　head　back。
　　〃I　didn't　think　you　did；　but　I'll　keep　your　secret　till　the　day　I　die。〃
　　Bernice　Hungerford　returned　with　a　smile　brightening　her　jolly　face。　I　didn't　know　why；　but　I　was　attracted　to　this　graceful；　pleasant　woman。　She　appeared　to　be　so　happy；　so　eager　to　please；　and　yet；　there　were　tiny；　tragic　lines　tugging　at　the　corners　of　her　full　lips。
　　〃I'll　drive　Mr。　Mansfield　back　into　town；　Auntie；〃　Tommy　said。
　　〃Oh；　no　you　won't！〃　Bernice　said　cheerfully。　She　took　the　guitar　case　out　of　my　hand　and　placed　it　on　the　couch。　〃I'll　drive　him　back　myself。　You　can　just　run　along；　Tommy。　I'm　going　to　fix　Mr。　Mansfield　something　to　eat…you　could　eat　something；　couldn't　you？〃
　　I　shrugged；　then　smiled。　She　hadn't　paid　the　twenty　dollars　yet；　and　I　could　always　eat　something。　The　cold　buffet　supper；　however；　didn't　appeal　to　me。　There　were　several　choices　of　lunch　meat；　cold　pork；　three　different　cheese　dips　and　pickles。　I　looked　distastefully　at　the　buffet　table。
　　〃Now；　don't　you　worry。〃　Bernice　said；　patting　my　arm　with　her　small；　white　hand。　〃I　won't　make　you　eat　the　remains　of　the　cold　supper。　I'll　fix　you　some　ham　and　eggs。〃
　　〃Me；　too；　Auntie　dear？〃　Tommy　grinned。
　　〃No；　not　you。　Don't　you　have　a　job　of　some　kind　to　report　to　in　the　morning？〃
　　Tommy　groaned。　〃Don't　remind　me。　Well；　good　night；　Mr。　Mansfield'　He　shook　hands　with　me；　brushed　his　lips　against　his　aunt's　cheek　and　made　his　departure　from　the　room。　A　few　moments　later　the　lights　of　his　Olds　flashed　on　the　picture　window　as　he　made　the　semicircle　to　the　street。
　　Now　that　we　were　alone　in　the　big　house；　Bernice's　posure　suddenly　disappeared。　She　blushed　furiously　under　my　level　stare；　and　then　took　my　hand。　〃e　on；〃　she　said　brightly。　〃You　can　keep　me　pany　in　the　kitchen　while　I　cook　for　you。〃
　　I　followed　her　into　the　kitchen；　and　sat　down　at　a　small　dinette　table　covered　with　a　blue…and…white　tablecloth。　There　were　louvered　windows　on　all　three　sides　of　the　small　dining　alcove；　but　the　kitchen　itself；　like　those　of　most　depression…built　homes；　was　a　large　one。　The　cooking　facilities　were　up　to　date；　however。　In　addition　to　a　new　yellow　enameled　electric　stove；　there　was　a　built…in　oven　with　a　glass　door；　and　a　row　of　plicated…looking　knobs　beneath　it。
　　〃There's　coffee　left；　but　its　been　setting　on　the　warm　burner　so　long　it's　probably　bitter　by　now。　I'd　better　make　fresh　coffee；　if　you　don't　mind　waiting　awhile；　but　by　that　time　I'll　have　the　other　things　ready。　I　think　that　coffee　setting　too　long　gets　bitter；　don't　you？　I've　got　some　mashed　potatoes　left　over　from　dinner；　and　I'll　make　some　nice　patties　to　go　with　your　ham。〃
　　Bernice　kept　a　running　patter　of　meaningless　small　talk　going　as　she　cooked；　and　I　listened　thoughtfully　and　smoked；　watching　her　deft；　efficient　movements　from　my　chair。　She　had　tied　a　frilly；　ruffled　white　apron　about　her　waist；　and　it　looked　out　of　whack　with　her　Kelly　green　evening　gown。　She　kept　talking　about　pleasant　things　to　eat；　and　I　got　hungrier　by　the　second。
　　She　wanted　to　please　me；　even　though　she　didn't　know　why。　She　knew　she　was　a　good　cook；　and　by　cooking　a　decent　meal　for　me；　she　knew　I　would　be　pleased。　If　I　was　pleased　with　her；　I'd　take　her　to　bed。　These　thoughts　probably　never　entered　her　conscious　mind；　but　I　sensed　this；　and　knew　instinctively　that　she　was　mine　if　I　wanted　her。　As　she　chattered　away；　gaily；　cheerfully；　I　learned　that　I　did　want　her；　very　much　so。　She　was　a　damned　attractive　woman；　a　little　heavy　in　the　thighs；　perhaps；　but　I　didn't　consider　that　a　detriment。　I　like　women　a　little　on　the　fleshy　side。　Skinny；　boyish…type　figures　may　be　admired　by　other　women；　but　not　by　most　men。
　　I　smiled　appreciatively；　showing　my　teeth；　when　she　set　the　huge　platter　before　me。　The　aroma　of　the　fried　ham　steak；　four　fried　eggs；　and　fluffy　potato　pancakes　all　blended　beautifully　as　they　entered　my　nose。　Bernice　poured　two　steaming　cups　of　fresh　coffee　and　sat　down　across　from　me　to　watch　me　eat；　her　face　flushed　from　recent　exertion　and　pleasure　as　I　stowed　the　food　away。
　　〃I　should　have　made　biscuits；〃　she　said；　〃but　I　could　tell　you　were　too　hungry　to　wait；　so　I　made　the　toast　instead。　Would　you　like　some　guava　jelly　for　your　toast？〃　She　started　to　get　up；　but　I　shook　my　head　violently；　and　she　remained　seated。
　　A　minute　later　she　smiled。　〃I　like　to　see　a　man　eat；〃　she　said　sincerely。
　　I've　heard　a　lot　of　women　make　that　trite　remark：　Grandma；　Mother；　when　she　was　still　alive；　and　a　good　many　others。　I　believe　women　really　do　like　to　see　men　eat；　especially　when　they're　fond　of　the　man　concerned；　and　he's　eating　food　they　have　prepared　for　him。　I　have　never　denied　any　woman　the　dubious　pleasure　of　watching　me　eat。　Outside　of　taking　care　of　a　man's　needs；　women　don't　get　very　much　pleasure　out　of　life　anyway。
　　When　I　finished　eating　everything　in　sight；　I　pushed　the　empty　platter　to　one　side；　and　wiped　my　mouth　with　a　square　of　white　damask　napkin。　Smiling　over　the　lip　of　her　cup；　Bernice　nodded　with　satisfaction。　I　winked　slowly；　returned　her　smile；　and　she　blushed　and　lowered　her　eyes。
　　〃My　husband's　been　dead　for　five　years；　Mr。　Mansfield；〃　she　said　shyly。　〃You　don't　know　how　nice　it