time enough for love-时间足够你爱(英文版)-第116部分

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　　Mr；　Johnson　read　it。　〃Ted；　if　you're　trying　to　give　me　your　automobile；　you　can　think　again。〃
　　
　　〃That's　only　a　nominal　conveyance　of　title；　sir。　What　I　would　like　is　to　leave　it　with　you。　Brian　can　drive　it；　he's　a　good　driver　now；　he's　a　natural。　You　can　drive　it；　even　Mrs。　Smith　might　want　to　learn。　When　Lieutenant　Smith　is　home；　he　may　find　it　convenient。　But　if　they　send　me　for　training　anywhere　near　here　and　I　get　time　off　before　I'm　sent　overseas；　I'd　like　to　feel　free　to　use　it　myself。〃
　　
　　〃But　why　hand　me　a　bill　of　sale？　Sure；　it　can　sit　in　the　barn
　　
　　and　no　doubt　Brian…both　of　them…would　drive　it。　Might　learn　to　herd　it　myself~　But　no　need　for　this。〃
　　
　　〃Oh。　I　didn't　make　myself　clear。　Suppose　I'm　off　somewhere；　say　in　New　Jersey…but　want　to　sell　it。　I　can　drop　you　a　penny　postcard；　and　it'S　easy；　because　you'll　have　that。〃　Lazarus　added　thoughtfully；　〃Or　I　might　fall　down　that　ladder　。　。　in　which　case　the　same　reasoning　applies。　If　you　don't　want　it；　you　can　sign　it　over　to　Brian　Junior。　Or　whatever。　Mr。
　　
　　512Johnson；　you　know　I　don't　have　any　relatives…so　why　not　let
　　
　　…　…it　run　easy？〃
　　
　　Before　Gramp　could　reply；　Mrs。　Smith　came　in；　dressed　in　her　best　and　smiling~　（a？d　had　been　crying；　Lazarus　felt　certain）。　She　extended　her　hand。　〃Mr。　Bronson！　We　are　all　so　proud　of　you！〃
　　
　　Her　voice；　her　fragrance；　the　touch　of　her　hand；　her　proud　joy；　all　hit　Lazarus　in　the　gut；　his　careful　conditioning　was　swept　away。　（Maureen　beloved；　it's　lucky　that　I'm　being　sent　away　at　once。　Safer　for　you；　…　better　all　around。　But　I　did　it　to
　　
　　make　you　proud　of　me；　and　now　my　cup　runh　over…and　please　ask　rile　to　sit　down　before　Gramp　notices　the　tilt　of　my
　　
　　kilt！）
　　
　　~Thank　you；　Mrs。　Smith。　I　just　stopped　by　to　say　thank　you　and　good…bye…and　good　night；　too；　as　I'm　shipping　out　early　tomorrow　morning。〃　…
　　
　　〃Oh；　do　please　sit　down！　Coffee　at　least；　and　the　children　will　want　to　say　good…bye　to　you；　too。〃
　　
　　An　hour　later　he　was　still　there　and　still　happier…happy　all　through。　The　candy　had　been　opened　after　he　had　presented　it　to　Carol　for　all　of　them。　Lazarus　had　drunk　much　coffee　thick　with　cream　and　sugar　and　had　eaten　a　hefty　slice　of　home…baked　white　cake　with　chocolate　icing；　then　accepted　a　second　while　admitting　that　he　had　not　eaten　since　breakfast
　　
　　…then　protested　when　Maureen　wanted　to　jump　up　and　cook。　They　reached　…　a　promise　under　which　Carol　went　out　to　make　a　sandwich　for　him。
　　
　　〃It's　been　a　confusing　day；〃　he　explained；　〃and　1　haven't　had　time　to　eat。　You　caused　me　to　change　plans；　Mr。　Johnson。〃
　　
　　〃I　did；　Ted？　How？〃
　　
　　〃You　know…I　think　I've　told　you　both…that　I　planned　to　make　a　business　trip　to　San　Francisco　leaving　the　first　of　July。　Then　this　happens…Congress　declaring　war…and　I　decided　to　make　the　trip　at　once；　settle　my　affairs　there…then　enlist。
　　
　　When　I　saw　you　I　was　all　set　to　leave；　packed　and　everything
　　
　　…and　you　made　me　realize　that　the　Kaiser　wouldn't　wait　while　I　took　care　of　private　affairs。　So　I　joined　up　at　once。〃　Lazarus　managed　to　look　sheepish。　〃My　packed　grip　is　still　out　in　the　car；　going　nowhere。〃　…　…
　　
　　Ira　Johnson　looked　pained。　〃I　didn't　mean　to　rush　you；　Ted。　'Twouldn't　have　l~urt　to　take　a　few　days　to　wind　up　your　affairs；　they　can't　organize　an　army　overnight。　I　…know；　I　saw　'em　try；　in　'Niy…eight。　Mrrph。　Perhaps　I　could　make　the　trip
　　
　　513for　you？　As　yotir　agent。　Seeing　that…　Well；　doesn't　look　like　I'm　going　to　be　too　busy。〃
　　
　　〃No；　no！　A　million　thanks；　sir…but　I　hadn't　been　thinking　straight。　Thinking　'peacetime'　instead　of　'wartime'　until　you　got　me　back　on　the　rails。　I　went　to　Western　Union　and　wrote　a　night　letter　to　my　broker　in　Frisco；　telling　him　what　I　wanted　him　to　do；　then　I　wrote　a　note　appointing　him　my　attorney…in…fact　and　got　it　notarized　and　went　to　the　downtown　post　office　and　registered　it　to　him。　All　done；　everything　taken　care　of。〃　Lazarus　was　enjoying　the　improvisation　so　much　be　almost　…　believed　it。　〃Then　i　went　downstairs　and　enlisted。　But　that　grip…Do　you　suppose　you　could　put　it　in　your　garret？　I　won't　be　taking　a　grip　to　soldier。　Just　a　few　toilet　articles。〃
　　
　　〃I'll　take　care　of　it；　Mr。　Bronson！〃　said　Brian　Junior。　〃In　my　room！〃
　　
　　〃In　our　room；〃　George　corrected。　〃We'll　take　care　of　it。〃
　　
　　〃Hold　it；　boys。　Ted？　Would　it　break　your　heart　if　you　lost　that　grip？〃　…
　　
　　〃Not　at　all；　Mr。　Johnson。　Why？〃
　　
　　〃Then　take　it　with　you。　But　when　you　get　…　back　to　your　flat　tonight；　pack　it　differently。　You　put　in　white　shirts　and　stiff　collars；　no　doubt。　You　won't　need　those。　If　you've　got　any　work　shirts；　take　those。　Be　sure　to　take　a　pair　of　wellbroken…in　high　shoes　you　can　march　in；　Socks…aII　you　own。　Underwear。　It's　my　guess…based　on　sad　experience…that　they　won't　have　enough　uniforms　right　away。　Confusion；　and
　　
　　lots　of　it。　You　may　be　soldiering　for　a　month　or　more　in　what　you　carry　with　you。〃
　　
　　〃I　think；〃　Mrs。　Smith　said　seriously；　〃that　Father　is　right；　Mr。　Bronson。　Mr。　Smith…Lieutenant　Smith；　my　husband…　was　saying　something　like　it　before　he　left。　He　left　without　waiting　for　his　telegram…it　came　hours　later…because　he　said　he　knew　that　there　would　be　confusion　at　first。〃　Her　mouth　twitched。　〃Although　he　said　it　more　forcefully。〃
　　
　　〃Daughter；　no　matter　how　Brian　put　it；　it　wasn't　forceful　enough。　Ted　will　be　lucky　if　his　beans　are　on　time。　Any？man　who　can　tell　his　right　foot　from　his　left　will　be　grabbed　and　made　acting　corporal；　they　won't　care　how　he's　dressed。　But　you　care；　Ted…so　take　along　clothes　you　might　wear　on　a　farm。　And　shoes…fortable　shoes　that　won't　put　blisters　on　you　the　first　mile。　Mmm…　Ted；　do　you　know　the　coldcream　trick？　To　use　on　your　feet　when　you　know　you　might　have　your　shoes　on　for　a　week　or　more？〃
　　
　　〃No；　sir；〃　Lazarus　answered。　（Gramp；　you　taught　it　to　me　once　before…or　maybe　〃after〃…and　it　works；　and　I've　never　forgotten　it。）
　　
　　〃If　possible；　have　your　feet　clean　and　dry。　Smear　your　feet　all　over　and　especially　between　your　toes　with　cold　cream。　Or　Vaseline；　carbolated　is　best。　Use　lots；　a　thick　layer。　Then　put　on　socks…clean　if　possible；　dirty　if　you　must；　but　don't　skip　them…and　put　your　boots　on。　When　you　first　stand　up；　it　feels　as　if　you'd　stepped　into　a　barrel　of　soft　soap。　But　your　feet　will　thank　you　for　it　and　you　won't　get　jungle　rot　between　your　toes。　Or　not　as　much。　Take　care　of　your　feet；　Ted；　and　keep　your　bowels　open。〃
　　
　　〃Father。〃
　　
　　〃Daughter；　I'm　talking　to　a　soldier…telling　him　things　that　may　save　his　life。　If　the　children　can't　hear　such　things；　send　them　up　to　bed。〃
　　
　　〃I　think　it　is　time；〃　Maureen　answered；　〃to　get　the　younger　ones　quieted　down；　at　least。〃
　　
　　〃I　don't　have　to　go　to　bed！〃
　　
　　〃Woodie；　you　do　exactly　what　your　mother　tells　you　to　and　no　back　talk…or　I'll　bend　a　poker　over　your　bottom。　That's　standing　orders　until　your　father　gets　home　from　the　war。〃
　　
　　〃I'm　going　to　stay　up　till　Private　Bronson　leaves！　Papa　said　I　could。〃
　　
　　〃Mrrph。　I'll　discuss　the　logical　impossibility　of　that　with　a　club；　it's　the　only　way　to　make　you　understand　it。　Maureen；　I　suggest　that　we　start　with　the　youngest；　let　'em　say　good…bye　in　turn；　and　then　march　straight　up　to　bed。　Which　winds　up　in　due　course　with　me　walking　Ted　to　his　streetcar　stop。〃
　　
　　〃But　I　was　going　to　drive　Uncle　Ted　home！〃
　　
　　Lazarus　judged　that　it　was　time　to　speak　up。　〃Brian；　thank　you。　But　let's　not　give　your　mother　something　extra　to　worry　about　tonight。　The　trolley　takes　me　almost　straight　home
　　
　　and　from　tomorrow　on　I　won't　even　have　streetcars；　I'll　walk。〃
　　
　　〃That's　right；〃　agreed　Gramp。　〃He'll　march。　'Hay　foot；　straw　foot！…heads　up　and　look　proud！'　Ted；　his　father　made　Brian　Sergeant　of　the　Guard　until　he　gets　back；　charged　with　internal　security　of　this　household。〃
　　
　　〃Then　he　can't　leave　his　post　of　duty　to　chauffeur　a　mere　private；　can　he？〃
　　
　　〃Not　in　the　presence　of　the　Officer　of　the　Guard…me…and　of　the　Officer　of　the　Day；　my　daughter。　Reminds　me…　While　the　young　'uns　are　kissing　you　good…bye；　I　want　to　dig　out
　　
　　514
　　
　　515a　couple　of　my　old　Army　shirts；　I　think　they'll　fit　you。　If　you　don't　mind　hand…me…downs？〃
　　
　　〃Sir；　I　will　be　proud　and　honored　to　wear　them！〃
　　
　　Mrs。　Smith　stood　up。　〃I　have　something　I　must　get　for　Mr。…Private　Bronson；　too。　Nancy；　will　you　bring　down　Ethel？　And　Carol；　will　you　fetch　Richard？〃
　　
　　〃But　Private　Bronson　hasn't　eaten　his　sandwich！〃
　　
　　Lazarus　said；　〃I'm　sorry；　Miss　Carol。　I've　been　too　excited　to　eat。　Uh；　would　you　wrap　it　for　me？　I'll　eat　it　the　minute　I'm　back　in　my　apartment…and　it　will　make　me　sleep　soundly。〃
　　
　　〃Do　that；　Carol；〃　decided　her　mother。　〃Brian；　will　you　fetch　down　Richard？〃
　　
　　After　more　backing　and　filling　Lazarus　told　them　all　goodbye；　in　reverse　order　of　seniority。　He　held　Ethel　for　a　moment　and　grinned　at　her　baby　smile；　then　kissed　the　top　of　her　head　and　handed　her　back　to　Nancy；　who　took　her　upstairs　and　hurried　back　down。　To　kiss　Richard；　Lazarus　had　to　get　down　on　one　knee。　The　child　seemed　unsure　why　this　was　happening　but　knew　that　it　was　a　solemn　occasion；　he　hugged　Lazarus　tightly　and　smeared　his　cheek　with　a　kiss。
　　
　　Woodie　then　kissed　him…for　the　first　and　only　time；　but　Lazarus　no　longer　felt　bothered　by　touching　〃himself〃　as　this　little　boy　was　not　himself　but　simply　an　individual　from　whom　he　derived　some　scattered　memories　in　an　odd　concatenation。　He　was　no　longer　tempted　to　strangle　him…or　not　often。
　　
　　Wc~odie　used　the　unaccustomed　intimacy　to　whisper：　〃Those　chessmen　are　really　ivory？〃
　　
　　？〃Really　truly　ivory。　Ivory　and　ebony；　just　like　the　keys　on　your　Mama's　piano。〃
　　
　　〃Gee；　that's　keen！　Look；　when　you　e　back；　Uncle　Private　Bronson；　I'll　let　you　play　with　them。　Anytime。〃
　　
　　〃And　I'll　beat　you；　Sport。〃
　　
　　〃Says　you！　Well；　so　long。　Don't　take　any　wooden　nickels。〃　Little　Marie　kissed　him　with　tears　in　her　eyes；　then　fled　from　the　roOm。　George　kissed　him　on　the　cheek　and　muttered；　〃You　be　careful；　Un