time enough for love-时间足够你爱(英文版)-第122部分

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　　〃You　said　'plotted。'〃
　　
　　〃Weren't　you　sure　of　it？　I　knew　at　once；　when　I　learned　how
　　
　　…　short　your　time　is；　that　I　had　exactly　one　chance　to　get　you
　　
　　alone　and　make　you　realize　that　I　want　you　to　e　back　with
　　
　　your　shield；　not　on　it。　There　is　only　one　way　for　a　woman
　　
　　…　…　to　tell　a　warrior　that。　So　I　enlisted　Father's　help　to　get　you
　　
　　away　from　my　swarm　of　children。〃　…She　chuckled　again。　〃But
　　
　　…　the　worst　scamp　I　have　ruined　my　carefully　plotted　plans。　For
　　
　　he　has；　dear　one…I　don't　dare　risk　it　at　home；　I'll　…always
　　
　　regret　that　we　didn't　succeed　。　。　and　I　hope　you　will；　too。〃　〃Oh；　I　will；　I　do！　You　put　Mr。　Johnson　up　to　suggesting　this　ride？　Won't　he　suspect？〃
　　
　　〃I'm　sure　he　does。　And　disapproves。　Of　me；　Theodore…not　of　you。　But　my　reputation　is　as。　safe　in　his　hands　as　in　yours。　Want　to　hear　a　sidesplitting　joke？　One　that　will　make　us　laugh
　　
　　so　hard　that　we'll　forget　how　frustrated　we　are。〃
　　
　　〃I'll　laugh　if　you　do。〃
　　
　　539…〃Did　you　wonder　how　I　knew　the　perfect　place？　Because　I　have　been　there　before；　Theodore；　for　the　same　purpose。　But　that's　not　the　joke；　this　is：　That　rascal　in　the　back　seat　was　conceived　there…on　the　very~　spot　I　was　going　to　have　you　place　me。〃　…
　　
　　Lazarus　thought　~　split　second；　then　guffawed。　〃You're　sure？〃
　　
　　〃Utterly　certain；　sir。　Ten　feet　from　where　you　stopped。　By　that　biggest　black…walnut　tree。　I　planned　to　have　you　place　me　on　the　same　spot。　I'm　sentimental；　Theodore；　I　wanted　you　to　have　me　right　where　I　conceived　my　favorite　child。　And　the　little　imp　stopped　me！　After　I　had　bee　quite　excited　thinking　about　doing　it　with　you　on　the　very　spot。〃
　　
　　Lazarus　thought　a　long　moment…decided　that　he　did　want　to　know。　〃Who　was　he；　Maureen？〃
　　
　　〃What？　Oh！　I　tuppose　I　invited　that　so　I　…shan't　resent　it。　Theodore；　I'm　scarlet　but　not　that　scarlet。　My　husband；　dear
　　
　　…all　my　children　are　his；　no　possibility　of　error。　You　have　seen　Brian　only　as　an　officer…but　in　private　my　husband　is　quite　playful。　So　much　so　that　I　never　wear　bloomers　when　I　gojoyriding　with　him。
　　
　　〃It。　was　February　eighteenth；　a　Sunday；　one　I'll　never　forget。　I　kept　a　hired　girl　then；　Nancy　was　too　young　to　leave　with　the　younger　ones；　and　Brian　was　on　the　road；　traveling；　and　wanted　me　to　be　ready　for　anything　when　he　was　in　town；　arid　he　had　just　bought　his　first　automobile。
　　
　　〃That　Sunday　was　one　of　those　false…spring　days；　and　Brian　decided　to　take　me　joyriding。　Just　me。…　He　had　established　a　firm　rule　that　some　occa'~ions　were　for　all　our　family；　some　were　just　for　Mama　and　Papa…a　good　policy　in　a　large　family；　we　think。　So　we　got　…to　that　lovely　picnic　spot；　pretty　even　in　winter；　and　the　ground　was　dry。　We　sat　and　lallygagged；　and　he　had　his　hand　where　yours　is…and　he　told　me　to　take　my…clothes　off。〃　…　…
　　
　　〃In　February？〃
　　
　　〃I　didn't　protest。　It　was　at　least　sixty　and　no　wind…but　I　would　in　much　colder　weather　if　my　husband　asked　me　to。　So　I　did…all　but　shoes　and　stockings；　and　I　looked　like　one　of　those　French　postcards　you　men　buy　in　cigar　stores。　I　didn't　feel　cold；　I　felt　grand…！　like　to　feel　naughty；　and　Brian　encourages　me　to；　in　private。　He　put　down　the　back　seat　cushion
　　
　　…on　that　spot…and　put　a　blanket　on　it。　And　had　me。　And　that's　when　I　got　Woodrow。　It　had　to　be　then　because　Brian　was　home　just　one　day　and　that　was　the　only；　time。　Qqite
　　
　　540unusual；　ore　loving；　we　enjoy　it　so。〃　She　chuckled。　〃When　we　were　sure；　Brian　teased　me　about　the　iceman　and'　the　milkman　and　Ihe　posirnan…or　was　it　the　grocery　boy？　I　teased　right　back　that　it　could　have　been　any　of　them…but　the　woodman　got　there　first　。　。　in　the　woods。　Right　here；　dear　one；　I　won't　be　but　a　moment。〃
　　
　　They　all　went　in；　as　Woodie　woke　up　（if　he　had　slept；　Lazarus　had　dark　doubts…then　reviewed　it　in　his　mind　and　decided　that　Maureen　had　been　careful　both　in　voice　and　phrasing）。　Lazarus　bought　the　little　boy　an　ice…cream　cone　to　keep　him　quiet　and　sat　him　at　the　fountain；　then　moved　to　the　other　end　and　listened　to　her　telephone　call；　he　wanted　to　know　what　lies　he　must　back　up。　…　…
　　
　　〃Carol？　Mama；　dear。　Have　you　counted　our　zoo　lately？
　　
　　Stop　worrying；　the　scamp　hid　in　the　back　seat；　and　we　didn't　know　it　until　we　were　almost　to　Electric　Park　　　　　　　　Yes；　dear；　Electric　Park　and　I'm　feeling　very　gay。　I'm　go？ng　to　keep　Woodrow　with　us　and　not　let　the　imp　spoil　our　fun
　　
　　Earlier　than　I　want　to；　Woodrow　will　be　sleepy　too　soon　to　suit　Mama；　I　want　to　ride　every　ride　and　win　at　least　a　Kewpie　doll　at　the　booths　。　。　。　Yes；　as　long　as　Marie　is　in　bed　on　time。　Make　fudge　for　the　boys…no；　not　fudge；　we　must　watch　the　sugar　ration。　Make　popcorn；　and　tell　them　I'm　sorry　they…　were　worried。　Then　you　older　ones　may　stay　up　and
　　
　　…say　good…night　to　Uncle　Ted。　Good…bye；　dear。〃
　　
　　She　thanked　the　druggist　with　smiling　dignity；　took　Woodie's　hand　and　left　unhurriedly。　But　the　moment　Lazarus　had　the　car　rolling；　she　took　his　right　hand　and　restored　it　to　warm　intimacy　of　bare　thighs。　〃Any　trouble？〃　he　asked；　caressing　her　silken　skin。
　　
　　〃None。　They　had　been　engaged　in　a　bloodthirsty　game　of　Fl~n　h　and　didn't　miss　him　until　it　was　time　to　put　him　to　bed；　only　minutes　before　I　called。　Then　they　were　worried；　but　not　yet　frantic；　my　lfttle　demon　has　hidden　on　us　before。　Theodore；　Electric　Park　is　an　expense　you　did　not　expect。　Will　you　put　aside　your　pride　and　let　me　help？〃
　　
　　〃I　would　if　I　needed　help：　I　don't　have　thet　sort　of　useless　pride。　But　I　have　plenty　of　money；　truly。　If　I　run　short；　11l　tell　you。〃　（Beloved　darling；　I've　been　teaching　optimists　not　to　draw　to　inside　straights；　and　I　wish　I　could　spend　every　cent　of　it　on　emeralds　to　set　off　your　beautiful　skin。　But　your　pride　makes　that　impossible。）
　　
　　〃Theodore；　not　only　do　I　love　you；　you　are　a　most　fortable　person　to　be　with。〃
　　
　　541Taking　Woodie　and　his　mother　to　Electric　Park　turuect　out　to　be　more　fun　than　Lazarus　expected。　He　had　nothing　against　amusement　parks　and　was　willing　to　be　anywhere　with　Maureen…except　that　this　time　he　expected　to　put　up　with　restless　frustration；　in　public　where　he　must　treat　her　as　〃Mrs。　Smith；〃　after　being　in　warmest　privacy…then　disappointed。
　　
　　But　she　taught　him　a　lesson　in　how　to　enjoy　the　inevitable；
　　
　　He　learned　that　Maureen　could　be　unblushingly　intimate　despite　people　all　around　them　and　still　maintain　her　smiling；　regal；　public　dignity。　She　did　it　by　keeping　her　persona　always　intact…happy　young　matron　with　boy　child　clutching　her　hand；　both　enjoying　an　evening　of　innocent　fun　as　guests　of　〃Cousin〃　Theodore；　〃Uncle〃　Ted…while　she　found　endless　chances　to　continue　her　gaily　bawdy　conversation。　Maureen　did　it　not　in　whispers　but　in　ordinary　tones　pitched　to　reach　Lazarus'　ears　only；　or　sometimes　to　Lazarus　and　Woodie　but　so　phrased　that　the　child　would　neither　understand　nor　be　interested。
　　
　　Once　she　gently　chided　Lazarus。　〃Smile；　beloved　man。　Let　your　face　show　that　you　are　where　you　want　to　be；　doing　what　you　want　to　do。　There；　that's　better。　Now　hold　that　expression　and　tell　me　why　you　were　looking　glum。〃
　　
　　He　grinned　at　her。　〃Because　I'm　frustrated；　Maureen。　Because　I'm　not　in　a　certain　spot　by　a　big　walnut　tree。〃
　　
　　She　chuckled　as　if　he　had　said　something　witty。　〃Alone？〃
　　
　　〃Heavens；　nol　With　you。〃
　　
　　〃Not　so　vehemently；　Theodore。　You　are　not　courting　me；　you　are　my　cousin　who　is　wasting　part　of　your　precious　leave　by　treating　me　and　my　child　to　an　evening　of　fun　。　。　when　you　had　hoped　that　I　would　find　you　a　young　lady　who　would　turn　out　to　be　not　at　all　ladylike　when　you　took　her　to　a　dark　place　near　a　big　walnut　tree。　You're　a　good　sport　about　it…　but　not　so　enthusiastic　as　to　cause　Mrs。　Grundy　to　raise　her　eyebrow　。　。　and　there　es　Mrs。　Grundy　now。　Mrs。　Simpson！　And　Mr。　Simpson。　How　nice　to　run　across　you！　Lauretta；　may　I　present　my　dear　cousin　Staff　Sergeant　Bronson？　And　Mr。　Simpson；　Theodore。〃　Maureen　added；　〃Or　perhaps　you　have　met？　At　church？　Before　war　was　declared？〃
　　
　　Mrs。　Simpson　looked　him　over；　counted　the　money　in　his　wallet；　checked　his　underwear；　inspected　his　shave　and　haircut
　　
　　…assigned　him　a　barely　passing　mark。　〃You　belong　…to　our　church；　Mr。　Johnson？〃
　　
　　〃'Bronson；'　Lauretta。　Theodore　Bronson；　Father's　eldest　sister's　son。〃
　　
　　〃Either　way；〃　Mr。　Simpson　said　heartily；　〃it's　a　pleasure　to
　　
　　542shake　hands　with　one　of　'Our　Boys。'　Where　are　you　stationed；
　　
　　…　…　Sergeant？〃…　〃Camp　Fu~ston；　sir。　Mrs。　Simpson；　I　was　a　visito？　to　your
　　
　　church；　my　membership　is　in　Springfield。〃　…
　　
　　Maureen　stopped　their　questions　by　asking　Lazarus　to　fetch　T　Woodie　from　the　miniature　railroad　train；　just　returning　to　its
　　
　　ticket…booth　depot。　〃Pull　him　like　a　cork；　Theodore；　three
　　
　　rides　is　enough。　Lauretta；　I　didn't　see~you　at　Red　Cross　last
　　
　　week。　May　we　count　on　you　this　week？〃
　　
　　Lazarus　returned　with　Woodie　in　time　f~r　Mr。　Simpson　to　wave　and　call　out；　〃Good　luck；　Sergeant！〃　as　the　Simpsons
　　
　　moved　on。　'The　trio　went　next　to　the　pony　ride；　got　Woodie　astraddle　one；　Mrs。　Smith　and　Lazarus　sat　on　a　bench；　enjoyed　more　very　private　talk　while　very　much　in　the　public　eye。　〃Maureen；　you　stole　that　base　beautifully。〃　…
　　
　　〃No　problem；　dear　one。　I　knew　someone　would　see　us；　so　I　was　ready。　I'm　pleased　that　it　was　the　nastiest　old　gossip　in
　　
　　our　church；　I　made　sure　she　didn't　miss　us。　Pillars　of　the　church　and　war　profiteers；　I　despise　them。　So　I　pulled　her　fangs　and　let's　forget　them。　You　were　telling　me　about　a　certain　dark　spot。　How　was　I　dressed？〃
　　
　　〃Like　a　French　postcard！〃…
　　
　　〃Why；　Sergeant　Bronson！…and　me　a　respectable　woman。　Or　almost。　Surely　you　don't　think　I　would　dare　be　that　shameless？〃；　…
　　
　　〃Maureen；　I'm　not　sure　what　you　would　dare。　You　have　startled…and　delighted　me…several　times。　I　think　you　have
　　
　　the　courage　to　do　anything　you　want　to　do。〃　…　…
　　
　　〃Possibly；　Theodore；　but　I　have　limits　on　what　I　will　do；　no　matter　how　much　I　want　to。　Do　you　wan