按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
to back away shrinkingly。 〃For the present；〃 he
muttered； in a crestfallen tone。
〃What's the matter with him？〃 The stranger
addressed Bessie with the utmost familiarity； in a
deliberate； explanatory tone。 〃I didn't want to
startle the old man。〃 He lowered his voice as
though he had known her for years。 〃I dropped
into a barber's on my way； to get a twopenny
shave； and they told me there he was something of
a character。 The old man has been a character all
his life。〃
Captain Hagberd； daunted by the allusion to his
clothing； had retreated inside； taking his spade
with him； and the two at the gate； startled by the
unexpected slamming of the door； heard the bolts
being shot； the snapping of the lock； and the echo
of an affected gurgling laugh within。
〃I didn't want to upset him；〃 the man said；
after a short silence。 〃What's the meaning of all
this？ He isn't quite crazy。〃
〃He has been worrying a long time about his
lost son；〃 said Bessie； in a low； apologetic tone。
〃Well； I am his son。〃
〃Harry！〃 she criedand was profoundly si…
lent。
〃Know my name？ Friends with the old man；
eh？〃
〃He's our landlord；〃 Bessie faltered out； catch…
ing hold of the iron railing。
〃Owns both them rabbit…hutches； does he？〃
commented young Hagberd； scornfully； 〃just the
thing he would be proud of。 Can you tell me who's
that chap coming to…morrow？ You must know
something of it。 I tell you； it's a swindle on the old
mannothing else。〃
She did not answer； helpless before an insur…
mountable difficulty； appalled before the necessity；
the impossibility and the dread of an explanation
in which she and madness seemed involved together。
〃OhI am so sorry；〃 she murmured。
〃What's the matter？〃 he said； with serenity。
〃You needn't be afraid of upsetting me。 It's the
other fellow that'll be upset when he least expects
it。 I don't care a hang； but there will be some fun
when he shows his mug to…morrow。 I don't care
THAT for the old man's pieces； but right is right。
You shall see me put a head on that coonwhoever
he is！〃
He had come nearer； and towered above her on
the other side of the railings。 He glanced at her
hands。 He fancied she was trembling； and it oc…
curred to him that she had her part perhaps in that
little game that was to be sprung on his old man
to…morrow。 He had come just in time to spoil their
sport。 He was entertained by the ideascornful
of the baffled plot。 But all his life he had been full
of indulgence for all sorts of women's tricks。 She
really was trembling very much； her wrap had
slipped off her head。 〃Poor devil！〃 he thought。
〃Never mind about that chap。 I daresay he'll
change his mind before to…morrow。 But what
about me？ I can't loaf about the gate til the morn…
ing。〃
She burst out： 〃It is YOUyou yourself that he's
waiting for。 It is YOU who come to…morrow。〃
He murmured。 〃Oh！ It's me！〃 blankly； and
they seemed to become breathless together。 Ap…
parently he was pondering over what he had heard；
then； without irritation； but evidently perplexed；
he said： 〃I don't understand。 I hadn't written or
anything。 It's my chum who saw the paper and
told methis very morning。 。 。 。 Eh？ what？〃
He bent his ear； she whispered rapidly； and he
listened for a while； muttering the words 〃yes〃
and 〃I see〃 at times。 Then； 〃But why won't to…
day do？〃 he queried at last。
〃You didn't understand me！〃 she exclaimed；
impatiently。 The clear streak of light under the
clouds died out in the west。 Again he stooped
slightly to hear better； and the deep night buried
everything of the whispering woman and the
attentive man； except the familiar contiguity of
their faces； with its air of secrecy and caress。
He squared his shoulders； the broad…brimmed
shadow of a hat sat cavalierly on his head。 〃Awk…
ward this； eh？〃 he appealed to her。 〃To…morrow？
Well； well！ Never heard tell of anything like this。
It's all to…morrow； then； without any sort of to…day；
as far as I can see。〃
She remained still and mute。
〃And you have been encouraging this funny
notion；〃 he said。
〃I never contradicted him。〃
〃Why didn't you？〃
〃What for should I？〃 she defended herself。
〃It would only have made him miserable。 He
would have gone out of his mind。〃
〃His mind！〃 he muttered； and heard a short
nervous laugh from her。
〃Where was the harm？ Was I to quarrel with
the poor old man？ It was easier to half believe it
myself。〃
〃Aye； aye；〃 he meditated； intelligently。 〃I
suppose the old chap got around you somehow with
his soft talk。 You are good…hearted。〃
Her hands moved up in the dark nervously。
〃And it might have been true。 It was true。 It
has come。 Here it is。 This is the to…morrow we
have been waiting for。〃
She drew a breath； and he said； good…humour…
edly： 〃Aye； with the door shut。 I wouldn't care
if 。 。 。 And you think he could be brought round
to recognise me 。 。 。 Eh？ What？ 。 。 。 You
could do it？ In a week you say？ H'm； I daresay
you couldbut do you think I could hold out a
week in this dead…alive place？ Not me！ I want
either hard work； or an all…fired racket； or more
space than there is in the whole of England。 I
have been in this place； though； once before； and for
more than a week。 The old man was advertising
for me then； and a chum I had with me had a no…
tion of getting a couple quid out of him by writ…
ing a lot of silly nonsense in a letter。 That lark did
not come off； though。 We had to clear outand
none too soon。 But this time I've a chum waiting
for me in London； and besides 。 。 。〃
Bessie Carvil was breathing quickly。
〃What if I tried a knock at the door？〃 he sug…
gested。
〃Try；〃 she said。
Captain Hagberd's gate squeaked； and the shad…
ow of the son moved on； then stopped with another
deep laugh in the throat； like the father's； only
soft and gentle； thrilling to the woman's heart；
awakening to her ears。
〃He isn't friskyis he？ I would be afraid to
lay hold of him。 The chaps are always telling me
I don't know my own strength。〃
〃He's the most harmless creature that ever
lived；〃 she interrupted。
〃You wouldn't say so