the pit-第25部分

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cence　of　the　sky；　moveless　and　immeasurable。

From　time　to　time　it　appeared　as　if　this　pillar　broke　in　the　guise　of　summer　storms；　and　came　toppling　down　upon　the　city　in　tremendous　detonations　of　thunder　and　weltering　avalanches　of　rain。　　But　it　broke　only　to　reform；　and　no　sooner　had　the　thunder　ceased；　the　rain　intermitted；　and　the　sun　again　come　forth；　than　one　received　the　vague　impression　of　the　swift　rebuilding　of　the　vast；　invisible　column　that　smothered　the　city　under　its　bases；　towering　higher　and　higher　into　the　rain…washed；　crystal…clear　atmosphere。

Then　the　aroma　of　wet　dust；　of　drenched　pavements；　musty；　acutethe　unforgettable　exhalation　of　the　city's　streets　after　a　showerpervaded　all　the　air；　and　the　little　out…door　activities　resumed　again　under　the　dripping　elms　and　upon　the　steaming　sidewalks。

The　evenings　were　delicious。　　It　was　yet　too　early　for　the　exodus　northward　to　the　Wisconsin　lakes；　but　to　stay　indoors　after　nightfall　was　not　to　be　thought　of。　After　six　o'clock；　all　through　the　streets　in　the　neighbourhood　of　the　Dearborns'　home；　one　could　see　the　family　groups　〃sitting　out〃　upon　the　front　〃stoop。〃　Chairs　were　brought　forth；　carpets　and　rugs　unrolled　upon　the　steps。　　From　within；　through　the　opened　windows　of　drawing…room　and　parlour；　came　the　brisk　gaiety　of　pianos。　　The　sidewalks　were　filled　with　children　clamouring　at　〃tag；〃　〃I…spy；〃　or　〃run…sheep…　run。〃　　Girls　in　shirt…waists　and　young　men　in　flannel　suits　promenaded　to　and　fro。　　Visits　were　exchanged　from　〃stoop〃　to　〃stoop；〃　lemonade　was　served；　and　claret　punch。　　In　their　armchairs　on　the　top　step；　elderly　men；　householders；　capitalists；　well…to…do；　their　large　stomachs　covered　with　white　waistcoats；　their　straw　hats　upon　their　knees；　smoked　very　fragrant　cigars　in　silent　enjoyment；　digesting　their　dinners；　taking　the　air　after　the　grime　and　hurry　of　the　business　districts。

It　was　on　such　an　evening　as　this；　well　on　towards　the　last　days　of　the　spring；　that　Laura　Dearborn　and　Page　joined　the　Cresslers　and　their　party；　sitting　out　like　other　residents　of　the　neighbourhood　on　the　front　steps　of　their　house。　　Almost　every　evening　nowadays　the　Dearborn　girls　came　thus　to　visit　with　the　Cresslers。　Sometimes　Page　brought　her　mandolin。

Every　day　of　the　warm　weather　seemed　only　to　increase　the　beauty　of　the　two　sisters。　　Page's　brown　hair　was　never　more　luxuriant；　the　exquisite　colouring　of　her　cheeks　never　more　charming；　the　boyish　outlines　of　her　small；　straight　figureimmature　and　a　little　angular　as　yetnever　more　delightful。　　The　seriousness　of　her　straight…browed；　grave；　grey…blue　eyes　was　still　present；　but　the　eyes　themselves　were；　in　some　indefinable　way；　deepening；　and　all　the　maturity　that　as　yet　was　withheld　from　her　undeveloped　little　form　looked　out　from　beneath　her　long　lashes。

But　Laura　was　veritably　regal。　　Very　slender　as　yet；　no　trace　of　fulness　to　be　seen　over　hip　or　breast；　the　curves　all　low　and　flat；　she　yet　carried　her　extreme　height　with　tranquil　confidence；　the　unperturbed　assurance　of　a　_chatelaine_　of　the　days　of　feudalism。

Her　coal…black　hair；　high…piled；　she　wore　as　if　it　were　a　coronet。　　The　warmth　of　the　exuberant　spring　days　had　just　perceptibly　mellowed　the　even　paleness　of　her　face；　but　to　compensate　for　this　all　the　splendour　of　coming　midsummer　nights　flashed　from　her　deep…brown　eyes。

On　this　occasion　she　had　put　on　her　coat　over　her　shirt…waist；　and　a　great　bunch　of　violets　was　tucked　into　her　belt。　　But　no　sooner　had　she　exchanged　greetings　with　the　others　and　settled　herself　in　her　place　than　she　slipped　her　coat　from　her　shoulders。

It　was　while　she　was　doing　this　that　she　noted；　for　the　first　time；　Landry　Court　standing　half　in　and　half　out　of　the　shadow　of　the　vestibule　behind　Mr。　Cressler's　chair。

〃This　is　the　first　time　he　has　been　here　sincesince　that　night；〃　Mrs。　Cressler　hastened　to　whisper　in　Laura's　ear。　　〃He　told　me　aboutwell；　he　told　me　what　occurred；　you　know。　　He　came　to　dinner　to…night；　and　afterwards　the　poor　boy　nearly　wept　in　my　arms。　　You　never　saw　such　penitence。〃

Laura　put　her　chin　in　the　air　with　a　little　movement　of　incredulity。　　But　her　anger　had　long　since　been　a　thing　of　the　past。　　Good…tempered；　she　could　not　cherish　resentment　very　long。　　But　as　yet　she　had　greeted　Landry　only　by　the　briefest　of　nods。

〃Such　a　warm　night！〃　she　murmured；　fanning　herself　with　part　of　Mr。　Cressler's　evening　paper。　　〃And　I　never　was　so　thirsty。〃

〃Why；　of　course；〃　exclaimed　Mrs。　Cressler。　　〃Isabel；〃　she　called；　addressing　Miss　Gretry；　who　sat　on　the　opposite　side　of　the　steps；　〃isn't　the　lemonade　near　you？　　Fill　a　couple　of　glasses　for　Laura　and　Page。〃

Page　murmured　her　thanks；　but　Laura　declined。

〃No；　just　plain　water　for　me；〃　she　said。　　〃Isn't　there　some　inside？　　Mr。　Court　can　get　it　for　me；　can't　he？〃　Landry　brought　the　pitcher　back；　running　at　top　speed　and　spilling　half　of　it　in　his　eagerness。　　Laura　thanked　him　with　a　smile；　addressing　him；　however；　by　his　last　name。　　She　somehow　managed　to　convey　to　him　in　her　manner　the　information　that　though　his　offence　was　forgotten；　their　old…time　relations　were　not；　for　one　instant；　to　be　resumed。

Later　on；　while　Page　was　thrumming　her　mandolin；　Landry　whistling　a　〃second；〃　Mrs。　Cressler　took　occasion　to　remark　to　Laura：

〃I　was　reading　the　Paris　letter　in　the　'Inter…Ocean'　to…day；　and　I　saw　Mr。　Corthell's　name　on　the　list　of　American　arrivals　at　the　Continental。　　I　guess；〃　she　added；　〃he's　going　to　be　gone　a　long　time。　　I　wonder　sometimes　if　he　will　_ever_　come　back。　　A　fellow　with　his　talent；　I　should　imagine　would　find　Chicagowell；　less　congenial；　anyhow；　than　Paris。　　But；　just　the　same；　I　do　think　it　was　mean　of　him　to　break　up　our　play　by　going。　　I'll　bet　a　cookie　that　he　wouldn't　take　part　any　more　just　because　you　wouldn't。　　He　was　just　crazy　to　do　that　love　scene　in　the　fourth　act　with　you。　And　when　_you_　wouldn't　play；　of　course　_he_　wouldn't；　and　then　every…body　seemed　to　lose　interest　with　you　two　out。　　'J。'　took　it　all　very　decently　though；　don't　you　think？〃

Laura　made　a　murmur　of　mild　assent。

〃He　was　disappointed；　too；〃　continued　Mrs。　Cressler。　〃I　could　see　that。　　He　thought　the　play　was　going　to　interest　a　lot　of　our　church　people　in　his　Sunday…　school。　　But　he　never　said　a　word　when　it　fizzled　out。　Is　he　coming　to…night？〃

〃Well　I　declare；〃　said　Laura。　　〃How　should　I　know；　if　you　don't？〃

Jadwin　was　an　almost　regular　visitor　at　the　Cresslers'　during　the　first　warm　evenings。　　He　lived　on　the　South　Side；　and　the　distance　between　his　home　and　that　of　the　Cresslers　was　very　considerable。　　It　was　seldom；　however；　that　Jadwin　did　not　drive　over。　　He　came　in　his　double…seated　buggy；　his　negro　coachman　beside　him　the　two　coach　dogs；　〃Rex〃　and　〃Rox；〃　trotting　under　the　rear　axle。　　His　horses　were　not　showy；　nor　were　they　made　conspicuous　by　elaborate　boots；　bandages；　and　all　the　other　solemn　paraphernalia　of　the　stable；　yet　men　upon　the　sidewalks；　amateurs；　breeders；　and　the　like　men　who　understood　good　stocknever　failed　to　stop　to　watch　the　team　go　by；　heads　up；　the　check　rein　swinging　loose；　ears　all　alert；　eyes　all　alight；　the　breath　deep；　strong；　and　slow；　and　the　stride；　machine…like；　even　as　the　swing　of　a　metronome；　thrown　out　from　the　shoulder　to　knee；　snapped　on　from　knee　to　fetlock；　from　fetlock　to　pastern；　finishing　squarely；　beautifully；　with　the　thrust　of　the　hoof；　planted　an　instant；　then；　as　it　were；　flinging　the　roadway　behind　it；　snatched　up　again；　and　again　cast　forward。

On　these　occasions　Jadwin　himself　inevitably　wore　a　black　〃slouch〃　hat；　suggestive　of　the　general　of　the　Civil　War；　a　grey　〃dust　overcoat〃　with　a　black　velvet　collar；　and　tan　gloves；　discoloured　with　the　moisture　of　his　palms　and　all　twisted　and　crumpled　with　the　strain　of　holding　the　thoroughbreds　to　their　work。

He　always　called　the　time　of　the　trip　from　the　buggy　at　the　Cresslers'　horse　block；　his　stop　watch　in　his　hand；　and；　as　he　joined　the　groups　upon　the　steps；　he　was　almost　sure　to　remark：　〃Tugs　were　loose　all　the　way　from　the　river。　　They　pulled　the　whole　rig　by　the　reins。　　My　hands　are　about　dislocated。〃

〃Page　plays　very　well；〃　murmured　Mrs。　Cressler　as　the　young　girl　laid　down　her　mandolin。　　〃I　hope　J。　does　come　to…night；〃　she　added。　　〃I　love　to　have　him　'round。　He's　so　hearty　and　whole…souled。〃

I　aura　did　not　reply。　　She　seemed　a　little　preoccupied　this　evening；　and　conversation　in　the　group　died　away。　The　night　was　very　beautiful；　serene；　quiet；　and；　at　this　particular　hour　of　the　end　of　the　twilight；　no　one　cared　to　talk　much。　　Cressler　lit　another　cigar；　and　the　filaments　of　delicate　blue　smoke　hung　suspended　about　his　head　in　the　moveless　air。　　Far　off；　from　the　direction　of　the　mouth　of　the　river；　a　lake　steamer　whistled　a　prolonged　tenor　note。　　Somewhere　from　an　open　window　in　one　of　the　neighbouring　houses　a　violin；　accompanied　by　a　piano；　began　to　elaborate　the　sustained　phrases　of　〃Schubert's　Serenade。〃　　Theatrical　as　was　the　theme；　the　twilight　and　the　muffled　hum　of　the　city；　lapsing　to　quiet　after　the　febrile　activities　of　the　day；　combined　to　lend　it　a　dignity；　a　persuasiveness。　　The　children　were　still　playing　along　the　sidewalks；　and　their　staccato　gaiety　was　part　of　the　quiet　note　to　which　all　sounds　of　the　moment　seemed　chorded。

After　a　while　Mrs。　Cressler　began　to　talk　to　Laura　in　a　low　voice。　　She　and　Charlie　were　going　to　spend　a　part　of　June　at　Oconomowoc；　in　Wisconsin。　　Why　could　not　Laura　make　up　her　mind　to　come　with　them？　　She　had　asked　Laura　a　dozen　times　already；　but　couldn't　get　a　yes　or　no　answer　from　her。　　What　was　the　reason　she　could　not　decide？　　Didn't　she　think　she　would　have　a　good　time？

〃Page　can　go；〃　said　Laura。　　〃I　would　like　to　have　you　take　her。　　But　as　for　me；　I　don't　know。　　My　plans　are　so　unsettled　this　summer。〃　　She　broke　off　suddenly。　〃Oh；　now；　that　I　think　of　it；　I　want　to　borrow　your　'Idylls　of　the　King。'　May　I　take　it　for　a　day　or　two？　I'll　run　in　and　get　it　now；〃　she　added　as　she　rose。　　〃I　know　just　where　to　find　it。　　No；　please　sit　still；　Mr。　Cressler。　　I'll　go。〃

And　with　the　words　she　disappeared　in　doors；　leaving　Mrs。　Cressler　to　murmur　to　her　husband：

〃Strange　girl。　　Sometimes　I　think　I　don't　know　Laura　at　all。　　She's　so　inconsistent。　　How　funny