the pit-第50部分

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n　the　mahogany　table　when　last　she　left　the　room。　　It　had　not　been　mislaid；　of　that　she　was　now　persuaded。

But　while　she　sat　at　the　desk；　still　in　habit　and　hat；　rummaging　for　the　fourth　time　among　the　drawers　and　shelves；　she　was　all　at　once　aware；　even　without　turning　around；　that　Page　was　awake　and　watching　her。　Laura　cleared　her　throat。

〃Have　you　seen　my　blue　note　paper；　Page？〃　she　asked。　〃I　want　to　drop　a　note　to　Mrs。　Cressler；　right　away。〃

〃No；〃　said　Page；　as　she　rose　from　the　couch。　　〃No；　I　haven't　seen　it。〃　　She　came　towards　her　sister　across　the　room。　　〃I　thought；　maybe；〃　she　added；　gravely；　as　she　drew　the　heart…shaped　match　box　from　her　pocket；　〃that　you　might　be　looking　for　this。　　I　took　it。　　I　knew　you　wouldn't　care　to　have　Mr。　Jadwin　find　it　here。〃

Laura　struck　the　little　silver　heart　from　Page's　hand；　with　a　violence　that　sent　it　spinning　across　the　room；　and　sprang　to　her　feet。

〃You　took　it！〃　she　cried。　　〃You　took　it！　How　dare　you！　What　do　you　mean？　　What　do　I　care　if　Curtis　should　find　it　here？　　What's　it　to　me　that　he　should　know　that　Mr。　Corthell　came　up　here？　　Of　course　he　was　here。〃

But　Page；　though　very　pale；　was　perfectly　calm　under　her　sister's　outburst。

〃If　you　didn't　care　whether　any　one　knew　that　Mr。　Corthell　came　up　here；〃　she　said；　quietly；　〃why　did　you　tell　us　this　morning　at　breakfast　that　you　and　he　were　in　the　art　gallery　the　whole　evening？　　I　thought；〃　she　added；　with　elaborate　blandness；　〃I　thought　I　would　be　doing　you　a　service　in　hiding　the　match　box。〃

〃A　service！　You！　What　have　I　to　hide？〃　cried　Laura；　almost　inarticulate。　　〃Of　course　I　said　we　were　in　the　art　gallery　the　whole　evening。　　So　we　were。　　We　didI　do　remember　nowwe　did　come　up　here　for　an　instant；　to　see　how　my　picture　hung。　　We　went　downstairs　again　at　once。　　We　did　not　so　much　as　sit　down。　　He　was　not　in　the　room　two　minutes。〃

〃He　was　here；〃　returned　Page；　〃long　enough　to　smoke　half　a　dozen　times。〃　　She　pointed　to　a　silver　pen　tray　on　the　mahogany　table；　hidden　behind　a　book　rack　and　littered　with　the　ashes　and　charred　stumps　of　some　five　or　six　cigarettes。

〃Really；　Laura；〃　Page　remarked。　　〃Really；　you　manage　very　awkwardly；　it　seems　to　me。〃

Laura　caught　her　riding…crop　in　her　right　hand

〃Don't　youdon't　you　make　me　forget　myself；〃　she　cried；　breathlessly。

〃It　seems　to　me；〃　observed　Page；　quietly；　〃that　you've　done　that　long　since；　yourself。〃

Laura　flung　the　crop　down　and　folded　her　arms。

〃Now；〃　she　cried；　her　eyes　blazing　and　rivetted　upon　Page's。　　〃Now；　just　what　do　you　mean？　　Sit　down；〃　she　commanded；　flinging　a　hand　towards　a　chair；　〃sit　down；　and　tell　me　just　what　you　mean　by　all　this。〃

But　Page　remained　standing。　　She　met　her　sister's　gaze　without　wavering。

〃Do　you　want　me　to　believe；〃　she　answered；　〃that　it　made　no　difference　to　you　that　Mr。　Corthell's　match　safe　was　here？〃

〃Not　the　least；〃　exclaimed　Laura。　　〃Not　the　least。〃

〃Then　why　did　you　search　for　it　so　when　you　came　in？　　I　was　not　asleep　all　of　the　time。　　I　saw　you。〃

〃Because；〃　answered　Laura；　〃becauseIbecause〃　Then　all　at　once　she　burst　out　afresh：　〃Have　I　got　to　answer　to　you　for　what　I　do？　　Have　I　got　to　explain？　　All　your　life　long　you've　pretended　to　judge　your　sister。　Now　you've　gone　too　far。　　Now　I　forbid　itfrom　this　day　on。　　What　I　do　is　my　affair；　I'll　ask　nobody's　advice。　　I'll　do　as　I　please；　do　you　understand？〃　The　tears　sprang　to　her　eyes；　the　sobs　strangled　in　her　throat。　　〃I'll　do　as　I　please；　as　I　please；〃　and　with　the　words　she　sank　down　in　the　chair　by　her　desk　and　struck　her　bare　knuckles　again　and　again　upon　the　open　lid；　crying　out　through　her　tears　and　her　sobs；　and　from　between　her　tight…shut　teeth：　〃I'll　do　as　I　please；　do　you　understand？　　As　I　please；　as　I　please！　I　will　be　happy。　　I　will；　I　will；　I　will！〃

〃Oh；　darling；　dearest〃　cried　Page；　running　forward。　But　Laura；　on　her　feet　once　more；　thrust　her　back。

〃Don't　touch　me；〃　she　cried。　　〃I　hate　you！〃　She　put　her　fists　to　her　temples　and；　her　eyes　closed；　rocked　herself　to　and　fro。　　〃Don't　you　touch　me。　　Go　away　from　me；　go　away　from　me。　　I　hate　you；　I　hate　you　all。　　I　hate　this　house；　I　hate　this　life。　　You　are　all　killing　me。　　Oh；　my　God；　if　I　could　only　die！〃

She　flung　herself　full　length　upon　the　couch；　face　downward。　　Her　sobs　shook　her　from　head　to　foot。

Page　knelt　at　her　side；　an　arm　about　her　shoulder；　but　to　all　her　sister's　consolations　Laura；　her　voice　muffled　in　her　folded　arms；　only　cried：

〃Let　me　alone；　let　me　alone。　　Don't　touch　me。〃

For　a　time　Page　tried　to　make　herself　heard；　then；　after　a　moment's　reflection；　she　got　up　and　drew　out　the　pin　in　Laura's　hat。　　She　took　off　the　hat；　loosened　the　scarf　around　Laura's　neck；　and　then　deftly；　silently；　while　her　sister　lay　inert　and　sobbing　beneath　her　hands；　removed　the　stiff；　tight　riding…　habit。　　She　brought　a　towel　dipped　in　cold　water　from　the　adjoining　room　and　bathed　Laura's　face　and　hands。

But　her　sister　would　not　be　comforted；　would　not　respond　to　her　entreaties　or　caresses。　　The　better　part　of　an　hour　went　by；　Page；　knowing　her　sister's　nature；　in　the　end　held　her　peace；　waiting　for　the　paroxysm　to　wear　itself　out。

After　a　while　Laura's　weeping　resolved　itself　into　long；　shuddering　breaths；　and　at　length　she　managed　to　say；　in　a　faint；　choked　voice：

〃Will　you　bring　me　the　cologne　from　my　dressing…table；　honey？　　My　head　aches　so。〃

And；　as　Page　ran　towards　the　door；　she　added：　〃And　my　hand　mirror；　too。　　Are　my　eyes　all　swollen？〃

And　that　was　the　last　word　upon　the　subject　between　the　two　sisters。

But　the　evening　of　the　same　day；　between　eight　and　nine　o'clock；　while　Laura　was　searching　the　shelves　of　the　library　for　a　book　with　which　to　while　away　the　long　evening　that　she　knew　impended；　Corthell's　card　was　brought　to　her。

〃I　am　not　at　home；〃　she　told　the　servant。　　〃Orwait；〃　she　added。　　Then；　after　a　moment's　thought；　she　said：　〃Very　well。　　Show　him　in　here。〃

Laura　received　the　artist；　standing　very　erect　and　pale　upon　the　great　white　rug　before　the　empty　fireplace。　Her　hands　were　behind　her　back　when　he　came　in；　and　as　he　crossed　the　room　she　did　not　move。

〃I　was　not　going　to　see　you　at　first；〃　she　said。　　〃I　told　the　servant　I　was　not　at　home。　　But　I　changed　my　mindI　wanted　to　say　something　to　you。〃

He　stood　at　the　other　end　of　the　fireplace；　an　elbow　upon　an　angle　of　the　massive　mantel；　and　as　she　spoke　the　last　words　he　looked　at　her　quickly。　　As　usual；　they　were　quite　alone。　　The　heavy；　muffling　curtain　of　the　doorway　shut　them　in　effectually。

〃I　have　something　to　say　to　you；〃　continued　Laura。　Then；　quietly　enough；　she　said：

〃You　must　not　come　to　see　me　any　more。〃

He　turned　abruptly　away　from　her；　and　for　a　moment　did　not　speak。　　Then　at　last；　his　voice　low；　he　faced　her　again　and　asked：

〃Have　I　offended？〃

She　shook　her　head。

〃No；〃　he　said；　quietly。　　〃No；　I　knew　it　was　not　that。〃　There　was　a　long　silence。　　The　artist　looked　at　the　floor　his　hand　slowly　stroking　the　back　of　one　of　the　big　leather　chairs。

〃I　knew　it　must　come；〃　he　answered；　at　length；　〃sooner　or　later。　　You　are　rightof　course。　　I　should　not　have　come　back　to　America。　　I　should　not　have　believed　that　I　was　strong　enough　to　trust　myself。　　Then〃he　looked　at　her　steadily。　　His　words　came　from　his　lips　one　by　one；　very　slowly。　　His　voice　was　hardly　more　than　a　whisper。　　〃Then；　I　amnever　to　see　youagain。。。　Is　that　it？〃

〃Yes。〃

〃Do　you　know　what　that　means　for　me？〃　he　cried。　　〃Do　you　realise〃　he　drew　in　his　breath　sharply。　　〃Never　to　see　you　again！　To　lose　even　the　little　that　is　left　to　me　now。　　II〃　　He　turned　away　quickly　and　walked　to　a　window　and　stood　a　moment；　his　back　turned；　looking　out；　his　hands　clasped　behind　him。　　Then；　after　a　long　moment；　he　faced　about。　　His　manner　was　quiet　again；　his　voice　very　low。

〃But　before　I　go；〃　he　said；　〃will　you　answer　me；　at　least；　thisit　can　do　no　harm　now　that　I　am　to　leave　youanswer　me；　and　I　know　you　will　speak　the　truth：　Are　you　happy；　Laura？〃

She　closed　her　eyes。

〃You　have　not　the　right　to　know。〃

〃You　are　not　happy；〃　he　declared。　　〃I　can　see　it；　I　know　it。　　If　you　were；　you　would　have　told　me　so。。。。　If　I　promise　you；〃　he　went　on。　　〃If　I　promise　you　to　go　away　now；　and　never　to　try　to　see　you　again；　may　I　come　once　moreto　say　good…by？〃

She　shook　her　head。

〃It　is　so　little　for　you　to　grant；〃　he　pleaded；　〃and　it　is　so　incalculably　much　for　me　to　look　forward　to　in　the　little　time　that　yet　remains。　　I　do　not　even　ask　to　see　you　alone。　　I　will　not　harass　you　with　any　heroics。〃

〃Oh；　what　good　will　it　do；〃　she　cried；　wearily；　〃for　you　to　see　me　again？　　Why　will　you　make　me　more　unhappy　than　I　am？　　Why　did　you　come　back？〃

〃Because；〃　he　answered；　steadily；　〃because　I　love　you　more　than〃he　partly　raised　a　clenched　fist　and　let　it　fall　slowly　upon　the　back　of　the　chair；〃　more　than　any　other　consideration　in　the　world。〃

〃Don't！〃　she　cried。　　〃You　must　not。　　Never；　never　say　that　to　me　again。　　Will　you　goplease？〃

〃Oh；　if　I　had　not　gone　from　you　four　years　ago！〃　he　cried。　　〃If　I　had　only　stayed　then！　Not　a　day　of　my　life　since　that　I　have　not　regretted　it。　　You　could　have　loved　me　then。　　I　know　it；　I　know　it；　and；　God　forgive　me；　but　I　know　you　could　love　me　now〃

〃Will　you　go？〃　she　cried。

〃I　dare　you　to　say　you　could　not；〃　he　flashed　out

Laura　shut　her　eyes　and　put　her　hands　over　her　ears。　〃I　could　not；　I　could　not；〃　she　murmured；　monotonously；　over　and　over　again。　　〃I　could　not；　I　could　not。〃

She　heard　him　start　suddenly；　and　opened　her　eyes　in　time　to　see　him　come　quickly　towards　her。　　She　threw　out　a　defensive　hand；　but　he　caught　the　arm　itself　to　him　and；　before　she　could　resist；　had　kissed　it　again　and　again　through　the　interstices　of　the　lace　sleeve。　Upon　her　bare　shoulder　she　felt　the　sudden　passion　of　his　lips。

A　quick；　sharp　gasp；　a　sudden　qualm　of　breathlessness　wrenched　through　her；　to　her　very　finger　tips；　with　a　fierce　leap　of　the　blood；　a　wild　bound　of　the　heart。

She　tore　back　from　him　with　a　violence　that　rent　away　the　lace　upon　her　arm；　and　stood　off　from　him；　erect　and　rigid；　a　fine；　delicate；　trembling　vibrating　through　all　her　being。　　On　her　pale　cheeks　the　colour　suddenly　flamed。

〃Go；　go；〃　was　all　she　had　voice　to　utter。

〃And　may　I　see　you