the pit-第51部分

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heeks　the　colour　suddenly　flamed。

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

〃And　may　I　see　you　once　moreonly　once？〃

〃Yes；　yes；　anything；　only　go；　goif　you　love　me！〃

He　left　the　room。　　In　another　moment　she　heard　the　front　door　close。


〃Curtis；〃　said　Laura；　when　next　she　saw　her　husband；　〃Curtis；　you　could　notstay　with　me；　that　last　time。　Remember？　　When　we　were　to　go　for　a　drive。　　Can　you　spend　this　evening　with　me？　　Just　us　two；　here　at　home　or　I'll　go　out　with　you。　　I'll　do　anything　you　say。〃　She　looked　at　him　steadily　an　instant。　　〃It　is　notnot　easy　for　a　woman　to　askfor　me　to　ask　favours　like　this。　　Each　time　I　tell　myself　it　will　be　the　last。　　I　amyou　must　remember　this；　Curtis；　I　amperhaps　I　am　a　little　proud。　　Don't　you　see？〃

They　were　at　breakfast　table　again。　　It　was　the　morning　after　Laura　had　given　Corthell　his　dismissal。　　As　she　spoke　Jadwin　brought　his　hand　down　upon　the　table　with　a　bang。

〃You　bet　I　will；〃　he　exclaimed；　〃you　bet　I'll　stay　with　you　to…night。　　Business　can　go　to　the　devil！　And　we　won't　go　out　either；　we'll　stay　right　here。　　You　get　something　to　read　to　me；　and　we'll　have　one　of　our　old　evenings　again。　　We〃

All　at　once　Jadwin　paused；　laid　down　his　knife　and　fork；　and　looked　strangely　to　and　fro　about　the　room。

〃We'll　have　one　of　our　old　evenings　again；〃　he　repeated；　slowly。

〃What　is　it；　Curtis？〃　demanded　his　wife。　　〃What　is　the　matter？〃

〃Ohnothing；〃　he　answered。

〃Why；　yes　there　was。　　Tell　me。〃

〃No；　no。　　I'm　all　right　now；〃　he　returned；　briskly　enough。

〃No；〃　she　insisted。　　〃You　must　tell　me。　　Are　you　sick？〃

He　hesitated　a　moment。　　Then：

〃Sick？〃　he　queried。　　〃No；　indeed。　　ButI'll　tell　you。　Since　a　few　days　I've　had；〃　he　put　his　fingers　to　his　forehead　between　his　eyes；　〃I've　had　a　queer　sensation　right　there。　　It　comes　and　goes。〃

〃A　headache？〃

〃N…no。　　It's　hard　to　describe。　　A　sort　of　numbness。　Sometimes　it's　as　though　there　was　a　heavy　iron　capa　helmet　on　my　head。　　And　sometimes　itI　don't　know　it　seems　as　if　there　were　fog；　or　something　or　other；　inside。　　I'll　take　a　good　long　rest　this　summer；　as　soon　as　we　can　get　away。　　Another　month　or　six　weeks；　and　I'll　have　things　ship…shape　and　so　as　I　can　leave　them。　　Then　we'll　go　up　to　Geneva；　and；　by　Jingo；　I'll　loaf。〃　　He　was　silent　for　a　moment；　frowning；　passing　his　hand　across　his　forehead　and　winking　his　eyes。　Then；　with　a　return　of　his　usual　alertness；　he　looked　at　his　watch。

〃Hi！〃　he　exclaimed。　　〃I　must　be　off。　　I　won't　be　home　to　dinner　to…night。　　But　you　can　expect　me　by　eight　o'clock；　sure。　　I　promise　I'll　be　here　on　the　minute。

But；　as　he　kissed　his　wife　good…by；　Laura　put　her　arms　about　his　neck。

〃Oh；　I　don't　want　you　to　leave　me　at　all；　ever；　ever！　Curtis；　love　me；　love　me　always；　dear。　　And　be　thoughtful　of　me　and　kind　to　me。　　And　remember　that　you　are　all　I　have　in　the　world；　you　are　father　and　mother　to　me；　and　my　dear　husband　as　well。　　I　know　you　do　love　me；　but　there　are　timesOh；〃　she　cried；　suddenly　〃if　I　thought　you　did　not　love　melove　me　better　than　anything；　anythingI　could　not　love　you；　Curtis；　I　could　not；　I　could　not。　　No；　no；〃　she　cried；　〃don't　interrupt。　　Hear　me　out。　　Maybe　it　is　wrong　of　me　to　feel　that　way；　but　I'm　only　a　woman；　dear。　　I　love　you　but　I　love　Love　too。　　Women　are　like　that；　right　or　wrong；　weak　or　strong；　they　must　bemust　be　loved　above　everything　else　in　the　world。　　Now　go；　go　to　your　business；　you　mustn't　be　late。　　Hark；　there　is　Jarvis　with　the　team。　　Go　now。　　Good…by；　good…by；　and　I'll　expect　you　at　eight。〃

True　to　his　word；　Jadwin　reached　his　home　that　evening　promptly　at　the　promised　hour。　　As　he　came　into　the　house；　however；　the　door…man　met　him　in　the　hall；　and；　as　he　took　his　master's　hat　and　stick；　explained　that　Mrs。　Jadwin　was　in　the　art　gallery；　and　that　she　had　said　he　was　to　come　there　at　once。

Laura　had　planned　a　little　surprise。　　The　art　gallery　was　darkened。　　Here　and　there　behind　the　dull…blue　shades　a　light　burned　low。　　But　one　of　the　movable　reflectors　that　were　used　to　throw　a　light　upon　the　pictures　in　the　topmost　rows　was　burning　brilliantly。　It　was　turned　from　Jadwin　as　he　entered；　and　its　broad　cone　of　intense　white　light　was　thrown　full　upon　Laura；　who　stood　over　against　the　organ　in　the　full　costume　of　〃Theodora。〃

For　an　instant　Jadwin　was　taken　all　aback。

〃What　the　devil！；〃　he　ejaculated；　stopping　short　in　the　doorway。

Laura　ran　forward　to　him；　the　chains；　ornaments；　and　swinging　pendants　chiming　furiously　as　she　moved。

〃I　did　surprise　you；　I　did　surprise　you；〃　she　laughed。　〃Isn't　it　gorgeous？〃　She　turned　about　before　him；　her　arms　raised。　　〃Isn't　it　superb？　　Do　you　remember　Bernhardtand　that　scene　in　the　Emperor　Justinian's　box　at　the　amphitheatre？　　Say　now　that　your　wife　isn't　beautiful。　　I　am；　am　I　not？〃　she　exclaimed　defiantly；　her　head　raised。　　〃Say　it；　say　it。〃

〃Well；　what　for　a　girl！〃　gasped　Jadwin；　〃to　get　herself　up〃

〃Say　that　I　am　beautiful；〃　commanded　Laura。

〃Well；　I　just　about　guess　you　are；〃　he　cried。

〃The　most　beautiful　woman　you　have　ever　known？　　she　insisted。　　Then　on　the　instant　added：　〃Oh；　I　may　be　really　as　plain　as　a　kitchen…maid；　but　you　must　believe　that　I　am　not。　　I　would　rather　be　ugly　and　have　you　think　me　beautiful；　than　to　be　the　most　beautiful　woman　in　the　world　and　have　you　think　me　plain。　　Tell　meam　I　not　the　most　beautiful　woman　you　ever　saw？〃

〃The　most　beautiful　I　ever　saw；〃　he　repeated；　fervently。　　〃ButLord；　what　will　you　do　next？　Whatever　put　it　into　your　head　to　get　into　this　rig？〃

〃Oh；　I　don't　know。　　I　just　took　the　notion。　　You've　seen　me　in　every　one　of　my　gowns。　　I　sent　down　for　this；　this　morning；　just　after　you　left。　　Curtis；　if　you　hadn't　made　me　love　you　enough　to　be　your　wife；　Laura　Dearborn　would　have　been　a　great　actress。　　I　feel　it　in　my　finger　tips。　　Ah！〃　she　cried；　suddenly　flinging　up　her　head　till　the　pendants　of　the　crown　clashed　again。　　〃I　could　have　been　magnificent。　　You　don't　believe　it。　　Listen。　　This　is　Athaliathe　queen　in　the　Old　Testament；　you　remember。〃

〃Hold　on；〃　he　protested。　　〃I　thought　you　were　this　Theodora　person。〃

〃I　knowbut　never　mind。　　I　am　anything　I　choose。　　Sit　down；　listen。　　It's　from　Racine's　'Athalie；'　and　the　wicked　queen　has　had　this　terrible　dream　of　her　mother　Jezabel。　　It's　French；　but　I'll　make　you　see。〃

And　〃taking　stage；〃　as　it　were；　in　the　centre　of　the　room；　Laura　began：


　　　〃Son　ombre　vers　mon　lit　a　paru　se　baisser　　　　Et　moi；　je　lui　tendais　les　mains　pour　l'embrasser；　　　　Mais　je　n'ai　plus　trouve　q'un　horrible　melange　　　　D'os　et　de　chair　meurtris　et　traines　dans　la　fange；　　　　Des　lambeaux　pleins　de　sang；　et　des　membres　affreux　　　　Que　les　chiens　d'evorants　se　disputaient　entre　eux。〃


〃Great　God！〃　exclaimed　Jadwin；　ignorant　of　the　words　yet；　in　spite　of　himself；　carried　away　by　the　fury　and　passion　of　her　rendering。

Laura　struck　her　palms　together。

〃Just　what　'Abner'　says；〃　she　cried。　　〃The　very　words。〃

〃Abner？〃

〃In　the　play。　　I　knew　I　could　make　you　feel　it。〃

〃Well；　well；〃　murmured　her　husband；　shaking　his　head；　bewildered　even　yet。　　〃Well；　it's　a　strange　wife　I've　got　here。〃

〃When　you've　realised　that；〃　returned　Laura；　〃you've　just　begun　to　understand　me。〃

Never　had　he　seen　her　gayer。　　Her　vivacity　was　bewildering。

〃I　wish；〃　she　cried；　all　at　once；　〃I　wish　I　had　dressed　as　'Carmen；'　and　I　would　have　danced　for　you。　　Oh；　and　you　could　have　played　the　air　for　me　on　the　organ。　　I　have　the　costume　upstairs　now。　　Wait！　I　will；　I　will！　Sit　right　where　you　areno；　fix　the　attachment　to　the　organ　while　I'm　gone。　　Oh；　be　gay　with　me　to…night；　she　cried；　throwing　her　arms　around　him。　　〃This　is　my　night；　isn't　it？　　And　I　am　to　be　just　as　foolish　as　I　please。〃

With　the　words　she　ran　from　the　room；　but　was　back　in　an　incredibly　short　time；　gowned　as　Bizet's　cigarette　girl；　a　red　rose　in　her　black　hair；　castanets　upon　her　fingers。

Jadwin　began　the　bolero。

〃Can　you　see　me　dance；　and　play　at　the　same　time？〃

〃Yes；　yes。　　Go　on。　　How　do　you　know　anything　about　a　Spanish　dance？〃

〃I　learned　it　long　ago。　　I　know　everything　about　anything　I　choose；　to…night。　　Play；　play　it　_fast。_

She　danced　as　though　she　would　never　tire；　with　the　same　force　of　passion　that　she　had　thrown　into　Athalie。　Her　yellow　skirt　was　a　flash　of　flame　spurting　from　the　floor；　and　her　whole　body　seemed　to　move　with　the　same　wild；　untamed　spirit　as　a　tongue　of　fire。　　The　castanets　snapped　like　the　crackling　of　sparks；　her　black　mantilla　was　a　hovering　cloud　of　smoke。　　She　was　incarnate　flame；　capricious　and　riotous；　elusive　and　dazzling。

Then　suddenly　she　tossed　the　castanets　far　across　the　room　and　dropped　upon　the　couch；　panting　and　laughing。

〃There；〃　she　cried；　〃now　I　feel　better。　　That　had　to　come　out。　　Come　over　here　and　sit　by　me。　　Now；　maybe　you'll　admit　that　I　can　dance　too。〃

〃You　sure　can；〃　answered　Jadwin；　as　she　made　a　place　for　him　among　the　cushions。　　〃That　was　wonderful。　　But；　at　the　same　time；　old　girl；　I　wouldn'twouldn't〃

〃Wouldn't　what？〃

〃Well；　do　too　much　of　that。　　It's　sort　of　over…wrought　a　little；　and　unnatural。　　I　like　you　best　when　you　are　your　old　self；　quiet；　and　calm；　and　dignified。　　It's　when　you　are　quiet　that　you　are　at　your　best。　　I　didn't　know　you　had　this　streak　in　you。　　You　are　that　excitable　to…night！〃

〃Let　me　be　so　then。　　It's　myself；　for　the　moment　whatever　it　is。　　But　now　I'll　be　quiet。　　Now　we'll　talk。　　Have　you　had　a　hard　day？　　Oh；　and　did　your　head　bother　you　again？〃

〃No；　things　were　a　little　easier　down　town　to…day。　　But　that　queer　feeling　in　my　head　did　come　back　as　I　was　coming　homeand　my　head　aches　a　little　now；　besides。〃

〃Your　head　aches！〃　she　exclaimed。　　〃Let　me　do　something　for　it。　　And　I've　been　making　it　worse　with　all　my　foolishness。〃

〃No；　no；　that's　all　right；〃　he　assured　her。　　〃I　tell　you　what　we'll　do。　　I'll　lie　down　here　a　bit；　and　you　play　something　for　me。　　Something　quiet。　　I　get　so　tired　down　there　in　La　Salle　Street；　Laura；　you　don't　know。〃

And　while　he　stretched　out　at　full　length　upon　the　couch；　his　wife；　at　the　organ；　played　the　music　she　knew　he　liked　bestold　songs；　〃Daisy　Dean；〃　〃Lord　Lovell；〃　〃When　Stars　Are　in　the　Quiet　Sky；〃　and　〃Open　Thy　Lattice　to　Me。〃

When　at　length　she　paused；　he　nodded　his　head　with　pleasure。