samantha at saratoga-第17部分

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oo；　that　she　didn't　love　him　half　as　well　as　she　did　Abram。　　And　I　felt　bad；　dretful　bad；　to　set　still　and　see　Ambition　ondoin'　of　her。　　For　oft　and　oft　she　would　speak　to　me　of　Bial's　father's　bank　and　the　heft　of　the　business　he　wuz　a　doin'。　And　I　finally　got　so　worked　up　in　my　mind　that　I　gin　a　sly　hint　to　Abram　Gee；　that　if　he　ever　wanted　to　get　Ardelia　Tutt；　he　had　better　make　a　summer　trip　to　Saratoga。　　I　never　told　Ardelia　what　I　had　done；　but　trusted　to　a　overrulin'　destiny；　that　seems　to　enrap　babys；　and　lunatiks；　and　soft　little　wimmen；　when　their　heads　get　kinder　turned　by　a　man；　and　to　Abram's　honest　face　when　she　should　compare　it　with　Bial　Flamburg's；　and　to　Abram's　pure；　sweet　breath　with　that　mixture　of　stale　cigars；　tobacco；　beer；　and　peppermint。　But　Abram　wrote　back　to　me　that　his　mother　wuz　a　lyin'　at　the　p'int　of　death　with　a　fever　…　that　his　sister　Susan　wuz　sick　a　bed　with　the　same　fever　and　couldn't　come　a　nigh　her　and　he　couldn't　leave　what　might　be　his　mother's　death…bed。　　And　he　sez；　if　Ardelia　had　forgot　him　in　so　short　a　time；　mebby　it　wuz　the　best　thing　he　could　do；　to　try　and　forget　her。　　Anyway；　he　wouldn't　leave　his　dying　mother　for　anything　or　anybody。　That　wuz　Abram　Gee　all　over；　a　doin'　his　duty　every　time　by　bread　and　humanity。　　But　he　added　a　postscript　and　it　wuz　wrote　in　a　agitated　hand　…　that　jest　as　soon　as　his　mother　got　so　he　could　leave　her；　he　should　come　to　Saratoga。


IX。　JOSIAH　'S　FLIRTATIONS。

They　say　there　is　a　sight　of　flirtin'　done　at　Saratoga。　　I　didn't　hear　so　much　about　it　as　Josiah　did；　naturally　there　are　things　that　are　talked　of　more　amongst　men　than　women。　　Night　after　night　he　would　come　home　and　tell　me　how　fashionable　it　wuz；　and　pretty　soon　I　could　see　that　he　kinder　wanted　to　follow　the　fashion。　I　told　him　from　the　first　on't　that　he'd　better　let　it　entirely　alone。　　Says　I；　〃Josiah　Allen；　you　wouldn't　never　carry　it　through　successful　if　you　should　undertake　it　　and　then　think　of　the　wickedness　on't。〃　But　he　seemed　sot。　　He　said　〃it　wuz　more　fashionable　amongst　married　men　and　wimmen；　than　the　more　single　ones；〃　he　said　〃it　wuz　dretful　fashionable　amongst　pardners。〃‘　〃Wall；〃　says　I；　〃I　shall　have；　nothin'　to　do　with　it；　and　I　advise　you；　if　you　know　when　you　are　well　off；　to　let　it　entirely　alone。〃　〃Of　course；〃　says　he；　fiercely；　〃You　needn't　have　nothin'　to　do　with　it。　　It　is　nothin'　you　would　want　to　foller　up。　　And　I　would　ruther　see　you　sunk　into　the　ground；　or　be　sunk　myself；　than　to　see　you　goin'　into　it。　　Why；〃　says　he；　savagely；　〃I　would　tear　a　man　lim　from　lim；　if　I　see　him　a　tryin'　to　flirt　with　you。〃　（Josiah　Allen　worships　me。）　　〃But；〃　says　he；　more　placider　like；　〃men　have　to　do　things　sometimes；　that　they　know　is　too　hard　for　their　pardners　to　do　　men　sometimes　feel　called　upon　to　do　things　that　their　pardners　don't　care　about　　that　they　haint　strong　enough　to　tackle。　　Wimmen　are　fragile　creeters　anyway。〃　〃Oh；　the　fallacy　of　them　arguments　　and　the　weakness　of　'em。　But　I　didn't　say　nothin'　only　to　reiterate　my　utterance；　that　〃if　he　went　into　it；　he　would　have　to　foller　it　up　alone；　that　he　musn't　expect　any　help　from　me。〃　〃Oh　no！〃　says　he。　　〃Oh！　certainly　not。〃　His　tone　wuz　very　genteel；　but　there　seemed　to　be　sumthin'　strange　in　it。　　And　I　looked　at　him　pityin'ly　over　my　specks。　　The　hull　idea　on　it　wuz　extremely　distasteful　to　me；　this　talk　about　flirtin'；　and　etc。；　at　our　ages；　and　with　our　stations　in　the　Jonesville　meetin'　house；　and　with　our　grandchildren。　But　I　see　from　day　to　day　that　he　wuz　a　hankerin'　after　it；　and　I　almost　made　up　my　mind　that　I　should　have　to　let　him　make　a　trial；　knowin'　that　experience　wuz　the　best　teacher；　and　knowin'　that　his　morals　wuz　sound；　and　he　wuz　devoted　to　me；　and　only　went　into　the　enterprize　because　he　thought　it　wuz　fashionable。　There　wuz　a　young　English　girl　a　boardin'　to　the　same　place　we　did。　　She　dressed　some　like　a　young　man；　carried　a　cane；　etc。　　But　she　wuz　one　of　the　upper　10；　and　wuz　as　pretty　as　a　picture；　and　I　see　Josiah　had　kinder　sot　his　eyes　on　her　as　bein'　a　good　one　to　try　his　experiment　with。　　He　thought　she　wuz　beautiful。　　But　good　land！　　I　didn't　care。　　I　liked　her　myself。　　But　I　could　see；　though　he　couldn't　see　it；　that　she　wuz　one　of　the　girls　who　would　flirt　with　the　town　pump；　or　the　meetin'　house　steeple；　if　she　couldn't　get　nobody　else　to　flirt　with。　　She　wuz　born　so；　but　I　suppose　ontirely　unbeknown　to　her　when　she　wuz　born。　Wall；　Josiah　Allen　would　set　and　look　at　her　by　the　hour　　dretful　admirin'。　　But　good　land！　　I　didn't　care。　　I　loved　to　look　at　her　myself。　　And　then　too　I　had　this　feelin'　that　his　morals　wuz　sound。　　But　after　awhile；　I　could　see；　and　couldn't　help　seein'；　that　he　wuz　a　tryin'　in　his　feeble　way　to　flirt　with　her。　And　I　told　him　kindly；　but　firmly；　〃that　it　wuz　somethin'　that　I　hated　to　see　a　goin'　on。〃　But　he　says；　〃Well；　dumb　it　all；　Samantha；　if　anybody　goes　to　a　fashionable　place；　they　ort　to　try　to　be　fashionable。　　'Taint　nothin'　I　want　to　do；　and　you　ort　to　know　it。〃　And　I　says　in　pityin'　axents　but　firm；　〃If　you　don't　want　to；　Josiah；　I　wouldn't；　fashion　or　no　fashion。〃　But　I　see　I　couldn't　convince　him；　and　there　happened　to　be　a　skercity　of　men　jest　then　　and　he　kep'　it　up；　and　it　kep'　me　on　the　key　veav；　as　Maggie　says；　when　she　is　on　the　tenter　hooks　of　suspense。　I　felt　bad　to　see　it　go　on；　not　that　I　wuz　jealous；　no；　my　foretop　lay　smooth　from　day　to　day；　not　a　jealous　hair　in　it；　not　one　　but　I　felt　sorry　for　my　companion。　　I　see　that　while　the　endurin'　of　it　wuz　hard　and　tejus　for　him　（for　truly　he　was　not　a　addep　at　the　business；　it　come　tuff；　feerful　tuff　on　him）；　the　endin'　wuz　sure　to　be　harder。　　And　I　tried　to　convince　him；　from　a　sense　of　duty；　that　she　wuz　makin'　fun　of　him　　he　had　told　me　lots　of　the　pretty　things　she　had　said　to　him　　and　out　of　principle　I　told　him　that　she　didn't　mean　one　word　of　'em。　　But　I　couldn't　convince　him；　and　as　is　the　way　of　pardners；　after　I　had　sot　the　reasen　and　the　sense　before　him；　and　he　wouldn't　hear　to　me；　why　then　I　had　to　set　down　and　bear　it。　　Such　is　some　of　the　trials　of　pardners？　Wall；　it　kep'　agoin'　on；　and　a　goin'　on；　and　I　kep'　a　hatin'　to　see　it；　for　if　anybody　has　got　to　flirt；　which　I　am　far　from　approvin'　of；　but　if　I　have　got　to　see　it　a　goin'　on；　I　would　fain　see　it　well　done；　and　Josiah's　efforts　to　flirt　wuz　like　an　effort　of　our　old　mair　to　play　a　tune　on　the　melodian；　no　grace　in　it；　no　system；　nor　comfort　to　him；　nor　me。　I　s'pose　the　girl　got　some　fun　out　of　it；　I　hope　she　did；　for　if　she　didn't　it　wuz　a　wearisome　job　all　round。　Wall；　a　week　or　so　rolled　on；　and　it　wuz　still　in　progress。　　And　one　day　an　old　friend　of　ours；　Miss　Ezra　Balch；　from　the　east　part　of　Jonesville；　come　to　see　me。　　She　come　to　Saratoga　for　the　rheumatiz；　and　wuz　gettin'　well　fast；　and　Ezra　was　gettin'　entirely　cured　of　biles；　for　which　he　had　come；　carbunkles。　Wall；　she　invited　Josiah　and　me　to　take　a　ride　with　'em；　and　we　both　accepted　of　it；　and　at　the　appointed　time　I　wuz　ready　to　the　minute；　down　on　the　piazza；　with　my　brown　cotton　gloves　on；　and　my　mantilly　hung　gracefully　over　my　arm。　　But　at　the　last　minute；　Josiah　Allen　said　〃he　couldn't　go。〃　I　says　〃Why　can't　you　go？〃　〃Oh；〃　he　says；　kinder　drawin'　up　his　collar；　and　smoothin'　down　his　vest；　〃Oh；　I　have　got　another　engagement。〃　He　looked　real　high…headed；　and　I　says　to　him：　〃Josiah　Allen　didn't　you　promise　Druzilla　Balch　that　you　would　go　with　her　and　Ezra　to…day？〃　〃Wall　yes；〃　says　he；　〃but　I　can't。〃　〃Why　not？〃　says　I。　〃Wall；　Samantha；　though　they　are　well　meanin'；　good　people；　they　haint　what　you　may　call　fashionable；　they　haint　the　upper　10。〃　Says　I；　〃Josiah　Allen　you　have　fell　over　15　cents　in　my　estimation；　sense　we　have　begun　talkin'；　you　won't　go　with　'em　because　they　haint　fashionable。　　They　are　good；　honest　Christian　Methodists；　and　have　stood　by　you　and　me　many　a　time；　in　times　of　trouble；　and　now；〃　says　I；　〃you　turn　against　'em　because　they　haint　fashionable。〃　　Says　I；　〃Josiah　Allen　where　do　you　think　you'll　go　to？〃　〃Oh；　probable　down　through　Congress　Park；　and　we　may　walk　up　as　fur　as　the　Indian　Encampment。　　I　feel　kinder　mauger　to…day；　and　my　corns　ache　feerful。〃　　（His　boots　wuz　that　small　that　they　wuz　sights　to　behold；　sights！）　　〃We　probably　shan't　walk　fur；〃　says　he。　I　see　how　'twuze　in　a　minute。　　That　English　girl　had　asked　him　to　walk　with　her；　and　my　pardner　had　broken　a　solemn　engagement　with　Ezra　and　Druzilla　Balch　to　go　a　walkin'　with　her。　　I　see　how　'twuz；　but　I　sot　in　silence　and　one　of　the　big　rockin'　chairs；　and　didn't　say　nothin'。　Finally　he　says；　with　a　sort　of　a　anxious　look　onto　his　foreward：　〃You　don't　feel　bad；　do　you　Samantha？　　You　haint　jealous；　are　you？〃　〃Jealous！〃　says　I；　a　lookin'　him　calmly　over　from　head　to　feet　　it　wuz　a　witherin'　look；　and　yet　pitiful；　that　took　in　the　hull　body　and　soul；　and　weighed　'em　in　the　balances　of　common　sense；　and　pity；　and　justice。　　It　wuz　a　look　that　seemed　to　envelop　him　all　to　one　time；　and　took　him　all　in；　his　bald　head；　his　vest；　and　his　boots；　and　his　mind　（what　he　had）；　and　his　efforts　to　be　fashionable；　and　his　trials　and　tribulations　at　it；　and　　and　everything。　　I　give　him　that　one　long　look；　and　then　I　says：　〃Jealous？　　No；　I　haint　jealous。〃　Then　silence　rained　again　about　us；　and　Josiah　spoke　out　（his　conscience　was　a　troublin'　him）；　and　he　says：　〃You　know　in　fashionable　life；　Samantha；　you　have　to　do　things　which　seem　unkind；　and　Ezra；　though　a　good；　worthy　man；　can't　understand　these　things　as　I　do。〃　Says　I：　〃Josiah　Allen；　you'll　see　the　day　that　you'll　be　sorry　for　your　treatment　of　Druzilla　Balch；　and　Ezra。〃　〃Oh　wall；〃　says　he；　pullin'　up　his　collar；　〃I'm　bound　to　be　fashionable。　　While　I　can　go　with　the　upper　10；　it　is　my　duty　and　my　privilege　to　go　with　'em；　and　not　mingle　in　the　lower　classes　like　the　Balches。〃　Says　I　firmly；　〃You　look　out；　or　some　of　them　10　will　be　the　death　of　you；　and　you　may　see　the　day　that　you　will　be　glad　to　leave　'em；　the　hull　10　of　em；　and　go　back　to　Druzilla　and　Ezra　Balch。〃　But　what　more　words　might　have　passed　between　us；　wuz　cut　short　by　the　arrival　of　Ezra　and　Druzilla　in　a　good　big　carriage；　with　Miss　Balch　on　the　back　seat；　and　Ezra　acrost　from　her；　and　a　man　up　in　front　a　drivin'。　　It　wuz　a　good　lookin'　sight；　and　I　hastened　down　the　steps