mark twain, a biography, 1900-1907-第24章
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homelike to me。 Under certain conditions I should like to go on
living in it indefinitely。 I should wish the Countess to move out
of Italy； out of Europe； out of the planet。 I should want her
bonded to retire to her place in the next world & inform me which of
the two it was； so that I could arrange for my own hereafter。
Complications with their landlady had begun early； and in time； next to
Mrs。 Clemens's health； to which it bore such an intimate and vital
relation； the indifference of the Countess Massiglia to their needs
became the supreme and absorbing concern of life at the villa； and led to
continued and almost continuous house…hunting。
Days when the weather permitted； Clemens drove over the hills looking for
a villa which he could lease or buyone with conveniences and just the
right elevation and surroundings。 There were plenty of villas； but some
of them were badly situated as to altitude or view； some were falling to
decay； and the search was rather a discouraging one。 Still it was not
abandoned； and the reports of these excursions furnished new interest and
new hope always to the invalid at home。
〃Even if we find it；〃 he wrote Howells； 〃I am afraid it will be months
before we can move Mrs。 Clemens。 Of course it will。 But it comforts us
to let on that we think otherwise； and these pretensions help to keep
hope alive in her。〃
She had her bad days and her good days； days when it was believed she had
passed the turning…point and was traveling the way to recovery； but the
good days were always a little less hopeful； the bad days a little more
discouraging。 On February 22d Clemens wrote in his note…book：
At midnight Livy's pulse went to 192 & there was a collapse。 Great
alarm。 Subcutaneous injection of brandy saved her。
And to MacAlister toward the end of March：
We are having quite perfect weather now & are hoping that it will bring
effects for Mrs。 Clemens。
But a few days later he added that he was watching the driving rain
through the windows； and that it was bad weather for the invalid。 〃But
it will not last；〃 he said。
The invalid improved then； and there was a concert in Florence at which
Clara Clemens sang。 Clemens in his note…book says：
April 8。 Clara's concert was a triumph。 Livy woke up & sent for
her to tell her all about it； near midnight。
But a day or two later she was worse againthen better。 The hearts in
that household were as pendulums； swinging always between hope and
despair。
One familiar with the Clemens history might well have been filled with
forebodings。 Already in January a member of the family； Mollie Clemens；
Orion's wife； died； news which was kept from Mrs。 Clemens； as was the
death of Aldrich's son； and that of Sir Henry M。 Stanley； both of which
occurred that spring。
Indeed； death harvested freely that year among the Clemens friendships。
Clemens wrote Twichell：
Yours has just this moment arrived…just as I was finishing a note to
poor Lady Stanley。 I believe the last country…house visit we paid
in England was to Stanley's。 Lord！ how my friends & acquaintances
fall about me now in my gray…headed days！ Vereshchagin； Mommsen；
Dvorak； Lenbach； & Jokai； all so recently； & now Stanley。 I have
known Stanley 37 years。 Goodness； who is there I haven't known？
CCXXXI
THE CLOSE OF A BEAUTIFUL LIFE
In one of his notes near the end of April Clemens writes that once more；
as at Riverdale； he has been excluded from Mrs。 Clemens's room except for
the briefest moment at a time。 But on May 12th； to R。 W。 Gilder； he
reported：
For two days now we have not been anxious about Mrs。 Clemens
（unberufen）。 After 20 months of bedridden solitude & bodily misery
she all of a sudden ceases to be a pallid； shrunken shadow； & looks
bright & young & pretty。 She remains what she always was； the most
wonderful creature of fortitude； patience； endurance； and
recuperative power that ever was。 But ah； dear！ it won't last；
this fiendish malady will play new treacheries upon her； and I shall
go back to my prayers againunutterable from any pulpit！
May 13； A。M。 I have just paid one of my pair of permitted 2…minute
visits per day to the sick…room。 And found what I have learned to
expectretrogression。
There was a day when she was brought out on the terrace in a wheel…chair
to see the wonder of the early Italian summer。 She had been a prisoner
so long that she was almost overcome with the delight of it allthe more
so； perhaps； in the feeling that she might so soon be leaving it。
It was on Sunday； the 5th of June； that the end came。 Clemens and Jean
had driven out to make some calls； and had stopped at a villa； which
promised to fulfil most of the requirements。 They came home full of
enthusiasm concerning it； and Clemens； in his mind； had decided on the
purchase。 In the corridor Clara said：
〃She is better to…day than she has been for three months。〃
Then quickly； under her breath； 〃Unberufen；〃 which the others； too； added
hastilysuperstitiously。
Mrs。 Clemens was； in fact； bright and cheerful； and anxious to hear all
about the new property which was to become their home。 She urged him to
sit by her during the dinner…hour and tell her the details； but once；
when the sense of her frailties came upon her； she said they must not
mind if she could not go very soon； but be content where they were。 He
remained from half past seven until eighta forbidden privilege； but
permitted because she was so animated； feeling so well。 Their talk was
as it had been in the old days； and once during it he reproached himself；
as he had so often done； and asked forgiveness for the tears he had
brought into her life。 When he was summoned to go at last he chided
himself for remaining so long； but she said there was no harm； and kissed
him； saying： 〃You will come back；〃 and he answered； 〃Yes； to say good
night；〃 meaning at half past nine； as was the permitted custom。 He stood
a moment at the door throwing kisses to her； and she returning them； her
face bright with smiles。
He was so hopeful and happy that it amounted to exaltation。 He went to
his room at first； then he was moved to do a thing which he had seldom
done since Susy died。 He went to the piano up…stairs and sang the old
jubilee songs that Susy had liked to hear him sing。 Jean came in
presently； listening。 She had not done this before； that he could
remember。 He sang 〃Swing Low； Sweet Chariot；〃 and 〃My Lord He Calls Me。〃
He noticed Jean then and stopped； but she asked him to go on。
Mrs。 Clemens； in her room； heard the distant music； and said to her
attendant：
〃He is singing a good…night carol to me。〃
The music ceased presently； and then a moment later she asked to be
lifted up。 Almost in that instant life slipped away without a sound。
Clemens； coming to say good night； saw a little group about her bed；
Clara and Jean standing as if dazed。 He went and bent over and looked
into her face； surprised that she did not greet him。 He did not suspect
what had happened until he heard one of the daughters ask：
〃Katie； is it true？ Oh； Katie； is it true？〃
He realized then that she was gone。
In his note…book that night he wrote：
At a quarter past 9 this evening she that was the life of my life
passed to the relief & the peace of death after as months of unjust
& unearned suffering。 I first saw her near 37 years ago； & now I
have looked upon her face for the last time。 Oh； so unexpected！。。。
I was full of remorse for things done & said in these 34 years of
married life that hurt Livy's heart。
He envied her lying there； so free from it all； with the great peace upon
her face。 He wrote to Howells and to Twichell； and to Mrs。 Crane； those
nearest and dearest ones。 To Twichell he said：
How sweet she was in death； how young； how beautiful； how like her
dear girlish self of thirty years ago； not a gray hair showing！
This rejuvenescence was noticeable within two hours after her death；
& when I went down again （2。3o） it was co
