the pupil-第13章
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pedestrians so amusing and the fascination of Paris so great； that
they stayed out later than usual and became aware that they should
have to hurry home to arrive in time for dinner。 They hurried
accordingly； arm…in…arm； good…humoured and hungry； agreeing that
there was nothing like Paris after all and that after everything
too that had come and gone they were not yet sated with innocent
pleasures。 When they reached the hotel they found that； though
scandalously late； they were in time for all the dinner they were
likely to sit down to。 Confusion reigned in the apartments of the
Moreens … very shabby ones this time； but the best in the house …
and before the interrupted service of the table； with objects
displaced almost as if there had been a scuffle and a great wine…
stain from an overturned bottle； Pemberton couldn't blink the fact
that there had been a scene of the last proprietary firmness。 The
storm had come … they were all seeking refuge。 The hatches were
down； Paula and Amy were invisible … they had never tried the most
casual art upon Pemberton； but he felt they had enough of an eye to
him not to wish to meet him as young ladies whose frocks had been
confiscated … and Ulick appeared to have jumped overboard。 The
host and his staff； in a word； had ceased to 〃go on〃 at the pace of
their guests； and the air of embarrassed detention； thanks to a
pile of gaping trunks in the passage； was strangely commingled with
the air of indignant withdrawal。 When Morgan took all this in …
and he took it in very quickly … he coloured to the roots of his
hair。 He had walked from his infancy among difficulties and
dangers； but he had never seen a public exposure。 Pemberton
noticed in a second glance at him that the tears had rushed into
his eyes and that they were tears of a new and untasted bitterness。
He wondered an instant； for the boy's sake； whether he might
successfully pretend not to understand。 Not successfully； he felt；
as Mr。 and Mrs。 Moreen； dinnerless by their extinguished hearth；
rose before him in their little dishonoured salon； casting about
with glassy eyes for the nearest port in such a storm。 They were
not prostrate but were horribly white； and Mrs。 Moreen had
evidently been crying。 Pemberton quickly learned however that her
grief was not for the loss of her dinner； much as she usually
enjoyed it； but the fruit of a blow that struck even deeper； as she
made all haste to explain。 He would see for himself； so far as
that went； how the great change had come； the dreadful bolt had
fallen； and how they would now all have to turn themselves about。
Therefore cruel as it was to them to part with their darling she
must look to him to carry a little further the influence he had so
fortunately acquired with the boy … to induce his young charge to
follow him into some modest retreat。 They depended on him … that
was the fact … to take their delightful child temporarily under his
protection； it would leave Mr。 Moreen and herself so much more free
to give the proper attention （too little； alas！ had been given） to
the readjustment of their affairs。
〃We trust you … we feel we CAN；〃 said Mrs。 Moreen； slowly rubbing
her plump white hands and looking with compunction hard at Morgan；
whose chin； not to take liberties； her husband stroked with a
paternal forefinger。
〃Oh yes … we feel that we CAN。 We trust Mr。 Pemberton fully；
Morgan；〃 Mr。 Moreen pursued。
Pemberton wondered again if he might pretend not to understand； but
everything good gave way to the intensity of Morgan's
understanding。 〃Do you mean he may take me to live with him for
ever and ever？〃 cried the boy。 〃May take me away； away； anywhere
he likes？〃
〃For ever and ever？ Comme vous…y…allez！〃 Mr。 Moreen laughed
indulgently。 〃For as long as Mr。 Pemberton may be so good。〃
〃We've struggled； we've suffered；〃 his wife went on； 〃but you've
made him so your own that we've already been through the worst of
the sacrifice。〃
Morgan had turned away from his father … he stood looking at
Pemberton with a light in his face。 His sense of shame for their
common humiliated state had dropped； the case had another side …
the thing was to clutch at THAT。 He had a moment of boyish joy；
scarcely mitigated by the reflexion that with this unexpected
consecration of his hope … too sudden and too violent； the turn
taken was away from a GOOD boy's book … the 〃escape〃 was left on
their hands。 The boyish joy was there an instant； and Pemberton
was almost scared at the rush of gratitude and affection that broke
through his first abasement。 When he stammered 〃My dear fellow；
what do you say to THAT？〃 how could one not say something
enthusiastic？ But there was more need for courage at something
else that immediately followed and that made the lad sit down
quietly on the nearest chair。 He had turned quite livid and had
raised his hand to his left side。 They were all three looking at
him； but Mrs。 Moreen suddenly bounded forward。 〃Ah his darling
little heart！〃 she broke out； and this time； on her knees before
him and without respect for the idol； she caught him ardently in
her arms。 〃You walked him too far； you hurried him too fast！〃 she
hurled over her shoulder at Pemberton。 Her son made no protest；
and the next instant； still holding him； she sprang up with her
face convulsed and with the terrified cry 〃Help； help！ he's going；
he's gone！〃 Pemberton saw with equal horror； by Morgan's own
stricken face； that he was beyond their wildest recall。 He pulled
him half out of his mother's hands； and for a moment； while they
held him together； they looked all their dismay into each other's
eyes； 〃He couldn't stand it with his weak organ；〃 said Pemberton …
〃the shock； the whole scene； the violent emotion。〃
〃But I thought he WANTED to go to you！〃； wailed Mrs。 Moreen。
〃I TOLD you he didn't； my dear；〃 her husband made answer。 Mr。
Moreen was trembling all over and was in his way as deeply affected
as his wife。 But after the very first he took his bereavement as a
man of the world。
End
