a[1]. v. laider(a.v.À×µÂ)-µÚ1ÕÂ
°´¼üÅÌÉÏ·½Ïò¼ü ¡û »ò ¡ú ¿É¿ìËÙÉÏÏ·ҳ£¬°´¼üÅÌÉ쵀 Enter ¼ü¿É»Øµ½±¾ÊéĿ¼ҳ£¬°´¼üÅÌÉÏ·½Ïò¼ü ¡ü ¿É»Øµ½±¾Ò³¶¥²¿£¡
¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ªÎ´ÔĶÁÍꣿ¼ÓÈëÊéÇ©ÒѱãÏ´μÌÐøÔĶÁ£¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡A¡£¡¡V¡£¡¡Laider¡¡
A¡£¡¡V¡£¡¡Laider¡¡
¡¡¡¡By¡¡MAX¡¡BEERBOHM¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡1¡¡
¡¡¡Page¡¡2¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡A¡£¡¡V¡£¡¡Laider¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡I¡¡UNPACKED¡¡my¡¡things¡¡and¡¡went¡¡down¡¡to¡¡await¡¡luncheon¡£¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡It¡¡was¡¡good¡¡to¡¡be¡¡here¡¡again¡¡in¡¡this¡¡little¡¡old¡¡sleepy¡¡hostel¡¡by¡¡the¡¡sea¡£¡¡
Hostel¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡I¡¡¡¡say£»¡¡¡¡though¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡it¡¡¡¡spelt¡¡¡¡itself¡¡¡¡without¡¡¡¡¡¡an¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨s¡¨¡¡¡¡and¡¡¡¡¡¡even¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡placed¡¡¡¡¡¡a¡¡
circumflex¡¡above¡¡the¡¡¡¨o¡£¡¨¡¡It¡¡made¡¡no¡¡other¡¡pretension¡£¡¡It¡¡was¡¡very¡¡cozy¡¡
indeed¡£¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡I¡¡had¡¡been¡¡here¡¡just¡¡a¡¡year¡¡before£»¡¡in¡¡mid¡February£»¡¡after¡¡an¡¡attack¡¡of¡¡
influenza¡£¡¡And¡¡now¡¡I¡¡had¡¡returned£»¡¡after¡¡an¡¡attack¡¡of¡¡influenza¡£¡¡Nothing¡¡
was¡¡changed¡£¡¡It¡¡had¡¡been¡¡raining¡¡when¡¡I¡¡left£»¡¡and¡¡the¡¡waiter¡¡there¡¡was¡¡
but¡¡¡¡¡¡a¡¡¡¡¡¡single£»¡¡¡¡¡¡a¡¡¡¡¡¡very¡¡¡¡¡¡old¡¡¡¡¡¡waiterhad¡¡¡¡¡¡told¡¡¡¡¡¡me¡¡¡¡¡¡it¡¡¡¡¡¡was¡¡¡¡¡¡only¡¡¡¡¡¡a¡¡¡¡¡¡shower¡£¡¡¡¡That¡¡
waiter¡¡was¡¡still¡¡here£»¡¡not¡¡a¡¡day¡¡older¡£¡¡And¡¡the¡¡shower¡¡had¡¡not¡¡ceased¡£¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡Steadfastly¡¡it¡¡fell¡¡on¡¡to¡¡the¡¡sands£»¡¡steadfastly¡¡into¡¡the¡¡iron¡gray¡¡sea¡£¡¡I¡¡
stood¡¡¡¡¡¡looking¡¡¡¡¡¡out¡¡¡¡¡¡at¡¡¡¡¡¡it¡¡¡¡¡¡from¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡¡¡windows¡¡¡¡¡¡of¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡¡¡hall£»¡¡¡¡¡¡admiring¡¡¡¡¡¡it¡¡¡¡¡¡very¡¡
much¡£¡¡There¡¡seemed¡¡to¡¡be¡¡little¡¡else¡¡to¡¡do¡£¡¡What¡¡little¡¡there¡¡was¡¡I¡¡did¡£¡¡I¡¡
mastered¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡¡¡contents¡¡¡¡¡¡of¡¡¡¡¡¡a¡¡¡¡¡¡blue¡¡¡¡¡¡hand¡bill¡¡¡¡¡¡which£»¡¡¡¡¡¡pinned¡¡¡¡¡¡to¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡¡¡wall¡¡¡¡¡¡just¡¡
beneath¡¡the¡¡framed¡¡engraving¡¡of¡¡Queen¡¡Victoria's¡¡Coronation£»¡¡gave¡¡token¡¡
of¡¡a¡¡concert¡¡that¡¡was¡¡to¡¡be¡¡heldor£»¡¡rather£»¡¡was¡¡to¡¡have¡¡been¡¡held¡¡some¡¡
weeks¡¡agoin¡¡the¡¡town¡¡hall¡¡for¡¡the¡¡benefit¡¡of¡¡the¡¡Life¡Boat¡¡Fund¡£¡¡I¡¡looked¡¡
at¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡¡¡barometer£»¡¡¡¡¡¡tapped¡¡¡¡¡¡it£»¡¡¡¡¡¡was¡¡¡¡¡¡not¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡¡¡wiser¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡I¡¡¡¡¡¡wandered¡¡¡¡¡¡to¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡¡¡letter¡¡¡
board¡£¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡These¡¡letter¡boards¡¡always¡¡fascinate¡¡me¡£¡¡Usually¡¡some¡¡two¡¡or¡¡three¡¡of¡¡
the¡¡¡¡¡¡envelops¡¡¡¡¡¡stuck¡¡¡¡¡¡into¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡¡¡cross¡garterings¡¡¡¡¡¡have¡¡¡¡¡¡a¡¡¡¡¡¡certain¡¡¡¡¡¡newness¡¡¡¡¡¡and¡¡
freshness¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡They¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡seem¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡sure¡¡¡¡¡¡they¡¡¡¡¡¡will¡¡¡¡yet¡¡¡¡¡¡be¡¡¡¡claimed¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡Why¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡not£¿¡¡¡¡¡¡Why¡¡
SHOULDN'T¡¡John¡¡Doe£»¡¡Esq¡££»¡¡or¡¡Mrs¡£¡¡Richard¡¡Roe¡¡turn¡¡up¡¡at¡¡any¡¡moment£¿¡¡
I¡¡do¡¡not¡¡know¡£¡¡I¡¡can¡¡only¡¡say¡¡that¡¡nothing¡¡in¡¡the¡¡world¡¡seems¡¡to¡¡me¡¡more¡¡
unlikely¡£¡¡Thus¡¡it¡¡is¡¡that¡¡these¡¡young¡¡bright¡¡envelops¡¡touch¡¡my¡¡heart¡¡even¡¡
more¡¡¡¡¡¡than¡¡¡¡¡¡do¡¡¡¡¡¡their¡¡¡¡¡¡dusty¡¡¡¡¡¡and¡¡¡¡¡¡sallowed¡¡¡¡¡¡seniors¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡Sour¡¡¡¡¡¡resignation¡¡¡¡¡¡is¡¡¡¡¡¡less¡¡
touching¡¡than¡¡impatience¡¡for¡¡what¡¡will¡¡not¡¡be£»¡¡than¡¡the¡¡eagerness¡¡that¡¡has¡¡
to¡¡wane¡¡and¡¡wither¡£¡¡Soured¡¡beyond¡¡measure¡¡these¡¡old¡¡envelops¡¡are¡£¡¡They¡¡
are¡¡not¡¡nearly¡¡so¡¡nice¡¡as¡¡they¡¡should¡¡be¡¡to¡¡the¡¡young¡¡ones¡£¡¡They¡¡lose¡¡no¡¡
chance¡¡of¡¡sneering¡¡and¡¡discouraging¡£¡¡Such¡¡dialogues¡¡as¡¡this¡¡are¡¡only¡¡too¡¡
frequent£º¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡A¡¡Very¡¡Young¡¡Envelop£º¡¡Something¡¡in¡¡me¡¡whispers¡¡that¡¡he¡¡will¡¡come¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡2¡¡
¡¡¡Page¡¡3¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡A¡£¡¡V¡£¡¡Laider¡¡
to¡day£¡¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡A¡¡Very¡¡Old¡¡Envelop£º¡¡He£¿¡¡Well£»¡¡that's¡¡good£¡¡¡Ha£»¡¡ha£»¡¡ha£¡¡¡Why¡¡didn't¡¡he¡¡
come¡¡last¡¡week£»¡¡when¡¡YOU¡¡came£¿¡¡What¡¡reason¡¡have¡¡you¡¡for¡¡supposing¡¡
he'll¡¡ever¡¡come¡¡now£¿¡¡It¡¡isn't¡¡as¡¡if¡¡he¡¡were¡¡a¡¡frequenter¡¡of¡¡the¡¡place¡£¡¡He's¡¡
never¡¡been¡¡here¡£¡¡His¡¡name¡¡is¡¡utterly¡¡unknown¡¡here¡£¡¡You¡¡don't¡¡suppose¡¡he's¡¡
coming¡¡on¡¡the¡¡chance¡¡of¡¡finding¡¡YOU£¿¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡A¡£¡¡V¡£¡¡Y¡£¡¡E¡££º¡¡It¡¡may¡¡seem¡¡silly£»¡¡butsomething¡¡in¡¡me¡¡whispers¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡A¡£¡¡V¡£¡¡O¡£¡¡E¡££º¡¡Something¡¡in¡¡YOU£¿¡¡One¡¡has¡¡only¡¡to¡¡look¡¡at¡¡you¡¡to¡¡see¡¡
there's¡¡nothing¡¡in¡¡you¡¡but¡¡a¡¡note¡¡scribbled¡¡to¡¡him¡¡by¡¡a¡¡cousin¡£¡¡Look¡¡at¡¡ME£¡¡¡
There¡¡¡¡¡¡are¡¡¡¡¡¡three¡¡¡¡¡¡sheets£»¡¡¡¡¡¡closely¡¡¡¡¡¡written£»¡¡¡¡¡¡in¡¡¡¡¡¡ME¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡The¡¡¡¡¡¡lady¡¡¡¡¡¡to¡¡¡¡¡¡whom¡¡¡¡¡¡I¡¡¡¡¡¡am¡¡
addressed¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡A¡£¡¡V¡£¡¡Y¡£¡¡E¡££º¡¡Yes£»¡¡sir£»¡¡yes£»¡¡you¡¡told¡¡me¡¡all¡¡about¡¡her¡¡yesterday¡£¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡A¡£¡¡V¡£¡¡O¡£¡¡E¡££º¡¡And¡¡I¡¡shall¡¡do¡¡so¡¡to¡day¡¡and¡¡to¡morrow¡¡and¡¡every¡¡day¡¡and¡¡
all¡¡day¡¡long¡£¡¡That¡¡young¡¡lady¡¡was¡¡a¡¡widow¡£¡¡She¡¡stayed¡¡here¡¡many¡¡times¡£¡¡
She¡¡was¡¡delicate£»¡¡and¡¡the¡¡air¡¡suited¡¡her¡£¡¡She¡¡was¡¡poor£»¡¡and¡¡the¡¡tariff¡¡was¡¡
just¡¡within¡¡her¡¡means¡£¡¡She¡¡was¡¡lonely£»¡¡and¡¡had¡¡need¡¡of¡¡love¡£¡¡I¡¡have¡¡in¡¡me¡¡
for¡¡her¡¡a¡¡passionate¡¡avowal¡¡and¡¡strictly¡¡honorable¡¡proposal£»¡¡written¡¡to¡¡her£»¡¡
after¡¡many¡¡rough¡¡copies£»¡¡by¡¡a¡¡gentleman¡¡who¡¡had¡¡made¡¡her¡¡acquaintance¡¡
under¡¡this¡¡very¡¡roof¡£¡¡He¡¡was¡¡rich£»¡¡he¡¡was¡¡charming£»¡¡he¡¡was¡¡in¡¡the¡¡prime¡¡of¡¡
life¡£¡¡He¡¡had¡¡asked¡¡if¡¡he¡¡might¡¡write¡¡to¡¡her¡£¡¡She¡¡had¡¡flutteringly¡¡granted¡¡his¡¡
request¡£¡¡He¡¡posted¡¡me¡¡to¡¡her¡¡the¡¡day¡¡after¡¡his¡¡return¡¡to¡¡London¡£¡¡I¡¡looked¡¡
forward¡¡to¡¡being¡¡torn¡¡open¡¡by¡¡her¡£¡¡I¡¡was¡¡very¡¡sure¡¡she¡¡would¡¡wear¡¡me¡¡and¡¡
my¡¡contents¡¡¡¡¡¡next¡¡¡¡¡¡to¡¡¡¡¡¡her¡¡¡¡bosom¡£¡¡¡¡She¡¡¡¡was¡¡¡¡¡¡gone¡£¡¡¡¡She¡¡had¡¡¡¡¡¡left¡¡¡¡¡¡no¡¡¡¡¡¡address¡£¡¡
She¡¡¡¡¡¡never¡¡¡¡¡¡returned¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡This¡¡¡¡¡¡I¡¡¡¡¡¡tell¡¡¡¡¡¡you£»¡¡¡¡¡¡and¡¡¡¡¡¡shall¡¡¡¡¡¡continue¡¡¡¡¡¡to¡¡¡¡¡¡tell¡¡¡¡¡¡you£»¡¡¡¡¡¡not¡¡
because¡¡I¡¡want¡¡any¡¡of¡¡your¡¡callow¡¡sympathy£»no£»¡¡THANK¡¡you£¡but¡¡that¡¡
you¡¡¡¡¡¡may¡¡¡¡¡¡judge¡¡¡¡¡¡how¡¡¡¡¡¡much¡¡¡¡¡¡less¡¡¡¡¡¡than¡¡¡¡¡¡slight¡¡¡¡¡¡are¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡probabilities¡¡¡¡¡¡that¡¡¡¡¡¡you¡¡
yourself¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡But¡¡my¡¡reader¡¡has¡¡overheard¡¡these¡¡dialogues¡¡as¡¡often¡¡as¡¡I¡£¡¡He¡¡wants¡¡to¡¡
know¡¡what¡¡was¡¡odd¡¡about¡¡this¡¡particular¡¡letter¡board¡¡before¡¡which¡¡I¡¡was¡¡
standing¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡At¡¡¡¡¡¡first¡¡¡¡glance¡¡¡¡¡¡I¡¡¡¡saw¡¡¡¡¡¡nothing¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡odd¡¡¡¡¡¡about¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡it¡£¡¡¡¡But¡¡¡¡presently¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡I¡¡
distinguished¡¡¡¡¡¡a¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡handwriting¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡that¡¡¡¡was¡¡¡¡¡¡vaguely¡¡¡¡¡¡familiar¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡It¡¡¡¡was¡¡¡¡mine¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡I¡¡
stared£»¡¡I¡¡wondered¡£¡¡There¡¡is¡¡always¡¡a¡¡slight¡¡shock¡¡in¡¡seeing¡¡an¡¡envelop¡¡of¡¡
one's¡¡¡¡¡¡own¡¡¡¡¡¡after¡¡¡¡¡¡it¡¡¡¡¡¡has¡¡¡¡¡¡gone¡¡¡¡¡¡through¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡¡¡post¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡It¡¡¡¡¡¡looks¡¡¡¡¡¡as¡¡¡¡¡¡if¡¡¡¡¡¡it¡¡¡¡¡¡had¡¡¡¡¡¡gone¡¡
through¡¡so¡¡much¡£¡¡But¡¡this¡¡was¡¡the¡¡first¡¡time¡¡I¡¡had¡¡ever¡¡seen¡¡an¡¡envelop¡¡of¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡3¡¡
¡¡¡Page¡¡4¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡A¡£¡¡V¡£¡¡Laider¡¡
mine¡¡eating¡¡its¡¡heart¡¡out¡¡in¡¡bondage¡¡on¡¡a¡¡letter¡board¡£¡¡This¡¡was¡¡outrageous¡£¡¡
This¡¡was¡¡hardly¡¡to¡¡be¡¡believed¡£¡¡Sheer¡¡kindness¡¡had¡¡impelled¡¡me¡¡to¡¡write¡¡
to¡¡¡¨A¡£¡¡V¡£¡¡Laider£»¡¡Esq¡££»¡¨¡¡and¡¡this¡¡was¡¡the¡¡result£¡¡¡I¡¡hadn't¡¡minded¡¡receiving¡¡
no¡¡answer¡£¡¡Only¡¡now£»¡¡indeed£»¡¡did¡¡I¡¡remember¡¡that¡¡I¡¡hadn't¡¡received¡¡one¡£¡¡In¡¡
multitudinous¡¡¡¡¡¡London¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡¡¡memory¡¡¡¡¡¡of¡¡¡¡¡¡A¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡V¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡Laider¡¡¡¡¡¡and¡¡¡¡¡¡his¡¡¡¡¡¡trouble¡¡¡¡¡¡had¡¡
soon¡¡passed¡¡from¡¡my¡¡mind¡£¡¡Butwell£»¡¡what¡¡a¡¡lesson¡¡not¡¡to¡¡go¡¡out¡¡of¡¡one's¡¡
way¡¡to¡¡write¡¡to¡¡casual¡¡acquaintances£¡¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡My¡¡envelop¡¡seemed¡¡not¡¡to¡¡recognize¡¡me¡¡as¡¡its¡¡writer¡£¡¡Its¡¡gaze¡¡was¡¡the¡¡
more¡¡piteous¡¡for¡¡being¡¡blank¡£¡¡Even¡¡so¡¡had¡¡I¡¡once¡¡been¡¡gazed¡¡at¡¡by¡¡a¡¡dog¡¡
that¡¡I¡¡had¡¡lost¡¡and£»¡¡after¡¡many¡¡days£»¡¡found¡¡in¡¡the¡¡Battersea¡¡Home¡£¡¡¡¨I¡¡don't¡¡
know¡¡who¡¡you¡¡are£»¡¡but£»¡¡whoever¡¡you¡¡are£»¡¡claim¡¡me£»¡¡take¡¡me¡¡out¡¡of¡¡this£¡¡¨¡¡
That¡¡was¡¡my¡¡dog's¡¡appeal¡£¡¡This¡¡was¡¡the¡¡appeal¡¡of¡¡my¡¡envelop¡£¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡I¡¡¡¡¡¡raised¡¡¡¡¡¡my¡¡¡¡¡¡hand¡¡¡¡¡¡to¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡¡¡letter¡board£»¡¡¡¡¡¡meaning¡¡¡¡¡¡to¡¡¡¡¡¡effect¡¡¡¡¡¡a¡¡¡¡¡¡swift¡¡¡¡¡¡and¡¡
lawless¡¡¡¡¡¡rescue£»¡¡¡¡¡¡but¡¡¡¡¡¡paused¡¡¡¡¡¡at¡¡¡¡¡¡sound¡¡¡¡¡¡of¡¡¡¡¡¡a¡¡¡¡¡¡footstep¡¡¡¡¡¡behind¡¡¡¡¡¡me¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡The¡¡¡¡¡¡old¡¡
waiter¡¡had¡¡come¡¡to¡¡tell¡¡me¡¡that¡¡my¡¡luncheon¡¡was¡¡ready¡£¡¡I¡¡followed¡¡him¡¡
out¡¡of¡¡the¡¡hall£»¡¡not£»¡¡however£»¡¡without¡¡a¡¡bright¡¡glance¡¡across¡¡my¡¡shoulder¡¡
to¡¡reassure¡¡the¡¡little¡¡captive¡¡that¡¡I¡¡should¡¡come¡¡back¡£¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡I¡¡had¡¡the¡¡sharp¡¡appetite¡¡of¡¡the¡¡convalescent£»¡¡and¡¡this¡¡the¡¡sea¡¡air¡¡had¡¡
whetted¡¡already¡¡to¡¡a¡¡finer¡¡edge¡£¡¡In¡¡touch¡¡with¡¡a¡¡dozen¡¡oysters£»¡¡and¡¡with¡¡
stout£»¡¡¡¡¡¡I¡¡¡¡¡¡soon¡¡¡¡¡¡shed¡¡¡¡¡¡away¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡¡¡unreasoning¡¡¡¡¡¡anger¡¡¡¡¡¡I¡¡¡¡¡¡had¡¡¡¡¡¡felt¡¡¡¡¡¡against¡¡¡¡¡¡A¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡V¡£¡¡
Laider¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡I¡¡¡¡¡¡became¡¡¡¡¡¡merely¡¡¡¡¡¡sorry¡¡¡¡¡¡for¡¡¡¡¡¡him¡¡¡¡¡¡that¡¡¡¡¡¡he¡¡¡¡¡¡had¡¡¡¡¡¡not¡¡¡¡¡¡received¡¡¡¡¡¡a¡¡¡¡¡¡letter¡¡
which¡¡might¡¡perhaps¡¡have¡¡comforted¡¡him¡£¡¡In¡¡touch¡¡with¡¡cutlets£»¡¡I¡¡felt¡¡how¡¡
sorely¡¡he¡¡had¡¡needed¡¡comfort¡£¡¡And¡¡anon£»¡¡by¡¡the¡¡big¡¡bright¡¡fireside¡¡of¡¡that¡¡
small¡¡¡¡¡¡dark¡¡¡¡¡¡smoking¡room¡¡¡¡¡¡where£»¡¡¡¡¡¡a¡¡¡¡¡¡year¡¡¡¡¡¡ago£»¡¡¡¡¡¡on¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡¡¡last¡¡¡¡¡¡evening¡¡¡¡¡¡of¡¡¡¡¡¡my¡¡
stay¡¡here£»¡¡he¡¡and¡¡I¡¡had¡¡at¡¡length¡¡spoken¡¡to¡¡each¡¡other£»¡¡I¡¡reviewed¡¡in¡¡detail¡¡
the¡¡tragic¡¡experience¡¡he¡¡had¡¡told¡¡me£»¡¡and¡¡I¡¡simply¡¡reveled¡¡in¡¡reminiscent¡¡
sympathy¡¡with¡¡him¡£¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡A¡£¡¡V¡£¡¡LAIDERI¡¡had¡¡looked¡¡him¡¡up¡¡in¡¡the¡¡visitors'¡book¡¡on¡¡the¡¡night¡¡
of¡¡¡¡¡¡his¡¡¡¡¡¡arrival¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡I¡¡¡¡¡¡myself¡¡¡¡¡¡had¡¡¡¡¡¡arrived¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡¡¡day¡¡¡¡¡¡before£»¡¡¡¡¡¡and¡¡¡¡¡¡had¡¡¡¡¡¡been¡¡¡¡¡¡rather¡¡
sorry¡¡there¡¡was¡¡no¡¡one¡¡else¡¡staying¡¡here¡£¡¡A¡¡convalescent¡¡by¡¡the¡¡sea¡¡likes¡¡to¡¡
have¡¡some¡¡one¡¡to¡¡observe£»¡¡to¡¡wonder¡¡about£»¡¡at¡¡meal¡time¡£¡¡I¡¡was¡¡glad¡¡when£»¡¡
on¡¡my¡¡second¡¡evening£»¡¡I¡¡found¡¡seated¡¡at¡¡the¡¡table¡¡opposite¡¡to¡¡mine¡¡another¡¡
guest¡£¡¡I¡¡was¡¡the¡¡gladder¡¡because¡¡he¡¡was¡¡just¡¡the¡¡right¡¡kind¡¡of¡¡guest¡£¡¡He¡¡
was¡¡enigmatic¡£¡¡By¡¡this¡¡I¡¡mean¡¡that¡¡he¡¡did¡¡not¡¡look¡¡soldierly¡¡or¡¡financial¡¡or¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡4¡¡
¡¡¡Page¡¡5¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡A¡£¡¡V¡£¡¡Laider¡¡