the nature faker-第4章

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！


an
instant　no　one　moved；　and　then　from　every　part　of　the　house；
along
the　garden　walks；　from　the　servants'　quarters；　came　the　sound　of
pounding　feet。　Herrick；　with　Miss　Waring　clutching　at　his　sleeve；
raced　toward　the　other　end　of　the　terrace。　They　had　not　far　to
go。
Directly　in　front　of　them　they　saw　what　had　dragged　from　the　very
soul　of　the　woman　the　scream　of　terror。

The　drawing…room　opened　upon　the　terrace；　and；　seated　at　the
piano；
Jackson　had　been　playing　for　those　in　the　room　to　dance。　The
windows　to　the　terrace　were　open。　The　terrace　itself　was　flooded
with　moonlight。　Seeking　the　fresh　air；　one　of　the　dancers　stepped
from　the　drawing…room　to　the　flags　outside。　She　had　then　raised
the
cry　of　terror　and　fallen　in　a　faint。　What　she　had　seen；　Herrick　a
moment　later　also　saw。　On　the　terrace　in　the　moon…light；　Bruno
and
Clara；　on　their　hind　legs；　were　solemnly　waltzing。　Neither　the
scream　nor　the　cessation　of　the　music　disturbed　them。
Contentedly；
proudly；　they　continued　to　revolve　in　hops　and　leaps。　From　their
happy　expression；　it　was　evident　they　not　only　were　enjoying
themselves；　but　that　they　felt　they　were　greatly　affording
immeasurable　delight　to　others。　Sick　at　heart；　furious；　bitterly
hurt；　with　roars　of　mocking　laughter　in　his　ears；　Herrick　ran
toward　the　stables　for　help。　At　the　farther　end　of　the　terrace
the
butler　had　placed　a　tray　of　liqueurs；　whiskeys；　and　soda　bottles。
His　back　had　been　turned　for　only　a　few　moments；　but　the　time　had
sufficed。

Lolling　with　his　legs　out；　stretched　in　a　wicker　chair；　Herrick
beheld　the　form　of　Ikey。　Between　his　uplifted　paws　he　held　aloof
the　base　of　a　decanter；　between　his　teeth；　and　well　jammed　down
his
throat；　was　the　long　neck　of　the　bottle。　From　it　issued　the　sound
of　gentle　gurgling。　Herrick　seized　the　decanter　and　hurled　it
crashing　upon　the　terrace。　With　difficulty　Ikey　rose。　Swaying　and
shaking　his　head　reproachfully；　he　gave　Herrick　a　perfectly
accurate　imitation　of　an　intoxicated　bear。






End