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第60章

the vision spendid(美景)-第60章

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rhythm of the morning in her step。 

     She spoke; commonplace words enough。 〃Last night I heard you were 

here。〃 

     〃And I didn't know you were within a thousand miles。〃 

     〃We   came   back   to   Verden   Thursday   and   are   up   over   Sunday;〃   she 

explained。 

     He   was   lost   in   the   witchery   of   the   spell   she   cast   over   him。   Not   the 

drooping maidenhair ferns through which she trailed were more delicate or 

graceful than she。 But some instinct in him played surface commonplaces 

against the insurgent emotion of his heart。 

     〃You like Washington?〃 

     〃I like home better。〃 

     〃But you were popular at the capital。 I read a great deal in the papers 

about your triumphs。〃 

     The dye in her cheeks ran a little stronger。 There had been much gossip 

about   a   certain   Italian nobleman   who   had   wooed   her   openly  and   madly。 

〃They told a lot of nonsense。〃 

     〃And some that wasn't nonsense。〃 

     〃Not much。〃 She changed the subject lightly。 〃You read all about the 

wedding; of course。〃 

     He quoted。  〃Miss Alice  Frome  as   maid   of   honor preceded the  bride; 

appearing   in   a   handsome   gown   of   very   delicate   old   rose   satin   with   an 

overdress of〃 

     〃Very   good。 You   may   go   to   the   head   of   the   class;   sir。   Valencia   was 

beautiful and your cousin never looked more handsome。〃 

     〃Which is saying a good deal。〃 

     〃And we're all hoping they will live happy ever after。〃 

     〃You know he is being talked of for United States Senator already。〃 

     〃You will oppose him?〃 she asked quickly。 

     〃I shall have to。〃 

     〃Still an irreconcilable。〃 Her smile could be vivid; and just now it was。 



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     〃Still a demagogue and a trouble maker;〃 he admitted。 

     〃You've won the recall and the direct primary since I left。〃 

     〃Yes。 We've been busy。〃 

     〃And our friendshow are they?〃 

     〃You should see Jefferson Davis Farnum Miller。 He's two months old 

and as fat as a dumpling。〃 

     〃I've seen him。 He's a credit to his godfather。〃 

     〃Isn't he? That's one happy family。〃 

     〃I wonder who's to blame for that;〃 she said; the star flash in her eyes。 

     〃Nellie told you?〃 

     〃She told me。〃 

     〃They exaggerate。 Nobody could have done less than I。〃 

     〃Or   more。〃   She   did   not   dwell   upon   the   subject。   〃Tell   me   about   Mr。 

Marchant。〃 

     He   went   over   for   her   the   story   of   the   little   poet's   gentle   death。   She 

listened till he made an end。 

     〃Then it was not hard for him?〃 

     〃No。 He had one of his good; eager days; then guietly fell asleep。〃 

     〃And passed to where; beyond these voices; there is rest and peace;〃 

she quoted; ever so softly。 

     〃Yes。〃 

     〃Perhaps he knows now all about his Perfect State。〃 Her wistful smile 

was very tender。 

     〃Perhaps。〃 

     They walked together slowly across the valley。 

     〃It is nearly six months since I have seen you。〃 

     〃Five   months   and   twenty…seven   days。〃   The   words   had   slipped   out 

almost without her volition。 She hurried on; ashamed; the color flying in 

her cheeks; 〃I remember because it was the day we ran down your cousin 

and that old gentleman。 It has always been a great comfort to me to know 

that he was not seriously injured。〃 

     〃No。 It was only the shock of his fall。〃 

     〃What was his name? I don't think I heard it。〃 

     There was just an instant's silence before he pronounced; 〃FarnumMr。 



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Robert Farnum。〃 

     〃A relative of yours?〃 

     〃Yes。〃 

     Across her brain there flashed a fugitive memory of three words Jeff 

had spoken to his cousin the day of the accident。 〃It's your father。〃 

     But   how   could   that    be?   She   had   always    understood     that   both  the 

parents   of   James   were   dead。   The   lawyer   had   denied   knowing   the   man 

whose life he had saved。 And yet she had been sure of the words and of a 

furtive; frightened look on the face of James。 According to the story of the 

_Herald_ the father of Jefferson; a former convict; was named Robert。 But 

once; when she had made some allusion to it Captain Chunn had exploded 

into vigorous denial。 It was a puzzle the meaning of which she could not 

guess。 

     〃He    has   several   times   mentioned      his  wish    to  thank   you   for  your 

kindness;〃 Jeff mentioned。 

     〃I'll be glad to meet him。〃 Swiftly she flashed a question at him。 〃Is he 

James Farnum's father?〃 

     〃Haven't you read the papers? He is said to be mine。〃 

     〃But     he   isn't。  He   isn't。  I  see   it  now。    James     was    ashamed      to 

acknowledge   a   father   who   had   been   in   prison。   Your   enemies   made          a 

mistake and you let it go。〃 

     〃It's all long since past。 I wouldn't say anything about it to anybody。〃 

     〃Of course you wouldn't;〃 she scoffed。 Her eyes were very bright。 She 

wanted to laugh and to weep at her discovery。 

     〃You   see   it   didn't   matter   with   my   friends。   And   my   reputation   was 

beyond hope anyhow。 It was different with James。〃 

     She    nodded。     〃Yes。    It  wouldn't    have    improved     his   chances     with 

Valencia;〃 her cousin admitted。 

     Jeff   permitted   himself   a   smile。   〃My   impression   was   that   he   did   not 

have Mrs。 Van Tyle in mind at the time。〃 

     They had waded through the wet ferns to the edge of the woods。 As 

her eyes swept the russet valley through which they had passed Alice drew 

a deep breath of pleasure。 How good it was to be alive in such a world of 

beauty!     A   meadow      lark   throbbed     its  three   notes   at  her   joyfully   to 



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emphasize their kinship。 An English pheasant strutted across the path and 

disappeared into the ferns。 Neither the man nor the woman spoke。 All the 

glad   day   called   them   to   the   emotional   climax   toward   which   they   were 

racing。 

     Womanlike; Alice attempted to evade what she most desired。 He was 

to be her mate。 She knew it now。 But the fear of him was in her heart。 

     〃Were you so fond of him? Is that why you did it for him?〃 she asked。 

     〃I didn't do it for him。〃 

     〃For whom then?〃 

     He did not answer。 Nor did his eyes meet hers。 They were fixed on the 

moving ferns where the pheasant had disappeared。 

     Alice guessed。 He had done it for the girl because he thought her in 

love   with   his   cousin。 A  warm   glow   suffused   her。   No   man   made   such   a 

sacrifice for a woman unless he cared for her。 

     The meadow lark flung out another carefree ecstasy。 The theme of it 

was the triumphant   certainty that love is the greatest   thing in the  world。 

Jeff felt that it was now or never。 

     〃I love you。 It's been hidden in my heart more than eight years; but I 

find I must tell you。 All the arguments against it I've rehearsed a thousand 

times。 The world is at your feet。 You could never love a man like me。 To 

your friends I'm a bad lot。 They never would consider me a moment。〃 

     Gently she interrupted。 〃Is it my friends you want to marry?〃 

     The    surprise    of  it  took   him    by  the   throat。   His   astonished     eyes 

questioned for a denial。 In that moment a wonderful secret was born into 

the world。 She held out both hands with a divine frankness; a sweetness of 

surrender beyond words。 

     〃But your fatheryour people!〃 

     〃'Where   thou   lodgest;   I   will   lodge:   thy   

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