his own people-第11章
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Why don't you jump into your clothes and come along； too？〃
〃I can't。〃
〃Well；〃 said the young man with a sympathetic shake of the head；
〃you certainly look sick。 It may be better if you stay in bed till
evening： a train's a mighty mean place for the day after。 But I
wouldn't hang around here too long。 If you want money； all you have
to do is to ask the hotel to cash a check on your home bank； they're
always glad to do that for Americans。〃 He turned to the door。
〃Mr。 Cornish； if you're goin' to help me about shipping the car；
I'm ready。〃
〃So am I。 Good…by； Mr。 Mellin。〃
〃Good…by；〃 Mellin said feebly〃and thank you。〃
Young Cooley came back to the bedside and shook the other's feverish
hand。 〃Good…by； ole man。 I'm awful sorry it's all happened； but
I'm glad it didn't cost you quite as much money as it did me。
Otherwise I expect it's hit us about equally hard。 I wishI wish
I could find a i~nice one~〃the youth gulped over something not
unlike a sob〃as fascinatin' as her！〃
Most people have had dreams of approaching dangers in the path of
which their bodies remained inert； when； in spite of the frantic
wish to fly； it was impossible to move； while all the time the
horror crept closer and closer。 This was Mellin's state as he saw
the young man going。 It was absolutely necessary to ask Cooley for
help； to beg him for a loan。 But he could not。
He saw Cooley's hand on the doorknob； saw the door swing open。
〃Good…by； again；〃 Cooley said； 〃and good luck to you！〃
Mellin's will strove desperately with the shame that held him
silent。
The door was closing。
〃Oh； Cooley；〃 called Mellin hoarsely。
〃Yes。 What？〃
〃J…j…just good…by；〃 said Mellin。
And with that young Cooley was gone。
IX。 Expiation
A multitudinous clangor of bells and a dozen neighboring chimes rang
noon； then the rectangular oblongs of hot sunlight that fell from
the windows upon the carpet of Mellin's room began imperceptibly
to shift their angles and move eastward。 From the stone pavement
of the street below came the sound of horses pawing and the voices
of waiting cabmen； then bells again； and more bells； clamoring the
slow and cruel afternoon into the past。 But all was silent in
Mellin's room； save when； from time to time； a long； shuddering
sigh came from the bed。
The unhappy young man had again drawn the coverlet over his head；
but not to sleep： it was more like a forlorn and desperate effort
to hide； as if he crept into a hole； seeking darkness to cover the
shame and fear that racked his soul。 For though his shame had been
too great to let him confess to young Cooley and ask for help； his
fear was as great as his shame； and it increased as the hours passed。
In truth his case was desperate。 Except the people who had stripped
him； Cooley was the only person in all of Europe with whom he had
more than a very casual acquaintance。 At home； in Cranston； he had
no friends susceptible to such an appeal as it was vitally necessary
for him to make。 His relatives were not numerous： there were two
aunts； the widows of his father's brothers； and a number of old…maid
cousins； and he had an uncle in Iowa； a country minister whom he had
not seen for years。 But he could not cable to any of these for
money； nor could he quite conjure his imagination into picturing any
of them sending it if he did。 And even to cable he would have to
pawn his watch； which was an old…fashioned one of silver and might
not bring enough to pay the charges。
He began to be haunted by fragmentary； prophetic visionsconfused
but realistic in detail； and horridly probableof his ejectment
from the hotel； perhaps arrest and trial。 He wondered what they
did in Italy to people who 〃beat〃 hotels； and； remembering what some
one had told him of the dreadfulness of Italian jails； convulsive
shudderings seized upon him。
The ruddy oblongs of sunlight crawled nearer to the east wall of the
room； stretching themselves thinner and thinner； until finally they
were not there at all； and the room was left in deepening grayness。
Carriages； one after the other； in unintermittent succession；
rumbled up to the hotel…entrance beneath the window； bringing
goldfish for the Pincio and the fountains of Villa Borghese。 Wild
strains from the Hungarian orchestra； rhapsodical twankings of
violins； and the runaway arpeggios of a zither crazed with speed…
mania； skipped along the corridors and lightly through Mellin's
door。 In his mind's eye he saw the gay crowd in the watery light；
the little tables where only five days ago he had sat with the
loveliest of all the anemone…like ladies。。。。
The beautifully…dressed tea…drinkers were there now； under the green
glass dome； prattling and smiling； those people he had called his
own。 And as the music sounded louder； faster； wilder and wilder
with the gipsy madnessthen in that darkening bedchamber his soul
became articulate in a cry of humiliation
〃God in His mercy forgive me； how raw I was！〃
A vision came before his closed eyes； the maple…bordered street in
Cranston； the long； straight； wide street where Mary Kramer lived；
a summer twilight； Mary in her white muslin dress on the veranda
steps； and a wistaria vine climbing the post beside her； half…
embowering her。 How cool and sweet and good she looked！ How dear
and how ~kind~！she had always been to him。
Dusk stole through the windows： the music ceased and the tea…hour
was over。 The carriages were departing； bearing the gay people
who went away laughing； calling last words to one another； and；
naturally； quite unaware that a young man； who； five days before；
had adopted them and called them 〃his own；〃 was lying in a darkened
room above them； and crying like a child upon his pillow。
X。 The Cab at the Corner
A ten o'clock； a page bearing a card upon a silver tray knocked upon
the door； and stared with wide…eyed astonishment at the disordered
gentleman who opened it。
The card was Lady Mount…Rhyswicke's。 Underneath the name was
written：
If you are there will you give me a few minutes？ I am waiting
in a cab at the next corner by the fountain。
Mellin's hand shook as he read。 He did not doubt that she came as
an emissary； probably they meant to hound him for payment of the
note he had given Sneyd； and at that thought he could have shrieked
with hysterical laughter。
〃Do you speak English？〃 he asked。
〃Spik little。 Yes。〃
〃Who gave you this card？〃
〃Coachman；〃 said the boy。 〃He wait risposta。〃
〃Tell him to say that I shall be there in five minutes。〃
〃Fi' minute。 Yes。 Good…by。〃
Mellin was partly dressedhe had risen half an hour earlier and
had been distractedly pacing the floor when the page knockedand
he completed his toilet quickly。 He passed down the corridors；
descended by the stairway （feeling that to use the elevator would
be another abuse of the confidence of the hotel company） and slunk
across the lobby with the look and the sensations of a tramp who
knows that he will be kicked into the street if anybody catches
sight of him。
A closed cab stood near the fountain at the next corner。 There was
a trunk on the box by the driver； and the roof was piled with bags
and rugs。 He approached uncertainly。
〃Isis thisis it Lady Mount…Rhyswicke？〃 he stammered pitifully。
She opened the door。
〃Yes。 Will you get in？ We'll just drive round the block if you
don't mind。 I'll bring you back here in ten minutes。〃 And when he
had tremulously complied； 〃~Avanti； cocchiere~；〃 she called to the
driver； and the tired little cab…horse began to draw them slowly
along the deserted street。
Lady Mount…Rhyswicke maintained silence for a time； while her
companion waited； his heart pounding with dreadful apprehensions。
Finally she gave a short； hard laugh and said：
〃I saw your face by the corner light。 Been havin' a hard day
of it？〃
The fear of breaking down kept him from answering。 He gulped
painfully once or twice； and turned his face away from her。 Light
enough from a streetlamp shone in for her to see。
〃I was rather afraid you'd refuse；〃 she said seriously。 〃Really；
I wonder you were willin' to come！〃
〃I wasI was
