the argonauts of north liberty-第5章

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at　the　novelty　of　the　perfectly　natural　toss　and　grimace　with　which
Mrs。　Blandford　received　this　statement。

〃I　think　he's　been　pointed　out　to　me　somewhere；〃　she　said；
thoughtfully；　〃he's　a　tall；　dark；　dissipated…looking　man。〃

〃Nothing　of　the　kind；〃　laughed　her　husband。　　〃He's　middle…sized　and
as　blond　as　your　cousin　Joe；　only　he's　got　a　long　yellow　moustache；
and　has　a　quick；　abrupt　way　of　talking。　　He　isn't　at　all　fancy…
looking；　you'd　take　him　for　an　energetic　business　man　or　a　doctor；
if　you　didn't　know　him。　　So　you　see；　Joan；　this　correct　little　wife
of　mine　has　been　a　little；　just　a　little；　prejudiced。〃

He　drew　her　again　gently　backwards　and　nearer　his　seat；　but　she
caught　his　wrists　in　her　slim　hands；　and　rising　from　the　chair　at
the　same　moment；　dexterously　slipped　from　his　embrace　with　her　back
towards　him。　　〃I　do　not　know　why　I　should　be　unprejudiced　by
anything　you've　told　me；〃　she　said；　sharply　closing　the　book　of
sermons；　and；　with　her　back　still　to　her　husband；　reinstating　it
formally　in　its　place　on　the　cabinet。　　〃It's　probably　one　of　his
many　scandalous　pursuits　of　defenceless　and　believing　women；　and
he；　no　doubt；　goes　off　to　Boston；　laughing　at　you　for　thinking　him
in　earnest；　and　as　ready　to　tell　his　story　to　anybody　else　and
boast　of　his　double　deceit。〃　　Her　voice　had　a　touch　of　human
asperity　in　it　now；　which　he　had　never　before　noticed；　but
recognizing；　as　he　thought；　the　human　cause；　it　was　far　from
exciting　his　displeasure。

〃Wrong　again；　Joan；　he's　waiting　here　at　the　Independence　House　for
me　to　see　him　to…morrow；〃　he　returned；　cheerfully。　　〃And　I　believe
him　so　much　in　earnest　that　I　would　be　ready　to　swear　that　not
another　person　will　ever　know　the　story　but　you　and　I　and　he。　　No；
it　is　a　real　thing　with　him；　he's　dead　in　love；　and　it's　your　duty
as　a　Christian　to　help　him。〃

There　was　a　moment　of　silence。　　Mrs。　Blandford　remained　by　the
cabinet；　methodically　arranging　some　small　articles　displaced　by
the　return　of　the　book。　　〃Well；〃　she　said；　suddenly；　〃you　don't
tell　me　what　mother　had　to　say。　　Of　course；　as　you　came　home
earlier　than　you　expected；　you　had　time　to　stop　THEREonly　four
doors　from　this　house。〃

〃Well；　no；　Joan；〃　replied　Blandford；　in　awkward　discomfiture。　　〃You
see　I　met　Dick　first；　and　thenthen　I　hurried　here　to　youand
andI　clean　forgot　it。　　I'm　very　sorry；〃　he　added；　dejectedly。

〃And　I　more　deeply　so；〃　she　returned；　with　her　previous　bloodless
moral　precision；　〃for　she　probably　knows　by　this　time；　Edward；　why
you　have　omitted　your　usual　Sabbath　visit；　and　with　WHOM　you　were。〃

〃But　I　can　pull　on　my　boots　again　and　run　in　there　for　a　moment；〃
he　suggested；　dubiously；　〃if　you　think　it　necessary。　　It　won't　take
me　a　moment。〃

〃No；〃　she　said；　positively；　〃it　is　so　late　now　that　your　visit
would　only　show　it　to　be　a　second　thought。　　I　will　go　myselfit
will　be　a　call　for　us　both。〃

〃But　shall　I　go　with　you　to　the　door？　　It　is　dark　and　sleeting；〃
suggested　Blandford；　eagerly。

〃No；〃　she　replied；　peremptorily。　　〃Stay　where　you　are；　and　when
Ezekiel　and　Bridget　come　in　send　them　to　bed；　for　I　have　made
everything　fast　in　the　kitchen。　　Don't　wait　up　for　me。〃

She　left　the　room；　and　in　a　few　moments　returned；　wrapped　from　head
to　foot　in　an　enormous　plaid　shawl。　　A　white　woollen　scarf　thrown
over　her　bare　brown　head；　and　twice　rolled　around　her　neck；　almost
concealed　her　face　from　view。　　When　she　had　parted　from　her
husband；　and　reached　the　darkened　hall　below；　she　drew　from　beneath
the　folds　of　her　shawl　a　thick　blue　veil；　with　which　she　completely
enveloped　her　features。　　As　she　opened　the　front　door　and　peered
out　into　the　night；　her　own　husband　would　have　scarcely　recognized
her。

With　her　head　lowered　against　the　keen　wind　she　walked　rapidly　down
the　street　and　stopped　for　an　instant　at　the　door　of　the　fourth
house。　　Glancing　quickly　back　at　the　house　she　had　left　and　then　at
the　closed　windows　of　the　one　she　had　halted　before；　she　gathered
her　skirts　with　one　hand　and　sped　away　from　both；　never　stopping
until　she　reached　the　door　of　the　Independence　Hotel。


CHAPTER　III


Mrs。　Blandford　entered　the　side　door　boldly。　　Luckily　for　her；　the
austerities　of　the　Sabbath　were　manifest　even　here；　the　bar…room
was　closed；　and　the　usual　loungers　in　the　passages　were　absent。
Without　risking　the　recognition　of　her　voice　in　an　inquiry　to　the
clerk；　she　slipped　past　the　office；　still　muffled　in　her　veil；　and
quickly　mounted　the　narrow　staircase。　　For　an　instant　she　hesitated
before　the　public　parlor；　and　glanced　dubiously　along　the　half…lit
corridor。　　Chance　befriended　her；　the　door　of　a　bedroom　opened　at
that　moment；　and　Richard　Demorest；　with　his　overcoat　and　hat　on；
stepped　out　in　the　hall。

With　a　quick　and　nervous　gesture　of　her　hand　she　beckoned　him　to
approach。　　He　came　towards　her　leisurely；　with　an　amused　curiosity
that　suddenly　changed　to　utter　astonishment　as　she　hurriedly　lifted
her　veil；　dropped　it；　turned；　and　glided　down　the　staircase　into
the　street　again。　　He　followed　rapidly；　but　did　not　overtake　her
until　she　had　reached　the　corner；　when　she　slackened　her　pace　an
instant　for　him　to　join　her。

〃Lulu；〃　he　said　eagerly；　〃is　it　you？〃

〃Not　a　word　here；〃　she　said；　breathlessly。　　〃Follow　me　at　a
distance。〃

She　started　forward　again　in　the　direction　of　her　own　house。
He　followed　her　at　a　sufficient　interval　to　keep　her　faintly
distinguishable　figure　in　sight　until　she　had　crossed　three
streets；　and　near　the　end　of　the　next　block　glided　up　the　steps　of
a　house　not　far　from　the　one　where　he　remembered　to　have　left
Blandford。　　As　he　joined　her；　she　had　just　succeeded　in　opening　the
door　with　a　pass…key；　and　was　awaiting　him。　　With　a　gesture　of
silence　she　took　his　hand　in　her　cold　fingers；　and　leading　him
softly　through　the　dark　hall　and　passage；　quickly　entered　the
kitchen。　　Here　she　lit　a　candle；　turned；　and　faced　him。　　He　could
see　that　the　outside　shutters　were　bolted；　and　the　kitchen
evidently　closed　for　the　night。

As　she　removed　the　veil　from　her　face　he　made　a　movement　as　if　to
regain　her　hand　again；　but　she　drew　it　away。

〃You　have　forced　this　upon　me；〃　she　said　hurriedly；　〃and　it　may　be
ruin　to　us　both。　　Why　have　you　betrayed　me？〃

〃Betrayed　you；　LuluGood　God！　what　do　you　mean？〃

She　looked　him　full　in　the　eye；　and　then　said　slowly；　〃Do　you　mean
to　say　that　you　have　told　no　one　of　our　meetings？〃

〃Only　onemy　old　friend　Blandford；　who　lives　　Ah；　yes！　　I　see　it
now。　　You　are　neighbors。　　He　has　betrayed　me。　　This　house　is〃

〃My　father's！〃　she　replied　boldly。

The　momentary　uneasiness　passed　from　Demorest's　resolute　face。　　His
old　self…sufficiency　returned。　　〃Good；〃　he　said；　with　a　frank
laugh；　〃that　will　do　for　me。　　Open　the　door　there；　Lulu；　and　take
me　to　him。　　I'm　not　ashamed　of　anything　I've　done；　my　girl；　nor
need　you　be。　　I'll　tell　him　my　real　name　is　Dick　Demorest；　as　I
ought　to　have　told　you　before；　and　that　I　want　to　marry　you；　fairly
and　squarely；　and　let　him　make　the　conditions。　　I'm　not　a　vagabond
nor　a　thief；　Lulu；　if　I　have　met　you　on　the　sly。　　Come；　dear；　let
us　end　this　now。　　Come〃

But　she　had　thrown　herself　before　him　and　placed　her　hand　upon　his
lips。　　〃Hush！　are　you　mad？　　Listen　to　me；　I　tell　youpleaseoh；
dono　you　must　not！〃　　He　had　covered　her　hand　with　kisses　and　was
drawing　her　face　towards　his　own。　　〃Nonot　again；　it　was　wrong
then；　it　is　monstrous　now。　　I　implore　you；　listen；　if　you　love　me；
stop。〃

He　released　her。　　She　sank　into　a　chair　by　the　kitchen…table；　and
buried　her　flushed　face　in　her　hands。

He　stood　for　a　moment　motionless　before　her。　　〃Lulu；　if　that　is
your　name；〃　he　said　slowly；　but　gently；　〃tell　me　all　now。　　Be　frank
with　me；　and　trust　me。　　If　there　is　anything　stands　in　the　way；　let
me　know　what　it　is　and　I　can　overcome　it。　　If　it　is　my　telling　Ned
Blandford；　don't　let　that　worry　you；　he's　as　loyal　a　fellow　as　ever
breathed；　and　I'm　a　dog　to　ever　think　he　willingly　betrayed　us。
His　wife；　well；　she's　one　of　those　pious　saintsbut　no；　she　would
not　be　such　a　cursed　hypocrite　and　bigot　as　this。〃

〃Hush；　I　tell　you！　　WILL　you　hush；〃　she　said；　in　a　frantic　whisper；
springing　to　her　feet　an