ragged lady, v1-第4章
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accused your own hearing。 He was correctly dressed； as an elderly man
should be； in the yesterday of the fashions； and he wore with
impressiveness a silk hat whenever such a hat could be worn。 A pair of
drab cloth gaiters did much to identify him with an old school of
gentlemen； not very definite in time or place。 He had a full gray beard
cut close； and he was in the habit of pursing his mouth a great deal。
But he meant nothing by it； and his wife meant nothing by her frowning。
They had no wish to subdue or overawe any one； or to pass for persons of
social distinction。 They really did not know what society was； and they
were rather afraid of it than otherwise as they caught sight of it in
their journeys and sojourns。 They led a life of public seclusion； and
dwelling forever amidst crowds； they were all in all to each other； and
nothing to the rest of the world； just as they had been when they resided
（as they would have said） on Pinckney street。 In their own house they
had never entertained； though they sometimes had company； in the style of
the country town where Mrs。 Lander grew up。 As soon as she was released
to the grandeur of hotel life； she expanded to the full measure of its
responsibilities and privileges； but still without seeking to make it the
basis of approach to society。 Among the people who surrounded her； she
had not so much acquaintance as her husband even； who talked so little
that he needed none。 She sometimes envied his ease in getting on with
people when he chose； and his boldness in speaking to fellow guests and
fellow travellers； if he really wanted anything。 She wanted something of
them all the time； she wanted their conversation and their companionship；
but in her ignorance of the social arts she was thrown mainly upon the
compassion of the chambermaids。 She kept these talking as long as she
could detain them in her rooms； and often fed them candy （which she ate
herself with childish greed） to bribe them to further delays。 If she was
staying some days in a hotel； she sent for the house…keeper； and made all
she could of her as a listener； and as soon as she settled herself for a
week； she asked who was the best doctor in the place。 With doctors she
had no reserves； and she poured out upon them the history of her diseases
and symptoms in an inexhaustible flow of statement； conjecture and
misgiving； which was by no means affected by her profound and
inexpugnable ignorance of the principles of health。 From time to time
she forgot which side her liver was on； but she had been doctored （as she
called it） for all her organs； and she was willing to be doctored for any
one of them that happened to be in the place where she fancied a present
discomfort。 She was not insensible to the claims which her husband's
disorders had upon science； and she liked to end the tale of her own
sufferings with some such appeal as： 〃I wish you could do something for
Mr。 Landa； too； docta。〃 She made him take a little of each medicine that
was left for her； but in her presence he always denied that there was
anything the matter with him； though he was apt to follow the doctor out
of the room； and get a prescription from him for some ailment which he
professed not to believe in himself； but wanted to quiet Mrs。 Lander's
mind about。
He rose early； both from long habit； and from the scant sleep of an
elderly man； he could not lie in bed； but his wife always had her
breakfast there and remained so long that the chambermaid had done up
most of the other rooms and had leisure for talk with her。 As soon as he
was awake； he stole softly out and was the first in the dining…room for
breakfast。 He owned to casual acquaintance in moments of expansion that
breakfast was his best meal； but he did what he could to make it his
worst by beginning with oranges and oatmeal； going forward to beefsteak
and fried potatoes； and closing with griddle cakes and syrup； washed down
with a cup of cocoa； which his wife decided to be wholesomer than coffee。
By the time he had finished such a repast； he crept out of the dining…
room in a state of tension little short of anguish； which he confided to
the sympathy of the bootblack in the washroom。
He always went from having his shoes polished to get a toothpick at the
clerk's desk； and at the Middlemount House； the morning after he had been
that drive with Mrs。 Lander； he lingered a moment with his elbows beside
the register。 〃How about a buckboa'd？〃 he asked。
〃Something you can drive yourself 〃the clerk professionally dropped his
eye to the register〃Mr。 Lander？〃
〃Well； no； I guess not； this time；〃 the little man returned； after a
moment's reflection。 〃Know anything of a family named Claxon； down the
road； here； a piece？〃 He twisted his head in the direction he meant。
〃This is my first season at Middlemount； but I guess Mr。 Atwell will
know。〃 The clerk called to the landlord； who was smoking in his private
room behind the office； and the landlord came out。 The clerk repeated
Mr。 Lander's questions。
〃Pootty good kind of folks； I guess；〃 said the landlord provisionally；
through his cigar…smoke。 〃Man's a kind of univussal genius； but he's got
a nice family of children； smaht as traps； all of 'em。〃
〃How about that oldest gul？〃 asked Mr。 Lander。
〃Well； the'a；〃 said the landlord； taking the cigar out of his mouth。
〃I think she's about the nicest little thing goin'。 We've had her up
he'e； to help out in a busy time； last summer； and she's got moo sense
than guls twice as old。 Takes hold likelightnin'。〃
〃About how old did you say she was？〃
〃Well； you've got me the'a； Mr。 Landa； I guess I'll ask Mis' Atwell。〃
〃The'e's no hurry；〃 said Lander。 〃That buckboa'd be round pretty soon？〃
he asked of the clerk。
〃Be right along now； Mr。 Lander；〃 said the clerk； soothingly。 He stepped
out to the platform that the teams drove up to from the stable； and came
back to say that it was coming。 〃I believe you said you wanted something
you could drive yourself？〃
〃No； I didn't； young man；〃 answered the elder sharply。 But the next
moment he added； 〃Come to think of it； I guess it's just as well。 You
needn't get me no driver。 I guess I know the way well enough。 You put
me in a hitchin' strap。〃
〃All right； Mr。 Lander；〃 said the clerk； meekly。
The landlord had caught the peremptory note in Lander's voice； and he
came out of his room again to see that there was nothing going wrong。
〃It's all right；〃 said Lander； and went out and got into his buckboard。
〃Same horse you had yesterday；〃 said the young clerk。 〃You don't need to
spare the whip。〃
〃I guess I can look out for myself；〃 said Lander； and he shook the reins
and gave the horse a smart cut； as a hint of what he might expect。
The landlord joined the clerk in looking after the brisk start the horse
made。 〃Not the way he set off with the old lady； yesterday；〃 suggested
the clerk。
The landlord rolled his cigar round in his tubed lips。 〃I guess he's
used to ridin' after a good hoss。〃 He added gravely to the clerk； 〃You
don't want to make very free with that man； Mr。 Pane。 He won't stan' it；
and he's a class of custom that you want to cata to when it comes in your
way。 I suspicioned what he was when they came here and took the highest
cost rooms without tu'nin' a haia。 They're a class of custom that you
won't get outside the big hotels in the big reso'ts。 Yes； sir；〃 said the
landlord taking a fresh start； 〃they're them kind of folks that live the
whole yea' round in hotels； no'th in summa； south in winta； and city
hotels between times。 They want the best their money can buy； and they
got plenty of it。 She〃he meant Mrs。 Lander〃has been tellin' my wife
how they do； she likes to talk a little betta than he doos； and I guess
when it comes to society； they're away up； and they won't stun' any
nonsense。〃
III。
Lander came into his wife's room between ten and eleven o'clock； and
found her still in bed； but with her half…finished breakfast on a tray
before her。 As soon as he opened the door she said； 〃I do wish you would
take some of that heat…tonic of mine； Albe't； that the docta left for me
in Boston。 Yo
