mother(ĸÇ×)-µÚ1ÕÂ
°´¼üÅÌÉÏ·½Ïò¼ü ¡û »ò ¡ú ¿É¿ìËÙÉÏÏ·ҳ£¬°´¼üÅÌÉ쵀 Enter ¼ü¿É»Øµ½±¾ÊéĿ¼ҳ£¬°´¼üÅÌÉÏ·½Ïò¼ü ¡ü ¿É»Øµ½±¾Ò³¶¥²¿£¡
¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ªÎ´ÔĶÁÍꣿ¼ÓÈëÊéÇ©ÒѱãÏ´μÌÐøÔĶÁ£¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡MOTHER¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡MOTHER¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡By¡¡OWEN¡¡WISTER¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡TO¡¡MY¡¡FAVOURITE¡¡BROKER¡¡WITH¡¡THE¡¡EARNEST¡¡
ASSURANCE¡¡THAT¡¡MR¡£¡¡BEVERLY¡¡IS¡¡NOT¡¡MEANT¡¡FOR¡¡HIM¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡1¡¡
¡¡¡Page¡¡2¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡MOTHER¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡When¡¡¡¡¡¡handsome¡¡¡¡¡¡young¡¡¡¡¡¡Richard¡¡¡¡¡¡Fieldhe¡¡¡¡¡¡was¡¡¡¡¡¡very¡¡¡¡¡¡handsome¡¡¡¡¡¡and¡¡
very¡¡young¡¡announced¡¡to¡¡our¡¡assembled¡¡company¡¡that¡¡if¡¡his¡¡turn¡¡should¡¡
really¡¡come¡¡to¡¡tell¡¡us¡¡a¡¡story£»¡¡the¡¡story¡¡should¡¡be¡¡no¡¡invention¡¡of¡¡his¡¡fancy£»¡¡
but¡¡a¡¡page¡¡of¡¡truth£»¡¡a¡¡chapter¡¡from¡¡his¡¡own¡¡life£»¡¡in¡¡which¡¡himself¡¡was¡¡the¡¡
hero¡¡and¡¡a¡¡lovely£»¡¡innocent¡¡girl¡¡was¡¡the¡¡heroine£»¡¡his¡¡wife¡¡at¡¡once¡¡looked¡¡
extremely¡¡uncomfortable¡£¡¡She¡¡changed¡¡the¡¡reclining¡¡position¡¡in¡¡which¡¡she¡¡
had¡¡been¡¡leaning¡¡back¡¡in¡¡her¡¡chair£»¡¡and¡¡she¡¡sat¡¡erect£»¡¡with¡¡a¡¡hand¡¡closed¡¡
upon¡¡each¡¡arm¡¡of¡¡the¡¡chair¡£¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨Richard£»¡¨¡¡she¡¡said¡£¡¡¡¨do¡¡you¡¡think¡¡that¡¡it¡¡is¡¡right¡¡of¡¡you¡¡to¡¡tell¡¡any¡¡one£»¡¡
even¡¡friends£»¡¡anything¡¡that¡¡you¡¡have¡¡never¡¡yet¡¡confessed¡¡to¡¡me£¿¡¨¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨Ethel£»¡¨¡¡replied¡¡Richard£»¡¡¡¨although¡¡I¡¡cannot¡¡promise¡¡that¡¡you¡¡will¡¡be¡¡
entirely¡¡proud¡¡of¡¡my¡¡conduct¡¡when¡¡you¡¡have¡¡heard¡¡this¡¡episode¡¡of¡¡my¡¡past£»¡¡
I¡¡do¡¡say¡¡that¡¡there¡¡is¡¡nothing¡¡in¡¡it¡¡to¡¡hurt¡¡the¡¡trust¡¡you¡¡have¡¡placed¡¡in¡¡me¡¡
since¡¡I¡¡have¡¡been¡¡your¡¡husband¡£¡¡Only£»¡¨¡¡he¡¡added£»¡¡¡¨I¡¡hope¡¡that¡¡I¡¡shall¡¡not¡¡
have¡¡to¡¡tell¡¡any¡¡story¡¡at¡¡all¡£¡¨¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨Oh£»¡¡¡¡¡¡yes¡¡¡¡¡¡you¡¡¡¡¡¡will£¡¡¨¡¡¡¡¡¡we¡¡¡¡¡¡all¡¡¡¡¡¡exclaimed¡¡¡¡¡¡together£»¡¡¡¡¡¡and¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡¡¡men¡¡¡¡¡¡looked¡¡
eager¡¡while¡¡the¡¡women¡¡sighed¡£¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡The¡¡rest¡¡of¡¡us¡¡were¡¡much¡¡older¡¡than¡¡Richard£»¡¡we¡¡were¡¡middle¡aged£»¡¡in¡¡
fact£»¡¡and¡¡human¡¡nature¡¡is¡¡so¡¡constructed£»¡¡that¡¡when¡¡it¡¡is¡¡at¡¡the¡¡age¡¡when¡¡
making¡¡love¡¡keeps¡¡it¡¡busy£»¡¡it¡¡does¡¡not¡¡care¡¡so¡¡much¡¡to¡¡listen¡¡to¡¡tales¡¡of¡¡
others'¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡love¡making£»¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡but¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡¡¡more¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡it¡¡¡¡recedes¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡from¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡that¡¡¡¡¡¡period¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡of¡¡
exuberance£»¡¡¡¡¡¡and¡¡¡¡¡¡ceases¡¡¡¡¡¡to¡¡¡¡¡¡have¡¡¡¡¡¡love¡¡¡¡¡¡adventures¡¡¡¡¡¡of¡¡¡¡¡¡its¡¡¡¡¡¡own£»¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡¡¡greater¡¡
become¡¡its¡¡hunger¡¡and¡¡thirst¡¡to¡¡hear¡¡about¡¡this¡¡delicious¡¡business¡¡which¡¡it¡¡
can¡¡no¡¡longer¡¡personally¡¡practice¡¡with¡¡the¡¡fluency¡¡of¡¡yore¡£¡¡It¡¡was¡¡for¡¡this¡¡
reason¡¡¡¡¡¡that¡¡¡¡¡¡we¡¡¡¡¡¡all¡¡¡¡¡¡yearned¡¡¡¡¡¡in¡¡¡¡¡¡our¡¡¡¡¡¡middle¡aged¡¡¡¡¡¡way¡¡¡¡¡¡for¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡¡¡tale¡¡¡¡¡¡of¡¡¡¡¡¡love¡¡
which¡¡we¡¡expected¡¡from¡¡young¡¡Richard¡£¡¡He£»¡¡on¡¡his¡¡part£»¡¡repeated¡¡the¡¡hope¡¡
that¡¡by¡¡the¡¡time¡¡his¡¡turn¡¡to¡¡tell¡¡a¡¡story¡¡was¡¡reached¡¡we¡¡should¡¡be¡¡tired¡¡of¡¡
stories¡¡and¡¡prefer¡¡to¡¡spend¡¡the¡¡evening¡¡at¡¡the¡¡card¡¡tables¡¡or¡¡in¡¡the¡¡music¡¡
room¡£¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡We¡¡¡¡¡¡were¡¡¡¡¡¡a¡¡¡¡¡¡house¡¡¡¡¡¡party£»¡¡¡¡¡¡no¡¡¡¡¡¡brief¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨week¡end¡¨¡¡¡¡¡¡affair£»¡¡¡¡¡¡but¡¡¡¡¡¡a¡¡¡¡¡¡gathering¡¡
whose¡¡period¡¡for¡¡most¡¡of¡¡the¡¡guests¡¡covered¡¡a¡¡generous¡¡and¡¡leisurely¡¡ten¡¡
days£»¡¡¡¡¡¡with¡¡¡¡¡¡enough¡¡¡¡¡¡departures¡¡¡¡¡¡and¡¡¡¡¡¡arrivals¡¡¡¡¡¡to¡¡¡¡¡¡give¡¡¡¡¡¡that¡¡¡¡¡¡variety¡¡¡¡¡¡which¡¡¡¡¡¡is¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡2¡¡
¡¡¡Page¡¡3¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡MOTHER¡¡
necessary¡¡¡¡¡¡among¡¡¡¡¡¡even¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡¡¡most¡¡¡¡¡¡entertaining¡¡¡¡¡¡and¡¡¡¡¡¡agreeable¡¡¡¡¡¡people¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡Our¡¡
skilful¡¡¡¡¡¡hostess¡¡¡¡¡¡had¡¡¡¡¡¡assembled¡¡¡¡¡¡us¡¡¡¡¡¡in¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡¡¡country£»¡¡¡¡¡¡beneath¡¡¡¡¡¡a¡¡¡¡¡¡roof¡¡¡¡¡¡of¡¡¡¡¡¡New¡¡
York¡¡luxury£»¡¡a¡¡luxury¡¡which¡¡has¡¡come¡¡in¡¡these¡¡later¡¡days¡¡to¡¡be¡¡so¡¡much¡¡
more¡¡than¡¡princely¡£¡¡By¡¡day£»¡¡the¡¡grounds¡¡afforded¡¡us¡¡both¡¡golf¡¡and¡¡tennis£»¡¡
the¡¡stables¡¡provided¡¡motor¡¡cars¡¡and¡¡horses¡¡to¡¡ride¡¡or¡¡drive¡¡over¡¡admirable¡¡
roads£»¡¡¡¡¡¡through¡¡¡¡¡¡beautiful¡¡¡¡¡¡scenery¡¡¡¡¡¡that¡¡¡¡¡¡was¡¡¡¡¡¡embellished¡¡¡¡¡¡by¡¡¡¡¡¡a¡¡¡¡¡¡magnificent¡¡
autumn¡¡season¡£¡¡At¡¡nightfall£»¡¡the¡¡great¡¡house¡¡itself¡¡received¡¡us¡¡in¡¡the¡¡arms¡¡
of¡¡¡¡¡¡supreme¡¡¡¡¡¡comfort£»¡¡¡¡¡¡fed¡¡¡¡¡¡us¡¡¡¡¡¡sumptuously£»¡¡¡¡¡¡and¡¡¡¡¡¡after¡¡¡¡¡¡dinner¡¡¡¡¡¡ministered¡¡¡¡¡¡to¡¡
our¡¡middle¡aged¡¡bodies¡¡with¡¡chairs¡¡and¡¡sofas¡¡of¡¡the¡¡highest¡¡development¡£¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡The¡¡plan¡¡devised¡¡by¡¡our¡¡hostess£»¡¡Mrs¡£¡¡Davenport£»¡¡that¡¡a¡¡story¡¡should¡¡
be¡¡told¡¡by¡¡one¡¡of¡¡us¡¡each¡¡evening£»¡¡had¡¡met¡¡with¡¡courtesy£»¡¡but¡¡not¡¡I¡¡with¡¡
immediate¡¡¡¡¡¡enthusiasm¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡But¡¡¡¡¡¡Mrs¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡Davenport¡¡¡¡¡¡had¡¡¡¡¡¡chosen¡¡¡¡¡¡her¡¡¡¡¡¡guests¡¡¡¡¡¡with¡¡
her¡¡usual¡¡wisdom£»¡¡¡¡and¡¡after¡¡the¡¡¡¡¡¡first¡¡experiment£»¡¡story¡¡¡¡telling¡¡proved¡¡so¡¡
successful¡¡that¡¡none¡¡of¡¡us¡¡would¡¡have¡¡readily¡¡abandoned¡¡it¡£¡¡When¡¡the¡¡time¡¡
had¡¡come¡¡for¡¡¡¡¡¡Richard¡¡Field¡¡to¡¡¡¡¡¡entertain¡¡the¡¡company¡¡¡¡with¡¡the¡¡¡¡¡¡promised¡¡
tale¡¡¡¡¡¡from¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡his¡¡¡¡¡¡life¡¡¡¡experience£»¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡his¡¡¡¡¡¡hope¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡of¡¡¡¡escaping¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡this¡¡¡¡ordeal¡¡¡¡¡¡had¡¡
altogether¡¡vanished¡£¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡Mrs¡£¡¡Field£»¡¡it¡¡had¡¡been¡¡noticed¡¡as¡¡early¡¡as¡¡breakfast¡¡time£»¡¡was¡¡inclined¡¡
to¡¡be¡¡nervous¡¡on¡¡her¡¡husband's¡¡account¡£¡¡Five¡¡years¡¡of¡¡married¡¡life¡¡had¡¡not¡¡
cured¡¡her¡¡of¡¡this¡¡amiable¡¡symptom£»¡¡and¡¡she¡¡made¡¡but¡¡a¡¡light¡¡meal¡£¡¡He£»¡¡on¡¡
the¡¡other¡¡hand£»¡¡ate¡¡heartily¡¡and¡¡without¡¡signs¡¡of¡¡disturbance¡£¡¡Apparently¡¡
he¡¡was¡¡not¡¡even¡¡conscious¡¡of¡¡the¡¡glances¡¡that¡¡his¡¡wife¡¡so¡¡frequently¡¡stole¡¡
at¡¡him¡£¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨Do¡¡at¡¡least¡¡have¡¡some¡¡omelet£»¡¡my¡¡dear£»¡¨¡¡whispered¡¡Mrs¡£¡¡Davenport¡¡
urgently¡£¡¡¡¨It's¡¡quite¡¡light¡£¡¨¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡But¡¡Mrs¡£¡¡Field¡¡could¡¡summon¡¡no¡¡appetite¡£¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨I¡¡¡¡¡¡see¡¡¡¡¡¡you¡¡¡¡¡¡are¡¡¡¡¡¡anxious¡¡¡¡¡¡about¡¡¡¡¡¡him£»¡¨¡¡¡¡¡¡Mrs¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡Davenport¡¡¡¡¡¡continued¡¡¡¡¡¡after¡¡
breakfast¡£¡¡¡¨You¡¡are¡¡surely¡¡not¡¡afraid¡¡his¡¡story¡¡will¡¡fail¡¡to¡¡interest¡¡us£¿¡¨¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨No£»¡¡it¡¡is¡¡not¡¡that¡£¡¨¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨It¡¡can't¡¡be¡¡that¡¡he¡¡has¡¡given¡¡up¡¡the¡¡one¡¡he¡¡expected¡¡to¡¡tell¡¡us¡¡and¡¡can¡¡
think¡¡of¡¡no¡¡other£¿¡¨¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨Oh£»¡¡no£»¡¡he¡¡is¡¡going¡¡to¡¡tell¡¡that¡¡one¡£¡¨¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨And¡¡you¡¡don't¡¡like¡¡his¡¡choice£¿¡¨¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡3¡¡
¡¡¡Page¡¡4¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡MOTHER¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨He¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡won't¡¡¡¡¡¡tell¡¡¡¡me¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡what¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡it¡¡¡¡is£¡¡¨¡¡¡¡Mrs¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡Davenport¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡put¡¡¡¡¡¡down¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡her¡¡
embroidery¡£¡¡¡¨Then£»¡¡Ethel£»¡¨¡¡she¡¡laid¡¡with¡¡severity£»¡¡¡¨the¡¡fault¡¡is¡¡yours¡£¡¡When¡¡
I¡¡had¡¡been¡¡five¡¡years¡¡married£»¡¡Mr¡£¡¡Davenport¡¡confided¡¡everything¡¡to¡¡me¡£¡¨¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨So¡¡does¡¡Richard¡£¡¡Except¡¡when¡¡I¡¡particularly¡¡ask¡¡him¡£¡¨¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨There¡¡it¡¡is£»¡¡Ethel¡£¡¡You¡¡let¡¡him¡¡see¡¡that¡¡you¡¡want¡¡to¡¡know¡£¡¨¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨But¡¡I¡¡do¡¡want¡¡to¡¡know¡£¡¡Richard¡¡has¡¡had¡¡such¡¡interesting¡¡experiences£»¡¡
so¡¡¡¡¡¡many¡¡¡¡¡¡of¡¡¡¡¡¡them¡£¡¡And¡¡¡¡¡¡I¡¡¡¡¡¡do¡¡¡¡¡¡so¡¡¡¡¡¡want¡¡¡¡¡¡him¡¡¡¡¡¡to¡¡¡¡¡¡tell¡¡¡¡¡¡a¡¡¡¡¡¡thoroughly¡¡¡¡¡¡nice¡¡¡¡¡¡one¡£¡¡
There's¡¡the¡¡one¡¡when¡¡he¡¡saved¡¡a¡¡man¡¡from¡¡drowning¡¡just¡¡below¡¡our¡¡house£»¡¡
the¡¡second¡¡summer£»¡¡and¡¡the¡¡man¡¡turned¡¡out¡¡to¡¡be¡¡a¡¡burglar¡¡and¡¡broke¡¡into¡¡
the¡¡pantry¡¡that¡¡very¡¡night£»¡¡and¡¡Richard¡¡caught¡¡him¡¡in¡¡the¡¡dark¡¡with¡¡just¡¡as¡¡
much¡¡courage¡¡as¡¡he¡¡had¡¡caught¡¡him¡¡in¡¡the¡¡water¡¡and¡¡just¡¡as¡¡few¡¡clothes£»¡¡
only¡¡it¡¡was¡¡so¡¡different¡£¡¡Richard¡¡makes¡¡it¡¡quite¡¡thrilling¡£¡¡And¡¡I¡¡mentioned¡¡
another¡¡to¡¡¡¡¡¡him¡£¡¡¡¡But¡¡¡¡¡¡he¡¡¡¡¡¡just¡¡¡¡¡¡went¡¡¡¡¡¡on¡¡¡¡¡¡shaving¡£¡¡And¡¡¡¡¡¡now¡¡¡¡¡¡he¡¡has¡¡¡¡¡¡gone¡¡¡¡¡¡out¡¡
walking£»¡¡and¡¡I¡¡believe¡¡it's¡¡going¡¡to¡¡be¡¡something¡¡I¡¡would¡¡rather¡¡not¡¡hear¡£¡¡
But¡¡I¡¡mean¡¡to¡¡hear¡¡it¡£¡¨¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡At¡¡lunch¡¡Mrs¡£¡¡Field¡¡made¡¡a¡¡better¡¡meal£»¡¡although¡¡it¡¡was¡¡clear¡¡to¡¡Mrs¡£¡¡
Davenport¡¡¡¡¡¡that¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡Richard¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡on¡¡¡¡returning¡¡¡¡¡¡from¡¡¡¡¡¡his¡¡¡¡¡¡walk¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡had¡¡¡¡¡¡still¡¡¡¡kept¡¡¡¡his¡¡
intentions¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡from¡¡¡¡¡¡Ethel¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨She¡¡¡¡¡¡does¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡not¡¡¡¡manage¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡him¡¡¡¡¡¡in¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡least£»¡¨¡¡¡¡Mrs¡£¡¡
Davenport¡¡declared¡¡to¡¡the¡¡other¡¡ladies£»¡¡as¡¡Ethel¡¡and¡¡Richard¡¡started¡¡for¡¡an¡¡
afternoon¡¡¡¡¡¡drive¡¡¡¡¡¡together¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨She¡¡¡¡¡¡will¡¡¡¡¡¡not¡¡¡¡¡¡know¡¡¡¡¡¡anything¡¡¡¡¡¡more¡¡¡¡¡¡when¡¡¡¡¡¡she¡¡
brings¡¡him¡¡back¡£¡¨¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡But¡¡in¡¡this¡¡Mrs¡£¡¡Davenport¡¡did¡¡wrong¡¡to¡¡Ethel's¡¡resources¡£¡¡The¡¡young¡¡
wife¡¡did¡¡know¡¡something¡¡more¡¡when¡¡she¡¡brought¡¡her¡¡husband¡¡back¡¡from¡¡
their¡¡¡¡¡¡drive¡¡¡¡¡¡through¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡¡¡pleasant¡¡¡¡¡¡country¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡They¡¡¡¡¡¡returned¡¡¡¡¡¡looking¡¡¡¡¡¡like¡¡¡¡¡¡an¡¡
engaged¡¡couple£»¡¡rather¡¡than¡¡parents¡¡whose¡¡nursery¡¡was¡¡already¡¡a¡¡song¡¡of¡¡
three¡¡little¡¡voices¡£¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨He¡¡has¡¡told¡¡her£»¡¨¡¡thought¡¡Mrs¡£¡¡Davenport¡¡at¡¡the¡¡first¡¡sight¡¡of¡¡them£»¡¡as¡¡
they¡¡entered¡¡the¡¡drawing¡room¡¡for¡¡an¡¡afternoon¡¡tea¡£¡¡¡¨She¡¡does¡¡understand¡¡
some¡¡things¡£¡¨¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡And¡¡¡¡¡¡when¡¡¡¡¡¡after¡¡¡¡¡¡dinner¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡¡¡ladies¡¡¡¡¡¡had¡¡¡¡¡¡withdrawn¡¡¡¡¡¡to¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡¡¡library£»¡¡¡¡¡¡and¡¡
waited¡¡for¡¡the¡¡men¡¡to¡¡finish¡¡their¡¡cigars£»¡¡Mrs¡£¡¡Davenport¡¡spoke¡¡to¡¡Ethel¡£¡¡
¡¨My¡¡dear£»¡¡I¡¡congratulate¡¡you¡£¡¡I¡¡saw¡¡it¡¡at¡¡once¡£¡¨¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨But¡¡he¡¡hasn't¡£¡¡Richard¡¡hasn't¡¡told¡¡me¡¡anything¡£¡¨¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡4¡¡
¡¡¡Page¡¡5¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡MOTHER¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨Ethel£¡¡¡Then¡¡what¡¡is¡¡the¡¡matter£¿¡¨¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨I¡¡told¡¡him¡¡something¡£¡¡I¡¡told¡¡him¡¡that¡¡if¡¡it¡¡was¡¡going¡¡to¡¡be¡¡any¡¡story¡¡
aboutabout¡¡something¡¡I¡¡shouldn't¡¡like£»¡¡I¡¡should¡¡simply¡¡follow¡¡it¡¡with¡¡a¡¡
story¡¡about¡¡him¡¡that¡¡he¡¡wouldn't¡¡like¡£¡¨¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨Ethel£¡¡¡You¡¡darling£¡¡¨¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨Oh£»¡¡yes£»¡¡and¡¡I¡¡said¡¡I¡¡was¡¡sure¡¡you¡¡woul