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第27章

the riverman-第27章

小说: the riverman 字数: 每页4000字

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After a moment she passed into the dining…room。  Here Orde found 

her; her hands linked in front of her。



〃Oh; it is so quaint and delightful;〃 she exhaled slowly。  〃This 

dear; dear old house with its low ceilings and its queer haphazard 

lines; and its deep windows; and its old pictures; and queer 

unexpected things that take your breath away。〃



〃It is one of the oldest houses in town;〃 said Orde; 〃and I suppose 

it is picturesque。  But; you see; I was brought up here; so I'm used 

to it。〃



〃Wait until you leave it;〃 said she prophetically; 〃and live away 

from it。  Then all these things will come back to you to make your 

heart ache for them。〃



They rambled about together; Orde's enthusiasm gradually kindling at 

the flame of her own。  He showed her the marvellous and painstaking 

pencil sketch of Napoleon looking out over a maltese…cross sunset 

done by Aunt Martha at the age of ten。  It hung framed in the upper 

hall。



〃It has always been there; ever since I can remember;〃 said Orde; 

〃and it has seemed to belong there。  I've never thought of it as 

good or bad; just as belonging。〃



〃I know;〃 she nodded。



In this spirit also they viewed the plaster statue of Washington in 

the lower hall; and the Roger's group in the parlour。  The glass 

cabinet of 〃curiosities〃 interested her greatlythe carved ivory 

chessmen; the dried sea…weeds; the stone from Sugar Loaf Rock; the 

bit from thl you write me occasionally?〃 he begged。



〃As to that〃 she began〃I'm a very poor correspondent。〃



〃But won't you write?〃 he insisted。



〃I do not make it a custom de 

especially had an infinitude of details on his hands。  The fat note…

book in his side pocket filled rapidly with rough sketches; lists; 

and estimates。  Constantly he interviewed men of all kinds

rivermen; mill men; contractors; boat builders; hardware dealers; 

pile…driver captains; builders; wholesale grocery men; cooks; axe…

men; chore boysall a little world in itself。



The signs of progress soon manifested themselves。  Below Big Bend 

the pile…drivers were at work; the square masses of their hammers 

rising rapidly to the tops of the derricks; there to pause a moment 

before dropping swiftly to a dull THUMP!  They were placing a long; 

compact row; which should be the outer bulwarks separating the 

sorting…booms from the channel of the river。  Ashore the carpenters 

were knocking together a long; low structure for the cook…house and 

a larger building; destined to serve as bunk…house for the regular 

boom…crew。  There would also be a blacksmith's forge; a storehouse; 

a tool and supply…house; a barn; and small separate shanties for the 

married men。  Below more labourers with picks; e wreck of the NORTH STAR; the

gold and silver shells; 

the glittering geodes and pyrites; the sandal…wood fan; and all the 

hundred and one knick…knacks it was then the custom to collect under 

glass。  They even ventured part way up the creaky attic stairs; but 

it was too dark to enter that mysterious region。



〃I hear the drip of water;〃 she whispered; her finger on her lips。



〃It's the tank;〃 said Orde。



〃And has it a Dark Place behind it?〃 she begged。



〃That's just what it has;〃 said he。



〃Andtell meare there real hair trunks with brass knobs on 'em?〃



〃Yes; mother has two or three。〃



〃O…o…h!〃 she breathed softly。  〃Don't tell me what's in them。  I 

want to believe in brocades and sashes。  Do you know;〃 she looked at 

him soberly; 〃I never had any dark places behind the tank; nor 

mysterious trunks; when I was a child。〃



〃You might begin now;〃 suggested Orde。



〃Do you mean to insinuate I haven't grown up?〃 she mocked。  〃Thank 

you!  Look OUT!〃 she cried suddenly; 〃the Boojum will catch us;〃 and 

picking up her skirts she fairly flew down the narrow stairs。  Orde 

could hear the light swish of her draperies down the hall; and then 

the pat of her feet on the stair carpet of the lower flight。



He followed rather dreamily。  A glance into the sitting…room showed 

the group gathered close around the fire listening to Lem Collin's 

attempt at a ghost story。  She was not there。  He found her; then; 

in the parlour。  She was kneeling on the floor before the glass 

cabinet of curiosities; and she had quite flattened her little nose 

against the pane。  At his exclamation she looked up with a laugh。



〃This is the proper altitude from which to view a cabinet of 

curiosities;〃 said she; 〃and something tells me you ought to flatten 

your nose; too。〃  She held out both hands to be helped up。  〃Oh; 

WHAT a house for a child!〃 she cried。



After the company had gone; Orde stood long by the front gate 

looking up into the infinite spaces。  Somehow; and vaguely; he felt 

the night to be akin to her elusive spirit。  Farther and farther his 

soul penetrated into its depths; and yet other depths lay beyond; 

other mysteries; other unguessed realms。  And yet its beauty was the 

simplicity of space and dark and the stars。



The next time he saw her was at her own houseor rather the house 

of the friend she visited。  Orde went to call on Friday evening and 

was lucky enough to find the girls home and alone。  After a decent 

interval Jane made an excuse and went out。  They talked on a great 

variety of subjects; and with a considerable approach toward 

intimacy。  Not until nearly time to go did Orde stumble to write to young men。〃



〃Oh!〃 he cried; believing himself enlightened。  〃Will you answer if 

I write you?〃



〃That depends。〃



〃On what?〃



〃On whether there is a reply to make。〃



〃But may I write you?〃



〃I suppose I couldn't very well prevent you; if you were sure to put 

on a three…cent stamp。〃



〃Do you want me to?〃 persisted Orde。



She began gently to laugh; quite to herself; as though enjoying a 

joke entirely within her own personal privilege。



〃You are so direct and persistent and boy…like;〃 said she presently。  

〃Now if you'll be very good; and not whisper to the other little 

pupils; I'll tell you how they do such things usually。〃  She sat up 

straight from the depths of her chair; her white; delicately 

tapering forearms resting lightly on her knees。  〃Young men desiring 

to communicate with young ladies do not ask them bluntly。  They make 

some excuse; like sending a book; a magazine; a marked newspaper; or 

even a bit of desired information。  At the same time; they send 

notes informing the girl of the fact。  The girl is naturally 

expected to acknowledge the politeness。  If she wishes the 

correspondence to continue; she asks a question; or in some other 

way leaves an opening。  Do you see?〃



〃Yes; I see;〃 said Orde; slightly crestfallen。  〃But that's a long 

time to wait。  I like to feel settled about a thing。  I wanted to 

know。〃



She dropped back against the cushioned slant of her easy chair; and 

laughed again。



〃And so you just up and asked!〃 she teased。



〃I beg your pardon if I was rude;〃 he said humbly。



The laughter died slowly from her eyes。



〃Don't;〃 she said。  〃It would be asking pardon for being yourself。  

You wanted to know: so you asked。  And I'm going to answer。  I shall 

be very glad to correspond with you and tell you about my sort of 

things; if you happen to be interested in them。  I warn you: they 

are not very exciting。〃



〃They are yours;〃 said he。



She half rose to bow in mock graciousness; caught herself; and sank 

back。



〃No; I won't;〃 she said; more than half to herself。  She sat 

brooding for a moment; then suddenly her mood changed。  She sprang 

up; shook her skirts free; and seated herself at the piano。  To 

Orde; who had also arisen; she made a quaint grimace over her 

shoulder。



〃Admire your handiwork!〃 she told him。  〃You are rapidly bringing me 

to 'tell the truth and shame the devil。'  Oh; he must be dying of 

mortification this evening!〃  She struck a great

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