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第33章

the riverman-第33章

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avenue; then。  Everybody will be out。〃



They turned up the great promenade; a tour of which was then; even 

more than now; considered obligatory on the gracefully idle。  

Neither said anythingOrde because he was too absorbed in the 

emotions this sudden revelation of Carroll's environment had aroused 

in him; Gerald; apparently; because he was too indifferent。  

Nevertheless it was the young exquisite who finally broke the 

silence。



〃It was an altar cloth;〃 said he suddenly。



〃What?〃 asked Orde; rather bewildered。



〃Mother is probably the most devout woman in New York;〃 went on 

Gerald's even voice。  〃She is one of the hardest workers in the 

church。  She keeps all the fast days; and attends all the services。  

Although she has no strength to speak of; she has just completed an 

elaborate embroidered altar cloth。  The work she accomplished while 

on her knees。  Often she spent five or six hours a day in that 

position。  It was very devout; but against the doctor's orders; and 

she is at present much pulled down。  Finally she gave way to 

persuasion to the extent of sending the embroidery out to be bound 

and corded。  As a result; the altar cloth will not be done for next 

Sunday。〃



He delivered this statement in a voice absolutely colourless; 

without the faintest trace discernible of either approval or 

disapproval; without the slightest irony; yet Orde felt vaguely 

uncomfortable。



〃It must have been annoying to her;〃 he said gravely; 〃and I hope 

she will get it done in time。  Perhaps Miss Bishop will be able to 

do it。〃



〃That;〃 said Gerald; 〃is Madison Squareor perhaps you know New 

York?  My sister would; of course; be only too glad to finish the 

work; but I fear that my mother's peculiarly ardent temperament will 

now insist on her own accomplishment of the task。  But perhaps you 

do not understand temperaments?〃



〃Very little; I'm afraid;〃 confessed Orde。



They walked on for some distance farther。



〃Your father was in the Mexican War?〃 said Orde; to change the trend 

of his own thoughts。



〃He was a most distinguished officer。  I believe he received the 

Medal of Honour for a part in the affair of the Molina del Rey。〃



〃What command had he in the Civil War?〃 asked Orde。  〃I fooled 

around the outskirts of that a little myself。〃



〃My father resigned from the army in '54;〃 replied Gerald; with his 

cool; impersonal courtesy。



〃That was too bad; just before the chance for more service;〃 said 

Orde。



〃Army life was incompatible with my mother's temperament;〃 stated 

Gerald。



Orde said nothing more。  It was Gerald's turn to end the pause。



〃You are from Redding; of course;〃 said he。  〃My sister is very 

enthusiastic about the place。  You are in business there?〃



Orde replied briefly; but; forced by the direct; cold; and polite 

cross…questioning of his companion; he gave the latter a succinct 

idea of the sort of operations in which he was interested。



〃And you;〃 he said at last; 〃I suppose you're either a broker or 

lawyer; most men are down here。〃



〃I am neither one nor the other;〃 stated Gerald。  〃I am possessed of 

a sufficient income from a legacy to make business unnecessary。〃



〃I don't believe I'd care tobe idle;〃 said Orde vaguely。



〃There is plenty to occupy one's time;〃 replied Gerald。  〃I have my 

clubs; my gymnasium; my horse; and my friends。〃



〃Isn't there anything that particularly attracts you?〃 asked Orde。



The young man's languid eyes grew thoughtful; and he puffed more 

strongly on his cigarette。



〃I should like;〃 said he slowly; at last; 〃to enter the navy。〃



〃Why don't you?〃 asked Orde bluntly。



〃Certain family reasons make it inexpedient at present;〃 said 

Gerald。  〃My mother is in a very nervous state; she depends on us; 

and any hint of our leaving her is sufficient to render her 

condition serious。〃



By this time the two young men were well uptown。  On Gerald's 

initiative; they turned down a side street; and shortly came to a 

stop。



〃That is my gymnasium;〃 said Gerald; pointing to a building across 

the way。  〃Won't you come in with me?  I am due now for my 

practice。〃







XVII





Orde's evening was a disappointment to him。  Mrs。 Bishop had; by 

Carroll's report; worked feverishly at the altar cloth all the 

afternoon。  As a consequence; she had gone to bed with a bad 

headache。  This state of affairs seemed to throw the entire family 

into a state of indecision。  It was divided in mind as to what to 

do; the absolute inutility of any effort balancing strongly against 

a sense of what the invalid expected。



〃I wonder if mother wouldn't like just a taste of this beef;〃 

speculated the general; moving fussily in his chair。  〃I believe 

somebody ought to take some up。  She MIGHT want it。〃



The man departed with the plate; but returned a few moments later; 

impassivebut still with the plate。



〃Has she got her hot…water bag?〃 asked the boy unexpectedly。



〃Yes; Master Kendrick;〃 replied the butler。



After a preoccupied silence the general again broke out:



〃Seems to me somebody ought to be up there with her。〃



〃You know; father; that she can't stand any one in the room;〃 said 

Carroll equably。



Toward the close of the meal; however; a distant bell tinkled 

faintly。  Every one jumped as though guilty。  Carroll said a hasty 

excuse and ran out。  After ringing the bell; the invalid had 

evidently anticipated its answer by emerging from her room to the 

head of the stairs; for Orde caught the sharp tones of complaint; 

and overheard something about 〃take all night to eat a simple meal; 

when I'm lying here suffering。〃



At the end of an interval a maid appeared in the doorway to say that 

Miss Carroll sent word she would not be down again for a time; and 

did not care for any more dinner。  This seemed to relieve the 

general's mind of responsibility。  He assumed his little fussy air 

of cheerfulness; told several stories of the war; and finally; after 

Kendrick had left; brought out some whisky and water。  He winked 

slyly at Orde。



〃Can't do this before the youngsters; you know;〃 he chirruped 

craftily。



Throughout the meal Gerald had sat back silent; a faint amusement in 

his eye。  After dinner he arose; yawned; consulted his watch; and 

departed; pleading an engagement。  Orde lingered some time; 

listening to the general; in the hope that Carroll would reappear。  

She did not; so finally he took his leave。



He trudged back to his hotel gloomily。  The day had passed in a most 

unsatisfactory manner; according to his way of looking at it。  Yet 

he had come more clearly to an understanding of the girl; her 

cheerfulness; her unselfishness; and; above all; the sweet; 

beautiful philosophy of life that must lie back; to render her so 

uncomplainingly the slave of the self…willed woman; yet without the 

indifferent cynicism of Gerald; the sullen; yet real; partisanship 

of Kendrick; or the general's week…kneed acquiescence。



The next morning he succeeded in making an arrangement by letter for 

an excursion to the newly projected Central Park。  Promptly at two 

o'clock he was at the Bishops' house。  To his inquiry the butler 

said that Mrs。 Bishop had recovered from her indisposition; and that 

Miss Bishop would be down immediately。  Orde had not long to wait 

for her。  The SWISH; PAT…PAT of her joyous descent of the stairs 

brought him to his feet。  She swept aside the portieres; and stood 

between their folds; bidding him welcome。



〃I'm so sorry about last night;〃 said she; 〃but poor mother does 

depend on me so at such times。  Isn't it a gorgeous day to walk?  It 

won't be much like OUR woods; will it?  But it will be something。  

OH; I'm so glad to get out!〃



She was in one of her elfish moods; the languid grace of her sleepy…

eyed moments forgotten。  With a little cry of r

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