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第40章

the riverman-第40章

小说: the riverman 字数: 每页4000字

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happiness is apparently marred。  For note this: if a man does 

fearlessly the right thing; I am convinced that in the readjustment 

all these conflicting interests find themselves bettered instead of 

injured。  You want a concrete instance?  I believe firmly that if 

the general had kept to his army life; and made his wife conform to 

it; after the storm had passed she would have settled down to a 

happy existence。  I cannot prove itI believe it。〃



〃This may be all very true; Gerald;〃 said Orde; 〃but I fail to see 

why you have brought us to this strange house to tell it。〃



〃In a moment;〃 replied Gerald。  〃Have patience。  Believing that 

thoroughly; I have come in the last twenty…four hours to a decision。  

That this happens not to affect my own immediate fortunes does not 

seem to me to invalidate my philosophy。〃



He carefully unbuttoned his frock coat; crossed his legs; produced a 

paper and a package from his inside pocket; and eyed the two before 

him。



〃I have here;〃 he went on suddenly; 〃marriage papers duly made out; 

in this package is a plain gold ring; in the next room is waiting; 

by prearrangement; a very good friend of mine in the clergy。  

Personally I am at your disposal。〃



He looked at them expectantly。



〃The very thing!〃  〃Oh; no!〃 cried Orde and Carroll in unison。



Nevertheless; in spite of this divergence of opinion; ten minutes 

later the three passed through the door into the back apartment

Carroll still hesitant; Orde in triumph; Gerald as correct and 

unemotional as ever。



In this back room they found waiting a young clergyman conversing 

easily with two young girls。  At the sight of Carroll; these latter 

rushed forward and overwhelmed her with endearments。  Carroll broke 

into a quickly suppressed sob and clasped them close to her。



〃Oh; you dears!〃 she cried; 〃I'm so glad you're here!〃  She flashed 

a grateful look in Gerald's direction; and a moment later took 

occasion to press his arm and whisper:



〃You've thought of everything!  You're the dearest brother in the 

world!〃



Gerald received this calmly; and set about organising the ceremony。  

In fifteen minutes the little party separated at the front door; 

amid a chatter of congratulations and good wishes。  Mr。 and Mrs。 

Orde entered the cab and drove away。







XX





〃Oh; it IS the best way; dear; after all!〃 cried Carroll; pressing 

close to her husband。  〃A few minutes ago I was all doubts and 

fears; but now I feel so safe and settled;〃 she laughed happily。  

〃It is as though I had belonged to you always; you old Rock of 

Gibraltar! and anything that happens now will come from the outside; 

and not from the inside; won't it; dear?〃



〃Yes; sweetheart;〃 said Orde。



〃Poor mother! I wonder how she'll take it。〃



〃We'll soon know; anyway;〃 replied Orde; a little grimly。



In the hallway of the Bishop house Orde kissed her。



〃Be brave; sweetheart;〃 said he; 〃but remember that now you're my 

wife。〃



She nodded at him gravely and disappeared。



Orde sat in the dim parlour for what seemed to be an interminable 

period。  Occasionally the sounds of distant voices rose to his ear 

and died away again。  The front door opened to admit some one; but 

Orde could not see who it was。  Twice a scurrying of feet overhead 

seemed to indicate the bustle of excitement。  The afternoon waned。  

A faint whiff of cooking; escaping through some carelessly open 

door; was borne to his nostrils。  It grew dark; but the lamps 

remained unlighted。  Finally he heard the rustle of the portieres; 

and turned to see the dim form of the general standing there。



〃Bad business! bad business!〃 muttered the old man。  〃It's very hard 

on me。  Perhaps you did the right thingyou must be good to her

but I cannot countenance this affair。  It was most high…handed; 

sir!〃



The portieres fell again; and he disappeared。



Finally; after another interval; Carroll returned。  She went 

immediately to the gas…fixture; which she lit。  Orde then saw that 

she was sobbing violently。  She came to him; and for a moment hid 

her face against his breast。  He patted her hair; waiting for her to 

speak。  After a little she controlled herself。



〃How was it?〃 asked Orde; then。



She shivered。



〃I never knew people could be so cruel;〃 she complained in almost a 

bewildered manner。  〃Jack; we must go to…night。  Sheshe has 

ordered me out of the house; and says she never wants to see my face 

again。〃  She broke down for a second。  〃Oh; Jack! she can't mean 

that。  I've always been a good daughter to her。  And she's very 

bitter against Gerald。  Oh! I told her it wasn't his fault; but she 

won't listen。  She sent for that odious Mr。 Merritther rector; you 

knowand he supported her。  I believe he's angry because we did not 

go to him。  Could you believe such a thing!  And she's shut herself 

up in her air of high virtue; and underneath it she's; oh; so 

angry!〃



〃Well; it's natural she should be upset;〃 comforted Orde。  〃Don't 

think too much of what she does now。  Later she'll get over it。〃



Carroll shivered again。



〃You don't know; dear; and I'm not going to tell you。  Why;〃 she 

cried; 〃she told me that you and I were in a conspiracy to drive her 

to her grave so we could get her money!〃



〃She must be a little crazy;〃 said Orde; still pacifically。



〃Come; help me;〃 said Carroll。  〃I must get my things。〃



〃Can't you just pack a bag and leave the rest until tomorrow?  It's 

about hungry time〃



〃She says I must take every stitch belonging to me tonight。〃



They packed trunks until late that night; quite alone。  Gerald had 

departed promptly after breaking the news; probably without 

realising to what a pass affairs would come。  A frightened servant; 

evidently in disobedience of orders and in fear of destruction; 

brought them a tray of food; which she put down on a small table and 

hastily fled。  In a room down the hall they could hear the murmur of 

voices where Mrs。 Bishop received spiritual consolation from her 

adviser。  When the trunks were packed; Orde sent for a baggage 

waggon。  Carroll went silently from place to place; saying farewell 

to such of her treasures as she had made up her mind to leave。  Orde 

scribbled a note to Gerald; requesting him to pack up the 

miscellanies and send them to Michigan by freight。  The baggage man 

and Orde carried the trunks downstairs。  No one appeared。  Carroll 

and Orde walked together to the hotel。  Next morning an interview 

with Gerald confirmed them in their resolution of immediate 

departure。



〃She is set in her opposition now; and at present she believes 

firmly that her influence will separate you。  Such a state of mind 

cannot be changed in an hour。〃



〃And you?〃 asked Carroll。



〃Oh; I;〃 he shrugged; 〃will go on as usual。  I have my interests。〃



〃I wish you would come out in our part of the country;〃 ventured 

Orde。



Gerald smiled his fine smile。



〃Good…bye;〃 said he。  〃Going to a train is useless; and a bore to 

everybody。〃



Carroll threw herself on his neck in an access of passionate 

weeping。



〃You WILL write and tell me of everything; won't you?〃 she begged。



〃Of course。  There now; good…bye。〃



Orde followed him into the hall。



It would be quite useless to attempt another interview?〃 he 

inquired。



Gerald made a little mouth。



〃I am in the same predicament as yourselves;〃 said he; 〃and have 

since nine this morning taken up my quarters at the club。  Please do 

not tell Carroll; it would only pain her。〃



At the station; just before they passed in to the train; the general 

appeared。



〃There; there!〃 he fussed。  〃If your mother should hear of my being 

here; it would be a very bad business; very bad。  This is very sad; 

butwell; good…bye; dear; and you; sir; be good to her。  And write 

your daddy; Carroll。  He'll b

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