the american claimant-第32章
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though； because a materialization which is in a state of arrested
development must of necessity be pretty soft and flabby and
substanceless； anderby the way； I wonder where It comes from？〃
〃How？ What do you mean？〃
The earl pointed significantlyand interrogatively toward the sky。
Hawkins started； then settled into deep reflection； finally shook his
head sorrowfully and pointed downwards。
〃What makes you think so； Washington？〃
〃Well； I hardly know； but really you can see； yourself； that he doesn't
seem to be pining for his last place。〃
〃It's well thought！ Soundly deduced。 We've done that Thing a favor。
But I believe I will pump it a little； in a quiet way； and find out if we
are right。〃
〃How long is it going to take to finish him off and fetch him down to
date； Colonel？〃
〃I wish I knew； but I don't。 I am clear knocked out by this new detail
this unforeseen necessity of working a subject down gradually from his
condition of ancestor to his ultimate result as posterity。 But I'll make
him hump himself； anyway。〃
〃Rossmore！〃
〃Yes； dear。 We're in the laboratory。 ComeHawkins is here。 Mind； now
Hawkinshe's a sound； living； human being to all the familydon't
forget that。 Here she comes。〃
〃Keep your seats； I'm not coming in。 I just wanted to ask； who is it
that's painting down there？〃
〃That？ Oh； that's a young artist； young Englishman； named Tracy； very
promisingfavorite pupil of Hans Christian Andersen or one of the other
old mastersAndersen I'm pretty sure it is； he's going to half…sole some
of our old Italian masterpieces。 Been talking to him？〃
〃Well； only a word。 I stumbled right in on him without expecting anybody
was there。 I tried to be polite to him； offered him a snack〃（Sellers
delivered a large wink to Hawkins from behind his hand）； 〃but he
declined； and said he wasn't hungry〃 （another sarcastic wink）； 〃so I
brought some apples〃 （doublewink）； 〃and he ate a couple of〃
〃What！〃 and the colonel sprang some yards toward the ceiling and came
down quaking with astonishment。
Lady Rossmore was smitten dumb with amazement。 She gazed at the sheepish
relic of Cherokee Strip； then at her husband； and then at the guest
again。 Finally she said：
〃What is the matter with you； Mulberry？〃
He did not answer immediately。 His back was turned； he was bending over
his chair； feeling the seat of it。 But he answered next moment； and
said：
〃Ah； there it is； it was a tack。〃
The lady contemplated him doubtfully a moment； then said； pretty
snappishly：
〃All that for a tack！ Praise goodness it wasn't a shingle nail； it would
have landed you in the Milky Way。 I do hate to have my nerves shook up
so。〃 And she turned on her heel and went her way。
As soon as she was safely out； the Colonel said； in a suppressed voice：
〃Comewe must see for ourselves。 It must be a mistake。〃
They hurried softly down and peeped in。 Sellers whispered； in a sort of
despair
It is eating！ What a grisly spectacle！ Hawkins it's horrible！ Take me
awayI can't stand
They tottered back to the laboratory。
CHAPTER XX。
Tracy made slow progress with his work； for his mind wandered a good
deal。 Many things were puzzling him。 Finally a light burst upon him all
of a suddenseemed to； at any rateand he said to himself； 〃I've got
the clew at lastthis man's mind is off its balance； I don't know how
much； but it's off a point or two； sure； off enough to explain this mess
of perplexities； anyway。 These dreadful chromos which he takes for old
masters； these villainous portraitswhich to his frantic mind represent
Rossmores； the hatchments； the pompous name of this ramshackle old crib
Rossmore Towers； and that odd assertion of his； that I was expected。 How
could I be expected？ that is； Lord Berkeley。 He knows by the papers that
that person was burned up in the New Gadsby。 Why； hang it； he really
doesn't know who he was expecting； for his talk showed that he was not
expecting an Englishman； or yet an artist； yet I answer his requirements
notwithstanding。 He seems sufficiently satisfied with me。 Yes； he is a
little off； in fact I am afraid he is a good deal off； poor old
gentleman。 But he's interestingall people in about his condition are；
I suppose。 I hope he'll like my work； I would like to come every day and
study him。 And when I write my fatherah； that hurts！ I mustn't get on
that subject； it isn't good for my spirits。 Somebody comingI must get
to work。 It's the old gentleman again。 He looks bothered。 Maybe my
clothes are suspicious； and they arefor an artist。 If my conscience
would allow me to make a change； but that is out of the question。
I wonder what he's making those passes in the air for； with his hands。
I seem to be the object of them。 Can he be trying to mesmerize me？
I don't quite like it。 There's something uncanny about it。〃
The colonel muttered to himself； 〃It has an effect on him； I can see it
myself。 That's enough for one time； I reckon。 He's not very solid； yet；
I suppose； and I might disintegrate him。 I'll just put a sly question or
two at him； now； and see if I can find out what his condition is； and
where he's from。〃
He approached and said affably：
〃Don't let me disturb you； Mr。 Tracy； I only want to take a little
glimpse of your work。 Ah； that's finethat's very fine indeed。 You are
doing it elegantly。 My daughter will be charmed with this。 May I sit
down by you？〃
〃Oh； do； I shall be glad。〃
〃It won't disturb you？ I mean； won't dissipate your inspirations？〃
Tracy laughed and said they were not ethereal enough to be very easily
discommoded。
The colonel asked a number of cautious and well…considered questions
questions which seemed pretty odd and flighty to Tracybut the answers
conveyed the information desired； apparently； for the colonel said to
himself； with mixed pride and gratification：
〃It's a good job as far as I've got； with it。 He's solid。 Solid and
going to last； solid as the real thing。
It's wonderfulwonderful。 I believe I couldpetrify him。〃 After a
little he asked； warily 〃Do you prefer being here； oror there？〃
〃There？ Where？〃
〃Whyerwhere you've been？〃
Tracy's thought flew to his boarding…house； and he answered with decision
〃Oh； here； much！〃
The colonel was startled； and said to himself； 〃There's no uncertain ring
about that。 It indicates where he's been to； poor fellow。 Well； I am
satisfied； now。 I'm glad I got him out。〃
He sat thinking； and thinking； and watching the brush go。 At length he
said to himself； 〃Yes； it certainly seems to account for the failure of
my endeavors in poor Berkeley's case。 He went in the other direction。
Well； it's all right。 He's better off。〃
Sally Sellers entered from the street； now； looking her divinest； and the
artist was introduced to her。 It was a violent case of mutual love at
first sight； though neither party was entirely aware of the fact；
perhaps。 The Englishman made this irrelevant remark to himself； 〃Perhaps
he is not insane； after all。〃 Sally sat down； and showed an interest in
Tracy's work which greatly pleased him； and a benevolent forgiveness of
it which convinced him that the girl's nature was cast in a large mould。
Sellers was anxious to report his discoveries to Hawkins； so he took his
leave； saying that if the two 〃young devotees of the colored Muse〃
thought they could manage without him； he would go and look after his
affairs。 The artist said to himself； 〃I think he is a little eccentric；
perhaps； but that is all。〃 He reproached himself for having injuriously
judged a man without giving him any fair chance to show what he really
was。
Of course the stranger was very soon at his ease and chatting along
comfortably。 The average American girl possesses the valuable qualities
of naturalness； honesty； and inoffensive straightforwardness； she is
nearly barren of troublesome conventions and artificialities；
consequently her presence and her ways are unembarrassing； and one is
acquainted with her and on the pleasantest terms with her before he knows
how it came about。 This new acquaintanceshipfriendship； indeed
progressed swiftly； and the unusual swiftness
