the american claimant-第39章

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never　the　other。　　They　would　have　argued；　then；　that　this　was　done　for　a
purpose。　　If　they　could　not　find　out　what　that　purpose　was　in　any　simpler
or　easier　way；　they　would　ask。

But　Tracy　was　not　deep　enough　or　suspicious　enough　to　think　of　these
things。　　He　noticed　only　one　particular；　that　the　weather　was　always
sunny　when　a　visit　began。　　No　matter　how　much　it　might　cloud　up　later；
it　always　began　with　a　clear　sky。　　He　couldn't　explain　this　curious　fact
to　himself；　he　merely　knew　it　to　be　a　fact。　　The　truth　of　the　matter　was；
that　by　the　time　Tracy　had　been　out　of　Sally's　sight　six　hours　she　was　so
famishing　for　a　sight　of　him　that　her　doubts　and　suspicions　were　all
consumed　away　in　the　fire　of　that　longing；　and　so　always　she　came　into
his　presence　as　surprisingly　radiant　and　joyous　as　she　wasn't　when　she
went　out　of　it。

In　circumstances　like　these　a　growing　portrait　runs　a　good　many　risks。
The　portrait　of　Sellers；　by　Tracy；　was　fighting　along；　day　by　day；
through　this　mixed　weather；　and　daily　adding　to　itself　ineradicable　signs
of　the　checkered　life　it　was　leading。　　It　was　the　happiest　portrait；　in
spots；　that　was　ever　seen；　but　in　other　spots　a　damned　soul　looked　out
from　it；　a　soul　that　was　suffering　all　the　different　kinds　of　distress
there　are；　from　stomach　ache　to　rabies。　　But　Sellers　liked　it：　He　said　it
was　just　himself　all　overa　portrait　that　sweated　moods　from　every　pore；
and　no　two　moods　alike。　　He　said　he　had　as　many　different　kinds　of
emotions　in　him　as　a　jug。

It　was　a　kind　of　a　deadly　work　of　art；　maybe；　but　it　was　a　starchy
picture　for　show；　for　it　was　life　size；　full　length；　and　represented　the
American　earl　in　a　peer's　scarlet　robe；　with　the　three　ermine　bars
indicative　of　an　earl's　rank；　and　on　the　gray　head　an　earl's　coronet；
tilted　just　a　wee　bit　to　one　side　in　a　most　gallus　and　winsome　way。　　When
Sally's　weather　was　sunny　the　portrait　made　Tracy　chuckle；　but　when　her
weather　was　overcast　it　disordered　his　mind　and　stopped　the　circulation
of　his　blood。

Late　one　night　when　the　sweethearts　had　been　having　a　flawless　visit
together；　Sally's　interior　devil　began　to　work　his　specialty；　and　soon
the　conversation　was　drifting　toward　the　customary　rock。　　Presently；　in
the　midst　of　Tracy's　serene　flow　of　talk；　he　felt　a　shudder　which　he　knew
was　not　his　shudder；　but　exterior　to　his　breast　although　immediately
against　it。　　After　the　shudder　came　sobs；　Sally　was　crying。

〃Oh；　my　darling；　what　have　I　donewhat　have　I　said？　　It　has　happened
again！　　What　have　I　done　to　wound　you？〃

She　disengaged　herself　from　his　arms　and　gave　him　a　look　of　deep
reproach。

〃What　have　you　done？　　I　will　tell　you　what　you　have　done。　　You　have
unwittingly　revealedoh；　for　the　twentieth　time；　though　I　could　not
believe　it；　would　not　believe　it！that　it　is　not　me　you　love；　but　that
foolish　sham　my　father's　imitation　earldom；　and　you　have　broken　my
heart！〃

〃Oh；　my　child；　what　are　you　saying！　　I　never　dreamed　of　such　a　thing。〃

〃Oh；　Howard；　Howard；　the　things　you　have　uttered　when　you　were　forgetting
to　guard　your　tongue；　have　betrayed　you。〃

〃Things　I　have　uttered　when　I　was　forgetting　to　guard　my　tongue？　　These
are　hard　words。　　When　have　I　remembered　to　guard　it？　　Never　in　one
instance。　　It　has　no　office　but　to　speak　the　truth。　　It　needs　no　guarding
for　that。〃

〃Howard；　I　have　noted　your　words　and　weighed　them；　when　you　were　not
thinking　of　their　significanceand　they　have　told　me　more　than　you　meant
they　should。〃

〃Do　you　mean　to　say　you　have　answered　the　trust　I　had　in　you　by　using　it
as　an　ambuscade　from　which　you　could　set　snares　for　my　unsuspecting
tongue　and　be　safe　from　detection　while　you　did　it？　　You　have　not　done
thissurely　you　have　not　done　this　thing。　　Oh；　one's　enemy　could　not　do
it。〃

This　was　an　aspect　of　the　girl's　conduct　which　she　had　not　clearly
perceived　before。　　Was　it　treachery？　　Had　she　abused　a　trust？　　The
thought　crimsoned　her　cheeks　with　shame　and　remorse。

〃Oh；　forgive　me；〃　she　said；　〃　I　did　not　know　what　I　was　doing。　　I　have
been　so　torturedyou　will　forgive　me；　you　must；　I　have　suffered　so　much；
and　I　am　so　sorry　and　so　humble；　you　do　forgive　me；　don't　you？　don't
turn　away；　don't　refuse　me；　it　is　only　my　love　that　is　at　fault；　and　you
know　I　love　you；　love　you　with　all　my　heart；　I　couldn't　bear　tooh；
dear；　dear；　I　am　so　miserable；　and　I　sever　meant　any　harm；　and　I　didn't
see　where　this　insanity　was　carrying　me；　and　how　it　was　wronging　and
abusing　the　dearest　heart　in　all　the　world　to　meandandoh；　take　me
in　your　arms　again；　I　have　no　other　refuge；　no　other　home　and　hope！〃

There　was　reconciliation　again…immediate；　perfect；　all…embracingand
with　it　utter　happiness。　　This　would　have　been　a　good　time　to　adjourn。
But　no；　now　that　the　cloud…breeder　was　revealed　at　last；　now　that　it　was
manifest　that　all　the　sour　weather　had　come　from　this　girl's　dread　that
Tracy　was　lured　by　her　rank　and　not　herself；　he　resolved　to　lay　that
ghost　immediately　and　permanently　by　furnishing　the　best　possible　proof
that　he　couldn't　have　had　back　of　him　at　any　time　the　suspected　motive。
So　he　said：

〃Let　me　whisper　a　little　secret　in　your　eara　secret　which　I　have　kept
shut　up　in　my　breast　all　this　time。　　Your　rank　couldn't　ever　have　been　an
enticement。　　I　am　son　and　heir　to　an　English　earl！〃

The　girl　stared　at　him…one；　two；　three　moments；　maybe　a　dozenthen　her
lips　parted：

〃You？〃　she　said；　and　moved　away　from　him；　still　gazing　at　him　in　a　kind
of　blank　amazement。

〃Whywhy；　certainly　I　am。　　Why　do　you　act　like　this？　　What　have　I　done
now？〃

〃What　have　you　done？。　　You　have　certainly　made　a　most　strange　statement。
You　must　see　that　yourself。〃

〃Well；〃　with　a　timid　little　laugh；　〃it　may　be　a　strange　enough　statement；
but　of　what　consequence　is　that；　if　it　is　true？〃

〃If　it　is　true。　　You　are　already　retiring　from　it。〃

〃Oh；　not　for　a　moment！　　You　should　not　say　that。　　I　have　not　deserved　it。
I　have　spoken　the　truth；　why　do　you　doubt　it？〃

Her　reply　was　prompt。

〃Simply　because　you　didn't　speak　it　earlier！〃

〃Oh！〃　It　wasn't　a　groan；　exactly；　but　it　was　an　intelligible　enough
expression　of　the　fact　that　he　saw　the　point　and　recognized　that　there
was　reason　in　it。

〃You　have　seemed　to　conceal　nothing　from　me　that　I　ought　to　know
concerning　yourself；　and　you　were　not　privileged　to　keep　back　such　a
thing　as　this　from　me　a　moment　afterafterwell；　after　you　had
determined　to　pay　your　court　to　me。〃

〃Its　true；　it's　true；　I　know　it！　　But　there　were　circumstancesin
in　the　waycircumstances　which〃

She　waved　the　circumstances　aside。

〃Well；　you　see；〃　he　said；　pleadingly；　〃you　seemed　so　bent　on　our
traveling　the　proud　path　of　honest　labor　and　honorable　poverty；　that　I
was　terrifiedthat　is；　I　was　afraidofofwell；　you　know　how　you
talked。〃

〃Yes；　I　know　how　I　talked。　　And　I　also　know　that　before　the　talk　was
finished　you　inquired　how　I　stood　as　regards　aristocracies；　and　my　answer
was　calculated　to　relieve　your　fears。〃

He　was　silent　a　while。　　Then　he　said；　in　a　discouraged　way：

〃I　don't　see　any　way　out　of　it。　　It　was　a　mistake。　　That　is　in　truth　all
it　was；　just　a　mistake。　　No　harm　was　meant；　no　harm　in　the　world。
I　didn't　see　how　it　might　some　time　look。　　It　is　my　way。　　I　don't　seem　to
see　far。〃

The　girl　was　almost　disarmed；　for　a　moment。　　Then　she　flared　up　again。

〃An　Earl's　son！　　Do　earls'　sons　go　about　working　in　lowly　callings　for
their　bread　and　butter？〃

〃God　knows　they　don't！　　I　have　wished　they　did。〃

〃Do　earls'　sons　sink　their　degree　in　a　country　like　this；　and　come　sober
and　decent　to　sue　for　the　hand　of　a　born　child　of　poverty　when　they　can
go　drunk；　profane；　and　steeped　in　dishonorable　debt　and　buy　the　pick　and
choice　of　the　millionaires'　daughters　of　America？　　You　an　earl's　son！
Show　me　the　signs。〃

〃I　thank　God　I　am　not　ableif　those　are　the　signs。　　But　yet　I　am　an
earl's　son　and　heir。　　It　is　all　I　can　say。　　I　wish　you　would　believe　me；
but　you　will　not。　　I　know　no　way　to　persuade　you。〃

She　was　about　to　soften　again；　but　his　closing　remark　made　her　bring　her
foot　down　with　smart　vexation；　and　she　cried　out：

〃Oh；　you　drive　all　patience　out　of　me！　　Would　you　have　one　believe　tha