the cost-第13章
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Pauline lay perfectly still； her face hidden。 After a pause： 〃I don't feel well enough to see him now。 I want this day with you and father。 To…morrowto…morrow； we'llto…day I want to be as I was when I wasjust you and father； and the house and the garden。〃
Her mother left her for a moment and； when she came back； said： 〃He's gone。〃
Pauline gave a quick sigh of relief。 Soon she rose。 〃I'm going for father； and we'll walk in the garden and forget there's anybody else in the world but just us three。〃
At half…past eight they had family prayers in the sitting…room； Pauline kneeling near her mother； her father kneeling beside his arm…chair and in a tremulous voice pouring out his gratitude to God for keeping them all 〃safe from the snares and temptations of the world；〃 for leading them thus far on the journey。
〃And； God； our Father； we pray Thee； have this daughter of ours； this handmaiden of Thine； ever in Thy keeping。 And these things we ask in the name of Thy SonAmen。〃 The serene quiet； the beloved old room； the evening scene familiar to her from her earliest childhood； her father's reverent； earnest voice； halting and almost breaking after every word of the petition for her； her mother's soft echo of his 〃Amen〃Pauline's eyes were swimming as she rose from her knees。
Her mother went with her to her bedroom； hovered about her as she undressed； helped her now and then with fingers that trembled with happiness； and； when she was in bed； put out the light and 〃tucked her in〃 and kissed heras in the old days。 〃Good nightGod bless my little daughtermy HAPPY little daughter。〃
Pauline waited until she knew that they were sleeping。 Then she put on a dressing…gown and went to the open windowhow many springtimes had she sat there in the moonlight to watch； as now； the tulips and the hyacinths standing like fairies and bombarding the stars with the most delicious perfumes。
She sat hour after hour； giving no outward sign of battle within。 In every lull came Scarborough's 〃Be SURE； Pauline！〃 to start the tumult afresh。 When the stars began to pale in the dawn she roseshe WAS sure。 Far from sure that she was doing the best for herself； but sure； sure without a doubt； that she was doing her duty to her parents。
〃I must not punish THEM for MY sin；〃 she said。
Late the next morning she went to the farthest corner of the garden； to the small summer…house where she had played with her dolls and her dishes； where she had worked with slate and spelling…book； where she had read her favorite school…girl romances； where she had dreamed her own school…girl romance。 She was waiting under the friendly old canopy of barkthe posts supporting it were bark…clad； too； up and around and between them clambered the morning…glories in whose gorgeous； velvet…soft trumpets the sun…jewels glittered。
And presently he came down the path； his keen face and insolent eyes triumphant。 He was too absorbed in his own emotion especially to note hers。 Besides； she had always been receptive rather than demonstrative with him。
〃We'll be married again； and do the gossips out of a sensation；〃 he said。 Though she was not looking at him； his eyes shifted from her face as he added in a voice which at another time she might have thought strained： 〃Then； too； your father and mother and mine are so strait…lacedit'd give 'em a terrible jar to find out。 You're a good deal like them； Pollyonly in a modern sort of way。〃
Pauline flushed scarlet and compressed her lips。 She said presently： 〃You're sure you wish it？〃
〃Wish what？〃
〃To marry me。 Sometimes I've thought we're both too young； that we might wait〃
He put his arm round her with an air of proud possession。 〃What'd be the sense in that？〃 he demanded gaily。 〃Aren't you MINE？〃
And again she flushed and lowered her eyes and compressed her lips。 Then she astonished him by flinging her arms round his neck and kissing him hysterically。 〃But I DO love you！〃 she exclaimed。 〃I do！ I DO！〃
IX。
A THOROUGHBRED RUNS AWAY。
It was midday six weeks later； and Pauline and Dumont were landing at Liverpool； when Scarborough read in the college…news column of the Battle Field Banner that she had 〃married the only son of Henry Dumont； of Saint Christopher； one of the richest men in our state； and has departed for an extended foreign tour。〃 Oliviaand Pierson naturallyhad known； but neither had had the courage to tell him。
Scarborough was in Pierson's room。 He lowered the paper from in front of his face after a few minutes。
〃I see Pauline has married and gone abroad；〃 he said。
〃Yes； so I heard from Olivia；〃 replied Pierson； avoiding Scarborough's eyes。
〃Why didn't you tell me？〃 continued Scarborough； tranquil so far as Pierson could judge。 〃I'd have liked to send her a note。〃
Pierson was silent。
〃I thought it would cut him horribly；〃 he was thinking。 〃And he's taking it as if he had only a friendly interest。〃 Scarborough's face was again behind the newspaper。 When he had finished it he sauntered toward the door。 He paused there to glance idly at the titles of the top row in the book…case。 Pierson was watching him。 〃Noit's all right；〃 he concluded。 Scarborough was too straight and calm just to have received such a blow as that news would have been had HE cared for Pauline。 Pierson liked his look better than ever beforethe tall； powerful figure； the fair hair growing above his wide and lofty brow； with the one defiant lock； and in his aquiline nose and blue…gray eyes and almost perfect mouth and chin the stamp of one who would move forward irresistibly； moving others to his will。
〃How old are you； Scarborough？〃 he asked。
〃Twenty…three…nearly twenty…four。 I ought to be ashamed to be only a freshman； oughtn't I？〃 He shrugged his shoulders。 〃I'm tired of it all。〃 And he strolled out。
He avoided Pierson and Olivia and all his friends for several days； went much into the woods alone； took long walks at night。 Olivia would have it that he had been hard hit； and almost convinced Pierson。
〃He's the sort of person that suffers the most；〃 she said。 〃I've a brother like himwon't have sympathy； keeps a wound covered up so that it can't heal。〃
〃But what shall I do for him？〃 asked Pierson。
〃Don't do anythinghe'd hate you if you did。〃
After a week or ten days he called on Pierson and； seating himself at the table； began to shuffle a pack of cards。 He looked tired。
〃I never saw cards until I was fifteen；〃 he said。
〃At home they thought them one of the devil's worst deviceswe had a real devil in our house。〃
〃So did we；〃 said Pierson。
〃But not a rip…snorter like oursthey don't have him in cities； or even in towns； any more。 I've seen ours lots of times after the lights were outsaw him long after I'd convinced myself in daylight that he didn't exist。 But I never saw him so close as the night of the day I learned to play casino。〃
〃Did you learn in the stable？〃 asked Pierson。
〃That's where I learned； and mother slipped up behind meI didn't know what was coming till I saw the look in the other boy's face。 Then〃 Pierson left the rest to imagination。
〃I learned in the hay…loftmy sister and my cousin Ed and I。 One of the farm…hands taught us。 The cards were so stained we could hardly see the faces。 That made them look the more devilish。 And a thunder…storm came up and the lightning struck a tree a few rods from the barn。〃
〃Horrible！〃 exclaimed Pierson。 〃I'll bet you fell to praying。〃
〃Not I。 I'd just finished Tom Paine's Age of Reasona preacher's son down the pike stole it from a locked closet in his father's library and loaned it to me。 But I'll admit the thunderbolt staggered me。 I said to thempretty shakily； I guess： ‘Come on； let's begin again。' But the farm…hand said： ‘I reckon I'll get on the safe side；' and began to prayhow he roared！ And I laughedhow wicked and reckless and brave that laugh did sound to me。 'Bella and Ed didn't know which to be more afraid ofmy ridicule or the lightning。 They compromisedthey didn't pray and they didn't play。〃
〃And so you've never touched a card since。〃
〃We played again the next afternoonlet's have a game of poker。 I'm bored to death today。〃
This was Sca
