the haunted bookshop(闹鬼的书店)-第13章
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Austin Dobson to show her some good poetry。 I wonder if they give them
The Lays to read in school nowadays？ I have a horrible fear they are
brought up on the battle of Salamis and the brutal redcoats of '76。 And
now we'll be exceptionally subtle： we'll stick in a Robert Chambers to see
if she falls for it。〃
He viewed the shelf with pride。 〃Not bad；〃 he said to himself。 〃I'll
just add this Leonard Merrick； Whispers about Women； to amuse her。 I bet
that title will start her guessing。 Helen will say I ought to have included
the Bible； but I'll omit it on purpose； just to see whether the girl misses it。〃
With typical male curiosity he pulled out the bureau drawers to see
what disposition his wife had made of them； and was pleased to find a
little muslin bag of lavender dispersing a quiet fragrance in each。 〃Very
nice；〃 he remarked。 〃Very nice indeed！ About the only thing missing is
an ashtray。 If Miss Titania is as modern as some of them； that'll be the
first thing she'll call for。 And maybe a copy of Ezra Pound's poems。 I
do hope she's not what Helen calls a bolshevixen。〃
There was nothing bolshevik about a glittering limousine that drew
up at the corner of Gissing and Swinburne streets early that afternoon。 A
chauffeur in green livery opened the door； lifted out a suitcase of beautiful
brown leather； and gave a respectful hand to the vision that emerged from
depths of lilac…coloured upholstery。
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THE HAUNTED BOOKSHOP
〃Where do you want me to carry the bag； miss？〃
〃This is the bitter parting；〃 replied Miss Titania。 〃I don't want you to
know my address； Edwards。 Some of my mad friends might worm it out
of you； and I don't want them coming down and bothering me。 I am going
to be very busy with literature。 I'll walk the rest of the way。〃
Edwards saluted with a grinhe worshipped the original young
heiress and returned to his wheel。
〃There's one thing I want you to do for me；〃 said Titania。 〃Call up my
father and tell him I'm on the job。〃
〃Yes； miss；〃 said Edwards； who would have run the limousine into a
government motor truck if she had ordered it。
Miss Chapman's small gloved hand descended into an interesting
purse that was cuffed to her wrist with a bright little chain。 She drew out a
nickelit was characteristic of her that it was a very bright and engaging
looking nickeland handed it gravely to her charioteer。 Equally gravely
he saluted； and the car； after moving through certain dignified arcs； swam
swiftly away down Thackeray Boulevard。
Titania； after making sure that Edwards was out of sight； turned up
Gissing Street with a fluent pace and an observant eye。 A small boy cried；
〃Carry your bag； lady？〃 and she was about to agree； but then remembered
that she was now engaged at ten dollars a week and waved him away。
Our readers would feel a justifiable grudge if we did not attempt a
description of the young lady； and we will employ the few blocks of her
course along Gissing Street for this purpose。
Walking behind her； the observer； by the time she had reached
Clemens Place； would have seen that she was faultlessly tailored in genial
tweeds； that her small brown boots were sheltered by spats of that pale tan
complexion exhibited by Pullman porters on the Pennsylvania Railroad；
that her person was both slender and vigorous； that her shoulders were
carrying a sumptuous fur of the colour described by the trade as nutria； or
possibly opal smoke。 The word chinchilla would have occurred irresistibly
to this observer from behind； he might also； if he were the father of a
family； have had a fleeting vision of many autographed stubs in a check
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THE HAUNTED BOOKSHOP
book。 The general impression that he would have retained； had he turned
aside at Clemens Place； would be 〃expensive； but worth the expense。〃
It is more likely； however； that the student of phenomena would have
continued along Gissing Street to the next corner； being that of Hazlitt
Street。 Taking advantage of opportunity； he would overtake the lady on
the pavement； with a secret； sidelong glance。 If he were wise； he would
pass her on the right side where her tilted bonnet permitted a wider angle
of vision。 He would catch a glimpse of cheek and chin belonging to the
category known （and rightly） as adorable； hair that held sunlight through
the dullest day； even a small platinum wrist watch that might pardonably
be excused； in its exhilarating career； for beating a trifle fast。 Among the
greyish furs he would note a bunch of such violets as never bloom in the
crude springtime； but reserve themselves for November and the plate glass
windows of Fifth Avenue。
It is probable that whatever the errand of this spectator he would have
continued along Gissing Street a few paces farther。 Then； with calculated
innocence； he would have halted halfway up the block that leads to the
Wordsworth Avenue 〃L；〃 and looked backward with carefully simulated
irresolution； as though considering some forgotten matter。 With
apparently unseeing eyes he would have scanned the bright pedestrian；
and caught the full impact of her rich blue gaze。 He would have seen a
small resolute face rather vivacious in effect； yet with a quaint pathos of
youth and eagerness。 He would have noted the cheeks lit with excitement
and rapid movement in the bracing air。 He would certainly have noted
the delicate contrast of the fur of the wild nutria with the soft V of her bare
throat。 Then； to his surprise； he would have seen this attractive person
stop； examine her surroundings； and run down some steps into a rather
dingy…looking second…hand bookshop。 He would have gone about his
affairs with a new and surprised conviction that the Almighty had the
borough of Brooklyn under His especial care。
Roger； who had conceived a notion of some rather peevish foundling
of the Ritz…Carlton lobbies and Central Park riding academies； was
agreeably amazed by the sweet simplicity of the young lady。
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〃Is this Mr。 Mifflin？〃 she said； as he advanced all agog from his smoky
corner。
〃Miss Chapman？〃 he replied； taking her bag。 〃Helen！〃 he called。
〃Miss Titania is here。〃
She looked about the sombre alcoves of the shop。 〃I do think it's
adorable of you to take me in；〃 she said。 〃Dad has told me so much about
you。 He says I'm impossible。 I suppose this is the literature he talks
about。 I want to know all about it。〃
〃And here's Bock！〃 she cried。 〃Dad says he's the greatest dog in the
world； named after Botticelli or somebody。 I've brought him a present。
It's in my bag。 Nice old Bocky！〃
Bock； who was unaccustomed to spats； was examining them after his
own fashion。
〃Well； my dear；〃 said Mrs。 Mifflin。 〃We are delighted to see y
