the cost-第8章

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him　near　the　bed；　and　he　leaned　forward；　and　the　voice　that　in　all　their　years　had　never　been　anything　but　gentle　for　her　said：　　〃Good　night；　Sallie。〃　　And　the　small　form　would　move　slightly；　there　would　be　a　feeble　turning　of　the　head；　a　wan　smile　on　the　little　old　face；　a　soft　〃Good　night；　Bladen。〃

It　was　on　Hampden's　ninth　day　at　home　that　the　old　man　said　〃Good　night；　Sallie；〃　and　there　was　no　answernot　even　a　stir。　　They　did　not　offer　to　carry　him　in　the　next　morning；　nor　did　he　turn　his　face　from　the　wall。　　She　died　that　day；　he　three　days　laterhe　had　refused　food　and　medicine；　he　had　not　shed　a　tear　or　made　a　sound。

Thus　the　journey　side　by　side　for　fifty…one　years　was　a　journey　no　longer。　　They　were　asleep　side　by　side　on　the　hillside　for　ever。

Hampden　stayed　at　home　only　one　day　after　the　funeral。　　He　came　back　to　Battle　Field　apparently　unchanged。　　He　was　not　in　black；　for　Bladen　Scarborough　abhorred　mourning　as　he　abhorred　all　outward　symbols　of　the　things　of　the　heart。　　But　after　a　week　he　told　Pauline　about　it；　and　as　he　talked　she　sobbed；　though　his　voice　did　not　break　nor　his　eyes　dim。

〃He's　like　his　father；〃　she　thought。


When　Olivia　believed　that　Dumont　was　safely　forgotten　she　teased　her〃Your　adoring　and　adored　Scarborough。〃

Pauline　was　amused　by　this。　　With　his　unfailing　instinct；　Scarborough　had　feltand　had　never　permitted　himself　to　forgetthat　there　was　some　sort　of　wall　round　her　for　him。　　It　was　in　perfect　good　faith　that　she　answered　Olivia：　　〃You　don't　understand　him。　　He's　a　queer　mansometimes　I　wonder　myself　that　he　doesn't　get　just　a　little　sentimental。　　I　suppose　I'd　find　him　exasperatingif　I　weren't　otherwise　engaged。〃

Olivia　tried　not　to　show　irritation　at　this　reference　to　Dumont。　　〃I　think　you're　mistaken　about　which　of　you　is　queer；〃　she　said。　　〃You　are　the　onenot　he。〃

〃I？〃　　Pauline　laughedshe　was　thinking　of　her　charm　against　any　love　but　one　man's；　the　wedding　ring　she　always　wore　at　her　neck。　　〃Why；　I　COULDN'T　fall　in　love　with　HIM。〃

〃The　woman　who　gets　him　will　do　mighty　well　for　herselfin　every　way；〃　said　Olivia。

〃Indeed　she　will。　　ButI'd　as　soon　think　of　falling　in　love　with　a　tree　or　a　mountain。〃

She　liked　her　phrase；　it　seemed　to　her　exactly　to　define　her　feeling　for　Scarborough。　　She　liked　it　so　well　that　she　repeated　it　to　herself　reassuringly　many　times　in　the　next　few　weeks。



VII。

PAULINE　AWAKENS。


In　the　last　week　of　March　came　a　succession　of　warm　rains。　　The　leaves　burst　from　their　impatient　hiding　just　within　the　cracks　in　the　gray　bark。　　And　on　Monday　the　unclouded　sun　was　irradiating　a　pale　green　world　from　a　pale　blue　sky。　　The　four　windows　of　Pauline　and　Olivia's　sitting…room　were　up；　a　warm；　scented　wind　was　blowing　this　way　and　that　the　strays　of　Pauline's　red…brown　hair　as　she　sat　at　the　table；　her　eyes　on　a　book；　her　thoughts　on　a　letterDumont's　first　letter　on　landing　in　America。　　A　knock；　and　she　frowned　slightly。

〃Come！〃　she　cried；　her　expression　slowly　veering　toward　welcome。

The　door　swung　back　and　in　came　Scarborough。　　Not　the　awkward　youth　of　last　October；　but　still　unable　wholly　to　conceal　how　much　at　a　disadvantage　he　felt　before　the　woman　he　particularly　wished　to　please。

〃YesI'm　ten　minutes　early；〃　he　said；　apology　in　his　tone　for　his　instinct　told　him　that　he　was　interrupting；　and　he　had　too　little　vanity　to　see　that　the　interruption　was　agreeable。　　〃But　I　thought　you'd　be　only　reading　a　novel。〃

For　answer　she　held　up　the　book　which　lay　before　hera　solemn　volume　in　light　brown　calf。

〃Analytical　geometry；〃　he　said；　〃and　on　the　first　day　of　the　finest　spring　the　world　ever　saw！〃　　He　was　at　the　window；　looking　out　longinglysunshine；　and　soft　air　washed　clean　by　the　rains；　the　new…born　leaves　and　buds；　the　pioneer　birds　and　flowers。　　〃Let's　go　for　a　walk。　　We　can　do　the　Vergil　to…night。〃

〃YOUtalking　of　neglecting　WORK！〃　　Her　smile　seemed　to　him　to　sparkle　as　much　in　the　waves　of　her　hair　as　in　her　even　white　teeth　and　gold…brown　eyes。　　〃So　you're　human；　just　like　the　rest　of　us。〃

〃Human！〃　　He　glanced　at　her　and　instantly　glanced　away。

〃Do　leave　that　window；〃　she　begged。　　〃We　must　get　the　Vergil　now。　　I'm　reading　an　essay　at　the　society　to…nightthey've　fined　me　twice　for　neglecting　it。　　But　if　you　stand　there　reminding　me　of　what's　going　on　outside　I'll　not　be　able　to　resist。〃

〃How　this　would　look　from　Indian　Rock！〃

She　flung　open　a　Vergil　text…book　with　a　relentless　shake　of　the　head。　　〃I've　got　the　place。　　Book　three；　line　two　forty…five

〃‘Una　in　praecelsa　consedit　rupe　Celaeno'　〃

〃It　doesn't　matter　what　that　hideous　old　Harpy　howled　at　the　pious　Aeneas；〃　he　grumbled。　　〃Let's　　go　out　and　watch　the　Great　God　Pan　dedicate　his　brand…new　temple。〃

〃Do　sit　there！〃　　She　pointed　a　slim　white　forefinger　at　the　chair　at　the　opposite　side　of　the　tablethe　side　nearer　him。　　〃I'll　be　generous　and　work　the　dictionary　to…day。〃　　And　she　opened　a　fat；　black；　dull…looking　book　beside　the　Vergil。

〃Where's　the　Johnnie？〃　he　asked；　reluctantly　dropping　into　the　chair。

She　laid　Dryden's　translation　of　the　Aeneid　on　his　side　of　the　table。　　They　always　read　the　poetical　version　before　they　began　to　translate　for　the　class…roomDryden　was　near　enough　to　the　original　to　give　them　its　spirit；　far　enough　to　quiet　their　consciences。　　〃Find　the　place　yourself；〃　said　she。　　〃I'm　not　going　to　do　everything。〃

He　opened　the　Dryden　and　languidly　turned　the　pages。　　〃‘At　length　rebuff'd；　they　leave　their　mangled'　〃　he　began。

〃Notwo　or　three　lines　farther　down；〃　she　interrupted。　　〃That　was　in　the　last　lesson。〃

He　pushed　back　the　rebellious　lock　that　insisted　on　falling　down　the　middle　of　his　forehead；　plunged　his　elbows　fiercely　upon　the　table；　put　his　fists　against　his　temples；　and　began　again：

　　　　　〃‘High　on　a　craggy　cliff　Celaeno　sate　　　　　　　　　　　　　And　thus　her　dismal　errand　did　relate'

Have　you　got　the　place　in　the　Latin？〃　he　interrupted　himself。

Fortunately　he　did　not　look　up；　for　she　was　watching　the　waving　boughs。　　〃Yes；〃　she　replied；　hastily　returning　to　the　book。　　〃You　do　your　part　and　I'll　do　mine。〃

He　read　a　few　lines　in　an　absent…minded　sing…song；　then　interrupted　himself　once　more：　　〃Did　you　ever　smell　anything　like　that　breeze？〃

〃Never。　　‘Bellum　etiam　pro　caede　bovum'go　onI'm　listeningor　trying　to。〃

He　read：

　　〃‘But　know　that　ere　your　promised　walls　you　build；　　　My　curse　shall　severely　be　fulfilled。　　　　Fierce　famine　is　your　lotfor　this　misdeed；　　　　Reduced　to　grind　the　plates　on　which　you　feed。'　〃

He　glanced　at　her。　　She　was　leaning　on　her　elbow；　obviously　weaving　day…dreams　round　those　boughs　as　they　trembled　with　the　ecstasy　of　spring。

〃You　are　happy　to…day？〃　he　said。

〃Yeshappier　than　I　have　been　for　a　year。〃　　She　smiled　mysteriously。　　〃I've　had　good　news。〃　　She　turned　abruptly；　looked　him　in　the　eyes　with　that　frank；　clear　expressionhis　favorite　among　his　memory…pictures　of　her　had　it。　　〃There's　one　thing　that　worries　meit's　never　off　my　mind　longer　than　a　few　minutes。　　And　when　I'm　blue；　as　I　usually　am　on　rainy　days；　it　makes　mehorribly　uncomfortable。　　I've　often　almost　asked　your　advice　about　it。〃

〃If　you'd　be　sorry　afterward　that　you　told　me；〃　said　he；　〃I　hope　you　won't。　　But　if　I　can　help　you；　you　know　how　glad　I'd　be。〃

〃It's　no　use　to　tell　Olivia；〃　Pauline　went　on。　　〃She's　bitterly　prejudiced。　　But　ever　since　the　first　month　I　knew　you；　I　felt　that　I　could　trust　you；　that　you　were　a　real　friend。　　And　you're　so　fair　in　judging　people　and　things。〃

His　eyes　twinkled。

〃I'm　afraid　I'd　tilt　the　scalesjust　a　littlewhere　you　were　concerned。〃

〃Oh；　I　want　you　to　do　that；〃　she　answered　with　a　smile。　　〃Last　fall　I　did　somethingwell；　it　was　foolish；　though　I　wouldn't　admit　that　to　any　one　else。　　I　was　carried　away　by　an　impulse。　　Not　that　I　regret。　　In　the　only　really　important　way；　I　wouldn't　undo　it　if　I　couldI　think。〃　　Those　last　two　words　came　absently；　as　if　she　were　debating　the　matter　with　herself。

〃If　it's　done　and　can't　be　undone；〃　he　said　cheerfully；　〃I　don't　see　that　advice　is　needed。〃

〃Butyou　don't　understand。〃　　She　seemed　to　be　casting　about　for　words。　　〃As　I　said；　it　was　last　fallhere。　　In　Saint　X　there　was　a　manand　he　and　Iwe'd　cared　for　each　other　ever　since　we　were　children。　　And　then　he　went　away　to　college。　　He　did　several　things　father　didn't　like。　　You　know　how　older　people　arethey　don't　make　allowances。　　And　though　father's　the　gentlest；　bestat　any　rate；　he　turned　against　Jack；　and〃

Scarborough　abruptly　went　to　the　window　and　stood　with　his　back　to　her。

After　a　pause　Pauline　said；　in　a　rush；　〃And　he　came　here　last　fall　and　we　got　married。〃

There　was　a　long　silence。

〃It　was　DREADFUL；　wasn't　it？〃　she　said　in　the　tone　of　one　who　has　just　made　a　shocking　discovery。

Scarborough　did　not　answer。

〃I　never　realized　till　this　minute；〃　she　went　on　after　a　while。　　〃Not　that　I'm　sorry　or　that　I　don'tdon't　CAREjust　as　I　always　did。　　But　somehow；　telling　it　out　loud　to　some　one　else　has　made　me　see　it　in　a　different　light。　　It　didn't　seem　like　treachery　to　themto　father　and　motherthen。　　It　hasn't　seemed　like　aa　marriage　REALLY　marriageuntil　now。〃　　

Another　long　silence。　　Then　she　burst　out　appealingly：　　〃Oh；　I　don't　see　how　I'm　ever　going　to　tell　them！〃　　　　　　

Scarborough　came　back　to　his　chair　and　seated　himself。　　His　face　was　curiously　white。　　It　was　in　an　unnatural　voice　that　he　said：　　〃How　old　is　he？〃　　　　　　

〃Twenty…five；〃　she　replied；　then　instantly　flared　up；　as　if　he　had　attacked　Dumont：　　〃But　it　wasn't　his　faultnot　in　the　least。　　I　knew　what　I　was　doingand　I　wanted　to　do　it。　　You　mustn't　get　a　false　impression　of　him；　Hampden。　　You'd　admire　and　respect　him。　　Youany　onewould　have　done　as　he　did　in　the　same　circumstances。〃　　She　blushed　slightly。　　〃You　and　he　are　ever　so　much　alikeeven　in　looks。　　It　was　that　that　made　me　tell　you；　that　made　me　like　you　as　I　haveand　trust　you。〃　　　　　　

Scarborough　winced。　　Presently　he　began：　　〃Yet　you　regret〃　　　　　　　〃Nono！〃　she　protestedtoo　vehemently。　　〃I　do　NOT　regret　marrying　him。　　That　was　certain　to　be　sooner　or　later。　　All　I　regret　is　that　I　did　something　that　seems　underhanded。　　Perhaps　I'm　really　only　sorry　I　didn't　tell　them　as　soon　as　I'd　done　it。〃　

She　waited　until　she　saw　he　was　not　going　to　speak。　〃And　now；〃　she　said；　〃I　don't　know　HOW　to　tell　them。〃　　Again　she　waited；　but　he　did　not　speak；　continued　to　look　steadily　out　into　the　sky。　　〃What　do　you　think？〃　she　asked　nervously。　　〃But　I　can　see　without　your　saying。　　Only　Iwish　you'd　SAY　it。〃　　　　　　

〃No；　I　don't　condemn　you；〃　he　said　slowly。　　〃I　know　you。　　YOU　couldn't　possibly　do　anything　underhanded。　　If　you'd　been　where　you'd　have　had　to　conceal　it　directly；　face　to　face；　from　some　one　who　had　the　right　to　knowyou'd　never　have　done　it。〃　　He　rested　his　arms　on　the　table　and　looked　straight　at　her。　　〃I　feel　I　must　tell　you　what　I　think。　　And　I　feel；　too；　it　wouldn't　be　fair　and　honest　if　I　didn't　let　you　see　why　you　might　not　want　to　take　my　advice。〃

She　returned　his　gaze　inquiringly。

〃I　love　you；〃　he　went　on　calmly。　　〃I've　known　it　ever　since　I　missed　you　so　at　the　Christmas　holidays。　　I　love　you　for　what　you　are；　and　for　what　you're　as　certain　to　be　asas　a　rosebud　is　certain　to　be　a　full…blown　rose。　　I　love　you　as　my　fathe