the register-第3章

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MISS　REED；　suddenly　shutting　the　register　on　her　side：　　〃Oh！〃

MISS　SPAULDING；　looking　up　from　her　music：　　〃What　is　it；　Ethel？〃

MISS　REED：　　〃Nothing；　nothing；　IIthought　it　was　getting　too　warm。
Go　on；　dear；　don't　let　me　interrupt　you。〃　　After　a　moment　of　heroic
self…denial　she　softly　presses　the　register　open　with　her　foot。

RANSOM；　coming　back　to　the　register：　　〃It　all　began　in　that　way。　　I
had　the　good　fortune　one　day　to　rescue　her　from　acow。〃

MISS　REED：　　〃Oh；　for　shame！〃

MISS　SPAULDING；　desisting　from　her　piano：　　〃What　IS　the　matter？〃

MISS　REED；　clapping　the　register　to：　　〃This　ridiculous　book！　　But
don'tdon't　mind　me；　Nettie。〃　　Breathlessly：　　〃Gogoon！〃　　Miss
Spaulding　resumes；　and　again　Miss　Reed　softly　presses　the　register
open。

RANSOM；　after　a　pause：　　〃The　cow　was　grazing；　and　had　no　more　thought
of　hooking　Miss〃

MISS　REED：　　〃Oh；　I　didn't　suppose　he　WOULD！Go　on；　Nettie；　go　on！
The　heroSUCH　a　goose！〃

RANSOM：　　〃I　drove　her　away　with　my　camp…stool；　and　Missthe　young
ladywas　as　grateful　as　if　I　had　rescued　her　from　a　menagerie　of
wild　animals。　　I　walked　home　with　her　to　the　farm　house；　and　the
trouble　began　at　once。〃　　Pantomime　of　indignant　protest　and　burlesque
menace　on　the　part　of　Miss　Reed。　　〃There　wasn't　another　well　woman　in
the　house；　except　her　friend　Miss　Spaulding；　who　was　rather　old　and
rather　plain。〃　　He　takes　another　turn　to　the　window。

MISS　REED：　　〃Oh！〃　　She　shuts　the　register；　but　instantly　opens　it
again。　　〃Louder；　Nettie。〃

MISS　SPAULDING；　in　astonishment：　　〃What？〃

MISS　REED：　　〃Did　I　speak？　　I　didn't　know　it。　　I〃　…

MISS　SPAULDING；　desisting　from　practice：　　〃What　is　that　strange；
hollow；　rumbling；　mumbling　kind　of　noise？〃

MISS　REED；　softly　closing　the　register　with　her　foot：　　〃I　don't　hear
any　strange；　hollow；　rumbling；　mumbling　kind　of　noise。　　Do　you　hear
it　NOW？〃

MISS　SPAULDING：　　〃No。　　It　was　the　Brighton　whistle；　probably。〃

MISS　REED：　　〃Oh；　very　likely。〃　　As　Miss　Spaulding　turns　again　to　her
practice　Miss　Reed　re…opens　the　register　and　listens　again。　　A　little
interval　of　silence　ensues；　while　Ransom　lights　a　cigarette。

GRINNIDGE：　　〃So　you　sought　opportunities　of　rescuing　her　from　other
cows？〃

RANSOM；　returning：　　〃That　wasn't　necessary。　　The　young　lady　was　so
impressed　by　my　behavior；　that　she　asked　if　I　would　give　her　some
lessons　in　the　use　of　oil。〃

GRINNIDGE：　　〃She　thought　if　she　knew　how　to　paint　pictures　like　yours
she　wouldn't　need　any　one　to　drive　the　cows　away。〃

RANSOM：　　〃Don't　be　farcical；　Grinnidge。　　That　sort　of　thing　will　do
with　some　victim　on　the　witness…stand　who　can't　help　himself。　　Of
course　I　said　I　would；　and　we　were　off　half　the　time　together；
painting　the　loveliest　and　loneliest　bits　around　Ponkwasset。　　It　all
went　on　very　well；　till　one　day　I　felt　bound　in　conscience　to　tell
her　that　I　didn't　think　she　would　ever　learn　to　paint；　and　thatif
she　was　serious　about　it　she'd　better　drop　it　at　once；　for　she　was
wasting　her　time。〃

GRINNIDGE；　getting　up　to　fill　his　pipe：　　〃That　was　a　pleasant　thing
to　do。〃

RANSOM：　　〃I　told　her　that　if　it　amused　her；　to　keep　on；　I　would　be
only　too　glad　to　give　her　allthe　hints　I　could；　but　that　I　oughtn't
to　encourage　her。　　She　seemed　a　good　deal　hurt。　　I　fancied　at　the
time　that　she　thought　I　was　tired　of　having　her　with　me　so　much。〃

MISS　REED：　　〃Oh；　DID　you；　indeed！〃　　To　Miss　Spaulding；　who　bends　an
astonished　glance　upon　her　from　the　piano：　　〃The　man　in　this　book　is
the　most　CONCEITED　creature；　Nettie。　　Play　chordssomething　very
subduedah！〃

MISS　SPAULDING：　　〃What　are　you　talking　about；　Ethel？〃

RANSOM：　　〃That　was　at　night；　but　the　next　day　she　came　up　smiling；
and　said　that　if　I　didn't　mind　she　would　keep　onfor　amusement；　she
wasn't　a　bit　discouraged。〃

MISS　REED：　　〃Oh！Go　on；　Nettie；　don't　let　my　outbursts　interrupt
you。〃

RANSOM：　　〃I　used　to　fancy　sometimes　that　she　was　a　little　sweet　on
me。〃

MISS　REED：　　〃You　wretch！Oh；　scales；　Nettie！　　Play　scales！〃

MISS　SPAULDING：　　〃Ethel　Reed；　are　you　crazy？〃

Ransom；　after　a　thoughtful　moment：　　〃Well；　so　it　went　on　for　the　next
seven　or　eight　weeks。　　　When　we　weren't　sketching　in　the　meadows；　or
on　the　mountain…side；　or　in　the　old　punt　on　the　pond；　we　were　walking
up　and　down　the　farmhouse　piazza　together。　　She　used　to　read　to　me
when　I　was　at　work。　　She　had　a　heavenly　voice；　Grinnidge。〃

MISS　REED：　　〃Oh；　you　silly；　silly　thing！Really　this　book　makes　me
sick；　Nettie。〃

RANSOM：　　〃Well；　the　long　and　the　short　of　it　was；　I　was　hitHARD；
and　I　lost　all　courage。　　You　know　how　I　am；　Grinnidge。〃

MISS　REED；　softly：　　〃Oh；　poor　fellow！〃

RANSOM：　　〃So　I　let　the　time　go　by；　and　at　the　end　I　hadn't　said
anything。〃

MISS　REED：　　〃No；　sir！　　You　HADN'T！〃

MISS　SPAULDING　gradually　ceases　to　play；　and　fixes　her　attention
wholly　upon　Miss　Reed；　who　bends　forward　over　the　register　with　an
intensely　excited　face。

RANSOM：　　〃Then　something　happened　that　made　me　glad；　for　twenty…four
hours　at　least；　that　I　hadn't　spoken。　　She　sent　me　the　money　for
twenty…five　lessons。　　Imagine　how　I　felt；　Grinnidge！　　What　could　I
suppose　but　that　she　had　been　quietly　biding　her　time；　and　storing　up
her　resentment　for　my　having　told　her　she　couldn't　learn　to　paint；
till　she　could　pay　me　back　with　interest　in　one　supreme　insult？〃

MISS　REED；　in　a　low　voice：　　〃Oh；　how　could　you　think　such　a　cruel；
vulgar　thing？〃　　Miss　Spaulding　leaves　the　piano；　and　softly
approaches　her；　where　she　has　sunk　on　her　knees　beside　the　register。

RANSOM：　　〃It　was　tantamount　to　telling　me　that　she　had　been　amusing
herself　with　me　instead　of　my　lessons。　　It　remanded　our　whole
association；　which　I　had　got　to　thinking　so　romantic；　to　the　relation
of　teacher　and　pupil。　　It　was　a　snuba　heartless；　killing　snub；　and
I　couldn't　see　it　in　any　other　light。〃　　Ransom　walks　away　to　the
window；　and　looks　out。

MISS　REED；　flinging　herself　backward　from　the　register；　and　hiding
her　face　in　her　hands：　　〃Oh；　it　wasn't！　it　wasn't！　it　wasn't！　　How
could　you　think　so？〃

MISS　SPAULDING；　rushing　forward；　and　catching　her　friend　in　her　arms：
〃What　is　the　matter　with　you；　Ethel　Reed？　　What　are　you　doing　here；
over　the　register？　　Are　you　trying　to　suffocate　yourself？　　Have　you
taken　leave　of　your　senses？〃

GRINNIDGE：　　〃Our　fair　friend　on　the　other　side　of　the　wall　seems　to
be　on　the　rampage。〃

MISS　SPAULDING；　shutting　the　register　with　a　violent　clash：　　〃Ugh！
how　hot　it　is　here！〃

GRINNIDGE：　　〃Doesn't　like　your　conversation；　apparently。〃

MISS　REED；　frantically　pressing　forward　to　open　the　register：　　〃Oh；
don't　shut　it；　Nettie；　dear！　　If　you　do　I　shall　die！　　Do…o…n't　shut
the　register！〃

MISS　SPAULDING：　　〃Don't　shut　it？　　Why；　we've　got　all　the　heat　of　the
furnace　in　the　room　now。　　Surely　you　don't　want　any　more？〃

MISS　REED：　　〃No；　no；　not　any　more。　　ButbutOh；　dear！　what　shall　I
do？〃　　She　still　struggles　in　the　embrace　of　her　friend。

GRINNIDGE；　remaining　quietly　at　the　register；　while　Ransom　walks　away
to　the　window：　　〃Well；　　what　did　you　do？〃

MISS　REED：　　〃There；　there！　　They're　commencing　again！　　DO　open　it；
Nettie。　　I　WILL　have　it　open！〃　　She　wrenches　herself　free；　and　dashes
the　register　open。

GRINNIDGE：　　〃Ah；　she's　opened　it　again。〃

Miss　Reed；　in　a　stage…whisper：　　〃That's　the　other　one！〃

RANSOM；　from　the　window：　　〃Do？　　I'll　tell　you　what　I　did。〃

MISS　REED：　　〃That's　OlMr。　Ransom。　　And；　oh；　I　can't　make　out　what
he's　saying！　　He　must　have　gone　away　to　the　other　side　of　the　room
and　it's　at　the　most　important　point！〃

MISS　SPAULDING；　in　an　awful　undertone：　　〃Was　that　the　hollow　rumbling
I　heard？　　And　have　you　been　listening　at　the　register　to　what　they've
been　saying？　　O　ETHEL！〃

MISS　REED：　　〃I　haven't　been　listening；　exactly。〃

MISS　SPAULDING：　　〃You　have！　　You　have　been　eavesdropping！〃

MISS　REED：　　〃Eavesdropping　is　listening　through　a　key…hole；　or　around
a　corner。　　This　is　very　different。　　Besides；　it's　Oliver；　and　he's
been　talking　about　ME。　　Hark！〃　　She　clutches　her　friend's　hand；　where
they　have　crouched　upon　the　floor　together；　and　pulls　her　forward　to
the　register。　　〃Oh；　dear；　how　hot　it　is！　　I　wish　they　would　cut　off
the　heat　down　below。〃

GRINNIDGE；　smoking　peacefully　through　the　silence　which　his　friend
has　absent…mindedly　let　follow　upon　his　last　words：　　〃Well；　you　seem
disposed　to　take　your　time　about　it。〃

RANSOM：　　〃About　what？　　Oh；　yes！　　Well〃　…

MISS　REED：　　〃'Sh！　　Listen。〃

MISS　SPAULDING：　　〃I　won't　listen！　　It's　shameful：　　it's　wicked！　　I
don't　see　how　you　can　do　it；　Ethel！〃　　She　remains；　however；　kneeling
near　the　register；　and　she　involuntarily　inclines　a　little　more
toward　it。

RANSOM：　　〃It　isn't　a　thing　that　I　care　to　shout　from　the　house…
tops。〃　　He　returns　from　the　window　to　the　chimney…piece。　　〃I　wrote
the　rudest　kind　of　note；　and　sent　back　her　letter　and　her　money　in
it。　　She　had　said　that　she　hoped　our　acquaintance　was　not　to　end　with
the　summer；　but　that　we　might　sometimes　meet　in　Boston；　and　I
answered　that　our　acquaintance　had　ended　already；　and　that　I　should
be　sorry　to　meet　her　anywhere　again。〃

GRINNIDGE：　　〃Well；　if　you　wanted　to　make　an　ass　of　yourself；　you　did
it　pretty　completely。〃

MISS　REED；　whispering：　　〃How　witty　he　is！　　Those　men　are　always　so
humorous　with　each　other。〃

RANSOM：　　〃Yes；　I　didn't　do　it　by　halves。〃

MISS　REED；　whispering：　　〃Oh；　THAT'S　funny；　too！〃

GRINNIDGE：　　〃It　didn't　occur　to　you　that　she　might　feel　bound　to　pay
you　for　the　first　half…dozen；　and　was　embarrassed　how　to　offer　to　pay
for　them　alone？〃

MISS　REED：　　〃How　he　DOES　go　to　the　heart　of　the　matter！〃　　She　presses
Miss　Spaulding's　hand　in　an　ecstasy　of　approval。

RANSOM：　　〃Yes；　it　didafterward。〃

MISS　REED；　in　a　tender　murmur：　　〃Oh；　POOR　Oliver！〃

RANSOM：　　〃And　it　occurred　to　me　that　she　was　perfectly　right　in　the
whole　affair。〃

MISS　REED：　　〃Oh；　how　generous！　how　noble！〃

RANSOM：　　〃I　had　had　a　thousand　opportunities；　and　I　hadn't　been　man
enough　to　tell　her　that　I　was　in　love　with　her。〃

MISS　REED：　　〃How　can　he　say　it　right　out　so　bluntly？　　But　if　it's
true〃　…

RANSOM：　　〃I　COULDN'T　speak。　　I　was　afraid　of　putting　an　end　to　the
affairof　frightening　herdisgusting　her。〃

MISS　REED：　　〃Oh；　how　little　they　know　us；　Nettie！〃

RANSOM：　　〃She　seemed　so　much　above　me　in　every　wayso　sensitive；　so
refined；　so　gentle；　so　good；　so　angelic！〃

MISS　REED：　　〃There！　　NOW　do　you　call　it　eavesdropping？　　If　listeners
never　hear　any　good　of　themselves；　what　do　you　say　to　that？　　It
proves　that　I　haven't　been　listening。〃

MISS　SPAULDING：　　〃'Sh！　　They're　saying　something　else。〃

RANSOM：　　〃But　all　that's　neither　here　nor　there。　　I　can　see　now　that
under　the　circumstances　she　couldn't　as　a　lady　have　acted　otherwise
than　she　did。　　She　was　forced　to　treat　our　whole　acquaintance　as　a
business　matter；　and　I　had　forced　her　to　do　it。〃

MISS　REED：　　〃You　HAD；　you　poor　thing！〃

GRINNIDGE：　　〃Well；　what　do　you　intend　to　do　about　it？〃

RANSOM：　　〃Well〃　…

MISS　REED：　　〃'Sh！〃

MISS　SPAULDING：　　〃'Sh！〃

RANSOM：　　〃that's　what　I　want　to　submit　to　you；　Grinnidge。　　I　must
see　her。〃

GRINNIDGE：　　〃Yes。　　I'm　glad　_I_　mustn't。〃

MISS　REED；　stifling　a　laugh　on　Miss　Spaulding's　shoulder：　　〃They're
actually　AFRAID　of　us；　Nettie！〃

RANSOM：　　〃See　her；　and　go　d