the register-第4章

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actually　AFRAID　of　us；　Nettie！〃

RANSOM：　　〃See　her；　and　go　down　in　the　dust。〃

MISS　REED：　　〃My　very　words！〃

RANSOM：　　〃I　have　been　trying　to　think　what　was　the　very　humblest　pie
I　could　eat；　by　way　of　penance；　and　it　appears　to　me　that　I　had
better　begin　by　saying　that　I　have　come　to　ask　her　for　the　money　I
refused。〃

MISS　REED；　enraptured：　　〃Oh！　doesn't　it　seem　just　likelike
inspiration；　Nettie？〃

MISS　SPAULDING：　　〃'Sh！　　Be　quiet；　do！　　You'll　frighten　them　away！〃

GRINNIDGE：　　〃And　then　what？〃

RANSOM：　　〃What　then？　　I　don't　know　what　then。　　But　it　appears　to　me
that；　as　a　gentleman；　I've　got　nothing　to　do　with　the　result。　　All
that　I've　got　to　do　is　to　submit　to　my　fate；　whatever　it　is。〃

MISS　REED；　breathlessly：　　〃What　princely　courage！　　What　delicate
magnanimity！　　Oh；　he　needn't　have　the　LEAST　fear！　　If　I　could　only
tell　him　that！〃

GRINNIDGE；　after　an　interval　of　meditative　smoking：　　〃Yes；　I　guess
that's　the　best　thing　you　can　do。　　It　will　strike　her　fancy；　if　she's
an　imaginative　girl；　and　she'll　think　you　a　fine　fellow。〃

MISS　REED：　　〃Oh；　the　horrid　thing！〃

GRINNIDGE：　　〃If　you　humble　yourself　to　a　woman　at　all；　do　it
thoroughly。　　If　you　go　halfway　down　she'll　be　tempted　to　push　you　the
rest　of　the　way。　　If　you　flatten　out　at　her　feet　to　begin　with；　ten
to　one　but　she　will　pick　you　up。〃

RANSOM：　　〃Yes；　that　was　my　idea。〃

MISS　REED：　　〃Oh；　was　it；　indeed！　　Well！〃

RANSOM：　　〃But　I've　nothing　to　do　with　her　picking　me　up　or　pushing　me
down。　　All　that　I've　got　to　do　is　to　go　and　surrender　myself。〃

GRINNIDGE：　　〃Yes。　　Well；　I　guess　you　can't　go　too　soon。　　I　like　your
company；　but　I　advise　you　as　a　friend　not　to　lose　time。　　Where　does
she　live？〃

RANSOM：　　〃That's　the　remarkable　part　of　it：　　she　lives　in　this
house。〃

MISS　REED　and　Miss　Spaulding；　in　subdued　chorus：　　〃Oh！〃

GRINNIDGE；　taking　his　pipe　out　of　his　mouth　in　astonishment：　　〃No！〃

RANSOM：　　〃I　just　came　in　here　to　give　my　good　resolutions　a　rest
while　I　was　screwing　my　courage　up　to　ask　for　her。〃

MISS　REED：　　〃Don't　you　think　he's　VERY　humorous？　　Give　his　good
resolutions　a　rest！　　That's　the　way　he　ALWAYS　talks。〃

MISS　SPAULDING：　　〃'Sh！〃

GRINNIDGE：　　〃You　said　you　came　for　my　advice。〃

RANSOM：　　〃So　I　did。　　But　I　didn't　promise　to　act　upon　it。　　Well！〃　　He
goes　toward　the　door。

GRINNIDGE；　without　troubling　himself　to　rise：　　〃Well；　good　luck　to
you！〃

MISS　REED：　　〃How　droll　they　are　with　each　other！　　Don't　you　LIKE　to
hear　them　talk？　　Oh；　I　could　listen　all　day。〃

GRINNIDGE；　calling　after　Ransom：　　〃You　haven't　told　me　your　duck's
name。〃

MISS　REED：　　〃Is　THAT　what　they　call　us？　　Duck！　　Do　you　think　it's
very　respectful；　Nettie？　　I　don't　believe　I　like　it。　　Or；　yes；　why
not？　　It's　no　harmif　I　AM　his　duck！〃

RANSOM；　coming　back：　　〃Well；　I　don't　propose　to　go　shouting　it　round。
Her　name　is　Miss　ReedEthel　Reed。〃

MISS　REED：　　〃How　CAN　he？〃

GRINNIDGE：　　〃Slender；　willowy　party；　with　a　lot　of　blond　hair　that
looks　as　if　it　might　be　indigenous？　　Rather　pensive…looking？〃

MISS　REED：　　〃Indigenous！　　I　should　hope　so！〃

RANSOM：　　〃Yes。　　But　she　isn't　pensive。　　She's　awfully　deep。　　It　makes
me　shudder　to　think　how　deep　that　girl　is。　　And　when　I　think　of　my
courage　in　daring　to　be　in　love　with　hera　stupid；　straightforward
idiot　like　meI　begin　to　respect　myself　in　spite　of　being　such　an
ass。　　Well；　I'm　off。　　If　I　stay　any　longer　I　shall　never　go。〃　　He
closes　the　door　after　him；　and　Miss　Reed　instantly　springs　to　her
feet。

MISS　REED：　　〃Now　he'll　have　to　go　down　to　the　parlor　and　send　up　his
name；　and　that　just　gives　me　time　to　do　the　necessary　prinking。　　You
stay　here　and　receive　him；　Nettie。〃

MISS　SPAULDING：　　〃Never！　　After　what's　happened　I　can　never　look　him
in　the　face　again。　　Oh；　how　low；　and　mean；　and　guilty　I　feel！〃

MISS　REED；　with　surprise：　　〃Why；　how　droll！　　Now　_I_　don't　feel　the
least　so。〃

MISS　SPAULDING：　　〃Oh；　it's　very　different　with　YOU。　　YOU'RE　in　love
with　him。〃

MISS　REED：　　〃For　shame；　Nettie！　　I'm　NOT　in　love　with　him。〃

MISS　SPAULDING：　　〃And　you　can　explain　and　justify　it。　　But　I　never
can　justify　it　to　myself；　much　less　to　him。　　Let　me　go；　Ethel！　　I
shall　tell　Mrs。　McKnight　that　we　must　change　this　room　instantly。
And　just　after　I'd　got　it　so　nearly　in　order！　　Go　down　and　receive
him　in　the　parlor；　Ethel。　　I　CAN'T　see　him。〃

MISS　REED：　　〃Receive　him　in　the　parlor！　　Why；　Nettie；　dear；　you're
crazy！　　I'm　going　to　ACCEPT　him：　　and　how　can　I　accept　himwith　all
the　consequencesin　a　public　parlor？　　No；　indeed！　　If　you　won't　meet
him　here　for　a　moment；　just　to　oblige　me；　you　can　go　into　the　other
room。　　Or；　noyou'd　be　listening　to　every　word　through　the　key…hole；
you're　so　demoralized！〃

MISS　SPAULDING：　　〃Yes；　yes；　I　deserve　your　contempt；　Ethel。〃

MISS　REED；　laughing：　　〃You　will　have　to　go　out　for　a　walk；　you　poor
thing；　and　I'm　not　going　to　have　you　coming　back　in　five　or　ten
minutes。　　You　have　got　to　stay　out　a　good　hour。〃

MISS　SPAULDING；　running　to　get　her　things　from　the　next　room：　　〃Oh；
I'll　stay　out　till　midnight！〃

MISS　REED；　responding　to　a　tap　at　the　door：　　〃Ye…e…s！　　Come　in！
You're　caught；　Nettie。〃

A　MAID…SERVANT；　appearing　with　a　card：　　〃This　gentleman　is　asking　for
you　in　the　parlor；　Miss　Reed。〃

MISS　REED：　　〃Oh！　　Ask　him　to　come　up　here；　please。Nettie！　　Nettie！〃
She　calls　to　her　friend　in　the　next　room。　　〃He's　coming　right　up；　and
if　you　don't　run　you're　trapped。〃

MISS　SPAULDING；　re…appearing；　cloaked　and　bonneted：　　〃I　don't　blame
YOU；　Ethel；　comparatively　speaking。　　You　can　say　that　everything　is
fair　in　love。　　He　will　like　it；　and　laugh　at　it　in　you；　because　he'll
like　everything　you've　done。　　Besides；　you've　no　principles；　and　I
HAVE。〃

MISS　REED：　　〃Oh；　I've　lots　of　principles；　Nettie；　but　I've　no
practice！〃

MISS　SPAULDING：　　〃No　matter。　　There's　no　excuse　for　me。　　I　listened
simply　because　I　was　a　woman；　and　couldn't　help　it；　and；　oh；　what
will　he　think　of　me？〃

MISS　REED：　　〃I　won't　give　you　away；　if　you　really　feel　so　badly〃　…

MISS　SPAULDING：　　〃Oh；　DO　you　think　you　can　keep　from　telling　him；
Ethel　dear？　　Try！　　And　I　will　be　your　slave　forever！〃　　Steps　are
heard　on　the　stairs　outside。　　〃Oh；　there　he　comes！〃　　She　dashes　out
of　the　door；　and　closes　it　after　her；　a　moment　before　the　maid…
servant；　followed　by　Mr。　Ransom；　taps　at　it。



III。



SCENE：　　Miss　Reed　opens　the　door；　and　receives　Mr。　Ransom　with　well…
affected　surprise　and　state；　suffering　him　to　stand　awkwardly　on　the
threshold　for　a　moment。


SHE；　coldly：　　〃Oh！Mr。　Ransom！〃

HE；　abruptly：　　〃I've　come〃　…

SHE：　　〃Won't　you　come　in？〃

HE；　advancing　a　few　paces　into　the　room：　　〃I've　come〃　…

SHE；　indicating　a　chair：　　〃Will　you　sit　down？〃

HE：　　〃I　must　stand　for　the　present。　　I've　come　to　ask　you　for　that
money；　Miss　Reed；　which　I　refused　yesterday；　in　terms　that　I　blush　to
think　of。　　I　was　altogether　and　wholly　in　the　wrong；　and　I'm　ready　to
offer　any　imaginable　apology　or　reparation。　　I'm　ready　to　take　the
money　and　to　sign　a　receipt；　and　then　to　be　dismissed　with　whatever
ignominy　you　please。　　I　deserve　anythingeverything！〃

SHE：　　〃The　money？　　Excuse　me；　I　don't　knowI'm　afraid　that　I'm　not
prepared　to　pay　you　the　whole　sum　to…day。〃

HE；　hastily：　　〃Oh；　no　matter！　no　matter！　　I　don't　care　for　the　money
now。　　I　merely　wish　toto　assure　you　that　I　thought　you　were
perfectly　right　in　offering　it；　and　toto〃　…

SHE：　　〃What？〃

HE：　　〃Nothing。　　That　isahah〃　…

SHE：　　〃It's　extremely　embarrassing　to　have　people　refuse　their　money
when　it's　offered　them；　and　then　come　the　next　day　for　it；　when
perhaps　it　isn't　so　convenient　to　pay　itVERY　embarrassing。〃

HE；　hotly：　　〃But　I　tell　you　I　don't　want　the　MONEY！　　I　never　wanted
it；　and　wouldn't　take　it　on　any　account。〃

SHE：　　〃Oh！　　I　thought　you　said　you　came　to　get　it？〃

HE：　　〃I　saidI　didn't　sayI　meantthat　isahI〃He　stops；　open…
mouthed。

SHE；　quietly：　　〃I　could　give　you　part　of　the　money　now。〃

HE：　　〃Oh；　whatever　you　like；　it's　indifferent〃　…

SHE：　　〃Please　sit　down　while　I　write　a　receipt。〃　　She　places　herself
deliberately　at　the　table；　and　opens　her　portfolio。　　〃I　will　pay　you
now；　Mr。　Ransom；　for　the　first　six　lessons　you　gave　methe　ones
before　you　told　me　that　I　could　never　learn　to　do　anything。〃

HE；　sinking　mechanically　into　the　chair　she　indicates：　　〃Oh；　just　as
you　like！〃　　He　looks　up　at　the　ceiling　in　hopeless　bewilderment；
while　she　writes。

SHE；　blotting　the　paper：　　〃There！　　And　now　let　me　offer　you　a　little
piece　of　advice；　Mr。　Ransom；　which　may　be　useful　to　you　in　taking
pupils　hereafter。〃

HE；　bursting　out：　　〃I　never　take　pupils！〃

SHE：　　〃Never　take　pupils！　　I　don't　understand。　　You　took　ME。〃

HE；　confusedly：　　〃I　took　youyes。　　You　seemed　to　wishyou　seemed
the　case　was　peculiarpeculiar　circumstances。〃

SHE；　with　severity：　　〃May　I　ask　WHY　the　circumstances　were　peculiar？
I　saw　nothing　peculiar　about　the　circumstances。　　It　seemed　to　me　it
was　a　very　simple　matter。　　I　told　you　that　I　had　always　had　a　great
curiosity　to　see　whether　I　could　use　oil　paints；　and　I　asked　you　a
very　plain　question；　whether　you　would　let　me　study　with　you。　　Didn't
I？〃

HE：　　〃Yes。〃

SHE：　　〃Was　there　anything　wronganything　queer　about　my　asking　you？〃

HE：　　〃No；　no！　　Not　at　allnot　in　the　least。〃

SHE：　　〃Didn't　you　wish　me　to　take　the　lessons　of　you？　　If　you　didn't；
it　wasn't　kind　of　you　to　let　me。〃

HE：　　〃Oh；　I　was　perfectly　willingvery　glad　indeed；　very　much　so
certainly！〃

SHE：　　〃If　it　wasn't　your　CUSTOM　to　take　pupils；　you　ought　to　have
told　me；　and　I　wouldn't　have　forced　myself　upon　you。〃

HE；　desperately：　　〃It　wasn't　forcing　yourself　upon　me。　　The　Lord
knows　how　humbly　grateful　I　was。　　It　was　like　a　hope　of　heaven！〃

SHE：　　〃Really；　Mr。　Ransom；　this　is　very　strange　talk。　　What　am　I　to
understand　by　it？　　Why　should　you　be　grateful　to　teach　me？　　Why
should　giving　me　lessons　be　like　a　hope　of　heaven？〃

HE：　　〃Oh；　I　will　tell　you！〃

SHE：　　〃Well？〃

HE；　after　a　moment　of　agony：　　〃Because　to　be　with　you〃　…

SHE：　　〃Yes？〃

HE：　　〃Because　I　wished　to　be　with　you。　　Becausethose　days　in　the
woods；　when　you　read；　and　I〃　…

SHE：　　〃Painted　on　my　pictures〃　…

HE：　　〃Were　the　happiest　of　my　life。　　BecauseI　loved　you！〃

SHE：　　〃Mr。　Ransom！〃

HE：　　〃Yes；　I　must　tell　you　so。　　I　loved　you；　I　love　you　still。　　I
shall　always　love　you；　no　matter　what〃　…

SHE：　　〃You　forget　yourself；　Mr。　Ransom。　　Has　there　been　anything　in
my　mannerconductto　justify　you　in　using　such　language　to　me？〃

HE：　　〃Nono〃　…

SHE：　　〃Did　you　suppose　that　because　I　first　took　lessons　of　you　from…
…froman　enthusiasm　for　art；　and　then　continued　them　forfor
amusement；　that　I　wished　you　to　make　love　to　me？〃

HE：　　〃No；　I　never　supposed　such　a　thing。　　I'm　incapable　of　it。　　I
beseech　you　to　believe　that　no　one　could　have　more　respect
reverence〃He　twirls　his　hat　between　his　hands；　and　casts　an
imploring　glance　at　her。

SHE：　　〃Oh；　respectreverence！　　I　know　what　they　mean　in　the　mouths
of　men。　　If　you　respected；　if　you　reverenced　me；　could　you　dare　to
tell　me；　after　my　unguarded　trust　of　you　during　the　past　months；　that
you　had　been　all　the　time　secretly　in　love　with　me？〃

HE；　plucking　up　a　little　courage：　　〃I　don't　see　that　the　three　things
are　incompatible。〃