their silver wedding journey v3-第16章

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！


light　up　with　joyful　consciousness。　　〃Come　round　to　my　hotel；　after
you're　tired　here；　and　I'll　let　you　see　it。　　There's　no　hurry。　　Did　you
notice　the　little　children　with　their　lanterns；　as　you　came　along？　　It's
the　gentlest　effect　that　a　warlike　memory　ever　came　to。　　The　French
themselves　couldn't　have　minded　those　innocents　carrying　those　soft
lights　on　the　day　of　their　disaster。　　You　ought　to　get　something　out　of
that；　and　I've　got　a　subject　in　trust　for　you　from　Rose　Adding。　　He　and
his　mother　were　at　Wurzburg；　I'm　sorry　to　say　the　poor　little　chap　didn't
seem　very　well。　　They've　gone　to　Holland　for　the　sea　air。〃　　March　had
been　talking　for　quantity　in　compassion　of　the　embarrassment　in　which
Burnamy　seemed　bound；　but　he　questioned　how　far　he　ought　to　bring　comfort
to　the　young　fellow　merely　because　he　liked　him。　　So　far　as　he　could　make
out；　Burnamy　had　been　doing　rather　less　than　nothing　to　retrieve　himself
since　they　had　met；　and　it　was　by　an　impulse　that　he　could　not　have
logically　defended　to　Mrs。　March　that　he　resumed。　　〃We　found　another
friend　of　yours　in　Wurzburg：　Mr。　Stoller。〃

〃Mr。　Stoller？〃　Burnamy　faintly　echoed。

〃Yes；　he　was　there　to　give　his　daughters　a　holiday　during　the　manoeuvres；
and　they　made　the　most　of　it。　　He　wanted　us　to　go　to　the　parade　with　his
family　　but　we　declined。　　The　twins　were　pretty　nearly　the　death　of
General　Triscoe。〃

Again　Burnamy　echoed　him。　　〃General　Triscoe？〃

〃Ah；　yes：　I　didn't　tell　you。　　General　Triscoe　and　his　daughter　had　come
on　with　Mrs。　Adding　and　Rose。　　Kenbyyou　remember　Kenby；　On　the
Norumbia？Kenby　happened　to　be　there；　too；　we　were　quite　a　family　party；
and　Stoller　got　the　general　to　drive　out　to　the　manoeuvres　with　him　and
his　girls。〃

Now　that　he　was　launched；　March　rather　enjoyed　letting　himself　go。　　He
did　not　know　what　he　should　say　to　Mrs。　March　when　he　came　to　confess
having　told　Burnamy　everything　before　she　got　a　chance　at　him；　he　pushed
on　recklessly；　upon　the　principle；　which　probably　will　not　hold　in
morals；　that　one　may　as　well　be　hung　for　a　sheep　as　a　lamb。　　〃I　have　a
message　for　you　from　Mr。　Stoller。〃

〃For　me？〃　Burnamy　gasped。

〃I've　been　wondering　how　I　should　put　it；　for　I　hadn't　expected　to　see
you。　　But　it's　simply　this：　he　wants　you　to　knowand　he　seemed　to　want
me　to　knowthat　he　doesn't　hold　you　accountable　in　the　way　he　did。　　He's
thought　it　all　over；　and　he's　decided　that　he　had　no　right　to　expect　you
to　save　him　from　his　own　ignorance　where　he　was　making　a　show　of
knowledge。　　As　he　said；　he　doesn't　choose　to　plead　the　baby　act。　　He　says
that　you're　all　right；　and　your　place　on　the　paper　is　open　to　you。〃

Burnamy　had　not　been　very　prompt　before；　but　now　he　seemed　braced　for
instant　response。　　〃I　think　he's　wrong；〃　he　said；　so　harshly　that　the
people　at　the　next　table　looked　round。　　〃His　feeling　as　he　does　has
nothing　to　do　with　the　fact；　and　it　doesn't　let　me　out。〃

March　would　have　liked　to　take　him　in　his　arms；　he　merely　said；　〃I　think
you're　quite　right；　as　to　that。　　But　there's　such　a　thing　as　forgiveness；
you　know。　　It　doesn't　change　the　nature　of　what　you've　done；　but　as　far
as　the　sufferer　from　it　is　concerned；　it　annuls　it。〃

〃Yes；　I　understand　that。　　But　I　can't　accept　his　forgiveness　if　I　hate
him。〃

〃But　perhaps　you　won't　always　hate　him。　　Some　day　you　may　have　a　chance
to　do　him　a　good　turn。　　It's　rather　banale；　but　there　doesn't　seem　any
other　way。　　Well；　I　have　given　you　his　message。　　Are　you　going　with　me　to
get　that　poem？〃

When　March　had　given　Burnamy　the　paper　at　his　hotel；　and　Burnamy　had　put
it　in　his　pocket；　the　young　man　said　he　thought　he　would　take　some
coffee；　and　he　asked　March　to　join　him　in　the　dining…room　where　they　had
stood　talking。

〃No；　thank　you；〃　said　the　elder；　〃I　don't　propose　sitting　up　all　night；
and　you'll　excuse　me　if　I　go　to　bed　now。　　It's　a　little　informal　to　leave
a　guest〃

〃You're　not　leaving　a　guest！　　I'm　at　home　here。　　I'm　staying　in　this
hotel　too。〃

March　said；　〃Oh！〃　and　then　he　added　abruptly；　〃Good…night；〃　and　went　up
stairs　under　the　fresco　of　the　five　poets。

〃Whom　were　you　talking　with　below？〃　asked　Mrs。　March　through　the　door
opening　into　his　room　from　hers。

〃Burnamy；〃　he　answered　from　within。　　〃He's　staying　in　this　house。　　He　let
me　know　just　as　I　was　going　to　turn　him　out　for　the　night。　　It's　one　of
those　little　uncandors　of　his　that　throw　suspicion　on　his　honesty　in
great　things。〃

〃Oh！　Then　you've　been　telling　him；〃　she　said；　with　a　mental　bound　high
above　and　far　beyond　the　point。

〃Everything。〃

〃About　Stoller；　too？〃

〃About　Stoller　and　his　daughters；　and　Mrs。　Adding　and　Rose　and　Kenby　and
General　Triscoeand　Agatha。〃

〃Very　well。　　That's　what　I　call　shabby。　　Don't　ever　talk　to　me　again
about　the　inconsistencies　of　women。　　But　now　there's　something　perfectly
fearful。〃

〃What　is　it？〃

〃A　letter　from　Miss　Triscoe　came　after　you　were　gone；　asking　us　to　find
rooms　in　some　hotel　for　her　and　her　father　to…morrow。　　He　isn't　well；　and
they're　coming。　　And　I've　telegraphed　them　to　come　here。　　Now　what　do　you
say？〃




LXII。

They　could　see　no　way　out　of　the　trouble；　and　Mrs。　March　could　not　resign
herself　to　it　till　her　husband　suggested　that　she　should　consider　it
providential。　　This　touched　the　lingering　superstition　in　which　she　had
been　ancestrally　taught　to　regard　herself　as　a　means；　when　in　a　very
tight　place；　and　to　leave　the　responsibility　with　the　moral　government　of
the　universe。　　As　she　now　perceived；　it　had　been　the　same　as　ordered　that
they　should　see　Burnamy　under　such　conditions　in　the　afternoon　that　they
could　not　speak　to　him；　and　hear　where　he　was　staying；　and　in　an　inferior
degree　it　had　been　the　same　as　ordered　that　March　should　see　him　in　the
evening　and　tell　him　everything；　so　that　she　should　know　just　how　to　act
when　she　saw　him　in　the　morning。　　If　he　could　plausibly　account　for　the
renewal　of　his　flirtation　with　Miss　Elkins；　or　if　he　seemed　generally
worthy　apart　from　that；　she　could　forgive　him。

It　was　so　pleasant　when　he　came　in　at　breakfast　with　his　well…remembered
smile；　that　she　did　not　require　from　him　any　explicit　defence。　　While
they　talked　she　was　righting　herself　in　an　undercurrent　of　drama　with
Miss　Triscoe；　and　explaining　to　her　that　they　could　not　possibly　wait
over　for　her　and　her　father　in　Weimar；　but　must　be　off　that　day　for
Berlin；　as　they　had　made　all　their　plans。　　It　was　not　easy；　even　in　drama
where　one　has　everything　one's　own　way；　to　prove　that　she　could　not
without　impiety　so　far　interfere　with　the　course　of　Providence　as　to
prevent　Miss　Triscoe's　coming　with　her　father　to　the　same　hotel　where
Burnamy　was　staying。　　She　contrived；　indeed；　to　persuade　her　that　she　had
not　known　he　was　staying　there　when　she　telegraphed　them　where　to　come；
and　that　in　the　absence　of　any　open　confidence　from　Miss　Triscoe　she　was
not　obliged　to　suppose　that　his　presence　would　be　embarrassing。

March　proposed　leaving　her　with　Burnamy　while　he　went　up　into　the　town
and　interviewed　the　house　of　Schiller；　which　he　had　not　done　yet；　and　as
soon　as　he　got　himself　away　she　came　to　business；　breaking　altogether
from　the　inner　drama　with　Miss　Triscoe　and　devoting　herself　to　Burnamy。
They　had　already　got　so　far　as　to　have　mentioned　the　meeting　with　the
Triscoes　in　Wurzburg；　and　she　said：　〃Did　Mr。　March　tell　you　they　were
coming　here？　　Or；　no！　　We　hadn't　heard　then。　　Yes；　they　are　coming　to…
morrow。　　They　may　be　going　to　stay　some　time。　　She　talked　of　Weimar　when
we　first　spoke　of　Germany　on　the　ship。〃　　Burnamy　said　nothing；　and　she
suddenly　added；　with　a　sharp　glance；　〃They　wanted　us　to　get　them　rooms；
and　we　advised　their　coming　to　this　house。〃　　He　started　very
satisfactorily；　and　〃Do　you　think　they　would　be　comfortable；　here？〃　she
pursued。

〃Oh；　yes；　very。　　They　can　have　my　room；　it's　southeast；　I　shall　be　going
into　other　quarters。〃　　She　did　not　say　anything；　and　〃Mrs。　March；〃　he
began　again；　〃what　is　the　use　of　my　beating　about　the　bush？　　You　must
know　what　I　went　back　to　Carlsbad　for；　that　night〃

〃No　one　ever　told〃

〃Well；　you　must　have　made　a　pretty　good　guess。　　But　it　was　a　failure。　　I
ought　to　have　failed；　and　I　did。　　She　said　that　unless　her　father　liked
it　And　apparently　he　hasn't　liked　it。〃　　Burnamy　smiled　ruefully。

〃How　do　you　know？　　She　didn't　know　where　you　were！〃

〃She　could　have　got　word　to　me　if　she　had　had　good　news　for　me。　　They've
forwarded　other　letters　from　Pupp's。　　But　it's　all　right；　I　had　no
business　to　go　back　to　Carlsbad。　　Of　course　you　didn't　know　I　was　in　this
house　when　you　told　them　to　come；　and　I　must　clear　out。　　I　had　better
clear　out　of　Weimar；　too。〃

〃No；　I　don't　think　so；　I　have　no　right　to　pry　into　your　affairs；　but〃

〃Oh；　they're　wide　enough　open！〃

〃And　you　may　have　changed　your　mind。　　I　thought　you　might；　when　I　saw　you
yesterday　at　Belvedere〃

〃I　was　only　trying　to　make　bad　worse。〃

〃Then　I　think　the　situation　has　changed　entirely　through　what　Mr。　Stoller
said　to　Mr。　March。〃

〃I　can't　see　how　it　has。　　I　committed　an　act　of　shabby　treachery；　and　I'm
as　much　to　blame　as　if　he　still　wanted　to　punish　me　for　it。〃

〃Did　Mr。　March　say　that　to　you？〃

〃No；　I　said　that　to　Mr。　March；　and　he　couldn't　answer　it；　and　you　can't。
You're　very　good；　and　very　kind；　but　you　can't　answer　it。〃

〃I　can　answer　it　very　well；〃　she　boasted；　but　she　could　find　nothing
better　to　say　than；　〃It's　your　duty　to　her　to　see　her　and　let　her　know。〃

〃Doesn't　she　know　already？〃

〃She　has　a　right　to　know　it　from　you。　　I　think　you　are　morbid；　Mr。
Burnamy。　　You　know　very　well　I　didn't　like　your　doing　that　to　Mr。
Stoller。　　I　didn't　say　so　at　the　time；　because　you　seemed　to　feel　it
enough　yourself。　　But　I　did　like　your　owning　up　to　it；〃　and　here　Mrs。
March　thought　it　time　to　trot　out　her　borrowed　battle…horse　again。　　〃My
husband　always　says　that　if　a　person　owns　up　to　an　error；　fully　and
faithfully；　as　you've　always　done；　they　make　it　the　same　in　its
consequences　to　them　as　if　it　had　never　been　done。〃

〃Does　Mr。　March　say　that？〃　asked　Burnamy　with　a　relenting　smile。

〃Indeed　he　does！〃

Burnamy　hesitated；　then　he　asked；　gloomily　again：

〃And　what　about　the　consequences　to　the；　other　fellow？〃

〃A　woman；〃　said　Mrs。　March；　〃has　no　concern　with　them。　　And　besides；　I
think　you've　done　all　you　could　to　save　Mr。　Stoller　from　the
consequences。〃

〃I　haven't　done　anything。〃

〃No　matter。　　You　would　if　you　could。　　I　wonder；〃　she　broke　off；　to
prevent　his　persistence　at　a　point　where　her　nerves　were　beginning　to
give　way；　〃what　can　be　keeping　Mr。　March？〃

Nothing　much　more　important；　it　appeared　later；　than　the　pleasure　of
sauntering　through　the　streets　on　the　way　to　the　house　of　Schiller；　and
looking　at　the　pretty　children　going　to　school；　with　books　under　their
arms。　　It　was　the　day　for　the　schools　to　open　after　the　long　summer
vacation；　and　there　was　a　freshness　of　expectation　in　the　shining　faces
which；　if　it　could　not　light　up　his　own　graybeard　visage；　could　at　least
touch　his　heart：

When　he　reached　the　Schiller　house　he　found　that　it　was　really　not　the
Schiller　house；　but　the　Schiller　flat；　of　three　or　four　rooms；　one　flight
up；　whose　windows　look　out　upon　the　street　named