the dwelling place of ligh-第68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！


something　on　her　mind；　and　if　this　is　so　she　should　get　rid　of　it；　tell
it　to　somebodyin　short；　tell　it　to　me。　　I　know　she's　fond　of　me；　but
she's　so　maddeningly　self…contained；　and　at　moments　when　I　look　at　her
she　baffles　me；　she　makes　me　feel　like　an　atom。　　Twenty　times　at　least
I've　almost　screwed　up　my　courage　to　ask　her；　but　when　it　comes　to　the
point；　I　simply　can't　do　it。〃

〃You　ought　to　be　able　to　get　at　it；　if　any　one　can；〃　said　Insall。

〃I've　a　notion　it　may　be　connected　with　the　strike；〃　Augusta　Maturin
continued。　　〃I　never　could　account　for　her　being　mixed　up　in　that；
plunging　into　Syndicalism。　　It　seemed　so　foreign　to　her　nature。　　I　wish
I'd　waited　a　little　longer　before　telling　her　about　the　strike；　but　one
day　she　asked　me　how　it　had　come　outand　she　seemed　to　be　getting　along
so　nicely　I　didn't　see　any　reason　for　not　telling　her。　　I　said　that　the
strike　was　over；　that　the　millowners　had　accepted　the　I。W。W。　terms；　but
that　Antonelli　and　Jastro　had　been　sent　to　jail　and　were　awaiting　trial
because　they　had　been　accused　of　instigating　the　murder　of　a　woman　who
was　shot　by　a　striker　aiming　at　a　policeman。　　It　seems　that　she　had　seen
that！　　She　told　me　so　quite　casually。　　But　she　was　interested；　and　I　went
on　to　mention　how　greatly　the　strikers　were　stirred　by　the　arrests；　how
they　paraded　in　front　of　the　jail；　singing；　and　how　the　feeling　was
mostly　directed　against　Mr。　Ditmar；　because　he　was　accused　of　instigating
the　placing　of　dynamite　in　the　tenements。〃

〃And　you　spoke　of　Mr。　Ditmar's　death？〃　Insall　inquired。

〃Why　yes；　I　told　her　how　he　had　been　shot　in　Dover　Street　by　a　demented
Italian；　and　if　it　hadn't　been　proved　that　the　Italian　was　insane　and　not
a　mill　worker；　the　result　of　the　strike　might　have　been　different。〃

〃How　did　she　take　it？〃

〃Well；　she　was　shocked；　of　course。　　She　sat　up　in　bed；　staring　at　me；　and
then　leaned　back　on　the　pillows　again。　　I　pretended　not　to　notice　itbut
I　was　sorry　I'd　said　anything　about　it。〃

〃She　didn't　say　anything？〃

〃Not　a　word。〃

〃Didn't　you　know　that；　before　the　strike；　she　was　Ditmar's　private
stenographer？〃

〃No！〃　Augusta　Maturin　exclaimed。　　〃Why　didn't　you　tell　me？〃

〃It　never　occurred　to　me　to　tell　you；〃　Insall　replied。

〃That　must　have　something　to　do　with　it！〃　said　Mrs。　Maturin。

Insall　got　up　and　walked　to　the　end　of　the　terrace；　gazing　at　a　bluebird
on　the　edge　of　the　lawn。

〃Well；　not　necessarily；〃　he　said；　after　a　while。　　〃Did　you　ever　find　out
anything　about　her　family？〃

〃Oh；　yes；　I　met　the　father　once；　he's　been　out　two　or　three　times；　on
Sunday；　and　came　over　here　to　thank　me　for　what　I'd　done。　　The　mother
doesn't　comeshe　has　some　trouble；　I　don't　know　exactly　what。　　Brooks；　I
wish　you　could　see　the　father；　he's　so　typically　uniqueif　one　may　use
the　expression。　　A　gatekeeper　at　the　Chipperiug　Mills！〃

〃A　gatekeeper？〃

〃Yes；　and　I'm　quite　sure　he　doesn't　understand　to　this　day　how　he　became
one；　or　why。　　He's　delightfully　naive　on　the　subject　of　genealogy；　and　I
had　the　Bumpus　family　by　heart　before　he　left。　　That's　the　form　his
remnant　of　the　intellectual　curiosity　of　his　ancestors　takes。　　He　was
born　in　Dolton；　which　was　settled　by　the　original　Bumpus；　back　in　the
Plymouth　Colony　days；　and　if　he　were　rich　he'd　have　a　library　stuffed
with　gritty；　yellow…backed　books　and　be　a　leading　light　in　the　Historical
Society。　　He　speaks　with　that　nicety　of　pronunciation　of　the　old　New
Englander；　never　slurring　his　syllables；　and　he　has　a　really　fine　face；
the　kind　of　face　one　doesn't　often　see　nowadays。　　I　kept　looking　at　it；
wondering　what　was　the　matter　with　it；　and　at　last　I　realized　what　it
lackedwill；　desire；　ambition；it　was　what　a　second…rate　sculptor　might
have　made　of　Bradford；　for　instance。　　But　there　is　a　remnant　of　fire　in
him。　　Once；　when　he　spoke　of　the　strike；　of　the　foreigners；　he　grew　quite
indignant。〃

〃He　didn't　tell　you　why　his　daughter　had　joined　the　strikers？〃　Insall
asked。

〃He　was　just　as　much　at　sea　about　that　as　you　and　I　are。　　Of　course　I
didn't　ask　himhe　asked　me　if　I　knew。　　It's　only　another　proof　of　her
amazing　reticence。　　And　I　can　imagine　an　utter　absence　of　sympathy
between　them。　　He　accounts　for　her；　of　course；　he's　probably　the
unconscious　transmitter　of　qualities　the　Puritans　possessed　and　tried　to
smother。　　Certainly　the　fires　are　alight　in　her；　and　yet　it's　almost
incredible　that　he　should　have　conveyed　them。　　Of　course　I　haven't　seen
the　mother。〃

〃It's　curious　he　didn't　mention　her　having　been　Ditmar's　stenographer；〃
Insall　put　in。　　〃Was　that　reticence？〃

〃I　hardly　think　so；〃　Augusta　Maturin　replied。　　〃It　may　have　been；　but　the
impression　I　got　was　of　an　incapacity　to　feel　the　present。　　All　his
emotions　are　in　the　past；　most　of　his　conversation　was　about　Bumpuses　who
are　dead　and　buried；　and　his　pride　in　Janetfor　he　has　a　prideseems　to
exist　because　she　is　their　representative。　　It's　extraordinary；　but　he
sees　her　present　situation；　her　future；　with　extraordinary　optimism；　he
apparently　regards　her　coming　to　Silliston；　even　in　the　condition　in
which　we　found　her；　as　a　piece　of　deserved　fortune　for　which　she　has　to
thank　some　virtue　inherited　from　her　ancestors！　　Well；　perhaps　he's
right。　　If　she　were　not　unique；　I　shouldn't　want　to　keep　her　here。　　It's
pure　selfishness。　　I　told　Mr。　Bumpus　I　expected　to　find　work　for　her。〃

Mrs。　Maturin　returned　Insall's　smile。　　〃I　suppose　you're　too　polite　to
say　that　I'm　carried　away　by　my　enthusiasms。　　But　you　will　at　least　do　me
the　justice　to　admit　that　they　are　rare　anddiscriminating；　as　a
connoisseur's　should　be。　　I　think　even　you　will　approve　of　her。〃

〃Oh；　I　have　approved　of　herthat's　the　trouble。〃

Mrs。　Maturin　regarded　him　for　a　moment　in　silence。

〃I　wish　you　could　have　seen　her　when　I　began　to　read　those　verses　of
Stevenson's。　　It　was　an　inspirations　your　thinking　of　them。〃

〃Did　I　think　of　them？〃

〃You　know　you　did。　　You　can't　escape　your　responsibility。　　Well；　I　felt
likelike　a　gambler；　as　though　I　were　staking　everything　on　a　throw。
And；　after　I　began；　as　if　I　were　playing　on　some　rare　instrument。　　She
lay　there；　listening；　without　uttering　a　word；　but　somehow　she　seemed　to
be　interpreting　them　for　me；　giving　them　a　meaning　and　a　beauty　I　hadn't
imagined。　　Another　time　I　told　her　about　Silliston；　and　how　this　little
community　for　over　a　century　and　a　half　had　tried　to　keep　its　standard
flying；　to　carry　on　the　work　begun　by　old　Andrew；　and　I　thought　of　those
lines；

　　　　　　　　　　　　　　〃Other　little　children
　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　Shall　bring　my　boats　ashore。'

That　particular　application　just　suddenly；　occurred　to　me；　but　she
inspired　it。〃

〃You're　a　born　schoolma'am；〃　Insall　laughed。

〃I'm　much　too　radical　for　a　schoohna'am；〃　she　declared。　　〃No　board　of
trustees　would　put　up　with　menot　even　Silliston's！　　We've　kept　the
faith；　but　we　do　move　slowly；　Brooks。　　Even　tradition　grows；　and
sometimes　our　blindness　here　to　changes；　to　modern；　scientific　facts；
fairly　maddens　me。　　I　read　her　that　poem　of　Moody'syou　know　it：

　　　　　　　　　　　　　　‘Here；　where　the　moors　stretch　free
　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　In　the　high　blue　afternoon；
　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　Are　the　marching　sun　and　the　talking　sea。'

and　those　last　lines：

　　　　　　　　　　　　　　‘But　thou；　vast　outbound　ship　of　souls；
　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　What　harbour　town　for　thee？
　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　What　shapes；　when　thy　arriving　tolls；
　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　Shall　crowd　the　banks　to　see？
　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　Shall　all　the　happy　shipmates　then
　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　Stand　singing　brotherly？
　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　Or　shall　a　haggard；　ruthless　few
　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　Warp　her　over　and　bring　her　to；
　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　While　the　many　broken　souls　of　me
　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　Fester　down　in　the　slaver's　pen；
　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　And　nothing　to　say　or　do？'

I　was　sorry　afterwards；　I　could　see　that　she　was　tremendously　excited。
And　she　made　me　feel　as　if　I；　too；　had　been　battened　down　in　that　hold
and　bruised　and　almost　strangled。　　I　often　wonder　whether　she　has　got　out
of　it　into　the　lightwhether　we　can　rescue　her。〃　　Mrs。　Maturin　paused。

〃What　do　you　mean？〃　　Insall　asked。

〃Well；　it's　difficult　to　describe；　what　I　feelshe's　such　a　perplexing
mixture　of　old　New　England　and　modernity；　of　a　fatalism；　and　an　aliveness
that　fairly　vibrates。　　At　first；　when　she　began　to　recover；　I　was
conscious　only　of　the　vitalitybut　lately　I　feel　the　other　quality。　　It
isn't　exactly　the　old　Puritan　fatalism；　or　even　the　Greek；　it's　oddly
modern；　too；　almost　agnostic；　I　should　say；a　calm　acceptance　of　the
hazards　of　life；　of　nature；　of　sun　and　rain　and　storm　alikevery
different　from　the　cheap　optimism　one　finds　everywhere　now。　　She　isn't
exactly　resignedI　don't　say　thatI　know　she　can　be　rebellious。　　And
she's　grateful　for　the　sun；　yet　she　seems　to　have　a　conviction　that　the
clouds　will　gather　again。。。。　　The　doctor　says　she　may　leave　the　hospital
on　Monday；　and　I'm　going　to　bring　her　over　here　for　awhile。　　Then；〃　she
added　insinuatingly；　〃we　can　collaborate。〃

〃I　think　I'll　go　back　to　Maine；〃　Insall　exclaimed。

〃If　you　desert　me；　I　shall　never　speak　to　you　again；〃　said　Mrs。　Maturin。

〃Janet；〃　said　Mrs。　Maturin　the　next　day；　as　she　laid　down　the　book　from
which　she　was　reading；　〃do　you　remember　that　I　spoke　to　you　once　in
Hampton　of　coming　here　to　Silliston？　　Well；　now　we've　got　you　here；　we
don't　want　to　lose　you。　　I've　been　making　inquiries；　quite　a　number　of
the　professors　have　typewriting　to　be　done；　and　they　will　be　glad　to　give
their　manuscripts　to　you　instead　of　sending　them　to　Boston。　　And　there's
Brooks　Insall　tooif　he　ever　takes　it　into　his　head　to　write　another
book。　　You　wouldn't　have　any　trouble　reading　his　manuscript；　it's　like
script。　　Of　course　it　has　to　be　copied。　　You　can　board　with　Mrs。　Case
I've　arranged　that；　too。　　But　on　Monday　I'm　going　to　take　you　to　my
house；　and　keep　you　until　you're　strong　enough　to　walk。〃

Janet's　eyes　were　suddenly　bright　with　tears。

〃You'll　stay？〃

〃I　can't；〃　answered　Janet。　　〃I　couldn't。〃

〃But　why　not？　　Have　you　any　other　plans？〃

〃No；　I　haven't　any　plans；　butI　haven't　the　right　to　stay　here。〃
Presently　she　raised　her　face　to　her　friend。　　〃Oh　Mrs。　Maturin；　I'm　so
sorry！　　I　didn't　want　to　bring　any　sadness　hereit's　all　so　bright　and
beautiful！　　And　now　I've　made　you　sad！〃

It　was　a　moment　before　Augusta　Maturin　could　answer　her。

〃What　are　friends　for；　Janet；〃　she　asked；　〃if　not　to　share　sorrow　with？
And　do　you　suppose　there's　any　place；　however　bright；　where　sorrow　has
not　come？　　Do　you　think　I've　not　known　it；　too？　　And　Janet；　I　haven't　sat
here　all　these　days　with　you　without　guessing　that　something　worries　you。
I've　been　waiting；　all　this　time；　for　you　to　tell　me；　in　order　that　I
might　help　you。〃

〃I　wanted　to；〃　said　Janet；　〃every　day　I　wanted　to；　but　I　couldn't。　　I
couldn't　bear　to　trouble　you　with　it；　I　didn't　mean　ever　to　tell　you。
And　thenit's　so　terrible；　I　don't　know　what　you'll　think。〃

〃I　think　I　know　you；　Janet；〃　answered　Mrs。　Maturin。　　〃Nothing　human；
nothing　natural　is　terrible；　in　the　sense　you　mean。　　At　least　I'm　one　of
those　who　believe　so。〃

Presently　Janet　said；　〃I'm　going　to　have　a　child。〃

Mrs。　Maturin　sat　very　still。　　Something　closed　in　her　throat；　preventing
her　immediate　reply。

〃I；　too；　had