the patagonia-第8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！



decanters　and　wine…glasses；　we　sat　down　to　whist；　Mrs。　Peck；　to

oblige；　taking　a　hand　in　the　game。　　She　played　very　badly　and　talked

too　much；　and　when　the　rubber　was　over　assuaged　her　discomfiture

（though　not　minewe　had　been　partners）　with　a　Welsh　rabbit　and　a

tumbler　of　something　hot。　　We　had　done　with　the　cards；　but　while　she

waited　for　this　refreshment　she　sat　with　her　elbows　on　the　table

shuffling　a　pack。



〃She　hasn't　spoken　to　me　yetshe　won't　do　it；〃　she　remarked　in　a

moment。



〃Is　it　possible　there's　any　one　on　the　ship　who　hasn't　spoken　to

you？〃



〃Not　that　girlshe　knows　too　well！〃　Mrs。　Peck　looked　round　our

little　circle　with　a　smile　of　intelligenceshe　had　familiar

communicative　eyes。　　Several　of　our　company　had　assembled；　according

to　the　wont；　the　last　thing　in　the　evening；　of　those　who　are　cheerful

at　sea；　for　the　consumption　of　grilled　sardines　and　devilled　bones。



〃What　then　does　she　know？〃



〃Oh　she　knows　_I_　know。〃



〃Well；　we　know　what　Mrs。　Peck　knows；〃　one　of　the　ladies　of　the　group

observed　to　me　with　an　air　of　privilege。



〃Well；　you　wouldn't　know　if　I　hadn't　told　youfrom　the　way　she

acts；〃　said　our　friend　with　a　laugh　of　small　charm。



〃She's　going　out　to　a　gentleman　who　lives　over　therehe's　waiting

there　to　marry　her；〃　the　other　lady　went　on；　in　the　tone　of　authentic

information。　　I　remember　that　her　name　was　Mrs。　Gotch　and　that　her

mouth　looked　always　as　if　she　were　whistling。



〃Oh　he　knowsI've　told　him；〃　said　Mrs。　Peck。



〃Well；　I　presume　every　one　knows；〃　Mrs。　Gotch　contributed。



〃Dear　madam；　is　it　every　one's　business？〃　I　asked。



〃Why；　don't　you　think　it's　a　peculiar　way　to　act？〃and　Mrs。　Gotch

was　evidently　surprised　at　my　little　protest。



〃Why　it's　right　therestraight　in　front　of　you；　like　a　play　at　the

theatreas　if　you　had　paid　to　see　it；〃　said　Mrs。　Peck。　　〃If　you

don't　call　it　public！〃



〃Aren't　you　mixing　things　up？　　What　do　you　call　public？〃



〃Why　the　way　they　go　on。　　They're　up　there　now。〃



〃They　cuddle　up　there　half　the　night；〃　said　Mrs。　Gotch。　　〃I　don't

know　when　they　come　down。　　Any　hour　they　like。　　When　all　the　lights

are　out　they're　up　there　still。〃



〃Oh　you　can't　tire　them　out。　　They　don't　want　relieflike　the　ship's

watch！〃　laughed　one　of　the　gentlemen。



〃Well；　if　they　enjoy　each　other's　society　what's　the　harm？〃　another

asked。　　〃They'd　do　just　the　same　on　land。〃




〃They　wouldn't　do　it　on　the　public　streets；　I　presume；〃　said　Mrs。

Peck。　　〃And　they　wouldn't　do　it　if　Mr。　Porterfield　was　round！〃



〃Isn't　that　just　where　your　confusion　comes　in？〃　I　made　answer。

〃It's　public　enough　that　Miss　Mavis　and　Mr。　Nettlepoint　are　always

together；　but　it　isn't　in　the　least　public　that　she's　going　to　be

married。〃



〃Why　how　can　you　saywhen　the　very　sailors　know　it！　　The　Captain

knows　it　and　all　the　officers　know　it。　　They　see　them　there；

especially　at　night；　when　they're　sailing　the　ship。〃



〃I　thought　there　was　some　rule！〃　submitted　Mrs。　Gotch。



〃Well；　there　isthat　you've　got　to　behave　yourself；〃　Mrs。　Peck

explained。　　〃So　the　Captain　told　mehe　said　they　have　some　rule。　　He

said　they　have　to　have；　when　people　are　too　undignified。〃



〃Is　that　the　term　he　used？〃　I　inquired。



〃Well；　he　may　have　said　when　they　attract　too　much　attention。〃



I　ventured　to　discriminate。　　〃It's　we　who　attract　the　attentionby

talking　about　what　doesn't　concern　us　and　about　what　we　really　don't

know。〃




〃She　said　the　Captain　said　he'd　tell　on　her　as　soon　as　ever　we

arrive；〃　Mrs。　Gotch　none　the　less　serenely　pursued。



〃SHE　said？〃　I　repeated；　bewildered。



〃Well；　he　did　say　so；　that　he'd　think　it　his　duty　to　inform　Mr。

Porterfield　when　he　comes　on　to　meet　herif　they　keep　it　up　in　the

same　way；〃　said　Mrs。　Peck。



〃Oh　they'll　keep　it　up；　don't　you　fear！〃　one　of　the　gentlemen

exclaimed。



〃Dear　madam；　the　Captain's　having　his　joke　on　you；〃　was；　however；　my

own　congruous　reply。



〃No；　he　ain'the's　right　down　scandalised。　　He　says　he　regards　us

all　as　a　real　family　and　wants　the　family　not　to　be　downright

coarse。〃　　I　felt　Mrs。　Peck　irritated　by　my　controversial　tone：　　she

challenged　me　with　considerable　spirit。　　〃How　can　you　say　I　don't

know　it　when　all　the　street　knows　it　and　has　known　it　for　yearsfor

years　and　years？〃　　She　spoke　as　if　the　girl　had　been　engaged　at　least

for　twenty。　　〃What's　she　going　out　for　if　not　to　marry　him？〃



〃Perhaps　she's　going　to　see　how　he　looks；〃　suggested　one　of　the

gentlemen。



〃He'd　look　queerif　he　knew。〃



〃Well；　I　guess　he'll　know；〃　said　Mrs。　Gotch。



〃She'd　tell　him　herselfshe　wouldn't　be　afraid；〃　the　gentleman　went

on。



〃Well　she　might　as　well　kill　him。　　He'll　jump　overboard；〃　Mrs。　Peck

could　foretell。



〃Jump　overboard？〃　cried　Mrs。　Gotch　as　if　she　hoped　then　that　Mr。

Porterfield　would　be　told。



〃He　has　just　been　waiting　for　thisfor　long；　long　years；〃　said　Mrs。

Peck。



〃Do　you　happen　to　know　him？〃　I　asked。



She　replied　at　her　convenience。　　〃No；　but　I　know　a　lady　who　does。

Are　you　going　up？〃



I　had　risen　from　my　placeI　had　not　ordered　supper。　　〃I'm　going　to

take　a　turn　before　going　to　bed。〃



〃Well　then　you'll　see！〃



Outside　the　saloon　I　hesitated；　for　Mrs。　Peck's　admonition　made　me

feel　for　a　moment　that　if　I　went　up　I　should　have　entered　in　a　manner

into　her　little　conspiracy。　　But　the　night　was　so　warm　and　splendid

that　I　had　been　intending　to　smoke　a　cigar　in　the　air　before　going

below；　and　I　didn't　see　why　I　should　deprive　myself　of　this　pleasure

in　order　to　seem　not　to　mind　Mrs。　Peck。　　I　mounted　accordingly　and

saw　a　few　figures　sitting　or　moving　about　in　the　darkness。　　The　ocean

looked　black　and　small；　as　it　is　apt　to　do　at　night；　and　the　long

mass　of　the　ship；　with　its　vague　dim　wings；　seemed　to　take　up　a　great

part　of　it。　　There　were　more　stars　than　one　saw　on　land　and　the

heavens　struck　one　more　than　ever　as　larger　than　the　earth。　　Grace

Mavis　and　her　companion　were　not；　so　far　as　I　perceived　at　first；

among　the　few　passengers　who　lingered　late；　and　I　was　glad；　because　I

hated　to　hear　her　talked　about　in　the　manner　of　the　gossips　I　had

left　at　supper。　　I　wished　there　had　been　some　way　to　prevent　it；　but

I　could　think　of　none　but　to　recommend　her　privately　to　reconsider

her　rule　of　discretion。　　That　would　be　a　very　delicate　business；　and

perhaps　it　would　be　better　to　begin　with　Jasper；　though　that　would　be

delicate　too。　　At　any　rate　one　might　let　him　know；　in　a　friendly

spirit；　to　how　much　remark　he　exposed　the　young　ladyleaving　this

revelation　to　work　its　way　upon　him。　　Unfortunately　I　couldn't

altogether　believe　that　the　pair　were　unconscious　of　the　observation

and　the　opinion　of　the　passengers。　　They　weren't　boy　and　girl；　they

had　a　certain　social　perspective　in　their　eye。　　I　was　meanwhile　at

any　rate　in　no　possession　of　the　details　of　that　behaviour　which　had

made　themaccording　to　the　version　of　my　good　friends　in　the　saloon…

…a　scandal　to　the　ship；　for　though　I　had　taken　due　note　of　them；　as

will　already　have　been　gathered；　I　had　taken　really　no　such

ferocious；　or　at　least　such　competent；　note　as　Mrs。　Peck。

Nevertheless　the　probability　was　that　they　knew　what　was　thought　of

themwhat　naturally　would　beand　simply　didn't　care。　　That　made　our

heroine　out　rather　perverse　and　even　rather　shameless；　and　yet

somehow　if　these　were　her　leanings　I　didn't　dislike　her　for　them。　　I

don't　know　what　strange　secret　excuses　I　found　for　her。　　I　presently

indeed　encountered；　on　the　spot；　a　need　for　any　I　might　have　at　call；

since；　just　as　I　was　on　the　point　of　going　below　again；　after　several

restless　turns　andwithin　the　limit　where　smoking　was　allowedas

many　puffs　at　a　cigar　as　I　cared　for；　I　became　aware　of　a　couple　of

figures　settled　together　behind　one　of　the　lifeboats　that　rested　on

the　deck。　　They　were　so　placed　as　to　be　visible　only　to　a　person

going　close　to　the　rail　and　peering　a　little　sidewise。　　I　don't　think

I　peered；　but　as　I　stood　a　moment　beside　the　rail　my　eye　was

attracted　by　a　dusky　object　that　protruded　beyond　the　boat　and　that　I

saw　at　a　second　glance　to　be　the　tail　of　a　lady's　dress。　　I　bent

forward　an　instant；　but　even　then　I　saw　very　little　more；　that

scarcely　mattered　however；　as　I　easily　concluded　that　the　persons

tucked　away　in　so　snug　a　corner　were　Jasper　Nettlepoint　and　Mr。

Porterfield's　intended。　　Tucked　away　was　the　odious　right　expression；

and　I　deplored　the　fact　so　betrayed　for　the　pitiful　bad　taste　in　it。

I　immediately　turned　away；　and　the　next　moment　found　myself　face　to

face　with　our　vessel's　skipper。　　I　had　already　had　some　conversation

with　himhe　had　been　so　good　as　to　invite　me；　as　he　had　invited　Mrs。

Nettlepoint　and　her　son　and　the　young　lady　travelling　with　them；　and

also　Mrs。　Peck；　to　sit　at　his　tableand　had　observed　with　pleasure

that　his　seamanship　had　the　grace；　not　universal　on　the　Atlantic

liners；　of　a　fine…weather　manner。



〃They　don't　waste　much　timeyour　friends　in　there；〃　he　said；　nodding

in　the　direction　in　which　he　had　seen　me　looking。



〃Ah　well；　they　haven't　much　to　lose。〃



〃That's　what　I　mean。　　I'm　told　SHE　hasn't。〃



I　wanted　to　say　something　exculpatory；　but　scarcely　knew　what　note　to

strike。　　I　could　only　look　vaguely　about　me　at　the　starry　darkness

and　the　sea　that　seemed　to　sleep。　　〃Well；　with　these　splendid　nights

and　this　perfect　air　people　are　beguiled　into　late　hours。〃



〃Yes；　we　want　a　bit　of　a　blow；〃　the　Captain　said。



I　demurred。　　〃How　much　of　one？〃



〃Enough　to　clear　the　decks！〃



He　was　after　all　rather　dry　and　he　went　about　his　business。　　He　had

made　me　uneasy；　and　instead　of　going　below　I　took　a　few　turns　more。

The　other　walkers　dropped　off　pair　by　pairthey　were　all　mentill

at　last　I　was　alone。　　Then　after　a　little　I　quitted　the　field。

Jasper　and　his　companion　were　still　behind　their　lifeboat。

Personally　I　greatly　preferred　our　actual　conditions；　but　as　I　went

down　I　found　myself　vaguely　wishing；　in　the　interest　of　I　scarcely

knew　what；　unless　it　had　been　a　mere　superstitious　delicacy；　that　we

might　have　half　a　gale。



Miss　Mavis　turned　out；　in　sea…phrase；　early；　for　the　next　morning　I

saw　her　come　up　only　a　short　time　after　I　had　finished　my　breakfast；

a　ceremony　over　which　I　contrived　not　to　dawdle。　　She　was　alone　and

Jasper　Nettlepoint；　by　a　rare　accident；　was　not　on　deck　to　help　her。

I　went　to　meet　hershe　was　encumbered　as　usual　with　her　shawl；　her

sun…umbrella　and　a　bookand　laid　my　hands　on　her　chair；　placing　it

near　the　stern　of　the　ship；　where　she　liked　best　to　be。　　But　I

proposed　to　her　to　walk　a　little　before　she　sat　down；　and　she　took　my

arm　after　I　had　put　her　accessories　into　the　chair。　　The　deck　was

clear　at　that　hour　and　the　morning　light　gay；　one　had　an　extravagant

sense　of　good　omens　and　propitious　airs。　　I　forget　what　we　spoke　of

first；　but　it　was　because　I　felt　these　things　p