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！
At the end of that time Orde could not conceal from himself that the
strain was beginning to tell。 Carroll's worried expression grew
from day to day； while the animation that characterised her manner
when freed from the restraint became more and more forced。 She was
as though dominated by some inner tensity； which she dared not relax
even for a moment。 To Orde's questionings she replied as evasively
as she could； assuring him always that matters were going as well as
she had expected； that mother was very difficult； that Orde must
have patience； for things would surely come all right。 She begged
him to remain quiescent until she gave him the word； and she
implored it so earnestly that Orde； though he chafed； was forced to
await the turn of events。 Every afternoon she met him； from two to
five。 The situation gave little opportunity for lovers'
demonstrations。 She seemed entirely absorbed by the inner stress of
the struggle she was going through； so that hardly did she seem able
to follow coherently even plans for the future。 She appeared；
however； to gain a mysterious refreshment from Orde's mere
proximity； so gradually he； with that streak of almost feminine
intuition which is the especial gift to lovers； came to the point of
sitting quite silent with her； clasping her hand out of sight of the
chance passer…by。 When the time came to return； they arose and
walked back to Ninth Street； still in silence。 At the door they
said good…bye。 He kissed her quite soberly。
〃I wish I could help； sweetheart；〃 said he。
She shook her head at him。
〃You do help；〃 she replied。
From Gerald at the club； Orde sought more intimate news of what was
going on。 For several days； however； the young man absented himself
from his usual haunts。 It was only at the end of the week that Orde
succeeded in finding him。
〃No；〃 Gerald answered his greeting； 〃I haven't been around much。
I've been sticking pretty close home。〃
Little by little； Orde's eager questions drew out the truth of the
situation。 Mrs。 Bishop had shut herself up in a blind and
incredible obstinacy； whence she sallied with floods of complaints；
tears； accusations； despairs； reproaches； vows； hystericsall the
battery of the woman misunderstood； but in which she refused to
listen to a consecutive conversation。 If Carroll undertook to say
anything； the third word would start her mother off into one of her
long and hysterical tirades。 It was very wearing； and there seemed
to be nothing gained from day to day。 Her child had disobeyed her。
And as a climax； she had assumed the impregnable position of a
complete prostration； wherein she demanded the minute care of an
invalid in the crisis of a disorder。 She could bear no faintest ray
of illumination； no lightest footfall。 In a hushed twilight she
lay； her eyes swathed； moaning feebly that her early dissolution at
the hands of ingratitude was imminent。 Thus she established a
deadlock which was likely to continue indefinitely。 The mere
mention of the subject nearest Carroll's heart brought the feeble
complaint：
〃Do you want to kill me？〃
The only scrap of victory to be snatched from this stricken field
was the fact that Carroll insisted on going to meet her lover every
afternoon。 The invalid demanded every moment of her time； either
for personal attendance or in fulfilment of numerous and exacting
church duties。 An attempt； however； to encroach thus on the
afternoon hours met a stone wall of resolution on Carroll's part。
This was the situation Orde gathered from his talk with Gerald。
Though he fretted under the tyranny exacted； he could see nothing
which could relieve the situation save his own withdrawal。 He had
already long over…stayed his visit； important affairs connected with
his work demanded his attention； he had the comfort of Carroll's
love assured； and the lapse of time alone could be depended on to
change Mrs。 Bishop's attitude； a consummation on which Carroll
seemed set。 Although Orde felt all the lively dissatisfaction
natural to a newly accepted lover who had gained slight opportunity
for favours； for confidences； even for the making of plans；
nevertheless he could see for the present nothing else to do。
The morning after he had reached this conclusion he again met Gerald
at the gymnasium。 That young man； while as imperturbable and
languid in movement as ever； concealed an excitement。 He explained
nothing until the two； after a shower and rub…down； were clothing
themselves leisurely in the empty couch…room。
〃Orde；〃 said Gerald suddenly； 〃I'm worried about Carroll。〃
Orde straightened his back and looked steadily at Gerald； but said
nothing。
〃Mother has commenced bothering her again。 It wasn't so bad as long
as she stuck to daytime； but now she's taken to prowling in a dozen
times a night。 I hear their voices for an hour or so at a time。
I'm afraid it's beginning to wear on Carroll more than you realise。〃
〃Thank you；〃 said Orde briefly。
That afternoon with Carroll he took the affair firmly in hand。
〃This thing has come to the point where it must stop；〃 said he； 〃and
I'm going to stop it。 I have some rights in the matter of the
health and comfort of the girl I love。〃
〃What do you intend to do？〃 asked Carroll； frightened。
〃I shall have it out with your mother；〃 replied Orde。
〃You mustn't do that；〃 implored Carroll。 〃It would do absolutely no
good； and would just result in a quarrel that could never be patched
up。〃
〃I don't know as I care particularly；〃 said Orde。
〃But I do。 Thinkshe is my mother。〃
Orde stirred uneasily with a mental reservation as to selfishness；
but said nothing。
〃And think what it means to a girl to be married and go away from
home finally without her parent's consent。 It's the most beautiful
and sacred thing in her life； and she wants it to be perfect。 It's
worth waiting and fighting a little for。 After all； we are both
young； and we have known each other such a very short time。〃
So she pleaded with him； bringing forward all the unanswerable
arguments built by the long average experience of the world
arguments which Orde could not refute； but whose falsity to the
situation he felt most keenly。 He could not specify without
betraying Gerald's confidence。 Raging inwardly； he consented to a
further armistice。
At his hotel he found a telegram。 He did not open it until he had
reached his own room。 It was from home； urging his immediate return
for the acceptance of some contracted work。
〃To hell with the contracted work！〃 he muttered savagely； and
calling a bell…boy； sent an answer very much to that effect。 Then
he plunged his hands into his pockets； stretched out his legs； and
fell into a deep and gloomy meditation。
He was interrupted by a knock on the door。
〃Come in！〃 he called； without turning his head。
He heard the door open and shut。 After a moment he looked around。
Kendrick Bishop stood watching him。
Orde lit the gas。
〃Hello； Kendrick！〃 said he。 〃Sit down。〃 The boy made no reply。
Orde looked at him curiously； and saw that he was suffering from an
intense excitement。 His frame trembled convulsively； his lips were
white； his face went red and pale by turns。 Evidently he had
something to say； but could not yet trust his voice。 Orde sat down
and waited。
〃You've got to let my mother alone；〃 he managed to say finally。
〃I have done nothing to your mother； Kendrick；〃 said Orde kindly。
〃You've brought her to the point of death；〃 asserted Keudrick
violently。 〃You're hounding her to her grave。 You're turning those
she loves best against her。〃
Orde thought to catch the echo of quotation in these words。
〃Did your mother send you to me？〃 he asked。
〃If we had any one else worth the name of man in the family； I
wouldn't have to come；〃 said Kendrick； almost in the manner of one
repeating a lesson。
〃What do you want me to do？〃 asked Orde after a moment of thought。
〃Go away；〃 cried Kendrick。 〃Stop this unmanly contest against a
defenceless woman。〃
〃I cannot do that；〃 replied Orde quietly。
Kendrick's face assumed a livid pallor； and his eyes seemed to turn
black with excitement。 Trembling in every limb； but without
hesitation； he advanced on Orde； drew a short riding…whip from
beneath his coat； and slashed the young man across the face。 Orde
made an involuntary movement to arise； but sank back； and looked
steadily at the boy。 Once again Kendrick hit； raised his arm for
the third time； hesitated。 His lips writhed； and then； with a sob；
he cast the little whip from him and burst from the room。
Orde sat without moving； while two red lines slowly defined
themselves across his face。 The theatrical quality