第 18 节
作者:浮游云中      更新:2021-02-24 23:06      字数:9322
  secretly he had always regarded his eldest daughter as the chosen vessel for
  their redemption。
  〃Well; I swan!〃 he exclaimed; staring at her in admiration and neglecting his
  pie; 〃I've always thought you had it in you to get on; Janet。  I guess I've
  told you you've always put me in mind of Eliza Bumpusthe one that held out
  against the Indians till her husband came back with the neighbours。  I was just
  reading about her again the other night。〃
  〃Yes; you've told us; Edward;〃 said Hannah。
  〃She had gumption;〃 he went on; undismayed。  〃And from what I can gather of her
  looks I calculate you favour hershe was dark and not so very tallnot so
  tall as you; I guess。  So you're goin'〃 (he pronounced it very slowly) 〃you're
  goin' to be Mr。 Ditmar's private stenographer!  He's a smart man; Mr。 Ditmar;
  he's a good man; too。  All you've got to do is to behave right by him。  He
  always speaks to me when he passes by the gate。  I was sorry for him when his
  wife dieda young woman; too。  And he's never married again!  Well; I swan!〃
  〃You'd better quit swanning;〃 exclaimed Hannah。  〃And what's Mr。 Ditmar's
  goodness got to do with it?  He's found…out Janet has sense; she's willing and
  hard working; he won't〃 (pronounced want) 〃he won't be the loser by it; and
  he's not giving her what he gave Miss Ottway。  It's just like you; thinking
  he's doing her a good turn。〃
  〃I'm not saying Janet isn't smart;〃 he protested; 〃but I know it's hard to get
  work with so many folks after every job。〃
  〃Maybe it ain't so hard when you've got some get…up and go;〃 Hannah retorted
  rather cruelly。  It was thus characteristically and with unintentional
  sharpness she expressed her maternal pride by a reflection not only upon
  Edward; but Lise also。  Janet had grown warm at the mention of Ditmar's name。
  〃It was Miss Ottway who recommended me;〃 she said; glancing at her sister; who
  during this conversation had sat in silence。  Lise's expression; normally
  suggestive of a discontent not unbecoming to her type; had grown almost sullen。
  Hannah's brisk gathering up of the dishes was suddenly arrested。
  〃Lise; why don't you say something to your sister?  Ain't you glad she's got
  the place?〃
  〃Sure; I'm glad;〃 said Lise; and began to unscrew the top of the salt shaker。
  〃I don't see why I couldn't get a raise; too。  I work just as hard as she
  does。〃
  Edward; who had never got a 〃raise〃 in his life; was smitten with compunction
  and sympathy。
  〃Give 'em time; Lise;〃 he said consolingly。  〃You ain't so old as Janet。〃
  〃Time!〃 she cried; flaring up and suddenly losing her control。  〃I've got a
  picture of Waiters giving me a raise I know the girls that get raises from
  him。〃
  〃You ought to be ashamed of yourself;〃 Hannah declared。  〃Thereyou've spilled
  the salt!〃
  But Lise; suddenly bursting into tears; got up and left the room。  Edward
  picked up the Banner and pretended to read it; while Janet collected the salt
  and put it back into the shaker。  Hannah; gathering up the rest of the dishes;
  disappeared into the kitchen; but presently returned; as though she had
  forgotten something。
  〃Hadn't you better go after her?〃 she said to Janet。
  〃I'm afraid it won't be any use。  She's got sort of queer; latelyshe thinks
  they're down on her。〃
  〃I'm sorry I spoke so sharp。  But then〃 Hannah shook her head; and her
  sentence remained unfinished。
  Janet sought her sister; but returned after a brief interval; with the news
  that Lise had gone out。
  One of the delights of friendship; as is well known; is the exchange of
  confidences of joy or sorrow; but there was; in Janet's promotion; something
  intensely personal to increase her natural reserve。  Her feelings toward Ditmar
  were so mingled as to defy analysis; and several days went by before she could
  bring herself to inform Eda Rawle of the new business relationship in which she
  stood to the agent of the Chippering Mill。  The sky was still bright as they
  walked out Warren Street after supper; Eda bewailing the trials of the day just
  ended: Mr。 Frye; the cashier of the bank; had had one of his cantankerous fits;
  had found fault with her punctuation; nothing she had done had pleased him。
  But presently; when they had come to what the Banner called the 〃residential
  district;〃 she was cheered by the sight of the green lawns; the flowerbeds and
  shrubbery; the mansions of those inhabitants of Hampton unfamiliar with
  boardinghouses and tenements。  Before one of these she paused; retaining Janet
  by the arm; exclaiming wistfully:
  〃Wouldn't you like to live there?  That belongs to your boss。〃
  Janet; who had been dreaming as she gazed at the fagade of rough stucco that
  once had sufficed to fill the ambitions of the late Mrs。 Ditmar; recognized it
  as soon as Eda spoke; and dragged her friend hastily; almost roughly along the
  sidewalk until they had reached the end of the block。  Janet was red。
  〃What's the matter?〃 demanded Eda; as soon as she had recovered from her
  surprise。
  〃Nothing;〃 said Janet。  〃OnlyI'm in his office。〃
  〃But what of it?  You've got a right to look at his house; haven't you?〃
  〃Why yes;a right;〃 Janet assented。  Knowing Eda's ambitions for her were not
  those of a business career; she was in terror lest her friend should scent a
  romance; and for this reason she had never spoken of the symptoms Ditmar had
  betrayed。  She attempted to convey to Eda the doubtful taste of staring point…
  blank at the house of one's employer; especially when he might be concealed
  behind a curtain。
  〃You see;〃 she added; 〃Miss Ottway's recommended me for her placeshe's going
  away。〃
  〃Janet!〃  cried Eda。  〃Why didn't you tell me?〃
  〃Well;〃 said Janet guiltily; 〃it's only a trial。  I don't know whether he'll
  keep me or not。〃
  〃Of course he'll keep you;〃 said Eda; warmly。  〃If that isn't just like you;
  not saying a word about it。  Gee; if I'd had a raise like that I just couldn't
  wait to tell you。  But then; I'm not smart like you。〃
  〃Don't be silly;〃 said Janet; out of humour with herself; and annoyed because
  she could not then appreciate Eda's generosity。
  〃We've just got to celebrate!〃 declared Eda; who had the gift; which Janet
  lacked; of taking her joys vicariously; and her romantic and somewhat medieval
  proclivities would permit no such momentous occasion to pass without an
  appropriate festal symbol。  〃We'll have a spree on Saturdaythe circus is
  coming then。〃
  〃It'll be my spree;〃 insisted Janet; her heart warming。  〃I've got the
  raise。。。。〃
  On Saturday; accordingly; they met at Grady's for lunch; Eda attired in her
  best blouse of pale blue; and when they emerged from the restaurant; despite
  the torrid heat; she beheld Faber Street as in holiday garb as they made their
  way to the cool recesses of Winterhalter's to complete the feast。  That
  glorified drug…store with the five bays included in its manifold functions a
  department rivalling Delmonico's; with electric fans and marble…topped tables
  and white…clad waiters who took one's order and filled it at the soda fountain。
  It mattered little to Eda that the young man awaiting their commands had
  pimples and long hair and grinned affectionately as he greeted them。
  〃Hello; girls!〃 he said。  〃What strikes you to…day?〃
  〃Me for a raspberry nut sundae;〃 announced Eda; and Janet; being unable to
  imagine any more delectable confection; assented。  The penetrating odour
  peculiar to drugstores; dominated by menthol and some unnamable but ancient
  remedy for catarrh; was powerless to interfere with their enjoyment。
  The circus began at two。  Rather than cling to the straps of a crowded car they
  chose to walk; following the familiar route of the trolley past the car barns
  and the base…ball park to the bare field under the seared face of Torrey's
  Hill; where circuses were wont to settle。  A sirocco…like breeze from the
  southwest whirled into eddies the clouds of germladen dust stirred up by the
  automobiles; blowing their skirts against their legs; and sometimes they were
  forced to turn; clinging to their hats; confused and giggling; conscious of
  male glances。  The crowd; increasing as they proceeded; was in holiday mood;
  young men with a newly…washed aspect; in Faber Street suits; chaffed
  boisterously groups of girls; who retorted with shrill cries and shrieks of
  laughter; amorous couples strolled; arm in arm; oblivious; as though the place
  were as empty as Eden; lady…killers with exaggerated square shoulders; wearing
  bright neckties; their predatory instincts alert; hovered about in eager search
  of adventure。  There were men…killers; too; usually to be found in pairs; in
  startling costumes they had been persuaded were the latest Paris models;
  imitations of French cocottes in Hampton; proof of the smallness of our modern
  world。  Eda regarded them superciliously。
  〃They'd like you to think they'd never been near a loom or a bobbin!〃  she
  exclaimed。
  In addition to these more conspicuous elements; the crowd contained sober
  operatives of the skilled sort possessed of sufficient means to bring hither
  their families; including the baby; there were section…hands and foremen;
  slashers; mule spinners; beamers; French…Canadians; Irish; Scotch; Welsh and
  English; Germans; with onl