“I’ll give up,” he said. “There is something supernatural about it!”
“No,” I replied, trying to quote from him, “there is always some logical and sane2 explanation of things of this sort. You see, I put it there.”
He said, “You little devil!” and then he smiled unwillingly3. “Think you’re funny, don’t you?” he continued.
I said I hoped so, for I was trying to be, and then I told him why I had deceived him; about Mr. Bilkins, and how, if he were not around, there would be no one to smooth things if they were rough. And I added that I couldn’t possibly spare him, that anxiety would have kept me awake all that night, and that I was sorry I fibbed.
“You’re forgiven,” he answered. “I like the story--especially the last part. . . . But--what gets me is the fact that I put off seeing a detective until this morning, when last night might have got the chap.”
“S. K.,” I said loudly, “I beg you not to get one, because that note said that if I told I’d be hurt. If you have the slightest regard for my feelings, you will do nothing, and let events care for themselves. In fact, I forbid your doing so, and it is, after all, my matter.” I ended this coolly and as if I meant it. Then I stood up, rubbed my hand across my forehead, and said: “I’ve got to get out in the fresh air. Can’t we motor?”
He said we could, and he was very baffled and upset by my manner, which was not natural.
“You’re upset by this,” he said, as he buttoned my coat for me, “and I simply won’t have it. You shan’t be made nervous and jumpy, and I----”
“You will not do anything I ask you not to, I presume?” I questioned, turning to him.
“But Nat----” he protested.
“S. K.,” I said, “if you do, it will end our friendship--that is all.”
He said, “Well, I’ll be darned!” and followed me out. S. K.’s man was in the hall dusting some old brasses4 that S. K. had picked up in the little hill towns of Italy, and I was not surprised. S. K. was annoyed, for he likes the work of his establishment to go on when no one is around.
In the outer hall I paused. I said I wanted a drink, and we went in again. Debson wasn’t in the hall, and I wouldn’t let S. K. ring. “I’ll go to the kitchen----” I said, and, as he protested, I ran out. Ito was there, talking to Debson. I was not surprised at that either.
Then I went back, and we went driving.
“I didn’t mean to speak that way, but I had to,” I explained after we started. “You see, your man was listening. I found Ito in the kitchen, and both Debson and Ito wear duds that come from Rogers Peet, and last week I went in there and matched the sample, and it came from one of their suits. . . . It was quite easy to match, for it has a purple cast and the weave is unusually tight.”
“Ito!” said S. K.
“Possibly,” I replied, “but I don’t believe it. . . . You engaged this man just after I was so annoyed and troubled by being followed, and when I saw the blind man so often. That ceased, and someone began to creep in my room--get in somehow--at night.”
“I will never forgive myself----” said S. K., through set teeth.
“Don’t worry; it’s over,” I answered. “All we have to do now is to arrange to bag him or them, and that ought to be simple. If I go in with you, when we return, and tell you where I am going to hide it to-night, we’ll catch him, she, or them; I know it!”
S. K. thought it was a good idea, but we stopped to see a man who is noted5 for solving crimes and finding who did them. In his office we made all plans, and then we started on.
“Better have lunch with me,” said S. K., and then, for the first time, I remembered Willy. S. K. was not pleased to hear that he had come. He acted quite peevish6, and I was surprised.
“Why does he come here?” he asked. “Lots of good Southern colleges. All you people are always talking about the supremacy7 of the South, and then you lope off and leave it----”
“But if I hadn’t----” I put in.
“That,” he said sharply, “is quite different. Don’t be silly, Nat. . . . How old is this young pup?”
I told him.
“And I suppose very handsome?” he questioned further.
I admitted it.
“And has already asked you to marry him? . . . Should be locked up. . . . Like to thrash him!”
“Why, S. K.,” I protested. “I don’t think you’re nice. I’m very fond of Willy!” And for two blocks we didn’t say a word.
“Can’t you see,” he explained after that long silence, “that no man has any right to bother a youngster, or ask her to marry him, no matter how much he wants to, until she’s past the doll’s stage? . . . Here you are, having tea in the nursery, and he butts8 in where angels would bare their heads, and says you can ‘have him,’ if I recollect9 correctly. ‘Have him!’ My heavens!”
I was mad. I have not played dolls for years, and I never had tea in the nursery, because we hadn’t any; I always ate with Uncle Frank. I maintained a frigid10 silence. And then I made talk, deliberately11 manufactured the article on coldly impersonal12 lines, while S. K. glared ahead and answered in monosyllables.
“I believe that there is a tablet on the wall of one of the buildings of Columbia, which asserts that the Battle of Harlem Heights was enacted13 on that spot,” I said. “I’d like to see it.”
“No doubt,” said S. K.
I didn’t know what he meant by that, but he meant something, for his tone was full of implications.
“Perhaps Willy will take me down,” I went on.
“Possibly,” said S. K. dryly.
“He admires Hamilton,” I continued, “and I must take him to the Metropolitan14 to see that portrait that was painted by Trumbull. What made Burr challenge Hamilton?”
“Really?” I said.
“What year did Burr kill Alexander Hamilton?” I questioned further.
“1804.”
“Why,” I exclaimed, “that was the year the Jumels were married. Wasn’t that strange--I mean, considering that she married Aaron Burr later?”
“Yes.”
“It was a terrible thing for Burr to do, wasn’t it?” I said, and then I added that I was glad duelling had gone out of style and wasn’t allowed any more.
“If some of to-day’s politicians would shoot each other,” said S. K., “it would be a great thing for the country, and I don’t see how they could hit the wrong man.”
That was the longest speech he made all the way home. Something had made him very cross and pessimistic. I gave up trying to make talk and absorbed and made use of the prevailing17 silence. That worried S. K., who, I think, didn’t want to share the silence that he was using for an umbrella to cover his grouch18. He looked at me several times as we whirled upstairs, but I pretended I was completely absorbed in the little iron plack that says the elevator is inspected by inspectors19 every two weeks. But of course I was not deeply interested in it, having almost learned it by heart when riding in the elevator with people at whom I didn’t want to stare.
In S. K.’s apartment we began to disagree about getting a detective once more, for that was the plan. S. K. really did it well. He walked up and down, using his cane20 very heavily, and once and again almost thumping21 with it.
“But I tell you, Nat,” he shouted, “this has got to be stopped!”
“Let it go a day or so, S. K.,” I pleaded. “I ask only that--and then, if things don’t calm, you may do as you like. . . . But--because of that note I beg that you let it go for a couple of days, anyway. Please, S. K.!” I entreated23, and really I made my voice shake.
After ten minutes of my nervous insistence24 he gave in. Then he sat down on the arm of a chair which faced me, and said: “Where are you going to put it to-night?”
“I don’t know,” I answered. “But I’ll hide it somewhere. There are plenty of places, and I’m not afraid. I thought perhaps I’d slip out the bottom drawer of the tall high-boy and put it on the floor, under that.”
“I thought not,” I agreed complacently26.
Then he rang for Debson, and he came in and told us what he had heard in the night. And he did it well. I wondered whether I was all wrong, as I looked at him and heard his explanations. Then I thought of Jane’s confusion and the extreme doubt about anyone’s icing beer. The whole thing was confusing.
After that, I went off. I asked S. K. not to bother to come up with me, and I did it coldly, for he had been unpleasant. But he came.
“What was the matter?” I asked, as we waited for the door to open. He didn’t fence. He is always honest.
“I’ve been fiendishly cross, haven’t I?” he questioned, instead of answering.
“Not fiendishly cross,” I said, “but sulky.” And I went on to say that I cared too much for him to ever purposely hurt him, and that if I had I was sorry.
“Will you forgive me, Nat?” he asked stiffly.
“There’s nothing to forgive,” I said, “but I hate having you not like me.”
“Not like you?” he echoed. “Not like you!” And then he laughed, but not very happily. But I didn’t know what had troubled him until later.
When I got in I found that Willy had gone and Amy was telling Aunt Penelope how nice he was. Evelyn was a little amused at Amy’s description, but that didn’t bother Amy. She raved27 on in the most elaborate way.
“He must have been a dear little boy,” she said sentimentally28.
“He wasn’t,” I responded truthfully. “He always had three teeth out and his pockets full of frogs’ legs and garter snakes.”
Then I went to the door, closed it, asked them to be quiet and not to let out any surprised exclamations31. After which I told them what had happened and what was to happen.
Aunt Penelope had been gluing numbers on records, and had kept a firm clutch on one of these. “Be calm, girls,” she warned, as I finished; “we must be calm!” And then she tried to blow her nose on the record and fan herself with the handkerchief which she held in her other hand. Amy kept looking back of her as if she expected someone to steal up and thump22 her at any moment, and Evelyn tried to darn the darning-egg, while the stocking which should have been over it lay at her feet.
“And the plan?” said Aunt Penelope, as she carefully put the paste-brush in the ink.
“The plan,” I said, “is to be worked out this evening. Two gentlemen, Mr. Grange and Mr. Thompson (business friends of Uncle Archie, for Ito’s benefit), are coming up to play cards. We will play in here--until something happens; an absorbing game will keep anyone up, you know, and I am to stuff a bolster32 for my bed.”
“Oh, isn’t this thrilling?” said Amy. “And to think that all this has been going on and no one knew it. . . . What was that?”
“My darning-egg,” responded Evelyn with a glare toward Amy, “and if you can tell me why you have to shout and scare everyone out of their senses when anything drops---- Mother, do you realize that you are putting ‘The New Republic’ among the Galli Curci records? . . . I see you have it neatly33 numbered.”
“So I have,” said Aunt Penelope, “but be calm, Evelyn, be calm. We must all be calm! Here, dear,” and she handed Evelyn an incense-burner, under the impression that it was her darning-egg. They were excited.
Then I warned them about showing disquiet34, after which I opened the door. Ito was on his knees, picking up rose petals35 from the floor. The table on which the vase of them had stood was by the library door. I wondered. Anything like that made speculation36.
“What are you doing here, Ito?” asked aunt. He opened his hand and showed her the result of his labours.
“To be sure!” she said, looking nervously37 behind her, and then, lunch being on, we went out and pretended to eat. Amy said she had asked Willy to come back that evening. I was glad, for Uncle Frank was to go at seven something, and Willy, as a piece of home, would help over his leaving and the coming strain.
“Herbert will be here,” said Evelyn when Ito was in the kitchen and we were alone. Then she looked at the centre-piece with a sort of moony expression that made her look half-witted. You could see that it was true love.
“He always is,” said Amy. Then she spilled salt and had about ten thousand spasms38. “Bad luck,” she said. “Oh, dear!”
“A nonsensical superstition39!” said Aunt Penelope sharply, “but throw it over your shoulder. Amy, if you kick the table again you may go to your room!”
Then the telephone rang, and aunt pretended it was Uncle Archie. “Your father says some friends of his are coming up to play cards,” she announced as she returned. “He suggested that we ask Mr. Kempwood to make a fourth.”
“When?” Evelyn asked.
“After dinner,” replied Aunt Penelope, as she settled. Ito had heard, and after he left the room we heard voices from the kitchen. The door swung; I heard Jane’s voice very clearly, and it said: “To-night?”
Somehow we got through the afternoon, but not happily. Everyone jerked and jumped and said, “Did you hear that? What was it?” if a hair as much as stirred. Amy said she would feel much better when Willy came in, and Evelyn said: “I wish Herbert would hurry!”
I dressed at seven, and after I’d got along to the hair-doing stage, ran up my shade and my window a little way, as if I felt that the room was close. Then, after looking around, I put my bracelet40 under the bottom drawer of the tall high-boy. And after I did so I heard the tiniest noise on the balcony.
Then I slipped from my kimono, put on my frock, hooked it, closed my window, and left. Dinner was a very exciting affair, but it didn’t compare with the developments of the later evening. Those--oh, my! Again I need that word that hasn’t yet been made--the one that means fear in all its various forms. Everyone was frightened, even the detectives; I know it.
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收听单词发音
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1
gasped
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| v.喘气( gasp的过去式和过去分词 )；喘息；倒抽气；很想要 | |
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sane
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| adj.心智健全的，神志清醒的，明智的，稳健的 | |
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unwillingly
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| adv.不情愿地 | |
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brasses
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| n.黄铜( brass的名词复数 )；铜管乐器；钱；黄铜饰品（尤指马挽具上的黄铜圆片） | |
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5
noted
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| adj.著名的，知名的 | |
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peevish
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| adj.易怒的，坏脾气的 | |
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supremacy
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| n.至上；至高权力 | |
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8
butts
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| 笑柄( butt的名词复数 )； （武器或工具的）粗大的一端； 屁股； 烟蒂 | |
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recollect
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| v.回忆，想起，记起，忆起，记得 | |
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frigid
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| adj.寒冷的，凛冽的；冷淡的；拘禁的 | |
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deliberately
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| adv.审慎地；蓄意地；故意地 | |
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impersonal
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| adj.无个人感情的，与个人无关的，非人称的 | |
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13
enacted
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| 制定（法律），通过（法案）( enact的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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metropolitan
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| adj.大城市的，大都会的 | |
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15
jealousy
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| n.妒忌，嫉妒，猜忌 | |
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16
grunted
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| （猪等）作呼噜声( grunt的过去式和过去分词 )； （指人）发出类似的哼声； 咕哝着说 | |
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17
prevailing
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| adj.盛行的；占优势的；主要的 | |
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grouch
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| n.牢骚，不满；v.抱怨 | |
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inspectors
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| n.检查员( inspector的名词复数 )；（英国公共汽车或火车上的）查票员；（警察）巡官；检阅官 | |
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20
cane
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| n.手杖，细长的茎，藤条；v.以杖击，以藤编制的 | |
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21
thumping
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| adj.重大的，巨大的；重击的；尺码大的；极好的adv.极端地；非常地v.重击(thump的现在分词)；狠打；怦怦地跳；全力支持 | |
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22
thump
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| v.重击，砰然地响；n.重击，重击声 | |
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23
entreated
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| 恳求，乞求( entreat的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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insistence
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| n.坚持；强调；坚决主张 | |
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25
mused
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| v.沉思，冥想( muse的过去式和过去分词 )；沉思自语说（某事） | |
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complacently
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| adv. 满足地, 自满地, 沾沾自喜地 | |
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27
raved
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| v.胡言乱语( rave的过去式和过去分词 )；愤怒地说；咆哮；痴心地说 | |
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sentimentally
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| adv.富情感地 | |
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shuddered
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| v.战栗( shudder的过去式和过去分词 )；发抖；（机器、车辆等）突然震动；颤动 | |
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30
manly
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| adj.有男子气概的；adv.男子般地，果断地 | |
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31
exclamations
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| n.呼喊( exclamation的名词复数 )；感叹；感叹语；感叹词 | |
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32
bolster
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| n.枕垫；v.支持，鼓励 | |
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neatly
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| adv.整洁地，干净地，灵巧地，熟练地 | |
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34
disquiet
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| n.担心，焦虑 | |
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35
petals
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| n.花瓣( petal的名词复数 ) | |
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36
speculation
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| n.思索，沉思；猜测；投机 | |
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37
nervously
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| adv.神情激动地，不安地 | |
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38
spasms
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| n.痉挛( spasm的名词复数 )；抽搐；（能量、行为等的）突发；发作 | |
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39
superstition
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| n.迷信，迷信行为 | |
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40
bracelet
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| n.手镯，臂镯 | |
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