"I wonder if it would be right for me to tell him that Leslie cares for Owen," she thought. "He would never let her suspect that he knew, so her pride would not suffer, and it MIGHT convince him that he should let Dick Moore alone. Shall I—shall I? No, after all, I cannot. A promise is sacred, and I've no right to betray Leslie's secret. But oh, I never felt so worried over anything in my life as I do over this. It's spoiling the spring—it's spoiling everything."
One evening Gilbert abruptly4 proposed that they go down and see Captain Jim. With a sinking heart Anne agreed, and they set forth5. Two weeks of kind sunshine had wrought6 a miracle in the bleak7 landscape over which Gilbert's crow had flown. The hills and fields were dry and brown and warm, ready to break into bud and blossom; the harbor was laughter-shaken again; the long harbor road was like a gleaming red ribbon; down on the dunes8 a crowd of boys, who were out smelt9 fishing, were burning the thick, dry sandhill grass of the preceding summer. The flames swept over the dunes rosily10, flinging their cardinal11 banners against the dark gulf12 beyond, and illuminating13 the channel and the fishing village. It was a picturesque14 scene which would at other times have delighted Anne's eyes; but she was not enjoying this walk. Neither was Gilbert. Their usual good-comradeship and Josephian community of taste and viewpoint were sadly lacking. Anne's disapproval15 of the whole project showed itself in the haughty16 uplift of her head and the studied politeness of her remarks. Gilbert's mouth was set in all the Blythe obstinacy17, but his eyes were troubled. He meant to do what he believed to be his duty; but to be at outs with Anne was a high price to pay. Altogether, both were glad when they reached the light—and remorseful18 that they should be glad.
Captain Jim put away the fishing net upon which he was working, and welcomed them joyfully19. In the searching light of the spring evening he looked older than Anne had ever seen him. His hair had grown much grayer, and the strong old hand shook a little. But his blue eyes were clear and steady, and the staunch soul looked out through them gallant20 and unafraid.
Captain Jim listened in amazed silence while Gilbert said what he had come to say. Anne, who knew how the old man worshipped Leslie, felt quite sure that he would side with her, although she had not much hope that this would influence Gilbert. She was therefore surprised beyond measure when Captain Jim, slowly and sorrowfully, but unhesitatingly, gave it as his opinion that Leslie should be told.
"Oh, Captain Jim, I didn't think you'd say that," she exclaimed reproachfully. "I thought you wouldn't want to make more trouble for her."
Captain Jim shook his head.
"I don't want to. I know how you feel about it, Mistress Blythe—just as I feel meself. But it ain't our feelings we have to steer22 by through life—no, no, we'd make shipwreck23 mighty24 often if we did that. There's only the one safe compass and we've got to set our course by that—what it's right to do. I agree with the doctor. If there's a chance for Dick, Leslie should be told of it. There's no two sides to that, in my opinion."
"Well," said Anne, giving up in despair, "wait until Miss Cornelia gets after you two men."
"Cornelia'll rake us fore21 and aft, no doubt," assented25 Captain Jim. "You women are lovely critters, Mistress Blythe, but you're just a mite26 illogical. You're a highly eddicated lady and Cornelia isn't, but you're like as two peas when it comes to that. I dunno's you're any the worse for it. Logic27 is a sort of hard, merciless thing, I reckon. Now, I'll brew28 a cup of tea and we'll drink it and talk of pleasant things, jest to calm our minds a bit."
At least, Captain Jim's tea and conversation calmed Anne's mind to such an extent that she did not make Gilbert suffer so acutely on the way home as she had deliberately29 intended to do. She did not refer to the burning question at all, but she chatted amiably30 of other matters, and Gilbert understood that he was forgiven under protest.
"Captain Jim seems very frail31 and bent32 this spring. The winter has aged33 him," said Anne sadly. "I am afraid that he will soon be going to seek lost Margaret. I can't bear to think of it."
"Four Winds won't be the same place when Captain Jim 'sets out to sea,'" agreed Gilbert.
The following evening he went to the house up the brook34. Anne wandered dismally35 around until his return.
"Well, what did Leslie say?" she demanded when he came in.
"Very little. I think she felt rather dazed."
"And is she going to have the operation?"
"She is going to think it over and decide very soon."
Gilbert flung himself wearily into the easy chair before the fire. He looked tired. It had not been an easy thing for him to tell Leslie. And the terror that had sprung into her eyes when the meaning of what he told her came home to her was not a pleasant thing to remember. Now, when the die was cast, he was beset36 with doubts of his own wisdom.
Anne looked at him remorsefully37; then she slipped down on the rug beside him and laid her glossy38 red head on his arm.
"Gilbert, I've been rather hateful over this. I won't be any more. Please just call me red-headed and forgive me."
By which Gilbert understood that, no matter what came of it, there would be no I-told-you-so's. But he was not wholly comforted. Duty in the abstract is one thing; duty in the concrete is quite another, especially when the doer is confronted by a woman's stricken eyes.
Some instinct made Anne keep away from Leslie for the next three days. On the third evening Leslie came down to the little house and told Gilbert that she had made up her mind; she would take Dick to Montreal and have the operation.
She was very pale and seemed to have wrapped herself in her old mantle39 of aloofness40. But her eyes had lost the look which had haunted Gilbert; they were cold and bright; and she proceeded to discuss details with him in a crisp, business-like way. There were plans to be made and many things to be thought over. When Leslie had got the information she wanted she went home. Anne wanted to walk part of the way with her.
"Have I lost my friend?" said Anne with a sigh. "If the operation is successful and Dick Moore finds himself again Leslie will retreat into some remote fastness of her soul where none of us can ever find her."
"Perhaps she will leave him," said Gilbert.
"Leslie would never do that, Gilbert. Her sense of duty is very strong. She told me once that her Grandmother West always impressed upon her the fact that when she assumed any responsibility she must never shirk it, no matter what the consequences might be. That is one of her cardinal rules. I suppose it's very old-fashioned."
"Don't be bitter, Anne-girl. You know you don't think it old-fashioned—you know you have the very same idea of sacredness of assumed responsibilities yourself. And you are right. Shirking responsibilities is the curse of our modern life—the secret of all the unrest and discontent that is seething42 in the world."
"Thus saith the preacher," mocked Anne. But under the mockery she felt that he was right; and she was very sick at heart for Leslie.
A week later Miss Cornelia descended43 like an avalanche44 upon the little house. Gilbert was away and Anne was compelled to bear the shock of the impact alone.
Miss Cornelia hardly waited to get her hat off before she began.
"Anne, do you mean to tell me it's true what I've heard—that Dr. Blythe has told Leslie Dick can be cured, and that she is going to take him to Montreal to have him operated on?"
"Yes, it is quite true, Miss Cornelia," said Anne bravely.
"Well, it's inhuman45 cruelty, that's what it is," said Miss Cornelia, violently agitated46. "I did think Dr. Blythe was a decent man. I didn't think he could have been guilty of this."
"Dr. Blythe thought it was his duty to tell Leslie that there was a chance for Dick," said Anne with spirit, "and," she added, loyalty47 to Gilbert getting the better of her, "I agree with him."
"Oh, no, you don't, dearie," said Miss Cornelia. "No person with any bowels48 of compassion49 could."
"Captain Jim does."
"Don't quote that old ninny to me," cried Miss Cornelia. "And I don't care who agrees with him. Think—THINK what it means to that poor hunted, harried50 girl."
"We DO think of it. But Gilbert believes that a doctor should put the welfare of a patient's mind and body before all other considerations."
"That's just like a man. But I expected better things of you, Anne," said Miss Cornelia, more in sorrow than in wrath51; then she proceeded to bombard Anne with precisely52 the same arguments with which the latter had attacked Gilbert; and Anne valiantly53 defended her husband with the weapons he had used for his own protection. Long was the fray54, but Miss Cornelia made an end at last.
"It's an iniquitous55 shame," she declared, almost in tears. "That's just what it is—an iniquitous shame. Poor, poor Leslie!"
"Don't you think Dick should be considered a little too?" pleaded Anne.
"Dick! Dick Moore! HE'S happy enough. He's a better behaved and more reputable member of society now than he ever was before.
"Why, he was a drunkard and perhaps worse. Are you going to set him loose again to roar and to devour56?"
"Reform your grandmother!" retorted Miss Cornelia. "Dick Moore got the injuries that left him as he is in a drunken brawl59. He DESERVES his fate. It was sent on him for a punishment. I don't believe the doctor has any business to tamper60 with the visitations of God."
"Nobody knows how Dick was hurt, Miss Cornelia. It may not have been in a drunken brawl at all. He may have been waylaid61 and robbed."
"Pigs MAY whistle, but they've poor mouths for it," said Miss Cornelia. "Well, the gist62 of what you tell me is that the thing is settled and there's no use in talking. If that's so I'll hold my tongue. I don't propose to wear MY teeth out gnawing63 files. When a thing has to be I give in to it. But I like to make mighty sure first that it HAS to be. Now, I'll devote MY energies to comforting and sustaining Leslie. And after all," added Miss Cornelia, brightening up hopefully, "perhaps nothing can be done for Dick."
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1
virulent
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| adj.有毒的，有恶意的，充满敌意的 | |
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influenza
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| n.流行性感冒，流感 | |
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incessantly
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| ad.不停地 | |
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abruptly
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| adv.突然地，出其不意地 | |
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forth
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| adv.向前；向外，往外 | |
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wrought
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| v.引起；以…原料制作；运转；adj.制造的 | |
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bleak
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| adj.(天气)阴冷的；凄凉的；暗淡的 | |
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dunes
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| 沙丘( dune的名词复数 ) | |
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smelt
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| v.熔解，熔炼；n.银白鱼，胡瓜鱼 | |
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rosily
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| adv.带玫瑰色地，乐观地 | |
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cardinal
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| n.(天主教的)红衣主教；adj.首要的，基本的 | |
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gulf
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| n.海湾；深渊，鸿沟；分歧，隔阂 | |
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illuminating
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| a.富于启发性的，有助阐明的 | |
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picturesque
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| adj.美丽如画的，（语言）生动的，绘声绘色的 | |
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disapproval
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| n.反对，不赞成 | |
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haughty
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| adj.傲慢的，高傲的 | |
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obstinacy
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| n.顽固；（病痛等）难治 | |
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remorseful
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| adj.悔恨的 | |
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joyfully
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| adv. 喜悦地, 高兴地 | |
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gallant
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| adj.英勇的，豪侠的；(向女人)献殷勤的 | |
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fore
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| adv.在前面；adj.先前的；在前部的；n.前部 | |
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steer
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| vt.驾驶，为…操舵；引导；vi.驾驶 | |
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shipwreck
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| n.船舶失事，海难 | |
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mighty
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| adj.强有力的；巨大的 | |
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assented
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| 同意，赞成( assent的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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mite
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| n.极小的东西；小铜币 | |
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logic
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| n.逻辑(学)；逻辑性 | |
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brew
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| v.酿造，调制 | |
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deliberately
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| adv.审慎地；蓄意地；故意地 | |
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amiably
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| adv.和蔼可亲地，亲切地 | |
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frail
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| adj.身体虚弱的；易损坏的 | |
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bent
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| n.爱好，癖好；adj.弯的；决心的，一心的 | |
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aged
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| adj.年老的，陈年的 | |
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brook
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| n.小河，溪；v.忍受，容让 | |
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dismally
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| adv.阴暗地，沉闷地 | |
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beset
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| v.镶嵌；困扰，包围 | |
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remorsefully
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| adv.极为懊悔地 | |
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glossy
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| adj.平滑的；有光泽的 | |
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mantle
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| n.斗篷，覆罩之物，罩子；v.罩住，覆盖，脸红 | |
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aloofness
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| 超然态度 | |
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curtly
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| adv.简短地 | |
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seething
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| 沸腾的，火热的 | |
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descended
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| a.为...后裔的，出身于...的 | |
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avalanche
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| n.雪崩，大量涌来 | |
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inhuman
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| adj.残忍的，不人道的，无人性的 | |
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agitated
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| adj.被鼓动的，不安的 | |
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loyalty
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| n.忠诚，忠心 | |
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bowels
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| n.肠，内脏，内部；肠( bowel的名词复数 )；内部，最深处 | |
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compassion
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| n.同情，怜悯 | |
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50
harried
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| v.使苦恼( harry的过去式和过去分词 )；不断烦扰；一再袭击；侵扰 | |
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wrath
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| n.愤怒，愤慨，暴怒 | |
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52
precisely
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| adv.恰好，正好，精确地，细致地 | |
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valiantly
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| adv.勇敢地，英勇地；雄赳赳 | |
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54
fray
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| v.争吵；打斗；磨损，磨破；n.吵架；打斗 | |
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iniquitous
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| adj.不公正的；邪恶的；高得出奇的 | |
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56
devour
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| v.吞没；贪婪地注视或谛听，贪读；使着迷 | |
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foe
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| n.敌人，仇敌 | |
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traitor
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| n.叛徒，卖国贼 | |
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59
brawl
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| n.大声争吵，喧嚷；v.吵架，对骂 | |
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60
tamper
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| v.干预，玩弄，贿赂，窜改，削弱，损害 | |
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61
waylaid
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| v.拦截，拦路( waylay的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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62
gist
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| n.要旨；梗概 | |
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gnawing
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| a.痛苦的，折磨人的 | |
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