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CHAPTER 37
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 Things were moving happily in Suite1 A. Herman Medfield had been awake and stirring since daybreak. He had written one or two notes in his own hand, and had dictated2 a longer one to Miss Canfield. It was addressed to Thomas Dalton, and it lay on the stand beside his chair in the window.
 
The girl had grasped its import swiftly, as she took down the crisp words.
 
"It is just what Julian needs," she said compactly as she folded and sealed and stamped it.
 
He nodded. "You understand him surprisingly well—considering that you love him," he added smiling.
 
She returned the smile. "That's why I understand, isn't it?"
 
"Perhaps——"
 
He watched her move about the room, contentedly3. Julian was a lucky dog! Luckier[Pg 272] than he knew, to win a girl like that—sweet and sensible and poor!
 
"I will mail this now," she said. She took it from the stand.
 
He watched her go, and looked out of the window, and fell to thinking of the things life was bringing him.... Everything seemed coming to him out of this great, comfortable hospital—that he had looked forward to with dread4!... A wife for Julian—He might have searched the world over to find a girl like that! Straight, and as true as steel, and best of all—she was poor; she would know the value of money. She had had to work for it— He had always spoiled Julian. He knew it, guiltily. Julian had never known what it was to want for anything that money could get—except, perhaps, a widow or two! The millionaire's lips smiled grimly. That danger was over—thank Heaven! The boy would marry a poor girl—and a lady!... Herman Medfield had perhaps old-fashioned ideas as to what makes a lady; and the nurse who moved so noiselessly about his room suited him to perfection.... His thought dwelt on her happily....[Pg 273] Then there was this man, Dalton—Thanks to Aunt Jane!... Ah, that was the secret! "Thanks to Aunt Jane!"
 
The millionaire leaned back in his chair, smiling thoughtfully. He had known that he was coming to that—as he sat there in the window, looking idly down into the little squares of back yards—he had known all along—under his thankfulness for Julian—that he was coming to the thought of Aunt Jane.... He had held it to the last.... It was not Julian he was thinking of now—with the little smile that kept coming to his lips.
 
He was smiling at Aunt Jane and her crispness and her goodness and her little managing wilful5 ways that kept him straight.... He was like a small boy in the very thought of her. A man ought to feel that way toward his wife, he told himself—all men really feel like that!
 
There was a gentle tap on the door and he sat up. He smoothed the dreams from his face.
 
"Come in!"
 
The whole room seemed to become a place of comfort, as she came leisurely6 across to him.
 
[Pg 274]
 
"I hear you've been doing considerable this morning." She looked at him uncritically.
 
His response was guilty. "Only a letter or two— Sit down, won't you?" He reached out to a chair for her.
 
But Aunt Jane interposed—"When you're well enough to wait on folks, you're well enough to go home," she said.
 
"Oh— I'm not well enough for that—I feel sure!" He sank back in his chair. "I shall be very careful what I do!"
 
She surveyed him. "I liked the roses you sent— They're real handsome!... I don't know as I ever had any handsomer roses sent to me!"
 
"I am glad you liked them." He was suddenly a little formal and polite. He had not expected quite such frank and open delight in his offering.
 
"And the card—" he said softly, after a minute. "I hoped you liked that, too?" He was almost shy about it!
 
Aunt Jane looked at him inquiringly and rocked a little. "Was there a card—?" She seemed considering it. "Maybe it got lost out." She shook her head.
 
[Pg 275]
 
The shadow crossed his face. "You're sure there wasn't a card with them—no message?" His tone was vexed7 and he sat up.
 
"That's Munson's carelessness!" he said dryly.
 
"I can't seem to remember any card," said Aunt Jane.
 
A little smile broke up his face.
 
"You would remember it—if you had read it! I made sure of that!" He chuckled8 gently.... "Never mind—I will send you another—with some more roses."
 
"You don't need to send them right away—not for some time," said Aunt Jane hastily. "These will last quite a spell. I cut the stems every day, you know—same as if I was a patient!" Her eyes twinkled at him.
 
And he smiled at the round trustfulness of her face. He was vexed at Munson for carelessness. But there was plenty of time—to send roses! And he enjoyed sitting there and teasing her a little and watching the guileless face, turned so comfortably upon him.... She little knew what was on that card!
 
He chuckled.
 
[Pg 276]
 
"You'll be ready to go home in a day or two now," she said impersonally9.
 
He cast a quick look at the face in its cap. "No use to borrow trouble!" he responded lightly.... "I have some news for you!"
 
"For me!" A quick flush swept under the cap and subsided10. "I hope it's good news," she said tranquilly11.
 
"Yes—It's good for you.... You'll think it's good some day! My son is going to be married." He leaned back to watch the effect.
 
She nodded. "We talked about that yesterday."
 
"But it hadn't happened then!"
 
"Hadn't it?" There was no contradiction in the response. But it brought him to a sudden pause.
 
"Why—of course not! I don't believe it had! Do you know anything?" He turned on her swiftly.
 
"No, I don't know anything." Aunt Jane was cheerful. "Not anything I could put my finger on," she added slowly. "But I kind of sensed, somehow, that they'd got things settled—between 'em."
 
[Pg 277]
 
"Oh, you 'sensed'!" he scoffed12 gently.
 
"Well—she'll make him a good wife," Aunt Jane rocked. "Of course, he don't need a rich wife——"
 
"No, I don't want him to marry money!" Medfield spoke13 with satisfaction. His magnanimity overspread the poverty of his son's wife—and welcomed it and exulted14 in it.
 
Aunt Jane's face was tranquil—and somewhere deep below, little twinkles came up to the surface and stirred it.
 
"Well, he doesn't need to marry her money—" she said slowly. "He can't help her having it, of course. But she'll make him just as good a wife."
 
He stared. "I must have given you a wrong impression." He was polite about it. "Julian is going to marry Miss Canfield."
 
"Mary Canfield has money—more money than most folks. She's going to make a good nurse, though. She came in and took the training as if she hadn't a cent to her name—She said she wanted to be something besides Sheldon Canfield's——"
 
"Sheldon Canfield!" He took it up. "Was Sheldon Canfield her father?"
 
[Pg 278]
 
"His name was Sheldon," said Aunt Jane. "Maybe you've heard of him?"
 
Herman Medfield laughed shortly. "He did me out of a million dollars! Sheldon Canfield!" He looked at the thought and shook it. "I fought him for ten years. I swore I would break him before I died— But he died first! Sheldon Canfield's daughter!" He held it before him. "So Sheldon Canfield's daughter has been taking care of me!"
 
"She's taken good care of you!" said Aunt Jane. It was almost defensive15; and he gave her a quick look.
 
"The best of care!" he said emphatically. "Couldn't have been better—unless you had done it yourself," he ended gallantly16.
 
Aunt Jane's look cleared, and then became a little confused—under something that danced in the eyes bent17 upon her.
 
"I must go do my work," she said.
 
"And leave me to my Juliet?"
 
"Julian, I suppose you mean," Aunt Jane corrected him kindly18.
 
"He's Romeo—of the house of Montague!" he said dreamily.
 
She stared a little. He waved a hand.
 
[Pg 279]
 
"Go away, Aunt Jane, and do your work. You have disturbed me—even more than usual. I want to collect my thoughts!"
 
She went out almost soberly, turning it in her mind, on the way to her office. She had upset him and she was a little remorseful19! She ought not to have let him run on like that! There was no telling that he would not have a setback20.... And they needed Suite A for Dr. Carmon's new patient Friday.... He had said Herman Medfield was well enough to go home—that he would be better off at home.
 
She entered the office—and stopped.
 
On a chair across the room, was a long, light box.
 
Aunt Jane almost fancied she had been dreaming, and had never opened that box.... She contemplated21 it and went over to it slowly—and looked at her desk, where the great flaming roses gave out their fragrance22.... She went back to the box and took it up slowly, and undid23 the tape.
 
It was filled to the brim with roses—great pink-and-white heads glowed through the transparent24 waxed paper at her—and on top[Pg 280] of the paper lay a card—with the name uppermost——
 
"Dr. Frederic H. Carmon."
 
Aunt Jane stared at it.
 
She reached out a hand to it—as if fascinated and almost afraid—and took it up and turned it over slowly.... There was no writing! She laid it back with a little quick sigh of relief—and stared down at it.... Presently a shrewd look of amusement overspread the stupefaction in her face and she nodded to the little card and took it up and carried it to her desk and unlocked a drawer—moving the great flaming roses to reach it. She dropped the card beside the other one that lay there—and the amusement in her face grew to soft chuckles25 that filled all the spaces in her roundness.
 
When she had arranged the pink-and-white roses and carried them to her desk and placed them opposite the flaming ones, she stood back and surveyed them—and shook her head—and smiled radiantly to them.
 
A man, who had come quietly down the hall, stood in the open door of the office. He watched her a minute.
 
[Pg 281]
 
He cleared his throat circumspectly26.
 
She turned swiftly—and saw him—and moved a reproachful hand to the flowers.
 
"You never ought to have done it!"
 
He smiled on the roses complacently27 and removed his gloves.
 
"Like 'em?" he asked.
 
She shook her head. "I haven't any call to like them—or not to like them!" It was severe disapproval28. "You ought to be ashamed of yourself!"
 
"I'm not!" He looked at them with satisfaction. He was whistling softly. "I didn't know you wanted flowers—or I'd have sent them before."
 
He had turned—his glance was on her face.
 
Something in the glance sent Aunt Jane hastily across the room. She straightened the furniture a little and came back to the desk and looked at the bunches of roses on either side, regarding them impartially29.
 
"I hadn't ought to want flowers—goodness knows!" she said slowly. "I see enough of 'em, around every day, to make any one sick of them for life." She paused and studied the pink-and-white blossoms.
 
[Pg 282]
 
"Somehow, it's different—when they're your own! I guess maybe I did need to have them sent to me—so I'd know how folks feel inside—when I open their boxes for them and they look in and see the flowers and see somebody's card on top—somebody that's thought about them—somebody that loves 'em!" she ended it triumphantly30 and happily and smiled—sharing it with him.
 
Dr. Carmon looked at the two great bunches of flowers—and grunted—and went out.
 

点击收听单词发音收听单词发音  

1 suite MsMwB     
n.一套(家具);套房;随从人员
参考例句:
  • She has a suite of rooms in the hotel.她在那家旅馆有一套房间。
  • That is a nice suite of furniture.那套家具很不错。
2 dictated aa4dc65f69c81352fa034c36d66908ec     
v.大声讲或读( dictate的过去式和过去分词 );口授;支配;摆布
参考例句:
  • He dictated a letter to his secretary. 他向秘书口授信稿。
  • No person of a strong character likes to be dictated to. 没有一个个性强的人愿受人使唤。 来自《简明英汉词典》
3 contentedly a0af12176ca79b27d4028fdbaf1b5f64     
adv.心满意足地
参考例句:
  • My father sat puffing contentedly on his pipe.父亲坐着心满意足地抽着烟斗。
  • "This is brother John's writing,"said Sally,contentedly,as she opened the letter.
4 dread Ekpz8     
vt.担忧,忧虑;惧怕,不敢;n.担忧,畏惧
参考例句:
  • We all dread to think what will happen if the company closes.我们都不敢去想一旦公司关门我们该怎么办。
  • Her heart was relieved of its blankest dread.她极度恐惧的心理消除了。
5 wilful xItyq     
adj.任性的,故意的
参考例句:
  • A wilful fault has no excuse and deserves no pardon.不能宽恕故意犯下的错误。
  • He later accused reporters of wilful distortion and bias.他后来指责记者有意歪曲事实并带有偏见。
6 leisurely 51Txb     
adj.悠闲的;从容的,慢慢的
参考例句:
  • We walked in a leisurely manner,looking in all the windows.我们慢悠悠地走着,看遍所有的橱窗。
  • He had a leisurely breakfast and drove cheerfully to work.他从容的吃了早餐,高兴的开车去工作。
7 vexed fd1a5654154eed3c0a0820ab54fb90a7     
adj.争论不休的;(指问题等)棘手的;争论不休的问题;烦恼的v.使烦恼( vex的过去式和过去分词 );使苦恼;使生气;详细讨论
参考例句:
  • The conference spent days discussing the vexed question of border controls. 会议花了几天的时间讨论边境关卡这个难题。
  • He was vexed at his failure. 他因失败而懊恼。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》
8 chuckled 8ce1383c838073977a08258a1f3e30f8     
轻声地笑( chuckle的过去式和过去分词 )
参考例句:
  • She chuckled at the memory. 想起这件事她就暗自发笑。
  • She chuckled softly to herself as she remembered his astonished look. 想起他那惊讶的表情,她就轻轻地暗自发笑。
9 impersonally MqYzdu     
ad.非人称地
参考例句:
  • "No." The answer was both reticent and impersonally sad. “不。”这回答既简短,又含有一种无以名状的悲戚。 来自名作英译部分
  • The tenet is to service our clients fairly, equally, impersonally and reasonably. 公司宗旨是公正、公平、客观、合理地为客户服务。
10 subsided 1bda21cef31764468020a8c83598cc0d     
v.(土地)下陷(因在地下采矿)( subside的过去式和过去分词 );减弱;下降至较低或正常水平;一下子坐在椅子等上
参考例句:
  • After the heavy rains part of the road subsided. 大雨过后,部分公路塌陷了。 来自《简明英汉词典》
  • By evening the storm had subsided and all was quiet again. 傍晚, 暴风雨已经过去,四周开始沉寂下来。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》
11 tranquilly d9b4cfee69489dde2ee29b9be8b5fb9c     
adv. 宁静地
参考例句:
  • He took up his brush and went tranquilly to work. 他拿起刷子,一声不响地干了起来。
  • The evening was closing down tranquilly. 暮色正在静悄悄地笼罩下来。
12 scoffed b366539caba659eacba33b0867b6de2f     
嘲笑,嘲弄( scoff的过去式和过去分词 )
参考例句:
  • He scoffed at our amateurish attempts. 他对我们不在行的尝试嗤之以鼻。
  • A hundred years ago people scoffed at the idea. 一百年前人们曾嘲笑过这种想法。
13 spoke XryyC     
n.(车轮的)辐条;轮辐;破坏某人的计划;阻挠某人的行动 v.讲,谈(speak的过去式);说;演说;从某种观点来说
参考例句:
  • They sourced the spoke nuts from our company.他们的轮辐螺帽是从我们公司获得的。
  • The spokes of a wheel are the bars that connect the outer ring to the centre.辐条是轮子上连接外圈与中心的条棒。
14 exulted 4b9c48640b5878856e35478d2f1f2046     
狂喜,欢跃( exult的过去式和过去分词 )
参考例句:
  • The people exulted at the victory. 人们因胜利而欢腾。
  • The people all over the country exulted in the success in launching a new satellite. 全国人民为成功地发射了一颗新的人造卫星而欢欣鼓舞。
15 defensive buszxy     
adj.防御的;防卫的;防守的
参考例句:
  • Their questions about the money put her on the defensive.他们问到钱的问题,使她警觉起来。
  • The Government hastily organized defensive measures against the raids.政府急忙布置了防卫措施抵御空袭。
16 gallantly gallantly     
adv. 漂亮地,勇敢地,献殷勤地
参考例句:
  • He gallantly offered to carry her cases to the car. 他殷勤地要帮她把箱子拎到车子里去。
  • The new fighters behave gallantly under fire. 新战士在炮火下表现得很勇敢。
17 bent QQ8yD     
n.爱好,癖好;adj.弯的;决心的,一心的
参考例句:
  • He was fully bent upon the project.他一心扑在这项计划上。
  • We bent over backward to help them.我们尽了最大努力帮助他们。
18 kindly tpUzhQ     
adj.和蔼的,温和的,爽快的;adv.温和地,亲切地
参考例句:
  • Her neighbours spoke of her as kindly and hospitable.她的邻居都说她和蔼可亲、热情好客。
  • A shadow passed over the kindly face of the old woman.一道阴影掠过老太太慈祥的面孔。
19 remorseful IBBzo     
adj.悔恨的
参考例句:
  • He represented to the court that the accused was very remorseful.他代被告向法庭陈情说被告十分懊悔。
  • The minister well knew--subtle,but remorseful hypocrite that he was!牧师深知这一切——他是一个多么难以捉摸又懊悔不迭的伪君子啊!
20 setback XzuwD     
n.退步,挫折,挫败
参考例句:
  • Since that time there has never been any setback in his career.从那时起他在事业上一直没有遇到周折。
  • She views every minor setback as a disaster.她把每个较小的挫折都看成重大灾难。
21 contemplated d22c67116b8d5696b30f6705862b0688     
adj. 预期的 动词contemplate的过去分词形式
参考例句:
  • The doctor contemplated the difficult operation he had to perform. 医生仔细地考虑他所要做的棘手的手术。
  • The government has contemplated reforming the entire tax system. 政府打算改革整个税收体制。
22 fragrance 66ryn     
n.芬芳,香味,香气
参考例句:
  • The apple blossoms filled the air with their fragrance.苹果花使空气充满香味。
  • The fragrance of lavender filled the room.房间里充满了薰衣草的香味。
23 Undid 596b2322b213e046510e91f0af6a64ad     
v. 解开, 复原
参考例句:
  • The officer undid the flap of his holster and drew his gun. 军官打开枪套盖拔出了手枪。
  • He did wrong, and in the end his wrongs undid him. 行恶者终以其恶毁其身。
24 transparent Smhwx     
adj.明显的,无疑的;透明的
参考例句:
  • The water is so transparent that we can see the fishes swimming.水清澈透明,可以看到鱼儿游来游去。
  • The window glass is transparent.窗玻璃是透明的。
25 chuckles dbb3c2dbccec4daa8f44238e4cffd25c     
轻声地笑( chuckle的名词复数 )
参考例句:
  • Father always chuckles when he reads the funny papers. 父亲在读幽默报纸时总是低声发笑。
  • [Chuckles] You thought he was being poisoned by hemlock? 你觉得他中的会是芹叶钩吻毒吗?
26 circumspectly 2c77d884d557aeb40500ec2bcbc5c9e9     
adv.慎重地,留心地
参考例句:
  • He paid for two tickets as circumspectly as possible. 他小心翼翼地付了两张票的钱。 来自英汉文学 - 嘉莉妹妹
27 complacently complacently     
adv. 满足地, 自满地, 沾沾自喜地
参考例句:
  • He complacently lived out his life as a village school teacher. 他满足于一个乡村教师的生活。
  • "That was just something for evening wear," returned his wife complacently. “那套衣服是晚装,"他妻子心安理得地说道。 来自英汉文学 - 嘉莉妹妹
28 disapproval VuTx4     
n.反对,不赞成
参考例句:
  • The teacher made an outward show of disapproval.老师表面上表示不同意。
  • They shouted their disapproval.他们喊叫表示反对。
29 impartially lqbzdy     
adv.公平地,无私地
参考例句:
  • Employers must consider all candidates impartially and without bias. 雇主必须公平而毫无成见地考虑所有求职者。
  • We hope that they're going to administer justice impartially. 我们希望他们能主持正义,不偏不倚。
30 triumphantly 9fhzuv     
ad.得意洋洋地;得胜地;成功地
参考例句:
  • The lion was roaring triumphantly. 狮子正在发出胜利的吼叫。
  • Robert was looking at me triumphantly. 罗伯特正得意扬扬地看着我。


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