his own people-第14部分

快捷操作: 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! 如果本书没有阅读完，想下次继续接着阅读，可使用上方 "收藏到我的浏览器" 功能 和 "加入书签" 功能！


for　a　lot　of　trouble；　and　it　only　~half~　kills　you；　you　can　get
some　good　of　it。〃

〃Do　you　think；〃　he　stammered〃do　you　think　I'm　worth　saving？〃

She　smiled　faintly　and　said：

〃You've　probably　got　a　sweetheart　in　the　States　somewherea　nice
girl；　a　pretty　young　thing　who　goes　to　church　and　thinks　you're　a
great　man；　perhaps？　　Is　it　so？〃

〃I　am　not　worthy；〃　he　began；　choked　suddenly；　then　finished〃to
breathe　the　same　air！〃

〃That's　quite　right；〃　Lady　Mount…Rhyswicke　assured　him。　　〃Think
what　you'd　think　of　her　if　she'd　got　herself　into　the　same　sort　of
scrape　by　doin'　the　things　you've　been　doin'！　　And　remember　~that~
if　you　ever　feel　impatient　with　her；　or　have　any　temptations　to
superiority　in　times　to　come。　　And　yet〃for　the　moment　she　spoke
earnestly〃you　go　back　to　your　little　girl；　but　don't　you　tell
her　a　word　of　this。　　You　couldn't　even　tell　her　that　meetin'　you
has　helped　me；　because　she　wouldn't　understand。〃

〃Nor　do　I。　　I　can't。〃

〃Oh；　it's　simple。　　I　saw　that　if　I　was　gettin'　down　to　where　I　was
robbin'　babies　and　orphans。。。。〃　　The　cab　halted。　　〃Here's　your
corner。　　I　told　him　only　to　go　round　the　block　and　come　back。
Good…by。　　I'm　off　for　Amalfi。　　It's　a　good　place　to　rest。〃

He　got　out　dazedly；　and　the　driver　cracked　his　whip　over　the　little
horse；　but　Mellin　lifted　a　detaining　hand。

〃~A　spet~；〃　called　Lady　Mount…Rhyswicke　to　the　driver。　　〃What　is　it；
Mr。　Mellin？〃

〃I　can'tI　can't　look　you　in　the　face；〃　he　stammered；　his　attitude
perfectly　corroborative　of　his　words。　　〃I　wouldoh；　I　would　kneel
in　the　dust　here　before　you〃

〃Some　of　the　poetry　you　told　me　you　write？〃

〃I've　never　written　any　poetry；〃　he　said；　not　looking　up。　　〃Perhaps
I　cannow。　　What　I　want　to　say　isI'm　so　ashamed　of　itI　don't
know　how　to　get　the　words　out；　but　I　must。　　I　may　never　see　you
again；　and　I　must。　　I　'm　sorryplease　try　to　forgive　meI　wasn't
myself　when　I　did　it？〃

〃Blurt　it　out；　that's　the　best　way。〃

〃I'm　sorry；〃　he　floundered〃I'm　sorry　I　kissed　you。〃

She　laughed　her　tired　laugh　and　said　in　her　tired　voice　the　last
words　he　was　ever　destined　to　hear　from　her：

〃Oh；　I　don't　mind；　if　you　don't。　　It　was　so　innocent；　it　was　what
decided　me。〃

One　of　the　hundreds　of　good　saints　that　belong　to　Rome　must　have
overheard　her　and　pitied　the　young　man；　for　it　is　ascribable　only
to　some　such　special　act　of　mercy　that　Mellin　understood　（and　he
did）　exactly　what　she　meant。







End