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！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
disagreeable about this thing； and I hope you won't take any offence； but
the fact is； I'm half dead for want of sleep； and if you'll only keep quiet
now a little while； I'll promise not to speak above my breath if ever I find
you on a sleeping…car after you've come straight through from San
Francisco； day and night； and not been able to get more than about a
quarter of your usual allowance of restI will indeed。
MRS。 ROBERTS。 I'm very sorry that I've disturbed you； and I'll try
to be more quiet。 I didn't suppose I was speaking so loud； but the cars
keep up such a rattling that you never can tell how loud you ARE speaking。
Did I understand you to say that you were from California？
THE CALIFORNIAN。 Yes； ma'am。
MRS。 ROBERTS。 San Francisco？
THE CALIFORNIAN。 Yes； ma'am。
MRS。 ROBERTS。 Thanks。 It's a terribly long journey； isn't it？ I
know quite how to feel for you。 I've a brother myself coming on。 In
fact we expected him before this。 ＇She scans his face as sharply as the
lamp…light will allow； and continues； after a brief hesitation。＇ It's always
such a silly question to ask a person； and I suppose San Francisco is a
large place； with a great many people always coming and going； so that it
would be only one chance in a thousand if you did。
THE CALIFORNIAN （patiently）。 Did what； ma'am？
MRS。 ROBERTS。 Oh； I was just wondering if it was possiblebut of
course it isn't； and it's very flat to askthat you'd ever happened to meet
my brother there。 His name is Willis Campbell。
7
… Page 8…
THE SLEEPING…CAR
THE CALIFORNIAN （with more interest）。 Campbell？ Campbell？
Yes； I know a man of that name。 But I disremember his first name。
Little low fellowpretty chunky？
MRS。 ROBERTS。 I don't know。 Do you mean short and stout？
THE CALIFORNIAN。 Yes； ma'am。
MRS。 ROBERTS。 I'm sure I can't tell。 It's a great many years since
he went out there； and I've never seen him in all that time。 I thought if
you DID happen to know himHe's a lawyer。
THE CALIFORNIAN。 It's quite likely I know him； and in the
morning； ma'am …
MRS。 ROBERTS。 Oh； excuse me。 I'm very sorry to have kept you
so long awake with my silly questions。
THE MAN IN THE UPPER BERTH。 Don't apologize； madam。 I'm
not a Californian myself； but I'm an orphan； and away from home； and I
thank you； on behalf of all our fellow…passengers； for the mental
refreshment that your conversation has afforded us。 _I_ could lie here
and listen to it all night； but there are invalids in some of these berths； and
perhaps on their account it will be as well to defer everything till the
morning； as our friend suggests。 Allow me to wish you pleasant dreams；
madam。
＇THE CALIFORNIAN； while MRS。 ROBERTS shrinks back under
the curtain of her berth in dismay； and stammers some inaudible excuse；
slowly emerges full length from his berth。＇
THE CALIFORNIAN。 Don't you mind me； ma'am； I've got
everything but my boots and coat on。 Now； then ＇standing beside the
berth； and looking in upon the man in the upper tier＇； you； do you know
that this is a lady you're talking to？
THE UPPER BERTH。 By your voice and your shaggy personal
appearance I shouldn't have taken you for a ladyno； sir。 But the light is
very imperfect； you may be a bearded lady。
THE CALIFORNIAN。 You never mind about my looks。 The
question is； Do you want your head rapped up against the side of this car？
THE UPPER BERTH。 With all the frankness of your own Pacific
slope； no。
8
… Page 9…
THE SLEEPING…CAR
MRS。 ROBERTS （hastily reappearing）。 Oh； no； no； don't hurt him。
He's not to blame。 I was wrong to keep on talking。 Oh； please don't
hurt him！
THE CALIFORNIAN （to THE UPPER BERTH）。 You hear？ Well；
now； don't you speak another word to that lady tonight。 Just go on；
ma'am； and free your mind on any little matter you like。 I don't want any
sleep。 How long has your brother been in California？
MRS。 ROBERTS。 Oh； don't let's talk about it now； I don't want to
talk about it。 I thoughtI thoughtGood…night。 Oh； dear！ I didn't
suppose I was making so much trouble。 I didn't mean to disturb anybody。
I …
＇MRS。 ROBERTS gives way to the excess of her confusion and
mortification in a little sob； and then hides her grief behind the curtains of
her berth。 THE CALIFORNIAN slowly emerges again from his couch；
and stands beside it； looking in upon the man in the berth above。＇
THE CALIFORNIAN。 For half a cent I WOULD rap your head up
against that wall。 Making the lady cry； and getting me so mad I can't
sleep！ Now see here； you just apologize。 You beg that lady's pardon； or
I'll have you out of there before you know yourself。 ＇Cries of 〃Good！〃
〃That's right！〃 and 〃Make him show himself！〃 hail MRS。 ROBERTS'S
champion； and heads； more or less dishevelled； are thrust from every berth。
MRS。 ROBERTS remains invisible and silent； and the loud and somewhat
complicated respiration of her AUNT makes itself heard in the general
hush of expectancy。 A remark to the effect that 〃The old lady seems to
enjoy her rest〃 achieves a facile applause。 THE CALIFORNIAN again
addresses the culprit。＇ Come； now； what do you say？ I'll give you just
one…half a minute。
MRS。 ROBERTS （from her shelter）。 Oh； please； PLEASE don't
make him say anything。 It was very trying in me to keep him awake； and
I know he didn't mean any offence。 Oh； DO let him be！
THE CALIFORNIAN。 You hear that？ You stay quiet the rest of the
time； and if that lady choses to keep us all awake the whole night； don't
YOU say a word； or I'll settle with you in the morning。
＇Loud and continued applause； amidst which THE CALIFORNIAN