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！
〃Yes； my dear boy； quite possible； and whether possible or
impossible； assuredly true。〃
〃And the third man？〃
〃The third man was dressed in the old costume。 He was in
possession of several brace of birds。 The Professors vowed they
had not eaten any〃
〃Oh yes； but they had；〃 blurted out George。
〃Of course they had； my dear； and a good thing too。 Let us return
to the man in the old costume。〃
〃That is puzzling。 Who did he say he was？〃
〃He said he was one of your men； that you had instructed him to
provide you with three dozen quails for Sunday； and that you let
your men wear the old costume if they had any of it left； provided…
…〃
This was too much for George； he started to his feet。 〃What； my
dearest mother； does all this mean？ You have been playing with me
all through。 What is coming？〃
〃A very little more； and you shall hear。 This man staid with the
Professors till nearly midnight； and then left them on the plea
that he would finish the night in the Ranger's shelter〃
〃Ranger's shelter； indeed！ Why〃
〃Hush； my darling boy； be patient with me。 He said he must be up
betimes； to run down the rest of the quails you had ordered him to
bring you。 But before leaving the Professors he beguiled them into
giving him up their permit。〃
〃Then； said George； striding about the room with his face flushed
and his eyes flashing； 〃he was the man with whom I walked down this
afternoon。〃
〃Exactly so。〃
〃And he must have changed his dress？〃
〃Exactly so。〃
〃But where and how？〃
〃At some place not very far down on the other side the range； where
he had hidden his old clothes。〃
〃And who； in the name of all that we hold most sacred； do you take
him to have beenfor I see you know more than you have yet told
me？〃
〃My son； he was Higgs the Sunchild； father to that boy whom I love
next to my husband more dearly than any one in the whole world。〃
She folded her arms about him for a second； without kissing him；
and left him。 〃And now；〃 she said； the moment she had closed the
door〃and now I may cry。〃
* * *
She did not cry for long； and having removed all trace of tears as
far as might be； she returned to her son outwardly composed and
cheerful。 〃Shall I say more now；〃 she said； seeing how grave he
looked； 〃or shall I leave you； and talk further with you to…
morrow？〃
〃Nownownow！〃
〃Good！ A little before Higgs came here； the Mayor； as he now is；
poor； handsome； generous to a fault so far as he had the
wherewithal； was adored by all the women of his own rank in
Sunch'ston。 Report said that he had adored many of them in return；
but after having known me for a very few days； he asked me to marry
him； protesting that he was a changed man。 I liked him； as every
one else did； but I was not in love with him； and said so； he said
he would give me as much time as I chose； if I would not point…
blank refuse him； and so the matter was left。
〃Within a week or so Higgs was brought to the prison； and he had
not been there long before I found； or thought I found； that I
liked him better than I liked Strong。 I was a foolbut there！ As
for Higgs； he liked； but did not love me。 If I had let him alone
he would have done the like by me； and let each other alone we did；
till the day before he was taken down to the capital。 On that day；
whether through his fault or mine I know notwe neither of us
meant itit was as though Nature； my dear； was determined that you
should not slip through her fingerswell； on that day we took it
into our heads that we were broken…hearted loversthe rest
followed。 And how； my dearest boy； as I look upon you； can I feign
repentance？
〃My husband； who never saw Higgs； and knew nothing about him except
the too little that I told him； pressed his suit； and about a month
after Higgs had gone； having recovered my passing infatuation for
him； I took kindly to the Mayor and accepted him； without telling
him what I ought to have told himbut the words stuck in my
throat。 I had not been engaged to him many days before I found
that there was something which I should not be able to hide much
longer。
〃You know； my dear； that my mother had been long dead； and I never
had a sister or any near kinswoman。 At my wits' end who I should
consult； instinct drew me to Mrs。 Humdrum； then a woman of about
five…and…forty。 She was a grand lady； while I was about the rank
of one of my own housemaids。 I had no claim on her； I went to her
as a lost dog looks into the faces of people on a road； and singles
out the one who will most surely help him。 I had had a good look
at her once as she was putting on her gloves； and I liked the way
she did it。 I marvel at my own boldness。 At any rate； I asked to
see her； and told her my story exactly as I have now told it to
you。
〃'You have no mother？' she said； when she had heard all。
〃'No。'
〃'Then； my dear； I will mother you myself。 Higgs is out of the
question； so Strong must marry you at once。 We will tell him
everything； and I； on your behalf； will insist upon it that the
engagement is at an end。 I hear good reports of him； and if we are
fair towards him he will be generous towards us。 Besides； I
believe he is so much in love with you that he would sell his soul
to get you。 Send him to me。 I can deal with him better than you
can。'〃
〃And what；〃 said George； 〃did my father； as I shall always call
him； say to all this？
〃Truth bred chivalry in him at once。 'I will marry her；' he said；
with hardly a moment's hesitation； 'but it will be better that I
should not be put on any lower footing than Higgs was。 I ought not
to be denied anything that has been allowed to him。 If I am
trusted； I can trust myself to trust and think no evil either of
Higgs or her。 They were pestered beyond endurance； as I have been
ere now。 If I am held at arm's length till I am fast bound； I
shall marry Yram just the same； but I doubt whether she and I shall
ever be quite happy。'
〃'Come to my house this evening；' said Mrs。 Humdrum； 'and you will
find Yram there。' He came； he found me； and within a fortnight we
were man and wife。〃
〃How much does not all this explain；〃 said George； smiling but very
gravely。 〃And you are going to ask me to forgive you for robbing
me of such a father。〃
〃He has forgiven me； my dear； for robbing him of such a son。 He
never reproached me。 From that day to this he has never given me a
harsh word or even syllable。 When you were born he took to you at
once； as； indeed； who could help doing？ for you were the sweetest
child both in looks and temper that it is possible to conceive。
Your having light hair and eyes made things more difficult； for
this； and your being born； almost to the day； nine months after
Higgs had left us； made people talkbut your father kept their
tongues within bounds。 They talk still； but they liked what little
they saw of Higgs； they like the Mayor and me； and they like you
the best of all； so they please themselves by having the thing both
ways。 Though； therefore； you are son to the Mayor； Higgs cast some
miraculous spell upon me before he left； whereby my son should be
in some measure his as well as the Mayor