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！
Tetlow。 A confused look in the fat； slow face made him say sharply：
〃What does this mean； Tetlow？〃
〃Not so loud； Fred；〃 said Tetlow； closing the door into the public hall。 〃She's in the bedroomprobably asleep。 She's been here since yesterday。〃
〃You brought her back？〃 demanded Norman。
〃She wanted to come。 I simply〃
Norman made a silencing gesture。 Tetlow's faltering voice stopped short。 Norman stood near the table； his hands deep in his trousers' pockets； his gaze fixed upon the hat and jacket。 When Tetlow's agitation could bear the uncertainties of that silence no longer； he went on：
〃Fred； you mustn't forget how young and inexperienced she is。 She's been foolish； but nothing more。 She's as pure as when she came into the world。 And it's the truth that she wanted to come back。 I saw it as soon as I began to talk with her。〃
〃What are you chattering about？〃 said Norman fiercely。 〃Why did you meddle in my affairs？ Why did you bring her back？〃
〃I knew she needed you；〃 pleaded Tetlow。 〃Then； tooI was afraid I knew how you acted before； and I thought you'd not get your gait again until you had her。〃
Norman gave a short sardonic laugh。 〃If you'd only stop trying to understand me！〃 he said。
Tetlow was utterly confused。 〃But； Fred； you don't realizenot all；〃 he cried imploringly。 〃She discoveredshe thinks； I believethat issheshe that probablythat in a few months you'll be something more than a husbandand she something more than a wifethat youthatyou and she will be a father and a mother。〃
Tetlow's meaning slowly dawned on Norman。 He seated himself in his favorite attitude； legs sprawled； fingers interlaced behind his head。
〃Wasn't I right to bring her backto tell her she needn't fear to come？〃 pleaded Tetlow。
Norman made no reply。 After a brief silence he said： 〃Well； good night； old man。 Come round to my office any time after ten。〃 He rose and gave Tetlow his hand。 〃And arrange for Galloway whenever you like。 Good night。〃
Tetlow hesitated。 〃Fredyou'll not be harsh to her？〃 he said。
Norman smileda satirical smile； yet exquisitely gentle。 〃If you ONLY wouldn't try to understand me； Bill；〃 he said。
When he was alone he sat lost in thought。 At last he rang for a bell boy。 And when the boy came； he said： 〃That door there〃indicating one in the opposite wall of the sitting room〃what does it lead into？〃
〃Another bedroom； sir。〃
〃Unlock it； and tell them at the office I wish that room added to my suite。〃
As soon as the additional bedroom was at his dis… posal； he went in and began to undress。 When he had taken off coat and waistcoat he paused to telephone to the office a call for eight o'clock。 As he finished and hung up the receiver； a sound from the direction of the sitting room made him glance in there。 On the threshold of the other bedroom stood his wife。 She was in her nightgown； her hair； done in a single thick braid； hung down across her bosom。 There was in the room and upon her childish loveliness the strange commingling of lights and shadows that falls when the electricity is still on and the early morning light is pushing in at the windows。 They looked at each other in silence for some time。 If she was frightened or in the least embarrassed she did not show it。 She simply looked at him； while ever so slowly a smile dawned a gleam in the eyes； a flutter round the lips； growing merrier and merrier。 He did not smile。 He continued to regard her gravely。
〃I heard you and Mr。 Tetlow come in；〃 she said。 〃Thenyou talked so longI fell asleep again。 I only this minute awakened。〃
〃Well； now you can go to sleep again；〃 said he。
〃But I'm not a bit sleepy。 What are you doing in that room ？〃
She advanced toward his door。 He stood aside。 She peeped in。 She was so close to him that her nightgown brushed the bosom of his shirt。 〃Another bedroom！〃 she exclaimed。 〃Just like ours。〃
〃I didn't wish to disturb you；〃 said he； calm and grave。
〃But you wouldn't have been disturbing me；〃 protested she； leaning against the door frame； less than two feet away and directly facing him。
〃I'll stay on here；〃 said he。
She gazed at him with great puzzled eyes。 〃Aren't you glad I'm back？〃 she asked。
〃Certainly；〃 said he with a polite smile。 〃But I must get some sleep。〃 And he moved away。
〃You must let me tell you how I happened to go and why I came〃
〃Please；〃 he interrupted； looking at her with a piercing though not in the least unfriendly expression that made her grow suddenly pale and thoughtful。 〃I do not wish to hear about itnot nownot ever。 Tetlow told me all that it's necessary for me to know。 You have come to stay； I assume？〃
〃Yesif〃her lip quivered〃if you'll let me。〃
〃There can be no question of that；〃 said he with the same polite gravity he had maintained throughout。
〃You want me to leave you alone？〃
〃Please。 I need sleep badlyand I've only three hours。〃
〃You areangry with me？〃
He looked placidly into her lovely； swimming eyes。 〃Not in the least。〃
〃But how can you help being？ I acted dreadfully。〃
He smiled gently。 〃But you are backand the incident is closed。〃
She looked down at the carpet； her fingers playing with her braid； twisting and untwisting its strands。 He stood waiting to close the door。 She said； without lifting her eyessaid in a quiet； expressionless way； 〃I have killed your love？〃
〃I'll not trouble you any more；〃 evaded he。 And he laid his hand significantly upon the knob。
〃I don't understand；〃 she murmured。 Then； with a quick apologetic glance at him； 〃But I'm very inconsiderate。 You want to sleep。 Good night。〃
〃Good night；〃 said he； beginning to close the door。
She impulsively stood close before him； lifted her small white face； as if for a kiss。 〃Do you forgive me？〃 she asked。 〃I was foolish。 I didn't understand till I went back。 Thennothing was the same。 And I knew I wasn't fitted for that lifeand didn't really care for himand〃
He kissed her on the brow。 〃Don't agitate yourself；〃 said he。 〃And we will never speak of this again。〃
She shrank as if he had struck her。 Her head drooped； and her shoulders。 When she was clear of the door； he quietly closed it。
XIX
IT was not many minutes after ten when Tetlow hurried into Norman's office。 〃Galloway's coming at eleven！〃 said he； with an air of triumph。
〃So you mulled over what I said and decided that I was not altogether drunk？〃
〃I wasn't sure of that；〃 replied Tetlow。 〃But I was afraid you'd be offended if I didn't try to get him。 He gave me no trouble at all。 As soon as I told him you'd be glad to see him at your office； he astounded me by saying he'd come。〃
〃He and I have had dealings；〃 said Norman。 〃He understood at once。 I always know my way when I'm dealing with a big man。 It's only the little people that are muddled and complex。 I hope you'll not forget this lesson； Billy。〃
〃I shan't；〃 promised Tetlow。
〃We are to be partners；〃 pursued Norman。 〃We shall be intimately associated for years。 You'll save me a vast amount of time and energy and yourself a vast amount of fuming and fretting； if you'll simply accept what I say； without discussion。 When I want discussion I'll