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！
they left the lamps behind； and were fully on the dark turnpike。
The sleet rattled against the hood and leathern apron of the buggy；
gusts of fierce wind filled the vehicle and seemed to hold it back；
but Demorest did not appear to mind it。 Blandford thrust his hands
deeply into his pockets for warmth； and contracted his shoulders as
if in dogged patience。 Yet； in spite of the fact that he was
tired； cold； and anxious to see his wife； he was conscious of a
secret satisfaction in submitting to the caprices of this old
friend of his boyhood。 After all； Dick Demorest knew what he was
about； and had never led him astray by his autocratic will。 It was
safe to let Dick have his way。 It was true it was generally Dick's
own waybut he made others think it was theirs tooor would have
been theirs had they had the will and the knowledge to project it。
He looked up comfortably at the handsome； resolute profile of the
man who had taken selfish possession of him。 Many women had done
the same。
〃Suppose if you were to tell your wife I was going to reform；〃 said
Demorest； 〃it might be different； eh？ She'd want to take me into
the church'another sinner saved；' and all that； eh？〃
〃No；〃 said Blandford； earnestly。 〃Joan isn't as rigid as all that；
Dick。 What she's got against you is the common report of your free
way of living； and thatcome now； you know yourself； Dick； that
isn't exactly the thing a woman brought up in her style can stand。
Why； she thinks I'm unregenerate； andwell； a man can't carry on
business always like a class meeting。 But are you thinking of
reforming？〃 he continued； trying to get a glimpse of his
companion's eyes。
〃Perhaps。 It depends。 Nowthere's a woman I know〃
〃What； another？ and you call this going to reform？〃 interrupted
Blandford； yet not without a certain curiosity in his manner。
〃Yes； that's just why I think of reforming。 For this one isn't
exactly like any otherat least as far as I know。〃
〃That means you don't know anything about her。〃
〃Wait； and I'll tell you。〃 He drew the reins tightly to accelerate
the horse's speed； and； half turning to his companion； without；
however； moving his eyes from the darkness before him； spoke
quickly between the blasts： 〃I've seen her only half a dozen times。
Met her first in 6。40 train out from Boston last fall。 She sat
next to me。 Covered up with wraps and veils； never looked twice at
her。 She spoke firstkind of half bold； half frightened way。
Then got more comfortable and unwound herself； you know； and I saw
she was young and not bad…looking。 Thought she was some school…
girl out for a larkbut rather new at it。 Inexperienced； you
know； but quite able to take care of herself； by George！ and
although she looked and acted as if she'd never spoken to a
stranger all her life； didn't mind the kind of stuff I talked to
her。 Rather encouraged it； and laughedsuch a pretty little odd
laugh； as if laughing wasn't in her usual line； either； and she
didn't know how to manage it。 Well； it ended in her slipping out
at one end of the car when we arrived； while I was looking out for
a cab for her at the other。〃 He stopped to recover from a stronger
gust of wind。 〃II thought it a good joke on me； and let the
thing drop out of my mind； although； mind you； she'd promised to
meet me a month afterwards at the same time and place。 Well； when
the day came I happened to be in Boston； and went to the station。
Don't know why I went； for I didn't for a moment think she'd keep
her appointment。 First； I couldn't find her in the train； but
after we'd started she came along out of some seat in the corner；
prettier than ever； holding out her hand。〃 He drew a long
inspiration。 〃You can bet your life； Ned； I didn't let go that
little hand the rest of the journey。〃
His passion； or what passed for it； seemed to impart its warmth to
the vehicle； and even stirred the chilled pulses of the man beside
him。
〃Well； who and what was she？〃
〃Didn't find out； don't know now。 For the first thing she made me
promise was not to follow her； nor to try to know her name。 In
return she said she would meet me again on another train near
Hartford。 She didand again and againbut always on the train
for about an hour； going or coming。 Then she missed an appointment。
I was regularly cut up； I tell you； and swore as she hadn't kept her
word； I wouldn't keep mine； and began to hunt for her。 In the midst
of it I saw her accidentally； no matter where； I followed her
towell； that's no matter to you； either。 Enough that I saw her
againand； well； Ned； such is the influence of that girl over me
that； by George！ she made me make the same promise again！〃
Blandford； a little disappointed at his friend's dogmatic
suppression of certain material facts； shrugged his shoulders。
〃If that's all your story；〃 he said； 〃I must say I see no prospect
of your reforming。 It's the old thing over again； only this time
you are evidently the victim。 She's some designing creature who
will have you if she hasn't already got you completely in her
power。〃
〃You don't know what you're talking about； Ned； and you'd better
quit；〃 returned Demorest； with cheerful authoritativeness。 〃I tell
you that that's the sort of girl I'm going to marry； if I can； and
settle down upon。 You can make a memorandum of that； old man； if
you like。〃
〃Then I don't really see why you want to talk to ME about it。 And
if you are thinking that such a story would go down for a moment
with Joan as an evidence of your reformation； you're completely
out； Dick。 Was that your idea？〃
〃Yesand I can tell you； you're wrong again； Ned。 You don't know
anything about women。 You do just as I saydo you understand？
and don't interfere with your own wrong…headed opinions of what
other people will think； and I'll take the risks of Mrs。 Blandford
giving me good advice。 Your wife has got a heap more sense on
these subjects than you have； you bet。 You just tell her that I
want to marry the girl and want her to help methat I mean
business； this timeand you'll see how quick she'll come down。
That's all I want of you。 Will you or won't you？〃
With an outward expression of sceptical consideration and an inward
suspicion of the peculiar force of this man's dogmatic insight；
Blandford assented； with； I fear； the mental reservation of telling
the story to his wife in his own way。 He was surprised when his
friend suddenly drew the horse up sharply； and after a moment's
pause began to back him； cramp the wheels of the buggy and then
skilfully； in the almost profound darkness； turn the vehicle and
horse completely round to the opposite direction。
〃Then you are not going over the bridge？〃 said Blandford。
Demorest made an imperative gesture of silence。 The tumultuous
rush and roar of swollen and rapid water came from the darkness
behind them。 〃There's been another break…out somewhere； and I
reckon the bridge has got all it can do to…night to keep itself out
of water without taking us over。 At least； as I promised to set
you down at your wife's door inside of the hour； I don't propose to
try。〃 As the horse now travelled more easily with the wi