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！
So when one of them laughs at him he can't understand it。 That's the
trouble。 I could see that when I was telling him。〃
〃Telling him！〃 repeated Miss Flagg〃Telling him what？〃
〃About what a funny story you made of it；〃 explained Holworthy。
〃About his having the nerve to ask you to feed the monkeys and to lunch
with him。〃
Miss Flagg interrupted with a gasping intake of her breath。
34
… Page 35…
THE RED CROSS GIRL
〃Oh！〃 she said softly。 〃So…so you told him that； did you？ Andwhat
else did you tell him？〃 ；
〃Only what you told usthat he said 'the day could not begin too soon'；
that he said he wouldn't let you be a manicure and wash the hands of men
who weren't fit to wash the streets you walked on。〃
There was a pause。
〃Did I tell you he said that？〃 breathed Anita Flagg。
〃You know you did；〃 said Holworthy。
There was another pause。
〃I must have been mad！〃 said the girl。
There was a longer pause and Holworthy shifted uneasily。
〃I'm afraid you are angry；〃 he ventured。
〃Angry！〃 exclaimed Miss Flagg。 〃I should say I was angry； but not
with you。 I'm very much pleased with you。 At the end of the act I'm going
to let you take me out into the lobby。〃
With his arms tightly folded； Sam sat staring unhappily at the stage
and seeing nothing。 He was sorry for himself because Anita Flagg had
destroyed his ideal of a sweet and noble womanand he was sorry for
Miss Flagg because a man had been rude to her。 That he happened to be
that man did not make his sorrow and indignation the less intense； and；
indeed； so miserable was he and so miserable were his looks； that his
friends on the stage considered sending him a note； offering； if he would
take himself out of the front row； to give him back his money at the box
office。 Sam certainly wished to take himself away； but he did not want to
admit that he was miserable； that he had behaved ill； that the presence of
Anita Flagg could spoil his eveningcould； in the slightest degree affect
him。 So he sat； completely wretched； feeling that he was in a false position；
that if he were it was his own fault； that he had acted like an ass and a
brute。 It was not a cheerful feeling。
When the curtain fell he still remained seated。 He knew before the
second act there was an interminable wait； but he did not want to chance
running into Holworthy in the lobby and he told himself it would be rude
to abandon Sister Anne。 But he now was not so conscious of the imaginary
Sister Anne as of the actual box party on his near right； who were laughing
35
… Page 36…
THE RED CROSS GIRL
and chattering volubly。 He wondered whether they laughed at him
whether Miss Flagg were again entertaining them at his expense； again
making his advances appear ridiculous。 He was so sure of it that he
flushed indignantly。 He was glad he had been rude。
And then； at his elbow； there was the rustle of silk； and a beautiful
figure； all in black velvet； towered above him； then crowded past him； and
sank into the empty seat at his side。 He was too startled to speakand Miss
Anita Flagg seemed to understand that and to wish to give him time； for；
without regarding him in the least； and as though to establish the fact that
she had come to stay； she began calmly and deliberately to remove the
bell…like hat。 This accomplished； she bent toward him； her eyes looking
straight into his； her smile reproaching him。 In the familiar tone of an old
and dear friend she said to him gently：
〃This is the day you planned for me。 Don't you think you've wasted
quite enough of it？〃
Sam looked back into the eyes； and saw in them no trace of laughter or
of mockery； but； instead； gentle reproof and appealand something else
that； in turn； begged of him to be gentle。
For a moment； too disturbed to speak； he looked at her； miserably；
remorsefully。
〃It's not Anita Flagg at all；〃 he said。 〃It's Sister Anne come back to life
again！〃 The girl shook her head。
〃No； it's Anita Flagg。 I'm not a bit like the girl you thought you met
and I did say all the； things Holworthy told you I said； but that was before
I understoodbefore I read what you wrote about Sister Anneabout the
kind of me you thought you'd met。 When I read that I knew what sort of a
man you were。 I knew you had been really kind and gentle； and I knew
you had dug out something that I did not know was therethat no one else
had found。 And I remembered how you called me Sister。 I mean the way
you said it。 And I wanted to hear it again。 I wanted you to say it。〃
She lifted her face to his。 She was very near himso near that her
shoulder brushed against his arm。 In the box above them her friends；
scandalized and amused； were watching her with the greatest interest。 Half
of the people in the now half…empty house were watching them with the
36
… Page 37…
THE RED CROSS GIRL
greatest interest。 To them； between reading advertisements on the
programme and watching Anita Flagg making desperate love to a lucky
youth in the front row； there was no question of which to choose。
The young people in the front row did not know they were observed。
They were aloneas much alone as though they were seated in a biplane；
sweeping above the clouds。
〃Say it again；〃 prompted Anita Flagg 〃Sister。〃
〃I will not！〃 returned the young man firmly。 〃But I'll say this；〃 he
whispered： 〃I'll say you're the most wonderful； the most beautiful； and the
finest woman who has ever lived！〃
Anita Flagg's eyes left his quickly； and； with her head bent； she stared
at the bass drum in the orchestra。
〃I don't know；〃 she said； 〃but that sounds just as good。〃
When the curtain was about to rise she told him to take her back to her
box； so that he could meet her friends and go on with them to supper； but
when they reached the rear of the house she halted。
〃We can see this act；〃 she said； 〃ormy car's in front of the theatrewe
might go to the park and take a turn or two or three。 Which would you
prefer？〃
〃Don't make me laugh！〃 said Sam。