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！
delicacy might have kept this disclosure to yourself。 I only recognize in
your frankness that perfect community of thought and sentiment which
should exist between original natures。〃
I looked up； he had already forgotten my presence； and was engaged in
pulling off his boots and coat。 This done； he sank down in an arm…chair
before the fire； and ran the poker wearily through his hair。 I could not help
pitying him。
The wind howled dismally without； and the rain beat furiously against
the windows。 I crept toward him and seated myself on a low stool beside
his chair。
Presently he turned； without seeing me； and placed his foot absently in
my lap。 I affected not to notice it。 But he started and looked down。
〃You here yetCarrothead？ Ah； I forgot。 Do you speak French？〃
〃Oui； Monsieur〃
〃Taisez…vous！〃 he said sharply； with singular purity of accent。 I
complied。 The wind moaned fearfully in the chimney； and the light burned
dimly。 I shuddered in spite of myself。 〃Ah； you tremble； girl！〃
〃It is a fearful night。〃
〃Fearful！ Call you this fearful； ha！ ha！ ha！ Look！ you wretched little
atom； look！〃 and he dashed forward； and； leaping out of the window； stood
like a statue in the pelting storm； with folded arms。 He did not stay long；
but in a few minutes returned by way of the hall chimney。 I saw from the
way that he wiped his feet on my dress that he had again forgotten my
presence。
〃You are a governess。 What can you teach？〃 he asked； suddenly and
fiercely thrusting his face in mine。
〃Manners！〃 I replied； calmly。
〃Ha！ teach ME！〃
〃You mistake yourself；〃 I said； adjusting my mittens。 〃Your manners
require not the artificial restraint of society。 You are radically polite； this
impetuosity and ferociousness is simply the sincerity which is the basis of
a proper deportment。 Your instincts are moral； your better nature； I see； is
82
… Page 83…
CONDENSED NOVELS
religious。 As St。 Paul justly remarkssee chap。 6； 8； 9； and 10〃
He seized a heavy candlestick； and threw it at me。 I dodged it
submissively but firmly。
〃Excuse me；〃 he remarked； as his under jaw slowly relaxed。 〃Excuse
me； Miss Mixbut I can't stand St。 Paul！ Enoughyou are engaged。〃
83
… Page 84…
CONDENSED NOVELS
CHAPTER IV。
I followed the housekeeper as she led the way timidly to my room。
As we passed into a dark hall in the wing； I noticed that it was closed by
an iron gate with a grating。 Three of the doors on the corridor were
likewise grated。 A strange noise； as of shuffling feet and the howling of
infuriated animals； rang through the hall。 Bidding the housekeeper good
night； and taking the candle； I entered my bedchamber。
I took off my dress； and； putting on a yellow flannel nightgown； which
I could not help feeling did not agree with my complexion； I composed
myself to rest by reading Blair's Rhetoric and Paley's Moral Philosophy。 I
had just put out the light； when I heard voices in the corridor。 I listened
attentively。 I recognized Mr。 Rawjester's stern tones。
〃Have you fed No。 1？〃 he asked。
〃Yes； sir；〃 said a gruff voice； apparently belonging to a domestic。
〃How's No。 2？〃
〃She's a little off her feed； just now； but will pick up in a day or two！〃
〃And No。 3？〃
〃Perfectly furious； sir。 Her tantrums are ungovernable。〃
〃Hush！〃
The voices died away； and I sank into a fitful slumber。
I dreamed that I was wandering through a tropical forest。 Suddenly I
saw the figure of a gorilla approaching me。 As it neared me； I recognized
the features of Mr。 Rawjester。 He held his hand to his side as if in pain。 I
saw that he had been wounded。 He recognized me and called me by name；
but at the same moment the vision changed to an Ashantee village； where；
around the fire； a group of negroes were dancing and participating in some
wild Obi festival。 I awoke with the strain still ringing in my ears。
〃Hokee…pokee wokee fum！〃
Good Heavens！ could I be dreaming？ I heard the voice distinctly on
the floor below； and smelt something burning。 I arose； with an indistinct
presentiment of evil； and hastily putting some cotton in my ears and tying
a towel about my head； I wrapped myself in a shawl and rushed down
stairs。 The door of Mr。 Rawjester's room was open。 I entered。
84
… Page 85…
CONDENSED NOVELS
Mr。 Rawjester lay apparently in a deep slumber； from which even the
clouds of smoke that came from the burning curtains of his bed could not
rouse him。 Around the room a large and powerful negress； scantily attired；
with her head adorned with feathers； was dancing wildly； accompanying
herself with bone castanets。 It looked like some terrible fetich。
I did not lose my calmness。 After firmly emptying the pitcher； basin；
and slop…jar on the burning bed； I proceeded cautiously to the garden； and；
returning with the garden…engine； I directed a small stream at Mr。
Rawjester。
At my entrance the gigantic negress fled。 Mr。 Rawjester yawned and
woke。 I explained to him； as he rose dripping from the bed； the reason of
my presence。 He did not seem to be excited； alarmed； or discomposed。 He
gazed at me curiously。
〃So you risked your life to save mine； eh？ you canary…colored teacher
of infants。〃
I blushed modestly； and drew my shawl tightly over my yellow flannel
nightgown。
〃You love me； Mary Jane；don't deny it！ This trembling shows it！〃 He
drew me closely toward him； and said； with his deep voice tenderly
modulated：
〃How's her pooty tootens；did she get her 'ittle tootens wet； bess
her？〃
I understood his allusion to my feet。 I glanced down and saw that in
my hurry I had put on a pair of his old india…rubbers。 My feet were not
small or pretty； and the addition did not add to their beauty。
〃Let me go； sir；〃 I remarked quietly。 〃This is entirely improper； it sets
a bad example for your child。〃 And I firmly but gently extricated myself
from his grasp。 I approached the door。 He seemed for a moment buried in
deep thought。
〃You say this was a negress？〃
〃Yes； sir。〃
〃Humph； No。 1； I suppose？〃
〃Who is Number One； sir？〃
〃My FIRST；〃 he remarked； with a significant and sarcastic smile。 Then；
85
… Page 86…