登陆注册
5150800000072

第72章

Breakfast was on the table.To Irene, who came down in her dressing gown with her hair just bundled up and her face coated with powder, eight o'clock was an unearthly hour at which to begin the day.In New York she slept until eleven, read the paper until twelve, cooked and disposed of a combined breakfast-lunch at one, and if it was a matinee day, rushed round to the theater, and if it wasn't, killed time until her work called her in the evening.A boob's life, as she called it, was a trying business, but the tyranny of the bustling woman with whom she lodged was such that if breakfast was not eaten at eight o'clock it was not there to eat.Like an English undergraduate who scrambles out of bed to attend Chapel simply to avoid a fine, this product of Broadway theaterdom conformed to the rule of Mrs.Burrell's energetic house because the good air of Devon gave her a voracious appetite.Then, too, even if she missed breakfast, she had to pay for it, "so there you are, old dear."Tootles, up with the lark as usual, was down among the ducks, giving Farmer Burrell a useful hand.She delighted in doing so.From a country grandfather she had inherited a love of animals and of the early freshness of the morning that found eager expression, now that she had the chance of giving it full rein.Then, too, all that was maternal in her nature warmed at the sight and sound of all those new, soft, yellow things that waddled closely behind the wagging tails of their mothers, and it gave her a sort of sweet comfort to go down on her knees and hold one of these frightened babies against her cheek.

Crying out, "Oo-oo, Tootles," from halfway down the cinder path, Irene, stimulated by the aroma of hot coffee and toast, and eggs and bacon, returned to the living room and fell to humming, "You're here and I'm here."Tootles joined her immediately, a very different looking little person from the tired-eyed, yawning girl of the city rabbit warren.

Health was in her eyes and a little smile at the corners of her mouth.Quick work was made of the meal to the intermittent duck talk of Mrs.Burrell who came in and out of the kitchen through a creaking door,--a normal, noisy soul, to whom life was a succession of laborious days spent between the cooking stove and the washtub with a regular Saturday night, in her best clothes, at the motion-picture theater at Sag Harbor to gape at the abnormality of Theda Bara and scream with uncontrolled mirth at the ingenious antics of Charlie Chaplin.An ancient Ford made possible this weekly dip into these intense excitements.

And then the two girls left the living room with its inevitable rocking chairs and framed texts and old heating stove with a funnel through the wall and went out into the sun.

"Well, dearie," said Irene, sitting on the edge of the stoop, within sound of the squeaking of a many-armed clothes drier, teased by a nice sailing wind."Us for the yawl to-day.""You for the yawl," said Tootles."I'm staying here to help old man Burrell.It's his busy day."Irene looked up quickly."What's the idea?""Just that,--and something else.I don't want to see Martin till this evening.I moved things last night, and I want him to miss me a bit.""Ah," said Irene."I guessed it meant something when you made that quick exit when we moved up.Have you got him, dearie?"Tootles shot out a queer little sigh and nodded.

"That's fine.He's not like the others, is he? But you've played him great.Oh, I've seen it all, never you fear.Subtle, old dear, very subtle.Shouldn't have had the patience myself.Go in and win.He's worth it." Tootles put her hands over her face and a great sob shook her.

In an instant, Irene had her in her arms."Dear old Tootles," she said, "it means an awful lot to you, don't it? Don't give way, girlie.You've done mighty well so far.Now follow it up, hot and fast.That boy's got a big heart and he's generous and kind, and he won't forget.I brought you here for this, such a chance as it was, and if I can see you properly fixed up and happy, my old uncle's little bit of velvet will have come in mighty useful, eh? Got a plan for to-night?"Tootles nodded again."If I don't win to-night," she said, "it's all over.I shall have to own that he cares for me less than the dust.Ishall have to throw up my hands and creep away and hide.Oh, my God, am I such a rotten little freak as all that, Irene? Tell me, go on, tell me.""Freak? You! For Heaven's sake.Don't the two front rows give nobody but you the supper signal whenever the chorus is on?""But they're not like Martin.He's,--well, I dunno just what he is.

For one thing there's that butterfly he's married to.He's never said as much as half a word about her to me, but the look that came into his eyes when he saw her the night I told you about,--I'd be run over by a train for it any time.He's a man alright and wants love as bad as I do.I know that, but sometimes, when I watch his face, when neither of us is talking, there's a queer smile on it, like a man who's looking up at somebody, and he sets his jaw and squares his shoulders just as if he had heard a voice telling him to play straight.Many times I've seen it, Irene, and after that I have to begin all over again.I respect him for it, and it makes me love him more and more.I've never had the luck to meet a man like him.

The world would be a bit less rotten for the likes of you and me if there were more of him about, I tell you.But it hurts me like the devil because it makes me feel no better than a shoe with the buttons off and the heel all worn down, and I ask myself what's the blooming use.But last night I kissed him, and I saw his eyes glint for the first time and to-night,--to-night, Irene, I'm going to play my last card.Yes, that's what I'm going to do, play the last card in the pack.""How?" asked Irene eagerly, sympathy and curiosity bubbling to the top.

Tootles shook her head."It isn't lucky to go talking about it." she said, with a most wistful smile."You'll know whether it's the heights or the depths for me when you see me in the morning.""In the morning? Shan't you be..."

"Don't ask.Just wish me luck and go and have a good day with the boys.I shall be waiting for you at the cottage.And now I'm off down to the ducks.Say I've got a headache and don't let 'em come round and try to fetch me.So long, Irene; you've been some pal to me through this and I shall never forget."Whereupon Tootles went off to lend the unloquacious Burrell a helping hand, and Irene ran up to the bedroom to dress.

From the pompous veranda of the Hosack place Gilbert Palgrave, sick with jealousy, watched Joan swimming out to the barrels with that cursed boy in tow.And he, too, had made up his mind to play his last card that night.

Man and woman and love,--the old, inevitable story.

同类推荐
  • 民抄董宦事实

    民抄董宦事实

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 石洞集

    石洞集

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • Machiavelli

    Machiavelli

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 发觉净心经卷上

    发觉净心经卷上

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 壬辰四友二老诗赞

    壬辰四友二老诗赞

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
热门推荐
  • 矜荣

    矜荣

    新书《本王命不久矣》已开。云初穿越后重生,摘掉前世避灾的玉坠才发现,一切都不一样了……上一世眼盲心瞎送了命,这辈子什么都能看得清吗?断生死、往轮回,二更天,美男相会。却只能……清水。
  • 青铜面具

    青铜面具

    大雨,下伤了地,雷霆轰击下的清源城汪成一个水世界。罗格坐在吉普车内,注视着面前的雨水。万支雨箭似乎要刺破挡风玻璃,冲撞进来。但此刻他的心是宁静的,就像一片荷叶浮在晴朗夏日的湖面。失恋,对于每个男人来说反应是不同的。罗格下午离开槐树街7号寓所后,就这么一直坐在车里。现在,天早黑了,雨更疯了。心,却静了。
  • 春天巴士

    春天巴士

    本书内容是作者十年之间的诗歌选,以抒情为主,涵盖了亲情,爱情,友情中的各种细腻感受,主题多以生死,轮回,自由,传说为主,穿插现代人的情感状态和矛盾纠葛,最终指向人与人之间的珍重和内心的宁静。
  • 萌妻100分:霍少,别乱来

    萌妻100分:霍少,别乱来

    “呜呜……不要了,够了够了,你快停下来!”“给你打个钱而已,你能不能别叫了?”他是蓉城翻手为云覆手为雨的霸主,也是掌控全球经济命脉的全球首富,高冷矜贵,不近女色,却对她一见钟情。首富大人宠起老婆来毫不手软,一言不合就打钱。“宝贝,天下没有白吃的午餐,我刚才给你打了一百个亿,现在你要付出劳动力了……”他扯开领带,危险的向她靠近。“我不要你的钱,你……你不要过来!”看着不断靠近的他,她吓得双腿颤抖。“那可不行,我给的,你只能选择自愿接受,或者被迫接受。”“唔……”摊上一个有钱又霸道的老公,她每天都被宠到腰酸腿软。【甜宠+爽文+娱乐圈+1v1双洁】
  • 雷峰塔

    雷峰塔

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 古龙文集:碧血洗银枪

    古龙文集:碧血洗银枪

    碧玉山庄选婿之日,武林四公子——邱凤城、马如龙、沈红叶、杜青莲应邀前赴寒梅谷,但在选婿开始前,其中三人竟然相继遭遇毒手。所有的证据都指向一个人——马如龙。向来骄傲的马如龙无处争辩,也不想争辩,他该何去何从?谁又是幕后真凶?在惊险的逃亡途中,这个隐藏在碧玉山庄的惊天阴谋被一步步地揭开……
  • 危害公共安全罪

    危害公共安全罪

    本书是中华人民共和国重要基本法律知识宣讲系列丛书之一,具体内容是对我国刑法分则第一章规定的危害国家安全罪和第二章规定的危害公共安全罪,以及与其相关的司法解释等内容进行宣讲和普及。
  • 清代学术概论

    清代学术概论

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 重生进化史

    重生进化史

    这世间,有这么一个人,从不说我爱你,却做了无数件爱你的事情◆◆冰山忠犬与腹黑女王的重生进化史◆◆她是天之娇女,万般宠爱于一身他是可悲的私生子,伴着母亲的鲜血走进了残酷的家五岁那年的相遇,她成了他内心最柔软的记忆而他,却始终走不进她的心一场蓄谋已久的阴谋,她痴心错付,终至家破人亡到头来,肯陪她生死不离的,只有他一人。*她从沉睡中醒来,心心念念地人全都在原来她重生了,重生回到那个一无所知的18岁这一世,她,指天发誓,再不让任何人伤害她所爱的人北然,我从绝望归来,以后,换我守护你,可好?
  • 龙女傲情

    龙女傲情

    她像一个女王,高贵而典雅!她像一个妖精,野艳而魅惑!她像一个智者,聪慧而狡黠!而无论她像什么,她都是他们心目中的女神!他曾向苍天乞求:希望能永远陪在她的身边,即使是卑微的奴仆!他曾向世界承诺:愿与她永世相随,即使被世人所唾弃!他们为了她,可以放下男人的骄傲,可以不顾世人的眼光,可以放弃所有他们所拥有的东西!只因为,他们心中有共同的守护…(本文为现代架空,女强,中心思想是女主无敌!)