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！
off； even at night； till her fingers got so thin。〃
〃Oh； I couldn't！〃 he protested。
〃There's no other way；〃 pursued Cynthia； without noticing him。 〃Surely； it is better than having her turned out in her old agesurely； anything is better than that。 We can take the ring to…night after she goes to bed； and pry the diamond from the setting； it is held only by gold claws； you know。 Then we will put in it the piece of purple glass from Docia's wedding ringthe shape is the same； and she will never find it out。 Oh； mother！ mother！〃
〃I can't； 〃returned Christopher stubbornly； 〃it is like robbing her； and she so blind and helpless。 I cannot do it。〃
〃Then I will；〃 said Cynthia quietly； and； turning from him； she walked rapidly to the house。
Later that night； when he had gone up to his little garret loft； she came to him with the two rings in her outstretched handthe superb white diamond and the common purple setting in Docia's brass hoop。
〃Lend me your knife；〃 she said； kneeling beside the smoky oil lamp； and without a word he drew his claspknife from his pocket； opened the blade； and held the handle toward her。 She took it from him； and then knelt motionless for an instant looking at the diamond； which shone like a star in her hollowed palm。 Presently she stooped and kissed it； and then taking the fine point of the blade； carefully pried the gold claws back from the imprisoned stone。
〃She has worn it for fifty years；〃 she said softly； seeing the jewel contract and give out a deeper flame to her misty eyes。
〃It is robbery；〃 he protested。
〃It is robbery for her sake！〃 she flashed out angrily。
〃All the same； it seems bitterly cruel。〃
With deft fingers she removed the bit of purple glass from Docia's ring and inserted it between the gold claws； which she pressed securely down。 〃To the touch there is no difference；〃 she said； closing her eyes。 〃She will never know。〃
Rising from her knees； she gazed steadily at the loosened diamond lying in her hand； then； wrapping it in cotton； she placed it in a little wooden box from a jeweller of fifty years ago。 〃You must get up to…morrow and take it to town；〃 she went on。 〃Carry it to Mr。 Withershe knows us。 There is no other way；〃 she added hastily。
〃There is no other way； I know；〃 he repeated； as he held out his hand。
〃And you'll be back after sundown。〃
〃Not until night。 I shall walk over from the cross…roads。〃
For a time they were both silent； and he； walking to the narrow window； looked out into the moist darkness。 The smell of the oil lamp oppressed the atmosphere inside； and the damp wind in his face revived in a measure his lowered spirits。 He seemed suddenly able to cope with lifeand with Fletcher。
Far away there was a faint glimmer among the trees； now shining clear； now almost lost in mist； and he knew it to be a lighted window at Blake Hall。 The thought of Maria's lace stockings came to him all at once； and he was seized with a rage that was ludicrously large for so small a cause。 Confused questions whirled in his brain； struggling for recognition： 〃I am here and she is there； and what is the meaning of it all？ I know in spite of everything I might have loved her； and yet I know still better that it is not love； but hate I now feel。 What is the difference； after all？ And why this eternal bother of possibilities？〃 He turned presently and spoke：
〃And you got this without her suspecting it？〃
〃She was sleeping like a child； and Lila was in the little bed in her chamber。 Often she is restless； disturbed by her dreams； but to…night she lies very quiet； and she smiled once as if she were so happy。〃
〃And to…morrow she will wear the ring with its setting of purple glass。〃
〃She will never knowsee； it fits perfectly。 I have fastened it carefully。 After all； what does it matter to herthe ring is still the same； and the value of it was for her in the association。〃 Again he looked out of the window； and the distant glimmer gathered radiance and shone brightly among the trees。 〃I am here and she is there； and what is the meaning of it all？〃
CHAPTER IV。 A Gallant Deed that Leads to Evil
Two days later Christopher met Fletcher in the little room behind the store and paid down the three hundred dollars in the presence of Sam Murray。 Several loungers； who had been seasoning their drinks with leisurely stories； hastily drained their glasses and withdrew at Fletcher's entrance； and when the three men came together to settle the affair of the mortgage they were alone in the presence of the tobacco…stained walls； the square pine table with its dirty glasses； and the bills of notice posted beside the door。 Among them Christopher had seen the public advertisement of his farma rambling statement in large letters； signifying that the place would be sold for debt on Monday； the twenty…fifth of September； at twelve o'clock。 〃I want the money right flat down。 Are you sure you've got it？〃 were Fletcher's first words after his start of angry surprise。 For answer Christopher drew the roll of bills from his pocket and counted them out upon the table。 〃Here it is；〃 he said； 〃and I am done with you for good and allwith you and your rascally cheating ways；〃 〃Come； come； let's go easy；〃 warned Sam Murray； a fat； well…to…do farmer； who was accustomed to act the part of a lawyer in small transactions。 Fletcher flushed purple and threw off his rage in a sneering guffaw。 〃Now that sounds well from him； doesn't it？〃 he inquired 〃when everybody knows he hasn't a beggarly stitch on earth but that strip of land he thinks so much of。〃 〃And whose fault is that； Bill Fletcher？〃 demanded the young man； throwing the last note down。 〃Oh； well； I don't bear you any grudge；〃 responded Fletcher； with an abrupt assumption of goodnatured tolerance； 〃and to show I'm a well…meaning man in spite of abuse； I'll let the debt run on two years longer at the same interest if you choose。〃
Christopher laughed shortly。 〃That's all right； Sam；〃 he said； without replying directly to the offer。 〃I owe him too much already to hope to pay it back in a single lifetime。〃 〃Well； you're a cantankerous； hard…headed fool； that's all I've got to say；〃 burst out Fletcher； swallowing hard； and the sooner you get to the poorhouse along your own road the better it'll be for the rest of us。〃 〃You may be sure I'll take care not to go along yours。 I'll have honest men about me； at any rate。〃 〃Then it's more than you've got a right to expect。〃
Christopher grew pale to the lips。 〃What do you mean； you scoundrel？〃 he cried； taking a single step forward。 〃Come； come； let's go easy；〃 said Sam Murray persuasively； rising from his chair at the table。 〃Now that this little business is all settled there's no need for another word。 I haven't much opinion of words myself； anyhow。 They're apt to set fire to a dry tongue； that's what I say。〃 〃What do you mean？〃 repeated Christopher； without swerving from his steady gaze。 Tom Spade glanced in at the open door； and； catching Fletcher's eye； hurriedly retreated。 A small boy with a greasy face came in and gathered up the glasses with a clanking noise。 〃What do you mean； you coward？〃 demanded Christopher for the third time。 He had not moved an inch from the position he ha