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！
She looked at Clementina with recurring grudge； and the girl could not
bear it。
〃Then why don't you tear it up； and make another？ I don't want anything；
unless you want me to have it； and I'd ratha not have anything。〃
〃Yes； and what would folks say； afta youa taken' care of me？〃
〃Do you think I do it fo' that？〃
〃What do you do it fo'？〃
〃What did you want me to come with you fo'？〃
〃That's true。〃 Mrs。 Lander brightened and warmed again。 〃I guess it's
all right。 I guess I done right； and I got to be satisfied。 I presume I
could get the consul to make me a will any time。〃
Clementina did not relent so easily。 〃Mrs。 Landa； whateva you do I don't
ca'e to know it； and if you talk to me again about this I shall go home。
I would stay with you as long as you needed me； but I can't if you keep
bringing this up。〃
〃I suppose you think you don't need me any moa！ Betta not be too su'a。〃
The girl jumped to her feet； and Mrs。 Lander interposed。 〃Well； the'a！
I didn't mean anything； and I won't pesta you about it any moa。 But I
think it's pretty ha'd。 Who am I going to talk it ova with； then？〃
〃You can talk it ova with the vice…consul；〃 paid Clementina； at random。
〃Well； that's so。〃 Mrs。 Lander let Clementina get her ready for the
night； in sign of returning amity； when she was angry with her she always
refused her help； and made her send Maddalena。
The summer heat increased； and the sick woman suffered from it； but she
could not be persuaded that she had strength to get away； though the
vice…consul； whom she advised with； used all his logic with her。 He was
a gaunt and weary widower； who described himself as being officially
between hay and grass； the consul who appointed him had resigned after
going home； and a new consul had not yet been sent out to remove him。
On what she called her well days Mrs。 Lander went to visit him； and she
did not mind his being in his shirt…sleeves； in the bit of garden where
she commonly found him； with his collar and cravat off； and clouded in
his own smoke； when she was sick she sent for him； to visit her。 He made
excuses as often as she could； and if he saw Mrs。 Lander's gondola coming
down the Grand Canal to his house he hurried on his cast clothing； and
escaped to the Piazza； at whatever discomfort and risk from the heat。
〃I don't know how you stand it； Miss Claxon；〃 he complained to
Clementina； as soon as he learned that she was not a blood relation of
Mrs。 Lander's； and divined that she had her own reservations concerning
her。 〃But that woman will be the death of me if she keeps this up。 What
does she think I'm here for？ If this goes on much longer I'll resign。
The salary won't begin to pay for it。 What am I going to do？ I don't
want to hurt her feelings； or not to help her； but I know ten times as
much about Mrs。 Lander's liver as I do about my own； now。〃
He treated Clementina as a person of mature judgment and a sage
discretion； and he accepted what comfort she could offer him when she
explained that it was everything for Mrs。 Lander to have him to talk
with。 〃She gets tied of talking to me；〃 she urged； 〃and there's nobody
else； now。〃
〃Why don't she hire a valet de place； and talk to him？ I'd hire one
myself for her。 It would be a good deal cheaper for me。 It's as much as
I can do to stand this weather as it is。〃
The vice…consul laughed forlornly in his exasperation； but he agreed with
Clementina when she said； in further excuse； that Mrs。 Lander was really
very sick。 He pushed back his hat； and scratched his head with a
grimace。
〃Of course； we've got to remember she's sick； and I shall need a little
sympathy myself if she keeps on at me this way。 I believe I'll tell her
about my liver next time； and see how she likes it。 Look here； Miss
Claxon！ Couldn't we get her off to some of those German watering places
that are good for her complaints？ I believe it would be the best thing
for hernot to mention me。〃
Mrs。 Lander was moved by the suggestion which he made in person
afterwards； it appealed to her old nomadic instinct； but when the consul
was gone she gave it up。 〃We couldn't git the'e； Clementina。 I got to
stay he'e till I git up my stren'th。 I suppose you'd be glad enough to
have me sta't； now the'e's nobody he'e but me；〃 she added； suspiciously。
〃You git this scheme up； or him？〃
Clementina did not defend herself； and Mrs。 Lander presently came to her
defence。 〃I don't believe but what he meant it fo' the bestor you；
whichever it was； and I appreciate it； but all is I couldn't git off。 I
guess this aia will do me as much good as anything； come to have it a
little coola。〃
They went every afternoon to the Lido； where a wheeled chair met them；
and Mrs。 Lander was trundled across the narrow island to the beach。 In
the evenings they went to the Piazza； where their faces and figures had
become known； and the Venetians gossipped them down to the last fact of
their relation with an accuracy creditable to their ingenuity in the
affairs of others。 To them Mrs。 Lander was the sick American； very rich；
and Clementina was her adoptive daughter； who would have her millions
after her。 Neither knew the character they bore to the amiable and
inquisitive public of the Piazza； or cared for the fine eyes that aimed
their steadfast gaze at them along the tubes of straw…barreled Virginia
cigars； or across little cups of coffee。 Mrs。 Lander merely remarked
that the Venetians seemed great for gaping； and Clementina was for the
most part innocent of their stare。
She rested in the choice she had made in a content which was qualified by
no misgiving。 She was sorry for Gregory； when she remembered him； but
her thought was filled with some one else； and she waited in faith and
patience for the answer which should come to the letter she had written。
She did not know where her letter would find him； or when she should hear
from him； she believed that she should hear； and that was enough。 She
said to herself that she would not lose hope if no answer came for
months； but in her heart she fixed a date for the answer by letter； and
an earlier date for some word by cable； but she feigned that she did not
depend upon this； and when no word came she convinced herself that she
had not expected any。
It was nearing the end of the term which she had tacitly given her lover
to make the first sign by letter； when one morning Mrs。 Lander woke her。
She wished to say that she had got the strength to leave Venice at last；
and she was going as soon as their trunks could be packed。 She had
dressed herself； and she moved about restless and excited。 Clementina
tried to reason her out of her haste； but she irritated her； and fixed
her in her determination。 〃I want to get away； I tell you； I want to get
away；〃 she answered all persuasion； and there seemed something in her
like the wish to escape from more than the oppressive environment； though
she spoke of nothing but the heat and the smell of the canal。 〃I believe
it's that； moa than any one thing； that's kept me sick he'e；〃 she said。
〃I tell you it's the malariar； and you'll be down； too； if you stay。〃
She made C