CHAPTER ONE
關燈
小
中
大
ppedArcher'shand.Onsheploddedupthehill.
"WhatdidIaskyoutoremember?"shesaid.
"Idon'tknow,"saidArcher.
"Well,Idon'tknoweither,"saidBetty,humorouslyandsimply,andwhoshalldenythatthisblanknessofmind,whencombinedwithprofusion,motherwit,oldwives'tales,haphazardways,momentsofastonishingdaring,humour,andsentimentality—whoshalldenythatintheserespectseverywomanisnicerthananyman?
Well,BettyFlanders,tobeginwith.
Shehadherhanduponthegardengate.
"Themeat!"sheexclaimed,strikingthelatchdown.
Shehadforgottenthemeat.
TherewasRebeccaatthewindow.
ThebarenessofMrs.Pearce'sfrontroomwasfullydisplayedatteno'clockatnightwhenapowerfuloillampstoodonthemiddleofthetable.Theharshlightfellonthegardencutstraightacrossthelawnlitupachild'sbucketandapurpleasterandreachedthehedge.Mrs.Flandershadlefthersewingonthetable.Therewereherlargereelsofwhitecottonandhersteelspectaclesherneedle-caseherbrownwoolwoundroundanoldpostcard.TherewerethebulrushesandtheStrandmagazinesandthelinoleumsandyfromtheboys'boots.Adaddy-long-legsshotfromcornertocornerandhitthelampglobe.Thewindblewstraightdashesofrainacrossthewindow,whichflashedsilverastheypassedthroughthelight.Asingleleaftappedhurriedly,persistently,upontheglass.Therewasahurricaneoutatsea.
Archercouldnotsleep.
Mrs.Flandersstoopedoverhim."Thinkofthefairies,"saidBettyFlanders."Thinkofthelovely,lovelybirdssettlingdownontheirnests.Nowshutyoureyesandseetheoldmotherbirdwithaworminherbeak.Nowturnandshutyoureyes,"shemurmured,"andshutyoureyes."
Thelodging-houseseemedfullofgurglingandrushingthecisternoverflowingwaterbubblingandsqueakingandrunningalongthepipesandstreamingdownthewindows.
"What'sallthatwaterrushingin?"murmuredArcher.
"It'sonlythebathwaterrunningaway,"saidMrs.Flanders.
Somethingsnappedoutofdoors.
"Isay,won'tthatsteamersink?"saidArcher,openinghiseyes.
"Ofcourseitwon't,"saidMrs.Flanders."TheCaptain'sinbedlongago.Shutyoureyes,andthinkofthefairies,fastasleep,undertheflowers."
"Ithoughthe'dnevergetoff—suchahurricane,"shewhisperedtoRebecca,whowasbendingoveraspirit-lampinthesmallroomnextdoor.Thewindrushedoutside,butthesmallflameofthespirit-lampburntquietly,shadedfromthecotbyabookstoodonedge.
"Didhetakehisbottlewell?"Mrs.Flanderswhispered,andRebeccanoddedandwenttothecotandturneddownthequilt,andMrs.Flandersbentoverandlookedanxiouslyatthebaby,asleep,butfrowning.Thewi
