CHAPTER XV
關燈
小
中
大
mgoingtodoanactofChristiancharity,andasforthedamageitwilldomyreputation,why,youknowIhaven’tanymatrimonialchancesanyhow,sowhatdoesitmatter?’Andwiththatsheturnedandwentout.”
“ThelastwordsIsaidtoher,”saidCousinSticklespathetically,“were,‘Whowillrubmybackatnightsnow?’Andshesaid—shesaid—butno,Icannotrepeatit.”
“Nonsense,”saidUncleBenjamin.“Outwithit.Thisisnotimetobesqueamish.”
“Shesaid”—CousinStickles’voicewaslittlemorethanawhisper—“shesaid—‘Oh,darn!’”
“TothinkIshouldhavelivedtohearmydaughterswearing!”sobbedMrs.Frederick.
“It—itwasonlyimitationswearing,”falteredCousinStickles,desirousofsmoothingthingsovernowthattheworstwasout.Butshehadnevertoldaboutthebannister.
“Itwillbeonlyastepfromthattorealswearing,”saidUncleJamessternly.
“Theworstofthis”—Mrs.Frederickhuntedforadryspotonherhandkerchief—“isthateveryonewillknownowthatsheisderanged.Wecan’tkeepitasecretanylonger.Oh,Icannotbearit!”
“Youshouldhavebeenstricterwithherwhenshewasyoung,”saidUncleBenjamin.
“Idon’tseehowIcouldhavebeen,”saidMrs.Frederick—truthfullyenough.
“TheworstfeatureofthecaseisthatSnaithscoundrelisalwayshangingaroundRoaringAbel’s,”saidUncleJames.“IshallbethankfulifnothingworsecomesofthismadfreakthanafewweeksatRoaringAbel’s.CissyGaycan’tlivemuchlonger.”
“Andshedidn’teventakeherflannelpetticoat!”lamentedCousinStickles.
“I’llseeAmbroseMarshagainaboutthis,”saidUncleBenjamin—meaningValancy,nottheflannelpetticoat.
“I’llseeLawyerFerguson,”saidUncleJames.
“Meanwhile,”addedUncleBenjamin,“letusbecalm.”