CHAPTER XIII
關燈
小
中
大
ightforhoops.Andifchildrencan’tbetrustedinthestreets,theirmothersshouldkeepthemathome.”
Marymadenoanswertothisremark,butfrowned.
Sheleantbackontheseatandlookedaboutheratthegreathousesbreakingthesoftgray-blueskywiththeirchimneys.
“Ah,well,”shesaid,“London’safineplacetolivein.IbelieveIcouldsitandwatchpeoplealldaylong.Ilikemyfellow-creatures....”
Ralphsighedimpatiently.
“Yes,Ithinkso,whenyoucometoknowthem,”sheadded,asifhisdisagreementhadbeenspoken.
“That’sjustwhenIdon’tlikethem,”hereplied.“Still,Idon’tseewhyyoushouldn’tcherishthatillusion,ifitpleasesyou.”Hespokewithoutmuchvehemenceofagreementordisagreement.Heseemedchilled.
“Wakeup,Ralph!You’rehalfasleep!”Marycried,turningandpinchinghissleeve.“Whathaveyoubeendoingwithyourself?Moping?Working?Despisingtheworld,asusual?”
Ashemerelyshookhishead,andfilledhispipe,shewenton:
“It’sabitofapose,isn’tit?”
“Notmorethanmostthings,”hesaid.
“Well,”Maryremarked,“I’veagreatdealtosaytoyou,butImustgoon—wehaveacommittee.”Sherose,buthesitated,lookingdownuponhimrathergravely.“Youdon’tlookhappy,Ralph,”shesaid.“Isitanything,orisitnothing?”
Hedidnotimmediatelyanswerher,butrose,too,andwalkedwithhertowardsthegate.Asusual,hedidnotspeaktoherwithoutconsideringwhetherwhathewasabouttosaywasthesortofthingthathecouldsaytoher.
“I’vebeenbothered,”hesaidatlength.“Partlybywork,andpartlybyfamilytroubles.Charleshasbeenbehavinglikeafool.HewantstogoouttoCanadaasafarmer—”
“Well,there’ssomethingtobesaidforthat,”saidMary
