XXI

關燈
herstairs,footstepssocareful,sodeterminednottodisturb,thatthestairscrackedandwheezedmorethantheyhadeveryetbeenknowntodo.Arrivedatthetoptheypausedoutsideherdoor,andPriscilla,checkinghersobs,couldhearhowFritzingstoodtherewrestlingwithhisbody'sdeterminationtobreathetooloud.Hestoodtherelisteningforwhatseemedtoheraneternity.Shealmostscreamedatlastastheminutespassedandsheknewhewasstillthere,motionless,listening.Afteralongwhilehewentawayagainwiththesameanxiouscaretomakenonoise,andshe,withamovementofutterabandonmenttowoe,turnedoverandcriedherselfsick. Tilleveningshelaytherealone,andthenthestepscameupagain,accompaniedthistimebythetinkleofchinaandspoons.Priscillawassittingatthewindowlookingontothechurchyard,staringintothedarkwithitsswayingbranchesandfewfaintstars,andwhensheheardhimoutsidethedoorlisteningagaininanxioussilenceshegotupandopenedit. Fritzingheldaplateoffoodinonehandandaglassofmilkintheother.Theexpressiononhisfacewasabsurdlylikethatofamotheryearningoverasickchild."MeinliebesKindmeinliebesKind,"hestammeredwhenshecameout,sowoebegone,socrushed,soutterlyunlikeanyPriscillaofanyoneofhermoodsthathehadeverseenbefore.Hereyeswerered,hereyelidsheavywithtears,herfacewaspinchedandnarrower,thecornersofhermouthhadamostpiteousdroop,herveryhair,pushedbackoffherforehead,seemedsad,andhunginspiritlessmassesaboutherneckandears."MeinliebesKind,"stammeredpoorFritzingandhishandshooksothatheupsetsomeofthemilk. Priscillaleanedagainstthedoor-post.Shewasfeelingsickandgiddy."Howdreadfulthisis,"shemurmured,lookingathimwithweary,woefuleyes. "No,no—allwillbewell,"saidFritzing,strivingtobebrisk."Drinksomemilk,ma'am." "Oh,Ihavebeenwicked." "Wicked?" Fritzinghastilyputtheplateandglassdownonthefloor,andcatchingupthehandhanginglimplybyhersidepassionatelykissedit."Youarethenoblestwomanonearth,"hesaid. "Oh,"saidPriscilla,turningawayherheadandshuttinghereyesforverywearinessofsuchfutilephrases. "Ma'am,youare.Iwouldswearit.Butyouarealsoachild,andsoyouarereadyatthefirstreversetosupposeyouhavedonewithhappinessforever.Whoknows,"saidFritzingwithagreatshowofbrightbeliefinhisownprophecy,thewhilehisheartwasastone,"whoknowsbutwhatyouarenowontheverythresholdofit?" "Oh,"murmuredPriscilla,toobeatentodoanythingbutdroopherhead. "Itisinsistingonthecommonplacetoremindyou,ma'am,thatthedarkesthourcomesbeforedawn.Yetitisawell-knownnaturalphenomenon." Priscillaleanedherheadagainstthedoor-post.Shestoodtheremotionless,herhandshangingbyherside,hereyesshut,hermouthslightlyopen,theverypictureofonewhohasgivenup. "Drinksomemilk,ma'am.Atleastendeavourto." Shetooknoheedofhim. "ForGod'ssake,ma'am,donotapproachtheseslightmisadventuresinsotragicaspirit.Youhavedonenothingwrongwhatever.Iknowyouaccuseyourself.Itismadnesstodoso.I,whohavesooftenscoldedyou,whohaveneversparedthelashofmytonguewheninpastyearsIsawfairreasontoapplyit,Itellyounowwiththesamereliablecandourthatyouractionsinthisvillageandthemotivesthatpromptedthemhavebeenineachsinglecaseofastainlessnobility." Shetooknoheedofhim. Hestoopeddownandpickeduptheglass."Drinksomemilk,ma'am.Afewmouthfuls,perh