XXI
關燈
小
中
大
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."MeinliebesKind—meinliebesKind,"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