Chapter 9
關燈
小
中
大
im.“ButtherearemanystreetsinMonterianoheissometimesdifficulttofind.Icouldnotfindhimthismorning.”
“GofirsttotheCaffeGaribaldi,”saidPhilip,rememberingthatthiswasthehourappointedbyhisfriendsofyesterday.
Heoccupiedthetimehewasleftalonenotinthinking—therewasnothingtothinkabouthesimplyhadtotellafewfacts—butintryingtomakeaslingforhisbrokenarm.Thetroublewasintheelbow-joint,andaslongashekeptthismotionlesshecouldgoonasusual.Butinflammationwasbeginning,andtheslightestjargavehimagony.TheslingwasnotfittedbeforeGinoleaptupthestairs,crying—
“Soyouareback!HowgladIam!Weareallwaiting—”
Philiphadseentoomuchtobenervous.Inlow,eventoneshetoldwhathadhappenedandtheother,alsoperfectlycalm,heardhimtotheend.InthesilencePerfettacalledupthatshehadforgottenthebaby’seveningmilkshemustfetchit.WhenshehadgoneGinotookupthelampwithoutaword,andtheywentintotheotherroom.
“Mysisterisill,”saidPhilip,“andMissAbbottisguiltless.Ishouldbegladifyoudidnothavetotroublethem.”
Ginohadstoopeddownbytheway,andwasfeelingtheplacewherehissonhadlain.NowandthenhefrownedalittleandglancedatPhilip.
“Itisthroughme,”hecontinued.“IthappenedbecauseIwascowardlyandidle.Ihavecometoknowwhatyouwilldo.”
Ginohadlefttherug,andbegantopatthetablefromtheend,asifhewasblind.TheactionwassouncannythatPhilipwasdriventointervene.
“Gently,man,gentlyheisnothere.”
Hewentupandtouchedhimontheshoulder.
Hetwitchedaway,andbegantopasshishandsoverthingsmorerapidly—overthetable,thechairs,theentirefloor,thewallsashighashecouldreachthem.Philiphadnotpresumedtocomforthim.Butnowthetensionwastoogreat—hetried.
“Breakdown,Ginoyoumustbreakdown.Screamandcurseandgiveinforalittleyoumustbreakdown.”
Therewasnoreply,andnocessationofthesweepinghands.
“Itistimetobeunhappy.Breakdownoryouwillbeilllikemysister.Youwillgo—”
Thetouroftheroomwasover.HehadtouchedeverythinginitexceptPhilip.Nowheapproachedhim.Hefacewasthatofamanwhohaslosthisoldreasonforlifeandseeksanewone.
“Gino!”
Hestoppedforamomentthenhecamenearer.Philipstoodhisground.
“Youaretodowhatyoulikewithme,Gino.Yoursonisdead,Gino.Hediedinmyarms,remember.Itdoesnotexcusemebuthediddieinmyarms.”
Thelefthandcameforward,slowlythistime.I
