Blisskatherine mansfieldWord文档格式.docx

Blisskatherine mansfieldWord文档格式.docx

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shethought,runningupthestepsandfeelinginherbagforthekey–she'

dforgottenit,asusual–andrattlingtheletter-box."

It'

snotwhatImean,because–Thankyou,Mary"

–shewentintothehall."

Isnurseback?

Yes,M'

m."

Andhasthefruitcome?

m.Everything'

scome."

Bringthefruituptothedining-room,willyou?

I'

llarrangeitbeforeIgoupstairs."

Itwasduskyinthedining-roomandquitechilly.ButallthesameBerthathrewoffhercoat;

shecouldnotbearthetightclaspofitanothermoment,andthecoldairfellonherarms.

Butinherbosomtherewasstillthatbrightglowingplace–thatshoweroflittlesparkscomingfromit.Itwasalmostunbearable.Shehardlydaredtobreatheforfearoffanningithigher,andyetshebreatheddeeply,deeply.Shehardlydaredtolookintothecoldmirror–butshedidlook,anditgaveherbackawoman,radiant,withsmiling,tremblinglips,withbig,darkeyesandanairoflistening,waitingforsomething...divinetohappen...thatsheknewmusthappen...infallibly.

Marybroughtinthefruitonatrayandwithitaglassbowl,andabluedish,verylovely,withastrangesheenonitasthoughithadbeendippedinmilk.

ShallIturnonthelight,M'

m?

No,thankyou.Icanseequitewell."

Thereweretangerinesandapplesstainedwithstrawberrypink.Someyellowpears,smoothassilk,somewhitegrapescoveredwithasilverbloomandabigclusterofpurpleones.Theselastshehad[Page118]boughttotoneinwiththenewdining-roomcarpet.Yes,thatdidsoundratherfar-fetchedandabsurd,butitwasreallywhyshehadboughtthem.Shehadthoughtintheshop:

"

Imusthavesomepurpleonestobringthecarpetuptothetable."

Andithadseemedquitesenseatthetime.

Whenshehadfinishedwiththemandhadmadetwopyramidsofthesebrightroundshapes,shestoodawayfromthetabletogettheeffect–anditreallywasmostcurious.Forthedarktableseemedtomeltintotheduskylightandtheglassdishandthebluebowltofloatintheair.This,ofcourse,inherpresentmood,wassoincrediblybeautiful....Shebegantolaugh.

No,no.I'

mgettinghysterical."

Andsheseizedherbagandcoatandranupstairstothenursery.

NursesatatalowtablegivingLittleBhersupperafterherbath.Thebabyhadonawhiteflannelgownandabluewoollenjacket,andherdark,finehairwasbrushedupintoafunnylittlepeak.Shelookedupwhenshesawhermotherandbegantojump.

Now,mylovey,eatituplikeagoodgirl,"

saidnurse,settingherlipsinawaythatBerthaknew,andthatmeantshehadcomeintothenurseryatanotherwrongmoment.

Hasshebeengood,Nanny?

She'

sbeenalittlesweetalltheafternoon,"

whisperedNanny."

WewenttotheparkandIsatdownonachairandtookheroutofthepramandabigdogcamealongandputitsheadonmykneeandsheclutcheditsear,tuggedit.Oh,youshouldhaveseenher."

Berthawantedtoaskifitwasn'

tratherdangeroustoletherclutchatastrangedog'

sear.Butshedidnotdareto.Shestoodwatchingthem,herhandsbyherside,likethepoorlittlegirlinfrontoftherichgirlwiththedoll.

Thebabylookedupatheragain,stared,andthensmiledsocharminglythatBerthacouldn'

thelpcrying:

Oh,Nanny,doletmefinishgivingherhersupperwhileyouputthebaththingsaway.

Well,M'

m,sheoughtn'

ttobechangedhandswhileshe'

seating,"

saidNanny,stillwhispering."

Itunsettlesher;

it'

sverylikelytoupsether."

Howabsurditwas.Whyhaveababyifithastobekept–notinacaselikearare,rarefiddle–butinanotherwoman'

sarms?

Oh,Imust!

saidshe.

Veryoffended,Nannyhandedherover.

Now,don'

texciteherafterhersupper.Youknowyoudo,M'

m.AndIhavesuchatimewithherafter!

Thankheaven!

Nannywentoutoftheroomwiththebathtowels.

NowI'

vegotyoutomyself,mylittleprecious,"

saidBertha,asthebabyleanedagainsther.

Sheatedelightfully,holdingupherlipsforthespoonandthenwavingherhands.Sometimesshewouldn'

tletthespoongo;

andsometimes,justasBerthahadfilledit,shewaveditawaytothefourwinds.

WhenthesoupwasfinishedBerthaturnedroundtothefire."

You'

renice–you'

reverynice!

saidshe,kissingherwarmbaby."

I'

mfondofyou.Ilikeyou."

Andindeed,shelovedLittleBsomuch–herneckasshebentforward,herexquisitetoesastheyshonetransparentinthefirelight–thatallherfeelingofblisscamebackagain,andagainshedidn'

tknowhowtoexpressit–whattodowithit.

rewantedonthetelephone,"

saidNanny,comingbackintriumphandseizingherLittleB.

Downsheflew.ItwasHarry.

Oh,isthatyou,Ber?

Lookhere.I'

llbelate.I'

lltakeataxiandcomealongasquicklyasIcan,butgetdinnerputbacktenminutes–willyou?

Allright?

Yes,perfectly.Oh,Harry!

Yes?

Whathadshetosay?

She'

dnothingtosay.Sheonlywantedtogetintouchwithhimforamoment.Shecouldn'

tabsurdlycry:

Hasn'

titbeenadivineday!

Whatisit?

rappedoutthelittlevoice.

Nothing.Entendu,"

saidBertha,andhungupthereceiver,thinkinghowmuchmorethanidioticcivilisationwas.

Theyhadpeoplecomingtodinner.TheNormanKnights–averysoundcouple–hewasabouttostartatheatre,andshewasawfullykeenoninteriordecoration,ayoungman,EddieWarren,whohadjustpublishedalittlebookofpoemsandwhomeverybodywasaskingtodine,anda"

find"

ofBertha'

scalledPearlFulton.WhatMissFultondid,Berthadidn'

tknow.TheyhadmetattheclubandBerthahadfalleninlovewithher,asshealwaysdidfallinlovewithbeautifulwomenwhohadsomethingstrangeaboutthem.

Theprovokingthingwasthat,thoughtheyhadbeenabouttogetherandmetanumberoftimesandreallytalked,Berthacouldn'

tmakeherout.UptoacertainpointMissFultonwasrarely,wonderfullyfrank,butthecertainpointwasthere,andbeyondthatshewouldnotgo.

Wasthereanythingbeyondit?

Harrysaid"

No."

Votedherdullish,and"

coldlikeallblondewomen,withatouch,perhaps,ofanaemiaofthebrain."

ButBerthawouldn'

tagreewithhim;

notyet,atanyrate.

No,thewayshehasofsittingwithherheadalittleononeside,andsmiling,hassomethingbehindit,Harry,andImustfindoutwhatthatsomethingis."

Mostlikelyit'

sagoodstomach,"

answeredHarry.

HemadeapointofcatchingBertha'

sheelswithrepliesofthatkind..."

liverfrozen,mydeargirl,"

or"

pureflatulence,"

kidneydisease,"

...andsoon.ForsomestrangereasonBerthalikedthis,andalmostadmireditinhimverymuch.

Shewentintothedrawing-roomandlightedthefire;

then,pickingupthecushions,onebyone,thatMaryhaddisposedsocarefully,shethrewthembackontothechairsandthecouches.Thatmadeallthedifference;

theroomcamealiveatonce.Asshewasabouttothrowthelastoneshesurprisedherselfbysuddenlyhuggingittoher,passionately,passionately.Butitdidnotputoutthefireinherbosom.Oh,onthecontrary!

Thewindowsofthedrawing-roomopenedontoabalconyoverlookingthegarden.Atthefarend,againstthewall,therewasatall,slenderpeartreeinfullest,richestbloom;

itstoodperfect,asthoughbecalmedagainstthejade-greensky.Berthacouldn'

thelpfeeling,evenfromthisdistance,thatithadnotasinglebudorafadedpetal.Downbelow,inthegardenbeds,theredandyellowtulips,heavywithflowers,seemedtoleanuponthedusk.Agreycat,draggingitsbelly,creptacrossthelawn,andablackone,itsshadow,trailedafter.Thesightofthem,sointentandsoquick,gaveBerthaacuriousshiver.

Whatcreepythingscatsare!

shestammered,andsheturnedawayfromthewindowandbeganwalkingupanddown....

Howstrongthejonquilssmelledinthewarmroom.Toostrong?

Oh,no.Andyet,asthoughovercome,sheflungdownonacouchandpressedherhandstohereyes.

mtoohappy–toohappy!

shemurmured.

Andsheseemedtoseeonhereyelidsthelovelypeartreewithitswideopenblossomsasasymbolofherownlife.

Really–really–shehadeverything.Shewasyoung.Harryandshewereasmuchinloveasever,andtheygotontogethersplendidlyandwerereallygoodpals.Shehadanadorablebaby.Theydidn'

thavetoworryaboutmoney.Theyhadthisabsolutelysatisfactoryhouseandgarden.Andfriends–modern,thrillingfriends,writersandpaintersandpoetsorpeoplekeenonsocialquestions–justthekindoffriendstheywanted.Andthentherewerebooks,andtherewasmusic,andshehadfoundawonderfullittledressmaker,andtheyweregoingabroadinthesummer,andtheirnewcookmadethemostsuperbomelettes....

mabsurd.Absurd!

Shesatup;

butshefeltquitedizzy,quitedrunk.Itmusthavebeenthespring.

Yes,itwasthespring.Nowshewassotiredshecouldnotdragherselfupstairstodress.

Awhitedress,