elizabethpeters.thegoldenone-第105部分

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！


　　
　FROM　MANUSCRIPT　H
　　
　Nefret　had　also　noticed　that　her　husband　seemed　abstracted。　He　submitted　without　ment　to　her　examination；　but　she　found　no　cause　for　concern。　The　wound　was　healing　well。
　〃It's　nice　to　have　an　evening　to　ourselves；〃　she　said。
　〃Yes。〃　He　was　prowling　restlessly　around　the　sitting　room；　picking　up　a　book　and　putting　it　down；　straightening　a　stack　of　papers。　Hands　folded　in　her　lap；　she　watched　him　for　a　while　and　then　took　a　deep　breath。　Her　heart　was　pounding。
　〃I　have　something　to　tell　you；〃　she　said。
　He　came　to　her　at　once；　dropping　to　his　knees　in　front　of　the　chair　and　taking　the　hand　she　offered。
　〃I　wondered。〃　His　other　hand　came　to　rest　lightly　on　her　waist。　〃But　I　didn't　want　to　ask。〃
　〃Why　not？　You　had　every　right。〃
　〃No；　I　hadn't。　When　did　you　know？　Nefret；　look　at　me。　Before　Gaza？〃
　She　might　have　equivocated；　mentioned　the　various　factors　that　made　certainty　difficult。　She　met　his　troubled　gaze　squarely。　〃Yes。〃
　〃And　you　risked　that？　That　awful　trip；　the　danger；　the　…〃
　She　took　his　face　between　her　hands。　〃I　knew　it　would　be　all　right。　I　can't　tell　you　how　I　knew；　but　I　did。　I　would　have　risked　it　anyhow。　I　want　this　very　much；　but　you　are　the　dearest　thing　in　the　world　to　me。　I　let　you　go　…　I　let　you　take　the　risk　…　but　I'd　have　died　of　suspense　waiting　in　Cairo。　Oh；　darling；　aren't　you　glad？〃
　〃Do　you　suppose　I　don't　feel　the　same　about　you？　I'm　beginning　to　understand　what　you　went　through；　all　those　times　when　I　was　off　on　some　bloody　damned　job　without　you。　Glad？　I　suppose　I　am。　Will　be。　At　this　moment；　I　。　。　。　I'm　afraid；　I　think。　I　can't　take　this　risk　for　you。　I　can't　even　share　it。〃
　She　had　never　seen　tears　in　his　eyes　before。　Her　heart　turned　over。　He　hid　his　face　against　her　and　she　held　him；　her　arms　tight　around　his　bowed　shoulders。
　〃It's　too　late　to　change　our　minds　now；〃　she　murmured。
　He　let　out　a　long　breath　and　when　he　raised　his　head　she　saw　again　the　boy　she　had　loved　so　long　without　realizing　how　much　she　loved　him。　His　eyes　were　bright　with　laughter　and　dawning　joy。　〃Are　you　sure　you're　prepared　for　this；　Nefret？　You've　heard　Mother's　stories。　What　if　it　turns　out　to　be　like　me？〃
　
　The　house　was　very　quiet。　I　was　alone；　without　even　a　cat　to　keep　me　pany。　Many　duties　awaited　me；　but　for　some　reason　I　didn't　feel　like　tackling　any　of　them。　Seating　myself　on　the　sofa；　I　found　my　sewing　box　and　took　out　the　crumpled　scrap　of　linen。
　The　sitting　room　door　opened。　One　look　at　their　faces　was　all　I　needed。　Hand　in　hand；　they　came　to　stand　before　me。
　〃We　wanted　you　to　be　the　first　to　know；　Mother；〃　Nefret　said。
　I　had　to　clear　my　throat　before　I　could　speak。　I　got　out　four　words　before　my　voice　failed　me。　〃Well！　Naturally；　I　am　。　。　。〃
　〃Oh；　Mother；　don't　cry。〃　Nefret　sat　down　beside　me　and　put　her　arms　round　me。　〃You　never　cry。〃
　〃Nor　will　I　mar　the　happiness　of　this　moment　by　doing　so；〃　I　assured　her；　somewhat　huskily。　I　held　out　my　hand　to　Ramses；　who　seated　himself　on　my　other　side；　let　out　a　yelp；　and　sprang　up。　He　had　sat　on　my　embroidery。
　We　laughed　until　the　tears　came；　they　had　not　far　to　e。　Returning　to　his　seat；　Ramses　held　up　the　miserable　object。
　〃She's　going　to　claim　she　has　known　for　weeks。　What　is　this；　Mother？〃
　I　wiped　my　eyes。　〃A　…　er　…　a　bib。　Babies　dribble　quite　a　lot。　These　blue　bits　are　violets；　and　these　。　。　。　It　is　rather　nasty…looking；　isn't　it？　I　think　the　bloodstains　will　wash　out。〃
　〃It's　the　most　beautiful　bib　I've　ever　seen；〃　Nefret　said；　wiping　her　eyes。　〃And　I　hope　the　bloodstains　never　wash　out。　You　did　know！〃
　〃Not　until　this　moment；〃　I　said　firmly。　It　would　have　been　the　height　of　unkindness　to　spoil　such　a　wonderful　surprise。　〃I　was　making　it　for　Lia's　little　girl。〃
　〃Girl？〃　Ramses's　eyebrows　tilted。
　〃I　suppose　Abdullah　told　you；〃　Nefret　said　with　a　chuckle。　〃Did　he　happen　to　mention　ours？〃
　〃He　never　tells　me　anything　important；〃　I　said。　Nefret　laughed；　and　I　saw　Ramses　shape　the　word　with　his　lips：　〃Ours。〃　He　was　still　trying　to　take　it　in。
　I　had　known；　of　course；　for　some　time。　To　an　experienced　eye　the　symptoms　are　unmistakable。
　〃When？〃　I　inquired。
　〃September；〃　Nefret　said。
　〃Ah。　So　the　worst　is　over；　and　you　are　obviously　in　splendid　health。　If　bouncing　across　the　desert　in　that　motorcar　and　stealing　horses　didn't　bring　on　a　miscarriage；　nothing　will。〃
　I　spoke　with　all　the　authority　I　could　summon；　which　is；　if　I　may　say　so；　considerable；　and　the　faint　shadow　of　anxiety　on　Ramses's　face　faded。　〃If　you　say　so；　Mother。〃
　〃I　do。　And；〃　I　added；　〃next　time　I　see　Abdullah　he　will　verify　it。〃
　　
　FROM　MANUSCRIPT　H
　　
　They　told　Emerson　next　morning。　It　took　a　while　to　get　his　attention；　he　and　Cyrus　and　the　others　were　already　planning　the　day's　activities　when　they　arrived　at　Deir　el　Medina。　After　his　wife　had　poked　him　with　her　parasol　a　time　or　two　he　agreed；　amiably　but　in　some　perplexity；　to　join　them　for　a　brief　private　conversation　in　a　corner　of　the　vestibule。　They　had　discussed　various　ways　of　breaking　the　news。
　〃If　I　say　we　have　something　to　tell　him；　he'll　look　blank　and　ask　what；〃　Nefret　said　with　a　chuckle。　〃And　announcing　he　is　about　to　bee　a　grandfather　is　too　sickeningly　coy。〃
　So；　in　the　end；　she　blurted　it　out。　〃I'm　going　to　have　a　baby；　Father。〃
　Emerson's　jaw　went　slack。　〃A　。　。　。　a　what？〃
　〃We　don't　know　yet；〃　Ramses　said。　〃But　we're　pretty　sure　it's　bound　to　be　either　a　boy　or　a　girl。〃
　Emerson　choked。　〃Boy？　Girl？　Baby？　Good　…　good　Gad！〃
　〃Take　my　handkerchief；〃　said　his　wife。
　Emerson　indignantly　refused　the　handkerchief；　if　there　were　tears　in　his　eyes　he　blotted　them　on　Nefret's　hair　as　he　took　her　in　a　close　embrace。　He　turned　to　Ramses；　held　out　his　hand；　and　then；　to　the　latter's　utter　stupefaction；　embraced　him　too。
　He　was　with　difficulty　prevented　from　rushing　out　shouting　the　news　at　the　top　of　his　lungs　to　everyone　present。　〃A　little　less　publicly；　please；〃　Nefret　begged。　〃We　haven't　told　Fatima　yet；　or　Kadija；　or　Sennia；　or　Gargery；　or　…〃
　〃Oh；　of　course　Gargery's　feelings　are　of　paramount　importance；〃　said　Emerson　with　heavy　sarcasm　and　a　smile　that　stretched　from　ear　to　ear。　〃Naturally；　my　dears；　I　bow　to　your　wishes。　Good　Gad！〃
　Emerson　went　directly　to　Cyrus　and　whispered　in　his　ear。　Within　five　minutes　everyone　on　the　site　had　heard。　It　was　possible　to　watch　the　word　spread　by　the　smiles　that　warmed　the　men's　faces　as　they　turned　to　look　at　Nefret。
　She　accepted　Cyrus's　hearty　good　wishes　and　promises　of　a　celebration　to　end　all　celebrations；　and　then　got　their　minds　back　to　business。　〃Did　anything　happen　last　night？〃
　〃Good　Gad；〃　said　Emerson；　still　grinning。　〃Good　Gad！　Er　…　what　did　you　say？　Oh。　Well；　we　saw　a　few　shadows　flitting　about　hither　and　yon；　but　they　vanished　when　I　announced　my　…　our　…　presence。〃
　〃You　didn't　recognize　any　of　them？〃　Ramses　asked。
　〃I　didn't　have　to　see　them　to　know　who　they　were；〃　his　father　retorted。　〃Members　of　our　distinguished　tomb…robbing　families　having　a　look　round　just　in　case。〃
　〃They　may　try　again；〃　Ramses　said。
　〃Bah；〃　said　Emerson。　〃It's　been　over　fifty　years　since　the　Gurnawis　attacked　an　archaeologist。〃　He　added；　his　face　falling；　〃The　greatest　nuisance　will　be　sightseers。　They　will　be　swarming　as　soon　as　the　news　spreads。〃
　In　this　he　was　correct。　Following　regulations；　Cyrus　had　immediately　informed　the　Service　des　Antiquités　of　the　find。　An　enthusiastic　telegram　of　congratulations　from　Daressy　was　followed　in　two　days　by　a　visit　from　that　gentleman。　It　was　his　official　duty　to　inspect　the　place　and　make　sure　the　rules　were　being　followed；　and　a　find　of　that　magnitude　happened　very　seldom。　Timber　balks　and　a　plex　arrangement　of　scaffolding　and　ladders　had　been　erected；　so　it　was　now　possible　to　reach　the　tomb　from　below。　They　had　to　haul　Daressy　up　by　means　of　a　net。　He　didn't　much　enjoy　the　process；　but　as　he　informed　them　afterward；　he　would　have　undergone　worse　to　see　the　astonishing　spectacle。
　〃My　felicitations；〃　he　declared；　mopping　his　sweating　face。　〃For　once　we　have　got　in　ahead　of　our　energetic　friends　from　Gurneh！　It　is　a　pleasure　to　know　I　can　safely　leave　the　clearance　in　your　capable　hands；　mes　amis。〃
　He　accepted　a　c