hr.thecarpetbaggers-第49部分

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　〃Oh；　Susie！〃　she　said　in　imaginary　concern。　〃You　spilled　it　all　over　your　dress！　Now　I'll　have　to　change　you　again。〃
　She　picked　up　the　doll　and　undressed　it　quickly。　She　washed　the　clothes　in　an　imaginary　tub；　then　ironed　them。　〃Now　you　stay　clean；〃　she　exclaimed　in　pretended　anger。
　She　turned　to　the　other　doll。　〃Are　you　enjoying　your　breakfast；　Mary？〃　She　smiled。　〃Eat　it　all　up。　It'll　make　you　big　and　strong。〃
　Occasionally；　she　would　glance　toward　the　big　house。　She　was　happy　to　be　left　alone。　It　wasn't　very　often　that　she　was。　Usually；　one　or　the　other　of　the　servants　would　be　calling　her　to　e　back　in。　Then　her　mother　would　scold　her　and　tell　her　that　she　was　not　to　play　in　the　yard；　that　she　must　stay　near　the　kitchen　door　at　the　far　side　of　the　house。
　But　she　didn't　like　it　there。　It　was　hot　and　there　was　no　grass；　only　dirt。　Besides；　it　was　near　the　stables　and　the　smell　of　the　horses。　She　didn't　understand　why　her　mother　always　made　such　a　fuss。　Mr。　and　Mrs。　Marlowe　never　said　anything　when　they　found　her　there。　Once；　Mr。　Marlowe　even　had　picked　her　up　and　swung　her　high　over　his　head；　tickling　her　with　his　mustache　until　she　almost　burst　with　hysterical　laughter。
　But　when　she'd　e　inside；　her　mother　had　been　angry　and　had　spanked　her　bottom　and　made　her　go　up　to　their　room　and　stay　there　all　afternoon。　That　was　the　worst　punishment　of　all。　She　loved　to　be　in　the　kitchen　while　her　mother　cooked　the　dinner。　Everything　smelled　so　good。　Everybody　always　said　her　mother　was　the　best　cook　the　Marlowes　had　ever　had。
　She　heard　footsteps　and　looked　up。　Ronald　Marlowe　threw　himself　to　the　ground　beside　her。　She　looked　down　again　and　finished　feeding　Susie；　then　said　in　a　matter…of…fact　voice；　〃Would　you　like　some　dinner；　Laddie？〃
　He　sniffed　disdainfully　from　the　superiority　of　his　lofty　eight　years。　〃I　don't　see　anything　to　eat。〃
　She　turned　toward　him。　〃You're　not　looking；〃　she　said。　She　forced　a　doll's　plate　into　his　hand；　〃Eat　it。　It's　very　good　for　you。〃
　Reluctantly　he　pretended　to　eat。　After　a　moment；　he　was　bored　and　got　to　his　feet。　〃I'm　hungry；〃　he　said。　〃I'm　going　in　and　get　some　real　food。〃
　〃You　won't　get　any；〃　she　said。
　〃Why　not？〃
　〃Because　my　mommy's　still　sick　and　nobody　cooked。〃
　〃I'll　get　something；〃　he　said　confidently。
　She　watched　him　walk　away　and　turned　back　to　her　dolls。　It　was　turning　dusk　when　Molly；　the　upstairs　maid；　came　out　looking　for　her。　The　girl's　face　was　red　from　crying。　〃e；　macushla；〃　she　said；　sweeping　Rina　up　in　her　arms。　〃It's　your　mither　that　wants　to　set　eyes　on　ye　again。〃
　Peters；　the　coachman；　was　there；　as　was　Mary；　the　downstairs　maid；　and　Annie；　the　scullery　helper。　They　were　standing　around　her　mother's　bed　and　they　made　way　for　her　as　she　came　over。　There　was　also　a　man　in　a　black　suit；　holding　a　cross　in　his　hand。
　She　stood　very　still　near　the　bed；　looking　at　her　mother　solemnly。　Her　mother　looked　beautiful；　her　face　so　white　and　calm；　her　white…blond　hair　brushed　back　softly　from　her　forehead。　Rina　moved　closer　to　the　bed。
　Her　mother's　lips　moved　but　Rina　couldn't　hear　what　she　was　saying。　The　man　in　the　black　suit　picked　her　up。　〃Kiss　your　mother；　child；〃　he　said。
　Obediently　Rina　kissed　her　mother's　cheek。　It　was　cool　to　her　lips。　Her　mother　smiled　again　and　closed　her　eyes；　then　suddenly　opened　them　and　looked　upward　unseeingly。　Quickly　the　man　shifted　Rina　to　his　other　arm。　He　reached　down　and　closed　her　mother's　eyes。
　Molly　held　out　her　arms　and　the　man　gave　Rina　to　her。　Rina　looked　back　at　her　mother。　She　was　sleeping　now。　She　looked　beautiful；　just　as　she　did　in　the　early　mornings　when　Rina　would　awaken　and　stare　at　her　over　the　edge　of　the　bed。
　Rina　looked　around　the　room　at　the　others。　The　girls　were　crying；　and　even　Peters；　the　coachman；　had　tears　in　his　eyes。　She　looked　up　into　Molly's　face。　〃Why　are　you　crying？〃　she　asked　solemnly。　〃Is　my　mommy　dead？〃
　The　tears　came　afresh　in　the　girl's　eyes。　She　hugged　Rina　closely　to　her。　〃Hush；　child；〃　she　whispered。　〃We're　crying　because　we　love　her。〃
　She　started　out　of　the　room　with　Rina　in　her　arms。　The　door　closed　behind　them　and　Rina　looked　up　into　her　face。　〃Will　Mommy　be　up　in　time　to　make　breakfast　tomorrow？〃
　Molly　stared　at　her　in　sudden　understanding。　Then　she　sank　to　her　knees　in　the　hallway　at　the　top　of　the　back　stairs。　She　rocked　back　and　forth　with　the　child　in　her　arms。　〃Oh；　my　poor　little　child；　my　poor　little　orphan　child；〃　she　cried。
　Rina　looked　up　at　her　and　after　a　moment；　the　tears　became　contagious　and　she；　too；　began　to　cry。　But　she　didn't　quite　know　why。
　Peters　came　into　the　kitchen　while　the　servants　were　eating　supper。　Rina　looked　up　at　him　and　smiled。　〃Look；　Mr。　Peters。〃　She　laughed　happily。　〃I　had　three　desserts！〃
　Molly　looked　down　at　her。　〃Hush；　child；〃　she　said　quickly；　the　tears　ing　again　to　her　eyes。　〃Finish　your　ice　cream。〃
　Rina　stared　at　her　thoughtfully　and　lifted　the　spoon　again　to　her　mouth。　She　couldn't　understand　why　the　girls　began　to　cry　every　time　they　spoke　to　her。　The　home…made　vanilla　ice　cream　tasted　cool　and　sweet。　She　took　another　spoonful。
　〃I　just　spoke　to　the　master；〃　Peters　said。　〃He　said　it　would　be　all　right　if　we　laid　her　out　in　my　room　over　the　stable。　And　Father　Nolan　said　we　could　bury　her　from　St。　Thomas'。〃
　〃But　how　can　we？〃　Molly　cried；　〃when　we　don't　even　know　if　she　was　a　Catholic？　Not　once　in　the　three　years　she's　been　here　did　she　go　to　Mass。〃
　〃What　difference　does　that　make？〃　Peters　asked　angrily。　〃Did　she　not　make　her　confession　to　Father　Nolan？　Did　she　not　receive　the　last　rites　from　him　and　take　the　Holy　Sacraments？　Father　Nolan　is　satisfied　that　she　was　a　Catholic。〃
　Mary；　the　downstairs　maid；　who　was　the　oldest　of　the　three　girls；　nodded　her　head　in　agreement。　〃I　think　Father　Nolan　is　right；〃　she　said。　〃Maybe　she'd　done　something　and　was　afraid　to　go　to　Mass；　but　the　important　thing　was　that　she　came　back　to　the　church　in　the　end。〃
　Peters　nodded　his　head　emphatically。　〃It's　settled；　then；〃　he　said；　starting　for　the　door。　He　stopped　and　looked　back　at　them。　〃Molly；　take　the　child　to　sleep　with　you　tonight。　I'm　goin'　down　to　the　saloon　and　get　sivral　of　the　boys　to　help　me　move　her　tonight。　Father　Nolan　said　he'd　send　Mr。　Collins　over　to　fix　her　up。　He　told　me　the　church　would　pay　for　it。〃
　〃Oh；　the　good　Father；〃　Mary　said。
　〃Bless　him；〃　Annie　said；　crossing　herself。
　〃Can　I　have　some　more　ice　cream？〃　Rina　asked。
　There　was　a　knock　at　the　door　and　Molly　opened　it　quickly。　〃Oh；　it's　you；　mum；〃　she　exclaimed　in　a　whisper。
　〃I　came　to　see　if　the　child　was　all　right；〃　Geraldine　Marlowe　said。
　The　girl　stepped　back。　〃Won't　you　e　in；　mum？〃
　Mrs。　Marlowe　looked　over　at　the　bed。　Rina　was　sleeping　soundly；　her　dolls；　Susie　and　Mary；　on　either　side　of　her。　Her　white…blond　hair　hung　in　tiny　ringlets　around　her　head。　〃How　is　she？〃
　〃Fine；　mum。〃　The　girl　bobbed　her　head。　〃The　poor　darlin'　was　so　exhausted　with　the　excitement；　she　dropped　off　like　that。　Mercifully　she　doesn't　understand。　She's　too　young。〃
　Geraldine　Marlowe　looked　at　the　child　again。　For　a　moment；　she　thought　of　how　it　would　be　if　she　were　the　one　to　go；　leaving　her　Laddie　alone　and　motherless。　Though；　in　a　way；　that　was　different；　for　Laddie　would　still　have　his　father。
　She　remembered　the　day　she　had　hired　Rina's　mother。　Her　references　were　very　good　although　she　had　not　worked　for　several　years。　〃I　have　a　child；　ma'am；〃　she'd　said　in　her　peculiarly　precise　schoolbook　English。　〃A　little　girl；　two　years　old。〃
　〃What　about　your　husband；　Mrs。　Osterlaag？〃
　〃He　went　down　with　his　ship。　He　and　the　child　never　saw　each　other。〃　She'd　looked　down　at　the　floor　for　a　moment。　〃We　had　the　child　late　in　life；　ma'am。　We　Finns　don't　marry　young；　we　wait　until　we　can　afford　it。　I　lived　on　our　savings　as　long　as　I　could。　I　must　go　back　to　work。〃
　Mrs。　Marlowe　had　hesitated。　A　two…year…old　child　might　turn　out　to　be　an　annoyance。
　〃Rina　would　be　no　problem；　ma'am。　She's　a　good　child　and　very　quiet。　She　can　sleep　in　my　room　and　I'd　be　willing　to　have　you　take　out　of　my　wages　for　her　board。〃
　Mrs。　Marlowe　had　always　wanted　a　little　girl　but　after　Laddie　was　born；　the　doctor　had　told　her　there　would　be　no　more　children。　It　w