’That’sall，’hesaid，returningthepapertobedroppedintothefire。
’Whatwasintheletter？’askedMrsBeeton，whenAlfreturned。
’Idon’tknowIthinkitwasacircularoratractaboutnotwhistlin’
ateverythingwhenyou’reyoung。’
’ImusthavesteppedonsomethingwhenIwasaliveandwalkingaboutandithasbouncedupandhitmeGodhelpit，whateveritis——unlessitwasallajokeButIdon’tknowanyonewho’dtakethetroubletoplayajokeonmeLoveandloyaltyfornothingItsoundstemptingenough。
IwonderwhetherIhavelostanythingreally？’
Dickconsideredforalongtimebutcouldnotrememberwhenorhowhehadputhimselfinthewayofwinningthesetriflesatawoman’shands。
Still，theletterastouchingonmattersthathepreferrednottothinkaboutstunghimintoafitoffrenzythatlastedforadayandnight。
Whenhisheartwassofullofdespairthatitwouldholdnomore，bodyandsoultogetherseemedtobedroppingwithoutcheckthroughthedarkness。
ThencamefearofdarknessanddesperateattemptstoreachthelightagainButtherewasnolighttobereachedWhenthatagonyhadlefthimsweatingandbreathless，thedownwardflightwouldrecommencetillthegatheringtortureofitspurredhimintoanotherfightashopelessasthefirstFollowedsomefewminutesofsleepinwhichhedreamedthathesawThentheprocessionofeventswouldrepeatitselftillhewasutterlywornoutandthebraintookupitseverlastingconsiderationofMaisieandmight-have-beens。
AttheendofeverythingMrBeetoncametohisroomandvolunteeredtotakehimout’Notmarketingthistime，butwe’llgointotheParksifyoulike。’
’BedamnedifIdo，’quothDick’KeeptothestreetsandwalkupanddownIliketohearthepeopleroundme。’
ThiswasnotaltogethertrueTheblindinthefirststagesoftheirinfirmitydislikethosewhocanmovewithafreestrideandunliftedarms——butDickhadnoearthlydesiretogototheParksOnceandonlyoncesinceMaisiehadshutherdoorhehadgonethereunderAlf’schargeAlfforgothimandfishedforminnowsintheSerpentinewithsomecompanionsAfterhalfanhour’swaitingDick，almostweepingwithrageandwrath，caughtapasser-by，whointroducedhimtoafriendlypoliceman，wholedhimtoafour-wheeleroppositetheAlbertHallHenevertoldMrBeetonofAlf’sforgetfulness，butthiswasnotthemannerinwhichhewasusedtowalktheParksaforetime。
’Whatstreetswouldyouliketowalkdown，then？’saidMrBeeton，sympatheticallyHisownideasofariotousholidaymeantpicnickingonthegrassofGreenParkwithhisfamily，andhalfadozenpaperbagsfulloffood。
’Keeptotheriver，’saidDick，andtheykepttotheriver，andtherushofitwasinhisearstilltheycametoBlackfriarsBridgeandstruckthenceontotheWaterlooRoad，MrBeetonexplainingthebeautiesofthesceneryashewenton。
’Andwalkingontheothersideofthepavement，’saidhe，’unlessI’mmuchmistaken，istheyoungwomanthatusedtocometoyourroomstobedrawedIneverforgetsafaceandIneverremembersaname，exceptpayingtenants，o’course！’
’Stopher，’saidDick’It’sBessieBrokeTellherI’dliketospeaktoheragainQuick，man！’
MrBeetoncrossedtheroadunderthenosesoftheomnibusesandarrestedBessiethenonherwaynorthwardSherecognisedhimasthemaninauthoritywhousedtoglareatherwhenshepassedupDick’sstaircase，andherfirstimpulsewastorun。
’Wasn’tyouMrHeldar’smodel？’saidMrBeeton，plantinghimselfinfrontofher’YouwasHe’sontheothersideoftheroadandhe’dliketoseeyou。’
’Why？’saidBessie，faintlySheremembered——indeedhadneverforlongforgotten——anaffairconnectedwithanewlyfinishedpicture。
’Becausehehasaskedmetodoso，andbecausehe’smostparticularblind。’
’Drunk？’
’No’OrspitalblindHecan’tseeThat’shimoverthere。’
DickwasleaningagainsttheparapetofthebridgeasMrB...完整阅读请扫描二维码下载丁香书院APP免费看：