NextmorningIsentapenitentnotetoKitty，imploringhertooverlookmystrangeconductofthepreviousafternoonMyDivinitywasstillverywroth，andapersonalapologywasnecessaryIexplained，withafluencybornofnight-longponderingoverafalsehood，thatIhadbeenattackedwithsuddenpalpitationoftheheart-theresultofindigestionThiseminentlypracticalsolutionhaditseffect；andKittyandIrodeoutthatafternoonwiththeshadowofmyfirstliedividingus。
NothingwouldpleasehersaveacanterroundJakkoWithmynervesstillunstrungfromthepreviousnightIfeeblyprotestedagainstthenotion，suggestingObservatoryHill，Jutogh，theBoileaugungeroad-anythingratherthantheJakkoroundKittywasangryandalittlehurt：soIyieldedfromfearofprovokingfurthermisunderstanding，andwesetouttogethertowardChotaSimlaWewalkedagreaterpartoftheway，and，accordingtoourcustom，canteredfromamileorsobelowtheConventtothestretchoflevelroadbytheSanjowlieReservoirThewretchedhorsesappearedtofly，andmyheartbeatquickerandquickeraswenearedthecrestoftheascentMymindhadbeenfullofMrs。
Wessingtonalltheafternoon；andeveryinchoftheJakkoroadborewitnesstoouroldtimewalksandtalksThebowlderswerefullofit；thepinessangitaloudoverhead；therain-fedtorrentsgiggledandchuckledunseenovertheshamefulstory；andthewindinmyearschantedtheiniquityaloud。
Asafittingclimax，inthemiddleofthelevelmencalltheLadies’
MiletheHorrorwasawaitingmeNoother’rickshawwasinsight-onlythefourblackandwhitejhampanies，theyellow-
paneledcarriage，andthegoldenheadofthewomanwithin-allapparentlyjustasIhadleftthemeightmonthsandonefortnightago！ForaninstantIfanciedthatKittymustseewhatIsaw-weweresomarvelouslysympatheticinallthingsHernextwordsundeceivedme-’~Notasoulinsight！Comealong，Jack，andI’llraceyoutotheReservoirbuildings！”HerwirylittleArabwasofflikeabird，myWalerfollowingclosebehind，andinthisorderwedashedunderthecliffsHalfaminutebroughtuswithinfiftyyardsofthe’rickshawIpulledmyWalerandfellbackalittleThe’rickshawwasdirectlyinthemiddleoftheroad；andoncemoretheArabpassedthroughit，myhorsefollowing“Jack！Jackdear！
Peaseforgiveme。”rangwithawailinmyears，and，afteraninterval：-“It’samistake，ahideousmistake！”
IspurredmyhorselikeamanpossessedWhenIturnedmyheadattheReservoirworks，theblackandwhiteliverieswerestillwaiting-patientlywaiting-underthegreyhillside，andthewindbroughtmeamockingechoofthewordsIhadjustheardKittybanteredmeagooddealonmysilencethroughouttheremainderoftherideIhadbeentalkinguptillthenwildlyandatrandom。
TosavemylifeIcouldnotspeakafterwardnaturally，andfromSanjowlietotheChurchwiselyheldmytongue。
IwastodinewiththeManneringsthatnight，andhadbarelytimetocanterhometodressOntheroadtoElysiumHillIoverheardtwomentalkingtogetherinthedusk-“It’sacuriousthing。”saidone，“howcompletelyalltraceofitdisappearedYouknowmywifewasinsanelyfondofthewoman’nevercouldseeanythinginhermyself，andwantedmetopickupherold’rickshawandcooliesiftheyweretobegotforloveormoneyMorbidsortoffancyIcallit；butI’vegottodowhattheMemsahibtellsme。
Wouldyoubelievethatthemanshehireditfromtellsmethatallfourofthemen-theywerebrothers-diedofcholeraonthewaytoHardwar，poordevils，andthe’rickshawhasbeenbrokenupbythemanhimself’ToldmeheneverusedadeadMemsakib’s’rickshaw’SpoiledhisluckQueernotion，wasn’tit？FancypoorlittleMrsWessingtonspoilinganyone’sluckexceptherown！”I
laughedaloudatthispoint；andmylaughjarredonmeasIuttereditSotherewereghostsof’rickshawsafterall，andghostlyemploymentsintheotherworld！HowmuchdidMrsWessingtongivehermen？Whatweretheirhours？Wheredidtheygo？
AndforvisibleanswertomylastquestionIsawtheinfernalThingblockingmypathinthetwilightThedeadtravelfast，andbyshortcutsunknowntoordinarycooliesIlaughedaloudasecondtimeandcheckedmylaughtersuddenly，forIwasafraidIwasgoingmadMadtoacertainextentImusthave...完整阅读请扫描二维码下载丁香书院APP免费看：