ThatlettermadeAgnesLaiterveryunhappy，andshecriedandputitawayinherdesk，andbecameMrsSomebodyElseforthegoodofherfamilyWhichisthefirstdutyofeveryChristianmaid。
Philwenthisways，andthoughtnomoreofhisletter，exceptasanartistthinksofaneatlytouched-insketchHiswayswerenotbad，buttheywerenotaltogethergooduntiltheybroughthimacrossDunmaya，thedaughterofaRajputex-Subadar-MajorofourNativeArmyThegirlhadastrainofHillbloodinher，and，liketheHillwomen，wasnotapurdahnashinWherePhilmether，orhowheheardofher，doesnotmatterShewasagoodgirlandhandsome，and，inherway，verycleverandshrewd；though，ofcourse，alittlehardItistoberememberedthatPhilwaslivingverycomfortably，denyinghimselfnosmallluxury，neverputtingbyananna，verysatisfiedwithhimselfandhisgoodintentions，wasdroppingallhisEnglishcorrespondentsonebyone，andbeginningmoreandmoretolookuponthislandashishomeSomemenfallthisway；andtheyareofnouseafterwardsTheclimatewherehewasstationedwasgood，anditreallydidnotseemtohimthattherewasanythingtogoHomefor。
Hedidwhatmanyplantershavedonebeforehim——thatistosay，hemadeuphismindtomarryaHillgirlandsettledownHewassevenandtwentythen，withalonglifebeforehim，butnospirittogothroughwithitSohemarriedDunmayabytheformsoftheEnglishChurch，andsomefellow-planterssaidhewasafool，andsomesaidhewasawisemanDunmayawasathoroughlyhonestgirl，and，inspiteofherreverenceforanEnglishman，hadareasonableestimateofherhusband’sweaknessesShemanagedhimtenderly，andbecame，inlessthanayear，averypassableimitationofanEnglishladyindressandcarriage[ItiscurioustothinkthataHillman，afteralifetime’seducation，isaHillmanstill；butaHillwomancaninsixmonthsmastermostofthewaysofherEnglishsistersTherewasacooliewomanonceButthatisanotherstory。]Dunmayadressedbypreferenceinblackandyellow，andlookedwell。
MeantimetheletterlayinAgnes’sdesk，andnowandagainshewouldthinkofpoorresolutehard-workingPhilamongthecobrasandtigersofDarjiling，toilinginthevainhopethatshemightcomebacktohimHerhusbandwasworthtenPhils，exceptthathehadrheumatismoftheheartThreeyearsafterhewasmarried——andafterhehadtriedNiceandAlgeriaforhiscomplaint——hewenttoBombay，wherehedied，andsetAgnesfreeBeingadevoutwoman，shelookedonhisdeathandtheplaceofit，asadirectinterpositionofProvidence，andwhenshehadrecoveredfromtheshock，shetookoutandrereadPhil’sletterwiththe“etc。，etc……”
andthebigdashes，andthelittledashes，andkisseditseveraltimesNooneknewherinBombay；shehadherhusband’sincome，whichwasalargeone，andPhilwascloseathandItwaswrongandimproper，ofcourse，butshedecided，asheroinesdoinnovels，tofindheroldlover，toofferhimherhandandhergold，andwithhimspendtherestofherlifeinsomespotfarfromunsympatheticsoulsShesatfortwomonths，aloneinWatson’sHotel，elaboratingthisdecision，andthepicturewasaprettyoneThenshesetoutinsearchofPhilGarron，Assistantonateaplantationwithamorethanusuallyunpronounceablename……
ShefoundhimShespentamonthoverit，，forhisplantationwasnotintheDarjilingdistrictatall，butnearerKangraPhilwasverylittlealtered，andDunmayawasverynicetoher。
NowtheparticularsinandshameofthewholebusinessisthatPhil，whoreallyisnotworththinkingoftwice，wasandislovedbyDunmaya，andmorethanlovedbyAgnes，thewholeofwhoselifeheseemstohavespoilt。
Worstofall，Dunmayaismakingadecentmanofhim；andhewillbeultimatelysavedfromperditionthroughhertraining。
Whichismanifestlyunfair。
FALSEDAWN。
To-nightGodknowswhatthingshalltide，TheEarthisrackedandfaint——
Expectant，sleepless，open-eyed；
Andwe，whofromtheEarthweremade，ThrillwithourMother’spain。
InDurance。
Nomanwilleverknowtheexacttruthofthisstory；thoughwomenmaysometimeswhisperittooneanotherafteradance，whentheyareputtinguptheirhairforthenightandcomparinglistsofvictim...完整阅读请扫描二维码下载丁香书院APP免费看：