第 7 节
作者:卡车      更新:2021-02-19 20:42      字数:7531
  'He patrols the car from end to end; and quells some rising murmurs;
  halting at the rebellious berths as he passes。'
  MRS。 ROBERTS (enraptured by his companionship)。                   Oh; he MUST
  be   some   connection。    'She   glances   through   the   window。'    I   do   believe
  that was Newton; or Newtonville; or West Newton; or Newton Centre。                    I
  must run and wake up baby; and get him dressed。             I shan't want to wait an
  instant after we get in。     Why; we're slowing up!        Why; I do believe we're
  there!    Edward; we're there!       Only fancy being there already!
  MR。     ROBERTS。        Yes;   my   dear。   Only    we're   not  quite  there   yet。
  Hadn't we better call your aunt Mary?
  MRS。 ROBERTS。           I'd forgotten her。
  CAMPBELL。           Is Aunt Mary with you?
  MRS。 ROBERTS。            To be sure she is。     Didn't I tell you?      She came
  on expressly to meet you。
  CAMPBELL (starting up impetuously)。              Which berth is she in?
  MRS。 ROBERTS。           Right over baby。
  CAMPBELL。          And which berth is baby in?
  MRS。 ROBERTS (distractedly)。             Why; that's just what I can't TELL。
  It was bad enough when they were all filled up; but now since the people
  have begun to come out of them; and some of them are made into seats I
  can't tell。
  THE   CALIFORNIAN。             I'll   look   for   you;   ma'am。 I   should   like   to
  wake up   all the   wrong passengers   on this   car。     I'd take   a pleasure in it。
  If you could make sure of any berth that AIN'T the one; I'll begin on that。
  MRS。 ROBERTS。            I can't even be sure of the wrong one。           No; no;
  you mustn't'THE CALIFORNIAN moves away; and pauses in front of
  one   of   the   berths;   looking   back   inquiringly   at   MRS。   ROBERTS。'    Oh;
  don't   ask   ME!   _I_   can't   tell。 'To   CAMPBELL。'        ISN'T  he   amusing?
  So   like   all   those   Californians   that   one   reads   ofso   chivalrous   and   SO
  humorous!
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  THE SLEEPING…CAR
  AUNT MARY (thrusting her head from the curtains of the berth before
  which THE CALIFORNIAN is standing)。             Go along with you!     What do
  you want?
  THE CALIFORNIAN。           Aunt Mary。
  AUNT MARY。         Go away。     Aunt Mary; indeed!
  MRS。 ROBERTS (running toward her; followed by CAMPBELL and
  MR。 ROBERTS)。         Why; Aunt Mary; it IS you!        And here's Willis; and
  here's Edward。
  AUNT MARY。         Nonsense!     How did they get aboard?
  MRS。     ROBERTS。       Edward     came   on  at  Worcester   and   Willis  at
  Framingham; to surprise me。
  AUNT MARY。         And a very silly performance。      Let them wait till I'm
  dressed; and then I'll talk to them。    Send for the porter。    'She withdraws
  her head behind the curtain; and then thrusts it out again。'    And who; pray;
  may THIS be?
  'She indicates THE CALIFORNIAN。'
  MRS。 ROBERTS。          Oh; a friend of ours from California; who's been
  so kind to us all night; and who's going home with us。
  AUNT MARY。         Another ridiculous surprise; I suppose。      But he shall
  not surprise ME。     Young man; isn't your name Sawyer?
  THE CALIFORNIAN。           Yes; ma'am。
  AUNT MARY。         Abram?
  THE CALIFORNIAN。           Abram Sawyer。       You're right there; ma'am。
  MRS。   ROBERTS。        Oh!   oh!   I   knew   it! I   knew   that   he   must   be
  somebody belonging to us。       Oh; thank you; aunty; for thinking …
  AUNT MARY。         Don't be absurd; Agnes。     Then you're my …
  A VOICE from one of the berths。          Lost step…son。    Found! found at
  last!
  'THE CALIFORNIAN looks vainly round in an endeavor to identify
  the speaker; and then turns again to AUNT MARY。'
  AUNT MARY。         Weren't your parents from Bath?
  THE CALIFORNIAN (eagerly)。            Both of 'em; ma'amboth of 'em。
  THE VOICE。        O my prophetic soul; my uncle!
  AUNT MARY。         Then you're my old friend Kate Harris's daughter?
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  THE SLEEPING…CAR
  THE      CALIFORNIAN。           I   might   be   her  SON;     ma'am;    but  MY
  mother's name was Susan Wakeman。
  AUNT MARY (in sharp disgust)。            Call the porter; please。
  'She withdraws her head and pulls her curtains together; the rest look
  blankly at one another。'
  CAMPBELL。           Another   failure;   and   just   when   we   thought   we   were
  sure of you。     I don't know what we shall do about you; Mr。 Sawyer。
  THE VOICE。         Adopt him。
  CAMPBELL。           That's a good idea。      We will adopt you。        You shall
  be our adoptive …
  THE VOICE。         Baby boy。
  ANOTHER VOICE。             Wife。
  A THIRD VOICE。           Brother。
  A FOURTH VOICE。            Early friend。
  A FIFTH VOICE。          Kate Harris's daughter。
  CAMPBELL   (laying   his   hand   on   THE   CALIFORNIAN'S   shoulder;
  and    breaking    into  a  laugh)。    Don't    mind    them。    They    don't   mean
  anything。     It's just their way。   You come home with my sister; and spend
  Christmas; and let us devote the rest of our lives to making your declining
  years happy。
  VOICES。        〃Good      for   you;   Willis!〃    〃We'll    all  come!〃     〃No
  ceremony!〃 〃Small and early!〃
  CAMPBELL   (looking   round)。          We   appear   to   have   fallen   in   with   a
  party of dry…goods drummers。         It makes a gentleman feel like an intruder。
  'The   train   stops;   he   looks   out   of   the   window。' We've   arrived。 Come;
  Agnes; come; Roberts; come; Mr。 Sawyerlet's be going。
  'They   gather   up   their   several   wraps   and   bags;   and   move   with   great
  dignity toward the door。'
  AUNT  MARY  (putting   out   her   head)。        Agnes!     If   you   must   forget
  your aunt; at least remember your child。
  MRS。 ROBERTS (running back in an agony of remorse)。                  Oh; BABY;
  did I forget you?
  CAMPBELL。          Oh; AUNTY; did she forget you?           'He runs back; and
  extends his arms to his aunt。'      Let me help you down; Aunt Mary。
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  THE SLEEPING…CAR
  AUNT MARY。           Nonsense; Willis。       Send the porter。
  CAMPBELL   (turning          round    and   confronting    THE    PORTER)。       He
  was here upon instinct。        Shall he fetch a step…ladder?
  AUNT   MARY。         HE   will   know   what   to   do。    Go   away;   Willis;   go
  away   with   that   child; Agnes。     If   I   should   happen   to   fall   on   you'They
  retreat; the curtain drops; and her voice is heard behind it addressing THE
  PORTER。'        Give   me   your   hand;   now   your   back;   now   your   knee。    So!
  And very well done。        Thanks。
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