the fortunes of oliver horn- 第19部分

〃We　won't　ask　your　father；　Ollie；〃　she　said；　drawing　　him　closer　to　her。　She　knew　he　would　yield　to　her　wishes；　and　she　loved　him　the　better　for　it；　if　that　were　possible。　〃I　have　a　little　money　saved　which　I　will　give　you。　You　won't　be　long　finding　a　good　place。〃

〃And　how　often　can　I　come　back　to　you？〃　he　cried；　starting　up。　Until　now　this　phase　of　the　situation　　had　not　entered　his　mind。

〃Not　often；　my　boycertainly　not　until　you　can　afford　it。　It　is　costly　travelling。　Maybe　once　or　twice　a　year。〃

〃Oh；　then　there's　no　use　talking；　I　can't　go。　I　can'tcan't；　be　away　from　you　that　long。　That's　going　to　be　the　hardest　part。〃　He　had　started　from　his　seat　and；　stood　over　her；　a　look　of　determination　on　his　face。

〃Oh；　yes；　you　can；　my　son；　and　you　will；〃　she　replied；　as　she　too　rose　and　stood　beside　him；　stopping　　the　outburst　of　his　weakness　with　her　calm　voice；　and　quieting　and　soothing　him　with　the　soft　touch　of　her　hand；　caressing　his　cheek　with　her　fingers　as　she　had　so　often　done　when　he；　a　baby；　had　lain　upon　her　breast。

Then　with　a　smile　on　her　face；　she　had　kissed　him　good…night；　closed　the　door；　and　staggering　along　the　corridor　steadying　herself　as　she　walked；　her　hand　on　the　walls；　had　thrown　herself　upon　her　bed　in　an　agony　of　tears；　crying　out：

〃Oh；　my　boymy　boy！　How　can　I　give　you　up？　And　I　know　it　is　forever！〃

And　now　here　he　is　foot…sore　and　heart…sore；　sitting　　in　Union　Square；　New　York；　the　roar　of　the　great　city　in　his　ears；　and　here　he　must　sit　until　the　cattle…barge　which　takes　him　every　night　to　the　house　of　Amos　Cobb's　friend　is　ready　to　start　on　her　voyage　up　the　river。

He　sat　with　his　head　in　his　hands；　his　elbows　on　his　knees；　not　stirring　until　a　jar　on　the　other　end　of　the　bench　roused　him。　A　negro　hod…carrier；　splashed　with　plaster；　and　wearing　a　ragged　shirt　and　a　crownless　straw　hat；　had　taken　a　seat　beside　him。　The　familiarity　of　the　act　startled　Oliver。　No　negro　wayfarer　would　have　dared　so　much　in　his　own　Square　at　home。

The　man　reached　forward　and　drew　closer　to　his　own　end　of　the　bench　a　bundle　of　sawed　ends　and　bits　of　wood　which　he　had　carried　across　the　park　on　his　shoulder。

Oliver　watched　him　for　a　moment；　with　a　feeling　amounting　almost　to　indignation。　〃Were　the　poverty　　and　the　struggle　of　a　great　city　to　force　such　familiarities　upon　him；〃　he　wondered。　Then　something　　in　the　negro's　face；　as　he　wiped　the　perspiration　from　his　forehead　with　the　back　of　his　hand；　produced　　a　sudden　change　of　feeling。　〃Was　this　man；　too；　without　work？〃　Oliver　asked　himself；　as　he　felt　the　negro's　weariness；　and　realized　for　the　first　time；　the　common　heritage　of　all　men。

〃Are　you　tired；　Uncle？〃　he　asked。

〃Yes；　a　little　mite。　I　been　a…totin'　dis　kindlin'　from　way　up　yander　in　Twenty…third　Street　where　the　circus　useter　be。　Dey's　buildin'　a　big　hotel　dere　nowde　Fifth　Avenue　dey　calls　it。　I'm　a…carryin'　mortar　for　de　brick…layers　an'　somehow　dese　sticks　is　monst'ous　heavy　after　workin'　all　day。〃

〃Where　do　you　live？〃　asked　Oliver；　his　eyes　on　the　kindling…wood。

〃Not　far　from　here；　sah；　little　way　dis　side　de　Bow'ry。　Whar's　yo'r　home？〃　And　the　old　man　rose　to　his　feet　and　picked　up　his　bundle。

The　question　staggered　Oliver。　He　had　no　home；　really　none　that　he　could　call　his　ownnot　now。

〃Oh；　a　long　way　from　here；〃　he　answered；　thoughtfully；　without　raising　his　head；　his　voice　choking。

The　old　negro　gazed　at　him　for　a　moment；　touched　his　hat　respectfully；　and　walked　toward　the　gate。　At　the　entrance　he　wheeled　about；　balanced　the　bundle　　of　wood　on　his　shoulder　and　looked　back　at　Oliver；　　who　had　resumed　his　old　position；　his　eyes　on　the　ground。　Then　he　walked　away；　muttering：

〃'Pears　like　he's　one　o'　my　own　people　calling　me　uncle。　Spec'　he　ain't　been　long　from　his　mammy。〃

Two　street…rats　now　sneaked　up　toward　Oliver；　watched　him　for　a　moment；　and　whispered　to　each　other。　One　threw　a　stone　which　grazed　Oliver's　head；　the　other　put　his　hand　to　his　mouth　and　yelled：　〃Spad；　spad；〃　at　the　top　of　his　voice。　Oliver　understood　　the　epithet；　it　meant　that　he　wore　clean　linen；　polished　shoes；　and　perhaps；　now　and　then；　a　pair　of　gloves。　He　had　heard　the　same　outcry　in　his　own　city；　for　the　slang　of　the　street…rat　is　Volapuk　the　world　over。　But　he　did　not　resent　the　assault。　He　was　too　tired　to　chase　any　boys；　and　too　despondent　to　answer　their　taunts。

A　constable；　attracted　by　the　cries　of　the　boys；　now　passed　in　front　of　him　swinging　his　long　staff。　He　was　about　to　tap　Oliver's　knees　with　one　end　of　it；　as　a　gentle　reminder　that　he　had　better　move　on；　when　something　in　the　young　man's　face　or　appearance　　made　him　change　his　mind。

〃Hi；　sonny；〃　he　cried；　turning　quickly　and　facing　Olivr；　〃yer　can't　bum　round　here　after　ten；　ye　know。　Keep　yer　eyes　peeled　for　them　gates；　d'ye　hear？〃

If　Oliver　heard　he　made　no　reply。　He　was　in　no　mood　to　dispute　the　officer's　right　to　order　him　about。　The　gates　were　not　the　only　openings　shut　in　his　face；　he　thought　to　himself；　everything　seemed　closed　against　him　in　this　great　city。　It　was　not　so　at　home　on　Kennedy　Square。　Its　fence；　was　a　shackly；　moss…covered；　sagging　old　fence；　intertwined　　with　honeysuckles；　full　of　holes　and　minus　many　a　paling；　where　he　could　have　found　a　dozen　places　to　crawl　through。　He　had　done　so　only　a　few　weeks　before　with　Sue　in　a　mad　frolic　across　the　Square。　Besides；　why　should　the　constable　speak　to　him　at　all？　He　knew　all　about　the　hour　of　closing　the　New　York　gates　without　the　policeman　reminding　him　of　it。　Had　he　not　sat　here　every　night　waiting　for　that　cattle…boat？　He　hated　the　place　cordially；　yet　it　was　the　only　spot　in　that　great　city　to　which　he　could　come　and　not　be　molested　while　he　waited　for　the　barges。　He　always　selected　this　particular　bench　because　it　was　nearest　the　gate　that　led　to　the　bronze　horse。　He　loved　to　look　at　its　noble　contour　　silhouetted　against　the　sky　or　illumined　by　the　street…lamps；　and　was　seldom　too　tired　to　be　inspired　by　it。　He　had　never　seen　any　work　in　sculpture　to　be　compared　to　it；　and　for　the　first　few　days　after　his　arrival；　he　was　never　content　to　end　the　day's　tramping　until　he　stood　beneath　it；　following　its　outlines；　　his　heart　swelling　with　pride　at　the　thought　that　one　of　his　own　nationality　and　not　a　European　　had　created　it。　He　wished　that　his　father；　who　believed　so　in　the　talent　of　his　countrymen；　could　see　it。

Suddenly；　while　he　was　still　resenting　the　familiarity　　of　the　constable；　his　ears　were　assailed　by　the　cry　of　a　dog　in　pain；　some　street…rat　had　kicked　him。

Instantly　Oliver　was　on　his　feet。　A　small　spaniel　was　running　toward　him；　followed　by　half　a　dozen　boys　who　were　pelting　him　with　stones。

Oliver　sprang　forward　as　the　dog　crouched　at　his　feet；　caught　him　up　in　his　arms　and　started　for　the　rats；　who　dodged　behind　the　tree…trunks；　calling　〃Spad；　spad；〃　as　they　ran。　Then　came　the　voice　of　the　same　constable。

〃Hi；　yer　can't　bring　that　dog　in　here。〃

〃He's　not　my　dog；　somebody　has　hurt　him；〃　said　Oliver　in　an　indifferent　tone；　examining　carefully　the　dog's　legs　to　see　if　any　bones　were　broken。

〃If　that　ain't　your　dog　what　yer　doin'　with　him？　See　here；　I　been　a…watchin'　ye。　Yer　got　ter　move　on　or　I'll　run　ye　in。　D'ye　moind？〃

Oliver's　eyes　flashed。　In　all　his　life　no　man　had　ever　doubted　his　word；　nor　had　anyone　ever　spoken　to　him　in　such　terms。

〃You　can　do　as　you　please；　but　I　will　take　care　of　this　dog；　no　matter　what　happens。　You　ought　to　be　ashamed　of　yourself　to　see　him　hurt；　and　not　want　to　protect　him。　You're　a　pretty　kind　of　an　officer。〃

A　crowd　began　to　gather。

Oliver　was　standing　with　the　dog　under　one　arm；　holding　the　little　fellow　close　to　his　breast；　the　other　bent　with　fist　tight　shut　as　if　to　defend　himself。

〃I　am；　am　I？　yer　moon…faced　spad！　I'll　show　ye；〃　and　he　sprang　toward　Oliver。

〃Here　now；　Tim　Murphy；〃　came　a　sharp　voice；　〃kape　yer　hands　off　the　young　gintleman。　He　ain't　a…doin'　nothin'；　and　he　ain't　done　nothin'。　Thim　divils　hit　the　dog；　I　seen　'em　myself。〃

The　officer　turned　quickly　and　faced　a　big；　broad…　shouldered　Irish　woman；　bare…headed；　her　sleeves　rolled　up　to　her　elbows；　every　line　in　her　kindly　face　replete　with　indignation。

〃Don't　put　yer　hands　on　him；　or　I'll　go　to　the　lock…up　an'　tell　McManus。〃

〃Oh；　it's　you；　is　it；　Mrs。　Mulligan？〃　said　the　officer；　in　a　conciliatory　tone。

〃Yes；　it's　me。　The　young　gintleman's　right。　It's　the　b'ys　ye　oughter　club　into　shape；　not　be　foolin'　yer　time　over　the　dog。〃

〃Well；　ye　know　it's　agin　the　rules　to　let　dogs　inside　　the　gates；〃　he　retorted　as　he　continued　his　stroll　along　the　walk；　swinging　his　club　as　he　went；　puffing　out　his　chest　and　cheeks　with　his　old　air　as　he　moved　toward　the　gate。

〃Yes；　an'　so　it's　agin　the　rules；〃　she　called　after　him；　〃to　have　them　rapscallions　yellin'　like　mad　an'　howlin'　bloody　murder　when　a　body　comes　up　here　to　git　a　breath　o'　air。〃

〃Is　the　dog　hurt；　sir？〃　and　she　stepped　close　to　Oliver　and　laid　her　big　hand　on　the　dog's　head；　as　it　lay　nestling　close　to　Oliver's　side。

〃No；　I　don't　think　sohe　would　have　been　if　I　had　not　got　him。〃

The　dog；　under　the　caress；　raised　his　head；　and　a　slight　movement　of　his　tail　expressed　his　pleasure。　Then　his　ears　shot　forward。　A　young　man　about　Oliver's　own　age　was　rapidly　walking　up　the　path；　with　a　quick；　springy　step；　whistling　as　he　came。　The　dog；　with　a　sudden　movement；　squirmed　himself　from　under　Oliver's　arm　and　sprang　toward　him。

〃Oh；　it's　you；　Mr。　Fred；　is　it？〃　broke　out　the　woman；　〃and　it's　Miss　Margaret's　dog；　too。　Of　course　it's　her　dog；　an'　I　was　that　dumb　I　didn't　know　it。 But　it's　not　me　ye　can　thank　for　savin'　its　skin　it's　the　young　gintleman　here。　Them　divils　would　have　killed　it　but　for　him。〃

〃Is　the　dog　yours；　sir？〃　asked　Oliver；　raising　his　hat　with　that　peculiar　manner　of　his　which　always　won　him　friends　at　first　sight。

〃No；　I　wish　it　were。　It's　Miss　Margaret　Grant's　dogone　of　our　students。　I　am　taking　care　of　it　while　she　is　away。　The　little　rascal　ran　out　and　got　into　the　Square　before　I　knew　it。　I　live　right　across　the　streetyou　can　see　my　house　from　here。　Miss　Grant　will　be　ever　so　much　obliged　to　you　for　protecting　　him。〃

〃Oh；　don't　mention　it。　I　got　hold　of　him　just　in　time；　or　these　ruffians　would　have　hurt　him。　I　think　t