within the law- 第21部分

Aggie；　who　had　observed　developments　closely；　now　lifted　her　voice　in　tardy　lamentations　over　her　own　stupidity。　　There　was　no　affectation　of　the　fine　lady　in　her　self…reproach。

〃Why；　the　poor　gawk's　hungry！〃　she　exclaimed！　〃And　I　never　got　the　dope　on　her。　　Ain't　I　the　simp！〃　

The　girl　regained　a　degree　of　self…control；　and　showed　something　of　forlorn　dignity。

〃Yes；〃　she　said　dully；　〃I'm　starving。〃

Mary　regarded　the　afflicted　creature　with　that　sympathy　born　only　of　experience。

〃Yes；〃　she　said　softly；　〃I　understand。〃　　Then　she　spoke　to　Aggie。　　〃Take　her　to　my　room；　and　let　her　rest　there　for　a　while。　　Have　her　drink　the　egg　and　milk　slowly；　and　then　lie　down　for　a　few　minutes　anyhow。〃

Aggie　obeyed　with　an　air　of　bustling　activity。

〃Sure；　I　will！〃　she　declared。　　She　went　to　the　girl　and　helped　her　to　stand　up。　　〃We'll　fix　you　out　all　right；〃　she　said；　comfortingly。　　〃Come　along　with　me。。。。　Hungry！　Gee；　but　that's　tough！〃　

Half　an　hour　afterward；　while　Mary　was　at　her　desk；　giving　part　of　her　attention　to　Joe　Garson；　who　sat　near；　and　part　to　a　rather　formidable　pile　of　neatly　arranged　papers；　Aggie　reported　with　her　charge；　who；　though　still　shambling　of　gait；　and　stooping；　showed　by　some　faint　color　in　her　face　and　an　increased　steadiness　of　bearing　that　the　food　had　already　strengthened　her　much。

〃She　would　come；〃　Aggie　explained。　　〃I　thought　she　ought　to　rest　for　a　while　longer　anyhow。〃　　She　half…shoved　the　girl　into　a　chair　opposite　the　desk；　in　an　absurd　travesty　on　the　maternal　manner。

〃I'm　all　right；　I　tell　you；〃　came　the　querulous　protest。

Whereupon；　Aggie　gave　over　the　uncongenial　task　of　mothering；　and　settled　herself　comfortably　in　a　chair；　with　her　legs　merely　crossed　as　a　compromise　between　ease　and　propriety。

〃Are　you　quite　sure？〃　　Mary　said　to　the　girl。　　And　then；　as　the　other　nodded　in　assent；　she　spoke　with　a　compelling　kindliness。　　〃Then　you　must　tell　us　all　about　itthis　trouble　of　yours；　you　know。　　What　is　your　name？〃　

Once　again　the　girl　had　recourse　to　the　swift；　searching；　furtive　glance；　but　her　voice　was　colorless　as　she　replied；　listlessly：

〃Helen　Morris。〃

Mary　regarded　the　girl　with　an　expression　that　was　inscrutable　when　she　spoke　again。

〃I　don't　have　to　ask　if　you　have　been　in　prison；〃　she　said　gravely。　　〃Your　face　shows　it。〃

〃II　came　outthree　months　ago；〃　was　the　halting　admission。

Mary　watched　the　shrinking　figure　reflectively　for　a　long　minute　before　she　spoke　again。　　Then　there　was　a　deeper　resonance　in　her　voice。

〃And　you'd　made　up　your　mind　to　go　straight？〃　

〃Yes。〃　　The　word　was　a　whisper。

〃You　were　going　to　do　what　the　chaplain　had　told　you；〃　Mary　went　on　in　a　voice　vibrant　with　varied　emotions。　〃You　were　going　to　start　all　over　again；　weren't　you？　　You　were　going　to　begin　a　new　life；　weren't　you？〃　　The　bent　head　of　the　girl　bent　still　lower　in　assent。　There　came　a　cynical　note　into　Mary's　utterance　now。

〃It　doesn't　work　very　well；　does　it？〃　　she　asked；　bitterly。

The　girl　gave　sullen　agreement。

〃No；〃　she　said　dully；　〃I'm　whipped。〃

Mary's　manner　changed　on　the　instant。　　She　spoke　cheerfully　for　the　first　time。

〃Well；　then；〃　she　questioned；　〃how　would　you　like　to　work　with　us？〃　

The　girl　looked　up　for　a　second　with　another　of　her　fleeting；　stealthy　glances。

〃Youyou　mean　that？〃　

Mary　explained　her　intention　in　the　matter　very　explicitly。　Her　voice　grew　boastful。

〃Our　kind　of　work　pays　well　when　you　know　how。　Look　at　us。〃

Aggie　welcomed　the　opportunity　for　speech；　too　long　delayed。

〃Hats　from　Joseph's；　gowns　from　Lucile's；　and　cracked　ice　from　Tiffany's。　　But　it　ain't　ladylike　to　wear　it；〃　she　concluded　with　a　reproachful　glance　at　her　mentor。

Mary　disregarded　the　frivolous　interruption；　and　went　on　speaking　to　the　girl；　and　now　there　was　something　pleasantly　cajoling　in　her　manner。

〃Suppose　I　should　stake　you　for　the　present；　and　put　you　in　with　a　good　crowd。　　All　you　would　have　to　do　would　be　to　answer　advertisements　for　servant　girls。　　I　will　see　that　you　have　the　best　of　references。　　Then；　when　you　get　in　with　the　right　people；　you　will　open　the　front　door　some　night　and　let　in　the　gang。　　Of　course；　you　will　make　a　get…away　when　they　do；　and　get　your　bit　as　well。〃

There　flashed　still　another　of　the　swift；　sly　glances；　and　the　lips　of　the　girl　parted　as　if　she　would　speak。　But　she　did　not；　only；　her　head　sagged　even　lower　on　her　breast；　and　the　shrunken　form　grew　yet　more　shrunken。　　Mary；　watching　closely；　saw　these　signs；　and　in　the　same　instant　a　change　came　over　her。　　Where　before　there　had　been　an　underlying　suggestion　of　hardness；　there　was　now　a　womanly　warmth　of　genuine　sympathy。

〃It　doesn't　suit　you？〃　　she　said；　very　softly。　　〃Good！　I　was　in　hopes　it　wouldn't。　　So；　here's　another　plan。〃　　Her　voice　had　become　very　winning。　　〃Suppose　you　could　go　Westsome　place　where　you　would　have　a　fair　chance；　with　money　enough　so　you　could　live　like　a　human　being　till　you　got　a　start？〃　

There　came　a　tensing　of　the　relaxed　form；　and　the　head　lifted　a　little　so　that　the　girl　could　look　at　her　questioner。　　And；　this　time；　the　glance；　though　of　the　briefest；　was　less　furtive。

〃I　will　give　you　that　chance；〃　Mary　said　simply；　〃if　you　really　want　it。〃

That　speech　was　like　a　current　of　strength　to　the　wretched　girl。　　She　sat　suddenly　erect；　and　her　words　came　eagerly。

〃Oh；　I　do！〃　And　now　her　hungry　gaze　remained　fast　on　the　face　of　the　woman　who　offered　her　salvation。

Mary　sprang　up　and　moved　a　step　toward　the　girl　who　continued　to　stare　at　her；　fascinated。　　She　was　now　all　wholesome。　　The　memory　of　her　own　wrongs　surged　in　her　during　this　moment　only　to　make　her　more　appreciative　of　the　blessedness　of　seemly　life。　　She　was　moved　to　a　divine　compassion　over　this　waif　for　whom　she　might　prove　a　beneficent　providence。　　There　was　profound　conviction　in　the　emphasis　with　which　she　spoke　her　warning。

〃Then　I　have　just　one　thing　to　say　to　you　first。　　If　you　are　going　to　live　straight；　start　straight；　and　then　go　through　with　it。　　Do　you　know　what　that　means？〃　

〃You　mean；　keep　straight　all　the　time？〃　　The　girl　spoke　with　a　force　drawn　from　the　other's　strength。

〃I　mean　more　than　that；〃　Mary　went　on　earnestly。　〃I　mean；　forget　that　you　were　ever　in　prison。　　I　don't　know　what　you　have　doneI　don't　think　I　care。　　But　whatever　it　was；　you　have　paid　for　ita　pretty　big　price；　too。〃　　Into　these　last　words　there　crept　the　pathos　of　one　who　knew。　　The　sympathy　of　it　stirred　the　listener　to　fearful　memories。

〃I　have；　I　have！〃　The　thin　voice　broke；　wailing。

〃Well；　then；〃　Mary　went　on；　〃just　begin　all　over　again；　and　be　sure　you　stand　up　for　your　rights。　　Don't　let　them　make　you　pay　a　second　time。　　Go　where　no　one　knows　you；　and　don't　tell　the　first　people　who　are　kind　to　you　that　you　have　been　crooked。　　If　they　think　you　are　straight；　why；　be　it。　　Then　nobody　will　have　any　right　to　complain。〃　　Her　tone　grew　suddenly　pleading。　〃Will　you　promise　me　this？〃　

〃Yes；　I　promise；〃　came　the　answer；　very　gravely；　quickened　with　hope。

〃Good！〃　Mary　exclaimed；　with　a　smile　of　approval。　〃Wait　a　minute；〃　she　added；　and　left　the　room。

〃Huh！　Pretty　soft　for　some　people；〃　Aggie　remarked　to　Garson；　with　a　sniff。　　She　felt　no　alarm　lest　she　wound　the　sensibilities　of　the　girl。　　She　herself　had　never　let　delicacy　interfere　between　herself　and　money。　It　was　really　stranger　that　the　forger；　who　possessed　a　more　sympathetic　nature；　did　not　scruple　to　speak　an　assent　openly。　　Somehow；　he　felt　an　inexplicable　prejudice　against　this　abject　recipient　of　Mary's　bounty；　though　not　for　the　world　would　he　have　checked　the　generous　impulse　on　the　part　of　the　woman　he　so　revered。　It　was　his　instinct　on　her　behalf　that　made　him　now　vaguely　uneasy；　as　if　he　sensed　some　malign　influence　against　her　there　present　with　them。

Mary　returned　soon。　　In　her　hand　she　carried　a　roll　of　bills。　　She　went　to　the　girl　and　held　out　the　money。　Her　voice　was　business…like　now；　but　very　kind。

〃Take　this。　　It　will　pay　your　fare　West；　and　keep　you　quite　a　while　if　you　are　careful。〃

But；　without　warning；　a　revulsion　seized　on　the　girl。　Of　a　sudden；　she　shrank　again；　and　turned　her　head　away；　and　her　body　trembled。

〃I　can't　take　it；〃　she　stammered。　　〃I　can't！　I　can't！〃　

Mary　stood　silent　for　a　moment　from　sheer　amazement　over　the　change。　　When　she　spoke；　her　voice　had　hardened　a　little。　　It　is　not　agreeable　to　have　one's　beneficence　flouted。

〃Didn't　you　come　here　for　help？〃　　she　demanded。

〃Yes；〃　was　the　faltering　reply；　〃butbutI　didn't　knowit　was　you！〃　The　words　came　with　a　rush　of　desperation。

〃Then；　you　have　met　me　before？〃　　Mary　said；　quietly。

〃No；　no！〃　The　girl's　voice　rose　shrill。

Aggie　spoke　her　mind　with　commendable　frankness。

〃She's　lying。〃

And；　once　again；　Garson　agreed。　　His　yes　was　spoken　in　a　tone　of　complete　certainty。　　That　Mary；　too；　was　of　their　opinion　was　shown　in　her　next　words。

〃So；　you　have　met　me　before？　　Where？〃　

The　girl　unwittingly　made　confession　in　her　halting　words。

〃II　can't　tell　you。〃　　There　was　despair　in　her　voice。

〃You　must。〃　　Mary　spoke　with　severity。　　She　felt　that　this　mystery　held　in　it　something　sinister　to　herself。　〃You　must；〃　she　repeated　imperiously。

The　girl　o