9. Melchisedec

  9.Melchisedec

  ThethirdpersoniriowasLottie.Shewasasmallthinganddidnotknowwhatadversitymeant,andwasmuchbewilderedbythealterationshesawinheryoungadoptedmother.ShehadhearditrumoredthatstrahingshadhappeoSara,butshecouldnotuandwhyshelookeddifferent--whysheworeanoldblackfrodcameintotheschoolroomonlytoteasteadoftositinherplaceofhonorandlearnlessonsherself.TherehadbeenmuchwhisperingamoleoneswhenithadbeendiscoveredthatSaranolongerlivedintheroomsinwhichEmilyhadsolongsatinstate.LottieschiefdifficultywasthatSarasaidsolittlewhenoneaskedherquestions.Atsevenmysteriesmustbemadeveryclearifoouandthem.

  "Areyouverypoornow,Sara?"shehadaskedfidentiallythefirstmherfriendtookchargeofthesmallFrenchclass."Areyouaspoorasabeggar?"Shethrustafathandintotheslimoneandopenedround,tearfuleyes."Idontwantyoutobeaspoorasabeggar."

  Shelookedasifshewasgoingtocry.AndSarahurriedlysoledher.

  "Beggarshaveolive,"shesaidceously."Ihaveaplacetolivein."

  "Wheredoyoulive?"persistedLottle."Thenewgirlsleepsinyourroom,anditisyanymore."

  "Iliveinanotherroom,"saidSara.

  "Isitanie?"inquiredLottie."Iwanttogoa."

  "Youmustnottalk,"saidSara."MissMinislookingatus.Shewillbeangrywithmeforlettingyouwhisper."

  Shehadfoundoutalreadythatshewastobeheldatableforeverythingwhichwasobjectedto.Ifthechildreatteheytalked,iftheywererestless,itwasshewhowouldbereproved.

  ButLottiewasadetermitleperson.IfSarawouldnottellherwhereshelived,shewouldfindoutiherway.Shetalkedtohersmallpanionsandhungabouttheeldergirlsandlistenedwhentheyweregossiping;andagupoaininformationtheyhadunsciouslyletdrop,shestartedlateoernoononavoyageofdiscovery,climbingstairsshehadneverknowenceof,untilshereachedtheatticfloor.Thereshefoundtwodoorsneareachother,andopeningone,shesawherbelovedSarastandinguponanoldtableandlookingoutofawindow.

  "Sara!"shecried,aghast."MammaSara!"Shewasaghastbecausetheatticwassobareanduglyandseemedsofarawayfromalltheworld.Hershshadseemedtohavebeenmountinghundredsofstairs.

  Saraturnedroundatthesoundofhervoice.Itwasherturntobeaghast.Whatwouldhappennow?IfLottiebegantodanyonecedtohear,theywerebothlost.Shejumpeddownfromhertableandrantothechild.

  "Dontdmakeanoise,"sheimplored."Ishallbescoldedifyoudo,andIhavebeenscoldedallday.Its--itsnotsuchabadroom,Lottie."

  "Isntit?"gaspedLottie,andasshelookedrounditshebitherlip.Sheoiledchildyet,butshewasfondenoughofheradoptedparenttomakeanefforttotrolherselfforhersake.Then,somehow,itwasquitepossiblethatanyplawhichSaralivedmightturnouttobenice."Whyisntit,Sara?"shealmostwhispered.

  Sarahuggedhercloseandtriedtolaugh.Therewasasortoffortinthewarmthoftheplump,childishbody.Shehadhadaharddayandhadbeenstaringoutofthewindowswithhoteyes.

  "Youseeallsortsofthingsyoutseedownstairs,"shesaid.

  "Whatsortofthings?"dematie,withthatcuriositySaracouldalwaysawakeneveninbiggergirls.

  "eys--quiteclosetous--withsmokecurlingupihsandcloudsandgoingupintothesky--andsparrowshoppingaboutandtalkingtoeachotherjustasiftheywerepeople--andotherattidowswhereheadsmaypopoutanyminuteandyouwonderwhotheybelongto.Anditallfeelsashighup--asifitwasanotherworld."

  "Oh,letmeseeit!"criedLottie."Liftmeup!"

  Saraliftedherup,aoodoabletogetherandleaheedgeoftheflatwindowintheroof,andlookedout.

  Anyonewhohasnotdohisdoesnotknowwhatadifferentworldtheysaw.Theslatesspreadoutohersideofthemandslanteddownintutter-pipes.Thesparrows,beingathomethere,twitteredandhoppedaboutquitewithoutfear.Twoofthemperchedontheeytopandquarrelledwitheachotherfiercelyuntilonepeckedtheotheranddrovehimaway.Thegarretwindowotheirswasshutbecausethehousedoorty.

  "Iwishsomeonelivedthere,"Sarasaid."Itissoclosethatiftherewasalittlegirliic,wecouldtalktoeachotherthroughthewindowsandclimbovertoseeeachother,ifwewerenotafraidoffalling."

  Theskyseemedsomuearerthanwhenonesawitfromthestreet,thatLottiewasented.Fromtheattidow,amongtheeypots,thethingswhichwerehappeningintheworldbelowseemedalmostunreal.OnescarcelybelievedienissMinandMissAmeliaandtheschoolroom,andtherollofwheelsinthesquareseemedasoundbelongingtoanotherexistence.

  "Oh,Sara!"criedLottie,cuddlinginherguardingarm."Ilikethisattic--Ilikeit!Itishandownstairs!"

  "Lookatthatsparrow,"whisperedSara."IwishIhadsomecrumbstothrowtohim."

  "Ihavesome!"cameinalittleshriekfromLottie."Ihavepartofabuninmypocket;Iboughtitwithmypeerday,andIsavedabit."

  Whehrewoutafewcrumbsthesparrowjumpedandflewawaytoanadjateytop.Hewasevidentlynotacedtointimatesinattiduedcrumbsstartledhim.ButwhenLottieremainedquitestillandSarachirpedverysoftly--almostasifshearrowherself--hesawthatthethingwhichhadalarmedhimrepresentedhospitality,afterall.Heputhisheadononeside,andfromhispertheeylookeddownatthecrumbswithtwinklingeyes.Lottiecouldscarcelykeepstill.

  "Willhee?Willhee?"shewhispered.

  "Hiseyeslookasifhewould,"Sarawhisperedback."Heisthinkingandthinkiherhedare.Yes,hewill!Yes,heising!"

  Heflewdownandhoppedtowardthecrumbs,butstoppedafewinchesawayfromthem,puttinghisheadononesideagain,asifreflegonthecesthatSaraandLottiemightturnouttobebigcatsandjumponhim.Atlasthishearttoldhimtheywerereallyhantheylooked,andhehoppednearerandnearer,dartedatthebiggestcrumbwithalightningpeck,seizedit,andcarrieditawaytotheothersideofhisey.

  "Nowheknows",saidSara."Andhewillebackfortheothers."

  Hedidebadevenbroughtafriend,andthefrieawayandbroughtarelative,andamoheymadeaheartymealoverwhichtheytwitteredandchatteredandexclaimed,stoppingeverynowaoputtheirheadsononesideandexamiieandSara.Lottiewassodelightedthatshequitefotherfirstshockedimpressionoftheattifact,whenshewaslifteddownfromthetableauroearthlythings,asitwere,Sarawasabletopointouttohermaiesintheroomwhichsheherselfwouldnothavesuspectedtheexistenceof.

  "Itissolittleandsohighaboveeverything,"shesaid,"thatitisalmostlikeaiheslantingceilingissofunny.See,youscarcelystandupatthisendoftheroom;ahembeginstoeIlieinbedandlhtupintotheskythroughthatflatwindowintheroof.Itislikeasquarepatchoflight.Ifthesunisgoingtoshitlepinkcloudsfloatabout,andIfeelasifIcouldtouchthem.Andifitrains,thedropspatterandpatterasiftheyweresayingsomethingheniftherearestars,youlieandtrytothowmanygointothepatch.Ittakessuchalot.Andjustlookatthattiny,rustygrateintheer.Ifitolishedandtherewasafireinit,justthinkhowwouldbe.Yousee,itsreallyabeautifullittleroom."

  Shewaswalkingroundthesmallplace,holdingLottieshandandmakiureswhichdescribedallthebeautiesshewasmakingherselfsee.ShequitemadeLottieseethem,too.LottiecouldalwaysbelieveihingsSaramadepicturesof.

  "Yousee,"shesaid,"therecouldbeathick,softblueIndianrugonthefloor;andinthatertherecouldbeasoftlittlesofa,withcushionstocurlupon;andjustoveritcouldbeashelffullofbookssothatonecouldreachthemeasily;andtherecouldbeafurrugbeforethefire,andhangingsonthewalltocoverupthewhitewash,andpictures.Theywouldhavetobelittleones,buttheycouldbebeautiful;andtherecouldbealamprose-coloredshade;andatableinthemiddle,withthingstohaveteawith;andalittlefatcopperkettlesingingonthehob;andthebedcouldbequitedifferent.Itcouldbemadesoftandcoveredwithalovelysilkcoverlet.Itcouldbebeautiful.Andperhapswecouldcoaxthesparrowsuntilwemadesuchfriendswiththemthattheywouldeathewindowandasktobeletin."

  "Oh,Sara!"criedLottie."Ishouldliketolivehere!"

  WhenSarahadpersuadedhertogodownstairsagain,and,aftersettingheronherway,hadebacktoherattic,shestoodinthemiddleofitandlookedabouther.TheentmentiningsforLottiehaddiedaway.Thebedwashardandcoveredwithitsdingyquilt.Thewhitewashedwallshoweditsbrokenpatches,thefloorwascoldandbare,thegratewasbrokenandrusty,aeredfootstool,tiltedsidewaysonitsinjuredleg,theointheroom.Shesatdownonitforafewminutesaherheaddropinherhands.ThemerefactthatLottiehadeandgoneawayagaihingsseemalittleworse--justasperhapsprisonersfeelalittlemoredesolateaftervisitorseandgo,leavingthembehind.

  "Itsalonelyplace,"shesaid."Sometimesitstheloplatheworld."

  Shewassittinginthiswaywheentionwasattractedbyaslightsoundnearher.Sheliftedherheadtoseewhereitcamefrom,andifshehadbeenanervouschildshewouldhaveleftherseatoeredfootstoolihurry.Alargeratwassittinguponhishindquartersandsniffingtheairinaedmanner.SomeofLottiescrumbshaddroppeduponthefloorandtheirsthaddrawnhimoutofhishole.

  Helookedsoqueerandsolikeagray-whiskereddwarfSarawasratherfasated.Helookedatherwithhisbrighteyes,asifhewereaskingaquestion.Hewasevidentlysodoubtfulthatohechildsqueerthoughtscameintohermind.

  "Idaresayitisratherhardtobearat,"shemused."Nobodylikesyou.Peoplejumpandrunawayandscreamout,`Oh,ahorridrat!Ishouldntlikepeopletoscreamandjumpandsay,`Oh,ahorridSara!themomenttheysawme.Arapsforme,aendtheyweredissodifferenttobeasparrow.Butnobodyaskedthisratifhewaobearatwhenhewasmade.Nobodysaid,`Wouldntyouratherbeasparrow?"

  Shehadsatsoquietlythattherathadbeguntotakece.Hewasverymuchafraidofher,butperhapshehadaheartlikethesparrowandittoldhimthatshewasnotathingwhichpounced.Hewasveryhungry.Hehadawifeandalargefamilyinthewall,andtheyhadhadfrightfullybadluckforseveraldays.Hehadleftthechildrengbitterly,ahewouldriskagooddealforafewcrumbs,sohecautiouslydroppeduponhisfeet.

  "eon,"saidSara;"Imnotatrap.Youhavethem,poorthing!Prisonersiilleusedtomakefriendswithrats.SupposeImakefriendswithyou."

  HowitisthatanimalsuandthingsIdonotknow,butitiscertainthattheydouand.Perhapsthereisalanguagewhiotmadeofwordsahingintheworlduandsit.Perhapsthereisasoulhiddenihinganditaleak,withoutevenmakingasound,toanothersoul.Butwhatsoeverwasthereasoknewfromthatmomentthathewassafe--eventhoughhewasarat.Hekhatthisyounghumanbeingsittingontheredfootstoolwouldnotjumpupandterrifyhimwithwild,sharphrowheavyobjectsathimwhich,iftheydidnotfallandcrushhim,wouldsendhimlimpinginhisscurrybacktohishole.Hewasreallyavery,anddidheleastharm.Whenhehadstoodonhishindlegsandsheair,withhisbrighteyesfixedonSara,hehadhopedthatshewoulduandthis,andwouldnotbeginbyhatinghimasanenemy.Wheeriousthingwhichspeakswithoutsayinganywordstoldhimthatshewouldnot,hewentsoftlytowardthecrumbsaoeatthem.AshediditheglancedeverynowaSara,justasthesparrowshaddone,andhisexpressionwassoveryapologeticthatittouchedherheart.

  Shesatandwatchedhimwithoutmakinganymovement.Onecrumbwasverymuchlargerthahers--infact,itcouldscarcelybecalledacrumb.Itwasevidentthathewahatpieceverymuch,butitlayquitehefootstoolandhewasstillrathertimid.

  "Ibelievehewantsittocarrytohisfamilyinthewall,"Sarathought."IfIdonotstiratall,perhapshewillea."

  Shescarcelyallowedherselftobreathe,shewassodeeplyied.Theratshuffledalittlenearerandateafewmorecrumbs,theoppedandsniffeddelicately,givingasideglaheoctofthefootstool;theedatthepieceofbunwithsomethingverylikethesuddenboldnessofthesparrow,aanthehadpossessionofitfledbacktothewall,slippeddownacratheskirtingboard,andwasgone.

  "Ikeditforhischildren,"saidSara."IdobelieveIakefriendswithhim."

  Aweekorsoafterward,oherarenightswhenErmengardefounditsafetostealuptotheattic,wheappedonthedoorwiththetipsersSaradidnotetoherfortwoorthreemiherewas,indeed,suchasileheroomatfirstthatErmengardewonderedifshecouldhavefallehen,tohersurprise,sheheardherutteralittle,lowlaughandspeakcoaxinglytosomeone.

  "There!&quardeheardhersay."Takeitandgohome,Melchisedeetoyourwife!"

  AlmostimmediatelySaraopehedoor,andwhenshedidsoshefoundErmengardestandingwithalarmedeyesupohreshold.

  "Who--whoareyoutalkingto,Sara?"shegaspedout.

  Saradrewherincautiously,butshelookedasifsomethingpleasedandamusedher.

  "Youmustpromisenotthtened--nottoscreamtheleastbit,orIttellyou,"sheanswered.

  Ermengardefeltalmostinedtoscreamo,butmaotrolherself.Shelookedallrouidsawnoone.ASarahadcertainlybeenspeakingtosomeone.Shethoughtofghosts.

  "Isit--somethingthatwillfrightenme?"sheaskedtimorously.

  "Somepeopleareafraidofthem,"saidSara."Iwasatfirst--butIamnotnow."

  "Wasit--aghost?"quakedErmengarde.

  "No,"saidSara,laughing."Itwasmyrat."

  Ermengardemadeonebound,andlahemiddleofthelittledingybed.Shetuckedherfeetunderhernightgownandtheredshawl.Shedidnotscream,butshegaspedwithfright.

  "Oh!Oh!"shecriedunderherbreath."Arat!Arat!"

  "Iwasafraidyouwouldbefrightened,"saidSara."Butyoube.Iammakinghimtame.HeactuallyknowsmeandesoutwhenIcallhim.Areyouthteowanttoseehim?"

  Thetruthwasthat,asthedayshadgoneonand,withtheaidofscrapsbroughtupfromthekit,hercuriousfriendshiphaddeveloped,shehadgraduallyfottenthatthetimidcreatureshewasbeingfamiliarwithwasamererat.

  AtfirstErmengardewastoomuchalarmedtodoanythingbuthuddleinaheapuponthebedandtuckupherfeet,butthesightofSarasposedlittletehestoryofMelchisedecsfirstappearancebeganatlasttorousehercuriosity,andsheleanedforwardovertheedgeofthebedandwatchedSaragoandkneeldownbytheholeintheskirtingboard.

  "He--hewontrunoutquicklyandjumponthebed,willhe?"shesaid.

  "No,"answeredSara."Hesaspoliteasweare.Heisjustlikeaperson.Nowwatch!"

  Shebegantomakealow,whistlingsound--solowandcoaxingthatitcouldonlyhavebeenheardiirestillness.Shediditseveraltimes,lookiirelyabsorbedinit.Ermengardethoughtshelookedasifshewerewaspell.Andatlast,evidentlyinrespo,agray-whiskered,bright-eyedheadpeepedoutofthehole.Sarahadsomecrumbsinherhand.Shedroppedthem,andMelchisedeccamequietlyforthahem.Apieceersizethahetookandcarriedibusinesslikemannerbacktohishome.

  "Yousee,"saidSara,"thatisforhiswifeandchildren.Heisverynice.Heohelittlebits.AfterhegoesbackIalwayshearhisfamilysqueakingforjoy.Therearethreekindsofsqueaks.Onekindisthechildrens,andoneisMrs.MelchisededoneisMelchisede."

  Ermengardebegantolaugh.

  "Oh,Sara!"shesaid."Youarequeer--butyouarenice."

  "IknowIamqueer,"admittedSara,cheerfully;"andItrytobenice."Sherubbedherforeheadwithherlittlebrownpauzzled,tenderlookcameintoherface."Papaalwayslaughedatme,"shesaid;"butIlikedit.HethoughtIwasqueer,buthelikedmetomakeupthings.I--Ithelpmakingupthings.IfIdidnt,IdontbelieveIcouldlive."Shepausedandglancedarouic."ImsureIcouldntlivehere,"sheaddedinalowvoice.

  Ermengardewasied,asshealwayswas."Whenyoutalkaboutthings,"shesaid,"theyseemasiftheygrewreal.YoutalkaboutMelchisedecasifheerson."

  "Heisaperson,"saidSara."Hegetshungryandfrightened,justaswedo;andheismarriedandhaschildren.Howdoweknowhedoesntthinkthings,justaswedo?Hiseyeslookasifheerson.ThatwaswhyIgavehimaname."

  Shesatdownonthefloorinherfavoriteattitude,holdingherknees.

  "Besides,"shesaid,"heisaBastilleratsenttobemyfriend.Ialwaysgetabitofbreadthecookhasthrownaway,anditisquiteenoughtosupporthim."

  "IsittheBastilleyet?"askedErmengarde,eagerly."DoyoualretenditistheBastille?"

  "Nearlyalways,"answeredSara."SometimesItrytopretenditisanotherkindofplace;buttheBastilleisgenerallyeasiest--particularlywhenitiscold."

  JustatthatmomentErmengardealmostjumpedoffthebed,shewassostartledbyasoundsheheard.Itwasliketwodistinothewall.

  "Whatisthat?"sheexclaimed.

  Saragotupfromthefloorandansweredquitedramatically:

  "Itistheprisohecell."

  "Becky!"criedErmengarde,enraptured.

  "Yes,"saidSara."Listewoknocksmeant,`Prisoner,areyouthere?"

  Shekhreetimesonthewallherself,asifinanswer.

  "Thatmeans,`Yes,Iamhere,andalliswell."

  FourknockscamefromBeckyssideofthewall.

  "Thatmeans,"explainedSara,"`Then,fellow-sufferer,wewillsleepinpeace.Goodnight."

  Ermengardequitebeamedwithdelight.

  "Oh,Sara!"shewhisperedjoyfully."Itislikeastory!"

  "Itisastory,"saidSara."Everythingsastory.Youareastory--Iamastory.MissMinisastory."

  AdownagainandtalkeduntilErmengardefotthatshewasasortofescapedprisonerherself,andhadtoberemindedbySarathatshecouldnotremainiilleallnight,butmuststealnoiselesslydownstairsagainandcreepbatoherdesertedbed.松语文学www.16sy.coM免费小说阅读

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