登陆注册
15319900000004

第4章 The Woman Who Tried to Be Good[1913](4)

It was about this time we noticed that Blanche Devine was away much of the time.The little white cottage would be empty for weeks.We knew she was out of town because the expressman would come for her trunk.We used to lift our eyebrows significantly.The newspapers and handbills would accumulate in a dusty little heap on the porch; but when she returned there was always a grand cleaning, with the windows open, and Blanche--her head bound turbanwise in a towel--appearing at a window every few minutes to shake out a dustcloth.She seemed to put an enormous amount of energy into those cleanings--as if they were a sort of safety valve.

As winter came on she used to sit up before her grate fire long, long after we were asleep in our beds.When she neglected to pull down the shades we could see the flames of her cosy fire dancing gnomelike on the wall.There came a night of sleet and snow, and wind and rattling hail-- one of those blustering, wild nights that are followed by morning-paper reports of trains stalled in drifts, mail delayed, telephone and telegraph wires down.It must have been midnight or past when there came a hammering at Blanche Devine's door--a persistent, clamorous rapping.Blanche Devine, sitting before her dying fire half asleep, started and cringed when she heard it, then jumped to her feet, her hand at her breast-- her eyes darting this way and that, as though seeking escape.

She had heard a rapping like that before.It had meant bluecoats swarming up the stairway, and frightened cries and pleadings, and wild confusion.So she started forward now, quivering.And then she remembered, being wholly awake now--she remembered, and threw up her head and smiled a little bitterly and walked toward the door.The hammering continued, louder than ever.Blanche Devine flicked on the porch light and opened the door.The half-clad figure of the Very Young Wife next door staggered into the room.She seized Blanche Devine'sarm with both her frenzied hands and shook her, the wind and snow beating in upon both of them.

"The baby!" she screamed in a high, hysterical voice."The baby! The baby----!"Blanche Devine shut the door and shook the Young Wife smartly by the shoulders.

"Stop screaming," she said quietly."Is she sick?" The Young Wife told her, her teeth chattering:

"Come quick! She's dying! Will's out of town.I tried to get the doctor.The telephone wouldn't---- I saw your light! For God's sake----"Blanche Devine grasped the Young Wife's arm, opened the door, and together they sped across the little space that separated the two houses.Blanche Devine was a big woman, but she took the stairs like a girl and found the right bedroom by some miraculous woman instinct.A dreadful choking, rattling sound was coming from Snooky's bed.

"Croup," said Blanche Devine, and began her fight.

It was a good fight.She marshaled her inadequate forces, made up of the half-fainting Young Wife and the terrified and awkward hired girl.

"Get the hot water on--lots of it!"Blanche Devine pinned up her sleeves."Hot cloths!Tear up a sheet--or anything!Got an oilstove?I want a tea- kettle boiling in the room.She's got to have the steam.If that don't do it we'll raise an umbrella over her and throw a sheet over, and hold the kettle under till the steam gets to her that way.Got any ipecac?" The Young Wife obeyed orders, white-faced and shaking.OnceBlanche Devine glanced up at her sharply."Don't you dare faint!" she commanded.

同类推荐
  • 挞虏纪事

    挞虏纪事

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。
  • 五经算术

    五经算术

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。
  • 书灵筵手巾

    书灵筵手巾

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。
  • The Lamplighter

    The Lamplighter

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。
  • 宁澹居文集

    宁澹居文集

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。
热门推荐
  • 转世游戏

    转世游戏

    十月国庆的钟声敲响了.....中国建国一百年了.....虽然喜庆,却拉开了一个恐怖的游戏开端......
  • 恶魔校草守护甜心小丫头

    恶魔校草守护甜心小丫头

    初次见面,就被墨寒沥“Kiss”。林翊儿呜~~,不要脸。墨寒沥,“我可以更不要脸,做我女朋友吧!”又kiss上了。林翊儿,“哥,有人欺负你妹,你管不管。”林翊儿的哥“你不欺负人家我就心安理得了,谁敢管你。”林翊儿翻白眼“你是不是我亲哥,我都被人欺负了你不都不管,呜~~”墨寒沥腹黑道:“丫头我会宠你入骨。”林翊儿说道:“滚蛋,你是不是有病。”墨寒沥跟屁虫的说道:“我就是有病。”林翊儿说道:“我不是医生,你有病找医生,找我干嘛,祝你早日健康,再见,不对是再也不见。”林翊儿的背影渐渐消失,墨寒沥在心里说道:“丫头你就是我的心病。第一次,写小说,如果不好我会改正的。希望大家支持一下吧!
  • 有美人锡

    有美人锡

    元神破碎的元珩,又活过来了,成了定国公府的五姑娘傅元珩,然后遇上了一大堆的糟心事。说白了其实就是一个逗比的神仙姑娘和一个貌似风流的凡间少年的故事。
  • 钟氏遗子

    钟氏遗子

    老祖宗钟馗,靠脸吃饭,打下显赫基业:千年后,钟氏一脉与妖鬼却同时走向没落,这时候,废柴道士钟昊认为他可以招摇撞骗的时代终于来临。却发现……,搞毛啊!这些千年老妖哪来的!!
  • 疾风幻想

    疾风幻想

    在各种世界带带宠物陶冶陶冶情操。闲暇时分出去显示显示存在感。。。。。
  • 福妻驾到

    福妻驾到

    现代饭店彪悍老板娘魂穿古代。不分是非的极品婆婆?三年未归生死不明的丈夫?心狠手辣的阴毒亲戚?贪婪而好色的地主老财?吃上顿没下顿的贫困宭境?不怕不怕,神仙相助,一技在手,天下我有!且看现代张悦娘,如何身带福气玩转古代,开面馆、收小弟、左纳财富,右傍美男,共绘幸福生活大好蓝图!!!!快本新书《天媒地聘》已经上架开始销售,只要3.99元即可将整本书抱回家,你还等什么哪,赶紧点击下面的直通车,享受乐乐精心为您准备的美食盛宴吧!)
  • 谁的流年似如歌

    谁的流年似如歌

    他是冰山王子,实则是腹黑恶魔。她是傻乎乎的小丫头,再一次巧合中,她成为了她的女仆。他们日久生情,他们相爱之后。她却被抛弃,于是在悔恨的回忆之中,她选择了出国,那么,她出国会发生什么故事呢
  • 宠物小精灵之旅程

    宠物小精灵之旅程

    这是一个普通的少年慢慢成长的故事旅程中他也碰上了许许多多的人与事他的伙伴不多,但个个都是性格奇特,精灵中的极品他认识的美女很多,不过真正放在心里的却只有一个他的旅程或许永远都不会有尽头,就如他的名字一般,向着阳光前进(狂热爱好神奇宝贝的我第一次写书,希望大家多多捧场,此书背景时间并不与小智等人的时间一致,并且加入了一些原著里所没有的家族与高科技,还请大家在看书时慢慢理解)(希望大家多多评价,多多支持)
  • 都市潜伏者

    都市潜伏者

    黑夜是我的伪装潜伏在都市的世界里黑暗是我战场清除那世间的邪恶者
  • 超级鬼系统

    超级鬼系统

    我叫楚翔,是一名普通的学生,知道有一天,我帮助了一个老太太,获得了一个前所未有的鬼系统,能使我变身成为鬼,获得特殊能力