按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
nothing to eat or drink for two days？ It's horrible。〃
〃I've had water。〃
His eyes dwelt for a moment on a large can within reach of an
outstretched arm。
〃I'll go immediately；〃 said Stroeve。 〃Is there anything you fancy？〃
I suggested that he should get a thermometer； and a few grapes； and
some bread。 Stroeve； glad to make himself useful； clattered down the
stairs。
〃Damned fool；〃 muttered Strickland。
I felt his pulse。 It was beating quickly and feebly。 I asked him one
or two questions； but he would not answer； and when I pressed him he
turned his face irritably to the wall。 The only thing was to wait in silence。
In ten minutes Stroeve； panting； came back。 Besides what I had
suggested； he brought candles； and meat…juice； and a spirit…lamp。 He was
a practical little fellow； and without delay set about making bread…and…
milk。 I took Strickland's temperature。 It was a hundred and four。 He
was obviously very ill。
93
… Page 94…
The Moon and Sixpence
Chapter XXV
Presently we left him。 Dirk was going home to dinner； and I
proposed to find a doctor and bring him to see Strickland； but when we got
down into the street； fresh after the stuffy attic； the Dutchman begged me
to go immediately to his studio。 He had something in mind which he
would not tell me； but he insisted that it was very necessary for me to
accompany him。 Since I did not think a doctor could at the moment do any
more than we had done； I consented。 We found Blanche Stroeve laying
the table for dinner。 Dirk went up to her； and took both her hands。
〃Dear one； I want you to do something for me；〃 he said。
She looked at him with the grave cheerfulness which was one of her
charms。 His red face was shining with sweat； and he had a look of comic
agitation； but there was in his round； surprised eyes an eager light。
〃Strickland is very ill。 He may be dying。 He is alone in a filthy
attic； and there is not a soul to look after him。 I want you to let me bring
him here。〃
She withdrew her hands quickly； I had never seen her make so rapid a
movement； and her cheeks flushed。
〃Oh no。〃
〃Oh； my dear one； don't refuse。 I couldn't bear to leave him where he
is。 I shouldn't sleep a wink for thinking of him。〃
〃I have no objection to your nursing him。〃
Her voice was cold and distant。
〃But he'll die。〃
〃Let him。〃
Stroeve gave a little gasp。 He wiped his face。 He turned to me for
support； but I did not know what to say。 〃He's a great artist。〃
〃What do I care？ I hate him。〃
〃Oh； my love； my precious； you don't mean that。 I beseech you to let
me bring him here。 We can make him comfortable。 Perhaps we can save
him。 He shall be no trouble to you。 I will do everything。 We'll make
him up a bed in the studio。 We can't let him die like a dog。 It would be
inhuman。〃
94
… Page 95…
The Moon and Sixpence
〃Why can't he go to a hospital？〃
〃A hospital！ He needs the care of loving hands。 He must be treated
with infinite tact。〃
I was surprised to see how moved she was。 She went on laying the
table； but her hands trembled。
〃I have no patience with you。 Do you think if you were ill he would
stir a finger to help you？〃
〃But what does that matter？ I should have you to nurse me。 It wouldn't
be necessary。 And besides； I'm different； I'm not of any importance。〃
〃You have no more spirit than a mongrel cur。 You lie down on the
ground and ask people to trample on you。〃
Stroeve gave a little laugh。 He thought he understood the reason of
his wife's attitude。
〃Oh； my poor dear； you're thinking of that day he came here to look at
my pictures。 What does it matter if he didn't think them any good？ It was
stupid of me to show them to him。 I dare say they're not very good。〃
He looked round the studio ruefully。 On the easel was a half…finished
picture of a smiling Italian peasant； holding a bunch of grapes over the
head of a dark…eyed girl。
〃Even if he didn't like them he should have been civil。 He needn't have
insulted you。 He showed that he despised you； and you lick his hand。
Oh； I hate him。〃
〃Dear child； he has genius。 You don't think I believe that I have it。 I
wish I had； but I know it when I see it； and I honour it with all my heart。
It's the most wonderful thing in the world。 It's a great burden to its
possessors。 We should be very tolerant with them； and very patient。〃
I stood apart； somewhat embarrassed by the domestic scene； and
wondered why Stroeve had insisted on my coming with him。 I saw that his
wife was on the verge of tears。
〃But it's not only because he's a genius that I ask you to let me bring
him here； it's because he's a human being； and he is ill and poor。〃
〃I will never have him in my house never。〃
Stroeve turned to me。
〃Tell her that it's a matter of life and death。 It's impossible to leave him
95
… Page 96…
The Moon and Sixpence
in that wretched hole。〃
〃It's quite obvious that it would be much easier to nurse him here；〃 I
said； 〃but of course it would be very inconvenient。 I have an idea that
someone will have to be with him day and night。〃
〃My love； it's not you who would shirk a little trouble。〃
〃If he comes here； I shall go；〃 said Mrs。 Stroeve violently。
〃I don't recognize you。 You're so good and kind。〃
〃Oh； for goodness sake； let me be。 You drive me to distraction。〃
Then at last the tears came。 She sank into a chair； and buried her face
in her hands。 Her shoulders shook convulsively。 In a moment Dirk was
on his knees beside her； with his arms round her； kissing her； calling her
all sorts of pet names； and the facile tears ran down his own cheeks。
Presently she released herself and dried her eyes。
〃Leave me alone；〃 she said； not unkindly； and then to me； trying to
smile： 〃What must you think of me？〃
Stroeve； looking at her with perplexity； hesitated。 His forehead was all
puckered； and his red mouth set in a pout。 He reminded me oddly of an
agitated guinea…pig。
〃Then it's No； darling？〃 he said at last。
She gave a gesture of lassitude。 She was exhausted。
〃The studio is yours。 Everything belongs to you。 If you want to
bring him here； how can I prevent you？〃
A sudden smile flashed across his round face。
〃Then you consent？ I knew you would。 Oh； my precious。〃
Suddenly she pulled herself together。 She looked at him with
haggard eyes。 She clasped her hands over her heart as though its beating
were intolerable。
〃Oh； Dirk； I've never since we met asked you to do anything for me。〃
〃You know there's nothing in the world that I wouldn't do for you。〃
〃I beg you not to let Strickland come here。 Anyone else you like。
Bring a thief； a drunkard； any outcast off the streets； and I promise you I'll
do everything I can for them gladly。 But I beseech you not to bring
Strickland here。〃
〃But why？〃
96
… Page 97…
The Moon and Sixpence
〃I'm frightened of him。 I don't know why； but there's something in
him that terrifies me。 He'll do us some great harm。 I know it。 I feel it。
If you bring him here it can only end badly。〃
〃But how unreasonable！〃
〃No； no。 I know I'm right。 Something terrible will happen to us。〃
〃Because we do a good action？〃
She was panting now； and in her face was a terror which was
inexplicable。 I do not know what she thought。 I felt that she was