天锡小说网

第7部分（第1页）

She　made　her　call　about　three　oclock。

〃My　dear；　Im　so　glad；〃　she　said　warmly；　as　she　squeezed　Katherines　hand。　〃And　everyone　in　the　village　will　be　glad　too。〃

〃Its　very　nice　of　you　to　e　and　tell　me；〃　said　Katherine。　〃I　hoped　you　would　e；　because　I　wanted　to　ask　about　Johnnie。〃

〃Oh！　Johnnie。　Well　…〃

Johnnie　was　Mrs　Harrisons　youngest　son。　In　another　minute　she　was　off；　retailing　a　long　history　in　which　Johnnies　adenoids　and　tonsils　bulked　largely。　Katherine　listened　sympathetically。　Habits　die　hard。　Listening　had　been　her　portion　for　ten　years　now。　〃My　dear；　I　wonder　if　I　ever　told　you　about　that　naval　ball　at　Portsmouth？　When　Lord　Charles　admired　my　gown？〃　And　posedly；　kindly；　Katherine　would　reply：　〃I　rather　think　you　have；　Mrs　Harfield；　but　Ive　forgotten　about　it。　Wont　you　tell　it　me　again？〃　And　then　the　old　lady　would　start　off　full　swing；　with　numerous　details。　And　half　of　Katherines　mind　would　be　listening；　saying　the　right　things　mechanically　when　the　old　lady　paused。。。

Now；　with　that　same　curious　feeling　of　duality　to　which　she　was　accustomed；　she　listened　to　Mrs　Harrison。

At　the　end　of　half　an　hour；　the　latter　recalled　herself　suddenly。

〃Ive　been　talking　about　myself　all　this　time；〃　she　exclaimed。　〃And　I　came　here　to　talk　about　you　and　your　plans。〃

〃I　dont　know　that　Ive　got　any　yet。〃

〃My　dear　…　youre　not　going　to　stay　on　here。〃

Katherine　smiled　at　the　horror　in　the　others　tone。

〃No；　I　think　I　want　to　travel。　Ive　never　seen　much　of　the　world；　you　know。〃

〃I　should　think　not。　It　must　have　been　an　awful　life　for　you　cooped　up　here　all　these　years。〃

〃I　dont　know；〃　said　Katherine。　〃It　gave　me　a　lot　of　freedom。〃

She　caught　the　others　gasp；　and　reddened　a　little。

〃It　must　sound　foolish　…　saying　that。　Of　course；　I　hadnt　much　freedom　in　the　downright　physical　sense　…〃

〃I　should　think　not；〃　breathed　Mrs　Harrison；　remembering　that　Katherine　had　seldom　had　that　useful　thing　as　a　〃day　off。〃

〃But；　in　a　way；　being　tied　physically　gives　you　lots　of　scope　mentally。　Youre　always　free　to　think。　Ive　had　a　lovely　feeling　always　of　mental　freedom。〃

Mrs　Harrison　shook　her　head。

〃I　cant　understand　that。〃

〃Oh！　you　would　if　youd　been　in　my　place。　But；　all　the　same；　I　feel　I　want　a　change。　I　want　…　well；　I　want　things　to　happen。　Oh！　Not　to　me　…　I　dont　mean　that。　But　to　be　in　the　midst　of　things；　exciting　things　…　even　if　Im　only　the　looker…on。　You　know；　things　dont　happen　in　St　Mary　Mead。〃

〃They　dont　indeed；〃　said　Mrs　Harrison；　with　fervour。

〃I　shall　go　to　London　first；〃　said　Katherine。　〃I　have　to　see　the　solicitors；　anyway。　After　that；　I　shall　go　abroad；　I　think。〃

〃Very　nice。〃

〃But；　of　course；　first　of　all　…〃

〃Yes？〃

〃I　must　get　some　clothes。〃