欧亨利短篇小说集(32)

"Ifeltakindofsensationinmyleftside--somethinglikedoughrisinginacrockbythefire.Mrs.Jessuphadmovedupcloser.
""Oh,Mr.Hicks,"saysshe,"whenoneisaloneintheworld,don"ttheyfeelitmoreaggravatedonabeautifulnightlikethis?"
"Iroseupoffthebenchatonce.
""Excuseme,ma"am,"saysI,"butI"llhavetowaittillPaisleycomesbeforeIcangiveaaudiblehearingtoleadingquestionslikethat."
"AndthenIexplainedtoherhowwewasfriendscincturedbyyearsofembarrassmentandtravelandcomplicity,andhowwehadagreedtotakenoadvantageofeachotherinanyofthemoremushywalksoflife,suchasmightbefomentedbysentimentandproximity.Mrs.Jessupappearstothinkseriousaboutthematterforaminute,andthenshebreaksintoaspeciesoflaughterthatmakesthewildwoodresound.
"InafewminutesPaisleydropsaround,withoilofbergamotonhishair,andsitsontheothersideofMrs.Jessup,andinauguratesasadtaleofadventureinwhichhimandPiefaceLumleyhasaskinning-matchofdeadcowsin"95forasilver-mountedsaddleintheSantaRitavalleyduringtheninemonths"drought.