欧亨利短篇小说集(36)

""Mr.Man,"saysMrs.Jessup,turningaroundtoPaisley,"ifyouwastodropintothecelebrationofmineandMr.Hicks"ssilverwedding,twenty-fiveyearsfromnow,doyouthinkyoucouldgetitintothatHubbardsquashyoucallyourheadthatyouarenixcumrousinthisbusiness?I"veputupwithyoualongtimebecauseyouwasMr.Hicks"sfriend;butitseemstomeit"stimeforyoutowearthewillowandtrotoffdownthehill."
""Mrs.Jessup,"saysI,withoutlosingmygrasponthesituationasfiance,"Mr.Paisleyismyfriend,andIofferedhimasquaredealandaequalopportunityaslongastherewasachance."
""Achance!"saysshe."Well,hemaythinkhehasachance;butIhopehewon"tthinkhe"sgotacinch,afterwhathe"sbeennexttoalltheevening."
"Well,amonthafterwardsmeandMrs.JessupwasmarriedintheLosPinosMethodistChurch;andthewholetowncloseduptoseetheperformance.
"Whenwelinedupinfrontandthepreacherwasbeginningtosingouthisritualsandobservances,IlooksaroundandmissesPaisley.Icallstimeonthepreacher."Paisleyain"there,"saysI."We"vegottowaitforPaisley.Afriendonce,afriendalways--that"sTelemachusHicks,"saysI.Mrs.Jessup"seyessnappedsome;butthepreacherholdsuptheincantationsaccordingtoinstructions.