time enough for love-时间足够你爱(英文版)-第129部分

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　　An　hour　later　he　was　still　there　and　still　happier…happy　all　through。　The　candy　had　been　opened　after　he　had　presented　it　to　Carol　for　all　of　them。　Lazarus　had　drunk　much　coffee　thick　with　cream　and　sugar　and　had　eaten　a　hefty　slice　of　home…baked　white　cake　with　chocolate　icing；　then　accepted　a　second　while　admitting　that　he　had　not　eaten　since　breakfast
　　
　　…then　protested　when　Maureen　wanted　to　jump　up　and　cook。　They　reached　…　a　promise　under　which　Carol　went　out　to　make　a　sandwich　for　him。
　　
　　〃It's　been　a　confusing　day；〃　he　explained；　〃and　1　haven't　had　time　to　eat。　You　caused　me　to　change　plans；　Mr。　Johnson。〃
　　
　　〃I　did；　Ted？　How？〃
　　
　　〃You　know…I　think　I've　told　you　both…that　I　planned　to　make　a　business　trip　to　San　Francisco　leaving　the　first　of　July。　Then　this　happens…Congress　declaring　war…and　I　decided　to　make　the　trip　at　once；　settle　my　affairs　there…then　enlist。
　　
　　When　I　saw　you　I　was　all　set　to　leave；　packed　and　everything
　　
　　…and　you　made　me　realize　that　the　Kaiser　wouldn't　wait　while　I　took　care　of　private　affairs。　So　I　joined　up　at　once。〃　Lazarus　managed　to　look　sheepish。　〃My　packed　grip　is　still　out　in　the　car；　going　nowhere。〃　…　…
　　
　　Ira　Johnson　looked　pained。　〃I　didn't　mean　to　rush　you；　Ted。　'Twouldn't　have　l~urt　to　take　a　few　days　to　wind　up　your　affairs；　they　can't　organize　an　army　overnight。　I　…know；　I　saw　'em　try；　in　'Niy…eight。　Mrrph。　Perhaps　I　could　make　the　trip
　　
　　513for　you？　As　yotir　agent。　Seeing　that…　Well；　doesn't　look　like　I'm　going　to　be　too　busy。〃
　　
　　〃No；　no！　A　million　thanks；　sir…but　I　hadn't　been　thinking　straight。　Thinking　'peacetime'　instead　of　'wartime'　until　you　got　me　back　on　the　rails。　I　went　to　Western　Union　and　wrote　a　night　letter　to　my　broker　in　Frisco；　telling　him　what　I　wanted　him　to　do；　then　I　wrote　a　note　appointing　him　my　attorney…in…fact　and　got　it　notarized　and　went　to　the　downtown　post　office　and　registered　it　to　him。　All　done；　everything　taken　care　of。〃　Lazarus　was　enjoying　the　improvisation　so　much　be　almost　…　believed　it。　〃Then　i　went　downstairs　and　enlisted。　But　that　grip…Do　you　suppose　you　could　put　it　in　your　garret？　I　won't　be　taking　a　grip　to　soldier。　Just　a　few　toilet　articles。〃
　　
　　〃I'll　take　care　of　it；　Mr。　Bronson！〃　said　Brian　Junior。　〃In　my　room！〃
　　
　　〃In　our　room；〃　George　corrected。　〃We'll　take　care　of　it。〃
　　
　　〃Hold　it；　boys。　Ted？　Would　it　break　your　heart　if　you　lost　that　grip？〃　…
　　
　　〃Not　at　all；　Mr。　Johnson。　Why？〃
　　
　　〃Then　take　it　with　you。　But　when　you　get　…　back　to　your　flat　tonight；　pack　it　differently。　You　put　in　white　shirts　and　stiff　collars；　no　doubt。　You　won't　need　those。　If　you've　got　any　work　shirts；　take　those。　Be　sure　to　take　a　pair　of　wellbroken…in　high　shoes　you　can　march　in；　Socks…aII　you　own。　Underwear。　It's　my　guess…based　on　sad　experience…that　they　won't　have　enough　uniforms　right　away。　Confusion；　and
　　
　　lots　of　it。　You　may　be　soldiering　for　a　month　or　more　in　what　you　carry　with　you。〃
　　
　　〃I　think；〃　Mrs。　Smith　said　seriously；　〃that　Father　is　right；　Mr。　Bronson。　Mr。　Smith…Lieutenant　Smith；　my　husband…　was　saying　something　like　it　before　he　left。　He　left　without　waiting　for　his　telegram…it　came　hours　later…because　he　said　he　knew　that　there　would　be　confusion　at　first。〃　Her　mouth　twitched。　〃Although　he　said　it　more　forcefully。〃
　　
　　〃Daughter；　no　matter　how　Brian　put　it；　it　wasn't　forceful　enough。　Ted　will　be　lucky　if　his　beans　are　on　time。　Any？man　who　can　tell　his　right　foot　from　his　left　will　be　grabbed　and　made　acting　corporal；　they　won't　care　how　he's　dressed。　But　you　care；　Ted…so　take　along　clothes　you　might　wear　on　a　farm。　And　shoes…fortable　shoes　that　won't　put　blisters　on　you　the　first　mile。　Mmm…　Ted；　do　you　know　the　coldcream　trick？　To　use　on　your　feet　when　you　know　you　might　have　your　shoes　on　for　a　week　or　more？〃
　　
　　〃No；　sir；〃　Lazarus　answered。　（Gramp；　you　taught　it　to　me　once　before…or　maybe　〃after〃…and　it　works；　and　I've　never　forgotten　it。）
　　
　　〃If　possible；　have　your　feet　clean　and　dry。　Smear　your　feet　all　over　and　especially　between　your　toes　with　cold　cream。　Or　Vaseline；　carbolated　is　best。　Use　lots；　a　thick　layer。　Then　put　on　socks…clean　if　possible；　dirty　if　you　must；　but　don't　skip　them…and　put　your　boots　on。　When　you　first　stand　up；　it　feels　as　if　you'd　stepped　into　a　barrel　of　soft　soap。　But　your　feet　will　thank　you　for　it　and　you　won't　get　jungle　rot　between　your　toes。　Or　not　as　much。　Take　care　of　your　feet；　Ted；　and　keep　your　bowels　open。〃
　　
　　〃Father。〃
　　
　　〃Daughter；　I'm　talking　to　a　soldier…telling　him　things　that　may　save　his　life。　If　the　children　can't　hear　such　things；　send　them　up　to　bed。〃
　　
　　〃I　think　it　is　time；〃　Maureen　answered；　〃to　get　the　younger　ones　quieted　down；　at　least。〃
　　
　　〃I　don't　have　to　go　to　bed！〃
　　
　　〃Woodie；　you　do　exactly　what　your　mother　tells　you　to　and　no　back　talk…or　I'll　bend　a　poker　over　your　bottom。　That's　standing　orders　until　your　father　gets　home　from　the　war。〃
　　
　　〃I'm　going　to　stay　up　till　Private　Bronson　leaves！　Papa　said　I　could。〃
　　
　　〃Mrrph。　I'll　discuss　the　logical　impossibility　of　that　with　a　club；　it's　the　only　way　to　make　you　understand　it。　Maureen；　I　suggest　that　we　start　with　the　youngest；　let　'em　say　good…bye　in　turn；　and　then　march　straight　up　to　bed。　Which　winds　up　in　due　course　with　me　walking　Ted　to　his　streetcar　stop。〃
　　
　　〃But　I　was　going　to　drive　Uncle　Ted　home！〃
　　
　　Lazarus　judged　that　it　was　time　to　speak　up。　〃Brian；　thank　you。　But　let's　not　give　your　mother　something　extra　to　worry　about　tonight。　The　trolley　takes　me　almost　straight　home
　　
　　and　from　tomorrow　on　I　won't　even　have　streetcars；　I'll　walk。〃
　　
　　〃That's　right；〃　agreed　Gramp。　〃He'll　march。　'Hay　foot；　straw　foot！…heads　up　and　look　proud！'　Ted；　his　father　made　Brian　Sergeant　of　the　Guard　until　he　gets　back；　charged　with　internal　security　of　this　household。〃
　　
　　〃Then　he　can't　leave　his　post　of　duty　to　chauffeur　a　mere　private；　can　he？〃
　　
　　〃Not　in　the　presence　of　the　Officer　of　the　Guard…me…and　of　the　Officer　of　the　Day；　my　daughter。　Reminds　me…　While　the　young　'uns　are　kissing　you　good…bye；　I　want　to　dig　out
　　
　　514
　　
　　515a　couple　of　my　old　Army　shirts；　I　think　they'll　fit　you。　If　you　don't　mind　hand…me…downs？〃
　　
　　〃Sir；　I　will　be　proud　and　honored　to　wear　them！〃
　　
　　Mrs。　Smith　stood　up。　〃I　have　something　I　must　get　for　Mr。…Private　Bronson；　too。　Nancy；　will　you　bring　down　Ethel？　And　Carol；　will　you　fetch　Richard？〃
　　
　　〃But　Private　Bronson　hasn't　eaten　his　sandwich！〃
　　
　　Lazarus　said；　〃I'm　sorry；　Miss　Carol。　I've　been　too　excited　to　eat。　Uh；　would　you　wrap　it　for　me？　I'll　eat　it　the　minute　I'm　back　in　my　apartment…and　it　will　make　me　sleep　soundly。〃
　　
　　〃Do　that；　Carol；〃　decided　her　mother。　〃Brian；　will　you　fetch　down　Richard？〃
　　
　　After　more　backing　and　filling　Lazarus　told　them　all　goodbye；　in　reverse　order　of　seniority。　He　held　Ethel　for　a　moment　and　grinned　at　her　baby　smile；　then　kissed　the　top　of　her　head　and　handed　her　back　to　Nancy；　who　took　her　upstairs　and　hurried　back　down。　To　kiss　Richard；　Lazarus　had　to　get　down　on　one　knee。　The　child　seemed　unsure　why　this　was　happening　but　knew　that　it　was　a　solemn　occasion；　he　hugged　Lazarus　tightly　and　smeared　his　cheek　with　a　kiss。
　　
　　Woodie　then　kissed　him…for　the　first　and　only　time；　but　Lazarus　no　longer　felt　bothered　by　touching　〃himself〃　as　this　little　boy　was　not　himself　but　simply　an　individual　from　whom　he　derived　some　scattered　memories　in　an　odd　concatenation。　He　was　no　longer　tempted　to　strangle　him…or　not　often。
　　
　　Wc~odie　used　the　unaccustomed　intimacy　to　whisper：　〃Those　chessmen　are　really　ivory？〃
　　
　　？〃Really　truly　ivory。　Ivory　and　ebony；　just　like　the　keys　on　your　Mama's　piano。〃
　　
　　〃Gee；　that's　keen！　Look；　when　you　e　back；　Uncle　Private　Bronson；　I'll　let　you　play　with　them。　Anytime。〃
　　
　　〃And　I'll　beat　you；　Sport。〃
　　
　　〃Says　you！　Well；　so　long。　Don't　take　any　wooden　nickels。〃　Little　Marie　kissed　him　with　tears　in　her　eyes；　then　fled　from　the　roOm。　George　kissed　him　on　the　cheek　and　muttered；　〃You　be　careful；　Uncle　Ted；〃　and　left　also。　Brian　Junior　said；　〃I'll　take　real　good　care　of　your　automobile…I'll　keep　it　shined　just　the　way　you　do；〃　then　hesitated…suddenly　kissed　his　cheek　and　left；　leading　Richard。
　　
　　Carol　had　his　sandwich；　neatly　wrapped　in　waxed　paper　and　tied　with　a　ribbon。　He　thanked　her　and　put　it　into　an
　　
　　516outer　coat　pocket。　She　placed　her　hands　on　his　shoulders；　stood　on　tiptoes　and　whispered；　〃There's　a　note　in　it　for　you！〃…kissed　his　cheek　and　left　quickly。
　　
　　Nancy　took　her　place　and　said　quietly；　〃The　note　is　from　both　of　us。　We're　going　to　pray　for　you　every　night　when　we　pray　for　Papa。〃　She　glanced　at　her　mother；　then　put　her　arms　around　his　shoulders　and　kissed　him　on　the　mouth；　a　firm　peck。　〃That's　nOt　good…bye　but　au　revoirl〃　She　left　even　more
　　
　　？quickly　than　her　sister；　head　high　and　moving　like　her　mother。　Mrs。　Smith　stood　up；　said　quietly；　〃Father？〃…and　waited。
　　
　　〃Then　turn　your　back。〃
　　
　　〃Mrrph。　Yes。〃　Mr。　Johnson　studied　the　pi