第44章

Theyexaggerated，theyinventeddetails，and，asifproudoftheirbeatings，asifgloryingintheirhusbands’

mishandling，liedtoeachother，magnifyingtheirownmaltreatment。Theyhadlongandexcitedargumentsastowhichwerethemosteffectivemeansofpunishment，therope’sendsandcartwhipssuchasZerkowused，orthefistsandbacksofhair-brushesaffectedbyMcTeague。Mariacontendedthatthelashofthewhiphurtthemost；Trina，thatthebuttdidthemostinjury。

MariashowedTrinatheholesinthewallsandtheloosenedboardsintheflooringwhereZerkowhadbeensearchingforthegoldplate。Oflatehehadbeendigginginthebackyardandhadransackedthehayinhishorse-shedfortheconcealedleatherchestheimaginedhewouldfind。Buthewasbecomingimpatient，evidently。

“Thewayhegoeson，“MariatoldTrina，“issomethundreadful。He’sgettunregularlysickwithit——gotafevereverynight——don’tsleep，andwhenhedoes，talkstohimself。Says’More’nahundredpieces，an’everyoneof’emgold。More’nahundredpieces，an’everyoneof’emgold。’Thenhe’llwhalemewithhiswhip，andshout，’Youknowwhereitis。Tellme，tellme，youswine，orI’lldoforyou。’An’thenhe’llgetdownonhiskneesandwhimper，andbegmetotellumwhereI’vehidit。He’sjustgoneplumcrazy。Sometimeshehasregularfits，hegetssomad，androllsonthefloorandscratcheshimself。“

OnemorninginNovember，aboutteno’clock，Trinapasteda“MadeinFrance“labelonthebottomofaNoah’sark，andleanedbackinherchairwithalongsighofrelief。ShehadjustfinishedalargeChristmasorderforUncleOelbermann，andtherewasnothingelseshecoulddothatmorning。Thebedhadnotyetbeenmade，norhadthebreakfastthingsbeenwashed。Trinahesitatedforamoment，thenputherchinintheairindifferently。

“Bah！“shesaid，“letthemgotillthisafternoon。Idon’tcareWHENtheroomisputtorights，andIknowMacdon’t。“ShedeterminedthatinsteadofmakingthebedorwashingthedishesshewouldgoandcallonMissBakeronthefloorbelow。Thelittledressmakermightaskhertostaytolunch，andthatwouldbesomethingsaved，asthedentisthadannouncedhisintentionthatmorningoftakingalongwalkouttothePresidiotobegoneallday。

ButTrinarappedonMissBaker’sdoorinvainthatmorning。

Shewasout。Perhapsshewasgonetotheflorist’stobuysomegeraniumseeds。However，OldGrannis’sdoorstoodalittleajar，andonhearingTrinaatMissBaker’sroom，theoldEnglishmancameoutintothehall。

“She’sgoneout，“hesaid，uncertainly，andinahalfwhisper，“wentoutabouthalfanhourago。I——Ithinkshewenttothedrugstoretogetsomewafersforthegoldfish。“

“Don’tyougotoyourdoghospitalanymore，MisterGrannis？“saidTrina，leaningagainstthebalustradeinthehall，willingtotalkamoment。

OldGrannisstoodinthedoorwayofhisroom，inhiscarpetslippersandfadedcorduroyjacketthatheworewhenathome。

“Why——why，“hesaid，hesitating，tappinghischinthoughtfully。“YouseeI’mthinkingofgivingupthelittlehospital。“

“Givingitup？“

“Yousee，thepeopleatthebookstorewhereIbuymypamphletshavefoundout——Itoldthemofmycontrivanceforbindingbooks，andoneofthemembersofthefirmcameuptolookatit。HeofferedmequiteasumifIwouldsellhimtherightofit——the——patentofit——quiteasum。Infact——

infact——yes，quiteasum，quite。“Herubbedhischintremulouslyandlookedabouthimonthefloor。

“Why，isn’tthatfine？“saidTrina，good-naturedly。“I’mveryglad，MisterGrannis。Is