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Mary Louise by L. Frank Baum, CHAPTER IV. SHIFTING SANDS

CHAPTER IV. SHIFTING SANDS

Mary Louise hid herself in the drawing-room, where she could watch the closed door of the library opposite. At times she trembled with an unknown dread; again, she told herself that no harm could possibly befall her dear, good Gran'pa Jim or her faithful, loving mother. Yet why were they closeted in the library so long, and how could the meeting with that insolent stranger affect Colonel Weatherby so strongly?

After a long time her mother came out, looking more pallid and harassed than ever but strangely composed. She kissed Mary Louise, who came to meet her, and said:

"Get ready for dinner, dear. We are late." The girl went to her room, dazed and uneasy. At dinner her mother appeared at the table, eating little or nothing, but Gran'pa Jim was not present. Afterward she learned that he had gone over to Miss Stearne's School for Girls, where he completed important arrangements concerning his granddaughter. When dinner was over Mary Louise went into the library and, drawing a chair to where the light of the student lamp flooded her book, tried to read. But the words were blurred and her mind was in a sort of chaos. Mamma Bee had summoned Aunt Polly and Uncle Eben to her room, where she was now holding a conference with the faithful colored servants. A strange and subtle atmosphere of unrest pervaded the house; Mary Louise scented radical changes in their heretofore pleasant home life, but what these changes were to be or what necessitated them she could not imagine.

After a while she heard Gran'pa Jim enter the hall and hang up his hat and coat and place his cane in the rack. Then he came to the door of the library and stood a moment looking hard at Mary Louise. Her own eyes regarded her grandfather earnestly, questioning him as positively as if she had spoken.

He drew a chair before her and leaning over took both her hands in his and held them fast.

"My dear," he said gently, "I regret to say that another change has overtaken us. Have you ever heard of 'harlequin fate'? 'Tis a very buffoon of mischief and irony that is often permitted to dog our earthly footsteps and prevent us from becoming too content with our lot. For a time you and I, little maid, good comrades though we have been, must tread different paths. Your mother and I are going away, presently, and we shall leave you here in Beverly, where you may continue your studies under the supervision of Miss Stearne, as a boarder at her school. This house, although the rental is paid for six weeks longer, we shall at once vacate, leaving Uncle Eben and Aunt Sallie to put it in shape and close it properly. Do you understand all this, Mary Louise?" "I understand what you have told me, Gran'pa Jim. But why—" "Miss Stearne will be supplied with ample funds to cover your tuition and to purchase any supplies you may need. You will have nothing to worry about and so may devote all your energies to your studies." "But how long—-" "Trust me and your mother to watch over your welfare, for you are very dear to us, believe me," he continued, disregarding her interruptions. "Do you remember the address of the Conants, at Dorfield?" "Of course." "Well, you may write to me, or to your mother, once a week, addressing the letter in care of Peter Conant. But if you are questioned by anyone," he added, gravely, "do not mention the address of the Conants or hint that I have gone to Dorfield. Write your letters privately and unobserved, in your own room, and post them secretly, by your own hand, so that no one will be aware of the correspondence. Your caution in this regard will be of great service to your mother and me. Do you think you can follow these instructions?" "To be sure I can, Gran'pa Jim. But why must I—-" "Some day," said he, "you will understand this seeming mystery and be able to smile at your present perplexities. There is nothing to fear, my dear child, and nothing that need cause you undue anxiety. Keep a brave heart and, whatever happens, have faith in Gran'pa Jim. Your mother—as good a woman as God ever made—believes in me, and she knows all. Can you accept her judgment, Mary Louise? Can you steadfastly ignore any aspersions that may be cast upon my good name?" "Yes, Gran'pa Jim." She had not the faintest idea what he referred to. Not until afterward was she able to piece these strange remarks together and make sense of them. Just now the girl was most impressed by the fact that her mother and grandfather were going away and would leave her as a boarder with Miss Stearne. The delightful home life, wherein she had passed the happiest two years of her existence, was to be broken up for good and all.

"Now I must go to your mother. Kiss me, my dear!" As he rose to his feet Mary Louise also sprang from her chair and the Colonel folded his arms around her and for a moment held her tight in his embrace. Then he slowly released her, holding the girl at arms' length while he studied her troubled face with grave intensity. One kiss upon her upturned forehead and the old man swung around and left the room without another word.

Mary Louise sank into her chair, a little sob in her throat. She felt very miserable, indeed, at that moment. "Harlequin fate!" she sighed. "I wonder why it has chosen us for its victims?" After an hour passed in the deserted library she stole away to her own room and prepared for bed. In the night, during her fitful periods of sleep, she dreamed that her mother bent over her and kissed her lips— once, twice, a third time.

The girl woke with a start. A dim light flooded her chamber, for outside was a full moon. But the room was habited only by shadows, save for her own feverish, restless body. She turned over to find a cooler place and presently fell asleep again.


CHAPTER IV. SHIFTING SANDS CAPITOLO IV. SABBIE MUTEVOLI

Mary Louise hid herself in the drawing-room, where she could watch the closed door of the library opposite. Mary Louise si nascose nel salotto, dove poteva osservare la porta chiusa della biblioteca di fronte. At times she trembled with an unknown dread; again, she told herself that no harm could possibly befall her dear, good Gran'pa Jim or her faithful, loving mother. A volte tremava per un timore sconosciuto, ma si ripeteva che nessun male avrebbe potuto colpire il suo caro e buon nonno Jim o la sua fedele e amorevole madre. Yet why were they closeted in the library so long, and how could the meeting with that insolent stranger affect Colonel Weatherby so strongly? Ma perché erano rimasti così a lungo chiusi nella biblioteca e come mai l'incontro con quell'insolente sconosciuto aveva influenzato così fortemente il colonnello Weatherby?

After a long time her mother came out, looking more pallid and harassed than ever but strangely composed. Dopo molto tempo la madre uscì, con un aspetto più pallido e tormentato che mai, ma stranamente composto. She kissed Mary Louise, who came to meet her, and said:

"Get ready for dinner, dear. "Preparati per la cena, cara. We are late." The girl went to her room, dazed and uneasy. La ragazza andò in camera sua, stordita e inquieta. At dinner her mother appeared at the table, eating little or nothing, but Gran'pa Jim was not present. Afterward she learned that he had gone over to Miss Stearne's School for Girls, where he completed important arrangements concerning his granddaughter. In seguito ha saputo che era andato alla scuola femminile di Miss Stearne, dove aveva concluso importanti accordi riguardanti la nipote. When dinner was over Mary Louise went into the library and, drawing a chair to where the light of the student lamp flooded her book, tried to read. Quando la cena fu terminata, Mary Louise andò in biblioteca e, prendendo una sedia dove la luce della lampada degli studenti inondava il suo libro, cercò di leggere. But the words were blurred and her mind was in a sort of chaos. Ma le parole erano confuse e la sua mente era in una sorta di caos. Mamma Bee had summoned Aunt Polly and Uncle Eben to her room, where she was now holding a conference with the faithful colored servants. Mamma Bee aveva convocato zia Polly e zio Eben nella sua stanza, dove stava tenendo una conferenza con i fedeli servitori di colore. A strange and subtle atmosphere of unrest pervaded the house; Mary Louise scented radical changes in their heretofore pleasant home life, but what these changes were to be or what necessitated them she could not imagine. Una strana e sottile atmosfera di inquietudine pervadeva la casa; Mary Louise sentiva il profumo di cambiamenti radicali nella loro vita domestica, fino ad allora piacevole, ma non riusciva a immaginare quali fossero questi cambiamenti o cosa li rendesse necessari.

After a while she heard Gran'pa Jim enter the hall and hang up his hat and coat and place his cane in the rack. Dopo un po' sentì nonno Jim entrare nel corridoio, appendere il cappello e il cappotto e riporre il bastone nella rastrelliera. Then he came to the door of the library and stood a moment looking hard at Mary Louise. Poi si avvicinò alla porta della biblioteca e rimase un attimo a guardare intensamente Mary Louise. Her own eyes regarded her grandfather earnestly, questioning him as positively as if she had spoken. I suoi occhi guardarono il nonno con serietà, interrogandolo positivamente come se avesse parlato lei.

He drew a chair before her and leaning over took both her hands in his and held them fast. Si sedette davanti a lei e, chinandosi, le prese entrambe le mani e le tenne strette.

"My dear," he said gently, "I regret to say that another change has overtaken us. "Mia cara", disse con dolcezza, "mi dispiace dire che un altro cambiamento ci ha investito. Have you ever heard of 'harlequin fate'? Avete mai sentito parlare di "destino arlecchino"? 'Tis a very buffoon of mischief and irony that is often permitted to dog our earthly footsteps and prevent us from becoming too content with our lot. È proprio un buffone di malizia e ironia che spesso si permette di accompagnare i nostri passi terreni e di impedirci di essere troppo soddisfatti della nostra sorte. For a time you and I, little maid, good comrades though we have been, must tread different paths. Per un po' di tempo io e te, piccola fanciulla, anche se siamo state buone compagne, dobbiamo percorrere strade diverse. Your mother and I are going away, presently, and we shall leave you here in Beverly, where you may continue your studies under the supervision of Miss Stearne, as a boarder at her school. This house, although the rental is paid for six weeks longer, we shall at once vacate, leaving Uncle Eben and Aunt Sallie to put it in shape and close it properly. Questa casa, anche se l'affitto è stato pagato per sei settimane in più, la lasceremo subito libera, lasciando che lo zio Eben e la zia Sallie la mettano a posto e la chiudano come si deve. Do you understand all this, Mary Louise?" "I understand what you have told me, Gran'pa Jim. But why—" "Miss Stearne will be supplied with ample funds to cover your tuition and to purchase any supplies you may need. You will have nothing to worry about and so may devote all your energies to your studies." "But how long—-" "Trust me and your mother to watch over your welfare, for you are very dear to us, believe me," he continued, disregarding her interruptions. "Fidati di me e di tua madre che veglieremo sul tuo benessere, perché ci sei molto cara, credimi", continuò, ignorando le interruzioni di lei. "Do you remember the address of the Conants, at Dorfield?" "Of course." "Well, you may write to me, or to your mother, once a week, addressing the letter in care of Peter Conant. But if you are questioned by anyone," he added, gravely, "do not mention the address of the Conants or hint that I have gone to Dorfield. Ma se qualcuno vi interrogherà", aggiunse gravemente, "non menzionate l'indirizzo dei Conant e non accennate al fatto che sono andato a Dorfield. Write your letters privately and unobserved, in your own room, and post them secretly, by your own hand, so that no one will be aware of the correspondence. Scrivete le vostre lettere in privato e senza essere osservati, nella vostra stanza, e speditele di nascosto, di vostro pugno, in modo che nessuno sia a conoscenza della corrispondenza. Your caution in this regard will be of great service to your mother and me. Do you think you can follow these instructions?" "To be sure I can, Gran'pa Jim. But why must I—-" "Some day," said he, "you will understand this seeming mystery and be able to smile at your present perplexities. There is nothing to fear, my dear child, and nothing that need cause you undue anxiety. Non c'è nulla da temere, mia cara bambina, e nulla che possa causarti un'ansia eccessiva. Keep a brave heart and, whatever happens, have faith in Gran'pa Jim. Your mother—as good a woman as God ever made—believes in me, and she knows all. Tua madre, la donna più buona che Dio abbia mai creato, crede in me e sa tutto. Can you accept her judgment, Mary Louise? Can you steadfastly ignore any aspersions that may be cast upon my good name?" Potete ignorare con fermezza qualsiasi astio che possa essere gettato sul mio buon nome?". "Yes, Gran'pa Jim." She had not the faintest idea what he referred to. Non aveva la più pallida idea di cosa si riferisse. Not until afterward was she able to piece these strange remarks together and make sense of them. Solo dopo è riuscita a mettere insieme queste strane osservazioni e a dar loro un senso. Just now the girl was most impressed by the fact that her mother and grandfather were going away and would leave her as a boarder with Miss Stearne. In questo momento la ragazza era molto colpita dal fatto che la madre e il nonno stavano per partire e l'avrebbero lasciata in pensione dalla signorina Stearne. The delightful home life, wherein she had passed the happiest two years of her existence, was to be broken up for good and all. La deliziosa vita domestica, in cui aveva trascorso i due anni più felici della sua esistenza, doveva essere interrotta per sempre.

"Now I must go to your mother. Kiss me, my dear!" As he rose to his feet Mary Louise also sprang from her chair and the Colonel folded his arms around her and for a moment held her tight in his embrace. Mentre si alzava in piedi, anche Mary Louise si alzò dalla sedia e il colonnello le cinse le braccia e la strinse per un attimo nel suo abbraccio. Then he slowly released her, holding the girl at arms' length while he studied her troubled face with grave intensity. One kiss upon her upturned forehead and the old man swung around and left the room without another word. Un bacio sulla fronte della donna e il vecchio si girò e lasciò la stanza senza dire altro.

Mary Louise sank into her chair, a little sob in her throat. Mary Louise sprofondò nella sedia, con un piccolo singhiozzo in gola. She felt very miserable, indeed, at that moment. "Harlequin fate!" she sighed. "I wonder why it has chosen us for its victims?" After an hour passed in the deserted library she stole away to her own room and prepared for bed. Dopo un'ora trascorsa nella biblioteca deserta, si ritirò nella sua stanza e si preparò per andare a letto. In the night, during her fitful periods of sleep, she dreamed that her mother bent over her and kissed her lips— once, twice, a third time. Di notte, durante i periodi di sonno agitato, sognava che la madre si chinava su di lei e le baciava le labbra, una, due e una terza volta.

The girl woke with a start. La ragazza si svegliò di soprassalto. A dim light flooded her chamber, for outside was a full moon. Una luce fioca inondava la sua camera, perché fuori c'era la luna piena. But the room was habited only by shadows, save for her own feverish, restless body. Ma la stanza era abitata solo da ombre, a parte il suo corpo febbrile e irrequieto. She turned over to find a cooler place and presently fell asleep again. Si girò per trovare un posto più fresco e di lì a poco si riaddormentò.