迪文小说>最后一片叶子告诉我们什么道理 > 第1章 the t leaf（第3页）
第1章 the t leaf（第3页）
"saidSue，bendingoverher，
"willyouromisemetokeeyoureyesclosed，andnotlookoutthewindowuntilIamdoneworking?Imusthandthosedrawingsinbytomorrow。Ineedthelight，orIwoulddrawtheshadedown。
"
"Couldn&aos;tyoudrawintheotherroom?
"askedJohnsy，coldly。
"I&aos;dratherbeherebyyou，
"saidSue。
"Beside，Idon&aos;twantyoutokeelookingatthosesillyivyleaves。
"
"Tellmeassoonasyouhavefinished，
"saidJohnsy，closinghereyes，andlyingwhiteandstillasfallenstatue，
"becauseIwanttoseethelastonefall。I&aos;mtiredofwaiting。I&aos;mtiredofthinking。Iwanttoturnloosemyholdoneverything，andgosailingdown，down，justlikeoneofthoseoor，tiredleaves。
"
"Trytoslee，
"saidSue。
"ImustcallBehrmanutobemymodelfortheoldhermitminer。I&aos;llnotbegoneaminute。Don&aos;ttrytomove&aos;tilIcomeback。
"
OldBehrmanwasaainterwholivedonthegroundfloorbeneaththem。HewasastsixtyandhadaMichaelAngelo&aos;sMosesbeardcurlingdownfromtheheadofasatyralongthebodyofanim。Behrmanwasafailureinart。FortyyearshehadwieldedthebrushwithoutgettingnearenoughtotouchthehemofhisMistress&aos;srobe。Hehadbeenalwaysabouttoaintamasteriece，buthadneveryetbegunit。Forseveralyearshehadaintednothingexcetnowandthenadaubinthelineofcommerceoradvertising。Heearnedalittlebyservingasamodeltothoseyoungartistsinthecolonywhocouldnotaythericeofarofessional。Hedrankgintoexcess，andstilltalkedofhiscomingmasteriece。Fortheresthewasafiercelittleoldman，whoscoffedterriblyatsoftnessinanyone，andwhoregardedhimselfasesecialmastiff-in-waitingtorotectthetwoyoungartistsinthestudioabove。
SuefoundBehrmansmellingstronglyofjunierberriesinhisdimlylighteddenbelow。Inonecornerwasablankcanvasonaneaselthathadbeenwaitingtherefortwenty-fiveyearstoreceivethefirstlineofthemasteriece。ShetoldhimofJohnsy&aos;sfancy，andhowshefearedshewould，indeed，lightandfragileasaleafherself，floataway，whenherslightholduontheworldgrewweaker。
OldBehrman，withhisredeyeslainlystreaming，shoutedhiscontemtandderisionforsuchidioticimaginings。
"Vass!
"hecried。
"Isdereeoleindeworldmitderfoolishnesstodiebecauseleafsdeydroofffromaconfoundedvine?Ihafnotheardofsuchathing。No，Iwillnotboseasamodelforyourfoolhermit-dunderhead。Vydoyouallowdotsillyusinesstocomeinderbrainofher?Ach，dotoorleetleMissYohnsy。
"
"Sheisveryillandweak，
"saidSue，
"andthefeverhaslefthermindmorbidandfullofstrangefancies。Verywell，Mr。Behrman，ifyoudonotcaretooseforme，youneedn&aos;t。ButIthinkyouareahorridold-oldflibbertigibbet。
"
"Youarejustlikeawoman!
"yelledBehrman。
"WhosaidIwillnotbose?Goon。Icomemityou。ForhalfanhourIhafeentryingtosaydotIamreadytobose。Gott!DisisnotanyblaceinwhichonesogootasMissYohnsyshallliesick。SomedayIvillbaintamasteriece，andveshallallgoaway。Gott!Yes。
"
Johnsywassleeingwhentheywentustairs。Sueulledtheshadedowntothewindow-sill，andmotionedBehrmanintotheotherroom。Intheretheyeeredoutthewindowfearfullyattheivyvine。Thentheylookedateachotherforamomentwithoutseaking。Aersistent，coldrainwasfalling，mingledwithsnow。Behrman，inhisoldblueshirt，tookhisseatasthehermitmineronanuturnedkettleforarock。
WhenSueawokefromanhour&aos;ssleethenextmorningshefoundJohnsywithdull，wide-oeneyesstaringatthedrawngreenshade。
"Pullitu;Iwanttosee，
"sheordered，inawhiser。
