The Moon And Sixpence 8.9

Mrs. Strickland clasped herhands."Tell me exactly whatshe said. " And when I hesitated, she insisted. "I particularly wantto know. ""You know the waypeople talk. She's not very reliable, is she? She said your husband had leftyou. ""Is that all?"I did not choose to repeatRose Waterford's parting reference to a girl from a tea-shop. I lied."She didn't sayanything about his going with anyone?""No. ""That's all I wanted toknow. "I was a little puzzled, butat all events I understood that I might now take my leave. When I shook handswith Mrs. Strickland I told her that if I could be of any use to her I shouldbe very glad. She smiled wanly."Thank you so much. Idon't know that anybody can do anything for me. "Too shy to express mysympathy, I turned to say good-bye to the Colonel. He did not take my hand."I'm just coming. Ifyou're walking up Victoria Street, I'll come along with you. ""All right, " Isaid. "Come on. "思特里克兰德太太拍了一下巴掌。“她是怎么说的，把她的原话一个字不差地告诉我。”我有点儿踌躇，她却坚持叫我讲。“我特别想知道她怎么谈论这件事。”“你知道别人怎么谈论。她这个人说话靠不住，对不对？她说你的丈夫把你丢开了。”“就说了这些吗？”我不想告诉她柔斯·瓦特尔芙德分手时讲到茶点店女侍的那句话。我对她扯了个谎。“她说没说他是跟一个什么人一块走的？”“没有。”“我想知道的就是这件事。”我有一些困惑莫解，但是不管怎么说我知道现在我可以告辞了。当我同思特里克兰德太太握手告别的时候我对她说，如果有什么事需要我做，我一定为她尽力。她的脸上掠过一丝笑影。“非常感谢你。我不知道有谁能替我做什么。”我不好意思向她表示我的同情，便转过身去同上校告别。上校并没有同我握手。“我也要走。如果你从维多利亚路走，我跟你同路。”“好吧，”我说，“咱们一起走。”