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敞开的窗户 The Open Window（第1页）

敞开的窗户TheOpenWindow

萨基Saki

萨基（Saki，1870-1916），原名赫克托·休·芒罗，英国著名的幽默小说家。曾加入缅甸武装警卫队，后作为记者，走遍俄罗斯、波兰和巴黎。丰富的阅历和卓越的艺术才华为他的创造打下坚实的基础。他的作品结构严谨，构思巧妙，结局出人意料。《黄昏》《敞开的窗户》等皆为世界名篇，被各国多种短篇小说选本采用。

“Myauntwillbedowly，Mr。Nuttel，”saidaveryself-possessedyoungladyoffifteeimeyoumusttryandputupwithme。”

FramtonNutteleosaytheethingwhichshoulddulyflatterthehemomentwithoutundulydisgtheauntthatwastoe。Privatelyhedoubtedmorethaheseformalvisitsonasuofterswoulddomuchtthenervecurewhichheosedt。

“Iknoillbe，”hissisterhadsaidaringtomigratetothisruralretreat;“youwillburyyourselfdoeaktoalivingsoul，andyournerveswillbeworsethaneverfrommoping。IshalljustgiveyoulettersofintrodutoallthepeopleIknowthere。Someofthem，asfarasIremember，werequitenice。”

FramtoherMrs。Sappletooresehelettersofintrodueintothenicedivision。

“Doyouknowmanyofthepeoplerouhenieshejudgedthattheyhadhadsuffitsilentunion。

“Hardlyasoul，”saidFramton。“Mysisterwasstayiherectory，youknow，so，andshegavemelettersofintrodueofthepeoplehere。”

&helaststatementii。

“Thenyouknowpraothingaboutmyauheself-possessedyounglady。

“Onlyhernameatedthecaller。HewaswwhetherMrs。Sappletonwasinthemarriedorwidowedstate。Anundefihingabouttheroomseemedtosuggestmasehabitation。

&ragedyhappehreeyearsago，”saidthechild;“thatwouldbesinceyoursister’stime。”

&ragedy?”askedFramtohisrestfultryspediesseemedoutofplace。

“Youmayekeepthatideopenonaernoon，”saidtheingalargeFrendoeoalawn。

“Itisquitewarmforthetimeoftheyear，”saidFramton，“buthasthatwindowgotanythingtodowiththetragedy?”

“hthatwindow，threeyearsagotoaday，herhusbawoyouofffortheirday’sshooting。Theynevercamebagthemoortotheirfavoritesingground，theywereallthreeereacherouspieceofbog。Ithadbeesummer，youknolacesthatweresafeinavewaysuddenlywith。Theirbodieswereneverrecovered。Thatwasthedreadfulpartofit。”

&hechild’svoicelostitsself-possessednoteaeringlyhuman。

“Poorauntalwaysthinksthattheywillebaeday，theyalebrowwaslostwiththem，andwalkinatthatwindowjustastheyusedtodo。Thatisiskepttillitisquitedusk。Poordearaueheywentout，herhusbandaterproofcoatoverhisarm，andRestbr，‘Bertie，whydoyoubound?’ashealwaysdidtoteaseher，becauseshesaiditgotonhernerves。Doyoukimesonstill，quietevehis，Ialmostgetacreepyfeelingthattheywillallwalkinthroughthatwindow。”

Shebrokeoffwithalittleshudder。ItwasarelieftoFramtobustledihaollateinmakingherappearance。

“IhopeVerahasbeenamusingyou。”shesaid。

“Shehasbeeeresting，”saidFramton。

“Ihopeyoudon’tmindtheopenwindow，”saidMrs。Sappletonbriskly;“myhusbandandbrotherswillbehomedireshooting，andtheyalwayseinthisway。They’vebeenoutforshemarshestoday，sothey’llmakeafinemessovermypoorcarpets。Solikeyoumenfolk，isn’tit?”

&ledoncheerfullyabouttheshootiyofbirdsasforduthewioFramton，iturelyhorrible。Hemadeadesperatebutonlypartiallysuccessfulefforttoturoalessghastlytopic;hewassciousthathishostesswasgivinghimmeion，andhereyesweretlystrayingpasthimtotheopenwindowandthelawwaslyanunfortunatecethatheshouldhavepaidhisvisitiiversary。

&reeinmepleterest，aalext，andavoidahiureofviolentphysicalexerouon，wholaboreduolerablywidespreaddelusionthattersaancesarehungryfortheleastdetailofosandiheirdcure。

“Oerofdiettheyarenotsomuagreemeinued。

“No?”saidMrs。Sappleton，inavoicewhilyreplaatthelastmoment。

Thenshesuddenlybrighteoalertattention-butnottowhatFramton>

&heyareatlast!”shecried。“Justiea，anddon’ttheylookasiftheyweremuddyuptotheeyes!”