第25章 The Story of an Hour
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TheyknewthatLouiseMallardhadaweakheart.Sotheybrokethebadnewssoftly.Herhusband,Brently,wasdead.
"Therewasatrainaccident,Louise,
"saidhersisterJosehine.Richardsbroughtthenews,butJosehinetoldthestory.Shesokeinbrokensentences.
"Richards...wasatthenewsaeroffice.Newsoftheaccidentcame.Louise...Louise,Brently&aos;snamewasonthelist.Brentlywaskilled,Louise.
"
Louisedidnothearthestorycoldly,assomewomenwould.Shecouldnotclosehermindorherhearttothenews.Likeasuddenstorm,hertearsbrokeout.Shecriedloudlyinhersister&aos;sarms.Then,justassuddenly,thetearsstoed.Shewenttoherroomalone.Shewantednoonewithher.Infrontofthewindowstoodanemtychair.Shesatdownandlookedoutthewindow.Shewastiredafterhertears.Herbodyfeltcold,hermindandheartwereemty.
Outsideherwindowshecouldseethetrees.Theairsmelledlikesringrain.Shecouldhearsomeonesingingfaraway.Birdssangnearthehouse.Blueskyshowedbetweentheclouds.Sherested.
Shesatquietly,butafewweaktearsstillfell.Shehadayoung,strongface.Butnowhereyesshowednothing.Shelookedoutthewindowatthebluesky.Shewasnotthinking,orseeing.Shewaswaiting.
Therewassomethingcomingtoher.Shewaswaitingforitwithfear.Whatwasit?Shedidnotknow;shecouldnotgiveitaname.Butshefeltitcomingoutfromthesky.Itreachedherthroughthesound,thesmell,thecoloroftheair.
Slowlyshebecameexcited.Herbreathcamefast,herheartbeatfaster.Shebegantoseethisthing.
Itwantedtofindherandtakeher.Shetriedtofightagainstit.Butshecouldnot.Hermindwasasweakashertwosmallwhitehands.Thenshestoedfightingagainstit.Alittlewordbrokefromherlis.
"Free,
"shesaid,
"Free,free,free!
"Theemtinessandfearlefther.Hereyesshowedherexcitement.Herheartbeatfast,andthebloodwarmedherbody.Asuddenfeelingofjoyexcitedher.
Shedidnotstotoaskifherjoywaswrong.Shesawherfreedomclearly.Shecouldnotstotothinkofsmallerthings.
Sheknewthetearswouldcomeagainwhenshesawherhusband&aos;sbody.Thekindhands,nowdeadandstill.Thelovingface,nowstillandgray.Butshelookedintothefuture.Shesawmanylongyearstocomethatwouldbelongtoheralone.Andnowsheoenedherarmstothoseyearsinwelcome.
Therewouldbenooneelsetoliveforduringhoseyears.Shewouldliveforherselfalone.Therewouldbenostrongmindabovehers.Menandwomenalwaysbelievetheycantellotherswhattodoandhowtothink.SuddenlyLouiseunderstoodhatthiswaswrong.Shecouldbreakawayandbefreeofit.
Andyet,shelovedhim-sometimes.Oftenshedidnot.Whatdidlovemeannow?Nowsheunderstoodthatfreedomisstrongerthanlove.
"Free!Bodyandmindfree!
"shesaidagain.
HersisterJosehinewaswaitingoutsidethedoor.
"Pleaseoenthedoor,
"Josehinecried,
"Youwillmakeyourselfsick.Whatareyoudoingthere,Louise?Please,lease,letmein!
"
"Goaway.Iamnotsick.
"No,shewasdrinkinginlifethroughthatoenwindow.
Shethoughtjoyfullyofallthosedaysbeforeher.Sringdays,summerdays.Allkindsofdaysthatwouldbeherown.Shebegantohoelifewouldbelong.Andjustyesterday,lifeseemedsolong!Afterawhileshegotuandoenedthedoor.
Hereyeswerebright,hercheekswerered.Shedidn&aos;tknowhowstrongandwellshelooked-sofullofjoy.Theywentdownstairs,whereRichardswaswaiting.
Amanwasoeningthedoor.ItwasBrenfiy.Hewasdirty,andtired.Hecarriedasuitcaseandanumbrella.Hewasnotkilledinthetrainaccident.Hedidn&aos;tevenknowtherewasanaccident.HewassurrisedatJosehine&aos;ssuddencry.Hedidn&aos;tunderstandwhyRichardsmovedsuddenlybetweenthem,tohideLouisefromherhusband.
ButRichardwastoolate.
Whenthedoctorscame,theysaiditwasherweakbadheart.Theysaidshediedofjoy-ofjoythatkills.
