博炮作文网>最后一片叶子讲了什么故事 > 第1章 the t leaf（第1页）
第1章 the t leaf（第1页）
Henry
InalittledistrictwestofWashingtonSquarethestreetshaveruncrazyandbrokenthemselvesintosmallstriscalled
"laces
"。These
"laces
"makestrangeanglesandcurves。OneStreetcrossesitselfatimeortwo。Anartistoncediscoveredavaluableossibilityinthisstreet。Suoseacollectorwithabillforaints，aerandcanvasshould，intraversingthisroute，suddenlymeethimselfcomingback，withoutacenthavingbeenaidonaccount!
So，toquaintoldGreenwichVillagethearteolesooncamerowling，huntingfornorthwindowsandeighteenth-centurygablesandDutchatticsandlowrents。ThentheyimortedsomeewtermugsandachafingdishortwofromSixthAvenue，andbecamea
"colony
"。
Atthetoofasquatty，three-storybrickSueandJohnsyhadtheirstudio。
"Johnsy
"wasfamiliarforJoanna。OnewasfromMaine;theotherfromCalifornia。Theyhadmetatthetabled&aos;hoteofanEighthStreet
"Delmonico&aos;s
"，andfoundtheirtastesinart，chicorysaladandbishosleevessocongenialthatthejointstudioresulted。
ThatwasinMay。InNovemberacold，unseenstranger，whomthedoctorscalledPneumonia，stalkedaboutthecolony，touchingonehereandtherewithhisicyfingers。Overontheeastsidethisravagerstrodeboldly，smitinghisvictimsbyscores，buthisfeettrodslowlythroughthemazeofthenarrowandmoss-grown
"laces
"。
Mr。Pneumoniawasnotwhatyouwouldcallachivalricoldgentleman。AmiteofalittlewomanwithbloodthinnedbyCaliforniazehyrswashardlyfairgameforthered-fisted，short-breathedoldduffer。ButJohnsyshesmote;andshelay，scarcelymoving，onheraintedironbedstead，lookingthroughthesmallDutchwindow-anesattheblanksideofthenextbrickhouse。
OnemorningthebusydoctorinvitedSueintothehallwaywithashaggy，grayeyebrow。
"Shehasonechancein-letussay，ten，
"hesaid，asheshookdownthemercuryinhisclinicalthermometer。
"Andthatchanceisforhertowanttolive。Thiswayeolehaveoflining-uonthesideoftheundertakermakestheentireharmacooeialooksilly。Yourlittleladyhasmadeuhermindthatshe&aos;snotgoingtogetwell。Hassheanythingonhermind?
"
"She-shewantedtoainttheBayofNalessomeday。
"saidSue。
"Paint?-bosh!Hassheanythingonhermindworththinkingabluttwice-amanforinstance?
"
"Aman?
"saidSue，withajew&aos;s-hartwanginhervoice。
"Isamanworth-but，no，doctor;thereisnothingofthekind。
"
"Well，itistheweakness，then，
"saidthedoctor。
"Iwilldoallthatscience，sofarasitmayfilterthroughmyefforts，canaccomlish。ButwhenevermyatientbeginstocountthecarriagesinherfuneralrocessionIsubtract50ercentfromthecurativeowerofmedicines。IfyouwillgethertoaskonequestionaboutthenewwinterstylesincloaksleevesIwillromiseyouaone-in-fivechanceforher，insteadofoneinten。
"
AfterthedoctorhadgoneSuewentintotheworkroomandcriedaJaanesenakintoaul。ThensheswaggeredintoJohnsy&aos;sroomwithherdrawingboard，whistlingragtime。
