第9部分(第2/6 頁)

morning　or　an　afternoon　collecting　fruit　in　the　broiling　sun；　being　tortured　by　buzzing；　biting　flies　for　one　of　you。“　Her　sisters　laughed　at　that；　but　a　little　less　brilliantly　than　they　had　before。

One　afternoon；　Merope’s　father　went　out　into　the　fields　with　Sisyphus；　to　explain　to　him　where　he　wanted　the　fence　placed。　A　short　time　later；　a　soaked　Sisyphus　carried　the　unconscious；　equally　drenched　man　into　the　kitchen　and　laid　him　on　the　table。　He　barked　orders　to　Merope；　telling　her　to　find　clean　towels　and　fetch　some　brandy。

梅羅普的獎勵（3）

The　story　was　told　in　gasps；　between　sips　of　the　strong　liquor。　Her　father　had　been　backing　up；　holding　a　sextant4　to　his　eye；　and　had　fallen　into　the　deep；　swift　river　that　ran　along　the　edge　of　their　property。　Sisyphus　had　immediately　plunged　in　after　him；　and　had　pulled　him　from　the　cold　water。

After　he　recovered；　the　grateful　man　offered　Sisyphus　any　one　of　his　daughters　for　his　wife。　The　daughters　were　summoned　to　his　study；　six　of　them　crying　and　protesting　that　Sisyphus　was　unworthy。　Merope　took　her　customary　place　in　the　corner；　smiling　serenely　5and　saying　nothing。

Their　father　became　angry　and　told　the　girls　sharply　that　they　were　being　ungrateful　and　that　Sisyphus　had　proven　himself　worthy　without　a　doubt　by　saving　his　life。　At　his　admonition；　their　cries　became　sniffles6；　and　they　sat　quietly；　swollen…eyed　and　sullen。

Sisyphus　surveyed　his　choices　and　smiled　when　his　eyes　landed　upon　Merope。　“I　would　have　Merope；　sir。　Merope　will　be　my　wife。”　Her　sisters’　heads　snapped　up；　and　where　there　had　been　dread　a　moment　before；　there　was　now　jubilation7　and　chagrin　in　quick　succession。

“You　would　prefer　Merope　over　us？”　the　eldest　asked　incredulously。　“Have　you　no　eyes　to　see？”