麦琪的礼物-英文版-The-Gift-of-the-Magi

创作麦琪的礼物英文版TheGiftoftheMagiOnedollarandeighty-sevencents.Thatwasall.Andsixtycentsofitwasinpennies.Penniessavedoneandtwoatatimebybulldozingthegrocerandthevegetablemanandthebutcheruntilone'scheeksburnedwiththesilentimputationofparsimonythatsuchclosedealingimplied.ThreetimesDellacountedit.Onedollarandeighty-sevencents.AndthenextdaywouldbeChristmas.Therewasclearlynothingtodobutflopdownontheshabbylittlecouchandhowl.SoDelladidit.Whichinstigatesthemoralreflectionthatlifeismadeupofsobs,sniffles,andsmiles,withsnifflespredominating.Whilethemistressofthehomeisgraduallysubsidingfromthefirststagetothesecond,takealookatthehome.Afurnishedflatat$8perweek.Itdidnotexactlybeggardescription,butitcertainlyhadthatwordonthelookoutforthemendicancysquad.Inthevestibulebelowwasaletter-boxintowhichnoletterwouldgo,andanelectricbuttonfromwhichnomortalfingercouldcoaxaring.Alsoappertainingthereuntowasacardbearingthename"Mr.JamesDillinghamYoung."The"Dillingham"hadbeenflungtothebreezeduringaformerperiodofprosperitywhenitspossessorwasbeingpaid$30perweek.Now,whentheincomewasshrunkto$20,though,theywerethinkingseriouslyofcontractingtoamodestandunassumingD.ButwheneverMr.JamesDillinghamYoungcamehomeandreachedhisflatabovehewascalled"Jim"andgreatlyhuggedbyMrs.JamesDillinghamYoung,alreadyintroducedtoyouasDella.Whichisallverygood.Dellafinishedhercryandattendedtohercheekswiththepowderrag.Shestoodbythewindowandlookedoutdullyatagraycatwalkingagrayfenceinagraybackyard.TomorrowwouldbeChristmasDay,andshehadonly$1.87withwhichtobuyJimapresent.Shehadbeensavingeverypennyshecouldformonths,withthisresult.Twentydollarsaweekdoesn'tgofar.Expenseshadbeengreaterthanshehadcalculated.Theyalwaysare.Only$1.87tobuyapresentforJim.HerJim.Manyahappyhourshehadspentplanningforsomethingniceforhim.Somethingfineandrareandsterling--somethingjustalittlebitneartobeingworthyofthehonorofbeingownedbyJim.Therewasapier-glassbetweenthewindowsoftheroom.Perhapsyouhaveseenapierglassinan$8flat.Averythinandveryagilepersonmay,byobservinghisreflectioninarapidsequenceoflongitudinalstrips,obtainafairlyaccurateconceptionofhislooks.Della,beingslender,hadmasteredtheart.Suddenlyshewhirledfromthewindowandstoodbeforetheglass.hereyeswereshiningbrilliantly,butherfacehadlostitscolorwithintwentyseconds.Rapidlyshepulleddownherhairandletitfalltoitsfulllength.Now,thereweretwopossessionsoftheJamesDillinghamYoungsinwhichtheybothtookamightypride.OnewasJim'sgoldwatchthathadbeenhisfather'sandhisgrandfather's.TheotherwasDella'shair.HadthequeenofShebalivedintheflatacrosstheairshaft,DellawouldhaveletherhairhangoutthewindowsomedaytodryjusttodepreciateHerMajesty'sjewelsandgifts.HadKingSolomonbeenthejanitor,withallhistreasurespiledupinthebasement,Jimwouldhavepulledouthiswatcheverytimehepassed,justtoseehimpluckathisbeardfromenvy.SonowDella'sbeautifulhairfellaboutherripplingandshininglikeacascadeofbrownwaters.Itreachedbelowherkneeandmadeitselfalmostagarmentforher.Andthenshediditupagainnervouslyandquickly.Onceshefalteredforaminuteandstoodstillwhileatearortwosplashedonthewornredcarpet.Onwentheroldbrownjacket;onwentheroldbrownhat.Withawhirlofskirtsandwiththebrilliantsparklestillinhereyes,sheflutteredoutthedooranddownthestairstothestreet.Whereshestoppedthesignread:"Mne.Sofronie.HairGoodsofAllKinds."OneflightupDellaran,andcollectedherself,panting.Madame,large,toowhite,chilly,hardlylookedthe"Sofronie.""Willyoubuymyhair?"askedDella."Ibuyhair,"saidMadame."Takeyerhatoffandlet'shaveasightatthelooksofit."Downrippledthebrowncascade."Twentydollars,"saidMadame,liftingthemasswithapractisedhand."Giveittomequick,"saidDella.Oh,andthenexttwohourstrippedbyonrosywings.Forgetthehashedmetaphor.ShewasransackingthestoresforJim'spresent.Shefounditatlast.ItsurelyhadbeenmadeforJimandnooneelse.Therewasnootherlikeitinanyofthestores,andshehadturnedalloftheminsideout.Itwasaplatinumfobchainsimpleandchasteindesign,properlyproclaimingitsvaluebysubstancealoneandnotbymeretriciousornamentation--asallgoodthingsshoulddo.ItwasevenworthyofTheWatch.AssoonasshesawitsheknewthatitmustbeJim's.Itwaslikehim.Quietnessandvalue--thedescriptionappliedtoboth.Twenty-onedollarstheytookfromherforit,andshehurriedhomewiththe87cents.WiththatchainonhiswatchJimmightbeproperlyanxiousaboutthetimeinanycompany.Grandasthewatchwas,hesometimeslookedatitontheslyonaccountoftheoldleatherstrapthatheusedinplaceofachain.WhenDellareachedhomeherintoxicationgavewayalittletoprudenceandreason.Shegotouthercurlingironsandlightedthegasandwenttoworkrepairingtheravagesmadebygenerosityaddedtolove.Whichisalwaysatremendoustask,dearfriends--amammothtask.Withinfortyminutesherheadwascoveredwithtiny,close-lyingcurlsthatmadeherlookwonderfullylikeatruantschoolboy.Shelookedatherreflectioninthemirrorlong,carefully,andcritically."IfJimdoesn'tkillme,"shesaidtoherself,"beforehetakesasecondlookatme,he'llsayIlooklikeaConeyIslandchorusgirl.ButwhatcouldIdo--oh!whatcouldIdowithadollarandeighty-sevencents?"At7o'clockthecoffeewasmadeandthefrying-panwasonthebackofthestovehotandreadytocookthechops.Jimwasneverlate.Delladoubledthefobchaininherhandandsatonthecornerofthetablenearthedoorthathealwaysentered.Thensheheardhissteponthestairawaydownonthefirstflight,andsheturnedwhiteforjustamoment.Shehadahabitofsayingalittlesilentprayeraboutthesimplesteverydaythings,andnowshewhispered:"PleaseGod,makehimthinkIamstillpretty."ThedooropenedandJimsteppedinandclosedit.Helookedthinandveryserious.Poorfellow,hewasonlytwenty-two--andtobeburdenedwithafamily!Heneededanewovercoatandhewaswithoutgloves.Jimstoppedinsidethedoor,asimmovableasasetteratthescentofquail.HiseyeswerefixeduponDella,andtherewasanexpressioninthemthatshecouldnotread,anditterrifiedher.Itwasnotanger,norsurprise,nordisapproval,norhorror,noranyofthesentimentsthatshehadbeenpreparedfor.Hesimplystaredatherfixedlywiththatpeculiarexpressiononhisface.Dellawriggledoffthetableandwentforhim."Jim,darling,"shecried,"don'tlookatmethatway.IhadmyhaircutoffandsoldbecauseIcouldn'thavelivedthroughChristmaswithoutgivingyouapresent.It'llgrowoutagain--youwon'tmind,willyou?Ijusthadtodoit.Myhairgrowsawfullyfast.Say`MerryChristmas!'Jim,andlet'sbehappy.Youdon'tknowwhatanice--whatabeautiful,nicegiftI'vegotforyou.""You'vecutoffyourhair?"askedJim,laboriously,asifhehadnotarrivedatthatpatentfactyetevenafterthehardestmentallabor."Cutitoffandsoldit,"saidDella."Don'tyoulikemejustaswell,anyhow?I'mmewithoutmyhair,ain'tI?"Jimlookedabouttheroomcuriously."Yousayyourhairisgone?"hesaid,withanairalmostofidiocy."Youneedn'tlookforit,"saidDella."It'ssold,Itellyou--soldandgone,too.It'sChristmasEve,boy.Begoodtome,foritwentforyou.Maybethehairsofmyheadwerenumbered,"shewentonwithsuddenserioussweetness,"butnobodycouldevercountmyloveforyou.ShallIputthechopson,Jim?"OutofhistranceJimseemedquicklytowake.HeenfoldedhisDella.Fortensecondsletusregardwithdiscreetscrutinysomeinconsequentialobjectintheotherdirection.Eightdollarsaweekoramillionayear--whatisthedifference?Amathematicianorawitwouldgiveyouthewronganswer.Themagibroughtvaluablegifts,butthatwasnotamongthem.Thisdarkassertionwillbeilluminatedlateron.Jimdrewapackagefromhisovercoatpocketandthrewituponthetable."Don'tmakeanymistake,Dell,"hesaid,"aboutme.Idon'tthinkthere'sanythinginthewayofahaircutorashaveorashampoothatcouldmakemelikemygirlanyless.Butifyou'llunwrapthatpackageyoumayseewhyyouhadmegoingawhileatfirst."Whitefingersandnimbletoreatthestringandpaper.Andthenanecstaticscreamofjoy;andthen,alas!aquickfemininechangetohystericaltearsandwails,necessitatingtheimmediateemploymentofallthecomfortingpowersofthelordoftheflat.FortherelayTheCombs--thesetofcombs,sideandback,thatDellahadworshippedlonginaBroadwaywindow.Beautifulcombs,puretortoiseshell,withjewelledrims--justtheshadetowearinthebeautifulvanishedhair.Theywereexpensivecombs,sheknew,andherhearthadsimplycravedandyearnedoverthemwithouttheleasthopeofpossession.Andnow,theywerehers,butthetressesthatshouldhaveadornedthecovetedadornmentsweregone.Butshehuggedthemtoherbosom,andatlengthshewasabletolookupwithdimeyesandasmileandsay:"Myhairgrowssofast,Jim!"AndthenDellaleapeduplikealittlesingedcatandcried,"Oh,oh!"Jimhadnotyetseenhisbeautifulpresent.Shehelditouttohimeagerlyuponheropenpalm.Thedullpreciousmetalseemedtoflashwithareflectionofherbrightandardentspirit."Isn'titadandy,Jim?Ihuntedallovertowntofindit.You'llhavetolookatthetimeahundredtimesadaynow.Givemeyourwatch.Iwanttoseehowitlooksonit."Insteadofobeying,Jimtumbleddownonthecouchandputhishandsunderthebackofhisheadandsmiled."Dell,"saidhe,"let'sputourChristmaspresentsawayandkeep'emawhile.They'retoonicetousejustatpresent.Isoldthewatchtogetthemoneytobuyyourcombs.Andnowsupposeyouputthechopson."Themagi,asyouknow,werewisemen--wonderfullywisemen--whobroughtgiftstotheBabeinthemanger.TheyinventedtheartofgivingChristmaspresents.Beingwise,theirgiftswerenodoubtwiseones,possiblybearingtheprivilegeofexchangeincaseofduplication.AndhereIhavelamelyrelatedtoyoutheuneventfulchronicleoftwofoolishchildreninaflatwhomostunwiselysacrificedforeachotherthegreatesttreasuresoftheirhouse.Butinalastwordtothewiseofthesedaysletitbesaidthatofallwhogivegiftsthesetwowerethewisest.Ofallwhogiveandreceivegifts,suchastheyarewisest.Everywheretheyarewisest.Theyarethemagi.End一个美元和八十七美分。这是所有。六十美分的硬币。便士保存一个和两个由推杂货店和蔬菜的人肉，直到脸颊刻录的沉默的归责的吝啬，如一次关闭隐含的处理。三倍德拉计算它。一个美元和八十七美分。第二天将是圣诞节。显然没有别的办法，但在破旧的小沙发上翻倒，嚎叫。德拉了它。其中鼓动人生由呜咽、抽泣和微笑，其中抽泣的道德反思。虽然家的女主人正在逐渐平息从第一阶段到第二个，看看家。A提供单位在每周8元。它不完全是乞丐说明，但它肯定了乞讨队注意这个词。在下面的前庭是到那里去不信，信箱和从中没有凡人的手指能哄环电动按钮。Appertaining以也是一张卡片，轴承的名称"先生詹姆斯·迪林厄姆年轻"。迪林厄姆"已被甩到微风繁荣期前时其占有正在支付每周30元。现在，当收入缩小至20元，不过，他们想认真温和和谦逊的D.承包但每当詹姆斯·迪林厄姆杨先生来了家庭和达到他上面他的单位是"吉姆和大大拥抱的太太詹姆斯·迪林厄姆年轻，已经给你介绍作为德拉。这是都很好。德拉完她哭了，并参加了以她的双颊，用粉抹布。她站在窗边，呆呆看灰色的猫，走在灰色的后院的灰色的篱笆。明天将是圣诞节，和她只是用来买一件礼物的吉姆1.87亿美元。她已被保存每一分钱，她可以为几个月，这一结果。一周不走远了二十美元。费用已经超过她已经计算。他们总是有。只有元买一件礼物吉姆1.87。她的吉姆。许多欢乐时光她度过他规划好的东西。一些精细和珍稀英镑——东西只是一点点不久要名副其实的所拥有的吉姆。房间的窗户之间有一墩杯。也许你见过pierglass中平8元。一个很薄很敏捷的人可通过观察他以快速的顺序的纵向带的反射，索取的他看起来相当准确的概念。德拉，正在细长，已掌握了艺术。突然她一块儿从窗口，站在面前的玻璃。她的眼睛灿烂，但她的脸上失去了它的颜色在20秒内。迅速她拆掉她的头发，让它掉其完整的长度。现在，有两种财产的詹姆斯·迪林厄姆果冻，他们都变成了强大的骄傲。一是有了他的父亲和祖父的吉姆的金表。另一次是德拉的头发。女王已在该单位住整个风井，德拉会让她的头发干只是为了贬值女皇陛下珠宝和礼品挂窗外某一天。所罗门王已经看门人，堆积在地下室的所有财宝，吉姆会有拔出他的手表每次他所传递的只是为了看看他在从羡慕他胡子采摘。所以现在德拉的美丽的头发掉有关她的涟漪和闪光像梯级的棕色的水域。它达到了她的膝盖下面，并为她做本身几乎服装。然后她又又紧张，并且很快。一次她踌躇了一分钟，站在动，一滴眼泪，或两个溅在破旧的红地毯上。去她旧的棕色夹克；去她旧的棕色帽子。一片混乱的裙子和辉煌的光芒仍在她的眼中，她拍打着出了门，继续下楼到街上。她停止读取该标志的位置："跨国公司。绍夫罗涅。各类发制品。"德拉了一个飞行跑，并收集自己，气喘吁吁。夫人，大，太白，寒冷，没有看到"索夫罗涅"。"你会买我的头发吗？"问德拉。我买了头发，"说夫人。脱下帽子啊，并让我们看到，在看到这种情景。下皱的棕色的级联。二十元，说夫人，提升大众一起实行的手。"给我快，"说德拉。哦，和接下来的两个小时的玫瑰色的翅膀上绊倒。忘了哈希的隐喻。吉姆的礼物，她被掠商店。她终于找到了它。它肯定了吉姆和没有其他人。有没有其他像它在任何存储区中，和她打开所有人都翻过来。它是简单的白金fob链和贞洁的设计，正确地宣布其值由单独的物质而不是惯有的华而不实的装饰——为所有的好东西应该做的。这也是值得的手表。当她看到它她知道它必须是吉姆的。他就是这样。安静和价值--两者的描述。21美元他们抢走她，与她急忙赶回家与87美分。他的手表上链吉姆或许是正确担心任何公司的时间。这块表是高贵，他有时看着它偷偷的旧皮表带，他用链的位置。德拉到家时她中毒了一点谨慎和原因。她拿出她的冰壶电熨斗照明的气体，并可在上班修复由添加到爱的慷慨的蹂躏。这一直是巨大的任务，亲爱的朋友——一项艰巨的任务。四十分钟内微小、关闭躺的卷发，使她看上去非常像逃学的小学生满了她的头。她看着她长，镜子的反射仔细，与批判的不同而不同。"如果吉姆不会杀了我，"她说到自己，"他第二次看了看我之前,他会说我看上去像康尼岛合唱的女孩。但我能怎么办——哦！怎样用美元和美分八十七？"7点钟，咖啡已经煮平底锅，背面的热和准备煎肉排的炉子。吉姆从不迟到。德拉她的手里加倍fob链，然后坐在他始终输入的那扇门附近的桌子角上。然后她听到他的脚步在楼梯上走下来首次飞行，和她一会儿就变白。她说的最简单的生活用品，有点默祷的习惯，现在她低声说：请神，使他觉得我还是很漂亮。门开了，吉姆走进来，并关闭它。他看上去瘦，非常严重。可怜的家伙，他是只有22个——和可负担的家庭！他需要一件新的大衣，他没有手套。吉姆停止内门，为不动产作为二传手在鹌鹑的香味。他的眼睛盯着德拉，并有的表达式中，她看不到，他们害怕她。它不是愤怒，也不惊讶的是，也不反对，也不恐惧，不任何感情，她已在准备。他只被盯着她固定与这种特殊的表达他的脸上。德拉把桌子间，走到他身边。"吉姆，亲爱的"她哭了，"别看我这种方式。我有我的头发，切断和出售，因为我不能有过圣诞节不送你一件礼物。它会变出再次——你不会介意，好吗？刚做这件事。我的头发长得太快。说'圣诞快乐！吉姆，并让我们感到高兴。你不知道什么好--我有你的什么漂亮、好礼品。""你切断了你的头发？"问吉姆，吃力，因为如果他不到在该专利的事实，但即使是最严重的智力劳动。德拉说：把它砍下来卖了。"你不喜欢我一样，不管怎么说吗？我是我没有我的头发，不是我呢？"吉姆好奇地打量了房间。你说你的头发是走了吗？他说，与空气几乎的白痴。你用不着看，说德拉。"它被卖的我告诉你——卖，都没有了。在圣诞前夜，孩子。因为它去你会给我，好。也许我的头上的头发被编号，"她跟突发严重的甜蜜，但没人能过数我对你的爱。要我给排骨，吉姆吗？"他恍惚的吉姆似乎快吵醒。他enfolded他德拉。10秒钟让我们视，审慎审议一些无关紧要的对象在另一个方向。八块钱一周或一百万年——的区别是什么？一位数学家或智慧会给你错误的答案。麦琪带来宝贵的礼物，但这不是他们当中。这种黑暗的说法会稍后会亮起。吉姆从他的大衣口袋里掏出一包，并把它扔到桌子上。不要让任何错误，戴尔，他说，有关我。我不认为有什么发型或刮或洗发水，能让我像我的女孩少一点的方式。但如果你会解开这个软件包，您可能会看到你为什么让我去他起初的一段时间。白色的手指和灵活撕烂了的字符串和纸。然后狂喜的尖叫声的喜悦；及然后，唉！快速的女性变化，歇斯底里的眼泪和哭叫声，天文台须立即就业的单位的耶和华安慰的一切权力。因为梳——的梳子、侧面和德拉曾拜长在百老汇的窗口中的那一组躺在那里。美丽的梳子，纯龟壳，用链子轮辋—只穿消失秀发在阴凉处。他们是昂贵的梳子，她知道，和她的心了只渴望并不拥有最不希望他们渴望。现在，他们是她的但应该有装饰令人垂涎的修饰的芬芳不见了。但她把他们搂在怀里，她终于能够查找暗淡的眼睛，一笑，说："我的头发这么快，增长吉姆！"然后德拉跳起来好像有点被烫的小猫，喊道："哦，哦！"吉姆还没有看到他漂亮的礼物。她伸出它向他急切地对她开放的棕榈。单调的贵重金属似乎闪存用反射的她明亮和热情洋溢的精神。"不是花花公子，吉姆吗？我寻思着在城里找到它。你得看看一天上百次现在的时间。给我你的手表。我想查看其外观上。"服从，而不是吉姆在沙发上跌，他把手放在他的后脑勺，笑了。"戴尔，"他说，"让我们把我们的圣诞礼物和他们保持一段时间。他们使用目前只是太好看了。我将这笔钱去买你的梳子錶卖了。现在假设你穿上的印章。麦琪，如你所知，是聪明的人——精彩智者——带来的礼物给宝贝在马槽里。他们发明了圣诞送礼的艺术。有智慧，他们的礼物无疑是明智的可能轴承交流的情况下重复的特权。与在这里我有跛行你平静年谱一单位内的两个傻孩子，最智为彼此地牺牲了他们的房子最大的财富。但在最后一句，智慧的这些天让它说的是送的礼物，这两个是最明智。所有给予和接受礼物的人，如他们的聪明。到处都聪明。麦琪是他们。结束麦琪的礼物英文版TheGiftoftheMagiOnedollarandeighty-sevencents.Thatwasall.Andsixtycentsofitwasinpennies.Penniessavedoneandtwoatatimebybulldozingthegrocerandthevegetablemanandthebutcheruntilone'scheeksburnedwiththesilentimputationofparsimonythatsuchclosedealingimplied.ThreetimesDellacountedit.Onedollarandeighty-sevencents.AndthenextdaywouldbeChristmas.Therewasclearlynothingtodobutflopdownontheshabbylittlecouchandhowl.SoDelladidit.Whichinstigatesthemoralreflectionthatlifeismadeupofsobs,sniffles,andsmiles,withsnifflespredominating.Whilethemistressofthehomeisgraduallysubsidingfromthefirststagetothesecond,takealookatthehome.Afurnishedflatat$8perweek.Itdidnotexactlybeggardescription,butitcertainlyhadthatwordonthelookoutforthemendicancysquad.Inthevestibulebelowwasaletter-boxintowhichnoletterwouldgo,andanelectricbuttonfromwhichnomortalfingercouldcoaxaring.Alsoappertainingthereuntowasacardbearingthename"Mr.JamesDillinghamYoung."The"Dillingham"hadbeenflungtothebreezeduringaformerperiodofprosperitywhenitspossessorwasbeingpaid$30perweek.Now,whentheincomewasshrunkto$20,though,theywerethinkingseriouslyofcontractingtoamodestandunassumingD.ButwheneverMr.JamesDillinghamYoungcamehomeandreachedhisflatabovehewascalled"Jim"andgreatlyhuggedbyMrs.JamesDillinghamYoung,alreadyintroducedtoyouasDella.Whichisallverygood.Dellafinishedhercryandattendedtohercheekswiththepowderrag.Shestoodbythewindowandlookedoutdullyatagraycatwalkingagrayfenceinagraybackyard.TomorrowwouldbeChristmasDay,andshehadonly$1.87withwhichtobuyJimapresent.Shehadbeensavingeverypennyshecouldformonths,withthisresult.Twentydollarsaweekdoesn'tgofar.Expenseshadbeengreaterthanshehadcalculated.Theyalwaysare.Only$1.87tobuyapresentforJim.HerJim.Manyahappyhourshehadspentplanningforsomethingniceforhim.Somethingfineandrareandsterling--somethingjustalittlebitneartobeingworthyofthehonorofbeingownedbyJim.Therewasapier-glassbetweenthewindowsoftheroom.Perhapsyouhaveseenapierglassinan$8flat.Averythinandveryagilepersonmay,byobservinghisreflectioninarapidsequenceoflongitudinalstrips,obtainafairlyaccurateconceptionofhislooks.Della,beingslender,hadmasteredtheart.Suddenlyshewhirledfromthewindowandstoodbeforetheglass.hereyeswereshiningbrilliantly,butherfacehadlostitscolorwithintwentyseconds.Rapidlyshepulleddownherhairandletitfalltoitsfulllength.Now,thereweretwopossessionsoftheJamesDillinghamYoungsinwhichtheybothtookamightypride.OnewasJim'sgoldwatchthathadbeenhisfather'sandhisgrandfather's.TheotherwasDella'shair.HadthequeenofShebalivedintheflatacrosstheairshaft,DellawouldhaveletherhairhangoutthewindowsomedaytodryjusttodepreciateHerMajesty'sjewelsandgifts.HadKingSolomonbeenthejanitor,withallhistreasurespiledupinthebasement,Jimwouldhavepulledouthiswatcheverytimehepassed,justtoseehimpluckathisbeardfromenvy.SonowDella'sbeautifulhairfellaboutherripplingandshininglikeacascadeofbrownwaters.Itreachedbelowherkneeandmadeitselfalmostagarmentforher.Andthenshediditupagainnervouslyandquickly.Onceshefalteredforaminuteandstoodstillwhileatearortwosplashedonthewornredcarpet.Onwentheroldbrownjacket;onwentheroldbrownhat.Withawhirlofskirtsandwiththebrilliantsparklestillinhereyes,sheflutteredoutthedooranddownthestairstothestreet.Whereshestoppedthesignread:"Mne.Sofronie.HairGoodsofAllKinds."OneflightupDellaran,andcollectedherself,panting.Madame,large,toowhite,chilly,hardlylookedthe"Sofronie.""Willyoubuymyhair?"askedDella."Ibuyhair,"saidMadame."Takeyerhatoffandlet'shaveasightatthelooksofit."Downrippledthebrowncascade."Twentydollars,"saidMadame,liftingthemasswithapractisedhand."Giveittomequick,"saidDella.Oh,andthenexttwohourstrippedbyonrosywings.Forgetthehashedmetaphor.ShewasransackingthestoresforJim'spresent.Shefounditatlast.ItsurelyhadbeenmadeforJimandnooneelse.Therewasnootherlikeitinanyofthestores,andshehadturnedalloftheminsideout.Itwasaplatinumfobchainsimpleandchasteindesign,properlyproclaimingitsvaluebysubstancealoneandnotbymeretriciousornamentation--asallgoodthingsshoulddo.ItwasevenworthyofTheWatch.AssoonasshesawitsheknewthatitmustbeJim's.Itwaslikehim.Quietnessandvalue--thedescriptionappliedtoboth.Twenty-onedollarstheytookfromherforit,andshehurriedhomewiththe87cents.WiththatchainonhiswatchJimmightbeproperlyanxiousaboutthetimeinanycompany.Grandasthewatchwas,hesometimeslookedatitontheslyonaccountoftheoldleatherstrapthatheusedinplaceofachain.WhenDellareachedhomeherintoxicationgavewayalittletoprudenceandreason.Shegotouthercurlingironsandlightedthegasandwenttoworkrepairingtheravagesmadebygenerosityaddedtolove.Whichisalwaysatremendoustask,dearfriends--amammothtask.Withinfortyminutesherheadwascoveredwithtiny,close-lyingcurlsthatmadeherlookwonderfullylikeatruantschoolboy.Shelookedatherreflectioninthemirrorlong,carefully,andcritically."IfJimdoesn'tkillme,"shesaidtoherself,"beforehetakesasecondlookatme,he'llsayIlooklikeaConeyIslandchorusgirl.ButwhatcouldIdo--oh!whatcouldIdowithadollarandeighty-sevencents?"At7o'clockthecoffeewasmadeandthefrying-panwasonthebackofthestovehotandreadytocookthechops.Jimwasneverlate.Delladoubledthefobchaininherhandandsatonthecornerofthetablenearthedoorthathealwaysentered.Thensheheardhissteponthestairawaydownonthefirstflight,andsheturnedwhiteforjustamoment.Shehadahabitofsayingalittlesilentprayeraboutthesimplesteverydaythings,andnowshewhispered:"PleaseGod,makehimthinkIamstillpretty."ThedooropenedandJimsteppedinandclosedit.Helookedthinandveryserious.Poorfellow,hewasonlytwenty-two--andtobeburdenedwithafamily!Heneededanewovercoatandhewaswithoutgloves.Jimstoppedinsidethedoor,asimmovableasasetteratthescentofquail.HiseyeswerefixeduponDella,andtherewasanexpressioninthemthatshecouldnotread,anditterrifiedher.Itwasnotanger,norsurprise,nordisapproval,norhorror,noranyofthesentimentsthatshehadbeenpreparedfor.Hesimplystaredatherfixedlywiththatpeculiarexpressiononhisface.Dellawriggledoffthetableandwentforhim."Jim,darling,"shecried,"don'tlookatmethatway.IhadmyhaircutoffandsoldbecauseIcouldn'thavelivedthroughChristmaswithoutgivingyouapresent.It'llgrowoutagain--youwon'tmind,willyou?Ijusthadtodoit.Myhairgrowsawfullyfast.Say`MerryChristmas!'Jim,andlet'sbehappy.Youdon'tknowwhatanice--whatabeautiful,nicegiftI'vegotforyou.""You'vecutoffyourhair?"askedJim,laboriously,asifhehadnotarrivedatthatpatentfactyetevenafterthehardestmentallabor."Cutitoffandsoldit,"saidDella."Don'tyoulikemejustaswell,anyhow?I'mmewithoutmyhair,ain'tI?"Jimlookedabouttheroomcuriously."Yousayyourhairisgone?"hesaid,withanairalmostofidiocy."Youneedn'tlookforit,"saidDella."It'ssold,Itellyou--soldandgone,too.It'sChristmasEve,boy.Begoodtome,foritwentforyou.Maybethehairsofmyheadwerenumbered,"shewentonwithsuddenserioussweetness,"butnobodycouldevercountmyloveforyou.ShallIputthechopson,Jim?"OutofhistranceJimseemedquicklytowake.HeenfoldedhisDella.Fortensecondsletusregardwithdiscreetscrutinysomeinconsequentialobjectintheotherdirection.Eightdollarsaweekoramillionayear--whatisthedifference?Amathematicianorawitwouldgiveyouthewronganswer.Themagibroughtvaluablegifts,butthatwasnotamongthem.Thisdarkassertionwillbeilluminatedlateron.Jimdrewapackagefromhisover