elizabethpeters.thegoldenone-第2章

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ng　dress。　On　this　occasion　especially　it　is　necessary　to　display　a　stiff　upper　lip　and　…〃
　〃Damnation！〃　Emerson　shouted。
　With　my　assistance　and　a　good　deal　of　grumbling；　he　did　as　he　was　told。　He　then　offered　me　his　arm；　and　the　remnants　of　his　ill　humor　vanished　as　I　clung　tightly　to　it。　Emerson　likes　me　to　cling　to　him。　I　do　not　do　it　often；　but　I　doubt　I　could　have　kept　my　footing　that　night　without　his　support。
　We　had　not　seen　much　of　our　fellow　passengers；　of　whom　there　were　far　fewer　than　in　the　happy　past。　The　inclement　weather　had　kept　most　persons　in　their　bunks。　Thanks　to　the　judicious　application　of　whiskey　and　soda；　which　is；　among　other　things；　an　excellent　remedy　for　mal　de　mer；　we　had　been　unaffected；　but　there　was　little　pleasure　in　walking　the　deck　in　a　howling　gale。
　More　people　than　usual　were　at　dinner　that　evening。　The　celebration　of　the　New　Year　was　no　doubt　the　occasion；　but　few　of　them　looked　as　if　they　were　in　a　mood　to　celebrate。　The　tightly　curtained　windows　of　the　dining　saloon　were　a　silent　reminder　of　war；　and　the　ship　kept　rolling　about　in　a　disconcerting　fashion。　Perhaps；　I　thought　hopefully；　submarines　do　not　sail　in　bad　weather。　I　must　remember　to　ask　someone。
　The　others　were　already　at　our　table；　as　we　wove　a　somewhat　erratic　path　toward　them；　Ramses　rose；　balancing　lightly　with　a　hand　on　the　back　of　his　chair。　I　was　pleased　to　see　that　he　was　properly　attired　in　black　tie　and　that　Nefret　looked　particularly　lovely　in　the　soft　shade　of　blue　that　matched　her　eyes　and　set　off　her　red…gold　hair。　The　fifth　member　of　the　party　was　tightly　wedged　between　them；　in　order　to　prevent　her　from　flying　off　her　chair。　Sennia　should　have　been　in　her　cabin　with　Basima；　her　nurserymaid；　for　the　hour　was　late　for　a　seven…year…old；　but　Basima　did　not　feel　well；　and　Sennia　had　wanted　to　be　with　Ramses　on　this　special　occasion　…　and　she　had　got　her　own　way；　as　she　often　did。
　It　was　not　surprising　that　many　people　believed　my　nephew's　child　to　be　Ramses's　illegitimate　daughter；　for　she　had　my　dark　gray　eyes　and　his　coloring。　Ramses　had　always　looked　more　like　an　Egyptian　than　an　English　person：　wavy　black　hair；　black　eyes　and　thick　lashes；　skin　several　shades　darker　than　is　mon　in　our　island。　（I　cannot　explain　this；　and　I　see　no　reason　why　I　should　be　obliged　to　do　so。）　His　looks　are　very　pleasing；　and　I　assure　the　reader　that　his　fond　mother　has　not　been　the　only　female　to　think　so。
　He　seated　himself　somewhat　hastily　and　caught　Sennia　as　she　slipped　sideways。　She　let　out　a　high…pitched　laugh；　which　sounded　very　loud　in　the　subdued　air　of　the　saloon。　Several　persons　looked　and　smiled；　several　others　frowned　disapprovingly；　but　that　peal　of　childish　laughter　had　unquestionably　relieved　some　of　the　tension　that　filled　the　room。
　〃Enjoying　this；　Little　Bird？〃　Emerson　inquired　fondly。
　〃Oh；　yes；　it's　great　fun　bouncing　up　and　down。　And　if　I　spill　soup　in　my　lap　Aunt　Amelia　cannot　say　it　is　my　fault。〃　She　gave　me　a　cheeky　grin；　and　I　smiled　back　at　her；　glad　she　was　too　young　to　share　the　uneasiness　that　affected　the　rest　of　us。　We　had　thought　long　and　hard　about　exposing　her　to　the　perils　of　the　voyage　instead　of　leaving　her　in　the　tender　care　of　Walter　and　Evelyn；　but　Sennia　had　not　thought　about　it　at　all；　she　had　simply　assumed　she　would　e　along；　and　any　attempt　to　prevent　her　would　have　led　to　consequences　that　were　loud　and　unpleasant。　Emerson　could　not　bear　to　see　her　cry；　and　the　little　witch　knew　it。　She　had　e　into　our　lives　under　circumstances　that　were　painful　to　recall　even　now；　but　what　a　joy　she　was　to　us　all！　She　was　quite　like　a　grandchild　。　。　。　the　only　one　。　。　。　thus　far　。　。　。
　Nefret　caught　me　staring　at　her　and　the　color　in　her　face　deepened。　〃Yes；　Mother？〃　she　inquired。　〃Is　there　a　smudge　on　my　nose？〃
　〃Why；　no；　my　dear。　I　was　just　thinking　how　that　shade　of　blue　bees　you。〃
　The　subject　was　one　into　which　no　person　of　sensibility　could　properly　probe；　and　I　felt　certain　I　would　be　the　first　to　be　informed。
　After　Ramses；　of　course。
　A　great　deal　of　soup　was　spilled；　and　not　only　by　Sennia。　Most　of　the　diners　stuck　it　out　until　the　end；　however；　and　after　Sennia　had　finished　the　light　meal　which　was　all　I　allowed　her；　she　began　to　fidget　and　look　round。　How　she　had　got　to　know　so　many　of　the　other　passengers　I　could　not　imagine；　since　we　had　never　let　her　out　of　our　sight；　but　her　waves　and　smiles　were　acknowledged　by　several　persons。　One　was　a　tall　gray…haired　gentleman　whom　I　had　seen　once　or　twice　on　deck；　his　forbidding　face　broke　into　a　smile　and　he　waved　back。　Sennia　received　an　even　more　energetic　response　from　a　man　seated　at　the　captain's　table。　He　had　a　round　face；　as　red　and　wrinkled　as　a　well…preserved　winter　apple；　and　he　bobbed　up　and　down　in　his　chair；　waving；　until　the　young　man　next　to　him　put　a　restraining　hand　on　his　arm。　He　was　as　stiff　as　the　older　man　…　his　father？　…　was　friendly。　Eyeglasses　gave　him　a　scholarly　look；　but　he　was　dressed　with　foppish　elegance；　every　hair　in　place。
　〃Who　are　they？〃　I　asked　Sennia。
　〃They　are　Americans。　Can　I　have　an　ice？〃
　〃May　I　have　an　ice。　Yes；　you　may。〃
　〃Is　the　lady　his　wife？〃　Nefret　asked。　〃Goodness；　look　at　that　frock；　and　the　diamonds；　and　the　rubies。〃
　〃Vulgarly　large；〃　I　said　with　a　sniff。
　〃I　think　they　are　very　beautiful；〃　said　Miss　Sennia。　〃She　let　me　look　at　them　one　day　…　it　was　in　the　saloon　…　but　only　because　Mr。　Albion　told　her　to。　She　is　not　as　nice　as　he　is；　and　their　son　is　not　nice　at　all。〃　She　took　firm　hold　of　the　bowl　and　dug　her　spoon　into　the　pink　mound。　〃Mr。　Albion　wanted　to　meet　you；　but　I　told　him　you　did　not　meet　people。〃
　〃Good　girl；〃　said　Emerson　approvingly。
　Between　bites　Sennia　told　us　about　the　gray…haired　gentleman；　who　was　going　out　to　join　a　firm　in　Alexandria；　and　about　several　of　the　other　passengers。　The　storm　began　to　subside；　the　howls　of　the　wind　were　not　so　loud；　the　motion　not　quite　so　violent；　but　I　believe　we　were　all　relieved　when　the　attendants　came　round　with　champagne　and　the　captain　rose　to　propose　a　toast。　It　was　somewhat　long…winded。　I　remember　only　the　end。
　〃To　the　health　of　His　gracious　Majesty　and　to　victory　in　1917！〃
　Somehow　I　was　not　surprised　to　hear　a　familiar　voice　amend　the　statement。　〃To　peace；〃　said　Ramses。　We　drank　to　that。
　
　As　it　turned　out；　we　reached　Alexandria　without　being　torpedoed；　and　were　met　by　Selim　and　Daoud。　Selim　had　replaced　his　father　Abdullah　as　our　reis；　or　foreman；　he　and　his　Uncle　Daoud；　like　Abdullah's　other　relations；　were　as　close　as　family；　and　valued　assistants　in　all　our　endeavors。　They　assisted　us　in　resuscitating　poor　Basima　and　Gargery；　our　butler；　who　had　suffered　horribly　from　seasickness　the　entire　time；　and　Sennia's　cat；　who　had　not　been　seasick　but　whose　normally　bad　temper　was　even　more　strained　by　long　confinement　in　a　room　that　was　in　constant　motion。　It　would　have　been　impossible　to　leave　the　nasty　beast　behind　because　Sennia；　and；　to　a　lesser　degree；　Nefret；　were　the　only　persons　who　could　control　him。　Horus　was　the　only　cat　with　us　that　year。　Seshat；　Ramses's　erstwhile　panion　and　guardian；　had　given　up　a　professional　career　for　domesticity。　Perhaps　she　felt　she　could　now　trust　Nefret　to　look　after　him。
　Basima　brightened　as　soon　as　she　set　foot　on　dry　land；　and　Gargery；　though　still　unsteady；　went　off　with　Daoud　to　see　about　the　luggage。　We　had　a　great　deal　more　than　usual　this　time；　for　we　had　reached　a　momentous　decision。　Ordinarily　we　left　for　Egypt　in　the　autumn　and　ended　our　excavation　season　before　the　summer　heat　set　in；　but　this　time　we　had　e　for　an　indefinite　stay。　Emerson；　who　does　not　fear　man　nor　beast　nor　demon　of　the　night　on　his　own　account；　had　declared　his　nerves　were　unequal　to　having　the　rest　of　us　travel　back　and　forth　as　long　as　the　submarine　menace　remained。
　〃It　will　get　worse　before　it　gets　better；　mark　my　words；〃　he　had　declared。　〃I　don't　mind　people　shooting　at　us　or　shutting　us　up　in　pyramids　or　trying　to　brain　us　with　heavy　objects　…　that　is　to　say；　I　don't　much　like　it；　but　I　have　bee　accustomed　to　it。　Having　a　bloody　ship　sunk　under　us　by　a　bloody　U…boat　is　something　else　again。　Call　me　a　coward　if　you　will　。　。　。〃
　None　of　us　did；　as　Ramses　remarked；　there　was　not　a　man　alive　who　would　have　dared。　I　knew　how　Emerson　felt；　for　I　have　the　same　fear　of　air　raids。　We　had；　all　of　us；　been　in　deadly　peril　on　more　than　one　occasion；　and　felt　quite　fortable　about　our　ability　to　deal　with　ordinary　human　adversaries。　To　be　sure；　there　were　human　beings　at　the　control　of　aeroplanes　and　submarines；　but　since　one　never　saw　them；　one　was　inclined　to　think　of　the　machine　itself　as　the　enemy　…　a　remote　mechanical　menace。
　Nor　for　worlds　would　I　have　questioned　Emerson's　motives　in　proposing　the　scheme；　but　he　had　always　yearned　to　work　year…round　in　Egypt　instead　of　having　to　close　down　the　dig　in　March　or　April；　sometimes　when　the　excavation　was　at　its　most　interesting。　For　the　past　several　seasons　our　archaeological　activities　had　been　even　more　constrained　by　family　matters　and　by　Ramses's　undercover　work　for　the　War　Office。　This　season　Emerson　had　been　awarded　the　firman　for　a　site　in　Luxor。　It　was　of　all　places　in　Egypt　the　one　we　loved　best　…　the　scene　of　several　of　our　greatest　discoveries；　our　home　for　many　happy　years；　and　the　home　as　well　of　our　dear　friends　the　Vandergelts；　who　were　even　then　settling　in　for　a　long　season　of　excavation。
　There　was　only　one　objection　I　could　think　of　to　such　a　splendid　prospect。　I　do　not　refer　to　the　blistering　heat　of　Luxor　in　summer　…　an　objection　that　would　never　have　occurred　to　Emerson；　who　has　the　constitution　of　a　camel　…　but　to　the　fact　that　we　would　leave　behind　for　Heaven　knew　how　long　our　beloved　family。　The　Reader　will　be　cognizant；　after　my　earlier　remarks　on　the　subject；　that　I　was　not　thinking　of　the　members　of　my　side　of　the　family。
　〃Nonsense；〃　said　Emerson；　when　I　mentioned　this。　〃You　are　hopelessly　given　to　melodrama；　Peabody。　We　are　not　bidding　anyone　a　final　farewell；　only　prolonging　the　separation　a　trifle。　Circumstances　may　change；　we　will　not　be　pletely　cut　off。〃
　He　had　readily　agreed　that　we　must　spend　Christmas　with　our　loved　ones　and　we　did　our　best　to　make　a　merry　time　of　it；　for　the　sake　of　the　children　…　Sennia；　and　Lia　and　David's　little　Dolly；　who　was　just　old　enough　to　toddle　about。　All　our　surviving　nieces　and　nephews　were　there：　Raddie　and　his　new　wife；　the　widow　of　a　friend　who　had　died　in　France；　Margaret；　newly　engaged　to　a　young　officer；　even　Willie；　on　leave　from　France；　who　tried；　dear　lad；　to　make　twice　as　many　jokes　to　pensate　for　the　absence　of　his　twin　brother；　Johnny；　who　had　been　killed　in　action　the　year　before。　There　were　tears　as　well　as　laughter；　the　war　was　too　much　with　us；　but　we　carried　it　off；　I　think；　and　there　was　one　moment　of　genuine　hilarity　when　Emerson　asked　David　if　he　had　considered　ing　out　later　in　the　season。
　〃Up　to　you；　of　course；〃　he　added　hastily。　〃But　little　Dolly　is　fit　and　healthy；　and　Lia　…〃
　〃She　is　doing　very　well；〃　said　Nefret。　〃All　things　considered。〃
　She　smiled　at　David；　whose　candid　countenance　betrayed　his　relief　at　her　intervention。　He　had　difficulty　in　refusing　Emerson　anything；　and　he　had　not　known　how　to　break　the　news。
　I；　of　course；