earlderrbiggers.thehousewithoutakey-第7章

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　The　ship　was　well　out　in　the　harbor　now。　Barbara　came　along；　Jennison　trailing　her。　The　girl's　eyes　were　wet。
　〃An　emotional　lot；　we　Islanders；〃　said　the　old　lady。　She　put　her　arm　about　the　girl's　slim　waist。　〃Here's　another　one　of　'em。　Living　way　off　the　way　we　do；　any　good…by　at　all　…　it　saddens　us。〃　She　and　Barbara　moved　on　down　the　deck。
　Jennison　stopped。　His　eyes　were　quite　dry。　〃First　trip　out？〃　he　inquired。
　〃Oh；　yes；〃　replied　John　Quincy。
　〃Hope　you'll　like　us；〃　Jennison　said。　〃Not　Massachusetts；　of　course；　but　we'll　do　our　best　to　make　you　feel　at　home。　It's　a　way　we　have　with　strangers。〃
　〃I'm　sure　I　shall　have　a　bully　time；〃　John　Quincy　remarked。　But　he　felt　somewhat　depressed。　Three　thousand　miles　from　Beacon　Street　…　and　moving　on！　He　waved　to　some　one　he　fancied　might　be　Roger　on　the　dock；　and　went　to　find　his　stateroom。
　He　learned　that　he　was　to　share　his　cabin　with　two　missionaries。　One　was　a　tall；　gloomy　old　man　with　a　lemon…colored　face　…　an　honored　veteran　of　the　foreign　field　named　Upton。　The　other　was　a　ruddy…cheeked　boy　whose　martyrdom　was　still　before　him。　John　Quincy　suggested　drawing　lots　for　a　choice　of　berths；　but　even　this　mild　form　of　gambling　appeared　distasteful　to　those　emissaries　of　the　church。
　〃You　boys　take　the　berths；〃　said　Upton。　〃Leave　me　the　couch。　I　don't　sleep　well　anyhow。〃　His　tone　was　that　of　one　who　prefers　to　suffer。
　John　Quincy　politely　objected。　After　further　discussion　it　was　settled　that　he　was　to　have　the　upper　berth；　the　old　man　the　lower；　and　the　boy　the　couch。　The　Reverend　Mr。　Upton　seemed　disappointed。　He　had　played　the　role　of　martyr　so　long　he　resented　seeing　any　one　else　in　the　part。
　The　Pacific　was　behaving　in　a　most　unfriendly　manner；　tossing　the　great　ship　about　as　though　it　were　a　piece　of　driftwood。　John　Quincy　decided　to　dispense　with　lunch；　and　spent　the　afternoon　reading　in　his　berth。　By　evening　he　felt　better；　and　under　the　watchful　and　somewhat　disapproving　eyes　of　the　missionaries；　arrayed　himself　carefully　for　dinner。
　His　name　being　Winterslip；　he　had　been　invited　to　sit　at　the　captain's　table。　He　found　Madame　Maynard；　serene　and　twinkling；　at　the　captain's　right；　Barbara　at　his　left；　and　Jennison　at　Barbara's　side。　It　appeared　that　oddly　enough　there　was　an　aristocracy　of　the　Islands；　and　John　Quincy；　while　he　thought　it　quaint　there　should　be　such　distinctions　in　an　outpost　like　Hawaii；　took　his　proper　place　as　a　matter　of　course。
　Mrs。　Maynard　chatted　brightly　of　her　many　trips　over　this　route。　Suddenly　she　turned　to　Barbara。　〃How　does　it　happen；　my　dear；〃　she　asked；　〃that　you're　not　on　the　college　boat？〃
　〃All　booked　up；〃　Barbara　explained。
　〃Nonsense；〃　said　the　frank　old　lady。　〃You　could　have　got　on。　But　then〃　…　she　looked　meaningly　toward　Jennison　…　〃I　presume　this　ship　was　not　without　its　attractions。〃
　The　girl　flushed　slightly　and　made　no　reply。
　〃What；〃　John　Quincy　inquired；　〃is　the　college　boat？〃
　〃So　many　children　from　Hawaii　at　school　on　the　mainland；〃　the　old　lady　explained；　〃that　every　June　around　this　time　they　practically　fill　a　ship。　We　call　it　the　college　boat。　This　year　it's　the　Matsonia。　She　left　San　Francisco　to…day　at　noon。〃
　〃I've　got　a　lot　of　friends　aboard　her；〃　Barbara　said。　〃I　do　wish　we　could　beat　her　in。　Captain；　what　are　the　chances？〃
　〃Well；　that　depends；〃　replied　the　captain　cautiously。
　〃She　isn't　due　until　Tuesday　morning；〃　Barbara　persisted。　〃Wouldn't　it　be　a　lark　if　you　could　land　us　the　night　before？　As　a　favor　to　me；　Captain。〃
　〃When　you　look　at　me　like　that；〃　smiled　the　officer；　〃I　can　only　say　that　I'll　make　a　supreme　effort。　I'm　just　as　eager　as　you　to　make　port　on　Monday　…　it　would　mean　I　could　get　off　to　the　Orient　that　much　sooner。〃
　〃Then　it's　settled；〃　Barbara　beamed。
　〃It's　settled　that　we'll　try；〃　he　said。　〃Of　course；　if　I　speed　up　there's　always　the　chance　I　may　arrive　off　Honolulu　after　sundown；　and　be　pelled　to　lay　by　until　morning。　That　would　be　torture　for　you。〃
　〃I'll　risk　it；〃　Barbara　smiled。　〃Wouldn't　dear　old　dad　be　pleased　if　I　should　burst　upon　his　vision　Monday　evening？〃
　〃My　dear　girl；〃　the　captain　said　gallantly；　〃any　man　would　be　pleased　to　have　you　burst　upon　his　vision　any　time。〃
　There　was；　John　Quincy　reflected；　much　in　what　the　captain　said。　Up　to　that　moment　there　had　been　little　of　the　romantic　in　his　relations　with　girls；　he　was　accustomed　to　look　upon　them　merely　as　tennis　or　golf　opponents　or　a　fourth　at　bridge。　Barbara　would　demand　a　different　classification。　There　was　an　enticing　gleam　in　her　blue　eyes；　a　hint　of　the　eternal　feminine　in　everything　she　did　or　said；　and　John　Quincy　was　no　wooden　man。　He　was　glad　that　when　he　left　the　dinner　table；　she　acpanied　him。
　They　went　on　deck　and　stood　by　the　rail。　Night　had　fallen；　there　was　no　moon；　and　it　seemed　to　John　Quincy　that　the　Pacific　was　the　blackest；　angriest　ocean　he　had　ever　seen。　He　stood　gazing　at　it　gloomily。
　〃Homesick；　John　Quincy？〃　Barbara　asked。　One　of　his　hands　was　resting　on　the　rail。　She　laid　her　own　upon　it。
　He　nodded。　〃It's　a　funny　thing。　I've　been　abroad　a　lot；　but　I　never　felt　like　this。　When　the　ship　left　port　this　morning；　I　nearly　wept。〃
　〃It's　not　so　very　funny；〃　she　said　gently。　〃This　is　an　alien　world　you're　entering　now。　Not　Boston；　John　Quincy；　nor　any　other　old；　civilized　place。　Not　the　kind　of　place　where　the　mind　rules。　Out　here　it's　the　heart　that　charts　our　course。　People　you're　fond　of　do　the　wildest；　most　unreasonable　things；　simply　because　their　minds　are　sleeping　and　their　hearts　are　beating　fast。　Just　…　just　remember；　please；　John　Quincy。〃
　There　was　an　odd　note　of　wistfulness　in　her　voice。　Suddenly　at　their　side　appeared　the　white…clad　figure　of　Harry　Jennison。
　〃ing　for　a　stroll；　Barbara？〃　he　inquired。
　For　a　moment　she　did　not　reply。　Then　she　nodded。　〃Yes；〃　she　said。　And　called　over　her　shoulder　as　she　went：　〃Cheer　up；　John　Quincy。〃
　He　watched　her　go；　reluctantly。　She　might　have　stayed　to　assuage　his　loneliness。　But　there　she　walked　along　the　dim　deck；　close　to　Jennison's　side。
　After　a　time；　he　sought　the　smoking…room。　It　was　deserted；　but　on　one　of　the　tables　lay　a　copy　of　the　Boston　Transcript。　Delighted；　John　Quincy　pounced　upon　it；　as　Robinson　Crusoe　might　have　pounced　on　news　from　home。
　The　issue　was　ten　days　old；　but　no　matter。　He　turned　at　once　to　the　financial　pages。　There　it　was；　like　the　face　of　a　well…beloved　friend；　the　record　of　one　day's　trading　on　the　Stock　Exchange。　And　up　in　one　corner；　the　advertisement　of　his　own　banking　house；　offering　an　issue　of　preferred　stock　in　a　Berkshire　cotton　mill。　He　read　eagerly；　but　with　an　odd　detached　feeling。　He　was　gone；　gone　from　that　world；　away　out　here　on　a　black　ocean　bound　for　picture…book　islands。　Islands　where；　not　so　long　ago；　brown　tribes　had　battled；　brown　kings　ruled。　There　seemed　no　link　with　that　world　back　home；　those　gay…colored　streamers　of　confetti　breaking　so　readily　had　been　a　symbol。　He　was　adrift。　What　sort　of　port　would　claim　him　in　the　end？
　He　threw　the　paper　down。　The　Reverend　Mr。　Upton　entered　the　smoking…room。
　〃I　left　my　newspaper　here；〃　he　explained。　〃Ah　…　did　you　care　to　look　at　it？〃
　〃Thank　you；　I　have；〃　John　Quincy　told　him。
　The　old　man　picked　it　up　in　a　great　bony　hand。　〃I　always　buy　a　Transcript　when　I　get　the　chance；〃　he　said。　〃It　carries　me　back。　You　know；　I　was　born　in　Salem；　over　seventy　years　ago。〃
　John　Quincy　stared　at　him。　〃You've　been　a　long　time　out　here？〃　he　asked。
　〃More　than　fifty　years　in　the　foreign　field；〃　answered　the　old　man。　〃I　was　one　of　the　first　to　go　to　the　South　Seas。　One　of　the　first　to　carry　the　torch　down　there　…　and　a　dim　torch　it　was；　I'm　afraid。　Afterward　I　was　transferred　to　China。〃　John　Quincy　regarded　him　with　a　new　interest。　〃By　the　way；　sir；〃　the　missionary　continued；　〃I　once　met　another　gentleman　named　Winterslip。　Mr。　Daniel　Winterslip。〃
　〃Really？〃　said　John　Quincy。　〃He's　a　cousin　of　mine。　I'm　to　visit　him　in　Honolulu。〃
　〃Yes？　I　heard　he　had　returned　to　Hawaii；　and　prospered。　I　met　him　just　once　…　in　the　'eighties；　it　was；　on　a　lonely　island　in　the　Gilbert　group。　It　was　…　rather　a　turning　point　in　his　life；　and　I　have　never　forgotten。〃　John　Quincy　waited　to　hear　more；　but　the　old　missionary　moved　away。　〃I'll　go　and　enjoy　my　Transcript；〃　he　smiled。　〃The　church　news　is　very　petently　handled。〃
　John　Quincy　rose　and　went　aimlessly　outside。　A　dreary　scene；　the　swish　of　turbulent　waters；　dim　figures　aimless　as　himself；　an　occasional　ship's　officer　hurrying　by。　His　stateroom　opened　directly　on　the　deck　and　he　sank　into　a　steamer　chair　just　outside　the　door。
　In　the　distance　he　saw　his　room　steward；　weaving　his　way　in　and　out　of　the　cabins　under　his　care。　The　man　was　busy　with　his　last　duties　for　the　night；　refilling　water　carafes；　laying　out　towels；　putting　things　generally　to　rights。
　〃Evening；　sir；〃　he　said　as　he　entered　John　Quincy's　room。　Presently　he　came　and　stood　in　the　door；　the　cabin　light　at　his　back。　He　was　a　small　man　with　gold…rimmed　eye…glasses　and　a　fierce　gray　pompadour。
　〃Everything　O。K。；　Mr。　Winterslip？〃　he　inquired。
　〃Yes；　Bowker；〃　smiled　John　Quincy。　〃Everything's　fine。〃
　〃That's　good；〃　said　Bowker。　He　switched　off　the　cabin　light　and　stepped　out　on　to　the　deck。　〃I　aim　to　take　particular　care　of　you；　sir。　Saw　your　home　town　on　the　sailing　list。　I'm　an　old　Boston　man　myself。〃
　〃Is　that　so？〃　said　John　Quincy　cordially。　Evidently　the　Pacific　was　a　Boston　suburb。
　〃Not　born　there；　I　don't　mean；〃　the　man　went　on。　〃But　a　newspaper　man　there　for　ten　years。　It　was　just　after　I　left　the　University。〃
　John　Quincy　started　through　the　dark。　〃Harvard？〃　he　asked。
　〃Dublin；〃　said　the　steward。　〃Yes；　sir　…〃　He　laughed　an　embarrassed　little　laugh。　〃You　might　not　think　it　now；　but　the　University　of　Dublin；　Class　of　1901。　And　after　that；　for　ten　years；　working　in　Boston　on　the　Gazette　…　reporting；　copy　desk；　managing　editor　for　a　time。　Maybe　I　bumped　into　you　there　…　at　the　Adams　House　bar；　say；　on　a　night　before　a　football　game。〃
　〃Quite　possible；〃　admitted　John　Quincy。　〃One　bumped　into　so　many　people　on　such　occasions。〃
　〃Don't　I　know　it？〃　Mr。　Bowker　leaned　on　the　rail；　in　reminiscent　mood。　〃Great　times；　sir。　Those　were　the　good　old　days　when　a　newspaper　man　who　wasn't　tanked　up　was　a　reproach　to　a　grand　profession。　The　Gazette　was　edited　mostly　from　a　place　called　the　Arch　Inn。　We'd　bring　our　copy　to　the　city　editor　there　…　he　had　a　regular　table　…　a　bit　sloppy　on　top；　but　his　desk。　If　we　had　a　good　story；　maybe　he'd　stand　us　a　cocktail。〃
　John　Quincy　laughed。
　〃Happy　days；〃　continued　the　Dublin　graduate；　with　a　sigh。　〃I　knew　every　bartender　in　Boston　well　enough　to　borrow　money。　Were　you　ever　in　that　place　in　the　alley　back　of　the　Tremont　Theater　…　？〃
　〃Tim's　place；〃　suggested　John　Quincy；　recalling　an　incident　of　college　days。
　〃Yeah；　bo。　Now　you're　talking。　I　wonder　what　became　of　Tim。　Say；　and　there　was　that　place　on　Boylston　…　but　they're　all　gone　now；　of　course。　An　old　pal　I　met　in　'Frisco　was　telling　me　it　would　break　your　heart　to　see　the　cobwebs　on　the　mirrors　back　in　Beantown。　Gone　to　the　devil；　just　like　my　profession。　The　newspapers　go　on　consolidating；　doubling　up；　bining　the　best　features　of　both；　and　an　army　of　good　men　go　on　the　town。　Good　men　and　true；