the cruise of the jasper b[1].(杰斯帕·b·之游)-第17章
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It was the first of May； and warm and bright； in a simple morning dress of
pink linen Lady Agatha stirred in Cleggett a vague recollection of one of
Tennyson's earlier poems。 The exact phrases eluded him； perhaps；
indeed； it was the underlying sentiment of nearly ALL of Tennyson's
earlier poems of which she reminded himthose lyrics which are at once
so romantic and so irreproachable morally。
〃We must give you Americans credit for imagination at any rate；〃 she
said smilingly； making her Pomeranian sit up on his hind legs and beg for
a morsel of crisp bacon。 〃I awake in a boatyard after having gone to
sleep in a dismantled barge。〃
〃Barge！〃 The word 〃barge〃 struck Cleggett unexpectedly； he was not
aware that he had given a start and frowned。
〃Mercy！〃 exclaimed Lady Agatha； 〃how the dear man glares！ What
should I call it？ Scow？〃
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〃Scow？〃 said Cleggett。 He had scarcely recovered from the word
〃barge〃； it is not to be denied that 〃scow〃 jarred upon him even more than
〃barge〃 had done。
〃I beg your pardon；〃 said Lady Agatha； 〃but what IS the Jasper B。； Mr。
Cleggett？〃
〃The Jasper B。 is a schooner；〃 said Cleggett。 He tried to say it casually；
but he was conscious as he spoke that there was a trace of hurt surprise in
his voice。 The most generous and chivalrous soul alive； Cleggett would
have gone to the stake for Lady Agatha； and yet so unaccountable is that
vain thing； the human soul （especially at breakfast time）； that he felt angry
at her for misunderstanding the Jasper B。
〃You aren't going to be horrid about it； are you？〃 she said。 〃Because；
you know； I never said I knew anything about ships。〃
She picked up the little dog and stood it on the table； making the
animal extend its paws as if pleading。 〃Help me to beg Mr。 Cleggett's
pardon；〃 she said； 〃he's going to be cross with us about his old boat。〃
If Lady Agatha had been just an inch taller or just a few pounds
heavier the playful mood itself would have jarred upon the fastidious
Cleggett； indeed； as she was； if she had been just a thought more playful； it
would have jarred。 But Lady Agatha； it has been remarked before； never
went too far in any direction。
Even as she smiled and held out the dog's paws Cleggett was aware of
something in her eyes that was certainly not a tear； but was just as
certainly a film of moisture that might be a tear in another minute。 Then
Cleggett cursed himself inwardly for a bruteit rushed over him how
difficult to Lady Agatha her position on board the Jasper B。 must seem。
She must regard herself as practically a pensioner on his bounty。 And he
had been churl enough to show a spark of temperand that； too； after she
had repeatedly expressed her gratitude to him。
〃I am deeply sorry； Lady Agatha；〃 he began； blushing painfully； 〃if
〃
〃Silly！〃 She interrupted him by reaching across the table and laying a
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forgiving hand upon his arm。 〃Don't be so stiff and formal。 Eat your egg
before it gets cold and don't say another work。 Of course I know you're
not REALLY going to be cross。〃 And she attacked her breakfast； giving
him such a look that he forthwith forgave himself and forgot that he had
had anything to forgive in her。
〃There's going to be a frightful racket around here today；〃 he said
presently。 〃Maybe you'd like to get away from it for a while。 How'd
you like to go for a row？〃
〃I'd love it！〃 she said。
〃George will be glad to take you； I'm sure。〃
〃George？ And you？〃 He thought he detected a note of
disappointment in her voice； he had not thought to disappoint her； but
when he found her disappointed he got a certain thrill out of it。
〃I am going over to Morris's this morning；〃 he said。
〃To Morris's？ Alone？〃
〃Why； yes。〃
〃Butbut isn't it dangerous？〃
Cleggett smiled and shrugged his shoulders。
〃Promise me that you will not go over there alone；〃 she demanded。
〃I am sorry。 I cannot。〃
〃But it is rashit is mad！〃
〃There is no real danger。〃
〃Then I am going with you。〃
〃I think that would hardly be advisable。〃
〃I'm going with you；〃 she repeated； rising with determination。
〃But you're not；〃 said Cleggett。 〃I couldn't think of allowing it。〃
〃Then there IS danger；〃 she said。
He tried to evade the point。 〃I shouldn't have mentioned it；〃 he
murmured。
She ran into the stateroom and was back in an instant with her hat；
which she pinned on as she spoke。
〃I'm ready to start；〃 she said。
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〃But you're not going。〃
〃After what you've done for me I insist upon my right to share
whatever danger there may be。〃 She spoke heatedly。
In her heat and impulsiveness and generous bravery Cleggett thought
her adorable； although he began to get really angry with her； too。 At the
same time he was aware that her gratitude to him was such that she was on
fire to give him some positive and early proof of it。 It had not so much as
occurred to her to enjoy immunity on account of her sex； it had not entered
her mind； apparently； that her sex was an obstacle in the way of
participating in whatever dangerous enterprise he had planned。 She was；
in fact； behaving like a chivalric but obstinate boy； she had not been a
militant suffragette for nothing。 And yet； somehow； this attitude only
served to enhance her essential femininity。 Nevertheless； Cleggett was
inflexible。
〃You would scarcely forbid me to go to Morris's today； or anywhere
else I may choose；〃 she said hotly； with a spot of red on either cheek bone；
and a dangerous dilatation of her eyes。
〃That is exactly what I intend to do；〃 said Cleggett； with an intensity
equal to her own； 〃FORBID you。〃
〃You are curiously presumptuous；〃 she said。
It was a real quarrel before they were done with it； will opposed to
naked will。 And oddly enough Cleggett found his admiration grow as his
determination to gain his point increased。 For she fought fair； disdaining
the facile weapon of tears； and when she yielded she did it suddenly and
merrily。
〃You've the temper of a sultan； Mr。 Cleggett；〃 she said with a laugh；
which was her signal of capitulation。 And then she added maliciously：
〃You've a devil of a temperfor a little man！〃
〃Little！〃 Cleggett felt the blood rush into his face again and was
vexed at himself。 〃I'm taller than you are！〃 he cried； and the next instant
could have bitten his tongue off for the childish vanity of the speech。
〃You're not！〃 she cried； her whole face alive with laughter。 〃Measure
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and see！〃
And pulling off her hat she caught up a table knife and made him stand
with his back to hers。 〃You're cheating；〃 said Cleggett； laughing now in
spite of himself； as she laid the knife across their heads。 But his voice
broke and trembled on the next words； for he was suddenly thrilled with
her delicious nearness。 〃You're standing on your tiptoes； and your hair's
piled on top of your head。〃
〃Maybe you are an inch taller；〃 she admitted； with mock reluctance。
And then she said； with a ripple of mirth： 〃You are taller than I amI
give up； I won't go to Morris's。〃
Cleggett； to tell the truth； was a bit relieved at the measurement。 He
was of the middle height； she was slightly taller than the average woman；
he had really thought she might prove taller than he。 He could scarcely
have told why he considered the point important。
But after the quarrel she looked at Cleggett with a new and more
approving gaze。 Neither of them quite realized it； but she had challenged
his ability to dominate her； and she had been worsted； he had
unconsciously met and satisfied in her that subtle inherent craving for
domination which all women possess and so few will admit the possession
of。
Cleggett started across the sands toward Morris's with an automatic
pistol slung in a shoulder holster under his left arm and a sword cane in his
hand。 He paused a moment by the scene of the explosion of the night
before； but daylight told him nothing that lantern light had failed to reveal。
He had no very definite plan； although he thought it possible that he might
gain some information。 The more he reflected on the attitude of Morris's；
the more it irritated him； and he yearned to make this irritation known。
Perhaps there was more than a little of the spirit of bravado in the call
he proposed to pay。 He planned； the next day； to sail the Jasper B。 out
into the bay and up and down the coast for a few miles； to give himself
and his men a bit of practice in navigation before setting out for the China
Seas。 And he could not bear to think that the hostile denizens of Morris's
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should think that he had moved the Jasper B。 from her position through
any fear of them。 He reasoned that the most pointed way of showing his
opinion of them would be to walk casually into Morris's barroom and
order a drink or two。 If Cleggett had a fault as a commander it lay in
these occasional foolhardy impulses which he found it difficult to control。
