to him that hath-第2章

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〃This　is　the　most　cheering　thing　I've　seen　for　many　moons；　Adrien。
Eh；　what？　　Oh；　I　beg　pardon；　are　you　seedy？〃　he　added　glancing　at
her。　　〃Oh；　certainly；　I'll　come　at　once。〃

〃Not　at　all。　　Don't　think　of　it。　　I　have　a　call　to　make　on　my　way
home。　　Please　don't　come。〃

〃But；　Adrien；　I　say；　this　will　be　over　now　in　a　few　minutes。　　Can't
you　really　wait？〃

〃No；　I　am　not　in　the　least　interested　in　thisthis　kind　of
tennis；〃　she　said　in　a　bored　voice。

Her　tone；　pitched　rather　higher　than　usual；　carried　to　the　ears　of
the　players　who　were　changing　ends　at　the　moment。　　Both　of　the　men
glanced　at　her。　　Stillwell's　face　showed　swift　gratitude。　　On
Jack's　face　the　shadow　darkened　but　except　for　a　slight
straightening　of　the　line　of　his　lips　he　gave　no　sign。

〃You　are　quite　sure　you　don't　care？〃　said　Sidney。　　〃You　don't　want
me？　　This　really　is　great；　you　know。〃

〃Not　for　worlds　would　I　drag　you　away；〃　said　Adrien　in　a　cool；
clear　voice。　　〃Frances　will　keep　you　company。〃　　She　turned　to　her
friend。　　〃Look　after　him；　Frances；〃　she　said。　　〃Good…bye。　　Dinner
at　seven　to…night；　you　know。〃

〃Right…o！〃　said　Sidney；　raising　his　hat　in　farewell。　　〃By　Jove；　I
wouldn't　miss　this　for　millions；〃　he　continued；　making　room　for
Frances　beside　him。　　〃Your　young　friend　is　really　somewhat　violent
in　his　style；　eh；　what？〃

〃There　are　times　when　violence　is　the　only　possible　thing；〃　replied
Frances　grimly。

〃By　the　way；　who　is　the　victim？　　I　mean；　what　is　he　exactly？〃

〃Mr。　Stillwell？　　Oh；　he　is　the　son　of　his　father；　the　biggest
merchant　in　Blackwater。　　Oh；　lovely！　　Beautiful　return！　　Jack　is
simply　away　above　his　form！　　And　something　of　a　merchant　and
financier　on　his　own　account；　to　be　quite　fair。　　Making　money　fast
and　using　it　wisely。　　But　I'm　not　going　to　talk　about　him。　　You　see
a　lot　of　him　about　the　Rectory；　don't　you？〃

〃Well；　something；〃　replied　Sidney。　　〃I　can't　quite　understand　the
situation；　I　confess。　　To　be　quite　frank；　I　don't　cotton　much　to
him。　　A　bit　sweetish；　eh；　what？〃

〃Yes；　at　the　Rectory　doubtless。　　I　would　hardly　attribute　to　him　a
sweet　disposition。　　Oh；　quit　talking　about　him。　　He　had　flat　feet
in　the　war；　I　think　it　was。　　Jack's　twin　brother　was　killed；　you
knowand　minewell；　you　know　how　mine　is。〃

A　swift　vision　of　a　bright…faced；　cheery…voiced　soldier；　feeling
his　way　around　a　darkened　room　in　the　Amory　home；　leaped　to
Sidney's　mind　and　overwhelmed　him　with　pity　and　self…reproach。

〃Dear　Miss　Frances；　will　you　forgive　me？　　I　hadn't　quite　got　on　to
the　thing。　　I　understand　the　game　better　now。〃

〃Now；　I　don't　want　to　poison　your　mind。　　I　shouldn't　have　said
thatabout　the　flat　feet；　I　mean。　　He　goes　to　the　Rectory；　you
know。　　I　want　to　be　fair〃

〃Please　don't　worry。　　We　know　all　about　that　sort　at　home；〃　said
Sidney；　touching　her　hand　for　a　moment。　　〃My　word；　that　was　a　hot
one！　　The　flat…footed　Johnnie　is　obviously　bewildered。　　The　last
game　was　sheer　massacre；　eh；　what？〃

If　Maitland　was　not　in　form　there　was　no　sign　of　it　in　his　work　on
the　court。　　There　was　little　of　courtesy；　less　of　fun　and　nothing
at　all　of　mercy　in　his　play。　　From　first　to　last　and　without
reprieve　he　drove　his　game　ruthlessly　to　a　finish。　　So　terrific；　so
resistless　were　his　attacks；　so　coldly　relentless　the　spirit　he
showed；　ignoring　utterly　all　attempts　at　friendly　exchange　of
courtesy；　that　the　unhappy　and　enraged　Stillwell；　becoming　utterly
demoralized；　lost　his　nerve；　lost　his　control　and　hopelessly　lost
every　chance　he　ever　possessed　of　winning　a　single　game　of　the　set
which　closed　with　the　score　six　to　nothing。

At　the　conclusion　of　the　set　Stillwell；　with　no　pretense　of
explanation　or　apology；　left　the　courts　to　his　enemy　who　stood
waiting　his　appearance　in　a　silence　so　oppressive　that　it　seemed
to　rest　like　a　pall　upon　the　side　lines。　　So　overwhelming　was
Stillwell's　defeat；　so　humiliating　his　exhibition　of　total　collapse
of　morale　that　the　company　received　the　result　with　but　slight
manifestation　of　feeling。　　Without　any　show　of　sympathy　even　his
friends　slipped　away；　as　if　unwilling　to　add　to　his　humiliation　by
their　commiseration。　　On　the　other　side；　the　congratulations
offered　Maitland　were　for　the　most　part　lacking　in　the　spontaneity
that　is　supposed　to　be　proper　to　such　a　smashing　victory。　　Some　of
his　friends　seemed　to　feel　as　if　they　had　been　called　upon　to
witness　an　unworthy　thing。　　Not　so；　however；　with　either　Frances
Amory　or　Sidney　Templeton。　　Both　greeted　Captain　Jack　with
enthusiasm　and　warmth；　openly　and　freely　rejoicing　in　his　victory。

〃By　Jove；　Maitland；　that　was　tremendous；　appalling；　eh；　what？〃

〃I　meant　it　to　be　so；〃　said　Maitland　grimly；　〃else　I　should　not
have　played　with　him。〃

〃It　was　coming　to　him；〃　said　Frances。　　〃I　am　simply　completely
delighted。〃

〃Can　I　give　you　a　lift　home；　Frances？〃　said　Maitland。　　〃Let　us　get
away。　　You；　too；　Templeton；〃　he　added　to　Sidney；　who　was　lingering
near　the　young　lady　in　obvious　unwillingness　to　leave　her　side。

〃Oh；　thanks！　　Sure　you　have　room？〃　he　said。　　〃All　right。　　You　know
my　cousin　left　me　in　your　care。〃

〃Oh；　indeed！　　Well；　come　along　then；　since　our　hero　is　so　good。
Really；　I　am　uplifted　to　quite　an　unusual　height　of　glorious
exultation。〃

〃Don't　rub　it　in；　Frank；〃　said　Jack　gloomily。　　〃I　made　an　ass　of
myself；　I　know　quite　well。〃

〃What　rot；　Jack。　　Every　one　of　your　friends　was　tickled　to　death。〃

〃Adrien；　for　instance；　eh？〃　said　Jack　with　a　bitter　little　laugh；
taking　his　place　at　the　wheel。

〃Oh；　Adrien！〃　replied　Frances。　　〃Well；　you　know　Adrien！　　She　is
just　Adrien。〃

As　he　turned　into　the　street　there　was　a　sound　of　rushing　feet。

〃Hello；　Captain　Jack！　　Oh；　Captain　Jack！　　Wait　for　me！　　You　have
room；　haven't　you？〃

A　whirlwind　of　flashing　legs　and　windblown　masses　of　gold…red　hair；
which　realised　itself　into　a　young　girl　of　about　sixteen；　bore　down
on　the　car。　　It　was　Adrien's　younger　sister；　Patricia；　and　at　once
her　pride　and　her　terror。

〃Why；　Patsy；　where　on　earth　did　you　come　from？　　Of　course！　　Get　in！
Glad　to　have　you；　old　chap。〃

〃Oh；　Captain　Jack；　what　a　game！　　What　a　wonderful　game！　　And　Rupert
has　been　playing　all　summer　and　awfully　well！　　And　you　have　hardly
played　a　game！　　I　was　awfully　pleased〃

〃Were　you？　　I'm　not　sure　that　I　was；〃　replied　Captain　Jack。

〃Well；　you　WERE　savage；　you　know。　　You　looked　as　if　you　were　in　a
fight。〃

〃Did　I？　　That　was　very　rotten　of　me；　wasn't　it？〃

〃Oh；　I　don't　know　exactly。　　But　it　was　a　wonderful　game。　　Of
course；　one　doesn't　play　tennis　like　a　fight；　I　suppose。〃

〃No！　　You　are　quite　right；　Pat；〃　replied　Captain　Jack。　　〃You　see；
I'm　afraid　I　lost　my　temper　a　bit；　which　is　horribly　bad　form　I
know；　andwell；　I　wanted　to　fight　rather　than　play；　and　of　course
one　couldn't　fight　on　the　tennis　court　in　the　presence　of　a　lot　of
ladies；　you　see。〃

〃Well；　I'm　glad　you　didn't　fight；　Captain　Jack。　　You　have　had
enough　of　fighting；　haven't　you？　　And　Rupert　is　really　very　nice；
you　know。　　He　has　a　wonderful　car　and　he　lets　me　drive　it；　and　he
always　brings　a　box　of　chocolates　every　time　he　comes。〃

〃He　must　be　perfectly　lovely；〃　said　Captain　Jack；　with　a　grin　at
her。

The　girl　laughed　a　laugh　of　such　infectious　jollity　that　Captain
Jack　was　forced　to　join　with　her。

〃That's　one　for　you；　Captain　Jack；〃　she　cried。　　〃I　know　I　am　a　pig
where　chocs　are　concerned；　and　I　do　love　to　drive　a　car。　　But；
really；　Rupert　is　quite　nice。　　He　is　so　funny。　　He　makes　Mamma
laugh。　　Though　he　does　tease　me　a　lot。〃

Captain　Jack　drove　on　in　silence　for　some　moments。

〃I　was　glad　to　see　you　playing　though　to…day；　Captain　Jack。〃

〃Where　were　you？　　I　didn't　see　you　anywhere。〃

〃Not　likely！〃　　She　glanced　behind　her　at　the　others　in　the　back
seat。　　She　need　not　have　given　them　a　thought；　they　were　too　deeply
engrossed　to　heed　her。　　〃Do　you　know　where　I　was？　　In　the　crutch　of
the　big　elmyou　know！〃

〃Don't　I！〃　said　Captain　Jack。　　〃A　splendid　seat；　but〃

〃Wouldn't　Adrien　be　shocked？〃　said　the　girl；　with　a　deliciously
mischievous　twinkle　in　her　eye。　　〃Or；　at　least；　she　would　pretend
to　be。　　Adrien　thinks　she　must　train　me　down　a　bit；　you　know。　　She
says　I　have　most　awful　manners。　　She　wants　Mamma　to　send　me　over　to
England　to　her　school。　　But　I　don't　want　to　go；　you　bet。　　Besides；
I　don't　think　Dad　can　afford　it　so　they　can't　send　me。　　Anyway；　I
could　have　good　manners　if　I　wanted　to。　　I　could　act　just　like
Adrien　if　I　wanted　toI　mean；　for　a　while。　　But　that　was　a　real
game。　　I　felt　sorry　for　Rupert；　a　little。　　You　see；　he　didn't　seem
to　know　what　to　do　or　how　to　begin。　　And　you　looked　so　terrible！
Now　in　the　game　with　Cousin　Sidney　you　were　so　different；　and　you
played　so　awfully　well；　too；　but　differently。　　Somehow；　it　was　just
like　gentlemen　playing；　you　know〃

〃You　have　hit　it；　Patsy；a　regular　bull！〃　said　Captain　Jack。

〃Oh；　I　don't　mean〃　began　the　girl　in　confusion；　rare　with　her。

〃Yes；　you　do；　Pat。　　Stick　to　your　guns。〃

〃Well；　I　will。　　The　first　game　everybody　loved　to　watch。　　The
second　gamesomehow　it　made　me　wish　Rupert　had　been　a　Hun。　　I'd
have　loved　it　then。〃

〃By　Jove；　Patsy；　you're　right　on　the　target。　　You've　scored　again。〃

〃Oh；　I'm　not　saying　just　what　I　wantbut　I　hope　you　know　what　I
mean。〃

〃Your　meaning　hits　me　right　in　the　eye。　　And　you　are　quite　right。
The　tennis　court　is　no　place　for　a　fight；　eh？　　And；　after　all；
Rupert　Stillwell　is　no　Hun。〃

〃But　you　haven't　been　playing　this　summer　at　all；　Captain　Jack；〃
said　the　girl；　changing　the　subject。　　〃Why　not？〃　　The　girl's　tone
was　quite　severe。　　〃And　you　don't　do　a　lot　of　things　you　used　to
do；　and　you　don't　go　to　places；　and　you　are　different。〃　　The　blue
eyes　earnestly　searched　his　face。

〃Am　I　different？〃　he　asked　slowly。　　〃Well；　everybody　is　different。
And　then；　you　know；　I　am　busy。　　A　business　man　has　his　hours　and　he
must　stick　to　them。〃

〃Oh；　I　don't　believe　you　a　bit。　　You　don't　need　to　be　down　at　the
mills　all　the　time。　　Look　at　Rupert。　　He　doesn't　need　to　be　at　his
father's　office。〃

〃Apparently　not。〃

〃He　gets　off　whenever　he　wants　to。〃

〃Looks　like　it。〃

〃And　why　can't　you？〃

〃Well；　you　see；　I　am　not　Rupert；〃　said　Captain　Jack；　grinning　at
her。

〃Now　you　are　horrible。　　Why　don't　you　do　as　you　used　to　do？　　You
know　you　could　if　you　wanted　to。〃

〃Yes；　I　suppose；　if　I　wanted　to；〃　said　Captain　Jack；　suddenly
grave。

〃You　don't　want　to；〃　said　the　girl；　quick　to　catch　his　mood。

〃Well；　you　know；　Patsy　dear；　things　are　different；　and　I　suppose　I
am　too。　　I　don't　care　much　for　a　lot　of　things。〃

〃You　just　look　as　if　you　didn't　care　for　anything　or　anybody
sometimes；　Captain　Jack；〃　said　Patricia　quietly。　　Then　after　a　few
moments　she　burst　forth：　　〃Oh；　don't　you　remember　your　hockey　team？
Oh！　oh！　oh！　　I　used　to　sit　and　just　hold　my　heart　from　jumping。　　It
nearly　used　to　choke　me　when　you　would　tear　down　the　ice　with　the
puck。〃

〃That　was　long　ago；　Pat　dear。　　I　guess　I　wasahvery　young　then；
eh？〃

〃Yes；　I　know；〃　nodded　the　girl。　　〃I　feel　the　same　wayI　was　just　a
kid　then。〃

〃Ah；　yes；〃　said　Captain　Jack；　with　never　a　smile。　　〃You　were　just
let's　seetwelve；　was　it？〃

〃Yes；　twelve。　　And　I　felt　just　a　kid。〃

〃And　now？〃　　Captain　Jack's　voice　was　quite　grave。