the lion and the unicorn-第16章

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York；〃　he　said。　　〃I　have　a　letter　to　you　from　your　ambassador　at
Washington。　　If　you'll　pardon　me；　I'll　present　it　in　person。　　I
had　meant　to　leave　it；　but　seeing　you〃　　He　paused；　and　gave　the
letter　in　his　hand　to　Sir　Charles；　who　waved　him　towards　his
library。

Sir　Charles　scowled　at　the　letter　through　his　monocle；　and　then
shook　hands　with　his　visitor。　　〃I　am　very　glad　to　see　you；　Mr。
Collier；〃　he　said。　　〃He　says　here　you　are　preparing　a　book　on　our
colonies　in　the　West　Indies。〃　　He　tapped　the　letter　with　his
monocle。　　〃I　am　sure　I　shall　be　most　happy　to　assist　you　with　any
information　in　my　power。〃

〃Well；　I　am　writing　a　bookyes；〃　Mr。　Collier　observed；
doubtfully；　〃but　it's　a　logbook。　　This　trip　I　am　on　pleasure
bent；　and　I　also　wish　to　consult　with　you　on　a　personal　matter。　
However；　that　can　wait。〃　　He　glanced　out　of　the　windows　to　where
the　launch　lay　in　the　sun。　　〃My　wife　came　ashore　with　me；　Sir
Charles；〃　he　said；　〃so　that　in　case　there　was　a　Lady　Greville；
Mrs。　Collier　could　call　on　her；　and　we　could　ask　if　you　would
waive　etiquette　and　do　us　the　honor　to　dine　with　us　to…night　on
the　yachtthat　is；　if　you　are　not　engaged。〃

Sir　Charles　smiled。　　〃There　is　no　Lady　Greville；〃　he　said；　〃and　I
personally　do　not　think　I　am　engaged　elsewhere。〃　　He　paused　in
thought；　as　though　to　make　quite　sure　he　was　not。　　〃No；〃　he
added；　〃I　have　no　other　engagement。　　I　will　come　with　pleasure。〃

Sir　Charles　rose　and　clapped　his　hands　for　the　orderly。　
〃Possibly　the　ladies　will　come　up　to　the　veranda？〃　he　asked。　　〃I
cannot　allow　them　to　remain　at　the　end　of　my　wharf。〃　　He　turned；
and　gave　directions　to　the　orderly　to　bring　limes　and　bottles　of
soda　and　ice；　and　led　the　way　across　the　lawn。

Mrs。　Collier　and　her　friend　had　not　explored　the　grounds　of
Government　House　for　over　ten　minutes　before　Sir　Charles　felt
that　many　years　ago　he　had　personally　arranged　their　visit；　that
he　had　known　them　for　even　a　longer　time；　and　that；　now　that　they
had　finally　arrived；　they　must　never　depart。

To　them　there　was　apparently　nothing　on　his　domain　which　did　not
thrill　with　delightful　interest。　　They　were　as　eager　as　two
children　at　a　pantomime；　and　as　unconscious。　　As　a　rule；　Sir
Charles　had　found　it　rather　difficult　to　meet　the　women　of　his
colony　on　a　path　which　they　were　capable　of　treading
intelligently。　　In　fairness　to　them；　he　had　always　sought　out
some　topic　in　which　they　could　take　an　equal　partsomething
connected　with　the　conduct　of　children；　or　the　better　ventilation
of　the　new　school…house　and　chapel。　　But　these　new…comers　did　not
require　him　to　select　topics　of　conversation；　they　did　not　even
wait　for　him　to　finish　those　which　he　himself　introduced。　　They
flitted　from　one　end　of　the　garden　to　the　other　with　the
eagerness　of　two　midshipmen　on　shore　leave；　and　they　found
something　to　enjoy　in　what　seemed　to　the　Governor　the　most
commonplace　of　things。　　The　Zouave　uniform　of　the　sentry；　the　old
Spanish　cannon　converted　into　peaceful　gate…posts；　the　aviary
with　its　screaming　paroquets；　the　botanical　station；　and　even　the
ice…machine　were　all　objects　of　delight。

On　the　other　hand；　the　interior　of　the　famous　palace；　which　had
been　sent　out　complete　from　London；　and　which　was　wont　to　fill
the　wives　of　the　colonials　with　awe　or　to　reduce　them　to
whispers；　for　some　reason　failed　of　its　effect。　　But　they　said
they　〃loved〃　the　large　gold　V。　R。's　on　the　back　of　the
Councillors'　chairs；　and　they　exclaimed　aloud　over　the　red
leather　despatch…boxes　and　the　great　seal　of　the　colony；　and　the
mysterious　envelopes　marked　〃On　her　Majesty's　service。〃

〃Isn't　it　too　exciting；　Florence？〃　demanded　Mrs。　Collier。　　〃This
is　the　table　where　Sir　Charles　sits　and　writes　letters'　on　her
Majesty's　service；'　and　presses　these　buttons；　and　war…ships
spring　up　in　perfect　shoals。　　Oh；　Robert；〃　she　sighed；　〃I　do　wish
you　had　been　a　Governor！〃

The　young　lady　called　Florence　stood　looking　down　into　the　great
arm…chair　in　front　of　the　Governor's　table。

〃May　I？〃　she　asked。　　She　slid　fearlessly　in　between　the　oak　arms
of　the　chair　and　smiled　about　her。　　Afterwards　Sir　Charles
remembered　her　as　she　appeared　at　that　moment　with　the　red
leather　of　the　chair　behind　her；　with　her　gloved　hands　resting　on
the　carved　oak；　and　her　head　on　one　side；　smiling　up　at　him。　　She
gazed　with　large　eyes　at　the　blue　linen　envelopes；　the　stiff
documents　in　red　tape；　the　tray　of　black　sand；　and　the　goose…
quill　pens。

〃I　am　now　the　Countess　Zika；〃　she　announced；　〃no；　I　am　Diana　of
the　Crossways；　and　I　mean　to　discover　a　state　secret　and　sell　it
to　the　Daily　Telegraph。　　Sir　Charles；〃　she　demanded；　〃if　I
press　this　electric　button　is　war　declared　anywhere；　or　what
happens？〃

〃That　second　button；〃　said　Sir　Charles；　after　deliberate
scrutiny；　〃is　the　one　which　communicates　with　the　pantry。〃

The　Governor　would　not　consider　their　returning　to　the　yacht　for
luncheon。

〃You　might　decide　to　steam　away　as　suddenly　as　you　came；〃　he
said；　gallantly；　〃and　I　cannot　take　that　chance。　　This　is
Bachelor's　Hall；　so　you　must　pardon　my　people　if　things　do　not　go
very　smoothly。〃　　He　himself　led　them　to　the　great　guest…chamber；
where　there　had　not　been　a　guest　for　many　years；　and　he　noticed；
as　though　for　the　first　time；　that　the　halls　through　which　they
passed　were　bare；　and　that　the　floor　was　littered　with　unpacked
boxes　and　gun…cases。　　He　also　observed　for　the　first　time　that
maps　of　the　colony；　with　the　coffee…plantations　and　mahogany　belt
marked　in　different　inks；　were　not　perhaps　so　decorative　as
pictures　and　mirrors　and　family　portraits。　　And　he　could　have
wished　that　the　native　servants　had　not　stared　so　admiringly　at
the　guests；　nor　directed　each　other　in　such　aggressive　whispers。　
On　those　other　occasions；　when　the　wives　of　the　Councillors　came
to　the　semi…annual　dinners；　the　native　servants　had　seemed
adequate　to　all　that　was　required　of　them。　　He　recollected　with　a
flush　that　in　the　town　these　semi…annual　dinners　were　described
as　banquets。　　He　wondered　if　to　these　visitors　from　the
outside　world　it　was　all　equally　provincial。

But　their　enjoyment　was　apparently　unfeigned　and　generous。　　It
was　evident　that　they　had　known　each　other　for　many　years；　yet
they　received　every　remark　that　any　of　them　made　as　though　it　had
been　pronounced　by　a　new　and　interesting　acquaintance。　　Sir
Charles　found　it　rather　difficult　to　keep　up　with　the　talk　across
the　table；　they　changed　the　subject　so　rapidly；　and　they　half
spoke　of　so　many　things　without　waiting　to　explain。　　He　could　not
at　once　grasp　the　fact　that　people　who　had　no　other　position　in
the　world　save　that　of　observers　were　speaking　so　authoritatively
of　public　men　and　public　measures。　　He　found；　to　his　delight；
that　for　the　first　time　in　several　years　he　was　not　presiding　at
his　own　table；　and　that　his　guests　seemed　to　feel　no　awe　of　him。

〃What's　the　use　of　a　yacht　nowadays？〃　Collier　was　saying〃
what's　the　use　of　a　yacht；　when　you　can　go　to　sleep　in　a　wagon…
lit　at　the　Gare　du　Nord；　and　wake　up　at　Vladivostok？　　And　look　at
the　time　it　saves；　eleven　days　to　Gib；　six　to　Port　Said；　and
fifteen　to　Colombothere　you　are；　only　half…way　around；　and
you're　already　sixteen　days　behind　the　man　in　the　wagon…lit。〃

〃But　nobody　wants　to　go　to　Vladivostok；〃　said　Miss　Cameron；　〃or
anywhere　else　in　a　wagon…lit。　　But　with　a　yacht　you　can　explore
out…of…the…way　places；　and　you　meet　new　and　interesting　people。　
We　wouldn't　have　met　Sir　Charles　if　we　had　waited　for　a　wagon…
lit。〃　　She　bowed　her　head　to　the　Governor；　and　he　smiled　with
gratitude。　　He　had　lost　Mr。　Collier　somewhere　in　the　Indian
Ocean；　and　he　was　glad　she　had　brought　them　back　to　the　Windless
Isles　once　more。

〃And　again　I　repeat　that　the　answer　to　that　is；　'Why　not？　said
the　March　Hare；'〃　remarked　Mr。　Collier；　determinedly。

The　answer；　as　an　answer；　did　not　strike　Sir　Charles　as　a　very
good　one。　　But　the　ladies　seemed　to　comprehend；　for　Miss　Cameron
said：　　〃Did　I　tell　you　about　meeting　him　at　Oxford　just　a　few
months　before　his　deathat　a　children's　tea…party？　　He　was　so
sweet　and　understanding　with　them！　　Two　women　tried　to　lionize
him；　and　he　ran　away　and　played　with　the　children。　　I　was
more　glad　to　meet　him　than　any　one　I　can　think　of。　　Not　as　a
personage；　you　know；　but　because　I　felt　grateful　to　him。〃

〃Yes；　that　way；　distinctly；〃　said　Mrs。　Collier。　　〃I　should　have
felt　that　way　towards　Mrs。　Ewing　more　than　any　one　else。〃

〃I　know；　'Jackanapes；'〃　remarked　Collier；　shortly；　〃a　brutal
assault　upon　the　feelings；　I　say。〃

〃Some　one　else　said　it　before　you；　Robert；〃　Mrs。　Collier
commented；　calmly。　　〃Perhaps　Sir　Charles　met　him　at　Apia。〃　　They
all　turned　and　looked　at　him。　　He　wished　he　could　say　he　had　met
him　at　Apia。　　He　did　not　quite　see　how　they　had　made　their　way
from　a　children's　tea　party　at　Oxford　to　the　South　Pacific
islands；　but　he　was　anxious　to　join　in　somewhere　with　a　clever
observation。　　But　they　never　seemed　to　settle　in　one　place
sufficiently　long　for　him　to　recollect　what　he　knew　of　it。　　He
hoped　they　would　get　around　to　the　west　coast　of　Africa　in　time。　
He　had　been　Governor　of　Sierra　Leone　for　five　years。

His　success　that　night　at　dinner　on　the　yacht　was　far　better。　
The　others　seemed　a　little　tired　after　the　hours　of　sight…seeing
to　which　he　had　treated　them；　and　they　were　content　to　listen。　
In　the　absence　of　Mr。　Clarges；　who　knew　them　word　by　word；　he
felt　free　to　tell　his　three　stories　of　life　at　Sierra　Leone。　　He
took　his　time　in　the　telling；　and　could　congratulate　himself　that
his　efforts　had　never　been　more　keenly　appreciated。　　He　felt　that
he　was　holding　his　own。

The　night　was　still　and　warm；　and　while　the　men　lingered　below　at
the　table；　the　two　women　mounted　to　the　deck　and　watched　the
lights　of　the　town　as　they　vanished　one　by　one　and　left　the　moon
in　unchallenged　possession　of　the　harbor。　　For　a　long　time　Miss
Cameron　stood　silent；　looking　out　across　the　bay　at　the　shore　and
the　hills　beyond。　　A　fish　splashed　near　them；　and　the　sound　of
oars　rose　from　the　mist　that　floated　above　the　water；　until　they
were　muffled　in　the　distance。　　The　palms　along　the　shore
glistened　like　silver；　and　overhead　the　Southern　Cross　shone
white　against　a　sky　of　purple。　　The　silence　deepened　and
continued　for　so　long　a　time　that　Mrs。　Collier　felt　its
significance；　and　waited　for　the　girl　to　end　it。

Miss　Cameron　raised　her　eyes　to　the　stars　and　frowned。　　〃I　am　not
surprised　that　he　is　content　to　stay　here；〃　she　said。　　〃Are　you？　
It　is　so　beautiful；　so　wonderfully　beautiful。〃

For　a　moment　Mrs。　Collier　made　no　answer。　　〃Two　years　is　a　long
time；　Florence；〃　she　said；　〃and　he　is　all　I　have；　he　is　not　only
my　only　brother；　he　is　the　only　living　soul　who　is　related　to　me。

That　makes　it　harder。〃

The　girl　seemed　to　find　some　implied　reproach　in　the　speech；　for
she　turned　and　looked　at　her　friend　closely。　　〃Do　you　feel　it　is
my　fault；　Alice？〃　she　asked。

The　older　woman　shook　her　head。　　〃How　could　it　be　your　fault？〃
she　answered。　　〃If　you　couldn't　love　him　enough　to　marry　him；　you
couldn't；　that's　all。　　But　that　is　no　reason　why　he　should　have
hidden　himself　from　all　of　us。　　Even　if　he　could　not　stand　being
near　you；　caring　as