active service-第23章

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udent。　If　I　had　found　him　in　the　wrong　it　would　have　been　simpler　than　finding　him　in　the　right。　Confound　that　rascal　of　a　Coke。〃　Then；　as　he　began　a　partial　disrobing；　he　treated　them　to　grunted　scrap　of　information。　　〃　Coke　was　quite　insane　*　*　*　I　feared　that　I　couldn't　control　him　*　*　*　Coleman　was　like　ice　*　*　*　and　as　much　as　I　have　seen　to　admire　in　him　during　the　last　few　days；　this　quiet　beat　it　all。　If　he　had　not　recognised　my　helplessness　as　far　as　he　was　concerned　the　whole　thing　might　have　been　a　most　miserable　business。　He　is　a　very　fine　young　man。〃　The　dissenting　voice　to　this　last　tribute　was　the　voice　of　Mrs。　Wainwright。　She　said：　〃　Well；　Coleman　drinks；　too…everybody　knows　that。〃

〃　I　know；〃　responded　the　professor；　rather　bashfully；　but　I　am　confident　that　he　had　not　touched　a　drop。〃　Marjory　said　nothing。

The　earlier　artillery　battles　had　frightened　most　of　the　furniture　out　of　the　houses　of　Arta；　and　there　was　left　in　this　room　only　a　few　old　red　cushions；　and　the　Wainwrights　were　camping　upon　the　floor。　Marjory　was　enwrapped　in　Coleman's　macintosh；　and　while　the　professor　and　his　wife　maintained　some　low　talk　of　the　recent　incident　she　in　silence　had　turned　her　cheek　into　the　yellow　velvet　collar　of　the　coat。　She　felt　something　against　her　bosom；　and　putting　her　hand　carefully　into　the　top　pocket　of　the　coat　she　found　three　cigars。　These　she　took　in　the　darkness　and　laid　aside；　telling　herself　to　remember　their　position　in　the　morning。　She　had　no　doubt　that　Coleman：　would　rejoice　over　them；　before　he　could　get　back　to；　Athens　where　there　were　other　good　cigars。





CHAPTER　XVIII。

THE　ladies　of　the　Wainwright　party　had　not　complained　at　all　when　deprived　of　even　such　civilised　advantages　as　a　shelter　and　a　knife　and　fork　and　soap　and　water；　but　Mrs。　Wainwright　complained　bitterly　amid　the　half…civilisation　of　Arta。　She　could　see　here　no　excuse　for　the　absence　of　several　hundred　things　which　she　had　always　regarded　as　essential　to　life。　She　began　at　8。30　A。　M。　to　make　both　the　professor　and　Marjory　woeful　with　an　endless　dissertation　upon　the　beds　in　the　hotel　at　Athens。　Of　course　she　had　not　regarded　them　at　the　time　as　being　exceptional　beds　*　*　*　that　was　quite　true；　*　*　*　but　then　one　really　never　knew　what　one　was　really　missing　until　one　really　missed　it　*　*　*　She　would　never　have　thought　that　she　would　come　to　consider　those　Athenian　beds　as　excellent　*　*　*　but　experience　is　a　great　teacher　*　*　*　makes…　one　reflect　upon　the　people　who　year　in　and　year　out　have　no　beds　at　all；　poor　things。　*　*　*　Well；　it　made　one　glad　if　one　did　have　a　good　bed；　even　if　it　was　at　the　time　on　the　other　side　of　the　world。　If　she　ever　reached　it　she　did　not　know　what　could　ever　induce　her　to　leave　it　again。　*　*　*　She　would　never　be　induced…

〃'Induced！'〃　snarled　the　professor。　The　word　represented　to　him　a　practiced　feminine　misusage　of　truth；　and　at　such　his　white　warlock　always　arose。　〃〃　Induced！'　Out　of　four　American　women　I　have　seen　lately；　you　seem　to　be　the　only　one　who　would　say　that　you　had　endured　this　thing　because　you　had　been　'induced'　by　others　to　come　over　here。　How　absurd！〃

Mrs。　Wainwright　fixed　her　husband　with　a　steely　eye。　She　saw　opportunity　for　a　shattering　retort。　〃　You　don't　mean；　Harrison；　to　include　Marjory　and　I　in　the　same　breath　with　those　two　women？　〃

The　professor　saw　no　danger　ahead　for　himself。　He　merely　answered：　〃　I　had　no　thought　either　way。　It　did　not　seem　important。〃

〃　Well；　it　is　important；〃　snapped　Mrs。　Wainwright。

〃　Do　you　know　that　you　are　speaking　in　the　same　breath　of　Marjory　and　Nora　Black；　the　actress？　〃

〃　No；〃　said　the　professor。　〃　Is　that　so　？　〃　He　was　astonished；　but　he　was　not　aghast　at　all。　〃Do　you　mean　to　say　that　is　Nora　Black；　the　comic　opera　star　？　〃

〃　That's　exactly　who　she　is；〃　said　Mrs。　Wainwright；　dramatically。　〃　And　I　consider　that…I　consider　that　Rufus　Coleman　has　done　no　less　than…misled　us。〃

This　last　declaration　seemed　to　have　no　effect　upon　the　professor's　pure　astonishment；　but　Marjory　looked　at　her　mother　suddenly。　However；　she　said　no　word；　exhibiting　again　that　strange　and；　inscrutable　countenance　which　masked　even　the　tiniest　of　her　maidenly　emotions。

Mrs。　Wainwright　was　triumphant；　and　she　immediately　set　about　celebrating　her　victory。　〃　Men　never　see　those　things；〃　she　said　to　her　husband。　〃　Men　never　see　those　things。　You　would　have　gone　on　forever　without　finding　out　that　your…your…　hospitality　was；　being　abused　by　that　Rufus　Coleman。〃

The　professor　woke　up。〃　Hospitality　？〃　he　said；　indignantly。　〃　Hospitality　？　I　have　not　had　any　hospitality　to　be　abused。　Why　don't　you　talk　sense？　It　is　not　that；　but…it　might…〃　He　hesitated　and　then　spoke　slowly。　〃　It　might　be　very　awkward。　Of　course　one　never　knows　anything　definite　about　such　people；　but　I　suppose　*　*　*　Anyhow；　it　was　strange　in　Coleman　to　allow　her　to　meet　us。　〃

〃It　Was　all　a　pre…arranged　plan；〃　announced　the　　triumphant　Mrs。　Wainwright。　〃　She　came　here　on　putpose　　to　meet　Rufus　Coleman；　and　he　knew　it；　and　I　should　not　wonder　if　they　had　not　the　exact　spot　picked　out　where　　they　were　going　to　meet。〃

〃I　can　hardly　believe　that；〃　said　the　professor；　in　distress。　　〃I　can；　hardly　believe　that。　It　does；　not　seem　to　me　that　　Coleman〃

〃　Oh　yes。　Your　dear　Rufus　Coleman；〃　cried　Mrs。　Wainwright。　〃　You　think　he　is　very　fine　now。　But　　I　can　remember　when　you　didn't　think…〃

And　the　parents　turned　together　an　abashed　look　at　their　daughter。　The　professor　actually　flushed　with　shame。　It　seemed　to　him　that　he　had　just　committed　an　atrocity　upon　the　heart　of　his　child。　The　instinct　of　each　of　them　was　to　go　to　her　and　console　her　in　their　arms。　She　noted　it　immediately；　and　seemed　to　fear　it。　She　spoke　in　a　clear　and　even　voice。　　〃　I　don't　think；　father；　that　you　should　distress　me　by　supposing　that　I　am　concerned　at　all　if　Mr。　Coleman　cares　to　get　Nora　Black　over　here。〃

〃　Not　at　all；〃　stuttered　the　professor。　〃　I…〃

Mrs。　Wainwright's　consternation　turned　suddenly　to；　anger。　〃　He　is　a　scapegrace。　A　rascal。　A　a〃

〃　Oh；〃　said　Marjory；　coolly；　〃　I　don't　see　why　it　isn't　his　own　affair。　He　didn't　really　present　her　to　you；　mother；　you　remember？　She　seemed　quite　to　force　her　way　at　first；　and　then　you…you　did　the　rest。　It　should　be　very　easy　to　avoid　her；　now　that　we　are　out　of　the　wilderness。　And　then　it　becomes　a　private　matter　of　Mr。　Coleman's。　For　my　part；　I　rather　liked　her。　I　don't　see　such　a　dreadful　calamity。〃

〃Marjory！〃　screamed　her　mother。　〃How　dreadful。　Liked　her！　Don't　let　me　hear　you　say　such　shocking　things。〃

〃　I　fail　to　see　anything　shocking；〃　answered　Marjory；　stolidly。

The　professor　was　looking　helplessly　from　his　　　　　daughter　to　his　wife；　and　from　his　wife　to　his　daughter；　like　a　man　who　was　convinced　that　his　troubles　would　never　end。　This　new　catastrophe　created　a　different　kind　of　difficulty；　but　he　considered　that　the　difficulties　were　as　robust　as　had　been　the　preceding　ones。　He　put　on　his　hat　and　went　out　of　the　room。　He　felt　an　impossibility　of　saying　anything　to　　Coleman；　but　he　felt　that　he　must　look　upon　him。　He　must　look　upon　this　man　and　try　to　know　from　his　manner　the　measure　of　guilt。　And　incidentally　he　longed　for　the　machinery　of　a　finished　society　which　prevents　its　parts　from　clashing；　prevents　it　with　its　great　series　of　I　law　upon　law；　easily　operative　but　　relentless。　Here　he　felt　as　a　man　flung　into　the　jungle　with　his　wife　and　daughter；　where　they　could　become　the　victims　of　any　sort　of　savagery。　His　thought　referred　once　more　to　what　he　considered　the　invaluable　services　of　Coleman；　and　as　he　observed　them　in　conjunction　with　the　present　accusation；　he　was　simply　dazed。　It　was　then　possible　that　one　man　could　play　two　such　divergent　parts。　He　had　not　learned　this　at　Washurst。　But　no；　the　world　was　not　such　a　bed　of　putrefaction。　He　would　not　believe　it；　he　would　not　believe　it。

After　adventures　which　require　great　nervous　en。　durance；　it　is　only　upon　the　second　or　third　night　that　the　common　man　sleeps　hard。　The　students　had　expected　to　slumber　like　dogs　on　the　first　night　after　their　trials。　but　none　slept　long；　And　few　slept。

Coleman　was　the　first　man　to　arise。　When　he　left　the　room　the　students　were　just　beginning　to　blink。　He　took　his　dragoman　among　the　shops　and　he　bought　there　all　the　little　odds　and　ends　which　might　go　to　make　up　the　best　breakfast　in　Arta。　If　he　had　had　news　of　certain　talk　he　probably　would　not　have　been　buying　breakfast　for　eleven　people。　Instead；　he　would　have　been　buying　breakfast　for　one。　During　his　absence　the　students　arose　and　performed　their　frugal　toilets。　Considerable　attention　was　paid　to　Coke　by　the　others。　〃　He　made　a　monkey　of　you；〃　said　Peter　Tounley　with　unction。　〃　He　twisted　you　until　you　looked　like　a　wet；　grey　rag。　You　had　　better　leave　this　wise　guy　alone。〃

It　was　not　the　night　nor　was　it　meditation　that　had　taught　Coke　anything；　but　he　seemed　to　have　learned　something　from　the　mere　lapse　of　time。　In　appearance　he　was　subdued；　but　he　managed　to　make　a　temporary　jauntiness　as　he　said　：　〃　Oh；　I　don't　know。〃

〃　Well；　you　ought　to　know；〃　said　he　who　was　called　Billie。　〃You　ought　to　know。　You　made　an　egregious　snark　of　yourself。　Indeed；　you　sometimes　resembled　a　boojum。　Anyhow；　you　were　a　plain　chump。　You　exploded　your　face　about　something　of　which　you　knew　nothing；　and　I'm　damned　if　I　believe　you'd　make　even　a　good　retriever。〃

〃You're　a　half…bred　water…spaniel；〃　blurted　Peter　Tounley。　〃And；〃　he　added；　musingly；　〃that　is　a　pretty　low　animal。〃

Coke　was　argumentative。　〃Why　am　I？　〃　he　asked；　turning　his　head　from　side　to　side。　〃　I　don't　see　where　I　was　so　wrong。〃

〃　Oh；　dances；　balloons；　picnics；　parades　and　ascensions；〃　they　retorted；　profanely。　〃　You　swam　voluntarily　into　water　that　was　too　deep　for　you。　Swim　out。　Get　dry。　Here's　a　towel。〃

Coke；　smitten　in　the　face　with　a　wet　cloth　rolled　into　a　ball；　grabbed　it　and　flung　it　futilely　at　a　well…dodging　companion　〃　No；〃　he　cried；　〃　I　don't　see　it。　Now　look　here。　I　don't　see　why　we　shouldn't　all　resent　this　Nora　Black　business。〃

One　student　said：　〃Well；　what's　the　matter　with　Nora　B　lack；　anyhow　？〃

Another　student　said　〃I　don't　see　how　you've　been　issued　any　license　to　say　things　about　Nora　Black。〃

Another　student　said　dubiously：　〃　Well；　he　knows　her　well。〃

And　then　three　or　four　spoke　at　once。　〃　He　was　very　badly　rattled　when　she　appeared　upon　the　scene。〃

Peter　Tounley　asked：　〃Well；　which　of　you　people　know　anything　wrong　about　Nora　Black？　〃

There　was　a　pause；　and　then　Coke　said：　〃　Oh；　of　course…I　don't　know…but…〃

He　who　was　called　Billie　then　addressed　his　com…　panions。　〃　It　wouldn't　be　right　to　repeat　any　old　lie　about　Nora　Black；　and　by　the　same　token　it　wouldn't　be　right　to　see　old　Mother　Wainwright　chummin'　with　her。　There　is　no　wisdom　in　going　further　than　that。　Old　Mother　Wainwright　don't　know　that　her　fair　companion　of　yesterday　is　the　famous　comic　opera　star。　For　my　part；　I　believe　that　Coleman　is　simply　afraid　to　tell　her。　I　don't　think　he　wished　to　see　Nora　Black　yesterday　any　more　than　he　wished　to　see　the　devil。　The　discussion；　as　I　understand　itconcerned　itself　only　with　what　Coleman　had　to　do　with　the　thing；　and　yesterday　anybody　could　see　that　he　was　in　a　panic。〃

They　heard　a　s