active service-第25章

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Nora　laughed　again。　〃　Why；　you're　a　regular　little　kid。　Do　you　mean　to　say　you've　come　out　here　sulking　alone　because　of　some　nursery　quarrel？　〃　He　was　ruffled　by　her　manner。　It　did　not　contain　the　cheering　he　required。　〃　Oh；　I　don't　know　that　I'm　such　a　regular　little　kid；〃　he　said；　sullenly。　〃　The　quarrel　was　not　a　nursery　quarrel。〃

〃Why　don't　you　challenge　him　to　a　duel？　〃　asked　Nora；　suddenly。　She　was　watching　him　closely。

〃　Who？〃　said　Coke。

〃　Coleman；　you　stupid；〃　answered　Nora。

They　stared　at　each　other；　Coke　paying　her　first　the　tribute　of　astonishment　and　then　the　tribute　of　admiration。　〃Why；　how　did　you　guess　that？〃　he　demanded。

〃　Oh；〃　said　Nora。；　〃　I've　known　Rufus　Coleman　for　years；　and　he　is　always　rowing　with　people。〃

〃That　is　just　it；〃　cried　Coke　eagerly。　〃That　is　just　it。　I　fairly　hate　the　man。　Almost　all　of　the　other　fellows　　will　stand　his　abuse；　but　it　riles　me；　I　tell　you。　I　think　he　is　a　beast。　And；　of　course；　if　you　seriously　meant　what　you　said　about　challenging　him　to　a　duelI　mean　if　there　is　any　sense　in　that　sort　of　thing…I　would　challenge　Coleman。　I　swear　I　would。　I　think　he's　a　great　bluffer；　anyhow。　Shouldn't　wonder　if　he　would　back　out。　Really；　I　shouldn't。

Nora　smiled　humourously　at　a　house　on　her　side　of　the　narrow　way。　〃I　wouldn't　wonder　if　he　did　either　〃　she　answered。　After　a　time　she　said　〃　Well；　do　you　mean　to　say　that　you　have　definitely　shaken　them？　Aren't　you　going　back　to　Athens　with　them　or　anything？　〃

〃　I…I　don't　see　how　I　can；〃　he　said；　morosely。

〃　Oh；〃　she　said。　She　reflected　for　a　time。　At　last　she　turned　to　him　archly　and　asked：　〃Some　words　over　a　lady？〃

Coke　looked　at　her　blankly。　He　suddenly　remembered　the　horrible　facts。　〃　No…no…not　over　a　lady。〃

〃　My　dear　boy；　you　are　a　liar；〃　said　Nora；　freely。　〃You　are　a　little　unskilful　liar。　It　was　some　words　over　a　lady；　and　the　lady's　name　is　Marjory　Wainwright。〃

Coke　felt　as　though　he　had　suddenly　been　let　out　of　a　cell；　but　he　continued　a　mechanical　denial。　〃No；　no　*　*　It　wasn't　truly　*　*　upon　my　word　*　*　〃

〃Nonsense；〃　said　Nora。　〃　I　know　better。　Don't　you　think　you　can　fool　me；　you　little　cub。　I　know　you're　in　love　with　Marjory　Wainwright；　and　you　think　Coleman　is　your　rival。　What　a　blockhead　you　are。　Can't　you　understand　that　people　see　these　things？〃

〃　Well…〃　stammered　Coke。

〃Nonsense；〃　said　Nora　again。　〃Don't　try　to　fool　me；　you　may　as　well　understand　that　it's　useless。　I　am　too　wise。〃

〃　Well…〃　stammered　Coke。

〃　Go　ahead；〃　urged　Nora。　〃　Tell　me　about　it。　Have　it　out。〃

He　began　with　great　importance　and　solemnity。　〃Now；　to　tell　you　the　truth　*　*　that　is　why　I　hate　him　*　*　I　hate　him　like　anything。　*　*　I　can't　see　why　everybody　admires　him　so。　I　don't　see　anything　to　him　myself。　I　don't　believe　he's　got　any　more　principle　than　a　wolf。　I　wouldn't　trust　him　with　two　dollars。　Why；　I　know　stories　about　him　that　would　make　your　hair　curl。　When　I　think　of　a　girl　like　Marjory　〃

His　speech　had　become　a　torrent。　But　here　Nora　raised　her　hand。　〃　Oh！　Oh！　Oh！　That　will　do。　That　will　do。　Don't　lose　your　senses。　I　don't　see　why　this　girl　Marjory　is　any　too　good。　She　is　no　chicken；　I'll　bet。　Don't　let　yourself　get　fooled　with　that　sort　of　thing。〃

Coke　was　unaware　of　his　incautious　expressions。　He　floundered　on。　while　Nora　looked　at　him　as　if　she　wanted　to　wring　his　neck。　〃　No…she's　too　fine　and　too　good…for　him　or　anybody　like　him…she's　too　fine　and　too　good…〃

〃　Aw；　rats；〃　interrupted　Nora；　furiously。　〃You　make　me　tired。〃

Coke　had　a　wooden…headed　conviction　that　he　must　make　Nora　understand　Marjory's　infinite　superiority　to　all　others　of　her　sex；　and　so　he　passed　into　a　　pariegyric；　each　word　of　which　was　a　hot　coal　to　the　girl　addressed。　Nothing　would　stop　him；　apparently。　He　even　made　the　most　stupid　repetitions。　Nora　finally　stamped　her　foot　formidably。　〃Will　you　stop？　Will　you　stop　？　〃　she　said　through　her　clenched　teeth。　〃　Do　you　think　I　want　to　listen　to　your　everlasting　twaddle　about　her？　Why；　she's…she's　no　better　than　other　people；　you　ignorant　little　mamma's　boy。　She's　no　better　than　other　people；　you　swab！　〃

Coke　looked　at　her　with　the　eyes　of　a　fish。　He　did　not　understand。　〃But　she　is　better　than　other　people；〃　he　persisted。

Nora　seemed　to　decide　suddenly　that　there　would　be　no　accomplishment　in　flying　desperately　against　this　rock…walled　conviction。　〃　Oh；　well；〃　she　said；　with　marvellous　good　nature；　〃　perhaps　you　are　right；　numbskull。　But；　look　here；　do　you　think　she　cares　for　him？〃　

In　his　heart；　his　jealous　heart；　he　believed　that　Marjory　loved　Coleman；　but　he　reiterated　eternally　to　himself　that　it　was　not　true。　As　for　speaking　it　to；　another；　that　was　out　of　the　question。　〃　No；〃　he　said；　stoutly；　〃　she　doesn't　care　a　snap　for　him。〃　If　he　had　admitted　it；　it　would　have　seemed　to　him　that。　he　was　somehow　advancing　Coleman's　chances。

〃'Oh；　she　doesn't；　eh　？〃　said　Nora　enigmatically。

〃She　doesn't？〃　He　studied　her　face　with　an　abrupt；　miserable　suspicion；　but　he　repeated　doggedly：　〃　No；　she　doesn't。〃

〃Ahem；〃　replied　Nora。　〃　Why；　she's　set　her　cap　for　him　all　right。　She's　after　him　for　certain。　It's　as　plain　as　day。　Can't　you　see　that；　stupidity　？〃

〃No；〃　he　said　hoarsely。

〃You　are　a　fool；〃　said　Nora。　〃　It　isn't　Coleman　that's　after　her。　It　is　she　that　is　after　Coleman。〃

Coke　was　mulish。　〃　No　such　thing。　Coleman's　crazy　about　her。　Everybody　has　known　it　ever　since　he　was　in　college。　You　ask　any　of　the　other　fellows。〃

Nora　was　now　very　serious；　almost　doleful。　She　remained　still　for　a　time；　casting　at　Coke　little　glances　of　hatred。　〃　I　don't　see　my　way　clear　to　ask　any　of　the　other　fellows；〃　she　said　at　last；　with　considerable　bitterness。　〃　I'm　not　in　the　habit　of　conducting　such　enquiries。〃

Coke　felt　now　that　he　disliked　her；　and　he　read　plainly　her　dislike　of　him。　If　they　were　the　two　villains　of　the　play；　they　were　not　having　fun　together　at　all。　　Each　had　some　kind　of　a　deep　knowledge　that　their　aspirations；　far　from　colliding；　were　of　such　character　　that　the　success　of　one　would　mean　at　least　assistance　to　the　other；　but　neither　could　see　how　to　confess　if。　Pethapt　it　was　from　shame；　perhaps　it　was　because　Nora　thought　Coke　to　have　little　wit　；　perhaps　it　was　because　Coke　thought　Nora　to　have　little　conscience。　Their　talk　was　mainly　rudderless。　From　time　to　time　Nora　had　an　inspiration　to　come　boldly　at　the　point；　but　this　inspiration　was　commonly　defeated　by；　some　extraordinary　manifestation　of　Coke's　incapacity。　To　her　mind；　then；　it　seemed　like　a　proposition　to　ally　herself　to　a　butcher…boy　in　a　matter　purely　sentimental。　She　Wondered　indignantly　　how　she　was　going　to　conspire　With　this　lad；　who　puffed　out　his　infantile　cheeks　in　order　to　conceitedly　demonstrate　that　he　did　not　understand　the　game　at　all。　She　hated　Marjory　for　it。　Evidently　it　was　only　the　weaklings　who　fell　in　love　with　that　girl。　Coleman　was　an　exception；　but　then；　Coleman　was　misled；　by　extraordinary　artifices。　She　meditatecf　for　a　moment　if　she　should　tell　Coke　to　go　home　and　not　bother　her。　What　at　last　decided　the　question　was　his　unhappiness。　Shd　clung　to　this　unhappiness　for　its　value　as　it　stood　alone；　and　because　its　reason　for　existence　was　related　　to　her　own　unhappiness。　〃　You　Say　you　are　not　going　back　toAthens　with　your　party。　I　don't　suppose　you're　going　to　stay　here。　　I'm　going　back　to　Athens　to…day。　I　came　up　here　to　see　a　battle；　but　it　doesn't　seem　that　there　are　to　be　any　more　battles。；　The　fighting　will　now　all　be　on　the　other　side　of'the　mountains。〃　Apparent　she　had　learned　in　some　haphazard　way　that　the　Greek　　peninsula　was　divided　by　a　spine　of　almost　inaccessible　mountains；　and　the　war　was　thus　split　into　two　　simultaneous　campaigns。　The　Arta　campaign　was　known　to　be　ended。　〃If　you　want　to　go　back　to　Athens　without　consorting　with　your　friends；　you　had　better　go　back　with　me。　I　can　take　you　in　my　carriage　as　far　as　the　beginning　of　the　railroad。　Don't　you　worry。　You've　got　money　enough；　haven't　you　？　The　pro…　fessor　isn't　keeping　your　money　？〃

〃Yes；〃　he　said　slowly；　〃I've　got　money　enough。〃　He　was　apparently　dubious　over　the　proposal。　In　their　abstracted　walk　they　had　arrived　in　front　of　the　house　occupied　by　Coleman　and　the　Wainwright　party。　Two　carriages；　forlorn　in　dusty　age；　stood　be…　fore　the　door。　Men　were　carrying　out　new　leather　luggage　and　flinging　it　into　the　traps　amid　a　great　deal　of　talk　which　seemed　to　refer　to　nothing。　Nora　and　Coke　stood　looking　at　the　scene　without　either　thinking　of　the　importance　of　running　away；　when　out　tumbled　seven　students；　followed　immediately　but　in　more　decorous　fashion　by　the　Wainwrights　and　Coleman。

Some　student　set　up　a　whoop。　〃　Oh；　there　he　is。　There's　Coke。　Hey；　Coke；　where　you　been？　　Here　he　is；　professor。〃　For　a　moment　after　the　hoodlum　had　subsided；　the　two　camps　stared　at　each　other　in　silence。





CHAPTER　XX。


NORA　and　Coke　were　an　odd　looking　pair　at　the　time。　They　stood　indeed　as　if　rooted　to　the　spot；　staring　vacuously；　like　two　villagers；　at　the　surprising　travellers。　It　was　not　an　eternity　before　the　practiced　girl　of　the　stage　recovered　her　poise；　but　to　the　end　of　the　incident　the　green　youth　looked　like　a　culprit　and　a　fool。　Mrs。　Wainwright's　glower　of　offensive　　incredulity　was　a　masterpiece。　Marjory　nodded　　pleasantly；　the　professor　nodded。　The　seven　students　clambered　boisterously　into　the　forward　carriage　making　it　clang　with　noise　like　a　rook's　nest。　They　shouted　to　Coke。　〃　Come　on；　all　aboard；　come　on；　Coke；　…　we're　off。　Hey；　there；　Cokey；　hurry　up。〃　The　professor；　as　soon　as　he　had　seated　himself　on　the　forward　seat　of'　the　second　carriage；　turned　in　Coke's　general　direction　and　asked　formally：　〃　Mr。　Coke；　you　are　coming　with　us　？　〃　He　felt　seemingly　much　in　doubt　as　to　the　propriety　of　abandoning　the　headstrong　young　man；　and　this　doubt　was　not　at　all　decreased　by　Coke's　appearance　with　Nora　Black。　As　far　as　he　could　tell；　any　assertion　of　authority　on　his　part　would　end　only　in　a　scene　in　which　Coke　would　probably　insult　him　with　some　gross　violation　of　collegiate　conduct。　As　at　first　the　young　man　made　no　reply；　the　professor　after　waiting　spoke　again。　〃You　understand；　Mr。　Coke；　that　if　you　separate　yourself　from　the　party　you　encounter　my　strongest　disapproval；　and　if　I　did　not　feel　responsible　to　the　college　and　your　father　for　your　safe　journey　to　New　York　I…I　don't　know　but　what　I　would　have　you　ex…　pelled　by　cable　if　that　were　possible。〃

Although　Coke　had　been　silent；　and　Nora　Black　had　had　the　appearance　of　being　silent；　in　reality　she　had　lowered　her　chin　and　whispered　sideways　and　swiftly。　She　had　said：　〃　Now；　here's　your　time。　Decide　quickly；　and　don't　look　such　a　wooden　Indian。〃　Coke　pulled　himself　together　with　a　visible　effort；　and　spoke　to　the　professor　from　an　inspiration　in　which　he　had　no　faith。　〃　I　understand　my　duties　to　you；　sir；　perfectly。　I　also　understand　my　duty　to　the　college。　But　I　fail　to　see　where　either　of　these　　obligations　require　me　to　accept　the　introduction　of　　objectionable　people　into　the　party。　If　I　owe　a　duty　to　the　college　and　to　you；　I　don't　owe　any　to　Coleman；　and；　as　I　understand　it；　Coleman　was　not　in　the　original　plan　of　this　expedition。　If　such　had　been　the　case；　I　would　not　have　been　here。　I　can't　tell　what　the　college　may　s