active service-第31章

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l　muffled　in　the　rug　before　she　could　protest；　even　if　a　protest　had　been　rational。　The　young　man　had　no　idea　of　defending　Coleman。　He　had　no　knowledge　of　the　necessity　for　it。　It　had　been　merely　the　exercise　of　his　habit　of　amiability；　his　chronic　desire　to　see　everybody　comfortable。　His　passion　in　this　direction　was　well　known　in　Washurst；　where　the　students　had　borrowed　a　phrase　from　the　photographers　in　order　to　describe　him　fully　in　a　nickname。　They　called　him　〃　Look…pleasant　Tounley。〃　This　did　not　in　any　way　antagonise　his　perfect　willingness　to　fight　on　occasions　with　a　singular　desperation；　which　usually　has　a　small　stool　in　every　mind　where　good　nature　has　a　throne。

〃　Oh；　thank　you　very　much；　Mr。　Tounley；〃　said　Nora　Black；　without　gratitude。　〃　Rufus　is　always　so　lax　in　these　matters。〃

〃I　don't　know　how　you　know　it；〃　said　Coleman　boldly；　and　he　looked　her　fearlessly　in　the　eye。　The　battle　had　begun。

〃　Oh；〃　responded　Nora；　airily；　〃　I　have　had　opportunity　enough　to　know　it；　I　should　think；　by　this　time。〃

〃　No；〃　said　Coleman；　〃　since　I　have　never　paid　you　particular　and　direct　attention；　you　cannot　possibly　know　what　I　am　lax　in　and　what　I　am　not　lax　in。　I　would　be　obliged　to　be　of　service　at　any　time；　Nora；　but　surely　you　do　not　consider　that　you　have　a　right　to　my　services　superior　to　any　other　right。〃

Nora　Black　simply　went　mad；　but　fortunately　part　of　her　madness　was　in　the　form　of　speechlessness。　Otherwise　there　might　have　been　heard　something　　approaching　to　billingsgate。

Marjory　and　Peter　Tounley　turned　first　hot　and　then　cold；　and　looked　as　if　they　wanted　to　fly　away；　and　even　Coke；　penned　helplessly　in　with　this　unpleasant　incident；　seemed　to　have　a　sudden　attack　of　distress。　The　only　frigid　person　was　Coleman。　He　had　made　his　declaration　of　independence；　and　he　saw　with　glee　that　the　victory　was　complete。　Nora　Black　might　storm　and　rage；　but　he　had　announced　his　position　in　an　unconventional　blunt　way　which　nobody　in　the　carriage　could　fail　to　understand。　He　felt　somewhat　like　smiling　with　confidence　and　defiance　in　Nora's　face；　but　he　still　had　the　fear　for　Marjory。

Unexpectedly；　the　fight　was　all　out　of　Nora　Black。　She　had　the　fury　of　a　woman　scorned；　but　evidently　she　had　perceived　that　all　was　over　and　lost。　The　remainder　of　her　wrath　dispensed　itself　in　glares　which　Coleman　withstood　with　great　composure。

A　strained　silence　fell　upon　the　group　which　lasted　until　they　arrived　at　the　little　port　of　Mesalonghi；　whence　they　were　to　take　ship　for　Patras。　Coleman　found　himself　wondering　why　he　had　not　gone　flatly　at　the　great　question　at　a　much　earlier　period；　indeed　at　the　first　moment　when　the　great　question　began　to　make　life　exciting　for　him。　He　thought　that　if　he　had　charged　Nora's　guns　in　the　beginning　they　would　have　turned　out　to　be　the　same　incapable　artillery。　Instead　of　that　he　had　run　away　and　continued　to　run　away　until　he　was　actually　cornered　and　made　to　fight；　and　his　easy　victory　had　defined　him　as　a　person　who　had；　earlier；　indulged　in　much　stupidity　and　cowardice。　Everything　had　worked　out　so　simply；　his　terrors　had　been　dispelled　so　easily；　that　he　probably　was　led　to　overestimate　his　success。　And　it　occurred　suddenly　to　him。　He　foresaw　a　fine　occasion　to　talk　privately　to　Marjory　when　all　had　boarded　the　steamer　for　Patras　and　he　resolved　to　make　use　of　it。　This　he　believed　would　end　the　strife　and　conclusively　laurel　him。

The　train　finally　drew　up　on　a　little　stone　pier　and　some　boatmen　began　to　scream　like　gulls。　The　steamer　lay　at　anchor　in　the　placid　blue　cove。　The　embarkation　was　chaotic　in　the　Oriental　fashion　and　there　was　the　customary　misery　which　was　only　relieved　when　the　travellers　had　set　foot　on　the　deck　of　the　steamer。　Coleman　did　not　devote　any　premature　attention　to　finding　Marjory；　but　when　the　steamer　was　fairly　out　on　the　calm　waters　of　the　Gulf　of　Corinth；　he　saw　her　pacing　to　and　fro　with　Peter　Tounley。　At　first　he　lurked　in　the　distance　waiting　for　an　opportunity；　but　ultimately　he　decided　to　make　his　own　opportunity。　He　approached　them。　〃Marjory；would　you　let　me　speak　to　you　alone　for　a　few　moments？　You　won't　mind；　will　you；　Peter？　〃

〃　Oh；　no；　certainly　not；〃　said　Peter　Tounley。

〃Of　course。　It　is　not　some　dreadful　revelation；　is　it？　〃　said　Marjory；　bantering　him　coolly。

〃　No；〃　answered　Coleman；　abstractedly。　He　was　thinking　of　what　he　was　going　to　say。　Peter　Tounley　vanished　around　the　corner　of　a　deck…house　and　Marjory　and　Coleman　began　to　pace　to　and　fro　even　as　Marjory　and　Peter　Tounley　had　done。　Coleman　had　thought　to　speak　his　mind　frankly　and　once　for　all；　and　on　the　train　he　had　invented　many　clear　expressions　of　his　feeling。　It　did　not　appear　that　he　had　forgotten　them。　It　seemed；　more；　that　they　had　become　entangled　in　his　mind　in　such　a　way　that　he　could　not　unravel　the　end　of　his　discourse。

In　the　pause；　Marjory　began　to　speak　in　admiration　of　the　scenery。　〃　I　never　imagined　that　Greece　was　so　full　of　mountains。　One　reads　so　much　of　the　Attic　Plains；　but　aren't　these　mountains　royal？　They　look　so　rugged　and　cold；　whereas　the　bay　is　absolutely　as　blue　as　the　old　descriptions　of　a　summer　sea。〃

〃　I　wanted　to　speak　to　you　about　Nora　Black；〃　said　Coleman。

〃Nora　Black？　Why？〃　said　Marjory；　lifting　her　eye…　brows。

You　know　well　enough；〃　said　Coleman；　in　a　head。　long　fashion。　〃　You　must　know；　you　must　have　seen　it。　She　knows　I　care　for　you　and　she　wants　to　stop　it。　And　she　has　no　right　to…to　interfere。　She　is　a　fiend；　a　perfect　fiend。　She　is　trying　to　make　you　feel　that　I　care　for　her。〃

〃　And　don't　you　care　for　her　？　〃　asked　Marjory。

〃No；〃　said　Coleman；　vehemently。　〃　I　don't　care　for　her　at　all。〃

〃　Very　well；〃　answered　Marjory；　simply。　〃　I　believe　you。〃　She　managed　to　give　the　words　the　effect　of　a　mere　announcement　that　she　believed　him　and　it　was　in　no　way　plain　that　she　was　glad　or　that　she　esteemed　the　matter　as　being　of　consequence。

He　scowled　at　her　in　dark　resentment。　〃　You　mean　by　that；　I　suppose；　that　you　don't　believe　me　？　〃

〃　Oh；〃　answered　Marjory；　wearily；　〃　I　believe　you。　I　said　so。　Don't　talk　about　it　any　more。〃

〃Then；〃　said　Coleman；　slowly；　〃　you　mean　that　you　do　not　care　whether　I'm　telling　the　truth　or　not？〃

〃　Why；　of　course　I　care；〃　she　said。　〃　Lying　is　not　nice。〃

He　did　not　know；　apparently；　exactly　how　to　deal　with　her　manner；　which　was　actually　so　pliable　that…it　was　marble；　if　one　may　speak　in　that　way。　He　looked　ruefully　at　the　sea。　He　had　expected　a　far　easier　time。　〃　Well…〃　he　began。

〃　Really；〃　interrupted　Marjory；　〃　this　is　something　which　I　do　not　care　to　discuss。　I　would　rather　you　would　not　speak　to　me　at　all　about　it。　It　seems　too　…too…bad。　I　can　readily　give　you　my　word　that　I　believe　you；　but　I　would　prefer　you　not　to　try　to　talk　to　me　about　it　or…anything　of　that　sort。　Mother！〃

Mrs。　Wainwright　was　hovering　anxiously　in　the　vicinity；　and　she　now　bore　down　rapidly　upon　the　pair。　〃You　are　very　nearly　to　Patras；〃　she　said　　reproachfully　to　her　daughter；　as　if　the　fact　had　some　fault　of　Marjory's　concealed　in　it。　She　in　no　way　ac…　knowledged　the　presence　of　Coleman。

〃　Oh；　are　we　？　〃　cried　Marjory。

〃Yes；〃　said　Mrs。　Wainwright。　〃　We　are。〃

She　stood　waiting　as　if　she　expected　Marjory　to　in…　stantly　quit　Coleman。　The　girl　wavered　a　moment　and　then　followed　her　mother。　〃　Good…bye。〃　she　said。　〃I　hope　we　may　see　you　again　in　Athens。〃　It　was　a　command　to　him　to　travel　alone　with　his　servant　on　the　long　railway　journey　from　Patras　to　Athens。　It　was　a　dismissal　of　a　casual　acquaintance　given　so　graciously　that　it　stung　him　to　the　depths　of　his　pride。　He　bowed　his　adieu　and　his　thanks。　When　the　yelling　boatmen　came　again；　he　and　his　man　proceeded　to　the　shore　in　an　early　boat　without　looking　in　any　way　after　the　welfare　of　the　others。

At　the　train；　the　party　split　into　three　sections。　Coleman　and　his　man　had　one　compartment；　Nora　Black　and　her　squad　had　another；　and　the　Wainwrights　and　students　occupied　two　more。

The　little　officer　was　still　in　tow　of　Nora　Black。　He　was　very　enthusiastic。　In　French　she　directed　him　to　remain　silent；　but　he　did　not　appear　to　understand。　〃　You　tell　him；〃　she　then　said　to　her　dragoman；　〃　to　sit　in　a　corner　and　not　to　speak　until　I　tell　him　to；　or　I　won't　have　him　in　here。〃　She　seemed　anxious　to　unburden　herself　to　the　old　lady　companion。　〃　Do　you　know；〃　she　said；　〃　that　girl　has　a　nerve　like　steel。　I　tried　to　break　it　there　in　that　inn；　but　I　couldn't　budge　her。　If　I　am　going　to　have　her　beaten　I　must　prove　myself　to　be　a　very；　very　artful　person。〃

〃　Why　did　you　try　to　break　her　nerve　？　〃　asked　the　old　lady；　yawning。　〃Why　do　you　want　to　have　her　beaten　？　〃

〃　Because　I　do；　old　stupid；〃　answered　Nora。　〃　You　should　have　heard　the　things　I　said　to　her。〃

〃About　what？〃

〃　About　Coleman。　Can't　you　understand　anything　at　all？〃

〃　And　why　should　you　say　anything　about　Coleman　to　her？〃　queried　the　old　lady；　still　hopelessly　befogged。

〃　Because；〃　cried　Nora；　darting　a　look　of　wrath　at　her　companion；　〃　I　want　to　prevent　that　marriage。〃　She　had　been　betrayed　into　this　avowal　by　the　singularly　opaque　mind　of　the　old　lady。　The　latter　at　once　sat　erect。　…　〃　Oh；　ho；〃　she　said；　as　if　a　ray　of　light　had　been　let　into　her　head。　〃　Oh；　ho。　So　that's　it；　is　it　？　〃

〃Yes；　that's　it；　rejoined　Nora；　shortly。

The　old　lady　was　amazed　into　a　long　period　of　meditation。　At　last　she　spoke　depressingly。　〃　Well；　how　are　you　going　to　prevent　it？　Those　things　can't　be　done　in　these　days　at　all。　If　they　care　for　each　other…〃

Nora　burst　out　furiously。　〃Don't　venture　opinions　until　you　know　what　you　are　talking　about；　please。　They　don't　care　for　each　other；　do　you　see？　She　cares　for　him；　but　he　don't　give　a　snap　of　his　fingers　for　her。〃

〃　But；〃　cried　the　bewildered　lady；　〃　if　he　don't　care　for　her；　there　will　be　nothing　to　prevent。　If　he　don't　care　for　her；　he　won't　ask　her　to　marry　him；　and　so　there　won't　be　anything　to　prevent。〃

Nora　made　a　broad　gesture　of　impatience。　〃　Oh；　can't　you　get　anything　through　your　head　？　Haven't　you　seen　that　the　girl　has　been　the　only　young　woman　in　that　whole　party　lost　up　there　in　the　mountains；　and　that　naturally　more　than　half　of　the　men　still　think　they　are　in　love　with　her？　That's　what　it　is。　Can't　you　see　？　It　always　happens　that　way。　Then　Coleman　comes　along　and　makes　a　fool　of　himself　with　the　others。〃

The　old　lady　spoke　up　brightly　as　if　at　last　feeling　able　to　contribute　something　intelligent　to　the　talk。　〃　Oh；　then；　he　does　care　for　her。〃

Nora's　eyes　looked　as　if　their　glance　might　shrivel　the　old　lady's　hair。　〃Don't　I　keep　telling　you　that　it　is　no　such　thing　？　Can't　you　understand？　It　is　all　glamour！　Fascination！　Way　up　there　in　the　wilderness！　Only　one　even　passable　woman　in　sight。〃

〃　I　don't　say　that　I　am　so　very　keen；〃　said　the　old　lady；　somewhat　offended；　〃but　I　fail　to　see　where　I　could　improve　when　first　you　tell　me　he　don't　care　for　her；　and　then　you　tell　me　that　he　does　care　for　her。〃

〃　Glamour；'　'　Fascination；'〃　quoted　Nora。　〃　Don't　you　understand　the　meaning　of　the　words　？　〃

〃　Well；〃　asked　the　other；　didn't　he　know　her；　then；　before　he　came　over　here　？〃

Nora　was　silent　for　a　time；　while　a　gloom　upon　her　face　deepened。　It　had　struck　her　that　the　theories　for　which　she　protested　so　en