active service-第32章

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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　energetically　might　not　be　of　such　great　value。　Spoken　aloud；　they　had　a　sudden　new　flimsiness。　Perhaps　she　had　reiterated　to　herself　that　Coleman　was　the　victim　of　glamour　only　because　she　wished　it　to　be　true。　One　theory；　however；　re…　mained　unshaken。　Marjory　was　an　artful　rninx；　with　no　truth　in　her。

She　presently　felt　the　necessity　of　replying　to　the　question　of　her　companion。　〃　Oh；〃　she　said；　care…　lessly；　〃　I　suppose　they　were　acquainted…in　a　way。〃

The　old　lady　was　giving　the　best　of　her　mind　to　the　subject。　〃　If　that's　the　case…〃　she　observed；　musingly；　〃　if　that's　the　case；　you　can't　tell　what　is　between　'em。〃

The　talk　had　so　slackened　that　Nora's　unfortunate　Greek　admirer　felt　that　here　was　a　good　opportunity　to　present　himself　again　to　the　notice　of　the　actress。　The　means　was　a　smile　and　a　French　sentence；　but　his　reception　would　have　frightened　a　man　in　armour。　His　face　blanched　with　horror　at　the　storm；　he　had　invoked；　and　he　dropped　limply　back　as　if　some　one　had　shot　him。　〃You　tell　this　little　snipe　to　let　me　alone！　〃　cried　Nora；　to　the　dragoman。　〃　If　he　dares　to　come　around　me　with　any　more　of　those　Parisian　dude　speeches；　I…I　don't　know　what　I'll　do！　I　won't　have　it；　I　say。〃　The　impression　upon　the　dragoman　was　hardly　less　in　effect。　He　looked　with　bulging　eyes　at　Nora；　and　then　began　to　stammer　at　the　officer。　The　latter's　voice　could　sometimes　be　heard　in　awed　whispers　for　the　more　elaborate　explanation　of　some　detail　of　the　tragedy。　Afterward；　he　remained　meek　and　silent　in　his　corner；　barely　more　than　a　shadow；　like　the　proverbial　husband　of　imperious　　beauty。

〃Well；〃　said　the　old　lady；　after　a　long　and　thoughtful　pause；　〃　I　don't　know；　I'm　sure；　but　it　seems　to　me　that　if　Rufus　Coleman　really　cares　for　that　girl；　there　isn't　much　use　in　trying　to　stop　him　from　getting　her。　He　isn't　that　kind　of　a　man。〃

〃　For　heaven's　sake；　will　you　stop　assuming　that　he　does　care　for　her　？　〃　demanded　Nora；　breathlessly。

〃And　I　don't　see；〃　continued　the　old　lady；　〃what　you　want　to　prevent　him　for；　anyhow。〃




CHAPTER　XXV。

〃　I　FEEL　in　this　radiant　atmosphere　that　there　could　be　no　such　thing　as　war…men　striving　together　in　black　and　passionate　hatred。〃　The　professor's　words　were　for　the　benefit　of　his　wife　and　daughter。　；He　was　viewing　the　sky…blue　waters　of　the　Gulf　of　Corinth　with　its　background　of　mountains　that　in　the　sunshine　were　touched　here　and　there　with　a　copperish　glare。　The　train　was　slowly　sweeping　along　the　southern　shore。　〃　It　is　strange　to　think　of　those　men　fighting　up　there　in　the　north。　And　it　is　strange　to　think　that　we　ourselves　are　but　just　returning　from　it。〃

〃　I　cannot　begin　to　realise　it　yet；〃　said　Mrs。　Wain…　wright；　in　a　high　voice。

〃　Quite　so；〃　responded　the　professor；　reflectively。

〃I　do　not　suppose　any　of　us　will　realise　it　fully　for　some　time。　It　is　altogether　too　odd；　too　very　odd。〃

〃To　think　of　it！〃　cried　Mrs。　WainWright。　〃To　think　of　it！　Supposing　those　dreadful　Albanians　or　those　awful　men　from　the　Greek　mountains　had　caught　us！　Why；　years　from　now　I'll　wake　up　in　the　night　and　think　of　it！　〃

The　professor　mused。　〃　Strange　that　we　cannot　feel　it　strongly　now。　My　logic　tells　me　to　be　aghast　that　we　ever　got　into　such　a　place；　but　my　nerves　at　present　refuse　to　thrill。　I　am　very　much　afraid　that　this　singular　apathy　of　ours　has　led　us　to　be　unjust　to　poor　Coleman。〃　Here　Mrs。　Wainwright　objected。　〃　Poor　Coleman！　I　don't　see　why　you　call　him　poor　Coleman。

〃　Well；〃　answered　the　professor；　slowly；　〃　I　am　in　doubt　about　our　behaviour。　It…〃

〃　Oh；〃　cried　the　wife；　gleefully；〃　in　doubt　about　our　behaviour！　I'm　in　doubt　about　his　behaviour。〃

〃　So；　then；　you　do　have　a　doubt。　of　his　behaviour？〃　〃　Oh；　no；〃　responded　Mrs。　Wainwright；　hastily；　〃　not　about　its　badness。　What　I　meant　to　say　was　that　in　the　face　of　his　outrageous　conduct　with　that…　that　woman；　it　is　curious　that　you　should　worry　about　our　behaviour。　It　surprises　me；　Harrison。〃

The　professor　was　wagging　his　head　sadly。　〃　I　don't　know　I　don't　know　It　seems　hard　to　judge　*　*　I　hesitate　to…〃

Mrs。　Wainwright　treated　this　attitude　with　disdain。　〃　It　is　not　hard　to　judge；〃　she　scoffed；　〃　and　I　fail　to　see　why　you　have　any　reason　for　hesitation　at　all。　Here　he　brings　this　woman　〃

The　professor　got　angry。　〃Nonsense！　Nonsense！　I　do　not　believe　that　he　brought　her。　If　I　ever　saw　a　spectacle　of　a　woman　bringing　herself；　it　was　then。　You　keep　chanting　that　thing　like　an　outright　parrot。〃

〃Well；〃　retorted　Mrs。　Wainwright；　bridling；　〃I　suppose　you　imagine　that　you　understand　such　things；　Men　usually　think　that；　but　I　want　to　tell　you　that　you　seem　to　me　utterly　blind。〃

〃　Blind　or　not；　do　stop　the　everlasting　reiteration　of　that　sentence。〃　

Mrs。　Wainwright　passed　into　an　offended　silence；　and　the　professor；　also　silent；　looked　with　a　gradually　dwindling　indignation　at　the　scenery。

Night　was　suggested　in　the　sky　before　the　train　was　near　to　Athens。　〃　My　trunks；〃　sighed　Mrs。　Wainwright。　〃　How　glad　I　will　be　to　get　back　to　my　trunks！　Oh；　the　dust！　Oh；　the　misery　！　Do　find　out　when　we　will　get　there；　Harrison。　Maybe　the　train　is　late。〃

But；　at　last；　they　arrived　in　Athens；　amid　a　darkness　which　was　confusing；　and；　after　no　more　than　the　common　amount　of　trouble；　they　procured　carriages　and　were　taken　to　the　hotel。　Mrs。　Wainwright's　impulses　now　dominated　the　others　in　the　family。　She　had　one　passion　after　another。　The　majority　of　the　servants　in　the　hotel　pretended　that　they　spoke　English；　but；　in　three　minutes；　she　drove　them　distracted　with　the　abundance　and　violence　of　her　requests。　　It　came　to　pass　that　in　the　excitement　the　old　couple　quite　forgot　Marjory。　It　was　not　until　Mrs。　Wainwright；　then　feeling　splendidly；　was　dressed　for　dinner；　that　she　thought　to　open　Marjory's　door　and　go　to　render　a　usual　motherly　supervision　of　the　girl's　toilet。

There　was　no　light：　there　did　not　seem　to　be　any…　body　in　the　room。　〃　Marjory　！　〃　called　the　mother；　in　alarm。　She　listened　for　a　moment　and　then　ran　hastily　out　again。　〃　Harrison　！　〃　she　cried。　〃　I　can't　find　Marjory！〃　The　professor　had　been　tying　his　cravat。　He　let　the　loose　ends　fly。　〃What？〃　he　ejaculated；　opening　his　mouth　wide。　Then　they　both　rushed　into　Marjory's　room。　〃Marjory！〃　beseeched　the　old　man　in　a　voice　which　would　have　invoked　the　grave。

The　answer　was　from　the　bed。　〃Yes？〃　It　was　low；　weary；　tearful。　It　was　not　like　Marjory。　It　was　dangerously　the　voice　of　a　hcart…broken　woman。　They　hurried　forward　with　outcries。　〃Why；　Marjory！　Are　you　ill；　child？　How　long　have　you　been　lying　in　the　dark？　Why　didn't　you　call　us？　Are　you　ill？〃

〃　No；〃　answered　this　changed　voice；　〃　I　am　not　ill。　I　only　thought　I'd　rest　for　a　time。　Don't　bother。〃

The　professor　hastily　lit　the　gas　and　then　father　and　mother　turned　hurriedly　to　the　bed。　In　the　first　of　the　illumination　they　saw　that　tears　were　flowing　unchecked　down　Marjory's　face。

The　effect。of　this　grief　upon　the　professor　was；　in　part；　an　effect　of　fear。　He　seemed　afraid　to　touch　it；　to　go　near　it。　He　could；　evidently；　only　remain　in　the　outskirts；　a　horrified　spectator。　The　mother；　how。　ever；　flung　her　arms　about　her　daughter。　〃　Oh；　Marjory！　〃　She；　too；　was　weeping。

The　girl　turned　her　face　to　the　pillow　and　held　out　a　hand　of　protest。　〃　Don't；　mother！　Don't　！〃

〃Oh；　Marjory！　Oh；　Marjory！〃

〃　Don't；　mother。　Please　go　away。　Please　go　away。　Don't　speak　at　all；　I　beg　of　you。〃

〃　Oh；　Marjory！　Oh；　Marjory！〃

〃　Don't。〃　The　girl　lifted　a　face　which　appalled　them。　It　had　something　entirely　new　in　it。　〃　Please　go　away；　mother。　I　will　speak　to　father；　but　I　won't　…I　can't…I　can't　be　pitied。〃

Mrs。　Wainwright　looked　at　her　husband。　〃　Yes；〃　said　the　old　man；　trembling。　〃Go！　〃　She　threw　up　her　hands　in　a　sorrowing　gesture　that　was　not　without　its　suggestion　that　her　exclusion　would　be　a　mistake。　She　left　the　room。

The　professor　dropped　on　his　knees　at　the　bedside　and　took　one　of　Marjory's　hands。　His　voice　dropped　to　its　tenderest　note。　〃Well；　my　Marjory？〃

She　had　turned　her　face　again　to　the　pillow。　At　last　she　answered　in　muffled　tones；　〃　You　know。〃　Thereafter　came　a　long　silence　full　of　sharpened　pain。　It　was　Marjory　who　spoke　first。　〃I　have　saved　my　pride；　daddy；　but…I　have…lost…everything　else。〃　Even　her　sudden　resumption　of　the　old　epithet　of　her　childhood　was　an　additional　misery　to　the　old　man。　He　still　said　no　word。　He　knelt；　gripping　her　fingers　and　staring　at　the　wall。

〃　Yes；　I　have　lost~everything…else。〃

The　father　gave　a　low　groan。　He　was　thinking　deeply；　bitterly。　Since　one　was　only　a　human　being；　how　was　one　going　to　protect　beloved　hearts　assailed　with　sinister　fury　from　the　inexplicable　zenith？　In　this　tragedy　he　felt　as　helpless　as　an　old　grey　ape。　He　did　not　see　a　possible　weapon　with　which　he　could　defend　his　child　from　the　calamity　which　was　upon　her。　There　was　no　wall；　no　shield　which　could　turn　this　sorrow　from　the　heart　of　his　child。　If　one　of　his　hands　loss　could　have　spared　her；　there　would　have　been　a　sacrifice　of　his　hand；　but　he　was　potent　for　nothing。　He　could　only　groan　and　stare　at　the　wall。　He　reviewed　the　past　half　in　fear　that　he　would　suddenly　come　upon　his　error　which　was　now　the　cause　of　Marjory's　tears。　He　dwelt　long　upon　the　fact　that　in　Washurst　he　had　refused　his　consent　to　Marjory's　marriage　with　Coleman；　but　even　now　he　could　not　say　that　his　judgment　was　not　correct。　It　was　simply　that　the　doom　of　woman's　woe　was　upon　Marjory；　this　ancient　woe　of　the　silent　tongue　and　the　governed　will；　and　he　could　only　kneel　at　the　bedside　and　stare　at　the　wall。

Marjory　raised　her　voice　in　a　laugh。　〃　Did　I　betray　myself？　Did　I　become　the　maiden　all　forlorn　？　Did　I　giggle　to　show　people　that　I　did　not　care？　No…I　did　not…I　did　not。　And　it　was　such　a　long　time；　daddy！　Oh；　such　a　long　time！　I　thought　we　would　never　get　here。　I　thought　I　would　never　get　where　I　could　be　alone　like　this；　where　I　could…cry…if　I　wanted　to。　I　am　not　much　of　…　a　crier；　am　I；　daddy？　But　this　time…this…time…〃

She　suddenly　drew　herself　over　near　to　her　father　and　looked　at　him。　〃　Oh；　daddy；　I　want　to　tell　you　one　thing。　just　one　simple　little　thing。〃　She　waited　then；　and　while　she　waited　her　father's　head　went　lower　and　lower。　〃　Of　course；　you　know…I　told　you　once。　I　love　him！　I　love　him！　Yes；　probably　he　is　a　rascal；　but；　do　you　know；　I　don't　think　I　would　mind　if　he　was　a…an　assassin。　This　morning　I　sent　him　away；　but；　daddy；　he　didn't　want　to　go　at　all。　I　know　he　didn't。　This　Nora　Black　is　nothing　to　him。　I　know　she　is　not。　I　am　sure　of　it。　Yes…I　am　sure　of　it。　*　*　*　I　never　expected　to　talk　this　way　to　any　living　creature；　but…you　are　so　good；　daddy。　Dear　old　daddy…〃

She　ceased；　for　she　saw　that　her　father　was　praying。

The　sight　brought　to　her　a　new　outburst　of　sobbing；　for　her　sorrow　now　had　dignity　and　solemnity　from　thebowed　white　head　of　her　old　father；　and　she　felt　that　her　heart　was　dying　amid　the　pomp　of　the　church。　It　was　the　last　rites　being　performed　at　the　death…bed。　Into　her　ears　came　some　imagining　of　the　low　melan。　choly　chant　of　monks　in　a　gloom。

Finally　her　father　arose。　He　kissed　her　on　the　brow。　〃　Try　to　sleep；　dear；〃　he　said。