active service-第33章

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Finally　her　father　arose。　He　kissed　her　on　the　brow。　〃　Try　to　sleep；　dear；〃　he　said。　He　turned　out　the　gas　and　left　the　room。　His　thought　was　full　of　chastened　emotion。

But　if　his　thought　was　full　of　chastened　emotion；　it　received　some　degree　of　shock　when　he　arrived　in　the　presence　of　Mrs。　Wainwright。　〃　Well；　what　is　all　this　about　？　〃　she　demanded；　irascibly。　〃　Do　you　mean　to　say　that　Marjory　is　breaking　her　heart　over　that　man　Coleman　？　It　is　all　your　fault…〃　She　was　apparently　still　ruffled　over　her　exclusion。

When　the　professor　interrupted　her　he　did　not　speak　with　his　accustomed　spirit；　but　from　something　novel　in　his　manner　she　recognised　a　danger　signal。　〃　Please　do　not　burst　out　at　it　in　that　way。〃

〃Then　it　Is　true？〃　she　asked。　Her　voice　was　a　mere　awed　whisper。

〃　It　is　true；〃　answered　the　professor。

〃Well；〃　she　said；　after　reflection；　〃I　knew　it。　I　alway's　knew　it。　If　you　hadn't　been　so　blind！　You　turned　like　a　weather…cock　in　your　opinions　of　Coleman。　You　never　could　keep　your　opinion　about　him　for　more　than　an　hour。　Nobody　could　imagine　what　you　might　think　next。　And　now　you　see　the　result　of　it！　I　warned　you！　I　told　you　what　this　Coleman　was；　and　if　Marjory　is　suffering　now；　you　have　only　yourself　to　blame　for　it。　I　warned　you！　〃

〃　If　it　is　my　fault；〃　said　the　professor；　drearily；　〃　I　hope　God　may　forgive　me；　for　here　is　a　great　wrong　to　my　daughter。〃　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　

Well；　if　you　had　done　as　I　told　you…〃　she　began。

Here　the　professor　revolted。　〃　Oh；　now；　do　not　be…　gin　on　that；〃　he　snarled；　peevishly。　Do　not　begin　on　that。〃

〃　Anyhow；〃　said　Mrs。　Wainwright；　it　is　time　that　we　should　be　going　down　to　dinner。　Is　Marjory　com…　ing？　〃

〃　No；　she　is　not；〃　answered　the　professor；　〃　and　I　do　not　know　as　I　shall　go　myself。〃

〃　But　you　must　go。　Think　how　it　would　look！　All　the　students　down　there　dining　without　us；　and　cutting　up　capers！　You　must　come。〃

〃　Yes；〃　he　said；　dubiously；　〃　but　who　will　look　after　Marjory　？　〃

〃　She　wants　to　be　left　alone；〃　announced　Mrs。　Wainwright；　as　if　she　was　the　particular　herald　of　this　news。　〃　She　wants　to　be　left　alone。〃

〃　Well；　I　suppose　we　may　as　well　go　down。〃　Before　they　went；　the　professor　tiptoed　into　his　daughter's　room。　In　the　darkness　he　could　only　see　her　waxen　face　on　the　pillow；　and　her　two　eyes　gazing　fixedly　at　the　ceiling。　He　did　not　speak；　but　immedi。　ately　withdrew；　closing　the　door　noiselessly　behind　him。


I


CHAPTER　XXVI。

IF　the　professor　and　Mrs。　Wainwright　had　descended　　sooner　to　a　lower　floor　of　the　hotel；　they　would　have　found　reigning　there　a　form　of　anarchy。　The　students　were　in　a　smoking　room　which　was　also　an　entrance　hall　to　the　dining　room；　and　because　there　was　in　the　middle　of　this　apartment　a　fountain　containing　　gold　fish；　they　had　been　moved　to　license　and　sin。　They　had　all　been　tubbed　and　polished　and　brushed　and　dressed　until　they　were　exuberantly　beyond　　themselves。　The　proprietor　of　the　hotel　brought　in　his　dignity　and　showed　it　to　them；　but　they　minded　it　no　more　than　if　he　had　been　only　a　common　man。　He　drew　himself　to　his　height　and　looked　gravely　at　them　and　they　jovially　said：　〃　Hello；　Whiskers。〃　American　college　students　are　notorious　in　their　country　　for　their　inclination　to　scoff　at　robed　and　crowned　authority；　and；　far　from　being　awed　by　the　dignity　of　the　hotel…keeper；　they　were　delighted　with　it。　It　was　something　with　which　to　sport。　With　immeasurable　impudence；　they　copied　his　attitude；　and；　standing　before　him；　made　comic　speeches；　always　alluding　with　blinding　vividness　to　his　beard。　His　exit　disappointed　them。　He　had　not　remained　long　under　fire。　They　felt　that　they　could　have　interested　themselves　with　him　an　entire　evening。　〃　Come　back；　Whiskers！　Oh；　come　back！　〃　Out　in　the　main　hall　he　made　a　ges。　ture　of　despair　to　some　of　his　gaping　minions　and　then　fled　to　seclusion。

A　formidable　majority　then　decided　that　Coke　was　a　gold　fish；　and　that　therefore　his　proper　place　was　in　the　fountain。　They　carried　him　to　it　while　he　strug。　gled　madly。　This　quiet　room　with　its　crimson　rugs　and　gilded　mirrors　seemed　suddenly　to　have　become　an　important　apartment　in　hell。　There　being　as　yet　no　traffic　in　the　dining　room；　the　waiters　were　all　at　liberty　to　come　to　the　open　doors；　where　they　stood　as　men　turned　to　stone。　To　them；　it　was　no　less　than　incendiarism。

Coke；　standing　with　one　foot　on　the　floor　and　the　other　on　the　bottom　of　the　shallow　fountain；　blas…　phemed　his　comrades　in　a　low　tone；　but　with　inten…　tion。　He　was　certainly　desirous　of　lifting　his　foot　out　of　the　water；　but　it　seemed　that　all　movement　to　that　end　would　have　to　wait　until　he　had　successfully　ex…　pressed　his　opinions。　In　the　meantime；　there　was　heard　slow　footsteps　and　the　rustle　of　skirts；　and　then　some　people　entered　the　smoking　room　on　their　way　to　dine。　Coke　took　his　foot　hastily　out　of　the　fountain。

The　faces　of　the　men　of　the　arriving　party　went　blank；　and　they　turned　their　cold　and　pebbly　eyes　straight　to　the　front；　while　the　ladies；　after　little　ex。　pressions　of　alarm；　looked　As　if　they　wanted　to　run。　In　fact；　the　whole　crowd　rather　bolted　from　this　ex…　traordinary　scene。

〃　There；　now；〃　said　Coke　bitterly　to　his　companions。　〃You　see？　We　looked　like　little　schoolboys…〃

〃　Oh；　never　mind；　old　man；〃　said　Peter　Tounley。　〃We'll　forgive　you；　although　you　did　embarrass　us。　But；　above　everything；　don't　drip。　Whatever　you　do；　don't　drip。〃

The　students　took　this　question　of　dripping　and　played　upon　it　until　they　would　have　made　quite　insane　anybody　but　another　student。　They　worked　it　into　all　manner　of　forms；　and　hacked　and　haggled　at　Coke　until　he　was　driven　to　his　room　to　seek　other　apparel。　〃　Be　sure　and　change　both　legs；〃　they　told　him。　〃　Remember　you　can't　change　one　leg　without　changing　both　legs。〃

After　Coke's　departure；　the　United　States　minister　entered　the　room；　and　instantly　they　were　subdued。　It　was　not　his　lofty　station…that　affected　them。　There　are　probably　few　stations　that　would　have　at　all　af…　fectedthem。　They　became　subdued　because　they　un…　feignedly　liked　the　United　States　minister。　They；　were　suddenly　a　group　of　well…bred；　correctly　attired　young　men　who　had　not　put　Coke's　foot　in　the　fountain。　　Nor　had　they　desecrated　the　majesty　of　the　hotelkeeper。

〃Well；　I　am　delighted；〃　said　the　minister；　laughing　as　he　shook　hands　with　them　all。　〃　I　was　not　sure　I　would　ever　see　you　again。　You　are　not　to　be　trusted；　and；　good　boys　as　you　are；　I'll　be　glad　to　see　you　once　and　forever　over　the　boundary　of　my　jurisdiction。　Leave　Greece；　you　vagabonds。　However；　I　am　truly　delighted　to　see　you　all　safe。〃

〃　Thank　you；　sir；〃　they　said。

〃　How　in　the　world　did　you　get　out　of　it？　You　must　be　remarkable　chaps。　I　thought　you　were　in　a　hopeless　position。　I　wired　and　cabled　everywhere　I　could；　but　I　could　find　out　nothing。〃

〃　A　correspondent；〃　said　Peter　Tounley。　〃　I　don't　know　if　you　have　met　him。　His　name　is　Coleman。　He　found　us。〃

〃　Coleman　？　〃　asked　the　minister；　quickly。

〃　Yes；　sir。　He　found　us　and　brought　us　out　safely。〃

〃　Well；　glory　be　to　Coleman；〃　exclaimed　the　min…　ister；　after　a　long　sigh　of　surprise。　〃　Glory　be　to　Cole…　man！　I　never　thought　he　could　do　it。〃

The　students　were　alert　immediately。　〃Why；　did　you　know　about　it；　sir？　Did　he　tell　you　he　was　coming　after　us　？　〃

〃Of　course。　He　came　tome　here　in　Athens。　and　asked　where　you　were。　I　told　him　you　were　in　a　peck　of　trouble。　He　acted　quietly　and　somewhat　queerly；。　and　said　that　he　would　try　to　look　you　up。　He　said　you　were　friends　of　his。　I　warned　him　against　trying　it。　Yes；　I　said　it　was　impossible；　I　　　　　had　no　idea　that　he　would　really　carry　the　thing　out。　But　didn't　he　tell　you　anything　about　this　himself？〃

〃　No；　sir　'　〃　answered　Peter　Tounley。　〃　He　never　said　much　about　it。　I　think　he　usually　contended　that　it　was　mainly　an　accident。〃

〃　It　was　no　accident；〃　said　the　minister；　sharply。　〃When　a　man　starts　out　to　do　a　thing　and　does　it；　you　can't　say　it　is　an　accident。〃

〃　I　didn't　say　so；　sir；〃　said　Peter　Tounley　diffidently。

〃　Quite　true；　quite　true　！　You　didn't；　but…this　Coleman　must　be　a　man！　〃

〃　We　think　so；　sir；〃　said　be　who　was　called　Billie。　〃　He　certainly　brought　us　through　in　style。〃

〃　But　how　did　he　manage　it？　〃　cried　the　minister；　keenly　interested。　〃　How　did　he　do　it　？　〃

〃　It　is　hard　to　say；　sir。　But　he　did　it。　He　met　us　in　the　dead　of　night　out　near　Nikopolis…〃

〃Near　Nikopolis？〃

〃Yes；　sir。　And　he　hid　us　in　a　forest　while　a　fight　was　going　on；　and　then　in　the　morning　he　brought　us　inside　the　Greek　lines。　Oh；　there　is　a　lot　to　tell…〃

Whereupon　they　told　it；　or　as　much　as　they　could　of　it。　In　the　end；　the　minister　said：　〃　Well；　where　are　the　professor　and　Mrs。　Wainwright　？　I　want　you　all　to　dine　with　me　to…night。　I　am　dining　in　the　public　room；　but　you　won't　mind　that　after　Epirus。〃　〃　They　should　be　down　now；　sir；〃　answered　a　Student。

People　were　now　coming　rapidly　to　dinner　and　presently　the　professor　and　Mrs。　Wainwright　appeared。　The　old　man　looked　haggard　and　white。　He　accepted　the　minister's　warm　greeting　with　a　strained　pathetic　smile。　〃　Thank　you。　We　are　glad　to　return　safely。〃

Once　at　dinner　the　minister　launched　immediately　into　the　subject　of　Coleman。　〃　He　must　be　altogether　a　most　remarkable　man。　When　he　told　me；　very　quietly；　that　he　was　going　to　try　to　rescue　you；　I　frankly　warned　him　against　any　such　attempt。　I　thought　he　would　merely　add　one　more　to　a　party　of　suffering　people。　But　the。　boys　tell…　me　that　he　did　actually　rescue　you。〃

〃Yes；　he　did；〃　said　the　professor。　〃　It　was　a　very　gallant　performance；　and　we　are　very　grateful。〃

〃Of　course；〃　spoke　Mrs。　Wainwright；　〃we　might　have　rescued　ourselves。　We　were　on　the　right　road；　and　all　we　had　to　do　was　to　keep　going　on。〃

〃　Yes；　but　I　understand…〃　said　the　minister。　〃　I　understand　he　took　you　into　a　wood　to　protect　you　from　that　fight；　and　generally　protected　you　from　all；　kinds　of　trouble。　It　seems　wonderful　to　me；　not　so　much　because　it　was　done　as　because　it　was　done　by　the　man　who；　some　time　ago；　calmy　announced　to　me　that　he　was　going　to　do　it。　Extraordinary。〃

〃Of　course；〃　said　Mrs。　Wainwright。　〃　Oh；　of　course。〃

〃And　where　is　he　now？　〃　asked　the　minister　suddenly。　〃Has　he　now　left　you　to　the　mercies　of　civilisation　？　〃

There　was　a　moment's　curious　stillness；　and　then　Mrs。　Wainwright　used　that　high　voice　which…the　students　believed…could　only　come　to　her　when　she　was　about　to　say　something　peculiarly　destructive　to　the　sensibilities。　〃　Oh；　of　course；　Mr。　Coleman　rendered　us　a　great　service；　but　in　his　private　character　he　is　not　a　man　whom　we　exactly　care　to　associate　with。〃

〃　Indeed〃　said　the　minister　staring。　Then　he　hastily　addressed　the　students。　〃　Well；　isn't　this　a　comic　war？　Did　you　ever　imagine　war　could　be　like　this　？　〃　The　professor　remained　looking　at　his　wife　with　an　air　of　stupefaction；　as　if　she　had　opened　up　to　him　visions　of　imbecility　of　which　he　had　not　even　dreamed。　The　students　loyally　began　to　chatter　at　the　minister。　〃　Yes；　sir；　it　is　a　queer　war。　After　all　their　bragging；　it　is　funny　to　hear　that　they　are　running　away　with　such　agility。　We　thought；　of　course；　of　the　old　Greek　wars。〃

Later；　the　minister　asked　them　all　to　his　rooms　for　coffee　and　cigarettes；　but　the　professor　and　Mrs。　　Wai