active service-第39章

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Well　*　anyhow　*　money　is　not　everything。〃

But　it's　a。　great　deal；　you　know　well　enough。　You　know　you　are　always　speaking　of　poverty　as　an　evil；　as　a　grand　resultant；　a　collaboration　of　many　lesser　evils。　Well；　then？

〃　But；〃　began　the　professor　meekly；　when　I　say　that　I　mean…〃

〃　Well；　money　is　money　and　poverty　is　poverty；〃　interrupted　his　wife。　〃　You　don't　have　to　be　very　learned　to　know　that。〃

〃I　do　not　say　that　Coleman　has　not　a　very　nice　thing　of　it；　but　I　must　say　it　is　hard　to　think　of　his　getting　any　such　sum；　as　you　mention。〃

〃　Isn't　he　known　as　the　most　brilliant　journalist　in　New　York？〃　she　demanded　harshly。

〃　Y…yes；　as　long　as　it　lasts；　but　then　one　never　knows　when　he　will　be　out　in　the　street　penniless。　Of　course　he　has　no　particular　ability　which　would　be　marketable　if　he　suddenly　lost　his　present　employment。　Of　course　it　is　not　as　if　he　was　a　really　talented　young　man。　He　might　not　be　able　to　make　his　way　at　all　in　any　new　direction。〃

〃　I　don't　know　about　that；〃　said　Mrs。　Wainwright　in　reflective　protestation。　〃　I　don't　know　about　that。　I　think　he　would。〃

〃　I　thought　you　said　a　moment　ago…〃　The　professor　spoke　with　an　air　of　puzzled　hesitancy。　〃I　thought　you　said　a　moment　ago　that　he　wouldn't　succeed　　in　anything　but　journalism。〃

Mrs。　Wainwright　swam　over　the　situation　with　a　fine　tranquility。　〃　Well…I…I；〃　she　answered　musingly；　〃if　I　did　say　that；　I　didn't　mean　it　exactly。〃

〃　No；　I　suppose　not；〃　spoke　the　professor；　and　de…　spite　the　necessity　for　caution　he　could　not　keep　out　of　his　voice　a　faint　note　of　annoyance。

〃　Of　course；〃　continued　the　wife；　〃　Rufus　Coleman　is　known　everywhere　as　a　brilliant　man；　a　very　brilliant　man；　and　he　even　might　do　well　in…in　politics　or　something　of　that　sort。〃

〃　I　have　a　very　poor　opinion　of　that　kind　of　a　mind　which　does　well　in　American　politics；〃　said　the　pro…　fessor；　speaking　as　a　collegian；　〃　but　I　suppose　there　may　be　something　in　it。〃

〃　Well；　at　any　rate；〃　decided　Mrs。　Wainwright。　〃　At　any　rate…〃

At　that　moment；　Marjory　attired　for　luncheon　and　the　drive　entered　from　her　room；　and　Mrs。　Wainwright　checked　the　expression　of　her　important　conclusion。　Neither　father　or　mother　had　ever　seen　her　so　glowing　with　triumphant　beauty；　a　beauty　which　would　carry　the　mind　of　a　spectator　far　above　physical　　appreciation　into　that　realm　of　poetry　where　creatures　of　light　move　and　are　beautiful　because　they　cannot　know　pain　or　a　burden。　It　carried　tears　to　the　old　father's　eyes。　He　took　her　hands。　〃　Don't　be　too　happy；　my　child；　don't　be　too　happy；〃　he　admonished　her　tremulously。　〃　It　makes　me　afraid…it　makes　me　afraid。〃






CHAPTER　XXX

IT　seems　strange　that　the　one　who　was　the　most　hilarious　over　the　engagement　of　Marjory　and　Cole…　man　should　be　Coleman's　dragoman　who　was　indeed　in　a　state　bordering　on　transport。　It　is　not　known　how　he　learned　the　glad　tidings；　but　it　is　certain　that　he　learned　them　before　luncheon。　He　told　all　the　visible　employes　of　the　hotel　and　allowed　them　to　know　that　the　betrothal　really　had　been　his　handi…work　　He　had　arranged　it。　He　did　not　make　quite　clear　how　he　had　performed　this　feat；　but　at　least　he　was　perfectly　frank　in　acknowledging　it。

When　some　of　the　students　came　down　to　luncheon；　they　saw　him　but　could　not　decide　what　ailed　him。　He　was　in　the　main　corridor　of　the　hotel；　grinning　from　ear　to　ear；　and　when　he　perceived　the　students　he　made　signs　to　intimate　that　they　possessed　in　com…　mon　a　joyous　secret。　〃　What's　the　matter　with　that　idiot？〃　asked　Coke　morosely。　〃　Looks　as　if　his　wheels　were　going　around　too　fast。〃　Peter　Tounley　walked　close　to　him　and　scanned　him　imperturbably；　but　with　care。　〃　What's　up；　Phidias　？　〃　The　man　made　no　articulate　reply。　He　continued　to　grin　and　gesture。　〃Pain　in　oo　tummy？　Mother　dead？　Caught　the　cholera？　Found　out　that　you've　swallowed　a　pair　of　hammered　brass　and　irons　in　your　beer？　Say；　who　are　you；　anyhow？　〃　But　he　could　not　shake　this　invincible　glee；　so　he　went　away。

The　dragoman's　rapture　reached　its　zenith　when　Coleman　lent　him　to　the　professor　and　he　was　　commissioned　to　bring　a　carriage　for　four　people　to　the　door　at　three　o'clock。　He　himself　was　to　sit　on　the　box　and　tell　the　driver　what　was　required　of　him。　He　dashed　off；　his　hat　in　his　hand；　his　hair　flying；　puffing；　important　beyond　everything；　and　apparently　babbling　his　mission　to　half　the　people　he　met　on　the　street。　In　most　countries　he　would　have　landed　speedily　in　jail；　but　among　a　people　who　exist　on　a　basis　of'jibbering；　his　violent　gabble　aroused　no　suspicions　as　to　his　sanity。　However；　he　stirred　several　livery　stables　to　their　depths　and　set　men　running　here　and　there　wildly　and　for　the　most　part　futiltiy。

At　fifteen　minutes　to　three　o'clock；　a　carriage　with　its　horses　on　a　gallop　tore　around　the　corner　and　up　to　the　。　front　of　the　hotel；　where　it　halted　with　the　pomp　and　excitement　of　a　fire　engine。　The　dragoman　jumped　down　from　his　seat　beside　the　driver　and　scrambled　hurriedly　into　the　hoiel；　in　the　gloom　of　which　hemet　a　serene　stillness　which　was　punctuated　only　by　the　leisurely　tinkle　of　silver　and　glass　in　the　dining　room。　For　a　moment　the　dragoman　seemed　really　astounded　out　of　specch。　Then　he　plunged　into　the　manager's　room。　Was　it　conceivable　that　Monsieur　Coleman　was　still　at　luncheon？　Yes；　in　fact；　it　was　true。　But　the　carriage；　was　at　the　door！　The　carriage　was　at　the　door！　The　manager；　　undisturbed；　asked　for　what　hour　Monsieur　Coleman　had　been　pleased　to　order　a　carriage。　Three　o'clock　！　Three　o'clock？　The　manager　pointed　calmly　at　the　clock。　Very　well。　It　was　now　only　thirteen　minutes　of　three　o'clock。　Monsieur　Coleman　doubtless　would　appear　at　three。　Until　that　hour　the　manager　would　not　disturb　Monsieur　Coleman。　The　dragoman　clutched　both　his　hands　in　his　hair　and　cast　a　look　of　agony　to　the　ceiling。　Great　God！　Had　he　accomplished　　the　herculean　task　of　getting　a　carriage　for　four　people　to　the　door　of　the　hotel　in　time　for　a　drive　at　three　o'clock；　only　to　meet　with　this　stoniness；　this　inhumanity？　Ah；　it　was　unendurable？　He　begged　the　manager；　he　implored　him。　But　at　every　word。　the　manager　seemed　to　grow　more　indifferent；　more　callous。　He　pointed　with　a　wooden　finger　at　the　clock…face。　In　reality；　it　is　thus；　that　Greek　meets　Greek。

Professor　Wainwright　and　Coleman　strolled　together　out　of　the　dining　room。　The　dragoman　rushed　ecstatically　upon　the　correspondent。　〃　Oh；　Meester　Coleman！　The　carge　is　ready　！〃

〃Well；　all　right；〃　said　Coleman；　knocking　ashes　from　his　cigar。　〃Don't　be　in　a　hurry。　I　suppose　we'll　be　ready；　presently。〃　The　man　was　in　despair。

The　departure　of　the　Wainwrights　and　Coleman　on　this　ordinary　drive　was　of　a　somewhat　dramatic　and　public　nature；　No　one　seemed　to　know　how　to　prevent　its　being　so。　In　the　first　place；　the　attendants　thronged　out　en　masse　for　a　reason　which　was　plain　at　the　time　only　to　Coleman's　dragoman。　And；　rather　in　the　background；　lurked　the　interested　students。　The　professor　was　surprised　and　nervous。　Coleman　was　rigid　and　angry。　Marjory　was　flushed　and　some　what　hurried；　and　Mrs。　Wainwright　was　as　proud　as　an　old　turkey…hen。

As　the　carriage　rolled　away；　Peter　Tounley　turned　to　his　companions　and　said：　〃　Now；　that's　official！　That　is　the　official　announcement！　Did　you　see　Old　Mother　Wainwright？　Oh；　my　eye；　wasn't　she　puffed　up　！　Say；　what　in　hell　do　you　suppose　all　these　jay　hawking　bell…boys　poured　out　to　the　kerb　for？　Go　back　to　your　cages；　my　good　people…〃

As　soon　as　the　carriage　wheeled　into　another　street；　its　occupants　exchanged　easier　smiles；　and　they　must　have　confessed　in　some　subtle　way　of　glances　that　now　at　last　they　were　upon　their　own　mission；　a　mission　undefined　but　earnest　to　them　all。　Coleman　had　a　glad　feeling　of　being　let　into　the　family；　or　becoming　one　of　them

The　professor　looked　sideways　at　him　and　smiled　gently。　〃　You　know；　I　thought　of　driving　you　to　some　ruins；　but　Marjory　would　not　have　it。　She　flatly　objected　to　any　more　ruins。　So　I　thought　we　would　drive　down　to　New　Phalerum。〃　Coleman　nodded　and　smiled　as　if　he　were　immensely　pleased；　but　of　course　New　Phalerum　was　to　him　no　more　nor…less　than　Vladivostok　or　Khartoum。　Neither　place　nor　distance　had　interest　for　him。　They　swept　along　a　shaded　avenue　where　the　dust　lay　thick　on　the　leaves；　they　passed　cafes　where　crowds　were　angrily　shouting　over　the　news　in　the　little　papers；　they　passed　a　hospital　before　which　wounded　men；　white　with　bandages；　were　taking　the　sun；　then　came　soon　to　the　and　valley　flanked　by　gaunt　naked　mountains；　which　would　lead　them　to　the　sea。　Sometimes　to　accentuate　the　dry　nakedness　of　this　valley；　there　would　be　a　patch　of　grass　upon　which　poppies　burned　crimson　spots。　The　dust　writhed　out　from　under　the　wheels　of　the　carriage；　in　the　distance　the　sea　appeared；　a　blue　half…disc　set　between　shoulders　of　barren　land。　It　would　be　common　to　say　that　Coleman　　was　oblivious　to　all　about　him　but　Marjory。　On　the　contrary；　the　parched　land；　the　isolated　flame　of　poppies；　the　cool　air　from　the　sea；　all　were　keenly　known　to　him；　and　they　had　developed　an　extraordinary　power　of　blending　sympathetically　into　his　mood。　Meanwhile　the　professor　talked　a　great　deal。　And　as　a　somewhat　exhilarating　detail；　Coleman　perceived　that　Ms。　Wainwright　was　beaming　upon　him。

At　New　Phalerum…a　small　collection　of　pale　square　villas…they　left　the　carriage　and　strolled；　by　the　sea。　The　waves　were　snarling　together　like　wolves　amid　the　honeycomb　rocks　and　from　where　the　blue　plane　sprang　level　to　the　horizon；　came　a　strong　cold　breeze；　the　kind　of　a　breeze　which　moves　an　exulting　man　or　a　parson　to　take　off　his　hat　and　let　his　locks　flutter　and　tug　back　from　his　brow。

The　professor　and　Mrs。　Wainwright　were　left　to　themselves。

Marjory　and　Coleman　did　not　speak　for　a　time。　It　might　have　been　that　they　did　not　quite　know　where　to　make　a　beginning。　　At　last　Marjory　asked：　〃What　has　become　of　your　splendid　horse？〃

〃Oh；　I've　told　the　dragoman　to　have　him　sold　as　soon　as　he　arrives；〃　said　Coleman　absently。

〃　Oh。　I'm　sorry　　*　*　I　liked　that　horse。〃

〃Why？　〃

〃Oh；　because…〃

〃Well；　he　was　a　fine…〃　Then　he；　too；　interrupted　　himself；　for　he　saw　plainly　that　they　had　not　come　to　this　place　to　talk　about　a　horse。　Thereat　he　made　speech　of　matters　which　at　least　did　not　afford　as　many　opportunities　for　coherency　as　would　the　horse。　Marjory；　it　can't　be　true　*　*　*　Is　it　true；　dearest　*　*　I　can　hardly　believe　it。　…I…〃

〃　Oh；　I　know　I'm　not　nearly　good　enough　for　you。〃

〃　Good　enough　for　me；　dear？

〃　They　all　told　me　so；　and　they　were　right　！　Why；　even　the　American　minister　said　it。　Everybody　thinks　it。〃

〃Why；　aren　't　they　wretches　To　think　of　them　saying　such　a　thing！　As　if…as　if　anybody　could　be　too〃

〃　Do　you　know…〃　She　paused　and　looked　at　him　with　a　certain　timid　challenge。　〃　I　don't　know　why　I　feel　it；　but…sometimes　I　feel　that　I've　been　I've　been　flung　at　your　head。〃

He　opened　his　mouth　in　astonishment。　〃　Flung　at　my　head！

She　held　up　her　finger。　〃And　if　I　thought　you　could　ever　believe　it　！　〃

〃　Is　a　girl　flung　at　a　man's　head　when　her　father　carries　her　thousands　of　miles　away　and　the　man　　follows　her　all　these　miles；　and　at　last…〃

〃　Her　eyes　were　shining。　〃And　you　really　came　to　Greece…on　purpose　to…to…〃

〃　Confess　yo