to him that hath-第30章

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！



〃We　were　mighty　lucky；〃　said　Captain　Jack。

The　others；　Hugh；　Vic　and　Rupert；　crowded　round；　offering
congratulations。　　Adrien　waited　behind；　a　wonderful　light　shining
in　her　eyes；　a　faint　colour　touching　her　pale　cheek。　　Captain　Jack
came　slowly　forward。

〃Are　you　not　going　to　congratulate　us；　too；　Adrien？〃　he　said。

She　moved　a　pace　forward。

〃Oh；　Jack；〃　she　whispered；　leaning　toward　him　and　breathing
quickly；　〃it　was　so　like　the　old；　the　dear　old　days。〃

Into　Maitland's　eyes　there　flashed　a　look　of　surprise；　of　wonder；
then　of　piercing　scrutiny；　while　his　face　grew　white。

〃Adrien；〃　he　said；　in　a　voice　low；　tense；　almost　stern；　which　she
alone　heard。　　〃What　do　you　mean？　　Then　do　you〃

〃Oh；　Captain　Jack；〃　cried　Patricia；　catching　his　arm；　〃are　you
going　to　dance？　　You　are；　aren't　you？　　And　will　you　give　me　　Oh；
I　daren't　ask！　　You　are　such　a　great　hero　to…night！〃

〃Why；　Patsy；　will　you　give　me　a　dance？〃

The　girl　stood　gazing　at　him　with　eyes　that　grew　misty；　the　quick
beating　of　her　loyal　heart　almost　suffocating　her。

〃Oh；　Captain　Jack；〃　she　gasped；　〃how　many？〃

Maitland　laughed　at　her；　and　turned　to　her　sister。

〃And　you；　Adrien；　may　I　have　a　dance？〃

Again　Adrien　leaned　toward　him。

〃One？〃　she　asked。

〃And　as　many　more　as　you　can　spare。〃

〃My　program　is　quite　empty；　you　see；〃　she　said；　flinging　out　her
hands　and　laughing　joyously　into　his　face。

〃What　about　me？　　And　me？　　And　me？〃　said　the　other　three　men。

〃I　suppose　we　are　all　nowhere　to…night；〃　added　Rupert；　with　a　touch
of　bitterness　in　his　voice。

〃Well；　there　is　only　one　conquering　hero；　you　know；〃　replied
Adrien；　smiling　at　them　all。

〃Now　I　must　run　off；〃　said　Maitland。　　〃You　see；　I　am　on　duty；　as　it
were。　　Come　down　in　a　few　minutes。〃

〃Yes；　go；　Jack；〃　said　Adrien；　throwing　him　a　warm　smile。　　〃We　will
follow　you　in　a　few　minutes。〃

〃Oh；　I　am　so　excited！〃　said　Patricia；　as　Maitland　disappeared　down
the　stairs。　　〃I　mean　to　dance　with　every　one　of　the　team。　　I　know　I
am　going　to　have　a　perfectly　lovely　time！　　But　I　would　give　them
all　up　if　I　could　have　Captain　Jack　all　the　time。〃

〃Pig；〃　said　her　sister；　smiling　at　her。

〃Wretch；〃　cried　Vic；　making　a　face。

But　Patricia　was　quite　unabashed。　　〃I　am　going　to　have　him　just　as
often　as　I　can；〃　she　said；　brazenly。

For　a　few　minutes　they　stood　watching　the　dancers　on　the　floor
below。　　It　was　indeed；　as　Mrs。　Templeton　had　said；　a　〃mixed
multitude。〃　　Mill　hands　and　their　girls；　townsfolk　whose　social
standing　was　sufficiently　assured　to　endure　the　venture。　　A　mixed
multitude；　but　thoroughly　jolly；　making　up　in　vigour　what　was
lacking　in　grace　in　their　exposition　of　the　Terpsichorean　art。

〃Rather　ghastly；〃　said　Rupert；　who　appeared　to　be　quite　disgusted
with　the　whole　evening's　proceedings。

〃Lovely！〃　exclaimed　Patricia。

〃They　are　enjoying　themselves；　at　any　rate；〃　said　Adrien；　〃and；
after　all；　that　is　what　people　dance　for。〃

〃Stacks　of　fun。　　I　am　all　for　it；　eh；　Pat？〃　said　Vic；　making
adoring　eyes　at　the　young　girl。

But　Patricia　severely　ignored　him。

〃Oh；　Adrien；　look！〃　she　cried　suddenly。　　〃There　is　Annette；　and　who
is　the　big　man　with　her？　　Oh；　what　an　awful　dancer　he　is！　　But
Annette；　isn't　she　wonderful！　　What　a　lovely　dress！　　I　think　she　is
the　most　beautiful　thing。〃　　And　Patricia　was　right；　for　Annette　was
radiant　in　colour　and　unapproachable　in　the　grace　of　her　movement。

〃By　Jove！　　She　is　a　wonder！〃　said　Vic。　　〃Some　dancer；　if　she　only
had　a　chance。〃

〃Well；　why　don't　you　go　down；　Vic；〃　said　Patricia　sharply。　　〃You
know　you　are　just　aching　to　show　off　your　fox　trot。　　Run　away；
little　boy；　I　won't　mind。〃

〃I　don't　believe　you　would；〃　replied　Vic　ruefully。

For　some　minutes　longer　they　all　stood　watching　the　scene　below。

〃They　are　a　jolly　crowd；〃　said　Adrien。　　〃I　don't　think　we　have　half
the　fun　at　our　dances。〃

〃They　certainly　get　a　lot　for　their　money；〃　said　Vic。　　〃But　wait
till　they　come　to　'turkey…in…the…straw！'　　That　is　where　they　really
cut　loose。〃

〃Oh；　pshaw！〃　cried　Patricia。　　〃I　can　'turkey'　myself。　　Just　wait
and　you'll　see。〃

〃So　can　I；〃　murmured　Vic。　　〃Will　you　let　me　in　on　it？　　Hello；〃　he
continued；　〃there　is　the　Captain　and　Annette。　　Now　look　out　for
high　art。　　I　know　the　Captain's　style。　　And　a　two…step！　　My　eye！
She　is　a　little　airy　fairy！〃

〃How　beautifully　she　dances；〃　said　Adrien。　　〃And　how　charmingly　she
is　dressed。〃

〃They　do　hit　it　off；　don't　they；〃　said　Rupert。　　〃They　evidently
know　each　other's　paces。〃

Suddenly　Adrien　turned　to　Hugh：　　〃Don't　you　think　we　should　go
down？〃　she　asked。　　〃You　know　we　must　not　stay　late。〃

〃Yes；　do　come　along！〃　cried　Patricia；　seizing　Victor　by　the　arm　and
hurrying　to　the　stairs；　the　others　making　their　way　more　leisurely
to　the　dancing　room。

The　hall　was　a　scene　of　confused　hilarity。　　Maitland　was　nowhere　to
be　seen。

〃Oh！　let　us　dance；　Vic！〃　cried　Patricia。　　〃There　is　really　no　use
waiting　for　Captain　Jack。　　At　any　rate；　Adrien　will　claim　the　first
dance。〃

No　second　invitation　was　needed　and　together　they　swung　off　into
the　medley　of　dancers。

〃We　may　as　well　follow；〃　said　Hugh。　　〃We　shall　doubtless　run　into
Maitland　somewhere　before　long。〃

But　not　in　that　dance；　nor　in　the　three　successive　dances　did
Maitland　appear。　　The　precious　moments　were　slipping　by。　　Patricia
was　becoming　more　and　more　anxious　and　fretful　at　the　non…
appearance　of　her　hero。　　Also；　Hugh　began　to　notice　and　detect　a
lagging　in　his　partner's　step。

〃Shall　we　go　out　into　the　corridor？〃　he　said。　　〃This　air　is
beginning　to　be　rather　trying。〃

From　the　crowded　hall　they　passed　into　the　corridor；　from　which
opened　side　rooms　which　were　used　as　dressing　and　retiring　rooms；
and　whose　entrances　were　cleverly　screened　by　a　row　of　thick　spruce
trees　set　up　for　the　occasion。

〃This　is　better；〃　said　Hugh；　drawing　a　deep　breath。　　〃Shall　we　sit
a　bit　and　rest？〃

〃Oh；　do　let　us；〃　said　Adrien。　　〃This　has　been　a　strenuous　and
exciting　evening。　　I　really　feel　quite　done　out。　　Here　is　a　most
inviting　seat。〃

Wearily　she　sat　down　on　a　bench　which　faced　the　entrance　to　one　of
the　rooms。

〃Shall　I　bring　you　a　glass　of　water　or　an　ice；　Adrien？〃　inquired
Hugh；　noting　the　pallor　in　her　face。

〃Thank　you。　　A　glass　of　water；　if　you　will　be　so　kind。　　How
deliciously　fragrant　that　spruce　is。〃

As　her　partner　set　off　upon　his　errand；　Adrien　stepped　to　the
spruce　tree　which　screened　the　open　door　of　the　room　opposite；　and
taking　the　bosky　branches　in　her　hands；　she　thrust　her　face　into
the　aromatic　foliage。

〃How　deliciously　fragrant；〃　she　murmured。

Suddenly；　as　if　stabbed　by　a　spine　in　the　trees；　she　started　back
and　stood　gazing　through　the　thick　branches　into　the　room　beyond
There　stood　Maitland　and　Annette；　the　girl；　with　her　face　tearfully
pale　and　pleading；　uplifted　to　his　and　with　her　hands　gripped　tight
and　held　fast　in　his；　clasped　against　his　breast。　　More　plainly
than　words　her　face；　her　eyes；　her　attitude　told　her　tale。　　She　was
pouring　out　her　very　soul　to　him　in　entreaty；　and　he　was　giving
eager；　sympathetic　heed　to　her　appeal。

Swiftly　Adrien　stepped　back　from　the　screening　tree；　her　face　white
as　if　from　a　stunning　blow；　her　heartbeats　checking　her　breath。
Quickly；　blindly；　she　ran　down　the　corridor。　　At　the　very　end　she
met　Hugh　with　a　glass　of　water　in　his　hand。

〃What　is　the　matter；　Adrien？　　Have　you　seen　a　ghost？〃　he　cried　in
an　anxious　voice。

She　caught　the　glass　from　his　hand　and　began　to　drink；　at　first
greedily；　then　more　slowly。

〃Ah！〃　she　said；　drawing　a　deep　breath。　　〃That　is　good。　　Do　you
know；　I　was　almost　overcome。　　The　air　of　that　room　is　quite　deadly。
Now　I　am　all　right。　　Let　us　get　a　breath　from　the　outside；　Hugh。〃

Taking　him　by　the　arm；　she　hastened　him　to　the　farther　end　of　the
corridor　and　opened　the　door。　　〃Oh；　delicious！〃　　She　drew　in　deep
breaths　of　the　cold；　fresh　air。

〃How　wonderful　the　night　is；　Hugh。〃　　She　leaned　far　out；　〃and　the
snow　was　like　a　cloth　of　silver　and　diamonds　in　this　glorious
moon。〃　　She　stooped；　and　from　a　gleaming　bank　beside　the　door　she
caught　up　a　double　handful　of　the　snow　and；　packing　it　into　a
little　ball；　flung　it　at　her　partner；　catc