the lion and the unicorn(狮子与独角兽)-第12章
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THE LION AND THE UNICORN
He wanted to lay it all before her； to say； 〃If you are pleased； I am
happy。 If you are satisfied； then I am content。 It was done for you； and
I am wholly yours； and all that I do is yours。〃
And； as though in answer to his thoughts； there was an instant knock at
the door； and Helen entered the room and stood smiling at him across the
table。
Her eyes were lit with excitement； and spoke with many emotions； and
her cheeks were brilliant with color。 He had never seen her look more
beautiful。
〃Why； Helen！〃 he exclaimed； 〃how good of you to come。 Is there
anything wrong？ Is anything the matter？〃
She tried to speak； but faltered； and smiled at him appealingly。
〃What is it？〃 he asked in great concern。
Helen drew in her breath quickly； and at the same moment motioned
him awayand he stepped back and stood watching her in much
perplexity。
With her eyes fixed on his she raised her hands to her head； and her
fingers fumbled with the knot of her veil。 She pulled it loose； and then；
with a sudden courage； lifted her hat proudly； as though it were a coronet；
and placed it between them on his table。
〃Philip；〃 she stammered； with the tears in her voice and eyes； 〃if you
will let meI have come to stay。〃
The table was no longer between them。 He caught her in his arms
and kissed her face and her uncovered head again and again。 From
outside the rain beat drearily and the fog rolled through the street； but
inside before the fire the two young people sat close together； asking eager
questions or sitting in silence； staring at the flames with wondering； happy
eyes。
The Lion and the Unicorn saw them only once again。 It was a
month later when they stopped in front of the shop in a four… wheeler； with
their baggage mixed on top of it； and steamer… labels pasted over every
trunk。
〃And； oh； Prentiss！〃 Carroll called from the cab…window。 〃I came
near forgetting。 I promised to gild the Lion and the Unicorn if I won out
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THE LION AND THE UNICORN
in London。 So have it done； please； and send the bill to me。 For I've
won out all right。〃 And then he shut the door of the cab； and they drove
away forever。
〃Nice gal； that；〃 growled the Lion。 〃I always liked her。 I am glad
they've settled it at last。〃
The Unicorn sighed； sentimentally。 〃The other one's worth two of
her；〃 he said。
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THE LION AND THE UNICORN
ON THE FEVER SHIP
There were four rails around the ship's sides； the three lower ones of
iron and the one on top of wood； and as he looked between them from the
canvas cot he recognized them as the prison…bars which held him in。
Outside his prison lay a stretch of blinding blue water which ended in a
line of breakers and a yellow coast with ragged palms。 Beyond that
again rose a range of mountain… peaks； and； stuck upon the loftiest peak of
all； a tiny block… house。 It rested on the brow of the mountain against the
naked sky as impudently as a cracker…box set upon the dome of a great
cathedral。
As the transport rode on her anchor…chains； the iron bars around her
sides rose and sank and divided the landscape with parallel lines。 From
his cot the officer followed this phenomenon with severe； painstaking
interest。 Sometimes the wooden rail swept up to the very block…house
itself； and for a second of time blotted it from sight。 And again it sank to
the level of the line of breakers； and wiped them out of the picture as
though they were a line of chalk。
The soldier on the cot promised himself that the next swell of the sea
would send the lowest rail climbing to the very top of the palm…trees or；
even higher； to the base of the mountains； and when it failed to reach even
the palm…trees he felt a distinct sense of ill use； of having been wronged by
some one。 There was no other reason for submitting to this existence；
save these tricks upon the wearisome； glaring landscape； and； now；
whoever it was who was working them did not seem to be making this
effort to entertain him with any heartiness。
It was most cruel。 Indeed； he decided hotly； it was not to be endured；
he would bear it no longer； he would make his escape。 But he knew that
this move； which could be conceived in a moment's desperation； could
only be carried to success with great strategy； secrecy； and careful cunning。
So he fell back upon his pillow and closed his eyes； as though he were
asleep； and then opening them again； turned cautiously； and spied upon his
keeper。 As usual； his keeper sat at the foot of the cot turning the pages of
a huge paper filled with pictures of the war printed in daubs of tawdry
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THE LION AND THE UNICORN
colors。 His keeper was a hard…faced boy without human pity or
consideration； a very devil of obstinacy and fiendish cruelty。 To make it
worse； the fiend was a person without a collar； in a suit of soiled khaki；
with a curious red cross bound by a safety…pin to his left arm。 He was
intent upon the paper in his hands； he was holding it between his eyes and
his prisoner。 His vigilance had relaxed； and the moment seemed
propitious。 With a sudden plunge of arms and legs； the prisoner swept
the bed sheet from him； and sprang at the wooden rail and grasped the iron
stanchion beside it。 He had his knee pressed against the top bar and his
bare toes on the iron rail beneath it。 Below him the blue water waited for
him。 It was cool and dark and gentle and deep。 It would certainly put
out the fire in his bones； he thought； it might even shut out the glare of the
sun which scorched his eyeballs。
But as he balanced for the leap； a swift weakness and nausea swept
over him； a weight seized upon his body and limbs。 He could not lift the
lower foot from the iron rail； and he swayed dizzily and trembled。 He
trembled。 He who had raced his men and beaten them up the hot hill to
the trenches of San Juan。 But now he was a baby in the hands of a giant；
who caught him by the wrist and with an iron arm clasped him around his
waist and pulled him down； and shouted； brutally； 〃Help； some of you'se；
quick； he's at it again。 I can't hold him。〃
More giants grasped him by the arms and by the legs。 One of them
took the hand that clung to the stanchion in both of his； and pulled back
the fingers one by one； saying； 〃Easy now； Lieutenanteasy。〃
The ragged palms and the sea and block…house were swallowed up in a
black fog； and his body touched the canvas cot again with a sense of
home…coming and relief and rest。 He wondered how he could have cared
