active service-第10章

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〃　Oh；　you　mustn't　be　so　sentimental；　Nora。　You　remember　that　play　you　bought　from　little　Ben　Whipple；　just　because　he　had　once　sent　you　some　flowers　in　the　old　days　when　you　were　poor　and　happened　to　bed　sick。　A　sense　of　gratitude　cost　you　over　eight　thousand　dollars　that　time；　didn't　it？　〃　Coleman　laughed　heartily。

〃　Oh；　it　wasn't　the　flowers　at　all；〃　she　interrupted　seriously。　〃　Of　course　Ben　was　always　a　nice　boy；　but　then　his　play　was　worth　a　thousand　dollars。　That's　all　I　gave　him。　I　lost　some　more　in　trying　to　make　it　go。　But　it　was　too　good。　That　was　what　was　the　matter。　It　was　altogether　too　good　for　the　public。　I　felt　awfully　sorry　for　poor　little　Ben。〃

〃Too　good？〃　sneered　Coleman。　〃Too　good？　Too　indifferently　bad；　you　mean。　My　dear　girl；　you　mustn't　imagine　that　you　know　a　good　play。　You　don't；　at　all。〃

She　paused　abruptly　and　faced　him。　This　regal；　creature　was　looking　at　him　so　sternly　that　Coleman　felt　awed　for　a　moment　as　if　he；　were　in　the　presence　of　a　great　mind。　〃　Do　you　mean　to　say　that　I'm　not　an　artist　？　〃　she　asked。

Coleman　remained　cool。　〃　I've　never　been　decorated　for　informing　people　of　their　own　affairs；〃　he　observed；　〃　but　I　should　say　that　you　were　about　as　much　of　an　artist　as　I　am。〃

Frowning　slightly；　she　reflected　upon　this　reply。　Then；　of　a　sudden；　she　laughed。　〃　There　is　no　use　in　being　angry　with　you；　Rufus。　You　always　were　a　hopeless　scamp。　But；〃　she　added；　childishly　wistful；　〃have　you　ever　seen　Fly　by　Night？　　Don't　you　think　my　dance　in　the　second　act　is　artistic？　〃

〃　No；〃　said　Coleman；　〃　I　haven't　seen　Fly　by　Night　yet；　but　of　course　I　know　that　you　are　the　most　beautiful　dancer　on　the　stage。　Everybody　knows　that。〃

It　seemed　that　her　hand　tightened　on　his　arm。　Her　face　was　radiant。　〃　There；〃　she　exclaimed。　〃　Now　you　are　forgiven。　You　are　a　nice　boy；　Rufus…some…　times。〃

When　Miss　Black　went　to　her　cabin；　Coleman　strolled　into　the　smoking　room。　Every　man　there　covertly　or　openly　surveyed　him。　He　dropped　lazily　into　a　chair　at　a　table　where　the　wine　merchant；　the　Chicago　railway　king　and　the　New　York　millionaire　were　playing　cards。　They　made　a　noble　pretense　of　not　being　aware　of　him。　On　the　oil　cloth　top　of　the　table　the　cards　were　snapped　down；　turn　by　turn。

Finally　the　wine　merchant；　without　lifting　his　head　to…　address　a　particular　person；　said：　〃　New　conquest。〃

Hailing　a　steward　Coleman　asked　for　a　brandy　and　soda。

The　millionaire　said：　〃　He's　a　sly　cuss；　anyhow。〃　The　railway　man　grinned。　After　an　elaborate　silence　the　wine　merchant　asked：　〃　Know　Miss　Black　long；　Rufus？〃　Coleman　looked　scornfully　at　his　friends。　〃　What's　wrong　with　you　there；　fellows；　anyhow？〃　The　Chicago　man　answered　airily。　〃　Oh；　nothin'。　Nothin'；　whatever。〃

At　dinner　in　the　crowded　salon；　Coleman　was　aware　that　more　than　one　passenger　glanced　first　at　Nora　Black　and　then　at　him；　as　if　connecting　them　in　some　train　of　thought；　moved　to　it　by　the　narrow　horizon　of　shipboard　and　by　a　sense　of　the　mystery　that　surrounds　the　lives　of　the　beauties　of　the　stage。　Near　the　captain's　right　hand　sat　the　glowing　and　splendid　Nora；　exhibiting　under　the　gaze　of　the　persistent　eyes　of　many　meanings；　a　practiced　and　profound　composure　that　to　the　populace　was　terrfying　dignity。

Strolling　toward　the　smoking　room　after　dinner；　Coleman　met　the　New　York　millionaire；　who　seemed　agitated。　He　took　Coleman　fraternally　by　the　arm。　〃　Say；　old　man；　introduce　me；　won't　you　？　I'm　crazy　to　know　her。〃

〃Do　you　mean　Miss　Black？〃　asked　Coleman。

〃　Why；　I　don't　know　that　I　have　a　right。　Of　course；　you　know；　she　hasn't　been　meeting　anybody　aboard。　I'll　ask　her；　though…　certainly。〃

〃　Thanks；　old　man；　thanks。　I'd　be　tickled　to　death。　Come　along　and　have　a　drink。　When　will　you　ask　her？　〃　〃　Why；　I　don't　know　when　I'll　see　her。　To…morrow；　I　suppose…〃

They　had　not　been　long　in　the　smoking　room；　however；　when　the　deck　steward　came　with　a　card　to　Coleman。　Upon　it　was　written：　〃Come　for'　a　stroll？〃　Everybody；　saw　Coleman　read　this　card　and　then　look　up　and　whisper　to　the　deck　steward。　The　deck　steward　bent　his　head　and　whispered　discreetly　in　reply。　There　was　an　abrupt　pause　in　the　hum　of　conversation。　The　interest　was　acute。

Coleman　leaned　carelessly　back　in　his　chair；　puffing　at　his　cigar。　He　mingled　calmly　in　a　discussion　of　the　comparative　merits　of　certain　trans…Atlantic　lines。　After　a　time　he　threw　away　his　cigar　and　arose。　Men　nodded。　〃Didn't　I　tell　you？〃　His　studiously　languid　exit　was　made　dramatic　by　the　eagle…eyed　attention　of　the　smoking　room。　

On　deck　he　found　Nora　pacing　to　and　fro。　〃You　didn't　hurry　yourself；〃　she　said；　as　he　joined　her。　The　lights　of　Queenstown　were　twinkling。　A　warm　wind；　wet　with　the　moisture　of　rain…　stricken　sod；　was　coming　from　the　land。

〃Why；〃　said　Coleman；　〃we've　got　all　these　duffers　very　much　excited。〃

〃Well　what　do　you　care？　〃　asked　hte　girl。　〃You　don't；　care　do　you？〃

〃No；　I　don't　care。　　Only　it's　rather　absurd　to　be　watched　all　the　time。〃　　He　said　this　precisely　as　if　he　abhorred　being　watched　in　this　case。　　〃Oh　by　the　way；〃　he　added。　　Then　he　paused　for　a　　moment。　　〃Awa　friend　of　minenot　a　bad　fellow　he　asked　me　for　an　introduction。　　Of　course；　I　told　him　I'd　ask　you。〃

She　made　a　contemptuous　gesture。　　〃Oh；　another　Willie。　　Tell　him　no。　　Tell　him　to　go　home　to　his　family。　　Tell　him　to　run　away。〃

〃He　isn't　a　bad　fellow。　　He〃　said　Coleman　diffidently；　　〃he　would　probably　be　at　the　theatre　every　night　in　a　box。〃

〃yes；　and　get　drunk　and　throw　a　wine　bottle　on　the　　stage　instead　of　a　bouquet。　No；〃　she　declared　positively；　〃I　won't　see　him。〃

Coleman　did　not　seem　to　be　oppressed　by　this　ultimatum。　〃Oh；　all　right。　　I　promised　himthat　was　all。〃

〃Besides；　are　you　in　a　great　hurry　to　get　rid　of　me？〃

〃Rid　of　you？　　Nonsense。〃

They　walked　in　the　shadow。　　〃How　long　are　you　going　to　be　in　London；　Rufus？〃　asked　Nora　softly。

〃Who？　　I？　Oh；　I'm　going　right　off　to　Greece。　　First　train。　　There's　going　to　be　a　war；　you　know。〃

〃A　war？　　Why；　who　is　going　to　fight？　　The　Greeks　　and　thethethe　what？〃

〃The　Turks。　　I'm　going　right　over　there。〃

〃Why；　that's　dreadful；　Rufus；〃　　said　the　girl；　mournfull　and　shocked。　　〃You　might　get　hurt　or　something。〃　　　Presently　she　asked：　〃And　aren't　you　going　to　be　in　　London　any　time　at　all？〃

〃Oh；〃　he　answered；　puffing　out　his　lips；　〃I　may　stop　in　Londom　for　three　or　four　days　on　my　way　home。　　I'm　　not　sure　of　it。〃

〃And　when　will　that　be？〃

〃Oh；　I　can't　tell。　　It　may　be　in　three　or　four　months；　　or　it　may　be　a　year　from　now。　　When　the　war　stops。〃

There　was　a　long　silence　as　the　walked　up　and　down　　the　swaying　deck。

〃Do　you　know；〃　said　Nora　at　last；　〃I　like　you；　Rufus　Coleman。　　I　don't　know　any　good　reason　for　it　either；　unless　it　is　because　you　are　such　a　brute。　　Now；　when　I　was　asking　you　if　you　were　　to　be　in　London　you　were　perfectly　detestable。　　You　know　I　was　　anxious。〃

〃Idetestable？〃　cried　Coleman；　feigning　amazement。　　　〃Why；　what　did　I　say？〃　　　

〃It　isn't　so　much　what　you　said〃　began　Nora　slowlly。　　　Then　she　suddenly　changed　her　manner。　〃Oh；　well；　don't　let's　talk　about　it　any　more。　　It's　too　foolish。　Only…you　are　a　disagreeable　person　sometimes。〃

In　the　morning；　as　the　vessel　steamed　up　the　Irish　channel；　Coleman　was　on　deck；　keeping　furtive　watch　on　the　cabin　stairs。　After　two　hours　of　waiting；　he　scribbled　a　message　on　a　card　and　sent　it　below。　He　received　an　answer　that　Miss　Black　had　a　headache；　and　felt　too　ill　to　come　on　deck。　He　went　to　the　smoking　room。　The　three　card…players　glanced　up；　grinning。　〃What's　the　matter？〃　asked　the　wine　merchant。　〃You　look　angry。〃　As　a　matter　of　fact；　Coleman　had　purposely　wreathed　his　features　in　a　pleasant　and　satisfied　expression；　so　he　was　for　a　moment　furious　at　the　wine　merchant。

〃Confound　the　girl；〃　he　thought　to　himself。　〃She　has　succeeded　in　making　all　these　beggars　laugh　at　me。〃　He　mused　that　if　he　had　another　chance　he　would　show　her　how　disagreeable　or　detestable　or　scampish　he　was　under　some　circumstances。　He　reflected　ruefully　that　the　complacence　with　which　he　had　accepted　the　comradeship　of　the　belle　of　the　　voyage　might　have　been　somewhat　overdone。　Perhaps　he　had　got　a　little　out　of　proportion。　He　was　annoyed　at　the　stares　of　the　other　m