active service-第26章

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ad。　When　there　came　a　polite　remonstrance…notably　from　Mrs。　Wainwright…Coleman　merely　pointed　to　a　large　bundle　strapped　back　of　the　groom's　saddle。　During　the　coffee　he　was　considering　how　best　to　get　the　students　one　by　one　out　of　the　sight　of　the　Wainwrights　where　he　could　give　them　good　drinks　of　whisky。

There　was　an　agitation　on　the　road　toward　Arta。　Some　people　were　coming　on　horses。　He　paid　small　heed　until　he　heard　a　thump　of　pausing　hoofs　near　him；　and　a　musical　voice　say：　〃Rufus！　〃

He　looked　up　quickly；　and　then　all　present　saw　his　eyes　really　bulge。　There　on　a　fat　and　glossy　horse　sat　Nora　Black；　dressed　in　probably　one　of　the　most　correct　riding　habits　which　had　ever　been　seen　in　the　East。　She　was　smiling　a　radiant　smile；　which　held　the　eight　students　simpty　spell…bound。　They　would　have　recognised　her　if　it　had　not　been　for　this　apparitional　coming　in　the　wilds　of　southeastern　Europe。　Behind　her　were　her　people…some　servants　and　an　old　lady　on　a　very　little　pony。　〃　Well；　Rufus？　〃　she　said。

Coleman　made　the　mistake　of　hesitating。　For　a　fraction　of　a　moment　he　had　acted　as　if　he　were　embarrassed；　and　was　only　going　to　nod　and　say：　〃　How　d'do　？〃

He　arose　and　came　forward　too　late。　She　was　looking　at　him　with　a　menacing　glance　which　meant　difficulties　for　him　if　he　was　not　skilful。　Keen　as　an　eagle；　she　swept　her　glance　over　the　face　and　figure　of　Marjory。　Without。　further　introduction；　the　girls　seemed　to　understand　that　they　were　enemies。

Despite　his　feeling　of　awkwardness；　Coleman's　mind　　　　　was　mainly　occupied　by　pure　astonishment。　〃Nora　Black？　〃　he　said；　as　if　even　then　he　could　not　believe　his　senses。　〃　How　in　the　world　did　you　get　down　here　？

She　was　not　too　amiable；　evidently；　over　his　reception；　and　she　seemed　to　know　perfectly　that　it　was　in　her　power　to　make　him　feel　extremely　unpleasant。　〃　Oh；　it's　not　so　far；〃　she　answered。　〃　I　don't　see　where　you　come　in　to　ask　me　what　I'm　doing　here。　What　are　you　doing　here？　〃　She　lifted　her　eyes　and　shot　the　half　of　a　glance　at　Marjory。　Into　her　last　question　she　had　interjected　a　spirit　of　ownership　in　which　he　saw　future　woe。　It　turned　him　cowardly。　〃　Why；　you　know　I　was　sent　up　here　by　the　paper　to　rescue　the　Wainwright　party；　and　I've　got　them。　I'm　taking　them　to　Arta。　But　why　are　you　here？〃

〃　I　am　here；〃　she　said；　giving　him　the　most　defiant　of　glances；　〃　principally　to　look　for　you。〃

Even　the　horse　she　rode　betrayed　an　intention　of　abiding　upon　that　spot　forever。　She　had　made　her　communication　with　Coleman　appear　to　the　Wainwright　party　as　a　sort　of　tender　reunion。

Coleman　looked　at　her　with　a　steely　eye。　〃Nora；　you　can　certainly　be　a　devil　when　you　choose。〃

〃　Why　don't　you　present　me　to　your　friends？　Mis；；　Nora　Black；　special　correspondent　of　the　New　York　Daylighi；　if　you　please。　I　belong　to　your　opposition。　I　am　your　rival；　Rufus；　and　I　draw　a　bigger　salary…see？　Funny　looking　gang；　that。　　Who　is　the　old　Johnnie　in　the　white　wig？〃

〃Er…where　you　goin'…you　can't　〃…blundered　Coleman　miserably　〃Aw…the　army　is　in　retreat　and　you　must　go　back　to…　don't　you　see？〃

〃Is　it？〃　she　agked。　After　a　pause　she　added　coolly：　〃Then　I　shall　go　back　to　Arta　with　you　and　your　precious　Wainwrights。〃










CHAPTER　XV。

GIVING　Coleman　another　glance　of　subtle　menace　Nora　repeated：　〃Why　don't　you　present　me　to　your　friends？　〃　Coleman　had　been　swiftly　searching　the　whole　world　for　a　way　clear　of　this　unhappiness；　but　he　knew　at　last　that　he　could　only　die　at　his　guns。　〃　Why；　certainly；〃　he　said　quickly；　〃　if　you　wish　it。〃　He　sauntered　easily　back　to　the　luncheon　blanket。　〃This　is　Miss　Black　of　the　New　York　Daylight　and　she　says　that　those　people　on　the　mountain　are　Greeks。〃　The　students　were　gaping　at　him；　and　Marjory　and　her　father　sat　in　the　same　silence。　But　to　the　relief　of　Coleman　and　to　the　high　edification　of　the　students；　Mrs。　Wainwright　cried　out：　〃　Why；　is　she　an　American　woman？　〃　And　seeing　Coleman's　nod　of　assent　she　rustled　to　her　feet　and　advanced　hastily　upon　the　complacent　horsewoman。　〃　I'm　delighted　to　see　you。　Who　would　think　of　seeing　an　American　woman　way　over　here。　Have　you　been　here　long？　Are　you　going　on　further？　Oh；　we've　had　such　a　dreadful　time。〃　Coleman　remained　long　enough　to　hear　Nora　say：　〃　Thank　you　very　much；　but　I　shan't　dismount。　I　am　going　to　ride　back　to　Arta　presently。〃

Then　he　heard　Mrs。　Wainwright　cry：　〃　Oh；　are　you　indeed　？　Why　we；　too；　are　going　at　once　to　Arta。　We　can　all　go　together。〃　Coleman　fled　then　to　the　bosom　of　the　students；　who　all　looked　at　him　with　eyes　of　cynical　penetration。　He　cast　a　glance　at　Marjory　more　than　fearing　a　glare　which　denoted　an　implacable　resolution　never　to　forgive　this　thing。　On　the　contrary　he　had　never　seen　her　so　content　and　serene。　〃You　have　allowed　your　coffee　to　get　chilled；〃　she　said　considerately。　〃Won't　you　have　the　man　warm　you　some　more？〃

〃Thanks；　no；〃　he　answered　with　gratitude。

Nora；　changing　her　mind；　had　dismounted　and　was　coming　with　Mrs。　Wainwright。　That　worthy　lady　had　long　had　a　fund　of　information　and　anecdote　the　sound　of　which　neither　her　husband　nor　her　daughter　would　endure　for　a　moment。　Of　course　the　rascally　students　were　out　of　the　question。　Here；　then；　was　really　the　first　ear　amiably　and　cheerfully　open；　and　she　was　talking　at　what　the　students　called　her　〃thirty　knot　gait。〃

〃Lost　everything。　Absolutely　everything。　Neither　of　us　have　even　a　brush　and　comb；　or　a　cake　of　soap；　or　enough　hairpins　to　hold　up　our　hair。　I'm　going　to　take　Marjory's　away　from　her　and　let　her　braid　her　hair　down　her　back。　You　can　imagine　how　dreadful　it　is…〃

From　time　to　time　the　cool　voice　of　Nora　sounded　without　effort　through　this　clamour。　〃　Oh；　it　will　be　no　trouble　at　all。　I　have　more　than　enough　of　everything。　We　can　divide　very　nicely。〃

Coleman　broke　somewhat　imperiously　into　this　feminine　chat。　〃Well；　we　must　be　moving；　you　know；　〃　and　his　voice　started　the　men　into　activity。　When　the　traps　were　all　packed　again　on　the　horse　Coleman　looked　back　surprised　to　see　the　three　women　engaged　in　the　most　friendly　discussion。　The　combined　parties　now　made　a　very　respectable　squadron。　Coleman　rode　off　at　its　head　without　glancing　behind　at　all。　He　knew　that　they　were　following　from　the　soft　pounding　of　the　horses　hoofs　on　the　sod　and　from　the　mellow　hum　of　human　voices。

For　a　long　time　he　did　not　think　to　look　upon　himself　as　anything　but　a　man　much　injured　by　circumstances。　Among　his　friends　he　could　count　numbers　who　had　lived　long　lives　without　having　this　peculiar　class　of　misfortune　come　to　them。　In　fact　it　was　so　unusual　a　misfortune　that　men　of　the　world　had　not　found　it　necessary　to　pass　from　mind　to　mind　a　perfec　t　formula　for　dealing　with　it。　But　he　soon　began　to　consider　himself　an　extraordinarily　lucky　person　inasmuch　as　Nora　Black　had　come　upon　him　with　her　saddle　bags　packed　with　inflammable　substances；　so　to　speak；　and　there　had　been　as　yet　only　enough　fire　to　boil　coffee　for　luncheon。　He　laughed　tenderly　when　he　thought　of　the　innocence　of　Mrs。　Wainwright；　but　his　face　and　back　flushed　with　heat　when　lie　　thought　of　the　canniness　of　the　eight　American　college　students。

He　heard　a　horse　cantering　up　on　his　left　side　and　looking　he　saw　Nora　Black。　She　was　beaming　with　satisfaction　and　good　nature。　〃　Well；　Rufus；〃　she　cried　flippantly；　〃　how　goes　it　with　the　gallant　rescuer？　You've　made　a　hit；　my　boy。　You　are　the　success　of　the　season。〃

Coleman　reflected　upon　the　probable　result　of　a　direct　appeal　to　Nora。　He　knew　of　course　that　such　appeals　were　usually　idle；　but　he　did　not　consider　Nora　an　ordinary　person。　His　decision　was　to　venture　it。　He　drew　his　horse　close　to　hers。　〃　Nora；〃　he　said；　〃　do　you　know　that　you　are　raising　the　very　devil？　〃

She　lifted　her　finely　penciled　eyebrows　and　looked　at　him　with　the　baby…stare。　〃　How　？　〃　she　enquired。

〃　You　know　well　enough；〃　he　gritted　out　wrathfully。

〃Raising　the　very　devil？〃　she　asked。　〃　How　do　you　mean？〃　She　was　palpably　interested　for　his　answer。　She　waited　for　his　reply　for　an　interval；　and　then　she　asked　him　outright。　〃　Rufus　Coleman　do　you　mean　that　I　am　not　a　respectable　woman　？　〃

In　reality　he　had　meant　nothing　of　the　kind；　but　this　direct　throttling　of　a　great　question