active service-第35章
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t party。 Two carriages； forlorn in dusty age； stood be… fore the door。 Men were carrying out new leather luggage and flinging it into the traps amid a great deal of talk which seemed to refer to nothing。 Nora and Coke stood looking at the scene without either thinking of the importance of running away； when out tumbled seven students； followed immediately but in more decorous fashion by the Wainwrights and Coleman。
Some student set up a whoop。 〃 Oh； there he is。 There's Coke。 Hey； Coke； where you been？ Here he is； professor。〃 For a moment after the hoodlum had subsided； the two camps stared at each other in silence。
CHAPTER XX。
NORA and Coke were an odd looking pair at the time。 They stood indeed as if rooted to the spot； staring vacuously； like two villagers； at the surprising travellers。 It was not an eternity before the practiced girl of the stage recovered her poise； but to the end of the incident the green youth looked like a culprit and a fool。 Mrs。 Wainwright's glower of offensive incredulity was a masterpiece。 Marjory nodded pleasantly； the professor nodded。 The seven students clambered boisterously into the forward carriage making it clang with noise like a rook's nest。 They shouted to Coke。 〃 Come on； all aboard； come on； Coke； … we're off。 Hey； there； Cokey； hurry up。〃 The professor； as soon as he had seated himself on the forward seat of' the second carriage； turned in Coke's general direction and asked formally： 〃 Mr。 Coke； you are coming with us ？ 〃 He felt seemingly much in doubt as to the propriety of abandoning the headstrong young man； and this doubt was not at all decreased by Coke's appearance with Nora Black。 As far as he could tell； any assertion of authority on his part would end only in a scene in which Coke would probably insult him with some gross violation of collegiate conduct。 As at first the young man made no reply； the professor after waiting spoke again。 〃You understand； Mr。 Coke； that if you separate yourself from the party you encounter my strongest disapproval； and if I did not feel responsible to the college and your father for your safe journey to New York I…I don't know but what I would have you ex… pelled by cable if that were possible。〃
Although Coke had been silent； and Nora Black had had the appearance of being silent； in reality she had lowered her chin and whispered sideways and swiftly。 She had said： 〃 Now； here's your time。 Decide quickly； and don't look such a wooden Indian。〃 Coke pulled himself together with a visible effort； and spoke to the professor from an inspiration in which he had no faith。 〃 I understand my duties to you； sir； perfectly。 I also understand my duty to the college。 But I fail to see where either of these obligations require me to accept the introduction of objectionable people into the party。 If I owe a duty to the college and to you； I don't owe any to Coleman； and； as I understand it； Coleman was not in the original plan of this expedition。 If such had been the case； I would not have been here。 I can't tell what the college may see fit to do； but as for my father I I have no doubt of how he will view it。〃
The first one to be electrified by the speech was Coke himself。 He saw with a kind of sub…conscious amazement this volley of bird…shot take effect upon the face of the old professor。 The face of Marjory flushed crimson as if her mind had sprung to a fear that if Coke could develop ability in this singular fashion he might succeed in humiliating her father in the street in the presence of the seven students； her mother； Coleman and…herself。 She had felt the bird… shot sting her father。
When Coke had launched forth； Coleman with his legs stretched far apart had just struck a match on the wall of the house and was about to light a cigar。 His groom was leading up his horse。 He saw the value of Coke's argument more appreciatively and sooner perhaps than did Coke。 The match dropped from his fingers； and in the white sunshine and still air it burnt on the pavement orange coloured and with langour。 Coleman held his cigar with all five fingers…in a manner out of all the laws of smoking。 He turned toward Coke。 There was danger in the moment； but then in a flash it came upon him that his role was not of squabbling with Coke； far less of punching him。 On the contrary； he was to act the part of a cool and instructed man who refused to be waylaid into foolishness by the outcries of this pouting youngster and who placed himself in complete deference to the wishes of the professor。 Before the professor had time to embark upon any reply to Coke； Coleman was at the side of the carriage and； with a fine assumption of distress； was saying： 〃Professor； I could very easily ride back to Agrinion alone。 It would be all right。 I don't want to…〃
To his surprise the professor waved at him to be silent as if he were a mere child。 The old man's face was set with the resolution of exactly what hewas going to say to Coke。 He began in measured tone； speaking with feeling； but with no trace of anger。
〃 Mr。 Coke； it has probably escaped your attention that Mr。 Coleman； at what I consider a great deal of peril to himself； came out to rescue this party…you and others…and although he studiously disclaims all merit in his finding us and bringing us in； I do not regard it in that way； and I am surprised that any member of this party should conduct himself in this manner toward a man who has been most devotedly and generously at our service。〃 It was at this time that the professor raised himself and shook his finger at Coke； his voice now ringing with scorn。 In such moments words came to him and formed themselves into sentences almost too rapidly for him to speak them。 〃 You are one of the most remarkable products of our civilisation which I have yet come upon。 What do you mean； sir？ Where are your senses？ Do you think that all this pulling and pucking is manhood？ I will tell you what I will do with you。 I thought I brought out eight students to Greece； but when I find that I brought out； seven students anderanourang…outangdon't get angry； sirI don't care for your angerI say when I discover this I am naturally puzzled for a moment。 I will leave you to the judgment of your peers。 Young gentlemen！ 〃 Of the seven heads of the forward carriage none had to be turned。 All had been turned since the beginning of the talk。 If the professor's speech had been delivered in one of the class…rooms of Washurst they would have glowed with delight over the butchery of Coke； but they felt its portentous aspect。 Butchery here in Greece thousands of miles from home presented to them more of the emphasis of downright death and destruction。 The professor called out 〃 Young gentlemen； I have done all that I can do without using force； which； much to my regret； is impracticable。 If you will persuade your fellow student to accompany you I think our consciences will be the better for not having left a weak minded brother alone among the by…paths。〃 The valuable aggregation of intelligence and refine… ment which decorated the interior of the first carriage did not hesitate over answering this appeal。 In fact； his fellow students had worried among themselves over Coke； and their desire to see him come out of his troubles in fair condition was intensified by the fact that they had lately concentrated much thought upon him。 There was a somewhat comic pretense of speaking so that only Coke could hear。 Their chorus was law sung。 〃 Oh； cheese it； Coke。 Let up on your…self； you blind ass。 Wait till you get to Athens and then go and act like a monkey。 All this is no good…〃
The advice which came from the carriage was all in one direction； and there was so much of it that the hum of voices sounded like a wind blowing through a forest。
Coke spun suddenly and said something to Nora Black。 Nora laughed rather loudly； and then the two turned squarely and the Wainwright party contemplated what were surely at that time the two most insolent backs in the world。
The professor looked as if he might be going to have a fit。 Mrs。 Wainwright lifted her eyes toward heaven； and flinging out her trembling hands； cried： 〃 Oh； what an outrage。 What an outrage！ That minx…〃 The concensus of opinion in the
