active service-第51章

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ffort　he　muttered：　〃　Shes　too　good　for　him。〃　Another　student　had　turned　ghastly　pate　and　was　staring。　It　was　Peter　Tounley　who　relieved　　the　minister's　mind；　for　upon　that　young　man's　face　was　a　broad　jack…o…lantern　grin；　and　the　minister　saw　that；　at　any　rate；　he　had　not　made　a　complete　massacre。

Peter　Tounley　said　triumphantly：　〃I　knew　it　！　〃

The　minister　was　anxious　over　the　havoc　he　had　wrought　with　the　two　other　students；　but　slowly　the　colour　abated　in　one　face　and　grew　in　the　other。　　To　give　them　opportunity；　the　minister　talked　busily　to　Peter　Tounley。　〃And　how　did　you　know　it；　you　young　scamp　？〃

Peter　was　jubilant。　〃　Oh；　…I　knew　it！　I　knew　it　I　I　am　very　clever。〃

The　student　who　had　blushed　now　addressed　the　minister　in　a　slightly　strained　voice。　〃　Are　you　positive　that　it　is　true；　Mr。　Gordner？；〃

〃　I　had　it　on　the　best　authority；〃　replied　the　minister　gravely。

The　student　who　had　turned　pale　said：　〃　Oh；　it's　true；　of　course。〃

〃　Well；〃　said　crudely　the　one　who　had　blushed；　she's　a　great　sight　too　good　for　Coleman　or　anybody　like　him。　That's　all　I've　got　to　say。〃

〃　Oh；　Coleman　is　a　good　fellow；〃　said　Peter　Tounley；　reproachfully。　〃　You've　no　right　to　say　that…exactly。　You　don't　know　where　you'd。　be　now　if　it　were　not　for　Coleman。〃

The；　response　was；　first；　an　angry　gesture。　〃　Oh；　don't　keep　everlasting　rubbing　that　in。　　For　heaven's　sake；　let　up。　…　Supposing　I　don't。　know　where　I'd　be　now　if；it　were　not　for　Rufus　Coleman？　What　of　it？　For　the　rest　of　my　life　have　I　got　to〃

The　minister　saw。　that　this　was　the　embittered　speech　of　a　really　defeated　youth；　so；　to　save　scenes；　he　gently　ejected　the　trio。　〃　There；　there；　now　！　Run　along　home　like　good　boys。　I'll　be　busy　until　luncheon。　And　I　…dare　say　you　won't　find　Coleman　such　a　bad　chap。〃'

In　the　corridor；　one　of　the　students　said　offensively　to　Peter　Tounley　：　〃　Say；　how　in　hell　did　you　find　out　all　this　so　early　？　〃

Peter's　reply　was　amiable　in　tone。　〃　You　are　a　damned　bleating　little　kid　and　you　made　a　holy　show　of　yourself　before　Mr。　Gordner。　There's　where　you　stand。　　Didn't　you　see　that　he　turned　us　out　because　he　didn't　know　but　what　you　were　going　to　blubber　or　something。　…　you　are　a　sucking　pig；　and　if　you　want　to　know　how　I　find　out　things　go　ask　the　Delphic　　Oracle；　you　blind　ass。〃

〃　You　better　look　out　or　you　may　get　a　punch　in　the　eye！；〃

〃You　take　one　punch　in　the　general　direction　of　my　eye；　me　son；〃　said　…Peter　cheerfully；　〃　and　I'll　　distribute　your　remains；　over　this　hotel　in　a　way　that　will　cause　your；　friends　years　of　trouble　to　collect　you。　Instead　of　anticipating　an　attack　upon　my　eye；　you　had　much　better　be　engaged　in　improving　your　mind；　which　is　at　present　not　a　fit　machine　to　cope　with　exciting　situations。　There's　Coke！　Hello；　Coke；　hear　the　news？　Well；　Marjory　Wainwright　and　Rufus　Coleman　；　are　engaged。。　Straight　？　Certainly　！　Go　ask　the　minister。〃

Coke　did　not　take　Peter's　word。　〃Is　that　so　？　〃　he　asked　the　others。

〃　So　the　minister　told　us；〃　they　answered；　and　then　these　two；　who　seemed　so　unhappy；　watched　Coke's　face　to　see　if　they　could　not　find　surprised　misery　there。　But　Coke　coolly　said：　〃　Well；　then；　I　suppose　it's　true。〃

It　soon　became　evident　that　the　students　did　not　care　for　each　other's　society。　　Peter　Tounley　was　probably　an　exception；　but　the　others　seemed　to　long　for　quiet　corners。　They　were　distrusting　each　other；　and；　in　a　boyish　way；　they　were　even　capable　of　maligant　things。　Their　excuses　for　separation　were　badly　made。

〃I…I　think　I'll　go　for　a　walk。〃　〃　I'm　going　up　stairs　to　read。〃　〃　Well；　so　long；　old　man。'　〃　So　long。〃　There　was　no　heart　to　it。

Peter　Tounley　went　to　Coleman's　door；　where　he　knocked　with　noisy　hilarity。　〃　Come　in　I　〃　The　correspondent　apparently　had　just　come　from　the　street；　for　his　hat　was　on　his　head　and　a　light　top…coat　was　on　his　back。　He　was　searching　hurriedly　through　some；　papers。　〃　Hello；　you　young　devil　What　are　you　doing　here　？

Peter's　entrance　was　a　somewhat　elaborate　comedy　which　Coleman　watched　in　icy　silence。　Peter　after　a　long；and　impudent　pantomime　halted　abruptly　and　fixing　Coleman　with　his　eye　demanded：　〃Well？〃

〃Well…what？。〃　said　Coleman；　bristling　a　trifle。

〃　Is　it　true　？〃

〃　Is　what　true　？〃

〃　Is　it　true？　〃　Peter　was　extremely　solemn。　〃　Say；　me　bucko；〃　said　Coleman　suddenly；　〃　if　you've。　come　up　here　to　twist　the　beard　of　the　patriarch；　don't　you　think　you　are　running　a　chance？　〃

〃All　right。　I'll　be　good；〃　said　Peter；　and　he　sat　on　the　bed。　〃　But…is　it　true？

〃　Is　what　true？　〃

〃　What　the　whole　hotel　is　saying。〃

＇　　　　　〃I　haven't　heard　the　hotel　making　any　remarks　lately。　Been　talking　to　the　other　buildings；　I　sup…　pose。〃

〃Well；　I　want　to　tell　you　that　everybody　knows　that　you　and　Marjory　have　done　gone　and　got　　yourselves　engaged；〃　said　Peter　bluntly。

〃And　well？　〃　asked　Coleman　imperturbably。

〃　Oh；　nothing；〃　replied　Peter；　waving　his　hand。　〃　Only…I　thought　it　might　interest　you。〃

Coleman　was　silent　for　some　time。　He　fingered　his　papers。　At　last　he　burst　out　joyously。　〃And　so　they　know　it　already；　do　they？　Well…damn　them…　let　them　know　it。　But　you　didn't　tell　them　yourself　？　〃

〃　I　！　〃　quoth　Peter　wrathfully。　〃　No！　The　minister　told　us。〃

Then　Coleman　was　again　silent　for　a　time　and　Peter　Tounley　sat　on　the。　bed　reflectively　looking　at　the　ceiling。　〃　Funny　thing；　Marjory　'way　over　here　in　Greece；　and　then　you　happening　over　here　the　way　you　did。〃

〃　It　isn't　funny　at　all。〃

〃　Why　isn't　it　？　〃

〃　Because；〃　said　Coleman　impressively；；　〃　that　is　why　I　came　to　Greece。　It　was　all　planned。　See？〃

〃Whirroo；〃　exclaimed　Peter。　〃This　here　is　magic。〃

〃　No　magic　at　all。〃　Coleman　displayed　some　complacence。　〃　No　magic　at　all。　just　pure；　plain　whatever　you　choose　to　call　it。〃

〃　Holy　smoke；〃　said　Peter；　admiring　the　situation。　〃Why；　this　is　plum　romance；　Coleman。　I'm　blowed　if　it　isn't。〃

Coleman　was　grinning　with　delight。　He　took　a　fresh　cigar　and　his　bright　eyes　looked　at　Peter　through　the　smoke。；　〃Seems　like　it；　don't　it？　Yes。　Regular　romance。　Have　a　drink；　my　boy；　just　to　celebrate　my　good　luck。　And　be　patient　if　I　talk　a　great　deal　of　my…my…future。　My　head　spins　with　it。〃　He　arose　to　pace　the　room　flinging　out　bis　arms　in　a　great　gesture。　〃　God！　When　I　think　yesterday　was　not　like　to…day　I　wonder　how　I　stood　it。〃　There　was　a　knock　at　the　door　and　a　waiter　left　a　note　in　Coleman's　hand

〃Dear　Ruf　us：…We　are　going　for　a　drive　this　afternoon　　at　three；　and　mother　wishes　you　to　come；　if　you。　care　to。　I　too　wish　it；　if　you　care　to。　Yours；　〃　MARJORY。〃

With　a　radiant　face；　Coleman　gave　the　note　a　little　crackling　flourish　in　the　air。　〃　Oh；　you　don't　know　what　life　is；　kid。〃

〃　S…steady　the　Blues；〃　said　Peter　Tounley　seriously。　You'll　lose　your　head　if　you　don't　watch　out。〃

〃　Not　I〃　cried　Coleman　with　irritation。　〃　But　a　man　must　turn　loose　some　times；　mustn't　he？〃

When　the　four；　students　had　separated　in　the　corri…　dor；　Coke　had　posted　at　once　to　Nora　Black's　sitting　room。　His　entrance　was　somewhat　precipitate；　but　he　cooled　down　almost　at　once；　for　he　reflected　that　he　was　not　bearing　good　news。　He　ended　by　perching　in　awkward　fashion　on　the　brink　of　his　chair　and　fumbling　his　hat　uneasily。　Nora　floated　to　him　in　a　cloud　of　a　white　dressing　gown。　She　gave　him　a　plump　hand。　〃Well；　youngman？　〃she　said；　with　a　glowing　smile。　She　took　a　chair；　and　the　stuff　of　her　gown　fell　in　curves　over　the　arms　of　it。；

Coke　looked　hot　and　bothered；　as　if　he　could　have　more　than　half　wanted　to　retract　his　visit。　〃　I…aw…　we　haven't　seen　much　of　you　lately；〃　he　began；　sparing。　He　had　expected　to　tell　his　news　at　once。

No；〃　said　Nora；　languidly。　〃　I　have　been　resting　after　that　horrible　journey…that　horrible　journey。　Dear；　dear！　Nothing；will　ever　induce　me　to　leave　London；　New　York　and　Paris。　I　am　at　home　there。　But　here　I　Why；　it　is　worse　than　living　in　Brooklyn。　And　that　journey　into　the　wilds！　No。　no；　not　for　me！　〃

〃　I　suppose　we'll　all　be　glad　to　get　home；〃　said　Coke；　aimlessly。

At　the　moment　a　waiter　entered　the　room　and　began　　to　lay　the　table　for　luncheon。　He　kept　open　the　door　to　the　corridor；　and　he　had　the　luncheon　at　a　point　just　outside　the　door。　His　excursions　to　the　trays　were　flying　ones