on the firing line-第17章
按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
〃Than spoiling her work as she goes along。 If there's any chain at all； it should be endless and durable。 But a man with a Mauser hole in his leg and a fever in his head has no business to be talking of Fate。 Let's talk about Ethel； instead。〃
He settled himself back comfortably。
〃Perhaps it amounts to the same thing； in the long run。〃
〃Perhaps。 I don't see how； though。 Anyway； Ethel wouldn't be pleased with the notion。 She is absolutely independent； and generally arranges things according to her own sweet will。〃
〃Where is she now？〃
〃In Cape Town；〃 Alice answered； quite unaware of her own lack of truth。
〃And well？〃
〃Gloriously。 In fact； as far as I can learn； Cooee always is well。 Just now she is having a wonderfully gay time。 Since Lord Roberts went back to England； Cape Town has been full of people； resting there before sailing for home。〃
〃Resting？〃
〃Haven't they earned the right？〃 she questioned； in swift challenge to the quiet scorn in his tone。
〃Even if the battles are over； the fighting isn't；〃 he answered tersely。 〃The glory doesn't lie entirely in the pulverizing the Boer army； there's a little left for the men who are sweeping up the pieces。〃
Her trained eye saw the rising color in his face。 Swiftly she changed the subject。
〃Glory for all； enough and to spare；〃 she replied。 〃But； as I say； Cape Town is crowded with officers； lying up for repairs； and Ethel is queen bee among them。 It's not only for herself； it is what you would call Fate。 She happens to be the only girl of her set who is just out from London； she had met a good many of them there； and now she is holding a veritable salon。 She even has one sacred teacup； set up on a high shelf ever since the day that Baden…Powell used it。〃
Weldon smiled。
〃Miss Dent is a hero…worshipper；〃 he commented。
〃So are we all； in certain directions。 Moreover； most women like their heroes to have a little personality。 One can't make one's admiration stick to a blank wall of impersonal perfection。〃
Weldon's mind moved swiftly backwards to two blue； black…fringed eyes glowing out from a dust…streaked face。
〃No；〃 he assented； 〃but neither can one ever really be chums with his hero。 Or； even if he can； he doesn't care to try the experiment。〃
Alice glanced at her watch； rose； then lingered。
〃I am not so sure of that；〃 she replied thoughtfully。 〃I want the pedestal of my hero to be a low one； and Cooee declares that she wishes no pedestal at all。 If her hero is worthy of the name； he must bear inspection even from above。 The worst flaw of all might lurk in the very crown of his head。〃
Half an hour later； she came back again。
〃Mr。 Weldon； do you feel strong enough to see Kruger Bobs for exactly five minutes？〃 she asked。
The gray eyes lighted。
〃For ten times five；〃 he answered eagerly。
Kruger Bobs shuffled in upon the heels of an orderly。 Under his bristly hair； his face was a study of mingled emotions which culminated in his mouth。 A grin of pure happiness had drawn up the upper lip； at sight of his prostrate master； the lower one was rolling outward in a sudden wave of pure pity。 Beside the cot； he halted and stood looking down at Weldon with eyes which； for the moment； transformed his lazy； jolly； simian face into a species of nobility。 Lying back on his pillow； Weldon waited for him to speak； waited with an odd； restless beating of the heart for which he was wholly at a loss to account。
The pause between them lengthened。 At last Kruger Bobs drew his mangy brown felt hat across his eyes。
〃I's here； Boss；〃 he said simply。
However； it was enough。
The next morning found Weldon sitting up。 A clean…cut hole through the flesh of a man who has lived a clean…cut life is swift in healing。 Now that his fever had left him； his superb vitality was asserting itself once more； and he rallied quickly。 Meanwhile； it was good to be able to sit up and eat his breakfast like a civilized being。 Weldon had all the detestation of the average healthy being for invalid ways。 Moreover； he longed to be up and doing。 With his growing strength； the orderly； noiseless routine of the hospital came upon his nerves。 One of the nurses always walked on the points of her toes； and he was conscious of a wild longing to throw a pillow at her； as she went diddling to and fro past him； a dozen times a day。 The doctor； a man of iron nerve and velvet hand； was a daily delight to him。 And there was always Alice； frank； friendly and altogether enjoyable。 During the past three days； their liking had grown apace。 Absolutely feminine； yet with the healthy impersonality of a growing boy； Alice Mellen was a born comrade； and Weldon enjoyed her just as； in her place； he would have enjoyed Carew。
She came down the ward； that morning； and paused beside his chair。
〃You look like your old self at last；〃 she said； as she held out her hand in congratulation。
〃I might echo your words；〃 he answered； while he looked up into her eyes； shining with merriment and with something that yet seemed to him closely akin to annoyance。 〃Granted the apron； you might be pouring tea at home。〃
〃Not tea； but malted milk； in these latter days；〃 she said； laughing。 〃But I am about to retire from your case。 May I introduce your new nurse； Mr。 Weldon？〃
His reluctant assent was changed to eager greeting。 Light； swift steps came down the room； a tall figure stopped at his side in the full glare of a sunshiny window which all at once seemed focussing its light upon waving strands and heaped…up coils of vivid yellow hair。
〃Cooee！〃 Then； too late； he bethought himself of his manners and tried to bite the word off short。
Linking her arm in that of her cousin； the girl stood looking down at him with merry； mocking blue eyes。
〃Invalids are supposed to have privileges denied to well men；〃 she answered demurely。 〃It might perhaps be Cooee here； to…day； but it will have to be Miss Dent； to…morrow； when you are back in the field again。 After all； it is hardly worth while to make the change； Trooper Weldon。〃
CHAPTER ELEVEN
Upon one side； at least； the meeting between the two cousins on the previous night had been wholly unexpected。
Late that afternoon； an ambulance train had come in； loaded with men from the over…crowded field hospital at Krugersdorp； and for hours Alice had been in ceaseless attendance upon the surgeon in charge。 Little by little； the girl had found her nerves steadying down to the task in hand； nevertheless； the past ten weeks； in return for the increase of her poise； had taken something from her vitality。 Quickness of eye； firmness of hand； evenness of temper： all these may be gifts of the gods。 Their use is a purely human function； and proportionately exhausting。 The girl's one salvation lay in the fact that her quick sympathy with her patients was for the most part impersonal。 Up to this time； Weldon had been her only patient whom she had known outside the routine duties of her hospital life。 In a sense； it had been a relief to meet some one whom she knew to be of her own world； in a sense； the case had worn upon her acutely。 She could watch with a greater degree of stolidity the sufferings of other men。
Among her new charges； that day； only one had made any distinct impression upon her overworked brain。 That was a jovial young fellow； handsome as Phoebus Apollo； in spite of a slashing scar across one cheek。 He had answered to her questions regarding his wounded foot with an accent so like that of Weldon that involuntarily she lingered beside him to add a word of cheery consolation。 His was her final case； that night。 As she wearily turned towards her own room； she made no effort to analyze her exhaustion。
She found Ethel； still in her hat and jacket； sitting on the edge of her own narrow cot。
〃Cooee Dent！〃
〃Yes； dear。〃 The girl's tone was nonchalant； even while the telltale color came into her cheeks。
〃What are you doing here？〃
〃Visiting you； of course。〃
〃Visiting me！ But； Cooee； I really don't know where I can put you。〃
With perfect composure； Ethel passed her hand over the surface of the cot。
〃Oh； I think this nutmeg…grater will carry two。 Still； Alice； I must say that your hospitality isn't exactly exuberan
