on the firing line-第43章
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semi…invalid。 If he were to meet her at all； it must be as a man in full health。 By degrees； the color came back to his face； his lean figure lost something of its lankness； his tread grew firmer and more alert。 But the old shadow still lingered in his eyes； the strained lines about his lips did not relax。 Weldon's mental healing kept no pace with his physical one。
By degrees； too； his table littered itself with cards of invitation。 As yet； he felt himself too weak for any but the most informal functions； and Carew； always at his elbow； assured him from his own experience that informality； just then； was an unknown word in the social vocabulary of Cape Town。 Carew； bidden on all sides； was dividing his time between his convalescent friend and the gayeties of early winter。 He dined and danced almost without ceasing； and； in the intervals of his dining and dancing； he told over to Weldon all the details of his social career。 And these details largely concerned themselves with Ethel Dent： how she looked； what she wore； what she said； with whom she danced and with whom she sat it out。 And； as he listened； Weldon made up his mind that； for him； the time for resting at home was ended。 It was better； easier to go to see for himself than it was to sit at home and imagine things； or to hear about them； after they had happened。 There was to be a reception at the Citadel； next week。 He would begin with that。
One resolution led to the next。 Only two days after he had determined upon the reception； he ordered Kruger Bobs to saddle the gray broncho and to attend him upon The Nig。 Then； when the noon sun lay warm over the city； he mounted and； with Kruger Bobs behind him； he rode slowly down Adderley Street to the water front； and turned eastward to the home of the Dents。
The wide veranda and the great white pillars seemed like home to him； in all truth。 That house had been the scene of some of his best hours； as of his worst ones； and his heart pounded madly against his ribs as he caught sight of its familiar outlines。 Then he drew in his breath sharply and bore down hard in his stirrups； while his face went white to the lips。 From the western end of the veranda a girlish figure had risen； halted for a moment with the sun beating full upon her vivid hair； then； heedless of the distant riders； it had turned and disappeared within the doorway。
The maid's face brightened； as she met Weldon at the door。 〃But Mrs。 Dent is not at home；〃 she said； with honest regret in her voice。 〃She has gone out of town。〃
Weldon controlled his own voice as best he might。
〃And Miss Dent？〃 he asked。
However； the maid had just broken the Baden…Powell tea…cup。 Its fragments were still upon the floor； and she had no mind； just then； to face her young mistress。
〃Miss Dent is not at home；〃 she answered； with glib mendacity。 And then she wondered why it was that Weldon's pallor turned from white to gray； as he went away down the steps。
Nevertheless； he fulfilled his resolution of going to the reception at the Citadel。 For one reason； he had given his word to Carew。 Moreover； he felt that； for the honor of his manhood； he must accept his fate like a man。 Four months before that time； Ethel Dent had stabbed him almost to the death。 Now； with delicate precision； she had struck him full across the face。 The touch had hurt him far more than the deeper wound had done； but； at least； she should never be aware of it。 To his mind； she had forfeited all right to the knowledge。
He dressed with careful precision。 More than once he was forced to sit down for a moment； more than once his fingers refused to do his bidding and his hands dropped inertly at his side。 However； Carew found him waiting； hat in hand； and together they drove away to the Citadel。
Already； when they reached the door； the reception was nearing its highest tide。 The rooms were bright with uniforms and with trailing gowns； gay with the hum of voices； and the lilt of a waltz came softly to them from across the distance。 As they halted on the threshold； Weldon lifted his eyes and suddenly found them resting full upon Ethel Dent。 The girl was quite at the farther end of the long room； the central figure of a little throng； and wholly unconscious of their presence。 Her back was towards Weldon。 He could only see the sweep of her shimmering gown； the heavy coils of yellow hair and the curve of one rounding cheek； yet； even in that partial view； he felt himself astounded at her vitality。 It flashed until it dazzled him； and the dazzle hurt。 He bowed to the governor and turned away into another room； striving； as he went； to account for the sudden depression which had fallen upon him。 He had not expected to find Ethel Dent moping alone in a corner； neither had he looked for a radiant alertness such as he had never seen in her before。 During the long weeks of his illness； his mental picture of her had been colored by the sadness of their last meeting。 Now the picture was torn aside and a new one thrust into its place； and the new one seemed garish to his weary nerves。
〃Weldon！ Have you risen from the grave？〃
He turned sharply； to find himself face to face with the captain of his former troop。
〃Merely from hospital；〃 he answered。 〃I have been lying up for repairs。〃
The other man nodded。
〃I know； and thereby adding to the glamour which surrounds a man elect for the V。 C。 Are you all right again？〃
Weldon's voice hardened to match the strain he was putting upon his control。
〃Absolutely。 I am sailing for home； next week。〃
〃And taking a farewell view of the place； before you go？ Then come to meet the prettiest girl in Cape Town。〃
For an instant； Weldon hesitated。 Then； reassured by the direction taken by his guide； he followed； while the strains of the waltz came ever more distinctly to his ears。 His companion craned his neck to reconnoitre。
〃She is dancing now； but she will be through in a moment。 There；〃 he added； as the music rose to a crashing finale； 〃that is over； and； by George； here she is！ Miss Dent； may I introduce another war…worn veteran； Mr。 Weldon？〃
The shock came so suddenly that neither of them had an opportunity to prepare to resist it。 It was Weldon who spoke first； however； and his voice was level； for he was generous enough to take none of the advantage which so plainly was all upon his side。
〃Miss Dent and I are old acquaintances；〃 he said quietly。
Fortunately the captain was garrulous。
〃Another proof of the smallness of the world；〃 he said jovially。 〃In time； I shall learn the futility of introductions。 One is always pointing out next…door neighbors to each other's notice。 By the way； Weldon； didn't you know Frazer rather well？ I used to meet him at your house so often； Miss Dent。〃
Ethel's fingers shut upon the sticks of her fan。
〃Yes；〃 she assented。 〃Captain Frazer was one of our best friends。〃
All at once； the face of the young captain grew grave。
〃I remember now；〃 he said quite slowly。 〃But his loss was a sorrow to us all。 His place can never be entirely filled。〃
There came a momentary pause。 Then； as the captain's broad shoulders vanished in the heart of the crowd； Weldon turned and looked Ethel squarely between the eyes。
〃Believe me； Miss Dent；〃 he said simply； 〃this is none of my doing。〃
She made no pretence of misunderstanding him。 Instead of that； her quiet voice was full of bitterness； as she gave brief answer； 〃Quite obviously； Mr。 Weldon。〃
〃Thank you for doing me that justice；〃 he said； after an instant when their meeting eyes flashed like meeting blades of steel。 〃Stuart had no notion that he was making a mess of things。〃
She faced him a little proudly。
〃I am unable to see what mess he can have made； Mr。 Weldon。 It is always a pleasure to meet an old acquaintance。〃
Few things could have hurt him more than the icy conventionality of her words。 All the gentler side of his nature was crying out for mercy； but he smothered its cries and faced her bravely； praying the while for some one to come to them and end the scene。 The Ethel Dent he had known in the old days had been a woman of flesh and blood； this was a statue of marble； polished and beautiful； but cold withal。 He could only seek to meet her w
