the cost-第7章
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rowly； touching her tenderly now and then。
The Reverend Josiah Barker was waiting for theman oily smirk on a face smooth save where a thin fringe of white whiskers dangled from his jaw…bone； ear to ear； fat； damp hands rubbing in anticipation of the large fee that was to repay him for celebrating the marriage and for keeping quiet about it afterward。 At the proper place in the brief ceremony Dumont； with a sly smile at Pauline which she faintly returned； produced the ringhe had bought it at Saint X a week before and so had started a rumor that he and Caroline Sylvester were to be married in haste。 He held Pauline's hand firmly as he put the ring on her fingerhe was significantly cool and calm for his age and for the circumstances。 She was trembling violently； was pale and wan。 The ring burned into her flesh。
〃Whom God hath joined together let no man put asunder；〃 ended Barker； with pompous solemnity。
Dumont kissed herher cheek was cold and at the touch of his lips she shuddered。
〃Don't be afraid；〃 he said in a low voice that was perfectly steady。
They went out and along the sunny road in silence。 〃Whom God hath joined；〃 the voice was now dinning into her ears。 And she was saying to herself； 〃Has GOD joined us？ If so； why do I feel as if I had committed a crime？〃 She looked guiltily at himshe felt no thrill of pride or love at the thought that he was her husband； she his wife。 And into her mind poured all her father's condemnations of him； with a vague menacing fear riding the crest of the flood。
〃You're sorry you've done it？〃 he said sullenly。
She did not answer。
〃Well； it's done；〃 he went on； 〃and it can't be undone。 And I've got you； Polly； in spite of them。 They might have known better than to try to keep me from getting what I wanted。 I always did； and I always shall！〃
She looked at him startled； then hastily looked away。 Even more than his words and his tone； she disliked his eyesgloating； triumphant。 But not until she was years more experienced did she study that never…forgotten expression； study it as a wholewords； tone； look。 Then； and not until then； did she know that she had instinctively shrunk because he had laid bare his base and all but loveless motive in marrying her。
〃And；〃 he added； 〃I'll force father to give me a big interest in the business very soon。 Thenwe'll announce it。〃
Announce IT？ Announce WHAT？ 〃Why； I'm a married woman；〃 she thought； and she stumbled and almost fell。 The way danced before her eyes； all spotted with black。 She was just able to walk aboard the boat and drop into a seat。
He sat beside her； took her hand and bent over it； as he kissed it a tear fell on it。 He looked at her and she saw that his eyes were swimming。 A sob surged into her throat； but she choked it back。 〃Jack！〃 she murmured； and hid her face in her handkerchief。
When they looked each at the other both smiledher foreboding had retreated to the background。 She began to turn the ring round and round upon her finger。
〃Mrs。 John Dumont；〃 she said。 〃Doesn't it sound queer？〃 And she gazed dreamily away toward the ranges of hills between which the river danced and sparkled as it journeyed westward。 When she again became conscious of her immediate surroundingsother than Dumontshe saw a deck…hand looking at her with a friendly grin。
Instantly she covered the ring with her hand and handkerchief。 〃But I mustn't wear it；〃 she said to Dumont。
〃Nonot on your finger。〃 He laughed and drew from his pocket a slender gold chain。 〃But you might wear it on this； round your neck。 It'll help to remind you that you don't belong to yourself any more； but to me。〃
She took the chainshe was coloring in a most becoming wayand hid it and the ring in her bosom。 Then she drew off a narrow hoop of gold with a small setting and pushed it on his big little finger。
〃And THAT； sir；〃 she said； with a bewitching look； 〃may help you not to forget that YOU belong to me。〃
She left the ferry in advance of him and faced Olivia just in time for them to go down together to the half…past twelve o'clock dinner。
V。
FOUR FRIENDS。
As Mrs。 Trent's was the best board in Battle Field there were more applicants than she could make places for at her one table。 In the second week of the term she put a small table in the alcove of the dining…room and gave it to her 〃star〃 boardersPierson； Olivia and Pauline。 They invited Scarborough to take the fourth place。 Not only did Pierson sit opposite Olivia and Scarborough opposite Pauline three times a day in circumstances which make for intimacy； but also Olivia and Pierson studied together in his sitting…room and Pauline and Scarborough in her sitting…room for several hours three or four times a week。 Olivia and Pierson were sophomores。 Pauline and Scarborough were freshmen； also； they happened to have the same three 〃senior prep〃 conditions to 〃work off〃Latin； zoology and mathematics。
Such intimacies as these were the matter…of…course at Battle Field。 They were usually brief and strenuous。 A young man and a young woman would be seen together constantly； would fall in love； would come to know each the other thoroughly。 Then； with the mind and character and looks and moods of each fully revealed to the other； they would drift or fly in opposite directions； wholly disillusioned。 Occasionally they found that they were really congenial； and either love remained or a cordial friendship sprang up。 The modes of thought； inconceivable to Europeans or Europeanized Americans； made catastrophe all but impossible。
It was through the girls that Scarborough got his invitation to the alcove table。 There he came to know Pierson and to like him。 One evening he went into Pierson's roomsthe suite under Olivia and Pauline's。 He had never seenbut had dreamed ofsuch a luxurious bachelor interior。 Pierson's father had insisted that his son must go to the college where forty years before he had split wood and lighted fires and swept corridors to earn two years of higher education。 Pierson's mother； defeated in her wish that her son should go East to college； had tried to mitigate the rigors of Battle Field's primitive simplicity by herself fitting up his quarters。 And she made them the show…rooms of the college。
〃Now let's see what can be done for you；〃 said Pierson； with the superiority of a whole year's experience where Scarborough was a beginner。 〃I'll put you in the Sigma Alpha fraternity for one thing。 It's the best here。〃
〃I don't know anything about fraternities；〃 Scarborough said。 〃What are they for？〃
〃Oh； everybody that is anybody belongs to a fraternity。 There are about a dozen of them here； and among them they get all the men with any claim to recognition。 Just now； we lean rather toward taking in the fellows who've been well brought up。〃
〃Does everybody belong to a fraternity？〃
〃Lord； no！ Two…thirds don't belong。 The fellows outside are called ‘barbs'that is； barbarians； we on the inside are Greeks。 Though； I must say； very few of us are Athenians and most of us are the rankest Macedonians。 But the worst Greeks are better than the best barbs。 They're the rummest lot of scrubs you ever sawstupid drudges who live round in all sorts of holes and don't amount to anything。 The brush of the backwoods。〃
〃Oh； yesmmI see。〃 Scarborough was looking uncomfortable。
〃The Sigma Alphas'll take you in next Saturday；〃 said Pierson。 〃They do as I say； between ourselves。〃
〃I'm ever so much obliged； but〃 Scarborough was red and began to stammer。 〃You seeIit〃
〃What's the matter？ Expense？ Don't let that bother you。 The cost's nothing at all； and the membership is absolutely necessary to your position。〃
〃Yesa matter of expense。〃 Scarborough was in control of himself now。 〃But not precisely the kind of expense you mean。 NoI can't join I'd rather not explain。 I'm ever so much obliged； but really I can't。〃
〃As you please。〃 Pierson was offended。 〃But I warn you； you've got to belong to one or the other of these fraternities or you'll be cut off from everything。 And you oughtn't to miss the chance to join the best。〃
〃I see I've offended you。〃 Scarborough spoke regretfully。 〃Please don't think I'm not
