the red seal(红印)-第10章
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as a parting shot； 〃If you can be nasty to Helen； father； I can be nasty； too。〃
Colonel McIntyre brought his fist down on a smoking table with such
force that he scattered its contents over the floor。 When he rose from
picking up the debris； he found Mrs。 Brewster at his elbow。
〃Can I help？〃 she asked。
〃No； thanks； everything is back in place。〃 He pulled forward a chair
for her。 〃If agreeable to you I will telephone Ben Clymer that we will
stop for him and take him with us to the Caf St。 Marks； or would you
prefer some other man？〃
〃Oh； no。〃 She threw her evening wrap across the sofa and sat down。
〃Are the girls ready？〃
〃They … they are indisposed； and won't be able to go to…night。〃
〃What！ Both girls？〃
〃Yes； both〃 … firmly； not； however； meeting her eyes。
〃Hadn't I better stay with them？〃 she asked。 〃Have you telephoned
or Dr。 Stone？〃
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〃There is no necessity for giving up our little spree；〃 he declared
cheerily。 〃The girls don't need a physician。 They〃 … with meaning；
〃need a mother's care。〃 He picked up her coronation scarf from the floor
where it had slipped and laid it across her bare shoulders； the action was
almost a caress。 She made a lovely picture as she sat in the high…backed
carved chair in her chic evening gown； and as her soft dark eyes met his
ardent look； McIntyre felt the hot blood surge to his temples； and with
quickened pulse he went to the telephone stand and gave Central a
number。
Back in her chair Mrs。 Brewster sat thoughtfully watching him。 She
had been an unobserved witness of the scene with Barbara； having entered
the library in time to hear the girl's last remarks。 It was not the first inkling
that she had had of their disapproval of Colonel McIntyre's attentions to
her； but it had hurt。
The widow had become acquainted with the twins when； traveling in
Europe just before the outbreak of the World War； and had made the hasty
trip back to this country in their company。 Colonel McIntyre had
planned to bring the twins； then at school in Paris； home himself； but
business had kept him in the West and he had cabled to a spinster cousin to
chaperon them on the trip across the Atlantic Ocean。 Nor had he reached
New York in time to see them disembark； and thus had missed meeting
Mrs。 Brewster； then in her first year of widowhood。
The friendship between the twins and Mrs。 Brewster had been kept up
through much correspondence； and the widow had finally promised； to
come to Washington for their debut； visiting her cousins； Dr。 and Mrs。
Stone。 The meeting had but cemented the friendship between them； and at
the twins' urgent request； seconded with warmth by Colonel McIntyre； she
had promised to spend the month of April at the McIntyre home。
The visit was nearly over。 Mrs。 Brewster sighed faintly。 There were
two courses open to her； immediate departure； or to continue to ignore the
twins' strangely antagonistic behavior … the first course did not suit Mrs。
Brewster's plans。
Barbara； who had left the library through one of its seven doors； had
failed to see Mrs。 Brewster by the slightest margin； she was intent only on
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being with Helen。 The affection between the twins was very close； but
while their facial resemblance was remarkable； their natures were totally
dissimilar。 Helen； the elder by twenty minutes； was studious； shy； and too
much given to introspection； Barbara； on the contrary； was whimsical and
practical by turns； with a great capacity for enjoyment。 The twins had
made their debut jointly on their eighteenth birthday； and while both were
popular； Barbara had received the greater amount of attention。
Barbara tip…toed into the suite of rooms which the girls occupied over
the library； expecting to find Helen lying on the lounge； instead； she found
her writing busily at her desk。 She tossed down her pen as her sister
entered； and； taking up a blotter； carefully laid it across the page she had
been writing。
〃Thank heaven； I don't have to go to that supper party；〃 Barbara
announced； throwing herself full length on the lounge。
〃So father gave it up；〃 commented Helen。 〃I am glad。〃
〃Gave up nothing；〃 retorted her sister。 〃He and Margaret Brewster
are going。〃
〃What！〃 Helen was on her feet。 〃You let them go out alone
together？〃
〃They can't be alone if they are together；〃 answered Barbara
practically。 〃Don't be silly； Helen。〃
Helen did not answer at once； she had grown singularly pale。 Walking
over to the window she glanced into the street。 〃The car hasn't come；〃 she
exclaimed； and consulted her wrist watch。 〃Hurry； Babs； you have just；
time to dress and go with them。〃
〃B…b…but I said I wouldn't go；〃 stuttered Barbara； completely taken by
surprise。
〃No matter； tell father you have changed your mind。〃 Helen held out
her hand。 〃Come； to please me；〃 and there was a world of wistful appeal in
her hazel eyes which Barbara was unable to resist。
It was not until Barbara had completed her hasty toilet and a frantic
dash downstairs in time to spring into the waiting limousine after Margaret
Brewster； that she realized she had put on one of Helen's evening gowns
and not her own。
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Benjamin Clymer was standing in the vestibule of the Saratoga； where
he made his home； when the McIntyre limousine drew up； and he did not
keep them waiting； as Colonel McIntyre had predicted he would on the
drive to Clymer's apartment house。
〃The clerk gave me your message when I came in； McIntyre；〃 he
explained as the car drove off。 I called up your residence and Grimes
said you were on the way here。〃
Barbara； tucked away in her corner of the limousine； listened to Mrs。
Brewster's animated chatter with utter lack of interest； she wished most
heartily that she had not been over…persuaded by her sister； and had
remained at home。 That her father had accepted her lame explanation
and her presence in the party with unaffected pleasure had been plain。
Mrs。 Brewster； after a quiet inquiry regarding her health； had been less
enthusiastic in her welcome。 Barbara was just stifling a yawn when the
limousine stopped at the entrance to the Caf St。 Marks。
Inside the caf all was light and gaiety； and Barbara brightened
perceptibly as the attentive head waiter ushered them to the table Colonel
McIntyre had reserved earlier in the evening。
〃It's a novel idea turning the old church into a caf ；〃 Barbara remarked
to Benjamin Clymer。 〃A sort of casting bread upon the waters of
famished Washington。 I wonder if they ever turn water into wine？〃
〃No such luck；〃 groaned Clymer dismally； looking with distaste at the
sparkling grape juice being poured into the erstwhile champagne goblet by
his plate。 〃The caf is crowded to…night；〃 and he gazed with interest about
the room。 Colonel McIntyre； who had loitered behind to speak to several
friends at an adjacent table； took the unoccupied seat by Mrs。 Brewster
and was soon in animated conversation with the widow and Clymer；
Barbara； her healthy appetite asserting itself； devoted her entire attention
to the delicious delicacies placed before her。 The arrival of the after…the…
theater crowd awoke her from her abstraction； and she accepted Clymer's
invitation to dance with alacrity。 When they returned to the table she
discovered that Margaret Brewster and her father had also joined the
dancers。
Barbara watched them while keeping up a disjointed conversation with
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Clymer； whose absentminded remarks finally drew Barbara's attention；
and she wondered what had come over the generally entertaining banker。
It was on the tip of her tongue to ask him the reason for his distrait manner
when her thoughts were diverted by his next remark。
〃Your father and Mrs。 Brewster make a fine couple；〃 he said。 〃Colonel
McIntyre is the most distinguished looking man in the caf and Mrs。
Brewster is a regular beauty。〃
Instead of replying Barbara turned in her seat and scanned her father
as he and Mrs。 Brewster passed them in the dance。 Colonel McIntyre did
not look his age of forty…seven years。 His hair； prematurely gray； had a
most attractive wave to it； and his erect and finely proportioned figure
showed to advantage in his well…cut dress suit。 Barbara's heart swelled
with pride … her dear and handsome father！ Then she transferred her
regard to Margaret Brewster； she had been such a satisfactory friend … why
oh； why did she wish to become her step…mother？ The twins； with the
unerring instinct of womanhood； had decided ten days before that Weller's
warning to his son was timely … Mrs。 Brewster was a most dangerous
widow。
〃How is your sister？〃 inquired Clymer； breaking the silence which had
lasted nearly five minutes。 He was never quite certain which twin he was
talking to； and generally solved the problem by familiarizing himself with
their mode of dress。 The plan had not always worked as the twins had a
bewildering habit of exchanging clothes； to the enjoyment of Barbara's
mischief loving soul； and the mystification of their numerous admirers。
〃She is rather blue and depressed；〃 answered Barbara。 〃We are both
