the red cross girl(红十字姑娘)-第15章
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from the trustees to his wife and shook his head。
〃We could not be happy away from Stillwater；〃 he said。 〃 We have
only a month more in the cottage； but after that we still can walk past it；
we can look into the garden and see the flowers she planted。 We can visit
the place where she lies。 But if we went away we should be lonely and
miserable for her； and she would be lonely for us。〃
Mr。 Hallowell could not know why Doctor Gilman had refused to
leave Stillwater； but when he read that the small Eastern college at which
Doctor Gilman had graduated had offered to make him its president； his
jealousy knew no bounds。
He telegraphed to Black： 〃Reinstate Gilman at once； offer him six
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thousandoffer him whatever he wants； but make him promise for no
consideration to leave Stillwater he is only member faculty ever brought
any credit to the college if we lose him I'll hold you responsible。〃
The next morning； hat in hand； smiling ingratiatingly； the Chancellor
called upon Doctor Gilman and ate so much humble pie that for a week he
suffered acute mental indigestion。 But little did Hallowell senior care for
that。 He had got what he wanted。 Doctor Gilman； the distinguished； was
back in the faculty； and had made only one conditionthat he might live
until he died in the ivy…covered cottage。
Two weeks later； when Peter arrived at Stillwater to take the history
examination； which； should he pass it； would give him his degree； he
found on every side evidences of the 〃worldwide fame〃 he himself had
created。 The newsstand at the depot； the book…stores； the drugstores； the
picture…shops； all spoke of Doctor Gilman； and postcards showing the ivy…
covered cottage； photographs and enlargements of Doctor Gilman；
advertisements of the different。 editions of 〃the〃 history proclaimed his
fame。 Peter； fascinated by the success of his own handiwork； approached
the ivy…covered cottage in a spirit almost of awe。 But Mrs。 Gilman
welcomed him with the same kindly； sympathetic smile with which she
always gave courage to the unhappy ones coming up for examinations；
and Doctor Gilman's high honors in no way had spoiled his gentle
courtesy。
The examination was in writing； and when Peter had handed in his
papers Doctor Gilman asked him if he would prefer at once to know the
result。
〃I should indeed！〃 Peter assured him。
〃Then I regret to tell you； Hallowell；〃 said the professor； 〃that you
have not passed。 I cannot possibly give you a mark higher than five。〃 In
real sympathy the sage of Stillwater raised his eyes； but to his great
astonishment he found that Peter； so far from being cast down or taking
offense； was smiling delightedly； much as a fond parent might smile upon
the precocious act of a beloved child。
〃I am afraid；〃 said Doctor Gilman gently； 〃that this summer you did
not work very hard for your degree！〃
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Peter Laughed and picked up his hat。
〃To tell you the truth； Professor；〃 he said； 〃you're right I got working
for something worth whileand I forgot about the degree。〃
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CHAPTER 3。 THE INVASION OF
ENGLAND
This is the true inside story of the invasion of England in 1911 by the
Germans； and why it failed。 I got my data from Baron von Gottlieb； at the
time military attach* of the German Government with the Russian army in
the second Russian…Japanese War； when Russia drove Japan out of
Manchuria； and reduced her to a third…rate power。 He told me of his part in
the invasion as we sat； after the bombardment of Tokio； on the ramparts of
the Emperor's palace； watching the walls of the paper houses below us
glowing and smoking like the ashes of a prairie fire。
Two years before； at the time of the invasion； von Gottlieb had been
Carl Schultz； the head…waiter at the East Cliff Hotel at Cromer； and a spy。
The other end of the story came to me through Lester Ford； the
London correspondent of the New York Republic。 They gave me
permission to tell it in any fashion I pleased； and it is here set down for the
first time。
In telling the story； my conscience is not in the least disturbed； for I
have yet to find any one who will believe it。
What led directly to the invasion was that some week…end guest of the
East Cliff Hotel left a copy of 〃The Riddle of the Sands〃 in the coffee…
room； where von Gottlieb found it； and the fact that Ford attended the
Shakespeare Ball。 Had neither of these events taken place； the German
flag might now be flying over Buckingham Palace。 And； then again； it
might not。
As every German knows； 〃The Riddle of the Sands〃 is a novel written
by a very clever Englishman in which is disclosed a plan for the invasion
of his country。 According to this plan an army of infantry was to be
embarked in lighters； towed by shallow…draft； sea…going tugs； and
despatched simultaneously from the seven rivers that form the Frisian Isles。
From there they were to be convoyed by battle…ships two hundred and
forty miles through the North Sea； and thrown upon the coast of Norfolk
somewhere between the Wash and Mundesley。 The fact that this coast is
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low…lying and bordered by sand flats which at low water are dry； that
England maintains no North Sea squadron； and that her nearest naval base
is at Chatham； seem to point to it as the spot best adapted for such a raid。
What von Gottlieb thought was evidenced by the fact that as soon as
he read the book he mailed it to the German Ambassador in London； and
under separate cover sent him a letter。 In this he said： 〃I suggest your
Excellency bring this book to the notice of a certain royal personage； and
of the Strategy Board。 General Bolivar said； 'When you want arms； take
them from the enemy。' Does not this also follow when you want ideas？〃
What the Strategy Board thought of the plan is a matter of history。 This
was in 1910。 A year later； during the coronation week； Lester Ford went to
Clarkson's to rent a monk's robe in which to appear at the Shakespeare
Ball； and while the assistant departed in search of the robe； Ford was left
alone in a small room hung with full…length mirrors and shelves； and
packed with the uniforms that Clarkson rents for Covent Garden balls and
amateur theatricals。 While waiting； Ford gratified a long； secretly
cherished desire to behold himself as a military man； by trying on all the
uniforms on the lower shelves； and as a result； when the assistant returned；
instead of finding a young American in English clothes and a high hat； he
was confronted by a German officer in a spiked helmet fighting a duel
with himself in the mirror。 The assistant retreated precipitately； and Ford；
conscious that he appeared ridiculous； tried to turn the tables by saying； 〃
Does a German uniform always affect a Territorial like that？〃
The assistant laughed good…naturedly。
〃It did give me quite a turn；〃 he said。 〃It's this talk of invasion； I fancy。
But for a fact； sir； if I was a Coast Guard； and you came along the beach
dressed like that； I'd take a shot at you； just on the chance； anyway。〃
〃And； quite right； too！〃 said Ford。
He was wondering when the invasion did come whether he would
stick at his post in London and dutifully forward the news to his paper； or
play truant and as a war correspondent watch the news in the making。 So
the words of Mr。 Clarkson's assistant did not sink in。 But a few weeks later
young Major Bellew recalled them。 Bellew was giving a dinner on the
terrace of the Savoy Restaurant。 His guests were his nephew； young
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Herbert； who was only five years younger than his uncle； and Herbert's
friend Birrell； an Irishman； both in their third term at the university。 After
five years' service in India； Bellew had spent the last 〃Eights〃 week at
Oxford； and was complaining bitterly that since his day the undergraduate
had deteriorated。 He had found him serious； given to study； far too well
behaved。 Instead of Jorrocks； he read Galsworthy； instead of 〃wines〃 he
found pleasure in debating clubs where he discussed socialism。 Ragging；
practical jokes； ingenious hoaxes； that once were wont to set England in a
roar； were a lost art。 His undergraduate guests combated these charges
fiercely。 His criticisms they declared unjust and without intelligence。
〃You're talking rot！〃 said his dutiful nephew。 〃Take Phil here； for
example。 I've roomed with him three years and I can testify that he has
never opened a book。 He never heard of Galsworthy until you spoke of
him。 And you can see for yourself his table manners are quite as bad as
yours！〃
〃Worse！〃 assented Birrell loyally。
〃And as for ragging！ What rags； in your day； were as good as ours； as
the Carrie Nation rag； for instance； when five hundred people sat through a
temperance lecture and never guessed they were listening to a man from
Balliol？〃
〃And the Abyssinian Ambassador rag！〃 cried Herbert。 〃What price that？
When the DREADNOUGHT manned the yards for him and gave him
seventeen guns。 That was an Oxford rag； and carried through by Oxford
men。 The country hasn't stopped laughing yet。 You give us a rag！〃
challenged
