active service-第20章

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　the　white　dust。　He　worried　his　dragoman　as　to　the　distance　to　Arta　until　the　dragoman　lied　to　the　point　where　he　always　declared　that　Arta　was　only　off　some　hundreds　of　yards。

At　their　places　in　the　procession　Mrs。　Wainwright　and　Marjory　were　animatedly　talking　to　Nora　and　the　old　lady　on　the　little　pony。　They　had　at　first　suffered　great　amazement　at　the　voluntary　presence　of　the　old　lady；　but　she　was　there　really　because　she　knew　no　better。　Her　colossal　ignorance　took　the　form；　mainly；　of　a　most　obstreperous　patriotism；　and　indeed　she　always　acted　in　a　foreign　country　as　if　she　were　the　special　commissioner　of　the　President；　or　perhaps　as　a　special　commissioner　could　not　act　at　all。　She　was　very　aggressive；　and　when　any　of　the　travelling　　arrangements　in　Europe　did　not　suit　her　ideas　she　was　won't　to　shrilly　exclaim：　〃　Well　！　New　York　is　good　enough　for　me。〃　Nora；　morbidly　afraid　that　her　ex…　pense　bill　to　the　Daylight　would　not　be　large　enough；　had　dragged　her　bodily　off　to　Greece　as　her　companion；　friend　and　protection。　At　Arta　they　had　heard　of　the　grand　success　of　the　Greek　army。　The　Turks　had　not　stood　for　a　moment　before　that　gallant　and　terrible　advance；　no；　they　had　scampered　howling　with　fear　into　the　north。　Jannina　would　fall…well；　Jannina　would　fall　as　soon　as　the　Greeks　arrived。　There　was　no　doubt　of　it。　The　correspondent　and　her　friend；　deluded　and　hurried　by　the　light…hearted　confidence　of　the　Greeks　in　Arta；　had　hastened　out　then　on　a　regular　tourist's　excursion　to　see　Jannina　after　its　capture。　Nora　concealed　from　her　friend　the　fact　that　the　editor　of　the　Daylight　particularly　wished　her　to　see　a　battle　so　that　she　might　write　an　article　on　actual　warfare　from　a　woman's　point　of　view。　With　her　name　as　a　queen　of　comic　opera；　such　an　article　from　her　pen　would　be　a　burning；　sensation。

Coleman　had　been　the　first　to　point　out　to　Nora　that　instead　of　going　on　a　picnic　to　Jannina；　she　had　better　run　back　to　Arta。　When　the　old　lady　heard　that　they　had　not　been　entirely　safe；　she　was　furious　with　Nora。　〃The　idea！〃　she　exclaimed　to　　Mrs。　Wainwright。　〃They　might　have　caught　us！　They　might　have　　caught　us　！　〃

〃　Well；〃　said　Mrs。　Wainwright。　〃　I　verily　believe　they　would　have　caught　us　if　it　had　not　been　for　Mr。　Coleman。〃

〃　Is　he　the　gentleman　on　the　fine　horse？〃

〃　Yes；　that's　him。　Oh；　he　has　been　sim…plee　splendid。　I　confess　I　was　a　little　bit…er…surprised。　He　was　in　college　under　my　husband。　I　don't　know　that　we　thought　very　great　things　of　him；　but　if　ever　a　man　won　golden　opinions　he　has　done　so　from　us。〃

〃　Oh；　that　must　be　the　Coleman　who　is　such　a　great　friend　of　Nora's。〃

〃Yes？〃　said　Mrs。　Wainwright　insidiously。　〃Is　he？　I　didn't　know。　Of　course　he　knows　so　many　people。〃　Her　mind　had　been　suddenly　illumined　by　the　old　lady　and　she　thought　extravagantly　of　the　arrival　of　Nora　upon　the　scene。　She　remained　all　sweetness　to　the　old　lady。　〃Did　you　know　he　was　here？　Did　you　expect　to　meet　him？　I　seemed　such　a　delightful　coincidence。〃　In　truth　she　was　being　subterraneously　clever。

〃　Oh；　no；　I　don't　think　so。　I　didn't　hear　Nora　mention　it。　Of　course　she　would　have　told　me。　You　know；　our　coming　to　Greece　was　such　a　surprise。　Nora　had　an　engagement　in　London　at　the　Folly　Theatre　in　Fly　by　Night；　but　the　manager　was　insufferable；　oh；　insufferable。　So；　of　course；　Nora　wouldn't　　stand　it　a　minute；　and　then　these　newspaper　people　came　along　and　asked　her　to　go　to　Greece　for　them　and　she　accepted。　I　am　sure　I　never　expected　to　find　us…aw…fleeing　from　the　Turks　or　I　shouldn't　have　Come。〃

〃　Mrs。　Wainwright　was　gasping。　〃　You　don't　mean　that　she　is　she　is　Nora　Black；　the　actress。〃

〃　Of　course　she　is；〃　said　the　old　lady　jubilantly。

〃　Why；　how　strange；〃　choked　Mrs。　Wainwrignt。　Nothing　she　knew　of　Nora　could　account　for　her　stupefaction　and　grief。　What　happened　glaringly　to　her　was　the　duplicity　of　man。　Coleman　was　a　ribald　deceiver。　　He　must　have　known　and　yet　he　had　pretended　throughout　that　the　meeting　was　a　pure　accident　She　turned　with　a　nervous　impulse　to　sympathist　with　her　daughter；　but　despite　the　lovely　tranquillity　of　the　girl's　face　there　was　something　about　her　which　forbade　the　mother　to　meddle。　Anyhow　Mrs。　Wainwright　was　sorry　that　she　had　told　nice　things　of　Coleman's　behaviour；　so　she　said　to　the　old　lady：　〃　Young　men　of　these　times　get　a　false　age　so　quickly。　We　have　always　thought　it　a　great　pity；　about　Mr。　Coleman。〃

〃Why；　how　so　？　〃　asked　the　old　lady。

〃Oh；　really　nothing。　Only；　to　us　he　seemed　rather　er…　prematurely　experienced　or　something　of　that　kind。　The　old　lady　did　not　catch　the　meaning　of　the　phrase。　She　seemed　surprised。　〃　Why；　I've　never　seen　any　full…grown　　person　in　this　world　who　got　experience　any　too　quick　for　his　own　good。〃

At　the　tail　of　the　procession　there　was　talk　between　the　two　students　who　had　in　charge　the　little　grey　horse…one　to　lead　and　one　to　flog。　〃　Billie；〃　said　one；　〃　it　now　becomes　necessary　to　lose　this　hobby　into　the　hands　of　some　of　the　other　fellows。　Whereby　we　will　gain　opportunity　to　pay　homage　to　the　great　Nora。　Why；　you　egregious　thick…head；　this　is　the　chance　of　a　life…time。　I'm　damned　if　I'm　going　to　tow　this　beast　of　burden　much　further。〃

〃　You　wouldn't　stand　a　show；〃　said　Billie　pessimistically。　〃　Look　at　Coleman。〃

〃　That's　all　right。　Do　you　mean　to　say　that　you　prefer　to　continue　towing　pack　horses　in　the　presence　of　this　queen　of　song　and　the　dance　just　because　you　think　Coleman　can　throw　out　his　chest　a　little　more　than　you。　Not　so。　Think　of　your　bright　and　sparkling　youth。　There's　Coke　and　Pete　Tounley　near　Marjory。　We'll　call　'em。〃　Whereupon　he　set　up　a　cry。　〃　Say；　you　people；　we're　not　getting　a；　salary　for　this。　Supposin'　you　try　for　a　time。　It'll　do　you　good。〃　When　the　two　addressed　bad　halted　to　await　the　arrival　of　the　little　grey　horse；　they　took　on　glum　expressions。　〃　You　look　like　poisoned　pups；〃　said　the　student　who　led　the　horse。　〃　Too　strong　for　light　work。　Grab　onto　the　halter；　now；　Peter；　and　tow。　We　are　going　ahead　to　talk　to　Nora　Black。〃

〃　Good　time　you'll　have；〃　answered　Peter　Tounley。

〃　Coleman　is　cuttin'　up　scandalous。　You　won't　stand　a　show。〃

〃　What　do　you　think　of　him　？　〃　said　Coke。　〃　Seems　curious；　all　'round。　Do　you　suppose　he　knew　she　would　show　up？　It　was　nervy　to〃

〃　Nervy　to　what？　〃　asked　Billie。

〃Well；〃　said　Coke；　〃　seems　to　me　he　is　playing　both　ends　against　the　middle。　I　don't　know　anything　about　Nora　Black；　but…〃

The　three　other　students　expressed　themselves　with　conviction　and　in　chorus。　〃　Coleman's　all　right。〃

〃　Well；　anyhow；〃　continued　Coke；　〃　I　don't　see　my　way　free　to　admiring　him　introducing　Nora　Black　to　the　Wainwrights。〃

〃　He　didn't；〃　said　the　others；　still　in　chorus。

〃　Queer　game；〃　said　Peter　Tounley。　〃　He　seems　to　know　her　pretty　well。〃

〃　Pretty　damn　well；〃　said　Billie。

〃Anyhow　he's　a　brick；〃　said　Peter　Tounley。　〃We　mustn't　forget　that。　Lo；　I　begin　to　feel　that　our　Rufus　is　a　fly　guy　of　many　different　kinds。　Any　play　that　he　is　in　commands　my　respect。　He　won't　be　hit　by　a　chimney　in　the　daytime；　for　unto　him　has　come　much　wisdom；　I　don't　think　I'll　worry。〃

〃Is　he　stuck　on　Nora　Black；　do　you　know？〃　asked　Billie。

〃　One　thing　is　plain；〃　replied　Coke。　〃　She　has　got　him　somehow　by　the　short　hair　and　she　intends　him　to　holler　murder。　Anybody　can　see　that。〃

〃　Well；　he　won't　holler　murder；〃　said　one　of　them　with　conviction。　〃　I'll　bet　you　he　won't。　He'll　hammer　the　war…post　and　beat　the　tom…tom　until　he　drops；　but　he　won't　holler　murder。〃

〃　Old　Mother　Wainwright　will　be　in　his　wool　presently；〃　quoth　Peter　Tounley　musingly；　〃　I　could　see　it　coming　in　her　eye。　Somebody　has　given　his　snap　away；　or　something。〃　〃　Aw；　he　had　no　snap；〃　said　Billie。　〃　Couldn't　you　see　how　rattled　he　was？　He　would　have　given　a　lac　if　dear　Nora　hadn't　turned　up。〃

〃Of　course；〃　the　others　assented。　〃He　was　rattled。〃

〃　Looks　queer。　And　nasty；〃　said　Coke。

〃　Nora　herself　had　an　axe　ready　for　him。〃

They　began　to　laugh。　〃　If　she　had　had　an　umbrella　she　would　have　basted　him　over　the　head　with　it。　Oh；　my！　He　was　green。〃

〃　Nevertheless；〃　said　Peter　Tounley；　〃　I　refuse　to　worry　over　our　Rufus。　When　he　can't　take　care　of　himself　the　rest　of　us　want　to　hunt　cover。　He　is　a　fly　guy…〃

Coleman　in　the　meantime　had　become　aware　that　the　light　of　Mrs。　Wainwright's　countenance　was　turned　from　him。　The　party　stopped　at　a　well；　and　when　he　offered　her　a　drink　from　his　cup　he　thought　she　accepted　it　with　scant　thanks。　Marjory　was　still　gracious；　always　gracious；　but　this　did　not　reassure　him；　because　he　felt　there　was　much　unfathomable　deception　in　it。　When　he　turned　to　seek　consolation　in　the　manner　of　the　professor　he　found　him　as　before；　stunned　with　surprise；　and　the　only　idea　he　had　was　to　be　as　tractable　as　a　child。

When　he　returned　to　the　head　of　the　column；　Nora　again　cantered　forward　to　join　him。　〃　Well；　me　gay　Lochinvar；〃　she　cried；　〃　and　has　your　disposition　improved？　〃

〃　You　are　very　fresh；〃　he　said。

She　laughed　loud　enough　to　be　heard　the　full　length　of　the　caravan。　It　was　a　beautiful　laugh；　but　full　of　insolence　and　confidence。　He　flashed　his　eyes　malignantly　upon　her；　but　then　she　only　laughed　more。　She　could　see　that　he　wished　to　strangle　her。　〃　What　a　disposition　！　〃　she　said。　〃　What　a　disposition　！　You　are　not。　nearly　so　nice　as　your　friends。　Now；　they　are　charming；　but　you…Rufus；　I　wish　you　would　get　that　temper　mended。　Dear　Rufus；　do　it　to　please　me。　You　know　you　like　to　please　me。　Don't　you　now；　dear？　〃　He　finally　laughed。　〃　Confound　you；　Nora。　I　would　like　to　kill　you。〃

But　at　his　laugh　she　was　all　sunshine。　It　was　as　if　she。　had　been　trying　to　taunt　him　into　good　humour　with　her。　　〃Aw；　now；　Rufus；　don't　be　angry。　I'll　be　good；　Rufus。　Really；　I　will。　Listen。　I　want　to　tell　you　something。　Do　you　know　what　I　did？　Well；　you　know；　I　never　was　cut　out　for　this　business；　and；　back　there；　when　you　told　me　about　the　Turks　being　near　and　all　that　sort　of　thing；　I　was　frightened　almost　to　death。　Really；　I　was。　So；　when　nobody　was　looking；　I　sneaked　two　or　three　little　drinks　out　of　my　flask。　Two　or　three　little　drinks…〃





CHAPTER　XVI。

〃　GOOD　God！〃　said　Coleman。　〃You　don't　Mean…〃

Nora　smiled　rosily　at　him。　〃　Oh；　I'm　all　right；〃　she　answered。　〃　Don't　worry　about　your　Aunt　Nora；　my　precious　boy。　Not　for　a　minute。〃

Coleman　was　horrified。　〃　But　you　are　not　going　to…you　are　not　going　to…〃

〃Not　at　all；　me　son。　Not　at　all；〃　she　answered。

I'm　not　going　to　prance。　I'm　going　to　be　as　nice　as　pie；　and　just　ride　quietly　along　here　with　dear　little　Rufus。　Only　*　*　you　know　what　I　can　do　when　I　get　started；　so　you　had　better　be　a　very　good　boy。　I　might　take　it　into　my　head　to　say　some　things；　you　know。〃

Bound　hand　and　foot　at　his　stake；　he　could　not　even　chant　his　defiant　torture　song。　It　might　precipitate　in　fact；　he　was　sure　it　would　precipitate　the　grand　smash。　But　to　the　very　core　of　his　soul；　he　for　the　time　hated　Nora　Black。　He　did　not　dare　to　remind　her　that　he　would　revenge　himself；　he　dared　only　to　dream　of　this　revenge；　but　it　fairly　made　his　thoughts　flame；　and　deep　in　his　throat　he　was　swearing　an　inflexible　persecution　of　Nora　Black。　The　old　expression　of　his　sex　came　to　him；　　〃　Oh；　if　she　were　only　a　man　！　〃　she　had　been　a　man；　he　would　have　fallen