下载辰思小说免费APP
TheprofessorhadthenaskedwithconsiderablespiritfortheproofsuponwhichMrs。WainwrightnamedColemanamonster，andhadmadeawryfaceoverhercompletelyconventionalreply。Hehadtoldhercategoricallyhisopinionofhereruditioninsuchmatters。
ButMrs。Wainwrightwasnottobedeterredfromanexcitingespousalofthecauseofhersex。Upontheinstantthattheprofessorstrenuouslyopposedhershebecameanapostle，anenlightened，upliftedapostletotheworldonthewrongsofhersex。Shehadcomedownwiththisthingasifitwereadisease。
Nothingcouldstopher。Herhusband，herdaughter，allinfluencesinotherdirections，hadbeenoverturnedwitharoar，andthefirstthingfullycleartotheprofessor\'smindhadbeenthathiswifewasridingaffablyinthecarriagewithNoraBlack。
Colemanarousedwhenheheardoneofthestudentscryout:"Why，thereisRufusColeman\'sdragoman。
Hemustbehere。"Amomentlatertheythrongeduponhim。"Hi，oldman，caughtyouagain!Wheredidyoubreakto？Gladtocatchyou，oldboy。Howareyoumakingit？Where\'syourhorse？"
"Sentthehorsesonto，Athens，"saidColeman。
Hehadnotyetrecoveredhiscomposure，andhewasgladtofindavailablethiscommonplacereturntotheirexuberantgreetingsandquestions。"SentthemontoAthenswiththegroom。"
Inthemeantimetheengineofthelittletrainwasscreamingtoheaventhatitsintentionofstartingwasmostserious。Thediligenciacareeredtothestationplatformandunburdened。Colemanhadhadhisdragomanplacehisluggageinalittlefirst-classcarriageandhedefiantlyentereditandclosedthedoor。
Hehadasuddenreturntotheoldsenseofdownfall，andwithitcametheoriginalrebelliousdesires。However，hehopedthatsomebodywouldintrudeuponhim。
ItwasPeterTounley。Thestudentflungopenthedoorandthenyelledtothedistance:"Here\'sanemptyone。"Heclatteredintothecompartment。
"Hello，Coleman!Didn\'tknowyouwereinhere!"
AthisheelscameNoraBlack，CokeandMarjory。
"Oh!"theysaid，whentheysawtheoccupantofthecarriage。"Oh!"Colemanwasfurious。Hecouldhavedistributedsomeofhistrapsinawaytocreatemoreroom，buthedidnotmove。
CHAPTERXXIV。
THEREwasademonstrationoftheunequalledfacilitiesofaEuropeanrailwaycarriageforrenderingunpleasantthingsalmostintolerable。Thesepeoplecouldfindnowaytoalleviatethepoignancyoftheirposition。Colemandidnotknowwheretolook。
EverypersonalmannerismbecomesaccentuatedinaEuropeanrailwaycarriage。Ifyouglanceataman，yourglancedefinesitselfasastare。Ifyoucarefullylookatnothing，youcreateforyourselfaresemblancetoallwooden-headedthings。Anewspaperis，then，inthenatureofapreservative，andColemanlongedforanewspaper。
ItwasthisabominablerailwaycarriagewhichexactedthefirstdisplayofagitationfromMarjory。
Sheflushedrosily，andhereyeswaveredoverthecornpartment。NoraBlacklaughedinawaythatwasashocktothenerves。Cokeseemedveryangry，indeed，andPeterTounleywasinpitifuldistress。
Everythingwasacutely，painfullyvivid，bald，paintedasglaringlyasagrocer\'snewwagon。Itfulfilledthosetraditionswhichtheartistsdeplorewhentheyusetheirpetphraseonapicture，"Ithurts。"ThedamnablepowerofaccentuationoftheEuropeanrailwaycarriageseemed，toColeman\'samazedmind，toberedoubledandredoubled。
ItwasPeterTounleywhoseemedtobeinthegreatestagony。Helookedatthecorrespondentbeseechinglyandsaid:"It\'saverycoldmorning，Coleman。"
Thiswasanactualappealinthenameofhumanity。
Colemancamesquarely。tothefrontandevengrinnedalittleatpoorPeterTounley\'smisery。
"Yes，itisacoldmorning，Peter。Ishouldsayittooneofthecoldestmorningsinmyrecollection。"
PeterTounleyhadnotintendedatypicalAmericanemphasisonthepolarconditionswhichobtainedinthecompartmentatthistime，butColemanhadgiventhewordthismeaning。Spontaneouslyeverybodysmiled，andatoncethetensionwasrelieved。
Butofcoursethesatanicpowersoftherailwaycarriagecouldnotbealtogethersetatnaught。OfcourseitfelltothelotofCoketogettheseatdirectlyinfrontofColeman，andthus，facetoface，theyweredoomedtostareateachother。
PeterTounleywasinspiredtobeginconventionalbabble，inwhichhetookgreatcaretomakeanappear。
anceoftalkingtoallinthecarriage。"FunnythingIneverknewthesemorningsinGreeceweresocold。
Ithoughttheclimateherewasquitetropical。Itmusthavebeeninconvenientintheancienttimes，when，Iamtold，peopledidn\'twearnearsomany-
er-clothes。Really，Idon\'tseehowtheystoodit。
Formypart，Iwouldlikenothingsomuchasabuffalorobe。Isupposewhenthosegreatsculptorsweredoingtheirmasterpieces，theyhadtoweargloves。
Everthinkofthat？Funny，isn\'tit？Aren\'tyoucold，Marjory？Iam。jingo!ImaginetheSpartansinulsters，goingouttomeetanenemyincape-overcoats，andbeingdesiredbytheirmotherstoreturnwiththeirulstersorwrappedinthem。"
ItwasratherhardworkforPeterTounley。BothMarjoryandColemantriedtodisplayaninterestinhislabours，andtheylaughednotatwhathesaid，butbecausetheybelieveditassistedhim。Thelittletrain，meanwhile，wanderedupagreatgreenslope，andthedayrapidlycolouredtheland。
AtfirstNoraBlackdidnotdisplayamilitantmood，butastimepassedColemansawclearlythatshewasconsideringtheadvisabilityofanewattack。ShehadColemanandMarjoryinconjunctionandwheretheywereunabletoescapefromher。Theopportunitiesweregreat。ToColeman，sheseemedtobegloatingoverthepossibilitiesofmakingmoremischief。Shewaslookingathimspeculatively，asifconsideringthebestplacetohithimfirst。Presentlyshedrawled:
"Rufus，Iwishyouwouldfixmyrugaboutmealittlebetter。"Colemansawthatthiswasabeginning。
PeterTounleysprangtohisfeetwithspeedanden-
thusiasm。"Oh，letmedoitforyou。"Hehadherwellmuffledintherugbeforeshecouldprotest，evenifaprotesthadbeenrational。TheyoungmanhadnoideaofdefendingColeman。Hehadnoknowledgeofthenecessityforit。Ithadbeenmerelytheexerciseofhishabitofamiability，hischronicdesiretoseeeverybodycomfortable。HispassioninthisdirectionwaswellknowninWashurst，wherethestudentshadborrowedaphrasefromthephotographersinordertodescribehimfullyinanickname。Theycalledhim"Look-pleasantTounley。"Thisdidnotinanywayantagonisehisperfectwillingnesstofightonoccasionswithasingulardesperation，whichusuallyhasasmallstoolineverymindwheregoodnaturehasathrone。
"Oh，thankyouverymuch，Mr。Tounley，"saidNoraBlack，withoutgratitude。"Rufusisalwayssolaxinthesematters。"
"Idon\'tknowhowyouknowit，"saidColemanboldly，andhelookedherfearlesslyintheeye。Thebattlehadbegun。
"Oh，"respondedNora，airily，"Ihavehadopportunityenoughtoknowit，Ishouldthink，bythistime。"
"No，"saidColeman，"sinceIhaveneverpaidyouparticularanddirectattention，youcannotpossiblyknowwhatIamlaxinandwhatIamnotlaxin。I
wouldbeobligedtobeofserviceatanytime，Nora，butsurelyyoudonotconsiderthatyouhavearighttomyservicessuperiortoanyotherright。"
NoraBlacksimplywentmad，butfortunatelypartofhermadnesswasintheformofspeechlessness。
Otherwisetheremighthavebeenheardsomethingapproachingtobillingsgate。
MarjoryandPeterTounleyturnedfirsthotandthencold，andlookedasiftheywantedtoflyaway；andevenCoke，pennedhelplesslyinwiththisunpleasantincident，seemedtohaveasuddenattackofdistress。
TheonlyfrigidpersonwasColeman。Hehadmadehisdeclarationofindependence，andhesawwithgleethatthevictorywascomplete。NoraBlackmightstormandrage，buthehadannouncedhispositioninanunconventionalbluntwaywhichnobodyinthecarriagecouldfailtounderstand。HefeltsomewhatlikesmilingwithconfidenceanddefianceinNora\'sface，buthestillhadthefearforMarjory。
Unexpectedly，thefightwasalloutofNoraBlack。
Shehadthefuryofawomanscorned，butevidentlyshehadperceivedthatallwasoverandlost。TheremainderofherwrathdispenseditselfinglareswhichColemanwithstoodwithgreatcomposure。
AstrainedsilencefelluponthegroupwhichlasteduntiltheyarrivedatthelittleportofMesalonghi，whencetheyweretotakeshipforPatras。Colemanfoundhimselfwonderingwhyhehadnotgoneflatlyatthegreatquestionatamuchearlierperiod，indeedatthefirstmomentwhenthegreatquestionbegantomakelifeexcitingforhim。HethoughtthatifhehadchargedNora\'sgunsinthebeginningtheywouldhaveturnedouttobethesameincapableartillery。
Insteadofthathehadrunawayandcontinuedtorunawayuntilhewasactuallycorneredandmadetofight，andhiseasyvictoryhaddefinedhimasapersonwhohad，earlier，indulgedinmuchstupidityandcowardice。
Everythinghadworkedoutsosimply，histerrorshadbeendispelledsoeasily，thatheprobablywasledtooverestimatehissuccess。Anditoccurredsuddenlytohim。HeforesawafineoccasiontotalkprivatelytoMarjorywhenallhadboardedthesteamerforPatrasandheresolvedtomakeuseofit。Thishebelievedwouldendthestrifeandconclusivelylaurelhim。
Thetrainfinallydrewuponalittlestonepierandsomeboatmenbegantoscreamlikegulls。Thesteamerlayatanchorintheplacidbluecove。TheembarkationwaschaoticintheOrientalfashionandtherewasthecustomarymiserywhichwasonlyrelievedwhenthetravellershadsetfootonthedeckofthesteamer。ColemandidnotdevoteanyprematureattentiontofindingMarjory，butwhenthesteamerwasfairlyoutonthecalmwatersoftheGulfofCorinth，hesawherpacingtoandfrowithPeterTounley。
Atfirsthelurkedinthedistancewaitingforanopportunity，butultimatelyhedecidedtomakehisownopportunity。Heapproachedthem。"Marjory，wouldyouletmespeaktoyoualoneforafewmoments？
Youwon\'tmind，willyou，Peter？"
"Oh，no，certainlynot，"saidPeterTounley。
"Ofcourse。Itisnotsomedreadfulrevelation，isit？"saidMarjory，banteringhimcoolly。
"No，"answeredColeman，abstractedly。Hewasthinkingofwhathewasgoingtosay。PeterTounleyvanishedaroundthecornerofadeck-houseandMarjoryandColemanbegantopacetoandfroevenasMarjoryandPeterTounleyhaddone。Colemanhadthoughttospeakhismindfranklyandonceforall，andonthetrainhehadinventedmanyclearexpressionsofhisfeeling。Itdidnotappearthathehadforgottenthem。Itseemed，more，thattheyhadbecomeentangledinhismindinsuchawaythathecouldnotunraveltheendofhisdiscourse。
Inthepause，Marjorybegantospeakinadmirationofthescenery。"IneverimaginedthatGreecewassofullofmountains。OnereadssomuchoftheAtticPlains，butaren\'tthesemountainsroyal？Theylooksoruggedandcold，whereasthebayisabsolutelyasblueastheolddescriptionsofasummersea。"
"IwantedtospeaktoyouaboutNoraBlack，"saidColeman。
"NoraBlack？Why？"saidMarjory，liftinghereye-
brows。
Youknowwellenough，"saidColeman，inahead。
longfashion。"Youmustknow，youmusthaveseenit。SheknowsIcareforyouandshewantstostopit。
Andshehasnorightto-tointerfere。Sheisafiend，aperfectfiend。SheistryingtomakeyoufeelthatI
careforher。"
"Anddon\'tyoucareforher？"askedMarjory。
"No，"saidColeman，vehemently。"Idon\'tcareforheratall。"
"Verywell，"answeredMarjory，simply。"Ibelieveyou。"Shemanagedtogivethewordstheeffectofamereannouncementthatshebelievedhimanditwasinnowayplainthatshewasgladorthatsheesteemedthematterasbeingofconsequence。
Hescowledatherindarkresentment。"Youmeanbythat，Isuppose，thatyoudon\'tbelieveme？"
"Oh，"answeredMarjory，wearily，"Ibelieveyou。
Isaidso。Don\'ttalkaboutitanymore。"
"Then，"saidColeman，slowly，"youmeanthatyoudonotcarewhetherI\'mtellingthetruthornot？"
"Why，ofcourseIcare，"shesaid。"Lyingisnotnice。"
Hedidnotknow，apparently，exactlyhowtodealwithhermanner，whichwasactuallysopliablethat-itwasmarble，ifonemayspeakinthatway。Helookedruefullyatthesea。Hehadexpectedafareasiertime。"Well-"hebegan。
"Really，"interruptedMarjory，"thisissomethingwhichIdonotcaretodiscuss。Iwouldratheryouwouldnotspeaktomeatallaboutit。Itseemstoo-too-bad。IcanreadilygiveyoumywordthatI
believeyou，butIwouldpreferyounottotrytotalktomeaboutitor-anythingofthatsort。Mother!"
Mrs。Wainwrightwashoveringanxiouslyinthevicinity，andshenowboredownrapidlyuponthepair。"YouareverynearlytoPatras，"shesaidreproachfullytoherdaughter，asifthefacthadsomefaultofMarjory\'sconcealedinit。Sheinnowayac-
knowledgedthepresenceofColeman。
"Oh，arewe？"criedMarjory。
"Yes，"saidMrs。Wainwright。"Weare。"
ShestoodwaitingasifsheexpectedMarjorytoin-
stantlyquitColeman。Thegirlwaveredamomentandthenfollowedhermother。"Good-bye。"shesaid。
"IhopewemayseeyouagaininAthens。"ItwasacommandtohimtotravelalonewithhisservantonthelongrailwayjourneyfromPatrastoAthens。Itwasadismissalofacasualacquaintancegivensograciouslythatitstunghimtothedepthsofhispride。
Hebowedhisadieuandhisthanks。Whentheyellingboatmencameagain，heandhismanproceededtotheshoreinanearlyboatwithoutlookinginanywayafterthewelfareoftheothers。
Atthetrain，thepartysplitintothreesections。
Colemanandhismanhadonecompartment，NoraBlackandhersquadhadanother，andtheWainwrightsandstudentsoccupiedtwomore。
ThelittleofficerwasstillintowofNoraBlack。
Hewasveryenthusiastic。InFrenchshedirectedhimtoremainsilent，buthedidnotappeartounderstand。
"Youtellhim，"shethensaidtoherdragoman，"tositinacornerandnottospeakuntilItellhimto，orIwon\'thavehiminhere。"Sheseemedanxioustounburdenherselftotheoldladycompanion。
"Doyouknow，"shesaid，"thatgirlhasanervelikesteel。Itriedtobreakitthereinthatinn，butIcouldn\'tbudgeher。IfIamgoingtohaveherbeatenImustprovemyselftobeavery，veryartfulperson。"
"Whydidyoutrytobreakhernerve？"askedtheoldlady，yawning。"Whydoyouwanttohaveherbeaten？"
"BecauseIdo，oldstupid，"answeredNora。"YoushouldhaveheardthethingsIsaidtoher。"
"Aboutwhat？"
"AboutColeman。Can\'tyouunderstandanythingatall？"
"AndwhyshouldyousayanythingaboutColemantoher？"queriedtheoldlady，stillhopelesslybefogged。
"Because，"criedNora，dartingalookofwrathathercompanion，"Iwanttopreventthatmarriage。"
Shehadbeenbetrayedintothisavowalbythesingularlyopaquemindoftheoldlady。Thelatteratoncesaterect-"Oh，ho，"shesaid，asifarayoflighthadbeenletintoherhead。"Oh，ho。Sothat\'sit，isit？"
"Yes，that\'sit，rejoinedNora，shortly。
Theoldladywasamazedintoalongperiodofmeditation。Atlastshespokedepressingly。"Well，howareyougoingtopreventit？Thosethingscan\'tbedoneinthesedaysatall。Iftheycareforeachother-"
Noraburstoutfuriously。"Don\'tventureopinionsuntilyouknowwhatyouaretalkingabout，please。
Theydon\'tcareforeachother，doyousee？Shecaresforhim，buthedon\'tgiveasnapofhisfingersforher。"
"But，"criedthebewilderedlady，"ifhedon\'tcareforher，therewillbenothingtoprevent。Ifhedon\'tcareforher，hewon\'taskhertomarryhim，andsotherewon\'tbeanythingtoprevent。"
Noramadeabroadgestureofimpatience。"Oh，can\'tyougetanythingthroughyourhead？Haven\'tyouseenthatthegirlhasbeentheonlyyoungwomaninthatwholepartylostupthereinthemountains，andthatnaturallymorethanhalfofthemenstillthinktheyareinlovewithher？That\'swhatitis。Can\'tyousee？Italwayshappensthatway。
ThenColemancomesalongandmakesafoolofhimselfwiththeothers。"
Theoldladyspokeupbrightlyasifatlastfeelingabletocontributesomethingintelligenttothetalk。
"Oh，then，hedoescareforher。"
Nora\'seyeslookedasiftheirglancemightshriveltheoldlady\'shair。"Don\'tIkeeptellingyouthatitisnosuchthing？Can\'tyouunderstand？Itisallglamour!Fascination!Wayupthereinthewilderness!Onlyoneevenpassablewomaninsight。"
"Idon\'tsaythatIamsoverykeen，"saidtheoldlady，somewhatoffended，"butIfailtoseewhereI
couldimprovewhenfirstyoutellmehedon\'tcareforher，andthenyoutellmethathedoescareforher。"
"Glamour，\'\'Fascination，\'"quotedNora。"Don\'tyouunderstandthemeaningofthewords？"
"Well，"askedtheother，didn\'theknowher，then，beforehecameoverhere？"
Norawassilentforatime，whileagloomuponherfacedeepened。Ithadstruckherthatthetheoriesforwhichsheprotestedsoenergeticallymightnotbeofsuchgreatvalue。Spokenaloud，theyhadasuddennewflimsiness。PerhapsshehadreiteratedtoherselfthatColemanwasthevictimofglamouronlybecauseshewishedittobetrue。Onetheory，however，re-
mainedunshaken。Marjorywasanartfulrninx，withnotruthinher。
Shepresentlyfeltthenecessityofreplyingtothequestionofhercompanion。"Oh，"shesaid，care-
lessly，"Isupposetheywereacquainted-inaway。"
Theoldladywasgivingthebestofhermindtothesubject。"Ifthat\'sthecase-"sheobserved，musingly，"ifthat\'sthecase，youcan\'ttellwhatisbetween\'em。"
ThetalkhadsoslackenedthatNora\'sunfortunateGreekadmirerfeltthatherewasagoodopportunitytopresenthimselfagaintothenoticeoftheactress。
ThemeanswasasmileandaFrenchsentence，buthisreceptionwouldhavefrightenedamaninarmour。
Hisfaceblanchedwithhorroratthestorm，hehadinvoked，andhedroppedlimplybackasifsomeonehadshothim。"Youtellthislittlesnipetoletmealone!"criedNora，tothedragoman。"IfhedarestocomearoundmewithanymoreofthoseParisiandudespeeches，I-Idon\'tknowwhatI\'lldo!I
won\'thaveit，Isay。"Theimpressionuponthedragomanwashardlylessineffect。HelookedwithbulgingeyesatNora，andthenbegantostammerattheofficer。Thelatter\'svoicecouldsometimesbeheardinawedwhispersforthemoreelaborateexplanationofsomedetailofthetragedy。Afterward，heremainedmeekandsilentinhiscorner，barelymorethanashadow，liketheproverbialhusbandofimperiousbeauty。
"Well，"saidtheoldlady，afteralongandthoughtfulpause，"Idon\'tknow，I\'msure，butitseemstomethatifRufusColemanreallycaresforthatgirl，thereisn\'tmuchuseintryingtostophimfromgettingher。
Heisn\'tthatkindofaman。"
"Forheaven\'ssake，willyoustopassumingthathedoescareforher？"demandedNora，breathlessly。
"AndIdon\'tsee，"continuedtheoldlady，"whatyouwanttopreventhimfor，anyhow。"
CHAPTERXXV。
"IFEELinthisradiantatmospherethattherecouldbenosuchthingaswar-menstrivingtogetherinblackandpassionatehatred。"Theprofessor\'swordswereforthebenefitofhiswifeanddaughter。，Hewasviewingthesky-bluewatersoftheGulfofCorinthwithitsbackgroundofmountainsthatinthesunshineweretouchedhereandtherewithacopperishglare。
Thetrainwasslowlysweepingalongthesouthernshore。"Itisstrangetothinkofthosemenfightingupthereinthenorth。Anditisstrangetothinkthatweourselvesarebutjustreturningfromit。"
"Icannotbegintorealiseityet，"saidMrs。Wain-
wright，inahighvoice。
"Quiteso，"respondedtheprofessor，reflectively。
"Idonotsupposeanyofuswillrealiseitfullyforsometime。Itisaltogethertooodd，tooveryodd。"
"Tothinkofit!"criedMrs。WainWright。"Tothinkofit!SupposingthosedreadfulAlbaniansorthoseawfulmenfromtheGreekmountainshadcaughtus!Why，yearsfromnowI\'llwakeupinthenightandthinkofit!"
Theprofessormused。"Strangethatwecannotfeelitstronglynow。Mylogictellsmetobeaghastthatweevergotintosuchaplace，butmynervesatpresentrefusetothrill。IamverymuchafraidthatthissingularapathyofourshasledustobeunjusttopoorColeman。"
HereMrs。Wainwrightobjected。"PoorColeman!
Idon\'tseewhyyoucallhimpoorColeman。
"Well，"answeredtheprofessor，slowly，"Iamindoubtaboutourbehaviour。It-"
"Oh，"criedthewife，gleefully，"indoubtaboutourbehaviour!I\'mindoubtabouthisbehaviour。"
"So，then，youdohaveadoubt。ofhisbehaviour？"
"Oh，no，"respondedMrs。Wainwright，hastily，"notaboutitsbadness。WhatImeanttosaywasthatinthefaceofhisoutrageousconductwiththat-
thatwoman，itiscuriousthatyoushouldworryaboutourbehaviour。Itsurprisesme，Harrison。"
Theprofessorwaswagginghisheadsadly。"I
don\'tknowIdon\'tknowItseemshardtojudge**Ihesitateto-"
Mrs。Wainwrighttreatedthisattitudewithdisdain。
"Itisnothardtojudge，"shescoffed，"andIfailtoseewhyyouhaveanyreasonforhesitationatall。
Herehebringsthiswoman——"
Theprofessorgotangry。"Nonsense!Nonsense!
Idonotbelievethathebroughther。IfIeversawaspectacleofawomanbringingherself，itwasthen。
Youkeepchantingthatthinglikeanoutrightparrot。"
"Well，"retortedMrs。Wainwright，bridling，"I
supposeyouimaginethatyouunderstandsuchthings，Menusuallythinkthat，butIwanttotellyouthatyouseemtomeutterlyblind。"
"Blindornot，dostoptheeverlastingreiterationofthatsentence。"
Mrs。Wainwrightpassedintoanoffendedsilence，andtheprofessor，alsosilent，lookedwithagraduallydwindlingindignationatthescenery。
NightwassuggestedintheskybeforethetrainwasneartoAthens。"Mytrunks，"sighedMrs。
Wainwright。"HowgladIwillbetogetbacktomytrunks!Oh，thedust!Oh，themisery!Dofindoutwhenwewillgetthere，Harrison。Maybethetrainislate。"
But，atlast，theyarrivedinAthens，amidadarknesswhichwasconfusing，and，afternomorethanthecommonamountoftrouble，theyprocuredcarriagesandweretakentothehotel。Mrs。Wainwright\'simpulsesnowdominatedtheothersinthefamily。
Shehadonepassionafteranother。ThemajorityoftheservantsinthehotelpretendedthattheyspokeEnglish，but，inthreeminutes，shedrovethemdistractedwiththeabundanceandviolenceofherrequests。
ItcametopassthatintheexcitementtheoldcouplequiteforgotMarjory。ItwasnotuntilMrs。Wainwright，thenfeelingsplendidly，wasdressedfordinner，thatshethoughttoopenMarjory\'sdoorandgotorenderausualmotherlysupervisionofthegirl\'stoilet。
Therewasnolight:theredidnotseemtobeany-
bodyintheroom。"Marjory!"calledthemother，inalarm。Shelistenedforamomentandthenranhastilyoutagain。"Harrison!"shecried。"Ican\'tfindMarjory!"Theprofessorhadbeentyinghiscravat。Heletthelooseendsfly。"What？"heejaculated，openinghismouthwide。ThentheybothrushedintoMarjory\'sroom。"Marjory!"beseechedtheoldmaninavoicewhichwouldhaveinvokedthegrave。
Theanswerwasfromthebed。"Yes？"Itwaslow，weary，tearful。ItwasnotlikeMarjory。Itwasdangerouslythevoiceofahcart-brokenwoman。
Theyhurriedforwardwithoutcries。"Why，Marjory!
Areyouill，child？Howlonghaveyoubeenlyinginthedark？Whydidn\'tyoucallus？Areyouill？"
"No，"answeredthischangedvoice，"Iamnotill。
IonlythoughtI\'drestforatime。Don\'tbother。"
Theprofessorhastilylitthegasandthenfatherandmotherturnedhurriedlytothebed。InthefirstoftheilluminationtheysawthattearswereflowinguncheckeddownMarjory\'sface。
Theeffect。ofthisgriefupontheprofessorwas，inpart，aneffectoffear。Heseemedafraidtotouchit，togonearit。Hecould，evidently，onlyremainintheoutskirts，ahorrifiedspectator。Themother，how。
ever，flungherarmsaboutherdaughter。"Oh，Marjory!"
She，too，wasweeping。
Thegirlturnedherfacetothepillowandheldoutahandofprotest。"Don\'t，mother!Don\'t!"
"Oh，Marjory!Oh，Marjory!"
"Don\'t，mother。Pleasegoaway。Pleasegoaway。Don\'tspeakatall，Ibegofyou。"
"Oh，Marjory!Oh，Marjory!"
"Don\'t。"Thegirlliftedafacewhichappalledthem。Ithadsomethingentirelynewinit。"Pleasegoaway，mother。Iwillspeaktofather，butIwon\'t-Ican\'t-Ican\'tbepitied。"
Mrs。Wainwrightlookedatherhusband。"Yes，"
saidtheoldman，trembling。"Go!"Shethrewupherhandsinasorrowinggesturethatwasnotwithoutitssuggestionthatherexclusionwouldbeamistake。
Shelefttheroom。
TheprofessordroppedonhiskneesatthebedsideandtookoneofMarjory\'shands。Hisvoicedroppedtoitstenderestnote。"Well，myMarjory？"
Shehadturnedherfaceagaintothepillow。Atlastsheansweredinmuffledtones，"Youknow。"
Thereaftercamealongsilencefullofsharpenedpain。ItwasMarjorywhospokefirst。"Ihavesavedmypride，daddy，but-Ihave-lost-everything——else。"Evenhersuddenresumptionoftheoldepithetofherchildhoodwasanadditionalmiserytotheoldman。Hestillsaidnoword。Heknelt，grippingherfingersandstaringatthewall。
"Yes，Ihavelost~everything-else。"
Thefathergavealowgroan。Hewasthinkingdeeply，bitterly。Sinceonewasonlyahumanbeing，howwasonegoingtoprotectbelovedheartsassailedwithsinisterfuryfromtheinexplicablezenith？Inthistragedyhefeltashelplessasanoldgreyape。
Hedidnotseeapossibleweaponwithwhichhecoulddefendhischildfromthecalamitywhichwasuponher。Therewasnowall，noshieldwhichcouldturnthissorrowfromtheheartofhischild。Ifoneofhishandslosscouldhavesparedher，therewouldhavebeenasacrificeofhishand，buthewaspotentfornothing。Hecouldonlygroanandstareatthewall。
HereviewedthepasthalfinfearthathewouldsuddenlycomeuponhiserrorwhichwasnowthecauseofMarjory\'stears。HedweltlonguponthefactthatinWashursthehadrefusedhisconsenttoMarjory\'smarriagewithColeman，butevennowhecouldnotsaythathisjudgmentwasnotcorrect。Itwassimplythatthedoomofwoman\'swoewasuponMarjory，thisancientwoeofthesilenttongueandthegovernedwill，andhecouldonlykneelatthebedsideandstareatthewall。
Marjoryraisedhervoiceinalaugh。"DidIbetraymyself？DidIbecomethemaidenallforlorn？DidIgiggletoshowpeoplethatIdidnotcare？No-I
didnot-Ididnot。Anditwassuchalongtime，daddy!Oh，suchalongtime!Ithoughtwewouldnevergethere。IthoughtIwouldnevergetwhereI
couldbealonelikethis，whereIcould-cry-ifI
wantedto。Iamnotmuchof-acrier，amI，daddy？
Butthistime-this-time-"
Shesuddenlydrewherselfoverneartoherfatherandlookedathim。"Oh，daddy，Iwanttotellyouonething。justonesimplelittlething。"Shewaitedthen，andwhileshewaitedherfather\'sheadwentlowerandlower。"Ofcourse，youknow-Itoldyouonce。Ilovehim!Ilovehim!Yes，probablyheisarascal，but，doyouknow，Idon\'tthinkIwouldmindifhewasa-anassassin。ThismorningIsenthimaway，but，daddy，hedidn\'twanttogoatall。
Iknowhedidn\'t。ThisNoraBlackisnothingtohim。
Iknowsheisnot。Iamsureofit。Yes-Iamsureofit。***Ineverexpectedtotalkthiswaytoanylivingcreature，but-youaresogood，daddy。
Dearolddaddy——"
Sheceased，forshesawthatherfatherwaspraying。
Thesightbroughttoheranewoutburstofsobbing，forhersorrownowhaddignityandsolemnityfromthebowedwhiteheadofheroldfather，andshefeltthatherheartwasdyingamidthepompofthechurch。
Itwasthelastritesbeingperformedatthedeath-bed。
Intoherearscamesomeimaginingofthelowmelan。
cholychantofmonksinagloom。
Finallyherfatherarose。Hekissedheronthebrow。"Trytosleep，dear，"hesaid。Heturnedoutthegasandlefttheroom。Histhoughtwasfullofchastenedemotion。
Butifhisthoughtwasfullofchastenedemotion，itreceivedsomedegreeofshockwhenhearrivedinthepresenceofMrs。Wainwright。"Well，whatisallthisabout？"shedemanded，irascibly。"DoyoumeantosaythatMarjoryisbreakingherheartoverthatmanColeman？Itisallyourfault-"Shewasapparentlystillruffledoverherexclusion。
Whentheprofessorinterruptedherhedidnotspeakwithhisaccustomedspirit，butfromsomethingnovelinhismannersherecognisedadangersignal。
"Pleasedonotburstoutatitinthatway。"
"ThenitIstrue？"sheasked。Hervoicewasamereawedwhisper。
"Itistrue，"answeredtheprofessor。
"Well，"shesaid，afterreflection，"Iknewit。I
alway\'sknewit。Ifyouhadn\'tbeensoblind!Youturnedlikeaweather-cockinyouropinionsofColeman。
Younevercouldkeepyouropinionabouthimformorethananhour。Nobodycouldimaginewhatyoumightthinknext。Andnowyouseetheresultofit!Iwarnedyou!ItoldyouwhatthisColemanwas，andifMarjoryissufferingnow，youhaveonlyyourselftoblameforit。Iwarnedyou!"
"Ifitismyfault，"saidtheprofessor，drearily，"I
hopeGodmayforgiveme，forhereisagreatwrongtomydaughter。"
Well，ifyouhaddoneasItoldyou-"shebegan。
Heretheprofessorrevolted。"Oh，now，donotbe-
ginonthat，"hesnarled，peevishly。Donotbeginonthat。"
"Anyhow，"saidMrs。Wainwright，itistimethatweshouldbegoingdowntodinner。IsMarjorycom-
ing？"
