下载辰思小说免费APP
"Fixedit。FixeditwithColeman。"
"FixedwhatwithColeman？
Theprofessor\'swrathnowtookcontrolofhim。
"Thunderandlightenin\'!YouseemtojumpattheconclusionthatI\'vemadesomehorriblemistake。Forgoodness\'sake，givemecreditforaparticleofsense。"
"Whatdidyoudo？"sheaskedinasepulchralvoice。
"Well，"saidtheprofessor，inaburningdefiance，"I\'lltellyouwhatIdid。IwenttoColemanandtoldhimthatonce-asheofcourseknew-Ihadre-
fusedhismarriagewithmydaughter，butthatnow——"
"Grrr，"saidMrs。Wainwright。
"Butthatnow-"continuedtheprofessor，"Iretractedthatrefusal。"
"Mercyonus!"criedMrs。Wainwright，throwingherselfbackinthechair。"Mercyonus!Whatfoolsmenare!"
"Now，waitaminute-"
ButMrs。Wainwrightbegantocroon:"Oh，ifMarjoryshouldhearofthis!Oh，ifsheshouldhearofit!justlether。Hear-"
"Butshemustnot，"criedtheprofessor，tigerishly。
justyoudare!"Andthewomansawbeforeheramanwhoseeyeswerelitwithaflamewhichalmostexpressedatemporaryhatred。
TheprofessorhadleftColemansoabruptlythatthecorrespondentfoundhimselfmurmuringhalf。
coherentgratitudetothecloseddoorofhisroom。
Amazementsoonbegantobemasteredbyexultation。
Heflunghimselfuponthebrandyandsodaandnego-
tiatedastrongglass。Pacing。theroomwithnervoussteps，hecaughtavisionofhimselfinatallmirror。
Hehaltedbeforeit。"Well，well，"hesaid。"Rufus，you\'reagrandman。Thereisnotyourequalanywhere。
Youareagreat，bold，strongplayer，fittositdowntoagamewiththe-best。"
Amomentlateritstruckhimthathehadappropriatedtoomuch。Iftheprofessorhadpaidhimavisitandmadeawonderfulannouncement，he，Coleman，hadnotbeentheengineofit。Andthenheenunciatedclearlysomethinginhismindwhich，eveninavagueform，hadbeenresponsibleformuchofhisearlyelation。Marjoryherselfhadcompassedthisthing。
Withshameherejectedafirstwildandpreposterousideathatshehadsentherfathertohim。Hereflectedthatamanwhoforaninstantcouldconceivesuchathingwasanatural-bornidiot。Withanequalfeeling，herejectedalsoanideathatshecouldhaveknownanythingofherfather\'spurpose。Ifshehadknownofhispurpose，therewouldhavebeennovisit。
What，then，wasthecause？ColemansoondecidedthattheprofessorhadwitnessedsomedemonstrationofMarjory\'semotionwhichhadbeensufficientlysevereinitscharactertoforcehimtotheextraordinaryvisit。Butthenthisalsowaswildandpreposterous。
ThatcoldlybeautifulgoddesswouldnothavegivenademonstrationofemotionoverRufusColemansufficientlyalarmingtohaveforcedherfatheronsuchanerrand。Thatwasimpossible。No，hewaswrong；Marjoryevenindirectly，couldnotbeconnectedwiththevisit。Ashearrivedatthisdecision，theenthusiasmpassedoutofhimandheworeadoleful，monkishface。
"Well，what，then，wasthecause？"AftereliminatingMarjoryfromthediscussionwaginginhismind，hefoundithardtohituponanythingrational。
Theonlyremainingtheorywastotheeffectthattheprofessor，havingaveryhighsenseofthecorrespond。
ent\'shelpintheescapeoftheWainwrightparty，haddecidedthattheonlywaytoexpresshisgratitudewastorevokeacertaindecisionwhichhenowcouldseehadbeenunfair。TheretorttothistheoryseemedtobethatiftheprofessorhadhadsuchafineconceptionoftheservicesrenderedbyColeman，hehadhadampletimetodisplayhisappreciationontheroadtoArtaandontheroaddownfromArta。TherewasnonecessityforhiswaitinguntiltheirarrivalinAthens。
Itwasimpossibletoconcedethattheprofessor\'semotioncouldbeanewone；ifhehaditnow，hemusthavehaditinfarstrongermeasuredirectlyafterhehadbeenhauledoutofdanger。
So，itmaybeseenthatafterColemanhadeliminatedMarjoryfromthediscussionthatwaswaginginhismind，hehadpracticallysucceededineliminatingtheprofessoraswell。This，hethought，mournfully，waseliminatingwithavengeance。Ifhedissolvedallthefactorshecouldhardlyproceed。
Themindofalovermovesinacircle，oratleastonamorecircularcoursethanotherminds，someofwhichattimesevenseemtomovealmostinastraightline。Presently，Colemanwasatthepointwherehebadstarted，andhedidnotpauseuntilhereachedthattheorywhichassertedthattheprofessorhadbeeninspiredtohisvisitbysomesightorknowledgeofMarjoryindistress。Ofcourse，Colemanwaswistfullydesirousofprovingtohimselfthetruthofthistheory。
Thepalpableagitationoftheprofessorduringtheinterviewseemedtosupportit。Ifhehadcomeonamerejourneyofconscience，hewouldhavehardlyappearedasawhiteandtremblingold，man。Butthen，saidColeman，hehimselfprobablyexaggeratedthisideaoftheprofessor\'sappearance。Itmighthavebeenthathewasonlysouranddistressedovertheperformanceofaverydisagreeableduty。
Thecorrespondentpacedhisroomandsmoked。
Sometimeshehaltedatthelittletablewherewasthebrandyandsoda。HethoughtsohardthatsometimesitseemedthatMarjoryhadbeentohimtoproposemarriage，andatothertimesitseemedthattherehadbeennovisitfromanyoneatall。
Adesiretotalktosomebodywasuponhim。Hestrolleddownstairsandintothesmokingandreadingrooms，hopingtoseeamanheknew，evenifitwereCoke。Buttheonlyoccupantsweretwostrangers，furiouslydebatingthewar。Passingtheminister\'sroom，Colemansawthattherewasalightwithin，andhecouldnotforbearknocking。Hewasbiddentoenter，andopenedthedoorupontheminister，care-
fullyreadinghisSpectatorfreshfromLondon。
Helookedupandseemedveryglad。"Howareyou？"hecried。"Iwastremendouslyanxioustoseeyou，doyouknow!Ilookedforyoutodinewithmeto-night，butyouwerenotdown？"
"No；Ihadagreatdealofwork。"
"OvertheWainwrightaffair？Bytheway，Iwantyoutoacceptmypersonalthanksforthatwork。InaweekmoreIwouldhavegonedementedandspenttherestofmylifeinsomekindofacage，shakingthebarsandhowlingoutStateDepartmentmessagesabouttheWainwrights。Yousee，inmyterritorytherearenomissionariestogetintotrouble，andI
waslivingalifeofundisturbedandinnocentcalm，ridiculingthesentimentsofmenfromSmyrnaandotherinterestingtownswhomaintainedthatthediplomaticservicewasexciting。However，whentheWainwrightpartygotlost，mylifeatoncebecameactive。Iwasallbuthelpless，too；whichwastheworstofit。IsupposeTerryatConstantinoplemusthavegotgrandlystirredup，also。Pityhecan\'tseeyoutothankyouforsavinghimfromprobablygoingmad。Bytheway，"headded，whilelookingkeenlyatColeman，"theWainwrightsdon\'tseemtobesmotheringyouwithgratitude？"
"Oh，asmuchasIdeserve-sometimesmore，"
answeredColeman。"Myexploitwasmoreorlessofafake，youknow。Iwasbetweenthelinesbyaccident，orthroughtheeffortsofthatblockheadofadragoman。Ididn\'tintendit。Andthen，inthenight，whenwewerewaitingintheroadbecauseofafight，theyalmostbunkedintous。That\'sall。"
"Theytellitbetter，"saidtheminister，severely。
"Especiallytheyoungsters。"
"ThosekidsgotintoahigholdfightatatownuptherebeyondAgrinion。Tellyouaboutthat，didthey？Ithoughtnot。Cleverkids。Youhavenotedthattherearesignsofafewbruisesandscratches？"
"Yes，butIdidn\'task-"
"Well，theyarefromthefight。ItseemsthepeopletookusforGermans，andtherewasanawfulpalaver，whichendedinaproperandhandsomeshindig。Itraisedthetown，Itellyou。"
Theministersighedinmockdespair。"Takethesepeoplehome，willyou？Oratanyrate，conductthemoutofthefieldofmyresponsibility。Now，theywouldlikeItalyimmensely，Iamsure。"
Colemanlaughed，andtheysmokedforatime。
"That\'sacharminggirl-MissWainwright，"saidtheminister，musingly。"Andwhatabeauty!Itdoesmyexiledeyesgoodtoseeher。Isupposeallthoseyoungstersaremadlyinlovewithher？Idon\'tseehowtheycouldhelpit。"
"Yes，"saidColeman，glumly。"Morethanhalfofthem。"
Theministerseemedstruckwithasuddenthought。
"Yououghttotrytowinthatsplendidprizeyourself。
Therescuer!Perseus!Whatmorefitting？"
Colemanansweredcalmly:"Well***IthinkI\'lltakeyouradvice。"
CHAPTERXXVIII。
THEnextmorningColemanawokewithasignofaresolutedecisiononhisface，asifithadbeenadevelopmentofhissleep。HewouldseeMarjoryassoonaspossible，seeherdespiteanybarbed-wireentanglementswhichmightbeplacedinthewaybyhermother，whomheregardedashisstrenuousenemy。
AndhewouldaskMarjory\'shandinthepresenceofallAthensifitbecamenecessary。
HesatalongtimeathisbreakfastinordertoseetheWainwrightsenterthediningroom，andashewasabouttosurrendertothewilloftime，theycamein，theprofessorplacidandself-satisfied，Mrs。WainwrightworriedandinjuredandMarjorycool，beautiful，serene。Iftherehadbeenanykindofastormtherewasnotraceofitonthewhitebrowofthegirl。
Colemanstudiedhercloselybutfurtivelywhilehismindspunaroundhiscircleofspeculation。
Finallyhenotedthewaiterwhowasobservinghimwithapainedairasifitwasonthetipofhistonguetoaskthisguestifhewasgoingtoremainatbreakfastforever。ColemanpassedouttothereadingroomwhereuponthetableamultitudeofgreatredguidebookswerecrushingthefragilemagazinesofLondonandParis。Onthewallswerevariousdepressingmapswiththenameofatouristagencyluridlyuponthem，andtherewerealsosomepicturesofhotelswiththeirrates-infrancs-printedbeneath。
Theroomwascold，dark，empty，withthetrailofthetouristuponit。
ColemanwenttothepictureofahotelinCorfuandstaredatitpreciselyasifhewasinterested。HewasstandingbeforeitwhenheheardMarjory\'svoicejustwithoutthedoor。"Allright!I\'llwait。"Hedidnotmoveforthereasonthatthehuntermovesnotwhentheunsuspectingdeerapproacheshishidingplace。SheenteredratherquicklyandwaswelltowardthecentreoftheroombeforesheperceivedColeman。"Oh，"shesaidandstopped。Thenshespoketheimmortalsentence，asentencewhich，curiouslyenoughiscommontothedrama，tothenovel，andtolife。"Ithoughtnoonewashere。"
Shelookedasifshewasgoingtoretreat，butitwouldhavebeenhardtomakesuchretreatgraceful，andprobablyforthisreasonshestoodherground。
Colemanimmediatelymovedtoapointbetweenherandthedoor。"Youarenotgoingtorunawayfromme，MarjoryWainwright，"hecried，angrily。
"Youatleastoweittometotellmedefinitelythatyoudon\'tloveme-thatyoucan\'tloveme-"
Shedidnotfacehimwithallofheroldspirit，butshefacedhim，andinheranswertherewastheoldMarjory。"Amostcommonquestion。Doyouaskallyourfeminineacquaintancesthat？"
"Imean-"hesaid。"ImeanthatIloveyouand-"
"Yesterday-no。To-day-yes。To-morrow-whoknows。Really，yououghttotakesomestepstoknowyourownmind。"
"Knowmyownmind，"heretortedinaburstofin-
dignation。"Youmeanyououghttotakestepstoknowyourownmind。"
"Myownmind!You-"Thenshehaltedinacuteconfusionandallherfacewentpink。Shehadbeenfarquickerthanthemantodefinethescene。
Sheloweredherhead。Letmepast，please-"
ButColemansturdilyblockedthewayandeventookoneofherstrugglinghands。"Marjory-"
Andthenhisbrainmusthaveroaredwithathousandquicksentencesfortheycametumblingout，oneovertheother。**Herresistancetothegripofhisfingersgrewsomewhatfeeble。Oncesheraisedhereyesinaquickglanceathim。**Thensuddenlyshewilted。Shesurrendered，sheconfessedwithoutwords。"Oh，Marjory，thankGod，thankGod-"
PeterTounleymadeadramaticentranceonthegallop。Hestopped，petrified。"Whoo!"hecried。
"Mystars!"Heturnedandfled。ButColemancalledafterhiminalowvoice，intensewithagitation。
"Comebackhere，youyoungscoundrel!ComebaokhereI"
Peterreturned，lookingverysheepish。"Ihadn\'ttheslightestideayou-"
"Nevermindthatnow。Butlookhere，ifyoutellasinglesoul-particularlythoseotheryoungscoundrels-I\'llbreak-"
"Iwon\'t，Coleman。Honest，Iwon\'t。"HewasfarmoreembarrassedthanColemanandalmostequallysowithMarjory。Hewaslikeahorsetuggingatatether。"Iwon\'t，Coleman!Honest!"
"Well，allright，then。"Peterescaped。
Theprofessorandhiswifewereintheirsittingroomwritingletters。Thecablegramshadallbeenanswered，butastheprofessorintendedtoprolonghisjourneyhomewardintoamonthofParisandLondon，thereremainedthearduousdutyoftellingtheirfriendsatlengthexactlywhathadhappened。TherewasconsiderableoftheloreofoldenGreeceintheprofessor\'sdescriptionsoftheirescape，andinthoseofMrs。Wainwrighttherewasmuchaboutthelackofhair-pinsandsoap。
Theirheadswereloweredovertheirwritingwhenthedoorintothecorridoropenedandshutquickly，anduponlookinguptheysawintheroomaradiantgirl，anewMarjory。Shedroppedtoherkneesbyherfather\'schairandreachedherarmstohisneck。
"Oh，daddy!I\'mhappyII\'msohappy!"
"Why-what-"begantheprofessorstupidly。
"Oh，Iamsohappy，daddy!
Ofcoursehecouldnotbelonginmakinghisconclusion。
TheonewhocouldgivesuchjoytoMarjorywastheonewho，lastnight，gavehersuchgrief。
Theprofessorwasonlyamomentinunderstanding。
Helaidhishandtenderlyuponherhead"Blessmysoul，"hemurmured。"Andso-andso-he-"
Atthepersonalpronoun，Mrs。Wainwrightlum-
beredfranticallytoherfeet。"What？"sheshouted。
Coleman？"
"Yes，"answeredMarjory。"Coleman。"Asshespokethenamehereyeswereshotwithsoftyettropicflashesoflight。
Mrs。Wainwrightdroppedsuddenlybackintoherchair。"Well-of-all-things!"
Theprofessorwasstrokinghisdaughter\'shairandalthoughforatimeafterMrs。Wainwright\'soutbreaktherewaslittlesaid，theoldmanandthegirlseemedingentlecommunion，shemakinghimfeelherhappiness，hemakingherfeelhisappreciation。ProvidentiallyMrs。Wainwrighthadbeensostunnedbythefirstblowthatshewasevidentlyrenderedincapableofspeech。
"Andareyousureyouwillbehappywithhim？
askedherfathergently。
"Allmylifelong，"sheanswered。
"Iamglad!Iamglad!"saidthefather，butevenashespokeagreatsadnesscametoblendwithhisjoy。Thehourwhenhewastogivethisbeautifulandbelovedlifeintothekeepingofanotherhadbeenheraldedbythegodofthesexes，the
"Iamglad，"repeatedtheprofessor。
Thegirlarosefromherknees。"Imustgoawayand-thinkallaboutit，"shesaid，smiling。Whenthedoorofherroomcloseduponher，themotheraroseinmajesty。
"HarrisonWainwright，"shedeclaimed，"youarenotgoingtoallowthismonstrousthing!"
Theprofessorwasarousedfromareveriebythesewords。"Whatmonstrousthing？"hegrowled。
"Why，thisbetweenColemanandMarjory。"
"Yes，"heansweredboldly。
"Harrison!Thatmanwho-"
Theprofessorcrashedhishanddownonthetable。
"Mary!Iwillnothearanotherwordofit!"
"Well，"saidMrs。Wainwright，sullenandominous，"timewilltell!Timewilltell!"
WhenColemanbadturnedfromthefleeingPeterTounleyagaintoMarjory，hefoundhermakingthepreliminarymovementsofaflight。"What\'sthematter？"hedemandedanxiously。
"Oh，it\'stoodreadful"
"Nonsense，"lieretortedstoutly。"OnlyPeterTounley!Hedon\'tcount。Whatofthat？"
\'Oh，dear!"Shepressedherpalmtoaburningcheek。Shegavehimastar-like，beseechingglance。
Letmegonow-please。"
"Well，"heanswered，somewhataffronted，"ifyoulike——"
Atthedoorsheturnedtolookathim，andthisglanceexpressedinitselusivewayascoreofthingswhichshehadnotyetbeenabletospeak。Itexplainedthatshewaslothtoleavehim，thatsheaskedforgivenessforleavinghim，thatevenforashortabsenceshewishedtotakehisimageinhereyes，thathemustnotbullyher，thattherewassomethingnowinherheartwhichfrightenedher，thatshelovedhim，thatshewashappy——
Whenshehadgone，ColemanwenttotheroomsoftheAmericanminister。AGreekwastherewhotalkedwildlyashewavedhiscigarette。Colemanwaitedinwell-concealedimpatienceforthedvapora-
tionofthisman。Oncetheminister，regardingthecorrespondenthurriedly，interpolatedacomment。
"Youlookverycheerful？"
"Yes，"answeredColeman，"I\'vebeentakingyouradvice。"
"Oh，ho!"saidtheminister。
TheGreekwiththecigarettejawedendlessly。
Colemanbegantomarvelattheenduringgoodman-
nersoftheminister，whocontinuedtonodandnodinpoliteappreciationoftheGreek\'sharangue，which，Colemanfirmlybelieved，hadnopointofinterestwhatever。Butatlasttheman，afteraneffusivefarewell，wenthisway。
"Now，"saidtheminister，wheelinginhischairtellmeallaboutit。"
Colemanarose，andthrustinghishandsdeepinhistrousers\'pockets，begantopacetheroomwithlongstrides。He，saidnothing，butkepthiseyesonthefloor。
"CanIhaveadrink？"heasked，abruptlypausing。
"Whatwouldyoulike？"askedtheminister，benevolently，ashetouchedthebell。
"Abrandyandsoda。I\'dlikeitverymuch。Yousee，"hesaid，asheresumedhiswalk，"Ihavenokindofrighttoburdenyouwithmyaffairs，but，totellthetruth，ifIdon\'tgetthisnewsoffmymindandintosomebody\'sear，I\'lldie。It\'sthis-IaskedMarjoryWainwrighttomarryme，and-sheaccepted，and-
that\'sall。"
"Well，Iamveryglad，"criedtheminister，arisingandgivinghishand。"Andasforburdeningmewithyouraffairs，noonehasabetterright，youknow，sinceyoureleasedmefromthepersecutionofWashingtonandthefriendsoftheWainwrights。Maygoodluckfollowyoubothforever。You，inmyopinion，areavery，veryfortunateman。And，forherpartshehasnotdonetoobadly。"
SeeingthatitwasimportantthatColemanshouldhavehisspiritspacifiedinpart，theministercontinued:
"Now，Ihavegottowriteanofficialletter，soyoujustwalkupanddownhereanduseupthissurplussteam。Elseyou\'llexplode。"
ButColemanwasnottobedetained。Nowthathehadinformedtheminister，hemustrushoffsome。
where，anywhere，anddo-heknewnotwhat。
Allright，"saidtheminister，laughing。"YouhaveawilderheadthanIthought。Butlookhere，"
hecalled，asColemanwasmakingforthedoor。"AmItokeepthisnewsasecret？"
Colemanwithhishandontheknob，turnedim。
pressively。Hespokewithdeliberation。"AsfarasIamconcerned，Iwouldbegladtoseeamanpaintitinredletters，eightfeethigh，onthefrontoftheking\'spalace。"
Theminister，leftalone，wrotesteadilyanddidnotevenlookupwhenPeterTounleyandtwoothersentered，inresponsetohiscryofpermission。However，hepresentlyfoundtimetospeakoverhisshouldertothem。"Hearthenews？"
"No，sir，"theyanswered。
"Well，begoodboys，now，andreadthepapersandlookatpicturesuntilIfinishthisletter。ThenIwilltellyou。"
Theysurveyedhimkeenly。Theyevidentlyjudgedthatthenewswasworthhearing，but，obediently，theysaidnothing。Ultimatelytheministeraffixedarapidsignaturetotheletter，andturning，lookedatthestudentswithasmile。
"Haven\'theardthenews，eh？"
"No，Sir。"
"Well，MarjoryWainwrightisengagedtomarryColeman。"
Theministerwasamazedtoseetheeffectofthisannouncementuponthethreestudents。Hehadexpectedthecrowsandcacklesofratherabsurdmerrimentwithwhichunbeardedyouthoftengreets，suchnews。Buttherewasnocroworcackle。Oneyoungmanblushedscarletandlookedguiltilyatthefloor。Withagreatefforthemuttered:"Shestoogoodforhim。"Anotherstudenthadturnedghastlypateandwasstaring。ItwasPeterTounleywhorelievedtheminister\'smind，foruponthatyoungman\'sfacewasabroadjack-o-lanterngrin，andtheministersawthat，atanyrate，hehadnotmadeacompletemassacre。
PeterTounleysaidtriumphantly:"Iknewit!"
Theministerwasanxiousoverthehavochehadwroughtwiththetwootherstudents，butslowlythecolourabatedinonefaceandgrewintheother。Togivethemopportunity，theministertalkedbusilytoPeterTounley。"Andhowdidyouknowit，youyoungscamp？"
Peterwasjubilant。"Oh，-Iknewit!IknewitI
Iamveryclever。"
Thestudentwhohadblushednowaddressedtheministerinaslightlystrainedvoice。"Areyoupositivethatitistrue，Mr。Gordner？，"
"Ihaditonthebestauthority，"repliedtheministergravely。
Thestudentwhohadturnedpalesaid:"Oh，it\'strue，ofcourse。"
"Well，"saidcrudelytheonewhohadblushed，she\'sagreatsighttoogoodforColemanoranybodylikehim。That\'sallI\'vegottosay。"
"Oh，Colemanisagoodfellow，"saidPeterTounley，reproachfully。"You\'venorighttosaythat-exactly。
Youdon\'tknowwhereyou\'d。benowifitwerenotforColeman。"
The，responsewas，first，anangrygesture。"Oh，don\'tkeepeverlastingrubbingthatin。Forheaven\'ssake，letup-SupposingIdon\'t。knowwhereI\'dbenowif，itwerenotforRufusColeman？Whatofit？
FortherestofmylifehaveIgotto——"
Theministersaw。thatthiswastheembitteredspeechofareallydefeatedyouth，so，tosavescenes，hegentlyejectedthetrio。"There，there，now!Runalonghomelikegoodboys。I\'llbebusyuntilluncheon。
AndI-daresayyouwon\'tfindColemansuchabadchap。"\'
Inthecorridor，oneofthestudentssaidoffensivelytoPeterTounley:"Say，howinhelldidyoufindoutallthissoearly？"
Peter\'sreplywasamiableintone。"YouareadamnedbleatinglittlekidandyoumadeaholyshowofyourselfbeforeMr。Gordner。There\'swhereyoustand。Didn\'tyouseethatheturnedusoutbecausehedidn\'tknowbutwhatyouweregoingtoblubberorsomething-youareasuckingpig，andifyouwanttoknowhowIfindoutthingsgoasktheDelphicOracle，youblindass。"
"Youbetterlookoutoryoumaygetapunchintheeye!，"
"Youtakeonepunchinthegeneraldirectionofmyeye，meson，"said-Petercheerfully，"andI\'lldistributeyourremains，overthishotelinawaythatwillcauseyour，friendsyearsoftroubletocollectyou。
Insteadofanticipatinganattackuponmyeye，youhadmuchbetterbeengagedinimprovingyourmind，whichisatpresentnotafitmachinetocopewithexcitingsituations。There\'sCoke!Hello，Coke，hearthenews？Well，MarjoryWainwrightandRufusColeman，areengaged……Straight？Certainly!Goasktheminister。"
CokedidnottakePeter\'sword。"Isthatso？"heaskedtheothers。
"Sotheministertoldus，"theyanswered，andthenthesetwo，whoseemedsounhappy，watchedCoke\'sfacetoseeiftheycouldnotfindsurprisedmiserythere。ButCokecoollysaid:"Well，then，Isupposeit\'strue。"
Itsoonbecameevidentthatthestudentsdidnotcareforeachother\'ssociety。PeterTounleywasprobablyanexception，buttheothersseemedtolongforquietcorners。Theyweredistrustingeachother，and，inaboyishway，theywereevencapableofmaligantthings。Theirexcusesforseparationwerebadlymade。
"I-IthinkI\'llgoforawalk。"
"I\'mgoingupstairstoread。"
"Well，solong，oldman。\'"Solong。"Therewasnohearttoit。
PeterTounleywenttoColeman\'sdoor，whereheknockedwithnoisyhilarity。"ComeinI"Thecorrespondentapparentlyhadjustcomefromthestreet，forhishatwasonhisheadandalighttop-coatwasonhisback。Hewassearchinghurriedlythroughsome，papers。"Hello，youyoungdevilWhatareyoudoinghere？
Peter\'sentrancewasasomewhatelaboratecomedywhichColemanwatchedinicysilence。Peterafteralong，andimpudentpantomimehaltedabruptlyandfixingColemanwithhiseyedemanded:"Well？"
"Well-what？。"saidColeman，bristlingatrifle。
"Isittrue？"
"Iswhattrue？"
"Isittrue？"Peterwasextremelysolemn。
"Say，mebucko，"saidColemansuddenly，"ifyou\'ve。comeupheretotwistthebeardofthepatriarch，don\'tyouthinkyouarerunningachance？"
"Allright。I\'llbegood，"saidPeter，andhesatonthebed。"But-isittrue？
"Iswhattrue？"
"Whatthewholehotelissaying。"
]"Ihaven\'theardthehotelmakinganyremarkslately。Beentalkingtotheotherbuildings，Isup-
pose。"
"Well，IwanttotellyouthateverybodyknowsthatyouandMarjoryhavedonegoneandgotyourselvesengaged，"saidPeterbluntly。
"Andwell？"askedColemanimperturbably。
"Oh，nothing，"repliedPeter，wavinghishand。
"Only-Ithoughtitmightinterestyou。"
Colemanwassilentforsometime。Hefingeredhispapers。Atlastheburstoutjoyously。"Andsotheyknowitalready，dothey？Well-damnthem-
letthemknowit。Butyoudidn\'ttellthemyourself？"
"I!"quothPeterwrathfully。"No!Theministertoldus。"
ThenColemanwasagainsilentforatimeandPeterTounleysatonthe。bedreflectivelylookingattheceiling。"Funnything，Marjory\'wayoverhereinGreece，andthenyouhappeningoverherethewayyoudid。"
"Itisn\'tfunnyatall。"
"Whyisn\'tit？"
"Because，"saidColemanimpressively，，"thatiswhyIcametoGreece。Itwasallplanned。See？"
"Whirroo，"exclaimedPeter。"Thishereismagic。"
"Nomagicatall。"Colemandisplayedsomecomplacence。
"Nomagicatall。justpure，plain——
whateveryouchoosetocallit。"
"Holysmoke，"saidPeter，admiringthesituation。
"Why，thisisplumromance，Coleman。I\'mblowedifitisn\'t。"
Colemanwasgrinningwithdelight。HetookafreshcigarandhisbrighteyeslookedatPeterthroughthesmoke。，"Seemslikeit，don\'tit？Yes。Regularromance。Haveadrink，myboy，justtocelebratemygoodluck。AndbepatientifItalkagreatdealofmy-my-future。Myheadspinswithit。"Hearosetopacetheroomflingingoutbisarmsinagreatgesture。"God!WhenIthinkyesterdaywasnotliketo-dayIwonderhowIstoodit。"TherewasaknockatthedoorandawaiterleftanoteinColeman\'shand"DearRufus:-Wearegoingforadrivethisafternoonatthree，andmotherwishesyoutocome，ifyou。
careto。Itoowishit，ifyoucareto。Yours，"MARJORY。"
Witharadiantface，Colemangavethenotealittlecracklingflourishintheair。"Oh，youdon\'tknowwhatlifeis，kid。"
"S-steadytheBlues，"saidPeterTounleyseriously。
You\'llloseyourheadifyoudon\'twatchout。"
"NotI"criedColemanwithirritation。"Butamanmustturnloosesometimes，mustn\'the？"
Whenthefour，studentshadseparatedinthecorri-
dor，CokehadpostedatoncetoNoraBlack\'ssittingroom。Hisentrancewassomewhatprecipitate，buthecooleddownalmostatonce，forhereflectedthathewasnotbearinggoodnews。Heendedbyperchinginawkwardfashiononthebrinkofhischairandfumblinghishatuneasily。Norafloatedtohiminacloudofawhitedressinggown。Shegavehimaplumphand。"Well，youngman？"shesaid，withaglowingsmile。Shetookachair，andthestuffofhergownfellincurvesoverthearmsofit。，Cokelookedhotandbothered，asifhecouldhavemorethanhalfwantedtoretracthisvisit。"I-aw-
wehaven\'tseenmuchofyoulately，"hebegan，sparing。
Hehadexpectedtotellhisnewsatonce。
No，"saidNora，languidly。"Ihavebeenrestingafterthathorriblejourney-thathorriblejourney。
Dear，dear!Nothing，willeverinducemetoleaveLondon，NewYorkandParis。Iamathomethere。
ButhereIWhy，itisworsethanlivinginBrooklyn。
Andthatjourneyintothewilds!No。no；notforme!"
"Isupposewe\'llallbegladtogethome，"saidCoke，aimlessly。
Atthemomentawaiterenteredtheroomandbegantolaythetableforluncheon。Hekeptopenthedoortothecorridor，andhehadtheluncheonatapointjustoutsidethedoor。Hisexcursionstothetrayswereflyingones，sothat，asfarasCoke\'spurposewasconcerned，thewaiterwasalwaysintheroom。Moreover，Cokewasobliged，naturally，todepartatonce。Hehadbungledeverything。
Ashearosehewhisperedhastily:"DoesthiswaiterunderstandEnglish？"
"Yes，"answeredNora。"Why？"
"BecauseIhavesomethingtotellyou-important。"
"Whatisit？"whisperedNora，eagerly。
Heleanedtowardherandreplied:"MarjoryWainwrightandColemanareengaged。"
Tohisunfeignedastonishment，NoraBlackburstintopealsofsilverylaughter，"Oh，indeed？Andsothisisyourtragicstory，poor，innocentlambkin？
Andwhatdidyouexpect？ThatIwouldfaint？"-
