the major- 第12部分

〃Exactly；　Papa。〃

〃I　wish　to　find　out　just　who　are　to　form　the　advance　party；　the　scouting　party。〃

〃The　scouting　party？　　I　don't　know　what　you　mean。　　But　Norayou　know　Nora？〃

〃Certainly；　the　little　black…eyed　Irish　Terrierterror；　I　mean。〃

〃Oh；　Papa；　she's　just　lovely　and　she's　my　friend。〃

〃Is　she；　dear；　then　I　apologise；　but　indeed　I　meant　nothing　derogatory　to　her。　　I　greatly　like　her；　she　is　so　spunky。〃

〃Yes；　there's　Nora；　and　Kathleen；　Nora's　sister。〃

〃Oh；　Kathleen；　the　tall　beautiful　girl　with　the　wonderful　hair？〃

The　little　girl　sighed。　　〃Oh；　such　lovely　long　yellow　hair。〃　　The　little　maid's　hair　was　none　of　these。　　〃And　she　is　not　a　bit　proud　just　nice；　you　knowjust　as　if　she　were　not　so　lovely；　but　like　only　like　me。〃

〃Like　you；　indeed！〃　exclaimed　the　doctor　indignantly。　　〃Like　my　little　girl？　　I　don't　see　any　one　quite　like　my　little　girl。　　There　is　not　one　of　them　with　all　their　yellow　hair　and　things　that　is　to　be　compared　with　my　own　little　girl。〃

〃Oh；　Papa。　　I　know　you　think　so；　and　I　wish　it　was　so。　　And　I　am　awfully　glad　you　think　so；　but　of　course　you　are　prejuist；　you　know。〃

〃Prejudiced？　　Not　a　bit；　not　a　bit。〃

〃Well；　that's　Kathleen　and　Nora；　andand　perhaps　Hazelyou　know　Hazel；　Papa；　Hazel　Sleighter？〃

〃The　western　girlnot　at　all　wild　and　woolly　though。　　A　very　modern　and　very　advanced　young　lady；　isn't　she？〃

〃Oh；　I　don't　know　what　you　mean；　Papa。　　She　says　she　may　go　down；　but　I　don't　think　she　likes　going　with　a　lot　of　kids。　　You　know　she　has　her　hair　up。　　She　has　to　have　it　up　in　the　store。　　She　says　the　man　would　not　have　her　behind　the　counter　if　she　had　not　her　hair　up。〃

〃Oh；　that's　it。　　I　thought　perhaps　the　maturity　of　her　age　made　it　necessary。〃

〃I　don't　know　what　maturevy　means；　but　she　is　awfully　old。　　She　is　going　on　sixteen。〃

〃Dear　me；　as　old　as　that？〃　inquired　her　father。

〃Yes；　but　she　said　she　wanted　to　see　that　circus　car。　　That's　what　she　calls　Mr。　Gwynne's　car。　　And　she　says　she　wants　to　see　the　elephunts　perform。　　There　are　not　any　elephunts。　　There's　only　Rosie　and　Rover。　　But　she　may　get　off。　　She　can　get　off　if　she　can　fool　her　boss；　she　says。　　So　we're　all　going　down　and　we　may　bring　Larry　home　with　us；　Mrs。　Sleighter　says。　　Though　Mrs。　Gwynne　says　there's　not　any　room；　they're　so　filled　up　now。　　And　I　said　Larry　could　come　here　and　Joe；　too。　　But　I　am　not　so　sure　about　Sam。　　I　think　he　must　be　awfully　queer。　　Mr。　Gwynne　thinks　he's　queer。〃

〃It　is　quite　possible；　indeed　probable；　my　dear；〃　assented　her　father。

〃Yes；　Mr。　Gwynne　said　he　looked　like　a　third…rate　how…do…you…feel　performer。〃

〃A　what；　exactly？〃

〃A　how…do…you…feel　performer。〃

〃Oh；　a　vaudeville　performer。〃

〃Yes；　a　fodefeel　performer。　　I　don't　know　what　that　means；　but　he　must　be　queer。　　But　I　think　Larry　would　be　all　right；　and　Joe。　　You　see；　we　know　THEM。〃

〃Oh；　do　we？〃

〃Yes；　certainly；　Papa。　　Larry　is　Nora's　brother。　　He's　awfully　clever。　　He's　only　fifteen　and　he　passed　the　Entrance　in　Ontario　and　that's　ever　so　much　harder　than　here。　　He　passed　it　before　he　was　fourteen。〃

〃Before　he　was　fourteen！〃　replied　her　father。　　〃Amazing！〃

〃Yes；　and　he　plays　the　mouth　organ　and　the　tin　whistle　and　the　fiddle；　and　Mr。　Gwynne　says　he　has　learned　some　stunts　from　Sam。　　I　think　he　must　be　awfully　nice。　　So　I　said　he　could　come　here。　　And　Mrs。　Gwynne　thanked　me　so　nicely；　and　she's　just　lovely；　Papa。〃

〃I　have　not　seen　her；〃　said　her　father；　〃but　I　have　heard　her　voice；　and　I　quite　agree　with　you。　　The　voice　always　tells。　　Have　you　noticed　that？　　The　voice　gives　the　keynote　of　the　soul。〃

〃I　don't　know；　Papa。　　There's　Mrs。　Sleighter's　voice。　　I　don't　like　it　very　much；　but　I　think　she's　nice　inside。〃

〃Ah；　you　are　right；　my　dear。　　Perhaps　I　should　have　said　that　a　certain　kind　of　voice　always　goes　with　a　beautiful　soul。〃

〃I　know；〃　replied　his　daughter。　　〃That's　like　Mrs。　Gwynne's　voice。　And　so　we'll　go　down　to　the　car　and　bring　Larry　home　with　us；　and　perhaps　his　mother　will　let　him　come　here。　　She　did　not　say　she　would　and　you　can't　tell。　　She's　quiet；　you　know；　but　somehow　she　isn't　like　Mrs。　Sleighter。　　I　don't　think　you　could　coax　her　to　do　what　she　didn't　want。〃

〃And　Mrs。　Sleightercan　you　coax　Mrs。　Sleighter？〃

〃Oh；　yes；　the　girls　just　coax　her　and　coax　her；　and　though　she　doesn't　want　to　a　bit；　she　just　gives　in。〃

〃That's　nice　of　her。　　That　must　be　very　nice　for　the　girls；　eh？〃

〃Oh；　I　don't　know；　Papa。〃

〃What？　　don't　you　think　it　is　nice　to　be　able　to　coax　people　to　do　what　you　want？〃

〃It　is　nice　to　get　what　you　want；　but　I　think　REALLY；　REALLY；　you'd　rather　you　could　not　coax　them　to　do　it　just　because　you　coax　them。〃

〃Ah；　I　see。〃

〃Yes；　you　see；　you're　never　really　quite　sure　after　you　get　it　whether　you　ought　to　get　it　after　all。〃

〃I　see；〃　said　her　father；　〃that　rather　spoils　it。〃

〃Yes；　but　you　never　do　that；　Papa。〃

〃Oh；　you　can't　coax　me；　eh？　　I　am　glad　to　know　that。　　I　was　afraid；　rather。〃

〃Well；　of　course；　I　can　coax　you；　Papa；　but　you　usually　find　some　other　way；　and　then　I　know　it　is　quite　right。〃

〃I　wish　I　was　quite　as　sure　of　that；　Jane。　　But　you　are　going　to　bring　Larry　home　with　you？〃

〃Yes；　if　Mrs。　Gwynne　will　let　him　come。　　I　told　her　we　had　four　rooms　and　we　were　only　using　two；　and　they　are　all　crowded　up　in　Mrs。　Sleighter's；　two　girls　in　each　room；　and　Tom's　room　is　so　tiny；　and　I　don't　think　Larry　would　like　to　go　in　Tom's　room。　And　we　have　two　empty　rooms；　so　we　might　just　as　well。〃

〃Yes；　certainly；　we　might　just　as　well。　　You　might　perhaps　mention　it　to　Anna。〃

〃Oh；　I　did；　Papa；　and　she　said　she　would　have　it　all　ready。〃

〃So　it　is　all　arranged。　　I　was　thinkingbut　never　mind。〃

〃I　know　you　were　thinking；　that　I　ought　to　have　asked　you；　Papa；　and　I　ought　to　have。　　But　I　knew　that　when　a　little　boy　had　no　home　to　go　to　you　would　of　course〃

〃Of　course；〃　replied　her　father　hurriedly。　　〃You　were　quite　right；　Jane。　　And　with　those　two　rooms；　why　not　bring　them　all；　Joe　and　PetePete；　is　it？〃

〃Sam；　Papa。　　I　am　not　so　sure。　　I　think　we　should　leave　Joe　and　Sam。　　You　see　Joe　won't　mind　staying　in　the　car。　　Nora　says　he　lives　in　just　a　shack　at　home；　and　SamI　am　a　little　afraid　of　Sam。　　We　don't　know　him　very　well；　you　see。〃

〃I　see。　　We　are　quite　safe　in　your　hands；　little　woman。　　You　can　do　just　as　you　and　Mrs。　Gwynne　arrange。〃

As　the　father　watched　the　little；　trim；　sturdy　figure　stepping　down　the　street　he　muttered　to　himself；　〃That　child　grows　more　like　her　mother　every　day。〃　　He　heaved　a　great　sigh　from　the　depths　of　his　heart。　　〃Well；　God　keep　her；　wise　little　woman　that　she　is！　　I　wish　I　were　a　wiser　man。　　I　must　be　firm　with　her；　it　would　be　a　shame　to　spoil　her。　　Yes；　I　must　be　firm。〃　　But　he　shrugged　his　shoulders　and　smiled　at　himself。　　〃The　worst　of　it　is；　or　the　best　of　it　is；〃　he　continued；　〃the　little　witch　is　almost　always　right；　God　bless　her；　just　like　her　mother；　just　like　her　mother。〃　　He　hastily　wiped　his　eyes；　and　went　off　to　his　office　where　Mrs。　Dean　awaited　him　and　her　little　girl　with　the　burned　hand。　　And　the　mother　wondered　at　the　gentleness　of　him　as　he　dressed　the　little　girl's　wounded　hand。

It　followed　that　the　scouting　party　included　not　only　Miss　Hazel　Sleighter；　but　also　her　big　brother　Tom；　who；　being　temporarily　in　the　high　school；　more　perhaps　because　of　his　size　and　the　maturity　of　his　bearing　than　by　virtue　of　his　educational　qualifications；　was　at　the　present　moment　most　chiefly　concerned　in　getting　into　form　his　baseball　team　for　the　match　the　following　Saturday　in　which　the　High　School　was　to　meet　All　Comers　under　eighteen。　　The　freight　shed　being　on　his　way　to　the　practice　ground；　Tom　deigned　to　join　the　party　and　to　take　in　the　circus　car　as　he　passed。　　The　car　dwellers　were　discovered　on　the　open　prairie　not　far　from　the　freight　shed；　keeping　guard　over　Rosie；　who　was　stretching　her　legs　after　her　railway　journey。　　The　boys　were　tossing　a　baseball　to　each　other　as　Tom　pedalled　up　on　his　wheel。

〃Hello；　there；　here　you　are；〃　he　shouted　to　Sam；　holding　up　his　hands　for　a　catch。

The　ball　came　with　such　impact　that　Tom　was　distinctly　jarred；　and　dropped　the　ball。　　With　all　his　force　he　threw　the　ball　back　to　Sam；　who　caught　it　with　the　ease　of　a　professional　and　returned　it　with　such　vigour　that　again　Tom　dropped　it。

〃Let's　have　a　knock…up；〃　he　said；　hitting　a　long　fly。

Sam　flew　after　the　ball　with　amazing　swiftness；　his　scarecrow　garments　fluttering　and　flapping　in　the　air；　and　caught　it　with　an　upward　leap　that　landed　him　on　his　back　breathless　but　triumphant。

〃Say；　you're　a　crackerjack；〃　said　Tom；　〃here's　another。〃

Meanwhile　Larry　was　in　the　hands　of　his　sisters；　who　had　delightedly　kissed　him　to　his　shamefaced　chagrin；　and　introduced　him　to　their　new…found　friends。

〃So　this　is　Larry。〃　said　Miss　Hazel　Sleighter；　greeting　him　with　a　dazzling　smile。　　〃We　have　heard　a　lot　about　you。　　I　think　you　must　be　quite　wonderful。　　Come　here；　Tom；　and　meet　your　friends。〃

Poor　Larry！　　In　the　presence　of　this　radiant　creature　and　of　her　well…dressed　brother；　he　felt　terribly　conscious　of　the　shabbiness　of　the　second　best　suit　which　his　mother　had　thought　good　enough　for　the　journey　in　the　car。　　Tom　glanced　at　the　slight；　poorly　dressed；　pale…faced　lad　who　stood　before　him　with　an　embarrassed；　almost　a　beseeching　look　in　his　eyes。

〃Can　you　play　ball？〃　asked　Tom。

〃Not　much；〃　replied　Larry；　〃not　like　Sam。　　Come　here；　Sam；〃　he　called；　remembering　that　he　had　not　introduced　his　friend。　　Sam　shuffled　over　with　an　air　of　complete　nonchalance。

〃This　is　Sam；〃　said　Larry。　　〃SamI　have　forgotten　your　name。〃

〃Nolan；〃　said　Sam　shortly。

〃Miss　Hazel　Sleighter；〃　said　Larry。

〃How　do　you　do；　Miss　Hazel；〃　said　Sam；　sweeping　her　an　elaborate　bow；　and　then　gazing　boldly　into　her　eyes。　　〃I　hope　you're　well。　If　you're　as　smart　as　you　look；　I　guess　you're　way　up　in　G。〃

〃I　am　quite　well；　thank　you；〃　returned　Miss　Hazel；　the　angle　of　her　chin　indicating　her　most　haughty　air。

〃Say；　young　lady；　pass　up　the　chilly　stuff；〃　replied　Sam　with　a　laugh。　　〃It　don't　go　with　that　mighty　fine　complexion　of　yours。　Say；　did　you　ever　see　the　leading　lady　in　'The　Spider's　Web'？　Well；　you　make　me　think　of　her；　and　she　was　a　peacherino。　　Never　seen　her？　　No？　　We