the major- 第20部分

〃And　what　about　women　doing　men's　work？〃　said　Larry。　　〃It　seems　to　me　I　have　seen　German　women　at　work　in　the　fields　up　in　the　Settlement。〃

〃I　have　no　doubt　you　have；〃　replied　Ernest　stiffly。　　〃It　is　the　German　custom。〃

〃You　make　me　tired；〃　said　Larry；　〃the　German　custom　indeed！　　Does　that　make　it　right？〃

〃For　us；　yes；〃　replied　Ernest　calmly。

〃But　you　are　Canadians；　are　you　not？　　Are　there　to　be　different　standards　in　Canada　for　different　nationalities？〃

〃Oh；　the　Germans　will　follow　the　German　way。　　Because　it　is　German；　and　demonstrated　through　experience　to　be　the　best。　　Look　at　our　people。　　Look　at　our　prosperity　at　home；　at　our　growth　in　population；　at　our　wealth；　at　our　expansion　in　industry　and　commerce　abroad。　　Look　at　our　social　conditions　and　compare　them　with　those　in　this　country　or　in　any　other　country　in　the　world。　Who　will　dare　to　say　that　German　methods　and　German　customs　are　not　best；　at　least　for　Germans？　　But　let　us　move　a　little　faster；　otherwise　we　shall　never　catch　up　with　them。〃　　He　touched　his　splendid　broncho　into　a　sharp　gallop；　the　other　horses　following　more　slowly　behind。

〃He　is　very　German；　my　brother；〃　said　Dorothea。　　〃He　thinks　he　is　Canadian；　but　he　is　not　the　same　since　he　went　over　Home。　　He　is　talking　all　the　time　about　Germany；　Germany；　Germany。　　I　hate　it。〃　Her　blue　eyes　flashed　fire　and　her　usually　timid　voice　vibrated　with　an　intense　feeling。　　Larry　gazed　at　her　in　astonishment。

〃You　may　look　at　me；　Larry；〃　she　cried。　　〃I　am　German　but　I　do　not　like　the　German　ways。　　I　like　the　Canadian　ways。　　The　Germans　treat　their　women　like　their　cows。　　They　feed　them　well；　they　keep　them　warm　becausebecausethey　have　calvesI　mean　the　cowsand　the　women　have　kids。　　I　hate　the　German　ways。　　Look　at　my　mother。　　What　is　she　in　that　house？　　Day　and　night　she　has　worked；　day　and　night；　saving　moneyand　what　for？　　For　Ernest。　　Running　to　wait　on　him　and　on　Father　and　they　never　know　it。　　It's　women's　work　with　us　to　wait　on　men；　and　that　is　the　way　in　the　Settlement　up　there。　　Look　at　your　mother　and　you。　　Mein　Gott！　I　could　kill　them；　those　men！〃

〃Why；　Dorothea；　you　amaze　me。　　What's　up　with　you？　　I　never　heard　you　talk　like　this。　　I　never　knew　that　you　felt　like　this。〃

〃No；　how　could　you　know？　　Who　would　tell　you？　　Not　Ernest；〃　she　replied　bitterly。

〃But；　Dorothea；　you　are　happy；　are　you　not？〃

〃Happy；　I　was　until　I　knew　better；　till　two　years　ago　when　I　saw　your　mother　and　you　with　her。　　Then　Ernest　came　back　thinking　himself　a　German　officerhe　is　an　officer；　you　knowand　the　way　he　treated　our　mother　and　me！〃

〃Treated　your　mother！　　Surely　he　is　not　unkind　to　your　mother？〃　Larry　had　a　vision　of　a　meek；　round…faced；　kindly；　contented　woman；　who　was　obviously　proud　of　her　only　son。

〃Kind；　kind；〃　cried　Dorothea；　〃he　is　kind　as　German　sons　are　kind。　But　you　cannot　understand。　　Why　did　I　speak　to　you　of　this？　　Yes；　I　will　tell　you　why；〃　she　added；　apparently　taking　a　sudden　resolve。　〃Let's　go　slowly。　　Ernest　is　gone　anyway。　　I　will　tell　you　why。　Before　Ernest　went　away　he　was　more　like　a　Canadian　boy。　　He　was　good　to　his　mother。　　He　is　good　enough　still　butoh；　it　is　so　hard　to　show　you。　　I　have　seen　you　and　your　mother。　　You　would　not　let　your　mother　brush　your　boots　for　you；　you　would　not　sit　smoking　and　let　her　carry　in　wood　in　the　winter　time；　you　would　not　stand　leaning　over　the　fence　and　watch　your　mother　milk　the　cow。　　Mein　Gott！　　Ernest；　since　he　came　backthe　women　are　only　good　for　waiting　on　him；　for　working　in　the　house　or　on　the　farm。　　His　wife；　she　will　not　work　in　the　fields；　Ernest　is　too　rich　for　that。　　But　she　will　not　be　like〃here　the　girl　paused　abruptly；　a　vivid　colour　dyeing　her　fair　skin〃like　your　wife。　　I　would　die　sooner　than　marry　a　German　man。〃

〃But　Ernest　is　not　like　that；　Dorothea。　　He　is　not　like　that　with　my　sisters。　　Why；　he　is　rather　the　other　way；　awfully　polite　and　all　that　sort　of　thing；　you　know。〃

〃Yes；　that's　the　way　with　young　German　gentlemen　to　young　ladies；　that　is；　other　people's　ladies。　　But　to　their　own；　no。　　And　I　must　tell　you。　　Oh；　I　am　afraid　to　tell　you；〃　she　added　breathlessly。　〃But　I　will　tell　you；　you　have　been　so　kind；　so　good　to　me。　　You　are　my　friend；　and　you　will　not　tell。　　Promise　me　you　will　never　tell。〃　　The　girl's　usually　red　face　was　pale；　her　voice　was　hoarse　and　trembling。

〃What　is　the　matter；　Dorothea？　　Of　course　I　won't　tell。〃

〃Ernest　wants　to　marry　your　sister；　Kathleen。　　He　is　just　mad　to　get　her；　and　he　always　gets　his　way　too。　　I　would　not　like　to　see　your　sister　his　wife。　　He　would　break　her　heart　and；〃　she　added　in　a　lower　voice；　〃yours　too。　　But　remember　you　are　not　to　tell。　　You　are　not　to　let　him　know　I　told　you。〃　　A　real　terror　shone　in　her　eyes。　　〃Do　you　hear　me？〃　she　cried。　　〃He　would　beat　me　with　his　whip。　　He　would；　he　would。〃

〃Beat　you；　beat　you？〃　Larry　pulled　up　his　horse　short。　　〃Beat　you　in　this　countryoh；　Dorothea！〃

〃They　do。　　Our　men　do　beat　their　women；　and　Ernest　would　too。　　The　women　do　not　think　the　same　way　about　it　as　your　women。　　You　will　not　tell？〃　she　urged。

〃What　do　you　think　I　am；　Dorothea？　　And　as　for　beating　you；　let　me　catch　him。　　By　George；　I'd；　I'd〃

〃What？〃　said　Dorothea；　turning　her　eyes　full　upon　him；　her　pale　face　flushing。

Larry　laughed。　　〃Well；　he's　a　big　chap；　but　I'd　try　to　knock　his　block　off。　　But　it's　nonsense。　　Ernest　is　not　that　kind。　　He's　an　awfully　good　sort。〃

〃He　is；　he　is　a　good　sort；　but　he　is　also　a　German　officer　and；　ah；　you　cannot　understand；　but　do　not　let　him　have　your　sister。　　I　have　told　you。　　Come；　let　us　go　quickly。〃

They　rode　on　in　silence；　but　did　not　overtake　the　others　until　they　reached　the　timber　lot　where　they　found　the　party　waiting。　　With　what　Dorothea　had　just　told　him　in　his　mind；　Larry　could　not　help　a　keen　searching　of　Kathleen's　face。　　She　was　quietly　chatting　with　the　young　German；　with　face　serene　and　quite　untouched　with　anything　but　the　slightest　animation。　　〃She　is　not　worrying　over　anything；〃　said　Larry　to　himself。　　Then　he　turned　and　looked　upon　the　face　of　the　young　man　at　her　side。　　A　shock　of　surprise；　of　consternation；　thrilled　him。　　The　young　man's　face　was　alight　with　an　intensity　of　eagerness；　of　desire；　that　startled　Larry　and　filled　him　with　a　new　feeling　of　anxiety；　indeed　of　dismay。

〃Oh；　you　people　are　slow；〃　cried　Nora。　　〃What　is　keeping　you？　　Come　along　or　we　shall　be　late。　　Shall　we　go　through　the　woods　straight　to　the　dump；　or　shall　we　go　around？〃

〃Let's　go　around；〃　cried　Kathleen。　　〃Do　you　know　I　have　not　been　around　for　ever　so　long？〃

〃Yes；〃　said　Larry；　〃let's　go　around　by　Nora's　mine。〃

〃Nora's　mine！〃　exclaimed　Ernest。　　〃Do　you　know　I've　heard　about　that　mine　a　great　deal　but　I　have　never　seen　Nora's　mine？〃

〃Come　along；　then；〃　said　Nora；　〃but　there's　almost　no　trail　and　we　shall　have　to　hurry　while　we　can。　　There's　only　a　cow　track。〃

〃Move　along　then；〃　said　her　brother；　〃show　us　the　way　and　we　will　follow。　　Go　on；　Ernest。〃

But　Ernest　apparently　had　difficulty　with　his　broncho　so　that　he　was　found　at　the　rear　of　the　line　with　Kathleen　immediately　in　front　of　him。　　The　cow　trail　led　out　of　the　coolee　over　a　shoulder　of　a　wooded　hill　and　down　into　a　ravine　whose　sharp　sides　made　the　riding　even　to　those　experienced　westerners　a　matter　of　difficulty；　in　places　of　danger。　　At　the　bottom　of　the　ravine　a　little　torrent　boiled　and　foamed　on　its　way　to　join　Wolf　Willow　Creek　a　mile　further　down。　　After　an　hour's　struggle　with　the　brushwood　and　fallen　timber　the　party　was　halted　by　a　huge　spruce　tree　which　had　fallen　fair　across　the　trail。

〃Where　now；　boss？〃　cried　Larry　to　Nora；　who　from　her　superior　knowledge　of　the　ground；　had　been　leading　the　party。

〃This　is　something　new；〃　answered　Nora。　　〃I　think　we　should　cross　the　water　and　try　to　break　through　to　the　left　around　the　top　of　the　tree。〃

〃No；〃　said　Ernest；　〃the　right　looks　better　to　me；　around　the　root　here。　　It　is　something　of　a　scramble；　but　it　is　better　than　the　left。〃

〃Come　along；〃　said　Nora；　〃this　is　the　way　of　the　trail；　and　we　can　get　through　the　brush　of　that　top　all　right。〃

〃I　am　for　the　right。　　Come；　let's　try　it；　Kathleen；　shall　we？〃　said　Ernest。

Kathleen　hesitated。　　〃Come；　we'll　beat　them　out。　　Right　turn；　march。〃

The　commanding　tones　of　the　young　man　appeared　to　dominate　the　girl。　　She　set　her　horse　to　the　steep　hillside；　following　her　companion　to　the　right。　　A　steep　climb　through　a　tangle　of　underbrush　brought　them　into　the　cleared　woods；　where　they　paused　to　breathe　their　animals。

〃Ah；　that　was　splendidly　done。　　You　are　a　good　horsewoman；〃　said　Ernest。　　〃If　you　only　had　a　horse　as　good　as　mine　we　could　go　anywhere　together。　　You　deserve　a　better　horse；　too。　　I　wonder　if　you　know　how　fine　you　look。〃

〃My　dear　old　Kitty　is　not　very　quick　nor　very　beautiful；　but　she　is　very　faithful；　and　so　kind；〃　said　Kathleen；　reaching　down　and　patting　her　mare　on　the　nose。　　〃Shall　we　go　on？〃

〃We　need　not　hurry；〃　replied　her　companion。　　〃We　have　beaten　them　already。　　I　love　the　woods　here；　and；　Kathleen；　I　have　not　seen　you　for　ever　so　long；　for　nine　long　months。　　And　since　your　return　fifteen　days　ago　I　have　seen　you　only　once；　only　once。〃

〃I　am　sorry；〃　said　Kathleen；　hurrying　her　horse　a　little。　　〃We　happened　to　be　out　every　time　you　called。〃

〃Other　people　have　seen　you；〃　continued　the　young　man　with　a　note　almost　of　anger　in　his　voice。　　〃Everywhere　I　hear　of　you；　but　I　cannot　see　you。　　At　churchI　go　to　church　to　see　youbut　that；　that　Englishman　is　with　you。　　He　walks　with　you；　you　go　in　his　motor　car；　he　is　in　your　house　every　day。〃

〃What　are　you　talking　about；　Ernest？　　Mr。　Romayne？　　Of　course。　Mother　likes　him　so　much；　and　we　all　like　him。〃

〃Your　mother；　ah！〃　　Ernest's　tone　was　full　of　scorn。

〃Yes；　my　motherwe　all　like　him；　and　his　sister；　Mrs。　Waring…　Gaunt；　you　know。　　They　are　our　nearest　neighbours；　and　we　have　come　to　know　them　very　well。　　Shall　we　go　on？〃

〃Kathleen；　listen　to　me；〃　said　the　young　man。

At　this　point　a　long　call　came　across　the　ravine。

〃Ah；　there　they　are；〃　cried　the　girl。　　〃Let's　hurry；　please　do。〃　She　brought　her　whip　down　unexpectedly　on　Kitty's　shoulders。　　The　mare；　surprised　at　such　unusual　treatment　from　her　mistress；　sprang　forward；　slipped　on　the　mo