the major- 第41部分

〃Here's　another　choice　bit：

〃'We　are　the　superior　race　in　the　fields　of　science　and　of　art。　　We　are　the　best　colonists；　the　best　sailors；　the　best　merchants。'

〃That's　one　thing。　　Then　here's　another。　　For　many　years　after　his　accession　I　believe　the　Kaiser　was　genuinely　anxious　to　preserve　the　peace　of　Europe　and　tried　his　best　to　do　so；　though　I　am　bound　to　say　that　at　times　he　adopted　rather　peculiar　methods；　a　mingling　of　bullying　and　intrigue。　　But　now　since　1904just　hand　me　that　thin　book；　please。　　Thank　youthe　Kaiser　has　changed　his　tone。　For　instance；　listen　to　this：

〃'God　has　called　us　to　civilise　the　world。　　We　are　the　missionaries　of　human　progress。'

〃And　again　this：

〃'The　German　people　will　be　the　block　of　granite　on　which　our　Lord　will　be　able　to　elevate　and　achieve　the　civilisation　of　the　world。'

〃But　I　need　not　weary　you　with　quotations。　　The　political　literature　of　Germany　for　the　last　fifteen　years　is　saturated　with　this　spirit。　The　British　people　dismiss　this　with　a　good…natured　smile　of　contempt。　　To　them　it　is　simply　an　indication　of　German　bad　breeding。　　If　you　care　I　shall　have　a　number　of　these　books　sent　you。　　They　are　somewhat　difficult　to　get。　　Indeed；　some　of　them　cannot　be　had　in　English　at　all。　　But　you　read　German；　do　you　not？　Kathleen　told　me　about　your　German　prize。〃

〃I　do；　a　little。　　But　I　confess　I　prefer　the　English；〃　said　Jane　with　a　little　laugh。

〃The　chief　trouble；　however；　is　that　so　few　English…speaking　people　care　to　read　them。　　But　I　assure　you　that　the　one　all…absorbing　topic　of　the　German　people　is　this　one　of　Germany's　manifest　destiny　to　rule　and　elevate　the　world。　　And　remember　these　two　things　go　together。　　They　have　no　idea　of　dominating　the　world　intellectually　or　even　commerciallybut　perhaps　you　are　sick　of　this。〃

〃Not　at　all。　　I　am　very　greatly　interested；〃　said　Jane。

〃Then　I　shall　just　read　you　one　thing　more。　　The　German　has　no　idea　that　he　can　benefit　a　nation　until　he　conquers　it。　　Listen　to　this：

〃'The　dominion　of　German　thought　can　only　be　extended　under　the　aegis　of　political　power；　and　unless　we　act　in　conformity　to　this　idea　we　shall　be　untrue　to　out　great　duties　toward　the　human　race。'〃

〃I　shall　be　very　glad　to　get　those　books；〃　said　Jane；　〃and　I　wish　you　would　mark　some　of　these　passages。　　And　I　promise　you　I　shall　do　all　I　can　to　make　all　my　friends　read　them。　　I　shall　begin　with　Papa　and　Larry。　　They　are　always　making　fun　of　me　and　my　German　scare。〃

〃I　can　quite　understand　that；〃　replied　Jack。　　〃That　is　a　very　common　attitude　with　a　great　majority　of　the　people　of　England　to…　day。　　But　you　see　I　have　been　close　to　these　things　for　years；　and　I　have　personal　knowledge　of　many　of　the　plans　and　purposes　in　the　minds　of　the　German　Kaiser　and　the　political　and　military　leaders　of　Germany；　and　unhappily　I　know　too　the　spirit　that　dominates　the　whole　body　of　the　German　people。〃

〃You　lived　in　Germany　for　some　years？〃

〃Yes；　for　a　number　of　years。〃

〃And　did　you　like　the　life　there？〃

〃In　many　ways　I　did。　　I　met　some　charming　Germans；　and　then　there　is　always　their　superb　music。〃

And　for　an　hour　Jack　Romayne　gave　his　listener　a　series　of　vivid　pictures　of　his　life　in　Germany　and　in　other　lands　for　the　past　ten　years；　mingling　with　personal　reminiscences　incidents　connected　with　international　politics　and　personages。　　He　talked　well；　not　only　because　his　subject　was　a　part　of　himself；　but　also　because　Jane　possessed　that　rare　ability　to　listen　with　intelligence　and　sympathy。　　Never　had　she　met　with　a　man　who　had　been　in　such　intimate　touch　with　the　world's　Great　Affairs　and　who　was　possessed　at　the　same　time　of　such　brilliant　powers　of　description。

Before　either　of　them　was　aware　the　party　from　the　mine　had　returned。

〃We　have　had　a　perfectly　glorious　time；〃　cried　Nora　as　she　entered　the　room　with　her　cheeks　and　eyes　glowing。

〃So　have　we；　Miss　Nora；〃　said　Jack。　　〃In　fact；　I　had　not　the　slightest　idea　of　the　flight　of　time。〃

〃You　may　say　so；〃　exclaimed　Mrs。　Waring…Gaunt。　　〃These　two　have　been　so　utterly　absorbed　in　each　other　that　my　presence　in　the　room　or　absence　from　it　was　a　matter　of　perfect　indifference。　　And　how　Jane　managed　it　I　don't　know；　but　she　got　Jack　to　do　for　her　what　he　has　never　done　for　me。　　He　has　actually　been　giving　her　the　story　of　his　life。〃

Jane　stood　by　listening　with　a　smile　of　frank　delight　on　her　face。

〃How　did　you　do　it；　Jane？〃　asked　Kathleen　shyly。　　〃He　has　never　told　me。〃

〃Oh；　I　just　listened；〃　said　Jane。

〃That's　a　nasty　jar　for　you　others；〃　said　Nora。

〃But　he　told　me　something　else；　Kathleen；〃　said　Jane　with　a　bright　blush；　〃and　I　am　awfully　glad。〃　　As　she　spoke　she　went　around　to　Kathleen　and；　kissing　her；　said；　〃It　is　perfectly　lovely　for　you　both。〃

〃Oh；　you　really　mean　that；　do　you？〃　said　Jack。　　〃You　know　she　was　exceedingly　dubious　of　me　this　morning。〃

〃Well；　I　am　not　now；〃　said　Jane。　　〃I　know　you　better；　you　see。〃

〃Thank　God；〃　said　Jack　fervently。　　〃The　day　has　not　been　lost。　　You　will　be　sure　to　come　again　to　see　me；〃　he　added　as　Jane　said　good…　bye。

〃Yes；　indeed；　you　may　be　quite　sure　of　that；〃　replied　Jane；　smiling　brightly　back　at　him　as　she　left　the　room　with　Nora。

〃What　a　pity　she　is　so　plain；〃　said　Mrs。　Waring…Gaunt　when　she　had　returned　from　seeing　Jane　on　her　way　with　Nora　and　Mr。　Wakeham。

〃My　dear　Sybil；　you　waste　your　pity；〃　said　her　brother。　　〃That　young　lady　is　so　attractive　that　one　forgets　whether　she　is　plain　or　not。　　I　can't　quite　explain　her　fascination　for　me。　　There's　perfect　sincerity　to　begin　with。　　She　is　never　posing。　　And　perfect　simplicity。　　And　besides　that　she　is　so　intellectually　keen；　she　keeps　one　alive。〃

〃I　just　love　her；〃　said　Kathleen。　　〃She　has　such　a　good　heart。〃

〃You　have　said　it；〃　said　Mrs。　Waring…Gaunt；　〃and　that　is　why　Jane　will　never　lose　her　charm。〃



CHAPTER　XVII

THE　TRAGEDIES　OF　LOVE


When　the　week　had　fled　Dr。　Brown　could　hardly　persuade　himself　and　his　hosts　at　Lakeside　Farm　that　the　time　had　come　for　his　departure　to　the　coast。　　Not　since　he　had　settled　down　to　the　practice　of　his　profession　at　Winnipeg　more　than　twenty　years　ago　had　such　a　holiday　been　his。　　Alberta；　its　climate；　its　life　of　large　spaces　and　far　visions；　its　hospitable　people；　had　got　hold　of　him　by　so　strong　a　grip　that　in　parting　he　vowed　that　he　would　not　await　an　opportunity　but　make　one　to　repeat　his　visit　to　the　ranch。　　And　so　he　departed　with　the　understanding　that　Jane　should　follow　him　to　Banff　ten　days　later　with　her　friend　Nora。

The　ten　days　were　to　Jane　as　a　radiant；　swiftly　moving　dream。　　Yet　with　so　much　to　gratify　her；　one　wish　had　remained　ungratified。　Though　from　early　morning　until　late　night　she　had　ridden　the　ranges　now　with　one　and　now　with　another；　but　for　the　most　part　with　Larry；　Jane　had　never　〃done　the　mine。〃

〃And　I　just　know　I　shall　go　away　without　seeing　that　mine；　and　Winnipeg　people　will　be　sure　to　ask　me　about　it；　and　what　shall　I　say？　　And　I　have　never　seen　that　wonderful　secretary；　Mr。　Switzer；　either。〃

〃To…morrow；〃　said　Larry　solemnly；　〃no　matter　what　happens　we　shall　have　you　see　that　mine　and　the　wonderful　Mr。　Switzer。〃

It　was　the　seeing　of　Mr。　Switzer　that　brought　to　Jane　the　only　touch　of　tragedy　to　the　perfect　joy　of　her　visit　to　Alberta。　　Upon　arrival　at　the　mine　she　was　given　over　by　Larry　to　Mr。　Switzer's　courteous　and　intelligent　guidance；　and　with　an　enthusiasm　that　never　wearied；　her　guide　left　nothing　of　the　mine　outside　or　in；　to　which　with　painstaking　minuteness　he　failed　to　call　her　attention。　It　was　with　no　small　degree　of　pride　that　Mr。　Switzer　explained　all　that　had　been　accomplished　during　the　brief　ten　weeks　during　which　the　mine　had　been　under　his　care。　　For　although　it　was　quite　true　that　Mr。　Steinberg　was　the　manager；　Switzer　left　no　doubt　in　Jane's　mind；　as　there　was　none　in　his　own；　that　the　mine　owed　its　present　state　of　development　to　his　driving　energy　and　to　his　organising　ability。　　Jane　readily　forgave　him　his　evident　pride　in　himself　as　he　exclaimed；　sweeping　his　hand　toward　the　little　village　that　lay　along　the　coolee；

〃Ten　weeks　ago；　Miss　Brown；　there　was　nothing　here　but　a　little　black　hole　in　the　hillside　over　there。　　To…day　look　at　it。　　We　have　a　company　organised；　a　village　built　and　equipped　with　modern　improvements；　water；　light；　drainage；　etc。　　We　are　actually　digging　and　shipping　coal。　　It　is　all　very　small　as　yet；　but　it　is　something　to　feel　that　a　beginning　has　been　made。〃

〃I　think　it　is　really　quite　a　remarkable　achievement；　Mr。　Switzer。　And　I　feel　sure　that　I　do　not　begin　to　know　all　that　this　means。　They　all　say　that　you　have　accomplished　great　things　in　the　short　time　you　have　been　at　work。〃

〃We　are　only　beginning；〃　said　Switzer　again；　〃but　I　believe　we　shall　have　a　great　mine。　　It　will　be　a　good　thingfor　the　Gwynnes；　I　meanand　that　is　worth　while。　　Of　course；　my　own　money　is　invested　here　too　and　I　am　working　for　myself；　but　I　assure　you　that　I　chiefly　think　of　them。　　It　is　a　joy；　Miss　Brown；　to　work　for　those　you　love。〃

〃It　is；〃　replied　Jane；　slightly　puzzled　at　this　altruistic　point　of　view；　〃The　Gwynnes　are　dear　people　and　I　am　glad　for　their　sakes。　I　love　them。〃

〃Yes；〃　continued　Switzer；　〃this　will　be　a　great　mine。　　They　will　be　wealthy　some　day。〃

〃That　will　be　splendid；〃　said　Jane。　　〃You　see　I　have　only　got　to　know　them　well　during　this　visit。　　Nine　years　ago　I　met　them　in　Winnipeg　when　I　was　a　little　girl。　　Of　course；　Kathleen　was　with　us　a　great　deal　last　winter。　　I　got　to　know　her　well　then。　　She　is　so　lovely；　and　she　is　lovelier　now　than　ever。　　She　is　so　happy；　you　know。〃

Switzer　looked　puzzled。　　〃Happy？　　Because　you　are　here？〃

〃No；　no。　　Because　of　her　engagement。　　Haven't　you　heard？　　I　thought　everybody　knew。〃

Switzer　stood　still　in　his　tracks。　　〃Her　engagement？〃　he　said　in　a　hushed　voice。　　〃Her　engagement　toto　that〃he　could　not　apparently　get　the　word　out　without　a　great　effort〃that　Englishman？〃

Looking　at　his　white　face　and　listening　to　his　tense　voice；　Jane　felt　as　if　she　were　standing　at　the　edge　of　a　mine　that　might　explode　at　any　moment。

〃Yes；　to　Mr。　Romayne；〃　she　said；　and　waited；　almost　holding　her　breath。

〃It　is　not　true！〃　he　shouted。　　〃It's　a　lie。　　Ha；　Ha。〃　　Switzer's　laugh　was　f