the major- 第42部分

〃It　is　not　true！〃　he　shouted。　　〃It's　a　lie。　　Ha；　Ha。〃　　Switzer's　laugh　was　full　of　incredulous　scorn。　　〃Engaged？　　And　how　do　YOU　know？〃　　He　swung　fiercely　upon　her；　his　eyes　glaring　out　of　a　face　ghastly　white。

〃I　am　sorry　I　said　anything；　Mr。　Switzer。　　It　was　not　my　business　to　speak　of　it；〃　said　Jane　quietly。　　〃But　I　thought　you　knew。〃

Gradually　the　thing　seemed　to　reach　his　mind。　　〃Your　business？〃　he　said。　　〃What　difference　whose　business　it　is？　　It　is　not　true。　　I　say　it　is　not　true。　　How　do　you　know？　　Tell　me。　　Tell　me。　　Tell　me。〃　　He　seized　her　by　the　arm；　and　at　each　〃Tell　me〃　shook　her　violently。

〃You　are　hurting　me；　Mr。　Switzer；〃　said　Jane。

He　dropped　her　arm。　　〃Then；　my　God；　will　you　not　tell　me？　　How　do　you　know？〃

〃Mr。　Switzer；　believe　me　it　is　true；〃　said　Jane；　trying　to　speak　quietly；　though　she　was　shaking　with　excitement　and　terror。　　〃Mr。　Romayne　told　me；　they　all　told　me；　Kathleen　told　me。　　It　is　quite　true；　Mr。　Switzer。〃

He　stared　at　her　as　if　trying　to　take　in　the　meaning　of　her　words；　then　glared　around　him　like　a　hunted　animal　seeking　escape　from　a　ring　of　foes；　then　back　at　her　again。　　There　were　workmen　passing　close　to　them　on　the　path；　but　he　saw　nothing　of　them。　　Jane　was　looking　at　his　ghastly　face。　　She　was　stricken　with　pity　for　him。

〃Shall　we　walk　on　this　way？〃　she　said；　touching　his　arm。

He　shook　off　her　touch　but　followed　her　away　from　the　busy　track　of　the　workers；　along　a　quieter　path　among　the　trees。　　Sheltered　from　observation；　she　slowed　her　steps　and　turned　towards　him。

〃She　loves　him？〃　he　said　in　a　low　husky　voice。　　〃You　say　she　loves　him？〃

〃Yes；　Mr。　Switzer；　she　loves　him；〃　said　Jane。　　〃She　cannot　help　herself。　　No　one　can　help　one's　self。　　You　must　not　blame　her　for　that；　Mr。　Switzer。〃

〃She　does　not　love　me；〃　said　Switzer　as　if　stunned　by　the　utterly　inexplicable　phenomenon。　　〃But　she　did　once；〃　he　cried。　　〃She　did　before　that　schwein　came。〃　　No　words　could　describe　the　hate　and　contempt　in　his　voice。　　He　appeared　to　concentrate　his　passions　struggling　for　expression；　love；　rage；　hate；　wounded　pride；　into　one　single　stream　of　fury。　　Grinding　his　teeth；　foaming；　sputtering；　he　poured　forth　his　words　in　an　impetuous　torrent。

〃He　stole　her　from　me！　this　schwein　of　an　Englishman！　　He　came　like　a　thief；　like　a　dog　and　a　dog's　son　and　stole　her！　　She　was　mine！　She　would　have　been　mine！　　She　loved　me！　　She　was　learning　to　love　me。　　I　was　too　quick　with　her　once；　but　she　had　forgiven　me　and　was　learning　to　love　me。　　But　this　pig！〃　　He　gnashed　his　teeth　upon　the　word。

〃Stop；　Mr。　Switzer；〃　said　Jane；　controlling　her　agitation　and　her　terror。　　〃You　must　not　speak　to　me　like　that。　　You　are　forgetting　yourself。〃

〃Forgetting　myself！〃　he　raged；　his　face　livid　blue　and　white。　〃Forgetting　myself！　　Yes；　yes！　　I　forget　everything　but　one　thing。　That　I　shall　not　forget。　　I　shall　not　forget　him　nor　how　he　stole　her　from　me。　　Gott　in　Himmel！　　Him　I　shall　never　forget。　　No；　when　these　hairs　are　white；〃　he　struck　his　head　with　his　clenched　fist；　〃I　shall　still　remember　and　curse　him。〃　　Abruptly　he　stayed　the　rush　of　his　words。　　Then　more　deliberately　but　with　an　added　intensity　of　passion　he　continued；　〃But　no；　never　shall　he　have　her。　　Never。　　God　hears　me。　　Never。　　Him　I　will　kill；　destroy。〃　　He　had　wrought　himself　up　into　a　paroxysm　of　uncontrollable　fury；　his　breath　came　in　jerking　gasps；　his　features　worked　with　convulsive　twitchings；　his　jaws　champed　and　snapped　upon　his　words　like　a　dog's　worrying　rats。

To　Jane　it　seemed　a　horrible　and　repulsive　sight；　yet　she　could　not　stay　her　pity　from　him。　　She　remembered　it　was　love　that　had　moved　him　to　this　pitch　of　madness。　　Love　after　all　was　a　terrible　thing。　She　could　not　despise　him。　　She　could　only　pity。　　Her　very　silence　at　length　recalled　him。　　For　some　moments　he　stood　struggling　to　regain　his　composure。　　Gradually　he　became　aware　that　her　eyes　were　resting　on　his　face。　　The　pity　in　her　eyes　touched　him；　subdued　him；　quenched　the　heat　of　his　rage。

〃I　have　lost　her；〃　he　said；　his　lips　quivering。　　〃She　will　never　change。〃

〃No；　she　will　never　change；〃　replied　Jane　gently。　　〃But　you　can　always　love　her。　　And　she　will　be　happy。〃

〃She　will　be　happy？〃　he　exclaimed；　looking　at　her　in　astonishment。　〃But　she　will　not　be　mine。〃

〃No；　she　will　not　be　yours；〃　said　Jane　still　very　gently；　〃but　she　will　be　happy；　and　after　all；　that　is　what　you　most　want。　　You　are　anxious　chiefly　that　she　shall　be　happy。　　You　would　give　everything　to　make　her　happy。〃

〃I　would　give　my　life。　　Oh；　gladly；　gladly；　I　would　give　my　life；　I　would　give　my　soul；　I　would　give　everything　I　have　on　earth　and　heaven　too。〃

〃Then　don't　grieve　too　much；〃　said　Jane；　putting　her　hand　on　his　arm。　　〃She　will　be　happy。〃

〃But　what　of　me？〃　he　cried　pitifully；　his　voice　and　lips　trembling　like　those　of　a　little　child　in　distress。　　〃Shall　I　be　happy？〃

〃No；　not　now；〃　replied　Jane　steadily；　striving　to　keep　back　her　tears；　〃perhaps　some　day。　　But　you　will　think　more　of　her　happiness　than　of　your　own。　　Love；　you　know；　seeks　to　make　happy　rather　than　to　be　happy。〃

For　some　moments　the　man　stood　as　if　trying　to　understand　what　she　had　said。　　Then　with　a　new　access　of　grief　and　rage；　he　cried；　〃But　my　God！　　My　God！　　I　want　her。　　I　cannot　live　without　her。　　I　could　make　her　happy　too。〃

〃No；　never；〃　said　Jane。　　〃She　loves　him。〃

〃Achso。　　Yes；　she　loves　him；　and　Ihate　him。　　He　is　the　cause　of　this。　　Some　day　I　will　kill　him。　　I　will　kill　him。〃

〃Then　she　would　never　be　happy　again；〃　said　Jane；　and　her　face　was　full　of　pain　and　of　pity。

〃Go　away；〃　he　said　harshly。　　〃Go　away。　　You　know　not　what　you　say。　Some　day　I　shall　make　him　suffer　as　I　suffer　to…day。　　God　hears　me。　Some　day。〃　　He　lifted　his　hands　high　above　his　head。　　Then　with　a　despairing　cry；　〃Oh；　I　have　lost　her；　I　have　lost　her；〃　he　turned　from　Jane　and　rushed　into　the　woods。

Shaken；　trembling　and　penetrated　with　pity　for　him；　Jane　made　her　way　toward　the　office；　near　which　she　found　Larry　with　the　manager　discussing　an　engineering　problem　which　appeared　to　interest　them　both。

〃Where's　Ernest？〃　inquired　Larry。

〃He　has　just　gone；〃　said　Jane；　struggling　to　speak　quietly。　　〃I　think　we　must　hurry；　Larry。　　Come；　please。　　Good…bye；　Mr。　Steinberg。〃　She　hurried　away　toward　the　horses；　leaving　Larry　to　follow。

〃What　is　it；　Jane？〃　said　Larry　when　they　were　on　their　way。

〃Why　didn't　you　tell　me；　Larry；　that　he　was　fond　of　Kathleen？〃　she　cried　indignantly。　　〃I　hurt　him　terribly；　and；　oh；　it　was　awful　to　see　a　man　like　that。〃

〃What　do　you　say？　　Did　he　cut　up　rough？〃　said　Larry。

Jane　made　no　reply；　but　her　face　told　its　own　story　of　shock　and　suffering。

〃He　need　not　have　let　out　upon　you；　Jane；　anyway；〃　said　Larry。

〃Don't；　Larry。　　You　don't　understand。　　He　loves　Kathleen。　　You　don't　know　anything　about　it。　　How　can　you？〃

〃Oh；　he　will　get　over　it　in　time；〃　said　Larry　with　a　slight　laugh。

Jane　flashed　on　him　a　look　of　indignation。　　〃Oh；　how　can　you；　Larry？　　It　was　just　terrible　to　see　him。　　But　you　do　not　know；〃　she　added　with　a　touch　of　bitterness　unusual　with　her。

〃One　thing　I　do　know；〃　said　Larry。　　〃I　would　not　pour　out　my　grief　on　some　one　else。　　I　would　try　to　keep　it　to　myself。〃

But　Jane　refused　to　look　at　him　or　to　speak　again　on　the　matter。　Never　in　her　sheltered　life　had　there　been　anything　suggesting　tragedy。　　Never　had　she　seen　a　strong　man　stricken　to　the　heart　as　she　knew　this　man　to　be　stricken。　　The　shadow　of　that　tragedy　stayed　with　her　during　all　the　remaining　days　of　her　visit。　　The　sight　of　Kathleen's　happy　face　never　failed　to　recall　the　face　of　the　man　who　loved　her　distorted　with　agony　and　that　cry　of　despair；　〃I　have　lost　her；　I　have　lost　her。〃

Not　that　her　last　days　at　the　ranch　were　not　happy　days。　　She　was　far　too　healthy　and　wholesome；　far　too　sane　to　allow　herself　to　miss　the　gladness　of　those　last　few　days　with　her　friends　where　every　moment　offered　its　full　measure　of　joy。　　Nora　would　have　planned　a　grand　picnic　for　the　last　day　on　which　the　two　households；　including　Jack　Romayne；　who　by　this　time　was　quite　able　to　go　about；　were　to　pay　a　long…talked…of　visit　to　a　famous　canyon　in　the　mountains。　　The　party　would　proceed　to　the　canyon　in　the　two　cars；　for　Mr。　Wakeham's　car　and　Mr。　Wakeham's　person　as　driver　had　been　constantly　at　the　service　of　the　Gwynnes　and　their　guests　during　their　stay　at　the　farm。

〃But　that　is　our　very　last　day；　Nora；〃　said　Jane。

〃Well；　that's　just　why；〃　replied　Nora。　　〃We　shall　wind　up　our　festivities　in　one　grand；　glorious　finale。〃

But　the　wise　mother　interposed。　　〃It　is　a　long　ride；　Nora；　and　you　don't　want　to　be　too　tired　for　your　journey。　　I　think　the　very　last　day　we　had　better　spend　quietly　at　home。〃

Jane's　eyes　flashed　upon　her　a　grateful　look。　　And　so　it　came　that　the　grand　finale　was　set　back　to　the　day　before　the　last；　and　proved　to　be　a　gloriously　enjoyable　if　exhausting　outing。　　The　last　day　was　spent　by　Nora　in　making　preparations　for　her　visit　with　Jane　to　Banff　and　in　putting　the　final　touches　to　such　household　tasks　as　might　help　to　lessen　somewhat　the　burden　for　those　who　would　be　left　behind。　　Jane　spent　the　morning　in　a　farewell　visit　to　the　Waring…Gaunts'；　which　she　made　in　company　with　Kathleen。

〃I　hope；　my　dear　Jane；　you　have　enjoyed　your　stay　with　us　here　at　Wolf　Willow；〃　said　Mrs。　Waring…Gaunt　as　Jane　was　saying　good…bye。

〃I　have　been　very　happy；〃　said　Jane。　　〃Never　in　my　life　have　I　had　such　a　happy　time。〃

〃Now　it　is　good　of　you　to　say　that；〃　said　Mrs。　Waring…Gaunt。　　〃You　have　made　us　all　love　you。〃

〃Quite　true；〃　said　her　husband。　　〃Repetition　of　the　great　Caesar's　experience　veni　vidi　vici；　eh？　　What？〃

〃So　say　I；〃　said　Jack　Romayne。　　〃It　has　been　a　very　real　pleasure　to　know　you；　Jane。　　For　my　part；　I　shan't　forget　your　visit　to　me；　and　the　talks　we　have　had　together。〃

〃You　have　all　been　good　to　me。　　I　cannot　tell　you　how　I　feel　about　it。〃　　Jane's　voice　was　a　little　tremulous；　but　her　smile　was　as　bright　as　ever。　　〃I　don't　believe　I　shall　ever　have　such　a　perfectly　happy　visit　again。〃

〃What　nonsense；　my　dear；〃　said　Mrs。　Waring…Gaunt。　　〃I　predict　many；　many　very　happy　days　for　you。　　You　have　that　beautiful　gift　of　bringing　your　joy　with　you。〃

Jack　accompanied