the major- 第48部分

〃Say　fifteen；〃　said　Helen；　turning　to　meet　Lloyd　Rushbrook；　the　Beau　Brummel　of　the　college；　who　came　claiming　a　dance。

Larry　at　once　went　in　search　of　Jane　to　tell　her　of　his　engagement　with　Helen　Brookes；　but　could　find　her　nowhere；　and　after　some　time　spent　in　a　vain　search；　he　left　a　message　for　her　with　his　hostess。　At　the　head　of　the　stairs　he　found　Helen　waiting。

〃Oh；　hurry；　Larry；〃　she　cried　in　a　fever　of　excitement。　　〃Let's　get　away　quickly。〃

〃Two　minutes　will　do　me；〃　said　Larry；　rushing　into　the　dressing　room。

There　he　found　Scudamore　pacing　up　and　down　in　fierce；　gloomy　silence。

〃You　are　taking　her　home；　Larry？〃　he　said。

〃Who？〃　said　Larry。　　Then　glancing　at　his　face；　he　added；　〃Yes；　Scuddy；　I　am　taking　Helen　home。　　She　is　apparently　in　a　great　hurry。〃

〃She　need　not　be；　I　shall　not　bother　her　any　more；〃　said　Scuddy　bitterly；　〃and　you　can　tell　her　that　for　me；　if　you　like。〃

〃No；　I　won't　tell　her　that；　Scuddy；〃　said　Larry；　〃and；　Scuddy；〃　he　added；　imparting　a　bit　of　worldly　wisdom；　〃campaigns　are　not　won　in　a　single　battle；　and；　Scuddy；　remember　too　that　the　whistling　fisherman　catches　the　fish。　　So　cheer　up；　old　boy。〃　　But　Scuddy　only　glowered　at　him。

Larry　found　Helen　awaiting　him；　and　quietly　they　slipped　out　together。　　〃This　is　splendid　of　you；　Larry；〃　she　said；　taking　his　arm　and　giving　him　a　little　squeeze。

〃I　don't　know　about　that；　Helen。　　I　left　Scuddy　raging　upstairs　there。　　You　girls　are　the　very　devil　for　cruelty　sometimes。　　You　get　men　serious　with　you；　then　you　flirt　and　flutter　about　till　the　unhappy　wretches　don't　know　where　they　are　at。　　Here's　our　car。〃

〃Car！〃　exclaimed　Helen。　　〃With　this　moonlight；　Larry？　　And　you　going　away　to…morrow？　　Not　if　I　know　it。〃

〃It　is　fearfully　unromantic；　Helen；　I　know。　　But　I　must　hurry。　　I　have　to　take　Jane　home。〃

〃Oh；　Jane！　　It's　always　Jane；　Jane！〃

〃Well；　why　not？〃　said　Larry。　　〃For　years　Jane　has　been　my　greatest　pal；　my　best　friend。〃

〃Nothing　more？〃　said　Helen　earnestly。　　〃Cross　your　heart；　Larry。〃

〃Nothing　more；　cross　my　heart　and　all　the　rest　of　it；〃　replied　Larry。　　〃Why！　here's　another　car；　Helen。〃

〃Oh；　Larry；　you　are　horrid；　perfectly　heartless！　　We　may　never　walk　together　again。　　Here　I　am　throwing　myself　at　you　and　you　only　think　of　getting　away　back。〃　　Under　her　chaffing　words　there　sounded　a　deeper　note。

〃So　I　see；〃　said　Larry；　laughing　and　refusing　to　hear　the　deeper　undertone。　　〃But　I　see　something　else　as　well。〃

〃What？〃　challenged　Helen。

〃I　see　Scuddy　leading　out　from　Trinity　some　day　the　loveliest　girl　in　Winnipeg。〃

〃Oh；　I　won't　talk　about　Scuddy；〃　said　Helen　impatiently。　　〃I　want　to　talk　about　you。　　Tell　me　about　this　Chicago　business。〃

For　the　rest　of　the　way　home　she　led　Larry　to　talk　of　his　plans　for　the　future。　　At　her　door　Helen　held　out　her　hand。　　〃You　won't　come　in；　Larry；　I　know；　so　we　will　say　good…bye　here。〃　　Her　voice　was　gentle　and　earnest。　　The　gay；　proud；　saucy　air　which　she　had　ever　worn　and　which　had　been　one　of　her　chief　charms；　was　gone。　　The　moonlight　revealed　a　lovely　wistful　face　from　which　misty　eyes　looked　into　his。　　〃This　is　the　end　of　our　good　times　together；　Larry。　　And　we　have　had　good　times。　　You　are　going　to　be　a　great　man　some　day。　　I　wish　you　all　the　best　in　life。〃

〃Thank　you；　Helen；〃　said　Larry；　touched　by　the　tones　of　her　voice　and　the　look　in　her　eyes。　　〃We　have　been　good　friends。　　We　shall　never　be　anything　else。　　With　my　heart　I　wish　youoh；　just　everything　that　is　good；　Helen　dear。　　Good…bye；〃　he　said；　leaning　toward　her。　　〃How　lovely　you　are！〃　he　murmured。

〃Good…bye；　dear　Larry；〃　she　whispered；　lifting　up　her　face。

〃Good…bye；　you　dear　girl；〃　he　said；　and　kissed　her。

〃Now　go；〃　she　said；　pushing　him　away　from　her。

〃Be　good　to　Scuddy；〃　he　replied　as　he　turned　from　her　and　hurried　away。

He　broke　into　a　run；　fearing　to　be　late；　and　by　the　time　he　arrived　at　the　Allens'　door　he　had　forgotten　all　about　Helen　Brookes　and　was　thinking　only　of　Jane　and　of　what　he　wanted　to　say　to　her。　　At　the　inner　door　he　met　Macleod　and　Ethel　coming　out。

〃Jane's　gone；〃　said　Ethel；　〃some　time　ago。〃

〃Gone？〃　said　Larry。

〃Yes；　Scuddy　took　her　home。〃

〃Are　they　all　gone？〃　inquired　Larry。

〃Yes；　for　the　most　part。〃

〃Oh；　all　right　then；　I　think　I　shall　not　go　in。　　Good…night；〃　he　said；　turned　abruptly　about　and　set　off　for　Dr。　Brown's。　　He　looked　again　at　his　watch。　　He　was　surprised　to　find　it　was　not　so　very　late。　　Why　had　Jane　not　waited　for　him？　　Had　he　hurt　her　again？　　He　was　sorely　disappointed。　　Surely　she　had　no　reason　to　be　offended；　and　this　was　his　last　night。　　As　he　thought　the　matter　over　he　came　to　the　conclusion　that　now　it　was　he　that　had　a　grievance。　　Arrived　at　Dr。　Brown's　house　the　only　light　to　be　seen　was　in　Jane's　room　upstairs。　　Should　he　go　in　or　should　he　go　home　and　wait　till　to…　morrow。　　He　was　too　miserable　to　think　of　going　home　without　seeing　her。　　He　determined　that　he　must　see　her　at　all　cost　to…night。　　He　took　a　pebble　and　flung　it　up　against　her　window；　and　another　and　another。　　The　window　opened　and　Jane　appeared。

〃Oh；　Larry；〃　she　whispered。　　〃Is　it　you？　　Wait；　I　shall　be　down。〃

She　opened　the　door　for　him　and　stood　waiting　for　him　to　speak。　〃Why　didn't　you　wait？〃　he　asked；　passing　into　the　hall。　　〃I　was　not　very　long。〃

〃Why　should　I　wait；　Larry？〃　she　said　quietly。　　〃Scuddy　told　me　you　had　gone　home　with　Helen。〃

〃But　didn't　I　promise　that　I　would　take　you　home？〃

〃You　did；　and　then　went　away。〃

〃Well；　all　I　have　to　say；　Jane；　is　that　this　is　not　a　bit　like　you。　I　am　sorry　I　brought　you　down；　and　I　won't　keep　you　any　longer。　Good…night。　　I　shall　see　you　tomorrow。〃

But　Jane　got　between　him　and　the　door　and　stood　with　her　back　to　it。　　〃No；　Larry；　you　are　not　going　away　like　that。　　Go　into　the　study。〃　　Larry　looked　at　her　in　astonishment。　　This　was　indeed　a　new　Jane　to　him。　　Wrathful；　imperious；　she　stood　waving　him　toward　the　study　door。　　In　spite　of　his　irritation　he　was　conscious　of　a　new　admiration　for　her。　　Feeling　a　little　like　a　boy　about　to　receive　his　punishment；　he　passed　into　the　study。

〃Didn't　Mrs。　Allen　give　you　my　message？〃　he　said。

〃Your　message；　Larry？〃　cried　Jane；　a　light　breaking　upon　her　face。　〃Did　you　leave　a　message　for　me？〃

〃I　did。　　I　told　Mrs。　Allen　to　tell　you　where　I　had　goneHelen　was　so　anxious　to　goand　that　I　would　be　right　back。〃　　Larry's　voice　was　full　of　reproach。

〃Oh；　Larry；　I　am　so　glad；〃　said　Jane；　her　tone　indicating　the　greatness　of　her　relief。　　〃I　knew　it　was　all　rightthat　something　had　prevented。　　I　am　so　glad　you　came　in。　　You　must　have　thought　me　queer。〃

〃No；〃　said　Larry；　appeased；　〃I　knew　all　the　time　there　must　be　some　explanation；　only　I　was　feeling　so　miserable。〃

〃And　I　was　miserable；　too；　Larry；〃　she　said　gently。　　〃It　seemed　a　pity　that　this　should　happen　on　our　last　night。〃　　All　her　wrath　was　gone。　　She　was　once　more　the　Jane　that　Larry　had　always　known；　gentle；　sweet；　straightforward；　and　on　her　face　the　old　transfiguring　smile。　　Before　this　change　of　mood　all　his　irritation　vanished。　Humbled；　penitent；　and　with　a　rush　of　warm　affection　filling　his　heart；　he　said；

〃I　should　have　known　you　were　not　to　blame；　but　you　are　always　right。　　Never　once　in　all　these　years　have　you　failed　me。　　You　always　understand　a　fellow。　　Do　you　know　I　am　wondering　how　I　shall　ever　do　without　you？　　Have　you　thought；　Jane；　that　to…morrow　this　old　life　of　ours　together　will　end？〃

〃Yes；　Larry。〃　　Her　voice　was　low；　almost　a　whisper；　and　in　her　eyes　an　eager　light　shone。

〃It　just　breaks　my　heart；　Jane。　　We　have　beenwe　are　such　good　friends。　　If　we　had　only　fallen　in　love　with　each　other。But　that　would　have　spoiled　it　all。　　We　are　not　like　other　people；　we　have　been　such　chums；　Jane。〃

〃Yes；　Larry；〃　she　said　again；　but　the　eager　light　had　faded　from　her　eyes。

〃Let's　sit　a　bit；　Larry；〃　she　said。　　〃I　am　tired；　and　you　are　tired；　too；〃　she　added　quickly；　〃after　your　hard　day。〃

For　a　little　time　they　sat　in　silence　together；　both　shrinking　from　the　parting　that　they　knew　was　so　near。　　Larry　gazed　at　her；　wondering　to　himself　that　he　had　ever　thought　her　plain。　　Tonight　she　seemed　beautiful　and　very　dear　to　him。　　Next　to　his　mother；　was　her　place　in　his　heart。　　Was　this　that　he　felt　for　her　what　they　called　love？　　With　all　his　soul　he　wished　he　could　take　her　in　his　arms　and　say；　〃Jane；　I　love　you。〃　　But　still　he　knew　that　his　words　would　not　ring　true。　　More　than　that；　Jane　would　know　it　too。　Besides；　might　not　her　feeling　for　him　be　of　the　same　quality？　What　could　he　say　in　this　hour　which　he　recognised　to　be　a　crisis　in　their　lives？　　Sick　at　heart　and　oppressed　with　his　feeling　of　loneliness　and　impotence；　he　could　only　look　at　her　in　speechless　misery。　　Then　he　thought　she；　too；　was　suffering；　the　same　misery　was　filling　her　heart。　　She　looked　utterly　spent　and　weary。

〃Jane；〃　he　said　desperately。　　She　started。　　She；　too；　had　been　thinking。　　〃Scuddy　is　in　love　with　Helen；　Macleod　is　in　love　with　Ethel。　　I　wish　to　God　I　had　fallen　in　love　with　you　and　you　with　me。　　Then　we　would　have　something　to　look　forward　to。　　Do　you　know；　Jane；　I　am　like　a　boy　leaving　home？　　We　are　going　to　drift　apart。　Others　will　come　between　us。〃

〃No；　Larry；〃　cried　Jane　with　quick　vehemence。　　〃Not　that。　　You　won't　let　that　come。〃

〃Can　we　help　it；　Jane？〃　　Then　her　weariness　appealed　to　him。　　〃It　is　a　shame　to　keep　you　up。　　I　have　given　you　a　hard　day；　Jane。〃　She　shook　her　head。　　〃And　there　is　no　use　waiting。　　We　can　only　say　good…bye。〃　　He　rose　from　his　chair。　　Should　he　kiss　her；　he　asked　himself。　　He　had　had　no　hesitation　in　kissing　Helen　an　hour　ago。　That　seemed　a　light　thing　to　him；　but　somehow　he　shrank　from　offering　to　kiss　Jane。　　If　he　could　only　say　sincerely；　〃Jane；　I　love　you；〃　then　he　could　kiss　her；　but　this　he　could　not　say　truly。　Anything　but　perfect　sincerity　he　knew　she　would　detect；　and　she　would　be　outraged　by　it。　　Yet　as　he　stood　looking　down　upon　her　pale　face；　her　wavering　smile；　her　quivering　lips；　he　was　conscious　of　a　rush　of　pity　and　of　tenderness　almost　uncontrollable。

〃Good…bye；　Jane；　God　keep　you　always；　dear；　dear　Jane。〃　　He　held　her　hands；　looking　into　the　deep　blue　eyes　that　looked　back　at　him　so　bravely。　　He　felt　that　he　was　fast　losing　his　grip　upon