active service- 第31部分

here；　professor；　I'm　not　dying　or　anything　of　the　sort　Coleman　and　Marjory　were　left　alone。　He　suddenly　and　forcibly　took　one　of　her　hands　and　the　blood　stained　hankerchief　dropped　to　the　floor。



CHAPTER　XXII。

From　below　they　could　hear　the　thunder　of　weapons　　and　fits　upon　the　door　of　the　inn　amid　a　great　clamour　of。　tongues。　Sometimes　there　arose　the　　argumtntative　howl　of　the　innkeeper。　Above　this　roar；　Coleman's　quick　words　sounded　in　Marjory's　ear。

〃　I've　got　to　go。　I've　got　to　go　back　to　the　boys；　but　…I　love　you。〃

〃　Yes　go；　go；〃　she　whispered　hastily。　〃　You　should　be　there；　but…come　back。〃

He　held　her　close　to　him。　〃　But　you　are　mine；　remember；〃　　he　said　fiercely　and　sternly。　〃　You　are　mine…forever…As　I　am　yours…remember。〃　Her　eyes　half　closed。　She　made　intensely　solemn　answer。　〃Yes。〃　He　released　her　and　vphs　gone。　In　the　glooming　coffee　room　of　the　inn　he　found　the　students；　the　dragoman；　the　groom　and　the　innkeeper　　armed　with　a　motley　collection　of　weapons　which　ranged　from　the　rifle　of　the　innkeeper　to　the　table　leg　in　the　hands　of　PeterTounley。　The　last　named　young　student　of　archeology　was　in　a　position　of　temporary　leadefship　and　holding　a　great　pow…bow　with　the　　innkeeper　through　the　medium　of　peircing　outcries　by　the　dragoman。　Coleman　had　not　yet　undestood　why　none　of　them　had　been　either　stabbed　or　shot　in　the　fight　in　the　steeet；　but　it　seemed　to　him　now　that　affairs　were　leading　toward　a　crisis　of　tragedy。　He　thought　of　the　possibilities　of　having　the　dragoman　go　to　an　upper　window　and　harangue　the　people；　but　he　saw　no　chance　of　success　in　such　a　plan。　He　saw　that　the　crowd　would　merely　howl　at　the　dragoman　while　the　dragoman　howled　at　the　crowd。　He　then　asked　if　there　was　any　other　exit　from　the　inn　by　which　they　could　secretly　escape。　He　learned　that　the　door　into　the　coffee　room　was　the　only　door　which　pierced　the　four　great　walls。　All　he　could　then　do　was　to　find　out　from　the　innkeeper　how　much　of　a　siege　the　place　could　stand；　and　to　this　the　innkeeper　answered　volubly　and　with　smiles　that　this　hostelry　would　easily　endure　until　the　mercurial　temper　of　the　crowd　had　darted　off　in　a　new　direction。　It　may　be　curious　to　note　here　that　all　of　Peter　Tounley's　impassioned　communication　with　the　innkeeper　had　been　devoted　to　an　endeavour　to　learn　what　in　the　devil　was　the　matter　with　these　people；　as　a　man　about　to　be　bitten　by　poisonous　snakes　should；　first　of　all；　furiously　　insist　upon　learning　their　exact　species　before　deciding　upon　either　his　route；　if　he　intended　to　run　away；　or　his　weapon　if　he　intended　to　fight　them。

The　innkeeper　was　evidently　convinced　that　this　house　would　withstand　the　rage　of　the　populace；　and　he　was　such　an　unaccountably　gallant　little　chap　that　Coleman　trusted　entirely　to　his　word。　His　only　fear　or　suspicion　was　an　occasional　one　as　to　the　purity　of　the　dragoman's　translation。

Suddenly　there　was　half　a　silence　on　the　mob　without　　the　door。　It　is　inconceivable　that　it　could　become　altogether　silent；　but　it　was　as　near　to　a　rational　　stillness　of　tongues　as　it　was　able。　Then　there　was　a　loud　knocking　by　a　single　fist　and　a　new　voice　began　to　spin　Greek；　a　voice　that　was　somewhat　like　the　rattle　of　pebbles　in　a　tin　box。　Then　a　startling　voice　called　out　in　English。　〃　Are　you　in　there；　Rufus？　〃

Answers　came　from　every　English　speaking　person　in　the　room　in　one　great　outburst。　〃Yes。〃

〃　Well；　let　us　in；〃　called　Nora　Black。　〃　It　is　all　right。　We've　got　an　officer　with　us。〃

〃　Open　the　door；〃　said　Coleman　with　speed。　The　little　innkeeper　labouriously　unfastened　the　great　bars；　and　when　the　door　finally　opened　there　appeared　on　the　threshold　Nora　Black　with　Coke　and　an　officer　of　infantry；　Nora's　little　old　companion；　and　Nora's　dragoman。

〃　We　saw　your　carriage　in　the　street；〃　cried　the　queen　of　comic　opera　as　she　swept　into　the　room。　She　was　beaming　with　delight。　〃　What　is　all　the　row；　anyway？　O…o…oh；　look　at　that　student's　nose。　Who　hit　him？　And　look　at　Rufus。　What　have　you　boys　been　doing？〃

Her　little　Greek　officer　of　infantry　had　stopped　the　mob　from　flowing　into　the　room。　Coleman　looked　toward　the　door　at　times　with　some　anxiety。　Nora；　noting　it；　waved　her　hand　in　careless　reassurance；　〃　Oh；　it's；　all　right。　Don't　worry　about　them　any　more。　He　is　perfectly　devoted　to　me。　He　would　die　there　on　the　threshold　if　I　told　him　it　would　please　me。　Speaks　splendid　French。　I　found　him　limping　along　the　road　and　gave　him　a　lift。　And　now　do　hurry　up　and　tell　me　exactly　what　happened。〃　They　all　told　what　had　happened；　while　Nora　and　Coke　listened　agape。　Coke；　by　the　way；　had　quite　floated　back　to　his　old　position　with　the　students。　It　had　been　easy　in　the　stress　of　excitement　and　wonder。　Nobody　had　any　titne　to　think　of　the　excessively　remote　　incidents　of　the　early　morning。　All　minor　interests　　were　lost　in　the　marvel　of　the　present　situation。

〃Who　landed　you　in　the　eye；　Billie？〃　asked　the　awed　Coke。　〃　That　was　a　bad　one。〃　〃　Oh；　I　don't　know；〃　said　Billie。　〃　You　really　couldn't　tell　who　hit　you；　you　know。　It　was　a　football　rush。　They　had　guns　and　knives；　but　they　didn't　use　'em。　I　don't　know　why　Jinks！　I'm　getting　pretty　stiff。　My　face　feels　as　if　it　were　made　of　tin。　Did　they　give　you　people　a　row；　too　？　〃

〃　No；　only　talk。　That　little　officer　managed　them。　Out…talked　them；　I　suppose。　Hear　him　buzz；　now。〃　The　Wainwrights　came　down　stairs。　Nora　Black　went　confidently　forward　to　meet　them。　〃You've　added　one　more　to　your　list　of　rescuers；〃　　She　cried；　with　her　glowing；　triumphant　smile。　〃Miss　Black　of　the　New　York　Daylight…at　your　service。　How　in　the　world　do　you　manage　to　get　yourselves　into　such　dreadful　Scrapes？　You　are　the　most　remarkable　people。　　You　need　a　guardian。　Why；　you　might　have　all　been　killed。　How　exciting　it　must　seem　to　be　regularly　　of　your　party。〃　She　had　shaken　cordiaily　one　of　Mrs。　Wainwright's　hands　without　that　lady　indicating　assent　to　the　proceeding　but　Mrs。　Wainwright　had　not　felt　repulsion。　In　fact　she　had　had　no　emotion　springing　directly　from　it。　Here　again　the　marvel　of　the　situation　came　to　deny　Mrs。　Wainwright　the　right　to　resume　a　state　of　mind　which　had　been　so　painfully　interesting　to　her　a　few　hours　earlier。

The　professor；　Coleman　and　all　the　students　were　talking　together。　Coke　had　addressed　Coleman　civilly　and　Coleman　had　made　a　civil　reply。　Peace　was　upon　them。

Nora　slipped　her　arm　lovingly　through　Marjbry's　arm。　〃That　Rufus！　Oh；　that　Rufus；〃　she　cried　joyously。　〃　I'll　give　him　a　good　scolding　as　soon　as　I　see　him　alone。　I　might　have　foreseen　that　he　would　get　you　all　into　trouble。　The　old　stupid　！　〃

Marjory　did　not　appear　to　resent　anything。　〃　Oh；　I　don't　think　it　was　Mr。　Coleman's　fault　at　ail；〃　she　an…　swered　calmly。　〃I　think　it　was　more　the　fault　of　Peter　Tounley；　poor　boy。〃

〃　Well；　I'd　be　glad　to　believe　it；　I'd　be　glad　to　believe　it；〃　　said　Nora。　〃I　want　Rufus　to　keep　out　of　that　sort　of　thing；　but　he　is　so　hot…headed　and　foolish。〃　If　she　had　pointed　out　her　proprietary　stamp　on　Coleman's　　cheek　she　could　not　have　conveyed　what　she　wanted　with　more　clearness。

〃　Oh；〃　said　the　impassive　Marjory；　〃　I　don't　think　you　need　have　any　doubt　as　to　whose　fault　it　was；　if　there　were　any　of　our　boys　at　fault。　Mr。　Coleman　was　inside　when　the　fighting　commenced；　and　only　ran　out　to　help　the　boys。　He　had　just　brought　us　safely　through　the　mob；　and；　far　from　being　hot…headed　and　foolish；　he　was　utterly　cool　in　manner；　impressively　cool；　I　thought。　I　am　glad　to　be　able　to　reassure　you　on　these　points；　for　I　see　that　they　worry　you。〃

〃。Yes；　they　do　worry　me；〃　said　Nora；　densely。　They　worry　me　night　and　day　when　he　is　away　from　me。〃

〃　Oh；〃　responded　Marjory；　〃　I　have　never　thought　of　Mr。　Coleman　as　a　man　that　one　would　worry　about　much。　We　consider　him　very　self…reliant；　able　to　take　care　of　himself　under　almost　any　conditions；　but　then；　of　course；　we　do　not　know　him　at　all　in　the　way　that　you　know　him。　I　should　think　that　you　would　find　that　he　came　off　rather　better　than　you　expected　from　most　of　his　difficulties。　But　then；　of　course；　as。　I　said；　you　know　him　so　much　better　than　we　do。〃　Her　easy　indifference　was　a　tacit　dismissal　of　Coleman　as　a　topic。

Nora；　now　thoroughly　alert；　glanced　keenly　into　the　other　girl's　face；　but　it　was　inscrutable。　The　actress　had　intended　to　go　careering　through　a　whole　circle　of　daring　illusions　to　an　intimacy　with；Coleman；　but　here；　before　she　had　really　developed　her　attack；　Marjory；　with　a　few　conventional　and　indifferent　sentences；　almost　expressive　of　boredom；　had　made　the　subject　of　Coleman　impossible。　An　effect　was　left　upon　Nora's　mind　that　Marjory　had　been　extremely　polite　in　listening　to　much　nervous　talk　about　a　person　in　whom　she　had　no　interest。

The　actress　was　dazed。　She　did　not　know　how　it　had　all　been　done。　Where　was　the　head　of　this　thing？　And　where　Was　the　tail？　A　fog　had　mysteriously　come　upon　all　her　brilliant　prospects　of　seeing　Marjory　　Wainwright　suffer；　and　this　fog　was　the　product　of　a　kind　of　magic　with　which　she　was　not　familiar。　She　could　not　think　how　to　fight　it。　After　being　simply　dubious　throughout　a　long　pause；　she　in　the　end　went　into　a　great　rage。　She　glared　furiously　at　Marjory；　dropped　her　arm　as　if　it　had　burned　her　and　moved　down　upon　Coleman。　She　must　have　reflected　that　at　any　rate　she　could　make　him　wriggle。　When　she　was　come　near　to　him；　she　called　out：　〃Rufus！〃　In　her　tone　was　all　the　old　insolent　statement　of　ownership。　Coleman　might　have　been　a　poodle。　She　knew　how　to　call　his　same　in　a　way　that　was　anything　less　than　a　public　scandal。　On　this　occasion　everybody　　looked　at　him　and　then　went　silent；　as　people　awaiting　the　startling　denouement　of　a　drama。　〃　Rufus！　〃　She　was　baring　his　shoulder　to　show　the　fieur…de…lis　of　the　criminal。　The　students　gaped。

Coleman's　temper　was；　if　one　may　be　allowed　to　speak　in　that　way；　broken　loose　inside　of　him。　He　could　hardly　beeathe；　he　felt　that　his　body　was　about　to　explode　into　a　thousand　fragments。　He　simply　snarled　out　〃　What？　〃　Almost　at　once　he　saw　that　she　had　at　last　goaded　him　into　making　a　serious　tactical　mistake。　It　must　be　admitted　that　it　is　only　when　the　relations　between　a　man　and　a　woman　are　the　relations　of　wedlock；　or　at　least　an　intimate　　resemblance　to　it；　that　the　man　snarl