earlderrbiggers.thehousewithoutakey-第10节

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ad。〃
　〃I'm　with　you；〃　John　Quincy　smiled。
　〃But　you　ought　to　be　dancing；　boy。　And　you're　not　in　costume。〃
　〃No；〃　admitted　John　Quincy。　He　paused；　seeking　an　explanation。　〃A　…　a　fellow　can't　make　a　fool　of　himself　in　front　of　a　lot　of　strangers。〃
　〃I　understand；〃　nodded　the　old　lady。　〃It's　a　fine　delicacy；　too。　But　rather　rare；　particularly　out　this　way。〃
　Barbara　entered；　flushed　and　vibrant。　〃Harry's　gone　to　get　me　a　drink；〃　she　panted。　She　sat　down　beside　Mrs。　Maynard。　〃I've　been　looking　for　you；　my　dear。　You　know；　you　haven't　read　my　palm　since　I　was　a　child。　She's　simply　wonderful　…〃　this　to　John　Quincy。　〃Can　tell　you　the　most　amazing　things。〃
　Mrs。　Maynard　vehemently　shook　her　head。　〃I　don't　read　'em　any　more；〃　she　said。　〃Gave　it　up。　As　I've　grown　older；　I've　e　to　understand　how　foolish　it　is　to　peer　into　the　future。　To…day　…　that's　enough　for　me。　That's　all　I　care　to　think　about。〃
　〃Oh；　please；〃　the　girl　pouted。
　The　old　woman　took　Barbara's　slim　hand　in　hers；　and　studied　the　palm　for　a　moment。　John　Quincy　thought　he　saw　a　shadow　cross　her　face。　Again　she　shook　her　head。
　〃Carpe　diem；〃　she　said。　〃Which　my　nephew　once　translated　as　'grab　the　day。'　Dance　and　be　happy　to…night；　and　let's　not　try　to　look　behind　the　curtain。　It　doesn't　pay；　my　dear。　Take　an　old　woman's　word　for　that。〃
　Harry　Jennison　appeared　in　the　door。　〃Oh；　here　you　are；〃　he　said。　〃I've　got　your　drink　waiting　in　the　smoking…room。〃
　〃I'm　ing；〃　the　girl　said；　and　went。　The　old　woman　stared　after　her。
　〃Poor　Barbara；〃　she　murmured。　〃Her　mother's　life　was　none　too　happy；　either　…〃
　〃You　saw　something　in　her　hand　…〃　John　Quincy　suggested。
　〃No　matter；〃　the　old　lady　snapped。　〃There's　trouble　waiting　for　us　all；　if　we　look　far　enough　ahead。　Now；　let's　go　on　deck。　It's　getting　on　toward　midnight。〃
　She　led　him　out　to　the　starboard　rail。　A　solitary　light；　like　a　star；　gleamed　in　the　distance。　Land；　land　at　last。　〃Diamond　Head？〃　John　Quincy　asked。
　〃No；〃　she　said。　〃That's　the　beacon　on　Makapuu　Point。　We　shall　have　to　round　Koko　Head　before　we　sight　Honolulu。〃　She　stood　for　a　moment　by　the　rail；　one　frail　hand　resting　upon　it。　〃But　that's　Oahu；〃　she　said　gently。　〃That's　home。　A　sweet　land；　boy。　Too　sweet；　I　often　think。　I　hope　you'll　like　it。〃
　〃I'm　sure　I　shall；〃　replied　John　Quincy　gallantly。
　〃Let's　sit　down　here。〃　They　found　deck　chairs。　〃Yes；　a　dear　land；〃　she　went　on。　〃But　we're　all　sorts；　in　Hawaii　…　just　as　it　is　the　whole　world　over　…　honest　folks　and　rascals。　From　the　four　corners　of　the　globe　men　e　to　us　…　often　because　they　were　no　longer　wele　at　home。　We　offer　them　a　paradise；　and　some　repay　us　by　being　good　citizens；　while　others　rot　away。　I　often　think　it　will　take　a　lot　of　stamina　to　make　good　in　Heaven　…　and　Hawaii　is　the　same。〃
　The　tall　emaciated　figure　of　the　Reverend　Mr。　Upton　appeared　before　them。　He　bowed。　〃Good　evening；　Madame。　You're　nearly　home。〃
　〃Yes；〃　she　said。　〃Glad　of　it；　too。〃
　He　turned　to　John　Quincy。　〃You'll　be　seeing　Dan　Winterslip　in　the　morning；　young　man。〃
　〃I　expect　I　shall；〃　John　Quincy　replied。
　〃Just　ask　him　if　he　recalls　that　day　on　Apiang　Island　in　the　'eighties。　The　Reverend　Frank　Upton。〃
　〃Of　course；〃　replied　John　Quincy。　〃But　you　haven't　told　me　much　about　it；　you　know。〃
　〃No；　I　haven't。〃　The　missionary　dropped　into　a　chair。　〃I　don't　like　to　reveal　any　secrets　about　a　man's　past；〃　he　said。　〃However；　I　understand　that　the　story　of　Dan　Winterslip's　early　life　has　always　been　known　in　Honolulu。〃　He　glanced　toward　Madame　Maynard。
　〃Dan　was　no　saint；〃　she　remarked。　〃We　all　know　that。〃
　He　crossed　his　thin　legs。　〃As　a　matter　of　fact；　I'm　very　proud　of　my　meeting　with　Dan　Winterslip；〃　he　went　on。　〃I　feel　that　in　my　humble　way　I　persuaded　him　to　change　his　course　…　for　the　better。〃
　〃Humph；〃　said　the　old　lady。　She　was　dubious；　evidently。
　John　Quincy　was　not　altogether　pleased　at　the　turn　the　conversation　had　taken。　He　did　not　care　to　have　the　name　of　a　Winterslip　thus　bandied　about。　But　to　his　annoyance；　the　Reverend　Mr。　Upton　was　continuing。
　〃It　was　in　the　'eighties；　as　I　told　you；〃　said　the　missionary。　〃I　had　a　lonely　station　on　Apiang；　in　the　Gilbert　group。　One　morning　a　brig　anchored　just　beyond　the　reef；　and　a　boat　came　ashore。　Of　course；　I　joined　the　procession　of　natives　down　to　the　beach　to　meet　it。　I　saw　few　enough　men　of　my　own　race。
　〃There　was　a　ruffianly　crew　aboard；　in　charge　of　a　dapper；　rather　handsome　young　white　man。　And　I　saw；　even　before　they　beached　her；　midway　in　the　boat；　a　long　pine　box。
　〃The　white　man　introduced　himself。　He　said　he　was　First　Officer　Winterslip；　of　the　brig　Maid　of　Shiloh。　And　when　he　mentioned　the　name　of　the　ship；　of　course　I　knew　at　once。　Knew　her　unsavory　trade　and　history。　He　hurried　on　to　say　that　their　captain　had　died　the　day　before；　and　they　had　brought　him　ashore　to　bury　him　on　land。　It　had　been　the　man's　last　wish。
　〃Well。〃　The　Reverend　Mr。　Upton　stared　at　the　distant　shore　line　of　Oahu。　〃I　looked　over　at　that　rough　pine　box　…　four　Malay　sailors　were　carrying　it　ashore。　'So　Tom　Brade's　in　there；'　I　said。　Young　Winterslip　nodded。　'He's　in　there；　right　enough；'　he　answered。　And　I　knew　I　was　looking　on　at　the　final　scene　in　the　career　of　a　famous　character　of　the　South　Seas；　a　callous　brute　who　knew　no　law；　a　pirate　and　adventurer；　the　master　of　the　notorious　Maid　of　Shiloh。　Tom　Brade；　the　blackbirder。〃
　〃Blackbirder？〃　queried　John　Quincy。
　The　missionary　smiled。　〃Ah；　yes　…　you　e　from　Boston。　A　blackbirder；　my　boy；　is　a　shipping…master　who　furnishes　contract　labor　to　the　plantations　at　so　much　a　head。　It's　pretty　well　wiped　out　now；　but　in　the　'eighties！　A　horrible　business　…　the　curse　of　God　was　on　it。　Sometimes　the　laborers　came　willingly。　Sometimes。　But　mostly　they　came　at　the　point　of　a　knife　or　the　muzzle　of　a　gun。　A　bloody；　brutal　business。
　〃Winterslip　and　his　men　went　up　the　beach　and　began　to　dig　a　grave　under　a　cocoanut　palm。　I　followed。　I　offered　to　say　a　prayer。　Winterslip　laughed　…　not　much　use；　he　said。　But　there　on　that　bright　morning　under　the　palm　I　consigned　to　God　the　soul　of　a　man　who　had　so　much　to　answer　for。　Winterslip　agreed　to　e　to　my　house　for　lunch。　He　told　me　that　save　for　a　recruiting　agent　who　had　remained　aboard　the　brig；　he　was　now　the　only　white　man　on　the　ship。
　〃During　lunch；　I　talked　to　him。　He　was　so　young　…　I　discovered　this　was　his　first　trip。　'It's　no　trade　for　you；'　I　told　him。　And　after　a　time；　he　agreed　with　me。　He　said　he　had　two　hundred　blacks　under　the　hatches　that　he　must　deliver　to　a　plantation　over　in　the　Kingsmill　group；　and　that　after　he'd　done　that；　he　was　through。　'I'll　take　the　Maid　back　to　Sydney；　Dominie；'　he　promised；　'and　turn　her　over。　Then　I'm　pau。　I'm　going　home　to　Honolulu。〃
　The　Reverend　Mr。　Upton　rose　slowly。　〃I　learned　later　that　he　kept　his　word；〃　he　finished。　〃Yes；　Dan　Winterslip　went　home；　and　the　South　Seas　saw　him　no　more。　I've　always　been　a　little　proud　of　my　part　in　that　decision。　I've　had　few　rewards。　It's　not　everywhere　that　the　missionaries　have　prospered　in　a　worldly　way　…　as　they　did　in　Hawaii。〃　He　glanced　at　Madame　Maynard。　〃But　I've　had　satisfactions。　And　one　of　them　arose　from　that　meeting　on　the　shore　of　Apiang。　It's　long　past　my　bed　hour　…　I　must　say　good　night。〃
　He　moved　away。　John　Quincy　sat　turning　this　horror　over　and　over　in　his　mind。　A　Winterslip　in　the　blackbirding　business！　That　was　pretty。　He　wished　he　was　back　on　Beacon　Street。
　〃Sweet　little　dig　for　me；〃　the　old　lady　was　muttering　indignantly。　〃That　about　the　missionaries　in　Hawaii。　And　he　needn't　be　so　cocky。　If　Dan　Winterslip　dropped　blackbirding；　it　was　only　because　he'd　found　something　more　profitable；　I　fancy。〃　She　stood　up　suddenly。　〃At　last；〃　she　said。
　John　Quincy　rose　and　stood　beside　her。　Far　away　a　faint　yellow　eye　was　winking。　For　a　moment　the　old　lady　did　not　speak。
　〃Well；　that's　that；〃　she　said　finally；　in　a　low　voice。　〃I've　seen　Diamond　Head　again。　Good　night；　my　boy。〃
　〃Good　night；〃　John　Quincy　answered。
　He　stood　alone　by　the　rail。　The　pace　of　the　President　Tyler　was　slowing　perceptibly。　The　moon　came　from　behind　a　cloud；　crept　back　again。　A　sort　of　unholy　calm　was　settling　over　the　hot；　airless；　deep　blue　world。　The　boy　felt　a　strange　restlessness　in　his　heart。
　He　ascended　to　the　boat　deck；　seeking　a　breath　of　air。　There；　in　a　secluded　spot；　he　came　upon　Barbara　and　Jennison　…　and　stopped；　shocked。　His　cousin　was　in　the　man's　arms；　and　their　bizarre　costumes　added　a　weird　touch　to　the　scene。　They　did　not　see　John　Quincy；　for　in　their　world　at　that　moment　there　were　only　two。　Their　lips　were　crushed　together；　fiercely　…
　John　Quincy　fled。　Good　lord！　He　had　kissed　a　girl　or　two　himself；　but　it　had　been　nothing　like　that。
　He　went　to　the　rail　outside　his　stateroom。　Well；　what　of　it？　Barbara　was　nothing　to　him；　a　cousin；　yes；　but　one　who　seemed　to　belong　to　an　alien　race。　He　had　sensed　that　she　was　in　love　with　Jennison；　this　was　no　surprise。　Why　did　he　feel　that　frustrated　pang　deep　in　his　heart？　He　was　engaged　to　Agatha　Parker。
　He　gripped　the　rail；　and　sought　to　see　again　Agatha's　aristocratic　face。　But　it　was　blurred；　indistinct。　All　Boston　was　blurred　in　his　memory。　The　blood　of　the　roaming　Winterslips；　the　blood　that　led　on　to　bla