the major-第13节

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〃Awful？〃　said　the　doctor。

〃Well；　very　exceedingly　thenand　the　kids　were　very　tired　and　Miss　Mutton　was　as　cross　as　anything。〃

〃It　was　no　wonder。　　How　many　kids　were　there　for　her　to　watch？〃

〃Oh；　Papa；　you　said　'kids！'〃

〃I　was　just　quoting　my　young　daughter。〃

〃And　she　said　we　were　to　get　out　this　afternoon　an　hour　earlier；〃　continued　Jane；　ignoring　his　criticism；　〃and　so　I　am　going　to　take　my　bicycle　and　go　with　Nora　and　the　girls　down　to　the　freight　sheds。〃

〃The　freight　sheds？〃

〃Yes；　Larry　and　Joe　have　come　in；　and　Rover　and　Rosieshe's　the　cow；　and　they　milked　her　every　day　twice　and　drank　the　milk　and　they　used　to　have　their　meals　together　in　the　car。〃

〃Rosie；　too？　　Very　interesting　indeed。〃

〃Now；　Papa；　you　must　not　laugh　at　me。　　It　is　very　interesting。　They　all　came　for　days　and　days　together　in　the　car　from　somewhere　down　East；　Ontario；　I　think。　　And　Mr。　Gwynne　says　they　are　just　like　a　circus。　　And　they　play　instiments　and　dance。〃

〃What；　Rosie　too？　　How　clever　of　her！〃

The　child's　laugh　rang　out　joyously。　　〃Oh；　Papa；　that's　awfully　funny。　　And　we're　going　down　on　our　wheels。　　Nora　can　ride　now；　you　know；　and　she's　going　to　take　Ethel　May's　wheel。　　It's　awfully　hard　to　ride；　but　Nora's　as　strong　as　Kathleen。〃

〃Well；　well；〃　said　her　father；　greatly　interested　in　this　exciting　but　somewhat　confused　tale。　　〃Just　wait　until　I　wash　my　hands　and　then　you　shall　tell　me　what　it　all　means。　　Thank　you　for　this　deliciously　cool　lemonade。　　It　is　very　refreshing。　　You　will　tell　me　all　about　it　at　lunch。〃

The　lunch　hour　was　devoted　first　of　all　to　disentangling　from　the　mass　the　individual　members　of　the　car　party；　which　after　an　adventurous　journey　across　half　a　continent　had　apparently　made　camp　at　the　Winnipeg　freight　sheds。　　Then　followed　the　elucidation　of　the　details　of　the　plan　by　which　this　camp　was　to　be　attacked　and　raided　during　the　afternoon。

〃Now　that　I　have　a　fairly　clear　conception　of　whom　Larry；　Joe；　Sam；　Rosie　and　Rover　areI　think　I　have　them　right〃

〃Exactly；　Papa。〃

〃I　wish　to　find　out　just　who　are　to　form　the　advance　party；　the　scouting　party。〃

〃The　scouting　party？　　I　don't　know　what　you　mean。　　But　Norayou　know　Nora？〃

〃Certainly；　the　little　black…eyed　Irish　Terrierterror；　I　mean。〃

〃Oh；　Papa；　she's　just　lovely　and　she's　my　friend。〃

〃Is　she；　dear；　then　I　apologise；　but　indeed　I　meant　nothing　derogatory　to　her。　　I　greatly　like　her；　she　is　so　spunky。〃

〃Yes；　there's　Nora；　and　Kathleen；　Nora's　sister。〃

〃Oh；　Kathleen；　the　tall　beautiful　girl　with　the　wonderful　hair？〃

The　little　girl　sighed。　　〃Oh；　such　lovely　long　yellow　hair。〃　　The　little　maid's　hair　was　none　of　these。　　〃And　she　is　not　a　bit　proud　just　nice；　you　knowjust　as　if　she　were　not　so　lovely；　but　like　only　like　me。〃

〃Like　you；　indeed！〃　exclaimed　the　doctor　indignantly。　　〃Like　my　little　girl？　　I　don't　see　any　one　quite　like　my　little　girl。　　There　is　not　one　of　them　with　all　their　yellow　hair　and　things　that　is　to　be　compared　with　my　own　little　girl。〃

〃Oh；　Papa。　　I　know　you　think　so；　and　I　wish　it　was　so。　　And　I　am　awfully　glad　you　think　so；　but　of　course　you　are　prejuist；　you　know。〃

〃Prejudiced？　　Not　a　bit；　not　a　bit。〃

〃Well；　that's　Kathleen　and　Nora；　andand　perhaps　Hazelyou　know　Hazel；　Papa；　Hazel　Sleighter？〃

〃The　western　girlnot　at　all　wild　and　woolly　though。　　A　very　modern　and　very　advanced　young　lady；　isn't　she？〃

〃Oh；　I　don't　know　what　you　mean；　Papa。　　She　says　she　may　go　down；　but　I　don't　think　she　likes　going　with　a　lot　of　kids。　　You　know　she　has　her　hair　up。　　She　has　to　have　it　up　in　the　store。　　She　says　the　man　would　not　have　her　behind　the　counter　if　she　had　not　her　hair　up。〃

〃Oh；　that's　it。　　I　thought　perhaps　the　maturity　of　her　age　made　it　necessary。〃

〃I　don't　know　what　maturevy　means；　but　she　is　awfully　old。　　She　is　going　on　sixteen。〃

〃Dear　me；　as　old　as　that？〃　inquired　her　father。

〃Yes；　but　she　said　she　wanted　to　see　that　circus　car。　　That's　what　she　calls　Mr。　Gwynne's　car。　　And　she　says　she　wants　to　see　the　elephunts　perform。　　There　are　not　any　elephunts。　　There's　only　Rosie　and　Rover。　　But　she　may　get　off。　　She　can　get　off　if　she　can　fool　her　boss；　she　says。　　So　we're　all　going　down　and　we　may　bring　Larry　home　with　us；　Mrs。　Sleighter　says。　　Though　Mrs。　Gwynne　says　there's　not　any　room；　they're　so　filled　up　now。　　And　I　said　Larry　could　come　here　and　Joe；　too。　　But　I　am　not　so　sure　about　Sam。　　I　think　he　must　be　awfully　queer。　　Mr。　Gwynne　thinks　he's　queer。〃

〃It　is　quite　possible；　indeed　probable；　my　dear；〃　assented　her　father。

〃Yes；　Mr。　Gwynne　said　he　looked　like　a　third…rate　how…do…you…feel　performer。〃

〃A　what；　exactly？〃

〃A　how…do…you…feel　performer。〃

〃Oh；　a　vaudeville　performer。〃

〃Yes；　a　fodefeel　performer。　　I　don't　know　what　that　means；　but　he　must　be　queer。　　But　I　think　Larry　would　be　all　right；　and　Joe。　　You　see；　we　know　THEM。〃

〃Oh；　do　we？〃

〃Yes；　certainly；　Papa。　　Larry　is　Nora's　brother。　　He's　awfully　clever。　　He's　only　fifteen　and　he　passed　the　Entrance　in　Ontario　and　that's　ever　so　much　harder　than　here。　　He　passed　it　before　he　was　fourteen。〃

〃Before　he　was　fourteen！〃　replied　her　father。　　〃Amazing！〃

〃Yes；　and　he　plays　the　mouth　organ　and　the　tin　whistle　and　the　fiddle；　and　Mr。　Gwynne　says　he　has　learned　some　stunts　from　Sam。　　I　think　he　must　be　awfully　nice。　　So　I　said　he　could　come　here。　　And　Mrs。　Gwynne　thanked　me　so　nicely；　and　she's　just　lovely；　Papa。〃

〃I　have　not　seen　her；〃　said　her　father；　〃but　I　have　heard　her　voice；　and　I　quite　agree　with　you。　　The　voice　always　tells。　　Have　you　noticed　that？　　The　voice　gives　the　keynote　of　the　soul。〃

〃I　don't　know；　Papa。　　There's　Mrs。　Sleighter's　voice。　　I　don't　like　it　very　much；　but　I　think　she's　nice　inside。〃

〃Ah；　you　are　right；　my　dear。　　Perhaps　I　should　have　said　that　a　certain　kind　of　voice　always　goes　with　a　beautiful　soul。〃

〃I　know；〃　replied　his　daughter。　　〃That's　like　Mrs。　Gwynne's　voice。　And　so　we'll　go　down　to　the　car　and　bring　Larry　home　with　us；　and　perhaps　his　mother　will　let　him　come　here。　　She　did　not　say　she　would　and　you　can't　tell。　　She's　quiet；　you　know；　but　somehow　she　isn't　like　Mrs。　Sleighter。　　I　don't　think　you　could　coax　her　to　do　what　she　didn't　want。〃

〃And　Mrs。　Sleightercan　you　coax　Mrs。　Sleighter？〃

〃Oh；　yes；　the　girls　just　coax　her　and　coax　her；　and　though　she　doesn't　want　to　a　bit；　she　just　gives　in。〃

〃That's　nice　of　her。　　That　must　be　very　nice　for　the　girls；　eh？〃

〃Oh；　I　don't　know；　Papa。〃

〃What？　　don't　you　think　it　is　nice　to　be　able　to　coax　people　to　do　what　you　want？〃

〃It　is　nice　to　get　what　you　want；　but　I　think　REALLY；　REALLY；　you'd　rather　you　could　not　coax　them　to　do　it　just　because　you　coax　them。〃

〃Ah；　I　see。〃

〃Yes；　you　see；　you're　never　really　quite　sure　after　you　get　it　whether　you　ought　to　get　it　after　all。〃

〃I　see；〃　said　her　father；　〃that　rather　spoils　it。〃

〃Yes；　but　you　never　do　that；　Papa。〃

〃Oh；　you　can't　coax　me；　eh？　　I　am　glad　to　know　that。　　I　was　afraid；　rather。〃

〃Well；　of　course；　I　can　coax　you；　Papa；　but　you　usually　find　some　other　way；　and　then　I　know　it　is　quite　right。〃

〃I　wish　I　was　quite　as　sure　of　that；　Jane。　　But　you　are　going　to　bring　Larry　home　with　you？〃

〃Yes；　if　Mrs。　Gwynne　will　let　him　come。　　I　told　her　we　had　four　rooms　and　we　were　only　using　two；　and　they　are　all　crowded　up　in　Mrs。　Sleighter's；　two　girls　in　each　room；　and　Tom's　room　is　so　tiny；　and　I　don't　think　Larry　would　like　to　go　in　Tom's　room。　And　we　have　two　empty　rooms；　so　we　might　just　as　well。〃

〃Yes；　certainly；　we　might　just　as　well。　　You　might　perhaps　mention　it　to　Anna。〃

〃Oh；　I　did；　Papa；　and　she　said　she　would　have　it　all　ready。〃

〃So　it　is　all　arranged。　　I　was　thinkingbut　never　mind。〃

〃I　know　you　were　thinking；　that　I　ought　to　have　asked　you；　Papa；　and　I　ought　to　have。　　But　I　knew　that　when　a　little　boy　had　no　home　to　go　to　you　would　of　course〃

〃Of　course；〃　replied　her　father　hurriedly。　　〃You　were　quite　right；　Jane。　　And　with　those　two　rooms；　why　not　bring　them　all；　Joe　and　PetePete；　is　it？〃

〃Sam；　Papa。　　I　am　not　so　sure。　　I　think　we　should　leave　Joe　and　Sam。　　You　see　Joe　won't　mind　staying　in　the　car。　　Nora　says　he　lives　in　just　a　shack　at　home；　and　SamI　am　a　little　afraid　of　Sam。　　We　don't　know　him　very　well；　you　see。〃

〃I　see。　　We　are　quite　safe　in　your　hands；　little　woman。　　You　can　do　just　as　you　and　Mrs。　Gwynne　arrange。〃

As　the　father　watched　the　little；　trim；　sturdy　figure　stepping　down　the　street　he　muttered　to　himself；　〃That　child　grows　more　like　her　mother　every　day。〃　　He　heaved　a　great　sigh　from　the　depths　of　his　heart。　　〃Well；　God　keep　her；　wise　little　woman　that　she　is！　　I　wish　I　were　a　wiser　man。　　I　must　be　firm　with　her；　it　would　be　a　shame　to　spoil　her。　　Yes；　I　must　be　firm。〃　　But　he　shrugged　his　shoulders　and　smiled　at　himself。　　〃The　worst　of　it　is；　or　the　best　of　it　is；〃　he　continued；　〃the　little　witch　is　almost　always　right；　God　bless　her；　just　like　her　mother；　just　like　her　mother。〃　　He　hastily　wiped　his　eyes；　and　went　off　to　his　office　where　Mrs。　Dean　awaited　him　and　her　little　girl　with　the　burned　hand。　　And　the　mother　wondered　at　the　gentleness　of　him　as　he　dressed　the　little　girl's　wounded　hand。

It　followed　that　the　scouting　party　included　not　only　Miss　Hazel　Sleigh