the major-第25节

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〃I？〃　exclaimed　Mrs。　Gwynne。

〃Well；　you　quoted　Scripture　against　us；　and　you　know　you　can't　stand　up　against　Scripture　and　hope　to　win；　can　you？〃　said　Duckworth　with　a　laugh。

〃Sit　down　here　beside　me；　Mr。　Duckworth；〃　she　said；　her　eyes　shining。　　〃I　won't　pretend　not　to　understand　you；〃　she　continued　when　he　had　taken　his　place　beside　her。　　〃I　can't　tell　you　how　proud　I　am　of　you。〃

〃Thank　you；〃　said　Duckworth。　　〃I　like　to　hear　that。　　You　see　I　never　thought　about　it　very　much。　　I　am　not　excusing　myself。〃

〃No；　I　know　you　are　not；　but　I　heard　about　it；　Mr。　Duckworth。　　We　all　think　so　much　of　you。　　I　am　sure　your　mother　is　proud　of　you。〃

Young　Duckworth　sat　silent；　his　eyes　fastened　upon　the　ground。

〃Please　forgive　me。　　Perhaps　she　isno　longer　with　you；〃　said　Mrs。　Gwynne　softly；　laying　her　hand　upon　his。　　Duckworth　nodded；　refusing　to　look　at　her　and　keeping　his　lips　firmly　pressed　together。　　〃I　was　wrong　in　what　I　said　just　now；〃　she　continued。　〃She　is　with　you　still；　she　knows　and　follows　all　your　doings；　and　I　believe　she　is　proud　of　you。〃

Duckworth　cleared　his　throat　and　said　with　an　evident　effort；　〃You　made　me　think　of　her　to…day；　and　I　simply　had　to　play　up。　　I　must　go　now。　　I　must　see　the　fellows。〃　　He　rose　quickly　to　his　feet。

〃Come　and　see　us；　won't　you？〃　said　Mrs。　Gwynne。

〃Won't　I　just；〃　replied　Duckworth；　holding　her　hand　a　moment　or　two。　　〃I　can't　tell　you　how　glad　I　am　that　I　met　you　to…day。〃

〃Oh；　wait；　Mr。　Duckworth。　　Nora；　come　here。　　I　want　you　to　meet　my　second　daughter。　　Nora；　this　is　Mr。　Duckworth；　the　Captain。〃

〃Oh；　I　know　him；　the　Captain　of　the　enemy；〃　cried　Nora。

〃Of　our　friends；　Nora；〃　said　her　mother。

〃All　right；　of　our　friends；　now　that　we　have　beaten　you；　but　I　want　to　tell　you；　Mr。　Duckworth；　that　I　could　gladly　have　slain　you　many　times　to…day。〃

〃And　why；　pray？〃

〃Oh；　you　were　so　terribly　dangerous；　and　as　for　Larry；　why　you　just　played　with　him。　　It　was　perfectly　maddening　to　me。〃

〃All　the　same　your　brother　got　away　from　me　and　shot　the　winning　goal。　　He's　fearfully　fast。〃

〃A　mere　fluke；　I　tell　him。〃

〃Don't　you　think　it　for　one　little　minute。　　It　was　a　neat　bit　of　work。〃



CHAPTER　X

THE　SPIRIT　Of　CANADA


Whatever　it　was　that　rendered　it　necessary　for　Duckworth　to　〃see　the　fellows；〃　that　necessity　vanished　in　the　presence　of　Nora。

〃Are　you　going　to　take　in　the　polo？〃　he　asked。

〃Am　I？　　Am　I　going　to　continue　breathing？〃　cried　Nora。　　〃Come　along；　Mother；　we　must　go　if　we　are　to　get　a　good　place。〃

〃May　I　find　one　for　you；〃　said　Mr。　Duckworth；　quite　forgetting　that　he　〃must　see　the　fellows；〃　and　thinking　only　of　his　good　luck　in　falling　in　with　such　a　〃stunning…looking　girl。〃　　He　himself　had　changed　into　flannels；　and　with　his　athletic　figure；　his　brown；　healthy　face；　brown　eyes　and　hair；　was　a　thoroughly　presentable　young　man。　　He　found　a　place　with　ease　for　his　party；　a　dozen　people　offering　to　make　room　for　them。　　As　Mr。　Duckworth　let　his　eyes　rest　upon　the　young　lady　at　his　side　his　sense　of　good…fortune　grew　upon　him；　for　Nora　in　white　pique　skirt　and　batiste　blouse　smartly　girdled　with　a　scarlet　patent　leather　belt；　in　white　canvas　shoes　and　sailor　hat；　made　a　picture　good　to　look　at。　　Her　dark　olive　brown　skin；　with　rich　warm　colour　showing　through　the　sunburn　of　her　cheeks；　her　dark　eyes；　and　her　hair　for　once　〃done　up　in　style〃　under　Kathleen's　supervision；　against　the　white　of　her　costume　made　her　indeed　what　her　escort　thought；　〃a　stunning…　looking　girl。〃　　Usually　careless　as　to　her　appearance；　she　had　yielded　to　Kathleen's　persuasion　and　had　〃gotten　herself　up　to　kill。〃　　No　wonder　her　friends　of　both　sexes　followed　her　with　eyes　of　admiration；　for　no　one　envied　Nora；　her　frank　manner；　her　generous　nature；　her　open　scorn　at　all　attempts　to　win　admiration；　made　her　only　friends。

〃Bring　your　mother　over　here；〃　cried　Mrs。　Waring…Gaunt；　who　rejoiced　exceedingly　in　the　girl's　beauty。　　〃Why；　how　splendidly　you　are　looking　to…day；〃　she　continued　in　a　more　confidential　tone　as　the　party　grouped　themselves　about　her。　　〃What　have　you　been　doing　to　yourself？　　You　are　looking　awfully　fine。〃

〃Am　I？〃　said　Nora；　exceedingly　pleased　with　herself。　　〃I　am　awfully　glad。　　It　is　all　Kathleen's　doing。　　I　got　me　the　belt　and　the　hat　new　for　this　show。〃

〃Very　smart；　that　belt；　my　dear；〃　said　her　friend。

〃I　rather　fancy　it　myself；　and　Kathleen　would　do　up　my　hair　in　this　new　way；〃　said　Nora；　removing　her　hat　that　the　full　glory　of　her　coiffure　might　appear。　　〃Do　you　like　it？〃

〃Perfectly　spiffing！〃　ejaculated　Mr。　Duckworth；　who　had　taken　a　seat　just　behind　her　chair。

Nora　threw　him　a　challenging　glance　that　made　that　young　man's　heart　skip　a　beat　or　two　as　all　the　excitements　of　the　match　had　not。

〃Are　you　a　judge？〃　said　the　girl；　tipping　her　saucy　chin　at　him。

〃Am　I？　　With　four　sisters　and　dozens　of　cousins　to　practise　on；　I　fancy　I　might　claim　to　be　a　regular　bench　show　expert。〃

〃Then；〃　cried　Nora　with　sudden　animation；　〃you　are　the　very　man　I　want。〃

〃Thank　you　so　much；〃　replied　Mr。　Duckworth　fervently。

〃I　mean；　perhaps　you　can　advise　me。　　Now　as　you　look　at　me〃　　The　young　man's　eyes　burned　into　hers　so　that　with　all　her　audacity　Nora　felt　the　colour　rising　in　her　face。　　〃Which　would　you　suggest　as　the　most　suitable　style　for　me；　the　psyche　knot　or　the　neck　roll？〃

〃I　beg　your　pardon？　　I　rather〃

〃Or　would　you　say　the　French　twist？〃

〃Ah；　the　French　twist〃

〃Or　simply　marcelled　and　pomped？〃

〃I　am　afraid〃

〃Or　perhaps　the　pancake　or　the　coronet？〃

〃Well；〃　said　the　young　man；　desperately　plunging；　〃the　coronet　I　should　say　would　certainly　not　be　inappropriate。　　It　goes　with　princesses；　duchesses　and　that　sort　of　thing。　　Don't　you　think　so；　Mrs。　Waring…Gaunt？〃　said　Duckworth；　hoping　to　be　extricated。　　That　lady；　however；　gave　him　no　assistance　but　continued　to　smile　affectionately　at　the　girl　beside　her。　　〃What　style　is　this　that　you　have　now　adopted；　may　I　ask？〃　inquired　Mr。　Duckworth　cautiously。

〃Oh；　that's　a　combination　of　several。　　It's　a　creation　of　Kathleen's　which　as　yet　has　received　no　name。〃

〃Then　it　should　be　named　at　once；〃　said　Duckworth　with　great　emphasis。　　〃May　I　suggest　the　Thunderbolt？　　You　see；　of　courseso　stunning。〃

〃They　are　coming　on；〃　cried　Nora；　turning　her　shoulder　in　disdain　upon　the　young　man。　　〃Look；　there's　your　brother；　Mrs。　Waring…　Gaunt。　　I　think　he　is　perfectly　splendid。〃

〃Which　is　he？〃　said　Mr。　Duckworth；　acutely　interested。

〃That　tall；　fine…looking　man　on　the　brown　pony。〃

〃Oh；　yes；　I　see。　　Met　him　this　morning。　　By　Jove；　he　is　some　looker　too；〃　replied　Mr。　Duckworth　with　reluctant　enthusiasm。

〃And　there　is　the　High　River　Captain；〃　said　Mrs。　Waring…Gaunt；　〃on　the　grey。〃

〃Oh；　yes；　Monteith；　he　played　for　All　Canada　last　year；　didn't　he？〃　said　Nora　with　immense　enthusiasm。　　〃He　is　perfectly　splendid。〃

〃I　hear　the　High　River　club　has　really　sent　only　its　second　team；　or　at　least　two　of　them；〃　said　Mrs。　Waring…Gaunt。　　〃Certainly　Tremaine　is　not　with　them。〃

〃I　hope　they　get　properly　trimmed　for　it；〃　said　Nora；　indignantly。　〃Such　cheek！〃

The　result　of　the　match　quite　exceeded　Nora's　fondest　hopes；　for　the　High　River　team；　having　made　the　fatal　error　of　despising　the　enemy；　suffered　the　penalty　of　their　mistake　in　a　crushing　defeat。　It　was　certainly　a　memorable　day　for　Wolf　Willow；　whose　inhabitants　were　exalted　to　a　height　of　glory　as　they　never　experienced　in　all　their　history。

〃Serves　us　right；〃　said　Monteith；　the　High　River　Captain；　apologising　for　his　team's　poor　display　to　his　friend；　Hec　Ross；　who　had　commanded　the　Wolf　Willow　team。　　〃We　deserved　to　be　jolly　well　licked；　and　we　got　what　was　coming　to　us。〃

〃Oh；　we're　not　worrying；〃　replied　the　Wolf　Willow　Captain；　himself　a　sturdy　horseman　and　one　of　the　most　famous　stick　handlers　in　the　West。　　〃Of　course；　we　know　that　if　Murray　and　Knight　had　been　with　you　the　result　would　have　been　different。〃

〃I　am　not　at　all　sure　about　that；〃　replied　Monteith。　　〃That　new　man　of　yours；　Romayne；　is　a　wonder。　　Army　man；　isn't　he？〃

〃Yes；　played　in　India；　I　believe。〃

〃Oh；　no　wonder　he's　such　a　don　at　it。　　You　ought　to　get　together　a　great　team　here；　Ross；　and　I　should　like　to　bring　our　team　down　again　to　give　you　a　real　game。〃

〃When？〃

〃Say　two　weeks。　　No。　　That　throws　it　a　little　late　for　the　harvest。　Say　a　week　from　to…day。〃

〃I　shall　let　you　know　to…night；〃　said　Ross。　　〃You　are　staying　for　the　spellbinding　fest　and　entertainment；　are　you　not？〃

〃Sure　thing；　we　are　out　for　the　whole　day。　　Who　are　on　for　the　speaking？〃

〃Gilchrist　for　one；　our　Member　for　the　Dominion；　you　know。〃

〃Oh；　yes；　strong　man；　I　believe。　　He's　a　Liberal；　of　Course。〃

〃Yes；〃　replied　Ross；　〃he's　a　Grit　all　right；　hide…bound　too〃

〃Which　you　are　not；　I　take　it；〃　replied　Monteith　with　a　laugh。

〃Traditionally　I　am　a　Conservative；〃　said　Ross；　〃but　last　election　I　voted　Liberal。　　I　don't　know　how　you　were　but　I　was　keen　on　Reciprocity。〃

〃The　contrary　with　me；〃　replied　Monteith。　　〃Traditionally　I　am　a　Liberal；　but　I　voted　Conservative。〃

〃You　voted　against　Reciprocity；　you　a　western　man　voted　against　a　better　market　for　our　wheat　and　stuff；　and　against　cheaper　machinery？〃

〃Yes；　I　knew　quite　well　it　would　g