the major-第35节

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〃Poor　things；〃　said　Mrs。　Waring…Gaunt。　　〃How　could　either　of　you　help　it？〃

〃Why　is　it　that　all　the　nice　men　are　married？〃　inquired　Nora。

〃I　beg　your　pardon；　Miss　Nora；〃　said　Jack　in　a　pained　voice。

〃I　meanwhyI'm　afraid　I　can't　fix　that　up；　can　I？〃　she　said；　appealing　to　Mrs。　Waring…Gaunt。

〃Certainly　you　can。　　What　you　really　mean　is；　why　do　all　married　men　become　so　nice？〃　said　Mrs。　Waring…Gaunt。

〃Oh；　thank　you；　the　answer　is　so　obvious。　　Do　you　know；　I　feel　wild　to…day。〃

〃And　so　do　I；〃　replied　Kathleen；　suddenly　waking　to　life。　　〃It　is　the　wonderful　air；　or　the　motor；　perhaps。〃

〃Me；　too；〃　exclaimed　Jack　Romayne；　looking　straight　at　her；　〃only　with　me　it　is　not　the　air；　nor　the　motor。〃

〃What　then！〃　said　Kathleen　with　a　swift；　shy　look　at　him。

〃'The　heart　knoweth　its　own　bitterness　and　a　stranger　intermeddleth　not　with　its　joy。'〃

〃That's　the　Bible；　I　know；〃　said　Kathleen；　〃and　it　really　means　'mind　your　own　business。'〃

〃No；　no；　not　that　exactly；〃　protested　Jack；　〃rather　that　there　are　things　in　the　heart　too　deep　if　not　for　tears　most　certainly　for　words。　　You　can　guess　what　I　mean；　Miss　Kathleen；〃　said　Jack；　trying　to　get　her　eyes。

〃Oh；　yes；〃　said　the　girl；　〃there　are　things　that　we　cannot　trust　to　words；　no；　not　for　all　the　world。〃

〃I　know　what　you　are　thinking　of；〃　replied　Jack。　　〃Let　me　guess。〃

〃No；　no；　you　must　not；　indeed；〃　she　replied　quickly。　　〃Look；　isn't　that　the　mine？　　What　a　crowd　of　people！　　Do　look。〃

Out　in　the　valley　before　them　they　could　see　a　procession　of　teams　and　men　weaving　rhythmic　figures　about　what　was　discovered　to　be　upon　a　nearer　view　a　roadway　which　was　being　constructed　to　cross　a　little　coolee　so　as　to　give　access　to　the　black　hole　on　the　hillside　beyond　which　was　the　coal　mine。　　In　the　noise　and　bustle　of　the　work　the　motor　came　to　a　stop　unobserved　behind　a　long　wooden　structure　which　Nora　diagnosed　as　the　〃grub　shack。〃

〃In　your　English　speech；　Mr。　Romayne；　the　dining　room　of　the　camp。　He　is　certainly　a　hustler；〃　exclaimed　Nora；　gazing　upon　the　scene　before　them。

〃Who？〃　inquired　Mrs。　Waring…Gaunt。

〃Ernest　Switzer；〃　said　Nora；　unable　to　keep　the　grudge　out　of　her　voice。　　〃It　is　only　a　week　since　I　was　up　here　and　during　that　time　he　has　actually　made　this　village；　the　streets；　the　sidewalksand　if　that　is　not　actually　a　system　of　water　pipes。〃

〃Some　hustler；　as　you　say；　Miss　Nora；　eh；　what？〃　said　Tom。

〃Wonderful；〃　replied　Nora；　〃he　is　wonderful。〃

Jack　glanced　at　the　girl　beside　him。　　It　seemed　to　him　that　it　needed　no　mind…reader　to　interpret　the　look　of　pride；　yes　and　of　love；　in　the　wonderful　blue…grey　eyes。　　Sick　as　from　a　heavy　blow　he　turned　away　from　her；　the　flicker　of　hope　that　his　brother…in…　law's　words　had　kindled　in　his　heart　died　out　and　left　him　cold。　He　was　too　late；　why　try　to　deceive　himself　any　longer？　　The　only　thing　to　do　was　to　pull　out　and　leave　this　place　where　every　day　brought　him　intolerable　pain。　　But　today　he　would　get　all　he　could；　to…day　he　would　love　her　and　win　such　poor　scraps　as　he　could　from　her　eyes；　her　smiles；　her　words。

〃Glorious　view　that；〃　he　said；　touching　her　arm　and　sweeping　his　hand　toward　the　mountains。

She　started　at　his　touch；　a　faint　colour　coming　into　her　face。　〃How　wonderful！〃　she　breathed。　　〃I　love　them。　　They　bring　me　my　best　thoughts。〃

Before　he　could　reply　there　came　from　behind　the　grub　shack　a　torrent　of　abusive　speech　florid　with　profane　language　and　other　adornment　and　in　a　voice　thick　with　rage。

〃That's　him；〃　said　Nora。　　〃Some　one　is　getting　it。〃　　The　satisfaction　in　her　voice　and　look　were　in　sharp　contrast　to　the　look　of　dismay　and　shame　that　covered　the　burning　face　of　her　sister。　　From　English　the　voice　passed　into　German；　apparently　no　less　vigorous　or　threatening。　　〃That's　better；〃　said　Nora　with　a　wicked　glance　at　Romayne。　　〃You　see　he　is　talking　to　some　one　of　his　own　people。　They　understand　that。　　There　are　a　lot　of　Germans　from　the　Settlement；　Freiberg；　you　know。〃

As　she　spoke　Switzer　emerged　from　behind　the　shack；　driving　before　him　a　cringing　creature　evidently　in　abject　terror　of　him。　　〃Get　back　to　your　gang　and　carry　out　your　orders；　or　you　will　get　your　time。〃　　He　caught　sight　of　the　car　and　stopped　abruptly；　and；　waving　his　hand　imperiously　to　the　workman；　strode　up　to　the　party；　followed　by　a　mild…looking　man　in　spectacles。

〃Came　to　see　how　you　are　getting　on；　Switzer；　eh；　what？〃　said　Tom。

〃Getting　on；〃　he　replied　in　a　loud　voice；　raising　his　hat　in　salutation。　　〃How　can　one　get　on　with　a　lot　of　stupid　fools　who　cannot　carry　out　instructions　and　dare　to　substitute　their　own　ideas　for　commands。　　They　need　discipline。　　If　I　had　my　way　they　would　get　it；　too。　　But　in　this　country　there　is　no　such　thing　as　discipline。〃　　He　made　no　attempt　to　apologise　for　his　outrageous　outburst；　was　probably　conscious　of　no　need　of　apology。

〃This　is　your　foreman；　I　think？〃　said　Nora；　who　alone　of　the　party　seemed　to　be　able　to　deal　with　the　situation。

〃Oh；　yes；　Mr。　Steinberg；〃　said　Switzer；　presenting　the　spectacled　man。

〃You　are　too　busy　to　show　us　anything　this　afternoon？〃　said　Nora　sweetly。

〃Yes；　much　too　busy；〃　said　Switzer；　gruffly。　　〃I　have　no　time　for　anything　but　work　these　days。〃

〃You　cannot　come　along　for　a　little　shoot？〃　she　said；　innocently。　Nora　was　evidently　enjoying　herself。

〃Shoot！〃　cried　Switzer　in　a　kind　of　contemptuous　fury。　　〃Shoot；　with　these　dogs；　these　cattle；　tramping　around　here　when　they　need　some　one　every　minute　to　drive　them。　　Shoot！　　No；　no。　　I　am　not　a　gentleman　of　leisure。〃

The　distress　upon　Kathleen's　face　was　painfully　apparent。　　Jack　was　in　no　hurry　to　bring　relief。　　Like　Nora　he　was　enjoying　himself　as　well。　　It　was　Tom　who　brought　about　the　diversion。

〃Well；　we　must　go　on；　Switzer。　　Coming　over　to　see　you　one　of　these　days　and　go　over　the　plant。　　Treasurer's　got　to　know　something　about　it；　eh；　what？〃

Switzer　started　and　looked　at　him　in　surprise。　　〃Treasurer；　who？　Are　you　to　be　treasurer　of　the　company？　　Who　says　so？　　Mr。　Gwynne　did　not　askdid　not　tell　me　about　it。〃

〃Ah；　sorrypremature　announcement；　eh？〃　said　Tom。　　〃Well；　good…　bye。　　All　set。〃

The　Packard　gave　forth　sundry　growls　and　snorts　and　glided　away　down　the　trail。

Nora　was　much　excited。　　〃What's　this　about　the　treasurership？〃　she　demanded。　　〃Are　you　really　to　be　treasurer；　Mr。　Waring…Gaunt？　　I　am　awfully　glad。　　You　know　this　whole　mine　was　getting　terribly　Switzery。　　Isn't　he　awful？　　He　just　terrifies　me。　　I　know　he　will　undertake　to　run　me　one　of　these　days。〃

〃Then　trouble；　eh；　what？〃　said　Waring…Gaunt；　pleasantly。

After　a　short　run　the　motor　pulled　up　at　a　wheat　field　in　which　the　shocks　were　still　standing　and　which　lay　contiguous　to　a　poplar　bluff。

〃Good　chicken　country；　eh？〃　said　Tom；　slipping　out　of　the　car　quietly。　　〃Nora；　you　come　with　me。　　Quiet　now。　　Off　to　the　left；　eh；　what？　　You　handle　Sweeper；　Jack。〃

〃I'll　drive　the　car；〃　said　Mrs。　Waring…Gaunt。　　〃Go　on　with　Jack；　Kathleen。〃

〃Come　on；　Miss　Kathleen；　you　take　the　gun；　and　I'll　look　after　the　dog。　　Let　me　have　the　whistle；　Tom。〃

They　had　not　gone　ten　yards　from　the　car　when　the　setter　stood　rigid　on　point。　　〃Steady；　old　boy；〃　said　Jack。　　〃Move　up　quickly；　Miss　Kathleen。　　Is　your　gun　ready？　　Sure　it's　off　safe？〃

〃All　right；〃　said　the　girl；　walking　steadily　on　the　dog。

Bang！　Bang！　went　Nora's　gun。　　Two　birds　soared　safely　aloft。　　Bang！　Bang！　went　Kathleen's　gun。　　〃Double；　by　jove！　　Steady；　Sweeper！〃　Again　the　dog　stood　on　point。　　Swiftly　Jack　loaded　the　gun。　　〃Here　you　are；　Miss　Kathleen。　　You　will　get　another；〃　he　said。　　〃There　are　more　here。〃　　As　he　spoke　a　bird　flew　up　at　his　right。　　Bang！　went　Kathleen's　gun。　　〃Another；　good　work。〃　　Bang！　went　Nora's　gun　to　the　left。　　〃Look　out；　here　he　comes；〃　cried　Jack；　as　Nora's　bird　came　careening　across　their　front。　　It　was　a　long　shot。　　Once　more　Kathleen　fired。　　The　bird　tumbled　in　the　air　and　fell　with　a　thump　right　at　their　feet。

Sweeper；　released　from　his　point；　went　bounding　joyfully　over　the　stubble。　　Jack　rushed　up　toward　the　girl；　and　taking　her　hand　in　both　of　his；　shook　it　warmly。　　〃Oh；　splendid；　partner；　splendid；　great　shooting！〃

〃Oh；　it　was　easy。　　Sweeper　had　them　fast；〃　said　Kathleen。　　〃And　that　last　shot　was　just　awfully　good　luck。〃

〃Good　luck！　　Good　Lord！　it　was　anything　but　luck。　　It　was　great　shooting。　　Well；　come　along。　　Oh；　we're　going　to　have　a　glorious　day；　aren't　we；　partner？〃　　And　catching　hold　of　her　arm；　he　gave　her　a　friendly　little　shake。

〃Yes；〃　she　cried；　responding　frankly　to　his　mood；　〃we　will。　　Let's　have　a　good　day。〃

〃Where　did　you　learn　to　shoot？〃　inquired　Jack。

〃Nora　and　I　have　always　carried　guns　in　the　season；〃　replied　Kathleen；　〃even　when　we　were　going　to　school。　　You　see；　Larry　hates　shooting。　　We　loved　it　and　at　times　were　glad　to　get　themthe　birds；　I　mean。　　We　did　not　do　it　just　for　sport。〃

〃Can　your　sister　shoot　as　well　as　you？〃

〃Hardly；　I　think。　　She　pulls　too　quickly；　you　see；　but　when　she　steadies　down　she　will　shoot　better　than　I。〃

〃You　are　a　wonder；〃　said　Jack　enthusiastically。

〃Oh；　not　a　wonder；〃　said　the　girl。

〃Wait　till　I　get　the　birds　back　to　the　car；〃　he　cried。

〃He…l…l…o；〃　cried　his　sister　as　he　came　running。　　〃What；　four　of