the major-第39节

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could　return　home　and　no　harm　done。

Receiving　no　response　to　her　knock；　she　went　quietly　into　the　living　room。　　A　lamp　burned　low　upon　the　table。　　There　was　no　one　to　be　seen。　　Upstairs　a　child　was　wailing　and　the　mother's　voice　could　be　heard　soothing　the　little　one　to　sleep。　　From　a　bedroom；　of　which　the　door　stood　open；　a　voice　called。　　The　girl's　heart　stood　still。　　It　was　Jack's　voice；　and　he　was　calling　for　his　sister。　　She　ran　upstairs　to　the　children's　room。

〃He　is　calling　for　you；〃　she　said　to　Mrs。　Waring…Gaunt　without　preliminary　greeting。　　〃Let　me　take　Doris。〃

But　Doris　set　up　a　wail　of　such　acute　dismay　that　the　distracted　mother　said；　〃Could　you　just　step　in　and　see　what　is　wanted？　　Jack　has　been　in　bed　for　two　days。　　We　have　been　unable　to　get　a　nurse　anywhere；　and　tonight　both　little　girls　are　ill。　　I　am　so　thankful　you　came　over。　　Indeed；　I　was　about　to　send　for　one　of　you。　　Just　run　down　and　see　what　Jack　wants。　　I　hope　you　don't　mind。　　I　shall　be　down　presently　when　Doris　goes　to　sleep。〃

〃I　am　not　going　to　sleep；　Mamma；〃　answered　Doris　emphatically。　　〃I　am　going　to　keep　awake；　for　if　I　go　to　sleep　I　know　you　will　go　away。〃

〃All　right；　darling；　Mother　is　going　to　stay　with　you；〃　and　she　took　the　little　one　in　her　arms；　adding；　〃Now　we　are　all　right；　aren't　we。〃

Kathleen　ran　downstairs；　turned　up　the　light　in　the　living　room　and　passed　quietly　into　the　bedroom。

〃Sorry　to　trouble　you；　Sybil；　but　there's　something　wrong　with　this　infernal　bandage。〃

Kathleen　went　and　brought　in　the　lamp。　　〃Your　sister　cannot　leave　Doris；　Mr。　Romayne；〃　she　said　quietly。　　〃Perhaps　I　can　be　of　use。〃

For　a　few　moments　the　sick　man　gazed　at　her　as　at　a　vision。　　〃Is　this　another　of　them？〃　he　said　wearily。　　〃I　have　been　having　hallucinations　of　various　sorts　for　the　last　two　days；　but　you　do　look　real。　　It　is　you；　Kathleen；　isn't　it？〃

〃Really　me；　Mr。　Romayne；〃　said　the　girl　cheerfully。　　〃Let　me　look　at　your　arm。〃

〃Oh；　hang　it；　say　'Jack；'　won't　you；　and　be　decent　to　a　fellow。　　My　God；　I　have　wanted　you　for　these　ten　days。　　Why　didn't　you　come　to　me？　　What　did　I　do？　　I　hurt　you　somehow；　but　you　know　I　wouldn't　willingly。　　Why　have　you　stayed　away　from　me？〃　　He　raised　himself　upon　his　elbow；　his　voice　was　high；　thin；　weak；　his　eyes　glittering；　his　cheeks　ghastly　with　the　high　lights　of　fever　upon　them。

Shocked；　startled　and　filled　with　a　poignant　mothering　pity；　Kathleen　struggled　with　a　longing　to　take　him　in　her　arms　and　comfort　him　as　the　mother　was　the　little　wailing　child　upstairs。

〃Excuse　me　just　a　moment；〃　she　cried；　and　ran　out　into　the　living　room　and　then　outside　the　door　and　stood　for　a　moment　in　the　dark；　drawing　deep　breaths　and　struggling　to　get　control　of　the　pity　and　of　the　joy　that　surged　through　her　heart。　　〃Oh；　God；〃　she　cried；　lifting　her　hands　high　above　her　head　in　appeal；　〃help　me　to　be　strong　and　steady。　　He　needs　me　and　he　wants　me　too。〃

From　the　darkness　in　answer　to　her　appeal　there　came　a　sudden　quietness　of　nerve　and　a　sense　of　strength　and　fitness　for　her　work。　　Quickly　she　entered　the　house　and　went　again　to　the　sick　room。

〃Thank　God；〃　cried　Jack。　　〃I　thought　I　was　fooled　again。　　You　won't　go　away；　Kathleen；　for　a　little　while；　will　you？　　I　feel　just　like　a　kiddie　in　the　dark；　do　you　know？　　Like　a　fool　rather。　　You　won't　go　again？〃　　He　raised　himself　upon　his　arm；　the　weak　voice　raised　to　a　pitiful　appeal。

It　took　all　her　own　fortitude　to　keep　her　own　voice　steady。　　〃No；　Jack；　I　am　going　to　stay。　　I　am　your　nurse；　you　know；　and　I　am　your　boss　too。　　You　must　do　just　as　I　say。　　Remember　that。　　You　must　behave　yourself　as　a　sick　man　should。〃

He　sank　back　quietly　upon　the　pillow。　　〃Thank　God。　　Anything　under　heaven　I　promise　if　only　you　stay；　Kathleen。　　You　will　stay；　won't　you？〃

〃Didn't　you　hear　me　promise？〃

〃Yes；　yes；〃　he　said；　a　great　relief　in　his　tired　face。　　〃All　right；　I　am　good。　　But　you　have　made　me　suffer；　Kathleen。〃

〃Now；　then；　no　talk；〃　said　Kathleen。　　〃We　will　look　at　that　arm。〃

She　loosened　the　bandages。　　The　inflamed　and　swollen　appearance　of　the　arm　sickened　and　alarmed　her。　　There　was　nothing　she　could　do　there。　　She　replaced　the　bandages。　　〃You　are　awfully　hot。　　I　am　going　to　sponge　your　face　a　bit　if　you　will　let　me。〃

〃Go　on；〃　he　said　gratefully；　〃do　anything　you　like　if　only　you　don't　go　away　again。〃

〃Now；　none　of　that。　　A　nurse　doesn't　run　away　from　her　job；　does　she？〃　　She　had　gotten　control　of　herself；　and　her　quick；　clever　fingers；　with　their　firm；　cool　touch；　seemed　to　bring　rest　to　the　jangling　nerves　of　the　sick　man。　　Whatever　it　was；　whether　the　touch　of　her　fingers　or　the　relief　of　the　cool　water　upon　his　fevered　face　and　arm；　by　the　time　the　bathing　process　was　over；　Jack　was　lying　quietly；　already　rested　and　looking　like　sleep。

〃I　say；　this　is　heavenly；〃　he　murmured。　　〃Now　a　drink；　if　you　please。　　I　believe　there　is　medicine　about　due　too；〃　he　said。　　She　gave　him　a　drink；　lifting　up　his　head　on　her　strong　arm。　　〃I　could　lift　myself；　you　know；〃　he　said；　looking　up　into　her　face　with　a　little　smile；　〃but　I　like　this　way　so　much　better　if　you　don't　mind。〃

〃Certainly　not；　I　am　your　nurse；　you　know；〃　replied　Kathleen。　　〃Now　your　medicine。〃　　She　found　the　bottle　under　his　direction　and；　again　lifting　his　head；　gave　him　his　medicine。

〃Oh；　this　is　fine。　　I　will　take　my　medicine　as　often　as　you　want　me　to；　and　I　think　another　drink　would　be　good。〃　　She　brought　him　the　glass。　　〃I　like　to　drink　slowly；〃　he　said；　looking　up　into　her　eyes。　　But　she　shook　her　head　at　him。

〃No　nonsense　now；〃　she　warned　him。

〃Nonsense！〃　he　said；　sinking　back　with　a　sigh；　〃I　want　you　to　believe　me；　Kathleen；　it　is　anything　but　nonsense。　　My　God；　it　is　religion！〃

〃Now　then；〃　said　Kathleen；　ignoring　his　words；　〃I　shall　just　smooth　out　your　pillows　and　straighten　down　your　bed；　tuck　you　in　and　make　you　comfortable　for　the　night　and　then〃

〃And　then；〃　he　interrupted　eagerly；　〃oh；　Kathleen；　all　good　children　get　it；　you　know。〃

A　deep　flush　tinged　her　face。　　〃Now　you　are　not　behaving　properly。〃

〃But；　Kathleen；〃　he　cried；　〃why　not？　　Listen　to　me。　　There's　no　use。　　I　cannot　let　you　go　till　I　have　this　settled。　　I　must　know。　No；　don't　pull　away　from　me；　Kathleen。　　You　know　I　love　you；　with　all　my　soul；　with　all　I　have；　I　love　you。　　Oh；　don't　pull　away　from　me。　　Ever　since　that　day　when　I　first　saw　you　three　months　ago　I　have　loved　you。　　I　have　tried　not　to。　　God　knows　I　have　tried　not　to　because　I　thought　you　were　pledged　to　thatthat　German　fellow。　Tell　me；　Kathleen。　　Why　you　are　shaking；　darling！　　Am　I　frightening　you？　　I　would　not　frighten　you。　　I　would　not　take　advantage　of　you。　But　do　you　care　a　little　bit？　　Tell　me。　　I　have　had　ten　days　of　sheer　hell。　　For　one　brief　minute　I　thought　you　loved　me。　　You　almost　said　you　did。　　But　then　you　never　came　to　me　and　I　have　feared　that　you　did　not　care。　　But　to…night　I　must　know。　　I　must　know　now。〃　　He　raised　himself　up　to　a　sitting　posture。　　〃Tell　me；　Kathleen；　I　must　know。〃

〃Oh；　Jack；〃　she　panted。　　〃You　are　not　yourself　now。　　You　are　weak　and　just　imagine　things。〃

〃Imagine　things；〃　he　cried　with　a　kind　of　fierce　rage。　　〃Imagine！　Haven't　I　for　these　three　months　fought　against　this　every　day？　Oh；　Kathleen；　if　you　only　knew。　　Do　you　love　me　a　little；　even　a　little？〃

Suddenly　the　girl　ceased　her　struggling。　　〃A　little！〃　she　cried。　〃No；　Jack；　not　a　little；　but　with　all　my　heart　I　love　you。　　I　should　not　tell　you　to…night；　and；　oh；　I　meant　to　be　so　strong　and　not　let　you　speak　till　you　were　well　again；　but　I　can't　help　it。　But　are　you　quite　sure；　Jack？　　Are　you　sure　you　won't　regret　this　when　you　are　well　again？〃

He　put　his　strong　arm　round　about　her　and　drew　her　close。　　〃I　can't　half　hold　you；　darling；〃　he　said　in　her　ear。　　〃This　confounded　arm　of　minebut　you　do　it　for　me。　　Put　your　arms　around　me；　sweetheart；　and　tell　me　that　you　love　me。〃

She　wreathed　her　arms　round　about　his　neck　and　drew　him　close。　〃Oh；　Jack；〃　she　said；　〃I　may　be　wrong；　but　I　am　so　happy；　and　I　never　thought　to　be　happy　again。　　I　cannot　believe　it。　　Oh；　what　awful　days　these　have　been！〃　she　said　with　a　break　in　her　voice　and　hiding　her　face　upon　his　shoulder。

〃Never　mind；　sweetheart；　think　of　all　the　days　before　us。〃

〃Are　you　sure；　Jack？〃　she　whispered　to　him；　still　hiding　her　face。　〃Are　you　very　sure　that　you　will　not　be　ashamed　of　me？　　I　felt　so　dreadful　and　I　came　in　just　to　help　you；　and　I　was　so　sure　of　myself。　　But　when　I　saw　you　lying　there；　Jack；　I　just　could　not　help　myself。〃　　Her　voice　broke。

He　turned　her　face　up　a　little　toward　him。　　〃Look　at　me；〃　he　said。　She　opened　her　eyes　and；　looking　steadily　into　his；　held　them　there。　　〃Say；　'Jack；　I　love　you；'〃　he　whispered　to　her。

A　great　flood　of　red　blood　rushed　over　her　face；　then　faded；　leaving　her　white；　but　still　her　eyes　held　his　fast。　　〃Jack；〃　she　whispered；　〃my　Jack；　I　love　you。〃

〃Kathleen；　dear　heart；〃　he　said。

Closer　he　drew　her　lips　toward　his。　　Suddenly　she　closed　her　eyes；　her　whole　body　relaxed；　and　lay　limp　against　him。　　As　his　lips　met　hers；　her　arms　tightened　about　him　and　held　him　in　a　strong　embrace。　　Then　she　opened　her　eyes；　raised　herself　up；　and　gazed　at　him　as　if　in　surprise。　　〃Oh；　Jack；〃　she　cried；　〃I　cannot　think　it　is