the major-第42节

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e　of　the　sky。　　In　the　valley　immediately　at　their　feet　the　waters　of　the　little　lake　gleamed　like　a　polished　shield　set　in　a　frame　of　ebony。　　〃That's　our　lake；〃　said　Nora；　〃with　our　house　just　behind　it　in　the　woods。　And　nearer　in　that　little　bluff　is　Mrs。　Waring…Gaunts　home。〃

〃Papa；〃　said　Jane　softly；　〃we　must　not　keep　Mrs。　Waring…Gaunt。〃

〃Thank　you；　Jane；〃　said　Mrs。　Waring…Gaunt。　　〃I　fear　I　must　go　on。〃

〃Don't　you　love　it？〃　inquired　Larry　enthusiastically　and　with　a　touch　of　impatience　in　his　voice。

〃Oh；　yes；　it　is　lovely；〃　said　Jane。

〃But；　Jane；　you　will　not　get　wild　over　it；〃　said　Larry。

〃Get　wild？　　I　love　it；　really　I　do。　　But　why　should　I　get　wild　over　it。　　Oh；　I　know　you　think；　and　Papa　thinks；　that　I　am　awful。　　He　says　I　have　no　poetry　in　me；　and　perhaps　he　is　right。〃

In　a　few　minutes　the　car　stopped　at　the　door　of　Mrs。　Waring…Gaunt's　house。　　〃I　shall　just　run　in　for　a　moment；〃　said　Mrs。　Waring…Gaunt。　〃Kathleen　will　want　to　see　you；　and　perhaps　will　go　home　with　you。　I　shall　send　her　out。〃

Out　from　the　vine…shadowed　porch　into　the　white　light　came　Kathleen；　stood　a　moment　searching　the　faces　of　the　party；　then　moved　toward　Dr。　Brown　with　her　hands　eagerly　stretched　out。　　〃Oh；　Dr。　Brown；〃　she　cried；　〃it　is　so　good　to　see　you　here。〃

〃But　my　dear　girl；　my　dear　girl；　how　wonderful　you　look！　　Why；　you　have　actually　grown　more　beautiful　than　when　we　saw　you　last！〃

〃Oh；　thank　you；　Dr。　Brown。　　And　there　is　Jane；〃　cried　Kathleen；　running　around　to　the　other　side　of　the　car。　　〃It　is　so　lovely　to　see　you　and　so　good　of　you　to　come　to　us；〃　she　continued；　putting　her　arms　around　Jane　and　kissing　her。

〃I　wanted　to　come；　you　know；〃　said　Jane。

〃Yes；　it　is　Jane's　fault　entirely；〃　said　Dr。　Brown。　　〃I　confess　I　hesitated　to　impose　two　people　upon　you　this　way；　willy…nilly。　　But　Jane　would　have　it　that　you　would　be　glad　to　have　us。〃

〃And　as　usual　Jane　was　right；〃　said　Larry　with　emphasis。

〃Yes；〃　said　Kathleen；　〃Jane　was　right。　　Jane　is　a　dear　to　think　that　way　about　us。　　Dr。　Brown；〃　continued　Kathleen　with　a　note　of　anxiety　in　her　voice；　〃Mrs。　Waring…Gaunt　wondered　if　you　would　mind　coming　in　to　see　her　brother。　　He　was　wounded　with　a　gunshot　in　the　arm　about　ten　days　ago。　　Dr。　Hudson；　who　was　one　of　your　pupils；　I　believe；　said　he　would　like　to　have　you　see　him　when　you　came。　　I　wonder　if　you　would　mind　coming　in　now。〃　　Kathleen's　face　was　flushed　and　her　words　flowed　in　a　hurried　stream。

〃Not　at　all；　not　at　all；〃　answered　the　doctor；　rising　hastily　from　the　motor　and　going　in　with　Kathleen。

〃Oh；　Larry；〃　breathed　Jane　in　a　rapture　of　delight；　〃isn't　she　lovely；　isn't　she　lovely？　　I　had　no　idea　she　was　so　perfectly　lovely。〃　　Not　the　moon；　nor　the　glory　of　the　landscape　with　all　its　wonder　of　plain　and　valley　and　mountain　peak　had　been　able　to　awaken　Jane　to　ecstasy；　but　the　rare　loveliness　of　this　girl；　her　beauty；　her　sweet　simplicity；　had　kindled　Jane　to　enthusiasm。

〃Well；　Jane；　you　are　funny；〃　said　Larry。　　〃You　rave　and　go　wild　over　Kathleen；　and　yet　you　keep　quite　cool　over　that　most　wonderful　view。〃

〃View！〃　said　Jane　contemptuously。　　〃No；　wait；　Larry；　let　me　explain。　　I　do　think　it　all　very　wonderful；　but　I　love　people。　People　after　all　are　better　than　mountains；　and　they　are　more　wonderful　too。〃

〃Are　they？〃　said　Larry　dubiously。　　〃Not　so　lovely；　sometimes。〃

〃Some　people；〃　insisted　Jane；　〃are　more　wonderful　than　all　the　Rocky　Mountains　together。　　Look　at　Kathleen；〃　she　cried　triumphantly。　〃You　could　not　love　that　old　mountain　there；　could　you？　　But；　Kathleen〃

〃Don't　know　about　that；〃　said　Larry。　　〃Dear　old　thing。〃

〃Tell　me　how　Mr。　Romayne　was　hurt；〃　said　Jane；　changing　the　subject。

In　graphic　language　Nora　gave　her　the　story　of　the　accident　with　all　the　picturesque　details；　recounting　Kathleen's　part　in　it　with　appropriate　emotional　thrills。　　Jane　listened　with　eyes　growing　wider　with　each　horrifying　elaboration。

〃Do　you　think　his　arm　will　ever　be　all　right？〃　she　inquired　anxiously。

〃We　do　not　know　yet；〃　said　Nora　sombrely。

〃Nonsense；〃　interrupted　Larry　sharply。　　〃His　arm　will　be　perfectly　all　right。　　You　people　make　me　tired　with　your　passion　for　horrors　and　possible　horrors。〃

Nora　was　about　to　make　a　hot　reply　when　Jane　inquired　quietly；　〃What　does　the　doctor　say？　　He　ought　to　know。〃

〃That's　just　it；〃　said　Nora。　　〃He　said　yesterday　he　did　not　like　the　look　of　it　at　all。　　You　know　he　did；　Larry。　　Mrs。　Waring…Gaunt　told　me　so。　　They　are　quite　anxious　about　it。　　But　we　will　hear　what　Dr。　Brown　says　and　then　we　will　know。〃

But　Dr。　Brown's　report　did　not　quite　settle　the　matter；　for　after　the　approved　manner　of　the　profession　he　declined　to　commit　himself　to　any　definite　statement　except　that　it　was　a　nasty　wound；　that　it　might　easily　have　been　worse；　and　he　promised　to　look　in　with　Dr。　Hudson　to…morrow。　　Meantime　he　expressed　the　profound　hope　that　Mrs。　Waring…Gaunt　might　get　them　as　speedily　as　was　consistent　with　safety　to　their　destination；　and　that　supper　might　not　be　too　long　delayed。

〃We　can　trust　Mrs。　Waring…Gaunt　for　the　first；〃　said　Larry　with　confidence；　〃and　mother　for　the　second。〃　　In　neither　the　one　nor　the　other　was　Larry　mistaken；　for　Mrs。　Waring…Gaunt　in　a　very　few　minutes　discharged　both　passengers　and　freight　at　the　Gwynnes'　door；　and　supper　was　waiting。

〃We　greatly　appreciate　your　kindness；　Mrs。　Waring…Gaunt；〃　said　Dr。　Brown；　bowing　courteously　over　her　hand。　　〃I　shall　look　in　upon　your　brother　to…morrow　morning。　　I　hardly　think　there　is　any　great　cause　for　anxiety。〃

〃Oh；　thank　you；　Dr。　Brown；　I　am　glad　to　hear　you　say　that。　　It　would　be　very　good　of　you　to　look　in　to…morrow。〃

〃Good…night；〃　said　Jane；　her　rare　smile　illuminating　her　dark　face。　〃It　was　so　good　of　you　to　come　for　us。　　It　has　been　a　delightful　ride。　　I　hope　your　brother　will　be　better　to…morrow。〃

〃Thank　you；　my　dear；〃　said　Mrs。　Waring…Gaunt。　　〃I　should　be　glad　to　have　you　come　over　to　us。　　I　am　sure　my　brother　would　be　glad　to　know　you。〃

〃Do　you　think　so；〃　said　Jane　doubtfully。　　〃You　know　I　am　not　very　clever。　　I　am　not　like　Kathleen　or　Nora。〃　　The　deep　blue　eyes　looked　wistfully　at　her　out　of　the　plain　little　face。

〃I　am　perfectly　certain　he　would　love　to　know　you；　Janeif　I　may　call　you　so；〃　said　Mrs。　Waring…Gaunt；　impulsively　kissing　her。

〃Oh；　you　are　so　kind；〃　said　Jane。　　〃I　will　come　then　to…morrow。〃

The　welcome　to　the　Gwynne　home　was　without　fuss　or　effusiveness　but　had　the　heart　quality　that　needs　no　noisy　demonstration。

〃We　are　glad　to　have　you　with　us　at　Lakeside　Farm；〃　said　Mr。　Gwynne　heartily；　as　he　ushered　Dr。　Brown　and　Jane　into　the　big　living　room；　where　his　wife　stood　waiting。

〃You　are　welcome　to　us；　Dr。　Brown；〃　said　the　little　lady。　　And　something　in　the　voice　and　manner　made　Dr。　Brown　know　that　the　years　that　had　passed　since　his　first　meeting　with　her　had　only　deepened　the　feeling　of　gratitude　and　affection　in　her　heart　toward　him。　　〃We　have　not　forgotten　nor　shall　we　ever　forget　your　kindness　to　us　when　we　were　strangers　passing　through　Winnipeg；　nor　your　goodness　to　Larry　and　Kathleen　while　in　Winnipeg。　　They　have　often　told　us　of　your　great　kindness。〃

〃And　you　may　be　quite　sure；　Mrs。　Gwynne；〃　said　Dr。　Brown　heartily；　〃that　Larry　brought　his　welcome　with　him；　and　as　for　Kathleen；　we　regard　her　as　one　of　our　family。〃

〃And　this　is　Jane；〃　said　Mrs。　Gwynne。　　〃Dear　child；　you　have　grown。　But　you　have　not　changed。　　Come　away　to　your　room。〃

Once　behind　the　closed　door　she　put　her　arms　around　the　girl　and　kissed　her。　　Then；　holding　her　at　arm's　length；　scrutinised　her　face　with　searching　eyes。　　〃No；〃　she　said　again　with　a　little　sigh　of　relief；　〃you　have　not　changed。　　You　are　the　same　dear；　wise　girl　I　learned　to　love　in　Winnipeg。〃

〃Oh；　I　am　glad　you　think　I　am　not　changed；　Mrs。　Gwynne；〃　said　Jane；　with　a　glow　of　light　in　her　dark　blue　eyes。　　〃I　do　not　like　people　to　change　and　I　would　hate　to　have　you　think　me　changed。　　I　know；〃　she　added　shyly；　〃I　feel　just　the　same　toward　you　and　the　others　here。　　But　oh；　how　lovely　they　are；　both　Kathleen　and　Nora。〃

〃They　are　good　girls；〃　said　Mrs。　Gwynne　quietly；　〃and　they　have　proved　good　girls　to　me。〃

〃I　know；　I　know；〃　said　Jane；　with　impulsive　fervour；　〃and　through　those　winters　and　all。　　Oh；　they　were　so　splendid。〃

〃Yes；〃　said　the　mother；　〃they　never　failed；　and　Larry　too。〃

〃Yes；　indeed；〃　cried　Jane　with　increasing　ardour；　her　eyes　shining；　〃with　his　teaching；going　there　through　the　awful　cold；lighting　the　school　fires；and　the　way　he　stuck　to　his　college　work。　Nora's　letters　told　me　all　about　it。　　How　splendid　that　was！　　And　you　know；　Mrs。　Gwynne；　in　the　'Varsity　he　did　so　well。　　I　mean　besides　his　standing　in　the　class　lists；　in　the　Societies　and　in　all　the　college　life。　　He　was　really　awfully　popular；〃　added　Jane　with　something　of　a　sigh。

〃You　must　tell　me；　dear；　sometime　all　about　it。　　But　now　you　must　be　weary　and　hungry。　　Come　away　out　if　you　are　ready；　and　I　hope　you　will　feel　as　if　you　were　just　one　of　ourselves。〃

〃Do　you　know；　that　is　just　the　way　I　feel；　Mrs。　Gwynne；〃　said　Jane；　putting　the　final　touch　to　her　toilet。　　〃I　seem　to　know　the　house；　and　everything　and　everybody　about　it。　　Nora　is　such　a　splendid　correspondent；　you　see。〃

〃Well；　dear　child；　we