the major-第44节

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ver　her　hand。

〃I　hope　you　will　pardon　my　coming　here　so　early　in　the　morning；〃　he　said　with　an　embarrassed　air。　　〃I　have　the　honour　of　knowing　your　guests。〃

〃Any　friend　of　our　guests　is　very　welcome　here；　Mr。　Wakeham；〃　said　Mrs。　Gwynne；　smiling　at　him　with　gentle　dignity。

〃Good　morning；　Mr。　Wakeham；〃　said　Jane；　coming　forward　with　outstretched　hand。　　〃You　are　very　early　in　your　calls。　　You　could　not　have　slept　very　much。〃

〃No；　indeed；〃　replied　Mr。　Wakeham；　〃and　that　is　one　reason　why　I　waked　so　early。　　My　bed　was　not　so　terribly　attractive。〃

〃Oh；〃　exclaimed　Nora　in　a　disappointed　tone；　as　she　shook　hands　with　him；　〃we　thought　you　were　anxious　to　see　us。〃

〃Quite　right；〃　said　the　young　man；　holding　her　hand　and　looking　boldly　into　her　eyes。　　〃I　have　come　to　see　you。〃

Before　his　look　Nora's　saucy　eyes　fell　and　for　some　unaccountable　reason　her　usually　ready　speech　forsook　her。　　Mr。　Wakeham　fell　into　easy　conversation　with　Mr。　Gwynne　and　Dr。　Brown　concerning　mining　matters；　in　which　he　was　especially　interested。　　He　had　spent　an　hour　about　the　Manor　Mine　and　there　he　had　heard　a　good　deal　about　Mr。　Gwynne's　mine　and　was　anxious　to　see　that　if　there　were　no　objections。　　He　wondered　if　he　might　drive　Mr。　Gwynneand　indeed；　he　had　a　large　car　and　would　be　glad　to　fill　it　up　with　a　party　if　any　one　cared　to　come。　　He　looked　at　Mrs。　Gwynne　as　he　spoke。

〃Yes；　Mother；　you　go。　　It　is　such　a　lovely　day；〃　said　Nora　enthusiastically；　〃and　Jane　can　go　with　you。〃

〃Jane　is　going　riding；〃　said　Larry　firmly。

〃I　am　going　to　Mrs。　Waring…Gaunt's；〃　said　Jane。　　〃I　arranged　with　her　last　night。〃

While　they　were　settling　Mrs。　Gwynne's　protests；　and　covered　by　the　noise　of　conversation；　Mr。　Wakeham　managed　to　get　close　to　Nora。　〃I　want　you　to　come；〃　he　said　in　a　low　voice。　　〃That's　what　I　came　for。〃

Startled　and　confused　by　this　extraordinary　announcement；　Nora　could　think　of　no　answer。

〃I　think　you　were　to　show　me　the　mine；〃　he　added。　　Then　while　Nora　gasped　at　him；　he　said　aloud；　〃My　car　is　a　seven　passenger；　so　we　can　take　quite　a　party。〃

〃Why　not　Kathleen？〃　suggested　Jane。

〃Yes；　indeed；　Kathleen　might　like　to　go；〃　said　Mrs。　Gwynne。

〃Then　let's　all　go；〃　cried　Nora。

〃Thank　you　awfully；〃　murmured　Mr。　Wakeham。　　〃We　shall　only　be　two　or　three　hours　at　most；〃　continued　Nora。　　〃We　shall　be　back　in　time　for　lunch。〃

〃For　that　matter；〃　said　Mr。　Gwynne；　〃we　can　lunch　at　the　mine。〃

〃Splendid；〃　cried　Nora。　　〃Come　along。　　We'll　run　up　with　you　to　the　Waring…Gaunts'　for　Kathleen；〃　she　added　to　Mr。　Wakeham。

At　the　Waring…Gaunts'　they　had　some　difficulty　persuading　Kathleen　to　join　the　party；　but　under　the　united　influence　of　Jack　and　his　sister；　she　agreed　to　go。

〃Now　then；〃　said　Mrs。　Waring…Gaunt；　〃you　have　your　full　party；　Mr。　WakehamMr。　and　Mrs。　Gwynne；　Dr。　Brown；　and　the　three　girls。〃

〃What　about　me？〃　said　Larry　dolefully。

〃I　shall　stay　with　you；〃　cried　Nora；　evading　Mr。　Wakeham's　eyes。

〃No；　Nora；〃　said　Jane　in　a　voice　of　quiet　decision。　　〃Last　night　Mrs。　Waring…Gaunt　and　I　arranged　that　I　should　visit　her　to…day。〃

There　was　a　loud　chorus　of　protests；　each　one　making　an　alternative　suggestion　during　which　Jane　went　to　Mrs。　Waring…Gaunt's　side　and　said　quietly；　〃I　want　to　stay　with　you　to…day。〃

〃All　right；　dear；〃　said　Mrs。　Waring…Gaunt。　　〃Stay　you　shall。〃　　And；　then　to　the　company　announced；　〃We　have　it　all　arranged。　　Jane　and　I　are　to　have　a　visit　together。　　The　rest　of　you　go　off。〃

〃And　what　about　me；　Jane？〃　again　said　Larry。

〃You　are　going　with　the　others；〃　said　Jane　calmly；　〃and　in　the　afternoon　we　are　to　have　our　ride。〃

〃And　this　is　Jane；〃　said　Jack　Romayne　as　Mrs。　Waring…Gaunt　ushered　the　girl　into　his　room。　　〃If　half　of　what　I　have　heard　is　true　then　I　am　a　lucky　man　to…day。　　Kathleen　has　been　telling　me　about　you。〃

Jane's　smile　expressed　her　delight。　　〃I　think　I　could　say　the　same　of　you；　Mr。　Romayne。〃

〃What？　　Has　Kathleen　been　talking　about　me？〃

〃No；　I　have　not　seen　Kathleen　since　I　came；　but　there　are　others；　you　know。〃

〃Are　there？〃　asked　Jack。　　〃I　hadn't　noticed。　　But　I　know　all　about　you。〃

It　was　a　hasty　introduction　for　Jane。　　Kathleen　was　easily　a　subject　for　a　day's　conversation。　　How　long　she　discoursed　upon　Kathleen　neither　of　them　knew。　　But　when　Mrs。　Waring…Gaunt　had　finished　up　her　morning　household　duties　Jane　was　still　busy　dilating　upon　Kathleen's　charms　and　graces　and　expatiating　upon　her　triumphs　and　achievements　during　her　stay　in　Winnipeg　the　previous　winter。

〃Still　upon　Kathleen？〃　inquired　Mrs。　Waring…Gaunt。

〃Oh；　I　am　learning　a　great　deal　and　enjoying　myself　immensely；〃　said　Jack。

〃You　must　be　careful；　Jane。　　Don't　tell　Jack　everything　about　Kathleen。　　There　are　certain　things　we　keep　to　ourselves；　you　know。　I　don't　tell　Tom　everything。〃

Jane　opened　her　eyes。　　〃I　have　not　told　Jane　yet；　Sybil；〃　said　Jack　quietly。　　〃She　doesn't　know；　though　perhaps　she　has　guessed　how　dear　to　me　Kathleen　is。〃

〃Had　you　not　heard？〃　inquired　Mrs。　Waring…Gaunt。

〃No；　I　only　came　last　night；　you　see。〃　　Then　turning　to　Jack；　she　added；　〃And　isis　Kathleen　going　to　marry　you？〃　　Her　astonishment　was　evident　in　her　voice　and　eyes。

〃I　hope　so；〃　said　Jack；　〃and　you　are　no　more　astonished　than　I　am　myself。　　I　only　found　it　out　night　before　last。〃

It　was　characteristic　of　Jane　that　she　sat　gazing　at　him　in　silence；　her　tongue　had　not　learned　the　trick　of　easy　compliment。　She　was　trying　to　take　in　the　full　meaning　of　this　surprising　announcement。

〃Well？〃　said　Jack　after　he　had　waited　for　some　moments。

〃Oh；　I　beg　your　pardon；〃　she　said　hurriedly。　　〃I　congratulate　you。　I　think　you　are　a　very　lucky　man。〃

〃I　am；　indeed；〃　said　Jack　with　emphasis。　　〃And　Kathleen？　　You　are　not　so　sure　about　her　luck？〃

〃Well；　I　don't　know　you　yet；〃　said　Jane　gravely；　〃and　Kathleen　is　a　very　lovely　girl；　the　very　loveliest　girl　I　know。〃

〃You　are　quite　right；〃　said　Jack　in　a　tone　as　grave　as　her　own。　　〃I　am　not　good　enough　for　her。〃

〃Oh；　I　did　not　say　that。　　Only　I　don't　know　you；　and　you　see　I　know　Kathleen。　　She　is　so　lovely　and　so　good。　　I　love　her。〃　　Jane's　face　was　earnest　and　grave。

〃And　so　do　I；　Jane；　if　I　may　call　you　so；〃　said　Jack；　〃and　I　am　going　to　try　to　be　worthy　of　her。〃

Jane's　eyes　rested　quietly　on　his　face。　　She　made　up　her　mind　that　it　was　an　honest　face　and　a　face　one　could　trust；　but　to　Jane　it　seemed　as　if　something　portentous　had　befallen　her　friend　and　she　could　not　bring　herself　immediately　to　accept　this　new　situation　with　an　outburst　of　joyous　acclaim　such　as　ordinarily　greets　an　announcement　of　this　kind。　　For　a　reason　she　could　not　explain　her　mind　turned　to　the　memory　she　cherished　of　her　own　mother　and　of　the　place　she　had　held　with　her　father。　　She　wondered　if　this　man　could　give　to　Kathleen　a　place　so　high　and　so　secure　in　his　heart。　While　her　eyes　were　on　his　face　Jack　could　see　that　her　mind　was　far　away。　　She　was　not　thinking　of　him。

〃What　is　it；　Jane？〃　he　said　gently。

Jane　started　and　the　blood　rushed　to　her　face。　　She　hesitated；　then　said　quietly　but　with　charming　frankness；　〃I　was　thinking　of　my　mother。　　She　died　when　I　was　two　years　old。　　Father　says　I　am　like　her。　　But　I　am　not　at　all。　　She　was　very　lovely。　　Kathleen　makes　me　think　of　her；　and　father　often　tells　me　about　her。　　He　has　never　forgotten　her。　　You　see　I　think　he　loved　her　in　quite　a　wonderful　way；　and　he〃　　Jane　paused　abruptly。

Mrs。　Waring…Gaunt　rose　quietly；　came　to　her　side。　　〃Dear　Jane；　dear　child；〃　she　said；　kissing　her。　　〃That's　the　only　way　to　love。　　I　am　sure　your　mother　was　a　lovely　woman；　and　a　very　happy　woman；　and　you　are　like　her。〃

But　Jack　kept　his　face　turned　away　from　them。

〃Oh；　Mrs。　Waring…Gaunt；〃　cried　Jane；　shaking　her　head　emphatically；　〃I　am　not　the　least　bit　like　her。　　That　is　one　of　the　points　on　which　I　disagree　with　father。　　We　do　not　agree　upon　everything；　you　know。〃

〃No？　　What　are　some　of　the　other　points？〃

〃We　agree　splendidly　about　Kathleen；〃　said　Jane；　laughing。　　〃Just　now　we　differ　about　Germany。〃

〃Aha；　how　is　that？〃　inquired　Jack；　immediately　alert。

〃Of　course；　I　know　very　little　about　it；　you　understand；　but　last　winter　our　minister；　Mr。　McPherson；　who　had　just　been　on　a　visit　to　Germany　the　summer　before；　gave　a　lecture　in　which　he　said　that　Germany　had　made　enormous　preparations　for　war　and　was　only　waiting　a　favourable　moment　to　strike。　　Papa　says　that　is　all　nonsense。〃

〃Oh；　Jane；　Jane；〃　cried　Mrs。　Waring…Gaunt；　〃you　have　struck　upon　a　very　sore　spot　in　this　house。　　Jack　will　indorse　all　your　minister　said。　　He　will　doubtless　go　much　further。〃

〃What　did　he　say；　Jane？〃　inquired　Jack。

〃He　was　greatly　in　earnest　and　he　urged　preparation　by　Canada。　　He　thinks　we　ought　at　the　very　least　to　begin　getting　our　fleet　ready　right　away。〃

〃That's　politics；　of　course；〃　said　Mrs。　Waring…Gaunt；　〃and　I　do　not　know　what　you　are。〃

〃I　am　not　sure　that　I　do　either；〃　she　replied；　〃but　I　believe　too　that　Canada　ought　to　get　at　her　fleet　without　loss　of　time。〃

〃But　what　did　he　say　about　Germany？〃　continued　Jack。

〃I　can't　tell　you　everything；　of　course；　but　he　assured　us　that　Germany　had　made　the　greatest　possible　preparation；　that　the　cities；　towns　and　villages　were　full　of　drilling　men；　that　there