the major-第49节

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！



〃So　we　are。　　But　we　can　take　in　the　political　meeting　first；　eh；　Mac？〃

But　MacLean　glanced　doubtfully　at　Ethel。

〃I　have　just　had　a　go　with　Holtzman；〃　said　Larry；　〃the　German　Socialist；　you　know。　　He　was　ramping　and　raging　like　a　wild　man　down　in　front　of　the　post　office。　　I　know　him　quite　well。　　He　is　going　to　heckle　Mr。　Allen　to…night。〃

The　girls　were　keen　to　take　in　the　political　meeting；　but　Larry　objected。

〃There　will　be　a　rough　time；　likely。　　It　will　be　no　place　for　ladies。　　We　will　take　you　to　the　party；　then　join　you　again　after　the　meeting。〃

The　girls　were　indignant　and　appealed　to　Dr。　Brown。

〃I　think；〃　said　he；　〃perhaps　you　had　better　not　go。　　The　young　gentlemen　can　join　you　later；　you　know；　at　Allens'　party。〃

〃Oh；　we　don't　want　them　then；〃　said　Ethel；　〃and；　indeed；　we　can　go　by　ourselves　to　the　party。〃

〃Now；　Ethel；　don't　be　naughty；〃　said　Larry。

〃I　shall　be　very　glad　to　take　you　to　the　party；　Miss　Murray；〃　said　MacLean。　　〃I　don't　care　so　much　for　the　meeting。〃

〃That　will　be　fine；　Mac！〃　exclaimed　Larry　enthusiastically。　　〃In　this　way　neither　they　nor　we　will　need　to　hurry。〃

〃Disgustingly　selfish　creature；〃　said　Ethel；　making　a　face　at　him　across　the　table。

Jane　said　nothing；　but　her　face　fell　into　firmer　lines　and　her　cheeks　took　on　a　little　colour。　　The　dinner　was　cut　short　in　order　to　allow　Dr。　Brown　to　get　through　with　his　list　of　waiting　patients。

〃We　have　a　few　minutes；　Ethel；〃　said　Larry。　　〃Won't　you　give　us　a　little　Chopin；　a　nocturne　or　two；　or　a　bit　of　Grieg？〃

〃Do；　Ethel；〃　said　Jane；　〃although　you　don't　deserve　it；　Larry。　　Not　a　bit；〃　she　added。

〃Why；　what　have　I　done？〃　said　Larry。

〃For　one　thing；〃　said　Jane；　in　a　low；　hurried　voice；　moving　close　to　him；　〃you　have　not　given　me　a　chance　to　congratulate　you　on　your　medal。　　Where　have　you　been　all　day？〃

The　reproach　in　her　eyes　and　voice　stirred　Larry　to　quick　defence。　〃I　have　been　awfully　busy；　Jane；〃　he　said；　〃getting　ready　to　go　off　to…morrow。　　I　got　a　telegram　calling　me　to　Chicago。〃

〃To　Chicago？　　To…morrow？〃　said　Jane；　her　eyes　wide　open　with　surprise。　　〃And　you　never　came　to　tell　meto　tell　us？　　Why；　we　may　never　see　you　again　at　all。　　But　you　don't　care　a　bit；　Larry；〃　she　added。

The　bitterness　in　her　voice　was　so　unusual　with　Jane　that　Larry　in　his　astonishment　found　himself　without　reply。

〃Excuse　me；　Ethel；〃　she　said；　〃I　must　see　Ann　a　minute。〃

As　she　hurried　from　the　room　Larry　thought　he　caught　a　glint　of　tears　in　her　eyes。　　He　was　immediately　conscience…stricken　and　acutely　aware　that　he　had　not　treated　Jane　with　the　consideration　that　their　long　and　unique　friendship　demanded。　　True；　he　had　been　busy；　but　he　could　have　found　time　for　a　few　minutes　with　her。　Jane　was　no　ordinary　friend。　　He　had　not　considered　her　and　this　had　deeply　wounded　her。　　And　to…morrow　he　was　going　away；　and　going　away　not　to　return。　　He　was　surprised　at　the　quick　stab　of　pain　that　came　with　the　thought　that　his　days　in　Winnipeg　were　over。　　In　all　likelihood　his　life's　work　would　take　him　to　Alberta。　　This　meant　that　when　he　left　Winnipeg　tomorrow　there　would　be　an　end　to　all　that　delightful　comradeship　with　Jane　which　during　the　years　of　his　long　and　broken　college　course　had　formed　so　large　a　part　of　his　life；　and　which　during　the　past　winter　had　been　closer　and　dearer　than　ever。　　Their　lives　would　necessarily　drift　apart。　Other　friends　would　come　in　and　preoccupy　her　mind　and　heart。　　Jane　had　the　art　of　making　friends　and　of　〃binding　her　friends　to　her　with　hooks　of　steel。〃　　He　had　been　indulging　the　opinion　that　of　all　her　friends　he　stood　first　with　her。　　Even　if　he　were　right；　he　could　not　expect　that　this　would　continue。　　And　now　on　their　last　evening　together；　through　his　selfish　stupidity；　he　had　hurt　her　as　never　in　all　the　years　they　had　been　friends　together。　　But　Jane　was　a　sensible　girl。　　He　would　make　that　right　at　once。　　She　was　the　one　girl　he　knew　that　he　could　treat　with　perfect　frankness。　Most　girls　were　afraid；　either　that　you　were　about　to　fall　in　love　with　them；　or　that　you　would　not。　　Neither　one　fear　nor　the　other　disturbed　the　serenity　of　Jane's　soul。

As　Jane　re…entered　the　room；　Larry　sprang　to　meet　her。　　〃Jane；〃　he　said　in　a　low；　eager　tone；　〃I　am　going　to　take　you　to　the　party。〃

But　Jane　was　her　own　serene　self　again；　and　made　answer；　〃There　is　no　need；　Larry。　　Mr。　MacLean　will　see　us　safely　there；　and　after　the　meeting　you　will　come。　　We　must　go　now；　Ethel。〃　　There　was　no　bitterness　in　her　voice。　　Instead；　there　was　about　her　an　air　of　gentle　self…mastery；　remote　alike　from　pain　and　passion；　that　gave　Larry　the　feeling　that　the　comfort　he　had　thought　to　bring　was　so　completely　unnecessary　as　to　seem　an　impertinence。　　Jane　walked　across　to　where　Frank　Smart　was　standing　and　engaged　him　in　an　animated　conversation。

As　Larry　watched　her；　it　gave　him　a　quick　sharp　pang　to　remember　that　Frank　Smart　was　a　friend　of　older　standing　than　he；　that　Smart　was　a　rising　young　lawyer　with　a　brilliant　future　before　him。　　He　was　a　constant　visitor　at　this　house。　　Why　was　it？　　Like　a　flash　the　thing　stood　revealed　to　him。　　Without　a　doubt　Smart　was　in　love　with　Jane。　　His　own　heart　went　cold　at　the　thought。　　But　why？　he　impatiently　asked　himself。　　He　was　not　in　love　with　Jane。　　Of　that　he　was　quite　certain。　　Why；　then；　this　dog…in…the…manger　feeling？　A　satisfactory　answer　to　this　was　beyond　him。　　One　thing　only　stood　out　before　his　mind　with　startling　clarity；　if　Jane　should　give　herself　to　Frank　Smart；　or；　indeed；　to　any　other；　then　for　him　life　would　be　emptied　of　one　of　its　greatest　joys。　　He　threw　down　the　music　book　whose　leaves　he　had　been　idly　turning　and；　looking　at　his　watch；　called　out；　〃Do　you　know　it　is　after　eight　o'clock；　people？〃

〃Come；　Ethel；〃　said　Jane；　〃we　must　go。　　And　you　boys　will　have　to　hurry。　　Larry；　don't　wait　for　Papa。　　He　will　likely　have　a　seat　on　the　platform。　　Good　night　for　the　present。　　You　can　find　your　way　out；　can't　you？　　And；　Mr。　MacLean；　you　will　find　something　to　do　until　we　come　down？〃

Smiling　over　her　shoulder；　Jane　took　Ethel　off　with　her　upstairs。

〃Come；　Smart；　let's　get　a　move　on；〃　said　Larry；　abruptly　seizing　his　hat　and　making　for　the　door。　　〃We　will　have　to　fight　to　get　in　now。〃

The　theatre　was　packed；　pit　to　gods。　　Larry　and　his　friend　with　considerable　difficulty　made　their　way　to　the　front　row　of　those　standing；　where　they　found　a　group　of　University　men；　who　gave　them　enthusiastic　welcome　to　a　place　in　their　company。　　The　Chairman　had　made　his　opening　remarks；　and　the　first　speaker；　the　Honourable　B。　B。　Bomberton；　was　well　on　into　his　oration　by　the　time　they　arrived。　　He　was　at　the　moment　engaged　in　dilating　upon　the　peril　through　which　the　country　had　recently　passed；　and　thanking　God　that　Canada　had　loyally　stood　by　the　Empire　and　had　refused　to　sell　her　heritage　for　a　mess　of　pottage。

〃Rot！〃　cried　a　voice　from　the　first　gallery；　followed　by　cheers　and　counter　cheers。

The　Honourable　gentleman；　however；　was　an　old　campaigner　and　not　easily　thrown　out　of　his　stride。　　He　fiercely　turned　upon　his　interrupter　and　impaled　him　upon　the　spear　point　of　his　scornful　sarcasm；　waving　the　while　with　redoubled　vigour；　〃the　grand　old　flag　that　for　a　thousand　years　had　led　the　embattled　hosts　of　freedom　in　their　fight　for　human　rights。〃

〃Rot！〃　cried　the　same　voice　again。　　〃Can　the　flag　stuff。　　Get　busy　and　say　something。〃　　（Cheers；　counter　cheers；　yells　of　〃Throw　him　out；〃　followed　by　disturbance　in　the　gallery。）

Once　more　the　speaker　resumed　his　oration。　　He　repeated　his　statement　that　the　country　had　been　delivered　from　a　great　peril。　The　strain　upon　the　people's　loyalty　had　been　severe；　but　the　bonds　that　bound　them　to　the　Empire　had　held　fast；　and　please　God　would　ever　hold　fast。　　（Enthusiastic　demonstration　from　all　the　audience；　indicating　intense　loyalty　to　the　Empire。）　　They　had　been　invited　to　enter　into　a　treaty　for　reciprocal　trade　with　the　Republic　south　of　us。　　He　would　yield　to　none　in　admiration；　even　affection；　for　their　American　neighbours。　　He　knew　them　well；　many　of　his　warmest　friends　were　citizens　of　that　great　Republic。　　But　great　as　was　his　esteem　for　that　Republic　he　was　not　prepared　to　hand　over　his　country　to　any　other　people；　even　his　American　neighbours；　to　be　exploited　and　finally　to　be　led　into　financial　bondage。　　He　proceeded　further　to　elaborate　and　illustrate　the　financial　calamity　that　would　overtake　the　Dominion　of　Canada　as　a　result　of　the　establishment　of　Reciprocity　between　the　Dominion　and　the　Republic。　　But　there　was　more　than　that。　　They　all　knew　that　ancient　political　maxim　〃Trade　follows　the　flag。〃　　But　like　most　proverbs　it　was　only　half　a　truth。　　The　other　half　was　equally　true　that　〃The　flag　followed　trade。〃　　There　was　an　example　of　that　within　their　own　Empire。　　No　nation　in　the　world　had　a　prouder　record　for　loyalty　than　Scotland。　　Yet　in　1706　Scotland　was　induced　to　surrender　her　independence　as　a　nation　and　to　enter　into　union　with　England。　　Why？　　Chiefly　for　the　sake　of　trade　advantages。

〃Ye're　a　dom　leear；〃　shouted　an　excited　Scot；　rising　to　his　feet　in　the　back　of　the　hall。　　〃It　was　no　Scotland　that　surrendered。　　Didna　Scotland's　king　sit　on　England's　throne。　　Speak　the　truth；　mon。〃　（Cheer