the major-第55节

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much　of　a　burden　I　might　write。〃

〃No　burden　at　all；　Mr。　Wakeham；〃　said　Mrs。　Gwynne。　　〃If　you　will　write　and　ask　Mrs。　Wakeham；　and　bring　her　with　you　when　you　return；　we　shall　do　what　we　can　to　make　her　visit　a　happy　one；　and　indeed；　it　may　do　the　dear　child　a　great　deal　of　good。〃

Thus　it　came　about　that　the　little　city　child；　delicate；　fretted；　spoiled；　was　installed　in　the　household　at　Lakeside　Farm　for　a　visit　which　lengthened　out　far　beyond　its　original　limits。　　The　days　spent　upon　the　farm　were　full　of　bliss　to　her；　the　only　drawback　to　the　perfect　happiness　of　the　little　girl　being　the　separation　from　her　beloved　fidus　Achates；　with　whom　she　maintained　an　epistolary　activity　extraordinarily　intimate　and　vivid。　　Upon　this　correspondence　the　Wakeham　family　came　chiefly　to　depend　for　enlightenment　as　to　the　young　lady's　activities　and　state　of　health；　and　it　came　to　be　recognised　as　part　of　Larry's　duty　throughout　the　summer　to　carry　a　weekly　bulletin　regarding　Elfie's　health　and　manners　to　the　Lake　Shore　summer　home；　where　the　Wakehams　sought　relief　from　the　prostrating　heat　of　the　great　city。　These　week　ends　at　the　Lake　Shore　home　were　to　Larry　his　sole　and　altogether　delightful　relief　from　the　relentless　drive　of　business　that　even　throughout　the　hottest　summer　weather　knew　neither　let　nor　pause。

It　became　custom　that　every　Saturday　forenoon　Rowena's　big　car　would　call　at　the　Rookery　Building　and　carry　off　her　father；　if　he　chanced　to　be　in　town；　and　Larry　to　the　Lake　Shore　home。　　An　hour's　swift　run　over　the　perfect　macadam　of　the　Lake　Shore　road　that　wound　through　park　and　boulevard；　past　splendid　summer　residences　of　Chicago　financial　magnates；　through　quiet　little　villages　and　by　country　farms；　always　with　gleams　of　Michigan's　blue…grey　waters；　and　always　with　Michigan's　exhilarating　breezes　in　their　faces；　would　bring　them　to　the　cool　depths　of　Birchwood's　shades　and　silences；　where　for　a　time　the　hustle　and　heat　and　roar　of　the　big　city　would　be　as　completely　forgotten　as　if　a　thousand　miles　away。　It　was　early　on　a　breathless　afternoon　late　in　July　when　from　pavement　and　wall　the　quivering　air　smote　the　face　as　if　blown　from　an　opened　furnace　that　Rowena　drove　her　car　down　La　Salle　Street　and　pulled　up　at　the　Rookery　Building　resolved　to　carry　off　with　her　as　a　special　treat　〃her　men〃　for　an　evening　at　Birchwood。

〃Come　along；　Larry；　it　is　too　hot　to　live　in　town　today；〃　she　said　as　she　passed　through　the　outer　office　where　the　young　man　had　his　desk。　　〃I　am　just　going　in　to　get　father；　so　don't　keep　me　waiting。〃

〃Miss　Wakeham；　why　will　you　add　to　the　burdens　of　the　day　by　breezing　thus　in　upon　us　and　making　us　discontented　with　our　lot。　I　cannot　possibly　accept　your　invitation　this　afternoon。〃

〃What？　　Not　to…day；　with　the　thermometer　at　ninety…four？　　Nonsense！〃　said　the　young　lady　brusquely。　　〃You　look　fit　to　drop。〃

〃It　is　quite　useless；〃　said　Larry　with　a　sigh。　　〃You　see　we　have　a　man　in　all　the　way　from　Colorado　to　get　plans　of　a　mine　which　is　in　process　of　reconstruction。　　These　plans　will　take　hours　to　finish。　The　work　is　pressing；　in　short　must　be　done　to…day。〃

〃Now；　look　here；　young　man。　　All　work　in　this　office　is　pressing　but　none　so　pressing　that　it　cannot　pause　at　my　command。〃

〃But　this　man　is　due　to　leave　to…morrow。〃

〃Oh；　I　decline　to　talk　about　it；　it　is　much　too　hot。　　Just　close　up　your　desk；〃　said　the　young　lady；　as　she　swept　on　to　her　father's　office。

In　a　short　time　she　returned；　bearing　that　gentleman　in　triumph　with　her。　　〃Not　ready？〃　she　said。　　〃Really　you　are　most　exasperating；　Larry。〃

〃You　may　as　well　throw　up　your　hands；　Larry。　　You'd　better　knock　off　for　the　day；〃　said　Mr。　Wakeham。　　〃It　is　really　too　hot　to　do　anything　else　than　surrender。〃

〃You　see；　it　is　like　this；　sir；〃　said　Larry。　　〃It　is　that　Colorado　mine　reconstruction　business。　　Their　manager；　Dimock；　is　here。　　He　must　leave；　he　says；　tomorrow　morning。　　Mr。　Scread　thinks　he　should　get　these　off　as　soon　as　possible。　　So　it　is　necessary　that　I　stick　to　it　till　we　get　it　done。〃

〃How　long　will　it　take？〃　said　Mr。　Wakeham。

〃I　expect　to　finish　to…night　some　time。　　I　have　already　had　a　couple　of　hours　with　Dimock　to…day。　　He　has　left　me　the　data。〃

〃Well；　I　am　very　sorry；　indeed；〃　said　Mr。　Wakeham。　　〃It　is　a　great　pity　you　cannot　come　with　us；　and　you　look　rather　fagged。　　Dimock　could　not　delay；　eh？〃

〃He　says　he　has　an　appointment　at　Kansas　City　which　he　must　keep。〃

〃Oh；　it　is　perfect　rubbish；〃　exclaimed　Rowena　impatiently；　〃and　we　have　a　party　on　to…night。　　Your　friend；　Mr。　Hugh　Raeder；　is　to　be　out；　and　Professor　Schaefer　and　a　friend　of　his；　and　some　perfectly　charming　girls。〃

〃But　why　tell　me　these　things　now；　Miss　Wakeham；〃　said　Larry；　〃when　you　know　it　is　impossible　for　me　to　come？〃

〃You　won't　come？〃

〃I　can't　come。〃

〃Come　along　then；　father；〃　she　said；　and　with　a　stiff　little　bow　she　left　Larry　at　his　desk。

Before　the　car　moved　off　Larry　came　hurrying　out。

〃Here　is　Elfie's　letter；〃　he　said。　　〃Perhaps　Mrs。　Wakeham　would　like　to　see　it。〃　　Miss　Wakeham　was　busy　at　the　wheel　and　gave　no　sign　of　having　heard　or　seen。　　So　her　father　reached　over　and　took　the　letter　from　him。

〃Do　you　know；〃　said　Larry　gravely；　〃I　do　not　think　it　is　quite　so　hot　as　it　was。　　I　almost　fancy　I　feel　a　chill。〃

〃A　chill？〃　said　Mr。　Wakeham　anxiously。　　〃What　do　you　mean？〃

Miss　Wakeham　bit　her　lip；　broke　into　a　smile　and　then　into　a　laugh。　〃Oh；　he's　a　clever　thing；　he　is；〃　she　said。　　〃I　hope　you　may　have　a　real　good　roast　this　afternoon。〃

〃I　hope　you　will　call　next　Saturday；〃　said　Larry　earnestly。　　〃It　is　sure　to　be　hot。〃

〃You　don't　deserve　it　or　anything　else　that　is　good。〃

〃Except　your　pity。　　Think　what　I　am　missing。〃

〃Get　in　out　of　the　heat；〃　she　cried　as　the　car　slipped　away。

For　some　blocks　Miss　Wakeham　was　busy　getting　her　car　through　the　crush　of　the　traffic；　but　as　she　swung　into　the　Park　Road　she　remarked；　〃That　young　man　takes　himself　too　seriously。　　You　would　think　the　business　belonged　to　him。〃

〃I　wish　to　God　I　had　more　men　in　my　office；〃　said　her　father；　〃who　thought　the　same　thing。　　Do　you　know；　young　lady；　why　it　is　that　so　many　greyheads　are　holding　clerk's　jobs？　　Because　clerks　do　not　feel　that　the　business　is　their　own。　　The　careless　among　them　are　working　for　five　o'clock；　and　the　keen　among　them　are　out　for　number　one。　　Do　you　know　if　that　boy　keeps　on　thinking　that　the　business　is　his　he　will　own　a　big　slice　of　it　or　something　better　before　he　quits。　　I　confess　I　was　greatly　pleased　that　you　failed　to　move　him。〃

〃All　the　same；　he　is　awfully　stubborn；〃　said　his　daughter。

〃You　can't　bully　him　as　you　do　your　old　dad；　eh？〃

〃I　had　counted　on　him　for　our　dinner　party　to…night。　　I　particularly　want　to　have　him　meet　Professor　Schaefer；　and　now　we　will　have　a　girl　too　many。　　It　just　throws　things　out。〃

They　rolled　on　in　silence　for　some　time　through　the　park　when　suddenly　her　father　said；　〃He　may　be　finished　by　six　o'clock；　and　Michael　could　run　in　for　him。〃

At　six　o'clock　Miss　Wakeham　called　Larry　on　the　'phone。　　〃Are　you　still　at　it？〃　she　enquired。　　〃And　when　will　you　be　finished？〃

〃An　hour；　I　think；　will　see　me　through；〃　he　replied。

〃Then；〃　said　Miss　Wakeham；　〃a　little　before　seven　o'clock　the　car　will　be　waiting　at　your　office　door。〃

〃Hooray！〃　cried　Larry。　　〃You　are　an　angel。　　I　will　be　through。〃

At　a　quarter　of　seven　Larry　was　standing　on　the　pavement；　which　was　still　radiating　heat；　and　so　absorbed　in　watching　for　the　Wakehams'　big　car　that　he　failed　to　notice　a　little　Mercer　approaching　till　it　drew　up　at　his　side。

〃What；　you；　Miss　Rowena？〃　he　cried。　　〃Your　own　self？　　How　very　lovely　of　you；　and　through　all　this　heat！〃

〃Me；〃　replied　the　girl；　〃only　me。　　I　thought　it　might　still　be　hot　and　a　little　cool　breeze　would　be　acceptable。　　But　jump　in。〃

〃Cool　breeze；　I　should　say　so！〃　exclaimed　Larry。　　〃A　lovely；　cool；　sweet　spring　breeze　over　crocuses　and　violets！　　But；　I　say；　I　must　go　to　my　room　for　my　clothes。〃

〃No　evening　clothes　to…night；〃　exclaimed　Rowena。

〃Ah；　but　I　have　a　new；　lovely；　cool　suit　that　I　have　been　hoping　to　display　at　Birchwood。　　These　old　things　would　hardly　do　at　your　dinner　table。〃

〃We'll　go　around　for　it。　　Do　get　in。　　Do　you　know；　I　left　my　party　to　come　for　you；　partly　because　I　was　rather　nasty　this　afternoon？〃

〃You　were　indeed；〃　said　Larry。　　〃You　almost　broke　my　heart；　but　this　wipes　all　out；　my　heart　is　singing　again。　　That　awfully　jolly　letter　of　Elfie's　this　week　made　me　quite　homesick　for　the　open　and　for　the　breezes　of　the　Alberta　foothills。〃

〃Tell　me　what　she　said；〃　said　Rowena；　not　because　she　wanted　so　much　to　hear　Elfie's　news　but　because　she　loved　to　hear　him　talk；　and　upon　no　subject　could　Larry　wax　so　eloquent　as　upon　the　foothill　country　of　Alberta。　　Long　after　they　had　secured　Larry's　new　suit　and　gone　on　their　way　through　park　and　boulevard；　Larry　continued　to　expatiate　upon　the　glories　of　Alberta　hills　and　valleys；　upon　its　cool　breezes；　its　flowing　rivers　and　limpid　lakes；　and　always　the　western　rampart　of　the　eternal　snow…clad　peaks。

〃And　how　is　the　mine　doing？〃　inquired　Rowena；　for　Larry　had　fallen　silent。

〃The　mine？　　Oh；　there's　trouble　there；　I　am　afraid。　　Switzeryou　hav