the illustrious prince-第21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！


h　had　flashed　through　her　brain。　She　felt　like　a　little　child　in　the　presence　of　some　mysterious　being；　thoughts　of　whom　had　haunted　her　dreams；　now　visible　in　bodily　shape　for　the　first　time。

〃My　dear　young　lady；〃　he　said；　〃please　do　not　ask　me　too　much；　for　I　love　to　speak　the　truth；　and　there　are　many　things　which　I　may　not　tell。　Only　you　must　understand　that　the　country　I　lovemy　own　countrymust　enter　soon　upon　a　new　phase　of　her　history。　We　who　look　into　the　future　can　see　the　great　clouds　gathering。　Some　of　us　must　needs　be　pioneers；　must　go　forward　a　little　to　learn　our　safest；　and　best　course。　May　I　tell　you　that　much？〃

〃Of　course；〃　she　answered　softly。

〃And　now；〃　he　added；　leaving　his　seat　as　though　with　reluctance；　〃the　Duchess　reminded　me；　above　all　things；　that　directly　I　found　you　I　was　to　take　you　to　supper。　One　of　your　royal　princes　has　been　good　enough　to　signify　his　desire　that　we　should　sit　at　the　same　table。〃

She　rose　at　once。

〃Does　the　Duchess　know　that　you　are　taking　me？〃　she　asked。

〃I　arranged　it　with　her；〃　he　answered。　〃My　time　draws　soon　to　an　end　and　I　am　to　be　spoilt　a　little。〃

They　crossed　the　ballroom　together　and　mounted　the　great　stairs。　Somethingshe　never　knew　quite　what　it　wasprompted　her　to　detain　him　as　they　paused　on　the　threshold　of　the　supper　room。

〃You　do　not　often　read　the　papers；　Prince；〃　she　said。　〃Perhaps　you　have　not　seen　that；　after　all；　the　police　have　discovered　a　clue　to　the　Hamilton　Fynes　murder。〃

The　Prince　looked　down　upon　her　for　a　moment　without　reply。

〃Yes？〃　he　murmured　softly。

She　understood　that　she　was　to　go　onthat　he　was　anxious　for　her　to　go　on。

〃Some　little　doctor　in　a　village　near　Willington；　where　the　line　passes；　has　come　forward　with　a　story　about　attending　to　a　wounded　man　on　the　night　of　the　murder；〃　she　said。

He　was　very　silent。　It　seemed　to　her　that　there　was　something　strange　about　the　immovability　of　his　features。　She　looked　at　him　wonderingly。　Then　it　suddenly　flashed　upon　her　that　this　was　his　way　of　showing　emotion。　Her　lips　parted。　The　color　seemed　drawn　from　her　cheeks。　The　majordomo　of　the　Duchess　stood　before　them　with　a　bow。

〃Her　Grace　desires　me　to　show　your　Highness　to　your　seats；〃　he　announced。

Prince　Maiyo　turned　to　his　companion。

〃Will　you　allow　me　to　precede　you　through　the　crush？〃　he　said。　〃We　are　to　go　this　way。〃



CHAPTER　XIII。　EAST　AND　WEST

After　the　supper　there　were　obligations　which　the　Prince；　whose　sense　of　etiquette　was　always　strong；　could　not　avoid。　He　took　Penelope　back　to　her　aunt；　reminding　her　that　the　next　dance　but　one　belonged　to　him。　Miss　Morse；　who　was　an　invalid　and　was　making　one　of　her　very　rare　appearances　in　Society；　watched　him　curiously　as　he　disappeared。

〃I　wonder　what　they'd　think　of　your　new　admirer　in　New　York；　Penelope；〃　she　remarked。

〃I　imagine；〃　Penelope　answered；　〃that　they　would　envy　me　very　much。〃

Miss　Morse；　who　was　a　New　Englander　of　the　old…fashioned　type；　opened　her　lips；　but　something　in　her　niece's　face　restrained　her。

〃Well；　at　any　rate；〃　she　said；　〃I　hope　we　don't　go　to　war　with　them。　The　Admiral　wrote　me；　a　few　weeks　ago；　that　he　saw　no　hope　for　anything　else。〃

〃It　would　be　a　terrible　complication；〃　the　Duchess　sighed；　〃especially　considering　our　own　alliance　with　Japan。　I　don't　think　we　need　consider　it　seriously；　however。　Over　in　America　you　people　have　too　much　common　sense。〃

〃The　Government　have；　very　likely；〃　Miss　Morse　admitted；　〃but　it　isn't　always　the　Government　who　decide　things　or　who　even　rule　the　country。　We　have　an　omnipotent　Press；　you　know。　All　that's　wanted　is　a　weak　President；　and　Heaven　knows　where　we　should　be！〃

〃Of　course；〃　the　Duchess　remarked；　〃Prince　Maiyo　is　half　an　Englishman。　His　mother　was　a　Stretton…Wynne。　One　of　the　first　intermarriages；　I　should　think。　Lord　Stretton…Wynne　was　Ambassador　to　Japan。〃

〃I　think；〃　said　Penelope；　〃that　if　you　could　look　into　Prince　Maiyo's　heart　you　would　not　find　him　half　an　Englishman。　I　think　that　he　is　more　than　seven…eighths　a　Japanese。〃

〃I　have　heard　it　whispered；〃　the　Duchess　remarked；　leaning　forward；　〃that　he　is　over　here　on　an　exceedingly　serious　mission。　One　thing　is　quite　certain。　No　one　from　his　country；　or　from　any　other　country；　for　that　matter；　has　ever　been　so　entirely　popular　amongst　us。　He　has　the　most　delightful　manners　of　any　man　I　ever　knew　of　any　race。〃

Sir　Charles　came　up；　with　gloomy　face；　to　claim　a　dance。　After　it　was　over；　he　led　Penelope　back　to　her　aunt　almost　in　silence。

〃You　are　dancing　again　with　the　Prince？〃　he　asked。

〃Certainly；〃　she　answered。　〃Here　he　comes。〃

The　Prince　smiled　pleasantly　at　the　young　man；　who　towered　like　a　giant　above　him；　and　noticed　at　once　his　lack　of　cordiality。

〃I　am　selfish！〃　he　exclaimed；　pausing　with　Penelope's　hand　upon　his　coat　sleeve。　〃I　am　taking　you　too　much　away　from　your　friends；　and　spoiling　your　pleasure；　perhaps；　because　I　do　not　dance。　Is　it　not　so？　It　is　your　kindness　to　a　stranger；　and　they　do　not　all　appreciate　it。〃

〃We　will　go　into　the　winter　garden　and　talk　it　over；〃　she　answered；　smiling。

They　found　their　old　seats　unoccupied。　Once　more　they　sat　and　listened　to　the　fall　of　the　water。

〃Prince；〃　said　Penelope；　〃there　is　one　thing　I　have　learned　about　you　this　evening；　and　that　is　that　you　do　not　love　questions。　And　yet　there　is　one　other　which　I　should　like　to　ask　you。〃

〃If　you　please；〃　the　Prince　murmured。

〃You　spoke；　a　little　time　ago；〃　she　continued；　〃of　some　great　crisis　with　which　your　country　might　soon　come　face　to　face。　Might　I　ask　you　this：　were　you　thinking　of　war　with　the　United　States？〃

He　looked　at　her　in　silence　for　several　moments。

〃Dear　Miss　Penelope；〃　he　said；〃may　I　call　you　that？　Forgive　me

if　I　am　too　forward；　but　I　hear　so　many　of　our　friends〃

〃You　may　call　me　that；〃　she　interrupted　softly。

〃Let　me　remind　you；　then；　of　what　we　were　saying　a　little　time　ago；〃　he　went　on。　〃You　will　not　take　offence？　You　will　understand；　I　am　sure。　Those　things　that　lie　nearest　to　my　heart　concerning　my　country　are　the　things　of　which　I　cannot　speak。〃

〃Not　even　to　me？〃　she　pleaded。　〃I　am　so　insignificant。　Surely　I　do　not　count？〃

〃Miss　Penelope；〃　he　said；　〃you　yourself　are　a　daughter　of　that　country　of　which　we　have　been　speaking。〃

She　was　silent。

〃You　think；　then；〃　she　asked；　〃that　I　put　my　country　before　everything　else　in　the　world？〃

〃I　believe；　〃　he　answered；　〃that　you　would。　Your　country　is　too　young　to　be　wholly　degenerate。　It　is　true　that　you　are　a　nation　of　fused　racesa　strange　medley　of　people；　but　still　you　are　a　nation。　I　believe　that　in　time　of　stress　you　would　place　your　country　before　everything　else。〃

〃And　therefore？〃　she　murmured。

〃And　therefore；〃　he　continued　with　a　delightful　smile；　〃I　shall　not　discuss　my　hopes　or　fears　with　you。　Or　if　we　do　discuss　them；〃　he　went　on；　〃let　us　weave　them　into　a　fairy　tale。　Let　us　say　that　you　are　indeed　the　Daughter　of　All　America　and　that　I　am　the　Son　of　All　Japan。　You　know　what　happens　in　fairyland　when　two　great　nations　rise　up　to　fight？〃

〃Tell　me；〃　she　begged。

〃Why；　the　Daughter　of　All　America　and　the　Son　of　All　Japan　stand　hand　in　hand　before　their　people；　and　as　they　plight　their　troth；　all　bitter　feelings　pass　away；　the　shouts　of　anger　cease；　and　there　is　no　more　talk　of　war。〃

She　sighed；　and　leaned　a　little　towards　him。　Her　eyes　were　soft　and　dusky；　her　red　lips　a　little　parted。

〃But　I；〃　she　whispered；　〃am　not　the　Daughter　of　All　America。〃

〃Nor　am　I；〃　he　answered　with　a　sigh；　〃the　Son　of　all　Japan。〃

There　was　a　breathless　silence。　The　water　splashed　into　the　basin；　the　music　came　throbbing　in　through　the　flower…hung　doorways。　It　seemed　to　Penelope　that　she　could　almost　hear　her　heart　beat。　The　blood　in　her　veins　was　dancing　to　the　one　perfect　waltz。　The　moments　passed。　She　drew　a　little　breath　and　ventured　to　look　at　him。　His　face　was　still　and　white；　as　though；　indeed；　it　had　been　carved　out　of　marble；　but　the　fire　in　his　eyes　was　a　living　thing。

〃We　have　actually　been　talking　nonsense；〃　she　said；　〃and　I　thought　that　you；　Prince；　were　far　too　serious。〃

〃We　were　talking　fairy　tales；〃　he　answered；　〃and　they　are　not　nonsense。　Do　not　you　ever　read　the　history　of　your　country　as　it　was　many　hundreds　of　years　ago；　before　this　ugly　thing　they　call　civilization　weakened　the　sinews　of　our　race　and　besmirched　the　very　face　of　duty？　Do　you　not　like　to　read　of　the　times　when　life　was　simpler　and　more　natural；　and　there　was　space　for　every　man　to　live　and　grow　and　stretch　out　his　hands　to　the　skies；every　man　and　every　woman？　They　call　them；　in　your　literature；　the　days　of　romance。　They　existed；　too；　in　my　country。　It　is　not　nonsense　to　imagine　for　a　little　time　that　the　ages　between　have　rolled　away　and　that　those　days　are　with　us？〃

〃No；〃　she　answered；　〃it　is　not　nonsense。　But　if　they　were？〃

He　raised　her　fingers　to　his　lips　and　kissed　them。　The　touch　of　his　hand；　the　absolute　delicacy　of　the　salute　itself；　made　it　unlike　any　other　caress　she　had　ever　known　or　imagined。

〃The　world　might　have　been　happier　for　both　of　us；〃　he　whispered。

Somerfield；　sullen　and　discontented；　came　and　looked　at　them；　moved　away；　and　then　hesitatingly　returned。

〃Willmott　i