the cruise of the jasper b.-第17节
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earlier poems。 The exact phrases eluded him； perhaps； indeed； it
was the underlying sentiment of nearly ALL of Tennyson's earlier
poems of which she reminded himthose lyrics which are at once
so romantic and so irreproachable morally。
〃We must give you Americans credit for imagination at any rate；〃
she said smilingly； making her Pomeranian sit up on his hind legs
and beg for a morsel of crisp bacon。 〃I awake in a boatyard
after having gone to sleep in a dismantled barge。〃
〃Barge！〃 The word 〃barge〃 struck Cleggett unexpectedly； he was
not aware that he had given a start and frowned。
〃Mercy！〃 exclaimed Lady Agatha； 〃how the dear man glares！ What
should I call it？ Scow？〃
〃Scow？〃 said Cleggett。 He had scarcely recovered from the word
〃barge〃； it is not to be denied that 〃scow〃 jarred upon him even
more than 〃barge〃 had done。
〃I beg your pardon；〃 said Lady Agatha； 〃but what IS the Jasper
B。； Mr。 Cleggett？〃
〃The Jasper B。 is a schooner；〃 said Cleggett。 He tried to say it
casually； but he was conscious as he spoke that there was a trace
of hurt surprise in his voice。 The most generous and chivalrous
soul alive； Cleggett would have gone to the stake for Lady
Agatha； and yet so unaccountable is that vain thing； the human
soul （especially at breakfast time）； that he felt angry at her
for misunderstanding the Jasper B。
〃You aren't going to be horrid about it； are you？〃 she said。
〃Because； you know； I never said I knew anything about ships。〃
She picked up the little dog and stood it on the table； making
the animal extend its paws as if pleading。 〃Help me to beg Mr。
Cleggett's pardon；〃 she said； 〃he's going to be cross with us
about his old boat。〃
If Lady Agatha had been just an inch taller or just a few pounds
heavier the playful mood itself would have jarred upon the
fastidious Cleggett； indeed； as she was； if she had been just a
thought more playful； it would have jarred。 But Lady Agatha； it
has been remarked before； never went too far in any direction。
Even as she smiled and held out the dog's paws Cleggett was aware
of something in her eyes that was certainly not a tear； but was
just as certainly a film of moisture that might be a tear in
another minute。 Then Cleggett cursed himself inwardly for a
bruteit rushed over him how difficult to Lady Agatha her
position on board the Jasper B。 must seem。 She must regard
herself as practically a pensioner on his bounty。 And he had
been churl enough to show a spark of temperand that； too； after
she had repeatedly expressed her gratitude to him。
〃I am deeply sorry； Lady Agatha；〃 he began； blushing painfully；
〃if〃
〃Silly！〃 She interrupted him by reaching across the table and
laying a forgiving hand upon his arm。 〃Don't be so stiff and
formal。 Eat your egg before it gets cold and don't say another
work。 Of course I know you're not REALLY going to be cross。〃
And she attacked her breakfast； giving him such a look that he
forthwith forgave himself and forgot that he had had anything to
forgive in her。
〃There's going to be a frightful racket around here today；〃 he
said presently。 〃Maybe you'd like to get away from it for a
while。 How'd you like to go for a row？〃
〃I'd love it！〃 she said。
〃George will be glad to take you； I'm sure。〃
〃George？ And you？〃 He thought he detected a note of
disappointment in her voice； he had not thought to disappoint
her； but when he found her disappointed he got a certain thrill
out of it。
〃I am going over to Morris's this morning；〃 he said。
〃To Morris's？ Alone？〃
〃Why； yes。〃
〃Butbut isn't it dangerous？〃
Cleggett smiled and shrugged his shoulders。
〃Promise me that you will not go over there alone；〃 she demanded。
〃I am sorry。 I cannot。〃
〃But it is rashit is mad！〃
〃There is no real danger。〃
〃Then I am going with you。〃
〃I think that would hardly be advisable。〃
〃I'm going with you；〃 she repeated； rising with determination。
〃But you're not；〃 said Cleggett。 〃I couldn't think of allowing
it。〃
〃Then there IS danger；〃 she said。
He tried to evade the point。 〃I shouldn't have mentioned it；〃 he
murmured。
She ran into the stateroom and was back in an instant with her
hat； which she pinned on as she spoke。
〃I'm ready to start；〃 she said。
〃But you're not going。〃
〃After what you've done for me I insist upon my right to share
whatever danger there may be。〃 She spoke heatedly。
In her heat and impulsiveness and generous bravery Cleggett
thought her adorable； although he began to get really angry with
her； too。 At the same time he was aware that her gratitude to
him was such that she was on fire to give him some positive and
early proof of it。 It had not so much as occurred to her to
enjoy immunity on account of her sex； it had not entered her
mind； apparently； that her sex was an obstacle in the way of
participating in whatever dangerous enterprise he had planned。
She was； in fact； behaving like a chivalric but obstinate boy；
she had not been a militant suffragette for nothing。 And yet；
somehow； this attitude only served to enhance her essential
femininity。 Nevertheless； Cleggett was inflexible。
〃You would scarcely forbid me to go to Morris's today； or
anywhere else I may choose；〃 she said hotly； with a spot of red
on either cheek bone； and a dangerous dilatation of her eyes。
〃That is exactly what I intend to do；〃 said Cleggett； with an
intensity equal to her own； 〃FORBID you。〃
〃You are curiously presumptuous；〃 she said。
It was a real quarrel before they were done with it； will opposed
to naked will。 And oddly enough Cleggett found his admiration
grow as his determination to gain his point increased。 For she
fought fair； disdaining the facile weapon of tears； and when she
yielded she did it suddenly and merrily。
〃You've the temper of a sultan； Mr。 Cleggett；〃 she said with a
laugh； which was her signal of capitulation。 And then she added
maliciously： 〃You've a devil of a temperfor a little man！〃
〃Little！〃 Cleggett felt the blood rush into his face again and
was vexed at himself。 〃I'm taller than you are！〃 he cried； and
the next instant could have bitten his tongue off for the
childish vanity of the speech。
〃You're not！〃 she cried； her whole face alive with laughter。
〃Measure and see！〃
And pulling off her hat she caught up a table knife and made him
stand with his back to hers。 〃You're cheating；〃 said Cleggett；
laughing now in spite of himself； as she laid the knife across
their heads。 But his voice broke and trembled on the next words；
for he was suddenly thrilled with her delicious nearness。
〃You're standing on your tiptoes； and your hair's piled on top of
your head。〃
〃Maybe you are an inch taller；〃 she admitted； with mock
reluctance。 And then she said； with a ripple of mirth： 〃You are
taller than I amI give up； I won't go to Morris's。〃
Cleggett； to tell the truth； was a bit relieved at the
measurement。 He was of the middle height； she was slightly
taller than the average woman； he had really thought she might
prove taller than he。 He could scarcely have told why he
considered the point important。
But after the quarrel she looked at Cleggett with a new and more
approving gaze。 Neither of them quite realized it； but she had
challenged his ability to dominate her； and she had been worsted；
he had unconsciously met and satisfied in her that subtle
inherent craving for domination which all women possess and so
few will admit the possession of。
Cleggett started across the sands toward Morris's with an
automatic pistol slung in a shoulder holster under his left arm
and a sword cane in his hand。 He paused a moment by the scene of
the explosion of the night before； but daylight told him nothing
that lantern light had failed to reveal。 He had no very definite
plan； although he thought it possible that he might gain some
information。 The more he reflected on the attitude of Morris's；
the more it irritated him； and he yearned to make this irritation
known。
Perhaps there was more than a little of the spirit of bravado in
the call he proposed to pay。 He planned； the next day； to sail
the Jasper B。 out into the bay and up and down the coast for a
few miles； to give himself and his men a bit of practice in
navigation before setting out for the China Seas。 And he could
not bear to think that the hostile denizens of Morris's should
think that he had moved the Jasper B。 from her position through
any fear of them。 He reasoned that the most pointed way of
showing his opinion of them would be to walk casually into
Morris's barroom and order a drink or two。 If Cleggett had a
fault as a commander it lay in these occasional foolhardy
impulses which he found it difficult to control。 Julius Caesar
had the same sort of
