the garden party(园会)-第40节
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he'd got hold of himself again。 He was able to face Janey。 There she
was； leaning on the rail； talking to some woman and at the same time
watching him； ready for him。 It struck him； as the gulf of water closed；
how small she looked on that huge ship。 His heart was wrung with such
a spasm that he could have cried out。 How little she looked to have come
all that long way and back by herself！ Just like her； though。 Just like
Janey。 She had the courage of aAnd now the crew had come forward
and parted the passengers； they had lowered the rails for the gangways。
The voices on shore and the voices on board flew to greet each other。
〃All well？〃
〃All well。〃
〃How's mother？〃
〃Much better。〃
〃Hullo； Jean！〃
〃Hillo； Aun' Emily！〃
〃Had a good voyage？〃
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〃Splendid！〃
〃Shan't be long now！〃
〃Not long now。〃
The engines stopped。 Slowly she edged to the wharf…side。
〃Make way theremake waymake way！〃 And the wharf hands
brought the heavy gangways along at a sweeping run。 Hammond signed
to Janey to stay where she was。 The old harbour…master stepped forward；
he followed。 As to 〃ladies first；〃 or any rot like that； it never entered his
head。
〃After you； Captain！〃 he cried genially。 And； treading on the old
man's heels； he strode up the gangway on to the deck in a bee…line to Janey；
and Janey was clasped in his arms。
〃Well； well； well！ Yes； yes！ Here we are at last！〃 he stammered。
It was all he could say。 And Janey emerged； and her cool little voicethe
only voice in the world for himsaid；
〃Well； darling！ Have you been waiting long？〃
No； not long。 Or； at any rate； it didn't matter。 It was over now。
But the point was； he had a cab waiting at the end of the wharf。 Was she
ready to go off。 Was her luggage ready？ In that case they could cut off
sharp with her cabin luggage and let the rest go hang until to…morrow。
He bent over her and she looked up with her familiar half…smile。 She
was just the same。 Not a day changed。 Just as he'd always known her。
She laid her small hand on his sleeve。
〃How are the children； John？〃 she asked。
（Hang the children！） 〃Perfectly well。 Never better in their lives。〃
〃Haven't they sent me letters？〃
〃Yes； yesof course！ I've left them at the hotel for you to digest later
on。〃
〃We can't go quite so fast；〃 said she。 〃I've got people to say good…bye
toand then there's the Captain。〃 As his face fell she gave his arm a
small understanding squeeze。 〃If the Captain comes off the bridge I want
you to thank him for having looked after your wife so beautifully。〃 Well；
he'd got her。 If she wanted another ten minutesAs he gave way she was
surrounded。 The whole first…class seemed to want to say good…bye to
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Janey。
〃Good…bye； dear Mrs。 Hammond！ And next time you're in Sydney
I'll expect you。〃
〃Darling Mrs。 Hammond！ You won't forget to write to me； will
you？〃
〃Well； Mrs。 Hammond； what this boat would have been without you！〃
It was as plain as a pikestaff that she was by far the most popular
woman on board。 And she took it alljust as usual。 Absolutely
composed。 Just her little selfjust Janey all over； standing there with her
veil thrown back。 Hammond never noticed what his wife had on。 It
was all the same to him whatever she wore。 But to…day he did notice that
she wore a black 〃costume〃didn't they call it？with white frills；
trimmings he supposed they were； at the neck and sleeves。 All this while
Janey handed him round。
〃John； dear！〃 And then： 〃I want to introduce you to〃
Finally they did escape； and she led the way to her state…room。 To
follow Janey down the passage that she knew so wellthat was so strange
to him； to part the green curtains after her and to step into the cabin that
had been hers gave him exquisite happiness。 Butconfound it！the
stewardess was there on the floor； strapping up the rugs。
〃That's the last； Mrs。 Hammond；〃 said the stewardess； rising and
pulling down her cuffs。
He was introduced again； and then Janey and the stewardess
disappeared into the passage。 He heard whisperings。 She was getting
the tipping business over； he supposed。 He sat down on the striped sofa
and took his hat off。 There were the rugs she had taken with her； they
looked good as new。 All her luggage looked fresh； perfect。 The labels
were written in her beautiful little clear hand〃Mrs。 John Hammond。〃
〃Mrs。 John Hammond！〃 He gave a long sigh of content and leaned
back； crossing his arms。 The strain was over。 He felt he could have sat
there for ever sighing his reliefthe relief at being rid of that horrible tug；
pull； grip on his heart。 The danger was over。 That was the feeling。
They were on dry land again。
But at that moment Janey's head came round the corner。
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〃Darlingdo you mind？ I just want to go and say good…bye to the
doctor。〃
Hammond started up。 〃I'll come with you。〃
〃No； no！〃 she said。 〃Don't bother。 I'd rather not。 I'll not be a
minute。〃
And before he could answer she was gone。 He had half a mind to run
after her； but instead he sat down again。
Would she really not be long？ What was the time now？ Out came
the watch； he stared at nothing。 That was rather queer of Janey； wasn't it？
Why couldn't she have told the stewardess to say good…bye for her？ Why
did she have to go chasing after the ship's doctor？ She could have sent a
note from the hotel even if the affair had been urgent。 Urgent？ Did it
could it mean that she had been ill on the voyageshe was keeping
something from him？ That was it！ He seized his hat。 He was going
off to find that fellow and to wring the truth out of him at all costs。 He
thought he'd noticed just something。 She was just a touch too calmtoo
steady。 From the very first moment
The curtains rang。 Janey was back。 He jumped to his feet。
〃Janey； have you been ill on this voyage？ You have！〃
〃Ill？〃 Her airy little voice mocked him。 She stepped over the rugs；
and came up close； touched his breast； and looked up at him。
〃Darling；〃 she said； 〃don't frighten me。 Of course I haven't！
Whatever makes you think I have？ Do I look ill？〃
But Hammond didn't see her。 He only felt that she was looking at
him and that there was no need to worry about anything。 She was here to
look after things。 It was all right。 Everything was。
The gentle pressure of her hand was so calming that he put his over
hers to hold it there。 And she said：
〃Stand still。 I want to look at you。 I haven't seen you yet。 You've
had your beard beautifully trimmed； and you lookyounger； I think； and
decidedly thinner！ Bachelor life agrees with you。〃
〃Agrees with me！〃 He groaned for love and caught her close again。
And again； as always； he had the feeling that he was holding something
that never was quite hishis。 Something too delicate； too precious； that
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would fly away once he let go。
〃For God's sake let's get off to the hotel so that we can be by
ourselves！〃 And he rang the bell hard for some one to look sharp with
the
