the lion and the unicorn(狮子与独角兽)-第27节
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〃It's a pity you are not in London now；〃 he said； sincerely。 〃They
need some one there who has been on the spot。 They can't direct the
colonies from what they know of them in Whitehall。〃
Sir Charles fingered the dinner cloth nervously； and when he spoke；
fixed his eyes anxiously upon Miss Cameron。
〃Do you know；〃 he said； 〃I have been thinking of doing that very thing；
of resigning my post here and going back； entering Parliament； and all the
rest of it。〃
His declaration met with a unanimous chorus of delight。 Miss
Cameron nodded her head with eager approval。
〃Yes； if I were a man； that is where I should wish to be；〃 she said； 〃at
the heart of it。 Why； whatever you say in the House of Commons is
heard all over the world the next morning。〃
Sir Charles felt the blood tingle in his pulses。 He had not been so
stirred in years。 Her words ran to his head like wine。
Mr。 Collier raised his glass。
〃Here's to our next meeting；〃 he said； 〃on the terrace of the House of
Commons。〃
But Miss Cameron interrupted。 〃No； to the Colonial Secretary；〃 she
amended。
〃Oh yes；〃 they assented； rising； and so drank his health； smiling down
upon him with kind； friendly glances and good…will。
〃To the Colonial Secretary；〃 they said。 Sir Charles clasped the arms
of his chair tightly with his hands； his eyes were half closed； and his lips
pressed into a grim； confident smile。 He felt that a single word from her
would make all that they suggested possible。 If she cared for such things；
they were hers； he had them to give； they were ready lying at her feet。
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He knew that the power had always been with him； lying dormant in his
heart and brain。 It had only waited for the touch of the Princess to wake
it into life。
The American visitors were to sail for the mainland the next day； but
he had come to know them so well in the brief period of their visit that he
felt he dared speak to her that same night。 At least he could give her
some word that would keep him in her mind until they met again in
London； or until she had considered her answer。 He could not expect her
to answer at once。 She could take much time。 What else had he to do
now but to wait for her answer？ It was now all that made life。
Collier and his wife had left the veranda and had crossed the lawn
towards the water's edge。 The moonlight fell full upon them with all the
splendor of the tropics； and lit the night with a brilliant； dazzling radiance。
From where Miss Cameron sat on the veranda in the shadow； Sir Charles
could see only the white outline of her figure and the indolent movement
of her fan。 Collier had left his wife and was returning slowly towards the
step。 Sir Charles felt that if he meant to speak he must speak now； and
quickly。 He rose and placed himself beside her in the shadow； and the
girl turned her head inquiringly and looked up at him。
But on the instant the hush of the night was broken by a sharp
challenge； and the sound of men's voices raised in anger； there was the
noise of a struggle on the gravel； and from the corner of the house the two
sentries came running； dragging between them a slight figure that fought
and wrestled to be free。
Sir Charles exclaimed with indignant impatience； and turning； strode
quickly to the head of the steps。
〃What does this mean？〃 he demanded。 〃What are you doing with
that man？ Why did you bring him here？〃
As the soldiers straightened to attention； their prisoner ceased to
struggle； and stood with his head bent on his chest。 His sombrero was
pulled down low across his forehead。
〃He was crawling through the bushes； Sir Charles；〃 the soldier panted；
〃watching that gentleman； sir；〃he nodded over his shoulder towards
Collier。 〃I challenged； and he jumped to run； and we collared him。 He
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resisted； Sir Charles。〃
The mind of the Governor was concerned with other matters than
trespassers。
〃Well； take him to the barracks； then；〃 he said。 〃Report to me in the
morning。 That will do。〃
The prisoner wheeled eagerly； without further show of resistance； and
the soldiers closed in on him on either side。 But as the three men moved
away together； their faces； which had been in shadow； were now turned
towards Mr。 Collier； who was advancing leisurely； and with silent
footsteps； across the grass。 He met them face to face； and as he did so
the prisoner sprang back and threw out his arms in front of him； with the
gesture of a man who entreats silence。 Mr。 Collier halted as though
struck to stone； and the two men confronted each other without moving。
〃Good God！〃 Mr。 Collier whispered。
He turned stiffly and slowly； as though in a trance； and beckoned to his
wife； who had followed him。
〃Alice！〃 he called。 He stepped backwards towards her； and taking
her hand in one of his； drew her towards the prisoner。 〃Here he is！〃 he
said。
They heard her cry 〃Henry！〃 with the fierceness of a call for help； and
saw her rush forward and stumble into the arms of the prisoner； and their
two heads were bent close together。
Collier ran up the steps and explained breathlessly。
〃And now；〃 he gasped； in conclusion； 〃what's to be done？ What's he
arrested for？ Is it bailable？ What？〃
〃Good heavens！〃 exclaimed Sir Charles； miserably。 〃It is my fault
entirely。 I assure you I had no idea。 How could I？ But I should have
known； I should have guessed it。〃 He dismissed the sentries with a
gesture。 〃That will do；〃 he said。 〃Return to your posts。〃
Mr。 Collier laughed with relief。
〃Then it is not serious？〃 he asked。
〃Hehe had no money； that was all；〃 exclaimed Sir Charles。
〃Serious？ Certainly not。 Upon my word； I'm sorry〃
The young man had released himself from his sister's embrace； and
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was coming towards them； and Sir Charles； eager to redeem himself；
advanced hurriedly to greet him。 But the young man did not see him； he
was looking past him up the steps to where Miss Cameron stood in the
shadow。
Sir Charles hesitated and drew back。 The young man stopped at the
foot of the steps； and stood with his head raised； staring up at the white
figure of the girl； who came slowly forward。
It was forced upon Sir Charles that in spite of the fact that the young
man before them had but just then been rescued from arrest； that in spite
of his mean garments and ragged sandals； something about himthe
glamour that surrounds the prodigal； or possibly the moonlightgave him
an air of great dignity and distinction。
As Miss Cameron descended the stairs； Sir Charles recognized for the
first time that the young man was remarkably handsome； and he resented
it。 It hurt him； as did also the prodigal's youth and his assured bearing。
He felt a sudden sinking fear； a weakening of all his vital forces； and he
drew in his breath slowly and deeply。 But no one noticed him； they were
looking at the tall figure of the prodigal； standing with his hat at his hip
and his head thrown back； holding the girl with his eyes。
Collier touched Sir Charles on the arm； and nodded his head towards
the library。 〃Come；〃 he whispered； 〃let us old people leave them together。
They've a good deal to say。〃 Sir Charles obeyed in silence； and crossing
the library to the great oak chair； seated himself and leaned wearily on the
table before him。 He picked up one of the goose quills and began
separating it into little pieces。 Mr。 Collier wa
