the lost road-第17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！


way　discouraged　by　their　surroundings。　　In　the　tropics　the　tender
emotions　are　not　winter　killed。　　Had　they　met　at　home；　the
conventions；　his　own　work；　her　social　duties　would　have　kept　the
progress　of　their　interest　within　a　certain　speed　limit。　　But　they
were　in　a　place　free　of　conventions；　and　the　preceding　eight
months　which　Hemingway　had　spent　in　the　jungle　and　on　the　plain
had　made　the　society　of　his　fellow　man；　and　of　Mrs。　Adair　in
particular；　especially　attractive。

Hemingway　had　no　work　to　occupy　his　time；　and　he　placed　it
unreservedly　at　the　disposition　of　his　countrywoman。　　In　doing　so
it　could　not　be　said　that　Mrs。　Adair　encouraged　him。　　Hemingway
himself　would　have　been　the　first　to　acknowledge　this。　　From　the
day　he　met　her　he　was　conscious　that　always　there　was　an　intangible
barrier　between　them。　　Even　before　she　possibly　could　have　guessed
that　his　interest　in　her　was　more　than　even　she；　attractive　as　she　was；
had　the　right　to　expect；　she　had　wrapped　around　herself　an　invisible
mantle　of　defense。

There　were　certain　speeches　of　his　which　she　never　heard；　certain　tones
to　which　she　never　responded。　　At　moments　when　he　was　complimenting
himself　that　at　last　she　was　content　to　be　in　his　company；　she　would
suddenly　rise　and　join　the　others；　and　he　would　be　left　wondering　in
what　way　he　could　possibly　have　offended。　

He　assured　himself　that　a　woman；　young　and　attractive；　in　a
strange　land　in　her　dependent　position　must　of　necessity　be
discreet；　but　in　his　conduct　there　certainly　had　been　nothing
that　was　not　considerate；　courteous；　and　straightforward。

When　he　appreciated　that　he　cared　for　her　seriously；　that　he　was
gloriously　happy　in　caring；　and　proud　of　the　way　in　which　he
cared；　the　fact　that　she　persistently　held　him　at　arm's　length
puzzled　and　hurt。　　At　first　when　he　had　deliberately　set　to　work
to　make　her　like　him　he　was　glad　to　think　that；　owing　to　his
reticence　about　himself；　if　she　did　like　him　it　would　be　for　himself
alone　and　not　for　his　worldly　goods。　　But　when　he　knew　her　better
he　understood　that　if　once　Mrs。　Adair　made　up　her　mind　to　take
a　second　husband；　the　fact　that　he　was　a　social　and　financial
somebody；　and　not；　as　many　in　Zanzibar　supposed　Hemingway
to　be；　a　social　outcast；　would　make　but　little　difference。　

Nor　was　her　manner　to　be　explained　by　the　fact　that　the　majority
of　women　found　him　unattractive。　　As　to　that；　the　pleasant　burden
of　his　experience　was　to　the　contrary。　　He　at　last　wondered　if
there　was　some　one　else；　if　he　had　come　into　her　life　too　late。
He　set　about　looking　for　the　man　and　so；　he　believed；　he　soon
found　him。　

Of　the　little　colony；　Arthur　Fearing　was　the　man　of　whom　Hemingway
had　seen　the　least。　　That　was　so　because　Fearing　wished　it。　　Like
himself；　Fearing　was　an　American；　young；　and　a　bachelor；　but；　
very　much　unlike　Hemingway；　a　hermit　and　a　recluse。

Two　years　before　he　had　come　to　Zanzibar　looking　for　an
investment　for　his　money。　　In　Zanzibar　there　were　gentlemen
adventurers　of　every　country；　who　were　welcome　to　live　in　any
country　save　their　own。

To　them　Mr。　Fearing　seemed　a　heaven…sent　victim。　　But　to　him　their
alluring　tales　of　the　fortunes　that　were　to　rise　from　buried　treasures；
lost　mines；　and　pearl　beds　did　not　appeal。　　Instead　he　conferred
with　the　consuls；　the　responsible　merchants；　the　partners　in　the
prosperous　trading　houses。　　After　a　month　of　〃looking　around〃　he
had　purchased　outright　the　goodwill　and　stock　of　one　of　the　oldest
of　the　commission　houses；　and　soon　showed　himself　to　be　a　most
capable　man　of　business。　　But；　except　as　a　man　of　business；　no　one
knew　him。　　From　the　dim　recesses　of　his　warehouse　he　passed　each
day　to　the　seclusion　of　his　bungalow　in　the　country。　　And；　although
every　one　was　friendly　to　him；　he　made　no　friends。

It　was　only　after　the　arrival　of　Mrs。　Adair　that　he　consented　to　show
himself；　and　it　was　soon　noted　that　it　was　only　when　she　was　invited
that　he　would　appear；　and　that　on　these　occasions　he　devoted　himself
entirely　to　her。　　In　the　presence　of　others；　he　still　was　shy；　gravely
polite；　and　speaking　but　little；　and　never　of　himself；　but　with
Mrs。　Adair　his　shyness　seemed　to　leave　him；　and　when　with　her
he　was　seen　to　talk　easily　and　eagerly。　　And；　on　her　part；　to　what
he　said；　Polly　Adair　listened　with　serious　interest。　

Lady　Firth；　who；　at　home；　was　a　trained　and　successful　match…maker；
and　who；　in　Zanzibar；　had　found　but　a　limited　field　for　her　activities；
decided　that　if　her　companion　and　protegee　must　marry；　she　should
marry　Fearing。　

Fearing　was　no　gentleman　adventurer；　remittance…man；　or　humble
clerk　serving　his　apprenticeship　to　a　steamship　line　or　an　ivory
house。　　He　was　one　of　the　pillars　of　Zanzibar　society。　　The　trading
house　he　had　purchased　had　had　its　beginnings　in　the　slave…trade；
and　now　under　his　alert　direction　was　making　a　turnover　equal　to
that　of　any　of　its　ancient　rivals。　　Personally；　Fearing　was　a　most
desirable　catch。　　He　was　well…mannered；　well…read；　of　good
appearance；　steady；　and；　in　a　latitude　only　six　degrees　removed
from　the　equator；　of　impeccable　morals。

It　is　said　that　it　is　the　person　who　is　in　love　who　always　is　the
first　to　discover　his　successful　rival。　　It　is　either　an　instinct
or　because　his　concern　is　deeper　than　that　of　others。　

And　so；　when　Hemingway　sought　for　the　influence　that　separated
him　from　Polly　Adair；　the　trail　led　to　Fearing。　　To　find　that　the
obstacle　in　the　path　of　his　true　love　was　a　man　greatly　relieved
him。　　He　had　feared　that　what　was　in　the　thoughts　of　Mrs。　Adair
was　the　memory　of　her　dead　husband。　　He　had　no　desire　to　cross
swords　with　a　ghost。　　But　to　a　living　rival　he　could　afford　to　be
generous。

For　he　was　sure　no　one　could　care　for　Polly　Adair　as　he　cared；
and；　like　every　other　man　in　love；　he　believed　that　he　alone　had
discovered　in　her　beauties　of　soul　and　character　that　to　the　rest
of　mankind　were　hidden。　　This　knowledge；　he　assured　himself；　had
aroused　in　him　a　depth　of　devotion　no　one　else　could　hope　to
imitate；　and　this　depth　of　devotion　would　in　time　so　impress　her；
would　become　so　necessary　to　her　existence；　that　it　would　force
her　at　last　into　the　arms　of　the　only　man　who　could　offer　it。

Having　satisfied　himself　in　this　fashion；　he　continued　cheerfully
on　his　way；　and　the　presence　of　a　rival　in　no　way　discouraged
him。　　It　only　was　Polly　Adair　who　discouraged　him。　　And　this；
in　spite　of　the　fact　that　every　hour　of　the　day　he　tried　to　bring
himself　pleasantly　to　her　notice。　　All　that　an　idle　young　man　in
love；　aided　and　abetted　by　imagination　and　an　unlimited　letter　of
credit；　could　do；　Hemingway　did。　　But　to　no　end。　

The　treasures　he　dug　out　of　the　bazaars　and　presented　to　her；
under　false　pretenses　as　trinkets　he　happened　at　that　moment
to　find　in　his　pockets；　were　admired　by　her　at　their　own　great
value；　and　returned　also　under　false　pretenses；　as　having　been
offered　her　only　to　examine。

〃It　is　for　your　sister　at　home；　I　suppose；〃　she　prompted。　　〃It's
quite　lovely。　　Thank　you　for　letting　me　see　it。〃

After　having　been　several　times　severely　snubbed　in　this　fashion；
Hemingway　remarked　grimly　as　he　put　a　black　pearl　back　into　his
pocket：

〃At　this　rate　sister　will　be　mighty　glad　to　see　me　when　I　get
home。　　It　seems　almost　a　pity　I　haven't　got　a　sister。〃　

The　girl　answered　this　only　with　a　grave　smile。

On　another　occasion　she　admired　a　polo　pony　that　had　been
imported　for　the　stable　of　the　boy　Sultan。　　But　next　morning
Hemingway；　after　much　diplomacy；　became　the　owner　of　it　and
proudly　rode　it　to　the　agency。　　Lady　Firth　and　Polly　Adair　walked
out　to　meet　him　arm　in　arm；　but　at　sight　of　the　pony　there　came
into　the　eyes　of　the　secretary　a　look　that　caused　Hemingway　to
wish　himself　and　his　mount　many　miles　in　the　jungle。　　He　saw
that　before　it　had　been　proffered；　his　gift…horse　had　been　rejected。
He　acted　promptly。　

〃Lady　Firth；〃　he　said；　〃you've　been　so　awfully　kind　to　me；　made　this
place　so　like　a　home　to　me；　that　I　want　you　to　put　this　mare　in　your
stable。　　The　Sultan　wanted　her；　but　when　he　learned　I　meant　to　turn
her　over　to　you；　he　let　her　go。　　We　both　hope　you'll　accept。〃

Lady　Firth　had　no　scruples。　　In　five　minutes　she　had　accepted；　had
clapped　a　side…saddle　on　her　rich　gift；　and　was　cantering　joyously
down　the　Pearl　Road。

Polly　Adair　looked　after　her　with　an　expression　that　was
distinctly　wistful。　　Thus　encouraged；　Hemingway　said：

〃I'm　glad　you　are　sorry。　　I　hope　every　time　you　see　that　pony
you'll　be　sorry。〃

〃Why　should　I　be　sorry？〃　asked　the　girl。

〃Because　you　have　been　unkind；〃　said　Hemingway；　〃and　it　is　not　your
character　to　be　unkind。　　And　that　you　have　shown　lack　of　character
ought　to　make　you　sorry。〃

〃But　you　know　perfectly　well；〃　said　Mrs。　Adair；　〃that　if　I　were
to　take　any　one　of　these　wonderful　things　you　bring　me；　I　wouldn't
have　any　character　left。〃

She　smiled　at　him　reassuringly。　　〃And　you　know；〃　she　added；　〃that
that　is　not　why　I　do　not　take　them。　　It　isn't　because　I　can't　afford　to；
or　because　I　don't　want　them；　because　I　do；　but　it's　because　I　don't
deserve　them；　because　I　can　give　you　nothing　in　return。〃

〃As　the　copy…book　says；〃　returne