lady baltimore-第54节
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〃 impression to her stock； and gone away in total ignorance of the quality of the impression she had madeand Bohm would probably have again remarked； 〃Worse than Sunday。〃 No； the St。 Michaels and the Replacers would never meet in this world； and I see no reason that they should in the next。 John's light and pleasing skirmish with Kitty gave me the glimpse of his capacities which I had lacked hitherto。 John evidently 〃knew his way about；〃 as they say； and I was diverted to think how Miss Josephine St。 Michael would have nodded over his adequacy and shaken her head at his squandering it on such a companion。 But it was no squandering； the boy's heavy spirit was making a gallant 〃bluff〃 at playing up with the lively party he had no choice but to join； and this one saw the moment he was not called upon to play up。
The peaceful loveliness that floated from earth and water around me triumphed over the jangling hilarity of the cabin； and I dozed away； aware that they were now all thumping furiously in chorus； while Gazza sang something that went； 〃Oh； she's my leetle preety poosee pet。〃 When I roused； it was Kitty's voice at the piano； but no change in the quality of the song or the thumping； and Hortense was stepping on deck。 She had a cigarette； her beauty flashed with devilment； and John followed her。 〃They are going to have an explanation；〃 I thought； as I saw his face。 If that were so； then Kitty had blundered in her strategy and hurt Charley's cause； for after the two came Gazza； as obviously 〃sent〃 as any emissary ever looked： Kitty took care of the singing； while Gazza intercepted any tete…a…tete。 I rose and made a fourth with them； and even as I was drawing near； the devilment in Hortense's face sank inward beneath cold displeasure。
I had never been a welcome person to Hortense； and she made as little effort to conceal this as usual。 Her indifferent eyes glanced at me with drowsy insolence； and she made her beautiful； low voice as remote and inattentive as her skilful social equipment could render it。
〃It is so hot in the cabin。〃
This was all she had for me。 Then she looked at Gazza with returning animation。
〃Oh； la la！〃 said Gazza。 〃If it is hot in the cabin！〃 And he flirted his handkerchief back and forth。
〃I think I had the best of it；〃 I remarked。 〃All the melody and none of the temperature。〃
Hortense saw no need of noticing me further
〃The singer has the worst of it；〃 said Gazza。
〃But since you all sang！〃 I laughed。
〃Miss Rieppe； she is cool；〃 continued Gazza。 〃And she danced。 It is not fair。〃
John contributed nothing。 He was by no means playing up now。 He was
looking away at the shore。
Gazza hummed a little fragment。 〃But after lunch I will sing you good music。〃
〃So long as it keeps us cool；〃 I suggested。
〃Ah； no！ It will not be cool music！〃 cried Gazza〃for those who understand。〃
〃Are those boys bathing？〃 Hortense now inquired。
We watched the distant figures； and presently they flashed into the water。
〃Oh； me！〃 sighed Gazza。 〃If I were a boy！〃
Hortense looked at him。 〃You would be afraid。〃 The devilment had come out again； suddenly and brilliantly：
〃I never have been afraid！〃 declared Gazza。
〃You would not jump in after me；〃 said Hortense； taking his measure more and more provokingly。
Gazza laid his hand on his heart。 〃Where you go； I will go！〃
Hortense looked at him； and laughed very slightly and lightly。
〃I swear it！ I swear！〃 protested Gazza。
John's eyes were now fixed upon Hortense。
〃Would you go？〃 she asked him
〃Decidedly not！〃 he returned。 I don't know whether he was angry or anxious。
〃Oh； yes； you would！〃 said Hortense； and she jumped into the water； cigarette and all。
〃Get a boat； quick；〃 said John to me； and with his coat flung off he was in the river； whose current Hortense could scarce have reckoned with； for they were both already astern as I ran out on the port boat boom。
Gazza was dancing and shrieking； 〃Man overboard！〃 which； indeed； was the correct expression； only it did not apply to himself。 Gazza was a very sensible person。 I had； as I dropped into the nearest boat； a brisk sight of the sailing…master； springing like a jack…in…the…box on the deserted deck； with a roar of 〃Where's that haymaker？〃 His reference was to the anchor watch。 The temptation to procure good matches to light his pipe had ended （I learned later） by proving too much for this responsible sailor…man； and he had unfortunately chosen for going below just the unexpected moment when it had entered the daring head of Hortense to perform this extravagance。 Of course； before I had pulled many strokes； the deck of the Hermana was alive with many manifestations of life…saving and they had most likely been in time。 But I am not perfectly sure of this； the current was strong； and a surprising distance seemed to broaden between me and the Hermana before another boat came into sight around her stern。 By then； or just after that （for I cannot clearly remember the details of these few anxious minutes）； I had caught up with John； whose face； and total silence； as he gripped the stern of the boat with one hand and held Hortense with the other； plainly betrayed it was high time somebody came。 A man can swim （especially in salt water） with his shoes on； and his clothes add nothing of embarrassment； if his arms are free； but a woman's clothes do not help either his buoyancy or the freedom of his movement。 John now lifted Hortense's two hands； which took a good hold of the boat。 From between her lips the dishevelled cigarette； bitten through and limp； fell into the water。 The boat felt the weight of the two hands to it。
〃Take care；〃 I warned John。
Hortense opened her eyes and looked at me； she knew that I meant her。 〃I'll not swamp you。〃 This was her first remark。 Her next was when； after no incautious haste； I had hauled her in over the stern； John working round to the bow for the sake of balance： 〃I was not dressed for swimming。〃 Very quietly did Hortense speak； very coolly； very evenly； no faintingand no flippancy； she was too game for either。
After this； whatever emotions she had felt； or was feeling； she showed none of them； unless it was by her complete silence。 John's coming into the boat we managed with sufficient dexterity； aided by the horrified Charley； who now arrived personally in the other boat； and was for taking all three of us into that。 But this was altogether unnecessary； he was made to understand that such transferences as it would occasion were superfluous； and so one of his men stepped into our boat to help me to row back against the current； and for this I was not unthankful。
Our return took； it appeared to me； a much longer time than everything else which had happened。 When I looked over my shoulder at the Hermana； she seemed an incredible distance off； and when I looked again； she had grown so very little nearer that I abandoned this fruitless proceeding。 Charley's boat had gone ahead to announce the good news to General Rieppe as soon as possible。 But if our return was long to me； to Hortense it was not so。 She sat beside her lover in the stern； and I knew that he was more to her than ever： it was her spirit also that wanted him now。 Poor Kitty's words of prophecy had come perversely true： 〃Something will happen； and that boy'll be conspicuous。〃 Well； it had happened with a vengeance； and all wrong for Kitty； and all wrong for me！ Then I remembered Charley； last of all。 My doubt as to what he would have done； had he been on deck； was settled later by learning from his own lips that he did not know how to swim。
Yes； the sentimental world （and by that I mean the immense and mournful preponderance of fools； and not the few of true sentiment） would soon be exclaiming： 〃How romantic！ She found her heart！ She had a glimpse of Death's angel； and in that light saw her life's true happiness！〃 But I should say nothing like that； nor would Miss Josephine St。 Michael； if I read that lady at all right。 She didn't know what I did about Hortense。 She hadn't overheard Sophistication confessing amorous curiosity about Innocence； but the old Kings Port lady's sound instinct would tell her that a souse in the water wasn't likely to be enough to wash away the seasoning of a lifetime； and she would wait； as I should； for the day when Hortense； having had her taste of John's innocence； and having grown used to the souse in the water； would wax restless for the Replacers； for excitement； for complexity； for the prismatic life。 Then it might interest her to corrupt John； but if she couldn't； where would her occupation be； and how were they going to pull through？
But now； there sat Hortense in the stern； melted into whatever best she was capable of； it had come into her face； her face was to be readfor the first time since I had known itand； strangely enough； I couldn't read John's at all。 It seemed happy； which was impossible。
〃Way enough！〃 he cried suddenly； and； at his command； the sailor and I took in our oars。 Here was Hermana's gangway； and crowding faces above； and ejaculations and tears from Kitty。 Yes； Hortense would have liked that return voyage to last longer。 I was first on the gangway； and stood to wait and give them a hand out； but she linge
