the man from glengarry-第47节

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the　Ottawas　with　Harry　and　Lieutenant　De　Lacy；　from　their　perilous
position。

The　girls　had　the　story　from　Harry's　lips；　and　in　his　telling　of　it；
Ranald's　courage　and　skill　certainly　lost　nothing；　but　to　Maimie；
while　it　was　pleasant　enough　for　her　to　hear　of　Ranald's　prowess；
and　while　she　enjoyed　the　reflected　glory　that　came　to　her　as　his
friend；　the　whole　incident　became　altogether　hateful　and　distressing。
She　found　herself　suddenly　famous　in　her　social　world；　every　one　was
talking　of　her；　but　to　her　horror；　was　connecting　Ranald's　name　with
her's　in　a　most　significant　way。　　It　was　too　awful；　and　if　her　Aunt
Frances　should　hear　of　it；　the　consequences　would　be　quite　too
terrible　for　her　to　imagine。　　She　must　stop　the　talk　at　once。　　Of
course　she　meant　to　be　kind　to　Ranald；　he　had　done　her　great　service；
and　he　was　her　Aunt　Murray's　friend；　and　besides；　she　liked　him；　how
much　she　hardly　cared　to　say　to　herself。　　She　had　liked　him　in
Glengarry。　　There　was　no　doubt　of　that；　but　that　was　two　years　ago；
and　in　Glengarry　everything　was　different！　　There　every　one　was　just
as　good　as　another；　and　these　people　were　all　her　Aunt　Murray's
friends。　　Here　the　relations　were　changed。　　She　could　not　help
feeling　that　however　nice　he　might　be；　and　however　much　she　might
like　him；　Ranald　was　not　of　her　world。

〃Well；　tell　him　so；　let　him　see　that；〃　said　Kate；　with　whom　Maimie
was　discussing　her　difficulty。

〃Yes；　and　then　he　would　fly　off　and　Iwe　would　never　see　him
again；〃　said　Maimie。　　〃He's　as　proud　asany　one！〃

〃Strange；　too；〃　said　Kate；　〃when　he　has　no　money　to　speak　of！〃

〃You　know　I　don't　mean　that；　and　I　don't　think　it's　very　nice　of
you。　　You　have　no　sympathy　with　me！〃

〃In　what　way？〃

〃Well；　in　this　very　unpleasant　affair；　every　one　is　talking　about
Ranald　and　me；　as　if　Ias　if　we　had　some　understanding。〃

〃And　have　you　not？　　I　thought〃　　Kate　hesitated　to　remind　Maimie
of　certain　confidences　she　had　received　two　years　ago　after　her
friend　had　returned　from　Glengarry。

〃Oh；　absurdjust　a　girl　and　boy　affair；〃　said　Maimie；　impatiently。

〃Then　there's　nothing　at　all；〃　said　Kate；　with　a　suspicion　of
eagerness　in　her　voice。

〃No；　of　course　notthat　is；　nothing　really　serious。〃

〃Serious？　　You　mean　you　don't　care　for　him　at　all？〃　　Kate　looked
straight　at　her　friend。

〃Oh；　you　are　so　awfully　direct。　　I　don't　know。　　I　do　care；　he's
nice　in　many　ways；　and　he'sI　know　he　likes　me　andI　would　hate
to　wound　him；　but　then　you　know　he's　not　just　one　of　us。　　You　know
what　I　mean！〃

〃Not　exactly；〃　said　Kate；　quietly。　　〃Do　you　mean　he　is　not　educated？〃

〃Oh；　no；　I　don't　mean　education　altogether。　　How　very　tiresome　you
are！　　He　has　no　culture；　and　manners；　and　that　sort　of　thing。〃

〃I　think　he　has　very　fine　manners。　　He　is　a　little　quaint；　but　you
can't　call　him　rude。〃

〃Oh；　no；　he's　never　rude；　rather　abrupt；　but　oh；　dear；　don't　you
know？　　What　would　Aunt　Frank　say　to　him？〃

Kate's　lip　curled　a　little。　　〃I'm　very　sure　I　can't　say；　but　I　can
imagine　how　she　would　look。〃

〃Well；　that's　it〃

〃But；〃　went　on　Kate；　〃I　can　imagine；　too；　how　Ranald　would　look
back　at　her　if　he　caught　her　meaning。〃

〃Well；　perhaps；〃　said　Maimie；　with　a　little　laugh；　〃and　that's　just
it。　　Oh；　I　wish　he　were〃

〃A　lieutenant？〃　suggested　Kate。

〃Well；　yes；　I　do；〃　said　Maimie；　desperately。

〃And　if　he　were；　you　would　marry　him；〃　said　Kate；　a　shade　of　contempt
in　her　tone　that　Maimie　failed　to　notice。

〃Yes；　I　would。〃

Kate　remained　silent。

〃There　now；　you　think　I　am　horrid；　I　know；〃　said　Maimie。　　〃I　suppose
you　would　marry　him　if　he　were　a　mere　nobody！〃

〃If　I　loved　him；〃　said　Kate；　with　slow　deliberation；　and　a　slight
tremor　in　her　voice；　〃I'd　marry　him　if　he　werea　shantyman！〃

〃I　believe　you　would；〃　said　Maimie；　with　a　touch　of　regret　in　her
voice；　〃but　then；　you've　no　Aunt　Frank！〃

〃Thank　Providence；〃　replied　Kate；　under　her　breath。

〃And　I'm　sure　I　don't　want　to　offend　her。　　Just　listen　to　this。〃
Maimie　pulled　out　a　letter；　and　turning　over　the　pages；　found　the
place　and　began　to　read：　　〃'I　am　so　glad　to　hear　that　you　are
enjoying　your　stay　in　Quebec'um…um…um'fine　old　city'um…um…um
'gates　and　streets；'　'old　days'um…um…um'noble　citadel；'
'glorious　view'um…um…um…um'finest　in　the　world'No；　that　isn't
itOh；　yes；　here　it　is：　　'The　De　Lacys　are　a　very　highly　connected
English　family　and　very　old　friends　of　my　friends；　the　Lord　Archers；
with　whom　I　visited　in　England；　you　know。　　The　mother　is　a　dear　old
ladyso　stately　and　so　very　particularwith　old…fashioned　ideas
of　breeding　and　manners；　and　of　course；　very　wealthy。　　Her　house　in
Quebec　is　said　to　be　the　finest　in　the　Province；　and　there　are　some
English　estates；　I　believe；　in　their　line。　　Lieutenant　De　Lacy　is
her　only　son；　and　from　what　you　say；　he　seems　to　be　a　very　charming
young　man。　　He　will　occupy　a　very　high　place　someday。　　I　suppose
Kate　will'um…um…um'Oh　yes；　and　if　Mrs。　De　Lacy　wishes　you　to
visit　her　you　might　accept'um…um…　um'and　tell　Kate　that　I　should
be　delighted　if　she　could　accompany　me　on　a　little　jaunt　through　the
Eastern　States。　　I　have　asked　permission　of　her　father；　but　she
wrote　you　herself　about　that；　didn't　she？um…um…umAnd　then　listen
to　this！　　'How　very　odd　you　should　have　come　across　the　young　man
from　Glengarry　againMac　Lennon；　is　it？　　Mac…something…or…other！
Your　Aunt　Murray　seems　to　consider　him　a　very　steady　and　worthy
young　man。　　I　hope　he　may　not　degenerate　in　his　present　circumstances
and　calling；　as　so　many　of　his　class　do。　　I　am　glad　your　father　was
able　to　do　something　for　him。　　These　people　ought　to　be　encouraged。'
Now　you　see！〃　　Maimie's　tone　was　quite　triumphant。

〃Yes；〃　said　Kate！　　〃I　do　see！　　These　people　should　be　encouraged　to
make　our　timber　for　us　that　we　may　live　in　ease　and　luxury；　and
even　to　save　us　from　fire　and　from　blood…thirsty　mobs；　as　occasions
may　offer；　but　as　for　friendships　and　that　sort　of　thing〃

〃Oh；　Kate；〃　burst　in　Maimie；　almost　in　tears；　〃you　are　so　very
unkind。　　You　know　quite　well　what　I　mean。〃

〃Yes；　I　know　quite　well；　you　would　not　invite　Ranald；　for　instance；
to　dine　at　your　house；　to　meet　your　Aunt　Frank　and　the　Evanses　and
the　Langfords　and　the　Maitlands；〃　said　Kate；　spacing　her　words　with
deliberate　indignation。

〃Well；　I　would　not；　if　you　put　it　in　that　way；〃　said　Maimie；
petulantly；　〃and　you　wouldn't　either！〃

〃I　would　ask　him　to　meet　every　Maitland　of　them　if　I　could；〃　said
Kate；　〃and　it　wouldn't　hurt　them　either。〃

〃Oh；　you　are　so　peculiar；〃　said　Maimie；　with　a　sigh　of　pity。

〃Am　I；〃　said　Kate；　〃ask　Harry；〃　she　continued；　as　that　young　man
came　into　the　room。

〃No；　you　needn't　mind；〃　said　Maimie；　〃I　know　well　he　will　just　side
with　you。　　He　always　does。〃

〃How　very　amiable　of　me；〃　said　Harry；　〃but　what's　the　particular
issue？〃

〃Ranald；〃　said　Kate。

〃Then　I　agree　at　once。　　Besides；　he　is　coming　to　supper　next　Sunday
evening！〃

〃Oh；　Harry；〃　exclaimed　Maimie；　in　dismay；　〃on　Sunday　evening？〃

〃He　can't　get　off　any　other　night；　works　all　night；　I　believe；　and
would　work　all　Sunday；　too；　if　his　principles　didn't　mercifully
interfere。　　He　will　be　boss　of　the　concern　before　summer　is　over。〃

〃Oh；　Harry；〃　said　Maimie；　in　distress；　〃and　I　asked　Lieutenant　De
Lacy　and　his　friend；　Mr。　Sims；　for　Sunday　evening〃

〃Sims；〃　cried　Harry；　〃little　cad！〃

〃I'm　sure　he's　very　nice；〃　said　Maimie；　〃and　his　family〃

〃Oh；　hold　up；　don't　get　on　to　your　ancestor　worship；〃　cried　Harry；
impatiently。　　〃Anyway；　Ranald's　coming　up　Sunday　evening。〃

〃Well；　it　will　be　very　awkward；〃　said　Maimie。

〃I　don't　see　why；〃　said　Kate。

〃Oh；〃　cried　Harry；　scornfully；　〃he　will　have　on　his　red　flannel
shirt　and　a　silk　handkerchief；　and　his　trousers　will　be　in　his
boots；　that's　what　Maimie　is　thinking　of！〃

〃You　are　very　rude；　Harry；〃　said　Maimie。　　〃You　know　quite　well　that
Ranald　will　not　enjoy　himself　with　the　others。　　He　has　nothing　in
common　with　them。〃

〃Oh；　I　wouldn't　worry　about　that　Maimie；〃　said　Kate；　〃I　will　talk
to　Ranald。〃　　But　Maimie　was　not　quite　sure　how　she　should　like
that。

〃You　are　just　your　Aunt　Frank　over　again；〃　said　Harry；　in　a
disgusted　tone；　〃clothes　and　people！〃

Maimie　was　almost　in　tears。

〃I　think　you　are　both　very　unkind。　　You　know　Ranald　won't　enjoy　it。
He　will　be　quite　miserable；　andthey'll　just　laugh　at　him！〃

〃Well；　they'd　better　laugh　at　him　when　he　isn't　observing；〃　said
Harry。

〃Do　you　think　Ranald　would　really　mind？〃　interposed　Kate；　addressing
Harry。　　〃Do　you　think　he　will　feel　shy　and　awkward？　　Perhaps　we'd
better　have　him　another　evening。〃

〃No；〃　said　Harry；　decidedly；　〃he　is　coming；　and　he's　coming　on
Sunday　evening。　　He　can't　get　off　any　other　night；　and　besides；　I'd
have　to　lie　to　him；　and　he　has　an　unpleasant　way　of　finding　you　out
when　you　are　doing　it；　and　once　he　does　find　out　why　he　is　not
asked　for　Sunday　evening；　then　you　may　say　good　by　to　him　for　good
and　all。〃

〃Oh；　no　fear　of　that；〃　said　Maimie；　confidently；　〃Ranald　has　good
sense；　and　I　know　he　will　come　again。〃

〃Well；〃　cried　Harry；　〃if　you　are　not　going　to　treat　him　as　you
would　treat　De　Lacy　and　that　idiotic　Sims；　I　won't　bring　him！〃　　And
with　that　he　flung　out　of　the　room。

But　H