the fortunes of oliver horn-第36节

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What　attracted　him　most　of　all　in　this　woman　who　had　violated　all　the　known　traditions　of　Kennedy　Square；　was　a　certain　fearlessness　of　manneran　　independence；　a　perfect　ingenuousness；　and　a　freedom　from　any　desire　to　interest　the　students　in　herself。　When　she　looked　at　any　one　of　them；　it　was　never　from　under　drooping　eyelids；　as　Sue　would　have　done；　nor　with　that　coquettish；　alluring　glance　to　which　he　had　always　been　accustomed。　She　looked　straight　at　them　with　unflinching　eyes　that　said；　〃I　can　trust　you；　and　WILL。〃　He　had　never　seen　exactly　that　look　except　in　the　portrait　of　his　uncle's　grandmother　by　Sir　Peter　Lelythe　picture　he　had　always　loved。　Strange　to　say；　too；　the　eyes　of　the　portrait　were　Margaret's　eyes；　and　so　was　the　color　of　the　hair。

No　vexed　problems　entered　Margaret's　head　regarding　　the　very　engaging　young　gentleman　who　sat　behind　HER　stool。　He　merely　represented　to　her　another　　studentthat　was　all；　the　little　band　was　small　enough；　and　she　was　glad　to　see　the　new　ones　come。　She　noticed；　it　is　true；　certain　unmistakable　differencesa　peculiar；　soft　cadence　in　his　voice　as　the　words　slipped　from　his　lips　without　their　final　g's；　a　certain　deference　to　herselfstanding　until　she　regained　her　seat；　an　attention　which　she　attributed　at　first　to　embarrassment　over　his　new　surroundings　and　to　his　desire　to　please。　She　noticed；　too；　a　certain　　grace　in　his　movementsa　grace　that　attracted　her；　especially　in　the　way　with　which　he　used　his　hands；　and　in　the　way　in　which　he　threw　his　head　up　when　he　laughed；　but　even　these　differences　ceased　to　interest　her　after　the　first　night　of　their　meeting。

But　it　did　not　occur　to　her　that　he　came　from　any　different　stock　than　the　others　about　her；　or　that　his　blood　might　or　might　not　be　a　shade　bluer　than　her　own。　What　had　really　impressed　her　more　than　anything　　elseand　this　only　flashed　into　her　mind　while　she　was　looking　in　the　glass　one　night　at　her　own　were　his　big　white　teeth；　white　as　grains　of　corn；　and　the　cleanliness　of　his　hands　and　nails。　She　liked　these　things　about　him。　Some　of　the　fingers　that　rested　on　her　drawing…board　were　often　more　like　clothes…pins　than　fingers；　and　shocked　her　not　a　little；　some；　too；　were　stained　with　acids；　and　one　or　more　with　printer's　ink　that　no　soap　could　remove。

Before　the　evening　was　over　Oliver　became　one　of　the　class…room　appointmentsa　young　man　who　sat　one　stool　behind　her　and　was　doing　fairly　well　with　his　first　attempt；　and　who　would　some　day　be　able　to　make　a　creditable　drawing　if　he　had　patience　and　application。

At　the　beginning　of　the　second　week　a　new　student　appearedor　rather　an　old　one；　who　had　been　laid　up　at　home　with　a　cold。　When　Oliver　arrived　he　found　him　in　Margaret's　seat；　his　easel　standing　where　hers　had　been。　He　had　a　full…length　drawing　of　the　Miloevidently　the　work　of　daysnearly　finished　on　his　board。　Oliver　was　himself　a　little　ahead　of　timeahead　of　either　Margaret　or　Fred；　and　had　noticed　the　new…comer　when　he　entered；　the　room　being　nearly　empty。　Jack　Bedford　was　already　at　work。

〃Horn；〃　Jack　cried；　and　beckoned　to　Oliver　〃see　the　beggar　in　Miss　Grant's　seat。　Won't　there　be　a　jolly　row　when　she　comes　in？〃

Margaret　entered　a　moment　later；　her　portfolio　under　her　arm；　and　stood　taking　in　the　situation。　Then　she　walked　straight　to　her　former　seat；　and　said；　in　a　firm　but　kindly　tone：

〃This　is　my　place；　sir。　I've　been　at　work　here　for　a　week。　You　see　my　drawing　is　nearly　done。〃

The　young　man　looked　up。　He　toiled　all　day　in　a　lithographer's　shop；　and　these　precious　nights　in　the　loft　were　his　only　glimpses　of　happiness。　He　sat　without　his　coat；　his　shirt…sleeves　liberally　smeared　with　the　color…stains　of　his　trade。

〃Well；　it's　my　place；　too。　I　sat　here　a　week　before　　I　was　taken　sick；〃　he　said；　in　a　slightly　indignant　　tone；　looking　into　Margaret's　face　in　astonishment。

〃But　if　you　did；〃　continued　Margaret；　〃you　see　I　am　nearly　through。　I　can't　take　another　seat；　for　I'll　lose　the　angle。　I　can　finish　in　an　hour　if　you　will　please　give　me　this　place　to…night。　You　can　work　just　as　well　by　sitting　a　few　feet　farther　along。〃

The　lithographer；　without　replying；　turned　from　her　impatiently；　bent　over　his　easel；　picked　up　a　fresh　bit　of　charcoal　and　corrected　a　line　on　the　Milo's　shoulder。　So　far　as　he　was　concerned　the　argument　was　closed。

Margaret　stood　patiently。　She　thought　at　first　he　was　merely　adding　a　last　touch　to　his　drawing　before　granting　her　request。

〃Will　you　let　me　have　the　seat？〃　she　asked。

〃No；〃　he　blurted　out。　He　was　still　bending　over　his　drawing；　his　eyes　fixed　on　the　work。　He　did　not　even　look　up。　〃I'm　going　to　stay　here　until　I　finish。　You　know　the　rules　as　well　as　I　do。　I　wouldn't　take　your　seatwhat　do　you　want　to　take　mine　for？〃　There　was　no　animosity　in　his　voice。　He　spoke　as　if　announcing　a　fact。

The　words　had　hardly　left　his　lips　when　there　came　the　sound　of　a　chair　being　quickly　pushed　back；　and　Oliver　stood　beside　Margaret。　His　eyes　were　flashing；　his　right　shirt…cuff　was　rolled　back；　the　bit　of　charcoal　still　between　his　fingers。　Every　muscle　of　his　body　was　tense　with　anger。　Margaret's　quick　instinct　took　in　the　situation　at　a　glance。　She　saw　Oliver's　wrath　and　she　knew　its　cause。

〃Don't；　Mr。　Horn；　pleaseplease！〃　she　cried；　putting　up　her　hand。　〃I'll　begin　another　drawing。　I　see　now　that　I　took　his　seat　when　he　was　away；　although　　I　didn't　know　it。〃

Oliver　stepped　past　her。　〃Get　up；　sir；〃　he　said；　〃and　give　Miss　Grant　her　seat。　What　do　you　mean　by　speaking　so　to　a　lady？〃

The　apprenticehis　name　was　Judsonraised　his　eyes　quickly；　took　in　Oliver's　tense；　muscular　figure　　standing　over　him；　and　said；　with　a　contemptuous　wave　of　the　hand：

〃Young　felleryou　go　and　cool　off　somewhere；　or　I'll　tell　the　professor。　It's　none　of　your　business。　I　know　the　rules　and〃

He　never　finished　the　sentencenot　that　anybody　heard。　He　was　floundering　on　the　floor；　an　overturned　　easel　and　drawing…board　lying　across　his　body；　Oliver　standing　over　him　with　his　fists　tightly　clenched。

〃I'll　teach　you　how　to　behave　to　a　lady。〃　The　words　sounded　as　if　they　came　from　between　closed　teeth。　〃Here's　your　chair；　Miss　Grant；〃　and　with　a　slight　bow　he　placed　the　chair　before　her　and　resumed　his　seat　with　as　much　composure　as　if　he　had　been　in　his　mother's　drawing…room　in　Kennedy　Square。

Margaret　was　so　astounded。　that　for　a　moment　she　could　not　speak。　Then　her　voice　came　back　to　her。　〃I　don't　want　it；〃　she　cried；　in　a　half…frightened　　way；　the　tears　starting　in　her　eyes。　〃It　was　never　mineI　told　you　so。　Oh；　what　have　you　done？〃

Never　since　the　founding　of　the　school　had　there　been　such　a　scene。　The　students　jumped　from　their　chairs　and　crowded　about　the　group。　The　life　class；　which　were　at　work　in　another　room；　startled　by　the　uproar；　swarmed　out　eager　to　know　what　had　happened　　and　whyand　whoand　what　for。　Old　Mother　Mulligan；　who　had　been　posing　for　the　class；　with　a　cloak　about　her　fat　shoulders　and　a　red　　handkerchief　binding　up　her　head；　rushed　over　to　Margaret；　　thinking　she　had　been　hurt　in　some　way；　until　she　saw　the　student　on　the　floor；　still　panting　and　half…dazed　from　the　effect　of　Oliver's　blow。　Then　she　fell　on　her　knees　beside　him。

At　this　instant　Professor　Cummings　entered；　and　a　sudden　hush　fell　upon　the　room。　Judson；　with　the　help　of　Mother　Mulligan's　arm；　had　picked　himself　up；　and。　would　have　made　a　rush　at　Oliver　had　not　big　sack　Bedford　stopped　him。

〃Who's　to　blame　for　this？〃　asked　the　professor；　looking　from　one　to　the　other。

Oliver　rose　from　his　seat。

〃This　man　insulted　Miss　Grant　and　I　threw　him　out　of　her　chair；〃　he　answered　quietly。

〃Insulted　you！〃　cried　the　professor；　in　surprise；　and　he　turned　to　Margaret。　〃What　did　he　say？〃

〃I　never　said　a　word　to　her；〃　whined　Judson；　straightening　his　collar。　〃I　told　her　the　seat　was　mine；　and　so　it　is。　That　wasn't　insulting　her。〃

〃It's　all　a　mistake；　professorMr。　Horn　did　not　understand；〃　protested　Margaret。　〃It　was　his　seat；　not　mine。　He　began　his　drawing　first。　I　didn't　know　it　when　I　commenced　mine。　I　told　Mr。　Horn　so。〃

〃Why　did　you　strike　him？〃　asked　the　professor；　and　he　turned　and　faced　Oliver。

〃Because　he　had　no　business　to　speak　to　her　as　he　did。　She　is　the　only　lady　we　have　among　us　and　every　man　in　the　class　ought　to　remember　it；　and　every　man　has　since　I've　been　here　except　this　one。〃

There　was　a　slight　murmur　of　applause。　Judson's　early　training　had　been　neglected　as　far　as　his　manners　　went；　and　he　was　not　popular。

The　professor　looked　searchingly　into　Oliver's　eyes　and　a　flush　of　pride　in　the　boy's　pluck　tinged　his　pale　cheeks。　He　had　once　thrown　a　fellow…student　out　of　a　window　in　Munich　himself　for　a　similar　offence；　and　old　as　he　was　he　had　never　forgotten　it。

〃You　come　from　the　South；　Mr。　Horn；　I　hear；〃　he　said　in　a　gentler　voice；　〃and　you　are　all　a　hot…　tempered　race；　and　often　do　foolish　things。　Judson　meant　no　harmhe　says　so；　and　Miss　Grant　says　so。　Now　you　two　shake　hands　and　make　up。　We　are　trying　to　learn　to　draw　here；　not　to　batter　each　other's　heads。〃

Oliver's　eyes　roved　from　one　to　the　other；　he　was　too　astonished　to　make　further　reply。　He　had　only　done　what　he　knew　every　other　man　around　Kennedy　Square　would　have　done　under　similar　cir