adventure(冒险)-第51节
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from the sea for a song and earning money hand over fist despite old
Kinross's slow and safe method of running her； and Berande； once more
financially secure； approaching each day nearer the dividend…paying time；
and growing each day as the black toilers cleared the bush； cut the cane…
grass； and planted more cocoanut palms。
In these and a thousand ways Sheldon was made aware of how much
he was indebted for material prosperity to Joanto the slender； level…
browed girl with romance shining out of her gray eyes and adventure
shouting from the long…barrelled Colt's on her hip； who had landed on the
beach that piping gale； along with her stalwart Tahitian crew； and who had
entered his bungalow to hang with boy's hands her revolver…belt and
Baden…Powell hat on the nail by the billiard table。 He forgot all the early
exasperations； remembering only her charms and sweetnesses and
glorying much in the traits he at first had disliked mosther boyishness
and adventurousness； her delight to swim and risk the sharks； her desire to
go recruiting； her love of the sea and ships； her sharp authoritative words
when she launched the whale…boat and； with firestick in one hand and
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dynamite…stick in the other； departed with her picturesque crew to shoot
fish in the Balesuna； her super…innocent disdain for the commonest
conventions； her juvenile joy in argument； her fluttering； wild…bird love of
freedom and mad passion for independence。 All this he now loved； and
he no longer desired to tame and hold her； though the paradox was the
winning of her without the taming and the holding。
There were times when he was dizzy with thought of her and love of
her； when he would stop his horse and with closed eyes picture her as he
had seen her that first day； in the stern…sheets of the whale…boat； dashing
madly in to shore and marching belligerently along his veranda to remark
that it was pretty hospitality this letting strangers sink or swim in his front
yard。 And as he opened his eyes and urged his horse onward； he would
ponder for the ten thousandth time how possibly he was ever to hold her
when she was so wild and bird…like that she was bound to flutter out and
away from under his hand。
It was patent to Sheldon that Tudor had become interested in Joan。
That convalescent visitor practically lived on the veranda； though； while
preposterously weak and shaky in the legs； he had for some time insisted
on coming in to join them at the table at meals。 The first warning
Sheldon had of the other's growing interest in the girl was when Tudor
eased down and finally ceased pricking him with his habitual sharpness of
quip and speech。 This cessation of verbal sparring was like the breaking
off of diplomatic relations between countries at the beginning of war； and；
once Sheldon's suspicions were aroused； he was not long in finding other
confirmations。 Tudor too obviously joyed in Joan's presence； too
obviously laid himself out to amuse and fascinate her with his own
glorious and adventurous personality。 Often； after his morning ride over
the plantation； or coming in from the store or from inspection of the copra…
drying； Sheldon found the pair of them together on the veranda； Joan
listening； intent and excited； and Tudor deep in some recital of personal
adventure at the ends of the earth。
Sheldon noticed； too； the way Tudor looked at her and followed her
about with his eyes； and in those eyes he noted a certain hungry look； and
on the face a certain wistful expression； and he wondered if on his own
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face he carried a similar involuntary advertisement。 He was sure of several
things： first； that Tudor was not the right man for Joan and could not
possibly make her permanently happy； next； that Joan was too sensible a
girl really to fall in love with a man of such superficial stamp； and； finally；
that Tudor would blunder his love…making somehow。 And at the same
time； with true lover's anxiety； Sheldon feared that the other might
somehow fail to blunder； and win the girl with purely fortuitous and
successful meretricious show。 But of the one thing Sheldon was sure：
Tudor had no intimate knowledge of her and was unaware of how vital in
her was her wildness and love of independence。 That was where he
would blunderin the catching and the holding of her。 And then； in spite
of all his certitude； Sheldon could not forbear wondering if his theories of
Joan might not be wrong； and if Tudor was not going the right way about
after all。
The situation was very unsatisfactory and perplexing。 Sheldon
played the difficult part of waiting and looking on； while his rival devoted
himself energetically to reaching out and grasping at the fluttering prize。
Then； again； Tudor had such an irritating way about him。 It had become
quite elusive and intangible； now that he had tacitly severed diplomatic
relations； but Sheldon sensed what he deemed a growing antagonism and
promptly magnified it through the jealous lenses of his own lover's eyes。
The other was an interloper。 He did not belong to Berande； and now that
he was well and strong again it was time for him to go。 Instead of which；
and despite the calling in of the mail steamer bound for Sydney； Tudor had
settled himself down comfortably； resumed swimming； went dynamiting
fish with Joan； spent hours with her hunting pigeons； trapping crocodiles；
and at target practice with rifle and revolver。
But there were certain traditions of hospitality that prevented Sheldon
from breathing a hint that it was time for his guest to take himself off。
And in similar fashion； feeling that it was not playing the game； he fought
down the temptation to warn Joan。 Had he known anything； not too
serious； to Tudor's detriment； he would have been unable to utter it； but the
worst of it was that he knew nothing at all against the man。 That was the
confounded part of it； and sometimes he was so baffled and overwrought
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by his feelings that he assumed a super…judicial calm and assured himself
that his dislike of Tudor was a matter of unsubstantial prejudice and
jealousy。
Outwardly； he maintained a calm and smiling aspect。 The work of
the plantation went on。 The Martha and the Flibberty…Gibbet came and
went； as did all the miscellany of coasting craft that dropped in to wait for
a breeze and have a gossip； a drink or two； and a game of billiards。 Satan
kept the compound free of niggers。 Boucher came down regularly in his
whale…boat to pass Sunday。 Twice a day； at breakfast and dinner； Joan and
Sheldon and Tudor met amicably at table； and the evenings were as
amicably spent on the veranda。
And then it happened。 Tudor made his blunder。 Never divining
Joan's fluttering wildness； her blind hatred of restraint and compulsion； her
abhorrence of mastery by another； and mistaking the warmth and
enthusiasm in her eyes （aroused by his latest tale） for something tender
and acquiescent； he drew her to him； laid a forcible detaining arm about
her waist； and misapprehended her frantic revolt for an exhibition of
maidenly reluctance。 It occurred on the veranda； after breakfast； and
Sheldon； within； pondering a Sydney wholesaler's catalogue and making
up his orders for next steamer…day； heard the sharp exclamation of Joan；
followed by the equally sharp impact of an open hand against a cheek。
Jerking free from the arm that was all distasteful compulsion； Joan had
slapped Tudor's face resoundingly and with far more v
