第9章

Colemanperceivedthatthedragoman，allhisformerplumagegone，waswhiningandsnivellingashearguedtoadark-browedcrowdthatwasrunningbesidethecavalcade。Thegroom，whoalwayshadbeenamiraculouslylaconicman，wassuddenlylaunchedforthgarrulously。The，drivers，fromtheirhighseats，palaveredlikemadmen，drivingwithoathandandgesturingwiththeother，explainingevidentlytheirowngreatinnocence。

Colemansawthattherewastrouble，butheonlysatmorestifflyinhissaddle。Theeternalgabblemovedhimtodespisethesituation。Atanyrate，thetravellerswouldsoonbeoutofthistownandontoamoresensibleregion。

Howeverhesawthedriverofthefirstcarriagesud-

denlypullupboforgalittleblackenedcoffeeshopandinn。Thedragmanspurredforwardandbeganwildexpostulation。Thesecondcarriagepulledclosebehindtheother。Thecrowd，murmuringlikeaRomanmobinNero"stime，closedaroundthem……

CHAPTERXXI。

COLEMANpushedhishorsecoollythroughtothedragoman；sside。"Whatisit？"hedemanded。Thedragomanwasbroken-voiced。"Thesepeoples，theysayyouareGermans，allGermans，andtheyareangry，"hewailed。"Icandonossing-nossing。"

"Well，tellthesementodriveon，"saidColeman，"tellthemtheymustdriveon。"

"Theywillnotdriveon，"wailedthedragoman，stillmoreloudly。"Icandonossing。Theysayhereisplaceforfeedthehorse。Itisthecustomandtheywillnotedriveon。"

"Makethemdriveon。"

"Theywillnote，"shriekedtheagonisedservitor。

Colemanlookedfromthemenwavingtheirarmsandchatteringonthebox-seatstothemenofthecrowdwhoalsowavedtheirarmsandchattered。Inthisthrongfartotherearofthefightingarmiestheredidnotseemtobeasinglemanwhowasnotablebodied，whohadnotbeenfreetoenlistasasoldier。

Theywereofthatscurvybehind-the-rear-guardwhicheverynationhasindegreeproportionatetoitsworth。

ThemanhoodofGreecehadgonetothefrontier，leavingathomethisrabbleoftalkers，mostofwhomwerearmedwithriflesformerepretention。Colemanloathedthemtotheendofhissoul。Hethoughtthemalotofinfantswhowouldliketoprovetheircourageuponeleveninnocenttravellers，allbutunarmed，andinthisfacthewasquicktoseeagreatdangertotheWainwrightparty。Onecoulddealwithsoldiers；soldierswouldhavebeenashamedtobaithelplesspeople；butthisrabble-

Thefightingbloodofthecorrespondentbegantoboil，andhereallylongedfortheprivilegetorunamuckthroughthemultitude。ButalookattheWainwrightskepthiminhissenses。Theprofessorhadturnedpaleasadeadman。Hesatverystiffandstillwhilehiswifeclungtohim，hystericallybeseechinghimtodosomething，dosomething，althoughwhathewastodoshecouldnothaveevenimagined。

Colemantookthedilemmabyitsbeard。HedismountedfromhishorseintothedepthsofthecrowdandaddressedtheWainwrights。"Isupposewehadbettergointothisplaceandhavesomecoffeewhilethemenfeedtheirhorses。Thereisnouseintryingtomakethemgoon。"Hismannerwasfairlycasual，buttheylookedathiminglazedhorror。"Itistheonlythingtodo。Thiscrowdisnotnearlysobadastheythinktheyare。Butwe"vegottolookasifwefeltconfident。"Hehimselfhadnoconfidencewiththisangrybuzzinhisears，butbefeltcertainthattheonlycorrectmovewastogeteverybodyasquicklyaspossiblewithintheshelteroftheinn。Itmightnotbemuchofashelterforthem，butitwasbetterthanthecarriagesinthestreet。

TheprofessorandMrs。Wainwrightseemedtobeconsideringtheircarriageasacastle，andtheylookedasiftheirterrorhadmadethemphysicallyincapableofleavingit。Colemanstoodwaiting。Behindhimtheclapper-tonguedcrowdwasmovingominously。

Marjoryaroseandsteppedcalmlydowntohim。

Hethrilledtotheendofeverynerve。Itwasasifshehadsaid:"Idon"tthinkthereisgreatdanger，butifthereisgreatdanger，why**hereIam*

ready*withyou。"Itconcededeverything，admittedeverything。Itwasasurrenderwithoutablush，anditwasonlypossibleintheshadowofthecrisiswhentheydidnotknowwhatthenextmomentsmightcontainforthem。Ashetookherhandandshesteppedpasthimhewhisperedswiftlyandfiercelyinherear，"Iloveyou。"Shedidnotlookup，buthefeltthatinthisquickincidenttheyhadclaimedeachother，acceptedeachotherwithafardeepermeaningandunderstandingthancouldbepossibleinameredrawing-room。Shelaidherhandonhisarm，andwiththestrengthoffourmenhetwistedhishorseintothemakingoffuriousprancingside-stepstowardthedooroftheinn，clankingside-

stepswhichmowedawidelanethroughthecrowdforMarjory，hisMarjory。HewasashaughtyasanewGermanlieutenant，andalthoughheheldthefuminghorsewithonlyhislefthand，heseemedperfectlycapableofhurlingtheanimaloverahousewithoutcallingintoservicethearmwhichwasdevotedtoMarjory。

Itwasnotanexhibitionofcoolnesssuchaswinsapplauseonthestagewhentheheroplacidlylightsacigarettebeforethemobwhichisclamouringforhisdeath。Itwas，onthecontrary，anexhibitionofdownrightclassicdisdain，adisdainwhichwiththehighestarrogancedeclareditselfineveryglanceofhiseyeintothefacesabouthim。"Verygood**

attackmeifyoulike**thereisnothingtopreventit**youmongrels。"Everystepofhisprogresswasmadearenewedinsulttothem。Theveryairwaschargedwithwhatthislonemanwasthinkingofthisthreateningcrowd。

Hisaudacitywasinvincible。Theyactuallymadewayforitasquicklyaschildrenwouldfleefromaghost。Thehorse，dancing；withringingsteps，withhisglisteningneckarchedtowardtheironhandathisbit，thispowerful，quiveringanimalwasaregularengineofdestruction，andtheygaveroomuntilColemanhaltedhim-atanexclamationfromMarjory。

"Mymotherandfather。"ButtheywerecomingclosebehindandColemanresumedthiscontemptuousjourneytothedooroftheinn。Thegroom，withhisnew-borntongue，wasclatteringtheretothepopulace。

ColemangavehimthehorseandpassedaftertheWainwrightsintothepublicroomoftheinn。Hewassmiling。Whatsimpletons!

Anewactorsuddenlyappearedinthepersonofthekeeperoftheinn。Hetoohadarifleandaprodigiousbeltofcartridges，butitwasplainatoncethathehadelectedtobeafriendoftheworriedtravellers。A

largepartofthecrowdwerethinkingitnecessarytoentertheinnandpow-wowmore。Buttheinnkeeperstayedatthedoorwiththedragoman，andtogethertheyvociferouslyheldbackthetide。Thespiritofthemobhadsubsidedtoamorereasonablefeeling。

TheynolongerwishedtotearthestrangerslimbfromlimbonthesuspicionthattheywereGermans。Theynowwerefrantictotalkasifsomeinexorablelawhadkeptthemsilentfortenyearsandthiswastheverymomentoftheirrelease。Whereas，theirsimul-

taneousandinterpolatingorationshadthroughoutmadenoisemuchlikeacoal-breaker。

ColemanledtheWainwrightstoatableinafarpartoftheroom。Theytookchairsasifhehadcom-

mandedthem。"Whatanoutrage，"hesaidjubilantly。

"Theapes。"Hewaskeepingmorethanhalfaneyeuponthedoor，becauseheknewthatthequickcomingofthestudentswasimportant。

Thensuddenlythestormbrokeinwrath。Somethinghadhappenedinthestreet。Thejabberingcrowdatthedoorhadturnedandwerehurryinguponsomecentraltumult。ThedragomanscreamedtoColeman。

Colemanjumpedandgrabbedthedragoman。"Tellthismantotakethemsomewhereupstairs，"hecried，indicatingtheWainwrightswithasweepofhisarm。

Theinnkeeperseemedtounderstandsoonerthanthedragoman，andhenoddedeagerly。Theprofessorwascrying:"Whatisit，Mr。Coleman？Whatisit？"

Aninstantlater，thecorrespondentwasoutinthestreet，buffetingtowardascuffle。Ofcourseitwasthestudents。Itappeared，afterward，thatthosesevenyoungmen，withtheirfeelingsmuchruffled，hadbeenmakingthebestoftheirwaytowardthedooroftheinn，whenalargemaninthecrowd，duringaspeechwhichwassurelymostoffensive，hadlaidanarrestinghandontheshoulderofPeterTounley。

WhereupontheexcellentPeterTounleyhadhitthelargemanonthejawinsuchaswiftandskilfulmannerthatthelargemanhadgonespinningthroughagroupofhiscountrymentothehardearth，wherehelayholdinghisfacetogetherandhowling。Instantly，ofcourse，therehadbeenariot。Itmightwellbesaidthateventhentheaffaircouldhaveendedinalotoftalking，butinthefirstplacethestudentsdidnottalkmodernGreek，andinthesecondplacetheywerenowpastallthoughtoftalking。Theyregardedthisaffairseriouslyasafight，andnowthattheyatlastwereinit，theywereinitforeverypintofbloodintheirbodies。SuchapackoffamishedwolveshadneverbeforebeenletlooseuponmenarmedwithGrasrifles。

Theyallhadbeenexpectingtherow，andwhenPeterTounleyhadfounditexpedienttoknockovertheman，theyhadcounteditasignal:theirarmsimmediatelybeguntoswingoutasiftheyhadbeenwoundup。ItwasatthistimethatColemanswambrutallythroughtheGreeksandjoinedhiscountrymen。

Hewasmorefrightenedthananyofthosenovices。

WhenhesawPeterTounleyoverthrowadreadfullookingbrigandwhosebeltwasfullofknives，andwho-crashedtothegroundamidaclangofcartridges，hewasappalledbytheuttersimplicitywithwhichtheladsweretreatingthecrisis。Itwastothemnocom-

monscrimmageatWashurst，ofcourse，butitflashedthroughColeman"smindthattheyhadnottheslightegtsenseofthesizeofthething。Heexpectedeveryinstanttoseetheflashofknivesortohearthedeafeningintonationofariflefiredagainsthstear。Itseemedtohimmiraculousthatthetragedywassolongdelayed。

Inthemeantirnehewasintheaffray。HejiltedonemanunderthechinwithhiselbowinawaythatreeledhimofffromPeterTounley"sback；alittlepersonintheckedclotheshesmotebetweentheeyes；herecievedagun-buttemphaticallyontheaideoftheneck；hefelthandstearingathim；hekickedthepinsoutfromunderthreemeninrapidsuccession。Hewasalwaysyelling。"Trytogettotheinn，boys，trytogettotheinn。Lookout，Peter。Takecareforhisknife，Peter——"Suddenlyhewhippedarifleoutofthehandsofamanandswungit，whistling。Hehadgonestarkmadwiththeothers。

TheboyBilly，drunkfromsomeblowsandbleeding，wasalready。staggeringtowardtheinnovertheclearagewhichthewildColemanmadewiththeclubbedrifle。Thoothersfollewedaswellastheymightwhilebeatingoffadiscouragedenemy。Theremarkableinnkeeperhadbarredhiswindowswithstrongwoodshutters。Heheldthedoorbythecrackforthem，andtheystumbledonebyonthroughtheportal。Colemandidnotknowwhytheywerenotalldead，nordidheunderstandtheintrepidandgenerousbehaviouroftheinnkeeper，butatanyratehefeltthatthefightingwassuspended，andhewantedtoseeMarjory。

Theinnkeeperwas，doingagreatpantomimeinthemiddleofthedarkenedroom，pointingtotheouterdoorandthenaiminghisrifleatittoexplainhisintentionofdefendingthematallcosts。Someofthestudentsmovedtoabilliardtableandspreadthem-

selveswearilyuponit。Otherssankdownwheretheystood。Outsidethecrowdwasbeginningtoroar。

Coleman"sgroomcreptoutfromunderthelittleCoffeebarandcomicallysalutedhismaster。Thedragomanwasnotpresent。ColemanfeltthathemustseeMarjory，andhemadesignstotheinnkeeper。

Thelatterunderstoodquickly，andmotionedthatColemanshouldfollowhim。Theypassedtogetherthroughadarkhallandupadarkerstairway，whereafterColemansteppedoutintoasun-litroom，sayingloudly:"Oh，it"sallright。It"sallover。Don"tworry。"

Threewildpeoplewereinstantlyuponhim。"Oh，whatwasit？Whatdidhappen？Isanybodyhurt？

Oh，tellus，quick!"Itseemedatthetimethatitwasanavalancheofthreeofthem，anditwasnotuntillaterthatherecognisedthatMrs。Wainwrighthadtumbledthelargestnumberofquestionsuponhim。

AsforMarjory，shehadsaidnothinguntilthetimewhenshecried:"Oh-heisbleeding-heisbleeding。

Oh，come，quick!"Shefairlydraggedhimoutofoneroomintoanotherroom，wheretherewasajugofwater。Shewetherhandkerchiefandsoftlysmotehiswounds。"Bruises，"shesaid，piteously，tearfully。

"Bruises。Oh，dear!Howtheymusthurtyou。"

Thehandkerchiefwassoonstainedcrimson。

WhenColemanspokehisvoicequavered。"Itisn"tanything。Really，itisn"tanything。"Hehadnotknownofthesewonderfulwounds，buthealmostchokedinthejoyofMarjory"sministryandherhalfcoherentexclamations。Thisproudandbeautifulgirl，thissuperlativecreature，wasreddeningherhandkerchiefwithhisblood，andnowordofhiscouldhavepreventedherfromthusattendinghim。HecouldheartheprofessorandMrs。Wainwrightfussingnearhim，tryingtobeofuse。Hewouldhavelikedtohavebeenabletoorderthemoutoftheroom。

Marjory"scoolfingersonhisfaceandneckhadconjuredwithinhimavisionatanintimacytnatwasevensweeterthananythingwhichhehadimagined，andhelongedtopourouttoherthebubbling，impassionedspeechwhichcametohislips。But，alwaysdodderingbehindhim，werethetwooldpeople，strenuoustobeofhelptohim。

Suddenlyadooropenedandayouthappeared，simplyredwithblood。ItwasPeterTounley。Hisfirstremarkwascheerful。"Well，Idon"tsupposethosepeoplewillbeanytooquicktolookformoretrouble。"

Colemanfeltaswiftpangbecausehehadforgottentoannouncethedilapidatedstateofallthestudents。

HehadbeensosubmergedbyMarjory"stendernessthatallelsehadbeendrownedfromhismind。HisheartbeatquicklyashewaitedforMarjorytoleavehimandrushtoPeterTounley。

Butshedidnothingofthesort。"Oh，Peter，"shecriedindistress，andthensheturnedbacktoColeman。

ItwastheprofessorandMrs。Wainwrightwho，atlastfindingafieldfortheirkindlyambitions，flungthem。

selvesuponTounleyandcarriedhimofftoanotherplace。Peterwasremoved，crying:"Oh，now，lookhere，professor，I"mnotdyingoranythingofthesortColemanandMarjorywereleftalone。Hesuddenlyandforciblytookoneofherhandsandthebloodstainedhankerchiefdroppedtothefloor。

CHAPTERXXII。

Frombelowtheycouldhearthethunderofweaponsandfitsuponthedooroftheinnamidagreatclamourof。tongues。Sometimestherearosetheargumtntativehowloftheinnkeeper。Abovethisroar，Coleman"squickwordssoundedinMarjory"sear。

"I"vegottogo。I"vegottogobacktotheboys，but-Iloveyou。"

"Yesgo，go，"shewhisperedhastily。"Youshouldbethere，but-comeback。"

Heheldherclosetohim。"Butyouaremine，remember，"

hesaidfiercelyandsternly。"Youaremine-forever-AsIamyours-remember。"

Hereyeshalfclosed。Shemadeintenselysolemnanswer。"Yes。"Hereleasedherandvphsgone。

Inthegloomingcoffeeroomoftheinnhefoundthestudents，thedragoman，thegroomandtheinnkeeperarmedwithamotleycollectionofweaponswhichrangedfromtherifleoftheinnkeepertothetableleginthehandsofPeterTounley。Thelastnamedyoungstudentofarcheologywasinapositionoftemporaryleadefshipandholdingagreatpow-bowwiththeinnkeeperthroughthemediumofpeircingoutcriesbythedragoman。Colemanhadnotyetundestoodwhynoneofthemhadbeeneitherstabbedorshotinthefightinthesteeet，butitseemedtohimnowthataffairswereleadingtowardacrisisoftragedy。Hethoughtofthepossibilitiesofhavingthedragomangotoanupperwindowandharanguethepeople，buthesawnochanceofsuccessinsuchaplan。Hesawthatthecrowdwouldmerelyhowlatthedragomanwhilethedragomanhowledatthecrowd。Hethenaskediftherewasanyotherexitfromtheinnbywhichtheycouldsecretlyescape。Helearnedthatthedoorintothecoffeeroomwastheonlydoorwhichpiercedthefourgreatwalls。Allhecouldthendowastofindoutfromtheinnkeeperhowmuchofasiegetheplacecouldstand，andtothistheinnkeeperansweredvolublyandwithsmilesthatthishostelrywouldeasilyendureuntilthemercurialtemperofthecrowdhaddartedoffinanewdirection。ItmaybecurioustonoteherethatallofPeterTounley"simpassionedcommunicationwiththeinnkeeperhadbeendevotedtoanendeavourtolearnwhatinthedevilwasthematterwiththesepeople，asamanabouttobebittenbypoisonoussnakesshould，firstofall，furiouslyinsistuponlearningtheirexactspeciesbeforedecidinguponeitherhisroute，ifheintendedtorunaway，orhisweaponifheintendedtofightthem。

Theinnkeeperwasevidentlyconvincedthatthishousewouldwithstandtherageofthepopulace，andhewassuchanunaccountablygallantlittlechapthatColemantrustedentirelytohisword。Hisonlyfearorsuspicionwasanoccasionaloneastothepurityofthedragoman"stranslation。

Suddenlytherewashalfasilenceonthemobwithoutthedoor。Itisinconceivablethatitcouldbecomealtogethersilent，butitwasasneartoarationalstillnessoftonguesasitwasable。ThentherewasaloudknockingbyasinglefistandanewvoicebegantospinGreek，avoicethatwassomewhatliketherattleofpebblesinatinbox。ThenastartlingvoicecalledoutinEnglish。"Areyouinthere，Rufus？"

AnswerscamefromeveryEnglishspeakingpersonintheroominonegreatoutburst。"Yes。"

"Well，letusin，"calledNoraBlack。"Itisallright。We"vegotanofficerwithus。"

"Openthedoor，"saidColemanwithspeed。Thelittleinnkeeperlabouriouslyunfastenedthegreatbars，andwhenthedoorfinallyopenedthereappearedonthethresholdNoraBlackwithCokeandanofficerofinfantry，Nora"slittleoldcompanion，andNora"sdragoman。

"Wesawyourcarriageinthestreet，"criedthequeenofcomicoperaasshesweptintotheroom。

Shewasbeamingwithdelight。"Whatisalltherow，anyway？O-o-oh，lookatthatstudent"snose。Whohithim？AndlookatRufus。Whathaveyouboysbeendoing？"

HerlittleGreekofficerofinfantryhadstoppedthemobfromflowingintotheroom。Colemanlookedtowardthedoorattimeswithsomeanxiety。Nora，notingit，wavedherhandincarelessreassurance；

"Oh，it"s，allright。Don"tworryaboutthemanymore。Heisperfectlydevotedtome。HewoulddiethereonthethresholdifItoldhimitwouldpleaseme。SpeakssplendidFrench。Ifoundhimlimpingalongtheroadandgavehimalift。Andnowdohurryupandtellmeexactlywhathappened。"

Theyalltoldwhathadhappened，whileNoraandCokelistenedagape。Coke，bytheway，hadquitefloatedbacktohisoldpositionwiththestudents。Ithadbeeneasyinthestressofexcitementandwonder。

Nobodyhadanytitnetothinkoftheexcessivelyremoteincidentsoftheearlymorning。Allminorinterestswerelostinthemarvelofthepresentsituation。

"Wholandedyouintheeye，Billie？"askedtheawedCoke。"Thatwasabadone。"

"Oh，Idon"tknow，"saidBillie。"Youreallycouldn"ttellwhohityou，youknow。Itwasafootballrush。Theyhadgunsandknives，buttheydidn"tuse"em。Idon"tknowwhyJinks!I"mgettingprettystiff。Myfacefeelsasifitweremadeoftin。Didtheygiveyoupeoplearow，too？"

"No；onlytalk。Thatlittleofficermanagedthem。

Out-talkedthem，Isuppose。Hearhimbuzz，now。"

TheWainwrightscamedownstairs。NoraBlackwentconfidentlyforwardtomeetthem。"You"veaddedonemoretoyourlistofrescuers，"Shecried，withherglowing，triumphantsmile。"MissBlackoftheNewYorkDaylight-atyourservice。HowintheworlddoyoumanagetogetyourselvesintosuchdreadfulScrapes？Youarethemostremarkablepeople。

Youneedaguardian。Why，youmighthaveallbeenkilled。Howexcitingitmustseemtoberegularlyofyourparty。"ShehadshakencordiailyoneofMrs。Wainwright"shandswithoutthatladyindicatingassenttotheproceedingbutMrs。Wainwrighthadnotfeltrepulsion。Infactshehadhadnoemotionspringingdirectlyfromit。HereagainthemarvelofthesituationcametodenyMrs。Wainwrighttherighttoresumeastateofmindwhichhadbeensopainfullyinterestingtoherafewhoursearlier。

Theprofessor，Colemanandallthestudentsweretalkingtogether。CokehadaddressedColemancivillyandColemanhadmadeacivilreply。Peacewasuponthem。

NoraslippedherarmlovinglythroughMarjbry"sarm。"ThatRufus!Oh，thatRufus，"shecriedjoyously。

"I"llgivehimagoodscoldingassoonasI

seehimalone。Imighthaveforeseenthathewouldgetyouallintotrouble。Theoldstupid!"

Marjorydidnotappeartoresentanything。"Oh，I

don"tthinkitwasMr。Coleman"sfaultatail，"shean-

sweredcalmly。"IthinkitwasmorethefaultofPeterTounley，poorboy。"

"Well，I"dbegladtobelieveit，I"dbegladtobelieveit，"

saidNora。"IwantRufustokeepoutofthatsortofthing，butheissohot-headedandfoolish。"

IfshehadpointedoutherproprietarystamponColeman"scheekshecouldnothaveconveyedwhatshewantedwithmoreclearness。

"Oh，"saidtheimpassiveMarjory，"Idon"tthinkyouneedhaveanydoubtastowhosefaultitwas，iftherewereanyofourboysatfault。Mr。Colemanwasinsidewhenthefightingcommenced，andonlyranouttohelptheboys。Hehadjustbroughtussafelythroughthemob，and，farfrombeinghot-headedandfoolish，hewasutterlycoolinmanner，impressivelycool，Ithought。Iamgladtobeabletoreassureyouonthesepoints，forIseethattheyworryyou。"

"。Yes，theydoworryme，"saidNora，densely。

Theyworrymenightanddaywhenheisawayfromme。"

"Oh，"respondedMarjory，"IhaveneverthoughtofMr。Colemanasamanthatonewouldworryaboutmuch。Weconsiderhimveryself-reliant，abletotakecareofhimselfunderalmostanyconditions，butthen，ofcourse，wedonotknowhimatallinthewaythatyouknowhim。Ishouldthinkthatyouwouldfindthathecameoffratherbetterthanyouexpectedfrommostofhisdifficulties。Butthen，ofcourse，as。Isaid，youknowhimsomuchbetterthanwedo。"HereasyindifferencewasatacitdismissalofColemanasatopic。

Nora，nowthoroughlyalert，glancedkeenlyintotheothergirl"sface，butitwasinscrutable。Theactresshadintendedtogocareeringthroughawholecircleofdaringillusionstoanintimacywith，Coleman，buthere，beforeshehadreallydevelopedherattack，Marjory，withafewconventionalandindifferentsentences，almostexpressiveofboredom，hadmadethesubjectofColemanimpossible。AneffectwasleftuponNora"smindthatMarjoryhadbeenextremelypoliteinlisteningtomuchnervoustalkaboutapersoninwhomshehadnointerest。

Theactresswasdazed。Shedidnotknowhowithadallbeendone。Wherewastheheadofthisthing？

AndwhereWasthetail？AfoghadmysteriouslycomeuponallherbrilliantprospectsofseeingMarjoryWainwrightsuffer，andthisfogwastheproductofakindofmagicwithwhichshewasnotfamiliar。

Shecouldnotthinkhowtofightit。Afterbeingsimplydubiousthroughoutalongpause，sheintheendwentintoagreatrage。SheglaredfuriouslyatMarjory，droppedherarmasifithadburnedherandmoveddownuponColeman。Shemusthavereflectedthatatanyrateshecouldmakehimwriggle。Whenshewascomeneartohim，shecalledout:"Rufus!"

Inhertonewasalltheoldinsolentstatementofownership。Colemanmighthavebeenapoodle。Sheknewhowtocallhissameinawaythatwasanythinglessthanapublicscandal。Onthisoccasioneverybodylookedathimandthenwentsilent，aspeopleawaitingthestartlingdenouementofadrama。

"Rufus!"Shewasbaringhisshouldertoshowthefieur-de-lisofthecriminal。Thestudentsgaped。

Coleman"stemperwas，ifonemaybeallowedtospeakinthatway，brokenlooseinsideofhim。Hecouldhardlybeeathe；hefeltthathisbodywasabouttoexplodeintoathousandfragments。Hesimplysnarledout"What？"Almostatoncehesawthatshehadatlastgoadedhimintomakingaserioustacticalmistake。Itmustbeadmittedthatitisonlywhentherelationsbetweenamanandawomanaretherelationsofwedlock，oratleastanintimateresemblancetoit，thatthemansnarlsout"What？"tothewoman。Mereloverssay"Ibegyourpardon？"

ItisonlyCupid"sfinishedproductthatspitslikeacat。NoraBlackhadcalledhimlikeawife，andhehadansweredlikeahusband。Forhiscause，hismannercouldnotpossiblyhavebeenworse。Hesawtheprofessorstareathiminsurpriseandalarm，andfelttheexcitementoftheeightstudents。Theselatterwerediabolicintheceleritywithwhichtheypickedoutmeanings。ItwasasplaintothemasifNoraBlackhadsaid:"Heismyproperty。"

Colemanwouldhavegivenhisnosetohavebeenabletorecallthatsinglereverberatingword。Buthesawthatthescenewasspellingdownfallforhim，andhewentstillmoreblindanddesperateofit。HisdespairmadehimburntomakemattersWorse。Hedidnotwanttoimproveanythingatall。"What？"

hedemanded。"Whatdoye"want？"

Norawassweetlyreproachful。"Ileftmyjacketinthecarriage，andIwantyoutogetitforme。"

"Well，getitforyourself，doyousee？Getitforyourself。"

Nowitisplainlytobeseenthatnooneofthepeoplelisteningtherehadeverheardamanspeakthustoawomanwhowasnothiswife。Whenevertheyhadheardthatformofspiritedreparteeithadcomefromthelipsofahusband。Coleman"srudespeechwastotheirearsaflatannouncementofanextraordinaryintimacybetweenNoraBlackandthecorrespondent。Anyotherinterpretationwouldnothaveoccurredtothem。Itwassopalpablethatitgreatlydistressedthemwithitsarroganceandboldness。Theprofessorhadblushed。Theverymilkiestwordinhismindatthetimewasthewordvulgarity。

NoraBlackhadwonagreatbattle。ItwasherAgincourt。ShehadbeatenthecleverColemaninawaythathadleftlittleofhimbutrags。However，shecouldhavelostitallagainifshehadshownherfeelingofelation。AtColeman"srudenesshermannerindicatedamixtureofsadnessandembarrassment。

HersufferingwassoplaintotheeyethatPeterTounleywasinstantlymoved。"Can"tIgetyourjacketforyou，MissBlack？"heaskedhastily，andathergratefulnodhewasoffatonce。

Colemanwasresolvedtoimprovenothing。Hisoverthrowseemedtohimtobesocompletethathecouldnotinanywaymenditwithoutasacrificeofhisdearestprides。Heturnedawayfromthemallandwalkedtoanisolatedcorneroftheroom。Hewouldabidenolongerwiththem。HehadbeenmadeanoutcastbyNoraBlack，andheintendedtobeanoutcast。Thercwasnosenseinattemptingtostemthisextraordinarydeluge。Itwasbettertoacquiesce。

ThensuddenlyhewasangrywithMarjory。HedidnotexactlyseewhyhewasangryatMarjory，buthewasangryathernevertheless。Hethoughtofhowhecouldrevengehimselfuponher。Hedecidedtotakehorsewithhisgroomanddragomanandproceedforthwithontheroad，leavingthejumbleasitstood。ThiswouldpainMarjory，anyhow，hehoped。Shewouldfeelitdeeply，hehoped。

Actinguponthisplan，hewenttotheprofessor。

Well，ofcourseyouareallrightnow，professor，andifyoudon"tmind，Iwouldliketoleaveyou-goonahead。I"vegotaconsiderablepressureofbusinessonmymind，andIthinkIshouldhurryontoAthens，ifyoudon"tmind。"

Theprofessordidnotseemtoknowwhattosay。

"Ofcourse，ifyouwishit-sorry，I"msure-ofcourseitisasyouplease-butyouhavebeensuchapowerinourfavour-itseemstoobadtoloseyou-but-ifyouwishit-ifyouinsist-"

"Oh，yes，Iquiteinsist，"saidColeman，calmly。"I

quiteinsist。Makeyourmindeasyonthatscore，professor。Iinsist。"

"Well，Mr。Coleman，"stammeredtheoldman。

"Well，itseemsagreatpitytoloseyou-youhavebeensuchapowerinourfavour-"

"Oh，youarenowonlyeighthoursfromtherail-

way。Itisveryeasy。Youwouldnotneedmyas-

sistance，evenifitwereabenefit!

"But-"saidtheprofessor。

Coleman"sdragomancametohimthenandsaid:

"Thereisonemanherewhosaysyoumadetotakeonerifleinthefightandwasbreakhishead。Hewassayhewantssunthingforyouwasbreakhishead。Hesayshurt。"

"Howmuchdoeshewant？"askedColeman，im-

patiently。

Thedragomanwrestledthenevidentlywithadesiretoprotectthisminefromoutsidefingers。"I-Ithinktwogoldpieceplenty。"

"Takethem，"saidColeman。Itseemedtohimpreposterousthatthisidiotwithabrokenheadshouldinterpolateuponhistragedy。"AfterwardyouandthegroomgetthethreehorsesandwewillstartforAthensatonce。"

"ForAthens？Atonce？"saidMarjory"svoiceinhisear。

CHAPTERXXIII

"Om，"saidColeman，"Iwasthinkingofstarting。"

"Why？"askedMarjory，unconcernedly。

Colemanshotheraquickglance。"Ibelievemyperiodofusefulnessisquiteended，"hesaid。withjustasmallbetrayalofbitterfeeling。

"Itiscertainlytruethatyouhavehadaremark-

ableperiodofusefulnesstous，"saidMarjorywithaslowsmile，"butifitisended，youshouldnotrunawayfromus。"

Colemanlookedathertoseewhatshecouldmean。

Frommanywomen，thesewordswouldhavebeenequal，underthecircumstances，toacommandtostay，buthefeltthatnonemightknowwhatimpulsesmovedthemindbehindthatbeautifulmask。Inhismiseryhethoughttohurtherintoanexpressionoffeelingbyaroughspeech。"I"msoinlovewithNoraBlack，youknow，thatIhavetobeverycarefulofmyself。"

"Oh，"saidMarjory，neverthoughtofthat。I

shouldthinkyouwouldhavetobecarefulofyourself。"

Shedidnotseemmovedinanyway。Colemandespairedoffindingherweakspot。Shewasa"damantine，thisgirl。Hesearchedhismindforsomethingtosaywhichwouldbestillmoregrossthanhislastoutbreak，butwhenhefeltthathewasabouttohituponit，theprofessorinterruptedwithanagitatedspeechtoMarjory。"Youhadbettergotoyourmother，mychild，andseethatyouareallreadytoleavehereassoonasthecarriagescomeup。"

"Wehaveabsolutelynothingtomakeready，"saidMarjory，laughing。"ButI"llgoandseeifmotherneedsanythingbeforewestartthatIcangetforher。"

Shewentawaywithoutbiddinggood-byetoColeman。

Thesolemaddeningimpressiontohimwasthatthematterofhisgoinghadnotbeenofsufficientimportancetoremainlongerthanamomentuponhermind。

Atthesametimehedecidedthathewouldgo，irretrievablygo。

Eventhenthedragomanenteredtheroom。"Wewillpackeverything-uponthehorse？"

"Everything-yes。"

PeterTounleycameafterward。"Youarenotgoingtobolt？"

"Yes，I"moff，"answeredColemanrecoveringhim-

selfforPeter"sbenefit。"SeeyouinAthens，probably。"

Presentlythedragomanannouncedthereadinessofthehorses。ColemanshookhandswiththestudentsandtheProfessoramidcriesofsurpriseandpoliteregret。"What？Going，oldman？Really？Whatfor？Oh，waitforus。We"reoffinafewminutes。

Sorryasthedevil，oldboy，to"seeyougo。"Heacceptedtheirprotestationswithasomewhatsourface。HeknewperfectlywellthattheywerethinkingofhisdepartureassomethingthatrelatedtoNoraBlack。Atthelast，hebowedtotheladiesasacollection。Marjory"sansweringbowwasaffable；thebowofMrs。Wainwrightspokearesentmentforsome-

thing；andNora"sbowwastriumphantmockery。Asheswungintothesaddleanideastruckhimwithoverwhelmingforce。Theideawasthathewasafool。

Hewasacolossalimbecile。Hetouchedthespurtohishorseandtheanimalleapedsuperbly，makingtheGreekshastenforsafetyinalldirections。Hewasoff；

hecouldnomorereturntoretracthisdeviousidiocythanhecouldmakehishorseflytoAthens。Whatwasdonewasdone。Hecouldnotmendit。Andhefeltlikeamanthathadbrokenhisownheart；

perversely，childishly，stupidlybrokenhisownheart。

HewassurethatMarjorywaslosttohim。NomancouldbedegradedsopubliclyandresentitsocrudelyandstillretainaMarjory。InhisabasementfromhisdefeatatthehandsofNoraBlackhehadperformedeveryimaginableblock-headishactandhadfinallyclimaxeditallbyadeparturewhichleftthetongueofNoratospeakunmolestedintotheearofMarjory。Nora"svictoryhadbeenaseriousblowtohisfortunes，butithadnotbeensoseriousashisownsubsequentfolly。Hehadgenerouslymuddledhisownaffairsuntilhecouldreadnothingoutofthembutdespair。

Hewasinthemoodforhatred。Hehatedmanypeople。NoraBlackwastheprincipalitem，buthedidnothesitatetodetesttheprofessor，Mrs。Wain-

wright，Cokeandallthestudents。AsforMarjory，hewouldrevengehimselfuponher。Shehaddonenothingthathedefinedclearlybut，atanyrate，hewouldtakerevengeforit。Asmuchaswaspossible，hewouldmakehersuffer。Hewouldconvinceherthathewasatremendousandinexorableperson。

Butitcameuponhismindthathewaspowerlessinallways。Ifhehatedmanypeopletheyprobablywouldnotbeeveninterestedinhisemotionand，asforhisrevengeuponMarjory，itwasbeyondhisstrength。HewasnothingbutthecomplainingvictimofNoraBlackandhimself。

HefeltthathewouldneveragainseeMarjory，andwhilefeelingithebegantoplanhisattitudewhennexttheymet。Hewouldbeverycoldandreserved。

AtAgrinionhefoundthattherewouldbenotrainuntilthenextdaybreak。Thedragomanwasexcessivelyannoyedoverit，butColemandidnotscoldatall。Asamatteroffacthishearthadgivenagreatjoyusbound。Hecouldnotnowpreventhisbeingovertaken。Theywereonlyafewleaguesaway，andwhilehewaswaitingforthetraintheywouldeasilycoverthedistance。Ifanybodyexpressedsurpriseatseeinghimhecouldexhibitthelogicalreasons。

Iftherehadbeenatrainstartingatoncehewouldhavetakenit。Hispridewouldhaveputupwithnosubterfuge。IftheWainwrightsovertookhimitwasbecausehecouldnothelpit。Buthewasdelightedthathecouldnothelpit。Therehadbeenaninter-

positionbysomespeciallybeneficentfate。Hefeltlikewhistling。Hespenttheearlyhalfofthenightinblissfulsmoke，stridingtheroomwhichthedragomanhadfoundforhim。HisheadwasfullofplansanddetachedimpressivescenesinwhichhefiguredbeforeMarjory。ThesimplefactthattherewasnotrainawayfromAgrinionuntilthenextdaybreakhadwroughtastupendouschangeinhisoutlook。Heunhesitatinglyconsidereditanomenofagoodfuture。

Hewasupbeforethedarknessevencontainedpresageofcominglight，butneartherailwaystationwasalittlehutwherecoffeewasbeingservedtoseveralprospectivetravellerswhohadcomeevenearliertotherendezvous。TherewasnoevidenceoftheWainwrights。

Colemansatinthehutandlistenedfortherumbleofwheels。HewassuddenlyappalledthattheWainwrightsweregoingtomissthetrain。Perhapstheyhaddecidedagainsttravellingduringthenight。Perbapsthisthing，andperhapsthatthing。Themorningwasverycold。Closelymuffledinhiscloak，hewenttothedoorandstaredatwheretheroadwaswhiten-

ingoutofnight。Atthestationstoodalittlespectraltrain，andtheengineatintervalsemittedalong，piercingscreamwhichinformedtheechoinglandthat，inallprobability，itwasgoingtostartafteratimeforthesouth。TheGreeksinthecoffeeroomwere，ofcourse，talking。

AtlastColemandidhearthesoundofhoofsandwheels。Thethreecarriagessweptupingrandprocession。

Thefirstwasladenwithstudents；inthesecondwastheprofessor，theGreekofficer，NoraBlack"soldladyandotherpersons，alllookingmarvellouslyunimportantandshelved。ItwasthethirdcarriageatwhichColemanstared。Atfirstbethoughtthedimlightdeceivedhisvision，butinamomentheknewthathisfirstleapingconceptionofthearrangementofthepeopleinthisvehiclehadbeenperfectlycorrect。NoraBlackandMrs。Wainwrightsatsidebysideonthebackseat，whilefacingthemwereCokeandMarjory。

Theylookedcoldbutintimate。

TheoddityofthegroupingstupefiedColeman。Itwasanarchy，nakedandunashamed。Hecouldnotimaginehowsuchchangescouldhavebeenconsummatedintheshorttimehehadbeenawayfromthem，buthelaiditalltosomestartlingnecromancyonthepartofNoraBlack，somewondrousplaywhichhadcapturedthemallbecauseofitssurpassingskillandbecausetheywere，inthemain，rathergulliblepeople。

Hewaswrong。ThemagichadbeenwroughtbytheunaidedfoolishnessofMrs。Wainwfight。AssoonasNoraBlackhadsucceededincreatinganeffectofintimacyanddependencebetweenherselfandColeman，theprofessorhadflatlystatedtohiswifethatthepresenceofNoraBlackintheparty，intheinn，intheworld，wasathiagthatdidnotmeethisapprovalinanyway。Sheshouldbeabolished。

AsforColeman，hewouldnotdefendhim。Hepreferrednottotalktohim。Itmadehimsad。Colemanatleasthadbeenveryindiscreet，veryindiscreet。

Itwasagreatpity。Butasforthisblatantwoman，thesoonertheyridthemselvesofher，thesoonerhewouldfeelthatalltheworldwasnotevil。

WhereuponMrs。Wainwrighthadchangedfrontwiththespeedoflightandattackedwithhorse，footandguns。Shefailedtosee，shehaddeclared，wherethispoor，lonegirtwasingreatfault。Ofcourseitwasprobablethatshehadlistenedtothissnaky。

tonguedRufusColeman，butthatwaseverthemistakethatwomenmade。Oh，certainly；theprofessorwouldliketoletRufusColemanoffscot-free。Thatwasthewaywithmen。Theydefendedeachotherinallcases。Ifwrongweredoneitwasthewomanwhosuffered。Now，sincethispoorgirlwasalonefaroffhereinGreece，Mrs。Wainwrightannouncedthatshehadsuchfullsenseofherdutytohersexthatherconsciencewouldnotallowhertoscornanddesertasister，evenifthatsisterwas，approximately，thevictimofacreaturelikeRufusColeman。Perhapsthepoorthinglovedthiswretchedman，althoughitwashardtoimagineanywomangivingherhearttosuch。

amonster。