第13章

"Ithought-Idon"tknow-"murmuredCokeinconfusion。

Norabecamesuddenlybusiness-like。"Buthowdoyouknow？Areyousure？Whotoldyou？Anyhow，staytoluncheon。Do-likeagoodboy。Oh，youmust。"

Cokedroppedagainintohischair。Hestudiedherinsomewonder。"Ithoughtyou"dbesurprised，"

hesaid，ingenuously。

"Oh，youdid，didyou？Well，youseeI"mnot。

Andnowtellmeallaboutit。"

"There"sreallynothingtotellbuttheplainfact。

Someoftheboysdroppedinattheminister"sroomsalittlewhileago，and，hetoldthemofit。

That"sall。"

Well，howdidheknow？

"IamsureIcan"ttellyou。Gotitfirsthand，I

suppose。HelikesColeman，andColemanisalwayshangingupthere。"

"Oh，perhapsColemanwaslying，"saidNoraeasily。Thensuddenlyherfacebrightenedandshespokewithanimation。"Oh，Ihaven"ttoldyouhowmylittleGreekofficerhasturnedout。HaveI？

No？Well，itissimplylovely。Doyouknow，hebelongstooneofthebestfamiliesinAthens？Hedoes。

Andthey"rerich-richascanbe。Mycouriertellsmethatthemarblepalacewheretheyliveisenoughtoblindyou，andthatiftitleshadn"tgoneoutofstyle-orsomething-hereinGreece，mylittleofficerwouldbeaprince!Thinkofthat!Thecourierdidn"tknowituntilwegottoAthens，andthelittleofficer-theprince-gavemehiscard，ofcourse。Oneoftheoldest，noblestandrichestfamiliesinGreece。

Thinkofthat!ThereIthoughthewasonlyabothersomelittleofficerwhocameinhandyattimes，andthereheturnsouttobeaprince。IcouldhardlykeepmyselffromrushingrightofftofindhimandapologisetohimforthewayItreatedhim。Itwasawful!And-"addedthefairNora，pensively，"ifhedoesmeetmeinParis，I"llmakehimwearthattitledowntoashred，youcanbet。What"sthegoodofhavingatitleunlessyoumakeitwork？"

CHAPTERXXIX。

COKEdidnotstaytoluncheonwithNoraBlack。

Hewentawaysayingtohimselfeitherthatgirldon"tcareastrawforColemanorshehasgotaheartabsolutelyofflint，orsheisthegreatestactressonearthor-thereissomeotherreason。"

Athisdeparture，Noraturnedandcalledintoanadjoiningroom。"MaudeI"Thevoiceofhercompanionandfriendansweredherpeevishly。"What？"

"Don"tbotherme。I"mreading。"

"Well，anyhow，luncheonisready，soyouwillhavetostiryourpreciousself，"respondedNora。"You"relazy。"

"Idon"twantanyluncheon。Don"tbotherme。

I"vegotaheadache。"

"Well，ifyoudon"tcomeout，you"llmissthenews。

That"sallI"vegottosay。"

Therewasarustleintheadjoiningroom，andimmediatelythecompanionappeared，seemingmuchannoyedbutcurious。"Well，whatisit？"

"RufusColemanisengagedtobemarriedtothatWainwrightgirl，afterall。"

"WellIdeclare!"ejaculatedthelittleoldlady。

"WellIdeclare。"Shemeditatedforamoment，andthencontinuedinatoneofsatisfaction。"Itoldyouthatyoucouldn"tstopthatmanColemanifhehadfeallymadeuphismindto-"

"You"reafool，"saidNora，pleasantly。

"Why？"saidtheoldlady。

Becauseyouare。Don"ttalktomeaboutit。I

wanttothinkofMarco。"

""Marco，""quotedtheoldladystartled。

"Theprince。Theprince。Can"tyouunderstand？

Imeantheprince。"

""Marco!""againquotedtheoldlady，underherbreath。

"Yes，"Marco，""criedNora，belligerently。""Marco，"

Doyouobjecttothename？What"sthematterwithyou，anyhow？"

"Well，"rejoinedtheother，noddingherheadwisely，"hemaybeaprince，butI"vealwaysheardthatthesecontinentaltitlesarenogoodincomparisontotheEnglishtitles。"

"Yes，butwhotoldyouso，eh？"demandedNora，noisily。Sheherselfansweredthequestion。"TheEnglish!"

"Anyhow，thatlittlemarquiswhotaggedafteryouinLondonisamuchbiggermanineveryway，I"llbet，thanthislittleprinceofyours。"

"But-goodheavens-hedidn"tmeanit。Why，hewasonlyoneoftheregularrounders。ButMarco，heisseriousIHemeansit。He"dgothroughfireandwaterformeandbegladofthechance。"

"Well，"proclaimedtheoldlady，"ifyouarenotthestrangestwomanintheworld，I"dliketoknow!

HereIthought-"

"Whatdidyouthink？"demandedNora，suspisciously。

"IthoughtthatColeman——"

"Bosh!"interrupted，thegracefulNora。"Itellyouwhat，Maude；you"dbettertrytothinkaslittleaspossible。Itwillsuityourstyleofbeautybetter。

Andaboveall，don"tthinkofmyaffairs。Imyselfamtakingpainsnottothinkofthem。It"seasier。"

Mrs。Wainwright，withnospiritofintentionwhat。

ever，hadsitaboutreadjustingheropinions。Itiscertainthatshewasunconsciousofanyevolution。Ifsomeonehadsaidtoherthatshewassurrenderingtotheinevitable，shewouldhavebeenimmediatelyonherguard，andwouldhaveopposedforeverallsuggestionsofamatchbetweenMarjoryandColeman。Ontheotherhand，ifsomeonehadsaidtoherthatherdaughterwasgoingtomarryahumanserpent，andthattherewerepeopleinAthenswhowouldbegladtoexplainhistreacherouscharacter，shewouldhavehaughtilyscornedthetale-bearingandwouldhavegonewithmorehasteintotheprofessor"swayofthinking。Infact，shewasinprocessofunderminingherself。，andtheworkcouldhavebeen。retardedoradvancedbyanyirresponsible，gossipytongue。

Theprofessor，fromthedepthsofhisexperiencewithher，arrangedacourseofconduct。"IfIjustleavehertoherselfshewillcomearoundallright，butifIgo"strikingwhiletheironishot，"oranyofthosethings，I"llbungleitsurely。"

Astheyweremakingreadytogodowntoluncheon，Mrs。Wainwrightmadeherspeechwhichfirstindicatedachangingmind。"Well，whatwillbe，willbe，"

shemurmuredwithaprolongedsighofresignation。

"Whatwillbe，willbe。Girlsareveryheadstronginthesedays，andthereisnothingmuchtobedonewiththem。Theygotheirownroads。Itwasn"tsoinmygirlhood-Wewereobligedtopayattentiontoourmotherswishes。"

"Ididnotnoticethatyoupaidmuchattentiontoyourmother"swisheswhenyoumarriedme，"remarkedtheprofessor。"Infact，Ithought-"

"Thatwasanotherthing，"retortedMrs。Wainwrightwithseverity。"Youwereasteadyyoungmanwhohadtakenthehighesthonoursallthroughyourcollegecourse，andmymother"ssoleobjectionwasthatweweretoohasty。Shethoughtwe-oughttowaituntilyouhadapennytoblessyourselfwith，andIcanseenowwhereshewasquiteright。"

"Well，youmarriedme，anyhow，"saidtheprofessor，victoriously。

Mrs。Wainwrightallowedherhusband"sretorttopassoverherthoughtfulmood。"Theysay**theysayRufusColemanmakesasmuchasfifteenthousanddollarsayear。That"smorethanthreetimesyourincome**Idon"tknow。**Italldependsonwhethertheytrytosaveornot。Hismanneroflifeis，nodoubt，veryluxurious。Idon"tsupposeheknowshowtoeconomiseatall。Thatkindofamanusuallydoesn"t。Andthen，inthenewspaperworldpositionsaresoveryprecarious。Menmayhavevaluablepositionsoneminuteandbepennilessinthestreetthenextminute。Itisn"tasifhehadanyrealincome，andofcoursehehasnorealability。Ifhewassuddenlythrownoutofhisposition，goodnessknowswhatwouldbecomeofhim。Stillstillfifteenthousanddollarsayearisabigincomewhileitlasts。I

supposeheisveryextravagant。Thatkindofamanusuallyis。AndIwouldn"tbesurprisedifhewasheavilyindebt；veryheavilyindebt。Still**ifMarjoryhassetherheartthereisnothingtobedone，Isuppose。Itwouldn"thavehappenedifyouhadbeenaswiseasyouthoughtyouwere。**IsupposehethinksIhavebeenveryrudetohim。Well，sometimesIwasn"tnearlysorudeasIfeltlikebeing。

FeelingasIdid，Icouldhardlybeveryamiable。**

OfcoursethisdrivethisafternoonwasallyouraffairandMarjory"s。But，ofcourse，Ishallbenicetohim。"

"AndwhatofallthisNoraBlackbusiness？"askedtheprofessor，with，adisplayofvalour，butreallywithmuchtrepidation。

"Sheisahussy，"respondedMrs。Wainwrightwithenergy。"HerconversationinthecarriageonthewaydowntoAgrinionsickenedme!"

"IreallybelievethatherplanwassimplytobreakeverythingoffbetweenMarjoryandColeman，"saidtheprofessor，"andIdon"tbelieveshehadany-groundsforallthatappearanceofowningColemanandtherestofit。"

"Ofcourseshedidn"t"assentedMrs。Wainwright。

Theviciousthing!"

"Ontheotherhand，"saidtheprofessor，"theremightbesometruthinit。"

"Idon"tthinkso，"saidMrs。Wainwrightseriously。

Idon"tbelieveawordofit。"

"YoudonotmeantosaythatyouthinkColemanamodelman？"demandedtheprofessor。

"Notatall!Notatall!"shehastilyanswered。

"But**onedoesn"tlookformodelmenthesedays。"

""Whotoldyouhemadefifteenthousandayear？

askedtheprofessor。

"ItwasPeterTounleythismorning。Weweretalkingupstairsafterbreakfast，andheremarkedthatheifcouldmakefifteenthousand，ayear:likeColeman，he"d-I"veforgottenwhat-somefancifulthing。"

"Idoubtifitistrue，"mutteredtheoldmanwagginghishead。

"Ofcourseit"strue，"saidhiswifeemphatically。

"PeterTounleysayseverybodyknowsit。"

Well*anyhow*moneyisnoteverything。"

Butit"sa。greatdeal，youknowwellenough。Youknowyouarealwaysspeakingofpovertyasanevil，asagrandresultant，acollaborationofmanylesserevils。Well，then？

"But，"begantheprofessormeekly，whenIsaythatImean-"

"Well，moneyismoneyandpovertyispoverty，"

interruptedhiswife。"Youdon"thavetobeverylearnedtoknowthat。"

"IdonotsaythatColemanhasnotaverynicethingofit，butImustsayitishardtothinkofhisgettinganysuchsum，asyoumention。"

"Isn"theknownasthemostbrilliantjournalistinNewYork？"shedemandedharshly。

"Y-yes，aslongasitlasts，butthenoneneverknowswhenhewillbeoutinthestreetpenniless。

Ofcoursehehasnoparticularabilitywhichwouldbemarketableifhesuddenlylosthispresentemployment。

Ofcourseitisnotasifhewasareallytalentedyoungman。

Hemightnotbeabletomakehiswayatallinanynewdirection。"

"Idon"tknowaboutthat，"saidMrs。Wainwrightinreflectiveprotestation。"Idon"tknowaboutthat。

Ithinkhewould。"

"Ithoughtyousaidamomentago-"Theprofessorspokewithanairofpuzzledhesitancy。"I

thoughtyousaidamomentagothathewouldn"tsucceedinanythingbutjournalism。"

Mrs。Wainwrightswamoverthesituationwithafinetranquility。"Well-I-I，"sheansweredmusingly，"ifIdidsaythat，Ididn"tmeanitexactly。"

"No，Isupposenot，"spoketheprofessor，andde-

spitethenecessityforcautionhecouldnotkeepoutofhisvoiceafaintnoteofannoyance。

"Ofcourse，"continuedthewife，"RufusColemanisknowneverywhereasabrilliantman，averybrilliantman，andheevenmightdowellin-inpoliticsorsomethingofthatsort。"

"IhaveaverypooropinionofthatkindofamindwhichdoeswellinAmericanpolitics，"saidthepro-

fessor，speakingasacollegian，"butIsupposetheremaybesomethinginit。"

"Well，atanyrate，"decidedMrs。Wainwright。

"Atanyrate-"

Atthatmoment，Marjoryattiredforluncheonandthedriveenteredfromherroom，andMrs。Wainwrightcheckedtheexpressionofherimportantconclusion。

Neitherfatherormotherhadeverseenhersoglowingwithtriumphantbeauty，abeautywhichwouldcarrythemindofaspectatorfarabovephysicalappreciationintothatrealmofpoetrywherecreaturesoflightmoveandarebeautifulbecausetheycannotknowpainoraburden。Itcarriedtearstotheoldfather"seyes。Hetookherhands。"Don"tbetoohappy，mychild，don"tbetoohappy，"headmonishedhertremulously。"Itmakesmeafraid-itmakesmeafraid。"

CHAPTERXXX

ITseemsstrangethattheonewhowasthemosthilariousovertheengagementofMarjoryandCole-

manshouldbeColeman"sdragomanwhowasindeedinastateborderingontransport。Itisnotknownhowhelearnedthegladtidings，butitiscertainthathelearnedthembeforeluncheon。Hetoldallthevisibleemployesofthehotelandallowedthemtoknowthatthebetrothalreallyhadbeenhishandi-workHehadarrangedit。Hedidnotmakequiteclearhowhehadperformedthisfeat，butatleasthewasperfectlyfrankinacknowledgingit。

Whensomeofthestudentscamedowntoluncheon，theysawhimbutcouldnotdecidewhatailedhim。

Hewasinthemaincorridorofthehotel，grinningfromeartoear，andwhenheperceivedthestudentshemadesignstointimatethattheypossessedincom-

monajoyoussecret。"What"sthematterwiththatidiot？"askedCokemorosely。"Looksasifhiswheelsweregoingaroundtoofast。"

PeterTounleywalkedclosetohimandscannedhimimperturbably，butwithcare。"What"sup，Phidias？"Themanmadenoarticulatereply。Hecontinuedtogrinandgesture。"Paininootummy？

Motherdead？Caughtthecholera？Foundoutthatyou"veswallowedapairofhammeredbrassandironsinyourbeer？Say，whoareyou，anyhow？"

Buthecouldnotshakethisinvincibleglee，sohewentaway。

Thedragoman"srapturereacheditszenithwhenColemanlenthimtotheprofessorandhewascommissionedtobringacarriageforfourpeopletothedooratthreeo"clock。Hehimselfwastositontheboxandtellthedriverwhatwasrequiredofhim。Hedashedoff，hishatinhishand，hishairflying，puffing，importantbeyondeverything，andapparentlybabblinghismissiontohalfthepeoplehemetonthestreet。Inmostcountrieshewouldhavelandedspeedilyinjail，butamongapeoplewhoexistonabasisof"jibbering，hisviolentgabblearousednosuspicionsastohissanity。However，hestirredseveralliverystablestotheirdepthsandsetmenrunninghereandtherewildlyandforthemostpartfutiltiy。

Atfifteenminutestothreeo"clock，acarriagewithitshorsesonagalloptorearoundthecorneranduptothe。frontofthehotel，whereithaltedwiththepompandexcitementofafireengine。Thedragomanjumpeddownfromhisseatbesidethedriverandscrambledhurriedlyintothehoiel，inthegloomofwhichhemetaserenestillnesswhichwaspunctuatedonlybytheleisurelytinkleofsilverandglassinthediningroom。Foramomentthedragomanseemedreallyastoundedoutofspecch。Thenheplungedintothemanager"sroom。WasitconceivablethatMonsieurColemanwasstillatluncheon？Yes；infact，itwastrue。Butthecarriage，wasatthedoor!

Thecarriagewasatthedoor!Themanager，undisturbed，askedforwhathourMonsieurColemanhadbeenpleasedtoorderacarriage。Threeo"clock!

Threeo"clock？Themanagerpointedcalmlyattheclock。Verywell。Itwasnowonlythirteenminutesofthreeo"clock。MonsieurColemandoubtlesswouldappearatthree。UntilthathourthemanagerwouldnotdisturbMonsieurColeman。Thedragomanclutchedbothhishandsinhishairandcastalookofagonytotheceiling。GreatGod!Hadheaccomplishedtheherculeantaskofgettingacarriageforfourpeopletothedoorofthehotelintimeforadriveatthreeo"clock，onlytomeetwiththisstoniness，thisinhumanity？Ah，itwasunendurable？Hebeggedthemanager；heimploredhim。Butateveryword。

themanagerseemedtogrowmoreindifferent，morecallous。Hepointedwithawoodenfingerattheclock-face。Inreality，itisthus，thatGreekmeetsGreek。

ProfessorWainwrightandColemanstrolledtogetheroutofthediningroom。Thedragomanrushedecstaticallyuponthecorrespondent。"Oh，MeesterColeman!

Thecargeisready!"

"Well，allright，"saidColeman，knockingashesfromhiscigar。"Don"tbeinahurry。Isupposewe"llbeready，presently。"Themanwasindespair。

ThedepartureoftheWainwrightsandColemanonthisordinarydrivewasofasomewhatdramaticandpublicnature，Nooneseemedtoknowhowtopreventitsbeingso。Inthefirstplace，theattendantsthrongedoutenmasseforareasonwhichwasplainatthetimeonlytoColeman"sdragoman。And，ratherinthebackground，lurkedtheinterestedstudents。

Theprofessorwassurprisedandnervous。Colemanwasrigidandangry。Marjorywasflushedandsomewhathurried，andMrs。Wainwrightwasasproudasanoldturkey-hen。

Asthecarriagerolledaway，PeterTounleyturnedtohiscompanionsandsaid:"Now，that"sofficial!

Thatistheofficialannouncement!DidyouseeOldMotherWainwright？Oh，myeye，wasn"tshepuffedup!Say，whatinhelldoyousupposeallthesejayhawkingbell-boyspouredouttothekerbfor？Gobacktoyourcages，mygoodpeople-"

Assoonasthecarriagewheeledintoanotherstreet，itsoccupantsexchangedeasiersmiles，andtheymusthaveconfessedinsomesubtlewayofglancesthatnowatlasttheywereupontheirownmission，amissionundefinedbutearnesttothemall。

Colemanhadagladfeelingofbeingletintothefamily，orbecomingoneofthemTheprofessorlookedsidewaysathimandsmiledgently。"Youknow，Ithoughtofdrivingyoutosomeruins，butMarjorywouldnothaveit。Sheflatlyobjectedtoanymoreruins。SoIthoughtwewoulddrivedowntoNewPhalerum。"

Colemannoddedandsmiledasifhewereimmenselypleased，butofcourseNewPhalerumwastohimnomorenor-lessthanVladivostokorKhartoum。

Neitherplacenordistancehadinterestforhim。

Theysweptalongashadedavenuewherethedustlaythickontheleaves；theypassedcafeswherecrowdswereangrilyshoutingoverthenewsinthelittlepapers；

theypassedahospitalbeforewhichwoundedmen，whitewithbandages，weretakingthesun；thencamesoontotheandvalleyflankedbygauntnakedmountains，whichwouldleadthemtothesea。Sometimestoaccentuatethedrynakednessofthisvalley，therewouldbeapatchofgrassuponwhichpoppiesburnedcrimsonspots。Thedustwrithedoutfromunderthewheelsofthecarriage；inthedistancetheseaappeared，abluehalf-discsetbetweenshouldersofbarrenland。ItwouldbecommontosaythatColemanwasoblivioustoallabouthimbutMarjory。Onthecontrary，theparchedland，theisolatedflameofpoppies，thecoolairfromthesea，allwerekeenlyknowntohim，andtheyhaddevelopedanextraordinarypowerofblendingsympatheticallyintohismood。Meanwhiletheprofessortalkedagreatdeal。

Andasasomewhatexhilaratingdetail，ColemanperceivedthatMs。Wainwrightwasbeaminguponhim。

AtNewPhalerum-asmallcollectionofpalesquarevillas-theyleftthecarriageandstrolled，bythesea。

Thewavesweresnarlingtogetherlikewolvesamidthehoneycombrocksandfromwheretheblueplanesprangleveltothehorizon，cameastrongcoldbreeze，thekindofabreezewhichmovesanexultingmanoraparsontotakeoffhishatandlethislocksflutterandtugbackfromhisbrow。

TheprofessorandMrs。Wainwrightwerelefttothemselves。

MarjoryandColemandidnotspeakforatime。Itmighthavebeenthattheydidnotquiteknowwheretomakeabeginning。AtlastMarjoryasked:

"Whathasbecomeofyoursplendidhorse？"

"Oh，I"vetoldthedragomantohavehimsoldassoonashearrives，"saidColemanabsently。

"Oh。I"msorry**Ilikedthathorse。"

"Why？"

"Oh，because-"

"Well，hewasafine-"Thenhe，too，interruptedhimself，forhesawplainlythattheyhadnotcometothisplacetotalkaboutahorse。Thereathemadespeechofmatterswhichatleastdidnotaffordasmanyopportunitiesforcoherencyaswouldthehorse。Marjory，itcan"tbetrue***Isittrue，dearest**Icanhardlybelieveit-I-"

"Oh，IknowI"mnotnearlygoodenoughforyou。"

"Goodenoughforme，dear？

"Theyalltoldmeso，andtheywereright!Why，eventheAmericanministersaidit。Everybodythinksit。"

"Why，aren"ttheywretchesTothinkofthemsayingsuchathing!Asif-asifanybodycouldbetoo——"

"Doyouknow-"Shepausedandlookedathimwithacertaintimidchallenge。"Idon"tknowwhyIfeelit，but-sometimesIfeelthatI"vebeenI"vebeenflungatyourhead。"

Heopenedhismouthinastonishment。"Flungatmyhead!

Sheheldupherfinger。"AndifIthoughtyoucouldeverbelieveit!"

"Isagirlflungataman"sheadwhenherfathercarriesherthousandsofmilesawayandthemanfollowsherallthesemiles，andatlast-"

"Hereyeswereshining。"AndyoureallycametoGreece-onpurposeto-to-"

"Confessyouknewitallthetime!Confess!"

Theanswerwasmuffled。"Well，sometimesI

thoughtyoudid，andatothertimesIthoughtyou-

didn"t。"

Inasecludedcove，inwhichthesea-maidsoncehadplayed，nodoubt，MarjoryandColemansatinsilence。

Hewasbelowher，andifhelookedatherhehadtoturnhisglanceobliquelyupward。Shewasstaringattheseawithwoman"smysticgaze，agazewhichmenatoncereverenceandfearsinceitseemstolookintothedeep，simpleheartofnature，andmenbegintofeelthattheirpettywisdomsarefutiletocontrolthesestrangespirits，aswaywardasnatureandaspureasnature，wildastheplayofwaves，sometimesasunalterableasthemountainamidthewinds；andtomeasurethem，manmustperforceuseamathematicalformula。

Hewishedthatshewouldlayherhanduponhishair。Hewouldbehappythen。Ifshewouldonly，ofherownwill，touchhishairlightlywithherfingers-ifshewoulddoitwithanunconsciousairitwouldbeevenbetter。Itwouldshowhimthatshewasthinkingofhim，evenwhenshedidnotknowshewasthinkingofhim。

Perhapshedaredlayhisheadsoftlyagainstherknee。

Didhedare？

Ashisheadtouchedherknee，shedidnotmove。

Sheseemedtobestillgazingatthesea。Presentlyidlycaressingfingersplayedinhishairneartheforehead。Helookedupsuddenlyliftinghisarms。

Hebreathedoutacrywhichwasladenwithakindofdiffidentferocity。"Ihaven"tkissedyouyet-"