第10章

TheprofessorhadthenaskedwithconsiderablespiritfortheproofsuponwhichMrs。WainwrightnamedColemanamonster，andhadmadeawryfaceoverhercompletelyconventionalreply。Hehadtoldhercategoricallyhisopinionofhereruditioninsuchmatters。 ButMrs。Wainwrightwasnottobedeterredfromanexcitingespousalofthecauseofhersex。Upontheinstantthattheprofessorstrenuouslyopposedhershebecameanapostle，anenlightened，upliftedapostletotheworldonthewrongsofhersex。Shehadcomedownwiththisthingasifitwereadisease。 Nothingcouldstopher。Herhusband，herdaughter，allinfluencesinotherdirections，hadbeenoverturnedwitharoar，andthefirstthingfullycleartotheprofessor\'smindhadbeenthathiswifewasridingaffablyinthecarriagewithNoraBlack。 Colemanarousedwhenheheardoneofthestudentscryout:\"Why，thereisRufusColeman\'sdragoman。 Hemustbehere。\"Amomentlatertheythrongeduponhim。\"Hi，oldman，caughtyouagain!Wheredidyoubreakto？Gladtocatchyou，oldboy。Howareyoumakingit？Where\'syourhorse？\" \"Sentthehorsesonto，Athens，\"saidColeman。 Hehadnotyetrecoveredhiscomposure，andhewasgladtofindavailablethiscommonplacereturntotheirexuberantgreetingsandquestions。\"SentthemontoAthenswiththegroom。\" Inthemeantimetheengineofthelittletrainwasscreamingtoheaventhatitsintentionofstartingwasmostserious。Thediligenciacareeredtothestationplatformandunburdened。Colemanhadhadhisdragomanplacehisluggageinalittlefirst-classcarriageandhedefiantlyentereditandclosedthedoor。 Hehadasuddenreturntotheoldsenseofdownfall，andwithitcametheoriginalrebelliousdesires。However，hehopedthatsomebodywouldintrudeuponhim。 ItwasPeterTounley。Thestudentflungopenthedoorandthenyelledtothedistance:\"Here\'sanemptyone。\"Heclatteredintothecompartment。 \"Hello，Coleman!Didn\'tknowyouwereinhere!\" AthisheelscameNoraBlack，CokeandMarjory。 \"Oh!\"theysaid，whentheysawtheoccupantofthecarriage。\"Oh!\"Colemanwasfurious。Hecouldhavedistributedsomeofhistrapsinawaytocreatemoreroom，buthedidnotmove。 CHAPTERXXIV。 THEREwasademonstrationoftheunequalledfacilitiesofaEuropeanrailwaycarriageforrenderingunpleasantthingsalmostintolerable。Thesepeoplecouldfindnowaytoalleviatethepoignancyoftheirposition。Colemandidnotknowwheretolook。 EverypersonalmannerismbecomesaccentuatedinaEuropeanrailwaycarriage。Ifyouglanceataman，yourglancedefinesitselfasastare。Ifyoucarefullylookatnothing，youcreateforyourselfaresemblancetoallwooden-headedthings。Anewspaperis，then，inthenatureofapreservative，andColemanlongedforanewspaper。 ItwasthisabominablerailwaycarriagewhichexactedthefirstdisplayofagitationfromMarjory。 Sheflushedrosily，andhereyeswaveredoverthecornpartment。NoraBlacklaughedinawaythatwasashocktothenerves。Cokeseemedveryangry，indeed，andPeterTounleywasinpitifuldistress。 Everythingwasacutely，painfullyvivid，bald，paintedasglaringlyasagrocer\'snewwagon。Itfulfilledthosetraditionswhichtheartistsdeplorewhentheyusetheirpetphraseonapicture，\"Ithurts。\"ThedamnablepowerofaccentuationoftheEuropeanrailwaycarriageseemed，toColeman\'samazedmind，toberedoubledandredoubled。 ItwasPeterTounleywhoseemedtobeinthegreatestagony。Helookedatthecorrespondentbeseechinglyandsaid:\"It\'saverycoldmorning，Coleman。\" Thiswasanactualappealinthenameofhumanity。 Colemancamesquarely。tothefrontandevengrinnedalittleatpoorPeterTounley\'smisery。 \"Yes，itisacoldmorning，Peter。Ishouldsayittooneofthecoldestmorningsinmyrecollection。\" PeterTounleyhadnotintendedatypicalAmericanemphasisonthepolarconditionswhichobtainedinthecompartmentatthistime，butColemanhadgiventhewordthismeaning。Spontaneouslyeverybodysmiled，andatoncethetensionwasrelieved。 Butofcoursethesatanicpowersoftherailwaycarriagecouldnotbealtogethersetatnaught。OfcourseitfelltothelotofCoketogettheseatdirectlyinfrontofColeman，andthus，facetoface，theyweredoomedtostareateachother。 PeterTounleywasinspiredtobeginconventionalbabble，inwhichhetookgreatcaretomakeanappear。 anceoftalkingtoallinthecarriage。\"FunnythingIneverknewthesemorningsinGreeceweresocold。 Ithoughttheclimateherewasquitetropical。Itmusthavebeeninconvenientintheancienttimes，when，Iamtold，peopledidn\'twearnearsomany- er-clothes。Really，Idon\'tseehowtheystoodit。 Formypart，Iwouldlikenothingsomuchasabuffalorobe。Isupposewhenthosegreatsculptorsweredoingtheirmasterpieces，theyhadtoweargloves。 Everthinkofthat？Funny，isn\'tit？Aren\'tyoucold，Marjory？Iam。jingo!ImaginetheSpartansinulsters，goingouttomeetanenemyincape-overcoats，andbeingdesiredbytheirmotherstoreturnwiththeirulstersorwrappedinthem。\" ItwasratherhardworkforPeterTounley。BothMarjoryandColemantriedtodisplayaninterestinhislabours，andtheylaughednotatwhathesaid，butbecausetheybelieveditassistedhim。Thelittletrain，meanwhile，wanderedupagreatgreenslope，andthedayrapidlycolouredtheland。 AtfirstNoraBlackdidnotdisplayamilitantmood，butastimepassedColemansawclearlythatshewasconsideringtheadvisabilityofanewattack。ShehadColemanandMarjoryinconjunctionandwheretheywereunabletoescapefromher。Theopportunitiesweregreat。ToColeman，sheseemedtobegloatingoverthepossibilitiesofmakingmoremischief。Shewaslookingathimspeculatively，asifconsideringthebestplacetohithimfirst。Presentlyshedrawled: \"Rufus，Iwishyouwouldfixmyrugaboutmealittlebetter。\"Colemansawthatthiswasabeginning。 PeterTounleysprangtohisfeetwithspeedanden- thusiasm。\"Oh，letmedoitforyou。\"Hehadherwellmuffledintherugbeforeshecouldprotest，evenifaprotesthadbeenrational。TheyoungmanhadnoideaofdefendingColeman。Hehadnoknowledgeofthenecessityforit。Ithadbeenmerelytheexerciseofhishabitofamiability，hischronicdesiretoseeeverybodycomfortable。HispassioninthisdirectionwaswellknowninWashurst，wherethestudentshadborrowedaphrasefromthephotographersinordertodescribehimfullyinanickname。Theycalledhim\"Look-pleasantTounley。\"Thisdidnotinanywayantagonisehisperfectwillingnesstofightonoccasionswithasingulardesperation，whichusuallyhasasmallstoolineverymindwheregoodnaturehasathrone。 \"Oh，thankyouverymuch，Mr。Tounley，\"saidNoraBlack，withoutgratitude。\"Rufusisalwayssolaxinthesematters。\" \"Idon\'tknowhowyouknowit，\"saidColemanboldly，andhelookedherfearlesslyintheeye。Thebattlehadbegun。 \"Oh，\"respondedNora，airily，\"Ihavehadopportunityenoughtoknowit，Ishouldthink，bythistime。\" \"No，\"saidColeman，\"sinceIhaveneverpaidyouparticularanddirectattention，youcannotpossiblyknowwhatIamlaxinandwhatIamnotlaxin。I wouldbeobligedtobeofserviceatanytime，Nora，butsurelyyoudonotconsiderthatyouhavearighttomyservicessuperiortoanyotherright。\" NoraBlacksimplywentmad，butfortunatelypartofhermadnesswasintheformofspeechlessness。 Otherwisetheremighthavebeenheardsomethingapproachingtobillingsgate。 MarjoryandPeterTounleyturnedfirsthotandthencold，andlookedasiftheywantedtoflyaway；andevenCoke，pennedhelplesslyinwiththisunpleasantincident，seemedtohaveasuddenattackofdistress。 TheonlyfrigidpersonwasColeman。Hehadmadehisdeclarationofindependence，andhesawwithgleethatthevictorywascomplete。NoraBlackmightstormandrage，buthehadannouncedhispositioninanunconventionalbluntwaywhichnobodyinthecarriagecouldfailtounderstand。HefeltsomewhatlikesmilingwithconfidenceanddefianceinNora\'sface，buthestillhadthefearforMarjory。 Unexpectedly，thefightwasalloutofNoraBlack。 Shehadthefuryofawomanscorned，butevidentlyshehadperceivedthatallwasoverandlost。TheremainderofherwrathdispenseditselfinglareswhichColemanwithstoodwithgreatcomposure。 AstrainedsilencefelluponthegroupwhichlasteduntiltheyarrivedatthelittleportofMesalonghi，whencetheyweretotakeshipforPatras。Colemanfoundhimselfwonderingwhyhehadnotgoneflatlyatthegreatquestionatamuchearlierperiod，indeedatthefirstmomentwhenthegreatquestionbegantomakelifeexcitingforhim。HethoughtthatifhehadchargedNora\'sgunsinthebeginningtheywouldhaveturnedouttobethesameincapableartillery。 Insteadofthathehadrunawayandcontinuedtorunawayuntilhewasactuallycorneredandmadetofight，andhiseasyvictoryhaddefinedhimasapersonwhohad，earlier，indulgedinmuchstupidityandcowardice。 Everythinghadworkedoutsosimply，histerrorshadbeendispelledsoeasily，thatheprobablywasledtooverestimatehissuccess。Anditoccurredsuddenlytohim。HeforesawafineoccasiontotalkprivatelytoMarjorywhenallhadboardedthesteamerforPatrasandheresolvedtomakeuseofit。Thishebelievedwouldendthestrifeandconclusivelylaurelhim。 Thetrainfinallydrewuponalittlestonepierandsomeboatmenbegantoscreamlikegulls。Thesteamerlayatanchorintheplacidbluecove。TheembarkationwaschaoticintheOrientalfashionandtherewasthecustomarymiserywhichwasonlyrelievedwhenthetravellershadsetfootonthedeckofthesteamer。ColemandidnotdevoteanyprematureattentiontofindingMarjory，butwhenthesteamerwasfairlyoutonthecalmwatersoftheGulfofCorinth，hesawherpacingtoandfrowithPeterTounley。 Atfirsthelurkedinthedistancewaitingforanopportunity，butultimatelyhedecidedtomakehisownopportunity。Heapproachedthem。\"Marjory，wouldyouletmespeaktoyoualoneforafewmoments？ Youwon\'tmind，willyou，Peter？\" \"Oh，no，certainlynot，\"saidPeterTounley。 \"Ofcourse。Itisnotsomedreadfulrevelation，isit？\"saidMarjory，banteringhimcoolly。 \"No，\"answeredColeman，abstractedly。Hewasthinkingofwhathewasgoingtosay。PeterTounleyvanishedaroundthecornerofadeck-houseandMarjoryandColemanbegantopacetoandfroevenasMarjoryandPeterTounleyhaddone。Colemanhadthoughttospeakhismindfranklyandonceforall，andonthetrainhehadinventedmanyclearexpressionsofhisfeeling。Itdidnotappearthathehadforgottenthem。Itseemed，more，thattheyhadbecomeentangledinhismindinsuchawaythathecouldnotunraveltheendofhisdiscourse。 Inthepause，Marjorybegantospeakinadmirationofthescenery。\"IneverimaginedthatGreecewassofullofmountains。OnereadssomuchoftheAtticPlains，butaren\'tthesemountainsroyal？Theylooksoruggedandcold，whereasthebayisabsolutelyasblueastheolddescriptionsofasummersea。\" \"IwantedtospeaktoyouaboutNoraBlack，\"saidColeman。 \"NoraBlack？Why？\"saidMarjory，liftinghereye- brows。 Youknowwellenough，\"saidColeman，inahead。 longfashion。\"Youmustknow，youmusthaveseenit。SheknowsIcareforyouandshewantstostopit。 Andshehasnorightto-tointerfere。Sheisafiend，aperfectfiend。SheistryingtomakeyoufeelthatI careforher。\" \"Anddon\'tyoucareforher？\"askedMarjory。 \"No，\"saidColeman，vehemently。\"Idon\'tcareforheratall。\" \"Verywell，\"answeredMarjory，simply。\"Ibelieveyou。\"Shemanagedtogivethewordstheeffectofamereannouncementthatshebelievedhimanditwasinnowayplainthatshewasgladorthatsheesteemedthematterasbeingofconsequence。 Hescowledatherindarkresentment。\"Youmeanbythat，Isuppose，thatyoudon\'tbelieveme？\" \"Oh，\"answeredMarjory，wearily，\"Ibelieveyou。 Isaidso。Don\'ttalkaboutitanymore。\" \"Then，\"saidColeman，slowly，\"youmeanthatyoudonotcarewhetherI\'mtellingthetruthornot？\" \"Why，ofcourseIcare，\"shesaid。\"Lyingisnotnice。\" Hedidnotknow，apparently，exactlyhowtodealwithhermanner，whichwasactuallysopliablethat-itwasmarble，ifonemayspeakinthatway。Helookedruefullyatthesea。Hehadexpectedafareasiertime。\"Well-\"hebegan。 \"Really，\"interruptedMarjory，\"thisissomethingwhichIdonotcaretodiscuss。Iwouldratheryouwouldnotspeaktomeatallaboutit。Itseemstoo-too-bad。IcanreadilygiveyoumywordthatI believeyou，butIwouldpreferyounottotrytotalktomeaboutitor-anythingofthatsort。Mother!\" Mrs。Wainwrightwashoveringanxiouslyinthevicinity，andshenowboredownrapidlyuponthepair。\"YouareverynearlytoPatras，\"shesaidreproachfullytoherdaughter，asifthefacthadsomefaultofMarjory\'sconcealedinit。Sheinnowayac- knowledgedthepresenceofColeman。 \"Oh，arewe？\"criedMarjory。 \"Yes，\"saidMrs。Wainwright。\"Weare。\" ShestoodwaitingasifsheexpectedMarjorytoin- stantlyquitColeman。Thegirlwaveredamomentandthenfollowedhermother。\"Good-bye。\"shesaid。 \"IhopewemayseeyouagaininAthens。\"ItwasacommandtohimtotravelalonewithhisservantonthelongrailwayjourneyfromPatrastoAthens。Itwasadismissalofacasualacquaintancegivensograciouslythatitstunghimtothedepthsofhispride。 Hebowedhisadieuandhisthanks。Whentheyellingboatmencameagain，heandhismanproceededtotheshoreinanearlyboatwithoutlookinginanywayafterthewelfareoftheothers。 Atthetrain，thepartysplitintothreesections。 Colemanandhismanhadonecompartment，NoraBlackandhersquadhadanother，andtheWainwrightsandstudentsoccupiedtwomore。 ThelittleofficerwasstillintowofNoraBlack。 Hewasveryenthusiastic。InFrenchshedirectedhimtoremainsilent，buthedidnotappeartounderstand。 \"Youtellhim，\"shethensaidtoherdragoman，\"tositinacornerandnottospeakuntilItellhimto，orIwon\'thavehiminhere。\"Sheseemedanxioustounburdenherselftotheoldladycompanion。 \"Doyouknow，\"shesaid，\"thatgirlhasanervelikesteel。Itriedtobreakitthereinthatinn，butIcouldn\'tbudgeher。IfIamgoingtohaveherbeatenImustprovemyselftobeavery，veryartfulperson。\" \"Whydidyoutrytobreakhernerve？\"askedtheoldlady，yawning。\"Whydoyouwanttohaveherbeaten？\" \"BecauseIdo，oldstupid，\"answeredNora。\"YoushouldhaveheardthethingsIsaidtoher。\" \"Aboutwhat？\" \"AboutColeman。Can\'tyouunderstandanythingatall？\" \"AndwhyshouldyousayanythingaboutColemantoher？\"queriedtheoldlady，stillhopelesslybefogged。 \"Because，\"criedNora，dartingalookofwrathathercompanion，\"Iwanttopreventthatmarriage。\" Shehadbeenbetrayedintothisavowalbythesingularlyopaquemindoftheoldlady。Thelatteratoncesaterect-\"Oh，ho，\"shesaid，asifarayoflighthadbeenletintoherhead。\"Oh，ho。Sothat\'sit，isit？\" \"Yes，that\'sit，rejoinedNora，shortly。 Theoldladywasamazedintoalongperiodofmeditation。Atlastshespokedepressingly。\"Well，howareyougoingtopreventit？Thosethingscan\'tbedoneinthesedaysatall。Iftheycareforeachother-\" Noraburstoutfuriously。\"Don\'tventureopinionsuntilyouknowwhatyouaretalkingabout，please。 Theydon\'tcareforeachother，doyousee？Shecaresforhim，buthedon\'tgiveasnapofhisfingersforher。\" \"But，\"criedthebewilderedlady，\"ifhedon\'tcareforher，therewillbenothingtoprevent。Ifhedon\'tcareforher，hewon\'taskhertomarryhim，andsotherewon\'tbeanythingtoprevent。\" Noramadeabroadgestureofimpatience。\"Oh，can\'tyougetanythingthroughyourhead？Haven\'tyouseenthatthegirlhasbeentheonlyyoungwomaninthatwholepartylostupthereinthemountains，andthatnaturallymorethanhalfofthemenstillthinktheyareinlovewithher？That\'swhatitis。Can\'tyousee？Italwayshappensthatway。 ThenColemancomesalongandmakesafoolofhimselfwiththeothers。\" Theoldladyspokeupbrightlyasifatlastfeelingabletocontributesomethingintelligenttothetalk。 \"Oh，then，hedoescareforher。\" Nora\'seyeslookedasiftheirglancemightshriveltheoldlady\'shair。\"Don\'tIkeeptellingyouthatitisnosuchthing？Can\'tyouunderstand？Itisallglamour!Fascination!Wayupthereinthewilderness!Onlyoneevenpassablewomaninsight。\" \"Idon\'tsaythatIamsoverykeen，\"saidtheoldlady，somewhatoffended，\"butIfailtoseewhereI couldimprovewhenfirstyoutellmehedon\'tcareforher，andthenyoutellmethathedoescareforher。\" \"Glamour，\'\'Fascination，\'\"quotedNora。\"Don\'tyouunderstandthemeaningofthewords？\" \"Well，\"askedtheother，didn\'theknowher，then，beforehecameoverhere？\" Norawassilentforatime，whileagloomuponherfacedeepened。Ithadstruckherthatthetheoriesforwhichsheprotestedsoenergeticallymightnotbeofsuchgreatvalue。Spokenaloud，theyhadasuddennewflimsiness。PerhapsshehadreiteratedtoherselfthatColemanwasthevictimofglamouronlybecauseshewishedittobetrue。Onetheory，however，re- mainedunshaken。Marjorywasanartfulrninx，withnotruthinher。 Shepresentlyfeltthenecessityofreplyingtothequestionofhercompanion。\"Oh，\"shesaid，care- lessly，\"Isupposetheywereacquainted-inaway。\" Theoldladywasgivingthebestofhermindtothesubject。\"Ifthat\'sthecase-\"sheobserved，musingly，\"ifthat\'sthecase，youcan\'ttellwhatisbetween\'em。\" ThetalkhadsoslackenedthatNora\'sunfortunateGreekadmirerfeltthatherewasagoodopportunitytopresenthimselfagaintothenoticeoftheactress。 ThemeanswasasmileandaFrenchsentence，buthisreceptionwouldhavefrightenedamaninarmour。 Hisfaceblanchedwithhorroratthestorm，hehadinvoked，andhedroppedlimplybackasifsomeonehadshothim。\"Youtellthislittlesnipetoletmealone!\"criedNora，tothedragoman。\"IfhedarestocomearoundmewithanymoreofthoseParisiandudespeeches，I-Idon\'tknowwhatI\'lldo!I won\'thaveit，Isay。\"Theimpressionuponthedragomanwashardlylessineffect。HelookedwithbulgingeyesatNora，andthenbegantostammerattheofficer。Thelatter\'svoicecouldsometimesbeheardinawedwhispersforthemoreelaborateexplanationofsomedetailofthetragedy。Afterward，heremainedmeekandsilentinhiscorner，barelymorethanashadow，liketheproverbialhusbandofimperiousbeauty。 \"Well，\"saidtheoldlady，afteralongandthoughtfulpause，\"Idon\'tknow，I\'msure，butitseemstomethatifRufusColemanreallycaresforthatgirl，thereisn\'tmuchuseintryingtostophimfromgettingher。 Heisn\'tthatkindofaman。\" \"Forheaven\'ssake，willyoustopassumingthathedoescareforher？\"demandedNora，breathlessly。 \"AndIdon\'tsee，\"continuedtheoldlady，\"whatyouwanttopreventhimfor，anyhow。\" CHAPTERXXV。 \"IFEELinthisradiantatmospherethattherecouldbenosuchthingaswar-menstrivingtogetherinblackandpassionatehatred。\"Theprofessor\'swordswereforthebenefitofhiswifeanddaughter。，Hewasviewingthesky-bluewatersoftheGulfofCorinthwithitsbackgroundofmountainsthatinthesunshineweretouchedhereandtherewithacopperishglare。 Thetrainwasslowlysweepingalongthesouthernshore。\"Itisstrangetothinkofthosemenfightingupthereinthenorth。Anditisstrangetothinkthatweourselvesarebutjustreturningfromit。\" \"Icannotbegintorealiseityet，\"saidMrs。Wain- wright，inahighvoice。 \"Quiteso，\"respondedtheprofessor，reflectively。 \"Idonotsupposeanyofuswillrealiseitfullyforsometime。Itisaltogethertooodd，tooveryodd。\" \"Tothinkofit!\"criedMrs。WainWright。\"Tothinkofit!SupposingthosedreadfulAlbaniansorthoseawfulmenfromtheGreekmountainshadcaughtus!Why，yearsfromnowI\'llwakeupinthenightandthinkofit!\" Theprofessormused。\"Strangethatwecannotfeelitstronglynow。Mylogictellsmetobeaghastthatweevergotintosuchaplace，butmynervesatpresentrefusetothrill。IamverymuchafraidthatthissingularapathyofourshasledustobeunjusttopoorColeman。\" HereMrs。Wainwrightobjected。\"PoorColeman! Idon\'tseewhyyoucallhimpoorColeman。 \"Well，\"answeredtheprofessor，slowly，\"Iamindoubtaboutourbehaviour。It-\" \"Oh，\"criedthewife，gleefully，\"indoubtaboutourbehaviour!I\'mindoubtabouthisbehaviour。\" \"So，then，youdohaveadoubt。ofhisbehaviour？\" \"Oh，no，\"respondedMrs。Wainwright，hastily，\"notaboutitsbadness。WhatImeanttosaywasthatinthefaceofhisoutrageousconductwiththat- thatwoman，itiscuriousthatyoushouldworryaboutourbehaviour。Itsurprisesme，Harrison。\" Theprofessorwaswagginghisheadsadly。\"I don\'tknowIdon\'tknowItseemshardtojudge**Ihesitateto-\" Mrs。Wainwrighttreatedthisattitudewithdisdain。 \"Itisnothardtojudge，\"shescoffed，\"andIfailtoseewhyyouhaveanyreasonforhesitationatall。 Herehebringsthiswoman——\" Theprofessorgotangry。\"Nonsense!Nonsense! Idonotbelievethathebroughther。IfIeversawaspectacleofawomanbringingherself，itwasthen。 Youkeepchantingthatthinglikeanoutrightparrot。\" \"Well，\"retortedMrs。Wainwright，bridling，\"I supposeyouimaginethatyouunderstandsuchthings，Menusuallythinkthat，butIwanttotellyouthatyouseemtomeutterlyblind。\" \"Blindornot，dostoptheeverlastingreiterationofthatsentence。\" Mrs。Wainwrightpassedintoanoffendedsilence，andtheprofessor，alsosilent，lookedwithagraduallydwindlingindignationatthescenery。 NightwassuggestedintheskybeforethetrainwasneartoAthens。\"Mytrunks，\"sighedMrs。 Wainwright。\"HowgladIwillbetogetbacktomytrunks!Oh，thedust!Oh，themisery!Dofindoutwhenwewillgetthere，Harrison。Maybethetrainislate。\" But，atlast，theyarrivedinAthens，amidadarknesswhichwasconfusing，and，afternomorethanthecommonamountoftrouble，theyprocuredcarriagesandweretakentothehotel。Mrs。Wainwright\'simpulsesnowdominatedtheothersinthefamily。 Shehadonepassionafteranother。ThemajorityoftheservantsinthehotelpretendedthattheyspokeEnglish，but，inthreeminutes，shedrovethemdistractedwiththeabundanceandviolenceofherrequests。 ItcametopassthatintheexcitementtheoldcouplequiteforgotMarjory。ItwasnotuntilMrs。Wainwright，thenfeelingsplendidly，wasdressedfordinner，thatshethoughttoopenMarjory\'sdoorandgotorenderausualmotherlysupervisionofthegirl\'stoilet。 Therewasnolight:theredidnotseemtobeany- bodyintheroom。\"Marjory!\"calledthemother，inalarm。Shelistenedforamomentandthenranhastilyoutagain。\"Harrison!\"shecried。\"Ican\'tfindMarjory!\"Theprofessorhadbeentyinghiscravat。Heletthelooseendsfly。\"What？\"heejaculated，openinghismouthwide。ThentheybothrushedintoMarjory\'sroom。\"Marjory!\"beseechedtheoldmaninavoicewhichwouldhaveinvokedthegrave。 Theanswerwasfromthebed。\"Yes？\"Itwaslow，weary，tearful。ItwasnotlikeMarjory。Itwasdangerouslythevoiceofahcart-brokenwoman。 Theyhurriedforwardwithoutcries。\"Why，Marjory! Areyouill，child？Howlonghaveyoubeenlyinginthedark？Whydidn\'tyoucallus？Areyouill？\" \"No，\"answeredthischangedvoice，\"Iamnotill。 IonlythoughtI\'drestforatime。Don\'tbother。\" Theprofessorhastilylitthegasandthenfatherandmotherturnedhurriedlytothebed。InthefirstoftheilluminationtheysawthattearswereflowinguncheckeddownMarjory\'sface。 Theeffect。ofthisgriefupontheprofessorwas，inpart，aneffectoffear。Heseemedafraidtotouchit，togonearit。Hecould，evidently，onlyremainintheoutskirts，ahorrifiedspectator。Themother，how。 ever，flungherarmsaboutherdaughter。\"Oh，Marjory!\" She，too，wasweeping。 Thegirlturnedherfacetothepillowandheldoutahandofprotest。\"Don\'t，mother!Don\'t!\" \"Oh，Marjory!Oh，Marjory!\" \"Don\'t，mother。Pleasegoaway。Pleasegoaway。Don\'tspeakatall，Ibegofyou。\" \"Oh，Marjory!Oh，Marjory!\" \"Don\'t。\"Thegirlliftedafacewhichappalledthem。Ithadsomethingentirelynewinit。\"Pleasegoaway，mother。Iwillspeaktofather，butIwon\'t-Ican\'t-Ican\'tbepitied。\" Mrs。Wainwrightlookedatherhusband。\"Yes，\" saidtheoldman，trembling。\"Go!\"Shethrewupherhandsinasorrowinggesturethatwasnotwithoutitssuggestionthatherexclusionwouldbeamistake。 Shelefttheroom。 TheprofessordroppedonhiskneesatthebedsideandtookoneofMarjory\'shands。Hisvoicedroppedtoitstenderestnote。\"Well，myMarjory？\" Shehadturnedherfaceagaintothepillow。Atlastsheansweredinmuffledtones，\"Youknow。\" Thereaftercamealongsilencefullofsharpenedpain。ItwasMarjorywhospokefirst。\"Ihavesavedmypride，daddy，but-Ihave-lost-everything——else。\"Evenhersuddenresumptionoftheoldepithetofherchildhoodwasanadditionalmiserytotheoldman。Hestillsaidnoword。Heknelt，grippingherfingersandstaringatthewall。 \"Yes，Ihavelost~everything-else。\" Thefathergavealowgroan。Hewasthinkingdeeply，bitterly。Sinceonewasonlyahumanbeing，howwasonegoingtoprotectbelovedheartsassailedwithsinisterfuryfromtheinexplicablezenith？Inthistragedyhefeltashelplessasanoldgreyape。 Hedidnotseeapossibleweaponwithwhichhecoulddefendhischildfromthecalamitywhichwasuponher。Therewasnowall，noshieldwhichcouldturnthissorrowfromtheheartofhischild。Ifoneofhishandslosscouldhavesparedher，therewouldhavebeenasacrificeofhishand，buthewaspotentfornothing。Hecouldonlygroanandstareatthewall。 HereviewedthepasthalfinfearthathewouldsuddenlycomeuponhiserrorwhichwasnowthecauseofMarjory\'stears。HedweltlonguponthefactthatinWashursthehadrefusedhisconsenttoMarjory\'smarriagewithColeman，butevennowhecouldnotsaythathisjudgmentwasnotcorrect。Itwassimplythatthedoomofwoman\'swoewasuponMarjory，thisancientwoeofthesilenttongueandthegovernedwill，andhecouldonlykneelatthebedsideandstareatthewall。 Marjoryraisedhervoiceinalaugh。\"DidIbetraymyself？DidIbecomethemaidenallforlorn？DidIgiggletoshowpeoplethatIdidnotcare？No-I didnot-Ididnot。Anditwassuchalongtime，daddy!Oh，suchalongtime!Ithoughtwewouldnevergethere。IthoughtIwouldnevergetwhereI couldbealonelikethis，whereIcould-cry-ifI wantedto。Iamnotmuchof-acrier，amI，daddy？ Butthistime-this-time-\" Shesuddenlydrewherselfoverneartoherfatherandlookedathim。\"Oh，daddy，Iwanttotellyouonething。justonesimplelittlething。\"Shewaitedthen，andwhileshewaitedherfather\'sheadwentlowerandlower。\"Ofcourse，youknow-Itoldyouonce。Ilovehim!Ilovehim!Yes，probablyheisarascal，but，doyouknow，Idon\'tthinkIwouldmindifhewasa-anassassin。ThismorningIsenthimaway，but，daddy，hedidn\'twanttogoatall。 Iknowhedidn\'t。ThisNoraBlackisnothingtohim。 Iknowsheisnot。Iamsureofit。Yes-Iamsureofit。***Ineverexpectedtotalkthiswaytoanylivingcreature，but-youaresogood，daddy。 Dearolddaddy——\" Sheceased，forshesawthatherfatherwaspraying。 Thesightbroughttoheranewoutburstofsobbing，forhersorrownowhaddignityandsolemnityfromthebowedwhiteheadofheroldfather，andshefeltthatherheartwasdyingamidthepompofthechurch。 Itwasthelastritesbeingperformedatthedeath-bed。 Intoherearscamesomeimaginingofthelowmelan。 cholychantofmonksinagloom。 Finallyherfatherarose。Hekissedheronthebrow。\"Trytosleep，dear，\"hesaid。Heturnedoutthegasandlefttheroom。Histhoughtwasfullofchastenedemotion。 Butifhisthoughtwasfullofchastenedemotion，itreceivedsomedegreeofshockwhenhearrivedinthepresenceofMrs。Wainwright。\"Well，whatisallthisabout？\"shedemanded，irascibly。\"DoyoumeantosaythatMarjoryisbreakingherheartoverthatmanColeman？Itisallyourfault-\"Shewasapparentlystillruffledoverherexclusion。 Whentheprofessorinterruptedherhedidnotspeakwithhisaccustomedspirit，butfromsomethingnovelinhismannersherecognisedadangersignal。 \"Pleasedonotburstoutatitinthatway。\" \"ThenitIstrue？\"sheasked。Hervoicewasamereawedwhisper。 \"Itistrue，\"answeredtheprofessor。 \"Well，\"shesaid，afterreflection，\"Iknewit。I alway\'sknewit。Ifyouhadn\'tbeensoblind!Youturnedlikeaweather-cockinyouropinionsofColeman。 Younevercouldkeepyouropinionabouthimformorethananhour。Nobodycouldimaginewhatyoumightthinknext。Andnowyouseetheresultofit!Iwarnedyou!ItoldyouwhatthisColemanwas，andifMarjoryissufferingnow，youhaveonlyyourselftoblameforit。Iwarnedyou!\" \"Ifitismyfault，\"saidtheprofessor，drearily，\"I hopeGodmayforgiveme，forhereisagreatwrongtomydaughter。\" Well，ifyouhaddoneasItoldyou-\"shebegan。 Heretheprofessorrevolted。\"Oh，now，donotbe- ginonthat，\"hesnarled，peevishly。Donotbeginonthat。\" \"Anyhow，\"saidMrs。Wainwright，itistimethatweshouldbegoingdowntodinner。IsMarjorycom- ing？\"