the major-第22部分

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！



〃Why；　because　there's　a　League　regulation；　Mother；　that　makes　a　month's　residence　in　the　district　necessary　to　a　place　on　the　team。　Unfortunately　Sykes　has　been　here　only　two　weeks；　and　so　we　are　unwilling　to　put　one　over　on　our　gallant　foe。　　Got　to　play　the　game；　eh；　Duckworth？〃

Duckworth's　face　grew　fiery　red。　　〃Yes；　certainly；〃　he　said。　〃Rather　an　awkward　rule　but〃

〃You　see；　Mother；　we　want　to　eliminate　every　sign　of　professionalism；〃　said　Larry；　〃and　emphasise　the　principle　of　local　material　for　clubs。〃

〃Ah；　I　see；　and　a　very　good　idea；　I　should　say；〃　said　his　mother。　〃The　Eagle　Hill　team；　for　instance；　will　be　made　up　of　Eagle　Hill　men　only。　　That　is　really　much　better　for　the　game　because　you　get　behind　your　team　all　the　local　pride　and　enthusiasm。〃

〃A　foolish　rule；　I　call　it；〃　said　Switzer　abruptly　to　Kathleen；　〃and　you　can't　enforce　it　anyway。　　Who　can　tell　the　personality　of　a　team　ten；　twenty　or　fifty　miles　away？〃

〃I　fancy　they　can　tell　themselves；〃　said　Jack　Romayne。　　〃Their　Captain　can　certify　to　his　men。〃

〃Aha！〃　laughed　Switzer。　　〃That's　good。　　The　Captain；　I　suppose；　is　keen　to　win。　　Do　you　think　he　would　keep　a　man　off　his　team　who　is　his　best　player；　and　who　may　bring　him　the　game？〃　　Switzer's　face　was　full　of　scorn。

〃I　take　it　they　are　gentlemen；〃　was　Romayne's　quiet　rejoinder。

〃Of　course；　Mr。　Romayne；〃　said　Mrs。　Gwynne。　　〃That　gets　rid　of　all　the　difficulty。　　Otherwise　it　seems　to　me　that　all　the　pleasure　would　be　gone　from　the　contest；　the　essential　condition　of　which　is　keeping　to　the　rules。〃

〃Good　for　you；　Mother。　　You're　a　real　sport；〃　said　Larry。

〃Besides；〃　replied　his　mother；　〃we　have　Scripture　for　it。　　You　remember　what　it　says？　　'If　a　man　strive　for　masteries　yet　is　he　not　crowned　except　he　strive　lawfully。'　　'Except　he　strive　lawfully；'　you　see。　　The　crown　he　might　otherwise　win　would　bring　neither　honour　nor　pleasure。〃

〃Good　again；　Mother。　　You　ought　to　have　a　place　on　the　League　committee。　　We　shall　have　that　Scripture　entered　on　the　rules。　　But　I　must　run　and　dress。　　Farwell；　you　can　take　charge　of　Duckworth。〃

But　Duckworth　was　uneasy　to　be　gone。　　〃If　you　will　excuse　me；　Mrs。　Gwynne；　I　must　get　my　men　together。〃

〃Well；　Mr。　Duckworth；〃　said　Mrs。　Gwynne；　smiling　on　him　as　she　gave　him　her　hand；　〃I　am　sorry　we　cannot　wish　you　a　victory；　but　we　can　wish　you　your　very　best　game　and　an　honourable　defeat。〃

〃Thank　you；〃　said　Duckworth。　　〃I　feel　you　have　done　your　best。〃

〃Come　and　see　us　afterward；　Mr。　Duckworth。　　What　a　splendid　young　man；〃　she　continued；　as　Duckworth　left　the　party　and　set　off　to　get　his　men　together　with　the　words　〃except　he　strive　lawfully〃　ringing　in　his　ears。

〃She's　a　wonder；〃　he　said　to　himself。　　〃I　wonder　how　it　is　she　got　to　me　as　she　has。　　I　know。　　She　makes　me　think〃　　But　Duckworth　refused　even　to　himself　to　say　of　whom　she　made　him　think。　　〃Except　he　strive　lawfully〃　the　crown　would　bring　〃neither　honour　nor　pleasure。〃　　Those　words；　and　the　face　which　had　suddenly　been　recalled　to　Duckworth's　memory　reconstructed　his　whole　scheme　of　football　diplomacy。　　〃By　George；　we　cannot　play　Liebold；　we　can't　do　it。　　The　boys　will　kick　like　steers；　but　how　can　we？　　I'm　up　against　a　fierce　proposition；　all　right。〃

And　so　he　found　when　he　called　his　men　together　and　put　to　them　the　problem　before　him。　　〃It　seems　a　rotten　time　to　bring　this　matter　up　just　when　we　are　going　on　to　the　ground；　but　I　never　really　thought　much　about　it　till　that　little　lady　put　it　to　me　as　I　told　you。　　And；　fellows；　I　have　felt　as　if　it　were　really　up　to　me　to　put　it　before　you。　　They　have　lost　their　goal　man；　Colemanthere's　no　better　in　the　Leagueand　because　of　this　infernal　rule　they　decline　to　put　on　a　cracking　good　player。　　They　are　playing　the　game　on　honour；　and　they　are　expecting　us　to　do　the　same；　and　as　that　English　chap　says；　they　expect　us　to　be　gentlemen。　　I　apologise　to　you　all；　and　if　you　say　go　on　as　we　are；　I　will　go　on　because　I　feel　I　ought　to　have　kicked　before。　　But　I　do　so　under　protest　and　feeling　like　a　thief。　　I　suggest　that　Harremann　take　Liebold's　place。　　Awfully　sorry　about　it；　Liebold；　and　I　apologise　to　you。　　I　can't　tell　you　how　sorry　I　am；　boys；　but　that's　how　it　is　with　me。〃

There　was　no　time　for　discussion；　and　strangely　enough　there　was　little　desire　for　it；　the　Captain's　personality　and　the　action　of　the　Wolf　Willow　team　carrying　the　proposition　through。　　Harremann　took　his　place　on　the　team；　and　Liebold　made　his　contribution　that　day　from　the　side　lines。　　But　the　team　went　on　to　the　field　with　a　sense　that　whatever　might　be　the　outcome　of　the　match　they　had　begun　the　day　with　victory。

The　match　was　contested　with　the　utmost　vigour；　not　to　say　violence；　but　there　was　a　absence　of　the　rancour　which　had　too　often　characterised　the　clashing　of　these　teams　on　previous　occasions；　the　Eagle　Hill　team　carrying　on　to　the　field　a　new　respect　for　their　opponents　as　men　who　had　shown　a　true　sporting　spirit。　　And　by　the　time　the　first　quarter　was　over　their　action　in　substituting　an　inferior　player　for　Liebold　for　honour's　sake　was　known　to　all　the　members　of　the　Wolf　Willow　team；　and　awakened　in　them　and　in　their　friends　among　the　spectators　a　new　respect　for　their　enemy。　　The　match　resulted　in　a　victory　for　the　home　team；　but　the　generous　applause　which　followed　the　Eagle　Hill　team　from　the　field　and　which　greeted　them　afterward　at　the　dinner　where　they　occupied　an　honoured　place　at　the　table　set　apart　for　distinguished　guests；　and　the　excellent　dinner　provided　by　the　thrifty　Ladies'　Aid　of　All　Saints　Church　went　far　to　soothe　their　wounded　spirits　and　to　atone　for　their　defeat。

〃Awfully　fine　of　you；　Duckworth；〃　said　Larry；　as　they　left　the　table　together。　　〃That's　the　sort　of　thing　that　makes　for　clean　sport。〃

〃I　promised　to　see　your　mother　after　the　match；〃　said　Duckworth。　〃Can　we　find　her　now？〃

〃Sure　thing；〃　said　Larry。

Mrs。　Gwynne　received　the　young　man　with　hand　stretched　far　out　to　meet　him。

〃You　made　us　lose　the　game；　Mrs。　Gwynne；〃　said　Duckworth　in　a　half…　shamed　manner；　〃and　that　is　one　reason　why　I　came　to　see　you　again。〃

〃I？〃　exclaimed　Mrs。　Gwynne。

〃Well；　you　quoted　Scripture　against　us；　and　you　know　you　can't　stand　up　against　Scripture　and　hope　to　win；　can　you？〃　said　Duckworth　with　a　laugh。

〃Sit　down　here　beside　me；　Mr。　Duckworth；〃　she　said；　her　eyes　shining。　　〃I　won't　pretend　not　to　understand　you；〃　she　continued　when　he　had　taken　his　place　beside　her。　　〃I　can't　tell　you　how　proud　I　am　of　you。〃

〃Thank　you；〃　said　Duckworth。　　〃I　like　to　hear　that。　　You　see　I　never　thought　about　it　very　much。　　I　am　not　excusing　myself。〃

〃No；　I　know　you　are　not；　but　I　heard　about　it；　Mr。　Duckworth。　　We　all　think　so　much　of　you。　　I　am　sure　your　mother　is　proud　of　you。〃

Young　Duckworth　sat　silent；　his　eyes　fastened　upon　the　ground。

〃Please　forgive　me。　　Perhaps　she　isno　longer　with　you；〃　said　Mrs。　Gwynne　softly；　laying　her　hand　upon　his。　　Duckworth　nodded；　refusing　to　look　at　her　and　keeping　his　lips　firmly　pressed　together。　　〃I　was　wrong　in　what　I　said　just　now；〃　she　continued。　〃She　is　with　you　still；　she　knows　and　follows　all　your　doings；　and　I　believe　she　is　proud　of　you。〃

Duckworth　cleared　his　throat　and　said　with　an　evident　effort；　〃You　made　me　think　of　her　to…day；　and　I　simply　had　to　play　up。　　I　must　go　now。　　I　must　see　the　fellows。〃　　He　rose　quickly　to　his　feet。

〃Come　and　see　us；　won't　you？〃　said　Mrs。　Gwynne。

〃Won't　I　just；〃　replied　Duckworth；　holding　her　hand　a　moment　or　two。　　〃I　can't　tell　you　how　glad　I　am　that　I　met　you　to…day。〃

〃Oh；　wait；　Mr。　Duckworth。　　Nora；　come　here。　　I　want　you　to　meet　my　second　daughter。　　Nora；　this　is　Mr。　Duckworth；　the　Captain。〃

〃Oh；　I　know　him；　the　Captain　of　the　enemy；〃　cried　Nora。

〃Of　our　friends；　Nora；〃　said　her　mother。

〃All　right；　of　our　friends；　now　that　we　have　beaten　you；　but　I　want　to　tell　you；　Mr。　Duckworth；　that　I　could　gladly　have　slain　you　many　times　to…day。〃

〃And　why；　pray？〃

〃Oh；　you　were　so　terribly　dangerous；　and　as　for　Larry；　why　you　just　played　with　him。　　It　was　perfectly　maddening　to　me。〃

〃All　the　same　your　brother　got　away　from　me　and　shot　the　winning　goal。　　He's　fearfully　fast。〃

〃A　mere　fluke；　I　tell　him。〃

〃Don't　you　think　it　for　one　little　minute。　　It　was　a　neat　bit　of　work。〃



CHAPTER　X

THE　SPIRIT　Of　CANADA


Whatever　it　was　that　rendered　it　necessary　for　Duckworth　to　〃see　the　fellows；〃　that　necessity　vanished　in　the　presence　of　Nora。

〃Are　you　going　to　take　in　the　polo？〃　he　asked。

〃Am　I？　　Am　I　going　to　continue　breathing？〃　cried　Nora。　　〃Come　along；　Mother；　we　must　go　if　we　are　to　get　a　good　place。〃

〃May　I　find　one　for　you；〃　said　Mr。　Duckworth；　quite　forgetting　that　he　〃must　see　the　fellows；〃　and　thinking　only　of　his　good　luck　in　falling　in　with　such　a　〃stunning…looking　girl。〃　　He　himself　had　changed　into　flannels；　and　with　his　athletic　figure；　his　brown；　healthy　face；　brown　eyes　and　hair；　was　a　thoroughly　presentable　young　man。　　He　found　a　place　with　ease　for　his　party；　a　dozen　people　offering　to　make　room　for　them。　　As　Mr。　Duckworth　let　his　eyes　rest　upon　the　young　lady　at　his　side　his　sense　of　good…fortune　grew　upon　him；　for　Nora　in　white　pique　skirt　and　batiste　blouse　smartly　girdled　with　a　scarlet　patent　leather　belt；　in　white　canvas　shoes　and　sailor　hat；　made　a　picture　good　to　look　at。　　Her　dark　olive　brown　skin；　with　rich　warm　colour　showing　through　the　sunburn　of　her　cheeks；　her　dark　eyes；　and　her　hair　for　once　〃done　up　in　style〃　under　Kathleen's　supervision；　against　the　white　of　her　costume　made　her　indeed　what　her　escort　thought；　〃a　stunning…　looking　girl。〃　　Usually　careless　as　to　her　appearance；　she　had　yielded　to　Kathleen's　persuasion　and　had　〃gotten　herself　up　to　kill。〃　　No　wonder　her　friends　of　both　sexes　followed　her　with　eyes　of　admiration；　for　no　one　envied　Nora；　her　frank　manner；　her　generous　nature；　her　open　scorn　at　all　attempts　to　win　admiration；　made　her　only　friends。

〃Bring　your　mother　over　here；〃　cried　Mrs。　Waring…Gaunt；　who　rejoiced　exceedingly　in　the　girl's　beauty。　　〃Why；　how　splendidly　you　are　looking　to…day；〃　she　continued　in　a　more　confidential　tone　as　the　party　grouped　themselves　about　her。　　〃What　have　you　been　doing　to　yourself？　　You　are　looking　awfully　fine。〃

〃Am　I？〃　said