the major-第30部分

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〃Got　twenty　thousand　myself；　you　knowlooks　to　me　like　a　sound　propositionthink　you　ought　to　go　inwhat　do　you　say；　eh；　what？〃

〃Very　well；　get　ten　or　fifteen　thousand　for　me；〃　said　his　brother…　in…law。

Within　two　days　Mr。　Waring…Gaunt　found　that　the　stock　had　all　been　disposed　of。　　〃Energetic　chap；　that　young　Switzer；got　all　the　stock　placednone　left；　so　he　told　me。〃

〃Did　you　tell　him　the　stock　was　for　me？〃　enquired　Romayne。

〃Of　course；　why　not？〃

〃Probably　that　accounts　for　it。　　He　would　not　be　especially　anxious　to　have　me　in。〃

〃What　do　you　say？　　Nothing　in　that；　I　fancy。　　But　I　must　see　about　that；　what？〃

〃Oh；　let　it　go；〃　said　Romayne。

〃Gwynne　was　after　me　again　to　take　the　treasurership；〃　said　Waring…　Gaunt；　〃but　I　am　busy　with　so　many　thingstreasurership　very　hamperingdemands　close　attentionthat　sort　of　thing；　eh；　what？〃

〃Personally　I　wish　you　would　take　it；〃　said　Romayne。　　〃You　would　be　able　to　protect　your　own　money　and　the　investments　of　your　friends。　Besides；　I　understand　the　manager　is　to　be　a　German；　which；　with　a　German　secretary；　is　too　much　German　for　my　idea。〃

〃Oh；　you　don't　like　Switzer；　eh？　　Natural；　I　suppose。　　Don't　like　him　myself；　bounder　sort　of　chapbut　avoid　prejudice；　my　boy；　eh；　what？　　Germanthat　sort　of　thingdon't　do　in　this　country；　eh？　English；　Scotch；　Irish；　French；　Galician；　Swede；　Germanall　sound　Canadiansmelting　pot　idea；　eh；　what？〃

〃I　am　getting　that　idea；　too；〃　said　his　brother…in…law。　　〃Sybil　has　been　rubbing　it　into　me。　　I　believe　it　is　right　enough。　　But　apart　altogether　from　that；　frankly　I　do　not　like　that　chap；　I　don't　trust　him。　　I　fancy　I　know　a　gentleman　when　I　see　him。〃

〃All　right；　all　right；　my　boy；　gentleman　idea　quite　right　toobut　new　country；　new　standards'Old　Family'　idea　played　out；　don't　you　know。　　Burke's　Peerage　not　known　hereevery　mug　on　its　own　bottom　rather　touchy　Canadians　are　about　that　sort　of　thingdemocracy　stuff　and　all　that　you　know。　　Not　too　bad　either；　eh；　what？　for　a　chap　who　has　got　the　stuff　in　himarchitect　of　his　fortune　founder　of　his　own　family　and　that　sort　of　thing；　don't　you　know。　Not　too　bad；　eh；　what？〃

〃I　quite　agree；〃　cried　Jack；　〃at　least　with　most　of　it。　　But　all　the　same　I　hope　you　will　take　the　treasurership。　　Not　only　will　you　protect　your　own　and　your　friends'　investments；　but　you　will　protect　the　interests　of　the　Gwynnes。　　The　father　apparently　is　no　business　man；　the　son　is　to　be　away；　anything　might　happen。　　I　would　hate　to　see　them　lose　out。　　You　understand？〃

His　brother…in…law　turned　his　eyes　upon　him；　gazed　at　him　steadily　for　a　few　moments；　then　taking　his　hand；　shook　it　warmly；　exclaiming；　〃Perfectly；　old　chap；　perfectlygood　sort；　Gwynne　good　family。　　Girl　of　the　finesthope　you　put　it　off；　old　boy。　Madame　has　put　me　on；　you　know；　eh；　what？　　Jolly　good　thing。〃

〃Now　what　the　deuce　do　you　mean？〃　said　Romayne　angrily。

〃All　rightdon't　wish　to　intrude；　don't　you　know。　　Fine　girl　thoughquite　the　finest　thing　I've　seencould　go　anywhere。〃

His　brother…in…law's　face　flushed　fiery　red。　　〃Now　look　here；　Tom；〃　he　said　angrily；　〃don't　be　an　ass。　　Of　course　I　know　what　you　mean　but　as　the　boys　say　here；　'Nothing　doing！'〃

〃What？　　You　mean　it？　　Nothing　doing？　　A　fine　girl　like　thatsweet　girlgood　clean　stockwonderful　motherwould　make　a　wife　any　man　would　be　proud　ofthe　real　thing；　you　know；　the　real　thingI　have　known　her　these　eight　yearswatched　her　grow　uprare　courage　pure　soul。　　Nothing　doing？　　My　God；　man；　have　you　eyes？〃　　It　was　not　often　that　Tom　Waring…Gaunt　allowed　himself　the　luxury　of　passion；　but　this　seemed　to　him　to　be　an　occasion　in　which　he　might　indulge　himself。　　Romayne　stood　listening　to　him　with　his　face　turned　away；　looking　out　of　the　window。　　〃Don't　you　hear　me；　Jack？〃　said　Waring…Gaunt。　　〃Do　you　mean　there's　nothing　in　it；　or　have　you　burned　out　your　heart　with　those　fool　women　of　London　and　Paris？〃

Swiftly　his　brother…in…law　turned　to　him。　　〃No；　Tom；　but　I　almost　wish　to　God　I　had。　　No；　I　won't　say　that；　rather　do　I　thank　God　that　I　know　now　what　it　is　to　love　a　woman。　　I　am　not　going　to　lie　to　you　any　longer；　old　chap。　　To　love　a　sweet；　pure　woman；　sweet　and　pure　as　the　flowers　out　there；　to　love　her　with　every　bit　of　my　heart；　with　every　fibre　of　my　soul；　that　is　the　finest　thing　that　can　come　to　a　man。　　I　have　treated　women　lightly　in　my　time；　Tom。　I　have　made　them　love　me；　taken　what　they　have　had　to　give；　and　left　them　without　a　thought。　　But　if　any　of　them　have　suffered　through　me；　and　if　they　could　know　what　I　am　getting　now；　they　would　pity　me　and　say　I　had　got　enough　to　pay　me　out。　　To　think　that　I　should　ever　hear　myself　saying　that　to　another　man；　I　who　have　made　love　to　women　and　laughed　at　them　and　laughed　at　the　poor　weak　devils　who　fell　in　love　with　women。　　Do　you　get　me？　　I　am　telling　you　this　and　yet　I　feel　no　shame；　no　humiliation！　Humiliation；　great　heaven！　I　am　proud　to　say　that　I　love　this　girl。　From　the　minute　I　saw　her　up　there　in　the　woods　I　have　loved　her。　I　have　cursed　myself　for　loving　her。　　I　have　called　myself　fool；　idiot；　but　I　cannot　help　it。　　I　love　her。　　It　is　hell　to　me　or　heaven；　which　you　like。　　It's　both。〃　　He　was　actually　trembling；　his　voice　hoarse　and　shaking。

Amazement；　then　pity；　finally　delight；　succeeded　each　other　in　rapid　succession　across　the　face　of　his　brother…in…law　as　he　listened。　　〃My　dear　chap；　my　dear　chap；〃　he　said　when　Romayne　had　finished。　　〃Awfully　glad；　you　knowdelighted。　　But　why　the　howl？　The　girl　is　therego　in　and　get　her；　by　Jove。　　Why　not；　eh；　what？〃

〃It's　no　use；　I　tell　you；〃　said　Romayne。　　〃That　damned　German　has　got　her。　　I　have　seen　them　together　too　often。　　I　have　seen　in　her　eyes　the　look　that　women　get　when　they　are　ready　to　give　themselves　body　and　soul　to　a　man。　　She　loves　that　man。　　She　loves　him；　I　tell　you。　　She　has　known　him　for　years。　　I　have　come　too　late　to　have　a　chance。　　Too　late；　my　God；　too　late！〃　　He　pulled　himself　up　with　an　effort；　then　with　a　laugh　said；　〃Do　you　recognise　me；　Tom？　　I　confess　I　do　not　recognise　myself。　　Well；　that's　out。　　Let　it　go。　That's　the　last　you　will　get　from　me。　　But；　Tom；　this　is　more　than　I　can　stand。　　I　must　quit　this　country；　and　I　want　you　to　make　it　easy　for　me　to　go。　　We'll　get　up　some　yarn　for　Sibyl。　　You'll　help　me　out；　old　man？　　God　knows　I　need　help　in　this。〃

〃Rot；　beastly　rot。　　Give　her　up　to　that　German　heel…clicking　bounderrather　not。　　Buck　up；　old　mangive　the　girl　a　chance　anywayplay　the　game　out；　eh；　what？　　Oh；　by　the　way；　I　have　made　up　my　mind　to　take　that　treasurershipbeastly　nuisance；　eh？　Goin'？　　Where？〃

〃Off　with　the　dogs　for　a　run　somewhere。〃

〃No；　take　the　cartoo　beastly　hot　for　riding；　don't　you　know。　Take　my　car。　　Or；　I　say；　let's　go　up　to　the　mine。　　Must　get　to　know　more　about　the　beastly　old　thing；　eh；　what？　　We'll　take　the　guns　and　Sweeperwe'll　be　sure　to　see　some　birds　and　get　the　evening　shoot　coming　back。　　But；　last　word；　my　boy；　give　the　girl　a　chance　to　say　no。　　Think　of　it；　a　German；　good　Lord！　　You　go　and　get　the　car　ready。　　We'll　get　Sybil　to　drive　while　we　shoot。〃

Tom　Waring…Gaunt　found　his　great；　warm；　simple　heart　overflowing　with　delight　at　the　tremendous　news　that　had　come　to　him。　　It　was　more　than　his　nature　could　bear　that　he　should　keep　this　from　his　wife。　　He　found　her　immersed　in　her　domestic　duties　and　adamant　against　his　persuasion　to　drive　them　to　the　mine。

〃A　shoot；〃　she　cried；　〃I'd　love　to。　　But；　Tom；　you　forget　I　am　a　rancher's　wife；　and　you　know；　or　at　least　you　don't　know；　what　that　means。　　Run　along　and　play　with　Jack。　　Some　one　must　work。　　No；　don't　tempt　me。　　I　have　my　programme　all　laid　out。　　I　especially　prayed　this　morning　for　grace　to　resist　the　lure　of　the　outside　this　day。　　'Get　thee　behind　me'　　What？　　I　am　listening；　but　I　shouldn't　be。　　What　do　you　say？　　Tom；　it　cannot　be！〃　　She　sat　down　weakly　in　a　convenient　chair　and　listened　to　her　husband　while　he　retailed　her　brother's　great　secret。

〃And　so；　my　dear；　we　are　going　to　begin　a　big　campaignbegin　to…　daytake　the　girls　off　with　us　for　a　shootwhat　do　you　say；　eh？〃

〃Why；　certainly；　Tom。　　Give　me　half　an　hour　to　get　Martha　fairly　on　the　rails；　and　I　am　with　you。　　We'll　take　those　dear　girls　along。　Oh；　it　is　perfectly　splendid。　　Now　let　me　go；　that　will　do；　you　foolish　boy。　　Oh；　yes；　how　lovely。　　Trust　me　to　back　you　up。　　What？　Don't　spoil　things。　　Well；　I　like　that。　　Didn't　I　land　you？　　That　was　'some　job；'　as　dear　Nora　would　say。　　You　listen　to　me；　Tom。　You　had　better　keep　in　the　background。　　Finesse　is　not　your　forte。　Better　leave　these　things　to　me。　　Hurry　up　now。　　Oh；　I　am　so　excited。〃

Few　women　can　resist　an　appeal　for　help　from　a　husband。　　The　acknowledgment　of　the　need　of　help　on　the　part　of　the　dominating　partner　is　in　itself　the　most　subtle　flattery　and　almost　always　irresistible。　　No　woman　can　resist　the　opportunity　to　join　in　that　most　fascinating　of　all　sportman…hunting。　　And　when　the　man　runs　clear　into　the　open　wildly　seeking　not　escape　from　but　an　opening　into　the　net；　this　only　adds　a　hazard　and　a　consequent　zest　to　the　sport。　　Her　husband's　disclosures　had　aroused　in　Sybil　Waring…Gaunt　not　so　much　her　sporting　instincts；　the　affair　went　deeper　far　than　that　with　her。　　Beyond　anything　else　in　life　she　desired　at　that　time　to　bring　together　the　two　beings　whom；　next　to　her　husband；　she　loved　best　in　the　world。　　From　the　day　that　her　brother　had　arrived　in　the　country　she　had　desired　this；　and　more　or　less　aggressively　had　tried　to　assist　Providence　in　the　ordering　of　events。　　But　in　Kathleen；　with　all　her　affection　and　all　her　sweet　simplicity；　there　was　a　certain　shy　reserve　that　prevented　confidences　in　the　matter　of　her　heart　affairs。

〃How　far　has　the　German　got　with　her？　　That　is　what　I　would　like　to　know；〃　said　Mrs。　Waring…Gaunt　to　herself　as　she　hastily　prepared　for　the　motor　ride。　　〃There's　no　doubt　about　him。　　Every　one　can　see　how　he　stands；　and　he　has　such　a　masterful　way　with　him　that　it　makes　one　think　that　everything　is　settled。　　If　it　is　there　is　no　chance　for　Jack；　for　she　is　not　the　changing　kind。〃　　Meantime　she　would　hope　for　the　best　and　play　the　game　as　best　she　could。

〃Would　you　mind　running　into　the　Gwynnes'　as　we　pass；　Tom？〃　said　his　wife　as　they　settled　themselves　in　the　car。　　〃I　have　a　message　for　Nora。