children of the whirlwind-第31部分

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e　phrasing　of　her　notebut　expressed　her　regret　that　she　would　be　able　to　come　only　for　the　tea…hour。　Drinking　tea　must　be　much　the　same；　reasoned　Maggie；　whether　it　be　drunk　in　a　smart　hotel　or　in　a　smart　country　home。

Maggie's　native　shrewdness　suggested　her　simplest　summer　gown　as　likely　to　have　committed　the　fewest　errors；　and　the　invaluable　stupidity　of　Miss　Grierson　aided　her　toward　correctness　if　not　originality。　When　Dick　came　he　was　delighted　with　her　appearance。　On　the　way　out　he　was　ebulliently　excited　in　his　talk。　Maggie　averaged　a　fair　degree　of　sensibility　in　her　responses；　though　only　her　ears　heard　him。　She　was　far　more　excited　than　he；　and　every　moment　her　excitement　mounted；　for　every　moment　she　was　speeding　nearer　the　greatest　ordeal　of　her　life。

When　at　length　they　curved　through　the　lawns　of　satin　smoothness　and　Dick　slowed　down　the　car　before　the　long　white　house；　splendid　in　its　simplicity；　Maggie's　excitement　had　added　unto　it　a　palpitant；　chilling　awe。　And　unto　this　was　added　consternation　when；　as　they　mounted　the　steps；　Miss　Sherwood　smilingly　crossed　the　piazza　and　welcomed　her　without　waiting　for　an　introduction。　Maggie　mumbled　some　reply；　she　later　could　not　remember　what　it　was。　Indeed　she　never　had　met　such　a　woman：　so　finished；　so　gracious；　so　unaffected；　with　a　sparkle　of　humor　in　her　brown　eyes；　and　the　rich　plainness　of　her　white　linen　frock　made　Maggie　conscious　that　her　own　supposed　simplicity　was　cheap　and　ostentatious。　If　Miss　Sherwood　had　received　her　with　hostility；　doubt；　or　even　chilled　civility；　the　situation　would　have　been　easier；　the　aroused　Maggie　would　then　have　made　use　of　her　own　great　endowment　of　hauteur　and　self…esteem。　But　to　be　received　with　this　frank　cordiality；　on　a　basis　of　a　equality　with　this　finished　womanthat　left　Maggie　for　the　moment　without　arms。　She　had；　in　her　high　moments；　believed　herself　an　adventuress　whose　poise　and　plans　nothing　could　unbalance。　Now　she　found　herself　suddenly　just　a　young　girl　of　eighteen　who　didn't　know　what　to　do。

Had　Maggie　but　known　it　that　sudden　unconscious　confusion；　which　seemed　to　betray　her；　was　really　more　effective　for　her　purpose　than　would　have　been　the　best　of　conscious　acting。　It　established　her　at　once　as　an　unstagey　ingenuesimple；　unspoiled；　unacquainted　with　the　formulas　and　formalities　of　the　world。

Miss　Sherwood；　in　her　easy　possession　of　the　situation；　banished　Dick　with　〃Run　away　for　a　while；　Dick；　and　give　us　two　women　a　chance　to　get　acquainted。〃　She　had　caught　Maggie's　embarrassment；　and　led　her　to　a　corner　of　the　veranda　which　looked　down　upon　the　gardens　and　the　glistering　Sound。　She　spoke　of　the　impersonal　beauties　spread　before　their　vision；　until　she　judged　that　Maggie's　first　flutter　had　abated；　then　she　led　the　way　to　wicker　chairs　beside　a　table　where　obviously　tea　was　to　be　spread。

Miss　Sherwood　accepted　Maggie　for　exactly　what　she　seemed　to　be；　and　presently　she　was　saying　in　a　low　voice；　with　her　smiling；　unoffending　directness：

〃Excuse　the　liberty　of　an　older　woman；　Miss　Cameronbut　I　don't　wonder　that　Dick　likes　you。　You　see；　he's　told　me。〃

If　Maggie　had　been　at　loss　for　her　cue　before；　she　had　it　now。　It　was　unpretentiousness。

〃But；　Miss　SherwoodI'm　so　crude；〃　she　faltered；　acting　her　best。　〃Out　West　I　never　had　any　chances　to　learn。　Not　any　chances　like　your　Eastern　girls。〃

〃That's　no　difference；　my　dear。　You　are　a　nice；　simple　girlthat's　what　counts！〃

〃Thank　you；〃　said　Maggie。

〃So　few　of　our　rich　girls　of　the　East　know　what　it　is　to　be　simple；〃　continued　Miss　Sherwood。　〃Too　many　are　all　affectation；　and　pose；　and　forwardness。　At　twenty　they　know　all　there　is　to　be　known；　they　are　blaseescynicalready　for　divorce　before　they　are　ready　for　marriage。　By　contrast　you　are　so　wholesome；　so　refreshing。〃

〃Thank　you；〃　Maggie　again　murmured。

And　as　the　two　women　sat　there；　sprung　from　the　extremes　of　life；　but　for　the　moment　on　the　level　of　equals；　and　as　the　older　talked　on；　there　grew　up　in　Maggie　two　violently　contradictory　emotions。　One　was　triumph。　She　had　won　out　here；　just　as　she　had　said　she　would　win　out；　and　won　out　with　what　Barney　had　declared　to　be　the　most　difficult　person　to　get　the　better　of；　a　finished　woman　of　the　world。　Indeed；　that　was　triumph！

The　other　emotion　she　did　not　understand　so　well。　And　just　then　she　could　not　analyze　it。　It　was　an　unexpected　dismaya　vague　but　permeating　sicknessa　dazed　sense　that　she　was　being　carried　by　unfamiliar　forces　toward　she　knew　not　what。

She　held　fast　to　her　sense　of　triumph。　That　was　the　more　apprehendable　and　positive；　triumph　was　what　she　had　set　forth　to　win。　This　sense　of　triumph　was　at　its　highest；　and　she　was　resting　in　its　elating　security；　when　a　car　stopped　before　the　house　and　a　large　man　got　out　and　started　up　the　steps。　From　the　first　moment　there　was　something　familiar　to　Maggie　in　his　carriage；　but　not　till　Miss　Sherwood；　who　had　risen　and　crossed　toward　him；　greeted　him　as　〃Mr。　Hunt；〃　did　Maggie　recognize　the　well…dressed　visitor　as　the　shabby；　boisterous　painter　whom　she　had　last　seen　down　at　the　Duchess's。

Panic　seized　upon　her。　Miss　Sherwood　was　leading　him　toward　where　she　sat　and　his　first　clear　sight　of　her　would　mean　the　end。　There　was　no　possible　escape；　she　could　only　await　her　fate。　And　when　she　was　denounced　as　a　fraud；　and　her　glittering　victory　was　gone；　she　could　only　take　herself　away　with　as　much　of　the　defiance　of　admitted　defeat　as　she　could　assumeand　that　wouldn't　be　much。

She　gazed　up　at　Hunt；　whitely；　awaiting　extermination。　Miss　Sherwood's　voice　came　to　her　from　an　infinite　distance；　introducing　them。　Hunt　bowed；　with　a　formally　polite　smile；　and　said　formally；　〃I'm　very　glad　to　meet　you；　Miss　Cameron。〃

Not　till　he　and　Miss　Sherwood　were　seated　and　chatting　did　Maggie　realize　the　fullness　of　the　astounding　fact　that　he　had　not　recognized　her。　This　was　far　more　upsetting　to　her　than　would　have　been　recognition　and　exposure；　she　had　been　all　braced　for　that；　but　not　for　what　had　actually　happened。　She　was　certain　he　must　have　known　her；　nothing　had　really　changed　about　her　except　her　dress；　and　only　a　few　weeks　had　passed　since　he　had　been　seeing　her　daily　down　at　the　Duchess's；　and　since　she　had　been　his　model；　and　he　had　studied　every　line　and　expression　of　her　face　with　those　sharp　painter's　eyes　of　his。

And　so　as　the　two　chatted；　she　putting　in　a　stumbling　phrase　when　they　turned　to　her；　Maggie　Carlisle；　Maggie　Cameron；　Maggie　Ellison；　that　gallant　and　all…confident　adventuress　who　till　the　present　had　never　admitted　herself　seriously　disturbed　by　a　problem；　sat　limply　in　her　chair；　a　very　young　girl；　indeed；　and　wondered　how　this　thing　could　possibly　be。




CHAPTER　XXIV


Presently　Miss　Sherwood　said　something　about　tea；　excused　herself；　and　disappeared　within　the　house。　Maggie　saw　that　Hunt　watched　Miss　Sherwood　till　she　was　safely　within　doors；　then　she　was　aware　that　he　was　gazing　steadily　at　her；　then　she　saw　him　execute　a　slow；　solemn　wink。

Maggie　almost　sprang　from　her　chair。

〃Shall　we　take　a　little　stroll；　Miss　Cameron？〃　Hunt　asked。　〃I　think　it　will　be　some　time　before　Miss　Sherwood　will　want　us　for　tea。〃

〃Yesthank　you；〃　Maggie　stammered。

Hunt　led　her　down　a　walk　of　white　gravel　to　where　a　circle　of　Hiawatha　roses　were　trained　into　a　graceful　mosque；　now　daintily　glorious　with　its　solid　covering　of　yellow…hearted　red　blooms。　Within　this　retreat　was　a　rustic　bench；　and　on　this　Hunt　seated　her　and　took　a　place　beside　her。　He　looked　her　over　with　the　cool；　direct；　studious　eyes　which　reminded　her　of　his　gaze　when　he　had　been　painting　her。

〃Well；　Maggie；〃　he　finally　commented；　〃you　certainly　look　the　part　you　picked　out　for　yourself；　and　you　seem　to　be　putting　it　over。　Always　had　an　idea　you　could　handle　something　big　if　you　went　after　it。　How　d'you　like　the　life；　being　a　swell　lady　crook？〃


She　had　hardly　heard　his　banter。　She　needed　to　ask　him　no　questions　about　his　presence　here；　his　ease　of　bearing　had　conveyed　to　her　unconsciously　from　the　first　instant　that　her　previous　half…　contemptuous　estimate　of　him　had　been　altogether　wrong　and　that　he　was　now　in　his　natural　element。　Her　first　question　went　straight　to　the　cause　of　her　amazement。

〃Didn't　you　recognize　me　when　you　first　saw　me　with　Miss　Sherwood？〃

〃Yes。〃

〃Weren't　you　surprised？〃

〃Nope；〃　he　answered　with　deliberate　monosyllabicness。

〃Why　not？〃

〃I'd　been　wised　up　that　I'd　be　likely　to　meet　youand　here。〃

〃Here！　By　whom？〃

〃By　advice　of　counsel　I　must　decline　to　answer。〃

〃Why　didn't　you　tell　Miss　Sherwood　who　I　am　and　show　me　up？〃

〃Because　I'd　been　requested　not　to　tell。〃

〃Requested　by　whom？〃

〃Maggie；〃　he　drawled；　〃you　seem　to　be　making　a　go　of　this　lady　crook　businessbut　I　think　you　might　have　been　even　more　of　a　shining　light　as　a　criminal　cross…examiner。　However；　I　refuse　to　be　cross…examined　further。　By　the　way；〃　he　drawled　on；　〃how　goes　it　with　those　dear　souls；　Barney　and　Old　Jimmie？〃

She　ignored　his　question。

〃Please！　Who　asked　you　not　to　tell？〃

There　was　a　sudden　glint　of　good…humored　malice　in　his　eyes。　〃Mind　if　I　smoke？〃

〃No。〃

He　drew　out　a　silver　cigarette　case　and　opened　it。　〃Empty！〃　he　exclaimed。　〃Excuse　me　while　I　get　something　from　the　house　to　smoke。　I'll　be　right　back。〃

Without　waiting　for　her　permission　he　stepped　out　of　the　arbor　and　she　heard　his　footsteps　crunching　up　the　gravel　path。　Maggie　waited　his　return　in　pulsing　suspense。　Her　situation　had　been　developing　beyond　anything　she　had　ever　dreamed　of；　she　was　aquiver　as　to　what　might　happen　next。　So　absorbed　was　she　in　her　chaos　of　feeling　and　thoughts　that　she　did　not　even　hear　the　humble　symphony　of　the　hundreds　of　bees　drawing　their　treasure　from　the　golden　hearts　of　the　roses；　and　did　not　see；　across　the　path　a　score　of　yards　away；　the　tall　figure　of　Joe　Ellison　among　the　rosebushes；　pruning…shears　in　hand；　with　which　he　had　been　cutting　out　dead　blossoms；　gazing　at　her　with　that　hungry；　admiring；　speculative　look　with　which　he　had　regarded　the　young　women　upon　the　beach。

Presently　she　heard　Hunt's　footsteps　coming　down　the　path。　Then　she　detected　a　second　pair。　Dick　accompanying　him；　she　thought。　And　then　Hunt　appeared　before　her；　and　was　saying　in