children of the whirlwind-第53部分

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For　Larry　the　storms　of　the　past　few　weeks；　and　the　whirlwind　of　last　night；　had　cleared　away。　There　was　quiet　in　the　house；　and　through　the　open　windows　he　could　glimpse　the　broad　lawn　almost　singing　in　its　sun…gladdened　greenness；　and　farther　on　he　could　glimpse　the　Sound　gleaming　placidly。　Once　for　perhaps　ten　minutes　he　had　seen　the　overalled　and　straw…hatted　figure　of　Joe　Ellison　busy　as　usual　among　the　flowers。　He　had　strained　his　eyes　for　a　glimpse　of　Maggie；　but　he　had　looked　in　vain。

Despite　all　that　had　come　to　pass　at　the　Grantham　the　previous　evening；　Larry　was　just　now　feeling　restless　and　rather　forlorn。　His　breakfast　had　been　brought　to　him　in　his　room；　and　he　had　not　seen　a　single　member　of　last　night's　party　at　the　Grantham　since　they　had　all　divided　up　according　to　Miss　Sherwood's　orders　and　driven　away；　that　is　he　had　really　seen　no　one　except　Dick。

Dick　had　gripped　his　hand　when　he　had　slipped　in　beside　Dick　in　the　low　seat　of　the　roadster。　〃You're　all　right；　Captain　Nemo！only　I'm　going　to　be　so　brash　as　to　call　you　Larry　after　this；〃　Dick　had　said。　〃If　you'll　let　me；　you　and　I　are　going　to　be　buddies。〃

He　was　all　right；　Dick　was。　Dick　Sherwood　was　a　thoroughbred。

And　there　was　another　matter　which　had　pleased　him。　The　Duchess　had　called　him　up　that　morning；　had　congratulated　him　in　terms　so　brief　that　they　sounded　perfunctory；　but　which　Larry　realized　had　all　his　grandmother's　heart　in　them；　and　had　said　she　wanted　him　to　take　over　the　care　of　all　her　housesthose　she　had　put　up　as　bail　for　him。　When　could　he　come　in　to　see　her　about　this？　。　。　。　He　understood　this　dusty…seeming；　stooped；　inarticulate　grandmother　of　his　as　he　had　not　before。　Considering　what　her　life　had　been；　she　also　was　a　brick。

But　notwithstanding　all　this；　Larry　was　lonelyhungrily　lonelyand　was　very　much　in　doubt。　Miss　Sherwood　had　spoken　to　him　fair　enough　the　night　beforeyet　he　really　did　not　know　just　how　he　stood　with　her。　And　thenMaggie。　That　was　what　meant　most　to　him　just　now。　True；　Maggie　had　emerged　safe　through　perils　without　and　within；　and　to　get　her　through　to　some　such　safety　as　now　was　hers　had　been　his　chief　concern　these　many　months。　He　wanted　to　see　her；　to　speak　to　her。　But　he　did　not　know　what　her　attitude　toward　him　would　now　be。　He　did　not　know　how　to　go　about　finding　her。　He　was　not　even　certain　where　she　had　spent　the　night。　He　wanted　to　see　her；　yet　was　apulse　with　fear　of　seeing　her。　She　would　not　be　hostile；　he　knew　that　much；　but　she　might　not　love　him；　and　at　the　best　a　meeting　would　be　awkward；　with　so　wide　a　gap　in　their　lives　to　be　bridged。　。　。　。

He　was　brooding　thus　when　there　was　a　loud　knocking　at　his　door。　Without　waiting　for　his　invitation　to　enter；　the　door　was　flung　open；　and　Hunt　strode　in　leaving　the　door　wide　behind　him。　His　face　was　just　one　great；　excited　grin。　He　gave　Larry　a　thump　upon　the　back；　which　almost　knocked　Larry　over；　and　then　pulled　him　back　to　equilibrium　by　seizing　a　hand　in　both　of　his；　and　then　almost　shook　it　off。

〃Larry；　my　son；〃　exploded　the　big　painter；　〃I've　just　done　it！　And　I　did　it　just　as　you　ordered　me　to！　Forgot　that　Miss　Sherwood　and　I　had　had　a　falling　out；　and　as　per　your　orders　I　walked　straight　up　to　her　and　asked　her。　And　Larry；　you　son…of…a…gun；　you　were　right！　She　said　'yes'！〃

〃You're　lucky；　old　man！〃　exclaimed　Larry；　warmly　returning　the　painter's　grip。

〃And；　Larry；　that's　not　all。　You　told　me　I　had　the　clearness　of　vision　of　a　cold　boiled　lobstersaid　I　was　the　greatest　fool　that　ever　had　brains　enough　not　to　paint　with　the　wrong　end　of　an　umbrella。　Paid　me　some　little　compliment　like　that。〃

〃Something　like　that；〃　Larry　agreed。

〃Well；　Larry；　old　son；　you　were　right　again！　I've　been　a　worse　fool　than　all　you　said。　Been　blinder　than　one　of　those　varnished　skulls　some　tough…stomached　people　use　for　paper…weights。　After　she'd　said　'yes'　she　gave　me　the　inside　story　of　why　we　had　fallen　out。　And　guess　why　it　was？〃

〃You　don't　want　me　to　guess。　You　want　to　tell　me。　So　go　to　it。〃

〃Larry；　we　men　will　never　know　how　clever　women　really　are！〃　Hunt　shook　his　head　with　impressive　emphasis。　〃Nor　how　they　understand　our　naturesthe　clever　womennor　how　well　they　know　how　to　handle　us。　She　confessed　that　our　quarrel　was；　on　her　part；　carefully　planned　from　the　beginning　with　a　definite　result　in　view。　She　told　me　she'd　always　believed　me　a　great　painter；　if　I'd　only　break　loose　from　the　pretty　things　people　wanted　and　paid　me　so　much　for。　The　trouble；　as　she　saw　it；　was　to　get　me　to　cut　loose　from　so　much　easy　money　and　devote　myself　entirely　to　real　stuff。　The　only　way　she　could　see　was　for　her　to　tell　me　I　couldn't　paint　anything　worth　while；　and　tell　it　so　straight…out　as　to　make　me　believe　that　she　believed　itand　thus　make　me　so　mad　that　I'd　chuck　everything　and　go　off　to　prove　to　her　that　I　damned　well　could　paint！　I　certainly　got　soreI　ducked　out　of　sight；　swearing　I'd　show　herand；　oh；　well；　you　know　the　rest！　Tell　me　now；　can　you　think　of　anything　cleverer　than　the　way　she　handled　me？〃

〃It's　just　about　what　I　would　expect　of　Miss　Sherwood；〃　Larry　commented。

〃Excuse　me；〃　said　a　voice　behind　them。　〃I　found　the　door　open；　may　I　come　in？〃

Both　men　turned　quickly。　Entering　was　Miss　Sherwood。

〃Isabel！〃　exclaimed　the　happy　painter。　〃I　was　just　telling　Larry　hereyou　know！〃

Miss　Sherwood's　tone　tried　to　be　severe；　and　she　tried　not　to　smile　and　she　succeeded　in　being　just　herself。

〃I　came　to　talk　business　with　Mr。　Brainard。　And　I'm　going　to　stay　to　talk　business　with　Mr。　Brainard。　But　I'll　give　him　five　seconds　for　congratulationsprovided　at　the　end　of　the　five　seconds　Mr。　Hunt　gets　out　of　the　room。〃

Larry　congratulated　the　two；　congratulated　them　as　warmly　as　he　felt　his　as　yet　dubious　position　in　this　company　warranted。　At　the　end　of　the　five　seconds　Hunt　was　closing　the　door　upon　his　back。

〃I've　always　loved　himand　I　want　to　thank　you；　Mr。　Brainard；〃　she　said　with　her　simple　directness。　And　before　Larry　could　make　response　of　any　kind；　she　shifted　the　subject。

〃I　really　came　in　to　see　you　on　business；　Mr。　Brainard。　I　hope　I　made　my　attitude　toward　you　clear　enough　last　night。　If　I　did　not；　let　me　say　now　that　I　think　you　have　made　good　in　every　particularand　that　I　trust　you　in　every　particular。　What　I　wished　especially　to　say　now；〃　she　went　on　briskly；　giving　Larry　no　chance　to　stammer　out　his　appreciation；　〃is　that　I　wish　to　go　ahead　without　any　delay　with　your　proposition　for　developing　the　Sherwood　properties　in　New　York　City　which　we　discussed　some　time　ago。　A　former　objection　you　raised　is　now　removed：　you　are　cleared；　and　are　free　to　work　in　the　open。　I　want　you　to　take　charge　of　affairs；　with　Dick　working　beside　you。　I　think　it　will　be　Dick's　big　chance。　I've　talked　it　over　with　him　this　morning；　and　he's　eager　for　the　arrangement。　I　hope　you　are　not　going　to　refuse　the　offer　this　time。〃

〃I　can'tnot　such　an　offer　as　that；〃　Larry　said　huskily。　〃But；　Miss　Sherwood；　I　didn't　expect〃

〃Then　it's　settled；〃　she　interrupted　with　her　brisk　tone。　〃There'll　be　a　lot　of　details；　but　we'll　have　plenty　of　time　to　talk　them　over　later。〃　She　stood　up。　〃There　are　some　changes　here　at　Cedar　Crest　which　I　want　begun　at　once　and　which　I　want　you　to　supervise。　If　you　don't　mind　we'll　look　things　over　now。〃

He　followed　beside　her　along　the　curving；　graveled　walks。　She　headed　toward　the　cliff；　but　he　had　no　idea　where　she　was　leading　until　a　sharp　turn　brought　them　almost　upon　the　low　cottage　which　these　last　few　weeks　had　been　Joe　Ellison's　home。

〃Here　is　where　we　start　our　changes；〃　said　the　business…like　Miss　Sherwood。　〃The　door's　open；　so　we　might　as　well　go　right　in。〃

They　stepped　into　a　tiny　entry；　and　from　thence　into　a　little　sitting…　room。　The　room　was　filled　with　cut　flowers；　but　Larry　did　not　even　see　them。　For　as　they　entered；　Maggie　sprang　up；　startled；　from　a　chair；　and；　whiter　than　she　had　been　before　in　all　her　life；　gazed　at　him　as　if　she　wanted　to　run　away。　She　stood　trembling　and　slender　in　a　linen　frock　of　most　simple　and　graceful　lines。　It　was　Miss　Sherwood's　frock；　though　Larry　did　not　know　this；　already　it　had　been　decided　that　all　those　showy　Grantham　gowns　were　never　to　be　worn　again。

Once　more　Miss　Sherwood　came　to　the　rescue　of　a　stupendous　situation；　just　as　her　tact　had　rescued　a　situation　too　great　for　words　the　night　before。

〃Of　course　you　two　people　now　perceive　that　I'm　a　fraudthat　I've　got　you　together　by　base　trickery。　So　much　being　admitted；　let's　proceed。〃　She　turned　on　Larry。　〃Maggiewe've　agreed　that　I　am　to　call　her　that…　…Maggie　stayed　with　me　last　night。　There　are　two　beds　in　my　room。　But　we　didn't　sleep　much。　Mostly　we　talked。　If　there's　anything　Maggie　didn't　tell　me　about　herself；　I　can't　guess　what　there's　left　to　tell。　According　to　herself；　she's　terrible。　But　that's　for　us　to　judge；　personally　I　don't　believe　her。　She　confessed　that　she　really　loved　you；　but　that　after　the　way　she'd　treated　you；　of　course　she　wasn't　fit　for　you。　Which；　of　course；　is　just　a　girl's　nonsense。　I　suppose　you；　Mr。　Brainard；　are　thinking　something　of　the　sort　regarding　your　own　self。　It　is　equally　nonsense。　You　both　love　each　otheryou've　both　been　through　a　lotnothing　of　importance　now　stands　between　you…　…so　don't　waste　any　of　your　too　short　lives　in　coming　together。〃

She　took　a　deep　breath　and　went　on。　〃You　might　as　well　know；　Mr。　Brainard；　that　Maggie　is　going　to　live　with　me　for　the　presentthat；　of　course；　she　is　going　to　be　a　very　great　burden　to　meand　it　will　be　a　great　favor　to　me　if　you'll　marry　her　soon　and　take　her　off　my　hands。〃　And　then　the　voice　that　had　tried　to　keep　itself　brisk　and　even；　quavered　with　a　sudden　sob。　〃For　Heaven's　sake；　dear　children　don't　be　fools！〃

And　with　that　she　was　gone。

For　an　instant　Larry　continued　to　gaze　at　Maggie's　slender；　trembling　figure。　But　something　approaching　a　miraclea　very　human　miraclehad　just　happened。　All　those　doubts；　fears；　indecisions；　unexpressed　desires；　agonies　of　self…abasement；　which　might　have　delayed　their　understanding　and　happiness　for　weeks　and　months；　had　been　swept　into　nothingness　by　the　incisive　kindliness　of　Miss　Sherwood。　In　one　minute　she　had　said　all　they　might　have　said　in　months；　there　was　nothing　more　to　s