the illustrious prince-第42部分
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ride like that half the time。 It is quite pleasant exercise；〃 he continued； 〃but I am very dirty and very thirsty。 I am sorry for Sir Charles； but his horse was not nearly so good as your daughter's mare。〃
They made their way toward the stand； but met the rest of the party in the paddock。 Lady Grace went up to the Prince with outstretched hands。
〃Prince；〃 she declared； you rode superbly。 It was a wonderful race。 I have never felt so grateful to any one in my life。〃
The Prince smiled in a puzzled way。
〃My dear young lady；〃 he said； 〃it was a great pleasure and a very pleasant ride。 You have nothing to thank me for because your horse is a little better than those others。〃
〃It was not my mare alone；〃 she answered；〃it was your riding。〃
The Prince laughed as one who does not understand。
〃You make me ashamed； Lady Grace；〃 he declared。 〃Why； there is only one way to ride。 You did not think that because I was not English I should fall off a horse？〃
〃I am afraid；〃 the Duke remarked smiling； 〃that several Englishmen have fallen off！〃
〃It is a matter of the horse；〃 the Prince said。 〃Some are not trained for jumping。 What would you have； then？ In my battalion we have nine hundred horsemen。 If I found one who did not ride so well as I do； he would go back to the ranks。 We would make an infantryman of him。 Miss Morse；〃 he added； turning suddenly to where Penelope was standing a little apart。 〃I am so sorry that Sir Charles' horse was not quite so good as Lady Grace's。 You will not blame me？〃
She looked at him curiously。 She did not answer immediately。 Somerfield was coming towards them； his pink coat splashed with mud； his face scratched； and a very distinct frown upon his forehead。 She looked away from him to the Prince。 Their eyes met for a moment。
〃No！〃 she said。 〃I do not blame you！〃
CHAPTER XXX。 INSPECTOR JACKS IMPORTUNATE
They were talking of the Prince during those few minutes before they separated to dress for dinner。 The whole of the house…party； with the exception of the Prince himself； were gathered around the great open fireplace at the north end of the hall。 The weather had changed during the afternoon； and a cold wind had blown in their faces on the homeward drive。 Every one had found comfortable seats here； watching the huge logs burn； and there seemed to be a general indisposition to move。 A couple of young men from the neighborhood had joined the house…party； and the conversation； naturally enough； was chiefly concerned with the day's sport。 The young men； Somerfield especially； were inclined to regard the Prince's achievement from a somewhat critical standpoint。
〃He rode the race well enough；〃 Somerfield admitted； 〃but the mare is a topper； and no mistake。 He had nothing to do but to sit tight and let her do the work。〃
〃Of course； he hadn't to finish either；〃 one of the newcomers； a Captain Everard Wilmot； remarked。 〃That's where you can tell if a fellow really can ride or not。 Anyhow； his style was rotten。 To me he seemed to sit his horse exactly like a groom。〃
〃You will； perhaps； not deny him；〃 the Duke remarked mildly； 〃a certain amount of courage in riding a strange horse of uncertain temper； over a strange country； in an enterprise which was entirely new to him。〃
〃I call it one of the most sporting things I ever heard of in my life；〃 Lady Grace declared warmly。
Somerfield shrugged his shoulders。
〃One must admit that he has pluck；〃 he remarked critically。 〃At the same time I cannot see that a single effort of this sort entitles a man to be considered a sportsman。 He doesn't shoot； nor does he ever ride except when he is on military service。 He neither plays games nor has he the instinct for them。 A man without the instinct for games is a fellow I cannot understand。 He'd never get along in this country； would he； Wilmot？〃
〃No； I'm shot if he would！〃 that young man replied。 〃There must be something wrong about a man who hasn't any taste whatever for sport。〃
Penelope suddenly intervenedintervened； too； in somewhat startling fashion。
〃Charlie；〃 she said； 〃you are talking like a baby！ I am ashamed of you！ I am ashamed of you all！ You are talking like narrow…minded； ignorant little squireens。〃
Somerfield went slowly white。 He looked across at Penelope； but the angry flash in his eyes was met by an even brighter light in her own。
〃I will tell you what I think！〃 she exclaimed。 〃I think that you are all guilty of the most ridiculous presumption in criticising such a man as the Prince。 You would dareyou； Captain Wilmot； and you； Charlie； and you； Mr。 Hannaway；〃 she added； turning to the third young man； 〃to stand there and tell us all in a lordly way that the Prince is no sportsman； as though that mysterious phrase disposed of him altogether as a creature inferior to you and your kind！ If only you could realize the absolute absurdity of any of you attempting to depreciate a person so immeasurably above you！ Prince Maiyo is a man； not an overgrown boy to go through life shooting birds； playing games which belong properly to your schooldays； and hanging round the stage doors of half the theatres in London。 You are satisfied with your lives and the Prince is satisfied with his。 He belongs to a race whom you do not understand。 Let him alone。 Don't presume to imagine yourselves his superior because he does not conform to your pygmy standard of life。〃
Penelope was standing now； her slim； elegant form throbbing with the earnestness of her words； a spot of angry color burning in her cheeks。 During the moment's silence which followed； Lady Grace too rose to her feet and came to her friend's side。
〃I agree with every word Penelope has said；〃 she declared。
The Duchess smiled。
〃Come；〃 she said soothingly； 〃we mustn't take this little affair too seriously。 You are all right； all of you。 Every one must live according to his bringing up。 The Prince； no doubt； is as faithful to his training and instincts as the young men of our own country。 It is more interesting to compare than to criticise。〃
Somerfield； who for a moment had been too angry to speak； had now recovered himself。
〃I think；〃 he said stiffly； 〃that we had better drop the subject。 I had no idea that Miss Morse felt so strongly about it or I should not have presumed； even here and amongst ourselves； to criticise a person who holds such a high place in her esteem。 Everard； I'll play you a game of billiards before we go upstairs。 There's just time。〃
Captain Wilmot hesitated。 He was a peace…loving man； and； after all； Penelope and his friend were engaged。
〃Perhaps Miss Morse〃 he began。
Penelope turned upon him。
〃I should like you all to understand；〃 she declared； 〃that every word I said came from my heart； and that I would say it again； and more； with the same provocation。〃
There was a finality about Penelope's words which left no room for further discussion。 The little group was broken up。 She and Lady Grace went to their rooms together。
〃Penelope； you're a dear！〃 the latter said； as they mounted the stairs。 〃I am afraid you've made Charlie very angry； though。〃
〃I hope I have；〃 Penelope answered。 〃I meant to make him angry。 I think that such self…sufficiency is absolutely stifling。 It makes me sometimes almost loathe young Englishmen of his class。〃
〃And you don't dislike the Prince so much nowadays？〃 Lady Grace remarked with transparent indifference。
〃No！〃 Penelope answered。 〃That is finished。 I misunderstood him at first。 It was entirely my own fault。 I was prejudiced； and I hated to feel that I was in the wrong。 I do not see how any one could dislike him unless they were enemies of his country。 Then I fancy that they might have cause。
Lady Grace sighed。
〃To tell you the truth； Penelope；〃 she said； 〃I almost wish that he were not quite so devotedly attached to his country。〃
Penelope was silent。 They had reached Lady Grace's room now； and were standing together on the hearthrug in front of the fire。
〃I am afraid he is like that；〃 Penelope said gently。 〃He seems to have none of the ordinary weaknesses of men。 I； too； wish sometimes that he were a little different。 One would like to think of him； for his own sake； as being happy some day。 He reminds me somehow of the men who build and build； toiling always through youth unto old age。 There seems no limit to their strength； nor any respite。 They build a palace which those who come after them must inhabit。〃
Once more Lady Grace sighed。 She was looking into the heart of the fire。 Penelope took her hands。
〃It is hard sometimes； dear；〃 she said； 〃to realize that a thing is impossible； that it is absolutely out of our reach。 Yet it is better to bring one's mind to it than to suffer all the days。〃
Lady Grace looked up。 At that moment she was more than pretty。 Her eyes were soft and bright； the color had flooded her cheeks。
〃But I don't see WHY it should be impossible； Penelope；〃 she protested。 〃We are equals in every way。 Alliances between our two countries are greatly to be desired。 I have heard my father say so； and Mr。 Haviland。 The trouble is； Pen；〃 she added with trembling lips； 〃that he does not care for me。〃
〃You cannot tell；〃 Penelope answered。 〃He has never shown any signs of caring for any woman。 Remember； though； that he would want you to live in Japan。〃
〃I'd live in Thibet if he asked me to；〃 Lady Grace declared； raising her handkerchief to her eyes； 〃but he never will。 He doesn't care。 He doesn't understand。 I am very foolish； Penelope。〃
Penelope kissed her gently。
〃Dear；〃 she said； 〃you are not the only foolish woman in the world。〃 。 。 。
Conversation amongst the younger members of the house…party at Devenham Castle was a little disjointed that evening。 Perhaps Penelope； who came down in a wonderful black velveteen gown； with a bunch of scarlet roses in her corsage； was the only one who seemed successfully to ignore the passage of arms which had taken place so short a while ago。 She talked pleasantly to Somerfield； who tried to be dignified and succeeded only in remaining sulky。 Chance had placed her at some distance from the Prince； to whom Lady Grace was talking with a subdued softness in her manner which puzzled Captain Wilmot； her neighbor on the other side。
〃I saw you with all the
