rs.undertheandes-第5部分

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　〃How　did　you　e　here？　How　did　you　find　us？〃
　〃You　forgot　to　provide　Le　Mire　with　a　veil；〃　said　I　by　way　of　answer。
　Harry　looked　at　me；　then　at　his　panion。　〃Of　course；〃　he　agreed…〃of　course。　By　Jove！　that　was　stupid　of　us。〃
　Whereupon　Le　Mire　laughed　with　such　frank　enjoyment　of　the　boy's　simplicity　that　I　couldn't　help　but　join　her。
　〃And　now；〃　said　Harry；　〃I　suppose　you　want　to　know…〃
　〃I　want　to　know　nothing…at　present；〃　I　interrupted。　〃It's　nearly　six　o'clock；　and　since　ten　last　night　I've　been　on　top　of　the　most　perfectly　imbecile　donkey　ever　devised　by　nature。　I　want　breakfast。〃
　Velvet　lids　were　upraised　from　Le　Mire's　eyes。　〃Here？〃　she　queried。
　I　pointed　to　the　place…extreme　charity　might　give　it　the　title　of　inn…where　smoke　was　rising　from　a　tin　chimney。
　Soon　we　were　seated　inside　with　a　pot　of　steaming　black　coffee　before　us。　Harry　was　bubbling　over　with　gaiety　and　good　will；　evidently　occasioned　by　my　unexpected　friendliness；　while　Le　Mire　sat　for　the　most　part　silent。　It　was　easy　to　see　that　she　was　more　than　a　little　disturbed　by　my　arrival；　which　surprised　me。
　I　gazed　at　her　with　real　wonder　and　increasing　admiration。　It　was　six　in　the　morning；　she　had　had　no　sleep；　and　had　just　finished　a　most　fatiguing　journey　of　some　eight　hours；　but　I　had　never　seen　her　so　beautiful。
　Our　host　approached；　and　I　turned　to　him：
　〃What　have　you？〃
　There　was　pity　in　his　glance。
　〃Aigs；〃　said　he；　with　an　air　of　finality。
　〃Ah！〃　said　Le　Mire。　〃I　want　them…let's　see…au　beurre　noire；　if　you　please。〃
　The　man　looked　at　her　and　uttered　the　single　word：　〃Fried。〃
　〃Fried？〃　said　she　doubtfully。
　〃Only　fried；〃　was　the　inexorable　answer。　〃How　many？〃
　Le　Mire　turned　to　me；　and　I　explained。　Then　she　turned　again　to　the　surly　host　with　a　smile　that　must　have　caused　him　to　regret　his　gruffness。
　〃Well；　then；　fr…r…ied！〃　said　she；　rolling　the　〃r〃　deliciously。
　〃And　you　may　bring　me　five；　if　you　please。〃
　It　appeared　that　I　was　not　the　only　hungry　one。　We　ate　leisurely　and　smoked　more　leisurely　still；　and　started　on　our　return　journey　a　little　before　eight　o'clock。
　It　was　late　in　the　afternoon　when　we　arrived　at　the　Antlers。
　The　trip　was　acplished　without　accident；　but　Le　Mire　was　thoroughly　exhausted　and　Harry　was　anything　but　fresh。　That　is　the　worst　of　mountain　climbing：　the　exaltation　at　the　summit　hardly　pays　you　for　the　reaction　at　the　foot。　We　entered　the　broad　portico　with　frank　sighs　of　relief。
　I　said　something　about　joining　them　at　dinner　and　left　for　my　own　rooms。
　At　dinner　that　evening　Harry　was　in　high　spirits　and　took　great　delight　in　everything　that　was　said；　both　witty　and　dull；　while　Le　Mire　positively　sparkled。
　She　made　her　impression；　not　a　man　in　the　well…filled　room　but　sent　his　tribute　of　admiring　glances　as　she　sat　seemingly　unconscious　of　all　but　Harry　and　myself。　That　is　always　agreeable；　a　man　owes　something　to　the　woman　who　carries　a　room　for　him。
　I　had　intended　to　have　a　talk　with　Harry　after　dinner；　but　I　postponed　it；　the　morning　would　assuredly　be　better。　There　was　dancing　in　the　salon；　but　we　were　all　too　tired　to　take　advantage　of　it；　and　after　listening　to　one　or　two　numbers；　during　which　Le　Mire　was　kept　busy　turning　aside　the　importunities　of　would…be　partners；　we　said　good　night　and　sought　our　beds。
　It　was　late　the　next　morning　when　the　precious　pair　joined　me　in　the　garden；　and　when　we　went　in　for　breakfast　we　found　the　dining…room　quite　empty。　We　did　not　enjoy　it　as　on　the　morning　previous；　the　cuisine　was　of　the　kind　usually…and　in　this　case　justly…described　as　〃superior；〃　but　we　did　not　have　the　same　edge　on　our　appetite。
　We　were　not　very　talkative；　I　myself　was　almost　taciturn；　having　before　me　the　necessity　of　ing　to　an　understanding　with　Harry；　a　task　which　I　was　far　from　relishing。　But　there　were　certain　things　I　must　know。
　〃What　do　you　say　to　a　ride　down　the　valley？〃　said　Harry。
　〃They　have　excellent　horses　here；　I　tried　one　of　'em　the　other　day。〃
　〃I　trust　that　they　bear　no　resemblance　to　my　donkey；〃　said　I　with　feeling。
　〃Ugh！〃　said　Le　Mire　with　a　shudder。　〃Never　shall　I　forget　that　ride。　Besides；〃　she　added；　turning　to　Harry；　〃this　morning　I　would　be　in　the　way。　Don't　you　know　that　your　brother　has　a　thousand　things　to　say　to　you？　He　wants　to　scold　you；　you　must　remember　that　you　are　a　very　bad　boy。〃
　And　she　sent　me　a　glance　half　defiant；　half　indifferent；　which　plainly　said：　〃If　I　fight　you；　I　shall　win；　but　I　really　care　very　little　about　it　one　way　or　the　other。〃
　After　breakfast　she　went　to　her　room…to　have　her　hair　dressed；　she　said…and　I　led　Harry　to　a　secluded　corner　of　the　magnificent　grounds　surrounding　the　hotel。　During　the　walk　we　were　both　silent：　Harry；　I　suppose；　was　wondering　what　I　was　going　to　say；　while　I　was　trying　to　make　up　my　own　mind。
　〃I　suppose；〃　he　began　abruptly；　〃you　are　going　to　tell　me　I　have　acted　like　a　fool。　Go　ahead；　the　sooner　it's　over　the　better。〃
　〃Nothing　of　the　sort；〃　said　I；　glad　that　he　had　opened　it。
　He　stopped　short；　demanding　to　know　what　I　meant。
　〃Of　course；〃　I　continued；　〃Le　Mire　is　a　most　amazing　prize。
　Not　exactly　my　style　perhaps；　but　there　are　few　men　in　the　world　who　wouldn't　envy　you。　I　congratulate　you。
　〃But　there　were　two　things　I　feared　for　several　reasons…Le　Mire's　fascination；　your　own　youth　and　impulsive　recklessness；　and　the　rather　curious　mode　of　your　departure。　I　feared　first　and　most　that　you　would　marry　her；　second；　that　you　would　achieve　odium　and　publicity　for　our　name。〃
　Harry　was　regarding　me　with　a　smile　which　had　in　it　very　little　of　amusement；　it　held　a　tinge　of　bitterness。
　〃And　so；〃　he　burst　out　suddenly；　〃you　were　afraid　I　would　marry　her！　Well；　I　would。　The　last　time　I　asked　her〃…again　the　smile…〃was　this　morning。〃
　〃And…〃
　〃She　won't　have　me。〃
　〃Bah！〃　I　concealed　my　surprise；　for　I　had　really　not　thought　it　possible　that　the　lad　could　be　such　a　fool。　〃What's　her　game；　Harry？〃
　〃Game　the　deuce！　I　tell　you　she　won't　have　me。〃
　〃You　have　asked　her？〃
　〃A　thousand　times。　I've　begged　her　on　my　knees。　Offered　her…anything。〃
　〃And　she　refuses？〃
　〃Positively。〃
　〃Refuses？〃
　〃With　thanks。〃
　I　stared　at　him　for　a　moment　in　silence。　Then　I　said：　〃Go　and　get　her　and　bring　her　here。　I'll　find　out　what　she　wants；〃　and　sat　down　on　a　bench　to　wait。　Harry　departed　for　the　hotel　without　a　word。
　In　a　few　minutes　he　returned　with　Le　Mire。　I　rose　and　proffered　her　a　seat　on　the　bench；　which　she　accepted　with　a　smile；　and　Harry　sat　down　at　her　side。　I　stood　in　front　of　them。
　〃Le　Mire；〃　said　I；　and　I　believe　I　frowned；　〃my　brother　tells　me　that　you　have　been　offered　the　name　of　Lamar　in　marriage。〃
　〃I　have　thanked　him　for　it；〃　said　she　with　a　smile。
　〃And　declined　it。〃
　〃And…declined　it；〃　she　agreed。
　〃Well；〃　said　I；　〃I　am　not　a　man　of　half　measures；　as　you　will　soon　see；　Le　Mire。　Besides；　I　appreciate　your　power。　On　the　day；〃　I　continued　with　slow　precision…〃on　the　day　that　you　give　me　a　contract　to　adhere　to　that　refusal　you　may　have　my　check　for　one　million　dollars。〃
　She　surprised　me；　I　admit　it。　I　had　expected　a　burst　of　anger；　with　a　touch　of　assumed　hauteur；　the　surrender　to　follow；　for　I　had　made　the　stake　high。　But　as　I　stood　looking　down　at　her；　waiting　for　the　flash　of　her　eye；　I　was　greeted　by　a　burst　of　laughter…the　frank　laughter　of　genuine　mirth。　Then　she　spoke：
　〃Oh；　you　Americans！　You　are　so　funny！　A　million　dollars！
　It　is　impossible　that　I　should　be　angry　after　such　a　pliment。
　Besides；　you　are　so　funny！　Do　you　not　know　Le　Mire？　Am　I　not　a　princess　if　I　desire　it…tomorrow…today？　Bah！　There　is　the　world…is　it　not　mine？　Mrs。　Lamar？　Ugh！　Pardon　me；　my　friend；　but　it　is　an　ugly　name。
　〃You　know　my　ancestors？　De　L'Enclos；　Montalais；　Maintenon；　La　Marana！　They　were　happy…in　their　way…and　they　were　great。　I　must　do　nothing　unworthy　of　them。　Set　your　mind　at　rest；　Mr。
　Lamar；　but；　really；　you　should　have　known　better…you　who　have　seen　the　world　and　Le　Mire　in　Paris！　And　now　our　amusement　is　perhaps　ended？　Now　we　must　return　to　that　awful　New　York？　Voila！〃
　Indeed　I　had　not　understood　her。　And　how　could　I？　There　is　only　one　such　woman　in　a　generation；　sometimes　none；　for　nature　is　sparing　of　her　favorites。　By　pure　luck　she　sat　before　me；　this　twentieth…century　Marana；　and　I　acknowledged　her　presence　with　a　deep　bow　of　apology　and　admiration。
　〃If　you　will　forgive　me；　madame；〃　I　said；　〃I　will…not　attempt　to　make　reparation；　for　my　words　were　not　meant　for　you。
　Consider　them　unspoken。　As　for　our　amusement；　why　need　it　end？
　Surely；　we　can　forget？　I　see　plainly　I　am　not　a　St。　Evremond；　but　neither　am　I　a　fool。　My　brother　pleases　you…well；　there　he　is。
　As　for　myself；　I　shall　either　stay　to　take　care　of　you　two　children；　or　I　shall　return　to　New　York；　as　you　desire。〃
　Le　Mire　looked　at　me　uncertainly　for　a　moment；　then　turned　to　Harry　and　with　a　fluttering　gesture　took　his　hand　in　her　own　and　patted　it　gaily。　Then　she　laughed　the　happy　laugh　of　a　child　as　she　said：
　〃Then　it　is　well！　And；　monsieur；　you　are　less　an　American　than　I　thought。　By　all　means；　stay…we　shall　be　so　jolly！
　Will　we　not；　my　little　friend？〃
　Harry　nodded；　smiling　at　her。　But　there　was　a　troubled　look　in　his　face。
　
　Chapter　IV。
　ALLONS！
　
　The　events　of　the　month　that　followed；　though　exciting　enough；　were　of　a　similarity　that　would　make　their　narration　tedious；　and　I　shall　pass　over　them　as　speedily　as　possible。
　We　remained　at　Colorado　Springs　only　two　days　after　that　morning　in　the　garden。　Le　Mire；　always　in　search　of　novelty；　urged　us　away；　and；　since　we　really　had　nothing　in　view　save　the　satisfaction　of　her　whims；　we　consented。　Salt　Lake　City　was　our　next　resting…place；　but　Le　Mire　tired　of　it　in　a　day。
　〃I　shall　see　the　Pacific；〃　she　said　to　Harry　and　me；　and　we　immediately　set　out　for　San　Francisco。
　Is　it　necessary　for　me　to　explain　my　attitude？　But　surely　it　explains　itself。　For　one　thing；　I　was　disinclined　to　leave　Harry　in　a　position　where　he　was　so　abundantly　unable　to　take　care　of　himself。　For　another；　I　take　amusement　wherever　it　offers　itself；　and　I　was　most　certainly　not　bored。
　The　vagaries　and　caprices　of　a　beautiful　woman　are　always　interesting；　and　when　you　are　allowed　to　study　them