the portygee-第34节

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Bashaw。〃　　She　did　not　laugh　now；　however；　but　answered　quietly。

〃I　didn't　know　I　was　going　to　do　it　until　a　little　more　than　a　week
ago；〃　she　said。　　〃And　I　have　not　seen　you　since　then。〃

〃No；　you've　been　too　busy　seeing　someone　else。〃

She　lost　patience　for　the　instant。　　〃Oh；　don't；　don't；　don't！〃　she
cried。　　〃I　know　who　you　mean；　of　course。　　You　mean　Ed　Raymond。
Don't　you　know　why　he　has　been　at　the　house　so　much　of　late？　　Why
he　and　I　have　been　so　much　together？　　Don't　you　really　know？〃

〃What？　。　。　。　　No；　I　don'texcept　that　you　and　he　wanted　to　be
together。〃

〃And　it　didn't　occur　to　you　that　there　might　be　some　other　reason？
You　forgot；　I　suppose；　that　he　and　I　were　appointed　on　the　Ticket
Committee　for　this　very　dance？〃

He　had　forgotten　it　entirely。　　Now　he　remembered　perfectly　the
meeting　of　the　French　Relief　Society　at　which　the　appointment　had
been　made。　　In　fact　Helen　herself　had　told　him　of　it　at　the　time。
For　the　moment　he　was　staggered；　but　he　rallied　promptly。

〃Committee　meetings　may　do　as　an　excuse　for　some　things；〃　he　said；
〃but　they　don't　explain　the　resthis　calls　here　every　other
evening　andand　so　on。　　Honest　now；　Helen；　you　know　he　hasn't　been
running　after　you　in　this　way　just　because　he　is　on　that　committee
with　you；　now　don't　you？〃

They　were　almost　at　the　parsonage。　　The　light　from　Mr。　Kendall's
study　window　shone　through　the　leaves　of　the　lilac　bush　behind　the
white　fence。　　Helen　started　to　speak；　but　hesitated。　　He　repeated
his　question。

〃Now　don't　you？〃　he　urged。

〃Why；　why；　yes；　I　suppose　I　do；〃　she　said；　slowly。　　〃I　do　know
now。　　But　I　didn't　even　think　of　such　a　thing　untiluntil　you　came
that　evening　and　told　me　what　Issy　Price　said。〃

〃You　mean　you　didn't　guess　at　all？〃

〃Wellwell；　perhaps　II　thought　he　liked　to　comeliked　to　　Oh；
what　is　the　use　of　being　silly！　　I　did　think　he　liked　to　call；　but
only　as　a　friend。　　He　was　jolly　and　lots　of　fun　and　we　were　both
fond　of　music。　　I　enjoyed　his　company。　　I　never　dreamed　that　there
was　anything　more　than　that　until　you　came　and　were　sodisagreeable。
And　even　then　I　didn't　believeuntil　to…night。〃

Again　she　hesitated。　　〃To…night？〃　he　repeated。　　〃What　happened　to…
night？〃

〃Oh　nothing。　　I　can't　tell　you。　　Oh；　why　can't　friends　be　friends
and　not。　。　。　。　　That　is　why　I　spoke　to　you；　Albert；　why　I　wanted　to
have　this　talk　with　you。　　I　was　going　away　so　soon　and　I　couldn't
bear　to　go　with　any　unfriendliness　between　us。　　There　mustn't　be。
Don't　you　see？〃

He　heard　but　a　part　of　this。　　The　memory　of　Raymond's　face　as　he
had　seen　it　when　the　young　man　strode　out　of　the　cloakroom　and　out
of　the　hotel　came　back　to　him　and　with　it　a　great　heart…throbbing
sense　of　relief；　of　triumph。　　He　seized　her　hand。

〃Helen；〃　he　cried；　〃did　hedid　you　tell　him　　Oh；　by　George；
Helen；　you're　the　most　wonderful　girl　in　the　world！　　I'mI　　Oh；
Helen；　you　know　II〃

It　was　not　his　habit　to　be　at　a　loss　for　words；　but　he　was　just
then。　　He　tried　to　retain　her　hand；　to　put　his　arm　about　her。

〃Oh；　Helen！〃　he　cried。　　〃You're　wonderful！　　You're　splendid！　　I'm
crazy　about　you！　　I　really　am！　　I〃

She　pushed　him　gently　away。　　〃Don't！　　Please　don't！〃　she　said。
〃Oh；　don't！〃

〃But　I　must。　　Don't　you　see　I。　。　。　。　　Why；　you're　crying！〃

Her　face　had；　for　a　moment；　been　upturned。　　The　moon　at　that　moment
had　slipped　behind　a　cloud；　but　the　lamplight　from　the　window　had
shown　him　the　tears　in　her　eyes。　　He　was　amazed。　　He　could　have
shouted；　have　laughed　aloud　from　joy　or　triumphant　exultation　just
then；　but　to　weep！　　What　occasion　was　there　for　tears；　except　on　Ed
Raymond's　part？

〃You're　crying！〃　he　repeated。　　〃Why；　Helen！〃

〃Don't！〃　she　said；　again。　　〃Oh；　don't！　　Please　don't　talk　that
way。〃

〃But　don't　you　want　me　to；　Helen？　　II　want　you　to　know　how　I
feel。　　You　don't　understand。　　I〃

〃Hush！　。　。　。　　Don't；　Al；　don't；　please。　　Don't　talk　in　that　way。　　I
don't　want　you　to。〃

〃But　why　not？〃

〃Oh；　because　I　don't。　　It'sit　is　foolish。　　You're　only　a　boy；　you
know。〃

〃A　boy！　　I'm　more　than　a　year　older　than　you　are。〃

〃Are　you？　　Why　yes；　I　suppose　you　are；　really。　　But　that　doesn't
make　any　difference。　　I　guess　girls　are　older　than　boys　when　they
are　our　age；　lots　older。〃

〃Oh；　bother　all　that！　　We　aren't　kids；　either　of　us。　　I　want　you　to
listen。　　You　don't　understand　what　I'm　trying　to　say。〃

〃Yes；　I　do。　　But　I'm　sure　you　don't。　　You　are　glad　because　you　have
found　you　have　no　reason　to　be　jealous　of　Ed　Raymond　and　that　makes
you　sayfoolish　things。　　But　I'm　not　going　to　have　our　friendship
spoiled　in　that　way。　　I　want　us　to　be　real　friends；　always。　　So　you
mustn't　be　silly。〃

〃I'm　not　silly。　　Helen；　if　you　won't　listen　to　anything　else；　will
you　listen　to　this？　　Will　you　promise　me　that　while　you　are　away
you　won't　have　other　fellows　calling　on　you　oror　anything　like
that？　　And　I'll　promise　you　that　I'll　have　nothing　to　say　to
another　girlin　any　way　that　counts；　I　mean。　　Shall　we　promise
each　other　that；　Helen？　　Come！〃

She　paused　for　some　moment　before　answering；　but　her　reply；　when　it
came；　was　firm。

〃No；〃　she　said；　〃I　don't　think　we　should　promise　anything；　except
to　remain　friends。　　You　might　promise　and　then　be　sorry；　later。〃

〃_I_　might？　　How　about　you？〃

〃Perhaps　we　both　might。　　So　we　won't　take　the　risk。　　You　may　come
and　see　me　to…morrow　evening　and　say　good…by；　if　you　like。　　But　you
mustn't　stay　long。　　It　is　my　last　night　with　father　for　some　time
and　I　mustn't　cheat　him　out　of　it。　　Good　night；　Albert。　　I'm　so
glad　our　misunderstanding　is　over；　aren't　you？〃

〃Of　course　I　am。　　But；　Helen〃

〃I　must　go　in　now。　　Good　night。〃

The　reflections　of　Alberto　Speranza　during　his　walk　back　to　the
Snow　place　were　varied　but　wonderful。　　He　thought　of　Raymond's
humiliation　and　gloried　in　it。　　He　thought　of　Helen　and　rhapsodized。
And　if；　occasionally；　he　thought　also　of　the　dance　and　of　Madeline
Fosdick；　forgive　him。　　He　was　barely　twenty…one　and　the　moon　was
shining。



CHAPTER　IX


The　good…by　call　the　following　evening　was；　to　him　at　least；　not
very　satisfactory。　　Helen　was　tired；　having　been　busy　all　day　with
the　final　preparations　for　leaving；　and　old　Mr。　Kendall　insisted
on　being　present　during　the　entire　visit　and　in　telling　long　and
involved　stories　of　the　trip　abroad　he　had　made　when　a　young　man
and　the　unfavorable　opinion　which　he　had　then　formed　of　Prussians
as　traveling　companions。　　Albert's　opinion　of　Prussians　was　at
least　as　unfavorable　as　his　own；　but　his　complete　and　even　eager
agreement　with　each　of　the　old　gentleman's　statements　did　not　have
the　effect　of　choking　the　latter　off；　but　rather　seemed　to　act　as
encouragement　for　more。　　When　ten　o'clock　came　and　it　was　time　to
go　Albert　felt　as　if　he　had　been　listening　to　a　lecture　on　the
Hohenzollerns。　　〃Great　Scott；　Helen；〃　he　whispered；　as　she　came　to
the　door　with　him；　〃I　don't　feel　as　if　I　had　talked　with　you　a
minute。　　Why；　I　scarcely〃

But　just　here　Mr。　Kendall　came　hurrying　from　the　sitting…room　to
tell　of　one　incident　which　he　had　hitherto　forgotten；　and　so　even
this　brief　interval　of　privacy　was　denied。　　But　Albert　made　one
more　attempt。

〃I'm　going　to　run　over　to　the　station　to…morrow　morning　to　see　you
off；〃　he　called　from　the　gate。　　〃Good　night。〃

The　morning　train　left　at　nine　o'clock；　and　at　a　quarter　to　nine
Albert；　who　had　kept　his　eye　on　the　clock　ever　since　eight；　his
hour　of　arriving　at　the　office；　called　to　Mr。　Price。

〃I　say；〃　he　said；　in　a　low　tone　and　one　as　casual　as　he　could
assume；　〃I　am　going　to　run　out　for　a　few　minutes。　　I'll　be　right
back。〃

Issachar's　response　was　as　usual　anything　but　low。

〃Eh？〃　he　shouted。　　〃Goin'　out？　　Where　you　goin'？〃

〃Oh；　I'm　just　going　outeron　an　errand。〃

〃What　kind　of　an　errand？　　I　was　cal'latin'　to　run　out　myself　for　a
little　spell。　　Can't　I　do　your　errand　for　you？〃

〃No；　no。　。　。　　There；　there；　don't　bother　me　any　more。　　I'm　in　a
hurry。〃

〃Hurry！　　So'm　I　in　a　hurry。　　I　was　cal'latin'　to　run　acrost　to　the
deepo　and　see　Helen　Kendall　start　for　Boston。　　She's　goin'　this
morning；　did　you　know　it？〃

Before　the　somewhat　flustered　assistant　bookkeeper　could　reply
Captain　Zelotes　called　from　the　inner　office：

〃Wouldn't　wonder　if　that　was　where　Al　was　bound；　too；〃　he　observed。
〃And　I　was　thinkin'　of　the　same　thing。　　Suppose　we　all　go　together。
Labe'll　keep　shop；　won't　you；　Labe？〃

Mr。　Keeler　looked　over　his　spectacles。　　〃Eh？〃　he　observed。　　〃Oh；
yes；　yes　。　。　。　　yes；　yes；　yes。　　And　say　good…by　to　Helen　for　me；
some　of　you；　if　you　happen　to　think　of　it。　　Not　that　'twill　make
much　difference　to　her；〃　he　added；　〃whether　she　gets　my　good…bys　or
not；　but　it　might　make　some　to　me。　。　。　。　　Um；　yes；　yes。〃

Mr。　Price　was　eager　to　oblige。

〃I'll　tell　her　you　sent　'em；　Labe；〃　he　said；　patronizingly。　　〃Set
your　mind　to　rest；　I'll　tell　her。〃

Laban's　lip　twitched。　　〃Much　obliged；　Is；〃　he　chirruped。　　〃That's　a
great　relief！　　My　mind's　rested　some　already。〃

So；　instead　of　going　alone　to　the　railway　station；　Albert　made　one
of　a　delegation　of　three。　　And　at　the　station　was　Mr。　Kendall；　and
two　of　the　school　committee；　and　one　or　two　members　of　the　church
sewing　circle；　and　the　president　and　secretar