lady baltimore-第48部分

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〃It　should　be　there　all　day；〃　I　was　tempted　to　remark　to　him；　as　my　wandering　eye　fell　on　the　cabin　boy　carrying　something　more　on　a　plate　to　Kitty。　But　instead　of　this　I　said：　〃Well；　she's　a　beautiful　boat！〃

Charley　shook　his　head。　〃I'm　going　to　get　rid　of　her。〃

I　was　surprised。　〃Isn't　she　all　right？〃　It　seemed　to　me　that　the　crew　behind　us　were　very　attentive　now。

〃There　is　not　enough　refrigerator　space；〃　said　Charley。　One　of　the　deck…hands　whirled　round　instantly；　but　stolidity　sat　like　adamant　upon　the　faces　of　the　others　as　Charley　turned　in　their　direction；　and　we　continued　our　tour　of　the　Hermana。　Thus　the　little　banker　let　me　see　his　little　soul；　deep　down；　and　there　I　saw　that　to　pass　for　a　real　yachtsmanwhich　he　would　never　be　able　to　dowas　dearer　to　his　pride　than　to　bring　off　successfully　some　huge　and　delicate　matter　in　the　world's　financewhich　he　could　always　do　supremely　well。　〃I'm　just　like　that；　too；〃　I　thought　to　myself；　and　we　returned　to　the　gay　Kitty。

But　Kitty；　despite　her　gayety；　had　serious　thoughts　upon　her　mind。　Charley's　attentions　to　me　had　met　all　that　politeness　required；　and　as　we　went　aft　again；　his　sister　caused　certain　movements　and　rearrangements　to　happen　with　chairs　and　people。　I　didn't　know　this　at　once；　but　I　knew　it　when　I　found　myself　somehow　sitting　with　her　and　John；　and　saw　Hortense　with　Charley。　Hortense　looked　over　at　Kitty　with　a　something　that　had　in　it　both　raised　eyebrows　and　a　shrug；　though　these　visible　signs　did　not　occur；　and；　indeed；　so　far　as　anything　visible　went　（except　the　look）　you　might　have　supposed　that　now　Hortense　had　no　thoughts　for　any　man　in　the　world　save　Charley。　And　John　was　plainly　more　at　ease　with　Kitty！　He　began　to　make　himself　agreeable；　so　that　once　or　twice　she　gave　him　a　glance　of　surprise。　There　was　nothing　to　mark　him　out　from　the　others；　except　his　paleness　in　the　midst　of　their　redness。　Yachting　clothes　bring　out　wonderfully　how　much　you　are　in　the　habit　of　eating　and　drinking；　and　an　innocent　stranger　might　have　supposed　that　the　Replacers　were　richly　sunburned　from　exposure　to　the　blazing　waters　of　Cuba　and　the　tropics。　Kitty　deemed　it　suitable　to　extol　Kings　Port　to　John。　〃Quaint〃　was　the　word　that　did　most　of　this　work　for　her；　she　found　everything　that；　even　the　negroes；　and　when　she　had　come　to　the　end　of　it；　she　supposed　the　inside　must　be　just　as　〃quaint〃　as　the　outside。

〃It　is；〃　said　John　Mayrant。　He　was　enjoying　Kitty。　Then　he　became　impertinent。　〃You　ought　to　see　it。〃

〃Do　you　stay　inside　much？〃　said　Kitty。

〃We　all　do；〃　said　John。　〃Some　of　us　never　come　out。〃

〃But　you　came　out？〃　Kitty　suggested。

〃Oh；　I've　been　out；〃　John　returned。　He　was　getting　older。　I　doubt　if　the　past　few　years　of　his　life　had　matured　him　as　much　as　had　the　past　few　days。　Then　he　looked　at　Kitty　in　the　eyes。　〃And　I'd　always　come　outif　Romance　rang　the　bell。〃

〃Hm！〃　said　Kitty。　〃Then　you　know　that　ring？〃

〃We　begin　to　hear　it　early　in　Kings　Port；〃　remarked　John。　〃About　the　age　of　fourteen。〃

Kitty　looked　at　him　with　an　interest　that　now　plainly　revealed　curiosity　also。　It　occurred　to　me　that　he　could　not　have　found　any　great　　embarrassment　in　getting　on　at　Newport。　〃What　if　I　rang　the　bell　myself？〃　explained　Kitty。

〃Come　in　the　evening；〃　returned　John。　〃We　won't　go　home　till　morning。〃

Kitty　kissed　her　hand　to　him；　and；　during　the　pleased　giggle　that　she　gave；　I　saw　her　first　taking　in　John　and　then　Hortense。　Kitty　was　think…　ing；　thinking；　of　John's　〃crudity。〃　And　so　I　made　a　little　experiment　for　myself。

〃I　wonder　if　men　seem　as　similar　in　making　love　as　women　do　in　receiving　it？〃

〃They　aren't！〃　shouted　both　John　and　Kitty；　in　the　same　indignant　breath。　Their　noise　brought　Bohm　to　listen　to　us。

This　experiment　was　so　much　a　success　that　I　promptly　made　another　for　the　special　benefit　of　Bohm；　Kitty's　next　husband。　I　find　it　often　de…　lightful　to　make　a　little　gratuitous　mischief；　just　to　watch　the　victims。　I　addressed　Kitty。　〃What　would　you　do　if　a　man　said　he　could　drown　in　your　hair　as　joyfully　as　the　Duke　of　Clarence　did　in　his　butt　of　Malmsey？〃

〃Whywhy〃　gasped　Kitty；　〃whywhy〃

I　suppose　it　gave　John　time；　but　even　so　he　was　splendid。

〃She　has　heard　it　said！〃　This　was　his　triumphant　shout。　I　should　not　have　supposed　that　Kitty　could　have　turned　any　redder；　but　she　did。　John　buried　his　nose　in　his　tall　glass；　and　gulped　a　choking　quantity　of　its　contents；　and　mopped　his　face　profusely；　but　little　good　that　effected。　There　sat　this　altogether　innocent　pair；　deeply　suffused　with　the　crimson　of　apparent　guilt；　and　there　stood　Kitty's　next　husband；　eyeing　them　suspiciously。　My　little　gratuitous　mischief　was　a　perfect　success；　and　remains　with　me　as　one　of　the　bright　spots　in　this　day　of　pleasure。

Vivacious　measures　from　the　piano　brought　Kitty　to　her　feet。

〃There's　Gazza！〃　she　cried。　〃We'll　make　him　sing！〃　And　on　the　instant　she　was　gone　down　the　companionway。　Bohm　followed　her　with　a　less　agitated　speed；　and　soon　all　were　gone　below；　leaving　John　and　me　alone　on　the　deck；　sitting　together　in　silence。

John　lolled　back　in　his　chair；　slowly　sipping　at　his　tall　glass；　and　neither　of　us　made　any　remark。　I　think　he　wanted　to　ask　me　how　I　came　to　mention　the　Duke　of　Clarence；　but　I　did　not　see　how　he　very　well　could；　and　he　certainly　made　no　attempt　to　do　so。　Thus　did　we　sit　for　some　time；　hearing　the　piano　and　the　company　grow　livelier　and　louder　with　solos；　and　choruses；　and　laughter。　By　and　by　the　shadow　of　the　awning　shifted；　causing　me　to　look　up；　when　I　saw　the　shores　slowly　changing；　the　tide　had　turned；　and　was　beginning　to　run　out。　Land　and　water　lay　in　immense　peace；　the　long；　white；　silent　picture　of　the　town　with　its　steeples　on　the　one　hand；　and　on　the　other　the　long；　low　shore；　and　the　trees　behind。　Into　this　rose　the　high　voice　of　Gazza；　singing　in　broken　English；　〃Razzla…dazzla；　razzla…dazzla；〃　while　his　hearers　beat　upon　glasses　with　spoonsat　least　so　I　conjectured。

〃Aren't　you　coming；　John？〃　asked　Hortense；　appearing　at　the　companionway。　She　looked　very　bacchanalian。　Her　splendid　amber　hair　was　half　riotous；　and　I　was　reminded　of　the　toboggan　fire…escape。

He　obeyed　her；　and　now　I　had　the　deck　entirely　to　myself；　or；　rather；　but　one　other　and　distant　person　shared　it　with　me。　The　hour　had　come；　the　bells　had　struck；　Charley's　crew　was　eating　its　dinner　below　forward；　Charley's　guests　were　drinking　their　liquor　below　aft；　Charley's　correct　meal…flag　was　to　be　seen　in　the　port　fore　rigging；　as　he　had　said；　red　and　triangular；　and　away　off　from　me　in　the　bow　was　the　anchor　watch；　whom　I　dreamily　watched　trying　to　light　his　pipe。　His　matches　seemed　to　be　bad；　and　the　brotherly　thought　of　helping　him　drifted　into　my　mind　and　comfortably　out　of　it　again；　without　disturbing　my　agreeable　repose。　It　had　been　really　entertaining　in　John　to　tell　Kitty　that　she　ought　to　see　the　inside　of　Kings　Port；　that　was　like　his　engaging　impishness　with　Juno。　If　by　any　possible　contrivance　（and　none　was　possible）　Kitty　and　her　Replacers　could　have　met　the　inside　of　Kings　Port；　Kitty　would　have　added　one　more　〃quaint〃　impression　to　her　stock；　and　gone　away　in　total　ignorance　of　the　quality　of　the　impression　she　had　madeand　Bohm　would　probably　have　again　remarked；　〃Worse　than　Sunday。〃　No；　the　St。　Michaels　and　the　Replacers　would　never　meet　in　this　world；　and　I　see　no　reason　that　they　should　in　the　next。　John's　light　and　pleasing　skirmish　with　Kitty　gave　me　the　glimpse　of　his　capacities　which　I　had　lacked　hitherto。　John　evidently　〃knew　his　way　about；〃　as　they　say；　and　I　was　diverted　to　think　how　Miss　Josephine　St。　Michael　would　have　nodded　over　his　adequacy　and　shaken　her　head　at　his　squandering　it　on　such　a　companion。　But　it　was　no　squandering；　the　boy's　heavy　spirit　was　making　a　gallant　〃bluff〃　at　playing　up　with　the　lively　party　he　had　no　choice　but　to　join；　and　this　one　saw　the　moment　he　was　not　called　upon　to　play　up。

The　peaceful　loveliness　that　floated　from　earth　and　water　around　me　triumphed　over　the　jangling　hilarity　of　the　cabin；　and　I　dozed　away；　aware　that　they　were　now　all　thumping　furiously　in　chorus；　while　Gazza　sang　something　that　went；　〃Oh；　she's　my　leetle　preety　poosee　pet。〃　When　I　roused；　it　was　Kitty's　voice　at　the　piano；　but　no　change　in　the　quality　of　the　song　or　the　thumping；　and　Hortense　was　stepping　on　deck。　She　had　a　cigarette；　her　beauty　flashed　with　devilment；　and　John　followed　her。　〃They　are　going　to　have　an　explanation；〃　I　thought；　as　I　saw　his　face。　If　that　were　so；　then　Kitty　had　blundered　in　her　strategy　and　hurt　Charley's　cause；　for　after　the　two　came　Gazza；　as　obviously　〃sent〃　as　any　emissary　ever　looked：　Kitty　took　care　of　the　singing；　while　Gazza　intercepted　any　tete…a…tete。　I　rose　and　made　a　fourth　with　them；　and　even　as　I　was　drawing　near；　the　devilment　in　Hortense's　face　sank　inward　beneath　cold　displeasure。

I　had　never　been　a　welcome　person　to　Hortense；　and　she　made　as　little　effort　to　conceal　this　as　usual。　Her　indifferent　eyes　glanced　at　me　with　drowsy　insolence；　and　she　made　her　beautiful；　low　voice　as　remote　and　inattentive　as　her　skilful　social　equipment　could　render　it。

〃It　is　so　hot　in　the　cabin。〃

This　was　all　she　had　for　me。　Then　she　looked　at　Gazza　with　returning　animation。

〃Oh；　la　la！〃　said　Gazza。　〃If　it　is　hot　in　the　cabin！〃　And　he　flirted　his　handkerchief　back　and　forth。

〃I　think　I　had　the　best　of　it；〃　I　remarked。　〃All　the　melody　and　none　of　the　temperature。〃

Hortense　saw　no　need　of　noticing　me　further

〃The　singer　has　the　worst　of　it；〃　said　Gazza。

〃But　since　you　all　sang！〃　I　laughed。

〃Miss　Rieppe；　she　is　cool；〃　continued　Gazza。　〃And　she　danced。　It　is　not　fair。〃

John　contributed　nothing。　He　was　by　no　means　playing　up　now。　He　was

looking　away　at　the　shore。

Gazza　hummed　a　little　fragment。　〃But　after　lunch　I　will　sing　you　good　music。〃

〃So　long　as　it　keeps　us　cool；〃　I　suggested。

〃Ah；　no！　It　will　not　be　cool　music！〃　cried　Gazza〃for　those　who　understand。〃

〃Are　those　boys　bathing？〃　Hortense　now　inquired。

We　watched　the　distant　figures；　and　presently　they　flashed　into　the　water。

〃Oh；　me！〃　sighed　Gazza。　〃If　I　were　a　boy！〃

Hortense　looked　at　him。　〃You　would　be　afraid。〃　The　devilment　had　come　out　again；　suddenly　and　brilliantly：