lady baltimore-第49部分

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〃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：

〃I　never　have　been　afraid！〃　declared　Gazza。

〃You　would　not　jump　in　after　me；〃　said　Hortense；　taking　his　measure　more　and　more　provokingly。

Gazza　laid　his　hand　on　his　heart。　〃Where　you　go；　I　will　go！〃

Hortense　looked　at　him；　and　laughed　very　slightly　and　lightly。

〃I　swear　it！　I　swear！〃　protested　Gazza。

John's　eyes　were　now　fixed　upon　Hortense。

〃Would　you　go？〃　she　asked　him

〃Decidedly　not！〃　he　returned。　I　don't　know　whether　he　was　angry　or　anxious。

〃Oh；　yes；　you　would！〃　said　Hortense；　and　she　jumped　into　the　water；　cigarette　and　all。

〃Get　a　boat；　quick；〃　said　John　to　me；　and　with　his　coat　flung　off　he　was　in　the　river；　whose　current　Hortense　could　scarce　have　reckoned　with；　for　they　were　both　already　astern　as　I　ran　out　on　the　port　boat　boom。

Gazza　was　dancing　and　shrieking；　〃Man　overboard！〃　which；　indeed；　was　the　correct　expression；　only　it　did　not　apply　to　himself。　Gazza　was　a　very　sensible　person。　I　had；　as　I　dropped　into　the　nearest　boat；　a　brisk　sight　of　the　sailing…master；　springing　like　a　jack…in…the…box　on　the　deserted　deck；　with　a　roar　of　〃Where's　that　haymaker？〃　His　reference　was　to　the　anchor　watch。　The　temptation　to　procure　good　matches　to　light　his　pipe　had　ended　（I　learned　later）　by　proving　too　much　for　this　responsible　sailor…man；　and　he　had　unfortunately　chosen　for　going　below　just　the　unexpected　moment　when　it　had　entered　the　daring　head　of　Hortense　to　perform　this　extravagance。　Of　course；　before　I　had　pulled　many　strokes；　the　deck　of　the　Hermana　was　alive　with　many　manifestations　of　life…saving　and　they　had　most　likely　been　in　time。　But　I　am　not　perfectly　sure　of　this；　the　current　was　strong；　and　a　surprising　distance　seemed　to　broaden　between　me　and　the　Hermana　before　another　boat　came　into　sight　around　her　stern。　By　then；　or　just　after　that　（for　I　cannot　clearly　remember　the　details　of　these　few　anxious　minutes）；　I　had　caught　up　with　John；　whose　face；　and　total　silence；　as　he　gripped　the　stern　of　the　boat　with　one　hand　and　held　Hortense　with　the　other；　plainly　betrayed　it　was　high　time　somebody　came。　A　man　can　swim　（especially　in　salt　water）　with　his　shoes　on；　and　his　clothes　add　nothing　of　embarrassment；　if　his　arms　are　free；　but　a　woman's　clothes　do　not　help　either　his　buoyancy　or　the　freedom　of　his　movement。　John　now　lifted　Hortense's　two　hands；　which　took　a　good　hold　of　the　boat。　From　between　her　lips　the　dishevelled　cigarette；　bitten　through　and　limp；　fell　into　the　water。　The　boat　felt　the　weight　of　the　two　hands　to　it。

〃Take　care；〃　I　warned　John。

Hortense　opened　her　eyes　and　looked　at　me；　she　knew　that　I　meant　her。　〃I'll　not　swamp　you。〃　This　was　her　first　remark。　Her　next　was　when；　after　no　incautious　haste；　I　had　hauled　her　in　over　the　stern；　John　working　round　to　the　bow　for　the　sake　of　balance：　〃I　was　not　dressed　for　swimming。〃　Very　quietly　did　Hortense　speak；　very　coolly；　very　evenly；　no　faintingand　no　flippancy；　she　was　too　game　for　either。

After　this；　whatever　emotions　she　had　felt；　or　was　feeling；　she　showed　none　of　them；　unless　it　was　by　her　complete　silence。　John's　coming　into　the　boat　we　managed　with　sufficient　dexterity；　aided　by　the　horrified　Charley；　who　now　arrived　personally　in　the　other　boat；　and　was　for　taking　all　three　of　us　into　that。　But　this　was　altogether　unnecessary；　he　was　made　to　understand　that　such　transferences　as　it　would　occasion　were　superfluous；　and　so　one　of　his　men　stepped　into　our　boat　to　help　me　to　row　back　against　the　current；　and　for　this　I　was　not　unthankful。

Our　return　took；　it　appeared　to　me；　a　much　longer　time　than　everything　else　which　had　happened。　When　I　looked　over　my　shoulder　at　the　Hermana；　she　seemed　an　incredible　distance　off；　and　when　I　looked　again；　she　had　grown　so　very　little　nearer　that　I　abandoned　this　fruitless　proceeding。　Charley's　boat　had　gone　ahead　to　announce　the　good　news　to　General　Rieppe　as　soon　as　possible。　But　if　our　return　was　long　to　me；　to　Hortense　it　was　not　so。　She　sat　beside　her　lover　in　the　stern；　and　I　knew　that　he　was　more　to　her　than　ever：　it　was　her　spirit　also　that　wanted　him　now。　Poor　Kitty's　words　of　prophecy　had　come　perversely　true：　〃Something　will　happen；　and　that　boy'll　be　conspicuous。〃　Well；　it　had　happened　with　a　vengeance；　and　all　wrong　for　Kitty；　and　all　wrong　for　me！　Then　I　remembered　Charley；　last　of　all。　My　doubt　as　to　what　he　would　have　done；　had　he　been　on　deck；　was　settled　later　by　learning　from　his　own　lips　that　he　did　not　know　how　to　swim。

Yes；　the　sentimental　world　（and　by　that　I　mean　the　immense　and　mournful　preponderance　of　fools；　and　not　the　few　of　true　sentiment）　would　soon　be　exclaiming：　〃How　romantic！　She　found　her　heart！　She　had　a　glimpse　of　Death's　angel；　and　in　that　light　saw　her　life's　true　happiness！〃　But　I　should　say　nothing　like　that；　nor　would　Miss　Josephine　St。　Michael；　if　I　read　that　lady　at　all　right。　She　didn't　know　what　I　did　about　Hortense。　She　hadn't　overheard　Sophistication　confessing　amorous　curiosity　about　Innocence；　but　the　old　Kings　Port　lady's　sound　instinct　would　tell　her　that　a　souse　in　the　water　wasn't　likely　to　be　enough　to　wash　away　the　seasoning　of　a　lifetime；　and　she　would　wait；　as　I　should；　for　the　day　when　Hortense；　having　had　her　taste　of　John's　innocence；　and　having　grown　used　to　the　souse　in　the　water；　would　wax　restless　for　the　Replacers；　for　excitement；　for　complexity；　for　the　prismatic　life。　Then　it　might　interest　her　to　corrupt　John；　but　if　she　couldn't；　where　would　her　occupation　be；　and　how　were　they　going　to　pull　through？

But　now；　there　sat　Hortense　in　the　stern；　melted　into　whatever　best　she　was　capable　of；　it　had　come　into　her　face；　her　face　was　to　be　readfor　the　first　time　since　I　had　known　itand；　strangely　enough；　I　couldn't　read　John's　at　all。　It　seemed　happy；　which　was　impossible。

〃Way　enough！〃　he　cried　suddenly；　and；　at　his　command；　the　sailor　and　I　took　in　our　oars。　Here　was　Hermana's　gangway；　and　crowding　faces　above；　and　ejaculations　and　tears　from　Kitty。　Yes；　Hortense　would　have　liked　that　return　voyage　to　last　longer。　I　was　first　on　the　gangway；　and　stood　to　wait　and　give　them　a　hand　out；　but　she　lingered；　and；　rising　slowly；　spoke　her　first　word　to　him；　softly：

〃And　so　I　owe　you　my　life。〃

〃And　so　I　restore　it　to　you　complete；〃　said　John；　instantly。

None　could　have　heard　it　but　myselfunless　the　sailor；　beyond　whose　comprehension　it　wasand　I　doubted　for　a　moment　if　I　could　have　heard　right；　but　it　was　for　a　moment　only。　Hortense　stood　stiff；　and　then；　turning；　came　in　front　of　him；　and　I　read　her　face　for　an　instant　longer　before　the　furious　hate　in　it　was　mastered　to　meet　her　father's　embrace；　as　I　helped　her　up　the　gang

〃Daughter　mine！〃　said　the　General；　with　a　magnificent　break　in　his　voice。

But　Hortense　was　game　to　the　end。　She　took　Kitty's…hysterics　and　the　men's　various　grades　of　congratulation；　her　word　to　Gazza　would　have　been　supreme；　but　for　his　imperishable　rejoinder。

〃I　told　you　you　wouldn't　jump；〃　was　what　she　said。

Gazza　stretched　both　arms；　pointing　to　John。　〃But　a　native！　He　was　surer　to　find　you！〃

At　this　they　all　remembered　John；　whom　they　thus　far　hadn't　thought　of。

〃Where　is　that　lion…hearted　boy？〃　the　General　called　out。

John　hadn't　got　out　of　the　boat；　he　thought　he　ought　to　change　his　clothes；　he　said；　and　when　Charley；　truly　astonished；　proffered　his　entire　wardrobe　and　reminded　him　of　lunch；　it　was　thank　you　very　much；　but　if　he　could　be　put　ashoreI　looked　for　Hortense；　to　see　what　she　would　do；　but　Hortense；　had　gone　below　with　Kitty　to　change　her　clothes；　and　the　genuinely　hearty　protestations　from　all　the　rest　brought　merely　pleasantly　firm　politeness　from　John；　as　he　put　on　again　the　coat　he　had　flung　off　on　jumping。　At　least　he　would　take　a　drink；　urged　Charley。　Yes；　thank　you；　he　would；　and　he　chose　brandy…and…soda；　of　which　he　poured　himself　a　remarkably　stiff　one。　Charley　and　I　poured　ourselves　milder　ones；　for　the　sake　of　company。

〃Here's　how；〃　said　Charley　to　John。

〃Yes；　here's　how；〃　I　added　more　emphatically。

John　looked　at　Charley　with　a　somewhat　extraordinary　smile。　〃Here's　unquestionably　how！〃　he　exclaimed。

We　had　a　gay　lunch；　I　should　have　supposed　there　was　plenty　of　room　in　the　Hermana's　refrigerator；　nor　did　the　absence　of　Hortense　and　John；　the　cause　of　our　jubilation；　at　all　interfere　with　the　jubilation　itself；　by　the　time　the　launch　was　ready　to　put　me　ashore；　Gazza　had　sung　several　miles　of　〃good　music〃　and　double　that　quantity　of　〃razzla…dazzla；〃　and　General　Rieppe　was　crying　copiously；　and　assuring　everybody　that　God　was　very　good　to　him。　But　Kitty　had　told　us　all　that　she　intended　Hortense　to　remain　quiet　in　her　cabin；　and　she　kept　her　word。

Quite　suddenly；　as　the　launch　was　speeding　me　toward　Kings　Port；　I　exclaimed　aloud：　〃The　cake！〃

And；　I　thought；　the　cake　was　now　settled　forever。



XXII：　Behind　the　Times

It　was　my　lot　to　attend　but　one　of　the　weddings　which　Hortense　precipitated　（or　at　least　determined）　by　her　plunge　into　the　water；　and；　truth　to　say；　the　honor　of　my　presence　at　the　other　was　not　requested；　therefore　I　am　unable　to　describe　the　nuptials　of　Hortense　and　Charley。　But　the　papers　were　full　of　them；　what　the　female　guests　wore；　what　the　male　guests　were　worth；　and　what　both　ate　and　drank；　were　set　forth　in　many　columns　of　printed　matter；　and　if　you　did　not　happen　to　see　this；　just　read　the　account　of　the　next　wedding　that　occurs　among　the　New　York　yellow　rich；　and　you　will　know　how　Charley　and　Hortense　were　married；　for　it's　always　the　same　thing。　The　point　of　mark　in　this　particular　ceremony　of　union　lay　in　Charley's　speech；　Charley　found　a　happy　thought　at　the　breakfast。　The　bridal　party　（so　the　papers　had　it）　sat　on　a　dais；　and　was　composed　exclusively　of　Oil；　Sugar；　Beef；　Steel；　and　Union　Pacific；　merely　at　this　one　table　five　hundred　million　dollars　were　sitting　（so　the　papers　computed）；　and　it　helped　the　bridegroom　to　his　idea；　when；　by　the　importunate　vociferations　of　the　company；　he　was　forced　to　get　on　his　unwilling　legs。

〃Poets　and　people　of　that　sort　say〃　（Charley　concluded；　after　thanking　them）　〃that　happiness　cannot　be　bough