to him that hath-第27部分

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all　up　if　I　could　have　Captain　Jack　all　the　time。〃

〃Pig；〃　said　her　sister；　smiling　at　her。

〃Wretch；〃　cried　Vic；　making　a　face。

But　Patricia　was　quite　unabashed。　　〃I　am　going　to　have　him　just　as
often　as　I　can；〃　she　said；　brazenly。

For　a　few　minutes　they　stood　watching　the　dancers　on　the　floor
below。　　It　was　indeed；　as　Mrs。　Templeton　had　said；　a　〃mixed
multitude。〃　　Mill　hands　and　their　girls；　townsfolk　whose　social
standing　was　sufficiently　assured　to　endure　the　venture。　　A　mixed
multitude；　but　thoroughly　jolly；　making　up　in　vigour　what　was
lacking　in　grace　in　their　exposition　of　the　Terpsichorean　art。

〃Rather　ghastly；〃　said　Rupert；　who　appeared　to　be　quite　disgusted
with　the　whole　evening's　proceedings。

〃Lovely！〃　exclaimed　Patricia。

〃They　are　enjoying　themselves；　at　any　rate；〃　said　Adrien；　〃and；
after　all；　that　is　what　people　dance　for。〃

〃Stacks　of　fun。　　I　am　all　for　it；　eh；　Pat？〃　said　Vic；　making
adoring　eyes　at　the　young　girl。

But　Patricia　severely　ignored　him。

〃Oh；　Adrien；　look！〃　she　cried　suddenly。　　〃There　is　Annette；　and　who
is　the　big　man　with　her？　　Oh；　what　an　awful　dancer　he　is！　　But
Annette；　isn't　she　wonderful！　　What　a　lovely　dress！　　I　think　she　is
the　most　beautiful　thing。〃　　And　Patricia　was　right；　for　Annette　was
radiant　in　colour　and　unapproachable　in　the　grace　of　her　movement。

〃By　Jove！　　She　is　a　wonder！〃　said　Vic。　　〃Some　dancer；　if　she　only
had　a　chance。〃

〃Well；　why　don't　you　go　down；　Vic；〃　said　Patricia　sharply。　　〃You
know　you　are　just　aching　to　show　off　your　fox　trot。　　Run　away；
little　boy；　I　won't　mind。〃

〃I　don't　believe　you　would；〃　replied　Vic　ruefully。

For　some　minutes　longer　they　all　stood　watching　the　scene　below。

〃They　are　a　jolly　crowd；〃　said　Adrien。　　〃I　don't　think　we　have　half
the　fun　at　our　dances。〃

〃They　certainly　get　a　lot　for　their　money；〃　said　Vic。　　〃But　wait
till　they　come　to　'turkey…in…the…straw！'　　That　is　where　they　really
cut　loose。〃

〃Oh；　pshaw！〃　cried　Patricia。　　〃I　can　'turkey'　myself。　　Just　wait
and　you'll　see。〃

〃So　can　I；〃　murmured　Vic。　　〃Will　you　let　me　in　on　it？　　Hello；〃　he
continued；　〃there　is　the　Captain　and　Annette。　　Now　look　out　for
high　art。　　I　know　the　Captain's　style。　　And　a　two…step！　　My　eye！
She　is　a　little　airy　fairy！〃

〃How　beautifully　she　dances；〃　said　Adrien。　　〃And　how　charmingly　she
is　dressed。〃

〃They　do　hit　it　off；　don't　they；〃　said　Rupert。　　〃They　evidently
know　each　other's　paces。〃

Suddenly　Adrien　turned　to　Hugh：　　〃Don't　you　think　we　should　go
down？〃　she　asked。　　〃You　know　we　must　not　stay　late。〃

〃Yes；　do　come　along！〃　cried　Patricia；　seizing　Victor　by　the　arm　and
hurrying　to　the　stairs；　the　others　making　their　way　more　leisurely
to　the　dancing　room。

The　hall　was　a　scene　of　confused　hilarity。　　Maitland　was　nowhere　to
be　seen。

〃Oh！　let　us　dance；　Vic！〃　cried　Patricia。　　〃There　is　really　no　use
waiting　for　Captain　Jack。　　At　any　rate；　Adrien　will　claim　the　first
dance。〃

No　second　invitation　was　needed　and　together　they　swung　off　into
the　medley　of　dancers。

〃We　may　as　well　follow；〃　said　Hugh。　　〃We　shall　doubtless　run　into
Maitland　somewhere　before　long。〃

But　not　in　that　dance；　nor　in　the　three　successive　dances　did
Maitland　appear。　　The　precious　moments　were　slipping　by。　　Patricia
was　becoming　more　and　more　anxious　and　fretful　at　the　non…
appearance　of　her　hero。　　Also；　Hugh　began　to　notice　and　detect　a
lagging　in　his　partner's　step。

〃Shall　we　go　out　into　the　corridor？〃　he　said。　　〃This　air　is
beginning　to　be　rather　trying。〃

From　the　crowded　hall　they　passed　into　the　corridor；　from　which
opened　side　rooms　which　were　used　as　dressing　and　retiring　rooms；
and　whose　entrances　were　cleverly　screened　by　a　row　of　thick　spruce
trees　set　up　for　the　occasion。

〃This　is　better；〃　said　Hugh；　drawing　a　deep　breath。　　〃Shall　we　sit
a　bit　and　rest？〃

〃Oh；　do　let　us；〃　said　Adrien。　　〃This　has　been　a　strenuous　and
exciting　evening。　　I　really　feel　quite　done　out。　　Here　is　a　most
inviting　seat。〃

Wearily　she　sat　down　on　a　bench　which　faced　the　entrance　to　one　of
the　rooms。

〃Shall　I　bring　you　a　glass　of　water　or　an　ice；　Adrien？〃　inquired
Hugh；　noting　the　pallor　in　her　face。

〃Thank　you。　　A　glass　of　water；　if　you　will　be　so　kind。　　How
deliciously　fragrant　that　spruce　is。〃

As　her　partner　set　off　upon　his　errand；　Adrien　stepped　to　the
spruce　tree　which　screened　the　open　door　of　the　room　opposite；　and
taking　the　bosky　branches　in　her　hands；　she　thrust　her　face　into
the　aromatic　foliage。

〃How　deliciously　fragrant；〃　she　murmured。

Suddenly；　as　if　stabbed　by　a　spine　in　the　trees；　she　started　back
and　stood　gazing　through　the　thick　branches　into　the　room　beyond
There　stood　Maitland　and　Annette；　the　girl；　with　her　face　tearfully
pale　and　pleading；　uplifted　to　his　and　with　her　hands　gripped　tight
and　held　fast　in　his；　clasped　against　his　breast。　　More　plainly
than　words　her　face；　her　eyes；　her　attitude　told　her　tale。　　She　was
pouring　out　her　very　soul　to　him　in　entreaty；　and　he　was　giving
eager；　sympathetic　heed　to　her　appeal。

Swiftly　Adrien　stepped　back　from　the　screening　tree；　her　face　white
as　if　from　a　stunning　blow；　her　heartbeats　checking　her　breath。
Quickly；　blindly；　she　ran　down　the　corridor。　　At　the　very　end　she
met　Hugh　with　a　glass　of　water　in　his　hand。

〃What　is　the　matter；　Adrien？　　Have　you　seen　a　ghost？〃　he　cried　in
an　anxious　voice。

She　caught　the　glass　from　his　hand　and　began　to　drink；　at　first
greedily；　then　more　slowly。

〃Ah！〃　she　said；　drawing　a　deep　breath。　　〃That　is　good。　　Do　you
know；　I　was　almost　overcome。　　The　air　of　that　room　is　quite　deadly。
Now　I　am　all　right。　　Let　us　get　a　breath　from　the　outside；　Hugh。〃

Taking　him　by　the　arm；　she　hastened　him　to　the　farther　end　of　the
corridor　and　opened　the　door。　　〃Oh；　delicious！〃　　She　drew　in　deep
breaths　of　the　cold；　fresh　air。

〃How　wonderful　the　night　is；　Hugh。〃　　She　leaned　far　out；　〃and　the
snow　was　like　a　cloth　of　silver　and　diamonds　in　this　glorious
moon。〃　　She　stooped；　and　from　a　gleaming　bank　beside　the　door　she
caught　up　a　double　handful　of　the　snow　and；　packing　it　into　a
little　ball；　flung　it　at　her　partner；　catching　him　fairly　on　the
ear。

〃Aha！〃　she　cried。　　〃Don't　ever　say　a　woman　is　a　poor　shot。　　Now
then；〃　she　added；　stamping　her　feet　free　from　the　clinging　flakes
and　waving　her　hands　in　the　air　to　dry　them；　〃I　feel　fit　for
anything。　　Let　us　have　one　more　dance　before　we　go　home；　for　I　feel
we　really　must　go。〃

〃You　are　sure　you　are　quite　fit？〃　inquired　Hugh；　still　anxious　for
her。

〃Fit？　　Look　at　me！〃　　Her　cheeks　were　bright　with　colour；　her　eyes
with　light。

〃You　surely　do　look　fit；〃　said　Hugh；　beaming　at　her　with　frank
admiration。　　〃But　you　were　all　in　a　few　moments　ago。〃

〃Come　along。　　There　is　a　way　into　the　hall　by　this　door；〃　she
cried；　catching　his　hand　and　hurrying　him　into　the　dancing　room
again。

At　the　conclusion　of　their　dance　they　came　upon　Patricia　near　the
main　entrance；　in　great　distress。　　〃I　have　not　seen　Captain　Jack
anywhere；〃　she　lamented。　　〃Have　you；　Adrien？　　I　have　just　sent　Vic
for　a　final　search。　　I　simply　cannot　go　home　till　I　have　had　my
dance。〃　　The　girl　was　almost　in　tears。

〃Never　mind；　dear；〃　said　Adrien。　　〃He　has　many　duties　to…night　with
all　these　players　to　look　after。　　I　think　we　had　better　go　whenever
Vic　returns。　　I　am　awfully　sorry　for　you；　Patricia；〃　she　added。
〃No！　　Don't！　　You　simply　must　not　cry　here。〃　　She　put　her　arm
around　her　sister's　shoulder；　her　own　lips　trembling；　and　drew　her
close。　　〃Where　has　Vic　gone；　I　wonder？〃

That　young　man；　however；　was　having　his　own　trials。　　In　his　search
for　Maitland　he　ran　across　McNish；　whom　he　recognised　as　Annette's
partner　in　the　first　dance。

〃Hello！〃　he　cried。　　〃Do　you　know　where　Captain　Maitland　is；　by　any
chance？〃

〃No；　how　should　I　know；〃　replied　McNish；　in　a　voice　fiercely
guttural。

〃Oh！〃　said　Vic；　somewhat　abashed。　　〃I　saw　you　dance　with　Annette
with　Miss　Perrotteand　I　thought　perhaps　you　might　know　where　the
Captain　was。〃

McNish　stood　glowering　at　him　for　a　moment　or　two；　then　burst
forth：

〃They　are　awa'he's　ta'en　her　awa'。〃

〃Away；〃　said　Vic。　　〃Where？〃

〃To　hell　for　all　I　ken　or　care。〃

Then　with　a　single　stride　McNish　was　close　at　his　side；　gripping
his　arm　with　fingers　that　seemed　to　reach　the　bone。

〃Ye're　a　friend　o'　his。　　Let　me　say　tae　ye　if　ony　ill　cames　tae
her；　by　the　leevin'　God　above　us　he　wull　answer　tae　me。〃　　Hoarse；
panting；　his　face　that　of　a　maniac；　he　stood　glaring　wild…eyed　at
the　young　man　before　him。　　To　say　that　Vic　was　shaken　by　this
sudden　and　violent　onslaught　would　be　much　within　the　truth。
Nevertheless　he　boldly　faced　the　passion…distracted　man。

〃Look　here！　　I　don't　know　who　you　are　or　what　you　mean；〃　he　said；
in　as　steady　tones　as　he　could　summon；　〃but　if　you　suggest　that　any
girl　will　come　to　harm　from　Captain　Maitland；　then　I　say　you　are　a
liar　and　a　fool。〃　　So　speaking；　little　Vic　set　himself　for　the　rush
which　he　was　firmly　convinced　would　come。　　McNish；　however；　stood
still；　fighting　for　control。　　Then；　between　his　deep…drawn　breaths；
he　slowly　spoke：

〃Ye　may　be　richt。　　A　hope　tae　God　A　am　baith　liar　and　fule。〃　　The
agony　in　his　face　moved　Vic　to　pity。

〃I