to him that hath-第28部分

快捷操作: 按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页 按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页 按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部! 如果本书没有阅读完，想下次继续接着阅读，可使用上方 "收藏到我的浏览器" 功能 和 "加入书签" 功能！

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　say；　old　chap；〃　he　said；　〃you　are　terribly　mistaken　somehow；　I
can　swear　to　that。　　Where　is　Maitland；　anyway；　do　you　know？〃

〃They　went　away　together。〃　　McNish　had　suddenly　gotten　himself　in
hand。　　〃They　went　away　in　his　car；　secretly。〃

〃Secretly；〃　said　Vic；　scornfully。　　〃Now；　that　is　perfect　rot。　　Look
here；　do　you　know　Captain　Maitland？　　I　am　his　friend；　and　let　me
tell　you　that　all　I　ever　hope　to　own；　here　and　hereafter；　and　all
my　relatives　and　friends；　I　would　gladly　trust　with　him。〃

〃Maybe；　maybe；〃　muttered　McNish。　　〃Ye　may　be　richt。　　A　apologise；
sir；　but　if〃　　His　eyes　blazed　again。

〃Aw；　cut　out　the　tragedy　stuff；〃　said　Vic；　〃and　don't　be　an　ass。
Good…night。〃

Vic　turned　on　his　heel　and　left　McNish　standing　in　a　dull　and　dazed
condition；　and　made　his　way　toward　the　ballroom。

〃Who　is　the　Johnny；　anyway？〃　he　said　to　himself。　　〃He　is　mad
looneyutterly　bughouse。　　Needs　a　keeper　in　the　worst　way。　　But
what　about　the　Captainmust　think　up　something。　　Let's　see。　　Taken
suddenly　ill？　　Hardlythere　is　the　girl　to　account　for。　　Her
mothergrandmotheror　somethingstrickenlet's　see。　　Annette
has　a　brotherBy　Jove！　the　very　thingI've　got　itbrother　met
with　an　accidentrun　overfell　down　a　wellanything。　　Hurry
callambulance　stuff。　　Good　line。　　Needs　working　up　a　bit；　though。
What　has　happened　to　my　grey　matter？　　Let　me　think。　　Ah；　yeswhen
that　Johnny　brought　word　of　an　accident；　a　serious　accident　to　her
brother；　Maitland；　naturally　enough；　the　gallant　soul；　hurries　her
off　in　his　car；　sending　word　by　aforesaid　mad　Johnny。〃

Vic　went　to　the　outer　door；　feeling　the　necessity　for　a　somewhat
careful　conning　of　his　tale　to　give　it；　as　he　said　himself；　a
little　artistic　verisimilitude。　　Then；　with　his　lessonas　he
thoughtwell　learned；　and　praying　for　aid　of　unknown　gods；　he　went
back　to　find　his　partner。

〃If　only　Patricia　will　keep　out　of　it；〃　he　said　to　himself　as　he
neared　the　hall　door；　〃or　if　I　could　only　catch　old　Hugh　first。
But　he　is　not　much　of　a　help　in　this　sort　of　thing。　　Dash　it　all！
I　am　quite　nervous。　　This　will　never　do。　　Must　find　a　waygood
effectcool　and　collected　stuff。〃　　So；　ruminating　and　praying　and
moving　ever　more　slowly；　he　reached　the　door。　　Coming　in　sight　of
his　party；　he　hurried　to　meet　them。　　〃Awfully　sorry！〃　he　exclaimed
excitedly。　　〃The　most　rotten　luck！　　Old　Maitland's　just　been　called
off。〃

〃Called　off！〃　cried　Patricia；　in　dismay。　　〃Where　to！〃

〃Now；　don't　jump　at　me　like　that。　　Remember　my　heart。　　Met　that
Johnnythe　big　chap　dancing　with　Annette；　you　knowjust　met　him
quite　worked　upa　hurry　call　for　the　girlfor　the　girl；　Annette；
you　know。〃

〃The　girl！〃　exclaimed　Patricia。　　〃You　said　Captain　Jack。〃

〃I　know！　I　know！〃　replied　Vic；　somewhat　impatiently。　　〃I　am　a　bit
excited；　I　confess。　　Rather　nasty　thingAnnette's　brother；　you
knowsomething　wrongaccident；　I　think。　　Couldn't　get　the
particulars。〃

〃But　Annette's　brother　is　in　Toronto；〃　said　Adrien；　gravely。

〃Exactly！〃　cried　Vic。　　〃That　is　what　I　have　been　telling　you。　　A
hurry　callphone　message　for　Annettehorrible　accident。　　Maitland
rushed　her　right　away　in　his　car　to　catch　the　midnight　to　Toronto。〃

〃By　Jove！　　That　is　too　bad；〃　said　Hugh；　a　genuine　sympathy　in　his
honest　voice。　　〃That　is　hard　luck　on　poor　Annette。　　Tony　is　not
exactly　a　safe　proposition；　you　know。〃

〃Was　heis　he　killed？〃　cried　Patricia；　in　a　horror…stricken　voice。

〃Killed！　　Not　a　bit　of　it；〃　said　Vic　cheerfully。　　〃Slight　injury
but　serious；　I　mean。　　You　know；　just　enough　to　cause　anxiety。〃　　Vic
lit　another　cigarette　with　ostentatious　deliberation。　　〃Nasty
shock；　you　know；〃　he　said。

〃Who　told　you　all　this？〃　inquired　Rupert。

〃Who　told　me？〃　said　Vic。　　〃Why；　that　mad　Johnny。〃

〃Mad　Johnny？　　What　mad　Johnny？〃

Vic　said：　　〃Eh！　　What？　　You　know；　thatahrbig　chap　who　was
falling　over　her　in　the　fox　trot。　　Looked　kind　of　crazy；　you　know
big　chapScotch。〃

〃Where　is　he　now？〃　enquired　Rupert。

〃Oh；　I　fancy　about　there；　somewhere；〃　replied　Vic；　remembering　that
he　had　seen　McNish　moving　toward　the　door。　　〃Better　go　and　look　him
up　and　get　more　particulars。　　Might　help　some；　you　know。〃

〃Oh；　Adrien；　let　us　go　to　her；〃　said　Patricia。　　〃I　am　sure　Annette
would　love　to　have　you。　　Poor　Annette！〃

〃Oh！　　I　say！〃　interposed　Vic　hurriedly。　　〃There　is　really　no
necessity。　　I　shouldn't　like　to　intrude　in　family　affairs　and　that
sort　of　thing；　you　know　what　I　mean。〃

Adrien's　grave；　quiet　eyes　were　upon　Vic's　face。　　〃You　think　we　had
better　not　go；　then；〃　she　said　slowly。

〃Sure　thing！〃　replied　Vic；　with　cheerful　optimism。　　〃There　is　no
necessityslight　accidentno　need　to　make　a　fuss　about　it。〃

〃But　you　said　it　was　a　serious　accidenta　terrible　thing；〃　said
Patricia。

〃Oh；　now；　Patricia；　come　out　of　it。　　You　check　a　fellow　up　so　hard。
Can't　you　understand　the　Johnny　was　so　deucedly　worked　up　over　it
he　couldn't　give　me　the　right　of　it。　　Dash　it　all！　　Let's　have
another　turn；　Patricia！〃

But　Adrien　said：　　〃I　think　we　will　go　home；　Hugh。〃

〃Very　well；　if　you　think　so；　Adrien。　　I　don't　fancy　you　need　worry
over　Annette。　　The　accident　probably　is　serious　but　not　dangerous。
Tony　is　a　tough　fellow。〃

〃Exactly！〃　exclaimed　Vic。　　〃Just　as　I　have　been　telling　you。
Serious；　but　not　dangerous。　　At　least；　that　was　the　impression　I
got。〃

〃Oh；　Vic；　you　are　so　terribly　confusing！〃　exclaimed　Patricia。　　〃Why
can't　you　get　things　straight？　　I　say；　Adrien；　we　can　ride　round　to
Annette's　on　our　way　home；　and　then　we　will　get　things　quite
clearly。〃

〃Certainly；〃　said　Hugh。　　〃It　will　only　take　us　a　minute。　　Eh；
what！〃　he　added　to　Vic；　who　was　making　frantic　grimaces　at　him。
〃Well；　if　you　ladies　will　get　your　things；　we　will　go。〃

〃But　I　am　so　disappointed；〃　said　Patricia　to　Adrien；　as　they　went
to　their　dressing　room　together。

After　they　had　gone；　Hugh　turned　upon　Vic：　　〃Now　then；　what　the
deuce　and　all　are　you　driving　at？〃

〃Driving　at！〃　cried　Vic；　in　an　exasperated　tone。　　〃You　are　a　sweet
support　for　a　fellow　in　distress。　　I　am　a　nervous　wrecka　perfect
mess。　　Another　word　from　that　kid　and　I　should　have　run　screaming
into　the　night。　　And　as　for　you；　why　the　deuce　didn't　you　buck　up
and　help　a　fellow　out？〃

〃Help　you　out？　　How　in　the　name　of　all　that　is　reasonable　could　I
help　you　out？　　What　is　all　the　yarn　about？　　Of　course　I　know　it
isn't　true。　　Where's　Maitland？〃

〃Search　me；〃　said　Vic。　　〃All　I　know　is　that　I　hit　upon　that　Scotch
Johnny　out　in　the　hallhe　nearly　wrenched　an　arm　off　me　and　did
everything　but　bitespitting　out　incoherent　gaspings　indicating
that　Maitland　had　'gone　awa'　wi'　his　gur…r…l；　confound　him！'　and
suggesting　the　usual　young　Lochinvar　stuff。　　You　knownothing　in
it；　of　course。　　But　what　was　I　to　do？　　Some　tale　was　necessary！
Fortunately　or　unfortunately；　brother　Tony　sprang　to　the　thing　I
call　my　mind　andwell；　you　know　the　mess　I　made　of　it。　　But　Hugh；
remember；　for　heaven's　sake；　make　talk　about　somethingabout　the
matchand　get　that　girl　quietly　home。　　I　bag　the　back　seat　and
Adrien。　　It　is　hard　on　me；　I　know；　but　fifteen　minutes　more　of
Patsy　and　I　shall　be　counting　my　tootsies　and　prattling　nursery
rhymes。　　Here　they　come；〃　he　breathed。　　〃Now；　'a　little　forlorn
hope；　deadly　breach　act；　if　you　love　me；　Hardy。'　　Play　up；　old
boy！〃

And　with　commendable　enthusiasm　and　success；　Hugh　played　up；
supportedas　far　as　his　physical　and　mental　condition　allowedby
the　enfeebled　Vic；　till　they　had　safely　deposited　their　charges　at
the　Rectory　door；　whence；　refusing　an　invitation　to　stop　for　cocoa；
they　took　their　homeward　way。

〃'And　from　famine；　pestilence　and　sudden　death；'　and　from　the　once…
over　by　that　penetrating　young　female；　'good　Lord；　deliver　us；'〃
murmured　Vic；　falling　into　the　seat　beside　his　friend。　　〃Take　me
home　to　mother；〃　he　added；　and　refused　further　speech　till　at　his
own　door。　　He　waved　a　weak　adieu　and　staggered　feebly　into　the
house。



CHAPTER　XI

THE　NEW　MANAGER


Grant　Maitland　sat　in　his　office；　plainly　disturbed　in　his　mind。
His　resolute　face；　usually　reflecting　the　mental　repose　which
arises　from　the　consciousness　of　a　strength　adequate　to　any
emergency；　carried　lines　which　revealed　a　mind　which　had　lost　its
poise。　　Reports　from　his　foremen　indicated　brooding　trouble；　and
this　his　own　observation　within　the　last　few　weeks　confirmed。
Production　was　noticeably　falling　low。　　The　attitude　of　the　workers
suggested　suspicion　and　discontent。　　That　fine　glow　of　comradeship
which　had　been　characteristic　of　all　workers　in　the　Maitland　Mills
had　given　place　to　a　sullen　aloofness　and　a　shiftiness　of　eye　that
all　too　plainly　suggested　evil　forces　at　work。

During　the　days　immediately　preceding　and　following　the　Great
Match；　there　had　been　a　return　of　that　frank　and　open　bearing　that
had　characterised　the　employees　of　the　Maitland　Mills　in　the　old
days；　but　that　fleeting　gleam　of　sunshine　had　faded　out　and　the　old
grey　shadow　of　suspicion；　of　discontent；　had　fallen　again。　　To
Maitland　this　attitude　brought　a　disappointment　and　a　resentment
which　sensibly　added　to　his　burden；　already　heavy　enoug