active service- 第1部分

Active　Service

by　Steven　Crane






CHAPTER　I。

MARJORY　walked　pensively　along　the　hall。　In　the　cool　shadows　made　by　the　palms　on　the　window　ledge；　her　face　wore　the　expression　of　thoughtful　melancholy　expected　on　the　faces　of　the　devotees　who　pace　in　cloistered　gloom。　She　halted　before　a　door　at　the　end　of　the　hall　and　laid　her　hand　on　the　knob。　She　stood　hesitating；　her　head　bowed。　It　was　evident　that　this　mission　was　to　require　great　fortitude。

At　last　she　opened　the　door。　〃　Father；〃　she　began　at　once。　There　was　disclosed　an　elderly；　narrow…faced　man　seated　at　a　large　table　and　surrounded　by　manuscripts　and　books。　The　sunlight　flowing　through　curtains　of　Turkey　red　fell　sanguinely　upon　the　bust　of　dead…eyed　Pericles　on　the　mantle。　A　little　clock　was　ticking；　hidden　somewhere　among　the　countless　leaves　of　writing；　the　maps　and　broad　heavy　tomes　that　swarmed　upon　the　table。

Her　father　looked　up　quickly　with　an　ogreish　scowl。

Go　away！　〃　he　cried　in　a　rage。　〃　Go　away。　Go　away。　Get　out　〃　〃　He　seemed　on　the　point　of　arising　to　eject　the　visitor。　It　was　　plain　to　her　that　he　had　been　interrupted　in　the　writing　of　one　　of　his　sentences；　ponderous；　solemn　and　endless；　in　which　wandered　multitudes　of　homeless　and　friendless　prepositions；　adjectives　　looking　for　a　parent；　and　quarrelling　nouns；　sentences　which　no　　longer　symbolised　the　languageform　of　thought　but　which　had　about　　them　a　quaint　aroma　from　the　dens　of　long…dead　scholars。　〃　Get　out；〃　snarled　the　professor。

Father；〃　faltered　the　girl。　Either　because　his　formulated　thought　was　now　completely　knocked　out　of　his　mind　by　his　own　emphasis　in　defending　it；　or　because　he　detected　something　of　portent　in　her　expression；　his　manner　suddenly　changed；　and　with　a　petulant　glance　at　his　writing　he　laid　down　his　pen　and　sank　back　in　his　chair　to　listen。　〃　Well；　what　is　it；　my　child　？　〃

The　girl　took　a　chair　near　the　window　and　gazed　out　upon　the　snow…stricken　campus；　where　at　the　moment　a　group　of　students　returning　from　a　class　room　were　festively　hurling　snow…balls。　〃　I've　got　something　important　to　tell　you；　father；〃　said　she；　but　i　don't　quite　know　how　to　say　it。〃

〃Something　important　？　〃　repeated　the　professor。　He　was　not　habitually　interested　in　the　affairs　of　his　family；　but　this　proclamation　that　something　important　could　be　connected　with　them；　filled　his　mind　with　a　capricious　interest。　　〃Well；　what　is　it；　Marjory　？　〃

She　replied　calmly：　〃　Rufus　Coleman　wants　to　marry　me。〃

〃What？〃　demanded　the　professor　loudly。　〃Rufus　Coleman。　What　do　you　mean？　〃

The　girl　glanced　furtively　at　him。　She　did　not　seem　to　be　able　to　frame　a　suitable　sentence。

As　for　the　professor；　he　had；　like　all　men　both　thoughtless　and　thoughtful；　told　himself　that　one　day　his　daughter　would　come　to　him　with　a　tale　of　this　kind。　He　had　never　forgotten　that　the　little　girl　was　to　be　a　woman；　and　he　had　never　forgotten　that　this　tall；　lithe　creature；　the　present　Marjory；　was　a　woman。　He　had　been　entranced　and　confident　or　entranced　and　apprehensive　according'　to　the　time。　A　man　focussed　upon　astronomy；　the　pig　market　or　social　progression；　may　nevertheless　have　a　secondary　mind　which　hovers　like　a　spirit　over　his　dahlia　tubers　and　dreams　upon　the　mystery　of　their　slow　and　tender　revelations。　The　professor's　secondary　mind　had　dwelt　always　with　his　daughter　and　watched　with　a　faith　and　delight　the　changing　to　a　woman　of　a　certain　fat　and　mumbling　babe。　However；　he　now　saw　this　machine；　this　self…　sustaining；　self…operative　love；　which　had　run　with　the　ease　of　a　clock；　suddenly　crumble　to　ashes　and　leave　the　mind　of　a　great　scholar　staring　at　a　calamity。　〃　Rufus　Coleman；〃　he　repeated；　stunned。　Here　was　his　daughter；　very　obviously　desirous　of　marrying　Rufus　Coleman。　〃　Marjory；〃　he　cried　in　amazement　　and　fear；　〃what　possesses；　you？　Marry　Rufus　Colman？〃

The　girl　seemed　to　feel　a　strong　sense　of　relief　at　his　prompt　recognition　of　a　fact。　Being　freed　from　the　necessity　of　making　a　flat　declaration；　she　simply　hung　her　head　and　blushed　impressively。　A　hush　fell　upon　them。　The　professor　stared　long　at　his　daugh。　ter。　The　shadow　of　unhappiness　deepened　upon　his　face。　〃　Marjory；　Marjory；〃　he　murmured　at　last。　He　had　tramped　heroically　upon　his　panic　and　devoted　his　strength　to　bringing　thought　into　some　kind　of　attitude　toward　this　terrible　fact。　〃　I　am…I　am　surprised；〃　he　began。　Fixing　her　then　with　a　stern　eye；　he　asked：　〃Why　do　you　wish　to　marry　this　man？　You；　with　your　opportunities　of　meeting　persons　of　intelligence。　And　you　want　to　marry…〃　His　voice　grew　tragic。　　〃You　want　to　marry　the　Sunday　editor　of　the　New　York　Eclipse。〃

〃　It　is　not　so　very　terrible；　is　it？〃　said　Marjory　sullenly。

〃Wait　a　moment；　don't　talk；〃　cried　the　professor。　He　arose　and　walked　nervously　to　and　fro；　his　hands　flying　in　the　air。　He　was　very　red　behind　the　ears　as　when　in　the　Classroom　some　student　offended　him。　〃　A　gambler；　a　sporter　of　fine　clothes；　an　expert　on　champagne；　a　polite　loafer；　a　witness　knave　who　edits　the　Sunday　edition　of　a　great　outrage　upon　our　sensibilities。　You　want　to　marry　him；　this　man？　Marjory；　you　are　insane。　This　　fraud　who　asserts　that　his　work　is　intelligent；　this　fool　comes　here　to　my　house　and…〃

He　became　aware　that　his　daughter　was　regarding　him　coldly。　〃I　thought　we　had　best　have　all　this　part　of　it　over　at　once；〃　she　remarked。

He　confronted　her　in　a　new　kind　of　surprise。　The　little　keen…　eyed　professor　was　at　this　time　imperial；　on　the　verge　of　a　majestic　outburst。　〃　Be　still；〃　he　said。　〃Don't　be　clever　with　your　father。　Don't　be　a　dodger。　Or；　if　you　are；　don't　speak　of　it　to　me。　I　suppose　this　fine　young　man　expects　to　see　me　personally　？　〃

〃　He　was　coming　to…morrow；〃　replied　Marjory。　She　began　to　weep。　〃　He　was　coming　to…morrow。〃

〃　Um；〃　said　the　professor。　He　continued　his　pacing　while　Marjory　wept　with　her　head　bowed　to　the　arm　of　the　chair。　His　brow　made　the　three　dark　vertical　crevices　well　known　to　his　students。　Some。　times　he　glowered　murderously　at　the　photographs　of　ancient　temples　which　adorned　the　walls。　〃My　poor　child；〃　he　said　once；　as　he　paused　near　her；　〃　to　think　I　never　knew　you　were　a　fool。　I　have　been　deluding　myself。　It　has　been　my　fault　as　much　as　it　has　been　yours。　I　will　not　readily　forgive　myself。〃

The　girl　raised　her　face　and　looked　at　him。　Finally；　resolved　to　disregard　the　dishevelment　wrought　by　tears；　　she　presented　a　desperate　front　with　her　wet　eyes　and　flushed　cheeks。　Her　hair　was　disarrayed。　〃I　don't　see　why　you　can　call　me　a　fool；〃　she　said。　The　pause　before　this　sentence　had　been　so　portentous　of　a　wild　and　rebellious　speech　that　the　professor　almost　laughed　now。　But　still　the　father　for　the　first　time　knew　that　he　was　being　un…dauntedly　faced　by　his　child　in　his　own　library；　in　the　presence　Of　372　pages　of　the　book　that　was　to　be　his　masterpiece。　At　the　back　of　his　mind　he　felt　a　great　awe　as　if　his　own　youthful　spirit　had　come　from　the　past　and　challenged　him　with　a　glance。　For　a　moment　he　was　almost　a　defeated　man。　He　dropped　into　a　chair。　〃　Does　your　mother　know　of　this　〃　〃　he　asked　mournfully。

〃Yes；〃　replied　the　girl。　〃She　knows。　She　has　been　trying　to　make　me　give　up　Rufus。〃

〃Rufus；〃　cried　the　professor　rejuvenated　by　anger。

〃Well；　his　name　is　Rufus；〃　said　the　girl。

〃But　please　don't　call　him　so　before　me；〃　said　the　father　with　icy　dignity。　〃　I　do　not　recognise　him　as　being　named　Rufus。　That　is　a　contention　of　yours　which　does　not　arouse　my　interest。　I　know　him　very　well　as　a　gambler　and　a　drunkard；　and　if　incidentally；　he　is　named　Rufus；　I　fail　to　see　any　importance　to　it。〃

〃　He　is　not　a　gambler　and　he　is　not　a　drunkard；〃　she　said。

〃　Um。　He　drinks　heavily…that　is　well　known。　He　gambles。　　He　plays　cards　for　moneymore　than　he　possesses…at　least　he　did　when　he　was　in　college。〃

〃　You　said　you　liked　him　when　he　was　in　college。〃

〃　So　I　did。　So　I　did；〃　answered　the　professor　sharply。　〃　I　often　find　myself　liking　that　kind　of　a　boy　in　college。　Don't　I　know　them…those　lads　with　their　beer　and　their　poker　games　in　the　dead　of　the　night　with　a　towel　hung　over　the　keyhole。　Their　habits　are　often　vicious　enough；　but　something　remains　in　them　through　it　all　and　they　may　go　away　and　do　great　things。　This　happens。　We　know　it。　It　happens　with　confusing　insistence。　It　destroys　theo…　ries。　There…there　isn't　much　to　say　about　it。　And　sometimes　we　like　this　kind　of　a　boy　better　than　we　do　the…the　others。　For　my　part　I　know　of　many　a　pure；　pious　and　fine…　minded　student　that　I　have　positively　loathed　from　a　personal　point…of…view。　But；〃　he　added；　〃　this　Rufus　Coleman；　his　life　in　college　and　his　life　since；　go　to　prove　how　often　we　get　off　the　track。　There　is　no　gauge　of　collegiate　conduct　whatever；　until　we　can　get　evidence　of　the　man's　work　in　the　world。　Your　precious　scoundrel's　evidence　is　now　all　in　and　he　is　a　failure；　or　worse。〃

〃　You　are　not　habitually　so　fierce　in　judging　people；〃　said　the　girl。

〃I　would　be　if　they　all　wanted　to　marry　my　daughter；〃　rejoined　the　professor。　〃　Rather　than　let　that　man　make　love　to　you…or　even　be　within　a　short　railway　journey　of　you；　　I'll　cart　you　off　to　Europe　this　winter　and　keep　you　there　　until　you　forget。　If　you　persist　in　this　silly　fancy；　I　shall　at　on