options- 第13部分

〃Yes；　yes；　Uncle　Jake；〃　said　John　briskly。　　〃My　cousin　and　I　have　just　　been　notified　to　expect　you。　　We　are　both　Carterets；　you　know。〃

〃Although　one　of　us；〃　said　Blandford；　〃was　born　and　raised　in　the　　North。〃

〃So　if　you　will　hand　over　the　watch〃　said　John。

〃My　cousin　and　I…〃　said　Blandford。

'Will　then　see　to　it〃　said　John。

〃That　comfortable　quarters　are　found　for　you；〃　said　Blandford。

With　creditable　ingenuity；　old　Jake　set　up　a　cackling；　high…pitched；　　protracted　laugh。　　He　beat　his　knee；　picked　up　his　hat　and　bent　the　　brim　in　an　apparent　paroxysm　of　humorous　appreciation。　　The　seizure　　afforded　him　a　mask　behind　which　he　could　roll　his　eyes　impartially　　between；　above；　and　beyond　his　two　tormentors。

〃I　sees　what！〃　he　chuckled；　after　a　while。　　〃You　gen'lemen　is　tryin'　　to　have　fun　with　the　po'　old　nigger。　　But　you　can't　fool　old　Jake。　　I　　knowed　you；　Marse　Blandford；　the　minute　I　sot　eyes　on　you。　　You　was　a　　po'　skimpy　little　boy　no　mo'　than　about　fo'teen　when　you　lef'　home　to　　come　No'th；　but　I　knowed　you　the　minute　I　sot　eyes　on　you。　　You　is　the　　mawtal　image　of　old　marster。　　The　other　gen'leman　resembles　you　　mightily；　suh；　but　you　can't　fool　old　Jake　on　a　member　of　the　old　　Vi'ginia　family。　　No　suh。〃

At　exactly　the　same　time　both　Carterets　smiled　and　extended　a　hand　for　　the　watch。

Uncle　Jake's　wrinkled；　black　face　lost　the　expression　of　amusement　to　　which　he　had　vainly　twisted　it。　　He　knew　that　he　was　being　teased；　and　　that　it　made　little　real　difference；　as　far　as　its　safety　went；　into　　which　of　those　outstretched　hands　he　placed　the　family　treasure。　　But　　it　seemed　to　him　that　not　only　his　own　pride　and　loyalty　but　much　of　　the　Virginia　Carterets'　was　at　stake。　　He　had　heard　down　South　during　　the　war　about　that　other　branch　of　the　family　that　lived　in　the　North　　and　fought　on　〃the　yuther　side；〃　and　it　had　always　grieved　him。　　He　　had　followed　his　〃old　marster's〃　fortunes　from　stately　luxury　through　　war　to　almost　poverty。　　And　now；　with　the　last　relic　and　reminder　of　　him；　blessed　by　〃old　missus；〃　and　intrusted　implicitly　to　his　care；　he　　had　come　ten　thousand　miles　（as　it　seemed）　to　deliver　it　into　the　　hands　of　the　one　who　was　to　wear　it　and　wind　it　and　cherish　it　and　　listen　to　it　tick　off　the　unsullied　hours　that　marked　the　lives　of　the　　Carteretsof　Virginia。

His　experience　and　conception　of　the　Yankees　had　been　an　impression　of　　tyrants〃low…down；　common　trash〃in　blue；　laying　waste　with　fire　and　　sword。　　He　had　seen　the　smoke　of　many　burning　homesteads　almost　as　　grand　as　Carteret　Hall　ascending　to　the　drowsy　Southern　skies。　　And　　now　he　was　face　to　face　with　one　of　themand　he　could　not　distinguish　　him　from　his　〃young　marster〃　whom　he　had　come　to　find　and　bestow　upon　　him　the　emblem　of　his　kingshipeven　as　the　arm　〃clothed　in　white　　samite；　mystic；　wonderful〃　laid　Excalibur　in　the　right　hand　of　Arthur。　　　He　saw　before　him　two　young　men；　easy；　kind；　courteous；　welcoming；　　either　of　whom　might　have　been　the　one　he　sought。　　Troubled；　　bewildered；　sorely　grieved　at　his　weakness　of　judgment；　old　Jake　　abandoned　his　loyal　subterfuges。　　His　right　hand　sweated　against　the　　buckskin　cover　of　the　watch。　　He　was　deeply　humiliated　and　chastened。　　　Seriously；　now；　his　prominent；　yellow…white　eyes　closely　scanned　the　　two　young　men。　　At　the　end　of　his　scrutiny　he　was　conscious　of　but　one　　difference　between　them。　　One　wore　a　narrow　black　tie　with　a　white　　pearl　stickpin。　　The　other's　〃four…in…hand　〃　was　a　narrow　blue　one　　pinned　with　a　black　pearl。

And　then；　to　old　Jake's　relief；　there　came　a　sudden　distraction。　　　Drama　knocked　at　the　door　with　imperious　knuckles；　and　forced　Comedy　　to　the　wings；　and　Drama　peeped　with　a　smiling　but　set　face　over　the　　footlights。

Percival；　the　hater　of　mill　supplies；　brought　in　a　card；　which　he　　handed；　with　the　manner　of　one　bearing　a　cartel；　to　Blue…Tie。

〃'Olivia　De　Ormond；'〃　read　Blue…Tie　from　the　card。　　He　looked　　inquiringly　at　his　cousin。

〃Why　not　have　her　in；〃　said　Black…Tie；　〃and　bring　matters　to　a　　conclusion？〃

〃Uncle　Jake；〃　said　one　of　the　young　men；　〃would　you　mind　taking　that　　chair　over　there　in　the　corner　for　a　while？　　A　lady　is　coming　inon　　some　business。　　We'll　take　up　your　case　afterward。〃

The　lady　whom　Percival　ushered　in　was　young　and　petulantly；　decidedly；　　freshly；　consciously；　and　intentionally　pretty。　　She　was　dressed　with　　such　expensive　plainness　that　she　made　you　consider　lace　and　ruffles　　as　mere　tatters　and　rags。　　But　one　great　ostrich　plume　that　she　wore　　would　have　marked　her　anywhere　in　the　army　of　beauty　as　the　wearer　of　　the　merry　helmet　of　Navarre。

Miss　De　Ormond　accepted　the　swivel　chair　at　Blue…Tie's　desk。　　Then　the　　gentlemen　drew　leather…upholstered　seats　conveniently　near；　and　spoke　　of　the　weather。

〃Yes；〃　said　she；　〃I　noticed　it　was　warmer。　　But　I　mustn't　take　up　too　　much　of　your　time　during　business　hours。　　That　is；〃　she　continued；　　〃unless　we　talk　business。〃

She　addressed　her　words　to　Blue…Tie；　with　a　charming　smile。

〃Very　well；〃　said　he。　　〃You　don't　mind　my　cousin　being　present；　do　　you？　　We　are　generally　rather　confidential　with　each　other…especially　　in　business　matters。〃

〃Oh　no；〃　caroled　Miss　De　Ormond。　　〃I'd　rather　he　did　hear。　　He　knows　　all　about　it；　anyhow。　　In　fact；　he's　quite　a　material　witness　because　　he　was　present　when　youwhen　it　happened。　　I　thought　you　might　want　　to　talk　things　over　beforewell；　before　any　action　is　taken；　as　I　　believe　the　lawyers　say。〃

〃Have　you　anything　in　the　way　of　a　proposition　to　make？〃　asked　Black…　Tie。

Miss　De　Ormond　looked　reflectively　at　the　neat　toe　of　one　of　her　dull　　kid…pumps。

〃I　had　a　proposal　made　to　me；〃　she　said。　　〃If　the　proposal　sticks　it　　cuts　out　the　proposition。　　Let's　have　that　settled　first。〃

〃Well；　as　far　as〃　began　Blue…Tie。

〃Excuse　me；　cousin；〃　interrupted　Black…Tie；　〃if　you　don't　mind　my　　cutting　in。〃　　And　then　he　turned；　with　a　good…natured　air；　toward　the　　lady。

〃Now；　let's　recapitulate　a　bit；〃　he　said　cheerfully。　　〃All　three　of　　us；　besides　other　mutual　acquaintances；　have　been　out　on　a　good　many　　larks　together。〃

〃I'm　afraid　I'll　have　to　call　the　birds　by　another　name；〃　said　Miss　De　　Ormond。

〃All　right；〃　responded　Black…Tie；　with　unimpaired　cheerfulness；　　〃suppose　we　say　'squabs'　when　we　talk　about　the　'proposal'　and　'larks'　　when　we　discuss　the　'proposition。'　　You　have　a　quick　mind；　Miss　De　　Ormond。　　Two　months　ago　some　half…dozen　of　us　went　in　a　motor…car　for　　day's　run　into　the　country。　　We　stopped　at　a　road…house　for　dinner。　　　My　cousin　proposed　marriage　to　you　then　and　there。　　He　was　influenced　　to　do　so；　of　course；　by　the　beauty　and　charm　which　no　one　can　deny　　that　you　possess。〃

〃I　wish　I　had　you　for　a　press　agent；　Mr。　　Carteret；〃　said　the　beauty；　　with　a　dazzling　smile。

〃You　are　on　the　stage；　Miss　De　Ormond；〃　went　on　Black…Tie。　　〃You　have　　had；　doubtless；　many　admirers；　and　perhaps　other　proposals。　　You　must　　remember；　too；　that　we　were　a　party　of　merrymakers　on　that　occasion。　　　There　were　a　good　many　corks　pulled。　　That　the　proposal　of　marriage　　was　made　to　you　by　my　cousin　we　cannot　deny。　　But　hasn't　it　been　your　　experience　that；　by　common　consent；　such　things　lose　their　seriousness　　when　viewed　in　the　next　day's　sunlight？　　Isn't　there　something　of　a　　'code'　among　good　'sports'I　use　the　word　in　its　best　sensethat　　wipes　out　each　day　the　follies　of　the　evening　previous？〃

〃Oh　yes；〃　said　Miss　De　Ormond。　　〃I　know　that　very　well。　　And　I've　　always　played　up　to　it。　　But　as　you　seem　to　be　conducting　the　case　with　the　silent　consent　of　the　defendantI'll　tell　you　something　　more。　　I've　got　letters　from　him　repeating　the　proposal。　　And　they're　　signed；　too。〃

〃I　understand；〃　said　Black…Tie　gravely。　　〃What's　your　price　for　the　　letters？〃

〃I'm　not　a　cheap　one；〃　said　Miss　De　Ormond。　　〃But　I　had　decided　to　　make　you　a　rate。　　You　both　belong　to　a　swell　family。　　Well；　if　I　am　on　　the　stage　nobody　can　say　a　word　against　me　truthfully。　　And　the　money　　is　only　a　secondary　consideration。　　It　isn't　the　money　I　was　after。　　　II　believed　himandand　I　liked　him。〃

She　cast　a　soft；　entrancing　glance　at　Blue…Tie　from　under　her　long　　eyelashes。

〃And　the　price？〃　went　on　Black…Tie；　inexorably。

〃Ten　thousand　dollars；〃　said　the　lady；　sweetly。

〃Or〃

〃Or　the　fulfillment　of　the　engagement　to　marry。〃

〃I　think　it　is　time；〃　interrupted　Blue…Tie；　〃for　me　to　be　allowed　to　　say　a　word　or　two。　　You　and　I；　cousin；　belong　to　a　family　that　has　　held　its　head　pretty　high。　　You　have　been　brought　up　in　a　section　of　　the　country　very　different　from　the　one　where　our　branch　of　the　family　　lived。　　Yet　both　of　us　are　Carterets；　even　if　some　of　our　ways　and　　theories　differ。　　You　remember；　it　is　a　tradition　of　the　family；　that　　no　Carteret　ever　failed　in　chivalry　to　a　lady　or　failed　to　keep　his　　word　when　it　was　given。〃

Then　Blue…Tie；　with　frank　decision　showing　on　his　countenance；　turned　　to　Miss　De　Ormond。

〃Olivia；〃　said　he；　〃on　what　date　will　you　marry　me？〃

Before　she　could　answer；　Black…Tie　again　interposed。

〃It　is　a　long　journey；〃　said　he；　〃from　Plymouth　rock　to　Norfolk　Bay。　　　Between　the　two　points　we　find　the　changes　that　nearly　three　centuries　　have　brought。　　In　that　time　the　old　order　has　changed。　　W