earlderrbiggers.thehousewithoutakey-第17部分

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　〃Once；〃　replied　Jennison　briefly。　〃That's　Punch　Bowl　Hill　back　of　the　town　…　and　Tantalus　beyond。　Take　you　up　to　the　summit　some　day　…　wonderful　view。　See　that　tallest　building？　The　Van　Patten　Trust　pany　…　my　office　is　on　the　top　floor。　Only　drawback　about　getting　home　…　I'll　have　to　go　to　work　again。〃
　〃I　don't　see　how　any　one　can　work　in　this　climate；〃　John　Quincy　said。
　〃Oh；　well；　we　take　it　easy。　Can't　manage　the　pace　of　you　mainland　people。　Every　now　and　then　some　go…getter　from　the　States　es　out　here　and　tries　to　hustle　us。〃　He　laughed。　〃He　dies　of　disgust　and　we　bury　him　in　a　leisurely　way。　Been　down　to　breakfast？〃
　John　Quincy　acpanied　him　to　the　dining　saloon。　Madame　Maynard　and　Barbara　were　at　the　table。　The　old　lady's　cheeks　were　flushed　and　her　eyes　sparkled；　Barbara；　too；　was　in　her　gayest　mood。　The　excitement　of　ing　home　had　made　her　very　happy　…　or　was　her　happiness　all　due　to　that？　John　Quincy　noted　her　smile　of　greeting　for　Jennison；　and　rather　wished　he　knew　less　than　he　did。
　〃Prepare　for　a　thrill；　John　Quincy；〃　the　girl　said。　〃Landing　in　Hawaii　is　like　landing　nowhere　else　on　the　globe。　Of　course；　this　is　a　through　boat；　and　it　isn't　weled　as　the　Matson　liners　are。　But　there'll　be　a　crowd　waiting　for　the　Matsonia　this　morning；　and　we'll　steal　a　little　of　her　aloha。〃
　〃A　little　of　her　what？〃　inquired　John　Quincy。
　〃Aloha　…　meaning　loving　wele。　You　shall　have　all　my　leis；　John　Quincy。　Just　to　show　you　how　glad　Honolulu　is　you've　e　at　last。〃
　The　boy　turned　to　Madame　Maynard。　〃I　suppose　this　is　an　old　story　to　you？〃
　〃Bless　you；　my　boy；〃　she　said。　〃It's　always　new。　A　hundred　and　twenty…eight　times　…　yet　I'm　as　thrilled　as　though　I　were　ing　home　from　college。〃　She　sighed。　〃A　hundred　and　twenty…eight　times。　So　many　of　those　who　once　hung　leis　about　my　neck　are　gone　for　ever　now。　They'll　not　be　waiting　for　me　…　not　on　this　dock。〃
　〃None　of　that；〃　Barbara　chided。　〃Only　happy　thoughts　this　morning。　It's　steamer　day。〃
　Nobody　seemed　hungry；　and　breakfast　was　a　sketchy　affair。　John　Quincy　returned　to　his　cabin　to　find　Bowker　strapping　up　his　luggage。
　〃I　guess　you're　all　ready；　sir；〃　said　the　steward。　〃I　finished　that　book　last　night；　and　you'll　find　it　in　your　suit…case。　We'll　be　moving　on　to　the　dock　shortly。　All　good　luck　to　you　…　and　don't　forget　about　the　okolehau。〃
　〃It's　graven　on　my　memory；〃　smiled　John　Quincy。　〃Here　…　this　is　for　you。〃
　Bowker　glanced　at　the　bank…note　and　pocketed　it。　〃You're　mighty　kind；　sir；〃　he　remarked　feelingly。　〃That　will　sort　of　balance　up　the　dollar　each　I'll　get　from　those　two　missionaries　when　we　reach　China　…　if　I'm　lucky。　Of　course；　it's　rather　distasteful　to　me　to　accept　anything。　From　a　friend　of　Tim's；　you　know。〃
　〃Oh；　that's　for　value　received；〃　said　John　Quincy；　and　followed　Bowker　on　deck。
　〃There　she　is；〃　announced　Bowker；　pausing　by　the　rail。　〃Honolulu。　The　South　Seas　with　a　collar　on；　driving　a　Ford　car。　Polynesia　with　a　private　still　and　all　the　other　benefits　of　the　white　man's　civilization。　We'll　go　out　at　eight　to…night；　thank　heaven。〃
　〃Paradise　doesn't　appeal　to　you；〃　suggested　John　Quincy。
　〃No。　Nor　any　other　of　these　bright…colored　lands　my　poor　old　feet　must　tread。　I'm　getting　fed　up；　sir。〃　He　came　closer。　〃I　want　to　hang　my　hat　somewhere　and　leave　it　there。　I　want　to　buy　a　little　newspaper　in　some　country　town　and　starve　to　death　on　the　proceeds　of　running　it。　What　a　happy　finish！　Well；　maybe　I　can　manage　it；　before　long。〃
　〃I　hope　so；〃　said　John　Quincy。
　〃I　hope　so；　too；〃　said　Bowker。　〃Here's　wishing　you　a　happy　time　in　Honolulu。　And　one　other　word　of　warning　…　don't　linger　there。〃
　〃I　don't　intend　to；〃　John　Quincy　assured　him。
　〃That's　the　talk。　It's　one　of　those　places　…　you　know　…　dangerous。　Lotus　on　the　menu　every　day。　The　first　thing　you　know；　you've　forgot　where　you　put　your　trunk。　So　long；　sir。〃
　With　a　wave　of　the　hand；　Tim's　friend　disappeared　down　the　deck。　Amid　much　confusion；　John　Quincy　took　his　place　in　line　for　the　doctor's　inspection；　passed　the　careful　scrutiny　of　an　immigration　official　who　finally　admitted　that　maybe　Boston　was　in　the　Union；　and　was　then　left　to　his　own　devices　and　his　long；　long　thoughts。
　The　President　Tyler　was　moving　slowly　toward　the　shore。　Excited　figures　scurried　about　her　decks；　pausing　now　and　then　to　stare　through　lifted　glasses　at　the　land。　John　Quincy　perceived　that　early　though　the　hour　was；　the　pier　toward　which　they　were　heading　was　alive　with　people。　Barbara　came　and　stood　by　his　side。
　〃Poor　old　dad；〃　she　said；　〃he's　been　struggling　along　without　me　for　nine　months。　This　will　be　a　big　morning　in　his　life。　You'll　like　dad；　John　Quincy。〃
　〃I'm　sure　I　shall；〃　he　answered　heartily。
　〃Dad's　one　of　the　finest　…〃　Jennison　joined　them。　〃Harry；　I　meant　to　tell　the　steward　to　take　my　luggage　ashore　when　we　land。〃
　〃I　told　him；〃　Jennison　said。　〃I　tipped　him；　too。〃
　〃Thanks；〃　the　girl　replied。　〃I　was　so　excited；　I　forgot。〃
　She　leaned　eagerly　over　the　rail；　peering　at　the　dock。　Her　eyes　were　shining。　〃I　don't　see　him　yet；〃　she　said。　They　were　near　enough　now　to　hear　the　voices　of　those　ashore；　gay　voices　calling　flippant　greetings。　The　big　ship　edged　gingerly　closer。
　〃There's　Aunt　Minerva；〃　cried　John　Quincy　suddenly。　That　little　touch　of　home　in　the　throng　was　very　pleasant。　〃Is　that　your　father　with　her？〃　He　indicated　a　tall　anemic　man　at　Minerva's　side。
　〃I　don't　see　…　where　…〃　Barbara　began。　〃Oh　…　that　…　why；　that's　Uncle　Amos！〃
　〃Oh；　is　that　Amos？〃　remarked　John　Quincy；　without　interest。　But　Barbara　had　gripped　his　arm；　and　as　he　turned　he　saw　a　wild　alarm　in　her　eyes。
　〃What　do　you　suppose　that　means？〃　she　cried。　〃I　don't　see　dad。　I　don't　see　him　anywhere。〃
　〃Oh；　he's　in　that　crowd　somewhere　…〃
　〃No；　no　…　you　don't　understand！　Uncle　Amos！　I'm　…　I'm　frightened。〃
　John　Quincy　didn't　gather　what　it　was　all　about；　and　there　was　no　time　to　find　out。　Jennison　was　pushing　ahead　through　the　crowd；　making　a　path　for　Barbara；　and　the　boy　meekly　brought　up　the　rear。　They　were　among　the　first　down　the　plank。　Miss　Minerva　and　Amos　were　waiting　at　the　foot。
　〃My　dear。〃　Miss　Minerva　put　her　arms　about　the　girl　and　kissed　her　gently。　She　turned　to　John　Quincy。　〃Well；　here　you　are　…〃
　There　was　something　lacking　in　this　wele。　John　Quincy　sensed　it　at　once。
　〃Where's　dad？〃　Barbara　cried。
　〃I'll　explain　in　the　car　…〃　Miss　Minerva　began。
　〃No；　now！　Now！　I　must　know　now！〃
　The　crowd　was　surging　about　them；　calling　happy　greetings；　the　Royal　Hawaiian　Band　was　playing　a　gay　tune；　carnival　was　in　the　air。
　〃Your　father　is　dead；　my　dear；〃　said　Miss　Minerva。
　John　Quincy　saw　the　girl's　slim　figure　sway　gently；　but　it　was　Harry　Jennison's　strong　arm　that　caught　her。
　For　a　moment　she　stood；　with　Jennison's　arm　about　her。　〃All　right；〃　she　said。　〃I'm　ready　to　go　home。〃　And　walked　like　a　true　Winterslip　toward　the　street。
　Amos　melted　away　into　the　crowd；　but　Jennison　acpanied　them　to　the　car。　〃I'll　go　out　with　you；〃　he　said　to　Barbara。　She　did　not　seem　to　hear。　The　four　of　them　entered　the　limousine；　and　in　another　moment　the　happy　clamor　of　steamer　day　was　left　behind。
　No　one　spoke。　The　curtains　of　the　car　were　drawn；　but　a　warm　streak　of　sunlight　fell　across　John　Quincy's　knees。　He　was　a　little　dazed。　Shocking；　this　news　about　Cousin　Dan。　Must　have　died　suddenly　…　but　no　doubt　that　was　how　things　always　happened　out　this　way。　He　glanced　at　the　white　stricken　face　of　the　girl　beside　him；　and　because　of　her　his　heart　was　heavy。
　She　laid　her　cold　hand　on　his。　〃It's　not　the　wele　I　promised　you；　John　Quincy；〃　she　said　softly。
　〃Why；　my　dear　girl；　I　don't　matter　now。〃
　No　other　word　was　spoken　on　the　journey；　and　when　they　reached　Dan's　house；　Barbara　and　Miss　Minerva　went　immediately　up…stairs。　Jennison　disappeared　through　a　doorway　at　the　left；　evidently　he　knew　his　way　about。　Haku　volunteered　to　show　John　Quincy　his　quarters；　so　he　followed　Haku　to　the　second　floor。
　When　his　bags　were　unpacked；　John　Quincy　went　down…stairs　again。　Miss　Minerva　was　waiting　for　him　in　the　living…room。　From　beyond　the　bamboo　curtain　leading　to　the　lanai　came　the　sound　of　men's　voices；　mumbling　and　indistinct。
　〃Well；〃　said　John　Quincy；　〃how　have　you　been？〃
　〃Nev