earlderrbiggers.thehousewithoutakey-第58部分

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！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！


en　conscious　of　something　wrong　between　her　and　Jennison　ever　since　they　landed。　She　didn't　think　he　killed　her　father；　but　she　believed　he　was　involved　in　it　somehow。　She　is　planning　to　settle　with　Brade　to…morrow　and　leave　the　next　day；　probably　for　ever。　I've　persuaded　her　to　e　to　Boston　for　a　long　visit。　You'll　see　her　there。〃
　John　Quincy　shook　his　head。　〃No；　I　shan't。　But　thanks　for　reminding　me。　I　must　go　to　the　cable　office　at　once。〃
　When　he　emerged　from　the　office　and　again　entered　the　car；　he　was　smiling　happily。
　〃In　San　Francisco；〃　he　explained；　〃Roger　accused　me　of　being　a　Puritan　survival。　He　ran　over　a　little　list　of　adventures　he　said　had　never　happened　to　me。　Well；　most　of　them　have　happened　now；　and　I　cabled　to　tell　him　so。　I　also　said　I'd　take　that　job　with　him。〃
　Miss　Minerva　frowned。　〃Think　it　over　carefully；〃　she　warned。　〃San　Francisco　isn't　Boston。　The　cultural　standard　is；　I　fancy；　much　lower。　You'll　be　lonely　there　…〃
　〃Oh；　no；　I　shan't。　Some　one　will　be　there　with　me。　At　least；　I　hope　she　will。〃
　〃Agatha？〃
　〃No；　not　Agatha。　The　cultural　standard　was　too　low　for　her。　She's　broken　our　engagement。〃
　〃Barbara；　then？〃
　〃Not　Barbara；　either。〃
　〃But　I　have　sometimes　thought　…〃
　〃You　thought　Barbara　sent　Jennison　packing　because　of　me。　Jennison　thought　so　too　…　it's　all　clear　now。　That　was　why　he　tried　to　frighten　me　into　leaving　Honolulu；　and　set　his　opium　running　friends　on　me　when　I　wouldn't　go。　But　Barbara　is　not　in　love　with　me。　We　understand　now　why　she　broke　her　engagement。〃
　〃Neither　Agatha　nor　Barbara；〃　repeated　Miss　Minerva。　〃Then　who　…〃
　〃You　haven't　met　her　yet；　but　that　happy　privilege　will　be　yours　before　you　sleep。　The　sweetest　girl　in　the　Islands　…　or　in　the　world。　The　daughter　of　Jim　Egan；　whom　you　have　been　heard　to　refer　to　as　a　glorified　beachber。〃
　Again　Miss　Minerva　frowned。　〃It's　a　great　risk；　John　Quincy。　She　hasn't　our　background　…〃
　〃No；　and　that's　a　pleasant　change。　She's　the　niece　of　your　old　friend　…　you　knew　that？〃
　〃I　did；〃　answered　Miss　Minerva　softly。
　〃Your　dear　friend　of　the　'eighties。　What　was　it　you　said　to　me？　If　your　chance　ever　es　…〃
　〃I　hope　you　will　be　very　happy；〃　his　aunt　said。　〃When　you　write　it　to　your　mother；　be　sure　and　mention　Captain　Cope　of　the　British　Admiralty。　Poor　Grace！　That　will　be　all　she'll　have　to　cling　to　…　after　the　wreck。〃
　〃What　wreck？〃
　〃The　wreck　of　all　her　hopes　for　you。〃
　〃Nonsense。　Mother　will　understand。　She　knows　I'm　a　roaming　Winterslip；　and　when　we　roam；　we　roam。〃
　They　found　Madame　Maynard　seated　in　her　living…room　with　a　few　of　her　more　elderly　guests。　From　the　beach　came　the　sound　of　youthful　revelry。
　〃Well　my　boy；〃　the　old　woman　cried；　〃it　appears　you　couldn't　stay　away　from　your　policemen　friends　one　single　evening；　after　all。　I　give　you　up。〃
　John　Quincy　laughed。　〃I'm　pau　now。　By　the　way；　Carlota　Egan　…　is　she　…〃
　〃They're　all　out　there　somewhere；〃　the　hostess　said。　〃They　came　in　for　a　bit　of　supper　…　by　the　way；　there　are　sandwiches　in　the　dining…room　and　…〃
　〃Not　just　now；〃　said　John　Quincy。　〃Thank　you　so　much。　I'll　see　you　again；　of　course　…〃
　He　dashed　out　on　the　sand。　A　group　of　young　people　under　the　hau　tree　informed　him　that　Carlota　Egan　was　on　the　farthest　float。　Alone？　Well；　no　…　that　naval　lieutenant　…
　He　was；　he　reflected　as　he　hurried　on　toward　the　water；　a　bit　fed　up　with　the　navy。　That　was　hardly　the　attitude　he　should　have　taken；　considering　all　the　navy　had　done　for　him。　But　it　was　human。　And　John　Quincy　was　human　at　last。
　For　an　instant　he　stood　at　the　water's　edge。　His　bathing　suit　was　in　the　dressing…room；　but　he　never　gave　it　a　thought。　He　kicked　off　his　shoes；　tossed　aside　his　coat；　and　plunged　into　the　breakers。　The　blood　of　the　wandering　Winterslips　was　racing　through　his　veins；　hot　blood　that　tropical　waters　had　ever　been　powerless　to　cool。
　Sure　enough；　Carlota　Egan　and　Lieutenant　Booth　were　together　on　the　float。　John　Quincy　climbed　up　beside　them。
　〃Well；　I'm　back；〃　he　announced。
　〃I'll　tell　the　world　you're　back；〃　said　the　lieutenant。　〃And　all　wet；　too。〃
　They　sat　there。　Across　a　thousand　miles　of　warm　water　the　trade　winds　came　to　fan　their　cheeks。　Just　above　the　horizon　hung　the　Southern　Cross；　the　Island　lights　trembled　along　the　shore；　the　yellow　eye　on　Diamond　Head　was　winking。　A　gorgeous　setting。　Only　one　thing　was　wrong　with　it。　It　seemed　rather　crowded。
　John　Quincy　had　an　inspiration。　〃Just　as　I　hit　the　water；〃　he　remarked；　〃I　thought　I　heard　you　say　something　about　my　dive。　Didn't　you　like　it？〃
　〃It　was　rotten；〃　replied　the　lieutenant　amiably。
　〃You　offered　to　show　me　what　was　wrong　with　it；　I　believe？〃
　〃Sure。　If　you　want　me　to。〃
　〃By　all　means；〃　said　John　Quincy。　〃Learn　one　thing　every　day。　That's　my　motto。〃
　Lieutenant　Booth　went　to　the　end　of　the　springboard。　〃In　the　first　place；　always　keep　your　ankles　close　together　…　like　this。〃
　〃I've　got　you；〃　answered　John　Quincy。
　〃And　hold　your　arms　tight　against　your　ears。〃
　〃The　tighter　the　better；　as　far　as　I'm　concerned。〃
　〃Then　double　up　like　a　jackknife；〃　continued　the　instructor。　He　doubled　up　like　a　jackknife　and　rose　into　the　air。
　At　the　same　instant　John　Quincy　seized　the　girl's　hands。　〃Listen　to　me。　I　can't　wait　another　second。　I　want　to　tell　you　that　I　love　you　…〃
　〃You're　mad；〃　she　cried。
　〃Mad　about　you。　Ever　since　that　day　on　the　ferry　…〃
　〃But　your　people？〃
　〃What　about　my　people？　It's　just　you　and　I　…　we'll　live　in　San　Francisco　…　that　is；　if　you　love　me　…〃
　〃Well；　I　…〃
　〃In　heaven's　name；　be　quick。　That　human　submarine　is　floating　around　here　under　us。　You　love　me；　don't　you？　You'll　marry　me？〃
　〃Yes。〃
　He　took　her　in　his　arms　and　kissed　her。　Only　the　wandering　Winterslips　could　kiss　like　that。　The　stay…at…homes　had　always　secretly　begrudged　them　the　acplishment。
　The　girl　broke　away　at　last；　breathless。　〃Johnnie！〃　she　cried。
　A　sputter　beside　them；　and　Lieutenant　Booth　climbed　on　to　the　float；　moist　and　panting。　〃Wha's　that？〃　he　gurgled。
　〃She　was　speaking　to　me；〃　cried　John　Quincy　triumphantly。