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the man from glengarry-第61部分

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and went down to dinner。

It was a depressing meal。  Mr。 St。 Clair was irritable; Harry
perplexed and sullen; Maimie nervously talkative。  Mrs。 Murray was
heroically holding herself in command; but the look of pain in her
eyes and the pathetic tremor on her lips belied the brave smiles
and cheerful words with which she seconded Aunt Frank。

After dinner the company separated; for there were still preparations
to make for the evening。  As Mrs。 Murray was going to her room; she
met Harry in the hall with his hat on。

〃Where are you going; Harry?〃

〃Anywhere;〃 he growled; fiercely; 〃to get out of this damnable
hypocrisy!  Pardon me; Aunt Murray; I can't help it; it IS damnable;
and a whole lot of them are in it!〃

Then Mrs。 Murray came; and laying her hand on his arm; said:
〃Don't go; Harry; don't leave me; I want some one; come upstairs。〃

Harry stood looking at the sweet face; trying to smile so bravely
in spite of the tremulous lips。

〃You are a dear; brave little woman;〃 he said; hanging up his hat;
〃and I'll be hanged if I don't stay by you。  Come along upstairs。〃
He stooped; and lifting her in his arms in spite of her laughing
protests; carried her upstairs to her room。  When they came down to
the party they both looked braver and stronger。

The party was a great success。  The appointments were perfect; the
music the best that could be had; and Maimie more beautiful than
ever。  In some mysterious way; known only to Aunt Frank; the rumor
of Maimie's approaching engagement got about among the guests and
produced an undertone of excitement to the evenings gayety。  Maimie
was too excited to be quite natural; but she had never appeared
more brilliant and happy; and surely she had every cause。  She had
achieved a dizzy summit of social success that made her at once the
subject of her friends' congratulations and her rivals' secret
envy; and which was the more delightful it would be hard to say。
Truly; she was a fortunate girl; but still the night was long; and
she was tired of it all before it was over。  The room seemed empty;
and often her heart gave a leap as her eyes fell upon some form
that appeared more handsome and striking than others near; but only
to sink again in disappointment when a second glance told her that
it was only some ordinary man。  Kate; too; kept aloof in a very
unpleasant way; and Harry; devoting himself to Kate; had not done
his duty。  But in spite of everything the party had been a great
success; and when it was over Maimie went straight to bed to sleep。
She knew that Ranald would be awaiting the answer to his note; but
she could not bring herself to face what she knew would be an
ordeal that might murder sleep for her; and sleep she must have;
for she must be her best to…morrow。  It would have been better for
all involved had she written her answer that night; otherwise
Ranald would not have been standing at her door in the early
afternoon asking to see her。  It was Aunt Frances who came down to
the drawing…room。  As Ranald stood up and bowed; she adjusted her
pince…nez upon her aristocratic nose; and viewed him。

〃You are wishing to see Miss St。 Clair;〃 she said; in her very
chilliest tone。

〃I asked to see Maimie;〃 said Ranald; looking at her with cool;
steady eyes。

〃I must say; Mr。 Macdonald; that after your conduct to my brother
yesterday; I am surprised you should have the assurance to enter
his house。〃

〃I would prefer not discussing office matters with you;〃 said
Ranald; politely; and with a suspicion of a smile。  〃I have come to
see Maimie。〃

〃That; I am glad to say; is impossible; for she is at present out
with Captain De Lacy who has just arrived from the East tosee
toin short; on a very special errand。〃

For a moment Ranald stood without reply。

〃She is out; you say?〃 he answered at length。

〃She is out with Captain De Lacy。〃  He caught the touch of triumph
in her voice。

〃Will she be back soon?〃 inquired Ranald; looking baffled。

〃Of course one cannot tell in such a case;〃 answered Miss St。 Clair;
〃but I should think not。〃  Miss St。 Clair was enjoying herself。  It
did her good to see this insolent; square…jawed young man standing
helpless before her。

〃It is important that I should see her;〃 said Ranald; after a few
moments' thought。  〃I shall wait。〃  Had Miss St。 Clair known him
better she would have noticed with some concern the slow fires
kindling in his eyes。  As it was she became indignant。

〃That; Mr。 Macdonald; you shall not; and allow me to say frankly
that your boldnessyour insolenceI may say; is beyond all
bounds。〃

〃Insolence; and when?〃  Ranald was very quiet。

〃You come to the house of your employer; whom you have insulted;
and demand to see his daughter。〃

〃I have a right to see her。〃

〃Right?  What right have you; pray?〃

Then Ranald stood up and looked Miss St。 Clair full in the face
with eyes fairly alight。

〃Miss St。 Clair; have you ever known what it is to love with all
your soul and heart?〃  Miss St。 Clair gasped。  〃Because if not; you
will not understand me; if you have you will know why I must see
Maimie。  It is seven years now since I began to love her。  I
remember the spot in the woods; I see the big tree there behind her
and the rising ground stretching away to the right。  I see the
place where I pulled her out of the fire。  Every morning since that
time I have waked with the thought of her; every night my eyes have
closed with a vision of her before me。  It is for her I have lived
and worked。  I tell you she is mine!  I love her!  I love her; and
she loves me。  I know it。〃  His words came low; fierce; and swift。

Miss St。 Clair stood breathless。  What a man he looked and how
handsome he was!

With but a moment's pause Ranald went on; but his voice took a
gentler tone。  〃Miss St。 Clair; do you understand me?  Yes; I know
you do。〃  The blood came flowing suddenly to her thin cheeks。  〃You
say she is out with Captain De Lacy; and you mean me to think that
she is to give herself to him。  He loves her; I know; but I say she
is mine!  Her eyes have told me that。  She is mine; I tell you; and
no man living will take her from me。〃  The fire that always
slumbered in his eyes was now blazing in full fury。  The great
passion of his life was raging through his soul; vibrating in his
voice; and glowing in his dark face。  Miss St。 Clair sat silent;
and then motioned him to a seat。

〃Mr。 Macdonald;〃 she said; with grave courtesy; 〃you are too late;
I fear。  I did not realizeMaimie will never be yours。  I know my
niece。〃  At the sad earnestness of her voice; Ranald's face began
to grow pale。

〃I will wait for her;〃 he said; quietly。

〃I beg you will not。〃

〃I will wait;〃 he repeated; with lips tight pressed。

〃It is vain; Mr。 Macdonald; I assure you。  Spare yourself and her。
I know whatI could have〃  Her voice grew husky。

〃I will wait;〃 once more replied Ranald; the lines of his face
growing tense。

Miss St。 Clair rose and gave him her hand。  〃I will send a friend
to you; and I beg you to excuse me;〃 Ranald bowed gravely; 〃and to
forgive me;〃 and she left the room。  Ranald heard her pass through
the hall and up the stairs and then a door closed behind her。
Before he had time to gather his thoughts together he heard a voice
outside that made his heart stand still。  Then the front door
opened quickly and Maimie and De Lacy stood in the hall。  She was
gayly talking。  Ranald rose and stood with his back to the door。
Before him was a large mirror which reflected the hall through the
open door。  He stood waiting for them to enter。

〃Hang up your hat; Captain De Lacy; then go in and find a chair
while I run upstairs;〃 cried Maimie; gayly。  〃You must learn your
way about here now。〃

〃No;〃 said De Lacy; in a low; distinct voice。  〃I can wait no
longer; Maimie。〃

She looked at him a moment as if in fear。

〃Come;〃 he said; holding out his hands to her。  〃There was no
chance in the park; and I can wait no longer。〃  Slowly she came
near。  〃My darling; my sweetheart;〃 he said; in a low voice full of
intense passion。  Then; while she lay in his arms; he kissed her on
the lips twice。  Ranald stood gazing in the mirror as if fascinated。
As their lips met a low groan burst from him。  He faced about; and
with a single step; stood in the doorway。  Shriek after shriek
echoed through the house as Maimie sprang from De Lacy's arms and
shrank back to the wall。

〃Great heavens;〃 cried De Lacy; 〃why it's Macdonald!  What the
deuce do you mean coming in on people like that?〃

〃What is it; Maimie;〃 cried her Aunt Frank; hurrying down stairs。

Then she saw Ranald standing in the doorway; with face bloodless;
ghastly; livid。  Quickly she went up to him; and said; in a voice
trembling and not ungentle:  〃Oh; why did you wait; Mr。 Macdonald;
go away now; go away。〃

Ranald turned and looked at her with a curious uncomprehending
gaze; and then said; 〃Yes; I will go away。〃  He took a step toward
Maimie; his eyes like lurid flames。  She shrank from him; while De
Lacy stepped in his path。  With a sweep of his arm he brushed De
Lacy aside; hurling him crashing against the wall; and stood before
the shrinking girl。

〃Good by; Maim
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