Hewasactuallycompelledtogotoherandoffercongratulationsuponherescape，ashehadcongratulatedtheprofessor。
Ifhismannertoherparentshadbeenfilial，hismannertoherwasparental。\"Well，Marjory，\"hesaidkindly，\"youhavebeeninconsiderabledanger。Isupposeyou\'regladtobethroughwithit。\"Sheatthattimemadenoreply，butbyhercasualturnheknewthathewasexpectedtowalkalongbyherside。Theothersknewit，too，andtherestofthepartyleftthemfreetowalksidebysideintherear。
\"Thisisabeautifulcountryhere-aboutsifonegetsagoodchancetoseeit，\"heremarked。Thenheadded:\"ButIsupposeyouhadaviewofitwhenyouweregoingouttoNikopolis？\"
Sheansweredinmuffledtones。\"Yes，wethoughtitverybeautiful。\"
Didyounotethosestreamsfromthemountains\"ThatseemedtomethepurestwaterI\'deverseen，butIbetitwouldmakeoneilltodrinkit。Thereis，youknow，aprominentGermanchemistwhohasalmostproventhatreallypurewaterispracticalpoisontothehumanstomach。\"
\"Yes？\"shesaid。
Therewasaperiodofsilence，duringwhichhewasperfectlycomfortablebecauseheknewthatshewasillatease。Ifthesilencewasawkward，shewassufferingfromit。Asforhimself，hehadnoinclinationtobreakit。Hispositionwas，asfarastheentireWainwrightpartywasconcerned，aplacewherehecouldaffordtowait。Sheturnedtohimatlast。\"Ofcourse，Iknowhowmuchyouhavedoneforus，andIwantyoutofeelthatweallappreciateitdeeply-deeply。\"Therewasdiscernibletotheearacertainnoteofdesperation。
\"Oh，notatall，\"hesaidgenerously。\"Notatall。Ididn\'tdoanything。Itwasquiteanaccident。Don\'tletthattroubleyouforamoment。\"
\"Well，ofcourseyouwouldsaythat，\"shesaidmoresteadily。\"ButI-we-weknowhowgoodandhow-braveitwasinyoutocomeforus，andI——wemustneverforgetit。\"
Asamatteroffact，\"repliedColeman，withanappearanceofingenuouscandor，\"IwassentoutherebytheEclipsetofindyoupeople，andofcourseIworkedratherhardtoreachyou，butthefinalmeetingwaspurelyaccidentalanddoesnotredoundtomycreditintheleast。\"
Ashehadanticipated，Marjoryshothimalittleglanceofdisbelief。\"Ofcourseyouwouldsaythat，\"sherepeatedwithgloomybutflatteringconviction。
\"Oh，ifIhadbeenagreathero，\"hesaidsmiling，\"nodoubtIwouldhavekeptupthissamemannerwhichnowsetssowelluponme，butIamtellingyouthetruthwhenIsaythatIhadnopartinyourrescueatall。\"
Shebecameslightlyindignant。\"Oh，ifyoucaretotellusconstantlythatyouwereofnoservicetous，Idon\'tseewhatwecandobutcontinuetodeclarethatyouwere。\"
Suddenlyhefeltvulgar。Hespoketoherthistimewithrealmeaning。\"Ibegof\'younevertomentionitagain。Thatwillbethebestway。\"
Buttothisshewouldnotaccede。\"No，wewilloftenwanttospeakofit。\"
Hereplied\"HowdoyoulikeGreece？Don\'tyouthinkthatsomeoftheseruinsareratheroutofshapeinthepopularmind？Now，formypart，IwouldratherlookatagoodstrongfinishatahorseracethantoseetenthousandParthenonsinabunch。\"
Shewasimmediatelyinthepositionofdefendinghimfromhimself。\"Youwouldratherseenosuchthing。Youshouldn\'ttalkinthatutterlytrivialway。IliketheParthenon，ofcourse，butIcan\'tthinkofitnowbecausemyhead。istoofullofmyescapefromwhereIwasso-sofrightened。\"
Colemangrinned。\"Wereyoureallyfrightened？\"
\"Naturally，\"sheanswered。\"IsupposeIwasmorefrightenedformotherandfather，butIwasfrightenedenoughformyself。Itwasnot-notanicething。\"
\"No，itwasn\'t，\"saidColeman。\"Icouldhardlybelievemysenses，whentheministeratAthenstoldmethat，youallhadventuredintosuchatrap，andthereisnodoubtbutwhatyoucanbegladthatyouarewelloutofit。\"
Sheseemedtohavesomestrugglewithherselfandthenshedeliberatelysaid:\"Thankstoyou。\"
Colemanembarkedonwhatheintendedtomakeaseriesofhigh-mindedprotests。\"Notatall-\"butatthatmomentthedragomanwhirledbackfromthevan-guardwithagreatcollectionofthedifficultieswhichhadbeengatheringuponhim。ColemanwasobligedtoresignMarjoryandagaintakeuptheactiveleadership。Hedisposedofthedragoman\'sdifficultiesmainlybydeclaringthattheywerenotdifficultiesatall。Hehadlearnedthatthiswasthewaytodealwithdragomen。
Thefoghadalreadyliftedfromthevalleyand，astheypassedalongthewoodedmountain-sidethefragranceofleavesandearthcametothem。Ahead，alongthehoodedroad，theycouldseethebluecladfiguresofGreekinfantrymen。
Finallytheypassedanencampmentofabattalionwhoselinewasatarightangletothehighway。AhundredyardsinadvancewasthebridgeacrosstheLourosriver。Andthereabatteryofartillerywasencamped。ThedragomanbecameinvolvedinallsortsofdiscussionswithotherGreeks，butColemanstucktohiselbowandstifledallaimlessoration。TheWainwrightpartywaitedforthemintherearinanobservantbutpatientgroup。
Acrossaplain，thehillsdirectlybehindArtaloomedupshowingthestraightyellowscarofamodernentrenchment。TothenorthofArtaweresomegreymountainswithadimlymarkedroadwindingtothesummit。Ononesideofthisroadweretwoshadows。Ittookamomentfortheeyetofindtheseshadows，butwhenthiswasaccomplisheditwasplainthattheyweremen。ThecaptainofthebatteryexplainedtothedragomanthathedidnotknowthattheywerenotalsoTurks。
InwhichcasetheroadtoArtawasadangerouspath。ItwasnogoodnewstoColeman。HewaitedamomentinordertogaincomposureandthenwalkedbacktotheWainwrightparty。
Theymusthaveknownatoncefromhispeculiargravitythatallwasnotwell。Fiveofthestudentsandtheprofessorimmediatelyasked:\"Whatisit？\"
Hehadatfirstsomeold-fashionedideaofconcealingtheilltidingsfromtheladies，butheperceivedwhatflagrantnonsensethiswouldbeincircumstancesinwhichallwerefairlylikelytoincurequaldangers，andatanyratehedidnotseehiswaycleartoallowtheirimaginationtorunriotoverasituationwhichmightnotturnouttobetoobad。Hesaidslowly:\"Youseethosemountainsoverthere？Well，troopshavebeenseenthereandthecaptainofthisbatterythinkstheyareTurks。IftheyareTurkstheroadtoArtaisdistinctly-er-unsafe。\"
ThisnewblowfirstaffectedtheWainwrightpartyasbeingtoomuchtoendure。\"Theythoughttheyhadgonethroughenough。Thiswasageneralsentiment。Afterwardtheemotiontookcolouraccordingtotheindividualcharacter。Onestudentlaughedandsaid:\"Well，Iseeourfinish。\"
Anotherstudentpipedout:\"HowdotheyknowtheyareTurks？WhatmakesthemthinktheyareTurks\"
Anotherstudentexpressedhimselfwithasigh。\"ThisisalongwayfromtheBowery。\"
Theprofessorsaidnothingbutlookedannihilated；Mrs。
Wainwrightweptprofoundly；MarjorylookedexpectantlytowardColeman。
Asforthecorrespondenthewasadamantineandreliableandstern，forhehadnottheslightestideathatthosemenonthedistanthillwereTurksatall。
CHAPTERXIV。
\"OH，\"saidastudent，\"thisgameoughttoquit。Ifeellikethirtycents。Wedidn\'tcomeoutheretobepursuedaboutthecountrybytheseTurks。Whydon\'ttheystopit？\"
Colemanwasremarking:\"Really，theonlysensiblethingtodonowistohavebreakfast。Thereisnouseinworryingourselvessillyoverthisthinguntilwe\'vegotto。\"
Theyspreadtheblanketsonthegroundandsataboutafeastofbread，watercressandtinnedbeef。Colemanwastherealhost，buthecontrivedtomaketheprofessorappearasthathonourableperson。Theyate，castingtheireyesfromtimetotimeatthedistantmountainwithitstwoshadows。PeoplebegantoflydowntheroadfromJannina，peasantshurriedlydrivinglittleflocks，womenandchildrenondonkeysandlittlehorseswhichtheyclubbedunceasingly。Onemanrodeatagallop，shriekingandflailinghisarmsintheair。TheywereallChristianpeasantsofTurkey，buttheywereinflightnowbecausetheydidnotwishtobeathomeiftheTurkwasgoingtoreturnandreaprevengeforhismortification。TheWainwrightpartylookedatColemaninabruptquestioning。
\"Oh，it\'sallright，\"hesaid，easily。\"Theyarealwaystakingonthatway。\"
SuddenlythedragomangaveashoutanddasheduptheroadtothesceneofameleewherealittleratfacedgroomwasvociferouslydefendingthreehorsesfromsomeGreekofficers，whoasvociferouslywerestatingtheirrighttorequisitionthem。
Colemanranafterhisdragoman。Therewasasickeningpow-wow，butintheendColeman，straightandeasyinthesaddle，camecanteringbackonasuperbopen-mouthedsnortingbayhorse。Hedidnotmindifthehalf-wildanimalplungedcrazily。Itwaspartofhisrole。\"Theyweretryingtostealmyhorses，\"heexplained。Heleapedtotheground，andholdingthehorsebythebridle，headdressedhisadmiringcompanions。\"Thegroom-
themanwhohaschargeofthehorses-saysthathethinksthatthepeopleonthemountain-sideareTurks，butIdon\'tseehowthatispossible。Yousee-\"hepointedwisely-\"thatroadleadsdirectlysouthtoArta，anditishardlypossiblethattheGreekarmywouldcomeoverhereandleavethatapproachtoArtautterlyunguarded。Itwouldbetoofoolish。Theymusthaveleftsomementocoverit，andthatiscertainlywhatthosetroopsare。Ifyouareallreadyandwilling，Idon\'tseeanythingtodobutmakeagood，stout-hearteddashforArta。Itwouldbenomoredangerousthantosithere。\"
Theprofessorwasatlastabletomakehisformalspeech。\"Mr。Coleman，\"hesaiddistinctly，\"weplaceourselvesentirelyinyourhands。\"Itwassome。howpitiful。Thismanwho，foryearsandyearshadreignedinalittlecollegetownalmostasamonarch，passingjudgmentwiththeairofonewhowordsthelaw，dealingcriticismupontheuniverseasonetowhomallthingsareplain，publiclydisdainingdefeatasonetowhomallthingsareeasy-thismanwasnowveritablyappealingtoColemantosavehiswife，hisdaughterandhimself，andreallydeclaredhimselfde。pendentforsafetyupontheingenuityandcourageofthecorrespondent。
Theattitudeofthestudentswasutterlyindifferent。Theydidnotconsiderthemselveshelplessatall。theywereevidentlyquitereadytowithstandanythingbuttheylookedfranklyuptoColemanastheirintelligentleader。Iftheysufferedany，theironlyexpressionofitwasinthesimplegrimslangoftheirperiod。
\"IwishIwasatConeyIsland。\"
\"Thisisnotsobadastrigonometry，butit\'sworsethanplayingbilliardsforthebeers。\"
AndCokesaidprivatelytoColeman:\"Say，whatinhellarethesetwodamnpeoplesfightingfor，anyhow？\"
Whenhesawthatallopinionswereinfavouroffollowinghimloyally，Colemanwasimpelledtofeelaresponsibility。Hewasnownoerrantrescuer，butaproperlyelectedleaderoffellowbeingsindistress。Whileoneofthestudentsheldhishorse，hetookthedragomanforanotherconsultationwiththecaptainofthebattery。Theofficerwassittingonalargestone，withhiseyesfixedintohisfieldglasses。Whenagainquestionedhecouldgivenosatisfactionastotheidentityofthetroopsonthedistantmountain。HemerelyshruggedhisshouldersandsaidthatiftheywereGreeksitwasverygood，butiftheywereTurksitwasverybad。Heseemedmoreoccupiedintryingtoimpressthecorrespondentthatitwasamatterofsoldierlyindifferencetohimself。
Coleman，afterloathinghimsufficientlyinsilence，returnedtotheothersandsaid:\"Well，we\'llchanceit。\"
Theylookedtohimtoarrangethecaravan。Speakingtothemenofthepartyhesaid:\"Ofcourse，anyoneofyouiswelcometomyhorseifyoucanrideit，but-ifyou\'renottootired-IthinkIhadmyselfbetterride，sothatIcangoaheadattimes。\"
Hismannerwassofineashesaidthisthatthestudentsseemedfairlytoworshiphim。Ofcourseithadbeenmostimprobablethatanyofthemcouldhaveriddenthatvolcanicanimalevenifoneofthemhadtriedit。
HesawMrs。WainwrightandMarjoryuponthebacksoftheirtwolittlenatives，andhoistedtheprofessorintothesaddleofthegroom\'shorse，leavinginstructionswiththeservanttoleadtheanimalalwaysandcarefully。Heandthedragomanthenmountedattheheadoftheprocession，andamidcuriousquestioningsfromthesoldierytheycrossedthebridgeandstartedonthetrailtoArta。Therearwasbroughtupbythelittlegreyhorsewiththeluggage，ledbyonestudentandfloggedbyanother。
Coleman，checkingwithdifficultythebattlingdispositionofhishorse，wasveryuneasyinhismindbecausethelastwordsofthecaptainofthebatteryhadmadehimfeelthatperhapsonthisridehewouldbeplacedinapositionwhereonlythebestcouragewouldcount，andhedidnotseehiswaycleartofeelingveryconfidentabouthisconductinsuchacase。
Lookingbackuponthecaravan，hesawitasamostunwieldything，notevencapableofrunningaway。Hehurrieditwithsudden，sharpcontemptuousphrases。
Onthe。marchthereincidentallyflasheduponhimanewtruth。MorethanhalfofthatstudentbandweredeeplyinlovewithMarjory。Ofcourse，whenhehadbeendistantfromherhehadhadaneternaljealousreflectiontothateffect。ItwasnaturalthatheshouldhavethoughtoftheintimatecampingrelationsbetweenMarjoryandtheseyoungstudentswithagreatdealofbitterness，grindinghisteethwhenpicturingtheiropportunitiestomakeMarjoryfallinlovewithsomeoneofthem。HehadragedparticularlyaboutCoke，whosefatherhadmillionsofdollars。Buthehadforgottenallthesejealousiesinthegeneralsplendourofhisexploits。Now，whenhesawthetruth，itseemed。tobringhimbacktohiscommonlifeandhesawhimselfsuddenlyasnotbeingfranticallysuperiorinanywaytothoseotheryoungmen。Themorecloselyhelookedatthislastfact，themoreconvincedhewasofitstruth。HeseemedtoseethathehadbeenimpropererlyelatedoverhisservicestotheWainwrights，andthat，intheend，thegirlmightfancyamanbecausethemanhaddonehernoserviceatall。Hesawhisproudpositionloweritselftobeapawninthegame。Lookingbackoverthestudents，hewonderedwhichoneMarjorymightlove。ThishideousNikopolishadgiveneightmenchancetowinher。HisscornandhismalicequitecentereduponCoke，forhecouldneverforgetthattheman\'sfatherhadmillionsofdollars。TheunfortunateCokechosethatmomenttoaddresshimquerulously:\"Lookhere，Coleman，can\'tyoutellushowfaritistoArta？\"
\"Coke，\"saidColeman，\"Idon\'tsupposeyoutakemeforatouristagency，butifyoucanonlytrytodistinguishbetweenmeandamapwiththescaleofmilesprintedinthelowerleft-
handcorner，youwillnotcontributesomuchtothesufferingsofthepartywhichyounowadorn。\"
ThestudentswithinhearingguffawedandCokeretired，inconfusion。
Themarchwasnotrapid。Colemanalmostworeouthisarmsholdingincheckhisimpetuoushorse。Oftenthecaravanflounderedthroughmud，whileatthesametimeahot，yellowdustcamefromthenorth。
TheywereperhapshalfwaytoArtawhenColemandecidedthatarestandluncheonwerethethingstobeconsidered。Hehaltedhistroopthenintheshadeofsomegreattrees，andprivatelyhebadehisdragomanpreparethebestfeastwhichcouldcomeoutofthosesaddle-bagsfreshfromAthens。Theresultwasrathergorgeousintheeyesofthepoorwanderers。
Firstofalltherewerethreeknives，threeforks，threespoons，threetincupsandthreetinplaies，whichtheentirepartyoftwelveusedonamostamiablesocialisticprinciple。Therewerecrisp，saltybiscuitsandolives，forwhichtheyspearedinthebottle。Therewaspottedturkey，andpottedham，andpottedtongue，alltastingpreciselyalike。Thereweresardinesand
TherewasanagitationontheroadtowardArta。Somepeoplewerecomingonhorses。Hepaidsmallheeduntilheheardathumpofpausinghoofsnearhim，andamusicalvoicesay:\"Rufus!\"
Helookedupquickly，andthenallpresentsawhiseyesreallybulge。ThereonafatandglossyhorsesatNoraBlack，dressedinprobablyoneofthemostcorrectridinghabitswhichhadeverbeenseenintheEast。Shewassmilingaradiantsmile，whichheldtheeightstudentssimptyspell-bound。TheywouldhaverecognisedherifithadnotbeenforthisapparitionalcominginthewildsofsoutheasternEurope。Behindherwereherpeople-someservantsandanoldladyonaverylittlepony。
\"Well，Rufus？\"shesaid。
Colemanmadethemistakeofhesitating。Forafractionofamomenthehadactedasifhewereembarrassed，andwasonlygoingtonodandsay:\"Howd\'do？\"
Hearoseandcameforwardtoolate。Shewaslookingathimwithamenacingglancewhichmeantdifficultiesforhimifhewasnotskilful。Keenasaneagle，shesweptherglanceoverthefaceandfigureofMarjory。Without。furtherintroduction，thegirlsseemedtounderstandthattheywereenemies。
Despitehisfeelingofawkwardness，Coleman\'smindwasmainlyoccupiedbypureastonishment。\"NoraBlack？\"hesaid，asifeventhenhecouldnotbelievehissenses。\"Howintheworlddidyougetdownhere？
Shewasnottooamiable，evidently，overhisreception，andsheseemedtoknowperfectlythatitwasinherpowertomakehimfeelextremelyunpleasant。\"Oh，it\'snotsofar，\"sheanswered。\"Idon\'tseewhereyoucomeintoaskmewhatI\'mdoinghere。Whatareyoudoinghere？\"SheliftedhereyesandshotthehalfofaglanceatMarjory。Intoherlastquestionshehadinterjectedaspiritofownershipinwhichhesawfuturewoe。Itturnedhimcowardly。\"Why，youknowIwassentupherebythepapertorescuetheWainwrightparty，andI\'vegotthem。I\'mtakingthemtoArta。Butwhyareyouhere？\"
\"Iamhere，\"shesaid，givinghimthemostdefiantofglances，\"principallytolookforyou。\"
Eventhehorsesherodebetrayedanintentionofabidinguponthatspotforever。ShehadmadehercommunicationwithColemanappeartotheWainwrightpartyasasortoftenderreunion。
Colemanlookedatherwithasteelyeye。\"Nora，youcancertainlybeadevilwhenyouchoose。\"
\"Whydon\'tyoupresentmetoyourfriends？Mis，；NoraBlack，specialcorrespondentoftheNewYorkDaylighi，ifyouplease。Ibelongtoyouropposition。Iamyourrival，Rufus，andIdrawabiggersalary-see？Funnylookinggang，that。
WhoistheoldJohnnieinthewhitewig？\"
\"Er-whereyougoin\'-youcan\'t\"-blunderedColemanmiserably\"Aw-thearmyisinretreatandyoumustgobackto-
don\'tyousee？\"
\"Isit？\"sheagked。Afterapausesheaddedcoolly:\"ThenI
shallgobacktoArtawithyouandyourpreciousWainwrights。\"
CHAPTERXV。
GIVINGColemananotherglanceofsubtlemenaceNorarepeated:\"Whydon\'tyoupresentmetoyourfriends？\"
Colemanhadbeenswiftlysearchingthewholeworldforawayclearofthisunhappiness，butheknewatlastthathecouldonlydieathisguns。\"Why，certainly，\"hesaidquickly，\"ifyouwishit。\"Hesaunteredeasilybacktotheluncheonblanket。
\"ThisisMissBlackoftheNewYorkDaylightandshesaysthatthosepeopleonthemountainareGreeks。\"Thestudentsweregapingathim，andMarjoryandherfathersatinthesamesilence。ButtothereliefofColemanandtothehighedificationofthestudents，Mrs。Wainwrightcriedout:\"Why，issheanAmericanwoman？\"AndseeingColeman\'snodofassentsherustledtoherfeetandadvancedhastilyuponthecomplacenthorsewoman。\"I\'mdelightedtoseeyou。WhowouldthinkofseeinganAmericanwomanwayoverhere。Haveyoubeenherelong？Areyougoingonfurther？Oh，we\'vehadsuchadreadfultime。\"ColemanremainedlongenoughtohearNorasay:\"
Thankyouverymuch，butIshan\'tdismount。IamgoingtoridebacktoArtapresently。\"
ThenheheardMrs。Wainwrightcry:\"Oh，areyouindeed？
Whywe，too，aregoingatoncetoArta。Wecanallgotogether。\"Colemanfledthentothebosomofthestudents，whoalllookedathimwitheyesofcynicalpenetration。HecastaglanceatMarjorymorethanfearingaglarewhichdenotedanimplacableresolutionnevertoforgivethisthing。Onthecontraryhehadneverseenhersocontentandserene。\"Youhaveallowedyourcoffeetogetchilled，\"shesaidconsiderately。\"Won\'tyouhavethemanwarmyousomemore？\"
\"Thanks，no，\"heansweredwithgratitude。
Nora，changinghermind，haddismountedandwascomingwithMrs。Wainwright。Thatworthyladyhadlonghadafundofinformationandanecdotethesoundofwhichneitherherhusbandnorherdaughterwouldendureforamoment。Ofcoursetherascallystudentswereoutofthequestion。Here，then，wasreallythefirstearamiablyandcheerfullyopen，andshewastalkingatwhatthestudentscalledher\"thirtyknotgait。\"
\"Losteverything。Absolutelyeverything。Neitherofushaveevenabrushandcomb，oracakeofsoap，orenoughhairpinstoholdupourhair。I\'mgoingtotakeMarjory\'sawayfromherandletherbraidherhairdownherback。Youcanimaginehowdreadfulitis——\"
FromtimetotimethecoolvoiceofNorasoundedwithouteffortthroughthisclamour。\"Oh，itwillbenotroubleatall。Ihavemorethanenoughofeverything。Wecandivideverynicely。\"
Colemanbrokesomewhatimperiouslyintothisfemininechat。
\"Well，wemustbemoving，youknow，\"andhisvoicestartedthemenintoactivity。WhenthetrapswereallpackedagainonthehorseColemanlookedbacksurprisedtoseethethreewomenengagedinthemostfriendlydiscussion。Thecombinedpartiesnowmadeaveryrespectablesquadron。Colemanrodeoffatitsheadwithoutglancingbehindatall。Heknewthattheywerefollowingfromthesoftpoundingofthehorseshoofsonthesodandfromthemellowhumofhumanvoices。
Foralongtimehedidnotthinktolookuponhimselfasanythingbutamanmuchinjuredbycircumstances。Amonghisfriendshecouldcountnumberswhohadlivedlongliveswithouthavingthispeculiarclassofmisfortunecometothem。
Infactitwassounusualamisfortunethatmenoftheworldhadnotfounditnecessarytopassfrommindtomindaperfectformulafordealingwithit。ButhesoonbegantoconsiderhimselfanextraordinarilyluckypersoninasmuchasNoraBlackhadcomeuponhimwithhersaddlebagspackedwithinflammablesubstances，sotospeak，andtherehadbeenasyetonlyenoughfiretoboilcoffeeforluncheon。HelaughedtenderlywhenhethoughtoftheinnocenceofMrs。
Wainwright，buthisfaceandbackflushedwithheatwhenliethoughtofthecanninessoftheeightAmericancollegestudents。
HeheardahorsecanteringuponhisleftsideandlookinghesawNoraBlack。Shewasbeamingwithsatisfactionandgoodnature。\"Well，Rufus，\"shecriedflippantly，\"howgoesitwiththegallantrescuer？You\'vemadeahit，myboy。Youarethesuccessoftheseason。\"
ColemanreflectedupontheprobableresultofadirectappealtoNora。Heknewofcoursethatsuchappealswereusuallyidle，buthedidnotconsiderNoraanordinaryperson。Hisdecisionwastoventureit。Hedrewhishorseclosetohers。\"Nora，\"hesaid，\"doyouknowthatyouareraisingtheverydevil？\"
Sheliftedherfinelypenciledeyebrowsandlookedathimwiththebaby-stare。\"How？\"sheenquired。
\"Youknowwellenough，\"hegrittedoutwrathfully。
\"Raisingtheverydevil？\"sheasked。\"Howdoyoumean？\"
Shewaspalpablyinterestedforhisanswer。Shewaitedforhisreplyforaninterval，andthensheaskedhimoutright。\"RufusColemandoyoumeanthatIamnotarespectablewoman？\"
Inrealityhehadmeantnothingofthekind，butthisdirectthrottlingofagreatquestionstupefiedhimutterly，forhesawnowthatshe\'wouldprobablyneverunderstandhimintheleastandthatshewouldatanyratealwayspretendnottounderstandhimandthatthemorehesaidthemoreharmhemanufactured。Shestudiedhimovercarefullyandthenwheeledherhorsetowardstherearwithsomepartingremarks。\"Isupposeyoushouldattendmorestrictlytoyourownaffairs，Rufus。InsteadofraisingthedevilI
amlendinghairpins。Ihaveseenyouinsultpeople，butIhaveneverseenyouinsultanyonequiteforthewhimofthething。
Gosoakyourhead。\"
NotconsideringitadvisabletothenindulgeinsuchimmersionColemanrodemoodilyonward。Thehotdustcontinuedtostingthecheeksofthetravellersandinsomeplacesgreatcloudsofdeadleavesroaredincirclesaboutthem。
AlloftheWainwrightpartywereutterlyfagged。Colemanfelthisskincrackleandhisthroatseemedtobecoatedwiththewhitedust。HeworriedhisdragomanastothedistancetoArtauntilthedragomanliedtothepointwherehealwaysdeclaredthatArtawasonlyoffsomehundredsofyards。
AttheirplacesintheprocessionMrs。WainwrightandMarjorywereanimatedlytalkingtoNoraandtheoldladyonthelittlepony。Theyhadatfirstsufferedgreatamazementatthevoluntarypresenceoftheoldlady，butshewastherereallybecausesheknewnobetter。Hercolossalignorancetooktheform，mainly，ofamostobstreperouspatriotism，andindeedshealwaysactedinaforeigncountryasifshewerethespecialcommissionerofthePresident，orperhapsasaspecialcommissionercouldnotactatall。Shewasveryaggressive，andwhenanyofthetravellingarrangementsinEuropedidnotsuitherideasshewaswon\'ttoshrillyexclaim:\"Well!NewYorkisgoodenoughforme。\"Nora，morbidlyafraidthatherex-
pensebilltotheDaylightwouldnotbelargeenough，haddraggedherbodilyofftoGreeceashercompanion，friendandprotection。AtArtatheyhadheardofthegrandsuccessoftheGreekarmy。TheTurkshadnotstoodforamomentbeforethatgallantandterribleadvance；no；theyhadscamperedhowlingwithfearintothenorth。Janninawouldfall-well，JanninawouldfallassoonastheGreeksarrived。Therewasnodoubtofit。Thecorrespondentandherfriend，deludedandhurriedbythelight-heartedconfidenceoftheGreeksinArta，hadhastenedoutthenonaregulartourist\'sexcursiontoseeJanninaafteritscapture。NoraconcealedfromherfriendthefactthattheeditoroftheDaylightparticularlywishedhertoseeabattlesothatshemightwriteanarticleonactualwarfarefromawoman\'spointofview。
Withhernameasaqueenofcomicopera，suchanarticlefromherpenwouldbeaburning，sensation。
ColemanhadbeenthefirsttopointouttoNorathatinsteadofgoingonapicnictoJannina，shehadbetterrunbacktoArta。Whentheoldladyheardthattheyhadnotbeenentirelysafe，shewasfuriouswithNora。\"Theidea!\"sheexclaimedtoMrs。Wainwright。\"Theymighthavecaughtus!Theymighthavecaughtus!\"
\"Well，\"saidMrs。Wainwright。\"IverilybelievetheywouldhavecaughtusifithadnotbeenforMr。Coleman。\"
\"Ishethegentlemanonthefinehorse？\"
\"Yes；that\'shim。Oh，hehasbeensim-pleesplendid。I
confessIwasalittlebit-er-surprised。Hewasincollegeundermyhusband。Idon\'tknowthatwethoughtverygreatthingsofhim，butifeveramanwongoldenopinionshehasdonesofromus。\"
\"Oh，thatmustbetheColemanwhoissuchagreatfriendofNora\'s。\"
\"Yes？\"saidMrs。Wainwrightinsidiously。\"Ishe？Ididn\'tknow。Ofcourseheknowssomanypeople。\"HermindhadbeensuddenlyilluminedbytheoldladyandshethoughtextravagantlyofthearrivalofNorauponthescene。Sheremainedallsweetnesstotheoldlady。\"Didyouknowhewashere？Didyouexpecttomeethim？Iseemedsuchadelightfulcoincidence。\"Intruthshewasbeingsubterraneouslyclever。
\"Oh，no；Idon\'tthinkso。Ididn\'thearNoramentionit。Ofcourseshewouldhavetoldme。Youknow，ourcomingtoGreecewassuchasurprise。NorahadanengagementinLondonattheFollyTheatreinFlybyNight，butthemanagerwasinsufferable，oh，insufferable。So，ofcourse，Norawouldn\'tstanditaminute，andthenthesenewspaperpeoplecamealongandaskedhertogotoGreeceforthemandsheaccepted。IamsureI
neverexpectedtofindus-aw-fleeingfromtheTurksorI
shouldn\'thaveCome。\"
\"Mrs。Wainwrightwasgasping。\"Youdon\'tmeanthatsheis——
sheisNoraBlack，theactress。\"
\"Ofcoursesheis，\"saidtheoldladyjubilantly。
\"Why，howstrange，\"chokedMrs。Wainwrignt。NothingsheknewofNoracouldaccountforherstupefactionandgrief。
Whathappenedglaringlytoherwastheduplicityofman。
Colemanwasaribalddeceiver。HemusthaveknownandyethehadpretendedthroughoutthatthemeetingwasapureaccidentSheturnedwithanervousimpulsetosympathistwithherdaughter，butdespitethelovelytranquillityofthegirl\'sfacetherewassomethingaboutherwhichforbadethemothertomeddle。AnyhowMrs。WainwrightwassorrythatshehadtoldnicethingsofColeman\'sbehaviour，soshesaidtotheoldlady:
\"Youngmenofthesetimesgetafalseagesoquickly。Wehavealwaysthoughtitagreatpity，aboutMr。Coleman。\"
\"Why，howso？\"askedtheoldlady。
\"Oh，reallynothing。Only，tousheseemedrather——er-
prematurelyexperiencedorsomethingofthatkind。
Theoldladydidnotcatchthemeaningofthephrase。
Sheseemedsurprised。\"Why，I\'veneverseenanyfull-grownpersoninthisworldwhogotexperienceanytooquickforhisowngood。\"
Atthetailoftheprocessiontherewastalkbetweenthetwostudentswhohadinchargethelittlegreyhorse-onetoleadandonetoflog。\"Billie，\"saidone，\"itnowbecomesnecessarytolosethishobbyintothehandsofsomeoftheotherfellows。WherebywewillgainopportunitytopayhomagetothegreatNora。Why，youegregiousthick-head，thisisthechanceofalife-time。I\'mdamnedifI\'mgoingtotowthisbeastofburdenmuchfurther。\"
\"Youwouldn\'tstandashow，\"saidBilliepessimistically。\"LookatColeman。\"
\"That\'sallright。DoyoumeantosaythatyouprefertocontinuetowingpackhorsesinthepresenceofthisqueenofsongandthedancejustbecauseyouthinkColemancanthrowouthischestalittlemorethanyou。Notso。Thinkofyourbrightandsparklingyouth。There\'sCokeandPeteTounleynearMarjory。We\'llcall\'em。\"Whereuponhesetupacry。\"Say，youpeople，we\'renotgettinga，salaryforthis。Supposin\'youtryforatime。It\'lldoyougood。\"Whenthetwoaddressedbadhaltedtoawaitthearrivalofthelittlegreyhorse，theytookonglumexpressions。\"Youlooklikepoisonedpups，\"saidthestudentwholedthehorse。\"Toostrongforlightwork。Grabontothehalter，now，Peter，andtow。
WearegoingaheadtotalktoNoraBlack。\"
\"Goodtimeyou\'llhave，\"answeredPeterTounley。
\"Colemaniscuttin\'upscandalous。Youwon\'tstandashow。\"
\"Whatdoyouthinkofhim？\"saidCoke。\"Seemscurious，all\'round。Doyousupposeheknewshewouldshowup？Itwasnervyto——\"
\"Nervytowhat？\"askedBillie。
\"Well，\"saidCoke，\"seemstomeheisplayingbothendsagainstthemiddle。Idon\'tknowanythingaboutNoraBlack，but-\"
Thethreeotherstudentsexpressedthemselveswithconvictionandinchorus。\"Coleman\'sallright。\"
\"Well，anyhow，\"continuedCoke，\"Idon\'tseemywayfreetoadmiringhimintroducingNoraBlacktotheWainwrights。\"
\"Hedidn\'t，\"saidtheothers，stillinchorus。
\"Queergame，\"saidPeterTounley。\"Heseemstoknowherprettywell。\"
\"Prettydamnwell，\"saidBillie。
\"Anyhowhe\'sabrick，\"saidPeterTounley。\"Wemustn\'tforgetthat。Lo，IbegintofeelthatourRufusisaflyguyofmanydifferentkinds。Anyplaythatheisincommandsmyrespect。Hewon\'tbehitbyachimneyinthedaytime，foruntohimhascomemuchwisdom，I
don\'tthinkI\'llworry。\"