Colemanperceivedthatthedragoman，allhisformerplumagegone，waswhiningandsnivellingashearguedtoadark-browedcrowdthatwasrunningbesidethecavalcade。Thegroom，whoalwayshadbeenamiraculouslylaconicman，wassuddenlylaunchedforthgarrulously。The，drivers，fromtheirhighseats，palaveredlikemadmen，drivingwithoathandandgesturingwiththeother，explainingevidentlytheirowngreatinnocence。
Colemansawthattherewastrouble，butheonlysatmorestifflyinhissaddle。Theeternalgabblemovedhimtodespisethesituation。Atanyrate，thetravellerswouldsoonbeoutofthistownandontoamoresensibleregion。
Howeverhesawthedriverofthefirstcarriagesud-
denlypullupboforgalittleblackenedcoffeeshopandinn。Thedragmanspurredforwardandbeganwildexpostulation。Thesecondcarriagepulledclosebehindtheother。Thecrowd，murmuringlikeaRomanmobinNero\'stime，closedaroundthem……
CHAPTERXXI。
COLEMANpushedhishorsecoollythroughtothedragoman；sside。\"Whatisit？\"hedemanded。Thedragomanwasbroken-voiced。\"Thesepeoples，theysayyouareGermans，allGermans，andtheyareangry，\"hewailed。\"Icandonossing-nossing。\"
\"Well，tellthesementodriveon，\"saidColeman，\"tellthemtheymustdriveon。\"
\"Theywillnotdriveon，\"wailedthedragoman，stillmoreloudly。\"Icandonossing。Theysayhereisplaceforfeedthehorse。Itisthecustomandtheywillnotedriveon。\"
\"Makethemdriveon。\"
\"Theywillnote，\"shriekedtheagonisedservitor。
Colemanlookedfromthemenwavingtheirarmsandchatteringonthebox-seatstothemenofthecrowdwhoalsowavedtheirarmsandchattered。Inthisthrongfartotherearofthefightingarmiestheredidnotseemtobeasinglemanwhowasnotablebodied，whohadnotbeenfreetoenlistasasoldier。
Theywereofthatscurvybehind-the-rear-guardwhicheverynationhasindegreeproportionatetoitsworth。
ThemanhoodofGreecehadgonetothefrontier，leavingathomethisrabbleoftalkers，mostofwhomwerearmedwithriflesformerepretention。Colemanloathedthemtotheendofhissoul。Hethoughtthemalotofinfantswhowouldliketoprovetheircourageuponeleveninnocenttravellers，allbutunarmed，andinthisfacthewasquicktoseeagreatdangertotheWainwrightparty。Onecoulddealwithsoldiers；soldierswouldhavebeenashamedtobaithelplesspeople；butthisrabble-
Thefightingbloodofthecorrespondentbegantoboil，andhereallylongedfortheprivilegetorunamuckthroughthemultitude。ButalookattheWainwrightskepthiminhissenses。Theprofessorhadturnedpaleasadeadman。Hesatverystiffandstillwhilehiswifeclungtohim，hystericallybeseechinghimtodosomething，dosomething，althoughwhathewastodoshecouldnothaveevenimagined。
Colemantookthedilemmabyitsbeard。HedismountedfromhishorseintothedepthsofthecrowdandaddressedtheWainwrights。\"Isupposewehadbettergointothisplaceandhavesomecoffeewhilethemenfeedtheirhorses。Thereisnouseintryingtomakethemgoon。\"Hismannerwasfairlycasual，buttheylookedathiminglazedhorror。\"Itistheonlythingtodo。Thiscrowdisnotnearlysobadastheythinktheyare。Butwe\'vegottolookasifwefeltconfident。\"Hehimselfhadnoconfidencewiththisangrybuzzinhisears，butbefeltcertainthattheonlycorrectmovewastogeteverybodyasquicklyaspossiblewithintheshelteroftheinn。Itmightnotbemuchofashelterforthem，butitwasbetterthanthecarriagesinthestreet。
TheprofessorandMrs。Wainwrightseemedtobeconsideringtheircarriageasacastle，andtheylookedasiftheirterrorhadmadethemphysicallyincapableofleavingit。Colemanstoodwaiting。Behindhimtheclapper-tonguedcrowdwasmovingominously。
Marjoryaroseandsteppedcalmlydowntohim。
Hethrilledtotheendofeverynerve。Itwasasifshehadsaid:\"Idon\'tthinkthereisgreatdanger，butifthereisgreatdanger，why**hereIam*
ready*withyou。\"Itconcededeverything，admittedeverything。Itwasasurrenderwithoutablush，anditwasonlypossibleintheshadowofthecrisiswhentheydidnotknowwhatthenextmomentsmightcontainforthem。Ashetookherhandandshesteppedpasthimhewhisperedswiftlyandfiercelyinherear，\"Iloveyou。\"Shedidnotlookup，buthefeltthatinthisquickincidenttheyhadclaimedeachother，acceptedeachotherwithafardeepermeaningandunderstandingthancouldbepossibleinameredrawing-room。Shelaidherhandonhisarm，andwiththestrengthoffourmenhetwistedhishorseintothemakingoffuriousprancingside-stepstowardthedooroftheinn，clankingside-
stepswhichmowedawidelanethroughthecrowdforMarjory，hisMarjory。HewasashaughtyasanewGermanlieutenant，andalthoughheheldthefuminghorsewithonlyhislefthand，heseemedperfectlycapableofhurlingtheanimaloverahousewithoutcallingintoservicethearmwhichwasdevotedtoMarjory。
Itwasnotanexhibitionofcoolnesssuchaswinsapplauseonthestagewhentheheroplacidlylightsacigarettebeforethemobwhichisclamouringforhisdeath。Itwas，onthecontrary，anexhibitionofdownrightclassicdisdain，adisdainwhichwiththehighestarrogancedeclareditselfineveryglanceofhiseyeintothefacesabouthim。\"Verygood**
attackmeifyoulike**thereisnothingtopreventit**youmongrels。\"Everystepofhisprogresswasmadearenewedinsulttothem。Theveryairwaschargedwithwhatthislonemanwasthinkingofthisthreateningcrowd。
Hisaudacitywasinvincible。Theyactuallymadewayforitasquicklyaschildrenwouldfleefromaghost。Thehorse，dancing；withringingsteps，withhisglisteningneckarchedtowardtheironhandathisbit，thispowerful，quiveringanimalwasaregularengineofdestruction，andtheygaveroomuntilColemanhaltedhim-atanexclamationfromMarjory。
\"Mymotherandfather。\"ButtheywerecomingclosebehindandColemanresumedthiscontemptuousjourneytothedooroftheinn。Thegroom，withhisnew-borntongue，wasclatteringtheretothepopulace。
ColemangavehimthehorseandpassedaftertheWainwrightsintothepublicroomoftheinn。Hewassmiling。Whatsimpletons!
Anewactorsuddenlyappearedinthepersonofthekeeperoftheinn。Hetoohadarifleandaprodigiousbeltofcartridges，butitwasplainatoncethathehadelectedtobeafriendoftheworriedtravellers。A
largepartofthecrowdwerethinkingitnecessarytoentertheinnandpow-wowmore。Buttheinnkeeperstayedatthedoorwiththedragoman，andtogethertheyvociferouslyheldbackthetide。Thespiritofthemobhadsubsidedtoamorereasonablefeeling。
TheynolongerwishedtotearthestrangerslimbfromlimbonthesuspicionthattheywereGermans。Theynowwerefrantictotalkasifsomeinexorablelawhadkeptthemsilentfortenyearsandthiswastheverymomentoftheirrelease。Whereas，theirsimul-
taneousandinterpolatingorationshadthroughoutmadenoisemuchlikeacoal-breaker。
ColemanledtheWainwrightstoatableinafarpartoftheroom。Theytookchairsasifhehadcom-
mandedthem。\"Whatanoutrage，\"hesaidjubilantly。
\"Theapes。\"Hewaskeepingmorethanhalfaneyeuponthedoor，becauseheknewthatthequickcomingofthestudentswasimportant。
Thensuddenlythestormbrokeinwrath。Somethinghadhappenedinthestreet。Thejabberingcrowdatthedoorhadturnedandwerehurryinguponsomecentraltumult。ThedragomanscreamedtoColeman。
Colemanjumpedandgrabbedthedragoman。\"Tellthismantotakethemsomewhereupstairs，\"hecried，indicatingtheWainwrightswithasweepofhisarm。
Theinnkeeperseemedtounderstandsoonerthanthedragoman，andhenoddedeagerly。Theprofessorwascrying:\"Whatisit，Mr。Coleman？Whatisit？\"
Aninstantlater，thecorrespondentwasoutinthestreet，buffetingtowardascuffle。Ofcourseitwasthestudents。Itappeared，afterward，thatthosesevenyoungmen，withtheirfeelingsmuchruffled，hadbeenmakingthebestoftheirwaytowardthedooroftheinn，whenalargemaninthecrowd，duringaspeechwhichwassurelymostoffensive，hadlaidanarrestinghandontheshoulderofPeterTounley。
WhereupontheexcellentPeterTounleyhadhitthelargemanonthejawinsuchaswiftandskilfulmannerthatthelargemanhadgonespinningthroughagroupofhiscountrymentothehardearth，wherehelayholdinghisfacetogetherandhowling。Instantly，ofcourse，therehadbeenariot。Itmightwellbesaidthateventhentheaffaircouldhaveendedinalotoftalking，butinthefirstplacethestudentsdidnottalkmodernGreek，andinthesecondplacetheywerenowpastallthoughtoftalking。Theyregardedthisaffairseriouslyasafight，andnowthattheyatlastwereinit，theywereinitforeverypintofbloodintheirbodies。SuchapackoffamishedwolveshadneverbeforebeenletlooseuponmenarmedwithGrasrifles。
Theyallhadbeenexpectingtherow，andwhenPeterTounleyhadfounditexpedienttoknockovertheman，theyhadcounteditasignal:theirarmsimmediatelybeguntoswingoutasiftheyhadbeenwoundup。ItwasatthistimethatColemanswambrutallythroughtheGreeksandjoinedhiscountrymen。
Hewasmorefrightenedthananyofthosenovices。
WhenhesawPeterTounleyoverthrowadreadfullookingbrigandwhosebeltwasfullofknives，andwho-crashedtothegroundamidaclangofcartridges，hewasappalledbytheuttersimplicitywithwhichtheladsweretreatingthecrisis。Itwastothemnocom-
monscrimmageatWashurst，ofcourse，butitflashedthroughColeman\'smindthattheyhadnottheslightegtsenseofthesizeofthething。Heexpectedeveryinstanttoseetheflashofknivesortohearthedeafeningintonationofariflefiredagainsthstear。Itseemedtohimmiraculousthatthetragedywassolongdelayed。
Inthemeantirnehewasintheaffray。HejiltedonemanunderthechinwithhiselbowinawaythatreeledhimofffromPeterTounley\'sback；alittlepersonintheckedclotheshesmotebetweentheeyes；herecievedagun-buttemphaticallyontheaideoftheneck；hefelthandstearingathim；hekickedthepinsoutfromunderthreemeninrapidsuccession。Hewasalwaysyelling。\"Trytogettotheinn，boys，trytogettotheinn。Lookout，Peter。Takecareforhisknife，Peter——\"Suddenlyhewhippedarifleoutofthehandsofamanandswungit，whistling。Hehadgonestarkmadwiththeothers。
TheboyBilly，drunkfromsomeblowsandbleeding，wasalready。staggeringtowardtheinnovertheclearagewhichthewildColemanmadewiththeclubbedrifle。Thoothersfollewedaswellastheymightwhilebeatingoffadiscouragedenemy。Theremarkableinnkeeperhadbarredhiswindowswithstrongwoodshutters。Heheldthedoorbythecrackforthem，andtheystumbledonebyonthroughtheportal。Colemandidnotknowwhytheywerenotalldead，nordidheunderstandtheintrepidandgenerousbehaviouroftheinnkeeper，butatanyratehefeltthatthefightingwassuspended，andhewantedtoseeMarjory。
Theinnkeeperwas，doingagreatpantomimeinthemiddleofthedarkenedroom，pointingtotheouterdoorandthenaiminghisrifleatittoexplainhisintentionofdefendingthematallcosts。Someofthestudentsmovedtoabilliardtableandspreadthem-
selveswearilyuponit。Otherssankdownwheretheystood。Outsidethecrowdwasbeginningtoroar。
Coleman\'sgroomcreptoutfromunderthelittleCoffeebarandcomicallysalutedhismaster。Thedragomanwasnotpresent。ColemanfeltthathemustseeMarjory，andhemadesignstotheinnkeeper。
Thelatterunderstoodquickly，andmotionedthatColemanshouldfollowhim。Theypassedtogetherthroughadarkhallandupadarkerstairway，whereafterColemansteppedoutintoasun-litroom，sayingloudly:\"Oh，it\'sallright。It\'sallover。Don\'tworry。\"
Threewildpeoplewereinstantlyuponhim。\"Oh，whatwasit？Whatdidhappen？Isanybodyhurt？
Oh，tellus，quick!\"Itseemedatthetimethatitwasanavalancheofthreeofthem，anditwasnotuntillaterthatherecognisedthatMrs。Wainwrighthadtumbledthelargestnumberofquestionsuponhim。
AsforMarjory，shehadsaidnothinguntilthetimewhenshecried:\"Oh-heisbleeding-heisbleeding。
Oh，come，quick!\"Shefairlydraggedhimoutofoneroomintoanotherroom，wheretherewasajugofwater。Shewetherhandkerchiefandsoftlysmotehiswounds。\"Bruises，\"shesaid，piteously，tearfully。
\"Bruises。Oh，dear!Howtheymusthurtyou。\'
Thehandkerchiefwassoonstainedcrimson。
WhenColemanspokehisvoicequavered。\"Itisn\'tanything。Really，itisn\'tanything。\"Hehadnotknownofthesewonderfulwounds，buthealmostchokedinthejoyofMarjory\'sministryandherhalfcoherentexclamations。Thisproudandbeautifulgirl，thissuperlativecreature，wasreddeningherhandkerchiefwithhisblood，andnowordofhiscouldhavepreventedherfromthusattendinghim。HecouldheartheprofessorandMrs。Wainwrightfussingnearhim，tryingtobeofuse。Hewouldhavelikedtohavebeenabletoorderthemoutoftheroom。
Marjory\'scoolfingersonhisfaceandneckhadconjuredwithinhimavisionatanintimacytnatwasevensweeterthananythingwhichhehadimagined，andhelongedtopourouttoherthebubbling，impassionedspeechwhichcametohislips。But，alwaysdodderingbehindhim，werethetwooldpeople，strenuoustobeofhelptohim。
Suddenlyadooropenedandayouthappeared，simplyredwithblood。ItwasPeterTounley。Hisfirstremarkwascheerful。\"Well，Idon\'tsupposethosepeoplewillbeanytooquicktolookformoretrouble。\"
Colemanfeltaswiftpangbecausehehadforgottentoannouncethedilapidatedstateofallthestudents。
HehadbeensosubmergedbyMarjory\'stendernessthatallelsehadbeendrownedfromhismind。HisheartbeatquicklyashewaitedforMarjorytoleavehimandrushtoPeterTounley。
Butshedidnothingofthesort。\"Oh，Peter，\"shecriedindistress，andthensheturnedbacktoColeman。
ItwastheprofessorandMrs。Wainwrightwho，atlastfindingafieldfortheirkindlyambitions，flungthem。
selvesuponTounleyandcarriedhimofftoanotherplace。Peterwasremoved，crying:\"Oh，now，lookhere，professor，I\'mnotdyingoranythingofthesortColemanandMarjorywereleftalone。Hesuddenlyandforciblytookoneofherhandsandthebloodstainedhankerchiefdroppedtothefloor。
CHAPTERXXII。
Frombelowtheycouldhearthethunderofweaponsandfitsuponthedooroftheinnamidagreatclamourof。tongues。Sometimestherearosetheargumtntativehowloftheinnkeeper。Abovethisroar，Coleman\'squickwordssoundedinMarjory\'sear。
\"I\'vegottogo。I\'vegottogobacktotheboys，but-Iloveyou。\"
\"Yesgo，go，\"shewhisperedhastily。\"Youshouldbethere，but-comeback。\"
Heheldherclosetohim。\"Butyouaremine，remember，\"
hesaidfiercelyandsternly。\"Youaremine-forever-AsIamyours-remember。\"
Hereyeshalfclosed。Shemadeintenselysolemnanswer。\"Yes。\"Hereleasedherandvphsgone。
Inthegloomingcoffeeroomoftheinnhefoundthestudents，thedragoman，thegroomandtheinnkeeperarmedwithamotleycollectionofweaponswhichrangedfromtherifleoftheinnkeepertothetableleginthehandsofPeterTounley。Thelastnamedyoungstudentofarcheologywasinapositionoftemporaryleadefshipandholdingagreatpow-bowwiththeinnkeeperthroughthemediumofpeircingoutcriesbythedragoman。Colemanhadnotyetundestoodwhynoneofthemhadbeeneitherstabbedorshotinthefightinthesteeet，butitseemedtohimnowthataffairswereleadingtowardacrisisoftragedy。Hethoughtofthepossibilitiesofhavingthedragomangotoanupperwindowandharanguethepeople，buthesawnochanceofsuccessinsuchaplan。Hesawthatthecrowdwouldmerelyhowlatthedragomanwhilethedragomanhowledatthecrowd。Hethenaskediftherewasanyotherexitfromtheinnbywhichtheycouldsecretlyescape。Helearnedthatthedoorintothecoffeeroomwastheonlydoorwhichpiercedthefourgreatwalls。Allhecouldthendowastofindoutfromtheinnkeeperhowmuchofasiegetheplacecouldstand，andtothistheinnkeeperansweredvolublyandwithsmilesthatthishostelrywouldeasilyendureuntilthemercurialtemperofthecrowdhaddartedoffinanewdirection。ItmaybecurioustonoteherethatallofPeterTounley\'simpassionedcommunicationwiththeinnkeeperhadbeendevotedtoanendeavourtolearnwhatinthedevilwasthematterwiththesepeople，asamanabouttobebittenbypoisonoussnakesshould，firstofall，furiouslyinsistuponlearningtheirexactspeciesbeforedecidinguponeitherhisroute，ifheintendedtorunaway，orhisweaponifheintendedtofightthem。
Theinnkeeperwasevidentlyconvincedthatthishousewouldwithstandtherageofthepopulace，andhewassuchanunaccountablygallantlittlechapthatColemantrustedentirelytohisword。Hisonlyfearorsuspicionwasanoccasionaloneastothepurityofthedragoman\'stranslation。
Suddenlytherewashalfasilenceonthemobwithoutthedoor。Itisinconceivablethatitcouldbecomealtogethersilent，butitwasasneartoarationalstillnessoftonguesasitwasable。ThentherewasaloudknockingbyasinglefistandanewvoicebegantospinGreek，avoicethatwassomewhatliketherattleofpebblesinatinbox。ThenastartlingvoicecalledoutinEnglish。\"Areyouinthere，Rufus？\"
AnswerscamefromeveryEnglishspeakingpersonintheroominonegreatoutburst。\"Yes。\"
\"Well，letusin，\"calledNoraBlack。\"Itisallright。We\'vegotanofficerwithus。\"
\"Openthedoor，\"saidColemanwithspeed。Thelittleinnkeeperlabouriouslyunfastenedthegreatbars，andwhenthedoorfinallyopenedthereappearedonthethresholdNoraBlackwithCokeandanofficerofinfantry，Nora\'slittleoldcompanion，andNora\'sdragoman。
\"Wesawyourcarriageinthestreet，\"criedthequeenofcomicoperaasshesweptintotheroom。
Shewasbeamingwithdelight。\"Whatisalltherow，anyway？O-o-oh，lookatthatstudent\'snose。Whohithim？AndlookatRufus。Whathaveyouboysbeendoing？\"
HerlittleGreekofficerofinfantryhadstoppedthemobfromflowingintotheroom。Colemanlookedtowardthedoorattimeswithsomeanxiety。Nora，notingit，wavedherhandincarelessreassurance；
\"Oh，it\'s，allright。Don\'tworryaboutthemanymore。Heisperfectlydevotedtome。HewoulddiethereonthethresholdifItoldhimitwouldpleaseme。SpeakssplendidFrench。Ifoundhimlimpingalongtheroadandgavehimalift。Andnowdohurryupandtellmeexactlywhathappened。\"
Theyalltoldwhathadhappened，whileNoraandCokelistenedagape。Coke，bytheway，hadquitefloatedbacktohisoldpositionwiththestudents。Ithadbeeneasyinthestressofexcitementandwonder。
Nobodyhadanytitnetothinkoftheexcessivelyremoteincidentsoftheearlymorning。Allminorinterestswerelostinthemarvelofthepresentsituation。
\"Wholandedyouintheeye，Billie？\"askedtheawedCoke。\"Thatwasabadone。\"
\"Oh，Idon\'tknow，\"saidBillie。\"Youreallycouldn\'ttellwhohityou，youknow。Itwasafootballrush。Theyhadgunsandknives，buttheydidn\'tuse\'em。Idon\'tknowwhyJinks!I\'mgettingprettystiff。Myfacefeelsasifitweremadeoftin。Didtheygiveyoupeoplearow，too？\"
\"No；onlytalk。Thatlittleofficermanagedthem。
Out-talkedthem，Isuppose。Hearhimbuzz，now。\"
TheWainwrightscamedownstairs。NoraBlackwentconfidentlyforwardtomeetthem。\"You\'veaddedonemoretoyourlistofrescuers，\"Shecried，withherglowing，triumphantsmile。\"MissBlackoftheNewYorkDaylight-atyourservice。HowintheworlddoyoumanagetogetyourselvesintosuchdreadfulScrapes？Youarethemostremarkablepeople。
Youneedaguardian。Why，youmighthaveallbeenkilled。Howexcitingitmustseemtoberegularlyofyourparty。\"ShehadshakencordiailyoneofMrs。Wainwright\'shandswithoutthatladyindicatingassenttotheproceedingbutMrs。Wainwrighthadnotfeltrepulsion。Infactshehadhadnoemotionspringingdirectlyfromit。HereagainthemarvelofthesituationcametodenyMrs。Wainwrighttherighttoresumeastateofmindwhichhadbeensopainfullyinterestingtoherafewhoursearlier。
Theprofessor，Colemanandallthestudentsweretalkingtogether。CokehadaddressedColemancivillyandColemanhadmadeacivilreply。Peacewasuponthem。
NoraslippedherarmlovinglythroughMarjbry\'sarm。\"ThatRufus!Oh，thatRufus，\"shecriedjoyously。
\"I\'llgivehimagoodscoldingassoonasI
seehimalone。Imighthaveforeseenthathewouldgetyouallintotrouble。Theoldstupid!\"
Marjorydidnotappeartoresentanything。\"Oh，I
don\'tthinkitwasMr。Coleman\'sfaultatail，\"shean-
sweredcalmly。\"IthinkitwasmorethefaultofPeterTounley，poorboy。\"
\"Well，I\'dbegladtobelieveit，I\'dbegladtobelieveit，\"
saidNora。\"IwantRufustokeepoutofthatsortofthing，butheissohot-headedandfoolish。\"
IfshehadpointedoutherproprietarystamponColeman\'scheekshecouldnothaveconveyedwhatshewantedwithmoreclearness。
\"Oh，\"saidtheimpassiveMarjory，\"Idon\'tthinkyouneedhaveanydoubtastowhosefaultitwas，iftherewereanyofourboysatfault。Mr。Colemanwasinsidewhenthefightingcommenced，andonlyranouttohelptheboys。Hehadjustbroughtussafelythroughthemob，and，farfrombeinghot-headedandfoolish，hewasutterlycoolinmanner，impressivelycool，Ithought。Iamgladtobeabletoreassureyouonthesepoints，forIseethattheyworryyou。\"
\"。Yes，theydoworryme，\"saidNora，densely。
Theyworrymenightanddaywhenheisawayfromme。\"
\"Oh，\"respondedMarjory，\"IhaveneverthoughtofMr。Colemanasamanthatonewouldworryaboutmuch。Weconsiderhimveryself-reliant，abletotakecareofhimselfunderalmostanyconditions，butthen，ofcourse，wedonotknowhimatallinthewaythatyouknowhim。Ishouldthinkthatyouwouldfindthathecameoffratherbetterthanyouexpectedfrommostofhisdifficulties。Butthen，ofcourse，as。Isaid，youknowhimsomuchbetterthanwedo。\"HereasyindifferencewasatacitdismissalofColemanasatopic。
Nora，nowthoroughlyalert，glancedkeenlyintotheothergirl\'sface，butitwasinscrutable。Theactresshadintendedtogocareeringthroughawholecircleofdaringillusionstoanintimacywith，Coleman，buthere，beforeshehadreallydevelopedherattack，Marjory，withafewconventionalandindifferentsentences，almostexpressiveofboredom，hadmadethesubjectofColemanimpossible。AneffectwasleftuponNora\'smindthatMarjoryhadbeenextremelypoliteinlisteningtomuchnervoustalkaboutapersoninwhomshehadnointerest。
Theactresswasdazed。Shedidnotknowhowithadallbeendone。Wherewastheheadofthisthing？
AndwhereWasthetail？AfoghadmysteriouslycomeuponallherbrilliantprospectsofseeingMarjoryWainwrightsuffer，andthisfogwastheproductofakindofmagicwithwhichshewasnotfamiliar。
Shecouldnotthinkhowtofightit。Afterbeingsimplydubiousthroughoutalongpause，sheintheendwentintoagreatrage。SheglaredfuriouslyatMarjory，droppedherarmasifithadburnedherandmoveddownuponColeman。Shemusthavereflectedthatatanyrateshecouldmakehimwriggle。Whenshewascomeneartohim，shecalledout:\"Rufus!\"
Inhertonewasalltheoldinsolentstatementofownership。Colemanmighthavebeenapoodle。Sheknewhowtocallhissameinawaythatwasanythinglessthanapublicscandal。Onthisoccasioneverybodylookedathimandthenwentsilent，aspeopleawaitingthestartlingdenouementofadrama。
\"Rufus!\"Shewasbaringhisshouldertoshowthefieur-de-lisofthecriminal。Thestudentsgaped。
Coleman\'stemperwas，ifonemaybeallowedtospeakinthatway，brokenlooseinsideofhim。Hecouldhardlybeeathe；hefeltthathisbodywasabouttoexplodeintoathousandfragments。Hesimplysnarledout\"What？\"Almostatoncehesawthatshehadatlastgoadedhimintomakingaserioustacticalmistake。Itmustbeadmittedthatitisonlywhentherelationsbetweenamanandawomanaretherelationsofwedlock，oratleastanintimateresemblancetoit，thatthemansnarlsout\"What？\"tothewoman。Mereloverssay\"Ibegyourpardon？\"
ItisonlyCupid\'sfinishedproductthatspitslikeacat。NoraBlackhadcalledhimlikeawife，andhehadansweredlikeahusband。Forhiscause，hismannercouldnotpossiblyhavebeenworse。Hesawtheprofessorstareathiminsurpriseandalarm，andfelttheexcitementoftheeightstudents。Theselatterwerediabolicintheceleritywithwhichtheypickedoutmeanings。ItwasasplaintothemasifNoraBlackhadsaid:\"Heismyproperty。\"
Colemanwouldhavegivenhisnosetohavebeenabletorecallthatsinglereverberatingword。Buthesawthatthescenewasspellingdownfallforhim，andhewentstillmoreblindanddesperateofit。HisdespairmadehimburntomakemattersWorse。Hedidnotwanttoimproveanythingatall。\"What？\"
hedemanded。\"Whatdoye\'want？\"
Norawassweetlyreproachful。\"Ileftmyjacketinthecarriage，andIwantyoutogetitforme。\"
\"Well，getitforyourself，doyousee？Getitforyourself。\"
Nowitisplainlytobeseenthatnooneofthepeoplelisteningtherehadeverheardamanspeakthustoawomanwhowasnothiswife。Whenevertheyhadheardthatformofspiritedreparteeithadcomefromthelipsofahusband。Coleman\'srudespeechwastotheirearsaflatannouncementofanextraordinaryintimacybetweenNoraBlackandthecorrespondent。Anyotherinterpretationwouldnothaveoccurredtothem。Itwassopalpablethatitgreatlydistressedthemwithitsarroganceandboldness。Theprofessorhadblushed。Theverymilkiestwordinhismindatthetimewasthewordvulgarity。
NoraBlackhadwonagreatbattle。ItwasherAgincourt。ShehadbeatenthecleverColemaninawaythathadleftlittleofhimbutrags。However，shecouldhavelostitallagainifshehadshownherfeelingofelation。AtColeman\'srudenesshermannerindicatedamixtureofsadnessandembarrassment。
HersufferingwassoplaintotheeyethatPeterTounleywasinstantlymoved。\"Can\'tIgetyourjacketforyou，MissBlack？\"heaskedhastily，andathergratefulnodhewasoffatonce。
Colemanwasresolvedtoimprovenothing。Hisoverthrowseemedtohimtobesocompletethathecouldnotinanywaymenditwithoutasacrificeofhisdearestprides。Heturnedawayfromthemallandwalkedtoanisolatedcorneroftheroom。Hewouldabidenolongerwiththem。HehadbeenmadeanoutcastbyNoraBlack，andheintendedtobeanoutcast。Thercwasnosenseinattemptingtostemthisextraordinarydeluge。Itwasbettertoacquiesce。
ThensuddenlyhewasangrywithMarjory。HedidnotexactlyseewhyhewasangryatMarjory，buthewasangryathernevertheless。Hethoughtofhowhecouldrevengehimselfuponher。Hedecidedtotakehorsewithhisgroomanddragomanandproceedforthwithontheroad，leavingthejumbleasitstood。ThiswouldpainMarjory，anyhow，hehoped。Shewouldfeelitdeeply，hehoped。
Actinguponthisplan，hewenttotheprofessor。
Well，ofcourseyouareallrightnow，professor，andifyoudon\'tmind，Iwouldliketoleaveyou-goonahead。I\'vegotaconsiderablepressureofbusinessonmymind，andIthinkIshouldhurryontoAthens，ifyoudon\'tmind。\"
Theprofessordidnotseemtoknowwhattosay。
\"Ofcourse，ifyouwishit-sorry，I\'msure-ofcourseitisasyouplease-butyouhavebeensuchapowerinourfavour-itseemstoobadtoloseyou-but-ifyouwishit-ifyouinsist-\"
\"Oh，yes，Iquiteinsist，\"saidColeman，calmly。\"I
quiteinsist。Makeyourmindeasyonthatscore，professor。Iinsist。\"
\"Well，Mr。Coleman，\"stammeredtheoldman。
\"Well，itseemsagreatpitytoloseyou-youhavebeensuchapowerinourfavour-\"
\"Oh，youarenowonlyeighthoursfromtherail-
way。Itisveryeasy。Youwouldnotneedmyas-
sistance，evenifitwereabenefit!
\"But-\"saidtheprofessor。
Coleman\'sdragomancametohimthenandsaid:
\"Thereisonemanherewhosaysyoumadetotakeonerifleinthefightandwasbreakhishead。Hewassayhewantssunthingforyouwasbreakhishead。Hesayshurt。\"
\"Howmuchdoeshewant？\"askedColeman，im-
patiently。
Thedragomanwrestledthenevidentlywithadesiretoprotectthisminefromoutsidefingers。\"I-Ithinktwogoldpieceplenty。\"
\"Takethem，\"saidColeman。Itseemedtohimpreposterousthatthisidiotwithabrokenheadshouldinterpolateuponhistragedy。\"AfterwardyouandthegroomgetthethreehorsesandwewillstartforAthensatonce。\"
\"ForAthens？Atonce？\"saidMarjory\'svoiceinhisear。
CHAPTERXXIII
\"Om，\"saidColeman，\"Iwasthinkingofstarting。\"
\"Why？\"askedMarjory，unconcernedly。
Colemanshotheraquickglance。\"Ibelievemyperiodofusefulnessisquiteended，\"hesaid。withjustasmallbetrayalofbitterfeeling。
\"Itiscertainlytruethatyouhavehadaremark-
ableperiodofusefulnesstous，\"saidMarjorywithaslowsmile，\"butifitisended，youshouldnotrunawayfromus。\"
Colemanlookedathertoseewhatshecouldmean。
Frommanywomen，thesewordswouldhavebeenequal，underthecircumstances，toacommandtostay，buthefeltthatnonemightknowwhatimpulsesmovedthemindbehindthatbeautifulmask。Inhismiseryhethoughttohurtherintoanexpressionoffeelingbyaroughspeech。\"I\'msoinlovewithNoraBlack，youknow，thatIhavetobeverycarefulofmyself。\"
\"Oh，\"saidMarjory，neverthoughtofthat。I
shouldthinkyouwouldhavetobecarefulofyourself。\"
Shedidnotseemmovedinanyway。Colemandespairedoffindingherweakspot。Shewasa\'damantine，thisgirl。Hesearchedhismindforsomethingtosaywhichwouldbestillmoregrossthanhislastoutbreak，butwhenhefeltthathewasabouttohituponit，theprofessorinterruptedwithanagitatedspeechtoMarjory。\"Youhadbettergotoyourmother，mychild，andseethatyouareallreadytoleavehereassoonasthecarriagescomeup。\"
\"Wehaveabsolutelynothingtomakeready，\"saidMarjory，laughing。\"ButI\'llgoandseeifmotherneedsanythingbeforewestartthatIcangetforher。\"
Shewentawaywithoutbiddinggood-byetoColeman。
Thesolemaddeningimpressiontohimwasthatthematterofhisgoinghadnotbeenofsufficientimportancetoremainlongerthanamomentuponhermind。
Atthesametimehedecidedthathewouldgo，irretrievablygo。
Eventhenthedragomanenteredtheroom。\"Wewillpackeverything-uponthehorse？\"
\"Everything-yes。\"
PeterTounleycameafterward。\"Youarenotgoingtobolt？\"
\"Yes，I\'moff，\"answeredColemanrecoveringhim-
selfforPeter\'sbenefit。\"SeeyouinAthens，probably。\"
Presentlythedragomanannouncedthereadinessofthehorses。ColemanshookhandswiththestudentsandtheProfessoramidcriesofsurpriseandpoliteregret。\"What？Going，oldman？Really？Whatfor？Oh，waitforus。We\'reoffinafewminutes。
Sorryasthedevil，oldboy，to\'seeyougo。\"Heacceptedtheirprotestationswithasomewhatsourface。HeknewperfectlywellthattheywerethinkingofhisdepartureassomethingthatrelatedtoNoraBlack。Atthelast，hebowedtotheladiesasacollection。Marjory\'sansweringbowwasaffable；thebowofMrs。Wainwrightspokearesentmentforsome-
thing；andNora\'sbowwastriumphantmockery。Asheswungintothesaddleanideastruckhimwithoverwhelmingforce。Theideawasthathewasafool。
Hewasacolossalimbecile。Hetouchedthespurtohishorseandtheanimalleapedsuperbly，makingtheGreekshastenforsafetyinalldirections。Hewasoff；
hecouldnomorereturntoretracthisdeviousidiocythanhecouldmakehishorseflytoAthens。Whatwasdonewasdone。Hecouldnotmendit。Andhefeltlikeamanthathadbrokenhisownheart；
perversely，childishly，stupidlybrokenhisownheart。
HewassurethatMarjorywaslosttohim。NomancouldbedegradedsopubliclyandresentitsocrudelyandstillretainaMarjory。InhisabasementfromhisdefeatatthehandsofNoraBlackhehadperformedeveryimaginableblock-headishactandhadfinallyclimaxeditallbyadeparturewhichleftthetongueofNoratospeakunmolestedintotheearofMarjory。Nora\'svictoryhadbeenaseriousblowtohisfortunes，butithadnotbeensoseriousashisownsubsequentfolly。Hehadgenerouslymuddledhisownaffairsuntilhecouldreadnothingoutofthembutdespair。
Hewasinthemoodforhatred。Hehatedmanypeople。NoraBlackwastheprincipalitem，buthedidnothesitatetodetesttheprofessor，Mrs。Wain-
wright，Cokeandallthestudents。AsforMarjory，hewouldrevengehimselfuponher。Shehaddonenothingthathedefinedclearlybut，atanyrate，hewouldtakerevengeforit。Asmuchaswaspossible，hewouldmakehersuffer。Hewouldconvinceherthathewasatremendousandinexorableperson。
Butitcameuponhismindthathewaspowerlessinallways。Ifhehatedmanypeopletheyprobablywouldnotbeeveninterestedinhisemotionand，asforhisrevengeuponMarjory，itwasbeyondhisstrength。HewasnothingbutthecomplainingvictimofNoraBlackandhimself。
HefeltthathewouldneveragainseeMarjory，andwhilefeelingithebegantoplanhisattitudewhennexttheymet。Hewouldbeverycoldandreserved。
AtAgrinionhefoundthattherewouldbenotrainuntilthenextdaybreak。Thedragomanwasexcessivelyannoyedoverit，butColemandidnotscoldatall。Asamatteroffacthishearthadgivenagreatjoyusbound。Hecouldnotnowpreventhisbeingovertaken。Theywereonlyafewleaguesaway，andwhilehewaswaitingforthetraintheywouldeasilycoverthedistance。Ifanybodyexpressedsurpriseatseeinghimhecouldexhibitthelogicalreasons。
Iftherehadbeenatrainstartingatoncehewouldhavetakenit。Hispridewouldhaveputupwithnosubterfuge。IftheWainwrightsovertookhimitwasbecausehecouldnothelpit。Buthewasdelightedthathecouldnothelpit。Therehadbeenaninter-
positionbysomespeciallybeneficentfate。Hefeltlikewhistling。Hespenttheearlyhalfofthenightinblissfulsmoke，stridingtheroomwhichthedragomanhadfoundforhim。HisheadwasfullofplansanddetachedimpressivescenesinwhichhefiguredbeforeMarjory。ThesimplefactthattherewasnotrainawayfromAgrinionuntilthenextdaybreakhadwroughtastupendouschangeinhisoutlook。Heunhesitatinglyconsidereditanomenofagoodfuture。
Hewasupbeforethedarknessevencontainedpresageofcominglight，butneartherailwaystationwasalittlehutwherecoffeewasbeingservedtoseveralprospectivetravellerswhohadcomeevenearliertotherendezvous。TherewasnoevidenceoftheWainwrights。
Colemansatinthehutandlistenedfortherumbleofwheels。HewassuddenlyappalledthattheWainwrightsweregoingtomissthetrain。Perhapstheyhaddecidedagainsttravellingduringthenight。Perbapsthisthing，andperhapsthatthing。Themorningwasverycold。Closelymuffledinhiscloak，hewenttothedoorandstaredatwheretheroadwaswhiten-
ingoutofnight。Atthestationstoodalittlespectraltrain，andtheengineatintervalsemittedalong，piercingscreamwhichinformedtheechoinglandthat，inallprobability，itwasgoingtostartafteratimeforthesouth。TheGreeksinthecoffeeroomwere，ofcourse，talking。
AtlastColemandidhearthesoundofhoofsandwheels。Thethreecarriagessweptupingrandprocession。
Thefirstwasladenwithstudents；inthesecondwastheprofessor，theGreekofficer，NoraBlack\'soldladyandotherpersons，alllookingmarvellouslyunimportantandshelved。ItwasthethirdcarriageatwhichColemanstared。Atfirstbethoughtthedimlightdeceivedhisvision，butinamomentheknewthathisfirstleapingconceptionofthearrangementofthepeopleinthisvehiclehadbeenperfectlycorrect。NoraBlackandMrs。Wainwrightsatsidebysideonthebackseat，whilefacingthemwereCokeandMarjory。
Theylookedcoldbutintimate。
TheoddityofthegroupingstupefiedColeman。Itwasanarchy，nakedandunashamed。Hecouldnotimaginehowsuchchangescouldhavebeenconsummatedintheshorttimehehadbeenawayfromthem，buthelaiditalltosomestartlingnecromancyonthepartofNoraBlack，somewondrousplaywhichhadcapturedthemallbecauseofitssurpassingskillandbecausetheywere，inthemain，rathergulliblepeople。
Hewaswrong。ThemagichadbeenwroughtbytheunaidedfoolishnessofMrs。Wainwfight。AssoonasNoraBlackhadsucceededincreatinganeffectofintimacyanddependencebetweenherselfandColeman，theprofessorhadflatlystatedtohiswifethatthepresenceofNoraBlackintheparty，intheinn，intheworld，wasathiagthatdidnotmeethisapprovalinanyway。Sheshouldbeabolished。
AsforColeman，hewouldnotdefendhim。Hepreferrednottotalktohim。Itmadehimsad。Colemanatleasthadbeenveryindiscreet，veryindiscreet。
Itwasagreatpity。Butasforthisblatantwoman，thesoonertheyridthemselvesofher，thesoonerhewouldfeelthatalltheworldwasnotevil。
WhereuponMrs。Wainwrighthadchangedfrontwiththespeedoflightandattackedwithhorse，footandguns。Shefailedtosee，shehaddeclared，wherethispoor，lonegirtwasingreatfault。Ofcourseitwasprobablethatshehadlistenedtothissnaky。
tonguedRufusColeman，butthatwaseverthemistakethatwomenmade。Oh，certainly；theprofessorwouldliketoletRufusColemanoffscot-free。Thatwasthewaywithmen。Theydefendedeachotherinallcases。Ifwrongweredoneitwasthewomanwhosuffered。Now，sincethispoorgirlwasalonefaroffhereinGreece，Mrs。Wainwrightannouncedthatshehadsuchfullsenseofherdutytohersexthatherconsciencewouldnotallowhertoscornanddesertasister，evenifthatsisterwas，approximately，thevictimofacreaturelikeRufusColeman。Perhapsthepoorthinglovedthiswretchedman，althoughitwashardtoimagineanywomangivingherhearttosuch。
amonster。