"It's lost! the dagger1! with all--"
"Why,--why, Miss Anna,"--his smile grew playful, but his thought ran back to the exploded powder-mill, to the old inventor, to Flora2 in those days, the deported3 schoolmistress's gold still unpaid4 to him, the jeweller and the exchanged gems5, the Sterling6 bill--"Why, Miss Anna! how do you mean, lost?"
"Taken! gone! and by my fault! I--I forgot all about it."
He laughed aloud and around: "Pshaw! Now, ladies and gentlemen, this is some joke you're"--he glanced toward the show-case--
"No," insisted Anna, "it's taken! Here are the other things." She displayed the box.
Madame, very angry, smiled from it to Flora: "Oh, thou love's fool! not to steal that and leave the knife, with which, luckily! now that you have it, you dare not strike!"
All this the subtle girl read in the ancient lady's one small "ahem!" and for reply, in some even more unvoiced way, warned her against the eye of the gray man near the gun. To avoid whose scrutiny7 herself she returned sociably8 to his side.
"The other things!" scoffed9 meantime the gay Hilary, catching10 up Anna's word. "No! if you please, here is the only other thing!" and boyishly flaunted11 the license12 at Mandeville and all the Callenders, the throng13 merrily approving. His eye, falling upon the detective, kindled14 joyfully15: "Oh, you godsend! You hunt up the lost frog-sticker, will you--while we--?" He flourished the document again and the gray man replied with a cordial nod. Kincaid waved thanks and glanced round. "Adolphe!" he called. "Steve, where in the dickens--?"
Whether he so designed it or not, the contrast between his levity17 and Anna's agitation18 convinced Flora, Madame, all, that the weapon's only value to the lovers was sentimental19. "Or religious," thought the detective, whose adjectives could be as inaccurate20 as his divinations. While he conjectured21, Anna spoke22 once more to Hilary. Her vehement23 words were too soft for any ear save his, but their tenor24 was so visible, her distress25 so passionate26 and her firmness of resolve so evident that every mere27 beholder28 fell back, letting the Callender-Valcour group, with Steve and the gentle detective, press closer. With none of them, nor yet with Hilary, was there anything to argue; their plight29 seemed to her hopeless. For them to marry, for her to default, and for him to fly, all in one mad hour--one whirlwind of incident--"It cannot be!" was all she could say, to sister, to stepmother, to Flora, to Hilary again: "We cannot do it! I will not!--till that lost thing is found!"
With keen sympathy the detective, in the pack, enjoyed the play of Hilary's face, where martial30 animation31 strove inspiringly against a torture of dashed hopes. Glancing aside to Flora's as she turned from Anna, he caught there no sign of the storm of joy which had suddenly burst in her bosom32; but for fear he might, and to break across his insight and reckoning, she addressed him.
"Anna she don't give any reason" she exclaimed. "Ask her, you, the reason!"
"'Tain't reason at all," he softly responded, "it's superstition33. But hold on. Watch me." He gestured for the lover's attention and their eyes met. It made a number laugh, to see Hilary's stare gradually go senseless and then blaze with intelligence. Suddenly, joyfully, with every eye following his finger, he pointed34 into the gray man's face:
"Smellemout, you've got it!"
The man shook his head for denial, and his kindly35 twinkle commanded the belief of all. Not a glint in it showed that his next response, however well-meant, was to be a lie.
"Then Ketchem has it!" cried Kincaid.
The silent man let his smile mean yes, and the alert company applauded. "Go h-on with the weddingg!" ordered the superior Mandeville.
"Where's Adolphe?" cried Kincaid, and "On with the wedding!" clamored the lads of the battery, while Anna stood gazing on the gray man and wondering why she had not guessed this very thing.
"Yes," he quietly said to her, "it's all right. You'll have it back to-morrow. 'Twon't cut love if you don't."
At that the gay din36 redoubled, but Flora, with the little grandmother vainly gripping her arms, flashed between the two.
"Anna!" she cried, "I don't bil-ieve!"
Whether it was true or false Mandeville cared nothing, but--"Yes, 'tis true!" he cried in Flora's face, and then to the detective--"Doubtlezz to phot-ograph it that's all you want!"
The detective said little, but Anna assured Flora that was all. "He wants to show it at the trial!"
"Listen!" said Flora.
"Here's Captain Irby!" cried Mrs. Callender--Constance--half a dozen, but--
"Listen!" repeated Flora, and across the curtained veranda37 and in at the open windows, under the general clamor, came a soft palpitating rumble38. Did Hilary hear it, too? He was calling:
"Adolphe, where's your man--the minister? Where in the--three parishes--?" and others were echoing, "The minister! where's the minister?"
Had they also caught the sound?
"Isn't he here?" asked Irby. He drew his watch.
"Half-hour slow!" cried Mandeville, reading it.
"But have you heard noth--?"
"Nothingg!" roared Mandeville.
"Where'd you leave him?" sharply asked Kincaid.
His cousin put on great dignity: "At his door, my dear sir, waiting for the cab I sent him."
"Oh, sent!" cried half the group. "Steve," called Kincaid, "your horse is fresh--"
"But, alas39, without wings!" wailed40 the Creole, caught Hilary's shoulder and struck a harkening pose.
"Too late!" moaned Flora to the detective, Madame to Constance and Miranda, and the battery lads to their girls, from whose hands they began to wring41 wild good-byes as a peal42 of fifes and drums heralded43 the oncome of the departing regiment44.
Thus Charlie Valcour found the company as suddenly he reappeared in it, pushing in to the main group where his leader stood eagerly engaged with Anna.
"All right, Captain!" He saluted45: "All done!" But a fierce anxiety was on his brow and he gave no heed46 to Hilary's dismissing thanks: "Captain, what's 'too late'?" He turned, scowling47, to his sister: "What are we too late for, Flo? Good God! not the wedding? Not your wedding, Miss Anna? It's not too late. By Jove, it sha'n't be too late."
All the boyish lawlessness of his nature rose into his eyes, and a boy's tears with it. "The minister!" he retorted to Constance and his grandmother, "the minister be--Oh, Captain, don't wait for him! Have the thing without a minister!"
The whole room was laughing, Hilary loudest, but the youth's voice prevailed. "It'll hold good!" He turned upon the detective: "Won't it?"
A merry nod was the reply, with cries of "Yes," "Yes," from the battery boys, and he clamored on:
"Why, there's a kind of people--"
"Quakers!" sang out some one.
"Yes, the Quakers! Don't they do it all the time! Of course they do!" With a smile in his wet eyes the lad wheeled upon Victorine: "Oh, by S'n' Peter! if that was the only--"
But the small, compelling hand of the detective faced him round again and with a sudden swell48 of the general laugh he laughed too. "He's trying to behave like Captain Kincaid," one battery sister tried to tell another, whose attention was on a more interesting matter.
"Here!" the gray man was amiably49 saying to Charlie. "It's your advice that's too late. Look."
Before he had half spoken a hush50 so complete had fallen on the company that while every eye sought Hilary and Anna every ear was aware that out on the levee road the passing drums had ceased and the brass--as if purposely to taunt51 the theatrical52 spirit of Flora--had struck up The Ladies' Man. With military curtness53 Kincaid was addressing the score or so of new cannoneers:
"Corporal Valcour, this squad--no, keep your partners, but others please stand to the right and left--these men are under your command. When I presently send you from here you'll take them at a double-quick and close up with that regiment. I'll be at the train when you reach it. Captain Mandeville,"--he turned to the married pair, who were hurriedly scanning the license Miranda had just handed them,--"I adjure54 you as a true and faithful citizen and soldier, and you, madam, as well, to testify to us, all, whether that is or is not the license of court for the marriage of Anna Callender to Hilary Kincaid."
"It is!" eagerly proclaimed the pair.
"Hand it, please, to Charlie. Corporal, you and your men look it over."
"And now--" His eyes swept the throng. Anna's hand, trembling but ready, rose shoulder-high in his. He noted55 the varied56 expressions of face among the family servants hurriedly gathering57 in the doors, and the beautiful amaze of Flora, so genuine yet so well acted. Radiantly he met the flushed gaze of his speechless cousin. "If any one alive," he cried, "knows any cause why this thing should not be, let him now speak or forever hereafter hold his peace." He paused. Constance handed something to her husband.
"Oh, go on," murmured Charlie, and many smiled.
"Soldiers!" resumed the lover, "this fair godmother of your flag agrees that for all we two want just now Kincaid's Battery is minister enough. For all we want is--" Cheers stopped him.
"The prayer-book!" put in Mandeville, pushing it at him. The boys harkened again.
"No," said Kincaid, "time's too short. All we want is to bind58 ourselves, before Heaven and all mankind, in holy wedlock59, for better, or worse, till death us do part. And this we here do in sight of you all, and in the name and sight and fear of God." He dropped his glance to Anna's: "Say Amen."
"Amen," said Anna. At the same moment in one of the doors stood a courier.
"All right!" called Hilary to him. "Tell your colonel we're coming! Just a second more, Captain Irby, if you please. Soldiers!--I, Hilary, take thee, Anna, to be my lawful61 wedded62 wife. And you--"
"I, Anna," she softly broke in, "take thee, Hilary, to be my--" She spoke the matter through, but he had not waited.
"Therefore!" he cried, "you men of Kincaid's Battery--and you, sir,--and you,"--nodding right and left to Mandeville and the detective,--"on this our solemn pledge to supply as soon as ever we can all form of law and social usage here omitted which can more fully16 solemnize this union--do now--"
Up went the detective's hand and then Mandeville's and all the boys', and all together said:
"Pronounce you man and wife."
"Go!" instantly rang Kincaid to Charlie, and in a sudden flutter of gauzes and clink of trappings, with wringing63 of soft fingers by hard ones, and in a tender clamor of bass64 and treble voices, away sprang every cannoneer to knapsacks and sabres in the hall, and down the outer stair into ranks and off under the stars at double-quick. Sisters of the battery, gliding65 out to the veranda rail, faintly saw and heard them a precious moment longer as they sped up the dusty road. Then Irby stepped quickly out, ran down the steps, mounted and galloped66. A far rumble of wheels told the coming of two omnibuses chartered to bear the dancers all, with the Valcours and the detective, to their homes. Now out to the steps came Mandeville. His wife was with him and the maidens67 kindly went in. There the detective joined them. At a hall door Hilary was parting with Madame, Flora, Miranda. Anna was near him with Flora's arm about her in melting fondness. Now Constance rejoined the five, and now Hilary and Anna left the other four and passed slowly out to the garden stair alone.
Beneath them there, with welcoming notes, his lone60 horse trampled68 about the hitching-rail. Dropping his cap the master folded the bride's hands in his and pressed on them a long kiss. The pair looked deeply into each other's eyes. Her brow drooped69 and he laid a kiss on it also. "Now you must go," she murmured.
"My own beloved!" was his response. "My soul's mate!" He tried to draw her, but she held back.
"You must go," she repeated.
"Yes! kiss me and I fly." He tried once more to draw her close, but still in vain.
"No, dearest," she whispered, and trembled. Yet she clutched his imprisoning70 fingers and kissed them. He hugged her hands to his breast.
"Oh, Hilary," she added, "I wish I could! But--don't you know why I can't? Don't you see?"
"No, my treasure, not any more. Why, Anna, you're Anna Kincaid now. You're my wed'--"
Her start of distress stopped him short. "Don't call me that,--my--my own," she faltered71.
"But if you are that--?"
"Oh, I am! thank God, I am! But don't name the name. It's too fearfully holy. We're married for an emergency, love, an awful crisis! which hasn't come to you yet, and may not come at all. When it does, so will I! in that name! and you shall call me by it!"
"Ah, if then you can come! But what do we know?"
"We know in whom we trust, Hilary; must, must, must trust, as we trust and must trust each other."
Still hanging to his hands she pushed them off at arm's-length: "Oh, my Hilary, my hero, my love, my life, my commander, go!" And yet she clung. She drew his fingers close down again and covered them with kisses, while twice, thrice, in solemn adoration72, he laid his lips upon her heavy hair. Suddenly the two looked up. The omnibuses were here in the grove73.
Here too was the old coachman, with the soldier's horse. The vehicles jogged near and halted. A troop of girls, with Flora, tripped out. And still, in their full view, with Flora closest, the bride's hands held the bridegroom's fast. He had neither the strength to pull free nor the wit to understand.
"What is it?" he softly asked, as the staring men waited and the girls about Flora hung back.
"Don't you know?" murmured Anna. "Don't you see--the--the difference?"
All at once he saw! Throwing away her hands he caught her head between his big palms. Her arms flew round his neck, her lips went to his, and for three heart-throbs they clung like bee and flower. Then he sprang down the stair, swung into the saddle, and fled after his men.
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1
dagger
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| n.匕首，短剑，剑号 | |
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flora
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| n.(某一地区的)植物群 | |
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deported
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| v.将…驱逐出境( deport的过去式和过去分词 )；举止 | |
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unpaid
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| adj.未付款的，无报酬的 | |
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gems
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| growth； economy； management； and customer satisfaction 增长 | |
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sterling
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| adj.英币的(纯粹的，货真价实的)；n.英国货币(英镑) | |
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scrutiny
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| n.详细检查，仔细观察 | |
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sociably
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| adv.成群地 | |
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scoffed
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| 嘲笑，嘲弄( scoff的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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catching
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| adj.易传染的，有魅力的，迷人的，接住 | |
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flaunted
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| v.炫耀，夸耀( flaunt的过去式和过去分词 )；有什么能耐就施展出来 | |
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license
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| n.执照，许可证，特许；v.许可，特许 | |
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throng
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| n.人群，群众；v.拥挤，群集 | |
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kindled
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| （使某物）燃烧，着火( kindle的过去式和过去分词 )； 激起（感情等）； 发亮，放光 | |
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joyfully
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| adv. 喜悦地, 高兴地 | |
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fully
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| adv.完全地，全部地，彻底地；充分地 | |
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levity
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| n.轻率，轻浮，不稳定，多变 | |
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agitation
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| n.搅动；搅拌；鼓动，煽动 | |
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sentimental
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| adj.多愁善感的，感伤的 | |
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inaccurate
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| adj.错误的，不正确的，不准确的 | |
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conjectured
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| 推测，猜测，猜想( conjecture的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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spoke
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| n.（车轮的）辐条；轮辐；破坏某人的计划；阻挠某人的行动 v.讲，谈（speak的过去式）；说；演说；从某种观点来说 | |
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vehement
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| adj.感情强烈的；热烈的；(人)有强烈感情的 | |
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tenor
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| n.男高音（歌手），次中音（乐器），要旨，大意 | |
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distress
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| n.苦恼，痛苦，不舒适；不幸；vt.使悲痛 | |
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passionate
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| adj.热情的，热烈的，激昂的，易动情的，易怒的，性情暴躁的 | |
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mere
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| adj.纯粹的；仅仅，只不过 | |
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beholder
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| n.观看者，旁观者 | |
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plight
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| n.困境，境况，誓约，艰难；vt.宣誓，保证，约定 | |
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martial
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| adj.战争的，军事的，尚武的，威武的 | |
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animation
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| n.活泼，兴奋，卡通片／动画片的制作 | |
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bosom
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| n.胸，胸部；胸怀；内心；adj.亲密的 | |
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superstition
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| n.迷信，迷信行为 | |
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pointed
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| adj.尖的，直截了当的 | |
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kindly
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| adj.和蔼的，温和的，爽快的；adv.温和地，亲切地 | |
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din
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| n.喧闹声，嘈杂声 | |
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veranda
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| n.走廊；阳台 | |
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rumble
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| n.隆隆声；吵嚷；v.隆隆响；低沉地说 | |
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alas
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| int.唉(表示悲伤、忧愁、恐惧等) | |
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wailed
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| v.哭叫，哀号( wail的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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wring
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| n.扭绞；v.拧，绞出，扭 | |
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42
peal
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| n.钟声；v.鸣响 | |
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heralded
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| v.预示( herald的过去式和过去分词 )；宣布（好或重要） | |
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regiment
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| n.团，多数，管理；v.组织，编成团，统制 | |
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saluted
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| v.欢迎，致敬( salute的过去式和过去分词 )；赞扬，赞颂 | |
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46
heed
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| v.注意，留意；n.注意，留心 | |
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47
scowling
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| 怒视，生气地皱眉( scowl的现在分词 ) | |
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swell
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| vi.膨胀，肿胀；增长，增强 | |
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amiably
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| adv.和蔼可亲地，亲切地 | |
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50
hush
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| int.嘘，别出声；n.沉默，静寂；v.使安静 | |
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taunt
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| n.辱骂，嘲弄；v.嘲弄 | |
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52
theatrical
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| adj.剧场的，演戏的；做戏似的，做作的 | |
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53
curtness
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| n.简短；草率；简略 | |
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adjure
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| v.郑重敦促(恳请) | |
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noted
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| adj.著名的，知名的 | |
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varied
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| adj.多样的，多变化的 | |
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gathering
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| n.集会，聚会，聚集 | |
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bind
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| vt.捆，包扎；装订；约束；使凝固；vi.变硬 | |
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wedlock
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| n.婚姻，已婚状态 | |
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lone
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| adj.孤寂的，单独的；唯一的 | |
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lawful
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| adj.法律许可的，守法的，合法的 | |
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wedded
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| adj.正式结婚的；渴望…的，执著于…的v.嫁，娶，（与…）结婚( wed的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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wringing
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| 淋湿的，湿透的 | |
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bass
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| n.男低音(歌手)；低音乐器；低音大提琴 | |
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gliding
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| v. 滑翔 adj. 滑动的 | |
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66
galloped
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| （使马）飞奔，奔驰( gallop的过去式和过去分词 )； 快速做[说]某事 | |
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67
maidens
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| 处女( maiden的名词复数 )； 少女； 未婚女子； （板球运动）未得分的一轮投球 | |
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trampled
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| 踩( trample的过去式和过去分词 )； 践踏； 无视； 侵犯 | |
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drooped
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| 弯曲或下垂，发蔫( droop的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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70
imprisoning
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| v.下狱，监禁( imprison的现在分词 ) | |
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71
faltered
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| （嗓音）颤抖( falter的过去式和过去分词 )； 支吾其词； 蹒跚； 摇晃 | |
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72
adoration
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| n.爱慕，崇拜 | |
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73
grove
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| n.林子，小树林，园林 | |
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