"I've always longed to be more with Mamma Bee and to learn to know her better," she said to her friend; "for, though she was very loving and gentle to me while I was with her, she spent most of her life caring for Gran'pa Jim, and they were away from me so much that I really didn't get to know Mamma very well. I think she worried a good deal over Gran'pa's troubles. She couldn't help that, of course, but I always hoped that some day the troubles would be over and we could all live happily together. And now—that can never be!"
Irene, knowing more of the Hathaway family history than Mary Louise did, through the letter she had found and read, was often perplexed4 how to console her friend and still regard honesty and truth. Any deception5, even when practiced through the best of motives6, was abhorrent7 to her nature, so she avoided speaking of the present affliction and led Mary Louise to look to a future life for the motherly companionship she had missed on earth.
"That," said she, "is the thought that has always given me the most comfort. We are both orphans8, dear, and I'm sure your nature is as brave as my own and that you can bear equally well the loss of your parents."
And Mary Louise was really brave and tried hard to bear her grief with patient resignation. One thing she presently decided9 in her mind, although she did not mention it to Irene. She must find Gran'pa Jim and go to him, wherever he might be. Gran'pa Jim and her mother had been inseparable companions; Mary Louise knew that her own present sorrow could be nothing when compared with that of her grandfather. And so it was her duty to find him and comfort him, to devote her whole life, as her mother had done, to caring for his wants and cheering his loneliness—so far, indeed, as she was able to do. Of course, no one could quite take the place of Mamma Bee.
She was thinking in this vein10 as she sat in the den11 with Irene that Saturday afternoon. The chair-girl, who sewed beautifully, was fixing over one of Mary Louise's black dresses while Mary Louise sat opposite, listlessly watching her. The door into the hall was closed, but the glass door to the rear porch was wide open to let in the sun and air. And this simple scene was the setting for the drama about to be enacted12.
Mary Louise had her back half turned to the hall door, which Irene partially13 faced, and so it was that when the door opened softly and the chair-girl raised her head to gaze with startled surprise at someone who stood in the doorway14, Mary Louise first curiously15 eyed her friend's expressive16 face and then, rather languidly, turned her head to glance over her shoulder.
The next moment she sprang to her feet and rushed forward.
"Gran'pa Jim—Oh, Gran'pa Jim!" she cried, and threw herself into the arms of a tall man who folded her to his breast in a close embrace.
For a while they stood there silent, while Irene dropped her eyes to her lap, deeming the reunion too sacred to be observed by another. And then a little stir at the open porch door attracted her attention and with a shock of repulsion she saw Agatha Lord standing17 there with a cynical18 smile on her lovely face. Softly the sash of the window was raised, and the maid Susan stood on the ground outside, leaned her elbows on the sill and quietly regarded the scene within the den.
The opening of the window arrested Colonel Weatherby's attention. He lifted his head and with a quick glance took in the situation. Then, still holding his granddaughter in his arms, he advanced to the center of the room and said sternly, addressing Agatha:
"Forgive us if we intrude20, Mr. Hathaway," replied Agatha. "It was not our desire to interrupt your meeting with your granddaughter, but—it has been so difficult, in the past, to secure an interview with you, sir, that we dared not risk missing you at this time."
He regarded her with an expression of astonishment21.
"That's it, exactly, Mr. Weatherby-Hathaway," remarked Susan mockingly, from her window.
"Don't pay any attention to them, Gran'pa Jim," begged Mary Louise, clinging to him. "They're just two dreadful women who live down below here, and—and—"
"I realize who they are," said the old gentleman in a calm voice, and addressing Agatha again he continued: "Since you are determined22 to interview me, pray step inside and be seated."
"Not yet, Hathaway. We can't afford to take chances with one who has dodged24 the whole Department for ten years."
"Then you are Government agents?" he asked.
"That's it, sir."
He turned his head toward the door by which he had entered, for there was an altercation25 going on in the hallway and Mr. Conant's voice could be heard angrily protesting.
A moment later the lawyer came in, followed by the little man with the fat nose, who bowed to Colonel Weatherby very respectfully yet remained planted in the doorway.
"This is—er—er—very unfortunate, sir; ve-ry un-for-tu-nate!" exclaimed Peter Conant, chopping off each word with a sort of snarl26. "These con-found-ed secret service people have trailed us here."
"It doesn't matter, Mr. Conant," replied the Colonel, in a voice composed but very weary. He seated himself in a chair, as he spoke27, and Mary Louise sat on the arm of it, still embracing him.
"No," said O'Gorman, "it really doesn't matter, sir. In fact, I'm sure you will feel relieved to have this affair off your mind and be spared all further annoyance28 concerning it."
Peter Conant who faced the speaker and demanded:
"What do you mean by that statement?"
"Mr. Hathaway knows what I mean. He can, in a few words, explain why he has for years borne the accusation30 of a crime of which he is innocent."
Peter Conant was so astounded31 he could do nothing but stare at the detective. Staring was the very best thing that Peter did and he never stared harder in his life. The tears had been coursing down Mary Louise's cheeks, but now a glad look crossed her face.
"Do you hear that, Gran'pa Jim?" she cried. "Of course you are innocent! I've always known that; but now even your enemies do."
Mr. Hathaway looked long into the girl's eyes, which met his own hopefully, almost joyfully32. Then he turned to O'Gorman.
"I cannot prove my innocence," he said.
"Do you mean that you WILL not?"
"I will go with you and stand my trial. I will accept whatever punishment the law decrees."
O'Gorman nodded his head.
"I know exactly how you feel about it, Mr. Hathaway," he said, "and I sympathize with you most earnestly. Will you allow me to sit down awhile? Thank you."
He took a chair facing that of the hunted man. Agatha, seeing this, seated herself on the door-step. Nan maintained her position, leaning through the open window.
"This," said O'Gorman, "is a strange ease. It has always been a strange case, sir, from the very beginning. Important government secrets of the United States were stolen and turned over to the agent of a foreign government which is none too friendly to our own. It was considered, in its day, one of the most traitorous33 crimes in our history. And you, sir, a citizen of high standing and repute, were detected in the act of transferring many of these important papers to a spy, thus periling34 the safety of the nation. You were caught red-handed, so to speak, but made your escape and in a manner remarkable35 and even wonderful for its adroitness36 have for years evaded37 every effort on the part of our Secret Service Department to effect your capture. And yet, despite the absolute truth of this statement, you are innocent."
None cared to reply for a time. Some who had listened to O'Gorman were too startled to speak; others refrained. Mary Louise stared at the detective with almost Peter Conant's expression—her eyes big and round. Irene thrilled with joyous38 anticipation39, for in the presence of this sorrowing, hunted, white-haired old man, whose years had been devoted40 to patient self-sacrifice, the humiliation41 the coming disclosure would, thrust upon Mary Louise seemed now insignificant42. Until this moment Irene had been determined to suppress the knowledge gained through the old letter in order to protect the feelings of her friend, but now a crying need for the truth to prevail was borne in upon her. She had thought that she alone knew this truth. To her astonishment, as well as satisfaction, the chair-girl now discovered that O'Gorman was equally well informed.
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1
demeanor
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| n.行为；风度 | |
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bereaved
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| adj.刚刚丧失亲人的v.使失去（希望、生命等）( bereave的过去式和过去分词)；（尤指死亡）使丧失（亲人、朋友等）；使孤寂；抢走（财物） | |
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solace
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| n.安慰；v.使快乐；vt.安慰(物)，缓和 | |
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perplexed
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| adj.不知所措的 | |
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deception
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| n.欺骗，欺诈；骗局，诡计 | |
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motives
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| n.动机，目的( motive的名词复数 ) | |
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abhorrent
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| adj.可恶的，可恨的，讨厌的 | |
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orphans
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| 孤儿( orphan的名词复数 ) | |
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decided
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| adj.决定了的，坚决的；明显的，明确的 | |
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vein
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| n.血管，静脉；叶脉，纹理；情绪；vt.使成脉络 | |
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den
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| n.兽穴；秘密地方；安静的小房间，私室 | |
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12
enacted
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| 制定（法律），通过（法案）( enact的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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partially
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| adv.部分地，从某些方面讲 | |
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doorway
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| n.门口，(喻)入门；门路，途径 | |
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curiously
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| adv.有求知欲地；好问地；奇特地 | |
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expressive
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| adj.表现的，表达…的，富于表情的 | |
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standing
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| n.持续，地位；adj.永久的，不动的，直立的，不流动的 | |
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cynical
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| adj.(对人性或动机)怀疑的，不信世道向善的 | |
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insolence
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| n.傲慢；无礼；厚颜；傲慢的态度 | |
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20
intrude
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| vi.闯入；侵入；打扰，侵扰 | |
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astonishment
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| n.惊奇，惊异 | |
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determined
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| adj.坚定的；有决心的 | |
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outright
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| adv.坦率地；彻底地；立即；adj.无疑的；彻底的 | |
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dodged
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| v.闪躲( dodge的过去式和过去分词 )；回避 | |
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25
altercation
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| n.争吵，争论 | |
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snarl
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| v.吼叫，怒骂，纠缠，混乱；n.混乱，缠结，咆哮 | |
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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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annoyance
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| n.恼怒，生气，烦恼 | |
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steadily
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| adv.稳定地；不变地；持续地 | |
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accusation
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| n.控告，指责，谴责 | |
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31
astounded
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| v.使震惊(astound的过去式和过去分词)；愕然；愕；惊讶 | |
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32
joyfully
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| adv. 喜悦地, 高兴地 | |
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traitorous
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| adj. 叛国的, 不忠的, 背信弃义的 | |
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34
periling
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| 置…于危险中（peril的现在分词形式） | |
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remarkable
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| adj.显著的，异常的，非凡的，值得注意的 | |
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adroitness
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37
evaded
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| 逃避( evade的过去式和过去分词 )； 避开； 回避； 想不出 | |
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joyous
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| adj.充满快乐的；令人高兴的 | |
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anticipation
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| n.预期，预料，期望 | |
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40
devoted
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| adj.忠诚的，忠实的，热心的，献身于...的 | |
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41
humiliation
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| n.羞辱 | |
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42
insignificant
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| adj.无关紧要的，可忽略的，无意义的 | |
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