"I didn't know you were coming back so soon," he greeted her.
"Didn't you?" she asked indifferently. "When my father had finished his business we suddenly made up our minds to leave, without consulting Mrs. Denton. I suppose that explains your ignorance."
"You're smart," he said. "As soon as you're ready to receive people I must make my call."
It was getting dark, but the lights from the store[Pg 195] window fell on his face, and Geraldine saw a glitter in his eyes. She thought he meant to defy her.
"You are excused, so far as I am concerned," she replied uncompromisingly.
Mappin stood silent a moment or two, looking at her hard, and she felt half afraid of him.
"You would rather see Allinson! But that's a pleasure you may find deferred5. You didn't get much news of him just now!"
"I don't doubt that you heard me ask for it, though there were two teamsters waiting to buy things, who had the good manners to keep away."
"Certainly I heard," he answered coolly; "that's the kind of man I am. I don't let chances pass."
Geraldine knew that he would make unscrupulous use of those he seized, but his candor6 had its effect on her. He was overbearing, but there was force in the man, and she grew uneasy. Though she shrank from him, she admitted his power; unless she roused herself to fight, he might break her will.
"One could hardly consider it an admirable type," she said, getting into the sleigh. "However, it's too cold to stand talking."
Mappin was obliged to step back when she started the team, and she drove off in some confusion, glad to escape, but feeling that she had run away. It had seemed the safest course, though she did not think she was a coward. Then as the team trotted7 across the frozen lake she remembered Mappin's curious tone when he had spoken of Andrew Allinson. He had suggested with an unpleasant hint of satisfaction that Andrew's return might be delayed, and she grew troubled as she thought of it. Still, she reasoned, as no news had reached the Landing, Mappin could know[Pg 196] nothing about the matter, and the men Andrew had with him were accustomed to the bush. Dismissing the subject, she urged the horses and drew the thick driving-robe close about her. It was very cold and she shivered as she wondered how Andrew and his comrades were faring in the North.
Some days later she met Mrs. Graham at the post-office and inquired about her husband. Geraldine thought she looked anxious.
"He's a little behind time; but soft snow or storms might delay the party."
"Then he mentioned a time when you could expect him?"
"Yes," said Mrs. Graham. "He warned me that he might be a week late; but they thought out the journey very carefully, because it was a question of carrying enough food."
"You mean that helped to fix the time of their return?"
"Of course! They couldn't get food anywhere except at a Hudson Bay factory, and they couldn't take a large quantity. That means they knew within a week or so when they must reach the provision caches that were to be made for them north of the mine."
"I understand," said Geraldine. "They wouldn't delay when they came to the caches, except, perhaps, for a day's rest. I suppose the food was taken up?"
"Oh, yes! I saw the packers leave and come down. They were good bushmen and one of them knew the country. He made the caches at the places decided8 on."
"Then the expedition should be quite safe," said Geraldine cheerfully; but when she left Mrs. Graham she grew thoughtful.
[Pg 197]Andrew was late and Geraldine saw that delay might be dangerous. The men would lose no time in coming south, because, considering the difficulty of transport, the margin9 of provisions would not be large. Nothing but a serious accident would detain them, which was disconcerting to reflect upon. Then she reasoned that their provisions would be nearly exhausted10 when they reached the caches, and her mind dwelt on the point, because it was essential that they should obtain fresh supplies. She felt uneasy as she remembered a remark of Mappin's, which she did not think he had made casually11. There had been a significant grimness in his manner when he had spoken of Allinson. After all, however, it was possible that there was no ground for anxiety: the prospectors12 might turn up in the next few days.
As there was no news of them, however, Geraldine drove to the settlement one evening and called on Mrs. Graham. She found her seriously disturbed.
"A man came down from the mine this morning, and my husband hadn't arrived," she said. "I'm afraid something has gone wrong!"
"What can have gone wrong?"
"I don't know; I've been thinking about it all the last few days and trying not to be afraid. Of course, they would be safe if they reached the food caches."
"Yes," said Geraldine; "those caches are important. But as nobody has turned up I don't think you need be alarmed. The worst would be if one came back alone."
Mrs. Graham did not seem much comforted when Geraldine left her; and the girl, driving home in the moonlight, tried to face the situation calmly. She admitted, without reserve for the first time, that she loved Andrew Allinson; and he was in danger. Something[Pg 198] must be done to extricate13 him, and while she wondered how she ought to set about it her thoughts turned to Mappin. It dawned on her that he knew what peril14 threatened the party, and this suggested that he had either allowed the men to involve themselves in unsuspected difficulties, or had brought the difficulties about. They had depended on him in some way and he had betrayed them. Geraldine shuddered15 at the thought, but she roused herself, for it was obvious that if her suspicions were correct, the man's designs must be combated. Mappin was strong and cunning; but she had ready wits and her lover's safety was at stake.
The next evening Mappin came to the house, and Geraldine carefully made some changes in her dress before she entered the drawing-room, where he was talking with Mrs. Denton. He rose with a challenging smile as she came in, and Geraldine was glad to feel that she was looking her best. It was humiliating to dress to please this man, but there was a struggle before her and she must use such weapons as she had.
"You're surprised to see me?" he said.
"Oh, no! I didn't doubt your boldness."
Mappin glanced at her sharply, for there was nothing ungracious in her tone. Her manner hinted at a change of mood; but he understood that women were variable.
"Then I have your permission to remain?"
"I'm not sure that you need it, and it would be inhospitable to refuse it," Geraldine replied, as if amused.
Mrs. Denton looked from one to the other in a puzzled way, but she said nothing, and Mappin began to talk, relating scraps16 of news picked up at the Landing. Geraldine showed some interest, and after a while Mrs. Denton, seeing them apparently17 on good terms, judiciously18 left them. Then the girl ceased to respond[Pg 199] to her companion's remarks, and Mappin, never a brilliant conversationalist, found it hard to go on. He began to show impatience19, and Geraldine enjoyed his embarrassment20. At last he glanced toward the piano.
"I wish you would play or sing something," he begged.
Geraldine rose good-humoredly and opened the piano.
"I didn't know you cared for music."
"I don't, as a rule."
"That sounds like a compliment," she answered, smiling. "It's a pity I haven't any jingling21 rag-time tunes22."
"They're what I like—my taste isn't classical; but I don't mind your taking a shot at me. One doesn't want music to make one serious."
"You think one should be serious only where money is concerned?"
"Well," he said grimly, "I haven't found trying to get it very amusing; but I can be in earnest in other matters."
"So I suppose," responded Geraldine, turning over the music. "Here's something that might please you. Will you light the candles?"
Her amiability23 had cost her an effort, and it grew harder as she opened the song. It was pointed24 with witty25 coquetry, and she hesitated for a moment with a feeling of humiliation26, though she meant to play out her part. Andrew and his friends were in peril in the icy wilds; somehow they were at the mercy of this cruel, gross-natured man; and, hateful as her task was, she must not shrink. She thought he could be led on to betray himself. Tingling27 with shame, she sang with all the fire and art she could command, and Mappin was swept off his feet.
[Pg 200]Music had no great charm for him, but the ballad28 was one he could appreciate, and the girl's beauty had a stronger effect. The light of the shaded candles fell on her face, which was slightly flushed, and forced up gleams in her hair. She looked inexpressibly alluring29; her fine voice and arch smile well brought out the half-tender mockery of the song. He noticed the supple30 shapeliness of her figure and the polished whiteness of her skin, and his heart began to throb31 fast and his eyes to glisten32. Turning over a leaf, he came near shaking down the music, and he drew back thrilled when she made a gesture of amused rebuke33. There was, he felt, something very friendly in it.
When she stopped he leaned on the piano looking down at her, and Geraldine knew that she had gone far enough. After having treated him with cold indifference34, she must not be too gracious, lest his suspicions be aroused. The man was in her hands, but he was not a fool. She hated him as she saw the crude desire in his face.
"Thank you," he said hoarsely35, and picked out another song at random36. "Won't you try this? I've never heard it."
"No," she answered firmly; "not that one."
It was the ballad which Andrew had told her helped to send him up into the wilds where his duty lay. Henceforward it was sacred—not to be sung to such a man as Mappin.
"Why?" he demanded.
"I sing that only to people who I know will appreciate it."
"And you don't think I would?"
"It strikes me as very doubtful," she said with a smile in which there was a touch of scorn.
[Pg 201]His color deepened. She had shown signs of yielding, and how he wondered whether she had after all been amusing herself with him. Stirred as he was by passion he was in no reasoning mood; savage37 jealousy38 filled his heart.
"It's the kind of thing you keep for sentimental39 fools like Allinson!" he exclaimed.
Geraldine had expected some such outbreak. Indeed it was what she desired.
"Well," she said with a tenderness which was meant to disturb her companion, "I sang it to him once."
"It will be a long while before you sing it to him again!"
The voice rang harsh with exultant40 fierceness and Geraldine knew that she had gained her object in rousing the brute41 in him. She had learned the truth—for whatever danger threatened her lover this man was responsible. But there was more she must know.
"As he's a friend of ours, you're not very considerate," she said. "What makes you speak with so much certainty?"
Mappin saw that he had been rash, and he was instantly on his guard.
"It was a fool thing to go North in winter. It's no country for a raw tenderfoot, and Allinson should have taken a stronger party. I know something about transport work in the bush."
"I suppose food would be their greatest difficulty," Geraldine remarked with a thoughtful air.
"Still, food would be a consideration," Geraldine persisted. "I know they thought a good deal about the matter and had some caches made. If they couldn't[Pg 202] find them coming back, it would be serious, wouldn't it?"
Mappin's jealousy was heightened by her interest, but he regretted his haste and meant to be cautious. Unfortunately for him, the charm Geraldine had exercised had carried him away. He could not think as clearly as usual.
"The provisions were carefully packed and sent up in charge of good men," he declared hotly. "They were properly cached; every precaution was taken."
"Were they your men?"
Mappin glanced at her sharply, but read nothing in her face. He could not evade43 the question without rousing suspicion.
"Yes," he said; "that's why I know they could be relied on to do their work."
Geraldine sat silent a moment, struggling to preserve her calm. She had found out what she wished to know. She understood now why Mappin had insisted on the dangers of the journey and made light of the question of food. He had, with scarcely conceivable cruelty, cut off the party's supplies. Still, he must not suspect that she knew this. With an effort she took up another piece of music.
"We are anxious for news of the expedition, and it's comforting to remember that they had an excellent guide," she said. "But I'll play you something."
Before the piece was finished, her father came in and she left him to entertain their guest. Seeking her room she sat down, feeling suddenly limp from strain. That she was humbled44 and ashamed did not matter; she was filled, on the one hand, with hatred45 and loathing46 for the man she had led on, and, on the other, with anxiety for Andrew.
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1
proprietor
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| n.所有人；业主；经营者 | |
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2
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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3
annoyance
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| n.恼怒，生气，烦恼 | |
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4
daunted
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| 使（某人）气馁，威吓( daunt的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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5
deferred
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| adj.延期的，缓召的v.拖延，延缓，推迟( defer的过去式和过去分词 )；服从某人的意愿，遵从 | |
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6
candor
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| n.坦白，率真 | |
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7
trotted
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| 小跑，急走( trot的过去分词 )； 匆匆忙忙地走 | |
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8
decided
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| adj.决定了的，坚决的；明显的，明确的 | |
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margin
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| n.页边空白；差额；余地，余裕；边，边缘 | |
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10
exhausted
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| adj.极其疲惫的，精疲力尽的 | |
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11
casually
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| adv.漠不关心地，无动于衷地，不负责任地 | |
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12
prospectors
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| n.勘探者，探矿者( prospector的名词复数 ) | |
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13
extricate
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| v.拯救，救出；解脱 | |
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14
peril
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| n.(严重的)危险；危险的事物 | |
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15
shuddered
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| v.战栗( shudder的过去式和过去分词 )；发抖；（机器、车辆等）突然震动；颤动 | |
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16
scraps
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| 油渣 | |
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apparently
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| adv.显然地；表面上，似乎 | |
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18
judiciously
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| adv.明断地，明智而审慎地 | |
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impatience
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| n.不耐烦，急躁 | |
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20
embarrassment
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| n.尴尬；使人为难的人(事物)；障碍；窘迫 | |
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21
jingling
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| 叮当声 | |
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22
tunes
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| n.曲调，曲子( tune的名词复数 )v.调音( tune的第三人称单数 )；调整；（给收音机、电视等）调谐；使协调 | |
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23
amiability
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| n.和蔼可亲的，亲切的，友善的 | |
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24
pointed
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| adj.尖的，直截了当的 | |
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witty
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| adj.机智的，风趣的 | |
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humiliation
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| n.羞辱 | |
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27
tingling
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| v.有刺痛感( tingle的现在分词 ) | |
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28
ballad
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| n.歌谣，民谣，流行爱情歌曲 | |
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29
alluring
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| adj.吸引人的，迷人的 | |
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30
supple
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| adj.柔软的，易弯的，逢迎的，顺从的，灵活的；vt.使柔软，使柔顺，使顺从；vi.变柔软，变柔顺 | |
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31
throb
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| v.震颤，颤动；(急速强烈地)跳动，搏动 | |
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32
glisten
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| vi.（光洁或湿润表面等）闪闪发光，闪闪发亮 | |
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33
rebuke
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| v.指责，非难，斥责 [反]praise | |
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34
indifference
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| n.不感兴趣，不关心，冷淡，不在乎 | |
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35
hoarsely
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| adv.嘶哑地 | |
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random
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| adj.随机的；任意的；n.偶然的(或随便的)行动 | |
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37
savage
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| adj.野蛮的；凶恶的，残暴的；n.未开化的人 | |
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38
jealousy
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| n.妒忌，嫉妒，猜忌 | |
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39
sentimental
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| adj.多愁善感的，感伤的 | |
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40
exultant
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| adj.欢腾的，狂欢的，大喜的 | |
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41
brute
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| n.野兽，兽性 | |
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42
blizzards
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| 暴风雪( blizzard的名词复数 )； 暴风雪似的一阵，大量（或大批） | |
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43
evade
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| vt.逃避，回避；避开，躲避 | |
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44
humbled
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| adj. 卑下的，谦逊的，粗陋的 vt. 使 ... 卑下，贬低 | |
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45
hatred
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| n.憎恶，憎恨，仇恨 | |
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46
loathing
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| n.厌恶，憎恨v.憎恨，厌恶( loathe的现在分词)；极不喜欢 | |
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