登陆注册
15705700000015

第15章

SWEEPING out from between two remote, half-submerged dunes on which stood slender sentry light. houses, the steamer began to roll with a gentle insinuating motion. Passengers in their staterooms saw at rhythmical intervals the spray racing fleetly past the portholes. The waves grappled hurriedly at the sides of the great flying steamer and boiled discomfited astern in a turmoil of green and white. From the tops of the enormous funnels streamed level masses of smoke which were immediately torn to nothing by the headlong wind. Meanwhile as the steamer rushed into the northeast, men in caps and ulsters comfortably paraded the decks and stewards arranged deck chairs for the reception of various women who were coming from their cabins with rugs.

In the smoking room, old voyagers were settling down comfortably while new voyagers were regarding them with a diffident respect. Among the passengers Coleman found a number of people whom he knew, including a wholesale wine merchant, a Chicago railway magnate and a New York millionaire. They lived practically in the smoking room.

Necessity drove them from time to time to the salon, or to their berths. Once indeed the millionaire was absent, from the group while penning a short note to his wife.

When the Irish coast was sighted Coleman came on deck to look at it. A tall young woman immediately halted in her walk until he had stepped up to her. " Well, of all ungallant men, Rufus Coleman, you are the star," she cried laughing and held out her hand.

" Awfully sorry, I'm sure," he murmured. " Been playing poker in the smoking room all voyage. Didn't have a look at the passenger list until just now. Why didn't you send me word?"These lies were told so modestly and sincerely that when the girl flashed her, brilliant eyes full upon their author there was a mixt of admiration in the indignation.

" Send you a card " I don't believe you can read, else you would have known I was to sail on this steamer. If I hadn't been ill until to-day you would have seen me in the salon. I open at the Folly Theatre next week. Dear ol' Lunnon, y' know."" Of course, I knew you were going," said Coleman.

"But I thought you were to go later. What do you open in? "" Fly by Night. Come walk along with me. See those two old ladies " They've been watching for me like hawks ever since we left New York. They expected me to flirt with every man on board. But I've fooled them. I've been just as g-o-o-d. I had to be."As the pair moved toward the stern, enormous and radiant green waves were crashing futilely after the steamer.

Ireland showed a dreary coast line to the north. A wretched man who had crossed the Atlantic eighty-four times was declaiming to a group of novices. A venerable banker, bundled in rugs, was asleep in his deck chair.

" Well, Nora," said Coleman, " I hope you make a hit in London. You deserve it if anybody does. You've worked hard.""Worked hard," cried the girl. "I should think so. Eight years ago I was in the rear row. Now I have the centre of the stage whenever I want it. I made Chalmers cut out that great scene in the second act between the queen and Rodolfo. The idea! Did he think I would stand that ? And just because he was in love with Clara Trotwood, too."Coleman was dreamy. " Remember when I was dramatic man for the Gazette and wrote the first notice ? "" Indeed, I do," answered the girl affectionately.

" Indeed, I do, Rufus. Ah, that was a great lift. I believe that was the first thing that had an effect on old Oliver. Before that, he never would believe that I was any good. Give me your arm, Rufus. Let's parade before the two old women." Coleman glanced at her keenly. Her voice had trembled slightly. Her eyes were lustrous as if she were about to weep.

" Good heavens," he said. " You are the same old Nora Black. I thought you would be proud and 'aughty by this time."" Not to my friends," she murmured., " Not to my friends. I'm always the same and I never forget. Rufus."" Never forget what? " asked Coleman.

" If anybody does me a favour I never forget it as long as Ilive," she answered fervently.

" Oh, you mustn't be so sentimental, Nora. You remember that play you bought from little Ben Whipple, just because he had once sent you some flowers in the old days when you were poor and happened to bed sick. A sense of gratitude cost you over eight thousand dollars that time, didn't it? " Coleman laughed heartily.

" Oh, it wasn't the flowers at all," she interrupted seriously. "Of course Ben was always a nice boy, but then his play was worth a thousand dollars. That's all I gave him. I lost some more in trying to make it go. But it was too good. That was what was the matter. It was altogether too good for the public. I felt awfully sorry for poor little Ben.""Too good?" sneered Coleman. "Too good? Too indifferently bad, you mean. My dear girl, you mustn't imagine that you know a good play. You don't, at all."She paused abruptly and faced him. This regal, creature was looking at him so sternly that Coleman felt awed for a moment as if he, were in the presence of a great mind. " Do you mean to say that I'm not an artist ? " she asked.

Coleman remained cool. " I've never been decorated for informing people of their own affairs," he observed, " but Ishould say that you were about as much of an artist as I am."Frowning slightly, she reflected upon this reply. Then, of a sudden, she laughed. " There is no use in being angry with you, Rufus. You always were a hopeless scamp. But," she added, childishly wistful, "have you ever seen Fly by Night?

Don't you think my dance in the second act is artistic? "" No," said Coleman, " I haven't seen Fly by Night yet, but of course I know that you are the most beautiful dancer on the stage. Everybody knows that."It seemed that her hand tightened on his arm. Her face was radiant. " There," she exclaimed. " Now you are forgiven. You are a nice boy, Rufus-some-times."

同类推荐
热门推荐
  • 疯狂的地球人

    疯狂的地球人

    我是天才,很高兴能看到我写的东西;我在工地上班的,这是我写的第一本书,内容可能倾向于精神分析的观点,有什么疑问欢迎一起讨论的。
  • 回明逍遥游

    回明逍遥游

    穿越回到大明朝,放纵不羁爱自由,寻找向往的逍遥自在。
  • 凡尘往年

    凡尘往年

    如同贫瘠大地上草根一样的人很多,认识黎萧之前,蓝烟以为自己是世界上生命力最倔强顽强的那一株草,生命的乐章里她不是最强有力的那个音符,却一定是最柔韧的。认识黎萧之后蓝烟长时间以为他就是个绣花枕头,中看,不知道中不中用,但也先入为主认为他必然是银样镴枪头。了解他之后,蓝烟觉得自己就是一棵妄图与大树媲美的小草,看得见自己在初春末秋时候挣命,看不见大树在疾风酷雨中求生。
  • 相思谋:妃常难娶

    相思谋:妃常难娶

    某日某王府张灯结彩,婚礼进行时,突然不知从哪冒出来一个小孩,对着新郎道:“爹爹,今天您的大婚之喜,娘亲让我来还一样东西。”说完提着手中的玉佩在新郎面前晃悠。此话一出,一府宾客哗然,然当大家看清这小孩与新郎如一个模子刻出来的面容时,顿时石化。此时某屋顶,一个绝色女子不耐烦的声音响起:“儿子,事情办完了我们走,别在那磨矶,耽误时间。”新郎一看屋顶上的女子,当下怒火攻心,扔下新娘就往女子所在的方向扑去,吼道:“女人,你给本王站住。”一场爱与被爱的追逐正式开始、、、、、、、
  • 混坤

    混坤

    少年元尚外出狩猎无意中遇到因法力丧失从天而降的朱暝神兽,而得到神兽的馈赠,为了帮助神兽回归神界,元尚由此踏上了自己的修行之路。。。。。。
  • 威尼斯商人

    威尼斯商人

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。
  • 杀手之我是特种兵

    杀手之我是特种兵

    人生就像游戏,不是玩弄,就是被玩。整个社会充满了勾心斗角,而我只是守护心中的最后一片净土-“本来摘自杀手之我是特种兵”男人就都爱看的书,热血,激情,刺激,快感,带给你枪炮的热血感,带给你速度和狂飙的激情和刺激,带给你不一样的快感。
  • 王爷的亲亲娘子

    王爷的亲亲娘子

    “程医生,刚新收一个你管的52床病人,他名字有点奇怪,听说你的名字后就马上叫你过去一趟。”“程医生,52床病人心痛叫你过去一趟”“程医生,52床病人要出院了叫你过去一趟。”“程医生,520床病人又进院了叫你过去一趟。”“小雨啊,我们科室有520床的吗?”“程医生,是以前那个52床轩九叫我这样说的,他还让我对你说一句话5201314,么么哒。”
  • 夜未央昼未至

    夜未央昼未至

    两个逆改命运的人。一个微小事件。翻天覆地的变化。化腐朽为神奇,让过去死在来时的路上。一切安然有序,重新开始
  • 丝雨扬尘

    丝雨扬尘

    女生的成长,女生的蜕变,这,记录了我从逗比少女转为懵懂少女再转为成熟少女的过程,我收获了亲情,友情,却也经历了生离死别,纠纷杂念,而我的故事比较传奇