按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
way。 Her universal popularity he disliked。 He argued that to gain
popularity one must concede and capitulate。 He felt that the sister
of an acknowledged crook； no matter how innocent she might be；
were she a sensitive woman； would wish to efface herself。 And
he had found that； as a rule； women who worked in hospitals and
organized societies bored him。 He did not admire the militant；
executive sister。 He pictured Miss Ward as probably pretty； but
with the coquettish effrontery of the village belle and with the
pushing； 〃good…fellow〃 manners of the new school。 He was prepared
either to have her slap him on the back or； from behind tilted
eye…glasses； make eyes at him。 He was sure she wore eye…glasses；
and was large； plump； and Junoesque。 With reluctance he entered
the outer office。 He saw； all in white； a girl so young that she
was hardly more than a child； but with the tall； slim figure of a
boy。 Her face was lovely as the face of a violet； and her eyes
were as shy。 But shy not through lack of confidence in Everett；
nor in any human being； but in herself。 They seemed to say； 〃I am
a very unworthy； somewhat frightened young person； but you； who
are so big and generous； will overlook that； and you are going to
be my friend。 Indeed； I see you are my friend。〃
Everett stood quite still。 He nodded gloomily。
〃Garland was right；〃 he exclaimed； 〃I do！〃
The young lady was plainly distressed。
〃Do what？〃 she stammered。
〃Some day I will tell you；〃 said the young man。 〃Yes；〃 he added；
without shame； 〃I am afraid I will。〃 He bowed her into the inner
office。
〃I am sorry；〃 apologized Monica； 〃but I am come to ask a favor
two favors； one of you and one of the American minister。〃
Everett drew his armchair from his desk and waved Monica into it。
〃I was sent here；〃 he said； 〃to do exactly what you want。 The
last words the President addressed to me were； 'On arriving at
your post report to Miss Monica Ward。〃'
Fearfully； Monica perched herself on the edge of the armchair； as
though for protection she clasped the broad table before her。
〃The favor I want；〃 she hastily assured him； 〃is not for myself。〃
〃I am sorry；〃 said Everett； 〃for it is already granted。〃
〃You are very good；〃 protested Monica。
〃No；〃 replied Everett； 〃I am only powerful。 I represent ninety…five
million Americans； and they are all entirely at your service。 So is
the army and navy。〃
Monica smiled and shook her head。 The awe she felt was due an
American minister was rapidly disappearing； and in Mr。 Everett
himself her confidence was increasing。 The other ministers
plenipotentiary she had seen at Camaguay had been old； with
beards like mountain…goats； and had worn linen dusters。 They
always were very red in the face and very damp。 Monica decided
Mr。 Everett also was old； she was sure he must be at least
thirty…five； but in his silk pongee and pipe…clayed tennis…shoes
he was a refreshing spectacle。 Just to look at him turned one
quite cool。
〃We have a very fine line of battle…ships this morning at
Guantanamo；〃 urged Everett； 〃if you want one I'll cable for it。〃
Monica laughed softly。 It was good to hear nonsense spoken。 The
Amapalans had never learned it； and her brother said just what he
meant and no more。
〃Our sailors were here once；〃 Monica volunteered。 She wanted
Mr。 Everett to know he was not entirely cut off from the world。
〃During the revolution；〃 she explained。 〃We were so glad to see
them； they made us all feel nearer home。 They set up our flag in
the plaza； and the color…guard let me photograph it； with them
guarding it。 And when they marched away the archbishop stood
on the cathedral steps and blessed them； and we rode out along the
trail to where it comes to the jungle。 And then we waved good…by；
and they cheered us。 We all cried。〃
For a moment； quite unconsciously； Monica gave an imitation of
how they all cried。 It made the appeal of the violet eyes even more
disturbing。
〃Don't you love our sailors？〃 begged Monica。
Fearful of hurting the feelings of others； she added hastily；
〃And； of course； our marines； too。〃
Everett assured her if there was one thing that meant more to him
than all else； it was an American bluejacket； and next to him an
American leatherneck。
It took a long time to arrange the details of the Red Cross
Society。 In spite of his reputation for brilliancy； it seemed to
Monica Mr。 Everett had a mind that plodded。 For his benefit it
was necessary several times to repeat the most simple proposition。
She was sure his inability to fasten his attention on her League
of Mercy was because his brain was occupied with problems of
state。 It made her feel selfish and guilty。 When his visitor
decided that to explain further was but to waste his valuable
time and had made her third effort to go； Everett went with her。
He suggested that she take him to the hospital and introduce him
to the sisters。 He wanted to talk to them about the Red Cross
League。 It was a charming walk。 Every one lifted his hat to
Monica； the beggars； the cab…drivers； the barefooted policemen；
and the social lights of Camaguay on the sidewalks in front of
the cafes rose and bowed。
〃It is like walking with royalty！〃 exclaimed Everett。
While at the hospital he talked to the Mother Superiorhis eyes
followed Monica。 As she moved from cot to cot he noted how
the younger sisters fluttered happily around her； like bridesmaids
around a bride； and how as she passed； the eyes of those in the
cots followed her jealously； and after she had spoken with them
smiled in content。
〃She is good；〃 the Mother Superior was saying； 〃and her brother；
too； is very good。〃
Everett had forgotten the brother。 With a start he lifted his eyes
and found the Mother Superior regarding him。
〃He is very good；〃 she repeated。 〃For us； he built this wing of
the hospital。 It was his money。 We should be very sorry if any
harm came to Mr。 Ward。 Without his help we would starve。〃 She
smiled； and with a gesture signified the sick。 〃I mean they would
starve； they would die of disease and fever。〃 The woman fixed
upon him grave； inscrutable eyes。 〃Will Your Excellency
remember？〃 she said。 It was less of a question than a command。
〃Where the church can forgive〃 she paused。
Like a real diplomat Everett sought refuge in mere words。
〃The church is all…powerful； Mother；〃 he said。 〃Her power to
forgive is her strongest weapon。 I have no such power。 It lies
beyond my authority。 I am just a messenger…boy carrying the
wishes of the government of one country to the government of
another。〃
The face of the Mother Superior remained grave； but undisturbed。
〃Then； as regards our Mr。 Ward；〃 she said； 〃the wishes of your
government are〃
Again she paused； again it was less of a question than a command。
With interest Everett gazed at the whitewashed ceiling。
〃I have not yet；〃 he said； 〃communicated them to any one。〃
That night； after dinner in the patio； he reported to Garland the
words of the Mother Superior。
〃That was my dream； 0 Prophet；〃 concluded Everett； 〃you who can
read this land of lotus…eaters； interpret！ What does it me