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！
madam was thinking of a picnic down the river this weekjust a
small company； you know。 The man would drive her down and take the
hamper and things； and we would go down by boat。 Awful pull back；
though；〃 he added； regretfully； 〃but if it should give any
pleasuredelighted； you know；〃 bowing gallantly to the ladies。
〃Delightful！〃 cried Maimie。
〃And Ranald pulls splendidly；〃 said Kate。
Maimie looked at her； wondering how she knew that。 〃I don't think
Ranald can get away every day。 I'm sure he can't； can he； Harry？〃
she said。
〃No；〃 said Harry； 〃no more can I； worse luck！ The governor is
sticking awfully close to work just now。〃
〃And； of course； you can't be spared；〃 said Kate； mockingly。
〃But couldn't you both come later？ We could wait tea for you。
〃Might；〃 said Harry。 〃I shall make my best endeavor for your
sake；〃 bowing toward Kate； 〃but I am doubtful about Ranald。
Perhaps we'd better not〃
〃Why； certainly； old chap；〃 said the lieutenant； 〃what's the
matter？〃
〃Well； the fact is；〃 blurted out Harry； desperately； 〃I don't want
to drag in Ranald。 I like him awfully； but you may feel as if he
were not quite one of us。 You know what I mean； your mother
doesn't know him。〃
Harry felt extremely awkward knowing that he came perilously near
to suspecting the lieutenant of the most despicable snobbery。
〃Why； certainly；〃 repeated the lieutenant。 〃That's all right。
Bring your Glengarry man along if any one wants him。〃
〃I do；〃 said Kate； decidedly。
〃Kismet；〃 replied the lieutenant。 〃It is decreed。 The young man
must come； for I suspect he is very much 'one of us。'〃 But of this
the lieutenant was not quite so certain by the time the day of the
picnic had arrived。
CHAPTER XIX
ONE GAME AT A TIME
The Glengarry men were on the Montreal boat leaving for home。
Macdonald Bhain's farewell to his nephew was full of sadness； for
he knew that henceforth their ways would lie apart； and full of
solemn warnings against the dangers of the city where Ranald was
now to be。
〃It is a wicked place； and the pitfalls are many； and they are not
in the places where the eyes will be looking for them。 Ye are
taking the way that will be leading you from us all； and I will not
be keeping you back； nor will I be laying any vows upon you。 You
will be a true man； and you will keep the fear of God before your
eyes； and you will remember that a Macdonald never fails the man
that trusts him。〃 And long after the great man was gone his last
words kept tugging at Ranald's heart： 〃Ranald； lad； remember us up
yonder in the Indian Lands；〃 he said； holding his hand with a grip
that squeezed the bones together； 〃we will be always thinking of
you； and more than all； at the Bible class and the meetings she
will be asking for you and wondering how you are doing； and by
night and by day the door will be on the latch for your coming；
for； laddie； laddie； you are a son to me and more！〃 The break in
the big Macdonald's voice took away from Ranald all power of
speech； and without a word of reply； he had to let his uncle go。
Yankee's good by was characteristic。 〃Well； guess I'll git along。
Wish you were comin' back with us； but you've struck your gait； I
guess； and you're goin' to make quite a dust。 Keep your wind till
the last quarter； that's where the money's lost。 I ain't 'fraid of
you； you're green； but they can't break you。 Keep your left eye on
the suckers。 There ain't no danger from the feller that rips and
rares and gits up on his hind legs； but the feller that sidles
raound and sorter chums it up to you and wants to pay fer your
drinks； by Jings； kick him。 And say；〃 Yankee's voice here grew low
and impressive； 〃git some close。 These here are all right for the
woods； but with them people close counts an awful lot。 It's the
man inside that wins； but the close is outside。 Git 'em and git
'em good； none of your second…hand Jew outfits。 It'll cost； of
course； but（here Yankee closed up to Ranald） but here's a wad；
ain't no pertickaler use to me。〃
Then Ranald smote him in the chest and knocked him back against a
lumber pile。
〃I know you；〃 he cried； 〃you would be giving me the coat off your
back。 If I would be taking money from any man I'd take it from
you； but let me tell you I will have no money that I do not earn；〃
then； seeing Yankee's disappointed face； he added； 〃but indeed； I
owe you for your help to meandmimine； when help was needed
sore； more than I can ever pay back。〃 Then； as they shook hands；
Ranald spoke again； and his voice was none too steady。 〃And I have
been thinking that I would like you to have Lisette； for it may be
a long time before I will be back again； and I know you will be
good to her； and if ever I need your help in this way； I promise I
will come to you。〃
Yankee chewed his quid of tobacco hard and spat twice before he
could reply。 Then he answered slowly： 〃Now look…ye…here； I'll
take that little mare and look after her； but the mare's yours and
ifand ifwhich I don't think will happenif you don't come back
soon； whyI will send you her equivalent in cash； but I'd ruther
seeI'd ruther see you come back for it！〃
It was with a very lonely heart that Ranald watched out of sight
the steamboat that carried to their homes in the Indian Lands the
company of men who had been his comrades for the long months in the
woods and on the river； and all the more that he was dimly realizing
that this widening blue strip of flowing river was separating him
forever from the life he so passionately loved。 As his eyes
followed them he thought of the home…coming that he would have
shared； their meetings at the church door； the grave handshakings
from the older folk； the saucy 〃horos〃 from the half…grown boys；
the shy blushing glances from the maidens； and last and dearest of
all； the glad； proud welcome in the sweet； serious face with the
gray…brown eyes。 It was with the memory of that face in his heart
that he turned to meet what might be coming to him； with the resolve
that he would play the man。
〃Hello； old chap； who's dead？〃 It was Harry's gay voice。 〃You
look like a tomb。〃 He put his arm through Ranald's and walked with
him up the street。
〃Where are you going now？〃 he asked； as Ranald walked along in
silence。
〃To get some clothes。〃
〃Thank the great powers！〃 ejaculated Harry to himself。
〃What？〃
〃And where are you going to get them？〃
〃I do not knowsome store； I suppose。〃 Ranald had the vaguest
notions not only of where he should go； but of the clothes in which
he ought to array himself； but he was not going to acknowledge this
to his friend。
〃You can't get any clothes fit to wear in this town；〃 said Harry；
in high contempt。 Ranald's heart sank。 〃But come along； we will
find something。〃
As they passed in front of the little French shops； with windows
filled inside and out with ready…made garments； Ranald paused to
investigate。
〃Oh！ pshaw；〃 cried Harry； 〃don't know what you'll get here。 We'll
find something better than this cheap stuff；〃 and Ranald； glad
enough of guidance； though uncertain as to where it might lead him；
followed meekly。
〃What sort of a suit d