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only groan and stare at the wall。 He reviewed the past half in fear that he would suddenly come upon his error which was now the cause of Marjory's tears。 He dwelt long upon the fact that in Washurst he had refused his consent to Marjory's marriage with Coleman； but even now he could not say that his judgment was not correct。 It was simply that the doom of woman's woe was upon Marjory； this ancient woe of the silent tongue and the governed will； and he could only kneel at the bedside and stare at the wall。
Marjory raised her voice in a laugh。 〃 Did I betray myself？ Did I become the maiden all forlorn ？ Did I giggle to show people that I did not care？ No…I did not…I did not。 And it was such a long time； daddy！ Oh； such a long time！ I thought we would never get here。 I thought I would never get where I could be alone like this； where I could…cry…if I wanted to。 I am not much of … a crier； am I； daddy？ But this time…this…time…〃
She suddenly drew herself over near to her father and looked at him。 〃 Oh； daddy； I want to tell you one thing。 just one simple little thing。〃 She waited then； and while she waited her father's head went lower and lower。 〃 Of course； you know…I told you once。 I love him！ I love him！ Yes； probably he is a rascal； but； do you know； I don't think I would mind if he was a…an assassin。 This morning I sent him away； but； daddy； he didn't want to go at all。 I know he didn't。 This Nora Black is nothing to him。 I know she is not。 I am sure of it。 Yes…I am sure of it。 * * * I never expected to talk this way to any living creature； but…you are so good； daddy。 Dear old daddy…〃
She ceased； for she saw that her father was praying。
The sight brought to her a new outburst of sobbing； for her sorrow now had dignity and solemnity from thebowed white head of her old father； and she felt that her heart was dying amid the pomp of the church。 It was the last rites being performed at the death…bed。 Into her ears came some imagining of the low melan。 choly chant of monks in a gloom。
Finally her father arose。 He kissed her on the brow。 〃 Try to sleep； dear；〃 he said。 He turned out the gas and left the room。 His thought was full of chastened emotion。
But if his thought was full of chastened emotion； it received some degree of shock when he arrived in the presence of Mrs。 Wainwright。 〃 Well； what is all this about ？ 〃 she demanded； irascibly。 〃 Do you mean to say that Marjory is breaking her heart over that man Coleman ？ It is all your fault…〃 She was apparently still ruffled over her exclusion。
When the professor interrupted her he did not speak with his accustomed spirit； but from something novel in his manner she recognised a danger signal。 〃 Please do not burst out at it in that way。〃
〃Then it Is true？〃 she asked。 Her voice was a mere awed whisper。
〃 It is true；〃 answered the professor。
〃Well；〃 she said； after reflection； 〃I knew it。 I alway's knew it。 If you hadn't been so blind！ You turned like a weather…cock in your opinions of Coleman。 You never could keep your opinion about him for more than an hour。 Nobody could imagine what you might think next。 And now you see the result of it！ I warned you！ I told you what this Coleman was； and if Marjory is suffering now； you have only yourself to blame for it。 I warned you！ 〃
〃 If it is my fault；〃 said the professor； drearily； 〃 I hope God may forgive me； for here is a great wrong to my daughter。〃
Well； if you had done as I told you…〃 she began。
Here the professor revolted。 〃 Oh； now； do not be… gin on that；〃 he snarled； peevishly。 Do not begin on that。〃
〃 Anyhow；〃 said Mrs。 Wainwright； it is time that we should be going down to dinner。 Is Marjory com… ing？ 〃
〃 No； she is not；〃 answered the professor； 〃 and I do not know as I shall go myself。〃
〃 But you must go。 Think how it would look！ All the students down there dining without us； and cutting up capers！ You must come。〃
〃 Yes；〃 he said； dubiously； 〃 but who will look after Marjory ？ 〃
〃 She wants to be left alone；〃 announced Mrs。 Wainwright； as if she was the particular herald of this news。 〃 She wants to be left alone。〃
〃 Well； I suppose we may as well go down。〃 Before they went； the professor tiptoed into his daughter's room。 In the darkness he could only see her waxen face on the pillow； and her two eyes gazing fixedly at the ceiling。 He did not speak； but immedi。 ately withdrew； closing the door noiselessly behind him。
I
CHAPTER XXVI。
IF the professor and Mrs。 Wainwright had descended sooner to a lower floor of the hotel； they would have found reigning there a form of anarchy。 The students were in a smoking room which was also an entrance hall to the dining room； and because there was in the middle of this apartment a fountain containing gold fish； they had been moved to license and sin。 They had all been tubbed and polished and brushed and dressed until they were exuberantly beyond themselves。 The proprietor of the hotel brought in his dignity and showed it to them； but they minded it no more than if he had been only a common man。 He drew himself to his height and looked gravely at them and they jovially said： 〃 Hello； Whiskers。〃 American college students are notorious in their country for their inclination to scoff at robed and crowned authority； and； far from being awed by the dignity of the hotel…keeper； they were delighted with it。 It was something with which to sport。 With immeasurable impudence； they copied his attitude； and； standing before him； made comic speeches； always alluding with blinding vividness to his beard。 His exit disappointed them。 He had not remained long under fire。 They felt that they could have interested themselves with him an entire evening。 〃 Come back； Whiskers！ Oh； come back！ 〃 Out in the main hall he made a ges。 ture of despair to some of his gaping minions and then fled to seclusion。
A formidable majority then decided that Coke was a gold fish； and that therefore his proper place was in the fountain。 They carried him to it while he strug。 gled madly。 This quiet room with its crimson rugs and gilded mirrors seemed suddenly to have become an important apartment in hell。 There being as yet no traffic in the dining room； the waiters were all at liberty to come to the open doors； where they stood as men turned to stone。 To them； it was no less than incendiarism。
Coke； standing with one foot on the floor and the other on the bottom of the shallow fountain； blas… phemed his comrades in a low tone； but with inten… tion。 He was certainly desirous of lifting his foot out of the water； but it seemed that all movement to that end would have to wait until he had successfully ex… pressed his opinions。 In the meantime； there was heard slow footsteps and the rustle of skirts； and then some people entered the smoking room on their way to dine。 Coke took his foot hastily out of the fountain。
The faces of the men of the arriving party went blank； and they turned their cold and pebbly eyes straight to the front； while the ladies； after little ex。 pressions of alarm； looked As if they wanted to run。 In fact； the whole crowd rather bolted from this ex… traordinary scene。
〃 There； now；〃 said Coke bitterly to his companion