the fortunes of oliver horn-第36部分
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What attracted him most of all in this woman who had violated all the known traditions of Kennedy Square； was a certain fearlessness of manneran independence； a perfect ingenuousness； and a freedom from any desire to interest the students in herself。 When she looked at any one of them； it was never from under drooping eyelids； as Sue would have done； nor with that coquettish； alluring glance to which he had always been accustomed。 She looked straight at them with unflinching eyes that said； 〃I can trust you； and WILL。〃 He had never seen exactly that look except in the portrait of his uncle's grandmother by Sir Peter Lelythe picture he had always loved。 Strange to say； too； the eyes of the portrait were Margaret's eyes； and so was the color of the hair。
No vexed problems entered Margaret's head regarding the very engaging young gentleman who sat behind HER stool。 He merely represented to her another studentthat was all； the little band was small enough； and she was glad to see the new ones come。 She noticed； it is true； certain unmistakable differencesa peculiar； soft cadence in his voice as the words slipped from his lips without their final g's； a certain deference to herselfstanding until she regained her seat； an attention which she attributed at first to embarrassment over his new surroundings and to his desire to please。 She noticed； too； a certain grace in his movementsa grace that attracted her； especially in the way with which he used his hands； and in the way in which he threw his head up when he laughed； but even these differences ceased to interest her after the first night of their meeting。
But it did not occur to her that he came from any different stock than the others about her； or that his blood might or might not be a shade bluer than her own。 What had really impressed her more than anything elseand this only flashed into her mind while she was looking in the glass one night at her own were his big white teeth； white as grains of corn； and the cleanliness of his hands and nails。 She liked these things about him。 Some of the fingers that rested on her drawing…board were often more like clothes…pins than fingers； and shocked her not a little； some； too； were stained with acids； and one or more with printer's ink that no soap could remove。
Before the evening was over Oliver became one of the class…room appointmentsa young man who sat one stool behind her and was doing fairly well with his first attempt； and who would some day be able to make a creditable drawing if he had patience and application。
At the beginning of the second week a new student appearedor rather an old one； who had been laid up at home with a cold。 When Oliver arrived he found him in Margaret's seat； his easel standing where hers had been。 He had a full…length drawing of the Miloevidently the work of daysnearly finished on his board。 Oliver was himself a little ahead of timeahead of either Margaret or Fred； and had noticed the new…comer when he entered； the room being nearly empty。 Jack Bedford was already at work。
〃Horn；〃 Jack cried； and beckoned to Oliver 〃see the beggar in Miss Grant's seat。 Won't there be a jolly row when she comes in？〃
Margaret entered a moment later； her portfolio under her arm； and stood taking in the situation。 Then she walked straight to her former seat； and said； in a firm but kindly tone：
〃This is my place； sir。 I've been at work here for a week。 You see my drawing is nearly done。〃
The young man looked up。 He toiled all day in a lithographer's shop； and these precious nights in the loft were his only glimpses of happiness。 He sat without his coat； his shirt…sleeves liberally smeared with the color…stains of his trade。
〃Well； it's my place； too。 I sat here a week before I was taken sick；〃 he said； in a slightly indignant tone； looking into Margaret's face in astonishment。
〃But if you did；〃 continued Margaret； 〃you see I am nearly through。 I can't take another seat； for I'll lose the angle。 I can finish in an hour if you will please give me this place to…night。 You can work just as well by sitting a few feet farther along。〃
The lithographer； without replying； turned from her impatiently； bent over his easel； picked up a fresh bit of charcoal and corrected a line on the Milo's shoulder。 So far as he was concerned the argument was closed。
Margaret stood patiently。 She thought at first he was merely adding a last touch to his drawing before granting her request。
〃Will you let me have the seat？〃 she asked。
〃No；〃 he blurted out。 He was still bending over his drawing； his eyes fixed on the work。 He did not even look up。 〃I'm going to stay here until I finish。 You know the rules as well as I do。 I wouldn't take your seatwhat do you want to take mine for？〃 There was no animosity in his voice。 He spoke as if announcing a fact。
The words had hardly left his lips when there came the sound of a chair being quickly pushed back； and Oliver stood beside Margaret。 His eyes were flashing； his right shirt…cuff was rolled back； the bit of charcoal still between his fingers。 Every muscle of his body was tense with anger。 Margaret's quick instinct took in the situation at a glance。 She saw Oliver's wrath and she knew its cause。
〃Don't； Mr。 Horn； pleaseplease！〃 she cried； putting up her hand。 〃I'll begin another drawing。 I see now that I took his seat when he was away； although I didn't know it。〃
Oliver stepped past her。 〃Get up； sir；〃 he said； 〃and give Miss Grant her seat。 What do you mean by speaking so to a lady？〃
The apprenticehis name was Judsonraised his eyes quickly； took in Oliver's tense； muscular figure standing over him； and said； with a contemptuous wave of the hand：
〃Young felleryou go and cool off somewhere； or I'll tell the professor。 It's none of your business。 I know the rules and〃
He never finished the sentencenot that anybody heard。 He was floundering on the floor； an overturned easel and drawing…board lying across his body； Oliver standing over him with his fists tightly clenched。
〃I'll teach you how to behave to a lady。〃 The words sounded as if they came from between closed teeth。 〃Here's your chair； Miss Grant；〃 and with a slight bow he placed the chair before her and resumed his seat with as much composure as if he had been in his mother's drawing…room in Kennedy Square。
Margaret was so astounded。 that for a moment she could not speak。 Then her voice came back to her。 〃I don't want it；〃 she cried； in a half…frightened way； the tears starting in her eyes。 〃It was never mineI told you so。 Oh； what have you done？〃
Never since the founding of the school had there been such a scene。 The students jumped from their chairs and crowded about the group。 The life class； which were at work in another room； startled by the uproar； swarmed out eager to know what had happened and whyand whoand what for。 Old Mother Mulligan； who had been posing for the class； with a cloak about her fat shoulders and a red handkerchief binding up her head； rushed over to Margaret； thinking she had been hurt in some way； until she saw the student on the floor； still panting and half…dazed from the effect of Oliver's blow。 Then she fell on her knees beside him。
At this instant Professor Cummings entered； and a sudden hush fell upon the room。 Judson； with the help of Mother Mulligan's arm； had picked himself up； and。 would have made a rush at Oliver had not big sack Bedford stopped him。
〃Who's to blame for this？〃 asked the professor； looking from one to the other。
Oliver rose from his seat。
〃This man insulted Miss Grant and I threw him out of her chair；〃 he answered quietly。
〃Insulted you！〃 cried the professor； in surprise； and he turned to Margaret。 〃What did he say？〃
〃I never said a word to her；〃 whined Judson； straightening his collar。 〃I told her the seat was mine； and so it is。 That wasn't insulting her。〃
〃It's all a mistake； professorMr。 Horn did not understand；〃 protested Margaret。 〃It was his seat； not mine。 He began his drawing first。 I didn't know it when I commenced mine。 I told Mr。 Horn so。〃
〃Why did you strike him？〃 asked the professor； and he turned and faced Oliver。
〃Because he had no business to speak to her as he did。 She is the only lady we have among us and every man in the class ought to remember it； and every man has since I've been here except this one。〃
There was a slight murmur of applause。 Judson's early training had been neglected as far as his manners went； and he was not popular。
The professor looked searchingly into Oliver's eyes and a flush of pride in the boy's pluck tinged his pale cheeks。 He had once thrown a fellow…student out of a window in Munich himself for a similar offence； and old as he was he had never forgotten it。
〃You come from the South； Mr。 Horn； I hear；〃 he said in a gentler voice； 〃and you are all a hot… tempered race； and often do foolish things。 Judson meant no harmhe says so； and Miss Grant says so。 Now you two shake hands and make up。 We are trying to learn to draw here； not to batter each other's heads。〃
Oliver's eyes roved from one to the other； he was too astonished to make further reply。 He had only done what he knew every other man around Kennedy Square would have done under similar cir
