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 discouraged by their surroundings。 In the tropics the tender
emotions are not winter killed。 Had they met at home； the
conventions； his own work； her social duties would have kept the
progress of their interest within a certain speed limit。 But they
were in a place free of conventions； and the preceding eight
months which Hemingway had spent in the jungle and on the plain
had made the society of his fellow man； and of Mrs。 Adair in
particular； especially attractive。
Hemingway had no work to occupy his time； and he placed it
unreservedly at the disposition of his countrywoman。 In doing so
it could not be said that Mrs。 Adair encouraged him。 Hemingway
himself would have been the first to acknowledge this。 From the
day he met her he was conscious that always there was an intangible
barrier between them。 Even before she possibly could have guessed
that his interest in her was more than even she； attractive as she was；
had the right to expect； she had wrapped around herself an invisible
mantle of defense。
There were certain speeches of his which she never heard； certain tones
to which she never responded。 At moments when he was complimenting
himself that at last she was content to be in his company； she would
suddenly rise and join the others； and he would be left wondering in
what way he could possibly have offended。
He assured himself that a woman； young and attractive； in a
strange land in her dependent position must of necessity be
discreet； but in his conduct there certainly had been nothing
that was not considerate； courteous； and straightforward。
When he appreciated that he cared for her seriously； that he was
gloriously happy in caring； and proud of the way in which he
cared； the fact that she persistently held him at arm's length
puzzled and hurt。 At first when he had deliberately set to work
to make her like him he was glad to think that； owing to his
reticence about himself； if she did like him it would be for himself
alone and not for his worldly goods。 But when he knew her better
he understood that if once Mrs。 Adair made up her mind to take
a second husband； the fact that he was a social and financial
somebody； and not； as many in Zanzibar supposed Hemingway
to be； a social outcast； would make but little difference。
Nor was her manner to be explained by the fact that the majority
of women found him unattractive。 As to that； the pleasant burden
of his experience was to the contrary。 He at last wondered if
there was some one else； if he had come into her life too late。
He set about looking for the man and so； he believed； he soon
found him。
Of the little colony； Arthur Fearing was the man of whom Hemingway
had seen the least。 That was so because Fearing wished it。 Like
himself； Fearing was an American； young； and a bachelor； but；
very much unlike Hemingway； a hermit and a recluse。
Two years before he had come to Zanzibar looking for an
investment for his money。 In Zanzibar there were gentlemen
adventurers of every country； who were welcome to live in any
country save their own。
To them Mr。 Fearing seemed a heaven…sent victim。 But to him their
alluring tales of the fortunes that were to rise from buried treasures；
lost mines； and pearl beds did not appeal。 Instead he conferred
with the consuls； the responsible merchants； the partners in the
prosperous trading houses。 After a month of 〃looking around〃 he
had purchased outright the goodwill and stock of one of the oldest
of the commission houses； and soon showed himself to be a most
capable man of business。 But； except as a man of business； no one
knew him。 From the dim recesses of his warehouse he passed each
day to the seclusion of his bungalow in the country。 And； although
every one was friendly to him； he made no friends。
It was only after the arrival of Mrs。 Adair that he consented to show
himself； and it was soon noted that it was only when she was invited
that he would appear； and that on these occasions he devoted himself
entirely to her。 In the presence of others； he still was shy； gravely
polite； and speaking but little； and never of himself； but with
Mrs。 Adair his shyness seemed to leave him； and when with her
he was seen to talk easily and eagerly。 And； on her part； to what
he said； Polly Adair listened with serious interest。
Lady Firth； who； at home； was a trained and successful match…maker；
and who； in Zanzibar； had found but a limited field for her activities；
decided that if her companion and protegee must marry； she should
marry Fearing。
Fearing was no gentleman adventurer； remittance…man； or humble
clerk serving his apprenticeship to a steamship line or an ivory
house。 He was one of the pillars of Zanzibar society。 The trading
house he had purchased had had its beginnings in the slave…trade；
and now under his alert direction was making a turnover equal to
that of any of its ancient rivals。 Personally； Fearing was a most
desirable catch。 He was well…mannered； well…read； of good
appearance； steady； and； in a latitude only six degrees removed
from the equator； of impeccable morals。
It is said that it is the person who is in love who always is the
first to discover his successful rival。 It is either an instinct
or because his concern is deeper than that of others。
And so； when Hemingway sought for the influence that separated
him from Polly Adair； the trail led to Fearing。 To find that the
obstacle in the path of his true love was a man greatly relieved
him。 He had feared that what was in the thoughts of Mrs。 Adair
was the memory of her dead husband。 He had no desire to cross
swords with a ghost。 But to a living rival he could afford to be
generous。
For he was sure no one could care for Polly Adair as he cared；
and； like every other man in love； he believed that he alone had
discovered in her beauties of soul and character that to the rest
of mankind were hidden。 This knowledge； he assured himself； had
aroused in him a depth of devotion no one else could hope to
imitate； and this depth of devotion would in time so impress her；
would become so necessary to her existence； that it would force
her at last into the arms of the only man who could offer it。
Having satisfied himself in this fashion； he continued cheerfully
on his way； and the presence of a rival in no way discouraged
him。 It only was Polly Adair who discouraged him。 And this；
in spite of the fact that every hour of the day he tried to bring
himself pleasantly to her notice。 All that an idle young man in
love； aided and abetted by imagination and an unlimited letter of
credit； could do； Hemingway did。 But to no end。
The treasures he dug out of the bazaars and presented to her；
under false pretenses as trinkets he happened at that moment
to find in his pockets； were admired by her at their own great
value； and returned also under false pretenses； as having been
offered her only to examine。
〃It is for your sister at home； I suppose；〃 she prompted。 〃It's
quite lovely。 Thank you for letting me see it。〃
After having been several times severely snubbed in this fashion；
Hemingway remarked grimly as he put a black pearl back into his
pocket：
〃At this rate sister will be mighty glad to see me when I get
home。 It seems almost a pity I haven't got a sister。〃
The girl answered this only with a grave smile。
On another occasion she admired a polo pony that had been
imported for the stable of the boy Sultan。 But next morning
Hemingway； after much diplomacy； became the owner of it and
proudly rode it to the agency。 Lady Firth and Polly Adair walked
out to meet him arm in arm； but at sight of the pony there came
into the eyes of the secretary a look that caused Hemingway to
wish himself and his mount many miles in the jungle。 He saw
that before it had been proffered； his gift…horse had been rejected。
He acted promptly。
〃Lady Firth；〃 he said； 〃you've been so awfully kind to me； made this
place so like a home to me； that I want you to put this mare in your
stable。 The Sultan wanted her； but when he learned I meant to turn
her over to you； he let her go。 We both hope you'll accept。〃
Lady Firth had no scruples。 In five minutes she had accepted； had
clapped a side…saddle on her rich gift； and was cantering joyously
down the Pearl Road。
Polly Adair looked after her with an expression that was
distinctly wistful。 Thus encouraged； Hemingway said：
〃I'm glad you are sorry。 I hope every time you see that pony
you'll be sorry。〃
〃Why should I be sorry？〃 asked the girl。
〃Because you have been unkind；〃 said Hemingway； 〃and it is not your
character to be unkind。 And that you have shown lack of character
ought to make you sorry。〃
〃But you know perfectly well；〃 said Mrs。 Adair； 〃that if I were
to take any one of these wonderful things you bring me； I wouldn't
have any character left。〃
She smiled at him reassuringly。 〃And you know；〃 she added； 〃that
that is not why I do not take them。 It isn't because I can't afford to；
or because I don't want them； because I do； but it's because I don't
deserve them； because I can give you nothing in return。〃
〃As the copy…book says；〃 returne