penrod-第11部分

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gentleman；　then　he　must　go　somewhere　else　to　a　lady's　house；　and

keep　calling　until　he　secures　a　partner；　so；　as　there　are　the

same　number　of　both；　everybody　shall　have　a　partner。



〃Now　please　all　remember　that　if　in　caseMister　Penrod

Schofield；　when　you　make　your　call　on　a　lady　I　beg　you　to　please

remember　that　gentlemen　in　good　societies　do　not　scratch　the　back

in　societies　as　you　appear　to　attempt；　so　please　allow　the　hands

to　rest　carelessly　in　the　lap。　　Now　please　all　remember　that　if

in　caseMister　Penrod　Schofield；　if　you　please！　　Gentlemen　in

societies　do　not　scratch　the　back　by　causing　frictions　between　it

and　the　back　of　your　chair；　either！　　Nobody　else　is　itching　here！

_I_　do　not　itch！　　I　cannot　talk　if　you　must　itch！　　In　the　name

of　Heaven；　why　must　you　always　itch？　　What　was　I　saying？　　Where

ah！　the　cotillonyes！　　For　the　cotillon　it　is　important　nobody

shall　fail　to　be　here　tomorrow；　but　if　any　one　should　be　so　very

ill　he　cannot　possible　come　he　must　write　a　very　polite　note　of

regrets　in　the　form　of　good　societies　to　his　engaged　partner　to

excuse　himselfand　he　must　give　the　reason。



〃I　do　not　think　anybody　is　going　to　be　that　sick　to…morrow

no；　and　I　will　find　out　and　report　to　parents　if　anybody　would

try　it　and　not　be。　　But　it　is　important　for　the　cotillon　that　we

have　an　even　number　of　so　many　couples；　and　if　it　should　happen

that　someone　comes　and　her　partner　has　sent　her　a　polite　note

that　he　has　genuine　reasons　why　he　cannot　come；　the　note　must　be

handed　at　once　to　me；　so　that　I　arrange　some　other　partner。　　Is

all　understood？　　Yes。　　The　gentlemen　will　remember　now　to　allow

the　ladies　plenty　of　time　to　reach　their　houses　and　prepare

to　receive　calls。　　Ladies　and　gentlemen；　I　thank　you　for　your

polite　attention。〃



It　was　nine　blocks　to　the　house　of　Marjorie　Jones；　but　Penrod

did　it　in　less　than　seven　minutes　from　a　flying　startsuch　was

his　haste　to　lay　himself　and　his　hand　for　the　cotillon　at　the

feet　of　one　who　had　so　recently　spoken　unamiably　of　him　in

public。　　He　had　not　yet　learned　that　the　only　safe　male　rebuke　to

a　scornful　female　is　to　stay　away　from　herespecially　if　that　is

what　she　desires。　　However；　he　did　not　wish　to　rebuke　her；　simply

and　ardently　he　wished　to　dance　the　cotillon　with　her。　

Resentment　was　swallowed　up　in　hope。



The　fact　that　Miss　Jones'　feeling　for　him　bore　a　striking

resemblance　to　that　of　Simon　Legree　for　Uncle　Tom；　deterred　him

not　at　all。　　Naturally；　he　was　not　wholly　unconscious　that　when

he　should　lay　his　hand　for　the　cotillon　at　her　feet　it　would　be

her　inward　desire　to　step　on　it；　but　he　believed　that　if　he　were

first　in　the　field　Marjorie　would　have　to　accept。　　These　things

are　governed　by　law。



It　was　his　fond　intention　to　reach　her　house　even　in　advance

of　herself；　and　with　grave　misgiving　he　beheld　a　large　automobile

at　rest　before　the　sainted　gate。　　Forthwith；　a　sinking　feeling

became　a　portent　inside　him　as　little　Maurice　Levy　emerged　from

the　front　door　of　the　house。



〃'Lo；　Penrod！〃　said　Maurice　airily。



〃What　you　doin'　in　there？〃　inquired　Penrod。



〃In　where？〃



〃In　Marjorie's。〃



〃Well；　what　shouldn't　I　be　doin'　in　Marjorie's？〃　Mr。　Levy

returned　indignantly。　　〃I　was　inviting　her　for　my　partner　in　the

cotillonwhat　you　s'pose？〃



〃You　haven't　got　any　right　to！〃　Penrod　protested　hotly。　　〃You

can't　do　it　yet。〃



〃I　did　do　it　yet！〃　said　Maurice。



〃You　can't！〃　insisted　Penrod。　　〃You　got　to　allow　them　time

first。　　He　said　the　ladies　had　to　be　allowed　time　to　prepare。〃



〃Well；　ain't　she　had　time　to　prepare？〃



〃When？〃　Penrod　demanded；　stepping　close　to　his　rival

threateningly。　　〃I'd　like　to　know　when〃



〃When？〃　echoed　the　other　with　shrill　triumph。　　〃When？　　Why；

in　mamma's　sixty…horse　powder　limousine　automobile；　what　Marjorie

came　home　with　me　in！　　I　guess　that's　when！〃



An　impulse　in　the　direction　of　violence　became　visible　upon

the　countenance　of　Penrod。



〃I　expect　you　need　some　wiping　down；〃　he　began　dangerously。　

〃I'll　give　you　sumpthing　to　remem〃



〃Oh；　you　will！〃　Maurice　cried　with　astonishing　truculence；

contorting　himself　into　what　he　may　have　considered　a　posture　of

defense。　　〃Let's　see　you　try　it；　youyou　itcher！〃



For　the　moment；　defiance　from　such　a　source　was

dumfounding。　　Then；　luckily；　Penrod　recollected　something　and

glanced　at　the　automobile。



Perceiving　therein　not　only　the　alert　chauffeur　but　the

magnificent　outlines　of　Mrs。　Levy；　his　enemy's　mother；　he

manoeuvred　his　lifted　hand　so　that　it　seemed　he　had　but　meant　to

scratch　his　ear。



〃Well；　I　guess　I　better　be　goin'；〃　he　said　casually。　　〃See

you　tomorrow！〃



Maurice　mounted　to　the　lap　of　luxury；　and　Penrod　strolled

away　with　an　assumption　of　careless　ease　which　was　put　to　a

severe　strain　when；　from　the　rear　window　of　the　car；　a　sudden

protuberance　in　the　nature　of　a　small；　dark；　curly　head　shrieked

scornfully：



〃Go　onyou　big　stiff！〃



The　cotillon　loomed　dismally　before　Penrod　now；　but　it　was

his　duty　to　secure　a　partner　and　he　set　about　it　with　a　dreary

heart。　　The　delay　occasioned　by　his　fruitless　attempt　on　Marjorie

and　the　altercation　with　his　enemy　at　her　gate　had　allowed　other

ladies　ample　time　to　prepare　for　callersand　to　receive　them。　

Sadly　he　went　from　house　to　house；　finding　that　he　had　been

preceded　in　one　after　the　other。　　Altogether　his　hand　for　the

cotillon　was　declined　eleven　times　that　afternoon　on　the

legitimate　ground　of　previous　engagement。　　This；　with　Marjorie；

scored　off　all　except　five　of　the　seventeen　possible　partners；

and　four　of　the　five　were　also　sealed　away　from　him；　as　he

learned　in　chance　encounters　with　other　boys　upon　the　street。



One　lady　alone　remained；　he　bowed　to　the　inevitable　and

entered　this　lorn　damsel's　gate　at　twilight　with　an　air　of　great

discouragement。　　The　lorn　damsel　was　Miss　Rennsdale；　aged　eight。



We　are　apt　to　forget　that　there　are　actually　times　of　life

when　too　much　youth　is　a　handicap。　　Miss　Rennsdale　was　beautiful；

she　danced　like　a　premiere；　she　had　every　charm　but　age。　　On　that

account　alone　had　she　been　allowed　so　much　time　to　prepare　to

receive　callers　that　it　was　only　by　the　most　manful　efforts　she

could　keep　her　lip　from　trembling。



A　decorous　maid　conducted　the　long…belated　applicant　to　her

where　she　sat　upon　a　sofa　beside　a　nursery　governess。　　The

decorous　maid　announced　him　composedly　as　he　made　his　entrance。



〃Mr。　Penrod　Schofield！〃



Miss　Rennsdale　suddenly　burst　into　loud　sobs。



〃Oh！〃　she　wailed。　　〃I　just　knew　it　would　be　him！〃



The　decorous　maid's　composure　vanished　at　oncelikewise　her

decorum。　　She　clapped　her　hand　over　her　mouth　and　fled；　uttering

sounds。　　The　governess；　however；　set　herself　to　comfort　her

heartbroken　charge；　and　presently　succeeded　in　restoring　Miss

Rennsdale　to　a　semblance　of　that　poise　with　which　a　lady　receives

callers　and　accepts　invitations　to　dance　cotillons。　　But　she

continued　to　sob　at　intervals。



Feeling　himself　at　perhaps　a　disadvantage；　Penrod　made　offer

of　his　hand　for　the　morrow　with　a　little　embarrassment。　

Following　the　form　prescribed　by　Professor　Bartet；　he

advanced　several　paces　toward　the　stricken　lady　and　bowed

formally。



〃I　hope；〃　he　said　by　rote；　〃you're　well；　and　your　parents

also　in　good　health。　　May　I　have　the　pleasure　of　dancing　the

cotillon　as　your　partner　t'…morrow　afternoon？〃



The　wet　eyes　of　Miss　Rennsdale　searched　his　countenance

without　pleasure；　and　a　shudder　wrung　her　small　shoulders；　but

the　governess　whispered　to　her　instructively；　and　she　made　a

great　effort。



〃I　thu…thank　you　fu…for　your　polite　invu…invu…invutation；　and

I　ac〃　　Thus　far　she　progressed　when　emotion　overcame　her

again。　　She　beat　frantically　upon　the　sofa　with　fists　and　heels。　

〃Oh；　I　DID　want　it　to　be　Georgie　Bassett！〃



〃No；　no；　no！〃　said　the　governess；　and　whispered　urgently；

whereupon　Miss　Rennsdale　was　able　to　complete　her　acceptance。



〃And　I　ac…accept　wu…with　pu…pleasure！〃　she　moaned；　and

immediately；　uttering　a　loud　yell；　flung　herself　face　downward

upon　the　sofa；　clutching　her　governess　convulsively。



Somewhat　disconcerted；　Penrod　bowed　again。



〃I　thank　you　for　your　polite　acceptance；〃　he　murmured

hurriedly；　〃and　I　trustI　trustI　forget。　　Oh；　yesI　trust　we

shall　have　a　most　enjoyable　occasion。　　Pray　present　my

compliments　to　your　parents；　and　I　must　now　wish　you　a　very　good

afternoon。〃



Concluding　these　courtly　demonstrations　with　another　bow　he

withdrew　in　fair　order；　though　thrown　into　partial　confusion　in

the　hall　by　a　final　wail　from　his　crushed　hostess：



〃Oh！　　Why　couldn't　it　be　anybody　but　HIM！〃







CHAPTER　XIII

THE　SMALLPOX　MEDICINE



Next　morning　Penrod　woke　in　profound　depression　of　spirit；　the

cotillon　ominous　before　him。　　He　pictured　Marjorie　Jones　and

Maurice；　graceful　and　light…hearted；　flitting　by　him　fairylike；

loosing　silvery　laughter　upon　him　as　he　engaged　in　the　struggle

to　keep　step　with　a　partner　about　four　years　and　two　feet　his

junior。　　It　was　hard　enough　for　Penrod　to　keep　step　with　a　girl

of　his　size。



The　foreboding　vision　remained　with　him；　increasing　in

vividness；　throughout　the　forenoon。　　He　found　himself　unable　to

fix　his　mind　upon　anything　else；　and；　having　bent　his　gloomy

footsteps　toward　the　sawdust…box；　after　breakfast；

presently　descended　therefrom；　abandoning　Harold　Ramorez　where　he

had　left　him　the　preceding　Saturday。　　Then；　as　he　sat　communing

silently　with　wistful　Duke；　in　the　storeroom；　coquettish　fortune

looked　his　way。



It　was　the　habit　of　Penrod's　mother　not　to　throw　away

anything　whatsoever　until　years　of　storage　conclusively　proved

there　would　never　be　a　use　for　it；　but　a　recent　house…cleaning

had　ejected　upon　the　back　porch　a　great　quantity　of　bottles　and

other　paraphernalia　of　medicine；　left　over　from　illnesses　in　the

family　durin