human
Oh, beg pardon, said Elmendorf, as though in no wise aware who his bumper might be, and then edged off towards the corridor beyond, apparently desirous of escaping further connection with the affair. But Forrest, even in the dim light of the anteroom, recognized him at a glance. More and more, ever since the return from Europe, had he grown to dislike and distrust the man. More than once had he seen an expression on Miss Wallen's face when Wells happened to mention Elmendorf that gave ground for the belief that she, too, had no pleasant recollection of her erstwhile lodger; but never had she opened her lips upon the subject. Indeed, bright and intelligent as was the girl when she chose to talk, both Wells and Forrest had found that when she preferred to be silent it was useless to question. But here, skulking in the anteroom, where reading was out of the question, where, however, one might easily hear what was going on in the private office, here was Elmendorf again, and though Donnelly's foot-falls were audible to all as he came pounding up the stairway and turned from the corridor into the office rooms, not a sound of others had been heard. The main stairway--that which led to the great reading-rooms of the library proper--was on the southern front. Only those having business with the head librarian or the trustees were supposed to come this way. Forrest often read, wrote, and studied here, because the more valuable atlases and books of reference were near at hand, and whenever not writing for Wells Miss Wallen was at work on his notes. It flashed upon Forrest that the tutor had some object other than book-hunting in that noiseless visit, and he called him back.
gpt
Would you mind waiting a moment, Mr. Elmendorf? said he.
human
I should like to speak with you after I've said a word to this--gentleman.
gpt
Mr. Donnelly, said he, facing the now nervous-looking Irishman,
human
Me legs, I s'pose, an' me own affairs. What's it to you, anyhow?
gpt
This, to begin with, said Forrest, very coolly, though his blood was boiling, and the impulse to floor the fellow was strong within him.
human
An old fellow campaigner of mine, Sergeant McGrath, has told me----
gpt
Is this Lieutenant Forrest?
human
It is Lieutenant Forrest; and I have this to say to you here and now. You came here to bring shame and distress on an honest girl,--you, an old soldier and an Irishman,--the first soldier and the first Irishman I ever knew to be guilty of so low and contemptible a piece of persecution. When I write to Major Cranston of this, and when I tell McGrath----
gpt
Don't be hard on me, lieutenant. I meant no harm to the lady at all. Sure the bill's been unpaid ever since October. I tuk it to the house--I thought mebbe she could inflooence Mart, but I'd never have come here wid it at all, sorr, but--but----
human
But what, Donnelly? Who put you up to such a dirty piece of business?
gpt
Permit me. Nothing dirty was intended for a minute, if I may be allowed to speak, said Elmendorf, as he came forward.
human
As a friend of all parties concerned, for I know Mr. Wallen well and have remarked his bibulous propensities with distress, I merely suggested to Mr. Donnelly that perhaps if he could get Miss Wallen's ear he might possibly induce her to exercise a restraining influence upon her brother. I thought it best that she should know how and where he was spending so much money _in esse_ as well as money _in posse_. That Mr. Donnelly should have misconstrued my well-meant words into----
gpt
Oh, sure ye told me to show this bill when everybody could see it, sorr, and that would take the starch out av her.
human
Settle it between you, gentlemen, said Mr. Forrest, turning contemptuously away.
gpt
I have heard more than enough.
human
I will see you about this later this evening,
gpt
I shall see Miss Wallen home, said he, in low tone.
human
She's had more than enough indignity for one day.
gpt
I'd do it if you couldn't, Mr. Forrest, even though they're waiting for me at home. That girl's a lady, by Jupiter! You've no idea how she's studied and developed ever since she's been here; and it's a damned outrage that such fellows should be allowed to annoy her.
human
Such fellows won't, another time, said Forrest, quietly.
gpt
Elmendorf was back of this, for some reason that I mean to fathom.
human
That's all very well as far as the Irishman's concerned, Mr. Forrest,--he's had his fill,--but look out for that other. I'm no judge of character, now, if he isn't a snake.
gpt
At least, as he said to himself, and suggested to others,
human
He often walked by the lighted windows of the sanctum and occasionally slipped into the dark hall-way, so the watchman later said. The same irrepressible propensity to meddle in the affairs of everybody in the household where he was employed, in the councils of the various labor unions, in the meetings of political associations, in the official duties or off-hand chats of the men at military head-quarters, in the management of the Lambert Library, seemed to follow him in his casual intercourse with this obscure little household. One night when towards ten o'clock Miss Wallen came blithely down the corridor stairs, she was surprised to find the tutor awaiting her.
gpt
As I know Mr. Forrest to be otherwise engaged to-night, Miss Wallen, I have ventured to offer my services as escort, said he, and though she shrank from and could not bear him, there was no reason at that time for denying him; but when he presently began talking of Forrest in his suggestive, insinuating way, and excusing his references to the lieutenant on the ground of his extreme regard for her widowed mother, her impoverished but amiable relatives, and her own refined, intellectual, and accomplished self, she shrank still more and strove to silence him,--a difficult matter. She had, however, a trait that proved simply exasperating to a man of Elmendorf's calibre,--a faculty of listening in absolute silence where she did not desire to confirm or approve,--and when he had spent much breath and nearly half an hour in descanting upon his impressions of the demoralizing tendencies of military associations in general and of idle officers in particular, it rasped him to find that she did not seem to consider his views worthy the faintest comment; nor would she nor did she invite him in. When her mother reproved her for this, Miss Wallen smiled, and said,
human
Next time I will, and then you might ask him for the three weeks' lodging he hasn't paid, and Mart said she ought to be ashamed of speaking so of a man who had done everything for her. She'd never have got that library place at all if it hadn't been for Elmendorf, no matter what her fine friends might have told her. Oh, Mart knew all about it; needn't try to pull the wool over his eyes! Another time had Elmendorf come, and again had he talked more of what he had done for her and the rights it gave him to tender her counsel, and this time his references to Forrest took a graver form and became offensive. It was then, indignant, she refused to hear more of it, and that night Elmendorf went away gritting his teeth, and now had come this contemptible essay to humiliate her before her employer. Oh, it was cowardly! shameful! She threw up her arms, clinching her little white hands and stamping as slender a foot as ever walked in a machine-made shoe, and then, ejaculating, as women will, in moments of supreme exasperation,
gpt
If I were only a man!
human
In your present mood, said Mr. Forrest, quietly,
gpt
I am rather glad you are not, especially as what I have to say refers to you rather in your capacity as 'the clever woman of the family.' Did you ever read an English book of that title? And then in the most matter-of-fact way in the world he proceeded to assist her into the heavy winter cloak he had lifted from its accustomed peg.
human
No, of course you haven't, he went on, chatting unconcernedly, and well knowing she was too overwrought to talk at all;
gpt
And down he dropped on one knee and in a trice had stowed away the thin, worn little boots, with their frayed button-holes, within the warm yet clumsy Arctics.
human
You are sensible to wear such things as these, he said.
gpt
The snow is falling heavily, and I mean to walk you home to-night. Now the gloves.--Yes, you may have your own way there, as I shouldn't know how.