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“None.”
The door flew open and young Ainslie rushed in. Behind him crowdedRalston, Patterson, and a crowd of white men and of native Christians.
“You’ve had news, Colonel?”
Professor Mercer pushed to the front.
“Colonel Dresler has just been telling me. It is all right. They havehalted, but will be here in the early morning. There is no longer anydanger.”
A cheer broke from the group in the doorway. Everyone was laughing andshaking hands.
“But suppose they rush us before to-morrow morning?” cried Ralston, in apetulant voice. “What infernal fools these fellows are not to push on!Lazy devils, they should be court-martialled, every man of them.”
“It’s all safe,” said Ainslie. “These fellows have had a bad knock. Wecan see their wounded being carried by the hundred over the hill. Theymust have lost heavily. They won’t attack before morning.”
“No, no,” said the Colonel; “it is certain that they won’t attack beforemorning. None the less, get back to your posts. We must give no pointaway.” He left the room with the rest, but as he did so he looked back,and his eyes for an instant met those of the old Professor. “I leave itin your hands,” was the message which he flashed. A stern set smile washis answer.
* * * * *
The afternoon wore away without the Boxers making their last attack. ToColonel Dresler it was clear that the unwonted stillness meant only thatthey were reassembling their forces from their fight with the reliefcolumn, and were gathering themselves for the inevitable and final rush.To all the others it appeared that the siege was indeed over, and thatthe assailants had been crippled by the losses which they had alreadysustained. It was a joyous and noisy party, therefore, which met at thesupper-table, when the three bottles of Lachryma Christi were uncorkedand the famous port of caviare was finally opened. It was a large jar,and, though each had a tablespoonful of the delicacy, it was by no meansexhausted. Ralston, who was an epicure, had a double allowance. Hepecked away at it like a hungry bird. Ainslie, too, had a secondhelping. The Professor took a large spoonful himself, and ColonelDresler, watching him narrowly, did the same. The ladies ate freely,save only pretty Miss Patterson, who disliked the salty, pungent taste.In spite of the hospitable entreaties of the Professor, her portion layhardly touched at the side of her plate.
“You don’t like my little delicacy. It is a disappointment to me when Ihad kept it for your pleasure,” said the old man. “I beg that you willeat the caviare.”
“I have never tasted it before. No doubt I should like it in time.”
“Well, you must make a beginning. Why not start to educate your tastenow? Do, please!”
Pretty Jessie Patterson’s bright face shone with her sunny, boyishsmile.
“Why, how earnest you are!” she laughed. “I had no idea you were sopolite, Professor Mercer. Even if I do not eat it I am just asgrateful.”
“You are foolish not to eat it,” said the Professor, with such intensitythat the smile died from her face and her eyes reflected the earnestnessof his own. “I tell you it is foolish not to eat caviare to-night.”
“But why—why?” she asked.
“Because you have it on your plate. Because it is sinful to waste it.”
“There! there!” said stout Mrs. Patterson, leaning across. “Don’ttrouble her any more. I can see that she does not like it. But it shallnot be wasted.” She passed the blade of her knife under it, and scrapedit from Jessie’s plate on to her own. “Now it won’t be wasted. Your mindwill be at ease, Professor.”
But it did not seem at ease. On the contrary, his face was agitated likethat of a man who encounters an unexpected and formidable obstacle. Hewas lost in thought.
The conversation buzzed cheerily. Everyone was full of his future plans.
“No, no, there is no holiday for me,” said Father Pierre. “We priestsdon’t get holidays. Now that the mission and school are formed I am toleave it to Father Amiel, and to push westwards to found another.”
“You are leaving?” said Mr. Patterson. “You don’t mean that you aregoing away from Ichau?”
Father Pierre shook his venerable head in waggish reproof. “You must notlook so pleased, Mr. Patterson.”
“Well, well, our views are very different,” said the Presbyterian, “butthere is no personal feeling towards you, Father Pierre. At the sametime, how any reasonable educated man at this time of the world’shistory can teach these poor benighted heathen that——”
A general buzz of remonstrance silenced the theology.
“What will you do yourself, Mr. Patterson?” asked someone.
“Well, I’ll take three months in Edinburgh to attend the annual meeting.You’ll be glad to do some shopping in Princes Street, I’m thinking,Mary. And you, Jessie, you’ll see some folk your own age. Then we cancome back in the fall, when your nerves have had a rest.”
“Indeed, we shall all need it,” said Miss Sinclair, the mission nurse.“You know, this long strain takes me in the strangest way. At thepresent moment I can hear such a buzzing in my ears.”
