第9章

Couldn't, eh? By the great and everlasting et cetera and continued he was going to be disturbed then and there.And unless some of the hotel's "hired help" set about the disturbing it would be done for them.So, rather than summon the police, the hotel management summoned its guest, and the first, and only, interview between the father and lover of Jane Snow took place.

It was not a long interview, but it was spirited.Captain Zelotes began by being what he considered diplomatic.Having assured his wife before leaving home, and the alarmed Miss Donaldson subsequently, that there was to be no trouble whatever--everything would be settled as smooth and easy as slidin' downhill; "that feller won't make any fuss, you'll see"--having thus prophesied, the captain felt it incumbent upon himself to see to the fulfillment.So he began by condescendingly explaining that of course he was kind of sorry for the young man before him, young folks were young folks and of course he presumed likely 'twas natural enough, and the like of that, you understand.But of course also Mr.Speranza must realize that the thing could not go on any further.Jane was his daughter and her people were nice people, and naturally, that being the case, her mother and he would be pretty particular as to who she kept company with, to say nothing of marrying, which event was not to be thought of for ten years, anyway.Now he didn't want to be--er--personal or anything like that, and of course he wouldn't think of saying that Mr.

Speranza wasn't a nice enough man for--well, for--for...You see, everybody wasn't as particular as he and Mrs.Snow were.But--Here Senor Speranza interrupted.He politely desired to know if the person speaking was endeavoring to convey the idea that he, Miguel Carlos Speranza, was not of sufficient poseetion, goodness, standing, what it is? to be considered as suitor for that person's daughter's hand.Did Meester Snow comprehend to whom he addressed himself?

The interview terminated not long after.The captain's parting remark was in the nature of an ultimatum.It was to the effect that if Speranza, or any other condemned undesirable like him, dared to so much as look in the direction of Jane Olivia Snow, his daughter, he personally would see that the return for that look was a charge of buckshot.Speranza, white-faced and furiously gesticulative, commanded the astonished bellboy to put that "Bah!

pig-idiot!" out into the hall and air the room immediately afterward.

Having, as he considered, satisfactorily attended to the presumptuous lover, Captain Zelotes returned to the school and to what he believed would be the comparatively easy task, the bringing of his daughter to reason.Jane had always been an obedient girl, she was devoted to her parents.Of course, although she might feel rather disappointed at first, she would soon get over it.The idea that she might flatly refuse to get over it, that she might have a will of her own, and a determination equal to that of the father from whom she inherited it, did not occur to the captain at all.

But his enlightenment was prompt and complete.Jane did not rage or become hysterical, she did not even weep in his presence.But, quietly, with a set of her square little chin, she informed Captain Zelotes that she loved Speranza, that she meant to marry him and that she should marry him, some day or other.The captain raged, commanded, pleaded, begged.What was the matter with her? What had come over her? Didn't she love her father and mother any more that she should set out to act this way? Yes, she declared that she loved them as much as ever, but that she loved her lover more than all the world, and no one--not even her parents--should separate them.

Captain Zelotes gave it up at last.That is, he gave up the appeal to reason and the pleadings.But he did not give up the idea of having his own way in the matter; being Zelotes Snow, he certainly did not give that up.Instead he took his daughter home with him to South Harniss, where a tearful and heart-broken Olive added her persuasions to his.But, when she found Jane obdurate, Mrs.Snow might have surrendered.Not her husband, however.Instead he conceived a brilliant idea.He was about to start on a voyage to Rio Janeiro; he would take his wife and daughter with him.Under their immediate observation and far removed from the influence of "that Portygee," Jane would be in no danger and might forget.

Jane made no remonstrance.She went to Rio and returned.She was always calm, outwardly pleasant and quiet, never mentioned her lover unless in answer to a question; but she never once varied from her determination not to give him up.The Snows remained at home for a month.Then Zelotes, Jane accompanying him, sailed from Boston to Savannah.Olive did not go with them; she hated the sea and by this time both she and her husband were somewhat reassured.

So far as they could learn by watchful observation of their daughter, the latter had not communicated with Speranza nor received communications from him.If she had not forgotten him it seemed likely that he had forgotten her.The thought made the captain furiously angry, but it comforted him, too.

During the voyage to Savannah this sense of comfort became stronger.Jane seemed in better spirits.She was always obedient, but now she began to seem almost cheerful, to speak, and even laugh occasionally just as she used to.Captain Zelotes patted himself on the back, figuratively.His scheme had been a good one.

And in Savannah, one afternoon, Jane managed to elude her father's observation, to leave the schooner and to disappear completely.

And that night came a letter.She and Miguel Carlos Speranza had been in correspondence all the time, how or through whose connivance is a mystery never disclosed.He had come to Savannah, in accordance with mutual arrangement; they had met, were married, and had gone away together.