the dust-第11部分

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！



〃Oh；　I'm　not　unhappy。　　And　at　home；　of　evenings　and　Sundays；　I'm　happy。〃

〃Doing　what？〃

〃Reading　and　talking　with　father　anddoing　the　houseworkand　all　the　rest　of　it。〃

What　a　monotonous　narrow　little　life！　　He　wanted　to　pity　her；　but　somehow　he　could　not。　　There　was　no　suggestion　in　her　manner　that　she　was　an　object　of　pity。　　〃What　did　Miss　Burroughs　say　to　youif　I　may　ask？〃

〃Certainly。　　You　sent　me；　and　I'm　much　obliged　to　you。　　I　realize　it　was　an　opportunityfor　another　sort　of　girl。　　I　half　tried　to　accept　because　I　knew　refusing　was　only　myqueerness。〃　　She　smiled　charmingly。　〃You　are　not　offended　because　I　couldn't　make　myself　take　it？〃

〃Not　in　the　least。〃　　And　all　at　once　he　felt　that　it　was　true。　　This　girl　would　have　been　out　of　place　in　service。　　〃What　was　the　offer？〃

Suddenly　before　him　there　appeared　a　clever；　willful　child；　full　of　the　childish　passion　for　imitation　and　mockery。　　And　she　proceeded　to　〃take　off〃　the　grand　Miss　Burroughsenough　like　Josephine　to　give　the　satire　point　and　barb。　　He　could　see　Josephine　resolved　to　be　affable　and　equal；　to　make　this　doubtless　bedazzled　stray　from　the　〃lower　classes〃　feel　comfortable　in　those　palatial　surroundings。　　She　imitated　Josephine's　walk；　her　way　of　looking；　her　voice　for　the　menialsgracious　and　condescending。　　The　exhibition　was　clever；　free　from　malice；　redolent　of　humor。　　Norman　laughed　until　the　tears　rolled　down　his　cheeks。

〃You　ought　to　go　on　the　stage；〃　said　he。　　〃How　JosephineMiss　Burroughs　would　appreciate　it！　　For　she's　got　a　keen　sense　of　humor。〃

〃Not　for　the　real　jokeslike　herself；〃　replied　Miss　Hallowell。

〃You're　prejudiced。〃

〃No。　　I　see　her　as　she　is。　　Probably　everyone　else　those　around　hersee　her　money　and　her　clothes　and　all　that。　　But　I　sawjust　her。〃

He　nodded　thoughtfully。　　Then　he　looked　penetratingly　at　her。　　〃How　did　you　happen　to　learn　to　do　that？〃　he　asked。　　〃To　see　people　as　they　are？〃

〃Father　taught　me。〃　　Her　eyes　lighted　up；　her　whole　expression　changed。　　She　became　beautiful　with　the　beauty　of　an　intense　and　adoring　love。　　〃Father　is　a　wonderful　manone　of　the　most　wonderful　that　ever　lived。　　He〃

There　was　a　knock　at　the　door。　　She　startled；　he　looked　confused。　　Both　awakened　to　a　sense　of　their　forgotten　surroundings；　of　who　and　what　they　were。　　She　went　and　Mr。　Sanders　entered。　　But　even　in　his　confusion　Norman　marveled　at　the　vanishing　of　the　fascinating　personality　who　had　been　captivating　him　into　forgetting　everything　else；　at　the　reappearance　of　the　blank；　the　pale　and　insignificant　personality　attached　to　a　typewriting　machine　at　ten　dollars　a　week。　　No；　not　insignificant；　not　blanknever　again　that；　for　him。　He　saw　now　the　full　realityand　also　why　he；　everyone；　was　so　misled。　　She　made　him　think　of　the　surface　of　the　sea　when　the　sky　is　gray　and　the　air　calm。　　It　lies　smooth　and　flat　and　expressionlessinert；　monotonous。　But　let　sunbeam　strike　or　breeze　ever　so　faint　start　up；　and　what　a　commotion　of　unending　variety！　　He　could　never　look　at　her　again　without　being　reminded　of　those　infinite　latent　possibilities；　without　wondering　what　new　and　perhaps　more　charming；　more　surprising　varieties　of　look　and　tone　and　manner　could　be　evoked。

And　while　Sanders　was　talkingprosing　on　and　on　about　things　Norman　either　already　knew　or　did　not　wish　to　knowhe　was　thinking　of　her。　　〃If　she　happens　to　meet　a　man　with　enough　discernment　to　fall　in　love　with　her；〃　he　said　to　himself；　〃he　certainly　will　never　weary。　　What　a　pity　that　such　a　girl　shouldn't　have　had　a　chance；　should　be　wasted　on　some　unappreciative　chucklehead　of　her　class！　　What　a　pity　she　hasn't　ambitionor　the　quality；　whatever　it　isthat　makes　those　who　have　it　get　on；　whether　they　wish　or　no。〃

During　the　rest　of　the　day　he　revolved　from　time　to　time　indistinct　ideas　of　somehow　giving　this　girl　a　chance。　　He　wished　Josephine　would　and　could　help；　or　perhaps　his　sister　Ursula。　　It　was　not　a　matter　that　could　be　settled；　or　even　taken　up；　in　haste。　　No　man　of　his　mentality　and　experience　fails　to　learn　how　perilous　it　is　in　the　least　to　interfere　in　the　destiny　of　anyone。　And　his　notion　involved　not　slight　interference　with　advice　or　suggestion　or　momentarily　extended　helping　hand；　but　radical　change　of　the　whole　current　of　destiny。　Also；　he　appreciated　how　difficult　it　is　for　a　man　to　do　anything　for　a　young　womananything　that　would　not　harm　more　than　it　would　help。　　Only　one　thing　seemed　clear　to　himthe　〃clever　child〃　ought　to　have　a　chance。

He　went　to　see　Josephine　after　dinner　that　night　His　own　house；　while　richly　and　showily　furnished；　as　became　his　means　and　station；　seemedand　indeed　was　merely　an　example　of　simple；　old…fashioned　〃solid　comfort〃　in　comparison　with　the　Burroughs　palace。　He　had　never　liked；　but；　being　a　true　New　Yorker；　had　greatly　admired　the　splendor　of　that　palace；　its　costly　art　junk；　its　rotten　old　tapestries；　its　unlovely　genuine　antiques；　its　room　after　room　of　tasteless　magnificence；　suggesting　a　museum；　or　rather　the　combination　home　and　salesroom　of　an　art　dealer。　　This　evening　he　found　himself　curious；　critical；　disposed　to　license　a　long…　suppressed　sense　of　humor。　　While　he　was　waiting　for　Josephine　to　come　down　to　the　small　salon　into　which　he　had　been　shown；　her　older　sister　drifted　in；　on　the　way　to　a　late　dinner　and　ball。　　She　eyed　him　admiringly　from　head　to　foot。

〃You've　SUCH　an　air；　Fred；〃　said　she。　　〃You　should　hear　the　butler　on　the　subject　of　you。　　He　says　that　of　all　the　men　who　come　to　the　house　you　are　most　the　man　of　the　world。　　He　says　he　could　tell　it　by　the　way　you　walk　in　and　take　off　your　hat　and　coat　and　throw　them　at　him。〃

Norman　laughed　and　said；　〃I　didn't　know。　　I　must　stop　that。〃

〃Don't！〃　cried　Mrs。　Bellowes。　　〃You'll　break　his　heart。　　He　adores　it。　　You　know；　servants　dearly　love　to　be　treated　as　servants。　　Anyone　who　thinks　the　world　loves　equality　knows　very　little　about　human　nature。　Most　people　love　to　look　up；　just　as　most　women　love　to　be　ruled。　　No；　you　must　continue　to　be　the　master；　the　man　of　the　world；　Fred。〃

She　was　busy　with　her　gorgeous　and　trailing　wraps　and　with　her　cigarette　or　she　would　have　seen　his　confusion。　　He　was　recalling　his　scene　with　the　typewriter　girl。　　Not　much　of　the　man　of　the　world；　then　and　there；　certainly。　　What　a　grotesque　performance　for　a　man　of　his　position；　for　a　serious　man　of　any　kind！　　And　how　came　he　to　permit　such　a　person　to　mimic　Josephine　Burroughs；　a　lady；　the　woman　to　whom　he　was　engaged？　In　these　proud　and　pretentious　surroundings　he　felt　contemptibly　guiltyand　dazed　wonder　at　his　own　inexplicable　folly　and　weakness。

Mrs。　Bellowes　departed　before　Josephine　came　down。　So　there　was　no　relief　for　his　embarrassment。　　He　saw　that　she　too　felt　constrained。　　Instead　of　meeting　him　half　way　in　embrace　and　kiss；　as　she　usually　did；　she　threw　him　a　kiss　and　pretended　to　be　busy　lighting　a　cigarette　and　arranging　the　shades　of　the　table　lamp。　〃Well；　I　saw　your　‘poor　little　creature；'　〃　she　began。　She　was　splendidly　direct　in　all　her　dealings；　after　the　manner　of　people　who　have　never　had　to　make　their　own　wayto　cajole　or　conciliate　or　dread　the　consequences　of　frankness。

〃I　told　you　you'd　not　find　her　interesting。〃

〃Oh；　she　was　a　nice　little　girl；〃　replied　Josephine　with　elaborate　graciousnessand　Norman；　the　〃take　off〃　fresh　in　his　mind；　was　acutely　critical　of　her　manner；　of　her　mannerisms。　　〃Of　course；〃　she　went　on；　〃one　does　not　expect　much　of　people　of　that　class。　　But　I　thought　her　unusually　well…manneredand　quite　clean。〃

〃Tetlow　makes　'em　clean　up；〃　said　Norman；　a　gleam　of　sarcasm　in　his　careless　glance　and　tone。　　And　into　his　nostrils　stole　an　odor　of　freshness　and　health　and　youth；　the　pure；　sweet　odor　that　is　the　base　of　all　the　natural　perfumes。　　It　startled　him；　his　vivid　memory　of　a　feature　of　her　which　he　had　not　been　until　now　aware　that　he　had　ever　noted。

〃I　offered　her　some　work；〃　continued　Josephine；　〃but　I　guess　you　keep　her　too　busy　down　there　for　her　to　do　anything　else。〃

〃Probably；〃　said　Norman。　　〃Why　do　you　sit　on　the　other　side　of　the　room？〃

〃Oh；　I　don't　know；〃　laughed　Josephine。　　〃I　feel　queer　to…night。　　And　it　seems　to　me　you're　queer；　too。〃

〃I？　　Perhaps　rather　tired；　dearthat's　all。〃

〃Did　you　and　Miss　Hallowell　work　hard　to…day？〃

〃Oh；　bother　Miss　Hallowell。　　Let's　talk　about　ourselves。〃　And　he　drew　her　to　the　sofa　at　one　end　of　the　big　fireplace。　　〃I　wish　we　hadn't　set　the　wedding　so　far　off。〃　　And　suddenly　he　found　himself　wondering　whether　that　remark　had　been　prompted　by　eagerness　a　lover's　eagernessor　by　impatience　to　have　the　business　over　and　settled。

〃You　don't　act　a　bit　natural　to…night；　Fred。　　You　touch　me　as　if　I　were　a　stranger。〃

〃I　like　that！〃　mocked　he。　　〃A　stranger　hold　your　hand　like　this？andkiss　youlike　this？〃

She　drew　away；　suddenly　laid　her　hands　on　his　shoulders；　kissed　him　upon　the　lips　passionately；　then　looked　into　his　eyes。　　〃DO　you　love　me；　Fred？REALLY？〃

〃Why　so　earnest？〃

〃You've　had　a　great　deal　of　experience？〃

〃More　or　less。〃

〃Have　you　ever　loved　any　woman　as　you　love　me？〃

〃I've　never　loved　any　woman　but　you。　　I　never　before　wanted　to　marry　a　woman。〃

〃But　you　may　be　doing　it　becausewell；　you　might　be　tired　and　want　to　settle　down。〃

〃Do　you　believe　that？〃

〃No；　I　don't。　　But　I　want　to　hear　you　say　it　isn't　so。〃

〃Wellit　isn't　so。　　Are　you　satisfied？〃

〃I'm　frightfully　jealous　of　you；　Fred。〃

〃What　a　waste　of　time！〃

〃I've　got　something　to　confesssomething　I'm　ashamed　of。〃

〃Don't　confess；〃　cried　he；　laughing　but　showing　that　he　meant　it。　　〃Justdon't　be　wicked　again　That's　much　better　than　confession。〃

〃But　I　must　confess；〃　insisted　she。　　〃I　had　evil


｛illust。　caption　=　〃　‘Would　you　like　to　think　I　was　marrying　you　for　what　you　have？or　for　any　other　reason　whatever　but　for　what　you　are？'　〃｝


thoughts　evil　suspicions　about　you。　　I've　had　them　all　dayuntil　you　came。　　As　soon　as　I　saw　you　I　felt　bowed　into　the　dust。　　A　man　like　you；　doing　anything　so　vulgar　as　I　suspected　you　ofoh；　dearest；　I'm　SO　ashamed！〃

He　put　his　arms　round　her　and　drew　her　to　his　shoulder。　　And　the　scene　of　mimicry　in　his　office　flashed　into　his　mind；　and　the　blood　burned　in　his　cheeks。　　But　he　had　no　such　access　of　insanity　as　to　entert