the dust-第6部分

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it　kept　the　family　from　rotting　out　and　running　to　seed。　　〃Nothing　like　an　occasional　infusion　of　common　blood；〃　Aunt　Ursula　Van　Bruyten　（born　Norman）　used　to　say。　　For　her　Norman's　sister　was　named。

Norman's　father　had　developed　the　〃queer　streak。〃　Their　mother　was　the　daughter　of　a　small　farmer　and；　when　she　met　their　father；　was　chambermaid　in　a　Troy　hotel；　Troy　then　being　a　largish　village。　　As　soon　as　she　found　herself　married　and　in　a　position　with　whose　duties　she　was　unfamiliar；　she　set　about　fitting　herself　for　them　with　the　same　diligence　and　thoroughness　which　she　had　shown　in　learning　chamber　work　in　a　village　hotel。　　She　educated　herself；　selected　not　without　shrewdness　and　carefully　put　on　an　assortment　of　genteel　airs；　finally　contrived　to　make　a　most　creditable　appearancewas　more　aristocratic　in　tastes　and　in　talk　than　the　high　mightiest　of　her　relatives　by　marriage。　　But　her　son　Fred　was　a　Pinkey　in　character。　　In　boyhood　he　was　noted　for　his　rough　and　low　associates。　　His　bosom　friends　were　the　son　of　a　Jewish　junk　dealer；　the　son　of　a　colored　wash…　woman；　and　the　son　of　an　Irish　day　laborer。　　Also；　the　commonness　persisted　as　he　grew　up。　　Instead　of　seeking　aristocratic　ease；　he　aspired　to　a　career。　　He　had　choice　of　several　rich　and　well…born　girls；　but　he　developed　a　strong　distaste　for　marriage　of　any　sort　and　especially　for　a　rich　marriage。　　A　fortune　he　was　resolved　to　have；　but　it　should　be　one　that　belonged　to　him。　　When　he　was　about　ready　to　enter　a　law　office；　his　father　and　mother　died　leaving　less　than　ten　thousand　dollars　in　all　for　his　sister　and　himself。　　His　sister　hesitated；　half　inclined　to　marry　a　stupid　second　cousin　who　had　thirty　thousand　a　year。

〃Don't　do　it；　Ursula；〃　Fred　advised。　　〃If　you　must　sell　out；　sell　for　something　worth　while。〃　　He　laughed　in　his　frank；　ironical　way。　　〃Fact　is；　we've　both　made　up　our　minds　to　sell。　　Let's　go　to　the　best　market　New　York。　　If　you　don't　like　it；　you　can　come　back　and　marry　that　fat…wit　any　time　you　please。〃

Ursula　inspected　herself　in　the　glass；　saw　a　face　and　form　exceeding　fair　to　look　upon；　she　decided　to　take　her　brother's　advice。　　At　twenty　she　threw　over　a　multi…　millionaire　and　married　Clayton　Fitzhugh　for　love　Clayton　with　only　seventeen　thousand　a　year。　　Of　course；　from　the　standpoint　of　fashionable　ambition；　seventeen　thousand　a　year　in　New　York　is　but　one　remove　from　tenement　house　poverty。　　As　Clayton　had　no　more　ability　at　making　money　than　had　Ursula　herself；　there　was　nothing　to　do　but　live　with　Norman　and　〃take　care　of　him。〃　　But　for　this　self…sacrifice　of　sisterly　affection　Norman　would　have　been　rich　at　thirty…　seven。　　As　he　had　to　make　her　rich　as　well　as　himself；　progress　toward　luxurious　independence　was　slower　and　there　was　the　house；　costing　nearly　fifty　thousand　a　year　to　keep　up。

There　had　been　a　time　in　Norman's　careera　brief　and　very　early　timewhen；　with　the　maternal　peasant　blood　hot　in　his　veins；　he　had　entertained　the　quixotic　idea　of　going　into　politics　on　the　poor　or　people's　side　and　fighting　for　glory　only。　　The　pressure　of　expensive　living　had　soon　driven　this　notion　clean　off。　　Norman　had　almost　forgotten　that　he　ever　had　it；　was　no　longer　aware　how　strong　it　had　been　in　the　last　year　at　law　school。　　Young　men　of　high　intelligence　and　ardent　temperament　always　pass　through　this　period。　　With　somea　fewits　glory　lingers　long　after　the　fire　has　flickered　out　before　the　cool；　steady　breath　of　worldliness。

All　this　time　Norman　has　been　dressing　for　dinner。　He　now　leaves　the　third　floor　and　descends　toward　the　library；　as　it　still　lacks　twenty　minutes　of　the　dinner　hour。

As　he　walked　along　the　hall　of　the　second　floor　a　woman's　voice　called　to　him；　〃That　you；　Fred？〃

He　turned　in　at　his　sister's　sitting　room。　　She　was　standing　at　a　table　smoking　a　cigarette。　　Her　tall；　slim　figure　looked　even　taller　and　slimmer　in　the　tight…fitting　black　satin　evening　dress。　　Her　features　faintly　suggested　her　relationship　to　Norman。　　She　was　a　handsome　woman；　with　a　voluptuous　discontented　mouth。

〃What　are　you　worried　about；　sis？〃　inquired　he。

〃How　did　you　know　I　was　worried？〃　returned　she。

〃You　always　are。〃

〃Oh！〃

〃But　you're　unusually　worried　to…night。〃

〃How　did　you　know　that？〃

〃You　never　smoke　just　before　dinner　unless　your　nerves　are　ragged。　。　。　。　　What　is　it？〃

〃Money。〃

〃Of　course。　　No　one　in　New　York　worries　about　anything　else。〃

〃But　THIS　is　serious；〃　protested　she。　　〃I've　been　thinkingabout　your　marriageand　what'll　become　of　Clayton　and　me？〃　　She　halted；　red　with　embarrassment。

Norman　lit　a　cigarette　himself。　　〃I　ought　to　have　explained；〃　said　he。　　〃But　I　assumed　you'd　understand。〃

〃Fred；　you　know　Clayton　can't　make　anything。　And　when　you　marrywhywhat　WILL　become　of　us！〃

〃I've　been　taking　care　of　Clayton's　moneyand　of　yours。　　I'll　continue　to　do　it。　　I　think　you'll　find　you're　not　so　badly　of。　　You　see；　my　position　enables　me　to　compel　a　lot　of　the　financiers　to　let　me　in　on　the　ground　floorand　to　warn　me　in　good　time　before　the　house　falls。　　You'll　not　miss　me；　Ursula。〃

She　showed　her　gratitude　in　her　eyes；　in　a　slight　quiver　of　the　lips；　in　an　unsteadiness　of　tone　as　she　said；　〃You're　the　real　thing；　Freddie。〃

〃You　can　go　right　on　as　you　are　now。　　Only〃　He　was　looking　at　her　with　meaning　directness。

She　moved　uneasily；　refused　to　meet　his　gaze。　〃Well？〃　she　said；　with　a　suggestion　of　defiance。

〃It's　all　very　natural　to　get　tired　of　Clayton；〃　said　her　brother。　　〃I　knew　you　would　when　you　married　him。　　But　　Sis；　I　mind　my　own　business。　　Still　Why　make　a　fool　of　yourself？〃

〃You　don't　understand；〃　she　exclaimed　passionately。　And　the　light　in　her　eyes；　the　color　in　her　cheeks；　restored　to　her　for　the　moment　the　beauty　of　her　youth　that　was　almost　gone。

〃Understand　what？〃　inquired　he　in　a　tone　of　gentle　mockery。

〃Love。　　You　are　all　ambitionall　self　control。　　You　can　be　affectionateGod　knows；　you　have　been　to　me；　Fred。　　But　love　you　know　nothing　aboutnothing。〃

His　was　the　smile　a　man　gives　when　in　earnest　and　wishing　to　be　thought　jestingor　when　in　jest　and　wishing　to　be　thought　in　earnest。

〃You　mean　Josephine？　　Oh；　yes；　I　suppose　you　do　care　for　her　in　a　wayin　a　nice；　conventional　way。　She　is　a　fine　handsome　piecejust　the　sort　to　fill　the　position　of　wife　to　a　man　like　you。　　She's　sweet　and　charming；　she　appreciates；　she　flatters　you。　　I'm　sure　she　loves　you　as　much　as　a　GIRL　knows　how　to　love。　　But　it's　all　so　conventional；　so　proper。　　Your　positionher　money。　　You　two　are　of　the　regulation　type　even　in　that　you're　suited　to　each　other　in　height　and　figure。　　Everybody'll　say；　‘What　a　fine　coupleso　well　matched！'　〃

〃Maybe　YOU　don't　understand；〃　said　Norman。

〃If　Josephine　were　poor　and　low…bornweren't　one　of　usand　all　thatwould　you　have　her？〃

〃I'm　sure　I　don't　know；〃　was　his　prompt　and　amused　answer。　　〃I　can　only　say　that　I　know　what　I　want；　she　being　what　she　is。〃

Ursula　shook　her　head。　　〃I　have　only　to　see　you　and　her　together　to　know　that　you　at　least　don't　understand　love。〃

〃It　might　be　well　if　YOU　didn't；〃　said　Norman　dryly。　〃You　might　be　less　unhappyand　Clayton　less　uneasy。〃

〃Ah；　but　I　can't　help　myself。　　Don't　you　see　it　in　me；　Fred？　　I'm　not　a　fool。　　Yet　see　what　a　fool　I　act。〃

〃Spoiled　childthat's　all。　　No　self…control。〃

〃You　despise　everyone　who　isn't　as　strong　as　you。〃　She　looked　at　him　intently。　　〃I　wonder　if　you　ARE　as　self…controlled　as　you　imagine。　　Sometimes　I　wish　you'd　get　a　lesson。　　Then　you'd　be　more　sympathetic。　　But　it　isn't　likely　you　willnot　through　a　woman。　　Oh；　they're　such　pitifully　easy　game　for　a　man　like　you。　But　then　men　are　the　same　way　with　youquite　as　easy。　　You　get　anything　you　want。　。　。　。　　You're　really　going　to　stick　to　Josephine？〃

He　nodded。　　〃It's　time　for　me　to　settle　down。〃

〃YesI　think　it　is；〃　she　went　on　thoughtfully。　　〃I　can　hardly　believe　you're　to　marry。　　Of　course；　she's　the　grand　prize。　　StillI　never　imagined　you'd　come　in　and　surrender。　　I　guess　you　DO　care　for　her。〃

〃Why　else　should　I　marry？〃　argued　he。　　〃She's　got　nothing　I　needexcept　herself；　Ursula。〃

〃What　IS　it　you　see　in　her？〃

〃What　you　seewhat　everyone　sees；〃　replied　Fred；　with　quiet；　convincing　enthusiasm。　　〃What　no　one　could　help　seeing。　　As　you　say；　she's　the　grand　prize。〃

〃Yes；　she　is　sweet　and　handsomeand　intelligent　very　superior；　without　making　others　feel　that　they're　outclassed。　　Stillthere's　something　lackingnot　in　her　perhaps；　but　in　you。　　You　have　it　for　hershe's　crazy　about　you。　　But　she　hasn't　it　for　you。〃

〃What？〃

〃I　can't　tell　you。　　It　isn't　a　thing　that　can　be　put　into　words。〃

〃Then　it　doesn't　exist。〃

〃Oh；　yes　it　does；〃　cried　Ursula。　　〃If　the　engagement　were　to　be　brokenor　if　anything　were　to　happen　to　herwhy；　you'd　get　over　itwould　go　on　as　if　nothing　had　happened。　　If　she　didn't　fit　in　with　your　plans　and　ambitions；　she'd　be　sacrificed　so　quick　she'd　not　know　what　had　taken　off　her　head。　　But　if　you　felt　what　I　meanthen　you'd　give　up　everythingdo　the　wildest；　craziest　things。〃

〃What　nonsense！〃　scoffed　Norman。　　〃I　can　im…　agine　myself　making　a　fool　of　myself　about　a　woman　as　easily　as　about　anything　else。　　But　I　can't　imagine　myself　playing　the　fool　for　anything　whatsoever。〃

There　was　mysterious　fire　in　Ursula's　absent　eyes。　〃You　remember　me　as　a　girlhow　mercenary　I　was　how　near　I　came　to　marrying　Cousin　Jake？〃

〃I　saved　you　from　that。〃

〃Yesand　for　what？　　I　fell　in　love。〃

〃And　out　again。〃

〃I　was　deceived　in　Claytondeceived　myself　naturally。　　How　is　a　woman　to　know；　without　experience？〃

〃Oh；　I'm　not　criticising；〃　said　the　brother。

〃Besides；　a　love　marriage　that　fails　is　different　from　a　mercenary　marriage　that　fails。〃

〃Veryvery；〃　agreed　he。　　〃Just　the　difference　between　an　honorable　and　a　dishonorable　bankruptcy。〃

〃Anyhowit's　bankruptmy　marriage。　　But　I've　learned　what　love　isthat　there　is　such　a　thingand　that　it's　valuable。　　Yes；　Fred；　I've　got　the　taste　for　that　winethe　habit　of　it。　　Could　I　go　back　to　water　or　milk？〃

〃Spoiled　babythat's　the　whole　story。　　If　you　had　a　nursery　full　of　childrenor　did　the　heavy　house…　workyou'd　never　think　of　these　foolish　moonshiny　things。〃

〃Yet　you　say　you　love！〃

〃Clayton　is　as　good　as　any　you're　likely　to　run　acrossis　b