the dust-第51部分

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〃She　threw　me　over；〃　repeated　he　coldly。　　〃Tetlow　was　repeating　malicious　and　ignorant　gossip。〃

Dorothy　laughed　againit　was　her　second　glass　of　champagne。　　〃You　say　that　because　it's　the　honorable　thing　to　say。　　But　I　know。〃

〃I　say　it　because　it's　true；〃　said　he。

He　spoke　quietly；　but　if　she　had　drunk　many　more　than　two　glasses　of　an　unaccustomed　and　heady　liquor　she　would　have　felt　his　intonation。　　She　paled　and　shrank　and　her　slim　white　fingers　fluttered　nervously　at　the　collar　of　her　dress。　　〃I　was　only　joking；〃　she　murmured。

He　laughed　good…naturedly。　　〃Don't　look　as　if　I　had　given　you　a　whipping；〃　said　he。　　〃Surely　you're　not　afraid　of　me。〃

She　glanced　shyly　at　him；　a　smile　dancing　in　her　eyes　and　upon　her　lips。　　〃Yes；〃　she　said。　　And　after　a　pause　she　added：　　〃I　didn't　used　to　be。　　But　that　was　because　I　didn't　know　youor　much　of　anything。〃　The　smile　irradiated　her　whole　face。　　〃You　used　to　be　afraid　of　me。　　But　you　aren't；　any　more。〃

〃No；〃　said　he；　looking　straight　at　her。　　〃No；　I'm　not。〃

〃I　always　told　you　you　were　mistaken　in　what　you　thought　of　me。　　I　really　don't　amount　to　much。　　A　man　as　serious　and　as　important　as　you　are　couldn't　couldn't　care　about　me。〃

〃It's　true　you　don't　amount　to　much；　as　yet；〃　said　he。　　〃And　if　you　never　do　amount　to　much；　you'd　be　no　less　than　most　women　and　most　men。　　But　I've　an　idea　at　timesthat　you　COULD　amount　to　something。〃

He　saw　that　he　had　wounded　her　vanity；　that　her　protestations　of　humility　were　precisely　what　he　had　suspected。　　He　laughed　at　her：　　〃I　see　you　thought　I'd　contradict　you。　　But　I　can't　afford　to　be　so　amiable　now。　　And　the　first　thing　you've　got　to　get　rid　of　is　the　part　of　your　vanity　that　prevents　you　from　growing。　Vanity　of　belief　in　one's　possibilities　is　fine。　　No　one　gets　anywhere　without　it。　　But　vanity　of　belief　in　one's　present　perfectionno　one　but　a　god　could　afford　that　luxury。〃

Observing　her　closely　he　was　amusedand　pleased　to　note　that　she　was　struggling　to　compose　herself　to　endure　his　candors　as　a　necessary　part　of　the　duties　and　obligations　she　had　taken　on　herself　when　she　gave　up　and　returned　to　him。

〃What　YOU　thought　of　ME　used　to　be　the　important　thing　in　our　relations；〃　he　went　on；　in　his　way　of　raillery　that　took　all　or　nearly　all　the　sting　out　of　what　he　said；　but　none　of　its　strength。　　〃Now；　the　important　thing　is　what　I　think　of　you。　　You　are　much　younger　than　I；　especially　in　experience。　　You　are　going　to　school　to　life　with　me　as　teacher。　　You'll　dislike　the　teacher　for　the　severity　of　the　school。　　That　isn't　just；　but　it's　naturalperhaps　inevitable。　　And　pleasemy　dear　when　you　are　bitterest　over　what　YOU　have　to　put　up　with　from　MEdon't　forget　what　_I_　have　to　put　up　with　from　YOU。〃

She　was　fighting　bravely　against　angry　tears。　　As　for　him；　he　had　suddenly　become　indifferent　to　what　the　people　around　them　might　be　thinking。　　With　all　his　old　arrogance　come　back　in　full　flood；　he　was　feeling　that　he　would　live　his　own　life　in　his　own　way　and　that　those　who　didn't　approveyes；　including　Dorothy　might　do　as　they　saw　fit。　　She　said：

〃I　don't　blame　you　for　regretting　that　you　didn't　marry　Miss　Burroughs。〃

〃But　I　don't　regret　it；〃　replied　he。　　〃On　the　contrary；　I'm　glad。〃

She　glanced　hopefully　at　him。　　But　the　hopeful　expression　faded　as　he　went　on：

〃Whether　or　not　I　made　a　mistake　in　marrying　you；　I　certainly　had　an　escape　from　disaster　when　she　decided　she　preferred　a　foreigner　and　a　title。　　There's　a　good　sensible　reason　why　so　many　girls　of　her　class　more　and　more　all　the　timemarry　abroad。　　They　are　not　fit　to　be　the　wives　of　hard…working　American　husbands。　　In　fact　I've　about　reached　the　conclusion　that　of　the　girls　growing　up　nowdays　very　few　in　any　class　are　fit　to　be　American　wives。　　They're　not　big　enough。　They're　too　coarse　and　crude　in　their　tastes。　　They're　only　fit　for　the　shallow；　showy　sort　of　thingand　the　European　aristocracy　is　their　hopeand　their　place。〃

Her　small　face　had　a　fascinating　expression　of　a


｛illust。　caption　=　〃At　Josephine　s　right　sat　a　handsome　young　foreigner。〃｝


child　trying　to　understand　things　far　beyond　its　depth。　He　was　interested　in　his　own　thoughts；　however；　and　went　onfor；　if　he　had　been　in　the　habit　of　stopping　when　his　hearers　failed　to　understand；　or　when　they　misunderstood；　either　he　would　have　been　silent　most　of　the　time　in　company　or　his　conversation　would　have　been　as　petty　and　narrow　and　devoid　of　originality　or　imagination　as　is　the　mentality　of　most　human　beings　as　is　the　talk　and　reading　that　impress　them　as　interestingand　profound！

〃The　American　man　of　the　more　ambitious　sort；〃　he　went　on；　〃either　has　to　live　practically　if　not　physically　apart　from　his　wife　or　else　has　to　educate　some　not　too　difficult　woman　to　be　his　wife。〃

She　understood　that。　　〃You　are　really　going　to　educate　me？〃　she　said；　with　an　arch　smile。　　Now　that　Norman　had　her　attention；　now　that　she　was　centering　upon　him　instead　of　upon　herself；　she　was　interested　in　him；　and　in　what　he　said；　whether　she　understood　it　or　not；　whether　it　pleased　her　vanity　or　wounded　it。　　The　intellects　of　women　work　to　an　unsuspected　extent　only　through　the　sex　charm。　　Their　appreciations　of　books；　of　art；　of　men　are　dependant；　often　in　the　most　curious　indirect　ways；　upon　the　fact　that　the　author；　the　artist；　the　politician　or　what　not　is　betrousered。　　Thus；　Dorothy　was　patient；　respectful；　attentive；　was　not　offended　by　Norman's　didactic　way　of　giving　her　the　lessons　in　life。　　Her　smile　was　happy　as　well　as　coquettish；　as　she　asked　him　to　educate　her。

He　returned　her　smile。　　〃That　depends；〃　answered　he。

〃You're　not　sure　I'm　worth　the　trouble？〃

〃You　may　put　it　that　way；　if　you　like。　　But　I'd　say；　rather；　I'm　not　sure　I　can　spare　the　timeand　you're　not　sure　you　care　to　fit　yourself　for　the　place。〃

〃Oh；　but　I　do！〃　cried　she。

〃We'll　seein　a　few　weeks　or　months；〃　replied　he。

The　Burroughs　party　were　rising。　　Josephine　had　choice　of　two　ways　to　the　door。　　She　chose　the　one　that　took　her　past　Norman　and　his　bride。　　She　advanced；　beaming。　　Norman　rose；　took　her　extended　hand。　　Said　she：

〃So　glad　to　see　you。〃　　Then；　turning　the　radiant　smile　upon　Dorothy；　〃And　is　this　your　wife？　　Is　this　the　pretty　little　typewriter　girl？〃

Dorothy　noddeda　charming；　ingenuous　bend　of　the　head。　　Norman　felt　a　thrill　of　pride　in　her；　so　beautifully　unconscious　of　the　treacherous　attempt　at　insult。　It　particularly　delighted　him　that　she　had　not　made　the　mistake　of　rising　to　return　Josephine's　greeting　but　had　remained　seated。　　Surely　this　wife　of　his　had　the　right　instincts　that　never　fail　to　cause　right　manners。　For　Josephine's　benefit；　he　gazed　down　at　Dorothy　with　the　proudest；　fondest　eyes。　　〃Yesthis　is　she；〃　said　he。　　〃Can　you　blame　me？〃

Josephine　paled　and　winced　visibly；　as　if　the　blow　she　had　aimed　at　him　had；　after　glancing　off　harmlessly；　returned　to　crush　her。　　She　touched　Dorothy's　proffered　hand；　murmured　a　few　stammering　phrases　of　vague　compliment；　rejoined　her　friends。　　Said　Dorothy；　when　she　and　Norman　were　settled　again：

〃I　shall　never　like　her。　　Nor　she　me。〃

〃But　you　do　like　this　cheese？　　Waiter；　another　bottle　of　that　same。〃

〃Why　did　she　put　you　in　such　a　good　humor？〃　inquired　his　wife。

〃It　wasn't　she。　　It　was　you！〃　replied　he。　　But　he　refused　to　explain。



XXI


GALLOWAY　accepted　Norman's　terms。　　He　would　probably　have　accepted　terms　far　less　easy。　　But　Norman　as　yet　knew　with　the　thoroughness　which　must　precede　intelligent　plan　and　action　only　the　legal　side　of　financial　operations；　he　had　been　as　indifferent　to　the　commercial　side　as　a　pilot　to　the　value　of　the　cargo　in　the　ship　he　engages　to　steer　clear　of　shoals　and　rocks。　So　with　the　prudence　of　the　sagacious　man's　audacities　he　contented　himself　with　a　share　of　this　first　venture　that　would　simply　make　a　comfortable　foundation　for　the　fortune　he　purposed　to　build。　　As　the　venture　could　not　fail　outright；　even　should　Galloway　die；　he　rented　a　largish　place　at　Hempstead；　with　the　privilege　of　purchase；　and　installed　his　wife　and　himself　with　a　dozen　servants　and　a　housekeeper。

〃This　housekeeper；　this　Mrs。　Lowell；〃　said　he　to　Dorothy；　〃is　a　good　enough　person　as　housekeepers　go。　　But　you　will　have　to　look　sharply　after　her。〃

Dorothy　seemed　to　fade　and　shrink　within　herself；　which　was　her　way　of　confessing　lack　of　courage　and　fitness　to　face　a　situation：　　〃I　don't　know　anything　about　those　things；〃　she　confessed。

〃I　understand　perfectly；〃　said　he。　　〃But　you　learned　something　at　the　place　in　Jersey　Cityquite　enough　for　the　start。　　Really；　all　you　need　to　know　just　now　is　whether　the　place　is　clean　or　not；　and　whether　the　food　comes　on　the　table　in　proper　condition。　The　rest　you'll　pick　up　gradually。〃

〃I　hope　so；〃　said　she；　looking　doubtful　and　helpless；　these　new　magnitudes　were　appalling；　especially　now　that　she　was　beginning　to　get　a　point　of　view　upon　life。

〃At　any　rate；　don't　bother　me　for　these　few　next　months；〃　said　he。　　〃I'm　going　to　be　very　busyshall　leave　early　in　the　morning　and　not　be　back　until　near　dinner　timeif　I　come　at　all。　　No；　you'll　not　be　annoyed　by　me。　　You'll　be　absolute　mistress　of　your　time。〃

She　tried　to　look　as　if　this　contented　her。　　But　he　could　not　have　failed　to　see　how　dissatisfied　and　disquieted　she　really　was。　　He　had　the　best　of　reasons　for　thinking　that　she　was　living　under　the　same　roof　with　him　only　because　she　preferred　the　roof　he　could　provide　to　such　a　one　as　she　could　provide　for　herself　whether　by　her　own　earnings　or　by　marrying　a　man　more　to　her　liking　personally。　　Yet　here　she　was；　piqued　and　depressed　because　of　his　indifferencebecause　he　was　not　thrusting　upon　her　gallantries　she　would　tolerate　only　through　prudence！

〃You　will　be　lonely　at　times；　I'm　afraid；〃　said　he。　〃But　I　can't　provide　friends　or　even　acquaintances　for　you　for　several　monthsuntil　my　affairs　are　in　better　order　and　my　sister　and　her　husband　come　back　from　Europe。〃

〃Oh；　I　shan't　be　lonely；〃　cried　she。　　〃I've　never　cared　for　people。〃

〃You've　your　books；　and　your　musicand　riding　and　shopping　trips　to　townand　the　house　and　grounds　to　look　after。〃

〃Yesand　my　dreams；〃　said　she　hopefully；　her　eyes　suggesting　the　dusky　star　depths。

〃Ohthe　dreams。　　You'll　have　litt