the conflict-第42部分

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；　faking　woman　about　her。　　And　although　she's　got　plenty　of　excuse　for　being　conceited；　she　isn't　a　bit　so。　　She　isn't　always　thinking　about　herself；　like　the　girls　of　our　class。''

‘‘I　don't　in　the　least　wonder　at　your　being　in　love　with　her；　Davy；''　said　Jane　sweetly。　　‘‘Didn't　I　tell　you　I　admired　your　tasteand　your　courage？''

‘‘You're　sneering　at　me；''　said　Davy。　　‘‘All　the　same；　it　did　take　couragefor　I'm　a　snob　at　bottomlike　youlike　all　of　us　who've　been　brought　up　so　foolishly　so　rottenly。　　But　I'm　proud　that　I　had　the　courage。　　I've　had　a　better　opinion　of　myself　ever　since。　　And　if　you　have　any　unspoiled　womanhood　in　you；　you　agree　with　me。''

‘‘I　do　agree　with　you；''　said　Jane　softly。　　She　reached　out　and　laid　her　hand　on　his　arm　for　an　instant。　　‘‘That's　honest；　Davy。''

He　gave　her　a　grateful　look。　　‘‘I　know　it；''　said　he。　　‘‘The　reason　I　confide　things　to　you　is　because　I　know　you're　a　real　woman　at　bottom；　Janethe　only　real　person　I've　ever　happened　across　in　our　class。''

‘‘It　took　more　courage　for　you　to　do　that　sort　of　thing　than　it　would　for　a　woman；''　said　Jane。　　‘‘It's　more　natural；　easier　for　a　woman　to　stake　everything　in　love。　　If　she　hasn't　the　man　she　wants　she　hasn't　anything；　while　a　man's　wife　can　be　a　mere　detail　in　his　life。　　He　can　forget　he's　married；　most　of　the　time。''

‘‘That　isn't　the　way　I　intend　to　be　married；''　said　Davy。　　‘‘I　want　a　wife　who'll　be　half；　full　half；　of　the　whole。　　And　I'll　get　her。''

‘‘You　mean　you　haven't　given　up？''

‘‘Why　should　I？　　She　doesn't　love　another　man。　　So；　there's　hope。

Don't　you　think　so？''

Jane　was　silent。　　She　hastily　debated　whether　it　would　be　wiser　to　say　yes　or　to　say　no。

‘‘Don't　you　think　so？''　repeated　he。

‘‘How　can　I　tell？''　replied　Jane；　diplomatically。　　‘‘I'd　have　to　see　her　with　yousee　how　she　feels　toward　you。''

‘‘I　think　she　likes　me；''　said　Davy；　‘‘likes　me　a　good　deal。''

Jane　kept　her　smile　from　the　surface。　　What　a　man　always　thought；　no　matter　how　plainly　a　woman　showed　that　she　detested　him。　　‘‘No　doubt　she　does；''　said　Jane。　　She　had　decided　upon　a　course　of　action。　　‘‘If　I　were　you；　Davy；　I'd　keep　away　from　her　for　the　present　give　her　time　to　think　it　over；　to　see　all　the　advantages。　　If　a　man　forces　himself　on　a　queer；　wild　sort　of　girl　such　as　Selma　is；　he's　likely　to　drive　her　further　away。''

Davy　reflected。　　‘‘Guess　you're　right；''　said　he　finally。　　‘‘My　instinct　is　always　to　actto　keep　on　acting　until　I　get　results。

But　it's　dangerous　to　do　that　with　Selma。　　At　least；　I　think　so。　　I　don't　know。　　I　don't　understand　her。　　I've　got　nothing　to　offer　hernothing　that　she　wantsas　she　frankly　told　me。　　Even　if　she　loved　me；　I　doubt　if　she'd　marry　meon　account　of　her　sense　of　duty。　　What　you　said　awhile　ago　about　women　never　doing　things　from　a　sense　of　duty　that　shows　how　hard　it　is　for　a　woman　to　understand　what's　perfectly　simple　to　a　man。　　Selma　isn't　the　sheltered　woman　sortthe　sort　whose　moral　obligations　are　all　looked　after　by　the　men　of　her　family。　　The　old…fashioned　woman　always　belonged　to　some　man　or　else　was　an　outcast。　　This　new　style　of　woman　looks　at　life　as　a　man　does。''

Jane　listened　with　a　somewhat　cynical　expression。　No　doubt；　in　theory；　there　was　a　new　style　of　woman。　But　practically；　the　new　style　of　woman　merely　TALKED　differently；　at　least；　she　was　still　the　old…fashioned　woman；　longing　for　dependence　upon　some　man　and　indifferent　to　the　obligations　men　made　such　a　fuss　aboutprobably　not　so　sincerely　as　they　fancied。　　But　her　expression　changed　when　Davy　went　on　to　say：

‘‘She'd　look　at　a　thing　of　that　sort　much　as　I　or　Victor　Dorn　would。''

Jane's　heart　suddenly　sank。　　Because　the　unconscious　blow　had　hurt　she　struck　out；　struck　back　with　the　first　weapon　she　could　lay　hold　of。　　‘‘But　you　said　a　minute　ago　that　Victor　was　a　hypocritical　demagogue。''

Davy　flushed　with　confusion。　　He　was　in　a　franker　mood　now；　however。　　‘‘I'd　like　to　think　that；''　he　replied。　　‘‘But　I　don't　honestly　believe　it。''

‘‘You　think　that　if　Victor　Dorn　loved　a　woman　of　our　class　he'd　put　her　out　of　his　life？''

‘‘That's　hardly　worth　discussing；''　said　Davy。　　‘‘No　woman　of　our　classno　woman　he'd　be　likely　to　look　atwould　encourage　him　to　the　point　where　he'd　presume　upon　it。''

‘‘How　narrow　you　are！''　cried　Jane；　derisive　but　even　more　angry。

‘‘It's　differententirely　differentwith　a　man；　even　in　our　class。　　But　a　woman　of　our　classshe's　a　lady　or　she's　nothing　at　all。　　And　a　lady　couldn't　be　so　lacking　in　refinement　as　to　descend　to　a　man　socially　beneath　her。''

‘‘I　can　see　how　ANY　woman　might　fall　in　love　with　Victor　Dorn。''

‘‘You're　just　saying　that　to　be　argumentative；''　said　Davy　with　conviction。　　‘‘Take　yourself；　for　example。''

‘‘I　confess　I　don't　see　any　such　contrast　between　Victor　and　youexcept　where　the　comparison's　altogether　in　his　favor；''　said　Jane　pleasantly。　　‘‘You　don't　know　as　much　as　he　does。　　You　haven't　the　independence　of　characteror　the　courageor　the　sincerity。　　You　couldn't　be　a　real　leader；　as　he　is。　　You　have　to　depend　on　influence；　and　on　trickery。''

A　covert　glance　at　the　tall；　solemn…looking　young　man　riding　silently　beside　her　convinced　her　that　he　was　as　uncomfortable　as　she　had　hoped　to　make　him。

‘‘As　for　mannersand　the　things　that　go　to　make　a　gentleman；''　she　went　on；　‘‘I'm　not　sure　but　that　there；　too；　the　comparison　is　against　you。　　You　always　suggest　to　me　that　if　you　hadn't　the　pattern　set　for　men　of　our　class　and　didn't　follow　it；　you'd　be　absolutely　lost；　Davy；　dear。　　While　Victorhe's　a　fine；　natural　person；　with　the　manners　that　grow　as　naturally　out　of　his　personality　as　oak　leaves　grow　out　of　an　oak。''

Jane　was　astonished　and　delighted　by　this　eloquence　of　hers　about　the　man　she　lovedan　eloquence　far　above　her　usual　rather　commonplace　mode　of　speech　and　thought。　　Love　was　indeed　an　inspirer！　　What　a　person　she　would　become　when　she　had　Victor　always　stimulating　her。　　She　went　on：

‘‘A　woman　would　never　grow　tired　of　Victor。　　He　doesn't　talk　stale　stuff　such　as　all　of　us　get　from　the　stale　little　professors　and　stale；　dreary　text…books　at　our　colleges。''

‘‘Why　don't　you　fall　in　love　with　him？''　said　Davy　sourly。

‘‘I　do　believe　you're　envious　of　Victor　Dorn；''　retorted　Jane。

‘‘What　a　disagreeable　mood　you're　in　to…day；''　said　Davy。

‘‘So　a　man　always　thinks　when　a　woman　speaks　well　of　another　man　in　his　presence。''

‘‘I　didn't　suspect　you　of　being　envious　of　Selma。　　Why　should　you　suspect　me　of　feeling　ungenerously　about　Victor？　　Fall　in　love　with　him　if　you　like。　　Heaven　knows；　I'd　do　nothing　to　stop　it。''

‘‘Perhaps　I　shall；''　said　Jane；　with　unruffled　amiability。　　‘‘You're　setting　a　dangerous　example　of　breaking　down　class　lines。''

‘‘Now；　Jane；　you　know　perfectly　well　that　while；　if　I　married　Selma　she'd　belong　to　my　class；　a　woman　of　our　class　marrying　Victor　Dorn　would　sink　to　his　class。　　Why　quarrel　about　anything　so　obviously　true？''

‘‘Victor　Dorn　belongs　to　a　class　by　himself；''　replied　Jane。　　‘‘You　forget　that　men　of　genius　are　not　regarded　like　you　poor　ordinary　mortals。''

Davy　was　relieved　that　they　had　reached　the　turning　at　which　they　had　to　separate。　　‘‘I　believe　you　are　in　love　with　him；''　said　he　as　a　parting　shot。

Jane；　riding　into　her　lane；　laughed　gayly；　mockingly。　　She　arrived　at　home　in　fine　humor。　　It　pleased　her　that　Davy；　for　all　his　love　for　Selma；　could　yet　be　jealous　of　Victor　Dorn　on　her　account。　　And　more　than　ever；　after　this　talk　with　himthe　part　of　it　that　preceded　the　quarrelshe　felt　that　she　was　doing　a　fine；　brave；　haughtily　aristocratic　thing　in　loving　Victor　Dorn。　　Only　a　woman　with　a　royal　soul　would　venture　to　be　thus　audacious。

Should　she　encourage　or　discourage　the　affair　between　Davy　and　Selma？　　There　was　much　to　be　said　for　this　way　of　removing　Selma　from　her　path；　also；　if　a　man　of　Davy　Hull's　position　married　beneath　him；　less　would　be　thought　of　her　doing　the　same　thing。　　On　the　other　hand；　she　felt　that　she　had　a　certain　property　right　in　David　Hull；　and　that　Selma　was　taking　what　belonged　to　her。　　This；　she　admitted　to　herself；　was　mean　and　small；　was　unworthy　of　the　woman　who　was　trying　to　be　worthy　of　Victor　Dorn；　of　such　love　as　she　professed　for　him。　　Yes；　mean　and　small。　　She　must　try　to　conquer　it。

Butwhen　she　met　Selma　in　the　woods　a　few　mornings　later；　her　dominant　emotions　were　anything　but　high…minded　and　generous。　　Selma　was　looking　her　most　fascinatingwild　and　strange　and　unique。　　They　caught　sight　of　each　other　at　the　same　instant。　　Jane　came　composedly　onSelma　made　a　darting　movement　toward　a　by…path　opening　near　her；　hesitated；　stood　like　some　shy；　lovely　bird　of　the　deep　wilderness　ready　to　fly　away　into　hiding。

‘‘Hello；　Selma！''　said　Jane　carelessly。

Selma　looked　at　her　with　wide；　serious　eyes。

‘‘Where　have　you　been　keeping　yourself　of　late？　　Busy　with　the　writing；　I　suppose？''

‘‘I　owe　you　an　apology；''　said　Selma；　in　a　queer；　suppressed　voice。　　‘‘I　have　been　hating　you；　and　trying　to　think　of　some　way　to　keep　you　and　Victor　Dorn　apart。　　I　thought　it　was　from　my　duty　to　the　cause。　　I've　found　out　that　it　was　a　low；　mean　personal　reason。''

Jane　had　stopped　short；　was　regarding　her　with　eyes　that　glowed　in　a　pallid　face。　　‘‘Because　you　are　in　love　with　him？''　she　said。

Selma　gave　a　quick；　shamed　nod。　　‘‘Yes；''　she　said　the　sound　was　scarcely　audible。

Selma's　frank　and　generousand　confidingself…　sacrifice　aroused　no　response　in　Jane　Hastings。　　For　the　first　time　in　her　life　she　was　knowing　what　it　meant　to　hate。

‘‘And　I've　got　to　warn　you；''　Selma　went　on；　‘‘that　I　am　going　to　do　whatever　I　can　to　keep　you　from　hindering　him。　　Not　because　I　love　him；　but　because　I　owe　it　to　the　cause。　　He　belongs　to　it；　and　I　must　help　him　be　single…hearted　for　it。　　You　could　only　be　a　bad　influence　in　his　life。　　I　think　you　would　like　to　be　a　sincere　woman；　but　you　can't。　　Your　class　is　too　strong　for　you。　　Soit　would　be　wrong　for　Victor　Dorn　to　love　and　to　marry　you。　　I　think　he　realizes　it　and　is　struggling　to　be　true　to　himself。　　I　intend　to　help　him；　if　I　can。''

Jane　smiled　cruelly。　　‘‘What　hypocrisy！''　she　said；　and　turned　and　walked　away。



VIII

In　America　we　have　been　bringing　up　our　women　like　men；　and　treating　them　lik