the conflict-第43部分

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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　like　children。　　They　have　active　minds　with　nothing　to　act　upon。　　Thus　they　are　driven　to　think　chiefly　about　themselves。　　With　Jane　Hastings；　self…centering　took　the　form　of　self…analysis　most　of　the　time。　　She　was　intensely　interested　in　what　she　regarded　as　the　new　development　of　her　character。　　This　definite　and　apparently　final　decision　for　the　narrow　and　the　ungenerous。　　In　fact；　it　was　no　new　development；　but　simply　a　revelation　to　herself　of　her　own　real　character。　　She　was　seeing　at　last　the　genuine　Jane　Hastings；　inevitable　product　of　a　certain　heredity　in　a　certain　environment。　　The　high　thinking　and　talking；　the　idealistic　aspiration　were　pose　and　pretense。　　Jane　Hastings　was　a　selfish；　self…absorbed　person；　ready　to　do　almost　any　base　thing　to　gain　her　ends；　ready　to　hate　to　the　uttermost　any　one　who　stood　between　her　and　her　object。

‘‘I'm　certainly　not　a　lovely　personnot　a　lovable　person；''　thought　she；　with　that　gentle　tolerance　wherewith　we　regard　our　ownselves；　whether　in　the　dress　of　pretense　or　in　the　undress　of　deformed　humanness。　　‘‘StillI　am　what　I　am；　and　I've　got　to　make　the　best　of　it。''

As　she　thought　of　Selma's　declaration　of　war　she　became　less　and　less　disturbed　about　it。　　Selma　neither　would　nor　could　do　anything　sly。　　Whatever　she　attempted　in　the　open　would　only　turn　Victor　Dorn　more　strongly　toward　herself。　　However；　she　must　continue　to　try　to　see　him；　must　go　to　see　him　in　a　few　days　if　she　did　not　happen　upon　him　in　her　rides　or　walks。　　How　poorly　he　would　think　of　her　if　he　knew　the　truth　about　her！　　But　then；　how　poor　most　womenand　men；　toowould　look　in　a　strong　and　just　light。　　Few　indeed　could　stand　idealizing；　except　Victor；　no　one　she　knew。　　And　he　was　human　enough　not　to　make　her　uncomfortable　in　his　presence。

But　it　so　happened　that　before　she　could　see　Victor　Dorn　her　father　disobeyed　Dr。　Charlton　and　gave　way　to　the　appetite　that　was　the　chief　cause　of　his　physical　woes。　　He　felt　so　well　that　he　ate　the　family　dinner；　including　a　peach　cobbler　with　whipped　cream；　which　even　the　robust　Jane　adventured　warily。　　Martha　was　dining　with　them。　　She　abetted　her　father。　　‘‘It's　light；''　said　she。　　‘‘It　couldn't　harm　anybody。''

‘‘You　mustn't　touch　it；　popsy；''　said　Jane。

She　unthinkingly　spoke　a　little　too　commandingly。　　Her　father；　in　a　perverse　and　reckless　mood；　took　Martha's　advice。　　An　hour　later　Dr。　Charlton　was　summoned；　and　had　he　not　arrived　promptly

‘‘Another　fifteen　or　twenty　minutes；''　said　he　to　the　old　man　when　he　had　him　out　of　immediate　danger；　‘‘and　I'd　have　had　nothing　to　do　but　sign　a　certificate　of　natural　death。''

‘‘Murder　would　have　been　nearer　the　truth；''　said　Martin　feebly。　　‘‘That　there　fool　Martha！''

‘‘Come　out　from　behind　that　petticoat！''　cried　Charlton。　　‘‘Didn't　I　spend　the　best　part　of　three　days　in　giving　you　the　correct　ideas　as　to　health　and　disease　in　showing　you　that　ALL　disease　comes　from　indigestion　ALL　disease；　from　falling　hair　and　sore　eyes　to　weak　ankles　and　corns？　　And　didn't　I　convince　you　that　you　could　eat　only　the　things　I　told　you　about？''

‘‘Don't　hit　a　man　when　he's　down；''　groaned　Hastings。

‘‘If　I　don't；　you'll　do　the　same　idiotic　trick　again　when　I　get　you　upif　I　get　you　up。''

Hastings　looked　quickly　at　him。　　This　was　the　first　time　Charlton　had　ever　expressed　a　doubt　about　his　living。　　‘‘Do　you　mean　that？''　he　said　hoarsely。　　‘‘Or　are　you　just　trying　to　scare　me？''

‘‘Both；''　said　Charlton。　　‘‘I'll　do　my　best；　but　I　can't　promise。

I've　lost　confidence　in　you。　　No　wonder　doctors；　after　they've　been　in　practice　a　few　years；　stop　talking　food　and　digestion　to　their　patients。　　I've　never　been　able　to　convince　a　single　human　being　that　appetite　is　not　the　sign　of　health；　and　yielding　to　it　the　way　to　health。　　But　I've　made　lots　of　people　angry　and　have　lost　their　trade。　　I　had　hopes　of　you。　　You　were　such　a　hopeless　wreck。　　But　no。　　And　you　call　yourself　an　intelligent　man！''

‘‘I'll　never　do　it　again；''　said　Hastings；　pleading；　but　smiling；　tooCharlton's　way　of　talking　delighted　him。

‘‘You　think　this　is　a　joke；''　said　Charlton；　shaking　his　bullet　head。　　‘‘Have　you　any　affairs　to　settle？　　If　you　have；　send　for　your　lawyer　in　the　morning。''

Fearthe　Great　Fearsuddenly　laid　its　icy　long　fingers　upon　the　throat　of　the　old　man。　　He　gasped　and　his　eyes　rolled。　　‘‘Don't　trifle　with　me；　Charlton；''　he　muttered。　　‘‘You　know　you　will　pull　me　through。''

‘‘I'll　do　my　best；''　said　Charlton。　　‘‘I　promise　nothing。　　I'm　serious　about　the　lawyer。''

‘‘I　don't　want　no　lawyer　hanging　round　my　bed；''　growled　the　old　man。　　‘‘It'd　kill　me。　　I've　got　nothing　to　settle。　　I　don't　run　things　with　loose　ends。　　And　there's　Jinny　and　Marthy　and　the　boyshare　and　share　alike。''

‘‘Wellyou're　in　no　immediate　danger。　　I'll　come　early　to…morrow。''

‘‘Wait　till　I　get　to　sleep。''

‘‘You'll　be　asleep　as　soon　as　the　light's　down。　　But　I'll　stop　a　few　minutes　and　talk　to　your　daughter。''

Charlton　found　Jane　at　the　window　in　the　dressing　room　next　her　father's　bedroom。　　He　said　loudly　enough　for　the　old　man　to　overhear：

‘‘Your　father's　all　right　for　the　present；　so　you　needn't　worry。　　Come　downstairs　with　me。　　He's　to　go　to　sleep　now。''

Jane　went　in　and　kissed　the　bulging　bony　forehead。　　‘‘Good　night；　popsy。''

‘‘Good　night；　Jinny　dear；''　he　said　in　a　softer　voice　than　she　had　ever　heard　from　him。　　‘‘I'm　feeling　very　comfortable　now；　and　sleepy。　　If　anything　should　happen；　don't　forget　what　I　said　about　not　temptin'　your　brother　by　trustin'　him　too　fur。　　Look　after　your　own　affairs。　　Take　Mr。　Haswell's　advice。　　He's　stupid；　but　he's　honest　and　careful　and　safe。　　You　might　talk　to　Dr。　Charlton　about　things；　too。　　He's　straight；　and　knows　what's　what。　　He's　one　of　them　people　that　gives　everybody　good　advice　but　themselves。　　If　anything　should　happen''

‘‘But　nothing's　going　to　happen；　popsy。''

‘‘It　might。　　I　don't　seem　to　care　as　much　as　I　did。　　I'm　so　tarnation　tired。　　I　reckon　the　goin'　ain't　as　bad　as　I　always　calculated。　　I　didn't　know　how　tired　they　felt　and　anxious　to　rest。''

‘‘I'll　turn　down　the　light。　　The　nurse　is　right　in　there。''

‘‘Yesturn　the　light。　　If　anything　should　happen；　there's　an　envelope　in　the　top　drawer　in　my　desk　for　Dr。　Charlton。　　But　don't　tell　him　till　I'm　gone。　　I　don't　trust　nobody；　and　if　he　knowed　there　was　something　waiting；　why；　there's　no　telling''

The　old　man　had　drowsed　off。　　Jane　lowered　the　light　and　went　down　to　join　Charlton　on　the　front　veranda；　where　he　was　smoking　a　cigarette。　　She　said：

‘‘He's　asleep。''

‘‘He's　all　right　for　the　next　few　days；''　said　Charlton。　　‘‘After　thatI　don't　know。　　I'm　very　doubtful。''

Jane　was　depressed；　but　not　so　depressed　as　she　would　have　been　had　not　her　father　so　long　looked　like　death　and　so　often　been　near　dying。

‘‘Stay　at　home　until　I　see　how　this　is　going　to　turn　out。　　Telephone　your　sister　to　be　within　easy　call。　　But　don't　let　her　come　here。　　She's　not　fit　to　be　about　an　ill　person。　　The　sight　of　her　pulling　a　long；　sad　face　might　carry　him　off　in　a　fit　of　rage。''

Jane　observed　him　with　curiosity　in　the　light　streaming　from　the　front　hall。　　‘‘You're　a　very　practical　person　aren't　you？''　she　said。

‘‘No　romance；　no　idealism；　you　mean？''

‘‘Yes。''

He　laughed　in　his　plain；　healthy　way。　　‘‘Not　a　frill；''　said　he。　　‘‘I'm　interested　only　in　facts。　　They　keep　me　busy　enough。''

‘‘You're　not　married；　are　you？''

‘‘Not　yet。　　But　I　shall　be　as　soon　as　I　find　a　woman　I　want。''

‘‘IF　you　can　get　her。''

‘‘I'll　get　her；　all　right；''　replied　he。　　‘‘No　trouble　about　that。　　The　woman　I　want'll　want　me。''

‘‘I'm　eager　to　see　her；''　said　Jane。　　‘‘She'll　be　a　queer　one。''

‘‘Not　necessarily；''　said　he。　　‘‘But　I'll　make　her　a　queer　one　before　I　get　through　with　herqueer；　in　my　sense；　meaning　sensible　and　useful。''

‘‘You　remind　me　so　often　of　Victor　Dorn；　yet　you're　not　at　all　like　him。''

‘‘We're　in　the　same　businesstrying　to　make　the　human　race　fit　to　associate　with。　　He　looks　after　the　minds；　I　look　after　the　bodies。　　Mine's　the　humbler　branch　of　the　business；　perhapsbut　it's　equally　necessary；　and　it　comes　first。　　The　chief　thing　that's　wrong　with　human　nature　is　bad　health。　　I'm　getting　the　world　ready　for　Victor。''

‘‘You　like　him？''

‘‘I　worship　him；''　said　Charlton　in　his　most　matter…of…　fact　way。

‘‘Yet　he's　just　the　opposite　of　you。　　He's　an　idealist。''

‘‘Who　told　you　that？''　laughed　Charlton。　　‘‘He's　the　most　practical；　sensible　man　in　this　town。　　You　people　think　he's　a　crank　because　he　isn't　crazy　about　money　or　about　stepping　round　on　the　necks　of　his　fellow　beings。　　The　truth　is；　he's　got　a　sense　of　proportion　and　a　sense　of　humorand　an　idea　of　a　rational　happy　life。　　You're　still　barbarians；　while　he's　a　civilized　man。　　Ever　seen　an　ignorant　yap　jeer　when　a　neat；　clean；　well…　dressed　person　passed　by？　　Well；　you　people　jeering　at　Victor　Dorn　are　like　that　yap。''

‘‘I　agree　with　you；''　said　Jane　hastily　and　earnestly。

‘‘No；　you　don't；''　replied　Charlton；　tossing　away　the　end　of　his　cigarette。　　‘‘And　so　much　the　worse　for　you。　　Good…night；　lady。''

And　away　he　strode　into　the　darkness；　leaving　her　amused；　yet　with　a　peculiar　sense　of　her　own　insignificance。

Charlton　was　back　again　early　the　next　morning　and　spent　that　dayand　a　large　part　of　many　days　there…　afterin　working　at　the　wreck；　Martin　Hastings；　inspecting　known　weak　spots；　searching　for　unknown　ones；　patching　here　and　there；　trying　all　the　schemes　teeming　in　his　ingenious　and　supremely　sensible　mind　in　the　hope　of　setting　the　wreck　afloat　again。　　He　could　not　comprehend　why　the　old　man　remained　alive。　　He　had　seen　many　a　human　being　go　who　was　in　health；　in　comparison　with　this　conglomerate　of　diseases　and　frailties；　yet　life　there　was；　and　a　most　tenacious　life。　　He　worked　and　watched；　and　from　day　to　day　put　off　suggesting　that　they　telegraph　for　the　son。　　The　coming　of　his　son　might　shake　Martin's　conviction　that　he　would　get　well；　it　seemed　to　Charlton　that　that　conviction　was　the　one　thread　holding　his　patient　from　the　abyss　where　darkness　and　silence　reign　su