the conflict-第48部分

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sed　away；　just　as　soon　as　she　became　a　great　heiress；　actually　in　possession　of　that　which　made　the　world　adore；　that　which　would　buy　servility；　flattery；　awejust　so　soon　did　she　begin　to　be　an　upper…class　lady。

She　had　acquired　a　superficial　knowledge　of　business　enough　to　enable　her　to　understand　what　the　various　items　in　the　long；　long　schedule　of　her　holdings　meant。　　Symbols　of　her　importance；　of　her　power。　　She　had　studied　the　‘‘great　ladies''　she　had　met　in　her　travels　and　visitings。　　She　had　been　impressed　by　the　charm　of　the　artistic；　carefully　cultivated　air　of　simplicity　and　equality　affected　by　the　greatest　of　these　great　ladies　as　those　born　to　wealth　and　position。　　To　be　gentle　and　natural；　to　be　graciousthat　was　the　‘‘proper　thing。''　　So；　she　now　adopted　a　manner　that　was　if　anything　too　kindly。　　Her　pose；　her　mask；　behind　which　she　was　concealing　her　swollen　and　still　swelling　pride　and　sense　of　superiority；　as　yet　fitted　badly。　　She　‘‘overacted；''　as　youth　is　apt　to　do。　　She　would　have　given　a　shrewd　observerone　not　dazzled　by　her　wealth　beyond　the　power　of　clear　sightthe　impression　that　she　was　pitying　the　rest　of　mankind；　much　as　we　all　pity　and　forbear　with　a　hopeless　cripple。

But　the　average　observer　would　simply　have　said：　　‘‘What　a　sweet；　natural　girl；　so　unspoiled　by　her　wealth！''just　as　the　hopeless　cripple　says；　‘‘What　a　polite　person；''　as　he　gets　the　benefit　of　effusive　good　manners　that　would；　if　he　were　shrewd；　painfully　remind　him　that　he　was　an　unfortunate　creature。

Of　all　the　weeds　that　infest　the　human　garden　snobbishness；　the　commonest；　is　the　most　prolific；　and　it　is　a　mighty　cross　breeder；　toomodifying　every　flower　in　the　garden；　changing　colors　from　rich　to　glaring；　changing　odors　from　perfumes　to　sickening…sweet　or　to　stenches。　　The　dead　hands　of　Martin　Hastings　scattered　showers　of　shining　gold　upon　his　daughter's　garden；　and　from　these　seeds　was　springing　a　heavy　crop　of　that　most　prolific　of　weeds。

She　was　beginning　to　resent　Charlton's　manner　bluff；　unceremonious；　candid；　at　times　rude。　　He　treated　women　exactly　as　he　treated　men；　and　he　treated　all　men　as　intimates；　free　and　easy　fellow　travelers　afoot　upon　a　dusty；　vulgar　highway。　　She　had　found　charm　in　that　manner；　so　natural　to　the　man　of　no　pretense；　of　splendid　physical　proportions；　of　the　health　of　a　fine　tree。　　She　was　beginning　to　get　into　the　state　of　mind　at　which　practically　all　very　rich　people　in　a　civilized　society　sooner　or　later　arrivea　state　of　mind　that　makes　it　impossible　for　any　to　live　with　or　near　them　except　hirelings　and　dependents。　　The　habit　of　power　of　any　kind　breeds　intolerance　of　equality　of　level　intercourse。　　This　is　held　in　check；　often　held　entirely　in　check；　where　the　power　is　based　upon　mental　superiority；　for　the　very　superiority　of　the　mind　keeps　alive　the　sense　of　humor　and　the　sense　of　proportion。　　Not　so　the　habit　of　money　power。　　For　money　power　is　brutal；　mindless。　　And　as　it　is　the　only　real　power　in　any　and　all　aristocracies；　aristocracies　are　inevitably　brutal　and　brutalizing。

If　Jane　had　been　poor；　or　had　remained　a　few　years　longeruntil　her　character　was　better　setunder　the　restraining　influence　of　her　unfrilled　and　unfrillable　father；　her　passion　for　power；　for　superiority　would　probably　have　impelled　her　to　develop　her　mind　into　a　source　of　power　and　position。　　Fate　abruptly　gave　her　the　speediest　and　easiest　means　to　power　known　in　our　plutocratic　civilization。　　She　would　have　had　to　be　superhuman　in　beauty　of　character　or　a　genius　in　mind　to　have　rejected　the　short　and　easy　way　to　her　goal　and　struggled　on　in　the　long　and　hardand　doubtfulway。

She　did　not　herself　appreciate　the　change　within　herself。　　She　fancied　she　was　still　what　she　had　been　two　weeks　before。　　For　as　yet　nothing　had　occurred　to　enable　her　to　realize　her　changed　direction；　her　changed　view　of　life。　　Thus；　she　was　still　thinking　of　Victor　Dorn　as　she　had　thought　of　him；　and　she　was　impatient　to　see　him。　　She　was　now　free　FREE！　　She　could；　without　consulting　anybody；　have　what　she　wanted。　　And　she　wanted　Victor　Dorn。

She　had　dropped　from　her　horse　and　with　her　arm　through　the　bridle　was　strolling　along　one　of　the　quieter　roads　which　Victor　often　took　in　his　rambles。　　It　was　a　tonic　October　day；　with　floods　of　sunshine　upon　the　gorgeous　autumnal　foliage；　never　more　gorgeous　than　in　that　fall　of　the　happiest　alternations　of　frost　and　warmth。　　She　heard　the　pleasant　rustle　of　quick　steps　in　the　fallen　leaves　that　carpeted　the　byroad。　　She　knew　it　was　he　before　she　glanced；　and　his　first　view　of　her　face　was　of　its　beauty　enhanced　by　a　color　as　delicate　and　charming　as　that　in　the　leaves　about　them。

She　looked　at　his　hands　in　which　he　was　holding　something　half　concealed。　　‘‘What　is　it？''　she　said；　to　cover　her　agitation。

He　opened　his　hands　a　little　wider。　　‘‘A　bird；''　said　he。　　‘‘Some　hunter　has　broken　its　wing。　　I'm　taking　it　to　Charlton　for　repairs　and　a　fair　start　for　its　winter　down　South。''

His　eyes　noted　for　an　instant　significantly　her　sombre　riding　costume；　then　sought　her　eyes　with　an　expression　of　simple　and　friendly　sympathy。　　The　tears　came　to　her　eyes；　and　she　turned　her　face　away。　　She　for　the　first　time　had　a　sense　of　loss；　a　moving　memory　of　her　father's　goodness　to　her；　of　an　element　of　tenderness　that　had　passed　out　of　her　life　forever。　　And　she　felt　abjectly　ashamedashamed　of　her　relief　at　the　lifting　of　the　burden　of　his　long　struggle　against　death；　ashamed　of　her　miserable　wranglings　with　Martha　and　Billy's　wife；　ashamed　of　her　forgetfulness　of　her　father　in　the　exultation　over　her　wealth；　ashamed　of　the　elaborately　fashionable　mourning　she　was　wearingand　of　the　black　horse　she　had　bought　to　match。　　She　hoped　he　would　not　observe　these　last　flauntings　of　the　purely　formal　character　of　a　grief　that　was　being　utilized　to　make　a　display　of　fashionableness。

‘‘You　always　bring　out　the　best　there　is　in　me；''　said　she。

He　stood　silently　before　hernot　in　embarrassment；　for　he　was　rarely　self…conscious　enough　to　be　embarrassed；　but　refraining　from　speech　simply　because　there　was　nothing　to　say。

‘‘I　haven't　heard　any　of　the　details　of　the　election；''　she　went　on。　　‘‘Did　you　come　out　as　well　as　you　hoped？''

‘‘Better；''　said　he。　　‘‘As　a　result　of　the　election　the　membership　of　the　League　has　already　a　little　more　than　doubled。　　We　could　have　quadrupled　it；　but　we　are　somewhat　strict　in　our　requirements。　　We　want　only　those　who　will　stay　members　as　long　as　they　stay　citizens　of　Remsen　City。　　But　I　must　go　on　to　Charlton　or　he'll　be　out　on　his　rounds。''

She　caught　his　glance；　which　was　inclined　to　avoid　hers。　　She　gave　him　a　pleading　look。　　‘‘I'll　walk　with　you　part　of　the　way；''　she　said。

He　seemed　to　be　searching　for　an　excuse　to　get　away。　　Whether　because　he　failed　to　find　it　or　because　he　changed　his　mind；　he　said：　　‘‘You'll　not　mind　going　at　a　good　gait？''

‘‘I'll　ride；''　said　she。　　‘‘It's　not　comfortable；　walking　fast　in　these　boots。''

He　stood　by　to　help　her；　but　let　her　get　into　the　saddle　alone。　　She　smiled　down　at　him　with　a　little　coquetry。　　‘‘Are　you　afraid　to　touch　meto…day？''　she　asked。

He　laughed：　　‘‘The　bird　IS　merely　an　excuse；''　he　admitted。　　‘‘I've　got　back　my　self…control；　and　I　purpose　to　keep　it。''

She　flushed　angrily。　　His　frankness　now　seemed　to　her　to　be　flavored　with　impertinent　assurance。　　‘‘That's　amusing；''　said　she；　with　an　unpleasant　smile。　　‘‘You　have　an　extraordinary　opinion　of　yourself；　haven't　you？''

He　shrugged　his　shoulders　as　if　the　subject　did　not　interest　him　and　set　off　at　a　gait　that　compelled　her　horse　to　a　rapid　walk。　　She　said　presently：

‘‘I'm　going　to　live　at　the　old　place　alone　for　the　present。　　You'll　come　to　see　me？''

He　looked　at　her。　　‘‘No；''　he　said。　　‘‘As　I　told　you　a　moment　ago；　that's　over。　　You'll　have　to　find　some　one　else　to　amuse　youfor；　I　understand　perfectly；　Jane；　that　you　were　only　doing　what's　called　flirting。　　That　sort　of　thing　is　a　waste　of　timefor　me。　　I'm　not　competent　to　judge　whether　it's　a　waste　for　you。''

She　looked　coldly　down　at　him。　　‘‘You　have　changed　since　I　last　saw　you；''　she　said。　　‘‘I　don't　mean　the　change　in　your　manner　toward　me。　　I　mean　something　deeper。　　I've　often　heard　that　politics　makes　a　man　deteriorate。　　You　must　be　careful；　Victor。''

‘‘I　must　think　about　that；''　said　he。　　‘‘Thank　you　for　warning　me。''

His　prompt　acceptance　of　her　insincere　criticism　made　her　straightway　repentant。　　‘‘No；　it's　I　that　have　changed；''　she　said。　　‘‘Oh；　I'm　horrid！simply　horrid。　　I'm　in　despair　about　myself。''

‘‘Any　one　who　thinks　about　himself　is　bound　to　be；''　said　he　philosophically。　　‘‘That's　why　one　has　to　keep　busy　in　order　to　keep　contented。''　　He　halted。　　‘‘I　can　save　a　mile　and　half　an　hour　by　crossing　these　fields。''　　He　held　the　wounded　bird　in　one　hand　very　carefully　while　he　lifted　his　hat。

She　colored　deeply。　　‘‘Victor；''　she　said；　‘‘isn't　there　any　way　that　you　and　I　can　be　friends？''

‘‘Yes；''　replied　he。　　‘‘As　I　told　you　before；　by　becoming　one　of　us。　　Those　are　impossible　terms；　of　course。　　But　that's　the　only　way　by　which　we　could　be　of　use　to　each　other。　　Jane；　if　I；　professing　what　I　do　profess；　offered　to　be　friends　with　you　on　any　other　terms；　you'd　be　very　foolish　not　to　reject　my　offer。　　For；　it　would　mean　that　I　was　a　fraud。　　Don't　you　see　that？''

‘‘Yes；''　she　admitted。　　‘‘But　when　I　am　with　you　I　see　everything　exactly　as　you　represent　it。''

‘‘It's　fortunate　for　you　that　I'm　not　disposed　to　take　advantage　of　thatisn't　it？''　said　he；　with　good…humored　irony。

‘‘You　don't　believe　me！''

‘‘Not　altogether；''　he　confessed。　　‘‘To　be　quite　candid；　I　think　that　for　some　reason　or　other　I　rouse　in　you　an　irresistible　desire　to　pose。　　I　doubt　if　you　realize　it　wholly。　　But　you'd　be　hard　pressed　just　where　to　draw　the　line　between　the　sincere　and　the　insincere；　wouldn't　youhonestly？''

She　sat　moodily　combing　at　her　horse's　mane。

‘‘I　know　it's　cruel；''　he　went　on　lightly；　‘‘to　deny　anything；　however　small；　to　a　young　lady　who　has　always　had　her　own　way。　　But　in　self…defense　I　must　do　it。''

‘‘Why　DO　I　take　these　things　from　you？''　she　cried；　in　sudden　exasperation。　　And　touching　her　horse　with　her　stick；　she　was　off　at　a　gallop。



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