the conflict-第33节

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‘‘What　worse　could　he　have　done？''

‘‘I'll　not　tell　you；''　said　Victor。　　‘‘I'd　not　venture　to　say　aloud　such　a　dangerous　thing　as　what　I'd　have　done　if　I　had　been　in　his　place。　　Instead　of　doing　that；　he　made　us。　　We　shall　win　this　fall's　election。''

Selma　lifted　her　head　with　a　sudden　gesture　of　hope。　　She　had　unbounded　confidence　in　Victor　Dorn；　and　his　tone　was　the　tone　of　absolute　confidence。

‘‘I　had　calculated　on　winning　in　five　years。　　I　had　left　the　brutal　stupidity　of　our　friend　Kelly　out　of　account。''

‘‘Then　you　see　how　you　can　hold　meetings　and　start　up　the　paper？''

‘‘I　don't　want　to　do　either；''　said　Victor。　　‘‘I　want　those　injunctions　to　stand。　　Those　fools　have　done　at　a　stroke　what　we　couldn't　have　done　in　years。　　They　have　united　the　working　class。

Theythe　fewhave　forbidden　us；　the　many；　to　unite　or　to　speak。

If　those　injunctions　hold　for　a　month；　nothing　could　stop　our　winning　this　fall。　。　。　。　　I　can't　understand　how　Dick　Kelly　could　be　so　stupid。　　Five　years　ago　these　moves　of　his　would　have　been　bad　for　usyes；　even　three　years　ago。　　But　we've　got　too　strongand　he　doesn't　realize！　　Selma；　when　you　want　to　win；　always　pray　that　your　opponent　will　underestimate　you。''

‘‘I　still　don't　understand；''　said　Selma。　　‘‘None　of　us　does。　　You　must　explain　to　me；　so　that　I'll　know　what　to　do。''

‘‘Do　nothing；''　said　Victor。　　‘‘I　shall　be　out　a　week　from　to…day。　　I　shall　not　go　into　the　streets　until　I　not　only　am　well　but　look　well。''

‘‘They　arrested　Tom　Colman　to…day；''　said　Selma。　　‘‘But　they　put　the　case　over　until　you'd　be　able　to　plead　at　the　same　time。''

‘‘That's　right；''　said　Victor。　　‘‘They　are　playing　into　our　hands！''　　And　he　laughed　as　heartily　as　his　bandages　would　permit。

‘‘Oh；　I　don't　understandI　don't　understand　at　all！''　cried　Selma。　　‘‘Maybe　you　are　all　wrong　about　it。''

‘‘I　was　never　more　certain　in　my　life；''　replied　Victor。　　‘‘Stop　worrying　about　it；　my　dear。''　　And　he　patted　her　hands　gently　as　they　lay　folded　in　her　lap。　　‘‘I　want　youall　our　peopleto　go　round　looking　sad　these　next　few　days。　　I　want　Dick　Kelly　to　feel　that　he　is　on　the　right　track。''

There　came　a　knock　at　the　door；　and　Mrs。　Colman　entered。　　She　had　been　a　school　teacher；　and　of　all　the　occupations　there　is　no　other　that　leaves　such　plain；　such　indelible　traces　upon　manner；　mind　and　soul。　　Said　she：

‘‘Miss　Jane　Hastings　is　outside　in　her　carriageand　wants　to　know　if　she　can　see　you。''

Selma　frowned。　　Victor　said　with　alacrity：　　‘‘Certainly。　　Bring　her　in；　Mrs。　Colman。''

Selma　rose。　　‘‘Wait　until　I　can　get　out　of　the　way；''　she　cried。

‘‘Sit　down；　and　sit　still；''　commanded　Victor。

Selma　continued　to　move　toward　the　door。　　‘‘NoI　don't　wish　to　see　her；''　she　said。

Victor　chagrined　her　by　acquiescing　without　another　word。　　‘‘You'll　look　in　after　supper？''　he　asked。

‘‘If　you　want　me；''　said　the　girl。

‘‘Come　back　here；''　said　Victor。　　‘‘Wait；　Mrs。　Colman。''　　When　Selma　was　standing　by　the　bed　he　took　her　hand。　　‘‘Selma；''　he　said；　‘‘don't　let　these　things　upset　you。　　Believe　me；　I'm　right。

Can't　you　trust　me？''

Selma　had　the　look　of　a　wild　creature　detained　against　its　will。　　‘‘I'm　not　worried　about　the　partyand　the　paper；''　she　burst　out。　　‘‘I'm　worried　about　you。''

‘‘But　I'm　all　right。　　Can't　you　see　I'm　almost　well？''

Selma　drew　her　hand　away。　　‘‘I'll　be　back　about　half…　past　seven；''　she　said；　and　bolted　from　the　room。

Victor's　good…natured；　merry　smile　followed　her　to　the　door。　　When　the　sound　of　her　retreat　by　way　of　the　rear　of　the　house　was　dying　away　he　said　to　Mrs。　Colman：

‘‘Nowbring　in　the　young　lady。　　And　please　warn　her　that　she　must　stay　at　most　only　half　an　hour　by　that　clock　over　there　on　the　mantel。''

Every　day　Jane　had　been　coming　to　inquire；　had　been　bringing　or　sending　flowers　and　fruitwhich；　by　Dr。　Charlton's　orders；　were　not　supposed　to　enter　the　invalid's　presence。　　Latterly　she　had　been　asking　to　see　Victor；　she　was　surprised　when　Mrs。　Colman　returned　with　leave　for　her　to　enter。　　Said　Mrs。　Colman：

‘‘He's　alone。　　Miss　Gordon　has　just　gone。　　You　will　see　a　clock　on　the　mantel　in　his　room。　　You　must　not　stay　longer　than　half　an　hour。''

‘‘I　shall　be　very　careful　what　I　say；''　said　Jane。

‘‘Oh；　you　needn't　bother；''　said　the　ex…school　teacher。　　‘‘Dr。　Charlton　doesn't　believe　in　sick…room　atmosphere。　　You　must　treat　Mr。　Dorn　exactly　as　you　would　a　well　person。　　If　you're　going　to　take　on；　or　put　on；　you'd　better　not　go　in　at　all。''

‘‘I'll　do　my　best；''　said　Jane；　rather　haughtily；　for　she　did　not　like　Mrs。　Colman's　simple　and　direct　manner。　　She　was　used　to　being　treated　with　deference；　especially　by　the　women　of　Mrs。　Colman's　class；　and　while　she　disapproved　of　deference　in　theory；　in　practice　she　craved　it；　and　expected　it；　and　was　irritated　if　she　did　not　get　it。　　But；　as　she　realized　how　unattractive　this　weakness　was；　she　usually　took　perhaps　more　pains　than　does　the　average　person　to　conceal　it。　　That　day　her　nerves　were　too　tense　for　petty　precautions。　　However；　Mrs。　Colman　was　too　busy　inspecting　the　details　of　Miss　Hastings'　toilet　to　note　Miss　Hastings'　manners。

Jane's　nervousness　vanished　the　instant　she　was　in　the　doorway　of　the　parlor　with　Victor　Dorn　looking　at　her　in　that　splendidly　simple　and　natural　way　of　his。　　‘‘So　glad　to　see　you；''　he　said。　　‘‘What　a　delightful　perfume　you　bring　with　you。　　I've　noticed　it　before。　　I　know　it　isn't　flowers；　but　it　smells　like　flowers。　　With　most　perfumes　you　can　smell　through　the　perfume　to　something　that's　the　very　reverse　of　sweet。''

They　were　shaking　hands。　　She　said：　　‘‘That　nice　woman　who　let　me　in　cautioned　me　not　to　put　on　a　sick…　room　manner　or　indulge　in　sick…room　talk。　　It　was　quite　unnecessary。　　You're　looking　fine。''

‘‘Ain't　I；　though？''　exclaimed　Victor。　　‘‘I've　never　been　so　comfortable。　　Just　weak　enough　to　like　being　waited　on。　　You　were　very　good　to　me　the　night　that　stone　knocked　me　over。　　I　want　to　thank　you；　but　I　don't　know　how。　　And　the　flowers；　and　the　fruit　You　have　been　so　kind。''

‘‘I　could　do　very　little；''　said　Jane；　blushing　and　faltering。　　‘‘And　I　wanted　to　doeverything。''　　Suddenly　all　energy；　‘‘Oh；　Mr。　Dorn；　I　heard　and　saw　it　all。　　It　wasINFAMOUS！　　And　the　lying　newspapersand　all　the　people　I　meet　socially。　　They　keep　me　in　a　constant　rage。''

Victor　was　smiling　gayly。　　‘‘The　fortunes　of　war；''　said　he。　　‘‘I　expect　nothing　else。　　If　they　fought　fair　they　couldn't　fight　at　all。　　We；　on　this　side　of　the　struggle；　can　afford　to　be　generous　and　tolerant。　　They　are　fighting　the　losing　battle；　they're　trying　to　hold　on　to　the　past；　and　of　course　it's　slipping　from　them　inch　by　inch。　　But　wewe　are　in　step　with　the　march　of　events。''

When　she　was　with　him　Jane　felt　that　his　cause　was　hers；　alsowas　the　only　cause。　　‘‘When　do　you　begin　publishing　your　paper　again？''　she　asked。　　‘‘As　soon　as　you　are　sitting　up？''

‘‘Not　for　a　month　or　so；''　replied　he。　　‘‘Not　until　after　the　election。''

‘‘Oh；　I　forgot　about　that　injunction。　　You　think　that　as　soon　as　Davy　Hull's　crowd　is　in　they　will　let　you　begin　again？''

He　hesitated。　　‘‘Not　exactly　that；''　he　said。　　‘‘But　after　the　election　there　will　be　a　change。''

Her　eyes　flashed。　　‘‘And　they　have　indicted　you！　　I　heard　the　newsboys　crying　it　and　stopped　and　bought　a　paper。　　But　I　shall　do　something　about　that。　　I　am　going　straight　from　here　to　father。　　Ellen　Clearwater　and　I　and　Joe　Wetherbe　SAW。　　And　Ellen　and　I　will　testify　if　it's　necessaryand　will　make　Joe　tell　the　truth。　　Do　you　know；　he　actually　had　the　impudence　to　try　to　persuade　Ellen　and　me　the　next　day　that　we　saw　what　the　papers　reported？''

‘‘I　believe　it；''　said　Victor。　　‘‘So　I　believe　that　Joe　convinced　himself。''

‘‘You　are　too　charitable；''　replied　Jane。　　‘‘He's　afraid　of　his　father。''

‘‘Miss　Hastings；''　said　Victor；　‘‘you　suggested　a　moment　ago　that　you　would　influence　your　father　to　interfere　in　this　matter　of　the　indictment。''

‘‘I'll　promise　you　now　that　he　will　have　it　stopped；''　said　Jane。

‘‘You　want　to　help　the　cause；　don't　you？''

Jane's　eyes　shifted；　a　little　color　came　into　her　cheeks。　　‘‘The　causeand　you；''　she　said。

‘‘Very　well；''　said　Victor。　　‘‘Then　you　will　not　interfere。　　And　if　your　father　talks　of　helping　me　you　will　discourage　him　all　you　can。''

‘‘You　are　saying　that　out　of　consideration　for　me。　　You're　afraid　I　will　quarrel　with　my　father。''

‘‘I　hadn't　thought　of　that；''　said　Victor。　　‘‘I　can't　tell　you　what　I　have　in　mind。　　But　I'll　have　to　say　this　muchthat　if　you　did　anything　to　hinder　those　fellows　from　carrying　out　their　plans　against　me　and　against　the　League　to　the　uttermost　you'd　be　doing　harm　instead　of　good。''

‘‘But　they　may　send　you　to　jail。　。　。　。　　No；　I　forgot。　　You　can　give　bail。''

Victor's　eyes　had　a　quizzical　expression。　　‘‘Yes；　I　could　give　bail。　　But　even　if　I　don't　give　bail；　Miss　Hastings　even　if　I　am　sent　to　jailColman　and　Istill　you　must　not　interfere。　　You　promise　me？''

Jane　hesitated。　　‘‘I　can't　promise；''　she　finally　said。

‘‘You　must；''　said　Victor。　　‘‘You'll　make　a　mess　of　my　plans；　if　you　don't。''

‘‘You　mean　that？''

‘‘I　mean　that。　　Your　intentions　are　good。　　But　you　would　only　do　mischiefserious　mischief。''

They　looked　at　each　other。　　Said　Ja