the dust-第25节

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at　five　thousand　a　year；　with　a　fund　of　ten　thousand　to　draw　upon。　　You　to　be　employed　as　secretary　and　treasurer　at　fifteen　hundred　a　year。　　I　will　take　the　paid…up　stock；　and　your　father　and　you　will　have　the　privilege　of　buying　it　back　at　par　within　five　years。　　Do　you　follow　me？〃

〃I　think　I　understand；〃　was　her　unexpected　reply。　Her　replies　were　usually　unexpected；　like　the　expressions　of　her　face　and　figure；　she　was　continually　comprehending　where　one　would　have　said　she　would　not；　and　not　comprehending　where　it　seemed　absurd　that　she　should　not。　　〃Yes；　I　understand。　。　。　。　　What　else？〃

〃Nothing　else。〃

She　looked　intently　at　him；　and　her　eyes　seemed　to　be　reading　his　soul　to　the　bottom。

〃Nothing　else；〃　he　repeated。

〃No　obligationfor　moneyorfor　anything？〃

〃No　obligation。　　A　hope　perhaps。〃　　He　was　smiling　with　the　gayest　good　humor。　　〃But　not　the　kind　of　hope　that　ever　becomes　a　disagreeable　demand　for　payment。〃

She　seated　herself；　her　hands　in　her　lap；　her　eyes　downa　lovely　picture　of　pensive　repose。　　He　waited　patiently；　feasting　his　senses　upon　her　delicate；　aromatic　loveliness。　　At　last　she　said：

〃I　accept。〃

He　had　anticipated　an　argument。　　This　promptness　took　him　by　surprise。　　He　felt　called　upon　to　explain；　to　excuse　her　acceptance。　　〃I　am　taking　a　little　flyer　making　a　gamble；〃　said　he。　　〃Your　father　may　turn　up　nothing　of　commercial　value。　　Again　the　company　may　pay　big〃

She　gave　him　a　long　look　through　half…closed　eyes；　a　queer　smile　flitting　round　her　lips。　　〃I　understand　perfectly　why　you　are　doing　it；〃　she　said。　　〃Do　you　understand　why　I　am　accepting？〃

〃Why　should　you　refuse？〃　rejoined　he。　　〃It　is　a　good　business　prop〃

〃You　know　very　well　why　I　should　refuse。　　But〃　She　gave　a　quiet　laugh　of　experience；　it　made　him　feel　that　she　was　making　a　fool　of　him〃I　shall　not　refuse。　I　am　able　to　take　care　of　myself。　　And　I　want　father　to　have　his　chance。　　Of　course；　I　shan't　explain　to　him。〃　She　gave　him　a　mischievous　glance。　　〃And　I　don't　think　YOU　will。〃

He　contrived　to　cover　his　anger；　doubt；　chagrin；　general　feeling　of　having　been　outwitted。　　〃No；　I　shan't　tell　him；〃　laughed　he。　　〃You　are　making　a　great　fool　of　me。〃

〃Do　you　want　to　back　out？〃

What　audacity！　　He　hesitateddid　not　dare。　　Her　indifference　to　himher　personal；　her　physical　indifference　gave　her　the　mastery。　　His　teeth　clenched　and　his　passion　blazed　in　his　eyes　as　he　said：　　〃Noyou　witch！　I'll　see　it　through。〃

She　smiled　lightly。　　〃I　suppose　you'll　come　to　the　offices　of　the　companyoccasionally？〃　　She　drew　nearer；　stood　at　the　corner　of　the　desk。　　Into　her　exquisite　eyes　came　a　look　of　tenderness。　　〃And　I　shall　be　glad　to　see　you。〃

〃You　mean　that？〃　he　said；　despising　himself　for　his　humble　eagerness；　and　hating　her　even　as　he　loved　her。

〃Indeed　I　do。〃　　She　smiled　bewitchingly。　　〃You　are　a　lot　better　man　than　you　think。〃

〃I　am　an　awful　fool　about　you；〃　retorted　he。　　〃You　see；　I　play　my　game　with　all　my　cards　on　the　table。　　I　wish　I　could　say　the　same　of　you。〃

〃I　am　not　playing　a　game；〃　replied　she。　　〃You　make　a　mystery　where　there　isn't　any。　　Andall　your　cards　aren't　on　the　table。〃　　She　laughed　mockingly。　〃At　least；　you　think　there's　one　that　isn'tthough；　really；　it　is。〃

〃Yes？〃

〃About　your　engagement。〃

He　covered　superbly。　　〃Oh；〃　said　he　in　the　most　indifferent　tone。　　〃Tetlow　told　you。〃

〃As　soon　as　I　heard　that；〃　she　went　on；　〃I　felt　better　about　you。　　I　understand　how　it　is　with　men　the　passing　fancies　they　have　for　women。〃

〃How　did　you　learn？〃　demanded　he。

〃Do　you　think　a　girl　could　spend　several　years　knocking　about　down　town　in　New　York　without　getting　experience？〃

He　smileda　forced　smile　of　raillery；　hiding　sud…　den　fierce　suspicion　and　jealousy。　　〃I　should　say　not。　But　you　always　pretend　innocence。〃

〃I　can't　be　held　responsible　for　what　you　read　into　my　looks　and　into　what　I　say；〃　observed　she　with　her　air　of　a　wise　old　infant。　　〃But　I　was　so　glad　to　find　out　that　you　were　seriously　in　love　with　a　nice　girl　up　town。〃

He　burst　out　laughing。　　She　gazed　at　him　in　childlike　surprise。　　〃Why　are　you　laughing　at　me？〃　she　asked。

〃Nothingnothing；〃　he　assured　her。　　He　would　have　found　it　difficult　to　explain　why　he　was　so　intensely　amused　at　hearing　the　grand　Josephine　Burroughs　called　〃a　nice　girl　up　town。〃

〃You　are　in　love　with　her？　　You　are　engaged　to　her？〃　she　inquired；　her　grave　eyes　upon　him　with　an　irresistible　appeal　for　truth　in　them。

〃Tetlow　didn't　lie　to　you；〃　evaded　he。　　〃You　don't　know　it；　but　Tetlow　is　going　to　ask　you　to　marry　him。〃

〃Yes；　I　knew；〃　replied　she　indifferently。

〃How？　　Did　he　tell　you？〃

〃No。　　Just　as　I　knew　you　were　not　going　to　ask　me　to　marry　you。〃

The　mere　phrase；　even　when　stated　as　a　negation；　gave　him　a　sensation　of　ice　suddenly　laid　against　the　heart。

〃It's　quite　easy　to　tell　the　difference　between　the　two　kinds　of　menthose　that　care　for　me　more　than　they　care　for　themselves　and　those　that　care　for　themselves　more　than　they　care　for　me。〃

〃That's　the　way　it　looks　to　youis　it？〃

〃That's　the　way　it　is；〃　said　she。

〃There　are　some　things　you　don't　understand。　　This　is　one　of　them。〃

〃Maybe　I　don't；〃　said　she。　　〃But　I've　my　own　ideaand　I'm　going　to　stick　to　it。〃

This　amused　him。　　〃You　are　a　very　opinionated　and　self…confident　young　lady；〃　said　he。

She　laughed　roguishly。　　〃I'm　taking　up　a　lot　of　your　time。〃

〃Don't　think　of　it。　　You　haven't　asked　when　the　new　deal　is　to　begin。〃

〃Oh；　yesand　I　shall　have　to　tell　Mr。　Tetlow　I'm　not　taking　the　place　he　got　for　me。〃

〃Be　careful　what　you　say　to　him；〃　cautioned　Norman。　　〃You　must　see　it　wouldn't　be　well　to　tell　him　what　you　are　going　to　do。　　There's　no　reason　on　earth　why　he　should　know　your　businessis　there？〃

She　did　not　reply；　she　was　reflecting。

〃You　are　not　thinking　of　marrying　Tetloware　you？〃

〃No；〃　she　said。　　〃I　don't　love　himand　couldn't　learn　to。〃

With　a　sincerely　judicial　air；　now　that　he　felt　secure；　he　said：　　〃Why　not？　　It　would　be　a　good　match。〃

〃I　don't　love　him；〃　she　repeated；　as　if　that　were　a　sufficient　and　complete　answer。　　And　he　was　astonished　to　find　that　he　so　regarded　it；　also；　in　spite　of　every　assault　of　all　that　his　training　had　taught　him　to　regard　as　common　sense　about　human　nature。

〃You　can　simply　say　to　Tetlow　that　you've　decided　to　stay　at　home　and　take　care　of　your　father。　　The　offices　of　the　company　will　be　at　your　house。　　Your　official　duties　practically　amount　to　taking　care　of　your　father。　　So　you'll　be　speaking　the　truth。〃

〃Oh；　it　isn't　exactly　lying；　to　keep　something　from　somebody　who　has　no　right　to　know　it。　　What　you　suggest　isn't　quite　the　truth。　　But　it's　near　enough；　and　I'll　say　it　to　him。〃

His　own　view　of　lying　was　the　same　as　that　she　had　expressed。　　Also；　he　had　no　squeamishness　about　saying　what　was　in　no　sense　true；　if　the　falsehood　were　necessary　to　his　purposes。　　Yet　her　statement　of　her　code；　moral　though　he　thought　it　and　eminently　sensible　as　well；　lowered　her　once　more　in　his　estimation。　　He　was　eager　to　find　reason　or　plausible　excuse　for　believing　her　morally　other　and　less　than　she　seemed　to　be。　Immediately　the　prospects　of　his　ultimate　projects　whatever　they　might　prove　to　betook　on　a　more　hopeful　air。　　〃And　I'd　advise　you　to　have　Tetlow　keep　away　from　you。　　We　don't　want　him　nosing　round。〃

〃No；　indeed；〃　said　she。　　〃He　is　a　nice　man；　but　tiresome。　　And　if　I　encouraged　him　ever　so　little；　he'd　be　sentimental。　　The　most　tiresome　thing　in　the　world　to　a　girl　is　a　man　who　talks　that　sort　of　thing　when　she　doesn't　want　to　hear　itfrom　him。〃

He　laughed。　　〃Meaning　me？〃　he　suggested。

She　nodded；　much　pleased。　　〃Perhaps；〃　she　replied。

〃Don't　worry　about　that；〃　mocked　he。

〃I　shan't　till　I　have　to；〃　she　assured　him。　　〃And　I　don't　think　I'll　have　to。〃


On　the　Monday　morning　following；　Tetlow　came　in　to　see　Norman　as　soon　as　he　arrived。　　〃I　want　a　two　weeks'　leave；〃　he　said。　　〃I'm　going　to　Bermuda　or　down　there　somewhere。〃

〃Why；　what's　the　matter？〃　cried　Norman。　　〃You　do　look　ill；　old　man。〃

〃I　saw　her　last　night；〃　replied　the　chief　clerk；　dropping　an　effort　at　concealing　his　dejection。　　〃She　she　turned　me　down。〃

〃Really？　　You？〃　Norman's　tone　of　sympathetic　surprise　would　not　have　deceived　half　attentive　ears。　But　Tetlow　was　securely　absorbed。　　〃Why；　Billy；　she　can't　hope　to　make　as　good　a　match。〃

〃That's　what　I　told　herwhen　I　saw　the　game　was　going　against　me。　　But　it　was　no　use。〃

Norman　trifled　nervously　with　the　papers　before　him。　　Presently　he　said；　〃Is　it　some　one　else？〃

Tetlow　shook　his　head。

〃How　do　you　know？〃

〃Because　she　said　so；〃　replied　the　head　clerk。

〃Ohif　she　said　so；　that　settles　it；〃　said　Norman　with　raillery。

〃She's　given　up　workthank　God；〃　pursued　Tetlow。　〃She's　getting　more　beautiful　all　the　time　Norman；　if　you　had　seen　her　last　night；　you'd　understand　why　I'm　stark　mad　about　her。〃

Norman's　eyes　were　down。　　His　hands；　the　muscles　of　his　jaw　were　clinched。

〃But；　I　mustn't　think　of　that；〃　Tetlow　went　on。　〃As　I　was　about　to　say；　if　she　were　to　stay　on　in　the　offices　some　onesome　attractive　man　like　you；　only　with　the　heart　of　a　scoundrel〃

Norman　laughed　cynically。

〃Yes；　a　scoundrel！〃　reiterated　the　fat　head…clerk。　〃Some　scoundrel　wo