the dust-第31节

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He　put　his　arm　about　her　shoulders。　　〃But　why　shouldn't　I　answer？〃　said　he　in　the　kindly　gentle　tone　we　can　all　assume　when　a　matter　that　agitates　some　one　else　is　wholly　indifferent　to　us。

〃Becauseit　was　aa　trap；〃　she　answered　hysterically。　　〃Fredthere　was　a　man　here　this　afternoon　a　man　named　Tetlow。　　He　got　in　only　because　he　said　he　came　from　you。〃

Norman　laughed　quietly。　　〃Poor　Tetlow！〃　he　said。　〃He　used　to　be　your　head　clerkdidn't　he？〃

〃And　one　of　my　few　friends。〃

〃He's　not　your　friend；　Fred！〃　she　cried；　sitting　upright　and　speaking　with　energy　that　quivered　in　her　voice　and　flashed　in　her　fine　brown　eyes。　　〃He's　your　enemya　snake　in　the　grassa　malicious；　poisonous〃

Norman's　quiet；　even　laugh　interrupted。　　〃Oh；　no；〃　said　he。　　〃Tetlow's　a　good　fellow。　　Anything　he　said　would　be　what　he　honestly　believedanything　he　said　about　me。〃

〃He　pleaded　that　he　was　doing　it　for　your　good；〃　she　went　on　with　scorn。　　〃They　always　dolike　the　people　that　write　father　wicked　anonymous　letters。　　He　this　man　Tetlowhe　said　he　wanted　me　for　the　sake　of　my　love　for　you　to　save　you　from　yourself。〃

Norman　glanced　at　her　with　amused　eyes。　　〃Well；　why　don't　you？　　But　then　you　ARE　doing　it。　　You're　marrying　me；　aren't　you？〃

Again　she　put　her　head　upon　his　shoulder。　　〃Indeed　I　am！〃　she　cried。　　〃And　I'd　be　a　poor　sort　if　I

let　a　sneak　shake　my　confidence　in　you。〃

He　patted　her　shoulder；　and　there　was　laughter　in　his　voice　as　he　said；　〃But　I　never　professed　to　be　trustworthy。〃

〃Oh；　I　know　you　USED　to〃　　She　laughed　and　kissed　his　cheek。　　〃Never　mind。　　I've　heard。　　But　while　you　were　engaged　to　meabout　to　marry　mewhy；　you　simply　couldn't！〃

〃Couldn't　what？〃　inquired　he。

〃Do　you　want　me　to　tell　you　what　he　said？〃

〃I　think　I　know。　　But　do　as　you　like。〃

〃Maybe　I'd　better　tell　you。　　I　seem　to　want　to　get　rid　of　it。〃

〃Then　do。〃

〃It　was　about　that　girl。〃　　She　sat　upright　and　looked　at　him　for　encouragement。　　He　nodded。　　She　went　on：　　〃He　said　that　if　I　asked　you；　you　would　not　dare　deny　you　wereweregiving　her　money。〃

〃Her　and　her　father。〃

She　shrank；　startled。　　Then　her　lips　smiled　bravely；　and　she　said；　〃He　didn't　say　anything　about　her　father。〃

〃No。　　That　was　my　own　correction　of　his　story。〃

She　looked　at　him　with　wonder　and　doubt。　　〃You　aren'tDOING　it；　Fred！〃　she　exclaimed。

He　nodded。　　〃Yes；　indeed。〃　　He　looked　at　her　placidly。　　〃Why　not？〃

〃You　are　SUPPORTING　her？〃

〃If　you　wish　to　put　it　that　way；〃　said　he　carelessly。　　〃My　money　pays　the　billsall　the　bills。〃

〃Fred！〃

〃Yes？　　What　is　it？　　Why　are　you　so　agitated？〃　He　studied　her　face；　then　rose；　took　a　final　pull　at　the　cigarette；　tossed　it　in　the　fire。　　〃I　must　be　going；〃　he　said；　in　a　cool；　even　voice。

She　started　up　in　a　panic。　　〃Fred！　　What　do　you　mean？　　Are　you　angry　with　me？〃

His　calm　regard　met　hers。　　〃I　do　not　likethis　sort　of　thing；〃　he　said。

〃But　surely　you'll　explain。　　Surely　I'm　entitled　to　an　explanation。〃

〃Why　should　I　explain？　　You　have　evidently　found　an　explanation　that　satisfies　you。〃　　He　drew　himself　up　in　a　quiet　gesture　of　haughtiness。　　〃Besides；　it　has　never　been　my　habit　to　allow　myself　to　be　questioned　or　to　explain　myself。〃

Her　eyes　widened　with　terror。　　〃Fred！〃　she　gasped。　　〃What　DO　you　mean？〃

〃Precisely　what　I　say；〃　said　he；　in　the　same　cool；　inevitable　way。　　〃A　man　came　to　you　with　a　story　about　me。　　You　listened。　　A　sufficient　answer　to　the　story　was　that　I　am　marrying　you。　　That　answer　apparently　does　not　content　you。　　Very　well。　　I　shall　make　no　other。〃

She　gazed　at　him　uncertainly。　　She　felt　him　going　and　going　finally。　　She　seized　him　with　desperate　fingers；　cried：　　〃I　AM　content。　　Oh；　Freddon't　frighten　me　this　way！〃

He　smiled　satirically。　　〃Are　you　afraid　of　the　scandalbecause　everything　for　the　wedding　has　gone　so　far？〃

〃How　can　you　think　that！〃　cried　sheperhaps　too　vigorously；　a　woman　would　have　thought。

〃What　else　is　there　for　me　to　think？　　You　certainly　haven't　shown　any　consideration　for　me。〃

〃But　you　told　me　yourself　that　you　were　false　to　me。〃

〃Really？　　When？〃

She　forgot　her　fear　in　a　gush　of　rage　rising　from　sudden　realization　of　what　she　was　doingof　how　leniently　and　weakly　and　without　pride　she　was　dealing　with　this　man。　　〃Didn't　you　admit〃

〃Pardon　me；〃　said　he；　and　his　manner　might　well　have　calmed　the　wildest　tempest　of　anger。　　〃I　did　not　admit。　　I　never　admit。　　I　leave　that　to　people　of　the　sort　who　explain　and　excuse　and　apologize。　　I　simply　told　you　I　was　paying　the　expenses　of　a　family　named　Hallowell。〃

〃But　WHY　should　you　do　it；　Fred？〃

His　smile　was　gently　satirical。　　〃I　thought　Tetlow　told　you　why。〃

〃I　don't　believe　him！〃

〃Then　why　this　excitement？〃

One　could　understand　how　the　opposition　witnesses　dreaded　facing　him。　　〃I　don't　know　just　why；〃　she　stammered。　　〃It　seemed　to　me　you　were　admitting　I　mean；　you　were　confirming　what　that　man　accused　you　of。〃

〃And　of　what　did　he　accuse　me？　　I　might　say；　of　what　do　YOU　accuse　me？〃　　When　she　remained　silent　he　went　on：　　〃I　am　trying　to　be　reasonable；　Josephine。　I　am　trying　to　keep　my　temper。〃

The　look　in　her　eyesthe　fear；　the　timiditywas　a　startling　revelation　of　characterof　the　cowardice　with　which　love　undermines　the　strongest　nature。　　〃I　know　I've　been　foolish　and　incoherent；　Fred；〃　she　pleaded。　　〃ButI　love　you！　　And　you　remember　how　I　always　was　afraid　of　that　girl。〃

〃Just　what　do　you　wish　to　know？〃

〃Nothing；　dearnothing。　　I　am　not　sillily　jealous。　I　ought　to　be　admiring　you　for　your　generosityyour　charity。〃

〃It's　neither　the　one　nor　the　other；〃　said　he　with　exasperating　deliberateness。

She　quivered。　　〃Then　WHAT　is　it？〃　she　cried。　〃You　are　driving　me　crazy　with　your　evasions。〃　Pleadingly；　〃You　must　admit　they　ARE　evasions。〃

He　buttoned　his　coat　in　tranquil　preparation　to　depart。　　She　instantly　took　alarm。　　〃I　don't　mean　that。　It's　my　fault；　not　asking　you　straight　out。　　Fred；　tell　mewon't　you？　　But　if　you　are　too　cross　with　me；　thendon't　tell　me。〃　　She　laughed　nervously；　hiding　her　submission　beneath　a　seeming　of　mocking　exaggeration　of　humility。　　〃I'll　be　good。　　I'll　behave。〃

A　man　who　admired　her　as　a　figure；　a　man　who　liked　her；　a　man　who　had　no　feeling　for　her　beyond　the　general　human　feeling　of　wishing　well　pretty　nearly　everybodyin　brief；　any　man　but　one　who　had　loved　her　and　had　gotten　over　it　would　have　deeply　pitied　and　sympathized　with　her。　　Fred　Norman　said；　his　look　and　his　tone　coolly　calm：

〃I　am　backing　Mr。　Hallowell　in　a　company　for　which　he　is　doing　chemical　research　work。　　We　are　hatching　eggs；　out　of　the　shell；　so　to　speak。　　Also　we　are　aging　and　rejuvenating　arthropods　and　the　like。　　So　far　we　have　declared　no　dividends。　　But　we　have　hopes。〃

She　gave　a　hysterical　sob　of　relief。　　〃Then　it's　only　businessnot　the　girl　at　all！〃

〃Oh；　yes；　it's　the　girl；　too；〃　replied　he。　　〃She's　an　officer　of　the　company。　　In　fact；　it　was　to　make　a　place　for　her　that　I　went　into　the　enterprise　originally。〃　With　an　engaging　air　of　frankness　he　inquired；　〃Anything　more？〃

She　was　gazing　soberly；　almost　somberly；　into　the　fire。　　〃You'll　not　be　offended　if　I　ask　you　one　question？〃

〃Certainly　not。〃

〃Is　there　anything　between　you　andher？〃

〃You　mean；　am　I　having　an　affair　with　her？〃

She　hung　her　head；　but　managed　to　make　a　slight　nod　of　assent。

He　laughed。　　〃No。〃　　He　laughed　again。　　〃No　not　thus　far；　my　dear。〃　　He　laughed　a　third　time；　with　still　stronger　and　stranger　mockery。　　〃She　congratulated　me　on　my　engagement　with　a　sincerity　that　would　have　piqued　a　man　who　was　interested　in　her。〃

〃Will　you　forgive　me？〃　Josephine　said。　　〃What　I've　just　been　feeling　and　saying　and　putting　you　throughit's　beneath　both　of　us。　　I　suppose　a　woman　no　womancan　help　being　nasty　where　another　woman　is　concerned。〃

With　his　satirical　good…humored　smile；　〃I　don't　in　the　least　blame　you。〃

〃And　you'll　not　think　less　of　me　for　giving　way　to　a　thing　so　vulgar？〃

He　kissed　her　with　a　carelessness　that　made　her　wince　But　she　felt　that　she　deserved　itand　was　grateful。　　He　said：　　〃Why　don't　you　go　over　and　see　for　yourself？　　No　doubt　Tetlow　gave　you　the　address　and　no　doubt　you　have　remembered　it。〃

She　colored　and　hastily　turned　her　head。　　〃Don't　punish　me；〃　she　pleaded。

〃Punish　you？　　What　nonsense！　。　。　。　　Do　you　want　me　to　take　you　over？　　The　laboratory　would　interest　youand　Miss　Hallowell　is　lovelier　than　ever。　　She　has　an　easier　life　now。　　Office　work　wears　on　women　terribly。〃

Josephine　looked　at　him　with　a　beautiful　smile　of　love　and　trust。　　〃You　wish　to　be　sure　I'm　cured。　　Well；　can't　you　see　that　I　am？〃

〃I　don't　see　why　you　should　be。　　I've　said　nothing　one　way　or　the　other。〃

She　laughed　gayly。　　〃You　can't　tempt　me。　　I'm　really　cured。　　I　think　the　only　reason　I　had　the　attack　was　because　Mr。　Tetlow　so　evidently　believed　he　was　speaking　the　truth。〃

〃No　doubt　he　did　think　he　was。　　I'm　sure；　in　the　same　circumstances；　I'd　think　of　anyone　else　just　what　he　thinks　of　me。〃

〃Then　why　do　you　do　it；　Fred？〃　urged　she　with　ill…concealed　eagerness。　　〃It　isn't　fair　to　the　girl；　is　it？〃

〃No　one　but　you　and　Tetlow　knows　I'm　doing　it。〃

〃You're　mistaken　there；　dear。　　Tetlow　says　a　great　many　people　down　town　are　talking　about　itthat　they　say　you　go　almos