the dust-第48节

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id　he。

〃Icantrust　you？〃　she　said。

〃Absolutely；〃　replied　he。　　〃I'll　have　another　room　opened　into　this　suite。　　Would　you　like　that？〃

〃If　youif　you　don't　mind。〃

He　stood　up　with　sudden　boyish　buoyance。　　〃Now　let's　go　shopping。　　Let's　amuse　ourselves。〃

She　rose　with　alacrity。　　She　eyed　him　uncertainly；　then　flung　her　arms　round　his　neck　and　kissed　him。

〃You　are　SO　good　to　me！〃　she　cried。　　〃And　I'm　not　a　bit　nice。〃

He　did　not　try　to　detain　her；　but　sent　her　to　finish　dressing；　with　an　encouraging　pat　on　the　shoulder　and　a　cheerful；　〃Don't　worry　about　yourselfor　me。〃




XVII


ABOUT　half　an　hour　later　the　door　into　the　bedroom　opened　and　she　appeared　on　the　threshold　of　the　sitting　room；　ready　for　the　street。　　He　stared　at　her　in　the　dazed　amazement　of　a　man　faced　by　the　impossible；　and　uncertain　whether　it　is　sight　or　reason　that　is　tricking　him。　　She　had　gone　into　the　bedroom　not　only　homely　but　commonplace；　not　only　commonplace　but　common；　a　dingy　washed…out　blonde　girl　whom　it　would　be　a　humiliation　to　present　as　his　wife。　　She　was　standing　there；　in　the　majesty　of　such　proud　pale　beauty　as　poets　delight　to　ascribe　to　a　sorrowful　princess。　　Her　wonderful　skin　was　clear　and　translucent；　giving　her　an　ethereal　look。　　Her　hair　reminded　him　again　of　what　marvels　he　had　seen　in　the　sunlight　of　Sunday　afternoon。　　And　looking　at　her　form　and　the　small　head　so　gracefully　capping　it；　he　could　think　only　of　the　simile　that　had　always　come　to　him　in　his　moments　of　ecstasythe　lily　on　its　tall　stem。

And　once　more；　like　a　torrent；　the　old　infatuation　sprang　from　its　dried　sources　and　came　rushing　and　overwhelming　through　vein　and　nerve。　　〃Am　I　mad　now？was　I　mad　a　few　moments　ago？is　it　she　or　is　it　my　own　disordered　senses？〃

She　was　drawing　on　her　gloves；　was　unconscious　of　his　confusion。　　He　controlled　himself　and　said：　　〃You　have　a　most　disconcerting　way　of　changing　your　appearance。〃

She　glanced　down　at　her　costume。　　〃No；　it's　the　same　dress。　　I've　only　the　one；　you　know。〃

He　longed　to　take　her　in　his　arms；　but　could　not　trust　himself。　　And　this　wonder…girl；　his　very　own；　was　talking　of　leaving　him！　　And　henot　an　hour　before　he；　apparently　in　his　right　senses　had　been　tolerating　such　preposterous　talk！　　Give　her　up？　　Never！　　He　must　see　to　it　that　the　subject　did　not　find　excuse　for　intruding　again。　　〃I　have　frightened　herhave　disgusted　her。　　I　must　restrain　myself。　　I　must　be　patient　and　teach　her　slowlyand　win　her　gradually。〃

They　spent　an　interesting　and　even　exciting　afternoon；　driving　from　shop　to　shop　and　selecting　the　first　beginnings　of　her　wardrobe。　　He　had　only　about　three　hundred　dollars。　　Some　of　the　things　they　ordered　were　ready　for　delivery；　and　so　had　to　be　paid　for　at　once。　When　they　returned　to　the　hotel　he　had　but　fifty　dollars　leftand　had　contracted　debts　that　made　it　necessary　for　him　to　raise　at　least　a　thousand　dollars　within　a　week。　He　saw　that　his　freedom　with　sums　of　money　which　terrified　her　filled　her　with　awe　and　admirationand　that　he　was　already　more　successful　than　he　had　expected　to　be；　in　increasing　her　hesitation　about　leaving　him。　Among　the　things　they　had　bought　were　a　simple　black　chiffon　dress　and　a　big　plumed　black　hat　to　match。　These　needed　no　alterations　and　were　delivered　soon　after　they　returned。　　Some　silk　stockings　came　also　and　a　pair　of　slippers　bought　for　the　dinner　toilet。

〃You　can　dress　to…night；〃　said　he；　〃and　I'll　take　you　to　Sherry's；　and　to　the　theater　afterwards。〃

She　was　delighted。　　At　last　she　was　going　to　look　like　the　women　of　whom　she　had　been　dreaming　these　last　few　months。　　She　set　about　dressing　herself；　he　waiting　in　the　sitting　room　in　a　state　of　acute　nervousness。　What　would　be　the　effect　of　such　a　toilet？　　Would　she　look　like　a　ladyor　likewhat　she　had　suggested　that　morning？　　She　was　so　changeable；　had　such　a　wide　range　of　variability　that　he　dared　not　hope。　　When　she　finally　appeared；　he　was　ready　to　fall　down　and　worship。　He　was　about　to　take　her　where　his　world　would　see　her；　where　every　inch　of　her　would　be　subjected　to　the　cruelest；　most　hostile　criticism。　　One　glance　at　her；　and　he　knew　a　triumph　awaited　him。　　No　man　and　no　woman　would　wonder　that　he　had　lost　his　head　over　such　beauty　as　hers。　　Hat　and　dress　seemed　just　what　had　been　needed　to　bring　out　the　full　glory　of　her　charms。

〃You　are　incredibly　beautiful；〃　he　said　in　an　awed　tone。　　〃I　am　proud　of　you。〃

A　little　color　came　into　her　cheeks。　　She　looked　at　herself　in　the　mirror　with　her　quiet　intense　secret；　yet　not　covert　vanity。　　He　laughed　in　boyish　pleasure。　〃This　is　only　the　small　beginning；〃　said　he。　　〃Wait　a　few　months。〃

At　dinner　and　in　a　box　at　the　theater　afterwards；　he　had　the　most　exquisite　pleasure　of　his　life。　　She　had　been　seen　by　many　of　his　former　friends；　and　he　was　certain　they　knew　who　she　was。　　He　felt　that　he　would　have　no　difficulty　in　putting　her　in　the　place　his　wife　should　occupy。　　A　woman　with　such　beauty　as　hers　was　a　sensation；　one　fashionable　society　would　not　deny　itself。　She　had　good　manners；　an　admirable　manner。　　With　a　little　coaching　she　would　be　as　much　at　home　in　grandeur　as　were　those　who　had　always　had　it。

The　last　fear　of　losing　her　left　him。　　On　the　way　back　to　the　hotel　he；　in　a　delirium　of　pride　and　passion；　crushed　her　in　his　arms　and　caressed　her　with　the　frenzy　that　had　always　terrified　her。　　She　resisted　only　faintly；　was　almost　passive。　　〃She　is　mine！〃　he　said　to　himself；　exultantly。　　〃She　is　really　mine！〃


When　he　awoke　in　the　morning　she　was　still　asleep　looked　like　a　tired　lovely　child。　　Several　times；　while　he　was　dressing；　he　went　in　to　feast　his　eyes　upon　her　beauty。　　How　could　he　possibly　have　thought　her　homely；　in　whatever　moment　of　less　beauty　or　charm　she　might　have　had？　　The　crowning　charm　of　infinite　variety！　　She　had　a　delightfully　sweet　disposition。　　He　was　not　sure　how　much　or　how　little　intelligence　she　hadprobably　more　than　most　women。　　But　what　did　that　matter？　　It　would　be　impossible　ever　to　grow　weary　or　to　be　anything　but　infatuated　lover　when　she　had　such　changeful　beauty。

He　kissed　her　lightly　on　her　thick　braids；　as　he　was　about　to　go。　　He　left　a　note　explaining　that　he　did　not　wish　to　disturb　her　and　that　it　was　necessary　for　him　to　be　at　the　office　earlier。　　And　that　morning　in　all　New　York　no　man　left　his　home　for　the　day's　struggle　for　dollars　with　a　freer　or　happier　heart；　or　readier　to　play　the　game　boldly；　skillfully；　with　success。

Certainly　he　needed　all　his　courage　and　all　his　skill。

To　most　of　the　people　who　live　in　New　York　and　elsewhere　throughout　the　countryor　the　world；　for　that　matteran　income　of　a　thousand　dollars　a　month　seems　extremely　comfortable；　to　say　the　least　of　it。　　The　average　American　family　of　five　has　to　scrape　along　on　about　half　that　sum　a　year。　　But　among　the　comfortable　classes　in　New　Yorkand　perhaps　in　one　or　two　other　citiesa　thousand　dollars　a　month　is　literally　genteel　poverty。　　To　people　accustomed　to　what　is　called　luxury　nowadayspeople　with　the　habit　of　the　private　carriage；　the　private　automobile；　and　several　servantsto　such　people　a　thousand　dollars　a　month　is　an　absurd　little　sum。　　It　would　not　pay　for　the　food　alone。　　It　would　not　buy　for　a　man　and　his　wife；　with　no　children；　clothing　enough　to　enable　them　to　make　a　decent　appearance。

Norman；　living　alone　and　living　very　quietly　indeed；　might　have　got　along　for　a　while　on　that　sum；　if　he　had　taken　much　thought　about　expenditures；　had　persisted　in　such　severe　economies　as　using　street　cars　instead　of　taxicabs　and　drinking　whisky　at　dinner　instead　of　his　customary　quart　of　six…dollar　champagne。　　Norman；　the　married　man；　could　not　escape　disaster　for　a　single　month　on　an　income　so　pitiful。

Probably　on　the　morning　on　which　he　set　out　for　downtown　in　search　of　money　enough　to　enable　him　to　live　decently；　not　less　than　ten　thousand　men　on　Manhattan　Island　left　comfortable　or　luxurious　homes　faced　with　precisely　the　same　problem。　　And　each　and　every　one　of　them　knew　that　on　that　day　or　some　day　soon　they　must　find　the　money　demanded　imperiously　by　their　own　and　their　families'　tastes　and　necessities　or　be　ruined　flung　out；　trampled　upon；　derided　as　failures；　hated　by　the　〃loved　ones〃　they　had　caused　to　be　humiliated。　And　every　man　of　that　legion　had　a　fine；　an　unusually　fine　brainresourceful；　incessant；　teeming　with　schemes　for　wresting　from　those　who　had　dollars　the　dollars　they　dared　not　go　home　without。　　And　those　ten　thousand　quickest　and　most　energetic　brains；　by　their　mode　of　thought　and　action；　determined　the　thought　and　action　of　the　entire　countrygave　the　mercenary　and　unscrupulous　cast　to　the　whole　social　system。　　Themselves　the　victims　of　conditions；　they　were　the　bellwethers　to　millions　of　victims　compelled　to　follow　their　leadership。

Norman；　by　the　roundabout　mode　of　communication　he　and　Tetlow　had　established；　summoned　his　friend　and　backer　to　his　office。　　〃Tetlow；〃　he　began　straight　off；　〃I've　got　to　have　more　money。〃

〃How　much？〃　said　Tetlow。

〃More　than　you　can　afford　to　advance　me。〃

〃How　much？〃　repeated　Tetlow。

〃Three　thousand　a　month　right　awayat　the　least。〃

〃That's　a　big　sum；〃　said　Tetlow。

〃Yes；　for　a　man　used　to　dealing　in　small　figures。　But　in　rea