the dust-第53节

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ity　and　respect。

In　fact；　while　Galloway　was　doddering　on　and　on　with　his　fake　moralities；　Norman　was　thinking　of　his　own　affairs；　was　wondering　at　his　indifference　about　Dorothy。　The　night　beforethe　few　hours　beforewhen　he　had　dealt　with　her　so　calmly；　he；　even　as　he　talked　and　listened　and　acted；　had　assumed　that　the　enormous　amount　of　liquor　he　had　been　consuming　was　in　some　way　responsible。　　He　had　said　to　himself；　〃When　I　am　over　this；　when　I　have　had　sleep　and　return　to　the　normal；　I　shall　again　be　the　foolish　slave　of　all　these　months。〃　But　here　he　was；　sober；　having　taken　only　enough　whisky　to　prevent　an　abrupt　let…downhere　he　was　viewing　her　in　the　same　tranquil　light。　　No　longer　all　his　life；　no　longer　even　dominant；　only　a　part　of　life　and　he　was　by　no　means　certain　that　she　was　an　important　part。

How　explain　the　mystery　of　the　change？　　Because　she　had　voluntarily　come　back；　did　he　feel　that　she　was　no　longer　baffling　but　was　definitely　his？　　Or　had　passion　running　madly　on　and　on　droppedperhaps　not　dead；　but　almost　deadfrom　sheer　exhaustion？was　it　weary　of　racing　and　content　to　saunter　and　to　stroll？　。　。　。　He　could　not　account　for　the　change。　　He　only　knew　that　he　who　had　been　quite　mad　was　now　quite　sane。　。　。　。　　Would　he　like　to　be　rid　of　her？　　Did　he　regret　that　they　were　tied　together？　　No；　curiously　enough。　　It　was　high　time　he　got　married；　she　would　do　as　well　as　another。　　She　had　beauty；　youth；　amiability；　physical　charm　for　him。　　There　was　advantage　in　the　fact　that　her　inferiority　to　him；　her　dependence　on　him；　would　enable　him　to　take　as　much　or　as　little　of　her　as　he　might　feel　disposed；　to　treat　her　as　the　warrior　must　ever　treat　his　entire　domestic　establishment　from　wife　down　to　pet　dog　or　cat　or　baby。　。　。　。　　No；　he　did　not　regret　Josephine。　　He　could　see　now　disadvantages　greater　than　her　advantages。　　All　of　value　she　would　have　brought　him　he　could　get　for　himself；　and　she　would　have　been　troublesomeexacting；　disputing　his　sway；　demanding　full　value　or　more　in　return　for　the　love　she　was　giving　with　such　exalted　notions　of　its　worth。

〃You　are　married？〃　Galloway　suddenly　said；　interrupting　his　own　speech　and　Norman's　thought。

〃Yes；〃　said　Norman。

〃Just　married；　I　believe？〃

〃Just。〃

Young　and　old；　high　and　low；　successful　and　failed；　we　are　a　race　of　advice…givers。　　As　for　Galloway；　he　was　not　one　to　neglect　that　showy　form　of　inexpensive　benevolence。　　〃Have　plenty　of　children；〃　said　he。

〃And　keep　your　family　in　the　country　till　they　grow　up。　　Town's　no　place　for　women。　　They　go　crazy。　Womenand　most　menhave　no　initiative。　　They　think　only　about　whatever's　thrust　at　them。　　In　the　country　it'll　be　their　children　and　domestic　things。　　In　town　it'll　be　getting　and　spending　money。〃

Norman　was　struck　by　this。　　〃I　think　I'll　take　your　advice；〃　said　he。

〃A　man's　home　ought　to　be　a　retreat；　not　an　inn。　We　are　humoring　the　women　too　much。　　They　are　forgetting　who　earns　what　they　spend　in　exhibiting　themselves。　　If　a　woman　wants　that　sort　of　thing；　let　her　get　out　and　earn　it。　　Why　should　she　expect　it　from　the　man　who　has　undertaken　her　support　because　he　wanted　a　wife　to　take　care　of　his　house　and　a　mother　for　his　children？　　If　a　woman　doesn't　like　the　job；　all　right。　But　if　she　takes　it　and　accepts　its　pay；　why；　she　should　do　its　work。〃

〃Flawless　logic；〃　said　Norman。

〃When　I　hire　a　man　to　work；　he　doesn't　expect　to　idle　about　showing　other　people　how　handsome　he　is　in　the　clothes　my　money　pays　for。　　Not　that　marriage　is　altogether　a　businessnot　at　all。　　But；　my　dear　sir〃　And　Galloway　brought　his　cane　down　with　the　emphasis　of　one　speaking　from　a　heart　full　of　bitter　experience　〃unless　it　is　a　business　at　bottom；　organized　and　conducted　on　sound　business　principles；　there's　no　sentiment　either。　　We　are　human　beingsand　that　means　we　are　first　of　all　BUSINESS　beings；　engaged　in　getting　food；　clothing；　shelter。　　No　sentimentNO　sentiment；　sir；　is　worth　while　that　isn't　firmly　grounded。　　It's　a　house　without　a　foundation。　　It's　a　steeple　without　a　church　under　it。〃

Norman　looked　at　the　old　man　with　calm　penetrating　eyes。　　〃I　shall　conduct　my　married　life　on　a　sound；　business　basis；　or　not　at　all；〃　said　he。

〃We'll　see；〃　said　Galloway。　　〃That's　what　I　said　forty　years　ago　　No；　I　didn't。　　I　had　no　sense　about　such　matters　then。　　In　my　youth　the　men　knew　nothing　about　the　woman　question。〃　　He　smiled　grimly。　　〃I　see　signs　that　they　are　learning。〃

Then　as　abruptly　as　he　had　left　the　affairs　he　was　there　to　discuss　he　returned　to　them。　　His　mind　seemed　to　have　freed　itself　of　all　irrelevancy　and　superfluity；　as　a　stream　often　runs　from　a　faucet　with　much　spluttering　and　rather　muddy　at　first；　then　steadies　and　clears。　Norman　gave　him　the　attention　one　can　get　only　from　a　good　mind　that　is　interested　in　the　subject　and　understands　it　thoroughly。　　Such　attention　not　merely　receives　the　words　and　ideas　as　they　fall　from　the　mouth　of　him　who　utters　them；　but　also　seems　to　draw　them　by　a　sort　of　suction　faster　and　in　greater　abundance。　It　was　this　peculiar　ability　of　giving　attention；　as　much　as　any　other　one　quality；　that　gave　Norman's　clients　their　confidence　in　him。　　Galloway；　than　whom　no　man　was　shrewder　judge　of　men；　showed　in　his　gratified　eyes　and　voice；　long　before　he　had　finished；　how　strongly　his　conviction　of　Norman's　high　ability　was　confirmed。

When　Galloway　ended；　Norman　rapidly　and　in　clear　and　simple　sentences　summarized　what　Galloway　had　said。　　〃That　is　right？〃　he　asked。

〃Precisely；〃　said　Galloway　admiringly。　　〃What　a　gift　of　clear　statement　you　have；　young　man！〃

〃It　has　won　me　my　place；〃　said　Norman。　　〃As　to　your　campaign；　I　can　tell　you　now　that　the　legal　part　of　it　can　be　arranged。　　That　is　what　the　law　is　forto　enable　a　man　to　do　whatever　he　wants。　　The　penalties　are　for　those　who　have　the　stupidity　to　try　to　do　things　in　an　unlawful　way。〃

Galloway　laughed。　　〃I　had　heard　that　they　were　for　doing　unlawful　things。〃

〃Nothing　is　unlawful；〃　said　Norman；　〃except　in　method。〃

〃That's　an　interesting　view　of　courts　of　justice。〃

〃But　we　have　no　courts　of　justice。　　We　have　only　courts　of　law。〃

Galloway　threw　back　his　head　and　laughed　till　the　tears　rolled　down　his　cheeks。　　〃What　a　gift　for　clear　statement！〃　he　cried。

Norman　beamed　appreciation　of　a　compliment　so　flattering。　　But　he　went　back　to　business。　　〃As　I　was　saying；　you　can　do　what　you　want　to　do。　　You　wish　me　to　show　you　how。　　In　our　modern　way　of　doing　things；　the　relation　of　lawyer　and　client　has　somewhat　changed。　　To　illustrate　by　this　case；　you　are　the　bear　with　the　taste　for　honey　and　the　strength　to　rob　the　bees。　　I　am　the　honey　birdthat　is；　the　modern　lawyer　who　can　show　you　the　way　to　the　hive。　　Most　of　the　honey　birdsas　yetare　content　with　a　very　small　share　of　the　honeywhatever　the　bear　happens　to　be　unable　to　find　room　for。　　But　I〃　　Norman's　eyes　danced　and　his　strong　mouth　curved　in　a　charming　smile　〃I　am　a　honey　bird　with　a　bear　appetite。〃

Galloway　was　sitting　up　stiffly。　　〃I　don't　quite　follow　you；　sir；〃　he　said。

〃Yet　I　am　plain　enough。　　My　ability　at　clear　statement　has　not　deserted　me。　　If　I　show　you　the　way　through　the　tangled　forest　of　the　law　to　this　hive　you　scentI　must　be　a　partner　in　the　honey。〃

Galloway　rose。　　〃Your　conceptions　of　your　profession　and　of　me；　I　may　sayare　not　attractive。　　I　have　always　been；　and　am　willing　and　anxious　to　pay　liberallymore　liberally　than　anyone　elsefor　legal　advice。　　But　my　business；　sir；　is　my　own。〃

Norman　rose；　his　expression　one　of　apology　and　polite　disappointment。　　〃I　see　I　misunderstood　your　purpose　in　coming　to　me；〃　said　he。　　〃Let　us　take　no　more　of　each　other's　time。〃

〃And　what　did　you　think　my　object　was　in　coming？〃　demanded　Galloway。

〃To　get　from　me　what　you　realized　you　could　get　nowhere　elsewhich　meant；　as　an　old　experienced　trader　like　you　must　have　known；　that　you　were　ready　to　pay　my　price。　　Of　course；　if　you　can　get　elsewhere　the　assistance　you　need；　why；　you　would　be　most　unwise　to　come　to　me。〃

Galloway　moved　toward　the　door。　　〃And　you　might　have　charged　practically　any　fee　you　wished；〃　said　he；　laughing　satirically。　　〃Young　man；　you　are　making　the　mistake　that　is　ruining　this　generation。　You　wish　to　get　rich　all　at　once。　　You　are　not　willing　to　be　patient　and　to　work　and　to　build　your　fortune　solidly　and　slowly。〃

Norman　smiled　as　at　a　good　joke。　　〃What　an　asset　to　you　strong　men　has　been　the　vague　hope　in　the　minds　of　the　masses　that　each　poor　devil　of　them　will　have　his　turn　to　loot　and　grow　rich。　　I　used　to　think　ignorance　kept　the　present　system　going。　　But　I　have　discovered　that　it　is　that　sly；　silly；　corrupt　hope。　　But；　sir；　it　does　not　catch　me。　　I　shall　not　work　for　you　and　the　other　strong　men；　and　patiently　wait　my　turn　that　would　never　come。　　My　time　is　NOW。〃

〃You　threaten　me！〃　cried　Galloway　furiously。

〃Threaten　you？〃　exclaimed　Norman；　amazed。

〃You　think；　because　I　have　given　you；　my　lawyer；　my　secrets；　that　you　can　compel　me〃

With　an　imperious　gesture　Norman　stopped　him。　〃Good　day；　sir；〃　he　said　haughtily。　　〃Your　secrets　are　safe　with　me。　　I　am　a　lawyer；　not　a　financier。〃

Galloway　was　disconcerted。　　〃I　beg　your　pardon；　Mr。　Norman；〃　he　said。　　〃I　misunderstood　you。　　I　thought　I　heard　y