the dust-第57节

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child　trying　to　understand　things　far　beyond　its　depth。　He　was　interested　in　his　own　thoughts；　however；　and　went　onfor；　if　he　had　been　in　the　habit　of　stopping　when　his　hearers　failed　to　understand；　or　when　they　misunderstood；　either　he　would　have　been　silent　most　of　the　time　in　company　or　his　conversation　would　have　been　as　petty　and　narrow　and　devoid　of　originality　or　imagination　as　is　the　mentality　of　most　human　beings　as　is　the　talk　and　reading　that　impress　them　as　interestingand　profound！

〃The　American　man　of　the　more　ambitious　sort；〃　he　went　on；　〃either　has　to　live　practically　if　not　physically　apart　from　his　wife　or　else　has　to　educate　some　not　too　difficult　woman　to　be　his　wife。〃

She　understood　that。　　〃You　are　really　going　to　educate　me？〃　she　said；　with　an　arch　smile。　　Now　that　Norman　had　her　attention；　now　that　she　was　centering　upon　him　instead　of　upon　herself；　she　was　interested　in　him；　and　in　what　he　said；　whether　she　understood　it　or　not；　whether　it　pleased　her　vanity　or　wounded　it。　　The　intellects　of　women　work　to　an　unsuspected　extent　only　through　the　sex　charm。　　Their　appreciations　of　books；　of　art；　of　men　are　dependant；　often　in　the　most　curious　indirect　ways；　upon　the　fact　that　the　author；　the　artist；　the　politician　or　what　not　is　betrousered。　　Thus；　Dorothy　was　patient；　respectful；　attentive；　was　not　offended　by　Norman's　didactic　way　of　giving　her　the　lessons　in　life。　　Her　smile　was　happy　as　well　as　coquettish；　as　she　asked　him　to　educate　her。

He　returned　her　smile。　　〃That　depends；〃　answered　he。

〃You're　not　sure　I'm　worth　the　trouble？〃

〃You　may　put　it　that　way；　if　you　like。　　But　I'd　say；　rather；　I'm　not　sure　I　can　spare　the　timeand　you're　not　sure　you　care　to　fit　yourself　for　the　place。〃

〃Oh；　but　I　do！〃　cried　she。

〃We'll　seein　a　few　weeks　or　months；〃　replied　he。

The　Burroughs　party　were　rising。　　Josephine　had　choice　of　two　ways　to　the　door。　　She　chose　the　one　that　took　her　past　Norman　and　his　bride。　　She　advanced；　beaming。　　Norman　rose；　took　her　extended　hand。　　Said　she：

〃So　glad　to　see　you。〃　　Then；　turning　the　radiant　smile　upon　Dorothy；　〃And　is　this　your　wife？　　Is　this　the　pretty　little　typewriter　girl？〃

Dorothy　noddeda　charming；　ingenuous　bend　of　the　head。　　Norman　felt　a　thrill　of　pride　in　her；　so　beautifully　unconscious　of　the　treacherous　attempt　at　insult。　It　particularly　delighted　him　that　she　had　not　made　the　mistake　of　rising　to　return　Josephine's　greeting　but　had　remained　seated。　　Surely　this　wife　of　his　had　the　right　instincts　that　never　fail　to　cause　right　manners。　For　Josephine's　benefit；　he　gazed　down　at　Dorothy　with　the　proudest；　fondest　eyes。　　〃Yesthis　is　she；〃　said　he。　　〃Can　you　blame　me？〃

Josephine　paled　and　winced　visibly；　as　if　the　blow　she　had　aimed　at　him　had；　after　glancing　off　harmlessly；　returned　to　crush　her。　　She　touched　Dorothy's　proffered　hand；　murmured　a　few　stammering　phrases　of　vague　compliment；　rejoined　her　friends。　　Said　Dorothy；　when　she　and　Norman　were　settled　again：

〃I　shall　never　like　her。　　Nor　she　me。〃

〃But　you　do　like　this　cheese？　　Waiter；　another　bottle　of　that　same。〃

〃Why　did　she　put　you　in　such　a　good　humor？〃　inquired　his　wife。

〃It　wasn't　she。　　It　was　you！〃　replied　he。　　But　he　refused　to　explain。



XXI


GALLOWAY　accepted　Norman's　terms。　　He　would　probably　have　accepted　terms　far　less　easy。　　But　Norman　as　yet　knew　with　the　thoroughness　which　must　precede　intelligent　plan　and　action　only　the　legal　side　of　financial　operations；　he　had　been　as　indifferent　to　the　commercial　side　as　a　pilot　to　the　value　of　the　cargo　in　the　ship　he　engages　to　steer　clear　of　shoals　and　rocks。　So　with　the　prudence　of　the　sagacious　man's　audacities　he　contented　himself　with　a　share　of　this　first　venture　that　would　simply　make　a　comfortable　foundation　for　the　fortune　he　purposed　to　build。　　As　the　venture　could　not　fail　outright；　even　should　Galloway　die；　he　rented　a　largish　place　at　Hempstead；　with　the　privilege　of　purchase；　and　installed　his　wife　and　himself　with　a　dozen　servants　and　a　housekeeper。

〃This　housekeeper；　this　Mrs。　Lowell；〃　said　he　to　Dorothy；　〃is　a　good　enough　person　as　housekeepers　go。　　But　you　will　have　to　look　sharply　after　her。〃

Dorothy　seemed　to　fade　and　shrink　within　herself；　which　was　her　way　of　confessing　lack　of　courage　and　fitness　to　face　a　situation：　　〃I　don't　know　anything　about　those　things；〃　she　confessed。

〃I　understand　perfectly；〃　said　he。　　〃But　you　learned　something　at　the　place　in　Jersey　Cityquite　enough　for　the　start。　　Really；　all　you　need　to　know　just　now　is　whether　the　place　is　clean　or　not；　and　whether　the　food　comes　on　the　table　in　proper　condition。　The　rest　you'll　pick　up　gradually。〃

〃I　hope　so；〃　said　she；　looking　doubtful　and　helpless；　these　new　magnitudes　were　appalling；　especially　now　that　she　was　beginning　to　get　a　point　of　view　upon　life。

〃At　any　rate；　don't　bother　me　for　these　few　next　months；〃　said　he。　　〃I'm　going　to　be　very　busyshall　leave　early　in　the　morning　and　not　be　back　until　near　dinner　timeif　I　come　at　all。　　No；　you'll　not　be　annoyed　by　me。　　You'll　be　absolute　mistress　of　your　time。〃

She　tried　to　look　as　if　this　contented　her。　　But　he　could　not　have　failed　to　see　how　dissatisfied　and　disquieted　she　really　was。　　He　had　the　best　of　reasons　for　thinking　that　she　was　living　under　the　same　roof　with　him　only　because　she　preferred　the　roof　he　could　provide　to　such　a　one　as　she　could　provide　for　herself　whether　by　her　own　earnings　or　by　marrying　a　man　more　to　her　liking　personally。　　Yet　here　she　was；　piqued　and　depressed　because　of　his　indifferencebecause　he　was　not　thrusting　upon　her　gallantries　she　would　tolerate　only　through　prudence！

〃You　will　be　lonely　at　times；　I'm　afraid；〃　said　he。　〃But　I　can't　provide　friends　or　even　acquaintances　for　you　for　several　monthsuntil　my　affairs　are　in　better　order　and　my　sister　and　her　husband　come　back　from　Europe。〃

〃Oh；　I　shan't　be　lonely；〃　cried　she。　　〃I've　never　cared　for　people。〃

〃You've　your　books；　and　your　musicand　riding　and　shopping　trips　to　townand　the　house　and　grounds　to　look　after。〃

〃Yesand　my　dreams；〃　said　she　hopefully；　her　eyes　suggesting　the　dusky　star　depths。

〃Ohthe　dreams。　　You'll　have　little　time　for　them；〃　said　he　drily。　　〃And　little　inclination；　I　imagine；　as　you　wake　up　to　the　sense　of　how　much　there　is　to　be　learned。　　Dreaming　is　the　pastime　of　people　who　haven't　the　intelligence　or　the　energy　to　accomplish　anything。　If　you　wish　to　please　meand　you　dodon't　you？〃

〃Yes；〃　she　murmured。　　She　forced　her　rebellious　lips　to　the　laconic　assent。　　She　drooped　the　lids　over　her　rebellious　eyes；　lest　he　should　detect　her　wounded　feelings　and　her　resentment。

〃I　assumed　so；〃　said　he；　with　a　secret　smile。　〃Well；　if　you　wish　to　please　me；　you'll　give　your　time　to　practical　thingsthings　that'll　make　you　more　interesting　and　make　us　both　more　comfortable。　　It　was　all　very　well　to　dream；　while　you　had　little　to　do　and　small　opportunity。　　But　now　　Try　to　cut　it　out。〃

It　is　painful　to　an　American　girl　of　any　class　to　find　that　she　has　to　earn　her　position　as　wife。　　The　current　theory；　a　tradition　from　an　early　and　woman…　revering　day；　is　that　the　girl　has　done　her　share　and　more　when　she　has　consented　to　the　suit　of　the　ardent　male　and　has　intrusted　her　priceless　charms　to　his　exclusive　keeping。　　According　to　that　same　theory；　it　is　the　husband　who　must　earn　his　positionmust　continue　to　earn　it。　　He　is　a　humble　creature；　honored　by　the　presence　of　a　wonderful　being；　a　cross　between　a　queen　and　a　goddess。　　He　cannot　do　enough　to　show　his　gratitude。　　Perhapsbut　only　perhapshad　Norman　married　Josephine　Burroughs；　he　might　have　assented；　after　a　fashion；　to　this　idea　of　the　relations　of　the　man　and　the　woman。　　No　doubt；　had　he　remained　under　the　spell　of　Dorothy's　mystery　and　beauty；　he　would　have　felt　and　acted　the　slave　he　had　made　of　himself　at　the　outset。　　But　in　the　circumstances　he　was　looking　at　their　prospective　life　together　with　sane　eyes。　　And　so　she　had；　in　addition　to　all　her　other　reasons　for　heartache；　a　sense　that　she；　the　goddess…queen；　the　American　woman；　with　the　birthright　of　dominion　over　the　male；　was　being　cheated；　humbled；　degraded。

At　first　he　saw　that　this　sense　of　being　wronged　made　it　impossible　for　her　to　do　anything　at　all　toward　educating　herself　for　her　position。　　But　time　brought　about　the　change　he　had　hoped　for。　　A　few　weeks；　and　she　began　to　cheer　up；　almost　in　spite　of　herself。　　What　was　the　use　in　sulking　or　sighing　or　in　self…pitying；　when　it　brought　only　unhappiness　to　oneself？　　The　coarse　and　brutal　male　in　the　case　was　either　unaware　or　indifferent。　　There　was　no　one　and　no　place　to　fly　tounless　she　wished　to　be　much　worse　off　than　her　darkest　mood　of　self…pity　represented　her　to　her　sorrowing　self。　　The　housekeeper；　Mrs。　Lowell；　was　a　〃broken　down　gentlewoman〃　who　had　been　chastened　by　misfortune　into　a　wholesome　state　of　practical　good　sense　about　the　relative　values　of　the　real　and　the　romantic。　　Mrs。　Lowell　diagnosed　the　case　of　the　young　wifeas　Norman　had　shrewdly　guessed　she　would　and　was　soon　adroitly　showing　her　the　many　advantages　of　her　lot。　　Before　they　had　been　three　months　at　Hempstead；　Dorothy　had　discovered　that　she；　in　fact；　was　without　a　single　ground　for　serious　com