the dust-第59节

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　themselves；　it　was　not　at　all　strange　that　this　girl　should　be　unable　to　grasp　the　essential　truth　as　to　the　relations　of　men　and　womenthat；　while　a　woman　who　makes　her　sex　her　profession　must　give　to　a　man；　to　some　man；　a　dominant　place　in　her　life；　a　man　need　give　a　womanat　least；　any　one　womanlittle　or　no　place。　　But　he　would　not　wantonly　wound　her　harmless　vanity。　　〃Don't　worry　about　me；　please；〃　said　he　in　the　kindest；　friendliest　way。　　〃I　am　telling　you　the　truth。〃

And　they　descended　to　the　dining　room。　　Usually　he　was　preoccupied　and　she　did　most　of　the　talking　not　a　difficult　matter　for　her；　as　she　was　one　of　those　who　by　nature　have　much　to　say；　who　talk　on　and　on；　giving　lively；　pleasant　recitals　of　commonplace　daily　happenings。　　That　evening　it　was　her　turn　to　be　abstracted；　or；　at　least；　silent。　　He　talked　volubly；　torrentially；　like　a　man　of　teeming　mind　in　the　highest　spirits。　　And　he　was　in　high　spirits。　　The　Galloway　enterprise　had　developed　into　a　huge　success；　also；　it　did　not　lessen　his　sense　of　the　pleasantness　of　life　to　have　learned　that　his　wife　was　feeling　about　as　well　disposed　toward　him　as　he　cared　to　have　her　feel；　had　come　round　to　that　state　of　mind　which　he；　as　a　practical　man；　wise　in　the　art　of　life；　regarded　as　ideal　for　a　wife。

A　successful　man；　with　a　quiet　and　comfortable　home；　well　enough　looked　after　by　an　agreeable　wife；　exceeding　good　to　look　at　and　interested　only　in　her　home　and　her　husbandwhat　more　could　a　man　ask？


What　more　could　a　man　ask？　　Only　one　thing　more　a　baby。　　The　months　soon　passed　and　that　rounding　out　of　the　home　side　of　his　life　was　consummated　with　no　mishap。　　The　baby　was　a　girl；　which　contented　him　and　delighted　Dorothy。　　He　wished　it　to　be　named　after　her；　she　preferred　his　sister's　nameUrsula。　　It　was　Ursula　who　decided　the　question。　　〃She　looks　like　you；　Fred；〃　she　declared；　after　an　earnest　scanning　of　the　wierd　little　face。　　〃Why　not　call　her　Frederica？〃

Norman　thought　this　clumsy；　but　Dorothy　instantly　assentedand　the　baby　was　duly　christened　Frederica。

Perhaps　it　was　because　he　was　having　less　pressing　business　in　town；　but　whatever　the　reason；　he　began　to　stay　at　home　moresurprisingly　more。　　And；　being　at　home；　he　naturally　fell　into　the　habit　of　fussing　with　the　baby；　he　having　the　temperament　that　compels　a　man　to　be　always　at　something；　and　the　baby　being　convenient　and　in　the　nature　of　a　curiosity。　　Ursula；　who　was　stopping　in　the　house；　did　not　try　to　conceal　her　amazement　at　this　extraordinary　development　of　her　brother's　character。

Said　she：　　〃I　never　before　knew　you　to　take　the　slightest　interest　in　a　child。〃

Said　he：　　〃I　never　before　saw　a　child　worth　taking　the　slightest　interest　in。〃

〃Oh；　well；〃　said　Ursula；　〃it　won't　last。　　You'll　soon　grow　tired　of　your　plaything。〃

〃Perhaps　you're　right；〃　said　Norman。　　〃I　hope　you're　wrong。〃　　He　reflected；　added：　　〃In　fact；　I'm　almost　certain　you're　wrong。　　I'm　too　selfish　to　let　myself　lose　such　a　pleasure。　　If　you　had　observed　my　life　closely；　you'd　have　discovered　that　I　have　never　given　up　a　single　thing　I　found　a　source　of　pleasure。　　That　is　good　sense。　　That　is　why　the　superior　sort　of　men　and　women　retain　something　of　the　boy　and　the　girl　all　their　lives。　　I　still　like　a　lot　of　the　games　I　played　as　a　boy。　For　some　years　I've　had　no　chance　to　indulge　in　them。　I'll　be　glad　when　Rica　is　old　enough　to　give　me　the　chance　again。〃

She　was　much　amused。　　〃Who'd　have　suspected　that　YOU　were　a　born　father　！〃

〃Not　I；　for　one；〃　confessed　he。　　〃We　never　know　what　there　is　in　us　until　circumstances　bring　it　out。〃

〃A　devoted　father　and　a　doting　husband；〃　pursued　Ursula。　　〃I　must　say　I　rather　sympathize　with　you　as　a　doting　husband。　　Of　course；　I；　a　woman；　can't　see　her　as　you　do。　　I　can't　imagine　a　manespecially　a　man　of　your　sortgoing　stark　mad　about　a　mere　woman。　But；　as　women　go；　I'll　admit　she　is　a　good　specimen。　Not　the　marvel　of　intelligence　and　complex　character　you　imagine；　but　still　a　good　specimen。　　And　physically〃　She　laughed　　〃THAT'S　what　caught　you。　That's　what　holds　youand　will　hold　you　as　long　as　it　lasts。〃

〃Was　there　ever　a　woman　who　didn't　think　that？　and　didn't　like　to　think　it；　though　I　believe　many　of　them　make　strong　pretense　at　scorning　the　physical。〃　　Fred　was　regarding　his　sister　with　a　quizzical　expression。　〃You　approve　of　her？〃　he　said。

〃More　than　I'd　have　thought　possible。　　And　after　I've　taken　her　about　in　the　world　a　while　she'll　be　perfect。〃

〃No　doubt；〃　said　Norman。　　〃But；　alas；　she'll　never　be　perfect。　　For；　you're　not　going　to　take　her　about。〃

〃So　she　says　when　I　talk　of　it　to　her；〃　replied　Ursula。　　〃But　I　know　you'll　insist。　　You　needn't　be　uneasy　as　to　how　she'll　be　received。〃

〃I'm　not；〃　said　Norman　dryly。

〃You've　got　back　all　you　lostand　more。　　How　we　Americans　do　worship　success！〃

〃Don't　suggest　to　Dorothy　anything　further　about　society；〃　said　Norman。　　〃I've　no　time　or　taste　for　it；　and　I　don't　wish　to　be　annoyed　by　intrusions　into　my　home。〃

〃But　you'll　not　be　satisfied　always　with　just　her；〃　urged　his　sister。　　〃Besides；　you've　got　a　position　to　maintain。〃

Norman's　smile　was　cynically　patient。　　〃I　want　my　home　and　I　want　my　career；〃　said　he。　　〃And　I　don't　want　any　society　nonsense。　　I　had　the　good　luck　to　marry　a　woman　who　knows　and　cares　nothing　about　it。　I　don't　purpose　to　give　up　the　greatest　advantage　of　my　marriage。〃

Ursula　was　astounded。　　She　knew　the　meaning　of　his　various　tones　and　manners；　and　his　way　of　rejecting　her　plans　for　Dorothyand；　incidentally；　for　her　own　amusementconvinced　her　that　he　was　through　and　through　in　earnest。　　〃It　will　be　dreadfully　lonesome　for　her；　Fred；〃　she　pleaded。

〃We'll　wait　till　that　trouble　faces　us；〃　replied　he；　not　a　bit　impressed。　　〃And　don't　forgetnot　a　word　of　temptation　to　her　from　you。〃　　This　with　an　expression　that　warned　her　how　well　he　knew　her　indirect　ways　of　accomplishing　what　she　could　not　gain　directly。

〃Oh；　I　shan't　interfere；〃　said　she　in　a　tone　that　made　it　a　binding　promise。　　〃But　you　can't　expect　me　to　sympathize　with　your　plans　for　an　old…fashioned　domestic　life。〃

〃Certainly　not；〃　said　Norman。　　〃You　don't　understand。　　Women　of　your　sort　never　do。　　That's　why　you're　not　fit　to　be　the　wives　of　men　worth　while。　　A　serious　man　and　a　society　woman　can't　possibly　hit　it　off　together。　　For　a　serious　man　the　outside　world　is　a　place　to　work；　and　home　is　a　place　to　rest。　　For　a　society　woman；　the　world　is　a　place　to　idle　and　home　is　a　work　shop；　an　entertainment　factory。　　It's　impossible　to　reconcile　those　two　opposite　ideas。〃

She　saw　his　point　at　once；　and　it　appealed　to　her　intelligence。　　And　she　had　his　own　faculty　for　never　permitting　prejudice　to　influence　judgment。　　She　said　in　a　dubious　tone；　〃Do　you　think　Dorothy　will　sympathize　with　your　scheme？〃

〃I'm　sure　I　don't　know；〃　replied　he。

〃If　she　doesn't〃　Ursula　halted　there。

Her　brother　shrugged　his　shoulders。　　〃If　she　proves　to　be　the　wrong　sort　of　woman　for　me；　she'll　go　her　way　and　I　mine。〃

〃Why；　I　thought　you　loved　her！〃

〃What　have　I　said　that　leads　you　to　change　your　mind？〃　said　he。

〃A　man　does　not　take　the　high　hand　with　the　woman　he　adores。〃

〃So？〃　said　Norman　tranquilly。

〃Well；〃　said　his　puzzled　sister　by　way　of　conclusion；　〃if　you　persist　in　being　the　autocrat〃

〃Autocrat？I？〃　laughed　he。　　〃Am　I　trying　to　compel　her　to　do　anything　she　doesn't　wish　to　do？　Didn't　I　say　she　would　be　free　to　go　if　she　were　dissatis…　fied　with　me　and　my　planif　she　didn't　adopt　it　gladly　as　her　own　plan；　also？〃

〃But　you　know　very　well　she's　dependent　upon　you；　Fred。〃

〃Is　that　my　fault？　　Does　a　man　force　a　woman　to　become　dependent？　　And　just　because　she　is　dependent；　should　he　therefore　yield　to　her　and　let　her　make　of　his　life　a　waste　and　a　folly？〃

〃You're　far　too　clever　for　me　to　argue　with。　Anyhow；　as　I　was　saying；　if　you　persist　in　what　I　call　tyranny〃

〃When　a　woman　cries　tyranny；　it　means　she's　furious　because　she　is　not　getting　HER　autocratic　way。〃

〃Maybe　so；〃　admitted　Ursula　cheerfully。　　〃At　any　rate；　if　you　persistunless　she　loves　you　utterly；　your　life　will　be　miserable。〃

〃She　may　make　her　own　life　miserable；　but　not　mine；〃　replied　he。　　〃If　I　were　the　ordinary　man　counting　himself　lucky　to　have　induced　any　woman　to　marry　himafraid　if　he　lost　his　woman　he'd　not　be　able　to　get　anotherable　to　give　his　woman　only　an　indifferent　poor　support；　and　so　onif　I　were　one　of　those　men；　what　you　say　might　be　true。　　But　what　deep　and　permanent　mischief　can　a　frail　woman　do　a　strong　man？〃

〃There's　instance　after　instance　in　history〃

〃Of　strong　men　wrecking　THEMSELVES　through　various　kinds　of　madness；　including　sex　madness。　　But；　my　dear　Ursula；　not　an　instancenot　onewhere　the　woman　was　responsible。　　If　history　were　truth；　instead　of　liesyou　women　might　have　less　conceit。〃

〃Youtalking　this　way！〃　mocked　Ursula。

〃Meaning；　I　suppose；　my　late　infatuation？〃　inquired　he；　unruffled。

〃I　never　saw　or　read　of　a　worse　case。〃

〃Am　I　ruined？〃

〃No。　　But　why　not？　　Because　you　got　her。　　If　you　hadn't〃　　Ursula　blew　out　a　large　cloud　of　cigarette　smoke　with　a　〃Pouf！〃

〃If　I　hadn't　got　her；〃　said　Norman；　〃I'd　have　got　well；　just　the　same；　in　due　time。　　A　sick　WEAK　man　goes　down；　a　sick　ST