the vision spendid(美景)-第27节
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him； even though his imagination toyed with the possibilities it might offer
to build a sure foundation of fortune。
〃You should go to New York；〃 she told him once after he had sketched；
with the touch of eloquence so native to him； a plan for a line of steamers
between Verden and the Orient。
〃To be submerged in the huddle of humanity。 No； thank you。〃
〃But the opportunities are so much greater there for a man of ability。〃
〃Oh； ability！〃 he derided。 〃New York is loaded to the water line with
ability in garrets living on crusts。 To win out there a man must have a pull；
or he must have the instinct for making money breed； for taking what
other men earn。〃
She studied him； a good…looking； alert American； sheet…armored in the
twentieth century polish of selfishness； with an inordinate appetite for
success。 Certainly he looked every inch a winner。
〃I believe you could do it。 You're not too scrupulous to look out for
yourself。〃 Her daring impudence mocked him lightly。
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〃I'm not so sure about that。〃 James liked to look his conscience in the
face occasionally。 〃I respect the rights of my fellows。 In the money centers
you can't do that and win。 And you've got to win。 It doesn't matter how。
Make good make good！ Get moneyany way you can。 People will soon
forget how you got it； if you have it。〃
〃Dear me！ I didn't know you were so given to moral reflections。〃 To
Alice； who had just come into the room to settle where they should spend
their Sunday； Valencia explained with mock demureness the subject of
their talk。 〃Mr。 Farnum and I are deploring the immoral money madness of
New York and the debilitating effects of modern civilization。 Will you
deplore with us； my dear？〃
The younger woman's glance included the cigarette James had thrown
away and the one her cousin was still smoking。 〃Why go as far as New
York？〃 she asked quietly。
Farnum flushed。 She was right； he silently agreed。 He had no business
futtering away his time in a pink boudoir。 Nor could he explain that he
hoped his time was not being wasted。
〃I must be going；〃 he said as casually as he could。
〃Don't let me drive you away； Mr。 Farnum。 I dropped in only for a
moment。〃
〃Not at all。 I have an appointment with my cousin。〃
〃With Mr。 Jefferson Farnum？〃 Alice asked in awakened interest。 〃I've
just been reading a magazine article about him。 Is he really a remarkable
man？〃
〃I don't think you would call him remarkable。 He gets things done； in
spite of being an idealist。〃
〃Why； in spite of it？〃
〃Aren't reformers usually unpractical？〃
〃Are they？ I don't know。 I have never met one。〃 She looked straight at
Farnum with the directness characteristic of her。 〃Is the article in Stetson's
Magazine true？〃
〃Substantially； I think。〃
Alice hesitated。 She would have liked to pursue the subject； but she
could not very well do that with his cousin。 For years she had been hearing
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of this man as a crank agitator who had set himself in opposition to her
father and his friends for selfish reasons。 Her father had dropped vague
hints about his unsavory life。 The Stetson write…up had given a very
different story。 If it told the truth； many things she had been brought up to
accept without question would bear study。
James suavely explained。 〃The facts are true； but not the inferences
from the facts。 Jeff takes rather a one…sided view of a very complex
situation。 But he's perfectly honest in it； so far as that goes。〃
〃You voted for his bill； didn't you？〃 Alice asked。
〃Yes； I voted for it。 But I said on the floor I didn't believe in it。 My
feeling was that the people ought to have a chance to express an opinion in
regard to it。〃
〃Why don't you believe in it？〃
Valencia lifted her perfect eyebrows。 〃Really； my dear； I didn't know
you were so interested in politics。〃
Alice waited for the young man's answer。
〃It would take me some time to give my reasons in full。 But I can give
you the text of them in a sentence。 Our government is a representative one
by deliberate choice of its founders。 This bill would tend to make it a pure
democracy； which would be far too cumbersome for so large a country。〃
〃So you'll vote against it next time to save the country；〃 Alice
suggested lightly。 〃Thank you for explaining it。〃 She turned to her cousin
with an air of dismissing the subject。 〃Well； Val。 What about the yacht trip
to Kloochet Island for Sunday？ Shall we go？ I have to 'phone the captain
to let him know at once。〃
〃If you'll promise not to have it rain all the time；〃 the young widow
shrugged with a little move。 〃Perhaps Mr。 Farnum could join us？ I'm sure
uncle would be pleased。〃
Alice seconded her cousin's invitation tepidly； without any enthusiasm。
James； with a face which did not reflect his disappointment； took his cue
promptly。 〃Awfully sorry； but I'll be out of the city。 Otherwise I should be
delighted。〃
Valencia showed a row of dainty teeth in a low ripple of amusement。
Alice flashed her cousin one look of resentment and with a sentence of
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conventional regret left the room to telephone the sailing master。
Farnum； seeking permission to leave； waited for his hostess to rise
from the divan where she nestled。
But Valencia； her fingers laced in characteristic fashion back of her
neck； leaned back and mocked his defeat with indolent amused eyes。
〃My engagement；〃 he suggested as a reminder。
〃Poor boy！ Are you hard hit？〃
〃Your flights of fancy leave me behind。 I can't follow；〃 he evaded with
an angry flush。
〃No； but you wish you could follow；〃 she laughed； glancing at the door
through which her cousin had departed。 Then； with a demure impudent
little cast of her head； she let him have it straight from the shoulder。 〃How
long have you been in love with Alice？ And how will you like to see Ned
Merrill win？〃
〃Am I in love with Miss Frome？〃
〃Aren't you？〃
〃If you say so。 It happens to be news to me。〃
〃As if I believed that； as if you believed it yourself；〃 she scoffed。
Her pretty pouting lips； the long supple unbroken lines of the soft
sinuous body； were an invitation to forget all charms but hers。 He
understood that she was throwing out her wiles； consciously or
unconsciously； to strike out from him a denial that would convince her。
His mounting vanity drove away his anger。 He forgot everything but her
sheathed loveliness； the enticement of this lovely creature whose
smoldering eyes invited。 Crossing the room； he stood behind her divan and
looked down at her with his hands on the back of it。
〃Can a man care much for two women at the same time？〃 he asked in
a low voice。
She laughed with slow mockery。
Her faint perfume was wafted to his brain。 He knew a besieging of the
blood。 Slowly he leaned forward； holding her eyes till the mockery faded
from them。 Then； very deliberately； he kissed her。
〃How dare you！〃 she voiced softly in a kind of wonder not free from
resentment。 For with all her sensuous appeal the daughter of Joe Powers
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was not a woman with whom men took liberties。
〃By the gods； why shouldn't I dare？ We played a game and both of us
have lost。 You were to beckon and coolly flit； while I followed safely at a
distance。 Do you think me a marble statue？ Do you think me too wooden
for the strings of my heart to pulsate？ By heaven； my royal Hebe； you
have blown the fire in me to life。 You must pay forfeit。〃
〃Pay forfeit？〃
〃Yes。 I'm your servant no longer； but your lover and your master and
I intend to marry you。〃
〃How ridiculous；〃 she derided。 〃Have you forgotten Alice？〃
〃I have forgotten everything but youand that I'm going to marry
you。〃
