the vision spendid(美景)-第34节
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not be a large step。 After thatwell； there were many possibilities。
He did not for a moment admit to himself that there was anything of
duplicity in the course he was following。 His intention was to line up with
the progressives during the campaign； to win his reelection on that
platform； and to support a rational liberal program during the session。 He
would favor an initiative and referendum amendment not so radical as the
one Jeff offered； a bill that would not cripple business or alarm capital。 As
he looked at it life was a compromise。 The fusion of many minds to a
practical result always demanded this。 And results were more important
than any number of theories。
As James passed into his office the stenographer stopped him with a
remark。
〃A man has been in twice to see you this morning； Mr。 Farnum。〃
〃Did he leave his name？〃
〃No。 He said he would call again。〃
James passed into his private office and closed the door。
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A quarter of an hour later his stenographer knocked。 〃He's here again；
Mr。 Farnum。〃
〃Who？〃
〃The man I told you of。〃
〃Oh！〃 James put down the brief he was reading。 〃Show him in。〃
A figure presently stood hesitating in the doorway。 James saw an
oldish man； gray and stooped with a rather wistful lost…dog expression on
his face。
〃What can I do for you； sir？〃 he questioned。
〃Don't you know me？〃 the stranger asked with a quaver in his voice。
The lawyer did not； but some premonition of disaster clutched at his
heart。 He rose swiftly and closed the door behind his caller。
A faint smile doubtful of its right touched the weak face of the little
old man。 〃So you don't know your own fatherboy！〃
A sudden sickness ran through the lawyer and sapped his strength。 He
leaned against the desk uncertainly。 It had come at last。 The whole world
would learn the truth about him。 The Merrills； the Fromes； Valencia Van
Tyleall of them would know it and scorn him。
〃What are you doing here？〃 James heard himself say hoarsely。
〃Why； III came to see my son。〃
〃What for？〃
Before so harsh and abrupt a reception the weak smile went out like a
blown candle。
〃I thought you'd be glad to see meafter so many years。〃
〃Why should I be glad to see you？ What have you ever done for me
but disgrace me？〃
Tears showed in the watery eyes。 〃That's right。 It's gospel truth； I
reckon。〃
〃And now； when I've risen above it； so that all men respect me； you
come back to drag me down。〃
〃Nono； I wouldn't do that； son。〃
〃That's what you'll do。 Do you think my friends will want to know a
man who is the son of a convict？ I've got a future before me。 Already I've
been mentioned for governor。 What chance would I have when people
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know my father is a thief？〃
〃Son；〃 winced the old man。
〃Oh； well！ I'm not picking my words；〃 James went on with angry
impatience。 〃I'm telling you the facts。 I've got enemies。 Every strong man
has。 They'll smash me like an empty eggshell。〃
〃They don't need to know about me。 I'll not do any talking。〃
〃That's all very well。 Things leak out；〃 James grumbled a little more
graciously。 〃Well； you better sit down now you're here。 I thought you were
living in Arkansas。〃
〃So I am。 I've done right well there。 And I thought I'd take a little run
out to see you。 I didn't know but what you might need a little help。〃 He
glanced aimlessly around the well…furnished office。 〃But I expect you
don't； from the looks of things。〃
〃If you think I've got money you're wrong；〃 James explained。 〃I'm just
starting in my profession； and of course I owe a good deal here and there。
I've been hard pressed ever since I left college。〃
His father brightened up timidly。 〃I owe you money。 We can fix that up。
I've got a little mill down there and I've done well； though it was hard
sledding at first。〃
James caught at a phrase。 What do you mean？〃
〃Owe me money！
〃I knew it must be you paid off the shortage at the Planters' National。
When I sent the money it was returned。 You'd got ahead of me。 I was
THAT grateful to you； son。〃
The lawyer found himself flushing。 〃Oh； Jeff paid that。 He was earning
money at the time and I wasn't。 Of course I intended to pay him back some
day。〃
〃Did Jeff do that？ Then you and he must be friends。 Tell me about
him。〃
〃There's not much to tell。 He's managing editor of a paper here that has
a lot of influence。 Yes。 Jeff has been a staunch friend to me always。 He
recognizes that I'm a rising man and ought to be kept before the public。〃
〃I wonder if he's like his father。〃
〃Can't tell you that；〃 his son replied carelessly。 〃I don't remember
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Uncle Phil much。 Jeff's a queer fellow； full of Utopian notions about
brotherhood and that sort of thing。 But he's practical in a way。 He gets
things done in spite of his softheadedness。〃
There was a knock at the door。 〃Mr。 Jefferson Farnum； sir。〃
James considered for a second。 〃Tell him to come in； Miss Brooks。〃
The lawyer saw that the door was closed before he introduced Jeff to
his father。 It gave him a momentary twinge of conscience to see his cousin
take the old man quickly by both hands。 It was of course a mere detail； but
James had not yet shaken hands with his father。
〃I'm glad to see you； Uncle Robert；〃 Jeff said。
His voice shook a little。 There was in his manner that hint of affection
which made him so many friends； the warmth that suggested a woman's
sympathy； but not effeminacy。
The ready tears brimmed into his uncle's eyes。 〃You're like your father；
boy。 I believe I would have known you by him；〃 he said impulsively。
〃You couldn't please me better； sir。 And what about Jameswould you
have known him？〃
The old man looked humbly at his handsome； distinguished son。 〃No； I
would never have known him。〃
〃He's becoming one of our leading citizens； James is。 You ought to
hear him make a speech。 Demosthenes and Daniel Webster hide their
heads when the Honorable James K。 Farnum spellbinds；〃 Jeff joked。
〃I've read his speeches；〃 the father said unexpectedly。 〃For more than a
year I've taken the _World_ so as to hear of him。〃
〃Then you know that James is headed straight for the Hall of Fame。
Aren't you； James？〃
〃Nonsense！ You've as much influence in the state as I have； or you
would have if you would drop your fight on wealth。〃
〃Bless you； I'm not making a fight on wealth；〃 Jeff answered with
good humor。 〃It's illicit wealth we're hammering at。 But when you
compare me to James K。 I'll have to remind you that I'm not a silver…
tongued orator or Verden's favorite son。〃
The father's wistful smile grew bolder。 Somehow Jeff's arrival had
cleared the atmosphere。 A Scriptural phrase flashed into his mind as
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applicable to this young man。 Thinketh no evil。 His nephew did not regard
him with suspicion or curiosity。 To him he was not a sinner or an outcast；
but a brother。 His manner had just the right touch of easy deference youth
ought to give age。
〃Of course you're going to make us a long visit； Uncle Robert。〃
The old man's propitiating gaze went to his son。 〃Not long； I reckon。
I've got to get back to my business。〃
〃Nonsense！ We'll not let you go so easily。 Eh； James？〃
〃No； of course not；〃 the lawyer mumbled。 He was both annoyed and
embarrassed。
〃I don't want to be selfish about it； but I do think you had better put up
with me； Uncle。 James is at the University Club； and only members have
rooms there。 We'll let him come and see you if he's good；〃 Jeff went on
breezily。
James breathed freer。 〃That might be the best way； if it wouldn't put
you out； Jeff。〃
〃I wouldn't want to be any trouble；〃 the old man explaine
