the vision spendid(美景)-第41节
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about Mr。 Farnum。 I ask you to remember that as your chaperone I'm here
to represent your father。 Would he wish you to be friendly with this man？〃
Alice was silent。 What her father would think was not a matter of
doubt。
〃The man's impossible；〃 Mrs。 Van Tyle went on pleasantly。 〃And it's
just as well to be careful。 Not that I'm very prudish myself。 But if you're
going to marry Ned Merrill〃
She had struck the wrong note。 Like a flash Alice answered。
〃I'm not。 That's definitely decided。〃
〃Really！ I thought it was rather arranged；〃 Valencia smiled blandly。
It was all very well for Alice to protest； but in the end she would be a
good girl and do as she was told。 Not that her cousin objected to her
having a little fling before the fatal day。 But why couldn't the girl do her
flirting with Beauchamp instead of with this wild socialist？
Valencia reflected that at any rate she had done her duty。
PART 2
Jeff was tramping the deck； his hands in his coat pockets； waiting for
the trumpeter to fling out the two bars of music that would summon him to
breakfast。 He walked vigorously？ drawing in deep breaths of the salt sea
air。 His thoughts were of Alice Frome。 He was a lover； and in his
imagination she embodied all things beautiful。 Her charm flowed through
him； pierced him with delight。 When he heard music his mind flew to her。
It voiced the rhythm of her motions and the sound of her warm laughter。
The sunshine but reflected the golden gleams of light in her wavy hair。
As he swung round the smoking saloon Jeff came face to face with
Alice。 He turned and caught step with her。 The coat she wore came to her
ankles； but it could not conceal her light； strong tread nor the long lines of
the figure that gave her the grace of a captured wood nymph。
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〃Only five hundred miles from Verden。 By night we ought to be in
wireless communication；〃 he suggested。
Her glance flashed at him。 〃You'll be glad to get home。〃
〃I will and I won't。 There's work for me to do there。 But it's the first
real vacation I ever had in my life that lasted over a week。 You can't think
how I've enjoyed it。〃
〃So have I。 More than anything I can remember。〃 They stopped to look
at a steamer which lay low on the distant horizon line。 After they had
fallen into step again she continued at the point where they had been
interrupted： 〃And after we reach home？ Are you going to come and see me？
Are you going to let me meet your friends； those dear people who are
giving themselves to make life less hideous and harsh for the weak？ Shall
I meet Mr。 Mifflin 。 。 。 and Mr。 Miller and your little Socialist poet？ Or are
you going to desert me？〃
He smiled a little at her way of putting it； but he was troubled none the
less。 〃Are you sure that your way is our way？ One can give service on the
Hill just as much as down in the bottoms。 There's no moral grandeur in
rags or in dirt。 Isn't your place with your friends？〃
〃Haven't I a right to take hold of life for myself at first hand？ Haven't I
a right to know the truth？ What have I done that I should be walled off
from all these people who earn the bread I eat？〃
〃But your friends 。 。 。 your father。 。 。〃
Her ironic smile derided him。 〃So after all you haven't the courage of
your convictions。 Because I'm Peter C。 Frome's daughter I'm not to have
the right to live。〃
〃No； it's your right to take hold of life with both hands。 But surely you
must live it among your own people。〃
〃I've got to learn how to live it first； haven't I？
Most of my friends are not even aware there a problem of poverty。
They thrust the thought of it from them。 Our wealthy class has no social
consciousness。 Take my father。 He thinks the submerged are lost because
they are thriftless and that all would be right if they wouldn't drink。 To him
they are just a waste product of civilization。
〃But can you study the life of the people without growing discontented
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with the life you must lead？〃
〃There is a divine discontent； you know。 I've got to see things for
myself。 Why should all my opinions； my faith； be given to me ready…made。
Why must I live by a formula I have never examined？ If it isn't true I want
to know it。 And if it is true I want to know it。〃 She had been looking
straight before them toward the rising sun but now her gaze swept round
on him。 〃Don't blame yourself for giving me new thoughts。 I suppose all
new ideas are likely to make trouble。 But I've been working in this
direction for years。 Ever since I've been a little girl my heresies have
puzzled my father。 Meeting you has shown me a short cut。 That's all。〃
Something she had said recalled to him a fugitive memory。
〃Do you know； I think I saw you once when you were a little bit of a
thing？〃
〃Where？〃
〃On the doorstep of your old place。 I was rather busy at the time
fighting Edward Merrill。〃
She stopped； looking at him in surprise。 〃Were you that boy？〃
〃I was that boy。〃
〃You fought him to help a little ragged girl。 She was a foreigner。〃
〃I've forgotten why I fought him。 The reason I remember the occasion
is that I met then for the first time two of my friends。〃
She claimed a place immediately。 〃Who was the other one？〃
〃Captain Chunn。〃
Presently she bubbled into a little laugh。 〃How did the fight come out？
My nurse dragged me into the house。〃
〃Don't remember。 I know the school principal licked me next day。 I
had been playing hookey。〃
They made another turn of the deck before she spoke again。
〃So we're old acquaintances； and I didn't know it。 That was nearly
eighteen years ago。 Isn't it strange that after so long we should meet again
only last week？〃
Jeff felt the blood creep into his face。 〃We met once before； Miss
Frome。〃
〃Oh； on the street。 I meant to speak。〃
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〃So did I。〃
〃When？〃
With his eyes meeting hers steadily Jeff told her of the time she had
found him in the bushes and mistaken him for a sick man。 He could see
that he had struck her dumb。 She looked at him and looked away again。
〃Why do you tell me this？〃 she asked at last in a low voice。
〃It's only fair you should know the truth about me。〃
They tramped the circuit once more。 Neither of them spoke。 The
trumpeter's bugle call to breakfast rang out。
At the bow she stopped and looked down at the waters they were
furrowing。 It was a long time before she raised her head and met his eyes。
The color had whipped into her cheeks； but she put her question steadily。
〃Are you telling me。 。 。 that I must lose my friend？〃
〃Isn't that for you to say？〃
〃I don't know。〃 She faltered for words； but not the least in her intention。
〃Are youwhat I have always heard you are？〃
〃Can you be a little more definite？〃 he asked gently。
〃Welldissipated！ You're not that？〃
〃No。 I've trodden down the appetite。 I'm a total abstainer。〃
〃And you're not。 。 。 those worse things that the papers say？〃
〃No。〃
〃I knew it。〃 Triumph rang in her voice。 She breathed a generous trust。
To know him for a true man it was necessary only to look into his fearless
eyes set deep in the thin tanned face。 It was impossible for anything
unclean to survive with his humorous humility and his pervading
sympathy and his love of truth。 〃I didn't care what they said。 I knew it all
the time。〃
Her sweet faith was a thing to see with emotion。 He felt tears scorch
the back of his eyes。
〃The thing you know is bad enough。〃
〃Oh； that！ That is nothing 。 。 。 now。 It doesn't matter。〃
Lieutenant Beauchamp emerged from a saloon and bore down upon
them。
〃Mrs。 Van Tyle has sent me to bring you to breakfast； Miss Frome。
