the vision spendid(美景)-第54节
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〃But he isn't。 He isn't。 I see it now。 James was ashamed to
acknowledge a father who had been in prison。 Your enemies made a
mistake and you let it go。〃
〃It's all long since past。 I wouldn't say anything about it to anybody。〃
〃Of course you wouldn't；〃 she scoffed。 Her eyes were very bright。 She
wanted to laugh and to weep at her discovery。
〃You see it didn't matter with my friends。 And my reputation was
beyond hope anyhow。 It was different with James。〃
She nodded。 〃Yes。 It wouldn't have improved his chances with
Valencia；〃 her cousin admitted。
Jeff permitted himself a smile。 〃My impression was that he did not
have Mrs。 Van Tyle in mind at the time。〃
They had waded through the wet ferns to the edge of the woods。 As
her eyes swept the russet valley through which they had passed Alice drew
a deep breath of pleasure。 How good it was to be alive in such a world of
beauty！ A meadow lark throbbed its three notes at her joyfully to
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THE VISION SPLENDID
emphasize their kinship。 An English pheasant strutted across the path and
disappeared into the ferns。 Neither the man nor the woman spoke。 All the
glad day called them to the emotional climax toward which they were
racing。
Womanlike； Alice attempted to evade what she most desired。 He was
to be her mate。 She knew it now。 But the fear of him was in her heart。
〃Were you so fond of him？ Is that why you did it for him？〃 she asked。
〃I didn't do it for him。〃
〃For whom then？〃
He did not answer。 Nor did his eyes meet hers。 They were fixed on the
moving ferns where the pheasant had disappeared。
Alice guessed。 He had done it for the girl because he thought her in
love with his cousin。 A warm glow suffused her。 No man made such a
sacrifice for a woman unless he cared for her。
The meadow lark flung out another carefree ecstasy。 The theme of it
was the triumphant certainty that love is the greatest thing in the world。
Jeff felt that it was now or never。
〃I love you。 It's been hidden in my heart more than eight years； but I
find I must tell you。 All the arguments against it I've rehearsed a thousand
times。 The world is at your feet。 You could never love a man like me。 To
your friends I'm a bad lot。 They never would consider me a moment。〃
Gently she interrupted。 〃Is it my friends you want to marry？〃
The surprise of it took him by the throat。 His astonished eyes
questioned for a denial。 In that moment a wonderful secret was born into
the world。 She held out both hands with a divine frankness； a sweetness of
surrender beyond words。
〃But your fatheryour people！〃
〃'Where thou lodgest； I will lodge： thy people shall be my people。〃'
She murmured it with a broken little laugh that was a sob。
Even then he did not take her in his arms。 The habit of reverence for
her was of many years' growth and not to be broken in an instant。
〃You are sure； dearquite sure？〃
〃I've been sure ever since the day of our first talk on the
_Bellingham。_〃
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Still he fought the joy that flooded him。 〃I must tell you the truth so
that you won't idealize me 。 。 。 and the situation。 I am enlisted in this fight
for life。 Where it will lead me I don't know。 But I must follow the road I
see。 You will lose your friends。 They will think me a crank； an enemy to
society； and they will think you demented。 But even for you I can't turn
back。〃
A tender glow was in her deep eyes。 〃If I did not know that do you
think I would marry you？〃
〃But you've always had the best things。 You've never known what it is
to be poor。〃
〃No； I've never had the best things； never till I knew you； dear。 I've
starved for them and did not know how to escape the prison I was in。 Then
you came 。 。 。 and you showed me。 The world is at my feet now。 Not the
world you meant； of idleness and luxury and ennui 。 。 。 but that better one
of the spirit where you and I shall walk together as comrades of all who
work and laugh and weep。〃
〃If I could be sure！〃
〃Of me； Jeff？〃
〃That I can make you happy。 After all it's a chance。〃
〃We all live on a chance。 I'll take mine beside the man I love。 There is
one way under heaven by which men may be saved。 I'm going to walk that
way with you； dear。〃
Jeff threw away the reins of a worldly wise prudence。
〃For ever and ever； Alice；〃 he cried softly； shaken to his soul。
As their lips met the lark throbbed a betrothal song。
。 。 。 。 。 。 。 。 。 。 。 。 。 。 。
They went slowly through the wet ferns； hand in hand。 It was
amazingly true that he had won her； but Jeff could scarce believe the
miracle。 More than once he recurred to it。
〃You saw what no other young woman of your set in Verden did； the
human in me through my vagabondage。 But why？ There's nothing in my
appearance to attract。〃
〃Valiant in velvet； light in ragged luck；〃 she laughed。 〃And I won't
have you questioning my taste； sir。 I've always thought you very good…
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looking； if you must have it。〃
〃If you're as far gone as that！〃 His low laughter rang out to meet hers；
for no reason except the best of reasonsthat they walked alone with love
through a world wonderful。
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