the cost-第19节

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fluencing　one's　life　every　day。〃

They　talked　on　of　Battle　Field；　of　the　boys　and　girls　they　had　knownhow　Thiebaud　was　dead　and　Mollie　Crittenden　had　married　the　man　who　was　governor　of　California；　what　Howe　was　not　doing；　the　novels　Chamberlayne　was　writing；　the　big　women's　college　in　Kansas　that　Grace　Wharton　was　vice…president　of。　　Then　of　Piersonin　the　state　senate　and　in　a　fair　way　to　get　to　Congress　the　next　year。　　Then　Scarborough　againhow　he　had　distanced　all　the　others；　how　he　might　have　the　largest　practice　in　the　state　if　he　would　take　the　sort　of　clients　most　lawyers　courted　assiduously；　how　strong　he　was　in　politics　in　spite　of　the　opposition　of　the　professionalsstrong　because　he　had　a　genius　for　organization　and　also　had　the　ear　and　the　confidence　of　the　people　and　the　enthusiastic　personal　devotion　of　the　young　men　throughout　the　state。　　Olivia；　more　of　a　politician　than　Fred　even；　knew　the　whole　story；　and　Pauline　listened　appreciatively。　　Few　indeed　are　the　homes　in　strenuously　political　Indiana　where　politics　is　not　the　chief　subject　of　conversation；　and　Pauline　had　known　about　parties　and　campaigns　as　early　as　she　had　known　about　dolls　and　dresses。

〃But　you　must　have　heard　most　of　this；〃　said　Olivia；　〃from　people　here　in　Saint　X。〃

〃Some　of　itfrom　father　and　mother；〃　Pauline　answered。　　〃They're　the　only　people　I've　seen　really　to　talk　to　on　my　little　visits。　　They　know　him　very　well　indeed。　　I　think　mother　admires　him　almost　as　much　as　you　do。　　Here's　our　place；〃　she　added；　the　warmth　fading　from　her　face　as　from　a　spring　landscape　when　the　shadow　of　the　dusk　begins　to　creep　over　it。

They　were　in　the　grounds　of　the　Eyriethe　elder　Dumont　was　just　completing　it　when　he　died　early　in　the　previous　spring。　　His　widow　went　abroad　to　live　with　her　daughter　and　her　sister　in　Paris；　so　her　son　and　his　wife　had　taken　it。　　It　was　a　great　rambling　stone　house　that　hung　upon　and　in　a　lofty　bluff。　　From　its　windows　and　verandas　and　balconies　could　be　seen　the　panorama　of　Saint　Christopher。　　To　the　left　lay　the　town；　its　ugly　partits　factories　and　railway　yardshidden　by　the　jut　of　a　hill。　　Beneath　and　beyond　to　the　right；　the　shining　river　wound　among　fields　brown　where　the　harvests　had　been　gathered；　green　and　white　where　myriads　of　graceful　tassels　waved　above　acres　on　acres　of　Indian　corn。　　And　the　broad　leaves　sent　up　through　the　murmur　of　the　river　a　rhythmic　rustling　like　a　sigh　of　content。　　Once　in　a　while　a　passing　steamboat　made　the　sonorous　cry　of　its　whistle　and　the　melodious　beat　of　its　paddles　echo　from　hill　to　hill。　　Between　the　house　and　the　hilltop；　highway　lay　several　hundred　acres　of　lawn　and　garden　and　wood。

The　rooms　of　the　Eyrie　and　its　well…screened　verandas　were　in　a　cool　twilight；　though　the　September　sun　was　hot。

〃They're　all　out；　or　asleep；〃　said　Pauline；　as　she　and　Olivia　entered　the　wide　reception　hall。　　〃Let's　have　tea　on　the　east　veranda。　　Its　view　isn't　so　good；　but　we'll　be　cooler。　　You'd　like　to　go　to　your　room　first？〃

Olivia　said　she　was　comfortable　as　she　was　and　needed　the　tea。　　So　they　went　on　through　the　splendidly…furnished　drawing…room　and　were　going　through　the　library　when　Olivia　paused　before　a　portrait〃Your　husband；　isn't　it？〃

〃Yes；〃　replied　Pauline；　standing　behind　her　cousin。　　〃We　each　had　one　done　in　Paris。〃

〃What　a　masterful　face！〃　said　Olivia。　　〃I've　never　seen　a　better　forehead。〃　　And　she　thought；

〃He's　of　the　same　type　as　Scarborough；　exceptwhat　is　it　I　dislike　in　his　expression？〃

〃Do　you　notice　a　resemblance　to　any　one　you　know？〃　asked　Pauline。

〃Ye…e…s；〃　replied　Olivia；　coloring。　　〃I　think〃

〃Scarborough；　isn't　it？〃

〃Yes；〃　admitted　Olivia。

After　a　pause　Pauline　said　ambiguously：　　〃The　resemblance　is　stronger　there　than　in　life。〃

Olivia　glanced　at　her　and　was　made　vaguely　uneasy　by　the　look　she　was　directing　at　the　face　of　the　portrait。　　But　though　Pauline　must　have　seen　that　she　was　observed；　she　did　not　change　expression。　　They　went　out　upon　the　east　veranda　and　Olivia　stood　at　the　railing。　　She　hardly　noted　the　view　in　the　press　of　thoughts　roused　by　the　hints　of　what　was　behind　the　richly　embroidered　curtain　of　her　cousin's　life。

All　along　the　bluff；　some　exposed；　some　half　hid　by　dense　foliage；　were　the　pretentious　houses　of　the　thirty　or　forty　families　who　had　grown　rich　through　the　industries　developed　within　the　past　ten　years。　　Two　foreign…looking　servants　in　foreign…looking　house…liveries　were　bringing　a　table　on　which　was　an　enormous　silver　tray　with　a　tea…service　of　antique　silver　and　artistic　china。　　As　Olivia　turned　to　seat　herself　a　young　man　and　a　woman　of　perhaps　forty；　obviously　from　the　East；　came　through　the　doors　at　the　far　end　of　the　long　porch。　　Both　were　in　white；　carefully　dressed　and　groomed；　both　suggested　a　mode　of　life　whose　leisure　had　never　been　interrupted。

〃Who　are　coming？〃　asked　Olivia。　　She　wished　she　had　gone　to　her　room　before　tea。　　These　people　made　her　feel　dowdy　and　mussy。

Pauline　glanced　round；　smiled　and　nodded；　turned　back　to　her　cousin。

〃Mrs。　Herron　and　Mr。　Langdon。　　She's　the　wife　of　a　New　York　lawyer；　and　she　takes　Mr。　Langdon　everywhere　with　her　to　amuse　her；　and　he　goes　to　amuse　himself。　　He's　a　socialist；　or　something　like　that。　　He　thinks　up　and　says　things　to　shock　conservative；　conventional　people。　　He's　rich　and　never　has　workedcouldn't　if　he　would；　probably。　　But　he　denounces　leisure　classes　and　large　fortunes　and　advocates　manual　labor　every　day　for　everybody。　　He's　clever　in　a　queer；　cynical　way。〃

A　Mrs。　Fanshaw；　also　of　New　York；　came　from　the　library　in　a　tea…gown　of　chiffon　and　real　lace。　　All　were　made　acquainted　and　Pauline　poured　the　tea。　　As　Olivia　felt　shy　and　was　hungry；　she　ate　the　little　sandwiches　and　looked　and　listened　and　thoughtlooked　and　thought　rather　than　listened。　　These　were　certainly　well…bred　people；　yet　she　did　not　like　them。

〃They're　in　earnest　about　trifles；〃　she　said　to　herself；　〃and　trifle　about　earnest　things。〃　　Yet　it　irritated　her　to　feel　that；　though　they　would　care　not　at　all　for　her　low　opinion　of　them；　she　did　care　a　great　deal　because　they　would　fail　to　appreciate　her。

〃They　ought　to　be　jailed；〃　Langdon　was　drawling　with　considerable　emphasis。

〃Who；　Mr。　Langdon？〃　inquired　Mrs。　Fanshawshe　had　been　as　abstracted　as　Olivia。　　〃You've　been　filling　the　jails　rapidly　to…day；　and　hanging　not　a　few。〃

Mrs。　Herron　laughed。　　〃He　says　your　husband　and　Mrs。　Dumont's　and　mine　should　be　locked　up　as　conspirators。〃

〃Precisely；〃　said　Langdon；　tranquilly。　　〃They'll　sign　a　few　papers；　and　when　they're　done；　what'll　have　happened？　　Not　one　more　sheep'll　be　raised。　　Not　one　more　pound　of　wool　will　be　shorn。　　Not　one　more　laborer'll　be　employed。　　Not　a　single　improvement　in　any　process　of　manufacture。　　But；　on　the　other　hand；　the　farmer'll　have　to　sell　his　wool　cheaper；　the　consumer'll　have　to　pay　a　bigger　price　for　blankets　and　all　kinds　of　clothes；　for　carpetsfor　everything　wool　goes　into。　　And　these　few　men　will　have　trebled　their　fortunes　and　at　least　trebled　their　incomes。　　Does　anybody　deny　that　such　a　performance　is　a　crime？　　Why；　in　comparison；　a　burglar　is　honorable　and　courageous。　　HE　risks　liberty　and　life。〃

〃Dreadful！　　Dreadful！〃　exclaimed　Mrs。　Fanshaw；　in　mock　horror。　　〃You　must　go　at　once；　Mowbray；　and　lead　the　police　in　a　raid　on　Jack's　office。〃

〃Thanksit's　more　comfortable　here。〃　　Langdon　took　a　piece　of　a　curious…looking　kind　of　hot　bread。　　〃Extraordinary　good　stuff　this　is；〃　he　interjected；　then　went　on：　　〃And　I've　done　my　duty　when　I've　stated　the　facts。　　Also；　I'm　taking　a　little　stock　in　the　new　trust。　　But　I　don't　pose　as　a　‘captain　of　industry'　or　‘promoter　of　civilization。'　　I　admit　I'm　a　robber。　　My　point　is　the　rotten　hypocrisy　of　my　fellow　banditsno；　pickpockets；　by　gad！〃

Olivia　looked　at　him　with　disapproving　interest。　　It　was　the　first　time　she　had　been　present　at　a　game　of　battledore　and　shuttlecock　with　what　she　regarded　as　fundamental　morals。　　Langdon　noted　her　expression　and　said　to　Pauline　in　a　tone　of　contrition　that　did　not　conceal　his　amusement：　　〃I've　shocked　your　cousin；　Mrs。　Dumont。〃

〃I　hope　so；〃　replied　Pauline。　　〃I'm　sure　we　all　ought　to　be　shockedand　should　be；　if　it　weren't　you　who　are　trying　to　do　the　shocking。　　She'll　soon　get　used　to　you。〃

〃Then　it　was　a　jest？〃　said　Olivia　to　Langdon。

〃A　jest？〃　He　looked　serious。　　〃Not　at　all；　my　dear　Mrs。　Pierson。　　Every　word　I　said　was　true；　and　worse。　　They〃

〃Stop　your　nonsense；　Mowbray；〃　interrupted　Mrs。　Herron；　who　appreciated　that　Olivia　was　an　〃outsider。〃　　〃Certainly　he　was　jesting；　Mrs。　Pierson。　　Mr。　Langdon　pretends　to　have　eccentric　ideasone　of　them　is　that　everybody　with　brains　should　be　put　under　the　feet　of　the　numskulls；　another　is　that　anybody　who　has　anything　should　be　locked　up　and　his　property　given　to　those　who　have　nothing。〃

〃Splendid！〃　exclaimed　Langdon。　　And　he　took　out　a　gold　cigarette　case　and　lighted　a　large；　expensive…looking　cigarette　with　a　match　from　a　gold　safe。　　〃Go　on；　dear　lady！　　Herron　should　get　you　to　write　our　prospectus　when　we're　ready　to　unload　on　the　public。　　The　dear　public！　　How　it　does　yearn　for　a　share　in　any　piratical　enterprise　that　flies　the　snowy　flag　of　respectability。〃　　He　rose。　　〃Who'll　pl