the pit-第41节

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Landry　enlarged　his　shoulders　a　little　and　wagged　his　head。

〃Well；〃　he　said；　〃I　don't　know；　but　I'd　try　pretty　hard　to　get　what　I　wanted；　I　guess。〃

〃I　love　to　see　that　characteristic　in　men；〃　she　observed。　　〃Strength；　determination。〃

〃Just　as　a　man　loves　to　see　a　woman　womanly；〃　he　answered。　　〃Don't　you　hate　strong…minded　women？〃

〃Utterly。〃

〃Now；　you　are　what　I　would　call　womanlythe　womanliest　woman　I've　ever　known。〃

〃Oh；　I　don't　know；〃　she　protested；　a　little　confused。

〃Yes；　you　are。　　You　are　beautifully　womanlyand　so　high…minded　and　well　read。　　It's　been　inspiring　to　me。　I　want　you　should　know　that。　　Yes；　sir；　a　real　inspiration。　　It's　been　inspiring；　elevating；　to　say　the　least。〃

〃I　like　to　read；　if　that's　what　you　mean；〃　she　hastened　to　say。

〃By　Jove；　I've　got　to　do　some　reading；　too。　　It's　so　hard　to　find　time。　　But　I'll　make　time。　　I'll　get　that　'Stones　of　Venice'　I've　heard　you　speak　of；　and　I'll　sit　up　nightsand　keep　awake　with　black　coffeebut　I'll　read　that　book　from　cover　to　cover。〃

〃That's　your　determination　again；〃　Page　exclaimed。　〃Your　eyes　just　flashed　when　you　said　it。　　I　believe　if　you　once　made　up　your　mind　to　do　a　thing；　you　would　do　it；　no　matter　how　hard　it　was；　wouldn't　you？〃

〃Well；　I'dI'd　make　things　hum；　I　guess；〃　he　admitted。

The　next　day　was　Easter　Sunday；　and　Page　came　down　to　nine　o'clock　breakfast　a　little　late；　to　find　Jadwin　already　finished　and　deep　in　the　pages　of　the　morning　paper。　　Laura；　still　at　table；　was　pouring　her　last　cup　of　coffee。

They　were　in　the　breakfast…room；　a　small；　charming　apartment；　light　and　airy；　and　with　many　windows；　one　end　opening　upon　the　house　conservatory。　　Jadwin　was　in　his　frock　coat；　which　later　he　would　wear　to　church。　The　famous　gardenia　was　in　his　lapel。　　He　was　freshly　shaven；　and　his　fine　cigar　made　a　blue　haze　over　his　head。　　Laura　was　radiant　in　a　white　morning　gown。　　A　newly　cut　bunch　of　violets；　large　as　a　cabbage；　lay　on　the　table　before　her。

The　whole　scene　impressed　itself　sharply　upon　Page's　mindthe　fine　sunlit　room；　with　its　gay　open　spaces　and　the　glimpse　of　green　leaves　from　the　conservatory；　the　view　of　the　smooth；　trim　lawn　through　the　many　windows；　where　an　early　robin；　strayed　from　the　park；　was　chirruping　and　feeding；　her　beautiful　sister　Laura；　with　her　splendid；　overshadowing　coiffure；　her　pale；　clear　skin；　her　slender　figure；　Jadwin；　the　large；　solid　man　of　affairs；　with　his　fine　cigar；　his　gardenia；　his　well…groomed　air。　　And　then　the　little　accessories　that　meant　so　muchthe　smell　of　violets；　of　good　tobacco；　of　fragrant　coffee；　the　gleaming　damasks；　china　and　silver　of　the　breakfast　table；　the　trim；　fresh…looking　maid；　with　her　white　cap；　apron；　and　cuffs；　who　came　and　went；　the　thoroughbred　setter　dozing　in　the　sun；　and　the　parrot　dozing　and　chuckling　to　himself　on　his　perch　upon　the　terrace　outside　the　window。

At　the　bottom　of　the　lawn　was　the　stable；　and　upon　the　concrete　in　front　of　its　wide…open　door　the　groom　was　currying　one　of　the　carriage　horses。　　While　Page　addressed　herself　to　her　fruit　and　coffee；　Jadwin　put　down　his　paper；　and；　his　elbows　on　the　arms　of　his　rattan　chair；　sat　for　a　long　time　looking　out　at　the　horse。　　By　and　by　he　got　up　and　said：

〃That　new　feed　has　filled　'em　out　in　good　shape。　　Think　I'll　go　out　and　tell　Jarvis　to　try　it　on　the　buggy　team。〃　　He　pushed　open　the　French　windows　and　went　out；　the　setter　sedately　following。

Page　dug　her　spoon　into　her　grape…fruit；　then　suddenly　laid　it　down　and　turned　to　Laura；　her　chin　upon　her　palm。

〃Laura；〃　she　said；　〃do　you　think　I　ought　to　marrya　girl　of　my　temperament？〃

〃Marry？〃　echoed　Laura。

〃Sh…h！〃　whispered　Page。　　〃Lauradon't　talk　so　loud。　Yes；　do　you？〃

〃Well；　why　not　marry；　dearie？　　Why　shouldn't　you　marry　when　the　time　comes？　　Girls　as　young　as　you　are　not　supposed　to　have　temperaments。〃

But　instead　of　answering　Page　put　another　question：

〃Laura；　do　you　think　I　am　womanly？〃

〃I　think　sometimes；　Page；　that　you　take　your　books　and　your　reading　too　seriously。　　You've　not　been　out　of　the　house　for　three　days；　and　I　never　see　you　without　your　note…books　and　text…books　in　your　hand。　　You　are　at　it；　dear；　from　morning　till　night。　　Studies　are　all　very　well〃

〃Oh；　studies！〃　exclaimed　Page。　　〃I　hate　them。　　Laura；　what　is　it　to　be　womanly？〃

〃To　be　womanly？〃　repeated　Laura。　　〃Why；　I　don't　know；　honey。　　It's　to　be　kind　and　well…bred　and　gentle　mostly；　and　never　to　be　bold　or　conspicuousand　to　love　one's　home　and　to　take　care　of　it；　and　to　love　and　believe　in　one's　husband；　or　parents；　or　childrenor　even　one's　sisterabove　any　one　else　in　the　world。〃

〃I　think　that　being　womanly　is　better　than　being　well　read；〃　hazarded　Page。

〃We　can　be　both；　Page；〃　Laura　told　her。　　〃But；　honey；　I　think　you　had　better　hurry　through　your　breakfast。　　If　we　are　going　to　church　this　Easter；　we　want　to　get　an　early　start。　　Curtis　ordered　the　carriage　half　an　hour　earlier。〃

〃Breakfast！〃　echoed　Page。　　〃I　don't　want　a　thing。〃　　She　drew　a　deep　breath　and　her　eyes　grew　large。　　〃Laura；〃　she　began　again　presently；　〃Laura　。。。　Landry　Court　was　here　last　night；　andoh；　I　don't　know；　he's　so　silly。　But　he　saidwell；　he　said　thiswell；　I　said　that　I　understood　how　he　felt　about　certain　things；　about　'getting　on；'　and　being　clean　and　fine　and　all　that　sort　of　thing　you　know；　and　then　he　said；　'Oh；　you　don't　know　what　it　means　to　me　to　look　into　the　eyes　of　a　woman　who　really　understands。'〃

〃_Did_　he？〃　said　Laura；　lifting　her　eyebrows。

〃Yes；　and　he　seemed　so　fine　and　earnest。　　Laura；　wh〃　Page　adjusted　a　hairpin　at　the　back　of　her　head；　and　moved　closer　to　Laura；　her　eyes　on　the　floor。　　〃Laura　what　do　you　suppose　it　did　mean　to　himdon't　you　think　it　was　foolish　of　him　to　talk　like　that？〃

〃Not　at　all；〃　Laura　said；　decisively。　　〃If　he　said　that　he　meant　itmeant　that　he　cared　a　great　deal　for　you。〃

〃Oh；　I　didn't　mean　that！〃　shrieked　Page。　　〃But　there's　a　great　deal　more　to　Landry　than　I　think　we've　suspected。　　He　wants　to　be　more　than　a　mere　money…　getting　machine；　he　says；　and　he　wants　to　cultivate　his　mind　and　understand　art　and　literature　and　that。　　And　he　wants　me　to　help　him；　and　I　said　I　would。　　So　if　you　don't　mind；　he's　coming　up　here　certain　nights　every　week；　and　we're　going　toI'm　going　to　read　to　him。　We're　going　to　begin　with　the　'Ring　and　the　Book。'〃

In　the　later　part　of　May；　the　weather　being　unusually　hot；　the　Jadwins；　taking　Page　with　them；　went　up　to　Geneva　Lake　for　the　summer；　and　the　great　house　fronting　Lincoln　Park　was　deserted。

Laura　had　hoped　that　now　her　husband　would　be　able　to　spend　his　entire　time　with　her；　but　in　this　she　was　disappointed。　　At　first　Jadwin　went　down　to　the　city　but　two　days　a　week；　but　soon　this　was　increased　to　alternate　days。　　Gretry　was　a　frequent　visitor　at　the　country　house；　and　often　he　and　Jadwin；　their　rocking…　chairs　side　by　side　in　a　remote　corner　of　the　porch；　talked　〃business〃　in　low　tones　till　far　into　the　night。

〃Dear；〃　said　Laura；　finally；　〃I'm　seeing　less　and　less　of　you　every　day；　and　I　had　so　looked　forward　to　this　summer；　when　we　were　to　be　together　all　the　time。〃

〃I　hate　it　as　much　as　you　do；　Laura；〃　said　her　husband。　〃But　I　do　feel　as　though　I　ought　to　be　on　the　spot　just　for　now。　　I　can't　get　it　out　of　my　head　that　we're　going　to　have　livelier　times　in　a　few　months。〃

〃But　even　Mr。　Gretry　says　that　you　don't　need　to　be　right　in　your　office　every　minute　of　the　time。　　He　says　you　can　manage　your　Board　of　Trade　business　from　out　here　just　as　well；　and　that　you　only　go　into　town　because　you　can't　keep　away　from　La　Salle　Street　and　the　sound　of　the　Wheat　Pit。〃

Was　this　true？　　Jadwin　himself　had　found　it　difficult　to　answer。　　There　had　been　a　time　when　Gretry　had　been　obliged　to　urge　and　coax　to　get　his　friend　to　so　much　as　notice　the　swirl　of　the　great　maelstrom　in　the　Board　of　Trade　Building。　　But　of　late　Jadwin's　eye　and　ear　were　forever　turned　thitherward；　and　it　was　he；　and　no　longer　Gretry；　who　took　initiatives。

Meanwhile　he　was　making　money。　　As　he　had　predicted；　the　price　of　wheat　had　advanced。　　May　had　been　a　fair…　weather　month　with　easy　prices；　the　monthly　Government　report　showing　no　loss　in　the　condition　of　the　crop。　Wheat　had　gone　up　from　sixty　to　sixty…six　cents；　and　at　a　small　profit　Jadwin　had　sold　some　two　hundred　and　fifty　thousand　bushels。　　Then　had　come　the　hot　weather　at　the　end　of　May。　　On　the　floor　of　the　Board　of　Trade　the　Pit　traders　had　begun　to　peel　off　their　coats。　　It　began　to　look　like　a　hot　June；　and　when　cash　wheat　touched　sixty…eight；　Jadwin；　now　more　than　ever　convinced　of　a　coming　Bull　market；　bought　another　five　hundred　thousand　bushels。

This　line　he　added　to　in　June。　　Unfavorable　weather　excessive　heat；　followed　by　flooding　rainshad　hurt　the　spring　wheat；　and　in　every　direction　there　were　complaints　of　weevils　and　chinch　bugs。　　Later　on　other　deluges　had　discoloured　and　damaged　the　winter　crop。　Jadwin　was　now；　by　virtue　of　his　recent　purchases；　〃long〃　one　million　bushels；　and　the　market　held　firm　at　seventy…two　centsa　twelve…cent　advance　in　two　months。

〃She'll　react；〃　warned　Gretry；　〃sure。　　Crookes　and　Sweeny　haven't　taken　a　hand　yet。　　Look　out　for　a　heavy　French　crop。　　We'll　get　reports　on　it　soon　now。　　You're　playin