options-第36节

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he　Miss　Kennedy　and　her　aunt　that　you　　liked　so　well。〃

〃I　never　liked　Miss　Kennedy's　aunt；〃　I　said。

〃I　didn't　say　you　did；〃　said　North。　　〃We　are　having　the　greatest　time　　we've　ever　had。　　The　pickerel　and　trout　are　so　ravenous　that　I　believe　　they　would　swallow　your　hook　with　a　Montana　copper…mine　prospectus　　fastened　on　it。　　And　we've　a　couple　of　electric　launches；　and　I'll　　tell　you　what　we　do　every　night　or　twowe　tow　a　rowboat　behind　each　　one　with　a　big　phonograph　and　a　boy　to　change　the　discs　in　'em。　　On　　the　water；　and　twenty　yards　behind　you；　they　are　not　so　bad。　　And　　there　are　passably　good　roads　through　the　woods　where　we　go　motoring。　　　I　shipped　two　cars　up　there。　　And　the　Pinecliff　Inn　is　only　three　　miles　away。　　You　know　the　Pinecliff。　　Some　good　people　are　there　this　　season；　and　we　run　over　to　the　dances　twice　a　week。　　Can't　you　go　back　　with　me　for　a　week；　old　man？〃

I　laughed。　　〃Northy；〃　said　I〃if　I　may　be　so　familiar　with　a　　millionaire；　because　I　hate　both　the　names　Spencer　and　Grenvilleyour　　invitation　is　meant　kindly；　butthe　city　in　the　summer…time　for　me。　　　Here；　while　the　bourgeoisie　is　away；　I　can　live　as　Nero　lived…barring；　　thank　heaven；　the　fiddling…while　the　city　burns　at　ninety　in　the　　shade。　　The　tropics　and　the　zones　wait　upon　me　like　handmaidens。　　I　　sit　under　Florida　palms　and　eat　pomegranates　while　Boreas　himself；　　electrically　conjured　up；　blows　upon　me　his　Arctic　breath。　　As　for　　trout；　you　know；　yourself；　that　Jean；　at　Maurice's；　cooks　them　better　　than　any　one　else　in　the　world。〃

〃Be　advised；〃　said　North。　　〃My　chef　has　pinched　the　blue　ribbon　from　　the　lot。　　He　lays　some　slices　of　bacon　inside　the　trout；　wraps　it　all　　in　corn…husksthe　husks　of　green　corn；　you　knowburies　them　in　hot　　ashes　and　covers　them　with　live　coals。　　We　build　fires　on　the　bank　of　　the　lake　and　have　fish　suppers。〃

〃I　know；〃　said　I。　　〃And　the　servants　bring　down　tables　and　chairs　and　　damask　cloths；　and　you　eat　with　silver　forks。　　I　know　the　kind　of　　camps　that　you　millionaires　have。　　And　therc　are　champagne　pails　set　　about；　disgracing　the　wild　flowers；　and；　no　doubt；　Madame　Tetrazzini　　to　sing　in　the　boat　pavilion　after　the　trout。〃

〃Oh　no；〃　said　North；　concernedly；　〃we　were　never　as　bad　as　that。　　We　　did　have　a　variety　troupe　up　from　the　city　three　or　four　nights；　but　　they　weren't　stars　by　as　far　as　light　can　travel　in　the　same　length　of　　time。　　I　always　like　a　few　home　comforts　even　when　I'm　roughing　it。　　　But　don't　tell　me　you　prefer　to　stay　in　the　city　during　summer。　　I　　don't　believe　it。　　If　you　do；　why　did　you　spend　your　summers　there　for　　the　last　four　years；　even　sneaking　away　from　town　on　a　night　train；　　and　refusing　to　tell　your　friends　where　this　Arcadian　village　was？〃

〃Because；〃　said　I；　〃they　might　have　followed　me　and　discovered　it。　　　But　since　then　I　have　learned　that　Amaryllis　has　come　to　town。　　The　　coolest　things；　the　freshest；　the　brightest；　the　choicest；　are　to　be　　found　in　the　city。　　If　you've　nothing　on　hand　this　evening　I　will　show　　you。〃

〃I'm　free；〃　said　North；　〃and　I　have　my　light　car　outside。　　I　suppose；　　since　you've　been　converted　to　the　town；　that　your　idea　of　rural　sport　　is　to　have　a　little　whirl　between　bicycle　cops　in　Central　Park　and　　then　a　mug　of　sticky　ale　in　some　stuffy　rathskeller　under　a　fan　that　　can't　stir　up　as　many　revolutions　in　a　week　as　Nicaragua　can　in　a　　day。〃

〃We'll　begin　with　the　spin　through　the　Park；　anyhow；〃　I　said。　　I　was　　choking　with　the　hot；　stale　air　of　my　little　apartment；　and　I　wanted　　that　breath　of　the　cool　to　brace　me　for　the　task　of　proving　to　my　　friend　that　New　York　was　the　greatestand　so　forth。

〃Where　can　you　find　air　any　fresher　or　purer　than　this？〃　I　asked；　as　　we　sped　into　Central's　boskiest　dell。

〃Air！〃　said　North；　contemptuously。　　〃Do　you　call　this　air？this　muggy　　vapor；　smelling　of　garbage　and　gasoline　smoke。　　Man；　I　wish　you　could　　get　one　sniff　of　the　real　Adirondack　article　in　the　pine　woods　at　　daylight。〃

〃I　have　heard　of　it；〃　said　I。　　〃But　for　fragrance　and　tang　and　a　joy　　in　the　nostrils　I　would　not　give　one　puff　of　sea　breeze　across　the　　bay；　down　on　my　little　boat　dock　on　Long　Island；　for　ten　of　your　　turpentine…scented　tornadoes。〃

〃Then　why；〃　asked　North；　a　little　curiously；　〃don't　you　go　there　　instead　of　staying　cooped　up　in　this　Greater　Bakery？〃

〃Because；〃　said　I；　doggedly；　〃I　have　discovered　that　New　York　is　the　　greatest　summer〃

〃Don't　say　that　again；〃　interrupted　North；　〃unless　you've　actually　got　　a　job　as　General　Passenger　Agent　of　the　Subway。　　You　can't　really　　believe　it。〃

I　went　to　some　trouble　to　try　to　prove　my　theory　to　my　friend。　　The　　Weather　Bureau　and　the　season　had　conspired　to　make　the　argument　　worthy　of　an　able　advocate。

The　city　seemed　stretched　on　a　broiler　directly　above　the　furnaces　of　　Avernus。　　There　was　a　kind　of　tepid　gayety　afoot　and　awheel　in　the　　boulevards；　mainly　evinced　by　languid　men　strolling　about　in　straw　　hats　and　evening　clothes；　and　rows　of　idle　taxicabs　with　their　flags　　up；　looking　like　a　blockaded　Fourth　of　July　procession。　　The　hotels　　kept　up　a　specious　brilliancy　and　hospitable　outlook；　but　inside　one　　saw　vast　empty　caverns；　and　the　footrails　at　the　bars　gleamed　brightly　　from　long　disacquaintance　with　the　sole…leather　of　customers。　　In　the　　cross…town　streets　the　steps　of　the　old　brownstone　houses　were　　swarming　with　〃stoopers；〃　that　motley　race　hailing　from　sky…light　room　　and　basement；　bringing　out　their　straw　doorstep　mats　to　sit　and　fill　　the　air　with　strange　noises　and　opinions。

North　and　I　dined　on　the　top　of　a　hotel；　and　here；　for　a　few　minutes；　　I　thought　I　had　made　a　score。　　An　east　wind；　almost　cool；　blew　across　　the　roofless　roof。　　A　capable　orchestra　concealed　in　a　bower　of　　wistaria　played　with　sufficient　judgment　to　make　the　art　of　music　　probable　and　the　art　of　conversation　possible。

Some　ladies　in　reproachless　summer　gowns　at　other　tables　gave　　animation　and　color　to　the　scene。　　And　an　excellent　dinner；　mainly　　from　the　refrigerator；　seemed　to　successfully　back　my　judgment　as　to　　summer　resorts。　　But　North　grumbled　all　during　the　meal；　and　cursed　　his　lawyers　and　prated　so　of　his　confounded　camp　in　the　woods　that　I　　began　to　wish　he　would　go　back　there　and　leave　me　in　my　peaceful　city　　retreat。

After　dining　we　went　to　a　roof…garden　vaudeville　that　was　being　much　　praised。　　There　we　found　a　good　bill；　an　artificially　cooled　　atmosphere；　cold　drinks；　prompt　service；　and　a　gay；　well…dressed　　audience。　　North　was　bored。

〃If　this　isn't　comfortable　enough　for　you　on　the　hottest　August　night　　for　five　years；〃　I　said；　a　little　sarcastically；　〃you　might　think　　about　the　kids　down　in　Delancey　and　Hester　streets　lying　out　on　the　　fire…escapes　with　their　tongues　hanging　out；　trying　to　get　a　breath　of　　air　that　hasn't　been　fried　on　both　sides。　　The　contrast　might　increase　　your　enjoyment。〃

〃Don't　talk　Socialism；〃　said　North。　　〃I　gave　five　hundred　dollars　to　　the　free　ice　fund　on　the　first　of　May。　　I'm　contrasting　these　stale；　　artificial；　hollow；　wearisome　'amusements'　with　the　enjoyment　a　man　　can　get　in　the　woods。　　You　should　see　the　firs　and　pines　do　skirt…　dances　during　a　storm；　and　lie　down　flat　and　drink　out　of　a　mountain　　branch　at　the　end　of　a　day's　tramp　after　the　deer。　　That's　the　only　　way　to　spend　a　summer。　　Get　out　and　live　with　nature。〃

〃I　agree　with　you　absolutely；〃　said　I；　with　emphasis。

For　one　moment　I　had　relaxed　my　vigilance；　and　had　spoken　my　true　　sentiments。　　North　looked　at　me　long　and　curiously。

〃Then　why；　in　the　name　of　Pan　and　Apollo；〃　he　asked；　〃have　you　been　　singing　this　deceitful　paean　to　summer　in　town？〃

I　suppose　I　looked　my　guilt。

〃Ha；〃　said　North；　〃I　see。　　May　I　ask　her　name？〃

〃Annie　Ashton；〃　said　I；　simply。　　〃She　played　Nannette　in　Binkley　&　　Bing's　production　of　The　Silver　Cord。　　She　is　to　have　a　better　part　　next　season。〃

〃Take　me　to　see　her；〃　said　North。

Miss　Ashton　lived　with　her　mother　in　a　small　hotel。　　They　were　out　of　　the　West；　and　had　a　little　money　that　bridged　the　seasons。　　As　press…　agent　of　Binkley　&　Bing　I　had　tried　to　keep　her　before　the　public。　　As　　Robert　James　Vandiver　I　had　hoped　to　withdraw　her；　for　if　ever　one　was　　made　to　keep　company　with　said　Vandiver　and　smell　the　salt　breeze　on　　the　south　shore　of　Long　Island　and　listen　to　the　ducks　quack　in　the　　watches　of　the　night；　it　was　the　Ashton　set　forth　above。

But　she　had　a　soul　above　ducksabove　nightingales；　aye；　even　above　　birds　of　paradise。　　She　was　very　beautiful；　with　quiet　ways；　and　　seemed　genuine。　　She　had　both　taste　and　talent　for　the　stage；　and　she　　liked　to　stay　at　home　and　read　and　make　caps　for　her　mother。　　She　was　　unvaryingly　kind　and　friendly　with　Binkley　&　Bing's　press…agent。　　　Since　the　theatre　had　closed　she　had　allowed　Mr。　　Vandiver　to　call　in　　an　unofficial　role。　　I　had　often　spoken　to　her　of　my　friend；　Spencer　　Grenville　North；　and　so；　as　it　was　early；　the　first　turn　of　the　　vaudeville　being　not　yet　over；　we　left　to　find　a　telephone。

Miss　Ashton　would　be　very　glad　to　see　Mr。　　Vandiver　and　Mr。　　North。

We　found　her　fitting　a　new　cap　on　her　mother。　　I　never　saw　her　look　　more　charming。

North　made　himself　disagreeably　entertaining。　　He　was　a　good　talker；　　and　had　a　way　with