the vision spendid(美景)-第42章
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Jeff is successful as compared with Joe Powers？〃
〃Yes。 In my opinion he is the most successful man I ever met。〃
James was annoyed。 〃I expect you have a monopoly in that opinion；
Miss Fromeunless Jeff shares it。〃
〃He doesn't。〃
The lawyer laughed irritably。 〃No； I shouldn't think he would。〃 He
added a moment later： 〃I don't suppose Jeff is worth a hundred dollars。〃
〃Probably not。〃
〃And Joe Powers is worth a hundred millions。〃
〃That settles it。 I must have been wrong。〃 Alice looked at him with a
flash of demure daring。 〃Valencia said something to me the other day I
didn't quite understand。 Ought I to congratulate you？〃
〃What did she say？〃 he asked eagerly。
〃Oh； I'll not tell you what she said。 My question was in first。〃
〃You may as well； though it's still a secret。 Nobody knows it but you
and me。〃
〃And Valencia。〃
〃I didn't know she knew it yet。〃
Alice stared。 〃Not know that she is going to marry you？ Then it isn't
really arranged？〃
〃It is and it isn't。〃
〃Oh！〃
〃I know it and she suspects it。〃
〃Is this a riddle？〃
〃Riddle is a good word when we speak of your cousin；〃 he admitted
judicially。
〃Perhaps I asked a question I ought not to have。〃
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〃Not at all。 I'm trying to answer you as well as I can。 Last time I
mentioned the subject she laughed at me。〃
〃So you've asked her？〃
〃No； I told her。〃
〃And she said？〃
〃Regretted that other plans would not permit her to fall in with mine。〃
〃Then I don't quite see how you are so sure。〃
〃That's just what she says； but I've a notion she is planning the
trousseau。〃
Alice flashed a sidelong look at him。 Was he playing with her？ Or did
he mean it？
〃You'll let me know when I may safely congratulate you；〃 she retorted
ironically。
〃Now is the best time。 I may not see you this evening。〃
〃Oh； it's to be this evening； is it？〃
〃To the best of my belief and hope。〃
His complacency struck a spark from her。 〃You needn't be so cock sure。
I daresay she won't have you。〃
His smile took her into his confidence。 〃That's what I'm afraid of
myself； but I daren't let her see it。〃
〃That sounds better。〃
〃I think she wants to eat her cake and have it； too。〃
〃Meaning； please？〃
〃That she likes me； but would rather hold me off a while。〃
Alice nodded。 〃Yes； that would be like Val。〃
〃Meanwhile I don't know whether I'm to be a happy man or not。〃
Her fine eyes looked in their direct fashion right into his。 〃I must say
you appear greatly worried。〃
〃Yes；〃 he smiled。
〃You must be tremendously in love with her。〃
〃Ye…es； thank you。〃
〃Why are you going to marry her thenif she'll let you？〃
〃Now I'm having Joe Powers' railroads and his steamboats and his
mines thrown at me； am I not？〃 he asked lightly。
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〃No； I don't think that meanly of you。 I know you're a victim of
ambition； but I don't suppose it would take you that far。〃
He gave her an ironical bow。 〃Thanks for this testimonial of respect。
You're right。 It wouldn't。 I'm going to marry Joe Power's daughter； _Deo
volente_ because she is the most interesting woman I know and the most
beautiful one。〃
〃Oh！ That's the reason。〃
〃These； plus a sentimental one which I can't uncover to the cynical
eyes of my young cousin that is to be； are my motives； though； mind you；
I'm not fool enough to be impervious to the railroads and the ocean liners
and the mines you didn't mention。 I hope my reasons satisfy you；〃 he
added coolly。
〃If they satisfy Val they do me； but very likely you'll find they won't。〃
〃The doubt adds a fillip to the situation。〃 Her eyes had gone from time
to time out of the window。 Now she gave a sigh of relief。 〃Here we are at
the hospital。 Oh； I do hope that poor man is all right！〃
〃I'm sure he is。 He was recovering consciousness when they left。
James helped her out of the cab and they went together up the steps。 In
the hall they met Jeff。 He had just come down stairs。
〃Everything's all right。 His head must have struck the asphalt； but there
seems to be no danger。〃
Alice noticed that the newspaper man spoke to his cousin and not to
her。
PART 2
Though Valencia Van Tyle had not made up her mind to get married；
James hit the mark when he guessed that she was interesting herself in the
accessories that would go with such an event。 The position she took in the
matter was characteristic。 She had gone the length of taking expert counsel
with her New York modiste concerning gowns for the occasion； without
having at all decided that she would exchange her present independence
for another venture into stormy matrimonial seas。
〃Perhaps I shatn't have to make up my mind at all；〃 she found
amusement in chuckling to herself。 〃What a saving of trouble it would be
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if he would abduct me in his car。 I could always blame him then if it did
not turn out well。〃 Something of this she expressed to James the evening
of the day of the accident； watching him through half…shuttered eyes to see
how he would take her first concession that she was considering him。
He took without external disturbance her gay； embarrassed suggestion；
the manner of which might mean either shyness or the highest expression
of her art。
〃I'd kidnap you fast enough except that I don't want to rob you of the
fun of getting ready。 How long will it take you？ Would my birthday be too
soon？ It's on the fourth of June。〃
〃Too soon for what？〃 she asked innocently。
〃For my birthday presentValencia Powers。〃
She liked it that he used her maiden surname instead of her married
one。 It seemed to imply that he loved her in the swift； ardent way of youth。
〃Are you sure you want it？〃
The lawyer appreciated her soft； warm allurement； the appeal of sex
with which she was so prodigally endowed。 His breath came a little faster。
〃He won't be happy till he gets it。〃
Her faint laughter rippled out。 〃That's just the point； my friend。 Will he
be happy then？ And； which is more important to her； will she？〃
〃That's what I'm here to see。 I'm going to make you happy。〃
She laced her fingers behind her tawny head； not quite unaware
perhaps that the attitude set off the perfect modeling of her soft； supple
body。
〃I don't doubt your good intentions； but it takes more than that to make
marriage happy when the contracting parties are not Heaven…sent。〃
〃But we arewe are。〃
Valencia shook her head。 〃Oh； no！ There will be no rapturous song of
birds for us； none of that fine wantonness that doesn't stop to count the
cost。 If we marry no doubt we'll have good reasons； but not the very best
onethat we can't help it。〃
He would not consent to that。 〃You're not speaking for me。 The birds
sing； Valencia。〃
〃Canaries in a cage；〃 she mocked。
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〃You've forgotten two things。〃
〃Yes？〃
〃That you are the most beautiful woman on earth； and that I'm a man；
with red blood in my veins。〃
Under lowered lids she studied him。 This very confident； alert
American； modern from head to heel； attracted her more than any other
man。 There was a dynamic quality in him that stirred her blood。 He was
efficient； selfish enough to win； and yet considerate in the small things that
go to make up the sum of existence。 Why not then？ She must marry some
time and she was as nearly in love as she would ever be。
〃What ARE your reasons for wanting me？〃
〃We smoke the same Egyptians；〃 he mocked。
〃That's a good reason； so far as it goes。〃
〃And you're such a charming puzzle that I would like to domesticate it
and study the eternal mystery at my leisure。〃
〃Then it's as a diversion that you want me。〃
〃A thing of beauty and a joy forever； the poet puts it。 But diversion if
you like。 What greater test of charming versatility for a woman than that
she remain a diversion to her husband； unstaled by custom and undulled
by familiarity？〃
After all her father would be pleased to have her marry an American
business man。 The Powers' millions could easily buy for her a fine old
dukedom if she wanted one。 At present there was more than one available
title…holder on her horizon。 But Valencia did not care to take up the
responsibilities that go with such a position。 She was too indolent to adapt
her life to the standards of othersand perhaps too proud。 Moreover； it
happened that she had had enough of the club man type in the late
lamented Van Tyle。 This man was a worker。 He would not annoy her or
interfere with her careless pleasures。 Again she asked herself； Why not？
〃I suppose you really do like me。〃 Her face was tilted in gay little
appeal。
〃I'm not going to tell you how much。 It wouldn't be good for discipline
in the house。〃
Her soft little laugh bubbled over。 〃We seem to have quite settled it。
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And I hadn't the slightest notion of agreeing to anything so ridiculous
when I ventured that indiscreet remark about an abduction。〃 She looked up
at him with smiling insolence。 〃You're only an adventurer； you know。 I
daresay you haven't even paid for the car in which you were going to
kidnap me。〃
〃No；〃 he admitted cheerfully。
〃I wonder what Dad will think of it；〃
〃He'll thank Heaven you didn't present him with a French or Italian
count to support。〃
〃I believe he will。 His o
