the dwelling place of ligh-第11章

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still　bearing　the　price　tag。　　And　curiosity　beginning　to　get　the　better　of　her；
she　was　emboldened　to　pay　a　compliment　to　the　fence。　　If　one　had　to　work；　it
must　be　a　pleasure　to　work　on　things　pleasing　to　the　eyesuch　was　her
inference。

〃Why；　I'm　glad　you　like　it；〃　he　said　heartily。　　〃I　was　just　hoping　some　one
would　come　along　here　and　admire　it。　　Nowwhat　colour　would　you　paint　it？〃

〃Are　you　a　painter；　too？〃

〃After　a　fashion。　　I'm　a　sort　of　man　of　all　workI　thought　of　painting　it
white；　with　the　pillars　green。〃

〃I　think　that　would　be　pretty；〃　she　answered；　judicially；　after　a　moment's
thought。　　〃What　else　can　you　do？〃

He　appeared　to　be　pondering　his　accomplishments。

〃Well；　I　can　doctor　trees；〃　he　said；　pointing　an　efficient　finger　at　the
magnificent　maple　sheltering；　like　a　guardian　deity；　the　old　farmhouse。　　〃I　put
in　those　patches。〃

〃They're　cement；〃　she　exclaimed。　　〃I　never　heard　of　putting　cement　in　trees。〃

〃They　don't　seem　to　mind。〃

〃Are　the　holes　very　deep？〃

〃Pretty　deep。〃

〃But　I　should　think　the　tree　would　be　dead。〃

〃Well；　you　see　the　life　of　a　tree　is　right　under　the　bark。　　If　you　can　keep　the
outer　covering　intact；　the　tree　will　live。〃

〃Why　did　you　let　the　holes　get　so　deep？〃

〃I've　just　come　here。　　The　house　was　like　the　tree　the　shingles　all　rotten；　but
the　beams　were　sound。　　Those　beams　were　hewn　out　of　the　forest　two　hundred　and
fifty　years　ago。〃

〃Gracious！〃　said　Janet。　　〃And　how　old　is　the　tree？〃

〃I　should　say　about　a　hundred。　　I　suppose　it　wouldn't　care　to　admit　it。〃

〃How　do　you　know？〃　she　inquired。

〃Oh；　I'm　very　intimate　with　trees。　　I　find　out　their　secrets。〃

〃It's　your　house！〃　she　exclaimed；　somewhat　appalled　by　the　discovery。

〃Yesyes　it　is；〃　he　answered；　looking　around　at　it　and　then　in　an
indescribably　comical　manner　down　at　his　clothes。　　His　gesture；　his　expression
implied　that　her　mistake　was　a　most　natural　one。

〃Excuse　me；　I　thought〃　she　began；　blushing　hotly；　yet　wanting　to　laugh　again。

〃I　don't　blame　youwhy　shouldn't　you？〃　he　interrupted　her。　　〃I　haven't　got
used　to　it　yet；　and　there　is　something　amusing　aboutmy　owning　a　house。　　When
the　parlour's　finished　I'll　have　to　wear　a　stiff　collar；　I　suppose；　in　order　to
live　up　to　it。〃

Her　laughter　broke　forth；　and　she　tried　to　imagine　him　in　a　stiff　collar。。。。
But　she　was　more　perplexed　than　ever。　　She　stood　balancing　on　one　foot；　poised
for　departure。

〃I　ought　to　be　going；〃　she　said；　as　though　she　had　been　paying　him　a　formal
visit。

〃Don't　hurry；〃　he　protested　cordially。　　〃Why　hurry　back　to　Hampton？〃

〃I　never　want　to　go　back！〃　she　cried　with　a　vehemence　that　caused　him　to
contemplate　her　anew；　suddenly　revealing　the　intense；　passionate　quality　which
had　so　disturbed　Mr。　Ditmar。　　She　stood　transformed。　　〃I　hate　it！〃　she
declared。　　〃It's　so　ugly；　I　never　want　to　see　it　again。〃

〃Yes；　it　is　ugly；〃　he　confessed。　　〃Since　you　admit　it；　I　don't　mind　saying　so。
But　it's　interesting；　in　a　way。〃　　Though　his　humorous　moods　had　delighted　her；
she　felt　subtly　flattered　because　he　had　grown　more　serious。

〃It　is　interesting；〃　she　agreed。　　She　was　almost　impelled　to　tell　him　why；　in
her　excursions　to　the　various　quarters；　she　had　found　Hampton　interesting；　but
a　shyness　born　of　respect　for　the　store　of　knowledge　she　divined　in　him
restrained　her。　　She　was　curious　to　know　what　this　man　saw　in　Hampton。　　His
opinion　would　be　worth　something。　　Unlike　her　neighbours　in　Fillmore　Street；　he
was　not　what　her　sister　Lise　would　call　〃nutty〃；　he　had　an　air　of　fine　sanity；
of　freedom；　of　detachment；though　the　word　did　not　occur　to　her；　he　betrayed
no　bitter　sense　of　injustice；　and　his　beliefs　were　uncoloured　by　the　obsession
of　a　single　panacea。　　〃Why　do　you　think　it's　interesting？〃　she　demanded。

〃Well；　I'm　always　expecting　to　hear　that　it's　blown　up。　　It　reminds　me　of
nitro…glycerine；〃　he　added；　smiling。

She　repeated　the　word。

〃An　explosive；　you　knowthey　put　it　in　dynamite。　　They　say　a　man　once　made　it
by　accident；　and　locked　up　his　laboratory　and　ran　homeand　never　went　back。〃

〃I　know　what　you　mean！〃　she　cried；　her　eyes　alight　with　excitement。　　〃All　those
foreigners！　　I've　felt　it　that　something　would　happen；　some　day；　it　frightened
me；　and　yet　I　wished　that　something　would　happen。　　Only；　I　never　would　have
thought　ofnitro…glycerine。〃

She　was　unaware　of　the　added　interest　in　his　regard。　　But　he　answered　lightly
enough：

〃Oh；　not　only　the　foreigners。　　Human　chemicalsyou　can't　play　with　human
chemicals　any　more　than　you　can　play　with　real　onesyou've　got　to　know
something　about　chemistry。〃

This　remark　was　beyond　her　depth。

〃Who　is　playing　with　them？〃　she　asked。

〃Everybodyno　one　in　particular。　　Nobody　seems　to　know　much　about　them；　yet；〃
he　replied；　and　seemed　disinclined　to　pursue　the　subject。　　A　robin　with　a　worm
in　its　bill　was　hopping　across　the　grass；　he　whistled　softly；　the　bird　stopped；
cocking　its　head　and　regarding　them。　　Suddenly；　in　conflict　with　her　desire　to
remain　indefinitely　talking　with　this　strange　man；　Janet　felt　an　intense
impulse　to　leave。　　She　could　bear　the　conversation　no　longer；　she　might　burst
into　tearssuch　was　the　extraordinary　effect　he　had　produced　on　her。

〃I　must　go；I'm　ever　so　much　obliged　to　you；〃　she　said。

〃Drop　in　again；〃　he　said；　as　he　took　her　trembling　hand　。。。。　　When　she　had
walked　a　little　way　she　looked　back　over　her　shoulder　to　see　him　leaning　idly
against　the　post；　gazing　after　her；　and　waving　his　hammer　in　friendly　fashion。

For　a　while　her　feet　fairly　flew；　and　her　heart　beat　tumultuously；　keeping　time
with　her　racing　thoughts。　　She　walked　about　the　Common；　seeing　nothing；　paying
no　attention　to　the　passers…by；　who　glanced　at　her　curiously。　　But　at　length　as
she　grew　calmer　the　needs　of　a　youthful　and　vigorous　body　became　imperative；
and　realizing　suddenly　that　she　was　tired　and　hungry；　sought　and　found　the
little　restaurant　in　the　village　below。　　She　journeyed　back　to　Hampton
pondering　what　this　man　had　said　to　her；　speculating；　rather　breathlessly；
whether　he　had　been　impelled　to　conversation　by　a　natural　kindness　and
courtesy；　or　whether　he　really　had　discovered　something　in　her　worthy　of
addressing；　as　he　implied。　　Resentment　burned　in　her　breast；　she　became
suddenly　blinded　by　tears：　she　might　never　see　him　again；　and　if　only　she　were
〃educated〃　she　might　know　him；　become　his　friend。　　Even　in　this　desire　she　was
not　conventional；　and　in　the　few　moments　of　their　contact　he　had　developed
rather　than　transformed　what　she　meant　by　〃education。〃　　She　thought　of　it　not
as　knowledge　reeking　of　books　and　schools；　but　as　the　acquirement　of　the
freemasonry　which　he　so　evidently　possessed；　existence　on　terms　of
understanding；　confidence；　and　freedom　with　nature；　as　having　the　world　open　up
to　one　like　a　flower　filled　with　colour　and　life。　　She　thought　of　the　robin；　of
the　tree　whose　secrets　he　had　learned；　of　a　mental　range　including　even　that
medley　of　human　beings　amongst　whom　she　lived。　　And　the　fact　that　something　of
his　meaning　had　eluded　her　grasp　made　her　rebel　all　the　more　bitterly　against
the　lack　of　a　greater　knowledge　。。。。

Often　during　the　weeks　that　followed　he　dwelt　in　her　mind　as　she　sat　at　her
desk　and　stared　out　across　the　river；　and　several　times　that　summer　she　started
to　walk　to　Silliston。　　But　always　she　turned　back。　　Perhaps　she　feared　to　break
the　charm　of　that　memory　。。。。




CHAPTER　IV

Our　American　climate　is　notoriously　capricious。　　Even　as　Janet　trudged　homeward
on　that　Memorial　Day　afternoon　from　her　Cinderella…like　adventure　in　Silliston
the　sun　grew　hot；　the　air　lost　its　tonic；　becoming　moist　and　tepid；　white
clouds　with　dark　edges　were　piled　up　in　the　western　sky。　　The　automobiles　of
the　holiday　makers　swarmed　ceaselessly　over　the　tarvia。　　Valiantly　as　she
strove　to　cling　to　her　dream；　remorseless　reality　was　at　work　dragging　her
back；　reclaiming　her；　excitement　and　physical　exercise　drained　her　vitality；
her　feet　were　sore；　sadness　invaded　her　as　she　came　in　view　of　the　ragged
outline　of　the　city　she　had　left　so　joyfully　in　the　morning。　　Summer；　that　most
depressing　of　seasons　in　an　environment　of　drab　houses　and　grey　pavements；　was
at　hand；　listless　householders　and　their　families　were　already；　seeking　refuge
on　front　steps　she　passed　on　her　way　to　Fillmore　Street。

It　was　about　half　past　five　when　she　arrived。　　Lise；　her　waist　removed；　was
seated　in　a　rocking　chair　at　the　window　overlooking　the　littered　yards　and　the
backs　of　the　tenements　on　Rutger　Street。　　And　Lise；　despite　the　heaviness　of
the　air；　was　dreaming。　　Of　such　delicate　texture　was　the　fabric　of　Janet's
dreams　that　not　only　sordid　reality；　but　contact　with　other　dreams　of　a
different　nature；　such　as　her　sister's；　often　sufficed　to　dissolve　them。　　She
resented；　for　instance；　the　presence　in　the　plush　oval　of　Mr。　Eustace
Arlington；　the　movie　star　whose　likeness　had　replaced　Mr。　Wiley's；　and　who　had
played　the　part　of　the　western　hero　in　〃Leila　of　Hawtrey's。〃　　With　his　burning
eyes　and　sensual　face　betraying　the　puffiness　that　comes　from　over…indulgence；
he　was　not　Janet's　ideal　of　a　hero；　western　or　otherwise。　　And　now　Lise　was
holding　a　newspaper：　not　the　Banner；　whose　provinciality　she　scorned；　but　a
popular　Boston　sheet　to　be　had　for　a　cent；　printed　at　ten　in　the　morning　and
labelled　〃Three　O'clock　Edition；〃　with　huge　red　headlines　stretched　across　the
top　of　the　page：

　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　〃JURY　FINDS　IN　MISS　NEALY'S　FAVOR。〃

As　Janet　entered　Lise　looked　up　and　exclaimed：

〃Say；　that　Nealy　girl's　won　out！〃

〃Who　is　she？〃　Janet　inquired　listlessly。

〃You　are　from　the　country；　all　right；〃　was　her　sister's　rejoinder。　　〃I　would
have　bet　there　wasn't　a　Reub　in　the　state　that　wasn't　wise　to　the　Ferris　breach
of　promise　case；　and　here　you　blow　in　after　the　show's　over　and　want　to　know
who　Nelly　Nealy　is。　　If　that　doesn't　beat　the　band！〃

〃This　woman　sued　a　man　named　Ferrisis　that　it？〃

〃A　man　named　Ferris！〃　Lise　repeated；　with　the　air　of　being　appalled　by　her
sister's　ignorance。　　〃I　guess　you　never　heard　of　Ferris；　eitherthe　biggest
copper　man　in　Boston。　　He　could　buy　Hampton；　and　never　feel　it；　and　they　say
his　house　in　Brighton　cost　half　a　million　dollars。　　Nelly　Nealy　put　her　damages
at　one　hundred　and　fifty　thousand　and　stung　him　for　seventy　five。　　I　wish　I'd
been　in　court　when　that　jury　came　back！　　There's　her　picture。〃

To　Janet；　especially　in　the　mood　of　reaction　in　which　she　found　herself　that
evening；　Lise's　intense　excitement；　passionate　partisanship　and　approval　of
Miss　Nealy　were　incomprehensible；　repellent。　　However；　she　took　the　sheet；
gazing　at　the　image　of　the　lady　who；　recently　an　obscure
stenographer；　had　suddenly　leaped　into　fame　and　become　a　〃headliner；〃　the
envied　of　thousands　of　working　girls　all　over　New　England。　　Miss　Nealy；　in
spite　of　the　〃glare　of　publicity〃　she　deplored；　had　borne　up　admirably　under
the　strain；　and　evidently　had　been　able　to　consume　three　meals　a　day　and　give
some　thought　to　her　costumes。　　Her　smile　under　the　picture　hat　was　coquettish；
if　not　bold。　　The　special　article；　signed　by　a　lady　reporter　whose　sympathies
were　by　no　means　concealed　and　whose　talents　were　given　free　rein；　related