the dwelling place of ligh-第14章

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without　smearing　the　cuffs　of　his　silk　shirt　or　the　sleeves　of　his　coat　with
the　oil　that　glistened　everywhere。

〃I　like　machinery；〃　he　told　her　as　he　replaced　the　boards。　　〃I　like　to　take
care　of　it　myself。〃

〃It　must　be　interesting；〃　she　assented；　aware　of　the　inadequacy　of　the　remark；
and　resenting　in　herself　an　inarticulateness　seemingly　imposed　by　inhibition
connected　with　his　nearness。　　Fascination　and　antagonism　were　struggling　within
her。　　Her　desire　to　get　away　grew　desperate。

〃Thank　you　for　showing　it　to　me。〃　　With　an　effort　of　will　she　moved　toward　the
bridge；　but　was　impelled　by　a　consciousness　of　the　abruptness　of　her　departure
to　look　back　at　him　onceand　smile；　to　experience　again　the　thrill　of　the
current　he　sped　after　her。　　By　lifting　his　hat；　a　little　higher；　a　little　more
confidently　than　in　the　first　instance；　he　made　her　leaving　seem　more　gracious；
the　act　somehow　conveying　an　acknowledgment　on　his　part　that　their　relationship
had　changed。

Once　across　the　bridge　and　in　the　mill；　she　fairly　ran　up　the　stairs　and　into
the　empty　office；　to　perceive　her　bag　lying　on　the　desk　where　she　had　left　it；
and　sat　down　for　a　few　minutes　beside　the　window；　her　heart　pounding　in　her
breast　as　though　she　had　barely　escaped　an　accident　threatening　her　with
physical　annihilation。　　Something　had　happened　to　her　at　last！　　But　what　did　it
mean？　　Where　would　it　lead？　　Her　fear；　her　antagonism；　of　which　she　was　still
conscious；　her　resentment　that　Ditmar　had　thus　surreptitiously　chosen　to
approach　her　in　a　moment　when　they　were　unobserved　were　mingled　with　a
throbbing　exultation　in　that　he　had　noticed　her；　that　there　was　something　in
her　to　attract　him　in　that　way；　to　make　his　voice　thicker　and　his　smile
apologetic　when　he　spoke　to　her。　　Of　that　〃something…in…her〃　she　had　been　aware
before；　but　never　had　it　been　so　unmistakably　recognized　and　beckoned　to　from
without。　　She　was　at　once　terrified；　excitedand　flattered。

At　length；　growing　calmer；　she　made　her　way　out　of　the　building。　　When　she
reached　the　vestibule　she　had　a　moment　of　sharp　apprehension；　of　paradoxical
hope；　that　Ditmar　might　still　be　there；　awaiting　her。　　But　he　had　gone。。。。

In　spite　of　her　efforts　to　dismiss　the　matter　from　her　mind；　to　persuade
herself　there　had　been　no　significance　in　the　encounter；　when　she　was　seated　at
her　typewriter　the　next　morning　she　experienced　a　renewal　of　the　palpitation　of
the　evening　before；　and　at　the　sound　of　every　step　in　the　corridor　she　started。
Of　this　tendency　she　was　profoundly　ashamed。　　And　when　at　last　Ditmar　arrived；
though　the　blood　rose　to　her　temples；　she　kept　her　eyes　fixed　on　the　keys。　　He
went　quickly　into　his　room：　she　was　convinced　he　had　not　so　much　as　glanced　at
her。。。。　　As　the　days　went　by；　however；　she　was　annoyed　by　the　discovery　that
his　continued　ignoring　of　her　presence　brought　more　resentment　than　relief；　she
detected　in　it　a　deliberation　implying　between　them　a　guilty　secret：　she　hated
secrecy；　though　secrecy　contained　a　thrill。　　Then；　one　morning　when　she　was
alone　in　the　office　with　young　Caldwell；　who　was　absorbed　in　some　reports；
Ditmar　entered　unexpectedly　and　looked　her　full　in　the　eyes；　surprising　her
into　answering　his　glance　before　she　could　turn　away；　hating　herself　and　hating
him。　　Hate；　she　determined；　was　her　prevailing　sentiment　in　regard　to　Mr。
Ditmar。

The　following　Monday　Miss　Ottway　overtook　her；　at　noon；　on　the　stairs。

〃Janet；　I　wanted　to　speak　to　you；　to　tell　you　I'm　leaving；〃　she　said。

〃Leaving！〃　　repeated　Janet；　who　had　regarded　Miss　Ottway　as　a　fixture。

〃I'm　going　to　Boston；〃　Miss　Ottway　explained；　in　her　deep；　musical　voice。
〃I've　always　wanted　to　go；　I　have　an　unmarried　sister　there　of　whom　I'm　very
fond；　and　Mr。　Ditmar　knows　that。　　He's　got　me　a　place　with　the　Treasurer；　Mr。
Semple。〃

〃Oh；　I'm　sorry　you're　going；　though　of　course　I'm　glad　for　you；〃　Janet　said
sincerely；　for　she　liked　and　respected　Miss　Ottway；　and　was　conscious　in　the
older　woman　of　a　certain　kindly　interest。

〃Janet；　I've　recommended　you　to　Mr。　Ditmar　for　my　place。〃

〃Oh！〃　cried　Janet；　faintly。

〃It　was　he　who　asked　about　you；　he　thinks　you　are　reliable　and　quick　and
clever；　and　I　was　very　glad　to　say　a　good　word　for　you；　my　dear；　since　I　could
honestly　do　so。〃　　Miss　Ottway　drew　Janet's　arm　through　hers　and　patted　it
affectionately。　　〃Of　course　you'll　have　to　expect　some　jealousy；　there　are
older　women　in　the　other　offices　who　will　think　they　ought　to　have　the　place；
but　if　you　attend　to　your　own　affairs；　as　you　always　have　done；　there　won't　be
any　trouble。〃

〃Oh；　I　won't　take　the　place；　I　can't！〃Janet　cried；　so　passionately　that　Miss
Ottway　looked　at　her　in　surprise。　　〃I'm　awfully　grateful　to　you；〃　she　added；
flushing　crimson；　〃II'm　afraid　I'm　not　equal　to　it。〃

〃Nonsense；〃　said　the　other　with　decision。　　〃You'd　be　very　foolish　not　to　try
it。　　You　won't　get　as　much　as　I　do；　at　first；　at　any　rate；　but　a　little　more
money　won't　be　unwelcome；　I　guess。　　Mr。　Ditmar　will　speak　to　you　this
afternoon。　　I　leave　on　Saturday。　　I'm　real　glad　to　do　you　a　good　turn；　Janet；
and　I　know　you'll　get　along；〃　Miss　Ottway　added　impulsively　as　they　parted　at
the　corner　of　Faber　Street。　　〃I've　always　thought　a　good　deal　of　you。〃

For　awhile　Janet　stood　still；　staring　after　the　sturdy　figure　of　her　friend；
heedless　of　the　noonday　crowd　that　bumped　her。　　Then　she　went　to　Grady's　Quick
Lunch　Counter　and　ordered　a　sandwich　and　a　glass　of　milk；　which　she　consumed
slowly；　profoundly　sunk　in　thought。　　Presently　Eda　Rawle　arrived；　and　noticing
her　preoccupation；　inquired　what　was　the　matter。

〃Nothing；〃　said　Janet。。。。

At　two　o'clock；　when　Ditmar　returned　to　the　office；　he　called　Miss　Ottway；　who
presently　came　out　to　summon　Janet　to　his　presence。　　Fresh；　immaculate；　yet
virile　in　his　light　suit　and　silk　shirt　with　red　stripes；　he　was　seated　at　his
desk　engaged　in　turning　over　some　papers　in　a　drawer。　　He　kept　her　waiting　a
moment；　and　then　said；　with　apparent　casualness：

〃Is　that　you；　Miss　Bumpus？　　Would　you　mind　closing　the　door？〃

Janet　obeyed；　and　again　stood　before　him。　　He　looked　up。　　A　suggestion　of
tenseness　in　her　pose　betraying　an　inner　attitude　of　alertness；　of　defiance；
conveyed　to　him　sharply　and　deliciously　once　more　the　panther…like　impression
he　had　received　when　first；　as　a　woman；　she　had　come　to　his　notice。　　The
renewed　and　heightened　perception　of　this　feral　quality　in　her　aroused　a　sense
of　danger　by　no　means　unpleasurable；　though　warning　him　that　he　was　about　to
take　an　unprecedented　step；　being　drawn　beyond　the　limits　of　caution　he　had
previously　set　for　himself　in　divorcing　business　and　sex。　　Though　he　was　by　no
means　self…convinced　of　an　intention　to　push　the　adventure；　preferring　to　leave
its　possibilities　open；　he　strove　in　voice　and　manner　to　be　business…like；　and
instinct；　perhaps；　whispered　that　she　might　take　alarm。

〃Sit　down；　Miss　Bumpus；〃　he　said　pleasantly；　as　he　closed　the　drawer。

She　seated　herself　on　an　office　chair。

〃Do　you　like　your　work　here？〃　　he　inquired。

〃No；〃　said　Janet。

〃Why　not？〃　　he　demanded；　staring　at　her。

〃Why　should　I？〃　　she　retorted。

〃Wellwhat's　the　trouble　with　it？　　It　isn't　as　hard　as　it　would　be　in　some
other　places；　is　it？〃

〃I'm　not　saying　anything　against　the　place。〃

〃What；　then？〃

〃You　asked　me　if　I　liked　my　work。　　I　don't。〃

〃Then　why　do　you　do　it？〃　he　demanded。

〃To　live；〃　she　replied。

He　smiled；　but　his　gesture　as　he　stroked　his　moustache　implied　a　slight
annoyance　at　her　composure。　　He　found　it　difficult　with　this　dark；　self…
contained　young　woman　to　sustain　the　role　of　benefactor。

〃What　kind　of　work　would　you　like　to　do？〃　he　demanded。

〃I　don't　know。　　I　haven't　got　the　choice；　anyway；〃　she　said。

He　observed　that　she　did　her　work　well；　to　which　she　made　no　answer。　　She
refused　to　help　him；　although　Miss　Ottway　must　have　warned　her。　　She　acted　as
though　she　were　conferring　the　favour。　　And　yet；　clearing　his　throat；　he　was
impelled　to　say：

〃Miss　Ottway's　leaving　me；　she's　going　into　the　Boston　office　with　Mr。　Semple；
the　treasurer　of　the　corporation。　　I　shall　miss　her；　she's　an　able　and　reliable
woman；　and　she　knows　my　ways。〃　　He　paused；　fingering　his　paper　knife。　　〃The
fact　is；　Miss　Bumpus；　she's　spoken　highly　of　you；　she　tells　me　you're　quick　and
accurate　and　painstakingI've　noticed　that　for　myself。　　She　seems　to　think　you
could　do　her　work；　and　recommends　that　I　give　you　a　trial。　　You　understand；　of
course；　that　the　position　is　in　a　way　confidential；　and　that　you　could　not
expect　at　first；　at　any　rate；　the　salary　Miss　Ottway　has　had；　but　I'm　willing
to　offer　you　fourteen　dollars　a　week　to　begin　with；　and　afterwards；　if　we　get
along　together；　to　give　you　more。　　What　do　you　say？〃

〃I'd　like　to　try　it；　Mr。　Ditmar；〃　Janet　said；　and　added　nothing；　no　word　of
gratitude　or　of　appreciation　to　that　consent。

〃Very　well　then；〃　he　replied；　〃that's　settled。　　Miss　Ottway　will　explain　things
to　you；　and　tell　you　about　my　peculiarities。　　And　when　she　goes　you　can　take
her　desk；　by　the　window　nearest　my　door。〃

Ditmar　sat　idle　for　some　minutes　after　she　had　gone；　staring　through　the　open
doorway　into　the　outer　office。。。。

To　Ditmar　she　had　given　no　evidence　of　the　storm　his　offer　had　created　in　her
breast；　and　it　was　characteristic　also　that　she　waited　until　supper　was　nearly
over　to　inform　her　family；　making　the　announcement　in　a　matter…of…fact　tone；
just　as　though　it　were　not　the　unique　piece　of　good　fortune　that　had　come　to
the　Bumpuses　since　Edward　had　been　eliminated　from　the　mercantile　establishment
at　Dolton。　　The　news　was　received　with　something　like　consternation。　　For　the
moment　Hannah　was　incapable　of　speech；　and　her　hand　trembled　as　she　resumed　the
cutting　of　the　pie：　but　hope　surged　within　her　despite　her　effort　to　keep　it
down；　her　determination　to　remain　true　to　the　fatalism　from　which　she　had
paradoxically　derived　so　much　comfort。　　The　effect　on　Edward；　while　somewhat
less　violent；　was　temporarily　to　take　away　his　appetite。　　Hope；　to　flower　in
him；　needed　but　little　watering。　　Great　was　his　faith　in　the　Bumpus　blood；　and
secretly　he　had　always　regarded　his　eldest　daughter　as　the　chosen　vessel　for
their　redemption。

〃Well；　I　swan！〃　he　exclaimed；　staring　at　her　in　admiration　and　neglecting　his
pie；　〃I've　always　thought　you　had　it　in　you　to　get　on；　Janet。　　I　guess　I've
told　you　you've　always　put　me　in　mind　of　Eliza　Bumpusthe　one　that　held　out
against　the　Indians　till　her　husband　came　back　with　the　neighbours。　　I　was　just
reading　about　her　again　the　other　night。〃

〃Yes；　you've　told　us；　Edward；〃　said　Hannah。

〃She　had　gumption；〃　he　went　on；　undismayed。　　〃And　from　what　I　can　gather　of　her
looks　I　calculate　you　favour　hershe　was　dark　and　not　so　very　tallnot　so
tall　as　you；　I　guess。　　So　you're　goin'〃　（he　pronounced　it　very　slowly）　〃you're
goin'　to　be　Mr。　Ditmar's　private　stenographer！　　He's　a　smart　man；　Mr。　Ditmar；
he's　a　good　man；　too。　　All　you've　got　to　do　is　to　behave　right　by　him。　　He
always　speaks　to　me　when　he　passes　by　the　gate。　　I　was　sorry　for　him　when　his
wife　dieda　young　woman；　too。　　And　he's　never　married　again！　　Well；　I　swan！〃

〃You'd　better　quit　swanning；〃　exclaimed　Han