the dwelling place of ligh-第29章

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！


gestures。　　The　veins　stood　out　on　his　forehead。　　She　wondered　what　his
history　had　been。　　She　compared　him　to　Ditmar；　on　whose　dust…grey　face
she　was　quick　to　detect　a　look　she　had　seen　beforea　contraction　of　the
eyes；　a　tightening　of　the　muscles　of　the　jaw。　　That　look；　and　the
peculiarly　set　attitude　of　the　body　accompanying　it；　aroused　in　her　a
responsive　sense　of　championship。

〃All　right；　Ditmar；〃　she　heard　the　other　exclaim。　　〃I　tell　you　again
you'll　never　be　able　to　pull　it　off。〃

Ditmar's　laugh　was　short；　defiant。

〃Why　not？〃　he　asked。

〃Why　not！　　Because　the　fifty…four　hour　law　goes　into　effect　in　January。〃

〃What's　that　got　to　do　with　it？〃　Ditmar　demanded。

〃You'll　seeyou'll　remember　what　I　told　you　fellows　at　the　conference
after　that　bill　went　through　and　that　damned　demagogue　of　a　governor
insisted　on　signing　it。　　I　said；　if　we　tried　to　cut　wages　down　to　a
fifty…four　hour　basis　we'd　have　a　strike　on　our　hands　in　every　mill　in
Hampton；didn't　I？　　I　said　it　would　cost　us　millions　of　dollars；　and
make　all　the　other　strikes　we've　had　here　look　like　fifty　cents。　　Didn't
I　say　that？　　Hammond；　our　president；　backed　me　up；　and　Rogers　of　the　wool
people。　　You　remember？　　You　were　the　man　who　stood　out　against　it；　and
they　listened　to　you；　they　voted　to　cut　down　the　pay　and　say　nothing
about　it。　　Wait　until　those　first　pay　envelopes　are　opened　after　that　law
goes　into　effect。　　You'll　see　what'll　happen！　　You'll　never　be　able　to
fill　that　Bradlaugh　order　in　God's　world。〃

〃Oh　hell；〃　retorted　Ditmar；　contemptuously。　　〃You're　always　for　lying
down；　Holster。　　Why　don't　you　hand　over　your　mill　to　the　unions　and　go　to
work　on　a　farm？　　You　might　as　well；　if　you're　going　to　let　the　unions　run
the　state。　　Why　not　have　socialism　right　now；　and　cut　out　the　agony？
When　they　got　the　politicians　to　make　the　last　cut　from　fifty…six　to
fifty…four　and　we　kept　on　payin'　'em　for　fifty…six；　against　my　advice；
what　happened？　　Did　they　thank　us？　　I　guess　not。　　Were　they　contented？
Not　on　your　life。　　They　went　right　on　agitating；　throwing　scares　into　the
party　conventions　and　into　the　House　and　Senate　Committees；and　now　it's
fifty…four　hours。　　It'll　be　fifty　in　a　couple　of　years；　and　then　we'll
have　to　scrap　our　machinery　and　turn　over　the　trade　to　the　South　and
donate　our　mills　to　the　state　for　insane　asylums。〃

〃No；　if　we　handle　this　thing　right；　we'll　have　the　public　on　our　side。
They're　getting　sick　of　the　unions　now。〃

Ditmar　went　to　the　desk　for　a　cigar；　bit　it　off；　and　lighted　it。

〃The　public！〃　he　exclaimed　contemptuously。　　〃A　whole　lot　of　good　they'll
do　us。〃

Holster　approached　him；　menacingly；　until　the　two　men　stood　almost
touching；　and　for　a　moment　it　seemed　to　Janet　as　if　the　agent　of　the
Clarendon　were　ready　to　strike　Ditmar。　　She　held　her　breath；　her　blood
ran　faster；the　conflict　between　these　two　made　an　elemental　appeal。

〃All　rightremember　what　I　saywait　and　see　where　you　come　out　with
that　order。〃　　Holster's　voice　trembled　with　anger。　　He　hesitated；　and
left　the　office　abruptly。　　Ditmar　stood　gazing　after　him　for　a　moment　and
then；　taking　his　cigar　from　his　mouth；　turned　and　smiled　at　Janet　and
seated　himself　in　his　chair。　　His　eyes；　still　narrowed；　had　in　them　a
gleam　of　triumph　that　thrilled　her。　　Combat　seemed　to　stimulate　and
energize　him。

〃He　thought　he　could　bluff　me　into　splitting　that　Bradlaugh　order　with
the　Clarendon；〃　Ditmar　exclaimed。　　〃Well；　he'll　have　to　guess　again。
I've　got　his　number。〃　　He　began　to　turn　over　his　letters。　　〃Let's　see；
where　were　we？　　Tell　Caldwell　not　to　let　in　any　more　idiots；　and　shut　the
door。〃

Janet　obeyed；　and　when　she　returned　Ditmar　was　making　notes　with　a　pencil
on　a　pad。　　The　conversation　with　Holter　had　given　her　a　new　idea　of
Ditmar's　daring　in　attempting　to　fill　the　Bradlaugh　order　with　the
Chippering　Mills　alone；　had　aroused　in　her　more　strongly　than　ever　that
hot　loyalty　to　the　mills　with　which　he　had　inspired　her；　and　that　strange
surge　of　sympathy；　of　fellow…feeling　for　the　operatives　she　had
experienced　after　the　interview　with　Mr。　Siddons；　of　rebellion　against
him；　the　conviction　that　she　also　was　one　of　the　slaves　he　exploited；　had
wholly　disappeared。　　Ditmar　was　the　Chippering　Mills；　and　she；　somehow；
enlisted　once　again　on　his　side。

〃By　the　way；〃　he　said　abruptly；　〃you　won't　mention　thisI　know。〃

〃Won't　mention　what？〃　she　asked。

〃This　matter　about　the　pay　envelopesthat　we　don't　intend　to　continue
giving　the　operatives　fifty…six　hours'　pay　for　fifty…four　when　this　law
goes　into　effect。　　They're　like　animals；　most　of　'em；　they　don't　reason；
and　it　might　make　trouble　if　it　got　out　now。　　You　understand。　　They'd
have　time　to　brood　over　it；　to　get　the　agitators　started。　　When　the　time
comes　they　may　kick　a　little；　but　they'll　quiet　down。　　And　it'll　teach
'em　a　lesson。〃

〃I　never　mention　anything　I　hear　in　this　office；〃　she　told　him。

〃I　know　you　don't；〃　he　assured　her；　apologetically。　　〃I　oughtn't　to　have
said　thatit　was　only　to　put　you　on　your　guard；　in　case　you　heard　it
spoken　of。　　You　see　how　important　it　is；　how　much　trouble　an　agitator
might　make　by　getting　them　stirred　up？　　You　can　see　what　it　means　to　me；
with　this　order　on　my　hands。　　I've　staked　everything　on　it。〃

〃Butwhen　the　law　goes　into　effect？　when　the　operatives　find　out　that
they　are　not　receiving　their　full　wagesas　Mr。　Holster　said？〃　Janet
inquired。

〃Why；　they　may　grumble　a　littlebut　I'll　be　on　the　lookout　for　any　move。
I'll　see　to　that。　　I'll　teach　'em　a　lesson　as　to　how　far　they　can　push
this　business　of　shorter　hours　and　equal　pay。　　It's　the　unskilled　workers
who　are　mostly　affected；　you　understand；　and　they're　not　organized。　　If
we　can　keep　out　the　agitators；　we're　all　right。　　Even　then；　I'll　show　'em
they　can't　come　in　here　and　exploit　my　operatives。〃

In　the　mood　in　which　she　found　herself　his　self…confidence；　his
aggressiveness　continued　to　inspire　and　even　to　agitate　her；　to　compel
her　to　accept　his　point　of　view。

〃Why；〃　he　continued；　〃I　trust　you　as　I　never　trusted　anybody　else。　　I've
told　you　that　before。　　Ever　since　you've　been　here　you've　made　life　a
different　thing　for　mejust　by　your　being　here。　　I　don't　know　what　I'd
do　without　you。　　You've　got　so　much　sense　about　thingsabout　people；
and　I　sometimes　think　you've　got　almost　the　same　feeling　about　these
mills　that　I　have。　　You　didn't　tell　me　you　went　through　the　mills　with
Caldwell　the　other　day；〃　he　added；　accusingly。

〃II　forgot；〃　said　Janet。　　〃Why　should　I　tellyou？〃　　She　knew　that　all
thought　of　Holster　had　already　slipped　from　his　mind。　　She　did　not　look
up。　　〃If　you're　not　going　to　finish　your　letters；〃　she　said；　a　little
faintly；　〃I've　got　some　copying　to　do。〃

〃You're　a　deep　one；〃　he　said。　　And　as　he　turned　to　the　pile　of
correspondence　she　heard　him　sigh。　　He　began　to　dictate。　　She　took　down
his　sentences　automatically；　scarcely　knowing　what　she　was　writing；　he
was　making　love　to　her　as　intensely　as　though　his　words　had　been　the
absolute　expression　of　his　desire　instead　of　the　commonplace　mediums　of
commercial　intercourse。　　Presently　he　stopped　and　began　fumbling　in　one
of　the　drawers　of　his　desk。

〃Where　is　the　memorandum　I　made　last　week　for　Percy　and　Company？〃

〃Isn't　it　there？〃　she　asked。

But　he　continued　to　fumble；　running　through　the　papers　and　disarranging
them　until　she　could　stand　it　no　longer。

〃You　never　know　where　to　find　anything；〃　she　declared；　rising　and　darting
around　the　desk　and　bending　over　the　drawer；　her　deft　fingers　rapidly
separating　the　papers。　　She　drew　forth　the　memorandum　triumphantly。

〃There！〃　she　exclaimed。　　〃It　was　right　before　your　eyes。〃

As　she　thrust　it　at　him　his　hand　closed　over　hers。　　She　felt　him　drawing
her；　irresistibly。

〃Janet！〃　he　said。　　〃For　God's　sakeyou're　killing　medon't　you　know　it？
I　can't　stand　it　any　longer！〃

〃Don't！〃　she　whispered；　terror…stricken；　straining　away　from　him。　　〃Mr。
Ditmarlet　me　go！〃

A　silent　struggle　ensued；　she　resisting　him　with　all　the　aroused　strength
and　fierceness　of　her　nature。　　He　kissed　her　hair；　her　neck；she　had
never　imagined　such　a　force　as　this；　she　felt　herself　weakening；
welcoming　the　annihilation　of　his　embrace。

〃Mr。　Ditmar！〃　she　cried。　　〃Somebody　will　come　in。〃

Her　fingers　sank　into　his　neck；　she　tried　to　hurt　him　and　by　a　final
effort　flung　herself　free　and　fled　to　the　other　side　of　the　room。

〃You　littlewildcat！〃　she　heard　him　exclaim；　saw　him　put　his
handkerchief　to　his　neck　where　her　fingers　had　been；　saw　a　red　stain　on
it。　　〃I'll　have　you　yet！〃

But　even　then；　as　she　stood　leaning　against　the　wall；　motionless　save　for
the　surging　of　her　breast；　there　was　about　her　the　same　strange；　feral
inscrutableness。　　He　was　baffled；　he　could　not　tell　what　she　was
thinking。　　She　seemed；　unconquered；　to　triumph　over　her　disarray　and　the
agitation　of　her　body。　　Then；　with　an　involuntary　gesture　she　raised　her
hands　to　her　hair；　smoothing　it；　and　without　seeming　haste　left　the　room；
not　so　much　as　glancing　at　him；　closing　the　door　behind　her。

She　reached　her　table　in　the　outer　office　and　sat　down；　gazing　out　of　the
window。　　The　face　of　the　worldthe　river；　the　mills；　and　the　bridgewas
changed；　tinged　with　a　new　and　unreal　quality。　　She；　too；　must　be
changed。　　She　wasn't；　couldn't　be　the　same　person　who　had　entered　that
room　of　Ditmar's　earlier　in　the　afternoon！　　Mr。　Caldwell　made　a
commonplace　remark；　she　heard　herself　answer　him。　　Her　mind　was　numb；
only　her　body　seemed　swept　by　fire；　by　emotionsemotions　of　fear；　of
anger；　of　desire　so　intense　as　to　make　her　helpless。　　And　when　at　length
she　reached　out　for　a　sheet　of　carbon　paper　her　hand　trembled　so　she
could　scarcely　hold　it。　　Only　by　degrees　was　she　able　to　get　sufficient
control　of　herself　to　begin　her　copying；　when　she　found　a　certain　relief
in　actionher　hands　flying　over　the　keys；　tearing　off　the　finished
sheets；　and　replacing　them　with　others。　　She　did　not　want　to　think；　to
decide；　and　yet　she　knewsomething　was　trying　to　tell　her　that　the
moment　for　decision　had　come。　　She　must　leave；　now。　　If　she　stayed　on；
this　tremendous　adventure　she　longed　for　and　dreaded　was　inevitable。
Fear　and　fascination　battled　within　her。　　To　run　away　was　to　deny　life；
to　remain；　to　taste　and　savour　it。　　She　had　tasted　itwas　it　sweet？
that　sense　of　being　swept　away；　engulfed　by　an　elemental　power　beyond
them　both；　yet　in　them　both？　　She　felt　him　drawing　her　to　him；　and　she
struggling　yet　inwardly　longing　to　yield。　　And　the　scarlet　stain　on　his
handkerchiefwhen　she　thought　of　that　her　blood　throbbed；　her　face
burned。

At　last　the　door　of　the　inner　office　opened；　and　Ditmar　came　out　and
stood　by　the　rail。　　His　voice　was　queer；　scarcely　recognizable。

〃Miss　Bumpuswould　you　mind　coming　into　my　room　a　moment；　before　you
leave？〃　he　said。

She　rose　instantly　and　followed　him；　closing　the　door　behind　her；　but
standing　at　bay　against　it；　her　hand　on　the　knob。

〃I'm　not　going　to　touch　youyou　needn't　be　afraid；〃　he　said。　　Reassured
by　the　unsteadiness　of　his　voice　she　raised　her　eyes　to　perceive　that　his
face　was　ashy；　his　manner　nervous；　apprehensive；　conciliatory；a　Ditmar
she　had　difficulty　in　recognizing。　　〃I　didn't　mean　to　frighten；　to　offe