the dwelling place of ligh-第34章

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Ditmar　himself；　bringing　it　to　a　stop　and　leaping　from　it；　stood　before
her　in　the　sunlight；　radiating；　as　it　seemed；　more　sunlight　still。　　With
his　clipped；　blond　moustache　and　his　straw…coloured　hairas　yet　but
slightly　grey　at　the　templeshe　looked　a　veritable　conquering　berserker
in　his　huge　coat　of　golden　fur。　　Never　had　he　appeared　to　better
advantage。

〃I　was　waiting　for　you；〃　he　said；　〃I　saw　you　in　the　car。〃　　Turning　to　the
automobile；　he　stripped　the　tissue　paper　from　a　cluster　of　dark　red　roses
with　the　priceless　long　stems　of　which　Lise　used　to　rave　when　she　worked
in　the　flower　store。　　And　he　held　the　flowers　against　her　suit　her　new
suit　she　had　worn　for　this　meeting。

〃Oh；〃　she　cried；　taking　a　deep；　intoxicating　breath　of　their　fragrance。
〃You　brought　thesefor　me？〃

〃From　Bostonmy　beauty！〃

〃But　I　can't　wear　all　of　them！〃

〃Why　not？〃　he　demanded。　　〃Haven't　you　a　pin？〃

She　produced　one；　attaching　them　with　a　gesture　that　seemed　habitual；
though　the　thought　of　their　valuerevealing　in　some　degree　her　own　worth
in　his　eyes…unnerved　her。　　She　was　warmly　conscious　of　his　gaze。　　Then　he
turned；　and　opening　a　compartment　at　the　back　of　the　car　drew　from　it　a
bright　tweed　motor　coat　warmly　lined。

〃Oh；　no！〃　she　protested；　drawing　back。　　〃I'llI'll　be　warm　enough。〃　　But
laughingly；　triumphantly；　he　seized　her　and　thrust　her　arms　in　the
sleeves；　his　fingers　pressing　against　her。　　Overcome　by　shyness；　she　drew
away　from　him。

〃I　made　a　pretty　good　guess　at　the　sizedidn't　I；　Janet？〃　he　cried；
delightedly　surveying　her。　　〃I　couldn't　forget　it！〃　　His　glance　grew　more
concentrated；　warmer；　penetrating。

〃You　mustn't　look　at　me　like　that！〃　she　pleaded　with　lowered　eyes。

〃Why　notyou're　minearen't　you？　　You're　mine；　now。〃

〃I　don't　know。　　There　are　lots　of　things　I　want　to　talk　about；〃　she
replied；　but　her　protest　sounded　feeble；　unconvincing；　even　to　herself。
He　fairly　lifted　her　into　the　automobileit　was　a　caress；　only　tempered
by　the　semipublicity　of　the　place。　　He　was　giving　her　no　time　to　think
but　she　did　not　want　to；　think。　　Starting　the　engine；　he　got　in　and
leaned　toward　her。

〃Not　here！〃　she　exclaimed。

〃All　rightI'll　wait；〃　he　agreed；　tucking　the　robe　about　her　deftly；
solicitously；　and　she　sank　back　against　the　seat；　surrendering　herself　to
the　luxury；　the　wonder　of　being　cherished；　the　caressing　and　sheltering
warmth　she　felt　of　security　and　love；　the　sense　of　emancipation　from
discontent　and　sordidness　and　struggle。　　For　a　moment　she　closed　her
eyes；　but　opened　them　again　to　behold　the　transformed　image　of　herself
reflected　in　the　windshield　to　confirm　the　illusionif　indeed　it　were
one！　　The　tweed　coat　seemed　startlingly　white　in　the　sunlight；　and　the
woman　she　saw；　yet　recognized　as　herself；　was　one　of　the　fortunately
placed　of　the　earth　with　power　and　beauty　at　her　command！　　And　she　could
no　longer　imagine　herself　as　the　same　person　who　the　night　before　had
stood　in　front　of　the　house　in　Warren　Street。　　The　car　was　speeding　over
the　smooth　surface　of　the　boulevard；　the　swift　motion；　which　seemed　to
her　like　that　of　flying；　the　sparkling　air；　the　brightness　of　the　day；
the　pressure　of　Ditmar's　shoulder　against　hers；　thrilled　her。　　She
marvelled　at　his　sure　command　over　the　machine；　that　responded　like　a
live　thing　to　his　touch。　　On　the　wide；　straight　stretches　it　went　at　a
mad　pace　that　took　her　breath；　and　again；　in　turning　a　corner　or　passing
another　car；　it　slowed　down；　purring　in　meek　obedience。　　Once　she　gasped：
〃Not　so　fast！　　I　can't　stand　it。〃

He　laughed　and　obeyed　her。　　They　glided　between　river　and　sky　across　the
delicate　fabric　of　a　bridge　which　but　a　moment　before　she　had　seen　in　the
distance。　　Running　through　the　little　village　on　the　farther　bank；　they
left　the　river。

〃Where　are　you　going？〃　she　asked。

〃Oh；　for　a　little　spin；〃　he　answered　indulgently；　turning　into　a　side
road　that　wound　through　the　woods　and　suddenly　stopping。　　〃Janet；　we've
got　this　daythis　whole　day　to　ourselves。〃　　He　seized　and　drew　her　to
him；　and　she　yielded　dizzily；　repaying　the　passion　of　his　kiss；　forgetful
of　past　and　future　while　he　held　her；　whispering　brokenly　endearing
phrases。

〃You'll　ruin　my　roses；〃　she　protested　breathlessly；　at　last；　when　it
seemed　that　she　could　no　longer　bear　this　embrace；　nor　the　pressure　of
his　lips。　　〃There！　you　see　you're　crushing　them！〃　　She　undid　them；　and
buttoning　the　coat；　held　them　to　her　face。　　Their　odour　made　her　faint：
her　eyes　were　clouded。

〃Listen；　Claude！〃　she　said　at　last；it　was　the　first　time　she　had　called
him　sogetting　free。　　〃You　must　be　sensible！　some　one　might　come　along。〃

〃I'll　never　get　enough　of　you！〃　he　said。　　〃I　can't　believe　it　yet。〃　　And
added　irrelevantly：　〃Pin　the　roses　outside。〃

She　shook　her　head。　　Something　in　her　protested　against　this　too　public
advertisement　of　their　love。

〃I'd　rather　hold　them；〃　she　answered。　　〃Let's　go　on。〃　　He　started　the　car
again。　　〃Listen；　I　want　to　talk　to　you；　seriously。　　I've　been　thinking。〃

〃Don't　I　know　you've　been　thinking！〃　he　told　her　exuberantly。　　〃If　I
could　only　find　out　what's　always　going　on　in　that　little　head　of　yours！
If　you　keep　on　thinking　you'll　dry　up；　like　a　New　England　school…marm。
And　now　do　you　know　what　you　are？　　One　of　those　dusky　red　roses　just
ready　to　bloom。　　Some　day　I'll　buy　enough　to　smother　you　in　'em。〃

〃Listen！〃　she　repeated；　making　a　great　effort　to　calm　herself；　to　regain
something　of　that　frame　of　mind　in　which　their　love　had　assumed　the
proportions　of　folly　and　madness；　to　summon　up　the　scruples　which；　before
she　had　left　home　that　morning；　she　had　resolved　to　lay　before　him；　which
she　knew　would　return　when　she　could　be　alone　again。　　〃I　have　to　think
you　won't；〃　she　exclaimed；　with　a　fleeting　smile。

〃Well；　what　is　it？〃　he　assented。　　〃You　might　as　well　get　it　off　now。〃

And　it　took　all　her　strength　to　say：　〃I　don't　see　how　I　can　marry　you。
I've　told　you　the　reasons。　　You're　rich；　and　you　have　friends　who
wouldn't　understandand　your　childrenthey　wouldn't　understand。　　II'm
nothing；　I　know　it　isn't　right；　I　know　you　wouldn't　be　happy。　　I've　never
livedin　the　kind　of　house　you　live　in　and　known　the　kind　of　people　you
know；　I　shouldn't　know　what　to　do。〃

He　took　his　eyes　off　the　road　and　glanced　down　at　her　curiously。　　His
smile　was　self…confident；　exultant。

〃Now　do　you　feel　betteryou　little　Puritan？〃　he　said。

And　perforce　she　smiled　in　return；　a　pucker　appearing　between　her
eyebrows。

〃I　mean　it；〃　she　said。　　〃I　came　out　to　tell　you　so。　　I　knowit　just
isn't　possible。〃

〃I'd　marry　you　to…day　if　I　could　get　a　license；〃　he　declared。　　〃Why；
you're　worth　any　woman　in　America；　I　don't　care　who　she　is；　or　how　much
money　she　has。〃

In　spite　of　herself　she　was　absurdly　pleased。

〃Now　that　is　over；　we　won't　discuss　it　again；　do　you　understand？　　I've
got　you；〃　he　said；　〃and　I　mean　to　hold　on　to　you。〃

She　sighed。　　He　was　driving　slowly　now　along　the　sandy　road；　and　with　his
hand　on　hers　she　simply　could　not　think。　　The　spell　of　his　nearness；　of
his　touch；　which　all　nature　that　morning　conspired　to　deepen；　was　too
powerful　to　be　broken；　and　something　was　calling　to　her；　〃Take　this　day；
take　this　day；〃　drowning　out　the　other　voice　demanding　an　accounting。
She　was　livingwhat　did　it　all　matter？　　She　yielded　herself　to　the
witchery　of　the　hour；　the　sheer　delight　of　forthfaring　into　the　unknown。

They　turned　away　from　the　river；　crossing　the　hills　of　a　rolling　country
now　open；　now　wooded；　passing　white　farmhouses　and　red　barns；　and
ancient；　weather…beaten　dwellings　with　hipped　roofs　and　〃lean…tos〃　which
had　been　there　in　colonial　days　when　the　road　was　a　bridle…path。　　Cows
and　horses　stood　gazing　at　them　from　warm　paddocks；　where　the　rich；　black
mud　glistened；　melted　by　the　sun；　chickens　scratched　and　clucked　in　the
barnyards　or　flew　frantically　across　the　road；　sometimes　within　an　ace　of
destruction。　　Janet　flinched；　but　Ditmar　would　laugh；　gleefully；
boyishly。

〃We　nearly　got　that　one！〃　he　would　exclaim。　　And　then　he　had　to　assure
her　that　he　wouldn't　run　over　them。

〃I　haven't　run　over　one　yet；have　I？〃　he　would　demand。

〃No；　but　you　will；　it's　only　luck。〃

〃Luck！〃　he　cried　derisively。　　〃Skill！　　I　wish　I　had　a　dollar　for　every
one　I　got　when　I　was　learning　to　drive。　　There　was　a　farmer　over　here　in
Chester〃　and　he　proceeded　to　relate　how　he　had　had　to　pay　for　two
turkeys。　　〃He　got　my　number；　the　old　hayseed；　he　was　laying　for　me；　and
the　next　time　I　went　back　that　way　he　held　me　up　for　five　dollars。　　I　can
remember　the　time　when　a　man　in　a　motor　was　an　easy　mark　for　every　reuben
in　the　county。　　They　got　rich　on　us。〃

She　responded　to　his　mood；　which　was　wholly　irresponsible；　exuberant；　and
they　laughed　together　like　children；　every　little　incident　assuming　an
aspect　irresistibly　humorous。　　Once　he　stopped　to　ask　an　old　man　standing
in　his　dooryard　how　far　it　was　to　Kingsbury。

〃Wal；　mebbe　it's　two　mile；　they　mostly　call　it　two；〃　said　the　patriarch；
after　due　reflection；　gathering　his　beard　in　his　band。　　〃Mebbe　it's
more。〃　　His　upper　lip　was　blue；　shaven；　prehensile。

〃What　did　you　ask　him　for；　when　you　know？〃　said　Janet；　mirthfully；　when
they　had　gone　on；　and　Ditmar　was　imitating　him。　　Ditmar's　reply　was　to
wink　at　her。　　Presently　they　saw　another　figure　on　the　road。

〃Let's　see　what　he'll　say；〃　Ditmar　proposed。　　This　man　was　young；　the
colour　of　mahogany；　with　glistening　black　hair　and　glistening　black　eyes
that　regarded　the　too　palpable　joyousness　of　their　holiday　humour　in　mute
surprise。

〃I　no　knowstranger；〃　he　said。

〃No　speaka　Portugueso？〃　inquired　Ditmar；　gravely。

〃The　country　is　getting　filthy　with　foreigners；〃　he　observed；　when　he　had
started　the　car。　　〃I　went　down　to　Plymouth　last　summer　to　see　the　old
rock；　and　by　George；　it　seemed　as　if　there　wasn't　anybody　could　speak
American　on　the　whole　cape。　　All　the　Portuguese　islands　are　dumped　there…
…cranberry　pickers；　you　know。〃

〃I　didn't　know　that；〃　said　Janet。

〃Sure　thing！〃　he　exclaimed。　　〃And　when　I　got　there；　what　do　you　think？
there　was　hardly　enough　of　the　old　stone　left　to　stand　on；　and　that　had　a
fence　around　it　like　an　exhibit　in　an　exposition。　　It　had　all　been
chipped　away　by　souvenir　hunters。〃

She　gazed　at　him　incredulously。

〃You　don't　believe　me！　　I'll　take　you　down　there　sometime。　　And　another
thing；　the　rock's　high　and　dryup　on　the　land。　　I　said　to　Charlie　Crane；
who　was　with　me；　that　it　must　have　been　a　peach　of　a　jump　for　old　Miles
Standish　and　Priscilla　what's　her　name。〃

〃How　I'd　love　to　see　the　ocean　again！〃　　Janet　exclaimed。

〃Why；　I'll　take　youas　often　as　you　like；〃　he　promised。　　〃We'll　go　out
on　it　in　summer；　up　to　Maine；　or　down　to　the　Cape。〃

Her　enchantment　was　now　so　great　that　nothing　seemed　impossible。

〃And　we'll　go　down　to　Plymouth；　too；　some　Sunday　soon；　if　this　weather
keeps　up。　　If　we　start　early　enough　we　can　get　there　for　lunch；　easy。
We'll　see　the　rock。　　I　guess　some　of　your　ancestors　must　have　come　over
with　that　Mayflower　outfitfirst　cabin；　eh？　　You　look　like　it。〃

Janet　laughed。　　〃It's　a　joke　on　them；　if　they　did。　　I　wonder　what　they'd
think　of　Hampton；　if　they　could　see　it　now。　　I　counted　up　once；　just　t