the dwelling place of ligh-第38章

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over　the　fifty…four　hour　law　that　goes　into　effect　in　January。〃

〃Yes；　what　of　it？〃　Ditmar　cut　in。　　〃The　notices　have　been　posted；　as　the
law　requires。〃

〃The　hands　have　been　grumbling；　there　are　trouble　makers　among　them。　　A
delegation　came　to　me　this　noon　and　wanted　to　know　whether　we　intended　to
cut　the　pay　to　correspond　to　the　shorter　working　hours。〃

〃Of　course　it's　going　to　be　cut；〃　said　Ditmar。　　〃What　do　they　suppose？
That　we're　going　to　pay　'em　for　work　they　don't　do？　　The　hands　not　paid
by　the　piece　are　paid　practically　by　the　hour；　not　by　the　day。　　And
there's　got　to　be　some　limit　to　this　thing。　　If　these　damned　demagogues
in　the　legislature　keep　on　cutting　down　the　hours　of　women　and　children
every　three　years　or　soand　we　can't　run　the　mill　without　the　women　and
childrenwe　might　as　well　shut　down　right　now。　　Three　years　ago；　　when
they　made　it　fifty…six　hours；　we　were　fools　to　keep　up　the　pay。　　I　said
so　then；　at　the　conference；　but　they　wouldn't　listen　to　me。　　They
listened　this　time。　　Holster　and　one　or　two　others　croaked；　but　we　shut
'em　up。　　No；　they　won't　get　any　more　pay；　not　a　damned　cent。〃

Orcutt　had　listened　patiently；　lugubriously。

〃I　told　them　that。〃

〃What　did　they　say？〃

〃They　said　they　thought　there'd　be　a　strike。〃

〃Pooh！　　Strike！〃　exclaimed　Ditmar　with　contemptuous　violence。　　〃Do　you
believe　that？　　You're　always　borrowing　trouble；　you　are。　　They　may　have　a
strike　at　one　mill；　the　Clarendon。　　I　hope　they　do；　I　hope　Holster　gets
it　in　the　neckhe　don't　know　how　to　run　a　mill　anyway。　　We　won't　have
any　strike；　our　people　understand　when　they're　well　off；　they've　got　all
the　work　they　can　do；　they're　sending　fortunes　back　to　the　old　country　or
piling　them　up　in　the　banks。　　It's　all　bluff。〃

〃There　was　a　meeting　of　the　English　branch　of　the　I。　W。　W。　　last　night。
A　committee　was　appointed；〃　said　Orcutt；　who　as　usual　took　a　gloomy
satisfaction　in　the　prospect　of　disaster。

〃The　I。　W。　W。！　　My　God；　Orcutt；　don't　you　know　enough　not　to　come　in　here
wasting　my　time　talking　about　the　I。　W。　W。？　　Those　anarchists　haven't　got
any　organization。　　Can't　you　get　that　through　your　head？〃

〃All　right；〃　replied　Orcutt；　and　marched　off。　　Janet　felt　rather　sorry
for　him；　though　she　had　to　admit　that　his　manner　was　exasperating。　　But
Ditmar's　anger；　instead　of　cooling；　increased：　it　all　seemed　directed
against　the　unfortunate　superintendent。

〃Would　you　believe　that　a　man　who's　been　in　this　mill　twenty…five　years
could　be　such　a　fool？〃　he　demanded。　　〃The　I。　W。　W。！　　Why　not　the　Ku　Klux？
He　must　think　I　haven't　anything　to　do　but　chin。　　I　don't　know　why　I　keep
him　here；　sometimes　I　think　he'll　drive　me　crazy。〃

His　eyes　seemed　to　have　grown　small　and　red；　as　was　always　the　case　when
his　temper　got　the　better　of　him。　　Janet　did　not　reply；　but　sat　with　her
pencil　poised　over　her　book。

〃Let's　see；　where　was　I？〃　he　asked。　　〃I　can't　finish　that　letter　now。　　Go
out　and　do　the　others。〃

Mundane　experience；　like　a　badly　mixed　cake；　has　a　tendency　to　run　in
streaks；　and　on　the　day　following　the　incident　related　above　Janet's
heart　was　heavy。　　Ditmar　betrayed　an　increased　shortness　of　temper　and
preoccupation；　and　the　consciousness　that　her　love　had　lent　her　a
clairvoyant　power　to　trace　the　source　of　his　humours　though　these　were
often　hidden　from　or　unacknowledged　by　himselfwas　in　this　instance
small　consolation。　　She　saw　clearly　enough　that　the　apprehensions
expressed　by　Mr。　Orcutt；　whom　he　had　since　denounced　as　an　idiotic　old
woman；　had　made　an　impression；　aroused　in　him　the　ever…abiding　concern
for　the　mill　which　was　his　life's　passion　and　which　had　been　but
temporarily　displaced　by　his　infatuation　with　her。　　That　other　passion
was　paramount。　　What　was　she　beside　it？　　Would　he　hesitate　for　a　moment
to　sacrifice　her　if　it　came　to　a　choice　between　them？　　The
tempestuousness　of　these　thoughts；　when　they　took　possession　of　her；
hinting　as　they　did　of　possibilities　in　her　nature　hitherto　unguessed　and
unrevealed；　astonished　and　frightened　her；　she　sought　to　thrust　them
away；　to　reassure　herself　that　his　concern　for　the　successful　delivery　of
the　Bradlaugh　order　was　natural。　　During　the　morning；　in　the　intervals
between　interviews　with　the　superintendents；　he　was　self…absorbed；　and
she　found　herself　inconsistently　resenting　the　absence　of　those
expressions　of　endearmentthe　glances　and　stolen　caressesfor
indulgence　in　which　she　had　hitherto　rebuked　him：　and　though　pride　came
to　her　rescue；　fuel　was　added　to　her　feeling　by　the　fact　that　he　did　not
seem　to　notice　her　coolness。　　Since　he　failed　to　appear　after　lunch；　she
knew　he　must　be　investigating　the　suspicions　Orcutt　had　voiced；　but　at
six　o'clock；　when　he　had　not　returned；　she　closed　up　her　desk　and　left
the　office。　　An　odour　of　cheap　perfume　pervading　the　corridor　made　her
aware　of　the　presence　of　Miss　Lottie　Myers。

〃Oh；　it's　you！〃　said　that　young　woman；　looking　up　from　the　landing　of　the
stairs。　　〃I　might　have　known　it　you　never　make　a　get…away　until　after
six；　do　you？〃

〃Oh；　sometimes；〃　said　Janet。

〃I　stayed　as　a　special　favour　to…night；〃　Miss　Myers　declared。　　〃But　I'm
not　so　stuck　on　my　job　that　I　can't　tear　myself　away　from　it。〃

〃I　don't　suppose　you　are；〃　said　Janet。

For　a　moment　Miss　Myers　looked　as　if　she　was　about　to　be　still　more
impudent；　but　her　eye　met　Janet's；　and　wavered。　　They　crossed　the　bridge
in　silence。　　〃Well；　ta…ta；〃　she　said。　　〃If　you　like　it；　it's　up　to　you。
Five　o'clock　for　mine；〃and　walked　away；　up　the　canal；　swinging　her　hips
defiantly。　　And　Janet；　gazing　after　her；　grew　hot　with　indignation　and
apprehension。　　Her　relations　with　Ditmar　were　suspected；　after　all；　made
the　subject　of　the　kind　of　comment　indulged　in；　sotto　voce；　by　Lottie
Myers　and　her　friends　at　the　luncheon　hour。　　She　felt　a　mad；　primitive
desire　to　run　after　the　girl；　to　spring　upon　and　strangle　her　and　compel
her　to　speak　what　was　in　her　mind　and　then　retract　it；　and　the　motor
impulse；　inhibited；　caused　a　sensation　of　sickness；　of　unhappiness　and
degradation　as　she　turned　her　steps　slowly　homeward。　　Was　it　a
misinterpretation；　after　allwhat　Lottie　Myers　had　implied　and　feared　to
say？。。。

In　Fillnore　Street　supper　was　over；　and　Lise；　her　face　contorted；　her
body　strained；　was　standing　in　front　of　the　bureau　〃doing〃　her　hair；　her
glance　now　seeking　the　mirror；　now　falling　again　to　consult　a　model　in
one　of　those　periodicals　of　froth　and　fashion　that　cause　such　numberless
heart　burnings　in　every　quarter　of　our　democracy；　and　which　are　filled
with　photographs　of　〃prominent〃　persons　at　race　meetings；　horse　shows；
and　resorts；　and　with　actresses；　dancers；and　mannequins。　　Janet's　eyes
fell　on　the　open　page　to　perceive　that　the　coiffure　her　sister　so
painfully　imitated　was　worn　by　a　young　woman　with　an　insolent；　vapid　face
and　hard　eyes；　whose　knees　were　crossed；　revealing　considerably　more　than
an　ankle。　　The　picture　was　labelled；　〃A　dance　at　Palm　BeachA　flashlight
of　Mrs。　'Trudy'　Gascoigne…Schell；〃one　of　those　mysterious；　hybrid　names
which；　in　connection　with　the　thoughts　of　New　York　and　the　visible　rakish
image　of　the　lady　herself；　cause　involuntary　shudders　down　the　spine　of
the　reflecting　American　provincial。　　Some　such　responsive　quiver；　akin　to
disgust；　Janet　herself　experienced。

〃It's　the　very　last　scream；〃　Lise　was　saying。　　〃And　say；　if　I　owned　a
ball　dress　like　that　I'd　be　somebody's　Lulu　all　right！　　Can　I　have　the
pleasure　of　the　next　maxixe；　Miss　Bumpus？〃　　With　deft　and　rapid　fingers
she　lead　parted　her　hair　far　on　the　right　side　and　pulled　it　down　over
the　left　eyebrow；　twisted　it　over　her　ear　and　tightly　around　her　head；
inserting　here　and　there　a　hairpin；　seizing　the　hand　mirror　with　the
cracked　back；　and　holding　it　up　behind　her。　　Finally；　when　the　operation
was　finished　to

her　satisfaction　she　exclaimed；　evidently　to　the　paragon　in　the　picture；
〃I　get　you！〃　　Whereupon；　from　the　wardrobe；　she　produced　a　hat。　　〃You
sure　had　my　number　when　you　guessed　the　feathers　on　that　other　would　get
draggled；〃　she　observed　in　high　good　humour；　generously　ignoring　their
former　unpleasantness　on　the　subject。　　When　she　had　pinned　it　on　she　bent
mockingly　over　her　sister；　who　sat　on　the　bed。　　〃How　d'you　like　my　new
toque？　　Peekaboo！　　That's　the　way　the　guys　rubberneck　to　see　if　you're
good　lookin'。〃

Lise　was　exalted；　feverish；　apparently　possessed　by　some　high　secret；　her
eyes　shone；　and　when　she　crossed　the　room　she　whistled　bars　of　ragtime
and　executed　mincing　steps　of　the　maxixe。　　Fumbling　in　the　upper　drawer
for　a　pair　of　white　gloves　（also　new）；　she　knocked　off　the　corner　of　the
bureau　her　velvet　bag；　it　opened　as　it　struck　the　floor；　and　out　of　it
rolled　a　lilac　vanity　case　and　a　yellow　coin。　　Casting　a　suspicious；
lightning　glance　at　Janet；　she　snatched　up　the　vanity　case　and　covered
the　coin　with　her　foot。

〃Lock　the　doors！〃　she　cried；　with　an　hysteric　giggle。　　Then　removing　her
foot　she　picked　up　the　coin　surreptitiously。　　To　her　amazement　her　sister
made　no　comment；　did　not　seem　to　have　taken　in　the　significance　of　the
episode。　　Lise　had　expected　a　tempest　of　indignant；　searching　questions；
a　〃third　degree；〃　as　she　would　have　put　it。　　She　snapped　the　bag
together；　drew　on　her　gloves；　and；　when　she　was　ready　to　leave；　with
characteristic　audacity　crossed　the　room；　taking　her　sister's　face
between　her　hands　and　kissing　her。

〃Tell　me　your　troubles；　sweetheart！〃　she　saidand　did　not　wait　to　hear
them。

Janet　was　incapable　of　speechnor　could　she　have　brought　herself　to　ask
Lise　whether　or　not　the　money　had　been　earned　at　the　Bagatelle；　and
remained　miraculously　unspent。　　It　was　possible；　but　highly　incredible。
And　then；　the　vanity　case　and　the　new　hat　were　to　be　accounted　for！　　The
sight　of　the　gold　piece；　indeed；　had　suddenly　revived　in　Janet　the　queer
feeling　of　faintness；　almost　of　nausea　she　had　experienced　after　parting
with　Lottie　Myers。　　And　by　some　untoward　association　she　was　reminded　of
a　conversation　she　had　had　with　Ditmar　on　the　Saturday　afternoon
following　their　first　Sunday　excursion；　when；　on　opening　her　pay
envelope；　she　had　found　twenty　dollars。

〃Are　you　sure　I'm　worth　it？〃　she　had　demandedand　he　had　been　quite
sure。　　He　had　added　that　she　was　worth　more；　much　more；　but　that　he　could
not　give　her　as　yet；　without　the　risk　of　comment；　a　sum　commensurate　with
the　value　of　her　services。。。。　　But　now　she　asked　herself　again；　was　she
worth　it？　or　was　it　merelypart　of　her　price？　　Going　to　the　wardrobe　and
opening　a　drawer　at　the　bottom　she　searched　among　her　clothes　until　she
discovered　the　piece　of　tissue　paper　in　which　she　had　wrapped　the　rose
rescued　from　the　cluster　he　had　given　her。　　The　petals　were　dry；　yet　they
gave　forth；　still；　a　faint；　reminiscent　fragrance　as　she　pressed　them　to
her　face。　　Janet　wept。。。。

The　following　morning　as　she　was　kneeling　in　a　corner　of　the　room　by　the
letter　files；　one　of　which　she　had　placed　on　the　floor；　she　recognized
his　step　in　the　outer　office；　heard　him　pause　to　joke　with　young
Caldwell；　and　needed　not　the　visual　proofwhen　after　a　moment　he　halted
on　the　thresholdof　the　fact　that　his　usual；　buoyant　spirits　were
restored。　　He　held　a　cigar　in　his　hand；　and　in