the dust-第3章

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；　of　weeping　until　there　were　no　more　tears　to　drain　away。

〃Miss　Hallowell〃　he　began。

She　startled；　and　like　the　flight　of　an　interrupted　dream；　the　woman　he　had　been　seeing　vanished。　　There　sat　the　commonplace　young　person　he　had　first　seen。　He　said　to　himself：　　〃I　must　be　a　little　off　my　base　to…night；〃　and　went　on　with　the　dictation。　　When　he　finished　she　withdrew　to　transcribe　the　letter　on　the　typewriter。　　He　seated　himself　at　his　desk　and　plunged　into　the　masses　of　documents。　　He　lost　the　sense　of　his　surroundings　until　she　stood　beside　him　holding　the　typewritten　pages。　　He　did　not　glance　up；　but　seized　the　sheets　to　read　and　sign。

〃You　may　go；〃　said　he。　　〃I　am　very　much　obliged　to　you。〃　　And　he　contrived；　as　always；　to　put　a　suggestion　of　genuineness　into　the　customary　phrase。

〃I'm　afraid　it's　not　good　work；〃　said　she。　　〃I'll　wait　to　see　if　I　am　to　do　any　of　it　over。〃

〃No；　thank　you；〃　said　he。　　And　he　looked　up　to　find　himself　gazing　at　still　another　person；　wholly　different　from　any　he　had　seen　before。　　The　others　had　all　been　womenwomanly　women；　full　of　the　weakness；　the　delicateness　rather；　that　distinguishes　the　feminine。　This　woman　he　was　looking　at　now　had　a　look　of　strength。　　He　had　thought　her　frail。　　He　was　seeing　a　strong　womana　splendidly　healthy　body；　with　sinews　of　steel　most　gracefully　covered　by　that　fair　smooth　skin　of　hers。　　And　her　features；　toowhy；　this　girl　was　a　person　of　character；　of　will。

He　glanced　through　the　pages。　　〃All　rightthank　you；〃　he　said　hastily。　　〃Please　don't　stay　any　longer。　Leave　the　other　thing　till　to…morrow。〃


〃Noit　has　to　be　done　to…night。〃

〃But　I　insist　upon　your　going。〃

She　hesitated；　said　quietly；　〃Very　well；〃　and　turned　to　go。

〃And　you　mustn't　do　it　at　home；　either。〃

She　made　no　reply；　but　waited　respectfully　until　it　was　evident　he　wished　to　say　no　more；　then　went　out。　He　bundled　together　his　papers；　sealed　and　stamped　and　addressed　his　letter；　put　on　his　overcoat　and　hat　and　crossed　the　outer　office　on　his　way　to　the　door。　It　was　empty；　she　was　gone。　　He　descended　in　the　elevator　to　the　street；　remembered　that　he　had　not　locked　one　of　his　private　cases；　returned。　　As　he　opened　the　outer　door　he　heard　the　sound　of　typewriter　keys。　In　the　corner；　the　obscure；　sheltered　corner；　sat　the　girl；　bent　with　childlike　gravity　over　her　typewriter。　　It　was　an　amusing　and　a　touching　sightshe　looked　so　young　and　so　solemnly　in　earnest。

〃Didn't　I　tell　you　to　go　home？〃　he　called　out；　with　mock　sternness。

Up　she　sprang；　her　hand　upon　her　heart。　　And　once　more　she　was　beautiful；　but　once　more　it　was　in　a　way　startlingly；　unbelievably　different　from　any　expression　he　had　seen　before。

〃Now；　really。　　Miss〃　　He　had　forgotten　her　name。　〃You　must　not　stay　on　here。　　We　aren't　such　slave　drivers　as　all　that。　　Go　home；　please。　　I'll　take　the　responsibility。〃

She　had　recovered　her　equanimity。　　In　her　quiet；　gentle　voicebut　it　no　longer　sounded　weak　or　insignificant　she　said；　〃You　are　very　kind；　Mr。　Norman。　But　I　must　finish　my　work。〃

〃Haven't　I　said　I'd　take　the　blame？〃

〃But　you　can't；〃　replied　she。　　〃I　work　badly。　　I　seem　to　learn　slowly。　　If　I　fall　behind；　I　shall　lose　my　placesooner　or　later。　　It　was　that　way　with　the　last　place　I　had。　　If　you　interfered；　you'd　only　injure　me。　I've　had　experience。　　AndI　must　not　lose　my　place。〃

One　of　the　scrub　women　thrust　her　mussy　head　and　ragged；　shapeless　body　in　at　the　door。　　With　a　start　Norman　awoke　to　the　absurdity　of　his　situationand　to　the　fact　that　he　was　placing　the　girl　in　a　compromising　position。　　He　shrugged　his　shoulders；　went　in　and　locked　the　cabinet；　departed。

〃What　a　queer　little　insignificance　she　is！〃　thought　he；　and　dismissed　her　from　mind。



II


MANY　and　fantastic　are　the　illusions　the　human　animal；　in　its　ignorance　and　its　optimism；　devises　to　change　life　from　a　pleasant　journey　along　a　plain　road　into　a　fumbling　and　stumbling　and　struggling　about　in　a　fog。　　Of　these　hallucinations　the　most　grotesque　is　that　the　weak　can　come　together；　can　pass　a　law　to　curb　the　strong；　can　set　one　of　their　number　to　enforce　it；　may　then　disperse　with　no　occasion　further　to　trouble　about　the　strong。　　Every　line　of　every　page　of　history　tells　how　the　strongthe　nimble…witted；　the　farsighted；　the　ambitioushave　worked　their　will　upon　their　feebler　and　less　purposeful　fellow　men；　regardless　of　any　and　all　precautions　to　the　contrary。　　Conditions　have　improved　only　because　the　number　of　the　strong　has　increased。　　With　so　many　lions　at　war　with　each　other　not　a　few　rabbits　contrive　to　avoid　perishing　in　the　nest。

Norman's　genius　lay　in　ability　to　take　away　from　an　adversary　the　legal　weapons　implicitly　relied　upon　and　to　arm　his　client　with　them。　　No　man　understood　better　than　he　the　abysmal　distinction　between　law　and　justice；　no　man　knew　better　than　he　how　to　compel…　or　to　assistcourts　to　apply　the　law；　so　just　in　the　general；　to　promoting　injustice　in　the　particular。　　And　whenever　he　permitted　conscience　a　voice　in　his　internal　debatesit　was　not　oftenhe　heard　from　it　its　usual　servile　approbation：　　How　can　the　reign　of　justice　be　more　speedily　brought　about　than　by　making　the　reign　of　lawlawyer　lawintolerable？

About　a　fortnight　after　the　trifling　incident　related　in　the　previous　chapter；　Norman　had　to　devise　a　secret　agreement　among　several　of　the　most　eminent　of　his　clients。　　They　wished　to　band　together；　to　do　a　thing　expressly　forbidden　by　the　law；　they　wished　to　conspire　to　lower　wages　and　raise　prices　in　several　railway　systems　under　their　control。　　But　none　would　trust　the　others；　so　there　must　be　something　in　writing；　laid　away　in　a　secret　safety　deposit　box　along　with　sundry　bundles　of　securities　put　up　as　forfeit；　all　in　the　custody　of　Norman。　　When　he　had　worked　out　in　his　mind　and　in　fragmentary　notes　the　details　of　their　agreement；　he　was　ready　for　some　one　to　do　the　clerical　work。　　The　some　one　must　be　absolutely　trustworthy；　as　the　plain　language　of　the　agreement　would　make　clear　to　the　dullest　mind　dazzling　opportunities　for　profitnot　only　in　stock　jobbing　but　also　in　blackmail。　　He　rang　for　Tetlow；　the　head　clerk。　　Tetlowsmooth　and　sly　and　smug；　lacking　only　courageous　initiative　to　make　him　a　great　lawyer；　but；　lacking　that；　lacking　allTetlow　entered　and　closed　the　door　behind　him。

Norman　leaned　back　in　his　desk　chair　and　laced　his　fingers　behind　his　head。　　〃One　of　your　typewriters　is　a　slight　blonde　girlsits　in　the　corner　to　the　far　left　if　she's　still　here。〃

〃Miss　Hallowell；〃　said　Tetlow。　　〃We　are　letting　her　go　at　the　end　of　this　week。　　She's　nice　and　ladylike；　and　willingin　fact；　most　anxious　to　please。　　But　the　work's　too　difficult　for　her。　　She's　ratherratherwell；　not　exactly　stupid；　but　slow。〃

〃Um；〃　said　Norman　reflectively。　　〃There's　Miss　Bostwickperhaps　she'll　do。〃

〃Miss　Bostwick　got　married　last　week。〃

Norman　smiled。　　He　remembered　the　girl　because　she　was　the　oldest　and　homeliest　in　the　office。　　〃There's　somebody　for　everybodyeh；　Tetlow？〃

〃He　was　a　lighthouse　keeper；〃　said　Tetlow。　〃There's　a　story　that　he　advertised　for　a　wife。　　But　that　may　be　a　joke。〃

〃Why　not　that　MissMiss　Halloway？〃　mused　Norman。

〃Miss　Hallowell；〃　corrected　Tetlow。

〃Hallowellyes。　　Is　sheVERY　incompetent？

〃Not　exactly　that。　　But　business　is　slackening　and　she's　been　only　temporaryand〃

Norman　cut　him　off　with；　〃Send　her　in。〃

〃You　don't　wish　her　dismissed？　　I　haven't　told　her　yet。〃

〃Oh；　I'm　not　interfering　in　your　department。　　Do　as　you　like。　。　。　。　　Noin　this　caselet　her　stay　on　for　the　present。〃

〃I　can　use　her；〃　said　Tetlow。　　〃And　she　gets　only　ten　a　week。〃

Norman　frowned。　　He　did　not　like　to　HEAR　that　an　establishment　in　which　he　had　control　paid　less　than　decent　living　wageseven　if　the　market　price　did　excuseyes；　compel　it。　　〃Send　her　in；〃　he　repeated。　Then；　as　Tetlow　was　about　to　leave；　〃She　is　trustworthy？〃

〃All　our　force　is。　　I　see　to　that；　Mr。　Norman。〃

〃Has　she　a　young　mansteady　company；　I　think　they　call　it？〃

〃She　has　no　friends　at　all。　　She's　extremely　shy　at　least；　reserved。　　Lives　with　her　father；　an　old　crank　of　an　analytical　chemist　over　in　Jersey　City。　　She　hasn't　even　a　lady　friend。〃

〃Well；　send　her　in。〃

A　moment　later　Norman；　looking　up　from　his　work；　saw　the　dim　slim　nonentity　before　him。　　Again　he　leaned　back　and；　as　he　talked　with　her；　studied　her　face　to　make　sure　that　his　first　judgment　was　correct。　　〃Do　you　stay　late　every　night？〃　asked　he　smilingly。

She　colored　a　little；　but　enough　to　bring　out　the　exquisite　fineness　of　her　white　skin。　　〃Oh；　I　don't　mind；〃　said　she；　and　there　was　no　embarrassment　in　her　manner。　〃I've　got　to　learnand　doing　things　over　helps。〃

〃Nothing　equal　to　it；〃　declared　Norman。　　〃You've　been　to　school？〃

〃Only　six　weeks；〃　confessed　she。　　〃I　couldn't　afford　to　stay　longer。〃

〃I　mean　the　other　sort　of　schoolnot　the　typewriting。〃

〃Oh！　　Yes；〃　said　she。　　And　once　more　he　saw　that　extraordinary　transformation。　　She　became　all　in　an　instant　delicately；　deliciously　lovely；　with　the　moving；　in　a　way　pathetic　loveliness　of　sweet　children　and　sweet　flowers。　　Her　look　was　mystery；　but　not　a　mystery　of　guile。　　She　evidently　did　not　wish　to　have　her　past　brought　to　view；　but　it　was　equally　apparent　that　behind　it　lay　hid　nothing　shameful；　only　the　sad；　perhaps　the　painful。　　Of　all　the　periods　of　life　youth　is　the　best　fitted　to　bear　deep　sorrows；　for　then　the　spirit　has　its　full　measure　of　elasticity。　　Yet　a　shadow　upon　youth　is　always　more　moving　than　the　shadows　of　maturer　yearsthose　shadows　that　do　not　lie　upon　the　surface　but　are　heavy　and　corroding　stains。　　When　Norman　saw　this　shadow　upon　her　youth；　so　immature…looking；　so　helpless…looking；　he　felt　the　first　impulse　of　genuine　interest　in　her。　　Perhaps；　had　that　shadow　happened　to　fall　when　he　was　seeing　her　as　the　commonplace　and　colorless　little　struggler　for　bread；　and　seeming　doomed　speedily　to　be　worsted　in　the　struggleperhaps；　he　would　have　felt　no　interest；　but　only　the　brief　qualm　of　pity　that　we　dare　not　encourage　in　ourselves；　on　a　journey　so　beset　with　hopeless　pitiful　things　as　is　the　journey　through　life。

But　he　had　no　impulse　to　question　her。　　And　with　some　surprise　he　noted　that　his　reason　for　refraining　was　not　the　usual　reasonunwillingness　uselessly　to　add　to　one's　own　burdens　by　inviting　the　mournful　confidences　of　another。　　No；　he　checked　himself　because　in　the　manner　of　this　frail　and　mouselike　creature；　dim　though　she　once　more　was；　there　appeared　a　dignity；　a　reserve；　that　made　intrusion　curiously　impossible。　　With　an　apologetic　note　in　his　voicea　kind　and　friendly　voicehe　said：

〃Please　have　your　typewriter　brought　in　here。　　I　want　you　to　do　some　work　for　mework　that　isn't　to　be　spoken　ofnot　even　to　Mr。　Tetlow。〃　　He　looked　at　her　with　grave　penetrating　eyes。　　〃You　will　not　speak　of　it？〃

〃No；〃　replied　she；　and　nothing　more。　　But　she　accompanied　the　simple　negative　with　a　clear　and　honest　sincerity　of　the　eyes　that　set　his　mind　completely　at　rest。　　He　felt　that　this　girl　had　never　in　her　life　told　a　real　lie。

One　of　the　office　boys　installed　the　typewriter；　and　presently　Norman　and　the　quiet　nebulous　girl　at　whom　no　one　would　trouble　to　look　a　second　time　were　seated　opposite　each　other　with　the　broad　table　desk　between；　h