the dust-第30章

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〃On　the　contrary；〃　rejoined　the　young　man；　〃I　see　you　believe　you　have　me　in　your　power。　　And　in　a　sense　you　are　NOT　mistaken。〃

〃Father；　he　is　right；〃　cried　Josephine　agitatedly。　〃I　shouldn't　love　and　respect　him　as　I　do　if　he　would　submit　to　this　hectoring。〃

〃Hectoring！〃　exclaimed　Burroughs。　　〃Josephine；　leave　the　room。　　I　cannot　discuss　this　matter　properly　before　you。〃

〃I　hope　you　will　not　leave；　Josephine；〃　said　Nor…　man。　　〃There　is　nothing　to　be　said　that　you　cannot　and　ought　not　to　hear。〃

〃I'm　not　an　infant；　father；〃　said　Josephine。　〃Besides；　it　is　as　Fred　says。　　He　has　done　nothing　improper。〃

〃Then　why　does　he　not　say　so？〃　demanded　Burroughs；　seeing　a　chance　to　recede　from　his　former　too　advanced　position。　　〃That's　all　I　ask。〃

〃But　I　told　you　all　about　it；　father；〃　said　Josephine　angrily。　　〃They've　been　distorting　the　truth；　and　the　truth　is　to　his　credit。〃

Norman　avoided　the　glance　she　sent　to　him；　it　was　only　a　glance　and　away；　for　more　formidably　than　ever　his　power　was　enthroned　in　his　haggard　face。　　He　stood　with　his　back　to　the　fire　and　it　was　plain　that　the　muscles　of　his　strong　figure　were　braced　to　give　and　to　receive　a　shock。　　〃Mr。　Burroughs；〃　he　said；　〃your　daughter　is　mistaken。　　Perhaps　it　is　my　fault　in　having　helped　her　to　mislead　herself。　　The　plain　truth　is；　I　have　become　infatuated　with　a　young　woman。　She　cares　nothing　about　mehas　repulsed　me。　　I　have　been　and　am　making　a　fool　of　myself　about　her。　　I've　been　hoping　to　cure　myself。　　I　still　hope。　　But　I　am　not　cured。〃

There　was　absolute　silence　in　the　room。　　Norman　stole　a　glance　at　Josephine。　　She　was　sitting　erect；　a　greenish　pallor　over　her　ghastly　face。

He　said：　　〃If　she　will　take　me；　now　that　she　knows　the　truth；　I　shall　be　gratefuland　I　shall　make　what　effort　I　can　to　do　my　best。〃

He　looked　at　her　and　she　at　him。　　And　for　an　instant　her　eyes　softened。　　There　was　the　appeal　of　weak　human　heart　to　weak　human　heart　in　his　gaze。　　Her　lip　quivered。　　A　brief　struggle　between　vanity　and　love　and　vanity；　the　stronger；　the　strongest　force　in　her　life；　dominating　it　since　earliest　babyhood　and　only　seeming　to　give　way　to　love　when　love　cameit　was　vanity　that　won。　　She　stiffened　herself　and　her　mouth　curled　with　proud　scorn。　　She　laugheda　sneer　of　jealous　rage。　〃Father；〃　she　said；　〃the　lady　in　the　case　is　a　common　typewriter　in　his　office。〃

But　to　menespecially　to　practical　men　differences　of　rank　and　position　among　women　are　not　fundamentally　impressive。　　Man　is　in　the　habit　of　taking　what　he　wants　in　the　way　of　womankind　wherever　he　finds　it；　and　he　understands　that　habit　in　other　men。　　He　was　furious　with　Norman；　but　he　did　not　sympathize　with　his　daughter's　extreme　attitude。　　He　said　to　Norman　sharply：

〃You　say　you　have　broken　with　the　woman？〃

〃She　has　broken　with　me；〃　replied　Norman。

〃At　any　rate；　everything　is　broken　off。〃

〃Apparently。〃

〃Then　there　is　no　reason　why　the　marriage　should　not　go　on。〃　　He　turned　to　his　daughter。　　〃If　you　understood　men；　you　would　attach　no　importance　to　this　matter。　　As　you　yourself　said；　the　woman　isn't　a　lady　isn't　in　our　class。　　That　sort　of　thing　amounts　to　nothing。　　Norman　has　acted　well。　　He　has　shown　the　highest　kind　of　honestyhas　been　truthful　where　most　men　would　have　shifted　and　lied。　　Anyhow；　things　have　gone　too　far。〃　　Not　without　the　soundest　reasons　had　Burroughs　accepted　Norman　as　his　son…in…law；　and　he　had　no　fancy　for　giving　him　up；　when　men　of　his　pre…eminent　fitness　were　so　rare。

There　was　another　profound　silence。　　Josephine　looked　at　Norman。　　Had　he　returned　her　gaze；　the　event　might　have　been　different；　for　within　her　there　was　now　going　on　a　struggle　between　two　nearly　evenly　matched　vanitiesthe　vanity　of　her　own　outraged　pride　and　the　vanity　of　what　the　world　would　say　and　think；　if　the　engagement　were　broken　off　at　that　time　and　in　those　circumstances。　　But　he　did　not　look　at　her。　　He　kept　his　eyes　fixed　upon　the　opposite　wall；　and　there　was　no　sign　of　emotion　of　any　kind　in　his　stony　features。　　Josephine　rose；　suppressed　a　sob；　looked　arrogant　scorn　from　eyes　shining　with　tearstears　of　self…　pity。　　〃Send　him　away；　father；〃　she　said。　　〃He　has　tried　to　degrade　ME！　　I　am　done　with　him。〃　　And　she　rushed　from　the　room；　her　father　half　starting　from　his　chair　to　detain　her。

He　turned　angrily　on　Norman。　　〃A　hell　of　a　mess　you've　made！〃　he　cried。

〃A　hell　of　a　mess；〃　replied　the　young　man。

〃Of　course　she'll　come　round。　　But　you've　got　to　do　your　part。〃

〃It's　settled；〃　said　Norman。　　And　he　threw　his　cigar　into　the　fireplace。　　〃Good　night。〃

〃Hold　on！〃　cried　Burroughs。　　〃Before　you　go；　you　must　see　Josie　alone　and　talk　with　her。〃

〃It　would　be　useless；〃　said　Norman。　　〃You　know　her。〃

Burroughs　laid　his　hand　friendlily　but　heavily　upon　the　young　man's　shoulder。　　〃This　outburst　of　nonsense　might　cost　you　two　young　people　your　happiness　for　life。　　This　is　no　time　for　jealousy　and　false　pride。　Wait　a　moment。〃

〃Very　well；〃　said　Norman。　　〃But　it　is　useless。〃　He　understood　Josephine　nowhe　who　had　become　a　connoisseur　of　love。　　He　knew　that　her　vanity…founded　love　had　vanished。

Burroughs　disappeared　in　the　direction　his　daughter　had　taken。　　Norman　waited　several　minuteslong　enough　slowly　to　smoke　a　cigarette。　　Then　he　went　into　the　hall　and　put　on　his　coat　with　deliberation。　　No　one　appeared；　not　even　a　servant。　　He　went　out　into　the　street。

In　the　morning　papers　he　found　the　announcement　of　the　withdrawal　of　the　invitationsand　from　half　a　column　to　several　columns　of　comment；　much　of　it　extremely　unflattering　to　him。



XIII


WHEN　a　〃high　life〃　engagement　such　as　that　of　Norman　and　Miss　Burroughs；　collapses　on　the　eve　of　the　wedding；　the　gossip　and　the　scandal；　however　great；　are　but　a　small　part　of　the　mess。　　Doubtless　many　a　marriageand　not　in　high　life　alone；　eitherhas　been　put　through；　although　the　one　party　or　the　other　or　both　have　discovered　that　disaster　was　inevitablesolely　because　of　the　appalling　muddle　the　sensible　course　would　precipitate。　　In　the　case　of　the　Norman…Burroughs　fiasco；　there　wereto　note　only　a　few　big　items　such　difficulties　as　several　car　loads　of　presents　from　all　parts　of　the　earth　to　be　returned；　a　house　furnished　throughout　and　equipped　to　the　last　scullery　maid　and　stable　boy　to　be　disposed　of；　the　entire　Burroughs　domestic　economy　which　had　been　reconstructed　to　be　put　back　upon　its　former　basis。

It　is　not　surprising　that；　as　Ursula　Fitzhugh　was　credibly　informed；　Josephine　almost　decided　to　send　for　Bob　Culver　and　marry　him　on　the　day　before　the　day　appointed　for　her　marriage　to　Fred。　　The　reason　given　for　her　not　doing　this　sounded　plausible。　　Culver；　despairing　of　making　the　match　on　which　his　ambition　and　therefore　his　heart　was　setand　seeing　a　chance　to　get　suddenly　rich；　had　embarked　for　a　career　as　a　blackmailer　of　corporations。　　That　is；　he　nosed　about　for　a　big　corporation　stealthily　doing　or　arranging　to　do　some　unlawful　but　highly　profitable　acts；　he　bought　a　few　shares　of　its　stock；　using　a　fake　client　as　a　blind；　he　then　proceeded　to　threaten　it　with　exposure；　expensive　hindrances　and　the　like；　unless　it　bought　him　off　at　a　huge　profit　to　himself。　　This　business　was　regarded　as　most　disreputable　andthanks　to　the　power　of　the　big　corporations　over　the　courtshad　resulted　in　the　sending　of　several　of　its　practisers　to　jail　or　on　hasty　journeys　to　foreign　climes。　　But　Culver；　almost　if　not　quite　as　good　a　lawyer　as　Norman；　was　too　clever　to　be　caught　in　that　way。　　However；　while　he　was　getting　very　rich　rapidly；　he　was　as　yet　far　from　rich　enough　to　overcome　the　detestation　of　old　Burroughs；　and　to　be　eligible　for　the　daughter。

So；　Josephine　sailed　away　to　Europe；　with　the　consolation　that　her　father　was　so　chagrined　by　the　fizzle　that　he　had　withdrawn　his　veto　upon　the　purchase　of　a　foreign　titlethat　veto　having　been　the　only　reason　she　had　looked　at　home　for　a　husband。　　Strange　indeed　are　the　ways　of　lovenever　stranger　than　when　it　comes　into　contact　with　the　vanities　of　wealth　and　social　position　and　the　other　things　that　cause　a　human　being　to　feel　that　he　or　she　is　lifted　clear　of　and　high　above　the　human　condition。　　Josephine　had　her　consolation。　　For　Norman　the　only　consolation　was　escape　from　a　marriage　which　had　become　so　irksome　in　anticipation　that　he　did　not　dare　think　what　it　would　be　in　the　reality。　Over　against　this　consolation　was　set　a　long　list　of　disasters。　　He　found　himself　immediately　shunned　by　all　his　friends。　　Their　professed　reason　was　that　he　had　acted　shabbily　in　the　breaking　of　the　engagement；　for；　while　it　was　assumed　that　Josephine　must　have　done　the　actual　breaking；　it　was　also　assumed　that　he　must　have　given　her　provocation　and　to　spare。　　This　virtuous　indignation　was　in　large　part　mere　pretext；　as　virtuous　indignation　in　frail　mortals　toward　frail　mortals　is　apt　to　be。　　The　real　reason　for　shying　off　from　Norman　was　his　atmosphere　of　impending　downfall。　　And　certainly　that　atmosphere　had　eaten　away　and　dissipated　all　his　former　charm。　　He　looked　dull　and　boresomeand　he　was。

But　the　chief　disaster　was　material。　　As　has　been　said；　old　Burroughs；　in　his　own　person　and　in　the　enterprises　he　controlled；　gave　Norman's　firm　about　half　its　income。　　The　day　Josephine　sailed；　Lockyer；　senior　partner　of　the　firm；　got　an　intimation　that　unless　Norman　left；　Burroughs　would　take　his　law　business　elsewhere；　and　would　〃advise〃　others　of　their　clients　to　follow　his　example。　　Lockyer　no　sooner　heard　than　he　began　to　bestir　himself。　　He　called　into　consultation　the　learned　Benchley　and　the　astute　Sanders　and　the　soft　and　sly　Lockyer　junior。　　There　could　be　no　question　that　Norman　must　be　got　rid　of。　　The　only　point　was；　who　should　inform　the　lion　that　he　had　been　deposed？

After　several　hours　of　anxious　discussion；　Lockyer；　his　inward　perturbations　hid　beneath　that　mask　of　smug　and　statesmanlike　respectability；　entered　the　lion's　den　a　sick　lion；　sick　unto　death　probably；　but　not　a　dead　lion。　　〃When　you're　ready　to　go　uptown；　Frederick；〃　said　he　in　his　gentlest；　most　patriarchal　manner；　〃let　me　know。　　I　want　to　have　a　little　talk　with　you。〃

Norman；　heavy　eyed　and　listless；　looked　at　the　handsome　old　fraud。　　As　he　looked　something　of　the　piercing　quality　and　something　of　the　humorous　came　back　into　his　eyes。　　〃Sit　down　and　say　it　now；〃　said　he。

〃I'd　prefer　to　talk　where　we　can　be　quiet。〃

Norman　rang　his　bell　and　when　an　office　boy　appeared；　said　　〃No　one　is　to　disturb　me　until　I　ring　again。〃　　Then　as　the　boy　withdrew　he　said　to　Lockyer：　〃Now；　sir；　what　is　it？〃

Lockyer　strolled　to　the　window；　looked　out　as　if　searching　for　something　he　failed　to　find；　came　back　to　the　chair　on　the　opposite　side　of　the　desk　from　Norman；　seated　himself。　　〃I　don't　know　how　to　begin；〃　said　he。　〃It　is　hard　to　say　painful　things　to　anyone　I　have　such　an　affection　for　as　I　have　for　you。〃

Norman　pushed　a　sheet　of　letter　paper　across　the　desk　toward　his　partner。　　〃Perhaps　that　will　help　you；〃　observed　he　carelessly。

Lockyer　put　on　his　nose　glasses　with　the　gesture　of　grace　and　intellect　that　was　famous。　　He　reada　brief　demand　for　a　release　from　the　partnership　and　a　request　for　an　immediate　settlement。　　Lockyer　blinked　off　his　glasses　with　the　gesture　that　was　as　famous　and　as　admiringly　imit