the dust-第6章

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la。〃

She　showed　her　gratitude　in　her　eyes；　in　a　slight　quiver　of　the　lips；　in　an　unsteadiness　of　tone　as　she　said；　〃You're　the　real　thing；　Freddie。〃

〃You　can　go　right　on　as　you　are　now。　　Only〃　He　was　looking　at　her　with　meaning　directness。

She　moved　uneasily；　refused　to　meet　his　gaze。　〃Well？〃　she　said；　with　a　suggestion　of　defiance。

〃It's　all　very　natural　to　get　tired　of　Clayton；〃　said　her　brother。　　〃I　knew　you　would　when　you　married　him。　　But　　Sis；　I　mind　my　own　business。　　Still　Why　make　a　fool　of　yourself？〃

〃You　don't　understand；〃　she　exclaimed　passionately。　And　the　light　in　her　eyes；　the　color　in　her　cheeks；　restored　to　her　for　the　moment　the　beauty　of　her　youth　that　was　almost　gone。

〃Understand　what？〃　inquired　he　in　a　tone　of　gentle　mockery。

〃Love。　　You　are　all　ambitionall　self　control。　　You　can　be　affectionateGod　knows；　you　have　been　to　me；　Fred。　　But　love　you　know　nothing　aboutnothing。〃

His　was　the　smile　a　man　gives　when　in　earnest　and　wishing　to　be　thought　jestingor　when　in　jest　and　wishing　to　be　thought　in　earnest。

〃You　mean　Josephine？　　Oh；　yes；　I　suppose　you　do　care　for　her　in　a　wayin　a　nice；　conventional　way。　She　is　a　fine　handsome　piecejust　the　sort　to　fill　the　position　of　wife　to　a　man　like　you。　　She's　sweet　and　charming；　she　appreciates；　she　flatters　you。　　I'm　sure　she　loves　you　as　much　as　a　GIRL　knows　how　to　love。　　But　it's　all　so　conventional；　so　proper。　　Your　positionher　money。　　You　two　are　of　the　regulation　type　even　in　that　you're　suited　to　each　other　in　height　and　figure。　　Everybody'll　say；　‘What　a　fine　coupleso　well　matched！'　〃

〃Maybe　YOU　don't　understand；〃　said　Norman。

〃If　Josephine　were　poor　and　low…bornweren't　one　of　usand　all　thatwould　you　have　her？〃

〃I'm　sure　I　don't　know；〃　was　his　prompt　and　amused　answer。　　〃I　can　only　say　that　I　know　what　I　want；　she　being　what　she　is。〃

Ursula　shook　her　head。　　〃I　have　only　to　see　you　and　her　together　to　know　that　you　at　least　don't　understand　love。〃

〃It　might　be　well　if　YOU　didn't；〃　said　Norman　dryly。　〃You　might　be　less　unhappyand　Clayton　less　uneasy。〃

〃Ah；　but　I　can't　help　myself。　　Don't　you　see　it　in　me；　Fred？　　I'm　not　a　fool。　　Yet　see　what　a　fool　I　act。〃

〃Spoiled　childthat's　all。　　No　self…control。〃

〃You　despise　everyone　who　isn't　as　strong　as　you。〃　She　looked　at　him　intently。　　〃I　wonder　if　you　ARE　as　self…controlled　as　you　imagine。　　Sometimes　I　wish　you'd　get　a　lesson。　　Then　you'd　be　more　sympathetic。　　But　it　isn't　likely　you　willnot　through　a　woman。　　Oh；　they're　such　pitifully　easy　game　for　a　man　like　you。　But　then　men　are　the　same　way　with　youquite　as　easy。　　You　get　anything　you　want。　。　。　。　　You're　really　going　to　stick　to　Josephine？〃

He　nodded。　　〃It's　time　for　me　to　settle　down。〃

〃YesI　think　it　is；〃　she　went　on　thoughtfully。　　〃I　can　hardly　believe　you're　to　marry。　　Of　course；　she's　the　grand　prize。　　StillI　never　imagined　you'd　come　in　and　surrender。　　I　guess　you　DO　care　for　her。〃

〃Why　else　should　I　marry？〃　argued　he。　　〃She's　got　nothing　I　needexcept　herself；　Ursula。〃

〃What　IS　it　you　see　in　her？〃

〃What　you　seewhat　everyone　sees；〃　replied　Fred；　with　quiet；　convincing　enthusiasm。　　〃What　no　one　could　help　seeing。　　As　you　say；　she's　the　grand　prize。〃

〃Yes；　she　is　sweet　and　handsomeand　intelligent　very　superior；　without　making　others　feel　that　they're　outclassed。　　Stillthere's　something　lackingnot　in　her　perhaps；　but　in　you。　　You　have　it　for　hershe's　crazy　about　you。　　But　she　hasn't　it　for　you。〃

〃What？〃

〃I　can't　tell　you。　　It　isn't　a　thing　that　can　be　put　into　words。〃

〃Then　it　doesn't　exist。〃

〃Oh；　yes　it　does；〃　cried　Ursula。　　〃If　the　engagement　were　to　be　brokenor　if　anything　were　to　happen　to　herwhy；　you'd　get　over　itwould　go　on　as　if　nothing　had　happened。　　If　she　didn't　fit　in　with　your　plans　and　ambitions；　she'd　be　sacrificed　so　quick　she'd　not　know　what　had　taken　off　her　head。　　But　if　you　felt　what　I　meanthen　you'd　give　up　everythingdo　the　wildest；　craziest　things。〃

〃What　nonsense！〃　scoffed　Norman。　　〃I　can　im…　agine　myself　making　a　fool　of　myself　about　a　woman　as　easily　as　about　anything　else。　　But　I　can't　imagine　myself　playing　the　fool　for　anything　whatsoever。〃

There　was　mysterious　fire　in　Ursula's　absent　eyes。　〃You　remember　me　as　a　girlhow　mercenary　I　was　how　near　I　came　to　marrying　Cousin　Jake？〃

〃I　saved　you　from　that。〃

〃Yesand　for　what？　　I　fell　in　love。〃

〃And　out　again。〃

〃I　was　deceived　in　Claytondeceived　myself　naturally。　　How　is　a　woman　to　know；　without　experience？〃

〃Oh；　I'm　not　criticising；〃　said　the　brother。

〃Besides；　a　love　marriage　that　fails　is　different　from　a　mercenary　marriage　that　fails。〃

〃Veryvery；〃　agreed　he。　　〃Just　the　difference　between　an　honorable　and　a　dishonorable　bankruptcy。〃

〃Anyhowit's　bankruptmy　marriage。　　But　I've　learned　what　love　isthat　there　is　such　a　thingand　that　it's　valuable。　　Yes；　Fred；　I've　got　the　taste　for　that　winethe　habit　of　it。　　Could　I　go　back　to　water　or　milk？〃

〃Spoiled　babythat's　the　whole　story。　　If　you　had　a　nursery　full　of　childrenor　did　the　heavy　house…　workyou'd　never　think　of　these　foolish　moonshiny　things。〃

〃Yet　you　say　you　love！〃

〃Clayton　is　as　good　as　any　you're　likely　to　run　acrossis　better　than　SOME　I've　seen　about。〃

〃How　can　YOU　say？〃　cried　she。　　〃It's　for　me　to　judge。〃

〃If　you　would　only　JUDGE！〃

Ursula　sighed。　　〃It's　useless　to　talk　to　you。　　Let's　go　down。〃

Norman；　following　her　from　the　room；　stopped　her　in　the　doorway　to　give　her　a　brotherly　hug　and　kiss。　〃You　won't　make　an　out…and…out　idiot　of　yourself；　will　you；　Ursula？〃　he　said；　in　his　winning　manner。

The　expression　of　her　eyes　as　she　looked　at　him　showed　how　strong　was　his　influence　over　her。　　〃You　know　I'll　come　to　you　for　advice　before　I　do　anything　final；〃　said　she。　　〃Oh；　I　don't　know　what　I　want！　　I　only　know　what　I　don't　want。　　I　wish　I　were　well　balancedas　you　are；　Fred。〃



III


THE　brother　and　sister　dined　alone。　　Clayton　was；　finding　his　club　a　more　comfortable　place　than　his　home；　in　those　days　of　his　wife's　disillusionment　and　hesitation　about　the　future。　　Many　weak　creatures　are　curiously　armed　for　the　unequal　conflict　of　existence　some　with　fleetness　of　foot；　some　with　a　pole…cat　weapon　of　malignance；　some　with　porcupine　quills；　some　with　a　'possumlike　instinct　for　〃playing　dead。〃　　Of　these　last　was　Fitzhugh。　　He　knew　when　to　be　silent；　when　to　keep　out　of　the　way；　when　to　〃sit　tight〃　and　wait。　His　wife　had　discovered　that　he　was　a　foolthat　he　perhaps　owed　more　to　his　tailor　than　to　any　other　single　factor　for　the　success　of　his　splendid　pose　of　the　thorough　gentleman。　　Yet　she　did　not　realize　what　an　utter　fool　he　was；　so　clever　had　he　been　in　the　use　of　the　art　of　discreet　silence。　　Norman　suspected　him；　but　could　not　believe　a　human　being　capable　of　such　fathomless　vacuity　as　he　found　whenever　he　tried　to　explore　his　brother…in…law's　brain。

After　dinner　Norman　took　Ursula　to　the　opera；　to　join　the　Seldins；　and　after　the　first　act　went　to　Josephine；　who　had　come　with　only　a　deaf　old　aunt。　Josephine　loved　music；　and　to　hear　an　opera　from　a　box　one　must　be　alone。　　Norman　entered　as　the　lights　went　up。　　It　always　gave　him　a　feeling　of　dilation；　this　spectacle　of　material　splendorthe　women；　whose　part　it　is　throughout　civilization　to…day　to　wear　for　public　admiration　and　envy　the　evidences　of　the　prowess　of　the　males　to　whom　they　belong。　　A　truer　version　of　Dr。　Holmes's　aphorism　would　be　that　it　takes　several　generations　in　oil　to　make　a　deep…dyed　snobwholly　to　destroy　a　man's　or　a　woman's　point　of　view；　sense　of　the　kinship　of　all　flesh；　and　to　make　him　or　her　over　into　the　genuine　believer　in　caste　and　worshiper　of　it。　For　all　his　keenness　of　mind；　of　humor；　Norman　had　the　fast…dyed　snobbishness　of　his　family　and　friends。　　He　knew　that　caste　was　silly；　that　such　displays　as　this　vulgar　flaunting　of　jewels　and　costly　dresses　were　in　atrocious　bad　taste。　　But　it　is　one　thing　to　know；　another　thing　to　feel；　and　his　feeling　was　delight　in　the　spectacle；　pride　in　his　own　high　rank　in　the　aristocracy。

His　eyes　rested　with　radiant　pleasure　on　the　girl　he　was　to　marry。　　And　she　was　indeed　a　person　to　appeal　to　the　passion　of　pride。　　Simply　and　most　expensively　dressed　in　pearl　satin；　with　only　a　little　jewelry；　she　sat　in　the　front　of　her　parterre　box；　a　queen　by　right　of　her　father's　wealth；　her　family's　position；　her　own　beauty。　　She　was　a　large　womantall；　a　big　frame　but　not　ungainly。　　She　had　brilliant　dark　eyes；　a　small　proud　head　set　upon　shoulders　that　were　slenderly　young　now　and；　even　when　they　should　became　matronly；　would　still　be　beautiful。　　She　had　good　teeth；　an　exquisite　smile；　the　gentle　good　humor　of　those　who；　comfortable　themselves；　would　not　have　the　slightest　objection　to　all　others　being　equally　so。　　Because　she　laughed　appreciatively　and　repeated　amusingly　she　had　great　reputation　for　wit。　　Because　she　industriously　picked　up　from　men　a　plausible　smatter　of　small　talk　about　politics；　religion；　art　and　the　like；　she　was　renowned　as　clever　verging　on　profound。　　And　she　believed　herself　both　witty　and　wiseas　do　thousands；　male　and　female；　with　far　less　excuse。

She　had　selected　Norman　for　the　same　reason　that　he　had　selected　her；　each　recognized　the　other　as　the　〃grand　prize。〃　　Pity　is　not　nearly　so　close　kin　to　love　as　is　the　feeling　that　the　other　person　satisfies　to　the　uttermost　all　one's　pet　vanities。　　It　would　have　been　next　door　to　impossible　for　two　people　so　well　matched　not　to　find　themselves　drawn　to　each　other　and　filled　with　sympathy　and　the　sense　of　comradeship；　so　far　as　there　can　be　comradeship　where　two　are　driving　luxuriously　along　the　way　of　life；　with　not　a　serious　cause　for　worry。　　People　without　half　the　general　fitness　of　these　two　for　each　other　have　gone　through　to　the　end；　regarding　themselves　and　regarded　as　the　most　devoted　of　lovers。　　Indeed；　they　were　lovers。　　Only　one　of　those　savage　tests；　to　which　in　all　probability　they　would　never　be　exposed；　would　or　could　reveal　just　how　much；　or　how　little；　that　vague；　variable　word　lovers　meant　when　applied　to　them。

As　their　eyes　met；　into　each　pair　leaped　the　fine；　exalted　light　of　pride　in　possession。　　〃This　wonderful　woman　is　mine！〃　his　eyes　said。　　And　her　eyes　answered；　〃And　youyou　most　wonderful　of　menyou　are　mine！〃　　It　always　gave　each　of　them　a　thrill　like　intoxication　to　meet；　after　a　day's　separation。　　All　the　joy　of　their　dazzling　good　fortune　burst　upon　them　afresh。

〃I'll　venture　you　haven't　thought　of　me　the　whole　day；〃　said　she　as　he　dropped　to　the　chair　behind　her。

It　was　a　remark　she　often　madeto　give　him　the　opportunity　to　say；　〃I've　thought　of　little　else；　I'm　sorry　to　sayI；　who　have　a　career　to　look　after。〃　　He

made　the　usual　answer；　and　they　smiled　happily　at　each　other。　　〃And　you？〃　he　said。

〃Oh；　I？　　What　else　has　a　woman　to　think　about？〃

Her　statement　was　as　true　as　his　was　false。　　He　was　indeed　all　she　had　to　think　aboutall　worth　wasting　the　effort　of　thought　upon。　　But　hethough　he　did　not　realize　ithad　thought　of　her　only　in　the　incidental　way　in　which　an　ambition…possessed　man　must　force　himself　to　think　of　a　woman。　　The　best　of　his　mind　was　commandeered　to　his　career。　　An　amiable　but　shakily　founded　theory　that　it　was　〃our〃　career　enabled　him　to　say　without　sense　of　lying　that　his　c