the conflict-第32章

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；　with　dusty　shoes　and　blown　hair；　did　look　very　much　out　of　place。　　But　then　Selma　would　have　looked；　in　a　sense；　out　of　place　anywhere　but　in　a　wilderness　with　perhaps　a　few　tents　and　a　half…tamed　herd　as　background。　　In　another　sense；　she　seemed　in　place　anywhere　as　any　natural　object　must。

‘‘I　don't　eat　lunch；''　said　Selma。　　‘‘But　I'll　stay　if　you'll　put　me　next　to　you　and　let　me　talk　to　you。''

She　did　not　realize　what　an　upsetting　of　order　and　precedence　this　request；　which　seemed　so　simple　to　her；　involved。　　Jane　hesitated；　but　only　for　a　fraction　of　a　second。　　‘‘Why；　certainly；''　said　she。　　‘‘Now　that　I've　got　you　I'd　not　let　you　go　in　any　circumstances。''

Selma　was　gazing　around　at　the　other　girls　with　the　frank　and　pleased　curiosity　of　a　child。　　‘‘Gracious；　what　pretty　clothes！''　she　criedshe　was　addressing　Miss　Clearwater；　of　Cincinnati。　　‘‘I've　read　about　this　sort　of　thing　in　novels　and　in　society　columns　of　newspapers。　　But　I　never　saw　it　before。　　ISN'T　it　interesting！''

Miss　Clearwater；　whose　father　was　a　United　States　Senatorby　purchasehad　had　experience　of　many　oddities；　male　and　female。　　She　also　was　attracted　by　Selma's　sparkling　delight；　and　by　the　magnetic　charm　which　she　irradiated　as　a　rose　its　perfume。　　‘‘Pretty　clothes　are　attractive；　aren't　they？''　said　she；　to　be　saying　something。

‘‘I　don't　know　a　thing　about　clothes；''　confessed　Selma。　　‘‘I've　never　owned　at　the　same　time　more　than　two　dresses　fit　to　wearusually　only　one。　　And　quite　enough　for　me。　　I'd　only　be　fretted　by　a　lot　of　things　of　that　kind。　　But　I　like　to　see　them　on　other　people。　　If　I　had　my　way　the　whole　world　would　be　well　dressed。''

‘‘Except　you？''　said　Ellen　Clearwater　with　a　smile。

‘‘I　couldn't　be　well　dressed　if　I　tried；''　replied　Selma。　　‘‘When　I　was　a　child　I　was　the　despair　of　my　mother。　　Most　of　the　people　in　the　tenement　where　we　lived　were　very　dirty　and　disorderlynaturally　enough；　as　they　had　no　knowledge　and　no　money　and　no　time。　　But　mother　had　ideas　of　neatness　and　cleanliness；　and　she　used　to　try　to　keep　me　looking　decent。　　But　it　was　of　no　use。　　Ten　minutes　after　she　had　smoothed　me　down　I　was　flying　every　which　way　again。''

‘‘You　were　brought　up　in　a　tenement？''　said　Miss　Clearwater。　　Several　of　the　girls　within　hearing　were　blushing　for　Selma　and　were　feeling　how　distressed　Jane　Hastings　must　be。

‘‘I　had　a　wonderfully　happy　childhood；''　replied　Selma。　　‘‘Until　I　was　old　enough　to　understand　and　to　suffer。　　I've　lived　in　tenements　all　my　lifeamong　very　poor　people。　　I'd　not　feel　at　home　anywhere　else。''

‘‘When　I　was　born；''　said　Miss　Clearwater；　‘‘we　lived　in　a　log　cabin　up　in　the　mining　district　of　Michigan。''

Selma　showed　the　astonishment　the　other　girls　were　feeling。　　But　while　their　astonishment　was　in　part　at　a　girl　of　Ellen　Clearwater's　position　making　such　a　degrading　confession；　hers　had　none　of　that　element　in　it。　　‘‘You　don't　in　the　least　suggest　a　log　cabin　or　poverty　of　any　kind；''　said　she。　　‘‘I　supposed　you　had　always　been　rich　and　beautifully　dressed。''

‘‘No；　indeed；''　replied　Ellen。　　She　gazed　calmly　round　at　the　other　girls　who　were　listening。　　‘‘I　doubt　if　any　of　us　here　was　born　to　what　you　see。　　Of　course　we　some　of　usmake　pretensesall　sorts　of　silly　pretenses。　　But　as　a　matter　of　fact　there　isn't　one　of　us　who　hasn't　near　relatives　in　the　cabins　or　the　tenements　at　this　very　moment。''

There　was　a　hasty　turning　away　from　this　dangerous　conversation。　　Jane　came　back　from　ordering　the　rearrangement　of　her　luncheon　table。　　Said　Selma：

‘‘I'd　like　to　wash　my　hands；　and　smooth　my　hair　a　little。''

‘‘You　take　her　up；　Ellen；''　said　Jane。　　‘‘And　hurry。　　We'll　be　in　the　dining…room　when　you　come　down。''

Selma's　eyes　were　wide　and　roving　as　she　and　Ellen　went　through　the　drawing…room；　the　hall；　up　stairs　and　into　the　very　prettily　furnished　suite　which　Ellen　was　occupying。　　‘‘I　never　saw　anything　like　this　before！''　exclaimed　Selma。　　‘‘It's　the　first　time　I　was　ever　in　a　grand　house。　　This　is　a　grand　house；　isn't　it？''

‘‘Noit's　only　comfortable；''　replied　Ellen。　　‘‘Mr。　Hastingsand　Jane；　too；　don't　go　in　for　grandeur。''

‘‘How　beautiful　everything　isand　how　convenient！''　exclaimed　Selma。　　‘‘I　haven't　felt　this　way　since　the　first　time　I　went　to　the　circus。''　　She　pointed　to　a　rack　from　which　were　suspended　thin　silk　dressing　gowns　of　various　rather　gay　patterns。　　‘‘What　are　those？''　she　inquired。

‘‘Dressing　gowns；''　said　Ellen。　　‘‘Just　to　wear　round　while　one　is　dressing　or　undressing。''

Selma　advanced　and　felt　and　examined　them。　　‘‘But　why　so　many？''　she　inquired。

‘‘Oh；　foolishness；''　said　Ellen。　　‘‘Indulgence！　　To　suit　different　moods。''

‘‘Lovely；''　murmured　Selma。　　‘‘Lovely！''

‘‘I　suspect　you　of　a　secret　fondness　for　luxury；''　said　Ellen　slyly。

Selma　laughed。　　‘‘What　would　I　do　with　such　things？''　she　inquired。　　‘‘Why；　I'd　have　no　time　to　wear　them。　　I'd　never　dare　put　on　anything　so　delicate。''

She　roamed　through　dressing…room；　bedroom；　bath…　room；　marveling；　inquiring；　admiring。　　‘‘I'm　so　glad　I　came；''　said　she。　　‘‘This　will　give　me　a　fresh　point　of　view。　　I　can　understand　the　people　of　your　class　better；　and　be　more　tolerant　about　them。　　I　understand　now　why　they　are　so　hard　and　so　indifferent。　　They're　quite　removed　from　the　common　lot。　　They　don't　realize；　they　can't。　　How　narrow　it　must　make　one　to　have　one's　life　filled　with　these　pretty　little　things　for　luxury　and　show。　　Why；　if　I　lived　this　life；　I'd　cease　to　be　human　after　a　short　time。''

Ellen　was　silent。

‘‘I　didn't　mean　to　say　anything　rude　or　offensive；''　said　Selma；　sensitive　to　the　faintest　impressions。　　‘‘I　was　speaking　my　thoughts　aloud。　。　。　。　　Do　you　know　David　Hull？''

‘‘The　young　reformer？''　said　Ellen　with　a　queer　little　smile。　　‘‘Yesquite　well。''

‘‘Does　he　live　like　this？''

‘‘Rather　more　grandly；''　said　Ellen。

Selma　shook　her　head。　　A　depressed　expression　settled　upon　her　features。　　‘‘It's　useless；''　she　said。　　‘‘He　couldn't　possibly　become　a　man。''

Ellen　laughed。　　‘‘You　must　hurry；''　she　said。　　‘‘We're　keeping　everyone　waiting。''

As　Selma　was　making　a　few　passes　at　her　rebellious　thick　hairpasses　the　like　of　which　Miss　Clearwater　had　never　before　seenshe　explained：

‘‘I've　been　somewhat　interested　in　David　Hull　of　latehave　been　hoping　he　could　graduate　from　a　fake　reformer　into　a　useful　citizen。　　But''　　She　looked　round　expressively　at　the　luxury　surrounding　them　‘‘one　might　as　well　try　to　grow　wheat　in　sand。''

‘‘Davy　is　a　fine　fraud；''　said　Ellen。　　‘‘Finebecause　he　doesn't　in　the　least　realize　that　he's　a　fraud。''

‘‘I'm　afraid　he　is　a　fraud；''　said　Selma　setting　on　her　hat　again。　　‘‘What　a　pity？　　He　might　have　been　a　man；　if　he'd　been　brought　up　properly。''　　She　gazed　at　Ellen　with　sad；　shining　eyes。　　‘‘How　many　men　and　women　luxury　blights！''　she　cried。

‘‘It　certainly　has　done　for　Davy；''　said　Ellen　lightly。　　‘‘He'll　never　be　anything　but　a　respectable　fraud。''

‘‘Why　do　YOU　think　so？''　Selma　inquired。

‘‘My　father　is　a　public　man；''　Miss　Clearwater　explained。　　‘‘And　I've　seen　a　great　deal　of　these　reformers。　　They're　the　ordinary　human　variety　of　politician　plus　a　more　or　less　conscious　hypocrisy。　　Usually　they're　men　who　fancy　themselves　superior　to　the　common　run　in　birth　and　breeding。　　My　father　has　taught　me　to　size　them　up。''

They　went　down；　and　Selma；　seated　between　Jane　and　Miss　Clearwater；　amused　both　with　her　frank　comments　on　the　scene　so　strange　to　herthe　beautiful　table；　the　costly　service；　the　variety　and　profusion　of　elaborate　food。　　In　fact；　Jane；　reaching　out　after　the　effects　got　easily　in　Europe　and　almost　as　easily　in　the　East；　but　overtaxed　the　resources　of　the　household　which　she　was　only　beginning　to　get　into　what　she　　regarded　as　satisfactory　order。　　The　luncheon；　therefore；　was　a　creditable　and　promising　attempt　rather　than　a　success；　from　the　standpoint　of　fashion。　　Jane　was　a　little　ashamed；　and　at　times　extremely　nervous　this　when　she　saw　signs　of　her　staff　falling　into　disorder　that　might　end　in　rout。　　But　Selma　saw　none　of　the　defects。　　She　was　delighted　with　the　dazzling　spectaclefor　two　or　three　courses。　　Then　she　lapsed　into　quiet　and　could　not　be　roused　to　speak。

Jane　and　Ellen　thought　she　wa