the conflict-第37章
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‘‘What worse could he have done?''
‘‘I'll not tell you;'' said Victor。 ‘‘I'd not venture to say aloud such a dangerous thing as what I'd have done if I had been in his place。 Instead of doing that; he made us。 We shall win this fall's election。''
Selma lifted her head with a sudden gesture of hope。 She had unbounded confidence in Victor Dorn; and his tone was the tone of absolute confidence。
‘‘I had calculated on winning in five years。 I had left the brutal stupidity of our friend Kelly out of account。''
‘‘Then you see how you can hold meetings and start up the paper?''
‘‘I don't want to do either;'' said Victor。 ‘‘I want those injunctions to stand。 Those fools have done at a stroke what we couldn't have done in years。 They have united the working class。
Theythe fewhave forbidden us; the many; to unite or to speak。
If those injunctions hold for a month; nothing could stop our winning this fall。 。 。 。 I can't understand how Dick Kelly could be so stupid。 Five years ago these moves of his would have been bad for usyes; even three years ago。 But we've got too strongand he doesn't realize! Selma; when you want to win; always pray that your opponent will underestimate you。''
‘‘I still don't understand;'' said Selma。 ‘‘None of us does。 You must explain to me; so that I'll know what to do。''
‘‘Do nothing;'' said Victor。 ‘‘I shall be out a week from to…day。 I shall not go into the streets until I not only am well but look well。''
‘‘They arrested Tom Colman to…day;'' said Selma。 ‘‘But they put the case over until you'd be able to plead at the same time。''
‘‘That's right;'' said Victor。 ‘‘They are playing into our hands!'' And he laughed as heartily as his bandages would permit。
‘‘Oh; I don't understandI don't understand at all!'' cried Selma。 ‘‘Maybe you are all wrong about it。''
‘‘I was never more certain in my life;'' replied Victor。 ‘‘Stop worrying about it; my dear。'' And he patted her hands gently as they lay folded in her lap。 ‘‘I want youall our peopleto go round looking sad these next few days。 I want Dick Kelly to feel that he is on the right track。''
There came a knock at the door; and Mrs。 Colman entered。 She had been a school teacher; and of all the occupations there is no other that leaves such plain; such indelible traces upon manner; mind and soul。 Said she:
‘‘Miss Jane Hastings is outside in her carriageand wants to know if she can see you。''
Selma frowned。 Victor said with alacrity: ‘‘Certainly。 Bring her in; Mrs。 Colman。''
Selma rose。 ‘‘Wait until I can get out of the way;'' she cried。
‘‘Sit down; and sit still;'' commanded Victor。
Selma continued to move toward the door。 ‘‘NoI don't wish to see her;'' she said。
Victor chagrined her by acquiescing without another word。 ‘‘You'll look in after supper?'' he asked。
‘‘If you want me;'' said the girl。
‘‘Come back here;'' said Victor。 ‘‘Wait; Mrs。 Colman。'' When Selma was standing by the bed he took her hand。 ‘‘Selma;'' he said; ‘‘don't let these things upset you。 Believe me; I'm right。
Can't you trust me?''
Selma had the look of a wild creature detained against its will。 ‘‘I'm not worried about the partyand the paper;'' she burst out。 ‘‘I'm worried about you。''
‘‘But I'm all right。 Can't you see I'm almost well?''
Selma drew her hand away。 ‘‘I'll be back about half… past seven;'' she said; and bolted from the room。
Victor's good…natured; merry smile followed her to the door。 When the sound of her retreat by way of the rear of the house was dying away he said to Mrs。 Colman:
‘‘Nowbring in the young lady。 And please warn her that she must stay at most only half an hour by that clock over there on the mantel。''
Every day Jane had been coming to inquire; had been bringing or sending flowers and fruitwhich; by Dr。 Charlton's orders; were not supposed to enter the invalid's presence。 Latterly she had been asking to see Victor; she was surprised when Mrs。 Colman returned with leave for her to enter。 Said Mrs。 Colman:
‘‘He's alone。 Miss Gordon has just gone。 You will see a clock on the mantel in his room。 You must not stay longer than half an hour。''
‘‘I shall be very careful what I say;'' said Jane。
‘‘Oh; you needn't bother;'' said the ex…school teacher。 ‘‘Dr。 Charlton doesn't believe in sick…room atmosphere。 You must treat Mr。 Dorn exactly as you would a well person。 If you're going to take on; or put on; you'd better not go in at all。''
‘‘I'll do my best;'' said Jane; rather haughtily; for she did not like Mrs。 Colman's simple and direct manner。 She was used to being treated with deference; especially by the women of Mrs。 Colman's class; and while she disapproved of deference in theory; in practice she craved it; and expected it; and was irritated if she did not get it。 But; as she realized how unattractive this weakness was; she usually took perhaps more pains than does the average person to conceal it。 That day her nerves were too tense for petty precautions。 However; Mrs。 Colman was too busy inspecting the details of Miss Hastings' toilet to note Miss Hastings' manners。
Jane's nervousness vanished the instant she was in the doorway of the parlor with Victor Dorn looking at her in that splendidly simple and natural way of his。 ‘‘So glad to see you;'' he said。 ‘‘What a delightful perfume you bring with you。 I've noticed it before。 I know it isn't flowers; but it smells like flowers。 With most perfumes you can smell through the perfume to something that's the very reverse of sweet。''
They were shaking hands。 She said: ‘‘That nice woman who let me in cautioned me not to put on a sick… room manner or indulge in sick…room talk。 It was quite unnecessary。 You're looking fine。''
‘‘Ain't I; though?'' exclaimed Victor。 ‘‘I've never been so comfortable。 Just weak enough to like being waited on。 You were very good to me the night that stone knocked me over。 I want to thank you; but I don't know how。 And the flowers; and the fruit You have been so kind。''
‘‘I could do very little;'' said Jane; blushing and faltering。 ‘‘And I wanted to doeverything。'' Suddenly all energy; ‘‘Oh; Mr。 Dorn; I heard and saw it all。 It wasINFAMOUS! And the lying newspapersand all the people I meet socially。 They keep me in a constant rage。''
Victor was smiling gayly。 ‘‘The fortunes of war;'' said he。 ‘‘I expect nothing else。 If they fought fair they couldn't fight at all。 We; on this side of the struggle; can afford to be generous and tolerant。 They are fighting the losing battle; they're trying to hold on to the past; and of course it's slipping from them inch by inch。 But wewe are in step with the march of events。''
When she was with him Jane felt that his cause was hers; alsowas the only cause。 ‘‘When do you begin publishing your paper again?'' she asked。 ‘‘As soon as you are sitting up?''
‘‘Not for a month or so;'' replied he。 ‘‘Not until after the election。''
‘‘Oh; I forgot about that injunction。 You think that as soon as Davy Hull's crowd is in they will let you begin again?''
He hesitated。 ‘‘Not exactly that;'' he said。 ‘‘But after the election there will be a change。''
Her eyes flashed。 ‘‘And they have indicted you! I heard the newsboys crying it and stopped and bought a paper。 But I shall do something about that。 I am going straight from here to father。 Ellen Clearwater and I and Joe Wetherbe SAW。 And Ellen and I will testify if it's necessaryand will make Joe tell the truth。 Do you know; he actually had the impudence to try to persuade Ellen and me the next day that we saw what the papers reported?''
‘‘I believe it;'' said Victor。 ‘‘So I believe that Joe convinced himself。''
‘‘You are too charitable;'' replied Jane。 ‘‘He's afraid of his father。''
‘‘Miss Hastings;'' said Victor; ‘‘you suggested a moment ago that you would influence your father to interfere in this matter of the indictment。''
‘‘I'll promise you now that he will have it stopped;'' said Jane。
‘‘You want to help the cause; don't you?''
Jane's eyes shifted; a little color came into her cheeks。 ‘‘The causeand you;'' she said。
‘‘Very well;'' said Victor。 ‘‘Then you will not interfere。 And if your father tal