the conflict-第41章

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‘‘I　haven't　seen　Victor　since　yesterday　afternoon；''　pursued　Selma。　　‘‘But　I　know　how　grateful　he'll　be　not　so　much　for　what　you　did　as　that　YOU　did　it。''

The　instinct　of　the　crowdthe　universal　human　instinctagainst　intruding　upon　a　young　man　and　young　woman　talking　together　soon　cleared　them　of　neighbors。　　An　awkward　silence　fell。　　Said　he　hesitatingly：

‘‘Are　you　ready　to　give　your　answer？to　that　question　I　asked　you　the　other　day。''

‘‘I　gave　you　my　answer　then；''　replied　she；　her　glance　seeking　a　way　of　escape。

‘‘No；''　said　he。　　‘‘For　you　said　then　that　you　would　not　marry　me。　　And　I　shall　never　take　no　for　an　answer　until　you　have　married　some　one　else。''

She　looked　up　at　him　with　eyes　large　and　grave　and　puzzled。　　‘‘I'm　sure　you　don't　want　to　marry　me；''　she　said。　　‘‘I　wonder　why　you　keep　asking　me。''

‘‘I　have　to　be　honest　with　you；''　said　Davy。　　‘‘Somehow　you　bring　out　all　the　good　there　is　in　me。　　So；　I　can't　conceal　anything　from　you。　　In　a　way　I　don't　want　to　marry　you。　　You're　not　at　all　the　woman　I　have　always　pictured　as　the　sort　I　ought　to　marry　and　would　marry。　　ButSelma；　I　love　you。　　I'd　give　up　anythingeven　my　careerto　get　you。　　When　I'm　away　from　you　I　seem　to　regain　control　of　myself。　　But　just　as　soon　as　I　see　you；　I'm　as　bad　as　ever　again。''

‘‘Then　we　mustn't　see　each　other；''　said　she。

Suddenly　she　nodded；　laughed　up　at　him　and　darted　away　and　Hugo　Galland；　long　since　abandoned　by　the　crowd；　had　seized　him　by　the　arm。

Selma　debated　whether　to　take　Victor　the　news　or　to　continue　her　walk。　　She　decided　for　the　walk。　　She　had　been　feeling　peculiarly　toward　Victor　since　the　previous　afternoon。　　She　had　not　gone　back　in　the　evening；　but　had　sent　an　excuse　by　one　of　the　Leaguers。　　It　was　plain　to　her　that　Jane　Hastings　was　up　to　mischief；　and　she　had　begun　to　fearsacrilegious　though　she　felt　it　to　be　to　harbor　such　a　suspicion　that　there　was　man　enough；　weak；　vain；　susceptible　man　enough；　in　Victor　Dorn　to　make　Jane　a　danger。　　The　more　she　had　thought　about　Jane　and　her　environment；　the　clearer　it　had　become　that　there　could　be　no　permanent　and　deep　sincerity　in　Jane's　aspirations　after　emancipation　from　her　class。　　It　was　simply　the　old；　old　story　of　a　woman　of　the　upper　class　becoming　infatuated　with　a　man　of　a　genuine　kind　of　manhood　rarely　found　in　the　languor…producing　surroundings　of　her　own　class。　　Would　Victor　yield？　　No！　her　loyalty　indignantly　answered。　　But　he　might　allow　this　useless　idler　to　hamper　him；　to　weaken　his　energies　for　the　timeand　during　a　critical　period。

She　did　not　wish　to　see　Victor　again　until　she　should　have　decided　what　course　to　take。　　To　think　at　her　ease　she　walked　out　Monroe　Avenue　on　her　way　to　the　country。　　It　was　a　hot　day；　but　walking　along　in　the　beautiful　shade　Selma　felt　no　discomfort；　except　a　slight　burning　of　the　eyes　from　the　fierce　glare　of　the　white　highway。　　In　the　distance　she　heard　the　sound　of　an　engine。

A　few　seconds；　and　past　her　at　high　speed　swept　an　automobile。　　Its　heavy　flying　wheels　tore　up　the　roadway；　raised　an　enormous　cloud　of　dust。　　The　charm　of　the　walk　was　gone；　the　usefulness　of　roadway　and　footpaths　was　destroyed　for　everybody　for　the　fifteen　or　twenty　minutes　that　it　would　take　for　the　mass　of　dust　to　settleon　the　foliage；　in　the　grass；　on　the　bodies　and　clothing　of　passers…by　and　in　their　lungs。　　Selma　halted　and　gazed　after　the　auto。　　Who　was　tearing　along　at　this　mad　speed？　　Who　was　destroying　the　comfort　of　all　using　that　road；　and　annoying　them　and　making　the　air　unfit　to　breathe！　　Why；　an　idle；　luxuriously　dressed　woman；　not　on　an　errand　of　life　or　death；　but　going　down　town　to　amuse　herself　shopping　or　calling。

The　dust　had　not　settled　before　a　second　auto；　having　a　young　man　and　young　woman　apparently　on　the　way　to　play　tennis；　rushed　by；　swirling　up　even　vaster　clouds　of　dust　and　all　but　colliding　with　a　baby　carriage　a　woman　was　trying　to　push　across　the　street。　　Selma's　blood　was　boiling！　　The　infamy　of　it！　　These　worthless　idlers！　　What　utter　lack　of　manners；　of　consideration　for　their　fellow　beings。　　A　GENTLEMAN　and　a　LADY　insulting　and　bullying　everyone　who　happened　not　to　have　an　automobile。　　Thenshe　laughed。　　The　ignorant；　stupid　masses！　　They　deserved　to　be　treated　thus　contemptuously；　for　they　could　stop　it　if　they　would。　　‘‘Some　day　we　shall　learn；''　philosophized　she。　　‘‘Then　these　brutalities　of　men　toward　each　other；　these　brutalities　big　and　little；　will　cease。''　　This　matter　of　the　insulting　automobiles；　with　insolent　horns　and　criminal　folly　of　speed　and　hurling　dust　at　passers…by；　worse　than　if　the　occupants　had　spat　upon　them　in　passingthis　matter　was　a　trifle　beside　the　hideous　brutalities　of　men　compelling　masses　of　their　fellow　beings；　children　no　less　than　grown　people；　to　toil　at　things　killing　soul；　mind　and　body　simply　in　order　that　fortunes　might　be　made！　　THERE　was　lack　of　consideration　worth　thinking　about。

Three　more　autos　passedthree　more　clouds　of　dust；　reducing　Selma　to　extreme　physical　discomfort。　　Her　philosophy　was　severely　strained。　　She　was　in　the　country　now；　but　even　there　she　was　pursued　by　these　insolent　and　insulting　hunters　of　pleasure　utterly　indifferent　to　the　comfort　of　their　fellows。　　And　when　a　fourth　auto　passed；　bearing　Jane　Hastings　in　a　charming　new　dress　and　big；　becoming　hatSelma；　eyes　and　throat　full　of　dust　and　face　and　neck　and　hands　streaked　and　dirty；　quite　lost　her　temper。　　Jane　spoke；　she　turned　her　head　away；　pretending　not　to　see！

Presently　she　heard　an　auto　coming　at　a　less　menacing　pace　from　the　opposite　direction。　　It　drew　up　to　the　edge　of　the　road　abreast　of　her。　　‘‘Selma；''　called　Jane。

Selma　paused；　bent　a　frowning　and　angry　countenance　upon　Jane。

Jane　opened　the　door　of　the　limousine；　descended；　said　to　her　chauffeur：　　‘‘Follow　us；　please。''　　She　advanced　to　Selma　with　a　timid　and　deprecating　smile。　　‘‘You'll　let　me　walk　with　you？''　she　said。

‘‘I　am　thinking　out　a　very　important　matter；''　replied　Selma；　with　frank　hostility。　　‘‘I　prefer　not　to　be　interrupted。''

‘‘Selma！''　pleaded　Jane。　　‘‘What　have　I　done　to　turn　you　against　me？''

Selma　stood；　silent；　incarnation　of　freedom　and　will。　　She　looked　steadily　at　Jane。　　‘‘You　haven't　done　anything；''　she　replied。　　‘‘On　impulse　I　liked　you。　　On　sober　second　thought　I　don't。　　That's　all。''

‘‘You　gave　me　your　friendship；''　said　Jane。　　‘‘You've　no　right　to　withdraw　it　without　telling　me　why。''

‘‘You　are　not　of　my　class。　　You　are　of　the　class　that　is　at　war　with　mineat　war　upon　it。　　When　you　talk　of　friendship　to　me；　you　are　either　false　to　your　own　people　or　false　in　your　professions　to　me。''

Selma's　manner　was　rudely　offensiveas　rude　as　Jane's　dust；　to　which　it　was　perhaps　a　retort。　　Jane　showed　marvelous　restraint。　　She　told　herself　that　she　felt　compassionate　toward　this　attractive；　honest；　really　nice　girl。　　It　is　possible；　however；　that　an　instinct　of　prudence　may　have　had　something　to　do　with　her　ultra…　conciliatory　attitude　toward　the　dusty　little　woman　in　the　cheap　linen　dress。　　The　enmity　of　one　so　near　to　Victor　Dorn　was　certainly　not　an　advantage。　　Instead　of　flaring　up；　Jane　said：

‘‘Now；　Selmado　be　humando　be　your　sweet；　natural　self。　　It　isn't　my　fault　that　I　am　what　I　am。　　And　you　know　that　I　really　belong　heart　and　soul　with　you。''

‘‘Then　come　with　us；''　said　Selma。　　‘‘If　you　think　the　life　you　lead　is　foolishwhy；　stop　leading　it。''

‘‘You　know　I　can't；''　said　Jane　mournfully。

‘‘I　know　you　could；''　retorted　Selma。　　‘‘Don't　be　a　hypocrite；　Jane。''

‘‘Selmahow　harsh　you　are！''　cried　Jane。

‘‘Either　come　with　us　or　keep　away　from　us；''　said　the　girl　inflexibly。　　‘‘You　may　deceive　yourselfand　menwith　that　talk　of　broad　views　and　high　aspirations。　　But　you　can't　deceive　another　woman。''

‘‘I'm　not　trying　to　deceive　anybody；''　exclaimed　Jane　angrily。　　‘‘Permit　me　to　say；　Selma；　that　your　methods　won't　make　many　converts　to　your　cause。''

‘‘Who　ever　gave　you　the　idea　that　we　were　seeking　converts　in　your　class？''　inquired　Selma。　　‘‘Our　whole　object　is　to　abolish　your　classand　end　its　drain　upon　usand　its　bad　exampleand　make　its　members　useful　members　of　our　class；　and　more　contented　and　happier　than　they　are　now。''　　She　laugheda　free　and　me