the vision spendid(美景)-第24章
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through the grass； leaving to the left the rough fern…clad bluff that gave the
place its name。
The man who let him in had apparently received his instructions； for
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he led Farnum to a rather small room in the rear of the big house。 Its single
occupant was reclining luxuriantly among a number of pillows on a
lounge。 From her lips a tiny spiral of smoke rose like incense to the ceiling。
James was conscious of a little ripple of surprise as he looked down upon
the copper crown of splendid hair above which rested the thin nimbus of
smoke。 He had expected a less intimate reception。
But the astonishment had been sponged from his face before Valencia
Van Tyle rose and came forward； cigarette in hand。
〃You did find time。〃
〃Was it likely I wouldn't？〃
〃How should I know？〃 her little shrug seemed to say with an
indifference that bordered on insolence。
James was piqued。 After all then she had not opened to him the door to
her friendship。 She was merely amusing herself with him as a provincial
_pis aller。_
Perhaps she saw his disappointment； for she added with a touch of
warmth： 〃I'm glad you came。 Truth is； I'm bored to death of myself。〃
〃Then I ought to be welcome； for if I don't exorcise the devils of ennui
you can now blame me。〃
〃I shall。 Try that big chair； and one of these Egyptians。〃
He helped himself to a cigarette and lit up as casually as if he had been
in the habit of smoking in the lounging rooms of the ladies he knew。 She
watched him sink lazily into the chair and let his glance go wandering
over the room。 In his face she read the indolent sense of pleasure he found
in sharing so intimately this sanctum of her more personal life。
The room was a bit barbaric in its warmth of color； as barbaric as was
the young woman herself in spite of her super…civilization。 The walls； done
in an old rose； were gilded and festooned to meet a ceiling almost Venetian
in its scheme of decoration。 Pink predominated in the brocaded tapestries
and in the rugs； and the furniture was a luxurious modern compromise
with the Louis Quinze。 There were flowers in profusionhis gaze fell
upon the American Beauties he had sent an hour or two agoand a
disorder of popular magazines and French novels。 Farnum did not need to
be told that the room was as much an exotic as its mistress。
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〃You think？〃 her amused voice demanded when his eyes came back to
her。 〃that the room seems made especially for you。〃
She volunteered information。 〃My uncle gave me a free hand to
arrange and decorate it。〃
As he looked at her； smoking daintily in the fling of the fire glow；
every inch the pampered heiress of the ages； his blood quickened to an
appreciation of the sensuous charm of sex she breathed forth so
indifferently。 The clinging crepe…de…chine except in public she did not
pretend even to a conventional mourning for the scamp whose name she
bore lent accent to her soft； rounded curves； and the slow； regular rise and
fall of her breathing beneath the filmy lace promised a perfect fullness of
bust and throat。 He was keenly responsive to the physical allure of sex；
and Valencia Van Tyle was endowed with more than her share of magnetic
aura。
〃You have expressed yourself。 It's like you；〃 he said with finality。
Her tawny eyes met his confident appraisal ironically。 〃Indeed！ You
know then what I am like？〃
〃One uses his eyes； and such brains as heaven has granted him；〃 he
ventured lightly。
〃And what am I like？〃 she asked indolently。
〃I'm hoping to know that better soonI merely guess now。〃
〃They say all women are egoistsand some men。〃 She breathed her
soft inscrutable ripple of laughter。 〃Let me hasten to confess； and crave a
picture of myself。〃
〃But the subject deserves an artist；〃 he parried。
〃He's afraid；〃 she murmured to the fire。 〃He makes and unmakes
senatorsthis Warwick； but he's afraid of a girl。〃
James lit a fresh cigarette in smiling silence。
〃He has met me oncetwiceno； three times；〃 she meditated aloud。
〃But he knows what I'm like。 He boasts of his divination and when one
puts him to the test he repudiates。〃
〃All I should have claimed is that I know I don't know what you are
like。〃
〃Which is something；〃 she conceded。
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〃It's a good deal；〃 he claimed for himself。 〃It shows a beginning of
understanding。 Andgiven the opportunityI hope to know more。〃 He
questioned of her eyes how far he might go。 〃It's the incomprehensible that
lures。 It piques interest and lends magic。 Behind those eyelids a little
weary all the subtle hidden meaning of the ages shadows。 The gods forbid
that I should claim to hold the answer to the eternal mystery of woman。〃
〃Dear me！ I ask for a photograph and he gives me a poem；〃 she
mocked； touching an electric button。
〃I try merely to interpret the poem。〃
She looked at him under lowered lids with a growing interest。 Her
experience had not warranted her in hoping that he would prove worth
while。 It would be clear gain if he were to disappoint her agreeably。
〃I think I have read somewhere that the function of present…day
criticism is to befog the mind and blur the object criticised。〃
He considered an answer； but gave it up when a maid appeared with a
tray； and after a minute of deft arrangement disappeared to return with the
added paraphernalia that goes to the making and consuming of afternoon
tea。
James watched in a pleasant content the easy grace with which the
flashing hands of his hostess manipulated the brew。 Presently she flung
open a wing of the elaborate cellaret that stood near and disclosed a
gleaming array of cut…glass decanters。 Her fingers hovered over them。
〃Cognac？〃
〃Think I'll take my tea straight just as you make it。〃
〃Most Western men don't care for afternoon tea。 You should hear my
father on the subject。〃
〃I can imagine him。〃 He smiled。 〃But if he has tried it with you I
should think he'd be converted。〃
She laughed at him in the slow tantalizing way that might mean
anything or nothing。 〃I absolve you of the necessity of saying pretty things。
Instead； you may continue that portrait you were drawing when the maid
interrupted。〃
〃It's a subject I can't do justice。〃
She laughed disdainfully。 〃I thought it was time for the flattery。 As if I
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couldn't extort that from any man。 It's the A B C of our education。 But the
truth about one's selfthe unpalatable； bitter truththere's a sting of
unexpected pleasure in hearing that judicially。〃
〃And do you get that pleasure often？〃
〃Not often。 Men are dre
