the vision spendid(美景)-第25章
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unexpected pleasure in hearing that judicially。〃
〃And do you get that pleasure often？〃
〃Not often。 Men are dreadful cowards； you know。 My father is about
the only man who dares tell it to me。〃
Farnum put down his cup and studied her。 She was leaning back with
her fingers laced behind her head。 He wondered whether she knew with
what effectiveness the posture set off her ripe charmsthe fine modeling
of the full white throat； the perfect curves of the dainty arms bare to the
elbows； the daring set of the tawny； tilted head。 A spark glowed in his
eyes。
〃Far be it from me to deny you an accessible pleasure； though I
sacrifice myself to give it。 But my sketch must be merely subjective。 I
draw the picture as I see it。〃
She sipped her tea with an air of considering the matter。 〃You promise
at least a family likeness； with not an ugly wrinkle of character smoothed
away。〃
〃I don't even promise that。 For how am I to know what meaning lurks
behind that subtle； shadowy smile？ There's irony in itand scornand
sensuous charmbut back of them all is the great enigma。〃
〃He's off；〃 she derided slangily。
〃And that enigma is the complex YOU I want to learn。 Of course
you're a specialized type； a product of artistic hothouse propagation。
You're so exquisite in your fastidiousness that to be near you is a luxury。
Simplicity and you have not a bowing acquaintance。 One looks to see your
most casual act freighted with intentions not obvious。〃
〃The poor man thinks I invited him here to propose to him；〃 she told
the fire gravely； stretching out her little slippered feet toward it。
He laughed。 〃I'm not so presumptuous。 You wouldn't aim at such small
game。 You would be quite capable of it if you wanted to； but you don't。
But I'm devoured with curiosity to know why you asked me； though of
course I shan't find out。〃
Her narrowed eyes swept him with amusement。 〃If I knew myself！
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Alice says it was to make a fool of you。 I don't think she is right。 But if she
is I'm in to score a failure。 You're too coolheaded and〃 She stopped； her
eyes sparkling with the daring of her unvoiced suggestion。
〃Say it；〃 he nodded。
〃and selfish to be anybody's fool。 Perhaps I asked you just in the
hope you might prove interesting。〃
He got up and stood with his arm on the mantel。 From his superior
height he looked down on her dainty insolent perfection； answering not
too seriously the challenge of her eyes。 No matter what she meanthow
much or how little she was wonderfully attractive。 The provocation of the
mocking little face lured mightily。
〃I am going to prove interested at any rate。 Let's hope it may be a
preliminary to being interesting。〃
〃But it never does。 Symptoms of too great interest bore one。 I enjoy
more the men who are impervious to me。 Now there's my father。 He comes
nearer understanding me than anybody else； but he's quite adamantine to
my wiles。〃
〃I shall order a suit of chain armor at once。〃
〃An unnecessary expense。 Your emotions are quite under control；〃 she
told him saucily。
〃I wish I were as sure。〃
〃I thought you promised to be interesting；〃 she complained。
〃Now you're afraid I'm going to make love to you。 Let me relieve your
mind。 I'm not。〃
〃I knew you wouldn't be so stupid；〃 she assured him。
〃No objection to my admiring your artistic effect at a distance； as a
spectator in a gallery？〃
〃I shall expect that；〃 she rippled。
〃Just as one does a picture too expensive to own。〃
〃I suppose I AM expensive。〃
〃Not a doubt of it。 But if you don't mind I'll come occasionally to the
gallery to study the masterpiece。〃
〃I'll mind if you don't。〃
Voices were heard approaching along the hall。 The portieres parted。
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THE VISION SPLENDID
The immediate effect on Farnum of the great figure that filled the doorway
was one of masterful authority。 A massive head crested a figure of
extraordinary power。 Gray as a mediaeval castle； age had not yet touched
his gnarled strength。 The keen steady eyes； the close straight lips； the
shaggy eyebrows heavy and overhanging； gave accent to the rugged force
of this grim freebooter who had reversed the law of nature which decrees
that railroads shall follow civilization。 Scorning the established rule of
progress； he had spiked his rails through untrodden forests and unexplored
canons to watch the pioneer come after by the road he had blazed。 Chief
among the makers of the Northwest； he yearly conceived and executed
with amazing audacity enterprises that would have marked as monumental
the life work of lesser men。
Farnum； rising from his seat unconsciously as a tribute of respect；
acknowledged thus tacitly the presence of greatness in the person of Joe
Powers。
The straight lips of the empire builder tightened as his eyes gleamed
over the soft luxury of his daughter's boudoir。 James would have been hard
put to it to conceive any contrast greater than the one between this modern
berserk and the pampered daughter of his wealth。 A Hun or a Vandal
gazing down with barbaric scorn on some decadent paramour of captured
Rome was the most analogous simile Farnum's brain could summon。 What
freak of nature； he wondered； had been responsible for so alien an
offspring to this ruthless builder？ And what under heaven had the two in
common except the blood that ran in both their veins？
Peter C。 Frome； who had followed his brother…in…law into the room；
introduced the young man to the railroad king。
The great man's grip drove the blood from Farnum's hand。
〃I've heard about you； young man。 What do you mean by getting in my
way？〃
The young man's veins glowed。 He had made Joe Powers notice him。
Not for worlds would he have winked an eyelash； though the bones of his
hand felt as if they were being ground to powder。
〃Do I get in your way； sir？〃 he asked innocently。
〃Do you？〃 boomed the deep bass of the railroader。 〃You and that mad
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brother of yours。〃
〃He's my cousin；〃 James explained。
〃Brother or cousin； he's got to get off the track or be run over。 And you；
too； with that smooth tongue of yours。〃
Farnum laughed。 〃Jeff's pretty solid。 He may ditch the train； sir。〃
〃No！〃 roared Powers。 〃He'll be flung into the ditch。〃 He turned
abruptly to Frome。 〃Peter； take me to a room where I can talk to this young
man。 I need him。〃
〃'Come into my little parlor；' said the spider to the fly。〃
They wheeled as at a common rein to the sound of the young mocking
voice。 Alice Frome had come in unnoticed and was standing in the
doorway smiling at them。 The effect she produced was demurely daring。
The long lines of her slender sylph…like body； the girlishness of her golden
charm； were vigorously contradicted in their suggestion of shyness by the
square tilted chin and the challenge in the dancing eyes。
〃Alice；〃 admonished her father with a d
