the vision spendid(美景)-第30章
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But even while he yielded to the allure of Valencia Van Tyle； admitting
a finish of beauty to which mere youth could not aspire； all that was
idealistic in him went out to the younger cousin whose admiration and shy
swift friendship he was losing。 His vanity refused to accept this at first。
She was a little piqued at him because of the growing intimacy with
Valencia。 That was all。 Why； it had been only a month or two ago that her
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gaze had been warm for him； that her playful irony had mocked sweetly
his ambition for service to the community。 Their spirits had touched in
comradeship。 Almost he had caught in her eyes the look they would hold
for only one man on earth。 The best in him had responded to the call。 But
now he did not often meet her at The Brakes。 When he did a cool little nod
and an indifferent word sufficed for him。 How much this hurt only James
himself knew。
One of the visible signs of his increasing prosperity was a motor car； in
which he might frequently be seen driving with the daughter of Joe
Powers； to the gratification of its owner and the envy of Verden。 The cool
indifference with which Mrs。 Van Tyle ignored the city's social elite had
aroused bitter criticism。 Since she did not care a rap for this her escapades
were frankly indiscreet。 James could not really afford a machine； but he
justified it on the ground that it was an investment。 A man who appears to
be prosperous becomes prosperous。 A good front is a part of the bluff of
twentieth century success。 He did not follow his argument so far as to
admit that the purchase of the car was an item in the expenses of a
campaign by which he meant to make capital out of a woman's favor to
him； even though his imagination toyed with the possibilities it might offer
to build a sure foundation of fortune。
〃You should go to New York；〃 she told him once after he had sketched；
with the touch of eloquence so native to him； a plan for a line of steamers
between Verden and the Orient。
〃To be submerged in the huddle of humanity。 No； thank you。〃
〃But the opportunities are so much greater there for a man of ability。〃
〃Oh； ability！〃 he derided。 〃New York is loaded to the water line with
ability in garrets living on crusts。 To win out there a man must have a pull；
or he must have the instinct for making money breed； for taking what
other men earn。〃
She studied him； a good…looking； alert American； sheet…armored in the
twentieth century polish of selfishness； with an inordinate appetite for
success。 Certainly he looked every inch a winner。
〃I believe you could do it。 You're not too scrupulous to look out for
yourself。〃 Her daring impudence mocked him lightly。
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〃I'm not so sure about that。〃 James liked to look his conscience in the
face occasionally。 〃I respect the rights of my fellows。 In the money centers
you can't do that and win。 And you've got to win。 It doesn't matter how。
Make good make good！ Get moneyany way you can。 People will soon
forget how you got it； if you have it。〃
〃Dear me！ I didn't know you were so given to moral reflections。〃 To
Alice； who had just come into the room to settle where they should spend
their Sunday； Valencia explained with mock demureness the subject of
their talk。 〃Mr。 Farnum and I are deploring the immoral money madness of
New York and the debilitating effects of modern civilization。 Will you
deplore with us； my dear？〃
The younger woman's glance included the cigarette James had thrown
away and the one her cousin was still smoking。 〃Why go as far as New
York？〃 she asked quietly。
Farnum flushed。 She was right； he silently agreed。 He had no business
futtering away his time in a pink boudoir。 Nor could he explain that he
hoped his time was not being wasted。
〃I must be going；〃 he said as casually as he could。
〃Don't let me drive you away； Mr。 Farnum。 I dropped in only for a
moment。〃
〃Not at all。 I have an appointment with my cousin。〃
〃With Mr。 Jefferson Farnum？〃 Alice asked in awakened interest。 〃I've
just been reading a magazine article about him。 Is he really a remarkable
man？〃
〃I don't think you would call him remarkable。 He gets things done； in
spite of being an idealist。〃
〃Why； in spite of it？〃
〃Aren't reformers usually unpractical？〃
〃Are they？ I don't know。 I have never met one。〃 She looked straight at
Farnum with the directness characteristic of her。 〃Is the article in Stetson's
Magazine true？〃
〃Substantially； I think。〃
Alice hesitated。 She would have liked to pursue the subject； but she
could not very well do that with his cousin。 For years she had been hearing
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of this man as a crank agitator who had set himself in opposition to her
father and his friends for selfish reasons。 Her father had dropped vague
hints about his unsavory life。 The Stetson write…up had given a very
different story。 If it told the truth； many things she had been brought up to
accept without question would bear study。
James suavely explained。 〃The facts are true； but not the inferences
from the facts。 Jeff takes rather a one…sided view of a very complex
situation。 But he's perfectly honest in it； so far as that goes。〃
〃You voted for his bill； didn't you？〃 Alice asked。
〃Yes； I voted for it。 But I said on the floor I didn't believe in it。 My
feeling was that the people ought to have a chance to express an opinion in
regard to it。〃
〃Why don't you believe in it？〃
Valencia lifted her perfect eyebrows。 〃Really； my dear； I didn't know
you were so interested in politics。〃
Alice waited for the young man's answer。
〃It would take me some time to give my reasons in full。 But I can give
you the text of them in a sentence。 Our government is a representative one
by deliberate choice of its founders。 This bill would tend to make it a pure
democracy； which would be far too cumbersome for so large a country。〃
〃So you'll vote against it next time to save the country；〃 Alice
suggested lightly。 〃Thank you for explaining it。〃 She turned to her cousin
with an air of dismissing the subject。 〃Well； Val。 What about the yacht trip
to Kloochet Island for Sunday？ Shall we go？ I have to 'phone the captain
to let him know at once。〃
〃If you'll promise not to have it rain all the time；〃 the young widow
shrugged with a little move。 〃Perhaps Mr。 Farnum could join us？ I'm sure
uncle would be pleased。〃
Alice seconded her cousin's invitation tepidly； without any enthusiasm。
James； with a face which did not reflect his disappointment； took his cue
promptly。 〃Awfully sorry； but I'll be out of the city。 Otherwise I should be
delighted。〃
Valencia showed a row of dainty teeth in a low ripple of amusement。
Alice flashed her cousin one look of resentment and with a sentence of
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conventional regret left the room to telephone the sailing master。
Far
