the vision spendid(美景)-第4章
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Jeff was digging out a passage in the 〃Apology〃 when there came a
knock at the door of his room。 The visitor was his cousin； James； and he
radiated such an air of prosperity that the plain little bedroom shrank to
shabbiness。
James nodded in offhand fashion as he took off his overcoat。 〃Hello；
Jeff！ Thought I'd look you up。 Got settled in your diggings； eh？〃 Before
his host could answer he rattled on： 〃Just ran in for a moment。 Had the
devil of a time to find you。 What's the object in getting clear off the
earth？〃
〃Cheaper；〃 Jeff explained。
〃Should think it would be；〃 James agreed after he had let his eyes
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wander critically around the room。 〃But you can't afford to save that way。
Get a good suite。 And for heaven's sake see a tailor； my boy。 In college a
man is judged by the company he keeps。〃
〃What have my room and my clothes to do with that？〃 Jeff wanted to
know； with a smile。
〃Everything。 You've got to put up a good front。 The best fellows won't
go around with a longhaired guy who doesn't know how to dress。 No
offense； Jeff。〃
His cousin laughed。 〃I'll see a barber to…morrow。〃
〃And you must have a room where the fellows can come to see you。〃
〃What's the matter with this one？〃
A hint of friendly patronage crept into the manner of the junior。 〃My
dear chap； college isn't worth doing at all unless you do it right。 You're
here to get in with the best fellows and to make connections that will help
you later。 That sort of thing； you know。〃
Into Jeff's face came the light that always transfigured its plainness
when he was in the grip of an idea。 〃Hold on； J。 K。 Let's get at this right。 Is
that what I'm here for？ I didn't know it。 There's a hazy notion in my noodle
that I'm here to develop myself。〃
〃That's what I'm telling you。 Go in for the things that count。 Make a
good frat。 Win out at football or debating。 I don't give a hang what you go
after； but follow the ball and keep on the jump。 I'm strong with the crowd
that runs things and I'll see they take you in and make you a cog of the
machine。 But you'll have to measure up to specifications。〃
〃But； hang it； I don't want to be a cog in any machine。 I'm here to give
myself a chance to growsit out in the sun and hatch an individuality
give myself lots of free play。〃
〃Then you've come to the wrong shop；〃 James informed him dryly。 〃If
you want to succeed at college you've got to do the things the other
fellows do and you've got to do them the same way。〃
〃You mean I've got to travel in a rut？〃
〃Oh； well！ That's a way of putting it。 I mean that you have to accept
customs and traditions。 You have to work like the devil doing things that
count。 If you make the team you've got to think football； talk it； eat it；
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dream it。〃
〃But is it worth while？〃
James waved his protest aside。 〃Of course it's worth while。 Success
always is。 Get this in your head。 Four…fifths of the fellows at college don't
count。 They're also…rans。 To get in with the right bunch you've got to make
a good showing。 Look at me。 I'm no John D。 Rockefeller； Jr。 Athletics bore
me。 I can't sing。 I don't grind。 But I'm in everything。 Best frat。 Won the
oratorical contest。 Manager of the football team next season。 President of
the Dramatic Club。 Why？〃
He did not wait for Jeff to guess the reason。 〃Because our set runs
things and I go after the honors。〃
〃But a college ought to be a democracy；〃 Jeff protested。
〃Tommyrot！ It's an aristocracy； that's what it is； just like the little old
world outside； an aristocracy of the survival of the fittest。 You get there if
you're strong。 You go to the wall if you're weak。 That's the law of life。〃
The freshman came to this squint of pragmatism with surprise。 He had
thought of Verden University as a splendid democracy of intellectual
brotherhood that was to leaven the world with which it came in touch。
〃Do you mean that a fellow has to have money enough to make a good
showing before he can win any of the prizes？〃
James K。 nodded with the sage wisdom of a man of the world。 〃The
long green is a big help； but you've got to have the stuff in you。 Success
comes to the fellow who goes after it in the right way。〃
〃And suppose a fellow doesn't care to go after it？〃
〃He stays a nobody。〃
James was in evening dress； immaculate from clean…shaven cheek to
patent leather shoes。 He had a well…filled figure and a handsome face with
a square； clean…cut jaw。 His cousin admired the young fellow's virile
competency。 It was his opinion that James K。 Farnum was the last person
he knew likely to remain a nobody。 He knew how to conform； to take the
color of his thinking from the dominant note of his environment； but he
had； too； a capacity for leadership。
〃I'm not going to believe you if I can help it；〃 Jeff answered with a
smile。
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The upper classman shrugged。 〃You'd better take my advice； just the
same。 At college you don't get a chance to make two starts。 You're sized up
from the crack of the pistol。〃
〃I haven't the money to make a splurge even if I wanted to。〃
〃Borrow。〃
〃Who from？〃 asked Jeff ungrammatically。
〃You can rustle it somewhere。 I'm borrowing right now。〃
〃It's different with you。 I'm used to doing without things。 Don't worry
about me。 I'll get along。〃
James came with a touch of embarrassment to the real object of his
visit。 〃I say； Jeff。 I've had a tough time to win out。 You won't you'll not
say anythinglet anything slip； you knowsomething that might set the
fellows guessing。〃
His cousin was puzzled。 〃About what？〃
〃About the reason why Mother and I left Shelby and came out to the
coast。〃
〃What do you take me for？〃
〃I knew you wouldn't。 Thought I'd mention it for fear you might make
a slip。〃
〃I don't chatter about the private affairs of my people。〃
〃Course not。 I knew you didn't。〃 The junior's hand rested caressingly
on the shoulder of the other。 〃Don't get sore； Jeff。 I didn't doubt you。 But
that thing haunts me。 Some day it will come out and ruin me when I'm
near the top of the ladder。〃
The freshman shook his head。 〃Don't worry about it； James。 Just tell
the plain truth if it comes out。 A thing like that can't hurt you permanently。
Nothing can really injure you that does not come from your own
weakness。〃
〃That's all poppycock；〃 James interrupted fretfully。 〃Just that sort of
thing has put many a man on the skids。 I tell you a young fellow needs to
start unhampered。 If the fellows got onto it that my father had been in the
pen because he was a defaulting bank cashier they would drop me like a
hot potato。〃
〃None but the snobs would。 Your friends would stick the closer。〃
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〃Oh' friends！〃 The young man's voice had a note of angry derision。
Jeff's
