the vision spendid(美景)-第44章
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do hope you're a little deaf； Mr。 Farnum。 We've been talking about you。〃
〃You may say anything you like about me； Miss Frome； except that
I'm not grateful for the lift aboard you gave me this afternoon；〃 Jeff
answered。
He found himself presently giving the story of his adventure。 He did
not look at Alice； but he told the tale to her alone and was aware of the
eagerness with which she listened。
〃But why should they want to kidnap you？ I don't see any reason for
it；〃 Alice protested。
A shadowy smile lay in the eyes of Mrs。 Van Tyle。 〃Mr。 Farnum is in
politics； my dear。〃
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A fat pork packer from Chicago joined the group。 〃I've been thinking
about the sharks； Mr。 Farnum。 You played in great luck to escape them。〃
〃Sharks！〃 Jeff heard the young woman beside him give a gasp。 In the
moonlight her face showed white。
〃These waters are fairly infested with them；〃 the Chicagoan explained。
〃We saw two this morning in the harbor。 It was when the stewards threw
out the scraps。 They turned over on their〃
〃Don't！〃 cried Alice Frome sharply。
The petrified horror on the vivid mobile face remained long as a sweet
memory to Jeff。 It had been for him that she had known the swift heart
clutch of terror。
PART 4
Farnum； pacing the deck as he munched at an apple； heard himself
hailed from the bridge above。 He looked up； to see Alice Frome； caught
gloriously in the wind like a winged Victory。 Her hair was parted in the
middle with a touch of Greek simplicity and fell in wavy ripples over her
temples beneath the jaunty cap。 She put her arms on the railing and leaned
forward； her chin tilted to an oddly taking boyish piquancy。
〃I say； give a fellow a bite。〃
By no catalogue of summarized details could this young woman have
laid claim to beauty； but in the flashing play of her expression； the
exquisite golden coloring； one could not evade the charm of a certain
warm witchery； of the passionate beat of innocent life。 The wonder of her
lay in the sparkle of her inner self。 Every gleam of the deep true eyes；
every impulsive motion of the slight supple body； expressed some phase of
her infinite variety。 Her flying moods swept her from demure to daring；
from warm to cool。 And for all her sweet derision her friends knew a heart
full of pure； brave enthusiasms that would endure。
〃I don't believe in indiscriminate charity；〃 Jeff explained； and he took
another bite。
〃Have you no sympathy for the deserving poor？〃 she pleaded。
〃Besides； since you're a socialist； it isn't your apple any more than it is
mine。 Bring my half up to me； sir。〃
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〃Your half is the half I've already eaten。 And if you knew as much as
you pretend to about socialism you'd know it isn't yours until you've
earned it。〃
Her eyes danced。 He noticed that beneath each of them was a sprinkle
of tiny powdered freckles。 〃But haven't I earned it？ Didn't I blister my
hands pulling you aboard？〃
He promptly shifted ground。 〃We're living under the capitalistic
system。 You earn it and I eat it；〃 he argued。 〃The rest of this apple is my
reward for having appropriated what didn't belong to me。〃
〃But that's not fair。 It's no better than stealing。〃
〃Shh！ It's high finance。 Don't use that other word；〃 he whispered。
〃And what's fair hasn't a thing to do with it。 It's my apple because I've got
it。〃
〃But〃
He waved her protest aside blandly。 〃Now try to be content with the lot
a wise Providence has awarded you。 I eat the apple。 You see me eat it。
That's the usual division of profits。 Don't be an agitator； or an
anarchist。〃
〃Don't I get even the core？〃 she begged。
〃I'd like to give it to you； but it wouldn't be best。 You see I don't want
to make you discontented with your position in life。〃 He flung what was
left of the apple into the sea and came up the steps to join her。
Laughter was in the eyes of both； but it died out of hers first。
〃Mr。 Farnum； is it really as bad as that？〃 Before he could find an
answer she spoke again。 〃I've wanted for a long time to talk with some one
who didn't look at things as we do。 I mean as my father does and my uncle
does and most of my friends。 Tell me what you think of ityou and your
friends。〃
〃That's a large order； Miss Frome。 I hardly know where to begin。〃
〃Wait！ Here comes Lieutenant Beauchamp to take me away。 I
promised to play ring toss with him； but I don't want to go now。〃 She led a
swift retreat to a spot on the upper deck shielded from the wind and
warmed by the two huge smokestacks。 Dropping breathless into a chair；
she invited him with a gesture to take another。 Little imps of mischief
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flashed out at him from her eyes。 In the adventure of the escape she had
made him partner。 A rush of warm blood danced through his veins。
〃Now； sir； we're safe。 Begin the propaganda。 Isn't that the word you
use？ Tell me all about everything。 You're the first real live socialist I ever
caught； and I mean to make the most of you。〃
〃But I'm unfortunately not exactly a socialist。〃
〃An anarchist will do just as well。〃
〃Nor an anarchist。 Sorry。〃
〃Oh； well； you're something that's dreadful。 You haven't the proper
bump of respect for father and for Uncle Joe。 Now why haven't you？〃
And before he knew it this young woman had drawn from him
glimpses of what life meant to him。 He talked to her of the pressure of the
struggle for existence； of the poverty that lies like a blight over whole
sections of cities； spreading disease and cruelty and disorder； crushing the
souls of its victims； poisoning their hearts and bodies。 He showed her a
world at odds and ends； in which it was accepted as the natural thing that
some should starve while others were waited upon by servants。
He made her see how the tendency of environment is to reduce all
things to a question of selfinterest； and how the great triumphant fact of
life is that love and kindness persist。 Her interest was insatiable。 She
poured questions upon him； made him tell her stories of the things he had
seen in that strange underworld that was farther from her than Asia。 So she
learned of Oscar Marchant； coughing all day over the shoes he half…soled
and going out at night to give his waning life to the service of those who
needed him。 He told herwithout giving namesthe story of Sam Miller
and his wife； of shop girls forced by grinding poverty to that easier way
which leads to death； of little children driven by want into factories which
crushed the youth out of them。
Her eyes with the star flash in them never left his face。 She was
absorbed； filled with a strange emotion that made her lashes moist。 She
saw not only the tragedy and waste of life； but a glorious glim
