the vision spendid(美景)-第57章
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people and disappeared。 James was left standing on the curb with Alice。
He spoke brusquely。 〃Someone call a cab； please。。。。I'll send you home；
Miss Frome。〃
〃No； to the hospital；〃 she corrected。 〃I couldn't go home now without
knowing how he is。〃
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〃Very well。 Anything to get away from here。〃
〃And you can have your cut attended to there。〃
〃Oh； that's nothing。 A basin of cold water is all I need。 Here's the cab；
thank heaven。〃
The girl's gaze followed the automobile up the hill as she waited for
the taxicab to stop。 〃I do hope he isn't hurt badly；〃 she murmured
piteously。
〃Probably he isn't。 Just stunned； the doctor seemed to think。 Anyhow it
was an unavoidable accident。〃
The eyes of the young woman kindled。 〃I'll never forget the way you
jumped to save him。 It was splendid。〃
James flushed with pleasure。 〃Nonsense。 I merely pushed him aside。〃
〃You merely risked your life for his。 A bagatelledon't mention it；〃 the
girl mocked。
Farnum nodded； the old warmth for her in his eyes。 〃All right； I'll take
all the praise you want to give me。 It's been a good while since you have
thought I deserved any。〃
Alice looked out of the window in a silence that appeared to accuse
him。
〃Yet once〃She felt in his fine voice the vibration of feeling 〃once
we were friends。 We met on the common ground ofof the spirit；〃 he
risked。
Her eyes came round to meet his。 〃Is it my fault that we are not still
friends？〃
〃I don't know。 Something has come between us。 What is it？〃
〃If you don't know I can't tell you。〃
〃I think I know。〃 He folded his handkerchief again to find a spot
unstained。 〃You wanted me to fit into some ideal of me you had formed。
Am I to blame because I can't do it？ Isn't the fault with your austerity？ I've
got to follow my own convictionsnot Jeff's； not even yours。 Life's a fight；
and it's every man for himself。 He has to work out his own salvation in his
own way。 Nobody can do it for him。 The final test is his success or failure。
I'm going to succeed。〃
〃Are you？〃 The compassion of her look he could not understand。 〃But
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how shall we define success？〃
〃It's getting power and wielding it。〃
〃But doesn't it depend on how one wields it？〃
〃Yes。 It must be made to produce big results。 Now my idea of a
successful man is your uncle； Joe Powers。〃
〃And my idea of one is your cousin； Jefferson Farnum。〃
The young man sat up。 〃You're not seriously telling me that you think
Jeff is successful as compared with Joe Powers？〃
〃Yes。 In my opinion he is the most successful man I ever met。〃
James was annoyed。 〃I expect you have a monopoly in that opinion；
Miss Fromeunless Jeff shares it。〃
〃He doesn't。〃
The lawyer laughed irritably。 〃No； I shouldn't think he would。〃 He
added a moment later： 〃I don't suppose Jeff is worth a hundred dollars。〃
〃Probably not。〃
〃And Joe Powers is worth a hundred millions。〃
〃That settles it。 I must have been wrong。〃 Alice looked at him with a
flash of demure daring。 〃Valencia said something to me the other day I
didn't quite understand。 Ought I to congratulate you？〃
〃What did she say？〃 he asked eagerly。
〃Oh； I'll not tell you what she said。 My question was in first。〃
〃You may as well； though it's still a secret。 Nobody knows it but you
and me。〃
〃And Valencia。〃
〃I didn't know she knew it yet。〃
Alice stared。 〃Not know that she is going to marry you？ Then it isn't
really arranged？〃
〃It is and it isn't。〃
〃Oh！〃
〃I know it and she suspects it。〃
〃Is this a riddle？〃
〃Riddle is a good word when we speak of your cousin；〃 he admitted
judicially。
〃Perhaps I asked a question I ought not to have。〃
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〃Not at all。 I'm trying to answer you as well as I can。 Last time I
mentioned the subject she laughed at me。〃
〃So you've asked her？〃
〃No； I told her。〃
〃And she said？〃
〃Regretted that other plans would not permit her to fall in with mine。〃
〃Then I don't quite see how you are so sure。〃
〃That's just what she says； but I've a notion she is planning the
trousseau。〃
Alice flashed a sidelong look at him。 Was he playing with her？ Or did
he mean it？
〃You'll let me know when I may safely congratulate you；〃 she retorted
ironically。
〃Now is the best time。 I may not see you this evening。〃
〃Oh； it's to be this evening； is it？〃
〃To the best of my belief and hope。〃
His complacency struck a spark from her。 〃You needn't be so cock sure。
I daresay she won't have you。〃
His smile took her into his confidence。 〃That's what I'm afraid of
myself； but I daren't let her see it。〃
〃That sounds better。〃
〃I think she wants to eat her cake and have it； too。〃
〃Meaning； please？〃
〃That she likes me； but would rather hold me off a while。〃
Alice nodded。 〃Yes； that would be like Val。〃
〃Meanwhile I don't know whether I'm to be a happy man or not。〃
Her fine eyes looked in their direct fashion right into his。 〃I must say
you appear greatly worried。〃
〃Yes；〃 he smiled。
〃You must be tremendously in love with her。〃
〃Ye…es； thank you。〃
〃Why are you going to marry her thenif she'll let you？〃
〃Now I'm having Joe Powers' railroads and his steamboats and his
mines thrown at me； am I not？〃 he asked lightly。
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〃No； I don't think that meanly of you。 I know you're a victim of
ambition； but I don't suppose it would take you that far。〃
He gave her an ironical bow。 〃Thanks for this testimonial of respect。
You're right。 It wouldn't。 I'm going to marry Joe Power's daughter； _Deo
volente_ because she is the most interesting woman I know and the most
beautiful one。〃
〃Oh！ That's the reason。〃
〃These； plus a sentimental one which I can't uncover to the cynical
eyes of my young cousin that is to be； are my motives； though； mind you；
I'm not fool enough to be impervious to the railroads and the ocean liners
and the mines you didn't mention。 I hope my reasons satisfy you；〃 he
added coolly。
〃If they satisfy Val they do me； but very likely you'll find they won't。〃
〃The doubt adds a fillip to the situation。〃 Her eyes had gone from time
to time out of the window。 Now she gave a sigh of relief。 〃Here we are at
the hospital。 Oh； I do hope that poor man is all right！〃
〃I'm sure he is。 He was recovering consciousness when they left。
James helped her out of the cab and they went together up the steps。 In
the hall they met Jeff。 He had just come down stairs。
〃Everything's all right。 His head must have struck the asphalt； but there
seems to be no danger。〃
Alice noticed that the newspaper man spoke to his cousin and not to
her。
PART 2
Though Valencia Van Tyle had not made up her mind to get married；
James hit the mark when he guessed that she was interesting herse
