the dust-第17章

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erent　match　in　mind。〃

〃What's　the　matter　with　you；　Billy？〃　inquired　Norman；　inspecting　him　with　smiling；　cruelly　unfriendly　eyes。

〃I'm　damned　if　I　know；　Norman；〃　said　the　head　clerk；　assuming　that　his　friend　was　sympathetic　and　dropping　into　the　informality　of　the　old　days　when　they　were　clerks　together　in　a　small　firm。　　〃I'd　have　proposed　to　her　last　night　if　I　hadn't　been　afraid　I'd　lose　her　by　being　in　such　a　hurry。　。　。　。　　You're　in　love　yourself。〃

Norman　startled　violently。

〃You're　going　to　get　married。　　Probably　you　can　sympathize。　　You　know　how　it　is　to　meet　the　woman　you　want　and　must　have。〃

Norman　turned　away。

〃I've　hador　thought　I　hadrather　advanced　ideas　on　the　subject　of　women。　　I've　always　had　a　horror　of　being　married　for　a　living　or　for　a　home　or　as　an　experiment　or　a　springboard。　　My　notion's　been　that　I　wouldn't　trust　a　woman　who　wasn't　independent。　And　theoretically　I　still　think　that's　sound。　　But　it　doesn't　work　out　in　practice。　　A　man　has　to　have　been　in　love　to　be　able　to　speak　the　last　word　on　the　sex　question。〃

Norman　dropped　heavily　into　his　desk　chair　and　rumpled　his　hair　into　disorder。　　He　muttered　something　the　head　clerk　thought　it　was　an　oath。

〃I'd　marry　her；〃　Tetlow　went　on；　〃if　I　knew　she　was　simply　using　me　in　the　coldest；　most　calculating　way。　　My　only　fear　is　that　I　shan't　be　able　to　get　her　that　she　won't　marry　me。〃

Norman　sneered。　　〃That's　not　likely；〃　he　said。

〃No；　it　isn't；〃　admitted　Tetlow。　　〃Theythe　Hallowellsare　nice　peopleof　as　good　family　as　there　is。　　But　they're　poorvery　poor。　　There's　only　her　father　and　herself。　　The　old　man　is　a　scientistspends　most　of　his　time　at　things　that　won't　pay　a　centutterly　impractical。　　A　gentlemanan　able　man；　if　a　little　crackedat　least　he　seemed　so　to　me　who　don't　know　much　about　scientific　matters。　　But　getting　poorer　steadily。　　So　I　think　she　will　accept　me。〃

A　gloomy；　angry　frown；　like　a　black　shadow；　passed　across　Norman's　face　and　disappeared。　　〃You'd　marry　heron　those　terms？〃　he　sneered。

〃Of　course　I　HOPE　for　better　terms〃

Norman　sprang　up；　strode　to　the　window　and　turned　his　back。

〃But　I'm　prepared　for　the　worst。　　The　fact　is；　she　treats　me　as　if　she　didn't　care　a　rap　for　the　honor　of　my　showing　her　attention。〃

〃A　trick；　Billy。　　An　old　trick。〃

〃Maybe　so。　　But　I　really　believe　she　doesn't　realize。　　She's　queerhas　been　queerly　brought　up。　　Yes；　I　think　she　doesn't　appreciate。　　Then；　too；　she's　young　and　lightalmost　childish　in　some　ways。　。　。　。　　I　don't　blame　you　for　being　disgusted　with　me；　Fred。　　But　damn　it；　what's　a　man　to　do？〃

〃Cure　himself！〃　exploded　Norman；　wheeling　violently　on　his　friend。　　〃You　must　act　like　a　man。　　Billy；　such　a　marriage　is　ruin　for　you。　　How　can　we　take　you　into　partnership　next　year？　　When　you　marry；　you　must　marry　in　the　class　you're　moving　toward；　not　in　any　of　those　you're　leaving　behind。〃

〃Do　you　suppose　I　haven't　thought　of　all　that？〃　rejoined　Tetlow　bitterly。　　〃But　I　can't　help　myself。　It's　useless　for　me　to　say　I'll　try。　　I　shan't　try。〃

〃Don't　you　want　to　get　over　this？〃　demanded　Norman　fiercely。

〃Of　course　　NoI　don't。　　Fred；　you'd　think　better　of　me　if　you　knew　her。　　You've　never　especially　noticed　her。　　She's　beautiful。〃

Norman　dropped　to　his　chair　again。

〃Reallybeautiful；〃　protested　Tetlow；　assuming　that　the　gesture　was　one　of　disgusted　denial。　　〃Take　a　good　look　at　her；　Norman；　before　you　condemn　her。　I　never　was　so　astonished　as　when　I　discovered　how　good…looking　she　is。　　I　don't　quite　know　how　it　is；　but　I　suppose　nobody　ever　happened　to　see　howhow　lovely　she　is　until　I　just　chanced　to　see　it。〃　　At　a　rudely　abrupt　gesture　from　Norman　he　hurried　on；　eagerly　apologetic；　〃And　if　you　talk　with　her　　She's　very　reserved。　　But　she's　the　lady　through　and　through　and　has　a　good　mind。　。　。　。　　At　least；　I　think　she　has。　I'll　admit　a　man　in　love　is　a　poor　judge　of　a　woman's　mind。　　But；　anyhow；　I　KNOW　she's　lovely　to　look　at。　You'll　see　it　yourself；　now　that　I've　called　your　attention　to　it。　　You　can't　fail　to　see　it。〃

Norman　threw　himself　back　in　his　chair　and　clasped　his　hands　behind　his　head。　　〃WHY　do　you　want　to　marry　her？〃　he　inquired；　in　a　tone　his　sensitive　ear　approved　as　judicial。

〃How　can　I　tell？〃　replied　the　head　clerk　irritably。　〃Does　a　man　ever　know？〃

〃Alwayswhen　he's　sensibly　in　love。〃

〃But　when　he's　just　in　love？　　That's　what　ails　me；〃　retorted　Tetlow；　with　a　sheepish　look　and　laugh。

〃Billy；　you've　got　to　get　over　this。　　I　can't　let　you　make　a　fool　of　yourself。〃

Tetlow's　fat；　smooth；　pasty　face　of　the　overfed；　underexercised　professional　man　became　a　curious　exhibit　of　alarm　and　obstinacy。

〃You've　got　to　promise　me　you'll　keep　away　from　herexcept　at　the　officefor　say；　a　week。　　Then　we'll　see。〃

Tetlow　debated。

〃It's　highly　improbable　that　anyone　else　will　discover　these　irresistible　charms。　　There's　no　one　else　hanging　round？〃

〃No　one；　as　I　told　you　the　other　day；　when　you　questioned　me　about　her。〃

Norman　shifted；　looked　embarrassed。

〃I　hope　I　didn't　give　you　the　impression　I　was　ashamed　of　loving　her　or　would　ever　be　ashamed　of　her　anywhere？〃　continued　Tetlow；　a　very　loverlike　light　in　his　usually　unromantic　eyes。　　〃If　I　did；　it　wasn't　what　I　meantfar　from　it。　　You'll　see；　when　I　marry　her；　Norman。　　You'll　be　congratulating　me。〃

Norman　sprang　up　again。　　〃This　is　plain　lunacy；　Tetlow。　　I　am　amazed　at　youamazed！〃

〃Get　acquainted　with　her；　Mr。　Norman；〃　pleaded　the　subordinate。　　〃Do　it；　to　oblige　me。　　Don't　condemn　us〃

〃I　wish　to　hear　nothing　more！〃　cried　Norman　violently。　　〃Another　thing。　　You　must　find　her　a　place　in　some　other　officeat　once。〃

〃You're　right；　sir；〃　assented　Tetlow。　　〃I　can　readily　do　that。〃

Norman　scowled　at　him；　made　an　imperious　gesture　of　dismissal。　　Tetlow；　chopfallen　but　obdurate；　got　himself　speedily　out　of　sight。

Norman；　with　hands　deep　in　his　pockets；　stared　out　among　the　skyscrapers　and　gave　way　to　a　fit　of　remorse。　It　was　foreign　to　his　nature　to　do　petty　underhanded　tricks。　　Grand　strategyyes。　　At　that　he　was　an　adept；　and　not　the　shiftiest；　craftiest　schemes　he　had　ever　devised　had　given　him　a　moment's　uneasiness。　　But　to　be　driving　a　ten…dollar…a…week　typewriter　out　of　her　job　to　be　maneuvering　to　deprive　her　of　a　for　her　brilliant　marriageto　be　lying　to　an　old　and　loyal　retainer　who　had　helped　Norman　full　as　much　and　as　often　as　Norman　had　helped　himthese　sneaking　bits　of　skullduggery　made　him　feel　that　he　had　sunk　indeed。　　But　he　ground　his　teeth　together　and　his　eyes　gleamed　wickedly。　　〃He　shan't　have　her；　damn　him！〃　he　muttered。　　〃She's　not　for　him。〃

He　summoned　Tetlow；　who　was　obviously　low　in　mind　as　the　result　of　revolving　the　things　that　had　been　said　to　him。　　〃Billy；〃　he　began　in　a　tone　so　amiable　that　he　was　ashamed　for　himself；　〃you'll　not　forget　I　have　your　promise？〃

〃What　did　I　promise？〃　cried　Tetlow；　his　voice　shrill　with　alarm。

〃Not　to　see　her；　except　at　the　office；　for　a　week。〃

〃But　I've　promised　her　father　I'd　call　this　evening。　He's　going　to　show　me　some　experiments。〃

〃You　can　easily　make　an　excusebusiness。〃

〃But　I　don't　want　to；〃　protested　the　head　clerk。　〃What's　the　use？　　I've　got　my　mind　made　up。　　Norman；　I'd　hang　on　after　her　if　you　fired　me　out　of　this　office　for　it。　　And　I　can't　restI'm　fit　for　nothing　until　this　matter's　settled。　　I　came　very　near　taking　her　aside　and　proposing　to　her；　just　after　I　went　out　of　here　a　while　ago。〃

〃You　DAMN　fool！〃　cried　Norman；　losing　all　control　of　himself。　　〃Take　the　afternoon　express　for　Albany　instead　of　Harcott　and　attend　to　those　registrations　and　arrange　for　those　hearings。　　I'll　do　my　best　to　save　you。　　I'll　bring　the　girl　in　here　and　keep　her　at　work　until　you　get　out　of　the　way。〃

Tetlow　glanced　at　his　friend；　then　the　tears　came　into　his　eyes。　　〃You're　a　hell　of　a　friend！〃　he　ejaculated。　　〃And　I　thought　you'd　sympathize　because　you　were　in　love。〃

〃I　do　sympathize；　Billy；〃　Norman　replied　with　an　abrupt　change　to　shamefaced　apology。　　〃I　sympathize　more　than　you　know。　　I　feel　like　a　dog；　doing　this。　But　it　can't　result　in　any　harm；　and　I　want　you　to　get　a　little　fresh　air　in　that　hot　brain　of　yours　before　you　commit　yourself。　　Be　reasonable；　old　man。　　Suppose　you　rushed　ahead　and