the golden fleece-第4章
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oved Miss Grace were those long； lazy blue eyes； which seemed to tolerate everything； but to be interested in nothing；hardly even in her。 Now； Grace could not help knowing she was a pretty girl； and it was somewhat of a novelty to her that Freeman should appear so indifferent。 It would have been difficult to devise a better opportunity than this to monopolize masculine admiration； and she fell to speculating as to what sort of an experience Mr。 Freeman must have had； so to panoply him against her magic。 On the other hand； she was the recipient of whatever attentions he could bring himself to detach from the horizon…line； or from his own thoughts （which appeared to amount； practically； to about the same thing）。 She had no other rivals； and a woman will submit amiably to a good deal of indifference； provided she be assured that no other woman is enjoying what she lacks。
Freeman； for his part； had nothing to complain of。 Grace Parsloe was a singularly pretty girl。 Singular properly qualifies her。 She was not like the others；by which phrase he epitomized the numerous comely young women whom he had； at various times and in several countries； attended； teased； and kissed。 Both physically and mentally； she was very fine…wrought。 Her bones were small； her body and limbs were slender； but beautifully fashioned。 She was supple and vigorous。 Grace is a product of brain as well as an effect of bodily symmetry： Grace had the quality on both counts。 She answered to one's conception of Mahomet's houris； assuming that the conception is not of a fat person。 Her head was small； but well proportioned；compact as to the forehead； rather broad across the cheek…bones； thence tapering to the chin。 Her eyes were blue； but of an Eastern strangeness of shape and setting； they were subject to great and sudden changes of expression； depending； apparently； on the varying state of her emotions； and betraying an intensity more akin to the Oriental temperament than to ours。 There was in her something subtle and fierce； yet overlaying it； like a smooth and silken skin； were the conventional polish and bearing of an American school graduate。 She was； in deed； noticeably artificial and self…conscious in manner and in the intonations of her speech； though it was an aesthetic delight to see her move or pose； and the quality of her voice was music's self。 But Freeman； after due meditation； came to the conclusion that this was the outcome of her recognition of her own singularity： in trying to be like other people； she fell into caricature。 Freeman； somehow； liked her the better for it。 Like most men of brain and pith； who have seen and thought much； he was thankful for a new thing； because； so far as it went； it renewed him。 It pleased him to imagine that he could； with a word or a look； cause this veil of artifice to be thrown aside； and the primitive passion and fierceness behind it to start forth。 He allowed himself to imagine； with a certain satisfaction； that were he to make this young woman jealous she would think nothing of thrusting a dagger between his ribs。 Reality；what a delight it is！ The actual touch and feeling of the spontaneous natural creature have been so buried beneath centuries of hypocrisy and humbug that we have ceased to believe in them save as a metaphysical abstraction。 But even as water； long depressed under…ground in perverse channels； surges up to the surface； and above it； at last； in a fountain of relief； so Nature； after enduring ages of outrage and banishment； leaps back to her rightful domain in some individual whom we call extraordinary because he or she is natural。 Grace Parsloe did not seem （regarded as to her temperament and quality） to belong where she was： therefore she was a delightful incident there。 Had she been met with in the days of the Old Testament； or in the depths of Persia or India at the present time； even； she might have appeared commonplace。 But here she was in conventional costume； with conventional manners。 And； just as the nautch…girls； and other Oriental dancers and posturers； wear a costume which suggests nature more effectively than does nature itself； so did Grace's conventionality suggest to Freeman the essential absence of conventionality more forcibly than if he had seen her clad in a turban and translucent caftan； dancing off John the Baptist's head； or driving a nail into that of Sisera。 Grace certainly owed much of her importance to her situation； which rendered her foreign and piquante。 But； then； everything； in this world； is relative。
Racial types seem to be a failure： when they become very marked； the race deteriorates or vanishes。 In the counties of England； after only a thousand years； the women you meet in the rural districts and country towns all look like sisters。 The Asiatics； of course； are much more sunk in type than the Anglo… Saxons； and they show us the way we would be going。 Only； there is hope in rapid transit and the cosmopolitan spirit； and especially in these United States； which bring together the ends of the earth； and place side by side a descendant of the Puritans like Freeman； and a daughter of Irak…Ajemi。
〃What are you coming to California for； Mr。 Freeman？〃
Freeman had already told her what he had been in the Isthmus for；to paddle in miasmatic swamps with a view to the possibility of a canal in the remote； speculative future。 He had given her a graphic and entertaining picture of the hideous and inconceivable life he had led there for six months； from which he had emerged the only member of a party of nineteen （whites； blacks； and yellows） who was not either dead by disease； by violence； or by misadventure； or had barely escaped with life and a shattered constitution。 Freeman； after emerging from the miasmatic hell and lake of Gehenna； had taken a succession of baths； with soap and friction； had been attended by a barber and a tailor； and had himself attended the best table to be found for love or money in the charming town of Panama。 He had also spent more than half of the week of his sojourn there in sleep； and he was now in the best possible condition； physical and mental； though not； he admitted； pecuniary。 As to morals； they had not reached that discussion yet。 But； in all that he did say； Freeman exhibited perfect unreserve and frankness； answering without hesitation or embarrassment any question she chose to ask （and she asked some curious ones）。
But when she asked him such an innocent thing as what he was after in Californiaan inquiry； by the way； put more in idleness than out of curiosityFreeman stroked his yellow moustache with the thumb of the hand that held his Cuban cigarette； gazed with narrowed eyelids at the horizon； and for some time made no reply at all。 Finally he said that California was a place he had never visited； and that it would be a pity to have been so near it and yet not have improved the opportunity of taking a look at it。
Grace instantly scented a mystery； and was not less promptly resolved to fathom it。 And what must be the nature of a mystery attaching to a handsome man； unmarried； and evidently no stranger to the gentler sex？ Of course there must be a woman in it！ Her eyes glowed with azure fire。
〃You have some acquaintances in California； I suppose？〃 she said； with an air of laborious indifference。
〃Well；yes； I believe I have；〃 Freeman admitted。
〃Have they lived there long？〃
〃No； not over a few months。 I accidentally heard from a person in Panama。 I dropped a line to say I might turn up。〃
〃Sheyou haven't had time to get an answer； then？〃
Freeman inhaled a deep breath through his cigarette； tilted his head back； and allowed the smoke to escape slowly through his nostrils。 In this manner； familiar to his deep…designing sex； he concealed a smile。 Grace was； in some respects； as transparent as she was subtle。 So long as the matter in hand did not touch her emotions； she had no difficulty in maintaining a deceptive surface； but emotion she could not disguise； though she was probably not aware of the fact； for emotion has a tendency to shut one's own eyes and open what they can no longer see in one's self to the gaze of outsiders。
〃No；〃 he said； when he had recovered
