the dwelling place of ligh-第21章
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pimples and long hair and grinned affectionately as he greeted them。
〃Hello； girls！〃 he said。 〃What strikes you to…day？〃
〃Me for a raspberry nut sundae；〃 announced Eda； and Janet； being unable to
imagine any more delectable confection； assented。 The penetrating odour
peculiar to drugstores； dominated by menthol and some unnamable but ancient
remedy for catarrh； was powerless to interfere with their enjoyment。
The circus began at two。 Rather than cling to the straps of a crowded car they
chose to walk； following the familiar route of the trolley past the car barns
and the base…ball park to the bare field under the seared face of Torrey's
Hill； where circuses were wont to settle。 A sirocco…like breeze from the
southwest whirled into eddies the clouds of germladen dust stirred up by the
automobiles； blowing their skirts against their legs； and sometimes they were
forced to turn； clinging to their hats； confused and giggling； conscious of
male glances。 The crowd； increasing as they proceeded； was in holiday mood；
young men with a newly…washed aspect； in Faber Street suits； chaffed
boisterously groups of girls； who retorted with shrill cries and shrieks of
laughter； amorous couples strolled； arm in arm； oblivious； as though the place
were as empty as Eden； lady…killers with exaggerated square shoulders； wearing
bright neckties； their predatory instincts alert； hovered about in eager search
of adventure。 There were men…killers； too； usually to be found in pairs； in
startling costumes they had been persuaded were the latest Paris models；
imitations of French cocottes in Hampton； proof of the smallness of our modern
world。 Eda regarded them superciliously。
〃They'd like you to think they'd never been near a loom or a bobbin！〃 she
exclaimed。
In addition to these more conspicuous elements； the crowd contained sober
operatives of the skilled sort possessed of sufficient means to bring hither
their families； including the baby； there were section…hands and foremen；
slashers； mule spinners； beamers； French…Canadians； Irish； Scotch； Welsh and
English； Germans； with only an occasional Italian； Lithuanian； or Jew。 Peanut
and popcorn men； venders of tamales and Chile…con…carne hoarsely shouted their
wares； while from afar could be heard the muffled booming of a band。 Janet's
heart beat faster。 She regarded with a tinge of awe the vast expanse of tent
that rose before her eyes； the wind sending ripples along the heavy canvas from
circumference to tent pole。 She bought the tickets； they entered the circular
enclosure where the animals were kept； where the strong beams of the sun； in
trying to force their way through the canvas roof； created an unnatural；
jaundiced twilight； the weirdness of which was somehow enhanced by the hoarse；
amazingly penetrating growls of beasts。 Suddenly a lion near them raised a
shaggy head； emitting a series of undulating； soul…shaking roars。
〃Ah； what's eatin' you？〃 demanded a thick…necked youth； pretending not to be
awestricken by this demonstration。
〃Suppose he'd get out！〃 cried Eda； drawing Janet away。
〃I wouldn't let him hurt you； dearie；〃 the young man assured her。
〃You！〃 she retorted contemptuously； but grinned in spite of herself； showing
her gums。
The vague feeling of terror inspired by this tent was a part of its
fascination； for it seemed pregnant with potential tragedies suggested by the
juxtaposition of helpless babies and wild beasts； the babies crying or staring
in blank amazement at padding tigers whose phosphorescent eyes never left these
morsels beyond the bars。 The two girls wandered about； their arms closely
locked； but the strange atmosphere； the roars of the beasts； the ineffable；
pungent odour of the circus； of sawdust mingled with the effluvia of animals；
had aroused an excitement that was slow in subsiding。 Some time elapsed before
they were capable of taking a normal interest in the various exhibits。
〃‘Adjutant Bird；'〃 Janet read presently from a legend on one of the
compartments of a cage devoted to birds； and surveying the somewhat dissolute
occupant。 〃Why； he's just like one of those tall mashers who stay at the
Wilmot and stand on the sidewalk；travelling men； you know。〃
〃Say…isn't he？〃 Eda agreed。 〃Isn't he pleased with himself； and his feet
crossed！〃
〃And see this one； Edahe's a 'Harpy Eagle。' There's somebody we know looks
just like that。 Wait a minuteI'll tell youit's the woman who sits in the
cashier's cage at Grady's。〃
〃If it sure isn't！〃 said Eda。
〃She has the same fluffy； light hairhairpins can't keep it down； and she
looks at you in that same sort of surprised way with her head on one side when
you hand in your check。〃
〃Why； it's true to the life！〃 cried Eda enthusiastically。 〃She thinks she's
got all the men cinched；she does and she's forty if she's a day。〃
These comparisons brought them to a pitch of risible enjoyment amply sustained
by the spectacle in the monkey cage； to which presently they turned。 A
chimpanzee； with a solicitation more than human； was solemnly searching a
friend for fleas in the midst of a pandemonium of chattering and screeching and
chasing； of rattling of bars and trapezes carried on by their companions。
〃Well； young ladies；〃 said a voice； 〃come to pay a call on your relationshave
ye？〃
Eda giggled hysterically。 An elderly man was standing beside them。 He was
shabbily dressed； his own features were wizened； almost simian； and by his
friendly and fatuous smile Janet recognized one of the harmless obsessed in
which Hampton abounded。
〃Relations！〃 Eda exclaimed。
〃You and me； yes； and her；〃 he answered； looking at Janet； though at first he
had apparently entertained some doubt as to this inclusion； 〃we're all
descended from them。〃 His gesture triumphantly indicated the denizens of the
cage。
〃What are you giving us？〃 said Eda。
〃Ain't you never read Darwin？〃 he demanded。 〃If you had； you'd know they're
our ancestors； you'd know we came from them instead of Adam and Eve。 That
there's a fable。〃
〃I'll never believe I came from them；〃 cried Eda； vehement in her disgust。
But Janet laughed。 〃What's the difference？ Some of us aren't any better than
monkeys； anyway。〃
〃That's so；〃 said the man approvingly。 〃That's so。〃 He wanted to continue the
conversation； but they left him rather ruthlessly。 And when； from the entrance
to the performance tent； they glanced back over their shoulders； he was still
gazing at his cousins behind the bars； seemingly deriving an acute pleasure
from his consciousness of the connection。。。。
CHAPTER VI
Modern business； by reason of the mingling of the sexes it involves； for the
playwright and the novelist and the sociologist is full of interesting and
dramatic situations； and in it may be studied； undoubtedly； one phase of the
evolution tending to transform if not disintegrate certain institutions
hitherto the corner…stones of society。 Our stage is set。 A young woman；
conscious of ability； owes her promotion primarily to certain dynamic feminine
qualities with which she is endowed。 And though she may make an elaborate
pretense of ignoring the fact； in her heart she knows and resents it； while at
the same time； paradoxically； she gets a thrill from it；a sustaining and
inspiring thrill of power！ On its face it is a business arrangement；
secretly；attempt to repudiate this as one may；it is tinged with the colours
of high adventure。 When Janet entered into the intimate relationship with Mr。
Claude Ditmar necessitated by her new duties as his private stenographer her
attitude； slightly defiant； was the irreproachable one of a strict attention to
duty。 All unconsciously she was a true daughter of the twentieth century； and
probably a feminist at heart； which is to say that her conduct was determined
by no preconceived or handed…down notions of what was proper and lady…like。
For feminism； in a sense； is a return to atavism； and sex antagonism and sex
attraction are functions of the same thing。 There were moments when she
believed herself to hate Mr。 Ditmar； when she treated him with an aloofness； an
impersonality unsurpassed； moments when he paused
