the dwelling place of ligh-第77章

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hundred　had　been　admitted　he　turned　to　her　again。

〃You　allow　visitors？〃

〃Oh　dear；　yes。　　They'd　come　anyway。　　There's　one　up　there　now；　a　very
swell　lady　from　New　Yorkso　swell　I　don't　know　what　to　say　to　her。　　Talk
to　her　for　me。〃

〃But　I　shouldn't　know　what　to　say；　either；〃　replied　Janet。　　She　smiled；
but　she　had　an　odd　desire　to　cry。　　〃What　is　she　doing　here？〃

〃Oh；　thrashing　'round；　trying　to　connect　with　lifeshe's　one　of　the
unfortunate　unemployed。〃

〃Unemployed？〃

〃The　idle　rich；〃　he　explained。　　〃Perhaps　you　can　give　her　a　jobenlist
her　in　the　I。W。W。〃

〃We　don't　want　that　kind；〃　Janet　declared。

〃Have　pity　on　her；〃　he　begged。　　〃Nobody　wants　themthat's　why　they're　so
pathetic。〃

She　accompanied　him　up　the　narrow　stairway　to　a　great　loft；　the　bareness
of　which　had　been　tempered　by　draped　American　flags。　　From　the　trusses　of
the　roof　hung　improvised　electric　lights；　and　the　children　were　already
seated　at　the　four　long　tables；　where　half　a　dozen　ladies　were　supplying
them　with　enamelled　bowls　filled　with　steaming　soup。　　They　attacked　it
ravenously；　and　the　absence　of　the　talk　and　laughter　that　ordinarily
accompany　children's　feasts　touched　her；　impressed　upon　her；　as　nothing
else　had　done；　the　destitution　of　the　homes　from　which　these　little　ones
had　come。　　The　supplies　that　came　to　Hampton；　the　money　that　poured　into
Headquarters　were　not　enough　to　allay　the　suffering　even　now。　　And　what
if　the　strike　should　last　for　months！　　Would　they　be　able　to　hold　out；　to
win？　　In　this　mood　of　pity；　of　anxiety　mingled　with　appreciation　and
gratitude　for　what　this　man　was　doing；　she　turned　to　speak　to　him；　to
perceive　on　the　platform　at　the　end　of　the　room　a　lady　seated。　　So
complete　was　the　curve　of　her　back　that　her　pose　resembled　a　letter　u　set
sidewise；　the　gap　from　her　crossed　knee　to　her　face　being　closed　by　a
slender　forearm　and　hand　that　held　a　lorgnette；　through　which　she　was
gazing　at　the　children　with　an　apparently　absorbed　interest。　　This
impression　of　willowy　flexibility　was　somehow　heightened　by　large；　pear…
shaped　pendants　hanging　from　her　ears；　by　a　certain　filminess　in　her
black　costume　and　hat。　　Flung　across　the　table　beside　her　was　a　long　coat
of　grey　fur。　　She　struck　an　odd　note　here；　presented　a　strange　contrast
to　Janet's　friend　from　Silliston；　with　his　rough　suit　and　fine　but　rugged
features。

〃I'm　sorry　I　haven't　a　table　for　you　just　at　present；〃　he　was　saying。
〃But　perhaps　you'll　let　me　take　your　order；〃and　he　imitated　the
obsequious　attitude　of　a　waiter。　　〃A　little　fresh　caviar　and　a　clear
soup；　and　then　a　fish？〃

The　lady　took　down　her　lorgnette　and　raised　an　appealing　face。

〃You're　always　joking；　Brooks；〃　she　chided　him；　〃even　when　you're　doing
things　like　this！　　I　can't　get　you　to　talk　seriously　even　when　I　come　all
the　way　from　New　York　to　find　out　what's　going　on　here。〃

〃How　hungry　children　eat；　for　instance？〃　he　queried。

〃Dear　little　things；　it's　heartrending！〃　she　exclaimed。　　〃Especially　when
I　think　of　my　own　children；　who　have　to　be　made　to　eat。　　Tell　me　the
nationality　of　that　adorable　tot　at　the　end。〃

〃Perhaps　Miss　Bumpus　can　tell　you；〃　he　ventured。　　And　Janet；　though
distinctly　uncomfortable　and　hostile　to　the　lady；　was　surprised　and
pleased　that　he　should　have　remembered　her　name。　　〃Brooks；〃　she　had
called　him。　　That　was　his　first　name。　　This　strange　and　sumptuous　person
seemed　intimate　with　him。　　Could　it　be　possible　that　he　belonged　to　her
class？　　〃Mrs。　Brocklehurst；　Miss　Bumpus。〃

Mrs。　Brocklehurst　focussed　her　attention　on　Janet；　through　the　lorgnette；
but　let　it　fall　immediately；　smiling　on　her　brightly；　persuasively。

〃How　d'ye　do？〃　she　said；　stretching　forth　a　slender　arm　and　taking　the
girl's　somewhat　reluctant　hand。　　〃Do　come　and　sit　down　beside　me　and　tell
me　about　everything　here。　　I'm　sure　you　knowyou　look　so　intelligent。〃

Her　friend　from　Silliston　shot　at　Janet　an　amused　but　fortifying　glance
and　left　them；　going　down　to　the　tables。　　Somehow　that　look　of　his　helped
to　restore　in　her　a　sense　of　humour　and　proportion；　and　her　feeling
became　one　of　curiosity　concerning　this　exquisitely　soigneed　being　of　an
order　she　had　read　about；　but　never　encounteredan　order　which　her　newly
acquired　views　declared　to　be　usurpers　and　parasites。　　But　despite　her
palpable　effort　to　be　gracious　perhaps　because　of　itMrs。　Brocklehurst
had　an　air　about　her　that　was　disconcerting！　　Janet；　however；　seemed
composed　as　she　sat　down。

〃I'm　afraid　I　don't　know　very　much。　　Maybe　you　will　tell　me　something；
first。〃

〃Why；　certainly；〃　said　Mrs。　Brocklehurst；　sweetly　when　she　had　got　her
breath。

〃Who　is　that　man？〃　Janet　asked。

〃Whom　do　you　meanMr。　Insall？〃

〃Is　that　his　name？　　I　didn't　know。　　I've　seen　him　twice；　but　he　never
told　me。〃

〃Why；　my　dear；　do　you　mean　to　say　you　haven't　heard　of　Brooks　Insall？〃

〃Brooks　Insall。〃　　Janet　repeated　the　name；　as　her　eyes　sought　his　figure
between　the　tables。　　〃No。〃

〃I'm　sure　I　don't　know　why　I　should　have　expected　you　to　hear　of　him；〃
declared　the　lady；　repentantly。　　〃He's　a　writeran　author。〃　　And　at　this
Janet　gave　a　slight　exclamation　of　pleasure　and　surprise。　　〃You　admire
writers？　　He's　done　some　delightful　things。〃

〃What　does　he　write　about？〃　Janet　asked。

〃Oh；　wild　flowers　and　trees　and　mountains　and　streams；　and　birds　and
humanshe　has　a　wonderful　insight　into　people。〃

Janet　was　silent。　　She　was　experiencing　a　swift　twinge　of　jealousy；　of
that　familiar　rebellion　against　her　limitations。

〃You　must　read　them；　my　dear；〃　Mrs。　Brocklehurst　continued　softly；　in
musical　tones。　　〃They　are　wonderful；　they　have　such　distinction。　　He's
walked；　I'm　told；　over　every　foot　of　New　England；　talking　to　the　farmers
and　their　wives　andall　sorts　of　people。〃　　She；　too；　paused　to　let　her
gaze　linger　upon　Insall　laughing　and　chatting　with　the　children　as　they
ate。　　〃He　has　such　a　splendid；　‘out…door'　look　don't　you　think？　　And　he's
clever　with　his　hands　he　bought　an　old　abandoned　farmhouse　in　Silliston
and　made　it　all　over　himself　until　it　looks　as　if　one　of　our　great…great…
grandfathers　had　just　stepped　out　of　it　to　shoot　an　Indian　only　much
prettier。　　And　his　garden　is　a　dream。　　It's　the　most　unique　place　I've
ever　known。〃

Janet　blushed　deeply　as　she　recalled　how　she　had　mistaken　him　for　a
carpenter：　she　was　confused；　overwhelmed；　she　had　a　sudden　longing　to
leave　the　place；　to　be　alone；　to　think　about　this　discovery。　　Yet　she
wished　to　know　more。

〃But　how　did　he　happen　to　come　here　to　Hamptonto　be　doing　this？〃　she
asked。

〃Well；　that's　just　what　makes　him　interesting；　one　never　can　tell　what
he'll　do。　　He　took　it　into　his　head　to　collect　the　money　to　feed　these
children；　I　suppose　he　gave　much　of　it　himself。　　He　has　an　income　of　his
own；　though　he　likes　to　live　so　simply。〃

〃This　placeit's　not　connected　with　any　organization？〃　Janet　ejaculated。

〃That's　the　trouble；　he　doesn't　like　organizations；　and　he　doesn't　seem
to　take　any　interest　in　the　questions　or　movements　of　the　day；〃　Mrs。
Brocklehurst　complained。　　〃Or　at　least　he　refuses　to　talk　about　them；
though　I've　known　him　for　many　years；　and　his　people　and　mine　were
friends。　　Now　there　are　lots　of　things　I　want　to　learn；　that　I　came　up
from　New　York　to　find　out。　　I　thought　of　course　he'd　introduce　me　to　the
strike　leaders；　and　he　tells　me　he　doesn't　know　one　of　them。　　Perhaps　you
know　them；〃　she　added；　with　sudden　inspiration。

〃I'm　only　an　employee　at　Strike　Headquarters；〃　Janet　replied；　stiffening
a　little　despite　the　lady's　importuning　lookwhich　evidently　was　usually
effective。

〃You　mean　the　I。W。W。？〃

〃Yes。〃

Meanwhile　Insall　had　come　up　and　seated　himself　below　them　on　the　edge　of
the　platform。

〃Oh；　Brooks；　your　friend　Miss　Bumpus　is　employed　in　the　Strike
Headquarters！〃　Mrs。　Brocklehurst　cried；　and　turning　to　Janet　she　went　on。
〃I　didn't　realize　you　were　a　factory　girl；　I　must　say　you　don't　look　it。〃

Once　more　a　gleam　of　amusement　from　Insall　saved　Janet；　had　the　effect　of
compelling　her　to　meet　the　affair　somewhat　after　his　own　manner。　　He
seemed　to　be　putting　the　words　into　her　mouth；　and　she　even　smiled　a
little；　as　she　spoke。

〃You　never　can　tell　what