the cost-第26章
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im。
〃OhII〃 He almost snatched it from her； dropped it into the box； put on the lid。 And he stood with mouth ajar and forehead beaded。
〃Please give it to me again；〃 said Pauline； coldly。 〃I had not finished looking at it。〃
His uneasy eyes spied the superintendent approaching。 He grew scarlet； then white； and in an agony of terror blurted out： 〃Here comes the superintendent。 I beg you； Mrs。 Dumont； don't tell him I showed it to you。 I've made some sort of a mistake。 You'll ruin me if you speak of it to any one。 I never thought it might be intended as a surprise to you。 Indeed； I wasn't supposed to know anything about it。 Maybe I was mistaken〃
His look and voice were so pitiful that Pauline replied reassuringly： 〃I understandI'll say nothing。 Please show me those；〃 and she pointed to a tray of unset rubies in the show…case。
And when the superintendent； bowing obsequiously； came up himself to take charge of this important customer； she was deep in the rubies which the assistant was showing her with hands that shook and fingers that blundered。
She did not permit her feelings to appear until she was in her carriage again and secure from observation。 The clerk's theory she could not entertain for an instant； contradicted as it was by the facts of eight years。 She knew she had surprised Dumont。 She had learned nothing new； but it forced her to stare straight into the face of that which she had been ignoring； that which she must continue to ignore if she was to meet the ever heavier and crueler exactions of the debt she had incurred when she betrayed her father and mother and herself。 At a time when her mind was filled with bitter contrasts between what was and what might have been； it brought bluntly to her the precise kind of life she was leading； the precise kind of surroundings she was tolerating。
〃Whom can he be giving such a gift？〃 she wondered。 And she had an impulse to confide in Leonora to the extent of encouraging her to hint who it was。 〃She would certainly know。 No doubt everybody knows； except me。〃
She called for her； as she had promised； and took her to lunch at Sherry's。 But the impulse to confide died as Leonora talkedof money； of ways of spending money； of people who had money； and those who hadn't money； of people who were spending too much money； of those who weren't spending enough money； of what she would do if she had money； of what many did to get money。 Money； money； moneyit was all of the web and most of the woof of her talk。 Now it ran boldly on the surface of the pattern； now it was half hid under something about art or books or plays or schemes for patronizing the poor and undermining their self…respectbut it was always there。
For the first time Leonora jarred upon her fiercelyunendurably。 She listened until the sound grew indistinct； became mingled with the chatter of that money…flaunting throng。 And presently the chatter seemed to her to be a maddening repetition of one word； moneythe central idea in all the thought and all the action of these people。 〃I must get away；〃 she thought； 〃or I shall cry out。〃 And she left abruptly； alleging that she must hurry to catch her train。
Money…mad！ her thoughts ran on。 The only test of honormoney； and ability and willingness to spend it。 They must have money or they're nobodies。 And if they have money； who cares where it came from？ No one asks where the men get itwhy should any one ask where the women get it？
XVI。
CHOICE AMONG EVILS。
A few days afterwardit was a WednesdayPauline came up to town early in the afternoon； as she had an appointment with the dressmaker and was going to the opera in the evening。 At the dressmaker's； while she waited for a fitter to return from the workroom； she glanced at a newspaper spread upon the table so that its entire front page was in view。 It was filled with an account of how the Woolens Monopoly had； in that bitter winter； advanced prices twenty to thirty…five per cent。 all along the line。 From the center of the page stared a picture of John Dumontits expression peculiarly arrogant and sinister。
She read the head…lines only； then turned from the table。 But on the drive up…town she stopped the carriage at the Savoy and sent the footman to the news…stand to get the paper。 She read the article throughparts of it several times。
She had Langdon and Honoria Longview at dinner that night； by indirect questioning she drew him on to confirm the article； to describe how the Woolens Monopoly was 〃giving the country an old…fashioned winter。〃 On the way to the opera she was ashamed of her ermine wrap enfolding her from the slightest sense of the icy air。 She did not hear the singers； was hardly conscious of her surroundings。 As they left the Metropolitan she threw back her wrap and sat with her neck bared to the intense cold。
〃I say； don't do that！〃 protested Langdon。
She reluctantly drew the fur about her。 But when she had dropped him and then Honoria and was driving on up the avenue alone； she bared her shoulders and arms again〃like a silly child；〃 she said。 But it gave her a certain satisfaction； for she felt like one who has a secret store of food in time of famine and feasts upon it。 And she sat unprotected。
〃Is Mr。 Dumont in？〃 she asked the butler as he closed the door of their palace behind her。
〃I think he is； ma'am。〃
〃Please tell him I'd like to see himin the library。〃
She had to wait only three or four minutes before he camein smoking jacket and slippers。 It was long since she had looked at him so carefully as she did then； and she noted how much grosser he was； the puffs under his eyes； the lines of cruelty that were coming out strongly with autocratic power and the custom of receiving meek obedience。 And her heart sank。 〃Useless；〃 she said to herself。 〃Utterly useless！〃 And the incident of the necklace and its reminders of all she had suffered from him and through him came trooping into her mind； and it seemed to her that she could not speak； could not even remain in the room with him。
He dropped into a chair before the open fire。 〃Horribly cold； isn't it？〃
She moved uneasily。 He slowly lighted a cigar and began to smoke it； his attitude one of waiting。
〃I've been thinking；〃 she began at lastshe was looking reflectively into the fire〃about your great talent for business and finance。 You formed your big combination； and because you understand everything about wool you employ more men； you pay higher wages； and you make the goods better than ever； and at less cost。〃
〃Between a third and a half cheaper；〃 he said。 〃We employ thirty thousand more men； and since we settled the last strike〃a grim smile that would have meant a great deal to her had she known the history of that strike and how hard he had fought before he gave in〃we've paid thirty per cent。 higher wages。 Yet the profits arewell； you can imagine。〃
〃And you've made millions for yourself and for those in with you。〃
〃I haven't developed my ideas for nothing。〃
She paused again。 It was several minutes before she went on：
〃When a doctor or a man of science or a philosopher makes a discovery that'll be a benefit to the world〃she looked at him suddenly； earnest； appealing〃he gives it freely。 And he gets honor and fame。 Why shouldn't you do that； John？〃 She had forgotten herself in her subject。
He smiled into the firehardly a day passed that he did not have presented to him some scheme for relieving him of the burden of his riches； here was another； and from such an unexpected quarter！
〃You could be rich； too。 We spend twenty； fifty times as much as we can possibly enjoy； and you have more than we could possibly spend。 Why shouldn't a man with financial genius be like men with other kinds of genius？ Why should he be the only one to stay down on the level with dull； money…grubbing； sordid kinds of people？ Why shouldn't he have ideals？〃
He made no reply。 Indeed； so earnest was she that she did not give him time； but immediately went on：
〃Just think； John！ Instead of giving out in these charities and philanthropiesI never did believe in themthey're bound to be more or less degrading to the people that take； and when it's so hard to
