the cost-第28章

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beginning　of　the　battle。　　Punishment　on　punishment　for　an　act　which　seemed　right　at　the　time　had　made　her　morbid；　distrustful　of　herself。　　And　she　could　not　conquer　the　dread　lest　her　longing　to　be　free　was　blinding　her；　was　luring　her　on　to　fresh　calamities；　involving　all　whom　she　cared　for；　all　who　cared　for　her。　　Whichever　way　she　looked　she　could　see　only　a　choice　between　wrongs。　　To　stay　under　the　same　roof　with　him　or　at　Dawn　Hillself…respect　put　that　out　of　the　question。　　To　free　herselfhow　could　she；　when　it　meant　sacrificing　her　parents　and　also　the　thousands　shivering　under　the　extortions　of　his　monopoly？

In　the　end　she　chose　the　course　that　seemed　to　combine　the　least　evil　with　the　most　good。　　She　would　go　to　the　Eyrie；　and　the　world　and　her　father　and　mother　would　think　she　was　absenting　herself　from　her　husband　to　attend　to　the　bringing　up　of　her　boy。　　She　would　see　even　less　of　Scarborough　than　she　saw　when　she　was　last　at　Saint　X。

That　afternoon　she　wrote　to　Dumont：


Since　we　had　our　talk　I　have　found　out　about　Leonora。　　It　is　impossible　for　me　to　stay　here。　　I　shall　go　West　to…morrow。　　But　I　shall　not　go　to　my　father's；　because　of　your　circular　I　shall　go　to　the　Eyrie；　insteadat　least　for　the　present。

　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　PAULINE　DUMONT。


Two　weeks　after　she　was　again　settled　at　the　Eyrie；　Langdon　appeared　in　Saint　X；　alleging　business　at　the　National　Woolens'　factories　there。　　He　accepted　her　invitation　to　stay　with　her；　and　devoted　himself　to　Gladys；　who　took　up　her　flirtation　with　him　precisely　where　she　had　dropped　it　when　they　bade　each　the　other　a　mock…mournful　good…by　five　months　before。　　They　were　so　realistic　that　Pauline　came　to　the　satisfying　conclusion　that　her　sister…in…law　was　either　in　earnest　with　Langdon　or　not　in　earnest　with　anybody。　　If　she　had　not　been　avoiding　Scarborough；　she　would　probably　have　seen　Gladys'　real　gameto　use　Langdon　as　a　stalking　horse　for　him。

〃No　doubt　Scarborough；　like　all　men；　imagines　he's　above　jealousy；〃　Gladys　had　said　to　herself；　casting　her　keen　eyes　over　the　situation。　　〃But　there　never　was　a　man　who　didn't　race　better　with　a　pace…maker　than　on　an　empty　track。〃

Toward　the　end　of　Langdon's　first　week　Pauline's　suspicions　as　to　one　of　the　objects　of　his　winter　trip　West　were　confirmed　by　his　saying　quite　casually：　　〃Dumont's　dropped　Fanshaw；　and　Leonora's　talking　of　the　stage。　　In　fact；　she's　gone　abroad　to　study。〃

When　he　was　leaving；　after　nearly　three　weeks；　he　asked　her　when　she　was　coming　back　East。

〃NeverI　hope；〃　she　said；　her　fingers　playing　with　the　close…cropped　curls　of　her　boy　standing　beside　her。

〃I　fancied　soI　fancied　so；〃　replied　Langdon；　his　eyes　showing　that　he　understood　her　and　that　he　knew　she　understood　for　whom　he　had　asked。

〃You　are　going　to　stay　onat　the　Eyrie？〃

〃I　think　so；　unless　somethingdisquietingoccurs。　　I've　not　made　up　my　mind。　　Fate　plays　such　queer　tricks　that　I've　stopped　guessing　at　to…morrow。〃

〃What　was　it　Miss　Dumont's　friend；　Scarborough；　quoted　from　Spinoza　at　Atwater's　the　other　night？　　‘If　a　stone；　on　its　way　from　the　sling　through　the　air；　could　speak；　it　would　say；　〃How　free　I　am！'〃　　Is　that　the　way　you　feel？〃

There　came　into　Pauline's　eyes　a　look　of　pain　so　intense　that　he　glanced　away。

〃We　choose　a　path　blindfold；〃　she　said；　her　tone　as　light　as　her　look　was　dark；　〃and　we　must　go　where　it　goesthere's　no　other　ever　afterward。〃

〃But　if　it　leads　down？〃

〃All　the　PATHS　lead　up；〃　she　replied　with　a　sad　smile。　　〃It's　the　precipices　that　lead　down。〃

Gladys　joined　them　and　Langdon　said　to　her：

〃Well；　good…by；　Miss　Dumontdon't　get　married　till　you　see　me。〃　　He　patted　the　boy　on　the　shoulder。　　〃Good…by；　Gardinerremember；　we　men　must　always　be　brave；　and　gentle　with　the　ladies。　　Good…by；　Mrs。　Dumontkeep　away　from　the　precipices。　　And　if　you　should　want　to　come　back　to　us　you'll　have　no　trouble　in　finding　us。　　We're　a　lot　of　slow　old　rotters；　and　we'll　be　just　where　you　left　usyawning；　and　shying　at　new　people　and　at　all　new　ideas　except　about　clothes；　and　gossiping　about　each　other。〃　　And　he　was　in　the　auto　and　off　for　the　station。



XVII

TWO　AND　THE　BARRIER。


Scarborough　often　rode　with　Gladys　and　Pauline；　sometimes　with　Gladys　alone。　　One　afternoon　in　August　he　came　expecting　to　go　out　with　both。　　But　Gladys　was　not　well　that　day。　　She　had　examined　her　pale　face　and　deeply　circled　eyes　in　her　glass；　she　had　counseled　with　her　maida　discreetly　and　soothingly　frank　French　woman。　　Too　late　to　telephone　him；　she　had　overruled　her　longing　to　see　him　and　had　decided　that　at　what　she　hoped　was　his　〃critical　stage〃　it　would　be　wiser　not　to　show　herself　to　him　thus　even　in　her　most　becoming　tea…gown；　which　compelled　the　eyes　of　the　beholder　to　a　fascinating　game　of　hide　and　seek　with　her　neck　and　arms　and　the　lines　of　her　figure。

〃And　Mrs。　Dumont？〃　inquired　Scarborough　of　the　servant　who　brought　Gladys'　message　and　note。

〃She's　out　walking；　sir。〃

Scarborough　rode　away；　taking　the　long　drive　through　the　grounds　of　the　Eyrie；　as　it　would　save　him　a　mile　of　dusty　and　not　well…shaded　highway。　　A　few　hundred　yards　and　he　was　passing　the　sloping　meadows　that　lay　golden　bronze　in　the　sun；　beyond　the　narrow　fringe　of　wood　skirting　and　shielding　the　drive。　　The　grass　and　clover　had　been　cut。　　Part　of　it　was　spread　where　it　had　fallen；　part　had　been　raked　into　little　hillocks　ready　for　the　wagons。　　At　the　edge　of　one　of　these　hillocks　far　down　the　slope　he　saw　the　tail　of　a　pale　blue　skirt；　a　white　parasol　cast　upon　the　stubble　beside　it。　　He　reined　in　his　horse；　hesitated；　dismounted；　tied　his　bridle　round　a　sapling。　　He　strode　across　the　field　toward　the　hillock　that　had　betrayed　its　secret　to　him。

〃Do　I　interrupt？〃　he　called　when　he　was　still　far　enough　away　not　to　be　taking　her　by　surprise。

There　was　no　answer。　　He　paused；　debating　whether　to　call　again　or　to　turn　back。

But　soon　she　was　risingthe　lower　part　of　her　tall　narrow　figure　hid　by　the　hillock；　the　upper　part　revealing　to　him　the　strong　stamp　of　that　vivid　individuality　of　hers　which　separated　her　at　once　from　no　matter　what　company。　　She　had　on　a　big　garden　hat；　trimmed　just　a　little　with　summer　flowers；　a　blouse　of　some　soft　white　material；　with　even　softer　lace　on　the　shoulders　and　in　the　long；　loose　sleeves。　　She　gave　a　friendly　nod　and　glance　in　his　direction；　and　said：　　〃Oh；　nonot　at　all。　　I'm　glad　to　have　help　in　enjoying　this。〃

She　was　looking　out　toward　the　mists　of　the　horizon　hills。　　The　heat　of　the　day　had　passed；　the　woods；　the　hillocks　of　hay　were　casting　long　shadows　on　the　pale…bronze　fields。　　A　breeze　had　sprung　up　and　was　lifting　from　the　dried　and　drying　grass　and　clover　a　keen；　sweet；　intoxicating　perfumelike　the　odor　which　classic　zephyrs　used　to　shake　from　the　flowing　hair　of　woodland　nymphs。

He　stood　beside　her　without　speaking；　looking　intently　at　her。　　It　was　the　first　time　he　had　been　alone　with　her　since　the　afternoon　at　Battle　Field　when　she　confessed　her　marriage　and　he　his　love。

〃Bandit　was　lame；〃　she　said　when　it　seemed　necessary　to　say　something。

She　rode　a　thoroughbred；　Bandit；　who　would　let　no　one　else　mount　him；　whenever　she　got　a　new　saddle　she　herself　had　to　help　put　it　on；　so　alert　was　he　for　schemes　to　entrap　him　to　some　other's　service。　　He　obeyed　her　in　the　haughty；　nervous　way　characteristic　of　thoroughbredsobeyed　because　he　felt　that　she　was　without　fear；　and　because　she　had　the　firm　but　gentle　hand　that　does　not　fret　a　horse　yet　does　not　let　him　think　for　an　instant　that　he　is　or　can　be　free。　　Then；　too；　he　had　his　share　of　the　universal；　fundamental　vanity　we　should　probably　find　swelling　the　oyster　did　we　but　know　how　to　interpret　it；　and　he　must　have　appreciated　what　an　altogether　harmonious　spectacle　it　was　when　he　swept　along　with　his　mistress　upon　his　back　as　light　and　free　as　a　Valkyr。

〃I　was　sorry　to　miss　the　ride；〃　Pauline　went　on　after　another　pauseto　her；　riding　was　the　keenest　of　the　many　physical　delights　that　are　for　those　who　have　vigorous　and　courageous　bodies　and　sensitive　nerves。　　Whenever　it　was　possible　she　fought　out　her　battles　with　herself　on　horseback；　usually　finding　herself　able　there　to　drown　mental　distress　in　the　surge　o