the cost-第4章
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onth he lived away from her was a month of peril to him。
〃We want it settled；〃 she said evasively。
〃I haven't seen him around anywhere；〃 went on Olivia。 〃Is he here now？〃
〃He's in Chicagoin charge of his father's office there。 He may stay all winter。〃
〃No； there's no hurry；〃 went on Olivia。 〃Besides； you ought to meet other men。 It isn't a good idea for a girl to marry the man she's been brought up with before she's had a chance to get acquainted with other men。〃 Olivia drew this maxim from experienceshe had been engaged to a school…days lover when she went away to Battle Field to college； she broke it off when； going home on vacation； she saw him again from the point of wider view。
But Pauline scorned this theory； if Olivia had confessed the broken engagement she would have thought her shallow and untrustworthy。 She was confident； with inexperience's sublime incapacity for self…doubt； that in all the wide world there was only one man whom she could have loved or could love。
〃Oh； I shan't change；〃 she said in a tone that warned her cousin against discussion。
〃At any rate；〃 replied Olivia； 〃a little experience would do you no harm。〃 She suddenly sat up in bed。 〃A splendid idea！〃 she exclaimed。 〃Why not come to Battle Field with me？〃
〃I'd like it；〃 said Pauline； always eager for self…improvement and roused by Olivia's stories of her college experiences。 〃But father'd never let me go to Battle Field College。〃
〃Battle Field UNIVERSITY；〃 corrected Olivia。 〃It has classical courses and scientific courses and a preparatory schooland a military department for men and a music department for women。 And it's going to have lots and lots of real university schoolswhen it gets the money。 And there's a healthy； middle…aged wagon…maker who's said to be thinking of leaving it a million or soif he should ever die and if they should change its name to his。〃
〃But it's coeducation； isn't it？ Father would never consent。 It was all mother could do to persuade him to let me go to public school。〃
〃But maybe he'd let you go with me； where he wouldn't let you go all alone。〃
And so it turned out。 Colonel Gardiner； anxious to get his daughter away from Saint X and into new scenes where Dumont might grow dim； consented as soon as Olivia explained her plan。
Instead of entering 〃senior prep〃； Pauline was able to make freshman with only three conditions。 In the first week she was initiated into Olivia's fraternity； the Kappa Alpha Kappa； joined the woman's literary and debating society； and was fascinated and absorbed by crowding new events； associations； occupations； thoughts。 In spite of herself her old…time high spirits came flooding back。 She caught herself hummingand checked herself reproachfully。 She caught herself singingand lowered it to humming。 She caught herself whistlingand decided that she might as well be cheerful while she waited for fate to befriend her and Jack。 And she found that she thought about him none the less steadfastly for thinking hopefully。
Battle Field put no more restraint upon its young women than it put upon its young menand it put no restraint upon the young men。 In theory and practice it was democratic； American； westernan outgrowth of that pioneer life in which the men and the women had fought and toiled and enjoyed； side by side； in absolute equality； with absolute freedom of association。 It recognized that its students had been brought up in the free； simple； frank way； that all came from a region where individualism was a religion； with self…reliance as the cardinal principle of faith and self…development as the goal。
There were no dormitories at Battle Field then。 Olivia and Pauline lived in one of the hundred or more boarding…housesa big； square； white 〃frame；〃 kept by a Mrs。 Trent； the widow of a 〃hero of two wars。〃
Her hero had won her with his uniform when he returned from the Mexican War。 His conduct was so irregular and his income so uncertain that it had been a relief to her when he departed for his second war。 From it he had brought home a broken constitution； a maimed body and confirmed habits of shiftlessness and drunkenness。 His country took his character and his health and paid him in exchange a pension which just about kept him in whisky and tobacco。 So long as he was alive Mrs。 Trent hated him as vigorously as her Christianity permitted。 When he was safely in his grave she canonized him； she put his picture and his sword； belt and epaulets in the conspicuous place in the parlor； she used his record for gallantry to get herself social position and a place of honor at public gatherings。
Her house stood back from the highway in a grove of elms and walnuts。 Its angularity was relieved by a porch with a flat roof that had a railing about it and served as a balcony for the second…story lodgers。 There were broad halls through the middle of the house down…stairs and up。 Olivia and Pauline had the three large rooms in the second story on the south side。 They used the front room as a study and Pauline's bedroom was next to it。
Late one afternoon she was seated at the study window watching a cherry…red sun drop through the purple haze of the autumn。 She became conscious that some one was on the balcony before the window of the front room across the hall。 She leaned so that she could see without being seen。 Sharp against the darkening sky was the profile of a young man。 Olivia joined her and followed her glance。 The profile remained fixed and the two girls watched it； fascinated。 It certainly was a powerful outline； proud and stern； but with a mouth that was sweet in its kindliness and gentleness。
〃I wonder what he's thinking about；〃 said Olivia； in an undertone； he was not fifteen feet from them。 〃I suppose； some scheme for conquering the world。〃
Most of Battle Field's youth came from the farms of that western country； the young men with bodies and brains that were strong but awkward。 Almost all were working their way throughas were not a few of the women。 They felt that life was a large； serious business impatiently waiting for them to come and attend to it in a large； serious way better than it had ever been attended to before。 They studied hard； they practised oratory and debating。 Their talk was of history and philosophy； religion and politics。 They slept little； they thoughtor tried to thinkeven more than they talked。
At a glance this man was one of them； a fine type。
〃He's handsome； isn't he？〃 said Pauline。
〃But〃 She did not finish； indeed it was not clear to her what the rest of her protest was。 He reminded her of Dumontthere was the same look of superiority； of the 〃born to lead。〃 But his face seemed to； have some quality which Dumont's lackedor was it only the idealizing effect of the open sky and the evening light？
When the bell rang for supper he apparently did not hear it。 The two girls went down and had talked to the others a few minutes and all had seated themselves before he entered。 An inch or so above six feet； powerful in the chest and shoulders； he moved with a large grace until he became self…conscious or approached the； by comparison； frail pieces of furniture。 He had penetrating； candid eyes that looked dark in the gaslight but were steel…blue。 His face now wore the typical western…American expressionshrewd； easy…going good humor。 Mrs。 Trent； intrenched in state behind a huge； silver…plated coffee…urn with ivory…trimmed faucet； introduced himMr。 Scarboroughto Olivia； to Pauline； to Sadie McIntosh； to Pierson and Howe and Thiebaud （pronounced Cay…bo）。 Scarborough sat directly opposite Olivia。 But whenever he lifted his eyes from his plate he looked at Pauline； who was next to her。 When she caught him he blushed and stirred in his chair so uneasily that it creaked and crackled； and his normal difficulties with his large hands and the small knife and fork were distressingly increased。
Pauline was disappointed in himhis clothes were ill…fitting and gave him the appearance of being in danger of bursting from them； his hair was too long； suggesting a shaggy； tawny mane； though his hands were well…shaped they had the recent scars of hard manual labor。 Thus； when Olivia spoke enth
