within the law-第3章
按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
ers chatted desultorily of her as they had opportunity； and complacently thanked their gods that they were not as shewith reason。 Perhaps； a very few were kindly hearted enough to feel a touch of sympathy for this ruin of a life。
Of such was Smithson； a member of the executive staff； who did not hesitate to speak his mind； though none too forcibly。 As for that； Smithson； while the possessor of a dignity nourished by years of floor…walking； was not given to the holding of vigorous opinions。 Yet； his comment； meager as it was； stood wholly in Mary's favor。 And he spoke with a certain authority； since he had given official attention to the girl。
Smithson stopped Sarah Edwards； Mr。 Gilder's private secretary； as she was passing through one of the departments that morning； to ask her if the owner had yet reached his office。
〃Been and gone；〃 was the secretary's answer； with the terseness characteristic of her。
〃Gone！〃 Smithson repeated； evidently somewhat disturbed by the information。 〃I particularly wanted to see him。〃
〃He'll be back； all right；〃 Sarah vouchsafed； amiably。 〃He went down…town； to the Court of General Sessions。 The judge sent for him about the Mary Turner case。〃
〃Oh； yes； I remember now；〃 Smithson exclaimed。 Then he added； with a trace of genuine feeling； 〃I hope the poor girl gets off。 She was a nice girlquite the lady； you know； Miss Edwards。〃
〃No； I don't know；〃 Sarah rejoined； a bit tartly。 Truth to tell； the secretary was haunted by a grim suspicion that she herself was not quite the lady of her dreams； and never would be able to acquire the graces of the Vere De Vere。 For Sarah； while a most efficient secretary； was not in her person of that slender elegance which always characterized her favorite heroines in the novels she affected。 On the contrary； she was of a sort to have gratified Byron； who declared that a woman in her maturity should be plump。 Now； she recalled with a twinge of envy that the accused girl had been of an aristocratic slimness of form。 〃Oh； did you know her？〃 she questioned； without any real interest。
Smithson answered with that bland stateliness of manner which was the fruit of floor…walking politeness。
〃Well； I couldn't exactly say I knew her； and yet I might say； after a manner of speaking； that I didto a certain extent。 You see； they put her in my department when she first came here to work。 She was a good saleswoman； as saleswomen go。 For the matter of that；〃 he added with a sudden access of energy； 〃she was the last girl in the world I'd take for a thief。〃 He displayed some evidences of embarrassment over the honest feeling into which he had been betrayed； and made haste to recover his usual business manner； as he continued formally。 〃Will you please let me know when Mr。 Gilder arrives？ There are one or two little matters I wish to discuss with him。〃
〃All right！〃 Sarah agreed briskly； and she hurried on toward the private office。
The secretary was barely seated at her desk when the violent opening of the door startled her； and； as she looked up； a cheery voice cried out：
〃Hello； Dad！〃
At the same moment； a young man entered； with an air of care…free assurance； his face radiant。 But； as his glance went to the empty arm…chair at the desk； he halted abruptly； and his expression changed to one of disappointment。
〃Not here！〃 he grumbled。 Then； once again the smile was on his lips as his eyes fell on the secretary； who had now risen to her feet in a flutter of excitement。
〃Why； Mr。 Dick！〃 Sarah gasped。
〃Hello； Sadie！〃 came the genial salutation。 The young man advanced and shook hands with her warmly。 〃I'm home again。 Where's Dad？〃
Even as he asked the question； the quick sobering of his face bore witness to his disappointment over not finding his father in the office。 For such was the relationship of the owner of the department store to this new arrival on the scene。 And in the patent chagrin under which the son now labored was to be found a certain indication of character not to be disregarded。 Unlike many a child； he really loved his father。 The death of the mother years before had left him without other opportunity for affection in the home； since he had neither brother nor sister。 He loved his father with a depth of feeling that made between the two a real camaraderie； despite great differences in temperament。 In that simple and sincere regard which he bore for his father； the boy revealed a heart ready for love； willing to give of itself its best for the one beloved。 Beyond that； as yet； there was little to be said of him with exactness。 He was a spoiled child of fortune； if you wish to have it so。 Certainly； he was only a drone in the world's hive。 Thus far； he had enjoyed the good things of life； without ever doing aught to deserve them by contributing in returnsave by his smiles and his genial air of happiness。
In the twenty…three years of his life； every gift that money could lavish had been his。 If the sum total of benefit was small； at least there remained the consoling fact that the harm was even less。 Luxury had not sapped the strength of him。 He had not grown vicious； as have so many of his fellows among the sons of the rich。 Some instinct held him aloof from the grosser vices。 His were the trifling faults that had their origin chiefly in the joy of life； which manifest occasionally in riotous extravagancies； of a sort actually to harm none； however absurd and useless they may be。
So much one might see by a glance into the face。 He was well groomed； of course； healthy； all a…tingle with vitality。 And in the clear eyes； which avoided no man's gaze； nor sought any woman's unseemly； there showed a soul untainted； not yet developed； not yet debased。 Through all his days； Dick Gilder had walked gladly； in the content that springs to the call of one possessed of a capacity for enjoyment； possessed； too； of every means for the gratification of desire。 As yet； the man of him was unrevealed in its integrity。 No test had been put upon him。 The fires of suffering had not tried the dross of him。 What real worth might lie under this sunny surface the future must determine。 There showed now only this one significant fact： that； in the first moment of his return from journeyings abroad； he sought his father with all eagerness； and was sorely grieved because the meeting must still be delayed。 It was a little thing； perhaps。 Yet； it was capable of meaning much concerning the nature of the lad。 It revealed surely a tender heart； one responsive to a pure love。 And to one of his class； there are many forces ever present to atrophy such simple； wholesome power of loving。 The ability to love cleanly and absolutely is the supreme virtue。
Sarah explained that Mr。 Gilder had been called to the Court of General Sessions by the judge。
Dick interrupted her with a gust of laughter。
〃What's Dad been doing now？〃 he demanded； his eyes twinkling。 Then； a reminiscent grin shaped itself on his lips。 〃Remember the time that fresh cop arrested him for speeding？ Wasn't he wild？ I thought he would have the whole police force discharged。〃 He smiled again。 〃The trouble is；〃 he declared sedately； 〃that sort of thing requires practice。 Now； when I'm arrested for speeding； I'm not in the least flusteredoh； not a little bit！ But poor Dad！ That one experience of his almost soured his whole life。 It was near the death of himalso； of the city's finest。〃
By this time； the secretary had regained her usual poise； which had been somewhat disturbed by the irruption of the young man。 Her round face shone delightedly as she regarded him。 There was a maternal note of rebuke in her voice as she spoke：
〃Why； we didn't expect you back for two or three months yet。〃
Once again； Dick laughed； with an infectious gaiety that brought a smile of response to the secretary's lips。
〃Sadie；〃 he explained confidentially； 〃don't you dare ever to let the old man know。 He would be all swollen up。 It's bad to let a parent swell up。 But the truth is； Sadie； I got kind of homesick for Dadyes； just that！〃 He spoke the words with a sort of shamefaced wonder。 It is not easy for an Anglo…Saxon to confess the realities of affecti
