the vision spendid(美景)-第18节
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suggests a grief not inconsolable。
〃Good morning； Miss FromeMrs。 Van Tyle；〃 James distributed
impartially before turning to the latter lady。 〃Isn't this a day to be alive in？
Who says it always rains in Verden？〃
〃I door nearly always。 At least it finds no difficulty in giving a good
imitation；〃 returned the young woman addressed。
〃A libelI vow a libel；〃 Farnum retorted gaily。 〃I was just going to
hope you might be tempted to forget New York and Vienna and Paris to
pay us a long visit。 We're all hoping it。 I'm merely the spokesman。〃 He
waved a hand to indicate the busy street black with humanity。
A hint of pleasant adventure quickened the eyes of the young widow
who surveyed lazily his wellgroomed good looks。 She judged him a
twentieth century American emerging from straightened circumstances
and eager to trample even the memory of it under foot。
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〃Did the Chamber of Commerce appoint you a committee to hope that
I would impose on my relatives longer？ Or was it resoluted at a mass
meeting？〃 she asked with her Mona Lisa smile。
He laughed。 〃Well； no！ I'm a self…appointed committee voicing a
personal desire that has universal application。 But if it would have more
weight with you I'll have the Chamber take it up and get myself an
accredited representative。〃
〃So kind of you。 But do you think the committee could do itself justice
on the street curb？〃
She had among other sensuous charms a voice attuned to convey
slightest shades of meaning。 James caught her half…shuttered smoldering
glance and divined her a woman subtle and complex； capable of playing
the world…old game of the sexes with unusual dexterity。 The hint of
challenging mystery in the tawny depths of the mocking eyes fired his
imagination。 She was to him a new find in women； one altogether different
from those he had known。 He had a curiosity to meet at close range this
cosmopolitan heiress of such cultivation as Joe Powers' millions could
purchase。
What Verden said of her he knew： that she was too free； too scornful；
too independent of conventions。 All the tabby cats whispered it to each
other with lifted eyebrows that suggested volumes； the while they courted
her eager and unashamed。 But he had a feeling that perhaps Verden was
not competent to judge。 The standards of this town and of New York were
probably vastly different。 James welcomed the chance to enlarge his social
experience。 Promptly he accepted the lead offered。
〃I'm sure it can't。 To present the evidence cogently will take at least
two hours。 May I make the argument this evening； if it please the court；
during a call？〃
〃But I understood you were too busy saving the statefrom my father
and my uncle by the wayto have time for a mere woman；〃 she parried。
The good humor of her irony flattered him because it implied that she
offered him a chance to cultivate herhe was not at all sure how much or
how little that might meanregardless of his political affiliations。 Not
many women were logical enough to accept so impersonally his
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opposition to the candidacy of an uncle and the plans of a father。 〃I AM
busy；〃 he admitted； 〃but I need a few hours' relaxation。 It will help me to
work more effectively to…morrowagainst your father and your uncle；〃 he
came back with a smile that included them both。
Alice Frome took up the challenge gaily。 〃We're going to beat you。
Father will be elected。〃
〃Then I'll be the first to congratulate him；〃 he promised。 Turning to
Mrs。 Van Tyle； 〃Shall we say this evening？〃 he added。
〃You're not afraid to venture yourself into the hands of the enemy；〃
drawled that young woman； her indolent eyes daring him。
Again he studiously included them both in his answer。 〃I'm afraid all
right； but I'm not going to let you know it。 Did I hear you set a time？〃
〃If you are really willing to take the risk we shall be glad to see you
this afternoon。〃
James observed that Alice Frome did not second her cousin's invitation。
He temporized。
〃Oh； this afternoon！ I have an engagement； but I am tempted to forget
it in remembering a subsequent one。〃
His smiling gaze passed to Alice and gave her another chance。 Still she
did not speak。
〃The way to treat a temptation is to yield to it；〃 the older cousin
sparkled。
〃In order to be done with it； I suppose。 Very well。 I yield to mine。 This
afternoon I will have the pleasure of calling at The Brakes。〃
Alice nodded a curt good…bye； but her cousin offered him a beautifully
gloved hand to shake。 A delightful tingle of triumph warmed him。 The
daughter of Big Joe Powers； the grim gray pirate who worked the levers of
the great Transcontinental Railroad system； had taken pains to be nice to
him。 The only fly in the ointment of his self…satisfaction had been Alice
Frome's reticence。
Why had she not shown any desire to have him call？ He could guess at
one reason。 The campaign for the legislature and the subsequent battle for
the senatorship had been bitter。 Charges of corruption had been flung
broadcast。 A dozen detectives had been hired to get evidence on one side
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or the other。 If he were seen going to The Brakes just now fifty rumors
might be flying inside of the hour。
His guess was a good one。 Alice drove the car forward several blocks
without speaking； Valencia Van Tyle watching with good… humored
contempt the little frown that rested on her cousin's candid face。
〃I perceive that my uncompromising cousin is moved to protest；〃 she
suggested placidly。
〃You ought not to have asked him； Val。 It isn't fair to him or to father；〃
answered Alice promptly。 〃People will talk。 They will say father is trying
to influence him unfairly。 I wish you hadn't asked him till this fight is
over。〃
〃My dear Nora； does it matter in the least what people say？〃 yawned
Valencia behind her hand。
〃Not to you because you consider yourself above criticism。 But it
matters to me that two honest men should be brought into unjust obloquy
without cause。〃
〃My dear Hothead； they are big enough to look out for themselves。〃
〃Nobody is big enough to kill slander。〃
〃Nonsense； child。 You make a mountain out of a mole hill。 People
WILL gossip。 It really isn't of the least importance what they gabble
about。〃
〃Especially when you want to amuse yourself by making a fool of Mr。
Farnum；〃 retorted the downright Alice with a touch of asperity。
Valencia already half regretted having asked him。 The chances were
that he would prove a bore。 But she did not choose to say so。 〃If I'm
treading on your preserves； dear；〃 she ventured sweetly。
〃That's ridiculous；〃 flushed Alice。 〃I only suggested that you wait till
after the election before chaining him to your chariot wheels。〃
〃You're certainly an _enfant terrible_； my dear；〃 murmured the widow；
with the little rippling laugh of cynicism her cousin found so annoying。
〃But that young man does need a lesson。 He's eaten up with conceit of
himself。 Somebody ought to take him in hand。〃
〃So you're going to sacrifice yourself to duty；〃 scoffed Alice as she
brought the electric to a stop under the porte…cochere of the Frome
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residence。
Mrs。 Van Tyle folded her hands demurely。 〃It's sweet of you to see it
that way； Alice。〃
PART 2
James turned in at the Century Building。 In the elevator he met his
cousin。 Both of them were bound for the office of the
