the vision spendid(美景)-第22节
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puts him to the test he repudiates。〃
〃All I should have claimed is that I know I don't know what you are
like。〃
〃Which is something；〃 she conceded。
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〃It's a good deal；〃 he claimed for himself。 〃It shows a beginning of
understanding。 Andgiven the opportunityI hope to know more。〃 He
questioned of her eyes how far he might go。 〃It's the incomprehensible that
lures。 It piques interest and lends magic。 Behind those eyelids a little
weary all the subtle hidden meaning of the ages shadows。 The gods forbid
that I should claim to hold the answer to the eternal mystery of woman。〃
〃Dear me！ I ask for a photograph and he gives me a poem；〃 she
mocked； touching an electric button。
〃I try merely to interpret the poem。〃
She looked at him under lowered lids with a growing interest。 Her
experience had not warranted her in hoping that he would prove worth
while。 It would be clear gain if he were to disappoint her agreeably。
〃I think I have read somewhere that the function of present…day
criticism is to befog the mind and blur the object criticised。〃
He considered an answer； but gave it up when a maid appeared with a
tray； and after a minute of deft arrangement disappeared to return with the
added paraphernalia that goes to the making and consuming of afternoon
tea。
James watched in a pleasant content the easy grace with which the
flashing hands of his hostess manipulated the brew。 Presently she flung
open a wing of the elaborate cellaret that stood near and disclosed a
gleaming array of cut…glass decanters。 Her fingers hovered over them。
〃Cognac？〃
〃Think I'll take my tea straight just as you make it。〃
〃Most Western men don't care for afternoon tea。 You should hear my
father on the subject。〃
〃I can imagine him。〃 He smiled。 〃But if he has tried it with you I
should think he'd be converted。〃
She laughed at him in the slow tantalizing way that might mean
anything or nothing。 〃I absolve you of the necessity of saying pretty things。
Instead； you may continue that portrait you were drawing when the maid
interrupted。〃
〃It's a subject I can't do justice。〃
She laughed disdainfully。 〃I thought it was time for the flattery。 As if I
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couldn't extort that from any man。 It's the A B C of our education。 But the
truth about one's selfthe unpalatable； bitter truththere's a sting of
unexpected pleasure in hearing that judicially。〃
〃And do you get that pleasure often？〃
〃Not often。 Men are dreadful cowards； you know。 My father is about
the only man who dares tell it to me。〃
Farnum put down his cup and studied her。 She was leaning back with
her fingers laced behind her head。 He wondered whether she knew with
what effectiveness the posture set off her ripe charmsthe fine modeling
of the full white throat； the perfect curves of the dainty arms bare to the
elbows； the daring set of the tawny； tilted head。 A spark glowed in his
eyes。
〃Far be it from me to deny you an accessible pleasure； though I
sacrifice myself to give it。 But my sketch must be merely subjective。 I
draw the picture as I see it。〃
She sipped her tea with an air of considering the matter。 〃You promise
at least a family likeness； with not an ugly wrinkle of character smoothed
away。〃
〃I don't even promise that。 For how am I to know what meaning lurks
behind that subtle； shadowy smile？ There's irony in itand scornand
sensuous charmbut back of them all is the great enigma。〃
〃He's off；〃 she derided slangily。
〃And that enigma is the complex YOU I want to learn。 Of course
you're a specialized type； a product of artistic hothouse propagation。
You're so exquisite in your fastidiousness that to be near you is a luxury。
Simplicity and you have not a bowing acquaintance。 One looks to see your
most casual act freighted with intentions not obvious。〃
〃The poor man thinks I invited him here to propose to him；〃 she told
the fire gravely； stretching out her little slippered feet toward it。
He laughed。 〃I'm not so presumptuous。 You wouldn't aim at such small
game。 You would be quite capable of it if you wanted to； but you don't。
But I'm devoured with curiosity to know why you asked me； though of
course I shan't find out。〃
Her narrowed eyes swept him with amusement。 〃If I knew myself！
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Alice says it was to make a fool of you。 I don't think she is right。 But if she
is I'm in to score a failure。 You're too coolheaded and〃 She stopped； her
eyes sparkling with the daring of her unvoiced suggestion。
〃Say it；〃 he nodded。
〃and selfish to be anybody's fool。 Perhaps I asked you just in the
hope you might prove interesting。〃
He got up and stood with his arm on the mantel。 From his superior
height he looked down on her dainty insolent perfection； answering not
too seriously the challenge of her eyes。 No matter what she meanthow
much or how little she was wonderfully attractive。 The provocation of the
mocking little face lured mightily。
〃I am going to prove interested at any rate。 Let's hope it may be a
preliminary to being interesting。〃
〃But it never does。 Symptoms of too great interest bore one。 I enjoy
more the men who are impervious to me。 Now there's my father。 He comes
nearer understanding me than anybody else； but he's quite adamantine to
my wiles。〃
〃I shall order a suit of chain armor at once。〃
〃An unnecessary expense。 Your emotions are quite under control；〃 she
told him saucily。
〃I wish I were as sure。〃
〃I thought you promised to be interesting；〃 she complained。
〃Now you're afraid I'm going to make love to you。 Let me relieve your
mind。 I'm not。〃
〃I knew you wouldn't be so stupid；〃 she assured him。
〃No objection to my admiring your artistic effect at a distance； as a
spectator in a gallery？〃
〃I shall expect that；〃 she rippled。
〃Just as one does a picture too expensive to own。〃
〃I suppose I AM expensive。〃
〃Not a doubt of it。 But if you don't mind I'll come occasionally to the
gallery to study the masterpiece。〃
〃I'll mind if you don't。〃
Voices were heard approaching along the hall。 The portieres parted。
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The immediate effect on Farnum of the great figure that filled the doorway
was one of masterful authority。 A massive head crested a figure of
extraordinary power。 Gray as a mediaeval castle； age had not yet touched
his gnarled strength。 The keen steady eyes； the close straight lips； the
shaggy eyebrows heavy and overhanging； gave accent to the rugged force
of this grim freebooter who had reversed the law of nature which decrees
that railroads shall follow civilization。 Scorning the established rule of
progress； he had spiked his rails through untrodden forests and unexplored
canons to watch the pioneer come after by the road he had blazed。 Chief
among the makers of the Northwest； he yearly conceived and executed
with amazing audacity enterprises that would have marked as monumental
the life work of lesser men。
Farnum； rising from his seat unconsciously as a tribute of respect；
acknowledged thus tacitly the presence of greatness in the person of Joe
Powers。
The straight lips of the empire builder tightened as his eyes gleamed
over the soft luxury of his daughter's boudoir。 James would have been hard
put to it to conceive any contrast greater than the one between this modern
berserk and the pampered daughter of his wealth。 A Hun or a Vandal
gazing down with barbaric scorn on some decadent paramour of captured
Rome was the most analogous simile Farnum's brain
