the vision spendid(美景)-第40节
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He made her see how the tendency of environment is to reduce all
things to a question of selfinterest； and how the great triumphant fact of
life is that love and kindness persist。 Her interest was insatiable。 She
poured questions upon him； made him tell her stories of the things he had
seen in that strange underworld that was farther from her than Asia。 So she
learned of Oscar Marchant； coughing all day over the shoes he half…soled
and going out at night to give his waning life to the service of those who
needed him。 He told herwithout giving namesthe story of Sam Miller
and his wife； of shop girls forced by grinding poverty to that easier way
which leads to death； of little children driven by want into factories which
crushed the youth out of them。
Her eyes with the star flash in them never left his face。 She was
absorbed； filled with a strange emotion that made her lashes moist。 She
saw not only the tragedy and waste of life； but a glorious glimpse of the
way out。 This man and his friends set the common good above their
private gain。 For them a new heart was being born into the world。 They
were no longer consumed with blind greed； with love of their petty selves。
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They were no longer full of cowardice and distrust and enmity。 Life was a
thing beautiful to them。 It was flushed with the color of hope； of fine
enthusiasms。 They might suffer。 They might be defeated。 But nothing
could extinguish the joy in their souls。 They walked like gods； immortals；
these brothers to the spent and the maimed。 For they had found spiritual
values in it that made any material profit of small importance。 Alice got a
vision of the great truth that is back of all true reforms； all improvement；
all progress。
〃Love；〃 she said almost in a whisper； 〃is forgetting self。〃
Jeff lost his stride and pulled up。 He thought he could not have heard
aright。 〃I beg your pardon？〃
〃Nothing。 I was just thinking out loud。 Go on please。〃
But she had broken the thread of his talk。 He attempted to take it up
again； but he was still trying for a lead when Alice saw Mrs。 Van Tyle and
Beauchamp coming toward them。
She rose。 Her eyes were the brightest Jeff had ever seen。 They were
filled with an ardent tenderness。 It was as if she were wrapped in a
spiritual exaltation。
〃Thank you。 Thank you。 I can't tell you what you've done for me。〃
She turned and walked quickly away。 To be dragged back to the
commonplace at once was more than she could bear。 First she must get
alone with herself； must take stock of this new emotion that ran like wine
through her blood。 A pulse throbbed in her throat； for she was in a
passionate glow of altruism。
〃I'm glad of lifeglad of itglad of it！〃 she murmured through the veil
she had lowered to screen her face from observation。
It had come to her as a revelation straight from Heaven that there can
be no salvation without service。 And the motive back of service must be
love。 Love！ That was what Jesus had come to teach the world； and all
these years it had warped and mystified his message。
She felt that life could never again be gray or colorless。 For there was
work waiting that she could do； service that she could give。 And surely
there could be no greater happiness than to find her work and do it gladly。
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CHAPTER 17
All sorts of absurd assumptions pass current as fixed and non…
debatable standards。 We might be free； and we tie ourselves to the slavery
of rutted convention。 Afraid of ideas； we come to no definite philosophy of
life that is the result of clear and pellucid thinking。
We must get rid of our bonds； but only in order to take on new ones。
For our convictions will shackle us。 The difference is that then we shall be
servants of Truth and not of dead Tradition。 From the Note Book of a
Dreamer。
THE CHAPERONE EXPLAINS THAT THE REBEL IS
IMPOSSIBLE AND THE CHAPERONED BEGS LEAVE TO DIFFER
PART 1
〃And why mustn't I？〃 Alice demanded vigorously。
Her cousin regarded her with indolent amusement。 〃My dear； you are
positively the most energetic person I know。 It is refreshing to see with
what interest you enter into a discussion。〃
Miss Frome； very erect and ready for argument； watched her steadily
from the piano stool of their joint sitting room。 〃Well？〃
〃I didn't say you mustn't； my dear。 I know better than to deal in
imperatives with Miss Alice。 What I did was mildly to suggest that you are
going rather far。 It's all very well to be civil； but〃 Mrs。 Van Tyle
shrugged her shoulders and let it go at that。 She was leaning back in an
easychair and across its arm her wrist hung。 Between the fingers； polished
like old ivory to the tapering pink nails； was a lighted cigarette。
〃Why shouldn't I bepleasant to him？ I like him。〃 Her color deepened；
but the eyes of the girl did not give way。 There was in them a little flare of
defiance。
〃Be pleasant to him if you like； and if it amuses you。 But〃 Again
Valencia stopped； but after a puff or two at her cigarette she added
presently： 〃Don't get too interested in him。〃
〃I'm not likely to；〃 Alice returned with a touch of scorn。 〃Can't I like a
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man and admire him without wanting to marry him？ I think that's a hateful
way to look at it。〃
〃It's your interpretation； not mine；〃 Mrs。 Van Tyle answered with
perfect good humor。 〃Of course you couldn't want to marry him under any
circumstances。 His station in lifehis anarchistic ideashis reputation as a
confirmed libertineall of them make the thought of such a thing
impossible。〃
Miss Frome's mind seized on only one of the charges。 〃I don't believe
it。 I don't believe a word of it。 Anybody can throw mudand some of it is
bound to stick。 He's a good man。 You can see that in his face。〃
〃You can perhaps。 I can't。〃 Valencia studied her beneath a droop of
eyelids behind which she was very alert。 〃Those things aren't said about a
man unless they are true。 Moreover； it happens we don't have to depend on
hearsay。〃
〃What do you mean？〃
〃Do you remember that night we saw the Russian dancers？〃
〃Yes。〃
〃On the way home our car passed him。 He was helping a woman out
of a cab in front of the building where he rooms。 She was intoxicated； and…
…his arm was round her waist。〃
〃I don't believe it。 It was somebody else；〃 the young woman flamed。
〃His cousin recognized him。 So did I。〃
〃There must be some explanation。 I'll ask him。〃
〃Ask him！〃 Valencia's level eyebrows lifted 〃Really； I don't think that
will do。 Better quietly eliminate him。〃
〃You mean treat him as if he were guilty when； I am sure he is not。〃
Mrs。 Van Tyle's little laugh rippled out。 〃You're quite dramatic about it；
my dear。 The man's of no importance。 He's a _poseur_； a demagogue； and
one with a vicious streak in him。 I understand； of course； that you're
interested only because he different from the other men you know。 That
merely a part of his pose。〃
〃I'm sure it isn't。〃
〃You're romantic； my dear。 I'll admit his arrival on this ship was
dramatic。 No doubt you're imagining him a knight going back to save
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gallantly a day that is lost。 He's only a politician； and so far as I can
understand they are almost all a bad lot。〃
〃Including Father and Uncle Joe and Ned Merrill？〃 Alice asked acidly。
〃They are not politicians； but business men。 They are in politics
merely to protect their interests。 But I didn't intend to start a discussion
about Mr。 Farnum。 I ask you to remember that
