the vision spendid(美景)-第46节
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〃You sound like a Farnum editorial； Alice。〃
〃Do I？〃 she flashed。 〃Then I'll give you the rest of it。 Heyour
practical manis rutted to class traditions。 This would not be good form or
respectable。 That would disturb the existing order。 So let's all do nothing
and agree that all's well with the world。〃
Merrill greeted this outburst with a complacent smile。 〃It's a pretty
good world。 I haven't any fault to find with itnot this afternoon anyhow。〃
But Alice； serious with young care and weighted with the problems of
a universe； would have none of his compliments。
〃Can't you see that there's aa 〃 She groped and found a fugitive
phrase Jeff had once used〃a want of adjustment that is appalling？〃
〃It doesn't appall me。 I believe in the survival of the fittest。〃
Her eyes looked at him with scornful penetration。 They went through
the well…dressed； broad…shouldered exterior of him； to see a suave；
gracious Pharisee of the modern world。 He believed in the God…of…things…
as…they…are because he was the man on horseback。 He was a formalist
because it paid him to be one。 That was why he and his class looked on
any questioning of conditions as almost atheistic。 They were born to the
good things of life。 Why should they doubt the ethics of a system that had
dealt so kindly with them？
She gave him up。 What was the use of talking about such things to him？
He had the sense of property ingrained in him。 The last thing he would be
likely to do was to let any altruistic ideas into his head。 He would play safe。
Wasn't he a practical man？
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THE VISION SPLENDID
She devoted herself to the game。 To see her play was a pleasure to the
eye。 The long lines and graceful curves of her supple young body never
appeared to better advantage than at golf。 Her motions showed the sylvan
freedom of the woods。 Ned Merrill appreciated the long； light tread of her；
the harmony of movement as of a perfect young animal； together with the
fine spiritual quality that escaped her personality so unconsciously。
At the fifteenth hole he continued her education。 〃This country is
founded upon individualism。 It stands for the best chance of development
possible to all its citizens。 When you hamper enterprise you stop that
development。〃
She took him up dryly。 〃I see。 So you and father and Uncle Joe have
developed your individualism at the expense of a million other people's。
You have gobbled up franchises； forests； ore lands； coal mines； and every
other opportunity worth having。 As a result you're making them your
slaves and crushing out all individuality。〃
〃Not at all。 We're really custodians for the people。 We administer these
things for their benefit because we are more fit to do it。〃
〃How do you know you are？〃
〃The very fact that we have succeeded in getting what we have is
evidence of it。〃
〃All I can see is that our getting it and keeping ityou and I and Uncle
Joe and a thousand like usis responsible for all the poverty in the world。
We're helping to make it every time we eat a dinner we didn't work to get。〃
Alice made a beautiful approach that landed her ball within four feet
of the hole。 Presently Merrill joined her。
〃That was a dandy shot；〃 he told her； and watched Alice hole out。 〃I
don't agree with you。 For instance； I work as hard as other men。〃
〃But you're not working for the common good。〃
His impatience reached words。 〃That sort of talk is nonsense； Alice。 I
don't know what has come over you of late。〃
She smiled provokingly and changed the subject。 Why argue with him？
The slant with which they got at things was different。 Like her father； he
had the mental rigidity that is death to open… mindedness。
Briskly she returned to small talk。 〃You're only three up。〃
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THE VISION SPLENDID
PART 4
On their way back to the club house the safe man recurred to one
phase of their talk。
〃You ought not to need any telling as to why I work； Alice。〃
She shot one swift annoyed glance at him。 When Ned Merrill tried the
sentimental she liked him least。
〃Oh； all men like to work； I suppose。 Uncle Joe says it's half the fun of
life。〃
〃Most men work for some woman。 I'm working for you；〃 he told her
solenmly。
A little giggle of laughter floated across to him。
〃What are you laughing about？〃 he demanded。
〃Oh； the things I notice。 Just now it's you； Ned。〃
〃If you'll explain the joke。〃
〃You wouldn't understand it。 Dear me； what are you so stiff about？〃
Merrill brought things to an issue。 〃Look here； Alice！ What's the use of
playing fast and loose？ I'd like to know where we're at。〃
〃Would you？〃
〃Yes； I would。 You know all about the arrangement just as well as I do。
I haven't pushed you。 I've stood back and let you have your good times。
Don't you think it's about time for us to talk business？〃
〃Just as soon as you like； Ned。〃
〃Well； then； let's announce it。〃
〃That we're not engaged to be married and never will be！ Is that what
you want to announce？〃
He flushed angrily。 〃What's the use of talking that way？ You know it
has been arranged for years。〃
〃I'm not going through with it。 I told Father so。 The thing is
outrageous；〃 she flamed。
〃I don't see why。 Our people want it。 We are fond of each other。 I never
cared for any girl but you。〃
〃Let's stick to the business reasons； Ned。〃
〃Hang it； you're so acid about it！ I do care for you 〃
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THE VISION SPLENDID
Her dry anger spurted out。 〃That's unfortunate； since I don't care for
you。〃
〃I know you do。 Just now you're vexed at me。〃
〃Yes； I am；〃 she admitted； nodding her head swiftly。 〃But it doesn't
make any difference whether I am or not。 I've made up my mind。 I'm not
going through with it。〃
〃You promised。〃
〃I didn't； not in so many words。 And I was pushed into it。 None of you
gave me a fair chance。 But I'll not go on with it。〃
〃But； why？〃
〃Because I'm an American girl； and here we don't have to marry to
amalgamate business interests。 I won't do it。 I'd rather be 〃 She gave a little
shrug of her shoulders。 The passion died out of her voice。 〃Oh； well！ No
need getting melodramatic about it。 Just the same； I won't do it。 My mind's
made up。〃
〃A pretty figure I'll cut； after all these years；〃 he complained sulkily。
〃Everyone will know you jilted me。〃
Alice turned to him； mischief sparkling in her eyes。 〃I wouldn't stand it
if I were you。 Show your spunk。〃
He stared。 〃What do you mean？〃
〃Why don't you jilt ME？〃
〃Jilt you？〃
Her head went up and down in a dozen little nods of affirmation。 〃Yes。
Marry Pauline Gillam。 You know you'd like to； but you haven't had the
courage to give me up。 Now that you've got to give me up anyhow〃
〃I'm very much obliged； Miss Frome。 But I don't think it will be
necessary for you to select another wife for me。〃
〃Have you been married once。 I didn't know it。〃
〃You know what I mean？〃 He was stiff as a poker。
〃I believe I do。〃 She was in a perfectly good humor again now。 〃But
you better take my advice； Ned。 Think what a joke it will be on me。
Everybody will say you could have had me。〃
〃We'll not discuss the subject if you please。〃
Nevertheless Alice knew that she had dropped a seed on good ground。
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THE VISION SPLENDID
CHAPTER 20
Now poor Tom Dunstan's cold； Our shop is duller； Scarce a tale is told；
And our talk has lost the old Red…republican color！
。 。 。 。 。 。 。 。 。 。 。 。 。
'She's coming； she's coming！' said he； 'Courage； boys I wait and see！
'FREEDOM'S AHEAD！' Robert Buchanan。
THE HERO IS LURED TO AN ADVENTURE INTO THE
UNCONVENTIONAL AND HEARS MUCH THAT IS PAINFUL TO A
WELL…REGULATED MIND
Near the close of a fine spring afternoon James Farnum and Alice
Fr
