the vision spendid(美景)-第48节
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business of living。 Why didn't he lie down and accept the verdict？
But to Alice it was God…like； a thing to stand uncovered before。 His
remedies might be all wrong。 Probably they were。 None the less his vital
courage for life took her by the throat。
Jeff nodded at the invalid cheerfully。 〃We're going to change all that；
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Oscar。 Into this little old world a new soul is being born。 Or perhaps the
old soul is being born again。〃
The Socialist caught at this swiftly。 〃Yes； we're going to change this
terrible waste of human lives。 I see a new world； where men will live like
brothers and not like wolves rending each other。 There poverty will be
blotted out 。 。 。 and disease and all mean and cruel things that hamper and
destroy life。 Law and justice will walk hand in hand through a land of
peace and plenty。 Our cities； the expression of our social life； will be clean
and sunny and beautiful because the lives of the common people are so。
There strong men and deep…breasted women will work for the joy of
working； since all is for the common good。 Their children will be free and
happy and well fed 。 。 。 yes； and equal to each other。 From that highly
socialized state； because it is tied together by love； will come that
restrained freedom which is the most perfect individualism。〃
The nurse forced him gently back upon the pillows。 〃There！ You've
talked enough to…day。〃
He lay coughing； a hectic flush above the high cheek bones。 Presently；
at a look from the nurse； his guests departed。
Outside the building Miller left the rest abruptly。 Flanked by the two
cousins； Alice crossed Yarnell Way back to that world to which she had
always belonged。
James laid down the law to her concerning the folly of such excursions
into the unconventional。 Alice listened。 She discovered that his viewpoint
was exactly like that of Ned Merrill。 Any deviation from the conventional
was a mistake。 Any attempt to escape from existing conditions was a form
of treason。 Trade； property； business； respectability； good form； these were
the shibboleth they worshipped。 It was just because she did not want to
believe this of James Farnum that she had taken him with her to call on
Marchant。 It was in a sense a test； and he was answering it by showing
himself complacently callous and hidebound。
Surely he had not always been like this； a smug and well…clad Pharisee；
afraid to look at the truth。 In those early days； when they had been friends；
with the possibility of being a good deal more； there had been an
impetuous touch of ardor she could no longer find。 Her cool glance ran
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down his figure。 The man was taking on flesh； the plump well…fed look of
one who has escaped moral conduct by giving up the fight。 Fat cushioned
the square jaw and detracted from its strength。 For the first time she
observed a
hardening of the eye。 The visible deterioration of an inner collapse was
being writ on him。
Alice sighed。 After all she might have spared herself the trouble。 He
had chosen his path and he must follow it。
At the corner of Powers Avenue and Van Ault Street James left them。 It
was natural that the talk should revert to Marchant。
〃Oscar finds your visits a very great pleasure；〃 Jeff told her。
〃The dear madman！〃 Her eyes were shining softly。 〃Isn't he brave and
optimistic？〃
〃Yes。〃
Both of them were thinking how soon the arm of that unseen God of
love and law he worshipped would enfold him。
Alice smiled tenderly； and for the moment the street in front of her
danced in a mist。 〃And his perfect state！ Shall we ever realize it？〃
〃We must hope so。 Perhaps not in the form he sees it； but in the way
we work it out through a species of evolution。 Think of the progress we
have made in the last five years。 How many dark corners in the long
disused houses of our minds have been flooded with light！〃
〃Yes。 Why have we made more progress in the past few years？〃
Jeff's eyes held a gleam of humor。 〃This is a big country with
enormous resources。 There used to be room for all the most active
plunderers to grab something。 But lately the grabbing hasn't been so good。
We have discoveredthat the most powerful robbers are doing their
snatching from us。 So we've suffered a moral awakening。〃
〃You don't believe that；〃 she said quickly。
〃There's a good deal in the bread and butter interpretation of history。
The push of life； its pressure； drives us to think。 Out of thought grow new
hopes and a broader vision。〃
〃And then？〃
〃Pretty soon the thought will flood the world that we make our own
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poverty； that God and nature have nothing to do with it。 After that we'll
proceed to eliminate it。〃
〃By means of Mr。 Marchant's perfect state？〃
〃Not by any revolution of an hour probably。 Society cannot change its
nature in a day。 We'll pass gradually from our present state to a better one；
the new growing out of the old by generations of progress。 But I think we
will pass into a form of socialism。 It will be necessary to repress the
predatory instinct in us that has grown strong under the present system。 I
don't much care whether you call it democracy or socialism。 We must
recognize how interdependent we are and work together for the common
good。〃
They had come to the car line that would take her home。 Up the hill a
trolley car was coming。
〃May I not see you home？〃 Jeff dared to ask。
〃You may。〃
They left the car at Lakeview Park and crossed it to The Brakes。 Every
step of that walk led Jeff deeper into an excursion of endearment。 It was
amazingly true that he trod beside her an acknowledged friend； a secret
lover。 The turn of her head； the shadowy smile bubbling into laughter； the
gracious undulations of the body； indeed the whole dear delight of her
presence； belonged for that hour to him alone。
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CHAPTER 21
Many a man has kept his self…respect through a long lifetime of
decalog breaking； only to go to smash like a crushed eggshell when he
commits the crime of being found out。 From the Note Book of a
Dreamer。
THE HERO IS PAINED TO FIND THAT EVEN IN A WELL…
REGULATED WORLD THE GODS ARE JUST； AND OF OUR
PLEASANT VICES MAKE INSTRUMENTS TO PLAGUE US
Going back across the park Jeff trod the hilltops。 He was not thinking
about society； except that small unit of it represented by a slender； golden
girl who had just bidden him good…bye。 And because his heart sang within
him his footsteps turned toward the office of his cousin。 There had been
between them of late an estrangement。 Since the lawyer had been
appointed general attorney for the Transcontinental and had formed a
partnership with Scott； thus bringing to the firm the business of the public
utility corporations； James had not found much time for Jeff。 He was a
member of the most important law firm on the Pacific Coast； judged by
the business it was doing； and he had definitely cut loose politically from
his former associates。 His cousin blamed himself for the change in their
personal relations； and he meant to bring things back to the old basis if he
could。
It was past office hours； but a light in the window of the junior
member's private office gave promise that James might be in。 Leaving the
elevator at the fourth floor； he walked down the corridor toward the suite
occupied by the firm。
Before he reached the door Jeff stopped。 Something unusual was
happening within。 There came to him the sounds of shuffling feet； of
furniture being smashed； of an angry oath。
