the vision spendid(美景)-第53节
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before I hear the order。〃 Gaily he suited the action to the word。
But； for once swift； she reached the door before him。
〃Wait。 Don't go； dear。〃
The last word came faintly； unexpectedly。 The enticement of the
appeal went to his head。 He had shaken her out of the indifference that was
her pride。 One arm slipped round her waist。 His other hand tilted back her
head until he could look into the eyes in which a new fire had been
kindled。
〃What about that almost glad？ If I stay will you forget all qualifying
words and be just glad？〃
She nodded quickly； laughing ever so softly。 〃Yes； I'll help you listen
to the birds sing。 Do you know I can almost hear them？〃
James drew a deep breath and caught her swiftly to him。 〃New York
will have to wait till to…morrow。 The birds will sing to…night and we will
not count the cost。〃
〃Yes； my lord；〃 she answered demurely。
For to…night she wanted to forget that their birds were only caged
canaries。
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THE VISION SPLENDID
CHAPTER 23
〃And what are the names of the Fortunate Isles； Lo！ duty and love and
a large content； And these are the Isles of the watery miles That God let
down from the firmament。
Lo！ duty and love and a true man's trust； Your forehead to God and
your feet in the dust： Lo！ duty and love and a sweet babe's smiles； And
these； O friends； are the Fortunate Isles。〃
AND LARKS FOR THE REBEL
Beneath a sky faintly pink with the warning of the coming sunrise
Jeff walked an old logging trail that would take him back to camp from his
morning dip。 Ferns and blackberry bushes； heavy with dew； reached across
the road and grappled with each other。 At every step； as he pushed through
the tangle； a shower of drops went flying。
His was the incomparable buoyant humor of a lover treading a
newborn world。 A smile was in his eyes； tender； luminous； cheerful。 He
thought of the woman whom he had not seen for many months； and he
was buoyed up by the fine spiritual edge which does not know defeat。 Win
or lose； it was clear gain to have loved her。
With him he carried a vision of her； young； ardent； all fire and flame。
One spoke of things beautiful and her face lit from within。 Her words；
motions； came from the depths； half revealed and half concealed dear
hidden secrets。 He recalled the grace of the delicate throat curve； little
tricks of expression； the sweetness of her energy。
The forest broke； opening into a clearing。 He stood to drink in its
beauty； for the sun； peeping over a saddle in the hills； had painted the
place a valley of gold and russet。 And while he waited there came out of
the woods beyond； into that splendid setting； the vision that was in his
mind。
He was not surprised that his eyes were playing him tricks。 This was
after all the proper frame for the picture of his golden sweetheart。 Lance…
straight and slender； his wood nymph waded knee deep through the ferns。
Straight toward him she came； and his temples began to throb。 A sylph of
the woods should be diaphanous。 The one he saw was a creature of color
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THE VISION SPLENDID
and warmth and definiteness。 Life； sweet and mocking； flowed through
her radiantly。 His heart sang within him； for the woman he loved out of a
world of beautiful women was coming to him； light…footed as Daphne； the
rhythm of the morning in her step。
She spoke； commonplace words enough。 〃Last night I heard you were
here。〃
〃And I didn't know you were within a thousand miles。〃
〃We came back to Verden Thursday and are up over Sunday；〃 she
explained。
He was lost in the witchery of the spell she cast over him。 Not the
drooping maidenhair ferns through which she trailed were more delicate or
graceful than she。 But some instinct in him played surface commonplaces
against the insurgent emotion of his heart。
〃You like Washington？〃
〃I like home better。〃
〃But you were popular at the capital。 I read a great deal in the papers
about your triumphs。〃
The dye in her cheeks ran a little stronger。 There had been much gossip
about a certain Italian nobleman who had wooed her openly and madly。
〃They told a lot of nonsense。〃
〃And some that wasn't nonsense。〃
〃Not much。〃 She changed the subject lightly。 〃You read all about the
wedding； of course。〃
He quoted。 〃Miss Alice Frome as maid of honor preceded the bride；
appearing in a handsome gown of very delicate old rose satin with an
overdress of〃
〃Very good。 You may go to the head of the class； sir。 Valencia was
beautiful and your cousin never looked more handsome。〃
〃Which is saying a good deal。〃
〃And we're all hoping they will live happy ever after。〃
〃You know he is being talked of for United States Senator already。〃
〃You will oppose him？〃 she asked quickly。
〃I shall have to。〃
〃Still an irreconcilable。〃 Her smile could be vivid； and just now it was。
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〃Still a demagogue and a trouble maker；〃 he admitted。
〃You've won the recall and the direct primary since I left。〃
〃Yes。 We've been busy。〃
〃And our friendshow are they？〃
〃You should see Jefferson Davis Farnum Miller。 He's two months old
and as fat as a dumpling。〃
〃I've seen him。 He's a credit to his godfather。〃
〃Isn't he？ That's one happy family。〃
〃I wonder who's to blame for that；〃 she said； the star flash in her eyes。
〃Nellie told you？〃
〃She told me。〃
〃They exaggerate。 Nobody could have done less than I。〃
〃Or more。〃 She did not dwell upon the subject。 〃Tell me about Mr。
Marchant。〃
He went over for her the story of the little poet's gentle death。 She
listened till he made an end。
〃Then it was not hard for him？〃
〃No。 He had one of his good； eager days； then guietly fell asleep。〃
〃And passed to where； beyond these voices； there is rest and peace；〃
she quoted； ever so softly。
〃Yes。〃
〃Perhaps he knows now all about his Perfect State。〃 Her wistful smile
was very tender。
〃Perhaps。〃
They walked together slowly across the valley。
〃It is nearly six months since I have seen you。〃
〃Five months and twenty…seven days。〃 The words had slipped out
almost without her volition。 She hurried on； ashamed； the color flying in
her cheeks； 〃I remember because it was the day we ran down your cousin
and that old gentleman。 It has always been a great comfort to me to know
that he was not seriously injured。〃
〃No。 It was only the shock of his fall。〃
〃What was his name？ I don't think I heard it。〃
There was just an instant's silence before he pronounced； 〃FarnumMr。
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Robert Farnum。〃
〃A relative of yours？〃
〃Yes。〃
Across her brain there flashed a fugitive memory of three words Jeff
had spoken to his cousin the day of the accident。 〃It's your father。〃
But how could that be？ She had always understood that both the
parents of James were dead。 The lawyer had denied knowing the man
whose life he had saved。 And yet she had been sure of the words and of a
furtive； frightened look on the face of James。 According to the story of the
_Herald_ the father of Jefferson； a former convict； was named Robert。 But
once； when she had made some allusion to it Captain Chunn had exploded
into vigorous denial。 It was a puzzle the meaning of which she could not
guess。
〃He has several times mentioned his wish to thank you for your
kindness；〃 Jeff mentioned。
〃I'll be glad to meet him。〃 Swiftly she flashed a question at him。 〃Is he
James Farnum's father？〃
〃Haven't you read the papers？ He is said to be mine。〃
〃But he isn't。 He isn't。 I see it now。 James was a
