the conflict-第37部分

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veryone　who　happened　not　to　have　an　automobile。　　Thenshe　laughed。　　The　ignorant；　stupid　masses！　　They　deserved　to　be　treated　thus　contemptuously；　for　they　could　stop　it　if　they　would。　　‘‘Some　day　we　shall　learn；''　philosophized　she。　　‘‘Then　these　brutalities　of　men　toward　each　other；　these　brutalities　big　and　little；　will　cease。''　　This　matter　of　the　insulting　automobiles；　with　insolent　horns　and　criminal　folly　of　speed　and　hurling　dust　at　passers…by；　worse　than　if　the　occupants　had　spat　upon　them　in　passingthis　matter　was　a　trifle　beside　the　hideous　brutalities　of　men　compelling　masses　of　their　fellow　beings；　children　no　less　than　grown　people；　to　toil　at　things　killing　soul；　mind　and　body　simply　in　order　that　fortunes　might　be　made！　　THERE　was　lack　of　consideration　worth　thinking　about。

Three　more　autos　passedthree　more　clouds　of　dust；　reducing　Selma　to　extreme　physical　discomfort。　　Her　philosophy　was　severely　strained。　　She　was　in　the　country　now；　but　even　there　she　was　pursued　by　these　insolent　and　insulting　hunters　of　pleasure　utterly　indifferent　to　the　comfort　of　their　fellows。　　And　when　a　fourth　auto　passed；　bearing　Jane　Hastings　in　a　charming　new　dress　and　big；　becoming　hatSelma；　eyes　and　throat　full　of　dust　and　face　and　neck　and　hands　streaked　and　dirty；　quite　lost　her　temper。　　Jane　spoke；　she　turned　her　head　away；　pretending　not　to　see！

Presently　she　heard　an　auto　coming　at　a　less　menacing　pace　from　the　opposite　direction。　　It　drew　up　to　the　edge　of　the　road　abreast　of　her。　　‘‘Selma；''　called　Jane。

Selma　paused；　bent　a　frowning　and　angry　countenance　upon　Jane。

Jane　opened　the　door　of　the　limousine；　descended；　said　to　her　chauffeur：　　‘‘Follow　us；　please。''　　She　advanced　to　Selma　with　a　timid　and　deprecating　smile。　　‘‘You'll　let　me　walk　with　you？''　she　said。

‘‘I　am　thinking　out　a　very　important　matter；''　replied　Selma；　with　frank　hostility。　　‘‘I　prefer　not　to　be　interrupted。''

‘‘Selma！''　pleaded　Jane。　　‘‘What　have　I　done　to　turn　you　against　me？''

Selma　stood；　silent；　incarnation　of　freedom　and　will。　　She　looked　steadily　at　Jane。　　‘‘You　haven't　done　anything；''　she　replied。　　‘‘On　impulse　I　liked　you。　　On　sober　second　thought　I　don't。　　That's　all。''

‘‘You　gave　me　your　friendship；''　said　Jane。　　‘‘You've　no　right　to　withdraw　it　without　telling　me　why。''

‘‘You　are　not　of　my　class。　　You　are　of　the　class　that　is　at　war　with　mineat　war　upon　it。　　When　you　talk　of　friendship　to　me；　you　are　either　false　to　your　own　people　or　false　in　your　professions　to　me。''

Selma's　manner　was　rudely　offensiveas　rude　as　Jane's　dust；　to　which　it　was　perhaps　a　retort。　　Jane　showed　marvelous　restraint。　　She　told　herself　that　she　felt　compassionate　toward　this　attractive；　honest；　really　nice　girl。　　It　is　possible；　however；　that　an　instinct　of　prudence　may　have　had　something　to　do　with　her　ultra…　conciliatory　attitude　toward　the　dusty　little　woman　in　the　cheap　linen　dress。　　The　enmity　of　one　so　near　to　Victor　Dorn　was　certainly　not　an　advantage。　　Instead　of　flaring　up；　Jane　said：

‘‘Now；　Selmado　be　humando　be　your　sweet；　natural　self。　　It　isn't　my　fault　that　I　am　what　I　am。　　And　you　know　that　I　really　belong　heart　and　soul　with　you。''

‘‘Then　come　with　us；''　said　Selma。　　‘‘If　you　think　the　life　you　lead　is　foolishwhy；　stop　leading　it。''

‘‘You　know　I　can't；''　said　Jane　mournfully。

‘‘I　know　you　could；''　retorted　Selma。　　‘‘Don't　be　a　hypocrite；　Jane。''

‘‘Selmahow　harsh　you　are！''　cried　Jane。

‘‘Either　come　with　us　or　keep　away　from　us；''　said　the　girl　inflexibly。　　‘‘You　may　deceive　yourselfand　menwith　that　talk　of　broad　views　and　high　aspirations。　　But　you　can't　deceive　another　woman。''

‘‘I'm　not　trying　to　deceive　anybody；''　exclaimed　Jane　angrily。　　‘‘Permit　me　to　say；　Selma；　that　your　methods　won't　make　many　converts　to　your　cause。''

‘‘Who　ever　gave　you　the　idea　that　we　were　seeking　converts　in　your　class？''　inquired　Selma。　　‘‘Our　whole　object　is　to　abolish　your　classand　end　its　drain　upon　usand　its　bad　exampleand　make　its　members　useful　members　of　our　class；　and　more　contented　and　happier　than　they　are　now。''　　She　laugheda　free　and　merry　laugh；　but　not　pleasant　in　Jane's　ears。　　‘‘The　idea　of　US　trying　to　induce　young　ladies　and　young　gentlemen　with　polished　finger　nails　to　sit　round　in　drawing…rooms　talking　patronizingly　of　doing　something　for　the　masses！　　You've　got　a　very　queer　notion　of　us；　my　dear　Miss　Hastings。''

Jane's　eyes　were　flashing。　　‘‘Selma；　there's　a　devil　in　you　to…day。　　What　is　it？''　she　demanded。

‘‘There's　a　great　deal　of　dust　from　your　automobile　in　me　and　on　me；''　said　Selma。　　‘‘I　congratulate　you　on　your　good　manners　in　rushing　about　spattering　and　befouling　your　fellow　beings　and　threatening　their　lives。''

Jane　colored　and　lowered　her　head。　　‘‘II　never　thought　of　that　before；''　she　said　humbly。

Selma's　anger　suddenly　dissolved。　　‘‘I'm　ashamed　of　myself；''　she　cried。　　‘‘Forgive　me。''

What　she　had　said　about　the　automobile　had　made　an　instant　deep　impression　upon　Jane；　who　was　honestly　trying　to　live　up　to　her　aspirationswhen　she　wasn't　giving　up　the　effort　as　hopelessly　beyond　her　powers　and　trying　to　content　herself　with　just　aspiring。　　She　was　not　hypocritical　in　her　contrition。　　The　dust　disfiguring　the　foliage；　streaking　Selma's　face　and　hair；　was　forcing　the　lesson　in　manners　vigorously　home。　　‘‘I'm　much　obliged　to　you　for　teaching　me　what　I　ought　to　have　learned　for　myself；''　she　said。　　‘‘I　don't　blame　you　for　scorning　me。　　I　am　a　pretty　poor　excuse。　　But''with　her　most　charming　smile　‘‘I'll　do　betterall　the　faster　if　you'll　help　me。''

Selma　looked　at　her　with　a　frank；　dismayed　contrition；　like　a　child　that　realizes　it　has　done　something　very　foolish。　　‘‘Oh；　I'm　so　horribly　impulsive！''　she　cried。　　‘‘It's　always　getting　me　into　trouble。　　You　don't　know　how　I　try　Victor　Dorn's　patiencethough　he　never　makes　the　least　sign。''　　She　laughed　up　at　Jane。　　‘‘I　wish　you'd　give　me　a　whipping。　　I'd　feel　lots　better。''

‘‘It'd　take　some　of　my　dust　off　you；''　said　Jane。　　‘‘Let　me　take　you　to　the　house　in　the　autoyou'll　never　see　it　going　at　that　speed　again；　I　promise。　　Come　to　the　house　and　I'll　dust　you　offand　we'll　go　for　a　walk　in　the　woods。''

Selma　felt　that　she　owed　it　to　Jane　to　accept。　　As　they　were　climbing　the　hill　in　the　auto；　Selma　said：

‘‘My；　how　comfortable　this　is！　　No　wonder　the　people　that　have　autos　stop　exercising　and　get　fat　and　sick　and　die。　　I　couldn't　trust　myself　with　one。''

‘‘It's　a　daily　fight；''　confessed　Jane。　　‘‘If　I　were　married　and　didn't　have　to　think　about　my　looks　and　my　figure　I'm　afraid　I'd　give　up。''

‘‘Victor　says　the　only　time　one　ought　ever　to　ride　in　a　carriage　is　to　his　own　funeral。''

‘‘He's　down　on　show　and　luxury　of　every　kind　isn't　he？''　said　Jane。

‘‘No；　indeed；''　replied　Selma。　　‘‘Victor　isn't　‘down　on'　anything。　　He　thinks　show　and　luxury　are　silly。　　He　could　be　rich　if　he　wished；　for　he　has　wonderful　talent　for　managing　things　and　for　making　money。　　He　has　refused　some　of　the　most　wonderful　offerswonderful　in　that　way。　　But　he　thinks　money…making　a　waste　of　time。　　He　has　all　he　wants；　and　he　says　he'd　as　soon　think　of　eating　a　second　dinner　when　he'd　just　had　one　as　of　exchanging　time　that　could　be　LIVED　for　a　lot　of　foolish　dollars。''

‘‘And　he　meant　it；　too；''　said　Jane。　　‘‘In　some　men　that　would　sound　like　pretense。　　But　not　in　him。　　What　a　mind　he　hasand　what　a　character！''

Selma　was　abruptly　overcast　and　ominously　silent。　　She　wished　she　had　not　been　turned　so　far　by　her　impulse　of　penitencewished　she　had　held　to　the　calm　and　deliberate　part　of　her　resolve　about　Janethe　part　that　involved　keeping　aloof　from　her。　　However；　Jane；　the　tactfulhastened　to　shift　the　conversation　to　generalities　of　the　softest　kindstalked　about　her　college　lifeabout　the　inane　and　useless　education　they　had　given　herdrew　Selma　out　to　talk　about　her　own　　educationin　the　tenementin　the　public　school；　at　night　school；　in　factory　and　shop。　　Not　until　they　had　been　walking　in　the　woods　nearly　two　hours　and　Selma　was　about　to　go　home；　did　Victor；　about　whom　both　were　thinking　all　the　time；　come　into　the　conversation　again。　　It　was　Jane　who　could　no　longer　keep　away　from　the　subjectthe　one　subject　that　wholly　interested　her　nowadays。　　Said　she：

‘‘Victor　Dorn　is　REALLY　almost　well；　you　think？''

After　a　significant　pause　Selma　said　in　a　tone　that　was　certainly　not　encouraging；　‘‘Obviously。''

‘‘I　was　altogether　wrong　about　Doctor　Charlton；''　said　Jane。　　‘‘I'm　convinced　now　that　he's　the　only　really　intelligent　doctor　in　town。　　I'm　trying　to　persuade　father　to　change　to　him。''

‘‘Well；　good…by；''　said　Selma。　　She　was　eager　to　get　away；　for　she　suddenly　felt　that　Jane　was　determined　to　talk　about　Victor　before　letting　her　go。

‘‘You　altered　toward　me　when　I　made　that　confessionthe　night　of　the　riot；''　said　Jane　abruptly。　　‘‘Are　you　in　love　with　him；　too？''

‘‘No；''　said　Selma。

‘‘I　don't　see　how　you　could　help　being；''　cried　Jane。

‘‘That's　because　you　don't　know　what　it　is　to　be　busy；''　retorted　Selma。　　‘‘Lovewhat　you　call　love　is　one　of　the　pastimes　with　your　sort　of　people。　　It's　a　lazy；　easy　way　of　occupying　the　thoughts。''

‘‘You　don't　know　me　as　well　as　you　think　you　do；''　said　Jane。　　Her　expression　fascinated　Selmaa