the dwelling place of ligh-第15部分

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He　indicated　this　by　a　wave　of　his　hand；　but　his　eyes　were　now　on　her。

〃It　is　pretty；〃　she　agreed。

In　contrast　to　the　defensive　tactics　which　other　ladies　of　his　acquaintance　had
adopted；　tactics　of　a　patently　coy　and　coquettish　nature；　this　self…collected
manner　was　new　and　spicy；　challenging　to　powers　never　as　yet　fully　exerted
while　beneath　her　manner　he　felt　throbbing　that　rare　and　dangerous　thing　in
women；　a　temperament；　for　which　men　have　given　their　souls。　　This　conviction　of
her　possession　of　a　temperament；he　could　not　have　defined　the　word；　emotional
rather　than　intellectual；　produced　the　apologetic　attitude　she　was　quick　to
sense。　　He　had　never　been；　at　least　during　his　maturity；　at　a　loss　with　the
other　sex；　and　he　found　the　experience　delicious。

〃You　like　pretty　things；　I'm　sure　of　that；〃　he　hazarded。　　But　she　did　not　ask
him　how　he　knew；　she　simply　assented。　　He　raised　the　hood；　revealing　the
engine。　　〃Isn't　that　pretty？　　See　how　nicely　everything　is　adjusted　in　that
little　space　to　do　the　particular　work　for　which　it　is　designed。〃

Thus　appealed　to；　she　came　forward　and　stopped；　still　standing　off　a　little
way；　but　near　enough　to　see；　gazing　at　the　shining　copper　caps　on　the
cylinders；　at　the　bright　rods　and　gears。

〃It　looks　intricate；〃　said　Mr。　Ditmar；　〃but　really　it's　very　simple。　　The
gasoline　comes　in　here　from　the　tank　behindthis　is　called　the　carburetor；　it
has　a　jet　to　vaporize　the　gasoline；　and　the　vapour　is　sucked　into　each　of　these
cylinders　in　turn　when　the　piston　moveslike　this。〃　　He　sought　to　explain　the
action　of　the　piston。　　〃That　compresses　it；　and　then　a　tiny　electric　spark
comes　just　at　the　right　moment　to　explode　it；　and　the　explosion　sends　the
piston　down　again；　and　turns　the　shaft。　　Well；　all　four　cylinders　have　an
explosion　one　right　after　another；　and　that　keeps　the　shaft　going。〃　　Whereupon
the　most　important　personage　in　Hampton；　the　head　of　the　great　Chippering　Mill
proceeded；　for　the　benefit　of　a　humble　assistant　stenographer；　to　remove　the
floor　boards　behind　the　dash。　　〃There's　the　shaft；　come　here　and　look　at　it。〃
She　obeyed；　standing　beside　him；　almost　touching　him；　his　arm；　indeed；　brushing
her　sleeve；　and　into　his　voice　crept　a　tremor。　　〃The　shaft　turns　the　rear
wheels　by　means　of　a　gear　at　right　angles　on　the　axle；　and　the　rear　wheels
drive　the　car。　　Do　you　see？〃

〃Yes；〃　she　answered　faintly；　honesty　compelling　her　to　add：　〃a　little。〃

He　was　looking；　now；　not　at　the　machinery；　but　intently　at　her；　and　she　could
feel　the　blood　flooding　into　her　cheeks　and　temples。　　She　was　even　compelled
for　an　instant　to　return　his　glance；　and　from　his　eyes　into　hers　leaped　a　flame
that　ran　scorching　through　her　body。　　Then　she　knew　with　conviction　that　the
explanation　of　the　automobile　had　been　an　excuse；　she　had　comprehended　almost
nothing　of　it；　but　she　had　been　impressed　by　the　facility　with　which　he
described　it；　by　his　evident　mastery　over　it。　　She　had　noticed　his　hands；　how
thick　his　fingers　were　and　close　together；　yet　how　deftly　he　had　used　them；
without　smearing　the　cuffs　of　his　silk　shirt　or　the　sleeves　of　his　coat　with
the　oil　that　glistened　everywhere。

〃I　like　machinery；〃　he　told　her　as　he　replaced　the　boards。　　〃I　like　to　take
care　of　it　myself。〃

〃It　must　be　interesting；〃　she　assented；　aware　of　the　inadequacy　of　the　remark；
and　resenting　in　herself　an　inarticulateness　seemingly　imposed　by　inhibition
connected　with　his　nearness。　　Fascination　and　antagonism　were　struggling　within
her。　　Her　desire　to　get　away　grew　desperate。

〃Thank　you　for　showing　it　to　me。〃　　With　an　effort　of　will　she　moved　toward　the
bridge；　but　was　impelled　by　a　consciousness　of　the　abruptness　of　her　departure
to　look　back　at　him　onceand　smile；　to　experience　again　the　thrill　of　the
current　he　sped　after　her。　　By　lifting　his　hat；　a　little　higher；　a　little　more
confidently　than　in　the　first　instance；　he　made　her　leaving　seem　more　gracious；
the　act　somehow　conveying　an　acknowledgment　on　his　part　that　their　relationship
had　changed。

Once　across　the　bridge　and　in　the　mill；　she　fairly　ran　up　the　stairs　and　into
the　empty　office；　to　perceive　her　bag　lying　on　the　desk　where　she　had　left　it；
and　sat　down　for　a　few　minutes　beside　the　window；　her　heart　pounding　in　her
breast　as　though　she　had　barely　escaped　an　accident　threatening　her　with
physical　annihilation。　　Something　had　happened　to　her　at　last！　　But　what　did　it
mean？　　Where　would　it　lead？　　Her　fear；　her　antagonism；　of　which　she　was　still
conscious；　her　resentment　that　Ditmar　had　thus　surreptitiously　chosen　to
approach　her　in　a　moment　when　they　were　unobserved　were　mingled　with　a
throbbing　exultation　in　that　he　had　noticed　her；　that　there　was　something　in
her　to　attract　him　in　that　way；　to　make　his　voice　thicker　and　his　smile
apologetic　when　he　spoke　to　her。　　Of　that　〃something…in…her〃　she　had　been　aware
before；　but　never　had　it　been　so　unmistakably　recognized　and　beckoned　to　from
without。　　She　was　at　once　terrified；　excitedand　flattered。

At　length；　growing　calmer；　she　made　her　way　out　of　the　building。　　When　she
reached　the　vestibule　she　had　a　moment　of　sharp　apprehension；　of　paradoxical
hope；　that　Ditmar　might　still　be　there；　awaiting　her。　　But　he　had　gone。。。。

In　spite　of　her　efforts　to　dismiss　the　matter　from　her　mind；　to　persuade
herself　there　had　been　no　significance　in　the　encounter；　when　she　was　seated　at
her　typewriter　the　next　morning　she　experienced　a　renewal　of　the　palpitation　of
the　evening　before；　and　at　the　sound　of　every　step　in　the　corridor　she　started。
Of　this　tendency　she　was　profoundly　ashamed。　　And　when　at　last　Ditmar　arrived；
though　the　blood　rose　to　her　temples；　she　kept　her　eyes　fixed　on　the　keys。　　He
went　quickly　into　his　room：　she　was　convinced　he　had　not　so　much　as　glanced　at
her。。。。　　As　the　days　went　by；　however；　she　was　annoyed　by　the　discovery　that
his　continued　ignoring　of　her　presence　brought　more　resentment　than　relief；　she
detected　in　it　a　deliberation　implying　between　them　a　guilty　secret：　she　hated
secrecy；　though　secrecy　contained　a　thrill。　　Then；　one　morning　when　she　was
alone　in　the　office　with　young　Caldwell；　who　was　absorbed　in　some　reports；
Ditmar　entered　unexpectedly　and　looked　her　full　in　the　eyes；　surprising　her
into　answering　his　glance　before　she　could　turn　away；　hating　herself　and　hating
him。　　Hate；　she　determined；　was　her　prevailing　sentiment　in　regard　to　Mr。
Ditmar。

The　following　Monday　Miss　Ottway　overtook　her；　at　noon；　on　the　stairs。

〃Janet；　I　wanted　to　speak　to　you；　to　tell　you　I'm　leaving；〃　she　said。

〃Leaving！〃　　repeated　Janet；　who　had　regarded　Miss　Ottway　as　a　fixture。

〃I'm　going　to　Boston；〃　Miss　Ottway　explained；　in　her　deep；　musical　voice。
〃I've　always　wanted　to　go；　I　have　an　unmarried　sister　there　of　whom　I'm　very
fond；　and　Mr。　Ditmar　knows　that。　　He's　got　me　a　place　with　the　Treasurer；　Mr。
Semple。〃

〃Oh；　I'm　sorry　you're　going；　though　of　course　I'm　glad　for　you；〃　Janet　said
sincerely；　for　she　liked　and　respected　Miss　Ottway；　and　was　conscious　in　the
older　woman　of　a　certain　kindly　interest。

〃Janet；　I've　recommended　you　to　Mr。　Ditmar　for　my　place。〃

〃Oh！〃　cried　Janet；　faintly。

〃It　was　he　who　asked　about　you；　he　thinks　you　are　reliable　and　quick　and
clever；　and　I　was　very　glad　to　say　a　good　word　for　you；　my　dear；　since　I　could
honestly　do　so。〃　　Miss　Ottway　drew　Janet's　arm　through　hers　and　patted　it
affectionately。　　〃Of　course　you'll　have　to　expect　some　jealousy；　there　are
older　women　in　the　other　offices　who　will　think　they　ought　to　have　the　place；
but　if　you　attend　to　your　own　affairs；　as　you　always　have　done；　there　won't　be
any　trouble。〃

〃Oh；　I　won't　take　the　place；　I　can't！〃Janet　cried；　so　passionately　that　Miss
Ottway　looked　at　her　in　surprise。　　〃I'm　awfully　grateful　to　you；〃　she　added；
flushing　crimson；　〃II'm　afraid　I'm　not　equal　to　it。〃

〃Nonsense；〃　said　the　other　with　decision。　　〃You'd　be　very　foolish　not　to　try
it。　　You　won't　get　as　much　as　I　do；　at　first；　at　any　rate；　but　a　little　more
money　won't　be　unwelcome；　I　guess。　　Mr。　Ditmar　will　speak　to　you　this
afternoon。　　I　leave　on　Saturday。　　I'm　real　glad　to　do　you　a　good　turn；　Janet；
and　I　know　you'll　get　along；〃　Miss　Ottway　added　impulsively　as　they　parted　at
the　corner　of　Faber　Street。　　〃I've　always　thought　a　good　deal　of　you。〃

For　awhile　Janet　stood　still；　staring　after　the　sturdy　figure　of　her　friend；
heedless　of　the　noonday　crowd　that　bumped　her。　　Then　she　went　to　Grady's　Quick
Lunch　Counter　and　ordered　a　sandwich　and　a　glass　of　milk；　which　she　consumed
slowly；　profoundly　sunk　in　thought。　　Presently　Eda　Rawle　arrived；　and　noticing
her　preoccupation；　inquired　what　was　the　matter。

〃Nothing；〃　said　Janet。。。。

At　two　o'clock；　when　Ditmar　returned　to　the　office；　he　called　Miss　Ottway；　who
presently　came　out　to　summon　Janet　to　his　presence。　　Fresh；　immaculate；　yet
virile　in　his　light　suit　and　silk　shirt　with　red　stripes；　he　was　seated　at　his
desk　engaged　in　turning　over　some　papers　in　a　drawer。　　He　kept　her　waiting　a
moment；　and　then　said；　with　apparent　casualness：

〃Is　that　you；　Miss　Bumpus？　　Would　you　mind　closing　the　door？〃

Janet　obeyed；　and　again　stood　before　him。　　He　looked　up。　　A　suggestion　of
tenseness　in　her　pose　betraying　an　inner　attitude　of　alertness；　of　defiance；
conveyed　to　him　sharply　and　deliciously　once　more　the　panther…like　impression
he　had　received　when　first；　as　a　woman；　she　had　come　to　his　notice。　　The
renewed　and　heightened　perception　of　this　feral　quality　in　her　aroused　a　sense
of　danger　by　no　means　unpleasurable；　though　warning　him　that　he　was　about　to
take　an　unprecedented　step；　being　drawn　beyond　the　limits　of　caution　he　had
previously　set　for　himself　in　divorcing　business　and　sex。　　Though　he　was　by　no
means　self…convinced　of　an　intention　to　push　the　adventure；　preferring　to　leave
its　possibilities　open；　he　strove　in　voice　and　manner　to　be　business…like；　and
instinct；　perhaps；　whispered　that　she　might　take　alarm。

〃Sit　down；　Miss　Bumpus；〃　he　said　pleasantly；　as　he　closed　the　drawer。

She　seated　herself　on　an　office　chair。

〃Do　you　like　your　work　here？〃　　he　inquired。

〃No；〃　said　Janet。

〃Why　not？〃　　he　demanded；　staring　at　her。

〃Why　should　I？〃　　she　retorted。