the dwelling place of ligh-第51部分

快捷操作: 按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页 按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页 按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部! 如果本书没有阅读完，想下次继续接着阅读，可使用上方 "收藏到我的浏览器" 功能 和 "加入书签" 功能！


see　that　they　starve　before　they　get　backafter　all　I've　done　for　'em；
kept　the　mill　going　in　slack　times　just　to　give　'em　work。　　If　they　desert
me　now；　when　I've　got　this　Bradlaugh　order　on　my　hands〃　Speech　became
an　inadequate　expression　of　his　feelings；　and　suddenly　his　eye　fell　on
Janet。　　She　had　turned；　but　her　look　made　no　impression　on　him。　　〃Call　up
the　Chief　of　Police；〃　he　said。

Automatically　she　obeyed；　getting　the　connection　and　handing　him　the
receiver；　standing　by　while　he　denounced　the　incompetence　of　the
department　for　permitting　the　mob　to　gather　in　East　Street　and　demanded
deputies。　　The　veins　of　his　forehead　were　swollen　as　he　cut　short　the
explanations　of　the　official　and　asked　for　the　City　Hall。　　In　making　an
appointment　with　the　Mayor　he　reflected　on　the　management　of　the　city
government。　　And　when　Janet　by　his　command　obtained　the　Boston　office；　he
gave　the　mill　treasurer　a　heated　account　of　the　afternoon's　occurrences；
explaining　circumstantially　how；　in　his　absence　at　a　conference　in　the
Patuxent　Mill；　the　mob　had　gathered　in　East　Street　and　attacked　the
Chippering；　and　he　urged　the　treasurer　to　waste　no　time　in　obtaining　a
force　of　detectives；　in　securing　in　Boston　and　New　York　all　the
operatives　that　could　be　hired；　in　order　to　break　the　impending　strike。
Save　for　this　untimely　and　unreasonable　revolt　he　was　bent　on　stamping
out；　for　Ditmar　the　world　to…day　was　precisely　the　same　world　it　had　been
the　day　before。　　It　seemed　incredible　to　Janet　that　he　could　so　regard
it；　could　still　be　blind　to　the　fact　that　these　workers　whom　he　was
determined　to　starve　and　crush　if　they　dared　to　upset　his　plans　and
oppose　his　will　were　human　beings　with　wills　and　passions　and　grievances
of　their　own。　　Until　to…day　her　eyes　had　been　sealed。　　In　agony　they　had
been　opened　to　the　panorama　of　sorrow　and　suffering；　of　passion　and　evil；
and　what　she　beheld　now　as　life　was　a　vast　and　terrible　cruelty。　　She　had
needed　only　this　final　proof　to　be　convinced　that　in　his　eyes　she　also
was　but　one　of　those　brought　into　the　world　to　minister　to　his　pleasure
and　profit。　　He　had　taken　from　her；　as　his　weed；　the　most　precious　thing
a　woman　has　to　give；　and　now　that　she　was　here　again　at　his　side；　by　some
impulse　incomprehensible　to　herselfin　spite　of　the　wrong　he　had　done
her！had　sought　him　out　in　danger；　he　had　no　thought　of　her；　no　word　for
her；　no　use　save　a　menial　one：　he　cared　nothing　for　any　help　she　might　be
able　to　give；　he　had　no　perception　of　the　new　light　which　had　broken
within　her　soul。。。。　　The　telephoning　seemed　interminable；　yet　she　waited
with　a　strange　patience　while　he　talked　with　Mr。　George　Chippering　and
two　of　the　most　influential　directors。　　These　conversations　had　covered
the　space　of　an　hour　or　more。　　And　perhaps　as　a　result　of　self…
suggestion；　of　his　repeated　assurances　to　Mr。　Semple；　to　Mr。　Chippering；
and　the　directors　of　his　ability　to　control　the　situation；　Ditmar's
habitual　self…confidence　was　gradually　restored。　　And　when　at　last　he
hung　up　the　instrument　and　turned　to　her；　though　still　furious　against
the　strikers；　his　voice　betrayed　the　joy　of　battle；　the　assurance　of
victory。

〃They　can't　bluff　me；　they'll　have　to　guess　again。　　It's　that　damned
Holsterhe　hasn't　any　gutshe'd　give　in　to　'em　right　now　if　I'd　let
him。　　It's　the　limit　the　way　he　turned　the　Clarendon　over　to　them。　　I'll
show　him　how　to　put　a　crimp　in　'em　if　they　don't　turn　up　here　to…morrow
morning。〃

He　was　so　magnificently　sure　of　her　sympathy！　　She　did；　not　reply；　but
picked　up　her　coat　from　the　chair　where　she　had　laid　it。

〃Where　are　you　going？〃　　he　demanded。　　And　she　replied　laconically；
〃Home。〃

〃Wait　a　minute；〃　he　said；　rising　and　taking　a　step　toward　her。

〃You　have　an　appointment　with　the　Mayor；〃　she　reminded　him。

〃I　know；〃　he　said；　glancing　at　the　clock　over　the　door。　　〃　Where　have　you
been？　where　were　you　this　morning？　　I　was　worried　about　you；　II　was
afraid　you　might　be　sick。〃

〃Were　you？〃　she　said。　　〃I'm　all　right。　　I　had　business　in　Boston。〃

〃Why　didn't　you　telephone　me？　　In　Boston？〃　he　repeated。

She　nodded。　　He　started　forward　again；　but　she　avoided　him。

〃What's　the　matter？〃　he　cried。　　〃I've　been　worried　about　you　all　day
until　this　damned　strike　broke　loose。　　I　was　afraid　something　had
happened。〃

〃You　might　have　asked　my　father；〃　she　said。

〃For　God's　sake；　tell　me　what's　the　matter！〃

His　desire　for　her　mounted　as　his　conviction　grew　more　acute　that
something　had　happened　to　disturb　a　relationship　which；　he　had
congratulated　himself；　after　many　vicissitudes　and　anxieties　had　at　last
been　established。　　He　was　conscious；　however；　of　irritation　because　this
whimsical　and　unanticipated　grievance　of　hers　should　have　developed　at
the　moment　when　the　caprice　of　his　operatives　threatened　to　interfere
with　his　cherished　plansfor　Ditmar　measured　the　inconsistencies　of
humanity　by　the　yardstick　of　his　desires。　　Her　question　as　to　why　he　had
not　made　inquiries　of　her　father　added　a　new　element　to　his　disquietude。
As　he　stood　thus；　worried；　exasperated；　and　perplexed；　the　fact　that
there　was　in　her　attitude　something　ominous；　dangerous；　was　slow　to　dawn
on　him。　　His　faculties　were　wholly　unprepared　for　the　blow　she　struck
him。

〃I　hate　you！〃　she　said。　　She　did　not　raise　her　voice；　but　the　deliberate；
concentrated　conviction　she　put　into　the　sentence　gave　it　the　dynamic
quality　of　a　bullet。　　And　save　for　the　impact　of　itbefore　which　he
physically　recoiledits　import　was　momentarily　without　meaning。

〃What？〃　he　exclaimed；　stupidly。

〃I　might　have　known　you　never　meant　to　marry　me；〃　she　went　on。　　Her　hands
were　busy　with　the　buttons　of　her　coat。

〃All　you　want　is　to　use　me；　to　enjoy　me　and　turn　me　out　when　you　get
tired　of　methe　way　you've　done　with　other　women。　　It's　just　the　same
with　these　mill　hands；　they're　not　human　beings　to　you；　they'rethey're
cattle。　　If　they　don't　do　as　you　like；　you　turn　them　out；　you　say　they
can　starve　for　all　you　care。〃

〃For　God's　sake；　what　do　you　mean？〃　he　demanded。　　〃What　have　I　done　to
you；　Janet？　　I　love　you；　I　need　you！〃

〃Love　me！〃　she　repeated。　　〃I　know　how　men　of　your　sort　loveI've　seen
itI　know。　　As　long　as　I　give　you　what　you　want　and　don't　bother　you；
you　love　me。　　And　I　know　how　these　workers　feel；〃　she　cried；　with　sudden；
passionate　vehemence。　　〃I　never　knew　before；　but　I　know　now。　　I've　been
with　them；　I　marched　up　here　with　them　from　the　Clarendon　when　they
battered　in　the　gates　and　smashed　your　windowsand　I　wanted　to　smash
your　windows；　too；　to　blow　up　your　mill。〃

〃What　are　you　saying？　　You　came　here　with　the　strikers？　　you　were　with
that　mob？〃　asked　Ditmar；　astoundedly。

〃Yes；　I　was　in　that　mob。　　I　belong　there；　with　them；　I　tell　youI　don't
belong　here；　with　you。　　But　I　was　a　fool　even　then；　I　was　afraid　they'd
hurt　you；　I　came　into　the　mill　to　find　you；　and　youand　you　you　acted　as
if　you'd　never　seen　me　before。　　I　was　a　fool；　but　I'm　glad　I　cameI'm
glad　I　had　a　chance　to　tell　you　this。〃

〃My　Godwon't　you　trust　me？〃　he　begged；　with　a　tremendous　effort　to
collect　himself。　　〃You　trusted　me　yesterday。　　What's　happened　to　change
you？　　Won't　you　tell　me？　　It's　nothing　I've　doneI　swear。　　And　what　do
you　mean　when　you　say　you　were　in　that　mob？　　I　was　almost　crazy　when　I
came　back　and　found　they'd　been　here　in　this　millcan't　you　understand？
It　wasn't　that　I　didn't　think　of　you。　　I'd　been　worrying　about　you　all
day。　　Look　at　this　thing　sensibly。　　I　love　you；　I　can't　get　along　without
youI'll　marry　you。　　I　said　I　would；　I　meant　it　I'll　marry　you　just　as
soon　as　I　can　clean　up　this　mess　of　a　strike。　　It　won't　take　long。〃

〃Don't　touch　me！〃　she　commanded；　and　he　recoiled　again。　　〃I'll　tell　you
where　I've　been；　if　you　want　to　know；I've　been　to　see　my　sister　inin
a　house；　in　Boston。　　I　guess　you　know　what　kind　of　a　house　I　mean；　you've
been　in　them；　you've　brought　women　to　them；just　like　the　man　that
brought　her　there。　　Would　you　marry　me　nowwith　my　sister　there？　　And　am
I　any　different　from　her？　　You　you've　made　me　just　like　her。〃　　Her　voice
had　broken；　now；　into　furious；　uncontrolled　weepingto　which　she　paid　no
heed。

Ditmar　was　stunned；　he　could　only　stare　at　her。

〃If　I　have　a　child；〃　she　said；　〃I'llI'll　kill　youI'll　kill　myself。〃

And　before　he　could　replyif　indeed　he　had　been　able　to　replyshe　had
left　the　office　and　was　running　down　the　stairs。。。。




CHAPTER　XIV

What　was　happening　to　Hampton？　　Some　hundreds　of　ignorant　foreigners；
dissatisfied　with　the　money　in　their　pay　envelopes；　had　marched　out　of
the　Clarendon　Mill　and　attacked　the　Chippering　and　behold；　the　revered
structure　of　American　Government　had　quivered　and　tumbled　down　like　a
pack　of　cards！　　Despite　the　feverish　assurances　in　the　Banner　〃extra〃
that　the　disturbance　was　merely　local　and　temporary；　solid　citizens
became　panicky；　vaguely　apprehending　the　release　of　elemental　forces
hitherto　unrecognized　and　unknown。　　Who　was　to　tell　these　solid；　educated
business　men　that　the　crazy　industrial　Babel　they　had　helped　to　rear；　and
in　which　they　unconsciously　dwelt；　was　no　longer　the　simple　edifice　they
thought　it？　that　Authority；　spelled　with　a　capital；　was　a　thing　of　the
past？　that　human　instincts　suppressed　become　explosives　to　displace　the
strata　of　civilization　and　change　the　face　of　the　world？　that　conventions
and　institutions；　laws　and　decrees　crumble　before　the　whirlwind　of　human
passions？　　that　their　city　was　not　of　special；　but　of　universal
significance？　　And　how　were　these；　who　still　believed　themselves　to　be
dwelling　under　the　old　dispensation；　to　comprehend　that　environments
change；　and　changing　demand　new　and　terrible　Philosophies？　　When　night
fell　on　that　fateful　Tuesday　the　voice　of　Syndicalism　had　been　raised　in
a　temple　dedicated　to　ordered；　Anglo…Saxon　libertythe　Hampton　City
Hall。

Only　for　a　night　and　a　day　did　the　rebellion　lack　both　a　leader　and　a
philosophy。　　Meanwhile；　in　obedience　to　the　unerring　instinct　for　drama
peculiar　to　great　metropolitan　dailies；　newspaper　correspondents　were
alighting　from　every　train；　interviewing　officials　and　members　of　labour
unions　and　mill　agents：　interviewing　Claude　Ditmar；　the　strongest　man　in
Hampton　t