the dwelling place of ligh-第61部分

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fried　potatoes。　　The　apathetic　waiter　in　the　soiled　linen　jacket　he
addressed　as　〃comrade。〃　　Janet　protested　when　he　ordered　cocktails。

〃You　must　learn　to　live；　to　relax；　to　enjoy　yourself；〃　he　declared。

But　a　horror　of　liquor　held　her　firm　in　her　refusal。　　Rolfe　drank　his；
and　while　they　awaited　the　beefsteak　she　was　silent；　the　prey　of　certain
misgivings　that　suddenly　assailed　her。　　Lise；　she　remembered；　had
sometimes　mentioned　this　place；　though　preferring　Gruber's：　and　she　was
struck　by　the　contrast　between　this　spectacle　and　the　grimness　of　the
strike　these　people　had　come　to　encourage　and　sustain；　the　conflict　in
the　streets；　the　suffering　in　the　tenements。　　She　glanced　at　Rolfe；
noting　the　manner　in　which　he　smoked　cigarettes；　sensually；　as　though
seeking　to　wring　out　of　each　all　there　was　to　be　got　before　flinging　it
down　and　lighting　another。　　Again　she　was　struck　by　the　anomaly　of　a
religion　that　had　indeed　enthusiasms；　sacrifices　perhaps；　but　no
disciplines。　　He　threw　it　out　in　snatches；　this　religion；　while　relating
the　histories　of　certain　persons　in　the　room：　of　Jastro；　for　instance；
letting　fall　a　hint　to　the　effect　that　this　evangelist　and　bliss　Bond
were　dwelling　together　in　more　than　amity。

〃Then　you　don't　believe　in　marriage？〃　she　demanded；　suddenly。

Rolfe　laughed。

〃What　is　it；〃　he　exclaimed；　〃but　the　survival　of　the　system　of　property？
It's　slavery；　taboo；　a　device　upheld　by　the　master　class　to　keep　women　in
bondage；　in　superstition；　by　inducing　them　to　accept　it　as　a　decree　of
God。

Did　the　masters　themselves　ever　respect　it；　or　any　other　decrees　of　God
they　preached　to　the　slaves？　　Read　history；　and　you　will　see。　　They　had
their　loves；　their　mistresses。　　Read　the　newspapers；　and　you　will　find
out　whether　they　respect　it　to…day。　　But　they　are　very　anxious　to　have
you　and　me　respect　it　and　all　the　other　Christian　commandments；　because
they　will　prevent　us　from　being　discontented。　　They　say　that　we　must　be
satisfied　with　the　situation　in　this　world　in　which　God　has　placed　us；
and　we　shall　have　our　reward　in　the　next。〃

She　shivered　slightly；　not　only　at　the　ideas　thus　abruptly　enunciated；
but　because　it　occurred　to　her　that　those　others　must　be　taking　for
granted　a　certain　relationship　between　herself　and　Rolfe。。。。　　But
presently；　when　the　supper　arrived；　these　feelings　changed。　　She　was　very
hungry；　and　the　effect　of　the　food；　of　the　hot　coffee　was　to　dispel　her
doubt　and　repugnance；　to　throw　a　glamour　over　the　adventure；　to　restore
to　Rolfe's　arguments　an　exciting　and　alluring　appeal。　　And　with　renewed
physical　energy　she　began　to　experience　once　more　a　sense　of　fellowship
with　these　free　and　daring　spirits　who　sought　to　avenge　her　wrongs　and
theirs。

〃For　us　who　create　there　are　no　rules　of　conduct；　no　conventions；〃　Rolfe
was　saying；　〃we　do　not　care　for　the　opinions　of　the　middle　class；　of　the
bourgeois。　　With　us　men　and　women　are　on　an　equality。　　It　is　fear　that
has　kept　the　workers　down；　and　now　we　have　cast　that　offwe　know　our
strength。　　As　they　say　in　Italy；　il　mondo　e　a　chi　se　lo　piglia；　the　world
belongs　to　him　who　is　bold。〃

〃Italian　is　a　beautiful　language；〃　she　exclaimed。

〃I　will　teach　you　Italian；〃　he　said。

〃I　want　to　learnso　much！〃　she　sighed。

〃Your　soul　is　parched；〃　he　said；　in　a　commiserating　tone。　　〃I　will　water
it；　I　will　teach　you　everything。〃　　His　words　aroused　a　faint；　derisive
echo：　Ditmar　had　wish　to　teach　her；　too！　　But　now　she　was　strongly　under
the　spell　of　the　new　ideas　hovering　like　shining；　gossamer　spirits　just
beyond　her　reach；　that　she　sought　to　grasp　and　correlate。　　Unlike　the
code　which　Rolfe　condemned；　they　seemed　not　to　be　separate　from　life；
opposed　to　it；　but　entered　even　into　that　most　important　of　its　elements；
sex。　　In　deference　to　that　other　code　Ditmar　had　made　her　his　mistress；
and　because　he　was　concerned　for　his　position　and　the　security　of　the
ruling　class　had　sought　to　hide　the　fact。。。。　　Rolfe；　with　a　cigarette
between　his　red　lips；　sat　back　in　his　chair；　regarding　with　sensuous
enjoyment　the　evident　effect　of　his　arguments。

〃But　love？〃　she　interrupted；　when　presently　he　had　begun　to　talk　again。
She　strove　inarticulately　to　express　an　innate　feminine　objection　to
relationships　that　were　made　and　broken　at　pleasure。

〃Love　is　nothing　but　attraction　between　the　sexes；　the　life…force　working
in　us。　　And　when　that　attraction　ceases；　what　is　left？　　Bondage。　　The
hideous　bondage　of　Christian　marriage；　in　which　women　promise　to　love　and
obey　forever。〃

〃But　womenwomen　are　not　like　men。　　When　once　they　give　themselves　they
do　not　so　easily　cease　to　love。　　Theythey　suffer。〃

He　did　not　seem　to　observe　the　bitterness　in　her　voice。

〃Ah；　that　is　sentiment；〃　he　declared；　〃something　that　will　not　trouble
women　when　they　have　work　to　do；　inspiring　work。　　It　takes　time　to　change
our　ideas；　to　learn　to　see　things　as　they　are。〃　　He　leaned　forward
eagerly。　　〃But　you　will　learn；　you　are　like　some　of　those　rare　women　in
history　who　have　had　the　courage　to　cast　off　traditions。　　You　were　not
made　to　be　a　drudge。。。。〃

But　now　her　own　words；　not　his；　were　ringing　in　her　headwomen　do　not　so
easily　cease　to　love；　they　suffer。　　In　spite　of　the　new　creed　she　had　so
eagerly　and　fiercely　embraced；　in　which　she　had　sought　deliverance　and
retribution；　did　she　still　love　Ditmar；　and　suffer　because　of　him？　　She
repudiated　the　suggestion；　yet　it　persisted　as　she　glanced　at　Rolfe's　red
lips　and　compared　him　with　Ditmar。　　Love！　Rolfe　might　call　it　what　he
wouldthe　life…force；　attraction　between　the　sexes；　but　it　was　proving
stronger　than　causes　and　beliefs。　　He　too　was　making　love　to　her；　like
Ditmar；　he　wanted　her　to　use　and　fling　away　when　he　should　grow　weary。
Was　he　not　pleading　for　himself　rather　than　for　the　human　cause　he
professed？　taking　advantage　of　her　ignorance　and　desperation；　of　her
craving　for　new　experience　and　knowledge？　　The　suspicion　sickened　her。
Were　all　men　like　that？　　Suddenly；　without　apparent　premeditation　or
connection；　the　thought　of　the　stranger　from　Silliston　entered　her　mind。
Was　he　like　that？。。。　　Rolfe　was　bending　toward　her　across　the　table；
solicitously。　　〃What's　the　matter？〃　he　asked。

Her　reply　was　listless。

〃Nothingexcept　that　I'm　tired。　　I　want　to　go　home。〃

〃Not　now；〃　he　begged。　　〃It's　early　yet。〃

But　she　insisted。。。。




CHAPTER　XVII

The　next　day　at　the　noon　hour　Janet　entered　Dey　Street。　　Cheek　by　jowl
there　with　the　tall　tenements　whose　spindled…pillared　porches　overhung
the　darkened　pavements　were　smaller　houses　of　all　ages　and　descriptions；
their　lower　floors　altered　to　accommodate　shops；　while　in　the　very　midst
of　the　block　stood　a　queer　wooden　building　with　two　rows　of　dormer
windows　let　into　its　high…pitched　roof。　　It　bore　a　curious　resemblance　to
a　town　hall　in　the　low　countries。　　In　front　of　it　the　street　was　filled
with　children　gazing　up　at　the　doorway　where　a　man　stood　surveying　them
the　stranger　from　Silliston。　　There　was　a　rush　toward　him；　a　rush　that
drove　Janet　against　the　wall　almost　at　his　side；　and　he　held　up　his　hands
in　mock　despair；　gently　impeding　the　little　bodies　that　strove　to　enter。
He　bent　over　them　to　examine　the　numerals；　printed　on　pasteboard；　they
wore　on　their　breasts。　　His　voice　was　cheerful；　yet　compassionate。

〃It's　hard　to　wait；　I　know。　　I'm　hungry　myself；〃　he　said。　　〃But　we　can't
all　go　up　at　once。　　The　building　would　fall　down！　　One　to　one　hundred
now；　and　the　second　hundred　will　be　first　for　supper。　　That's　fair；　isn't
it？〃

Dozens　of　hands　were　raised。

〃I'm　twenty…nine！〃

〃I'm　three；　mister！〃

〃I'm　forty…one！〃

He　let　them　in；　one　by　one；　and　they　clattered　up　the　stairs；　as　he
seized　a　tiny　girl　bundled　in　a　dark　red　muffler　and　set　her　on　the　steps
above　him。　　He　smiled　at　Janet。

〃This　is　my　restaurant；〃　he　said。

But　she　could　not　answer。　　She　watched　him　as　he　continued　to　bend　over
the　children；　and　when　the　smaller　ones　wept　because　they　had　to　wait；　he
whispered　in　their　ears；　astonishing　one　or　two　into　laughter。　　Some
ceased　crying　and　clung　to　him　with　dumb　faith。　　And　after　the　chosen
hundred　had　been　admitted　he　turned　to　her　again。

〃You　allow　visitors？〃

〃Oh　dear；　yes。　　They'd　come　anyway。　　There's　one　up　there　now；　a　very
swell　lady　from　New　Yorkso　swell　I　don't　know　what　to　say　to　her。　　Talk
to　her　for　me。〃

〃But　I　shouldn't　know　what　to　say；　either；〃　replied　Janet。　　She　smiled；
but　she　had　an　odd　desire　to　cry。　　〃What　is　she　doing　here？〃

〃Oh；　thrashing　'round；　trying　to　connect　with　lifeshe's　one　of　the
unfortunate　unemployed。〃

〃Unemployed？〃

〃The　idle　rich；〃　he　explained。　　〃Perhaps　you　can　give　her　a　jobenlist
her　in　the　I。W。W。〃

〃We　don't　want　that　kind；〃　Janet　declared。

〃Have　pity　on　her；〃　he　begged。　　〃Nobody　wants　themthat's　why　they're　so
pathetic。〃

She　accompanied　him　up　the　narrow　stairway　to　a　great　loft；　the　bareness
of　which　had　been　tempered　by　draped　American　flags。　　From　the　trusses　of
the　roof　hung　improvised　electric　lights；　and　the　children　were　already
seated　at　the　four　long　tables；　where　half　a　dozen　ladies　were　supplying
them　with　enamelled　bowls　filled　with　steaming　soup。　　They　attacked　it
ravenously；　and　the　absence　of　the　talk　and　laughter　that　ordinarily
accompany　children's　feasts　touched　her；　impressed　upon　her；　as　nothing
else　had　done；　the　destitution　of　the　homes　from　which　these　little　ones
had　come。　　The　supplies　that　came　to　Hampton；　the　money　that　poured　into
Headquarters　were　not　enough　to　allay　the　suffering　even　now。　　And　what
if　the　strike　should　last　for　months！　　Would　they　be　able　to　hold　out；　to
win？　　In　this　mood　of　pity；　of　anxiety　mingled　with　appreciation　and
gratitude　for　what　this　man　was　doing；　she　turned　to　speak　to　him；　to
perceive　on　the　platform　at　the　end　of　the　room　a　lady　seated。　　So
complete　was　the　curve　of　her　back　that　her　pose　resembled　a　letter　u　set
sidewise；　the　gap　from　her　crossed　knee　to　her　face　being　closed　by　a
slender　forearm　and　hand　that　held　a　lorgnette；　through　which　she　was
gazing　at　the　children　with　an　apparently　absorbed　interest。　　This
impression　of　willowy　flexibility　was　somehow　heightened　by　large；　pear…
shaped　pendan