the dwelling place of ligh-第62部分

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impression　of　willowy　flexibility　was　somehow　heightened　by　large；　pear…
shaped　pendants　hanging　from　her　ears；　by　a　certain　filminess　in　her
black　costume　and　hat。　　Flung　across　the　table　beside　her　was　a　long　coat
of　grey　fur。　　She　struck　an　odd　note　here；　presented　a　strange　contrast
to　Janet's　friend　from　Silliston；　with　his　rough　suit　and　fine　but　rugged
features。

〃I'm　sorry　I　haven't　a　table　for　you　just　at　present；〃　he　was　saying。
〃But　perhaps　you'll　let　me　take　your　order；〃and　he　imitated　the
obsequious　attitude　of　a　waiter。　　〃A　little　fresh　caviar　and　a　clear
soup；　and　then　a　fish？〃

The　lady　took　down　her　lorgnette　and　raised　an　appealing　face。

〃You're　always　joking；　Brooks；〃　she　chided　him；　〃even　when　you're　doing
things　like　this！　　I　can't　get　you　to　talk　seriously　even　when　I　come　all
the　way　from　New　York　to　find　out　what's　going　on　here。〃

〃How　hungry　children　eat；　for　instance？〃　he　queried。

〃Dear　little　things；　it's　heartrending！〃　she　exclaimed。　　〃Especially　when
I　think　of　my　own　children；　who　have　to　be　made　to　eat。　　Tell　me　the
nationality　of　that　adorable　tot　at　the　end。〃

〃Perhaps　Miss　Bumpus　can　tell　you；〃　he　ventured。　　And　Janet；　though
distinctly　uncomfortable　and　hostile　to　the　lady；　was　surprised　and
pleased　that　he　should　have　remembered　her　name。　　〃Brooks；〃　she　had
called　him。　　That　was　his　first　name。　　This　strange　and　sumptuous　person
seemed　intimate　with　him。　　Could　it　be　possible　that　he　belonged　to　her
class？　　〃Mrs。　Brocklehurst；　Miss　Bumpus。〃

Mrs。　Brocklehurst　focussed　her　attention　on　Janet；　through　the　lorgnette；
but　let　it　fall　immediately；　smiling　on　her　brightly；　persuasively。

〃How　d'ye　do？〃　she　said；　stretching　forth　a　slender　arm　and　taking　the
girl's　somewhat　reluctant　hand。　　〃Do　come　and　sit　down　beside　me　and　tell
me　about　everything　here。　　I'm　sure　you　knowyou　look　so　intelligent。〃

Her　friend　from　Silliston　shot　at　Janet　an　amused　but　fortifying　glance
and　left　them；　going　down　to　the　tables。　　Somehow　that　look　of　his　helped
to　restore　in　her　a　sense　of　humour　and　proportion；　and　her　feeling
became　one　of　curiosity　concerning　this　exquisitely　soigneed　being　of　an
order　she　had　read　about；　but　never　encounteredan　order　which　her　newly
acquired　views　declared　to　be　usurpers　and　parasites。　　But　despite　her
palpable　effort　to　be　gracious　perhaps　because　of　itMrs。　Brocklehurst
had　an　air　about　her　that　was　disconcerting！　　Janet；　however；　seemed
composed　as　she　sat　down。

〃I'm　afraid　I　don't　know　very　much。　　Maybe　you　will　tell　me　something；
first。〃

〃Why；　certainly；〃　said　Mrs。　Brocklehurst；　sweetly　when　she　had　got　her
breath。

〃Who　is　that　man？〃　Janet　asked。

〃Whom　do　you　meanMr。　Insall？〃

〃Is　that　his　name？　　I　didn't　know。　　I've　seen　him　twice；　but　he　never
told　me。〃

〃Why；　my　dear；　do　you　mean　to　say　you　haven't　heard　of　Brooks　Insall？〃

〃Brooks　Insall。〃　　Janet　repeated　the　name；　as　her　eyes　sought　his　figure
between　the　tables。　　〃No。〃

〃I'm　sure　I　don't　know　why　I　should　have　expected　you　to　hear　of　him；〃
declared　the　lady；　repentantly。　　〃He's　a　writeran　author。〃　　And　at　this
Janet　gave　a　slight　exclamation　of　pleasure　and　surprise。　　〃You　admire
writers？　　He's　done　some　delightful　things。〃

〃What　does　he　write　about？〃　Janet　asked。

〃Oh；　wild　flowers　and　trees　and　mountains　and　streams；　and　birds　and
humanshe　has　a　wonderful　insight　into　people。〃

Janet　was　silent。　　She　was　experiencing　a　swift　twinge　of　jealousy；　of
that　familiar　rebellion　against　her　limitations。

〃You　must　read　them；　my　dear；〃　Mrs。　Brocklehurst　continued　softly；　in
musical　tones。　　〃They　are　wonderful；　they　have　such　distinction。　　He's
walked；　I'm　told；　over　every　foot　of　New　England；　talking　to　the　farmers
and　their　wives　andall　sorts　of　people。〃　　She；　too；　paused　to　let　her
gaze　linger　upon　Insall　laughing　and　chatting　with　the　children　as　they
ate。　　〃He　has　such　a　splendid；　‘out…door'　look　don't　you　think？　　And　he's
clever　with　his　hands　he　bought　an　old　abandoned　farmhouse　in　Silliston
and　made　it　all　over　himself　until　it　looks　as　if　one　of　our　great…great…
grandfathers　had　just　stepped　out　of　it　to　shoot　an　Indian　only　much
prettier。　　And　his　garden　is　a　dream。　　It's　the　most　unique　place　I've
ever　known。〃

Janet　blushed　deeply　as　she　recalled　how　she　had　mistaken　him　for　a
carpenter：　she　was　confused；　overwhelmed；　she　had　a　sudden　longing　to
leave　the　place；　to　be　alone；　to　think　about　this　discovery。　　Yet　she
wished　to　know　more。

〃But　how　did　he　happen　to　come　here　to　Hamptonto　be　doing　this？〃　she
asked。

〃Well；　that's　just　what　makes　him　interesting；　one　never　can　tell　what
he'll　do。　　He　took　it　into　his　head　to　collect　the　money　to　feed　these
children；　I　suppose　he　gave　much　of　it　himself。　　He　has　an　income　of　his
own；　though　he　likes　to　live　so　simply。〃

〃This　placeit's　not　connected　with　any　organization？〃　Janet　ejaculated。

〃That's　the　trouble；　he　doesn't　like　organizations；　and　he　doesn't　seem
to　take　any　interest　in　the　questions　or　movements　of　the　day；〃　Mrs。
Brocklehurst　complained。　　〃Or　at　least　he　refuses　to　talk　about　them；
though　I've　known　him　for　many　years；　and　his　people　and　mine　were
friends。　　Now　there　are　lots　of　things　I　want　to　learn；　that　I　came　up
from　New　York　to　find　out。　　I　thought　of　course　he'd　introduce　me　to　the
strike　leaders；　and　he　tells　me　he　doesn't　know　one　of　them。　　Perhaps　you
know　them；〃　she　added；　with　sudden　inspiration。

〃I'm　only　an　employee　at　Strike　Headquarters；〃　Janet　replied；　stiffening
a　little　despite　the　lady's　importuning　lookwhich　evidently　was　usually
effective。

〃You　mean　the　I。W。W。？〃

〃Yes。〃

Meanwhile　Insall　had　come　up　and　seated　himself　below　them　on　the　edge　of
the　platform。

〃Oh；　Brooks；　your　friend　Miss　Bumpus　is　employed　in　the　Strike
Headquarters！〃　Mrs。　Brocklehurst　cried；　and　turning　to　Janet　she　went　on。
〃I　didn't　realize　you　were　a　factory　girl；　I　must　say　you　don't　look　it。〃

Once　more　a　gleam　of　amusement　from　Insall　saved　Janet；　had　the　effect　of
compelling　her　to　meet　the　affair　somewhat　after　his　own　manner。　　He
seemed　to　be　putting　the　words　into　her　mouth；　and　she　even　smiled　a
little；　as　she　spoke。

〃You　never　can　tell　what　factory　girls　do　look　like　in　these　days；〃　she
observed　mischievously。

〃That's　so；〃　Mrs。　Brocklehurst　agreed；　〃we　are　living　in　such
extraordinary　times；　everything　topsy　turvy。　　I　ought　to　have　realized
it　was　stupid　of　meI　know　several　factory　girls　in　New　York；　I've　been
to　their　meetings；　I've　had　them　at　my　houseshirtwaist　strikers。〃

She　assumed　again　the　willowy；　a　position；　her　fingers　clasped　across　her
knee；　her　eyes　supplicatingly　raised　to　Janet。　　Then　she　reached　out　her
hand　and　touched　the　I。W。W。　　button。　　〃Do　tell　me　all　about　the
Industrial　Workers；　and　what　they　believe；〃　she　pleaded。

〃Well；〃　said　Janet；　after　a　slight　pause；　〃I'm　afraid　you　won't　like　it
much。　　Why　do　you　want　to　know？〃

〃Because　I'm　so　interestedespecially　in　the　women　of　the　movement。　　I
feel　for　them　so；　I　want　to　helpto　do　something；　too。　　Of　course　you're
a　suffragist。〃

〃You　mean；　do　I　believe　in　votes　for　women？　　Yes；　I　suppose　I　do。〃

〃But　you　must；〃　declared　Mrs。　Brocklehurst；　still　sweetly；　but　with
emphasis。　　〃You　wouldn't　be　working；　you　wouldn't　be　striking　unless　you
did。〃

〃I've　never　thought　about　it；〃　said　Janet。

〃But　how　are　you　working　girls　ever　going　to　raise　wages　unless　you　get
the　vote？　　It's　the　only　way　men　ever　get　anywherethe　politicians
listen　to　them。〃　　She　produced　from　her　bag　a　gold　pencil　and　a　tablet。
〃Mrs。　Ned　Carfax　is　here　from　BostonI　saw　her　for　a　moment　at　the　hotel
she's　been　here　investigating　for　nearly　three　days；　she　tells　me。　　I'll
have　her　send　you　suffrage　literature　at　once；　if　you'll　give　me　your
address。〃

〃You　want　a　vote？〃　asked　Janet；　curiously；　gazing　at　the　pearl　earrings。

〃Certainly　I　want　one。〃

〃Why？〃

〃Why？〃　　repeated　Mrs。　Brocklehurst。

〃Yes。　　You　must　have　everything　you　want。〃

Even　then　the　lady's　sweet　reasonableness　did　not　desert　her。　　She　smiled
winningly；　displaying　two　small　and　even　rows　of　teeth。

〃On　principle；　my　dear。　　For　one　reason；　because　I　have　such　sympathy
with　women　who　toil；　and　for　another；　I　believe　the　time　has　come　when
women　must　no　longer　be　slaves；　they　must　assert　themselves；　become
individuals；　independent。〃

〃But　you？〃　exclaimed　Janet。

Mrs。　Brocklehurst　continued　to　smile　encouragingly；　and　murmured　〃Yes？〃

〃You　are　not　a　slave。〃

A　delicate　pink；　like　the　inside　of　a　conch　shell；　spread　over　Mrs。
Brocklehurst's　cheeks。

〃We're　all　slaves；〃　she　declared　with　a　touch　of　passion。　　〃It's　hard　for
you　to　realize；　I　know；　about　those　of　us　who　seem　more　fortunate　than
our　sisters。　　But　it's　true。　　The　men　give　us　jewels　and　automobiles　and
clothes；　but　they　refuse　to　give　us　what　every　real　woman　craves
liberty。〃

Janet　had　become　genuinely　interested。

〃But　what　kind　of　liberty？〃

〃Liberty　to　have　a　voice；　to　take　part　in　the　government　of　our　country；
to　help　make　the　laws；　especially　those　concerning　working…women　and
children；　what　they　ought　to　be。〃

Here　was　altruism；　truly！　　Here　were　words　that　should　have　inspired
Janet；　yet　she　was　silent。　　Mrs。　Brocklehurst　gazed　at　her　solicitously。

〃What　are　you　thinking？〃　she　urgedand　it　was　Janet's　turn　to　flush。

〃I　was　just　thinking　that　you　seemed　to　have　everything　life　has　to　give；
and　yetand　yet　you're　not　happy。〃

〃Oh；　I'm　not　unhappy；〃　protested　the　lady。　　〃Why　do　you　say　that？〃

〃I　don't　know。　　You；　too；　seem　to　be　wanting　something。〃

〃I　want　to　be　of　use；　to　count；〃　said　Mrs。　Brocklehurst；and　Janet　was
startled　to　hear　from　this　woman's　lips　the　very　echo　of　her　own　desires。

Mrs。　Brocklehurst's　feelings　had　become　slightly　complicated。　　It　is
perhaps　too　much　to　say　that　her　complacency　was　shaken。　　She　was；
withal；　a　person　of　resolutionof　resolution　taking　the　form　of
unswerving　faith　in　herself；　a　faith　persisting　even　when　she　was　being
carried　beyond　her　depth。　　She　had　the　kind　of　pertinacity　that　sever
admits　being　out　of　depth；　the　happy　buoyancy　that　does　not　require　to
feel　the　bottom　under　one's　feet。　　She　floated　in　swift　currents。　　When
life