the conflict-第47章

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‘‘In　bed？''

‘‘I　haven't　gotten　up　yet；''　said　she。　　‘‘What　IS　the　matter？''

‘‘Had　your　breakfast？''

‘‘No。　　I've　rung　for　it。　　It'll　be　here　in　a　few　minutes。''

‘‘I　thought　so；''　said　Charlton。

‘‘This　is　very　mysteriousor　very　absurd；''　said　Jane。

‘‘Please　ring　off　and　call　your　kitchen　and　tell　them　to　put　your　breakfast　on　the　dining…room　table　for　you　in　three…quarters　of　an　hour。　　Then　get　up；　take　your　bath　and　your　exercisesdress　yourself　for　the　dayand　go　down　and　eat　your　breakfast。　　How　can　you　hope　to　amount　to　anything　unless　you　live　by　a　rational　system？　　And　how　can　you　have　a　rational　system　unless　you　begin　the　day　right？''

‘‘DID　you　see　Victor　Dorn？''　said　Janefurious　at　his　impertinence　but　restraining　herself。

‘‘And　after　you　have　breakfasted；''　continued　Charlton；　‘‘call　me　up　again；　and　I'll　answer　your　questions。''

With　that　he　hung　up　his　receiver。　　Jane　threw　herself　angrily　back　against　her　pillow。　　She　would　lie　there　for　an　hour；　then　call　him　again。　　Butif　he　should　ask　her　whether　she　had　obeyed　his　orders？　　True；　she　might　lie　to　him；　but　wouldn't　that　be　too　petty？　　She　debated　with　herself　for　a　few　minutes；　then　obeyed　him　to　the　letter。　　As　she　was　coming　through　the　front　hall　after　breakfast；　he　appeared　in　the　doorway。

‘‘You　didn't　trust　me！''　she　cried　reproachfully。

‘‘Oh；　yes；''　replied　he。　　‘‘But　I　preferred　to　talk　with　you　face　to　face。''

‘‘DID　you　see　Mr。　Dorn？''

Charlton　nodded。　　‘‘He　refused　to　advise　me。　　He　said　he　had　a　personal　prejudice　in　your　favor　that　would　make　his　advice　worthless。''

Jane　glowedbut　not　quite　so　thrillingly　as　she　would　have　glowed　in　the　same　circumstances　a　year　before。

‘‘Besides；　he's　in　no　state　of　mind　to　advise　anybody　about　anything　just　now；''　said　Charlton。

Jane　glanced　sharply　at　him。　　‘‘What　do　you　mean？''　she　said。

‘‘It's　not　my　secret；''　replied　Charlton。

‘‘You　mean　he　has　fallen　in　love？''

‘‘That's　shrewd；''　said　Charlton。　　‘‘But　women　always　assume　a　love　affair。''

‘‘With　whom？''　persisted　Jane。

‘‘Oh；　a　very　nice　girl。　　No　matter。　　I'm　not　here　to　talk　about　anybody's　affairs　but　yoursand　mine。''

‘‘Answer　just　one　question；''　said　Jane；　impulsively。　　‘‘Did　he　tell　you　anything　aboutme？''

Charlton　staredthen　whistled。　　‘‘Are　YOU　in　love　with　him；　too？''　he　cried。

Jane　flushedhesitatedthen　met　his　glance　frankly。　　‘‘I　WAS；''　said　she。

‘‘WAS？''

‘‘I　mean　that　I'm　over　it；''　said　she。　　‘‘What　have　you　decided　to　do　about　me？''

Charlton　did　not　answer　immediately。　　He　eyed　her　narrowlyan　examination　which　she　withstood　well。　　Then　he　glanced　away　and　seemed　to　be　reflecting。　　Finally　he　came　back　to　her　question。　　Said　he：

‘‘To　give　you　a　trial。　　To　find　out　whether　you'll　do。''

She　drew　a　long　sigh　of　relief。

‘‘Didn't　you　guess？''　he　went　on；　smilingly；　nodding　his　round；　prize…fighter　head　at　her。　　‘‘Those　suggestions　about　bed　and　breakfastthey　were　by　way　of　a　beginning。''

‘‘You　must　give　me　a　lot　to　do；''　urged　she。　　‘‘I　mustn't　have　a　minute　of　idle　time。''

He　laughed。　　‘‘Trust　me；''　he　said。


While　Jane　was　rescuing　her　property　from　her　brother　and　was　safeguarding　it　against　future　attempts　by　him；　or　by　any　of　that　numerous　company　whose　eyes　are　ever　roving　in　search　of　the　most　inviting　of　prey；　the　lone　women　with　baggagewhile　Jane　was　thus　occupied；　David　Hull　was；　if　possible；　even　busier　and　more　absorbed。　　He　was　being　elected　governor。　　His　State　was　being　got　ready　to　say　to　the　mayor　of　Remsen　City；　‘‘Well　done；　good　and　faithful　servant。　　Thou　hast　been　faithful　over　a　few　things；　I　will　make　thee　ruler　over　many。''

The　nomination　was　not　obtained　for　him　without　difficulty。　　The　Republican　partylike　the　Democratic　had　just　been　brought　back　under　‘‘safe　and　sane　and　conservative''　leadership　after　a　prolonged　debauch　under　the　influence　of　that　once　famous　and　revered　reformer；　Aaron　Whitman；　who　had　not　sobered　up　or　released　the　party　for　its　sobering　until　his　wife's　extravagant　entertaining　at　Washington　had　forced　him　to　accept　large　‘‘retainers''　from　the　plutocracy。　　The　machine　leaders　had　in　the　beginning　forwarded　the　ambitions　of　Whitman　under　the　impression　that　his　talk　of　a　‘‘square　deal''　was　‘‘just　the　usual　dope''　and　that　Aaron　was　a　‘‘level…headed　fellow　at　bottom。''　　It　had　developedafter　they　had　let　Aaron　become　a　popular　idol；　not　to　be　trifled　withit　had　developed　that　he　was　almost　sincereas　sincere　as　can　be　expected　of　an　ambitious；　pushing　fellow。　　Now　came　David　Hull；　looking　suspiciously　like　Whitman　at　his　worst…and　a　more　hopeless　case；　because　he　had　money　a　plenty；　while　Whitman　was　luckily　poor　and　blessed　with　an　extravagant　wife。　　True；　Hull　had　the　backing　of　Dick　Kelly　and　Kelly　was　not　the　man　‘‘to　hand　the　boys　a　lemon。''　　Still　Hull　looked　like　a　‘‘holy　boy；''　talked　like　one；　had　the　popular　reputation　of　having　acted　like　one　as　mayorand　the　‘‘reform　game''　was　certainly　one　to　attract　a　man　who　could　afford　it　and　was　in　politics　for　position　only。　　Perhaps　Dick　wanted　to　be　rid　of　Hull　for　the　rest　of　his　term；　and　was　‘‘kicking　him　upstairs。''　　It　would　be　a　shabby　trick　upon　his　fellow　leaders；　but　justifiable　if　there　should　be　some　big　‘‘job''　at　Remsen　City　that　could　be　‘‘pulled　off''　only　if　Hull　were　out　of　the　way。

The　leaders　were　cold　until　Dick　got　his　masters　in　the　Remsen　City　branch　of　the　plutocracy　to　pass　the　word　to　the　plutocracy's　general　agents　at　Indianapolis　a　certain　well…known　firm　of　political　bankers。　　Until　that　certification　came　the　leaders；　having　no　candidate　who　stood　a　chance　of　winning；　were　ready　to　make　a　losing　campaign　and　throw　the　election　to　the　Democratsnot　a　serious　misfortune　at　a　time　when　the　machines　of　the　two　parties　had　become　simply　friendly　rival　agents　for　the　same　rich　master。

There　was　a　sharp　fight　in　the　convention。　　The　anti…machine　element；　repudiating　Whitman　under　the　leadership　of　a　shrewd　and　honest　young　man　named　Joe　Bannister；　had　attacked　Hull　in　the　most　shocking　way。　　Bannister　had　been　reading　Victor　Dorn's　New　Day　and　had　got　a　notion　of　David　Hull　as　man　and　mayor　different　from　the　one　made　current　by　the　newspapers。　　He　made　a　speech　on　the　floor　of　the　convention　which　almost　caused　a　riot　and　nearly　cost　Davy　the　nomination。　　That　catastrophe　was　averted　by　adjournment。　　Davy　gave　Dick　Kelly's　second　lieutenant；　Osterman；　ten　thousand　in　cash；　of　which　Osterman　said　there　was　pressing　need　‘‘for　perfectly　legitimate　purposes；　I　assure　you；　Mr。　Mayor。''　　Next　day　the　Bannister　faction　lost　forty　and　odd　sturdy　yeomen　from　districts　where　the　crops　had　been　painfully　short；　and　Davy　was　nominated。

In　due　time　the　election　was　held；　and　Mayor　Hull　became　Governor　Hull　by　a　satisfactory　majority　for　so　evenly　divided　a　State。　　He　had　spentin　contributions　to　the　machine　campaign　fundupwards　of　one　hundred　thousand　dollars。　　But　that　seemed　a　trifling　sacrifice　to　make　for　reform　principles　and　for　keeping　the　voice　of　the　people　the　voice　of　God。　　He　would　have　been　elected　if　he　had　not　spent　a　cent；　for　the　Democratic　machine；　bent　on　reorganizing　back　to　a　sound　basis　with　all　real　reformers　or　reformers　tainted　with　sincerity　eliminated；　had　nominated　a　straight　machine　manand　even　the　politicians　know　that　the　people　who　decide　elections　will　not　elect　a　machine　man　if　they　have　a　chance　to　vote　for　any　one　else。　　It　saddened　David　Hull；　in　the　midst　of　victory；　that　his　own　town　and　county　went　against　him；　preferring　the　Democrat；　whom　it　did　not　know；　as　he　lived　at　the　other　end　of　the　State。　　Locally　the　offices　at　stake　were　all　captured　by　the　‘‘Dorn　crowd。''　　At　last　the　Workingmen's　League　had　a　judge；　at　last　it　could　have　a　day　in　court。　　There　would　not　be　a　repetition　of　the　great　frauds　of　the　Hull…Harbinger　campaign。

By　the　time　David　had　sufficient　leisure　to　reopen　the　heart　department　of　his　ambition；　Jane　was　deep　in　the　effort　to　show　Doctor　Charlton　how　much　intelligence　and　character　she　had。　　She　was　serving　an　apprenticeship　as　trained　nurse　in　the　Children's　Hospital；　where　he　was　chief　of　the　staff；　and　was　taking　several　extra　courses　with　his　young　assistants。　　It　was　nearly　two　weeks　after　David's　first　attempt　to　see　her　when　her　engagements　and　his　at　last　permitted　this　meeting。　　Said　he：

‘‘What's　this　new　freak？''

‘‘I　can't　tell　you　yet；''　replied　she。　　‘‘I'm　not　sure；　myself。''

‘‘I　don't　see　how　you　can　endure　that　fellow　Charlton。　　They　say　he's　as　big　a　crank　in　medicine　as　he　is　in　politics。''

‘‘It's　all　of　a　piece；''　said　Jane；　tranquilly。　　‘‘He　says　he　gets　his　political　views　from　his　medicine　and　his　medical　ideas　from　his　politics。''

‘‘Don't　you　think　he's　a　frightful　bounder？''

‘‘Frightful；''　said　Jane。

‘‘Fresh；　impudentconceited。　　And　he　looks　like　a　prize　fighter。''

‘‘At　some　anglesyes；''　conceded　Jane。　　‘‘At　others；　he's　almost　handsome。''

‘‘The　other　day；　when　I　called　at　the　hospital　and　they　wouldn't　take　my　name　in　to　you''　　David　broke　off　to　vent　his　indignation‘‘Did　you　ever　hear　of　such　impertinence！''


‘‘And　you　the　governor…elect；''　laughed　Jane。　　‘‘Shall　I　tell　you　what　Doctor　Charlton　said？　　He　said　that　a　governor　was　simply　a　public　servant；　and　anything　but　a　public　representativeusually　a　public　disgrace。　　He　said　that　a　servant's　business　was　attending　to　his　own　job　and　not　hanging　round　preventing　his　fellow　servants　from　attending　to　their　jobs。''

‘‘I　knew　he　had　low　and　vulgar　views　of　public　affairs；''　said　David。　　‘‘What　I　started　to　say　was　that　I　saw　him　talking　to　you　that　day；　across　the　court；　and　you　seemed　to　be　enjoying　his　conversation。''　


‘‘ENJOYING　it？　　I　love　it；''　cried　Jane。　　‘‘He　makes　me　laugh；　he　makes　me　cold　with　rage；　he　gives　me　a　different　sensation　every　time　I　see　him。''

‘‘You　LIKEhim？''

‘‘Immensely。　　And　I've　never　been　so　interested　or　so　happy　in　my　life。''　　She　looked　steadily　at　him。　　‘‘Nothing　could　induce　me　to　give　it　up。　　I've　put　everything　else　out　of　my　mind。''

Since　the　dismal　end　of　his　adventure　with　Selma　Gordon；　David　had　become　extremely　wary　in　his　dealings　with　the　female　sex。　　He　never　again　would　invite　a　refusal；　he　never　again　would　put　himself　in　a　position　where　a　woman　might　feel　free　to　tell　him　her　private　opinion　of　him。　　He　reflected　upon　Jane's　words。　　They　could　have　but　the　one　meaning。　　Not　so　calmly　as　he　would　have　liked；　but　without　any　embarrassing　constraint；　he　said：

‘‘I'm　glad　you've　found　what　suits　you；　at　last。　　It　isn't　exactly　the　line　I'd　have　thought　a　girl　such　as　you　would　choose。　　You're　sure　you　are　not　making　a　mistake？''

‘‘Quite；''　said　Jane。

‘‘I　should　think　you'd　prefer　marriageand　a　home　and　a　social　circleand　all　that；''　ventured　David。

‘‘I'll　probably　not　marry。''

‘‘No。　　You'd　hardly　take　a　doctor。''

‘‘The　only　one　I'd　want　I　can't　get；''　said　Jane。

She　wished　to　shock　David；　and　she　saw　with　pleasure　that　she　had　succeeded。　　Indeed　so　shocked　was　he　that　in　a　few　minutes　he　took　leave。　　And　as　he　passed　from　her　sight　he　passed　from　her　mind。


Victor　Dorn　described　Davy　Hull's　inaugural　address　as　‘‘an　uninteresting　sample　of　the　standard　reform　brand　of　artificial　milk　for　political　in