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the lack of a greater knowledge 。。。。
Often during the weeks that followed he dwelt in her mind as she sat at her
desk and stared out across the river； and several times that summer she started
to walk to Silliston。 But always she turned back。 Perhaps she feared to break
the charm of that memory 。。。。
CHAPTER IV
Our American climate is notoriously capricious。 Even as Janet trudged homeward
on that Memorial Day afternoon from her Cinderella…like adventure in Silliston
the sun grew hot； the air lost its tonic； becoming moist and tepid； white
clouds with dark edges were piled up in the western sky。 The automobiles of
the holiday makers swarmed ceaselessly over the tarvia。 Valiantly as she
strove to cling to her dream； remorseless reality was at work dragging her
back； reclaiming her； excitement and physical exercise drained her vitality；
her feet were sore； sadness invaded her as she came in view of the ragged
outline of the city she had left so joyfully in the morning。 Summer； that most
depressing of seasons in an environment of drab houses and grey pavements； was
at hand； listless householders and their families were already； seeking refuge
on front steps she passed on her way to Fillmore Street。
It was about half past five when she arrived。 Lise； her waist removed； was
seated in a rocking chair at the window overlooking the littered yards and the
backs of the tenements on Rutger Street。 And Lise； despite the heaviness of
the air； was dreaming。 Of such delicate texture was the fabric of Janet's
dreams that not only sordid reality； but contact with other dreams of a
different nature； such as her sister's； often sufficed to dissolve them。 She
resented； for instance； the presence in the plush oval of Mr。 Eustace
Arlington； the movie star whose likeness had replaced Mr。 Wiley's； and who had
played the part of the western hero in 〃Leila of Hawtrey's。〃 With his burning
eyes and sensual face betraying the puffiness that comes from over…indulgence；
he was not Janet's ideal of a hero； western or otherwise。 And now Lise was
holding a newspaper： not the Banner； whose provinciality she scorned； but a
popular Boston sheet to be had for a cent； printed at ten in the morning and
labelled 〃Three O'clock Edition；〃 with huge red headlines stretched across the
top of the page：
〃JURY FINDS IN MISS NEALY'S FAVOR。〃
As Janet entered Lise looked up and exclaimed：
〃Say； that Nealy girl's won out！〃
〃Who is she？〃 Janet inquired listlessly。
〃You are from the country； all right；〃 was her sister's rejoinder。 〃I would
have bet there wasn't a Reub in the state that wasn't wise to the Ferris breach
of promise case； and here you blow in after the show's over and want to know
who Nelly Nealy is。 If that doesn't beat the band！〃
〃This woman sued a man named Ferrisis that it？〃
〃A man named Ferris！〃 Lise repeated； with the air of being appalled by her
sister's ignorance。 〃I guess you never heard of Ferris； eitherthe biggest
copper man in Boston。 He could buy Hampton； and never feel it； and they say
his house in Brighton cost half a million dollars。 Nelly Nealy put her damages
at one hundred and fifty thousand and stung him for seventy five。 I wish I'd
been in court when that jury came back！ There's her picture。〃
To Janet； especially in the mood of reaction in which she found herself that
evening； Lise's intense excitement； passionate partisanship and approval of
Miss Nealy were incomprehensible； repellent。 However； she took the sheet；
gazing at the image of the lady who； recently an obscure
stenographer； had suddenly leaped into fame and become a 〃headliner；〃 the
envied of thousands of working girls all over New England。 Miss Nealy； in
spite of the 〃glare of publicity〃 she deplored； had borne up admirably under
the strain； and evidently had been able to consume three meals a day and give
some thought to her costumes。 Her smile under the picture hat was coquettish；
if not bold。 The special article； signed by a lady reporter whose sympathies
were by no means concealed and whose talents were given free rein； related how
the white…haired mother had wept tears of joy； how Miss Nealy herself had been
awhile too overcome to speak； and then had recovered sufficiently to express
her gratitude to the twelve gentlemen who had vindicated the honour of American
womanhood。 Mr。 Ferris； she reiterated； was a brute； never as long as she lived
would she be able to forget how she had loved and believed in him； and how；
when at length she unwillingly became convinces of his perfidy； she had been
〃prostrated；〃 unable to support her old mother。 She had not； naturally； yet
decided how she would invest her fortune； as for going on the stage； that had
been suggested； but she had made no plans。 〃Scores of women sympathizers〃 had
escorted her to a waiting automobile。。。。
Janet； impelled by the fascination akin to disgust； read thus far； and flinging
the newspaper on the floor； began to tidy herself for supper。 But presently；
when she heard Lise sigh； she could contain herself no longer。
〃I don't see how you can read such stuff as that；〃 she exclaimed。 〃It'sit's
horrible。〃
〃Horrible？〃 Lise repeated。
Janet swung round from the washbasin； her hands dripping。
〃Instead of getting seventy five thousand dollars she ought to be tarred and
feathered。 She's nothing but a blackmailer。〃
Lise； aroused from her visions； demanded vehemently 〃Ain't he a millionaire？〃
〃What difference does that make？〃 Janet retorted。 〃And you can't tell me she
didn't know what she was up to all alongwith that face。〃
〃I'd have sued him； all right；〃 declared Lise； defiantly。
〃Then you'd be a blackmailer； too。 I'd sooner scrub floors； I'd sooner starve
than do such a thingtake money for my affections。 In the first place； I'd
have more pride； and in the second place； if I really loved a man； seventy five
thousand or seventy five million dollars wouldn't help me any。 Where do you
get such ideas？ Decent people don't have them。〃
Janet turned to the basin again and began rubbing her face vigorouslyceasing
for an instance to make sure of the identity of a sound reaching her ears
despite the splashing of water。 Lise was sobbing。 Janet dried her face and
hands； arranged her hair； and sat down on the windowsill； the scorn and anger；
which had been so intense as completely to possess her； melting into a pity and
contempt not unmixed with bewilderment。 Ordinarily Lise was hard； impervious
to such reproaches； holding her own in the passionate quarrels that
occasionally took place between them yet there were times； such as this； when
her resistance broke down unexpectedly； and she lost all self control。 She
rocked to and fro in the chair； her shoulders bowed； her face hidden in her
hands。 Janet reached out and touched her。
〃Don't be silly；〃 she began； rather sharply； 〃just because I said it was a
disgrace to have such ideas。 Well； it is。〃
〃I'm not silly；〃 said Lise。 〃I'm sick of that job at the Bagatelle 〃 sob
〃there's nothing in itI'm going to quitI wish to God I was dead！ Standing
on your feet all day till you're wore out for six dollars a weekwhat's there
in it？〃sob〃With that guy Walters who walks the floor never lettin' up on
you。 He come up to me yesterday and says； ‘I didn't know you was near sighted；
Miss Bumpus' just because there was a customer Annie Hatch was too lazy to wait
on〃sob〃That's his line of dopethinks he's sarcasticand he's sweet on
Annie。 Tomorrow I'm going to tell him to go to hell。 I'm through I'm sick of
it； I tell you〃sob〃I'd rather be dead than slave like that for six
dollars。〃
〃Where are you going？〃 asked Janet。
〃I don't knowI don't care。 What's the difference？ any place'd be better than
this。〃 For awhile she continued to cry on a ridiculously high； though subdued；
whining note； her breath catching at intervals。 A feeling of helplessness； of
utter desolation crept over Janet； powerless to comfort herself； how could she
comfort her sister？ She glanced around the familiar； sordid room； at the
magazine pages against the faded wall…paper； at the littered bureau and the
littered bed； over which Lise's clothes were flung。 It was hot and close even
now； in summer it would be stifling。 Suddenly a flash of sympathy revealed to
her a glimpse of the truth that Lise； too； after her own nature； sought beauty
and freedom！ Never did she come as near comprehending Lise as in such moments
as this； and when； on dark winter mornings； her sister clung to her； terrified
by the siren。 Lise was a child； and the thought that she； Janet； was powerless
to change her was a part of the tragic tenderness。 What would become of Lise？
And what would become of her； Janet？。。。 So she clung； desperately； to her
sister's hand until at last Lise roused herself； her hair awry； her face
puckered and wet with tears and perspiration。
〃I can't stand it any moreI've just got to go away anywhere；〃 she said； and
the cry found an echo in Janet's heart。。。。
But the next morning Lise went back to the Bagatelle； and Janet to the mill。。。。
The fact that Lise's love affairs had not been prospering undoubtedly had
someth