登陆注册
15316400000039

第39章 THE RECKONING August, 1902(3)

How often does a man dig about the basement of his house to examine its foundation? The foundation is there, of course--the house rests on it--but one lives abovestairs and not in the cellar.It was she, indeed, who in the beginning had insisted on reviewing the situation now and then, on recapitulating the reasons which justified her course, on proclaiming, from time to time, her adherence to the religion of personal independence; but she had long ceased to feel the need of any such ideal standards, and had accepted her marriage as frankly and naturally as though it had been based on the primitive needs of the heart, and needed no special sanction to explain or justify it.

"Of course I still believe in our ideas!" she exclaimed.

"Then I repeat that I don't understand.It was a part of your theory that the greatest possible publicity should be given to our view of marriage.Have you changed your mind in that respect?"She hesitated."It depends on circumstances--on the public one is addressing.The set of people that the Van Siderens get about them don't care for the truth or falseness of a doctrine.They are attracted simply by its novelty.""And yet it was in just such a set of people that you and I met, and learned the truth from each other.""That was different." "In what way?"

"I was not a young girl, to begin with.It is perfectly unfitting that young girls should be present at--at such times-- should hear such things discussed--""I thought you considered it one of the deepest social wrongs that such things never ARE discussed before young girls; but that is beside the point, for I don't remember seeing any young girl in my audience to-day--""Except Una Van Sideren!"

He turned slightly and pushed back the lamp at his elbow."Oh, Miss Van Sideren--naturally--""Why naturally?"

"The daughter of the house--would you have had her sent out with her governess?""If I had a daughter I should not allow such things to go on in my house!"Westall, stroking his mustache, leaned back with a faint smile."I fancy Miss Van Sideren is quite capable of taking care of herself.""No girl knows how to take care of herself--till it's too late.""And yet you would deliberately deny her the surest means of self- defence?""What do you call the surest means of self-defence?""Some preliminary knowledge of human nature in its relation to the marriage tie."She made an impatient gesture."How should you like to marry that kind of a girl?""Immensely--if she were my kind of girl in other respects." She took up the argument at another point.

"You are quite mistaken if you think such talk does not affect young girls.Una was in a state of the most absurd exaltation--" She broke off, wondering why she had spoken.

Westall reopened a magazine which he had laid aside at the beginning of their discussion."What you tell me is immensely flattering to my oratorical talent--but I fear you overrate its effect.I can assure you that Miss Van Sideren doesn't have to have her thinking done for her.She's quite capable of doing it herself.""You seem very familiar with her mental processes!" flashed unguardedly from his wife.

He looked up quietly from the pages he was cutting."I should like to be," he answered."She interests me."II

If there be a distinction in being misunderstood, it was one denied to Julia Westall when she left her first husband.Every one was ready to excuse and even to defend her.The world she adorned agreed that John Arment was "impossible," and hostesses gave a sigh of relief at the thought that it would no longer be necessary to ask him to dine.

There had been no scandal connected with the divorce: neither side had accused the other of the offence euphemistically described as "statutory." The Arments had indeed been obliged to transfer their allegiance to a State which recognized desertion as a cause for divorce, and construed the term so liberally that the seeds of desertion were shown to exist in every union.Even Mrs.Arment's second marriage did not make traditional morality stir in its sleep.It was known that she had not met her second husband till after she had parted from the first, and she had, moreover, replaced a rich man by a poor one.Though Clement Westall was acknowledged to be a rising lawyer, it was generally felt that his fortunes would not rise as rapidly as his reputation.The Westalls would probably always have to live quietly and go out to dinner in cabs.Could there be better evidence of Mrs.Arment's complete disinterestedness?

同类推荐
  • 妇人诸乳疾门

    妇人诸乳疾门

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。
  • 原阳子法语

    原阳子法语

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。
  • 梵网经忏悔行法

    梵网经忏悔行法

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。
  • 白虎通义

    白虎通义

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。
  • 佛说普达王经

    佛说普达王经

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。
热门推荐
  • 檀香秋阁

    檀香秋阁

    唐朝末年,武将割据,天下散分。檀香秋阁,江湖共勉,檀香阁主,天下公认,左相才子。国恨家仇,在他的心中展开,大炙官途,成为他的一生所求。他不追逐名利,只愿如此安好。但是他的内心,注定他无法如此。辅佐君王,破除敌患,成为他的重任,只求心安。来时往返国家与江湖之间,愿意一人之行,利国家与江湖,求一个心安理得!希望大家可以持续关注我的作品,我也希望大家给我提出一些相关的意见。我们的一个小说群:檀香秋阁,群号码:637095009。已经上线了,还是希望所有的兄弟姐妹们,进来看一看。对我的作品提一个宝贵的意见。再次谢谢大家的支持和鼓励!
  • 神念师传说

    神念师传说

    一个少年努力活着,不断变强的热血故事!
  • 豪门隐婚:林少请深爱

    豪门隐婚:林少请深爱

    前半生陈小希一见男神惊为天人,不要脸的倒追起高冷男神。可是男神好像不甩她怎么办?要她使上三十六计?七十二变?男神要结婚了,新娘不是我的戏码。心如死灰选择离开,可逃跑的途中竟然火车出轨。当陈小希醒来的时候,以为是做梦,所以到底是穿越了还是重生了?前世不懂,重生后陈小希只想改变命运,珍重生命,远离男神。
  • NOSTROMO

    NOSTROMO

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。
  • 鬼语杂谈

    鬼语杂谈

    鬼,世间多有传说,无形而存念,有人说是生命的延续,也有人说实则世人自愚,世间根本无鬼,只有人吓人而。带你走进一个荒诞离怪的世界,看世间冷暖。
  • 觉灵冒险者

    觉灵冒险者

    经过人口的增长,地貌逐渐被缩小,接踵而至的危机出现,各国开始征战,占据领土,为了避免战争,学者们联合起来对海的另一边进行猜测,最终说出寻找未知领域的方案,使六个国家联合,并发布了高额赏金,冒险者们从此踏上征途。
  • 强娶小娇妻:神秘老公,别太饿

    强娶小娇妻:神秘老公,别太饿

    结婚三年,他的小娇妻忽然跑了。怎么办?追!追到以后?睡!睡完以后不服?继续睡!他坚信,没有什么事情,是在床上解决不了的,一次不行,那就两次。某女腰酸背痛,怒了,“你个衣冠禽兽!给我出去!”“你抱得这么紧……我出不去。”他勾唇一笑,附在她耳旁,“女人都是口是心非的,看你这样子,是想让我进来,对吗?那我就满足你。”不要随便曲解她的意思阿喂!她的老腰哟~
  • 我的世界末世天启

    我的世界末世天启

    死了,就真的死了;当游戏与现实交织的那天,末世,就会到来……
  • 吾妻倾城:妖娆六小姐

    吾妻倾城:妖娆六小姐

    她是烈焰国最无能的小姐,却爱上了最尊贵的王爷,人人笑她痴心妄想,却不曾想有朝一日她惊艳天下,步步生花。他是孱弱的病王爷,被世人遗忘,被逼无奈娶了个最无能小姐,却不曾想这个无能小姐竟然如此妖娆。“王爷,世人皆说我是妖,要将我火焚呢”某女子淡淡的道。“我妻妖娆,他们是嫉妒,这天下若是容不下你,我便毁了这天下”某男子浅笑着说。什么无能?什么孱弱?明明就是两个最强大的存在。眼睛可以骗人,唯心不可,我爱你,所以跨过万年来寻你。
  • 带着幸福的情书

    带着幸福的情书

    他们经历了许多波澜最终在一起了..........多多支持我哟O(∩_∩)O