第288章

It is a strong force in my life--perhaps the strongest.""No," said he, quiet but positive.

"Perhaps not," replied she carelessly, and went on, with her more than manlike candor, and in her manner of saying the most startling things in the calmest way:

"I understand what is called love--feebleness looking up to strength or strength pitying feebleness.I understand because I've felt both those things.But love--two equal people united perfectly, merged into a third person who is neither yet is both--that I have not felt.I've dreamed it.I've imagined it--in some moments of passion.But"--she laughed and shrugged her shoulders and waved the hand with the cigarette between its fingers--"I have not felt it and I shall not feel it.I remain I." She paused, considered, added, "And Iprefer that."

"You are strong," said he, absent and reflective."Yes, you are strong.""I don't know," replied she."Sometimes I think so.

Again----" She shook her head doubtfully.

"You would be dead if you were not.As strong in soul as in body.""Probably," admitted she."Anyhow, I am sure I shall always be--alone.I shall visit--I shall linger on my threshold and talk.Perhaps I shall wander in perfumed gardens and dream of comradeship.But I shall return _chez moi_."He rose--sighed--laughed--at her and at himself."Don't delay too long," said he.

"Delay?"

"Your career."

"My career? Why, I am in the full swing of it.I'm at work in the only profession I'm fit for.""The profession of woman?"

"Yes--the profession of female."

He winced--and at this sign, if she did not ask herself what pleased her, she did not ask herself why.He said sharply, "Idon't like that."

"But _you_ have only to _hear_ it.Think of poor me who have to _live_ it.""Have to? No," said he.

"Surely you're not suggesting that I drop back into the laboring classes! No, thank you.If you knew, you'd not say anything so stupid.""I do know, and I was not suggesting that.Under this capitalistic system the whole working class is degraded.

They call what they do `work,' but that word ought to be reserved for what a man does when he exercises mind and body usefully.What the working class is condemned to by capitalism is not work but toil.""The toil of a slave," said Susan.

"It's shallow twaddle or sheer want to talk about the dignity and beauty of labor under this system," he went on."It is ugly and degrading.The fools or hypocrites who talk that way ought to be forced to join the gangs of slaves at their tasks in factory and mine and shop, in the fields and the streets.

And even the easier and better paid tasks, even what the capitalists themselves do--those things aren't dignified and beautiful.Capitalism divides all men except those of one class--the class to which I luckily belong--divides all other men into three unlovely classes--slave owners, slave drivers and slaves.But you're not interested in those questions.""In wage slavery? No.I wish to forget about it.Any alternative to being a wage slave or a slave driver--or a slave owner.Any alternative.""You don't appreciate your own good fortune," said he."Most human beings--all but a very few--have to be in the slave classes, in one way or another.They have to submit to the repulsive drudgery, with no advancement except to slave driver.As for women--if they have to work, what can they do but sell themselves into slavery to the machines, to the capitalists? But you--you needn't do that.Nature endowed you with talent--unusual talent, I believe.How lucky you are! How superior to the great mass of your fellow beings who must slave or starve, because they have no talent!""Talent?--I?" said Susan."For what, pray?"

"For the stage."

She looked amused."You evidently don't think me vain--or you'd not venture that jest.""For the stage," he repeated.

"Thanks," said she drily, "but I'll not appeal from your verdict.""My verdict? What do you mean?"

"I prefer to talk of something else," said she coldly, offended by his unaccountable disregard of her feelings.

"This is bewildering," said he.And his manner certainly fitted the words.

"That I should have understood? Perhaps I shouldn't--at least, not so quickly--if I hadn't heard how often you have been disappointed, and how hard it has been for you to get rid of some of those you tried and found wanting.""Believe me--I was not disappointed in you." He spoke earnestly, apparently with sincerity."The contrary.Your throwing it all up was one of the shocks of my life."She laughed mockingly--to hide her sensitiveness.

"One of the shocks of my life," he repeated.

She was looking at him curiously--wondering why he was thus uncandid.

"It puzzled me," he went on."I've been lingering on here, trying to solve the puzzle.And the more I've seen of you the less I understand.Why did you do it? How could _you_ do it?"He was walking up and down the room in a characteristic pose--hands clasped behind his back as if to keep them quiet, body erect, head powerfully thrust forward.He halted abruptly and wheeled to face her."Do you mean to tell me you didn't get tired of work and drop it for--" he waved his arm to indicate her luxurious surroundings--"for this?"No sign of her agitation showed at the surface.But she felt she was not concealing herself from him.

He resumed his march, presently to halt and wheel again upon her.But before he could speak, she stopped him.

"I don't wish to hear any more," said she, the strange look in her eyes.It was all she could do to hide the wild burst of emotion that had followed her discovery.Then she had not been without a chance for a real career! She might have been free, might have belonged to herself----"It is not too late," cried he."That's why I'm here.""It is too late," she said.

"It is not too late," repeated he, harshly, in his way that swept aside opposition."I shall get you back."Triumphantly, "The puzzle is solved!"