第 53 节
作者:击水三千      更新:2021-02-20 15:21      字数:9322
  ity and respect。
  In fact; while Galloway was doddering on and on with his fake moralities; Norman was thinking of his own affairs; was wondering at his indifference about Dorothy。 The night beforethe few hours beforewhen he had dealt with her so calmly; he; even as he talked and listened and acted; had assumed that the enormous amount of liquor he had been consuming was in some way responsible。  He had said to himself; 〃When I am over this; when I have had sleep and return to the normal; I shall again be the foolish slave of all these months。〃 But here he was; sober; having taken only enough whisky to prevent an abrupt let…downhere he was viewing her in the same tranquil light。  No longer all his life; no longer even dominant; only a part of life and he was by no means certain that she was an important part。
  How explain the mystery of the change?  Because she had voluntarily come back; did he feel that she was no longer baffling but was definitely his?  Or had passion running madly on and on droppedperhaps not dead; but almost deadfrom sheer exhaustion?was it weary of racing and content to saunter and to stroll? 。 。 。 He could not account for the change。  He only knew that he who had been quite mad was now quite sane。 。 。 。  Would he like to be rid of her?  Did he regret that they were tied together?  No; curiously enough。  It was high time he got married; she would do as well as another。  She had beauty; youth; amiability; physical charm for him。  There was advantage in the fact that her inferiority to him; her dependence on him; would enable him to take as much or as little of her as he might feel disposed; to treat her as the warrior must ever treat his entire domestic establishment from wife down to pet dog or cat or baby。 。 。 。  No; he did not regret Josephine。  He could see now disadvantages greater than her advantages。  All of value she would have brought him he could get for himself; and she would have been troublesomeexacting; disputing his sway; demanding full value or more in return for the love she was giving with such exalted notions of its worth。
  〃You are married?〃 Galloway suddenly said; interrupting his own speech and Norman's thought。
  〃Yes;〃 said Norman。
  〃Just married; I believe?〃
  〃Just。〃
  Young and old; high and low; successful and failed; we are a race of advice…givers。  As for Galloway; he was not one to neglect that showy form of inexpensive benevolence。  〃Have plenty of children;〃 said he。
  〃And keep your family in the country till they grow up。  Town's no place for women。  They go crazy。 Womenand most menhave no initiative。  They think only about whatever's thrust at them。  In the country it'll be their children and domestic things。  In town it'll be getting and spending money。〃
  Norman was struck by this。  〃I think I'll take your advice;〃 said he。
  〃A man's home ought to be a retreat; not an inn。 We are humoring the women too much。  They are forgetting who earns what they spend in exhibiting themselves。  If a woman wants that sort of thing; let her get out and earn it。  Why should she expect it from the man who has undertaken her support because he wanted a wife to take care of his house and a mother for his children?  If a woman doesn't like the job; all right。 But if she takes it and accepts its pay; why; she should do its work。〃
  〃Flawless logic;〃 said Norman。
  〃When I hire a man to work; he doesn't expect to idle about showing other people how handsome he is in the clothes my money pays for。  Not that marriage is altogether a businessnot at all。  But; my dear sir〃 And Galloway brought his cane down with the emphasis of one speaking from a heart full of bitter experience 〃unless it is a business at bottom; organized and conducted on sound business principles; there's no sentiment either。  We are human beingsand that means we are first of all BUSINESS beings; engaged in getting food; clothing; shelter。  No sentimentNO sentiment; sir; is worth while that isn't firmly grounded。  It's a house without a foundation。  It's a steeple without a church under it。〃
  Norman looked at the old man with calm penetrating eyes。  〃I shall conduct my married life on a sound; business basis; or not at all;〃 said he。
  〃We'll see;〃 said Galloway。  〃That's what I said forty years ago  No; I didn't。  I had no sense about such matters then。  In my youth the men knew nothing about the woman question。〃  He smiled grimly。  〃I see signs that they are learning。〃
  Then as abruptly as he had left the affairs he was there to discuss he returned to them。  His mind seemed to have freed itself of all irrelevancy and superfluity; as a stream often runs from a faucet with much spluttering and rather muddy at first; then steadies and clears。 Norman gave him the attention one can get only from a good mind that is interested in the subject and understands it thoroughly。  Such attention not merely receives the words and ideas as they fall from the mouth of him who utters them; but also seems to draw them by a sort of suction faster and in greater abundance。 It was this peculiar ability of giving attention; as much as any other one quality; that gave Norman's clients their confidence in him。  Galloway; than whom no man was shrewder judge of men; showed in his gratified eyes and voice; long before he had finished; how strongly his conviction of Norman's high ability was confirmed。
  When Galloway ended; Norman rapidly and in clear and simple sentences summarized what Galloway had said。  〃That is right?〃 he asked。
  〃Precisely;〃 said Galloway admiringly。  〃What a gift of clear statement you have; young man!〃
  〃It has won me my place;〃 said Norman。  〃As to your campaign; I can tell you now that the legal part of it can be arranged。  That is what the law is forto enable a man to do whatever he wants。  The penalties are for those who have the stupidity to try to do things in an unlawful way。〃
  Galloway laughed。  〃I had heard that they were for doing unlawful things。〃
  〃Nothing is unlawful;〃 said Norman; 〃except in method。〃
  〃That's an interesting view of courts of justice。〃
  〃But we have no courts of justice。  We have only courts of law。〃
  Galloway threw back his head and laughed till the tears rolled down his cheeks。  〃What a gift for clear statement!〃 he cried。
  Norman beamed appreciation of a compliment so flattering。  But he went back to business。  〃As I was saying; you can do what you want to do。  You wish me to show you how。  In our modern way of doing things; the relation of lawyer and client has somewhat changed。  To illustrate by this case; you are the bear with the taste for honey and the strength to rob the bees。  I am the honey birdthat is; the modern lawyer who can show you the way to the hive。  Most of the honey birdsas yetare content with a very small share of the honeywhatever the bear happens to be unable to find room for。  But I〃  Norman's eyes danced and his strong mouth curved in a charming smile 〃I am a honey bird with a bear appetite。〃
  Galloway was sitting up stiffly。  〃I don't quite follow you; sir;〃 he said。
  〃Yet I am plain enough。  My ability at clear statement has not deserted me。  If I show you the way through the tangled forest of the law to this hive you scentI must be a partner in the honey。〃
  Galloway rose。  〃Your conceptions of your profession and of me; I may sayare not attractive。  I have always been; and am willing and anxious to pay liberallymore liberally than anyone elsefor legal advice。  But my business; sir; is my own。〃
  Norman rose; his expression one of apology and polite disappointment。  〃I see I misunderstood your purpose in coming to me;〃 said he。  〃Let us take no more of each other's time。〃
  〃And what did you think my object was in coming?〃 demanded Galloway。
  〃To get from me what you realized you could get nowhere elsewhich meant; as an old experienced trader like you must have known; that you were ready to pay my price。  Of course; if you can get elsewhere the assistance you need; why; you would be most unwise to come to me。〃
  Galloway moved toward the door。  〃And you might have charged practically any fee you wished;〃 said he; laughing satirically。  〃Young man; you are making the mistake that is ruining this generation。 You wish to get rich all at once。  You are not willing to be patient and to work and to build your fortune solidly and slowly。〃
  Norman smiled as at a good joke。  〃What an asset to you strong men has been the vague hope in the minds of the masses that each poor devil of them will have his turn to loot and grow rich。  I used to think ignorance kept the present system going。  But I have discovered that it is that sly; silly; corrupt hope。  But; sir; it does not catch me。  I shall not work for you and the other strong men; and patiently wait my turn that would never come。  My time is NOW。〃
  〃You threaten me!〃 cried Galloway furiously。
  〃Threaten you?〃 exclaimed Norman; amazed。
  〃You think; because I have given you; my lawyer; my secrets; that you can compel me〃
  With an imperious gesture Norman stopped him。 〃Good day; sir;〃 he said haughtily。  〃Your secrets are safe with me。  I am a lawyer; not a financier。〃
  Galloway was disconcerted。  〃I beg your pardon; Mr。 Norman;〃 he said。  〃I misunderstood you。  I thought I heard y