It was a picture he looked at often, and the more he looked the greater was his desire, to see Frona Welse again. This event he anticipated with a thrill, with the exultancy7 over change which is common of all life. She was something new, a fresh type, a woman unrelated to all women he had met. Out of the fascinating unknown a pair of hazel eyes smiled into his, and a hand, soft of touch and strong of grip, beckoned8 him. And there was an allurement9 about it which was as the allurement of sin.
Not that Vance Corliss was anybody's fool, nor that his had been an anchorite's existence; but that his upbringing, rather, had given his life a certain puritanical10 bent11. Awakening12 intelligence and broader knowledge had weakened the early influence of an austere13 mother, but had not wholly eradicated14 it. It was there, deep down, very shadowy, but still a part of him. He could not get away from it. It distorted, ever so slightly, his concepts of things. It gave a squint16 to his perceptions, and very often, when the sex feminine was concerned, determined17 his classifications. He prided himself on his largeness when he granted that there were three kinds of women. His mother had only admitted two. But he had outgrown18 her. It was incontestable that there were three kinds,—the good, the bad, and the partly good and partly bad. That the last usually went bad, he believed firmly. In its very nature such a condition could not be permanent. It was the intermediary stage, marking the passage from high to low, from best to worst.
All of which might have been true, even as he saw it; but with definitions for premises19, conclusions cannot fail to be dogmatic. What was good and bad? There it was. That was where his mother whispered with dead lips to him. Nor alone his mother, but divers20 conventional generations, even back to the sturdy ancestor who first uplifted from the soil and looked down. For Vance Corliss was many times removed from the red earth, and, though he did not know it, there was a clamor within him for a return lest he perish.
Not that he pigeon-holed Frona according to his inherited definitions. He refused to classify her at all. He did not dare. He preferred to pass judgment21 later, when he had gathered more data. And there was the allurement, the gathering22 of the data; the great critical point where purity reaches dreamy hands towards pitch and refuses to call it pitch—till defiled23. No; Vance Corliss was not a cad. And since purity is merely a relative term, he was not pure. That there was no pitch under his nails was not because he had manicured diligently24, but because it had not been his luck to run across any pitch. He was not good because he chose to be, because evil was repellant; but because he had not had opportunity to become evil. But from this, on the other hand, it is not to be argued that he would have gone bad had he had a chance.
He was a product of the sheltered life. All his days had been lived in a sanitary25 dwelling26; the plumbing27 was excellent. The air he had breathed had been mostly ozone28 artificially manufactured. He had been sun-bathed in balmy weather, and brought in out of the wet when it rained. And when he reached the age of choice he had been too fully29 occupied to deviate30 from the straight path, along which his mother had taught him to creep and toddle31, and along which he now proceeded to walk upright, without thought of what lay on either side.
Vitality32 cannot be used over again. If it be expended33 on one thing, there is none left for the other thing. And so with Vance Corliss. Scholarly lucubrations and healthy exercises during his college days had consumed all the energy his normal digestion34 extracted from a wholesome35 omnivorous36 diet. When he did discover a bit of surplus energy, he worked it off in the society of his mother and of the conventional minds and prim37 teas she surrounded herself with. Result: A very nice young man, of whom no maid's mother need ever be in trepidation38; a very strong young man, whose substance had not been wasted in riotous39 living; a very learned young man, with a Freiberg mining engineer's diploma and a B.A. sheepskin from Yale; and, lastly, a very self-centred, self-possessed young man.
Now his greatest virtue40 lay in this: he had not become hardened in the mould baked by his several forbears and into which he had been pressed by his mother's hands. Some atavism had been at work in the making of him, and he had reverted41 to that ancestor who sturdily uplifted. But so far this portion of his heritage had lain dormant42. He had simply remained adjusted to a stable environment. There had been no call upon the adaptability43 which was his. But whensoever the call came, being so constituted, it was manifest that he should adapt, should adjust himself to the unwonted pressure of new conditions. The maxim44 of the rolling stone may be all true; but notwithstanding, in the scheme of life, the inability to become fixed46 is an excellence47 par15 excellence. Though he did not know it, this inability was Vance Corliss's most splendid possession.
But to return. He looked forward with great sober glee to meeting Frona Welse, and in the meanwhile consulted often the sun-picture he carried of her. Though he went over the Pass and down the lakes and river with a push of money behind him (London syndicates are never niggardly48 in such matters). Frona beat him into Dawson by a fortnight. While on his part money in the end overcame obstacles, on hers the name of Welse was a talisman49 greater than treasure. After his arrival, a couple of weeks were consumed in buying a cabin, presenting his letters of introduction, and settling down. But all things come in the fulness of time, and so, one night after the river closed, he pointed50 his moccasins in the direction of Jacob Welse's house. Mrs. Schoville, the Gold Commissioner's wife, gave him the honor of her company.
Corliss wanted to rub his eyes. Steam-heating apparatus51 in the Klondike! But the next instant he had passed out of the hall through the heavy portieres and stood inside the drawing-room. And it was a drawing-room. His moose-hide moccasins sank luxuriantly into the deep carpet, and his eyes were caught by a Turner sunrise on the opposite wall. And there were other paintings and things in bronze. Two Dutch fireplaces were roaring full with huge back-logs of spruce. There was a piano; and somebody was singing. Frona sprang from the stool and came forward, greeting him with both hands. He had thought his sun-picture perfect, but this fire-picture, this young creature with the flush and warmth of ringing life, quite eclipsed it. It was a whirling moment, as he held her two hands in his, one of those moments when an incomprehensible orgasm quickens the blood and dizzies the brain. Though the first syllables52 came to him faintly, Mrs. Schoville's voice brought him back to himself.
"Oh!" she cried. "You know him!"
And Frona answered, "Yes, we met on the Dyea Trail; and those who meet on the Dyea Trail can never forget."
"How romantic!"
The Gold Commissioner's wife clapped her hands. Though fat and forty, and phlegmatic53 of temperament54, between exclamations55 and hand-clappings her waking existence was mostly explosive. Her husband secretly averred56 that did God Himself deign57 to meet her face to face, she would smite58 together her chubby59 hands and cry out, "How romantic!"
"How did it happen?" she continued. "He didn't rescue you over a cliff, or that sort of thing, did he? Do say that he did! And you never said a word about it, Mr. Corliss. Do tell me. I'm just dying to know!"
"Oh, nothing like that," he hastened to answer. "Nothing much. I, that is we—"
He felt a sinking as Frona interrupted. There was no telling what this remarkable60 girl might say.
"He gave me of his hospitality, that was all," she said. "And I can vouch61 for his fried potatoes; while for his coffee, it is excellent—when one is very hungry."
"Ingrate62!" he managed to articulate, and thereby63 to gain a smile, ere he was introduced to a cleanly built lieutenant64 of the Mounted Police, who stood by the fireplace discussing the grub proposition with a dapper little man very much out of place in a white shirt and stiff collar.
Thanks to the particular niche65 in society into which he happened to be born, Corliss drifted about easily from group to group, and was much envied therefore by Del Bishop66, who sat stiffly in the first chair he had dropped into, and who was waiting patiently for the first person to take leave that he might know how to compass the manoeuvre67. In his mind's eye he had figured most of it out, knew just how many steps required to carry him to the door, was certain he would have to say good-by to Frona, but did not know whether or not he was supposed to shake hands all around. He had just dropped in to see Frona and say "Howdee," as he expressed it, and had unwittingly found himself in company.
Corliss, having terminated a buzz with a Miss Mortimer on the decadence68 of the French symbolists, encountered Del Bishop. But the pocket-miner remembered him at once from the one glimpse he had caught of Corliss standing45 by his tent-door in Happy Camp. Was almighty69 obliged to him for his night's hospitality to Miss Frona, seein' as he'd ben side-tracked down the line; that any kindness to her was a kindness to him; and that he'd remember it, by God, as long as he had a corner of a blanket to pull over him. Hoped it hadn't put him out. Miss Frona'd said that bedding was scarce, but it wasn't a cold night (more blowy than crisp), so he reckoned there couldn't 'a' ben much shiverin'. All of which struck Corliss as perilous70, and he broke away at the first opportunity, leaving the pocket-miner yearning71 for the door.
But Dave Harney, who had not come by mistake, avoided gluing himself to the first chair. Being an Eldorado king, he had felt it incumbent72 to assume the position in society to which his numerous millions entitled him; and though unused all his days to social amenities73 other than the out-hanging latch-string and the general pot, he had succeeded to his own satisfaction as a knight74 of the carpet. Quick to take a cue, he circulated with an aplomb75 which his striking garments and long shambling gait only heightened, and talked choppy and disconnected fragments with whomsoever he ran up against. The Miss Mortimer, who spoke76 Parisian French, took him aback with her symbolists; but he evened matters up with a goodly measure of the bastard77 lingo78 of the Canadian voyageurs, and left her gasping79 and meditating80 over a proposition to sell him twenty-five pounds of sugar, white or brown. But she was not unduly81 favored, for with everybody he adroitly82 turned the conversation to grub, and then led up to the eternal proposition. "Sugar or bust," he would conclude gayly each time and wander on to the next.
But he put the capstone on his social success by asking Frona to sing the touching83 ditty, "I Left My Happy Home for You." This was something beyond her, though she had him hum over the opening bars so that she could furnish the accompaniment. His voice was more strenuous84 than sweet, and Del Bishop, discovering himself at last, joined in raucously85 on the choruses. This made him feel so much better that he disconnected himself from the chair, and when he finally got home he kicked up his sleepy tent-mate to tell him about the high time he'd had over at the Welse's. Mrs. Schoville tittered and thought it all so unique, and she thought it so unique several times more when the lieutenant of Mounted Police and a couple of compatriots roared "Rule Britannia" and "God Save the Queen," and the Americans responded with "My Country, 'Tis of Thee" and "John Brown." Then big Alec Beaubien, the Circle City king, demanded the "Marseillaise," and the company broke up chanting "Die Wacht am Rhein" to the frosty night.
"Don't come on these nights," Frona whispered to Corliss at parting.
"We haven't spoken three words, and I know we shall be good friends.
Did Dave Harney succeed in getting any sugar out of you?"
They mingled86 their laughter, and Corliss went home under the aurora87 borealis, striving to reduce his impressions to some kind of order.
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1
lug
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| n.柄，突出部，螺帽；(英）耳朵；（俚）笨蛋；vt.拖，拉，用力拖动 | |
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cerebral
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| adj.脑的，大脑的；有智力的，理智型的 | |
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molecular
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| adj.分子的；克分子的 | |
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agitation
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| n.搅动；搅拌；鼓动，煽动 | |
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integration
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| n.一体化，联合，结合 | |
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beetling
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| adj.突出的，悬垂的v.快速移动( beetle的现在分词 ) | |
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exultancy
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| n.大喜，狂喜 | |
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beckoned
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| v.（用头或手的动作）示意，召唤( beckon的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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allurement
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| n.诱惑物 | |
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puritanical
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| adj.极端拘谨的；道德严格的 | |
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bent
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| n.爱好，癖好；adj.弯的；决心的，一心的 | |
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awakening
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| n.觉醒，醒悟 adj.觉醒中的；唤醒的 | |
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austere
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| adj.艰苦的；朴素的，朴实无华的；严峻的 | |
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eradicated
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| 画着根的 | |
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par
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| n.标准，票面价值，平均数量；adj.票面的，平常的，标准的 | |
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16
squint
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| v. 使变斜视眼, 斜视, 眯眼看, 偏移, 窥视; n. 斜视, 斜孔小窗; adj. 斜视的, 斜的 | |
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determined
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| adj.坚定的；有决心的 | |
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outgrown
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| 长[发展] 得超过（某物）的范围( outgrow的过去分词 )； 长[发展]得不能再要（某物）； 长得比…快； 生长速度超过 | |
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premises
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| n.建筑物，房屋 | |
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divers
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| adj.不同的；种种的 | |
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judgment
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| n.审判；判断力，识别力，看法，意见 | |
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gathering
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| n.集会，聚会，聚集 | |
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defiled
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| v.玷污( defile的过去式和过去分词 )；污染；弄脏；纵列行进 | |
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diligently
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| ad.industriously;carefully | |
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sanitary
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| adj.卫生方面的，卫生的，清洁的，卫生的 | |
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dwelling
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| n.住宅，住所，寓所 | |
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plumbing
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| n.水管装置；水暖工的工作；管道工程v.用铅锤测量（plumb的现在分词）；探究 | |
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ozone
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| n.臭氧，新鲜空气 | |
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fully
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| adv.完全地，全部地，彻底地；充分地 | |
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deviate
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| v.(from)背离，偏离 | |
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toddle
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| v.（如小孩）蹒跚学步 | |
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vitality
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| n.活力，生命力，效力 | |
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expended
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| v.花费( expend的过去式和过去分词 )；使用（钱等）做某事；用光；耗尽 | |
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digestion
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| n.消化，吸收 | |
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wholesome
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| adj.适合；卫生的；有益健康的；显示身心健康的 | |
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omnivorous
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| adj.杂食的 | |
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prim
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| adj.拘泥形式的，一本正经的；n.循规蹈矩，整洁；adv.循规蹈矩地，整洁地 | |
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trepidation
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| n.惊恐，惶恐 | |
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riotous
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| adj.骚乱的；狂欢的 | |
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virtue
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| n.德行，美德；贞操；优点；功效，效力 | |
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reverted
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| 恢复( revert的过去式和过去分词 )； 重提； 回到…上； 归还 | |
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dormant
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| adj.暂停活动的；休眠的；潜伏的 | |
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adaptability
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| n.适应性 | |
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maxim
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| n.格言，箴言 | |
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standing
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| n.持续，地位；adj.永久的，不动的，直立的，不流动的 | |
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fixed
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| adj.固定的，不变的，准备好的；(计算机)固定的 | |
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excellence
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| n.优秀，杰出，(pl.)优点，美德 | |
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niggardly
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| adj.吝啬的，很少的 | |
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talisman
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| n.避邪物，护身符 | |
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50
pointed
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| adj.尖的，直截了当的 | |
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51
apparatus
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| n.装置，器械；器具，设备 | |
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52
syllables
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| n.音节( syllable的名词复数 ) | |
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53
phlegmatic
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| adj.冷静的，冷淡的，冷漠的，无活力的 | |
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54
temperament
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| n.气质，性格，性情 | |
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exclamations
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| n.呼喊( exclamation的名词复数 )；感叹；感叹语；感叹词 | |
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56
averred
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| v.断言( aver的过去式和过去分词 )；证实；证明…属实；作为事实提出 | |
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57
deign
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| v. 屈尊, 惠允 ( 做某事) | |
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58
smite
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| v.重击；彻底击败；n.打；尝试；一点儿 | |
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chubby
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| adj.丰满的，圆胖的 | |
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remarkable
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| adj.显著的，异常的，非凡的，值得注意的 | |
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61
vouch
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| v.担保；断定；n.被担保者 | |
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ingrate
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| n.忘恩负义的人 | |
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thereby
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| adv.因此，从而 | |
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lieutenant
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| n.陆军中尉，海军上尉；代理官员，副职官员 | |
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niche
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| n.壁龛；合适的职务(环境、位置等) | |
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bishop
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| n.主教，（国际象棋）象 | |
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67
manoeuvre
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| n.策略，调动；v.用策略，调动 | |
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decadence
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| n.衰落，颓废 | |
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almighty
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| adj.全能的，万能的；很大的，很强的 | |
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perilous
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| adj.危险的，冒险的 | |
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71
yearning
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| a.渴望的；向往的；怀念的 | |
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incumbent
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| adj.成为责任的，有义务的；现任的，在职的 | |
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73
amenities
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| n.令人愉快的事物；礼仪；礼节；便利设施；礼仪( amenity的名词复数 )；便利设施；（环境等的）舒适；（性情等的）愉快 | |
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knight
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| n.骑士，武士；爵士 | |
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aplomb
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| n.沉着，镇静 | |
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spoke
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| n.（车轮的）辐条；轮辐；破坏某人的计划；阻挠某人的行动 v.讲，谈（speak的过去式）；说；演说；从某种观点来说 | |
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77
bastard
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| n.坏蛋，混蛋；私生子 | |
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lingo
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| n.语言不知所云，外国话，隐语 | |
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gasping
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| adj. 气喘的, 痉挛的 动词gasp的现在分词 | |
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meditating
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| a.沉思的，冥想的 | |
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unduly
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| adv.过度地，不适当地 | |
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82
adroitly
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| adv.熟练地，敏捷地 | |
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83
touching
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| adj.动人的，使人感伤的 | |
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84
strenuous
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| adj.奋发的，使劲的；紧张的；热烈的，狂热的 | |
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85
raucously
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| adv.粗声地；沙哑地 | |
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86
mingled
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| 混合，混入( mingle的过去式和过去分词 )； 混进，与…交往[联系] | |
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87
aurora
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| n.极光 | |
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