His father had been her lover when the Frobishers were poor, and she had returned his affection. Nevertheless she had thrown him over when a richer suitor appeared, and her marriage had turned out disastrously5. Urged by a desire for social prominence6 and love of ostentation7, she had driven her husband into hazardous8, speculations9, for which he had weakly reproached her when the crash came. He escaped total ruin by Frobisher's help, but he afterward10 went downhill fast, wrangling11 with his wife until his death set her free. Her old lover had also married, and died a widower12, leaving one son, and Mrs. Denton had shown a benevolent13 interest in the boy. He was bold and ambitious,[Pg 124] which was what she liked, and she was not deterred14 by the lack of principle he early displayed. Success was the one thing she respected, and as he grew up young Mappin promised to attain16 it. Now she was expecting him, for he came to see her whenever he was in the neighborhood, and Frobisher made him welcome for her sake.
When Mappin came in he was red-faced from the frosty air.
"This place is stiflingly17 hot," he said. "I'm afraid that's because you're not feeling very fit yet."
Mrs. Denton told him she could not get rid of her cold, and he had the tact18 to listen with a show of interest while she talked about her health.
"You will stay all night?" she asked.
"Yes, I'm sorry I must get back to-morrow."
"Then I've no doubt it's necessary," she remarked in a suggestive tone.
Mappin laughed as if he understood her.
"It is. As things are going, business must come first. Besides, I can't flatter myself that I gained much by my last visit."
"That's a point I can't speak upon, but you're not likely to lose your head. There's a cold-blooded, calculating vein19 in you. I wonder whether that was why you came straight to my room, though the society of a crotchety old invalid can't have much charm for you."
The man's heavy face grew a trifle redder than usual.
"No," he protested, "it wasn't. I'm not dirt mean."
"Oh, well," said Mrs. Denton, looking at him gently, "you know I'm your friend. But I never pretended not to guess what brought you here."
"And I haven't made a secret of it. I mean to marry Geraldine."
[Pg 125]"She'll have a good deal of money some day."
Mappin looked up angrily.
"I'll admit that my interest generally comes first; but I'd be mighty20 glad to take Geraldine without a cent."
"Then you had better bestir yourself. Allinson has been here pretty often and she seems to like him. Besides, he's made a good impression on her father."
"Ah!" exclaimed Mappin, "that confounded Englishman again! It's only a few hours since he threatened to cut my connection with the Rain Bluff21; and one way and another that's a bad set-back." He frowned and the veins22 showed on his forehead. "I was coining money out of my contract, and I need it, because I have my feelings and I won't ask Frobisher for Geraldine like a beggar. He has a cool, smiling way of saying unpleasant things that makes me mad. I want to show him I'm as smart as he is and can give the girl as much as he can."
When they were detached from his business, Mappin's ideas were crude, but Mrs. Denton was not refined and found no fault with them. Moreover, she had an interest in his success. For a long time she had been the mistress of her brother's house and directed his social affairs. The position was a desirable one, especially as she had been left without means; but it was threatened. It was inevitable23 that Geraldine would take the power she enjoyed out of her hands, unless she married. Had Mappin not entered the field, Mrs. Denton would have furthered the claims of any suitor, to get the girl out of her way.
"I suppose money would gratify your pride, but you may find waiting risky," she said. "If you're wise, you'll make all the progress with Geraldine you can."
[Pg 126]He smiled ruefully.
"I sometimes feel that I'm making none. She looks at me half amused and half astonished when I express my opinions; I have to keep a curb24 on myself when I talk to her. In fact, I've once or twice got mad. I can take a joke, but her condescending25 smile is riling."
"Then why do you want to marry her?"
"It puzzles me when I think it over coolly, but that's difficult. When she's near me I only know that I want her." His eyes gleamed and his face grew flushed as he proceeded. "Guess it must be her wonderful eyes and hair and skin; the shape of her, the way she stands, the grit26 she shows. Once when I said something she flashed out at me in a fury, and I liked her for it." He clenched27 a big hand. "Somehow I'm going to get her!"
Mrs. Denton smiled. The savagery28 of his passion did not jar on her; she admired his determined29 boldness. She respected force that was guided by capacity; she liked a man who was strong or cunning enough to take what he desired. Her niece, however, held different views.
"That sounds genuine," she said. "Still, you had better talk to Geraldine in a more polished strain."
"No; I'd do it badly, and it wouldn't pay. There's red blood in me, and I haven't found much difference in men and women. If you hit straight at their human nature, you can't go wrong. A girl's never offended because you like her for being pretty."
He was wise, in that he knew his limitations and never pretended to be what he was not. His knowledge of human weaknesses had been profitable, for he had not scrupled30 to prey31 upon them, but he erred15 in assuming that his was the only rule of life. Virtue32 he[Pg 127] frankly33 regarded as either absence of desire or a sentimental34 pose.
"You're too coarse, too crude in your methods," Mrs. Denton persisted. "If you're not careful, you'll disgust Geraldine. You don't seem to see that she's different from the girls you are accustomed to."
Mappin laughed.
"Oh," he said, "at heart, they're all the same."
"In a sense, you're wrong. Allinson lets Geraldine see that he puts her on a higher plane, and she likes it. If you can't imitate him, you had better watch him."
"If Allinson's likely to make trouble, I'll fix him quick. Pretty talk and finicking manners, that's all there is to him, except a few fool notions about the mining business which he hasn't the grit or ability to carry out. But you look as if you had a headache and I guess I've talked enough."
She let him go, fearing to strain the consideration he sometimes showed her, for he was the only person for whom she had a scrap35 of affection. Mappin left her with half-contemptuous pity. He owed her some gratitude36, because it was on her account that he had been received in the house; but he knew how little her support was worth, for he was shrewd enough to see that her brother and her niece held her in no great esteem37. Indeed, he knew his position was not encouraging. Geraldine had shown him no favor, and Frobisher's attitude was more marked by forbearance than friendliness38; but Mappin was not deterred. He had stubborn courage and a firm belief in his powers.
Reaching the bottom of the stairs, he stopped in the shadow of a heavy curtain as Geraldine came out of a door at the farther end of the large hall. The girl did[Pg 128] not see him and, prompted by curiosity to learn what effect his sudden appearance would have, he stood watching her. She looked thoughtful, and moved slowly, but with a grace he did not miss. The soft rustle39 of her dress stirred him, he noticed with greedy eyes the fine outline about which the light material flowed, the bloom of her complexion40, the beauty of her pose. Indeed, he forgot why he had waited, for his heart was beating fast and he felt his nerves tingle41. He was filled with a burning desire to possess her.
Then she saw him and recoiled42. There was a glitter in his eyes from which she shrank, his face was stamped with gross sensual passion. It alarmed her and filled her with disgust. Mappin, however, could not guess her feelings. She was obviously startled; perhaps he had shown what he thought of her too plainly and shocked her prudishness; but this after all was no great matter. Delicacy43 was unknown to him; he could hardly have been made to understand that Geraldine regarded him with downright loathing44. Still, as he could think of nothing to say, he was not sorry that she turned back without a word; and with a harsh laugh he opened an adjoining door to look for Frobisher. Geraldine returned to the room she had left, and sat down with a sense of repulsion that presently gave place to burning anger. She felt that she had received an outrageous45 insult.
She did not see Mappin again until the next morning, when she was coldly polite, and he left in a state of half-puzzled irritation46, thinking more about Allinson than he had done. The man might prove a dangerous rival, unless something were done to prevent it. Mappin, however, thought that he could deal with him and was glad he had written to Hathersage, giving him a[Pg 129] hint that Allinson threatened to make trouble for them both.
As a result of Mappin's letter Andrew was handed a cablegram one evening when he was discussing the preparations for the journey with Carnally and Graham in the latter's house. When he had opened it he frowned.
"This promises to complicate47 matters. It's from my brother-in-law," he explained and read out the message:
"Do nothing until I arrive; sailing Sylvitanian."
Graham took up a Montreal paper.
"One of the fast boats. He should be here in nine days." Then he looked disturbed. "It may prevent your going North."
"No," Andrew said resolutely48; "it shall not do that; but I'll have to see him. It's strange he should come, though I told him the mine wasn't paying."
"You want to remember that Mappin's a friend of his," Carnally interposed. "There's another thing: you can't tell him about the lode49, which, so far, doesn't belong to you. I guess the less you say about your plans the better."
"I believe that's true," Andrew agreed. "Well, our start must be put off a while."
Leonard arrived, accompanied by Wannop, who explained that he had come to see the country and look up one or two old friends. Soon after they reached the Landing, Leonard had an interview with Watson, who had been summoned to meet him; then he went with Andrew to his room at the hotel. It was small and scantily50 furnished, but a galvanized pipe which ran up through the floor from the basement heater made it comfortably warm; and Leonard, sitting in a[Pg 130] rickety chair, watched his brother-in-law closely while he talked about the mine. Andrew had acquired a quickness of thought and a decision of manner which were new to Leonard. There was a pause after he had finished his explanation, for both felt that the next few minutes might prove momentous51. They held widely different views and an unconsidered remark might bring them into open collision. Leonard waited, ready to profit by any mistake the other made, until Andrew spoke52.
"I was surprised to hear you were coming over; though perhaps it's as well you did so."
"When I got your letter the matter seemed serious enough to require my personal attention."
"You may tell me what you think," said Andrew, "and I'll consider it carefully."
"To begin with, why did you give Mappin notice to terminate his contract?"
"It seemed the best thing to be done in the shareholders53' interest."
There was something impressive in Andrew's tone. Leonard knew that a conflict, which he wished to avoid, was imminent54.
"I won't mince55 matters," he replied. "You have no business experience and know nothing about mining. You have acted rashly. I made the arrangements with Mappin and considered them satisfactory."
"I'm sorry to hear it. I wish it had been somebody less closely connected with Allinson's who concluded the deal with him. The man's making a good thing out of his contract at the Company's expense."
"You mustn't be hypercritical. Opportunities for picking up a few dollars are often attached to operations like ours, and its wiser to let one's friends have them[Pg 131] and look for favors in return. Besides, the man does his work well."
"No," corrected Andrew, "he does it badly, with a cool assurance that no fault will be found and we'll pass his bills. In fact, for the firm to take any favors from him would savor56 of corruption57. In the end, the shareholders would have to pay for them."
"Be careful," Leonard warned him. "You may cause a good deal of trouble without doing any good. Remember that you're only here on trial and accountable to the rest of the directors. If necessary, the power you're overstraining could be withdrawn58."
"I think not," said Andrew. "In a sense, I'm Allinson's; it would be a difficult matter to get rid of me. I have neglected my duties, but it's not too late to make a change."
Leonard paused to light a cigarette. He had been met with a firmness he had not expected, and he realized that Andrew might prove a formidable antagonist59.
"Very well," he conceded, "if you insist on our giving no more work to Mappin, I suppose he must be sacrificed, though you place me in an unpleasant position. After all, he's comparatively unimportant; we must talk about the mine. You seem to think it ought to be closed, which is out of the question for the present. You have, no doubt, learned that it often takes time to reach payable60 ore; all sorts of preliminary difficulties have to be overcome, and investors61 have frequently to exercise patience and put up with disappointments."
"We didn't promise it on the first six months' working. Besides, one makes allowances for prospectus statements."
[Pg 132]"It shouldn't be needful where Allinson's is concerned. But what do you suggest?"
"That we keep the mine open, and do everything possible to increase the output and strike better ore. In the meanwhile, we won't say too much about our troubles."
"When you increase the output you increase expenses. This doesn't matter so long as the refined metal will pay for it, but it's a ruinous policy where the ore's no good. Then, you can't hide our difficulties. The shareholders will expect a dividend, and if it isn't forthcoming they'll demand an explanation at their meeting."
"That might be prevented. The family vote could be relied on, and it's often possible to control a meeting and silence objectors. These are matters you can leave to me."
"The objectors have a right to be heard; they could be silenced only by trickery. If we have made a mistake, we must admit it and consider how we can cut the loss."
"This Company should never have been floated. We'll let it go at that: the less said upon the point the better. The question is—what is to be done now? Well, I've decided66 on two things—we'll keep a few men working at the mine, because the yield will cover their wages, while I go into the bush and look for a richer lode I've heard about. If I'm successful, we'll consider the new situation."
Seeing that objections would be useless, Leonard[Pg 133] reluctantly acquiesced67, and it was a relief to both when Wannop came in.
"There's a friend of yours asking for you, Andrew; I brought him up," he explained, and stood aside as Frobisher entered.
"I came to ask you over for a day or two, and I shall be glad if your relatives will come as well," he said. "We have plenty of room and have been rather dull lately. Besides, the hotel is too full to be comfortable."
After some demur68 they agreed to go, and Andrew felt grateful to Frobisher, for the visit would relieve the strain that Leonard's society threatened to impose on him. Half an hour later they took their places in Frobisher's sleigh.
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texture
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| n.(织物)质地；(材料)构造；结构；肌理 | |
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invalid
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| n.病人，伤残人；adj.有病的，伤残的；无效的 | |
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bestowed
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| 赠给，授予( bestow的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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variance
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| n.矛盾，不同 | |
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disastrously
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| ad.灾难性地 | |
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prominence
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| n.突出；显著；杰出；重要 | |
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ostentation
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| n.夸耀，卖弄 | |
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hazardous
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| adj.(有)危险的，冒险的；碰运气的 | |
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speculations
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| n.投机买卖( speculation的名词复数 )；思考；投机活动；推断 | |
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afterward
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| adv.后来；以后 | |
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wrangling
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| v.争吵，争论，口角( wrangle的现在分词 ) | |
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widower
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| n.鳏夫 | |
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benevolent
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| adj.仁慈的，乐善好施的 | |
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deterred
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| v.阻止，制止( deter的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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erred
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| 犯错误，做错事( err的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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attain
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| vt.达到，获得，完成 | |
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stiflingly
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| adv. 令人窒息地(气闷地，沉闷地) | |
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tact
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| n.机敏，圆滑，得体 | |
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vein
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| n.血管，静脉；叶脉，纹理；情绪；vt.使成脉络 | |
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mighty
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| adj.强有力的；巨大的 | |
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bluff
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| v.虚张声势，用假象骗人；n.虚张声势，欺骗 | |
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veins
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| n.纹理；矿脉( vein的名词复数 )；静脉；叶脉；纹理 | |
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23
inevitable
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| adj.不可避免的，必然发生的 | |
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curb
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| n.场外证券市场，场外交易；vt.制止，抑制 | |
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condescending
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| adj.谦逊的,故意屈尊的 | |
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grit
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| n.沙粒，决心，勇气；v.下定决心，咬紧牙关 | |
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clenched
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| v.紧握，抓紧，咬紧( clench的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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savagery
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| n.野性 | |
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determined
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| adj.坚定的；有决心的 | |
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scrupled
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| v.感到于心不安，有顾忌( scruple的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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prey
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| n.被掠食者，牺牲者，掠食；v.捕食，掠夺，折磨 | |
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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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frankly
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| adv.坦白地，直率地；坦率地说 | |
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sentimental
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| adj.多愁善感的，感伤的 | |
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scrap
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| n.碎片；废料；v.废弃，报废 | |
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gratitude
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| adj.感激，感谢 | |
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esteem
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| n.尊敬，尊重；vt.尊重，敬重；把…看作 | |
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friendliness
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| n.友谊，亲切，亲密 | |
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rustle
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| v.沙沙作响；偷盗(牛、马等)；n.沙沙声声 | |
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complexion
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| n.肤色；情况，局面；气质，性格 | |
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41
tingle
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| vi.感到刺痛，感到激动；n.刺痛，激动 | |
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42
recoiled
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| v.畏缩( recoil的过去式和过去分词 )；退缩；报应；返回 | |
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delicacy
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| n.精致，细微，微妙，精良；美味，佳肴 | |
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44
loathing
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| n.厌恶，憎恨v.憎恨，厌恶( loathe的现在分词)；极不喜欢 | |
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45
outrageous
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| adj.无理的，令人不能容忍的 | |
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46
irritation
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| n.激怒，恼怒，生气 | |
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47
complicate
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| vt.使复杂化，使混乱，使难懂 | |
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resolutely
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| adj.坚决地，果断地 | |
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49
lode
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| n.矿脉 | |
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50
scantily
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| adv.缺乏地；不充足地；吝啬地；狭窄地 | |
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51
momentous
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| adj.重要的，重大的 | |
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52
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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53
shareholders
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| n.股东( shareholder的名词复数 ) | |
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54
imminent
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| adj.即将发生的，临近的，逼近的 | |
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55
mince
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| n.切碎物；v.切碎，矫揉做作地说 | |
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56
savor
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| vt.品尝，欣赏；n.味道，风味；情趣，趣味 | |
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57
corruption
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| n.腐败，堕落，贪污 | |
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58
withdrawn
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| vt.收回；使退出；vi.撤退，退出 | |
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59
antagonist
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| n.敌人，对抗者，对手 | |
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60
payable
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| adj.可付的，应付的，有利益的 | |
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61
investors
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| n.投资者，出资者( investor的名词复数 ) | |
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62
dividend
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| n.红利，股息；回报，效益 | |
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prospectus
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| n.计划书；说明书；慕股书 | |
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random
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| adj.随机的；任意的；n.偶然的(或随便的)行动 | |
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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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66
decided
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| adj.决定了的，坚决的；明显的，明确的 | |
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67
acquiesced
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| v.默认，默许( acquiesce的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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demur
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| v．表示异议，反对 | |
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