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foreigners； though still somewhat reminiscent of the cramped little towns in
the northern wilderness of water and forest。 On one corner stood almost
invariably a 〃Pharmacie Francaise〃； the signs were in French； and the elders
spoke the patois。 These； despite the mill pallor； retained in their faces； in
their eyes； a suggestion of the outdoor look of their ancestors； the coureurs
des bois； but the children spoke English； and the young men； as they played
baseball in the street or in the corner lots might be heard shouting out
derisively the cry of the section hands so familiar in mill cities； 〃Doff； you
beggars you； doff！〃
Occasionally the two girls strayed into that wide thoroughfare not far from the
canal； known by the classic name of Hawthorne； which the Italians had
appropriated to themselves。 This street； too； in spite of the telegraph poles
flaunting crude arms in front of its windows； in spite of the trolley running
down its middle； had acquired a character； a unity all its own； a warmth and
picturesqueness that in the lingering light of summer evenings assumed an
indefinable significance。 It was not Italy； but it was somethingsomething
proclaimed in the ornate； leaning lines of the pillared balconies of the yellow
tenement on the second block； in the stone…vaulted entrance of the low house
next door； in fantastically coloured walls； in curtained windows out of which
leaned swarthy； earringed women。 Blocking the end of the street； in stern
contrast； was the huge Clarendon Mill with its sinister brick pillars running
up the six stories between the glass。 Here likewise the sidewalks overflowed
with children； large…headed； with great； lustrous eyes； mute； appealing； the
eyes of cattle。 Unlike American children； they never seemed to be playing。
Among the groups of elders gathered for gossip were piratical Calabrians in
sombre clothes； descended from Greek ancestors； once the terrors of the
Adriatic Sea。 The women； lingering in the doorways； hemmed in by more
children； were for the most part squat and plump； but once in a while Janet's
glance was caught and held by a strange； sharp beauty worthy of a cameo。
Opposite the Clarendon Mill on the corner of East Street was a provision store
with stands of fruit and vegetables encroaching on the pavement。 Janet's eye
was attracted by a box of olives。
〃Oh Eda；〃 she cried； 〃do you remember； we saw them being pickedin the movies？
All those old trees on the side of a hill？〃
〃Why； that's so；〃 said Eda。 〃You never would have thought anything'd grow on
those trees。〃
The young Italian who kept the store gave them a friendly grin。
〃You lika the olives？〃 he asked； putting some of the shining black fruit into
their hands。 Eda bit one dubiously with her long； white teeth； and giggled。
〃Don't they taste funny！〃 she exclaimed。
〃Goodvery good；〃 he asserted gravely； and it was to Janet he turned； as
though recognizing a discrimination not to be found in her companion。 She
nodded affirmatively。 The strange taste of the fruit enhanced her sense of
adventure； she tried to imagine herself among the gatherers in the grove； she
glanced at the young man to perceive that he was tall and well formed； with
remarkably expressive eyes almost the colour of the olives themselves。 It
surprised her that she liked him； though he was an Italian and a foreigner： a
certain debonnair dignity in him appealed to hera quality lacking in many of
her own countrymen。
And she wanted to talk to him about Italy；only she did not know how to
begin；when a customer appeared； an Italian woman who conversed with him in
soft； liquid tones that moved her 。。。。
Sometimes on these walksespecially if the day were grey and sombreJanet's
sense of romance and adventure deepened； became more poignant； charged with
presage。 These feelings； vague and unaccountable； she was utterly unable to
confide to Eda； yet the very fear they inspired was fascinating； a fear and a
hope that some day； in all this Babel of peoples； something would happen！ It
was as though the conflicting soul of the city and her own soul were one。。。。
CHAPTER III
Lise was the only member of the Bumpus family who did not find uncongenial such
distractions and companionships as were offered by the civilization that
surrounded them。 The Bagatelle she despised； that was slaverybut slavery out
of which she might any day be snatched； like Leila Hawtrey； by a prince
charming who had made a success in life。 Success to Lise meant money。
Although what some sentimental sociologists might call a victim of our
civilization； Lise would not have changed it； since it produced not only Lise
herself； but also those fabulous financiers with yachts and motors and town and
country houses she read about in the supplements of the Sunday newspapers。 It
contained her purgatory； which she regarded in good conventional fashion as a
mere temporary place of detention； and likewise the heaven toward which she
strained； the dwelling…place of light。 In short； her philosophy was that of
the modern； orthodox American； tinged by a somewhat commercialized Sunday
school tradition of an earlier day； and highly approved by the censors of the
movies。 The peculiar kind of abstinence once euphemistically known as
〃virtue；〃 particularly if it were combined with beauty； never failed of its
reward。 Lise； in this sense； was indeed virtuous； and her mirror told her she
was beautiful。 Almost anything could happen to such a lady： any day she might
be carried up into heaven by that modern chariot of fire； the motor car； driven
by a celestial chauffeur。
One man's meat being another's poison； Lise absorbed from the movies an element
by which her sister Janet was repelled。 A popular production known as 〃Leila
of Hawtrey's〃 contained her creed；Hawtrey's being a glittering metropolitan
restaurant where men of the world are wont to gather and discuss the stock
market； and Leila a beautiful； blonde and orphaned waitress upon whom several
of the fashionable frequenters had exercised seductive powers in vain。 They
lay in wait for her at the side entrance； followed her； while one dissipated
and desperate person； married； and said to move in the most exclusive circles；
sent her an offer of a yearly income in five figures； the note being reproduced
on the screen； and Leila pictured reading it in her frigid hall…bedroom。 There
are complications； she is in debt； and the proprietor of Hawtrey's has
threatened to discharge her and in order that the magnitude of the temptation
may be most effectively realized the vision appears of Leila herself； wrapped
in furs； stepping out of a limousine and into an elevator lifting her to an
apartment containing silk curtains； a Canet bed； a French maid； and a
Pomeranian。 Virtue totters； but triumphs； being reinforced by two more visions
the first of these portrays Leila； prematurely old； dragging herself along
pavements under the metallic Broadway lights accosting gentlemen in evening
dress； and the second reveals her in the country； kneeling beside a dying
mother's bed； giving her promise to remain true to the Christian teachings of
her childhood。
And