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Clarendon； and； eager to prolong and intensify her sensations； hurried thither；
reaching it at last and thrusting her way outward until she had gained the
middle； where she stood grasping the rail。 The great structure was a…tremble
from the assault； its footpaths and its roadway overrun with workers； dodging
between trolleys and trucks；some darting nimbly； dinner pails in hand； along
the steel girders。 Doffer boys romped and whistled； young girls in jaunty；
Faber Street clothes and flowered hats； linked to one another for protection；
chewed gum and joked； but for the most part these workers were silent； the
apathy of their faces making a strange contrast with the hurry； hurry of their
feet and set intentness of their bodies as they sped homeward to the tenements。
And the clothes of these were drab； save when the occasional colour of a hooded
peasant's shawl； like the slightly faded tints of an old master； lit up a group
of women。 Here； going home to their children； were Italian mothers bred
through centuries to endurance and patience； sallow Jewesses； gaunt； bearded
Jews with shadowy； half…closed eyes and wrinkled brows； broad…faced
Lithuanians； flat…headed Russians； swarthy Italian men and pale； blond Germans
mingled with muddy Syrians and nondescript Canadians。 And suddenly the bridge
was empty； the army vanished as swiftly as it came！
Janet turned。 Through the haze of smoke she saw the sun drop like a ball of
fire cooled to redness； whose course is spent。 The delicate lines of the upper
bridge were drawn in sepia against crimson…gilt； for an instant the cupola of
the Clarendon became jasper； and far； far above floated in the azure a cloud of
pink jeweller's cotton。 Even as she strove to fix these colours in her mind
they vanished； the western sky faded to magenta； to purple…mauve； the corridor
of the river darkened； on either side pale lights sparkled from the windows of
the mills； while down the deepened blue of the waters came floating iridescent
suds from the washing of the wools。 It was given to her to know that which an
artist of living memory has called the incommunicable thrill of things。。。。
CHAPTER VIII
The after…effects of this experience of Janet's were not what ordinarily are
called 〃spiritual；〃 though we may some day arrive at a saner meaning of the
term； include within it the impulses and needs of the entire organism。 It left
her with a renewed sense of energy and restlessness； brought her nearer to high
discoveries of mysterious joys which a voice out of the past called upon her to
forego； a voice somehow identified with her father！ It was faint； ineffectual。
In obeying it； would she not lose all life had to give？ When she came in to
supper her father was concerned about her because； instead of walking home with
him she had left him without explanation to plunge into the crowd of workers。
Her evident state of excitement had worried him； her caprice was beyond his
comprehension。 And how could she explain the motives that led to it？ She was
sure he had never felt like that； and as she evaded his questions the something
within her demanding life and expression grew stronger and more rebellious；
more contemptuous of the fear…precepts congenial to a nature timorous and less
vitalized。
After supper； unable to sit still； she went out； and； filled with the spirit of
adventure； hurried toward Faber Street； which was already thronging with
people。 It was bright here and gay； the shops glittered； and she wandered from
window to window until she found herself staring at a suit of blue cloth hung
on a form； beneath which was a card that read； 〃Marked down to 20。〃 And
suddenly the suggestion flashed into her mind； why shouldn't she buy it？ She
had the money； she needed a new suit for the winter； the one she possessed was
getting shabby。。。but behind the excuse of necessity was the real reason
triumphantly proclaiming itselfshe would look pretty in it； she would be
transformed； she would be buying a new character to which she would have to
live up。 The old Janet would be cast off with the old raiment； the new suit
would announce to herself and to the world a Janet in whom were released all
those longings hitherto disguised and suppressed； and now become insupportable！
This was what the purchase meant； a change of existence as complete as that
between the moth and the butterfly； and the realization of this fact； of the
audacity she was resolved to commit made her hot as she gazed at the suit。 It
was modest enough； yet it had a certain distinction of cut； it looked
expensive： twenty dollars was not cheap； to be sure； but as the placard
announced； it had the air of being much more costlyeven more costly than
thirty dollars； which seemed fabulous。 Though she strove to remain outwardly
calm； her heart beat rapidly as she entered the store and asked for the
costume； and was somewhat reassured by the comportment of the saleswoman； who
did not appear to think the request preposterous； to regard her as a
spendthrift and a profligate。 She took down the suit from the form and led
Janet to a cabinet in the back of the shop； where it was tried on。
〃It's worth every bit of thirty dollars；〃 she heard the woman say； 〃but we've
had it here for some time； and it's no use for our trade。 You can't sell
anything like that in Hampton； there's no taste here； it's too good； it ain't
showy enough。 My； it fits you like it was made for you； and it's just your
styleand you can see it wants a lady to wear it。 Your old suit is too tight…
…I guess you've filled out some since you bought it。〃
She turned Janet around and around； patting the skirt here and there； and then
stood off a little way； with clasped hands； her expression almost rapturous。
Janet's breath came fast as she gazed into the mirror and buttoned up the coat。
Was the woman's admiration cleverly feigned？ this image she beheld an illusion？
or did she really look different； distinguished？ and if not beautiful
alluring？ She had had a momentary apprehension； almost sickening； that she
would be too conspicuous； but the saleswoman had anticipated that objection
with the magical word 〃lady。〃
〃I'll take it；〃 she announced。
〃Well； you couldn't have done better if you'd gone to Boston；〃 declared the
woman。 〃It's one chance in a thousand。 Will you wear it？〃
〃Yes；〃 said Janet faintly。。。。 〃Just put my old suit in a box； and I'll call
for it in an hour。〃
The woman's sympathetic smile followed her as she left the shop。 She had an
instant of hesitation； of an almost panicky desire to go back and repair her
folly； ere it was too late。 Why had she taken her money with her that evening；
if not with some deliberate though undefined purpose？ But she was ashamed to
face the saleswoman again； and her elation was not to be repressedan elation
optically presented by a huge electric sign on the farther side of the street
that flashed through all the colours of the spectrum； surrounded by running
fire like the running fire in her soul。 Deliciously self…conscious； her gaze
fixed ahead； she pressed through the Wednesday night crowds； young mill men and
women in their best c