human
Oh, she said, with a little gasp,
gpt
A trifle overwhelming! said Brooke, reflectively,
human
Of course! she said.
gpt
One is glad there is, since it is typical of both countries. You couldn't tame this river and set it gliding smoothly between mossy stepping-stones.
human
No, said Brooke,
gpt
I scarcely think one would wish to if he could. One feels it wouldn't be fitting.
human
And yet we shall put the power that's in it into harness by and by.
gpt
Without taming it?
human
Yes, she said.
gpt
If you had ever stood in a Canadian power house, as I have done once or twice, you would understand. You can hear the big dynamos humming in one low, deep note while the little blue sparks flicker about the shafts. They stand for controlled energy; but the whole place rocks with the whirring of the turbines and the thunder of the water plunging down the shoots. The river that drives them does it exulting in its strength. You couldn't fancy it lapping among the lily leaves in sunlit pools. It hasn't time.
human
To have no time for artistic effect is typical of this country, then?
gpt
Yes, she said,
human
I really think it is. We shall come to that later, but this, you see, isn't art, but something greater. It's nature untrammelled, and primeval force.
gpt
Then you, who personify reposefulness, admire force?
human
When it accomplishes anything I do; but listen, she said.
gpt
That sound isn't the discord of purposeless haste. There's a rhythm in it. It's ordered and stately harmony.
human
You are going to put that rope across?
gpt
I am, at least, going to try. There will, however, be difficulties.
human
There generally are. Still, I think you will get over them. She looked down again at the tremendous gap, and then met his eyes in a fashion that sent a thrill through him.
gpt
It would be worth while.
human
I almost think it would. Still, it is largely a question of dollars, and I have spent a good many with no great result already.
gpt
My brother-in-law will not see you beaten. He would throw in as much as the mine was worth before he yielded a point to the timber-righters.
human
If he did, you would evidently sympathize with him?
gpt
Of course, though it wasn't exactly in that sense I meant it would be worth while. One would naturally sympathize with anybody who was made the subject of that kind of extortion. If there is anything detestable, it is a conspiracy.
human
Still, said Brooke, reflectively,
gpt
Would you consider yourself warranted in scheming to extort money from any one?
human
It would, of course, depend--upon, for example, any right I might consider I had to the money. We will suppose that somebody had robbed me----
gpt
Then one who has been robbed may steal?
human
I'm afraid I have never given any questions of this kind much consideration. We were discussing the country.
gpt
Of course. I ought to have remembered. You are so horribly afraid of betraying your sentiments in England that you would almost prefer folks to believe you hadn't any. I am, however, going to venture on dangerous ground again. I think the country is having an effect on you. You have changed considerably since I met you at the ranch.
human
It is possible, and Brooke met her gaze with a little smile in his eyes.
gpt
Still, I am not quite sure it was altogether the fault of the country.
human
Isn't that a little ambiguous?
gpt
Well, said Brooke, reflectively,
human
Then beware in what quarrel you draw it--if I did. One would expect such a gift to be used with honor. It could, however, be legitimately employed against timber-righters, claim-jumpers, and all schemers and extortioners of that kind.
gpt
Do you know that I am glad you left the ranch?
human
Why?
gpt
What you are doing now is worth while. You would consider that priggishness in England, but it's the truth.
human
You mean helping your brother-in-law to get ahead of the timber-righters?
gpt
No, said Barbara.
human
That is not what I mean, though if it is any consolation to you, it meets with my approbation, too.
gpt
Then what I was doing before was not worth while?
human
That, said Barbara, with a trace of dryness,
gpt
I'm afraid not, and Brooke smiled a trifle wryly.
human
It costs a good many dollars to build a big bridge, and it is apparently very difficult for any man to acquire them so long as he works with his own hands.
gpt
Still, isn't it worth the effort--not exactly for the dollars?
human
I think it would be in my case, he said.
gpt
The difficulty is that I should run a heavy risk if the effort was ever made. Now, however, I had, perhaps, better show you how far we have got with the tramway.