English
Howdeeplyareourdestiniesinfluencedbythemosttriflingcauses!
Hadthebuilderwhoerectedandownedthesenewvillascontentedhimselfbysimplybuildingeachwithinitsowngrounds,itisprobablethatthesethreesmallgroupsofpeoplewouldhaveremainedhardlyconsciousofeachother’sexistence,andthattherewouldhavebeennoopportunityforthatactionandreactionwhichisheresetforth.
Buttherewasacommonlinktobindthemtogether.
TosinglehimselfoutfromallotherNorwoodbuildersthelandlordhaddevisedandlaidoutacommonlawntennisground,whichstretchedbehindthehouseswithtaut-stretchednet,greenclose-croppedsward,andwidespreadwhitewashedlines.
HitherinsearchofthathardexercisewhichisasnecessaryasairorfoodtotheEnglishtemperament,cameyoungHayDenverwhenreleasedfromthetoiloftheCity;hither,too,cameDr.Walkerandhistwofairdaughters,ClaraandIda,andhitheralso,championsofthelawn,cametheshort-skirted,muscularwidowandherathleticnephew.
Erethesummerwasgonetheykneweachotherinthisquietnookastheymightnothavedoneafteryearsofastifferandmoreformalacquaintance.
AndespeciallytotheAdmiralandtheDoctorwerethiscloserintimacyandcompanionshipofvalue.
Eachhadavoidinhislife,aseverymanmusthavewhowithunexhaustedstrengthstepsoutofthegreatrace,buteachbyhissocietymighthelptofillupthatofhisneighbor.
Itistruethattheyhadnotmuchincommon,butthatissometimesanaidratherthanabartofriendship.
Eachhadbeenanenthusiastinhisprofession,andhadretainedallhisinterestinit.
TheDoctorstillreadfromcovertocoverhisLancetandhisMedicalJournal,attendedallprofessionalgatherings,workedhimselfintoanalternatestateofexaltationanddepressionovertheresultsoftheelectionofofficers,andreservedforhimselfadenofhisown,inwhichbeforerowsoflittleroundbottlesfullofglycerine,Canadianbalsam,andstainingagents,hestillcutsectionswithamicrotome,andpeepedthroughhislong,brass,old-fashionedmicroscopeatthearcanaofnature.
Withhistypicalface,cleanshavenonlipandchin,withafirmmouth,astrongjaw,asteadyeye,andtwolittlewhitefluffsofwhiskers,hecouldneverbetakenforanythingbutwhathewas,ahigh-classBritishmedicalconsultantoftheageoffifty,orperhapsjustayearortwoolder.
TheDoctor,inhishey-day,hadbeencoolovergreatthings,butnow,inhisretirement,hewasfussyovertrifles.
Themanwhohadoperatedwithoutthequiverofafinger,whennotonlyhispatient’slifebuthisownreputationandfuturewereatstake,wasnowshakentothesoulbyamislaidbookoracarelessmaid.
Heremarkedithimself,andknewthereason.
“WhenMarywasalive,”hewouldsay,“shestoodbetweenmeandthelittletroubles.Icouldbracemyselfforthebigones.
Mygirlsareasgoodasgirlscanbe,butwhocanknowamanashiswifeknowshim?”
Thenhismemorywouldconjureupatuftofbrownhairandasinglewhite,thinhandoveracoverlet,andhewouldfeel,aswehaveallfelt,thatifwedonotliveandknoweachotherafterdeath,thenindeedwearetrickedandbetrayedbyallthehighesthopesandsubtlestintuitionsofournature.
TheDoctorhadhiscompensationstomakeupforhisloss.
ThegreatscalesofFatehadbeenheldonalevelforhim;forwhereinallgreatLondoncouldonefindtwosweetergirls,moreloving,moreintelligent,andmoresympatheticthanClaraandIdaWalker?
Sobrightwerethey,soquick,sointerestedinallwhichinterestedhim,thatifitwerepossibleforamantobecompensatedforthelossofagoodwifethenBalthazarWalkermightclaimtobeso.
Clarawastallandthinandsupple,withagraceful,womanlyfigure.
Therewassomethingstatelyanddistinguishedinhercarriage,“queenly”herfriendscalledher,whilehercriticsdescribedherasreservedanddistant.
Suchasitwas,however,itwaspartandparcelofherself,forshewas,andhadalwaysfromherchildhoodbeen,differentfromanyonearoundher.
Therewasnothinggregariousinhernature.
Shethoughtwithherownmind,sawwithherowneyes,actedfromherownimpulse.
Herfacewaspale,strikingratherthanpretty,butwithtwogreatdarkeyes,soearnestlyquestioning,soquickintheirtransitionsfromjoytopathos,soswiftintheircommentuponeverywordanddeedaroundher,thatthoseeyesaloneweretomanymoreattractivethanallthebeautyofheryoungersister.
Herswasastrong,quietsoul,anditwasherfirmhandwhichhadtakenoverthedutiesofhermother,hadorderedthehouse,restrainedtheservants,comfortedherfather,andupheldherweakersister,fromthedayofthatgreatmisfortune.
IdaWalkerwasahand’sbreadthsmallerthanClara,butwasalittlefullerinthefaceandplumperinthefigure.
Shehadlightyellowhair,mischievousblueeyeswiththelightofhumorevertwinklingintheirdepths,andalarge,perfectlyformedmouth,withthatslightupwardcurveofthecornerswhichgoeswithakeenappreciationoffun,suggestingeveninreposethatalatentsmileiseverlurkingattheedgesofthelips.
Shewasmoderntothesolesofherdaintylittlehigh-heeledshoes,franklyfondofdressandofpleasure,devotedtotennisandtocomicopera,delightedwithadance,whichcameherwayonlytooseldom,longingeverforsomenewexcitement,andyetbehindallthislightersideofhercharacterathoroughlygood,healthy-mindedEnglishgirl,thelifeandsoulofthehouse,andtheidolofhersisterandherfather.
Suchwasthefamilyatnumbertwo.
Apeepintotheremainingvillaandourintroductionsarecomplete.
AdmiralHayDenverdidnotbelongtotheflorid,white-haired,heartyschoolofsea-dogswhichismorecommoninworksoffictionthanintheNavyList.
Onthecontrary,hewastherepresentativeofamuchmorecommontypewhichistheantithesisoftheconventionalsailor.
Hewasathin,hard-featuredman,withanascetic,acquilinecastofface,grizzledandhollow-cheeked,clean-shavenwiththeexceptionofthetiniestcurvedpromontoryofash-coloredwhisker.
Anobserver,accustomedtoclassifymen,mighthaveputhimdownasacanonofthechurchwithatasteforlaycostumeandacountrylife,orasthemasterofalargepublicschool,whojoinedhisscholarsintheiroutdoorsports.
Hislipswerefirm,hischinprominent,hehadahard,dryeye,andhismannerwaspreciseandformal.
Fortyyearsofsterndisciplinehadmadehimreservedandsilent.
Yet,whenathiseasewithanequal,hecouldreadilyassumealessquarter-deckstyle,andhehadafundoflittle,drystoriesoftheworldanditswayswhichwereofinterestfromonewhohadseensomanyphasesoflife.
Dryandspare,asleanasajockeyandastoughaswhipcord,hemightbeseenanydayswinginghissilver-headedMalaccacane,andpacingalongthesuburbanroadswiththesamemeasuredgaitwithwhichhehadbeenwonttotreadthepoopofhisflagship.
Heworeagoodservicestripeuponhischeek,forononesideitwaspittedandscarredwhereaspurtofgravelknockedupbyaround-shothadstruckhimthirtyyearsbefore,whenheservedintheLancastergun-battery.
Yethewashaleandsound,andthoughhewasfifteenyearsseniortohisfriendtheDoctor,hemighthavepassedastheyoungerman.
Mrs.HayDenver’slifehadbeenaverybrokenone,andherrecorduponlandrepresentedagreateramountofenduranceandself-sacrificethanhisuponthesea.
Theyhadbeentogetherforfourmonthsaftertheirmarriage,andthenhadcomeahiatusoffouryears,duringwhichhewasflittingaboutbetweenSt.HelenaandtheOilRiversinagunboat.
Thencameablessedyearofpeaceanddomesticity,tobefollowedbynineyears,withonlyathreemonths’break,fiveuponthePacificstation,andfourontheEastIndian.
AfterthatwasarespiteintheshapeoffiveyearsintheChannelsquadron,withperiodicalrunshome,andthenagainhewasofftotheMediterraneanforthreeyearsandtoHalifaxforfour.
Now,atlast,however,thisoldmarriedcouple,whowerestillalmoststrangerstooneanother,hadcometogetherinNorwood,where,iftheirshortdayhadbeenchequeredandbroken,theeveningatleastpromisedtobesweetandmellow.
InpersonMrs.HayDenverwastallandstout,withabright,round,ruddy-cheekedfacestillpretty,withagracious,matronlycomeliness.
Herwholelifewasaroundofdevotionandoflove,whichwasdividedbetweenherhusbandandheronlyson,Harold.
ThissonitwaswhokeptthemintheneighborhoodofLondon,fortheAdmiralwasasfondofshipsandofsaltwaterasever,andwasashappyinthesheetsofatwo-tonyachtasonthebridgeofhissixteen-knotmonitor.
Hadhebeenuntied,theDevonshireorHampshirecoastwouldcertainlyhavebeenhischoice.
TherewasHarold,however,andHarold’sinterestsweretheirchiefcare.Haroldwasfour-and-twentynow.
Threeyearsbeforehehadbeentakeninhandbyanacquaintanceofhisfather’s,theheadofaconsiderablefirmofstock-brokers,andfairlylaunchedupon‘Change.
Histhreehundredguineaentrancefeepaid,histhreesuretiesoffivehundredpoundseachfound,hisnameapprovedbytheCommittee,andallotherformalitiescompliedwith,hefoundhimselfwhirlinground,aninsignificantunit,inthevortexofthemoneymarketoftheworld.
There,undertheguidanceofhisfather’sfriend,hewasinstructedinthemysteriesofbullingandofbearing,inthestrangeusagesof‘Changeintheintricaciesofcarryingoverandoftransferring.
Helearnedtoknowwheretoplacehisclients’money,whichofthejobberswouldmakeapriceinNewZealands,andwhichwouldtouchnothingbutAmericanrails,whichmightbetrustedandwhichshunned.
Allthis,andmuchmore,hemastered,andtosuchpurposethathesoonbegantoprosper,toretaintheclientswhohadbeenrecommendedtohim,andtoattractfreshones.Buttheworkwasnevercongenial.
Hehadinheritedfromhisfatherhisloveoftheairofheaven,hisaffectionforamanlyandnaturalexistence.
Toactasmiddlemanbetweenthepursuerofwealth,andthewealthwhichhepursued,ortostandasahumanbarometer,registeringtheriseandfallofthegreatmammonpressureinthemarkets,wasnottheworkforwhichProvidencehadplacedthosebroadshouldersandstronglimbsuponhiswellknitframe.
Hisdarkopenface,too,withhisstraightGreciannose,wellopenedbrowneyes,androundblack-curledhead,wereallthoseofamanwhowasfashionedforactivephysicalwork.
Meanwhilehewaspopularwithhisfellowbrokers,respectedbyhisclients,andbelovedathome,buthisspiritwasrestlesswithinhimandhismindchafedunceasinglyagainsthissurroundings.
apictureofthecountryside
“Doyouknow,Willy,”saidMrs.HayDenveroneeveningasshestoodbehindherhusband’schair,withherhanduponhisshoulder,“IthinksometimesthatHaroldisnotquitehappy.”
“Helookshappy,theyoungrascal,”answeredtheAdmiral,pointingwithhiscigar.
Itwasafterdinner,andthroughtheopenFrenchwindowofthedining-roomaclearviewwastobehadofthetenniscourtandtheplayers.
Asethadjustbeenfinished,andyoungCharlesWestmacottwashittinguptheballsashighashecouldsendtheminthemiddleoftheground.
DoctorWalkerandMrs.Westmacottwerepacingupanddownthelawn,theladywavingherracketassheemphasizedherremarks,andtheDoctorlisteningwithslantingheadandlittlenodsofagreement.
AgainsttherailsatthenearendHaroldwasleaninginhisflannelstalkingtothetwosisters,whostoodlisteningtohimwiththeirlongdarkshadowsstreamingdownthelawnbehindthem.
Thegirlsweredressedalikeindarkskirts,withlightpinktennisblousesandpinkbandsontheirstrawhats,sothatastheystoodwiththesoftredofthesettingsuntingingtheirfaces,Clara,demureandquiet,Ida,mischievousanddaring,itwasagroupwhichmighthavepleasedtheeyeofamoreexactingcriticthantheoldsailor.
“Yes,helookshappy,mother,”herepeated,withachuckle.
“ItisnotsolongagosinceitwasyouandIwhowerestandinglikethat,andIdon’trememberthatwewereveryunhappyeither.
Itwascroquetinourtime,andtheladieshadnotreefedintheirskirtsquitesotaut.Whatyearwoulditbe?
JustbeforethecommissionofthePenelope.”
Mrs.HayDenverranherfingersthroughhisgrizzledhair.“ItwaswhenyoucamebackintheAntelope,justbeforeyougotyourstep.”
“Ah,theoldAntelope!Whataclippershewas!
Shecouldsailtwopointsnearerthewindthananythingofhertonnageintheservice.Yourememberher,mother.YousawhercomeintoPlymouthBay.Wasn’tsheabeauty?”
“Shewasindeed,dear.ButwhenIsaythatIthinkthatHaroldisnothappyImeaninhisdailylife.Hasitneverstruckyouhowthoughtful,heisattimes,andhowabsent-minded?”
“Inloveperhaps,theyoungdog.Heseemstohavefoundsnugmooringsnowatanyrate.”
“Ithinkthatitisverylikelythatyouareright,Willy,”answeredthemotherseriously.“Butwithwhichofthem?”
“Icannottell.”
“Well,theyareverycharminggirls,bothofthem.
Butaslongashehangsinthewindbetweenthetwoitcannotbeserious.
Afterall,theboyisfour-and-twenty,andhemadefivehundredpoundslastyear.
HeisbetterabletomarrythanIwaswhenIwaslieutenant.”
“Ithinkthatwecanseewhichitisnow,”remarkedtheobservantmother.
CharlesWestmacotthadceasedtoknockthetennisballsabout,andwaschattingwithClaraWalker,whileIdaandHaroldDenverwerestilltalkingbytherailingwithlittleoutburstsoflaughter.
Presentlyafreshsetwasformed,andDoctorWalker,theoddmanout,camethroughthewicketgateandstrolledupthegardenwalk.
“Goodevening,Mrs.HayDenver,”saidhe,raisinghisbroadstrawhat.“MayIcomein?”
“Goodevening,Doctor!Praydo!”
“Tryoneofthese,”saidtheAdmiral,holdingouthiscigar-case.“Theyarenotbad.IgotthemontheMosquitoCoast.Iwasthinkingofsignalingtoyou,butyouseemedsoveryhappyoutthere.”
“Mrs.Westmacottisaverycleverwoman,”saidtheDoctor,lightingthecigar.“Bytheway,youspokeabouttheMosquitoCoastjustnow.DidyouseemuchoftheHylawhenyouwereoutthere?”
“Nosuchnameonthelist,”answeredtheseaman,withdecision.“There’stheHydra,aharbordefenseturret-ship,butsheneverleavesthehomewaters.”
TheDoctorlaughed.“Weliveintwoseparateworlds,”saidhe.
“TheHylaisthelittlegreentreefrog,andBealehasfoundedsomeofhisviewsonprotoplasmupontheappearancer,ofitsnervecells.
ItisasubjectinwhichItakeaninterest.”
“Therewereverminofallsortsinthewoods.
WhenIhavebeenonriverserviceIhavehearditatnightliketheengine-roomwhenyouareonthemeasuredmile.
Youcan’tsleepforthepiping,andcroaking,andchirping.GreatScott!whatawomanthatis!Shewasacrossthelawninthreejumps.
Shewouldhavemadeacaptainoftheforetopintheolddays.”
“Sheisaveryremarkablewoman.”
“Averycrankyone.”
“Averysensibleoneinsomethings,”remarkedMrs.HayDenver.
“Lookatthatnow!”criedtheAdmiral,withalungeofhisforefingerattheDoctor.
“Youmarkmywords,Walker,ifwedon’tlookoutthatwomanwillraiseamutinywithherpreaching.
Here’smywifedisaffectedalready,andyourgirlswillbenobetter.
Wemustcombine,man,orthere’sanendofalldiscipline.”
“Nodoubtsheisalittleexcessiveinherviews.”saidtheDoctor,“butinthemainIthinkasshedoes.”
“Bravo,Doctor!”criedthelady.
“What,turnedtraitortoyoursex!We’llcourt-martialyouasadeserter.”
“Sheisquiteright.Theprofessionsarenotsufficientlyopentowomen.
Theyarestillfartoomuchcircumscribedintheiremployments.
Theyareafeeblefolk,thewomenwhohavetoworkfortheirbread—poor,unorganized,timid,takingasafavorwhattheymightdemandasaright.
Thatiswhytheircaseisnotmoreconstantlybeforethepublic,foriftheircryforredresswasasgreatastheirgrievanceitwouldfilltheworldtotheexclusionofallothers.
Itisallverywellforustobecourteoustotherich,therefined,thosetowhomlifeisalreadymadeeasy.Itisamereform,atrickofmanner.
Ifwearetrulycourteous,weshallstooptoliftupstrugglingwomanhoodwhenshereallyneedsourhelp—whenitislifeanddeathtoherwhethershehasitornot.
Andthentocantaboutitbeingunwomanlytoworkinthehigherprofessions.
Itiswomanlyenoughtostarve,butunwomanlytousethebrainswhichGodhasgiventhem.Isitnotamonstrouscontention?”
TheAdmiralchuckled.“Youarelikeoneofthesephonographs,Walker,”saidhe;“youhavehadallthistalkedintoyou,andnowyouarereelingitoffagain.
It’srankmutiny,everywordofit,formanhashisdutiesandwomanhashers,buttheyareasseparateastheirnaturesare.
Isupposethatweshallhaveawomanhoistingherpennantontheflagshippresently,andtakingcommandoftheChannelSquadron.”
“Well,youhaveawomanonthethronetakingcommandofthewholenation,”remarkedhiswife;“andeverybodyisagreedthatshedoesitbetterthananyofthemen.”
TheAdmiralwassomewhatstaggeredbythishome-thrust.“That’squiteanotherthing,”saidhe.
“Youshouldcometotheirnextmeeting.Iamtotakethechair.
IhavejustpromisedMrs.WestmacottthatIwilldoso.
Butithasturnedchilly,anditistimethatthegirlswereindoors.Goodnight!
Ishalllookoutforyouafterbreakfastforourconstitutional,Admiral.”
Theoldsailorlookedafterhisfriendwithatwinkleinhiseyes.
“Howoldishe,mother?”
“Aboutfifty,Ithink.”
“AndMrs.Westmacott?”
“Iheardthatshewasforty-three.”
TheAdmiralrubbedhishands,andshookwithamusement.“We’llfindoneofthesedaysthatthreeandtwomakeone,”saidhe.“I’llbetyouanewbonnetonit,mother.”
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