English
TheCountessOlenskahadsaid"afterfive";andathalfafterthehourNewlandArcherrangthebellofthepeelingstuccohousewithagiantwisteriathrottlingitsfeeblecast–ironbalcony,whichshehadhired,fardownWestTwenty–thirdStreet,fromthevagabondMedora.
Itwascertainlyastrangequartertohavesettledin.
Smalldress–makers,bird–stuffersand"peoplewhowrote"werehernearestneighbours;andfurtherdownthedishevelledstreetArcherrecognisedadilapidatedwoodenhouse,attheendofapavedpath,inwhichawriterandjournalistcalledWinsett,whomheusedtocomeacrossnowandthen,hadmentionedthathelived.
Winsettdidnotinvitepeopletohishouse;buthehadoncepointeditouttoArcherinthecourseofanocturnalstroll,andthelatterhadaskedhimself,withalittleshiver,ifthehumanitiesweresomeanlyhousedinothercapitals.
MadameOlenska'sowndwellingwasredeemedfromthesameappearanceonlybyalittlemorepaintaboutthewindow–frames;andasArchermustereditsmodestfronthesaidtohimselfthatthePolishCountmusthaverobbedherofherfortuneaswellasofherillusions.
Theyoungmanhadspentanunsatisfactoryday.
HehadlunchedwiththeWellands,hopingafterwardtocarryoffMayforawalkinthePark.
Hewantedtohavehertohimself,totellherhowenchantingshehadlookedthenightbefore,andhowproudhewasofher,andtopresshertohastentheirmarriage.
ButMrs.Wellandhadfirmlyremindedhimthattheroundoffamilyvisitswasnothalfover,and,whenhehintedatadvancingthedateofthewedding,hadraisedreproachfuleye–browsandsighedout:"Twelvedozenofeverything—hand–embroidered—"
Packedinthefamilylandautheyrolledfromonetribaldoorsteptoanother,andArcher,whentheafternoon'sroundwasover,partedfromhisbetrothedwiththefeelingthathehadbeenshownofflikeawildanimalcunninglytrapped.
Hesupposedthathisreadingsinanthropologycausedhimtotakesuchacoarseviewofwhatwasafterallasimpleandnaturaldemonstrationoffamilyfeeling;butwhenherememberedthattheWellandsdidnotexpecttheweddingtotakeplacetillthefollowingautumn,andpicturedwhathislifewouldbetillthen,adampnessfelluponhisspirit.
"Tomorrow,"Mrs.Wellandcalledafterhim,"we'lldotheChiversesandtheDallases";andheperceivedthatshewasgoingthroughtheirtwofamiliesalphabetically,andthattheywereonlyinthefirstquarterofthealphabet.
HehadmeanttotellMayoftheCountessOlenska'srequest—hercommand,rather—thatheshouldcallonherthatafternoon;butinthebriefmomentswhentheywerealonehehadhadmorepressingthingstosay.
Besides,itstruckhimasalittleabsurdtoalludetothematter.
HeknewthatMaymostparticularlywantedhimtobekindtohercousin;wasitnotthatwishwhichhadhastenedtheannouncementoftheirengagement?
Itgavehimanoddsensationtoreflectthat,butfortheCountess'sarrival,hemighthavebeen,ifnotstillafreeman,atleastamanlessirrevocablypledged.
ButMayhadwilleditso,andhefelthimselfsomehowrelievedoffurtherresponsibility—andthereforeatliberty,ifhechose,tocallonhercousinwithouttellingher.
AshestoodonMadameOlenska'sthresholdcuriositywashisuppermostfeeling.Hewaspuzzledbythetoneinwhichshehadsummonedhim;heconcludedthatshewaslesssimplethansheseemed.
Thedoorwasopenedbyaswarthyforeign–lookingmaid,withaprominentbosomunderagayneckerchief,whomhevaguelyfanciedtobeSicilian.
Shewelcomedhimwithallherwhiteteeth,andansweringhisenquiriesbyahead–shakeofincomprehensionledhimthroughthenarrowhallintoalowfirelitdrawing–room.
Theroomwasempty,andshelefthim,foranappreciabletime,towonderwhethershehadgonetofindhermistress,orwhethershehadnotunderstoodwhathewastherefor,andthoughtitmightbetowindtheclock—ofwhichheperceivedthattheonlyvisiblespecimenhadstopped.
Heknewthatthesouthernracescommunicatedwitheachotherinthelanguageofpantomime,andwasmortifiedtofindhershrugsandsmilessounintelligible.
Atlengthshereturnedwithalamp;andArcher,havingmeanwhileputtogetheraphraseoutofDanteandPetrarch,evokedtheanswer:"Lasignoraefuori;maverrasubito";whichhetooktomean:"She'sout—butyou'llsoonsee."
Whathesaw,meanwhile,withthehelpofthelamp,wasthefadedshadowycharmofaroomunlikeanyroomhehadknown.
HeknewthattheCountessOlenskahadbroughtsomeofherpossessionswithher—bitsofwreckage,shecalledthem—andthese,hesupposed,wererepresentedbysomesmallslendertablesofdarkwood,adelicatelittleGreekbronzeonthechimney–piece,andastretchofreddamasknailedonthediscolouredwallpaperbehindacoupleofItalian–lookingpicturesinoldframes.
NewlandArcherpridedhimselfonhisknowledgeofItalianart.
HisboyhoodhadbeensaturatedwithRuskin,andhehadreadallthelatestbooks:JohnAddingtonSymonds,VernonLee's"Euphorion,"theessaysofP.G.Hamerton,andawonderfulnewvolumecalled"TheRenaissance"byWalterPater.
HetalkedeasilyofBotticelli,andspokeofFraAngelicowithafaintcondescension.
Butthesepicturesbewilderedhim,fortheywerelikenothingthathewasaccustomedtolookat(andthereforeabletosee)whenhetravelledinItaly;andperhaps,also,hispowersofobservationwereimpairedbytheoddnessoffindinghimselfinthisstrangeemptyhouse,whereapparentlynooneexpectedhim.
HewassorrythathehadnottoldMayWellandofCountessOlenska'srequest,andalittledisturbedbythethoughtthathisbetrothedmightcomeintoseehercousin.
Whatwouldshethinkifshefoundhimsittingtherewiththeairofintimacyimpliedbywaitingaloneintheduskatalady'sfireside?
Butsincehehadcomehemeanttowait;andhesankintoachairandstretchedhisfeettothelogs.
Itwasoddtohavesummonedhiminthatway,andthenforgottenhim;butArcherfeltmorecuriousthanmortified.
Theatmosphereoftheroomwassodifferentfromanyhehadeverbreathedthatself–consciousnessvanishedinthesenseofadventure.
Hehadbeenbeforeindrawing–roomshungwithreddamask,withpictures"oftheItalianschool";whatstruckhimwasthewayinwhichMedoraManson'sshabbyhiredhouse,withitsblightedbackgroundofpampasgrassandRogersstatuettes,had,byaturnofthehand,andtheskilfuluseofafewproperties,beentransformedintosomethingintimate,"foreign,"subtlysuggestiveofoldromanticscenesandsentiments.
Hetriedtoanalysethetrick,tofindacluetoitinthewaythechairsandtablesweregrouped,inthefactthatonlytwoJacqueminotroses(ofwhichnobodyeverboughtlessthanadozen)hadbeenplacedintheslendervaseathiselbow,andinthevaguepervadingperfumethatwasnotwhatoneputonhandkerchiefs,butratherlikethescentofsomefar–offbazaar,asmellmadeupofTurkishcoffeeandambergrisanddriedroses.
HismindwanderedawaytothequestionofwhatMay'sdrawing–roomwouldlooklike.
HeknewthatMr.Welland,whowasbehaving"veryhandsomely,"alreadyhadhiseyeonanewlybuilthouseinEastThirty–ninthStreet.
Theneighbourhoodwasthoughtremote,andthehousewasbuiltinaghastlygreenish–yellowstonethattheyoungerarchitectswerebeginningtoemployasaprotestagainstthebrownstoneofwhichtheuniformhuecoatedNewYorklikeacoldchocolatesauce;buttheplumbingwasperfect.
Archerwouldhavelikedtotravel,toputoffthehousingquestion;but,thoughtheWellandsapprovedofanextendedEuropeanhoneymoon(perhapsevenawinterinEgypt),theywerefirmastotheneedofahouseforthereturningcouple.
Theyoungmanfeltthathisfatewassealed:fortherestofhislifehewouldgoupeveryeveningbetweenthecast–ironrailingsofthatgreenish–yellowdoorstep,andpassthroughaPompeianvestibuleintoahallwithawainscotingofvarnishedyellowwood.
Butbeyondthathisimaginationcouldnottravel.
Heknewthedrawing–roomabovehadabaywindow,buthecouldnotfancyhowMaywoulddealwithit.
ShesubmittedcheerfullytothepurplesatinandyellowtuftingsoftheWellanddrawing–room,toitsshamBuhltablesandgiltvitrinesfullofmodernSaxe.
Hesawnoreasontosupposethatshewouldwantanythingdifferentinherownhouse;andhisonlycomfortwastoreflectthatshewouldprobablylethimarrangehislibraryashepleased—whichwouldbe,ofcourse,with"sincere"Eastlakefurniture,andtheplainnewbookcaseswithoutglassdoors.
Theround–bosomedmaidcamein,drewthecurtains,pushedbackalog,andsaidconsolingly:"Verra—verra."
WhenshehadgoneArcherstoodupandbegantowanderabout.Shouldhewaitanylonger?
Hispositionwasbecomingratherfoolish.
PerhapshehadmisunderstoodMadameOlenska—perhapsshehadnotinvitedhimafterall.
Downthecobblestonesofthequietstreetcametheringofastepper'shoofs;theystoppedbeforethehouse,andhecaughttheopeningofacarriagedoor.
Partingthecurtainshelookedoutintotheearlydusk.
Astreet–lampfacedhim,andinitslighthesawJuliusBeaufort'scompactEnglishbrougham,drawnbyabigroan,andthebankerdescendingfromit,andhelpingoutMadameOlenska.
Beaufortstood,hatinhand,sayingsomethingwhichhiscompanionseemedtonegative;thentheyshookhands,andhejumpedintohiscarriagewhileshemountedthesteps.
WhensheenteredtheroomsheshowednosurpriseatseeingArcherthere;surpriseseemedtheemotionthatshewasleastaddictedto.
"Howdoyoulikemyfunnyhouse?"sheasked."Tomeit'slikeheaven."
Asshespokesheuntiedherlittlevelvetbonnetandtossingitawaywithherlongcloakstoodlookingathimwithmeditativeeyes.
"You'vearrangeditdelightfully,"herejoined,alivetotheflatnessofthewords,butimprisonedintheconventionalbyhisconsumingdesiretobesimpleandstriking.
"Oh,it'sapoorlittleplace.Myrelationsdespiseit.Butatanyrateit'slessgloomythanthevanderLuydens'."
Thewordsgavehimanelectricshock,forfewweretherebelliousspiritswhowouldhavedaredtocallthestatelyhomeofthevanderLuydensgloomy.
Thoseprivilegedtoenteritshiveredthere,andspokeofitas"handsome."
Butsuddenlyhewasgladthatshehadgivenvoicetothegeneralshiver.
"It'sdelicious—whatyou'vedonehere,"herepeated.
"Ilikethelittlehouse,"sheadmitted;"butIsupposewhatIlikeistheblessednessofitsbeinghere,inmyowncountryandmyowntown;andthen,ofbeingaloneinit."
Shespokesolowthathehardlyheardthelastphrase;butinhisawkwardnesshetookitup.
"Youlikesomuchtobealone?"
"Yes;aslongasmyfriendskeepmefromfeelinglonely."
Shesatdownnearthefire,said:"Nastasiawillbringtheteapresently,"andsignedtohimtoreturntohisarmchair,adding:"Iseeyou'vealreadychosenyourcorner."
Leaningback,shefoldedherarmsbehindherhead,andlookedatthefireunderdroopinglids.
"ThisisthehourIlikebest—don'tyou?"
Apropersenseofhisdignitycausedhimtoanswer:"Iwasafraidyou'dforgottenthehour.Beaufortmusthavebeenveryengrossing."
Shelookedamused."Why—haveyouwaitedlong?
Mr.Beauforttookmetoseeanumberofhouses—sinceitseemsI'mnottobeallowedtostayinthisone."
SheappearedtodismissbothBeaufortandhimselffromhermind,andwenton:"I'veneverbeeninacitywherethereseemstobesuchafeelingagainstlivingindesquartiersexcentriques.Whatdoesitmatterwhereonelives?I'mtoldthisstreetisrespectable."
"It'snotfashionable."
"Fashionable!Doyouallthinksomuchofthat?Whynotmakeone'sownfashions?
ButIsupposeI'velivedtooindependently;atanyrate,Iwanttodowhatyoualldo—Iwanttofeelcaredforandsafe."
Hewastouched,ashehadbeentheeveningbeforewhenshespokeofherneedofguidance.
"That'swhatyourfriendswantyoutofeel.NewYork'sanawfullysafeplace,"headdedwithaflashofsarcasm.
"Yes,isn'tit?Onefeelsthat,"shecried,missingthemockery."Beinghereislike—like—beingtakenonaholidaywhenonehasbeenagoodlittlegirlanddoneallone'slessons."
Theanalogywaswellmeant,butdidnotaltogetherpleasehim.
HedidnotmindbeingflippantaboutNewYork,butdislikedtohearanyoneelsetakethesametone.
Hewonderedifshedidnotbegintoseewhatapowerfulengineitwas,andhownearlyithadcrushedher.
TheLovellMingotts'dinner,patchedupinextremisoutofallsortsofsocialoddsandends,oughttohavetaughtherthenarrownessofherescape;buteithershehadbeenallalongunawareofhavingskirteddisaster,orelseshehadlostsightofitinthetriumphofthevanderLuydenevening.
Archerinclinedtotheformertheory;hefanciedthatherNewYorkwasstillcompletelyundifferentiated,andtheconjecturenettledhim.
"Lastnight,"hesaid,"NewYorklaiditselfoutforyou.ThevanderLuydensdonothingbyhalves."
"No:howkindtheyare!Itwassuchaniceparty.Everyoneseemstohavesuchanesteemforthem."
Thetermswerehardlyadequate;shemighthavespokeninthatwayofatea–partyatthedearoldMissLannings'.
"ThevanderLuydens,"saidArcher,feelinghimselfpompousashespoke,"arethemostpowerfulinfluenceinNewYorksociety.Unfortunately—owingtoherhealth—theyreceiveveryseldom."
Sheunclaspedherhandsfrombehindherhead,andlookedathimmeditatively.
"Isn'tthatperhapsthereason?"
"Thereason—?"
"Fortheirgreatinfluence;thattheymakethemselvessorare."
Hecolouredalittle,staredather—andsuddenlyfeltthepenetrationoftheremark.AtastrokeshehadprickedthevanderLuydensandtheycollapsed.Helaughed,andsacrificedthem.
Nastasiabroughtthetea,withhandlelessJapanesecupsandlittlecovereddishes,placingthetrayonalowtable.
"Butyou'llexplainthesethingstome—you'lltellmeallIoughttoknow,"MadameOlenskacontinued,leaningforwardtohandhimhiscup.
"It'syouwhoaretellingme;openingmyeyestothingsI'dlookedatsolongthatI'dceasedtoseethem."
Shedetachedasmallgoldcigarette–casefromoneofherbracelets,helditouttohim,andtookacigaretteherself.Onthechimneywerelongspillsforlightingthem.
"Ah,thenwecanbothhelpeachother.ButIwanthelpsomuchmore.Youmusttellmejustwhattodo."
Itwasonthetipofhistonguetoreply:"Don'tbeseendrivingaboutthestreetswithBeaufort—"buthewasbeingtoodeeplydrawnintotheatmosphereoftheroom,whichwasheratmosphere,andtogiveadviceofthatsortwouldhavebeenliketellingsomeonewhowasbargainingforattar–of–rosesinSamarkandthatoneshouldalwaysbeprovidedwitharcticsforaNewYorkwinter.
NewYorkseemedmuchfartheroffthanSamarkand,andiftheywereindeedtohelpeachothershewasrenderingwhatmightprovethefirstoftheirmutualservicesbymakinghimlookathisnativecityobjectively.
Viewedthus,asthroughthewrongendofatelescope,itlookeddisconcertinglysmallanddistant;butthenfromSamarkanditwould.
Aflamedartedfromthelogsandshebentoverthefire,stretchingherthinhandssoclosetoitthatafainthaloshoneabouttheovalnails.
Thelighttouchedtorussettheringsofdarkhairescapingfromherbraids,andmadeherpalefacepaler.
"Thereareplentyofpeopletotellyouwhattodo,"Archerrejoined,obscurelyenviousofthem.
"Oh—allmyaunts?AndmydearoldGranny?"Sheconsideredtheideaimpartially.
"They'reallalittlevexedwithmeforsettingupformyself—poorGrannyespecially.
Shewantedtokeepmewithher;butIhadtobefree—"HewasimpressedbythislightwayofspeakingoftheformidableCatherine,andmovedbythethoughtofwhatmusthavegivenMadameOlenskathisthirstforeventheloneliestkindoffreedom.ButtheideaofBeaufortgnawedhim.
"IthinkIunderstandhowyoufeel,"hesaid."Still,yourfamilycanadviseyou;explaindifferences;showyoutheway."
Sheliftedherthinblackeyebrows."IsNewYorksuchalabyrinth?
Ithoughtitsostraightupanddown—likeFifthAvenue.
Andwithallthecrossstreetsnumbered!"
Sheseemedtoguesshisfaintdisapprovalofthis,andadded,withtheraresmilethatenchantedherwholeface:"IfyouknewhowIlikeitforjustTHAT—thestraight–up–and–downness,andthebighonestlabelsoneverything!"
Hesawhischance."Everythingmaybelabelled—buteverybodyisnot."
"Perhaps.Imaysimplifytoomuch—butyou'llwarnmeifIdo."
Sheturnedfromthefiretolookathim.
"ThereareonlytwopeopleherewhomakemefeelasiftheyunderstoodwhatImeanandcouldexplainthingstome:youandMr.Beaufort."
Archerwincedatthejoiningofthenames,andthen,withaquickreadjustment,understood,sympathisedandpitied.
Soclosetothepowersofevilshemusthavelivedthatshestillbreathedmorefreelyintheirair.
Butsinceshefeltthatheunderstoodheralso,hisbusinesswouldbetomakeherseeBeaufortashereallywas,withallherepresented—andabhorit.
Heansweredgently:"Iunderstand.Butjustatfirstdon'tletgoofyouroldfriends'hands:Imeantheolderwomen,yourGrannyMingott,Mrs.Welland,Mrs.vanderLuyden.
Theylikeandadmireyou—theywanttohelpyou."
Sheshookherheadandsighed."Oh,Iknow—Iknow!
Butonconditionthattheydon'thearanythingunpleasant.
AuntWellandputitinthoseverywordswhenItried....Doesnoonewanttoknowthetruthhere,Mr.Archer?
Thereallonelinessislivingamongallthesekindpeoplewhoonlyaskonetopretend!"
Sheliftedherhandstoherface,andhesawherthinshouldersshakenbyasob.
"MadameOlenska!—Oh,don't,Ellen,"hecried,startingupandbendingoverher.
Hedrewdownoneofherhands,claspingandchafingitlikeachild'swhilehemurmuredreassuringwords;butinamomentshefreedherself,andlookedupathimwithwetlashes.
"Doesnoonecryhere,either?Isupposethere'snoneedto,inheaven,"shesaid,straighteningherloosenedbraidswithalaugh,andbendingoverthetea–kettle.
Itwasburntintohisconsciousnessthathehadcalledher"Ellen"—calledhersotwice;andthatshehadnotnoticedit.
FardowntheinvertedtelescopehesawthefaintwhitefigureofMayWelland—inNewYork.
SuddenlyNastasiaputherheadintosaysomethinginherrichItalian.
MadameOlenska,againwithahandatherhair,utteredanexclamationofassent—aflashing"Gia—gia"—andtheDukeofSt.Austreyentered,pilotingatremendousblackwiggedandred–plumedladyinoverflowingfurs.
"MydearCountess,I'vebroughtanoldfriendofminetoseeyou—Mrs.Struthers.Shewasn'taskedtothepartylastnight,andshewantstoknowyou."
TheDukebeamedonthegroup,andMadameOlenskaadvancedwithamurmurofwelcometowardthequeercouple.
Sheseemedtohavenoideahowoddlymatchedtheywere,norwhatalibertytheDukehadtakeninbringinghiscompanion—andtodohimjustice,asArcherperceived,theDukeseemedasunawareofithimself.
"OfcourseIwanttoknowyou,mydear,"criedMrs.Struthersinaroundrollingvoicethatmatchedherboldfeathersandherbrazenwig.
"Iwanttoknoweverybodywho'syoungandinterestingandcharming.
AndtheDuketellsmeyoulikemusic—didn'tyou,Duke?You'reapianistyourself,Ibelieve?
Well,doyouwanttohearSarasateplaytomorroweveningatmyhouse?
YouknowI'vesomethinggoingoneverySundayevening—it'sthedaywhenNewYorkdoesn'tknowwhattodowithitself,andsoIsaytoit:'Comeandbeamused.'
AndtheDukethoughtyou'dbetemptedbySarasate.You'llfindanumberofyourfriends."
MadameOlenska'sfacegrewbrilliantwithpleasure."Howkind!HowgoodoftheDuketothinkofme!"
Shepushedachairuptothetea–tableandMrs.Strutherssankintoitdelectably.
"OfcourseIshallbetoohappytocome."
"That'sallright,mydear.Andbringyouryounggentlemanwithyou."
Mrs.Struthersextendedahail–fellowhandtoArcher.
"Ican'tputanametoyou—butI'msureI'vemetyou—I'vemeteverybody,here,orinParisorLondon.Aren'tyouindiplomacy?Allthediplomatistscometome.Youlikemusictoo?Duke,youmustbesuretobringhim."
TheDukesaid"Rather"fromthedepthsofhisbeard,andArcherwithdrewwithastifflycircularbowthatmadehimfeelasfullofspineasaself–consciousschool–boyamongcarelessandunnoticingelders.
Hewasnotsorryforthedenouementofhisvisit:heonlywishedithadcomesooner,andsparedhimacertainwasteofemotion.
Ashewentoutintothewintrynight,NewYorkagainbecamevastandimminent,andMayWellandtheloveliestwomaninit.
Heturnedintohisflorist'stosendherthedailyboxoflilies–of–the–valleywhich,tohisconfusion,hefoundhehadforgottenthatmorning.
Ashewroteawordonhiscardandwaitedforanenvelopeheglancedabouttheemboweredshop,andhiseyelitonaclusterofyellowroses.
Hehadneverseenanyassun–goldenbefore,andhisfirstimpulsewastosendthemtoMayinsteadofthelilies.
Buttheydidnotlooklikeher—therewassomethingtoorich,toostrong,intheirfierybeauty.
Inasuddenrevulsionofmood,andalmostwithoutknowingwhathedid,hesignedtothefloristtolaytherosesinanotherlongbox,andslippedhiscardintoasecondenvelope,onwhichhewrotethenameoftheCountessOlenska;then,justashewasturningaway,hedrewthecardoutagain,andlefttheemptyenvelopeonthebox.
"They'llgoatonce?"heenquired,pointingtotheroses.
Thefloristassuredhimthattheywould.
Share this article to
FINISH