English
ThenextdayhepersuadedMaytoescapeforawalkintheParkafterluncheon.
Aswasthecustominold–fashionedEpiscopalianNewYork,sheusuallyaccompaniedherparentstochurchonSundayafternoons;butMrs.Wellandcondonedhertruancy,havingthatverymorningwonherovertothenecessityofalongengagement,withtimetoprepareahand–embroideredtrousseaucontainingthepropernumberofdozens.
Thedaywasdelectable.ThebarevaultingoftreesalongtheMallwasceiledwithlapislazuli,andarchedabovesnowthatshonelikesplinteredcrystals.
ItwastheweathertocalloutMay'sradiance,andsheburnedlikeayoungmapleinthefrost.
Archerwasproudoftheglancesturnedonher,andthesimplejoyofpossessorshipclearedawayhisunderlyingperplexities.
"It'ssodelicious—wakingeverymorningtosmelllilies–of–the–valleyinone'sroom!"shesaid.
"Yesterdaytheycamelate.Ihadn'ttimeinthemorning—"
"Butyourrememberingeachdaytosendthemmakesmelovethemsomuchmorethanifyou'dgivenastandingorder,andtheycameeverymorningontheminute,likeone'smusic–teacher—asIknowGertrudeLefferts'sdid,forinstance,whensheandLawrencewereengaged."
"Ah—theywould!"laughedArcher,amusedatherkeenness.
Helookedsidewaysatherfruit–likecheekandfeltrichandsecureenoughtoadd:"WhenIsentyourliliesyesterdayafternoonIsawsomerathergorgeousyellowrosesandpackedthemofftoMadameOlenska.Wasthatright?"
"Howdearofyou!Anythingofthatkinddelightsher.
It'soddshedidn'tmentionit:shelunchedwithustoday,andspokeofMr.Beaufort'shavingsentherwonderfulorchids,andcousinHenryvanderLuydenawholehamperofcarnationsfromSkuytercliff.
Sheseemssosurprisedtoreceiveflowers.Don'tpeoplesendtheminEurope?Shethinksitsuchaprettycustom."
"Oh,well,nowonderminewereovershadowedbyBeaufort's,"saidArcherirritably.
Thenherememberedthathehadnotputacardwiththeroses,andwasvexedathavingspokenofthem.
Hewantedtosay:"Icalledonyourcousinyesterday,"buthesitated.
IfMadameOlenskahadnotspokenofhisvisititmightseemawkwardthatheshould.
Yetnottodosogavetheaffairanairofmysterythathedisliked.
Toshakeoffthequestionhebegantotalkoftheirownplans,theirfuture,andMrs.Welland'sinsistenceonalongengagement.
"Ifyoucallitlong!IsabelChiversandReggiewereengagedfortwoyears:GraceandThorleyfornearlyayearandahalf.Whyaren'tweverywelloffasweare?"
Itwasthetraditionalmaidenlyinterrogation,andhefeltashamedofhimselfforfindingitsingularlychildish.
Nodoubtshesimplyechoedwhatwassaidforher;butshewasnearinghertwenty–secondbirthday,andhewonderedatwhatage"nice"womenbegantospeakforthemselves.
"Never,ifwewon'tletthem,Isuppose,"hemused,andrecalledhismadoutbursttoMr.SillertonJackson:"Womenoughttobeasfreeasweare—"
Itwouldpresentlybehistasktotakethebandagefromthisyoungwoman'seyes,andbidherlookforthontheworld.
Buthowmanygenerationsofthewomenwhohadgonetohermakinghaddescendedbandagedtothefamilyvault?
Heshiveredalittle,rememberingsomeofthenewideasinhisscientificbooks,andthemuch–citedinstanceoftheKentuckycave–fish,whichhadceasedtodevelopeyesbecausetheyhadnouseforthem.
Whatif,whenhehadbiddenMayWellandtoopenhers,theycouldonlylookoutblanklyatblankness?
"Wemightbemuchbetteroff.Wemightbealtogethertogether—wemighttravel."
Herfacelitup."Thatwouldbelovely,"sheowned:shewouldlovetotravel.Buthermotherwouldnotunderstandtheirwantingtodothingssodifferently.
"Asifthemere'differently'didn'taccountforit!"thewooerinsisted.
"Newland!You'resooriginal!"sheexulted.
Hisheartsank,forhesawthathewassayingallthethingsthatyoungmeninthesamesituationwereexpectedtosay,andthatshewasmakingtheanswersthatinstinctandtraditiontaughthertomake—eventothepointofcallinghimoriginal.
"Original!We'reallaslikeeachotherasthosedollscutoutofthesamefoldedpaper.We'relikepatternsstencilledonawall.Can'tyouandIstrikeoutforourselves,May?"
Hehadstoppedandfacedherintheexcitementoftheirdiscussion,andhereyesrestedonhimwithabrightuncloudedadmiration.
"Mercy—shallweelope?"shelaughed.
"Ifyouwould—"
"YouDOloveme,Newland!I'msohappy."
"Butthen—whynotbehappier?"
"Wecan'tbehavelikepeopleinnovels,though,canwe?"
"Whynot—whynot—whynot?"
Shelookedalittleboredbyhisinsistence.
Sheknewverywellthattheycouldn't,butitwastroublesometohavetoproduceareason.
"I'mnotcleverenoughtoarguewithyou.
Butthatkindofthingisrather—vulgar,isn'tit?"
shesuggested,relievedtohavehitonawordthatwouldassuredlyextinguishthewholesubject.
"Areyousomuchafraid,then,ofbeingvulgar?"
Shewasevidentlystaggeredbythis."OfcourseIshouldhateit—sowouldyou,"sherejoined,atrifleirritably.
Hestoodsilent,beatinghissticknervouslyagainsthisboot–top;andfeelingthatshehadindeedfoundtherightwayofclosingthediscussion,shewentonlight–heartedly:"Oh,didItellyouthatIshowedEllenmyring?
Shethinksitthemostbeautifulsettingsheeversaw.
There'snothinglikeitintheruedelaPaix,shesaid.
Idoloveyou,Newland,forbeingsoartistic!"
Thenextafternoon,asArcher,beforedinner,satsmokingsullenlyinhisstudy,Janeywanderedinonhim.
Hehadfailedtostopathisclubonthewayupfromtheofficewhereheexercisedtheprofessionofthelawintheleisurelymannercommontowell–to–doNewYorkersofhisclass.
Hewasoutofspiritsandslightlyoutoftemper,andahauntinghorrorofdoingthesamethingeverydayatthesamehourbesiegedhisbrain.
"Sameness—sameness!"hemuttered,thewordrunningthroughhisheadlikeapersecutingtuneashesawthefamiliartall–hattedfiguresloungingbehindtheplate–glass;andbecauseheusuallydroppedinattheclubatthathourhehadgonehomeinstead.
Heknewnotonlywhattheywerelikelytobetalkingabout,buttheparteachonewouldtakeinthediscussion.
TheDukeofcoursewouldbetheirprincipaltheme;thoughtheappearanceinFifthAvenueofagolden–hairedladyinasmallcanary–colouredbroughamwithapairofblackcobs(forwhichBeaufortwasgenerallythoughtresponsible)wouldalsodoubtlessbethoroughlygoneinto.
Such"women"(astheywerecalled)werefewinNewYork,thosedrivingtheirowncarriagesstillfewer,andtheappearanceofMissFannyRinginFifthAvenueatthefashionablehourhadprofoundlyagitatedsociety.
Onlythedaybefore,hercarriagehadpassedMrs.LovellMingott's,andthelatterhadinstantlyrungthelittlebellatherelbowandorderedthecoachmantodriveherhome.
"WhatifithadhappenedtoMrs.vanderLuyden?"peopleaskedeachotherwithashudder.
ArchercouldhearLawrenceLefferts,atthatveryhour,holdingforthonthedisintegrationofsociety.
HeraisedhisheadirritablywhenhissisterJaneyentered,andthenquicklybentoverhisbook(Swinburne's"Chastelard"—justout)asifhehadnotseenher.
Sheglancedatthewriting–tableheapedwithbooks,openedavolumeofthe"ContesDrolatiques,"madeawryfaceoverthearchaicFrench,andsighed:"Whatlearnedthingsyouread!"
"Well—?"heasked,asshehoveredCassandra–likebeforehim.
"Mother'sveryangry."
"Angry?Withwhom?Aboutwhat?"
"MissSophyJacksonhasjustbeenhere.Shebroughtwordthatherbrotherwouldcomeinafterdinner:shecouldn'tsayverymuch,becauseheforbadeherto:hewishestogiveallthedetailshimself.
He'swithcousinLouisavanderLuydennow."
"Forheaven'ssake,mydeargirl,tryafreshstart.ItwouldtakeanomniscientDeitytoknowwhatyou'retalkingabout."
"It'snotatimetobeprofane,Newland....Motherfeelsbadlyenoughaboutyournotgoingtochurch..."
Withagroanheplungedbackintohisbook.
"NEWLAND!Dolisten.YourfriendMadameOlenskawasatMrs.LemuelStruthers'spartylastnight:shewenttherewiththeDukeandMr.Beaufort."
Atthelastclauseofthisannouncementasenselessangerswelledtheyoungman'sbreast.Tosmotherithelaughed."Well,whatofit?Iknewshemeantto."
Janeypaledandhereyesbegantoproject."Youknewshemeantto—andyoudidn'ttrytostopher?Towarnher?"
"Stopher?Warnher?"Helaughedagain."I'mnotengagedtobemarriedtotheCountessOlenska!"Thewordshadafantasticsoundinhisownears.
"You'remarryingintoherfamily."
"Oh,family—family!"hejeered.
"Newland—don'tyoucareaboutFamily?"
"Notabrassfarthing."
"NoraboutwhatcousinLouisavanderLuydenwillthink?"
"Notthehalfofone—ifshethinkssucholdmaid'srubbish."
"Motherisnotanoldmaid,"saidhisvirginsisterwithpinchedlips.
Hefeltlikeshoutingback:"Yes,sheis,andsoarethevanderLuydens,andsoweallare,whenitcomestobeingsomuchasbrushedbythewing–tipofReality."
Buthesawherlonggentlefacepuckeringintotears,andfeltashamedoftheuselesspainhewasinflicting.
"HangCountessOlenska!Don'tbeagoose,Janey—I'mnotherkeeper."
"No;butyouDIDasktheWellandstoannounceyourengagementsoonersothatwemightallbackherup;andifithadn'tbeenforthatcousinLouisawouldneverhaveinvitedhertothedinnerfortheDuke."
"Well—whatharmwasthereininvitingher?Shewasthebest–lookingwomanintheroom;shemadethedinneralittlelessfunerealthantheusualvanderLuydenbanquet."
"YouknowcousinHenryaskedhertopleaseyou:hepersuadedcousinLouisa.
Andnowthey'resoupsetthatthey'regoingbacktoSkuyterclifftomorrow.
Ithink,Newland,you'dbettercomedown.
Youdon'tseemtounderstandhowmotherfeels."
Inthedrawing–roomNewlandfoundhismother.Sheraisedatroubledbrowfromherneedleworktoask:"HasJaneytoldyou?"
"Yes."Hetriedtokeephistoneasmeasuredasherown."ButIcan'ttakeitveryseriously."
"NotthefactofhavingoffendedcousinLouisaandcousinHenry?"
"ThefactthattheycanbeoffendedbysuchatrifleasCountessOlenska'sgoingtothehouseofawomantheyconsidercommon."
"Consider—!"
"Well,whois;butwhohasgoodmusic,andamusespeopleonSundayevenings,whenthewholeofNewYorkisdyingofinanition."
"Goodmusic?AllIknowis,therewasawomanwhogotuponatableandsangthethingstheysingattheplacesyougotoinParis.Therewassmokingandchampagne."
"Well—thatkindofthinghappensinotherplaces,andtheworldstillgoeson."
"Idon'tsuppose,dear,you'rereallydefendingtheFrenchSunday?"
"I'veheardyouoftenenough,mother,grumbleattheEnglishSundaywhenwe'vebeeninLondon."
"NewYorkisneitherParisnorLondon."
"Oh,no,it'snot!"hersongroaned.
"Youmean,Isuppose,thatsocietyhereisnotasbrilliant?
You'reright,Idaresay;butwebelonghere,andpeopleshouldrespectourwayswhentheycomeamongus.
EllenOlenskaespecially:shecamebacktogetawayfromthekindoflifepeopleleadinbrilliantsocieties."
Newlandmadenoanswer,andafteramomenthismotherventured:"IwasgoingtoputonmybonnetandaskyoutotakemetoseecousinLouisaforamomentbeforedinner."
Hefrowned,andshecontinued:"Ithoughtyoumightexplaintoherwhatyou'vejustsaid:thatsocietyabroadisdifferent...thatpeoplearenotasparticular,andthatMadameOlenskamaynothaverealisedhowwefeelaboutsuchthings.
Itwouldbe,youknow,dear,"sheaddedwithaninnocentadroitness,"inMadameOlenska'sinterestifyoudid."
"Dearestmother,Ireallydon'tseehowwe'reconcernedinthematter.
TheDuketookMadameOlenskatoMrs.Struthers's—infacthebroughtMrs.Strutherstocallonher.Iwastherewhentheycame.
IfthevanderLuydenswanttoquarrelwithanybody,therealculpritisundertheirownroof."
"Quarrel?Newland,didyoueverknowofcousinHenry'squarrelling?
Besides,theDuke'shisguest;andastrangertoo.
Strangersdon'tdiscriminate:howshouldthey?
CountessOlenskaisaNewYorker,andshouldhaverespectedthefeelingsofNewYork."
"Well,then,iftheymusthaveavictim,youhavemyleavetothrowMadameOlenskatothem,"criedherson,exasperated."Idon'tseemyself—oryoueither—offeringourselvesuptoexpiatehercrimes."
"Oh,ofcourseyouseeonlytheMingottside,"hismotheranswered,inthesensitivetonethatwashernearestapproachtoanger.
Thesadbutlerdrewbackthedrawing–roomportieresandannounced:"Mr.HenryvanderLuyden."
Mrs.Archerdroppedherneedleandpushedherchairbackwithanagitatedhand.
"Anotherlamp,"shecriedtotheretreatingservant,whileJaneybentovertostraightenhermother'scap.
Mr.vanderLuyden'sfigureloomedonthethreshold,andNewlandArcherwentforwardtogreethiscousin.
"Wewerejusttalkingaboutyou,sir,"hesaid.
Mr.vanderLuydenseemedoverwhelmedbytheannouncement.
Hedrewoffhisglovetoshakehandswiththeladies,andsmoothedhistallhatshyly,whileJaneypushedanarm–chairforward,andArchercontinued:"AndtheCountessOlenska."
Mrs.Archerpaled.
"Ah—acharmingwoman.Ihavejustbeentoseeher,"saidMr.vanderLuyden,complacencyrestoredtohisbrow.
Hesankintothechair,laidhishatandglovesonthefloorbesidehimintheold–fashionedway,andwenton:"Shehasarealgiftforarrangingflowers.
IhadsentherafewcarnationsfromSkuytercliff,andIwasastonished.
Insteadofmassingtheminbigbunchesasourhead–gardenerdoes,shehadscatteredthemaboutloosely,hereandthere...Ican'tsayhow.
TheDukehadtoldme:hesaid:'Goandseehowcleverlyshe'sarrangedherdrawing–room.'Andshehas.
IshouldreallyliketotakeLouisatoseeher,iftheneighbourhoodwerenotso—unpleasant."
AdeadsilencegreetedthisunusualflowofwordsfromMr.vanderLuyden.
Mrs.Archerdrewherembroideryoutofthebasketintowhichshehadnervouslytumbledit,andNewland,leaningagainstthechimney–placeandtwistingahumming–bird–featherscreeninhishand,sawJaney'sgapingcountenancelitupbythecomingofthesecondlamp.
"Thefactis,"Mr.vanderLuydencontinued,strokinghislonggreylegwithabloodlesshandweigheddownbythePatroon'sgreatsignet–ring,"thefactis,Idroppedintothankherfortheveryprettynoteshewrotemeaboutmyflowers;andalso—butthisisbetweenourselves,ofcourse—togiveherafriendlywarningaboutallowingtheDuketocarryherofftopartieswithhim.Idon'tknowifyou'veheard—"
Mrs.Archerproducedanindulgentsmile."HastheDukebeencarryingherofftoparties?"
"YouknowwhattheseEnglishgrandeesare.They'reallalike.
LouisaandIareveryfondofourcousin—butit'shopelesstoexpectpeoplewhoareaccustomedtotheEuropeancourtstotroublethemselvesaboutourlittlerepublicandistinctions.TheDukegoeswherehe'samused."
Mr.vanderLuydenpaused,butnoonespoke.
"Yes—itseemshetookherwithhimlastnighttoMrs.LemuelStruthers's.
SillertonJacksonhasjustbeentouswiththefoolishstory,andLouisawasrathertroubled.
SoIthoughttheshortestwaywastogostraighttoCountessOlenskaandexplain—bythemeresthint,youknow—howwefeelinNewYorkaboutcertainthings.
IfeltImight,withoutindelicacy,becausetheeveningshedinedwithussherathersuggested...ratherletmeseethatshewouldbegratefulforguidance.AndsheWAS."
Mr.vanderLuydenlookedabouttheroomwithwhatwouldhavebeenself–satisfactiononfeatureslesspurgedofthevulgarpassions.
OnhisfaceitbecameamildbenevolencewhichMrs.Archer'scountenancedutifullyreflected.
"Howkindyoubothare,dearHenry—always!NewlandwillparticularlyappreciatewhatyouhavedonebecauseofdearMayandhisnewrelations."
Sheshotanadmonitoryglanceatherson,whosaid:"Immensely,sir.ButIwassureyou'dlikeMadameOlenska."
Mr.vanderLuydenlookedathimwithextremegentleness.
"Ineverasktomyhouse,mydearNewland,"hesaid,"anyonewhomIdonotlike.
AndsoIhavejusttoldSillertonJackson."
Withaglanceattheclockheroseandadded:"ButLouisawillbewaiting.
Wearediningearly,totaketheDuketotheOpera."
AftertheportiereshadsolemnlyclosedbehindtheirvisitorasilencefellupontheArcherfamily.
"Gracious—howromantic!"atlastbrokeexplosivelyfromJaney.Nooneknewexactlywhatinspiredherellipticcomments,andherrelationshadlongsincegivenuptryingtointerpretthem.
Mrs.Archershookherheadwithasigh."Provideditallturnsoutforthebest,"shesaid,inthetoneofonewhoknowshowsurelyitwillnot.
"Newland,youmuststayandseeSillertonJacksonwhenhecomesthisevening:Ireallyshan'tknowwhattosaytohim."
"Poormother!Buthewon'tcome—"hersonlaughed,stoopingtokissawayherfrown.
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