English
Sometwoweekslater,NewlandArcher,sittinginabstractedidlenessinhisprivatecompartmentoftheofficeofLetterblair,LamsonandLow,attorneysatlaw,wassummonedbytheheadofthefirm.
OldMr.Letterblair,theaccreditedlegaladviserofthreegenerationsofNewYorkgentility,thronedbehindhismahoganydeskinevidentperplexity.
Ashestrokedhiscloseclippedwhitewhiskersandranhishandthroughtherumpledgreylocksabovehisjuttingbrows,hisdisrespectfuljuniorpartnerthoughthowmuchhelookedliketheFamilyPhysicianannoyedwithapatientwhosesymptomsrefusetobeclassified.
"Mydearsir—"healwaysaddressedArcheras"sir"—"Ihavesentforyoutogointoalittlematter;amatterwhich,forthemoment,IprefernottomentioneithertoMr.SkipworthorMr.Redwood."
Thegentlemenhespokeofweretheotherseniorpartnersofthefirm;for,aswasalwaysthecasewithlegalassociationsofoldstandinginNewYork,allthepartnersnamedontheofficeletter–headwerelongsincedead;andMr.Letterblair,forexample,was,professionallyspeaking,hisowngrandson.
Heleanedbackinhischairwithafurrowedbrow."Forfamilyreasons—"hecontinued.
Archerlookedup.
"TheMingottfamily,"saidMr.Letterblairwithanexplanatorysmileandbow.
"Mrs.MansonMingottsentformeyesterday.
Hergrand–daughtertheCountessOlenskawishestosueherhusbandfordivorce.
Certainpapershavebeenplacedinmyhands."Hepausedanddrummedonhisdesk.
"InviewofyourprospectivealliancewiththefamilyIshouldliketoconsultyou—toconsiderthecasewithyou—beforetakinganyfarthersteps."
Archerfeltthebloodinhistemples.HehadseentheCountessOlenskaonlyoncesincehisvisittoher,andthenattheOpera,intheMingottbox.
Duringthisintervalshehadbecomealessvividandimportunateimage,recedingfromhisforegroundasMayWellandresumedherrightfulplaceinit.
HehadnotheardherdivorcespokenofsinceJaney'sfirstrandomallusiontoit,andhaddismissedthetaleasunfoundedgossip.
Theoretically,theideaofdivorcewasalmostasdistastefultohimastohismother;andhewasannoyedthatMr.Letterblair(nodoubtpromptedbyoldCatherineMingott)shouldbesoevidentlyplanningtodrawhimintotheaffair.
Afterall,therewereplentyofMingottmenforsuchjobs,andasyethewasnotevenaMingottbymarriage.
Hewaitedfortheseniorpartnertocontinue.Mr.Letterblairunlockedadraweranddrewoutapacket."Ifyouwillrunyoureyeoverthesepapers—"
Archerfrowned."Ibegyourpardon,sir;butjustbecauseoftheprospectiverelationship,IshouldpreferyourconsultingMr.SkipworthorMr.Redwood."
Mr.Letterblairlookedsurprisedandslightlyoffended.Itwasunusualforajuniortorejectsuchanopening.
Hebowed."Irespectyourscruple,sir;butinthiscaseIbelievetruedelicacyrequiresyoutodoasIask.
Indeed,thesuggestionisnotminebutMrs.MansonMingott'sandherson's.
IhaveseenLovellMingott;andalsoMr.Welland.Theyallnamedyou."
Archerfelthistemperrising.Hehadbeensomewhatlanguidlydriftingwitheventsforthelastfortnight,andlettingMay'sfairlooksandradiantnatureobliteratetheratherimportunatepressureoftheMingottclaims.
ButthisbehestofoldMrs.Mingott'srousedhimtoasenseofwhattheclanthoughttheyhadtherighttoexactfromaprospectiveson–in–law;andhechafedattherole.
"Herunclesoughttodealwiththis,"hesaid.
"Theyhave.Thematterhasbeengoneintobythefamily.TheyareopposedtotheCountess'sidea;butsheisfirm,andinsistsonalegalopinion."
Theyoungmanwassilent:hehadnotopenedthepacketinhishand.
"Doesshewanttomarryagain?"
"Ibelieveitissuggested;butshedeniesit."
"Then—"
"Willyouobligeme,Mr.Archer,byfirstlookingthroughthesepapers?Afterward,whenwehavetalkedthecaseover,Iwillgiveyoumyopinion."
Archerwithdrewreluctantlywiththeunwelcomedocuments.
Sincetheirlastmeetinghehadhalf–unconsciouslycollaboratedwitheventsinriddinghimselfoftheburdenofMadameOlenska.
HishouralonewithherbythefirelighthaddrawnthemintoamomentaryintimacyonwhichtheDukeofSt.Austrey'sintrusionwithMrs.LemuelStruthers,andtheCountess'sjoyousgreetingofthem,hadratherprovidentiallybroken.
TwodayslaterArcherhadassistedatthecomedyofherreinstatementinthevanderLuydens'favour,andhadsaidtohimself,withatouchoftartness,thataladywhoknewhowtothankall–powerfulelderlygentlementosuchgoodpurposeforabunchofflowersdidnotneedeithertheprivateconsolationsorthepublicchampionshipofayoungmanofhissmallcompass.
Tolookatthematterinthislightsimplifiedhisowncaseandsurprisinglyfurbishedupallthedimdomesticvirtues.
HecouldnotpictureMayWelland,inwhateverconceivableemergency,hawkingaboutherprivatedifficultiesandlavishingherconfidencesonstrangemen;andshehadneverseemedtohimfinerorfairerthanintheweekthatfollowed.
Hehadevenyieldedtoherwishforalongengagement,sinceshehadfoundtheonedisarminganswertohispleaforhaste.
"Youknow,whenitcomestothepoint,yourparentshavealwaysletyouhaveyourwayeversinceyouwerealittlegirl,"heargued;andshehadanswered,withherclearestlook:"Yes;andthat'swhatmakesitsohardtorefusetheverylastthingthey'lleveraskofmeasalittlegirl."
ThatwastheoldNewYorknote;thatwasthekindofanswerhewouldlikealwaystobesureofhiswife'smaking.
IfonehadhabituallybreathedtheNewYorkairthereweretimeswhenanythinglesscrystallineseemedstifling.
Thepapershehadretiredtoreaddidnottellhimmuchinfact;buttheyplungedhimintoanatmosphereinwhichhechokedandspluttered.
TheyconsistedmainlyofanexchangeoflettersbetweenCountOlenski'ssolicitorsandaFrenchlegalfirmtowhomtheCountesshadappliedforthesettlementofherfinancialsituation.
TherewasalsoashortletterfromtheCounttohiswife:afterreadingit,NewlandArcherrose,jammedthepapersbackintotheirenvelope,andreenteredMr.Letterblair'soffice.
"Herearetheletters,sir.Ifyouwish,I'llseeMadameOlenska,"hesaidinaconstrainedvoice.
"Thankyou—thankyou,Mr.Archer.Comeanddinewithmetonightifyou'refree,andwe'llgointothematterafterward:incaseyouwishtocallonourclienttomorrow."
NewlandArcherwalkedstraighthomeagainthatafternoon.
Itwasawintereveningoftransparentclearness,withaninnocentyoungmoonabovethehouse–tops;andhewantedtofillhissoul'slungswiththepureradiance,andnotexchangeawordwithanyonetillheandMr.Letterblairwereclosetedtogetherafterdinner.
Itwasimpossibletodecideotherwisethanhehaddone:hemustseeMadameOlenskahimselfratherthanlethersecretsbebaredtoothereyes.
Agreatwaveofcompassionhadsweptawayhisindifferenceandimpatience:shestoodbeforehimasanexposedandpitifulfigure,tobesavedatallcostsfromfartherwoundingherselfinhermadplungesagainstfate.
HerememberedwhatshehadtoldhimofMrs.Welland'srequesttobesparedwhateverwas"unpleasant"inherhistory,andwincedatthethoughtthatitwasperhapsthisattitudeofmindwhichkepttheNewYorkairsopure."AreweonlyPhariseesafterall?"
hewondered,puzzledbytheefforttoreconcilehisinstinctivedisgustathumanvilenesswithhisequallyinstinctivepityforhumanfrailty.
Forthefirsttimeheperceivedhowelementaryhisownprincipleshadalwaysbeen.
Hepassedforayoungmanwhohadnotbeenafraidofrisks,andheknewthathissecretlove–affairwithpoorsillyMrs.ThorleyRushworthhadnotbeentoosecrettoinvesthimwithabecomingairofadventure.
ButMrs.Rushworthwas"thatkindofwoman";foolish,vain,clandestinebynature,andfarmoreattractedbythesecrecyandperiloftheaffairthanbysuchcharmsandqualitiesashepossessed.
Whenthefactdawnedonhimitnearlybrokehisheart,butnowitseemedtheredeemingfeatureofthecase.
Theaffair,inshort,hadbeenofthekindthatmostoftheyoungmenofhisagehadbeenthrough,andemergedfromwithcalmconsciencesandanundisturbedbeliefintheabysmaldistinctionbetweenthewomenonelovedandrespectedandthoseoneenjoyed—andpitied.
Inthisviewtheyweresedulouslyabettedbytheirmothers,auntsandotherelderlyfemalerelatives,whoallsharedMrs.Archer'sbeliefthatwhen"suchthingshappened"itwasundoubtedlyfoolishoftheman,butsomehowalwayscriminalofthewoman.
AlltheelderlyladieswhomArcherknewregardedanywomanwholovedimprudentlyasnecessarilyunscrupulousanddesigning,andmeresimple–mindedmanaspowerlessinherclutches.
Theonlythingtodowastopersuadehim,asearlyaspossible,tomarryanicegirl,andthentrusttohertolookafterhim.
InthecomplicatedoldEuropeancommunities,Archerbegantoguess,love–problemsmightbelesssimpleandlesseasilyclassified.
Richandidleandornamentalsocietiesmustproducemanymoresuchsituations;andtheremightevenbeoneinwhichawomannaturallysensitiveandaloofwouldyet,fromtheforceofcircumstances,fromsheerdefencelessnessandloneliness,bedrawnintoatieinexcusablebyconventionalstandards.
OnreachinghomehewrotealinetotheCountessOlenska,askingatwhathourofthenextdayshecouldreceivehim,anddespatcheditbyamessenger–boy,whoreturnedpresentlywithawordtotheeffectthatshewasgoingtoSkuytercliffthenextmorningtostayoverSundaywiththevanderLuydens,butthathewouldfindheralonethateveningafterdinner.
Thenotewaswrittenonaratheruntidyhalf–sheet,withoutdateoraddress,butherhandwasfirmandfree.
Hewasamusedattheideaofherweek–endinginthestatelysolitudeofSkuytercliff,butimmediatelyafterwardfeltthatthere,ofallplaces,shewouldmostfeelthechillofmindsrigorouslyavertedfromthe"unpleasant."
HewasatMr.Letterblair'spunctuallyatseven,gladofthepretextforexcusinghimselfsoonafterdinner.
Hehadformedhisownopinionfromthepapersentrustedtohim,anddidnotespeciallywanttogointothematterwithhisseniorpartner.
Mr.Letterblairwasawidower,andtheydinedalone,copiouslyandslowly,inadarkshabbyroomhungwithyellowingprintsof"TheDeathofChatham"and"TheCoronationofNapoleon."
Onthesideboard,betweenflutedSheratonknife–cases,stoodadecanterofHautBrion,andanotheroftheoldLanningport(thegiftofaclient),whichthewastrelTomLanninghadsoldoffayearortwobeforehismysteriousanddiscreditabledeathinSanFrancisco—anincidentlesspubliclyhumiliatingtothefamilythanthesaleofthecellar.
Afteravelvetyoystersoupcameshadandcucumbers,thenayoungbroiledturkeywithcornfritters,followedbyacanvas–backwithcurrantjellyandacelerymayonnaise.
Mr.Letterblair,wholunchedonasandwichandtea,dineddeliberatelyanddeeply,andinsistedonhisguest'sdoingthesame.
Finally,whentheclosingriteshadbeenaccomplished,theclothwasremoved,cigarswerelit,andMr.Letterblair,leaningbackinhischairandpushingtheportwestward,said,spreadinghisbackagreeablytothecoalfirebehindhim:"Thewholefamilyareagainstadivorce.AndIthinkrightly."
Archerinstantlyfelthimselfontheothersideoftheargument."Butwhy,sir?Ifthereeverwasacase—"
"Well—what'stheuse?SHE'Shere—he'sthere;theAtlantic'sbetweenthem.
She'llnevergetbackadollarmoreofhermoneythanwhathe'svoluntarilyreturnedtoher:theirdamnedheathenmarriagesettlementstakepreciousgoodcareofthat.
Asthingsgooverthere,Olenski'sactedgenerously:hemighthaveturnedheroutwithoutapenny."
Theyoungmanknewthisandwassilent.
"Iunderstand,though,"Mr.Letterblaircontinued,"thatsheattachesnoimportancetothemoney.Therefore,asthefamilysay,whynotletwellenoughalone?"
ArcherhadgonetothehouseanhourearlierinfullagreementwithMr.Letterblair'sview;butputintowordsbythisselfish,well–fedandsupremelyindifferentoldmanitsuddenlybecamethePharisaicvoiceofasocietywhollyabsorbedinbarricadingitselfagainsttheunpleasant.
"Ithinkthat'sforhertodecide."
"H'm—haveyouconsideredtheconsequencesifshedecidesfordivorce?"
"Youmeanthethreatinherhusband'sletter?Whatweightwouldthatcarry?It'snomorethanthevaguechargeofanangryblackguard."
"Yes;butitmightmakesomeunpleasanttalkifhereallydefendsthesuit."
"Unpleasant—!"saidArcherexplosively.
Mr.Letterblairlookedathimfromunderenquiringeyebrows,andtheyoungman,awareoftheuselessnessoftryingtoexplainwhatwasinhismind,bowedacquiescentlywhilehisseniorcontinued:"Divorceisalwaysunpleasant."
"Youagreewithme?"Mr.Letterblairresumed,afterawaitingsilence.
"Naturally,"saidArcher.
"Well,then,Imaycountonyou;theMingottsmaycountonyou;touseyourinfluenceagainsttheidea?"
Archerhesitated."Ican'tpledgemyselftillI'veseentheCountessOlenska,"hesaidatlength.
"Mr.Archer,Idon'tunderstandyou.Doyouwanttomarryintoafamilywithascandalousdivorce–suithangingoverit?"
"Idon'tthinkthathasanythingtodowiththecase."
Mr.Letterblairputdownhisglassofportandfixedonhisyoungpartneracautiousandapprehensivegaze.
Archerunderstoodthatherantheriskofhavinghismandatewithdrawn,andforsomeobscurereasonhedislikedtheprospect.
Nowthatthejobhadbeenthrustonhimhedidnotproposetorelinquishit;and,toguardagainstthepossibility,hesawthathemustreassuretheunimaginativeoldmanwhowasthelegalconscienceoftheMingotts.
"Youmaybesure,sir,thatIshan'tcommitmyselftillI'vereportedtoyou;whatImeantwasthatI'drathernotgiveanopiniontillI'veheardwhatMadameOlenskahastosay."
Mr.LetterblairnoddedapprovinglyatanexcessofcautionworthyofthebestNewYorktradition,andtheyoungman,glancingathiswatch,pleadedanengagementandtookleave.
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