Inthemorninghehadaspinintheice–boatwithhishostessandafewofthehardierguests;intheafternoonhe"wentoverthefarm"withReggie,andlistened,intheelaboratelyappointedstables,tolongandimpressivedisquisitionsonthehorse;afterteahetalkedinacornerofthefirelithallwithayoungladywhohadprofessedherselfbroken–heartedwhenhisengagementwasannounced,butwasnoweagertotellhimofherownmatrimonialhopes;andfinally,aboutmidnight,heassistedinputtingagold–fishinonevisitor'sbed,dressedupaburglarinthebath–roomofanervousaunt,andsawinthesmallhoursbyjoininginapillow–fightthatrangedfromthenurseriestothebasement.
ThehousehadbeenbuiltbyMr.vanderLuydeninhisyouth,onhisreturnfromthe"grandtour,"andinanticipationofhisapproachingmarriagewithMissLouisaDagonet.
Itwasalargesquarewoodenstructure,withtonguedandgroovedwallspaintedpalegreenandwhite,aCorinthianportico,andflutedpilastersbetweenthewindows.
Fromthehighgroundonwhichitstoodaseriesofterracesborderedbybalustradesandurnsdescendedinthesteel–engravingstyletoasmallirregularlakewithanasphaltedgeoverhungbyrareweepingconifers.
Totherightandleft,thefamousweedlesslawnsstuddedwith"specimen"trees(eachofadifferentvariety)rolledawaytolongrangesofgrasscrestedwithelaboratecast–ironornaments;andbelow,inahollow,laythefour–roomedstonehousewhichthefirstPatroonhadbuiltonthelandgrantedhimin1612.
AgainsttheuniformsheetofsnowandthegreyishwinterskytheItalianvillaloomeduprathergrimly;eveninsummeritkeptitsdistance,andtheboldestcoleusbedhadneverventurednearerthanthirtyfeetfromitsawfulfront.
Now,asArcherrangthebell,thelongtinkleseemedtoechothroughamausoleum;andthesurpriseofthebutlerwhoatlengthrespondedtothecallwasasgreatasthoughhehadbeensummonedfromhisfinalsleep.
HappilyArcherwasofthefamily,andtherefore,irregularthoughhisarrivalwas,entitledtobeinformedthattheCountessOlenskawasout,havingdriventoafternoonservicewithMrs.vanderLuydenexactlythreequartersofanhourearlier.
"Mr.vanderLuyden,"thebutlercontinued,"isin,sir;butmyimpressionisthatheiseitherfinishinghisnaporelsereadingyesterday'sEveningPost.
Iheardhimsay,sir,onhisreturnfromchurchthismorning,thatheintendedtolookthroughtheEveningPostafterluncheon;ifyoulike,sir,Imightgotothelibrarydoorandlisten—"
ButArcher,thankinghim,saidthathewouldgoandmeettheladies;andthebutler,obviouslyrelieved,closedthedooronhimmajestically.
ThevillageofSkuytercliffwasonlyamileandahalfaway,butheknewthatMrs.vanderLuydenneverwalked,andthathemustkeeptotheroadtomeetthecarriage.
Presently,however,comingdownafoot–paththatcrossedthehighway,hecaughtsightofaslightfigureinaredcloak,withabigdogrunningahead.
Theredcloakmadeherlookgayandvivid,liketheEllenMingottofolddays;andhelaughedashetookherhand,andanswered:"Icametoseewhatyouwererunningawayfrom."
Sheshruggedhershoulders,withalittlemovementlikeNastasia's,andrejoinedinalightertone:"Shallwewalkon?I'msocoldafterthesermon.
"Oh,presently—let'srunaracefirst:myfeetarefreezingtotheground,"shecried;andgatheringupthecloakshefledawayacrossthesnow,thedogleapingaboutherwithchallengingbarks.
ForamomentArcherstoodwatching,hisgazedelightedbytheflashoftheredmeteoragainstthesnow;thenhestartedafterher,andtheymet,pantingandlaughing,atawicketthatledintothepark.
Thewhiteglitterofthetreesfilledtheairwithitsownmysteriousbrightness,andastheywalkedonoverthesnowthegroundseemedtosingundertheirfeet.
"Youmean—I'msoevidentlyhelplessanddefenceless?Whatapoorthingyoumustallthinkme!Butwomenhereseemnot—seemnevertofeeltheneed:anymorethantheblessedinheaven."
"Oh,myfriend—!"Shelaidherhandlightlyonhisarm,andhepleadedearnestly:"Ellen—whywon'tyoutellmewhat'shappened?"
Onecan'tbealoneforaminuteinthatgreatseminaryofahouse,withallthedoorswideopen,andalwaysaservantbringingtea,oralogforthefire,orthenewspaper!
IalwaysfeelasifIwereintheconventagain—oronthestage,beforeadreadfullypoliteaudiencethatneverapplauds."
TheywerewalkingpastthehouseoftheoldPatroon,withitssquatwallsandsmallsquarewindowscompactlygroupedaboutacentralchimney.
Iwantedtoseeit,andMr.vanderLuydenhadthefirelitandthewindowsopened,sothatwemightstopthereonthewaybackfromchurchthismorning."
Mrs.vanderLuydenhasdrivenovertoseeheroldauntsatRhinebeckandweshan'tbemissedatthehouseforanotherhour."
Thehomelylittlehousestoodthere,itspanelsandbrassesshininginthefirelight,asifmagicallycreatedtoreceivethem.
Rush–bottomedarm–chairsfacedeachotheracrossthetiledhearth,androwsofDelftplatesstoodonshelvesagainstthewalls.
Thewordsstolethroughhimlikeatemptation,andtoclosehissensestoithemovedawayfromthehearthandstoodgazingoutattheblacktree–bolesagainstthesnow.
Butitwasasifshetoohadshiftedherplace,andhestillsawher,betweenhimselfandthetrees,droopingoverthefirewithherindolentsmile.
Whatifitwerefromhimthatshehadbeenrunningaway,andifshehadwaitedtotellhimsotilltheywereherealonetogetherinthissecretroom?
"Ellen,ifI'mreallyahelptoyou—ifyoureallywantedmetocome—tellmewhat'swrong,tellmewhatitisyou'rerunningawayfrom,"heinsisted.
Hespokewithoutshiftinghisposition,withouteventurningtolookather:ifthethingwastohappen,itwastohappeninthisway,withthewholewidthoftheroombetweenthem,andhiseyesstillfixedontheoutersnow.
Foralongmomentshewassilent;andinthatmomentArcherimaginedher,almostheardher,stealingupbehindhimtothrowherlightarmsabouthisneck.
Whilehewaited,soulandbodythrobbingwiththemiracletocome,hiseyesmechanicallyreceivedtheimageofaheavily–coatedmanwithhisfurcollarturnedupwhowasadvancingalongthepathtothehouse.ThemanwasJuliusBeaufort.
MadameOlenskahadsprungupandmovedtohisside,slippingherhandintohis;butafteraglancethroughthewindowherfacepaledandsheshrankback.
"Ididn'tknowhewashere,"MadameOlenskamurmured.HerhandstillclungtoArcher's;buthedrewawayfromher,andwalkingoutintothepassagethrewopenthedoorofthehouse.
DuringhisjourneybacktoNewYorkthenextmorning,ArcherrelivedwithafatiguingvividnesshislastmomentsatSkuytercliff.
Beaufort,thoughclearlyannoyedatfindinghimwithMadameOlenska,had,asusual,carriedoffthesituationhigh–handedly.
Hiswayofignoringpeoplewhosepresenceinconveniencedhimactuallygavethem,iftheyweresensitivetoit,afeelingofinvisibility,ofnonexistence.
Archer,asthethreestrolledbackthroughthepark,wasawareofthisoddsenseofdisembodiment;andhumblingasitwastohisvanityitgavehimtheghostlyadvantageofobservingunobserved.
Beauforthadenteredthelittlehousewithhisusualeasyassurance;buthecouldnotsmileawaytheverticallinebetweenhiseyes.
ItwasfairlyclearthatMadameOlenskahadnotknownthathewascoming,thoughherwordstoArcherhadhintedatthepossibility;atanyrate,shehadevidentlynottoldhimwhereshewasgoingwhensheleftNewYork,andherunexplaineddeparturehadexasperatedhim.
Theostensiblereasonofhisappearancewasthediscovery,theverynightbefore,ofa"perfectlittlehouse,"notinthemarket,whichwasreallyjustthethingforher,butwouldbesnappedupinstantlyifshedidn'ttakeit;andhewasloudinmock–reproachesforthedanceshehadledhiminrunningawayjustashehadfoundit.
"IfonlythisnewdodgefortalkingalongawirehadbeenalittlebitnearerperfectionImighthavetoldyouallthisfromtown,andbeentoastingmytoesbeforetheclubfireatthisminute,insteadoftrampingafteryouthroughthesnow,"hegrumbled,disguisingarealirritationunderthepretenceofit;andatthisopeningMadameOlenskatwistedthetalkawaytothefantasticpossibilitythattheymightonedayactuallyconversewitheachotherfromstreettostreet,oreven—incredibledream!
ThisstruckfromallthreeallusionstoEdgarPoeandJulesVerne,andsuchplatitudesasnaturallyrisetothelipsofthemostintelligentwhentheyaretalkingagainsttime,anddealingwithanewinventioninwhichitwouldseemingenuoustobelievetoosoon;andthequestionofthetelephonecarriedthemsafelybacktothebighouse.
Mrs.vanderLuydenhadnotyetreturned;andArchertookhisleaveandwalkedofftofetchthecutter,whileBeaufortfollowedtheCountessOlenskaindoors.
Itwasprobablethat,littleasthevanderLuydensencouragedunannouncedvisits,hecouldcountonbeingaskedtodine,andsentbacktothestationtocatchthenineo'clocktrain;butmorethanthathewouldcertainlynotget,foritwouldbeinconceivabletohishoststhatagentlemantravellingwithoutluggageshouldwishtospendthenight,anddistastefultothemtoproposeittoapersonwithwhomtheywereontermsofsuchlimitedcordialityasBeaufort.
Beaufortknewallthis,andmusthaveforeseenit;andhistakingthelongjourneyforsosmallarewardgavethemeasureofhisimpatience.
HewasundeniablyinpursuitoftheCountessOlenska;andBeauforthadonlyoneobjectinviewinhispursuitofprettywomen.
Hisdullandchildlesshomehadlongsincepalledonhim;andinadditiontomorepermanentconsolationshewasalwaysinquestofamorousadventuresinhisownset.
ThiswasthemanfromwhomMadameOlenskawasavowedlyflying:thequestionwaswhethershehadfledbecausehisimportunitiesdispleasedher,orbecauseshedidnotwhollytrustherselftoresistthem;unless,indeed,allhertalkofflighthadbeenablind,andherdeparturenomorethanamanoeuvre.
Archerdidnotreallybelievethis.LittleashehadactuallyseenofMadameOlenska,hewasbeginningtothinkthathecouldreadherface,andifnotherface,hervoice;andbothhadbetrayedannoyance,andevendismay,atBeaufort'ssuddenappearance.
But,afterall,ifthiswerethecase,wasitnotworsethanifshehadleftNewYorkfortheexpresspurposeofmeetinghim?
Ifshehaddonethat,sheceasedtobeanobjectofinterest,shethrewinherlotwiththevulgarestofdissemblers:awomanengagedinaloveaffairwithBeaufort"classed"herselfirretrievably.
No,itwasworseathousandtimesif,judgingBeaufort,andprobablydespisinghim,shewasyetdrawntohimbyallthatgavehimanadvantageovertheothermenabouther:hishabitoftwocontinentsandtwosocieties,hisfamiliarassociationwithartistsandactorsandpeoplegenerallyintheworld'seye,andhiscarelesscontemptforlocalprejudices.
Beaufortwasvulgar,hewasuneducated,hewaspurse–proud;butthecircumstancesofhislife,andacertainnativeshrewdness,madehimbetterworthtalkingtothanmanymen,morallyandsociallyhisbetters,whosehorizonwasboundedbytheBatteryandtheCentralPark.
MadameOlenska,inaburstofirritation,hadsaidtoArcherthatheandshedidnottalkthesamelanguage;andtheyoungmanknewthatinsomerespectsthiswastrue.
ButBeaufortunderstoodeveryturnofherdialect,andspokeitfluently:hisviewoflife,histone,hisattitude,weremerelyacoarserreflectionofthoserevealedinCountOlenski'sletter.
ThismightseemtobetohisdisadvantagewithCountOlenski'swife;butArcherwastoointelligenttothinkthatayoungwomanlikeEllenOlenskawouldnecessarilyrecoilfromeverythingthatremindedherofherpast.
Shemightbelieveherselfwhollyinrevoltagainstit;butwhathadcharmedherinitwouldstillcharmher,eventhoughitwereagainstherwill.
Alongingtoenlightenherwasstronginhim;andthereweremomentswhenheimaginedthatallsheaskedwastobeenlightened.
Theboxwasfullofthingshehadbeenwaitingforimpatiently;anewvolumeofHerbertSpencer,anothercollectionoftheprolificAlphonseDaudet'sbrillianttales,andanovelcalled"Middlemarch,"astowhichtherehadlatelybeeninterestingthingssaidinthereviews.
Hehaddeclinedthreedinnerinvitationsinfavourofthisfeast;butthoughheturnedthepageswiththesensuousjoyofthebook–lover,hedidnotknowwhathewasreading,andonebookafteranotherdroppedfromhishand.
Suddenly,amongthem,helitonasmallvolumeofversewhichhehadorderedbecausethenamehadattractedhim:"TheHouseofLife."
Hetookitup,andfoundhimselfplungedinanatmosphereunlikeanyhehadeverbreathedinbooks;sowarm,sorich,andyetsoineffablytender,thatitgaveanewandhauntingbeautytothemostelementaryofhumanpassions.
AllthroughthenighthepursuedthroughthoseenchantedpagesthevisionofawomanwhohadthefaceofEllenOlenska;butwhenhewokethenextmorning,andlookedoutatthebrownstonehousesacrossthestreet,andthoughtofhisdeskinMr.Letterblair'soffice,andthefamilypewinGraceChurch,hishourintheparkofSkuytercliffbecameasfaroutsidethepaleofprobabilityasthevisionsofthenight.
"Mercy,howpaleyoulook,Newland!"Janeycommentedoverthecoffee–cupsatbreakfast;andhismotheradded:"Newland,dear,I'venoticedlatelythatyou'vebeencoughing;Idohopeyou'renotlettingyourselfbeoverworked?"
Foritwastheconvictionofbothladiesthat,undertheirondespotismofhisseniorpartners,theyoungman'slifewasspentinthemostexhaustingprofessionallabours—andhehadneverthoughtitnecessarytoundeceivethem.
Thetasteoftheusualwaslikecindersinhismouth,andthereweremomentswhenhefeltasifhewerebeingburiedaliveunderhisfuture.
HeheardnothingoftheCountessOlenska,oroftheperfectlittlehouse,andthoughhemetBeaufortattheclubtheymerelynoddedateachotheracrossthewhist–tables.
Afterdinnerhewenttoaplay;anditwasnotuntilhisreturnhome,aftermidnight,thathedrewMadameOlenska'smissiveoutagainandre–readitslowlyanumberoftimes.
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