English
"Whatareyoutwoplottingtogether,auntMedora?"MadameOlenskacriedasshecameintotheroom.
Shewasdressedasifforaball.Everythingabouthershimmeredandglimmeredsoftly,asifherdresshadbeenwovenoutofcandle–beams;andshecarriedherheadhigh,likeaprettywomanchallengingaroomfulofrivals.
"Weweresaying,mydear,thatherewassomethingbeautifultosurpriseyouwith,"Mrs.Mansonrejoined,risingtoherfeetandpointingarchlytotheflowers.
MadameOlenskastoppedshortandlookedatthebouquet.
Hercolourdidnotchange,butasortofwhiteradianceofangerranoverherlikesummerlightning.
"Ah,"sheexclaimed,inashrillvoicethattheyoungmanhadneverheard,"whoisridiculousenoughtosendmeabouquet?Whyabouquet?Andwhytonightofallnights?
Iamnotgoingtoaball;Iamnotagirlengagedtobemarried.Butsomepeoplearealwaysridiculous."
Sheturnedbacktothedoor,openedit,andcalledout:"Nastasia!"
Theubiquitoushandmaidenpromptlyappeared,andArcherheardMadameOlenskasay,inanItalianthatsheseemedtopronouncewithintentionaldeliberatenessinorderthathemightfollowit:"Here—throwthisintothedustbin!"
andthen,asNastasiastaredprotestingly:"Butno—it'snotthefaultofthepoorflowers.
Telltheboytocarrythemtothehousethreedoorsaway,thehouseofMr.Winsett,thedarkgentlemanwhodinedhere.
Hiswifeisill—theymaygiveherpleasure...Theboyisout,yousay?
Then,mydearone,runyourself;here,putmycloakoveryouandfly.
Iwantthethingoutofthehouseimmediately!
And,asyoulive,don'tsaytheycomefromme!"
Sheflunghervelvetoperacloakoverthemaid'sshouldersandturnedbackintothedrawing–room,shuttingthedoorsharply.
Herbosomwasrisinghighunderitslace,andforamomentArcherthoughtshewasabouttocry;butsheburstintoalaughinstead,andlookingfromtheMarchionesstoArcher,askedabruptly:"Andyoutwo—haveyoumadefriends!"
"It'sforMr.Archertosay,darling;hehaswaitedpatientlywhileyouweredressing."
"Yes—Igaveyoutimeenough:myhairwouldn'tgo,"MadameOlenskasaid,raisingherhandtotheheaped–upcurlsofherchignon.
"Butthatremindsme:IseeDr.Carverisgone,andyou'llbelateattheBlenkers'.
Mr.Archer,willyouputmyauntinthecarriage?"
ShefollowedtheMarchionessintothehall,sawherfittedintoamiscellaneousheapofovershoes,shawlsandtippets,andcalledfromthedoorstep:"Mind,thecarriageistobebackformeatten!"
Thenshereturnedtothedrawing–room,whereArcher,onre–enteringit,foundherstandingbythemantelpiece,examiningherselfinthemirror.
Itwasnotusual,inNewYorksociety,foraladytoaddressherparlour–maidas"mydearone,"andsendheroutonanerrandwrappedinherownopera–cloak;andArcher,throughallhisdeeperfeelings,tastedthepleasurableexcitementofbeinginaworldwhereactionfollowedonemotionwithsuchOlympianspeed.
MadameOlenskadidnotmovewhenhecameupbehindher,andforasecondtheireyesmetinthemirror;thensheturned,threwherselfintohersofa–corner,andsighedout:"There'stimeforacigarette."
Hehandedhertheboxandlitaspillforher;andastheflameflashedupintoherfacesheglancedathimwithlaughingeyesandsaid:"Whatdoyouthinkofmeinatemper?"
Archerpausedamoment;thenheansweredwithsuddenresolution:"Itmakesmeunderstandwhatyouraunthasbeensayingaboutyou."
"Iknewshe'dbeentalkingaboutme.Well?"
"Shesaidyouwereusedtoallkindsofthings—splendoursandamusementsandexcitements—thatwecouldneverhopetogiveyouhere."
MadameOlenskasmiledfaintlyintothecircleofsmokeaboutherlips.
"Medoraisincorrigiblyromantic.Ithasmadeuptoherforsomanythings!"
Archerhesitatedagain,andagaintookhisrisk."Isyouraunt'sromanticismalwaysconsistentwithaccuracy?"
"Youmean:doesshespeakthetruth?"Herniececonsidered.
"Well,I'lltellyou:inalmosteverythingshesays,there'ssomethingtrueandsomethinguntrue.Butwhydoyouask?Whathasshebeentellingyou?"
Helookedawayintothefire,andthenbackathershiningpresence.
Hishearttightenedwiththethoughtthatthiswastheirlasteveningbythatfireside,andthatinamomentthecarriagewouldcometocarryheraway.
"Shesays—shepretendsthatCountOlenskihasaskedhertopersuadeyoutogobacktohim."
MadameOlenskamadenoanswer.Shesatmotionless,holdinghercigaretteinherhalf–liftedhand.
Theexpressionofherfacehadnotchanged;andArcherrememberedthathehadbeforenoticedherapparentincapacityforsurprise.
"Youknew,then?"hebrokeout.
Shewassilentforsolongthattheashdroppedfromhercigarette.Shebrushedittothefloor."Shehashintedaboutaletter:poordarling!Medora'shints—"
"Isitatyourhusband'srequestthatshehasarrivedheresuddenly?"
MadameOlenskaseemedtoconsiderthisquestionalso."Thereagain:onecan'ttell.
Shetoldmeshehadhada'spiritualsummons,'whateverthatis,fromDr.Carver.
I'mafraidshe'sgoingtomarryDr.Carver...poorMedora,there'salwayssomeoneshewantstomarry.
ButperhapsthepeopleinCubajustgottiredofher!
Ithinkshewaswiththemasasortofpaidcompanion.Really,Idon'tknowwhyshecame."
"Butyoudobelieveshehasaletterfromyourhusband?"
AgainMadameOlenskabroodedsilently;thenshesaid:"Afterall,itwastobeexpected."
Theyoungmanroseandwenttoleanagainstthefireplace.
Asuddenrestlessnesspossessedhim,andhewastongue–tiedbythesensethattheirminuteswerenumbered,andthatatanymomenthemighthearthewheelsofthereturningcarriage.
"Youknowthatyourauntbelievesyouwillgoback?"
MadameOlenskaraisedherheadquickly.Adeepblushrosetoherfaceandspreadoverherneckandshoulders.Sheblushedseldomandpainfully,asifithurtherlikeaburn.
"Manycruelthingshavebeenbelievedofme,"shesaid.
"Oh,Ellen—forgiveme;I'mafoolandabrute!"
Shesmiledalittle."Youarehorriblynervous;youhaveyourowntroubles.
IknowyouthinktheWellandsareunreasonableaboutyourmarriage,andofcourseIagreewithyou.
InEuropepeopledon'tunderstandourlongAmericanengagements;Isupposetheyarenotascalmasweare."
Shepronouncedthe"we"withafaintemphasisthatgaveitanironicsound.
Archerfelttheironybutdidnotdaretotakeitup.
Afterall,shehadperhapspurposelydeflectedtheconversationfromherownaffairs,andafterthepainhislastwordshadevidentlycausedherhefeltthatallhecoulddowastofollowherlead.
Butthesenseofthewaninghourmadehimdesperate:hecouldnotbearthethoughtthatabarrierofwordsshoulddropbetweenthemagain.
"Yes,"hesaidabruptly;"IwentsouthtoaskMaytomarrymeafterEaster.There'snoreasonwhyweshouldn'tbemarriedthen."
"AndMayadoresyou—andyetyoucouldn'tconvinceher?Ithoughthertoointelligenttobetheslaveofsuchabsurdsuperstitions."
"SheIStoointelligent—she'snottheirslave."
MadameOlenskalookedathim."Well,then—Idon'tunderstand."
Archerreddened,andhurriedonwitharush."Wehadafranktalk—almostthefirst.Shethinksmyimpatienceabadsign."
"Mercifulheavens—abadsign?"
"ShethinksitmeansthatIcan'ttrustmyselftogooncaringforher.Shethinks,inshort,IwanttomarryheratoncetogetawayfromsomeonethatI—careformore."
MadameOlenskaexaminedthiscuriously."Butifshethinksthat—whyisn'tsheinahurrytoo?"
"Becauseshe'snotlikethat:she'ssomuchnobler.Sheinsistsallthemoreonthelongengagement,togivemetime—"
"Timetogiveherupfortheotherwoman?"
"IfIwantto."
MadameOlenskaleanedtowardthefireandgazedintoitwithfixedeyes.DownthequietstreetArcherheardtheapproachingtrotofherhorses.
"ThatISnoble,"shesaid,withaslightbreakinhervoice.
"Yes.Butit'sridiculous."
"Ridiculous?Becauseyoudon'tcareforanyoneelse?"
"BecauseIdon'tmeantomarryanyoneelse."
"Ah."Therewasanotherlonginterval.Atlengthshelookedupathimandasked:"Thisotherwoman—doessheloveyou?"
"Oh,there'snootherwoman;Imean,thepersonthatMaywasthinkingofis—wasnever—"
"Then,why,afterall,areyouinsuchhaste?"
"There'syourcarriage,"saidArcher.
Shehalf–roseandlookedaboutherwithabsenteyes.Herfanandgloveslayonthesofabesideherandshepickedthemupmechanically.
"Yes;IsupposeImustbegoing."
"You'regoingtoMrs.Struthers's?"
"Yes."Shesmiledandadded:"ImustgowhereIaminvited,orIshouldbetoolonely.Whynotcomewithme?"
Archerfeltthatatanycosthemustkeepherbesidehim,mustmakehergivehimtherestofherevening.
Ignoringherquestion,hecontinuedtoleanagainstthechimney–piece,hiseyesfixedonthehandinwhichsheheldherglovesandfan,asifwatchingtoseeifhehadthepowertomakeherdropthem.
"Mayguessedthetruth,"hesaid."Thereisanotherwoman—butnottheoneshethinks."
EllenOlenskamadenoanswer,anddidnotmove.Afteramomenthesatdownbesideher,and,takingherhand,softlyunclaspedit,sothattheglovesandfanfellonthesofabetweenthem.
Shestartedup,andfreeingherselffromhimmovedawaytotheothersideofthehearth."Ah,don'tmakelovetome!Toomanypeoplehavedonethat,"shesaid,frowning.
Archer,changingcolour,stoodupalso:itwasthebitterestrebukeshecouldhavegivenhim.
"Ihavenevermadelovetoyou,"hesaid,"andInevershall.
ButyouarethewomanIwouldhavemarriedifithadbeenpossibleforeitherofus."
"Possibleforeitherofus?"Shelookedathimwithunfeignedastonishment."Andyousaythat—whenit'syouwho'vemadeitimpossible?"
Hestaredather,gropinginablacknessthroughwhichasinglearrowoflighttoreitsblindingway.
"I'VEmadeitimpossible—?"
"You,you,YOU!"shecried,herliptremblinglikeachild'sonthevergeoftears.
"Isn'tityouwhomademegiveupdivorcing—giveitupbecauseyoushowedmehowselfishandwickeditwas,howonemustsacrificeone'sselftopreservethedignityofmarriage...andtospareone'sfamilythepublicity,thescandal?
Andbecausemyfamilywasgoingtobeyourfamily—forMay'ssakeandforyours—Ididwhatyoutoldme,whatyouprovedtomethatIoughttodo.
Ah,"shebrokeoutwithasuddenlaugh,"I'vemadenosecretofhavingdoneitforyou!"
Shesankdownonthesofaagain,crouchingamongthefestiveripplesofherdresslikeastrickenmasquerader;andtheyoungmanstoodbythefireplaceandcontinuedtogazeatherwithoutmoving.
"GoodGod,"hegroaned."WhenIthought—"
"Youthought?"
"Ah,don'taskmewhatIthought!"
Stilllookingather,hesawthesameburningflushcreepuphernecktoherface.Shesatupright,facinghimwitharigiddignity.
"Idoaskyou."
"Well,then:therewerethingsinthatletteryouaskedmetoread—"
"Myhusband'sletter?"
"Yes."
"Ihadnothingtofearfromthatletter:absolutelynothing!AllIfearedwastobringnotoriety,scandal,onthefamily—onyouandMay."
"GoodGod,"hegroanedagain,bowinghisfaceinhishands.
Thesilencethatfollowedlayonthemwiththeweightofthingsfinalandirrevocable.
ItseemedtoArchertobecrushinghimdownlikehisowngrave–stone;inallthewidefuturehesawnothingthatwouldeverliftthatloadfromhisheart.
Hedidnotmovefromhisplace,orraisehisheadfromhishands;hishiddeneyeballswentonstaringintoutterdarkness.
"AtleastIlovedyou—"hebroughtout.
Ontheothersideofthehearth,fromthesofa–cornerwherehesupposedthatshestillcrouched,heheardafaintstifledcryinglikeachild's.Hestartedupandcametoherside.
"Ellen!Whatmadness!Whyareyoucrying?Nothing'sdonethatcan'tbeundone.
I'mstillfree,andyou'regoingtobe."
Hehadherinhisarms,herfacelikeawetflowerathislips,andalltheirvainterrorsshrivellinguplikeghostsatsunrise.
Theonethingthatastonishedhimnowwasthatheshouldhavestoodforfiveminutesarguingwithheracrossthewidthoftheroom,whenjusttouchinghermadeeverythingsosimple.
Shegavehimbackallhiskiss,butafteramomenthefeltherstiffeninginhisarms,andsheputhimasideandstoodup.
"Ah,mypoorNewland—Isupposethishadtobe.Butitdoesn'tintheleastalterthings,"shesaid,lookingdownathiminherturnfromthehearth.
"Italtersthewholeoflifeforme."
"No,no—itmustn't,itcan't.You'reengagedtoMayWelland;andI'mmarried."
Hestooduptoo,flushedandresolute."Nonsense!It'stoolateforthatsortofthing.
We'venorighttolietootherpeopleortoourselves.
Wewon'ttalkofyourmarriage;butdoyouseememarryingMayafterthis?"
Shestoodsilent,restingherthinelbowsonthemantelpiece,herprofilereflectedintheglassbehindher.
Oneofthelocksofherchignonhadbecomeloosenedandhungonherneck;shelookedhaggardandalmostold.
"Idon'tseeyou,"shesaidatlength,"puttingthatquestiontoMay.Doyou?"
Hegavearecklessshrug."It'stoolatetodoanythingelse."
"Yousaythatbecauseit'stheeasiestthingtosayatthismoment—notbecauseit'strue.Inrealityit'stoolatetodoanythingbutwhatwe'dbothdecidedon."
"Ah,Idon'tunderstandyou!"
Sheforcedapitifulsmilethatpinchedherfaceinsteadofsmoothingit.
"Youdon'tunderstandbecauseyouhaven'tyetguessedhowyou'vechangedthingsforme:oh,fromthefirst—longbeforeIknewallyou'ddone."
"AllI'ddone?"
"Yes.Iwasperfectlyunconsciousatfirstthatpeopleherewereshyofme—thattheythoughtIwasadreadfulsortofperson.
Itseemstheyhadevenrefusedtomeetmeatdinner.
Ifoundthatoutafterward;andhowyou'dmadeyourmothergowithyoutothevanderLuydens';andhowyou'dinsistedonannouncingyourengagementattheBeaufortball,sothatImighthavetwofamiliestostandbymeinsteadofone—"
Atthathebrokeintoalaugh.
"Justimagine,"shesaid,"howstupidandunobservantIwas!
IknewnothingofallthistillGrannyblurteditoutoneday.
NewYorksimplymeantpeaceandfreedomtome:itwascominghome.
AndIwassohappyatbeingamongmyownpeoplethateveryoneImetseemedkindandgood,andgladtoseeme.
Butfromtheverybeginning,"shecontinued,"Ifelttherewasnooneaskindasyou;noonewhogavemereasonsthatIunderstoodfordoingwhatatfirstseemedsohardand—unnecessary.
Theverygoodpeopledidn'tconvinceme;Ifeltthey'dneverbeentempted.
Butyouknew;youunderstood;youhadfelttheworldoutsidetuggingatonewithallitsgoldenhands—andyetyouhatedthethingsitasksofone;youhatedhappinessboughtbydisloyaltyandcrueltyandindifference.
ThatwaswhatI'dneverknownbefore—andit'sbetterthananythingI'veknown."
Shespokeinalowevenvoice,withouttearsorvisibleagitation;andeachword,asitdroppedfromher,fellintohisbreastlikeburninglead.
Hesatbowedover,hisheadbetweenhishands,staringatthehearthrug,andatthetipofthesatinshoethatshowedunderherdress.
Suddenlyhekneltdownandkissedtheshoe.
Shebentoverhim,layingherhandsonhisshoulders,andlookingathimwitheyessodeepthatheremainedmotionlessunderhergaze.
"Ah,don'tletusundowhatyou'vedone!"shecried."Ican'tgobacknowtothatotherwayofthinking.Ican'tloveyouunlessIgiveyouup."
Hisarmswereyearninguptoher;butshedrewaway,andtheyremainedfacingeachother,dividedbythedistancethatherwordshadcreated.Then,abruptly,hisangeroverflowed.
"AndBeaufort?Ishetoreplaceme?"
Asthewordssprangouthewaspreparedforanansweringflareofanger;andhewouldhavewelcomeditasfuelforhisown.
ButMadameOlenskaonlygrewashadepaler,andstoodwithherarmshangingdownbeforeher,andherheadslightlybent,asherwaywaswhensheponderedaquestion.
"He'swaitingforyounowatMrs.Struthers's;whydon'tyougotohim?"Archersneered.
Sheturnedtoringthebell."Ishallnotgooutthisevening;tellthecarriagetogoandfetchtheSignoraMarchesa,"shesaidwhenthemaidcame.
AfterthedoorhadclosedagainArchercontinuedtolookatherwithbittereyes."Whythissacrifice?Sinceyoutellmethatyou'relonelyI'venorighttokeepyoufromyourfriends."
Shesmiledalittleunderherwetlashes."Ishan'tbelonelynow.IWASlonely;IWASafraid.
Buttheemptinessandthedarknessaregone;whenIturnbackintomyselfnowI'mlikeachildgoingatnightintoaroomwherethere'salwaysalight."
Hertoneandherlookstillenvelopedherinasoftinaccessibility,andArchergroanedoutagain:"Idon'tunderstandyou!"
"YetyouunderstandMay!"
Hereddenedundertheretort,butkepthiseyesonher."Mayisreadytogivemeup."
"What!Threedaysafteryou'veentreatedheronyourkneestohastenyourmarriage?"
"She'srefused;thatgivesmetheright—"
"Ah,you'vetaughtmewhatanuglywordthatis,"shesaid.
Heturnedawaywithasenseofutterweariness.
Hefeltasthoughhehadbeenstrugglingforhoursupthefaceofasteepprecipice,andnow,justashehadfoughthiswaytothetop,hisholdhadgivenwayandhewaspitchingdownheadlongintodarkness.
Ifhecouldhavegotherinhisarmsagainhemighthavesweptawayherarguments;butshestillheldhimatadistancebysomethinginscrutablyaloofinherlookandattitude,andbyhisownawedsenseofhersincerity.Atlengthhebegantopleadagain.
"Ifwedothisnowitwillbeworseafterward—worseforeveryone—"
"No—no—no!"shealmostscreamed,asifhefrightenedher.
Atthatmomentthebellsentalongtinklethroughthehouse.Theyhadheardnocarriagestoppingatthedoor,andtheystoodmotionless,lookingateachotherwithstartledeyes.
Outside,Nastasia'sstepcrossedthehall,theouterdooropened,andamomentlatershecameincarryingatelegramwhichshehandedtotheCountessOlenska.
"Theladywasveryhappyattheflowers,"Nastasiasaid,smoothingherapron."Shethoughtitwashersignormaritowhohadsentthem,andshecriedalittleandsaiditwasafolly."
Hermistresssmiledandtooktheyellowenvelope.Shetoreitopenandcarriedittothelamp;then,whenthedoorhadclosedagain,shehandedthetelegramtoArcher.
ItwasdatedfromSt.Augustine,andaddressedtotheCountessOlenska.
Initheread:"Granny'stelegramsuccessful.
PapaandMammaagreemarriageafterEaster.AmtelegraphingNewland.
Amtoohappyforwordsandloveyoudearly.YourgratefulMay."
Halfanhourlater,whenArcherunlockedhisownfront–door,hefoundasimilarenvelopeonthehall–tableontopofhispileofnotesandletters.
ThemessageinsidetheenvelopewasalsofromMayWelland,andranasfollows:"ParentsconsentweddingTuesdayafterEasterattwelveGraceChurcheightbridesmaidspleaseseeRectorsohappyloveMay."
Archercrumpleduptheyellowsheetasifthegesturecouldannihilatethenewsitcontained.
Thenhepulledoutasmallpocket–diaryandturnedoverthepageswithtremblingfingers;buthedidnotfindwhathewanted,andcrammingthetelegramintohispockethemountedthestairs.
Alightwasshiningthroughthedoorofthelittlehall–roomwhichservedJaneyasadressing–roomandboudoir,andherbrotherrappedimpatientlyonthepanel.
Thedooropened,andhissisterstoodbeforehiminherimmemorialpurpleflanneldressing–gown,withherhair"onpins."Herfacelookedpaleandapprehensive.
"Newland!Ihopethere'snobadnewsinthattelegram?Iwaitedonpurpose,incase—"(NoitemofhiscorrespondencewassafefromJaney.)
Hetooknonoticeofherquestion."Lookhere—whatdayisEasterthisyear?"
Shelookedshockedatsuchunchristianignorance."Easter?Newland!Why,ofcourse,thefirstweekinApril.Why?"
"Thefirstweek?"Heturnedagaintothepagesofhisdiary,calculatingrapidlyunderhisbreath."Thefirstweek,didyousay?"Hethrewbackhisheadwithalonglaugh.
"Formercy'ssakewhat'sthematter?"
"Nothing'sthematter,exceptthatI'mgoingtobemarriedinamonth."
Janeyfelluponhisneckandpressedhimtoherpurpleflannelbreast."OhNewland,howwonderful!I'msoglad!But,dearest,whydoyoukeeponlaughing?Dohush,oryou'llwakeMamma."
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