Theturfwashemmedwithanedgeofscarletgeraniumandcoleus,andcast–ironvasespaintedinchocolatecolour,standingatintervalsalongthewindingpaththatledtothesea,loopedtheirgarlandsofpetuniaandivygeraniumabovetheneatlyrakedgravel.
Halfwaybetweentheedgeofthecliffandthesquarewoodenhouse(whichwasalsochocolate–coloured,butwiththetinroofoftheverandahstripedinyellowandbrowntorepresentanawning)twolargetargetshadbeenplacedagainstabackgroundofshrubbery.
Anumberofladiesinsummerdressesandgentlemeningreyfrock–coatsandtallhatsstoodonthelawnorsatuponthebenches;andeverynowandthenaslendergirlinstarchedmuslinwouldstepfromthetent,bowinhand,andspeedhershaftatoneofthetargets,whilethespectatorsinterruptedtheirtalktowatchtheresult.
Aspikygreenplantfilledeachpot,andbelowtheverandahranawideborderofbluehydrangeasedgedwithmoreredgeraniums.
Behindhim,theFrenchwindowsofthedrawing–roomsthroughwhichhehadpassedgaveglimpses,betweenswayinglacecurtains,ofglassyparquetfloorsislandedwithchintzpoufs,dwarfarmchairs,andvelvettablescoveredwithtriflesinsilver.
Thesport,whichhadhithertoknownnorivalbutcroquet,wasbeginningtobediscardedinfavouroflawn–tennis;butthelattergamewasstillconsideredtooroughandinelegantforsocialoccasions,andasanopportunitytoshowoffprettydressesandgracefulattitudesthebowandarrowheldtheirown.
InNewYork,duringthepreviouswinter,afterheandMayhadsettleddowninthenewgreenish–yellowhousewiththebow–windowandthePompeianvestibule,hehaddroppedbackwithreliefintotheoldroutineoftheoffice,andtherenewalofthisdailyactivityhadservedasalinkwithhisformerself.
ThentherehadbeenthepleasurableexcitementofchoosingashowygreystepperforMay'sbrougham(theWellandshadgiventhecarriage),andtheabidingoccupationandinterestofarranginghisnewlibrary,which,inspiteoffamilydoubtsanddisapprovals,hadbeencarriedoutashehaddreamed,withadarkembossedpaper,Eastlakebook–casesand"sincere"arm–chairsandtables.
AttheCenturyhehadfoundWinsettagain,andattheKnickerbockerthefashionableyoungmenofhisownset;andwhatwiththehoursdedicatedtothelawandthosegiventodiningoutorentertainingfriendsathome,withanoccasionaleveningattheOperaortheplay,thelifehewaslivinghadstillseemedafairlyrealandinevitablesortofbusiness.
ArcherhadtriedtopersuadeMaytospendthesummeronaremoteislandoffthecoastofMaine(called,appropriatelyenough,MountDesert),whereafewhardyBostoniansandPhiladelphianswerecampingin"native"cottages,andwhencecamereportsofenchantingsceneryandawild,almosttrapper–likeexistenceamidwoodsandwaters.
ButtheWellandsalwayswenttoNewport,wheretheyownedoneofthesquareboxesonthecliffs,andtheirson–in–lawcouldadducenogoodreasonwhyheandMayshouldnotjointhemthere.
AsMrs.Wellandrathertartlypointedout,itwashardlyworthwhileforMaytohavewornherselfouttryingonsummerclothesinParisifshewasnottobeallowedtowearthem;andthisargumentwasofakindtowhichArcherhadasyetfoundnoanswer.
Mayherselfcouldnotunderstandhisobscurereluctancetofallinwithsoreasonableandpleasantawayofspendingthesummer.
SheremindedhimthathehadalwayslikedNewportinhisbachelordays,andasthiswasindisputablehecouldonlyprofessthathewassurehewasgoingtolikeitbetterthanevernowthattheyweretobetheretogether.
ButashestoodontheBeaufortverandahandlookedoutonthebrightlypeopledlawnitcamehometohimwithashiverthathewasnotgoingtolikeitatall.
ItwasnotMay'sfault,poordear.If,nowandthen,duringtheirtravels,theyhadfallenslightlyoutofstep,harmonyhadbeenrestoredbytheirreturntotheconditionsshewasusedto.
Hehadmarried(asmostyoungmendid)becausehehadmetaperfectlycharminggirlatthemomentwhenaseriesofratheraimlesssentimentaladventureswereendinginprematuredisgust;andshehadrepresentedpeace,stability,comradeship,andthesteadyingsenseofanunescapableduty.
ItwasundoubtedlygratifyingtobethehusbandofoneofthehandsomestandmostpopularyoungmarriedwomeninNewYork,especiallywhenshewasalsooneofthesweetest–temperedandmostreasonableofwives;andArcherhadneverbeeninsensibletosuchadvantages.
Asforthemomentarymadnesswhichhadfallenuponhimontheeveofhismarriage,hehadtrainedhimselftoregarditasthelastofhisdiscardedexperiments.
Theideathathecouldever,inhissenses,havedreamedofmarryingtheCountessOlenskahadbecomealmostunthinkable,andsheremainedinhismemorysimplyasthemostplaintiveandpoignantofalineofghosts.
Butalltheseabstractionsandeliminationsmadeofhismindaratheremptyandechoingplace,andhesupposedthatwasoneofthereasonswhythebusyanimatedpeopleontheBeaufortlawnshockedhimasiftheyhadbeenchildrenplayinginagrave–yard.
Asusual,shewasextraordinarilyfestoonedandbedizened,withalimpLeghornhatanchoredtoherheadbymanywindingsoffadedgauze,andalittleblackvelvetparasolonacarvedivoryhandleabsurdlybalancedoverhermuchlargerhatbrim.
Archer'sheartstoppedwiththequeerjerkwhichithadgivenoncebefore,andwhichseemedsuddenlytoslamadoorbetweenhimselfandtheouterworld;butthisbreakofcontinuitymusthavebeenofthebriefest,forhepresentlyheardMedoraansweringaquestionhehadapparentlyfoundvoicetoput.
Beaufortwaskindenoughtosendhisfamoustrottersformethismorning,sothatImighthaveatleastaglimpseofoneofRegina'sgarden–parties;butthiseveningIgobacktorurallife.
TheBlenkers,dearoriginalbeings,havehiredaprimitiveoldfarm–houseatPortsmouthwheretheygatheraboutthemrepresentativepeople..."Shedroopedslightlybeneathherprotectingbrim,andaddedwithafaintblush:"ThisweekDr.AgathonCarverisholdingaseriesofInnerThoughtmeetingsthere.
Acontrastindeedtothisgaysceneofworldlypleasure—butthenIhavealwayslivedoncontrasts!Tometheonlydeathismonotony.
Ah,ifshehadonlylistenedtomewhenitwasstillpossible...Whenthedoorwasstillopen...Butshallwegodownandwatchthisabsorbingmatch?
StrollingtowardthemfromthetentBeaufortadvancedoverthelawn,tall,heavy,tootightlybuttonedintoaLondonfrock–coat,withoneofhisownorchidsinitsbuttonhole.
Inthehotsummerlighthisfloridnessseemedheavyandbloated,andbutforhiserectsquare–shoulderedwalkhewouldhavelookedlikeanover–fedandover–dressedoldman.
InthespringhehadgoneoffonalongcruisetotheWestIndiesinhisnewsteam–yacht,anditwasreportedthat,atvariouspointswherehehadtouched,aladyresemblingMissFannyRinghadbeenseeninhiscompany.
Thesteam–yacht,builtintheClyde,andfittedwithtiledbath–roomsandotherunheard–ofluxuries,wassaidtohavecosthimhalfamillion;andthepearlnecklacewhichhehadpresentedtohiswifeonhisreturnwasasmagnificentassuchexpiatoryofferingsareapttobe.
Beaufort'sfortunewassubstantialenoughtostandthestrain;andyetthedisquietingrumourspersisted,notonlyinFifthAvenuebutinWallStreet.
Somepeoplesaidhehadspeculatedunfortunatelyinrailways,othersthathewasbeingbledbyoneofthemostinsatiablemembersofherprofession;andtoeveryreportofthreatenedinsolvencyBeaufortrepliedbyafreshextravagance:thebuildingofanewrowoforchid–houses,thepurchaseofanewstringofrace–horses,ortheadditionofanewMeissonnierorCabaneltohispicture–gallery.
HeadvancedtowardtheMarchionessandNewlandwithhisusualhalf–sneeringsmile."Hullo,Medora!Didthetrottersdotheirbusiness?Fortyminutes,eh?
HeshookhandswithArcher,andthen,turningbackwiththem,placedhimselfonMrs.Manson'sotherside,andsaid,inalowvoice,afewwordswhichtheircompaniondidnotcatch.
whichdeepenedBeaufort'sfrown;butheproducedagoodsemblanceofacongratulatorysmileasheglancedatArchertosay:"YouknowMay'sgoingtocarryoffthefirstprize."
"Ah,thenitremainsinthefamily,"Medorarippled;andatthatmomenttheyreachedthetentandMrs.Beaufortmettheminagirlishcloudofmauvemuslinandfloatingveils.
Inherwhitedress,withapalegreenribbonaboutthewaistandawreathofivyonherhat,shehadthesameDiana–likealoofnessaswhenshehadenteredtheBeaufortball–roomonthenightofherengagement.
Intheintervalnotathoughtseemedtohavepassedbehindhereyesorafeelingthroughherheart;andthoughherhusbandknewthatshehadthecapacityforbothhemarvelledafreshatthewayinwhichexperiencedroppedawayfromher.
Shehadherbowandarrowinherhand,andplacingherselfonthechalk–marktracedontheturfsheliftedthebowtohershoulderandtookaim.
Theattitudewassofullofaclassicgracethatamurmurofappreciationfollowedherappearance,andArcherfelttheglowofproprietorshipthatsooftencheatedhimintomomentarywell–being.
Herrivals—Mrs.ReggieChivers,theMerrygirls,anddiversrosyThorleys,DagonetsandMingotts,stoodbehindherinalovelyanxiousgroup,brownheadsandgoldenbentabovethescores,andpalemuslinsandflower–wreathedhatsmingledinatenderrainbow.
Allwereyoungandpretty,andbathedinsummerbloom;butnotonehadthenymph–likeeaseofhiswife,when,withtensemusclesandhappyfrown,shebenthersouluponsomefeatofstrength.
"Gad,"ArcherheardLawrenceLeffertssay,"notoneofthelotholdsthebowasshedoes";andBeaufortretorted:"Yes;butthat'stheonlykindoftargetshe'lleverhit."
Archerfeltirrationallyangry.Hishost'scontemptuoustributetoMay's"niceness"wasjustwhatahusbandshouldhavewishedtohearsaidofhiswife.
Thefactthatacoarsemindedmanfoundherlackinginattractionwassimplyanotherproofofherquality;yetthewordssentafaintshiverthroughhisheart.
AshelookedatMay,returningflushedandcalmfromherfinalbull's–eye,hehadthefeelingthathehadneveryetliftedthatcurtain.
Shetookthecongratulationsofherrivalsandoftherestofthecompanywiththesimplicitythatwashercrowninggrace.
Noonecouldeverbejealousofhertriumphsbecauseshemanagedtogivethefeelingthatshewouldhavebeenjustassereneifshehadmissedthem.
Mrs.Welland'sbasket–workpony–carriagewaswaitingforthem,andtheydroveoffamongthedispersingcarriages,MayhandlingthereinsandArchersittingatherside.
Theafternoonsunlightstilllingereduponthebrightlawnsandshrubberies,andupanddownBellevueAvenuerolledadoublelineofvictorias,dog–carts,landausand"vis–a–vis,"carryingwell–dressedladiesandgentlemenawayfromtheBeaufortgarden–party,orhomewardfromtheirdailyafternoonturnalongtheOceanDrive.
"ShallwegotoseeGranny?"Maysuddenlyproposed."IshouldliketotellhermyselfthatI'vewontheprize.There'slotsoftimebeforedinner."
Archeracquiesced,andsheturnedtheponiesdownNarragansettAvenue,crossedSpringStreetanddroveouttowardtherockymoorlandbeyond.
InthisunfashionableregionCatherinetheGreat,alwaysindifferenttoprecedentandthriftyofpurse,hadbuiltherselfinheryouthamany–peakedandcross–beamedcottage–orneonabitofcheaplandoverlookingthebay.
Awindingdriveledupbetweenironstagsandblueglassballsembeddedinmoundsofgeraniumstoafrontdoorofhighly–varnishedwalnutunderastripedverandah–roof;andbehinditrananarrowhallwithablackandyellowstar–patternedparquetfloor,uponwhichopenedfoursmallsquareroomswithheavyflock–papersunderceilingsonwhichanItalianhouse–painterhadlavishedallthedivinitiesofOlympus.
OneoftheseroomshadbeenturnedintoabedroombyMrs.Mingottwhentheburdenoffleshdescendedonher,andintheadjoiningoneshespentherdays,enthronedinalargearmchairbetweentheopendoorandwindow,andperpetuallywavingapalm–leaffanwhichtheprodigiousprojectionofherbosomkeptsofarfromtherestofherpersonthattheairitsetinmotionstirredonlythefringeoftheanti–macassarsonthechair–arms.
SinceshehadbeenthemeansofhasteninghismarriageoldCatherinehadshowntoArcherthecordialitywhichaservicerenderedexcitestowardthepersonserved.
Shewaspersuadedthatirrepressiblepassionwasthecauseofhisimpatience;andbeinganardentadmirerofimpulsiveness(whenitdidnotleadtothespendingofmoney)shealwaysreceivedhimwithagenialtwinkleofcomplicityandaplayofallusiontowhichMayseemedfortunatelyimpervious.
Sheexaminedandappraisedwithmuchinterestthediamond–tippedarrowwhichhadbeenpinnedonMay'sbosomattheconclusionofthematch,remarkingthatinherdayafiligreebroochwouldhavebeenthoughtenough,butthattherewasnodenyingthatBeaufortdidthingshandsomely.
Mercyme—whenmychildrenbegmetohaveallthosegodsandgoddessespaintedoutoverheadIalwayssayI'mtoothankfultohavesomebodyaboutmethatNOTHINGcanshock!"
"Well,nowtellmeallabouttheparty,please,mydears,forIshallnevergetastraightwordaboutitoutofthatsillyMedora,"theancestresscontinued;and,asMayexclaimed:"CousinMedora?
Suchfol–de–rol,hernotcomingforthesummer;butIgaveuparguingwithyoungpeopleaboutfiftyyearsago.Ellen—ELLEN!"
Amulattomaid–servantinabrightturban,replyingtothesummons,informedhermistressthatshehadseen"MissEllen"goingdownthepathtotheshore;andMrs.MingottturnedtoArcher.
"Rundownandfetchher,likeagoodgrandson;thisprettyladywilldescribethepartytome,"shesaid;andArcherstoodupasifinadream.
HehadheardtheCountessOlenska'snamepronouncedoftenenoughduringtheyearandahalfsincetheyhadlastmet,andwasevenfamiliarwiththemainincidentsofherlifeintheinterval.
HeknewthatshehadspenttheprevioussummeratNewport,wheresheappearedtohavegoneagreatdealintosociety,butthatintheautumnshehadsuddenlysub–letthe"perfecthouse"whichBeauforthadbeenatsuchpainstofindforher,anddecidedtoestablishherselfinWashington.
There,duringthewinter,hehadheardofher(asonealwaysheardofprettywomeninWashington)asshininginthe"brilliantdiplomaticsociety"thatwassupposedtomakeupforthesocialshort–comingsoftheAdministration.
Hehadlistenedtotheseaccounts,andtovariouscontradictoryreportsonherappearance,herconversation,herpointofviewandherchoiceoffriends,withthedetachmentwithwhichonelistenstoreminiscencesofsomeonelongsincedead;nottillMedorasuddenlyspokehernameatthearcherymatchhadEllenOlenskabecomealivingpresencetohimagain.
TheMarchioness'sfoolishlisphadcalledupavisionofthelittlefire–litdrawing–roomandthesoundofthecarriage–wheelsreturningdownthedesertedstreet.
Hethoughtofastoryhehadread,ofsomepeasantchildreninTuscanylightingabunchofstrawinawaysidecavern,andrevealingoldsilentimagesintheirpaintedtomb...
Thewaytotheshoredescendedfromthebankonwhichthehousewasperchedtoawalkabovethewaterplantedwithweepingwillows.
ThroughtheirveilArchercaughttheglintoftheLimeRock,withitswhite–washedturretandthetinyhouseinwhichtheheroiclight–housekeeper,IdaLewis,waslivingherlastvenerableyears.
BeyonditlaytheflatreachesanduglygovernmentchimneysofGoatIsland,thebayspreadingnorthwardinashimmerofgoldtoPrudenceIslandwithitslowgrowthofoaks,andtheshoresofConanicutfaintinthesunsethaze.
Fromthewillowwalkprojectedaslightwoodenpierendinginasortofpagoda–likesummer–house;andinthepagodaaladystood,leaningagainsttherail,herbacktotheshore.
Thatvisionofthepastwasadream,andtherealitywaswhatawaitedhiminthehouseonthebankoverhead:wasMrs.Welland'spony–carriagecirclingaroundandaroundtheovalatthedoor,wasMaysittingundertheshamelessOlympiansandglowingwithsecrethopes,wastheWellandvillaatthefarendofBellevueAvenue,andMr.Welland,alreadydressedfordinner,andpacingthedrawing–roomfloor,watchinhand,withdyspepticimpatience—foritwasoneofthehousesinwhichonealwaysknewexactlywhatishappeningatagivenhour.
Foralongmomenttheyoungmanstoodhalfwaydownthebank,gazingatthebayfurrowedwiththecomingandgoingofsailboats,yacht–launches,fishing–craftandthetrailingblackcoal–bargeshauledbynoisytugs.
BeyondthegreybastionsofFortAdamsalong–drawnsunsetwassplinteringupintoathousandfires,andtheradiancecaughtthesailofacatboatasitbeatoutthroughthechannelbetweentheLimeRockandtheshore.
Archer,ashewatched,rememberedthesceneintheShaughraun,andMontagueliftingAdaDyas'sribbontohislipswithoutherknowingthathewasintheroom.
hemused;andsuddenlyhesaidtohimself:"Ifshedoesn'tturnbeforethatsailcrossestheLimeRocklightI'llgoback."
ItslidbeforetheLimeRock,blottedoutIdaLewis'slittlehouse,andpassedacrosstheturretinwhichthelightwashung.
Archerwaitedtillawidespaceofwatersparkledbetweenthelastreefoftheislandandthesternoftheboat;butstillthefigureinthesummer–housedidnotmove.
"I'msorryyoudidn'tfindEllen—Ishouldhavelikedtoseeheragain,"Maysaidastheydrovehomethroughthedusk."Butperhapsshewouldn'thavecared—sheseemssochanged."
Archermadenoanswer,andshecontinued,withatingeofhardnessthathehadneverbeforenoticedinherfrankfreshvoice:"Afterall,Iwonderifshewouldn'tbehappierwithherhusband."
Heburstintoalaugh."Sanctasimplicitas!"heexclaimed;andassheturnedapuzzledfrownonhimheadded:"Idon'tthinkIeverheardyousayacruelthingbefore."
"Well—watchingthecontortionsofthedamnedissupposedtobeafavouritesportoftheangels;butIbelieveeventheydon'tthinkpeoplehappierinhell."
"It'sapitysheevermarriedabroadthen,"saidMay,intheplacidtonewithwhichhermothermetMr.Welland'svagaries;andArcherfelthimselfgentlyrelegatedtothecategoryofunreasonablehusbands.
TheydrovedownBellevueAvenueandturnedinbetweenthechamferedwoodengate–postssurmountedbycast–ironlampswhichmarkedtheapproachtotheWellandvilla.
Lightswerealreadyshiningthroughitswindows,andArcher,asthecarriagestopped,caughtaglimpseofhisfather–in–law,exactlyashehadpicturedhim,pacingthedrawing–room,watchinhandandwearingthepainedexpressionthathehadlongsincefoundtobemuchmoreefficaciousthananger.
TherewassomethingabouttheluxuryoftheWellandhouseandthedensityoftheWellandatmosphere,sochargedwithminuteobservancesandexactions,thatalwaysstoleintohissystemlikeanarcotic.
Theheavycarpets,thewatchfulservants,theperpetuallyremindingtickofdisciplinedclocks,theperpetuallyrenewedstackofcardsandinvitationsonthehalltable,thewholechainoftyrannicaltriflesbindingonehourtothenext,andeachmemberofthehouseholdtoalltheothers,madeanylesssystematisedandaffluentexistenceseemunrealandprecarious.
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