English
"ApartyfortheBlenkers—theBlenkers?"
Mr.Wellandlaiddownhisknifeandforkandlookedanxiouslyandincredulouslyacrosstheluncheon–tableathiswife,who,adjustinghergoldeye–glasses,readaloud,inthetoneofhighcomedy:
"ProfessorandMrs.EmersonSillertonrequestthepleasureofMr.andMrs.Welland'scompanyatthemeetingoftheWednesdayAfternoonClubonAugust25that3o'clockpunctually.TomeetMrs.andtheMissesBlenker.
"RedGables,CatherineStreet.R.S.V.P."
"Goodgracious—"Mr.Wellandgasped,asifasecondreadinghadbeennecessarytobringthemonstrousabsurdityofthethinghometohim.
"PoorAmySillerton—younevercantellwhatherhusbandwilldonext,"Mrs.Wellandsighed."Isupposehe'sjustdiscoveredtheBlenkers."
ProfessorEmersonSillertonwasathorninthesideofNewportsociety;andathornthatcouldnotbepluckedout,foritgrewonavenerableandveneratedfamilytree.
Hewas,aspeoplesaid,amanwhohadhad"everyadvantage."
HisfatherwasSillertonJackson'suncle,hismotheraPennilowofBoston;oneachsidetherewaswealthandposition,andmutualsuitability.
Nothing—asMrs.Wellandhadoftenremarked—nothingonearthobligedEmersonSillertontobeanarchaeologist,orindeedaProfessorofanysort,ortoliveinNewportinwinter,ordoanyoftheotherrevolutionarythingsthathedid.
Butatleast,ifhewasgoingtobreakwithtraditionandfloutsocietyintheface,heneednothavemarriedpoorAmyDagonet,whohadarighttoexpect"somethingdifferent,"andmoneyenoughtokeepherowncarriage.
NooneintheMingottsetcouldunderstandwhyAmySillertonhadsubmittedsotamelytotheeccentricitiesofahusbandwhofilledthehousewithlong–hairedmenandshort–hairedwomen,and,whenhetravelled,tookhertoexploretombsinYucataninsteadofgoingtoParisorItaly.
Buttheretheywere,setintheirways,andapparentlyunawarethattheyweredifferentfromotherpeople;andwhentheygaveoneoftheirdrearyannualgarden–partieseveryfamilyontheCliffs,becauseoftheSillerton–Pennilow–Dagonetconnection,hadtodrawlotsandsendanunwillingrepresentative.
"It'sawonder,"Mrs.Wellandremarked,"thattheydidn'tchoosetheCupRaceday!
Doyouremember,twoyearsago,theirgivingapartyforablackmanonthedayofJuliaMingott'sthedansant?
Luckilythistimethere'snothingelsegoingonthatIknowof—forofcoursesomeofuswillhavetogo."
Mr.Wellandsighednervously."'Someofus,'mydear—morethanone?
Threeo'clockissuchaveryawkwardhour.
Ihavetobehereathalf–pastthreetotakemydrops:it'sreallynousetryingtofollowBencomb'snewtreatmentifIdon'tdoitsystematically;andifIjoinyoulater,ofcourseIshallmissmydrive."
Atthethoughthelaiddownhisknifeandforkagain,andaflushofanxietyrosetohisfinely–wrinkledcheek.
"There'snoreasonwhyyoushouldgoatall,mydear,"hiswifeansweredwithacheerfulnessthathadbecomeautomatic.
"IhavesomecardstoleaveattheotherendofBellevueAvenue,andI'lldropinatabouthalf–pastthreeandstaylongenoughtomakepoorAmyfeelthatshehasn'tbeenslighted."
Sheglancedhesitatinglyatherdaughter.
"AndifNewland'safternoonisprovidedforperhapsMaycandriveyououtwiththeponies,andtrytheirnewrussetharness."
ItwasaprincipleintheWellandfamilythatpeople'sdaysandhoursshouldbewhatMrs.Wellandcalled"providedfor."
Themelancholypossibilityofhavingto"killtime"(especiallyforthosewhodidnotcareforwhistorsolitaire)wasavisionthathauntedherasthespectreoftheunemployedhauntsthephilanthropist.
Anotherofherprincipleswasthatparentsshouldnever(atleastvisibly)interferewiththeplansoftheirmarriedchildren;andthedifficultyofadjustingthisrespectforMay'sindependencewiththeexigencyofMr.Welland'sclaimscouldbeovercomeonlybytheexerciseofaningenuitywhichleftnotasecondofMrs.Welland'sowntimeunprovidedfor.
"OfcourseI'lldrivewithPapa—I'msureNewlandwillfindsomethingtodo,"Maysaid,inatonethatgentlyremindedherhusbandofhislackofresponse.
ItwasacauseofconstantdistresstoMrs.Wellandthatherson–in–lawshowedsolittleforesightinplanninghisdays.
Oftenalready,duringthefortnightthathehadpassedunderherroof,whensheenquiredhowhemeanttospendhisafternoon,hehadansweredparadoxically:"Oh,IthinkforachangeI'lljustsaveitinsteadofspendingit—"andonce,whensheandMayhadhadtogoonalong–postponedroundofafternooncalls,hehadconfessedtohavinglainalltheafternoonunderarockonthebeachbelowthehouse.
"Newlandneverseemstolookahead,"Mrs.Wellandonceventuredtocomplaintoherdaughter;andMayansweredserenely:"No;butyouseeitdoesn'tmatter,becausewhenthere'snothingparticulartodohereadsabook."
"Ah,yes—likehisfather!"Mrs.Wellandagreed,asifallowingforaninheritedoddity;andafterthatthequestionofNewland'sunemploymentwastacitlydropped.
Nevertheless,asthedayfortheSillertonreceptionapproached,Maybegantoshowanaturalsolicitudeforhiswelfare,andtosuggestatennismatchattheChiverses',orasailonJuliusBeaufort'scutter,asameansofatoningforhertemporarydesertion.
"Ishallbebackbysix,youknow,dear:Papaneverdriveslaterthanthat—"andshewasnotreassuredtillArchersaidthathethoughtofhiringarun–aboutanddrivinguptheislandtoastud–farmtolookatasecondhorseforherbrougham.
Theyhadbeenlookingforthishorseforsometime,andthesuggestionwassoacceptablethatMayglancedathermotherasiftosay:"Youseeheknowshowtoplanouthistimeaswellasanyofus."
Theideaofthestud–farmandthebroughamhorsehadgerminatedinArcher'smindontheverydaywhentheEmersonSillertoninvitationhadfirstbeenmentioned;buthehadkeptittohimselfasifthereweresomethingclandestineintheplan,anddiscoverymightpreventitsexecution.
Hehad,however,takentheprecautiontoengageinadvancearunaboutwithapairofoldlivery–stabletrottersthatcouldstilldotheireighteenmilesonlevelroads;andattwoo'clock,hastilydesertingtheluncheon–table,hesprangintothelightcarriageanddroveoff.
Thedaywasperfect.Abreezefromthenorthdrovelittlepuffsofwhitecloudacrossanultramarinesky,withabrightsearunningunderit.
BellevueAvenuewasemptyatthathour,andafterdroppingthestable–ladatthecornerofMillStreetArcherturneddowntheOldBeachRoadanddroveacrossEastman'sBeach.
Hehadthefeelingofunexplainedexcitementwithwhich,onhalf–holidaysatschool,heusedtostartoffintotheunknown.
Takinghispairataneasygait,hecountedonreachingthestud–farm,whichwasnotfarbeyondParadiseRocks,beforethreeo'clock;sothat,afterlookingoverthehorse(andtryinghimifheseemedpromising)hewouldstillhavefourgoldenhourstodisposeof.
AssoonasheheardoftheSillerton'spartyhehadsaidtohimselfthattheMarchionessMansonwouldcertainlycometoNewportwiththeBlenkers,andthatMadameOlenskamightagaintaketheopportunityofspendingthedaywithhergrandmother.
Atanyrate,theBlenkerhabitationwouldprobablybedeserted,andhewouldbeable,withoutindiscretion,tosatisfyavaguecuriosityconcerningit.
HewasnotsurethathewantedtoseetheCountessOlenskaagain;buteversincehehadlookedatherfromthepathabovethebayhehadwanted,irrationallyandindescribably,toseetheplaceshewaslivingin,andtofollowthemovementsofherimaginedfigureashehadwatchedtherealoneinthesummer–house.
Thelongingwaswithhimdayandnight,anincessantundefinablecraving,likethesuddenwhimofasickmanforfoodordrinkoncetastedandlongsinceforgotten.
Hecouldnotseebeyondthecraving,orpicturewhatitmightleadto,forhewasnotconsciousofanywishtospeaktoMadameOlenskaortohearhervoice.
Hesimplyfeltthatifhecouldcarryawaythevisionofthespotofearthshewalkedon,andthewaytheskyandseaenclosedit,therestoftheworldmightseemlessempty.
Whenhereachedthestud–farmaglanceshowedhimthatthehorsewasnotwhathewanted;neverthelesshetookaturnbehinditinordertoprovetohimselfthathewasnotinahurry.
Butatthreeo'clockheshookoutthereinsoverthetrottersandturnedintotheby–roadsleadingtoPortsmouth.
ThewindhaddroppedandafainthazeonthehorizonshowedthatafogwaswaitingtostealuptheSaconnetontheturnofthetide;butallabouthimfieldsandwoodsweresteepedingoldenlight.
Hedrovepastgrey–shingledfarm–housesinorchards,pasthay–fieldsandgrovesofoak,pastvillageswithwhitesteeplesrisingsharplyintothefadingsky;andatlast,afterstoppingtoaskthewayofsomemenatworkinafield,heturneddownalanebetweenhighbanksofgoldenrodandbrambles.
Attheendofthelanewastheblueglimmeroftheriver;totheleft,standinginfrontofaclumpofoaksandmaples,hesawalongtumble–downhousewithwhitepaintpeelingfromitsclapboards.
Ontheroad–sidefacingthegatewaystoodoneoftheopenshedsinwhichtheNewEnglandersheltershisfarmingimplementsandvisitors"hitch"their"teams."
Archer,jumpingdown,ledhispairintotheshed,andaftertyingthemtoapostturnedtowardthehouse.
Thepatchoflawnbeforeithadrelapsedintoahay–field;buttotheleftanovergrownbox–gardenfullofdahliasandrustyrose–bushesencircledaghostlysummer–houseoftrellis–workthathadoncebeenwhite,surmountedbyawoodenCupidwhohadlosthisbowandarrowbutcontinuedtotakeineffectualaim.
Archerleanedforawhileagainstthegate.
Noonewasinsight,andnotasoundcamefromtheopenwindowsofthehouse:agrizzledNewfoundlanddozingbeforethedoorseemedasineffectualaguardianasthearrowlessCupid.
ItwasstrangetothinkthatthisplaceofsilenceanddecaywasthehomeoftheturbulentBlenkers;yetArcherwassurethathewasnotmistaken.
Foralongtimehestoodthere,contenttotakeinthescene,andgraduallyfallingunderitsdrowsyspell;butatlengthherousedhimselftothesenseofthepassingtime.
Shouldhelookhisfillandthendriveaway?
Hestoodirresolute,wishingsuddenlytoseetheinsideofthehouse,sothathemightpicturetheroomthatMadameOlenskasatin.
Therewasnothingtopreventhiswalkinguptothedoorandringingthebell;if,ashesupposed,shewasawaywiththerestoftheparty,hecouldeasilygivehisname,andaskpermissiontogointothesitting–roomtowriteamessage.
Butinstead,hecrossedthelawnandturnedtowardthebox–garden.
Asheenteredithecaughtsightofsomethingbright–colouredinthesummer–house,andpresentlymadeitouttobeapinkparasol.
Theparasoldrewhimlikeamagnet:hewassureitwashers.
Hewentintothesummer–house,andsittingdownonthericketyseatpickedupthesilkenthingandlookedatitscarvedhandle,whichwasmadeofsomerarewoodthatgaveoutanaromaticscent.Archerliftedthehandletohislips.
Heheardarustleofskirtsagainstthebox,andsatmotionless,leaningontheparasolhandlewithclaspedhands,andlettingtherustlecomenearerwithoutliftinghiseyes.
Hehadalwaysknownthatthismusthappen...
"Oh,Mr.Archer!"exclaimedaloudyoungvoice;andlookinguphesawbeforehimtheyoungestandlargestoftheBlenkergirls,blondeandblowsy,inbedraggledmuslin.
Aredblotchononeofhercheeksseemedtoshowthatithadrecentlybeenpressedagainstapillow,andherhalf–awakenedeyesstaredathimhospitablybutconfusedly.
"Gracious—wheredidyoudropfrom?Imusthavebeensoundasleepinthehammock.EverybodyelsehasgonetoNewport.Didyouring?"sheincoherentlyenquired.
Archer'sconfusionwasgreaterthanhers."I—no—thatis,Iwasjustgoingto.
Ihadtocomeuptheislandtoseeaboutahorse,andIdroveoveronachanceoffindingMrs.Blenkerandyourvisitors.
Butthehouseseemedempty—soIsatdowntowait."
MissBlenker,shakingoffthefumesofsleep,lookedathimwithincreasinginterest."ThehouseISempty.
Mother'snothere,ortheMarchioness—oranybodybutme."Herglancebecamefaintlyreproachful.
"Didn'tyouknowthatProfessorandMrs.Sillertonaregivingagarden–partyformotherandallofusthisafternoon?
ItwastoounluckythatIcouldn'tgo;butI'vehadasorethroat,andmotherwasafraidofthedrivehomethisevening.
Didyoueverknowanythingsodisappointing?
Ofcourse,"sheaddedgaily,"Ishouldn'thavemindedhalfasmuchifI'dknownyouwerecoming."
Symptomsofalumberingcoquetrybecamevisibleinher,andArcherfoundthestrengthtobreakin:"ButMadameOlenska—hasshegonetoNewporttoo?"
MissBlenkerlookedathimwithsurprise."MadameOlenska—didn'tyouknowshe'dbeencalledaway?"
"Calledaway?—"
"Oh,mybestparasol!IlentittothatgooseofaKatie,becauseitmatchedherribbons,andthecarelessthingmusthavedroppedithere.
WeBlenkersarealllikethat...realBohemians!"
Recoveringthesunshadewithapowerfulhandsheunfurleditandsuspendeditsrosydomeaboveherhead.
"Yes,Ellenwascalledawayyesterday:sheletsuscallherEllen,youknow.
AtelegramcamefromBoston:shesaidshemightbegonefortwodays.
IdoLOVEthewayshedoesherhair,don'tyou?"MissBlenkerrambledon.
Archercontinuedtostarethroughherasthoughshehadbeentransparent.Allhesawwasthetrumperyparasolthatarcheditspinknessabovehergigglinghead.
Afteramomentheventured:"Youdon'thappentoknowwhyMadameOlenskawenttoBoston?Ihopeitwasnotonaccountofbadnews?"
MissBlenkertookthiswithacheerfulincredulity."Oh,Idon'tbelieveso.
Shedidn'ttelluswhatwasinthetelegram.
Ithinkshedidn'twanttheMarchionesstoknow.She'ssoromantic–looking,isn'tshe?
Doesn'tsheremindyouofMrs.Scott–Siddonswhenshereads'LadyGeraldine'sCourtship'?Didyouneverhearher?"
Archerwasdealinghurriedlywithcrowdingthoughts.
Hiswholefutureseemedsuddenlytobeunrolledbeforehim;andpassingdownitsendlessemptinesshesawthedwindlingfigureofamantowhomnothingwasevertohappen.
Heglancedabouthimattheunprunedgarden,thetumble–downhouse,andtheoak–groveunderwhichtheduskwasgathering.
IthadseemedsoexactlytheplaceinwhichheoughttohavefoundMadameOlenska;andshewasfaraway,andeventhepinksunshadewasnothers...
Hefrownedandhesitated."Youdon'tknow,Isuppose—IshallbeinBostontomorrow.IfIcouldmanagetoseeher—"
HefeltthatMissBlenkerwaslosinginterestinhim,thoughhersmilepersisted."Oh,ofcourse;howlovelyofyou!She'sstayingattheParkerHouse;itmustbehorriblethereinthisweather."
AfterthatArcherwasbutintermittentlyawareoftheremarkstheyexchanged.
Hecouldonlyrememberstoutlyresistingherentreatythatheshouldawaitthereturningfamilyandhavehighteawiththembeforehedrovehome.
Atlength,withhishostessstillathisside,hepassedoutofrangeofthewoodenCupid,unfastenedhishorsesanddroveoff.
AttheturnofthelanehesawMissBlenkerstandingatthegateandwavingthepinkparasol.
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