English
Thenextmorning,whenArchergotoutoftheFallRivertrain,heemergeduponasteamingmidsummerBoston.
Thestreetsnearthestationwerefullofthesmellofbeerandcoffeeanddecayingfruitandashirt–sleevedpopulacemovedthroughthemwiththeintimateabandonofboardersgoingdownthepassagetothebathroom.
ArcherfoundacabanddrovetotheSomersetClubforbreakfast.
EventhefashionablequartershadtheairofuntidydomesticitytowhichnoexcessofheateverdegradestheEuropeancities.
Care–takersincalicoloungedonthedoor–stepsofthewealthy,andtheCommonlookedlikeapleasure–groundonthemorrowofaMasonicpicnic.
IfArcherhadtriedtoimagineEllenOlenskainimprobablesceneshecouldnothavecalledupanyintowhichitwasmoredifficulttofitherthanthisheat–prostratedanddesertedBoston.
Hebreakfastedwithappetiteandmethod,beginningwithasliceofmelon,andstudyingamorningpaperwhilehewaitedforhistoastandscrambledeggs.
AnewsenseofenergyandactivityhadpossessedhimeversincehehadannouncedtoMaythenightbeforethathehadbusinessinBoston,andshouldtaketheFallRiverboatthatnightandgoontoNewYorkthefollowingevening.
Ithadalwaysbeenunderstoodthathewouldreturntotownearlyintheweek,andwhenhegotbackfromhisexpeditiontoPortsmouthaletterfromtheoffice,whichfatehadconspicuouslyplacedonacornerofthehalltable,sufficedtojustifyhissuddenchangeofplan.
Hewasevenashamedoftheeasewithwhichthewholethinghadbeendone:itremindedhim,foranuncomfortablemoment,ofLawrenceLefferts'smasterlycontrivancesforsecuringhisfreedom.
Butthisdidnotlongtroublehim,forhewasnotinananalyticmood.
AfterbreakfasthesmokedacigaretteandglancedovertheCommercialAdvertiser.
Whilehewasthusengagedtwoorthreemenheknewcamein,andtheusualgreetingswereexchanged:itwasthesameworldafterall,thoughhehadsuchaqueersenseofhavingslippedthroughthemeshesoftimeandspace.
Helookedathiswatch,andfindingthatitwashalf–pastninegotupandwentintothewriting–room.
Therehewroteafewlines,andorderedamessengertotakeacabtotheParkerHouseandwaitfortheanswer.
HethensatdownbehindanothernewspaperandtriedtocalculatehowlongitwouldtakeacabtogettotheParkerHouse.
"Theladywasout,sir,"hesuddenlyheardawaiter'svoiceathiselbow;andhestammered:"Out?—"asifitwereawordinastrangelanguage.
Hegotupandwentintothehall.Itmustbeamistake:shecouldnotbeoutatthathour.Heflushedwithangerathisownstupidity:whyhadhenotsentthenoteassoonashearrived?
Hefoundhishatandstickandwentforthintothestreet.
Thecityhadsuddenlybecomeasstrangeandvastandemptyasifhewereatravellerfromdistantlands.
Foramomenthestoodonthedoor–stephesitating;thenhedecidedtogototheParkerHouse.
Whatifthemessengerhadbeenmisinformed,andshewerestillthere?
HestartedtowalkacrosstheCommon;andonthefirstbench,underatree,hesawhersitting.
Shehadagreysilksunshadeoverherhead—howcouldheeverhaveimaginedherwithapinkone?
Asheapproachedhewasstruckbyherlistlessattitude:shesatthereasifshehadnothingelsetodo.
Hesawherdroopingprofile,andtheknotofhairfastenedlowintheneckunderherdarkhat,andthelongwrinkledgloveonthehandthatheldthesunshade.
Hecameasteportwonearer,andsheturnedandlookedathim.
"Oh"—shesaid;andforthefirsttimehenoticedastartledlookonherface;butinanothermomentitgavewaytoaslowsmileofwonderandcontentment.
"Oh"—shemurmuredagain,onadifferentnote,ashestoodlookingdownather;andwithoutrisingshemadeaplaceforhimonthebench.
"I'mhereonbusiness—justgothere,"Archerexplained;and,withoutknowingwhy,hesuddenlybegantofeignastonishmentatseeingher.
"Butwhatonearthareyoudoinginthiswilderness?"
Hehadreallynoideawhathewassaying:hefeltasifhewereshoutingatheracrossendlessdistances,andshemightvanishagainbeforehecouldovertakeher.
"I?Oh,I'mhereonbusinesstoo,"sheanswered,turningherheadtowardhimsothattheywerefacetoface.
Thewordshardlyreachedhim:hewasawareonlyofhervoice,andofthestartlingfactthatnotanechoofithadremainedinhismemory.
Hehadnotevenrememberedthatitwaslow–pitched,withafaintroughnessontheconsonants.
"Youdoyourhairdifferently,"hesaid,hisheartbeatingasifhehadutteredsomethingirrevocable.
"Differently?No—it'sonlythatIdoitasbestIcanwhenI'mwithoutNastasia."
"Nastasia;butisn'tshewithyou?"
"No;I'malone.Fortwodaysitwasnotworthwhiletobringher."
"You'realone—attheParkerHouse?"
Shelookedathimwithaflashofheroldmalice."Doesitstrikeyouasdangerous?"
"No;notdangerous—"
"Butunconventional?Isee;Isupposeitis."Sheconsideredamoment.
"Ihadn'tthoughtofit,becauseI'vejustdonesomethingsomuchmoreunconventional."
Thefainttingeofironylingeredinhereyes.
"I'vejustrefusedtotakebackasumofmoney—thatbelongedtome."
Archersprangupandmovedasteportwoaway.Shehadfurledherparasolandsatabsentlydrawingpatternsonthegravel.Presentlyhecamebackandstoodbeforeher.
"Someone—hascomeheretomeetyou?"
"Yes."
"Withthisoffer?"
Shenodded.
"Andyourefused—becauseoftheconditions?"
"Irefused,"shesaidafteramoment.
Hesatdownbyheragain."Whatweretheconditions?"
"Oh,theywerenotonerous:justtositattheheadofhistablenowandthen."
Therewasanotherintervalofsilence.Archer'shearthadslammeditselfshutinthequeerwayithad,andhesatvainlygropingforaword.
"Hewantsyouback—atanyprice?"
"Well—aconsiderableprice.Atleastthesumisconsiderableforme."
Hepausedagain,beatingaboutthequestionhefelthemustput.
"Itwastomeethimherethatyoucame?"
Shestared,andthenburstintoalaugh."Meethim—myhusband?HERE?Atthisseasonhe'salwaysatCowesorBaden."
"Hesentsomeone?"
"Yes."
"Withaletter?"
Sheshookherhead."No;justamessage.Heneverwrites.
Idon'tthinkI'vehadmorethanoneletterfromhim."
Theallusionbroughtthecolourtohercheek,anditreflecteditselfinArcher'svividblush.
"Whydoesheneverwrite?"
"Whyshouldhe?Whatdoesonehavesecretariesfor?"
Theyoungman'sblushdeepened.Shehadpronouncedthewordasifithadnomoresignificancethananyotherinhervocabulary.
Foramomentitwasonthetipofhistonguetoask:"Didhesendhissecretary,then?"
ButtheremembranceofCountOlenski'sonlylettertohiswifewastoopresenttohim.
Hepausedagain,andthentookanotherplunge.
"Andtheperson?"—
"Theemissary?Theemissary,"MadameOlenskarejoined,stillsmiling,"might,forallIcare,haveleftalready;buthehasinsistedonwaitingtillthisevening...incase...onthechance..."
"Andyoucameoutheretothinkthechanceover?"
"Icameouttogetabreathofair.Thehotel'stoostifling.I'mtakingtheafternoontrainbacktoPortsmouth."
Theysatsilent,notlookingateachother,butstraightaheadatthepeoplepassingalongthepath.Finallysheturnedhereyesagaintohisfaceandsaid:"You'renotchanged."
Hefeltlikeanswering:"Iwas,tillIsawyouagain;"butinsteadhestoodupabruptlyandglancedabouthimattheuntidyswelteringpark.
"Thisishorrible.Whyshouldn'twegooutalittleonthebay?
There'sabreeze,anditwillbecooler.
WemighttakethesteamboatdowntoPointArley."
Sheglancedupathimhesitatinglyandhewenton:"OnaMondaymorningtherewon'tbeanybodyontheboat.
Mytraindoesn'tleavetillevening:I'mgoingbacktoNewYork.Whyshouldn'twe?"
heinsisted,lookingdownather;andsuddenlyhebrokeout:"Haven'twedoneallwecould?"
"Oh"—shemurmuredagain.Shestoodupandreopenedhersunshade,glancingaboutherasiftotakecounselofthescene,andassureherselfoftheimpossibilityofremaininginit.Thenhereyesreturnedtohisface.
"Youmustn'tsaythingslikethattome,"shesaid.
"I'llsayanythingyoulike;ornothing.Iwon'topenmymouthunlessyoutellmeto.Whatharmcanitdotoanybody?AllIwantistolistentoyou,"hestammered.
Shedrewoutalittlegold–facedwatchonanenamelledchain."Oh,don'tcalculate,"hebrokeout;"givemetheday!Iwanttogetyouawayfromthatman.Atwhattimewashecoming?"
Hercolourroseagain."Ateleven."
"Thenyoumustcomeatonce."
"Youneedn'tbeafraid—ifIdon'tcome."
"Noryoueither—ifyoudo.IswearIonlywanttohearaboutyou,toknowwhatyou'vebeendoing.It'sahundredyearssincewe'vemet—itmaybeanotherhundredbeforewemeetagain."
Shestillwavered,heranxiouseyesonhisface."Whydidn'tyoucomedowntothebeachtofetchme,thedayIwasatGranny's?"sheasked.
"Becauseyoudidn'tlookround—becauseyoudidn'tknowIwasthere.IsworeIwouldn'tunlessyoulookedround."Helaughedasthechildishnessoftheconfessionstruckhim.
"ButIdidn'tlookroundonpurpose."
"Onpurpose?"
"Iknewyouwerethere;whenyoudroveinIrecognisedtheponies.SoIwentdowntothebeach."
"Togetawayfrommeasfarasyoucould?"
Sherepeatedinalowvoice:"TogetawayfromyouasfarasIcould."
Helaughedoutagain,thistimeinboyishsatisfaction."Well,youseeit'snouse.
Imayaswelltellyou,"headded,"thatthebusinessIcamehereforwasjusttofindyou.
But,lookhere,wemuststartorweshallmissourboat."
"Ourboat?"Shefrownedperplexedly,andthensmiled."Oh,butImustgobacktothehotelfirst:Imustleaveanote—"
"Asmanynotesasyouplease.Youcanwritehere."
Hedrewoutanote–caseandoneofthenewstylographicpens.
"I'veevengotanenvelope—youseehoweverything'spredestined!
There—steadythethingonyourknee,andI'llgetthepengoinginasecond.
Theyhavetobehumoured;wait—"Hebangedthehandthatheldthepenagainstthebackofthebench.
"It'slikejerkingdownthemercuryinathermometer:justatrick.Nowtry—"
Shelaughed,andbendingoverthesheetofpaperwhichhehadlaidonhisnote–case,begantowrite.
Archerwalkedawayafewsteps,staringwithradiantunseeingeyesatthepassersby,who,intheirturn,pausedtostareattheunwontedsightofafashionably–dressedladywritinganoteonherkneeonabenchintheCommon.
MadameOlenskaslippedthesheetintotheenvelope,wroteanameonit,andputitintoherpocket.Thenshetoostoodup.
TheywalkedbacktowardBeaconStreet,andneartheclubArchercaughtsightoftheplush–lined"herdic"whichhadcarriedhisnotetotheParkerHouse,andwhosedriverwasreposingfromthiseffortbybathinghisbrowatthecornerhydrant.
"Itoldyoueverythingwaspredestined!Here'sacabforus.Yousee!"
Theylaughed,astonishedatthemiracleofpickingupapublicconveyanceatthathour,andinthatunlikelyspot,inacitywherecab–standswerestilla"foreign"novelty.
Archer,lookingathiswatch,sawthattherewastimetodrivetotheParkerHousebeforegoingtothesteamboatlanding.Theyrattledthroughthehotstreetsanddrewupatthedoorofthehotel.
Archerheldouthishandfortheletter."ShallItakeitin?"
heasked;butMadameOlenska,shakingherhead,sprangoutanddisappearedthroughtheglazeddoors.
Itwasbarelyhalf–pastten;butwhatiftheemissary,impatientforherreply,andnotknowinghowelsetoemployhistime,werealreadyseatedamongthetravellerswithcoolingdrinksattheirelbowsofwhomArcherhadcaughtaglimpseasshewentin?
Hewaited,pacingupanddownbeforetheherdic.
ASicilianyouthwitheyeslikeNastasia'sofferedtoshinehisboots,andanIrishmatrontosellhimpeaches;andeveryfewmomentsthedoorsopenedtoletouthotmenwithstrawhatstiltedfarback,whoglancedathimastheywentby.
Hemarvelledthatthedoorshouldopensooften,andthatallthepeopleitletoutshouldlooksolikeeachother,andsolikealltheotherhotmenwho,atthathour,throughthelengthandbreadthoftheland,werepassingcontinuouslyinandoutoftheswingingdoorsofhotels.
Andthen,suddenly,cameafacethathecouldnotrelatetotheotherfaces.
Hecaughtbutaflashofit,forhispacingshadcarriedhimtothefarthestpointofhisbeat,anditwasinturningbacktothehotelthathesaw,inagroupoftypicalcountenances—thelankandweary,theroundandsurprised,thelantern–jawedandmild—thisotherfacethatwassomanymorethingsatonce,andthingssodifferent.
Itwasthatofayoungman,paletoo,andhalf–extinguishedbytheheat,orworry,orboth,butsomehow,quicker,vivider,moreconscious;orperhapsseemingsobecausehewassodifferent.
Archerhungamomentonathinthreadofmemory,butitsnappedandfloatedoffwiththedisappearingface—apparentlythatofsomeforeignbusinessman,lookingdoublyforeigninsuchasetting.
Hevanishedinthestreamofpassersby,andArcherresumedhispatrol.
Hedidnotcaretobeseenwatchinhandwithinviewofthehotel,andhisunaidedreckoningofthelapseoftimeledhimtoconcludethat,ifMadameOlenskawassolonginreappearing,itcouldonlybebecauseshehadmettheemissaryandbeenwaylaidbyhim.
AtthethoughtArcher'sapprehensionrosetoanguish.
"Ifshedoesn'tcomesoonI'llgoinandfindher,"hesaid.
Thedoorsswungopenagainandshewasathisside.
Theygotintotheherdic,andasitdroveoffhetookouthiswatchandsawthatshehadbeenabsentjustthreeminutes.
Intheclatterofloosewindowsthatmadetalkimpossibletheybumpedoverthedisjointedcobblestonestothewharf.
Seatedsidebysideonabenchofthehalf–emptyboattheyfoundthattheyhadhardlyanythingtosaytoeachother,orratherthatwhattheyhadtosaycommunicateditselfbestintheblessedsilenceoftheirreleaseandtheirisolation.
Asthepaddle–wheelsbegantoturn,andwharvesandshippingtorecedethroughtheveilofheat,itseemedtoArcherthateverythingintheoldfamiliarworldofhabitwasrecedingalso.
HelongedtoaskMadameOlenskaifshedidnothavethesamefeeling:thefeelingthattheywerestartingonsomelongvoyagefromwhichtheymightneverreturn.
Buthewasafraidtosayit,oranythingelsethatmightdisturbthedelicatebalanceofhertrustinhim.
Inrealityhehadnowishtobetraythattrust.
Therehadbeendaysandnightswhenthememoryoftheirkisshadburnedandburnedonhislips;thedaybeforeeven,onthedrivetoPortsmouth,thethoughtofherhadrunthroughhimlikefire;butnowthatshewasbesidehim,andtheyweredriftingforthintothisunknownworld,theyseemedtohavereachedthekindofdeepernearnessthatatouchmaysunder.
Astheboatlefttheharbourandturnedseawardabreezestirredaboutthemandthebaybrokeupintolongoilyundulations,thenintoripplestippedwithspray.
Thefogofsultrinessstillhungoverthecity,butaheadlayafreshworldofruffledwaters,anddistantpromontorieswithlight–housesinthesun.
MadameOlenska,leaningbackagainsttheboat–rail,drankinthecoolnessbetweenpartedlips.
Shehadwoundalongveilaboutherhat,butitleftherfaceuncovered,andArcherwasstruckbythetranquilgaietyofherexpression.
Sheseemedtotaketheiradventureasamatterofcourse,andtobeneitherinfearofunexpectedencounters,nor(whatwasworse)undulyelatedbytheirpossibility.
Inthebaredining–roomoftheinn,whichhehadhopedtheywouldhavetothemselves,theyfoundastridentpartyofinnocent–lookingyoungmenandwomen—school–teachersonaholiday,thelandlordtoldthem—andArcher'sheartsankattheideaofhavingtotalkthroughtheirnoise.
"Thisishopeless—I'llaskforaprivateroom,"hesaid;andMadameOlenska,withoutofferinganyobjection,waitedwhilehewentinsearchofit.
Theroomopenedonalongwoodenverandah,withtheseacominginatthewindows.
Itwasbareandcool,withatablecoveredwithacoarsecheckeredclothandadornedbyabottleofpicklesandablueberrypieunderacage.
Nomoreguileless–lookingcabinetparticuliereveroffereditssheltertoaclandestinecouple:ArcherfanciedhesawthesenseofitsreassuranceinthefaintlyamusedsmilewithwhichMadameOlenskasatdownoppositetohim.
Awomanwhohadrunawayfromherhusband—andreputedlywithanotherman—waslikelytohavemasteredtheartoftakingthingsforgranted;butsomethinginthequalityofhercomposuretooktheedgefromhisirony.
Bybeingsoquiet,sounsurprisedandsosimpleshehadmanagedtobrushawaytheconventionsandmakehimfeelthattoseektobealonewasthenaturalthingfortwooldfriendswhohadsomuchtosaytoeachother....
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