English
Oncemoreontheboat,andinthepresenceofothers,Archerfeltatranquillityofspiritthatsurprisedasmuchasitsustainedhim.
Theday,accordingtoanycurrentvaluation,hadbeenaratherridiculousfailure;hehadnotsomuchastouchedMadameOlenska'shandwithhislips,orextractedonewordfromherthatgavepromiseoffartheropportunities.
Nevertheless,foramansickwithunsatisfiedlove,andpartingforanindefiniteperiodfromtheobjectofhispassion,hefelthimselfalmosthumiliatinglycalmandcomforted.
Itwastheperfectbalanceshehadheldbetweentheirloyaltytoothersandtheirhonestytothemselvesthathadsostirredandyettranquillizedhim;abalancenotartfullycalculated,ashertearsandherfalteringsshowed,butresultingnaturallyfromherunabashedsincerity.
Itfilledhimwithatenderawe,nowthedangerwasover,andmadehimthankthefatesthatnopersonalvanity,nosenseofplayingapartbeforesophisticatedwitnesses,hadtemptedhimtotempther.
Evenaftertheyhadclaspedhandsforgood–byeattheFallRiverstation,andhehadturnedawayalone,theconvictionremainedwithhimofhavingsavedoutoftheirmeetingmuchmorethanhehadsacrificed.
Hewanderedbacktotheclub,andwentandsataloneinthedesertedlibrary,turningandturningoverinhisthoughtseveryseparatesecondoftheirhourstogether.
Itwascleartohim,anditgrewmoreclearundercloserscrutiny,thatifsheshouldfinallydecideonreturningtoEurope—returningtoherhusband—itwouldnotbebecauseheroldlifetemptedher,evenonthenewtermsoffered.
No:shewouldgoonlyifshefeltherselfbecomingatemptationtoArcher,atemptationtofallawayfromthestandardtheyhadbothsetup.
Herchoicewouldbetostaynearhimaslongashedidnotaskhertocomenearer;anditdependedonhimselftokeepherjustthere,safebutsecluded.
Inthetrainthesethoughtswerestillwithhim.
Theyenclosedhiminakindofgoldenhaze,throughwhichthefacesabouthimlookedremoteandindistinct:hehadafeelingthatifhespoketohisfellow–travellerstheywouldnotunderstandwhathewassaying.
Inthisstateofabstractionhefoundhimself,thefollowingmorning,wakingtotherealityofastiflingSeptemberdayinNewYork.
Theheat–witheredfacesinthelongtrainstreamedpasthim,andhecontinuedtostareatthemthroughthesamegoldenblur;butsuddenly,asheleftthestation,oneofthefacesdetacheditself,camecloserandforceditselfuponhisconsciousness.
Itwas,asheinstantlyrecalled,thefaceoftheyoungmanhehadseen,thedaybefore,passingoutoftheParkerHouse,andhadnotedasnotconformingtotype,asnothavinganAmericanhotelface.
Thesamethingstruckhimnow;andagainhebecameawareofadimstirofformerassociations.
TheyoungmanstoodlookingabouthimwiththedazedairoftheforeignerflungupontheharshmerciesofAmericantravel;thenheadvancedtowardArcher,liftedhishat,andsaidinEnglish:"Surely,Monsieur,wemetinLondon?"
"Ah,tobesure:inLondon!"Archergraspedhishandwithcuriosityandsympathy."SoyouDIDgethere,afterall?"
heexclaimed,castingawonderingeyeontheastuteandhaggardlittlecountenanceofyoungCarfry'sFrenchtutor.
"Oh,Igothere—yes,"M.Rivieresmiledwithdrawnlips.
"Butnotforlong;Ireturnthedayaftertomorrow."
Hestoodgraspinghislightvaliseinoneneatlyglovedhand,andgazinganxiously,perplexedly,almostappealingly,intoArcher'sface.
"Iwonder,Monsieur,sinceI'vehadthegoodlucktorunacrossyou,ifImight—"
"Iwasjustgoingtosuggestit:cometoluncheon,won'tyou?Downtown,Imean:ifyou'lllookmeupinmyofficeI'lltakeyoutoaverydecentrestaurantinthatquarter."
M.Rivierewasvisiblytouchedandsurprised."You'retookind.
ButIwasonlygoingtoaskifyouwouldtellmehowtoreachsomesortofconveyance.
Therearenoporters,andnoonehereseemstolisten—"
"Iknow:ourAmericanstationsmustsurpriseyou.Whenyouaskforaportertheygiveyouchewing–gum.Butifyou'llcomealongI'llextricateyou;andyoumustreallylunchwithme,youknow."
Theyoungman,afterajustperceptiblehesitation,replied,withprofusethanks,andinatonethatdidnotcarrycompleteconviction,thathewasalreadyengaged;butwhentheyhadreachedthecomparativereassuranceofthestreetheaskedifhemightcallthatafternoon.
Archer,ateaseinthemidsummerleisureoftheoffice,fixedanhourandscribbledhisaddress,whichtheFrenchmanpocketedwithreiteratedthanksandawideflourishofhishat.
Ahorse–carreceivedhim,andArcherwalkedaway.
PunctuallyatthehourM.Riviereappeared,shaved,smoothed–out,butstillunmistakablydrawnandserious.
Archerwasaloneinhisoffice,andtheyoungman,beforeacceptingtheseatheproffered,beganabruptly:"IbelieveIsawyou,sir,yesterdayinBoston."
Thestatementwasinsignificantenough,andArcherwasabouttoframeanassentwhenhiswordswerecheckedbysomethingmysteriousyetilluminatinginhisvisitor'sinsistentgaze.
"Itisextraordinary,veryextraordinary,"M.Rivierecontinued,"thatweshouldhavemetinthecircumstancesinwhichIfindmyself."
"Whatcircumstances?"Archerasked,wonderingalittlecrudelyifheneededmoney.
M.Rivierecontinuedtostudyhimwithtentativeeyes."Ihavecome,nottolookforemployment,asIspokeofdoingwhenwelastmet,butonaspecialmission—"
"Ah—!"Archerexclaimed.
Inaflashthetwomeetingshadconnectedthemselvesinhismind.
Hepausedtotakeinthesituationthussuddenlylightedupforhim,andM.Rivierealsoremainedsilent,asifawarethatwhathehadsaidwasenough.
"Aspecialmission,"Archeratlengthrepeated.
TheyoungFrenchman,openinghispalms,raisedthemslightly,andthetwomencontinuedtolookateachotheracrosstheoffice–desktillArcherrousedhimselftosay:"Dositdown";whereuponM.Rivierebowed,tookadistantchair,andagainwaited.
"Itwasaboutthismissionthatyouwantedtoconsultme?"Archerfinallyasked.
M.Rivierebenthishead."Notinmyownbehalf:onthatscoreI—Ihavefullydealtwithmyself.Ishouldlike—ifImay—tospeaktoyouabouttheCountessOlenska."
Archerhadknownforthelastfewminutesthatthewordswerecoming;butwhentheycametheysentthebloodrushingtohistemplesasifhehadbeencaughtbyabent–backbranchinathicket.
"Andonwhosebehalf,"hesaid,"doyouwishtodothis?"
M.Rivieremetthequestionsturdily."Well—ImightsayHERS,ifitdidnotsoundlikealiberty.ShallIsayinstead:onbehalfofabstractjustice?"
Archerconsideredhimironically."Inotherwords:youareCountOlenski'smessenger?"
HesawhisblushmoredarklyreflectedinM.Riviere'ssallowcountenance."NottoYOU,Monsieur.IfIcometoyou,itisonquiteothergrounds."
"Whatrighthaveyou,inthecircumstances,toBEonanyotherground?"Archerretorted."Ifyou'reanemissaryyou'reanemissary."
Theyoungmanconsidered."Mymissionisover:asfarastheCountessOlenskagoes,ithasfailed."
"Ican'thelpthat,"Archerrejoinedonthesamenoteofirony.
"No:butyoucanhelp—"M.Rivierepaused,turnedhishataboutinhisstillcarefullyglovedhands,lookedintoitsliningandthenbackatArcher'sface.
"Youcanhelp,Monsieur,Iamconvinced,tomakeitequallyafailurewithherfamily."
Archerpushedbackhischairandstoodup."Well—andbyGodIwill!"heexclaimed.
Hestoodwithhishandsinhispockets,staringdownwrathfullyatthelittleFrenchman,whoseface,thoughhetoohadrisen,wasstillaninchortwobelowthelineofArcher'seyes.
M.Rivierepaledtohisnormalhue:palerthanthathiscomplexioncouldhardlyturn.
"Whythedevil,"Archerexplosivelycontinued,"shouldyouhavethought—sinceIsupposeyou'reappealingtomeonthegroundofmyrelationshiptoMadameOlenska—thatIshouldtakeaviewcontrarytotherestofherfamily?"
ThechangeofexpressioninM.Riviere'sfacewasforatimehisonlyanswer.
Hislookpassedfromtimiditytoabsolutedistress:forayoungmanofhisusuallyresourcefulmienitwouldhavebeendifficulttoappearmoredisarmedanddefenceless."Oh,Monsieur—"
"Ican'timagine,"Archercontinued,"whyyoushouldhavecometomewhenthereareotherssomuchnearertotheCountess;stilllesswhyyouthoughtIshouldbemoreaccessibletotheargumentsIsupposeyouweresentoverwith."
M.Rivieretookthisonslaughtwithadisconcertinghumility."TheargumentsIwanttopresenttoyou,Monsieur,aremyownandnotthoseIwassentoverwith."
"ThenIseestilllessreasonforlisteningtothem."
M.Riviereagainlookedintohishat,asifconsideringwhethertheselastwordswerenotasufficientlybroadhinttoputitonandbegone.Thenhespokewithsuddendecision."Monsieur—willyoutellmeonething?
Isitmyrighttobeherethatyouquestion?
Ordoyouperhapsbelievethewholemattertobealreadyclosed?"
HisquietinsistencemadeArcherfeeltheclumsinessofhisownbluster.
M.Rivierehadsucceededinimposinghimself:Archer,reddeningslightly,droppedintohischairagain,andsignedtotheyoungmantobeseated.
"Ibegyourpardon:butwhyisn'tthematterclosed?"
M.Rivieregazedbackathimwithanguish.
"Youdo,then,agreewiththerestofthefamilythat,infaceofthenewproposalsIhavebrought,itishardlypossibleforMadameOlenskanottoreturntoherhusband?"
"GoodGod!"Archerexclaimed;andhisvisitorgaveoutalowmurmurofconfirmation.
"Beforeseeingher,Isaw—atCountOlenski'srequest—Mr.LovellMingott,withwhomIhadseveraltalksbeforegoingtoBoston.
Iunderstandthatherepresentshismother'sview;andthatMrs.MansonMingott'sinfluenceisgreatthroughoutherfamily."
Archersatsilent,withthesenseofclingingtotheedgeofaslidingprecipice.
Thediscoverythathehadbeenexcludedfromashareinthesenegotiations,andevenfromtheknowledgethattheywereonfoot,causedhimasurprisehardlydulledbytheacuterwonderofwhathewaslearning.
Hesawinaflashthatifthefamilyhadceasedtoconsulthimitwasbecausesomedeeptribalinstinctwarnedthemthathewasnolongerontheirside;andherecalled,withastartofcomprehension,aremarkofMay'sduringtheirdrivehomefromMrs.MansonMingott'sonthedayoftheArcheryMeeting:"Perhaps,afterall,Ellenwouldbehappierwithherhusband."
EveninthetumultofnewdiscoveriesArcherrememberedhisindignantexclamation,andthefactthatsincethenhiswifehadnevernamedMadameOlenskatohim.
Hercarelessallusionhadnodoubtbeenthestrawhelduptoseewhichwaythewindblew;theresulthadbeenreportedtothefamily,andthereafterArcherhadbeentacitlyomittedfromtheircounsels.
HeadmiredthetribaldisciplinewhichmadeMaybowtothisdecision.
Shewouldnothavedoneso,heknew,hadherconscienceprotested;butsheprobablysharedthefamilyviewthatMadameOlenskawouldbebetteroffasanunhappywifethanasaseparatedone,andthattherewasnouseindiscussingthecasewithNewland,whohadanawkwardwayofsuddenlynotseemingtotakethemostfundamentalthingsforgranted.
Archerlookedupandmethisvisitor'sanxiousgaze.
"Don'tyouknow,Monsieur—isitpossibleyoudon'tknow—thatthefamilybegintodoubtiftheyhavetherighttoadvisetheCountesstorefuseherhusband'slastproposals?"
"Theproposalsyoubrought?"
"TheproposalsIbrought."
ItwasonArcher'slipstoexclaimthatwhateverheknewordidnotknowwasnoconcernofM.Riviere's;butsomethinginthehumbleandyetcourageoustenacityofM.Riviere'sgazemadehimrejectthisconclusion,andhemettheyoungman'squestionwithanother.
"Whatisyourobjectinspeakingtomeofthis?"
Hehadnottowaitamomentfortheanswer."Tobegyou,Monsieur—tobegyouwithalltheforceI'mcapableof—nottolethergoback.—Oh,don'tlether!"M.Riviereexclaimed.
Archerlookedathimwithincreasingastonishment.
Therewasnomistakingthesincerityofhisdistressorthestrengthofhisdetermination:hehadevidentlyresolvedtoleteverythinggobytheboardbutthesupremeneedofthusputtinghimselfonrecord.Archerconsidered.
"MayIask,"hesaidatlength,"ifthisisthelineyoutookwiththeCountessOlenska?"
M.Rivierereddened,buthiseyesdidnotfalter.
"No,Monsieur:Iacceptedmymissioningoodfaith.
Ireallybelieved—forreasonsIneednottroubleyouwith—thatitwouldbebetterforMadameOlenskatorecoverhersituation,herfortune,thesocialconsiderationthatherhusband'sstandinggivesher."
"SoIsupposed:youcouldhardlyhaveacceptedsuchamissionotherwise."
"Ishouldnothaveacceptedit."
"Well,then—?"Archerpausedagain,andtheireyesmetinanotherprotractedscrutiny.
"Ah,Monsieur,afterIhadseenher,afterIhadlistenedtoher,Iknewshewasbetteroffhere."
"Youknew—?"
"Monsieur,Idischargedmymissionfaithfully:IputtheCount'sarguments,Istatedhisoffers,withoutaddinganycommentofmyown.
TheCountesswasgoodenoughtolistenpatiently;shecarriedhergoodnesssofarastoseemetwice;sheconsideredimpartiallyallIhadcometosay.
AnditwasinthecourseofthesetwotalksthatIchangedmymind,thatIcametoseethingsdifferently."
"MayIaskwhatledtothischange?"
"SimplyseeingthechangeinHER,"M.Rivierereplied.
"Thechangeinher?Thenyouknewherbefore?"
Theyoungman'scolouragainrose."Iusedtoseeherinherhusband'shouse.IhaveknownCountOlenskiformanyyears.Youcanimaginethathewouldnothavesentastrangeronsuchamission."
Archer'sgaze,wanderingawaytotheblankwallsoftheoffice,restedonahangingcalendarsurmountedbytheruggedfeaturesofthePresidentoftheUnitedStates.
Thatsuchaconversationshouldbegoingonanywherewithinthemillionsofsquaremilessubjecttohisruleseemedasstrangeasanythingthattheimaginationcouldinvent.
"Thechange—whatsortofachange?"
"Ah,Monsieur,ifIcouldtellyou!"M.Rivierepaused.
"Tenez—thediscovery,Isuppose,ofwhatI'dneverthoughtofbefore:thatshe'sanAmerican.
Andthatifyou'reanAmericanofHERkind—ofyourkind—thingsthatareacceptedincertainothersocieties,oratleastputupwithaspartofageneralconvenientgive–and–take—becomeunthinkable,simplyunthinkable.
IfMadameOlenska'srelationsunderstoodwhatthesethingswere,theiroppositiontoherreturningwouldnodoubtbeasunconditionalasherown;buttheyseemtoregardherhusband'swishtohaveherbackasproofofanirresistiblelongingfordomesticlife."
M.Rivierepaused,andthenadded:"Whereasit'sfarfrombeingassimpleasthat."
ArcherlookedbacktothePresidentoftheUnitedStates,andthendownathisdeskandatthepapersscatteredonit.
Forasecondortwohecouldnottrusthimselftospeak.
DuringthisintervalheheardM.Riviere'schairpushedback,andwasawarethattheyoungmanhadrisen.
Whenheglancedupagainhesawthathisvisitorwasasmovedashimself.
"Thankyou,"Archersaidsimply.
"There'snothingtothankmefor,Monsieur:itisI,rather—"M.Rivierebrokeoff,asifspeechforhimtooweredifficult.
"Ishouldlike,though,"hecontinuedinafirmervoice,"toaddonething.
YouaskedmeifIwasinCountOlenski'semploy.
Iamatthismoment:Ireturnedtohim,afewmonthsago,forreasonsofprivatenecessitysuchasmayhappentoanyonewhohaspersons,illandolderpersons,dependentonhim.
ButfromthemomentthatIhavetakenthestepofcomingheretosaythesethingstoyouIconsidermyselfdischarged,andIshalltellhimsoonmyreturn,andgivehimthereasons.That'sall,Monsieur."
M.Rivierebowedanddrewbackastep.
"Thankyou,"Archersaidagain,astheirhandsmet.
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