English
WallStreet,thenextday,hadmorereassuringreportsofBeaufort'ssituation.
Theywerenotdefinite,buttheywerehopeful.
Itwasgenerallyunderstoodthathecouldcallonpowerfulinfluencesincaseofemergency,andthathehaddonesowithsuccess;andthatevening,whenMrs.BeaufortappearedattheOperawearingheroldsmileandanewemeraldnecklace,societydrewabreathofrelief.
NewYorkwasinexorableinitscondemnationofbusinessirregularities.
Sofartherehadbeennoexceptiontoitstacitrulethatthosewhobrokethelawofprobitymustpay;andeveryonewasawarethatevenBeaufortandBeaufort'swifewouldbeofferedupunflinchinglytothisprinciple.
Buttobeobligedtoofferthemupwouldbenotonlypainfulbutinconvenient.
ThedisappearanceoftheBeaufortswouldleaveaconsiderablevoidintheircompactlittlecircle;andthosewhoweretooignorantortoocarelesstoshudderatthemoralcatastrophebewailedinadvancethelossofthebestball–roominNewYork.
ArcherhaddefinitelymadeuphismindtogotoWashington.
Hewaswaitingonlyfortheopeningofthelaw–suitofwhichhehadspokentoMay,sothatitsdatemightcoincidewiththatofhisvisit;butonthefollowingTuesdayhelearnedfromMr.Letterblairthatthecasemightbepostponedforseveralweeks.
Nevertheless,hewenthomethatafternoondeterminedinanyeventtoleavethenextevening.
ThechanceswerethatMay,whoknewnothingofhisprofessionallife,andhadnevershownanyinterestinit,wouldnotlearnofthepostponement,shouldittakeplace,norrememberthenamesofthelitigantsiftheywerementionedbeforeher;andatanyratehecouldnolongerputoffseeingMadameOlenska.
Thereweretoomanythingsthathemustsaytoher.
OntheWednesdaymorning,whenhereachedhisoffice,Mr.Letterblairmethimwithatroubledface.
Beaufort,afterall,hadnotmanagedto"tideover";butbysettingafloattherumourthathehaddonesohehadreassuredhisdepositors,andheavypaymentshadpouredintothebanktillthepreviousevening,whendisturbingreportsagainbegantopredominate.
Inconsequence,arunonthebankhadbegun,anditsdoorswerelikelytoclosebeforethedaywasover.
TheugliestthingswerebeingsaidofBeaufort'sdastardlymanoeuvre,andhisfailurepromisedtobeoneofthemostdiscreditableinthehistoryofWallStreet.
TheextentofthecalamityleftMr.Letterblairwhiteandincapacitated.
"I'veseenbadthingsinmytime;butnothingasbadasthis.
Everybodyweknowwillbehit,onewayoranother.
AndwhatwillbedoneaboutMrs.Beaufort?WhatCANbedoneabouther?
IpityMrs.MansonMingottasmuchasanybody:comingatherage,there'snoknowingwhateffectthisaffairmayhaveonher.
ShealwaysbelievedinBeaufort—shemadeafriendofhim!
Andthere'sthewholeDallasconnection:poorMrs.Beaufortisrelatedtoeveryoneofyou.
Heronlychancewouldbetoleaveherhusband—yethowcananyonetellherso?
Herdutyisathisside;andluckilysheseemsalwaystohavebeenblindtohisprivateweaknesses."
Therewasaknock,andMr.Letterblairturnedhisheadsharply."Whatisit?Ican'tbedisturbed."
AclerkbroughtinaletterforArcherandwithdrew.
Recognisinghiswife'shand,theyoungmanopenedtheenvelopeandread:"Won'tyoupleasecomeuptownasearlyasyoucan?Grannyhadaslightstrokelastnight.
Insomemysteriouswayshefoundoutbeforeanyoneelsethisawfulnewsaboutthebank.
UncleLovellisawayshooting,andtheideaofthedisgracehasmadepoorPapasonervousthathehasatemperatureandcan'tleavehisroom.
Mammaneedsyoudreadfully,andIdohopeyoucangetawayatonceandgostraighttoGranny's."
Archerhandedthenotetohisseniorpartner,andafewminuteslaterwascrawlingnorthwardinacrowdedhorse–car,whichheexchangedatFourteenthStreetforoneofthehighstaggeringomnibusesoftheFifthAvenueline.
Itwasaftertwelveo'clockwhenthislaboriousvehicledroppedhimatoldCatherine's.
Thesitting–roomwindowonthegroundfloor,wheresheusuallythroned,wastenantedbytheinadequatefigureofherdaughter,Mrs.Welland,whosignedahaggardwelcomeasshecaughtsightofArcher;andatthedoorhewasmetbyMay.
Thehallworetheunnaturalappearancepeculiartowell–kepthousessuddenlyinvadedbyillness:wrapsandfurslayinheapsonthechairs,adoctor'sbagandovercoatwereonthetable,andbesidethemlettersandcardshadalreadypiledupunheeded.
Maylookedpalebutsmiling:Dr.Bencomb,whohadjustcomeforthesecondtime,tookamorehopefulview,andMrs.Mingott'sdauntlessdeterminationtoliveandgetwellwasalreadyhavinganeffectonherfamily.
MayledArcherintotheoldlady'ssitting–room,wheretheslidingdoorsopeningintothebedroomhadbeendrawnshut,andtheheavyyellowdamaskportieresdroppedoverthem;andhereMrs.Wellandcommunicatedtohiminhorrifiedundertonesthedetailsofthecatastrophe.
Itappearedthattheeveningbeforesomethingdreadfulandmysterioushadhappened.
Atabouteighto'clock,justafterMrs.Mingotthadfinishedthegameofsolitairethatshealwaysplayedafterdinner,thedoor–bellhadrung,andaladysothicklyveiledthattheservantsdidnotimmediatelyrecogniseherhadaskedtobereceived.
Thebutler,hearingafamiliarvoice,hadthrownopenthesitting–roomdoor,announcing:"Mrs.JuliusBeaufort"—andhadthencloseditagainonthetwoladies.
Theymusthavebeentogether,hethought,aboutanhour.
WhenMrs.Mingott'sbellrangMrs.Beauforthadalreadyslippedawayunseen,andtheoldlady,whiteandvastandterrible,sataloneinhergreatchair,andsignedtothebutlertohelpherintoherroom.
Sheseemed,atthattime,thoughobviouslydistressed,incompletecontrolofherbodyandbrain.
Themulattomaidputhertobed,broughtheracupofteaasusual,laideverythingstraightintheroom,andwentaway;butatthreeinthemorningthebellrangagain,andthetwoservants,hasteninginatthisunwontedsummons(foroldCatherineusuallysleptlikeababy),hadfoundtheirmistresssittingupagainstherpillowswithacrookedsmileonherfaceandonelittlehandhanginglimpfromitshugearm.
Thestrokehadclearlybeenaslightone,forshewasabletoarticulateandtomakeherwishesknown;andsoonafterthedoctor'sfirstvisitshehadbeguntoregaincontrolofherfacialmuscles.
Butthealarmhadbeengreat;andproportionatelygreatwastheindignationwhenitwasgatheredfromMrs.Mingott'sfragmentaryphrasesthatReginaBeauforthadcometoaskher—incredibleeffrontery!
—tobackupherhusband,seethemthrough—notto"desert"them,asshecalledit—infacttoinducethewholefamilytocoverandcondonetheirmonstrousdishonour.
"Isaidtoher:'Honour'salwaysbeenhonour,andhonestyhonesty,inMansonMingott'shouse,andwillbetillI'mcarriedoutofitfeetfirst,'"theoldwomanhadstammeredintoherdaughter'sear,inthethickvoiceofthepartlyparalysed.
"Andwhenshesaid:'Butmyname,Auntie—myname'sReginaDallas,'Isaid:'ItwasBeaufortwhenhecoveredyouwithjewels,andit'sgottostayBeaufortnowthathe'scoveredyouwithshame.'"
Somuch,withtearsandgaspsofhorror,Mrs.Wellandimparted,blanchedanddemolishedbytheunwontedobligationofhavingatlasttofixhereyesontheunpleasantandthediscreditable.
"IfonlyIcouldkeepitfromyourfather–in–law:healwayssays:'Augusta,forpity'ssake,don'tdestroymylastillusions'—andhowamItopreventhisknowingthesehorrors?"thepoorladywailed.
"Afterall,Mamma,hewon'thaveSEENthem,"herdaughtersuggested;andMrs.Wellandsighed:"Ah,no;thankheavenhe'ssafeinbed.
AndDr.BencombhaspromisedtokeephimtheretillpoorMammaisbetter,andReginahasbeengotawaysomewhere."
Archerhadseatedhimselfnearthewindowandwasgazingoutblanklyatthedesertedthoroughfare.
Itwasevidentthathehadbeensummonedratherforthemoralsupportofthestrickenladiesthanbecauseofanyspecificaidthathecouldrender.
Mr.LovellMingotthadbeentelegraphedfor,andmessageswerebeingdespatchedbyhandtothemembersofthefamilylivinginNewYork;andmeanwhiletherewasnothingtodobuttodiscussinhushedtonestheconsequencesofBeaufort'sdishonourandofhiswife'sunjustifiableaction.
Mrs.LovellMingott,whohadbeeninanotherroomwritingnotes,presentlyreappeared,andaddedhervoicetothediscussion.
InTHEIRday,theelderladiesagreed,thewifeofamanwhohaddoneanythingdisgracefulinbusinesshadonlyoneidea:toeffaceherself,todisappearwithhim.
"TherewasthecaseofpoorGrandmammaSpicer;yourgreat–grandmother,May.
Ofcourse,"Mrs.Wellandhastenedtoadd,"yourgreat–grandfather'smoneydifficultieswereprivate—lossesatcards,orsigninganoteforsomebody—Ineverquiteknew,becauseMammawouldneverspeakofit.
ButshewasbroughtupinthecountrybecausehermotherhadtoleaveNewYorkafterthedisgrace,whateveritwas:theyliveduptheHudsonalone,winterandsummer,tillMammawassixteen.
ItwouldneverhaveoccurredtoGrandmammaSpicertoaskthefamilyto'countenance'her,asIunderstandReginacallsit;thoughaprivatedisgraceisnothingcomparedtothescandalofruininghundredsofinnocentpeople."
"Yes,itwouldbemorebecominginReginatohideherowncountenancethantotalkaboutotherpeople's,"Mrs.LovellMingottagreed.
"IunderstandthattheemeraldnecklacesheworeattheOperalastFridayhadbeensentonapprovalfromBallandBlack'sintheafternoon.Iwonderifthey'llevergetitback?"
Archerlistenedunmovedtotherelentlesschorus.
Theideaofabsolutefinancialprobityasthefirstlawofagentleman'scodewastoodeeplyingrainedinhimforsentimentalconsiderationstoweakenit.
AnadventurerlikeLemuelStruthersmightbuildupthemillionsofhisShoePolishonanynumberofshadydealings;butunblemishedhonestywasthenoblesseobligeofoldfinancialNewYork.
NordidMrs.Beaufort'sfategreatlymoveArcher.
Hefelt,nodoubt,moresorryforherthanherindignantrelatives;butitseemedtohimthatthetiebetweenhusbandandwife,evenifbreakableinprosperity,shouldbeindissolubleinmisfortune.
AsMr.Letterblairhadsaid,awife'splacewasatherhusband'ssidewhenhewasintrouble;butsociety'splacewasnotathisside,andMrs.Beaufort'scoolassumptionthatitwasseemedalmosttomakeherhisaccomplice.
Themereideaofawoman'sappealingtoherfamilytoscreenherhusband'sbusinessdishonourwasinadmissible,sinceitwastheonethingthattheFamily,asaninstitution,couldnotdo.
ThemulattomaidcalledMrs.LovellMingottintothehall,andthelattercamebackinamomentwithafrowningbrow.
"ShewantsmetotelegraphforEllenOlenska.
IhadwrittentoEllen,ofcourse,andtoMedora;butnowitseemsthat'snotenough.
I'mtotelegraphtoherimmediately,andtotellherthatshe'stocomealone."
Theannouncementwasreceivedinsilence.Mrs.Wellandsighedresignedly,andMayrosefromherseatandwenttogatherupsomenewspapersthathadbeenscatteredonthefloor.
"Isupposeitmustbedone,"Mrs.LovellMingottcontinued,asifhopingtobecontradicted;andMayturnedbacktowardthemiddleoftheroom.
"Ofcourseitmustbedone,"shesaid."Grannyknowswhatshewants,andwemustcarryoutallherwishes.
ShallIwritethetelegramforyou,Auntie?
IfitgoesatonceEllencanprobablycatchtomorrowmorning'strain."
Shepronouncedthesyllablesofthenamewithapeculiarclearness,asifshehadtappedontwosilverbells.
"Well,itcan'tgoatonce.Jasperandthepantry–boyarebothoutwithnotesandtelegrams."
Mayturnedtoherhusbandwithasmile."Buthere'sNewland,readytodoanything.Willyoutakethetelegram,Newland?There'llbejusttimebeforeluncheon."
Archerrosewithamurmurofreadiness,andsheseatedherselfatoldCatherine'srosewood"BonheurduJour,"andwroteoutthemessageinherlargeimmaturehand.
WhenitwaswrittensheblotteditneatlyandhandedittoArcher.
"Whatapity,"shesaid,"thatyouandEllenwillcrosseachotherontheway!
—Newland,"sheadded,turningtohermotherandaunt,"isobligedtogotoWashingtonaboutapatentlaw–suitthatiscomingupbeforetheSupremeCourt.
IsupposeUncleLovellwillbebackbytomorrownight,andwithGrannyimprovingsomuchitdoesn'tseemrighttoaskNewlandtogiveupanimportantengagementforthefirm—doesit?"
Shepaused,asifforananswer,andMrs.Wellandhastilydeclared:"Oh,ofcoursenot,darling.
YourGrannywouldbethelastpersontowishit."
AsArcherlefttheroomwiththetelegram,heheardhismother–in–lawadd,presumablytoMrs.LovellMingott:"ButwhyonearthsheshouldmakeyoutelegraphforEllenOlenska—"andMay'sclearvoicerejoin:"Perhapsit'stourgeonheragainthatafterallherdutyiswithherhusband."
TheouterdoorclosedonArcherandhewalkedhastilyawaytowardthetelegraphoffice.
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