English
"AtthecourtoftheTuileries,"saidMr.SillertonJacksonwithhisreminiscentsmile,"suchthingswereprettyopenlytolerated."
ThescenewasthevanderLuydens'blackwalnutdining–roominMadisonAvenue,andthetimetheeveningafterNewlandArcher'svisittotheMuseumofArt.
Mr.andMrs.vanderLuydenhadcometotownforafewdaysfromSkuytercliff,whithertheyhadprecipitatelyfledattheannouncementofBeaufort'sfailure.
Ithadbeenrepresentedtothemthatthedisarrayintowhichsocietyhadbeenthrownbythisdeplorableaffairmadetheirpresenceintownmorenecessarythanever.
Itwasoneoftheoccasionswhen,asMrs.Archerputit,they"owedittosociety"toshowthemselvesattheOpera,andeventoopentheirowndoors.
"Itwillneverdo,mydearLouisa,toletpeoplelikeMrs.LemuelStruthersthinktheycanstepintoRegina'sshoes.
Itisjustatsuchtimesthatnewpeoplepushinandgetafooting.
Itwasowingtotheepidemicofchicken–poxinNewYorkthewinterMrs.Struthersfirstappearedthatthemarriedmenslippedawaytoherhousewhiletheirwiveswereinthenursery.
YouanddearHenry,Louisa,muststandinthebreachasyoualwayshave."
Mr.andMrs.vanderLuydencouldnotremaindeaftosuchacall,andreluctantlybutheroicallytheyhadcometotown,unmuffledthehouse,andsentoutinvitationsfortwodinnersandaneveningreception.
OnthisparticulareveningtheyhadinvitedSillertonJackson,Mrs.ArcherandNewlandandhiswifetogowiththemtotheOpera,whereFaustwasbeingsungforthefirsttimethatwinter.
NothingwasdonewithoutceremonyunderthevanderLuydenroof,andthoughtherewerebutfourgueststherepasthadbegunatsevenpunctually,sothatthepropersequenceofcoursesmightbeservedwithouthastebeforethegentlemensettleddowntotheircigars.
Archerhadnotseenhiswifesincetheeveningbefore.
Hehadleftearlyfortheoffice,wherehehadplungedintoanaccumulationofunimportantbusiness.
Intheafternoononeoftheseniorpartnershadmadeanunexpectedcallonhistime;andhehadreachedhomesolatethatMayhadprecededhimtothevanderLuydens',andsentbackthecarriage.
Now,acrosstheSkuytercliffcarnationsandthemassiveplate,shestruckhimaspaleandlanguid;buthereyesshone,andshetalkedwithexaggeratedanimation.
ThesubjectwhichhadcalledforthMr.SillertonJackson'sfavouriteallusionhadbeenbroughtup(Archerfanciednotwithoutintention)bytheirhostess.
TheBeaufortfailure,orrathertheBeaufortattitudesincethefailure,wasstillafruitfulthemeforthedrawing–roommoralist;andafterithadbeenthoroughlyexaminedandcondemnedMrs.vanderLuydenhadturnedherscrupulouseyesonMayArcher.
"Isitpossible,dear,thatwhatIhearistrue?
IwastoldyourgrandmotherMingott'scarriagewasseenstandingatMrs.Beaufort'sdoor."
ItwasnoticeablethatshenolongercalledtheoffendingladybyherChristianname.
May'scolourrose,andMrs.Archerputinhastily:"Ifitwas,I'mconvinceditwastherewithoutMrs.Mingott'sknowledge."
"Ah,youthink—?"Mrs.vanderLuydenpaused,sighed,andglancedatherhusband.
"I'mafraid,"Mr.vanderLuydensaid,"thatMadameOlenska'skindheartmayhaveledherintotheimprudenceofcallingonMrs.Beaufort."
"Orhertasteforpeculiarpeople,"putinMrs.Archerinadrytone,whilehereyesdweltinnocentlyonherson's.
"I'msorrytothinkitofMadameOlenska,"saidMrs.vanderLuyden;andMrs.Archermurmured:"Ah,mydear—andafteryou'dhadhertwiceatSkuytercliff!"
ItwasatthispointthatMr.Jacksonseizedthechancetoplacehisfavouriteallusion.
"AttheTuileries,"herepeated,seeingtheeyesofthecompanyexpectantlyturnedonhim,"thestandardwasexcessivelylaxinsomerespects;andifyou'daskedwhereMorny'smoneycamefrom—!
OrwhopaidthedebtsofsomeoftheCourtbeauties..."
"Ihope,dearSillerton,"saidMrs.Archer,"youarenotsuggestingthatweshouldadoptsuchstandards?"
"Ineversuggest,"returnedMr.Jacksonimperturbably."ButMadameOlenska'sforeignbringing–upmaymakeherlessparticular—"
"Ah,"thetwoelderladiessighed.
"Still,tohavekepthergrandmother'scarriageatadefaulter'sdoor!"
Mr.vanderLuydenprotested;andArcherguessedthathewasremembering,andresenting,thehampersofcarnationshehadsenttothelittlehouseinTwenty–thirdStreet.
"OfcourseI'vealwayssaidthatshelooksatthingsquitedifferently,"Mrs.Archersummedup.
AflushrosetoMay'sforehead.Shelookedacrossthetableatherhusband,andsaidprecipitately:"I'msureEllenmeantitkindly."
"Imprudentpeopleareoftenkind,"saidMrs.Archer,asifthefactwerescarcelyanextenuation;andMrs.vanderLuydenmurmured:"Ifonlyshehadconsultedsomeone—"
"Ah,thatsheneverdid!"Mrs.Archerrejoined.
AtthispointMr.vanderLuydenglancedathiswife,whobentherheadslightlyinthedirectionofMrs.Archer;andtheglimmeringtrainsofthethreeladiessweptoutofthedoorwhilethegentlemensettleddowntotheircigars.
Mr.vanderLuydensuppliedshortonesonOperanights;buttheyweresogoodthattheymadehisguestsdeplorehisinexorablepunctuality.
Archer,afterthefirstact,haddetachedhimselffromthepartyandmadehiswaytothebackoftheclubbox.
Fromtherehewatched,overvariousChivers,MingottandRushworthshoulders,thesamescenethathehadlookedat,twoyearspreviously,onthenightofhisfirstmeetingwithEllenOlenska.
Hehadhalf–expectedhertoappearagaininoldMrs.Mingott'sbox,butitremainedempty;andhesatmotionless,hiseyesfastenedonit,tillsuddenlyMadameNilsson'spuresopranobrokeoutinto"M'ama,nonm'ama..."
Archerturnedtothestage,where,inthefamiliarsettingofgiantrosesandpen–wiperpansies,thesamelargeblondevictimwassuccumbingtothesamesmallbrownseducer.
FromthestagehiseyeswanderedtothepointofthehorseshoewhereMaysatbetweentwoolderladies,justas,onthatformerevening,shehadsatbetweenMrs.LovellMingottandhernewly–arrived"foreign"cousin.
Asonthatevening,shewasallinwhite;andArcher,whohadnotnoticedwhatshewore,recognisedtheblue–whitesatinandoldlaceofherweddingdress.
Itwasthecustom,inoldNewYork,forbridestoappearinthiscostlygarmentduringthefirstyearortwoofmarriage:hismother,heknew,kepthersintissuepaperinthehopethatJaneymightsomedaywearit,thoughpoorJaneywasreachingtheagewhenpearlgreypoplinandnobridesmaidswouldbethoughtmore"appropriate."
ItstruckArcherthatMay,sincetheirreturnfromEurope,hadseldomwornherbridalsatin,andthesurpriseofseeingherinitmadehimcompareherappearancewiththatoftheyounggirlhehadwatchedwithsuchblissfulanticipationstwoyearsearlier.
ThoughMay'soutlinewasslightlyheavier,ashergoddesslikebuildhadforetold,herathleticerectnessofcarriage,andthegirlishtransparencyofherexpression,remainedunchanged:butfortheslightlanguorthatArcherhadlatelynoticedinhershewouldhavebeentheexactimageofthegirlplayingwiththebouquetoflilies–of–the–valleyonherbetrothalevening.
Thefactseemedanadditionalappealtohispity:suchinnocencewasasmovingasthetrustfulclaspofachild.
Thenherememberedthepassionategenerositylatentunderthatincuriouscalm.
HerecalledherglanceofunderstandingwhenhehadurgedthattheirengagementshouldbeannouncedattheBeaufortball;heheardthevoiceinwhichshehadsaid,intheMissiongarden:"Icouldn'thavemyhappinessmadeoutofawrong—awrongtosomeoneelse;"andanuncontrollablelongingseizedhimtotellherthetruth,tothrowhimselfonhergenerosity,andaskforthefreedomhehadoncerefused.
NewlandArcherwasaquietandself–controlledyoungman.
Conformitytothedisciplineofasmallsocietyhadbecomealmosthissecondnature.
Itwasdeeplydistastefultohimtodoanythingmelodramaticandconspicuous,anythingMr.vanderLuydenwouldhavedeprecatedandtheclubboxcondemnedasbadform.
Buthehadbecomesuddenlyunconsciousoftheclubbox,ofMr.vanderLuyden,ofallthathadsolongenclosedhiminthewarmshelterofhabit.
Hewalkedalongthesemi–circularpassageatthebackofthehouse,andopenedthedoorofMrs.vanderLuyden'sboxasifithadbeenagateintotheunknown.
"M'ama!"thrilledoutthetriumphantMarguerite;andtheoccupantsoftheboxlookedupinsurpriseatArcher'sentrance.
Hehadalreadybrokenoneoftherulesofhisworld,whichforbadetheenteringofaboxduringasolo.
SlippingbetweenMr.vanderLuydenandSillertonJackson,heleanedoverhiswife.
"I'vegotabeastlyheadache;don'ttellanyone,butcomehome,won'tyou?"hewhispered.
Maygavehimaglanceofcomprehension,andhesawherwhispertohismother,whonoddedsympathetically;thenshemurmuredanexcusetoMrs.vanderLuyden,androsefromherseatjustasMargueritefellintoFaust'sarms.
Archer,whilehehelpedheronwithherOperacloak,noticedtheexchangeofasignificantsmilebetweentheolderladies.
AstheydroveawayMaylaidherhandshylyonhis."I'msosorryyoudon'tfeelwell.I'mafraidthey'vebeenoverworkingyouagainattheoffice."
"No—it'snotthat:doyoumindifIopenthewindow?"
hereturnedconfusedly,lettingdownthepaneonhisside.
Hesatstaringoutintothestreet,feelinghiswifebesidehimasasilentwatchfulinterrogation,andkeepinghiseyessteadilyfixedonthepassinghouses.
Attheirdoorshecaughtherskirtinthestepofthecarriage,andfellagainsthim.
"Didyouhurtyourself?"heasked,steadyingherwithhisarm.
"No;butmypoordress—seehowI'vetornit!"sheexclaimed.
Shebenttogatherupamud–stainedbreadth,andfollowedhimupthestepsintothehall.
Theservantshadnotexpectedthemsoearly,andtherewasonlyaglimmerofgasontheupperlanding.
Archermountedthestairs,turnedupthelight,andputamatchtothebracketsoneachsideofthelibrarymantelpiece.
Thecurtainsweredrawn,andthewarmfriendlyaspectoftheroomsmotehimlikethatofafamiliarfacemetduringanunavowableerrand.
Henoticedthathiswifewasverypale,andaskedifheshouldgethersomebrandy.
"Oh,no,"sheexclaimedwithamomentaryflush,asshetookoffhercloak."Buthadn'tyoubettergotobedatonce?"sheadded,asheopenedasilverboxonthetableandtookoutacigarette.
Archerthrewdownthecigaretteandwalkedtohisusualplacebythefire.
"No;myheadisnotasbadasthat."Hepaused."Andthere'ssomethingIwanttosay;somethingimportant—thatImusttellyouatonce."
Shehaddroppedintoanarmchair,andraisedherheadashespoke."Yes,dear?"sherejoined,sogentlythathewonderedatthelackofwonderwithwhichshereceivedthispreamble.
"May—"hebegan,standingafewfeetfromherchair,andlookingoveratherasiftheslightdistancebetweenthemwereanunbridgeableabyss.
Thesoundofhisvoiceechoeduncannilythroughthehomelikehush,andherepeated:"ThereissomethingI'vegottotellyou...aboutmyself..."
Shesatsilent,withoutamovementoratremorofherlashes.Shewasstillextremelypale,butherfacehadacurioustranquillityofexpressionthatseemeddrawnfromsomesecretinnersource.
Archercheckedtheconventionalphrasesofself–accusalthatwerecrowdingtohislips.Hewasdeterminedtoputthecasebaldly,withoutvainrecriminationorexcuse.
"MadameOlenska—"hesaid;butatthenamehiswiferaisedherhandasiftosilencehim.Asshedidsothegaslightstruckonthegoldofherwedding–ring.
"Oh,whyshouldwetalkaboutEllentonight?"sheasked,withaslightpoutofimpatience.
"BecauseIoughttohavespokenbefore."
Herfaceremainedcalm."Isitreallyworthwhile,dear?
IknowI'vebeenunfairtoherattimes—perhapsweallhave.
You'veunderstoodher,nodoubt,betterthanwedid:you'vealwaysbeenkindtoher.
Butwhatdoesitmatter,nowit'sallover?"
Archerlookedatherblankly.Coulditbepossiblethatthesenseofunrealityinwhichhefelthimselfimprisonedhadcommunicateditselftohiswife?
"Allover—whatdoyoumean?"heaskedinanindistinctstammer.
Maystilllookedathimwithtransparenteyes."Why—sinceshe'sgoingbacktoEuropesosoon;sinceGrannyapprovesandunderstands,andhasarrangedtomakeherindependentofherhusband—"
Shebrokeoff,andArcher,graspingthecornerofthemantelpieceinoneconvulsedhand,andsteadyinghimselfagainstit,madeavainefforttoextendthesamecontroltohisreelingthoughts.
"Isupposed,"heheardhiswife'sevenvoicegoon,"thatyouhadbeenkeptattheofficethiseveningaboutthebusinessarrangements.
Itwassettledthismorning,Ibelieve."
Sheloweredhereyesunderhisunseeingstare,andanotherfugitiveflushpassedoverherface.
Heunderstoodthathisowneyesmustbeunbearable,andturningaway,restedhiselbowsonthemantel–shelfandcoveredhisface.
Somethingdrummedandclangedfuriouslyinhisears;hecouldnottellifitwerethebloodinhisveins,orthetickoftheclockonthemantel.
Maysatwithoutmovingorspeakingwhiletheclockslowlymeasuredoutfiveminutes.
Alumpofcoalfellforwardinthegrate,andhearingherrisetopushitback,Archeratlengthturnedandfacedher.
"It'simpossible,"heexclaimed.
"Impossible—?"
"Howdoyouknow—whatyou'vejusttoldme?"
"IsawEllenyesterday—ItoldyouI'dseenheratGranny's."
"Itwasn'tthenthatshetoldyou?"
"No;Ihadanotefromherthisafternoon.—Doyouwanttoseeit?"
Hecouldnotfindhisvoice,andshewentoutoftheroom,andcamebackalmostimmediately.
"Ithoughtyouknew,"shesaidsimply.
Shelaidasheetofpaperonthetable,andArcherputouthishandandtookitup.Thelettercontainedonlyafewlines.
"Maydear,IhaveatlastmadeGrannyunderstandthatmyvisittohercouldbenomorethanavisit;andshehasbeenaskindandgenerousasever.
SheseesnowthatifIreturntoEuropeImustlivebymyself,orratherwithpoorAuntMedora,whoiscomingwithme.
IamhurryingbacktoWashingtontopackup,andwesailnextweek.
YoumustbeverygoodtoGrannywhenI'mgone—asgoodasyou'vealwaysbeentome.Ellen.
"Ifanyofmyfriendswishtourgemetochangemymind,pleasetellthemitwouldbeutterlyuseless."
Archerreadtheletterovertwoorthreetimes;thenheflungitdownandburstoutlaughing.
Thesoundofhislaughstartledhim.ItrecalledJaney'smidnightfrightwhenshehadcaughthimrockingwithincomprehensiblemirthoverMay'stelegramannouncingthatthedateoftheirmarriagehadbeenadvanced.
"Whydidshewritethis?"heasked,checkinghislaughwithasupremeeffort.
Maymetthequestionwithherunshakencandour."Isupposebecausewetalkedthingsoveryesterday—"
"Whatthings?"
"ItoldherIwasafraidIhadn'tbeenfairtoher—hadn'talwaysunderstoodhowharditmusthavebeenforherhere,aloneamongsomanypeoplewhowererelationsandyetstrangers;whofelttherighttocriticise,andyetdidn'talwaysknowthecircumstances."Shepaused.
"Iknewyou'dbeentheonefriendshecouldalwayscounton;andIwantedhertoknowthatyouandIwerethesame—inallourfeelings."
Shehesitated,asifwaitingforhimtospeak,andthenaddedslowly:"Sheunderstoodmywishingtotellherthis.Ithinksheunderstandseverything."
ShewentuptoArcher,andtakingoneofhiscoldhandspresseditquicklyagainsthercheek.
"Myheadachestoo;good–night,dear,"shesaid,andturnedtothedoor,hertornandmuddywedding–dressdraggingafterheracrosstheroom.
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