English
NewlandArchersatatthewriting–tableinhislibraryinEastThirty–ninthStreet.
HehadjustgotbackfromabigofficialreceptionfortheinaugurationofthenewgalleriesattheMetropolitanMuseum,andthespectacleofthosegreatspacescrowdedwiththespoilsoftheages,wherethethrongoffashioncirculatedthroughaseriesofscientificallycataloguedtreasures,hadsuddenlypressedonarustedspringofmemory.
"Why,thisusedtobeoneoftheoldCesnolarooms,"heheardsomeonesay;andinstantlyeverythingabouthimvanished,andhewassittingaloneonahardleatherdivanagainstaradiator,whileaslightfigureinalongsealskincloakmovedawaydownthemeagrely–fittedvistaoftheoldMuseum.
Thevisionhadrousedahostofotherassociations,andhesatlookingwithneweyesatthelibrarywhich,foroverthirtyyears,hadbeenthesceneofhissolitarymusingsandofallthefamilyconfabulations.
Itwastheroominwhichmostoftherealthingsofhislifehadhappened.
Therehiswife,nearlytwenty–sixyearsago,hadbrokentohim,withablushingcircumlocutionthatwouldhavecausedtheyoungwomenofthenewgenerationtosmile,thenewsthatshewastohaveachild;andtheretheireldestboy,Dallas,toodelicatetobetakentochurchinmidwinter,hadbeenchristenedbytheiroldfriendtheBishopofNewYork,theamplemagnificentirreplaceableBishop,solongtheprideandornamentofhisdiocese.
ThereDallashadfirststaggeredacrossthefloorshouting"Dad,"whileMayandthenurselaughedbehindthedoor;theretheirsecondchild,Mary(whowassolikehermother),hadannouncedherengagementtothedullestandmostreliableofReggieChivers'smanysons;andthereArcherhadkissedherthroughherweddingveilbeforetheywentdowntothemotorwhichwastocarrythemtoGraceChurch—forinaworldwhereallelsehadreeledonitsfoundationsthe"GraceChurchwedding"remainedanunchangedinstitution.
ItwasinthelibrarythatheandMayhadalwaysdiscussedthefutureofthechildren:thestudiesofDallasandhisyoungbrotherBill,Mary'sincurableindifferenceto"accomplishments,"andpassionforsportandphilanthropy,andthevagueleaningstoward"art"whichhadfinallylandedtherestlessandcuriousDallasintheofficeofarisingNewYorkarchitect.
Theyoungmennowadayswereemancipatingthemselvesfromthelawandbusinessandtakingupallsortsofnewthings.
Iftheywerenotabsorbedinstatepoliticsormunicipalreform,thechanceswerethattheyweregoinginforCentralAmericanarchaeology,forarchitectureorlandscape–engineering;takingakeenandlearnedinterestintheprerevolutionarybuildingsoftheirowncountry,studyingandadaptingGeorgiantypes,andprotestingatthemeaninglessuseoftheword"Colonial."
Nobodynowadayshad"Colonial"housesexceptthemillionairegrocersofthesuburbs.
Butaboveall—sometimesArcherputitaboveall—itwasinthatlibrarythattheGovernorofNewYork,comingdownfromAlbanyoneeveningtodineandspendthenight,hadturnedtohishost,andsaid,banginghisclenchedfistonthetableandgnashinghiseye–glasses:"Hangtheprofessionalpolitician!
You'rethekindofmanthecountrywants,Archer.
Ifthestable'severtobecleanedout,menlikeyouhavegottolendahandinthecleaning."
"Menlikeyou—"howArcherhadglowedatthephrase!
Howeagerlyhehadrisenupatthecall!
ItwasanechoofNedWinsett'soldappealtorollhissleevesupandgetdownintothemuck;butspokenbyamanwhosettheexampleofthegesture,andwhosesummonstofollowhimwasirresistible.
Archer,ashelookedback,wasnotsurethatmenlikehimselfWEREwhathiscountryneeded,atleastintheactiveservicetowhichTheodoreRoosevelthadpointed;infact,therewasreasontothinkitdidnot,forafterayearintheStateAssemblyhehadnotbeenre–elected,andhaddroppedbackthankfullyintoobscureifusefulmunicipalwork,andfromthatagaintothewritingofoccasionalarticlesinoneofthereformingweekliesthatweretryingtoshakethecountryoutofitsapathy.
Itwaslittleenoughtolookbackon;butwhenherememberedtowhattheyoungmenofhisgenerationandhissethadlookedforward—thenarrowgrooveofmoney–making,sportandsocietytowhichtheirvisionhadbeenlimited—evenhissmallcontributiontothenewstateofthingsseemedtocount,aseachbrickcountsinawell–builtwall.
Hehaddonelittleinpubliclife;hewouldalwaysbebynatureacontemplativeandadilettante;buthehadhadhighthingstocontemplate,greatthingstodelightin;andonegreatman'sfriendshiptobehisstrengthandpride.
Hehadbeen,inshort,whatpeoplewerebeginningtocall"agoodcitizen."
InNewYork,formanyyearspast,everynewmovement,philanthropic,municipalorartistic,hadtakenaccountofhisopinionandwantedhisname.
Peoplesaid:"AskArcher"whentherewasaquestionofstartingthefirstschoolforcrippledchildren,reorganisingtheMuseumofArt,foundingtheGrolierClub,inauguratingthenewLibrary,orgettingupanewsocietyofchambermusic.
Hisdayswerefull,andtheywerefilleddecently.
Hesupposeditwasallamanoughttoask.
Somethingheknewhehadmissed:thefloweroflife.
Buthethoughtofitnowasathingsounattainableandimprobablethattohaverepinedwouldhavebeenlikedespairingbecauseonehadnotdrawnthefirstprizeinalottery.
TherewereahundredmillionticketsinHISlottery,andtherewasonlyoneprize;thechanceshadbeentoodecidedlyagainsthim.
WhenhethoughtofEllenOlenskaitwasabstractly,serenely,asonemightthinkofsomeimaginarybelovedinabookorapicture:shehadbecomethecompositevisionofallthathehadmissed.
Thatvision,faintandtenuousasitwas,hadkepthimfromthinkingofotherwomen.
Hehadbeenwhatwascalledafaithfulhusband;andwhenMayhadsuddenlydied—carriedoffbytheinfectiouspneumoniathroughwhichshehadnursedtheiryoungestchild—hehadhonestlymournedher.
Theirlongyearstogetherhadshownhimthatitdidnotsomuchmatterifmarriagewasadullduty,aslongasitkeptthedignityofaduty:lapsingfromthat,itbecameamerebattleofuglyappetites.
Lookingabouthim,hehonouredhisownpast,andmournedforit.
Afterall,therewasgoodintheoldways.
Hiseyes,makingtheroundoftheroom—doneoverbyDallaswithEnglishmezzotints,Chippendalecabinets,bitsofchosenblue–and–whiteandpleasantlyshadedelectriclamps—camebacktotheoldEastlakewriting–tablethathehadneverbeenwillingtobanish,andtohisfirstphotographofMay,whichstillkeptitsplacebesidehisinkstand.
Thereshewas,tall,round–bosomedandwillowy,inherstarchedmuslinandflappingLeghorn,ashehadseenherundertheorange–treesintheMissiongarden.
Andashehadseenherthatday,soshehadremained;neverquiteatthesameheight,yetneverfarbelowit:generous,faithful,unwearied;butsolackinginimagination,soincapableofgrowth,thattheworldofheryouthhadfallenintopiecesandrebuiltitselfwithouthereverbeingconsciousofthechange.
Thishardbrightblindnesshadkeptherimmediatehorizonapparentlyunaltered.
HerincapacitytorecognisechangemadeherchildrenconcealtheirviewsfromherasArcherconcealedhis;therehadbeen,fromthefirst,ajointpretenceofsameness,akindofinnocentfamilyhypocrisy,inwhichfatherandchildrenhadunconsciouslycollaborated.
Andshehaddiedthinkingtheworldagoodplace,fulloflovingandharmonioushouseholdslikeherown,andresignedtoleaveitbecauseshewasconvincedthat,whateverhappened,NewlandwouldcontinuetoinculcateinDallasthesameprinciplesandprejudiceswhichhadshapedhisparents'lives,andthatDallasinturn(whenNewlandfollowedher)wouldtransmitthesacredtrusttolittleBill.
AndofMaryshewassureasofherownself.
So,havingsnatchedlittleBillfromthegrave,andgivenherlifeintheeffort,shewentcontentedlytoherplaceintheArchervaultinSt.Mark's,whereMrs.Archeralreadylaysafefromtheterrifying"trend"whichherdaughter–in–lawhadneverevenbecomeawareof.
OppositeMay'sportraitstoodoneofherdaughter.
MaryChiverswasastallandfairashermother,butlarge–waisted,flat–chestedandslightlyslouching,asthealteredfashionrequired.
MaryChivers'smightyfeatsofathleticismcouldnothavebeenperformedwiththetwenty–inchwaistthatMayArcher'sazuresashsoeasilyspanned.
Andthedifferenceseemedsymbolic;themother'slifehadbeenascloselygirtasherfigure.
Mary,whowasnolessconventional,andnomoreintelligent,yetledalargerlifeandheldmoretolerantviews.Therewasgoodinthenewordertoo.
Thetelephoneclicked,andArcher,turningfromthephotographs,unhookedthetransmitterathiselbow.
Howfartheywerefromthedayswhenthelegsofthebrass–buttonedmessengerboyhadbeenNewYork'sonlymeansofquickcommunication!
"Chicagowantsyou."
Ah—itmustbealong–distancefromDallas,whohadbeensenttoChicagobyhisfirmtotalkovertheplanoftheLakesidepalacetheyweretobuildforayoungmillionairewithideas.
ThefirmalwayssentDallasonsucherrands.
"Hallo,Dad—Yes:Dallas.Isay—howdoyoufeelaboutsailingonWednesday?
Mauretania:Yes,nextWednesdayaseveris.
OurclientwantsmetolookatsomeItaliangardensbeforewesettleanything,andhasaskedmetonipoveronthenextboat.
I'vegottobebackonthefirstofJune—"thevoicebrokeintoajoyfulconsciouslaugh—"sowemustlookalive.Isay,Dad,Iwantyourhelp:docome."
Dallasseemedtobespeakingintheroom:thevoicewasasnearbyandnaturalasifhehadbeenlounginginhisfavouritearm–chairbythefire.
ThefactwouldnotordinarilyhavesurprisedArcher,forlong–distancetelephoninghadbecomeasmuchamatterofcourseaselectriclightingandfive–dayAtlanticvoyages.
Butthelaughdidstartlehim;itstillseemedwonderfulthatacrossallthosemilesandmilesofcountry—forest,river,mountain,prairie,roaringcitiesandbusyindifferentmillions—Dallas'slaughshouldbeabletosay:"Ofcourse,whateverhappens,Imustgetbackonthefirst,becauseFannyBeaufortandIaretobemarriedonthefifth."
Thevoicebeganagain:"Thinkitover?No,sir:notaminute.You'vegottosayyesnow.Whynot,I'dliketoknow?
Ifyoucanallegeasinglereason—No;Iknewit.Thenit'sago,eh?
BecauseIcountonyoutoringuptheCunardofficefirstthingtomorrow;andyou'dbetterbookareturnonaboatfromMarseilles.
Isay,Dad;it'llbeourlasttimetogether,inthiskindofway—.Oh,good!Iknewyouwould."
Chicagorangoff,andArcherroseandbegantopaceupanddowntheroom.
Itwouldbetheirlasttimetogetherinthiskindofway:theboywasright.
Theywouldhavelotsofother"times"afterDallas'smarriage,hisfatherwassure;forthetwowereborncomrades,andFannyBeaufort,whateveronemightthinkofher,didnotseemlikelytointerferewiththeirintimacy.
Onthecontrary,fromwhathehadseenofher,hethoughtshewouldbenaturallyincludedinit.
Still,changewaschange,anddifferencesweredifferences,andmuchashefelthimselfdrawntowardhisfuturedaughter–in–law,itwastemptingtoseizethislastchanceofbeingalonewithhisboy.
Therewasnoreasonwhyheshouldnotseizeit,excepttheprofoundonethathehadlostthehabitoftravel.
Mayhaddislikedtomoveexceptforvalidreasons,suchastakingthechildrentotheseaorinthemountains:shecouldimaginenoothermotiveforleavingthehouseinThirty–ninthStreetortheircomfortablequartersattheWellands'inNewport.
AfterDallashadtakenhisdegreeshehadthoughtitherdutytotravelforsixmonths;andthewholefamilyhadmadetheold–fashionedtourthroughEngland,SwitzerlandandItaly.
Theirtimebeinglimited(nooneknewwhy)theyhadomittedFrance.
ArcherrememberedDallas'swrathatbeingaskedtocontemplateMontBlancinsteadofRheimsandChartres.
ButMaryandBillwantedmountain–climbing,andhadalreadyyawnedtheirwayinDallas'swakethroughtheEnglishcathedrals;andMay,alwaysfairtoherchildren,hadinsistedonholdingthebalanceevenlybetweentheirathleticandartisticproclivities.
ShehadindeedproposedthatherhusbandshouldgotoParisforafortnight,andjointhemontheItalianlakesaftertheyhad"done"Switzerland;butArcherhaddeclined.
"We'llsticktogether,"hesaid;andMay'sfacehadbrightenedathissettingsuchagoodexampletoDallas.
Sinceherdeath,nearlytwoyearsbefore,therehadbeennoreasonforhiscontinuinginthesameroutine.
Hischildrenhadurgedhimtotravel:MaryChivershadfeltsureitwoulddohimgoodtogoabroadand"seethegalleries."
Theverymysteriousnessofsuchacuremadeherthemoreconfidentofitsefficacy.
ButArcherhadfoundhimselfheldfastbyhabit,bymemories,byasuddenstartledshrinkingfromnewthings.
Now,ashereviewedhispast,hesawintowhatadeepruthehadsunk.
Theworstofdoingone'sdutywasthatitapparentlyunfittedonefordoinganythingelse.
Atleastthatwastheviewthatthemenofhisgenerationhadtaken.
Thetrenchantdivisionsbetweenrightandwrong,honestanddishonest,respectableandthereverse,hadleftsolittlescopefortheunforeseen.
Therearemomentswhenaman'simagination,soeasilysubduedtowhatitlivesin,suddenlyrisesaboveitsdailylevel,andsurveysthelongwindingsofdestiny.Archerhungthereandwondered....
Whatwasleftofthelittleworldhehadgrownupin,andwhosestandardshadbentandboundhim?
HerememberedasneeringprophecyofpoorLawrenceLefferts's,utteredyearsagointhatveryroom:"Ifthingsgoonatthisrate,ourchildrenwillbemarryingBeaufort'sbastards."
ItwasjustwhatArcher'seldestson,theprideofhislife,wasdoing;andnobodywonderedorreproved.
Eventheboy'sAuntJaney,whostilllookedsoexactlyassheusedtoinherelderlyyouth,hadtakenhermother'semeraldsandseed–pearlsoutoftheirpinkcotton–wool,andcarriedthemwithherowntwitchinghandstothefuturebride;andFannyBeaufort,insteadoflookingdisappointedatnotreceivinga"set"fromaParisjeweller,hadexclaimedattheirold–fashionedbeauty,anddeclaredthatwhensheworethemsheshouldfeellikeanIsabeyminiature.
FannyBeaufort,whohadappearedinNewYorkateighteen,afterthedeathofherparents,hadwonitsheartmuchasMadameOlenskahadwonitthirtyyearsearlier;onlyinsteadofbeingdistrustfulandafraidofher,societytookherjoyfullyforgranted.
Shewaspretty,amusingandaccomplished:whatmoredidanyonewant?
Nobodywasnarrow–mindedenoughtorakeupagainstherthehalf–forgottenfactsofherfather'spastandherownorigin.
OnlytheolderpeoplerememberedsoobscureanincidentinthebusinesslifeofNewYorkasBeaufort'sfailure,orthefactthatafterhiswife'sdeathhehadbeenquietlymarriedtothenotoriousFannyRing,andhadleftthecountrywithhisnewwife,andalittlegirlwhoinheritedherbeauty.
HewassubsequentlyheardofinConstantinople,theninRussia;andadozenyearslaterAmericantravellerswerehandsomelyentertainedbyhiminBuenosAyres,whereherepresentedalargeinsuranceagency.
Heandhiswifediedthereintheodourofprosperity;andonedaytheirorphaneddaughterhadappearedinNewYorkinchargeofMayArcher'ssister–in–law,Mrs.JackWelland,whosehusbandhadbeenappointedthegirl'sguardian.
ThefactthrewherintoalmostcousinlyrelationshipwithNewlandArcher'schildren,andnobodywassurprisedwhenDallas'sengagementwasannounced.
Nothingcouldmoredearlygivethemeasureofthedistancethattheworldhadtravelled.
Peoplenowadaysweretoobusy—busywithreformsand"movements,"withfadsandfetishesandfrivolities—tobothermuchabouttheirneighbours.
Andofwhataccountwasanybody'spast,inthehugekaleidoscopewhereallthesocialatomsspunaroundonthesameplane?
NewlandArcher,lookingoutofhishotelwindowatthestatelygaietyoftheParisstreets,felthisheartbeatingwiththeconfusionandeagernessofyouth.
Itwaslongsinceithadthusplungedandrearedunderhiswideningwaistcoat,leavinghim,thenextminute,withanemptybreastandhottemples.
Hewonderedifitwasthusthathisson'sconducteditselfinthepresenceofMissFannyBeaufort—anddecidedthatitwasnot.
"Itfunctionsasactively,nodoubt,buttherhythmisdifferent,"hereflected,recallingthecoolcomposurewithwhichtheyoungmanhadannouncedhisengagement,andtakenforgrantedthathisfamilywouldapprove.
"Thedifferenceisthattheseyoungpeopletakeitforgrantedthatthey'regoingtogetwhatevertheywant,andthatwealmostalwaystookitforgrantedthatweshouldn't.
Only,Iwonder—thethingone'ssocertainofinadvance:canitevermakeone'sheartbeataswildly?"
ItwasthedayaftertheirarrivalinParis,andthespringsunshineheldArcherinhisopenwindow,abovethewidesilveryprospectofthePlaceVendome.
Oneofthethingshehadstipulated—almosttheonlyone—whenhehadagreedtocomeabroadwithDallas,wasthat,inParis,heshouldn'tbemadetogotooneofthenewfangled"palaces."
"Oh,allright—ofcourse,"Dallasgood–naturedlyagreed.
"I'lltakeyoutosomejollyold–fashionedplace—theBristolsay—"leavinghisfatherspeechlessathearingthatthecentury–longhomeofkingsandemperorswasnowspokenofasanold–fashionedinn,whereonewentforitsquaintinconveniencesandlingeringlocalcolour.
Archerhadpicturedoftenenough,inthefirstimpatientyears,thesceneofhisreturntoParis;thenthepersonalvisionhadfaded,andhehadsimplytriedtoseethecityasthesettingofMadameOlenska'slife.
Sittingaloneatnightinhislibrary,afterthehouseholdhadgonetobed,hehadevokedtheradiantoutbreakofspringdowntheavenuesofhorse–chestnuts,theflowersandstatuesinthepublicgardens,thewhiffoflilacsfromtheflower–carts,themajesticrolloftheriverunderthegreatbridges,andthelifeofartandstudyandpleasurethatfilledeachmightyarterytobursting.
Nowthespectaclewasbeforehiminitsglory,andashelookedoutonithefeltshy,old–fashioned,inadequate:ameregreyspeckofamancomparedwiththeruthlessmagnificentfellowhehaddreamedofbeing....
Dallas'shandcamedowncheerilyonhisshoulder.
"Hullo,father:thisissomethinglike,isn'tit?"
Theystoodforawhilelookingoutinsilence,andthentheyoungmancontinued:"Bytheway,I'vegotamessageforyou:theCountessOlenskaexpectsusbothathalf–pastfive."
Hesaiditlightly,carelessly,ashemighthaveimpartedanycasualitemofinformation,suchasthehouratwhichtheirtrainwastoleaveforFlorencethenextevening.
Archerlookedathim,andthoughthesawinhisgayyoungeyesagleamofhisgreat–grandmotherMingott'smalice.
"Oh,didn'tItellyou?"Dallaspursued.
"FannymademesweartodothreethingswhileIwasinParis:getherthescoreofthelastDebussysongs,gototheGrand–GuignolandseeMadameOlenska.
YouknowshewasawfullygoodtoFannywhenMr.BeaufortsentheroverfromBuenosAyrestotheAssomption.
Fannyhadn'tanyfriendsinParis,andMadameOlenskausedtobekindtoherandtrotheraboutonholidays.
IbelieveshewasagreatfriendofthefirstMrs.Beaufort's.Andshe'sourcousin,ofcourse.
SoIrangherupthismorning,beforeIwentout,andtoldheryouandIwereherefortwodaysandwantedtoseeher."
Archercontinuedtostareathim."YoutoldherIwashere?"
"Ofcourse—whynot?"Dallas'seyebrowswentupwhimsically.Then,gettingnoanswer,heslippedhisarmthroughhisfather'swithaconfidentialpressure.
"Isay,father:whatwasshelike?"
Archerfelthiscolourriseunderhisson'sunabashedgaze."Come,ownup:youandsheweregreatpals,weren'tyou?Wasn'tshemostawfullylovely?"
"Lovely?Idon'tknow.Shewasdifferent."
"Ah—thereyouhaveit!That'swhatitalwayscomesto,doesn'tit?Whenshecomes,SHE'SDIFFERENT—andonedoesn'tknowwhy.It'sexactlywhatIfeelaboutFanny."
Hisfatherdrewbackastep,releasinghisarm."AboutFanny?But,mydearfellow—Ishouldhopeso!OnlyIdon'tsee—"
"Dashit,Dad,don'tbeprehistoric!Wasn'tshe—once—yourFanny?"
Dallasbelongedbodyandsoultothenewgeneration.
Hewasthefirst–bornofNewlandandMayArcher,yetithadneverbeenpossibletoinculcateinhimeventherudimentsofreserve."What'stheuseofmakingmysteries?
Itonlymakespeoplewanttonose'emout,"healwaysobjectedwhenenjoinedtodiscretion.
ButArcher,meetinghiseyes,sawthefiliallightundertheirbanter.
"MyFanny?"
"Well,thewomanyou'dhavechuckedeverythingfor:onlyyoudidn't,"continuedhissurprisingson.
"Ididn't,"echoedArcherwithakindofsolemnity.
"No:youdate,yousee,dearoldboy.Butmothersaid—"
"Yourmother?"
"Yes:thedaybeforeshedied.Itwaswhenshesentformealone—youremember?
Shesaidsheknewweweresafewithyou,andalwayswouldbe,becauseonce,whensheaskedyouto,you'dgivenupthethingyoumostwanted."
Archerreceivedthisstrangecommunicationinsilence.Hiseyesremainedunseeinglyfixedonthethrongedsunlitsquarebelowthewindow.Atlengthhesaidinalowvoice:"Sheneveraskedme."
"No.Iforgot.
Youneverdidaskeachotheranything,didyou?Andyounevertoldeachotheranything.
Youjustsatandwatchedeachother,andguessedatwhatwasgoingonunderneath.Adeaf–and–dumbasylum,infact!
Well,Ibackyourgenerationforknowingmoreabouteachother'sprivatethoughtsthanweeverhavetimetofindoutaboutourown.
—Isay,Dad,"Dallasbrokeoff,"you'renotangrywithme?
Ifyouare,let'smakeitupandgoandlunchatHenri's.
I'vegottorushouttoVersaillesafterward."
ArcherdidnotaccompanyhissontoVersailles.
HepreferredtospendtheafternooninsolitaryroamingsthroughParis.
Hehadtodealallatoncewiththepackedregretsandstifledmemoriesofaninarticulatelifetime.
AfteralittlewhilehedidnotregretDallas'sindiscretion.
Itseemedtotakeanironbandfromhishearttoknowthat,afterall,someonehadguessedandpitied....Andthatitshouldhavebeenhiswifemovedhimindescribably.
Dallas,forallhisaffectionateinsight,wouldnothaveunderstoodthat.
Totheboy,nodoubt,theepisodewasonlyapatheticinstanceofvainfrustration,ofwastedforces.Butwasitreallynomore?
ForalongtimeArchersatonabenchintheChampsElyseesandwondered,whilethestreamofliferolledby....
Afewstreetsaway,afewhoursaway,EllenOlenskawaited.
Shehadnevergonebacktoherhusband,andwhenhehaddied,someyearsbefore,shehadmadenochangeinherwayofliving.
TherewasnothingnowtokeepherandArcherapart—andthatafternoonhewastoseeher.
HegotupandwalkedacrossthePlacedelaConcordeandtheTuileriesgardenstotheLouvre.
Shehadoncetoldhimthatsheoftenwentthere,andhehadafancytospendtheinterveningtimeinaplacewherehecouldthinkofherasperhapshavinglatelybeen.
Foranhourormorehewanderedfromgallerytogallerythroughthedazzleofafternoonlight,andonebyonethepicturesburstonhimintheirhalf–forgottensplendour,fillinghissoulwiththelongechoesofbeauty.
Afterall,hislifehadbeentoostarved....
Suddenly,beforeaneffulgentTitian,hefoundhimselfsaying:"ButI'monlyfifty–seven—"andthenheturnedaway.
Forsuchsummerdreamsitwastoolate;butsurelynotforaquietharvestoffriendship,ofcomradeship,intheblessedhushofhernearness.
Hewentbacktothehotel,whereheandDallasweretomeet;andtogethertheywalkedagainacrossthePlacedelaConcordeandoverthebridgethatleadstotheChamberofDeputies.
Dallas,unconsciousofwhatwasgoingoninhisfather'smind,wastalkingexcitedlyandabundantlyofVersailles.
Hehadhadbutonepreviousglimpseofit,duringaholidaytripinwhichhehadtriedtopackallthesightshehadbeendeprivedofwhenhehadhadtogowiththefamilytoSwitzerland;andtumultuousenthusiasmandcock–surecriticismtrippedeachotheruponhislips.
AsArcherlistened,hissenseofinadequacyandinexpressivenessincreased.
Theboywasnotinsensitive,heknew;buthehadthefacilityandself–confidencethatcameoflookingatfatenotasamasterbutasanequal.
"That'sit:theyfeelequaltothings—theyknowtheirwayabout,"hemused,thinkingofhissonasthespokesmanofthenewgenerationwhichhadsweptawayalltheoldlandmarks,andwiththemthesign–postsandthedanger–signal.
SuddenlyDallasstoppedshort,graspinghisfather'sarm."Oh,byJove,"heexclaimed.
Theyhadcomeoutintothegreattree–plantedspacebeforetheInvalides.
ThedomeofMansartfloatedethereallyabovethebuddingtreesandthelonggreyfrontofthebuilding:drawingupintoitselfalltheraysofafternoonlight,ithungtherelikethevisiblesymboloftherace'sglory.
ArcherknewthatMadameOlenskalivedinasquarenearoneoftheavenuesradiatingfromtheInvalides;andhehadpicturedthequarterasquietandalmostobscure,forgettingthecentralsplendourthatlititup.
Now,bysomequeerprocessofassociation,thatgoldenlightbecameforhimthepervadingilluminationinwhichshelived.
Fornearlythirtyyears,herlife—ofwhichheknewsostrangelylittle—hadbeenspentinthisrichatmospherethathealreadyfelttobetoodenseandyettoostimulatingforhislungs.
Hethoughtofthetheatresshemusthavebeento,thepicturesshemusthavelookedat,thesoberandsplendidoldhousesshemusthavefrequented,thepeopleshemusthavetalkedwith,theincessantstirofideas,curiosities,imagesandassociationsthrownoutbyanintenselysocialraceinasettingofimmemorialmanners;andsuddenlyherememberedtheyoungFrenchmanwhohadoncesaidtohim:"Ah,goodconversation—thereisnothinglikeit,isthere?"
ArcherhadnotseenM.Riviere,orheardofhim,fornearlythirtyyears;andthatfactgavethemeasureofhisignoranceofMadameOlenska'sexistence.
Morethanhalfalifetimedividedthem,andshehadspentthelongintervalamongpeoplehedidnotknow,inasocietyhebutfaintlyguessedat,inconditionshewouldneverwhollyunderstand.
Duringthattimehehadbeenlivingwithhisyouthfulmemoryofher;butshehaddoubtlesshadotherandmoretangiblecompanionship.
Perhapsshetoohadkepthermemoryofhimassomethingapart;butifshehad,itmusthavebeenlikearelicinasmalldimchapel,wheretherewasnottimetoprayeveryday....
TheyhadcrossedthePlacedesInvalides,andwerewalkingdownoneofthethoroughfaresflankingthebuilding.
Itwasaquietquarter,afterall,inspiteofitssplendouranditshistory;andthefactgaveoneanideaoftherichesParishadtodrawon,sincesuchscenesasthiswerelefttothefewandtheindifferent.
Thedaywasfadingintoasoftsun–shothaze,prickedhereandtherebyayellowelectriclight,andpasserswererareinthelittlesquareintowhichtheyhadturned.Dallasstoppedagain,andlookedup.
"Itmustbehere,"hesaid,slippinghisarmthroughhisfather'swithamovementfromwhichArcher'sshynessdidnotshrink;andtheystoodtogetherlookingupatthehouse.
Itwasamodernbuilding,withoutdistinctivecharacter,butmany–windowed,andpleasantlybalconiedupitswidecream–colouredfront.
Ononeoftheupperbalconies,whichhungwellabovetheroundedtopsofthehorse–chestnutsinthesquare,theawningswerestilllowered,asthoughthesunhadjustleftit.
"Iwonderwhichfloor—?"Dallasconjectured;andmovingtowardtheporte–cochereheputhisheadintotheporter'slodge,andcamebacktosay:"Thefifth.Itmustbetheonewiththeawnings."
Archerremainedmotionless,gazingattheupperwindowsasiftheendoftheirpilgrimagehadbeenattained.
"Isay,youknow,it'snearlysix,"hissonatlengthremindedhim.
Thefatherglancedawayatanemptybenchunderthetrees.
"IbelieveI'llsitthereamoment,"hesaid.
"Why—aren'tyouwell?"hissonexclaimed.
"Oh,perfectly.ButIshouldlikeyou,please,togoupwithoutme."
Dallaspausedbeforehim,visiblybewildered."But,Isay,Dad:doyoumeanyouwon'tcomeupatall?"
"Idon'tknow,"saidArcherslowly.
"Ifyoudon'tshewon'tunderstand."
"Go,myboy;perhapsIshallfollowyou."
Dallasgavehimalonglookthroughthetwilight.
"ButwhatonearthshallIsay?"
"Mydearfellow,don'tyoualwaysknowwhattosay?"hisfatherrejoinedwithasmile.
"Verywell.Ishallsayyou'reold–fashioned,andpreferwalkingupthefiveflightsbecauseyoudon'tlikelifts."
Hisfathersmiledagain."SayI'mold–fashioned:that'senough."
Dallaslookedathimagain,andthen,withanincredulousgesture,passedoutofsightunderthevaulteddoorway.
Archersatdownonthebenchandcontinuedtogazeattheawningedbalcony.
Hecalculatedthetimeitwouldtakehissontobecarriedupinthelifttothefifthfloor,toringthebell,andbeadmittedtothehall,andthenusheredintothedrawing–room.
HepicturedDallasenteringthatroomwithhisquickassuredstepandhisdelightfulsmile,andwonderedifthepeoplewererightwhosaidthathisboy"tookafterhim."
Thenhetriedtoseethepersonsalreadyintheroom—forprobablyatthatsociablehourtherewouldbemorethanone—andamongthemadarklady,paleanddark,whowouldlookupquickly,halfrise,andholdoutalongthinhandwiththreeringsonit....Hethoughtshewouldbesittinginasofa–cornernearthefire,withazaleasbankedbehindheronatable.
"It'smorerealtomeherethanifIwentup,"hesuddenlyheardhimselfsay;andthefearlestthatlastshadowofrealityshouldloseitsedgekepthimrootedtohisseatastheminutessucceededeachother.
Hesatforalongtimeonthebenchinthethickeningdusk,hiseyesneverturningfromthebalcony.
Atlengthalightshonethroughthewindows,andamomentlateraman–servantcameoutonthebalcony,drewuptheawnings,andclosedtheshutters.
Atthat,asifithadbeenthesignalhewaitedfor,NewlandArchergotupslowlyandwalkedbackalonetohishotel.
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