an open-eyed conspiracy-第12章

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clay　in　her　behalf；　and　to　demand　whether　she　thought　she　was　worth
it。

I　did　not　think　she　was；　and　I　had　a　lurid　moment　when　I　was　tempted
to　push　on　and　make　her　show　herself　somehow　at　her　worst。　　We　had
undertaken　a　preposterous　thing　in　befriending　her　as　we　had　done；
and　our　course　in　bringing　Kendricks　in　was　wholly　unjustifiable。
How　could　I　lead　her　on　to　some　betrayal　of　her　essential
Philistinism；　and　make　her　so　impossible　in　his　eyes　that　even　he；
with　all　his　sweetness　and　goodness；　must　take　the　first　train　from
Saratoga　in　the　morning？

We　had　of　course　joined　the　crowd　in　pushing　forward；　people　always
do；　though　they　promise　themselves　to　wait　till　the　last　one　is　out。
I　got　caught　in　a　dark　eddy　on　the　first　stair…landing；　but　I　could
see　them　farther　down；　and　I　knew　they　would　wait　for　me　outside　the
door。

When　I　reached　it　at　last　they　were　nowhere　to　be　seen；　I　looked　up
this　street　and　down　that；　but　they　were　not　in　sight。



CHAPTER　XII



I　did　not　afflict　myself　very　much；　nor　pretend　to　do　so。　　They　knew
the　way　home；　and　after　I　had　blundered　about　in　search　of　them
through　the　lampshot　darkness；　I　settled　myself　to　walk　back　at　my
leisure；　comfortably　sure　that　I　should　find　them　on　the　verandah
waiting　for　me　when　I　reached　the　hotel。　　It　was　quite　a　thick
night；　and　I　almost　ran　into　a　couple　at　a　corner　of　our　quieter
street　when　I　had　got　to　it　out　of　Broadway。　　They　seemed　to　be
standing　and　looking　about；　and　when　the　man　said；　〃He　must　have
thought　we　took　the　first　turn；〃　and　the　woman；　〃Yes；　that　must　have
been　the　way；〃　I　recognised　my　estrays。

I　thought　I　would　not　discover　myself　to　them；　but　follow　on；　and
surprise　them　by　arriving　at　our　steps　at　the　same　moment　they　did；
and　I　prepared　myself　to　hurry　after　them。　　But　they　seemed　in　no
hurry；　and　I　had　even　some　difficulty　in　accommodating　my　pace　to
the　slowness　of　theirs。

〃Won't　you　take　my　arm；　Miss　Gage？〃　he　asked　as　they　moved　on。

〃It's　so　VERY　dark；〃　she　answered；　and　I　knew　she　had　taken　it。　　〃I
can　hardly　see　a　step；　and　poor　Mr。　March　with　his　glassesI　don't
know　what　he'll　do。〃

〃Oh；　he　only　uses　them　to　read　with；　he　can　see　as　well　as　we　can　in
the　dark。〃

〃He's　very　young　in　his　feelings；〃　said　the　girl；　〃he　puts　me　in
mind　of　my　own　father。〃

〃He's　very　young　in　his　thoughts；〃　said　Kendricks；　〃and　that's　much
more　to　the　purpose　for　a　magazine　editor。　　There　are　very　few　men
of　his　age　who　keep　in　touch　with　the　times　as　he　does。〃

〃Still；　Mrs。　March　seems　a　good　deal　younger；　don't　you　think？　　I
wonder　how　soon　they　begin　to　feel　old？〃

〃Oh；　not　till　along　in　the　forties；　I　should　say。　　It's　a　good　deal
in　temperament。　　I　don't　suppose　that　either　of　them　realises　yet
that　they're　old；　and　they　must　be　nearly　fifty。〃

〃How　strange　it　must　be；〃　said　the　girl；　〃fifty　years　old！　　Twenty
seems　old　enough；　goodness　knows。〃

〃How　should　you　like　to　be　a　dotard　of　twenty…seven？〃　Kendricks
asked；　and　she　laughed　at　his　joke。

〃I　don't　suppose　I　should　mind　it　so　much　if　I　were　a　man。〃

I　had　promised　myself　that　if　the　talk　became　at　all　confidential　I
would　drop　behind　out　of　earshot；　but　though　it　was　curiously
intimate　for　me　to　be　put　apart　in　the　minds　of　these　young　people
on　account　of　my　years　as　not　of　the　same　race　or　fate　as
themselves；　there　was　nothing　in　what　they　said　that　I　might　not
innocently　overhear；　as　far　as　they　were　concerned；　and　I　listened
on。

But　they　had　apparently　given　me　quite　enough　attention。　　After　some
mutual　laughter　at　what　she　said　last；　they　were　silent　a　moment；
and　then　he　said　soberly；　〃There's　something　fine　in　this　isolation
the　dark　gives　you；　isn't　there？　　You're　as　remote　in　it　from　our
own　time　and　place　as　if　you　were　wandering　in　interplanetary
space。〃

〃I　suppose　we　ARE　doing　that　all　the　timeon　the　earth；〃　she
suggested。

〃Yes；　but　how　hard　it　is　to　realise　that　we　are　on　the　earth　now。
Sometimes　I　have　a　sense　of　it；　though；　when　the　moon　breaks　from
one　flying　cloud　to　another。　　Then　it　seems　as　if　I　were　a　passenger
on　some　vast；　shapeless　ship　sailing　through　the　air。　　What；〃　he
asked；　with　no　relevancy　that　I　could　perceive；　〃was　the　strangest
feeling　YOU　ever　had？〃　　I　remembered　asking　girls　such　questions
when　I　was　young；　and　their　not　apparently　thinking　it　at　all　odd。

〃I　don't　know；〃　she　returned　thoughtfully。　　〃There　was　one　time　when
I　was　little；　and　it　had　sleeted；　and　the　sun　came　out　just　before
it　set；　and　seemed　to　set　all　the　woods　on　fire。　　I　thought　the
world　was　burning　up。〃

〃It　must　have　been　very　weird；〃　said　Kendricks；　and　I　thought；　〃Oh；
good　heavens！　　Has　he　got　to　talking　of　weird　things？〃

〃It's　strange；〃　he　added；　〃how　we　all　have　that　belief　when　we　are
children　that　the　world　is　going　to　burn　up！　　I　don't　suppose　any
child　escapes　it。　　Do　you　remember　that　poem　of　Thompson'sthe　City
of　Dreadful　Night　manwhere　he　describes　the　end　of　the　world？〃

〃No；　I　never　read　it。〃

〃Well；　merely；　he　says　when　the　conflagration　began　the　little
flames　looked　like　crocuses　breaking　through　the　sod。　　If　it　ever
happened　I　fancy　it　would　be　quite　as　simple　as　that。　　But　perhaps
you　don't　like　gloomy　poetry？〃

'Yes；　yes；　I　do。　　It's　the　only　kind　that　I　care　about。〃

〃Then　you　hate　funny　poetry？〃

〃I　think　it's　disgusting。　　Papa　is　always　cutting　it　out　of　the
papers　and　wanting　to　send　it　to　me；　and　we　have　the　greatest
TIMES！〃

〃I　suppose；〃　said　Kendricks；　〃it　expresses　some　moods；　though。〃

〃Oh　yes；　it　expresses　some　moods；　and　sometimes　it　makes　me　laugh　in
spite　of　myself；　and　ashamed　of　anything　serious。〃

〃That's　always　the　effect　of　a　farce　with　me。〃

〃But　then　I'm　ashamed　of　being　ashamed　afterward；〃　said　the　girl。
〃I　suppose　you　go　to　the　theatre　a　great　deal　in　New　York。〃

〃It's　a　school　of　life；〃　said　Kendricks。　　〃I　mean　the　audience。〃

〃I　would　like　to　go　to　the　opera　once。　　I　am　going　to　make　papa　take
me　in　the　winter。〃　　She　laughed　with　a　gay　sense　of　power；　and　he
said　…

〃You　seem　to　be　great　friends　with　your　father。〃

〃Yes；　we're　always　together。　　I　always　went　everywhere　with　him；
this　is　the　first　time　I've　been　away　without　him。　　But　I　thought
I'd　come　with　Mrs。　Deering　and　see　what　Saratoga　was　like；　I　had
never　been　here。〃

〃And　is　it　like　what　you　thought？〃

〃No。　　The　first　week　we　didn't　do　anything。　　Then　we　got　acquainted
with　Mr。　and　Mrs。　March；　and　I　began　to　really　see　something。　　But　I
supposed　it　was　all　balls　and　gaiety。〃

〃We　must　get　up　a　few　if　you're　so　fond　of　them；〃　Kendricks
playfully　suggested。

〃Oh；　I　don't　know　as　I　am。　　I　never　went　much　at　home。　　Papa　didn't
care　to　have　me。〃

〃Ah；　do　you　think　it　was　right　for　him　to　keep　you　all　to　himself？〃
The　girl　did　not　answer；　and　they　had　both　halted　so　abruptly　that　I
almost　ran　into　them。　　〃I　don't　quite　make　out　where　we　are。〃
Kendricks　seemed　to　be　peering　about。　　I　plunged　across　the　street
lest　he　should　ask　me。　　I　heard　him　add；　〃Oh　yes；　I　know　now；〃　and
then　they　pressed　forward。

We　were　quite　near　our　hotel；　but　I　thought　it　best　to　walk　round
the　square　and　let　them　arrive　first。　　On　the　way　I　amused　myself
thinking　how　different　the　girl　had　shown　herself　to　him　from　what
she　had　ever　shown　herself　to　my　wife　or　me。　　She　had　really；　this
plain…minded　goddess；　a　vein　of　poetic　feeling；　some　inner　beauty　of
soul　answering　to　the　outer　beauty　of　body。　　She　had　a　romantic
attachment　to　her　father；　and　this　shed　a　sort　of　light　on　both　of
them；　though　I　knew　that　it　was　not　always　a　revelation　of
character。



CHAPTER　XIII



When　I　reached　the　hotel　I　found　Miss　Gage　at　the　door；　and
Kendricks　coming　out　of　the　office　toward　her。

〃Oh；　here　he　is！〃　she　called　to　him　at　sight　of　me。

〃Where　in　the　world　have　you　been？〃　he　demanded。　　〃I　had　just　found
out　from　the　clerk　that　you　hadn't　come　in　yet；　and　I　was　going　back
for　you　with　a　searchlight。〃

〃Oh；　I　wasn't　so　badly　lost　as　all　that；〃　I　returned。　　〃I　missed　you
in　the　crowd　at　the　door；　but　I　knew　you'd　get　home　somehow；　and　so
I　came　on　without　you。　　But　my　aged　steps　are　not　so　quick　as
yours。〃

The　words；　mechanically　uttered；　suggested　something；　and　I　thought
that　if　they　were　in　for　weirdness　I　would　give　them　as　much
weirdness　as　they　could　ask　for。　　〃When　you　get　along　toward　fifty
you'll　find　that　the　foot　you've　still　got　out　of　the　grave　doesn't
work　so　lively　as　it　used。　　Besides；　I　was　interested　in　the　night
effect。　　It's　so　gloriously　dark；　and　I　had　a　fine　sense　of
isolation　as　I　came　along；　as　if　I　were　altogether　out　of　my　epoch
and　my　environment。　　I　felt　as　if　the　earth　was　a　sort　of　Flying
Dutchman；　and　I　was　the　only　passenger。　　It　was　about　the　weirdest
sensation　I　ever　had。　　It　reminded　me；　I　don't　know　how；　exactly　of
the　feeling　I　had　when　I　was　young；　and　I　saw　the　sunset　one　evening
through　the　woods　after　a　sleet…storm。〃

They　stared　at　each　other　as　I　went　on；　and　I　could　see　Kendricks's
fine　eyes　kindle　with　an　imaginative　appreciation　of　the　literary
quality　of　the　coincidence。　　But　when　I　added；　〃Did　you　ever　read　a
poem　about　the　end　of　the　world　by　that　City　of　Dreadful　Night　man？〃
Miss　Gage　impulsively　caught　me　by　the　coat　lapel　and　shook　me。

〃Ah；　it　was　you　all　the　time！　　I　knew　there　was　somebody　following
us；　and　I　might　have　KNOWN　who　it　was！〃

We　all　gave　way　in　a　gale　of　laughter；　and　sat　down　on　the　verandah
and　had　our　joke　out　in　full　recognition　of　the　fact。　　When
Kendricks　rose　to　go　at　last；　I　said；　〃We　won't　say　anything　about
this　little　incident　to　Mrs。　March；　hey？〃　　And　then　they　laughed
again　as　if　it　were　the　finest　wit　in　the　world；　and　Miss　Gage　bade
me　a　joyful　good…night　at　the　head　of　the　stairs　as　she　went　off　to
her　room　and　I　to　mine。

I　found　Mrs。　March　waiting　up　with　a　book；　and　as　soon　as　I　shut
myself　in　with　her　she　said；　awfully；　〃What　WERE　you　laughing　so
about？〃

〃Laughing？　　Did　you　hear　me　laughing？〃

〃The　whole　house　heard　you；　I'm　afraid。　　You　certainly　ought　to　have
known　better；　Basil。　　It　was　very　inconsiderate　of　you。〃　　And　as　I
saw　she　was　going　on　with　more　of　that　sort　of　thing；　to　divert　her
thoughts　from　my　crime　I　told　her　the　whole　story。　　It　had　quite　the
effect　I　intended　up　to　a　certain　point。　　She　even　smiled　a　little；
as　much　as　a　woman　could　be　expected　to　smile　who　was　not　originally
in　the　joke。

〃And　they　had　got　to　comparing　weird　experiences？〃　she　asked。

〃Yes；　the　staleness　of　the　thing　almost　made　me　sick。　　Do　you
remember　when　we　first　compared　our　weird　experiences？　　But　I
suppose　they　will　go　on　doing　it　to　the　end　of　time；　and　it　will
have　as　great　a　charm　for　the　last　man　and　woman　as　it　had　for　Adam
and　Eve　when　they　compared　THEIR　weird　experiences。〃

〃And　was　that　what　you　were　laughing　at？〃

〃We　were　laughing　at　the　wonderful　case　of　telepathy　I　put　up　on
them。〃

Mrs。　March　faced　her　open　book　down　on　the　table　before　her；　and
looked　at　me　with　profound　solemnity。　　〃Well；　then；　I　can　tell　you；
my　dear；　it　is　no　laughing　matter。　　If　they　have　got　to　the　weird　it
is　very　serious；　and　her　talking　to　him　about　her　family；　and　his
wanting　to　know　about　her　father