an open-eyed conspiracy-第15章

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！


might；　so　undeniably　fine；　so　perfect　in　its　way。

She　and　the　evening　were　equally　fitted　for　the　event　to　which　they
seemed　equally　dedicated。　　The　dancing　was　to　be　out　of　doors　on　a
vast　planking；　or　platform；　set　up　in　the　heart　of　that　bosky　court
which　the　hotel　incloses。　　Around　this　platform　drooped　the　slim；
tall　Saratogan　trees；　and　over　it　hung　the　Saratogan　sky；　of　a
nocturnal　blue　very　rare　in　our　latitude；　with　the　stars　faint　in
its　depths；　and　by　and　by　a　white　moon　that　permitted　itself　a
modest　competition　with　the　electric　lights　effulgent　everywhere。
There　was　a　great　crowd　of　people　in　the　portico；　the　vestibule；　and
the　inner　piazzas；　and　on　the　lawn　around　the　platform；　where　〃the
trodden　weed〃　sent　up　the　sweet　scent　of　bruised　grass　in　the　cool
night　air。　　My　foolish　old　heart　bounded　with　a　pulse　of　youth　at
the　thought　of　all　the　gay　and　tender　possibilities　of　such　a　scene。

But　the　young　people　under　my　care　seemed　in　no　haste　to　mingle　in
it。　　We　oldsters　are　always　fancying　youth　impatient；　but　there　is
no　time　of　life　which　has　so　much　patience。　　It　behaves　as　if　it　had
eternity　before　itan　eternity　of　youthinstead　of　a　few　days　and
years；　and　then　the　frosty　poll。　　We　who　are　young　no　longer　think
we　would　do　so　and　so　if　we　were　young；　as　women　think　they　would　do
so　and　so　if　they　were　men；　but　if　we　were　really　young　again；　we
should　not　do　at　all　what　we　think。　　We　should　not　hurry　to
experience　our　emotions；　we　should　not　press　forward　to　discharge
our　duties　or　repair　our　mistakes；　we　should　not　seize　the　occasion
to　make　a　friend　or　reconcile　an　enemy；　we　should　let　weeks　and
months　go　by　in　the　realisation　of　a　passion；　and　trust　all　sorts　of
contingencies　and　accidents　to　help　us　out　with　its　confession。　　The
thoughts　of　youth　are　very　long；　and　its　conclusions　are　deliberate
and　delayed；　and　often　withheld　altogether。　　It　is　age　which　is
tremulously　eager　in　these　matters；　and　cannot　wait　with　the　fine
patience　of　nature　in　her　growing　moods。

As　soon；　even；　as　I　was　in　the　hotel　I　was　impatient　to　press
through　to　the　place　where　the　dancing　was；　and　where　I　already
heard　the　band　playing。　　I　knew　very　well　that　when　we　got　there　I
should　have　to　sit　down　somewhere　on　the　edge　of　the　platform　with
the　other　frumps　and　fogies；　and　begin　taking　cold　in　my　dress…coat；
and　want　to　doze　off　without　being　able　to；　while　my　young　people
were　waltzing　together；　or　else　promenading　up　and　down　ignoring　me；
or　recognising　me　by　the　offer　of　a　fan；　and　the　question　whether　I
was　not　simply　melting；　I　have　seen　how　the　poor　chaperon　fares　at
such　times。　　But　they；　secure　of　their　fun；　were　by　no　means
desirous　to　have　it　over；　or　even　to　have　it　begin。　　They　dawdled
through　the　thronged　hotel　office；　where　other　irresponsible　pairs
were　coming　and　going　under　the　admiring　eyes　of　the　hotel　loungers；
and　they　wandered　up　and　down　the　waste　parlours；　and　sat　on　tete…a…
tetes　just　to　try　them；　apparently；　and　Miss　Gage　verified　in　the
mirrors　the　beauty　which　was　reflected　in　all　eyes。　　They　amused
themselves　with　the　extent　of　the　richly…carpeted　and　upholstered
desolation　around　them；　where　only　a　few　lonely　and　aging　women
lurked　about　on　sofas　and　ottomans；　and　they　fell　to　playing　with
their　compassion　for　the　plebeian　spectators　at　the　long　verandah
windows　trying　to　penetrate　with　their　forbidden　eyes　to　the　hop
going　on　in　the　court　far　beyond　the　intermediary　desert　of　the
parlours。

When　they　signified　at　last　that　they　were　ready　for　me　to　lead　them
on　to　the　dance；　I　would　so　much　rather　have　gone　to　bed　that　there
are　no　words　for　the　comparison。　　Then；　when　we　got　to　the　place；
which　I　should　never　have　been　able　to　reach　in　the　world　if　it　had
not　been　for　the　young　energy　and　inspiration　of　Kendricks；　and　they
had　put　me　in　a　certain　seat　with　Miss　Gage's　wraps　beside　me　where
they　could　find　me；　they　went　off　and　danced　for　hours　and　hours。
For　hours　and　hours？　　For　ages　and　ages！　while　I　withered　away　amid
mouldering　mothers；　and　saw　my　charges　through　the　dreadful　half…
dreams　of　such　a　state　whirling　in　the　waltz；　hopping　in　the　polka；
sliding　in　the　galop；　and　then　endlessly　walking　up　and　down　between
the　dances；　and　eating　and　drinking　the　chill　refreshments　that　it
made　my　teeth　chatter　to　think　of。　　I　suppose　they　decently　came　to
me　from　time　to　time；　though　they　seemed　to　be　always　dancing；　for　I
could　afterward　remember　Miss　Gage　taking　a　wrap　from　me　now　and
then；　and　quickly　coming　back　to　shed　it　upon　my　lap　again。　　I　got
so　chilled　that　if　they　had　not　been　unmistakably　women's　wraps　I
should　have　bundled　them　all　about　my　shoulders；　which　I　could
almost　hear　creak　with　rheumatism。　　I　must　have　fallen　into　a　sort
of　drowse　at　last；　for　I　was　having　a　dispute　with　some　sort　of
authority；　which　turned　out　to　be　Mrs。　March；　and　upbraiding　her
with　the　fact　that　there　were　no　women's　wraps　which　would　also　do
for　a　man；　when　the　young　people　stood　arm　in　arm　before　me；　and
Miss　Gage　said　that　she　was　tired　to　death　now；　and　they　were　going。

But　it　appeared　that　they　were　only　going　as　far　as　the　parlours　for
the　present；　for　when　they　re…entered　the　hotel；　they　turned　into
them；　and　sat　down　there　quite　as　if　that　had　been　the
understanding。　　When　I　arrived　with　the　wraps；　I　was　reminded　of
something；　and　I　said；　〃Have　you　two　been　dancing　together　the　whole
evening？〃

They　looked　at　each　other　as　if　for　the　first　time　they　now　realised
the　fact；　and　Kendricks　said；　〃Why；　of　course　we　have！　　We　didn't
know　anybody。〃

〃Very　well；　then；〃　I　said；　〃you　have　got　me　into　a　scrape。〃

〃Oh；　poor　Mr。　March！〃　cried　the　girl。　　〃How　have　we　done　it？〃

〃Why；　Mrs。　March　said　that　Mr。　Kendricks　would　be　sure　to　know
numbers　of　people；　and　I　must　get　you　other　partners；　for　it
wouldn't　do　for　you　to　dance　the　whole　evening　together。〃

She　threw　herself　back　in　the　chair　she　had　taken；　and　laughed　as　if
this　were　the　best　joke　in　the　world。

He　said　hardily；　〃You　see　it　HAS　done。〃

〃And　if　it　wouldn't　do；〃　she　gasped；　〃why　didn't　you　bring　me　the
other　partners？〃

〃Because　I　didn't　know　any；〃　I　said；　and　this　seemed　to　amuse　them
both　so　much　that　I　was　afraid　they　would　never　get　their　breath。

She　looked　by　and　by　at　her　dancing…card；　and　as　soon　as　she　could
wipe　the　tears　from　her　eyes　she　said；　〃No；　there　is　no　other　name
there〃；　and　this　seemed　even　a　better　joke　than　the　other　from　the
way　they　joined　in　laughing　at　it。

〃Well；　now；〃　I　said；　when　they　were　quiet　again；　〃this　won't　do；　my
young　friends。　　It's　all　very　well　for　you；　and　you　seem　to　like　it；
but　I　am　responsible　for　your　having　passed　a　proper　evening　under
my　chaperonage；　and　something　has　got　to　be　done　to　prove　it。〃　　They
saw　the　reasonableness　of　this；　and　they　immediately　became　sober。
〃Kendricks；〃　I　asked；　〃can't　you　think　of　something？〃

No；　he　said；　he　couldn't；　and　then　he　began　to　laugh　again。

I　applied　to　her　in　the　same　terms；　but　she　only　answered；　〃Oh；
don't　ask　ME；〃　and　she　went　off　laughing　too。

〃Very　well；　then；〃　I　said；　〃I　shall　have　to　do　something　desperate；
and　I　shall　expect　you　both　to　bear　me　out　in　it；　and　I　don't　want
any　miserable　subterfuges　when　it　comes　to　the　point　with　Mrs。
March。　　Will　you　let　me　have　your　dancing…card　Miss　Gage？〃　　She
detached　it；　and　handed　it　to　me。　　〃It's　very　fortunate　that　Mr。
Kendricks　wrote　his　name　for　the　first　dance　only；　and　didn't　go　on
and　fill　it　up。〃

〃Why；　we　didn't　think　it　was　worth　while！〃　she　innocently　explained。

〃And　that's　what　makes　it　so　perfectly　providential；　as　Mrs。　March
says。　　Now　then；〃　I　went　on；　as　I　wrote　in　the　name　of　a　rising
young　politician；　who　happened　just　then　to　have　been　announced　as
arriving　in　Saratoga　to　join　some　other　leaders　in　arranging　the
slate　of　his　party　for　the　convention　to　meet　a　month　later；　〃we
will　begin　with　a　good　American。〃

I　handed　the　card　to　Kendricks。　　〃Do　you　happen　to　remember　the　name
of　the　young　French　nobleman　who　danced　the　third　dance　with　Miss
Gage？〃

〃No；〃　he　said；　〃but　I　think　I　could　invent　it。〃　　And　he　dashed　down
an　extremely　probable　marquis；　while　Miss　Gage　clapped　her　hands　for
joy。

〃Oh；　how　glorious！　how　splendid！〃

I　asked；　〃Will　you　ever　give　me　away　the　longest　day　you　live？〃

〃Never；〃　she　promised；　and　I　added　the　name　of　a　South　American
doctor；　one　of　those　doctors　who　seem　to　be　always　becoming　the
presidents　of　their　republics；　and　ordering　all　their　patients　of
opposite　politics　to　be　shot　in　the　plaza。

Kendricks　entered　a　younger　son　of　an　English　duke；　and　I
contributed　the　hyphenated　surname　of　a　New　York　swell；　and　between
us　we　soon　had　all　the　dances　on　Miss　Gage's　card　taken　by　the　most
distinguished　people。　　We　really　studied　probability　in　the　forgery；
and　we　were　proud　of　the　air　of　reality　it　wore　in　the　carefully
differenced　handwritings；　with　national　traits　nicely　accented　in
each。



CHAPTER　XVI



The　fun　of　it　all　was　that　Mrs。　March　was　not　deceived　for　an
instant。　　〃Oh；　nonsense！〃　she　said；　when　she　glanced　at　our　pretty
deception；　which　we　presented　with　perhaps　too　perfect　seriousness。
〃Then　you　danced　only　the　first　dance？〃

〃No；　no！〃　Miss　Gage　protested。　　〃I　danced　every　dance　as　long　as　I
stayed。〃　　She　laughed　with　her　handkerchief　to　her　mouth　and　her
eyes　shining　above。

〃Yes；　I　can　testify　to　that；　Mrs。　March；〃　said　Kendricks；　and　he
laughed　wildly；　too。　　I　must　say　their　laughter　throughout　was　far
beyond　the　mirthfulness　of　the　facts。　　They　both　protested　that　they
had　had　the　best　time　in　the　world；　and　the　gayest　time；　that　I　had
been　a　mirror　of　chaperons；　and　followed　them　round　with　my　eyes
wherever　they　went　like　a　family　portrait；　and　that　they　were　the
most　exemplary　young　couple　at　the　hop　in　their　behaviour。　　Mrs。
March　asked　them　all　about　it；　and　she　joined　in　their　fun　with　a
hilarity　which　I　knew　from　long　experience　boded　me　no　good。

When　Kendricks　had　gone　away；　and　Miss　Gage　had　left　us　for　the
night　with　an　embrace；　whose　fondness　I　wondered　at；　from　Mrs。
March；　an　awful　silence　fell　upon　us　in　the　deserted　parlour　where
she　had　waited　up。

I　knew　that　when　she　broke　the　silence　she　would　begin　with；　〃Well；
my　dear！〃　and　this　was　what　she　did。　　She　added；　〃I　hope　you're
convinced　NOW！〃

I　did　not　even　pretend　not　to　understand。　　〃You　mean　that　they　are
in　love？　　I　suppose　that　their　we…ing　and　us…ing　so　much　would
indicate　something　of　the　kind。〃

〃It　isn't　that　alone；　everything　indicates　it。　　She　would　hardly　let
go　of　him　with　her　eyes。　　I　wish；〃　sighed　Mrs。　March；　and　she　let
her　head　droop　upon　her　hand　a　moment；　〃I　could　be　as　sure　of　him　as
I　am　of　her。〃

''Wouldn't　that　double　the　difficulty？〃　I　ventured　to　suggest；
though　till　she　spoke　I　had　not　doubted　that　it　was　the　case。

〃I　should　make　you　speak　to　him　if　I　were　sure　of　him；　but　as　it　is
I　shall　speak　to　her；　and　the　sooner　the　better。〃

〃To…night？〃　I　quaked。

〃No；　I　shall　let　the　poor　thing　have　her　sleep　to…night。　　But　the
first　thing　in　the　morning　I　shall　speak；　and　I　want　you　to　send　her
up　to　me　as　soon　as　she's　had　her　breakfast。　　Tell　her　I'm　n