an open-eyed conspiracy-第17章

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come　on；　and　take　the　enterprise　off　our　hands；〃　though；　to　tell　the
truth；　I　had　never　imagined　such　a　thing；　which　came　into　my　head　at
that　moment　through　an　association　with　the　thought　of　parents。

〃Have　you　any　idea　what　sort　of　man　he　is？〃　asked　Kendricks。

〃Oh；　some　little　local　magnate；　president　of　the　village　and
president　of　the　village　bank；　I　fancy　the　chief　figure　in　the
place；　but　probably　as　ignorant　of　our　world　as　a　Cherokee。〃

〃Well；　I　don't　know；〃　said　the　young　fellow。　　〃Do　you　think　that
follows　because　he　doesn't　live　in　it？〃　　I　could　see　that　he　did　not
quite　like　what　I　had　said。　　〃I　suppose　ours　is　rather　a　small
world。〃

〃The　smallest　of　all　worlds；〃　I　answered。　　〃And　in　the　eyes　of　Papa
Gage；　if　they　could　once　be　focused　upon　it；　our　world　would　shrivel
to　an　atom。〃

〃Do　you　think；〃　he　asked；　with　a　manifest　anxiety；　〃that　it　would　in
hers？〃

〃No；　she　is　not　the　American　people；　and　her　father　is；　as　I　fancy
him。　　I　make　out　from　the　vague　hints　that　Brother　Deering　（as
Fulkerson　would　call　him）　dropped　when　he　talked　about　him　that　Papa
Gage　is　a　shrewd；　practical；　home…keeping　business　man；　with　an　eye
single　to　the　main　chance；　lavish；　but　not　generous；　Philistine　to
the　backbone；　blindly　devoted　to　his　daughter；　and　contemptuous　of
all　the　myriad　mysteries　of　civilisation　that　he　doesn't　understand。
I　don't　know　why　I　should　be　authorised　to　imagine　him　personally
long　and　lank；　with　possibly　a　tobacco　habit　of　some　sort。　　His
natural　history；　upon　no　better　authority；　is　that　of　a　hard…headed
farmer；　who　found　out　that　farming　could　never　be　more　than　a
livelihood；　and　came　into　the　village；　and　began　to　lend　money；　and
get　gain；　till　he　was　in　a　position　to　help　found　the　De　Witt　Point
National　Bank；　and　then；　by　weight　of　his　moneyed　solidity；　imposed
himself　upon　the　free　and　independent　voters　of　the　villagea
majority　of　them　under　mortgage　to　himand　became　its　president。
It　isn't　a　pleasant　type；　but　it's　ideally　American。〃

〃Yes；〃　said　Kendricks　ruefully。

〃But　his　daughter；〃　I　continued；　〃is　probably　altogether　different。
There　is　something　fine　about　herreally　fine。　　Our　world　wouldn't
shrivel　in　her　eye；　it　would　probably　swell　up　and　fill　the
universe；〃　I　added　by　an　impulse　that　came　from　nowhere　irresistibly
upon　me：　　〃that　is；　if　she　could　see　YOU　in　it。〃

〃What　do　you　mean？〃　he　asked　with　a　start。

〃Oh；　now　I　must　tell　you　what　I　mean；〃　I　said　desperately。　　〃It's
you　that　have　complicated　this　case　so　dreadfully　for　us。　　Can't　you
think　why？〃

〃No；　I　can't；〃　he　said；　but　he　had　to　say　that。

His　fine；　sensitive　face　flamed　at　once　so　fire…red　that　it　could
only　turn　pale　for　a　change　when　I　plunged　on：　　〃I'm　afraid　we've
trifled　with　her　happiness〃；　and　this　formulation　of　the　case
disgusted　me　so　much　that　I　laughed　wildly；　and　added；　〃unless　we've
trifled　with　yours；　too。〃

〃I　don't　know　why　you　call　it　trifling　with　happiness；〃　he　returned
with　dignity；　but　without　offence。　　〃If　you　will　leave　her　out　of
the　question；　I　will　say　that　you　have　given　me　the　greatest
happiness　of　my　life　in　introducing　me　to　Miss　Gage。〃

〃Now；〃　I　demanded；　〃may　I　ask　what　YOU　mean？　　You　know　I　wouldn't　if
I　didn't　feel　bound　for　her　sake；　and　if　you　hadn't　said　just　what
you　have　said。　　You　needn't　answer　me　unless　you　like！　　It's
pleasant　to　know　that　you've　not　been　bored；　and　Mrs。　March　and　I
are　infinitely　obliged　to　you　for　helping　us　out。〃

Kendricks　made　as　if　he　were　going　to　say　something；　and　then　he　did
not。　　He　hung　his　head　lower　and　lower　in　the　silence　which　I　had　to
break　for　him〃I　hope　I　haven't　been　intrusive；　my　dear　fellow。
This　is　something　I　felt　bound　to　speak　of。　　You　know　we　couldn't
let　it　go　on。　　Mrs。　March　and　I　have　blamed　ourselves　a　good　deal；
and　we　couldn't　let　it　go　on。　　But　I'm　afraid　I　haven't　been　as
delicate　with　you〃

〃Oh！　delicate！〃　　He　lifted　his　head　and　flashed　a　face　of　generous
self…reproach　upon　me。　　〃It's　_I_　that　haven't　been　delicate　with
YOU。　　I've　been　monstrously　indelicate。　　But　I　never　meant　to　be；
andandI　was　coming　to　see　you　just　now　when　we　metto　see　you
Miss　Gageand　ask　hertell　her　that　weImust　tell　you　and　Mrs。
MarchMr。　March！　　At　the　hop　last　night　I　asked　her　to　be　my　wife；
and　as　soon　as　she　can　hear　from　her　fatherBut　the　first　thing
when　I　woke　this　morning；　I　saw　that　I　must　tell　Mrs。　March　and　you。
And　youyou　must　forgive　usor　me；　rather；　for　it　was　my　fault
for　not　telling　you　last　nightat　onceoh；　thank　you！　thank　you！〃

I　had　seized　his　hand；　and　was　wringing　it　vehemently　in　expression
of　my　pleasure　in　what　he　had　told　me。　　In　that　first　moment　I　felt
nothing　but　pure　joy　and　an　immeasurable　relief。　　I　drew　my　breath；
a　very　deep　and　full　one；　in　a　sudden；　absolute　freedom　from
anxieties　which　had　been　none　the　less　real　and　constant　because　so
often　burlesqued。　　Afterward　considerations　presented　themselves　to
alloy　my　rapture；　but　for　that　moment；　as　I　say；　it　was　nothing　but
rapture。　　There　was　no　question　in　it　of　the　lovers'　fitness　for
each　other；　of　their　acceptability　to　their　respective　families；　of
their　general　conduct；　or　of　their　especial　behaviour　toward　us。
All　that　I　could　realise　was　that　it　was　a　great　escape　for　both　of
us；　and　a　great　triumph　for　me。　　I　had　been　afraid　that　I　should　not
have　the　courage　to　speak　to　Kendricks　of　the　matter　at　all；　much
less　ask　him　to　go　away；　and　here　I　had　actually　spoken　to　him；　with
the　splendid　result　that　I　need　only　congratulate　him　on　his
engagement　to　the　lady　whose　unrequited　affections　I　had　been
wishing　him　to　spare。　　I　don't　remember　just　the　terms　I　used　in
doing　this；　but　they　seemed　satisfactory　to　Kendricks；　probably　a
repetition　of　the　letters　of　the　alphabet　would　have　been　equally
acceptable。　　At　last　I　said；　〃Well；　now　I　must　go　and　tell　the　great
news　to　Mrs。　March；〃　and　I　shook　hands　with　him　again；　we　had　been
shaking　hands　at　half…minutely　intervals　ever　since　the　first　time。



CHAPTER　XVIII



I　saw　Mrs。　March　waiting　for　me　on　the　hotel　verandah。　　She　wore　her
bonnet；　and　she　warned　me　not　to　approach；　and　then　ran　down　to　meet
me。

〃Well；　my　dear；〃　she　said；　as　she　pushed　her　hand　through　my　arm　and
began　to　propel　me　away　from　the　sight　and　hearing　of　people　on　the
piazza；　〃I　hope　you　didn't　make　a　fool　of　yourself　with　Kendricks。
They're　engaged！〃

She　apparently　expected　me　to　be　prostrated　by　this　stroke。　　〃Yes；〃
I　said　very　coolly；　〃I　was　just　coming　to　tell　you。〃

〃How　did　you　know　it？　　Who　told　you？　　Did　Kendricks？　　I　don't
believe　it！〃　she　cried　in　an　excitement　not　unmixed　with　resentment。

〃No　one　told　me；〃　I　said。　　〃I　simply　divined　it。〃

She　didn't　mind　that　for　a　moment。　　〃Well；　I'm　glad　he　had　the　grace
to　do　so；　and　I　hope　he　did　it　before　you　asked　him　any　leading
questions。〃　　Without　waiting　to　hear　whether　this　was　so　or　not；　she
went　on；　with　an　emphasis　on　the　next　word　that　almost　blotted　it
out　of　the　language；　〃SHE　came　back　to　me　almost　the　instant　you
were　gone；　and　told　me　everything。　　She　said　she　wanted　to　tell　me
last　night；　but　she　hadn't　the　courage；　and　this　morning；　when　she
saw　that　I　was　beginning　to　hint　up　to　Mr。　Kendricks　a　little；　she
hadn't　the　courage　at　all。　　I　sent　her　straight　off　to　telegraph　for
her　father。　　She　is　behaving　splendidly。　　And　now；　what　are　we　going
to　do？〃

〃What　the　rest　of　the　world　isnothing。　　It　seems　to　me　that　we　are
out　of　the　story；　my　dear。　　At　any　rate；　I　shan't　attempt　to　compete
with　Miss　Gage　in　splendid　behaviour；　and　I　hope　you　won't。　　It
would　be　so　easy　for　us。　　I　wonder　what　Papa　Gage　is　going　to　be
like。〃

I　felt　my　thrill　of　apprehension　impart　itself　to　her。　　〃Yes！〃　she
gasped；　〃what　if　he　shouldn't　like　it？〃

〃Well；　then；　that's　his　affair。〃　　But　I　did　not　feel　so　lightly
about　it　as　I　spoke；　and　from　time　to　time　during　the　day　I　was
overtaken　with　a　cold　dismay　at　the　thought　of　the　unknown　quantity
in　the　problem。

When　we　returned　to　the　hotel　after　a　tour　of　the　block；　we　saw
Kendricks　in　our　corner　of　the　verandah　with　Miss　Gage。　　They　were
both　laughing　convulsively；　and　they　ran　down　to　meet　us　in　yet
wilder　throes　of　merriment。

〃We've　just　been　comparing　notes；〃　he　said；　〃and　at　the　very　moment
when　I　was　telling　you；　Mr。　March；　Julia　was　telling　Mrs。　March。〃

〃Wonderful　case　of　telepathy；〃　I　mocked。

〃Give　it　to　the　Psychical　Research。〃

They　both　seemed　a　little　daunted；　and　Miss　Gage　said；　〃I　know　Mr。
March　doesn't　like　the　way　we've　done。〃

〃Like　it！〃　cried　Mrs。　March；　contriving　to　shake　me　a　little　with
the　hand　she　still　had　in　my　arm。　　〃Of　course　he　likes　it。　　He　was
just　saying　you　had　behaved　splendidly。　　He　said　HE　wouldn't　attempt
to　compete　with　you。　　But　you　mustn't　regard　him　in　the　least。〃

I　admired　the　skill　with　which　Isabel　saved　her　conscience　in　this
statement　too　much　to　dispute　it；　and　I　suppose　that　whatever　she
had　said；　Miss　Gage　would　have　been　reassured。　　I　cannot
particularly　praise　the　wisdom　of　her　behaviour　during　that　day；　or；
for　the　matter　of　that；　the　behaviour　of　Kendricks　either。　　The
ideal　thing　would　have　been　for　him　to　keep　away　now　till　her　father
came；　but　it　seemed　to　me　that　he　was　about　under　our　feet　all　the
while；　and　that　she；　so　far　from　making　him　remain　at　his　own　hotel；
encouraged　him　to　pass　the　time　at　ours。　　Without　consulting　me；
Mrs。　March　asked　him　to　stay　to　dinner　after　he　had　stayed　all　the
forenoon；　and　he　made　this　a　pretext　for　spending　the　afternoon　in
our　corner　of　the　verandah。　　She　made　me　give　it　up　to　him　and　Miss
Gage；　so　that　they　could　be　alone　together；　though　I　must　say　they
did　not　seem　to　mind　us　a　great　deal　when　we　were　present；　he　was
always　leaning　on　the　back　of　her　chair；　or　sitting　next　her　with
his　hand　dangling　over　it　in　a　manner　that　made　me　sick。　　I　wondered
if　I　was　ever　such　an　ass　as　that；　and　I　quite　lost　the　respect　for
Kendricks's　good　sense　and　good　taste　which　had　been　the　ground　of
my　liking　for　him。

I　felt　myself　withdrawn　from　the　affair　farther　and　farther　in
sympathy；　since　it　had　now　passed　beyond　my　control；　and　I　resented
the　strain　of　the　responsibility　which　I　had　thrown　off；　I　found；
only　for　a　moment；　and　must　continue　to　suffer　until　the　girl's
father　appeared　and　finally　relieved　me。　　The　worst　was　that　I　had
to　bear　it　alone。　　It　was　impossible　to　detach　Mrs。　March's　interest
from　Miss　Gage；　as　a　girl　who　had　been　made　love　to；　long　enough　to
enable　her　to　realise　her　as　a　daughter　with　filial　ties　and　duties。
She　did　try　in　a　perfunctory　way　to　do　it；　but　I　could　see　that　she
never　gave　her　mind　to　it。　　I　could　not　even　make　her　share　my　sense
of　my　own　culpability；　a　thing　she　was　only　too　willing　to　do　in
most　matters。　　She　admitted　that　it　was　absurd　for　me　to　have　let　my
fancy　play　about　the　girl　when　I　first　saw　her　until　we　felt　that　I
must　do　something　for　her；　but　I　could　not　get　her　to　own　that　we
had　both　acted　preposterously　in　letting　Mrs。　Deering　leave　Miss
Gage　in　our　charge。　　In　the　first　place；　she　denied　that　she　had
been　left　in　our　charge。　　She　had　simply　been　left　in　the　hotel
where　we　were　staying；　and　we　should　have　been