an open-eyed conspiracy-第18章

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been　left　in　our　charge。　　She　had　simply　been　left　in　the　hotel
where　we　were　staying；　and　we　should　have　been　perfectly　free　to　do
nothing　for　her。　　But　when　Kendricks　turned　up　so　unexpectedly；　it
was　quite　natural　we　should　ask　him　to　be　polite　to　her。　　Mrs。　March
saw　nothing　strange　in　all　that。　　What　was　I　worrying　about？　　What
she　had　been　afraid　of　was　that　he　had　not　been　in　love　with　the
girl　when　she　was　so　clearly　in　love　with　him。　　But　now！

〃And　suppose　her　father　doesn't　like　it！〃

〃Not　like　Mr。　Kendricks！〃　　She　stared　at　me；　and　I　could　see　how
infatuated　she　was。

I　was　myself　always　charmed　with　the　young　fellow。　　He　was　not　only
good　and　generous　and　handsome；　and　cleverI　never　thought　him　a
first…class　talentbut　he　was　beautifully　well　bred；　and　he　was
very　well　born；　as　those　things　go　with　us。　　That　is；　he　came　of
people　who　had　not　done　much　of　anything　for　a　generation；　and　had
acquired　merit　with　themselves　for　it。　　They　were　not　very　rich；　but
they　had　a　right　to　think　that　he　might　have　done　nothing；　or　done
something　better　than　literature；　and　I　wish　I　could　set　forth
exactly　the　terms；　tacit　and　explicit；　in　which　his　mother　and
sisters　condoned　his　dereliction　to　me　at　a　reception　where　he
presented　me　to　them。　　In　virtue　of　his　wish　to　do　something；　he　had
become　a　human　being；　and　they　could　not　quite　follow　him；　but　they
were　very　polite　in　tolerating　me；　and　trying　to　make　me　feel　that　I
was　not　at　all　odd；　though　he　was　so　queer　in　being　proud　of　writing
for　my　paper；　as　they　called　it。　　He　was　so　unlike　them　all　that　I
liked　him　more　than　ever　after　meeting　them。　　Still；　I　could　imagine
a　fond　father；　as　I　imagined　Miss　Gage's　father　to　be；　objecting　to
him；　on　some　grounds　at　least；　till　he　knew　him；　and　Mrs。　March
apparently　could　not　imagine　even　this。

I　do　not　know　why　I　should　have　prefigured　Miss　Gage's　father　as
tall　and　lank。　　She　was　not　herself　so　very　tall；　though　she　was
rather　tall　than　short；　and　though　she　was　rather　of　the　Diana　or
girlish　type　of　goddess；　she　was　by　no　means　lank。　　Yet　it　was　in
this　shape　that　I　had　always　thought　of　him；　perhaps　through　an
obscure　association　with　his　fellow…villager；　Deering。　　I　had
fancied　him　saturnine　of　spirit；　slovenly　of　dress；　and　lounging　of
habit；　upon　no　authority　that　I　could　allege；　and　I　was　wholly
unprepared　for　the　neat；　small　figure　of　a　man；　very　precise　of
manner　and　scrupulous　of　aspect；　who　said；　〃How　do　you　do；　sir？　　I
hope　I　see　you　well；　sir；〃　when　his　daughter　presented　us　to　each
other；　the　morning　after　the　eventful　day　described；　and　he　shook　my
hand　with　his　very　small；　dry　hand。

I　could　not　make　out　from　their　manner　with　each　other　whether　they
had　been　speaking　of　the　great　matter　in　hand　or　not。　　I　am　rather
at　a　loss　about　people　of　that　Philistine　make　as　to　what　their
procedure　will　be　in　circumstances　where　I　know　just　what　people　of
my　own　sort　of　sophistication　would　do。　　These　would　come　straight
at　the　trouble；　but　I　fancy　that　with　the　other　sort　the　convention
is　a　preliminary　reserve。　　I　found　Mr。　Gage　disposed　to　prolong；
with　me　at　least；　a　discussion　of　the　weather；　and　the　aspects　of
Saratoga；　the　events　of　his　journey　from　De　Witt　Point；　and　the
hardship　of　having　to　ride　all　the　way　to　Mooer's　Junction　in　a
stage…coach。　　I　felt　more　and　more；　while　we　bandied　these
futilities；　as　if　Mr。　Gage　had　an　overdue　note　of　mine；　and　was
waiting　for　me；　since　I　could　not　pay　it；　to　make　some　proposition
toward　its　renewal；　and　he　did　really　tire　me　out　at　last；　so　that　I
said；　〃Well；　Mr。　Gage；　I　suppose　Miss　Gage　has　told　you　something　of
the　tremendous　situation　that　has　developed　itself　here？〃

I　thought　I　had　better　give　the　affair　such　smiling　character　as　a
jocose　treatment　might　impart；　and　the　dry　little　man　twinkled　up
responsively　so　far　as　manner　was　concerned。　　〃Well；　yes；　yes。
There　has　been　some　talk　of　it　between　us；〃　and　again　he　left　the
word　to　me。

〃Mrs。　March　urged　your　daughter　to　send　for　you　at　once　because　that
was　the　right　and　fit　thing　to　do；　and　because　we　felt　that　the
affair　had　now　quite　transcended　our　powers；　such　as　they　were；　and
nobody　could　really　cope　with　it　but　yourself。　　I　hope　you　were　not
unduly　alarmed　by　the　summons？〃

〃Not　at　all。　　She　said　in　the　despatch　that　she　was　not　sick。　　I　had
been　anticipating　a　short　visit　to　Saratoga　for　some　days；　and　my
business　was　in　a　shape　so　that　I　could　leave。〃

〃Oh！〃　I　said　vaguely；　〃I　am　very　glad。　　Mrs。　March　felt；　as　I　did；
that　circumstances　had　given　us　a　certain　obligation　in　regard　to
Miss　Gage；　and　we　were　anxious　to　discharge　it　faithfully　and　to　the
utmost。　　We　should　have　written　to　you；　summoned　you；　before；　if　we
could　have　supposedor　been　sure；　but　you　know　these　things　go　on
so　obscurely；　and　we　acted　at　the　very　first　possible　moment。　　I
wish　you　to　understand　that。　　We　talked　it　over　a　great　deal；　and　I
hope　you　will　believe　that　we　studied　throughoutthat　we　were　most
solicitous　from　beginning　to　end　for　Miss　Gage's　happiness；　and　that
if　we　could　have　foreseen　or　imaginedif　we　could　have　taken　any
stepsI　trust　you　will　believe〃　　I　was　furious　at　myself　for
being　so　confoundedly　apologetic；　for　I　was　thinking　all　the　time　of
the　bother　and　affliction　we　had　had　with　the　girl；　and　there　sat
that　little　wooden　image　accepting　my　self…inculpations；　and
apparently　demanding　more　of　me；　but　I　could　not　help　going　on　in
the　same　strain：　　〃We　felt　especially　bound　in　the　matter；　from　the
fact　that　Mr。　Kendricks　was　a　personal　friend　of　ours；　whom　we　are
very　fond　of；　and　we　both　are　very　anxious　that　you　should　not
suppose　that　we　promoted；　or　that　we　were　not　most　vigilantthat　we
were　for　a　moment　forgetful　of　your　rights　in　such　an　affair〃

I　stopped；　and　Mr。　Gage　passed　his　hand　across　his　little　meagre；
smiling　mouth。

〃Then　he　is　not　a　connection　of　yours；　Mr。　March？〃

〃Bless　me；　no！〃　I　said　in　great　relief；　〃we　are　not　so　swell　as
that。〃　　And　I　tried　to　give　him　some　notion　of　Kendricks's　local
quality；　repeating　a　list　of　agglutinated　New　York　surnames　to　which
his　was　more　or　less　affiliated。　　They　always　amuse　me；　those　names；
which　more　than　any　in　the　world　give　the　notion　of　social
straining；　but　I　doubt　if　they　affected　the　imagination　of　Mr。　Gage；
either　in　this　way　or　in　the　way　I　meanly　meant　them　to　affect　him。

〃And　what　did　you　say　his　business　was？〃　he　asked；　with　that
implication　of　a　previous　statement　on　your　part　which　some　people
think　it　so　clever　to　make　when　they　question　you。

I　always　hate　it；　and　I　avenged　myself　by　answering　simply；　〃Bless
my　soul；　he　has　no　business！〃　and　letting　him　take　up　the　word　now
or　not；　as　he　liked。

〃Then　he　is　a　man　of　independent　means？〃

I　could　not　resist　answering；　〃Independent　means？　　Kendricks　has　no
means　whatever。〃　　But　having　dealt　this　blow；　I　could　add；　〃I
believe　his　mother　has　some　money。　　They　are　people　who　live
comfortably〃

〃Then　he　has　no　profession？〃　asked　Mr。　Gage；　with　a　little　more
stringency　in　his　smile。

〃I　don't　know　whether　you　will　call　it　a　profession。　　He　is　a
writer。〃

〃Ah！〃　Mr。　Gage　softly　breathed。　　〃Does　he　write　for　yourpaper？〃

I　noted　that　as　to　the　literary　technicalities　he　seemed　not　to　be
much　more　ignorant　than　Kendricks's　own　family；　and　I　said；
tolerantly；　〃Yes；　he　writes　for　our　magazine。〃

〃Magazineyes；　I　beg　your　pardon；〃　he　interrupted。

〃And　for　any　others　where　he　can　place　his　material。〃

This　apparently　did　not　convey　any　very　luminous　idea　to　Mr。　Gage's
mind；　and　he　asked　after　a　moment；　〃What　kind　of　things　does　he
write？〃

〃Oh；　stories；　sketches；　poems；　reviews；　essaysalmost　anything；　in
fact。〃

The　light　left　his　face；　and　I　perceived　that　I　had　carried　my
revenge　too　far；　at　least　for　Kendricks's　advantage；　and　I
determined　to　take　a　new　departure　at　the　first　chance。　　The　chance
did　not　come　immediately。

〃And　can　a　man　support　a　wife　by　that　kind　of　writing？〃　asked　Mr。
Gage。

I　laughed　uneasily。　　〃Some　people　do。　　It　depends　upon　how　much　of
it　he　can　sell。　　It　depends　upon　how　handsomely　a　wife　wishes　to　be
supported。　　The　result　isn't　usually　beyond　the　dreams　of　avarice；〃
I　said；　with　a　desperate　levity。

〃Excuse　me；〃　returned　the　little　man。　　〃Do　you　live　in　that　way？　　By
your　writings？〃

〃No；〃　I　said　with　some　state；　which　I　tried　to　subdue；　〃I　am　the
editor　of　Every　Other　Week；　and　part　owner。　　Mr。　Kendricks　is　merely
a　contributor。〃

〃Ah；〃　he　breathed　again。　　〃And　if　he　were　successful　in　selling　his
writings；　how　much　would　he　probably　make　in　a　year？〃

〃In　a　year？〃　I　repeated；　to　gain　time。　　〃Mr。　Kendricks　is
comparatively　a　beginner。　　Say　fifteen　hundredtwo　thousand
twenty…five　hundred。〃

〃And　that　would　not　go　very　far　in　New　York。〃

〃No；　that　would　not　go　far　in　New　York。〃　　I　was　beginning　to　find　a
certain　pleasure　in　dealing　so　frankly　with　this　hard　little　man。　　I
liked　to　see　him　suffer；　and　I　could　see　that　he　did　suffer；　he
suffered　as　a　father　must　who　learns　that　from　a　pecuniary　point　of
view　his　daughter　is　imprudently　in　love。　　Why　should　we　always
regard　such　a　sufferer　as　a　comic　figure？　　He　is；　if　we　think　of　it
rightly；　a　most　serious；　even　tragical　figure；　and　at　all　events　a
most　respectable　figure。　　He　loves　her；　and　his　heart　is　torn
between　the　wish　to　indulge　her　and　the　wish　to　do　what　will　be
finally　best　for　her。　　Why　should　our　sympathies；　in　such　a　case；　be
all　for　the　foolish　young　lovers？　　They　ought　in　great　measure　to　be
for　the　father；　too。　　Something　like　a　sense　of　this　smote　me；　and　I
was　ashamed　in　my　pleasure。

〃Then　I　should　say；　Mr。　March；　that　this　seems　a　most　undesirable
engagement　for　my　daughter。　　What　should　you　say？　　I　ask　you　to　make
the　case　your　own。〃

〃Excuse　me；〃　I　answered；　〃I　would　much　rather　not　make　the　case　my
own；　Mr。　Gage；　and　I　must　decline　to　have　you　consult　me。　　I　think
that　in　this　matter　I　have　done　all　that　I　was　called　upon　to　do。　　I
have　told　you　what　I　know　of　Mr。　Kendricks's　circumstances　and
connections。　　As　to　his　character；　I　can　truly　say　that　he　is　one　of
the　best　men　I　ever　knew。　　I　believe　in　his　absolute　purity　of
heart；　and　he　is　the　most　unselfish；　the　most　generous〃

Mr。　Gage　waved　the　facts　aside　with　his　hand。　　〃I　don't　undervalue
those　things。　　If　I　could　be　master；　no　one　should　have　my　girl
without　them。　　But　they　do　not　constitute　a　livelihood。　　From　what
you　tell　me　of　Mr。　Kendricks's　prospects；　I　am　not　prepared　to　say
that　I　think　the　outlook　is　brilliant。　　If　he　has　counted　upon　my
supplying　a　deficiency〃

〃Oh；　excuse　me；　Mr。　Gage！　　Your　insinuation〃

〃Excuse　ME！〃　he　retorted。　　〃I　am　making　no　insinuation。　　I　merely
wish　to　say　that；　while　my　means　are　such　as　to　enable　me　to　live　in
comfort　at　De　Witt　Point；　I　am　well　aware　that　much　more　would　be
needed　in　New　York　to　enable　my　daughter　to　live　in　the　same
comfort。　　I'm　not　willing　she　should　live　in　less。　　I　think　it　is　my
duty　to　say　that　I　am　not　at　all　a　rich　man；　and　if　there　has　been
any　supposition　that　I　am　so；　it　is　a　mistake　that　cannot　be
corrected　too　soon。〃

This　time　I　could　not　resent　his　insinuation；　for　since　he　had　beg