an open-eyed conspiracy-第4章

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past　one　pang　the　less；　but　the　simple　frankness　of　his　confession
fixed　me　in　the　wish　that　the　future　might　be　brighter　for　them。　　I
thought　myself　warranted　by　my　wife's　imprudence　in　taking　a　step
toward　their　further　intimacy　on　my　own　account；　and　I　said：

〃Well；　perhaps　I　ought　to　tell　you　that　I　haven't　been　inside　the
Saratoga　Club　or　bet　on　the　races　since　I've　been　here。　　That's　my
name　in　full；〃and　I　gave　him　my　card；〃and　I'm　in　the　literary
line；　that　is；　I'm　the　editor　of　a　magazine　in　New　Yorkthe　Every
Other　Week。〃

〃Oh　yes；　I　know　who　you　are；〃　said　my　companion；　with　my　card　in　his
hand。　　〃Fact　is；　I　was　round　at　your　place　this　morning　trying　to
get　rooms；　and　the　clerk　told　me　all　about　you　from　my　description。
I　felt　as　mean　as　pu'sley　goin'；　seemed　to　be　takin'　kind　of　an
advantage　of　you。〃

〃Not　at　all；　it's　a　public　house；〃　I　interrupted；　but　I　thought　I
should　be　stronger　with　Mrs。　March　if　I　did　not　give　the　fact　away
to　her；　and　I　resolved　to　keep　it。

〃But　they　couldn't　rest　easy　till　I　tried；　and　I　was　more　than　half
glad　there　wasn't　any　rooms。〃

〃Oh；　I'm　very　sorry；〃　I　said；　and　I　indulged　a　real　regret　from　the
vantage　I　had。　　〃It　would　have　been　very　pleasant　to　have　you　there。
Perhaps　laterwe　shall　be　giving　up　our　rooms　at　the　end　of　the
month。〃

〃No；〃　he　said；　with　a　long　breath。　　〃If　I've　got　to　leave　'em；　I
guess　it'll　be　just　as　well　to　leave　'em　where　they're　acquainted
with　the　house　anyway。〃　　His　remark　betrayed　a　point　in　his　thinking
which　had　not　perhaps　been　reached　in　his　talk　with　the　ladies。
〃It's　a　quiet　place；　and　they're　used　to　it；　and　I　guess　they
wouldn't　want　to　stay　through　the　rest　of　the　month；　quite。　　I　don't
believe　my　wife　would；　anyway。〃

He　did　not　say　this　very　confidently；　but　hopefully　rather；　and　I
thought　it　afforded　me　an　opening　to　find　out　something　yet　more
definite　about　the　ladies。

〃Miss　Gage　is　remarkably　fine…looking；〃　I　began。

〃Think　so？〃　he　answered。　　〃Well；　so　does　my　wife。　　I　don't　know　as　I
like　her　style　exactly；〃　he　said；　with　a　kind　of　latent　grudge。

〃Her　style　is　magnificent；〃　I　insisted。

〃Well；　maybe　so。　　I　guess　she's　good　enough　looking；　if　that's　what
you　mean。　　But　I　think　it's　always　a　kind　of　a　mistake　for　three
persons　to　come　off　together；　I　don't　care　who　they　are。　　Then
there's　three　opinions。　　She's　a　nice　girl；　and　a　good　girl；　and　she
don't　put　herself　forward。　　But　when　you've　got　a　young　lady　on　your
hands；　you've　GOT　her；　and　you　feel　bound　to　keep　doin'　something
for　her　all　the　time；　and　if　you　don't　know　what　to　do　yourself；　and
your　wife　can't　tell〃

I　added　intelligently；　〃Yes。〃

〃Well；　that's　just　where　it　is。　　Sometimes　I　wish　the　whole　dumb
town　would　burn　up。〃　　I　laughed　and　laughed；　and　my　friend；　having
begun　to　unpack　his　heart；　went　on　to　ease　it　of　the　rest　of　its
load。　　I　had　not　waited　for　this　before　making　some　reflections
concerning　him；　but　I　now　formulated　them　to　myself。　　He　really　had
none　of　that　reserve　I　had　attributed　to　him　the　night　before；　it
was　merely　caution　and　this　is　the　case　with　most　country　people。
They　are　cautious；　but　not　reserved；　if　they　think　they　can　trust
you；　they　keep　back　none　of　their　affairs；　and　this　is　the　American
character；　for　we　are　nearly　all　country　people。　　I　understood　him
perfectly　when　he　said；　〃I　ruther　break　stone　than　go　through　what　I
have　been　through　the　last　week！　　You　understand　how　it　is。　　'Tain't
as　if　she　said　anything；　I　wish　she　would；　but　you　feel　all　the
while　that　it　ain't　what　she　expected　it　to　be；　and　you　feel　as　if
it　was　you　that　was　to　blame　for　the　failure。　　By　George！　if　any　man
was　to　come　along　and　make　an　offer　for　my　contract　I　would　sell　out
cheap。　　It's　worse　because　my　wife　asked　her　to　come；　and　thought
she　was　doin'　her　all　kinds　of　a　favour　to　let　her。　　They've　always
been　together；　and　when　we　talked　of　coming　to　Saratoga　this　summer；
nothing　would　do　my　wife　but　Julia　must　come　with　us。　　Her　and　her
father　usually　take　a　trip　off　somewhere　in　the　hot　weather；　but
this　time　he　couldn't　leave；　president　of　our　National　Bank；　and
president　of　the　village；　too。〃　　He　threw　in　the　fact　of　these
dignities　explanatorily；　but　with　a　willingness；　I　could　see；　that
it　should　affect　me。　　He　went　on：　　〃They're　kind　of　connections　of
my　first　wife's。　　Well；　she's　a　nice　girl；　too　nice；　I　guess；　to　get
along　very　fast。　　I　see　girls　all　the　way　along　down　gettin'
acquainted　on　the　cars　and　boatswe　come　east　on　the　Ogdensburg
road　to　Rouse's　Point；　and　then　took　the　boat　down　Lake　Champlain
and　Lake　Georgebut　she　always　seemed　to　hold　back。　　I　don't　know's
she's　proud　either；　I　can't　make　it　out。　　It　balls　my　wife　all　up；
too。　　I　tell　her　she's　fretted　off　all　the　good　her　trip's　goin'　to
do　her　before　she　got　it。〃

He　laughed　ruefully；　and　just　then　the　band　began　to　play　the
〃Washington　Post。〃

〃What　tune's　that？〃　he　demanded。

〃'Washington　Post；'〃　I　said；　proud　of　knowing　it。

〃By　George！　that　tune　goes　right　to　a　fellow's　legs；　don't　it？〃

〃It's　the　new　march；〃　I　said。

He　listened　with　a　simple　joy　in　it；　and　his　pleasure　strengthened
the　mystic　bond　which　had　formed　itself　between　us　through　the
confidences　he　had　made　me；　so　flatteringly　corroborative　of　all　my
guesses　concerning　him　and　his　party。



CHAPTER　IV



I　longed　to　have　the　chance　of　bragging　to　my　wife；　but　this　chance
did　not　come　till　the　concert　was　quite　over；　after　I　rejoined　her
with　my　companion；　and　she　could　take　leave　of　them　all　without
seeming　to　abandon　them。　　Then　I　judged　it　best　to　let　her　have　the
word；　for　I　knew　by　the　way　she　ran　her　hand　through　my　arm；　and
began　pushing　me　along　out　of　earshot；　that　she　was　full　of　it。

〃Well；　Basil；　I　think　that　is　the　sweetest　and　simplest　and　kindest
creature　in　the　world；　and　I'm　perfectly　in　love　with　her。〃

I　did　not　believe　somehow　that　she　meant　the　girl；　but　I　thought　it
best　merely　to　suggest；　〃There　are　two。〃

〃You　know　very　well　which　I　mean；　and　I　would　do　anything　I　could
for　her。　　She's　got　a　difficult　problem　before　her；　and　I　pity　her。
The　girl's　very　well；　and　she　IS　a　beauty；　and　I　suppose　she　HAS
been　having　a　dull　time；　and　of　course　you　couldn't　please　Mrs。
Deering　half　so　well　as　by　doing　something　for　her　friend。　　I
suppose　you're　feeling　very　proud　that　they're　just　what　you
divined。〃

〃Not　at　all；　I'm　so　used　to　divining　people。　　How　did　you　know　I
knew　it？〃

〃I　saw　you　talking　to　him；　and　I　knew　you　were　pumping　him。〃

〃Pumping？　　He　asked　nothing　better　than　to　flow。　　He　would　put　to
shame　the　provoked　spontaneity　of　any　spring　in　Saratoga。〃

〃Well；　did　he　say　that　he　was　going　to　leave　them　here？〃

〃He　would　like　to　do　ityes。　　He　was　very　sweet　and　simple　and
kind；　too；　Isabel。　　He　complained　bitterly　of　the　goddess；　and　all
but　said　she　sulked。〃

〃Why；　I　don't　know；〃　said　my　wife。　　〃I　think；　considering；　that　she
is　rather　amiable。　　She　brightened　up　more　and　more。〃

〃That　was　prosperity；　or　the　hope　of　it；　my　dear。　　Nothing　illumines
us　like　the　prospect　of　pleasant　things。　　She　took　you　for　society
smiling　upon　her；　and　of　course　she　smiled　back。　　But　it's　only　the
first　smile　of　prosperity　that　cheers。　　If　it　keeps　on　smiling　it
ends　by　making　us　dissatisfied　again。　　When　people　are　getting　into
society　they　are　very　glad；　when　they　have　got　in　they　seem　to　be
rather　gloomy。　　We　mustn't　let　these　things　go　too　far。　　Now　that
you've　got　your　friends　in　good　humour；　the　right　way　is　to　drop
themto　cut　them　dead　when　you　meet　them；　to　look　the　other　way。
That　will　send　them　home　perfectly　radiant。〃

〃Nonsense！　　I　am　going　to　do　all　I　can　for　them。　　What　do　you　think
we　can　do？　　They　haven't　the　first　idea　how　to　amuse　themselves
here。　　It's　a　miracle　they　ever　got　that　dress　the　girl　is　wearing。
They　just　made　a　bold　dash　because　they　saw　it　in　a　dressmaker's
window　the　first　day；　and　she　had　to　have　something。　　It's　killingly
becoming　to　her；　but　I　don't　believe　they　know　it；　and　they　don't
begin　to　know　how　cheap　it　was：　　it　was　simply　THROWN　away。　　I'm
going　shopping　with　them　in　the　morning。〃

〃Oh！〃

〃But　now　the　question　is；　what　we　can　do　to　give　them　some　little
glimpse　of　social　gaiety。　　That's　what　they've　come　for。〃

We　were　passing　the　corner　of　a　large　enclosure　which　seems　devoted
in　Saratoga　to　the　most　distracting　of　its　pleasures；　and　I　said：
〃Well；　we　might　give　them　a　turn　on　the　circular　railway　or　the
switchback；　or　we　could　take　them　to　the　Punch　and　Judy　drama；　or
get　their　fortunes　told　in　the　seeress's　tent；　or　let　them　fire　in
the　shooting…gallery；　or　buy　some　sweet…grass　baskets　of　the
Indians；　and　there　is　the　pop…corn　and　the　lemonade。〃

〃I　will　tell　you　what；〃　said　Mrs　March；　who　had　not　been　listening
to　a　word　I　said；　for　if　she　had　heard　me　she　would　not　have　had
patience　with　my　ironical　suggestions。

〃Well；　what？〃

〃Or；　no；　that　wouldn't　do；　either。〃

〃I'm　glad　you　don't　approve　of　the　notion；　on　second　thoughts。　　I
didn't　like　it　from　the　beginning；　and　I　didn't　even　know　what　it
was。〃

〃We　could　have　them　up　to　the　house　this　evening；　and　introduce　them
to　some　of　our　friends；only　there　isn't　a　young　man　in　the　whole
place；and　have　them　stay　to　the　charades。〃

〃What　do　you　think；〃　I　said；　〃of　their　having　come　up　this　morning
and　tried　to　get　rooms　at　our　house？〃

〃Yes；　they　told　me。〃

〃And　don't　you　call　that　rather　forth…putting？　　It　seems　to　me　that
it　was　taking　a　mean　advantage　of　my　brags。〃

〃It　was　perfectly　innocent　in　them。　　But　now；　dearest；　don't　be
tiresome。　　I　know　that　you　like　them　as　well　as　I　do；　and　I　will
take　all　your　little　teasing　affectations　for　granted。　　The　question
is；　what　can　we　do　for　them？〃

〃And　the　answer　is；　I　don't　in　the　least　know。　　There　isn't　any
society　life　at　Saratoga　that　I　can　see；　and　if　there　is；　we　are　not
in　it。　　How　could　we　get　any　one　else　in？　　I　see　that's　what　you're
aiming　at。　　Those　public　socialities　at　the　big　hotels　they　could
get　into　as　well　as　we　could；　but　they　wouldn't　be　anywhere　when
they　got　there；　and　they　wouldn't　know　what　to　do。　　You　know　what
hollow　mockeries　those　things　are。　　Don't　you　remember　that　hop　we
went　to　with　the　young　Braceys　the　first　summer？　　If　those　girls
hadn't　waltzed　with　each　other　they　wouldn't　have　danced　a　step　the
whole　evening。〃

〃I　know；　I　know；〃　sighed　my　wife；　〃it　was　terrible。　　But　these
people　are　so　very　unworldly　that　don't　you　think　they　could　be
deluded　into　the　belief　that　they　were　seeing　society　if　we　took　a
little　trouble？　　You　used　to　be　so　inventive！　　You　could　think　up
something　now　if　you　tried。〃

〃My　dear；　a　girl　knows　beyond　all　the　arts　of　hoodwinking　whether
she's　having　a　good　time；　and　your　little　scheme　of　passing　off　one
of　those　hotel　hops　for　a　festivity　would　never　work　in　the　world。〃

〃Well；　I　think　it　is　too　bad！　　What　has　become　of　all　the　easy
gaiety　there　used　to　be　in　the　world？〃

〃It　has　been　starched　and　ironed　out　of　it；　apparently。　　Saratoga　is
still　trying　to　do　the　good　old　American　act；　with　its　big　hotels
and　its　heterogeneous　hops；　and　I　don't　suppose　there's　ever　such　a
thing　as　a　society　person　a