an open-eyed conspiracy-第6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！


of；　and　I　pointed　out　an　old　lady　by　the　door；　who　sat　there
displaying　upon　her　vast　person　an　assortment　of　gems　and　jewels
which　she　seemed　as　personally　indifferent　to　as　if　she　were　a　show…
window；　and　I　was　glad　to　have　the　girl　shrink　from　the　spectacle　in
a　kind　of　mute　alarm。　　I　tried　to　make　her　share　my　pleasure　in　a
group　of　Cubansfat　father；　fat　mother；　fat　daughterwho　came　down
the　walk　toward　us　in　the　halo　of　tropical　tradition；　but　she　had
not　the　taste　for　olives；　and　I　saw　that　I　failed　to　persuade　her　of
the　aesthetic　value　of　this　alien　element　among　us。　　She　apparently
could　do　almost　as　little　with　some　old　figures　of　bygone　beaus
spectrally　revisiting　the　hotel　haunts　of　their　youth；　but　she　was
charmed　with　the　sylvan　loveliness　of　that　incomparable　court。　　It
is；　in　fact；　a　park　of　the　tall；　slim　Saratoga　trees　enclosed　by　the
quadrangle　of　the　hotel；　exquisitely　kept；　and　with　its　acres　of
greensward　now　showing　their　colour　vividly　in　the　light　of　the
electrics；　which　shone　from　all　sides　on　the　fountain　flashing　and
plashing　in　the　midst。　　I　said　that　here　was　that　union　of　the
sylvan　and　the　urban　which　was　always　the　dream　of　art；　and　which
formed　the　delicate　charm　of　pastoral　poetry；　and　although　I　do　not
think　she　quite　grasped　the　notion；　I　saw　that　she　had　a　pleasure　in
the　visible　fact；　and　that　was　much　better。　　Besides；　she　listened
very　respectfully；　and　with　no　signs　of　being　bored。

In　the　wait　between　the　two　parts　of　the　concert　I　invited　her　to
walk　around　the　court　with　me；　and　under　the　approving　eye　of　Mrs。
March　we　made　this　expedition。　　It　seemed　to　me　that　I　could　not　do
a　wiser　thing；　both　for　the　satisfaction　of　my　own　curiosity　and　for
the　gratification　of　the　autobiographical　passion　we　all　feel；　than
to　lead　her　on　to　speak　of　herself。　　But　she　had　little　or　nothing
to　say　of　herself；　and　what　she　said　of　other　things　was　marked　by　a
straightforward　good　sense；　if　not　a　wide　intelligence。　　I　think　we
make　a　mistake　when　we　suppose　that　a　beautiful　woman　must　always　be
vain　or　conscious。

I　fancy　that　a　beauty　is　quite　as　often　a　solid　and　sensible　person；
with　no　inordinate　wish　to　be　worshipped；　and　this　young　lady　struck
me　as　wholly　unspoiled　by　flattery。　　I　decided　that　she　was　not　the
type　that　would　take　the　fancy　of　De　Witt　Point；　and　that　she　had
grown　up　without　local　attention　for　that　reason；　or　possibly
because　a　certain　coldness　in　her　overawed　the　free　spirit　of　rustic
love…making。　　No　doubt　she　knew　that　she　was　beautiful；　and　I　began
to　think　that　it　was　not　so　much　disappointment　at　finding　Saratoga
as　indifferent　as　De　Witt　Point　which　gave　her　the　effect　of　disgust
I　had　first　noted　in　her　the　night　before。　　That　might　rather　have
come　from　the　sense　of　feeling　herself　a　helpless　burden　on　her
friends；　and　from　that　young　longing　for　companionship　which　is　as
far　as　may　be　from　the　desire　of　conquest；　of　triumph。　　Finding　her
now　so　gratefully　content　with　the　poor　efforts　to　amuse　her　which
an　old　fellow　like　me　could　make；　I　perceived　that　the　society　of
other　girls　would　suffice　to　make　Saratoga　quite　another　thing　for
her；　and　I　cast　about　in　my　mind　to　contrive　this　somehow。

I　confess　that　I　liked　her　better　and　better；　and　before　the　evening
was　out　I　had　quite　transferred　my　compassion　from　the　Deerings　to
her。　　It　WAS　forlorn　and　dreary　for　her　to　be　attached　to　this　good
couple；　whose　interests　were　primarily　in　each　other；　and　who　had
not　the　first　of　those　arts　which　could　provide　her　with　other
company。　　She　willingly　told　about　their　journey　to　Saratoga；　and
her　story　did　not　differ　materially　from　the　account　Deering　had
already　given　me；　but　even　the　outward　form　of　adventure　had　fallen
from　their　experience　since　they　had　come　to　Saratoga。　　They　had
formed　the　habit　of　Congress　Park　by　accident；　but　they　had　not　been
to　the　lake；　or　the　races；　or　the　House　of　Pansa；　or　Mount　M'Gregor；
or　Hilton　Park；　or　even　the　outlying　springs。　　It　was　the　first　time
they　had　been　inside　of　the　Grand　Union。　　〃Then　you　have　never　seen
the　parlour？〃　I　asked；　and　after　the　concert　I　boldly　led　the　way
into　the　parlour；　and　lavished　its　magnificence　upon　them　as　if　I
had　been　the　host；　or　one　of　the　hotel　guests　at　the　very　least。　　I
enjoyed　the　breathlessness　of　the　Deerings　so　much；　as　we　walked　up
and　down　the　vast　drawing…rooms　accompanied　by　our　images　in　the
mirrors；　that　I　insisted　upon　sitting　down　with　them　all　upon　some
of　the　richest　pieces　of　furniture；　and　I　was　so　flown　with　my
success　as　cicerone　that　I　made　them　come　with　me　to　the　United
States。　　I　showed　them　through　the　parlours　there；　and　then　led　them
through　to　the　inner　verandah；　which　commanded　another　wooded　court
like　that　of　the　Grand　Union。　　I　tried　to　make　them　feel　the
statelier　sentiment　of　the　older　hotel；　and　to　stir　their
imaginations　with　a　picture　of　the　old　times；　when　the　Southern
planters　used　to　throng　the　place；　and　all　that　was　gay　and
brilliant　in　fashionable　society　was　to　be　seen　there　some　time
during　the　summer。　　I　think　that　I　failed　in　this；　but　apparently　I
succeeded　in　giving　them　an　evening　of　dazzling　splendour。

〃Well；　sir；　this　has　been　a　great　treat；〃　said　Mr。　Deering；　when　he
bade　us　goodbye　as　well　as　good…night；　he　was　going　early　in　the
morning。

The　ladies　murmured　their　gratitude；　Mrs。　Deering　with　an　emotion
that　suited　her　thanks；　and　Miss　Gage　with　a　touch　of　something
daughterly　toward　me　that　I　thought　pretty。



CHAPTER　VI



〃Well；　what　DID　you　make　of　her；　my　dear？〃　Mrs。　March　demanded　the
instant　she　was　beyond　their　hearing。　　〃I　must　say；　you　didn't　spare
yourself　in　the　cause；　you　did　bravely。　　What　is　she　like？〃

〃Really；　I　don't　know；〃　I　answered；　after　a　moment's　reflection。　　〃I
should　say　she　was　almost　purely　potential。　　She's　not　so　much　this
or　that　kind　of　girl；　she's　merely　a　radiant　image　of　girlhood。〃

〃Now；　your　chicquing　it；　you're　faking　it；〃　said　Mrs。　March；
borrowing　the　verbs　severally　from　the　art　editor　and　the　publisher
of　Every　Other　Week。　　〃You　have　got　to　tell　me　just　how　much　and　how
little　there　really　is　of　her　before　I　go　any　further　with　them。　　Is
she　stupid？〃

〃Nono；　I　shouldn't　say　stupid　exactly。　　She　iswhat　shall　I　say？…
…extremely　plain…minded。　　I　suppose　the　goddesses　were　plain…minded。
I'm　a　little　puzzled　by　her　attitude　toward　her　own　beauty。　　She
doesn't　live　her　beauty　any　more　than　a　poet　lives　his　poetry　or　a
painter　his　painting；　though　I've　no　doubt　she　knows　her　gift　is
hers　just　as　they　do。〃

〃I　think　I　understand。　　You　mean　she　isn't　conscious。〃

〃No。　　Conscious　isn't　quite　the　word；〃　I　said　fastidiously。　　〃Isn't
there　some　word　that　says　less；　or　more；　in　the　same　direction？〃

〃No；　there　isn't；　and　I　shall　think　you　don't　mean　anything　at　all
if　you　keep　on。　　Now；　tell　me　how　she　really　impressed　you。　　Does
she　know　anything？　　Has　she　read　anything？　　Has　she　any　ideas？〃

〃Really；　I　can't　say　whether　they　were　ideas　or　not。　　She　knew　what
Every　Other　Week　was；　she　had　read　the　stories　in　it；　but　I'm　not
sure　she　valued　it　at　its　true　worth。　　She　is　very　plain…minded。〃

〃Don't　keep　repeating　that！　　What　do　you　mean　by　plain…minded？〃

〃Well；　honest；　single；　common…sense；　coherent；　arithmetical。〃

〃Horrors！　　Do　you　mean　that　she　is　MANNISH？〃

〃No；　not　mannish。　　And　yet　she　gave　me　the　notion　that；　when　it　came
to　companionship；　she　would　be　just　as　well　satisfied　with　a　lot　of
girls　as　young　men。〃

Mrs。　March　pulled　her　hand　out　of　my　arm；　and　stopped　short　under
one　of　those　tall　Saratoga　shade…trees　to　dramatise　her　inference。
〃Then　she　is　the　slyest　of　all　possible　pusses！　　Did　she　give　you
the　notion　that　she　would　be　just　as　well　satisfied　with　you　as　with
a　young　man！〃

〃She　couldn't　deceive　me　so　far　as　THAT；　my　dear。〃

〃Very　well；　I　shall　take　her　in　hand　myself　to…morrow；　and　find　out
what　she　really　is。〃

Mrs。　March　went　shopping　the　next　forenoon　with　what　was　left　of　the
Deering　party；　Deering　had　taken　the　early　train　north；　and　she
seemed　to　have　found　the　ladies　livelier　without　him。　　She　formed
the　impression　from　their　more　joyous　behaviour　that　he　kept　his
wife　from　spending　as　much　money　as　she　would　naturally　have　done；
and　that；　while　he　was　not　perhaps　exactly　selfish；　he　was　forgetful
of　her　youth；　of　the　difference　in　years　between　them；　and　of　her
capacity　for　pleasures　which　he　could　not　care　for。　　She　said　that
Mrs。　Deering　and　Miss　Gage　now　acted　like　two　girls　together；　and；
if　anything；　Miss　Gage　seemed　the　elder　of　the　two。

〃And　what　did　you　decide　about　her？〃　I　inquired。

〃Well；　I　helped　her　buy　a　hat　and　a　jacket　at　one　of　those　nice
shops　just　below　the　hotel　where　they're　stopping；　and　we've　started
an　evening　dress　for　her。　　She　can't　wear　that　white　duck　morning；
noon；　and　night。〃

〃But　her　characterher　nature？〃

〃Oh！　　Well；　she　is　rather　plain…minded；　as　you　call　it。　　I　think　she
shows　out　her　real　feelings　too　much　for　a　woman。〃

〃Why　do　you　prefer　dissimulation　in　your　sex；　my　dear？〃

〃I　don't　call　it　dissimulation。　　But　of　course　a　girl　ought　to　hide
her　feelings。　　Don't　you　think　it　would　have　been　better　for　her　not
to　have　looked　so　obviously　out　of　humour　when　you　first　saw　her　the
other　night？〃

〃She　wouldn't　have　interested　me　so　much；　then；　and　she　probably
wouldn't　have　had　your　acquaintance　now。〃

〃Oh；　I　don't　mean　to　say　that　even　that　kind　of　girl　won't　get　on；
if　she　gives　her　mind　to　it；　but　I　think　I　should　prefer　a　little
less　plain…mindedness；　as　you　call　it；　if　I　were　a　man。〃

I　did　not　know　exactly　what　to　say　to　this；　and　I　let　Mrs。　March　go
on。

〃It's　so　in　the　smallest　thing。　　If　you're　choosing　a　thing　for　her；
and　she　likes　another；　she　lets　you　feel　it　at　once。　　I　don't　mean
that　she's　rude　about　it；　but　she　seems　to　set　herself　so　square
across　the　way；　and　you　come　up　with　a　kind　of　bump　against　her。　　I
don't　think　that's　very　feminine。　　That's　what　I　mean　by　mannish。
You　always　know　where　to　find　her。〃

I　don't　know　why　this　criticism　should　have　amused　me　so　much；　but　I
began　to　laugh　quite　uncontrollably；　and　I　laughed　on　and　on。　　Mrs。
March　kept　her　temper　with　me　admirably。　　When　I　was　quiet　again；
she　said　…

〃Mrs。　Deering　is　a　person　that　wins　your　heart　at　once；　she　has　that
appealing　quality。　　You　can　see　that　she's　cowed　by　her　husband；
though　he　means　to　be　kind　to　her；　and　yet　you　may　be　sure　she　gets
round　him；　and　has　her　own　way　all　the　time。　　I　know　it　was　her　idea
to　have　him　go　home　and　leave　them　here；　and　of　course　she　made　him
think　it　was　his。　　She　saw　that　as　long　as　he　was　here；　and　anxious
to　get　back　to　his　'stock；'　there　was　no　hope　of　giving　Miss　Gage
the　sort　of　chance　she　came　for；　and　so　she　determined　to　manage　it。
At　the　same　time；　you　can　see　that　she　is　true　as　steel；　and　would
abhor　anything　like　deceit　worse　than　the　pest。〃

〃I　see；　and　that　is　why　you　dislike　Miss　Gage？〃

〃Dislike　her？　　No；　I　don't　dislike　her；　but　she　is　disappointing。
If　she　were　a　plain　girl　her　plain…mindedness　would　be　all　right；　it
would　be　amusing；　she　would　turn　it　to　account　and　make　it　seem
humorous。　　But　it　doesn'