an open-eyed conspiracy-第8章

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But　really；　we　live　at　a　most　charming　little　hotel　on　a　back
street；　out　of　the　whirl　and　rush　that　we　should　prefer　to　be　in　if
we　could　afford　it。〃　　He　said　it　must　be　delightful；　and　he　made　the
proper　inquiries　about　Mrs。　March。　　Kendricks　never　forgot　the
gentleman　in　the　artist；　and　he　was　as　true　to　the　convenances　as　if
they　had　been　principles。　　That　was　what　made　Mrs。　March　like　his
stories　so　much　more　than　the　stories　of　some　people　who　wrote
better。　　He　said　he　would　drop　in　during　the　afternoon；　and　I　went
indoors　on　the　pretext　of　buying　a　newspaper。　　Then；　without
engaging　rooms　for　Mrs。　Deering　and　Miss　Gage；　I　hurried　home。



CHAPTER　VIII



〃Well；　did　you　get　the　rooms？〃　asked　my　wife　as　soon　as　she　saw　me。

She　did　not　quite　call　it　across　the　street　to　me　as　I　came　up　from
where　she　sat　on　the　piazza。

〃No；　I　didn't；〃　I　said　boldly；　if　somewhat　breathlessly。

〃Why　didn't　you？　　You　ought　to　have　gone　to　the　States　if　they　were
full　at　the　Grand　Union。〃

〃They　were　not　full；　unless　Kendricks　got　their　last　room。〃

〃Do　you　mean　that　HE　was　there？　　Mr。　Kendricks？　　If　you　are　hoaxing
me；　Basil！〃

〃I　am　not；　my　dear；　indeed　I'm　not；〃　said　I；　beginning　to　laugh；　and
this　made　her　doubt　me　the　more。

〃Because　if　you　are　I　shall　simply　never　forgive　you。　　And　I'm　in
earnest　this　time；〃　she　replied。

〃Why　should　I　want　to　hoax　you　about　such　a　vital　thing　as　that。
Couldn't　Kendricks　come　to　Saratoga　as　well　as　we？　　He's　here
looking　up　the　ground　of　a　story　I　should　think　from　what　he　said。〃

〃No　matter　what　he's　here　for；　he's　here；　and　that's　enough。　　I
never　knew　of　anything　so　perfectly　providential。　　Did　you　TELL　him；
Basil？　　Did　you　dare？〃

〃Tell　him　what？〃

〃You　know；　about　Miss　Gage。〃

〃Well；　I　came　very　near　it。　　I　dangled　the　fact　before　his　eyes
once；　but　I　caught　it　away　again　in　time。　　He　never　saw　it。　　I
thought　I'd　better　let　you　tell　him。〃

〃Is　he　coming　here　to　see　us？〃

〃He　asked　if　he　might。〃

〃He's　always　nice。　　I　don't　know　that　I　shall　ask　him　to　do　anything
for　them；　after　all；　I'm　not　sure　that　she's　worth　it。　　I　wish　some
commoner　person　had　happened　along。　　Kendricks　is　too　precious。　　I
shall　have　to　think　about　it；　and　don't　you　tease　me；　Basil；　will
you？〃

〃I　don't　know。　　If　I'm　not　allowed　to　have　any　voice　in　the　matter；
I'm　afraid　I　shall　take　it　out　in　teasing。　　I　don't　see　why　Miss
Gage　isn't　quite　as　good　as　Kendricks。　　I　believe　she's　taller；　and
though　he's　pretty　good…looking；　I　prefer　her　style　of　beauty。　　I
dare　say　his　family　is　better；　but　I　fancy　she's　richer；　and　his
family　isn't　good　beyond　New　York　city；　and　her　money　will　go
anywhere。　　It's　a　pretty　even　thing。〃

〃Good　gracious；　Basil！　you　talk　as　if　it　were　a　question　of
marriage。〃

〃And　you　THINK　it　is。〃

〃Now　I　see　that　you're　bent　upon　teasing；　and　we　won't　talk　any
more；　please。　　What　time　did　he　say　he　would　call？〃

〃If　I　mayn't　talk；　I　can't　tell。〃

〃You　may　talk　that　much。〃

〃Well；　then；　he　didn't　say。〃

〃Basil；〃　said　my　wife；　after　a　moment；　〃if　you　could　be　serious；　I
should　like　very　much　to　talk　with　you。　　I　know　that　you're　excited
by　meeting　Mr。　Kendricks；　and　I　know　what　you　thought　the　instant
you　saw　him。　　But；　indeed；　it　won't　do；　my　dear。　　It's　more　than
we've　any　right　to　ask；　and　I　shall　not　ask　it；　and　I　shall　not　let
you。　　She　is　a　stiff；　awkward　village　person；　and　I　don't　believe
she's　amiable　or　intelligent；　and　to　let　a　graceful；　refined；
superior　man　like　Mr。　Kendricks　throw　away　his　time　upon　her　would
be　wicked；　simply　wicked。　　Let　those　people　manage　for　themselves
from　this　out。　　Of　course　you　mustn't　get　them　rooms　at　the　Grand
Union　now；　for　he'd　be　seeing　us　there　with　them；　and　feel　bound　to
pay　her　attention。　　You　must　try　for　them　at　the　States；　since　the
matter's　been　spoken　of；　or　at　Congress　Hall。　　But　there's　no　hurry。
We　must　have　time　to　think　whether　we　shall　use　Mr。　Kendricks　with
them。　　I　suppose　it　will　do　no　harm　to　introduce　him。　　If　he　stays
we　can't　very　well　avoid　it；　and　I　confess　I　should　like　to　see　how
she　impresses　him！　　Of　course　we　shall　introduce　him！　　But　I　insist
I　shall　just　do　it　merely　as　one　human　being　to　another；　and　don't
you　come　in　with　any　of　your　romantic　nonsense；　Basil；　about　her
social　disappointment。　　Just　how　much　did　you　give　the　situation
away？〃

I　told　as　well　as　I　could　remember。　　〃Well；　that's　nothing。　　He'll
never　think　of　it；　and　you　mustn't　hint　anything　of　the　kind　again。〃

I　promised　devoutly；　and　she　went　on　…

〃It　wouldn't　be　niceit　wouldn't　be　delicate　to　let　him　into　the
conspiracy。　　That　must　be　entirely　our　affair；　don't　you　see？　　And　I
don't　want　you　to　take　a　single　step　without　me。　　I　don't　want　you
even　to　discuss　her　with　him。　　Will　you？　　Because　that　will　tempt
you　further。〃

That　afternoon　Kendricks　came　promptly　to　call；　like　the　little
gentleman　he　was；　and　he　was　more　satisfactory　about　Saratoga　than
he　had　been　in　the　morning　even。　　Mrs。　March　catechised　him；　and　she
didn't　leave　an　emotion　of　his　unsearched　by　her　vivid　sympathy。
She　ended　by　saying　…

〃You　must　write　a　story　about　Saratoga。　　And　I　have　got　just　the
heroine　for　you。〃

I　started；　but　she　ignored　my　start。

Kendricks　laughed；　delighted；　and　asked；　〃Is　she　pretty？〃

〃Must　a　heroine　be　pretty？〃

〃She　had　better　be。　　Otherwise　she　will　have　to　be　tremendously
clever　and　say　all　sorts　of　brilliant　things；　and　that　puts　a　great
burden　on　the　author。　　If　you　proclaim　boldly　at　the　start　that
she's　a　beauty；　the　illustrator　has　got　to　look　after　her；　and　the
author　has　a　comparative　sinecure。〃

Mrs。　March　thought　a　moment；　and　then　she　said：　　〃Well；　she　is　a
beauty。　　I　don't　want　to　make　it　too　hard　for　you。〃

〃When　shall　I　see　her？〃　Kendricks　demanded；　and　he　feigned　an
amusing　anxiety。

〃Well；　that　depends　upon　how　you　behave；　Mr。　Kendricks。　　If　you　are
very；　very　good；　perhaps　I　may　let　you　see　her　this　evening。　　We
will　take　you　to　call　upon　her。〃

〃Is　it　possible？　　Do　you　mean　business？　　Then　she　isin　society？〃

〃MR。　Kendricks！〃　cried　Mrs。　March；　with　burlesque　severity。　　〃Do　you
think　that　I　would　offer　you　a　heroine　who　was　NOT　in　society？　　You
forget　that　I　am　from　Boston！〃

〃Of　course；　of　course！　　I　understand　that　any　heroine　of　your
acquaintance　must　be　in　society。　　But　I　thoughtI　didn't　knowbut
for　the　momentSaratoga　seems　to　be　so　tremendously　mixed；　and　Mr。
March　says　there　is　no　society　here：　　But　if　she　is　from　Boston〃

〃I　didn't　say　she　was　from　Boston；　Mr。　Kendricks。〃

〃Oh；　I　beg　your　pardon！〃

〃She　is　from　De　Witt　Point；〃　said　Mrs。　March；　and　she　apparently
enjoyed　his　confusion；　no　less　than　my　bewilderment　at　the　course
she　was　taking。

I　was　not　going　to　be　left　behind；　though；　and　I　said：　　〃I
discovered　this　heroine　myself；　Kendricks；　and　if　there　is　to　be　any
giving　away〃

〃Now；　Basil！〃

〃I　am　going　to　do　it。　　Mrs。　March　would　never　have　cared　anything
about　her　if　it　hadn't　been　for　me。　　I　can't　let　her　impose　on　you。
This　heroine　is　no　more　in　society　than　she　is　from　Boston。　　That　is
the　trouble　with　her。　　She　has　come　here　for　society；　and　she　can't
find　any。〃

〃Oh；　that　was　what　you　were　hinting　at　this　morning；〃　said
Kendricks。　　〃I　thought　it　a　pure　figment　of　the　imagination。〃

〃One　doesn't　imagine　such　things　as　that；　my　dear　fellow。　　One
imagines　a　heroine　coming　here；　and　having　the　most　magnificent　kind
of　social　careerlawn…parties；　lunches；　teas；　dinners；　picnics；
hopsand　going　back　to　De　Witt　Point　with　a　dozen　offers　of
marriage。　　That's　the　kind　of　work　the　imagination　does。　　But　this
simple　and　appealing　situationthis　beautiful　young　girl；　with　her
poor　little　illusions；　her　secret　hopes　half　hidden　from　herself；
her　ignorant　past；　her　visionary　future〃

〃Now；　_I_　am　going　to　tell　you　all　about　her；　Mr。　Kendricks；〃　Mrs。
March　broke　in　upon　me；　with　defiance　in　her　eye；　and　she　flung　out
the　whole　fact　with　a　rapidity　of　utterance　that　would　have　left　far
behind　any　attempt　of　mine。　　But　I　made　no　attempt　to　compete　with
her；　I　contented　myself　with　a　sarcastic　silence　which　I　could　see
daunted　her　a　little　at　last。

〃And　all　that　we've　done；　my　dear　fellow〃I　took　in　irony　the　word
she　left　to　me〃is　to　load　ourselves　up　with　these　two　impossible
people；　to　go　their　security　to　destiny；　and　answer　for　their　having
a　good　time。　　We're　in　luck。〃

〃Why；　I　don't　know；〃　said　Kendricks；　and　I　could　see　that　his　fancy
was　beginning　to　play　with　the　situation；　〃I　don't　see　why　it　isn't
a　charming　scheme。〃

〃Of　course　it　is；〃　cried　Mrs。　March；　taking　a　little　heart　from　his
courage。

〃We　can't　make　out　yet　whether　the　girl　is　interesting；〃　I　put　in
maliciously。

〃That　is　what　YOU　say；〃　said　my　wife。　　〃She　is　very　shy；　and　of
course　she　wouldn't　show　out　her　real　nature　to　you。　　I　found　her
VERY　interesting。〃

〃Now；　Isabel！〃　I　protested。

〃She　is　fascinating；〃　the　perverse　woman　persisted。　　〃She　has　a
fascinating　dulness。〃

Kendricks　laughed　and　I　jeered　at　this　complex　characterisation。

〃You　make　me　impatient　to　judge　for　myself；〃　he　said。

〃Will　you　go　with　me　to　call　upon　them　this　evening？〃　asked　Mrs。
March。

〃I　shall　be　delighted。　　And　you　can　count　upon　me　to　aid　and　abet
you　in　your　generous　conspiracy；　Mrs。　March；　to　the　best　of　my
ability。　　There's　nothing　I　should　like　better　than　to　help　you〃

〃Throw　'dust　in　her　beautiful　eyes；'〃　I　quoted。

〃Not　at　all；〃　said　my　wife。　　〃But　to　spread　a　beatific　haze　over
everything；　so　that　as　long　as　she　stays　in　Saratoga　she　shall　see
life　rose…colour。　　Of　course　you　may　say　that　it's　a　kind　of
deception〃

〃Not　at　all！〃　cried　the　young　fellow　in　his　turn。　　〃We　will　make　it
reality。　　Then　there　will　be　no　harm　in　it。〃

〃What　a　jesuitical　casuist！　　You　had　better　read　what　Cardinal
Newman　says　in　his　Apologia　about　lying；　young　man。〃

Neither　of　them　minded　me；　for　just　then　there　was　a　stir　of　drapery
round　the　corner　of　the　piazza　from　where　we　were　sitting；　and　the
next　moment　Mrs。　Deering　and　Miss　Gage　showed　themselves。

〃We　were　just　talking　of　you；〃　said　Mrs。　March。　　〃May　I　present　our
friend　Mr。　Kendricks；　Mrs。　Deering？　　And　Miss　Gage？〃

At　sight　of　the　young　man；　so　well　dressed　and　good…looking；　who
bowed　so　prettily　to　her；　and　then　bustled　to　place　chairs　for　them；
a　certain　cloud　seemed　to　lift　from　Miss　Gage's　beautiful　face；　and
to　be　at　least　partly　broken　on　Mrs。　Deering's　visage。　　I　began　to
talk　to　the　girl；　and　she　answered　in　good　spirits；　and　with　more
apparent　interest　in　my　conversation　than　she　had　yet　shown；　while
Kendricks　very　properly　devoted　himself　to　the　other　ladies。　　Both
his　eyes　were　on　them；　but　I　felt　that　he　had　a　third　somehow　upon
her；　and　that　the　smallest　fact　of　her　beauty　and　grace　was　not　lost
upon　him。　　I　knew　that　her　rich；　tender　voice　was　doing　its　work；
too；　through　the　commonplaces　she　vouchsafed　to　me。　　There　was　a
moment　when　I　saw　him　lift　a　questioning　eyebrow　upon　Mrs。　March；
and　saw　her　answer　with　a　fleeting　frown　of　affirmation。　　I　cannot
tell　just　how　it　was　that；　before　he　left　us；　his　chair　was　on　the
other　side　of　Miss　Gage's；　and　I　was　eliminated　from　the　dialogue。

He　did