an open-eyed conspiracy-第9章

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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　not　stay　too　long。　　There　was　another　tableau　of　him　on　foot；
taking　leave　of　Mrs。　March；　with　a　high　hand…shake；　which　had　then
lately　come　in；　and　which　I　saw　the　girl　note；　and　then　bowing　to
her　and　to　Mrs。　Deering。

〃Don't　forget；〃　my　wife　called　after　him；　with　a　ready　invention　not
lost　on　his　quick　intelligence；　〃that　you're　going　to　the　concert
with　us　after　tea。　　Eight　o'clock；　remember。〃

〃You　may　be　sure　I　shall　remember　THAT；〃　he　returned　gaily。



CHAPTER　IX



The　countenances　of　the　ladies　fell　instantly　when　he　was　gone。
〃Mrs。　March；〃　said　Mrs。　Deering；　with　a　nervous　tremor；　〃did　Mr。
March　get　us　those　rooms　at　the　Grand　Union？〃

〃Nono；〃　my　wife　began；　and　she　made　a　little　pause；　as　if　to
gather　plausibility。　　〃The　Grand　Union　was　very　full；　and　he　thought
that　at　the　States〃

〃Because；〃　said　Mrs。　Deering；　〃I　don't　know　as　we　shall　trouble　him；
after　all。　　Mr。　Deering　isn't　very　well；　and　I　guess　we　have　got　to
go　home〃

〃GO　HOME！〃　Mrs。　March　echoed；　and　her　voice　was　a　tone…scene　of　a
toppling　hope　and　a　widespread　desolation。　　〃Why；　you　mustn't！〃

〃We　must；　I　guess。　　It　had　begun　to　be　very　pleasant；　andI　guess　I
have　got　to　go。　　I　can't　feel　easy　about　him。〃

〃Why；　of　course；〃　Mrs。　March　now　assented；　and　she　waved　her　fan
thoughtfully　before　her　face。　　I　knew　what　she　was　thinking　of；　and
I　looked　at　Miss　Gage；　who　had　involuntarily　taken　the　pose　and
expression　of　the　moment　when　I　first　saw　her　at　the　kiosk　in
Congress　Park。　　〃And　Miss　Gage？〃

〃Oh　yes；　I　must　go　too；〃　said　the　girl　wistfully；　forlornly。　　She
had　tears　in　her　voice；　tears　of　despair　and　vexation；　I　should　have
said。

〃That's　too　bad；〃　said　Mrs。　March；　and；　as　she　did　not　offer　any
solution　of　the　matter；　I　thought　it　rather　heartless　of　her　to　go
on　and　rub　it　in。　　〃And　we　were　just　planning　some　things　we　could
do　together。〃

〃It　can't　be　helped　now；〃　returned　the　girl。

〃But　we　shall　see　you　again　before　you　go？〃　Mrs。　March　asked　of
both。

〃Well；　I　don't　know；〃　said　the　girl；　with　a　look　at　Mrs。　Deering；
who　now　said　…

〃I　guess　so。　　We'll　let　you　know　when　we're　going。〃　　And　they　got
away　rather　stiffly。

〃Why　in　the　world；　my　dear；〃　I　asked；　〃if　you　weren't　going　to
promote　their　stay；　need　you　prolong　the　agony　of　their
acquaintance？〃

〃Did　you　feel　that　about　it　too？　　Well；　I　wanted　to　ask　you　first　if
you　thought　it　would　do。〃

〃What　do？〃

〃You　know；　get　her　a　room　here。　　Because　if　we　do　we　shall　have　her
literally　on　our　hands　as　long　as　we　are　here。　　We　shall　have　to
have　the　whole　care　and　responsibility　of　her；　and　I　wanted　you　to
feel　just　what　you　were　going　in　for。　　You　know　very　well　I　can't　do
things　by　halves；　and　that　if　I　undertake　to　chaperon　this　girl　I
shall　chaperon　her〃

〃To　the　bitter　end。　　Yes；　I　understand　the　conditions　of　your
uncompromising　conscience。　　But　I　don't　believe　it　will　be　any　such
killing　matter。　　There　are　other　semi…detached　girls　in　the　house；
she　could　go　round　with　them。〃

We　talked　on；　and；　as　sometimes　happens；　we　convinced　each　other　so
thoroughly　that　she　came　to　my　ground　and　I　went　to　hers。　　Then　it
was　easier　for　us　to　come　together；　and　after　making　me　go　to　the
clerk　and　find　out　that　he　had　a　vacant　room；　Mrs。　March　agreed　with
me　that　it　would　not　do　at　all　to　have　Miss　Gage　stay　with　us；　the
fact　that　there　was　a　vacant　room　seemed　to　settle　the　question。

We　were　still　congratulating　ourselves　on　our　escape　when　Mrs。
Deering　suddenly　reappeared　round　our　corner　of　the　verandah。　　She
was　alone；　and　she　looked　excited。

〃Oh；　it　isn't　anything；〃　she　said　in　answer　to　the　alarm　that　showed
itself　in　Mrs。　March's　face　at　sight　of　her。　　〃I　hope　you　won't
think　it's　too　presuming；　Mrs。　March；　and　I　want　you　to　believe　that
it's　something　I　have　thought　of　by　myself；　and　that　Julia　wouldn't
have　let　me　come　if　she　had　dreamed　of　such　a　thing。　　I　do　hate　so
to　take　her　back　with　me；　now　that　she's　begun　to　have　a　good　time；
and　I　was　wonderingwondering　whether　it　would　be　asking　too　much
if　I　tried　to　get　her　a　room　here。　　I　shouldn't　exactly　like　to
leave　her　in　the　hotel　alone；　though　I　suppose　it　would　be　perfectly
proper；　but　Mr。　Deering　found　out　when　he　was　trying　to　get　rooms
before　that　there　were　some　young　ladies　staying　by　themselves　here；
and　I　didn't　want　to　ask　the　clerk　for　a　room　unless　you　felt　just
right　about　it。〃

〃Why；　of　course；　Mrs。　Deering。　　It's　a　public　house；　like　any　other；
and　you　have　as　much　right〃

〃But　I　didn't　want　you　to　think　that　I　would　do　it　without　asking
you；　and　if　it　is　going　to　be　the　least　bit　of　trouble　to　you。〃　　The
poor　thing　while　she　talked　stood　leaning　anxiously　over　toward　Mrs。
March；　who　had　risen；　and　pressing　the　points　of　her　fingers
nervously　together。

〃It　won't；　Mrs。　Deering。　　It　will　be　nothing　but　pleasure。　　Why；
certainly。　　I　shall　be　delighted　to　have　Miss　Gage　here；　and
anything　that　Mr。　March　and　I　can　doWhy；　we　had　just　been　talking
of　it；　and　Mr。　March　has　this　minute　got　back　from　seeing　the　clerk；
and　she　can　have　a　very　nice　room。　　We　had　been　intending　to　speak
to　you　about　it　as　soon　as　we　saw　you。〃

I　do　not　know　whether　this　was　quite　true　or　not；　but　I　was　glad
Mrs。　March　said　it；　from　the　effect　it　had　upon　Mrs。　Deering。　　Tears
of　relief　came　into　her　eyes；　and　she　said：　　〃Then　I　can　go　home　in
the　morning。　　I　was　going　to　stay　on　a　day　or　two　longer；　on　Julia's
account；　but　I　didn't　feel　just　right　about　Mr。　Deering；　and　now　I
won't　have　to。〃

There　followed　a　flutter　of　polite　offers　and　refusals；
acknowledgments　and　disavowals；　and　an　understanding　that　I　would
arrange　it　all；　and　that　we　would　come　to　Mrs。　Deering's　hotel　after
supper　and　see　Miss　Gage　about　the　when　and　the　how　of　her　coming　to
us。〃

〃Well；　Isabel；〃　I　said；　after　it　was　all　over；　and　Mrs。　Deering　had
vanished　in　a　mist　of　happy　tears；　〃I　suppose　this　is　what　you　call
perfectly　providential。　　Do　you　really　believe　that　Miss　Gage　didn't
send　her　back？〃

〃I　know　she　didn't。　　But　I　know　that　she　HAD　to　do　it　just　the　same
as　if　Miss　Gage　had　driven　her　at　the　point　of　the　bayonet。〃

I　laughed　at　this　tragical　image。　　〃Can　she　be　such　a　terror？〃

〃She　is　an　ideal。　　And　Mrs。　Deering　is　as　afraid　as　death　of　her。
Of　course　she　has　to　live　up　to　her。　　It's　probably　been　the
struggle　of　her　life；　and　I　can　quite　imagine　her　letting　her
husband　die　before　she　would　take　Miss　Gage　back；　unless　she　went
back　satisfied。〃

〃I　don't　believe　I　can　imagine　so　much　as　that　exactly；　but　I　can
imagine　her　being　afraid　of　Miss　Gage's　taking　it　out　of　her
somehow。　　Now　she　will　take　it　out　of　us。　　I　hope　you　realise　that
you've　done　it　now；　my　dear。　　To　be　sure；　you　will　have　all　your
life　to　repent　of　your　rashness。〃

〃I　shall　never　repent；〃　Mrs。　March　retorted　hardily。　　〃It　was　the
right　thing；　the　only　thing。　　We　couldn't　have　let　that　poor
creature　stay　on；　when　she　was　so　anxious　to　get　back　to　her
husband。〃

〃No。〃

〃And　I　confess；　Basil；　that　I　feel　a　little　pity　for　that　poor　girl；
too。　　It　would　have　been　cruel；　it　would　have　been　fairly　wicked；　to
let　her　go　home　so　soon；　and　especially　now。〃

〃Oh！　　And　I　suppose　that　by　ESPECIALLY　NOW；　you　mean　Kendricks；〃　I
said；　and　I　laughed　mockingly；　as　the　novelists　say。　　〃How　sick　I　am
of　this　stale　old　love…business　between　young　people！　　We　ought　to
know　betterwe're　old　enough；　at　least　YOU　are。〃

She　seemed　not　to　feel　the　gibe。　　〃Why；　Basil；〃　she　asked　dreamily；
〃haven't　you　any　romance　left　in　you？〃

〃Romance？　　Bah！　　It's　the　most　ridiculous　unreality　in　the　world。
If　you　had　so　much　sympathy　for　that　stupid　girl；　in　that　poor　woman
in　her　anxiety　about　her　disappointment；　why　hadn't　you　a　little　for
her　sick　husband？　　But　a　husband　is　nothingwhen　you　have　got　him。〃

〃I　did　sympathise　with　her。〃

〃You　didn't　say　so。〃

〃Well；　she　is　only　his　second　wife；　and　I　don't　suppose　it's
anything　serious。　　Didn't　I　really　say　anything　to　her？〃

〃Not　a　word。　　It　is　curious；〃　I　went　on；　〃how　we　let　this　idiotic
love…passion　absorb　us　to　the　very　last。　　It　is　wholly　unimportant
who　marries　who；　or　whether　anybody　marries　at　all。　　And　yet　we　no
sooner　have　the　making　of　a　love…affair　within　reach　than　we　revert
to　the　folly　of　our　own　youth；　and　abandon　ourselves　to　it　as　if　it
were　one　of　the　great　interests　of　life。〃

〃Who　is　talking　about　love？　　It　isn't　a　question　of　that。　　It's　a
question　of　making　a　girl　have　a　pleasant　time　for　a　few　days；　and
what　is　the　harm　of　it？　　Girls　have　a　dull　enough　time　at　the　very
best。　　My　heart　aches　for　them；　and　I　shall　never　let　a　chance　slip
to　help　them；　I　don't　care　what　you　say。〃

〃Now；　Isabel；〃　I　returned；　〃don't　you　be　a　humbug。　　This　is　a
perfectly　plain　case；　and　you　are　going　in　for　a　very　risky　affair
with　your　eyes　open。　　You　shall　not　pretend　you're　not。〃

〃Very　well；　then；　if　I　am　going　into　it　with　my　eyes　open；　I　shall
look　out　that　nothing　happens。〃

〃And　you　think　prevision　will　avail！　　I　wish；〃　I　said；　〃that　instead
of　coming　home　that　night　and　telling　you　about　this　girl；　I　had
confined　my　sentimentalising　to　that　young　French…Canadian　mother；
and　her　dirty　little　boy　who　ate　the　pea…nut　shells。　　I've　no　doubt
it　was　really　a　more　tragical　case。　　They　looked　dreadfully　poor　and
squalid。　　Why　couldn't　I　have　amused　my　idle　fancy　with　their
fortunesthe　sort　of　husband　and　father　they　had；　their　shabby
home；　the　struggle　of　their　life？　　That　is　the　appeal　that　a　genuine
person　listens　to。　　Nothing　does　more　to　stamp　me　a　poseur　than　the
fact　that　I　preferred　to　bemoan　myself　for　a　sulky　girl　who　seemed
not　to　be　having　a　good　time。〃

There　was　truth　in　my　joking；　but　the　truth　did　not　save　me；　it　lost
me　rather。　　〃Yes；〃　said　my　wife；　〃it　was　your　fault。　　I　should　never
have　seen　anything　in　her　if　it　had　not　been　for　you。　　It　was　your
coming　back　and　working　me　up　about　her　that　began　the　whole　thing；
and　now　if　anything　goes　wrong　you　will　have　yourself　to　thank　for
it。〃

She　seized　the　opportunity　of　my　having　jestingly　taken　up　this　load
to　buckle　it　on　me　tight　and　fast；　clasping　it　here；　tying　it　there；
and　giving　a　final　pull　to　the　knots　that　left　me　scarcely　the　power
to　draw　my　breath；　much　less　the　breath　to　protest。　　I　was　forced　to
hear　her　say　again　that　all　her　concern　from　the　beginning　was　for
Mrs。　Deering；　and　that　now；　if　she　had　offered　to　do　something　for
Miss　Gage；　it　was　not　because　she　cared　anything　for　her；　but
because　she　cared　everything　for　Mrs。　Deering；　who　could　never　lift
up　her　head　again　at　De　Witt　Point　if　she　went　back　so　completely
defeated　in　all　the　purposes　she　had　in　asking　Miss　Gage　to　come
with　her　to　Saratoga。

I　did　not　observe　that　this　wave　of　compassion　carried　Mrs。　March　so
far　as　to　leave　her　stranded　with　Mrs。　Deering　that　evening　when　we
called　with　Kendricks；　and　asked　her　and　Miss　Gage　to　go　with　us　to
the　Congress　Park　concert。　　Mrs。　Deering　said　that　she　had　to　pack；
that　she　did　not　feel　just　exactly　like　going；　and　my　tender　heart
ached　with　a