options-第8章

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II


It　is　a　common　custom　to　refer　to　the　usual　complication　between　one　　man　and　two　ladies；　or　one　lady　and　two　men；　or　a　lady　and　a　man　and　a　　nobleman；　orwell；　any　of　those　problemsas　the　triangle。　　But　they　　are　never　unqualified　triangles。　　They　are　always　isoscelesnever　　equilateral。　　So；　upon　the　coming　of　Nevada　Warren；　she　and　Gilbert　　and　Barbara　Ross　lined　up　into　such　a　figurative　triangle；　and　of　that　　triangle　Barbara　formed　the　hypotenuse。

One　morning　old　Jerome　was　lingering　long　after　breakfast　over　the　　dullest　morning　paper　in　the　city　before　setting　forth　to　his　down…　town　fly…trap。　　He　had　become　quite　fond　of　Nevada；　finding　in　her　　much　of　his　dead　brother's　quiet　independence　and　unsuspicious　　frankness。

A　maid　brought　in　a　note　for　Miss　Nevada　Warren。

〃A　messenger…boy　delivered　it　at　the　door；　please；〃　she　said。　　〃He's　　waiting　for　an　answer。〃

Nevada；　who　was　whistling　a　Spanish　waltz　between　her　teeth；　and　　watching　　the　carriages　and　autos　roll　by　in　the　street；　took　the　　envelope。　　She　knew　it　was　from　Gilbert；　before　she　opened　it；　by　the　　little　gold　palette　in　the　upper　left…hand　corner。

After　tearing　it　open　she　pored　over　the　contents　for　a　while；　　absorbedly。　　Then；　with　a　serious　face；　she　went　and　stood　at　her　　uncle's　elbow。

〃Uncle　Jerome；　Gilbert　is　a　nice　boy；　isn't　he？〃

〃Why；　bless　the　child！〃　said　old　Jerome；　crackling　his　paper　loudly；　　〃of　course　he　is。　　I　raised　him　myself。〃

〃He　wouldn't　write　anything　to　anybody　that　wasn't　exactlyI　mean　　that　everybody　couldn't　know　and　read；　would　he？〃

〃I'd　just　like　to　see　him　try　it；〃　said　uncle；　tearing　a　handful　from　　his　newspaper。　　〃Why；　what〃

〃Read　this　note　he　just　sent　me；　uncle；　and　see　if　you　think　it's　all　　right　and　proper。　　You　see；　I　don't　know　much　about　city　people　and　　their　ways。〃

Old　Jerome　threw　his　paper　down　and　set　both　his　feet　upon　it。　　He　　took　Gilbert's　note　and　fiercely　perused　it　twice；　and　then　a　third　　time。

〃Why；　child；〃　said　he；　〃you　had　me　almost　excited；　although　I　was　sure　　of　that　boy。　　He's　a　duplicate　of　his　father；　and　he　was　a　gilt…edged　　diamond。　　He　only　asks　if　you　and　Barbara　will　be　ready　at　four　　o'clock　this　afternoon　for　an　automobile　drive　over　to　Long　Island。　　I　　don't　see　anything　to　criticise　in　it　except　the　stationery。　　I　always　　did　hate　that　shade　of　blue。〃

〃Would　it　be　all　right　to　go？〃　asked　Nevada；　eagerly。

〃Yes；　yes；　yes；　child；　of　course。　　Why　not？　　Still；　it　pleases　me　to　　see　you　so　careful　and　candid。　　Go；　by　all　means。〃

〃I　didn't　know；〃　said　Nevada；　demurely。　　〃I　thought　I'd　ask　you。　　　Couldn't　you　go　with　us；　uncle？〃

〃I？　　No；　no；　no；　no！　　I've　ridden　once　in　a　car　that　boy　was　driving。　　　Never　again！　But　it's　entirely　proper　for　you　and　Barbara　to　go。　　Yes；　　yes。　　But　I　will　not。　　No；　no；　no；　no！〃

Nevada　flew　to　the　door；　and　said　to　the　maid：

〃You　bet　we'll　go。　　I'll　answer　for　Miss　Barbara。　　Tell　the　boy　to　say　　to　Mr。　　Warren；　'You　bet　we'll　go。'〃

〃Nevada；〃　called　old　Jerome；　〃pardon　me；　my　dear；　but　wouldn't　it　be　　as　well　to　send　him　a　note　in　reply？　　Just　a　line　would　do。〃

〃No；　I　won't　bother　about　that；〃　said　Nevada；　gayly。　　〃Gilbert　will　　understandhe　always　does。　　I　never　rode　in　an　automobile　in　my　life；　　but　I've　paddled　a　canoe　down　Little　Devil　River　through　the　Lost　　Horse　Canon；　and　if　it's　any　livelier　than　that　I'd　like　to　know！〃


III


Two　months　are　supposed　to　have　elapsed。

Barbara　sat　in　the　study　of　the　hundred…thousand…dollar　house。　　It　was　　a　good　place　for　her。　　Many　places　are　provided　in　the　world　where　men　　and　women　may　repair　for　the　purpose　of　extricating　themselves　from　　divers　difficulties。　　There　are　cloisters；　　wailing…places；　watering…　places；　confessionals；　hermitages；　lawyer's　offices；　beauty　parlors；　　air…ships；　and　studies；　and　the　greatest　of　these　are　studies。

It　usually　takes　a　hypotenuse　a　long　time　to　discover　that　it　is　the　　longest　side　of　a　triangle。　　But　it's　a　long　　line　that　has　no　turning。

Barbara　was　alone。　　Uncle　Jerome　and　Nevada　had　gone　to　the　theatre。　　　Barbara　had　not　cared　to　go。　　She　wanted　to　stay　at　home　and　study　in　　the　study。　　If　you；　miss；　were　a　stunning　New　York　girl；　and　saw　every　　day　that　a　brown；　ingenuous　Western　witch　was　getting　hobbles　and　a　　lasso　on　the　young　man　you　wanted　for　yourself；　you；　too；　would　lose　　taste　for　the　oxidized…silver　setting　of　a　musical　comedy。

Barbara　sat　by　the　quartered…oak　library　table。　　Her　right　arm　rested　　upon　the　table；　and　her　dextral　fingers　nervously　manipulated　a　sealed　　letter。　　The　letter　was　addressed　to　Nevada　Warren；　and　in　the　upper　　left…hand　corner　of　the　envelope　was　Gilbert's　little　gold　palette。　　　It　had　been　delivered　at　nine　o'clock；　after　Nevada　had　left。

Barbara　would　have　given　her　pearl　necklace　to　know　what　the　letter　　contained；　but　she　could　not　open　and　read　it　by　the　aid　of　steam；　or　　a　pen…handle；　or　a　hair…pin；　or　any　of　the　generally　approved　methods；　　because　her　position　in　society　forbade　such　an　act。　　She　had　tried　to　　read　some　of　the　lines　of　the　letter　by　holding　the　envelope　up　to　a　　strong　light　and　pressing　it　hard　against　the　paper；　but　Gilbert　had　　too　good　a　taste　in　stationery　to　make　that　possible。

At　eleven…thirty　the　theatre…goers　returned。　　it　was　a　delicious　　winter　night。　　Even　so　far　as　from　the　cab　to　the　door　they　were　　powdered　thickly　with　the　big　flakes　downpouring　diagonally　from　the　　cast。　　Old　Jerome　growled　good…naturedly　about　villanous　cab　service　　and　blockaded　streets。　　Nevada；　colored　like　a　rose；　with　sapphire　　eyes；　babbled　of　the　stormy　nights　in　the　mountains　around　dad's　　cabin。　　During　all　these　wintry　apostrophes；　Barbara；　cold　at　heart；　　sawed　woodthe　only　appropriate　thing　she　could　think　of　to　do。

Old　Jerome　went　immediately　up…stairs　to　hot…water…bottles　and　　quinine。　　Nevada　fluttered　into　the　study；　the　only　cheerfully　lighted　　room；　subsided　into　an　arm…chair；　and；　while　at　the　interminable　task　　of　unbuttoning　her　elbow　gloves；　gave　oral　testimony　as　to　the　　demerits　of　the　〃show。〃

〃Yes；　I　think　Mr。　　Fields　is　really　amusingsometimes；〃　said　Barbara。　　　〃Here　is　a　letter　for　you；　dear；　that　came　by　special　delivery　just　　after　you　had　gone。〃

〃Who　is　it　from？〃　asked　Nevada；　tugging　at　a　button。

〃Well；　really；〃　said　Barbara；　with　a　smile；　〃I　can　only　guess。　　The　　envelope　has　that　queer　little　thing　in　one　corner　that　Gilbert　calls　　a　palette；　but　which　looks　to　me　rather　like　a　gilt　heart　on　a　school…　girl's　valentine。〃

〃I　wonder　what　he's　writing　to　me　about〃　remarked　Nevada；　listlessly。

〃We're　all　alike；〃　said　Barbara；　〃all　women。　　We　try　to　find　out　what　　is　in　a　letter　by　studying　the　postmark。　　As　a　last　resort　we　use　　scissors；　and　read　it　from　the　bottom　upward。　　Here　it　is。〃

She　made　a　motion　as　if　to　toss　the　letter　across　the　table　to　Nevada。

〃Great　catamounts！〃　exclaimed　Nevada。　　〃These　centre…fire　buttons　are　　a　nuisance。　　I'd　rather　wear　buckskins。　　Oh；　Barbara；　please　shuck　the　　hide　off　that　letter　and　read　it。　　It'll　be　midnight　before　I　get　　these　gloves　off！〃

〃Why；　dear；　you　don't　want　me　to　open　Gilbert's　letter　to　you？　　It's　　for　you；　and　you　wouldn't　wish　any　one　else　to　read　it；　of　course！〃

Nevada　raised　her　steady；　calm；　sapphire　eyes　from　her　gloves。

〃Nobody　writes　me　anything　that　everybody　mightn't　read；〃　she　said。　　　〃Go　on；　Barbara。　　Maybe　Gilbert　wants　us　to　go　out　in　his　car　again　　to…morrow。〃

Curiosity　can　do　more　things　than　kill　a　cat；　and　if　emotions；　well　　recognized　as　feminine；　are　inimical　to　feline　life；　then　jealousy　　would　soon　leave　the　whole　world　catless。　　Barbara　opened　the　letter；　　with　an　indulgent；　slightly　bored　air。

〃Well；　dear；〃　said　she；　〃I'll　read　it　if　you　want　me　to。〃

She　slit　the　envelope；　and　read　the　missive　with　swift…travelling　　eyes；　read　it　again；　and　cast　a　quick；　shrewd　glance　at　Nevada；　who；　　for　the　time；　seemed　to　consider　gloves　as　the　world　of　her　interest；　　and　letters　from　rising　artists　as　no　more　than　messages　from　Mars。

For　a　quarter　of　a　minute　Barbara　looked　at　Nevada　with　a　strange　　steadfastness；　and　then　a　smile　so　small　that　it　widened　her　mouth　　only　the　sixteenth　part　of　an　inch；　and　narrowed　her　eyes　no　more　than　　a　twentieth；　flashed　like　an　inspired　thought　across　her　face。

Since　the　beginning　no　woman　has　been　a　mystery　to　another　woman　　　Swift　as　light　travels；　each　penetrates　the　heart　and　mind　of　another；　　sifts　her　sister's　words　of　their　cunningest　disguises；　reads　her　most　　hidden　desires；　and　plucks　the　sophistry　from　her　wiliest　talk　like　　hairs　from　a　comb；　twiddling　them　sardonically　between　her　thumb　and　　fingers　before　letting　them　float　away　on　the　breezes　of　fundamental　　doubt。　　Long　ago　Eve's　son　rang　the　door…bell　of　the　family　residence　　in　Paradise　Park；　bearing　a　strange　lady　on　his　arm；　whom　he　　introduced。　　Eve　took　her　daughter…in…law　aside　and　lifted　a　classic　　eyebrow。

〃The　Land　of　Nod；〃　said　the　bride；　languidly　flirting　the　leaf　of　a　　palm。　　''I　suppose　you've　been　there；　of　course？〃

〃Not　lately；〃　said　Eve；　absolutely　unstaggered。　　〃Don't　you　think　the　　apple…sauce　they　serve　over　there　is　execrable？　　I　rather　like　that　　mulberry…leaf　tunic　effect；　dear；　but；　of　course；　the　real　fig　goods　　are　not　to　be　had　over　there。　　Come　over　behind　this　lilac…bush　while　　the　gentlemen　split　a　celery　tonic。　　I　think　the　caterpillar…holes　　have　made　your　dress　open　a　little　in　the　back。〃

So；　then　and　thereaccording　to　the　recordswas　the　alliance　formed　　by　the　only　two　who's…who　ladies　in　the　world。　　Then　it　was　agreed　　that　woman　should　forever　remain　as　clear　as　a　pane　of　glass…though　　glass　was　yet　to　be　discovered…to　other　women；　and　that　she　should　　palm　herself　off　on　man　as　a　mystery。

Barbara　seemed　to　hesitate。

〃Really；　Nevada；〃　she　said；　with　a　little　show　of　embarrassment；　〃you　　shouldn't　have　insisted　on　my　opening　this。　　I…I'm　sure　it　wasn't　　meant　for　any　one　else　to　know。〃

Nevada　forgot　her　gloves　for　a　moment。

〃Then　read　it　aloud；〃　she　said。　　〃Since　you've　already　read　it；　what's　　the　difference？　　If　Mr。　　Warren　has　written　to　me　something　that　any　　one　else　oughtn't　to　know；　that　is　all　the　more　reason　why　everybody　　should　know　it。〃

〃Well；〃　said　Barbara；　〃this　is　what　it　says：

'Dearest　NevadaCome　to　my　studio　at　twelve　o'clock　to…night。　　Do　not　　fail。'〃　　Barbara　rose　and　dropped　the　note　in　Nevada's　lap。　　〃I'm　　awfully　sorry；〃　she　said；　〃that　I　knew。　　It　isn't　like　Gilbert。　　There　　must　be　some　mistake。　　Just　consider　that　I　am　ignorant　of　it；　will　　you；　dear？　I　must　go　up…stairs　now；　I　have　such　a　headache。　　I'm　sure　　I　don't　understand　the　note。　　Perhaps　Gilbert　has　been　dining　too　　well；　and　will　explain。　　Good　night！〃


IV


Nevada　tiptoed　to　the　hall；　and　heard　Barbara's　door　close　upstairs。　　　The　bronze　clock　in　the　study　told　the　hour　of　twelve　was　fifteen　　minutes　away。　　She　ran　swiftly　to　the　front　door；　and　let　herself　out　　into　the　snow…storm。　　Gilbert　Warren's　studio　was　six　squares　away。

By　aerial　ferry　the　white；　silent　forces　of　the　storm　attacked　the　　city　from　beyond　the　sullen　East　River。　　Already　the　snow　lay　a　foot　　deep　on　the　pavements；　the　drifts　heaping　themselves　like　scaling…　ladders　against　the　walls　of