april hopes-第16章

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anything　for　me；　then　I　can　be　of　some　use　in　the　world。　　That's　why　I
should　like　to　go　into　a　sisterhood。〃

Mavering　treated　it　as　the　best　kind　of　joke；　and　he　was　confirmed　in
this　view　of　it　by　her　laughing　with　him；　after　a　first　glance　of　what　he
thought　mock　piteousness。




XVI。

The　clouds　sailed　across　the　irregular　space　of　pale　blue　Northern　sky
which　the　break　in　the　woods　opened　for　them　overhead。　　It　was　so　still
that　they　heard；　and　smiled　to　hear；　the　broken　voices　of　the　others；　who
had　gone　to　get　berries　in　another　directionMiss　Anderson's　hoarse
murmur　and　Munt's　artificial　bass。　　Some　words　came　from　the　party　on　the
rocks。

〃Isn't　it　perfect？〃　cried　the　young　fellow　in　utter　content。

〃Yes；　too　perfect；〃　answered　the　girl；　rousing　herself　from　the　reverie
in　which　they　had　both　lost　themselves；　she　did　not　know　how　long。
〃Shall　you　gather　any　more？〃

〃No；　I　guess　there's　enough。　　Let's　count　them。〃　　He　stooped　over　on　his
hand's　and　knees；　and　made　as　much　of　counting　the　bunches　as　he　could。
〃There's　about　one　bunch　and　a　half　a　piece。　　How　shall　we　carry　them？
We　ought　to　come　into　camp　as　impressively　as　possible。〃

〃Yes；〃　said　Alice；　looking　into　his　face　with　dreamy　absence。　　It　was
going　through　her　mind；　from　some　romance　she　had　read；　What　if　he　were
some　sylvan　creature；　with　that　gaiety；　that　natural　gladness　and
sweetness　of　his；　so　far　from　any　happiness　that　was　possible　to　her？
Ought　not　she　to　be　afraid　of　him？　　She　was　thinking　she　was　not　afraid。

〃I'll　tell　you；〃　he　said。　　〃Tie　the　stems　of　all　the　bunches　together；
and　swing　them　over　a　pole；　like　grapes　of　Eshcol。　　Don't　you　know　the
picture？〃

〃Oh　yes。〃

〃Hold　on！　　I'll　get　the　pole。〃　　He　cut　a　white　birch　sapling；　and　swept
off　its　twigs　and　leaves；　then　he　tied　the　bunches　together；　and　slung
them　over　the　middle　of　the　pole。

〃Well？〃　she　asked。

〃Now　we　must　rest　the　ends　on　our　shoulders。〃

〃Do　you　think　so？〃　she　asked；　with　the　reluctance　that　complies。

〃Yes；　but　not　right　away。　　I'll　carry　them　out　of　the　woods；　and　we'll
form　the　procession　just　before　we　come　in　sight。〃

Every　one　on　the　ledge　recognised　the　tableau　when　it　appeared；　and
saluted　it　with　cheers　and　hand…clapping。　　Mrs。　Pasmer　bent　a　look　on　her
daughter　which　she　faced　impenetrably。

〃Where　have　you　been？〃　　〃We　thought　you　were　lost！〃　　〃We　were　just
organising　a　search　expedition！〃　different　ones　shouted　at　them。

The　lady　with　the　coffee…pot　was　kneeling　over　it　with　her　hand　on　it。
〃Have　some　coffee；　you　poor　things！　　You　must　be　almost　starved。〃

〃We　looked　about　for　you　everywhere；〃　said　Munt；　〃and　shouted　ourselves
dumb。〃

Miss　Anderson　passed　near　Alice。　　〃I　knew　where　you　were　all　the　time！〃

Then　the　whole　party　fell　to　praising　the　novel　conception　of　the
bouquets　of　blueberries；　and　the　talk　began　to　flow　away　from　Alice　and
Mavering　in　various　channels。

All　that　had　happened　a　few　minutes　ago　in　the　blueberry　patch　seemed　a
far…off　dream；　the　reality　had　died　out　of　the　looks　and　words。

He　ran　about　from　one　to　another；　serving　every　one；　in　a　little　while
the　whole　affair　was　in　his　hospitable　hands；　and　his　laugh　interspersed
and　brightened　the　talk。

She　got　a　little　back　of　the　others；　and　sat　looking　wistfully　out　over
the　bay；　with　her　hands　in　her　lap。

〃Hold　on　just　half　a　minute；　Miss　Pasmer！　don't　move！〃　exclaimed　the
amateur　photographer；　who　is　now　of　all　excursions；　he　jumped　to　his
feet；　and　ran　for　his　apparatus。　　She　sat　still；　to　please　him；　but　when
he　had　developed　his　picture；　in　a　dark　corner　of　the　rocks；　roofed　with
a　waterproof；　he　accused　her　of　having　changed　her　position。　　〃But　it's
going　to　be　splendid；〃　he　said；　with　another　look　at　it。

He　took　several　pictures　of　the　whole　party；　for　which　they　fell　into
various　attitudes　of　consciousness。　　Then　he　shouted　to　a　boat…load　of
sailors　who　had　beached　their　craft　while　they　gathered　some　drift　for
their　galley　fire。　　They　had　flung　their　arm…loads　into　the　boat；　and　had
bent　themselves　to　shove　it　into　the　water。

〃Keep　still！　don't　move！〃　he　yelled　at　them；　with　the　imperiousness　of
the　amateur　photographer；　and　they　obeyed　with　the　helplessness　of　his
victims。　　But　they　looked　round。

〃Oh；　idiots！〃　groaned　the　artist。

〃I　always　wonder　what　that　kind　of　people　think　of　us　kind　of　people；〃
said　Mrs。　Brinkley；　with　her　eye　on　the　photographer's　subjects。

〃Yes；　I　wonder　what　they　do？〃　said　Miss　Cotton；　pleased　with　the
speculative　turn　which　the　talk　might　take　from　this。　　〃I　suppose　they
envy　us？〃　she　suggested。

〃Well；　not　all　of　them；　and　those　that　do；　not　respectfully。　　They　view；
us　as　the　possessors　of　ill…gotten　gains；　who　would　be　in　a　very
different　place　if　we　had　our　deserts。〃

〃Do　you　really　think　so？〃

〃Yes；　I　think　so；　but　I　don't　know　that　I　really　think　so。　　That's
another　matter；〃　said　Mrs。　Brinkley；　with　the　whimsical　resentment　which
Miss　Cotton's　conscientious　pursuit　seemed　always　to　rouse　in　her。

〃I　supposed；〃　continued　Miss　Cotton；　〃that　it　was　only　among　the　poor　in
the　cities；　who　have　begin　misled　by　agitators；　that　the…well…to…do
classes　were　regarded　with　suspicion。〃

〃It　seems　to　have　begun　a　great　while　ago；〃　said　Mrs。　Brinkley；　〃and　not
exactly　with　agitators。　　It　was　considered　very　difficult　for　us　to　get
into　the　kingdom　of　heaven；　you　know。〃

〃Yes；　I　know；〃　assented　Miss　Cotton。

〃And　there　certainly　are　some　things　against　us。　　Even　when　the　chance
was　given　us　to　sell　all　we　had　and　give　it　to　the　poor；　we　couldn't
bring　our　minds　to　it；　and　went　away　exceeding　sorrowful。〃

〃I　wonder；〃　said　Miss　Cotton；　〃whether　those　things　were　ever　intended　to
be　taken　literally？〃

〃Let's　hope　not；〃　said　John　Munt；　seeing　his　chance　to　make　a　laugh。

Mrs。　Stamwell　said；　〃Well；　I　shall　take　another　cup　of　coffee；　at　any
rate；〃　and　her　hardihood　raised　another　laugh。

〃That　always　seems　to　me　the　most　pitiful　thing　in　the　whole　Bible；〃　said
Alice；　from　her　place。　　〃To　see　the　right　so　clearly；　and　not　to　be
strong　enough　to　do　it。〃

〃My　dear；　it　happens　every　day；〃　said　Mrs。　Brinkley。

〃I　always　felt　sorry　for　that　poor　fellow；　too；〃　said　Mavering。　　〃He
seemed　to　be　a　good　fellow；　and　it　was　pretty　hard　lines　for　him。〃

Alice　looked　round　at　him　with　deepening　gravity。

〃Confound　those　fellows！〃　said　the　photographer；　glancing　at　his　hastily
developed　plate。　　〃They　moved。〃




XVII。

The　picnic　party　gathered　itself　up　after　the　lunch；　and　while　some　of
the　men；　emulous　of　Mavering's　public　spirit；　helped　some　of　the　ladies
to　pack　the　dishes　and　baskets　away　under　the　wagon　seats；　others　threw　a
corked　bottle　into　the　water；　and　threw　stones　at　it。　　A　few　of　the
ladies　joined　them；　but　nobody　hit　the　bottle；　which　was　finally　left
bobbing　about　on　the　tide。

Mrs。　Brinkley　addressed　the　defeated　group；　of　whom　her　husband　was　one；
as　they　came　up　the　beach　toward　the　wagons。　　〃Do　you　think　that　display
was　calculated　to　inspire　the　lower　middle　classes　with　respectful　envy？〃

Her　husband　made　himself　spokesman　for　the　rest：　〃No；　but　you　can't　tell
how　they'd　have　felt　if　we'd　hit　it。〃

They　all　now　climbed　to　a　higher　level；　grassy　and　smooth；　on　the　bluff；
from　which　there　was　a　particular　view；　and　Mavering　came；　carrying　the
wraps　of　Mrs。　Pasmer　and　Alice；　with　which　he　associated　his　overcoat。　　A
book　fell　out　of　one　of　the　pockets　when　he　threw　it　down。

Miss　Anderson　picked　the　volume　up。　　〃Browning！　　He　reads　Browning！
Superior　young　man！〃

〃Oh；　don't　say　that！〃　pleaded　Mavering。

〃Oh；　read　something　aloud！〃　cried　another　of　the　young　ladies。

〃Isn't　Browning　rather　serious　for　a　picnic？〃　he　asked；　with　a　glance　at
Alice；　he　still　had　a　doubt　of　the　effect　of　the　rheumatic　uncle's　dance
upon　her；　and　would　have　been　glad　to　give　her　some　other　aesthetic
impression　of　him。

〃Oh　no！〃　said　Mrs。　Brinkley；　〃nothing　is　more　appropriate　to　a　picnic
than　conundrums；　they　always　have　them。　　Choose　a　good　tough　one。〃

〃I　don't　know　anything　tougher　than　the　'Legend　of　Pernik'or　lovelier；〃
he　said；　and　he　began　to　read；　simply；　and　with　a　passionate　pleasure　in
the　subtle　study；　feeling　its　control　over　his　hearers。

The　gentlemen　lay　smoking　about　at　their　ease；　at　the　end　a　deep　sigh
went　up　from　the　ladies；　cut　short　by　the　question　which　they　immediately
fell　into。

They　could　not　agree；　but　they　said；　one　after　another：　〃But　you　read
beautifully；　Mr。　Mavering！〃　　〃Beautifully！〃　　〃Yes；　indeed！〃

〃Well；　I'm　glad　there　is　one　point　clear；〃　he　said；　putting　the　book
away；　and　〃I'm　afraid　you'll　think　I'm　rather　sentimental；〃　he　added；　in
a　low　voice　to　Alice；　〃carrying　poetry　around　with　me。〃

〃Oh　no！〃　she　replied　intensely；　〃I　thank　you。〃

〃I　thank　you；〃　he　retorted；　and　their　eyes　met　in　a　deep　look。

One　of　the　outer　circle　of　smokers　came　up　with　his　watch　in　his　hand；
and　addressed　the　company；　〃Do　you　know　what　time　it's　got　to　be？　　It's
four　o'clock。〃

They　all　sprang　up　with　a　clamour　of　surprise。

Mrs。　Pasmer；　under　cover　of　the　noise；　said；　in　a　low　tone；　to　her
daughter；　〃Alice；　I　think　you'd　better　keep　a　little　more　with　me　now。〃

〃Yes；〃　said　the　girl；　in　a　sympathy　with　her　mother　in　which　she　did　not
always　find　herself。

But　when　Mavering；　whom　their　tacit　treaty　concerned；　turned　toward　them；
and　put　himself　in　charge　of　Alice；　Mrs。　Pasmer　found　herself
dispossessed　by　the　charm　of　his　confidence；　and　relinquished　her　to　him。
They　were　going　to　walk　to　the　Castle　Rocks　by　the　path　that　now　loses
and　now　finds　itself　among　the　fastnesses　of　the　forest；　stretching　to
the　loftiest　outlook　on　the　bay。　　The　savage　woodland　is　penetrated　only
by　this　forgetful　path；　that　passes　now　and　then　aver　the　bridge　of　a
ravine；　and　offers　to　the　eye　on　either　hand　the　mystery　deepening　into
wilder　and　weirder　tracts　of　solitude。　　The　party　resolved　itself　into
twos　and　threes；　and　these　straggled　far　apart；　out　of　conversational
reach　of　one　another。　　Mrs。　Pasmer　found　herself　walking　and　talking　with
John　Munt。

〃Mr。　Pasmer　hasn't　much　interest　in　these　excursions；〃　he　suggested。

〃No；　he　never　goes；〃　she　answered；　and；　by　one　of　the　agile　intellectual
processes　natural　to　women；　she　arrived　at　the　question；　〃You　and　the
Maverings　are　old　friends；　Mr。　Munt？〃

〃I　can't　say　about　the　son；　but　I'm　his　father's　friend；　and　I　suppose
that　I'm　his　friend　too。　　Everybody　seems　to　be　so；〃　suggested　Munt。

〃Oh　Yes；〃　Mrs。　Pasmer　assented；　〃he　appears　to　be　a　universal　favourite。〃

〃We　used　to　expect　great　things　of　Elbridge　Mavering　in　college。　　We　were
rather　more　romantic　than　the　Harvard　men　are　nowadays；　and　we　believed
in　one　another　more　than　they　do。　　Perhaps　we　idealised　one　another。
But；　anyway；　our　class　thought　Mavering　could　do　anything。　　You　know
about　his　taste　for　etchings？〃

〃Yes；〃　said　Mrs。　Pasmer；　with　a　sigh　of　deep　appreciation。　　〃What　gifted
people！〃

〃I　understand　that　the　son　inherits　all　his　father's　talent。〃

〃He　sketches　delightfully。〃

〃And　Mavering　wrote。　　Why；　he　was　our　class　poet！〃　cried　Munt；
remembering　the　fact　with　surprise　and　gratification　to　himself。　　〃He　was
a　tremendous　satiris