april hopes-第17章

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remembering　the　fact　with　surprise　and　gratification　to　himself。　　〃He　was
a　tremendous　satirist。〃

〃Really？　　And　he　seems　so　amiable　now。〃

〃Oh；　it　was　only　on　paper。〃

〃Perhaps　he　still　keeps　it　upon　wall…paper？〃　suggested　Mrs。　Pasmer。

Munt　laughed　at　the　little　joke　with　a　good…will　that　flattered　the
veteran　flatterer。　　〃I　should　like　to　ask　him　that　some　time。　　Will　you
lend　it　to　me？〃

〃Yes；　if　such　a　sayer　of　good　things　will　deign　to　borrow〃

〃Oh；　Mrs。　Pasmer！〃　cried　Munt；　otherwise　speechless。

〃And　the　mother？　　Do　you　know　Mrs。　Mavering？〃

〃Mrs。　Mavering　I've　never　seen。〃

〃Oh！〃　said　Mrs。　Pasmer；　with　a　disappointment　for　which　Munt　tried　to
console　her。

〃I've　never　even　been　at　their　place。　　He　asked　me　once　a　great　while
ago；　but　you　know　how　those　things　are。　　I've　heard　that　she　used　to　be
very　pretty　and　very　gay。　　They　went　about　a　great　deal；　to　Saratoga　and
Cape　May　and　such　placesrather　out　of　our　beat。〃

〃And　now？〃

〃And　now　she's　been　an　invalid　for　a　great　many　years。　　Bedridden；　I
believe。　　Paralysis；　I　think。〃

Yes；　Mrs。　Saintsbury　said　something　of　the　kind。〃

〃Well；〃　said　Munt；　anxious　to　add　to　the　store　of　knowledge　which　this
remark　let　him　understand　he　had　not　materially　increased；　〃I　think　Mrs。
Mavering　was　the　origin　of　the　wall…paperor　her　money。　　Mavering　was
poor；　her　father　had　started　it；　and　Mavering　turned　in　his　talent。〃

〃How　very　interesting！　　And　is　that　the　reasonits　being　ancestralthat
Mr。　Mavering　wishes　his　son　to　go　into　it？〃

〃Is　he　going　into　it？〃　asked　Munt。

〃He's　come　up　here　to　think　about　it。〃

〃I　should　suppose　it　would　be　a　very　good　thing；〃　said　Munt。

〃What　a　very　remarkable　forest！〃　said　Mrs。　Pasmer；　examining　it　on　either
side；　and　turning　quite　round。　　This　gave　her；　from　her　place　in　the　van
of　the　straggling　procession；　a　glimpse　of　Alice　and　Dan　Mavering　far　in
the　rear。

〃Don't　you　know；〃　he　was　saying　to　the　girl　at　the　same　moment；　〃it's
like　some　of　those　Dore　illustrations　to　the　Inferno；　or　the　Wandering
Jew。〃

〃Oh　yes。　　I　was　trying　to　think　what　it　was　made　me　think　I　had　seen　it
before；〃　she　answered。　　〃It　must　be　that。　　But　how　strange　it　is！〃　she
exclaimed；　〃that　sensation　of　having　been　there　beforein　some　place
before　where　you　can't　possibly　have　been。〃

〃And　do　you　feel　it　here？〃　he　asked；　as　vividly　interested　as　if　they　two
had　been　the　first　to　notice　the　phenomenon　which　has　been　a　psychical
consolation　to　so　many　young　observers。

〃Yes；〃　she　cried。

〃I　hope　I　was　with　you；〃　he　said；　with　a　sudden　turn　of　levity；　which　did
not　displease　her；　for　there　seemed　to　be　a　tender　earnestness　lurking　in
it。　　〃I　couldn't　bear　to　think　of　your　being　alone　in　such　a　howling
wilderness。〃

〃Oh；　I　was　with　a　large　picnic；〃　she　retorted　gaily。　　〃You　might　have
been　among　the　rest。　　I　didn't　notice。〃

〃Well；　the　next　time；　I　wish　you'd　look　closer。　　I　don't　like　being　left
out。〃　　They　were　so　far　behind　the　rest　that　he　devoted　himself　entirely
to　her；　and　they　had　grown　more　and　more　confidential。


They　came　to　a　narrow　foot…bridge　over　a　deep　gorge。　　The　hand…rail　had
fallen　away。　　He　sprang　forward　and　gave　her　his　hand　for　the　passage。
〃Who　helped　you　over　here？〃　he　demanded。　　〃Don't　say　I　didn't。〃

〃Perhaps　it　was　you；〃　she　murmured；　letting　him　keep　the　fingers　to　which
he　clung　a　moment　after　they　had　crossed　the　bridge。　　Then　she　took　them
away；　and　said：　〃But　I　can't　be　sure。　　There　were　so　many　others。〃

〃Other　fellows？〃　he　demanded；　placing　himself　before　her　on　the　narrow
path；　so　that　she　could　not　get　by。　　〃Try　to　remember；　Miss　Pasmer。　　This
is　very　important。　　It　would　break　my　heart　if　it　was　really　some　one
else。〃　　She　stole　a　glance　at　his　face；　but　it　was　smiling；　though　his
voice　was　so　earnest。　　〃I　want　to　help　you　over　all　the　bad　places；　and　I
don't　want　any　one　else　to　have　a　hand　in　it。〃

The　voice　and　the　face　still　belied　each　other；　and　between　them　the　girl
chose　to　feel　herself　trifled　with　by　the　artistic　temperament。　　〃If
you'll　please　step　out　of　the　way；　Mr。　Mavering；〃　she　said　severely；　〃I
shall　not　need　anybody's　help　just　here。〃

He　instantly　moved　aside；　and　they　were　both　silent；　till　she　said；　as
she　quickened　her　pace　to　overtake　the　others　in　front；　〃I　don't　see　how
you　can　help　liking　nature　in　such　a　place　as　this。〃

〃I　can'thuman　nature；〃　he　said。　　It　was　mere　folly；　and　an　abstract
folly　at　that；　but　the　face　that　she　held　down　and　away　from　him　flushed
with　sweet　consciousness　as　she　laughed。

On　the　cliff　beetling　above　the　bay；　where　she　sat　to　look　out　over　the
sad　northern　sea；　lit　with　the　fishing　sail　they　had　seen　before；　and　the
surge　washed　into　the　rocky　coves　far　beneath　them；　he　threw　himself　at
her　feet；　and　made　her　alone　in　the　company　that　came　and　went　and　tried
this　view　and　that　from　the　different　points　where　the　picnic　hostess
insisted　they　should　enjoy　it。　　She　left　the　young　couple　to　themselves；
and　Mrs。　Pasmer　seemed　to　have　forgotten　that　she　had　bidden　Alice　to　be
a　little　more　with　her。

Alice　had　forgotten　it　too。　　She　sat　listening　to　Mavering's　talk　with　a
certain　fascination；　but　not　so　much　apparently　because　the　meaning　of
the　words　pleased　her　as　the　sound　of　his　voice；　the　motion　of　his　lips
in　speaking；　charmed　her。　　At　first　he　was　serious；　and　even　melancholy；
as　if　he　were　afraid　he　had　offended　her；　but　apparently　he　soon　believed
that　he　had　been　forgiven；　and　began　to　burlesque　his　own　mood；　but　still
with　a　deference　and　a　watchful　observance　of　her　changes　of　feeling
which　was　delicately　flattering　in　its　way。　　Now　and　then　when　she
answered　something　it　was　not　always　to　the　purpose；　he　accused　her　of
not　hearing　what　he　said；　but　she　would　have　it　that　she　did；　and　then　he
tried　to　test　her　by　proofs　and　questions。　　It　did　not　matter　for
anything　that　was　spoken　or　done；　speech　and　action　of　whatever　sort　were
mere　masks　of　their　young　joy　in　each　other；　so　that　when　he　said；　after
he　had　quoted　some　lines　befitting　the　scene　they　looked　out　on；　〃Now　was
that　from　Tennyson　or　from　Tupper？〃　and　she　answered；　〃Neither；　it　was
from　Shakespeare；〃　they　joined；　in　the　same　happy　laugh；　and　they　laughed
now　and　then　without　saying　anything。　　Neither　this　nor　that　made　them
more　glad　or　less；　they　were　in　a　trance；　vulnerable　to　nothing　but　the
summons　which　must　come　to　leave　their　dream　behind；　and　issue　into　the
waking　world。

In　hope　or　in　experience　such　a　moment　has　come　to　all；　and　it　is　so
pretty　to　those　who　recognise　it　from　the　outside　that　no　one　has　the
heart　to　hurry　it　away　while　it　can　be　helped。　　The　affair　between　Alice
and　Mavering　had　evidently　her　mother's　sanction；　and　all　the　rest　were
eager　to　help　it　on。　　When　the　party　had　started　to　return；　they　called
to　them；　and　let　them　come　behind　together。　　At　the　carriages　they　had
what　Miss　Anderson　called　a　new　deal；　and　Alice　and　Mavering　found
themselves　together　in　the　rear　seat　of　the　last。

The　fog　began　to　come　in　from　the　sea；　and　followed　them　through　the
woods。　　When　they　emerged　upon　the　highway　it　wrapped　them　densely　round；
and　formed　a　little　world；　cosy；　intimate；　where　they　two　dwelt　alone
with　these　friends　of　theirs；　each　of　whom　they　praised　for　delightful
qualities。　　The　horses　beat　along　through　the　mist；　in　which　there　seemed
no　progress；　and　they　lived　in　a　blissful　arrest　of　time。　　Miss　Anderson
called　back　from　the　front　seat；　〃My　ear　buyns；　you're　talkin'　about　me。〃

〃Which　ear？〃　cried　Mavering。

〃Oh；　the　left；　of　couyse。〃

〃Then　it's　merely　habit；　Julie。　　You　ought　to　have　heard　the　nice　things
we　were　saying　about　you；〃　Alice　called。

〃I'd　like　to　hear　all　the　nice　things　you've　been　saying。〃

This　seemed　the　last　effect　of　subtle　wit。　　Mavering　broke　out　in　his
laugh；　and　Alice's　laugh　rang　above　it。

Mrs。　Pasmer　looked　involuntarily　round　from　the　carriage　ahead。

〃They　seem　to　be　having　a　good　time；〃　said　Mrs。　Brinkley　at　her　side。

〃Yes；　I　hope　Alice　isn't　overdoing。〃

〃I'm　afraid　you're　dreadfully　tired；〃　said　Mavering　to　the　girl；　in　a　low
voice；　as　he　lifted　her　from　her　place　when　they　reached　the　hotel
through　the　provisional　darkness；　and　found　that　after　all　it　was　only
dinner…time。

〃Oh　no。　　I　feel　as　if　the　picnic　were　just　beginning。〃

〃Then　you　will　come　to…night？〃

〃I　will　see　what　mamma　says。〃

〃Shall　I　ask　her？〃

〃Oh；　perhaps　not；〃　said　the　girl；　repressing　his　ardour；　but　not
severely。




XVIII。

They　were　going　to　have　some　theatricals　at　one　of　the　cottages；　and　the
lady　at　whose　house　they　were　to　be　given　made　haste　to　invite　all　the
picnic　party　before　it　dispersed。　　Mrs。　Pasmer　accepted　with　a　mental
reservation；　meaning　to　send　an　excuse　later　if　she　chose；　and　before　she
decided　the　point　she　kept　her　husband　from　going　after　dinner　into　the
reading…room；　where　he　spent　nearly　all　his　time　over　a　paper　and　a
cigar；　or　in　sitting　absolutely　silent　and　unoccupied；　and　made　him　go　to
their　own　room　with　her。

〃There　is　something　that　I　must　speak　to　you　about；〃　she　said；　closing
the　door；　〃and　you　must　decide　for　yourself　whether　you　wish　to　let　it　go
any　further。〃

〃What　go　any　further？〃　asked　Mr。　Pasmer；　sitting　down　and　putting　his
hand　to　the　pocket　that　held　his　cigar…case　with　the　same　series　of
motions。

〃No；　don't　smoke；〃　she　said；　staying　his　hand　impatiently。　　〃I　want　you
to　think。〃

〃How　can　I　think　if　I　don't　smoke？〃

〃Very　well；　smoke；　then。　　Do　you　want　this　affair　with　young　Mavering　to
go　any　farther？〃

〃Oh！〃　said　Pasmer；　〃I　thought　you　had　been　looking　after　that。〃　　He　had
in　fact　relegated　that　to　the　company　of　the　great　questions　exterior　to
his　personal　comfort　which　she　always　decided。

〃I　have　been　looking　after　it；　but　now　the　time　has　come　when　you　must；
as　a　father；　take　some　interest　in　it。〃

Pasmer's　noble　mask　of　a　face；　from　the　point　of　his　full　white　beard　to
his　fine　forehead；　crossed　by　his　impressive　black　eyebrows；　expressed
all　the　dignified　concern　which　a　father　ought　to　feel　in　such　an　affair；
but　what　he　was　really　feeling　was　a　grave　reluctance　to　have　to
intervene　in　any　way。　　〃What　do　you　want　me　to　say　to　him？〃　he　asked。

〃Why；　I　don't　know　that　he's　going　to　ask　you　anything。　　I　don't　know
whether　he's　said　anything　to　Alice　yet；〃　said　Mrs。　Pasmer；　with　some
exasperation。

Her　husband　was　silent；　but　his　silence　insinuated　a　degree　of　wonder
that　she　should　approach　him　prematurely　on　such　a　point。

〃They　have　been　thrown　together　all　day；　and　there　is　no　use　to　conceal
from　ourselves　that　they　are　very　much　taken　with　each　other？〃

〃I　thought；〃　Pasmer　said；　〃that　you　said　that　from　the　beginning。　　Didn't
you　want　them　to　be　taken　with　each　other？〃

〃That　is　what　you　are　to　decide。〃

Pasmer　silently　refused　to　assume　the　responsibility。

〃Well？〃　demanded　his　wife；　after　waiting　for　him　to　speak。

〃Well　what？〃

〃What　do　you　decide？〃

〃What　is　the　use　of　deciding　a　thing　when　it　is　all　over？〃

〃It　isn't　over　at　all。　　It　can　be　broken　off　at　any　moment。〃

〃Well；　break　it　off；　then；　if　you　like。〃

Mrs。　Pasmer　resumed　the　responsibility　with　a　sigh。　　She　felt　the　burden；