april hopes-第19章

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evening　toilet；　but　they　joined　in　admiring　Alice　Pasmer's　costume；　and
one　of　them　said　that　they　would　let　it　represent　them　all；　and　express
what　each　might　have　done　if　she　would。　　There　was　not　much　time　for
their　tributes；　all　the　lamps　were　presently　taken　away　and　set　along　the
floor　in　front　of　the　curtain　as　foot…lights；　leaving　the　company　in　a
darkness　which　Mrs。　Brinkley　pronounced　sepulchral。　　She　made　her
reproaches　to　the　master　of　the　house；　who　had　effected　this
transposition　of　the　lamps。　　〃I　was　just　thinking　some　very　pretty　and
valuable　things　about　your　charming　cottage；　Mr。　Trevor：　a　rug　on　a　bare
floor；　a　trim　of　varnished　pine；　a　wall　with　half　a　dozen　simple　etchings
on　it；　an　open　fire；　and　a　mantelpiece　without　bric…a…brac；　how　entirely
satisfying　it　all　is！　　And　how　it　upbraids　us　for　heaping　up　upholstery
as　we　do　in　town！〃

〃Go　on；〃　said　the　host。　　〃Those　are　beautiful　thoughts。〃

〃But　I　can't　go　on　in　the　dark；〃　retorted　Mrs。　Brinkley。　　〃You　can't
think　in　the　dark；　much　less　talk！　　Can　you；　Mrs。　Pasmer？〃　　Mrs。　Pasmer；
with　Alice　next　to　her；　sat　just　in　front　of　Mrs。　Brinkley。

〃No；〃　she　assented；　〃but　if　I　couldYOU　can　thick　anywhere；　Mrs。
BrinkleyMrs。　Trevor's　lovely　house　would　inspire　me　to　it。〃

〃Two　birds　with　one　stonethank　you；　Mrs。　Pasmer；　for　my　part　of　the
compliment。　　Pick　yourself　up；　Mr。　Trevor。〃

〃Oh；　thank　you；　I'm　all　right；〃　said　Trevor；　panting　after　the　ladies'
meanings；　as　a　man　must。　　〃I　suppose　thinking　and　talking　in　the　dark　is
a　good　deal　like　smoking　in　the　dark。〃

〃No；　thinking　and　talking　are　not　at　all　like　smoking　under　any
conditions。　　Why　in　the　world　should　they　be？〃

〃Oh；　I　can't　get　any　fun　out　of　a　cigar　unless　I　can　see　the　smoke；〃　the
host　explained。

〃Do　you　follow　him；　Mrs。　Pasmer？〃

〃Yes；　perfectly。〃

〃Thank　you；　Mrs。　Pasmer；〃　said　Trevor。

〃I'll　get　you　to　tell　me　how　you　did　it　some　time；〃　said　Mrs。　Brinkley。
〃But　your　house　is　a　gem；　Mr。　Trevor。〃

〃Isn't　it？〃　cried　Trevor。　　〃I　want　my　wife　to　live　here　the　year　round。〃
It　was　the　Trevors'　first　summer　in　their　cottage；　and　the　experienced
reader　will　easily　recognise　his　mood。　　〃But　she's　such　a　worldly　spirit；
she　won't。〃

〃Oh；　I　don't　know　about　the　year　round。　　Do　you；　Mrs。　Pasmer？〃

〃I　should；〃　said　Alice；　with　the　suddenness　of　youth；　breaking　into　the
talk　which　she　had　not　been　supposed　to　take　any　interest　in。

〃Is　it　proper　to　kiss　a　young　lady's　hand？〃　said　Trevor　gratefully；
appealing　to　Mrs。　Brinkley。

〃It　isn't　very　customary　in　the　nineteenth　century；〃　said　Mrs。　Brinkley。
〃But　you　might　kiss　her　fan。　　He　might　kiss　her　fan；　mightn't　he；　Mrs。
Pasmer？〃

〃Certainly。　　Alice；　hold　out　your　fan　instantly。〃

The　girl　humoured　the　joke；　laughing。

Trevor　pressed　his　lips　to　the　perfumed　sticks。　　〃I　will　tell　Mrs。
Trevor；〃　he　said；　〃and　that　will　decide　her。〃

〃It　will　decide　her　not　to　come　here　at　all　next　year　if　you　tell　her
all。〃

〃He　never　tells　me　all；〃　said　Mrs。　Trevor；　catching　so　much　of　the　talk
as　she　came　in　from　some　hospitable　cares　in　the　dining…room。　　〃They're
incapable　of　it。　　What　has　he　been　doing　now？〃

〃Nothing。　　Or　I　will　tell　you　when　we　are　alone；　Mrs。　Trevor；〃　said　Mrs。
Brinkley；　with　burlesque　sympathy。　　〃We　oughtn't　to　have　a　scene　on　both
sides　of　the　foot…lights。〃

A　boyish　face；　all　excitement；　was　thrust　out　between　the　curtains
forming　the　proscenium　of　the　little　theatre。　　〃All　ready；　Mrs。　Trevor？〃

〃Yes；　all　ready；　Jim。〃

He　dashed　the　curtains　apart；　and　marred　the　effect　of　his　own
disappearance　from　the　scene　by　tripping　over　the　long　legs　of　Jove；
stretched　out　to　the　front；　where　he　sat　on　Mrs。　Trevor's　richest　rug；
propped　with　sofa　cushions　on　either　hand。

〃So　perish　all　the　impious　race　of　titans；　enemies　of　the　gods！〃　said
Mavering　solemnly；　as　the　boy　fell　sprawling。　　〃Pick　the　earth…born　giant
up；　Vulcan；　my　son。〃

The　boy　was　very　small　for　his　age；　every　one　saw　that　the　accident　had
not　been　premeditated；　and　when　Vulcan　appeared；　with　an　exaggerated
limp；　and　carried　the　boy　off；　a　burst　of　laughter　went　up　from　the
company。

It　did　not　matter　what　the　play　was　to　have　been　after　that；　it　all
turned　upon　the　accident。　　Juno　came　on；　and　began　to　reproach　Jupiter
for　his　carelessness。　　〃I've　sent　Mercury　upstairs　for　the　aynica；　but　he
says　it's　no　use：　that　boy　won't　be　able　to　pass　ball　for　a　week。　　How
often　have　I　told　you　not　to　sit　with　your　feet　out　that　way！　　I　knew
you'd　hurt　somebody。〃

〃I　didn't　have　my　feet　out；〃　retorted　Jupiter。　　〃Besides；〃　he　added；　with
dignity；　and　a　burlesque　of　marital　special　pleading　which　every　wife　and
husband　recognised；　〃I　always　sit　with　my　feet　out　so；　and　I　always　will；
so　long　as　I've　the　spirit　of　a　god。〃

〃Isn't　he　delicious？〃　buzzed　Mrs。　Pasmer；　leaning　backward　to　whisper　to
Mrs。　Brinkley；　it　was　not　that　she　thought　what　Dan　had　just　said　was　so
very　fanny；　but　people　are　immoderately　applausive　of　amateur　dramatics；
and　she　was　feeling　very　fond　of　the　young　fellow。

The　improvisation　went　wildly　and　adventurously　on；　and　the　curtains
dropped　together　amidst　the　facile　acclaim　of　the　audience：

〃It's　very　well　for　Jupiter　that　he　happened　to　think　of　the　curtain；〃
said　Mrs。　Brinkley。　　〃They　couldn't　have　kept　it　up　at　that　level　much
longer。〃

〃Oh；　do　you　think　so？〃　softly　murmured　Mrs。　Pasmer。　　〃It　seemed　as　if
they　could　have　kept　it　up　all　night　if　they　liked。〃

〃I　doubt　it。　　Mr。　Trevor；〃　said　Mrs。　Brinkley　to　the　host；　who　had　come
up　for　her　congratulations；　〃do　you　always　have　such　brilliant
performances？〃

〃Well；　we　have　so　far；〃　he　answered　modestly；　and　Mrs。　Brinkley　laughed
with　him。　　This　was　the　first　entertainment　at　Trevor　cottage。

〃'Sh！〃　went　up　all　round　them；　and　Mrs。　Trevor　called　across　the　room；　in
a　reproachful　whisper　loud　enough　for　every　one　to　hear；　〃My　dear！
enjoying　yourself！〃　while　Mavering　stood　between　the　parted　curtains
waiting　for　the　attention　of　the　company。

〃On　account　of　an　accident　to　the　call…boy　and　the　mental　exhaustion　of
some　of　the　deities；　the　next　piece　will　be　omitted；　and　the　performance
will　begin　with　the　one　after。　　While　the　audience　is　waiting；　Mercury
will　go　round　and　take　up　a　collection　for　the　victim　of　the　recent
accident；　who　will　probably　be　indisposed　for　life。　　The　collector　will
be　accompanied　by　a　policeman；　and　may　be　safely　trusted。〃

He　disappeared　behind　the　curtain　with　a　pas　and　r　swirl　of　his　draperies
like　the　Lord　Chancellor　in　Iolanthe；　and　the　audience　again　abandoned
itself　to　applause。

〃How　very　witty　he　is！〃　said　Miss　Cotton；　who　sat　near　John　Munt。　　〃Don't
you　think　he's　really　witty？〃

〃Yes；〃　Munt　assented　critically。　　〃But　you　should　have　known　his　father。〃

〃Oh；　do　you　know　his　father？〃

〃I　was　in　college　with　him。〃

〃Oh；　do　tell　me　about　him；　and　all　Mr。　Mavering's　family。　　We're　so
interested；　you　know；　on　account　ofIsn't　it　pretty　to　have　that　little
love　idyl　going　on　here？　　I　wonderI've　been　wondering　all　the　time
what　she　thinks　of　all　this。　　Do　you　suppose　she　quite　likes　it？〃　　His
costume　is　so　very　remarkable！〃　　Miss　Cotton；　in　the　absence　of　any　lady
of　her　intimate　circle；　was　appealing　confidentially　to　John　Munt。

〃Why；　do　you　think　there's　anything　serious　between　them？〃　he　asked；
dropping　his　head　forward　as　people　do　in　church　when　they　wish　to
whisper　to　some　one　in　the　same　pew。

〃Why；　yes；　it　seems　so；〃　murmured　Miss　Cotton。　　〃His　admiration　is　quite
undisguised；　isn't　it？〃

〃A　man　never　can　tell；〃　said　Munt。　　〃We　have　to　leave　those　things　to　you
ladies。〃

〃Oh；　every　one's　talking　of　it；　I　assure　you。　And　you　know　his　family？〃

〃I　knew　his　father　once　rather　better　than　anybody　else。〃

〃Indeed！〃

〃Yes。〃　　Munt　sketched　rather　a　flattered　portrait　of　the　elder　Mavering；
his　ability；　his　goodness；　his　shyness；　which　he　had　always　had　to　make
such　a　hard　fight　with。　　Munt　was　sensible　of　an　access　of　popularity　in
knowing　Dan　Mavering's　people；　and　he　did　not　spare　his　colours。

〃Then　it　isn't　from　his　father　that　he　gets　everything。　　He　isn't　in　the
least　shy；〃　said　Miss　Cotton。

〃That　must　be　the　mother。〃

〃And　the　mother？〃

〃The　mother　I　don't　know。〃

Miss　Cotton　sighed。　　〃Sometimes　I　wish　that　he　did　show　a　little　more
trepidation。　　It　would　seem　as　if　he　were　more　alive　to　the　great
difference　that　there　is　between　Alice　Pasmer　and　other　girls。〃

Munt　laughed　a　man's　laugh。　　〃I　guess　he's　pretty　well　alive　to　that；　if
he's　in　love　with　her。〃

〃Oh；　in　a　certain　way；　of　course；　but　not　in　the　highest　way。　　Now；　for
instance；　if　he　felt　all　her　fineness　asas　we　do；　I　don't　believe　he'd
be　willing　to　appear　before　her　just　like　that。〃　　The　father　of　the　gods
wore　a　damask　tablecloth　of　a　pale　golden　hue　and　a　classic　pattern；　his
arms　were　bare；　and　rather　absurdly　white；　on　his　feet　a　pair　of　lawn…
tennis　shoes　had　a　very　striking　effect　of　sandals。


〃It　seems　to　me；〃　Miss　Cotton　pursued；　〃that　if　he　really　appreciated　her
in　the　highest　way；　he　would　wish　never　to　do　an　undignified　or　trivial
thing　in　her　presence。〃

〃Oh；　perhaps　it's　that　that　pleases　her　in　him。　　They　say　we're　always
taken　with　opposites。〃

〃Yesdo　you　think　so？〃　asked　Miss　Cotton。

The　curtains　were　flung　apart；　and　the　Judgment　of　Paris　followed　rather
tamely　upon　what　had　gone　before；　though　the　two　young　fellows　who　did
Juno　and　Minerva　were　very　amusing；　and　the　dialogue　was　full　of　hits。
Some　of　the　audience；　an　appreciative　minority；　were　of　opinion　that
Mavering　and　Miss　Anderson　surpassed　themselves　in　it；　she　promised　him
the　most　beautiful　and　cultured　wife　in　Greece。　　〃That　settles　it；〃　he
answered。　　They　came　out　arm　in　arm；　and　Paris；　having　put　on　a　striped
tennis　coat　over　his　short…sleeved　Greek　tunic；　moved　round　among　the
company　for　their　congratulations；　Venus　ostentatiously　showing　the　apple
she　had　won。

〃I　can　haydly　keep　from　eating　it；〃　she　explained　to　Alice；　before　whom
she　dropped　Mavering's　arm。　　〃I'm　awfully　hungry。　　It's　hayd　woyk。〃

Alice　stood　with　her　head　drawn　back；　looking　at　the　excited　girl　with　a
smile；　in　which　seemed　to　hover　somewhere　a　latent　bitterness。

Mavering；　with　a　flushed　face　and　a　flying　tongue；　was　exchanging　sallies
with　her　mother；　who　smothered　him　in　flatteries。

Mrs。　Trevor　came　toward　the　group；　and　announced　supper。　　〃Mr。　Paris；
will　you　take　Miss　Aphrodite　out？〃

Miss　Anderson　swept　a　low　bow　of　renunciation；　and　tacitly　relinquished
Mavering　to　Alice。

〃Oh；　no；　no！〃　said　Alice；　shrinking　back　from　him；　with　an
intensification　of　her　uncertain　smile。　　〃A　mere　mortal？〃

〃Oh；　how　very　good！〃　said　Mrs。　Trevor。

There　began　to　be；　without　any　one's　intending　it；　that　sort　of　tacit
misunderstanding　which　is　all　the　worse　because　it　can　only　follow　upon　a
tacit　understanding　like　that　which　had　established　itself　between　Alice
and　Mavering。　　They　laughed　and　joked　together　gaily　about　all　that　went
on；　they　were　perfectly　good　friends；　he　saw　that　she　and　her　mother　were
promptly　served；　he　brought　them　salad　and　ice…cream　and　coffee　himself；
only　waiting　officially　upon　Miss　Anderson　first；　and　Alice　thanked　him；
with　the　politest