april hopes-第24章

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I　don't　see　how　I　can　refuse。　　They're　ladies　that　I　met　Class　Day；　and　I
ought　to　have　shown　them　a　little　more　attention　then；　but　I　got　so　taken
up　with〃

〃I　see；〃　said　Boardman；　showing　his　teeth；　fine　and　even　as　grains　of
pop…corn；　in　a　slight　sarcastic　smile。　　〃Sort　of　poetical　justice；〃　he
suggested。

〃Well；　it　issort　of；〃　said　Mavering；　with　a　shamefaced　consciousness。
〃What　train　are　you　going　back　on？〃

〃Seven　o'clock。〃

〃I'll　be　there。〃

He　hurried　back　to　rejoin　the　ladies；　and　Boardman　saw　him；　after　some
parley　and　laughter；　get　into　the　coupe；　from　which　he　inferred　that　they
had　turned　down　the　little　seat　in　front；　and　made　him　take　it；　and　he
inferred　that　they　must　be　very　jolly；　sociable　girls。

He　did　not　see　Mavering　again　till　the　train　was　on　its　way；　when　he　came
in；　looking　distraughtly　about　for　his　friend。　　He　was　again　very
melancholy；　and　said　dejectedly　that　they　had　made　him　stay　to　dinner；
and　had　then　driven　him　down　to　the　station；　bag　and　all。　　〃The　old
gentleman　came　too。　　I　was　in　hopes　I'd　find　you　hanging　round　somewhere；
so　that　I　could　introduce　you。　　They're　awfully　nice。　　None　of　that
infernal　Boston　stiffness。　　The　one　you　saw　me　talking　with　is　married；
though。〃

Boardman　was　writing　out　his　report　from　a　little　book　with　shorthand
notes　in　it。　　There　were　half　a　dozen　other　reporters　in　the　car　busy
with　their　work。　　A　man　who　seemed　to　be　in　authority　said　to　one　of
them；　〃Try　to　throw　in　a　little　humour。〃

Mavering　pulled　his　hat　over　his　eyes；　and　leaned　his　head　on　the　back　of
his　seat；　and　tried　to　sleep。




XXIII。

At　his　father's　agency　in　Boston　he　found；　the　next　morning；　a　letter
from　him　saying　that　he　expected　to　be　down　that　day；　and　asking　Dan　to
meet　him　at　the　Parker　House　for　dinner。　　The　letter　intimated　the　elder
Mavering's　expectation　that　his　son　had　reached　some　conclusion　in　the
matter　they　had　talked　of　before　he　left　for　Campobello。

It　gave　Dan　a　shiver　of　self…disgust　and　a　sick　feeling　of　hopelessness。
He　was　quite　willing　now　to　do　whatever　his　father　wished；　but　he　did　not
see　haw　he　could　face　him　and　own　his　defeat。

When　they　met；　his　father　did　not　seem　to　notice　his　despondency；　and　he
asked　him　nothing　about　the　Pasmers；　of　course。　　That　would　not　have　been
the　American　way。　　Nothing　had　been　said　between　the　father　and　son　as　to
the　special　advantages　of　Campobello　for　the　decision　of　the　question
pending　when　they　saw　each　other　last；　but　the　son　knew　that　the　father
guessed　why　he　chose　that　island　for　the　purpose；　and　now　the　elder　knew
that　if　the　younger　had　anything　to　tell　him　he　would　tell　it；　and　if　he
had　not　he　would　keep　it。　　It　was　tacitly　understood　that　there　was　no
objection　on　the　father's　part　to　Miss　Pasmer；　in　fact；　there　had　been　a
glimmer　of　humorous　intelligence　in　his　eye　when　the　son　said　he　thought
he　should　run　down　to　Bar　Harbour；　and　perhaps　to　Campobello；　but　he　had
said　nothing　to　betray　his　consciousness。

They　met　in　the　reading…room　at　Parker's；　and　Dan　said；　〃Hello；　father；〃
and　his　father　answered；　〃Well；　Dan；〃　and　they　shyly　touched　the　hands
dropped　at　their　sides　as　they　pressed　together　in　the　crowd。　　The　father
gave　his　boy　a　keen　glance；　and　then　took　the　lead　into　the　dining…room；
where　he　chose　a　corner　table；　and　they　disposed　of　their　hats　on　the
window…seat。

〃All　well　at　home？〃　asked　the　young　fellow；　as　he　took　up　the　bill　of
fare　to　order　the　dinner。　　His　father　hated　that；　and　always　made　him　do
it。

〃Yes；　yes；　as　usual；　I　believe。　　Minnie　is　off　for　a　week　at　the
mountains；　Eunice　is　at　home。〃

〃Oh！　　How　would　you　like　some　green　goose；　with　apple…sauce；　sweet…
potatoes；　and　succotash？〃

〃It　seems　to　me　that　was　pretty　good；　the　last　time。　　All　right；　if　you
like　it。〃

〃I　don't　know　that　I　care　for　anything　much。　　I'm　a　little　off　my　feed。
No　soup；〃　he　said；　looking　up　at　the　waiter　bending　over　him；　and　then　he
gave　the　order。　　〃I　think　you　may　bring　me　half　a　dozen　Blue　Points；　if
they're　good；〃　he　called　after　him。

〃Didn't　Bar　Harbour　agree　with　youor　Campobello？〃　asked　Mr。　Mavering；
taking　the　opening　offered　him。

〃No；　not　very　well；〃　said　Dan；　and　he　said　no　more　about　it；　leaving　his
father　to　make　his　own　inferences　as　to　the　kind　or　degree　of　the
disagreement。

〃Well；　have　you　made　up　your　mind？〃　asked　the　father；　resting　his　elbows
on　either　side　of　his　plate；　and　putting　his　hands　together　softly；　while
he　looked　across　them　with　a　cheery　kindness　at　his　boy。

〃Yes；　I　have；〃　said　Dan　slowly。

〃Well？〃

〃I　don't　believe　I　care　to　go　into　the　law。〃

〃Sure？〃

〃Yes。〃

〃Well；　that's　all　right；　then。　　I　wished　you　to　choose　freely；　and　I
suppose　you've　done　so。〃

〃Oh　Yes。〃

〃I　think　you've　chosen　wisely；　and　I'm　very　glad。　　It's　a　weight　off　my
mind。　　I　think　you'll　be　happier　in　the　business　than　you　would　in　the
law；　I　think　you'll　enjoy　it。　　You　needn't　look　forward　to　a　great　deal
of　Ponkwasset　Falls；　unless　you　like。〃

〃I　shouldn't　mind　going　there；〃　said　Dan　listlessly。

〃It　won't　be　necessaryat　first。　　In　fact；　it　won't　be　desirable。　　I
want　you　to　look　up　the　business　at　this　end　a　little。〃

Dan　gave　a　start。　　〃In　Boston？〃

〃Yes。　　It　isn't　in　the　shape　I　want　to　have　it。　　I　propose　to　open　a
place　of　our　own；　and　to　put　you　in　charge。〃　　Something　in　the　young
man's　face　expressed　reluctance；　and　his　father　asked　kindly；　〃Would　that
be　distasteful　to　you？〃

〃Oh　no。　　It　isn't　the　thing　I　object　to；　but　I　don't　know　that　I　care　to
be　in　Boston。〃　　He　lifted　his　face　and　looked　his　father　full　in　the
eyes；　but　with　a　gaze　that　refused　to　convey　anything　definite。　　Then　the
father　knew　that　the　boy's　love　affair　had　gone　seriously　wrong。

The　waiter　came　with　the　dinner；　and　made　an　interruption　in　which　they
could　be　naturally　silent。　　When　he　had　put　the　dinner　before　them；　and
cumbered　them　with　superfluous　service；　after　the　fashion　of　his　kind；　he
withdrew　a　little　way；　and　left　them　to　resume　their　talk。

〃Well；〃　said　the　elder　lightly；　as　if　Dan's　not　caring　to　be　in　Boston
had　no　particular　significance　for　him；　〃I　don't　know　that　I　care　to　have
you　settle　down　to　it　immediately。　　I　rather　think　I'd　like　to　have　you
look　about　first　a　little。　　Go　to　New　York；　go　to　Philadelphia；　and　see
their　processes　there。　　We　can't　afford　to　get　old…fashioned　in　our　ways。
I've　always　been　more　interested　by　the　aesthetic　side　of　the　business；
but　you　ought　to　have　a　taste　for　the　mechanism；　from　your　grandfather；
your　mother　has　it。〃

〃Oh　yes；　sir。　　I　think　all　that's　very　interesting；〃　said　Dan。

〃Well；　go　to　France；　and　see　how　those　fellows　do　it。　　Go　to　London；　and
look　up　William　Morris。〃

〃Yes；　that　would　be　very　nice；〃　admitted　the　young　fellow；　beginning　to
catch　on。　　〃But　I　didn't　supposeI　didn't　expect　to　begin　life　with　a
picnic。〃　　He　entered　upon　his　sentence　with　a　jocular　buoyancy；　but　at
the　last　word；　which　he　fatally　drifted　upon；　his　voice　fell。　　He　said　to
himself　that　he　was　greatly　changed；　that；　he　should　never　be　gay　and
bright　again；　there　would　always　be　this　undercurrent　of　sadness；　he　had
noticed　the　undercurrent　yesterday　when　he　was　laughing　and　joking　with
those　girls　at　Portland。

〃Oh；　I　don't　want　you　to　buckle　down　at　once；〃　said　his　father；　smiling。
〃If　you'd　decided　upon　the　law；　I　should　have　felt　that　you'd　better　not
lose　time。　　But　as　you're　going　into　the　business；　I　don't　mind　your
taking　a　year　off。　　It　won't　be　lost　time　if　you　keep　your　eyes　open。　　I
think　you'd　better　go　down　into　Italy　and　Spain。　　Look　up　the　old
tapestries　and　stamped　leathers。　　You　may　get　some　ideas。　How　would　you
like　it？〃

〃First…rate。　　I　should　like　it；〃　said　Dan；　rising　on　the　waft　of　his
father's　suggestion；　but　gloomily　lapsing　again。　　Still；　it　was　pleasing
to　picture　himself　going　about　through　Europe　with　a　broken　heart；　and　he
did　not　deny　himself　the　consolation　of　the　vision。

〃Well；　there's　nobody　to　dislike　it；〃　said　his　father　cheerily。　　He　was
sure　now　that　Dan　had　been　jilted；　otherwise　he　would　have　put　forth　some
objection　to　a　scheme　which　must　interrupt　his　lovemaking。　　〃There's　no
reason　why；　with　our　resources；　we　shouldn't　take　the　lead　in　this
business。〃

He　went　on　to　speak　more　fully　of　his　plans；　and　Dan　listened　with　a
nether　reference　of　it　all　to　Alice；　but　still　with　a　surface
intelligence　on　which　nothing　was　lost。

〃Are　you　going　home　with　me　to…morrow？〃　asked　his　father　as　they　rose
from　the　table。

〃Well；　perhaps　not　to…morrow。　　I've　got　some　of　my　things　to　put　together
in　Cambridge　yet；　and　perhaps　I'd　better　look　after　them。　　But　I've　a
notion　I'd　better　spend　the　winter　at　home；　and　get　an　idea　of　the
manufacture　before　I　go　abroad。　　I　might　sail　in　January；　they　say　it's　a
good　month。〃

〃Yes；　there's　sense　in　that；〃　said　his　father。

〃And　perhaps　I　won't　break　up　in　Cambridge　till　I've　been　to　New　York　and
Philadelphia。　　What　do　you　think？　　It's　easier　striking　them　from　here。〃

〃I　don't　know　but　you're　right；〃　said　his　father　easily。

They　had　come　out　of　the　dining…room；　and　Dan　stopped　to　get　some
cigarettes　in　the　office。　　He　looked　mechanically　at　the　theatre　bills
over　the　cigar　case。　　〃I　see　Irving's　at　the　'Boston。'〃

〃Oh；　you　don't　say！〃　said　his　father。　　〃Let's　go　and　see　him。〃

〃If　you　wish　it；　sir；〃　said　Dan；　with　pensive　acquiescence。　　All　the
Maverings　were　fond　of　the　theatre；　and　made　any　mood　the　occasion　or　the
pretext　of　going　to　the　play。　　If　they　were　sad；　they　went；　if　they　were
gay；　they　went。　　As　long　as　Dan's　mother　could　get　out…of…doors　she　used
to　have　herself　carried　to　a　box　in　the　theatre　whenever　she　was　in　town；
now　that　she　no　longer　left　her　room；　she　had　a　dominant　passion　for
hearing　about　actors　and　acting；　it　was　almost　a　work　of　piety　in　her
husband　and　children　to　see　them　and　report　to　her。

His　father　left　him　the　next　afternoon；　and　Dan；　who　had　spent　the　day
with　him　looking　into　business　for　the　first　time；　with　a　running
accompaniment　of　Alice　in　all　the　details；　remained　to　uninterrupted
misery。　　He　spent　the　evening　in　his　room；　too　wretched　even　for　the
theatre。　　It　is　true　that　he　tried　to　find　Boardman；　but　Boardman　was
again　off　on　some　newspaper　duty；　and　after　trying　at　several　houses　in
the　hope；　which　he　knew　was　vain；　of　finding　any　one　in　town　yet；　he　shut
himself　up　with　his　thoughts。　　They　did　not　differ　from　the　thoughts　of
the　night　before；　and　the　night　before　that；　but　they　were　calmer；　and
they　portended　more　distinctly　a　life　of　self…abnegation　and　solitude
from　that　time　forth。　　He　tested　his　feelings；　and　found　that　it　was　not
hurt　vanity　that　he　was　suffering　from：　it　was　really　wounded　affection。
He　did　not　resent　Alice's　cruelty；　he　wished　that　she　might　be　happy；　he
could　endure　to　see　her　happy。

He　wrote　a　letter　to　the　married　one　of　the　two　ladies　he　had　spent　the
day　with　in　Portland；　and　thanked　them　for　making　pass　pleasantly　a　day
which　he　would　not　otherwise　have　known　how　to　get　through。　　He　let　a
soft；　mysterious　melancholy　pervade　his　letter；　he　hinted　darkly　at
trouble　and　sorrow　of　which　he　could　not　definitely　speak。　　He　had　the
goo