april hopes-第27章

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〃Mamma！〃　she　panted。

Her　mother　did　not　look　round。　　She　could　have　had　no　premonition　of　the
vital　news　that　her　daughter　was　bringing；　and　she　went　on　comparing　the
first　autumn　month's　provision　bill　with　that　of　the　last　spring　month；
and　trying　to　account　for　the　difference。

The　silence；　broken　by　the　rattling　of　the　two　bills　in　her　mother's
hands　as　she　glanced　from　one　to　the　other　through　her　glasses；　seemed
suddenly　impenetrable；　and　the　prismatic　world　of　the　girl's　rapture
burst　like　a　bubble　against　it。　　There　is　no　explanation　of　the　effect
outside　of　temperament　and　overwrought　sensibilities。　　She　stared　across
the　room　at　her　mother；　who　had　not　heard　her；　and　then　she　broke　into　a
storm　of　tears。

〃Alice！〃　cried　her　mother；　with　that　sanative　anger　which　comes　to　rescue
women　from　the　terror　of　any　sudden　shock。　　〃What　is　the　matter　with
you？what　do　you　mean？〃　She　dropped　both　of　the　provision　bills　to　the
floor；　and　started　toward　her　daughter。

〃Nothingnothing！　　Let　me　go。　　I　want　to　go　to　my　room。〃　　She　tried　to
reach　the　door　beyond　her　mother。

〃Indeed　you　shall　not！〃　cried　Mrs。　Pasmer。　　〃I　will　not　have　you　behaving
so！　　What　has　happened　to　you？〃　　Tell　me。　　You　have　frightened　me　half
out　of　my　senses。〃

The　girl　gave　up　her　efforts　to　escape；　and　flung　herself　on　the　sofa；
with　her　face　in　the　pillow；　where　she　continued　to　sob。　　Her　mother
began　to　relent　at　the　sight　of　her　passion。　　As　a　woman　and　as　a　mother
she　knew　her　daughter；　and　she　knew　that　this　passion；　whatever　it　was；
must　have　vent　before　there　could　be　anything　intelligible　between　them。
She　did　not　press　her　with　further　question；　but　set　about　making　her　a
little　more　comfortable　on　the　sofa；　she　pulled　the　pillow　straight；　and
dropped　a　light　shawl　over　the　girl's　shoulders；　so　that　she　should　not
take　cold。

Then　Mrs。　Pasmer　had　made　up　her　mind　that　Alice　had　met　Mavering
somewhere；　and　that　this　outburst　was　the　retarded　effect　of　seeing　him。
During　the　last　six　weeks　she　had　assisted　at　many　phases　of　feeling　in
regard　to　him；　and　knew　more　clearly　than　Alice　herself　the　meaning　of
them　all。　She　had　been　patient　and　kind；　with　the　resources　that　every
woman　finds　in　herself　when　it　is　the　question　of　a　daughter's　ordeal　in
an　affair　of　the　heart　which　she　has　favoured。

The　storm　passed　as　quickly　as　it　came；　and　Alice　sat　upright　casting　off
the　wraps。　　But　once　checked　with　the　fact　on　her　tongue；　she　found　it
hard　to　utter　it。

〃What　is　it；　Alice？what　is　it？〃　urged　her　mother。

〃Nothing。　　IMr。　Maveringwe　metI　met　him　at　the　Museum；　andwe're
engaged！　　It's　really　so。　　It　seems　like　raving；　but　it's　true。　　He　came
with　me　to　the　door；　I　wouldn't　let　him　come　in。　　Don't　you　believe　it？
Oh；　we　are！　indeed　we　are！　　Are　you　glad；　mamma？〃　　You　know　I　couldn't
have　lived　without　him。〃

She　trembled　on　the　verge　of　another　outbreak。

Mrs。　Pasmer　sacrificed　her　astonishment　in　the　interest　of　sanity；　and
returned　quietly：　〃Glad；　Alice！　　You　know　that　I　think　he's　the　sweetest
and　best　fellow　in　the　world。〃

〃O　mamma！〃

〃But　are　you　sure〃

〃Yes；　Yes。　　I'm　not　crazy；　it　isn't　a　dream。　　he　was　thereand　I　met　him…
…I　couldn't　run　awayI　put　out　my　hand；　I　couldn't　help　itI　thought　I
should　give　way；　and　he　took　it；　and　thenthen　we　were　engaged。　　I　don't
know　what　we　said：　I　went　in　to　look　at　the　'Joan　of　Arc'　again；　and　there
was　no　one　else　there。　　He　seemed　to　feel　just　as　I　did。　　I　don't　know
whether　either　of　us　spoke。　　But　we；　knew　we　were　engaged；　and　we　began　to
talk。〃

Mrs。　Pasmer　began　to　laugh。　　To　her　irreverent　soul　only　the　droll　side　of
the　statement　appeared。

〃Don't；　mamma！〃　pleaded　Alice　piteously。

〃No；　no；　I　won't。　　But　I　hope　Dan　Mavering　will　be　a　little　more　definite
about　it　when　I'm　allowed　to　see　him。　　Why　couldn't　he　have　come　in　with
you？〃

〃It　would　have　killed　me。　　I　couldn't　let　him　see　me　cry；　and　I　knew　I
should　break　down。〃

〃He'll　have　to　see　you　cry　a　great　many　times；　Alice；〃　said　her　mother；
with　almost　unexampled　seriousness。

〃Yes；　but　not　yetnot　so　soon。　　He　must　think　I'm　very　gloomy；　and　I　want
to　be　always　bright　and　cheerful　with　him。　　He　knows　why　I　wouldn't　let
him　come　in；　he　knew　I　was　going　to　have　a　cry。〃

Mrs。　Pasmer　continued　to　laugh。

Don't；　mamma！〃　pleaded　Alice。

〃No；　I　won't；〃　replied　her　mother；　as　before。　　〃I　suppose　he　was
mystified。　　But　now；　if　it's　really　settled　between　you；　he'll　be　coming
here　soon　to　see　your　papa　and　me。〃

〃Yesto…night。〃

〃Well；　it's　very　sudden；〃　said　Mrs。　Pasmer。　　〃Though　I　suppose　these
things　always　seem　so。〃

〃Is　it　too　sudden？〃　asked　Alice；　with　misgiving。　　〃It　seemed　so　to　me　when
it　was　going　on；　but　I　couldn't　stop　it。〃

Her　mother　laughed　at　her　simplicity。　　〃No；　when　it　begins　once；　nothing
can　stop　it。　　But　you've　really　known　each　other　a　good　while；　and　for　the
last　six　weeks　at　least　you've　known　you　own　mind　about　him　pretty
clearly。　　It's　a　pity　you　couldn't　have　known　it　before。〃

〃Yes；　that's　what　he　says。　　He　says　it　was　such　a　waste　of　time。　　Oh；
everything　he　says　is　perfectly　fascinating！〃

Her　mother　laughed　and　laughed　again。

〃What　is　it；　mamma？　　Are　you　laughing　at　me？〃

〃Oh　no。　　What　an　idea！〃

〃He　couldn't　seem　to　understand　why　I　didn't　say　Yes　the　first　time；　if　I
meant　it。〃　　She　looked　down　dreamily　at　her　hands　in　her　lap；　and　then　she
said；　with　a　blush　and　a　start；　〃They're　very　queer；　don't　you　think？〃

〃Who？〃

〃Young　men。〃

〃Oh；　very。〃

〃Yes；〃　Alice　went　on　musingly。　　〃Their　minds　are　so　different。　　Everything
they　say　and　do　is　so　unexpected；　and　yet　it　seems　to　be　just　right。〃

Mrs。　Pasmer　asked　herself　if　this　single…mindedness　was　to　go　on　for　ever；
but　she　had　not　the　heart　to　treat　it　with　her　natural　levity。　　Probably
it　was　what　charmed　Mavering　with　the　child。　　Mrs。　Pasmer　had　the　firm
belief　that　Mavering　was　not　single…minded；　and　she　respected　him　for　it。
She　would　not　spoil　her　daughter's　perfect　trust　and　hope　by　any　of　the
cynical　suggestions　of　her　own　dark　wisdom；　but　entered　into　her　mood；　as
such　women　are　able　to　do；　and　flattered　out　of　her　every　detail　of　the
morning's　history。　　This　was　a　feat　which　Mrs。　Pasmer　enjoyed　for　its　own
sake；　and　it　fully　satisfied　the　curiosity　which　she　naturally　felt　to
know　all。　　She　did　not　comment　upon　many　of　the　particulars；　she　opened
her　eyes　a　little　at　the　notion　of　her　daughter　sitting　for　two　or　three
hours　and　talking　with　a　young　man　in　the　galleries　of　the　Museum；　and　she
asked　if　anybody　they　knew　had　come　in。　　When　she　heard　that　there　were
only　strangers；　and　very　few　of　them；　she　said　nothing；　and　she　had　the
same　consolation　in　regard　to　the　walking　back　and　forth　in　the　Garden。
She　was　so　full　of　potential　escapades　herself；　so　apt　to　let　herself　go
at　times；　that　the　fact　of　Alice's　innocent　self…forgetfulness　rather
satisfied　a　need　of　her　mother's　nature；　she　exulted　in　it　when　she
learned　that　there　were　only　nurses　and　children　in　the　Garden。

〃And　so　you　think　you　won't　take　up　art　this　winter？〃　she　said；　when；　in
the　process　of　her　cross…examination；　Alice　had　left　the　sofa　and　got　as
far　as　the　door；　with　her　hat　in　her　hand　and　her　sacque　on　her　arm。

〃No。〃

〃And　the　Sisters　of　St。　Jamesyou　won't　join　them　either？〃

The　girl　escaped　from　the　room。

〃Alice！　　Alice！〃　her　mother　called　after　her；　she　came　back。　　You　haven't
told　me　how　he　happened　to　be　there。〃

〃Oh；　that　was　the　most　amusing　part　of　it。　　He　had　gone　there　to　keep　an
appointment　with　two　ladies　from　Portland。　　They　were　to　take　him　up　in
their　carriage　and　drive　out　to　Cambridge；　and　when　he　saw　me　he　forgot
all　about　them。〃

〃And　what　became　of　them？〃

〃We　don't　know。　　Isn't　it　ridiculous？〃

If　it　appeared　other　or　more　than　this　to　Mrs。　Pasmer；　she　did　not　say。
She　merely　said；　after　a　moment；　〃Well；　it　was　certainly　devoted；　Alice；〃
and　let　her　go。




XXVI。

Mavering　came　in　the　evening；　rather　excessively　well　dressed；　and　with　a
hot　face　and　cold　hands。　　While　he　waited；　nominally　alone；　in　the　little
drawing　room　for　Mr。　Pasmer；　Alice　flew　in　upon　him　for　a　swift　embrace；
which　prolonged　itself　till　the　father's　step　was　heard　outside　the　door；
and　then　she　still　had　time　to　vanish　by　another：　the　affair　was　so　nicely
adjusted　that　if　Mavering　had　been　in　his　usual　mind　he　might　have　fancied
the　connivance　of　Mrs。　Pasmer。

He　did　not　say　what　he　had　meant　to　say　to　Alice's　father；　but　it　seemed
to　serve　the　purpose；　for　he　emerged　presently　from　the　sound　of　his　own
voice；　unnaturally　clamorous；　and　found　Mr。　Pasmer　saying　some　very　civil
things　to　him　about　his　character　and　disposition；　so　far　as　they　had　been
able　to　observe　it；　and　their　belief　and　trust　in　him。　　There　seemed　to　be
something　provisional　or　probational　intended；　but　Dan　could　not　make　out
what　it　was；　and　finally　it　proved　of　no　practical　effect。　　He　merely
inferred　that　the　approval　of　his　family　was　respectfully　expected；　and　he
hastened　to　say；　〃Oh；　that's　all　right；　sir。〃　　Mr。　Pasmer　went　on　with
more　civilities；　and　lost　himself　in　dumb　conjecture　as　to　whether
Mavering's　father　had　been　in　the　class　before　him　or　the　class　after　him
in　Harvard。　　He　used　his　black　eyebrows　a　good　deal　during　the　interview；
and　Mavering　conceived　an　awe　of　him　greater　than　he　had　felt　at
Campobello；　yet　not　unmixed　with　the　affection　in　which　the　newly　accepted
lover　embraces　even　the　relations　of　his　betrothed。　　From　time　to　time　Mr。
Pasmer　looked　about　with　the　vague　glance　of　a　man　unused　to　being　so　long
left　to　his　own　guidance；　and　one　of　these　appeals　seemed　at　last　to　bring
Mrs。　Pasmer　through　the　door；　to　the　relief　of　both　the　men；　for　they　had
improvidently　despatched　their　business；　and　were　getting　out　of　talk。
Mr。　Pasmer　had；　in　fact；　already　asked　Dan　about　the　weather　outside　when
his　wife　appeared。

Dan　did　not　know　whether　he　ought　to　kiss　her　or　not；　but　Mrs。　Pasmer　did
not　in　the　abstract　seem　like　a　very　kissing　kind　of　person；　and　he　let
himself　be　guided　by　this　impression；　in　the　absence　of　any　fixed
principle　applying　to　the　case。　　She　made　some　neat　remark　concerning　the
probable　settlement　of　the　affair　with　her　husband；　and　began　to　laugh　and
joke　about　it　in　a　manner　that　was　very　welcome　to　Dan；　it　did　not　seem　to
him　that　it　ought　to　be　treated　so　solemnly。

But　though　Mrs。　Pasmer　laughed　and　joked；　he　was　aware　of　her　meaning
businessbusiness　in　the　nicest　sort　of　a　way；　but　business　after　all；
and　he　liked　her　for　it。　　He　was　glad　to　be　explicit　about　his　hopes　and
plans；　and　told　what　his　circumstances　were　so　fully　that　Mrs。　Pasmer；
whom　his　frankness　gratified　and　amused；　felt　obliged　to　say　that　she　had
not　meant　to　ask　so　much　about　his　affairs；　and　he　must　excuse　her　if　she
had　seemed　to　do　so。　　She　had　her　own　belief　that　Mavering　would
understand；　but　she　did　not　mind　that。　　She　said　that；　of　course；　till　his
own　family　had　been　consulted；　it　must　not　be　considered　seriouslythat
Mr。　Pasmer　insisted　upon　that　point；　and　when　Dan　vehemently　asserted　the
acquiescence　of　his　family　beforehand；　and　urged　his　father's　admiration
for　Alice　in　proof；　she　reminde