april hopes-第33章

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〃But　your　Alice　may　not　take　after　either　of　them。　　Her　father　is　the
worst　of　his　breed；　it　seems；　the　rest　are　useful　people；　from　what　your
father　knows；　and　there's　a　great　deal　to　be　hoped　for　collaterally。　　She
had　an　uncle　in　college　at　the　same　time　who　was　everything　that　her
father　was　not。〃

〃One　of　her　aunts　is　in　one　of　those　Protestant　religious　houses　in
England；〃　repeated　Dan。

〃Oh！〃　said　his　mother　shortly；　〃I　don't　know　that　I　like　that
particularly。　　But　probably　she　isn't　useless　there。　　Is　Alice　very
religious？〃

〃Well；　I　suppose；〃　said　Dan；　with　a　smile　for　the　devotions　that　came　into
his　thought；　〃　she's　what　would　be　called　'Piscopal　pious。〃

Mrs。　Mavering　referred　to　the　photograph；　which　she　still　held　in　her
hand。　　〃Well；　she's　pure　and　good；　at　any　rate。　　I　suppose　you　look
forward　to　a　long　engagement？〃

Dan　was　somewhat　taken　aback　at　a　supposition　so　very　contrary　to　what　was
in　his　mind。　　〃Well；　I　don't　know。　　Why？〃

〃It　might　be　said　that　you　are　very　young。　　How　old　is　AgnesAlice；　I
mean？〃

〃Twenty…one。　　But　now；　look　here；　mother！　　It's　no　use　considering　such　a
thing　in　the　abstract；　is　it？〃

〃No；〃　said　his　mother；　with　a　smile　for　what　might　be　coming。

〃This　is　the　way　I've　been　viewing　it；　I　may　say　it's　the　way　Alice　has
been　viewing　itor　Mrs。　Pasmer；　rather。〃

〃Decidedly　Mrs。　Pasmer；　rather。　　Better　be　honest；　Dan。〃

〃I'll　do　my　best。　　I　was　thinking；　hoping；　that　is；　that　as　I'm　going
right　into　the　businesshave　gone　into　it　already；　in　factand　could
begin　life　at　once；　that　perhaps　there　wouldn't　be　much　sense　in　waiting　a
great　while。〃

〃Yes？〃

〃That's　all。　　That　is；　if　you　and　father　are　agreed。〃　　He　reflected　upon
this　provision；　and　added；　with　a　laugh　of　confusion　and　pleasure：　〃It
seems　to　be　so　very　much　more　of　a　family　affair　than　I　used　to　think　it
was。〃

〃You　thought　it　concerned　just　you　and　her？〃　said　his　mother；　with　arch
sympathy。

〃Well；　yes。〃

〃Poor　fellow！　　She　knew　better　than　that；　you　may　be　sure。　　At　any　rate；
her　mother　did。〃

〃What　Mrs。　Pasmer　doesn't　know　isn't　probably　worth　knowing；〃　said　Dan；
with　an　amused　sense　of　her　omniscience。

〃I　thought　so；〃　sighed　his　mother；　smiling　too。　　〃And　now　you　begin　to
find　out　that　it　concerns　the　families　in　all　their　branches　on　both
sides。〃

〃Oh；　if　it　stopped　at　the　families　and　their　ramifications！　　But　it　seems
to　take　in　society　and　the　general　public。〃

〃So　it　doesmore　than　you　can　realise。　　You　can't　get　married　to　yourself
alone；　as　young　people　think；　and　if　you　don't　marry　happily；　you　sin
against　the　peace　and　comfort　of　the　whole　community。〃

〃Yes；　that's　what　I'm　chiefly　looking　out　for　now。　　I　don't　want　any　of
those　people　in　Central　Africa　to　suffer。　　That's　the　reason　I　want　to
marry　Alice　at　the　earliest　opportunity。　　But　I　suppose　there'll　have　to
be　a　Mavering　embassy　to　the　high　contracting　powers　of　the　other　part
now？〃

〃Your　father　and　one　of　the　girls　had　better　go　down。〃

〃Yes？〃

〃And　invite　Mr。　and　Mrs。　Pasmer　and　their　daughter　to　come　up　here。〃

〃All　on　probation？〃

〃Oh　no。　　If　you're　pleased；　Dan〃

I　am；　mothermeasurably。〃　　They　both　laughed　at　this　mild　way　of　putting
it。

〃Why；　then　it's　to　be　supposed　that　we're　all　pleased。　　You　needn't　bring
the　whole　Pasmer　family　home　to　live　with　you；　if　you　do　marry　them　all。〃

〃No；〃　said　Dan；　and　suddenly　be　became　very　distraught。　　It　flashed
through　him　that　his　mother　was　expecting　him　to　come　home　with　Alice　to
live；　and　that　she　would　not　be　at　all　pleased　with　his　scheme　of　a
European　sojourn；　which　Mrs。　Pasmer　had　so　cordially　adopted。　　He　was
amazed　that　he　had　not　thought　of　that；　but　he　refused　to　see　any
difficulty　which　his　happiness　could　not　cope　with。

〃No；　there's　that　view　of　it；〃　he　said　jollily；　and　he　buried　his
momentary　anxiety　out　of　sight；　and；　as　it　were；　danced　upon　its　grave。
Nevertheless；　he　had　a　desire　to　get　quickly　away　from　the　spot。　　〃I　hope
the　Mavering　embassy　won't　be　a　great　while　getting　ready　to　go；〃　he　said。
〃Of　course　it's　all　right；　but　I　shouldn't　want　an　appearance　of
reluctance　exactly；　you　know；　mother；　and　if　there　should　be　much　of　an
interval　between　my　getting　back　and　their　coming　on；　don't　you　know；　why；
the　cat　might　let　herself　out　of　the　bag。〃

〃What　cat？〃　asked　his　mother　demurely。

〃Well；　you　know；　you　haven't　received　my　engagement　with　unmingled
enthusiasm；　andand　I　suppose　they　would　find　it　out　from　mefrom　my
manner；　andand　I　wish　they'd　come　along　pretty　soon；　mother。〃

〃Poor　boy！　　I'm　afraid　the　cat　got　out　of　the　bag　when　Mrs。　Pasmer　came　to
the　years　of　discretion。　　But　you　sha'n't　be　left　a　prey　to　her。　　They
shall　go　back　with　you。　　Ring　the　bell；　and　let's　talk　it　over　with　them
now。〃

Dan　joyfully　obeyed。　　He　could　see　that　his　mother　was　all　on　fire　with
interest　in　his　affair；　and　that　the　idea　of　somehow　circumventing　Mrs。
Pasmer　by　prompt　action　was　fascinating　her。

His　sisters　came　up　at　once；　and　his　father　followed　a　moment　later。　　They
all　took　their　cue　from　the　mother's　gaiety；　and　began　talking　and
laughing；　except　the　father；　who　sat　looking　on　with　a　smile　at　their
lively　spirits　and　the　jokes　of　which　Dan　became　the　victim。　　Each　family
has　its　own　fantastic　medium；　in　which　it　gets　affairs　to　relieve　them　of
their　concrete　seriousness；　and　the　Maverings　now　did　this　with　Dan's
engagement；　and　played　with　it　as　an　airy　abstraction。　　They　debated　the
character　of　the　embassy　which　was　to　be　sent　down　to　Boston　on　their
behalf；　and　it　was　decided　that　Eunice　had　better　go　with　her　father；　as
representing　more　fully　the　age　and　respectability　of　the　family：　at　first
glance　the　Pasmers　would　take　her　for　Dan's　mother；　and　this　would　be　a
tremendous　advantage。

〃And　if　I　like　the　ridiculous　little　chit；〃　said　Eunice；　〃I　think　I　shall
let　Dan　marry　her　at　once。　　I　see　no　reason　why　he　shouldn't　and　I
couldn't　stand　a　long　engagement；　I　should　break　it　off。〃

〃I　guess　there　are　others　who　will　have　something　to　say　about　that；〃
retorted　the　younger　sister。　　〃I've　always　wanted　a　long　engagement　in
this　family；　and　as　there　seems　to　be　no　chance　for　it　with　the　ladies；　I
wish　to　make　the　most　of　Dan's。　　I　always　like　it　where　the　hero　gets　sick
and　the　heroine　nurses　him。　　I　want　Dan　to　get　sick；　and　have　Alice　come
here　and　take　care　of　him。〃

〃No；　this　marriage　must　take　place　at　once。　　What　do　you　say；　father？〃
asked　Eunice。

Her　father　sat；　enjoying　the　talk；　at　the　foot　of　the　bed；　with　a　tendency
to　doze。　　〃You　might　ask　Dan；〃　he　said；　with　a　lazy　cast　of　his　eye　toward
his　son。

〃Dan　has　nothing　to　do　with　it。〃

〃Dan　shall　not　be　consulted。〃

The　two　girls　stormed　upon　their　father　with　their　different　reasons。

〃Now　I　will　tell　you　　　Girls；　be　still！〃　their　mother　broke　in。　　〃Listen
to　me：　I　have　an　idea。〃

〃Listen　to　her：　she　has　an　idea！〃　echoed　Eunice；　in　recitative。

〃Will　you　be　quiet？〃　demanded　the　mother。

〃We　will　be　du…u…mb！〃

When　they　became　so；　at　the　verge　of　their　mother's　patience；　of　which
they　knew　the　limits；　she　went　on：　〃I　think　Dan　had　better　get　married　at
once。〃

〃There；　Minnie！〃

〃But　what　does　Dan　say？〃

〃I　willmake　the　sacrifice；〃　said　Dan　meekly。

〃Noble　boy！　　That's　exactly　what　Washington　said　to　his　mother　when　she
asked　him　not　to　go　to　sea；〃　said　Minnie。

〃And　then　he　went　into　the　militia；　and　made　it　all　right　with　himself
that　way；〃　said　Eunice。　　〃Dan　can't　play　his　filial　piety　on　this　family。
Go　on；　mother。〃

〃I　want　him　to　bring　his　wife　home；　and　live　with　us；〃　continued　his
mother。

〃In　the　L　part！〃　cried　Minnie；　clasping　her　hands　in　rapture。　　〃I've
always　said　what　a　perfect　little　apartment　it　was　by　itself。〃

〃Well；　don't　say　it　again；　then；〃　returned　her　sister。　　〃Always　is　often
enough。　　Well；　in　the　L　part　　　Go　on；　mother！　　Don't　ask　where　you　were；
when　it's　so　exciting。〃

〃I　don't　care　whether　it's　in　the　L　part　or　not。　　There's　plenty　of　room
in　the　great　barn　of　a　place　everywhere。〃

〃But　what　about　his　taking　care　of　the　business　in　Boston？〃　suggested
Eunice；　looking　at　her　father。

〃There's　no　hurry　about　that。〃

〃And　about　the　excursion　to　aesthetic　centres　abroad？〃　Minnie　added。

〃That　could　be　managed；〃　said　her　father；　with　the　same　ironical　smile。

The　mother　and　the　girls　went　on　wildly　planning　Dan's　future　for　him。　　It
was　all　in　a　strain　of　extravagant　burlesque。　　But　he　could　not　take　his
part　in　it　with　his　usual　zest。　　He　laughed　and　joked　too；　but　at　the
bottom　of　his　heart　was　an　uneasy　remembrance　of　the　different　future　he
had　talked　over　with　Mrs。　Pasmer　so　confidently。　　But　he　said　to　himself
buoyantly　at　last　that　it　would　come　out　all　right。　　His　mother　would　give
in；　or　else　Alice　could　reconcile　her　mother　to　whatever　seemed　really
best。

He　parted　from　his　mother　with　fond　gaiety。　　His　sisters　came　out　of　the
room　with　him。

〃I'm　perfectly　sore　with　laughing；〃　said　Minnie。　　〃It　seems　like　old
timesdoesn't　it；　Dan？such　a　gale　with　mother。〃




XXXI。

An　engagement　must　always　be　a　little　incredible　at　first　to　the　families
of　the　betrothed；　and　especially　to　the　family　of　the　young　man；　in　the
girl's；　the　mother；　at　least；　will　have　a　more　realising　sense　of　the
situation。　　If　there　are　elder　sisters　who　have　been　accustomed　to　regard
their　brother　as　very　young；　he　will　seem　all　the　younger　because　in　such
a　matter　he　has　treated　himself　as　if　he　were　a　man；　and　Eunice　Mavering
said；　after　seeing　the　Pasmers；　〃Well；　Dan；　it's　all　well　enough；　I
suppose；　but　it　seems　too　ridiculous。〃

〃What's　ridiculous　about　it；　I　should　like　to　know？〃　he　demanded。

〃Oh；　I　don't　know。　　Who'll　look　after　you　when　you're　married？　　Oh；　I
forgot　Ma'am　Pasmer！〃

〃I　guess　we　shall　be　able　to　look　after　ourselves；〃　said　Dan；　a　little
sulkily。

〃Yes；　if　you'll　be　allowed　to；〃　insinuated　his　sister。

They　spoke　at　the　end　of　a　talk　in　which　he　had　fretted　at　the　reticence
of　both　his　sister　and　his　father　concerning　the　Pasmers；　whom　they　had
just　been　to　see。　　He　was　vexed　with　his　father；　because　he　felt　that　he
had　been　influenced　by　Eunice；　and　had　somehow　gone　back　on　him。　　He　was
vexed　and　he　was　grieved　because　his　father　had　left　them　at　the　door　of
the　hotel　without　saying　anything　in　praise　of　Alice；　beyond　the
generalities　that　would　not　carry　favour　with　Eunice；　and　he　was　depressed
with　a　certain　sense　of　Alice's　father　and　mother；　which　seemed　to　have
imparted　itself　to　him　from　the　others；　and　to　be　the　Mavering　opinion　of
them。　　He　could　no　longer　see　Mrs。　Pasmer　harmless　if　trivial；　and　good…
hearted　if　inveterately　scheming；　he　could　not　see　the　dignity　and
refinement　which　he　had　believed　in　Mr。　Pasmer；　they　had　both　suffered　a
sort　of　shrinkage　or　collapse；　from　which　he　could　not　rehabilitate　them。
But　this　would　have　been　nothing　if　his　sister's　and　his　father's　eyes；
through　which　he　seemed　to　have　been　looking；　had　not　shown　him　Alice　in　a
light　in　which　she　appeared　strange　and　queer　almost　to　eccentricity。　　He
was　hurt　at　this　effect　from　their　want　of　sympathy；　his　pride　was
touched；　and　he　said　to　himself　that　he　should　not　fish　for　Eunice's
prai