april hopes-第37章

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XXXV。

People　came　to　the　first　of　Mrs。　James　Bellingham's　receptions　with　the
expectation　of　pleasure　which　the　earlier　receptions　of　the　season　awaken
even　in　the　oldest　and　wisest。　　But　they　tried　to　dissemble　their
eagerness　in　a　fashionable　tardiness。　　〃We　get　later　and　later；〃　said　Mrs。
＇Brinkley　to　John　Munt；　as　she　sat　watching　the　slow　gathering　of　the
crowd。　　By　half…past　eleven　it　had　not　yet　hidden　Mrs。　Bellingham；　where
she　stood　near　the　middle　of　the　room；　from　the　pleasant　corner　they　had
found　after　accidentally　arriving　together。　　Mr。　Brinkley　had　not　come；　he
said　he　might　not　be　too　old　for　receptions；　but　he　was　too　good；　in
either　case　he　preferred　to　stay　at　home。　　〃We　used　to　come　at　nine
o'clock；　and　now　we　come　at　　　I'm　getting　into　a　quotation　from　Mother
Goose；　I　think。〃

〃I　thought　it　was　Browning；〃　said　Munt；　with　his　witticism　manner。
Neither　he　nor　Mrs。　Brinkley　was　particularly　glad　to　be　together；　but　at
Mrs。　James　Bellingham's　it　was　well　not　to　fling　any　companionship　away
till　you　were　sure　of　something　else。　　Besides；　Mrs。　Brinkley　was　indolent
and　good…natured；　and　Munt　was　active　and　good…natured；　and　they　were　well
fitted　to　get　on　for　ten　or　fifteen　minutes。　　While　they　talked　she　kept
an　eye　out　for　other　acquaintance；　and　he　stood　alert　to　escape　at　the
first　chance。　　〃How　is　it　we　are　here　so　earlyor　rather　you　are？〃　she
pursued　irrelevantly。

〃Oh；　I　don't　know；〃　said　Munt；　accepting　the　implication　of　his　superior
fashion　with　pleasure。　　〃I　never　mind　being　among　the　first。　　It's　rather
interesting　to　see　people　come　indon't　you　think？〃

〃That　depends　a　good　deal　on　the　people。　　I　don't　find　a　great　variety　in
their　smirks　and　smiles　to　Mrs。　Bellingham；　I　seem　to　be　doing　them　all
myself。　　And　there's　a　monotony　about　their　apprehension　and　helplessness
when　they're　turned　adrift　that's　altogether　too　much　like　my　own。　　No；
Mr。　Munt；　I　can't　agree　with　you　that　it's　interesting　to　see　people　come
in。　　It's　altogether　too　autobiographical。　　What　else　have　you　to
suggest？〃

〃I'm　afraid　I'm　at　the　end　of　my　string；〃　said　Munt。　　〃I　suppose　we　shall
see　the　Pasmers　and　young　Mavering　here　to…night。〃

Mrs。　Brinkley　turned　and　looked　sharply　at　him。

〃You've　heard　of　the　engagement？〃　he　asked。

〃No；　decidedly；　I　haven't。　　And　after　his　flight　from　Campobello　it's　the
last　thing　I　expected　to　hear　of。　　When　did　it　come　out？〃

〃Only　within　a　few　days。　　They've　been　keeping　it　rather　quiet。　　Mrs。
Pasmer　told　me　herself。〃

Mrs。　Brinkley　gave　herself　a　moment　for　reflection。　　〃Well；　if　he　can
stand　it；　I　suppose　I　can。〃

〃That　isn't　exactly　what　people　are　saying　to　Mrs。　Pasmer；　Mrs。　Brinkley；〃
suggested　Munt；　with　his　humorous　manner。

〃I　dare　say　they're　trying　to　make　her　believe　that　her　daughter　is
sacrificed。　　That's　the　way。　　But　she　knows　better。〃

〃There's　no　doubt　but　she's　informed　herself。　　She　put　me　through　my
catechism　about　the　Maverings　the　day　of　the　picnic　down　there。〃

〃Do　you　know　them？〃

〃Bridge　Mavering　and　I　were　at　Harvard　together。〃

〃Tell　me　about　them。〃　　Mrs。　Brinkley　listened　to　Munt's　praises　of　his　old
friend　with　an　attention　superficially　divided　with　the　people　to　whom　she
bowed　and　smiled。　　The　room　was　filling　up。　　〃Well；〃　she　said　at　the　end；
〃he's　a　sweet　young　fellow。　　I　hope　he　likes　his　Pasmers。〃

〃I　guess　there's　no　doubt　about　his　liking　one　of　themthe　principal
one。〃

〃Yes；　if　she　is　the　principal　one。〃　　There　was　an　implication　in
everything　she　said　that　Dan　Mavering　had　been　hoodwinked　by　Mrs。　Pasmer。
Mature　ladies　always　like　to　imply　something　of　the　sort　in　these　cases。
They　like　to　ignore　the　prime　agency　of　youth　and　love；　and　pretend　that
marriage　is　a　game　that　parents　play　at　with　us；　as　if　we　were　in　an　old
comedy；　it　is　a　tradition。　　〃Will　he　take　her　home　to　live？〃

〃No。　　I　heard　that　they're　all　going　abroadfor　a　year；　or　two　at　least。〃

〃Ah！　I　thought　so；〃　cried　Mrs。　Brinkley。　　She　looked　up　with　whimsical
pleasure　in　the　uncertainty　of　an　old　gentleman　who　is　staring　hard　at　her
through　his　glasses。　　〃Well；〃　she　said　with　a　pleasant　sharpness；　〃do　you
make　me　out？〃

〃As　nearly　as　my　belief　in　your　wisdom　will　allow；〃　said　the　old
gentleman；　as　distinctly　as　his　long　white　moustache　and　an　apparent
absence　of　teeth　behind　it　would　let　him。　　John　Munt　had　eagerly　abandoned
the　seat　he　was　keeping　at　Mrs。　Brinkley's　side；　and　had　launched　himself
into　the　thickening　crowd。　　The　old　gentleman；　who　was　lank　and　tall；
folded　himself　down　into　it；　He　continued　as　tranquilly　as　if　seated　quite
alone　with　Mrs。　Brinkley；　and　not　minding　that　his　voice；　with　the　senile
crow　in　it；　made　itself　heard　by　others。　　〃I'm　always　surprised　to　find
sensible　people　at　these　things　of　Jane's。　　They're　most　extraordinary
things。　　Jane's　idea　of　society　is　to　turn　a　herd　of　human　beings　loose　in
her　house；　and　see　what　will　come　of　it。　　She　has　no　more　sense　of
hospitality　or　responsibility　than　the　Elements　or　Divine　Providence。　　You
may　come　here　and　have　a　good　timeif　you　can　get　it；　she　won't　object；
or　you　may　die　of　solitude　and　inanition；　she'd　never　know　it。　　I　don't
know　but　it's　rather　sublime　in　her。　　It's　like　the　indifference　of　fate；
but　it's　rather　rough　on　those　who　don't　understand　it。　　She　likes　to　see
her　rooms　filled　with　pretty　dresses；　but　she　has　no　social　instincts　and
no　social　inspiration　whatever。　　She　lights　and　heats　and　feeds　her
guests；　and　then　she　leaves　them　to　themselves。　　She's　a　kind　womanJane
is　a　very　good…natured　woman；　and　I　really　think　she'd　be　grieved　if　she
thought　any　one　went　away　unhappy；　but　she　does　nothing　to　make　them　at
home　in　her　houseabsolutely　nothing。〃

〃Perhaps　she　does　all　they　deserve　for　them。　　I　don't　know　that　any　one
acquires　merit　by　coming　to　an　evening　party；　and　it's　impossible　to　be
personally　hospitable　to　everybody　in　such　a　crowd。〃

Yes；　I've　sometimes　taken　that　view　of　it。　　And　yet　if　you　ask　a　stranger
to　your　house；　you　establish　a　tacit　understanding　with　him　that　you　won't
forget　him　after　you　have　him　there。　　I　like　to　go　about　and　note　the
mystification　of　strangers　who've　come　here　with　some　notion　of　a　little
attention。　　It's　delightfully　poignant；　I　suffer　with　them；　it's　a　cheap
luxury　of　woe；　I　follow　them　through　all　the　turns　and　windings　of　their
experience。　　Of　course　the　theory　is　that；　being　turned　loose　here　with
the　rest；　they　may　speak　to　anybody；　but　the　fact　is；　they　can't。
Sometimes　I　should　like　to　hail　some　of　these　unfriended　spirits；　but　I
haven't　the　courage。　　I'm　not　individually　bashful；　but　I　have　a　thousand
years　of　Anglo…Saxon　civilisation　behind　me。　　There　ought　to　be　policemen；
to　show　strangers　about　and　be　kind　to　them。　　I've　just　seen　two　pretty
women　cast　away　in　a　corner；　and　clinging　to　a　small　water…colour　on　the
wall　with　a　show　of　interest　that　would　melt　a　heart　of　stone。　　Why　do　you
come；　Mrs。　Brinkley？　　I　should　like　to　know。　　You're　not　obliged　to。〃

〃No；〃　said　Mrs。　Brinkley；　lowering　her　voice　instinctively；　as　if　to　bring
his　down。　　〃I　suppose　I　come　from　force　of　habit　I've　been　coming　a　long
time；　you　know。　　Why　do　you　come？〃

〃Because　I　can't　sleep。　　If　I　could　sleep；　I　should　be　at　home　in　bed。〃　　A
weariness　came　into　his　thin　face　and　dim　eyes　that　was　pathetic；　and
passed　into　a　whimsical　sarcasm。　　〃I'm　not　one　of　the　great　leisure　class；
you　know；　that　voluntarily　turns　night　into　day。　　Do　you　know　what　I　go
about　saying　now？〃

〃Something　amusing；　I　suppose。〃

〃You'd　better　not　be　so　sure　of　that。　　I've　discovered　a　fact；　or　rather
I've　formulated　an　old　one。　　I've　always　been　troubled　how　to　classify
people　here；　there　are　so　many　exceptions；　and　I've　ended　by　broadly
generalising　them　as　women　and　men。〃

Mrs。　Brinkley　was　certainly　amused　at　this。　　〃It　seems　to　me　that　there
you've　been　anticipated　by　naturenot　to　mention　art。〃

〃Oh；　not　in　my　particular　view。　　The　women　in　America　represent　the
aristocracy　which　exists　everywhere　else　in　both　sexes。　　You　are　born　to
the　patrician　leisure；　you　have　the　accomplishments　and　the　clothes　and
manners　and　ideals；　and　we　men　are　a　natural　commonalty；　born　to　business；
to　newspapers；　to　cigars；　and　horses。　　This　natural　female　aristocracy　of
ours　establishes　the　forms；　usages；　places；　and　times　of　society。　　The
epicene　aristocracies　of　other　countries　turn　night　into　day　in　their
social　pleasures；　and　our　noblesse　sympathetically　follows　their　example。
You　ladies；　who　can　lie　till　noon　next　day；　come　to　Jane's　reception　at
eleven　o'clock；　and　you　drag　along　with　you　a　herd　of　us　brokers；　bankers；
merchants；　lawyers；　and　doctors；　who　must　be　at　our　offices　and　counting…
rooms　before　nine　in　the　morning。　　The　hours　of　us　work…people　are
regulated　by　the　wholesome　industries　of　the　great　democracy　which　we're　a
part　of；　and　the　hours　of　our　wives　and　daughters　by　the　deleterious
pleasures　of　the　Old　World　aristocracy。　　That's　the　reason　we're　not　all
at　home　in　bed。〃

〃I　thought　you　were　not　at　home　in　bed　because　you　couldn't　sleep。〃

〃I　know　it。　　And　you've　no　idea　how　horrible　a　bed　is　that　you　can't　sleep
in。〃　　The　old　man's　voice　broke　in　a　tremor。　　〃Ah；　it's　a　bed　of　torture！
I　spend　many　a　wicked　hour　in　mine；　envying　St。　Lawrence　his　gridiron。
But　what　do　you　think　of　my　theory？〃

〃It's　a　very　pretty　theory。　　My　only　objection　to　it　is　that　it's　too
flattering。　　You　know　I　rather　prefer　to　abuse　my　sex；　and　to　be　set　up　as
a　natural　aristocracyI　don't　know　that　I　can　quite　agree　to　that；　even
to　account　satisfactorily　for　being　at　your　sister…in…law's　reception。〃

〃You're　too　modest；　Mrs。　Brinkley。〃

〃No；　really。　　There　ought　to　be　some　men　among　usmen　without　morrows。
Now；　why　don't　you　and　my　husband　set　an　example　to　your　sex？　　Why　don't
you　relax　your　severe　sense　of　duty？　　Why　need　you　insist　upon　being　at
your　offices　every　morning　at　nine？　　Why　don't　you　fling　off　these　habits
of　lifelong　industry；　and　be　gracefully　indolent　in　the　interest　of　the
higher　civilisation？〃

Bromfield　Corey　looked　round　at　her　with　a　smile　of　relish　for　her　satire。
Her　husband　was　a　notoriously　lazy　man；　who　had　chosen　to　live
restrictedly　upon　an　inherited　property　rather　than　increase　it　by　the
smallest　exertion。

〃Do　you　think　we　could　get　Andy　Pasmer　to　join　us？〃

〃No；　I　can't　encourage　you　with　that　idea。　　You　must　get　on　without　Mr。
Pasmer；　he's　going　back　to　Europe　with　his　son…in…law。〃

〃Do　you　mean　that　their　girl's　married？〃

〃No…engaged。　　It's　just　out。〃

〃Well；　I　must　say　Mrs。　Pasmer　has　made　use　of　her　time。〃　　He　too　liked　to
imply　that　it　was　all　an　effect　of　her　manoeuvring；　and　that　the　young
people　had　nothing　to　do　with　it；　this　survival　from　European　fiction　dies
hard。　　〃Who　is　the　young　man？〃

Mrs。　Brinkley　gave　him　an　account　of　Dan　Mavering　as　she　had　seen　him　at
Campobello；　and　of　his　family　as　she　just　heard　of　them。　　〃Mr。　Munt　was
telling　me　about　them　as　you　came　up。〃

〃Why；　was　that　John　Munt？〃

〃Yes；　didn't　you　know　him？〃

〃No；〃　said　Corey　sadly。　　〃I　don't　know　anybody　nowadays。　　I　seem　to　be
going　to　pieces　every　way。　　I　don't　call　sixty…nine　such　a　very　great
ag