april hopes-第38章

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going　to　pieces　every　way。　　I　don't　call　sixty…nine　such　a　very　great
age。〃

〃Not　at　all！〃　cried　Mrs。　Brinkley。　　〃I'm　fifty…four　myself；　and　Brinkley's
sixty。〃

〃But　I　feel　a　thousand　years　old。　　I　don't　see　people；　and　when　I　do　I
don't　know　'em。　　My　head's　in　a　cloud。〃　　He　let　it　hang　heavily；　then　he
lifted　it；　and　said：　〃He's　a　nice；　comfortable　fellow；　Munt　is。　　Why
didn't　he　stop　and　talk　a　bit？〃

〃Well；　Munt's　modest；　you　know；　and　I　suppose　he　thought　he　might　be　the
third　that　makes　company　a　crowd。　　Besides；　nobody　stops　and　talks　a　bit
at　these　things。　　They're　afraid　of　boring　or　being　bored。〃

〃Yes；　they're　all　in　as　unnatural　a　mood　as　if　they　were　posing　for　a
photograph。　　I　wonder　who　invented　this　sort　of　thing？　　Do　you　know；〃　said
the　old　man；　〃that　I　think　it's　rather　worse　with　us　than　with　any　other
people？　　We're　a　simple；　sincere　folk；　domestic　in　our　instincts；　not
gregarious　or　frivolous　in　any　way；　and　when　we're　wrenched　away　from　our
firesides；　and　packed　in　our　best　clothes　into　Jane's　gilded　saloons；　we
feel　vindictive；　we　feel　wicked。　　When　the　Boston　being　abandons　himself
or　herselfto　fashion；　she　suffers　a　depravation　into　something　quite
lurid。　　She　has　a　bad　conscience；　and　she　hardens　her　heart　with　talk
that's　tremendously　cynical。　　It's　amusing；〃　said　Corey；　staring　round　him
purblindly　at　the　groups　and　files　of　people　surging　and　eddying　past　the
corner　where　he　sat　with　Mrs。　Brinkley。

〃No；　it's　shocking；〃　said　his　companion。　　〃At　any　rate；　you　mustn't　say
such　things；　even　if　you　think　them。　　I　can't　let　you　go　too　far；　you
know。　　These　young　people　think　it　heavenly；　here。〃

She　took　with　him　the　tone　that　elderly　people　use　with　those　older　than
themselves　who　have　begun　to　break；　there　were　authority　and　patronage　in
it。　　At　the　bottom　of　her　heart　she　thought　that　Bromfield　Corey　should
not　have　been　allowed　to　come；　but　she　determined　to　keep　him　safe　and
harmless　as　far　as　she　could。

From　time　to　time　the　crowd　was　a　stationary　mass　in　front　of　them；　then
it　dissolved　and　flowed　away；　to　gather　anew；　there　were　moments　when　the
floor　near　them　was　quite　vacant；　then　it　was　inundated　again　with　silken
trains。　　From　another　part　of　the　house　came　the　sound　of　music；　and　most
of　the　young　people　who　passed　went　two　and　two；　as　if　they　were　partners
in　the　dance；　and　had　come　out　of　the　ball…room　between　dances。　　There　was
a　good　deal　of　nervous　talk；　politely　subdued　among　them；　but　it　was　not
the　note　of　unearthly　rapture　which　Mrs。　Brinkley's　conventional　claim　had
implied；　it　was　self…interested；　eager；　anxious；　and　was　probably　not
different　from　the　voice　of　good　society　anywhere。




XXXVI。

〃Why；　there's　Dan　Mavering　now！〃　said　Mrs。　Brinkley；　rather　to　herself
than　to　her　companion。　　〃And　alone！〃

Dan's　face　showed　above　most　of　the　heads　and　shoulders　about　him；　it　was
flushed；　and　looked　troubled　and　excited。　　He　caught　sight　of　Mrs。
Brinkley；　and　his　eyes　brightened　joyfully。　　He　slipped　quickly　through
the　crowd；　and　bowed　over　her　hand；　while　he　stammered　out；　without　giving
her　a　chance　for　reply　till　the　end：　　〃0　Mrs。　Brinkley；　I'm　so　glad　to　see
you！　　I'm　goingI　want　to　ask　a　great　favour　of　you；　Mrs。　Brinkley。　　I
want　to　bringI　want　to　introduce　some　friends　of　mine　to　yousome
ladies；　Mrs。　Brinkley；　very　nice　people　I　met　last　summer　at　Portland。
Their　fatherGeneral　Wraynehas　been　building　some　railroads　down　East；
and　they're　very　nice　people；　but　they　don't　know　any　oneany　ladiesand
they've　been　looking　at　the　pictures　ever　since　they　came。　　They're　very
good　pictures；　but　it　isn't　an　exhibition！〃　　He　broke　down　with　a　laugh。

〃Why；　of　course；　Mr。　Mavering；　I　shall　be　delighted；〃　said　Mrs。　Brinkley；
with　a　hospitality　rendered　reckless　by　her　sympathy　with　the　young
fellow。　　〃By　all　means！〃

〃Oh；　thanks！thank　you　aver　so　much！〃　said　Dan。　　〃I'll　bring　them　to　you
they'll　understand！〃　　He　slipped　into　the　crowd　again。

Corey　made　an　offer　of　going。　　Mrs。　Brinkley　stopped　him　with　her　fan。
〃Nostay；　Mr。　Corey。　　Unless　you　wish　to　go。　　I　fancy　it's　the　people　you
were　talking　about；　and　you　must　help　me　through　with　them。〃

〃I　ask　nothing　better；〃　said　the　old　man；　unresentful　of　Dan's　having　not
even　seemed　to　see　him；　in　his　generous　preoccupation。　　〃I　should　like　to
see　how　you'll　get　on；　and　perhaps　I　can　be　of　use。〃

〃Of　course　you　canthe　greatest。〃

〃But　why　hasn't　he　introduced　them　to　his　Pasmers？　　What？　　Eh？　　Oh！〃
Corey　made　these　utterances　in　response　to　a　sharper　pressure　of　Mrs。
Brinkley's　fan　on　his　arm。

Dan　was　opening　a　way　through　the　crowd　before　them　for　two　ladies；　whom
he　now　introduced。　　〃Mrs。　Frobisher；　Mrs。　Brinkley；　and　Miss　Wrayne。〃

Mrs。　Brinkley　cordially　gave　her　hand　to　the　ladies；　and　said；　〃May　I
introduce　Mr。　Corey？　　Mr。　Mavering；　let　me　introduce　you　to　Mr。　Corey。〃
The　old　man　rose　and　stood　with　the　little　group。

Dan's　face　shone　with　flattered　pride　and　joyous　triumph。　　He　bubbled　out
some　happy　incoherencies　about　the　honour　and　pleasure；　while　at　the　same
time　he　beamed　with　tender　gratitude　upon　Mrs。　Brinkley；　who　was　behaving
with　a　gracious；　humorous　kindliness　to　the　aliens　cast　upon　her　mercies。
Mrs。　Frobisher；　after　a　half…hour　of　Boston　society；　was　not　that　presence
of　easy　gaiety　which　crossed　Dan's　path　on　the　Portland　pavement　the
morning　of　his　arrival　from　Campobello；　but　she　was　still　a　handsome；
effective　woman；　of　whom　you　would　have　hesitated　to　say　whether　she　was
showy　or　distinguished。　　Perhaps　she　was　a　little　of　both；　with　an　air　of
command　bred　of　supremacy　in　frontier　garrisons；　her　sister　was　like　her
in　the　way　that　a　young　girl　may　be　like　a　young　matron。　　They　blossomed
alike　in　the　genial　atmosphere　of　Mrs。　Brinkley　and　of　Mr。　Corey。　　He
began　at　once　to　make　bantering　speeches　with　them　both。　　The　friendliness
of　an　old　man　and　a　stout　elderly　woman　might　not　have　been　their　ideal　of
success　at　an　evening　party；　used　as　they　were　to　the　unstinted　homage　of
young　captains　and　lieutenants；　but　a　brief　experience　of　Mrs。
Bellingham's　hospitality　must　have　taught　them　humility；　and　when　a　stout；
elderly　gentleman；　whose　baldness　was　still　trying　to　be　blond；　joined　the
group；　the　spectacle　was　not　without　its　points　of　resemblance　to　a　social
ovation。　　Perhaps　it　was　a　Boston　social　ovation。

〃Hallo；　Corey！〃　said　this　stout　gentleman；　whom　Mrs。　Brinkley　at　once
introduced　as　Mr。　Bellingham；　and　whose　salutation　Corey　returned　with
〃Hallo；　Charles！〃　of　equal　intimacy。

Mr。　Bellingham　caught　at　the　name　of　Frobisher。　　〃Mrs。　Major　Dick
Frobisher？〃

〃Mrs。　Colonel　now；　but　Dick　always；〃　said　the　lady；　with　immediate
comradery。　　〃Do　you　know　my　husband？〃

〃I　should　think　so！〃　said　Bellingham；　and　a　talk　of　common　interest　and
mutual　reminiscence　sprang　up　between　them。　　Bellingham　graphically
depicted　his　meeting　with　Colonel　Frobisher　the　last　time　he　was　out　on
the　Plains；　and　Mrs。　Frobisher　and　Miss　Wrayne　discovered　to　their　great
satisfaction　that　he　was　the　brother　of　Mrs。　Stephen　Blake；　of　Omaba；　who
had　come　out　to　the　fort　once　with　her　husband；　and　captured　the　garrison；
as　they　said。　　Mrs。　Frobisher　accounted　for　her　present　separation　from
her　husband；　and　said　she　had　come　on　for　a　while　to　be　with　her　father
and　sister；　who　both　needed　more　looking　after　than　the　Indians。　　Her
father　had　left　the　army；　and　was　building　railroads。

Miss　Wrayne；　when　she　was　not　appealed　to　for　confirmation　or　recollection
by　her　sister；　was　having　a　lively　talk　with　Corey　and　Mrs。　Brinkley；　she
seemed　to　enter　into　their　humour；　and　no　one　paid　much　attention　to　Dan
Mavering。　　He　hung　upon　the　outskirts　of　the　little　group；　proffering
unrequited　sympathy　and　applause；　and　at　last　he　murmured　something　about
having　to　go　back　to　some　friends；　and　took　himself　off。　　Mrs。　Frobisher
and　Miss　Wrayne　let　him　go　with　a　certain　shadethe　lightest；　and　yet
evidentof　not　wholly　satisfied　pique：　women　know　how　to　accept　a
reparation　on　account；　and　without　giving　a　receipt　in　full。

Mrs。　Brinkley　gave　him　her　hand　with　an　effect　of　compassionate
intelligence　and　appreciation　of　the　sacrifice　he　must　have　made　in
leaving　Alice。　　〃May　I　congratulate　you？〃　she　murmured。

〃Oh　yes；　indeed；　thank　you；　Mrs。　Brinkley；〃　he　gushed　tremulously；　and　he
pressed　her　hand　hard；　and　clung　to　it；　as　if　he　would　like　to　take　her
with　him。

Neither　of　the　older　men　noticed　his　going。　　They　were　both　taken　in　their
elderly　way　with　these　two　handsome　young　women；　and　they　professed　regret
Bellingham　that　his　mother　was　not　there；　and　Corey　that　neither　his
wife　nor　daughters　had　come；　whom　they　might　otherwise　have　introduced。
They　did　not　offer　to　share　their　acquaintance　with　any　one　else；　but　they
made　the　most　of　it　themselves；　as　if　knowing　a　good　thing　when　they　had
it。　　Their　devotion　to　Mrs。　Frobisher　and　her　sister　heightened　the
curiosity　of　such　people　as　noticed　it；　but　it　would　be　wrong　to　say　that
it　moved　any　in　that　self…limited　company　with　a　strong　wish　to　know　the
ladies。　　The　time　comes　to　every　man；　no　matter　how　great　a　power　he　may
be　in　society；　when　the　general　social　opinion　retires　him　for　senility；
and　this　time　had　come　for　Bromfield　Corey。　　He　could　no　longer　make　or
mar　any　success；　and　Charles　Bellingham　was　so　notoriously　amiable；　so
deeply　compromised　by　his　inveterate　habit　of　liking　nearly　every　one；
that　his　notice　could　not　distinguish　or　advantage　a　newcomer。

He　and　Corey　took　the　ladies　down　to　supper。　　Mrs。　Brinkley　saw　them　there
together；　and　a　little　later　she　saw　old　Corey　wander　off；　forgetful　of
Miss　Wrayne。　　She　saw　Dan　Mavering；　but　not　the　Pasmers；　and　then；　when
Corey　forgot　Miss　Wrayne；　she　saw　Dan；　forlorn　and　bewildered　looking；
approach　the　girl；　and　offer　her　his　arm　for　the　return　to　the　drawing…
room；　she　took　it　with　a　bright；　cold　smile；　making　white　rings　of
ironical　deprecation　around　the　pupils　of　her　eyes。

〃What　is　that　poor　boy　doing；　I　wonder？〃　said　Mrs。　Brinkley　to　herself。




XXXVII。

The　next　morning　Dan　Mavering　knocked　at　Boardman's　door　before　the
reporter　was　up。　　This　might　have　been　any　time　before　one　o'clock；　but　it
was　really　at　half…past　nine。　　Boardman　wanted　to　know　who　was　there；　and
when　Mavering　had　said　it　was　he；　Boardman　seemed　to　ponder　the　fact
awhile　before　Mavering　heard　him　getting　out　of　bed　and　coming　barefooted
to　the　door。　　He　unlocked　it；　and　got　back　into　bed；　then　he　called　out；
〃Come　in；〃　and　Mavering　pushed　the　door　open　impatiently。　　But　he　stood
blank　and　silent；　looking　helplessly　at　his　friend。　　A　strong　glare　of
winter　light　came　in　through　the　naked　sashfor　Boardman　apparently　not
only　did　not　close　his　window…blinds；　but　did　not　pull　down　his　curtains；
when　he　went　to　bedand　shone　upon　his　gay；　shrewd　face　where　he　lay；
showing　his　pop…corn　teeth　in　a　smile　at　Mavering。

〃Prefer　to　stand？〃　he　asked　by　and　by；　after　Mavering　had　remained
standing　in　silence；　with　no　signs　of　proposing　to　sit　down　or　speak。
Mavering　glanced　at　the　only　chair　in　the　room：　Boardman's　clothes　dripped
and　dangled　over　it。　　〃Throw　'em　on　the　bed；〃　he　said；　following
Mavering's