april hopes-第55章

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themselves　on　the　shore　as　futilely　as　if　they　had　been　lives。

In　the　evening　Miss　Anderson　got　two　letters　from　the　clerk；　at　the　hour
when　the　ladies　all　flocked　to　his　desk　with　the　eagerness　for　letters
which　is　so　engaging　in　them。　　One　she　pulled　open　and　glanced　at　with　a
sort　of　impassioned　indifference；　the　other　she　read　in　one　intense
moment；　and　then　ran　it　into　her　pocket；　and　with　her　hand　still　on　it
hurried　vividly　flushing　to　her　room；　and　read　and　read　it　again　with
constantly　mounting　emotion。

〃WORMLEY's　HOTEL；　Washington；　April　7；　188…。

〃DEAR　MISS　ANDERSON；I　have　been　acting　on　your　parting　advice　to　look
out　for　that　Mr。　Lafflin　of　mine；　and　I　have　discovered　that　he　is　an
unmitigated　scamp。　　Consequently　there　is　nothing　more　to　keep　me　in
Washington；　and　I　should　now　like　your　advice　about　coming　to　Fortress
Monroe。　　Do　you　find　it　malarial？　　On　the　boat　your　aunt　asked　me　to　come；
but　you　said　nothing　about　it；　and　I　was　left　to　suppose　that　you　did　not
think　it　would　agree　with　me。　　Do　you　still　think　so？　or　what　do　you
think？　　I　know　you　think　it　was　uncalled　for　and　in　extremely　bad　taste
for　me　to　tell　you　what　I　did　the　other　day；　and　I　have　thought　so　too。
There　is　only　one　thing　that　could　justify　itthat　is；　I　think　it　might
justify　itif　you　thought　so。　　But　I　do　not　feel　sure　that　you　would　like
to　know　it；　or；　if　you　knew　it；　would　like　it。　　I've　been　rather　slow
coming　to　the　conclusion　myself；　and　perhaps　it's　only　the　beginning　of
the　end；　and　not　the　conclusionif　there　is　such　a　difference。　　But　the
question　now　is　whether　I　may　come　and　tell　you　what　I　think　it　is
justify　myself；　or　make　things　worse　than　they　are　now。　　I　don't　know　that
they　can　be　worse；　but　I　think　I　should　like　to　try。　　I　think　your
presence　would　inspire　me。

〃Washington　is　a　wilderness　since　MissVan　Hook　left。　　It　is　not　a
howling　wilderness　simply　because　it　has　not　enough　left　in　it　to　howl；
but　it　has　all　the　other　merits　of　a　wilderness。

〃Yours　sincerely；

〃D。　F。　MAVERING。〃


After　a　second　perusal　of　this　note；　Miss　Anderson　recurred　to　the　other
letter　which　she　had　neglected　for　it；　and　read　it　with　eyes　from　which
the　tears　slowly　fell　upon　it。　　Then　she　sat　a　long　time　at　her　table　with
both　letters　before　her；　and　did　not　move；　except　to　take　her　handkerchief
out　of　her　pocket　and　dry　her　eyes；　from　which　the　tears　began　at　once　to
drip　again。　　At　last　she　started　forward；　and　caught　pen　and　paper　toward
her；　biting　her　lip　and　frowning　as　if　to　keep　herself　firm；　and　she　said
to　the　central　figure　in　the　photograph　case　which　stood　at　the　back　of
the　table；　〃I　will；　I　will！　　You　are　a　man；　anyway。〃

She　sat　down；　and　by　a　series　of　impulses　she　wrote　a　letter；　with　which
she　gave　herself　no　pause　till　she　put　it　in　the　clerk's　hands；　to　whom
she　ran　downstairs　with　it；　kicking　her　skirt　into　wild　whirls　as　she　ran；
and　catching　her　foot　in　it　and　stumbling。

〃Will　it　gogo　to…night？〃　she　demanded　tragically。

〃Just　in　time；〃　said　the　clerk；　without　looking　up；　and　apparently　not
thinking　that　her　tone　betrayed　any　unusual　amount　of　emotion　in　a　lady
posting　a　letter；　he　was　used　to　intensity　on　such　occasions。

The　letter　ran

〃DEAR　MR。　MAVERING；We　shall　now　be　here　so　short　a　time　that　I　do　not
think　it　advisable　for　you　to　come。

〃Your　letter　was　rather　enigmatical；　and　I　do　not　know　whether　I
understood　it　exactly。　　I　suppose　you　told　me　what　you　did　for　good
reasons　of　your　own；　and　I　did　not　think　much　about　it。　　I　believe　the
question　of　taste　did　not　come　up　in　my　mind。

〃My　aunt　joins　me　in　kindest　regards。

〃Yours　very　sincerely；

〃JULIA　V。　H。　ANDERSON。〃

〃P。S。I　think　that　I　ought　to　return　your　letter。　　I　know　that　you　would
not　object　to　my　keeping　it；　but　it　does　not　seem　right。　　I　wish　to　ask
your　congratulations。　　I　have　been　engaged　for　several　years　to　Lieutenant
Willing；　of　the　Army。　　He　has　been　transferred　from　his　post　in　Montana　to
Fort　Hamilton　at　New　York；　and　we　are　to　be　married　in　June。


The　next　morning　Mrs。　Brinkley　came　up　from　breakfast　in　a　sort　of　duplex
excitement；　which　she　tried　to　impart　to　her　husband；　he　stood　with　his
back　toward　the　door；　bending　forward　to　the　glass　for　a　more　accurate
view　of　his　face；　from　which　he　had　scraped　half　the　lather　in　shaving。

She　had　two　cards　in　her　hand：　〃Miss　Van　Hook　and　Miss　Anderson　have　gone。
They　went　this　morning。　　I　found　their　P。　P。　C。's　by　my　plate。〃

Mr。　Brinkley　made　an　inarticulate　noise　for　comment；　and　assumed　the
contemptuous　sneer　which　some　men　find　convenient　for　shaving　the　lower
lip。

〃And　guess　who's　come；　of　all　people　in　the　world？〃

〃I　don't　know；〃　said　Brinkley；　seizing　his　chance　to　speak。

〃The　Pasmers！Alice　and　her　mother！　　Isn't　it　awful？〃

Mr。　Brinkley　had　entered　upon　a　very　difficult　spot　at　the　corner　of　his
left　jaw。　　He　finished　it　before　he　said；　〃I　don't　see　anything　awful
about　it；　so　long　as　Pasmer　hasn't　come　too。〃

〃But　Dan　Mavering！　　He's　in　Washington；　and　he　may　come　down　here　any　day。
Just　think　how　shocking　that　would　be！〃

〃Isn't　that　rather　a　theory？〃　asked　Mr。　Brinkley；　finding　such
opportunities　for　conversation　as　he　could。　　〃I　dare　say　Mrs。　Pasmer　would
be　very　glad　to　see　him。〃

〃I've　no　doubt　she　would；〃　said　Mrs。　Brinkley。　　But　it's　the　worst　thing
that　could　happenfor　him。　　And　I　feel　like　writing　him　not　to　come
telegraphing　him。〃

〃You　know　how　the　man　made　a　fortune　in　Chicago；〃　said　her　husband；　drying
his　razor　tenderly　on　a　towel　before　beginning　to　strop　it。　　〃I　advise　you
to　let　the　whole　thing　alone。　　It　doesn't　concern　us　in　any　way　whatever。〃

〃Then；〃　said　Mrs。　Brinkley；　〃there　ought　to　be　a　committee　to　take　it　in
hand　and　warn　him。〃

〃I　dare　say　you　could　make　one　up　among　the　ladies。　　But　don't　be　the
first　to　move　in　the　matter。〃

〃I　really　believe；〃　said　his　wife；　with　her　mind　taken　off　the　point　by
the　attractiveness　of　a　surmise　which　had　just　occurred　to　her；　〃that　Mrs。
Pasmer　would　be　capable　of　following　him　down　if　she　knew　he　was　in
Washington。〃

〃Yes；　if　she　know。　　But　she　probably　doesn't。〃

〃Yes；〃　said　Mrs。　Brinkley　disappointedly。　　〃I　think　the　sudden　departure
of　the　Van　Hooks　must　have　had　something　to　do　with　Dan　Mavering。〃

〃Seems　a　very　influential　young　man；〃　said　her　husband。　　〃He　attracts　and
repels　people　right　and　left。　　Did　you　speak　to　the　Pasmers？〃

〃No；　you'd　better；　when　you　go　down。　　They've　just　come　into　the　dining…
room。　　The　girl　looks　like　death。〃

〃Well；　I'll　talk　to　her　about　Mavering。　　That'll　cheer　her　up。〃

Mrs。　Brinkley　looked　at　him　for　an　instant　as　if　she　really　thought　him
capable　of　it。　　Then　she　joined　him　in　his　laugh。

Mrs。　Brinkley　had　theorised　Alice　Pasmer　as　simply　and　primitively
selfish；　like　the　rest　of　the　Pasmers　in　whom　the　family　traits　prevailed。

When　Mavering　stopped　coming　to　her　house　after　his　engagement　she　justly
suspected　that　it　was　because　Alice　had　forbidden　him；　and　she　had
rejoiced　at　the　broken　engagement　as　an　escape　for　Dan；　she　had　frankly
said　so；　and　she　had　received　him　back　into　full　favour　at　the　first
moment　in　Washington。　　She　liked　Miss　Anderson；　and　she　had　hoped；　with
the　interest　which　women　feel　in　every　such　affair；　that　her　flirtation
with　him　might　become　serious。　　But　now　this　had　apparently　not　happened。
Julia　Anderson　was　gone　with　mystifying　precipitation；　and　Alice　Pasmer
had　come　with　an　unexpectedness　which　had　the　aspect　of　fatality。

Mrs。　Brinkley　felt　bound；　of　course；　since　there　was　no　open　enmity
between　them；　to　meet　the　Pasmers　on　the　neutral　ground　of　the　Hygeia　with
conventional　amiability。　　She　was　really　touched　by　the　absent　wanness　of
the　girls　look；　and　by　the　later…coming　recognition　which　shaped　her　mouth
into　a　pathetic　snide。　　Alice　did　not　look　like　death　quite；　as　Mrs。
Brinkley　had　told　her　husband；　with　the　necessity　her　sex　has　for　putting
its　superlatives　before　its　positives；　but　she　was　pale　and　thin；　and　she
moved　with　a　languid　step　when　they　all　met　at　night　after　Mrs。　Brinkley
had　kept　out　of　the　Pasmers'　way　during　the　day。

〃She　has　been　ill　all　the　latter　part　of　the　winter；〃　said　Mrs。　Pasmer　to
Mrs。　Brinkley　that　night　in　the　corner　of　the　spreading　hotel　parlours；
where　they　found　themselves。　　Mrs。　Pasmer　did　not　look　well　herself；　she
spoke　with　her　eyes　fixed　anxiously　on　the　door　Alice　had　just　passed　out
of。　　〃She　is　going　to　bed；　but　I　know　I　shall　find　her　awake　whenever　I
go。〃

〃Perhaps；〃　suggested　Mrs。　Brinkley；　〃this　soft；　heavy　sea　air　will　put　her
to　sleep。〃　　She　tried　to　speak　drily　and　indifferently；　but　she　could　not；
she　was；　in　fact；　very　much　interested　by　the　situation；　and　she　was
touched；　in　spite　of　her　distaste　for　them　both；　by　the　evident
unhappiness　of　mother　and　daughter。　　She　knew　what　it　came　from；　and　she
said　to　herself　that　they　deserved　it；　but　this　did　not　altogether　fortify
her　against　their　pathos。　　〃I　can　hardly　keep　awake　myself；〃　she　added
gruffly。

〃I　hope　it　may　help　her；〃　said　Mrs。　Pasmer；　〃the　doctor　strongly　urged　our
coming。〃

Mr。　Pasmer　isn't　with　you；〃　said　Mrs。　Brinkley；　feeling　that　it　was　decent
to　say　something　about　him。

〃No；　he　was　detained。〃　　Mrs。　Pasmer　did　not　explain　the　cause　of　his
detention；　and　the　two　ladies　slowly　waved　their　fans　a　moment　in　silence。
〃Are　there　many　Boston　People　in　the　house？〃　Mrs。　Pasmer　asked。

〃It's　full　of　them；〃　cried　Mrs。　Brinkley。

〃I　had　scarcely　noticed；〃　sighed　Mrs。　Pasmer；　and　Mrs。　Brinkley　knew　that
this　was　not　true。　　〃　Alice　takes　up　all　my　thoughts；〃　she　added；　and　this
might　be　true　enough。　　She　leaned　a　little　forward　and　asked；　in　a　low；
entreating　voice　over　her　fan；　〃Mrs。　Brinkley；　have　you　seen　Mr。　Mavering
lately？〃

Mrs。　Brinkley　considered　this　a　little　too　bold；　a　little　too　brazen。　　Had
they　actually　come　South　in　pursuit　of　him？　　It　was　shameless；　and　she　let
Mrs：　Pasmer　know　something　of　her　feeling　in　the　shortness　with　which　she
answered；　〃I　saw　him　in　Washington　the　other　dayfor　a　moment。〃　　She
shortened　the　time　she　had　spent　in　Dan's　company　so　as　to　cut　Mrs。　Pasmer
off　from　as　much　comfort　as　possible；　and　she　stared　at　her　in　open
astonishment。

Mrs。　Pasmer　dropped　her　eyes　and　fingered　the　edge　of　her　fan　with　a
submissiveness　that　seemed　to　Mrs。　Brinkley　the　perfection　of　duplicity；
she　wanted　to　shake　her。　　〃I　knew；〃　sighed　Mrs。　Pasmer；　〃that　you　had
always　been　such　a　friend　of　his。〃

It　is　the　last　straw　which　breaks　the　camel's　back；　Mrs。　Brinkley　felt　her
moral　vertebrae　give　way；　she　almost　heard　them　crack；　but　if　there　was
really　a　detonation；　the　drowned　the　noise　with　a　harsh　laugh。　　〃Oh；　he
had　other　friends　in　Washington。　　I　met　him　everywhere　with　Miss
Anderson。〃　　This　statement　conflicted　with　the　theory　of　her　single
instant　with　Dan；　but　she　felt　that　in　such　a　cause；　in　the　cause　of
giving　pain　to　a　woman　like　Mrs。　Pasmer；　the　deflection　from　exact　truth
was　justifiable。　　She　hurried　on：　〃I　rather　expected　he　might　run　down
here；　but　now　that　they're　gone；　I　don't　suppose　he'll　come。　　You　remember
Miss　Anderson's　aunt；　Miss　Van　Hook？〃

〃Oh　yes；〃　said　Mrs。　Pasmer。

〃She　was　here　with　her。