april hopes-第7章

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！


gratitude　to　her　friend　for　bringing　in　his　name　so　soon。　　Now　that　it
had　been　spoken；　she　felt　it　decorous　to　throw　aside　the　outer　integument
of　pretense；　which　if　it　could　have　been　entirely　exfoliated　would　have
caused　Mrs。　Pasmer　morally　to　disappear；　like　an　onion　stripped　of　its
successive　laminae。

〃What　did　you　mean；〃　she　asked；　leaning　forward；　with；　her　face　averted；
〃about　his　having　the　artistic　temperament？　　Is　he　going　to　be　an　artist？
I　should　hope　not。〃　　She　remembered　without　shame　that　she　had　strongly
urged　him　to　consider　how　much　better　it　would　be　to　be　a　painter　than　a
lawyer；　in　the　dearth　of　great　American　painters。

〃He　could　be　a　painter　if　he　likedup　to　a　certain　point；〃　said　Mrs。
Saintsbury。　　〃Or　he　could　be　any　one　of　half　s　dozen　other　thingshis
last　craze　was　journalism；　but　you　know　what　I　mean　by　the　artistic
temperament：　it's　that　inability　to　be　explicit；　that　habit　of　leaving
things　vague　and　undefined；　and　hoping　they'll　somehow　come　out　as　you
want　them　of　themselves；　that　way　of　taking　the　line　of　beauty　to　get　at
what　you　wish　to　do　or　say；　and　of　being　very　finicking　about　little
things　and　lag　about　essentials。　　That's　what　I　mean　by　the　artistic
temperament。〃

〃Yes；　that's　terrible；〃　sighed　Mrs。　Pasmer；　with　the　abstractly　severe
yet　personally　pitying　perception　of　one　whose　every　word　and　act　was
sincere　and　direct。　　〃I　know　just　what　you　mean。　　But　how　does　it　apply
to　Mr。　Mavering？〃

〃It　doesn't；　exactly；〃　returned　her　friend。　　〃And　I'm　always　ashamed　when
I　say；　or　even　think；　anything　against　Dan　Mavering。　　He's　sweetness
itself。　　We've　known　him　ever　since　he　came　to　Harvard；　and　I　must　say
that　a　more　constant　and　lovely　follow　I　never　saw。　　It　wasn't　merely
when　he　was　a　Freshman；　and　he　had　that　home　feeling　hanging　about　him
still　that　makes　all　the　Freshmen　so　appreciative　of　anything　you　do　for
them；　but　all　through　the　Sophomore　and　Junior　years；　when　they're　so
taken　up　with　their　athletics　and　their　societies　and　their　college　life
generally　that　they　haven't　a　moment　for　people　that　have　been　kind　to
them；　he　was　just　as　faithful　as　ever。〃

〃How　nice！〃　cried　Mrs。　Pasmer。

Yes；　indeed！　　And　all　the　allurements　of　Boston　society　haven't　taken　him
from　us　altogether。　　You　can't　imagine　how　much　this　means　till　you've
been　at　home　a　while　and　seen　how　the　students　are　petted　and　spoiled
nowadays　in　the　young　society。〃

〃Oh；　I've　heard　of　it；〃　said　Mrs。　Pasmer。　　〃And　is　it　his　versatility　and
brilliancy；　or　his　amiability；　that　makes　him　such　a　universal
favourite？〃

〃Universal　favourite？　　I　don't　know　that　he's　that。〃

〃Well；　popular；　then。〃

〃Oh；　he's　certainly　very　much　liked。　　But；　Jenny；　there　are　no　universal
favourites　in　Harvard　now；　if　there　ever　were：　the　classes　are　altogether
too　big。　　And　it　wouldn't　be　ability；　and　it　wouldn't　be　amiability
alone；　that　would　give　a　man　any　sort　of　leadership。〃

〃What　in　the　world　would　it　be？〃

〃That　question；　more　than　anything　else；　shows　how　long　you've　been　away；
Jenny。　　It　would　be　familyfamily；　with　a　judicious　mixture　of　the
others；　and　with　money。〃

〃Is　it　possible？　　But　of　courseI　remember！　　Only　at　their　age　one
thinks　of　students　as　being　all　hail…fellow…well…met　with　each　other〃

〃Yes；　it's　hard　to　realise　how　conventional　they　arehow　very　much
worldlier　than　the　worldtill　one　sees　it　as　one　does　in　Cambridge。
They　pique　themselves　on　it。　　And　Mr。　Saintsbury〃she　was　one　of　those
women　whom　everything　reminds　of　their　husbands　〃says　that　it　isn't　a　bad
thing　altogether。　　He　says　that　Harvard　is　just　like　the　world；　and　even
if　it's　a　little　more　so；　these　boys　have　got　to　live　in　the　world；　and
they　had　better　know　what　it　is。　　You　may　not　approve　of　the　Harvard
spirit；　and　Mr。　Saintsbury　doesn't　sympathise　with　it；　he　only　says　it's
the　world's　spirit。　　Harvard　menthe　swellsare　far　more　exclusive　than
Oxford　men。　　A　student；　'comme　il　faut'；　wouldn't　at　all　like　to　be
supposed　to　know　another　student　whom　we　valued　for　his　brilliancy；
unless　he　was　popular　and　well　known　in　college。〃

〃Dear　me！〃　cried　Mrs。　Pasmer。　　〃But　of　course！　　It's　perfectly　natural；
with　young　people。　　And　it's　well　enough　that　they　should　begin　to
understand　how　things　really　are　in　the　world　early；　it　will　save　them
from　a　great　many　disappointments。〃

〃I　assure　you　we　have　very　little　to　teach　Harvard　men　in　those　matters。
They　could　give　any　of　us　points。　　Those　who　are　of　good　family　and
station　know　how　to　protect　themselves　by　reserves　that　the　others
wouldn't　dare　to　transgress。　　But　a　merely　rich　man　couldn't　rise　in
their　set　any　more　than　a　merely　gifted　man。　　He　could　get　on　to　a
certain　point　by　toadying；　and　some　do；　but　he　would　never　get　to　be
popular；　like　Dan　Mavering。〃

〃And　what　makes　him　popular？to　go　back　to　the　point　we　started　from；〃
said　Mrs。　Pasmer。

〃Ah；　that's　hard　to　say。　　It'squality；　I　suppose。　　I　don't　mean　social
quality；　exactly；　but　personal　charm。　　He　never　had　a　mean　thought；　of
course　we're　all　full　of　mean　thoughts；　and　Dan　is　too；　but　his　first
impulse　is　always　generous　and　sweet；　and　at　his　age　people　act　a　great
deal　from　impulse。　　I　don't　suppose　he　ever　met　a　human　being　without
wanting　to　make　him　like　him；　and　trying　to　do　it。〃

〃Yes；　he　certainly　makes　you　like　him；〃　sighed　Mrs。　Pasmer。　　〃But　I
understand　that　he　can't　make　people　like　him　without　family　or　money；
and　I　don't　understand　that　he's　one　of　those　'nouveaux　riches'　who　are
giving　Harvard　such　a　reputation　for　extravagance　nowadays。〃

There　was　an　inquiring　note　in　Mrs。　Pasmer's　voice；　and　in　the　syringa…
scented　obscurity；　which　protected　the　ladies　from　the　expression　of　each
other's　faces；　Mrs。　Saintsbury　gave　a　little　laugh　of　intelligence；　to
which　Mrs。　Pasmer　responded　by　a　murmur　of　humorous　enjoyment　at　being
understood。

〃Oh　no！　　He　isn't　one　of　those。　　But　the　Maverings　have　plenty　of　money；〃
said　Mrs。　Saintsbury；　〃and　Dan's　been　very　free　with　it；　though　not
lavish。　　And　he　came　here　with　a　reputation　for　popularity　from　a　very
good　school；　and　that　always　goes　a　very　great　way　in　college。〃

〃Yes？〃　said　Mrs。　Pasmer；　feeling　herself　getting　hopelessly　adrift　in
these　unknown　waters；　but　reposing　a　pious　confidence　in　her　pilot。

〃Yes；　if　a　sufficient　number　of　his　class　said　he　was　the　best　fellow　in
the　world；　he　would　be　pretty　sure　to　be　chosen　one　of　the　First　Ten　in
the　'Dickey'。〃

〃What　mysteries！〃　gasped　Mrs。　Pasmer；　disposed　to　make　fun　of　them；　but　a
little　overawed　all　the　same。　　〃What　in　the　world　is　the　'Dickey'？〃

〃It's　the　society　that　the　Freshmen　are　the　most　eager　to　get　into。
They're　chosen；　ten　at　a　time；　by　the　old　members；　and　to　be　one　of　the
first　tenthe　only　Freshmen　chosenis　something　quite　ineffable。〃

〃I　see。〃　　Mrs。　Pasmer　fanned　herself；　after　taking　a　long　breath。　　〃And
when　he　had　got　into　the　　〃

〃Then　it　would　depend　upon　himself；　how　he　spent　his　money；　and　all　that；
and　what　sort　of　society　success　he　was　in　Boston。　　That　has　a　great　deal
to　do　with　it　from　the　first。　　Then　another　thing　is　caution
discreetness；　not　saying　anything　censorious　or　critical　of　other　men；　no
matter　what　they　do。　　And　Dan　Mavering　is　the　perfection　of　prudence；
because　he's　the　perfection　of　good…nature。〃

Mrs。　Pasmer　had　apparently　got　all　of　these　facts　that　she　could　digest。
〃And　who　are　the　Maverings？〃

〃Why；　it's　an　old　Boston　name〃

〃It's　too　old；　isn't　it？　　Like　Pasmer。　　There　are　no　Maverings　in　Boston
that　I　ever　heard　of。〃

〃No；　the　name's　quite　died　out　just　here；　I　believe：　but　it's　old；　and　it
bids　fair　to　be　replated　at　Ponkwasset　Falls。〃

〃At　Ponk〃

〃That's　where　they　have　their　mills；　or　factories；　or　shops；　or　whatever
institution　they　make　wall…paper　in。〃

〃Wall…paper！〃　cried　Mrs。　Pasmer；　austerely。　　After　a　moment　she　asked：
〃And　is　wall…paper　the　'thing'　now？　　I　mean〃　　She　tried　to　think　of
some　way　of　modifying　the　commonness　of　her　phrase；　but　did　not。　　After
all；　it　expressed　her　meaning。

〃It　isn't　the　extreme　of　fashion；　of　course。　　But　it's　manufacturing；　and
it　isn't　disgraceful。　　And　the　Mavering　papers　are　very　pretty；　and　you
can　live　with　them　without　becoming　anaemic；　or　having　your　face　twitch。〃

〃Face　twitch？〃　echoed　Mrs。　Pasmer。

〃Yes；　arsenical　poisoning。〃

〃Oh！　　Conscientious　as　well　as　aesthetic。　　I　see。　　And　does　Mr。　Mavering
put　his　artistic　temperament　into　them？〃

〃His　father　does。　　He's　a　very　interesting　man。　　He　has　the　best　taste　in
certain　thingshe　knows　more　about　etchings；　I　suppose；　than　any　one
else　in　Boston。〃

〃Is　it　possible！　　And　does　he　live　at　Ponkwasset　Falls？　　It's　in　Rhode
Island；　isn't　it？〃

〃New　Hampshire。　　Yes；　the　whole　family　live　there。〃

〃The　whole　family？　　Are　there　many　of　them？　　I'd　fancied；　somehow；　that
Mr。　Mavering　was　the　onlyDo　tell　me　about　them；　Etta；〃　said　Mrs。
Pasmer；　leaning　back　in　her　chair；　and　fanning　herself　with　an　effect　of
impartial　interest；　to　which　the　dim　light　of　the　room　lent　itself。

〃He's　the　only　son。　　But　there　are　daughters；　of　coursevery　cultivated
girls。〃

〃And　is　heis　the　elder　Mr。　Mavering　aI　don't　know　what　made　me　think
soa　widower？〃

〃Well；　nonot　exactly。〃

〃Not　exactly！　　He's　not　a　grass…widower；　I　hope？〃

〃No；　indeed。　　But　his　wife's　a　helpless　invalid；　and　always　has　been。
He's　perfectly　devoted　to　her；　and　he　hurried　home　yesterday；　though　he
wanted　very　much　to　stay　for　Commencement。　　He's　never　away　from　her
longer　than　he　can　help。　　She's　bedridden；　and　you　can　see　from　the
moment　you　enter　it　that　it's　a　man's　house。　　Daughters　can't　change
that；　you　know。〃

〃Have　you　been　there？〃　asked　Mrs。　Pasmer；　surprised　that　she　was　getting
so　much　information；　but　eager　for　more。　　〃Why；　how　long　have　you　known
them；　Etta？〃

〃Only　since　Dan　came　to　Harvard。　　Mr。　Saintsbury　took　a　fancy　to　him　from
the　start；　and　the　boy　was　so　fond　of　him　that　they　were　always　insisting
upon　a　visit；　and　last　summer　we　stopped　there　on　our　way　to　the
mountains。〃

〃And　the　sistersdo　they　stay　there　the　whole　year　round？　　Are　they
countrified？〃

〃One　doesn't　live　in　the　country　without　being　countrified；〃　said　Mrs。
Saintsbury。　　〃They're　rather　quiet　girls；　though　they've　been　about　a
good　dealto　Europe　with　friends；　and　to　New　York　in　the　winter。
They're　older　than　Dan；　they're　more　like　their　father。　　Are　you　afraid
of　that　draught　at　the　windows？〃

〃Oh　no；　it's　delicious。　　And　he's　like　the　mother？〃

〃Yes。〃

〃Then　it's　the　father　who　has　the　artistic　tastehe　gets　that　from　him；
and　the　mother　who　has　the〃

〃Temperamentyes。〃

〃How　extremely　interesting！　　And　so　he's　going　to　be　a　lawyer。　　Why
lawyer；　if　he's　got　the　talent　and　the　temperament　of　an　artist？　　Does
his　father　wish　him　to　be　a　lawyer？〃

〃His　father　wishes　him　to　be　a　wall…paper　maker。〃

〃And　the　young　man　compromises　on　the　law。　　I　see；〃　said　Mrs。　Pasmer。
〃And　you　say　he's　been　going　into　Boston　a　great　deal？　　Where　does　he
go？〃

The　ladies　entered　into　this　social　inquiry　with　a　zest　which　it　would　be
hard　to　make　the　reader　share；　or　perhaps　to　feel　the　importance　of。
It　is　enough　that　it　ended　in　the　social　vindication　of　Dan　Mavering。
It