the pension beaurepas-第8章

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folle。　　But　she　gives　me　information；　she　tells　me　about　America。
Mamma　has　always　tried　to　prevent　my　knowing　anything　about　it；　and　I
am　all　the　more　curious。　　And　then　Miss　Ruck　is　very　fresh。〃

〃I　may　not　be　so　fresh　as　Miss　Ruck；〃　I　said；　〃but　in　future；　when
you　want　information；　I　recommend　you　to　come　to　me　for　it。〃

〃Our　friend　offers　to　take　me　to　America；　she　invites　me　to　go　back
with　her；　to　stay　with　her。　　You　couldn't　do　that；　could　you？〃　And
the　young　girl　looked　at　me　a　moment。　　〃Bon；　a　false　note　I　can　see
it　by　your　face；　you　remind　me　of　a　maitre　de　piano。〃

〃You　overdo　the　characterthe　poor　American　girl；〃　I　said。　　〃Are　you
going　to　stay　with　that　delightful　family？〃

〃I　will　go　and　stay　with　any　one　that　will　take　me　or　ask　me。　　It's　a
real　nostalgie。　　She　says　that　in　New　Yorkin　Thirty…Seventh　Street…
…I　should　have　the　most　lovely　time。〃

〃I　have　no　doubt　you　would　enjoy　it。〃

〃Absolute　liberty　to　begin　with。〃

〃It　seems　to　me　you　have　a　certain　liberty　here；〃　I　rejoined。

〃Ah；　THIS？　　Oh；　I　shall　pay　for　this。　　I　shall　be　punished　by　mamma；
and　I　shall　be　lectured　by　Madame　Galopin。〃

〃The　wife　of　the　pasteur？〃

〃His　digne　epouse。　　Madame　Galopin；　for　mamma；　is　the　incarnation　of
European　opinion。　　That's　what　vexes　me　with　mamma；　her　thinking　so
much　of　people　like　Madame　Galopin。　　Going　to　see　Madame　Galopin
mamma　calls　that　being　in　European　society。　　European　society！　　I'm
so　sick　of　that　expression；　I　have　heard　it　since　I　was　six　years
old。　　Who　is　Madame　Galopinwho　thinks　anything　of　her　here？　　She　is
nobody；　she　is　perfectly　third…rate。　　If　I　like　America　better　than
mamma；　I　also　know　Europe　better。〃

〃But　your　mother；　certainly；〃　I　objected；　a　trifle　timidly；　for　my
young　lady　was　excited；　and　had　a　charming　little　passion　in　her　eye…
…〃your　mother　has　a　great　many　social　relations　all　over　the
Continent。〃

〃She　thinks　so；　but　half　the　people　don't　care　for　us。　　They　are　not
so　good　as　we；　and　they　know　itI'll　do　them　that　justiceand　they
wonder　why　we　should　care　for　them。　　When　we　are　polite　to　them；　they
think　the　less　of　us；　there　are　plenty　of　people　like　that。　　Mamma
thinks　so　much　of　them　simply　because　they　are　foreigners。　　If　I
could　tell　you　all　the　dull；　stupid；　second…rate　people　I　have　had　to
talk　to；　for　no　better　reason　than　that　they　were　de　leur　pays！
Germans；　French；　Italians；　Turks；　everything。　　When　I　complain；　mamma
always　says　that　at　any　rate　it's　practice　in　the　language。　　And　she
makes　so　much　of　the　English；　too；　I　don't　know　what　that's　practice
in。〃

Before　I　had　time　to　suggest　an　hypothesis；　as　regards　this　latter
point；　I　saw　something　that　made　me　rise；　with　a　certain　solemnity；
from　my　chair。　　This　was　nothing　less　than　the　neat　little　figure　of
Mrs。　Churcha　perfect　model　of　the　femme　comme　il　fautapproaching
our　table　with　an　impatient　step；　and　followed　most　unexpectedly　in
her　advance　by　the　pre…eminent　form　of　Mr。　Ruck。　　She　had　evidently
come　in　quest　of　her　daughter；　and　if　she　had　commanded　this
gentleman's　attendance；　it　had　been　on　no　softer　ground　than　that　of
his　unenvied　paternity　to　her　guilty　child's　accomplice。　　My　movement
had　given　the　alarm；　and　Aurora　Church　and　M。　Pigeonneau　got　up；　Miss
Ruck　alone　did　not；　in　the　local　phrase；　derange　herself。　　Mrs。
Church；　beneath　her　modest　little　bonnet；　looked　very　serious；　but
not　at　all　fluttered；　she　came　straight　to　her　daughter；　who　received
her　with　a　smile；　and　then　she　looked　all　round　at　the　rest　of　us；
very　fixedly　and　tranquilly；　without　bowing。　　I　must　do　both　these
ladies　the　justice　to　mention　that　neither　of　them　made　the　least
little　〃scene。〃

〃I　have　come　for　you；　dearest；〃　said　the　mother。

〃Yes；　dear　mamma。〃

〃Come　for　youcome　for　you；〃　Mrs。　Church　repeated；　looking　down　at
the　relics　of　our　little　feast。　　〃I　was　obliged　to　ask　Mr。　Ruck's
assistance。　　I　was　puzzled；　I　thought　a　long　time。〃

〃Well；　Mrs。　Church；　I　was　glad　to　see　you　puzzled　once　in　your　life！〃
said　Mr。　Ruck；　with　friendly　jocosity。　　〃But　you　came　pretty　straight
for　all　that。　　I　had　hard　work　to　keep　up　with　you。〃

〃We　will　take　a　cab；　Aurora；〃　Mrs。　Church　went　on；　without　heeding
this　pleasantry〃a　closed　one。　　Come；　my　daughter。〃

〃Yes；　dear　mamma。〃　　The　young　girl　was　blushing；　yet　she　was　still
smiling；　she　looked　round　at　us　all；　and；　as　her　eyes　met　mine；　I
thought　she　was　beautiful。　　〃Good…bye；〃　she　said　to　us。　　〃I　have　had
a　LOVELY　TIME。〃

〃We　must　not　linger；〃　said　her　mother；　〃it　is　five　o'clock。　　We　are
to　dine；　you　know；　with　Madame　Galopin。〃

〃I　had　quite　forgotten；〃　Aurora　declared。　　〃That　will　be　charming。〃

〃Do　you　want　me　to　assist　you　to　carry　her　back；　ma　am？〃　asked　Mr。
Ruck。

Mrs。　Church　hesitated　a　moment；　with　her　serene　little　gaze。　　〃Do　you
prefer；　then；　to　leave　your　daughter　to　finish　the　evening　with　these
gentlemen？〃

Mr。　Ruck　pushed　back　his　hat　and　scratched　the　top　of　his　head。
〃Well；　I　don't　know。　　How　would　you　like　that；　Sophy？〃

〃Well；　I　never！〃　exclaimed　Sophy；　as　Mrs。　Church　marched　off　with　her
daughter。



CHAPTER　VIII。



I　had　half　expected　that　Mrs。　Church　would　make　me　feel　the　weight　of
her　disapproval　of　my　own　share　in　that　little　act　of　revelry　in　the
English　Garden。　　But　she　maintained　her　claim　to　being　a　highly
reasonable　womanI　could　not　but　admire　the　justice　of　this
pretensionby　recognising　my　irresponsibility。　　I　had　taken　her
daughter　as　I　found　her；　which　was；　according　to　Mrs。　Church's　view；
in　a　very　equivocal　position。　　The　natural　instinct　of　a　young　man；
in　such　a　situation；　is　not　to　protest　but　to　profit；　and　it　was
clear　to　Mrs。　Church　that　I　had　had　nothing　to　do　with　Miss　Aurora's
appearing　in　public　under　the　insufficient　chaperonage　of　Miss　Ruck。
Besides；　she　liked　to　converse；　and　she　apparently　did　me　the　honour
to　believe　that　of　all　the　members　of　the　Pension　Beaurepas　I　had　the
most　cultivated　understanding。　　I　found　her　in　the　salon　a　couple　of
evenings　after　the　incident　I　have　just　narrated；　and　I　approached
her　with　a　view　of　making　my　peace　with　her；　if　this　should　prove
necessary。　　But　Mrs。　Church　was　as　gracious　as　I　could　have　desired；
she　put　her　marker　into　her　book；　and　folded　her　plump　little　hands
on　the　cover。　　She　made　no　specific　allusion　to　the　English　Garden；
she　embarked；　rather；　upon　those　general　considerations　in　which　her
refined　intellect　was　so　much　at　home。

〃Always　at　your　studies；　Mrs。　Church；〃　I　ventured　to　observe。

〃Que　voulez…vous？　　To　say　studies　is　to　say　too　much；　one　doesn't
study　in　the　parlour　of　a　boarding…house。　　But　I　do　what　I　can；　I
have　always　done　what　I　can。　　That　is　all　I　have　ever　claimed。〃

〃No　one　can　do　more；　and　you　seem　to　have　done　a　great　deal。〃

〃Do　you　know　my　secret？〃　she　asked；　with　an　air　of　brightening
confidence。　　And　she　paused　a　moment　before　she　imparted　her　secret
〃To　care　only　for　the　BEST！　　To　do　the　best；　to　know　the　bestto
have；　to　desire；　to　recognise；　only　the　best。　　That's　what　I　have
always　done；　in　my　quiet　little　way。　　I　have　gone　through　Europe　on
my　devoted　little　errand；　seeking；　seeing；　heeding；　only　the　best。
And　it　has　not　been　for　myself　alone；　it　has　been　for　my　daughter。
My　daughter　has　had　the　best。　　We　are　not　rich；　but　I　can　say　that。〃

〃She　has　had　you；　madam；〃　I　rejoined　finely。

〃Certainly；　such　as　I　am；　I　have　been　devoted。　　We　have　got　something
everywhere；　a　little　here；　a　little　there。　　That's　the　real　secret
to　get　something　everywhere；　you　always　can　if　you　are　devoted。
Sometimes　it　has　been　a　little　music；　sometimes　a　little　deeper
insight　into　the　history　of　art；　every　little　counts　you　know。
Sometimes　it　has　been　just　a　glimpse；　a　view；　a　lovely　landscape；　an
impression。　　We　have　always　been　on　the　look…out。　　Sometimes　it　has
been　a　valued　friendship；　a　delightful　social　tie。〃

〃Here　comes　the　'European　society；'　the　poor　daughter's　bugbear；〃　I
said　to　myself。　　〃Certainly；〃　I　remarked　aloudI　admit；　rather
perversely〃if　you　have　lived　a　great　deal　in　pensions；　you　must
have　got　acquainted　with　lots　of　people。〃

Mrs。　Church　dropped　her　eyes　a　moment；　and　then；　with　considerable
gravity；　〃I　think　the　European　pension　system　in　many　respects
remarkable；　and　in　some　satisfactory。　　But　of　the　friendships　that　we
have　formed；　few　have　been　contracted　in　establishments　of　this
kind。〃

〃I　am　sorry　to　hear　that！〃　I　said；　laughing。

〃I　don't　say　it　for　you；　though　I　might　say　it　for　some　others。　　We
have　been　interested　in　European　homes。〃

〃Oh；　I　see！〃

〃We　have　the　entree　of　the　old　Genevese　society　I　like　its　tone。　　I
prefer　it　to　that　of　Mr。　Ruck；〃　added　Mrs。　Church；　calmly；　〃to　that
of　Mrs。　Ruck　and　Miss　Ruckof　Miss　Ruck　especially。〃

〃Ah；　the　poor　Rucks　haven't　any　tone　at　all；〃　I　said　〃Don't　take　them
more　seriously　than　they　take　themselves。〃

〃Tell　me　this；〃　my　companion　rejoined；　〃are　they　fair　examples？〃

〃Examples　of　what？〃

〃Of　our　American　tendencies。〃

〃'Tendencies'　is　a　big　word；　dear　lady；　tendencies　are　difficult　to
calculate。　　And　you　shouldn't　abuse　those　good　Rucks；　who　have　been
very　kind　to　your　daughter。　　They　have　invited　her　to　go　and　stay
with　them　in　Thirty…Seventh　Street。〃

〃Aurora　has　told　me。　　It　might　be　very　serious。〃

〃It　might　be　very　droll；〃　I　said。

〃To　me；〃　declared　Mrs。　Church；　〃it　is　simply　terrible。　　I　think　we
shall　have　to　leave　the　Pension　Beaurepas。　　I　shall　go　back　to　Madame
Chamousset。〃

〃On　account　of　the　Rucks？〃　I　asked。

〃Pray；　why　don't　they　go　themselves？　　I　have　given　them　some
excellent　addresseswritten　down　the　very　hours　of　the　trains。　　They
were　going　to　Appenzell；　I　thought　it　was　arranged。〃

〃They　talk　of　Chamouni　now；〃　I　said；　〃but　they　are　very　helpless　and
undecided。〃

〃I　will　give　them　some　Chamouni　addresses。　　Mrs。　Ruck　will　send　a
chaise　a　porteurs；　I　will　give　her　the　name　of　a　man　who　lets　them
lower　than　you　get　them　at　the　hotels。　　After　that　they　MUST　go。〃

〃Well；　I　doubt；〃　I　observed；　〃whether　Mr。　Ruck　will　ever　really　be
seen　on　the　Mer　de　Glacein　a　high　hat。　　He's　not　like　you；　he
doesn't　value　his　European　privileges。　　He　takes　no　interest。　　He
regrets　Wall　Street；　acutely。　　As　his　wife　says；　he　is　very　restless；
but　he　has　no　curiosity　about　Chamouni。　　So　you　must　not　depend　too
much　on　the　effect　of　your　addresses。〃

〃Is　it　a　frequent　type？〃　asked　Mrs。　Church；　with　an　air　of　self…
control。

〃I　am　afraid　so。　　Mr。　Ruck　is　a　broken…down　man　of　business。　　He　is
broken　down　in　health；　and　I　suspect　he　is　broken　down　in　fortune。
He　has　spent　his　whole　life　in　buying　and　selling；　he　knows　how　to　do
nothing　else。　　His　wife　and　daughter　have　spent　their　lives；　not　in
selling；　but　in　buying；　and　they；　on　their　side；　know　how　to　do
nothing　else。　　To　get　something　in　a　shop　that　they　can　put　on　their
backsthat　is　their　one　idea；　they　haven't　another　in　their　heads。
Of　course　they　spend　no　end　of　money；　and　they　do　it　with　an
implacable　persistence；　with　a　mixture　of　audacity　and　of　cunning。
They　do　it　in　his　teeth　and　they　do　it　behind　his　back；　the　mother
protects　the　daughter；　and　the　daughter　eggs　on　the　mother。　　Between
them　they　are　bleeding　him　to　death。〃

〃Ah；　what　a　p