the pension beaurepas-第9章

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protects　the　daughter；　and　the　daughter　eggs　on　the　mother。　　Between
them　they　are　bleeding　him　to　death。〃

〃Ah；　what　a　picture！〃　murmured　Mrs。　Church。　　〃I　am　afraid　they　are
very…uncultivated。〃

〃I　share　your　fears。　　They　are　perfectly　ignorant；　they　have　no
resources。　　The　vision　of　fine　clothes　occupies　their　whole
imagination。　　They　have　not　an　ideaeven　a　worse　oneto　compete
with　it。　　Poor　Mr。　Ruck；　who　is　extremely　good…natured　and　soft；
seems　to　me　a　really　tragic　figure。　　He　is　getting　bad　news　every　day
from　home；　his　business　is　going　to　the　dogs。　　He　is　unable　to　stop
it；　he　has　to　stand　and　watch　his　fortunes　ebb。　　He　has　been　used　to
doing　things　in　a　big　way；　and　he　feels　mean；　if　he　makes　a　fuss
about　bills。　　So　the　ladies　keep　sending　them　in。〃

〃But　haven't　they　common　sense？　　Don't　they　know　they　are　ruining
themselves？〃

〃They　don't　believe　it。　　The　duty　of　an　American　husband　and　father
is　to　keep　them　going。　　If　he　asks　them　how；　that's　his　own　affair。
So；　by　way　of　not　being　mean；　of　being　a　good　American　husband　and
father；　poor　Ruck　stands　staring　at　bankruptcy。〃

Mrs。　Church　looked　at　me　a　moment；　in　quickened　meditation。　　〃Why；　if
Aurora　were　to　go　to　stay　with　them；　she　might　not　even　be　properly
fed！〃

〃I　don't；　on　the　whole；　recommend；〃　I　said；　laughing；　〃that　your
daughter　should　pay　a　visit　to　Thirty…Seventh　Street。〃

〃Why　should　I　be　subjected　to　such　trialsso　sadly　eprouvee？　　Why
should　a　daughter　of　mine　like　that　dreadful　girl？〃

〃DOES　she　like　her？〃

〃Pray；　do　you　mean；〃　asked　my　companion；　softly；　〃that　Aurora　is　a
hypocrite？〃

I　hesitated　a　moment。　　〃A　little；　since　you　ask　me。　　I　think　you　have
forced　her　to　be。〃

Mrs。　Church　answered　this　possibly　presumptuous　charge　with　a
tranquil；　candid　exultation。　　〃I　never　force　my　daughter！〃

〃She　is　nevertheless　in　a　false　position；〃　I　rejoined。　　〃She　hungers
and　thirsts　to　go　back　to　her　own　country；　she　wants　'to　come'　out　in
New　York；　which　is　certainly；　socially　speaking；　the　El　Dorado　of
young　ladies。　　She　likes　any　one；　for　the　moment；　who　will　talk　to
her　of　that；　and　serve　as　a　connecting…link　with　her　native　shores。
Miss　Ruck　performs　this　agreeable　office。〃

〃Your　idea　is；　then；　that　if　she　were　to　go　with　Miss　Ruck　to　America
she　would　drop　her　afterwards。〃

I　complimented　Mrs。　Church　upon　her　logical　mind；　but　I　repudiated
this　cynical　supposition。　　〃I　can't　imagine　herwhen　it　should　come
to　the　pointembarking　with　the　famille　Ruck。　　But　I　wish　she　might
go；　nevertheless。〃

Mrs。　Church　shook　her　head　serenely；　and　smiled　at　my　inappropriate
zeal。　　〃I　trust　my　poor　child　may　never　be　guilty　of　so　fatal　a
mistake。　　She　is　completely　in　error；　she　is　wholly　unadapted　to　the
peculiar　conditions　of　American　life。　　It　would　not　please　her。　　She
would　not　sympathise。　　My　daughter's　ideal　is　not　the　ideal　of　the
class　of　young　women　to　which　Miss　Ruck　belongs。　　I　fear　they　are
very　numerous；　they　give　the　tonethey　give　the　tone。〃

〃It　is　you　that　are　mistaken；〃　I　said；　〃go　home　for　six　months　and
see。〃

〃I　have　not；　unfortunately；　the　means　to　make　costly　experiments。　　My
daughter　has　had　great　advantagesrare　advantagesand　I　should　be
very　sorry　to　believe　that　au　fond　she　does　not　appreciate　them。　　One
thing　is　certain：　　I　must　remove　her　from　this　pernicious　influence。
We　must　part　company　with　this　deplorable　family。　　If　Mr。　Ruck　and
his　ladies　cannot　be　induced　to　go　to　Chamounia　journey　that　no
traveller　with　the　smallest　self…respect　would　omitmy　daughter　and
I　shall　be　obliged　to　retire。　　We　shall　go　to　Dresden。〃

〃To　Dresden？〃

〃The　capital　of　Saxony。　　I　had　arranged　to　go　there　for　the　autumn；
but　it　will　be　simpler　to　go　immediately。　　There　are　several　works　in
the　gallery　with　which　my　daughter　has　not；　I　think；　sufficiently
familiarised　herself；　it　is　especially　strong　in　the　seventeenth
century　schools。〃

As　my　companion　offered　me　this　information　I　perceived　Mr。　Ruck　come
lounging　in；　with　his　hands　in　his　pockets；　and　his　elbows　making
acute　angles。　　He　had　his　usual　anomalous　appearance　of　both　seeking
and　avoiding　society；　and　he　wandered　obliquely　toward　Mrs。　Church；
whose　last　words　he　had　overheard。　　〃The　seventeenth　century
schools；〃　he　said；　slowly；　as　if　he　were　weighing　some　very　small
object　in　a　very　large…pair　of　scales。　　〃Now；　do　you　suppose　they　HAD
schools　at　that　period？〃

Mrs。　Church　rose　with　a　good　deal　of　precision；　making　no　answer　to
this　incongruous　jest。　　She　clasped　her　large　volume　to　her　neat
little　bosom；　and　she　fixed　a　gentle；　serious　eye　upon　Mr。　Ruck。

〃I　had　a　letter　this　morning　from　Chamouni；〃　she　said。

〃Well；〃　replied　Mr。　Ruck；　〃I　suppose　you've　got　friends　all　over。〃

〃I　have　friends　at　Chamouni；　but　they　are　leaving。　　To　their　great
regret。〃　　I　had　got　up；　too；　I　listened　to　this　statement；　and　I
wondered。　　I　am　almost　ashamed　to　mention　the　subject　of　my
agitation。　　I　asked　myself　whether　this　was　a　sudden　improvisation；
consecrated　by　maternal　devotion；　but　this　point　has　never　been
elucidated。　　〃They　are　giving　up　some　charming　rooms；　perhaps　you
would　like　them。　　I　would　suggest　your　telegraphing。　　The　weather　is
glorious；〃　continued　Mrs。　Church；　〃and　the　highest　peaks　are　now
perceived　with　extraordinary　distinctness。〃

Mr。　Ruck　listened；　as　he　always　listened；　respectfully。　　〃Well；〃　he
said；　〃I　don't　know　as　I　want　to　go　up　Mount　Blank。　　That's　the
principal　attraction；　isn't　it？〃

〃There　are　many　others。　　I　thought　I　would　offer　you　anan
exceptional　opportunity。〃

〃Well；〃　said　Mr。　Ruck；　〃you're　right　down　friendly。　　But　I　seem　to
have　more　opportunities　than　I　know　what　to　do　with。　　I　don't　seem
able　to　take　hold。〃

〃It　only　needs　a　little　decision；〃　remarked　Mrs。　Church；　with　an　air
which　was　an　admirable　example　of　this　virtue。　　〃I　wish　you　good…
night；　sir。〃　　And　she　moved　noiselessly　away。

Mr。　Ruck；　with　his　long　legs　apart；　stood　staring　after　her；　then　he
transferred　his　perfectly　quiet　eyes　to　me。　　〃Does　she　own　a　hotel
over　there？〃　he　asked。　　〃Has　she　got　any　stock　in　Mount　Blank？〃



CHAPTER　IX。



The　next　day　Madame　Beaurepas　handed　me；　with　her　own　elderly
fingers；　a　missive；　which　proved　to　be　a　telegram。　　After　glancing　at
it；　I　informed　her　that　it　was　apparently　a　signal　for　my　departure；
my　brother　had　arrived　in　England；　and　proposed　to　me　to　meet　him
there；　he　had　come　on　business；　and　was　to　spend　but　three　weeks　in
Europe。　　〃But　my　house　empties　itself！〃　cried　the　old　woman。　　〃The
famille　Ruck　talks　of　leaving　me；　and　Madame　Church　nous　fait　la
reverence。〃

〃Mrs。　Church　is　going　away？〃

〃She　is　packing　her　trunk；　she　is　a　very　extraordinary　person。　　Do
you　know　what　she　asked　me　this　morning？　　To　invent　some　combination
by　which　the　famille　Ruck　should　move　away。　　I　informed　her　that　I
was　not　an　inventor。　　That　poor　famille　Ruck！　　'Oblige　me　by　getting
rid　of　them；'　said　Madame　Church；　as　she　would　have　asked　Celestine
to　remove　a　dish　of　cabbage。　　She　speaks　as　if　the　world　were　made
for　Madame　Church。　　I　intimated　to　her　that　if　she　objected　to　the
company　there　was　a　very　simple　remedy；　and　at　present　elle　fait　ses
paquets。〃

〃She　really　asked　you　to　get　the　Rucks　out　of　the　house？〃

〃She　asked　me　to　tell　them　that　their　rooms　had　been　let；　three
months　ago；　to　another　family。　　She　has　an　APLOMB！〃

Mrs。　Church's　aplomb　caused　me　considerable　diversion；　I　am　not　sure
that　it　was　not；　in　some　degree；　to　laugh　over　it　at　my　leisure　that
I　went　out　into　the　garden　that　evening　to　smoke　a　cigar。　　The　night
was　dark　and　not　particularly　balmy；　and　most　of　my　fellow…
pensioners；　after　dinner；　had　remained　in…doors。　　A　long　straight
walk　conducted　from　the　door　of　the　house　to　the　ancient　grille　that
I　have　described；　and　I　stood　here　for　some　time；　looking　through　the
iron　bars　at　the　silent　empty　street。　　The　prospect　was　not
entertaining；　and　I　presently　turned　away。　　At　this　moment　I　saw；　in
the　distance；　the　door　of　the　house　open　and　throw　a　shaft　of
lamplight　into　the　darkness。　　Into　the　lamplight　there　stepped　the
figure　of　a　female；　who　presently　closed　the　door　behind　her。　　She
disappeared　in　the　dusk　of　the　garden；　and　I　had　seen　her　but　for　an
instant；　but　I　remained　under　the　impression　that　Aurora　Church；　on
the　eve　of　her　departure；　had　come　out　for　a　meditative　stroll。

I　lingered　near　the　gate；　keeping　the　red　tip　of　my　cigar　turned
toward　the　house；　and　before　long　a　young　lady　emerged　from　among　the
shadows　of　the　trees　and　encountered　the　light　of　a　lamp　that　stood
just　outside　the　gate。　　It　was　in　fact　Aurora　Church；　but　she　seemed
more　bent　upon　conversation　than　upon　meditation。　　She　stood　a　moment
looking　at　me；　and　then　she　said；　…

〃Ought　I　to　retireto　return　to　the　house？〃

〃If　you　ought；　I　should　be　very　sorry　to　tell　you　so；〃　I　answered。

〃But　we　are　all　alone；　there　is　no　one　else　in　the　garden。〃

〃It　is　not　the　first　time　that　I　have　been　alone　with　a　young　lady。
I　am　not　at　all　terrified。〃

〃Ah；　but　I？〃　said　the　young　girl。　　〃I　have　never　been　alone〃　then；
quickly；　she　interrupted　herself。　　〃Good；　there's　another　false
note！〃

〃Yes；　I　am　obliged　to　admit　that　one　is　very　false。〃

She　stood　looking　at　me。　　〃I　am　going　away　to…morrow；　after　that
there　will　be　no　one　to　tell　me。〃



CHAPTER　X。



〃That　will　matter　little；〃　I　presently　replied。　　〃Telling　you　will　do
no　good。〃

〃Ah；　why　do　you　say　that？〃　murmured　Aurora　Church。

I　said　it　partly　because　it　was　true；　but　I　said　it　for　other　reasons
as　well；　which　it　was　hard　to　define。　　Standing　there　bare…headed；　in
the　night　air；　in　the　vague　light；　this　young　lady　looked　extremely
interesting；　and　the　interest　of　her　appearance　was　not　diminished　by
a　suspicion　on　my　own　part　that　she　had　come　into　the　garden　knowing
me　to　be　there。　　I　thought　her　a　charming　girl；　and　I　felt　very　sorry
for　her；　but；　as　I　looked　at　her；　the　terms　in　which　Madame　Beaurepas
had　ventured　to　characterise　her　recurred　to　me　with　a　certain　force。
I　had　professed　a　contempt　for　them　at　the　time；　but　it　now　came　into
my　head　that　perhaps　this　unfortunately　situated；　this　insidiously
mutinous　young　creature；　was　looking　out　for　a　preserver。　　She　was
certainly　not　a　girl　to　throw　herself　at　a　man's　head；　but　it　was
possible　that　in　her　intenseher　almost　morbid…desire　to　put　into
effect　an　ideal　which　was　perhaps　after　all　charged　with　as　many
fallacies　as　her　mother　affirmed；　she　might　do　something　reckless　and
irregularsomething　in　which　a　sympathetic　compatriot；　as　yet
unknown；　would　find　his　profit。　　The　image；　unshaped　though　it　was；
of　this　sympathetic　compatriot；　filled　me　with　a　sort　of　envy。　　For
some　moments　I　was　silent；　conscious　of　these　things；　and　then　I
answered　her　question。　　〃Because　some　thingssome　differences　are
felt；　not　learned。　　To　you　liberty　is　not　natural；　you　are　like　a
person　who　has　bought　a　repeater；　and；　in　his　satisfaction；　is
constantly　making　it　sound。　　To　a　real　American　girl　her　liberty　is　a
very　vulgarly…ticking　old　clock。〃

〃Ah；　you　mean；　then；〃　said　the　poor　girl；　〃that　my　mother　has　ruined
me？〃

〃Ruined　you？〃

〃She　has　so　perverted　my　mind；　that　when