an open-eyed conspiracy-第7章

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would　be　amusing；　she　would　turn　it　to　account　and　make　it　seem
humorous。　　But　it　doesn't　seem　to　go　with　her　beauty；　it　takes　away
from　thatI　don't　know　how　to　express　it　exactly。〃

〃You　mean　that　she　has　no　charm。〃

〃No；　I　don't　mean　that　at　all。　　She　has　a　great　deal　of　charm　of　a
certain　kind；　but　it's　a　very　peculiar　kind。　　After　all；　the　truth
is　the　truth；　Basil；　isn't　it？〃

〃It　is　sometimes；　my　dear；〃　I　assented。

〃And　the　truth　has　its　charm；　even　when　it's　too　blunt。〃

〃Ah；　I'm　not　so　sure　of　that。〃

〃Yesyes；　it　has。　　You　mustn't　say　so；　Basil；　or　I　shall　lose　all
my　faith　in　you。　　If　I　couldn't　trust　you；　I　don't　know　what　I
should　do。〃

〃What　are　you　after　now；　Isabel？〃

〃I　am　not　after　anything。　　I　want　you　to　go　round　to　all　the　hotels
and　see　if　there　is　not　some　young　man　you　know　at　one　of　them。
There　surely　must　be。〃

〃Would　one　young　man　be　enough？〃

〃If　he　were　attentive　enough；　he　would　be。　　One　young　man　is　as　good
as　a　thousand　if　the　girl　is　the　right　kind。〃

〃But　you　have　just　been　implying　that　Miss　Gage　is　cold　and　selfish
and　greedy。　　Shall　I　go　round　exploring　hotel　registers　for　a　victim
to　such　a　divinity　as　that？〃

〃No；　you　needn't　go　till　I　have　had　a　talk　with　her。　　I　am　not　sure
she　is　worth　it；　I　am　not　sure　that　I　want　to　do　a　single　thing　for
her。〃



CHAPTER　VII



The　next　day；　after　another　forenoon's　shopping　with　her　friends；
Mrs。　March　announced：　　〃Well；　now；　it　has　all　come　out；　Basil；　and　I
wonder　you　didn't　get　the　secret　at　once　from　your　Mr。　Deering。
Have　you　been　supposing　that　Miss　Gage　was　a　poor　girl　whom　the
Deerings　had　done　the　favour　of　bringing　with　them？〃

〃Why；　what　of　it？〃　I　asked　provisionally。

〃She　is　very　well　off。　　Her　father　is　not　only　the　president；　as
they　call　it；　of　the　village；　but　he's　the　president　of　the　bank。〃

〃Yes；　I　told　you　that　Deering　told　me　so〃

〃But　he　is　very　queer。　　He　has　kept　her　very　close　from　the　other
young　people；　and　Mrs。　Deering　is　the　only　girl　friend　she's　ever
had；　and　she's　grown　up　without　having　been　anywhere　without　him。
They　had　to　plead　with　him　to　let　her　come　with　themor　Mrs。
Deering　had；but　when　he　once　consented；　he　consented　handsomely。
He　gave　her　a　lot　of　money；　and　told　them　he　wanted　her　to　have　the
best　time　that　money　could　buy；　and　of　course　you　can　understand　how
such　a　man　would　think　that　money　would　buy　a　good　time　anywhere。
But　the　Deerings　didn't　know　how　to　go　about　it。　　She　confessed　as
much　when　we　were　talking　the　girl　over。　　I　could　see　that　she　stood
in　awe　of　her　somehow　from　the　beginning；　and　that　she　felt　more
than　the　usual　responsibility　for　her。　　That　was　the　reason　she　was
so　eager　to　get　her　husband　off　home；　as　long　as　he　was　with　them
she　would　have　to　work　everything　through　him；　and　that　would　be
double　labour；　because　he　is　so　hopelessly　villaginous；　don't　you
know；　that　he　never　could　rise　to　the　conception　of　anything　else。
He　took　them　to　a　cheap；　second…class　hotel；　and　he　was　afraid　to　go
with　them　anywhere　because　he　never　was　sure　that　it　was　the　right
thing　to　do；　and　he　was　too　proud　to　ask；　and　they　had　to　keep
prodding　him　all　the　time。〃

〃That's　delightful！〃

〃Oh；　I　dare　say　you　think　so；　but　if　you　knew　how　it　wounded　a
woman's　self…respect　you　would　feel　differently；　or　you　wouldn't；
rather。　　But　now；　thank　goodness；　they've　got　him　off　their　hands；
and　they　can　begin　to　breathe　freely。　　That　is；　Mrs。　Deering　could；
if　she　hadn't　her　heart　in　her　mouth　all　the　time；　wondering　what
she　can　do　for　the　girl；　and　bullying　herself　with　the　notion　that
she　is　to　blame　if　she　doesn't　have　a　good　time。　　You　can　understand
just　how　it　was　with　them　always。　　Mrs。　Deering　is　one　of　those　meek
little　things　that　a　great；　splendid；　lonely　creature　like　Miss　Gage
would　take　to　in　a　small　place；　and　perfectly　crush　under　the　weight
of　her　confidence；　and　she　would　want　to　make　her　husband　live　up　to
her　ideal　of　the　girl；　and　would　be　miserable　because　he　wouldn't　or
couldn't。〃

〃I　believe　the　good　Deering　didn't　even　think　her　handsome。〃

〃That's　it。　　And　he　thought　anything　that　was　good　enough　for　his
wife　was　good　enough　for　Miss　Gage；　and　he'd　be　stubborn　about　doing
things　on　her　account；　even　to　please　his　wife。〃

〃Such　conduct　is　imaginable　of　the　good　Deering。　　I　don't　think　he
liked　her。〃

〃Nor　she　him。　　Mrs。　Deering　helplessly　hinted　as　much。　　She　said　he
didn't　like　to　have　her　worrying　so　much　about　Miss　Gage's　not
having　a　good　time；　and　she　couldn't　make　him　feel　as　she　did　about
it；　and　she　was　half　glad　for　his　own　sake　that　he　had　to　go　home。〃

〃Did　she　say　that？〃

〃Not　exactly；　but　you　could　see　that　she　meant　it。　　Do　you　think　it
would　do　for　them　to　change　from　their　hotel；　and　go　to　the　Grand
Union　or　the　States　or　Congress　Hall？〃

〃Have　you　been　putting　them　up　to　that；　Isabel？〃

〃I　knew　you　would　suspect　me；　and　I　wouldn't　have　asked　for　your
opinion　if　I　had　cared　anything　for　it；　really。　　What　would　be　the
harm　of　their　doing　it？〃

〃None　whatever；　if　you　really　want　my　worthless　opinion。　　But　what
could　they　do　there？〃

〃They　could　see　something　if　they　couldn't　do　anything；　and　as　soon
as　Miss　Gage　has　got　her　new　gowns　I'm　going　to　tell　them　you
thought　they　could　do　it。　　It　was　their　own　idea；　at　any　rate。〃

''Miss　Gage's？〃

〃Mrs。　Deering's。　　She　has　the　courage　of　aI　don't　know　what。　　She
sees　that　it's　a　desperate　case；　and　she　wouldn't　stop　at　anything。〃

〃Now　that　her　husband　has　gone　home。〃

〃Well；　which　hotel　shall　they　go　to？〃

〃Oh；　that　requires　reflection。〃

〃Very　well；　then；　when　you've　reflected　I　want　you　to　go　to　the
hotel　you've　chosen；　and　introduce　yourself　to　the　clerk；　and　tell
him　your　wife　has　two　friends　coming；　and　you　want　something　very
pleasant　for　them。　　Tell　him　all　about　yourself　and　Every　Other
Week。〃

〃He'll　think　I　want　them　deadheaded。〃

〃No　matter；　if　your　conscience　is　clear；　and　don't　be　so　shamefully
modest　as　you　always　are；　but　speak　up　boldly。　　Now；　will　you？
Promise　me　you　will！〃

〃I　will　try；　as　the　good　little　boy　says。　　But；　Isabel；　we　don't
know　these　people　except　from　their　own　account。〃

〃And　that　is　quite　enough。〃

〃It　will　be　quite　enough　for　the　hotel…keeper　if　they　run　their
board。　　I　shall　have　to　pay　it。〃

〃Now；　Basil　dear；　don't　be　disgusting；　and　go　and　do　as　you're　bid。〃

It　was　amusing；　but　it　was　perfectly　safe；　and　there　was　no　reason
why　I　should　not　engage　rooms　for　the　ladies　at　another　hotel。　　I
had　not　the　least　question　of　them；　and　I　had　failed　to　worry　my
wife　with　a　pretended　doubt。　　So　I　decided　that　I　would　go　up　at
once　and　inquire　at　the　Grand　Union。　　I　chose　this　hotel　because；
though　it　lacked　the　fine　flower　of　the　more　ancient　respectability
and　the　legendary　charm　of　the　States；　it　was　so　spectacular　that　it
would　be　in　itself　a　perpetual　excitement　for　those　ladies；　and
would　form　an　effect　of　society　which；　with　some　help　from　us；　might
very　well　deceive　them。　　This　was　what　I　said　to　myself；　though　in
my　heart　I　knew　better。　　Whatever　Mrs。　Deering　might　think；　that
girl　was　not　going　to　be　taken　in　with　any　such　simple　device；　and　I
must　count　upon　the　daily　chances　in　the　place　to　afford　her　the
good　time　she　had　come　for。

As　I　mounted　the　steps　to　the　portico　of　the　Grand　Union　with　my
head　down；　and　lost　in　a　calculation　of　these　chances；　I　heard　my
name　gaily　called；　and　I　looked　up　to　see　young　Kendricks；　formerly
of　our　staff　on　Every　Other　Week；　and　still　a　frequent　contributor；
and　a　great　favourite　of　my　wife's　and　my　own。　　My　heart　gave　a
great　joyful　bound　at　sight　of　him。

〃My　dear　boy；　when　in　the　world　did　you　come？〃

〃This　morning　by　the　steamboat　train；　and　I　am　never；　never　going
away！〃

〃You　like　it；　then？〃

〃Like　it！　　It's　the　most　delightful　thing　in　the　universe。　　Why；　I'm
simply　wild　about　it；　Mr。　March。　　I　go　round　saying　to　myself；　Why
have　I　thrown　away　my　life？　　Why　have　I　never　come　to　Saratoga
before？　　It's　simply　supreme；　and　it's　American　down　to　the　ground。
Yes；　that's　what　makes　it　so　delightful。　　No　other　people　could　have
invented　it；　and　it　doesn't　try　to　be　anything　but　what　we　made　it。〃

〃I'm　so　glad　you　look　at　it　in　that　way。　　WE　like　it。　　We　discovered
it　three　or　four　years　ago；　and　we　never　let　a　summer　slip；　if　we
can　help　it；　without　coming　here　for　a　week　or　a　month。　　The　place；〃
I　enlarged；　〃has　the　charm　of　ruin；　though　it's　in　such　obvious
repair；　it　has　a　past；　it's　so　completely　gone　by　in　a　society
sense。　　The　cottage　life　here　hasn't　killed　the　hotel　life；　as　it
has　at　Newport　and　Bar　Harbour；　but　the　ideal　of　cottage　life
everywhere　else　has　made　hotel　life　at　Saratoga　ungenteel。　　The
hotels　are　full；　but　at　the　same　time　they　are　society　solitudes。〃

〃How　gay　it　is！〃　said　the　young　fellow；　as　he　gazed　with　a　pensive
smile　into　the　street；　where　all　those　festive　vehicles　were　coming
and　going；　dappled　by　the　leaf…shadows　from　the　tall　trees　overhead。
〃What　air！　what　a　sky！〃　　The　one　was　indeed　sparkling；　and　the　other
without　a　cloud；　for　it　had　rained　in　the　night；　and　it　seemed　as　if
the　weather　could　never　be　hot　and　close　again。

I　forgot　how　I　had　been　sweltering　about；　and　said：　　〃Yes；　it　is　a
Saratoga　day。　　It's　supposed　that　the　sparkle　of　the　air　comes　from
the　healthful　gases　thrown　off　by　the　springs。　　Some　people　say　the
springs　are　doctored；　that's　what　makes　their　gases　so　healthful。〃

〃Why；　anything　might　happen　here；〃　Kendricks　mused；　unheedful　of　me。
〃What　a　scene！　what　a　stage！　　Why　has　nobody　done　a　story　about
Saratoga？〃　he　asked；　with　a　literary　turn　I　knew　his　thoughts　would
be　taking。　　All　Gerald　Kendricks's　thoughts　were　of　literature；　but
sometimes　they　were　not　of　immediate　literary　effect；　though　that
was　never　for　long。

〃Because；〃　I　suggested；　〃one　probably　couldn't　get　his　young　lady
characters　to　come　here　if　they　were　at　all　in　society。　　But　of
course　there　must　be　charming　presences　here　accidentally。　　Some
young　girl；　say；　might　come　here　from　a　country　place；　expecting　to
see　social　gaiety〃

〃Ah；　but　that　would　be　too　heart…breaking！〃

〃Not　at　all。　　Not　if　she　met　some　young　fellow　accidentallydon't
you　see？〃

〃It　would　be　difficult　to　manage；　and　hasn't　it　been　done？〃

〃Everything　has　been　done；　my　dear　fellow。　　Or；　you　might　suppose　a
young　lady　who　comes　on　here　with　her　father；　a　veteran　politician；
delegate　to　the　Republican　or　Democratic　conventionall　the
conventions　meet　in　Saratoga；and　some　ardent　young　delegate　falls
in　love　with　her。　　That　would　be　new　ground。　　There　you　would　have
the　political　novel；　which　they　wonder　every　now　and　then　some　of　us
don't　write。〃　　The　smile　faded　from　Kendricks's　lips；　and　I　laughed。
〃Well；　then；　there's　nothing　for　it　but　the　Social　Science　Congress。
Have　a　brilliant　professor　win　the　heart　of　a　lovely　sister…in…law
of　another　member　by　a　paper　he　reads　before　the　Congress。　　No？
You're　difficult。　　Are　you　stopping　here？〃

〃Yes；　are　you？〃

〃I　try　to　give　myself　the　air　of　it　when　I　am　feeling　very　proud。
But　really；　we　live　at　a　most　charming　little　hotel　on　a　back
street；　out　of　the　whirl　and　rush　that　we　should　pref