frances waldeaux-第2章

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t　he　had　laughed　at　her。　　〃That　dark　haze　is　the　Jersey　shore；〃　he　said。　　〃How　dim　it　grows！　　Well；　we　are　really　out　now　in　the　big　world！　　It　is　so　good　to　be　alone　there　with　you；〃　he　added；　touching　her　arm　affectionately。　　〃Those　cynical　old…men…boys　at　Harvard　bored　me。〃

〃I　don't　bore　you；　then；　George？〃

〃You！〃　　He　was　very　anxious　to　make　her　forget　his　roughness。　　〃Apart　from　my　affection　for　you；　mother；〃　he　said　judicially；　〃I　LIKE　you。　　I　approve　of　you　as　I　never　probably　shall　approve　of　another　woman。　　Your　peculiaritiesthe　way　your　brown　hair　ripples　back　into　that　knot　〃surveying　her　critically。　　〃And　the　way　you　always　look　as　if　you　had　just　come　out　of　a　bath；　even　on　a　grimy　train；　and　your　gowns；　so　simpleand　rich。　　I　confess；〃　he　said　gravely；　〃I　can't　always　follow　your　unsteady　little　ideas　when　you　talk。　　They　frisk　about　so。　　It　is　the　difference　probably　between　the　man's　mind　and　the　woman's。　　Besides；　we　have　been　separated　for　so　many　years！　　But　I　soon　will　understand　you。　　I　know　that　while　you　keep　yourself　apart　from　all　the　world　you　open　your　heart　to　me。〃

〃Wrap　the　rug　about　my　feet；　George；〃　she　said　hastily；　and　then　sent　him　away　upon　an　errand；　looking　after　him　uneasily。

It　was　very　pleasant　to　hear　her　boy　thus　formally　sum　up　his　opinion　of　her。　　But　when　he　found　that　it　was　based　upon　a　lie？

For　Frances；　candid　enough　to　the　world；　had　deceived　her　son　ever　since　he　was　born。

George　had　always　believed　that　she　had　inherited　a　fortune　from　his　father。　　It　gave　solidity　and　comfort　to　his　life　to　think　of　her　in　the　stately　old　mansion　on　the　shores　of　Delaware　Bay；　with　nothing　to　do　except　to　be　beautiful　and　gracious；　as　befitted　a　well…born　woman。　　It　pleased　him；　in　a　lofty；　generous　way；　that　his　father　（whom　she　had　taught　him　to　reverence　as　the　most　chivalric　of　gentlemen）　had　left　him　wholly　dependent　upon　her。　　It　was　a　legal　fiction；　of　course。　　He　was　the　heirthe　crown　prince。　　He　had　always　been　liberally　supplied　with　money　at　school　and　at　Harvard。　　Her　income　was　large。　　No　doubt　the　dear　soul　mismanaged　the　estates　fearfully；　but　now　he　would　have　leisure　to　take　care　of　them。

Now；　the　fact　was　that　Colonel　Waldeaux　had　been　a　drunken　spendthrift　who　had　left　nothing。　　The　house　and　farm　always　had　belonged　to　his　wife。　　She　had　supported　George　by　her　own　work　all　of　his　life。　　She　could　not　save　money；　but　she　had　the　rarer　faculty　of　making　it。　　She　had　raised　fine　fruit　and　flowers　for　the　Philadelphia　market；　she　had　traded　in　high　breeds　of　poultry　and　cattle；　and　had　invested　her　earnings　shrewdly。　　With　these　successes　she　had　been　able　to　provide　George　with　money　to　spend　freely　at　college。　　She　lived　scantily　at　home；　never　expecting　any　luxury　or　great　pleasure　to　come　into　her　own　life。

But　two　years　ago　a　queer　thing　had　happened　to　her。　　In　an　idle　hour　she　wrote　a　comical　squib　and　sent　it　to　a　New　York　paper。　　As　everybody　knows；　fun；　even　vulgar　fun；　sells　high　in　the　market。　　Her　fun　was　not　vulgar；　but　coarse　and　biting　enough　to　tickle　the　ears　of　the　common　reader。　　The　editor　offered　her　a　salary　equal　to　her　whole　income　for　a　weekly　column　of　such　fooling。

She　had　hoarded　every　penny　of　this　money。　　With　it　she　meant　to　pay　her　expenses　in　Europe　and　to　support　George　in　his　year　at　Oxford。　　The　work　and　the　salary　were　to　go　on　while　she　was　gone。

It　was　easy　enough　to　hide　all　of　these　things　from　her　son　while　he　was　in　Cambridge　and　she　in　Delaware。　　But　now？　　What　if　he　should　find　out　that　his　mother　was　the　Quigg〃　of　the　New　York　；　a　paper　which　he　declared　to　be　unfit　for　a　gentleman　to　read？

She　was　looking　out　to　sea　and　thinking　of　this　when　her　cousin；　Miss　Vance；　came　up　to　her。　　Miss　Vance　was　a　fashionable　teacher　in　New　York；　who　was　going　to　spend　a　year　abroad　with　two　wealthy　pupils。　　She　was　a　thin　woman；　quietly　dressed；　white　hair　and　black　brows；　with　gold　eye…glasses　bridging　an　aquiline　nose；　gave　her　a　commanding；　inquisitorial　air。

〃Well；　Frances！〃　she　began　briskly；　〃I　have　not　had　time　before　to　attend　to　you。　　Are　your　bags　hung　in　your　stateroom？〃

〃I　haven't　been　down　yet；〃　said　Mrs。　Waldeaux　meekly。　　〃We　were　watching　the　fog　in　the　sun。〃

〃Fog！　　Mercy　on　me！　　You　know　you　may　be　ill　any　minute；　and　your　room　not　ready！　　Of　course；　you　did　not　take　the　bromides　that　I　sent　you　a　week　ago？

〃No；　Clara。〃

Miss　Vance　glanced　at　her。　　〃Well；　just　as　you　please。　　I've　done　what　I　could。　　Let　me　look　at　your　itinerary。　　You　will　be　too　ill　for　me　to　advise　you　about　it　later。〃

〃Oh；　we　made　none！〃　said　George　gayly；　coming　up　to　his　mother's　aid。　　〃We　are　going　to　be　vagabonds；　and　have　no　plans。　　Mother's　soul　draws　us　to　York　Cathedral；　and　mine　to　the　National　Gallery。　　That　is　all　we　know。〃

〃I　thought　you　had　given　up　that　whim　of　being　an　artist？〃　said　Miss　Vance；　sharply　facing　on　him。

Young　Waldeaux　reddened。　　〃Yes；　I　have　given　it　up。　　I　know　as　well　as　you　do　that　I　have　no　talent。　　I　am　going　to　study　my　profession　at　Oxford；　and　earn　my　bread　by　it。〃

〃Quite　right。　　You　never　would　earn　it　by　art；〃　she　said　decisively。　　〃How　long　do　you　stay　in　York；　Frances？〃

〃Oh；　a　day；　or　a　monthoryears；　as　we　please；〃　said　Frances；　lazily　turning　her　head　away。　　She　wanted　to　set　Clara　Vance　down　in　her　proper　place。　　Mrs。　Waldeaux　abhorred　cousinly　intimatespeople　who　run　into　your　back　door　to　pry　into　the　state　of　your　larder　or　your　income。　　But　Miss　Vance；　as　Frances　knew；　unfortunately　held　a　key　to　her　back　door。　　She　knew　of　George's　wretched　daubs；　and　his　insane　desire；　when　he　was　a　boy；　to　study　art。　　He　gave　it　up　years　ago。　　Why　should　she　nag　him　now　about　it？　　By　virtue　of　her　relationship　she　knew；　too；　all　of　Mrs。　Waldeaux's　secrets。　　It　was　most　unfortunate　that　she　should　have　chosen　to　sail　on　this　vessel。

〃Well；　mother；〃　George　said；　uneasy　to　get　away；　〃no　doubt　Miss　Vance　is　right。　　We　should　set　things　in　order。　　I　am　going　now　to　give　my　letter　of　credit　to　the　purser　to　lock　up；　shall　I　take　yours？〃

Mrs。　Waldeaux　did　not　reply　at　once。　　〃No；〃　she　said　at　last。　　〃I　like　to　carry　my　own　purse。〃

He　smiled　indulgently　as　on　a　child。　　〃Of　course；　dear。　　It　IS　your　own。　　My　father　was　wise　in　that。　　But；　on　this　journey；　I　can　act　as　your　paymaster；　can't　I？　　I　have　studied　foreign　money〃

〃We　shall　see。　　I　can　keep　it　as　safe　as　any　purser　now；〃　she　said；　obstinately　shaking　her　head。

He　laughed　and　walked　away。

〃You　have　not　told　him；　then？〃　demanded　Clara。

〃No。　　And　I　never　will。　　I　will　not　hurt　the　boy　by　letting　him　know　that　his　mother　has　supported　him；　and　remember；　Clara；　that　he　can　only　hear　it　through　you。　　Nobody　knows　that　I　am　‘Quigg'　but　you。〃

Miss　Vance　lifted　her　eyebrows。　　〃Nothing　can　need　a　lie；〃　she　quoted　calmly。　　Presently　she　said　earnestly；　〃Frances；　you　are　making　a　mistake。　　Somebody　ought　to　tell　you　the　truth。　　There　is　no　reason　why　your　whole　being　should　be　buried　in　that　man。　　He　should　stand　on　his　own　feet；　now。　　You　can　be　all　that　he　needs　as　a　mother；　and　yet　live　out　your　own　life。　　It　is　broader　than　his　will　ever　be。　　At　your　age；　and　with　your　capabilities；　you　should　marry　again。　　Think　of　the　many　long　years　that　are　before　you。〃

〃I　have　thought　of　them；〃　said　Mrs。　Waldeaux　slowly。　　〃I　have　had　lovers　who　came　close　to　me　as　friends；　but　I　never　for　a　moment　was　tempted　to　marry　one　of　them。　　No；　Clara。　　When　the　devil　drove　my　father　to　hand　me　overinnocent　child　as　I　wasto　a　man　like　Robert　Waldeaux；　he　killed　in　me　the　capacity　for　that　kind　of　love。　　It　is　not　in　me。〃　　She　turned　her　strenuous　face　to　the　sea　and　was　silent。　　〃It　is　not　in　me；〃　she　repeated　after　a　while。　　〃I　have　but　one　feeling；　and　that　is　for　my　boy。　　It　is　growing　on　me　absurdly；　too。〃　　She　laughed　nervously。　　〃I　used　to　be　conscious　of　other　people　in　the　world；　but　now；　if　I　see　a　boy　or　man；　I　see　only　what　George　was　or　will　be　at　his　age；　if　I　read　a　book；　it　only　suggests　what　George　will　say　of　it。　　I　am　like　one　of　those　plants　that　have　lost　their　own　sap　and　color；　and　suck　in　their　life　from　another。　　It　scares　me　sometimes。〃

Miss　Vance　smiled　with　polite　contempt。　　No　doubt　Frances　had　a　shrewd　business　faculty；　but　in　other　matters　she　was　not　ten　years　old。

〃And　George　will　marry　some　time；〃　she　said　curtly。

〃Oh；　I　hope　so！　　And　soon。　　Then　I　shall　have　a　daughter。　　I　know　just　the　kind　of　a　wife　George　will　choose；〃　she　chattered　on　eagerly。　　〃I　understand　him　so　thoroughly　that　I　can　understand　her。　　But　where　could　he　find　her？　　He　is　so　absurdly　fastidious！〃

Miss　Vance　was　silent　and　thoughtful　a　moment。　　Then　she　came　closer。　　〃I　will　tell　you　where　to　find　her；〃　she　said；　in　a　low　voice。　　〃I　have　thought　of　it　for　a　long　time。　　It　seems　to　me　that　Providence　actually　made　Lucy　Dunbar　for　George。〃

〃Really？〃　　Mrs。　Waldeaux　drew　her　self　up　stiffly。

〃Wait；　Frances。　　Lucy　has　been　with　me　for　three　years。　　I　know　her。　　She　is　a　sincere；　modest；　happy　little　thing。　　Not　too　clever。　　She　is　an　heiress；　too。　　And　her　family　is　good；　and　all　underground；　which　is　another　advantage。　　You　can　mould　her　as　you　choose。　　She　loves　you　already。〃

〃Or　is　it　that　she？〃

〃You　have　no　right　to　ask　that！〃　said　Miss　Vance　quickly。

〃No；　I　am　ashamed　of　myself。〃　　Mrs。　Waldeaux　reddened。

A　group　of　girls　came　up　the　deck。　　Both　women　scanned　the　foremost　one　critically。　　〃I　like　that　wholesome；　candid　look　of　her；〃　said　Miss　Vance。

〃Oh；　she　is　well　enough；〃　said　Frances。　　〃But　I　am　sure　George　does　not　like　yellow　hair。　　Nothing　but　an　absolutely　beautiful　woman　will　attract　him。〃

〃An　artist；〃　said　Miss　Vance　hastily；　〃would　tell　you　her　features　were　perfect。　　And　her　flesh　tints〃

〃For　Heaven's　sake；　Clara；　don't　dissect　the　child。　　Who　is　that　girl　with　the　red　cravat？　　Your　maid？〃

〃It　is　not　a　cravat；　it's　an　Indian　scarf。　　If　it　only　were　clean〃　　Miss　Vance　looked　uneasy　and　perplexed。　　〃She　is　not　my　maid。　　She　is　Fraulein　Arpent。　　The　Ewalts　brought　her　as　governess　from　Paris；　don't　you　remember？　　They　sent　the　girls　to　Bryn　Mawr　last　week　and　turned　her　adrift；　almost　penniless。　　She　wished　to　go　back　to　France。　　I　engaged　her　as　assistant　chaperone　for　the　season。〃

Mrs。　Waldeaux's　eyebrows　went　up　significantly。　　She　never　commented　in　words　on　the　affairs　of　others；　but　her　face　always　was　indiscreet。　　George；　who　had　come　up　in　time　to　hear　the　last　words；　was　not　so　scrupulous。　　He　surveyed　the　young　woman　through　his　spectacles　as　she　passed　again；　with　cold　disapproval。

〃French　or　German？〃　he　asked。

〃I　really　don't　know。　　She　has　a　singular　facility　in　tongues；〃　said　Miss　Vance。

〃Well；　that　is　not　the　companion　_I_　should　have　chosen　for　those　innocent　little　girls；〃　he　said　authoritatively；　glad　to　be　disagreeable　to　his　cousin。　　〃She　looks　like　a　hawk　among　doves。〃

〃The　woman　is　harmless　enough；〃　said　Miss　Vance　tartly。　　〃She　speaks　exquisite　French。〃

〃But　what　does　she　say　in　it？〃　persisted　George。　　〃She　is　vulgar　from　her　red　pompon　to　her　boots。　　She　has　the　swagger　of　a　soubrette　and　she　has　left　a　trail　of　perfume　behind　herpah！　　I　confess　I　am　surprised　at　you；　Miss　Vance。　　You　do　not　often　slip　in　your　judgment。〃

〃Don't　make　yourself