frances waldeaux-第7章

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　and　a　good　girl；　and　some　time　I　may　marry　her；　but　not　now。〃

Odo　laughed　good…humoredly；　and　they　sauntered　down　the　path　together。

The　prince　had　offered　to　dine　with　Miss　Vance　that　evening；　but　sent　a　note　to　say　that　he　was　summoned　to　the　Highlands　unexpectedly。

〃It　is　adieu；　not　auf　wiedersehen；　I　fear；　with　his　Highness；〃　Miss　Vance　said；　folding　the　note　pensively。　　She　had　not　meant　to　drive　a　marriage　bargain；　and　yetto　have　placed　a　pupil　upon　even　such　a　bric…a…brac　throne　as　that　of　Wolfburgh！　　She　looked　thoughtfully　at　Lucy's　chubby　cheeks。　　A　princess？　　The　man　was　not　objectionable　in　himself；　eithera　kindly；　overgrown　boy。　〃He　told　me；〃　said　Jean；　〃that　he　was　going　to　a　house　party　at　Inverary　Castle。〃

〃Whose　house　is　that；　Jean？〃　asked　Lucy。

〃It　is　the　ancestral　seat　of　the　Dukes　of　Argyll。〃

〃Oh！〃　Lucy　gave　a　little　sigh。　　Prince　Hugo　was　undeniably　fat　and　very　slow　to　catch　a　joke；　but　there　was　certainly　a　different　flavor　in　this　talk　of　dukes　and　ancestral　seats　to　the　gossip　about　the　Whites　and　Greens　at　home。

Indeed；　the　whole　party；　including　even　Mr。　Perry；　experienced　a　sensation　of　sudden　vacancy　and　flatness　when　his　Highness　left　them。　　It　was　as　though　they　had　been　sheltering　a　royal　eagle　that　was　used　to　dwelling　in　sunlit　heights　unknown　to　them；　and　now　they　were　left　on　flat　ground　to　consort　with　common　poultry。




CHAPTER　VI

Miss　Vance　led　her　party　slowly　through　Scotland　and　down　again　to　London。　　Mrs。　Waldeaux　went　with　them。　　The　girls　secretly　laughed　together　at　her　fine　indomitable　politeness；　and　her　violent　passion　for　the　Stuarts；　and　hate　of　the　Roundheads。　　But　Mr。　Perry　was　bored　by　her。

〃What　is　it　to　us；〃　he　said；　〃that　Queen　Mary　paddled　over　this　lake；　or　Cromwell's　soldiers　whitewashed　that　fresco？　　Give　me　a　clean；　new　American　church；　anyhow；　before　all　of　your　mouldy；　tomby　cathedrals。　　These　things　are　so　many　cancelled　cheques　to　me。　　I　have　nothing　to　pay　on　them。　　It　is　live　issues　that　draw　on　my　heart。　　You　American　girls　ought　to　be　at　home　looking　into　the　negro　problem；　or　Tammany；　or　the　Sugar　Trust；　instead　of　nosing　into　Rembrandts；　or　miracles　at　Lourdes；　or　palaces。　　These　are　all　back　numbers。　　Write　n。　g。　on　them　and　bury　them。　　So；　by　the　way；　is　your　Mrs。　Waldeaux　a　back　number。　　My　own　opinion　is　that　all　men　and　women　at　fifty　ought　to　go　willingly　and　be　shut　up　in　the　room　where　the　world　keeps　its　second…hand　lumber！〃

〃Yet　nobody；〃　said　Lucy　indignantly；　〃is　more　careful　or　tender　with　Mrs。　Waldeaux　than　you！〃

〃That　is　because　Mr。　Perry　has　the　genuine　American　awe　of　people　of　good　birth；〃　said　Jean　slyly。　　〃It　is　the　only　trait　which　makes　me　suspect　that　he　is　a　self…made　man。〃　Mr。　Perry；　for　answer；　only　bowed　gravely。　　He　long　ago　had　ceased　to　hide　his　opinion　that　Miss　Hassard　was　insufferable。

Frances；　for　her　part；　was　sure　that　the　young　people　were　glad　to　have　her　as　a　companion。　　One　day　she　decided　to　stay　with　them；　and　the　next　to　go　to　New　York　on　the　first　steamer。　　She　seemed　to　see　life　hazily；　as　one　over　whose　mind　a　cataract　was　growing。　　What　had　she　to　do　in　Europe；　she　reasoned？　　George　was　gone。　　Her　one　actual　hold　on　the　world　had　slipped　from　her。　　That　great　mysterious　thing　called　living　was　done　and　past　for　her。

And　yetthere　was　Kenilworth；　and　Scott's　house？　　Scott；　who　had　been　her　friend　and　leader　since　she　was　eight　years　old！　　And　in　that　anthem　at　York　minster　there　was　a　message；　which　she　had　been　waiting　all　of　her　life　to　hear！　　And　here　was　Lucy　beside　her　with　her　soft　voice；　and　loving　blue　eyesLucy；　who　should　have　been　George's　wife！　　In　all　of　these　things　something　high　and　good　called　to　the　poor　lady；　which　she　heard　and　understood　as　a　child　would　the　voice　of　its　mother。

One　hour　she　resolved　to　leave　her　son　with　his　wife；　to　go　back　to　Weir　at　once　and　work　with　the　poultry　and　Quigg's　jokes　for　the　rest　of　her　life。　　She　was　dead。　　Let　her　give　up　and　consent　to　be　dead。

The　next；　she　would　stay　where　she　could　see　George　sometimes；　and　try　to　forgive　the　woman　who　had　him　in　her　keeping。　　Perhaps；　after　all；　she　was　human；　as　Clara　said。　　If　she　could　forgive　Lisa；　she　could　be　happy　with　these　young　people　and　livelive　in　this　wonderful　old　world；　where　all　that　was　best　of　past　ages　was　kept　waiting　for　her。

When　they　came　to　London；　she　went　at　once　to　Morgan's　to　make　a　deposit；　for　she　had　been　hard　at　work　on　her　jokes　as　she　travelled；　and　had　received　her　pay。

〃Your　son；　madam；〃　said　the　clerk；　〃drew　on　his　account　to…day。　　He　said　he　expected　remittances　from　you。　　Is　this　to　be　put　to　his　credit？〃

〃My　son　was　in　London　to…day？

〃He　has　just　left　the　house。〃

〃Did　hehe　left　a　message　for　me？　　A　letter；　perhaps？〃

〃No；　nothing；　madam。〃

〃Put　the　money　to　his　credit；　of　course。〃　She　went　out　into　the　narrow　street　and　wandered　along　to　the　Bank　of　England；　staring　up　at　the　huge　buildings。

He　had　been　looking　at　themhe　had　walked　on　this　very　pavement　a　minute　ago！　　That　might　be　the　smoke　of　his　cigar；　yonder！

She　could　easily　find　him。　　Just　to　look　at　him　once；　to　hold　his　hand！　　He　might　be　ill　and　need　her；　he　never　was　well　in　foggy　weather。

Then　she　remembered　that　Lisa　was　with　him。　　She　would　nurse　him。

She　called　a　cab；　and；　as　she　drove　home；　looked　out　at　the　crowd　with　a　hard；　smiling　face。

Henry　Irving　that　night　played　〃Shylock；〃　and　Mr。　Perry　secured　a　box　for　Miss　Vance。　　Frances　went　with　the　others。　　Before　the　curtain　rose　there　was　a　startled　movement　among　them；　a　whisper；　and　then　Clara　turned　to　Mrs。　Waldeaux。

〃Frances；　Lisa　is　coming　into　the　opposite　box；〃　she　said。　　〃She　is　really　a　beautiful　woman　in　that　decollete　gown；　and　her　cheeks　flushed；　and　her　eyes　　I　had　no　idea！　　She　is　superb！〃

Two　men　in　the　dress　of　French　officers　entered　the　box　with　Lisa。　　They　seated　her；　bending　over　her　with　an　empressement　which；　to　Mrs。　Waldeaux's　heated　fancy；　was　insulting。　　George　came　last；　carrying　his　wife's　cloak；　which　he　placed　upon　a　chair。　　One　of　the　men　tossed　his　cape　to　him；　with　a　familiar　nod；　and　George　laid　it　aside　and　sat　down　at　the　back　of　the　box。

His　mother　leaned　forward；　watching。　　That　woman　had　put　her　son　in　the　place　of　an　inferioran　attendant。

The　great　orchestra　shook　the　house　with　a　final　crash；　and　the　curtain　rose　upon　the　Venetian　plaza。　　Every　face　in　the　audience　was　turned　attentive　toward　it。　　But　Mrs。　Waldeaux　saw　only　Lisa。

A　strange　change　came　upon　her　as　she　watched　her　son's　wife。　　For　months　she　had　struggled　feebly　against　her　hate　of　Lisa。　　Now　she　welcomed　it；　she　let　herself　go。

Is　the　old　story　true　after　all？　　Is　there　some　brutal　passion　hiding　in　every　human　soul；　waiting　its　chance；　even　in　old　age？　　It　is　certain　that　this　woman；　after　her　long　harmless　life；　recognized　the　fury　in　her　soul　and　freed　it。

〃Frances；〃　whispered　Clara；　〃when　this　act　is　over；　go　and　speak　to　them。　　I　will　go　with　you。　　It　is　your　chance　to　put　an　end　to　this　horrible　separation。　　They　are　your　children。〃

〃No。　　That　woman　is　my　enemy；　Clara；〃　said　Mrs。　Waldeaux　quietly。　　〃I　will　make　no　terms　with　her。〃

Miss　Vance　sighed　and　turned　to　the　stage；　but　Frances　still　watched　the　opposite　box。　　It　seemed　as　if　the　passion　within　her　had　cleared　her　eyes。　　They　never　had　seen　George　as　they　now　saw　him。

Was　that　her　son？　　Was　it　that　little　priggish；　insignificant　fellow　that　she　had　made　a　god　of？　　He　was　dull；　commonplace！　　Satisfied　to　sit　dumb　in　the　background　and　take　orders　from　those　bourgeois　French　Jews！

The　play　went　on；　but　she　saw　nothing　but　George　and　his　wife。

There　was　the　result　of　all　her　drudgery！　　The　hot　summers　of　work　in　the　filthy　poultry　yards；　the　grinding　out　of　poor　jokes；　the　coarse；　cheap　underclothes　（she　used　to　cry　when　she　put　them　on；　she　hated　them　so）。　　Years　and　years　of　it　all；　and　for　that　cold；　selfish　fop！

His　mother　saw　him　leave　the　box；　and　knew　that　he　was　coming。

〃Oh；　good…evening；　George！〃　she　said　gayly；　as　he　opened　the　door。　　〃A　wonderful　scene；　wasn't　it？　　I　have　always　wished　to　see　Irving　in　‘Hamlet。'〃

〃This　is　‘Shylock；'〃　he　said　gravely；　and　turned　to　speak　to　the　others。　　They　welcomed　him　eagerly；　and　made　room　for　him。　　He　had　lost　something　of　the　cold；　blase　air　which　had　ennobled　him　in　the　eyes　of　the　young　women。　　He　looked　around　presently；　and　said　with　a　comfortable　shrug：

〃It　is　so　pleasant　to　talk　English　again！　　My　wife　detests　it。　　We　speak　only　French。　　I　feel　like　an　alien　and　outcast　among　you！〃　　He　laughed；　his　mother　glanced　at　him　curiously。　　But　Lucy　turned　her　face　away；　afraid　that　he　should　see　it。　　As　he　talked；　George　noted　the　clear…cut　American　features　of　the　girls；　and　their　dainty　gowns；　with　a　keen　pleasure；　then　he　glanced　quickly　at　the　opposite　box。

〃Ah！〃　said　Jean　to　Mr。　Perry。　　〃The　soiled　lace　and　musk　are　beginning　to　tell！　　He　is　tired　of　Lisa　already！〃　〃I　never　liked　the　fellow；〃　said　Mr。　Perry　coldly。　　〃But　he　is　hardly　the　cad　that　you　suppose。〃

He　fell　into　a　gloomy　silence。　　He　had　wasted　two　years'　salary　in　following　Lucy　Dunbar　about；　in　showering　flowers　on　her；　in　posing　before　her　in　the　last　fashions　of　Conduit　Street；　and　yet　when　this　conceited　fellow　came　into　the　box　she　was　blind　and　deaf　to　all　besides！　　Her　eyes　filled　with　tears　just　now　when　he　talked　of　his　loneliness。　　Lonelywith　his　wife！　　A　married　man！

George；　when　the　curtain　fell　again；　sat　down　by　Frances。

〃Mother；〃　he　said。

〃Yes；　George。〃　　Her　eyes　were　bright　and　attentive；　but　her　countenance　had　fallen　into　hard　lines　new　to　him。

〃I　went　to　Morgan's　this　afternoon。　　You　have　been　very　liberal　to　us。〃

〃I　will　do　what　I　can。　　You　may　depend　upon　that　amount；　regularly。〃

He　rose　and　bade　them　good…night；　and　turned　to　her　again。

〃Wewe　are　coming　to…morrow　to　thank　you。　　MOTHER？〃　　There　was　a　hoarse　sob　in　his　throat。　　He　laid　his　hand　on　her　arm。　　She　moved　so　that　it　dropped。　　〃We　will　come　to…morrow；〃　he　said。　　〃Did　you　understand？　　Lisa　wishes　to　be　friends　with　you。　　She　is　ready　to　forgive；〃　he　groped　on；　blundering；　like　a　man。

〃Oh；　yes；　I　understand。　　You　and　Lisa　are　coming　to　forgive　me　to…morrow；〃　she　said；　smiling。

He　looked　at　her；　perplexed　and　waiting。　　But　she　said　no　more。

〃Well；　I　must　go　now。　　Good…night。〃

〃Good…night；　George！　　〃Her　bright；　smiling　eyes　followed　him　steadily；　as　he　went　out。


Mrs。　Waldeux　tapped　at　Clara's　door　that　evening　after　they　reached　home。

〃I　came　to　tell　you　that　I　shall　leave　London　early　in　the　morning；〃　she　said。

〃You　will　not　wait　to　see　George　and　his　wife？〃

〃I　hope　I　never　shall　see　them　again。　　No！　　Not　a　word！　　I　will　hear　no　arguments！〃　　She　came　into　the　room　and　closed　the　door。　　There　was　a　certain　novel　air　of　decision　and　youth　in　her　figure　and　movements。　　〃I　am　going　to　make　a　change；　Clara；〃　she　said。　　〃I　have　worked　for　others　long　enough。　　I　am　going　away　now；　alone。　　I　will　be　free。　　I　will　live　my　own　lifeat　last。〃　　Her　eyes　shone　with　exultation。

〃And　　Where　are　you　going？〃　stammered　Miss　Vance；　dismayed。

〃I　don't　know。　　There　is　so　muchit　has　all　been　waiting　so　long　for　me。　　There　are　the　cathedralsand　the　mountains。