frances waldeaux-第8章

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〃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。　　Or　the　Holy　Land。　　Perhaps　I　may　try　to　write　again。　　There　seems　to　be　a　dumb　word　or　two　in　me。　　Don't　be　angry　with　me；　Clara；〃　throwing　her　arms　about　her　cousin；　the　tears　rushing　to　her　eyes。　　〃I　may　come　back　to　you　and　little　Lucy　some　time。　　But　just　now　I　want　to　be　alone　and　fancy　myself　young。　　I　never　was　young。〃

When　Lucy　stole　into　her　old　friend's　chamber　the　next　morning　as　usual　to　drink　her　cup　of　coffee　with　her；　she　found　the　door　open　and　the　room　in　disorder；　and　she　was　told　that　Mrs。　Waldeaux　had　left　London　at　daybreak。



CHAPTER　VII

During　the　year　which　followed；　Mr。　Perry　was　forced　to　return　to　the　States；　but　he　made　two　flying　trips　across　〃the　pond；〃　as　he　called　it；　in　the　interests　of　his　magazine；　always　running　down　his　prey　of　notorieties　in　that　quarter　of　Europe　in　which　Miss　Vance　and　her　charges　chanced　to　be。

When　he　came　in　July　he　found　them　in　a　humble　little　inn　in　Bozen。　　He　looked　with　contempt　at　the　stone　floors；　the　clean　cell…like　chambers；　each　with　its　narrow　bed；　and　blue　stone　ewer　perched　on　a　wooden　stool；　and　he　sniffed　with　disgust　when　breakfast　was　served　on　a　table　set　out　in　the　Platz。

〃Don't　know；〃　he　said；　〃whether　I　can　digest　food；　eating　out　of　doors。　　Myself；　I　never　give　in　to　these　foreign　ways。　　It's　time　they　learned　manners　from　us。〃

〃I　have　no　doubt；〃　said　Miss　Vance　placidly；　〃that　you　can　find　one　of　the　usual　hotels　built　for　rich　Americans　in　the　town。　　We　avoid　them。　　We　search　out　the　inns　du　pays　to　see　as　far　behind　the　scenes　as　we　can。　　I　don't　care　to　go　to　those　huge　houses　with　mobs　of　Chicagoans　and　New　Yorkers；　and　have　the　couriers　and　portiers　turn　the　flashlights　on　Europe　for　me；　as　if　it　were　a　burlesque　show。〃

〃Now；　that's　just　what　I　like！〃　said　Perry。　　〃I　always　go　to　the　houses　where　the　royalties　put　up。　　I　like　to　order　better　dishes　and　give　bigger　tips　than　they　do。　　They　don't　know　Jem　Perry　from　Adam；　but　it's　my　way　of　waving　the　American　flag。〃

〃I　am　afraid　we　have　no　such　patriotic　motive；〃　said　Clara。　　〃My　girls　seem　to　care　for　nothing　now　but　art。　　We　have　made　this　little　inn　our　headquarters　in　the　Tyrol　chiefly　out　of　love　for　the　old　church　yonder。〃

Mr。　Perry　glanced　contemptuously　across　the　Platz　at　the　frowning　gray　building；　and　sat　down　with　his　back　to　it。

〃Art；　eh？　　Well；　I've　no　doubt　I　could　soon　catch　on　to　Art；　if　I　turned　my　mind　that　way。　　It　pays；　too；Art。　　Not　the　fellows　who　paint；　but　the　connoisseurs。　　There's　Miller　from　our　town。　　He　was　a　drummer　for　a　candy　firm。　　Had　an　eye　for　color。　　Well；　he　buys　pictures　now　for　Americans　who　want　galleries　in　their　houses。　　He　bought　his　whole　collection　for　Stoutthe　great　dealer　in　hams。　　Why；　Miller　can　tell　the　money　value　within　five　dollars；　at　sight；　of　any　picture　in　Europe。　　He's　safe；　too。　　Never　invests　in　pictures　that　aren't　sure　to　go　up　in　price。　　Getting　rich！　　And　began　as　a　candy　drummer！　　No；　ma'am！　　Art's　no　mystery。　　I've　never　taken　it　up　myself。　　Europe　is　sheer　pleasure　to　me。　　I　get　the　best　out　of　it。　　I　know　where　to　lodge　well；　and　I　can　tell　you　where　the　famous　plats　are　cooked；　and　I　have　my　coats　built　by　Toole。　　The　house　pays　me　a　salary　which　justifies　me　in　humoring　my　little　follies；〃　stroking　his　red　beard　complacently。

Lucy's　chubby　face　and　steady　blue　eyes　were　turned　on　him　thoughtfully；　and　presently；　when　they　sauntered　down　the　windy　street　together；　he　talked　and　she　still　silently　watched　him。

〃Miss　Precision　is　weighing　him　in　the　balance；〃　said　Jean；　laughing；　as　she　poured　out　more　black　coffee。　　〃With　all　of　her　soft　ways　Lucy　is　shrewd。　　She　knows　quite　well　why　he　races　across　the　Atlantic；　and　why　Prince　Wolfburgh　has　backed　away　from　us　and　charged　on　us　again　all　summer。　　She　is　cool。　　She　is　measuring　poor　Perry's　qualifications　for　a　husband　now　just　as　she　would　materials　for　a　cake。　　A　neat　little　inventory。　　So　much　energy；　so　much　honest　kindnessso　much　vulgarity。　　I　couldn't　do　that。　　If　ever　a　man　wants　to　marry　me；　I'll　fly　to　him　or　away　from　him；　as　quick　as　the　steel　needle　does　when　the　magnet　touches　it。〃　Miss　Vance　listened　to　her　attentively。　　〃Jean；〃　she　said；　after　a　pause；　〃are　you　sure　that　it　is　Lucy　whom　the　prince　wishes　to　marry？〃

〃It　is　not　I；〃　said　Miss　Hassard　promptly。　　〃He　has　thought　of　me　several　timeshe　has　weighed　my　qualifications。　　But　the　man　is　in　love　with　Lucy　as　honestly　as　a　ploughman　could　be。　　Don't　you　think　I've　tough　luck？〃　she　said；　resting　her　elbow　on　the　table　and　her　chin　on　her　palm；　her　keen　gray　eyes　following　Miss　Dunbar　and　her　lover　as　they　loitered　under　the　shadow　of　the　church。　　〃I　am　as　young　as　Lucy。　　I　have　a　better　brain　and　as　big　a　dot。　　But　her　lovers　make　her　life　a　burden；　and　I　never　have　had　one。　　Just　because　our　noses　and　chins　are　made　up　differently！〃

〃Oh；　my　dear！〃　said　Clara　anxiously。　　〃I　never　thought　you　cared　for　that　kind　of　success！〃

〃I'm　only　human；〃　Jean　laughed。　　〃Of　course　I'm　an　artist。　　I'm　going　to　paint　a　great　picture　some　day　that　all　the　world　shall　go　mad　about。　　Of　Eve。　　I'll　put　all　the　power　of　all　women　into　her。　　But　in　the　meantime　I'd　like　to　see　one　man　turn　pale　and　pant　before　me　as　the　fat　little　prince　does　when　Lucy　snubs　him。〃

〃Lucy　is　very　hard　to　please；〃　complained　Miss　Vance。　　〃She　snubs　Mr。　Perrynaturally。　　But　the　princewhy　should　she　not　marry　the　prince？〃

〃Your　generation；〃　said　Jean；　smiling　slyly；　〃used　to　think　that　an　unreasonable　whim　called　love　was　a　good　thing　in　marriage〃

〃But　why　should　she　not　love　the　prince？　　He　is　honorable　and　kind；　and　quite　passable　as　to　looks　　Can　there　be　any　one　else？〃　turning　suddenly　to　Jean。

Miss　Hassard　looked　at　her　a　moment；　hesitating。　　〃Your　cousin　George　used　to　be　Lucy's　type　of　a　hero〃

〃Why！　the　man　is　married！〃　　Miss　Vance　stood　up；　her　lean　face　reddening。　　〃Jean！　　You　surprise　me！　　That　kind　of　talkit's　indecent！　　It　is　that　loose　American　idea　of　marriage　that　ends　in　hideous　divorce　cases。　　But　for　one　of　my　girls〃

〃It　is　a　very　old　idea；〃　said　Jean　calmly。

〃David　loved　another　man's　wife。　　Mind　you；　I　don't　accuse　Lucy　of　loving　any　body；　but　when　the　needle　has　once　touched　the　magnet　it　answers　to　its　call　ever　after。〃

Miss　Vance　vouchsafed　no　answer。　　She　walked　away　across　the　Platz；　jerking　her　bonnet　strings　into　a　knot。　　Jean　was　one　of　the　New　Women！　　Her　opinions　stuck　out　on　every　side　like　Briareus'　hundred　elbows！　　You　could　not　come　near　her　without　being　jabbed　by　them。　　Such　women　were　all　opinions；　there　was　no　softness；　no　feeling；　no　delicacy　about　them。　　Skeletons　with　no　flesh！　　As　for　Lucy；　she　had　no　fear。　　If　even　the　child　had　loved　George；　she　would　have　cast　out　every　thought　of　him　on　his　wedding　day；　as　a　Christian　girl　should　do！

She　passed　Lucy　at　that　moment。　　She　was　leaning　against　one　of　the　huge　stone　lions　which　crouch　in　front　of　the　church；　listening　to　Mr。　Perry。　　If　ever　a　pure　soul　looked　into　the　world　it　was　through　those　limpid　eyes！

The　Platz　was　nearly　empty。　　One　or　two　men　in　blouses　clattered　across　the　cobblestones　and　going　into　the　dark　church　dropped　on　their　knees。　　The　wind　was　high；　and　now　and　then　swept　heavy　clouds　low　across　the　sunlight　space　overhead。

Lucy；　as　Jean　had　guessed；　knew　why　the　man　beside　her　had　crossed　the　Atlantic；　and　she　had　decided　last　night　to　end　the　matter　at　once。　　The　tears　had　stood　in　her　eyes　for　pity　at　the　thought　of　the　pain　she　must　give　him。　　Yet　she　had　put　on　her　new　close…fitting　coat　and　a　becoming　fur　cap；　and　pulled　out　the　loose　hair　which　she　knew　at　this　moment　was　blowing　about　her　pink　cheeks　in　curly　wisps　in　a　way　that　was　perfectly　maddening。　　Clara；　seeing　the　mischief　in　her　eyes　as　she　listened　shyly　to　Perry；　went　on　satisfied。　　There　was　no　abyss　of　black　loss　in　that　girl's　life！

Lucy　just　now　was　concerned　only　for　Perry。　　How　the　poor　man　loved　her！　　Why　not　marry　him　after　all；　and　put　him　out　of　his　pain？　　She　was　twenty…four。　　Most　women　at　twenty…four　had　gone　through　their　little　tragedy　of　love。　　But　she　had　had　no　tragedy。　　She　told　herself　firmly　that　there　had　been　no　story　of　love　in　her　life。　　There　never　could　be；　now。　　She　was　too　old。

She　was　tired；　too；　and　very　lonely。　　This　man　would　seat　her　on　a　throne　and　worship　her　every　day。　　That　would　be　pleasant　enough。

〃I　am　ashamed　of　myself；〃　he　was　saying；　〃to　pursue　you　in　this　way。　　You　have　given　me　no　encouragement；　I　know。　　But　whenever　I　go　to　New　York　and　bone　down　to　work；　something　tells　me　to　come　back　and　try　again。〃

Lucy　did　not　answer；　and　there　was　a　brief　silence。

〃Of　course　I'm　a　fool；〃prodding　the　ground　with　his　stick。　　〃But　if　a　man　were　in　a　jail　cell　and　knew　that　the　sun　was　shining　just　outside；　he'd　keep　on　beating　at　the　wall。〃

〃Your　life　is　not　a　jail　cell。　　It's　very　comfortable；　I　think。〃

〃It　has　been　bare　enough。　　I　have　had　a　hard　fight　to　live　at　all。　　I　told　you　that　I　began　as　a　canal…boy。〃

She　looked　at　him　with　quick　sympathy。　　At　once　she　fancied　that　she　could　read　old　marks　of　want　on　his　face。　　His　knuckles　were　knobbed　like　a　laborer's。　　He　had　had　a　hard　fight！　　It　certainly　would　be　pleasant　to　rain　down　comfort　and　luxury　on　the　good；　plucky　fellow！

〃Of　course　that　was　all　long　ago；〃　said　Perry。　　〃I'm　not　ashamed　of　it。　　As　Judge　Baker　remarked　the　other　day；　‘The　acknowledged　aristocrats　of　America；　to…day；　are　its　self…made　men。'　　He　ought　to　know。　　The　Bakers　are　the　top　of　the　heap　in　New　York。　　Very　exclusive。　　I've　been　intimate　there　for　years。　　No；　Miss　Dunbar；　I　may　have　begun　as　a　mule…driver　on　a　canal；　but　I　am　choice　in　my　society。　　My　wife　will　not　find　a　man　or　woman　in　my　circle　who　is　half…cut。〃

Lucy　drew　a　long　breath。　　To　live　all　day　and　every　day　with　this　man！

And　yetshe　was　so　tired！　　There　was　a　good　deal　of　money　to　manage；　and　he　could　do　that。　　He　would　like　a　gay；　hospitable　house；　and　so　would　she；　and　they　would　be　kind　to　the　poorand　he　was　an　Episcopalian；　too。　　There　would　be　no　hitch　there。　　Lucy　was　a　zealous　High　Churchwoman。

Why　should　she　not　do　it？　　The　man　was　as　good　as　gold　at　heart。　　Jean　called　him　a　cad；　but　the　caddishness　was　only　skin　deep。

Mr。　Perry　watched　her；　reading　her　thoughts　more　keenly　than　she　guessed。

〃One　thing　I　will　say　in　justice　to　myself；〃　he　said。　　〃You　are　a　rich　woman。　　If　you　marry　me；　YOU　will　know；　if　nobody　else　does；　that　I　am　no　fortune…hunter。　　I　shall　always　be　independent　of　my　wife。　　Every　dollar　she　owns　shall　be　settled　on　her　before　I　go　with　her　to　the　altar。〃

〃Oh；　I'm　not　thinking　of　the　money；〃　said　Lucy　impatiently。

〃Then　you　are　thinking　of　me！〃　　He　leaned　over　her。　　She　felt　as　if　she　had　been　suddenly　dragged　too　close　to　a　big　unpleasant　fire。　　〃I　know　you　don't　love　me；〃　he　panted；　〃you　cold　little　angel；　you！　　But　you　do　like　me？　　Eh？　just　a　little　bit；　Lucy？　　Marry　me。　　Give　me　a　chance。　　I'll　bring　you　to　me。　　If　there　is　a　single　spark　of　love　in　your　heart　for　me；　I'll　blow　it　into　a　flame！　　I　can　do　it；　I　tell　you！〃　　He　caught　he