the man between-第7章

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red。　For　the　people　gathered　in　Mrs。　Denning's　drawing…room　were　mostly　known　to　him；　and　the　exceptions　did　not　appear　to　possess　any　remarkable　traits；　except　Basil　Stanhope；　who　stood　thoughtfully　at　a　window；　his　pale；　lofty　beauty　wearing　an　air　of　expectation。　Mostyn　decided　that　he　was　naturally　impatient　for　the　presence　of　his　fiancee；　whose　delayed　entrance　he　perceived　was　also　annoying　Ethel。　Then　there　was　a　slight　movement；　a　sudden　silence；　and　Mostyn　saw　Stanhope's　face　flush　and　turn　magically　radiant。　Mechanically　he　followed　his　movement　and　the　next　moment　his　eyes　met　Fate；　and　Love　slipped　in　between。　Dora　was　there；　a　fairy…like　vision　in　pale　amber　draperies；　softened　with　silk　lace。　Diamonds　were　in　her　wonderfully　waved　hair　and　round　her　fair　white　neck。　They　clasped　her　belt　and　adorned　the　instep　of　her　little　amber　silk　slippers。　She　held　a　yellow　rose　in　her　hand；　and　yellow　rosebuds　lay　among　the　lace　at　her　bosom；　and　Mostyn；　stupefied　by　her　undreamed…of　loveliness；　saw　golden　emanations　from　the　clear　pallor　of　her　face。　He　felt　for　a　moment　or　two　as　if　he　should　certainly　faint；　only　by　a　miracle　of　stubborn　will　did　he　drag　his　consciousness　from　that　golden…tinted；　sparkling　haze　of　beauty　which　had　smitten　him　like　an　enchantment。　Then　the　girl　was　looking　at　him　with　her　soft；　dark；　gazelle　eyes；　she　was　even　speaking　to　him；　but　what　she　said；　or　what　reply　he　made；　he　could　never　by　any　means　remember。　Miss　Bayard　was　to　be　his　companion；　and　with　some　effort　and　a　few　indistinct　words　he　gave　her　his　arm。　She　asked　if　he　was　ill；　and　when　a　shake　of　the　head　answered　the　query；　she　covered　the　few　minutes　of　his　disconcertion　with　her　conversation。　He　looked　at　her　gratefully　and　gathered　his　personality　together。　For　Love　had　come　to　him　like　a　two…　edged　sword；　dividing　the　flesh　and　the　spirit；　and　he　longed　to　cry　aloud　and　relieve　the　sweet　torture　of　the　possession。

Reaction；　however；　came　quickly；　and　with　it　a　wonderful　access　of　all　his　powers。　The　sweet；　strong　wine　of　Love　went　to　his　brain　like　celestial　nectar。　All　the　witty；　amusing　things　he　had　ever　heard　came　trooping　into　his　memory；　and　the　dinner　was　long　delayed　by　his　fine　humor；　his　pleasant　anecdotes；　and　the　laughing　thoughts　which　others　caught　up　and　illustrated　in　their　own　way。

It　was　a　feast　full　of　good　things；　but　its　spirit　was　not　able　to　bear　transition。　The　company　scattered　quickly　when　it　was　over　to　the　opera　or　theater　or　to　the　rest　of　a　quiet　evening　at　home；　for　at　the　end　enthusiasm　of　any　kind　has　a　chilling　effect　on　the　feelings。　None　of　the　party　understood　this　result；　and　yet　all　were；　in　their　way；　affected　by　the　sudden　fall　of　mental　temperature。　Mr。　Denning　went　to　his　library　and　took　out　his　private　ledger；　a　penitential　sort　of　reading　which　he　relished　after　moods　of　any　kind　of　enjoyment。　Mrs。　Denning　selected　Ethel　Rawdon　for　her　text　of　disillusion。　She　〃thought　Ethel　had　been　a　little　jealous　of　Dora's　dress；〃　and　Dora　said；　〃It　was　one　of　her　surprises；　and　Ethel　thought　she　ought　to　know　everything。〃　〃You　are　too　obedient　to　Ethel；〃　continued　Mrs。　Denning　and　Dora　looked　with　a　charming　demureness　at　her　lover；　and　said；　〃She　had　to　be　obedient　to　some　one　wiser　than　herself；〃　and　so　slipped　her　hand　into　Basil's　hand。　And　he　understood　the　promise；　and　with　a　look　of　passionate　affection　raised　the　little　jeweled　pledge　and　kissed　it。

Perhaps　no　one　was　more　affected　by　this　chill；　critical　after…hour　than　Miss　Bayard　and　Ethel。　Mostyn　accompanied　them　home；　but　he　was　depressed；　and　his　courtesy　had　the　air　of　an　obligation。　He　said　he　had　a　sudden　headache；　and　was　not　sorry　when　the　ladies　bid　him　〃good　night〃　on　the　threshold。　Indeed；　he　felt　that　he　must　have　refused　any　invitation　to　lengthen　out　the　hours　with　them　or　anybody。　He　wanted　one　thing；　and　he　wanted　that　with　all　his　soulsolitude；　that　he　might　fill　it　with　images　of　Dora；　and　with　passionate　promises　that　either　by　fair　means　or　by　foul；　by　right　or　by　wrong；　he　would　win　the　bewitching　woman　for　his　wife。



CHAPTER　IV

〃WHAT　do　you　think　of　the　evening；　Aunt　Ruth？〃　Ethel　was　in　her　aunt's　room；　comfortably　wrapped　in　a　pink　kimono；　when　she　asked　this　question。

〃What　do　you　think　of　it；　Ethel？〃

〃I　am　not　sure。〃

〃The　dinner　was　well　served。〃

〃Yes。　Who　was　the　little　dark　man　you　talked　with；　aunt？〃

〃He　was　a　Mr。　Marriot；　a　banker；　and　a　friend　of　Bryce　Denning's。　He　is　a　fresh　addition　to　society；　I　think。　He　had　the　word　‘gold'　always　on　his　lips；　and　he　believes　in　it　as　good　men　believe　in　God。　The　general　conversation　annoyed　him；　he　could　not　understand　men　being　entertained　by　it。〃

〃They　were；　though；　for　once　Jamie　Sayer　forgot　to　talk　about　his　pictures。〃

〃Is　that　the　name　of　your　escort？〃

〃Yes。〃

〃And　is　he　an　artist？〃

〃A　second…rate　one。　He　is　painting　Dora's　picture；　and　is　a　great　favorite　of　Mrs。　Denning's。〃

〃A　strange；　wild…looking　man。　When　I　saw　him　first　he　was　lying；　dislocated；　over　his　ottoman　rather　than　sitting　on　it。〃

〃Oh；　that　is　a　part　of　his　affectations。　He　is　really　a　childish；　self…conscious　creature；　with　a　very　decided　dash　of　vulgarity。　He　only　tries　to　look　strange　and　wild；　and　he　would　be　delighted　if　he　knew　you　had　thought　him　so。〃

〃I　was　glad　to　see　Claudine　Jeffrys。　How　slim　and　graceful　she　is！　And；　pray；　who　is　that　Miss　Ullman？〃

〃A　very　rich　woman。　She　has　Bryce　under　consideration。　Many　other　men　have　been　in　the　same　position；　for　she　is　sure　they　all　want　her　money　and　not　her。　Perhaps　she　is　right。　I　saw　you　talking　to　her；　aunt。〃

〃For　a　short　time。　I　did　not　enjoy　her　company。　She　is　so　mercilessly　realistic；　she　takes　all　the　color　out　of　life。　Everything　about　her；　even　her　speech；　is　sharp…lined　as　the　edge　of　a　knife。　She　could　make　Bryce's　life　very　miserable。〃

〃Perhaps　it　might　turn　out　the　other　way。　Bryce　Denning　has　capacities　in　the　same　line。　How　far　apart；　how　far　above　every　man　there；　stood　Basil　Stanhope！〃

〃He　is　strikingly　handsome　and　graceful；　and　I　am　sure　that　his　luminous　serenity　does　not　arise　from　apathy。　I　should　say　he　was　a　man　of　very　strong　and　tender　feelings。〃

〃And　he　gives　all　the　strength　and　tenderness　of　his　feelings　to　Dora。　Men　are　strange　creatures。〃

〃Who　directed　Dora's　dress　this　evening？〃

〃Herself　or　her　maid。　I　had　nothing　to　do　with　it。　The　effect　was　stunning。〃

〃Fred　thought　so。　In　fact；　Fred　Hostyn〃

〃Fell　in　love　with　her。〃

〃Exactly。　‘Fell；'　that　is　the　wordfell　prostrate。　Usually　the　lover　of　to…day　walks　very　timidly　and　carefully　into　the　condition；　step　by　step；　and　calculating　every　step　before　he　takes　it。　Fred　plunged　headlong　into　the　whirling　vortex。　I　am　very　sorry。　It　is　a　catastrophe。〃

〃I　never　witnessed　the　accident　before。　I　have　heard　of　men　getting　wounds　and　falls；　and　developing　new　faculties　in　consequence；　but　we　saw　the　phenomenon　take　place　this　evening。〃

〃Love；　if　it　be　love；　is　known　in　a　moment。　man　who　never　saw　the　sun　before　would　know　it　was　the　sun。　In　Fred's　case　it　was　an　instantaneous；　impetuous　passion；　flaming　up　at　the　sight　of　such　unexpected　beauty　a　passion　that　will　probably　fade　as　rapidly　as　it　rose。〃

〃Fred　is　not　that　kind　of　a　man；　aunt。　He　does　not　like　every　one　and　everything；　but　whoever　or　whatever　he　does　like　becomes　a　lasting　part　of　his　life。　Even　the　old　chairs　and　tables　at　Mostyn　are　held　as　sacred　objects　by　him；　though　I　have　no　doubt　an　American　girl　would　trundle　them　off　to　the　garret。　It　is　the　same　with　the　people。　He　actually　regards　the　Rawdons　as　belonging　in　some　way　to　the　Mostyns；　and　I　do　not　believe　he　has　ever　been　in　love　before。〃

〃Nonsense！〃

〃He　was　so　surprised　by　the　attack。　If　it　had　been　the　tenth　or　twentieth　time　he　would　have　taken　it　more　philosophically；　besides；　if　he　had　ever　loved　any　woman；　he　would　have　gone　on　loving　her；　and　we　should　have　known　all　about　her　perfections　by　this　time。〃

〃Dora　is　nearly　a　married　woman；　and　Mostyn　knows　it。〃

〃Nearly　may　make　all　the　difference。　When　Dora　is　married　he　will　be　compelled　to　accept　the　inevitable　and　make　the　best　of　it。〃

〃When　Dora　is　married　he　will　idealize　her；　and　assure　himself　that　her　marriage　is　the　tragedy　of　both　their　lives。〃

〃Dora　will　give　him　no　reason　to　suppose　such　a　thing。　I　am　sure　she　will　not。　She　is　too　much　in　love　with　Mr。　Stanhope　to　notice　any　other　lover。〃

〃You　are　mistaken；　Ethel。　Swiftly　as　Fred　was　vanquished　she　noticed　it；　and　many　timesonce　even　while　leaning　on　Mr。　Stanhope's　armshe　turned　the　arrow　in　the　heart　wound　with　sweet　little　glances　and　smiles；　and　pretty　appeals　to　the　blind　adoration　of　her　new　lover。　It　was；　to　me；　a　humiliating　spectacle。　How　could　she　do　it？〃

〃I　am　sure　Dora　meant　no　wrong。　It　is　so　natural　for　a　lovely　girl　to　show　off　a　little。　She　will　marry　and　forget　Fred　Mostyn　lives。〃

〃And　Fred　will　forget？〃

〃Fred　will　not　forget。〃

〃Then　I　shall　be　very　sorry　for　your　father　and　grandmother。〃

〃What　have　they　to　do　with　Fred　marrying？〃

〃A　great　deal。　Fred　has　been　so　familiar　and　homely　the　last　two　or　three　weeks；　that　they　have　come　to　look　upon　him　as　a　future　member　of　the　family。　It　has　been　‘Cousin　Ethel'　and　‘Aunt　Ruth'　and　even　‘grandmother'　and　‘Cousin　Fred；'　and　no　objections　have　been　made　to　the　use　of　such　personal　terms。　I　think　your　father　hopes　for　a　closer　tie　between　you　and　Fred　Mostyn　than　cousinship。〃

〃Whatever　might　have　been　is　over。　Do　you　imagine　I　could　consent　to　be　the　secondary　deity；　to　come　after　DoraDora　of　all　the　girls　I　have　ever　known？　The　idea　is　an　insult　to　my　heart　and　my　intelligence。　Nothing　on　earth　could　make　me　submit　to　such　an　indignity。〃

〃I　do　not　suppose；　Ethel；　that　any　wife　is　the　first　object　of　her　husband's　love。〃

〃At　least　they　tell　her　she　is　so；　swear　it　an　inch　deep；　and　no　woman　is　fool　enough　to　look　beyond　that　oath；　but　when　she　is　sure　that　she　is　a　second　best！　AH！　That　is　not　a　position　I　will　ever　take　in　any　man's　heart　knowingly。〃

〃Of　course；　Fred　Mostyn　will　have　to　marry。〃

〃Of　course；　he　will　make　a　duty　of　the　event。　The　line　of　Mostyns　must　be　continued。　England　might　go　to　ruin　if　the　Mostyns　perished　off　the　English　earth；　but；　Aunt　Ruth；　I　count　myself　worthy　of　a　better　fate　than　to　become　a　mere　branch　in　the　genealogical　tree　of　the　Mostyns。　And　that　is　all　Fred　Mostyn's　wife　will　ever　be　to　him；　unless　he　marries　Dora。〃

〃But　that　very　supposition　implies　tragedy；　and　it　is　most　unlikely。〃

〃Yes；　for　Dora　is　a　good　little　thing。　She　has　never　been　familiar　with　vice。　She　has　even　a　horror　of　poor　women　divorced　from　impossible　husbands。　She　believes　her　marriage　will　be　watched　by　the　angels；　and　recorded　in　heaven。　Basil　has　instructed　her　to　regard　marriage　as　a　holy　sacrament；　and　I　am　sure　he　does　the　same。〃

〃Then　why　should　we　forecast　evil　to　their　names？　As　for　Cousin　Fred；　I　dare　say　he　is　comfortably　asleep。〃

〃I　am　sure　he　is　not。　I　believe　he　is　smoking　and　calling　himself　names　for　not　having　come　to　New　York　last　May；　when　father　first　invited　him。　Had　he　done　so　things　might　have　been　different。〃

〃Yes；　they　might。　When　Good　Fortune　calls；　and　the　called　‘will　not　when　they　may；'　then；　‘when　th