april hopes-第34章

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touched；　and　he　said　to　himself　that　he　should　not　fish　for　Eunice's
praise；　but　he　found　himself　saying；　without　surprise；　〃I　suppose　you　will
do　what　you　can　to　prejudice　mother　and　Min。〃

〃Isn't　that　a　little　previous？〃　asked　Eunice。　　〃Have　I　said　anything
against　Miss　Pasmer？〃

〃You　haven't　because　you　couldn't；〃　said　Dan；　with　foolish　bitterness。

〃Oh；　I　don't　know　about　that。　　She's　a　human　being；　I　supposeat　least
that　was　the　impression　I　got　from　her　parentage。〃

〃What　have　you　got　to　say　against　her　parents？〃　demanded　Dan　savagely。

〃Oh；　nothing。　　I　didn't　come　down　to　Boston　to　denounce　the　Pasmer
family。〃

〃I　suppose　you　didn't　like　their　being　in　a　flat；　you'd　have　liked　to　find
them　in　a　house　on　Commonwealth　Avenue　or　Beacon　Street。〃

〃I'll　own　I'm　a　snob；〃　said　Eunice；　with　maddening　meekness。　　〃So's
father。〃

〃They　are　connected　with　the　best　families　in　the　city；　and　they　are　in
the　best　society。　　They　do　what　they　please；　and　they　live　where　they
like。　　They　have　been　so　long　in　Europe　that　they　don't　care　for　those
silly　distinctions。　　But　what　you　say　doesn't　harm　them。　　It's　simply
disgraceful　to　you；　that's　all；〃　said　Dan　furiously。

〃I'm　glad　it's　no　worse；　Dan；〃　said　his　sister；　with　a　tranquil　smile。
〃And　if　you'll　stop　prancing　up　and　down　the　room；　and　take　a　seat；　and
behave　yourself　in　a　Christian　manner；　I'll　talk　with　you；　and　if　you
don't；　I　won't。　　Do　you　suppose　I'm　going　to　be　bullied　into　liking　them？〃

〃You　can　like　them　or　not；　as　you　please；〃　said　Dan　sullenly；　but　he　sat
down；　and　waited　decently　for　his　sister　to　speak。　　〃But　you　can't　abuse
themat　least　in　my　presence。〃

〃I　didn't　know　men　lost　their　heads　as　well　as　their　hearts；〃　said　Eunice。
〃Perhaps　it's　only　an　exchange；　though；　and　it's　Miss　Pasmer's　head。〃　　Dan
started；　but　did　not　say　anything；　and　Eunice　smoothly　continued：　〃No；　I
don't　believe　it　is。　　She　looked　like　a　sensible　girl；　and　she　talked
sensibly。　　I　should　think　she　had　a　very　good　head。　　She　has　good　manners；
and　she's　extremely　pretty；　and　very　graceful。　　I'm　surprised　she　should
be　in　love　with　such　a　simpleton。〃

〃Oh；　go　on！　　Abuse　me　as　much　as　you　like；〃　said　Dan。　　He　was　at　once
soothed　by　her　praise　of　Alice。

〃No；　it　isn't　necessary　to　go　on；　the　case　is　a　little　too　obvious。　　But　I
think　she　will　do　very　well。　　I　hope　you're　not　marrying　the　whole　family；
though。　　I　suppose　that　it's　always　a　question　of　which　shall　be　scooped
up。　　They　will　want　to　scoop　you　up；　and　we　shall　want　to　scoop　her　up。　　I
dare　say　Ma'am　Pasmer　has　her　little　plan；　what　is　it？〃

Dan　started　at　this　touch　on　the　quick；　but　he　controlled　himself；　and
said；　with　dignity；　〃I　have　my　own　plans。〃

〃Well；　you　know　what　mother's　are；〃　returned　Eunice　easily。　　〃You　seem　so
cheerful　that　I　suppose　yours　are　quite　the　same；　and　you're　just　keeping
them　for　a　surprise。〃　　She　laughed　provokingly；　and　Dan　burst　forth　again

〃You　seem　to　live　to　give　people　pain。　　You　take　a　fiendish　delight　in
torturing　others。　　But　if　you　think　you　can　influence　me　in　the　slightest
degree；　you're　very　much　mistaken。〃

〃Well；　well；　there！　　It　sha'n't　be　teased　any　more；　so　it　sha'n't！　　It
shall　have　its　own　way；　it　shall；　and　nobody　shall　say　a　word　against　its
little　girly's　mother。〃　　Eunice　rose　from　her　chair；　and　patted　Dan　on　the
head　as　she　passed　to　the　adjoining　room。　　He　caught　her　hand；　and　flung
it　violently　away；　she　shrieked　with　delight　in　his　childish　resentment；
and　left　him　sulking。　　She　was　gone　two　or　three　minutes；　and　when　she
came　back　it　was　in　quite　a　different　mood；　as　often　happens　with　women　in
a　little　lapse　of　time。

〃Dan；　I　think　Miss　Pasmer　is　a　beautiful　girl；　and　I　know　we　shall　all
like　her；　if　you　don't　set　us　against　her　by　your　arrogance。　　Of　course　we
don't　know　anything　about　her　yet；　and　you　don't；　really；　but　she　seems　a
very　lovable　little　thing；　and　if　she's　rather　silent　and　undemonstrative；
why；　she'll　be　all　the　better　for　you：　you've　got　demonstration　enough　for
twenty。　　And　I　think　the　family　are　well　enough。　　Mrs。　Pasmer　is
thoroughly　harmless；　and　Mr。　Pasmer　is　a　most　dignified　personage；　his
eyebrows　alone　are　worth　the　price　of　admission。〃　　Dan　could　not　help
smiling。　　〃All　that　there　is　about　it　is；　you　mustn't　expect　to　drive
people　into　raptures　about　them；　and　expect　them　to　go　grovelling　round　on
their　knees　because　you　do。〃

〃Oh；　I　know　I'm　an　infernal　idiot；〃　said　Dan；　yielding　to　the　mingled
sarcasm　and　flattery。　　〃It's　because　I'm　so　anxious；　and　you　all　seem　so
confoundedly　provisional　about　it。　　Eunice；　what　do　you　suppose　father
really　thinks？〃

Eunice　seemed　tempted　to　a　relapse　into　her　teasing；　but　she　did　not
yield。　　〃Oh；father's　all　rightfrom　your　point　of　view。　　He's　been
ridiculous　from　the　first；　perhaps　that's　the　reason　he　doesn't　feel
obliged　to　expatiate　and　expand　a　great　deal　at　present。〃

〃Do　you　think　so？〃　cried　Dan；　instantly　adopting　her　as　an　ally。

〃Well；　if　I　sad　so；　oughtn't　it　to　be　enough？〃

〃It　depends　upon　what　else　you　say。　　Look　here；　now；　Eunice！〃　Dan　said；
with　a　laughing　mixture　of　fun　and　earnest；　〃what　are　you　going　to　say　to
mother？　　It's　no　use；　being　disagreeable；　is　it？　　Of　course；　I　don't
contend　for　ideal　perfection　anywhere；　and　I　don't　expect　it。　　But　there
isn't　anything　experimental　about　this　thing；　and　don't　you　think　we　had
better　all　make　the　best　of　it？〃

〃That　sounds　very　impartial。〃

〃It　is　impartial。　　I'm　a　purely　disinterested　spectator。〃

〃Oh；　quite。〃

〃And　don't　you　suppose　I　understand　Mr。　and　Mrs。　Pasmer　quite　as　well　as
you　do？　　All　I　say　is　that　Alice　is　simply　the　noblest　girl　that　ever
breathed；　and〃

〃Now　you're　talking　sense；　Dan！〃

〃Well；　what　are　you　going　to　say　when　you　get　home；　Eunice？　　Come！〃

〃That　we　had　better　make　the　best　of　it。〃

〃And　what　else？〃

〃That　you're　hopelessly　infatuated；　and　that　she　will　twist　you　round　her
finger。〃

〃Well？〃

〃But　that　you've　had　your　own　way　so　much；　it　will　do　you　good　to　have
somebody　else's　a　while。〃

〃I　guess　you're　pretty　solid；〃　said　Dan；　after　thinking　it　over　for　a
moment。　　〃I　don't　believe　you're　going　to　make　it　hard　for　me；　and　I　know
you　can　make　it　just　what　you　please。　　But　I　want　you　to　be　frank　with
mother。　　Of　course　I　wish　you　felt　about　the　whole　affair　just　as　I　do；
but　if　you're　right　on　the　main　question；　I　don't　care　for　the　rest。　　I'd
rather　mother　would　know　just　how　you　feel　about　it；〃　said　Dan；　with　a
sigh　for　the　honesty　which　he　felt　to　be　not　immediately　attainable　in　his
own　case。

〃Well；　I'll　see　what　can　be　done；〃　Eunice　finally　assented。

Whatever　her　feelings　were　in　regard　to　the　matter；　she　must　have
satisfied　herself　that　the　situation　was　not　to　be　changed　by　her
disliking　it；　and　she　began　to　talk　so　sympathetically　with　Dan　that　she
soon　had　the　whole　story　of　his　love　out　of　him。　　They　laughed　a　good　deal
together　at　it；　but　it　convinced　her　that　he　had　not　been　hoodwinked　into
the　engagement。　　It　is　always　the　belief　of　a　young　man's　family；
especially　his　mother　and　sisters；　that　unfair　means　have　been　used　to　win
him；　if　the　family　of　his　betrothed　are　unknown　to　them；　and　it　was　a
relief；　if　not　exactly　a　comfort；　for　Eunice　Mavering　to　find　that　Alice
was　as　great　a　simpleton　as　Dan；　and　perhaps　a　sincerer　simpleton。




XXXII。

A　week　later；　in　fulfilment　of　the　arrangement　made　by　Mrs。　Pasmer　and
Eunice　Mavering；　Alice　and　her　mother　returned　the　formal　visit　of　Dan's
people。

While　Alice　stood　before　the　mirror　in　one　of　the　sumptuously　furnished
rooms　assigned　them；　arranging　a　ribbon　for　the　effect　upon　Dan's　mother
after　dinner；　and　regarding　its　relation　to　her　serious　beauty；　Mrs。
Pasmer　came　out　of　her　chamber　adjoining；　and　began　to　inspect　the　formal
splendour　of　the　place。

〃What　a　perfect　man's　house！〃　she　said；　peering　about。　　〃You　can　see　that
everything　has　been　done　to　order。　　They　have　their　own　taste；　they're
artistic　enough　for　thator　the　father　isand　they've　given　orders　to
have　things　done　so　and　so；　and　the　New　York　upholsterer　has　come　up　and
taken　the　measure　of　the　rooms　and　done　it。　　But　it　isn't　like　New　York；
and　it　isn't　individual。　　The　whole　house　is　just　like　those　girls'
tailor…made　costumes　in　character。　　They　were　made　in　New　York；　but　they
don't　wear　them　with　the　New　York　style；　there's　no　more　atmosphere　about
them　than　if　they　were　young　men　dressed　up。　　There　isn't　a　thing　lacking
in　the　house　here；　there's　an　awful　completeness；　but　even　the　ornaments
seem　laid　on；　like　the　hot　and　cold　water。　　I　never　saw　a　handsomer；　more
uninviting　room　than　that　drawing　room。　　I　suppose　the　etching　will　come
some　time　after　supper。　　What　do　you　think　of　it　all；　Alice？〃

〃Oh；　I　don't　know。　　They　must　be　very　rich；〃　said　the　girl　indifferently。

〃You　can't　tell。　　Country　people　of　a　certain　kind　are　apt　to　put
everything　on　their　backs　and　their　walls　and　floors。　　Of　course　such　a
house　here　doesn't　mean　what　it　would　in　town。〃　　She　examined　the　texture
of　the　carpet　more　critically；　and　the　curtains；　she　had　no　shame　about　a
curiosity　that　made　her　daughter　shrink。

〃Don't；　mamma！〃　pleaded　the　girl。　　〃What　if　they　should　come？〃

〃They　won't　come；〃　said　Mrs。　Pasmer；　and　her　notice　being　called　to　Alice；
she　made　her　take　off　the　ribbon。　　〃You're　better　without　it。〃

〃I'm　so　nervous　I　don't　know　what　I'm　doing；〃　said　Alice；　removing　it；
with　a　whimper。

〃Well；　I　can't　have　you　breaking　down！〃　cried　her　mother　warningly：　she
really　wished　to　shake　her；　as　a　culmination　of　her　own　conflicting
emotions。　　〃Alice；　stop　this　instant！　　Stop　it；　I　say！〃

〃But　if　I　don't　like　her？〃　whimpered　Alice。

You're　not　going　to　marry　her。　　Now　stop！　　Here；　bathe　your　eyes；　they're
all　red。　　Though　I　don't　know　that　it　matters。　　Yes；　they'll　expect　you　to
have　been　crying；〃　said　Mrs。　Pasmer；　seeing　the　situation　more　and　more
clearly。　　〃It's　perfectly　natural。〃　　But　she　took　some　cologne　on　a
handkerchief；　and　recomposed　Alice's　countenance　for　her。　　〃There；　the
colour　becomes　you；　and　I　never　saw　your　eyes　look　so　bright。〃

There　was　a　pathos　in　their　brilliancy　which　of　course　betrayed　her　to　the
Mavering　girls。　　It　softened　Eunice；　and　encouraged　Minnie；　who　had　been　a
little　afraid　of　the　Pasmers。　　They　both　kissed　Alice　with　sisterly
affection。　　Their　father　merely　saw　how　handsome　she　looked；　and　Dan's
heart　seemed　to　melt　in　his　breast　with　tenderness。

In　recognition　of　the　different　habits　of　their　guests；　they　had　dinner
instead　of　tea。　　The　Portuguese　cook　had　outdone　himself；　and　course
followed　course　in　triumphal　succession。　　Mrs。　Pasmer　praised　it　all　with
a　sincerity　that　took　away　a　little　of　the　zest　she　felt　in　making
flattering　speeches。

Everything　about　the　table　was　perfect；　but　in　a　man's　fashion；　like　the
rest　of　the　house。　　It　lacked　the　atmospheric　charm；　the　otherwise
indefinable　grace；　which　a　woman's　taste　gives。　　It　was　in　fact　Elbridge
Mavering's　taste　which　had　characterised　the　whole；　the　daughters　simply
accepted　and　approved。

〃Yes；〃　said　Eunice；　〃we　haven't　much　else　to　do；　so　we　eat。　　And　Joe　does
his　best　to　spoil　us。〃

〃Joe？〃

〃Joe's