lady baltimore-第38部分

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　administered　to　her　forehead；　left　her　sitting　and　proceeded　along　the　garden　walk　at　a　stately　pace；　until　I　could　no　longer　see　him。　Hortense；　left　alone　upon　the　bench；　looked　down　at　the　folds　of　her　dress；　extended　a　hand　and　slowly　rearranged　one　of　them；　and　then；　with　the　same　hand；　felt　her　hair　from　front　to　back。　This　had　scarce　been　accomplished　when　the　General　reappeared；　ushering　Juno　along　the　walk；　and　bearing　a　chair　with　him。　When　they　turned　the　corner　at　the　arbor；　Hortense　rose；　and　greetings　ensued。　Few　objects　could　be　straighter　than　was　Juno's　back；　her　card…case　was　in　her　hand；　but　her　pocket　was　not　quite　large　enough　for　the　whole　of　her　pride；　which　stuck　out　so　that　it　could　have　been　seen　from　a　greater　distance　than　my　window。　The　General　would　have　departed；　placing　his　chair　for　the　visitor；　when　Hortense　waved　for　him　an　inviting　hand　toward　the　bench　beside　her；　he　waved　a　similarly　inviting　hand；　looking　at　Juno；　who　thereupon　sat　firmly　down　upon　the　chair。　At　this　the　General　hovered　heavily；　looking　at　his　daughter；　who　gave　him　no　look　in　return；　as　she　engaged　in　conversation　with　Juno；　and　presently　the　General　left　them。　Juno's　back　and　Hortense's　front；　both　entirely　motionless　as　they　interviewed　each　other'　presented　a　stiff　appearance；　with　Juno　half　turned　in　her　seat　and　Hortense's　glance　following　her　slight　movement；　the　two　then　rose；　as　the　General　came　down　the　walk　with　two　chairs　and　Mrs。　Gregory　and　Mrs。　Weguelin　St。　Michael。　Juno；　with　a　bow　to　them；　approached　Hortense　by　a　step　or　two；　a　brief　touch　of　their　fingers　was　to　be　seen；　and　Juno's　departure　took　place；　attended　by　the　heavy　hovering　of　General　Rieppe。

〃That's　why！〃　I　said　to　myself　aloud；　suddenly；　at　my　open　window。　Immediately；　however；　I　added；　〃but　can　it　be？〃　And　in　my　mind　a　whole　little　edifice　of　reasons　for　Hortense's　apparent　determination　to　marry　John　instantly　fabricated　itselfand　then　fell　down。

Through　John　she　was　triumphantly　bringing　stiff　Kings　Port　to　her；　was　forcing　them　to　accept　her。　But　this　was　scarce　enough　temptation　for　Hortense　to　marry；　she　could　do　very　well　without　Kings　Portindeed；　she　was　not　very　likely　to　show　herself　in　it；　save　to　remind　them；　now　and　then；　that　she　was　there；　and　that　they　could　not　keep　her　out　any　more；　this　might　amuse　her　a　little；　but　the　society　itself　would　not　amuse　her　in　the　least。　What　place　had　it　for　her　to　smoke　her　cigarettes　in？

Eliza　La　Heu；　then？　Spite？　The　pleasure　of　taking　something　that　somebody　else　wanted？　The　pleasure　of　spoiling　somebody　else's　pleasure？　Or；　more　accurately；　the　pleasure　of　power？　Well；　yes；　that　might　be　it；　if　Hortense　Rieppe　were　younger　in　years；　and　younger；　especially；　in　soul；　but　her　museum　was　too　richly　furnished　with　specimens　of　the　chase；　she　had　collected　too　many　bits　and　bibelots　from　life's　Hotel　Druot　and　the　great　bazaar　of　female　competition；　to　pay　so　great　a　price　as　marriage　for　merely　John；　particularly　when　a　lady；　even　in　Newport；　can　have　but　one　husband　at　a　time　in　her　collection。　If　she　did　actually　love　John；　as　Beverly　Rodgers　had　reluctantly　come　to　believe；　it　was　most　in…　appropriate　in　her！　Had　I　followed　out　the　train　of　reasoning　which　lay　coiled　up　inside　the　word　inappropriate；　I　might　have　reached　the　solution　which　eventually　Hortense　herself　gave　me；　and　the　jewelled　recesses　of　her　nature　would　have　blazed　still　more　brilliantly　to　my　eyes　to…day；　but　in　truth；　my　soul　wasn't　old　enough　yet　to　work　Hortense　out　by　itself；　unaided！

While　Mrs。　Gregory　and　Mrs。　Weguelin　sat　on　their　chairs；　and　Hortense　sat　on　her　bench；　tea　was　brought　and　a　table　laid；　behind　whose　　whiteness　and　silver　Hortense　began　slight　offices　with　cups　and　sugar　tongs。　She　looked　inquiry　at　her　visitors；　in　answer　to　which　Mrs。　Gregory　indicated　acceptance；　and　Mrs。　Weguelin　refusal。　The　beauty　of　Hortense's　face　had　strangely　increased　since　the　arrival　of　these　two　visitors。　It　shone　resplendent　behind　the　silver　and　the　white　cloth；　and　her　movement；　as　she　gave　the　cup　to　Mrs。　Gregory　St。　Michael；　was　one　of　complete　grace　and　admirable　propriety。　But　once　she　looked　away　from　them　in　the　direction　of　the　path。　Her　two　visitors　rose　and　left　her；　Mrs。　Gregory　setting　her　tea…cup　down　with　a　gesture　that　said　she　would　take　no　more；　and；　after　their　bows　of　farewell；　Hortense　sat　alone　again　pulling　about　the　tea　things。

I　saw　that　by　the　table　lay　a　card…case　on　the　ground；　evidently　dropped　by　Mrs。　Gregory；　but　Hortense　could　not　see　it　where　she　sat。　Her　quick　look　along　the　path　heralded　more　company　and　the　General　with　more　chairs。　Young　people　now　began　to　appear；　the　various　motions　of　whom　were　more　animated　than　the　approaches　and　greetings　and　farewells　of　their　elders；　chairs　were　moved　and　exchanged；　the　General　was　useful　in　handling　cups；　and　a　number　of　faces　unknown　to　me　came　and　went；　some　of　them　elderly　ones　whom　I　had　seen　in　church；　or　passed　while　walking；　the　black　dresses　of　age　mingled　with　the　brighter　colors　of　youth；　and　on　her　bench　behind　the　cups　sat　Hortense；　or　rose　up　at　right　moments；　radiant；　restrained　and　adequate；　receiving　with　deferential　attention　the　remarks　of　some　dark…clothed　elder；　or；　with　sufficiently　interested　countenance；　inquiring　something　from　a　brighter　one　of　her　own　generation；　but　twice　I　saw　her　look　up　the　garden　path。　None　of　them　stayed　long；　although　when　they　were　all　gone　the　shadow　of　the　garden　wall　had　come　as　far　as　the　arbor；　and　once　again　Hortense　sat　alone　behind　the　table；　leaning　back　with　arms　folded；　and　looking　straight　in　front　of　her。　At　last　she　stirred；　and　rose　slowly；　and　then；　with　a　movement　which　was　the　perfection　of　timidity；　began　to　advance；　as　John；　with　his　Aunt　Eliza；　came　along　the　path。　To　John；　Hortense　with　familiar　yet　discreet　brightness　gave　a　left　hand；　as　she　waited　for　the　old　lady；　and　then　the　old　lady　went　through　with　it。　What　that　embrace　of　acknowledgment　cost　her　cannot　be　measured；　and　during　its　process　John　stood　like　a　sentinel。　Possibly　this　was　the　price　of　his　forgiveness　to　his　Aunt　Eliza。

The　visitors　accepted　tea；　and　the　beauty　in　Hortense's　face　was　now　supreme。　The　old　lady　sat；　forgetting　to　drink　her　tea；　but　very　still　in　outward　attitude；　as　she　talked　with　Hortense；　and　the　sight　of　one　hand　in　its　glove　lying　motionless　upon　her　best　dress；　suddenly　almost　drew　unexpected　tears　to　my　eyes。　John　was　nearly　as　quiet　as　she；　but　the　glove　that　he　held　was　twisted　between　his　fingers。　I　expected　that　he　would　stay　with　his　Hortense　when　his　aunt　took　her　leave；　he；　however；　was　evidently　expected　by　the　old　lady　to　accompany　her　out　and　back；　I　suppose；　to　her　house；　as　was　proper。

But　John's　departure　from　Hortense　differed　from　his　meeting　her。　She　gave　no　left　hand　to　him　now；　she　gazed　at　him；　and　then；　as　the　old　lady　began　to　go　toward　the　house；　she　moved　a　step　toward　him；　and　then　she　cast　herself　into　his　arms！　It　was　no　acting；　this；　no　skilful　simu…　lation；　her　head　sank　upon　his　shoulder；　and　true　passion　spoke　in　every　line　of　that　beautiful　surrendered　form；　as　it　leaned　against　her　lover's。

〃So　that's　why！〃　I　exclaimed；　once　more　aloud。

It　was　but　a　moment；　and　John；　released；　followed　Miss　Eliza。　The　old　lady　walked　slowly；　with　that　half…failing　step　that　betokens　the　body's　weariness　after　great　mental　or　moral　strain。　Indeed；　as　John　regained　her　side；　she　put　her　arm　in　his　as　if　her　feebleness　needed　his　support。　Thus　they　went　away　together；　the　aunt　and　her　beloved　boy；　who　had　so　sorely　grieved　and　disappointed　her。

But　if　this　sight　touched　me；　this　glimpse　of　the　vanquished　leaving　the　field　after　supreme　acknowledgment　of　defeat；　upon　Hortense　it　wrought　another　effect　altogether。　She　stood　looking　after　them；　and　as　she　looked；　the　whole　woman　from　head　to　foot；　motionless　as　she　was；　seemed　to　harden。　Yet　still　she　looked；　until　at　length；　slowly　turning；　her　eyes　chanced　to　fall　upon　Mrs。　Gregory　St。　Michael's　card…case。　There　it　lay；　the　symbol　of　Kings　Port's　capitulation。　She　swooped　down　and　up　with　a　flying　curve　of　grace；　holding　her　prey　caught；　and　then；　catching　also　her　handsome　skirts　on　either　side；　she　danced　like　a　whirling　fan　among　the　empty　chairs。



XVIII：　Again　the　Replacers

But　a　little　while；　and　all　that　I　had　just　witnessed　in　such　vivid　dumb…show　might　have　seemed　to　me　in　truth　some　masque；　so　smooth　had　it　been；　and　voiceless；　coming　and　going　like　a　devised　fancy。　And　after　the　last　of　the　players　was　gone　from　the　stage；　leaving　the　white　cloth；　and　the　silver；　and　the　cups；　and　the　groups　of　chairs　near　the　pleasant　arbor；　I　watched　the　deserted　garden　whence　the　sunlight　was　slowly　departing；　and　it　seemed　to　me　more　than　ever　like　some　empty　and　charming　scene　in　a　playhouse；　to　which　the　comedians　would　in　due　time　return　to　repeat　their　delicate　pantomime。　But　these　were　mental　indulgences；　with　which　I　sat　playing　until　the　sight　of　my　interrupted　letter　to　Aunt　Carola　on　the　table　before　me　brought　the　reality　of　everything　back　into　my　thoughts；　and　I　shook　my　head　over　Miss　Eliza。　I　remembered　that　hand　of　hers；　lying　in　despondent　acquiescence　upon　her　lap；　as　the　old　lady　sat　in　her　best　dress；　formally　and　faithfully　accepting　the　woman　whom　her　nephew　John　had　brought　upon　them　as　his　bride…electformally　and　faithfully　accepting　this　distasteful　person；　and　thus　atoning　as　best　she　could　to　her　beloved　nephew　for　the　wrong　that　her　affection　had　led　her　to　do　him　in　that　ill…starred　and　inexcusable　tampering　with　his　affairs。

But　there　was　my　letter　waiting。　I　took　my　pen；　and　finished　what　I　had　to　say　about　the　negro　and　the　injustice　we　had　done　to　him；　as　well　as　to　our　own　race；　by　the　Fifteenth　Amendment。　I　wrote：

〃I　think　Northerners　must　often　seem　to　these　people　strangely　obtuse　in　their　attitude。　And　they　deserve　such　opinion；　since　all　they　need　to　do　is　come　here　and　see　for　themselves　what　the　War　did　to　the　South。

〃You　may　have　a　perfectly　just　fight　with　a　man　and　beat　him　rightly；　but　if　you　are　able　to　go　on　with　your　work　next　day；　while　his　health　is　so　damaged　that　for　a　long　while　he　limps　about　as　a　cripple；　you　must　not　look　up　from　y