a far country-第53节

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In　the　evening　we　took　the　〃Limited〃　for　home。

We　lived　for　a　month　with　my　mother；　and　then　moved　into　our　own　house。
It　was　one　which　I　had　rented　from　Howard　Ogilvy；　and　it　stood　on　the
corner　of　Baker　and　Clinton　streets；　near　that　fashionable　neighbourhood
called　〃the　Heights。〃　　Ogilvy；　who　was　some　ten　years　older　than　I；　and
who　belonged　to　one　of　our　old　families；　had　embarked　on　a　career　then
becoming　common；　but　which　at　first　was　regarded　as　somewhat　meteoric：
gradually　abandoning　the　practice　of　law；　and　perceiving　the
possibilities　of　the　city　of　his　birth；　he　had　〃gambled〃　in　real　estate
and　other　enterprises；　such　as　our　local　water　company；　until　he　had
quadrupled　his　inheritance。　　He　had　built　a　mansion　on　Grant　Avenue；　the
wide　thoroughfare　bisecting　the　Heights。　　The　house　he　had　vacated　was
not　large；　but　essentially　distinctive；　with　the　oddity　characteristic　of
the　revolt　against　the　banal　architecture　of　the　80's。　　The　curves　of　the
tiled　roof　enfolded　the　upper　windows；　the　walls　were　thick；　the　note　one
of　mystery。　　I　remember　Maude's　naive　delight　when　we　inspected　it。

〃You'd　never　guess　what　the　inside　was　like；　would　you；　Hugh？〃　　she
cried。

From　the　panelled　box　of　an　entrance　hall　one　went　up　a　few　steps　to　a
drawing…room　which　had　a　bowed　recess　like　an　oriel；　and　window…seats。
The　dining…room　was　an　odd　shape；　and　was　wainscoted　in　oak；　it　had　a
tiled　fireplace　and　（according　to　Maude）　the　〃sweetest〃　china　closet
built　into　the　wall。　　There　was　a　〃den〃　for　me；　and　an　octagonal
reception…room　on　the　corner。　　Upstairs；　the　bedrooms　were　quite　as
unusual；　the　plumbing　of　the　new　pattern；　heavy　and　imposing。　　Maude
expressed　the　air　of　seclusion　when　she　exclaimed　that　she　could　almost
imagine　herself　in　one　of　the　mediaeval　towns　we　had　seen　abroad。

〃It's　a　dream；　Hugh；〃　she　sighed。　　〃Butdo　you　think　we　can　afford
it？〃。。。

〃This　house；〃　I　announced；　smiling；　〃is　only　a　stepping…stone　to　the
palace　I　intend　to　build　you　some　day。〃

〃I　don't　want　a　palace！〃　she　cried。　　〃I'd　rather　live　here；　like　this；
always。〃

A　certain　vehemence　in　her　manner　troubled　me。　　I　was　charmed　by　this
disposition　for　domesticity；　and　yet　I　shrank　from　the　contemplation　of
its　permanency。　　I　felt　vaguely；　at　the　time；　the　possibility　of　a　future
conflict　of　temperaments。　　Maude　was　docile；　now。　　But　would　she　remain
docile？　and　was　it　in　her　nature　to　take　ultimately　the　position　that　was
desirable　for　my　wife？　　Well；　she　must　be　moulded；　before　it　were　too
late。　　Her　ultra…domestic　tendencies　must　be　halted。　　As　yet　blissfully
unaware　of　the　inability　of　the　masculine　mind　to　fathom　the　subtleties
of　feminine　relationships；　I　was　particularly　desirous　that　Maude　and
Nancy　Durrett　should　be　intimates。　　The　very　day　after　our　arrival；　and
while　we　were　still　at　my　mother's；　Nancy　called　on　Maude；　and　took　her
out　for　a　drive。　　Maude　told　me　of　it　when　I　came　home　from　the　office。

〃Dear　old　Nancy！〃　I　said。　　〃I　know　you　liked　her。〃

〃Of　course；　Hugh。　　I　should　like　her　for　your　sake；　anyway。　　She'sshe's
one　of　your　oldest　and　best　friends。〃

〃But　I　want　you　to　like　her　for　her　own　sake。〃

〃I　think　I　shall；〃　said　Maude。　　She　was　so　scrupulously　truthful！
〃I　was　a　little　afraid　of　her；　at　first。〃

〃Afraid　of　Nancy！〃　I　exclaimed。

〃Well；　you　know；　she's　much　older　than　I。　　I　think　she　is　sweet。　　But　she
knows　so　much　about　the　worldso　much　that　she　doesn't　say。　　I　can't
describe　it。〃

I　smiled。

〃It's　only　her　manner。　　You'll　get　used　to　that；　when　you　know　what　she
really　is。〃

〃Oh；　I　hope　so；〃　answered　Maude。　　〃I'm　very　anxious　to　like　herI　do
like　her。　　But　it　takes　me　such　a　lot　of　time　to　get　to　know　people。〃

Nancy　asked　us　to　dinner。

〃I　want　to　help　Maude　all　I　can；if　she'll　let　me；〃　Nancy　said。

〃Why　shouldn't　she　let　you？〃　I　asked。

〃She　may　not　like　me；〃　Nancy　replied。

〃Nonsense！〃　I　exclaimed。

Nancy　smiled。

〃It　won't　be　my　fault；　at　any　rate；　if　she　doesn't；〃　she　said。　　〃I　wanted
her　to　meet　at　first　just　the　right　people　your　old　friends　and　a　few
others。　　It　is　hard　for　a　womanespecially　a　young　womancoming　among
strangers。〃　　She　glanced　down　the　table　to　where　Maude　sat　talking　to
Ham。　　〃She　has　an　air　about　her；a　great　deal　of　self…possession。〃

I；　too；　had　noticed　this；　with　pride　and　relief。　　For　I　knew　Maude　had
been　nervous。

〃You　are　luckier　than　you　deserve　to　be；〃　Nancy　reminded　me。　　〃But　I　hope
you　realize　that　she　has　a　mind　of　her　own；　that　she　will　form　her　own
opinions　of　people；　independently　of　you。〃

I　must　have　betrayed　the　fact　that　I　was　a　little　startled；　for　the
remark　came　as　a　confirmation　of　what　I　had　dimly　felt。

〃Of　course　she　has；〃　I　agreed；　somewhat　lamely。　　〃Every　woman　has；　who　is
worth　her　salt。〃

Nancy's　smile　bespoke　a　knowledge　that　seemed　to　transcend　my　own。

〃You　do　like　her？〃　I　demanded。

〃I　like　her　very　much　indeed；〃　said　Nancy；　a　little　gravely。　　〃She's
simple；　she's　real；　she　has　that　which　so　few　of　us　possess　nowadays
character。　　ButI've　got　to　be　prepared　for　the　possibility　that　she　may
not　get　along　with　me。〃

〃Why　not？〃　I　demanded。

〃There　you　are　again；　with　your　old　unwillingness　to　analyze　a　situation
and　face　it。　　For　heaven's　sake；　now　that　you　have　married　her；　study
her。　　Don't　take　her　for　granted。　　Can't　you　see　that　she　doesn't　care
for　the　things　that　amuse　me；　that　make　my　life？〃

〃Of　course；　if　you　insist　on　making　yourself　out　a　hardened；
sophisticated　woman〃　I　protested。　　But　she　shook　her　head。

〃Her　roots　are　deeper；she　is　in　touch；　though　she　may　not　realize　it；
with　the　fundamentals。　　She　is　one　of　those　women　who　are　race…makers。〃

Though　somewhat　perturbed；　I　was　struck　by　the　phrase。　　And　I　lost　sight
of　Nancy's　generosity。　　She　looked　me　full　in　the　face。

〃I　wonder　whether　you　can　rise　to　her；〃　she　said。　　〃If　I　were　you；　I
should　try。　　You　will　be　happierfar　happier　than　if　you　attempt　to　use
her　for　your　own　ends；　as　a　contributor　to　your　comfort　and　an　auxiliary
to　your　career。　　I　was　afraidI　confess　itthat　you　had　married　an
aspiring；　simpering　and　empty…headed　provincial　like　that　Mrs。　George
Hutchins'　whom　I　met　once；　and　who　would　sell　her　soul　to　be　at　my　table。
Well；　you　escaped　that；　and　you　may　thank　God　for　it。　　You've　got　a
chance；　think　it　over。

〃A　chance！〃　I　repeated；　though　I　gathered　something　of　her　meaning。

〃Think　it　over；　said　Nancy　again。　　And　she　smiled。

〃Butdo　you　want　me　to　bury　myself　in　domesticity？〃　I　demanded；　without
grasping　the　significance　of　my　words。

〃You'll　find　her　reasonable；　I　think。　　You've　got　a　chance　now；　Hugh。
Don't　spoil　it。〃

She　turned　to　Leonard　Dickinson；　who　sat　on　her　other　side。。。。

When　we　got　home　I　tried　to　conceal　my　anxiety　as　to　Maude's　impressions
of　the　evening。　　I　lit　a　cigarette；　and　remarked　that　the　dinner　had　been
a　success。

〃Do　you　know　what　I've　been　wondering　all　evening？〃　Maude　asked。　　〃Why
you　didn't　marry　Nancy　instead　of　me。〃

〃Well；〃　I　replied；　〃it　just　didn't　come　off。　　And　Nancy　was　telling　me　at
dinner　how　fortunate　I　was　to　have　married　you。〃

Maude　passed　this。

〃I　can't　see　why　she　accepted　Hambleton　Durrett。　　It　　seems　horrible　that
such　a　woman　as　she　is　could　have　marriedjust　for　money。

〃Nancy　has　an　odd　streak　in　her；〃　I　said。　　〃But　then　we　all　have　odd
streaks。　　She's　the　best　friend　in　the　world；　when　she　is　your　friend。〃

〃I'm　sure　of　it；〃　Maude　agreed；　with　a　little　note　of　penitence。

〃You　enjoyed　it；〃　I　ventured　cautiously。

〃Oh；　yes；〃　she　agreed。　　〃And　everyone　was　so　nice　to　mefor　your　sake　of
course。〃

〃Don't　be　ridiculous！〃　I　said。　　〃I　shan't　tell　you　what　Nancy　and　the
others　said　about　you。〃

Maude　had　the　gift　of　silence。

〃What　a　beautiful　house！〃　she　sighed　presently。　　〃I　know　you'll　think　me
silly；　but　so　much　luxury　as　that　frightens　me　a　little。　　In　England；　in
those　places　we　saw；　it　seemed　natural　enough；　but　in　America！　　And
they　all　your　friendsseem　to　take　it　as　a　matter　of　course。〃

〃There's　no　reason　why　we　shouldn't　have　beautiful　things　and　well　served
dinners；　too；　if　we　have　the　money　to　pay　for　them。〃

〃I　suppose　not；〃　she　agreed；　absently。




XV。

That　winter　many　other　entertainments　were　given　in　our　honour。　　But　the
conviction　grew　upon　me　that　Maude　had　no　real　liking　for　the　social　side
of　life；　that　she　acquiesced　in　it　only　on　my　account。　　Thus；　at　the　very
outset　of　our　married　career；　an　irritant　developed：　signs　of　it；　indeed；
were　apparent　from　the　first；　when　we　were　preparing　the　house　we　had
rented　for　occupancy。　　Hurrying　away　from　my　office　at　odd　times　to
furniture　and　department　stores　to　help　decide　such　momentous　questions
as　curtains；　carpets；　chairs　and　tables　I　would　often　spy　the　tall；
uncompromising　figure　of　Susan　Peters　standing　beside　Maude's；　while　an
obliging　clerk　spread　out；　anxiously；　rugs　or　wall…papers　for　their
inspection。

〃Why　don't　you　get　Nancy　to　help　you；　too！〃　I　ventured　to　ask　her　once。

〃Ours　is　such　a　little　housecompared　to　Nancy's；　Hugh。〃

My　attitude　towards　Susan　had　hitherto　remained　undefined。　　She　was　Tom's
wife　and　Tom's　affair。　　In　spite　of　her　marked　disapproval