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diff --git a/18822-h/18822-h.htm b/18822-h/18822-h.htm new file mode 100644 index 0000000..fef986f --- /dev/null +++ b/18822-h/18822-h.htm @@ -0,0 +1,10419 @@ +<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Strict//EN" + "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-strict.dtd"> +<html> +<head> +<meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=ISO-8859-1" /> +<title>The Project Gutenberg eBook of The House of Martha, by Frank R. Stockton</title> + <style type="text/css"> +/*<![CDATA[ XML blockout */ +<!-- + p { margin-top: .75em; + text-align: justify; + margin-bottom: .75em; + } + h1,h2,h3,h4,h5,h6 { + text-align: center; /* all headings centered */ + clear: both; + } + hr { width: 33%; + margin-top: 2em; + margin-bottom: 2em; + margin-left: auto; + margin-right: auto; + clear: both; + } + + table {margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;} + + body{margin-left: 10%; + margin-right: 10%; + } + + .linenum {position: absolute; top: auto; left: 4%;} /* poetry number */ + .blockquot{margin-left: 5%; margin-right: 10%;} + .pagenum {position: absolute; left: 92%; font-size: smaller; text-align: right;} /* page numbers */ + .sidenote {width: 20%; padding-bottom: .5em; padding-top: .5em; + padding-left: .5em; padding-right: .5em; margin-left: 1em; + float: right; clear: right; margin-top: 1em; + font-size: smaller; background: #eeeeee; border: dashed 1px;} + + .bb {border-bottom: solid 2px;} + .bl {border-left: solid 2px;} + .bt {border-top: solid 2px;} + .br {border-right: solid 2px;} + .bbox {border: solid 2px;} + + .center {text-align: center;} + .smcap {font-variant: small-caps;} + .u {text-decoration: underline;} + + .caption {font-weight: bold;} + + .figcenter {margin: auto; text-align: center;} + + .figleft {float: left; clear: left; margin-left: 0; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-top: + 1em; margin-right: 1em; padding: 0; text-align: center;} + + .figright {float: right; clear: right; margin-left: 1em; margin-bottom: 1em; + margin-top: 1em; margin-right: 0; padding: 0; text-align: center;} + + .footnotes {border: dashed 1px;} + .footnote {margin-left: 10%; margin-right: 10%; font-size: 0.9em;} + .footnote .label {position: absolute; right: 84%; text-align: right;} + .fnanchor {vertical-align: super; font-size: .8em; text-decoration: none;} + + .poem {margin-left:10%; margin-right:10%; text-align: left;} + .poem br {display: none;} + .poem .stanza {margin: 1em 0em 1em 0em;} + .poem span.i0 {display: block; margin-left: 0em;} + .poem span.i2 {display: block; margin-left: 2em;} + .poem span.i4 {display: block; margin-left: 4em;} + hr.full { width: 100%; } + pre {font-size: 75%;} + // --> + /* XML end ]]>*/ + </style> +</head> +<body> +<h1>The Project Gutenberg eBook, The House of Martha, by Frank R. Stockton</h1> +<pre> +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at <a href = "http://www.gutenberg.org">www.gutenberg.org</a></pre> +<p>Title: The House of Martha</p> +<p>Author: Frank R. Stockton</p> +<p>Release Date: July 13, 2006 [eBook #18822]</p> +<p>Language: English</p> +<p>Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1</p> +<p>***START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE HOUSE OF MARTHA***</p> +<p> </p> +<h3>E-text prepared by Suzanne Shell, Mary Meehan,<br /> + and the Project Gutenberg Online Distributed Proofreading Team<br /> + (http://www.pgdp.net/)</h3> +<p> </p> +<hr class="full" /> +<p> </p> + +<div class="figcenter"> +<img src="images/cover01.jpg" alt=""/> +</div> + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> + +<h1>THE HOUSE OF MARTHA</h1> + +<h2>BY FRANK R. STOCKTON</h2> +<p> </p> +<p> </p> + +<h4>BOSTON AND NEW YORK<br /> +HOUGHTON, MIFFLIN AND COMPANY<br /> +The Riverside Press, Cambridge<br /> +1891</h4> + + + +<h4>Copyright, 1891,<br /> +<span class="smcap">By</span> FRANK B. STOCKTON.<br /> +<i>All rights reserved.</i><br /> +<i>The Riverside Press, Cambridge, Mass., U. S. A.</i><br /> +Electrotyped and Printed by H. O. Houghton & Co.</h4> + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> + + + +<h3>CONTENTS.</h3> + +<!-- Autogenerated TOC. Modify or delete as required. --> +<p> +<a href="#I">I. <span class="smcap">My Grandmother and I</span></a><br /> +<a href="#II">II. <span class="smcap">Relating to my Year in Europe</span></a><br /> +<a href="#III">III. <span class="smcap">The Modern Use of the Human Ear</span></a><br /> +<a href="#IV">IV. <span class="smcap">I obtain a Listener</span></a><br /> +<a href="#V">V. <span class="smcap">Chester Walkirk</span></a><br /> +<a href="#VI">VI. <span class="smcap">My Under-Study</span></a><br /> +<a href="#VII">VII. <span class="smcap">My Book</span></a><br /> +<a href="#VIII">VIII. <span class="smcap">The Malarial Adjunct</span></a><br /> +<a href="#IX">IX. <span class="smcap">Walkirk's Idea</span></a><br /> +<a href="#X">X. <span class="smcap">The Plan of Seclusion</span></a><br /> +<a href="#XI">XI. <span class="smcap">My Nun</span></a><br /> +<a href="#XII">XII. <span class="smcap">Eza</span></a><br /> +<a href="#XIII">XIII. <span class="smcap">My Friend Vespa</span></a><br /> +<a href="#XIV">XIV. <span class="smcap">I favor Permanency in Office</span></a><br /> +<a href="#XV">XV. <span class="smcap">How we went back to Genoa</span></a><br /> +<a href="#XVI">XVI. <span class="smcap">I run upon a Sandbar</span></a><br /> +<a href="#XVII">XVII. <span class="smcap">Regarding the Elucidation of National Characteristics</span></a><br /> +<a href="#XVIII">XVIII. <span class="smcap">An Illegible Word</span></a><br /> +<a href="#XIX">XIX. <span class="smcap">Gray Ice</span></a><br /> +<a href="#XX">XX. <span class="smcap">Tomaso and I</span></a><br /> +<a href="#XXI">XXI. <span class="smcap">Lucilla and I</span></a><br /> +<a href="#XXII">XXII. <span class="smcap">I close my Book</span></a><br /> +<a href="#XXIII">XXIII. <span class="smcap">Racket Island</span></a><br /> +<a href="#XXIV">XXIV. <span class="smcap">The Interpolation</span></a><br /> +<a href="#XXV">XXV. <span class="smcap">About Sylvia</span></a><br /> +<a href="#XXVI">XXVI. <span class="smcap">Mother Anastasia</span></a><br /> +<a href="#XXVII">XXVII. <span class="smcap">A Person</span></a><br /> +<a href="#XXVIII">XXVIII. <span class="smcap">The Floating Grocery</span></a><br /> +<a href="#XXIX">XXIX. <span class="smcap">Fantasy?</span></a><br /> +<a href="#XXX">XXX. <span class="smcap">A Discovery</span></a><br /> +<a href="#XXXI">XXXI. <span class="smcap">Taking up Unfinished Work</span></a><br /> +<a href="#XXXII">XXXII. <span class="smcap">Tomaso and Lucilla</span></a><br /> +<a href="#XXXIII">XXXIII. <span class="smcap">The Distant Topsail</span></a><br /> +<a href="#XXXIV">XXXIV. <span class="smcap">The Central Hotel</span></a><br /> +<a href="#XXXV">XXXV. <span class="smcap">Money makes the Mare go</span></a><br /> +<a href="#XXXVI">XXXVI. <span class="smcap">In the Shade of the Oak</span></a><br /> +<a href="#XXXVII">XXXVII. <span class="smcap">The Performance of my Under-Study</span></a><br /> +<a href="#XXXVIII">XXXVIII. <span class="smcap">A Broken Trace</span></a><br /> +<a href="#XXXIX">XXXIX. <span class="smcap">A Soul Whisper?</span></a><br /> +<a href="#XL">XL. <span class="smcap">An Inspiration</span></a><br /> +<a href="#XLI">XLI. <span class="smcap">Miss Laniston</span></a><br /> +<a href="#XLII">XLII. <span class="smcap">The Mother Superior</span></a><br /> +<a href="#XLIII">XLIII. <span class="smcap">Was his Heart true to Poll?</span></a><br /> +<a href="#XLIV">XLIV. <span class="smcap">Preliminary Brotherhood</span></a><br /> +<a href="#XLV">XLV. <span class="smcap">I make Coffee and get into Hot Water</span></a><br /> +<a href="#XLVI">XLVI. <span class="smcap">Going back for a Friend</span></a><br /> +<a href="#XLVII">XLVII. <span class="smcap">I interest Miss Laniston</span></a><br /> +<a href="#XLVIII">XLVIII. <span class="smcap">In a Cold, Bare Room</span></a><br /> +<a href="#XLIX">XLIX. <span class="smcap">My Own Way</span></a><br /> +<a href="#L">L. <span class="smcap">My Book of Travel</span></a><br /> +<a href="#LI">LI. <span class="smcap">A Loose End</span></a><br /> +<a href="#LII">LII. <span class="smcap">I finish the Sicilian Love-Story</span></a><br /> +</p> +<!-- End Autogenerated TOC. --> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>THE HOUSE OF MARTHA.</h2> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="I" id="I"></a>I.</h2> + +<h3>MY GRANDMOTHER AND I.</h3> + + +<p>My grandmother sat in her own particular easy-chair by the open window +of her back parlor. This was a pleasant place in which to sit in the +afternoon, for the sun was then on the other side of the house, and she +could look not only over the smooth grass of the side yard and the +flower beds, which were under her especial care, but across the corner +of the front lawn into the village street. Here, between two handsome +maple-trees which stood upon the sidewalk, she could see something of +what was going on in the outer world without presenting the appearance +of one who is fond of watching her neighbors. It was not much that she +saw, for the street was a quiet one; but a very little of that sort of +thing satisfied her.</p> + +<p>She was a woman who was easily satisfied. As a proof of this, I may say +that she looked upon me as a man who always did what was right. Indeed, +I am quite sure there were cases when she saved herself a good deal of +perplexing cogitation by assuming that a thing was right because I did +it. I was her only grandchild: my father and mother had died when I was +very young, and I had always lived with her,—that is, her house had +always been my home; and as I am sure there had never been any reason +why I should not be a dutiful and affectionate grandson, it was not +surprising that she looked upon me with a certain tender partiality, and +that she considered me worthy of all the good that she or fortune could +bestow upon me.</p> + +<p>My grandmother was nearly seventy, but her physical powers had been +excellently well preserved; and as to her mental vigor, I could see no +change in it. Even when a little boy I had admired her powers of +sympathetic consideration, by which she divined the needs and desires of +her fellow-creatures; and now that I had become a grown man I found +those powers as active and ready as they had ever been.</p> + +<p>The village in which we lived contained a goodly number of families of +high standing and comfortable fortune. It was a village of well-kept and +well-shaded streets, of close-cut grass, with no litter on the +sidewalks. Our house was one of the best in the place, and since I had +come of age I had greatly improved it. I had a fair inheritance from my +mother, and this my grandmother desired me to expend without reference +to what I was receiving and would receive from her. To her son's son +would come ultimately everything that she possessed.</p> + +<p>Being thus able to carry out my ideas concerning the comfort and +convenience of a bachelor, I had built a wing to my grandmother's house, +which was occupied only by myself. It communicated by several doors with +the main building, and these doors were nearly always open; but it was +satisfactory to me to think that if I chose I might shut and lock them, +and thus give my apartment the advantages of a separate house. The +ground floor of my establishment consisted of a large and handsome +library and study, with a good-sized anteroom opening from it, and above +were my sleeping and dressing rooms. With the exception of the time +devoted to reading, reflection, and repose, I lived with my grandmother.</p> + +<p>Neither of us, however, confined ourself to this village life. The +winters my grandmother generally spent with a married sister in a +neighboring city, and I was accustomed to visit and journey whenever it +pleased me. Recently I had spent a year in Europe, and on my return I +joined my grandmother for a while, before going to our village home.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="II" id="II"></a>II.</h2> + +<h3>RELATING TO MY YEAR IN EUROPE.</h3> + + +<p>I do not suppose that any one ever enjoyed travel and residence in +England and on the Continent more than I did; but I do not now intend to +give any account of my experiences, nor of the effect they had upon me, +save in one regard. I had traveled and lived for the most part alone, +and one of the greatest pleasures connected with my life in Europe was +the anticipation of telling my friends who had never crossed the ocean +what I had seen, heard, and done.</p> + +<p>But when I returned to America I met with a great disappointment: my +glowing anticipations were not realized. I could find scarcely any one +who cared to know what I had seen, heard, or done.</p> + +<p>At this I was as much surprised as disappointed. I believed that I +possessed fair powers of description and narration, and many of my +traveling experiences were out of the common. In fact, I had endeavored +to see things the ordinary traveler does not see, and to do things which +he seldom does. I found, however, that my unusual experiences were of no +advantage to me in making people desirous to hear accounts of my +travels. I might as well have joined a party of personally conducted +tourists.</p> + +<p>My friends and acquaintances in town were all glad to see me, not that +they might hear what had happened to me, but that they might tell me +what had happened to them. This disposition sometimes threw me into a +state of absolute amazement. I could not comprehend, for instance, why +Mrs. Gormer, who had known me for years, and who I thought would take +such an active interest in everything that concerned me, should dismiss +my European tour with a few remarks in regard to my health in the +countries I had passed through, and then begin an animated account of +the troubles she had had since I had been away: how the house she had +been living in had had two feet of water in the cellar for weeks at a +time, and how nobody could find out whether it was caused by a spring in +the ground or the bursting of an unknown water-pipe,—but no matter what +it was, they couldn't stay there; and what a dreadful time they had in +finding another house; and how the day appointed for Jennie's wedding +coming directly in the middle of the moving, it had to be postponed, for +she declared she would never be married anywhere but at home; and how +several of Mr. Barclay's relations came down from New Hampshire on +purpose to be at the wedding, and had to stay either at hotels or with +friends, for it was more than a week before her house could be made +ready for the wedding. She then remarked that of course I had heard of +the shameful way in which John had been treated in regard to that +position in the Treasury department at Washington; and as I had not +heard she went on and told me about it, until it was time for me to go.</p> + +<p>At my club, some of the men did not know that I had been away, but there +were others who were very glad to hear that I had been in Europe, +because it gave them an opportunity to tell me about that very exciting +election of Brubaker, a man of whom I had never heard, who had been +proposed by Shuster, with whom I was not acquainted, and seconded by +Cushman, whom I did not know. I found no one desirous of hearing me talk +about my travels, and those who were willing to do so were satisfied +with a very few general points. Sometimes I could not but admire the +facility and skill with which some of the people who stay at home were +able to defend themselves against the attempted loquacity of the +returned traveler.</p> + +<p>Occasionally, in social gatherings, I met with some one, generally a +lady, who did take an interest in hearing that I had been in such or +such a place; but this was always some place in which she had been, and, +after comparing experiences, she would go on to tell of things which she +had seen and done, and often ended by making me feel very sorry for +having neglected my opportunities.</p> + +<p>"Yes," said one, "it must have been cold on the top of that lonely +mountain, with nothing to warm you but those plump little wolves, and +the constant fear that their mother might come back; but you ought to +have been here during the blizzard." And then she went on with a full +history of the great blizzard.</p> + +<p>Everywhere I was met by that blizzard. Those people who had not moved, +or who had not had a puzzling disease in the family, or who had not been +instrumental in founding a free kindergarten, could always fall back on +the blizzard. I heard how their fathers could not get home on the train, +of the awful prices the people charged for clearing away the snow, of +the way in which Jane and Adelaide had to get on without music lessons +for nearly ten days, and of the scarcity of milk. No one who had seen +and felt that irrepressible storm suffered from it as I did. It chilled +the aspirations of my soul, it froze the unspoken words of my mouth, it +overwhelmed and buried every rising hope of speech, and smothered and +sometimes nearly obliterated my most interesting recollection. Many a +time I have mentally sent that blizzard to regions where its icy blasts +would have melted as in a hot simoom.</p> + +<p>I truly believed that in our village I should find sensible people who +would be glad to hear about interesting things which they never had +seen. Many of them had not traveled, and a returned tourist was a +comparative rarity in the place. I went down there on purpose to talk +about Europe. It was too early for my grandmother's return to the +country. I proposed to spend a week with my village friends, and, before +their bright firesides, charm and delight them with accounts of those +things which had so charmed and delighted me. The lives of city people +are so filled with every sort of material that it is useless to try to +crowd anything more into them. Here, however, were people with excellent +intellects, whose craving for mental pabulum, especially in the winter, +could be but partially satisfied.</p> + +<p>But bless me! I never heard of such an over-stock of mental pabulum as I +found there. It was poured upon me by every one with whom I tried to +converse. I was frequently permitted to begin statements which I +believed must win their way, if they were allowed a fair start; but very +soon something I said was sure to suggest something which had occurred +in the village, and before I could brace myself the torrent would burst +upon me. Never did I hear, in the same space of time, so much about +things which had happened as I then heard from my village neighbors. It +was not that so much had occurred, but that so much was said about what +had occurred. It was plain there was no hope for me here, and after +three days I went back to town.</p> + +<p>Now it was early summer, and my grandmother and I were again in our dear +home in the village. As I have said, she was sitting by the open window, +where she could look out upon the flowers, the grass, and a little of +the life of her neighbors. I sat near her, and had been telling her of +my three days in the Forest of Arden, and of the veritable Jaques whom I +met there, when she remarked:—</p> + +<p>"That must have been extremely interesting; and, speaking of the woods, +I wish you would say to Thomas that so soon as he can find time I want +him to bring up some of that rich wood-soil and put it around those +geraniums."</p> + +<p>This was the first time my grandmother had interjected any remark into +my recitals. She had often asked me to tell her about my travels, and on +every other occasion she had listened until she softly fell asleep. I +now remembered having heard her say that it interfered with her night's +rest to sleep in the daytime. Perhaps her present interruption was +intended as a gentle rebuke, and no other kind of rebuke had ever come +to me from my grandmother.</p> + +<p>I went out to find Thomas, oppressed by a mild despair. If I were to +tell my tales to a stone, I thought, it would turn on me with a sermon.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="III" id="III"></a>III.</h2> + +<h3>THE MODERN USE OF THE HUMAN EAR.</h3> + + +<p>During my lonely walks and rides through the country about our village, +I began to cogitate and philosophize upon the present social value of +the human ear. Why do people in society and in domestic circles have +ears? I asked myself. They do not use them to listen to one another. And +then I thought and pondered further, and suddenly the truth came to me: +the ears of the present generation are not purveyors to the mind; they +are merely agents of the tongue, who watch for breaks or weak places in +the speech of others, in order that their principal may rush in and hold +the field. They are jackals, who scent out a timid pause or an +unsuspecting silence which the lion tongue straightway destroys. Very +forcibly the conviction came to me that nowadays we listen only for an +opportunity to speak.</p> + +<p>I was grieved that true listening had become a lost art; for without it +worthy speech is impossible. To good listening is due a great part of +the noble thought, the golden instruction, and the brilliant wit which +has elevated, enlightened, and brightened the soul of man. There are +fine minds whose workings are never expressed in writing; and even among +those who, in print, spread their ideas before the world there is a +certain cream of thought which is given only to listeners, if, happily, +there be such.</p> + +<p>Modern conversation has degenerated into the Italian game of +<i>moccoletto</i>, in which every one endeavors to blow out the candles of +the others, and keep his own alight. In such rude play there is no +illumination. "There should be a reform," I declared. "There should be +schools of listening. Here men and women should be taught how, with +sympathetic and delicate art, to draw from others the useful and +sometimes precious speech which, without their skillful coöperation, +might never know existence. To be willing to receive in order that good +may be given should be one of the highest aims of life.</p> + +<p>"Not only should we learn to listen in order to give opportunity for the +profitable speech of others, but we should do so out of charity and good +will to our fellow-men. How many weary sick-beds, how many cheerless +lives, how many lonely, depressed, and silent men and women, might be +gladdened, and for the time transformed, by one who would come, not to +speak words of cheer and comfort, but to listen to tales of suffering +and trial! Here would be one of the truest forms of charity; an almost +unknown joy would be given to the world.</p> + +<p>"There should be brotherhoods and sisterhoods of listeners; like good +angels, they should go out among those unfortunates who have none to +hear that which it would give them so much delight to say."</p> + +<p>But alas! I knew of no such good angels. Must that which I had to tell +remain forever untold for the want of one? This could not be; there must +exist somewhere a man or a woman who would be willing to hear my +accounts of travels and experiences which, in an exceptionable degree, +were interesting and valuable.</p> + +<p>I determined to advertise for a listener.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="IV" id="IV"></a>IV.</h2> + +<h3>I OBTAIN A LISTENER.</h3> + + +<p>The writing of my advertisement cost me a great deal of trouble. At +first I thought of stating that I desired a respectable and intelligent +person, who would devote a few hours each day to the services of a +literary man; but on reflection I saw that this would bring me a vast +number of answers from persons who were willing to act as secretaries, +proof-readers, or anything of the sort, and I should have no means of +finding out from their letters whether they were good listeners or not.</p> + +<p>Therefore I determined to be very straightforward and definite, and to +state plainly what it was I wanted. The following is the advertisement +which I caused to be inserted in several of the city papers:—</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>"<span class="smcap">Wanted</span>.—A respectable and intelligent person, willing to +devote several hours a day to listening to the recitals of a +traveler. Address, stating compensation expected, Oral."</p></div> + +<p>I mentioned my purpose to no one, not even to my grandmother, for I +should merely make myself the object of the ridicule of my friends, and +my dear relative's soul would be filled with grief that she had not been +considered competent to do for me so slight a service. If I succeeded in +obtaining a listener, he could come to me in my library, where no one +would know he was not a stenographer to whom I was dictating literary +matter, or a teacher of languages who came to instruct me in Arabic.</p> + +<p>I received a dozen or more answers to my advertisement, some of which +were very amusing, and others very unsatisfactory. Not one of the +writers understood what sort of services I desired, but all expressed +their belief that they were fully competent to give them, whatever they +might be.</p> + +<p>After a good deal of correspondence and some interviewing, I selected at +last a person who I believed would prove himself a satisfactory +listener. He was an elderly man, of genteel appearance, and apparently +of a quiet and accommodating disposition. He assured me that he had once +been a merchant, engaged in the importation of gunny-bags, and, having +failed in business, had since depended on the occasional assistance +given him by a widowed daughter-in-law. This man I engaged, and arranged +that he should lodge at the village inn, and come to me every evening.</p> + +<p>I was truly delighted that so far I had succeeded in my plan. Now, +instead of depending upon the whims, fancies, or occasional good-natured +compliance of any one, I was master of the situation. My listener was +paid to listen to me, and listen to me he must. If he did not do so +intelligently, he should be dismissed. It would be difficult to express +fully the delight given me by my new possession,—the ownership of +attention.</p> + +<p>Every evening my listener came; and during a great part of every day I +thought of what I should say to him when he should come. I talked to him +with a feeling of freedom and absolute independence which thrilled me +like champagne. What mattered it whether my speech interested him or +not? He was paid to listen, without regard to interest; more than that, +he was paid to show an interest, whether he felt it or not. Whether I +bored him or delighted him, it made no difference; in fact, it would be +a pleasure to me occasionally to feel that I did bore him. To have the +full opportunity and the perfect right to bore a fellow-being is a +privilege not lightly to be prized, and an added zest is given to the +enjoyment of the borer by the knowledge that the bored one is bound to +make it appear that he is not bored.</p> + +<p>In an easy-chair opposite to me my listener sat and listened for two +hours every evening. I interested myself by watching and attempting to +analyze the expressions on his face, but what these appeared to indicate +made no difference in my remarks. I do not think he liked repetitions, +but if I chose to tell a thing several times, I did so. He had no right +to tell me that he had heard that before. Immunity from this remark was +to me a rare enjoyment.</p> + +<p>I made it a point to talk as well as I could, for I like to hear myself +talk well, but I paid no attention to the likings of my listener. Later +I should probably do this, but at present it was a joy to trample upon +the likings of others. My own likings in this respect had been so often +trampled upon that I would not now deny myself the exercise of the +right—bought and paid for—to take this sweet revenge.</p> + +<p>On the evenings of nine week-days and one Sunday, when I confined myself +entirely to a description of a short visit to Palestine, I talked and my +listener listened. About the middle of the evening of the tenth +week-day, when I was engaged in the expression of some fancies evoked by +the recollection of a stroll through the Egyptian department of the +Louvre, I looked at my listener, and beheld him asleep.</p> + +<p>As I stopped speaking he awoke with a start, and attempted to excuse +himself by stating that he had omitted to take coffee with his evening +meal. I made no answer, but, opening my pocket-book, paid and discharged +him.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="V" id="V"></a>V.</h2> + +<h3>CHESTER WALKIRK.</h3> + + +<p>It is not my custom to be discouraged by a first failure. I looked over +the letters which had been sent to me in answer to my advertisement, and +wrote to another of the applicants, who very promptly came to see me.</p> + +<p>The appearance of this man somewhat discouraged me. My first thought +concerning him was that a man who seemed to be so thoroughly alive was +not likely to prove a good listener. But after I had had a talk with him +I determined to give him a trial. Of one thing I was satisfied: he would +keep awake. He was a man of cheerful aspect; alert in motion, glance, +and speech. His age was about forty; he was of medium size, a little +inclined to be stout, and his face, upon which he wore no hair, was +somewhat ruddy. In dress he was neat and proper, and he had an air of +friendly deference, which seemed to me to suit the position I wished him +to fill.</p> + +<p>He spoke of himself and his qualifications with tact, if not with +modesty, and rated very highly his ability to serve me as a listener; +but he did so in a manner intended to convince me that he was not +boasting, but stating facts which it was necessary I should know. His +experience had been varied: he had acted as a tutor, a traveling +companion, a confidential clerk, a collector of information for +technical writers, and in other capacities requiring facility of +adaptation to exigencies. At present he was engaged in making a +catalogue for a collector of prints, whose treasures, in the course of +years, had increased to such an extent that it was impossible for him to +remember what his long rows of portfolios contained. The collector was +not willing that work among his engravings should be done by artificial +light, and, as the evenings of my visitor were therefore disengaged, he +said he should be glad to occupy them in a manner which would not only +be profitable to him, but, he was quite sure, would be very interesting.</p> + +<p>The man's name was Chester Walkirk, and I engaged him to come to me +every evening, as my first listener had done.</p> + +<p>I began my discourses with Walkirk with much less confidence and +pleasurable anticipation than I had felt with regard to the quiet, +unassuming elderly person who had been my first listener, and whom I had +supposed to be a very model of receptivity. The new man I feared would +demand more,—if not by word, at least by manner. He would be more like +an audience; I should find myself striving to please him, and I could +not feel careless whether he liked what I said or not.</p> + +<p>But by the middle of the first evening all my fears and doubts in regard +to Walkirk had disappeared. He proved to be an exceptionally good +listener. As I spoke, he heard me with attention and evident interest; +and this he showed by occasional remarks, which he took care should +never be interruptions. These interpolations were managed with much +tact; sometimes they were in the form of questions, which reminded me of +something I had intended to say, but had omitted, which led me to speak +further upon the subject, perhaps on some other phase of it. Now and +then, by the expression on his countenance, or by a word or two, he +showed interest, gratification, astonishment, or some other appropriate +sentiment.</p> + +<p>When I stopped speaking, he would sit quietly and muse upon what I had +been saying; or, if he thought me not too deeply absorbed in reflection, +would ask a question, or say something relative to the subject in hand, +which would give me the opportunity of making some remarks which it +gratified me to know that he wanted to hear.</p> + +<p>I could not help feeling that I talked better to Walkirk than I had ever +done to any one else; and I did not hesitate to admit to myself that +this gratifying result was due in great part to his ability as a +listener. I do not say that he drew me out, but he gave me opportunities +to show myself in the broadest and best lights. This truly might be said +to be good listening; it produced good speech.</p> + +<p>Day after day I became better and better satisfied with Chester Walkirk, +and it is seldom that I have enjoyed myself more than in talking to him. +I am sure that it gave me more actual pleasure to tell him what I had +seen and what I had done than I had felt in seeing and doing those +things. This may appear odd, but it is a fact. I readily revived in +myself the emotions that accompanied my experiences, and to these +recalled emotions was added the sympathetic interest of another.</p> + +<p>In other ways Walkirk won my favor. He was good-natured and intelligent, +and showed that he was anxious to please me not only as a listener, but +as a companion, or, I might better say, as an associate inmate of my +study. What he did not know in this respect he set himself diligently to +learn.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="VI" id="VI"></a>VI.</h2> + +<h3>MY UNDER-STUDY.</h3> + + +<p>In talking about my travels to Chester Walkirk, I continued for a time +to treat the subject in the same desultory manner in which I had related +my experiences to my first listener; but the superior intelligence, and +I may say the superior attention, of Walkirk acted upon me as a +restraint as well as an incentive. I made my descriptions as graphic and +my statements as accurate as I could, and, stimulated by his occasional +questions and remarks, I began to discourse systematically and with a +well-considered plan. I went from country to country in the order in +which I had traveled through them, and placed my reflections on social, +political, or artistic points where they naturally belonged.</p> + +<p>It was plain to see that Walkirk's interest and pleasure increased when +my rambling narrations resolved themselves into a series of evening +lectures upon Great Britain, the Continent, and the north coast of +Africa, and his pleasure was a decided gratification to me. If his +engagements and mine had permitted, I should have been glad to talk to +him at other times, as well as in the evening.</p> + +<p>After a month or more of this agreeable occupation, the fact began to +impress itself upon me that I was devoting too much time to the pleasure +of being listened to. My grandmother gently complained that the time I +gave to her after dinner appeared to be growing less and less, and there +was a good deal of correspondence and other business I was in the habit +of attending to in the evening which now was neglected, or done in the +daytime, when I should have been doing other things.</p> + +<p>I was not a man of leisure. My grandmother owned a farm about a mile +from our village, and over the management of this I exercised a +supervision. I was erecting some houses on land of my own on the +outskirts of the village, and for this reason, as well as others, it +frequently was necessary for me to go to the city on business errands. +Besides all this, social duties had a claim on me, summer and winter.</p> + +<p>I had gradually formed the habit of talking with Walkirk on other +subjects than my travels, and one evening I mentioned to him some of the +embarrassments and annoyances to which I had been subjected during the +day, on account of the varied character of my affairs. Walkirk sat for a +minute or two, his chin in his hand, gazing steadfastly upon the carpet; +then he spoke:—</p> + +<p>"Mr. Vanderley, what you say suggests something which I have been +thinking of saying to you. I have now finished the catalogue of prints, +on which I was engaged when I entered your service as a listener; and my +days, therefore, being at my disposal, it would give me great pleasure +to put them at yours."</p> + +<p>"In what capacity?" I asked.</p> + +<p>"In that of an under-study," said he.</p> + +<p>I assured him that I did not know what he meant.</p> + +<p>"I don't wonder at that," said he, with a smile, "but I will explain. In +theatrical circles each principal performer is furnished with what is +termed in the profession an under-study. This is an actor, male or +female, as the case may be, who studies the part of the performer, and +is capable of going through with it, with more or less ability, in case +the regular actor, from sickness or any other cause, is prevented from +appearing in his part. In this way the manager provides against +emergencies which might at any time stop his play and ruin his business. +Now, I should like very much to be your under-study, and I think in this +capacity I could be of great service to you."</p> + +<p>I made no answer, but I am sure my countenance expressed surprise.</p> + +<p>"I do not mean," he continued, "to propose that I shall act as your +agent in the various forms of business which press upon you, but I +suggest that you allow me to do for you exactly what the under-study +does for the actor; that is, that you let me take your place when it is +inconvenient or impossible for you to take it yourself."</p> + +<p>"It strikes me," said I, "that, in the management of my affairs, it +would be very seldom that you or any one else could take my place."</p> + +<p>"Of course," said Walkirk, "under present circumstances that would be +impossible; but suppose, for instance, you take me with you to those +houses you are building, that you show me what has been done and what +you intend to do, and that you let me make myself familiar with the +whole plan and manner of the work. This would be easy for me, for I have +superintended house-building; and although I am neither a plumber, a +mason, a carpenter, a paper-hanger, or a painter, I know how such people +should do their work. Therefore, if you should be unable to attend to +the matter yourself,—and in such case only,—I could go and see how the +work was progressing; and this I could do with regard to your farm, or +any other of your business with the details of which you should care to +have me make myself familiar,—always remembering that I should not act +as your regular agent in any one of these affairs, but as one who, when +it is desirable, temporarily takes your place. I think, Mr. Vanderley, +that it would be of advantage to you to consider my proposition."</p> + +<p>I did consider it, and the next evening I engaged Chester Walkirk as an +under-study.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="VII" id="VII"></a>VII.</h2> + +<h3>MY BOOK.</h3> + + +<p>In order to be at hand when I might need him, Walkirk took up his +residence at the village tavern, or, as some of us were pleased to call +it, the inn. To make him available when occasion should require, I took +him with me to the scene of my building operations and to my +grandmother's farm, and he there showed the same intelligent interest +that he gave to my evening recitals. I had no difficulty in finding +occupation for my under-study, and, so far as I could judge, he attended +to the business I placed in his hands as well as I could have done it +myself; indeed, in some instances, he did it better, for he gave it more +time and careful consideration.</p> + +<p>In this business of supplying my place in emergencies, Walkirk showed so +much ability in promoting my interests that I became greatly pleased +with the arrangement I had made with him. It was somewhat surprising to +me, and I think to Walkirk, that so many cases arose in which I found it +desirable that he should take my place. I was going to look at a horse: +some visitors arrived; I sent Walkirk. There was a meeting of a +scientific society which I wished very much to attend, but I could not +do that and go to a dinner party to which I had been invited on the same +evening; Walkirk went to the meeting, took notes, and the next day gave +me a full report in regard to some particular points in which I was +interested, and which were not mentioned in the short newspaper notice +of the meeting.</p> + +<p>In other cases, of which at first I could not have imagined the +possibility, my under-study was of use to me. I was invited to address +my fellow townsmen and townswomen on the occasion of the centennial +anniversary of the settlement of our village, and as I had discovered +that Walkirk was a good reader I took him with me, in order that he +might deliver my written address in case my courage should give out. My +courage did not give out, but I am very sure that I was greatly +supported and emboldened by the knowledge that if, at the last moment, +my embarrassment should not allow me to begin my address, or if in the +course of its delivery I should feel unable, for any reason, to go on +with it, there was some one present who would read it for me.</p> + +<p>It had long been my habit to attend with my grandmother, bi-monthly, an +early evening whist party at the house of an elderly neighbor. I had a +bad headache on one of these appointed evenings, and Walkirk, who was a +perfectly respectable and presentable man, went with my grandmother in +my stead. I afterward heard that he played an excellent hand at whist, a +remark which had never been made of me.</p> + +<p>But I will not refer at present to any further instances of the +usefulness of my under-study, except to say that, as I found his feet +were of the same size and shape as my own, I sent him to be measured for +a pair of heavy walking-shoes which I needed; and I once arranged for +him to serve in my place on a coroner's jury, in the case of a drowned +infant.</p> + +<p>The evening listenings still went on, and as the scope of my remarks +grew wider, and their purpose became better defined, it began to dawn +upon me that it was selfish to devote these accounts of remarkable +traveling experiences to the pleasure of only two men, myself and my +listener; the public would be interested in these things. I ought to +write a book.</p> + +<p>This idea pleased me very much. As Walkirk was now able to take my place +in so many ways, I could give a good deal of time each day to +composition; and, moreover, there was no reason why such work should +interfere with my pleasure in being listened to. I could write by day, +and talk at night. It would be all the better for my book that I should +first orally deliver the matter to Walkirk, and afterward write it. I +broached this idea to Walkirk; but, while he did not say so in words, it +was plain to me he did not regard it with favor. He reflected a little +before speaking.</p> + +<p>"The writing of a book," he said, "is a very serious thing; and although +it is not my province to advise you, I will say that if I were in your +place I should hesitate a good while before commencing a labor like +that. I have no doubt, judging from what I have already heard of your +travels, that you would make a most useful and enjoyable book, but the +question in my mind is, whether the pleasure you would give your readers +would repay you for the time and labor you would put upon this work."</p> + +<p>This was the first time that Walkirk had offered me advice. I had no +idea of taking it, but I did not resent it.</p> + +<p>"I do not look at the matter in that way," I said. "An absorbing labor +will be good for me. My undertaking may result in overworking you, for +you will be obliged to act as my under-study even more frequently than +you do now."</p> + +<p>"Oh, I'm not afraid of work," said he; "I can stand any amount of it. +But how about the evening discourses,—will they come to an end?"</p> + +<p>"Not at all," said I; "I shall go on giving you an account of my +travels, just as before. This will help me to judge better what to put +in and what to leave out."</p> + +<p>"I am very glad to hear that," he said, with animation; "I do not +hesitate to own to you that I should very greatly regret to lose those +most interesting accounts of your experiences."</p> + +<p>This was very complimentary, but, as he was paid to listen, the remark +did not possess the force it would have had, had he paid to hear me.</p> + +<p>Enthusiastically I went to work upon my book, and I found that talking +about my travels to Walkirk helped me to write about them for the +public. But a week had not passed when I came to the conclusion that +writing was in no way so pleasant as talking. I disliked labor with the +pen; I disliked long sitting at my desk. The composition of the matter +was enough for me; some one else should put it on paper. I must have a +secretary. I went immediately to Walkirk, who was at the inn, working +upon some of my accounts.</p> + +<p>"Walkirk," said I, "I can get somebody else to do that sort of thing. I +want you to act as my amanuensis."</p> + +<p>To my surprise his face clouded. He seemed troubled, even pained.</p> + +<p>"I am very, very sorry," he said, "to decline any work which you may +desire me to do, but I really must decline this. I cannot write from +dictation. I cannot be your amanuensis. Although it may seem like +boasting, this is one of the few things I cannot do: my nervous +temperament, my disposition, in fact my very nature, stand in the way, +and make the thing impossible."</p> + +<p>I could not understand Walkirk's objections to this sort of work, for he +was a ready writer, a good stenographer, and had shown himself perfectly +willing and able to perform duties much more difficult and distasteful +than I imagined this possibly could be. But there are many things I do +not understand, and which I consider it a waste of time to try to +understand; and this was one of them.</p> + +<p>"Then I must get some one else," said I.</p> + +<p>"If you decide to do that," said Walkirk, "I will attend to the matter +for you, and you need trouble yourself no further about it. I will go to +the city, or wherever it is necessary to go, and get you an amanuensis."</p> + +<p>"Do so," said I, "but come and report to me before you make any +engagement."</p> + +<p>The next day Walkirk made his report. He had not been as successful as +he had hoped to be. If I had been doing my work in the city, he could +have found me stenographers, amanuenses, or type-writers by the hundred. +By living and working in the country, I made his task much more +difficult. He had found but few persons who were willing to come to me +every day, no matter what the weather, and only one or two who would +consent to come to our village to live.</p> + +<p>But he had made a list of several applicants who might suit me, and who +were willing to accept one or the other of the necessary conditions.</p> + +<p>"They are all women!" I exclaimed, when I looked at it.</p> + +<p>"Yes," said he; "it would be very difficult, perhaps impossible, to find +a competent man who would answer your purpose. The good ones could not +afford to give you part of their time, which is all you require, and you +would not want any other. With women the case is different; and besides, +I am sure, from my own experience, that a lady amanuensis would suit +your purpose much better than a man: she would be more patient, more +willing to accommodate herself to your moods, in every way more +available."</p> + +<p>I had not engaged Walkirk to be my under-study in matters of judgment, +and I did not intend that he should act in that capacity; but there was +force in his remarks, and I determined to give them due consideration. +Although I had apartments of my own, I really lived in my grandmother's +house; and of course it was incumbent upon me to consult her upon this +subject. She looked at the matter in her usual kindly way, and soon came +to be of the opinion that, if I could give a worthy and industrious +young woman an opportunity to earn her livelihood, I ought to do it; +taking care, of course, to engage no one who could not furnish the very +best references.</p> + +<p>I now put the matter again into Walkirk's hands, and told him to produce +the persons he had selected. He managed the matter with great skill, and +in the course of one morning four ladies called upon me, in such a way +that they did not interfere with each other. Of these applicants none +pleased me. One of them was a dark-haired, dark-eyed, rather spare +person, whose youthful energies had been so improved by years that I was +sure her briskness of action, her promptness of speech, and her evident +anxiety to get to work and to keep at it would eventually drive me +crazy.</p> + +<p>Another was a skilled stenographer, who could write I forget how many +hundred words a minute; and when I told her there were no minutes in +which I could dictate as many words as that, even if I wanted to, and +that there would be many minutes in which I should not dictate any words +at all, she said she was afraid that if she fell into a dilly-dally, +poky way of working it would impair her skill, and it might be +difficult, when she left my employment, to regain her previous +expertness. She was quite willing, however, to engage with me, and +thought that if I would try to dictate as fast as possible I might, in +time, be able to keep her nearly up to her normal standard.</p> + +<p>A third one was willing to write longhand, and to work as slowly and as +irregularly as I pleased. I gave her a short trial, but her writing was +so illegible that I could not discover whether or not she made mistakes +in spelling. I had, however, my suspicions on this point.</p> + +<p>The fourth applicant I engaged to come for a week on trial. She +exhibited no prominent disabilities, and I thought she might be made to +answer my purpose; but as she possessed no prominent capabilities, and +as she asked me to repeat almost every sentence which I dictated to her, +I found it very tiresome to work with her, and I punished Walkirk by +making him act as my under-study on the third and fourth days of her +engagement. I requested him to dictate to her some detailed incidents of +travel which I had told him, and which I was sure he remembered very +well. He undertook the task with alacrity, but after two mornings' work +he advised me to discharge her. Dictating to her, he said, was like +talking into a tin spout with nobody at the other end. Somebody might +come if you shouted long enough, but this was tiresome.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="VIII" id="VIII"></a>VIII.</h2> + +<h3>THE MALARIAL ADJUNCT.</h3> + + +<p>The fifth applicant on Walkirk's list had a morning to herself. So soon +as she entered my study I hoped that she would suit me, and I had not +talked with her ten minutes before I decided that she would. Her +personality was exceedingly agreeable; she was neither too young nor too +old. She expressed herself with a good-humored frankness which I liked, +and appeared to be of a very practical turn of mind. She was a practiced +stenographer, was accustomed to write from dictation and to read aloud, +could correct proof, and had some admirable references. Her abilities +appeared so excellent, and her demeanor was so agreeable to me, that I +engaged her.</p> + +<p>"I am very happy indeed, Mr. Vanderley," she said, with the pretty +dimpled smile which had so frequently shown itself in the course of our +conversation, "that you have given me this position. I am sure that I +shall like it, and I shall try very hard to make my work satisfactory. I +shall come up every morning in the nine o'clock train, as you desire; +and I shall be obliged to bring my husband with me, but this will not in +any way interfere with my work. He is suffering from a malarial disease, +and is subject to periods of faintness, so that it would be impossible +for me to leave him for the whole morning; but he can sit outside +anywhere, under a tree, or perhaps somewhere in the house if it happens +to rain. He is perfectly contented if he has a comfortable place to sit +in. He is not able to attend to any business, and as I now have to be +the bread-winner I am most deeply grateful for this work which you have +given me. I am sure that the little trip in and out of town will do him +good, and as I shall buy commutation tickets it will not be expensive. +He came with me this morning, and if you will excuse me I will bring him +in and introduce him." And without waiting for any remark from me she +left the room, and shortly returned with the malarial subject. He was an +extremely mild-mannered man, of light weight and sedate aspect. The few +words in which he indicated his gratification with his wife's engagement +suggested to me the need of sulphate of quinia.</p> + +<p>This revelation of a malarial adjunct to the labors of myself and this +very agreeable lady greatly surprised me, and, I must admit, threw me +back from that condition of satisfaction in which I had found myself +upon engaging her; and yet I could think of no reasonable objection to +make. The lady had promised that he should not be in the way, and the +most I could say, even to myself, was that the arrangement did not +appear attractive to me. Of course, with no reason but a chaotic +distaste, I would not recede from my agreement, and deprive this worthy +lady of the opportunity of supporting herself and her husband; and the +two departed, to return on the following day prepared to labor and to +wait.</p> + +<p>I inquired of Walkirk, I fear with some petulance, if he had known of +the incumbrance attached to this candidate; and he replied that she had +informed him that she was married, but he had no idea she intended to +bring her husband with her. He was very sorry that this was necessary, +but in his judgment the man would not live very long.</p> + +<p>My grandmother was greatly pleased when I told her of the arrangement I +had made to assist a devoted wife to support an invalid husband. She +considered it a most worthy and commendable action, and she was rejoiced +that such an opportunity had been afforded me. She would do what she +could to make the poor man comfortable while his wife was at work; and +if he had any sense at all, and knew what was to his advantage, he would +be very careful not to interfere with her duties.</p> + +<p>The next morning the couple appeared, and the lady was ensconced in the +anteroom to my study, which I had fitted up for the use of my secretary, +where, through the open window in front of her, she could see her +husband, seated in a rocking-chair, under a wide-spreading apple-tree. +By his side was a table, on which lay the morning paper and some books +which my grandmother had sent out to him. For a time she gave him also +her society, but, as she subsequently informed me, she did not find him +responsive, and soon concluded that he would be happier if left to his +reflections and the literature with which she had provided him.</p> + +<p>As an amanuensis I found my new assistant everything that could be +desired. She wrote rapidly and correctly, never asked me to repeat, +showed no nervousness at the delays in my dictation, and was ready to +write the instant I was ready to speak. She was quick and intelligent in +looking up synonyms, and appeared perfectly at home in the dictionary. +But in spite of these admirable qualifications, I did not find myself, +that morning, in a condition favorable to my best literary work. +Whenever my secretary was not actually writing she was looking out of +the window; sometimes she would smile and nod, and on three occasions, +while I was considering, not what I should say next, but whether or not +I could stand this sort of thing, she went gently to the window, and +asked the invalid, in a clear whisper, intended to be entirely +undisturbing, how he was getting on and if he wanted anything.</p> + +<p>Two days after this the air was damp and rain threatened, and the +malarial gentleman was supplied with comfortable quarters in the back +parlor. I do not know whether or not he liked this better than sitting +under a tree, but I am sure that the change did not please his wife. She +could not look at him, and she could not ask him how he was getting on +and if he wanted anything. I could see that she was worried and fidgety, +although endeavoring to work as faithfully and steadily as usual. Twice +during a break in the dictation she asked me to excuse her for just one +minute, while she ran into the parlor to take a peep at him.</p> + +<p>The next day it rained, and there seemed every probability that we +should have continued wet weather, and that it would be days before the +malarial one could sit under the apple-tree. Therefore I looked the +situation fairly in the face. It was impossible for me to dictate to a +nervous, anxious woman, whose obvious mental condition acted most +annoyingly upon my nerves, and I suggested that she bring her husband +into her room, and let him sit there while she worked. With this +proposition my secretary was delighted.</p> + +<p>"Oh, that will be charming!" she cried. "He will sit just as still as a +mouse, and will not disturb either of us, and I shall be able to see how +he feels without saying a word."</p> + +<p>For four days the malarial gentleman, as quiet as a mouse, sat by my +secretary's window, while she wrote at the table, and I walked up and +down my study, or threw myself into one chair or another, endeavoring to +forget that that man was sitting by the window; that he was trying his +best not to do anything which might disturb me; that he did not read, or +write, or occupy his mind in any way; that he heard every word I +dictated to his wife without indicating that he was not deaf, or that he +was capable of judging whether my words were good, bad, or unworthy of +consideration. Not only did I endeavor not to think of him, but I tried +not to see either him or his wife. The silent, motionless figure of the +one, and the silent but animated and vivacious figure of the other, +filled with an eager desire to do her work properly, with a bubbling and +hearty love for her husband, and an evident joyousness in the fact that +she could love, work, and watch, all at the same time, drove from my +mind every thought of travel or foreign experiences. Without the +malarial husband I should have asked for no better secretary; but he +spoiled everything. He was like a raw oyster in a cup of tea.</p> + +<p>I could not drive from my mind the vision of that man even when I knew +he was asleep in his bed. There was no way of throwing him off. His wife +had expressed to my grandmother the delight she felt in having him in +the room with her while she worked, and my grandmother had spoken to me +of her own sympathetic pleasure in this arrangement. I saw it would be +impossible to exile him again to the apple-tree, even if the ground +should ever be dry enough. There was no hope that he would be left at +his home; there was no hope that he would get better, and go off to +attend to his own business; there was no hope that he would die.</p> + +<p>From dictating but little I fell to dictating almost nothing at all. To +keep my secretary at work, I gave her some notes of travel of which to +make a fair copy, while I occupied myself in wondering what I was going +to do about that malarial husband.</p> + +<p>At last I ceased to wonder, and I did something. I went to the city, +and, after a day's hard work, I secured a position for my secretary in a +large publishing establishment, where her husband could sit by a window +in a secluded corner, and keep as quiet as a mouse. The good lady +overwhelmed me with thanks for my kindness. She had begun to fear that, +as the season grew colder, the daily trip would not suit her husband, +and she gave me credit for having thought the same thing.</p> + +<p>My grandmother and Walkirk were greatly concerned, as well as surprised, +at what I had done. The former said that, if I attempted to write my +book with my own hand, she feared the sedentary work would tell upon my +health; and my under-study, while regretting very much that his efforts +to provide me with an amanuensis had proved unsuccessful, showed very +plainly, although he did not say so, that he hoped I had found that +authorship was an annoying and unprofitable business, and that I would +now devote myself to pursuits which were more congenial, and in which he +could act for me when occasion required.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="IX" id="IX"></a>IX.</h2> + +<h3>WALKIRK'S IDEA.</h3> + + +<p>Walkirk very soon discovered that I had no intention whatever of giving +up the writing of my book, and I quieted the fears of my grandmother, in +regard to my health, by assuring her that the sedentary work connected +with the production of my volume would not be done by me. Secretaries +could be had, and I would get one.</p> + +<p>This determination greatly disturbed Walkirk. He did not wish to see me +perform a service for myself which it was his business to perform for +me, and in which he had failed. I know that he gave the matter the most +earnest consideration, and two days after my late secretary and her +husband had left me he came into my study, his face shining with a new +idea.</p> + +<p>"Mr. Vanderley," said he, "to find you an amanuensis who will exactly +suit you, and who will be willing to come here into the country to work, +is, I think you will admit, a very difficult business; but I do not +intend, if I can help it, to be beaten by it. I have thought of a plan +which I believe will meet all contingencies, and I have come to propose +it to you. You know that institution just outside the village,—the +House of Martha?"</p> + +<p>I replied that I knew of it.</p> + +<p>"Well," he continued, "I did not think of it until a day or two ago, and +I have since been inquiring into its organization and nature. That +sisterhood of Martha is composed of women who propose not only to devote +themselves to a life of goodness, but to imitate the industrious woman +for whom they have named themselves. They work not only in their +establishment, but wherever they can find suitable occupation, and all +that they earn is devoted to the good of the institution. Some of them +act as nurses for the sick,—for pay if people can afford it, for +nothing if they cannot. Others have studied medicine, and practice in +the same way. They also prepare medicines and dispense them, and do a +lot of good things,—if possible, for money and the advantage of the +House of Martha. But every woman who joins such an institution cannot +expect immediately to find the sort of remunerative work she can best +do, and I am informed that there are several women there who, at +present, are unemployed. Now, it is my opinion that among these you +could find half a dozen good secretaries."</p> + +<p>I laughed aloud. "Those women," said I, "are just the same as nuns. It +is ridiculous to suppose that one of them would be allowed to come here +as my secretary, even if she wanted to."</p> + +<p>"I am not so sure of that," persisted Walkirk; "I do not see why +literary, or rather clerical, pursuits should not be as open to them as +medicine or nursing."</p> + +<p>"You may not see it," said I, "but I fancy that they do."</p> + +<p>"It is impossible to be certain on that point," he replied, "until we +have proposed the matter to them, and given them the opportunity to +consider it."</p> + +<p>"If you imagine," I said, "that I have the effrontery to go to that +nunnery—for it is no more nor less than that—and ask the Lady Abbess +to lend me one of her nuns to write at my dictation, you have very much +mistaken me."</p> + +<p>Walkirk smiled. "I hardly expected you to do that," said he, "although I +must insist that it is not a nunnery, and there is no Lady Abbess. There +is a Head Mother, and some sub-mothers, I believe. My idea was that Mrs. +Vanderley should drive over there and make inquiries for you. A +proposition from an elderly lady of such high position in the community +would have a much better effect than if it came from a gentleman."</p> + +<p>Walkirk's plan amused me very much, and I told him I would talk to my +grandmother about it. When I did so, I was much surprised to find that +she received the idea with favor.</p> + +<p>"That Mr. Walkirk," she said, "is a man of a good deal of penetration +and judgment, and if you could get one of those sisters to come here and +write for you I should like it very much; and if the first one did not +suit, you could try another without trouble or expense. The fact that +you had a good many strings to your bow would give you ease of mind and +prevent your getting discouraged. I don't want you to give up the idea +of having a secretary."</p> + +<p>Then, with some hesitation, my good grandmother confided to me that +there was another reason why this idea of employing a sister pleased +her. She had been a little afraid that some lady secretary, especially +like that very pleasant and exemplary person with the invalid husband, +might put the notion into my head that it would be a good thing for me +to have a wife to do my writing. Now, of course she expected me to get +married some day. That was all right, but there was no need of my being +in any hurry about it; and as to my wife doing my writing, that was not +to be counted upon positively. Some wives might not be willing to do it, +and others might not do it well; so, as far as that matter was +concerned, nothing would be gained. But one of those sisters would never +suggest matrimony. They were women apart from all that sort of thing. +They had certain work to do in this world, and they did it for the good +of the cause in which they were enlisted, without giving any thought to +those outside matters which so often occupy the minds of women who have +not, in a manner, separated themselves from the world. She would go that +very afternoon to the House of Martha and make inquiries.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="X" id="X"></a>X.</h2> + +<h3>THE PLAN OF SECLUSION.</h3> + + +<p>My grandmother returned from the House of Martha disappointed and +annoyed. Life had always flowed very smoothly for her, and I had rarely +seen her in her present mental condition.</p> + +<p>"I do not believe," she said, "that that institution will succeed. Those +women are too narrow-minded. If they were in a regular stone-walled +convent, it would be another thing, but they are only a sisterhood. They +are not shut up there; it's their business and part of their religion to +go out, and why they should not be willing to come here and do good, as +well as anywhere else, I cannot see, for the life of me."</p> + +<p>"Then they objected to the proposition?" I asked.</p> + +<p>"Yes," she replied, "they did, and without any reason whatever. I saw +their superior, whom they call Mother Anastasia, and from her I learned +that there were several women in the establishment who were thoroughly +competent to act as secretaries; but when I proposed that one of them +should come and write for you, she said that would not do at all. I +reasoned the matter with her: that literature was as high a profession +as medicine, and as much good could be done with the practice of one as +the other; and if the sisters went out to nurse and to cure, they might +just as well go out to write for those who cannot write for themselves. +To that she answered, it was not the writing she objected to,—that was +all well enough,—but it was decidedly outside of the vocation of the +order for one of the sisters to spend her mornings with a young +gentleman. If he were sick and suffering, and had no one else to attend +to him, it would be different. Upon this, I told her that you would be +sick if you were obliged to do your own writing, and therefore I +couldn't see the difference.</p> + +<p>"But I must admit she was very good-natured and pleasant about it, and +she told me that if you chose to come to their visitors' room and make +yourself comfortable there, and dictate, one of the sisters would sit at +the table behind the grating and would write for you. I replied that I +did not believe you would like that, but that I would mention it to +you."</p> + +<p>I laughed. "So much for Walkirk's brilliant idea," I said. "I fancy +myself going every morning to that nunnery to do my work in their +cheerless visitors' room!"</p> + +<p>"Cheerless? I should say so!" exclaimed my grandmother,—"bare floors, +bare walls, and hard wooden chairs. It is not to be thought of."</p> + +<p>That evening I informed Walkirk of the ill success of my grandmother's +mission, but to my surprise he did not appear to be discouraged.</p> + +<p>"I don't think we need have any trouble at all in managing that affair," +said he. "Why shouldn't you have a grating put up in the doorway between +your study and the secretary's room? Then the sister could go in there, +the other door could be locked, and she would be as much shut off from +the world as if she were behind a grating in the House of Martha. I +believe, if this plan were proposed to the sisters, it would be agreed +to."</p> + +<p>I scouted the idea as utterly absurd; but when, the next morning, I +mentioned it to my grandmother, she caught at it eagerly, and no sooner +had she finished her breakfast than she ordered her carriage and drove +to the House of Martha.</p> + +<p>She returned triumphant.</p> + +<p>"We had a long discussion," she said, "but Mother Anastasia finally saw +the matter in its proper light. She admitted that if a room could be +arranged in this house, in which a sister could be actually secluded, +there was no good reason why she should not work there as consistently +with their rules as if she were in the House of Martha. Therefore, she +agreed, if you concluded to carry out this plan, to send a sister every +morning to write for you. So now, if you want a secretary from the House +of Martha, you can have one."</p> + +<p>To this I replied that I most positively wanted one; and Walkirk was +immediately instructed to have a suitable grating made for the doorway +between my study and the secretary's room.</p> + +<p>Nearly a week was required for the execution of this work, and during +this time I took a rest from literary composition and visited some +friends, leaving all the arrangements for my new secretary in the hands +of my grandmother and Walkirk. When I returned, the iron grating was in +its place. It was a neat and artistic piece of work, but I did not like +it. I object decidedly to anything which suggests restraint. The whole +affair of the secretary was indeed very different from what I would have +had it, but I had discovered that even in our advanced era of +civilization one cannot always have everything he wants, albeit he be +perfectly able and willing to pay for it.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="XI" id="XI"></a>XI.</h2> + +<h3>MY NUN.</h3> + + +<p>At nine o'clock on the morning of the appointed day my new secretary +came, accompanied by one of those sisters called by Walkirk sub-mothers.</p> + +<p>My grandmother received the two, and conducted them to the secretary's +room. I was sitting in my study, but no attention was paid to me. The +sub-mother advanced to the grating, and, having examined it, appeared +satisfied to find that it was securely fastened in the doorway. The nun, +as I called her, although Walkirk assured me the term was incorrect, +stood with her back toward me, and when her companion had said a few +words to her, in a low tone, she took her seat at the table. She wore a +large gray bonnet, the sides and top of which extended far beyond her +face, a light gray shawl, and a gray gown. She sat facing the window, +with her left side turned toward me, and from no point of my study could +I get a glimpse of her features.</p> + +<p>The sub-mother looked out of the window, which opened upon little more +than the once husband-sheltering apple-tree, and then, after a general +glance around the room, she looked at me, and for the first time +addressed me.</p> + +<p>"I will come for the sister at twelve o'clock," she said, and with that +she followed my grandmother out of the room, and locked the door behind +her.</p> + +<p>I stood and looked through the grating at my new secretary. I am not +generally a diffident man, and have never been so with persons in my +employment; but now, I must admit, I did not feel at my ease. The nun +sat perfectly motionless; her hands were folded in her gray lap, and her +gray bonnet was slightly bowed, so that I did not know whether she was +gazing down at the table or out of the window.</p> + +<p>She was evidently ready for work, but I was not. I did not know exactly +how to begin with such a secretary. With the others I had been outspoken +from the first; I had told them what I wanted and what I did not want, +and they had been ready enough to listen and ready enough to answer. But +to this silent, motionless gray figure I did not feel that I could be +outspoken. No words suggested themselves as being appropriate to speak +out. If I could see her face but for a moment, and discover whether she +were old or young, cross-looking or gentle, I might know what to say to +her. My impulse was to tell her there was a hook on which she could hang +her bonnet and shawl, but as I did not know whether or not these sisters +ever took off their bonnets and shawls, I did not feel at liberty to +make this suggestion.</p> + +<p>But it would not do to continue there, looking at her. She might be a +very shy person, and if I appeared shy it would probably make her all +the shyer; so I spoke.</p> + +<p>"You will find paper," I said, "in the drawer of your table, and there +are pens, of different sorts, in that tray." She opened the drawer, took +out some paper, and selected a pen, all without turning her head toward +me. Having broken the ice, I now felt impelled to deliver a short +lecture on my requirements; but how could I say what I required without +knowing what manner of person it was of whom I required it? I therefore +postponed the lecture, and determined to begin work without further +delay, as probably that would be the best way to put us both at our +ease. But it had been more than two weeks since I had done any work, and +I could not remember what it was that I had been dictating, or +endeavoring to dictate, to the lady with the malarial husband. I +therefore thought it well to begin at a fresh point, and to leave the +gap to be filled up afterward. I felt quite sure, when last at work, I +had been treating of the south of France, and had certainly not reached +Marseilles. I therefore decided to take a header for Marseilles, and +into Marseilles I plunged.</p> + +<p>As soon as I began to speak the nun began to write, and having at last +got her at work I felt anxious to keep her at it, and went steadily on +through the lively seaport; touching upon one point after another as +fast as I thought of them, and without regard to their proper sequence. +But although I sometimes skipped from one end of the city to the other, +and from history to street scenes, I dictated steadily, and the nun +wrote steadily. She worked rapidly, and apparently heard and understood +every word I said, for she asked no questions and did not hesitate. I am +sure I never before dictated so continuously. I had been in the habit of +stopping a good deal to think, not only about my work, but about other +things, but now I did not wish to stop.</p> + +<p>This amanuensis was very different from any other I had had. The others +worked to make money for themselves, or to please me, or because they +liked it. This one worked from principle. The money which I paid for her +labor did not become her money. It was paid to the House of Martha. She +sat there and wrote to promote the principles upon which the House of +Martha was founded. In fact, so far as I was concerned, she was nothing +more than a principle.</p> + +<p>Now, to interfere with the working of a principle is not the right thing +to do, and therefore I felt impelled to keep on dictating, which I did +until the hall door of the secretary's room was unlocked and the +sub-mother walked in. She came forward and said a few words to the nun, +who stopped writing and wiped her pen. The other then turned to me, and +in a low voice asked if the work of the sister was satisfactory. I +advanced to the grating, and answered that I was perfectly satisfied, +and was about to make some remarks, which I hoped would lead to a +conversation, when the sub-mother—whose name I subsequently learned was +Sister Sarah—made a little bow, and, saying if that were the case they +would return at nine the next morning, left the room in company with the +nun. The latter, when she arose from the table, turned her back to me, +and went out without giving me the slightest opportunity of looking into +her cavernous bonnet. This she did, I must admit, in the most natural +way possible, which was probably the result of training, and gave one no +idea of rudeness or incivility.</p> + +<p>When they were gone I was piqued, almost angry with myself. I had +intended stopping work a little before noon, in order to talk to that +nun, even if she did not answer or look at me. She should discover that +if she was a principle, I was, at least, an entity. I did not know +exactly what I should say to her, but it would be something one human +being would be likely to say to another human being who was working for +him. If from the first I put myself on the proper level, she might in +time get there. But although I had lost my present chance, she was +coming again the next day.</p> + +<p>I entered the secretary's room by the hall door, and looked at the +manuscript which had been left on the table. It was written in an +excellent hand, not too large, very legible, and correctly punctuated. +Everything had been done properly, except that after the first three +pages she had forgotten to number the leaves at the top; but as every +sheet was placed in its proper order, this was an omission which could +be easily rectified. I was very glad she had made it, for it would give +me something to speak to her about.</p> + +<p>At luncheon my grandmother asked me how I liked the new secretary, and +added that if she did not suit me I could try another next day. I +answered that so far she suited me, and that I had not the least wish at +present to try another. I think my grandmother was about to say +something regarding this sister, but I instantly begged her not to do +so. I wished to judge her entirely on her merits, I said, and would +rather not hear anything about her until I had come to a decision as to +her abilities. I did not add that I felt such an interest in the +anticipated discovery of the personality of this secretary that I did +not wish that discovery interfered with.</p> + +<p>In the evening Walkirk inquired about the sister-amanuensis, but I +merely answered that so far she had done very well, and dropped the +subject. In my own mind I did not drop the subject until I fell asleep +that night. I found myself from time to time wondering what sort of a +woman was that nun. Was she an elderly, sharp-faced creature; was she a +vapid, fat-faced creature, or a young and pleasing creature? And when I +had asked myself these questions, I snubbed myself for taking the +trouble to think about the matter, and then I began wondering again.</p> + +<p>But upon one point I firmly made up my mind: the relationship between my +secretary and myself should not continue to be that of an entity +dictating to a principle.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="XII" id="XII"></a>XII.</h2> + +<h3>EZA.</h3> + + +<p>The next day, when the nun and Sister Sarah entered the secretary's +room, I advanced to the grating and bade them good-morning. They both +bowed, and the nun took her seat at the table. Sister Sarah then turned +to me and asked if I had a gold pen, adding that the sister was +accustomed to writing with one. I answered that I had all kinds of pens, +and if the sister wanted a gold one it was only necessary to ask me for +it. I brought several gold pens, and handed them through the grating to +the sub-mother, who gave them to the secretary, and then took her leave, +locking the door behind her. My nun took one of the pens, tried it, +arranged the paper, and sat ready to write. I stood by the grating, +hoping to converse a little, if it should be possible.</p> + +<p>"Is there anything else you would like?" I said. "If there is, you know +you must mention it."</p> + +<p>She gently shook her head. The idea now occurred to me that perhaps my +nun was dumb; but I almost instantly thought that this could not be, for +dumb people were almost always deaf, and she could hear well enough. +Then it struck me that she might be a Trappist nun, and bound by a vow +of silence; but I reflected that she was not really a nun, and +consequently could not be a Trappist.</p> + +<p>Having been unsuccessful in my first attempt to make her speak, and +having now stood silent for some moments, I felt it might be unwise to +make another trial just then, for my object would be too plain. I +therefore sat down and began dictating.</p> + +<p>I did not work as easily as I had done on the preceding morning, for I +intended, if possible, to make my nun look at me, or speak, before the +hour of noon, and thinking of this intention prevented me from keeping +my mind upon my work. From time to time I made remarks in regard to the +temperature of the room, the quality of the paper, or something of the +kind. To these she did not answer at all, or slightly nodded, or shook +her head in a deprecatory manner, as if they were matters not worth +considering.</p> + +<p>Then I suddenly remembered the omission of the paging, and spoke of +that. In answer she took up the manuscript she had written and paged +every sheet. After this my progress was halting and uneven. +Involuntarily my mind kept on devising plans for making that woman speak +or turn her face toward me. If she would do the latter, I would be +satisfied; and even if she proved to be an unveiled prophetess of +Khorassan, there would be no further occasion for conjectures and +wonderings, and I could go on with my work in peace. But it made me +nervous to remain silent, and see that nun sitting there, pen in hand, +but motionless as a post, and waiting for me to give her the signal to +continue the exercise of the principle to which her existence was now +devoted.</p> + +<p>I went on with my dictation. I had left Marseilles, had touched slightly +upon Nice, and was now traveling by carriage on the Cornice Road to +Mentone. "It was on this road," I dictated, "that an odd incident +occurred to me. We were nearly opposite the old robber village of"—and +then I hesitated and stopped. I could not remember the name of the +village. I walked up and down my study, rubbing my forehead, but the +name would not recur to me. I was just thinking that I would have to go +to the library and look up the name of the village, when from out of the +depths of the nun's bonnet there came a voice, low but distinct, and, I +thought, a little impatient, and it said, "Eza."</p> + +<p>"Eza! of course!" I exclaimed,—"certainly it is Eza! How could I have +forgotten it? I am very much obliged to you for reminding me of the name +of that village. Perhaps you have been there?"</p> + +<p>In answer to this question I received the least little bit of a nod, and +the nun's pen began gently to paw the paper, as if it wanted to go on.</p> + +<p>I was now really excited. She had spoken. Why should I not do something +which should make her turn her face toward me,—something which would +take her off her guard, as my forgetfulness had just done? But no idea +came to my aid, and I felt obliged to begin to dictate the details of +the odd incident, when suddenly the door opened, Sister Sarah walked in, +and the morning's work was over.</p> + +<p>I had not done much, but I had made that nun speak. She said "Eza." That +was a beginning, and I felt confident that I should get on very well in +time. I was a little sorry that my secretary had been on the Cornice +Road. I fancied that she might have been one of those elderly single +women who become Baedeker tourists, and, having tired of this sort of +thing, had concluded to devote her life to the work of the House of +Martha. But this was mere idle conjecture. She had spoken, and I should +not indulge in pessimism.</p> + +<p>I prepared a very good remark with which to greet the sub-mother on the +next morning, and, although addressing Sister Sarah, I would be in +reality speaking to my nun. I would say how well I was getting on. I had +thought of saying <i>we</i> were getting on, but reflected afterward that +this would never do; I was sure that the House of Martha would not +allow, under any circumstances, that sister and myself to constitute a +<i>we</i>. Then I would refer to the help my secretary had been to me, and +endeavor to express the satisfaction which an author must always feel +for a suggestion of this kind, or any other, from one qualified to make +them. If there was any gratitude or vanity in my nun's heart, I felt I +could stir it up, if Sister Sarah would listen to me long enough; and if +gratitude, or even vanity, could be stirred, the rigidity of my nun +would be impaired, and she might find herself off her guard.</p> + +<p>But I had no opportunity of making my remark. At nine o'clock the door +of the secretary's room opened, the nun entered, and the door was then +closed and locked. Sister Sarah must have been in a hurry that morning. +Just as well as not I might have made my remark directly to my nun, but +I did not. She walked quickly to the table, arranged her paper, opened +her inkstand, and sat down. I fancied that I saw a wavy wriggle of +impatience in her shawl. Perhaps she wanted to know the rest of that odd +incident near Eza. It may have been that it was impatient interest which +had impaired her rigidity the day before.</p> + +<p>I went on with the odd incident, and made a very good thing of it. Even +when on well-worn routes of travel, I tried to confine myself to +out-of-the-way experiences. Walkirk had been very much interested in +this affair when I had told it to him, and there was no reason why this +nun should not also be interested, especially as she had seen Eza.</p> + +<p>I finished the narrative, and began another, a rather exciting one, +connected with the breaking of a carriage wheel and an exile from Monte +Carlo; but never once did curiosity or any other emotion impair the +rigidity of that nun. She wrote almost as fast as I could dictate, and +when I stopped I know she was filled with nervous desire to know what +was coming next,—at least I fancied that her shawl indicated such +nervousness; but hesitate as I might, or say what I might,—and I did +say a good many things which almost demanded a remark or answer,—not +one word came from her during the whole morning, nor did she ever turn +the front of her bonnet toward me.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="XIII" id="XIII"></a>XIII.</h2> + +<h3>MY FRIEND VESPA.</h3> + + +<p>I was very much disgusted at the present state of affairs. Three days +had elapsed, and I did not know what sort of a human being my secretary +was. I might as well dictate into a speaking-tube. A phonograph would be +better; for although it might seem ridiculous to sit in my room and talk +aloud to no one, what was I doing now? That nun was the same as no one.</p> + +<p>The next day was Sunday, and there would be no work, and no chance to +solve the problem, which had become an actual annoyance to me; but I did +not intend that this problem should continue to annoy me and interfere +with my work. I am open and aboveboard myself, and if my secretary did +not choose to be open and aboveboard, and behave like an ordinary human +being, she should depart, and I would tell Walkirk to get me an ordinary +human being, capable of writing from dictation, or depart himself. If he +could not provide me with a suitable secretary, he was not the efficient +man of business that he claimed to be. As to the absurdity of dictating +to a mystery in a barrow bonnet, I would have no more of it.</p> + +<p>I do not consider myself an ill-tempered person, and my grandmother +asserts that I have a very good temper indeed; but I must admit that on +Monday morning I felt a little cross, and when Sister Sarah and the nun +entered my antechamber I bade them a very cold good-morning, and allowed +the former to go without attempting any conversation whatever. The nun +having arrived, I would not send her away; but when the sub-mother came +at noon, I intended to inform her that I did not any longer desire the +services of the writing sister, and if she wished to know why I should +tell her plainly. I would not say that I would as soon dictate to an +inanimate tree-stump, but I would express that idea in as courteous +terms as possible.</p> + +<p>For fifteen minutes I let the nun sit and wait. If her principles +forbade idleness, I was glad to have a crack at her principles. Then I +began to dictate steadily and severely. I found that the dismissal from +my mind of all conjectures regarding the personality of my secretary was +of great service to me, and I was able to compose much faster than she +could write.</p> + +<p>It was about half past ten, I think, and the morning was warm and +pleasant, when there gently sailed into the secretary's room, through +the open window, a wasp. I saw him come in, and I do not think I ever +beheld a more agreeable or benignant insect. His large eyes were filled +with the light of a fatherly graciousness. His semi-detached body seemed +to quiver with a helpful impulse, and his long hind legs hung down +beneath him as though they were outstretched to assist, befriend, or +succor. With wings waving blessings and a buzz of cheery greeting, he +sailed around the room, now dipping here, now there, and then circling +higher, tapping the ceiling with his genial back.</p> + +<p>The moment the nun saw the wasp, a most decided thrill ran down the back +of her shawl. Then it pervaded her bonnet, and finally the whole of her. +As the beneficent insect sailed down near the table, she abruptly sprang +to her feet and pushed back her chair. I advanced to the grating, but +what could I do? Seeing me there, and doubtless with the desire +immediately to assure me of his kindly intentions, my friend Vespa made +a swoop directly at the front of the nun's bonnet.</p> + +<p>With an undisguised ejaculation, and beating wildly at the insect with +her hands, the nun bounded to one side and turned her face full upon me. +I stood astounded. I forgot the wasp.</p> + +<p>I totally lost sight of the fact that a young woman was in danger of +being badly stung. I thought of nothing but that she was a young woman, +and a most astonishingly pretty one besides.</p> + +<p>The state of terror she was in opened wide her lovely blue eyes, half +crimsoned her clear white skin, and threw her rosy lips and sparkling +teeth into the most enchanting combinations.</p> + +<p>"Make it go away!" she cried, throwing up one arm, and thereby pushing +back her gray bonnet, and exhibiting some of the gloss of her light +brown hair. "Can't you kill it?"</p> + +<p>Most gladly would I have rushed in, and shed with my own hands the blood +of my friend Vespa, for the sake of this most charming young woman, +suddenly transformed from a barrow-bonneted principle. But I was +powerless. I could not break through the grating; the other door of the +secretary's room was locked.</p> + +<p>"Don't strike at it," I said; "remain as motionless as you can, then +perhaps it will fly away. Striking at a wasp only enrages it."</p> + +<p>"I can't stay quiet," she cried; "nobody could!" and she sprang behind +the table, making at the same time another slap at the buzzing insect.</p> + +<p>"You will surely be stung," I said, "if you act in that way. If you will +slap at the wasp, don't use your hand; take something with which you can +kill it."</p> + +<p>"What can I take?" she exclaimed, now running round the table, and +stopping close to the grating. "Give me something."</p> + +<p>I hurriedly glanced around my study. I saw nothing that would answer for +a weapon but a whisk broom, which I seized, and endeavored to thrust +through the meshes of the grating.</p> + +<p>"Oh!" she cried, as the wasp made a desperate dive close to her face, +"give me that, quick!" and she stretched out her hand to me.</p> + +<p>"I cannot," I replied; "I can't push it through. It won't go through. +Take your bonnet."</p> + +<p>At this, my nun seized her bonnet by a sort of floating hood which hung +around the bottom of it and jerked it from her head, bringing with it +certain flaps and ligatures and combs, which, being thus roughly +removed, allowed a mass of wavy hair to fall about her shoulders.</p> + +<p>Waving her bonnet in her hand, like a slung-shot, she sprang back and +waited for the wasp. When the buzzing creature came near enough, she +made a desperate crack at him, missing him; she struck again and again, +now high, now low; she dashed from side to side of the room, and with +one of her mad sweeps she scattered a dozen pages of manuscript upon the +floor.</p> + +<p>The view of this combat was enrapturing to me; the face of my nun, now +lighted by a passionate determination to kill that wasp, was a delight +to my eyes. If I could have assured myself that the wasp would not sting +her, I would have helped him to prolong the battle indefinitely. But my +nun was animated by very different emotions. She was bound to be avenged +upon the wasp, and avenged she was. Almost springing into the air, she +made a grand stroke at him, as he receded from her, hit him, and dashed +him against the wall. He fell to the floor, momentarily disabled, but +flapping and buzzing. Then down she stooped, and with three great whacks +with her bonnet she finished the battle. The wasp lay motionless.</p> + +<p>"Now," she said, throwing her bonnet upon the table, "I will close that +window;" and she walked across the room, her blue eyes sparkling, her +face glowing from her violent exercise, and her rich brown hair hanging +in long waves upon her shoulders.</p> + +<p>"Don't do that," I said; "it will make your room too warm. There is a +netting screen in the corner there. If you put that under the sash, it +will keep out all insects. I wish I could do it for you."</p> + +<p>She took the frame and fitted it under the sash.</p> + +<p>"I am sorry I did not know that before," she said, as she returned to +her table; "this is a very bad piece of business."</p> + +<p>I begged her to excuse me for not having informed her of the screen, but +I did not say that I was sorry for what had occurred. I merely expressed +my gratification that she had not been stung. Her chair had been pushed +away from the table, its back against the wall, opposite to me. She +seated herself upon it, gently panting. She looked from side to side at +the sheets of manuscript scattered upon the floor.</p> + +<p>"I will pick them up presently and go to work, but I must rest a +minute." She did not now seem to consider that it was of the slightest +consequence whether I saw her face or not.</p> + +<p>"Never mind the papers," I said; "leave them there; they can be picked +up any time."</p> + +<p>"I wish that were the worst of it;" and as she spoke she raised her eyes +toward me, and the least little bit of a smile came upon her lips, as +if, though troubled, she could not help feeling the comical absurdity of +the situation.</p> + +<p>"It is simply dreadful," she continued. "I don't believe such a thing +ever before happened to a sister."</p> + +<p>"There is nothing dreadful about it," said I; "and do you mean to say +that the sisters of the House of Martha, who go out to nurse, and do all +sorts of good deeds, never speak to the people they are befriending, nor +allow them to look upon their faces?"</p> + +<p>"Of course," said she, "you have to talk to sick people; otherwise how +could you know what they need? But this is a different case;" and she +began to gather up her hair and twist it at the back of her head.</p> + +<p>"I do not understand," I remarked; "why is it a different case?"</p> + +<p>"It is as different as it can be," said she, picking up her comb from +the floor and thrusting it through her hastily twisted knot of hair. "I +should not have come here at all if your grandmother had not positively +asserted that there would be nothing for me to do but to listen and to +write. And Mother Anastasia and Sister Sarah both of them especially +instructed me that I was not to speak to you nor to look at you, but +simply to sit at the table and work for the good of the cause. That was +all I had to do; and I am sure I obeyed just as strictly as anybody +could, except once, when you forgot the name of Eza, and I was so +anxious to have you go on with the incident that I could not help +mentioning it. And now, I am sure I don't know what I ought to do."</p> + +<p>"Do?" I asked. "There is nothing to do except to begin writing where you +left off. The wasp is dead."</p> + +<p>"I wish it had never been born," she said. "I have no doubt that the +whole affair should come to an end now, and that I ought to go home; but +I can't do that until Sister Sarah comes to unlock the door, and so I +suppose we had better go to work."</p> + +<p>"We"! I would not have dared to use that word, but it fell from her lips +in the easiest and most conventional manner possible. It was delightful +to hear it. I never knew before what a pleasant sound the word had. She +now set herself to work to gather up the papers from the floor, and, +having arranged them in their proper order, she took up her bonnet.</p> + +<p>"Do you have to wear that?" I asked.</p> + +<p>"Certainly," she answered, clapping it on and pulling it well forward.</p> + +<p>"I should think it would be very hot and uncomfortable," I remarked.</p> + +<p>"It is," she admitted curtly; and, seating herself at the table, she +took up her pen.</p> + +<p>I now perceived that if I knew what was good for myself I would cease +from speaking on ordinary topics, and go on with my dictation. This I +did, giving out my sentences as rapidly as possible, although I must +admit I took no interest whatever in what I was saying, nor do I believe +that my secretary was interested in the subject-matter of my work. She +wrote rapidly, and, as well as I could judge, appeared excited and +annoyed. I was excited also, but not in the least disturbed. My emotions +were of a highly pleasing character. We worked steadily for some twenty +minutes, when suddenly she stopped and laid down her pen.</p> + +<p>"Of course it isn't right to speak," she said, turning in her chair and +speaking to me face to face, as one human being to another, "but as I +have said so much already, I don't suppose a little more will make +matters worse, and I must ask somebody's help in making up my mind what +I ought to do. I suspect I have made all sorts of mistakes in this +writing, but I could not keep my thoughts on my work. I have been trying +my best to decide how I ought to act, but I cannot make up my mind."</p> + +<p>"I shall be delighted to help you, if I can," I ventured. "What's the +point that you cannot decide?"</p> + +<p>"It is just this," she replied, fixing her blue eyes upon me with +earnest frankness: "am I to tell the sisters what has happened or not? +If I tell them, I know exactly what will be the result: I shall come +here no more, and I shall have to take Sister Hannah's place at the +Measles Refuge. There's nothing in this world that I hate like measles. +I've had them, but that doesn't make the slightest difference. Sister +Hannah has asked to be relieved, and I know she wants this place +dreadfully."</p> + +<p>"She cannot come here!" I exclaimed. "I don't believe I ever had the +measles, and I will not have them."</p> + +<p>"She is a stenographer," said she, "and she will most certainly be +ordered to take my place if I make known what I have done to-day."</p> + +<p>"Supposing you were sure that you were not obliged to go to the Measles +Refuge," I asked, "should you still regret giving up this position?"</p> + +<p>"Of course I should," she answered promptly. "I must work at something, +or I cannot stay in the House of Martha; and there is no work which I +like so well as this. It interests me extremely."</p> + +<p>"Now hear me," said I, speaking perhaps a little too earnestly, "and I +do not believe any one could give you better advice than I am going to +give you. What has occurred this morning was strictly and absolutely an +accident. A wasp came in at the window and tried to sting you; and there +is no woman in the world, be she a sister or not, who could sit still +and let a wasp sting her."</p> + +<p>"No," she interrupted, "I don't believe Mother Anastasia could do it."</p> + +<p>"And what followed," I continued, "was perfectly natural, and could not +possibly be helped. You were obliged to defend yourself, and in so doing +you were obliged to act just as any other woman would act. Nothing else +would have been possible, and the talking and all that came in with the +rest. You couldn't help it."</p> + +<p>"That's the way the matter appeared to me," said she; "but the question +would arise, if it were all right, why should I hesitate to tell the +sisters?"</p> + +<p>"Hesitate!" I exclaimed. "You should not even think of such a thing. No +matter what the sisters really thought about it, I am sure they would +not let you come here any more, and you would be sent to the measles +institution, and thus actually be punished for the attempted wickedness +of a wasp."</p> + +<p>"But there is the other side of the matter," said she; "would it not be +wicked in me not to tell them?"</p> + +<p>"Not at all," I replied. "You do not repeat to the sisters all that I +tell you to write?"</p> + +<p>"Of course not," she interrupted.</p> + +<p>"And you do not consider it your duty," I continued, "to relate every +detail of the business in which you are employed?"</p> + +<p>"No," she said. "They ask me some things, and some things I have +mentioned to them, such as not having a gold pen."</p> + +<p>"Very good," said I. "You should consider that defending yourself +against wasps is just as much your business here as anything else. If +you are stung, it is plain you can't write, and the interests of your +employer and of the House of Martha must suffer."</p> + +<p>"Yes," she assented, still with the steady gaze of her blue eyes.</p> + +<p>"Now your duty is clear," I went on. "If the sisters ask you if a wasp +flew into your room and tried to sting you, and you had to jump around +and kill it, and speak, before you could go on with your work, why, of +course you must tell them; but if they don't ask you, don't tell them. +It may seem ridiculous to you," I continued hurriedly, "to suppose that +they would ask such a question, but I put it in this way to show you the +principle of the thing."</p> + +<p>She withdrew her eyes from my face, and fixed them upon the floor.</p> + +<p>"The truth of the matter is," she said presently, "that I haven't done +anything wrong; at least I didn't intend to. I might have crouched down +in the corner, with my face to the wall, and have covered my head and +hands with my shawl, but I should have been obliged to stay there until +Sister Sarah came, and I should have been smothered to death; and +besides, I didn't think of it; so what I did do was the only thing I +could do, and I do not think I ought to be punished for it."</p> + +<p>"Now it is settled," I said. "Your duty is to work here for the benefit +of your sisterhood, and you should not allow a wasp or any insect to +interfere with it."</p> + +<p>She looked at me, and smiled a little abstractedly. Then she turned to +the table.</p> + +<p>"I will go on with my work," she said, "and I will not say anything to +the sisters until I have given the matter most earnest and careful +consideration. I can do that a great deal better at home than I can +here."</p> + +<p>It was very well that she stopped talking and applied herself to her +work, for I do not believe it was ten minutes afterward when Sister +Sarah unlocked the door, and came in to take her away.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="XIV" id="XIV"></a>XIV.</h2> + +<h3>I FAVOR PERMANENCY IN OFFICE.</h3> + + +<p>As soon as my secretary had gone I went into her room and looked for my +friend Vespa. I found him on the floor, quite dead, but not demolished. +Picking him up and carrying him to my study, I carefully gummed him to a +card. Under his motionless form I wrote, "The good services of this +friend I shall ever keep in grateful remembrance." Then I pinned the +card to the wall between two bookcases.</p> + +<p>During the rest of that day I found myself in a state of unreasonable +exaltation. Several times I put to myself the questions: Why is it that +you feel so cheerful and so gay? Why have you the inclination to whistle +and to dance in your room? Why do you light a cigar, and let it go out +through forgetfulness? Why do you answer your grandmother at random, and +feel an inclination to take a long walk by yourself, although you know +there are people invited to an afternoon tea?</p> + +<p>I was not able to give an adequate answer to these questions, nor did I +very much care to. I knew that my high spirits were caused by the +discoveries the good Vespa had enabled me to make, and the fact that +this reason could not be proved adequate did not trouble me at all; but +prudence and a regard for my own interests made it very plain to me that +other people should not know I had been exalted, and how. If I desired +my nun to continue as my secretary, I must not let any one know that I +cared in the least to hear her voice, or to have the front of her bonnet +turned towards me.</p> + +<p>At dinner, that day, my grandmother remarked to me:—</p> + +<p>"Are you still satisfied with the House of Martha's sister? Does she do +your work as you wish to have it done?"</p> + +<p>I leaned back in my chair, and answered with deliberation:—</p> + +<p>"Yes, I think she will do very well, and that after more practice she +will do better. As it is, she is industrious and attentive. I place +great stress upon that point, for I do not like to repeat my sentences; +but she has a quick ear, and catches every word."</p> + +<p>"Then," asked my grandmother, "you do not wish to make a change at +present?"</p> + +<p>"Oh, no," I said; "it would be very annoying to begin again with a new +amanuensis. I am getting accustomed to this person, and that is a very +important matter with me. So I do not wish to make any change so long as +this sister does her work properly."</p> + +<p>"I must say," resumed my grandmother, after a little pause, in which she +seemed to be considering the subject, "that I was not altogether in +favor of that young woman taking the position of your secretary. She can +have had but little experience, and I thought that an older and steadier +person would answer your purpose much better; but this one was +unemployed at the time, and wished very much to do literary work; and as +the institution needed the money you would pay, which would probably +amount to a considerable sum if your book should be a long one, and as +you were in a great hurry, and might engage some one from the city if +one of the Martha sisters were not immediately available, Mother +Anastasia and I concluded that it would be well to send this young +person until one of the older sisters, competent for the work, should be +disengaged. I thought you would be very anxious to have this change made +as soon as possible, so that you might feel that you had a permanent +secretary."</p> + +<p>"Oh, no," said I, trying very hard not to appear too much in earnest. +"This person is very steady, and there is a certain advantage in her +being young, without much experience as a secretary. I wish any one who +writes for me to work in my way; and if such a person has been +accustomed to work in other people's ways, annoyance and interruption +must surely result, and that I wish very much to avoid. A secretary +should be a mere writing-machine, and I do not believe an elderly person +could be that. She would be sure to have notions how my work should or +should not be done, and in some way or other would make those notions +evident."</p> + +<p>"I don't quite agree with you," said my grandmother, "but of course you +know your own business better than I do; and I suppose, after all, it +doesn't make much difference whether the sister is young or not. They +all dress alike, and all look ugly alike. I don't suppose there would be +anything attractive about the Venus de Milo, if she wore a coal-scuttle +bonnet and a gray woolen shawl."</p> + +<p>"No," I answered, "especially if she kept the opening of her +coal-scuttle turned down over her paper, as if she were about to empty +coals upon it."</p> + +<p>"That's very proper," said my grandmother, speaking a little more +briskly. "All she has to do is to keep her eyes on her work, and I +suppose, from what you say, that the flaps of her bonnet do not +interfere with her keeping her ears on you. But if at any time you +desire to make a change, all you have to do is to let me know, and I can +easily arrange the matter."</p> + +<p>I promised that I would certainly let her know in case I had such a +desire.</p> + +<p>That evening Walkirk remarked to me that he thought nothing could be +more satisfactory for me than to have on tap, so to speak, an +institution like the House of Martha, from which I could draw a +secretary whenever I wanted one, and keep her for as long or as short a +time as pleased me; and to have this supply in the immediate +neighborhood was an extraordinary advantage.</p> + +<p>I agreed that the arrangement was a very good one; and I think he was +about to ask some questions in regard to my nun, but I began my recital, +and cut off any further conversation on the subject.</p> + +<p>My monologue was rather disjointed that evening, for my mind was +occupied with other things, or, more strictly speaking, another thing. I +felt quite sure, however, that Walkirk did not notice my preoccupation, +for he gave the same earnest and interested attention to my descriptions +which he had always shown, and which made him such an agreeable and +valuable listener. Indeed, his manner put me at my ease, because, on +account of the wandering of my mind, his general expression indicated +that, if I found it necessary to pause in order that I might arrange +what I should say next, he was very glad of the opportunity thus given +him to reflect upon what I had just said. He was an admirable listener.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="XV" id="XV"></a>XV.</h2> + +<h3>HOW WE WENT BACK TO GENOA.</h3> + + +<p>The next morning I awaited with considerable perturbation of mind the +arrival of my nun. I felt assured that, after the occurrences of the +previous day, there must certainly be some sort of a change in her. She +could not go on exactly as she had gone on before. The nature of this +anticipated change concerned me very much,—too much, I assured myself. +Would she be more rigid and repellent than she had been before the +advent of the wasp? But this would be impossible. On the other hand, +would she be more like other people? Would she relax a little, and work +like common secretaries? Or,—and I whistled as I thought of it,—having +once done so, would she permanently cut loose from the absurdities +enjoined upon her by the House of Martha people, and look at me and talk +to me in the free, honest, ingenuous, frank, sincere, and thoroughly +sensible manner in which she had spoken to me the day before?</p> + +<p>After revolving these questions in my mind for some time, another one +rudely thrust itself upon me: would she come at all? It was already +seven minutes past nine; she had never been so late. Now that I came to +think of it, this would be the most natural result of the wasp business. +The thought shocked me. I ceased to walk up and down my study, and +stopped whistling. I think my face must have flushed; I know my pulse +beat faster. My eyes fell upon the body of him who I believed had been +my friend. I felt like crushing his remains with my fist. He had been my +enemy! He had shown me what I had to lose, and he had made me lose it.</p> + +<p>Even in the midst of my agitation this thought made me smile. How much I +was making of this affair of my secretary. What difference, after +all—But I did not continue the latter question. It did make a +difference, and it was of no use to reason about it. What was I to do +about it? That was more to the point.</p> + +<p>At this instant, my nun, followed by Sister Sarah, entered the adjoining +room. The latter merely bowed to me, went out, and locked the door +behind her. I was very glad she did not speak to me, for the sudden +revulsion of feeling produced by the appearance of the two would have +prevented my answering her coherently. I do not know whether my nun +bowed or not. If she did, the motion was very slight. She took her seat +and prepared for work. I did not say anything, for I did not know what +to say. The proper thing to do, in order to relieve my embarrassment and +hers,—that is, if she had any,—was to begin work at once; but for the +life of me I could not remember whether my dictation of the day before +concerned Sicily or Egypt. I did not like to ask her, for that would +seem like a trick to make her speak.</p> + +<p>But it would not do to keep her sitting there with an idle pen in her +hand. I must say something, so I blurted out some remarks concerning the +effect of the climate of the Mediterranean upon travelers from northern +countries; and while doing this I tried my best to remember where, on +the shores of this confounded sea, I had been the day before.</p> + +<p>Philosophizing and generalizing were, however, not in my line: I was +accustomed to deal with action and definite observation, and I soon +dropped the climate of the Mediterranean, and went to work on some of +the soul-harrowing improvements in the Eternal City, alluding with +particular warmth to the banishment of the models from the Spanish +Stairs. Now the work went on easily, but I was gloomy and depressed. My +nun sat at the table, more like a stiff gray-enveloped principle than +ever before. I did not feel at liberty even to make a remark about the +temperature of the room. I feared that whatever I said might be +construed into an attempt to presume upon the accidental intercourse of +the day before.</p> + +<p>For half an hour or more she went on with the work, but, during a pause +in my dictation, she sat up straight in her chair and laid down her pen. +Then, without turning her face to me, she began to speak. I stood +open-mouthed, and, I need not say, delighted. Whatever her words might +be, it rejoiced me to hear them; to know that she voluntarily recognized +my existence, and desired to communicate with me.</p> + +<p>"I have spoken to Mother Anastasia," she said, her voice directed +towards the screen in the open window, "and I told her that it was +impossible for me to work without sometimes saying a few words to ask +for what I need, or to request you to repeat a word which I did not +catch. Since I began to write I have lost no less than twenty-three +words. I have left blanks for them, and made memoranda of the pages; +but, as I said to her, if this sort of thing went on, you would forget +what words you had intended to use, and when you came to read the +manuscript you could not supply them, and that therefore I was not doing +my work properly, and honestly earning the money which would be paid to +the institution. I also told her that you sometimes forgot where you +left off the day before, and that I ought to read you a few lines of +what I had last written, in order that you might make the proper +connection. I think this is very necessary, for to-day you have left an +awful gap. Yesterday we were writing about that old Crusader's bank in +Genoa, and now you are at work at Rome, when we haven't even started for +that city."</p> + +<p>Each use of this word "we" was to me like a strain of music from the +heavens.</p> + +<p>"Do you think I did right?" she added.</p> + +<p>"Right!" I exclaimed. "Most assuredly you did. Nothing could be more +helpful, and in fact more necessary, than to let me know just where I +left off. What did the sisters say?"</p> + +<p>"I spoke only to Mother Anastasia," she replied. "She considered the +matter a little while, and then said that she could see there must be +times when you would require some information from me in regard to the +work, and that there could be no reasonable objection to my giving such +information; but she reminded me that the laws of the House of Martha +require that the sisters must give their sole attention to the labor +upon which they are employed, and must not indulge, when so engaged, in +any conversation, even among themselves, that is not absolutely +necessary."</p> + +<p>"Mother Anastasia is very sensible," said I, "and if I were to see her, +I should be happy to express my appreciation of her good advice upon the +subject. And, by the way, did she tell you that it was necessary to wear +that hot bonnet while you are working?"</p> + +<p>"She did not say anything about it," she answered; "it was not needful. +We always wear our bonnets outside of the House of Martha."</p> + +<p>I was about to make a further remark upon the subject, but restrained +myself: it was incumbent on me to be very prudent. There was a pause, +and then she spoke again.</p> + +<p>"You are not likely to see Mother Anastasia," she said, "but please do +not say anything on the subject to Sister Sarah; she is very rigorous, +and would not approve of talking under any circumstances. In fact, she +does not approve of my coming here at all."</p> + +<p>"What earthly reason can she have for that?" I asked.</p> + +<p>"She thinks it's nonsensical for you to have a secretary," she answered, +"and that it would be much better for you to do your own work, and make +a gift of the money to the institution, and then I could go and learn to +be a nurse. I only mention these things to show you that it would be +well not to talk to her of Mother Anastasia's good sense."</p> + +<p>"You may rest assured," said I, "that I shall not say a word to her."</p> + +<p>"And now," said she, "shall we put aside what I have written to-day, and +go back to Genoa? The last thing you dictated yesterday was this: 'Into +this very building once came the old Crusaders to borrow money for their +journeys to the Holy Land.'"</p> + +<p>We went to Genoa.</p> + +<p>"How admirably," I exclaimed, when she had gone, "with what wonderful +tact and skill she has managed the whole affair! Not one word about the +occurrences of yesterday, not an allusion which could embarrass either +herself or me. If only she had looked at me! But she had probably +received instructions on that point which she did not mention, and it is +easy to perceive that she is honest and conscientious."</p> + +<p>But after all it was not necessary that I should see her face. I had +seen it, and I could never forget it.</p> + +<p>Whistling was not enough for me that day; I sang.</p> + +<p>"What puts you into such remarkably good spirits?" asked my grandmother. +"Have you reached an unusually interesting part of your work?"</p> + +<p>"Indeed I have," I answered, and I gave her such a glowing account of +the way the Red Cross Knights, the White Cross Knights, and the Black +Cross Knights clanked through the streets of Genoa, before setting sail +to battle for the Great Cross, that the cheeks of the old lady flushed +and her eyes sparkled with enthusiastic emotion.</p> + +<p>"I don't wonder it kindles your soul to write about such things," she +said.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="XVI" id="XVI"></a>XVI.</h2> + +<h3>I RUN UPON A SANDBAR.</h3> + + +<p>Day by day, the interest of my nun in her work appeared to increase. +Every morning, so soon as she sat down at her table, she read to me the +concluding portion of what had been written the day before; and if a +Sunday intervened, she gave me a page or more. Her interest was +manifested in various ways. Several times she so far forgot the +instructions she must have received as to turn her face towards me, when +asking me to repeat something that she did not catch, and on such +occasions I could not for some moments remember what I had said, or +indeed what I was about to say.</p> + +<p>Once she stopped writing, and, turning half round in her chair, looked +fairly at me, and said that she thought I had made a mistake in saying +that visitors were not allowed to go up the Tower of Pisa without a +guide; for she, with two other ladies, had gone to the top without any +one accompanying them. But she thought it was very wrong to allow people +to do this, and that I should be doing a service to travelers if I were +to say something on the subject.</p> + +<p>Of course I replied that I would make the correction, and that I would +say something about the carelessness to which she referred. Then there +ensued a pause, during which she turned her face towards the window, +imagining, I have no doubt, that I was busy endeavoring to compose +something suitable to say upon the subject; but I was not thinking of +anything of the sort. I was allowing my mind to revel in the delight +which I had had in looking at her while she spoke. When her pen began to +scratch impatiently upon the paper, I plunged into some sort of a homily +on the laxity of vigilance in leaning towers. But, even while dictating +this, I was wondering what she would look like if, instead of that gray +shawl and gown, she were arrayed in one of the charming costumes which +often make even ordinary young ladies so attractive.</p> + +<p>As our daily work went on, my nun relaxed more frequently her proscribed +rigidity, and became more and more like an ordinary person. When she +looked at me or spoke, she always did so in such an unpremeditated +manner, and with such an obvious good reason, that I could not determine +whether her change of manner was due to accumulative forgetfulness, or +to a conviction that it was absurd to continue to act a part which was +not only unnatural under the circumstances, but which positively +interfered with the work in hand. Some of her suggestions were of the +greatest service, but I fear that the value of what she said was not as +fully appreciated as was the pleasure of seeing and hearing her say it.</p> + +<p>Thus joyously passed the hours of work, and in the hours when I was not +working I looked forward with glad anticipation to the next forenoon; +but after a time I began to be somewhat oppressed by the fear that my +work would come to an end before long for want of material. I was +already nearing the southern limit of my travels, and my return +northward had not been productive of the sort of subject-matter I +desired. In my recitals to Walkirk I had gone much more into detail +regarding my experiences, and had talked about a great many things which +it had been pleasant to talk about, but which I did not consider good +enough to put into my book. In dictating to my nun I had carefully +sifted the mass to which Walkirk had listened, and had used only such +matter as I thought would interest her and the general reader. My high +regard for the intelligence of my secretary and her powers of +appreciation had led me to discard too much, and therefore there was +danger that my supply of subject-matter would give out before my nun +grew to be an elderly woman; and this I did not desire.</p> + +<p>I had read and heard enough of the travels of others to be able to +continue my descriptions of foreign countries for an indefinite period; +but I had determined, from the first, that nothing should go into my +book except my own actual experiences, and therefore I could not rely +upon other books for the benefit of mine. But, in considering the +matter, I concluded that, if my material should be entirely my own, it +would answer my purpose to make that material what I pleased; and thus +it happened that I determined to weave a story into my narrative. This +plan, I assured myself, would be in perfect harmony with the design of +my work. The characters could be drawn from the people whom I had met in +my travels. The scenes could be those which I had visited, and the plot +and tone of the story could be made to aid the reader in understanding +the nature of the country and the people of which it was told. More than +all, I could make the story as long as I pleased.</p> + +<p>This was a capital idea, and I began immediately to work upon it. I +managed the story very deftly; at least that was my opinion. My two +principal characters made their appearance in Sicily, and at first were +so intermingled with scenery and incidents as not to be very prominent; +then they came more to the front, and other characters introduced +themselves upon occasion. As these personages appeared and reappeared, I +hoped that they would gradually surround themselves with an interest +which would steadily increase the desire to know more and more about +them. Thus, as I went on, I said less and less about Sicily, and more +and more about my characters, especially the young man and the young +woman, the curious blending of whose lives I was endeavoring to depict.</p> + +<p>This went on very smoothly for a few days, and then, about eleven +o'clock one morning, my nun suddenly leaned back in her chair and laid +down her pen.</p> + +<p>"I cannot write any more of this," she said, looking out of the window.</p> + +<p>I was so astonished that I could scarcely ask her what she meant.</p> + +<p>"This is love-making," she continued, "and with love-making the sisters +of the House of Martha can have nothing to do. It is one of our +principal rules that we must not think about it, read about it, or talk +about it; and of course it would have been forbidden to write about it, +if such a contingency had ever been thought of. Therefore I cannot do +any more work of that kind."</p> + +<p>In vain I expostulated; in vain I told her that this was the most +important part of my book; in vain I declaimed about the absurdity of +such a regulation; in vain I protested; in vain I reasoned. She shook +her head, and said there was no use talking about it; she knew the +rules, and should obey them.</p> + +<p>I had been standing near the grating, but now I threw myself into a +chair, and sat silent, wondering what I should do. Must I give up this +most admirable plan of carrying on my work, simply because those foolish +sisters had made absurd rules for themselves? Must I wind up my book for +want of material? Not for a moment did I think of getting another +secretary, or of selecting some other sort of that stuff which literary +people call padding, for the purpose of prolonging my pleasant labors. I +was becoming interested in the love-story I had begun, and I wanted to +go on with it, and I believed also that it would be of great advantage +to my book; but, on the other hand, it was plain that my nun would not +write this story, and it was quite as plain to me that I could not +insist upon anything which would cause her to leave me.</p> + +<p>"Don't you think," she said presently, still looking towards the window, +"that we had better do some sort of work for the rest of the morning? It +is not right for me to sit here idle. Suppose you try to supply some of +the words which were left out of the manuscript, in the first days of my +writing for you."</p> + +<p>"Very well," said I; and, taking up her memoranda, she began to look for +the vacant spaces which she had left in the manuscript pages. I supplied +very few words, for to save my life I could not at this moment bring my +mind to bear upon such trifles; but it was pretense of work, and better +than embarrassing idleness. Before my secretary left me I must think of +something to say to her in regard to the work for to-morrow; but what +should I say? Should I tell her I would drop the story, or that I would +modify it so as to make it feasible for her to write? Something must +quickly be decided upon, and while I was tumultuously revolving the +matter in my mind twelve o'clock and the sub-mother came. My secretary +went away, with nothing but the little bow which she was accustomed to +make when leaving the room.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="XVII" id="XVII"></a>XVII.</h2> + +<h3>REGARDING THE ELUCIDATION OF NATIONAL CHARACTERISTICS.</h3> + + +<p>I was left in my study in a very unpleasant state of mind. I was +agitated and apprehensive. Perhaps that young woman would not come any +more. I had not told her that I was going to stop writing about love, +and there was every reason to suppose she would not return. What an +imbecile I had been! I had done nothing, because I could not think of +exactly the right thing to do.</p> + +<p>I now felt that I must ask the advice of somebody in regard to this +embarrassing and important affair. For a moment I thought of my +grandmother, but she would be sure to begin by advising me to change my +secretary. She seldom urged me to do what I did not want to do, but if I +offered her a chance to give me advice on this occasion I knew what +would be uppermost in her mind.</p> + +<p>So I put on my hat and went to Walkirk, at the inn. I found him at work +on a mass of accounts, dating back for years, which I had given him to +adjust. With great circumspection I laid before him this new affair.</p> + +<p>"You see," said I, "she is a first-class secretary. She has learned to +do my work as I like it done, and I do not wish to make a change, and, +on the other hand, I do not care to alter the plan of my book."</p> + +<p>Walkirk was always very respectful, but he could not restrain a smile at +the situation.</p> + +<p>"It does seem to me," he said, "a very funny thing to dictate a +love-story to one of the sisters of the House of Martha. Of course they +are not nuns, they are not even Roman Catholics, but they are just as +strict and strait-laced about certain things as if their house were +really a convent. So far as I can see, there is but one thing to do, and +that is to confine yourself to descriptions of travel; and perhaps it +would be well to let your secretary know in some way that you intend to +do so; otherwise I think she may throw up the business, and that would +be a pity."</p> + +<p>It sometimes surprises me to discover what an obstinate person I am. +When I want to do a thing, it is very difficult for me to change my +mind.</p> + +<p>"She must not throw up the business," I said, "and I do not see how I +can leave out the story. I have planned it far ahead, and to discard it +I should have to go back and cut and mangle a great deal of good work +that I have done."</p> + +<p>Walkirk reflected.</p> + +<p>"I admit," he replied, "that that would be very discouraging. Perhaps we +can think of some plan of getting out of the difficulty."</p> + +<p>"I hope you can do that," said I, "for I cannot."</p> + +<p>"How would this do?" he asked presently. "Suppose I go and see Mother +Anastasia this afternoon, and try and make her look at this matter from +a strictly business point of view. I can tell her that the sort of thing +you are doing is purely literature, that you can't keep such things out +of literature, and that the people who engage in the mechanical work of +literature cannot help running against those things at one time or +another. I can try to make her understand what an advantageous +connection this is, and what a great injury to the House of Martha it +would be if it should be broken off. I can tell her that it is not +improbable that you may take to writing as a regular business, and that +you may give profitable employment to the sisters for years and years. +There are a good many other things I might say, and you may be sure I +shall do my very best."</p> + +<p>"Go," I said, "but be very careful about what you say. Don't make her +think that I am too anxious to retain this particular sister, but make +her understand that I do not wish to begin all over again with another +one. Also, do not insist too strongly on my desire to write a +love-story, but put it to her that when I plan out work of course I want +to do the work as I have planned it. Try to keep these important points +in your mind; then you can urge common sense upon her as much as you +please."</p> + +<p>I sent a note to my grandmother saying that I should not be home to +luncheon, and after having taken a bite at the inn I set out for a long +walk. It was simply impossible for me to talk about common things until +this matter was settled.</p> + +<p>It was about the middle of the afternoon when I returned to the inn, and +Walkirk had not come back. I went away again, took a turn through the +woods, and on approaching the inn I saw him walking down the shady road +which led from the House of Martha. I hurried to meet him.</p> + +<p>So soon as he was near enough, Walkirk, with a beaming face, called +out:—</p> + +<p>"All right, sir. I have settled that little matter for you."</p> + +<p>"How? What?" I exclaimed. "What have you done?"</p> + +<p>We had now reached each other, and stood together by the side of the +road.</p> + +<p>"Well," said my under-study, "I have seen Mother Anastasia, and I have +found her a very sensible woman,—an admirable woman, I assure you. She +was a good deal surprised when I told her my errand, for that was the +first she had heard of the love-story; in fact, I suppose your secretary +had not had time to tell her about it. She commended the sister highly +for her refusal to write it, saying that her action was in strict +accordance with the spirit of their rules. When she had finished saying +all she had to say on that point, I presented your side of the question; +and I assure you, sir, that I clapped on it a very bright light, so that +if she did not see its strong points the fault must be in her own eyes. +As the event proved, there was nothing the matter with her eyes. I shall +not try to repeat what I said, but I began by explaining to her the +nature of your work, and showed her how impossible it was for you to +write about foreign countries without referring to their people, and how +you could not speak of the people without mentioning their peculiar +manners and customs, and that this story was nothing more nor less than +an interweaving of some of the characteristics of the people of Sicily +with the descriptions of the country. Thus much I inferred from your +remarks about the story.</p> + +<p>"I persisted that, although such characteristics had no connection with +the life of the sisters of the House of Martha, they were a part of the +world which you were describing, and that it could be no more harm for a +sister, working for wages and the good of the cause, to assist in that +description than it would be for one of them to make lace to be worn at +a wedding, a ceremony with which the sisters could have nothing to do, +and which in connection with themselves they could not even think about. +This point made an impression on Mother Anastasia, and, having thought +about it a minute or two, she said there was a certain force in it.</p> + +<p>"Then she asked me if this narrative of yours was a strongly accentuated +love-story. Here she had me at a disadvantage, for I have not heard it; +but I assured her that, knowing the scope and purpose of your work, I +did not believe that you would accentuate any portion of it more than +was absolutely necessary.</p> + +<p>"After some silent consideration, Mother Anastasia said she would go and +speak with the sister who had been doing your work. She was gone a good +while,—at least it seemed so to me; and when she came back she said +that she had been making inquiries of the sister, and had come to the +conclusion that there was no good reason why the House of Martha should +not continue to assist you in the preparation of your book."</p> + +<p>"Did she say she would send the same sister?" I asked quickly.</p> + +<p>"No, she did not," answered Walkirk; "but not wishing to put the +question too pointedly, I first thanked her, on your behalf, for the +kindly consideration she had given the matter. I then remarked—without +intimating that you said anything about it—that I hoped nothing would +occur to retard the progress of the work, and that the present +arrangement might continue without changes of any kind, because I knew +that when you were dictating your mind was completely absorbed by your +mental labors, and that any alteration in your hours of work, or the +necessity of explaining your methods to a new amanuensis, annoyed and +impeded you. To this she replied it was quite natural you should not +desire changes, and that everything should go on as before."</p> + +<p>"Walkirk," I exclaimed, "you are a trump!" In my exuberant satisfaction +I would have clapped him on the back; but it would not do to be so +familiar with an under-study, and besides I did not wish him to +understand the extent of my delight at the result of his mission. That +sort of thing I liked to keep to myself.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="XVIII" id="XVIII"></a>XVIII.</h2> + +<h3>AN ILLEGIBLE WORD.</h3> + + +<p>Every morning there seemed to be some reason or other why I should +anticipate with an animated interest the coming of my secretary, and on +the morning after what I might call her "strike" the animation of said +interest was very apparent to me, but I hope not to any one else. Over +and over I said to myself that I must not let my nun see that I was +greatly pleased with Walkirk's intervention. It would be wise to take +the result as a matter of course.</p> + +<p>As the clock struck nine, she and Sister Sarah entered the anteroom, and +the latter advanced to the grating and looked into my study, peering +from side to side. I did not like this sister's face; she looked as if +she had grown unpleasantly plump on watered milk.</p> + +<p>"Is it necessary," she asked, "that you should smoke tobacco during your +working hours?"</p> + +<p>"I never do it," I replied indignantly,—"never!"</p> + +<p>"Several times," she said, "I have thought I perceived the smell of +tobacco smoke in this sister's garments."</p> + +<p>"You are utterly mistaken!" I exclaimed. "During the hours of work these +rooms are perfectly free from anything of the sort."</p> + +<p>She gave a little grunt and departed, and when she had locked the door I +could not restrain a slight ejaculation of annoyance.</p> + +<p>"You must not mind Sister Sarah," said the sweet voice of my nun behind +the barricade of her bonnet; "she is as mad as hops this morning."</p> + +<p>"What is the matter with her?" I asked, my angry feelings disappearing +in an instant.</p> + +<p>"She and Mother Anastasia have had a long discussion about the message +you sent in regard to my keeping on with the story. Sister Sarah is very +much opposed to my doing your writing at all."</p> + +<p>"Well, as she is not the head of your House, I suppose we need not +trouble ourselves about that," I replied. "But how does the arrangement +suit you? Are you satisfied to continue to write my little story?"</p> + +<p>"Satisfied!" she said. "I am perfectly delighted;" and as she spoke she +turned toward me, her eyes sparkling, and her face lighted by the most +entrancing smile I ever beheld on the countenance of woman. "This is a +thousand times more interesting than anything you have done yet, +although I liked the rest very much. Of course I stopped when I supposed +it was against our rules to continue; but now that I know it is all +right I am—But no matter; let us go on with it. This is what I last +wrote," and she read: "'Tomaso and the pretty Lucilla now seated +themselves on the rock, by a little spring. He was trying to look into +her lovely blue eyes, which were slightly turned away from him and +veiled by their long lashes. There was something he must say to her, and +he felt he could wait no longer. Gently he took the little hand which +lay nearest him, and'—There is where I stopped," she said; and then, +her face still bright, but with the smile succeeded by an air of earnest +consideration, she asked, "Do you object to suggestions?"</p> + +<p>"Not at all," said I; "when they are to the point, they help me."</p> + +<p>"Well, then," she said, "I wouldn't have her eyes blue. Italian girls +nearly always have black or brown eyes. It is hard to think of this girl +as a blonde."</p> + +<p>"Oh, but her eyes are blue," I said; "it would not do at all to have +them anything else. Some Italian girls are that way. At any rate, I +couldn't alter her in my mind."</p> + +<p>"Perhaps not," she replied, "but in thinking about her she always seems +to me to have black eyes; however, that is a matter of no importance, +and I am ready to go on."</p> + +<p>Thus, on matters strictly connected with business, my nun and I +conversed, and then we went on with our work. I think that from the very +beginnings of literature there could have been no author who derived +from his labors more absolute pleasure than I derived from mine: never +was a story more interesting to tell than the story of Tomaso and +Lucilla. It proved to be a very long one, much longer than I had +supposed I could make it, and sometimes I felt that it was due to the +general character of my book that I should occasionally insert some +description of scenery or instances of travel.</p> + +<p>My secretary wrote as fast as I could dictate, and sometimes wished, I +think, that I would dictate faster. She seldom made comments unless she +thought it absolutely necessary to do so, but there were certain +twitches and movements of her head and shoulders which might indicate +emotions, such as pleasant excitement at the sudden development of the +situation, or impatience at my delay in the delivery of interesting +passages; and I imagined that during the interpolation of descriptive +matter she appeared to be anxious to get through with it as quickly as +possible, and to go on with the story.</p> + +<p>It was my wish to make my book a very large one; it was therefore +desirable to be economical with the material I had left, and to eke it +out as much as I could with fiction; but upon considering the matter I +became convinced that it could not be very long before the material +which in any way could be connected with the story must give out, and +that therefore it would have to come to an end. How I wished I had spent +more time in Sicily! I would have liked to write a whole book about +Sicily.</p> + +<p>Of course I might take the lovers to other countries; but I had not +planned anything of this kind, and it would require some time to work it +out. Now, however, a good idea occurred to me, which would postpone the +conclusion of the interesting portion of my work. I would have my +secretary read what she had written. This would give me time to think +out more of the story, and it is often important that an author should +know what he has done before he goes on to do more. We had arrived at a +point where the narrative could easily stop for a while; Tomaso having +gone on a fishing voyage, and the middle-aged innkeeper, whose union +with Lucilla was favored by her mother and the village priest, having +departed for Naples to assume the guardianship of two very handsome +young women, the daughters of an old friend, recently deceased.</p> + +<p>When I communicated to my nun my desire to change her work from writing +to reading, she seemed surprised, and asked if there were not danger +that I might forget how I intended to end the story. I reassured her on +this point, and she appeared to resign herself to the situation.</p> + +<p>"Shall I begin with the first page of the manuscript," said she, "or +read only what I have written?"</p> + +<p>"Oh, begin at the very beginning," I said. "I want to hear it all."</p> + +<p>Then she began, hesitating a little at times over the variable +chirography of my first amanuensis. I drew up my chair near to the +grating, but before she had read two pages I asked her to stop for a +moment.</p> + +<p>"I think," said I, "it will be impossible for me to get a clear idea of +what you are reading unless you turn and speak in my direction. You see, +the sides of your bonnet interfere very much with my hearing what you +say."</p> + +<p>For a few moments she remained in her ordinary position, and then she +slowly turned her chair toward me. I am sure she had received +instructions against looking into my study, which was filled with +objects calculated to attract the attention of an intelligent and +cultivated person. Then she read the manuscript, and as she did so I +said to myself, over and over again, that for her to read to me was a +thousand times more agreeable than for me to dictate to her.</p> + +<p>As she read, her eyes were cast down on the pages which she held in her +hand; but frequently when I made a correction they were raised to mine, +as she endeavored to understand exactly what I wanted her to do. I made +a good many alterations which I think improved the work very much.</p> + +<p>Once she found it utterly impossible to decipher a certain word of the +manuscript. She scrutinized it earnestly, and then, her mind entirely +occupied by her desire properly to read the matter, she rose, and came +close to the grating, holding the page so that I could see it.</p> + +<p>"Can you make out this word?" she asked. "I cannot imagine how any one +could write so carelessly."</p> + +<p>I sprang to my feet and stood close to the grating. I could not take the +paper from her, and it was necessary for her to hold it. I examined the +word letter by letter. I gave my opinion of each letter, and I asked her +opinion. It was a most illegible word. A good many things interfered +with my comprehension of it. Among these were the two hands with which +she held up the page, and another was the idea which came to me that in +the House of Martha the sisters were fed on violets. I am generally +quite apt at deciphering bad writing, but never before had I shown +myself so slow and obtuse at this sort of thing.</p> + +<p>Suddenly a thought struck me. I glanced at the clock in my study. It +wanted ten minutes of twelve.</p> + +<p>"It must be," said I, "that that word is intended to be +'heaven-given,'—at any rate, we will make it that; and now I think I +will get you to copy the last part of that page. You can do it on the +back of the sheet."</p> + +<p>She was engaged in this writing when Sister Sarah came in.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="XIX" id="XIX"></a>XIX.</h2> + +<h3>GRAY ICE.</h3> + + +<p>During the engagement of my present secretary, a question had frequently +arisen in my mind, which I wished to have answered, but which I had +hesitated to ask, for fear the sister should imagine it indicated too +much personal interest in her. This question related to her name, and +now it was really necessary for me to know it. I did not wish any longer +to speak to her as if she were merely a principle; she had become a most +decided entity. However harsh and gray and woolly her name might be, I +wanted to know it and to hear it from her own lips. The next morning I +asked her what it was.</p> + +<p>She was sitting at the table arranging the pages she was going to read, +and at the question she turned toward me. Her face was flushed, but not, +I think, with displeasure.</p> + +<p>"Do you know," she said, "it has seemed to me the funniest thing in the +world that you have never cared the least bit to know my name."</p> + +<p>"I did care," I replied, "in fact it was awkward not to know it; but of +course I did not want to—interfere in any way with the rules of your +establishment."</p> + +<p>"Ah," she said, "I have noticed your extreme solicitude in regard to our +rules, but there is no rule against telling our names. Mine is Sister +Hagar."</p> + +<p>"Hagar!" I exclaimed. "You do not mean that is your real name?"</p> + +<p>"It is the name given me by the House of Martha," she answered. "There +is a list of names by which the sisters must be called, and as we enter +the institution we take the names in their order on the list. Hagar came +to me."</p> + +<p>"I shall not call you by that," said I, "and we may as well go on with +our work."</p> + +<p>I was anxious to have her read, and to forget that she was called Hagar.</p> + +<p>She was a long time arranging the manuscript and putting the pages in +order. I did not hurry her, but I could not see any reason for so much +preparation. Presently she said, still arranging the sheets, and with +her head bent slightly over her work: "I don't know whether or not I +ought to tell you, but I dislike to be called Hagar. The next name on +the list is Rebecca, and I am willing to take that, but the rules of the +House do not allow us to skip an unappropriated name, and permit no +choosing. However, Mother Anastasia has not pressed the matter, and, +although I am entered as Sister Hagar, the sisters do not call me by +that name."</p> + +<p>"What do they call you?"</p> + +<p>"Oh, they simply use the name that was mine before I entered the House +of Martha," said she.</p> + +<p>"And what is that?" I asked quickly.</p> + +<p>"Ah," said my nun, pushing her sheets into a compact pile, and thumping +their edges on the table to make them even, "to talk about that would be +decidedly against the rules of the institution;—and now I am ready to +read."</p> + +<p>Thus did she punish me for what she considered my want of curiosity or +interest; I knew it as well as if she had told me so. I accepted the +rebuff and said no more, and she went on with her reading.</p> + +<p>On this and the following day I became aware how infinitely more +pleasant it was to listen than to be listened to,—at least under +certain circumstances. I considered it wonderfully fortunate to be able +to talk to such an admirable listener as Walkirk: but to sit and hear my +nun read; to watch the charming play of her mouth, and the occasional +flush of a smile when she came to something exciting or humorous; to +look into the blue of her eyes, as she raised them to me while I +considered an alteration, was to me an overwhelming rapture,—I could +call it nothing less. But by the end of the third morning of reading my +good sense told me that this sort of thing could not go on, and it would +be judicious for me to begin again my dictation, and to let my secretary +confine herself to her writing. The fact that on any morning I had not +allowed her to read until the hour of noon was an additional proof that +my decision was a wise one.</p> + +<p>The story of Tomaso and Lucilla now went bravely on, with enough +groundwork of foreign land for the characters to stand on, and I tried +very hard to keep my mind on the writing of my book and away from its +writer. Outwardly I may have appeared to succeed fairly well in this +purpose, but inwardly the case was different. However, if I could +suppress any manifestations of my emotions, I told myself, I ought to be +satisfied.</p> + +<p>A few mornings after the recommencement of the dictation I was a little +late in entering my study, and I found my secretary already at the table +in the anteroom. In answer to my morning salutation she merely bowed, +and sat ready for work. She did not even offer to read what she had last +written. This surprised me. Was she resenting what she might look upon +as undue stiffness and reserve? If so, I was very sorry, but at the same +time I would meet her on her own ground. If she chose to return to her +old rigidity, I would accept the situation, and be as formal as she +liked.</p> + +<p>More than this, I began to feel a little resentment. I would revert not +only to my former manner, but to my former matter. I would wind up that +love-story, and confine myself to the subject of foreign travel.</p> + +<p>Acting on this resolution, I made short work of Tomaso and Lucilla. The +former determined not to think of marriage until he was several years +older, and had acquired the necessary means to support a wife; and +Lucilla accepted the advice of her mother and the priest, and obtained a +situation in a lace-making establishment in Venice, where she resolved +to work industriously until the middle-aged innkeeper had made up his +mind whether or not he would marry one of the handsome girls to whom he +had become guardian.</p> + +<p>To this very prosaic conclusion of the love-story I added some remarks +intended as an apology for introducing such a story into my sketches of +travel, and showing how the little narrative brought into view some of +the characteristics of the people of Sicily. After that I discoursed of +the present commerce of Italy as compared with that of the Middle Ages.</p> + +<p>My secretary took no notice whatever of my change of subject, but went +on writing as I dictated. This apathy at last became so annoying to me +that, excusing myself, I left my study before the hour of noon.</p> + +<p>It is impossible for me to say how the events, or rather the want of +events, of that morning disturbed my mind. By turns I was angry, I was +grieved, I was regretful, I was resentful. It is so easy sometimes for +one person, with the utmost placidity, to throw another person into a +state of mental agitation; and this I think is especially noticeable +when the placid party is a woman.</p> + +<p>As the day wore on, my disquiet of mind and body and general ill humor +did not abate, and, wishing that other people should not notice my +unusual state of mind, I took an early afternoon train to the city; +leaving a note for Walkirk, informing him that his services as listener +would not be needed that evening. The rest of that day I spent at my +club, where, fortunately for my mood, I met only a few old fellows who +could not get out of town in the summer, and who had learned, from long +practice, to be quite sufficient unto themselves. Seated in a corner of +the large reading-room, I spent the evening smoking, holding in my hand +an unread newspaper, and asking myself mental questions.</p> + +<p>I inquired why in the name of common sense I allowed myself to be so +disturbed by the conduct of an amanuensis, paid by the day, and, +moreover, a member of a religious order. I inquired why the fates should +have so ordered it that this perfectly charming young woman should +suddenly have become frozen into a mass of gray ice. I inquired if I had +inadvertently done or said anything which would naturally wound the +feelings or arouse the resentment of a sister of the House of Martha. I +inquired if there could be any reasonable excuse for a girl who, on +account of an omission or delay in asking her name, would assume a +manner of austere rudeness to a gentleman who had always treated her +with scrupulous courtesy. Finally I asked myself why it was that I +persisted, and persisted, and persisted in thinking about a thing like +this, when my judgment told me that I should instantly dismiss the whole +affair from my mind, and employ my thoughts on something sensible; and +to this I gave the only answer which I made to any of the inquiries I +had put to myself. That was that I did not know why this was so, but it +was so, and there was no help for it.</p> + +<p>Walking home from the station quite late at night, the question which +had so much troubled me suddenly resolved itself, and I became convinced +that the change in the manner of my secretary was due to increased +pressure of the rules of the House of Martha. I would not, I could not, +believe that a fit of pique, occasioned by my apparent want of interest +in her, could make her thus cold and even rude. She was not the kind of +girl to do this thing of her own volition. It was those wretched rules; +and if they were to be enforced in this way, the head of the House of +Martha should know that I considered the act a positive discourtesy, if +nothing more.</p> + +<p>I was angry,—that was not to be wondered at; but it was a great relief +to me to feel that I need not be angry with my secretary.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="XX" id="XX"></a>XX.</h2> + +<h3>TOMASO AND I.</h3> + + +<p>The next day my amanuensis bade me good-morning in her former pleasant +manner, but without turning toward me seated herself quickly at the +table, and took the manuscript from the drawer. "Oh, ho!" I thought, +"then you can speak; and it was not the rules which made you behave in +that way, but your own pique, which has worn off a little." I glanced at +her as she intently looked over the work of the day before, and I was +considering whether or not it would be fitting for me to show that there +might be pique on one side of the grating as well as on the other, when +suddenly my thoughts were interrupted by a burst of laughter,—girlish, +irrepressible laughter. With the manuscript in her hands, my nun +actually leaned back in her chair and laughed so heartily that I wonder +my grandmother did not hear her.</p> + +<p>"I declare," she said, turning to me, her eyes glistening with tears of +merriment, "this is the funniest thing I ever saw. Why, you have +actually separated those poor lovers for life, and crushed every hope in +the properest way. And then all the rest about commerce! I wouldn't have +believed you could do it."</p> + +<p>"What do you mean?" I exclaimed. "You showed no surprise when you wrote +it."</p> + +<p>Again she laughed.</p> + +<p>"Wrote it!" she cried. "I never wrote a line of it. It was Sister Sarah +who was your secretary yesterday. Didn't you know that?"</p> + +<p>I stood for a moment utterly unable to answer; then I gasped, "Sister +Sarah wrote for me yesterday! What does it mean?"</p> + +<p>"Positively," said she, pushing back her chair and rising to her feet, +"this is not only the funniest, but the most wonderful thing in the +world. Do you mean truly to say that you did not know it was Sister +Sarah who wrote for you yesterday?"</p> + +<p>"I did not suspect it for an instant," I answered.</p> + +<p>"It was, it was!" she exclaimed, clasping her hands in her earnestness, +and stepping closer to the grating. "When we came here yesterday, and +found you were not in your room, a sudden idea struck her. 'I will stay +here myself, this morning,' she said, 'and do his writing. I want to +know what sort of a story this is that is being dictated to a sister of +our House;' and so she simply turned me out and told me to go home. You +don't know how frightened I was. I was afraid that, as we dress exactly +alike, you might not at first notice that Sister Sarah was sitting at +the table, and that you might begin with an awfully affectionate speech +by Tomaso; for I knew that something of that kind was just on the point +of breaking out, and I knew too that if you did it there would be lively +times in the House of Martha, and perhaps here also. I fairly shivered +the whole morning, and my only hope was that she would begin to snap at +you as soon as you came in, and you would then know whom you had to deal +with, and that you would have to put a lot of water into your +love-making if you wanted any more help from the sisters. But if I had +known that you would not find out that she was writing for you, I should +certainly have died. I couldn't have stood it. But how in the world +could you have kept on thinking that that woman was I? She is shorter +and fatter, and not a bit like me, except in her clothes; and if you +thought I was writing for you, why did you dictate that ridiculous +stuff?"</p> + +<p>I stood confounded. Here were answers to devise.</p> + +<p>"Of course the dress deceived me," I said presently, "and not once did +she turn her face toward me; besides, I did not imagine for a moment +that any one but you could be sitting at that table."</p> + +<p>"But I cannot understand why," she pursued, "if you didn't know it was +Sister Sarah, you made that sudden change in your story."</p> + +<p>For a moment I hesitated, and then I saw I might as well speak out +honestly. When a man sees before him a pair of blue eyes like those +which were then fixed upon me, the chances are that he will speak out +honestly.</p> + +<p>"The fact is," I said, "that I'm a little—well, sensitive; and when +you, or the person I thought was you, did not speak to me, nor look at +me, nor pay any more heed to me than if I had been a talking-machine +worked with a crank, I was somewhat provoked, and determined that if you +suddenly chose to freeze in that way I would freeze too, and that you +should have no more of that story in which you were so interested; and +so I smashed the loves of Tomaso and Lucilla and took up commerce, which +I was sure you would hate."</p> + +<p>At this there was a quick flash in her eyes, and the first tremblings of +a smile at the corners of her mouth.</p> + +<p>"Oh!" she said, and that was all she did say, as she returned to the +table and took her seat.</p> + +<p>"Is my explanation satisfactory?" I asked.</p> + +<p>"Oh, certainly," she answered; "and if you will excuse me for saying so, +I think you are a very fortunate man. In trying to punish me you +protected yourself,—that is, if you care to have secretaries from our +institution."</p> + +<p>As I could not see her face, I could not determine what answer I should +make to this remark, and she continued, as she turned over the sheets:—</p> + +<p>"What are you going to do with the pages which were written yesterday?"</p> + +<p>"Tear them up," I replied, "and throw them into the basket. I wish to +annihilate them utterly."</p> + +<p>She obeyed me, and tore Sister Sarah's work into very small pieces.</p> + +<p>"Now we will go on with the original and genuine story," I said. "And as +the occurrences of yesterday are entirely banished from my mind, and as +all recollection of the point where we left off has gone, will you +kindly read two or three pages of what you last wrote?"</p> + +<p>Several times I had perceived, or thought I had perceived, symptoms of +emotion in the back of my secretary's shawl, and these symptoms, if such +they were, were visible now. She occupied some minutes in selecting a +suitable point at which to begin, but when she had done this she read +without any signs of emotion, either in her shawl or in her face.</p> + +<p>The story of the Sicilian young people progressed slowly, not because of +any lack of material, but because I was anxious to portray the phases as +clearly and as effectively as I could possibly do it; and whenever I +could prevent myself from thinking of something else, I applied my mind +most earnestly to this object. I flatter myself that I did the work very +well, and I am sure there were passages the natural fervor of which +would have made Sister Sarah bounce at least a yard from her chair, had +they been dictated to her, but my nun did not bounce in the least.</p> + +<p>Before the hour at which we usually stopped work I arose from my chair, +and stated that that would be all for the day. My secretary looked at me +quickly.</p> + +<p>"All for to-day?" she asked, a little smile of disapprobation upon her +brow. "It cannot be twelve o'clock yet."</p> + +<p>"No," I answered, "it is not; but it is not easy to work out the answer +which Lucilla ought now to make to Tomaso, and I shall have to take time +for its consideration."</p> + +<p>"I shouldn't think it would be easy," said she, "but I hoped you had it +already in your mind."</p> + +<p>"Then you are interested in it?" I asked.</p> + +<p>"Of course I am," she answered,—"who wouldn't be? And just at this +point, too, when everything depends on what she says; but it is quite +right for you to be very careful about what you make her say," and she +gathered her sheets together to lay them away.</p> + +<p>Now I wanted to say something to her. I stopped work for that purpose, +but I did not know what to say. An apology for my conduct of the day +before would not be exactly in order, and an explanation of it would be +exceedingly difficult. I walked up and down my study, and she continued +to arrange her pages. When she had put them into a compact and very neat +little pile, she opened the table drawer, placed them in it, examined +some other contents of the drawer, and finally closed it, and sat +looking out of the window. After some minutes of this silent +observation, she half turned toward me, and without entirely removing +her gaze from the apple-tree outside, she asked:—</p> + +<p>"Do you still want to know my name?"</p> + +<p>"Indeed I do!" I exclaimed, stepping quickly to the grating.</p> + +<p>"Well, then," she said, "it is Sylvia."</p> + +<p>At this moment we heard the footsteps of Sister Sarah in the hall, at +least two minutes before the usual time.</p> + +<p>When they had gone, I stood by my study table, my arms folded and my +eyes fixed upon the floor.</p> + +<p>"Horace Vanderley," I said to myself, "you are in love;" and to this +frank and explicit statement I answered, quite as frankly, "That is +certainly true; there can be no mistake about it."</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="XXI" id="XXI"></a>XXI.</h2> + +<h3>LUCILLA AND I.</h3> + + +<p>A Saturday afternoon, evening, and night, the whole of a Sunday and its +night, with some hours of a Monday morning, intervened between the +moment at which I had acknowledged to myself my feelings toward my +secretary and the moment at which I might expect to see her again, and +nearly the whole of this time was occupied by me in endeavoring to +determine what should be my next step. To stand still in my present +position was absolutely impossible: I must go forward or backward. To go +backward was a simple thing enough; it was like turning round and +jumping down a precipice; it made me shudder. To go forward was like +climbing a precipice with beetling crags and perpendicular walls of ice.</p> + +<p>The first of these alternatives did not require any consideration +whatever. To the second I gave all the earnest consideration of which I +was capable, but I saw no way of getting up. The heights were +inaccessible.</p> + +<p>In very truth, my case was a hard one. I could not make love to a woman +through a grating; and if I could, I would not be dishonorable enough to +do it, when that woman was locked up in a room, and could not get away +in case she did not wish to listen to my protestations. But between the +girl I loved and myself there was a grating compared with which the +barrier in the doorway of my study was as a spider's web. This was the +network of solemn bars which surrounded the sisters of the House of +Martha,—the vows they had made never to think of love, to read of it or +speak of it.</p> + +<p>To drop metaphors, it would be impossible for me to continue to work +with her and conceal my love for her; it would be stupidly useless, and +moreover cowardly, to declare that love; and it would be sensible, +praiseworthy, and in every way advantageous for me to cease my literary +labors and go immediately to the Adirondacks or to Mount Desert. But +would I go away on Saturday or Sunday when she was coming on Monday? Not +I.</p> + +<p>She came on Monday, surrounded by a gray halo, which had begun to grow +as beautiful to my vision as the delicate tints of early dawn. When she +began to read what she had last written, I seated myself in a chair by +the grating. When she had finished, I sat silent for a minute, got up +and walked about, came back, sat down, and was silent again. In my whole +mind there did not seem to be one crevice into which an available +thought concerning my travels could squeeze itself. She sat quietly +looking out of the window at the apple-tree. Presently she said:—</p> + +<p>"I suppose you find it hard to begin work on Monday morning, after +having rested so long. It must be difficult to get yourself again into +the proper frame of mind."</p> + +<p>"On this Monday morning," I answered, "I find it very hard indeed."</p> + +<p>She turned, and for the first time that day fixed her eyes upon me. She +did not look well; she was pale.</p> + +<p>"I had hoped," she said, with a little smile without any brightness in +it, "that you would finish the story of Tomaso and Lucilla; but I don't +believe you feel like composing, so how would you like me to read this +morning?"</p> + +<p>"Nothing could suit me better," I answered; and in my heart I thought +that here was an angelic gift, a relief and a joy.</p> + +<p>"I will begin," she said, "at the point where I left off reading." She +took up a portion of the manuscript, she brought her chair within a yard +of the grating, she sat down with her face toward me, and she read. +Sometimes she stopped and spoke of what she was reading, now to ask a +question, and now to tell something she had seen in the place I +described. I said but little. I did not wish to occupy any of that +lovely morning with my words,—words which were bound to mean nothing. +As she read and talked, some color came into her face; she looked more +like herself. What a shame to shut up such a woman in a House where she +never had anything interesting to talk about, never anybody interested +to talk to!</p> + +<p>After the reading of half a dozen pages during which she had not +interrupted herself, she laid the manuscript in her lap, and asked me +the time. I told her it wanted twenty minutes of twelve. She made no +answer, but rose, put the manuscript in the drawer, and then returned +with a little note which she had taken from her pocket.</p> + +<p>"Mother Anastasia desired me to give you this," she said, folding it so +that she could push it through one of the interstices of the grating; +"she told me to hand it to you as I was coming away, but I don't think +she would object to your reading it a little before that."</p> + +<p>I took the note, unfolded it, and read it. Mother Anastasia wrote an +excellent hand. She informed me that it had been decided that the sister +of the House of Martha who had been acting as my amanuensis should not +continue in that position, but should now devote herself to another +class of work. If, however, I desired it, another sister would take her +place.</p> + +<p>I stood unable to speak. I must have been as pale as the white paint on +the door-frame near which I stood.</p> + +<p>"You see," said Sylvia, and from the expression upon her face I think +she must have perceived that I did not like what I had read, "this is +the work of Sister Sarah. I might as well tell you that at once, and I +am sure there is no harm in my doing so. She has always objected to my +writing for you; and although the morning she spent with you would have +satisfied any reasonable person that there could be no possible +objection to my doing it, she has not ceased to insist that I shall give +it up, and go to the Measles Refuge. That, however, I will not do, but I +cannot come here any more. Mother Anastasia and I are both sure that if +I am not withdrawn from this work she will make no end of trouble. She +has consented that I should go on until now simply because this day ends +my month."</p> + +<p>I was filled with amazement, grief, and rage.</p> + +<p>"The horrible wretch!" I exclaimed. "What malignant wickedness!"</p> + +<p>"Oh," said Sylvia, holding up one finger, "you mustn't talk like that +about the sister. She may think she is right, but I don't see how she +can; and perhaps she would have some reason on her side if she could see +me standing here talking about her, instead of attending to my work. But +I determined that I would not go away without saying a word. You have +always been very courteous to us, and I don't see why we should not be +courteous to you."</p> + +<p>"Are you sorry to go?" I asked, getting as close to the grating as I +could. "If they would let you, would you go on writing for me?"</p> + +<p>"I should be glad to go on with the work," she said; "it is just what I +like."</p> + +<p>"Too bad, too bad!" I cried. "Cannot it be prevented? Cannot I see +somebody? You do not know how much I—how exactly you"—</p> + +<p>"Excuse me," said Sylvia, "for interrupting you, but what time is it?"</p> + +<p>I glanced at the clock. "It wants four minutes of twelve," I gasped.</p> + +<p>"Then I must bid you good-by," she said.</p> + +<p>"Good-by?" I repeated. "How can you bid me good-by? Confound this +grating! Isn't that door open?"</p> + +<p>"No," she replied, "it's locked. Do you want to shake hands with me?"</p> + +<p>"Of course I do!" I cried. "Good-by like this! It cannot be."</p> + +<p>"I think," she said quickly, "that if you could get out of your window, +you might come to mine and shake hands."</p> + +<p>What a scintillating inspiration! What a girl! I had not thought of it! +In a moment I had bounded out of my window, and was standing under hers, +which was not four feet from the ground. There she was, with her +beautiful white hand already extended. I seized it in both of mine.</p> + +<p>"Oh, Sylvia," I said, "I cannot have you go in this way. I want to tell +you—I want to tell you how"—</p> + +<p>"You are very good," she interrupted, endeavoring slightly to withdraw +her hand, "and when the story of Tomaso and Lucilla is finished and +printed I am going to read it, rules or no rules."</p> + +<p>"It shall never be finished," I exclaimed vehemently, "if you do not +write it," and, lifting her hand, I really believe I was about to kiss +it, when with a quick movement she drew it from me.</p> + +<p>"She is coming," she said; "good-by! good-by!" and with a wave of her +hand she was gone from the window.</p> + +<p>I did not return to my study. I stood by the side of the house, with my +fists clenched and my eyes set. Then, suddenly, I ran to the garden +wall; looking over it, I saw, far down the shaded village street, two +gray figures walking away.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="XXII" id="XXII"></a>XXII.</h2> + +<h3>I CLOSE MY BOOK.</h3> + + +<p>By the rarest good fortune my grandmother started that afternoon for a +visit to an old friend at the seashore, and, in the mild excitement of +her departure, I do not think she noticed anything unusual in my +demeanor.</p> + +<p>"And so your amanuensis has left you?" she remarked, as she was eating a +hasty luncheon. "Sister Sarah stopped for a moment and told me so. She +said there was another one ready to take the place, if you wanted her."</p> + +<p>I tried to suppress my feelings, but I must have spoken sharply.</p> + +<p>"Want her!" I exclaimed. "I want none of her!"</p> + +<p>My grandmother looked at me for a moment.</p> + +<p>"I shall be sorry, Horace," she said, "if you find that the sisters do +not work to suit you. I hoped that you might continue to employ them, +because the House of Martha is at such a convenient distance, and offers +you such a variety of assistance to choose from; and also because you +would contribute to a most worthy cause. You know that all the money +they may make is to go to hospitals and that sort of thing."</p> + +<p>"I was a little afraid, however," she continued, after a pause, "that +the sister you engaged might not suit you. She was so much younger than +the others that I feared that, away from the restraints of the +institution, she might be a little frivolous. Was she ever frivolous?"</p> + +<p>"Not in the least," I answered; "not for an instant."</p> + +<p>"I am very glad to hear that," she remarked,—"very glad indeed. I take +an interest in that sister. Years ago I knew her family, but that was +before she was born. I remember that I was intending to speak to you +about her, but in some way I was interrupted."</p> + +<p>"Well," I asked, "tell me now, who is she?"</p> + +<p>"She <i>is</i>," said my grandmother, "Sister Hagar, of the House of Martha. +She <i>was</i> Sylvia Raynor, of New Haven. I think that in some way her life +has been darkened. Mother Anastasia takes a great interest in her, and +favors her a good deal. I know there was opposition to her entering the +House, but she was determined to do it. You say you are not going to +engage another sister? Who is to be your amanuensis?"</p> + +<p>"No one," I answered. "I shall stop writing for the present. This is a +very good time. I've nearly reached the end of—a sort of division of +the book."</p> + +<p>"An excellent idea," said my grandmother, with animation. "You ought to +go to the sea or the mountains. You have been working very hard. You are +not looking well."</p> + +<p>"I shall go, I shall go," I answered quickly; "fishing, probably, but I +can't say where. I'll write to you as soon as I decide."</p> + +<p>"Now that is very pleasant," said my grandmother, as she rose from the +table, "very pleasant indeed; and if you write that you will be away +fishing for a week or two, I shall stay at the Bromleys' longer than I +intended,—perhaps until you return."</p> + +<p>"A week or two!" I muttered to myself.</p> + +<p>Walkirk had sharper eyes than those of my grandmother. I am sure that +when he came that evening he saw immediately that something was the +matter with me,—something of moment. He was a man of too much tact to +allude to my state of mind; but in a very short time I saved him all the +trouble of circumspection, for I growled out that I could not talk about +travels at present, and then told him that I could not write about them, +either, for I had lost my secretary. His countenance exhibited much +concern.</p> + +<p>"But you can get another of the sisters," he said.</p> + +<p>What I replied to this I do not remember, but I know I expressed myself +so freely, so explicitly, and with such force that Walkirk understood +very well that I wanted the secretary I had lost, that I wanted none +other, and that I wanted her very much indeed. In fact, he comprehended +the situation perfectly.</p> + +<p>I was not sorry. I wanted somebody to whom I could talk about the +matter, in whom I could confide. In ten minutes I was speaking to +Walkirk in perfect confidence.</p> + +<p>"But you can't do anything," said he, when there came a pause. "This is +a case in which there is nothing to do. My advice is that you go away +for a time, and try to get over it."</p> + +<p>"I am going away," I replied.</p> + +<p>"You could do nothing better," Walkirk remarked. "I am altogether in +favor of that, although of course such counsel is against my own +interests."</p> + +<p>"Not at all," said I, catching his meaning, "for I shall take you with +me."</p> + +<p>After a considerable pause in the conversation Walkirk inquired if I had +decided where I would go.</p> + +<p>"No," I answered, "that is your affair. My desire is to get away from +every place where there is any chance of seeing a woman. I wish to +obliterate from my mind all idea of the female human being. In fact, I +think I should like to take lodgings near a monastery, and have the +monks come and write for me,—a different one every day."</p> + +<p>Walkirk smiled. "Since you wish me to select your retreat," he said, "I +am bound to have an opinion regarding it. I might advise a visit to the +Trappists of Kentucky, or to some remote fishing and hunting region; but +it strikes me that a background made up of exclusive association with +men would be very apt to bring out in strong relief any particular +female image which you might have in your mind. I should say that the +best way of getting rid of such an image would be to merge it in a lot +of other female images."</p> + +<p>"Away with the idea!" I cried. "Walkirk, I will neither merge nor +relieve. I will go with you to some place where we shall see neither men +nor women; where we can hunt, fish, sail, sleep, read, smoke, and banish +the world. I don't wish you to take a servant. We can do without +service, and if necessary I can cook. I put the whole matter in your +hands, Walkirk, and when you have decided on our destination let me +know."</p> + +<p>The next afternoon Walkirk found me at my club in the city, and informed +me that he had selected a place which he thought would suit my purposes.</p> + +<p>"No people?" I asked.</p> + +<p>"None but ourselves," replied he.</p> + +<p>"Very good," said I. "When can we start?"</p> + +<p>"I shall be ready to-morrow afternoon," he answered, "and I will call +for you at your house."</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="XXIII" id="XXIII"></a>XXIII.</h2> + +<h3>RACKET ISLAND.</h3> + + +<p>We traveled all night, and early in the morning alighted at a small +station, on the shore of a broad bay. Here we found moored a cat-rigged +sailboat, of which Walkirk took possession, and we stowed therein the +valises, guns, and fishing tackle which we had brought with us. I +examined the craft with considerable interest. It was about twenty feet +long, had a small cabin divided into two compartments, and appeared to +be well stocked with provisions and other necessaries.</p> + +<p>"Is it to be a long cruise?" I said to Walkirk; "and do you know how to +sail a boat?"</p> + +<p>"With this wind," he answered, "we should reach our destination in a +couple of hours, and I consider myself a very fair skipper."</p> + +<p>"Up sail, then," I cried, "and I am not in the least hurry to know where +I am going."</p> + +<p>Walkirk sailed a boat very well, but he did it in rather an odd way, as +if he had learned it all out of a book, and never had handled a tiller +before. I am not a bad amateur sailor myself, but I gave no +consideration to the management of our craft. Walkirk had said that he +knew where he was going, and was able to sail there, and I left the +matter entirely to him; and whether or not this were his first essay in +sailing, in due time we ran upon a low beach, and he exclaimed:—</p> + +<p>"Here we are!"</p> + +<p>I rose to my feet and looked about me. "Now, then," said I, "I shall ask +you, where are we?"</p> + +<p>"This is Racket Island," he replied, "and as soon as we get the boat +pulled up and the sail down I will tell you about it."</p> + +<p>"Racket Island," said Walkirk, a short time afterwards, as we stood +together on a little sandy bluff, "was discovered two years ago by me +and a friend, as we were sailing about in this bay. I suppose other +people may have discovered it before, but as I have seen no proof of +this I am not bound to believe it. We named it Racket Island, having +found on the beach an old tennis racket, which had been washed there by +the waves from no one knows where. The island is not more than half a +mile long, with a very irregular coast. The other end of it, you see, is +pretty well wooded. We stayed here for three days, sleeping in our boat; +and so far as solitude is concerned, we might as well have been on a +desert island in the midst of the Pacific. Now I propose that we do the +same thing, and stay for three days, or three weeks, or as long as you +please. This is the finest season of the year for camping out, and we +can moor the boat securely, and cook and sleep on board of it. There is +plenty of sand and there is plenty of shade, and I hope you will like +it."</p> + +<p>"I do!" I cried. "On Racket Island let us settle!"</p> + +<p>For two days I experienced a sort of negative enjoyment. If I could not +be at home dictating to my late secretary, or, better still, looking at +her, as she sat close to the grating, reading to me, this was the next +best thing I could do. I could walk over the island; I could sail around +it; I could watch Walkirk fish; I could lie on the sand, and look at the +sky; and I could picture Sylvia with her hair properly arranged, and +attired in apparel suited to her. In my fancy I totally discarded the +gray garb of the sisters of the House of Martha, and dressed my nun +sometimes in a light summer robe, with a broad hat shading her face, and +again in the richest costumes of silks and furs. Sometimes Walkirk +interrupted these pleasant reveries, but that, of course, was to be +expected.</p> + +<p>In several directions we could see points of land, but it did not +interest me to know what these were, or how far away they were. Walkirk +and I had Racket Island to ourselves. My grandmother was happy with her +friends, and where the rest of the world happened to stow themselves I +did not care. Several times I said this to myself, but it was a mistake. +I cared very much where Sylvia stowed herself. Philosophize as I might, +I thought of her continually in that doleful House of Martha; and as I +thought of her there I cried out against the shortcomings of +civilization.</p> + +<p>We had pitched a small tent in the shelter of a clump of trees on the +higher part of the island; and near this, on the morning of our third +day, I was sitting, smoking, and trying the effect of Sylvia's face +under a wide black hat heavy with ostrich plumes, when Walkirk +approached me, carrying a string of freshly caught fish.</p> + +<p>"I am sorry to say," said he, "that in coming here to escape the society +of women we have made a failure, for one of them is sitting on the +beach, on the other side of the island."</p> + +<p>I sprang to my feet with an abrupt exclamation.</p> + +<p>"How did the woman get here?" I cried. "I thought this place was +deserted."</p> + +<p>"It is; I know every inch of it. No one lives here, but this female +person came in a small sailboat. I saw it tied up, not far from where +she is sitting."</p> + +<p>"If women come here," I said, "I want to go, and you may as well get +ready to leave."</p> + +<p>"I think," remarked Walkirk, "that it would be well not to be in too +great a hurry to leave. I know of no place where we are less likely to +be disturbed, and so long as these dry nights continue there can be no +pleasanter camping place. She may now be sailing away, and the chances +are we shall never see her again."</p> + +<p>"I'll go and look into the matter," said I.</p> + +<p>I walked over the ridge of the little island, and soon caught sight of a +female figure sitting on the sandy beach. Near by was the boat which +Walkirk had mentioned. As soon as I saw her I stopped; but she must have +heard my approach, for she turned toward me. I had come merely to make +an observation of her, but now I must go on. As I approached her I +turned as if I were about to walk along the shore, and as I passed her I +raised my hat. She was a lady of middle age, of a reddish blonde +complexion, and her hair was negligently put up under a plain straw hat. +Her large blue eyes, her slightly uplifted brows, and the general +expression of her rather thin face gave me the idea that she was a +pleasantly disposed woman, who was either very tired or not in good +health.</p> + +<p>"Good-morning, sir," she said. "On desert islands, you know, people +speak to each other without ceremony."</p> + +<p>I stopped, and returned her salutation. "Excuse me," I remarked, "but +this does not seem to be a desert island. May I be permitted to ask if +it is a place of much resort?"</p> + +<p>"Of course you may," she answered. "People sometimes come here; but +would you like it better if they did not? You need not answer; I know +you would."</p> + +<p>This was a very free and easy lady, but if she liked that mood it suited +me very well.</p> + +<p>"Since you will have it," I replied, "I will admit I came here because I +thought my companion and I would have the island to ourselves."</p> + +<p>"And now you are disappointed," she said, with a smile.</p> + +<p>She was surely a person of very pleasant humor.</p> + +<p>"Good lady," said I, "you must not corner me. I came here because I +thought it would be a good place in which to stop awhile and grumble +undisturbed; and as you say it is proper to be unceremonious, may I ask +how you happen to be here, and if you sail your boat yourself?"</p> + +<p>"I am here," she answered, "because I like this island. I take an +interest in it for two reasons: one is that it is a good island, and the +other is that I own it."</p> + +<p>"Really!" I exclaimed, in sudden embarrassment, "you must pardon me! I +assure you I did not know that."</p> + +<p>"Don't apologize," she said, raising her hand. "Scarcely any one knows, +or at least remembers, that I own this island. I bought it a good many +years ago, intending to build upon it; but it was considered too remote +from the mainland, and I have established a summer home on the island +which you can just see, over there to the west; so this island is +perfectly free to respectable seekers after solitude or fish. I may add +that I do not sail my boat, but came here this morning with my brother +and another gentleman. They have now gone up the beach to look for +shells."</p> + +<p>"Madam," said I, "I feel that I am an intruder; but to assure you that I +am a respectable one, allow me to introduce myself," and I presented my +card.</p> + +<p>"No, thank you," she replied, with a smile, as she gently waved back my +card; "we don't do that sort of thing here; as far as possible we omit +all ordinary social customs. We come here to rid ourselves, for a time, +of manners and customs. My other island is called the 'Tangent,' because +there we fly off from our accustomed routine of life. We dress as we +please, and we live as we please. We drop all connection with society +and its conventions. We even drop the names by which society knows us. I +am known as the 'Lady Who Sits on the Sand,' commonly condensed to the +'Sand Lady.' My brother, who spends most of his time in his boat, is the +'Middle-Aged Man of the Sea,' and his scientific friend is the 'Shell +Man.' When we have stayed on the Tangent as long as the weather and our +pleasure induce us, we return to our ordinary routine of life. Now, if +you have any title which is characteristic of you, I shall be glad to +hear it, as well as that of your companion. We consider ourselves +capable of forming unbiased opinions in regard to what is generally +known as respectability."</p> + +<p>It struck me as a very satisfactory thing to look upon this pleasant +lady solely and simply as a human being. It is so seldom that we meet +any one who can be looked upon in that light.</p> + +<p>"Madam," I said, "I greatly like your plan for putting yourselves out of +the world for a time, but I find it difficult properly to designate +myself."</p> + +<p>"Oh, anything will do," she said; "for instance, your reason for +desiring to seclude yourself."</p> + +<p>"Very well, then," said I, "you may call me a 'Lover in Check.'"</p> + +<p>"Excellent!" she exclaimed,—"just the sort of person for this place; +and what is the other one?"</p> + +<p>"Oh, he is an Understudy," I replied.</p> + +<p>"Delightful," she said; "I never saw one. And here come my brother and +the Shell Man."</p> + +<p>I was now introduced formally by my new title to the Middle-Aged Man of +the Sea, a hearty personage, with a curling beard, and to the Shell Man, +who was tall, and wore spectacles.</p> + +<p>When my presence was explained, the brother was as cordial as the lady +had been, and proffered any assistance which I might need during my +sojourn on the island. When they took their leave, the Sand Lady urged +me to inhabit her island as long as I pleased, and hoped that I and the +Understudy would sometimes sail over to them, and see what it was to be +on a Tangent. At this I shook my head, and they all laughed at me; but +it was easy to see that they were people of very friendly dispositions.</p> + +<p>When I reported my interview to Walkirk, he remarked, "It is impossible +to get away from people, but in all probability these folks will not +come here again."</p> + +<p>"Perhaps not," I answered, and dropped the subject.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="XXIV" id="XXIV"></a>XXIV.</h2> + +<h3>THE INTERPOLATION.</h3> + + +<p>"They did not seem in the least surprised to find us here," I said to +Walkirk, as we were eating our dinner.</p> + +<p>"Who?" he asked. "Oh, the people who came over this morning? Quite +likely they saw us when we were sailing this way. We passed their island +at no great distance. There is no reason why they should object. Your +soft hat and flannel shirt would not prevent them from seeing that you +were a gentleman."</p> + +<p>I nodded, and sat silent for a time.</p> + +<p>"Walkirk," said I, "suppose we sail over to those people this afternoon? +It might be interesting."</p> + +<p>"Very good," he answered, turning suddenly to watch a sea gull, which +had made a great swoop toward us, as if attracted by the odors of our +meal; "that will be an excellent thing to do."</p> + +<p>In making our way, that afternoon, in the direction of the Tangent, our +course was not mathematically correct, for the wind did not favor us, +and it was impossible to sail in a right line; but the sun was still +high when we reached the larger island, and made the boat fast to a +little pier.</p> + +<p>This island was much more attractive than the one on which we were +camping. The ground receded from the beach in rolling slopes covered +with short grass, and here and there were handsome spreading trees. On a +bluff, a few hundred yards from the pier, stood a low, picturesque +house, almost surrounded by a grove. The path to the house was plainly +marked, and led us along the face of a little hill to a jutting point, +where it seemed to make an abrupt turn upward. As we rounded this point, +we saw on a rocky ledge not far ahead of us a lady dressed in white. She +was standing on the ledge, looking out over the water, and apparently +very much engaged with her own thoughts, for she had not yet perceived +our approach.</p> + +<p>At the first glance I saw that the figure before us was not the Sand +Lady. This was a tall and graceful woman, carrying no weight of years. +She held her hat in her hand, and her dark hair was slightly blown back +from a face which, seen in profile against the clear blue sky, appeared +to me to be perfect in its outline. We stopped involuntarily, and at +that moment she turned toward us. Her face was one of noble beauty, with +great dark eyes, and a complexion of that fine glow which comes to women +who are not quite brunettes.</p> + +<p>Walkirk started, and seized my arm. "Good heavens," he whispered, "it is +Mother Anastasia!"</p> + +<p>As we now advanced toward the lady, I could scarcely believe what I had +heard; certainly I could not comprehend it. Here was one of the most +beautiful women I had ever beheld, dressed in a robe of soft white +flannel, which, though simple, was tasteful and elegant. She had a bunch +of wild flowers in her belt, and at her neck a bow of dark yellow +ribbon. I particularly noticed these points, in my amazement at hearing +Walkirk say that this was the Mother Superior of the House of Martha.</p> + +<p>As we approached, she greeted us pleasantly, very much as if she had +expected our coming, and then, addressing Walkirk, she said, with a +smile:</p> + +<p>"I see, sir, that you recognize me, and I suppose you are somewhat +surprised to find me here, and thus," glancing at her dress.</p> + +<p>"Surprised, madam!" exclaimed Walkirk. "I am astounded."</p> + +<p>"Well," said she, "that sort of thing will happen occasionally. The +people on this island have been expecting a visit from you gentlemen, +but I really do not know where any of them are. It is not always easy to +find them, but I will go and see if the Sand Lady is in the house, and +if so I will tell her of your arrival. Of course," she continued, now +turning to me, "you both will remember that in this place we put +ourselves outside of a good many of the ordinary conventions, and are +known by our characteristics instead of our names."</p> + +<p>I assured her we understood this, and considered it an admirable idea.</p> + +<p>"As you, sir," turning to Walkirk, "have met me before, I will +immediately state that I am known on this island only as the +'Interpolation.'"</p> + +<p>She turned to walk toward the house, but stopped. "We are all here to +enjoy ourselves, and it is against the rules to worry each other with +puzzles. I therefore will at once say, in explanation of my name, that I +have briefly thrust myself into the life of my friends; and of my +appearance, that the Middle-Aged Man of the Sea, who is a very +self-willed person, caused the costume which I ordinarily wear, and in +which I arrived, to be abstracted and hidden, so that I am obliged, +while here, to wear clothes belonging to others. Now, you see, Mr. +Understudy, everything is as plain as daylight."</p> + +<p>"They have been talking about us," I remarked, as the lady rapidly +walked away, "and of course, having recognized you, she must know who I +am."</p> + +<p>"Know you? There is no doubt of it," he answered. "She must have seen +you often in the village, although you may never have noticed her."</p> + +<p>"I certainly never have," said I; "in fact, I make it a point not to +look under the bonnets of those gray-garbed women."</p> + +<p>"When you meet them in the street?" he asked.</p> + +<p>"Yes," I replied.</p> + +<p>"She knows us both," said Walkirk, "and she has now gone to the house to +tell the people who we are; and yet I am surprised that she met us so +serenely. She could not possibly have known that the two men on that +little island were her neighbors in the village of Arden."</p> + +<p>I made no answer. I was strangely excited. I had flown to an uninhabited +island to get away from Sylvia, and, if my conscience could be made to +work properly, to get away from all thoughts of her; and here I had met, +most unexpectedly and suddenly, with one who was probably the most +intimate connection of the girl from whom I was flying. I was amazed; my +emotion thrilled me from head to foot.</p> + +<p>"It is just like women," remarked Walkirk, as we slowly walked toward +the house, "to put on disguises to conceal their identities, but they +have no respect for our identities. Without doubt, at this moment Mother +Anastasia is telling the lady of the house all about you and your +grandmother, your position in society, and the manner in which you were +furnished with a secretary from the House of Martha."</p> + +<p>Still I did not reply. "Mother Anastasia!" I said to myself. "Here is a +gray-garbed sister transformed into a lovely woman. Why should not +another sister be so transformed? Why should not Sylvia be here, in soft +white raiment, with flowers and a broad hat? If one can be thus, why not +the other?" The possibility fevered me.</p> + +<p>We found the mistress of the house—the same who was called the Sand +Lady—upon a piazza. Her demeanor had been pleasant enough when we had +seen her before, but now she greeted us as cordially as if we had been +old friends. It was plain enough that Mother Anastasia had told her all +about us. Her brother and the Shell Man were also there, and the first +was friendly and the latter polite. The Mother Superior was on the +piazza, but keeping a little in the background, as if she felt that she +had had her turn.</p> + +<p>"And now, Mr. Lover in Check and Mr. Understudy," said the Sand Lady, "I +present you with the freedom of this island, as I have already presented +you with the freedom of the other. If what we happen to be doing +interests you, join us. If it does not, interest yourselves as you +please. That is our custom here."</p> + +<p>The mention of the name which I had applied to myself gave me a little +shock. Under the circumstances I did not like it. It was possible that +the Mother Superior of the House of Martha might know what it meant; and +whether she knew it now, or ever should come to know it, I did not wish +the knowledge to come to her in that way.</p> + +<p>"There is still another one of our family," said the Sand Lady; "but she +is very independent, and may not care for me to present you just now. I +will go and ask her."</p> + +<p>She stepped off the piazza, and went to a lady who was reading in a +hammock, under a tree near by. In a minute or two this lady arose, and, +with her book in her hand, came toward us. She was a woman of good +figure, and with a certain air of loftiness. Her dress was extremely +simple, and she may have been thirty years old. Approaching us, she +said:—</p> + +<p>"I wish to introduce myself. I am a 'Person.' In this place that is all +I am. It is my name. It denotes my characteristics. Your titles have +been mentioned to me. The ceremony is over," and, with a little nod, she +returned to her hammock.</p> + +<p>"Now," said the Man of the Sea, "who could prune away conventionalities +better than that?" He then announced that in half an hour the tide would +serve for fishing,—that he was going out in his boat, and would take +any one who cared to accompany him; and this announcement having been +made, he settled himself upon the piazza to talk to us. The conversation +was interesting and lively. The people at this house were well worth +knowing.</p> + +<p>The Sand Lady and Walkirk went in the boat to fish. The latter had been +very prompt to accept the invitation. I do not know whether the Shell +Man went with them or not. At all events, he disappeared, and Mother +Anastasia and myself were left upon the piazza. It surprised me that +events had so quickly shaped themselves to my advantage.</p> + +<p>"Do you insist," I said, when we were left alone, "on being called an +Interpolation?"</p> + +<p>"Of course I do," she answered; "that is what I am."</p> + +<p>"You like plain speech."</p> + +<p>"I am very fond of it," was her reply.</p> + +<p>During the general conversation I had determined that as soon as an +opportunity offered I would speak very plainly to this lady. I looked +about me. The occupant of the hammock was not far away. I surmised that +she could readily hear me if I spoke in my ordinary tone.</p> + +<p>"Plain speech appears difficult to you," remarked my companion.</p> + +<p>I still looked about me. "It strikes me," said I, "that beyond the other +side of the house there is a bluff from which one might get a view of +the mainland. Would you like to go and find out whether that is so or +not?"</p> + +<p>"I have seen that view several times," she answered; and then, after a +little pause, she added, "But I don't mind in the least seeing it +again." Together we walked to the bluff. There we found two rude seats +which had been made for the convenience of viewers, and on one of these +she seated herself.</p> + +<p>"Now," said she, "please sit down, and you may immediately begin to ask +me about Sister Ha—"</p> + +<p>"Oh, do not call her by that name!" I cried.</p> + +<p>She laughed. "Very well, then," said she, "what shall I call her?"</p> + +<p>"Sylvia," I replied.</p> + +<p>She opened her eyes. "Upon my word," she exclaimed, "this is progress! +How did you come to know that her name is Sylvia?"</p> + +<p>"She told me," I answered. "But why do you think I want to ask you about +Sylvia?"</p> + +<p>"I knew there was no other reason for your wishing to have a private +talk with me; but I must admit that I would not have felt warranted to +act upon my assumptions had you not announced yourself in this place as +a Lover in Check."</p> + +<p>"But could not some one else have held me in check?" I asked.</p> + +<p>"No, sir," said she. "I have heard of the manner in which you parted +from your late secretary."</p> + +<p>This conversation was getting to be plainer than I desired it to be. I +was willing to declare my position, but I did not care to have it +declared for me. I was silent for a minute.</p> + +<p>"I did not suppose," I then said, "that you were so well informed. You +think that I am a lover held in check by the circumstances surrounding +the lady you designated my late secretary?"</p> + +<p>"I do."</p> + +<p>"May I ask," I continued, with a little agitation, "if Sylvia considers +me in this light, and if she has—expressed any opinion on the subject?"</p> + +<p>"Those are pretty questions," said the lady, fixing her dark eyes upon +me. "She has said nothing about the light in which she considers you. In +fact, all she has told me about you has been in answer to questions I +have put to her; but had she spoken of you as a lover, checked or +unchecked, of course you would have been none the wiser for me. Sylvia +is a simple-hearted, frank girl, and I have thought that she might not +have suspected the nature of your very decided liking for her; but now +that I have found out that she let you know her as Sylvia I am afraid +she is deeper than I thought her. I should not be surprised if you two +had flirted dreadfully."</p> + +<p>"I never flirt," I answered emphatically.</p> + +<p>"That is right," said she. "Never do it."</p> + +<p>"But why," I asked, "did you allow her to continue to come to me, if you +thought I had a decided liking for her, and all that?"</p> + +<p>"Because I chose to do it," she replied, with not the ripple of a smile +nor the furrow of a frown upon her face.</p> + +<p>I looked at her in amazement.</p> + +<p>"Madam," said I, "Interpolation, Mother Anastasia, or whatever name you +give yourself, begin now and tell me about Sylvia, and speak to me +freely, as I speak to you. I love her with all my heart. If I can, I +intend to marry her, Martha or no Martha. I care not what may be the +odds against me. Now you see exactly where I stand, and as far as I am +concerned you may speak without restraint."</p> + +<p>"You are certainly very clear and explicit," she said, "and I shall be +glad to tell you about Sylvia."</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="XXV" id="XXV"></a>XXV.</h2> + +<h3>ABOUT SYLVIA.</h3> + + +<p>"Before I begin," continued my companion, slanting her hat so as to +prevent the sun from meddling with the perfect tones of her complexion, +"tell me what you already know about this young lady. I do not wish to +waste any information."</p> + +<p>"All I know," said I, "is that her family name is Raynor,—my +grandmother told me that,—that she is absolutely, utterly, and even +wickedly out of place in the House of Martha, and that I want her for my +wife."</p> + +<p>"Very good," said my companion, with a smile. "Now I know what not to +tell you. I am very fond of Sylvia. In fact, I believe I love her better +than any other woman in the world"—</p> + +<p>"So do I," I interrupted.</p> + +<p>She laughed. "For a lover in check you are entirely too ready to move. +For years I have looked upon her as a younger sister, and there is no +good thing which I would not have lavished upon her had I been able, but +instead of that I did her an injury. At times I have thought it a +terrible injury."</p> + +<p>"You mean," I asked, "that you have allowed her to enter the House of +Martha?"</p> + +<p>"Your quickness is wonderful," she said, "but you do not put the case +quite correctly. Had it been possible for me to prohibit her joining our +sisterhood, I should have done so; but she was perfectly free to do as +she pleased, and my advice against it was of no avail. It was my example +which induced her to enter the House of Martha. She had had trouble. She +wished to retire from the world, and devote herself to good works which +should banish her trouble. I had so devoted myself. She loved me, and +she followed me. I talked to her until I made her unhappy, and then I +let her go her way. But the great object of my life for nearly a year +has been to make that girl feel that her true way is out of the House of +Martha."</p> + +<p>"Then she is not bound by vows or promises?" I asked, with some +excitement.</p> + +<p>"Not in the least," said she. "She can leave us when she pleases. I do +not think she likes her life or her duties, unless, indeed, they lead +her in the direction of dictated literature; but she has a firm will, +and, having joined us, has never shown the slightest sign of a desire to +leave us. She always asserts that, when the proper time arrives, she +shall vow herself a permanent member of our sisterhood."</p> + +<p>"What preposterous absurdity!" I exclaimed. "She will never conform to +your rules. She hates nursing. She has too much good sense to insult her +fine womanly nature by degrading and unnecessary sacrifices."</p> + +<p>"How delightfully confidential she must have been!—but I assure you, +sir, that she never said that sort of thing to me. There were things she +liked and things she did not like, but she showed no signs of +rebellion."</p> + +<p>"Which was wise," I said, "knowing that you thought she ought not to be +there, any way."</p> + +<p>"Oh, but she is a little serpent," exclaimed my companion, "and so wise +to confide in you, and without flirting! It must have been charming to +see."</p> + +<p>I did not reply to this remark, which I considered flippant, and my mind +was not inclined to flippancy.</p> + +<p>"It may appear strange to you," she continued, "and would probably +appear strange to any one who did not understand the case, that I should +have allowed her to become your amanuensis, but this whole affair is a +very peculiar one. In the first place, it is absolutely necessary that +Sylvia should work. It is not only her duty as a sister, but without it +she would fall into a morbid mental condition. She is not fitted in any +way for the ordinary labors of our House, so I was glad to find +something which would not only suit her, but would so interest her that +it would help to draw her away from us, and back into the world, to +which she rightfully belongs. This must appear an odd desire for a +mother superior of a religious body, but it is founded on an earnest and +conscientious regard for the true welfare of my young friend.</p> + +<p>"And then there was another reason for my allowing her to come to you. +You would smile if you could picture to yourself the mental image I had +formed of you, which was founded entirely on your grandmother's remarks +when she came to see me about engaging one of our sisters as your +secretary. Before this matter was discussed I may have seen you in the +village, but I never had known you even by sight, and from what that +good lady said of you I supposed that you were decidedly middle-aged in +feeling, if not in years; that you were extremely grave and studious, +and wished, when engaged upon literary composition, to be entirely +oblivious of your surroundings; and that you desired an amanuensis who +should be simply a writing-machine,—who would in no way annoy you by +intruding upon you any evidence that she possessed a personality. A +sister from our House, your grandmother urged, would be the very person +you needed, and infinitely better suited to the position than the +somewhat frivolous young women who very often occupy positions as +amanuenses.</p> + +<p>"It was for these reasons that I sent Sylvia to write at the dictation +of the sedate author of the forthcoming book on European travel. Even +when I heard that a love-story had been introduced into the descriptions +of countries, I concluded, after consideration, not to interfere. I did +not think that it would be of any disadvantage to Sylvia if she should +become a little interested in love affairs; but that you should become +interested in a love affair, such as that you have mentioned to me, I +did not imagine in the remotest degree."</p> + +<p>"I am sure," said I, "that your motives as far as Sylvia was concerned, +and your action as far as I am concerned, were heaven-born. And now, as +we are speaking plainly here together, let me ask you if you do not +think you would be fulfilling what you consider your duty to Sylvia by +aiding me to make her my wife! There can surely be no better way for her +to fill her proper place in the world than to marry a man who loves her +with his whole heart. I know that I love her above all the world; I +believe that I am worthy of her."</p> + +<p>She answered me in a tone which was grave, but gentle. "Do you not know +you are asking me to do something which is entirely impossible? In the +first place, my official position precludes me from taking part in +affairs of this nature; and although I am willing to admit that I see no +reason why you might not be a suitable partner for Sylvia, I must also +admit that, on the other hand, I have no reason to believe that Sylvia +would be inclined to accept you as such a partner. I have no doubt that +she has made herself very agreeable to you,—that is her nature; I know +that she used to make herself very agreeable to people. You must +remember that, even should Sylvia leave us, your chances may be no +better than they are now."</p> + +<p>"Madam," I said, leaning toward her, and speaking with great +earnestness, "I will take all possible chances! What I ask and implore +of you is, that if you should ever be able to do the least little thing +which would give me the opportunity to plead my own suit before Sylvia, +you would do it. I can give her position and fortune. I think I am +suited to her, and if love can make me better suited, I have love +enough. Now tell me, will you not do this thing? If you have the +opportunity, and see no reason against it, will you not help me?"</p> + +<p>"This is a hard position for me," she said, after a pause, "and all I +can promise you is this: I love Sylvia, and I am going to do whatever I +think will be of the greatest advantage to her."</p> + +<p>"Then," I asserted with continued earnestness, "it shall be my labor to +prove that to love the man who loves her as I do will be her greatest +good! If I do that, will you be on my side?"</p> + +<p>She smiled, looked at me a few moments, and then answered, "Yes."</p> + +<p>"Your hand upon it!" I cried, leaning still farther forward. She laughed +at the enthusiastic warmth of my manner, and gave me her hand.</p> + +<p>"It is a promise!" I exclaimed, and was about to raise her fingers to my +lips when she quickly drew them away.</p> + +<p>"I declare," she said, rising as she spoke, "I did not suppose that you +would forget that I am the Mother Superior of the House of Martha."</p> + +<p>"Excuse me," I replied, "but you are not that; with your own mouth you +have assured me that you are an Interpolation, and there is nothing in a +social or moral law which forbids a suitable expression of gratitude to +an Interpolation."</p> + +<p>"Sir," said she, "I think I have seen quite as much as is necessary of +the view which you asked me here to look upon."</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="XXVI" id="XXVI"></a>XXVI.</h2> + +<h3>MOTHER ANASTASIA.</h3> + + +<p>In the half hour during which I remained alone upon the bluff, awaiting +the return of Walkirk and the fishing party, I thought as much of the +lady with whom I had been talking as the lady of whom I had been +talking.</p> + +<p>"How is it possible," I asked myself, "that this gentlewoman, warm with +her rich blooded beauty, alive with ripe youth, born to delight the soul +of man and fire his heart, should content herself to be a head nurse in +a hospital; to wander in an unsightly disguise among dismal sick-beds; +to direct the management of measles-refuges; to shut herself up in a +bare-floored, cold-walled institution with narrow-minded Sister Sarahs; +to be, in a word, the Mother Superior of the House of Martha?"</p> + +<p>That she should occupy this position seemed to me a crime. There were +many women in the world who could do all she was doing, but there were +few who could take her place in the world of full, true life.</p> + +<p>When the fishing party returned, I went to the house to take leave of +our new friends.</p> + +<p>"You must go?" said the Sand Lady. "And where, may I ask, is it +imperative that you should go?"</p> + +<p>"To the island where you have so kindly allowed us to sojourn," I +replied.</p> + +<p>"You sleep in the cabin of your boat, I believe?" she said; and I +answered that we did.</p> + +<p>"Very well, then," continued she, "why not bring your floating home to +this island? It is in every way better than that. I will give you +exclusive rights over a little bay and an adjoining dell. There you can +cook your own meals when you like, or you can come to us when you like; +we always have more than enough for all who inhabit this island. In the +evening you can sit alone on the beach and think of the far-away loved +one, or you can come up to the house and play whist or twenty questions. +The Understudy can go fishing with my brother; they suit each other +admirably. What do you say?"</p> + +<p>"I say, madam," I replied, with a bow, "the sands of which you are the +lady are the dust of diamonds, and your invitation is a golden joy."</p> + +<p>"Bless me," she exclaimed, "what must you be out of check!"</p> + +<p>That evening we sailed to Racket Island, brought away our belongings, +and established ourselves in the land-locked little bay, about a quarter +of a mile from the house of the Sand Lady.</p> + +<p>Early the next morning I walked around to a pier where I had noticed a +good-sized yacht was moored. It was still there; apparently no one had +left the island. After our breakfast on the beach I told Walkirk to +devote himself to independent occupations, and walked up to the house. I +found the lady who had called herself a Person and the one of whom I did +not like to think as an Interpolation sitting together upon the piazza. +I joined them.</p> + +<p>"Wouldn't you be very much obliged to me," asked the Person, after a +scattering conversation, in which I suppose I appeared as but a +perfunctory performer, "if I were to go away and leave you alone with +this lady?"</p> + +<p>"As this is an island of plain speaking," I replied, "I will say, yes."</p> + +<p>Both ladies laughed, and the Person retired to her hammock.</p> + +<p>"Now, then," asked Mother Anastasia, "what is the meaning of this +alarming frankness?"</p> + +<p>"I wish to talk to you of Sylvia," I answered.</p> + +<p>"If you imagine," she said, "that I intend to spend the short time I +shall remain upon this island in talking of Sylvia, you are very much +mistaken."</p> + +<p>"Then let us talk of yourself," I replied.</p> + +<p>She turned upon me with a frown and a laugh.</p> + +<p>"If I had known," she said, "your habits of ingenuousness and candor, I +should have made you dictate to Sylvia through a speaking-tube. You have +known me less than a day. You have known her for a month. Can it be +possible that you talk to her as freely as you talk to me?"</p> + +<p>"Madam," I exclaimed, "I love Sylvia, and therefore could not speak +freely to her."</p> + +<p>"Your distinctions are wonderfully clear-cut," she said; "but why do you +wish to talk of me? I suppose you want to know why I am Mother Superior +of the House of Martha?"</p> + +<p>"Yes," I answered, "that is a thing I cannot understand; but of course I +should not feel justified in even alluding to it if, yesterday, you had +not so kindly given me your confidence in regard to yourself and +Sylvia."</p> + +<p>"It seems to me," she remarked, "that, as you decline to recognize the +name given to that young woman by our institution, you should call her +Miss Raynor; but I will say no more of that."</p> + +<p>"It would be well," said I. "She is Sylvia to me. You must remember that +I never met her in the circles of conventionalism."</p> + +<p>She laughed. "This whole affair is certainly very independent of +conventionalism; and as to your curiosity about me, that is very easily +gratified. Nearly five years ago I connected myself with the House of +Martha. Although there were sisters older than myself, I was chosen +Mother Superior, because I possessed rather more administrative +abilities than any of the others. I think I have governed the House +fairly well, even if, in regard to the matter of furnishing secretaries +to literary men, there has been some dissatisfaction."</p> + +<p>"You allude to Sister Sarah?" said I.</p> + +<p>"Yes," she answered; "and had she been head of the House, your peace of +mind would not have been disturbed. But what I did in that case I did +conscientiously and with good intent."</p> + +<p>"And you are not sorry for it?" I asked.</p> + +<p>"It may be that I shall be sorry for you," she replied, "but that is all +I have to say on that point. In a very short time I shall return to my +duties and to my sombre bonnet and gown, and these interpolated days, +which in a manner have been forced upon me, should be forgotten."</p> + +<p>"But one thing you must not forget," I exclaimed: "it was in this time +that you promised me"—</p> + +<p>"You selfish, selfish man," she interrupted, "you think only of +yourself. I shall talk no more of yourself, of myself, or of Sylvia. My +friends are at the other side of the house, and I am going to them." And +she went.</p> + +<p>While Walkirk and I were sailing that afternoon, he managing the boat +and I stretched upon some cushions, I told him of my conversations with +Mother Anastasia. I considered him worthy of my confidence, and it was +pleasant to give it to him.</p> + +<p>"She is a rare, strange woman," said he. "I thought her very handsome +when I visited her at the House of Martha; but since I have seen her +here, dressed in becoming clothes, I consider that she possesses +phenomenal attractions."</p> + +<p>"And I hope," I remarked, "that she may be phenomenally good-natured, +and give me some chances of seeing Sylvia Raynor."</p> + +<p>"That would indeed be phenomenal," said Walkirk, laughing, "considering +that she is a Mother Superior, and the young lady is a member of the +sisterhood. But everything relating to the case is peculiar, and in my +opinion Mother Anastasia is more peculiar than anything else."</p> + +<p>That evening we were invited to dine at the house of the Sand Lady. It +was a delightful occasion. Everybody was in good spirits, and the +general tone of the conversation was singularly lively and unrestrained. +Mother Anastasia would not play cards, but we amused ourselves with +various sprightly social games, in which the lady who preferred to be +called a Person showed a vivacious though sometimes nipping wit. I had +no opportunity for further private talk with Mother Anastasia, nor did I +desire one. I wished to interest her in my love for Sylvia, but not to +bore her with it.</p> + +<p>The next day, at about eleven o'clock, the Sand Lady and the Shell Man +walked over to our little bay, where they found Walkirk and me fencing +upon the level beach.</p> + +<p>"Stop your duel, gentlemen," said the lady. "I come to give you the +farewells of the Interpolation. She was sorry she could not do this +herself, but she went away very early this morning."</p> + +<p>"Went away!" I cried, dropping my foil upon the sand. "Where did she +go?"</p> + +<p>"She sailed in our yacht for Sanford," answered the Sand Lady, "to take +the morning train for her beloved House of Martha. My brother +accompanied her to the town, but he will be back to-day."</p> + +<p>I was surprised and grieved, and showed it.</p> + +<p>"We are all sorry to have her go," said the Sand Lady, "and sorry to see +her wearing that doleful gray garb, which my brother allowed her to +assume this morning."</p> + +<p>"I am glad," I exclaimed, "that I did not see her in it!"</p> + +<p>The lady looked at me with her pleasant, quiet smile.</p> + +<p>"You seem very much interested in her."</p> + +<p>"I am," I replied, "very much interested, both directly and indirectly, +and I am exceedingly sorry that she departed without my knowing it."</p> + +<p>This time the Sand Lady laughed. "Good-morning, gentlemen," said she. +"Go on with your duel."</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="XXVII" id="XXVII"></a>XXVII.</h2> + +<h3>A PERSON.</h3> + + +<p>I fenced no more. "Walkirk," I cried, "let us get our traps on board, +and be off!"</p> + +<p>My under-study looked troubled,—more troubled than I had ever seen him +before.</p> + +<p>"Why do you think of this?" he asked. "Where do you propose to go?"</p> + +<p>"Home," said I, "to my own house. That is the place where I want to be."</p> + +<p>Walkirk stood still and looked at me, his face still wearing an air of +deep concern.</p> + +<p>"It is not my place to advise," he said, "but it seems to me that your +return at this moment would have a very odd appearance, to say the +least. Every one would think that you were pursuing Mother Anastasia, +and she herself would think so."</p> + +<p>"No," said I, "she will not suppose anything of the kind. She will know +very well on whose account I came. And as for the people here, they +might labor under a mistake at first, because of course I should not +offer them any explanation, but they would soon learn the real state of +the case; that is, if they correspond with the Mother Superior."</p> + +<p>"You propose, then," said Walkirk, "to lay siege to the House of Martha, +and to carry away, if you can, Miss Sylvia Raynor?"</p> + +<p>"I have made no plans," I answered, "but I can look after my interests +better in Arden than I can here. I do not like this sudden departure of +the Mother Superior. I very much fear that something has induced her to +withdraw the good will with which she previously seemed to look upon my +attachment to Miss Raynor. Were this not so, she would have advised with +me before she left. Nothing could have been more natural. Now I believe +she has set herself against me, and has gone away with the intention of +permanently separating Sylvia and myself."</p> + +<p>"Have you any reason," asked Walkirk, "to impute such an intention to +her?"</p> + +<p>"Her sudden flight indicates it," I replied; "and besides, you know, +although she is not a Roman Catholic, she is at the head of a religious +house, and persons in that position are naturally averse to anybody +marrying the sisters under their charge. Even if she does not approve of +Miss Raynor's remaining in the House, she may not want her to date a +love affair from the establishment. If I remain here, Miss Raynor may be +spirited entirely out of my sphere of action."</p> + +<p>"It strikes me," said Walkirk, "the way to get her spirited out of your +sight and knowledge is for you to go home at this juncture. In that +case, Mother Anastasia would be bound, in duty to the young lady and her +family, to send her away. Do you not agree with me that if you were to +reach Arden in the natural course of events, so to speak, and especially +if you got there after your grandmother had returned, you would avoid a +great deal of undesirable complication, and perhaps actual opposition?"</p> + +<p>"You are right," I answered; "it would not look well for me to start +away so suddenly. We will wait a day or two, and then drop off +naturally."</p> + +<p>Walking toward the house, in the afternoon, I met the Person. She +advanced toward me, holding out her hand with an air of peremptory +friendliness.</p> + +<p>"I am heartily glad to see you. I want you to amuse me. I could not ask +this of you so long as that fascinating abbess was on the island."</p> + +<p>I was a little surprised at this salutation, and not at all pleased. I +did not fancy this lady. She had an air as if she were availing herself +of her right to be familiar with her inferiors.</p> + +<p>"I fear it is not in my power to do anything to amuse you," said I.</p> + +<p>"Entirely too modest," she answered. "Let us walk over to this bench in +the shade. You are not desired at the house; everybody is taking a nap."</p> + +<p>I went with her to the bench she had pointed out, and we sat down.</p> + +<p>"Now, then," said she, turning toward me, "will you do me the favor to +flirt with me? Say for twenty-five minutes," looking at her watch; "that +will bring us to four o'clock, when I must go indoors."</p> + +<p>At first I thought the woman was insane, but a glance at her face showed +that there was no reason for fear of that kind.</p> + +<p>"That sounds crazy, doesn't it?" she asked, "but it isn't. It is an +honest expression of a very natural wish. Hundreds of ladies have +doubtless looked at you and had that wish; but social conventions +forbade their expressing it. Here we have no conventions, and I speak my +mind."</p> + +<p>"Madam," said I, "or miss, there are few things I hold in such +abhorrence as flirtation." As I said this I looked at her severely, and +she looked at me quizzically. She had gray eyes, which were capable of a +great variety of expressions, and her face, suffused by the light of a +bantering jocularity, was an attractive one. I was obliged to admit +this, in spite of my distaste for her.</p> + +<p>"I like that," she said; "it sounds so well, after your vigorous +flirtation with our abbess. If I had not seen a good deal of that, I +should not have dared to ask you to flirt with me. I thought you liked +it, and now that she is gone might be willing to take up with some one +else."</p> + +<p>I was irritated and disquieted. I had been very earnest in my attentions +to Mother Anastasia. Perhaps this lady had seen me attempt to kiss her +hand. I must set myself right.</p> + +<p>"You are utterly mistaken," said I. "What I had to say to Mother +Anastasia related entirely to another person."</p> + +<p>"One of the sisters in her institution?" she asked. "She had nothing to +do with any other persons, so far as I know. Truly, that is a capital +idea!" she exclaimed, without waiting for response from me. "In order to +flirt with a member of the sisterhood, a gentleman must direct his +attentions to the Mother Superior who represents them, and the flirting +is thus done by proxy. Now don't attempt to correct me. The idea is +entirely too delightful for me to allow it to be destroyed by any bare +statements or assertions."</p> + +<p>"I suppose," I answered, "that Mother Anastasia has taken you into her +confidence?"</p> + +<p>"Thank you very much for that most gratifying testimony to my powers of +insight!" she cried. "The Mother Superior gave me no confidences. So you +have been smitten by a gray-gown. How did you happen to become +acquainted with her? I do not imagine they allow gentleman visitors at +the House of Martha?"</p> + +<p>"Madam, you know, or assume to know, so much of my affairs," said I, +"that in order to prevent injurious conjectures regarding the House of +Martha, its officers and inmates, I shall say that I became acquainted +in a perfectly legitimate manner with a young lady living therein, who +has not yet taken the vows of the permanent sisterhood, and I intend, as +soon as circumstances will permit, to make her an offer of marriage. I +assure you, I regret extremely that I have been obliged to talk in this +way to a stranger, and nothing could have induced me to do it but the +fear that your conjectures and surmises might make trouble. I ask as a +right that you will say no more of the matter to any one."</p> + +<p>"Would you mind telling me the lady's name?" she asked.</p> + +<p>"Of course I shall do no such thing," I answered, rising from my seat, +with my face flushing with indignation.</p> + +<p>"This is odd flirting, isn't it?" said she, still retaining her +seat,—"a quarrel at the very outset. I shall not be prevented from +informing you why you ought to tell me the name of the lady. You see +that if you don't give me her name my ungovernable curiosity will set me +to working the matter out for myself, and it is quite as likely as not +that I shall go to the House of Martha, and ask questions, and pry, and +watch, and make no end of trouble. If a blooming bride is to be picked +from that flock of ash-colored gruel-mixers, I want to know who it is to +be. I used to be acquainted with a good many of them, but I haven't +visited the House for some time."</p> + +<p>I had never known any one assume toward me a position so unjustifiable +and so unseemly as that in which this lady had deliberately placed +herself. I could find no words to express my opinion of her conduct, and +was on the point of walking away, when she rose and quickly stepped to +my side.</p> + +<p>"Don't go away angry," she said. "On this island we don't get angry; it +is too conventional. I am bound to find out all about this affair, +because it interests me. It is something quite out of the common; and +although you are in a measure right in saying that I have nothing to do +with your affairs, you must know you have in a measure mixed yourself up +with my affairs. I am one of the original subscribers to the House of +Martha, and used to take a good deal of interest in the establishment, +as was my right and privilege; but the sisters bored me after a time, +and as I have been traveling in Europe for more than a year I now know +very little of what has been going on there. But if there is a young +woman in that House who prefers marriage to hospital life and +tailor-made costumes to ash-bags, I say that she has mistaken her +vocation, and ought to be helped out of it; and although I know you to +be a pretty peppery gentleman, I am perfectly willing to help her in +your direction, if that is the way she wants to go. I offer myself to +you as an ally. Take me on your side, and tell me all about it. It would +be perfectly ridiculous to let me go down there imagining that this or +that underdone-griddle-cake-faced young woman was your lady-love. I +might make mistakes, and do more harm than good."</p> + +<p>"Madam," I replied, "let us have done with this. I have never said one +word to the young lady in question of my feelings toward her, and it is +in the highest degree improper and unjust that she should be discussed +in connection with them. I have laid the matter before Mother Anastasia, +as she stands in position of parent to the young lady; but with no one +else can I possibly act, or even discuss the subject," and I bowed.</p> + +<p>"I don't like this," she said, without noticing that I had taken leave +of her. "Mother Anastasia did not intend to leave here until to-morrow, +and she went away early this morning. She has some pressing business on +hand, and ten chances to one she has gone to fillip your young lady out +of your sight and hearing. Don't you see that it would not look at all +well for one of her sisters to marry, or even to receive the attentions +of a gentleman, immediately after she had left the institution?"</p> + +<p>This suggestion, so like my own suspicions, greatly disturbed me.</p> + +<p>"Are you in earnest," said I, "or is all this chaffer? What reasonable +interest can you take in me and my affairs?"</p> + +<p>"I take no interest whatever," said she, "excepting that I have heard +you are both eccentric and respectable, and that I have found you +amusing, and in this class of people I am always interested. But I will +say to you that if there is a woman in that House who might make a +suitable and satisfactory marriage, if an opportunity were allowed her, +I believe she should be allowed the opportunity, and, acting upon +general principles of justice and a desire to benefit my fellow-mortals, +I should use my influence to give it to her. So you see that I should +really be acting for the girl, and not for you, although of course it +would amount to the same thing. And if Mother Anastasia has gone to pull +down the curtain on this little drama, I am all the more anxious to jerk +it up again. Come, now, Mr. Lover in Check,—and when I first heard your +name I had no idea how well it fitted,—confide in me. It would delight +me to be in this fight; and you can see for yourself that it would be a +very humdrum matter for me to join your opponents, even if I should be +of their opinion. They do not need my help."</p> + +<p>This argument touched me. I needed help. Should Mother Anastasia choose +to close the doors of the House of Martha against me, what could I do? +It might divert this lady to act on my behalf. If she procured an +interview for me with Sylvia, I would ask no more of her. There was +nothing to risk except that Sylvia might be offended if she heard that +she had been the object of compacts. But something must be risked, +otherwise I might be simply butting my head against monastic brickwork.</p> + +<p>"Madam," said I, "whatever your motives may be, I accept your offer to +fight on my side, and the sooner the battle begins the better. The young +lady to whom I wish to offer myself in marriage, and with whom I am most +eager to meet, is Miss Sylvia Raynor, a novice, or something of the +kind, in the House of Martha."</p> + +<p>With her brows slightly knitted, as if she did not exactly understand my +words, my companion looked at me for an instant. Then her eyes sparkled, +her lips parted, and a flush of quick comprehension passed over her +face. She put back her head and laughed until she almost lost her +breath. I looked upon her, shocked and wounded to the soul.</p> + +<p>"Pardon me," she said, her eyes filled with the tears of laughter, "but +it can't be helped; I withdraw my offer. I cannot be on your side, at +least just now. But I shall remain neutral,—you can count on that," +and, still laughing, she went her way.</p> + +<p>Any one more disagreeably unpleasant than this woman I had never met. +When I told Walkirk what had happened I could not restrain my burning +indignation, and I declared I would not remain another hour on the +island with her. He listened to me with grave concern.</p> + +<p>"This is very unfortunate," he said, "but do not let us be precipitate."</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="XXVIII" id="XXVIII"></a>XXVIII.</h2> + +<h3>THE FLOATING GROCERY.</h3> + + +<p>I now positively decided that the next day I would leave this island, +where people flew off at such disagreeable tangents; but as I was here +on invitation, I could not go away without taking leave of my hostess. +Accordingly, in the evening Walkirk and I went up to the house.</p> + +<p>The Sand Lady was manifestly grieved when she heard of our intended +departure, and her brother was quite demonstrative in his expressions of +regret; even the Shell Man, who had discovered in Walkirk some tastes +similar to his own, demurred at our going. The Person, however, made no +allusion to the subject, and gave us, indeed, as little of her society +as she apparently did of her thoughts.</p> + +<p>In order not to produce the impression that I was running after Mother +Anastasia, as Walkirk had put it, I announced that we should continue +our cruise for an indefinite time. I was sorry to leave these good +people, but to stay with that mocking enigma of a woman was impossible. +She had possessed herself, in the most crafty and unwarrantable manner, +of information which she had no right to receive and I had no right to +give, and then contemptuously laughed in my face. My weakness may have +deserved the contempt, but that made no difference in my opinion of the +woman who had inflicted it upon me. I was glad, when we bade good-night +and farewell to the little party, that the Person was not present.</p> + +<p>But early the next morning, just as we were hoisting sail on our boat, +this lady appeared, walking rapidly down to our beach. She was dressed +in a light morning costume, with some sort of a gauzy fabric thrown over +her head, and if I had not hated her so thoroughly I should have +considered her a very picturesque and attractive figure.</p> + +<p>"I am glad I am in time," she called out. "I don't want you to go away +with too bad an opinion of me, and I came to say that what you have +confided to me is just as safe with me as it would be with anybody else. +Do you think you can believe that if you try?"</p> + +<p>It was impossible for me to make any answer to this woman, but I took +off my hat and bowed. The sail filled, and we glided away.</p> + +<p>Walkirk was not in good spirits. It was plain enough that he liked the +Tangent Island and wanted to stay; and he had good reason, for he had +found pleasant company, and this could not always be said to be the case +when sailing in a small boat or camping out with me. My intention was to +sail to a town on the mainland, some thirty miles distant, there leave +our boat, and take a train for Arden. This, I considered, was +sacrificing to appearances as much time as I could allow.</p> + +<p>But the breeze was light and fitful, and we made but little progress, +and about the middle of the forenoon a fog came slowly creeping up from +the sea. It grew thicker and heavier, until in an hour or two we were +completely shut out from all view of the world about us. There was now +no wind. Our sail hung damp and flabby; moisture, silence, and obscurity +were upon us.</p> + +<p>The rest of the day we sat doleful, waiting for the fog to lift and the +wind to rise. My fear was that we might drift out to sea or upon some +awkward shoals; for, though everything else was still, the tide would +move us. What Walkirk feared, if anything, I do not know, but he kept up +a good heart, and rigged a lantern some little distance aloft, which, he +said, might possibly keep vessels from running into us. He also +performed, at intervals, upon a cornet which he had brought with him. +This was a very wise thing to do, but, for some reason or other, such +music, in a fog, depressed my spirits; however, as it seemed quite +suitable to the condition of my affairs I did not interfere, and the +notes of Bonnie Doon or My Old Kentucky Home continued to be soaked into +the fog.</p> + +<p>Night came on; the fog still enveloped us, and the situation became +darker. We had our supper, and I turned in, with the understanding that +at midnight I was to take the watch, and let Walkirk sleep. It was of no +use to make ourselves any more uncomfortable than need be.</p> + +<p>It was between two and three o'clock when I was called to go on watch; +and after I had been sitting in the stern smoking and thinking for an +hour or more, I noticed that the light on the mast had gone out. It was, +however, growing lighter, and, fancying that the fog was thinner, I +trusted to the coming of the day and a breeze, and made no attempt to +take down and refill the lantern.</p> + +<p>Not long after this my attention was attracted by something which +appeared like the nucleus of a dark cloud forming in the air, a short +distance above the water, and not far away on our port quarter. Rapidly +the cloud grew bigger and blacker. It moved toward us, and in a few +moments, before I had time to collect my thoughts and arouse Walkirk, it +was almost upon us, and then I saw that it was the stern of a vessel, +looming high above my head.</p> + +<p>I gave a wild shout; Walkirk dashed out of his bunk; there was a call +from above; then I felt a shock, and our boat keeled over on her +starboard side. In a moment, however, she receded from the other vessel, +and righted herself. I do not know that Walkirk had ever read in a book +what he ought to do in such an emergency, but he seized a boat hook and +pushed our boat away from the larger vessel.</p> + +<p>"That's right!" cried a voice from above. "I'll heave ye a line. Keep +her off till we have drifted past ye, and then I'll haul ye in."</p> + +<p>Slowly the larger vessel, which was not very large, but which drifted +faster than our little boat, floated past us, until we were in tow at +her bow. We could now see the form of a man leaning over the rail of the +vessel, and he called out to us to know if we were damaged, and if we +wanted to come aboard. I was about to reply that we were all right, and +would remain where we were, when Walkirk uttered an exclamation.</p> + +<p>"We are taking in water by the bucketful," said he; "our side has been +stove in."</p> + +<p>"Impossible!" I exclaimed. "We were not struck with enough force for +that."</p> + +<p>But examination proved that he was correct. One or more of our planks +had been broken just below the water line and our boat was filling, +though not rapidly.</p> + +<p>"Stoved in, eh?" shouted the voice from above. "Well, ye needn't sink. +I'll haul yer bowline taut, and I'll heave ye another to make fast to +yer stern. That'll keep yer little craft afloat until ye can unlade her; +and the quicker ye get yer traps up here the better, if ye don't want +'em soaked."</p> + +<p>Acting upon these suggestions, Walkirk and I went vigorously to work, +and passed up our belongings as rapidly as possible to the man above, +who, by leaning over the rails, could easily reach them. When everything +movable had been taken out of our boat, the man let down a ladder and I +climbed on board the larger vessel, after which he came down to our +boat, detached the boom, gaff, and sail, and unshipped the mast; all of +which we afterwards hoisted on board his vessel by means of a block and +tackle.</p> + +<p>"Now, then," said our new companion, "ye're safe, and yer boat can +capsize if it's a mind to, but it can't sink; and when it's better +daylight, and Abner's on deck, perhaps we'll rig out a couple of spars +and haul her up at the stern; but there's time enough to settle all +that. And now I'd like to know how ye came to be driftin' around here +with no light out."</p> + +<p>I explained, but added I had not seen any light on his vessel.</p> + +<p>"Well," said the man, looking upward, "that light's out, and ten to one +it was out when we run inter ye. I'spect Abner didn't calkerlate for +fillin' it for day work and night work too."</p> + +<p>The speaker was a grizzled man, middle-aged, and rather too plump for a +sailor. He had a genial, good-natured countenance, and so far as I could +see was the only occupant of the vessel.</p> + +<p>His craft was truly a peculiar one. It was sloop-rigged, and on the +after part of the deck, occupying about one third of the length of the +vessel, was a structure resembling a small one-storied house, which rose +high above the rest of the deck, like the poop of an old-fashioned +man-of-war. In the gable end of this house, which faced upon the deck, +there was a window and a door. The boom of the mast was rigged high +enough to allow it to sweep over the roof.</p> + +<p>"I reckon you gents think this is a queer kind of a craft," said the +man, with a grin of pleasure at our evident curiosity; "and if ye think +that, ye are about right, for there isn't jist such another one as far +as I know. This is a floating grocery, and I am captain of the sloop or +keeper of the store, jist as it happens. In that house there is a good +stock of flour, sugar, feed, trimmings, notions, and small dry goods, +with some tinware and pottery, and a lot of other things which you +commonly find in a country grocery store. I have got the trade of about +half the families in this bay; all of them on the islands, and a good +many of them on the mainland, especially sech as has piers of their own. +I have regular days for touching at all the different p'ints; and it is +a mighty nice thing, I can tell ye, to have yer grocery store come round +to ye instead of yer having to go to it, especially if ye live on an +island or out in the country."</p> + +<p>Walkirk and I were very much interested in this floating grocery store, +which was an entirely novel thing to us, and we asked a good many +questions about it.</p> + +<p>"There's only me and Abner aboard," said the grocer-skipper, "but that's +enough, for we do a good deal more anchorin' than sailin'. Abner, he's +head clerk, and don't pretend to be no sailor at all; but he lays a hold +of anythin' I tell him to, and that's all I ask of him in the sailorin' +line. But he is first class behind the counter, I can tell ye, and in +keepin' the books I couldn't find nobody like Abner,—not in this State. +Now it may strike ye, gents, that I am not much of a sailor neither, to +be driftin' about here at night in this fog instead of anchorin' and +tootin' a foghorn; but ye see, I did anchor in the fore part of the +night, and after Abner had gone to his bunk—we don't keep regular +watches, but kinder divide the night between us, when we are out on the +bay, which isn't common, for we like to tie up at night, and do our +sailin' in the daytime—it struck me that as the tide was runnin' out we +might as well let it take us to Simpson's Bar, which, if ye don't know +this bay, is a big shallow place, where there is always water enough for +us, bein' a good deal on the flat-bottomed order, but where almost any +steamin' craft at low tide would stick in the mud before they could run +into us. So thinks I, If we want to get on in the direction of Widder +Kinley's (whose is the last house I serve down the bay), and to feel +safe besides, we had better up anchor, and I upped it. But I had ought +to remembered about that light; it wasn't the square thing to be +driftin' about without the light, no more fur me than fur ye. I've +sounded a good many times, but we don't seem to have reached the bar +yet. It must be pretty near time for Abner to turn out," and he looked +at his watch.</p> + +<p>"Your assistant must be a sound sleeper," I remarked.</p> + +<p>"Yes, he is," replied the man. "He needs lots of sleep, and I make it a +p'int to give it to him. If it isn't positively necessary, I don't wake +him up until the regular time. Of course, if it had been our boat that +had been stoved in, and she had been like to sink, I'd have called +Abner; but as it was yer boat, and none of us was in no danger, I didn't +call him. Here he is, though, on time."</p> + +<p>At this, a tall, lean man, not quite so much grizzled as the other, made +his appearance on deck. He gazed from one to the other of us, and upon +our various belongings, which were strewn upon the deck, with +undisguised amazement.</p> + +<p>His companion laughed aloud. "I don't wonder, Abner," he cried, "that ye +open yer eyes; 't ain't often two gentlemen come on board in the night, +bag and baggage; but these two stoved in their boat agin our rudder, and +here they are, with their craft triced up to keep her from sinkin'."</p> + +<p>Abner made no answer, but walked to the side of the vessel, looked over, +and satisfied himself that this last statement was correct.</p> + +<p>"Capt'n Jabe," said he, turning to the other, "we can't sail much, can +we, with that thing hangin' there?"</p> + +<p>"Well, now, Abner," replied the captain, "we are not sailin' at the +present time,—we are driftin'; for it is my idee to drop anchor as soon +as we get to Simpson's Bar, and this tide is bound to carry us over it +if we wait long enough, so we must keep soundin', and not slip over +without knowin' it."</p> + +<p>"It strikes me," said Abner, "that we should save a lot of trouble if we +should put the anchor out and let it hang; then, when we come to the +bar, she'll ketch and fetch us up without our havin' it on our minds."</p> + +<p>"You see, gents," said Captain Jabe to us, "Abner don't pretend to be no +sailor, but he's got his idees about navigation, for all that."</p> + +<p>Abner took no notice of this remark. "Capt'n," said he, "does these +gents want to turn in?"</p> + +<p>"Not till they have had some breakfast," replied Captain Jabe, and we +assented.</p> + +<p>"All right," said Abner, "I'll tackle the grub," and, opening the door +of the grocery store, he went inside. In a few minutes he reappeared. +"Capt'n," said he, in a voice which he intended to be an aside, "are you +goin' to count 'em as mealers, or as if they was visitin' the family?"</p> + +<p>Captain Jabe laughed. "Well, Abner," said he, "I guess we will count +them as mealers, though I don't intend to make no charge."</p> + +<p>Abner nodded, and again entered the little house.</p> + +<p>"What are mealers?" I asked of the captain.</p> + +<p>"In this part of the country," he answered, "there's a good many city +folks comes for the summer, and they take houses; but they don't want +the trouble of cookin', so they make a contract with some one livin' +near to give them their meals regular, and this sort of folks goes by +the general name of mealers. What Abner wanted to know fur was about +openin' the cans. You see, most of our victuals is in cans, and if Abner +knowed you was regular payin' mealers he would open fresh ones; but if +you was visitin' the family, he'd make you help eat up what was left in +the cans, just as we do ourselves."</p> + +<p>It was not long before the thrifty Abner had given us a substantial +breakfast; and then Walkirk and I were glad to take possession of a +spare couple of bunks, for we were tired and sleepy, and the monotonous +fog still hung around us.</p> + +<p>It was about noon when I waked and went on deck, where I found Walkirk, +Captain Jabe, and Abner engaged in consultation. There was a breeze +blowing, and every particle of fog had disappeared.</p> + +<p>"We've been considerin'," said the captain, addressing me, "what's the +best thing to do with yer boat; there's no use tryin' to tinker her up, +for she has got a bad hole in her, and it is our fault, too. One of the +iron bands on our rudder got broke and sprung out a good while ago, and +it must have been the sharp end of that which punched into yer boat when +we drifted down on her. We ain't got no tackle suitable to h'ist her on +board, and as to towin' her—a big boat like that, full of water,—'t +ain't possible. We've lost a lot of time already, and now there's a good +wind and we are bound to make the best of it; so me and Abner thinks the +best thing ye can do is to sink yer boat right here on the bar where we +are now anchored, having struck it all right, as ye see, and mark the +spot with an oil-cag. Anybody that knows this bay can come and git her +if she is on Simpson's Bar, buoyed with an oil-cag."</p> + +<p>I was sorry that we should not be able to repair our boat and continue +our trip in her, but I saw that this would be impossible, and I asked +Captain Jabe if he could take us to Brimley.</p> + +<p>"I can do that," he answered, "but not straight. I have got fust to sail +over to Widder Kinley's, which is on that p'int which ye can just see +over there on the edge of the water, and where I was due yesterday +afternoon. Then I've got to touch at three or four other places along +the east shore; and then, if this wind holds, I guess I can git across +the bay to my own house, where I have got to lay up all day to-morrow. +The next day is Saturday, and then I am bound to be in Brimley to take +in stock. There ye two gents can take the cars for wherever ye want to +go; and if ye choose to give me the job of raisin' yer boat and sendin' +it to its owners, I'll do it for ye as soon as I can fix things +suitable, and will charge ye just half price for the job, considerin' +that nuther of us had our lights out, and we ought to share damages."</p> + +<p>I agreed to the proposed disposition of our boat, and asked Captain Jabe +if I could not hire him to take us direct to Brimley.</p> + +<p>"No, sir!" he answered. "I never pass by my customers, especially Widder +Kinley, for she is the farthest off of any of them."</p> + +<p>"And she must be lookin' out sharp for us, too," said Abner, "for she +bakes Thursdays, and she ought to sot her bread last night."</p> + +<p>"And I am a great deal afeard," continued Captain Jabe, "that her yeast +cakes won't be any too fresh when she gits 'em; and the quicker that +boat's down to the bottom and our anchor up off the bottom, the better +it will be for the Widder Kinley's batch of bread."</p> + +<p>In the course of half an hour an empty oil-keg was moored over the spot +where our boat lay upon the sandy bar, and we were sailing as fast as +such an unwieldy vessel, with her mainsail permanently reefed above the +roof of her grocery store, could be expected to sail. Our tacks were +long and numerous, and although Walkirk and I lent a hand whenever there +was occasion for it, and although there was a fair wind, the distant +point rose but slowly upon our horizon.</p> + +<p>"I hope," I remarked to Captain Jabe, "that the Widow Kinley will buy a +good bill of you, after you have taken all this trouble to get to her."</p> + +<p>"Dunno," said he; "she don't generally take more than she has ordered +the week before, and all she has ordered this time is two yeast cakes."</p> + +<p>"Do you mean," exclaimed Walkirk, "that you are taking all this time and +trouble to deliver two yeast cakes, worth, I suppose, four cents?"</p> + +<p>"That's the price on 'em," said the captain; "but if the Widder Kinley +didn't git 'em she wouldn't do no bakin' this week, and that would upset +her housekeepin' keel up."</p> + +<p>Late in the afternoon we delivered the yeast cakes to the Widow Kinley, +whom we found in a state of nervous agitation, having begun to fear that +another night would pass without her bread being "sot." Then we coasted +along the shore, tying up at various little piers, where the small +farmers' and fishermen's families came on board to make purchases.</p> + +<p>Now Abner was in his glory. Wearing a long apron made of blue-and-white +bed-ticking, he stood behind the counter in the little house on deck, +and appeared to be much more at ease weighing sugar, coffee, and flour +than in assisting to weigh anchor. I seated myself in the corner of this +floating grocery, crowded, shelves, floor, and counter, with such goods +as might be expected to be found at an ordinary country store.</p> + +<p>It seemed to me that nearly every one who lived near the points at which +we touched came on board the floating grocery, but most of them came to +talk, and not to buy. Many of those who did make purchases brought farm +produce or fish, with which to "trade." It was an interesting spectacle, +and amused me. During our slow progress from one place to another, +Captain Jabe told me of an old woman who once offered him an egg which +she wished to take out in groceries, half in tea and half in snuff.</p> + +<p>"We don't often do business down as fine as that," said the captain; +"but then, on the other hand, we don't calkerlate to supply hotels, and +couldn't if we wanted to."</p> + +<p>Walkirk appeared uneasy at the detentions which still awaited us.</p> + +<p>"Couldn't you take us straight on to Brimley," he asked of the captain, +"and sail back to your home in the morning?"</p> + +<p>"No, sir!" answered Captain Jabe, with much decision. "My old woman +'spects me to-night,—in p'int of fact, she 'spected me a good deal +before night,—and I am not goin' to have her thinkin' I am run down in +a fog, and am now engaged in feedin' the sharks. There is to be a +quiltin' party at our house to-morrer arternoon, and there's a lot to be +done to get ready for it. Abner and me will have to set up pretty late +this night, I can tell yer!"</p> + +<p>"Is there no way of getting to the railroad," I asked, "but by your +boat?"</p> + +<p>"No," said Captain Jabe, "I can't see that there is. Pretty nigh all the +folks that will be at the bee to-morrow will come in boats. None of them +live nigh to a railroad station, and if they did, and could take ye back +with 'em, they wouldn't leave early enough for ye to ketch the last +train: so the best thing ye can do is to stick by me, and I'll guarantee +to git ye over to Brimley in time for the mornin' train on Saturday."</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="XXIX" id="XXIX"></a>XXIX.</h2> + +<h3>FANTASY?</h3> + + +<p>We reached Captain Jabe's house a little after nightfall, and received a +hearty welcome and a good supper from his wife. Walkirk and I slept on +board the floating grocery, as also did Abner; that is to say, if he +slept at all, for he and the captain were busy at the house when we +retired. The quilting party, we were informed, was expected to be a +grand affair, provided, of course, there were no signs of rain; for +country people are not expected to venture out for pleasure in rainy +weather.</p> + +<p>Captain Jabe's house, as we saw it the next morning, was a good-sized +waterside farmhouse, wide-spreading and low-roofed. The place had a sort +of amphibious appearance, as if depending for its maintenance equally +upon the land and the water. The house stood a little distance back from +the narrow beach, and in its front yard a net was hung to dry and to be +mended; a small boat, in course of repair, lay upon some rude stocks, +while bits of chain, an old anchor, several broken oars, and other +nautical accessories were scattered here and there.</p> + +<p>At the back of the house, however, there was nothing about the barn, the +cow-yard, the chicken-yard, and the haystacks to indicate that Captain +Jabe was anything more than a thrifty small-farmer. But, farmer and +sailor as he was, Captain Jabe was none the less a grocer, and I think +to this avocation he gave his chief attention.</p> + +<p>He took me into a small room by the side of his kitchen, and showed me +what he called his "sinkin' fund stock."</p> + +<p>"Here, ye see," said he, "is canned fruit and vegetables, smoked and +salted meat and fish, cheeses, biscuits, and a lot of other things that +will keep. None of these is this year's goods. Some of them have been +left over from last year, some from the year before that, and some is +still older. Whenever I git a little short, I put a lot of these goods +on board and sell 'em with the discount off,—twenty per cent for last +year's stock, forty per cent off for the year before that, and so on +back. So, ye see, if I have got anythin' on hand that is five years old, +I am bound to give it away for nothin', if I stick to my principles. At +fust me and my old woman tried eatin' what was left over; but discount +isn't no good to her, and she wants the best victuals that is goin'. Did +ye ever think, sir, what this world would be without canned victuals?"</p> + +<p>I assured him that I never had, but would try to do so if possible.</p> + +<p>The day proved to be a very fine one, and early in the afternoon the +people invited to the quilting party began to arrive, and by two o'clock +the affair was in full swing. The quilting frame was set up in a large +chamber at the right of the parlor, the "comfortable" to be quilted was +stretched upon it, and at the four sides sat as many matrons and elderly +maidens as could crowd together, each with needle in hand. Long cords +rubbed with chalk were snapped upon the surface of the quilt to mark out +the lines to be stitched; wax, thread, and scissors were passed from one +to another; and every woman began to sew and to talk as fast as she +could.</p> + +<p>I stood in the doorway and watched this scene with considerable +interest, for I had never before seen anything of the kind. The quilting +ladies, to every one of whom I had been presented, cordially invited me +to enter and take a seat with them; some of the more facetious offering +to vacate their places in my favor, and, more than that, to show me how +to thread and use a needle. I found from their remarks that it was +rather an unusual thing for a man to take an interest in this part of +the proceedings at a quilting party.</p> + +<p>After a time I went into the parlor, which room was then occupied by the +young men and young women. It was ever so much pleasanter out-of-doors +than in this somewhat gloomy and decidedly stuffy parlor; but as these +people were guests at a quilting party, they knew it was proper to enjoy +themselves within the house to which they had been invited.</p> + +<p>The young folks were not nearly so lively and animated as their elders +in the next room, but they had just begun to play a game which could be +played in the house, and in which every one could participate, and as +the afternoon wore on they would doubtless become warmed up. Walkirk was +making the best of it, and had entered the game; but I declined all +invitations to do so.</p> + +<p>Before long there was some laughing and a good deal of romping, and I +fancied that the girls, some of whom were not at all bad looking, would +have been pleased if I had joined in the sport. But this did not suit +me; I still was, as I declared myself, a Lover in Check, and the society +of young women was not attractive to me.</p> + +<p>I went outside, where a group of elderly men were discussing the tax +rates; and after remaining a few minutes with them, I came to the +conclusion that the pleasantest thing I could do would be to take a +stroll over the country.</p> + +<p>I made my way over some rolling meadow land, where three or four of +Captain Jabe's cows were carefully selecting the edible portions of the +herbage, and, having passed the crest of a rounded hill, I found myself +on the edge of a piece of woodland, which seemed to be of considerable +extent. This suited my mood exactly, and I was soon following the curves +and bends of a rude roadway, in places almost overgrown by vines and +bushes, which led me deeper and deeper into the shadowed recesses of the +woods. It was now about four o'clock in the afternoon. The sun was still +well up, and out in the open the day was warm for an up-and-down-hill +stroll; but here in the woods it was cool and quiet, and the air was +full of the pleasant summer smells that come from the trees, the leaves, +and the very earth of the woods.</p> + +<p>It was not long before I came upon a stream of a character that somewhat +surprised me. It was not very wide, for at this spot the trees met above +it, darkening its waters with their quivering shadows; but it was +evidently deep, much deeper than the woodland streams of its size to +which I had been accustomed. I would have liked to cross it and continue +my walk, but I saw no way of getting over. With a broken branch I +sounded the water near the shore, and found it over two feet deep; and +as it was no doubt deeper toward the middle, I gave up the idea of +reaching the other side. But as I had no particular reason for getting +over, especially as I should be obliged to get back again, I contented +myself easily with my present situation, and, taking a seat on the +upheaved root of a large tree, I lighted a cigar, and gave myself up to +the delights of this charming solitude. I was glad to be away from +everybody, even from Walkirk, the companion I had chosen for my summer +journey.</p> + +<p>There were insects gently buzzing in the soft summer air; on the other +side of the stream, in a spot unshadowed by the trees, the water was +sparkling in the sunlight, and every little puff of the fitful breeze +brought to me the smell of wild grapes, from vines which hung from the +trees so low that they almost touched the water. It was very still in +these woods. I heard nothing but the gently rustling leaves, the faint +buzzing in the air, and an occasional tiny splash made by some small +fish skimming near the surface of the stream. When I sat down on the +root of the tree, I intended to think, reflect, make plans, determine +what I should do next; but I did nothing of the sort. I simply sat and +drank in the loveliness of this woodland scene.</p> + +<p>The stream curved away from me on either hand, and the short stretch of +it which I could see to the left seemed to come out of the very heart of +the woods. Suddenly I heard in this direction a faint regular sound in +the water, as if some animal were swimming. I could not see anything, +but as the sounds grew stronger I knew that it must be approaching. I +did not know much of the aquatic animals in this region; perhaps it +might be an otter, a muskrat, I knew not what. But, whatever it was, I +wanted to see it, and, putting down my cigar, I slipped softly behind +the tree at whose foot I had been sitting.</p> + +<p>Now the swimming object was in view, coming rapidly toward me down the +middle of the stream. There was but little of it above the water, and +the shadows were so heavy that I could see nothing but a dark point, +with a bright ripple glancing away from it on either side. Nearer and +nearer it came into the better lighted portion of the stream. It was not +a small animal. The ripples it made were strong, and ran out in long +lines; its strokes were vigorous; the head that I saw grew larger and +larger. Steadily it came on; it reached the spot in the clear light of +the sun. It was the head of a human swimmer. On the side nearest me, I +could see, under the water, the strokes of a dark-clad arm. Above the +water was only a face, turned toward me and upward. A mass of long hair +swept away from it, its blue eyes gazed dreamily into the treetops; for +a moment the sunbeams touched its features. My heart stopped +beating,—it was the face of Sylvia.</p> + +<p>Another stroke and it had passed into the shadow. The silvery ripples +came from it to me, losing themselves against the shore. It passed on +and on, away from me. I made one step from behind the tree; then +suddenly stopped. On went the head and upturned face, touched once more +by a gleam of light, and then it disappeared around a little bluff +crowned with a mass of shrubbery and vines. I listened, breathless; the +sounds of the strokes died away. All was still again.</p> + +<p>For some minutes I stood, bewildered, dazed, doubting whether I had been +awake or dreaming. My mind could not grasp what had happened,—even my +imagination could not help me. But one thing I knew: whether this had +all been real, or whether it had been a dream, I had seen the face of +Sylvia. This I knew as I knew I lived.</p> + +<p>Slowly I came away, scarcely knowing how I walked or where I emerged +from the woods, and crossed the open country to the house of Captain +Jabe.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="XXX" id="XXX"></a>XXX.</h2> + +<h3>A DISCOVERY.</h3> + + +<p>I found the quilting party at supper. I could see them through the open +windows of the large living-room, and I heard their chatter and laughing +when I was still a considerable distance from the house. With my mind +quivering with the emotions excited by what had happened in the woods, +it was impossible for me to join a party like this. I walked around the +barn and into a little orchard, where, between two gnarled apple-trees, +there hung an old hammock, into which I threw myself.</p> + +<p>There I lay, piling conjecture and supposition high upon each other; but +not at all could I conjecture how it was that the face which I had last +seen in my own home, under the gray bonnet of a sister of Martha, should +flash upon my vision in this far-away spot, and from the surface of a +woodland stream.</p> + +<p>It was growing dusky, when I heard a loud whistle, and my name was +called. I whistled in return, and in a few moments Walkirk came running +to me.</p> + +<p>"I was beginning to get frightened," he said. "I have been looking +everywhere for you. We have had supper, and the party is breaking up. +There is no moon to-night, and the people must start early for their +homes."</p> + +<p>"Let them all get away," I replied; "and when they are entirely out of +sight and hearing let me know, and I'll go in to supper."</p> + +<p>"I am afraid," said Walkirk, hesitating, "that they will not like that. +You know these country people are very particular about leave-taking, +and all that sort of thing."</p> + +<p>"I can't help it," I answered. "I don't feel at all like seeing people +at present. You can go and bid them good-by in my name."</p> + +<p>"As an under-study?" said he, smiling. "Well, if I can tell them you are +out of condition and not feeling like yourself, that will make it all +right, and will also explain why you kept yourself away all the +afternoon." With this he left me, promising to return when the guests +had departed. It was a long time before he came back, and it was then +really dark.</p> + +<p>"Your supper is awaiting you," he announced, "and I am afraid that Mrs. +Jabe is contemplating a hot footbath and some sort of herb tea; and we +ought to turn in pretty early to-night, for Captain Jabe has announced +that he will sail between four and five o'clock in the morning."</p> + +<p>"Walkirk," said I, sitting up in the hammock, "I have no intention of +sailing to-morrow. I prefer to stay here for a time; I don't know for +how long."</p> + +<p>"Stay here!" exclaimed Walkirk. "What on earth can you do here? What +possible attraction can this place have?"</p> + +<p>"My good Walkirk," I said, rising and walking toward the house, "I am +here, and here I want to stay. Reasons are the most awkward things in +the world. They seldom fit; let us drop them. Perhaps, if Captain and +Mrs. Jabe think I did not treat their company with proper courtesy, they +may feel that I am making amends by desiring to stay with them. Any way, +I am going to stay."</p> + +<p>Captain Jabe and his wife were very much surprised when I announced my +intention of remaining at their place for a day or two longer, but, as I +had surmised, they were also flattered.</p> + +<p>"This is a quiet place," said the captain, "but as ye ain't very well, +and seem to like to keep to yerself, I don't see why it shouldn't suit +ye. There's plenty o' good air, and fishin' if ye want it, and we can +accommodate ye and give ye plenty to eat. I shall be back to-morrow +night, and expect to stay home over Sunday myself."</p> + +<p>Walkirk was very much dissatisfied, and made a strong attempt to turn me +from my purpose. "If you intend to do anything in regard to Miss +Raynor," he said, "I really think you ought to get home as soon as you +can. Mother Anastasia is now having everything her own way, you know."</p> + +<p>"Walkirk," said I, "you blow hot and cold. If it had not been for you, I +should be home this minute; but you dissuaded me from a hot chase after +Mother Anastasia, and now my ardor for the chase has cooled, and I am +quite inclined to let that sport wait."</p> + +<p>Walkirk looked at me inquiringly. It was evident that he did not +understand my mood.</p> + +<p>The next morning I found myself in a quandary. I had determined to make +a long tramp inland, and if necessary to ford or swim streams, and I +could not determine whether or not it would be wise to take Walkirk with +me. I concluded at last to take him; it would be awkward to leave him +behind, and he might be of use. We provided ourselves with fishing rods +and tackle and two pairs of wading-boots, as well as with a luncheon +basket, well filled by Mrs. Jabe, and started on our expedition. I felt +in remarkably good spirits.</p> + +<p>I had formed no acceptable hypothesis in regard to what I had seen the +day before, but I was going to do something better than that; I was +going to find out if what had occurred could possibly be real and +actual. If I should be convinced that this was impossible, then I +intended to accept the whole affair as a dream which had taken place +during an unconscious nap.</p> + +<p>When we reached the woodland stream, Walkirk gazed about him with +satisfaction. "This looks like sport," he said. "I see no reason why +there should not be good fishing in this creek. I did not suppose we +should find such pleasant woods and so fine a stream in Captain Jabe's +neighborhood."</p> + +<p>"You must know," said I, "that I have a talent for exploration and +discovery. Had it not been for this stream, I should not have thought of +such a thing as allowing Captain Jabe and Abner to sail off by +themselves this morning."</p> + +<p>"Really," replied Walkirk, "you care much more for angling than I +supposed."</p> + +<p>Truly I cared very little for angling, but I had discovered that Walkirk +was an indefatigable and patient fisherman. I had intended that he +should cross the stream with me, but it now occurred to me that it would +be far better to let him stay on this side, while I pursued my +researches alone. Accordingly I proposed that he should fish in the part +of the stream which I had seen the day before, while I pressed on +farther. "In this way," I remarked artfully, "we shall not interfere +with each other." Had I supposed that there was the slightest +possibility of the appearance on the stream of the apparition of the day +before, I should have requested Walkirk to fish from the top of a +distant tree. But I had no fears on this score. If what I had seen had +been a phantasm, my under-study would have to doze to see it, and I knew +he would not do that; and if what I had seen was real, it would not +appear this morning, for the water was too low for swimming. The creek, +as I now perceived, was affected by the tide, and its depth was very +much less than on the preceding afternoon.</p> + +<p>I turned to the right, and followed the stream for some distance; now +walking by its edge, and now obliged, by masses of undergrowth, to make +a detour into the woods. At last I came to a spot where the stream, +although wide, appeared shallow. In fact, even in the centre I could see +the stones at the bottom. I therefore put on my wading-boots and boldly +crossed. The woods here were mostly of pine, free from undergrowth, and +with the ground softened to the foot by a thick layer of pine needles.</p> + +<p>Now that I was on the other side of the creek, I desired to make my way +out of the woods, which could not, I imagined, be very extensive. To +discover a real basis for yesterday's vision, I believed that it would +be necessary to reach open country. Leaving the stream behind me, it was +not long before I came to a rude pathway; and although this seemed to +follow the general direction of the creek, I determined to turn aside +from the course I was taking and follow it. After walking for nearly a +mile, sometimes seeing the waters of the stream, and sometimes entirely +losing sight of them, I found the path making an abrupt turn, and in a +few minutes was out of the woods.</p> + +<p>The country before me was very much like that about Captain Jabe's +residence. There were low rolling hills covered with coarse grass and +ragged shrubbery, with here and there a cluster of trees. Not a sign of +human habitation was in sight. Reaching the top of a small hill, I saw +at my right, and not very far before me, a wide expanse of water. This I +concluded must be the bay, although I had not expected to see it in this +direction.</p> + +<p>I went down the hill toward the shore. "If what I seek is in reality," I +said to myself, "it will naturally love to live somewhere near the +water." Near the beach I struck a path again, and this I followed, my +mind greatly agitated by the thoughts of what I might discover, as well +as by the fear that I might discover nothing.</p> + +<p>After a walk of perhaps a quarter of an hour I stopped suddenly. I had +discovered something. I looked about me, utterly amazed. I was on the +little beach which the Sand Lady had assigned to Walkirk and me as a +camping ground.</p> + +<p>I sat down, vainly endeavoring to comprehend the situation. Out of the +mass of wild suppositions and conjectures which crowded themselves into +my mind there came but one conviction, and with that I was satisfied: +Sylvia was here.</p> + +<p>It mattered not that the Sand Lady had said that hers was the only house +upon the island; it mattered not that Captain Jabe had said nothing of +his neighbor; in truth, nothing mattered. One sister of the House of +Martha had come to this place; why not another? What I had seen in the +woods had been no fantasy. Sylvia was here.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="XXXI" id="XXXI"></a>XXXI.</h2> + +<h3>TAKING UP UNFINISHED WORK.</h3> + + +<p>My reasons for believing that Sylvia was on this island were +circumstantial, it is true, but to me they were entirely conclusive, and +the vehement desire of my soul was to hasten to the house and ask to see +her. But I did not feel at all sure that this would be the right thing +to do. The circumstances of this case were unusual. Sylvia was a sister +of a religious house. It was not customary for gentlemen to call upon +such sisters, and the lady who was the temporary custodian of this one +might resent such an attempt.</p> + +<p>It was, however, impossible for me entirely to restrain my impulses, and +without knowing exactly what I intended to do I advanced toward the +house. Very soon I saw its chimneys above the trees which partly +surrounded it. Then, peeping under cover of a thicket, I went still +nearer, so that, if there had been any people in the surrounding +grounds, I could have seen them; but I saw no one, and I sat down on a +log and waited. It shamed me to think that I was secretly watching a +house, but despite the shame I continued to sit and watch.</p> + +<p>There was the flutter of drapery on a little porch. My heart beat +quickly, my eyes were fixed upon the spot; but nothing appeared except a +maid who brought out some towels, which she hung on a bush to dry. Then +again I watched and watched.</p> + +<p>After a time four people came out from the house, two of them carrying +colored parasols. I knew them instantly. There was the Middle-Aged Man +of the Sea, and his friend the Shell Man; and there was the Sand Lady, +and my enemy who called herself a Person. They went off toward the +little pier. Sylvia was not with them, nor did she join them. They +entered their boat and sailed away. They were going fishing, as was +their custom. The fact that Sylvia was not with them, and that no one of +them had stayed behind to keep her company, caused my heart to fall. In +cases like mine, it takes very little to make the heart fall. The +thought forced itself into my mind that perhaps, after all, I had seen a +vision, and had been building theories on dreams.</p> + +<p>Suddenly the shutter of an upper window opened, and I saw Sylvia!</p> + +<p>It was truly Sylvia. She was dressed in white, not gray. Her hair was +massed upon her head. There was no gray bonnet. She looked up at the +sky, then at the trees, and withdrew.</p> + +<p>My heart was beating as fast as it pleased. My face was glowing, and +shame had been annihilated. I sat and watched. Presently a door opened, +and Sylvia came out.</p> + +<p>Now I rose to my feet. I must go to her. It might not be honorable to +take her at this disadvantage, but there are moments when even honor +must wait for a decision upon its case. However, there was no necessity +for my going to Sylvia; she was coming to me.</p> + +<p>As she walked directly to the spot where I stood, I saw Sylvia as I had +seen her in my day-dreams,—a beautiful girl, dressed as a beautiful +girl should dress in summer time. In one hand she carried a portfolio, +in the other a little leathern case. As she came nearer, I saw that she +was attired exactly as Mother Anastasia had been dressed when I met her +here. Nearer she came, but still she did not see me. I was not now +concealed, but her eyes seemed fixed upon the path in which she was +walking.</p> + +<p>When she was within a hundred feet of the thicket through which her path +would lead, I advanced to meet her. I tried to appear cool and composed, +but I am afraid my success was slight. As for Sylvia, she stopped +abruptly, and dropped her leathern case. I think that at first she did +not recognize me, and was on the point of screaming. Suddenly to come +upon a man in the midst of these solitudes was indeed startling.</p> + +<p>Quickly, however, I made myself known, and her expression of fright +changed to one of amazement. I am happy to say that she took the hand I +offered her, though she seemed to have no words with which to return my +formal greeting. In cases like this, the one who amazes should not +impose upon the amazed one the necessity of asking questions, but should +begin immediately to explain the situation.</p> + +<p>This I did. I told Sylvia how I had been accidentally brought to Captain +Jabe's house, how I had strolled off in this direction, and how +delighted I was to meet her here. In all this I was careful not to +intimate that I had suspected her presence in this region. While +speaking, I tried hard to think what I should say when she should +remark, "Then you did not know I was here?" But she did not make this +remark. She looked at me with a little puzzled wrinkle on her brow, and +said, with a smile:—</p> + +<p>"It is absolutely wonderful that you should be here, and I should not +know it; and that I should be here, and you should not know it."</p> + +<p>Ever since my meeting with Mother Anastasia it had been my purpose, as +soon as I could find or make an opportunity, to declare to Sylvia my +love for her. Apart from my passionate yearning in this direction, I +felt that what I had done and attempted to say when I had parted from my +secretary made it obligatory on me, as a man of honor, to say more, the +moment I should be able to do so.</p> + +<p>Now the opportunity had come; now we were alone together, and I was able +to pour out before her the burning words which so often, in my hours of +reverie, had crowded themselves upon my mind. The fates had favored me +as I had had no reason to expect to be favored, but I took no advantage +of this situation. I spoke no word of love. I cannot say that Sylvia's +demeanor cooled my affection, but I can say that it cooled my desire for +instantaneous expression of it. After her first moments of astonishment, +her mind seemed entirely occupied with the practical unraveling of the +problem of our meeting. I endeavored to make this appear a very +commonplace affair. It was quite natural that my companion and I should +come together to a region which he had before visited.</p> + +<p>"Yes," said she, "I suppose all out-of-the-way things can be made +commonplace, if one reasons long enough. As for me, of course it is +quite natural that, needing a change from the House of Martha, I should +come to my mother's island."</p> + +<p>"Your mother!" I stammered.</p> + +<p>"Yes," she answered. "Mrs. Raynor, who spends her summers in that house +over there, is my mother. Her brother is here, too, and she has some +friends with her. Mother Anastasia was away recently on a little jaunt, +and when she came back she said that I looked tired and wan, and that I +ought to go to my mother's for a fortnight. So I came. That was all +simple enough, you see."</p> + +<p>Simple enough! Could anything be more extraordinary, more enigmatical? I +did not know what to say, what course to pursue; but in the midst of my +surprise I had sense enough to see that, until I knew more, the less I +said the better. Sylvia did not know that I had visited her mother's +island and her mother's house. It is possible that she did not know that +Mother Anastasia had been here. I must decide whether or not I would +enlighten her on these points. My disposition was to be perfectly open +and frank with her, and to be thus I must enlighten her. But I waited, +and in answer to her statement merely told her how glad I was that she +had a vacation and such a delightful place to come to. She did not +immediately reply, but stood looking past me over the little vale beyond +us.</p> + +<p>"Well, here I am," she said presently, "and in a very different dress +from that in which you used to see me; but for all that, I am still a +sister of the House of Martha, and so"—</p> + +<p>"So what?" I interrupted.</p> + +<p>"I suppose I should go back to the house," she answered.</p> + +<p>Now I began to warm up furiously.</p> + +<p>"Don't think of it!" I exclaimed. "Now that I have met you, give me a +few moments of your time. Let me see you as you are, free and +undisguised, like other women, and not behind bars or in charge of old +Sister Sarah."</p> + +<p>"Wasn't she horrid?" said Sylvia.</p> + +<p>"Indeed she was," I replied; "and now cannot you walk a little with me, +or shall we sit down somewhere and have a talk?"</p> + +<p>She shook her head. "Even if mother and the rest had not gone away in +the boat, I could not do that, you know."</p> + +<p>If she persisted in her determination to leave me, she should know my +love in two minutes. But I tried further persuasion.</p> + +<p>"We have spent hours together," I said; "why not let me make you a +little visit now?"</p> + +<p>Still she gently shook her head, and looked away. Suddenly she turned +her face toward me. Her blue eyes sparkled, her lips parted, and there +was a flush upon her temples.</p> + +<p>"There is one thing I would dearly like," she said, "and I think I could +stay for that. Will you finish the story of Tomaso and Lucilla?"</p> + +<p>"I shall be overjoyed to do it!" I cried, in a state of exultation. +"Come, let us sit over there in the shade, at the bottom of this hill, +and I will tell you all the rest of that story."</p> + +<p>Together we went down the little slope.</p> + +<p>"You can't imagine," she said, "how I have longed to know how all that +turned out. Over and over again I have finished the story for myself, +but I never made a good ending to it. It was not a bit like hearing it +from you."</p> + +<p>I found her a seat on a low stone near the trunk of a tree, and I sat +upon the ground near by, while my soul bounded up like a loosened +balloon.</p> + +<p>"Happy thought!" she exclaimed. "I came out here to write letters, not +caring for fishing, especially in boats; how would you like me to write +the rest of the story from your dictation?"</p> + +<p>Like it! I could scarcely find words to tell her how I should like it.</p> + +<p>"Very well, then," said she, opening her portfolio and taking out some +sheets of paper. "My inkstand is in that case which you picked up; +please give it to me, and let us begin. Now this is a very different +affair. I am finishing the work which the House of Martha set me to do, +and I assure you that I have been very much dissatisfied because I have +been obliged to leave it unfinished. Please begin."</p> + +<p>"I cannot remember at this moment," I said, "where we left off."</p> + +<p>"I can tell you exactly," she answered, "just as well as if I had the +manuscript before me. Tomaso held Lucilla by the hand; the cart was +ready in which he was to travel to the sea-coast; they were calling him +to hurry; and he was trying to look into her face, to see if he should +tell her something that was in his heart. You had not yet said what it +was that was in his heart. There was a chance, you know, that it might +be that he felt it necessary for her good that the match should be +broken off."</p> + +<p>"How did you arrange this in the endings you made?" I asked. "Did you +break off the match?"</p> + +<p>"Don't let us bother about my endings," she said. "I want to know +yours."</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="XXXII" id="XXXII"></a>XXXII.</h2> + +<h3>TOMASO AND LUCILLA.</h3> + + +<p>On this happy morning, sitting in the shade with Sylvia, I should have +much preferred to talk to her of herself and of myself than to dictate +the story of the Sicilian lovers; but if I would keep her with me I must +humor her, at least for a time, and so, as well as I could, I began my +story.</p> + +<p>The situation was, however, delightful: it was charming to sit and look +at Sylvia, her portfolio in her lap, pen in hand, and her blue eyes +turned toward me, anxiously waiting for me to speak; it was so +enchanting that my mind could with difficulty be kept to the work in +hand. But it would not do to keep Sylvia waiting. Her pen began to tap +impatiently upon the paper, and I went on. We had written a page or two +when she interrupted me.</p> + +<p>"It seems to me," she said, "that if Tomaso really starts for Naples it +will be a good while before we get to the end of the story. So far as I +am concerned, you know, I would like the story just as long as you +choose to make it; but we haven't very much time, and it would be a +dreadful disappointment to me if I should have to go away before the +story is ended."</p> + +<p>"Why do you feel in a hurry?" I asked. "If we do not finish this +morning, cannot I come to you to-morrow?"</p> + +<p>"Oh, no, indeed," she answered. "It's only by the merest chance, you +know, that I am writing for you this morning, and I couldn't do it +again. That would be impossible. In fact, I want to get through before +the boat comes back. Not that I should mind mother, for she knows that I +used to write for you, and I could easily explain how I came to be doing +it now; and I should not care about Uncle or Mr. Heming; but as for Miss +Laniston,—that is the lady who is visiting us,—I would not have her +see me doing this for anything in the world. She hates the House of +Martha, although she used to be one of its friends, and I know that she +would like to see me leave the sisterhood. She ridicules us whenever she +has a chance, and to see me here would be simply nuts to her."</p> + +<p>"Is she a bad-tempered lady?" I asked. "Do you know her very well? Could +you trust her in regard to anything important?"</p> + +<p>"Oh, I know her well enough," said Sylvia. "She has always been a friend +of the family. She is wonderfully well educated, and knows everything +and has never married, and travels all about by herself, and is just as +independent as she can be. She has very strong opinions about things, +and doesn't hesitate to tell you them, no matter whether she thinks you +like it or not. I have no doubt she is perfectly trustworthy and +honorable, and all that; but if you knew her, I do not think you would +like her, and you can easily see why I shouldn't want her to see me +doing this. It would give her a chance for no end of sneers at the work +of the sisters."</p> + +<p>"Has she never said anything about your acting as my amanuensis?" I +asked.</p> + +<p>"No, indeed," replied Sylvia. "You may be sure she never heard of that, +or she would have made fun enough of it."</p> + +<p>It was impossible for me to allow this dear girl to remain longer in +ignorance of the true state of affairs.</p> + +<p>"Miss Raynor," I said,—how I longed to say "Sylvia"!—"I am ashamed +that I have allowed you to remain as long as this under a +misunderstanding, but in truth I did not understand the case myself. I +did not know that the lady of this house was your mother, but I have met +her, and have been kindly entertained by her. I did not know Miss +Laniston's name, but I have also met her, and talked to her about you, +and she knows you used to write for me, and I do not like her."</p> + +<p>Sylvia answered not a word, but, as she sat and looked at me with +wide-open eyes, I told her what had happened since my companion and I +had landed at Racket Island. I omitted only my confidences to Mother +Anastasia and Miss Laniston.</p> + +<p>"Mother Anastasia has been here," repeated Sylvia, "and she never told +me! That surpasses all. And mother never mentioned that you had been +here, nor did any one." She gazed steadfastly upon the ground, a little +pale, and presently she said, "I think I understand it, but it need not +be discussed;" and, closing her portfolio, she rose to her feet.</p> + +<p>"Sylvia," I exclaimed, springing up and stepping nearer to her, "it must +be discussed! Ever since I parted from you at the window of your +writing-room I have been yearning to speak to you. I do not understand +the actions of your family and friends, but I do know that those actions +were on your account and on mine. They knew I loved you. I have not in +the least concealed the fact that I loved you, and I hoped, Sylvia, that +you knew it."</p> + +<p>She stood, her closed portfolio in one hand, her pen in the other, her +eyes downcast, and her face grave and quiet. "I cannot say," she +answered presently, "that I knew it, although sometimes I thought it was +so, but other times I thought it was not so. I was almost sure of it +when you took leave of me at the window, and tried to kiss my hand, and +were just about to say something which I knew I ought not to stay and +hear. It was when thinking about that morning, in fact,—and I thought +about it a great deal,—that I became convinced I must act very promptly +and earnestly in regard to my future life, and be true to the work I had +undertaken to do; and for this reason it was that I solemnly vowed to +devote the rest of my life to the House of Martha, to observe all its +rules and do its work."</p> + +<p>"Sylvia," I gasped, "you cannot keep this vow. When you made it you did +not know I loved you. It cannot hold. It must be set aside."</p> + +<p>She looked at me for a moment, and then her eyes again fell. "Do not +speak in that way," she said; "it is not right. Of course I was not sure +that you loved me, but I suspected it, and this was the very reason why +I took my vow."</p> + +<p>"It is plain, then," I exclaimed bitterly, "that you did not love me; +otherwise you would never have done that!"</p> + +<p>"Don't you think," said she, "that considering the sisterhood to which I +belong, we have already talked too much about that?"</p> + +<p>If she had exhibited the least emotion, I think I should have burst out +into supplications that she would take the advice of her Mother +Superior; that she would listen to her friends; that she would do +anything, in fact, which would cause her to reconsider this step, which +condemned me to misery and her to a life for which she was totally +unfitted,—a career in her case of such sad misuse of every attribute of +mind and body that it wrung my heart to think of it. But she stood so +quiet, so determined, and with an air of such gentle firmness that words +seemed useless. In truth, they would not come to me. She opened her +portfolio.</p> + +<p>"I will give you these sheets that I have written," she said; "by right +they belong to you. I am sorry the story was interrupted, for I very +much want to hear the end of it, and now I never shall."</p> + +<p>I caught at a straw. "Sylvia," I cried, "let us sit down and finish the +story! We can surely do that. Come, it is all ready in my mind. I will +dictate rapidly."</p> + +<p>She shook her head. "Hardly," she answered, "after what has been said. +Here are your pages."</p> + +<p>I took the pages she handed me, because she had written them.</p> + +<p>"Sylvia," I exclaimed, "I shall finish that story, and you shall hear +it! This I vow."</p> + +<p>"I am going now," she responded. "Good-by."</p> + +<p>"Sylvia," I cried, quickly stepping after her as she moved away, "will +you not say more than that? Will you not even give me your hand?"</p> + +<p>"I will do that," she replied, stopping, "if you will promise not to +kiss it."</p> + +<p>I took her hand, and held it a few moments without a word. Then she +gently withdrew it.</p> + +<p>"Good-by again," she said, "I don't want you to forget me; but when you +think of me, always think of me as a sister of the House of Martha."</p> + +<p>As I stood looking after her, she rapidly walked toward the house, and I +groaned while thinking I had not told her that if she ever thought of me +she must remember I loved her, and would love her to the end of my life. +But in a moment I was glad that I had not said this; after her words to +me it would have been unmanly, and, besides, I knew she knew it.</p> + +<p>When I lost sight of her in the grove by the house, I turned and picked +up the pages of the story of Tomaso and Lucilla, which I had dropped. In +doing so I saw her inkstand, with its open case near by it, on the +ground by the stone on which she had been sitting. I put the inkstand in +its case, closed it, and stood for some minutes holding it and thinking; +but I did not carry it away with me as a memento. Drawing down a branch +of the tree, I hung the little case securely by its handles to a twig, +where it would be in full view of any one walking that way.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="XXXIII" id="XXXIII"></a>XXXIII.</h2> + +<h3>THE DISTANT TOPSAIL.</h3> + + +<p>I found Walkirk still fishing near the place where I had left him.</p> + +<p>"I was beginning to be surprised at your long absence," he said, "and +was thinking of going to look for you. Have you had good luck?"</p> + +<p>This was a hard question to answer. I smiled grimly. "I have not been +fishing," I answered. "I have been dictating my story to my nun."</p> + +<p>The rod dropped from the relaxed fingers of my under-study, and he stood +blankly staring at me, and waiting for an explanation. I gave it.</p> + +<p>Depressed as I was, I could not help feeling interested in the variety +of expressions which passed over Walkirk's face, as I related what had +happened since I had seen him. When I told him how near we were to our +old camp on the Sand Lady's island, he was simply amazed; his +astonishment, when he heard of the appearance of Sylvia on the scene, +was almost overpowered by his amusement, as I related how she and I had +continued the story of Tomaso and Lucilla, in the shade of the tree. But +when I informed him of Sylvia's determination to devote her life to the +work of the House of Martha, without regard to what I told her of my +love, he was greatly moved, and I am sure sincerely grieved.</p> + +<p>"This is too bad, too bad," he said. "I did not expect it."</p> + +<p>"Miss Raynor is young," I answered, "but the strength and integrity of +her soul are greater, and her devotion to what she believes her duty is +stronger, than I supposed. Her character is marked by a simple sincerity +and a noble dignity which I have never seen surpassed. I think that she +positively dislikes the life of the sisterhood, but, having devoted +herself to it, she will stand firmly by her resolutions and her promise +no matter what happens. As regards myself, I do not suppose that her +knowledge of my existence has any influence on her, one way or the +other. I may have interested and amused her, but that is all. If I had +finished the Italian love-story I had been telling her, I think she +would have been satisfied never to see me again."</p> + +<p>Walkirk shook his head. "I do not believe that," he said; "her +determination to rivet the bonds which hold her to her sisterhood shows +that she was afraid of her interest in you; and if it gave her reason to +fear, it gives you reason to hope."</p> + +<p>"Put that in the past tense, please," I replied; "whatever it may have +given, it gives nothing now. To hope would be absurd."</p> + +<p>"Mr. Vanderley," exclaimed Walkirk, "I would not give up in that way. I +am certain, from what I know, that Miss Raynor's interest in you is +plain not only to herself, but to her family and friends; and I tell +you, sir, that sort of interest cannot be extinguished by promises and +resolutions. If I were you, I would keep up the fight. She is not yet a +vowed sister."</p> + +<p>"Walkirk," said I, offering him my hand; "you are a good fellow, and, +although I cannot believe what you say, I thank you for saying it."</p> + +<p>It was now long past noon, and we were both ready for the luncheon which +we had brought with us. Walkirk opened the basket, and as he arranged +its contents on the broad napkin, which he spread upon the grass, he +ruminated.</p> + +<p>"I think," he remarked, as we were eating, "that I begin to understand +the situation. At first I could not reconcile the facts with the Sand +Lady's statement that no one lived on her island but her family, but now +I see that this creek must make an island of her domain; and so it is +that, although Captain Jabe is her neighbor, her statement is entirely +correct."</p> + +<p>Having finished our meal, I lighted my pipe and sat down under a tree, +while Walkirk, with his rod, wandered away along the bank of the stream. +After a while he returned, and proposed that we try fishing near the +eastern outlet of the creek, where, as the tide was coming in, we might +find better sport.</p> + +<p>"That will be a very good thing for you to do," said I, "but I shall not +fish. I am going to Mrs. Raynor's house."</p> + +<p>"Where?" exclaimed Walkirk.</p> + +<p>"I am going to speak to Mrs. Raynor," I answered, "whom I have known +only as the Sand Lady, but whom I must now know as Sylvia's mother. I +have determined to act boldly and openly in this matter. I have made +suit to Mrs. Raynor's daughter. I have told other people of the state of +my affections, and I think I should lose no time, having now the +opportunity, in conferring with Mrs. Raynor herself."</p> + +<p>Walkirk's face was troubled.</p> + +<p>"You do not approve of that?" I asked.</p> + +<p>"Since you ask me," he answered, "I must say that I do not think it a +wise thing to do. If I properly understand Miss Raynor's character, her +mother knows that you are here; and if she is willing to have you visit +her, under the circumstances, she will make a sign. In fact, I now think +that she will make some sort of sign, by which you can see how the land +lies. Perhaps Mrs. Raynor is on your side; but I am afraid that if you +should visit the house where Miss Raynor is, it would set her mother +against you. I imagine she is a woman who would not like that sort of +thing."</p> + +<p>"Walkirk," said I, "your reasoning is very good; but this is not a time +to reason,—it is a time to act; and I am going to see Mrs. Raynor this +day."</p> + +<p>"I hope it may all turn out well," he replied, and walked away gravely.</p> + +<p>I did not start immediately for the Sand Lady's house. For a long time I +sat and thought upon the subject of the approaching interview, planning +and considering how I should plead my case, and what I should answer, +and how I should overcome the difficulties which would probably be +pointed out to me.</p> + +<p>At last, like many another man when in a similar predicament, I +concluded to let circumstances shape my plan of action, and set forth +for Mrs. Raynor's house. The walk was a long one, but I turned in order +to pass under the tree where I had begun to dictate to Sylvia; and glad +I was that I did so, for to the twig on which I had hung the case +containing her inkstand there was now attached a half sheet of note +paper. I ran to the tree, eagerly seized the paper, and read these few +words that were written on it:—</p> + +<p>"Thank you very much for taking such good care of my little case."</p> + +<p>"Now, then," said I to myself, proudly gazing at these lines, "this is +only a small thing, but the girl who would write it, and who would +expect me to read it, must be interested in me. She believes that I +would not fail to come here again; therefore she believes in me. That is +a great point."</p> + +<p>For a moment I felt tempted to write something in reply, and hang it on +the tree twig. But I refrained; what I would write to Sylvia must be +read by no one but herself. That tree was in a very conspicuous +position, and my tamest words to her must not hang upon it. I carefully +folded the paper and put it in my pocket, and then, greatly encouraged, +walked rapidly to the house.</p> + +<p>On the front piazza I found an elderly woman, with a broom. She knew me, +for she had frequently seen me during the time that I was encamped upon +the island. She was now greatly surprised at my appearance on the scene.</p> + +<p>"Why, sir," she exclaimed, without waiting for me to speak, "have you +come back to your camp? It is too bad."</p> + +<p>I did not like this salutation. But, making no answer to it, I asked +quickly, "Can I see Mrs. Raynor?"</p> + +<p>"No, indeed," said she; "they've gone, every one of them, and not an +hour ago. What a pity they did not know you were here!"</p> + +<p>"Gone!" I cried. "Where?"</p> + +<p>"They've gone off in their yacht for a cruise," returned the woman. "The +vessel has been at Brimley for more than a week, being repaired, and she +got back this morning; and as she was all ready to sail, they just made +up their minds that they'd go off in her, for one of their little +voyages they are so fond of; and off they went, in less than two hours."</p> + +<p>"How long do they expect to be gone?" I asked.</p> + +<p>"Mrs. Raynor told me they would be away probably for a week or two," the +woman answered, "and she would stop somewhere and telegraph to me when +she was coming back. Of course there isn't any telegraph to this island, +but when messages come to Brimley they send them over in a boat."</p> + +<p>Having determined to speak to Mrs. Raynor, and having set out to do so, +this undertaking appeared to me the most important thing in the world, +and one in which I must press forward, without regard to obstacles of +any kind.</p> + +<p>"Are they going to any particular place?" I said. "Are they going to +stop anywhere?"</p> + +<p>"There is only one place that I know of," she answered, "and that's +Sanpritchit, over on the mainland. They expect to stop there to get +provisions for the cruise, for there was but little here that they could +take with them. They wanted to get there before dark, and I don't doubt +but that, with this wind, they'll do it. If you'll step to this end of +the piazza, sir, perhaps you can see their topsail. I saw it just before +you came, as they were beginning to make the long tack."</p> + +<p>"Yes, there it is," she continued, when we reached the place referred +to, from which a vast stretch of the bay could be seen, "but not so much +of it as I saw just now."</p> + +<p>"Their topsail!" I ejaculated.</p> + +<p>"Yes, sir," she said. "You can't see their mainsail, because they are so +far away, and it's behind the water, in a manner."</p> + +<p>I stood silent for a few minutes, gazing at the little ship. Suddenly a +thought struck me. "Do you think they will sail on Sunday?" I asked.</p> + +<p>"No, sir," she replied; "Mrs. Raynor never sails on Sunday. And that's +why I wondered, after they'd gone, why they'd started off on a Saturday. +They will have to lay up at Sanpritchit all day to-morrow; and it seems +to me it would have been a great deal pleasanter for them to stay here +Sunday, and to have started on Monday. There's no church at Sanpritchit, +or anything for them to do, so far as I know, unless Miss Raynor reads +sermons to them, which she never did here, though she's a religious +sister, which perhaps you didn't know, sir."</p> + +<p>"Sanpritchit over Sunday," I repeated to myself.</p> + +<p>"It's the greatest pity," said the woman, "that they didn't know you and +the other gentleman—that is, if he is with you—were coming back +to-day, for I am sure they would have been glad to take you with them. +There's room enough on that yacht, and will be more; for Mr. Heming, the +gentleman that collects shells, is not coming back with them. They are +to put him off somewhere, and he is going home. I have an idea, though I +wasn't told so, that Miss Raynor is not coming back with the rest. She +brought very little baggage with her, but she took a lot of things on +board the yacht, and that looks as if she wasn't coming back. But, bless +me, they went off in such a hurry I didn't have time to ask questions."</p> + +<p>I now turned to go, but the woman obliged me to inform her that I had +not come to camp on the island, and that I was staying with Captain +Jabe.</p> + +<p>"When they go off in this way," she said, "they take the maids, and +leave me and my husband in charge; and if you should fancy to come here +and camp again, I know that Mrs. Raynor would wish me to make things as +comfortable for you as I can, which, too, I'll be very glad to do."</p> + +<p>I thanked her, and went away. "This good woman," said I to myself, "is +the person who would have read my message to Sylvia, had I been foolish +enough to hang one to the twig of the tree."</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="XXXIV" id="XXXIV"></a>XXXIV.</h2> + +<h3>THE CENTRAL HOTEL.</h3> + + +<p>Captain Jabez did not return until late that Saturday evening; but as +soon as he set foot on shore I went to him and asked him if he could, in +any way, get us to Sanpritchit that night, offering to pay him liberally +for the service.</p> + +<p>"I've got a sailboat," said he, "and ye'd be right welcome to it if it +was here; but it ain't here. I lent it to Captain Neal, of Brimley, +having no present use for it, and he won't bring it back till next week +some time. There's a dory here, to be sure; but Sanpritchit's +twenty-five miles away, and that's too far to go in a dory, especially +at night. What's your hurry?"</p> + +<p>"I have very important business in Sanpritchit," I answered, "and if it +is possible I must go there to-night."</p> + +<p>"Sanpritchit's a queer place to have business in," said Captain Jabe; +"and it's a pity ye didn't think of it this mornin', when ye might have +gone with me and took the train to Barley, and there's a stage from +there to Sanpritchit."</p> + +<p>"Captain Jabez," said I, "as there seems to be no other way for me to do +this thing, I will pay you whatever you may think the service worth, if +you will take me to Sanpritchit in your grocery boat, and start +immediately. It will be slow work traveling, I know, but I think we can +surely get there before morning."</p> + +<p>The grocer-captain looked at me for a moment, with his eyes half shut; +then he set down on the pier a basket which had been hanging on his arm, +and, putting both hands in his pockets, stared steadfastly at me.</p> + +<p>"Do you know," he remarked presently, "that that 'ere proposition of +yours puts me in mind of a story I heard of a California man and a New +York man. The California man had come East to spend the winter, and the +New York man was a business acquaintance o' his. The California man +called at the New York man's office before business hours; and when he +found the New York man hadn't come down town yet, he went up town to see +him at his house. It was a mighty fine house, and the New York man, +being proud of it, took the California man all over it. 'Look here,' +said the California man, 'what will you take for this house, furniture +and all, just as it stands?' 'I'll take a hundred and twenty thousand +dollars,' said the New York man. 'Does that include all the odds and +ends,' asked the California man,—'old magazines, umbrellas, needles and +pins, empty bottles, photographs, candlesticks, Japanese fans, coal +ashes, and all that kind of thing, that make a house feel like a home? +My family's comin' on from California with nothin' but their clothes, +and I want a house they can go right into and feel at home, even to the +cold victuals for a beggar, if one happens to come along.' 'If I throw +in the odds and ends, it will be one hundred and twenty-five thousand,' +said the New York man. 'That's all right,' said the California man, 'and +my family will arrive, with their clothes, on the train that gets here +at 6.20 this afternoon; so if your family can get out of the house +before that time, I'm ready to pay the money, cash down.' 'All right,' +said the New York man, 'I'll see that they do it.' And at ten minutes +after six the New York family went out with their clothes to a hotel, +and at twenty minutes of seven the California family came to the house +with their clothes, and found everything all ready for 'em, the servants +havin' agreed to stay at California wages.</p> + +<p>"Now, then," continued Captain Jabez, "I don't want to hurt nobody's +feelin's, and I wouldn't say one word that would make the smallest +infant think less of itself than it did afore I spoke, but it does +strike me that that there proposition of yours is a good deal like the +California man's offer to the New York man."</p> + +<p>"Well," said I, "that turned out very well. Each got what he wanted."</p> + +<p>"Yes," replied Captain Jabez, "but this ain't New York city. No, sir, +not by a long shot. I am just as willin' to accommodate a fellow-man, or +a fellow-woman, for that matter, as any reasonable person is; but if the +President of the United States, and Queen Victoria, and the prophet +Isaiah was to come to me of a Saturday night, after I'd just got home +from a week's work, and ask me to start straight off and take them to +Sanpritchit, I'd tell 'em that I'd be glad to oblige 'em, but it +couldn't be done: and that's what I say to ye, sir,—neither more nor +less." And with this he picked up his basket and went into the house.</p> + +<p>I was not discouraged, however, and when the captain came out I proposed +to him that he should take me to Sanpritchit the next day.</p> + +<p>"No, sir," said he. "I never have sailed my grocery boat on Sunday, and +I don't feel like beginnin'."</p> + +<p>I walked away, but shortly afterward joined him on board his vessel, +which he was just about to leave for the night.</p> + +<p>"Captain," I asked, "when does Sunday end in this part of the country?"</p> + +<p>"Well, strictly speaking, it's supposed to end at sunset, or commonly at +six o'clock."</p> + +<p>"Very well," said I; "if you will start with me for Sanpritchit at six +o'clock to-morrow evening, I will pay you your price."</p> + +<p>I made this offer in the belief that, with ordinary good fortune, we +could reach our destination before the Raynor yacht weighed anchor on +Monday morning.</p> + +<p>Captain Jabez considered the matter. "I am going to Sanpritchit on +Monday, any way," said he; "and if you're in such a hurry to be there +the first thing in the morning, I'd just as lieve sail to-morrow evening +at six o'clock as not."</p> + +<p>It was not much after the hour at which some people in that part of the +country, when they have a reason for it, still believe that Sunday comes +to an end, that the grocery boat left her pier with Captain Jabez, +Abner, Walkirk, and me on board. There was nothing at all exhilarating +in this expedition. I wanted to go rapidly, and I knew we should go +slowly. I had passed a dull day, waiting for the time to start, and, to +avoid thinking of the slow progress we should make, I soon turned in.</p> + +<p>I woke very early, and went on deck. I do not know that I can remember a +more disagreeable morning. It was day, but the sun was not up; it was +not cloudy, but there was a filmy uncertainty about the sky that was +more unpleasant than the clouds. The air was cold, raw, and oppressive. +There was no one on deck but Abner, and he was at the wheel, which, on +account of the grocery store occupying so large a portion of the after +part of the vessel, was placed well forward. Only a jib and mainsail +were set, and as I came on deck these were fluttering and sagging, as +Abner carefully brought the vessel round. Now I saw that we were +floating slowly toward the end of a long pier, and that we were going to +land.</p> + +<p>As I leaned over the side of the vessel, I did not wonder that Captain +Jabez thought Sanpritchit was not much of a place to do business in. +There were few houses, perhaps a dozen, scattered here and there along a +low shore, which rose, at one end of the place, into a little bluff, +behind which I saw a mast or two. On the pier was a solitary man, and he +was the only living being in sight. It was that dreary time before +breakfast, when everything that seems cheerless is more cheerless, +everything that is sad more sad, everything that is discouraging more +discouraging, and which right-minded persons who are able to do so spend +in bed.</p> + +<p>Gradually the vessel approached the pier, and Abner, to whom I had not +yet spoken, for I did not feel in the least like talking, left the +wheel, and, as soon as he was near enough, threw a small line to the man +on the pier, who caught it, pulling ashore a cable with a loop in the +end, threw the latter over a post, and in a few minutes the grocery boat +was moored. The man came on board, and he and Abner went below.</p> + +<p>It was too early to go on shore, for nothing could be done at that +bleak, unearthly hour; but I was in that state of nervous disquietude +when any change is a relief, and I stepped ashore. I was glad to put my +feet upon the pier. Now I felt that I was my own master. It was too soon +to go on board the yacht, but I could regulate my movements as I +pleased, and was very willing to be alone during the hour or two in +which I must remain inactive.</p> + +<p>I walked over the loose and warped planks of the pier, the dull water +rippling and flopping about the timbers beneath me, inhaling that faint +smell of the quiet water and soaked logs, which is always a little +dispiriting to me even at less dispiriting hours. The crowing of one or +two cocks made me understand how dreadfully still everything was. The +stillness of the very early morning is quite different from that of the +night. During the latter people are asleep, and may be presumed to be +happy. In the former they are about to wake up and be miserable. That, +at least, was my notion, as I walked into the little village.</p> + +<p>Not a creature did I see; not a sound did I hear except my own +footsteps. Presently I saw a cat run around the corner of a house, and +this was a relief. I walked on past a wide space, in which there were no +houses, when I came to a small, irregularly built white house, in front +of which hung a sign bearing the inscription "Central Hotel." If +anything could have made me more disgusted with the world than I then +was, it was this sign. If the name of this miserable little country +tavern had been anything suitable to itself and the place, if it had +been called The Plough and Harrow, The Gray Horse, or even The Blue +Devil, I think I should have been glad to see it. A village inn might +have been a point of interest to me, but Central Hotel in this mournful +settlement of small farmers and fishermen,—it was ridiculous!</p> + +<p>However, the door of the house was open, and inside was a man sweeping +the sanded floor. When he saw me, he stopped his work and stared at me.</p> + +<p>"Good-mornin'," he said. "Don't often see strangers here so airly. Did +ye come on the grocery boat? I saw her puttin' in. Do ye want a room? +Time for a good nap before breakfast."</p> + +<p>I answered that I did not want a room, but the remark about breakfast +made me feel that I should like a cup of coffee, and perhaps I might get +it here. It might have been a more natural thing to go back to the boat +and ask Abner to make me the coffee, but I did not want to go back to +the boat. I did not want to wake Walkirk. I did not want to have him +with me on shore. I did not want to have him talk to me. My present +intention was to go to the yacht as soon as it was reasonable to suppose +that its passengers were awake, to see Mrs. Raynor, and say to her what +I had to say. I did not feel in the proper spirit for this; but, in the +spirit in which I found myself, the less I was trammeled by advice, by +suggestions of prudence, and all that sort of thing, the better it would +be for me. So I was very glad that my under-study was asleep on the +grocery boat, and hoped that he would remain in that condition until I +had had my talk with Sylvia's mother.</p> + +<p>I put my request to the man and he smiled. "Ye can't get no coffee," he +said, "until breakfast time, and that's pretty nigh two hours off. There +is people in the place that have breakfast earlier than we do, but we +keep boarders, ye know. We've only got Captain Fluke now, but generally +have more; and ye couldn't ask a man like Captain Fluke to git up to his +breakfast before half past seven. Then ye don't want yer baggage sent +fur? Perhaps ye've come ter see friends, an' it's a little airly ter +drop in on 'em? Come in, any way, and take a seat."</p> + +<p>I accepted the invitation. Sitting indoors might possibly be less dreary +than walking out-of-doors.</p> + +<p>"Now I tell ye what ye ought to do," continued the man. "Ye ought to +take a nip of whiskey with some bitters in it. It's always kinder damp +airly in the mornin', and ye must feel it more, bein' in a strange +place. I've always thought a strange place was damper, airly in the +mornin', than a place ye're used ter; and there's nothin' like whiskey +with a little bitters to get out dampness."</p> + +<p>I declined to partake of any Central Hotel whiskey, adding that the one +refreshment I now needed was a cup of coffee.</p> + +<p>"But there's no fire in the kitchen," said he, "and there won't be for +ever so long. That's how whiskey comes in so handy; don't have to have +no fire. Ye jes' pour it out and drink it, and there's the end of it."</p> + +<p>"Not always," I remarked.</p> + +<p>"Ye're right there," said he, with a smile. "A good deal depends on how +much ye pour." He turned away, but stopped suddenly. "Look here," said +he; "if ye say so, I'll make ye a cup of coffee. I've got an alcohol +lamp up there that I can boil water with in no time. I'm out of alcohol, +but, if you'll pay for it, I'll fill the lamp with whiskey; that'll burn +just as well."</p> + +<p>I willingly agreed to his proposition, and the man immediately +disappeared into the back part of the house.</p> + +<p>I sat and looked about the little bar-room, in which there was +absolutely nothing of the quaint interest which one associates with a +country inn. It was a bare, cold, hard, sandy, dirty room; its air +tainted with the stale odors of whiskey, sugar, and wood still wet from +its morning mopping. In less than fifteen minutes the man placed before +me a cup of coffee and some soda biscuit. The coffee was not very good, +but it was hot, and when I had finished it I felt like another man.</p> + +<p>"There now," cried the bar-keeper, looking at me with great +satisfaction, "don't that take the dampness out of ye? I tell ye there's +no such stiffener in the airly mornin' as whiskey; and if ye don't use +it in one way, ye can in another."</p> + +<p>Truly the world seemed warmer and more cheerful; the sun was brighter. +Perhaps now it was not too early to go on board the yacht. At any rate, +I would go near where she lay, and judge for myself. I made inquiries of +the innkeeper in regard to Mrs. Raynor's yacht.</p> + +<p>"Yacht!" he said. "There's no yacht here."</p> + +<p>"You must be mistaken!" I cried. "A yacht belonging to Mrs. Raynor +sailed for Sanpritchit on Saturday, and it was not to leave here until +this morning."</p> + +<p>"Sanpritchit!" he exclaimed. "This is not Sanpritchit."</p> + +<p>"What do you mean?" I asked in amazement. "That boat was bound direct +for Sanpritchit."</p> + +<p>"Captain Jabe's boat?" said the man. "Yes, and so she is. She sails fur +Sanpritchit every Monday mornin', and generally stops here when she's +got any freight ter leave fur the store, though I never knowed her ter +come so airly in the mornin'."</p> + +<p>"My conscience!" I exclaimed. "I must get on board of her."</p> + +<p>"Aboard of her!" said he. "She's been gone more 'n half an hour. She +don't often stop here more 'n ten minutes, if she's got the tide with +her, which she had this mornin', strong."</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="XXXV" id="XXXV"></a>XXXV.</h2> + +<h3>MONEY MAKES THE MARE GO.</h3> + + +<p>I rushed out of the Central Hotel, and looked over the water, but I +could see nothing of the grocery boat: she had disappeared beyond the +bluff, behind which I had stupidly taken it for granted Mrs. Raynor's +yacht was lying.</p> + +<p>"Oh, she's clean gone," said the bar-keeper, who had joined me, "an' +she's not likely to come back ag'in' wind an' tide. They must have +thought you was asleep in your berth."</p> + +<p>This was undoubtedly the truth, for there was no reason to suppose that +any one on the boat knew I had gone on shore.</p> + +<p>"Where can I get a boat to follow them?" I cried.</p> + +<p>"Can't say exactly," said the man. "We've got a big catboat, but she's +on the stocks gettin' a new stern post put in. You can see her mast +stickin' up over the bluff, there. I don't think there's any other +sailboat in the place jes' now, and Captain Fluke's havin' his fresh +painted. I told him it was a bad time o' the year to do it in; but he's +Captain Fluke, and that's all there's to say about it. There's rowboats; +but Sanpritchit's eight miles from here, and it's a putty long pull +there and back, and I don't know anybody here who'd care to take it. If +ye want to go to Sanpritchit, ye ought to go in a wagon. That's lots the +easiest way."</p> + +<p>"Where can I get a horse and vehicle?" I asked quickly, so much enraged +with myself that I was glad to have some one to direct my movements.</p> + +<p>"That's more 'n I know, jes' this minute," said the man; "but if ye'll +step inside and sit down, I'll go and ask 'em at the store what they can +do fur ye. If it ain't open yet, I'll know where ter find 'em. If +anybody comes along for a mornin' drink, jes' tell 'em to wait a minute, +and I'll be back."</p> + +<p>In about fifteen or twenty minutes the bar-keeper returned, and +announced that I could not hire the horse at the store, for one of his +hind shoes was off, and they wanted to use him any way. He had asked two +or three other people, also, for the village was waking up by this time, +but none of them could let me have a horse.</p> + +<p>"But I'll tell ye what ye can do," said the man, "if ye choose to wait +here a little while. The boss of this house went over to Stipbitts last +night to see his mother, and I expect him back putty soon, and I guess +he'll let ye have his hoss. Ye see the people about here ain't used to +hiring hosses, and we is. People as keeps hotels is expected to do it."</p> + +<p>There was nothing for me to do but to wait for the return of the +landlord of Central Hotel; and for very nearly an hour I walked up and +down the main street of that wretched little hamlet, the name of which I +neither heard nor asked, cursing my own stupidity and the incapacity of +the waterside rustic.</p> + +<p>When the "boss" arrived he was willing to let me have his mare and his +buckboard, and a boy to drive me; but the animal must be fed first, and +of course I would not start off without my breakfast. As I had to wait, +and the morning meal was almost ready, I partook of it; but the mare +gave a great deal more time to her breakfast than I gave to mine. I +hurried the preparations as much as I could, and shortly after eight +o'clock we started. My little expedition had the features of a useless +piece of trouble, but I had carefully considered the affair, and +concluded that I had a good chance of success. Almost any horse could +take me eight miles in an hour and a half, even with poor roads, and, +from what I knew of the industrial methods of this part of the country, +I did not believe that the necessary supplies would be put on the yacht +before half past nine: therefore, I did not allow myself to doubt that I +should reach Sanpritchit in time to see Mrs. Raynor.</p> + +<p>The mare was a very deliberate traveler, and the boy who sat beside me +was an easily satisfied driver.</p> + +<p>"We must go faster than this," said I, after we had reached what +appeared to be a highroad, "or I shall not get to Sanpritchit in time to +attend to my business there."</p> + +<p>"Ye can't drive a hoss too fast when ye first set out," answered the +boy. "Ye'll hurt a hoss if ye do that. After a little while she'll warm +up, and then she'll go better. Oh, she can go if she's a mind ter. She's +a rattler when she really gets goin'."</p> + +<p>"I don't want her to rattle," said I; "but what is her ordinary rate of +travel,—how many miles an hour, do you suppose?"</p> + +<p>"Don't know as I ever counted," the boy said. "Some miles she goes +faster, and some miles she goes slower. A good deal depends on whether +it's uphill or downhill."</p> + +<p>"Well," said I, taking out my watch, "we must keep her up to six miles +an hour, at least, and then we shall do the eight miles by half past +nine, with something to spare."</p> + +<p>"Eight miles!" repeated the boy. "Eight miles to where?"</p> + +<p>"Sanpritchit," replied I. "That's what they told me."</p> + +<p>"Oh, that's by water," said the driver; "but this road's got to go +around the end of the bay, and after that 'way round the top of the big +marsh, and that makes it a good seventeen miles to Sanpritchit. Half +past nine! Why, the boss told me, if I didn't get there before twelve, I +must stop somewhere and water the mare and give her some oats. I've got +a bag of them back there."</p> + +<p>I sat dumb. Of course, with this conveyance, and seventeen miles between +me and Sanpritchit, it was absurd to suppose that I could get there +before the yacht sailed. It was ridiculous to go an inch farther on such +a tedious and useless journey.</p> + +<p>"Boy," I asked, "where is the nearest railroad station?"</p> + +<p>"Stipbitts," said he.</p> + +<p>"How far?"</p> + +<p>"Five miles."</p> + +<p>"Take me there," I said.</p> + +<p>The boy looked at me in surprise. "I can't do that. I was told to take +you to Sanpritchit: that's where I'm goin', and I'm goin' to bring back +a box belongin' to Captain Fluke. That's what I 'in goin' to do."</p> + +<p>"I cannot get there in time," I said. "I didn't know it was so far. Take +me to Stipbitts, and I will give you a dollar; then you can go along and +attend to Captain Fluke's box. I have already paid for the drive to +Sanpritchit."</p> + +<p>"Have you got as much as a dollar and a half about you?" asked the boy.</p> + +<p>I replied that I had.</p> + +<p>"All right," said he; "give me that, and I'll take you to Stipbitts."</p> + +<p>The bargain was struck, I was taken to Stipbitts, and an hour afterward +I was on my way to my home at Arden.</p> + +<p>There was one very satisfactory feature about this course of action: it +was plain and simple, and needed no planning. To attempt to follow the +yacht would be useless. To wait anywhere for Walkirk would be equally +so. He would be more apt to find me at my home than anywhere else. It +was his business to find me, and there was no doubt that he would do it. +I did not like to defer my intended interview with Mrs. Raynor, but it +could not be helped. And as for Sylvia, if she had resolved to return to +the House of Martha, the best place for me was the neighborhood of that +institution.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="XXXVI" id="XXXVI"></a>XXXVI.</h2> + +<h3>IN THE SHADE OF THE OAK.</h3> + + +<p>I found my home at Arden very empty and dreary. The servants did not +expect me, my grandmother had not returned, and the absence of Walkirk +added much to my dissatisfaction with the premises.</p> + +<p>I was never a man who could sit down and wait for things to happen, and +I felt now that it was absolutely necessary that I should do something, +that I should talk to somebody; and accordingly, on the morning after my +arrival, I determined to walk over to the House of Martha and talk to +Mother Anastasia. For a man to consult with the Mother Superior of a +religious institution about his love affairs was certainly an uncommon +proceeding, with very prominent features of inappropriateness; but this +did not deter me, for, apart from the fact that there was no one else to +talk to, I considered that Mother Anastasia owed me some advice and +explanation, and without hesitation I went to ask for it.</p> + +<p>When I reached the House of Martha, and made known my desire to speak to +the head of the institution, I was ushered into a room which was barer +and harder than I had supposed, from Walkirk's description of it. It did +not even contain the religious pictures or the crucifixes which would +have relieved the blankness of the walls in a Roman Catholic +establishment of the kind.</p> + +<p>As I stood gazing about me, with a feeling of indignation that such a +place as this should ever have been the home of such a woman as Sylvia, +a door opened, and Mother Anastasia entered.</p> + +<p>Her appearance shocked me. I had in my mind the figure of a woman with +whom I had talked,—a woman glowing with the warmth of a rich beauty, +draped in graceful folds of white, with a broad hat shadowing her face, +and a bunch of wild flowers in her belt. Here was a tall woman clothed +in solemn gray, her face pale, her eyes fixed upon the ground; but it +was Mother Anastasia; it was the woman who had talked to me of Sylvia, +who had promised to help me with Sylvia.</p> + +<p>Still gazing on the floor, with her hands folded before her, she asked +me what I wished. At first I could not answer her. It seemed impossible +to open my heart to a woman such as this one. But if I said anything, I +must say it without hesitation, and so I began.</p> + +<p>"Of course," I said, "I have come to see you about Sylvia Raynor. I am +in much trouble regarding her. You promised to aid me, and I have come +to ask for the fulfillment of that promise. My love for that girl grows +stronger day by day, hour by hour, and I have been thwarted, mystified, +and I may say deceived. I have come"—</p> + +<p>"She of whom you speak," interrupted Mother Anastasia, "is not to be +discussed in that way. She has declared her intention to unite herself +permanently with our sisterhood, and to devote her life to our work. She +can have nothing more to do with you, nor you with her."</p> + +<p>"That will not do at all," I said excitedly. "When I last saw you, you +did not talk like that, and the opinions you expressed at that time are +just as good now as they were then. I want to go over this matter with +you. There are things that I have a right to know."</p> + +<p>A little frown appeared upon her brow. "This conversation must cease," +she said; "the subjects you wish to discuss are forbidden to our +sisterhood. You must mention them no more."</p> + +<p>I tried hard to restrain myself and speak quietly. "Madam"—said I.</p> + +<p>"You must not call me 'madam,'" she broke in. "I am the Mother Superior +of this house."</p> + +<p>"I understand that," I continued, "and I understand your feeling of +duty. But you have other duties besides those you owe to your +sisterhood. You made me a promise, which I accepted with an honest and +confiding heart. If you cannot do what you promised, you owe it to me to +explain why you cannot do it. I do not know what has happened to change +your views and her views, and, so far as I am concerned, the whole +world. You can set me right; you can explain everything to me."</p> + +<p>The frown disappeared, and her face seemed paler. "It is absolutely +impossible to discuss anything of the sort in this house. I must +insist"—</p> + +<p>I did not permit her to finish her sentence. "Very well, then," I +exclaimed, "if you cannot talk to me here, talk to me somewhere else. +When you desire it, you go outside of these walls, and you speak freely +and fully. You have so spoken with me; and because you have done so, it +is absolutely necessary that you do it again. Your own heart, your +conscience, must tell you that after what you have said to me, and after +what I have said to you, it is unjust, to say no more, to leave me in +this state of cruel mystification; not to tell me why you have set aside +your promise to me, or even to tell me, when we talked together of +Sylvia, that we were then at the home of Sylvia's mother."</p> + +<p>For the first time she looked at me, straight in my eyes, as a true +woman would naturally look at a man who was speaking strongly to her. I +think I made her forget, for a few moments at least, that she was a +Mother Superior. Then her eyes fell again, and she stood silent.</p> + +<p>"Perhaps," she said presently, and speaking slowly, "I ought to explain +these things to you. It is a great mistake, as I now see, that I ever +said anything to you on the subject; but things were different then, and +I did not know that I was doing wrong. Still, if you rely on me to set +you right, you shall be set right. I see that this is quite as necessary +from other points of view as from your own. I cannot speak with you +to-day, but to-morrow, about this time, I shall be on the road to Maple +Ridge, where I am going to visit a sick woman."</p> + +<p>"I shall join you on the road," I answered, and took my leave.</p> + +<p>For the rest of the day I thought of little but the promised interview +on the morrow. To this I looked forward with the greatest interest, but +also with the greatest anxiety. I feared that Mother Anastasia would +prove to me that I must give up all thoughts of Sylvia. In fact, if +Sylvia had resolved to devote herself to the service of the House of +Martha,—and she had told me herself that she had so resolved,—I was +quite sure she would do so. Then what was there for Mother Anastasia to +say, or me to do? The case was settled. Sylvia Raynor must be nothing to +me.</p> + +<p>I greatly wished for Walkirk. I knew he would encourage me, in spite of +the obvious blackness of the situation. It was impossible for me to +encourage myself. But, however black my fate might be, I longed to know +why it had been made black and all about it, and so waited with a savage +impatience for the morning and Mother Anastasia.</p> + +<p>Immediately after breakfast, the next day, I was on the Maple Ridge +road, strolling from our village toward the top of a hill a mile or more +away, whence I could see the rest of the road, as it wound through the +lonely country, and at last lost itself in the woods. Back again to +Arden I came, and had covered the distance between the village and the +hilltop five times, when, turning and coming down the hill, I saw, far +away, the figure of a woman walking.</p> + +<p>I knew it was Mother Anastasia, but I did not hasten to meet her. In +fact, I thought the further she was from the village, when our interview +took place, the more likely she would be to make it long enough to be +satisfactory. I came slowly down the hill, and, reaching a place where a +great oak-tree shaded the road, I waited.</p> + +<p>She came on quickly, her gray dress appearing heavier and more sombre +against the sun-lighted grass and foliage than it had appeared in the +dreary room of the House of Martha. As she approached the tree I +advanced to meet her.</p> + +<p>"You made me come too far," she said reproachfully, as soon as we were +near each other. "The lane which leads to the house I came to visit is a +quarter of a mile behind me."</p> + +<p>"I am sorry," I replied, "that I have made you walk any farther than +necessary on such a warm morning, but I did not know that you intended +to turn from this road. Let us step into the shade of this tree; we can +talk more comfortably there."</p> + +<p>She looked at the tree, but did not move. "What I have to say," she +remarked, "can be said here; it will not take long."</p> + +<p>"You must not stand in the sun," I replied; "you are already heated. +Come into the shade," and, without waiting her answer, I walked toward +the tree; she followed me.</p> + +<p>"Now, then," said I, "here is a great stone conveniently placed, upon +which we can sit and rest while we talk."</p> + +<p>She fixed her large eyes upon me with a certain surprise. "Truly, you +have no regard for conventionalities. It is sufficiently out of the way +for a sister of the House of Martha to meet a gentleman in this manner, +but to sit with him under a tree would be ridiculously absurd, to say +the least of it."</p> + +<p>"It does not strike me in that light," I said. "You are tired and warm, +and must sit down. You came here on my account, and I regard you, in a +manner, as a guest."</p> + +<p>She smiled, and looked at the rock which I had pointed out. It was a +flat one, about three feet long, and it seemed as if it had been put +there on purpose to serve for a seat.</p> + +<p>"I am tired," she said, and sat down upon it. As she did so, she gave a +look about her, and at the same time made a movement with her right +hand, which I often before had noticed in women. It was the involuntary +expression of the female soul, longing for a fan. A fan, however, made +up no part of the paraphernalia of a sister of the House of Martha.</p> + +<p>"Allow me," I said, and, taking off my straw hat, I gently fanned her.</p> + +<p>Mother Anastasia laughed. "This is really too much; please stop it. But +you may lend me your hat. I did not know the morning would be so warm, +and I am afraid I walked too fast. But we are losing time. Will you tell +me precisely what it is you wish to know of me?"</p> + +<p>"I can soon do that," I answered; "but I must first say that I believe +you will suffocate if you try to talk from under that cavernous bonnet. +Why don't you take it off, and get the good of this cool shade? You had +discarded all that sort of thing when I last talked with you, and you +were then just as much a Mother Superior as you are now."</p> + +<p>She smiled. "The case was very different then. I was actually obliged, +by the will of another, to discard the garb of our sisterhood."</p> + +<p>"I most earnestly wish," said I, "that you could be obliged to do +partially the same thing now. With that bonnet on, you do not seem at +all the same person with whom I talked on Tangent Island. You appear +like some one to whom I must open the whole subject anew."</p> + +<p>"Oh, don't do that," she said, with a deprecating movement of her +hand,—"I really haven't the time to listen; and if my bonnet hinders +your speech, off it shall come. Now, then, I suppose you want to know +the reason of my change of position in regard to Sylvia and you." As she +said this she took off her bonnet; not with a jerk, as Sylvia had once +removed hers, but carefully, without disturbing the dark hair which was +disposed plainly about her head. I was greatly relieved; this was an +entirely different woman to talk to.</p> + +<p>"Yes," I replied, "that is what I want to know."</p> + +<p>"I will briefly give you my reasons," she said, still fanning herself +with my hat, while I stood before her, earnestly listening, "and you +will find them very good and conclusive reasons. When I spoke to you +before, the case was this: Sylvia Raynor had had a trouble, which made +her think she was the most miserable girl in the whole world, and she +threw herself into our sisterhood. Her mother did not object to this, +because of course Sylvia entered as a probationer, and she thought a few +months of the House of Martha life would do her good. That her daughter +would permanently join the sisterhood never occurred to her. As I was a +relative, it was a natural thing that the girl should enter a house of +which I was the head. I did not approve of the step, but at first I had +no fears about it. After a while, however, I began to have fears. She +never liked our life and never sympathized with it, and her heart was +never enlisted in the cause of the sisterhood; but after a time I found +she was endeavoring to conquer herself, and when a woman with a +will—and Sylvia is one of these—undertakes in earnest to conquer +herself, she generally succeeds. Then it was I began to have my fears, +and then it was I wished to divert her mind from the life of the +sisterhood, and send her back to the world to which she belongs."</p> + +<p>"Then it was you gave me your promise?" I added.</p> + +<p>"Yes," she answered; "and I gave it honestly. I would have helped you +all I could. I truly believed that in so doing I was acting for Sylvia's +good."</p> + +<p>"I thank you from the bottom of my heart," I said; "and tell me, did +Mrs. Raynor know, when I was on the island, of my affection for Sylvia?"</p> + +<p>"She knew as much as I knew," was the answer, "for I went to the island +on purpose to consult with her on the subject; and when you confided in +me, and I gave you my promise to help you, I also told her about that."</p> + +<p>"And did she approve?" I asked anxiously.</p> + +<p>"She did not disapprove. She knew all about you and your family, +although she had never seen you until you were at her island."</p> + +<p>"It is strange," said I, "that I should have happened to go to that +place at that time."</p> + +<p>"Yes," she continued, "it does seem rather odd. But, as I was going to +say, a letter came not more than an hour after we had had our +conversation, which totally altered the face of affairs. Sylvia wrote +that she had resolved to devote her life to the sisterhood. This was a +great blow to her mother and to me, but Mrs. Raynor had firmly resolved +not to interfere with her daughter's resolutions in regard to her future +life. She had done so once, and the results had been very unfortunate. I +was of an entirely different mind, and I resolved, if the thing could be +done, to change Sylvia's purpose; but I failed, and that is the end of +it. She is not to be moved. I know her well, and her conviction and +determination are not to be changed. She is now on a visit to her +mother, and when she returns she will enter the House of Martha as an +inmate for life."</p> + +<p>"Yes," said I, after a little pause, "I know that. I saw her a few days +ago, and she told me of her purpose."</p> + +<p>"What!" cried Mother Anastasia, "you have seen her! A few days ago! She +told you all this! Why did you not say so? Why did you come to me?"</p> + +<p>"Do not be displeased," I said, and as I spoke I seated myself beside +her on the stone. She made no objections. I think she was too much +agitated even to notice it. "I had no intention of keeping anything from +you, but I first wanted to hear what you had to tell me. Sylvia did not +tell me everything, nor have you."</p> + +<p>"Met her, and talked with her!" ejaculated Mother Anastasia. "Will you +tell me how this happened?"</p> + +<p>She listened with the greatest attention to my story.</p> + +<p>"It is wonderful," she said, when I had finished. "It seems like a +tantalizing fate. But it is well you did not overtake Mrs. Raynor. It +would have been of no good to you, and the interview would have greatly +troubled her."</p> + +<p>"Now tell me," I asked, "what I most want to know: what was the reason +of Sylvia's sudden determination?"</p> + +<p>Mother Anastasia fixed her dark eyes on mine; they were full of a tender +sadness. "I thought of you nearly all last night," she said, "and I +determined that if you should ask me that question to-day I would answer +it. It is a hard thing to do, but it is the best thing. Sylvia's resolve +was caused by her conviction that she loved you. Feeling assured of +that, she unhesitatingly took the path which her conscience pointed out +to her."</p> + +<p>"Conscience!" I exclaimed.</p> + +<p>"Yes," said Mother Anastasia, "it was her conscience. She was far more +in earnest than we had thought her. It was conviction, not desire or +sympathy, which had prompted her to enter the sisterhood. Now her +convictions, her conscience, prompt her to crush everything which would +interfere with the life she has chosen. All this she has told me. Her +conscience stands between you and her, and you must understand that what +you wish is absolutely impossible. You must be strong, and give up all +thought of her. Will you promise me to do this?" and as she spoke she +laid her hand upon my arm. "Promise it, and I shall feel that I have +devoted myself this morning to as true a mission of charity as anything +to which our sisters vow themselves."</p> + +<p>I did not respond, but sat silent, with bowed head.</p> + +<p>"I must go now," said Mother Anastasia. "Reflect on what I have said, +and your heart and your practical sense will tell you that what I ask +you to do is what you ought to do and must do. Good-by," and she held +out her hand to me.</p> + +<p>I took her hand and held it. The thought flashed into my mind that when +I released that hand the last tie between Sylvia and myself would be +broken.</p> + +<p>Presently the hand was adroitly withdrawn, Mother Anastasia rose, and I +was left alone, sitting in the shadow of the tree.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="XXXVII" id="XXXVII"></a>XXXVII.</h2> + +<h3>THE PERFORMANCE OF MY UNDER-STUDY.</h3> + + +<p>On the next day, when Walkirk came back, I received him coolly. To be +sure, the time of his return was now of slight importance, but my manner +showed him that on general principles I blamed his delay.</p> + +<p>I did not care to hear his explanations, but proceeded at once to state +the misfortunes which had befallen me. I told him in detail all that had +happened since I left the floating grocery. I did not feel that it was +at all necessary to do this, but there was a certain pleasure in talking +of my mishaps and sorrows; I was so dreadfully tired of thinking of +them.</p> + +<p>As I told Walkirk of my interview with Mother Anastasia on the Maple +Ridge road, he laughed aloud. He instantly checked himself and begged my +pardon, but assured me that never had he heard of a man doing anything +so entirely out of the common as to make an appointment with a Mother +Superior to meet him under a tree. At first I resented his laugh, but I +could not help seeing for myself that the situation, as he presented it, +was certainly an odd one, and that a man with his mind free to ordinary +emotions might be excused for being amused at it.</p> + +<p>When I had finished, and had related how Mother Anastasia had proved to +me that all possible connection between myself and Sylvia Raynor was now +at an end, Walkirk was not nearly so much depressed as I thought he +ought to be. In fact, he endeavored to cheer me, and did not agree with +Mother Anastasia that there was no hope. At this I lost patience.</p> + +<p>"Confound it!" I cried, "what you say is not only preposterous, but +unfeeling. I hate this eternal making the best of things, when there is +no best. With me everything is at its worst, and it is cruel to try to +make it appear otherwise."</p> + +<p>"I am sorry to annoy you," he said, "but I must insist that to me the +situation does not appear to be without some encouraging features. Let +me tell you what has happened to me since we parted."</p> + +<p>I resumed the seat from which I had risen to stride up and down the +room, and Walkirk began his narrative.</p> + +<p>"I do not know, sir," he said, "that I ever have been so surprised as +when I went on deck of the grocery boat, a short time before breakfast, +and found that you were not on board. Captain Jabe and his man were +equally astonished, and I should have feared that you had fallen +overboard, if a man, who had come on the boat at a little pier where we +had stopped very early in the morning, had not assured us that he had +seen you go ashore at that place, but had not thought it worth while to +mention so commonplace an occurrence. I wished to put back to the pier, +but it was then far behind us, and Captain Jabe positively refused to do +so. Both wind and tide would be against us, he said; and if you chose to +go ashore without saying anything to anybody, that was your affair, and +not his. I thought it possible you might have become tired with the slow +progress of his vessel, and had left it, to hire a horse, to get to +Sanpritchit before we did.</p> + +<p>"When we reached Sanpritchit and you were not there, I was utterly +unable to understand the situation; but Mrs. Raynor's yacht was there, +just on the point of sailing, and I considered it my duty, as your +representative, to hasten on board, and to apprise the lady that you +were on your way to see her. Of course she wanted to know why you were +coming, and all that; and as you were not there to do it yourself, I +told her the nature of your errand, and impressed upon her the +importance of delaying her departure until she had seen you and had +heard what you had to say. She did not agree with me that the interview +would be of importance to any one concerned, but she consented to wait +for a time and see you. If you arrived, she agreed to meet you on shore; +for she would not consent to your coming on board the yacht, where her +daughter was. I went ashore, and waited there with great impatience +until early in the afternoon, when a boy arrived, who said he had +started to bring you to Sanpritchit, but that you had changed your mind, +and he had conveyed you to a railroad station, where you had taken a +western-bound train.</p> + +<p>"I went to the yacht to report. I think Mrs. Raynor was relieved at your +non-arrival; and as she knew I wished to join you as soon as possible, +she invited me to sail with them to a little town on the coast,—I +forget its name,—from which I could reach the railroad much quicker +than from Sanpritchit."</p> + +<p>"She did not object, then," said I, "to your being on the yacht with her +daughter?"</p> + +<p>"Oh, no," he answered, "for she found that Miss Raynor did not know me, +or at least recognize me, and had no idea that I was in any way +connected with you. Of course I accepted Mrs. Raynor's offer; but I did +not save any time by it, for the wind fell off toward evening, and for +hours there was no wind at all, and it was late the next afternoon when +we reached the point where I went ashore."</p> + +<p>"Did you see anything of Miss Raynor in all that time?" I inquired.</p> + +<p>"Yes," he replied; "she was on deck a great deal, and I had several +conversations with her."</p> + +<p>"With her alone?" I asked.</p> + +<p>"Yes," said he. "Mrs. Raynor is a great reader and fond of naps, and I +think that the young lady was rather tired of the companionship of her +uncle and the other gentleman, who were very much given to smoking, and +was glad of the novelty of a new acquaintance. On my part, I felt it my +duty to talk to her as much as possible, that I might faithfully report +to you all that she said, and thus give you an idea of the state of her +mind."</p> + +<p>"Humph!" I exclaimed; "but what did she say?"</p> + +<p>"Of course," continued Walkirk, "a great deal of our conversation was +desultory and of no importance, but I endeavored, as circumspectly as I +could, so to turn the conversation that she might say something which it +would be worth while to report to you."</p> + +<p>"Now, Walkirk," said I, "if I had known you were doing a thing of that +sort, I should not have approved of it. But did she say anything that in +any way referred to me?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, she did," he answered, "and this is the way it came about. +Something—I think it was the heat of the windless day—caused her to +refer to the oppressive costume of the sisters of the House of Martha, +and she then remarked that she supposed I knew she was one of that +sisterhood. I replied that I had been so informed, and then betrayed as +much natural interest in regard to the vocations and purposes of the +organization as I thought would be prudent. I should have liked to bring +up every possible argument against the folly of a young lady of her +position and prospects extinguishing the very light of her existence in +that hard, cold, soul-chilling house which I knew so well, but the +circumstances did not warrant that. I was obliged to content myself with +very simple questions.</p> + +<p>"'How do the sisters employ themselves?' I inquired.</p> + +<p>"'In all sorts of ways,' she said. 'Some nurse or teach, and others work +for wages, like ordinary people, except that they do not have anything +to do with the money they earn, which is paid directly to the house.'</p> + +<p>"'I think,' I then remarked, 'that there are a good many employments +which would give the sisters very pleasant occupation, such as +decorative art or clerical work.'</p> + +<p>"At this her face brightened. 'Clerical work is very nice. I tried that +once, myself.'</p> + +<p>"'Was it book-keeping?' I asked.</p> + +<p>"'Oh, no,' she answered; 'I shouldn't have liked that. It was writing +from dictation. I worked regularly so many hours every morning. It was a +book which was dictated to me,—sketches of travel; that is, it was +partly travel and partly fiction. It was very interesting.'</p> + +<p>"'I should think it would be so,' I answered. 'To ladies of education +and literary taste, I should say such employment would be highly +congenial. Do you intend to devote yourself principally to that sort of +thing?'</p> + +<p>"'Oh, no,' said she, 'not at all. I like the work very much, but, for +various reasons, I shall not do any more of it.'</p> + +<p>"I endeavored mildly to remonstrate against such a decision, but she +shook her head. 'I was not a full sister at the time,' she said, 'and +this was an experiment. I shall do no more of it.'</p> + +<p>"Her manner was very decided, but I did not drop the subject. 'If you do +not fancy writing from dictation,' I said, 'why don't you try +typewriting? I should think that would be very interesting, and it could +be done in your own room. The work would not require you to go out at +all, if you object to that.' Now this was a slip, because she had not +told me that she had gone out, but she did not notice it.</p> + +<p>"'A sister does not have a room of her own,' she answered, 'and I do not +understand typewriting;' and with that she left me, and went below, +looking very meditative.</p> + +<p>"But my remark had had an effect. I think it was not half an hour +afterward when she came to me.</p> + +<p>"'I have been thinking about your suggestion of typewriting,' she said. +'Is it difficult to learn? Do you understand it? What use could I make +of a machine in the House of Martha?'</p> + +<p>"I told her that I understood the art, and gave her all the information +I could in regard to it, taking care to make the vocation as attractive +as my conscience would allow. As to the use she could make of it, I said +that at present there was a constant demand for typewritten copies of +all sorts of writings,—legal, literary, scientific, everything.</p> + +<p>"'And people would send me things,' she asked, 'and I would copy them on +the typewriter, and send them back, and that would be all?'</p> + +<p>"'You have put it exactly,' I said. 'If you do not choose, you need have +no communication whatever with persons ordering the work.'</p> + +<p>"'And do you know of any one who would want such work done?'</p> + +<p>"'Yes,' I said; 'I know people who would be very glad to send papers to +be copied. I could procure you some work which would be in no hurry, and +that would be an advantage to you in the beginning.'</p> + +<p>"'Indeed it would,' she said; and then her mother joined us, and the +subject of typewriting was dropped. The only time that it was referred +to again was at the very end of my trip, when Miss Raynor came to me, +just as I was preparing to leave the yacht, and told me that she had +made up her mind to get a typewriter and to learn to use it; and she +asked me, if I were still willing to assist her in securing work, to +send my address to the Mother Superior of the House of Martha, which of +course I assured her I would do."</p> + +<p>"Why in the name of common sense," I cried, turning suddenly around in +my chair and facing Walkirk, "did you put into Miss Raynor's head all +that stuff about typewriting? Did you do it simply because you liked to +talk to her?"</p> + +<p>"By no means," he replied. "I did it solely on your account and for your +benefit. If she learns to copy manuscripts on the typewriter, why should +she not copy your manuscripts? Not immediately, perhaps, but in the +natural course of business. If she should make me her agent, which I +have no doubt she would be willing to do, I could easily manage all +that. In this way you could establish regular communications with her. +There would be no end to your opportunities, and I am sure you would +know how to use them with such discretion and tact that they would be +very effective."</p> + +<p>I folded my arms, and looked at him. "Walkirk," said I, "you are +positively, completely, and hopelessly off the track. Mother Anastasia +has shown me exactly how I stand with Sylvia Raynor. She has vowed +herself to that sisterhood because she thinks it is wrong to love me. +She has made her decision, and has taken all the wretched steps which +have rendered that decision final, and now I do not intend to try to +make her do what she religiously believes is wrong."</p> + +<p>"That is not my idea," answered Walkirk. "What I wish is that she shall +get herself into such a state of mind that she shall think the +sisterhood is wrong, and therefore leave it."</p> + +<p>I gave a snort of despair and disgust, and began to stride up and down +the room. Presently, however, I recovered my temper. "Walkirk," said I, +"I am quite sure that you mean well, and I don't intend to find fault +with you; but this sort of thing does not suit me; let us have no more +of it."</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="XXXVIII" id="XXXVIII"></a>XXXVIII.</h2> + +<h3>A BROKEN TRACE.</h3> + + +<p>As soon as my grandmother heard that I was at Arden, she terminated her +visit abruptly, and returned home. When she saw me, she expressed the +opinion that my holiday had not been of any service to me. She did not +remember ever seeing me so greatly out of condition, and was of the +opinion that I ought to see the doctor.</p> + +<p>"These watering places and islands," she said, "are just as likely to be +loaded down with malaria as any other place. In fact, I don't know but +it is just as well for our health for us to stay at home. That is, if we +live in a place like Arden."</p> + +<p>I had no desire to conceal from this nearest and dearest friend and +relative the real cause of my appearance, and I laid before her all the +facts concerning Sylvia and myself.</p> + +<p>She was not affected as I supposed she would be. In fact, my narrative +appeared to relieve her mind of some of her anxieties.</p> + +<p>"Any way," she remarked, after a moment or two of consideration, "this +is better than malaria. If you get anything of that kind into your +system, it is probable that you will never get it out, and it is at any +time likely to affect your health, one way or another; but love affairs +are different. They have a powerful influence upon a person, as I well +know, but there is not about them that insidious poison, which, although +you may think you have entirely expelled it from your system, is so +likely to crop out again, especially in the spring and fall."</p> + +<p>To this I made no answer but a sigh. What was the good of saying that, +in my present state of mind, health was a matter of indifference to me?</p> + +<p>"I am not altogether surprised," continued my grandmother, "that that +secretary business turned out in this way. If it had been any other +young woman, I should have advised against it, but Sylvia Raynor is a +good match,—good in every way; and I thought that if her working with +you had made you like her, and had made her like you, it might be very +well; but I am sure it never entered my mind that if you did come to +like each other she would choose the sisterhood instead of you. I knew +that she was not then a full sister, and I hadn't the slightest doubt +that if you two really did fall in love with each other she would leave +the House of Martha as soon as her time was up. You must not think, my +dear boy," she continued, "that I am anxious to get rid of you, but you +know you must marry some day."</p> + +<p>I solemnly shook my head. "All that," I said, "is at an end. We need +speak no more of it."</p> + +<p>My grandmother arose, and gently placed her hand upon my shoulder. +"Come! come! Do not be so dreadfully cast down. You have yet one strong +ground of hope."</p> + +<p>"What is that?" I inquired.</p> + +<p>My grandmother looked into my face and smiled. "The girl isn't dead +yet," she answered.</p> + +<p>I now found myself in a very unsettled and unpleasant state of mind. My +business affairs, which had been a good deal neglected of late, I put +into the charge of Walkirk, who attended to them with much interest and +ability. My individual concerns—that is to say, the guidance and +direction of myself—I took into my own hands, and a sorry business I +made of it.</p> + +<p>I spent a great deal of my time wondering whether or not Sylvia had +returned to the House of Martha. I longed for her coming. The very +thought of her living within a mile of me was a wild and uneasy +pleasure. Then I would ask myself why I wished her to come. Her presence +in the neighborhood would be of no good to me unless I saw her, and of +course I could not see her. And if this could be so, what would be worse +for me, or for her, than our seeing each other? From these abstract +questions I came to a more practical one: What should I do? To go away +seemed to be a sensible thing, but I was tired of going away. I liked my +home, and, besides, Sylvia would be in the neighborhood. It also seemed +wise to stay, and endeavor to forget her. But how could I forget her, if +she were in the neighborhood? If she were to go away, I might be willing +to go away also; but the chances were that I should not know where she +had gone, and how could I endure to go to any place where I was certain +she was not?</p> + +<p>During this mental tangle I confided in no one. There was no one who +could sympathize with my varying view of the subject, and I knew there +was no one with whose view of the subject I could agree. Sometimes it +was almost impossible for me to sympathize with myself.</p> + +<p>It suited my mood to take long walks in the surrounding country. One +morning, returning from one of these, when about half a mile out of the +village, I saw in the road, not very far from me, a carriage, which +seemed to be in distress. It was a four-wheeled, curtained vehicle, of +the kind to be had for hire at the railroad stations; and beside the +raw-boned horse which drew it stood a man and a woman, the latter in the +gray garb of a sister of the House of Martha.</p> + +<p>When I recognized this costume, my heart gave a jump, and I hastened +toward the group; but the woman had perceived my approach, and to my +surprise came toward me. I quickly saw that it was Mother Anastasia. My +heart sank; without any good reason, it must be admitted, but still it +sank.</p> + +<p>The face of the Mother Superior was slightly flushed, as she walked +rapidly in my direction. Saluting her, I inquired what had happened.</p> + +<p>"Nothing of importance," she answered; "a trace has broken."</p> + +<p>"I will go and look at it," I said. "Sometimes that sort of mishap can +be easily remedied."</p> + +<p>"Oh, no," said she, "don't trouble yourself. It's broken in the middle, +and so you cannot cut a fresh hole in it, or do any of those things +which men do to broken traces. I have told the boy that he must take out +the horse, and ride it back to the stable and get another set of +harness. That is the only thing to be done. I shall wait here for his +return, and I am very glad to have met you."</p> + +<p>Naturally I was pleased at this. "Then you have something to say to me?" +I remarked.</p> + +<p>"Yes," she answered, "I have a good deal to say. Let us walk on to a +more shaded place."</p> + +<p>"Now it strikes me," said I, "that the most pleasant place to wait will +be in the carriage; there we can sit and talk quite comfortably."</p> + +<p>"Oh, no," she said, with a sort of half laugh, "it is stuffy and horrid. +I greatly prefer the fresh air. I have reason to suppose you do not +object to conversing under a tree. I see a promising bit of shade a +little farther on."</p> + +<p>"Would it be wise to go so far from the carriage?" I asked. "Have you +left in it anything of value?"</p> + +<p>Mother Anastasia was more animated than I had ever seen her before when +in the uniform of the house.</p> + +<p>"Oh, pshaw!" she answered. "You know the people around here do not steal +things out of carriages. Let us step on."</p> + +<p>"But first," I said, "I will run down and pull the carriage out of the +way of passing vehicles. It now stands almost across the road."</p> + +<p>With a movement of impatience, she put her hand upon my arm. "Don't +trouble yourself about that hack; let it stand where it is. I wish to +speak with you, and do not let us waste our time."</p> + +<p>I had no objection to speaking with Mother Anastasia, and, giving no +further thought to the abandoned vehicle, I walked with her to a spot +where a clump of straggling locust-trees threw a scanty shade upon the +sidewalk. I could not but feel that my companion had something important +to say to me, for she was evidently a good deal agitated. She stepped a +little in front of me, and then turned and faced me.</p> + +<p>"There is no place to sit down here," she said, "but I'm not tired, are +you?"</p> + +<p>I assured her that I was not, and would as soon talk standing as +sitting.</p> + +<p>"Now, then," she began, "tell me about yourself. What have you been +doing? What are your plans?"</p> + +<p>"My plans!" I cried. "Of what importance are my plans and actions? I +thought you wished to speak to me of Sylvia."</p> + +<p>She smiled. "There is really nothing to say about that young person, of +whom, by the way, you should not speak as 'Sylvia.' She is now a full +member of the sisterhood, and has accepted the name of 'Sister Hagar.' +We found that the other sisters would not like it if an exception were +made in her favor, in regard to her name."</p> + +<p>"'Hagar!'" I groaned. "Horrible!"</p> + +<p>"Oh, no," replied Mother Anastasia, "there is nothing horrible about it. +'Hagar' is a little harsh, perhaps, but one soon gets used to that sort +of thing."</p> + +<p>"I can never get used to it," I said.</p> + +<p>"My dear Mr. Vanderley," said the Mother Superior, speaking very +earnestly, but with a gentleness that was almost affectionate, "I wish I +could impress upon your mind that there is no need of your getting used +to the name of our young sister, or of your liking it or disliking it. +You ought thoroughly to understand, from what she has told you, and from +what I have told you, that she never can be anything to you, and that, +out of regard to yourself, if to no one else, you should cease to think +of her as I see you do think."</p> + +<p>"As long as I live in this world," I replied, "I shall continue to think +of her as I do think."</p> + +<p>Mother Anastasia gave a sigh. "The unreasonableness of men is something +inexplicable. Perhaps you think I am not old enough to give you advice, +but I will say that, for your own sake, you ought to crush and +obliterate the feelings you have toward our sister; and if you do not +choose to do it for your own sake, you ought to do it for her sake and +that of our sisterhood. It makes it extremely awkward for us, to say the +least of it, to know that there is a gentleman in the village who is in +love with one of the sisters of the House of Martha."</p> + +<p>"I suppose you would have me exile myself," I replied, "leave forever my +home, my grandmother, everything that is dear to me, and all for the +sake of the peace and quiet of your sisterhood. Let me assure you I do +not care enough for your sisterhood to do that."</p> + +<p>The Mother Superior smiled ironically, but not ill-naturedly. "I am very +much afraid," she remarked, "that in this matter you care for no one but +yourself. There is nothing so selfish as a man in love."</p> + +<p>"He needs to be," I answered. "But tell me, is Sylvia here?"</p> + +<p>"Sylvia again," said she, half laughing. "Yes, she has returned to the +House of Martha, and you can see for yourself that, if you continue in +your present state of mind, it will be impossible for her ever to go +outside of the house."</p> + +<p>"I shall not hurt her," I answered.</p> + +<p>"Yes, you will hurt her," quickly replied Mother Anastasia. "You will +hurt her very much, if you meet her, and show by your words, looks, or +actions that your former attitude toward her is not changed." She came +nearer to me, looking into my face with her eyes full of an earnest +tenderness, and as she spoke she laid the tips of her fingers gently +upon my shoulder. She had a very pleasant way of doing this. "I do +wish," she said, "that you would let me prevail upon you to do what your +conscience must tell you is right. If you have ever loved the girl who +was once Sylvia Raynor, that is the best of reasons why you should cease +to love her now. You owe it to her to cease to love her."</p> + +<p>I looked steadily into the face of the Mother Superior.</p> + +<p>"You promise me that you will do that?" she said, with a smile upon her +lips and a light in her eyes which might have won over almost any man to +do almost anything. "You promise me that you will allow our young +sister, who has hardships enough to bear without any more being thrust +upon her, to try to be happy in the way she has chosen, and that you +will try to be happy in the way you should have chosen; that you will go +out into the world and act your part in life; that you will look upon +this affair as something which has vanished into the past; and that you +will say to your heart, 'You are free, if not by my will, by the +irresistible force of circumstances'?"</p> + +<p>I looked at her a few moments in silence, and then answered, very +quietly, "I shall do nothing of the kind."</p> + +<p>She gave her head a little toss and stepped backward, and then, with a +half laugh which seemed to indicate an amused hopelessness, she said: +"You are utterly impracticable, and I am certain I do not know what is +to be done about it. But I see that the boy has returned with the horse, +and I must continue my journey. I am going to the Iron Furnace to see a +sick woman. I wish you would think of what I have said, and remember +that it was spoken from the depth of my soul. And do not think," she +continued, as I turned and accompanied her toward the carriage, "that I +do not appreciate the state of your feelings. I understand them +thoroughly, and I sympathize with you as perhaps only a woman can +sympathize; but still I say to you that there are some things in this +world which we must give up, and which we ought to give up promptly and +willingly."</p> + +<p>"Do you think," said I, "that if Sylvia were to learn typewriting there +would be any objection to her copying manuscript for me?"</p> + +<p>Mother Anastasia burst into a laugh. "You ought to be ashamed of +yourself for making a person of my position behave so giddily in the +presence of a hack-driver."</p> + +<p>We now reached the carriage, and I assisted her to enter it.</p> + +<p>"Good-morning," she said, her face still perturbed by her suddenly +checked merriment, "and do not forget the counsels I have given you."</p> + +<p>I bowed and stepped back, but the driver did not start. He sat for a +moment irresolute, and then, turning toward Mother Anastasia, asked, +"Shall I wait for the other sister?"</p> + +<p>"Oh, go on!" cried the Mother Superior. "There is no other sister."</p> + +<p>The boy, startled by her tone, gave his horse a cut, and the equipage +rattled away. I walked slowly homeward, meditating earnestly upon Mother +Anastasia's words and upon Mother Anastasia.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="XXXIX" id="XXXIX"></a>XXXIX.</h2> + +<h3>A SOUL WHISPER?</h3> + + +<p>My meditations upon the Mother Superior of the House of Martha were not +concluded during my homeward walk; the subject occupied my mind for the +greater part of the rest of the day. I do not call myself a philosopher, +but I am in the habit of looking into the nature and import of what +happens about me. My reflections on Mother Anastasia gradually produced +in me the conviction that there was something more in her words, her +manner, and her actions than would appear to the ordinary observer.</p> + +<p>In considering this matter, I went back to the very first of my +intercourse with this beautiful woman, who, divested of the dismal +disguise of her sisterhood, had produced upon my memory an impression +which was so strong that, whenever I now thought of Mother Anastasia, +she appeared before my mental vision in a white dress, with a broad hat +and a bunch of flowers in her belt. In the character of a beautiful and +sensible woman, and not at all in that of a Mother Superior, she had +warmly commended my suit of Sylvia Raynor. With our regard for Sylvia as +a basis, we had consulted, we had confided, we had shown ourselves to +each other in a most frank and friendly manner.</p> + +<p>Suddenly she had changed, she had deserted me without a word of +explanation, and the next time I saw her she was totally opposed to my +maintaining any connection whatever with Sylvia.</p> + +<p>But there had been more than this. This woman, beautiful even in her +gray garb, had shown an increasing interest in the subject, which could +not be altogether explained by her interest in Sylvia. If she truly +believed that that young sister would devote her life to the service of +the House of Martha, that matter might be considered as settled; and +what was her object in so earnestly endeavoring to impress upon my mind +the fact that I could not marry Sylvia? It might be supposed that, in +the ordinary course of events, I should be compelled to admit this +point. But not only did she continually bring up this view of the +subject, but she showed such a growing interest in me and my welfare +that it made me uneasy.</p> + +<p>It is almost impossible truly to understand a woman; most men will admit +this. I could not say that I understood Mother Anastasia. At times I +hoped I did not understand her. From what I knew of the constitution of +the sisterhood, some of its members were vowed to it for life, and +others for a stated period. Putting together this and that which Mother +Anastasia had said to me about the organization, it did not appear to me +that she felt that devotion to it which a sister for life would +naturally feel. She had used all the art of a logician to impress upon +me the conviction that Sylvia was a life sister, and could be nothing +else. Was it possible—I scarcely dared to ask myself the question—that +she had used the arts of a woman to intimate to me that she might be +something else? It did not cross my mind for an instant that anything +that Mother Anastasia had said to me, or anything that could be deduced +from her manner, was in the slightest degree out of the way. A woman has +a right to indicate her position in regard to a fellow-being, and in +this age she generally does indicate it. If the true nature of Mother +Anastasia had so far exerted itself as to impel her, perhaps +involuntarily, to let me know that she was as much a woman as she was a +Mother Superior, and that in time she would be all of the first and not +any of the latter, she had truly done this with a delicate ingenuousness +beyond compare. It had not been the exhalation by the flower of inviting +perfume or its show of color; it had been the simple opening of the +blossom to the free sun and air before my eyes.</p> + +<p>My last interview with Mother Anastasia had crystallized in my mind a +mist of suppositions and fancies which had vaguely floated there for +some time. It is not surprising that I was greatly moved at the form the +crystal took.</p> + +<p>When Walkirk came, the next day, to make his usual reports, I talked to +him of Mother Anastasia. Of course I did not intimate to him how I had +been thinking of her, but I gave him as many facts as possible, in order +that I might discover what he would think of her. When I had finished my +account of the interview of the morning before, I could see that a very +decided impression had been made upon him. His countenance twitched, he +smiled, he looked upon the floor. For a moment I thought he was going to +laugh.</p> + +<p>"This amuses you," I remarked.</p> + +<p>"Yes," he replied, his face having recovered its ordinary composure, "it +is a little funny. Mother Anastasia seems to be a good deal of a +manager."</p> + +<p>"Yes," I said reflectively, "that is true. It is quite plain that, +perceiving an opportunity of a private conference with me, she took +advantage of the circumstances. We could have had an ordinary chat just +as well in one place as another, but it was easy to see that she did not +wish the boy who was unhitching the horse to hear even the first words +of our conversation. As you say, she is a good manager, and I had my +suspicions of that before you mentioned it." As I said this I could not +help smiling, as I thought how surprised he would be if he knew in what +direction my suspicions pointed. "Do you know," I continued, "if it is +necessary that the head of a sisterhood should be a life member of it?"</p> + +<p>"I have never heard," he answered, "but I have been informed that the +organization of the House of Martha is a very independent one, and does +not attempt to conform itself to that of any other sisterhood. The women +who founded it had ideas of their own, and what rules and laws they made +I do not know."</p> + +<p>For a few moments I walked up and down the room; then I asked, "How did +Mother Anastasia come to be the Mother Superior?"</p> + +<p>"I have been told," said Walkirk, "that she gave most of the money for +the founding of the institution, and it was natural enough that she +should be placed at the head. I have an idea that she would not have +been willing to enter the House except as its head."</p> + +<p>"It is about four years since it was established, is it not?" I asked; +and Walkirk assured me that I was correct.</p> + +<p>All this information ranged itself on the side of conviction. She was +just the woman to try a thing of this kind for a stated time; she was +just the woman not to like it; and she was just the woman whose soul +could not be prevented from whispering that the gates of the bright +world were opening before her. But why should her soul whisper this to +me? The whole matter troubled me very much.</p> + +<p>I determined not to base any action upon what had thus forced itself +upon my mind. I would wait. I would see what would happen next. I would +persist in my determination never to give up Sylvia. And I will mention +that there was a little point in connection with her which at this time +greatly annoyed me: whenever I thought of her, she appeared before me in +the gray dress of a sister, and not as I had seen her on the island. I +wished very much that this were not the case.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="XL" id="XL"></a>XL.</h2> + +<h3>AN INSPIRATION.</h3> + + +<p>I now found myself in an embarrassing situation. All my plans and hopes +of tidings from Sylvia, or of any possible connection with her, were +based upon Mother Anastasia. But would it be wise for me to continue my +very friendly relations with the Mother Superior? On my side these +relations were extremely pleasant, though that did not matter, one way +or another. But would it be kind and just to her to meet with her on the +footing I had enjoyed? In every point of this affair I wished to be +honorable and considerate. Acting on these principles, I went away for +two weeks. It was very hard for me to absent myself for so long a period +from Arden, but it was my duty. To take the chances of another meeting +with Mother Anastasia, following close upon the recent one, which had +made so forcible an impression upon me, would be imprudent. A moderate +absence might be of great advantage.</p> + +<p>On my return I took to strolling about the village, especially in the +neighborhood of the House of Martha; and if, in these strolls, I had met +the Mother Superior, I should not have hesitated to accost her and ask +news of Sylvia. For more reasons than one, I felt it was highly +desirable that I should impress it on the mind of Mother Anastasia that +my interest in Sylvia had not in the least abated.</p> + +<p>But several days passed, and I met no one clad in gray bonnet and gown. +I was disappointed; there were a good many questions about Sylvia which +I wished to ask, and a good many things in regard to her that I wished +to say. I might go to the House of Martha and boldly ask to see the +Mother Superior; but a step like that might produce an undesirable +impression, and naturally the position in which I had placed myself +regarding Sylvia would prevent my going to visit her.</p> + +<p>As I could do nothing for myself in this matter, I must ask some one to +help me, and there was no one so willing and able to do this as my +grandmother. She could go to the House of Martha and ask what questions +she pleased. I went to the dear old lady and made known my desires. She +laid down her knitting and gave me her whole attention.</p> + +<p>"Now tell me exactly what it is you want," she said. "You cannot expect +to be asked to take tea with the sisters, you know, though I see no +reason why you should not. Say what they will, they are not nuns."</p> + +<p>"What I want," I replied, "is to know how Sylvia is, what she is doing, +all about her. I do not even know that she is still there."</p> + +<p>"My dear boy," said my grandmother, very tenderly, "I suppose that even +if you are obliged to give up all hope of ever having Sylvia for your +own, you will want to know every day for the rest of your life just how +she is getting on."</p> + +<p>"Yes," I answered, "that is true."</p> + +<p>"Poor fellow," said the old lady, her eyes a little dimmed as she spoke, +"the fates have not been using you well. Is there anything else you want +me to inquire about?"</p> + +<p>"Oh, yes," I answered. "I take a great interest in the institution."</p> + +<p>"Which is natural enough, since Sylvia is there," interpolated my +grandmother.</p> + +<p>"And I should be glad," I continued, "to know anything of interest +regarding the sisterhood, from the Mother Superior down."</p> + +<p>"Mother Anastasia is a very fine woman," said my grandmother, "and I +should think you would be likely to be greatly interested in her. I am +going to make some inquiries about the rules of the House of Martha. I +see no reason why the sisters should not occasionally accept invitations +to tea."</p> + +<p>This remark startled me, and I was prompted to make a cautionary +observation. But I restrained myself; in cases like this interference +would be likely to provoke comment, and by my grandmother's desire I +went to order the carriage.</p> + +<p>In less than an hour she returned. I was promptly at hand to receive her +report.</p> + +<p>"Well," said she, "I have visited the sisters, but I am sorry I did not +see Mother Anastasia. She was away."</p> + +<p>"Away!" I exclaimed. "Where has she gone?"</p> + +<p>"She went to Washington more than a week ago," was the answer.</p> + +<p>"For a long stay?" I asked quickly.</p> + +<p>"The sisters did not know," continued my grandmother, "but their +impression is that she will return in a few days."</p> + +<p>I knitted my brows.</p> + +<p>"You are disappointed, and so am I. I intended to ask her here to tea +next Friday, and to urge her, if she did not too greatly object, to +bring Sylvia with her. There is nothing like quiet intercourse of that +kind to break down obstacles."</p> + +<p>"Alas," I said, "I am afraid there are obstacles"—</p> + +<p>"But do not let us talk about them," she interrupted. "Nobody knows what +will happen, and let us be as happy as we can."</p> + +<p>"Did you see Sylvia?" I asked.</p> + +<p>"Oh, yes," she answered, "and I had some talk with her, but it did not +amount to much. She is trying to make a regular nun of herself,—that +is, if a Protestant can be a nun,—but I do not think she will ever +succeed. She admitted that she greatly disliked the ordinary work of the +sisters, and wished to employ herself in some way which would be just as +lucrative to the institution, and yet not so repugnant to her. Now you +can see for yourself that that will not do. If she intends to be a +sister of the House of Martha, she must do as the other sisters do. She +cannot always expect to be an exception. At present she is learning +typewriting."</p> + +<p>I gave a great start. "Typewriting!" I exclaimed.</p> + +<p>"Yes," said my grandmother. "Is it not odd that she should have taken up +that? She has a machine, and practices steadily on it. She showed me +some of her printed sheets, and I must say, so far as I am concerned, +that I should prefer plain handwriting, where the letters are not so +likely to get on top of one another. She wanted to know if I could give +her any advice about getting work, when she thought she could do it well +enough; but of course I know nothing about such things. My hope is that +she will get to dislike that as much as she does nursing and apothecary +work, and to find out that her real duty is to live like an ordinary +human being, and so make herself and other people truly happy."</p> + +<p>I do not know that there is any inherent connection between a +typewriting machine and the emotions and sentiments of love, but in this +case such a connection instantly established itself in my mind. It +seemed plain to me that Walkirk's suggestion to Sylvia had taken root; +and why did she wish to typewrite, if she did not wish to typewrite for +me? Was this an endeavor of her tender heart to keep up a thread of +connection with me which should not be inconsistent with the duties, the +vows, and the purposes of her life? Dear girl! If the thing could be +managed, she should typewrite for me as much as she wished, even if she +piled the letters on one another as high as the Great Pyramid.</p> + +<p>With much enthusiasm, I communicated to Walkirk my intention to employ +Sylvia in typewriting, and requested his assistance in regard to the +details of the business. I could easily furnish her material enough. I +had lots of things I should like to have copied, and I was ready to +prepare a great deal more. My under-study made no allusion to my +previous reception of his suggestion about typewriting, but brought his +practical mind to bear upon the matter, and advised that preliminary +arrangements should be made immediately. In a case like this it was well +to be in time, and to secure the services of Miss Raynor at once. I +agreed with Walkirk that it was very wise to take time by the forelock, +but Mother Anastasia was the only person who could properly regulate +this affair, which should be instantly laid before her; and as it was +impossible to find out when she would return to Arden, I felt that it +was my duty to go to her. When I mentioned this plan to Walkirk, he +offered to go in my place, but I declined. This was a very delicate +affair, to which no one could attend as well as I could myself.</p> + +<p>"Walkirk," said I, "do you suppose that the Mother Superior will appear +in Washington under her real name, or as Mother Anastasia? And, by the +way, what is her real name?"</p> + +<p>"Is it possible," exclaimed Walkirk, "that you do not know it? It is +Raynor,—Miss Marcia Raynor. She is a cousin of the younger lady."</p> + +<p>"Oh, yes, I know that," I replied; "but it never occurred to me to +inquire what name Mother Anastasia bore before she entered the House of +Martha. The first thing for me to do is to get her Washington address."</p> + +<p>"And may I ask," continued Walkirk, "how you are going to do that?"</p> + +<p>I was not prepared to give an immediate answer to this question.</p> + +<p>"I suppose," I remarked presently, "that it would not do to ask for the +address at the House of Martha, but I could go to Sylvia's mother. I +should like to call there, any way, and I have no doubt she would know +where Mother Anastasia would be likely to stop."</p> + +<p>My under-study shook his head. "Pardon me," he said, "but I do not think +it would be wise to go to Mrs. Raynor. She would be sure to connect her +daughter with your urgent desire to see Mother Anastasia, and she would +not hesitate to question you on the matter. I think I understand her +disposition in regard to you and Miss Raynor, and I am very certain that +when she heard of the typewriting scheme she would instantly put her +foot on it; and if I am not mistaken," he continued, with a noticeable +deference in his tone, "that is the only reason you can give for your +wish to confer with Mother Anastasia."</p> + +<p>I strode impatiently up and down the room. "Certainly it is," said I, +"and although it is reason enough, I suppose you are right, and it would +not do to offer it to Mrs. Raynor; and, for the matter of that, Mother +Anastasia may think it a very little thing to take me down to +Washington."</p> + +<p>"I had thought of that," said Walkirk, "and that was one reason why I +proposed to go in your stead."</p> + +<p>I made no answer to this remark. My mind was filled with annoying +reflections about the unreasonableness of people who insist upon knowing +people's reasons for doing things, and my annoyance was increased by the +conviction, now that I looked more closely into the matter, that the +only reason I could give for hastening after Mother Anastasia in this +way was indeed a very little one.</p> + +<p>"Walkirk," I exclaimed, "can't you think of some other reason for my +seeing the Mother Superior without delay?"</p> + +<p>"Truly," he replied, smiling, "it is rather difficult. You might offer +to build an annex to the House of Martha, but such a matter could surely +wait until the return of the Mother Superior."</p> + +<p>I sniffed, and continued to stride. I must see Mother Anastasia in +Washington, because there I might have a chance of speaking to her +freely, which I could not expect to have anywhere else; and yet how was +I going to explain to her, or to any one else, my desire to speak with +her at all? It might have been difficult to explain this to myself; at +all events, I did not try to do it. Suddenly an idea struck me.</p> + +<p>"Annex!" I cried,—"capital!"</p> + +<p>"My dear sir," said Walkirk, rising in much agitation, "I hope you do +not think that I seriously proposed your building an annex to"—</p> + +<p>"Building!" I interrupted. "Nonsense! The annex I am thinking of is +quite different; and yet not altogether so, either. Walkirk, don't you +think that a man in my position could do a great deal to help those +sisters in their good work? Don't you think that he could act as an +outside collaborator? I am sure there are many things he could do which +might not be suitable for them to do, or which they might not want to +do. For instance, this business that has taken Mother Anastasia to +Washington. Perhaps it is something that she hates to do, and I might +have done as well as not. I have a mind to propose to her to go in and +take all this sort of thing off the hands of the sisters. I think that +is a good practical idea, and it is very natural that I should wish to +propose it to her at the very time she is engaged in this outside +business."</p> + +<p>"In a word," remarked Walkirk, "you would make yourself a brother of the +House of Martha."</p> + +<p>I laughed. "That is not a bad notion," I said; "in fact, it is a very +good one. I do not know that I shall put the matter exactly in that +light, but a brother of the House of Martha is what I should like to be. +Then I should be free to discuss all sorts of things, and to do all +sorts of things. And I could be of a lot of service, I am sure. But I +shall approach the matter cautiously. I shall begin with a simple offer +of service, and, perhaps, for the present I may drop the typewriting +plan. Now for Mother Anastasia's address. I must get that without +delay."</p> + +<p>Walkirk did not seem to have paid attention to this last remark. His +mind appeared occupied with amusing reflections.</p> + +<p>"I beg your pardon," he said, in apologizing for his abstraction, "but I +was thinking what a funny thing it would be to be a brother of the House +of Martha. As to the address—let me see. Do you remember that lady who +was staying with Mrs. Raynor, at her island, who called herself a +Person,—Miss Laniston?"</p> + +<p>"Of course I remember her," I answered, "and with the greatest disgust."</p> + +<p>"I happen to know her address," said Walkirk, "and I think she is more +likely to give you the information you want than Mrs. Raynor. If you do +not care to confer with her, I can go to the city"—</p> + +<p>"No, no, no!" I exclaimed. "She might object to giving you the address; +I shall insist that she give it to me. I think I can manage the matter. +She owes me something, and she knows it."</p> + +<p>In fact, I did not care to trust Walkirk with this affair. It was plain +that he did not thoroughly sympathize with me in the project. I was +afraid he might make a blunder, or in some way fail me. Any way, this +was a matter which I wished to attend to myself.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="XLI" id="XLI"></a>XLI.</h2> + +<h3>MISS LANISTON.</h3> + + +<p>At eight o'clock that evening I was at the house of Miss Laniston. The +lady was at home, and received me. She advanced with both hands +extended.</p> + +<p>"Truly," she cried, "this is the most charming instance of masculine +forgiveness I have ever witnessed."</p> + +<p>I took one of her hands; this much for the sake of policy. "Madam," I +said, "I am not thinking of forgiveness, or unforgiveness. I am here to +ask a favor; and if you grant it, I am willing that it shall +counterbalance everything between us which suggests forgiveness."</p> + +<p>"Dear me!" she exclaimed, leading the way to a sofa. "Sit down, and let +me know my opportunities."</p> + +<p>I did not want to sit down, but, as I said before, I felt that I must be +politic, and so took a seat on the other end of the sofa.</p> + +<p>"My errand is a very simple one," I said. "I merely want to know the +address of Mother Anastasia, in Washington."</p> + +<p>The lady folded her hands in her lap, and looked at me steadily.</p> + +<p>"Very simple, indeed," she said. "Why do you come to me for this +address? Would not the sisters give it to you?"</p> + +<p>"For various reasons I did not care to ask them," I replied.</p> + +<p>"One of them being, I suppose, that you knew you would not get it."</p> + +<p>I did not reply to this remark.</p> + +<p>"If you know the address," I inquired, "will you kindly give it to me? +It is necessary that I should have it at once."</p> + +<p>"To telegraph?" she asked.</p> + +<p>"No, I am going to her."</p> + +<p>"Oh!" ejaculated the lady, and there was a pause in the conversation. +"It does not strike me," she said presently, "that I have any authority +to tell gentlemen where to find Mother Anastasia, but I can telegraph +and ask her if she is willing that I shall send you to her."</p> + +<p>This proposition did not suit me at all. I was quite sure that the +Mother Superior would not consider it advisable that I should come to +her, and would ask me to postpone my communication until she should +return to Arden. But Arden, as I had found, would be a very poor place +for the long and earnest interview which I desired.</p> + +<p>"That would not do," I answered; "she would not understand. I wish to +see her on an important matter, which can be explained only in a +personal interview."</p> + +<p>"You excite my curiosity," said Miss Laniston. "Why don't you make me +your confidante? In that case, I might decide whether or not it would be +proper to give you the address."</p> + +<p>"Impossible," I said,—"that would be impossible."</p> + +<p>Miss Laniston's eyes were of a blue gray, and very fine ones, and she +fixed them upon me with a lively intentness.</p> + +<p>"Do you still hope," she asked, "to marry Sylvia Raynor? Surely you must +know that is impossible. She is now a member for life of the +sisterhood."</p> + +<p>"I know all that," I replied impatiently. "It is not about that matter +that I wish to see the Mother Superior."</p> + +<p>"Is it then about Mother Anastasia herself? Do you wish to marry her?"</p> + +<p>I sprang to my feet in my excitement. "Why do you speak to me in that +way," I exclaimed, "and about a woman who is at the head of a religious +institution, and whose earthly existence is devoted to it?"</p> + +<p>"Not at all," quietly answered the lady. "Mother Anastasia is not a life +member of the sisterhood of the House of Martha."</p> + +<p>At these words my blood began to boil within me in a manner which I +could not comprehend. My eyeballs seemed to burn, as I stood and gazed +speechlessly at my companion.</p> + +<p>"You take such an interest in these sisters," she said, "that I supposed +you knew that Mother Anastasia joined the sisterhood only for a term of +years, now nearly expired. She was made Mother Superior because those +who helped form the institution knew that no one else could so well fill +the place, especially during its first years. I was one of those +persons."</p> + +<p>I do not remember a time when my mind was in such a state of +ungovernable emotion. Not only was I unable to control my feelings, but +I did not know what they were. One thing only could I comprehend: I must +remove this impression from the mind of Miss Laniston, and I could think +of no other way of doing it than to confide to her the business on which +I wished to see Mother Anastasia. I reseated myself on the sofa, and +without delay or preface I laid before her my plan of collaboration with +the sisters of the House of Martha; explaining how much better a man +could attend to certain outside business than the sisters could do it, +and showing how, in a manner, I proposed to become a brother of the +House of Martha. Thus only could I defend myself against her irrational +and agitating suppositions.</p> + +<p>She heard me to the end, and then she leaned back on the sofa and +laughed,—laughed until I thought the people in the street must hear +her. I was hurt, but said nothing.</p> + +<p>"You must excuse me," she said, when she was able to speak, "but this is +so sudden my mind is not prepared for it. And so you wish to become a +brother of the House of Martha? I would be solemn about it if I could, +but really I cannot," and again she laughed.</p> + +<p>I was about to retire, but she checked me.</p> + +<p>"Do not go," she said; "do not be angry. Forget that I laughed. Now +perhaps I can help you. I will make you a promise. If you will agree +faithfully to tell me how Mother Anastasia receives your proposition, I +will give you her address."</p> + +<p>"Promise," I said severely. "You may remember that this is not the first +time you have made me a promise."</p> + +<p>"Don't bring up that old affair!" she exclaimed. "What I did then could +not be helped. When we had our talk about the sister with whom you had +fallen in love, I had no idea she was Sylvia Raynor, the daughter of my +hostess. When I discovered the truth, I had to drop the whole affair. +Any person of honor would have done that. I could not help its being +funny, you know."</p> + +<p>I had become calmer, and was able to be politic again.</p> + +<p>"If Mother Anastasia will allow me," I said, "I am willing to promise to +tell you what she thinks of my plan."</p> + +<p>"Very good," she replied, "it is a bargain. She is stopping with a +friend, Mrs. Gardley, at 906 Alaska Avenue. I address her as 'Miss +Raynor,' because I always do that when I have a chance, but I think it +will be well for you to ask for Mother Anastasia."</p> + +<p>I arose, and she followed my example.</p> + +<p>"Now, then," said she, "we are friends," and her sparkling eyes seemed +to have communicated their merriment to the gems upon the white hand +which she held out to me.</p> + +<p>I took the hand, and as I did so a politic idea flashed up within me. If +I must be friends with this woman, why not make use of her? This was a +moment when she was well disposed to serve me.</p> + +<p>"If you are willing to consider me a friend," I replied, still holding +her hand, "you will not refuse to tell me something which I have long +wanted to know, and which I ought to know."</p> + +<p>"What is it?" she asked.</p> + +<p>"What was the trouble, which caused Sylvia Raynor to enter the House of +Martha?"</p> + +<p>She withdrew her hand and reflected for a moment.</p> + +<p>"Man is an inquisitive animal," she answered, "but we cannot alter his +nature, and there is some excuse for your wanting to know all about +Sylvia. She is out of your reach, of course, but you have certainly +taken as much interest in her as a man can take in a woman. The matter +is not a close secret, and I suppose I may as well tell you that the +cause of her entering the sisterhood was nothing at all out of the +common. It was simply a thwarted love affair. You don't like that, I can +see by your face."</p> + +<p>"No, I do not like it, and I am very sorry to hear it."</p> + +<p>"My dear sir," said she, "you must be early on hand and prompt in action +to be Number One with a girl like Sylvia; but then, you know, a Number +One seldom counts. In this case, however, he did count, for he made a +Number Two impossible."</p> + +<p>"Not so," I cried hotly. "I am Number Two, and shall always continue +so."</p> + +<p>She laughed. "I am afraid," she said, "that it will be necessary for a +brother of the House of Martha to get rid of that sort of feeling."</p> + +<p>"How was she thwarted?" I asked quickly.</p> + +<p>"The story is briefly this," replied Miss Laniston: "A certain gentleman +courted Sylvia's cousin, and everybody supposed they would be married; +but in some way or other he treated her badly, and the match was broken +off; then, a few years later, this same person fell in love with Sylvia, +who knew nothing of the previous affair. The young girl found him a most +attractive lover, and he surely would have won her had not her mother +stepped in and put an extinguisher upon the whole affair. She knew what +had happened before, and would not have the man in her family. Then it +was that Sylvia found the world a blank, and concluded to enter the +sisterhood."</p> + +<p>"Do you mean," I asked, "that the cousin with whom the man was first in +love was Marcia Raynor, Mother Anastasia?"</p> + +<p>"Yes," answered Miss Laniston, "it was she. You do not like that?"</p> + +<p>Like it! A cold and tingling pain ran through my body, and there sprang +up in me an emotion of the intensest hatred for a person whom I had +never seen.</p> + +<p>My feelings were such as I could not express; the situation was one +which I could not discuss. I took leave of Miss Laniston without giving +sufficient consideration to her expression of countenance and to her +final words now to be able to say whether they indicated amusement or +sympathy.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="XLII" id="XLII"></a>XLII.</h2> + +<h3>THE MOTHER SUPERIOR.</h3> + + +<p>Seldom, I think, has a berth in a sleeping-car held a more +turbulent-minded man than I was during my journey from New York to +Washington. The revelation that the same man had loved and been loved by +Mother Anastasia and by Sylvia had disquieted me in a manner not easy to +explain; but I knew that I was being torn by jealousy, and jealousy is a +passion which it is sometimes impossible to explain.</p> + +<p>An idea which came into my mind in the night increased the storm within +me. I imagined that the wretch who had made suit to both Marcia and +Sylvia was Walkirk. He knew a good deal about these women; sometimes I +was surprised to discover how much he knew. Perhaps now, acting in a +base disguise, he was endeavoring to make of me a stepping-stone to his +ultimate success with one or the other. Hound! I would crush him!</p> + +<p>My thoughts ran rapidly backward. I remembered how zealous he had been +in following Miss Raynor's yacht. He had told me of his conversations +with Sylvia, but what reason had I to believe he spoke the truth? That +any man should have loved these two women filled me with rage. That that +man should be Walkirk was an insupportable thought. I was not only +jealous but I felt myself the victim of a treacherous insult.</p> + +<p>It was seven o'clock when I reached Washington, but, although I had +arrived at my destination, I could give no thought to the object of my +journey until I had discovered the truth about Walkirk. That was +all-important.</p> + +<p>But of whom should I inquire? I could think of no one but Miss Laniston. +I had been a fool not to ask her the name of the man when I was with +her. But I would telegraph to her now, and ask for it. She might be +asleep at that hour, but I believed she was a woman who would awake and +answer my question and then go to sleep again.</p> + +<p>I immediately went to the telegraph office, and sent this message: "What +is the name of the man of whom we spoke last evening? It is necessary +that I know it. Please answer at once." She would understand this. We +had spoken of but one man.</p> + +<p>For nearly an hour I walked the floor and tossed over the morning +papers, and then came the answer to my message. It was this: "Brownson. +He is dead."</p> + +<p>There is a quality in the air of Washington which is always delightful +to me, but I think it has never affected me as it did that morning. As I +breathed it, it exhilarated me; it cheered and elated me; it rose-tinted +my emotions; it gave me an appetite for my breakfast; it made me feel +ready for any enterprise.</p> + +<p>As soon as I thought it proper to make a morning call I went to number +906 Alaska Avenue. There I found a large and handsome house, of that +independent and highly commendable style of architecture which +characterizes many of the houses of Washington. I had not yet made up my +mind whether I should inquire for Mother Anastasia or "Miss Raynor." I +did not know the custom of Mother Superiors when traveling or visiting, +and I determined, as I ascended the steps, to be guided in this matter +by the aspect of the person who opened the door.</p> + +<p>It has always been interesting to me to study the character, as well as +I can do so in the brief opportunity generally afforded, of the servants +who open to me the doors of houses. To a certain degree, although of +course it does not do to apply this rule too rigidly, these persons +indicate the characters of the dwellers in the house. My friends have +disputed this point with me, and have asserted that they do not wish to +be so represented, but nevertheless I have frequently found my position +correct.</p> + +<p>I prefer to visit those houses whose door service is performed by a +neat, good-looking, intelligent, bright-witted, kindly-tempered, +conscientious, and sympathetic maidservant. A man is generally very +unsatisfactory. He performs his duty in a perfunctory manner. His heart +is not in it. He fears to say a word more than he thinks absolutely +necessary, lest you should imagine him new in service, and had not lost +his interest in answering questions.</p> + +<p>But even if the person you ask for be not at home, it is sometimes a +pleasure to be told so by an intelligent maid, such as I have mentioned +above. One's subsequent action is frequently influenced by her counsel +and information. Frequently she is able to indicate to you your true +relation with the household; sometimes she assists in establishing it.</p> + +<p>When the door before me opened, I saw a colored woman. I was utterly +discomfited. None of my rules applied to a middle-aged colored woman, +who gazed upon me as if she recognized me as one whom she carried in her +arms when an infant. Actuated by impulse only, I inquired for "Miss +Raynor."</p> + +<p>"I reckon," said she, "you's got to de wrong house. Dat lady doan' live +hyar."</p> + +<p>"Well, then," I asked quickly, "is there a lady here named Mother +Anastasia?"</p> + +<p>The woman showed thirty-two perfectly developed teeth.</p> + +<p>"Oh, dat's she? You means de sister. She's hyar, yes, sah. Want to see +her?"</p> + +<p>I stated that I certainly desired to see her.</p> + +<p>"She's gone out now, sah, an' dere's no tellin' when dey'll git back. +Dey ginerally all gits back 'bout dark. Commonly jist a little arter +dark."</p> + +<p>"Not return before dark!" I exclaimed. "That is bad. Can you give me any +idea where I might find Mother Anastasia?"</p> + +<p>"I 'spects you kin fin' her mighty easy. Mos' likely, she's at de Patent +Office, or at de Army and Navy Buildin', or de White House, or de +Treasury, or de Smifsonian, or de Navy Yard, or de new 'Servatory, or on +de avenue shoppin', or gone to de Capitol to de Senate or de House, one; +or perhaps she druv out to Arlin'ton, or else she's gone to de +'Gressional Libr'y. Mos' likely she's at one or de odder of dem places; +an' about one o'clock, she an' Mis' Gardley is mighty sure to eat der +luncheon somewhar, an' arter that I reckon they'll go to 'bout four +arternoon teas. I doan' know 'xactly whare de teas 'll be dis arternoon, +but ye kin tell de houses whar dar is a tea inside by de carriages +a-waitin',—an' ef it aint a tea, it's a fun'ral,—and all yer's got to +do is to go inside an' see if she's dar."</p> + +<p>I could not refrain from smiling, but I was greatly discouraged. How +could I wait until evening for the desired interview?</p> + +<p>"If you is kin to de sister," said the woman,—"an' I reckon you is, for +I see de likeness powerful strong,—she'll be mighty glad to see ye, +sah. Want me ter tell her ye'll come back this evening, if you doan' +fin' her before dat?"</p> + +<p>I desired her to give such a message, and went away well pleased that +the woman had not asked my name. It was desirable that Mother Anastasia +should not know who was coming to call on her.</p> + +<p>I am, as I have said before, much given to the consideration of motives +and all that sort of thing, and, in the course of the day, I found +myself wondering why I should have taken the trouble to walk through the +Patent Office and half a dozen other public buildings, continually +looking about me, not at the objects of interest therein, but at the +visitors; that is, if they were ladies. Why this uneasy desire to find +the Mother Superior, when, by quietly waiting until evening, I was +almost certain to see her? But in the midst of my self-questionings I +went on looking for Mother Anastasia.</p> + +<p>I finished my long ramble by a visit to the gallery of the House of +Representatives. A member was making a speech on a bill to establish a +national medical college for women. The speech and the subject may have +interested some people, but I did not care for either, and I am afraid I +was a little drowsy. After a time I took a cab and went to my hotel. At +all events, the long day of waiting was nearly over.</p> + +<p>Early in the evening I called again at Mrs. Gardley's house, and to my +delight I was informed that the lady I desired to see was at home.</p> + +<p>When Mother Anastasia came into the drawing-room, where I awaited her, +she wore the gray gown of her sisterhood, but no head covering. I had +before discovered that a woman could be beautiful in a Martha gown, but +at this moment the fact asserted itself with peculiar force. She greeted +me with a smile and an extended hand.</p> + +<p>"You do not seem surprised to see me," I said.</p> + +<p>"Why should I be?" she answered. "I saw you in the House of +Representatives, and wondered why you should doze when such an +interesting matter was being discussed; and when I came home, and heard +that a gentleman answering your description intended to call on me this +evening, I declined to go out to the theatre, wishing to be here to +receive you."</p> + +<p>I was disgusted to think that she had caught me napping, and that she +had been near me in the House and I had not known it, but I said nothing +of this.</p> + +<p>"You are very good," I remarked, "to give up the theatre"—</p> + +<p>"Oh, don't thank me," she interrupted; "perhaps you will not think I am +good. Before we say anything more, I want you to tell me whether or not +you came here to talk about Sylvia Raynor."</p> + +<p>Here was a blunt question, but from the bottom of my heart I believed +that I answered truly when I said I had not come for that purpose.</p> + +<p>"Very good," said Mother Anastasia, leaning back in her chair. "Now I +can freely say that I am glad to see you. I was dreadfully afraid you +had come to talk to me on that forbidden subject, and I must admit that +this fear had a very powerful influence in keeping me at home this +evening. If you had come to talk to me of her, I would have had +something very important to say to you, but I am delighted that my fears +were groundless. And now tell me how you could help being interested in +that grand scheme for a woman's college."</p> + +<p>"I have never given it any thought. Do you care for it?"</p> + +<p>"Care for it!" she exclaimed. "I am enlisted in the cause, hand and +heart. I came down here because the bill was to be brought before the +House. If the college is established,—and I believe it will be,—I +expect to be one of the faculty."</p> + +<p>"You are not a physician?" said I.</p> + +<p>"Oh, I have studied and practiced medicine," she answered, "and expect +to do a great deal more of it before we begin operations. The +physician's art is my true vocation."</p> + +<p>"And you will leave the House of Martha?" I asked.</p> + +<p>"Yes," she replied. "The period for which I entered it has nearly +expired. I do not regret the time I have spent there, but I must admit I +shall be glad to leave the sisterhood. That life is too narrow for me, +and perhaps too shallow. I say nothing against it in a general way; I +only speak of it as it relates to myself. The very manner in which I +rejoice in the prospect of freedom proves to me that I ought to be free, +and that I did a wise thing in limiting the term of my sisterhood."</p> + +<p>As Mother Anastasia spoke there was a glow of earnest pleasure upon her +face. She was truly very happy to be able to talk of her approaching +freedom.</p> + +<p>I am a prudent man and a cautious one. This frank enthusiasm alarmed me. +How deftly she had put Sylvia out of sight! How skillfully she had +brought herself into full view, free and untrammeled by vows and +rules,—a woman as other women!</p> + +<p>The more I saw of Mother Anastasia the better I liked her, but I +perceived that she was a woman with whom it was very necessary to be +cautious. She was apt, I thought, to make convictions of her +presumptions. If she presumed that my love for Sylvia was an utterly +hopeless affection, to be given up and forgotten, I did not like it. It +might be that it was hopeless, but I did not care to have any one else +settle the matter for me in that way,—not even Mother Anastasia.</p> + +<p>"Of course," I remarked, "I am glad that you have concluded to withdraw +from a vocation which I am sure is not suited to you, and yet I feel a +little disappointed to hear that you will not continue at the head of +the House of Martha, for I came to Washington on purpose to make you a +proposition in regard to that institution."</p> + +<p>"Came to Washington on purpose to see me, and to make a proposition! +What can it possibly be?"</p> + +<p>I now laid before her, with considerable attention to detail, my plan +for working in coöperation with the House of Martha. I showed her the +advantages of the scheme as they had suggested themselves to me, and as +an example of what could be done I mentioned Sylvia's fancy for +typewriting, and demonstrated how easily I could undertake the outside +management of this very lucrative and pleasant occupation. I warmed up +as I talked, and spoke quite strongly about what I—and perhaps in time +other men—might do for the benefit of the sisterhood, if my proposition +were accepted.</p> + +<p>She listened to me attentively, her face growing paler and harder as I +proceeded. When I had finished she said:—</p> + +<p>"It is not at all necessary for me to discuss this utterly preposterous +scheme, nor even to refer to it, except to say that I plainly see its +object. Whatever you have persuaded yourself to think of your plan, I +know that its real object is to reëstablish a connection with Sylvia. +You would know, if you would allow yourself to think about it, that your +absurd and even wicked scheme of typewriting, companionship in work, and +all that stuff, could only result in making the girl miserable and +perhaps breaking her heart. You know that she loves you, and that it has +been a terrible trial to her to yield to her conscience and do what she +has done; and you know, furthermore,—and this more than anything else +darkens your intention,—that Sylvia's artless, ingenuous, and impulsive +nature would give you advantages which would not be afforded to you by +one who did not love you, and who better understood the world and you."</p> + +<p>"Madam," I exclaimed, "you do me an injustice!"</p> + +<p>She paid no attention to this remark, and proceeded: "And now let me +tell you that what you have said to me to-night has changed my plans, my +life. I shall not leave Sylvia exposed to your cruel attacks,—attacks +which I believe will come in every practical form that your ingenuity +can devise. It was my example that brought that girl into the House of +Martha, and now that she has vowed to devote her life and her work to +its service I shall not desert her. I will not have her pure purpose +shaken and weakened, little by little, day by day, until it falls +listless and deadened, with nothing to take its place. Therefore, until +I know that you are no longer a source of danger to her, I shall remain +Mother Superior of the House of Martha, and rest assured that while I am +in that position Sylvia shall be safe from you." And with that she rose +and walked out of the room.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="XLIII" id="XLIII"></a>XLIII.</h2> + +<h3>WAS HIS HEART TRUE TO POLL?</h3> + + +<p>Never before had any one spoken to me as Mother Anastasia had just +spoken. Never before had I felt as I felt in leaving the house where she +had spoken to me. I did not admit all that she had said; and yet not +even to myself could I gainsay her statements. I was not convinced that +I had been wrong, but I could not help feeling that she was right. I was +angry, I was mortified, I was grieved. The world seemed cold and dark, +and the coldest and darkest thing in it was the figure of Mother +Anastasia, as she rose to leave me.</p> + +<p>When I reached New York, I bethought myself of my promise to Miss +Laniston. It tortured my soul to think of what had happened; I knew it +would torture it still more to talk of these things. But I am a man who +keeps his promises; besides, I wanted to see Miss Laniston. I did not +like her very much, but the people whom I did like seemed to be falling +away from me, and she was a woman of vigorous spirit, to whom one in my +plight would naturally turn. That she could give me any encouragement +was not likely, but she might offer me an enheartening sympathy; and, +moreover, she was well acquainted with Mother Anastasia, and there were +a good many questions I wanted to ask about that lady.</p> + +<p>I found Miss Laniston at home, but I was obliged to wait a good while +before she made her appearance.</p> + +<p>"If you were any other man in this world," she said, "I should have felt +obliged to excuse myself from seeing you, for I am engaged on most +important business with a modiste who is designing a gown for me; but I +am perfectly wild to hear about your interview with Mother Anastasia, +and I was afraid, if I sent you away, that you would not come back +again; so tell me about it, I pray you. I know you have seen her, for +you look so uncommonly glum. I am afraid that you have not yet become a +brother of the House of Martha."</p> + +<p>There was nothing inspiring about this badinage, but I braced myself to +the work, and told her what had happened in Washington.</p> + +<p>"This is truly dreadful," she declared. "Of course I had no idea that +Mother Anastasia would consider your plan as anything more than the wild +outreachings of a baffled lover, but I did not imagine that she would +take it in this way. This is very bad."</p> + +<p>"It is," I answered. "Everything is knocked from under me."</p> + +<p>"Oh, bless you," said the lady, "I wasn't thinking of you, but of Mother +Anastasia. It was the happiest news I can remember when I heard that she +was soon to drop that name and all that belonged to it, and to begin a +life in which she would be a woman among her peers, no matter with what +sex they happen to be classed. But if she stops short and remains in +that miserable House of Martha, the result is bound to be disastrous. If +she believes it is necessary to spend her life in protecting Sylvia from +your assaults, she is the woman to spend her life in that way."</p> + +<p>"What her friends should do," said I, "is to convince her that it is not +necessary."</p> + +<p>Miss Laniston gazed upon me fixedly. "You think it would be a great pity +for a beautiful woman—a remarkably fine woman like Mother Anastasia—to +hide herself away in that make-believe convent?"</p> + +<p>"Indeed I do," I answered, with animation.</p> + +<p>"And since one fine woman is shut up for life in that prison, you think +it a shame that another one should remain within its walls?"</p> + +<p>I assented warmly.</p> + +<p>"Now, then," remarked Miss Laniston, rising, "it is absolutely necessary +for me to go to the Frenchwoman, who, I know, is fuming for me, and +whose time is very precious. I shall be with you again in about twenty +minutes, and during that time I wish you would make up your mind with +whom you are in love,—Mother Anastasia or Sylvia Raynor. When that +point is settled, we will see what can be done."</p> + +<p>It was a man of a bewildered mind who was left alone in that +drawing-room. I did not understand what had been said to me, but now +that ideas of this kind had been put into words, there seemed to be a +certain familiarity about them. How dared she speak to me in that way? +What ground had she for such words?</p> + +<p>And yet—Sylvia was shut up for life in the House of Martha. I could not +gainsay that.</p> + +<p>I could not put my thoughts into form, and with my mind in chaos I +strode up and down the room until Miss Laniston returned.</p> + +<p>"What an uneasy person you are!" she said. "Have you settled that little +point?"</p> + +<p>"Settled it! There is nothing to settle."</p> + +<p>She laughed. "I am not so sure about that. I thought I saw a change in +the wind when you were here last, and it is natural enough that it +should change. What is the good of its blowing steadfastly from the +north, when the north is nothing but ice?"</p> + +<p>"You have no right to talk in that way!" I exclaimed angrily. "I utterly +repudiate your supposition."</p> + +<p>"Come, come," she said, "let us be practical. I really take an interest +in you, you know, and besides that, I take an interest in my friends; +and it is quite plain to me that you must not be allowed to wander about +in a detached way, making all sorts of trouble. You have made a good +deal already. So if we must consider Sylvia Raynor as really out of the +race, on account of being tied up by her sisterhood obligations, we must +turn our attention to Mother Anastasia, who probably has not yet done +anything definite in regard to retaining her position in the House of +Martha. If anything can be done in this direction, it will be entirely +satisfactory, because, if you get the ex-Mother Superior, of course you +will be content to leave the young sister alone."</p> + +<p>"Madam, you insult me!" I cried, springing to my feet.</p> + +<p>"By which, I suppose," she answered, "you wish me to understand that +your heart is true to Poll,—by Poll meaning Sylvia Raynor."</p> + +<p>"You know that as well as I do," I replied. "I have taken you into my +confidence; I have told you that I loved her, that I should always love +her; and it is unwomanly in you"—</p> + +<p>"That will do," she interrupted,—"that will do; don't say hard words to +one of your best friends. If you will continue to be true to Poll, not +as the sailor was in the song, but constant and steadfast in all sorts +of weather, and without any regard to that mere material point of +eventually getting her for your own, why then I am your fast friend to +the end, and will do everything that I can to soften your woes and +lighten your pathway; and all the reward I desire for my labors is the +pleasure of knowing that there is at least one man in the world who can +love truly and unchangeably without seeing any chance ahead of him of +winning the woman he loves. Do you think you can fill that position?"</p> + +<p>I looked at her sternly, and answered: "I have said all upon that point +that is necessary to say. When I love a woman, I love her forever."</p> + +<p>"Very good," said Miss Laniston,—"very good; and I dare say your little +side flights didn't mean anything at all. And now I shall talk with +Mother Anastasia as soon as possible, and make her understand that she +has no right to sacrifice herself to Sylvia or any one else. If I can +get her started off on the right road, I will see what I can do with the +new Mother Superior, whoever she may be. Perhaps you may yet be able to +establish that delightful brotherhood of the House of Martha. Any way, I +promise you you shall have something. It may not be much and it may not +be often, but it shall be enough to keep your love alive, and that, you +see, is my great object. I want to make of you a monument of masculine +constancy."</p> + +<p>As I took leave of her, Miss Laniston gave my hand a vigorous pressure, +which seemed to me to indicate that her intentions were better than her +words. As I went away my mind was quieter, though not cheered. There was +in it a certain void and emptiness, but this was compensated for by a +sense of self-approbation which was strengthening and comforting. I was +even able to smile at the notion of the interview between Miss Laniston +and Sister Sarah, when the former should propose my plan of the +brotherhood.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="XLIV" id="XLIV"></a>XLIV.</h2> + +<h3>PRELIMINARY BROTHERHOOD.</h3> + + +<p>When I returned to Arden, I gave Walkirk an outline of what had +occurred, but I did not go into details, having no desire that the +preposterous idea which had gotten into the head of Miss Laniston should +enter that of my under-study. Walkirk was not in good spirits.</p> + +<p>"I had hoped something," he said, "from your interview with Mother +Anastasia, though perhaps not exactly in the line of a brotherhood. I +thought if she came to thoroughly understand your earnestness in the +matter, she might use her influence with Miss Raynor, which at some time +or other, or in some way or other, might result to your advantage, and +that of the young lady. I had and still have great belief in the +capabilities of Mother Anastasia, but now I am forced to believe, very +much against my will, that there is no hope ahead. With Mother Anastasia +decidedly against us, the fight is lost."</p> + +<p>"Us," I repeated.</p> + +<p>"My dear sir," said he, "I am with you, soul and body."</p> + +<p>Without a word I took him by the hand, and pressed it warmly.</p> + +<p>"What do you think of continuing your recitals of travel?" Walkirk said +to me later in the day. "I should think they would interest you, and I +know they were vastly interesting to me. You must have a great deal more +to tell."</p> + +<p>"I have," I answered, "but I shall not tell it now. Instead of talking +about travels, I have determined to travel. At present it is awkward for +me to remain here. It is impossible for me to feel independent, and able +to do what I please, and know that there are persons in the village who +do not wish to meet me, and with whom it would be embarrassing and +perhaps unpleasant to meet. I know I must meet them some time or other, +unless they shut themselves up, or I shut myself up. That sort of thing +I cannot endure, and I shall go to Turkey and Egypt. Those countries I +have not visited. If it suits you, I shall take you with me, and I shall +also take a stenographer, to whom I shall dictate, on the spot, the +materials for my book."</p> + +<p>"Do you mean," asked Walkirk, "that you will dispense altogether with +that preparatory narration to me of what you intend afterwards to put +into your book? I consider that a capital plan, and I think you found it +of advantage."</p> + +<p>"That is true," I answered; "the plan worked admirably. I did not +propose to work in that way again, but I will do it. Every night I will +tell you what I have done, and what I think about things, and the next +morning I'll dictate that material, revised and shapen, to the +stenographer, who can then have the rest of the day to write it out +properly."</p> + +<p>"A capital plan," said Walkirk, "and I shall be charmed to go with you."</p> + +<p>I was indeed very anxious to leave Arden. I could not believe that +Mother Anastasia had ever imagined any of the stuff that Miss Laniston +had talked about, but she certainly had shown me that she was greatly +offended with me, and nothing offends me so much as to have people +offended with me. Such persons I do not wish to meet.</p> + +<p>I did not immediately fix a date for my departure, for it was necessary +for me to consider my grandmother's feelings and welfare, and arrange to +make her as happy as possible while I should be gone. In the mean time, +it was of course necessary that I should take air and exercise; and +while doing this one morning in a pretty lane, just out of the village, +a figure in the House of Martha gray came into sight a little distance +ahead of me. Her back was toward me, and she was walking slower than I +was. "Now, then," thought I, "here is a proof of the awkwardness of my +position here. Even in a little walk like this, I must run up against +one of those sisters. I must pass her, or turn around and go back, for I +shall not slow up, and appear to be dogging her footsteps. But I shall +not turn back,—that does not suit me." Consequently I walked on, and +soon overtook the woman in gray. She did not turn her head as I +approached, for the sisters are taught not to turn their heads to look +at people. After all, it would be easy enough for me to adopt the same +rule, and to pass her without turning my head, or paying the slightest +attention to her. This was the manner indeed in which the general public +was expected to act toward the inmates of the House of Martha when met +outside their institution.</p> + +<p>When I came up with her, I turned and looked into the bonnet. It was +Sylvia. As my eyes fell upon the face of that startled angel, my impulse +was to throw my arms around her, and rush away with her, gray bonnet, +shawl and all, to some distant clime where there were no Houses of +Martha, Mother Anastasias, or anything which could separate my dear love +and me; but I crushed down this mad fancy, smothered, as well as I +could, my wild emotions, and said, as calmly as possible,—</p> + +<p>"Good morning, sister."</p> + +<p>Over the quick flushes of her face there spread a smile of pleasure.</p> + +<p>"I like that," she said; "I am glad to have you call me sister. I +thought you would be prejudiced against it, and would not do it."</p> + +<p>"Prejudiced!" I said; "not a bit of it. I am delighted to do so."</p> + +<p>"That is really good of you," she said; "and how have you been? You look +a little wan and tired. Have you been doing your own writing?"</p> + +<p>"Oh, no," I said; "I have given up writing, at least for the present. I +wish I could make you understand how glad I am to call you sister, and +how it would joy my heart if you would call me brother."</p> + +<p>"Oh, that would not do at all," she said, in a tone which indicated +surprise at my ignorance; "that would be quite a different thing. I am a +sister to everybody, but you are not a brother to anybody."</p> + +<p>"When you hear what I have to say about this," I answered, "you will +understand what I mean by wishing to be called brother. May I ask where +you are going?"</p> + +<p>"I am going to visit a sick person in that little house at the bottom of +the hill. Sister Agatha came with me, but she had the toothache, and had +to go back. I expect Sister Sarah will send some one of the others to +join me, for she always wants us to go about in couples."</p> + +<p>"She is entirely right," said I; "I did not know she had so much sense, +and I shall make one of the couple this time. You ought not to be +walking about here by yourself."</p> + +<p>"I suppose I ought to have gone back with Sister Agatha," said she, "but +I didn't want to. I'm dreadfully tired of staying in the House of +Martha, trying to learn typewriting. I can do it pretty well now, but +nothing has come of it. Sister Sarah got me one piece of work, which was +to copy a lot of bad manuscript about local option. I am sure, if I am +to do that sort of thing I shall not like typewriting."</p> + +<p>"You shall not do that sort of thing," said I; "and now let us walk on +slowly, while I tell you what I meant by the term brother." I was in a +whirl of delight. Now I would talk to one who I believed would +sympathize with my every thought, who would be in harmony with my +outreachings, if she could do no more, and from whom I need expect +neither ridicule nor revilings. We walked on slowly, and I laid before +her my scheme for the brotherhood of the House of Martha.</p> + +<p>I was not mistaken in my anticipation of Sylvia's sympathy. She listened +with sparkling eyes, and when I finished, clapped her hands with +delight.</p> + +<p>"That is one of the best plans that was ever heard of in this world," +she said. "How different it would make our life at the institution! Of +course the brothers wouldn't live there, but we should see each other, +like ordinary people in society, and everything would not be so +dreadfully blank, and there is no end to the things which you could do, +which we cannot do, unless with a great deal of trouble. The usefulness +of your plan seems to have no limits at all. How many brothers do you +think we ought to have?"</p> + +<p>"I have not considered that point," I said; "at present I know of but +one person, besides myself, who would have the necessary qualifications +for the position."</p> + +<p>"I expect," she said, looking at me with a twinkle of fun in her eye, +"that if you had the selection of the other brothers they would be a +tame lot."</p> + +<p>"Perhaps you are right," I said, and we both broke into a laugh.</p> + +<p>"I wish I could tell you," said Sylvia, "how much I am charmed with your +idea of the brotherhood. I haven't enjoyed myself so much for ever so +long."</p> + +<p>We were now nearing the little house at the bottom of the hill. An idea +struck me.</p> + +<p>"Who is it that you are going to visit?" I asked.</p> + +<p>"It is an old man," she said, "who has the rheumatism so badly that he +cannot move. He has to take his medicine every hour, and his wife is +worn out sitting up and giving it to him, and Sister Agatha and I were +sent to take care of him during the morning, and let the poor old woman +get some sleep."</p> + +<p>"Very good," said I, "here is a chance for me to make a beginning in my +scheme of brotherhood, and that without asking leave or license of +anybody. I will go in with you, and help you nurse the old man."</p> + +<p>"I expect you can do it splendidly," said Sylvia, "and now we can see +how a brotherhood would work."</p> + +<p>We entered a little house, which apparently had once been a good enough +home for humble dwellers, but which now showed signs of extreme poverty. +A man with gray hair, and placid, pale face, was lying on a bed in one +corner of the room into which the door opened, and in a chair near by +sat an old woman, her head bobbing in an uneasy nap. She roused when we +entered, and seemed glad to see us.</p> + +<p>"He's about the same as he was," she said, "an' as he's loike to be +width thim little draps of midicine; but if you're a docther, sir, it +ain't for me to be meddlin', an' sayin' that one of thim Pepper Pod +Plasters width howles in it would do more good to his poor back than +thim draps inside of him."</p> + +<p>"Rheumatism is not treated externally so much as it used to be," I said. +"You will find that internal medication will be of much more service in +the long run."</p> + +<p>"That may be, sir," said she; "but it won't do to make the run too long, +considtherin' he hasn't been able to do a sthroke of work for four +weeks, an' if ye'd ever tried one of thim plasters, sir, ye'd know +they's as warmin' as sandpaper an' salt; but if I kin git a little +slape, it will be better for me than any midicine, inside or out."</p> + +<p>"That's what we came to give you," said Sylvia; "go into the other room, +and lie down, and you shall not be called until it is time for your +dinner."</p> + +<p>The woman gave a little shrug, which I imagine was intended to indicate +that dinner and dinner-time had not much relation to each other in this +house, and going into an adjoining room, was probably soon fast asleep.</p> + +<p>"It would be better to begin by giving him his medicine. I know all +about it, for I was here yesterday. I forgot to ask his wife when she +gave it to him last," said Sylvia, "but we might as well begin fresh at +the half-pasts."</p> + +<p>She poured out a teaspoonful of the stuff, and administered it to the +old man, who opened his mouth, and took it placidly.</p> + +<p>"He is very quiet and very patient," said Sylvia to me in an +undertone,—and it is impossible for me to describe how delightful it +was to have her speak to me in such a confidential undertone,—"he +doesn't talk any," she continued, "and doesn't seem to care to have +anybody read to him, for when Sister Agatha tried that yesterday, he +went to sleep; but he likes his brow bathed, and I can sit on this side +of his bed and do that, and you can find a chair and sit on the other +side, and tell me more about your plan of brotherhood."</p> + +<p>There was no other chair, but I found a box, on which I seated myself on +the other side of the old man's cot, while Sylvia, taking a bottle from +her pocket, proceeded to dampen the forehead of the patient with its +pleasantly scented contents.</p> + +<p>I did not much like to see her doing this, nor did I care to discuss our +projects over the body of this rheumatic laborer.</p> + +<p>"It strikes me," I said, "that it would be a good idea to put on that +bay rum, or cologne, or whatever it is, with a clean paint-brush, or +something of the kind. Don't you dislike using your fingers?"</p> + +<p>Sylvia laughed. "You have lots to learn yet," she said, "before you can +be a brother; and now tell me what particular kind of work you think the +brothers would do. I hardly think nursing would suit them very well."</p> + +<p>I did not immediately answer, and Sylvia's quick mind divined the reason +of my reluctance.</p> + +<p>"Let us talk <i>en français</i>," she said; "that will not disturb this good +man, and he can go to sleep if he likes."</p> + +<p>"<i>Très bien</i>," I said, "<i>parlons nous en français</i>."</p> + +<p>"<i>Il serait charmant</i>," said she; "<i>j'aime la belle langue</i>."</p> + +<p>The old man turned his head from one to the other of us; all his +placidity vanished, and he exclaimed,—</p> + +<p>"<i>Ciel! Voilà les anges l'un et l'autre qui vient parler ma chère +langue.</i>"</p> + +<p>"Good gracious!" exclaimed Sylvia, "I thought he was Irish."</p> + +<p>The patient now took the talking business into his own hands, and in his +dear language told us his tale of woe. It was a very ordinary tale, and +its dolefulness was relieved by the old man's delight at finding people +who could talk to him like Christians. One of his woes was that he had +not been long enough married to his wife to teach her much French.</p> + +<p>"I wish," interpolated Sylvia to me, "that we had kept on in English. It +would have been much more satisfactory. I expect one of the other +sisters will be here before very long, and before she comes I wish you +would tell me how you are getting on with your book. I have been +thinking about it, ever and ever so much."</p> + +<p>"I am not getting on at all," said I; "without you there will be no +book."</p> + +<p>At this Sylvia knit her brows a little, and looked disturbed.</p> + +<p>"That is not a good way to talk about it," she said, "unless, indeed, +the book could be made a part of the brotherhood work, in some way. The +publisher might want a typewritten copy, and if I should make it, I +should know the end of the story of Tomaso and Lucilla. You know I had +almost given up ever knowing what finally happened to those two."</p> + +<p>"You shall know it," said I; "we shall work together yet. I can think of +a dozen ways in which we can do it, and I intend to prove that my +brotherhood idea is thoroughly practicable."</p> + +<p>"Of course it is," said Sylvia; "isn't this practical?" and she bedewed +the patient's brow so liberally, that some of the perfume ran into his +eyes, and made him wink vigorously.</p> + +<p>"<i>Merci, mademoiselle</i>," said he, "<i>mais pas beaucoup, mais pas +beaucoup</i>!"</p> + +<p>"A capital practical idea has just occurred to me," I said; "do you +think you shall be here to-morrow?"</p> + +<p>"I expect to come here," she answered, "for I take a great deal of +interest in this old man. Mother Anastasia is still away, and I expect +that Sister Sarah will send me again, for this is the kind of work she +believes in. She has a very poor opinion of typewriting; but, of course, +a sister will come with me."</p> + +<p>"There is one coming to join you now," I said; "I see her gray figure on +the top of the hill. As she will not understand matters, and as I do not +wish to talk any more about my plans, until I am better able to show how +they will work, I think it will be well for me to retire; but I shall be +here to-morrow morning, and it would suit my plans very well if another +sister comes with you."</p> + +<p>Sylvia looked around at the approaching gray figure.</p> + +<p>"I think that is Sister Lydia," she said, "at least, I think I recognize +her walk, and so it might be well for you to go. If it were Sister +Agatha it wouldn't matter so much. Of course, when your plan is all +explained and agreed to, it will not make any difference who comes or +goes."</p> + +<p>"Very true," said I, "and now I think I will bid you good-morning. Be +sure and be here to-morrow."</p> + +<p>She shook hands with me, across the prostrate form of the rheumatic +Frenchman, who smiled, and murmured, "<i>Bien, bien, mes anges</i>," and she +assured me that I might expect her on the morrow.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="XLV" id="XLV"></a>XLV.</h2> + +<h3>I MAKE COFFEE AND GET INTO HOT WATER.</h3> + + +<p>I do not like to do anything which looks in the least underhanded, but I +must admit that I left that wretched cottage by the back door, and +taking a path through some woods, made a wide circuit before returning +to the village.</p> + +<p>As soon as I reached my house, I called Walkirk from his writing, and +rapidly gave him instructions in regard to the execution of an idea +which had come into my mind during my brotherhood labors of the morning.</p> + +<p>I told him to hasten to the scene of my building operations, and to take +away all the carpenters, painters, and plasterers he could crowd into a +two-horse wagon, and to go with them to the house of the rheumatic +Frenchman, from which I knew the sisters would have departed before he +reached it. I promised to join him there, and at the same time that he +set out on his errand, I hurried to a shop in the village, the owner of +which combined the occupations of cabinet maker and undertaker, and who +generally kept on hand a small stock of cheap furniture. From this I +selected such articles as I thought would be suitable or useful in a +small house, which at present contained nothing too good for a bonfire, +and ordered them sent immediately to the Frenchman's cottage.</p> + +<p>I reached this wretched little house a few minutes before the arrival of +Walkirk and the wagon-load of mechanics. My under-study had entered +heartily into my scheme, and by his directions the men had brought with +them everything needed to carry out my plans, and in a very short time +he and I had set every man to work.</p> + +<p>There were carpenters, plasterers, painters, paper-hangers, and a tinner +and glazier, and when they learned that I wanted that little house +completely renovated in the course of the afternoon, they looked upon +the business as a lark, and entered into it with great spirit. The +astonished woman of the house did not understand what was about to +happen, and even when I had explained it to her, her mind seemed to take +in nothing except the fact that the house ought to be cleaned before the +painting and paper-hanging began, but there was no time for delays of +this sort, and the work went on merrily.</p> + +<p>When the furniture arrived, the woman gave a gasp, for the last time the +vehicle which brought them to her house had been there, it had taken +away her previous husband. But a bureau and table and a roll of carpet +assured her of its different purpose, and she turned in with a will to +assist in arranging these articles.</p> + +<p>Before dark the work was all done. The rheumatic Frenchman was lying on +a shining new bedstead, a box of Pepper Pod Plasters had been placed in +the hands of his delighted wife, a grocery wagon had deposited a load of +goods in the kitchen, the mechanics in gay spirits had driven away, and +Walkirk and I, tired, but triumphant, walked home, leaving behind us a +magical transformation, a pervading smell of paint and damp wall-paper, +and an aged couple as much dazed as delighted with what had happened.</p> + +<p>Soon after breakfast the next day, I repaired to the bright and tidy +little cottage, and there I had my reward. Standing near the house a +little in the shadow of a good sized evergreen-tree, which I had ordered +transplanted bodily from the woods into the little yard, I beheld Sylvia +approaching, and with her a sister with a bandaged face whom I rightly +supposed to be the amiable Sister Agatha.</p> + +<p>When the two came within a moderate distance of the cottage they +stopped, they looked about them from side to side, and it was plain to +see that they imagined they were on the wrong road. Then they walked +forward a bit, stopped again, and finally came towards the house on a +run.</p> + +<p>I advanced to meet them.</p> + +<p>"Good morning, sisters," said I. The two were so much astonished that +they did not return my greeting, and for a few moments scarcely noticed +me. Then Sylvia turned.</p> + +<p>"How in the world," she exclaimed, "did all this happen? It must be the +same house."</p> + +<p>I smiled. "It is very simple," said I; "this"—and as I spoke I waved my +hand towards the cottage—"is an instance of the way in which the +brothers of the House of Martha intend to work."</p> + +<p>"And you did this?" exclaimed Sylvia, with radiant eyes.</p> + +<p>I explained to the eagerly listening sisters how the transformation had +been accomplished, and with a sort of reverent curiosity they approached +the house. Sister Agatha's astonishment was even greater than that of +Sylvia, for she had long known the wretched place.</p> + +<p>"It is a veritable miracle," she said, "see this beautiful white fence, +and the gate; it opens on hinges!"</p> + +<p>"Be careful," said I, as they entered the little yard, "some of the +paint may yet be wet, although I told them to put as much drying stuff +in as was possible."</p> + +<p>"Actually," cried Sylvia, "a gravel walk up to the house!"</p> + +<p>"And the outside a daffodil yellow, with fern green blinds!" said Sister +Agatha.</p> + +<p>"And the eaves tipped with geranium red!" cried Sylvia.</p> + +<p>"And a real tree on each side of the front door, and new steps!" +exclaimed Sister Agatha.</p> + +<p>When they entered the house the amazement and delight of the two sisters +was a joy to my soul. They cried out at the carpet on the floor, the +paper on the walls, the tables, the chairs, the bureau, the +looking-glass, the three framed lithographs on the wall, the clock, and +the shining new bedstead on which their patient lay.</p> + +<p>"If Mother Anastasia could but see this," cried Sylvia, "she would +believe in the brotherhood."</p> + +<p>"He sez yer angels," said the woman of the house, coming forward, +"that's what he sez; an' he's roight too, for with thim Pepper Pod +Plasters, an' the smell of paint in the house which he hates, he'll be +out o' doors in two days, or I'm much mishtaken."</p> + +<p>Sylvia and I now approached the old man to see what he thought about it. +He was very grateful, and said nothing about the smell of paint, but we +found him with a burning desire in his heart which had been fanned into +flames by the arrival of the groceries on the day before. He eagerly +asked us if we could make coffee; when he was well he could make it +himself, but since he had been lying on that bed, he had not tasted a +drop of the beloved liquid. His wife did not drink it, and could not +make it, but as we could speak French, and had sent coffee, he felt sure +that we could compound the beverage, so dear to the French heart.</p> + +<p>"The angels make coffee," he said, in his best patois, "otherwise what +would Heaven be?"</p> + +<p>Both of the angels declared that the good man should have some coffee +without delay, but Sylvia said to me, that although she had not the +least idea how to make it, she was quite sure Sister Agatha could do it. +But that sister, when asked, declared that she knew nothing about +coffee, and did not approve of it for sick people, but if the man did +not like the tea his wife made, she would try what she could do.</p> + +<p>But this offer was declined. The old man must have his coffee, and as +there was no one else to make it, I undertook to do it myself. I thought +I remembered how coffee had been made, when I had been camping out, and +I went promptly to work. Everybody helped. The old woman ground the +berries, Sister Agatha stirred up the fire, and Sylvia broke two eggs, +in order to get shells enough to clear the liquid.</p> + +<p>It was a good while before the coffee was ready, but at last it was +made, and Sylvia carried it to our patient in a great bowl. She sat down +on one side of the bed to administer the smoking beverage with a spoon, +while I sat on the other side and raised the old man's head that he +might drink the better. After swallowing the first tablespoonful, the +patient winked.</p> + +<p>"I hope it did not scald his throat," said Sylvia, "Do you know what +'scald' is in French?"</p> + +<p>"I cannot remember," said I, "you had better let the next spoonful cool +a little,"—but the patient opened his mouth for more.</p> + +<p>"<i>C'est potage</i>," he said, "<i>mais il est bon</i>."</p> + +<p>"I am sorry I made soup of it," I said to Sylvia, "but I am sure it +tastes like coffee."</p> + +<p>We continued to feed the old man, who absorbed the new-fangled broth as +fast as it was given to him, until a voice behind me made us both jump.</p> + +<p>"Sister Hagar," said the voice, "what does this mean?"</p> + +<p>"Goodness, Mother Anastasia," cried Sylvia, "you made me scald the +outside of his throat."</p> + +<p>At the foot of the bed stood Mother Anastasia clad in her severest gray, +her brows knit and her lips close pressed.</p> + +<p>"Sister Hagar," she repeated, "what is all this?"</p> + +<p>I let down the old man's head, and Sylvia, placing the almost empty bowl +upon the table, replied serenely:—</p> + +<p>"Mr. Vanderley is making a beginning in brotherhood work—the +brotherhood of the House of Martha, you know. I think it would work +splendidly. Just look around and see what he has done. He has made this +charming cottage out of an old rattle-trap house. Everything you see in +one afternoon, and lots of provisions in the kitchen besides. Sisters +alone could never have done this."</p> + +<p>Mother Anastasia turned to me.</p> + +<p>"I will speak with you, outside," she said, and I followed her into the +little yard. As soon as we were far enough from the house to speak +without being overheard, she stopped, and turning to me, said:—</p> + +<p>"You are not content with driving me from the life on which I had set my +heart, back into this mistaken vocation, but you are determined to make +my lot miserable and unhappy. And not mine only, but that of that +simple-hearted and unsuspecting girl. I do not see how you can be so +selfishly cruel. You are resolved to break her heart, and to do it in +the most torturing way. But you shall work her no more harm. I do not +now appeal to your honor, to your sense of justice; I simply say that I +shall henceforth stand between you and her. What misery may come to her +and to me from what you have already done I do not know, but you do no +more."</p> + +<p>I stood and listened with the blood boiling within me.</p> + +<p>"Marcia Raynor," I said—"for I shall not call you by that title which +you put on and take off as you please—I here declare to you that I +shall never give up Sylvia. If I never speak to her again or see her I +shall not give her up. I make no answer to what you have charged me +with, but I say to you that as Sylvia's life and my life cannot be one +as I would have it, I shall live the life that she lives, even though +our lives be ever apart. For the love I bear her, I shall always do the +work that she does. But I believe that the time will come when people, +wiser than you are, will see that what I proposed to do is a good thing +to do, and the time will come when a man and a woman can labor side by +side in good works, and both do better work because they work together. +And to Sylvia and to my plan of brotherhood, I shall ever be constant. +Remember that."</p> + +<p>Without a word or change in her expression she left me, went into the +house, and closed the door behind her. I did not wish to make a scene, +which would give rise to injurious gossip, and therefore walked away, +though as I did so I turned to look in at the open window, but I did not +see Sylvia; I only saw the bandaged face of Sister Agatha looking out at +me, more mournful than before.</p> + +<p>As I rapidly walked homeward, I said to myself, "Now I declare myself a +full brother of the House of Martha. I shall take up their cause, and +steadfastly work for it whether they like it or not."</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="XLVI" id="XLVI"></a>XLVI.</h2> + +<h3>GOING BACK FOR A FRIEND.</h3> + + +<p>When I reached home, I looked up my grandmother and told her everything +that had happened. My excitement was so great that it was necessary I +should talk to some one, and I felt a pang of regret when I remembered +that latterly I had given no confidences to her.</p> + +<p>My grandmother listened eagerly and without interrupting me, but as I +spoke she shook her head again and again, and when I had finished, she +said:—</p> + +<p>"My dear boy, if you understood the world and the people in it as well +as I do, you would know that that sort of thing could never, never work. +Before long you and Sylvia would be madly in love with each other, and +then what would happen nobody knows. It may be that Mother Anastasia has +not fully done her duty in this case, or it may be that she has done too +much, and other people may have acted improperly and without due thought +and caution; but be this as it may, it is plain enough to see that your +poor heart has been dreadfully wrung. I wish I had known before of this +brotherhood notion, and of what you intended to do, and I would have +told you, as I tell you now, that in this world we must accept +situations. That is the only way in which we can get along at all. +Sylvia Raynor has gone, soul and body, into this Martha House, which is +the same as a convent, and to all intents and purposes she is the same +as a nun. Now there is no use fighting against that sort of thing. Even +if she should consent to climb over the wall, and run away with you, I +do not believe you would like a wife who would do that, after all she +had vowed and given her solemn word to."</p> + +<p>"My dear grandmother," I said, "all that you say may be true, but it +makes no difference to me; I shall always be faithful to Sylvia."</p> + +<p>"Perhaps so, perhaps so," said my grandmother, "but you must remember +this: it may be all very well to be faithful, but you should be careful +how you do it. In some respects Mother Anastasia is entirely right, and +your faithfulness, if injudiciously shown, may make miserable the life +of this young woman." I sighed but said nothing. My grandmother looked +pityingly upon me.</p> + +<p>"I think you can do nothing better than to go and travel as you have +proposed. Stay away for a year. Dear knows, I do not want to keep you +from me for all that time, but the absence will be for your good. It +will influence your life. When you come back, then you will know +yourself better than you can possibly know yourself now. Then you will +be able to see what you truly ought to do, and I promise you that if I +am alive I will help you do it."</p> + +<p>I took the dear old lady in my arms, and her advice to my heart. I +acknowledged to myself that at this conjuncture the wisest thing, the +kindest thing was to go away. I might not stay away for a year, but I +would go.</p> + +<p>"Grandmother," I said, "I will do what you advise. But I have something +to ask of you: I have vowed that I will be a brother of the House of +Martha, and that I will do its work, with or without the consent of the +sisters, and with or without their companionship. Now if I go, will you +be my substitute? Will you, as far as you can, assist the sisters in +their undertakings, and do what you think I would have done, had I been +here?"</p> + +<p>"I cannot change a dilapidated hut into a charming cottage in one +afternoon," she said, placing both hands on my shoulders as she spoke, +"but I will do all that I can, and all that you ought to do, if you were +here. That much I promise."</p> + +<p>"Then I will go," I said, "with a heavy heart, but with an easier +conscience."</p> + +<p>Walkirk entirely approved of an immediate start upon the journey which I +had before proposed. I think he feared that if it was postponed any +longer, I might get some other idea into my head which would work better +than the brotherhood scheme, and that our travels might be postponed +indefinitely.</p> + +<p>But there was a great deal to be done before I could leave home for a +lengthy absence, and a week was occupied in arranging my business +affairs, and planning for the comfort and pleasure of my grandmother +while I should be away. Walkirk engaged the stenographer, and was the +greatest possible help to me in every way, but notwithstanding his +efforts to relieve me of work that was a busier week for me than any +week in my whole life. This was an advantage to me, for it kept me from +thinking too much of the reason for my hurried journey.</p> + +<p>At last the day arrived on which the steamer was to sail, and the +generally cool Walkirk actually grew nervous in his efforts to get me +ready to start by the early morning train for the city. In these efforts +I did not assist him in the least. In fact had he not been with me I +think that I should not have tried to leave home in time to catch the +steamer. The more I thought of catching the steamer, the less I cared to +do so; the more I thought of leaving home, the less I cared to do so. It +was not that I was going away from Sylvia that made me thus reluctant to +start. It was because I was going away without taking leave of +her,—without a word or even a sign from her. I ground my teeth as I +thought of how I had lost the only chance I had had of bidding her +farewell, and of assuring her that, no matter what happened, I would be +constant to her and to the principles in which we had both come to +believe. I had been too much excited on the morning I had left her in +the Frenchman's cottage to think that that would be my last chance of +seeing her; that thereafter Mother Anastasia would never cease to guard +her from my speech or sight. I should have rushed in, caring for +nothing. People might have talked, but Sylvia would have known that +prohibitions and separations would make no difference in my feeling for +her.</p> + +<p>And now I was going away without a word or a sign, or even the slightest +trifle which I could cherish as a memento of her. There was a blankness +about it all which deadened my soul.</p> + +<p>But Walkirk was inexorable. He made every arrangement, and even +superintended my farewell to my grandmother, and gently but firmly +interrupted me, as I repeated my entreaties that she would speedily find +out something about Sylvia, and write to me. At last we were in the +carriage, with time enough to reach the station, and Walkirk wiped his +brow, as would a man who had had a heavy load lifted from his mind.</p> + +<p>We had not gone a quarter of the distance when the thought suddenly +struck me, Why should I go away without a memento of Sylvia? Why had I +not remembered my friend Vespa, the wasp, whose flight around my +secretary's room had made the first break in the restrictions which +surrounded her; had first shown me a Sylvia in place of a gray-bonneted +nun? That dead wasp, pinned to a card on the wall of my study, was the +only thing I possessed in which Sylvia had a share. I must go back and +get it; I must take it with me.</p> + +<p>When I shouted to the coachman to turn, that I must go back to get +something I had forgotten, Walkirk was thrown into a fever of anxiety. +If we did not catch this train we would lose the steamer; the next train +would be three hours later. But his protestations had no effect upon me. +I must have Sylvia's wasp, no matter what happened.</p> + +<p>Back to the house we dashed, and up-stairs I ran. I took down the card +to which the wasp was affixed, I found a little box in which to put it, +and while I was looking for a rubber band by which to secure the lid, a +servant came hurriedly into the room with a telegram for me. I tore it +open. It was from Miss Laniston and read thus:—</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>"Come to me as soon as you can. Important business."</p></div> + +<p>"Important business!" I ejaculated. "She can have no business with me +that does not concern Sylvia. I will go to her instantly." In a few +seconds I was in the carriage, shouting to the man to drive as fast as +he could.</p> + +<p>"Yes, indeed," said Walkirk, "you cannot go too fast."</p> + +<p>I handed my companion the telegram. He read it blankly.</p> + +<p>"It is a pity," he said, "if the business is important. All that can be +done now is to telegraph to her that she must write to you in London by +the next steamer."</p> + +<p>"I shall do nothing of the kind," said I, "I am going to her the instant +we reach New York."</p> + +<p>Walkirk clenched his hands together, and looked away. He had no words +for this situation.</p> + +<p>My temper was very different.</p> + +<p>"What a wonderful piece of luck!" I exclaimed. "If we had kept on to the +station, by this short cut, the telegraph boy, who of course came by the +main road, would have missed me, and there would not have been time for +him to get back to the station before the train started. How fortunate +it was that I went back for that wasp."</p> + +<p>"Wasp!" almost screamed Walkirk, and by the way he looked at me, I know +he imagined that I was temporarily insane.</p> + +<p>We caught the train, and on the way I explained my allusion to the wasp +so far as to assure Walkirk that I was no more crazy than men badly +crossed in love are apt to be.</p> + +<p>"But are you really going to Miss Laniston?" he said.</p> + +<p>"I shall be able to drive up there, give her fifteen minutes with five +as a margin, and reach the steamer in time. You can go directly to the +dock, and attend to the baggage and everything."</p> + +<p>My under-study sighed, but he knew it was of no use to make any +objections. He did not fail, however, to endeavor to impress upon me the +importance of consulting my watch while listening to Miss Laniston's +communication.</p> + +<p>My plan was carried out; we separated as soon as we reached the city, +and in a cab I rattled to Miss Laniston's house.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="XLVII" id="XLVII"></a>XLVII.</h2> + +<h3>I INTEREST MISS LANISTON.</h3> + + +<p>When I reached Miss Laniston's house that lady was at breakfast, but she +did not keep me waiting long.</p> + +<p>"Truly," she said, as she entered the drawing-room, "you are the most +expeditious person I ever knew. I knew that you would come to me, but I +did not suppose you would even start as soon as this."</p> + +<p>"I had already started when I received your telegram," I said.</p> + +<p>"To come here?"</p> + +<p>"No, to sail for Europe."</p> + +<p>"Well, well!" she exclaimed, "from this moment I shall respect my +instincts, a thing I never did before. When I woke this morning my first +thought was of the message I intended to send to you, and I intended to +attend to it immediately after breakfast; but my hitherto unappreciated +instincts hinted to me that no time should be lost, and I called my +maid, and dispatched the telegram immediately. Moral: Do all the good +you can before you get up in the morning. Why are you starting for +Europe?"</p> + +<p>"I haven't time to tell you," I said, "in fact, I can only remain a few +minutes longer, or I shall lose the steamer. Please tell me your +business."</p> + +<p>"Is Sylvia the cause of your going away?" she asked.</p> + +<p>"Yes," I said; "is she the reason of your wishing to see me?"</p> + +<p>"Most certainly," she answered; "when does your steamer start?"</p> + +<p>"By ten o'clock," I said.</p> + +<p>"Oh, bless me," she remarked, glancing at the clock, "you have quite +time enough to hear all I have to say, and then if you do not catch the +steamer it is your own fault. Sit down, I pray you."</p> + +<p>Very reluctantly I took a seat, for at last the spirit of Walkirk had +infected me.</p> + +<p>"Now," said she, "I will cut my story as short as possible, but you +really ought to hear it before you start. I made a visit to Arden, on +the day after you performed the grand transformation scene in your +brotherhood extravaganza. I should have been greatly amused by what was +told me of this prank, if I had not seen that it had caused so much +trouble. Sylvia was in a wretched way, and in an extremely bad temper. +Marcia was almost as miserable, for she was acting the part of an +extinguisher not only to Sylvia's hopes and aspirations, but to her own. +So far as I could see there was no way out of the doleful dumps in which +you seemed to have plunged yourself and all parties concerned, but I set +to work to try what I could do to straighten out matters; my principal +object being, I candidly admit, to enable Marcia Raynor to feel free to +give up her position of watch-dog, and go to her National College, on +which her soul is set. But to accomplish this, I must first do something +with Sylvia; but that girl has a conscience like a fence post, and a +disposition like a squirrel that skips along the rails. I could do +nothing with her. She had sworn to be a Sister of Martha for life, and +yet she would not consent to act like an out and out sister, and give up +all that stuff about typewriting for you, and the other nonsensical +notions of co-Marthaism, with which you infected her. She stoutly stuck +to it, in spite of all the arguments I could use, that there was no good +reason why you and she, as well as the other sisters and some other +gentlemen, could not work together in the noble cause of I don't +remember what fol-de-rol. Pretty co-Marthas you and she would make!</p> + +<p>"Then I tried to induce Marcia to give up her fancies of +responsibilities and all that, and to leave the girl in the charge of +the present Mother Inferior, an elderly woman called Sister Sarah, who +in my opinion could be quite as much of a griffin as the case demanded. +But she would not listen to me. She had been the cause of her cousin's +joining the sisterhood, and now she would not desert her, and she said a +lot about the case requiring not only vigilance, but kindness and +counsel, and that sort of thing. Then I went back to the city, and tried +my hand on Sylvia's mother, but with no success at all. She is like a +stone gate-post, and always was, and declared that as Sylvia had entered +the institution because Marcia was there, it was the latter's duty to +give up everything else, and to throw herself between Sylvia and your +mischievous machinations and to stay there until you were married to +somebody, and the danger was past."</p> + +<p>"Machinations!" I ejaculated,—"a most unreasonable person."</p> + +<p>"Perhaps so," said Miss Laniston, "but not a bit more than the rest of +you. You are the most unreasonable lot I ever met with. Having failed +utterly with the three women, I had some idea of sending for you, and of +trying to persuade you to marry some one who is not under the +sisterhood's restrictions, and so smooth out this wretched tangle, but I +knew that you were more obstinate and stiff-necked than any of them, and +so concluded to save myself the trouble of reasoning with you."</p> + +<p>"A wise decision," I remarked.</p> + +<p>"But I could not give up," she continued; "I could not bear the thought +that my friend Marcia Raynor should sacrifice herself in this way. I +went back to Arden in the hope that something might suggest itself; that +a gleam of sense might be shown by the one or the other of the lunatics +in gray for whose good I was racking my brains. But I found things worse +than I had left them. Sylvia had stirred herself into a spirit of +combativeness of which no one would have supposed her capable, and had +actually endeavored to brow-beat her Mother Superior into the belief +that a Brotherhood Annex was not only necessary to the prosperity and +success of the House of Martha, but that it was absolutely wicked not to +have it. She had gone on in this strain until Marcia had become angry, +and then there had been a scene and tears, and much subsequent misery.</p> + +<p>"I talked first with one doleful sister, and then with the other, with +the only result that I became nearly as doleful as they. In my despair I +went to Marcia, and urged her to acknowledge herself vanquished, to give +up this contest, which would be her ruin, to show herself a true woman, +and to take up the true work of her life. 'Oh, I couldn't do it,' she +said, and she looked as if she were going to cry, a most unusual thing +with her; 'if I went away, to-morrow they would be together, making +mud-pies for the children of the poor.' I sprang to my feet. 'Marcia +Raynor,' I cried, 'you made this House of Martha. You are the head and +the front, the top and the bottom of it. You are its founder and its +autocrat, it lives on your money,—for everybody knows that what these +sisters make wouldn't buy their pillboxes,—and now, having run it all +these years, and having brought yourself and Sylvia to the greatest +grief by it, it is your duty to put an end to it, to abolish it.'</p> + +<p>"'Abolish the House of Martha?' she cried, with her great eyes blazing +at me.</p> + +<p>"'Yes,' I said, 'abolish it, destroy it, annihilate it, declare it null, +void, dead and gone, utterly extinguished, and out of existence. You can +do this, and you ought to do this. It is your only way out of the +dreadful situation in which you have got yourself and Sylvia. Let the +other sisters go to some other institutions, or wherever they like. You +and Sylvia will be free, that is the great point. Now do not hesitate. +Stop supplies, dissolve the organization, break up the House of Martha, +and do it instantly.'</p> + +<p>"She made one step towards me and seized me by the wrist. 'Janet,' she +said, 'I will do it.' And she did it that day. At present there is no +House of Martha."</p> + +<p>I sat and gazed at Miss Laniston without comprehending what I had heard.</p> + +<p>"No House of Martha!" I ejaculated.</p> + +<p>"That is precisely the state of the case," she answered; "the +establishment was dissolved at noon yesterday. As I had had all the +trouble of bringing this thing about, I considered that I had a right to +tell you of it myself. I thought it would interest me to see how you +took it."</p> + +<p>I rose to my feet; I stepped towards her.</p> + +<p>"No House of Martha," I gasped,—"and Sylvia?"</p> + +<p>"Sylvia will go home to her mother, so she told me yesterday. I was +present at the dissolution. I think she will probably come to the city +this afternoon."</p> + +<p>I snatched up my hat. "I must go to her instantly," I said. "I must see +her before she reaches her mother. I have lost time already."</p> + +<p>"Upon my word!" exclaimed Miss Laniston, "your way of taking it is +indeed interesting. Not a word of thanks, not a sign of recognition"—</p> + +<p>I had nearly reached the door, but now rushed back and seized her by the +hand. "Excuse me," I said, "but you can see for yourself"—and with one +violent shake I dropped her hand, and hurried away.</p> + +<p>"Oh, yes," she cried, "I can easily see for myself," and as I left the +house I heard her hearty laugh.</p> + +<p>I sprang into my cab, ordering the man to drive fast for the railroad +station. It mattered not to me whether Walkirk went to Europe or not. +All I cared for was to catch the next train which would take me to +Arden.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="XLVIII" id="XLVIII"></a>XLVIII.</h2> + +<h3>IN A COLD, BARE ROOM.</h3> + + +<p>When I reached Arden I took one of the melancholy vehicles which stand +at our station, and very much astonished the driver by ordering him to +take me, not to my own home, but to the House of Martha.</p> + +<p>"You know they're busted up, sir," said the man, turning to me, as his +old horse hurried us along at the best of his speed.</p> + +<p>"But the sisters have not left?" I eagerly asked.</p> + +<p>"Not all," he said, "but two or three of them went down this morning."</p> + +<p>"Drive on quicker," I replied, "I am in a hurry."</p> + +<p>The man gave the horse a crack with his whip, which made no difference +whatever in our rate of speed, and said:—</p> + +<p>"If you've got a bill agin any of them, sir, you needn't worry. The +Mother is still there, and she's all right, you know."</p> + +<p>"Bill? Nonsense!" said I.</p> + +<p>"I'm sorry they're busted," said the man; "they didn't do much hackin', +but they give us a lot of haulin' from the station."</p> + +<p>As I hurried up the broad path which led to the front of the House of +Martha, I found the door of the main entrance open, something I had +never noticed before, although I had often passed the house. I entered +unceremoniously, and saw before me, in the hallway, a woman in gray, +stooping over a trunk. She turned, at the sound of my footsteps on the +bare floor, and I beheld Sister Sarah. Her eyes flashed as she saw me, +and I know that her first impulse was to order me out of the house. This +of course she now had no right to do, but there were private rights +which she still maintained.</p> + +<p>"I should think," she said, "that a man who has done all the mischief +that you have done, who has worked and planned and plotted and +contrived, until he has undermined and utterly ruined the sisterhood of +pious women who ask nothing of this world but to be let alone to do +their own work in their own way, would be ashamed to put his nose into +this house; but I suppose a man who would do what you have done does not +know what shame is. Have you come here to sneer and jibe and scorn and +mock, and gloat over the misfortunes of the women whose home you have +broken up, ruined, and devastated?"</p> + +<p>"Madam," said I, "can you tell me where I can find Miss Sylvia Raynor?"</p> + +<p>She looked as if she were about to spring and bite.</p> + +<p>"Atrocious!" she exclaimed. "I will not stay under the same roof,"—and +she marched out of the door.</p> + +<p>I made my way into the reception room. I met no one, and the room was +empty, although I heard on the floor above the sound of many footsteps, +apparently those of the sisters preparing for departure.</p> + +<p>I looked around for a bell, or some means of making my presence known. +The room appeared harder, barer, emptier than when I had seen it before. +In a moment it was filled with all the light and beauty of the world. A +door opened, and Sylvia entered.</p> + +<p>"I saw you come," she said, advancing with outstretched hands, "and +hurried down as soon as I could."</p> + +<p>She was in her gray dress, but without shawl or head covering. Her face +was filled with the most charming welcome. I hastened towards her. I did +not take her hands, but opening my arms I folded her in them, and kissed +her over and over again. With flushed face she pushed herself a little +from me.</p> + +<p>"Isn't this taking a great deal for granted?" she said.</p> + +<p>"Granted!" I exclaimed, "think of what has been denied. Think of the +weeks, the months"—</p> + +<p>"We would a great deal better think somebody may come in here and see +us," said Sylvia, pushing herself still farther from me.</p> + +<p>"But didn't you expect me to rush to you the instant I heard you were a +free woman? Did you suppose there was anything to be taken for granted +between us?"</p> + +<p>"Oh no," she said, "I think we understood each other pretty well, but +then, don't you see, I didn't suppose it would be like this. I am +expecting a trunk from New York every minute, and I thought when it came +I should be dressed like other people. Now that I am not a sister, I did +not want you to see me in these dreary clothes. Then I would go to my +mother's house, and I thought you would call on me there, and things +would go on more regularly; but you are so impetuous."</p> + +<p>"My dearest love," said I, "it fills me with rapture to take you in my +arms in the same dress you wore when I fell in love with you. Often and +often as I looked at you through that grating have I thought that it +would be to me the greatest joy on earth if I could take you in my arms +and tell you that I loved you."</p> + +<p>"You thought that!" exclaimed Sylvia; "it was very wrong of you."</p> + +<p>"Right or wrong, I did it," said I, "and now I have her, my dear little +nun, here in my arms."</p> + +<p>She ceased to push and looked up at me with a merry smile.</p> + +<p>"Do you remember," she said, "the morning the wasp came near stinging +me?"</p> + +<p>"Indeed I do," I said vehemently.</p> + +<p>"Well, before that wasp came," she continued, "I used to be a good deal +afraid of you. I thought you were very learned and dignified, but after +I was so frightened, and you saw me without my bonnet, and all that, I +felt we were very much more like friends, and that was the very +beginning of my liking you."</p> + +<p>"My darling," I exclaimed, "that wasp was the best friend we ever had. +Do you want to see it?" and releasing her, I took from my pocket the +pasteboard box in which I had placed our friend Vespa. As she looked at +the insect, her face was lighted with joyous surprise.</p> + +<p>"And that is the same wasp?" she said, "and you kept it?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, and shall always keep it," I said, "even now it has not ceased to +be our friend." And then I told her how my desire to take with me this +memento of her had held me back from the rolling Atlantic, and brought +me to her. She raised her face to me with her beautiful eyes in a mist +of tenderness, and this time her arms were extended.</p> + +<p>"You are the dearest man," she said.</p> + +<p>In less than a minute after she had spoken these words, Mother Anastasia +entered the room. She stood for a moment amazed, and then she hastily +shut the door.</p> + +<p>"Really," she exclaimed, "you two are incomprehensible beings. Don't you +know that people might come in here at any moment? It is fortunate that +I was the person who came in at this moment."</p> + +<p>"But you knew he was here?" said Sylvia.</p> + +<p>"Yes. I knew that," the other replied, "but I expected you would both +remember that at present this house might almost be considered a public +place."</p> + +<p>"My dear Marcia," said Sylvia, "if you knew him as well as I do, you +would know that he would never remember anything about a place."</p> + +<p>I turned to the ex-Mother Superior, who had already discarded the garb +of the sisterhood, and was dressed in a dark walking suit.</p> + +<p>"If you knew me as well as I know myself," I said, reaching to her both +my hands, "you would know that my gratitude towards you is deeper than +the deepest depths of the earth." She took one of my hands.</p> + +<p>"If you have anything to be grateful for," she said, "it is for the +lectures I have given you, and which, I am afraid, I ought to continue +to give you. As to what was done here yesterday I consider myself as +much benefited as anybody, and I suppose Sylvia is of the same opinion +regarding herself. But there is one person to whom you truly ought to be +grateful—Miss Laniston."</p> + +<p>"I know that," I said. "I have seen her; she told me what she did, and I +treated her as I would treat a boy who had brushed my coat, but I shall +make amends."</p> + +<p>"Indeed you shall," said Sylvia, "and I will go with you when you do +it."</p> + +<p>"But you must not set yourself aside in this way," said I, addressing +the older lady, "it was you who fanned my hopes of winning Sylvia when +there seemed no reason why they should not fade away. It was you who +promised to help me, and who did help me."</p> + +<p>"Did you do that, Marcia?" asked Sylvia.</p> + +<p>The beautiful woman who had been Mother Anastasia flushed a little, as +she answered:—</p> + +<p>"Yes, dear, but then you were only a sister on probation."</p> + +<p>"And you wanted me to marry him?"</p> + +<p>The other smiled and nodded, and in the next moment Sylvia's arms were +about her neck, and Sylvia's lips were on her cheek.</p> + +<p>I was very much affected, and there is no knowing how my feelings and +gratitude might have been evinced, had not the clumping of a trunk upon +the stairs and the voices of sisters at the door called me to order.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="XLIX" id="XLIX"></a>XLIX.</h2> + +<h3>MY OWN WAY.</h3> + + +<p>When I went home to my grandmother, she was greatly surprised to see me, +and I lost no time in explaining my unexpected appearance.</p> + +<p>"Really, really," she exclaimed, "I was just writing you a letter, which +I intended to send after you, so that you would get it when you arrived +in London; and in it I was going to tell you all about the breaking up +of the House of Martha, of which I first heard half an hour after you +left me. I was glad you had not known of it before you started, for I +thought it would be so much better for all the changes to be made while +you were away, and for Sylvia to be in her mother's house, where she +could get rid of her nunnish habits, and have some proper clothes made +up. Of course I knew you would come back soon, but I thought your own +mind would be in much better order for a little absence."</p> + +<p>"My dear grandmother," I cried, "in mind and body I am in perfect order, +and it is presence, not absence, which made me so."</p> + +<p>"Somehow or other," said she, smiling, "the fates seem to help you to +have your own way, and I am sure I am delighted that you will stay at +home. And what has become of Mr. Walkirk?"</p> + +<p>"Upon my word!" I exclaimed—"I do not know."</p> + +<p>Towards evening Walkirk returned, looking tired and out of spirits. I +truly regretted the carelessness and neglect with which I had treated +him, and explained and apologized to the best of my ability. He was a +good-natured fellow, and behaved magnanimously.</p> + +<p>"Things have turned out wonderfully well," he said, as he took a seat, +"but I shall be more delighted with the state of affairs when I am a +little less fatigued. Minor annoyances ought not to be considered, but I +assure you I have had a pretty rough time of it. As the hour for sailing +drew near, and you did not make your appearance, I became more and more +nervous and anxious. I would not allow our baggage to be put on board, +for I knew a conference with a lady was likely to be of indefinite +duration, and when at last the steamer sailed, I went immediately to +Miss Laniston's house to inform you of the fact, and to find out what +you proposed to do; but Miss Laniston was not at home, and the servant +told me that a gentleman—undoubtedly you—had left the house nearly an +hour before, and his great haste made her think that he was trying to +catch a steamer.</p> + +<p>"'People would not hurry like that,' she said, 'to catch a train, for +there's always another one in an hour or two.'</p> + +<p>"Then I began to fear that in your haste you had gone on board the wrong +steamer—two others sailed to-day, a little later than ours, and I went +to their piers and made all sorts of inquiries, but I could find out +nothing. Then I went to your club, to your lawyer's office, and several +other places where I supposed you might go, but no one had seen or heard +of you. Then a fear began to creep over me that you had had some greatly +depressing news from Miss Laniston, and that you had made away with +yourself."</p> + +<p>"Walkirk!" I exclaimed, "how dared you think that?"</p> + +<p>"Men in the nervous condition I was," he answered, "think all sorts of +things, and that is one of the things I thought. Finally I went to Miss +Laniston's house again, and this time I found her, and learned what had +happened. Then I went to the pier, ordered the trunk sent back here, for +I knew there was no question now of the trip to Europe, and here I am."</p> + +<p>It was easy to see that whatever pleasure the turn in my affairs may +have given Walkirk, he was disappointed at losing his trip to Europe; +but I thought it well not to reopen his wounds by any allusion to this +fact, and contented myself by saying the most earnest and cordial things +about what he had done and suffered for me that day, and inwardly +determining that I would make full amends to him for his lost journey.</p> + +<p>In about ten days I received a message by cable from Liverpool, which +was sent by my stenographer, informing me that he had gone aboard the +steamer, as per agreement, and being busy writing letters to send back +by the pilot, had not discovered that Walkirk and I were not on board +until it was too late. The message was a long one, and its cost, as well +as that of the one by which I informed the stenographer that he might +come home, and the price of the man's passage to Liverpool and back, +besides the sum I was obliged to pay him for his lost time, might all +have been saved to me, had the fellow been thoughtful enough to make +himself sure that we were on board before he allowed himself to be +carried off. But little rubs of this kind were of slight moment to me at +that time.</p> + +<p>On the day after things had been taken for granted between Sylvia and +myself, I saw her at her mother's house, and I must admit that although +it had given me such exquisite pleasure to feel that she was mine in the +coarse gray gown of a "sister," it delighted me more to feel she was +mine in the ordinary costume of society. She was as gay as a butterfly +ought to be which had just cast off its gray wrappings and spread its +wings to the coloring light.</p> + +<p>I found Mrs. Raynor in a somewhat perturbed state of mind.</p> + +<p>"I cannot accommodate myself," she said, "to these sudden and violent +mutations. I like to sit on the sands and stay there as long as I +please, and to feel that I know how high each breaker will be, and how +far the tide will come in, but these tidal waves which make beach of sea +and sea of beach sweep me away utterly; I cannot comprehend where I am. +A week ago I considered you as an enemy with active designs on the peace +of my daughter. I was about to write you a letter to demand that you +should cease from troubling her. But I heard you were going to Europe, +and then I felt that henceforth our paths would be smoother, for I +believed that absence would cure you of your absurd and objectless +infatuation; but suddenly, down goes the House of Martha, and up comes +the enemy, transformed into a suitor, who is loved by Sylvia, and +against whom I can have no possible objection. Now can not you see for +yourself how this sort of thing must affect a mind accustomed to a +certain uniformity of emotion?"</p> + +<p>"Madam," said I, "it will be the object of my life to make you so happy +in our happiness that you shall remember this recent tumult of events as +something more gratifying to look back upon than your most cherished +memories of tranquil delight."</p> + +<p>"You seem to have a high opinion of your abilities," she said, smiling, +"and of the value of what you offer me. I am perfectly willing that you +try what you can do; nevertheless I wish you had gone to Europe. +Everything would have turned out just the same, and the affair would +have been more seemly."</p> + +<p>"Oh, we can easily make that all right," said I. "Sylvia and I will go +to Europe on our bridal trip."</p> + +<p>As I finished these words Sylvia came into the room, accompanied by Miss +Laniston.</p> + +<p>"Here is a gentleman," said my dear girl to her companion, "who has +declared his desire to thank you for something you have done for him, +and he has spoken so strongly about the way in which he intended to pour +out his gratitude, that I want to see how he does it."</p> + +<p>"Mr. Vanderley," said Miss Laniston, "I forbid you to utter one word of +that outpouring, which you would have poured out yesterday morning, had +it not been so urgently necessary to catch a train. When I am ready for +the effusion referred to, I will fix a time for it and let you know the +day before, and I will take care that no one shall be present at it but +ourselves."</p> + +<p>"Any way," said Sylvia, "he will tell me all about it."</p> + +<p>"If he does," said Miss Laniston, "you will re-enter a convent."</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="L" id="L"></a>L.</h2> + +<h3>MY BOOK OF TRAVEL.</h3> + + +<p>When the House of Martha had been formally abolished, the members of the +sisterhood made various dispositions of themselves. Some determined to +enter institutions of a similar character, while others who had homes +planned to retire to them, with the intention of endeavoring to do what +good they could without separating themselves from the world in which +they were to do it. Sister Sarah was greatly incensed at the dissolution +of the House, and much more so because, had it continued, she expected +to be at the head of it. She declared her intention of throwing herself +into the arms of the Mother Church, where a sisterhood meant something, +and where such nonsense and treachery as this would be impossible.</p> + +<p>I did not enjoy the autumn of that year to the extent that I should have +enjoyed it had I been able to arrange matters according to my own ideas +of what was appropriate to the case.</p> + +<p>Sylvia lived in the city, and I lived in the country, and although I +went to her whenever I could, and she and her mother dined several times +with my grandmother, there were often long stretches, sometimes +extending over the greater part of the day, when I did not see her at +all.</p> + +<p>Thus it was that I had sometimes to think of other things, and one +morning I said to my under-study, "Walkirk, there is something I regret +very much, and that is the non-completion of my book. I shall never +finish it, I am sure, because every thing that has ever happened to me +is going to be made uninteresting and tedious by what is to happen. +Travel and life itself will be quite another thing to me, and I am sure +that I will be satisfied with enjoying it, and shall not want to write +about it. And so, good-by to the book."</p> + +<p>"In regard to your book," said Walkirk, "I feel it my duty to say to you +that there is no occasion for you to bid good-by to it."</p> + +<p>"You are wrong there!" I exclaimed. "I shall never write it. I do not +want to write it."</p> + +<p>"Nevertheless," said Walkirk, "the book will be written. I shall write +it. In fact I have written a great part of it already."</p> + +<p>"What in the name of common sense do you mean?" I cried, staring at him +in astonishment.</p> + +<p>"What I am going to say to you," replied Walkirk, "may displease you, +but I earnestly hope that you may eventually agree with me, that what I +have done is for the general good. You may remember that when you first +talked to me of your travels, you also handed me some of the manuscript +you had prepared for the opening chapters of your book and gave me an +outline of the projected plan of the work. Now as I have often told you, +I considered the material for a book of travels contained in your +experiences, as recited to me, as extremely fresh, novel and +entertaining, and would be bound to make what publishers call a 'hit' if +properly presented, but at the same time I am compelled to say that I +soon became convinced that there was no probability that you would +properly present your admirable subject matter to the reading world."</p> + +<p>"Upon my word," said I, "this is cool."</p> + +<p>"It is hard to speak to you in this way," he answered, "and the only way +in which I can do it is to be perfectly straightforward and honest about +it. I am at heart a literary man, and have, so far as I have the power, +cultivated the art of putting things effectively; and I assure you, sir, +that it gave me actual pain when I found how you were going to present +some of the incidents of your journey, such as, for instance, your +diving experiences in the maelstrom, or at least in the place where it +was supposed to be, and where, judging from your discoveries, it may +under certain conditions and to a certain extent really exist.</p> + +<p>"There were a good many other points which I believe could be made of +startling interest and value, not only to ordinary readers, but to +scientific people, if they were properly brought out. I saw no reason +that you would so bring them out, and I felt not only that I could do +it, but that it would delight me to do it.</p> + +<p>"My feeling on the subject was so strong that, as you may remember, I +declined to act as your secretary. I am perhaps over-sensitive, but I +could not have written your book as you would have dictated it to me, +and as you did indeed dictate it to your various secretaries."</p> + +<p>"Go on," I said, "I am perfectly charmed with my power of repressing +resentment."</p> + +<p>"Therefore it was," he continued, "that I set to work to write the book +myself, founding it entirely upon your daily recitals. My plan was to +write as long as I found you were in the humor to talk, and, in fact, if +you lost interest in me as a listener I determined that I would then +declare what I had done, show you my work, and implore you, if you felt +like it, to give me enough subject matter to finish it.</p> + +<p>"I have now stated my case, and I place it entirely in your hands. I +will give you what I have written, and if you choose to read it and do +not like it, you can throw it into the fire. The subject matter is +yours, and I have no rights over it. But if you think that the work +which you have decided to discontinue can be successfully carried on by +me, I shall be delighted to go ahead and finish it."</p> + +<p>"Walkirk," said I, "you have the effrontery of a stone sphinx; but let +me see your manuscript."</p> + +<p>He handed it to me, and during the rest of the morning, and for a great +part of the night, after I had returned in a late train from the city, I +read it. The next day I handed it to him.</p> + +<p>"Walkirk," said I, "as my under-study go ahead and finish this book. You +never came nearer the truth than when you said that that material is +vastly interesting."</p> + +<p>Walkirk was delighted and took up the work with enthusiasm. Whenever I +had a chance I talked to him, and whenever he had a chance he wrote. +However, at that time, I gave so much of my business to my under-study +that he was not able to devote himself to his literary work as +assiduously as he and I would have desired. In fact, the book is not yet +finished, but when it appears I think it will be a success.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="LI" id="LI"></a>LI.</h2> + +<h3>A LOOSE END.</h3> + + +<p>I was now a very happy man, but I was not an entirely satisfied one. +Looking back upon what had happened, I could see that there were certain +loose ends, which ought to be gathered up before they were broken off +and lost, or tangled up with something to which they did not belong.</p> + +<p>It has always been my disposition to gather up the loose ends, to draw +together the floating strands of circumstance, tendency, intention, and +all that sort of thing, so that I may see what they are and where they +come from. I like to know how I stand in relation to them, and how they +may affect me.</p> + +<p>One of the present loose ends was brought to my mind by a conversation +with Sylvia. I had been speaking of her cousin Marcia Raynor, and +expressing my pleasure that she was about to enter a new life, to which +she seemed so well adapted.</p> + +<p>"Marcia is a fine woman," she said, "and I love her ever so much, but +you know she has caused me a great deal of pain; that she has actually +made me cry when I was in bed at night."</p> + +<p>I assured her that I had never imagined such a thing possible.</p> + +<p>"Of course," Sylvia continued, "I do not refer to the way she acted just +before the House of Martha was broken up. Then she opposed everything I +wanted to do, and would listen to no reason, but I wouldn't listen to +her reasons either, and I was entirely too angry with her to think of +crying on her account. It was before that, that she made my very heart +sick, and all on your account."</p> + +<p>"She was severe upon me, I suppose."</p> + +<p>"Not a bit of it," said Sylvia, "if she had been severe, I should not +have minded it so much, but it was quite the other way. Now just put +yourself in my place and try to think how you would have felt about it. +Here was I, fixed and settled for life in the House of Martha, and here +were you, perfectly convinced—at least I was afraid you were +convinced—that there was nothing for you to do but to give me up, and +here was Marcia, just about to step out into the world a free woman, and +at the same time taking a most wonderful interest in you, and trying to +make you understand that you ought to let me alone, and all that sort of +thing."</p> + +<p>"In which she did not succeed at all," I said.</p> + +<p>"So it appears," said Sylvia, "but I couldn't be sure about that at the +time, you know, and if she had succeeded there was no earthly reason why +you should not have become as much interested in her as she was in you, +and then—but it's too dreadful to talk about; it used to make me fairly +boil."</p> + +<p>"You mean to say," said I, "that you were jealous of your Cousin +Marcia."</p> + +<p>"Yes," she answered, "there is no use in calling it by any other name; I +was jealous, savagely so, sometimes."</p> + +<p>Now this was a very high compliment, and I did not fail to express my +satisfaction at having been the subject of such emotions. But one of the +results of Sylvia's communication was to remind me of the existence of a +loose end. I had never understood Mother Anastasia's feelings towards +me. It had been very interesting to me to make conjectures about those +feelings, and now that I could safely do more than conjecture I wished +to do more, and to find out, if possible, if there had been any reasons +for the construction I had placed upon the actions of the beautiful +Mother Superior. Of course this was of no real importance now, but one +cannot be brought into relations with such a woman as Marcia Raynor +without wanting to know exactly what those relations were.</p> + +<p>I had far too much prudence, however, to talk on this subject with +Sylvia; if I talked with any one I must do it very cautiously. One +morning I called upon Miss Laniston. That lady was informed on a great +many points, and, moreover, was exceedingly free-spoken. I did not +expect any direct information from her, but she might say something from +which I might make inferences.</p> + +<p>She thought I had come to thank her for what she had done for me, but I +assured her that this ceremony must be postponed for the present, for +Sylvia had instructed me to write my gratitude in a letter, which she +thought would be a much preferable method than for me to pour it out in +a private interview.</p> + +<p>"Your Sylvia seems to be a jealous little body," she remarked.</p> + +<p>"Oh, no," said I, "although, of course, it is natural enough for persons +in our state of mind to have tendencies that way. By the way, one of +these tendencies on her part was rather odd. Do you know that at one +time she was almost jealous of her cousin Marcia, at that time a +gray-bonneted sister? As you know so much of our affairs I do not think +I am going too far in telling that."</p> + +<p>Miss Laniston seemed to be considering the subject.</p> + +<p>"It is the commonest thing," she said presently, "to make mistakes about +matters of this sort. Now, for instance, I once put some questions to +you which seemed to indicate that there might be some reason for +Sylvia's uneasiness. Didn't you think they pointed that way?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, I did," I replied.</p> + +<p>"And have you ever thought of it since?" she asked.</p> + +<p>"Occasionally. Of course the matter is of no vital interest now. But at +the time you spoke of it, I could not help wondering if I had said or +done anything during my rather intimate acquaintance with Mother +Anastasia which would give you good cause to put the questions to which +you just now alluded."</p> + +<p>"Well," said Miss Laniston, "you seemed to me, at the time, to be in a +decidedly unbalanced state of mind, but I think I acted most +unwarrantably in speaking of Marcia as I did. In fact, I often act +unwarrantably. It is one of my habits. And to prove it to you, I am +going to act unwarrantably again. Having brought the elder Miss Raynor +before you in a way that might have led you to have undefined ideas +about her, I am going to bring her before you again in order that those +ideas may be exactly defined. It is all wrong, I know, but I like to set +things straight, whether I do it in the right way or wrong way."</p> + +<p>"That is exactly my disposition," I replied; "I always want to set +things straight."</p> + +<p>She left the room, and soon returned with a letter.</p> + +<p>"When I decide positively to do a thing," she said, sitting down and +opening the letter, "I think it just as well to drop apologies and +excuses. You and I have decided that matters ought to be set straight, +and so, here goes. Marcia has just written me a long letter in which she +says a good deal about you and Sylvia, and I am going to read you a part +of it which I think will straighten out some things which I may have +made crooked, in my efforts to do good to all parties concerned—a +dangerous business, I may say.</p> + +<p>"'It is delightful to think,' thus Marcia writes,—'that Sylvia's life +is at last settled for her, and that, too, in the right way. Of course, +neither you nor I would be satisfied with a match like that; but Sylvia +is not only satisfied with Mr. Vanderley, but I have no doubt that she +will be perfectly happy with him. More than that, I believe she will +supply his shortcomings, and strengthen his weaknesses, and as he has a +naturally good disposition, and an ample fortune, I think Sylvia is to +be sincerely congratulated. When we first spoke of this matter a good +while ago I thought that if the Sylvia-Vanderley affair could ever be +arranged, it would be a good thing, and I have not changed my opinion.' +The rest of the letter," said Miss Laniston, folding it as she spoke, +"chiefly concerns the new college, and I do not suppose it would +interest you."</p> + +<p>I agreed with her, and took my leave. The loose end had been gathered +up.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="LII" id="LII"></a>LII.</h2> + +<h3>I FINISH THE SICILIAN LOVE-STORY.</h3> + + +<p>It might have been supposed that my little experience in gathering up +loose ends would have deterred me from further efforts in this +direction, but it did not.</p> + +<p>I had left Miss Laniston without asking some questions I had intended to +put to her. I wished very much to know—I thought it was my right to +know—something definite about the Mr. Brownson who had formerly been +connected, so to speak, with the Misses Raynor. I hated this subject as +I hated the vilest medicine, but I felt that I must get the matter +straightened in my mind, yet I could not say anything to Sylvia about +it. And after what Miss Laniston had read to me I could not ask her +anything, even if my mind had been sufficiently composed to formulate +questions. She was a very plain-spoken person. Too much so, perhaps.</p> + +<p>Walkirk was very different; in fact, I think he erred on the other side. +I am sure that he would have liked to conceal from me anything that +would give me pain. In the course of his life he had met a great many +people; he might know something about Brownson. Any way, I would throw +out some feelers in that direction.</p> + +<p>"Yes," I remarked to him, in the course of a conversation about the late +Mother Superior, "what she is going to do is a very fine thing,—a noble +enterprise, and she is just the sort of person to go into it, but after +all I would rather see her married to the right sort of man. A woman +like that owes it to society to be married."</p> + +<p>"I fancy," said Walkirk, "that she has permanently left the marrying +class. When she broke with Brownson, I think she broke with marriage."</p> + +<p>"What were the points of that?" I asked. "Did you ever happen to hear +anything about him?"</p> + +<p>"I knew him very well," answered Walkirk. "Those were his prints I was +cataloguing just before I entered your service. He had then been dead a +year or more, and I was working for the estate."</p> + +<p>I arose and went to the window. I wiped my forehead, which had become +moist. If this man had known Brownson, why should he not know all? Was +he familiar with both engagements? It made me sick to think of it. There +was no sense or reason in such emotion, for it was not likely that +Sylvia's engagement had been a secret one; but I had a proud soul and +could not bear to think that people about me, especially Walkirk, should +be aware of Sylvia's attachment, slight as it may have been, to another +than myself. I heartily wished that I had not spoken of the subject.</p> + +<p>Still, as I had spoken of it, I might as well learn all that I could.</p> + +<p>"What sort of a man was this Brownson?" I asked. "What reason was there +that Miss Marcia Raynor should have cared for him?"</p> + +<p>"He was a fine man," said Walkirk. "He was educated, good-looking, rich. +He was young enough, but had been a bachelor too long, perhaps, and had +very independent ways. It was on account of his independence of thought, +especially on religious matters, that he and Miss Marcia Raynor had +their difficulties, which ended in the breaking of the engagement. I am +quite sure that she was a good deal cut up. As I said before, I do not +think that she will consider marriage again."</p> + +<p>I took in a full breath of relief. Here Walkirk had told the little +story of Brownson, and had said nothing of any subsequent engagement. +Perhaps he knew of none. This thought was truly encouraging.</p> + +<p>"Perhaps you are right," I said, "she may know better than any of us +what will suit her. Any way I ought to be satisfied; and that reminds +me, Walkirk, that I have never expressed to you, as strongly as I wished +to do it, my appreciation of the interest you have taken in my varied +relations with Miss Sylvia Raynor, and for the valuable advice and +assistance you have given me from time to time. For instance, I believe +that your reluctance to have me go away from Tangent Island was due to +your discovery that the island belonged to Sylvia's mother, and, +therefore, there was some probability that she might come there."</p> + +<p>Walkirk smiled. "You have hit the truth," he said.</p> + +<p>"I have sometimes wondered," I continued, "why a man should take so much +interest in the love affairs of another. When one engages an +under-study, he does not generally expect that sort of thing."</p> + +<p>"Well," said Walkirk, "when a man engages as an under-study, or in a +similar capacity, he often performs services, without regard to his duty +and salary, simply because they interest and please him. Now it struck +me that it would be a curious bit of romantic realism if two beautiful +women, who on account of one man had become nuns in a convent, or what +was practically the same thing, should both be taken out of that convent +and brought back to their true life in the world by another man."</p> + +<p>"Two women"—I gasped.</p> + +<p>Walkirk smiled, and his voice assumed a comforting tone.</p> + +<p>"Of course that sort of thing has its rough points for the second man, +but in this case I do not think they amount to much. Brownson's affair +with the younger lady would have come to an end as soon as she had +discovered the rocks in his character, but her mother broke it off +before it came to that. But I do not think she would have gone into the +sisterhood, if it had not been for the man's death very soon after the +breaking of the engagement. This affected her very much, but there was +no reason why it should, for he was killed in a railway accident, and I +am positively certain that he would have married some one else if he had +lived long enough."</p> + +<p>I had nothing to say to all this. I walked slowly into my study and shut +the door. Surely I had had enough of picking up loose ends. If there +were any more of them I would let them flap, dangle, float in the air, +do what they please; I would not touch them.</p> + +<hr style='width: 45%;' /> + +<p>That evening I spent with Sylvia. In the course of our conversation she +suddenly remarked:—</p> + +<p>"Do you know we have had so much to do and so much to talk about, and so +much to think about and plan, that I have had no chance to ask you some +questions that I have been thinking about. In the first place I want you +to tell me all about Mr. Walkirk. How long has he been with you? Are you +always going to keep him? What does he do? What was his business before +he came to you? Was he always an under-study for people? It has struck +me that that would be such an odd occupation for a man to have. And then +there is another thing,—a mere supposition of mine, but still something +that I have had a sort of curiosity about: supposing that the House of +Martha had not been broken up, and it were all fixed and settled that I +should stay there always, and supposing cousin Marcia had left us, and +had gone into her college work, just as she is doing now—do you think +that you would have had any desire to study medicine?</p> + +<p>"And then there is another thing that is not a question, but something +which I think I ought to tell you,—something which you have a right to +know before we are married."</p> + +<p>"Sylvia," said I, interrupting her, "let me give you a little piece of +wisdom from my own experience: The gnawings of ungratified curiosity are +often very irritating, but we should remember that the gnawings of +gratified curiosity are frequently mangling."</p> + +<p>"Indeed!" she exclaimed, "is that the way you look at it? Well, I can +assure you that what I have to tell is of no importance at all, but if +you have anything to say that is mangling, I want to hear it this very +minute."</p> + +<p>"My dear Sylvia," said I, "we have had so much to do and so much to talk +about, and so much to think about and plan, that I have had no chance to +finish the story of Tomaso and Lucilla."</p> + +<p>"That is true," she cried, with sparkling eyes; "and above all things I +want to hear the end of that story."</p> + +<p>I sat by her on the sofa and finished the story of the Sicilian lovers.</p> + +<p>"In some ways," she said, "it is very much like our story, isn't it?"</p> + +<p>"Except," I answered, "that the best part of ours is just beginning."</p> + +<p> </p> +<p> </p> +<hr class="full" /> +<p>***END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE HOUSE OF MARTHA***</p> +<p>******* This file should be named 18822-h.txt or 18822-h.zip *******</p> +<p>This and all associated files of various formats will be found in:<br /> +<a href="http://www.gutenberg.org/dirs/1/8/8/2/18822">http://www.gutenberg.org/1/8/8/2/18822</a></p> +<p>Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed.</p> + +<p>Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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