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diff --git a/21772-h/21772-h.htm b/21772-h/21772-h.htm new file mode 100644 index 0000000..f105fa2 --- /dev/null +++ b/21772-h/21772-h.htm @@ -0,0 +1,1953 @@ +<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?> + +<!DOCTYPE html + PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Strict//EN" + "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-strict.dtd" > + +<html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" lang="en"> + <head> + <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html;charset=UTF-8" /> + <title> + The Path of Duty, by Henry James + </title> + <style type="text/css" xml:space="preserve"> + + body { margin:5%; background:#faebd0; text-align:justify} + P { text-indent: 1em; margin-top: .25em; margin-bottom: .25em; } + H1,H2,H3,H4,H5,H6 { text-align: center; margin-left: 15%; margin-right: 15%; } + hr { width: 50%; text-align: center;} + .foot { margin-left: 20%; margin-right: 20%; text-align: justify; text-indent: -3em; font-size: 90%; } + blockquote {font-size: 97%; font-style: italic; margin-left: 10%; margin-right: 10%;} + .mynote {background-color: #DDE; color: #000; padding: .5em; margin-left: 10%; margin-right: 10%; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 95%;} + .toc { margin-left: 10%; margin-bottom: .75em;} + .toc2 { margin-left: 20%;} + div.fig { display:block; margin:0 auto; text-align:center; } + div.middle { margin-left: 20%; margin-right: 20%; text-align: justify; } + .figleft {float: left; margin-left: 0%; margin-right: 1%;} + .figright {float: right; margin-right: 0%; margin-left: 1%;} + .pagenum {display:inline; font-size: 70%; font-style:normal; + margin: 0; padding: 0; position: absolute; right: 1%; + text-align: right;} + pre { font-style: italic; font-size: 90%; margin-left: 10%;} + +</style> + </head> + <body> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + +The Project Gutenberg EBook of The Path Of Duty, by Henry James + +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 www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: The Path Of Duty + +Author: Henry James + +Release Date: June 8, 2007 [EBook #21772] +Last Updated: September 20, 2016 + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: UTF-8 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE PATH OF DUTY *** + + + + +Produced by David Widger + + + + + +</pre> + <p> + <br /> <br /> + </p> + <h1> + THE PATH OF DUTY. + </h1> + <h2> + By Henry James <br /> <br /> <br /> 1885 + </h2> + <p> + <br /> <br /> + </p> + <hr /> + <p> + <br /> <br /> + </p> + <p> + I am glad I said to you the other night at Doubleton, inquiring—too + inquiring—compatriot, that I wouldn’t undertake to tell you the + story (about Ambrose Tester), but would write it out for you; inasmuch as, + thinking it over since I came back to town, I see that it may really be + made interesting. It <i>is</i> a story, with a regular development, and + for telling it I have the advantage that I happened to know about it from + the first, and was more or less in the confidence of every one concerned. + Then it will amuse me to write it, and I shall do so as carefully and as + cleverly as possible The first winter days in London are not madly gay, so + that I have plenty of time; and if the fog is brown outside, the fire is + red within. I like the quiet of this season; the glowing chimney-corner, + in the midst of the December mirk, makes me think, as I sit by it, of all + sorts of things. The idea that is almost always uppermost is the bigness + and strangeness of this London world. Long as I have lived here,—the + sixteenth anniversary of my marriage is only ten days off,—there is + still a kind of novelty and excitement in it It is a great pull, as they + say here, to have remained sensitive,—to have kept one’s own point + of view. I mean it’s more entertaining,—it makes you see a thousand + things (not that they are all very charming). But the pleasure of + observation does not in the least depend on the beauty of what one + observes. You see innumerable little dramas; in fact, almost everything + has acts and scenes, like a comedy. Very often it is a comedy with tears. + There have been a good many of them, I am afraid, in the case I am + speaking of. It is because this history of Sir Ambrose Tester and Lady + Vandeleur struck me, when you asked me about the relations of the parties, + as having that kind of progression, that when I was on the point of + responding, I checked myself, thinking it a pity to tell you a little when + I might tell you all. I scarcely know what made you ask, inasmuch as I had + said nothing to excite your curiosity. Whatever you suspected, you + suspected on your own hook, as they say. You had simply noticed the pair + together that evening at Doubleton. If you suspected anything in + particular, it is a proof that you are rather sharp, because they are very + careful about the way they behave in public. At least they think they are. + The result, perhaps, doesn’t necessarily follow. If I have been in their + confidence you may say that I make a strange use of my privilege in + serving them up to feed the prejudices of an opinionated American. You + think English society very wicked, and my little story will probably not + correct the impression. Though, after all, I don’t see why it should + minister to it; for what I said to you (it was all I did say) remains the + truth. They are treading together the path of duty. You would be quite + right about its being base in me to betray them. It is very true that they + have ceased to confide in me; even Joscelind has said nothing to me for + more than a year. That is doubtless a sign that the situation is more + serious than before, all round,—too serious to be talked about. It + is also true that you are remarkably discreet, and that even if you were + not it would not make much difference, inasmuch as if you were to repeat + my revelations in America, no one would know whom you were talking about. + But all the same, I should be base; and, therefore, after I have written + out my reminiscences for your delectation, I shall simply keep them for my + own. You must content yourself with the explanation I have already given + you of Sir Ambrose Tester and Lady Vandeleur: they are following—hand + in hand, as it were—the path of duty. This will not prevent me from + telling everything; on the contrary, don’t you see? + </p> + <p> + <br /> <br /> + </p> + <hr /> + <p> + <br /> <br /> + </p> + <h2> + Contents + </h2> + <table summary="" style="margin-right: auto; margin-left: auto"> + <tr> + <td> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2H_4_0001"> I. </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2H_4_0002"> II. </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2H_4_0003"> III. </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2H_4_0004"> IV. </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2H_4_0005"> V. </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2H_4_0006"> VI. </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2H_4_0007"> VII. </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2H_4_0008"> VIII. </a> + </p> + </td> + </tr> + </table> + <p> + <br /> <br /> + </p> + <hr /> + <p> + <br /> <br /> <a name="link2H_4_0001" id="link2H_4_0001"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + I. + </h2> + <p> + His brilliant prospects dated from the death of his brother, who had no + children, had indeed steadily refused to marry. When I say brilliant + prospects, I mean the vision of the baronetcy, one of the oldest in + England, of a charming seventeenth-century house, with its park, in + Dorsetshire, and a property worth some twenty thousand a year. Such a + collection of items is still dazzling to me, even after what you would + call, I suppose, a familiarity with British grandeur. My husband is n’t a + baronet (or we probably should n’t be in London in December), and he is + far, alas, from having twenty thousand a year. The full enjoyment of these + luxuries, on Ambrose Tester’s part, was dependent naturally, on the death + of his father, who was still very much to the fore at the time I first + knew the young man. The proof of it is the way he kept nagging at his + sons, as the younger used to say, on the question of taking a wife. The + nagging had been of no avail, as I have mentioned, with regard to Francis, + the elder, whose affections were centred (his brother himself told me) on + the winecup and the faro-table. He was not an exemplary or edifying + character, and as the heir to an honorable name and a fine estate was very + unsatisfactory indeed. It had been possible in those days to put him into + the army, but it was not possible to keep him there; and he was still a + very young man when it became plain that any parental dream of a “career” + for Frank Tester was exceedingly vain. Old Sir Edmund had thought + matrimony would perhaps correct him, but a sterner process than this was + needed, and it came to him one day at Monaco—he was most of the time + abroad—after an illness so short that none of the family arrived in + time. He was reformed altogether, he was utterly abolished. + </p> + <p> + The second son, stepping into his shoes, was such an improvement that it + was impossible there should be much simulation of mourning. You have seen + him, you know what he is; there is very little mystery about him. As I am + not going to show this composition to you, there is no harm in my writing + here that he is—or at any rate he was—a remarkably attractive + man. I don’t say this because he made love to me, but precisely because he + did n’t. He was always in love with some one else,—generally with + Lady Vandeleur. You may say that in England that usually does n’t prevent; + but Mr. Tester, though he had almost no intermissions, did n’t, as a + general thing, have duplicates. He was not provided with a second loved + object, “under-studying,” as they say, the part. It was his practice to + keep me accurately informed of the state of his affections,—a matter + about which he was never in the least vague. When he was in love he knew + it and rejoiced in it, and when by a miracle he was not he greatly + regretted it. He expatiated to me on the charms of other persons, and this + interested me much more than if he had attempted to direct the + conversation to my own, as regards which I had no illusions. He has told + me some singular things, and I think I may say that for a considerable + period my most valued knowledge of English society was extracted from this + genial youth. I suppose he usually found me a woman of good counsel, for + certain it is that he has appealed to me for the light of wisdom in very + extraordinary predicaments. In his earlier years he was perpetually in hot + water; he tumbled into scrapes as children tumble into puddles. He invited + them, he invented them; and when he came to tell you how his trouble had + come about (and he always told the whole truth), it was difficult to + believe that a man should have been so idiotic. + </p> + <p> + And yet he was not an idiot; he was supposed to be very clever, and + certainly is very quick and amusing. He was only reckless, and + extraordinarily natural, as natural as if he had been an Irishman. In + fact, of all the Englishmen that I have known he is the most Irish in + temperament (though he has got over it comparatively of late). I used to + tell him that it was a great inconvenience that he didn’t speak with a + brogue, because then we should be forewarned, and know with whom we were + dealing. He replied that, by analogy, if he were Irish enough to have a + brogue he would probably be English, which seemed to me an answer + wonderfully in character. Like most young Britons of his class he went to + America, to see the great country, before he was twenty, and he took a + letter to my father, who had occasion, <i>à propos</i> of some pickle of + course, to render him a considerable service. This led to his coming to + see me—I had already been living here three or four years—on + his return; and that, in the course of time, led to our becoming fast + friends, without, as I tell you, the smallest philandering on either side. + But I must n’t protest too much; I shall excite your suspicion. “If he has + made love to so many women, why should n’t he have made love to you?”—some + inquiry of that sort you will be likely to make. I have answered it + already, “Simply on account of those very engagements.” He could n’t make + love to every one, and with me it would n’t have done him the least good. + It was a more amiable weakness than his brother’s, and he has always + behaved very well. How well he behaved on a very important occasion is + precisely the subject of my story. + </p> + <p> + He was supposed to have embraced the diplomatic career; had been secretary + of legation at some German capital; but after his brother’s death he came + home and looked out for a seat in Parliament. He found it with no great + trouble and has kept it ever since. No one would have the heart to turn + him out, he is so good-looking. It’s a great thing to be represented by + one of the handsomest men in England, it creates such a favorable + association of ideas. Any one would be amazed to discover that the borough + he sits for, and the name of which I am always forgetting, is not a very + pretty place. I have never seen it, and have no idea that it is n’t, and I + am sure he will survive every revolution. The people must feel that if + they should n’t keep him some monster would be returned. You remember his + appearance,—how tall, and fair, and strong he is, and always + laughing, yet without looking silly. He is exactly the young man girls in + America figure to themselves—in the place of the hero—when + they read English novels, and wish to imagine something very aristocratic + and Saxon. A “bright Bostonian” who met him once at my house, exclaimed as + soon as he had gone out of the room, “At last, at last, I behold it, the + mustache of Roland Tremayne!” + </p> + <p> + “Of Roland Tremayne!” + </p> + <p> + “Don’t you remember in <i>A Lawless Love</i>, how often it’s mentioned, + and how glorious and golden it was? Well, I have never seen it till now, + but now I <i>have</i> seen it!” + </p> + <p> + If you had n’t seen Ambrose Tester, the best description I could give of + him would be to say that he looked like Roland Tremayne. I don’t know + whether that hero was a “strong Liberal,” but this is what Sir Ambrose is + supposed to be. (He succeeded his father two years ago, but I shall come + to that.) He is not exactly what I should call thoughtful, but he is + interested, or thinks he is, in a lot of things that I don’t understand, + and that one sees and skips in the newspapers,—volunteering, and + redistribution, and sanitation, and the representation of minors—minorities—what + is it? When I said just now that he is always laughing, I ought to have + explained that I did n’t mean when he is talking to Lady Vandeleur. She + makes him serious, makes him almost solemn; by which I don’t mean that she + bores him. Far from it; but when he is in her company he is thoughtful; he + pulls his golden mustache, and Roland Tremayne looks as if his vision were + turned in, and he were meditating on her words. He does n’t say much + himself; it is she—she used to be so silent—who does the + talking. She has plenty to say to him; she describes to him the charms + that she discovers in the path of duty. He seldom speaks in the House, I + believe, but when he does it’s offhand, and amusing, and sensible, and + every one likes it. He will never be a great statesman, but he will add to + the softness of Dorsetshire, and remain, in short, a very gallant, + pleasant, prosperous, typical English gentleman, with a name, a fortune, a + perfect appearance, a devoted, bewildered little wife, a great many + reminiscences, a great many friends (including Lady Vandeleur and myself), + and, strange to say, with all these advantages, something that faintly + resembles a conscience. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2H_4_0002" id="link2H_4_0002"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + II. + </h2> + <p> + Five years ago he told me his father insisted on his marrying,—would + not hear of his putting it off any longer. Sir Edmund had been harping on + this string ever since he came back from Germany, had made it both a + general and a particular request, not only urging him to matrimony in the + abstract, but pushing him into the arms of every young woman in the + country. Ambrose had promised, procrastinated, temporized; but at last he + was at the end of his evasions, and his poor father had taken the tone of + supplication. “He thinks immensely of the name, of the place and all that, + and he has got it into his head that if I don’t marry before he dies, I + won’t marry after.” So much I remember Ambrose Tester said to me. “It’s a + fixed idea; he has got it on the brain. He wants to see me married with + his eyes, and he wants to take his grandson in his arms. Not without that + will he be satisfied that the whole thing will go straight. He thinks he + is nearing his end, but he isn’t,—he will live to see a hundred, + don’t you think so?—and he has made me a solemn appeal to put an end + to what he calls his suspense. He has an idea some one will get hold of me—some + woman I can’t marry. As if I were not old enough to take care of myself!” + </p> + <p> + “Perhaps he is afraid of me,” I suggested, facetiously. + </p> + <p> + “No, it is n’t you,” said my visitor, betraying by his tone that it was + some one, though he didn’t say whom. “That’s all rot, of course; one + marries sooner or later, and I shall do like every one else. If I marry + before I die, it’s as good as if I marry before he dies, is n’t it? I + should be delighted to have the governor at my wedding, but it is n’t + necessary for the legality, is it?” + </p> + <p> + I asked him what he wished me to do, and how I could help him. He knew + already my peculiar views, that I was trying to get husbands for all the + girls of my acquaintance and to prevent the men from taking wives. The + sight of an ummarried woman afflicted me, and yet when my male friends + changed their state I took it as a personal offence. He let me know that + so far as he was concerned I must prepare myself for this injury, for he + had given his father his word that another twelvemonth should not see him + a bachelor. The old man had given him <i>carte blanche</i>; he made no + condition beyond exacting that the lady should have youth and health. + Ambrose Tester, at any rate, had taken a vow and now he was going + seriously to look about him. I said to him that what must be must be, and + that there were plenty of charming girls about the land, among whom he + could suit himself easily enough. There was no better match in England, I + said, and he would only have to make his choice. That however is not what + I thought, for my real reflections were summed up in the silent + exclamation, “What a pity Lady Vandeleur isn’t a widow!” I hadn’t the + smallest doubt that if she were he would marry her on the spot; and after + he had gone I wondered considerably what <i>she</i> thought of this turn + in his affairs. If it was disappointing to me, how little it must be to <i>her</i> + taste! Sir Edmund had not been so much out of the way in fearing there + might be obstacles to his son’s taking the step he desired. Margaret + Vandeleur was an obstacle. I knew it as well as if Mr. Tester had told me. + </p> + <p> + I don’t mean there was anything in their relation he might not freely have + alluded to, for Lady Vandeleur, in spite of her beauty and her tiresome + husband, was not a woman who could be accused of an indiscretion. Her + husband was a pedant about trifles,—the shape of his hatbrim, the <i>pose</i> + of his coachman, and cared for nothing else; but she was as nearly a saint + as one may be when one has rubbed shoulders for ten years with the best + society in Europe. It is a characteristic of that society that even its + saints are suspected, and I go too far in saying that little pinpricks + were not administered, in considerable numbers to her reputation. But she + did n’t feel them, for still more than Ambrose Tester she was a person to + whose happiness a good conscience was necessary. I should almost say that + for her happiness it was sufficient, and, at any rate, it was only those + who didn’t know her that pretended to speak of her lightly. If one had the + honor of her acquaintance one might have thought her rather shut up to her + beauty and her grandeur, but one could n’t but feel there was something in + her composition that would keep her from vulgar aberrations. Her husband + was such a feeble type that she must have felt doubly she had been put + upon her honor. To deceive such a man as that was to make him more + ridiculous than he was already, and from such a result a woman bearing his + name may very well have shrunk. Perhaps it would have been worse for Lord + Vandeleur, who had every pretension of his order and none of its + amiability, if he had been a better, or at least, a cleverer man. When a + woman behaves so well she is not obliged to be careful, and there is no + need of consulting appearances when one is one’s self an appearance. Lady + Vandeleur accepted Ambrose Tester’s attentions, and Heaven knows they were + frequent; but she had such an air of perfect equilibrium that one could + n’t see her, in imagination, bend responsive. Incense was incense, but one + saw her sitting quite serene among the fumes. That honor of her + acquaintance of which I just now spoke it had been given me to enjoy; that + is to say, I met her a dozen times in the season in a hot crowd, and we + smiled sweetly and murmured a vague question or two, without hearing, or + even trying to hear, each other’s answer. If I knew that Ambrose Tester + was perpetually in and out of her house and always arranging with her that + they should go to the same places, I doubt whether she, on her side, knew + how often he came to see me. I don’t think he would have let her know, and + am conscious, in saying this, that it indicated an advanced state of + intimacy (with her, I mean). + </p> + <p> + I also doubt very much whether he asked her to look about, on his behalf, + for a future Lady Tester. This request he was so good as to make of me; + but I told him I would have nothing to do with the matter. If Joscelind is + unhappy, I am thankful to say the responsibility is not mine. I have found + English husbands for two or three American girls, but providing English + wives is a different affair. I know the sort of men that will suit women, + but one would have to be very clever to know the sort of women that will + suit men. I told Ambrose Tester that he must look out for himself, but, in + spite of his promise, I had very little belief that he would do anything + of the sort. I thought it probable that the old baronet would pass away + without seeing a new generation come in; though when I intimated as much + to Mr. Tester, he made answer in substance (it was not quite so crudely + said) that his father, old as he was, would hold on till his bidding was + done, and if it should not be done, he would hold on out of spite. “Oh, he + will tire me out;” that I remember Ambrose Tester did say. I had done him + injustice, for six months later he told me he was engaged. It had all come + about very suddenly. From one day to the other the right young woman had + been found. I forget who had found her; some aunt or cousin, I think; it + had not been the young man himself. But when she was found, he rose to the + occasion; he took her up seriously, he approved of her thoroughly, and I + am not sure that he didn’t fall a little in love with her, ridiculous + (excuse my London tone) as this accident may appear. He told me that his + father was delighted, and I knew afterwards that he had good reason to be. + It was not till some weeks later that I saw the girl; but meanwhile I had + received the pleasantest impression of her, and this impression came—must + have come—mainly from what her intended told me. That proves that he + spoke with some positiveness, spoke as if he really believed he was doing + a good thing. I had it on my tongue’s end to ask him how Lady Vandeleur + liked her, but I fortunately checked this vulgar inquiry. He liked her + evidently, as I say; every one liked her, and when I knew her I liked her + better even than the others. I like her to-day more than ever; it is fair + you should know that, in reading this account of her situation. It + doubtless colors my picture, gives a point to my sense of the strangeness + of my little story. + </p> + <p> + Joscelind Bernardstone came of a military race, and had been brought up in + camps,—by which I don’t mean she was one of those objectionable + young women who are known as garrison hacks. She was in the flower of her + freshness, and had been kept in the tent, receiving, as an only daughter, + the most “particular” education from the excellent Lady Emily (General + Bernardstone married a daughter of Lord Clandufly), who looks like a + pink-faced rabbit, and is (after Joscelind) one of the nicest women I + know. When I met them in a country-house, a few weeks after the marriage + was “arranged,” as they say here, Joscelind won my affections by saying to + me, with her timid directness (the speech made me feel sixty years old), + that she must thank me for having been so kind to Mr. Tester. You saw her + at Doubleton, and you will remember that though she has no regular beauty, + many a prettier woman would be very glad to look like her. She is as fresh + as a new-laid egg, as light as a feather, as strong as a mail-phaeton. She + is perfectly mild, yet she is clever enough to be sharp if she would. I + don’t know that clever women are necessarily thought ill-natured, but it + is usually taken for granted that amiable women are very limited. Lady + Tester is a refutation of the theory, which must have been invented by a + vixenish woman who was <i>not</i> clever. She has an adoration for her + husband, which absorbs her without in the least making her silly, unless + indeed it is silly to be modest, as in this brutal world I sometimes + believe. Her modesty is so great that being unhappy has hitherto presented + itself to her as a form of egotism,—that egotism which she has too + much delicacy to cultivate. She is by no means sure that if being married + to her beautiful baronet is not the ideal state she dreamed it, the weak + point of the affair is not simply in her own presumption. It does n’t + express her condition, at present, to say that she is unhappy or + disappointed, or that she has a sense of injury. All this is latent; + meanwhile, what is obvious, is that she is bewildered,—she simply + does n’t understand; and her perplexity, to me, is unspeakably touching. + She looks about her for some explanation, some light. She fixes her eyes + on mine sometimes, and on those of other people, with a kind of searching + dumbness, as if there were some chance that I—that they—may + explain, may tell her what it is that has happened to her. I can explain + very well, but not to her,—only to you! + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2H_4_0003" id="link2H_4_0003"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + III. + </h2> + <p> + It was a brilliant match for Miss Bernardstone, who had no fortune at all, + and all her friends were of the opinion that she had done very well After + Easter she was in London with her people, and I saw a good deal of them, + in fact, I rather cultivated them. They might perhaps even have thought me + a little patronizing, if they had been given to thinking that sort of + thing. But they were not; that is not in their line. English people are + very apt to attribute motives,—some of them attribute much worse + ones than we poor simpletons in America recognize, than we have even heard + of! But that is only some of them; others don’t, but take everything + literally and genially. That was the case with the Bernardstones; you + could be sure that on their way home, after dining with you, they would + n’t ask each other how in the world any one could call you pretty, or say + that many people <i>did</i> believe, all the same, that you had poisoned + your grandfather. + </p> + <p> + Lady Emily was exceedingly gratified at her daughter’s engagement; of + course she was very quiet about it, she did n’t clap her hands or drag in + Mr. Tester’s name; but it was easy to see that she felt a kind of maternal + peace, an abiding satisfaction. The young man behaved as well as possible, + was constantly seen with Joscelind, and smiled down at her in the kindest, + most protecting way. They looked beautiful together; you would have said + it was a duty for people whose color matched so well to marry. Of course + he was immensely taken up, and did n’t come very often to see me; but he + came sometimes, and when he sat there he had a look which I did n’t + understand at first. Presently I saw what it expressed; in my drawing-room + he was off duty, he had no longer to sit up and play a part; he would lean + back and rest and draw a long breath, and forget that the day of his + execution was fixed. There was to be no indecent haste about the marriage; + it was not to take place till after the session, at the end of August It + puzzled me and rather distressed me. that his heart should n’t be a little + more in the matter; it seemed strange to be engaged to so charming a girl + and yet go through with it as if it were simply a social duty. If one had + n’t been in love with her at first, one ought to have been at the end of a + week or two. If Ambrose Tester was not (and to me he did n’t pretend to + be), he carried it off, as I have said, better than I should have + expected. He was a gentleman, and he behaved like a gentleman, with the + added punctilio, I think, of being sorry for his betrothed. But it was + difficult to see what, in the long run, he could expect to make of such a + position. If a man marries an ugly, unattractive woman for reasons of + state, the thing is comparatively simple; it is understood between them, + and he need have no remorse at not offering her a sentiment of which there + has been no question. But when he picks out a charming creature to gratify + his father and <i>les convenances</i>, it is not so easy to be happy in + not being able to care for her. It seemed to me that it would have been + much better for Ambrose Tester to bestow himself upon a girl who might + have given him an excuse for tepidity. His wife should have been healthy + but stupid, prolific but morose. Did he expect to continue not to be in + love with Joscelind, or to conceal from her the mechanical nature of his + attentions? It was difficult to see how he could wish to do the one or + succeed in doing the other. Did he expect such a girl as that would be + happy if he did n’t love her? and did he think himself capable of being + happy if it should turn out that she was miserable? If she should n’t be + miserable,—that is, if she should be indifferent, and, as they say, + console herself, would he like that any better? + </p> + <p> + I asked myself all these questions and I should have liked to ask them of + Mr. Tester; but I did n’t, for after all he could n’t have answered them. + Poor young man! he did n’t pry into things as I do; he was not analytic, + like us Americans, as they say in reviews. He thought he was behaving + remarkably well, and so he was—for a man; that was the strange part + of it. It had been proper that in spite of his reluctance he should take a + wife, and he had dutifully set about it. As a good thing is better for + being well done, he had taken the best one he could possibly find. He was + enchanted with—with his young lady, you might ask? Not in the least; + with himself; that is the sort of person a man is! Their virtues are more + dangerous than their vices, and Heaven preserve you when they want to keep + a promise! It is never a promise to <i>you</i>, you will notice. A man + will sacrifice a woman to live as a gentleman should, and then ask for + your sympathy—for <i>him</i>! And I don’t speak of the bad ones, but + of the good. They, after all, are the worst Ambrose Tester, as I say, did + n’t go into these details, but synthetic as he might be, was conscious + that his position was false. He felt that sooner or later, and rather + sooner than later, he would have to make it true,—a process that + could n’t possibly be agreeable. He would really have to make up his mind + to care for his wife or not to care for her. What would Lady Vandeleur say + to one alternative, and what would little Joscelind say to the other? That + is what it was to have a pertinacious father and to be an accommodating + son. With me, it was easy for Ambrose Tester to be superficial, for, as I + tell you, if I did n’t wish to engage him, I did n’t wish to disengage + him, and I did n’t insist Lady Vandeleur insisted, I was afraid; to be + with her was of course very complicated; even more than Miss Bernardstone + she must have made him feel that his position was false. I must add that + he once mentioned to me that she had told him he ought to marry. At any + rate, it is an immense thing to be a pleasant fellow. Our young fellow was + so universally pleasant that of course his <i>fiancée</i> came in for her + share. So did Lady Emily, suffused with hope, which made her pinker than + ever; she told me he sent flowers even to her. One day in the Park, I was + riding early; the Row was almost empty. I came up behind a lady and + gentleman who were walking their horses, close to each other, side by side + In a moment I recognized her, but not before seeing that nothing could + have been more benevolent than the way Ambrose Tester was bending over his + future wife. If he struck me as a lover at that moment, of course he + struck her so. But that is n’t the way they ride to-day. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2H_4_0004" id="link2H_4_0004"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + IV. + </h2> + <p> + One day, about the end of June, he came in to see me when I had two or + three other visitors; you know that even at that season I am almost always + at home from six to seven. He had not been three minutes in the room + before I saw that he was different,—different from what he had been + the last time, and I guessed that something had happened in relation to + his marriage. My visitors did n’t, unfortunately, and they stayed and + stayed until I was afraid he would have to go away without telling me + what, I was sure, he had come for. But he sat them out; I think that by + exception they did n’t find him pleasant. After we were alone he abused + them a little, and then he said, “Have you heard about Vandeleur? He ‘s + very ill. She’s awfully anxious.” I had n’t heard, and I told him so, + asking a question or two; then my inquiries ceased, my breath almost + failed me, for I had become aware of something very strange. The way he + looked at me when he told me his news was a full confession,—a + confession so full that I had needed a moment to take it in. He was not + too strong a man to be taken by surprise,—not so strong but that in + the presence of an unexpected occasion his first movement was to look + about for a little help. I venture to call it help, the sort of thing he + came to me for on that summer afternoon. It is always help when a woman + who is not an idiot lets an embarrassed man take up her time. If he too is + not an idiot, that does n’t diminish the service; on the contrary his + superiority to the average helps him to profit. Ambrose Tester had said to + me more than once, in the past, that he was capable of telling me things, + because I was an American, that he would n’t confide to his own people. He + had proved it before this, as I have hinted, and I must say that being an + American, with him, was sometimes a questionable honor. I don’t know + whether he thinks us more discreet and more sympathetic (if he keeps up + the system: he has abandoned it with me), or only more insensible, more + proof against shocks; but it is certain that, like some other Englishmen I + have known, he has appeared, in delicate cases, to think I would take a + comprehensive view. When I have inquired into the grounds of this + discrimination in our favor, he has contented himself with saying, in the + British-cursory manner, “Oh, I don’t know; you are different!” I remember + he remarked once that our impressions were fresher. And I am sure that now + it was because of my nationality, in addition to other merits, that he + treated me to the confession I have just alluded to. At least I don’t + suppose he would have gone about saying to people in general, “Her husband + will probably die, you know; then why should n’t I marry Lady Vandeleur?” + </p> + <p> + That was the question which his whole expression and manner asked of me, + and of which, after a moment, I decided to take no notice. Why shouldn’t + he? There was an excellent reason why he should n’t It would just kill + Joscelind Bernardstone; that was why he should n’t? The idea that he + should be ready to do it frightened me, and independent as he might think + my point of view, I had no desire to discuss such abominations. It struck + me as an abomination at this very first moment, and I have never wavered + in my judgment of it. I am always glad when I can take the measure of a + thing as soon as I see it; it ‘s a blessing to <i>feel</i> what we think, + without balancing and comparing. It’s a great rest, too, and a great + luxury. That, as I say, was the case with the feeling excited in me by + this happy idea of Ambrose Tester’s. Cruel and wanton I thought it then, + cruel and wanton I thought it later, when it was pressed upon me. I knew + there were many other people that did n’t agree with me, and I can only + hope for them that their conviction was as quick and positive as mine; it + all depends upon the way a thing strikes one. But I will add to this + another remark. I thought I was right then, and I still think I was right; + but it strikes me as a pity that I should have wished so much to be right + Why could n’t I be content to be wrong; to renounce my influence (since I + appeared to possess the mystic article), and let my young friend do as he + liked? As you observed the situation at Doubleton, should n’t you say it + was of a nature to make one wonder whether, after all, one did render a + service to the younger lady? + </p> + <p> + At all events, as I say, I gave no sign to Ambrose Tester that I + understood him, that I guessed what he wished to come to. He got no + satisfaction out of me that day; it is very true that he made up for it + later. I expressed regret at Lord Vandeleur’s illness, inquired into its + nature and origin, hoped it would n’t prove as grave as might be feared, + said I would call at the house and ask about him, commiserated discreetly + her ladyship, and in short gave my young man no chance whatever. He knew + that I had guessed his <i>arrière-pensée</i>, but he let me off for the + moment, for which I was thankful; either because he was still ashamed of + it, or because he supposed I was reserving myself for the catastrophe,—should + it occur. Well, my dear, it did occur, at the end of ten days. Mr. Tester + came to see me twice in that interval, each time to tell me that poor + Vandeleur was worse; he had some internal inflammation which, in nine + cases out of ten, is fatal. His wife was all devotion; she was with him + night and day. I had the news from other sources as well; I leave you to + imagine whether in London, at the height of the season, such a situation + could fail to be considerably discussed. To the discussion as yet, + however, I contributed little, and with Ambrose Tester nothing at all. I + was still on my guard. I never admitted for a moment that it was possible + there should be any change in his plans. By this time, I think, he had + quite ceased to be ashamed of his idea, he was in a state almost of + exaltation about it; but he was very angry with me for not giving him an + opening. + </p> + <p> + As I look back upon the matter now, there is something almost amusing in + the way we watched each other,—he thinking that I evaded his + question only to torment him (he believed me, or pretended to believe me, + capable of this sort of perversity), and I determined not to lose ground + by betraying an insight into his state of mind which he might twist into + an expression of sympathy. I wished to leave my sympathy where I had + placed it, with Lady Emily and her daughter, of whom I continued, bumping + against them at parties, to have some observation. They gave no signal of + alarm; of course it would have been premature. The girl, I am sure, had no + idea of the existence of a rival. How they had kept her in the dark I + don’t know; but it was easy to see she was too much in love to suspect or + to criticise. With Lady Emily it was different; she was a woman of + charity, but she touched the world at too many points not to feel its + vibrations. However, the dear little woman planted herself firmly; to the + eye she was still enough. It was not from Ambrose Tester that I first + heard of Lord Vandeleur’s death; it was announced, with a quarter of a + column of “padding,” in the <i>Times</i>. I have always known the <i>Times</i> + was a wonderful journal, but this never came home to me so much as when it + produced a quarter of a column about Lord Vandeleur. It was a triumph of + word-spinning. If he had carried out his vocation, if he had been a tailor + or a hatter (that’s how I see him), there might have been something to say + about him. But he missed his vocation, he missed everything but posthumous + honors. I was so sure Ambrose Tester would come in that afternoon, and so + sure he knew I should expect him, that I threw over an engagement on + purpose. But he didn’t come in, nor the next day, nor the next. There were + two possible explanations of his absence. One was that he was giving all + his time to consoling Lady Vandeleur; the other was that he was giving it + all, as a blind, to Joscelind Bernardstone. Both proved incorrect, for + when he at last turned up he told me he had been for a week in the + country, at his father’s. Sir Edmund also had been unwell; but he had + pulled through better than poor Lord Vandeleur. I wondered at first + whether his son had been talking over with him the question of a change of + base; but guessed in a moment that he had not suffered this alarm. I don’t + think that Ambrose would have spared him if he had thought it necessary to + give him warning; but he probably held that his father would have no + ground for complaint so long as he should marry some one; would have no + right to remonstrate if he simply transferred his contract. Lady Vandeleur + had had two children (whom she had lost), and might, therefore, have + others whom she should n’t lose; that would have been a reply to nice + discriminations on Sir Edmund’s part. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2H_4_0005" id="link2H_4_0005"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + V. + </h2> + <p> + In reality, what the young man had been doing was thinking it over beneath + his ancestral oaks and beeches. His countenance showed this,—showed + it more than Miss Bernardstone could have liked. He looked like a man who + was crossed, not like a man who was happy, in love. I was no more disposed + than before to help him out with his plot, but at the end of ten minutes + we were articulately discussing it. When I say <i>we</i> were, I mean he + was; for I sat before him quite mute, at first, and amazed at the + clearness with which, before his conscience, he had argued his case. He + had persuaded himself that it was quite a simple matter to throw over poor + Joscelind and keep himself free for the expiration of Lady Vandeleur’s + term of mourning. The deliberations of an impulsive man sometimes land him + in strange countries. Ambrose Tester confided his plan to me as a + tremendous secret. He professed to wish immensely to know how it appeared + to me, and whether my woman’s wit could n’t discover for him some loophole + big enough round, some honorable way of not keeping faith. Yet at the same + time he seemed not to foresee that I should, of necessity, be simply + horrified. Disconcerted and perplexed (a little), that he was prepared to + find me; but if I had refused, as yet, to come to his assistance, he + appeared to suppose it was only because of the real difficulty of + suggesting to him that perfect pretext of which he was in want. He + evidently counted upon me, however, for some illuminating proposal, and I + think he would have liked to say to me, “You have always pretended to be a + great friend of mine,”—I hadn’t; the pretension was all on his side,—“and + now is your chance to show it. Go to Joscelind and make her feel (women + have a hundred ways of doing that sort of thing), that through Vandeleur’s + death the change in my situation is complete. If she is the girl I take + her for, she will know what to do in the premises.” + </p> + <p> + I was not prepared to oblige him to this degree, and I lost no time in + telling him so, after my first surprise at seeing how definite his purpose + had become. His contention, after all, was very simple. He had been in + love with Lady Vandeleur for years, and was now more in love with her than + ever. There had been no appearance of her being, within a calculable + period, liberated by the death of her husband. This nobleman was—he + didn’t say what just then (it was too soon)—but he was only forty + years old, and in such health and preservation as to make such a + contingency infinitely remote. Under these circumstances, Ambrose had been + driven, for the most worldly reasons—he was ashamed of them, pah!—into + an engagement with a girl he did n’t love, and did n’t pretend to love. + Suddenly the unexpected occurred; the woman he did love had become + accessible to him, and all the relations of things were altered. + </p> + <p> + Why should n’t he alter, too? Why should n’t Miss Bernardstone alter, Lady + Emily alter, and every one alter? It would be <i>wrong</i> in him to marry + Joscelind in so changed a world;—a moment’s consideration would + certainly assure me of that. He could no longer carry out his part of the + bargain, and the transaction must stop before it went any further. If + Joscelind knew, she would be the first to recognize this, and the thing + for her now was to know. + </p> + <p> + “Go and tell her, then, if you are so sure of it,” I said. “I wonder you + have put it off so many days.” + </p> + <p> + He looked at me with a melancholy eye. “Of course I know it’s beastly + awkward.” + </p> + <p> + It was beastly awkward certainly; there I could quite agree with him, and + this was the only sympathy he extracted from me. It was impossible to be + less helpful, less merciful, to an embarrassed young man than I was on + that occasion. But other occasions followed very quickly, on which Mr. + Tester renewed his appeal with greater eloquence. He assured me that it + was torture to be with his intended, and every hour that he did n’t break + off committed him more deeply and more fatally. I repeated only once my + previous question,—asked him only once why then he did n’t tell her + he had changed his mind. The inquiry was idle, was even unkind, for my + young man was in a very tight place. He did n’t tell her, simply because + he could n’t, in spite of the anguish of feeling that his chance to right + himself was rapidly passing away. When I asked him if Joscelind appeared + to have guessed nothing, he broke out, “How in the world can she guess, + when I am so kind to her? I am so sorry for her, poor little wretch, that + I can’t help being nice to her. And from the moment I am nice to her she + thinks it’s all right.” + </p> + <p> + I could see perfectly what he meant by that, and I liked him more for this + little generosity than I disliked him for his nefarious scheme. In fact, I + did n’t dislike him at all when I saw what an influence my judgment would + have on him. I very soon gave him the full benefit of it. I had thought + over his case with all the advantages of his own presentation of it, and + it was impossible for me to see how he could decently get rid of the girl. + That, as I have said, had been my original opinion, and quickened + reflection only confirmed it. As I have also said, I had n’t in the least + recommended him to become engaged; but once he had done so I recommended + him to abide by it. It was all very well being in love with Lady + Vandeleur; he might be in love with her, but he had n’t promised to marry + her. It was all very well not being in love with Miss Bernardstone; but, + as it happened, he had promised to marry her, and in my country a + gentleman was supposed to keep such promises. If it was a question of + keeping them only so long as was convenient, where would any of us be? I + assure you I became very eloquent and moral,—yes, moral, I maintain + the word, in spite of your perhaps thinking (as you are very capable of + doing) that I ought to have advised him in just the opposite sense. It was + not a question of love, but of marriage, for he had never promised to love + poor Joscelind. It was useless his saying it was dreadful to marry without + love; he knew that he thought it, and the people he lived with thought it, + nothing of the kind. Half his friends had married on those terms. “Yes, + and a pretty sight their private life presented!” That might be, but it + was the first time I had ever heard him say it. A fortnight before he had + been quite ready to do like the others. I knew what I thought, and I + suppose I expressed it with some clearness, for my arguments made him + still more uncomfortable, unable as he was either to accept them or to act + in contempt of them. Why he should have cared so much for my opinion is a + mystery I can’t elucidate; to understand my little story, you must simply + swallow it. That he did care is proved by the exasperation with which he + suddenly broke out, “Well, then, as I understand you, what you recommend + me is to marry Miss Bernardstone, and carry on an intrigue with Lady + Vandeleur!” + </p> + <p> + He knew perfectly that I recommended nothing of the sort, and he must have + been very angry to indulge in this <i>boutade</i>. He told me that other + people did n’t think as I did—that every one was of the opinion that + between a woman he did n’t love and a woman he had adored for years it was + a plain moral duty not to hesitate. “Don’t hesitate then!” I exclaimed; + but I did n’t get rid of him with this, for he returned to the charge more + than once (he came to me so often that I thought he must neglect both his + other alternatives), and let me know again that the voice of society was + quite against my view. You will doubtless be surprised at such an + intimation that he had taken “society” into his confidence, and wonder + whether he went about asking people whether they thought he might back + out. I can’t tell you exactly, but I know that for some weeks his dilemma + was a great deal talked about. His friends perceived he was at the parting + of the roads, and many of them had no difficulty in saying which one <i>they</i> + would take. Some observers thought he ought to do nothing, to leave things + as they were. Others took very high ground and discoursed upon the + sanctity of love and the wickedness of really deceiving the girl, as that + would be what it would amount to (if he should lead her to the altar). + Some held that it was too late to escape, others maintained that it is + never too late. Some thought Miss Bernardstone very much to be pitied; + some reserved their compassion for Ambrose Tester; others, still, lavished + it upon Lady Vandeleur. + </p> + <p> + The prevailing opinion, I think, was that he ought to obey the promptings + of his heart—London cares so much for the heart! Or is it that + London is simply ferocious, and always prefers the spectacle that is more + entertaining? As it would prolong the drama for the young man to throw + over Miss Bernardstone, there was a considerable readiness to see the poor + girl sacrificed. She was like a Christian maiden in the Roman arena. That + is what Ambrose Tester meant by telling me that public opinion was on his + side. I don’t think he chattered about his quandary, but people, knowing + his situation, guessed what was going on in his mind, and he on his side + guessed what they said. London discussions might as well go on in the + whispering-gallery of St. Paul’s. I could of course do only one thing,—I + could but reaffirm my conviction that the Roman attitude, as I may call + it, was cruel, was falsely sentimental. This naturally did n’t help him as + he wished to be helped,—did n’t remove the obstacle to his marrying + in a year or two Lady Vandeleur. Yet he continued to look to me for + inspiration,—I must say it at the cost of making him appear a very + feeble-minded gentleman. There was a moment when I thought him capable of + an oblique movement, of temporizing with a view to escape. If he succeeded + in postponing his marriage long enough, the Bernardstones would throw <i>him</i> + over, and I suspect that for a day he entertained the idea of fixing this + responsibility on them. But he was too honest and too generous to do so + for longer, and his destiny was staring him in the face when an accident + gave him a momentary relief. General Bernardstone died, after an illness + as sudden and short as that which had carried off Lord Vandeleur; his wife + and daughter were plunged into mourning and immediately retired into the + country. A week later we heard that the girl’s marriage would be put off + for several months,—partly on account of her mourning, and partly + because her mother, whose only companion she had now become, could not + bear to part with her at the time originally fixed and actually so near. + People of course looked at each other,—said it was the beginning of + the end, a “dodge” of Ambrose Tester’s. I wonder they did n’t accuse him + of poisoning the poor old general. I know to a certainty that he had + nothing to do with the delay, that the proposal came from Lady Emily, who, + in her bereavement, wished, very naturally, to keep a few months longer + the child she was going to lose forever. It must be said, in justice to + her prospective son-in-law, that he was capable either of resigning + himself or of frankly (with however many blushes) telling Joscelind he + could n’t keep his agreement, but was not capable of trying to wriggle out + of his difficulty. The plan of simply telling Joscelind he couldn’t,—this + was the one he had fixed upon as the best, and this was the one of which I + remarked to him that it had a defect which should be counted against its + advantages. The defect was that it would kill Joscelind on the spot. + </p> + <p> + I think he believed me, and his believing me made this unexpected respite + very welcome to him. There was no knowing what might happen in the + interval, and he passed a large part of it in looking for an issue. And + yet, at the same time, he kept up the usual forms with the girl whom in + his heart he had renounced. I was told more than once (for I had lost + sight of the pair during the summer and autumn) that these forms were at + times very casual, that he neglected Miss Bernardstone most flagrantly, + and had quite resumed his old intimacy with Lady Vandeleur. I don’t + exactly know what was meant by this, for she spent the first three months + of her widowhood in complete seclusion, in her own old house in Norfolk, + where he certainly was not staying with her. I believe he stayed some + time, for the partridge shooting, at a place a few miles off. It came to + my ears that if Miss Bernardstone did n’t take the hint it was because she + was determined to stick to him through thick and thin. She never offered + to let him off, and I was sure she never would; but I was equally sure + that, strange as it may appear, he had not ceased to be nice to her. I + have never exactly understood why he didn’t hate her, and I am convinced + that he was not a comedian in his conduct to her,—he was only a good + fellow. I have spoken of the satisfaction that Sir Edmund took in his + daughter-in-law that was to be; he delighted in looking at her, longed for + her when she was out of his sight, and had her, with her mother, staying + with him in the country for weeks together. If Ambrose was not so + constantly at her side as he might have been, this deficiency was covered + by his father’s devotion to her, by her appearance of being already one of + the family. Mr. Tester was away as he might be away if they were already + married. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2H_4_0006" id="link2H_4_0006"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + VI. + </h2> + <p> + In October I met him at Doubleton; we spent three days there together. He + was enjoying his respite, as he didn’t scruple to tell me; and he talked + to me a great deal—as usual—about Lady Vandeleur. He did n’t + mention Joscelind’s name, except by implication in this assurance of how + much he valued his weeks of grace. + </p> + <p> + “Do you mean to say that, under the circumstances, Lady Vandeleur is + willing to marry you?” + </p> + <p> + I made this inquiry more expressively, doubtless, than before; for when we + had talked of the matter then he had naturally spoken of her consent as a + simple contingency. It was contingent upon the lapse of the first months + of her bereavement; it was not a question he could begin to press a few + days after her husband’s death. + </p> + <p> + “Not immediately, of course; but if I wait, I think so.” That, I remember, + was his answer. + </p> + <p> + “If you wait till you get rid of that poor girl, of course.” + </p> + <p> + “She knows nothing about that,—it’s none of her business.” + </p> + <p> + “Do you mean to say she does n’t know you are engaged?” + </p> + <p> + “How should she know it, how should she believe it, when she sees how I + love her?” the young man exclaimed; but he admitted afterwards that he had + not deceived her, and that she rendered full justice to the motives that + had determined him. He thought he could answer for it that she would marry + him some day or other. + </p> + <p> + “Then she is a very cruel woman,” I said, “and I should like, if you + please, to hear no more about her.” He protested against this, and, a + month later, brought her up again, for a purpose. The purpose, you will + see, was a very strange one indeed. I had then come back to town; it was + the early part of December. I supposed he was hunting, with his own + hounds; but he appeared one afternoon in my drawing-room and told me I + should do him a great favor if I would go and see Lady Vandeleur. + </p> + <p> + “Go and see her? Where do you mean, in Norfolk?” + </p> + <p> + “She has come up to London—did n’t you know it? She has a lot of + business. She will be kept here till Christmas; I wish you would go.” + </p> + <p> + “Why should I go?” I asked. “Won’t you be kept here till Christmas too, + and is n’t that company enough for her?” + </p> + <p> + “Upon my word, you are cruel,” he said, “and it’s a great shame of you, + when a man is trying to do his duty and is behaving like a saint.” + </p> + <p> + “Is that what you call saintly, spending all your time with Lady + Vandeleur? I will tell you whom I think a saint, if you would like to + know.” + </p> + <p> + “You need n’t tell me; I know it better than you. I haven’t a word to say + against her; only she is stupid and hasn’t any perceptions. If I am + stopping a bit in London you don’t understand why; it’s as if you had n’t + any perceptions either! If I am here for a few days, I know what I am + about.” + </p> + <p> + “Why should I understand?” I asked,—not very candidly, because I + should have been glad to. “It’s your own affair; you know what you are + about, as you say, and of course you have counted the cost.” + </p> + <p> + “What cost do you mean? It’s a pretty cost, I can tell you.” And then he + tried to explain—if I would only enter into it, and not be so + suspicious. He was in London for the express purpose of breaking off. + </p> + <p> + “Breaking off what,—your engagement?” + </p> + <p> + “No, no, damn my engagement,—the other thing. My acquaintance, my + relations—” + </p> + <p> + “Your intimacy with Lady Van—?” It was not very gentle, but I + believe I burst out laughing. “If this is the way you break off, pray what + would you do to keep up?” + </p> + <p> + He flushed, and looked both foolish and angry, for of course it was not + very difficult to see my point. But he was—in a very clumsy manner + of his own—trying to cultivate a good conscience, and he was getting + no credit for it. “I suppose I may be allowed to look at her! It’s a + matter we have to talk over. One does n’t drop such a friend in half an + hour.” + </p> + <p> + “One does n’t drop her at all, unless one has the strength to make a + sacrifice.” + </p> + <p> + “It’s easy for you to talk of sacrifice. You don’t know what she is!” my + visitor cried. + </p> + <p> + “I think I know what she is not. She is not a friend, as you call her, if + she encourages you in the wrong, if she does n’t help you. No, I have no + patience with her,” I declared; “I don’t like her, and I won’t go to see + her!” + </p> + <p> + Mr. Tester looked at me a moment, as if he were too vexed to trust himself + to speak. He had to make an effort not to say something rude. That effort + however, he was capable of making, and though he held his hat as if he + were going to walk out of the house, he ended by staying, by putting it + down again, by leaning his head, with his elbows on his knees, in his + hands, and groaning out that he had never heard of anything so impossible, + and that he was the most wretched man in England. I was very sorry for + him, and of course I told him so; but privately I did n’t think he stood + up to his duty as he ought. I said to him, however, that if he would give + me his word of honor that he would not abandon Miss Bernardstone, there + was no trouble I would n’t take to be of use to him. I did n’t think Lady + Vandeleur <i>was</i> behaving well. He must allow me to repeat that; but + if going to see her would give him any pleasure (of course there was no + question of pleasure for <i>her</i>) I would go fifty times. I could n’t + imagine how it would help him, but I would do it as I would do anything + else he asked me. He did n’t give me his word of honor, but he said + quietly, “<i>I</i> shall go straight; you need n’t be afraid;” and as he + spoke there was honor enough in his face. This left an opening, of course, + for another catastrophe. There might be further postponements, and poor + Lady Emily, indignant for the first time in her life, might declare that + her daughter’s situation had become intolerable and that they withdrew + from the engagement. But this was too odious a chance, and I accepted Mr. + Tester’s assurance. He told me that the good I could do by going to see + Lady Vandeleur was that it would cheer her up, in that dreary, big house + in Upper Brook Street, where she was absolutely alone, with horrible + overalls on the furniture, and newspapers—actually newspapers—on + the mirrors. She was seeing no one, there was no one to see; but he knew + she would see me. I asked him if she knew, then, he was to speak to me of + coming, and whether I might allude to him, whether it was not too + delicate. I shall never forget his answer to this, nor the tone in which + he made it, blushing a little, and looking away. “Allude to me? Rather!” + It was not the most fatuous speech I had ever heard; it had the effect of + being the most modest; and it gave me an odd idea, and especially a new + one, of the condition in which, at any time, one might be destined to find + Lady Vandeleur. If she, too, were engaged in a struggle with her + conscience (in this light they were an edifying pair!) it had perhaps + changed her considerably, made her more approachable; and I reflected, + ingeniously, that it probably had a humanizing effect upon her. Ambrose + Tester did n’t go away after I had told him that I would comply with his + request. He lingered, fidgeting with his stick and gloves, and I perceived + that he had more to tell me, and that the real reason why he wished me to + go and see Lady Vandeleur was not that she had newspapers on her mirrors. + He came out with it at last, for that “Rather!” of his (with the way I + took it) had broken the ice. + </p> + <p> + “You say you don’t think she behaved well” (he naturally wished to defend + her). “But I dare say you don’t understand her position. Perhaps you would + n’t behave any better in her place.” + </p> + <p> + “It’s very good of you to imagine me there!” I remarked, laughing. + </p> + <p> + “It’s awkward for me to say. One doesn’t want to dot one’s i’s to that + extent.” + </p> + <p> + “She would be delighted to marry you. That’s not such a mystery.” + </p> + <p> + “Well, she likes me awfully,” Mr. Tester said, looking like a handsome + child. “It’s not all on one side; it’s on both. That’s the difficulty.” + </p> + <p> + “You mean she won’t let you go?—she holds you fast?” + </p> + <p> + But the poor fellow had, in delicacy, said enough, and at this he jumped + up. He stood there a moment, smoothing his hat; then he broke out again: + “Please do this. Let her know—make her feel. You can bring it in, + you know.” And here he paused, embarrassed. + </p> + <p> + “What can I bring in, Mr. Tester? That’s the difficulty, as you say.” + </p> + <p> + “What you told me the other day. You know. What you have told me before.” + </p> + <p> + “What I have told you—?” + </p> + <p> + “That it would put an end to Joscelind! If you can’t work round to it, + what’s the good of being—you?” And with this tribute to my powers he + took his departure. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2H_4_0007" id="link2H_4_0007"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + VII. + </h2> + <p> + It was all very well of him to be so flattering, but I really did n’t see + myself talking in that manner to Lady Vandeleur. I wondered why he didn’t + give her this information himself, and what particular value it could have + as coming from me. Then I said to myself that of course he <i>had</i> + mentioned to her the truth I had impressed upon him (and which by this + time he had evidently taken home), but that to enable it to produce its + full effect upon Lady Yandeleur the further testimony of a witness more + independent was required. There was nothing for me but to go and see her, + and I went the next day, fully conscious that to execute Mr. Tester’s + commission I should have either to find myself very brave or to find her + strangely confidential; and fully prepared, also, not to be admitted. But + she received me, and the house in Upper Brook Street was as dismal as + Ambrose Tester had represented it. The December fog (the afternoon was + very dusky) seemed to pervade the muffled rooms, and her ladyship’s pink + lamplight to waste itself in the brown atmosphere. He had mentioned to me + that the heir to the title (a cousin of her husband), who had left her + unmolested for several months, was now taking possession of everything, so + that what kept her in town was the business of her “turning out,” and + certain formalities connected with her dower. This was very ample, and the + large provision made for her included the London house. She was very + gracious on this occasion, but she certainly had remarkably little to say. + Still, she was different, or at any rate (having taken that hint), I saw + her differently. I saw, indeed, that I had never quite done her justice, + that I had exaggerated her stiffness, attributed to her a kind of + conscious grandeur which was in reality much more an accident of her + appearance, of her figure, than a quality of her character. Her appearance + is as grand as you know, and on the day I speak of, in her simplified + mourning, under those vaguely gleaming <i>lambris</i>, she looked as + beautiful as a great white lily. She is very simple and good-natured; she + will never make an advance, but she will always respond to one, and I saw, + that evening, that the way to get on with her was to treat her as if she + were not too imposing. I saw also that, with her nun-like robes and + languid eyes, she was a woman who might be immensely in love. All the + same, we hadn’t much to say to each other. She remarked that it was very + kind of me to come, that she wondered how I could endure London at that + season, that she had taken a drive and found the Park too dreadful, that + she would ring for some more tea if I did n’t like what she had given me. + Our conversation wandered, stumbling a little, among these platitudes, but + no allusion was made on either side to Ambrose Tester. Nevertheless, as I + have said, she was different, though it was not till I got home that I + phrased to myself what I had detected. + </p> + <p> + Then, recalling her white face, and the deeper, stranger expression of her + beautiful eyes, I entertained myself with the idea that she was under the + influence of “suppressed exaltation.” The more I thought of her the more + she appeared to me not natural; wound up, as it were, to a calmness + beneath which there was a deal of agitation. This would have been nonsense + if I had not, two days afterwards, received a note from her which struck + me as an absolutely “exalted” production. Not superficially, of course; to + the casual eye it would have been perfectly commonplace. But this was + precisely its peculiarity, that Lady Vandeleur should have written me a + note which had no apparent point save that she should like to see me + again, a desire for which she did succeed in assigning a reason. She + reminded me that she was paying no calls, and she hoped I wouldn’t stand + on ceremony, but come in very soon again, she had enjoyed my visit so + much. We had not been on note-writing terms, and there was nothing in that + visit to alter our relations; moreover, six months before, she would not + have dreamed of addressing me in that way. I was doubly convinced, + therefore, that she was passing through a crisis, that she was not in her + normal state of nerves. Mr. Tester had not reappeared since the occasion I + have described at length, and I thought it possible he had been capable of + the bravery of leaving town. I had, however, no fear of meeting him in + Upper Brook Street; for, according to my theory of his relations with Lady + Vaudeleur, he regularly spent his evenings with her, it being clear to me + that they must dine together. I could answer her note only by going to see + her the next day, when I found abundant confirmation of that idea about + the crisis. I must confess to you in advance that I have never really + understood her behavior,—never understood why she should have taken + me so suddenly—with whatever reserves, and however much by + implication merely—into her confidence. All I can say is that this + is an accident to which one is exposed with English people, who, in my + opinion, and contrary to common report, are the most demonstrative, the + most expansive, the most gushing in the world. I think she felt rather + isolated at this moment, and she had never had many intimates of her own + sex. That sex, as a general thing, disapproved of her proceedings during + the last few months, held that she was making Joscelind Bernardstone + suffer too cruelly. She possibly felt the weight of this censure, and at + all events was not above wishing some one to know that whatever injury had + fallen upon the girl to whom Mr. Tester had so stupidly engaged himself, + had not, so far as she was concerned, been wantonly inflicted. I was + there, I was more or less aware of her situation, and I would do as well + as any one else. + </p> + <p> + She seemed really glad to see me, but she was very nervous. Nevertheless, + nearly half an hour elapsed, and I was still wondering whether she had + sent for me only to discuss the question of how a London house whose + appointments had the stamp of a debased period (it had been thought very + handsome in 1850) could be “done up” without being made æsthetic. I forget + what satisfaction I gave her on this point; I was asking myself how I + could work round in the manner prescribed by Joscelind’s intended. At the + last, however, to my extreme surprise, Lady Vandeleur herself relieved me + of this effort. + </p> + <p> + “I think you know Mr. Tester rather well,” she remarked, abruptly, + irrelevantly, and with a face’ more conscious of the bearings of things + than any I had ever seen her wear. On my confessing to such an + acquaintance, she mentioned that Mr. Tester (who had been in London a few + days—perhaps I had seen him) had left town and would n’t come back + for several weeks. This, for the moment, seemed to be all she had to + communicate; but she sat looking at me from the corner of her sofa as if + she wished me to profit in some way by the opportunity she had given me. + Did she want help from outside, this proud, inscrutable woman, and was she + reduced to throwing out signals of distress? Did she wish to be protected + against herself,—applauded for such efforts as she had already made? + I didn’t rush forward, I was not precipitate, for I felt that now, surely, + I should be able at my convenience to execute my commission. What + concerned me was not to prevent Lady Vandeleur’s marrying Mr. Tester, but + to prevent Mr. Tester’s marrying her. In a few moments—with the same + irrelevance—she announced to me that he wished to, and asked whether + I didn’t know it I saw that this was my chance, and instantly, with + extreme energy, I exclaimed,— + </p> + <p> + “Ah, for Heaven’s sake don’t listen to him! It would kill Miss + Bernardstone!” + </p> + <p> + The tone of my voice made her color a little, and she repeated, “Miss + Bernardstone?” + </p> + <p> + “The girl he is engaged to,—or has been,—don’t you know? + Excuse me, I thought every one knew.” + </p> + <p> + “Of course I know he is dreadfully entangled. He was fairly hunted down.” + Lady Vandeleur was silent a moment, and then she added, with a strange + smile, “Fancy, in such a situation, his wanting to marry me!” + </p> + <p> + “Fancy!” I replied. I was so struck with the oddity of her telling me her + secrets that for the moment my indignation did not come to a head,—my + indignation, I mean, at her accusing poor Lady Emily (and even the girl + herself) of having “trapped” our friend. Later I said to myself that I + supposed she was within her literal right in abusing her rival, if she was + trying sincerely to give him up. “I don’t know anything about his having + been hunted down,” I said; “but this I do know, Lady Vandeleur, I assure + you, that if he should throw Joscelind over she would simply go out like + that!” And I snapped my fingers. + </p> + <p> + Lady Vandeleur listened to this serenely enough; she tried at least to + take the air of a woman who has no need of new arguments. “Do you know her + very well?” she asked, as if she had been struck by my calling Miss + Bernardstone by her Christian name. + </p> + <p> + “Well enough to like her very much.” I was going to say “to pity her;” but + I thought better of it. + </p> + <p> + “She must be a person of very little spirit. If a man were to jilt me, I + don’t think I should go out!” cried her ladyship with a laugh. + </p> + <p> + “Nothing is more probable than that she has not your courage or your + wisdom. She may be weak, but she is passionately in love with him.” + </p> + <p> + I looked straight into Lady Vandeleur’s eyes as I said this, and I was + conscious that it was a tolerably good description of my hostess. + </p> + <p> + “Do you think she would really die?” she asked in a moment. + </p> + <p> + “Die as if one should stab her with a knife. Some people don’t believe in + broken hearts,” I continued. “I did n’t till I knew Joscelind + Bernardstone; then I felt that she had one that would n’t be proof.” + </p> + <p> + “One ought to live,—one ought always to live,” said Lady Yandeleur; + “and always to hold up one’s head.” + </p> + <p> + “Ah, I suppose that one ought n’t to feel at all, if one wishes to be a + great success.” + </p> + <p> + “What do you call a great success?” she asked. + </p> + <p> + “Never having occasion to be pitied.” + </p> + <p> + “Being pitied? That must be odious!” she said; and I saw that though she + might wish for admiration, she would never wish for sympathy. Then, in a + moment, she added that men, in her opinion, were very base,—a remark + that was deep, but not, I think, very honest; that is, in so far as the + purpose of it had been to give me the idea that Ambrose Tester had done + nothing but press her, and she had done nothing but resist. They were very + odd, the discrepancies in the statements of each of this pair; but it must + be said for Lady Vandeleur that now that she had made up her mind (as I + believed she had) to sacrifice herself, she really persuaded herself that + she had not had a moment of weakness. She quite unbosomed herself, and I + fairly assisted at her crisis. It appears that she had a conscience,—very + much so, and even a high ideal of duty. She represented herself as moving + heaven and earth to keep Ambrose Tester up to the mark, and you would + never have guessed from what she told me that she had entertained ever so + faintly the idea of marrying him. I am sure this was a dreadful + perversion, but I forgave it on the score of that exaltation of which I + have spoken. The things she said, and the way she said them, come back to + me, and I thought that if she looked as handsome as that when she preached + virtue to Mr. Tester, it was no wonder he liked the sermon to be going on + perpetually. + </p> + <p> + “I dare say you know what old friends we are; but that does n’t make any + difference, does it? Nothing would induce me to marry him,—I have + n’t the smallest intention of marrying again. It is not a time for me to + think of marrying, before his lordship has been dead six months. The girl + is nothing to me; I know nothing about her, and I don’t wish to know; but + I should be very, very sorry if she were unhappy. He is the best friend I + ever had, but I don’t see that that’s any reason I should marry him, do + you?” Lady Vaudeleur appealed to me, but without waiting for my answers, + asking advice in spite of herself, and then remembering it was beneath her + dignity to appear to be in need of it. “I have told him that if he does + n’t act properly I shall never speak to him again. She’s a charming girl, + every one says, and I have no doubt she will make him perfectly happy. Men + don’t feel things like women, I think, and if they are coddled and + flattered they forget the rest. I have no doubt she is very sufficient for + all that. For me, at any rate, once I see a thing in a certain way, I must + abide by that I think people are so dreadful,—they do such horrible + things. They don’t seem to think what one’s duty may be. I don’t know + whether you think much about that, but really one must at times, don’t you + think so? Every one is so selfish, and then, when they have never made an + effort or a sacrifice themselves, they come to you and talk such a lot of + hypocrisy. I know so much better than any one else whether I should marry + or not. But I don’t mind telling you that I don’t see why I should. I am + not in such a bad position,—with my liberty and a decent + maintenance.” + </p> + <p> + In this manner she rambled on, gravely and communicatively, contradicting + herself at times; not talking fast (she never did), but dropping one + simple sentence, with an interval, after the other, with a certain + richness of voice which always was part of the charm of her presence. She + wished to be convinced against herself, and it was a comfort to her to + hear herself argue. I was quite willing to be part of the audience, though + I had to confine myself to very superficial remarks; for when I had said + the event I feared would kill Miss Bernardstone I had said everything that + was open to me. I had nothing to do with Lady Vandeleur’s marrying, apart + from that I probably disappointed her. She had caught a glimpse of the + moral beauty of self-sacrifice, of a certain ideal of conduct (I imagine + it was rather new to her), and would have been glad to elicit from me, as + a person of some experience of life, an assurance that such joys are not + insubstantial. I had no wish to wind her up to a spiritual ecstasy from + which she would inevitably descend again, and I let her deliver herself + according to her humor, without attempting to answer for it that she would + find renunciation the road to bliss. I believed that if she should give up + Mr. Tester she would suffer accordingly; but I did n’t think that a reason + for not giving him up. Before I left her she said to me that nothing would + induce her to do anything that she did n’t think right. “It would be no + pleasure to me, don’t you see? I should be always thinking that another + way would have been better. Nothing would induce me,—nothing, + nothing!” + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2H_4_0008" id="link2H_4_0008"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + VIII. + </h2> + <p> + She protested too much, perhaps, but the event seemed to show that she was + in earnest. I have described these two first visits of mine in some + detail, but they were not the only ones I paid her. I saw her several + times again, before she left town, and we became intimate, as London + intimacies are measured. She ceased to protest (to my relief, for it made + me nervous), she was very gentle, and gracious, and reasonable, and there + was something in the way she looked and spoke that told me that for the + present she found renunciation its own reward. So far, my scepticism was + put to shame; her spiritual ecstasy maintained itself. If I could have + foreseen then that it would maintain itself till the present hour I should + have felt that Lady Vandeleur’s moral nature is finer indeed than mine. I + heard from her that Mr. Tester remained at his father’s, and that Lady + Emily and her daughter were also there. The day for the wedding had been + fixed, and the preparations were going rapidly forward. Meanwhile—she + didn’t tell me, but I gathered it from things she dropped—she was in + almost daily correspondence with the young man. I thought this a strange + concomitant of his bridal arrangements; but apparently, henceforth, they + were bent on convincing each other that the torch of virtue lighted their + steps, and they couldn’t convince each other too much. She intimated to me + that she had now effectually persuaded him (always by letter), that he + would fail terribly if he should try to found his happiness on an injury + done to another, and that of course she could never be happy (in a union + with him), with the sight of his wretchedness before her. That a good deal + of correspondence should be required to elucidate this is perhaps after + all not remarkable. One day, when I was sitting with her (it was just + before she left town), she suddenly burst into tears. Before we parted I + said to her that there were several women in London I liked very much,—that + was common enough,—but for her I had a positive respect, and that + was rare. My respect continues still, and it sometimes makes me furious. + </p> + <p> + About the middle of January Ambrose Tester reappeared in town. He told me + he came to bid me good-by. He was going to be beheaded. It was no use + saying that old relations would be the same after a man was married; they + would be different, everything would be different. I had wanted him to + marry, and now I should see how I liked it He did n’t mention that I had + also wanted him not to marry, and I was sure that if Lady Vandeleur had + become his wife, she would have been a much greater impediment to our + harmless friendship than Joscelind Bernardstone would ever be. It took me + but a short time to observe that he was in very much the same condition as + Lady Vandeleur. He was finding how sweet it is to renounce, hand in hand + with one we love. Upon him, too, the peace of the Lord had descended. He + spoke of his father’s delight at the nuptials being so near at hand; at + the festivities that would take place in Dorsetshire when he should bring + home his bride. The only allusion he made to what we had talked of the + last time we were together was to exclaim suddenly, “How can I tell you + how easy she has made it? She is so sweet, so noble. She really is a + perfect creature!” I took for granted that he was talking of his future + wife, but in a moment, as we were at cross-purposes, perceived that he + meant Lady Vandeleur. This seemed to me really ominous. It stuck in my + mind after he had left me. I was half tempted to write him a note, to say, + “There is, after all, perhaps, something worse than your jilting Miss + Bernardstone would be; and that is the danger that your rupture with Lady + Vandeleur may become more of a bond than your marrying her would have been + For Heaven’s sake, let your sacrifice <i>be</i> a sacrifice; keep it in + its proper place!” + </p> + <p> + Of course I did n’t write; even the slight responsibility I had already + incurred began to frighten me, and I never saw Mr. Tester again till he + was the husband of Joscelind Bernardstone. They have now been married some + four years; they have two children, the eldest of whom is, as he should + be, a boy. Sir Edmund waited till his grandson had made good his place in + the world, and then, feeling it was safe, he quietly, genially surrendered + his trust. He died, holding the hand of his daughter-in-law, and giving it + doubtless a pressure which was an injunction to be brave. I don’t know + what he thought of the success of his plan for his son; but perhaps, after + all, he saw nothing amiss, for Joscelind is the last woman in the world to + have troubled him with her sorrows. From him, no doubt, she successfully + concealed that bewilderment on which I have touched. You see I speak of + her sorrows as if they were a matter of common recognition; certain it is + that any one who meets her must see that she does n’t pass her life in + joy. Lady Vandeleur, as you know, has never married again; she is still + the most beautiful widow in England. She enjoys the esteem of every one, + as well as the approbation of her conscience, for every one knows the + sacrifice she made, knows that she was even more in love with Sir Ambrose + than he was with her. She goes out again, of course, as of old, and she + constantly meets the baronet and his wife. She is supposed to be even + “very nice” to Lady Tester, and she certainly treats her with exceeding + civility. But you know (or perhaps you don’t know) all the deadly things + that, in London, may lie beneath that method. I don’t in the least mean + that Lady Vandeleur has any deadly intentions; she is a very good woman, + and I am sure that in her heart she thinks she lets poor Joscelind off + very easily. But the result of the whole situation is that Joscelind is in + dreadful fear of her, for how can she help seeing that she has a very + peculiar power over her husband? There couldn’t have been a better + occasion for observing the three together (if together it may be called, + when Lady Tester is so completely outside), than those two days of ours at + Doubleton. That’s a house where they have met more than once before; I + think she and Sir Ambrose like it. By “she” I mean, as he used to mean, + Lady Vandeleur. You saw how Lady Tester was absolutely white with + uneasiness. What can she do when she meets everywhere the implication that + if two people in our time have distinguished themselves for their virtue, + it is her husband and Lady Vandeleur? It is my impression that this pair + are exceedingly happy. His marriage <i>has</i> made a difference, and I + see him much less frequently and less intimately. But when I meet him I + notice in him a kind of emanation of quiet bliss. Yes, they are certainly + in felicity, they have trod the clouds together, they have soared into the + blue, and they wear in their faces the glory of those altitudes. They + encourage, they cheer, inspire, sustain, each other, remind each other + that they have chosen the better part Of course they have to meet for this + purpose, and their interviews are filled, I am sure, with its sanctity. He + holds up his head, as a man may who on a very critical occasion behaved + like a perfect gentleman. It is only poor Joscelind that droops. Have n’t + I explained to you now why she does n’t understand? + </p> + <p> + <br /> <br /> + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Path Of Duty, by Henry James + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE PATH OF DUTY *** + +***** This file should be named 21772-h.htm or 21772-h.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + http://www.gutenberg.org/2/1/7/7/21772/ + +Produced by David Widger + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +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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