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diff --git a/6214-h/6214-h.htm b/6214-h/6214-h.htm new file mode 100644 index 0000000..2d2461f --- /dev/null +++ b/6214-h/6214-h.htm @@ -0,0 +1,6367 @@ +<?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> + <title> + The Translation of a Savage, Complete, by Gilbert Parker + </title> + <style type="text/css" xml:space="preserve"> + + body { margin:5%; background:#faebd7; 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; } + .figleft {float: left; margin-left: 0%; margin-right: 1%;} + .figright {float: right; margin-right: 0%; margin-left: 1%;} + pre { font-style: italic; font-size: 90%; margin-left: 10%;} + +</style> + </head> + <body> + <p> + <br /><br /> + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> +Project Gutenberg's The Translation of a Savage, Complete, by Gilbert Parker + +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 Translation of a Savage, Complete + +Author: Gilbert Parker + +Release Date: October 18, 2006 [EBook #6214] +Last Updated: August 27, 2016 + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: UTF-8 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE TRANSLATION OF A SAVAGE, *** + + + +Produced by David Widger + + + + + +</pre> + + <h1> + THE TRANSLATION OF A SAVAGE + </h1> + <p> + <br /><br /> + </p> + <h2> + By Gilbert Parker + </h2> + <p> + <br /> <br /> + </p> + <hr /> + <p> + <br /> <br /> + </p> + <blockquote> + <p class="toc"> + <big><b>CONTENTS</b></big> + </p> + <p> + <br /> <a href="#link2H_INTR"> INTRODUCTION </a><br /><br /> <a + href="#link2H_4_0002"> <b>THE TRANSLATION OF A SAVAGE</b> </a><br /><br /><br /> + <a href="#link2HCH0001"> CHAPTER I. </a> HIS GREAT MISTAKE + <br /><br /> <a href="#link2HCH0002"> CHAPTER II. </a> A + DIFFICULT SITUATION <br /><br /> <a href="#link2HCH0003"> CHAPTER III. + </a> OUT OF THE NORTH <br /><br /> <a href="#link2HCH0004"> + CHAPTER IV. </a> IN THE NAME OF THE FAMILY <br /><br /> <a + href="#link2HCH0005"> CHAPTER V. </a> AN AWKWARD HALF-HOUR + <br /><br /> <a href="#link2HCH0006"> CHAPTER VI. </a> THE + PASSING OF THE YEARS <br /><br /> <a href="#link2HCH0007"> CHAPTER VII. + </a> A COURT-MARTIAL <br /><br /> <a href="#link2HCH0008"> + CHAPTER VIII. </a> TO EVERY MAN HIS HOUR <br /><br /> <a + href="#link2HCH0009"> CHAPTER IX. </a> THE FAITH OF COMRADES + <br /><br /> <a href="#link2HCH0010"> CHAPTER X. </a> THOU + KNOWEST THE SECRETS OF OUR HEARTS <br /><br /> <a href="#link2HCH0011"> + CHAPTER XI. </a> UPON THE HIGHWAY <br /><br /> <a + href="#link2HCH0012"> CHAPTER XII. </a> "THE CHASE OF THE + YELLOW SWAN” <br /><br /> <a href="#link2HCH0013"> CHAPTER XIII. </a> A + LIVING POEM <br /><br /> <a href="#link2HCH0014"> CHAPTER XIV. </a> ON + THE EDGE OF A FUTURE <br /><br /> <a href="#link2HCH0015"> CHAPTER XV. + </a> THE END OF THE TRAIL <br /><br /> + </p> + </blockquote> + <p> + <br /> <br /> + </p> + <hr /> + <p> + <br /> <br /> <a name="link2H_INTR" id="link2H_INTR"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <h2> + INTRODUCTION + </h2> + <p> + The Translation of a Savage was written in the early autumn of 1893, at + Hampstead Heath, where for over twenty years I have gone, now and then, + when I wished to be in an atmosphere conducive to composition. Hampstead + is one of the parts of London which has as yet been scarcely invaded by + the lodging-house keeper. It is very difficult to get apartments at + Hampstead; it is essentially a residential place; and, like Chelsea, has + literary and artistic character all its own. I think I have seen more + people carrying books in their hands at Hampstead than in any other spot + in England; and there it was, perched above London, with eyes looking + towards the Atlantic over the leagues of land and the thousand leagues of + sea, that I wrote ‘The Translation of a Savage’. It was written, as it + were, in one concentrated effort, a ceaseless writing. It was, in effect, + what the Daily Chronicle said of ‘When Valmond Came to Pontiac’, a tour de + force. It belonged to a genre which compelled me to dispose of a thing in + one continuous effort, or the impulse, impetus, and fulness of movement + was gone. The writing of a book of the kind admitted of no invasion from + extraneous sources, and that was why, while writing ‘The Translation of a + Savage’ at Hampstead, my letters were only delivered to me once a week. I + saw no friends, for no one knew where I was; but I walked the heights, I + practised with my golf clubs on the Heath, and I sat in the early autumn + evenings looking out at London in that agony of energy which its myriad + lives represented. It was a good time. + </p> + <p> + The story had a basis of fact; the main incident was true. It happened, + however, in Michigan rather than in Canada; but I placed the incident in + Canada where it was just as true to the life. I was living in + Hertfordshire at the time of writing the story, and that is why the + English scenes were worked out in Hertfordshire and in London. When I had + finished the tale, there came over me suddenly a kind of feeling that the + incident was too bold and maybe too crude to be believed, and I was almost + tempted to consign it to the flames; but the editor of ‘The English + Illustrated Magazine’, Sir C. Kinloch-Cooke, took a wholly different view, + and eagerly published it. The judgment of the press was favourable,—highly + so—and I was as much surprised as pleased when Mr. George Moore, in + the Hogarth Club one night, in 1894, said to me: “There is a really + remarkable play in that book of yours, ‘The Translation, of a Savage’.” I + had not thought up to that time that my work was of the kind which would + appeal to George Moore, but he was always making discoveries. Meeting him + in Pall Mall one day, he said to me: “My dear fellow, I have made a great + discovery. I have been reading the Old Testament. It is magnificent. In + the mass of its incoherence it has a series of the most marvellous + stories. Do you remember—” etc. Then he came home and had tea with + me, revelling, in the meantime, on having discovered the Bible! + </p> + <p> + I cannot feel that ‘The Translation of a Savage’ has any significance + beyond the truthfulness with which I believe it describes the + transformation, or rather the evolution, of a primitive character into a + character with an intelligence of perception and a sympathy which is + generally supposed to be the outcome of long processes of civilisation and + culture. The book has so many friends—this has been sufficiently + established by the very large sale it has had in cheap editions—that + I am still disposed to feel it was an inevitable manifestation in the + progress of my art, such as it is. People of diverse conditions of life + have found in it something to interest and to stimulate. One of the most + volcanic of the Labour members in the House of Commons told me that the + violence of his opposition to me in debate on a certain bill was greatly + moderated by the fact that I had written ‘The Translation of a Savage’; + while a certain rather grave duke remarked to me concerning the character + of Lali that “She would have been all right anywhere.” I am bound to say + that he was a duke who, while a young man, knew the wilds of Canada and + the United States almost as well as I know Westminster. + </p> + <p> + <br /> <br /> + </p> + <hr /> + <p> + <br /> <br /> <a name="link2H_4_0002" id="link2H_4_0002"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <h1> + THE TRANSLATION OF A SAVAGE + </h1> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0001" id="link2HCH0001"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + CHAPTER I. HIS GREAT MISTAKE + </h2> + <p> + It appeared that Armour had made the great mistake of his life. When + people came to know, they said that to have done it when sober had shown + him possessed of a kind of maliciousness and cynicism almost pardonable, + but to do it when tipsy proved him merely weak and foolish. But the fact + is, he was less tipsy at the time than was imagined; and he could have + answered to more malice and cynicism than was credited to him. To those + who know the world it is not singular that, of the two, Armour was thought + to have made the mistake and had the misfortune, or that people wasted + their pity and their scorn upon him alone. Apparently they did not see + that the woman was to be pitied. He had married her; and she was only an + Indian girl from Fort Charles of the Hudson’s Bay Company, with a little + honest white blood in her veins. Nobody, not even her own people, felt + that she had anything at stake, or was in danger of unhappiness, or was + other than a person who had ludicrously come to bear the name of Mrs. + Francis Armour. If any one had said in justification that she loved the + man, the answer would have been that plenty of Indian women had loved + white men, but had not married them, and yet the population of half-breeds + went on increasing. + </p> + <p> + Frank Armour had been a popular man in London. His club might be found in + the vicinity of Pall Mall, his father’s name was high and honoured in the + Army List, one of his brothers had served with Wolseley in Africa, and + Frank himself, having no profession, but with a taste for business and + investment, had gone to Canada with some such intention as Lord Selkirk’s + in the early part of the century. He owned large shares in the Hudson’s + Bay Company, and when he travelled through the North-West country, + prospecting, he was received most hospitably. Of an inquiring and + gregarious nature he went as much among the half-breeds—or ‘metis’, + as they are called—and Indians as among the officers of the Hudson’s + Bay Company and the white settlers. He had ever been credited with having + a philosophical turn of mind; and this was accompanied by a certain strain + of impulsiveness or daring. He had been accustomed all his life to make up + his mind quickly and, because he was well enough off to bear the + consequences of momentary rashness in commercial investments, he was not + counted among the transgressors. He had his own fortune; he was not + drawing upon a common purse. It was a different matter when he trafficked + rashly in the family name so far as to marry the daughter of + Eye-of-the-Moon, the Indian chief. + </p> + <p> + He was tolerably happy when he went to the Hudson’s Bay country; for Miss + Julia Sherwood was his promised wife, and she, if poor, was notably + beautiful and of good family. His people had not looked quite kindly on + this engagement; they had, indeed, tried in many ways to prevent it; + partly because of Miss Sherwood’s poverty, and also because they knew that + Lady Agnes Martling had long cared for him, and was most happily endowed + with wealth and good looks also. When he left for Canada they were + inwardly glad (they imagined that something might occur to end the + engagement)—all except Richard, the wiseacre of the family, the + book-man, the drone, who preferred living at Greyhope, their Hertfordshire + home, the year through, to spending half the time in Cavendish Square. + Richard was very fond of Frank, admiring him immensely for his buxom + strength and cleverness, and not a little, too, for that very rashness + which had brought him such havoc at last. + </p> + <p> + Richard was not, as Frank used to say, “perfectly sound on his pins,”—that + is, he was slightly lame, but he was right at heart. He was an immense + reader, but made little use of what he read. He had an abundant humour, + and remembered every anecdote he ever heard. He was kind to the poor, + walked much, talked to himself as he walked, and was known by the humble + sort as “a’centric.” But he had a wise head, and he foresaw danger to + Frank’s happiness when he went away. While others had gossiped and + manoeuvred and were busily idle, he had watched things. He saw that Frank + was dear to Julia in proportion to the distance between her and young Lord + Haldwell, whose father had done something remarkable in guns or torpedoes + and was rewarded with a lordship and an uncommonly large fortune. He also + saw that, after Frank left, the distance between Lord Haldwell and Julia + became distinctly less—they were both staying at Greyhope. Julia + Sherwood was a remarkably clever girl. Though he felt it his duty to speak + to her for his brother,—a difficult and delicate matter, he thought + it would come better from his mother. + </p> + <p> + But when he took action it was too late. Miss Sherwood naively declared + that she had not known her own heart, and that she did not care for Frank + any more. She wept a little, and was soothed by motherly Mrs. Armour, who + was inwardly glad, though she knew the matter would cause Frank pain; and + even General Armour could not help showing slight satisfaction, though he + was innocent of any deliberate action to separate the two. Straightway + Miss Sherwood despatched a letter to the wilds of Canada, and for a week + was an unengaged young person. But she was no doubt consoled by the fact + that for some time past she had had complete control of Lord Haldwell’s + emotions. At the end of the week her perceptions were justified by Lord + Haldwell’s proposal, which, with admirable tact and obvious demureness, + was accepted. + </p> + <p> + Now, Frank Armour was wandering much in the wilds, so that his letters and + papers went careering about after him, and some that came first were last + to reach him. That was how he received a newspaper announcing the marriage + of Lord Haldwell and Julia Sherwood at the same time that her letter, + written in estimable English and with admirable feeling, came, begging for + a release from their engagement, and, towards its close, assuming, with a + charming regret, that all was over, and that the last word had been said + between them. + </p> + <p> + Armour was sitting in the trader’s room at Fort Charles when the carrier + came with the mails. He had had some successful days hunting buffalo with + Eye-of-the-Moon and a little band of metis, had had a long pow-wow in + Eye-of-the-Moon’s lodge, had chatted gaily with Lali the daughter, and was + now prepared to enjoy heartily the arrears of correspondence and news + before him. He ran his hand through the letters and papers, intending to + classify them immediately, according to such handwriting as he recognised + and the dates on the envelopes. But, as he did so, he saw a newspaper from + which the wrapper was partly torn. He also saw a note in the margin + directing him to a certain page. The note was in Richard’s handwriting. He + opened the paper at the page indicated and saw the account of the + marriage! His teeth clinched on his cigar, his face turned white, the + paper fell from his fingers. He gasped, his hands spread out nervously, + then caught the table and held it as though to steady himself. + </p> + <p> + The trader rose. “You are ill,” he said. “Have you bad news?” He glanced + towards the paper. Slowly Armour folded the paper up, and then rose + unsteadily. “Gordon,” he said, “give me a glass of brandy.” + </p> + <p> + He turned towards the cupboard in the room. The trader opened it, took out + a bottle, and put it on the table beside Armour, together with a glass and + some water. Armour poured out a stiff draught, added a very little water, + and drank it. He drew a great sigh, and stood looking at the paper. + </p> + <p> + “Is there anything I can do for you, Mr. Armour?” urged the trader. + </p> + <p> + “Nothing, thank you, nothing at all. Just leave the brandy here, will you? + I feel knocked about, and I have to go through the rest of these letters.” + </p> + <p> + He ran his fingers through the pile, turning it over hastily, as if + searching for something. The trader understood. He was a cool-headed + Scotsman; he knew that there were some things best not inquired into, and + that men must have their bad hours alone. He glanced at the brandy + debatingly, but presently turned and left the room in silence. In his own + mind, however, he wished he might have taken the brandy without being + discourteous. Armour had discovered Miss Sherwood’s letter. Before he + opened it he took a little more brandy. Then he sat down and read it + deliberately. The liquor had steadied him. The fingers of one hand even + drummed on the table. But the face was drawn, the eyes were hard, and the + look of him was altogether pinched. After he had finished this, he looked + for others from the same hand. He found none. Then he picked out those + from his mother and father. He read them grimly. Once he paused as he read + his mother’s letter, and took a gulp of plain brandy. There was something + very like a sneer on his face when he finished reading. He read the + hollowness of the sympathy extended to him; he understood the far from + adroit references to Lady Agnes Martling. He was very bitter. He opened no + more letters, but took up the Morning Post again, and read it slowly + through. The look of his face was not pleasant. There was a small + looking-glass opposite him. He caught sight of himself in it. He drew his + hand across his eyes and forehead, as though he was in a miserable dream. + He looked again; he could not recognise himself. + </p> + <p> + He then bundled the letters and papers into his despatch-box. His + attention was drawn to one letter. He picked it up. It was from Richard. + He started to break the seal, but paused. The strain of the event was too + much; he winced. He determined not to read it then, to wait until he had + recovered himself. He laughed now painfully. It had been better for him—it + had, maybe, averted what people were used to term his tragedy—had he + read his brother’s letter at that moment. For Richard Armour was a + sensible man, notwithstanding his peculiarities; and perhaps the most + sensible words he ever wrote were in that letter thrust unceremoniously + into Frank Armour’s pocket. Armour had received a terrible blow. He read + his life backwards. He had no future. The liquor he had drunk had not + fevered him, it had not wildly excited him; it merely drew him up to a + point where he could put a sudden impulse into practice without flinching. + He was bitter against his people; he credited them with more interference + than was actual. He felt that happiness had gone out of his life and left + him hopeless. As we said, he was a man of quick decisions. He would have + made a dashing but reckless soldier; he was not without the elements of + the gamester. It is possible that there was in him also a strain of + cruelty, undeveloped but radical. Life so far had evolved the best in him; + he had been cheery and candid. Now he travelled back into new avenues of + his mind and found strange, aboriginal passions, fully adapted to the + present situation. Vulgar anger and reproaches were not after his nature. + He suddenly found sources of refined but desperate retaliation. He drew + upon them. He would do something to humiliate his people and the girl who + had spoiled his life. Some one thing! It should be absolute and lasting, + it should show how low had fallen his opinion of women, of whom Julia + Sherwood had once been chiefest to him. In that he would show his scorn of + her. He would bring down the pride of his family, who, he believed, had + helped, out of mere selfishness, to tumble his happiness into the + shambles. + </p> + <p> + He was older by years than an hour ago. But he was not without the faculty + of humour; that was why he did not become very excited; it was also why he + determined upon a comedy which should have all the elements of tragedy. + Perhaps, however, he would have hesitated to carry his purposes to + immediate conclusions, were it not that the very gods seemed to play his + game with him. For, while he stood there, looking out into the yard of the + fort, a Protestant missionary passed the window. The Protestant + missionary, as he is found at such places as Fort Charles, is not a + strictly superior person. A Jesuit might have been of advantage to Frank + Armour at that moment. The Protestant missionary is not above comfortable + assurances of gold. So that when Armour summoned this one in, and told him + what was required of him, and slipped a generous gift of the Queen’s coin + into his hand, he smiled vaguely and was willing to do what he was bidden. + Had he been a Jesuit, who is sworn to poverty, and more often than not a + man of birth and education, he might have influenced Frank Armour and + prevented the notable mishap and scandal. As it was, Armour took more + brandy. + </p> + <p> + Then he went down to Eye-of-the-Moon’s lodge. A few hours afterwards the + missionary met him there. The next morning Lali, the daughter of + Eye-of-the-Moon, and the chieftainess of a portion of her father’s tribe, + whose grandfather had been a white man, was introduced to the Hudson’s Bay + country as Mrs. Frank Armour. But that was not all. Indeed, as it stood, + it was very little. He had only made his comedy possible as yet; now the + play itself was to come. He had carried his scheme through boldly so far. + He would not flinch in carrying it out to the last letter. He brought his + wife down to the Great Lakes immediately, scarcely resting day or night. + There he engaged an ordinary but reliable woman, to whom he gave + instructions, and sent the pair to the coast. He instructed his solicitor + at Montreal to procure passages for Mrs. Francis Armour and maid for + Liverpool. Then, by letters, he instructed his solicitor in London to meet + Mrs. Francis Armour and maid at Liverpool and take them to Greyhope in + Hertfordshire—that is, if General Armour and Mrs. Armour, or some + representative of the family, did not meet them when they landed from the + steamship. + </p> + <p> + Presently he sat down and wrote to his father and mother, and asked them + to meet his wife and her maid when they arrived by the steamer Aphrodite. + He did not explain to them in precise detail his feelings on Miss Julia + Sherwood’s marriage, nor did he go into full particulars as to the + personality of Mrs. Frank Armour; but he did say that, because he knew + they were anxious that he should marry “acceptably,” he had married into + the aristocracy, the oldest aristocracy of America; and because he also + knew they wished him to marry wealth, he sent them a wife rich in virtues—native, + unspoiled virtues. He hoped that they would take her to their hearts and + cherish her. He knew their firm principles of honour, and that he could + trust them to be kind to his wife until he returned to share the affection + which he was sure would be given to her. It was not his intention to + return to England for some time yet. He had work to do in connection with + his proposed colony; and a wife—even a native wife—could not + well be a companion in the circumstances. Besides, Lali—his wife’s + name was Lali!—would be better occupied in learning the + peculiarities of the life in which her future would be cast. It was + possible they would find her an apt pupil. Of this they could not + complain, that she was untravelled; for she had ridden a horse, bareback, + half across the continent. They could not cavil at her education, for she + knew several languages—aboriginal languages—of the North. She + had merely to learn the dialect of English society, and how to carry with + acceptable form the costumes of the race to which she was going. Her own + costume was picturesque, but it might appear unusual in London society. + Still, they could use their own judgment about that. + </p> + <p> + Then, when she was gone beyond recall, he chanced one day to put on the + coat he wore when the letters and paper declaring his misfortune came to + him. He found his brother’s letter; he opened it and read it. It was the + letter of a man who knew how to appreciate at their proper value the + misfortunes, as the fortunes, of life. While Frank Armour read he came to + feel for the first time that his brother Richard had suffered, maybe, from + some such misery as had come to him through Julia Sherwood. It was a + dispassionate, manly letter, relieved by gentle wit, and hinting with + careful kindness that a sudden blow was better for a man than a lifelong + thorn in his side. Of Julia Sherwood he had nothing particularly bitter to + say. He delicately suggested that she had acted according to her nature, + and that in the see-saw of life Frank had had a sore blow; but this was to + be borne. The letter did not say too much; it did not magnify the + difficulty, it did not depreciate it. It did not even directly counsel; it + was wholesomely, tenderly judicial. Indirectly, it dwelt upon the + steadiness and manliness of Frank’s character; directly, lightly, and + without rhetoric, it enlarged upon their own comradeship. It ran over + pleasantly the days of their boyhood, when they were hardly ever + separated. It made distinct, yet with no obvious purpose, how good were + friendship and confidence—which might be the most unselfish thing in + the world—between two men. With the letter before him Frank Armour + saw his act in a new light. + </p> + <p> + As we said, it is possible if he had read it on the day when his trouble + came to him, he had not married Lali, or sent her to England on this—to + her—involuntary mission of revenge. It is possible, also, that there + came to him the first vague conception of the wrong he had done this + Indian girl, who undoubtedly married him because she cared for him after + her heathen fashion, while he had married her for nothing that was + commendable; not even for passion, which may be pardoned, nor for vanity, + which has its virtues. He had had his hour with circumstance; circumstance + would have its hour with him in due course. Yet there was no extraordinary + revulsion. He was still angry, cynical, and very sore. He would see the + play out with a consistent firmness. He almost managed a smile when a + letter was handed to him some weeks later, bearing his solicitor’s + assurance that Mrs. Frank Armour and her maid had been safely bestowed on + the Aphrodite for England. This was the first act in his tragic comedy. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0002" id="link2HCH0002"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + CHAPTER II. A DIFFICULT SITUATION + </h2> + <p> + When Mrs. Frank Armour arrived at Montreal she still wore her Indian + costume of clean, well-broidered buckskin, moccasins, and leggings, all + surmounted by a blanket. It was not a distinguished costume, but it seemed + suitable to its wearer. Mr. Armour’s agent was in a quandary. He had + received no instructions regarding her dress. He felt, of course, that, as + Mrs. Frank Armour, she should put off these garments, and dress, so far as + was possible, in accordance with her new position. But when he spoke about + it to Mackenzie, the elderly maid and companion, he found that Mr. Armour + had said that his wife was to arrive in England dressed as she was. He saw + something ulterior in the matter, but it was not his province to + interfere. And so Mrs. Frank Armour was a passenger by the Aphrodite in + her buckskin garments. + </p> + <p> + What she thought of it all is not quite easy to say. It is possible that + at first she only considered that she was the wife of a white man,—a + thing to be desired, and that the man she loved was hers for ever—a + matter of indefinable joy to her. That he was sending her to England did + not fret her, because it was his will, and he knew what was best. Busy + with her contented and yet somewhat dazed thoughts of him,—she was + too happy to be very active mentally, even if it had been the + characteristic of her race,—she was not at first aware how much + notice she excited, and how strange a figure she was in this staring city. + When it did dawn upon her she shrank a little, but still was placid, + preferring to sit with her hands folded in her lap, idly watching things. + She appeared oblivious that she was the wife of a man of family and rank; + she was only thinking that the man was hers—all hers. He had treated + her kindly enough in the days they were together, but she had not been a + great deal with him, because they travelled fast, and his duties were + many, or he made them so—but the latter possibility did not occur to + her. + </p> + <p> + When he had hastily bidden her farewell at Port Arthur he had kissed her + and said: “Good-bye, my wife.” She was not yet acute enough in the + inflections of Saxon speech to catch the satire—almost involuntary—in + the last two words. She remembered the words, however, and the kiss, and + she was quite satisfied. To what she was going she did not speculate. He + was sending her: that was enough. + </p> + <p> + The woman given to her as maid had been well chosen. Armour had done this + carefully. She was Scotch, was reserved, had a certain amount of + shrewdness, would obey instructions, and do her duty carefully. What she + thought about the whole matter she kept to herself; even the solicitor at + Montreal could not find out. She had her instructions clear in her mind; + she was determined to carry them out to the letter—for which she was + already well paid, and was like to be better paid; because Armour had + arranged that she should continue to be with his wife after they got to + England. She understood well the language of Lali’s tribe, and because + Lali’s English was limited she would be indispensable in England. + </p> + <p> + Mackenzie, therefore, had responsibility, and if she was not elated over + it, she still knew the importance of her position, and had enough + practical vanity to make her an efficient servant and companion. She + already felt that she had got her position in life, from which she was to + go out no more for ever. She had been brought up in the shadow of Alnwick + Castle, and she knew what was due to her charge—by other people; + herself only should have liberty with her. She was taking Lali to the home + of General Armour, and that must be kept constantly before her mind. + Therefore, from the day they set foot on the Aphrodite, she kept her place + beside Mrs. Armour, sitting with her,—they walked very little,—and + scarcely ever speaking, either to her or to the curious passengers. + Presently the passengers became more inquisitive, and made many attempts + at being friendly; but these received little encouragement. It had become + known who the Indian girl was, and many wild tales went about as to her + marriage with Francis Armour. Now it was maintained she had saved his life + at an outbreak of her tribe; again, that she had found him dying in the + woods and had nursed him back to life and health; yet again, that she was + a chieftainess, a successful claimant against the Hudson’s Bay Company—and + so on. + </p> + <p> + There were several on board who knew the Armours well by name, and two who + knew them personally. One was Mr. Edward Lambert, a barrister of the + Middle Temple, and the other was Mrs. Townley, a widow, a member of a + well-known Hertfordshire family, who, on a pleasant journey in Scotland, + had met, conquered, and married a wealthy young American, and had been + left alone in the world, by no means portionless, eighteen months before. + Lambert knew Richard Armour well, and when, from Francis Armour’s + solicitor, with whom he was acquainted, he heard, just before they + started, who the Indian girl was, he was greatly shocked and sorry. He + guessed at once the motive, the madness, of this marriage. But he kept his + information and his opinions mostly to himself, except in so far as it + seemed only due to friendship to contradict the numberless idle stories + going about. After the first day at sea he came to know Mrs. Townley, and + when he discovered that they had many common friends and that she knew the + Armours, he spoke a little more freely to her regarding the Indian wife, + and told her what he believed was the cause of the marriage. + </p> + <p> + Mrs. Townley was a woman—a girl—of uncommon gentleness of + disposition, and, in spite of her troubles, inclined to view life with a + sunny eye. She had known of Frank Armour’s engagement with Miss Julia + Sherwood, but she had never heard the sequel. If this was the sequel—well, + it had to be faced. But she was almost tremulous with sympathy when she + remembered Mrs. Armour, and Frank’s gay, fashionable sister, Marion, and + contemplated the arrival of this Indian girl at Greyhope. She had always + liked Frank Armour, but this made her angry with him; for, on second + thoughts, she was not more sorry for him and for his people than for Lali, + the wife. She had the true instinct of womanhood, and she supposed that a + heathen like this could have feelings to be hurt and a life to be wounded + as herself or another. At least she saw what was possible in the future + when this Indian girl came to understand her position—only to be + accomplished by contact with the new life, so different from her past. + Both she and Lambert decided that she was very fine-looking, not + withstanding her costume. She was slim and well built, with modest bust + and shapely feet and ankles. Her eyes were large, meditative, and + intelligent, her features distinguished. She was a goodly product of her + race, being descended from a line of chiefs and chieftainesses—broken + only in the case of her grandfather, as has been mentioned. Her hands (the + two kindly inquisitors decided) were almost her best point. They were + perfectly made, slim, yet plump, the fingers tapering, the wrist supple. + Mrs. Townley then and there decided that the girl had possibilities. But + here she was, an Indian, with few signs of civilisation or of that + breeding which seems to white people the only breeding fit for earth or + heaven. + </p> + <p> + Mrs. Townley did not need Lambert’s suggestion that she should try to + approach the girl, make friends with her, and prepare her in some slight + degree for the strange career before her. + </p> + <p> + Mrs. Townley had an infinite amount of tact. She knew it was best to + approach the attendant first. This she did, and, to the surprise of other + lady-passengers, received no rebuff. Her advance was not, however, rapid. + Mackenzie had had her instructions. When she found that Mrs. Townley knew + Francis Armour and his people, she thawed a little more, and then, very + hesitatingly, she introduced her to the Indian wife. Mrs. Townley smiled + her best—and there were many who knew how attractive she could be at + such a moment. There was a slight pause, in which Lali looked at her + meditatively, earnestly, and then those beautiful wild fingers glided out, + and caught her hand, and held it; but she spoke no word. She only looked + inquiringly, seriously, at her new-found friend, and presently dropped the + blanket away from her, and sat up firmly, as though she felt she was not + altogether an alien now, and had a right to hold herself proudly among + white people, as she did in her own country and with her own tribe, who + had greatly admired her. Certainly Mrs. Townley could find no fault with + the woman as an Indian. She had taste, carried her clothes well, and was + superbly fresh in appearance, though her hair still bore very slight + traces of the grease which even the most aristocratic Indians use. + </p> + <p> + But Lali would not talk. Mrs. Townley was anxious that the girl should be + dressed in European costume, and offered to lend and rearrange dresses of + her own, but she came in collision with Mr. Armour’s instructions. So she + had to assume a merely kind and comforting attitude. The wife had not the + slightest idea where she was going, and even when Mackenzie, at Mrs. + Townley’s oft-repeated request, explained very briefly and + unpicturesquely, she only looked incredulous or unconcerned. Yet the ship, + its curious passengers, the dining saloon, the music, the sea, and all, + had given her suggestions of what was to come. They had expected that at + table she would be awkward and ignorant to a degree. But she had at times + eaten at the trader’s table at Fort Charles, and had learned how to use a + knife and fork. She had also been a favourite with the trader’s wife, who + had taught her very many civilised things. Her English, though far from + abundant, was good. Those, therefore, who were curious and rude enough to + stare at her were probably disappointed to find that she ate like “any + Christom man.” + </p> + <p> + “How do you think the Armours will receive her?” said Lambert to Mrs. + Townley, of whose judgment on short acquaintance he had come to entertain + a high opinion. + </p> + <p> + Mrs. Townley had a pretty way of putting her head to one side and speaking + very piquantly. She had had it as a girl; she had not lost it as a woman, + any more than she had lost a soft little spontaneous laugh which was one + of her unusual charms—for few women can laugh audibly with effect. + She laughed very softly now, and, her sense of humour supervening for the + moment, she said: + </p> + <p> + “Really, you have asked me a conundrum. I fancy I see Mrs. Armour’s face + when she gets the news,—at the breakfast-table, of course, and gives + a little shriek, and says: ‘General! oh, General!’ But it is all very + shocking, you know,” she added, in a lower voice. “Still I think they will + receive her and do the best they can for her; because, you see, there she + is, married hard and fast. She bears the Armour name, and is likely to + make them all very unhappy, indeed, if she determines to retaliate upon + them for any neglect.” + </p> + <p> + “Yes. But how to retaliate, Mrs. Townley?” Lambert had not a suggestive + mind. + </p> + <p> + “Well, for instance, suppose they sent her away into seclusion,—with + Frank’s consent, another serious question,—and she should take the + notion to fly her retirement, and appear inopportunely at some social + function clothed as she is now! I fancy her blanket would be a wet one in + such a case—if you will pardon the little joke.” + </p> + <p> + Lambert sighed. “Poor Frank—poor devil!” he said, almost beneath his + breath. + </p> + <p> + “And wherefore poor Frank? Do you think he or the Armours of Greyhope are + the only ones at stake in this? What about this poor girl? Just think why + he married her, if our suspicions are right,—and then imagine her + feelings when she wakes to the truth over there, as some time she is sure + to do!” + </p> + <p> + Then Lambert began to see the matter in a different light, and his + sympathy for Francis Armour grew less as his pity for the girl increased. + In fact, the day before they got to Liverpool he swore at Armour more than + once, and was anxious concerning the reception of the heathen wife by her + white relatives. + </p> + <p> + Had he been present at a certain scene at Greyhope a day or two before, he + would have been still more anxious. It was the custom, at breakfast, for + Mrs. Armour to open her husband’s letters and read them while he was + engaged with his newspaper, and hand to him afterwards those that were + important. This morning Marion noticed a letter from Frank amongst the + pile, and, without a word, pounced upon it. She was curious—as any + woman would be—to see how he took Miss Sherwood’s action. Her father + was deep in his paper at the time. Her mother was reading other letters. + Marion read the first few lines with a feeling of almost painful wonder, + the words were so curious, cynical, and cold. + </p> + <p> + Richard sat opposite her. He also was engaged with his paper, but, + chancing to glance up, he saw that she was becoming very pale, and that + the letter trembled in her fingers. Being a little short-sighted, he was + not near enough to see the handwriting. He did not speak yet. He watched. + Presently, seeing her grow more excited, he touched her foot under the + table. She looked up, and caught his eye. She gasped slightly. She gave + him a warning look, and turned away from her mother. Then she went on + reading to the bitter end. + </p> + <p> + Presently a little cry escaped her against her will. At that her mother + looked up, but she only saw her daughter’s back, as she rose hurriedly + from the table, saying that she would return in a moment. Mrs. Armour, + however, had been startled. She knew that Marion had been reading a + letter, and, with a mother’s instinct, her thoughts were instantly on + Frank. She spoke quickly, almost sharply: + </p> + <p> + “Marion, come here.” + </p> + <p> + Richard had risen. He came round the table, and, as the girl obeyed her + mother, took the letter from her fingers and hastily glanced over it. Mrs. + Armour came forward and took her daughter’s arm. “Marion,” she said, + “there is something wrong—with Frank. What is it?” + </p> + <p> + General Armour was now looking up at them all, curiously, questioningly, + through his glasses, his paper laid down, his hands resting on the table. + </p> + <p> + Marion could not answer. She was sick with regret, vexation, and shame; at + the first flush, death—for Frank—had been preferable to this. + She had a considerable store of vanity; she was not very philosophical. + Besides, she was not married; and what Captain Vidall, her devoted admirer + and possible husband, would think of this heathenish alliance was not a + cheer ful thought to her. She choked down a sob, and waved her hand + towards Richard to answer for her. He was pale too, but cool. He + understood the case instantly; he made up his mind instantly also as to + what ought to be—must be—done. + </p> + <p> + “Well, mother,” he said, “it is about Frank. But he is all right; that is, + he is alive and well-in body. But he has arranged a hateful little + embarrassment for us—he is married.” + </p> + <p> + “Married!” exclaimed his mother faintly. “Oh, poor Lady Agnes!” + </p> + <p> + Marion sniffed a little viciously at this. + </p> + <p> + “Married? Married?” said his father. “Well, what about it? eh? what about + it?” + </p> + <p> + The mother wrung her hands. “Oh, I know it is something dreadful—dreadful! + He has married some horrible wild person, or something.” + </p> + <p> + Richard, miserable as he was, remained calm. “Well,” said he, “I don’t + know about her being horrible. Frank is silent on that point; but she is + wild enough—a wild Indian, in fact.” + </p> + <p> + “Indian? Indian? Good God—a red nigger!” cried General Armour + harshly, starting to his feet. + </p> + <p> + “An Indian? a wild Indian?” Mrs. Armour whispered faintly, as she dropped + into a chair. + </p> + <p> + “And she’ll be here in two or three days,” fluttered Marion hysterically. + </p> + <p> + Meanwhile Richard had hastily picked up the Times. “She is due here the + day after to-morrow,” he said deliberately. “Frank is as decisive as he is + rash. Well, it’s a melancholy tit-for-tat.” + </p> + <p> + “What do you mean by tit-for-tat?” cried his father angrily. + </p> + <p> + “Oh, I mean that—that we tried to hasten Julia’s marriage—with + the other fellow, and he is giving us one in return; and you will all + agree that it’s a pretty permanent one.” + </p> + <p> + The old soldier recovered himself, and was beside his wife in an instant. + He took her hand. “Don’t fret about it, wife,” he said; “it’s an ugly + business, but we must put up with it. The boy was out of his head. We are + old, now, my dear, but there was a time when we should have resented such + a thing as much as Frank—though not in the same fashion, perhaps—not + in the same fashion.” The old man pressed his lips hard to keep down his + emotion. + </p> + <p> + “Oh, how could he—how could he!” said his mother: “we meant + everything for the best.” + </p> + <p> + “It is always dangerous business meddling with lovers’ affairs,” rejoined + Richard. “Lovers take themselves very seriously indeed, and—well, + here the thing is! Now, who will go and fetch her from Liverpool? I should + say that both my father and my mother ought to go.” + </p> + <p> + Thus Richard took it for granted that they would receive Frank’s Indian + wife into their home. He intended that, so far as he was concerned, there + should be no doubt upon the question from the beginning. + </p> + <p> + “Never—she shall never come here!” said Marion, with flashing eyes; + “a common squaw, with greasy hair, and blankets, and big mouth, and black + teeth, who eats with her fingers and grunts! If she does, if she is + brought to Greyhope, I will never show my face in the world again. Frank + married the animal: why does he ship her home to us? Why didn’t he come + with her? Why does he not take her to a home of his own? Why should he + send her here, to turn our house into a menagerie?” + </p> + <p> + Marion drew her skirt back, as if the common squaw, with her blankets and + grease, was at that moment near her. + </p> + <p> + “Well, you see,” continued Richard, “that is just it. As I said, Frank + arranged this little complication with a trifling amount of malice. No + doubt he didn’t come with her because he wished to test the family loyalty + and hospitality; but a postscript to this letter says that his solicitor + has instructions to meet his wife at Liverpool, and bring her on here in + case we fail to show her proper courtesy.” + </p> + <p> + General Armour here spoke. “He has carried the war of retaliation very far + indeed, but men do mad things when their blood is up, as I have seen + often. That doesn’t alter our clear duty in the matter. If the woman were + bad, or shameful, it would be a different thing; if—” + </p> + <p> + Marion interrupted: “She has ridden bareback across the continent like a + jockey,—like a common jockey, and she wears a blanket, and she + doesn’t know a word of English, and she will sit on the floor!” + </p> + <p> + “Well,” said her father, “all these things are not sins, and she must be + taught better.” + </p> + <p> + “Joseph, how can you?” said Mrs. Armour indignantly. “She cannot, she + shall not come here. Think of Marion. Think of our position.” + </p> + <p> + She hid her troubled, tear-stained face behind her handkerchief. At the + same time she grasped her husband’s hand. She knew that he was right. She + honoured him in her heart for the position he had taken, but she could not + resist the natural impulse of a woman where her taste and convention were + shocked. + </p> + <p> + The old man was very pale, but there was no mistaking his determination. + He had been more indignant than any of them, at first, but he had an + unusual sense of justice when he got face to face with it, as Richard had + here helped him to do. “We do not know that the woman has done any wrong,” + he said. “As for our name and position, they, thank God! are where a mad + marriage cannot unseat them. We have had much prosperity in the world, my + wife; we have had neither death nor dishonour; we—” + </p> + <p> + “If this isn’t dishonour, father, what is?” Marion flashed out. + </p> + <p> + He answered calmly. “My daughter, it is a great misfortune, it will + probably be a lifelong trial, but it is not necessarily dishonour.” + </p> + <p> + “You never can make a scandal less by trying to hide it,” said Richard, + backing up his father. “It is all pretty awkward, but I daresay we shall + get some amusement out of it in the end.” + </p> + <p> + “Richard,” said his mother through her tears, “you are flippant and + unkind!” + </p> + <p> + “Indeed, mother,” was his reply, “I never was more serious in my life. + When I spoke of amusement, I meant comedy merely, not fun—the thing + that looks like tragedy and has a happy ending. That is what I mean, + mother, nothing more.” + </p> + <p> + “You are always so very deep, Richard,” remarked Marion ironically, “and + care so very little how the rest of us feel about things. You have no + family pride. If you had married a squaw, we shouldn’t have been + surprised. You could have camped in the grounds with your wild woman, and + never have been missed—by the world,” she hastened to add, for she + saw a sudden pain in his face. + </p> + <p> + He turned from them all a little wearily, and limped over to the window. + He stood looking out into the limes where he and Frank had played when + boys. He put his finger up, his unhandsome finger, and caught away some + moisture from his eyes. He did not dare to let them see his face, nor yet + to speak. Marion had cut deeper than she knew, and he would carry the + wound for many a day before it healed. + </p> + <p> + But his sister felt instantly how cruel she had been, as she saw him limp + away, and caught sight of the bowed shoulders and the prematurely grey + hair. Her heart smote her. She ran over, and impulsively put her hands on + his shoulder. “Oh, Dick,” she said, “forgive me, Dick! I didn’t mean it. I + was angry and foolish and hateful.” + </p> + <p> + He took one of her hands as it rested on his shoulder, she standing partly + behind him, and raised it to his lips, but he did not turn to her; he + could not. + </p> + <p> + “It is all right—all right,” he said; “it doesn’t make any + difference. Let us think of Frank and what we have got to do. Let us stand + together, Marion; that is best.” + </p> + <p> + But her tears were dropping on his shoulder, as her forehead rested on her + hand. He knew now that, whatever Frank’s wife was, she would not have an + absolute enemy here; for when Marion cried her heart was soft. She was + clay in the hands of the potter whom we call Mercy—more often a + stranger to the hearts of women than of men. At the other side of the room + also the father and mother, tearless now, watched these two; and the + mother saw her duty better and with less rebelliousness. She had felt it + from the first, but she could not bring her mind to do it. They held each + other’s hands in silence. Presently General Armour said: “Richard, your + mother and I will go to Liverpool to meet Frank’s wife.” + </p> + <p> + Marion shuddered a little, and her hands closed on Richard’s shoulder, but + she said nothing. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0003" id="link2HCH0003"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + CHAPTER III. OUT OF THE NORTH + </h2> + <p> + It was a beautiful day—which was so much in favour of Mrs. Frank + Armour in relation to her husband’s people. General Armour and his wife + had come down from London by the latest train possible, that their + suspense at Liverpool might be short. They said little to each other, but + when they did speak it was of things very different from the skeleton + which they expected to put into the family cupboard presently. Each was + trying to spare the other. It was very touching. They naturally looked + upon the matter in its most unpromising light, because an Indian was an + Indian, and this unknown savage from Fort Charles was in violent contrast + to such desirable persons as Lady Agnes Martling. Not that the Armours + were zealous for mere money and title, but the thing itself was altogether + a propos, as Mrs. Armour had more naively than correctly put it. The + general, whose knowledge of character and the circumstances of life was + considerable, had worked out the thing with much accuracy. He had declared + to Richard, in their quiet talk upon the subject, that Frank must have + been anything but sober when he did it. He had previously called it a + policy of retaliation; so that now he was very near the truth. When they + arrived at the dock at Liverpool, the Aphrodite was just making into the + harbour. + </p> + <p> + “Egad,” said General Armour to himself, “Sebastopol was easier than this; + for fighting I know, and being peppered I know, by Jews, Greeks, infidels, + and heretics; but to take a savage to my arms and do for her what her + godfathers and godmothers never did, is worse than the devil’s dance at + Delhi.” + </p> + <p> + What Mrs. Armour, who was not quite so definite as her husband, thought, + it would be hard to tell; but probably grief for, and indignation at, her + son, were uppermost in her mind. She had quite determined upon her course. + None could better carry that high, neutral look of social superiority than + she. + </p> + <p> + Please Heaven, she said to herself, no one should see that her equanimity + was shaken. They had brought one servant with them, who had been gravely + and yet conventionally informed that his young master’s wife, an Indian + chieftainess, was expected. There are few family troubles but find their + way to servants’ hall with an uncomfortable speed; for, whether or not + stone walls have ears, certainly men-servants and maid-servants have eyes + that serve for ears, and ears that do more than their bounden duty. + Boulter, the footman, knew his business. When informed of the coming of + Mrs. Francis Armour, the Indian chieftainess, his face was absolutely + expressionless; his “Yessir” was as mechanical as usual. On the dock he + was marble—indifferent. When the passengers began to land, he showed + no excitement. He was decorously alert. When the crucial moment came, he + was imperturbable. Boulter was an excellent servant. So said Edward + Lambert to himself after the event; so, likewise, said Mrs. Townley to + herself when the thing was over; so declared General Armour many a time + after, and once very emphatically, just before he raised Boulter’s wages. + </p> + <p> + As the boat neared Liverpool, Lambert and Mrs. Townley grew nervous. The + truth regarding the Indian wife had become known among the passengers, and + most were very curious—some in a well-bred fashion, some + intrusively, vulgarly. Mackenzie, Lali’s companion, like Boulter, was + expressionless in face. She had her duty to do, paid for liberally, and + she would do it. Lali might have had a more presentable and dignified + attendant, but not one more worthy. It was noticeable that the captain of + the ship and all the officers had been markedly courteous to Mrs. Armour + throughout the voyage, but, to their credit, not ostentatiously so. When + the vessel was brought to anchor and the passengers were being put upon + the tender, the captain came and made his respectful adieus, as though + Lali were a lady of title in her own right, and not an Indian girl married + to a man acting under the influence of brandy and malice. General Armour + and Mrs. Armour were always grateful to Lambert and Mrs. Townley for the + part they played in this desperate little comedy. They stood still and + watchful as the passengers came ashore one by one. They saw that they were + the centre of unusual interest, but General Armour was used to bearing + himself with a grim kind of indifference in public, and his wife was calm, + and so somewhat disappointed those who probably expected the old officer + and his wife to be distressed. Frank Armour’s solicitor was also there, + but, with good taste, he held aloof. The two needed all their courage, + however, when they saw a figure in buckskin and blanket step upon the + deck, attended by a very ordinary, austere, and shabbily-dressed + Scotswoman. But immediately behind them were Edward Lambert and Mrs. + Townley, and these, with their simple tact, naturalness, and freedom from + any sort of embarrassment, acted as foils, and relieved the situation. + </p> + <p> + General Armour advanced, hat in hand. “You are my son’s wife?” he said + courteously to this being in a blanket. + </p> + <p> + She looked up and shook her head slightly, for she did not quite + understand; but she recognised his likeness to her husband, and presently + she smiled up musingly. Mackenzie repeated to her what General Armour had + said. She nodded now, a flash of pleasure lighting up her face, and she + slid out her beautiful hand to him. The general took it and pressed it + mechanically, his lips twitching slightly. He pressed it far harder than + he meant, for his feelings were at tension. She winced slightly, and + involuntarily thrust out her other hand, as if to relieve his pressure. As + she did so the blanket fell away from her head and shoulders. Lambert, + with excellent intuition, caught it, and threw it across his arm. Then, + quickly, and without embarrassment, he and Mrs. Townley greeted General + Armour, who returned the greetings gravely, but in a singular, + confidential tone, which showed his gratitude. Then he raised his hat + again to Lali, and said: “Come and let me introduce you—to your + husband’s mother.” + </p> + <p> + The falling back of that blanket had saved the situation; for when the + girl stood without it in her buckskin garments there was a dignity in her + bearing which carried off the bizarre event. There was timidity in her + face, and yet a kind of pride too, though she was only a savage. The case, + even at this critical moment, did not seem quite hopeless. When they came + to Mrs. Armour, Lali shrank away timidly from the look in the mother’s + eyes, and, shivering slightly, looked round for her blanket. But Lambert + had deftly passed it on to the footman. Presently Mrs. Armour took both + the girl’s hands in hers (perhaps she did it because the eyes of the + public were on her, but that is neither here nor there—she did it), + and kissed her on the cheek. Then they moved away to a closed carriage. + </p> + <p> + And that was the second act in Frank Armour’s comedy of errors. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0004" id="link2HCH0004"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + CHAPTER IV. IN THE NAME OF THE FAMILY + </h2> + <p> + The journey from Liverpool to Greyhope was passed in comparative silence. + The Armours had a compartment to themselves, and they made the Indian girl + as comfortable as possible without self-consciousness, without any + artificial politeness. So far, what they had done was a matter of duty, + not of will; but they had done their duty naturally all their lives, and + it was natural to them now. They had no personal feelings towards the girl + one way or another, as yet. It was trying to them that people stared into + the compartment at different stations. It presently dawned upon General + Armour that it might also be trying to their charge. Neither he nor his + wife had taken into account the possibility of the girl having feelings to + be hurt. But he had noticed Lali shrink visibly and flush slightly when + some one stared harder than usual, and this troubled him. It opened up a + possibility. He began indefinitely to see that they were not the only + factors in the equation. He was probably a little vexed that he had not + seen it before; for he wished to be a just man. He was wont to quote with + more or less austerity—chiefly the result of his professional life—this: + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + “For justice, all place a temple, and all season summer.” + </pre> + <p> + And, man of war as he was, he had another saying which was much in his + mouth; and he lived up to it with considerable sincerity: + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + “Still in thy right hand carry gentle peace, + To silence envious tongues.” + </pre> + <p> + He whispered to his wife. It would have been hard to tell from her look + what she thought of the matter, but presently she changed seats with her + husband, that he might, by holding his newspaper at a certain angle, + shield the girl from intrusive gazers. + </p> + <p> + At every station the same scene was enacted. And inquisitive people must + have been surprised to see how monotonously ordinary was the manner of the + three white people in the compartment. Suddenly, at a station near London, + General Armour gave a start, and used a strong expression under his + breath. Glancing at the “Marriage” column, he saw a notice to the effect + that on a certain day of a certain month, Francis Gilbert, the son of + General Joseph Armour, C.B., of Greyhope, Hertfordshire, and Cavendish + Square, was married to Lali, the daughter of Eye-of-the-Moon, chief of the + Bloods, at her father’s lodge in the Saskatchewan Valley. This had been + inserted by Frank Armour’s solicitor, according to his instructions, on + the day that the Aphrodite was due at Liverpool. General Armour did not at + first intend to show this to his wife, but on second thought he did, + because he knew she would eventually come to know of it, and also because + she saw that something had moved him. She silently reached out her hand + for the paper. He handed it to her, pointing to the notice. + </p> + <p> + Mrs. Armour was unhappy, but her self-possession was admirable, and she + said nothing. She turned her face to the window, and sat for a long time + looking out. She did not turn to the others, for her eyes were full of + tears, and she did not dare to wipe them away, nor yet to let them be + seen. She let them dry there. She was thinking of her son, her favourite + son, for whom she had been so ambitious, and for whom, so far as she + could, and retain her self-respect, she had delicately intrigued, that he + might happily and befittingly marry. She knew that in the matter of his + engagement she had not done what was best for him, but how could she have + guessed that this would be the result? She also was sure that when the + first flush of his anger and disappointment had passed, and he came to + view this thing with cooler mind, he would repent deeply—for a whole + lifetime. She was convinced that he had not married this savage for + anything which could make marriage endurable. Under the weight of the + thought she was likely to forget that the young alien wife might have lost + terribly in the event also. + </p> + <p> + The arrival at Euston and the departure from St. Pancras were rather + painful all round, for, though there was no waiting at either place, the + appearance of an Indian girl in native costume was uncommon enough, even + in cosmopolitan London, to draw much attention. Besides, the placards of + the evening papers were blazoned with such announcements as this: + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + A RED INDIAN GIRL + MARRIED INTO + AN ENGLISH COUNTY FAMILY. +</pre> + <p> + Some one had telegraphed particulars—distorted particulars—over + from Liverpool, and all the evening sheets had their portion of + extravagance and sensation. General Armour became a little more erect and + austere as he caught sight of these placards, and Mrs. Armour groaned + inwardly; but their faces were inscrutable, and they quietly conducted + their charge, minus her blanket, to the train which was to take them to + St. Albans, and were soon wheeling homeward. + </p> + <p> + At Euston they parted with Lambert and Mrs. Townley, who quite simply and + conventionally bade good-bye to them and their Indian daughter-in-law. + Lali had grown to like Mrs. Townley, and when they parted she spoke a few + words quickly in her own tongue, and then immediately was confused, + because she remembered that she could not be understood. But presently she + said in halting English that the face of her white friend was good, and + she hoped that she would come one time and sit beside her in her wigwam, + for she would be sad till her husband travelled to her. + </p> + <p> + Mrs. Townley made some polite reply in simple English, pressed the girl’s + hand sympathetically, and hurried away. Before she parted from Mr. + Lambert, however, she said, with a pretty touch of cynicism: “I think I + see Marion Armour listening to her sister-in-law issue invitations to her + wigwam. I am afraid I should be rather depressed myself if I had to be + sisterly to a wigwam lady.” + </p> + <p> + “But I say, Mrs. Townley,” rejoined Lambert seriously, as he loitered at + the steps of her carriage, “I shouldn’t be surprised if my Lady Wigwam—a + rather apt and striking title, by the way—turned out better than we + think. She carried herself rippingly without the blanket, and I never saw + a more beautiful hand in my life—but one,” he added, as his fingers + at that moment closed on hers, and held them tightly, in spite of the + indignant little effort at withdrawal. “She may yet be able to give them + all points in dignity and that kind of thing, and pay Master Frank back in + his own coin. I do not see, after all, that he is the martyr.” + </p> + <p> + Lambert’s voice got softer, for he still held Mrs. Townley’s fingers, the + footman not having the matter in his eye,—and then he spoke still + more seriously on sentimental affairs of his own, in which he evidently + hoped she would take some interest. Indeed, it is hard to tell how far the + case might have been pushed if she had not suddenly looked a little + forbidding and imperious. For even people of no notable height, with soft + features, dark brown eyes, and a delightful little laugh, may appear + rather regal at times. Lambert did not quite understand why she should + take this attitude. If he had been as keen regarding his own affairs of + the affections as in the case of Frank Armour and his Indian bride, he had + known that every woman has in her mind the occasion when she should and + when she should not be wooed, and nothing disappoints her more than a + declaration at a time which is not her time. If it does not fall out as + she wishes it, retrospect, a dear thing to a woman, is spoiled. Many a man + has been sent to the right-about because he has ventured his proposal at + the wrong time. What would have occurred to Lambert it is hard to tell; + but he saw that something was wrong, and stopped in time. + </p> + <p> + When General Armour and his party reached Greyhope it was late in the + evening. The girl seemed tired and confused by the events of the day, and + did as she was directed, indifferently, limply. But when they entered the + gates of Greyhope and travelled up the long avenue of limes, she looked + round her somewhat eagerly, and drew a long sigh, maybe of relief or + pleasure. She presently stretched out a hand almost caressingly to the + thick trees and the grass, and said aloud: “Oh, the beautiful trees and + the long grass!” There was a whirr of birds’ wings among the branches, and + then, presently, there rose from a distance the sweet, gurgling whistle of + the nightingale. A smile as of reminiscence crossed her face. Then she + said, as if to herself: “It is the same. I shall not die. I hear the + birds’ wings, and one is singing. It is pleasant to sleep in the long + grass when the nights are summer, and to hang your cradle in the trees.” + </p> + <p> + She had asked for her own blanket, refusing a rug, when they left St. + Albans, and it had been given to her. She drew it about her now with a + feeling of comfort, and seemed to lose the horrible sense of strangeness + which had almost convulsed her when she was put into the carriage at the + railway station. Her reserve had hidden much of what she really felt; but + the drive through the limes had shown General Armour and his wife that + they had to do with a nature having capacities for sensitive feeling; + which, it is sometimes thought, is only the prerogative of certain + well-bred civilisations. + </p> + <p> + But it was impossible that they should yet, or for many a day, feel any + sense of kinship with this aboriginal girl. Presently the carriage drew up + to the doorway, which was instantly opened to them. A broad belt of light + streamed out upon the stone steps. Far back in the hall stood Marion, one + hand upon the balustrade of the staircase, the other tightly held at her + side, as if to nerve herself for the meeting. The eyes of the Indian girl + pierced the light, and, as if by a strange instinct, found those of + Marion, even before she left the carriage. Lali felt vaguely that here was + her possible enemy. As she stepped out of the carriage, General Armour’s + hand under her elbow to assist her, she drew her blanket something more + closely about her, and so proceeded up the steps. The composure of the + servants was, in the circumstances, remarkable. It needed to have been, + for the courage displayed by Lali’s two new guardians during the day + almost faltered at the threshold of their own home. Any sign of surprise + or amusement on the part of the domestics would have given them some + painful moments subsequently. But all was perfectly decorous. Marion still + stood motionless, almost dazed, The group advanced into the hall, and + there paused, as if waiting for her. + </p> + <p> + At that moment Richard came out of the study at her right hand, took her + arm, and said quietly: “Come along, Marion. Let us be as brave as our + father and mother.” + </p> + <p> + She gave a hard little gasp and seemed to awake as from a dream. She + quickly glided forwards ahead of him, kissed her mother and father almost + abruptly, then turned to the young wife with a scrutinising eye. “Marion,” + said her father, “this is your sister.” Marion stood hesitating, confused. + </p> + <p> + “Marion, dear,” repeated her mother ceremoniously, “this is your brother’s + wife.—Lali, this is your husband’s sister, Marion.” + </p> + <p> + Mackenzie translated the words swiftly to the girl, and her eyes flashed + wide. Then in a low voice she said in English: “Yes, Marion, How!” + </p> + <p> + It is probable that neither Marion nor any one present knew quite the + meaning of ‘How’, save Richard, and he could not suppress a smile, it + sounded so absurd and aboriginal. But at this exclamation Marion once more + came to herself. She could not possibly go so far as her mother did at the + dock and kiss this savage, but, with a rather sudden grasp of the hand, + she said, a little hysterically, for her brain was going round like a + wheel,—“Wo-won’t you let me take your blanket?” and forthwith laid + hold of it with tremulous politeness. + </p> + <p> + The question sounded, for the instant, so ludicrous to Richard that, in + spite of the distressing situation, he had to choke back a laugh. Years + afterwards, if he wished for any momentary revenge upon Marion (and he had + a keen sense of wordy retaliation), he simply said: “Wo-won’t you let me + take your blanket?” + </p> + <p> + Of course the Indian girl did not understand, but she submitted to the + removal of this uncommon mantle, and stood forth a less trying sight to + Marion’s eyes; for, as we said before, her buckskin costume set off softly + the good outlines of her form. + </p> + <p> + The Indian girl’s eyes wandered from Marion to Richard. They wandered from + anxiety, doubt, and a bitter kind of reserve, to cordiality, sympathy, and + a grave kind of humour. Instantly the girl knew that she had in eccentric + Richard Armour a frank friend. Unlike as he was to his brother, there was + still in their eyes the same friendliness and humanity. That is, it was + the same look that Frank carried when he first came to her father’s lodge. + </p> + <p> + Richard held out his hand with a cordial little laugh and said: “Ah, ah, + very glad, very glad! Just in time for supper. Come along. How is Frank, + eh? how is Frank? Just so; just so. Pleasant journey, I suppose?” He shook + her hand warmly three or four times, and, as he held it, placed his left + hand over it and patted it patriarchally, as was his custom with all the + children and all the old ladies that he knew. + </p> + <p> + “Richard,” said his mother, in a studiously neutral voice, “you might see + about the wine.” + </p> + <p> + Then Richard appeared to recover himself, and did as he was requested, but + not until his brother’s wife had said to him in English, as they + courteously drew her towards the staircase: “Oh, my brother Richard, How!” + </p> + <p> + But the first strain and suspense were now over for the family, and it is + probable that never had they felt such relief as when they sat down behind + closed doors in their own rooms for a short respite, while the Indian girl + was closeted alone with Mackenzie and a trusted maid, in what she called + her wigwam. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0005" id="link2HCH0005"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + CHAPTER V. AN AWKWARD HALF-HOUR + </h2> + <p> + It is just as well, perhaps, that the matter had become notorious. + Otherwise the Armours had lived in that unpleasant condition of being + constantly “discovered.” It was simply a case of aiming at absolute + secrecy, which had been frustrated by Frank himself, or bold and + unembarrassed acknowledgment and an attempt to carry things off with a + high hand. The latter course was the only one possible. It had originally + been Richard’s idea, appropriated by General Armour, and accepted by Mrs. + Armour and Marion with what grace was possible. The publication of the + event prepared their friends, and precluded the necessity for reserve. + What the friends did not know was whether they ought or ought not to + commiserate the Armours. It was a difficult position. A death, an + accident, a lost reputation, would have been easy to them; concerning + these there could be no doubt. But an Indian daughter-in-law, a person in + moccasins, was scarcely a thing to be congratulated upon; and yet sympathy + and consolation might be much misplaced; no one could tell how the Armours + would take it. For even their closest acquaintances knew what kind of + delicate hauteur was possible to them. Even the “‘centric” Richard, who + visited the cottages of the poor, carrying soup and luxuries of many + kinds, accompanying them with the most wholesome advice a single man ever + gave to families and the heads of families, whose laugh was so cheery and + spontaneous,—and face so uncommonly grave and sad at times,—had + a faculty for manner. With astonishing suddenness he could raise + insurmountable barriers; and people, not of his order, who occasionally + presumed on his simplicity of life and habits, found themselves put + distinctly ill at ease by a quiet, curious look in his eye. No man was + ever more the recluse and at the same time the man of the world. He had + had his bitter little comedy of life, but it was different from that of + his brother Frank. It was buried very deep; not one of his family knew of + it: Edward Lambert, and one or two others who had good reason never to + speak of it, were the only persons possessing his secret. + </p> + <p> + But all England knew of Frank’s mesalliance. And the question was, What + would people do? They very properly did nothing at first. They waited to + see how the Armours would act: they did not congratulate; they did not + console; that was left to those papers which chanced to resent General + Armour’s politics, and those others which were emotional and sensational + on every subject—particularly so where women were concerned. + </p> + <p> + It was the beginning of the season, but the Armours had decided that they + would not go to town. That is, the general and his wife were not going. + They felt that they ought to be at Greyhope with their daughter-in-law—which + was to their credit. Regarding Marion they had nothing to say. Mrs. Armour + inclined to her going to town for the season, to visit Mrs. Townley, who + had thoughtfully written to her, saying that she was very lonely, and + begging Mrs. Armour to let her come, if she would. She said that of course + Marion would see much of her people in town just the same. Mrs. Townley + was a very clever and tactful woman. + </p> + <p> + She guessed that General Armour and his wife were not likely to come to + town, but that must not appear, and the invitation should be on a + different basis—as it was. + </p> + <p> + It is probable that Marion saw through the delicate plot, but that did not + make her like Mrs. Townley less. These little pieces of art make life + possible, these tender fictions! + </p> + <p> + Marion was, however, not in good humour; she was nervous and a little + petulant. She had a high-strung temperament, a sensitive perception of the + fitness of things, and a horror of what was gauche; and she would, in + brief, make a rather austere person if the lines of life did not run in + her favour. She had something of Frank’s impulsiveness and temper; it + would have been a great blessing to her if she had had a portion of + Richard’s philosophical humour also. She was at a point of tension—her + mother and Richard could see that. She was anxious—though for the + world she would not have had it thought so—regarding Captain Vidall. + She had never cared for anybody but him; it was possible she never would. + But he did not know this, and she was not absolutely sure that his evident + but as yet informal love would stand this strain—which shows how + people very honourable and perfect-minded in themselves may allow a large + margin to other people who are presumably honourable and perfect-minded + also. There was no engagement between them, and he was not bound in any + way, and could, therefore, without slashing the hem of the code, retire + without any apology; but they had had that unspoken understanding which + most people who love each other show even before a word of declaration has + passed their lips. If he withdrew because of this scandal there might be + some awkward hours for Frank Armour’s wife at Greyhope; but, more than + that, there would be a very hard-hearted young lady to play her part in + the deceitful world; she would be as merciless as she could be. Naturally, + being young, she exaggerated the importance of the event, and brooded on + it. It was different with her father and mother. They were shocked and + indignant at first, but when the first scene had been faced they began to + make the best of things all round. That is, they proceeded at once to turn + the North American Indian into a European—a matter of no little + difficulty. A governess was discussed; but General Armour did not like the + idea, and Richard opposed it heartily. She must be taught English and + educated, and made possible in “Christian clothing,” as Mrs. Armour put + it. Of the education they almost despaired—all save Richard; time, + instruction, vanity, and a dressmaker might do much as to the other. + </p> + <p> + The evening of her arrival, Lali would not, with any urging, put on + clothes of Marion’s which had been sent in to her. And the next morning it + was still the same. + </p> + <p> + She came into the breakfast-room dressed still in buckskin and moccasins, + and though the grease had been taken out of her hair it was still combed + flat. Mrs. Armour had tried to influence her through Mackenzie, but to no + purpose. She was placidly stubborn. + </p> + <p> + It had been unwisely told her by Mackenzie that they were Marion’s + clothes. They scarcely took in the fact that the girl had pride, that she + was the daughter of a chief, and a chieftainess herself, and that it was + far from happy to offer her Marion’s clothes to wear. + </p> + <p> + Now, Richard, when he was a lad, had been on a journey to the South Seas, + and had learned some of the peculiarities of the native mind, and he did + not suppose that American Indians differed very much from certain + well-bred Polynesians in little matters of form and good taste. When his + mother told him what had occurred before Lali entered the breakfast-room, + he went directly to what he believed was the cause, and advised tact with + conciliation. He also pointed out that Lali was something taller than + Marion, and that she might be possessed of that general trait of + humanity-vanity. Mrs. Armour had not yet got used to thinking of the girl + in another manner than an intrusive being of a lower order, who was there + to try their patience, but also to do their bidding. She had yet to grasp + the fact that, being her son’s wife, she must have, therefore, a position + in the house, exercising a certain authority over the servants, who, to + Mrs. Armour, at first seemed of superior stuff. But Richard said to her: + “Mother, I fancy you don’t quite grasp the position. The girl is the + daughter of a chief, and the descendant of a family of chiefs, perhaps + through many generations. In her own land she has been used to respect, + and has been looked up to pretty generally. Her garments are, I fancy, + considered very smart in the Hudson’s Bay country; and a finely decorated + blanket like hers is expensive up there. You see, we have to take the + thing by comparison; so please give the girl a chance.” + </p> + <p> + And Mrs. Armour answered wearily, “I suppose you are right, Richard; you + generally are in the end, though why you should be I do not know, for you + never see anything of the world any more, and you moon about among the + cottagers. I suppose it’s your native sense and the books you read.” + </p> + <p> + Richard laughed softly, but there was a queer ring in the laugh, and he + came over stumblingly and put his arm round his mother’s shoulder. “Never + mind how I get such sense as I have, mother; I have so much time to think, + it would be a wonder if I hadn’t some. But I think we had better try to + study her, and coax her along, and not fob her off as a very inferior + person, or we shall have our hands full in earnest. My opinion is, she has + got that which will save her and us too—a very high spirit, which + only needs opportunity to develop into a remarkable thing; and, take my + word for it, mother, if we treat her as a chieftainess, or princess, or + whatever she is, and not simply as a dusky person, we shall come off + better and she will come off better in the long run. She is not darker + than a Spaniard, anyhow.” At this point Marion entered the room, and her + mother rehearsed briefly to her what their talk had been. Marion had had + little sleep, and she only lifted her eyebrows at them at first. She was + in little mood for conciliation. She remembered all at once that at supper + the evening before her sister-in-law had said How! to the butler, and had + eaten the mayonnaise with a dessert spoon. But presently, because she saw + they waited for her to speak, she said, with a little flutter of + maliciousness: “Wouldn’t it be well for Richard—he has plenty of + time, and we are also likely to have it now—to put us all through a + course of instruction for the training of chieftainesses? And when do you + think she will be ready for a drawing-room—Her Majesty Queen + Victoria’s, or ours?” + </p> + <p> + “Marion!” said Mrs. Armour severely; but Richard came round to her, and, + with his fresh, child-like humour, put his arm round her waist and added + “Marion, I’d be willing to bet—if I were in the habit of betting—my + shaky old pins here against a lock of your hair that you may present her + at any drawing-room—ours or Queen Victoria’s—in two years, if + we go at it right; and it would serve Master Frank very well if we turned + her out something, after all.” + </p> + <p> + To which Mrs. Armour responded almost eagerly: “I wish it were only + possible, Richard. And what you say is true, I suppose, that she is of + rank in her own country, whatever value that may have.” + </p> + <p> + Richard saw his advantage. “Well, mother,” he said, “a chieftainess is a + chieftainess, and I don’t know but to announce her as such, and—” + </p> + <p> + “And be proud of it, as it were,” put in Marion, “and pose her, and make + her a prize—a Pocahontas, wasn’t it?—and go on pretending + world without end!” Marion’s voice was still slightly grating, but there + was in it too a faint sound of hope. “Perhaps,” she said to herself, + “Richard is right.” + </p> + <p> + At this point the door opened and Lali entered, shown in by Colvin, her + newly-appointed maid, and followed by Mackenzie, and, as we said, dressed + still in her heathenish garments. She had a strong sense of dignity, for + she stood still and waited. Perhaps nothing could have impressed Marion + more. Had Lali been subservient simply, an entirely passive, unintelligent + creature, she would probably have tyrannised over her in a soft, + persistent fashion, and despised her generally. But Mrs. Armour and Marion + saw that this stranger might become very troublesome indeed, if her temper + were to have play. They were aware of capacities for passion in those dark + eyes, so musing yet so active in expression, which moved swiftly from one + object to another and then suddenly became resolute. + </p> + <p> + Both mother and daughter came forward, and held out their hands, wishing + her a pleasant good-morning, and were followed by Richard, and immediately + by General Armour, who had entered soon after her. She had been keen + enough to read (if a little vaguely) behind the scenes, and her mind was + wakening slowly to the peculiarity of the position she occupied. The place + awed her, and had broken her rest by perplexing her mind, and she sat down + to the breakfast-table with a strange hunted look in her face. But + opposite to her was a window opening to the ground, and beyond it were the + limes and beeches and a wide perfect sward and far away a little lake, on + which swans and wild fowl fluttered. Presently, as she sat silent, eating + little, her eyes lifted to the window. They flashed instantly, her face + lighted up with a weird kind of charm, and suddenly she got to her feet + with Indian exclamations on her lips, and, as if unconscious of them all, + went swiftly to the window and out of it, waving her hands up and down + once or twice to the trees and the sunlight. + </p> + <p> + “What did she say?” said Mrs. Armour, rising with the others. + </p> + <p> + “She said,” replied Mackenzie, as she hurried towards the window, “that + they were her beautiful woods, and there were wild birds flying and + swimming in the water, as in her own country.” + </p> + <p> + By this time all were at the window, Richard arriving last, and the Indian + girl turned on them, her body all quivering with excitement, laughed a + low, bird-like laugh, and then, clapping her hands above her head, she + swung round and ran like a deer towards the lake, shaking her head back as + an animal does when fleeing from his pursuers. She would scarcely have + been recognised as the same placid, speechless woman in a blanket who sat + with folded hands day after day on the Aphrodite. + </p> + <p> + The watchers turned and looked at each other in wonder. Truly, their task + of civilising a savage would not lack in interest. The old general was + better pleased, however, at this display of activity and excitement than + at yesterday’s taciturnity. He loved spirit, even if it had to be subdued, + and he thought on the instant that he might possibly come to look upon the + fair savage as an actual and not a nominal daughter-in-law. He had a keen + appreciation of courage, and he thought he saw in her face, as she turned + upon them, a look of defiance or daring, and nothing could have got at his + nature quicker. If the case had not been so near to his own hearthstone he + would have chuckled. As it was, he said good-humouredly that Mackenzie and + Marion should go and bring her back. But Mackenzie was already at that + duty. Mrs. Armour had had the presence of mind to send for Colvin; but + presently, when the general spoke, she thought it better that Marion + should go, and counselled returning to breakfast and not making the matter + of too much importance. This they did, Richard very reluctantly; while + Marion, rather pleased than not at the spirit shown by the strange girl, + ran away over the grass towards the lake, where Lali had now stopped. + There was a little bridge at one point where the lake narrowed, and Lali, + evidently seeing it all at once, went towards it, and ran up on it, + standing poised above the water about the middle of it. For an instant an + unpleasant possibility came into Marion’s mind: suppose the excited girl + intended suicide! She shivered as she thought of it, and yet—! She + put that horribly cruel and selfish thought away from her with an + indignant word at herself. She had passed Mackenzie, and came first to the + lake. Here she slackened, and waved her hand playfully to the girl, so as + not to frighten her; and then with a forced laugh came up panting on the + bridge, and was presently by Lali’s side. Lali eyed her a little + furtively, but, seeing that Marion was much inclined to be pleasant, she + nodded to her, said some Indian words hastily, and spread out her hands + towards the water. As she did so, Marion noticed again the beauty of those + hands and the graceful character of the gesture, so much so that she + forgot the flat hair and the unstayed body, and the rather broad feet, and + the delicate duskiness, which had so worked upon her in imagination and in + fact the evening before. She put her hand kindly on that long slim hand + stretched out beside her, and, because she knew not what else to speak, + and because the tongue is very perverse at times,—saying the + opposite of what is expected,—she herself blundered out, “How! How! + Lali.” + </p> + <p> + Perhaps Lali was as much surprised at the remark as Marion herself, and + certainly very much more delighted. The sound of those familiar words, + spoken by accident as they were, opened the way to a better understanding, + as nothing else could possibly have done. Marion was annoyed with herself, + and yet amused too. If her mind had been perfectly assured regarding + Captain Vidall, it is probable that then and there a peculiar, a genial, + comradeship would have been formed. As it was, Marion found this little + event more endurable than she expected. She also found that Lali, when she + laughed in pleasant acknowledgment of that How! had remarkably white and + regular teeth. Indeed, Marion Armour began to discover some estimable + points in the appearance of her savage sister-in-law. Marion remarked to + herself that Lali might be a rather striking person, if she were dressed, + as her mother said, in Christian garments, could speak the English + language well—and was somebody else’s sister-in-law. + </p> + <p> + At this point Mackenzie came breathlessly to the bridge, and called out a + little sharply to Lali, rebuking her. In this Mackenzie made a mistake; + for not only did Lali draw herself up with considerable dignity, but + Marion, noticing the masterful nature of the tone, instantly said: + “Mackenzie, you must remember that you are speaking to Mrs. Francis + Armour, and that her position in General Armour’s house is the same as + mine. I hope it is not necessary to say anything more, Mackenzie.” + </p> + <p> + Mackenzie flushed. She was a sensible woman, she knew that she had done + wrong, and she said very promptly: “I am very sorry, miss. I was + flustered, and I expect I haven’t got used to speaking to—to Mrs. + Armour as I’ll be sure to do in the future.” + </p> + <p> + As she spoke, two or three deer came trotting out of the beeches down to + the lake side. If Lali was pleased and excited before, she was overwhelmed + now. Her breath came in quick little gasps; she laughed; she tossed her + hands; she seemed to become dizzy with delight; and presently, as if this + new link with, and reminder of, her past, had moved her as one little + expects a savage heart to be moved, two tears gathered in her eyes, then + slid down her cheek unheeded, and dried there in the sunlight, as she + still gazed at the deer. Marion, at first surprised, was now touched, as + she could not have thought it possible concerning this wild creature, and + her hand went out and caught Lali’s gently. At this genuine act of + sympathy, instinctively felt by Lali, the stranger in a strange land, + husbanded and yet a widow, there came a flood of tears, and, dropping on + her knees, she leaned against the low railing of the bridge and wept + silently. So passionless was her grief it seemed the more pathetic, and + Marion dropped on her knees beside her, put her arm round her shoulder, + and said: “Poor girl! Poor girl!” + </p> + <p> + At that Lali caught her hand, and held it, repeating after her the words: + “Poor girl! Poor girl!” + </p> + <p> + She did not quite understand them, but she remembered that once just + before she parted from her husband at the Great Lakes he had said those + very words. If the fates had apparently given things into Frank Armour’s + hands when he sacrificed this girl to his revenge, they were evidently + inclined to play a game which would eventually defeat his purpose, wicked + as it had been in effect if not in absolute motive. What the end of this + attempt to engraft the Indian girl upon the strictest convention of + English social life would have been had her introduction not been at + Greyhope, where faint likenesses to her past surrounded her, it is hard to + conjecture. But, from present appearances, it would seem that Richard + Armour was not wholly a false prophet; for the savage had shown herself + that morning to possess, in their crudeness, some striking qualities of + character. Given character, many things are possible, even to those who + are not of the elect. + </p> + <p> + This was the beginning of better things. Lali seemed to the Armours not + quite so impossible now. Had she been of the very common order of Indian + “pure and simple,” the task had resolved itself into making a common + savage into a very common European. But, whatever Lali was, it was + abundantly evident that she must be reckoned with at all points, and that + she was more likely to become a very startling figure in the Armour + household than a mere encumbrance to be blushed for, whose eternal absence + were preferable to her company. + </p> + <p> + Years after that first morning Marion caught herself shuddering at the + thought that came to her when she saw Lali hovering on the bridge. + Whatever Marion’s faults were, she had a fine dislike of anything that + seemed unfair. She had not ridden to hounds for nothing. She had at heart + the sportsman’s instinct. It was upon this basis, indeed, that Richard + appealed to her in the first trying days of Lali’s life among them. To + oppose your will to Marion on the basis of superior knowledge was only to + turn her into a rebel; and a very effective rebel she made; for she had a + pretty gift at the retort courteous, and she could take as much, and as + well, as she gave. She rebelled at first at assisting in Lali’s education, + though by fits and starts she would teach her English words, and help her + to form long sentences, and was, on the whole, quite patient. But Lali’s + real instructors were Mrs. Armour and Richard—, her best, Richard. + </p> + <p> + The first few days she made but little progress, for everything was + strange to her, and things made her giddy—the servants, the formal + routine, the handsome furnishings, Marion’s music, the great house, the + many precise personal duties set for her, to be got through at stated + times; and Mrs. Armour’s rather grand manner. But there was the relief to + this, else the girl had pined terribly for her native woods and prairies; + this was the park, the deer, the lake, the hares, and birds. While she sat + saying over after Mrs. Armour words and phrases in English, or was being + shown how she must put on and wear the clothes which a dressmaker from + Regent Street had been brought to make, her eyes would wander dreamily to + the trees and the lake and the grass. They soon discovered that she would + pay no attention and was straightway difficult to teach if she was not + placed where she could look out on the park. They had no choice, for + though her resistance was never active it was nevertheless effective. + </p> + <p> + Presently she got on very swiftly with Richard. For he, with instinct + worthy of a woman, turned their lessons upon her own country and Frank. + This cost him something, but it had its reward. There was no more + listlessness. Previously Frank’s name had scarcely been spoken to her. + Mrs. Armour would have hours of hesitation and impotent regret before she + brought herself to speak of her son to his Indian wife. Marion tried to do + it a few times and failed; the general did it with rather a forced voice + and manner, because he saw that his wife was very tender upon the point. + But Richard, who never knew self-consciousness, spoke freely of Frank when + he spoke at all; and it was seeing Lali’s eyes brighten and her look + earnestly fixed on him when he chanced to mention Frank’s name, that + determined him on his new method of instruction. It had its dangers, but + he had calculated them all. The girl must be educated at all costs. The + sooner that occurred the sooner would she see her own position and try to + adapt herself to her responsibilities, and face the real state of her + husband’s attitude towards her. + </p> + <p> + He succeeded admirably. Striving to tell him about her past life, and + ready to talk endlessly about her husband, of his prowess in the hunt, of + his strength and beauty, she also strove to find English words for the + purpose, and Richard supplied them with uncommon willingness. He humoured + her so far as to learn many Indian words and phrases, but he was chary of + his use of them, and tried hard to make her appreciative of her new life + and surroundings. He watched her waking slowly to an understanding of the + life, and of all that it involved. It gave him a kind of fear, too, + because she was sensitive, and there was the possible danger of her + growing disheartened or desperate, and doing some mad thing in the hour + that she wakened to the secret behind her marriage. + </p> + <p> + His apprehensions were not without cause. For slowly there came into + Lali’s mind the element of comparison. She became conscious of it one day + when some neighbouring people called at Greyhope. Mrs. Armour, in her + sense of duty, which she had rigidly set before her, introduced Lali into + the drawing-room. The visitors veiled their curiosity and said some + pleasant casual things to the young wife, but she saw the half-curious, + half-furtive glances, she caught a sidelong glance and smile, and when + they were gone she took to looking at herself in a mirror, a thing she + could scarcely be persuaded to do before. She saw the difference between + her carriage and theirs, her manner of wearing her clothes and theirs, her + complexion and theirs. She exaggerated the difference. She brooded on it. + Now she sat downcast and timid, and hunted in face, as on the first + evening she came; now she appeared restless and excited. + </p> + <p> + If Mrs. Armour was not exactly sympathetic with her, she was quiet and + forbearing, and General Armour, like Richard, tried to draw her out—but + not on the same subjects. He dwelt upon what she did; the walks she took + in the park, those hours in the afternoon when, with Mackenzie or Colvin, + she vanished into the beeches, making friends with the birds and deer and + swans. But most of all she loved to go to the stables. She was, however, + asked not to go unless Richard or General Armour was with her. She loved + horses, and these were a wonder to her. She had never known any but the + wild, ungroomed Indian pony, on which she had ridden in every fashion and + over every kind of country. Mrs. Armour sent for a riding-master, and had + riding-costumes made for her. It was intended that she should ride every + day as soon as she seemed sufficiently presentable. This did not appear so + very far off, for she improved daily in appearance. Her hair was growing + finer, and was made up in the modest prevailing fashion; her skin, no + longer exposed to an inclement climate, and subject to the utmost care, + was smoother and fairer; her feet, encased in fine, well-made boots, + looked much smaller; her waist was shaped to fashion, and she was very + straight and lissom. So many things she did jarred on her relatives, that + they were not fully aware of the great improvement in her appearance. Even + Richard admitted her trying at times. + </p> + <p> + Marion went up to town to stay with Mrs. Townley, and there had to face a + good deal of curiosity. People looked at her sometimes as if it was she + and not Lali that was an Indian. But she carried things off bravely + enough, and answered those kind inquiries, which one’s friends make when + we are in embarrassing situations, with answers so calm and pleasant that + people did not know what to think. + </p> + <p> + “Yes,” she said, in reply to Lady Balwood, “her sister-in-law might be in + town later in the year, perhaps before the season was over: she could not + tell. She was tired after her long voyage, and she preferred the quiet of + Greyhope; she was fond of riding and country-life; but still she would + come to town for a time.” And so on. + </p> + <p> + “Ah, dear me, how charming! And doesn’t she resent her husband’s absence—during + the honeymoon? or did the honeymoon occur before she came over to + England?” And Lady Balwood tried to say it all playfully, and certainly + said it something loudly. She had daughters. + </p> + <p> + But Marion was perfectly prepared. Her face did not change expression. + “Yes, they had had their honeymoon on the prairies; Frank was so + fascinated with the life and the people. He had not come home at once, + because he was making she did not know how great a fortune over there in + investments, and so Mrs. Armour came on before him, and, of course, as + soon as he could get away from his business, he would follow his wife.” + </p> + <p> + And though Marion smiled, her heart was very hot, and she could have slain + Lady Balwood in her tracks. Lady Balwood then nodded a little + patronisingly, and babbled that “she hoped so much to see Mrs. Francis + Armour. She must be so very interesting, the papers said so much about + her.” + </p> + <p> + Now, while this conversation was going on, some one stood not far behind + Marion, who seemed much interested in her and what she said. But Marion + did not see this person. She was startled presently, however, to hear a + strong voice say softly over her shoulder: “What a charming woman Lady + Balwood is! And so ingenuous!” + </p> + <p> + She was grateful, tremulous, proud. Why had he—Captain Vidall—kept + out of the way all these weeks, just when she needed him most, just when + he should have played the part of a man? Then she was feeling twinges at + the heart, too. She had seen Lady Agnes Martling that afternoon, and had + noticed how the news had worn on her. She felt how much better it had been + had Frank come quietly home and married her, instead of doing the wild, + scandalous thing that was making so many heart-burnings. A few minutes ago + she had longed for a chance to say something delicately acid to Lady + Haldwell, once Julia Sherwood, who was there. Now there was a chance to + give her bitter spirit tongue. She was glad—she dared not think how + glad—to hear that voice again; but she was angry too, and he should + suffer for it—the more so because she recognised in the tone, and + afterwards in his face, that he was still absorbingly interested in her. + There was a little burst of thanksgiving in her heart, and then she + prepared a very notable commination service in her mind. + </p> + <p> + This meeting had been deftly arranged by Mrs. Townley, with the help of + Edward Lambert, who now held her fingers with a kind of vanity of + possession whenever he bade her good-bye or met her. Captain Vidall had, + in fact, been out of the country, had only been back a week, and had only + heard of Frank Armour’s mesalliance from Lambert at an At Home forty-eight + hours before. Mrs. Townley guessed what was really at the bottom of + Marion’s occasional bitterness, and, piecing together many little things + dropped casually by her friend, had come to the conclusion that the + happiness of two people was at stake. + </p> + <p> + When Marion shook hands with Captain Vidall she had herself exceedingly + well under control. She looked at him in slight surprise, and casually + remarked that they had not chanced to meet lately in the run of + small-and-earlies. She appeared to be unconscious that he had been out of + the country, and also that she had been till very recently indeed at + Greyhope. He hastened to assure her that he had been away, and to lay + siege to this unexpected barrier. He knew all about Frank’s affair, and, + though it troubled him, he did not see why it should make any difference + in his regard for Frank’s sister. Fastidious as he was in all things, he + was fastidiously deferential. Not an exquisite, he had all that vanity as + to appearance so usual with the military man; himself of the most perfect + temper and sweetness of manner and conduct, the unusual disturbed him. Not + possessed of a vivid imagination, he could scarcely conjure up this Indian + bride at Greyhope. + </p> + <p> + But face to face with Marion Armour he saw what troubled his mind, and he + determined he would not meet her irony with irony, her assumed + indifference with indifference. He had learned one of the most important + lessons of life—never to quarrel with a woman. Whoever has so far + erred has been foolish indeed. It is the worst of policy, to say nothing + of its being the worst of art; and life should never be without art. It is + absurd to be perfectly natural; anything, anybody can be that. Well, + Captain Hume Vidall was something of an artist, more, however, in + principle than by temperament. He refused to recognise the rather + malicious adroitness with which Marion turned his remarks again upon + himself, twisted out of all semblance. He was very patient. He inquired + quietly, and as if honestly interested, about Frank, and said—because + he thought it safest as well as most reasonable—that, naturally, + they must have been surprised at his marrying a native; but he himself had + seen some such marriages turn out very well—in Japan, India, the + South Sea Islands, and Canada. He assumed that Marion’s sister-in-law was + beautiful, and then disarmed Marion by saying that he thought of going + down to Greyhope immediately, to call on General Armour and Mrs. Armour, + and wondered if she was going back before the end of the season. + </p> + <p> + Quick as Marion was, this was said so quietly that she did not quite see + the drift of it. She had intended staying in London to the end of the + season, not because she enjoyed it, but because she was determined to face + Frank’s marriage at every quarter, and have it over, once for all, so far + as herself was concerned. But now, taken slightly aback, she said, almost + without thinking, that she would probably go back soon—she was not + quite sure; but certainly her father and mother would be glad to see + Captain Vidall at any time. + </p> + <p> + Then, without any apparent relevancy, he asked her if Mrs. Frank Armour + still wore her Indian costume. In any one else the question had seemed + impertinent; in him it had a touch of confidence, of the privilege of + close friendship. Then he said, with a meditative look and a very calm, + retrospective voice, that he was once very much in love with a native girl + in India, and might have become permanently devoted to her, were it not + for the accident of his being ordered back to England summarily. + </p> + <p> + This was a piece of news which cut two ways. In the first place it + lessened the extraordinary character of Frank’s marriage, and it roused in + her an immediate curiosity—which a woman always feels in the past + “affairs” of her lover, or possible lover. Vidall did not take pains to + impress her with the fact that the matter occurred when he was almost a + boy; and it was when her earnest inquisition had drawn from him, bit by + bit, the circumstances of the case, and she had forgotten many parts of + her commination service and to preserve an effective neutrality in tone, + that she became aware he was speaking ancient history. Then it was too + late to draw back. + </p> + <p> + They had threaded their way through the crowd into the conservatory, where + they were quite alone, and there, with only a little pyramid of hydrangeas + between them, which she could not help but notice chimed well with the + colour of her dress, he dropped his voice a little lower, and then + suddenly said, his eyes hard on her: “I want your permission to go to + Greyhope.” + </p> + <p> + The tone drew her eyes hastily to his, and, seeing, she dropped them + again. Vidall had a strong will, and, what is of more consequence, a + peculiarly attractive voice. It had a vibration which made some of his + words organ-like in sound. She felt the influence of it. She said a little + faintly, her fingers toying with a hydrangea: “I am afraid I do not + understand. There is no reason why you should not go to Greyhope without + my permission.” + </p> + <p> + “I cannot go without it,” he persisted. “I am waiting for my commission + from you.” + </p> + <p> + She dropped her hand from the flower with a little impatient motion. She + was tired, her head ached, she wanted to be alone. “Why are you + enigmatical?” she said. Then quickly: “I wish I knew what is in your mind. + You play with words so.” + </p> + <p> + She scarcely knew what she said. A woman who loves a man very much is not + quick to take in the absolute declaration of that man’s love on the + instant; it is too wonderful for her. He felt his check flush with hers, + he drew her look again to his. “Marion! Marion!” he said. That was all. + </p> + <p> + “Oh, hush, some one is coming!” was her quick, throbbing reply. When they + parted a half-hour later, he said to her: “Will you give me my commission + to go to Greyhope?” + </p> + <p> + “Oh no, I cannot,” she said very gravely; “but come to Greyhope-when I go + back.” + </p> + <p> + “And when will that be?” he said, smiling, yet a little ruefully too. + </p> + <p> + “Please ask Mrs. Townley,” she replied; “she is coming also.” + </p> + <p> + Marion, knew what that commission to go to Greyhope meant. But she + determined that he should see Lali first, before anything irrevocable was + done. She still looked upon Frank’s marriage as a scandal. Well, Captain + Vidall should face it in all its crudeness. So, in a week or less, Marion + and Mrs. Townley were in Greyhope. + </p> + <p> + Two months had gone since Lali arrived in England, and yet no letter had + come to her, or to any of them, from Frank. Frank’s solicitor in London + had written him fully of her arrival, and he had had a reply, with further + instructions regarding money to be placed to General Armour’s credit for + the benefit of his wife. Lali, as she became Europeanised, also awoke to + the forms and ceremonies of her new life. She had overheard Frank’s father + and mother wondering, and fretting as they wondered, why they had not + received any word from him. General Armour had even called him a + scoundrel, which sent Frank’s mother into tears. Then Lali had questioned + Mackenzie and Colvin, for she had increasing shrewdness, and she began to + feel her actual position. She resented General Armour’s imputation, but in + her heart she began to pine and wonder. At times, too, she was fitful, and + was not to be drawn out. But she went on improving in personal appearance + and manner and in learning the English language. Mrs. Townley’s appearance + marked a change in her. When they met she suddenly stood still and + trembled. When Mrs. Townley came to her and took her hand and kissed her, + she shivered, and then caught her about the shoulders lightly, but was + silent. After a little she said: “Come—come to my wigwam, and talk + with me.” + </p> + <p> + She said it with a strange little smile, for now she recognised that the + word wigwam was not to be used in her new life. But Mrs. Townley + whispered: “Ask Marion to come too.” + </p> + <p> + Lali hesitated, and then said, a little maliciously: “Marion, will you + come to my wigwam?” + </p> + <p> + Marion ran to her, caught her about the waist, and replied gaily: “Yes, we + will have a pow-wow—is that right—is pow-wow right?” + </p> + <p> + The Indian girl shook her head with a pretty vagueness, and vanished with + them. General Armour walked up and down the room briskly, then turned on + his wife and said: “Wife, it was a brutal thing: Frank doesn’t deserve to + be—the father of her child.” + </p> + <p> + But Lali had moods—singular moods. She indulged in one three days + after the arrival of Marion and Mrs. Townley. She had learned to ride with + the side-saddle, and wore her riding-dress admirably. Nowhere did she show + to better advantage. She had taken to riding now with General Armour on + the country roads. On this day Captain Vidall was expected, he having + written to ask that he might come. What trouble Lali had with one of the + servants that morning was never thoroughly explained, but certain it is, + she came to have a crude notion of why Frank Armour married her. The + servant was dismissed duly, but that was after the contre-temps. + </p> + <p> + It was late afternoon. Everybody had been busy, because one or two other + guests were expected besides Captain Vidall. Lali had kept to herself, + sending word through Richard that she would not “be English,” as she + vaguely put it, that day. She had sent Mackenzie on some mission. She sat + on the floor of her room, as she used to sit on the ground in her father’s + lodge. Her head was bowed in her hands, and her arms rested on her knees. + Her body swayed to and fro. Presently all motion ceased. She became + perfectly still. She looked before her as if studying something. + </p> + <p> + Her eyes immediately flashed. She rose quickly to her feet, went to her + wardrobe, and took out her Indian costume and blanket, with which she + could never be induced to part. Almost feverishly she took off the clothes + she wore and hastily threw them from her. Then she put on the buckskin + clothes in which she had journeyed to England, drew down her hair as she + used to wear it, fastened round her waist a long red sash which had been + given her by a governor of the Hudson’s Bay Company when he had visited + her father’s country, threw her blanket round her shoulders, and then eyed + herself in the great mirror in the room. What she saw evidently did not + please her perfectly, for she stretched out her hands and looked at them; + she shook her head at herself and put her hand to her cheeks and pinched + them, they were not so brown as they once were, then she thrust out her + foot. She drew it back quickly in disdain. Immediately she caught the + fashionable slippers from her feet and threw them among the discarded + garments. She looked at herself again. Still she was not satisfied, but + she threw up her arms, as with a sense of pleasure and freedom, and + laughed at herself. She pushed out her moccasined foot, tapped the floor + with it, nodded towards it, and said a word or two in her own language. + She heard some one in the next room, possibly Mackenzie. She stepped to + the door leading into the hall, opened it, went out, travelled its length, + ran down a back hallway, out into the park, towards the stables, her + blanket, as her hair, flying behind her. + </p> + <p> + She entered the stables, made for a horse that she had ridden much, put a + bridle on him, led him out before any one had seen her, and, catching him + by the mane, suddenly threw herself on him at a bound, and, giving him a + tap with a short whip she had caught up in the stable, headed him for the + main avenue and the open road. Then a stableman saw her and ran after, but + he might as well have tried to follow the wind. He forthwith proceeded to + saddle another horse. Boulter also saw her as she passed the house, and, + running in, told Mrs. Armour and the general. They both ran to the window + and saw dashing down the avenue—a picture out of Fenimore Cooper; a + saddleless horse with a rider whose fingers merely touched the bridle, + riding as on a journey of life and death. + </p> + <p> + “My God, it’s Lali! She’s mad—she’s mad! She is striking that horse! + It will bolt! It will kill her!” cried the general. + </p> + <p> + Then he rushed for a horse to follow her. Mrs. Armour’s hands clasped + painfully. For an instant she had almost the same thought as had Marion on + the first morning of Lali’s coming; but that passed, and left her gazing + helplessly after the horse-woman. The flying blanket had frightened the + blooded horse, and he made desperate efforts to fulfil the general’s + predictions. + </p> + <p> + Lali soon found that she had miscalculated. She was not riding an Indian + pony, but a crazed, high-strung horse. As they flew, she sitting superbly + and tugging at the bridle, the party coming from the railway station + entered the great gate, accompanied by Richard and Marion. In a moment + they sighted this wild pair bearing down upon them with a terrible + swiftness. + </p> + <p> + As Marion recognised Lali she turned pale and cried out, rising in her + seat. Instinctively Captain Vidall knew who it was, though he could not + guess the cause of the singular circumstance. He saw that the horse had + bolted, but also that the rider seemed entirely fearless. “Why, in + Heaven’s name,” he said between his teeth, “doesn’t she let go that + blanket!” + </p> + <p> + At that moment Lali did let it go, and the horse dashed by them, making + hard for the gate. “Turn the horses round and follow her,” said Vidall to + the driver. While this was doing, Marion caught sight of her father riding + hard down the avenue. He passed them, and called to them to hurry on after + him. + </p> + <p> + Lali had not the slightest sense of fear, but she knew that the horse had + gone mad. When they passed through the gate and swerved into the road, a + less practised rider would have been thrown. She sat like wax. The pace + was incredible for a mile, and though General Armour rode well, he was far + behind. + </p> + <p> + Suddenly a trap appeared in the road in front of them, and the driver, + seeing the runaway, set his horses at right angles to the road. It served + the purpose only to provide another danger. Not far from where the trap + was drawn, and between it and the runaway, was a lane, which ended at a + farmyard in a cul-de-sac. The horse swerved into it, not slacking its + pace, and in the fraction of a minute came to the farmyard. + </p> + <p> + But now the fever was in Lali’s blood. She did not care whether she lived + or died. A high hedge formed the cul-de-sac. When she saw the horse + slacking she cut it savagely across the head twice with a whip, and drove + him at the green wall. He was of too good make to refuse it, stiff as it + was. He rose to it magnificently, and cleared it; but almost as he struck + the ground squarely, he staggered and fell—the girl beneath him. He + had burst a blood-vessel. The ground was soft and wet; the weight of the + horse prevented her from getting free. She felt its hoof striking in its + death-struggles, and once her shoulder was struck. Instinctively she + buried her face in the mud, and her arms covered her head. + </p> + <p> + And then she knew no more. + </p> + <p> + When she came to, she was in the carriage within the gates of Greyhope, + and Marion was bending over her. She suddenly tried to lift herself, but + could not. Presently she saw another face—that of General Armour. It + was stern, and yet his eyes were swimming as he looked at her. + </p> + <p> + “How!” she said to him—“How!” and fainted again. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0006" id="link2HCH0006"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + CHAPTER VI. THE PASSING OF THE YEARS + </h2> + <p> + Lali’s recovery was not rapid. A change had come upon her. With that + strange ride had gone the last strong flicker of the desire for savage + life in her. She knew now the position she held towards her husband: that + he had never loved her; that she was only an instrument for unworthy + retaliation. So soon as she could speak after her accident, she told them + that they must not write to him and tell him of it. She also made them + promise that they would give him no news of her at all, save that she was + well. They could not refuse to promise; they felt she had the right to + demand much more than that. They had begun to care for her for herself, + and when the months went by, and one day there was a hush about her room, + and anxiety, and then relief, in the faces of all, they came to care for + her still more for the sake of her child. + </p> + <p> + As the weeks passed, the fair-haired child grew more and more like his + father; but if Lali thought of her husband they never knew it by anything + she said, for she would not speak of him. She also made them promise that + they would not write to him of the child’s birth. Richard, with his sense + of justice, and knowing how much the woman had been wronged, said that in + all this she had done quite right; that Frank, if he had done his duty + after marrying her, should have come with her. And because they all felt + that Richard had been her best friend as well as their own, they called + the child after him. This also was Lali’s wish. Coincident with her + motherhood there came to Lali a new purpose. She had not lived with the + Armours without absorbing some of their fine social sense and dignity. + This, added to the native instinct of pride in her, gave her a new + ambition. As hour by hour her child grew dear to her, so hour by hour her + husband grew away from her. She schooled herself against him.—At + times she thought she hated him. She felt she could never forgive him, but + she would prove to him that it was she who had made the mistake of her + life in marrying him; that she had been wronged, not he; and that his sin + would face him with reproach and punishment one day. Richard’s prophecy + was likely to come true: she would defeat very perfectly indeed Frank’s + intentions. After the child was born, so soon as she was able, she renewed + her studies with Richard and Mrs. Armour. She read every morning for + hours; she rode; she practised all those graceful arts of the toilet which + belong to the social convention; she showed an unexpected faculty for + singing, and practised it faithfully; and she begged Mrs. Armour and + Marion to correct her at every point where correction seemed necessary. + When the child was two years old, they all went to London, something + against Lali’s personal feelings, but quite in accord with what she felt + her duty. + </p> + <p> + Richard was left behind at Greyhope. For the first time in eighteen months + he was alone with his old quiet duties and recreations. During that time + he had not neglected his pensioners,—his poor, sick, halt, and + blind, but a deeper, larger interest had come into his life in the person + of Lali. During all that time she had seldom been out of his sight, never + out of his influence and tutelage. His days had been full, his every hour + had been given a keen, responsible interest. As if by tacit consent, every + incident or development of Lali’s life was influenced by his judgment and + decision. He had been more to her than General Armour, Mrs. Armour, or + Marion. Schooled as he was in all the ways of the world, he had at the + same time a mind as sensitive as a woman’s, an indescribable gentleness, a + persuasive temperament. Since, years before, he had withdrawn from the + social world and become a recluse, many of his finer qualities had gone + into an indulgent seclusion. He had once loved the world and the gay life + of London, but some untoward event, coupled with a radical love of + retirement, had sent him into years of isolation at Greyhope. + </p> + <p> + His tutelar relations with Lali had reopened many an old spring of + sensation and experience. Her shy dependency, her innocent + inquisitiveness, had searched out his remotest sympathies. In teaching her + he had himself been re-taught. Before she came he had been satisfied with + the quiet usefulness and studious ease of his life. But in her presence + something of his old youthfulness came back, some reflection of the ardent + hopes of his young manhood. He did not notice the change in himself. He + only knew that his life was very full. He read later at nights, he rose + earlier in the morning. But unconsciously to himself, he was undergoing a + change. The more a man’s sympathies and emotions are active, the less is + he the philosopher. It is only when one has withdrawn from the more + personal influence of the emotions that one’s philosophy may be trusted. + One may be interested in mankind and still be philosophical—may be, + as it were, the priest and confessor to all comers. But let one be touched + in some vital corner in one’s nature, and the high, faultless impartiality + is gone. In proportion as Richard’s interest in Lali had grown, the + universal quality of his sympathy had declined. Man is only man. Not that + his benefactions as lord-bountiful in the parish had grown perfunctory, + but the calm detail of his interest was not so definite. He was the same, + yet not the same. + </p> + <p> + He was not aware of any difference in himself. He did not know that he + looked younger by ten years. Such is the effect of mere personal sympathy + upon a man’s look and bearing. When, therefore, one bright May morning, + the family at Greyhope, himself excluded, was ready to start for London, + he had no thought but that he would drop back into his old silent life, as + it was before Lali came, and his brother’s child was born. He was not + conscious that he was very restless that morning; he scarcely was aware + that he had got up two hours earlier than usual. At the breakfast-table he + was cheerful and alert. After breakfast he amused himself in playing with + the child till the carriage was brought round. It was such a morning as + does not come a dozen times a year in England. The sweet, moist air blew + from the meadows and up through the lime trees with a warm, insinuating + gladness. The lawn sloped delightfully away to the flowered embrasures of + the park, and a fragrant abundance of flowers met the eye and cheered the + senses. While Richard loitered on the steps with the child and its nurse, + more excited than he knew, Lali came out and stood beside him. At the + moment Richard was looking into the distance. He did not hear her when she + came. She stood near him for a moment, and did not speak. Her eyes + followed the direction of his look, and idled tenderly with the prospect + before her. She did not even notice the child. The same thought was in the + mind of both—with a difference. Richard was wondering how any one + could choose to change the sweet dignity of that rural life for the + flaring, hurried delights of London and the season. He had thought this a + thousand times, and yet, though he would have been little willing to + acknowledge it, his conviction was not so impregnable as it had been. + </p> + <p> + Mrs. Francis Armour was stepping from the known to the unknown. She was + leaving the precincts of a life in which, socially, she had been born + again. Its sweetness and benign quietness had all worked upon her nature + and origin to change her. In that it was an out-door life, full of + freshness and open-air vigour, it was not antagonistic to her past. Upon + this sympathetic basis had been imposed the conditions of a fine social + decorum. The conditions must still exist. But how would it be when she was + withdrawn from this peaceful activity of nature and set down among “those + garish lights” in Cavendish Square and Piccadilly? She hardly knew to what + she was going as yet. There had been a few social functions at Greyhope + since she had come, but that could give her, after all, but little idea of + the swing and pressure of London life. + </p> + <p> + At this moment she was lingering over the scene before her. She was + wondering with the naive wonder of an awakened mind. She had intended many + times of late saying to Richard all the native gratitude she felt; yet + somehow she had never been able to say it. The moment of parting had come. + </p> + <p> + “What are you thinking of, Richard?” she said now. He started and turned + towards her. + </p> + <p> + “I hardly know,” he answered. “My thoughts were drifting.” + </p> + <p> + “Richard,” she said abruptly, “I want to thank you.” + </p> + <p> + “Thank me for what, Lali?” he questioned. + </p> + <p> + “To thank you, Richard, for everything—since I came, over three + years ago.” + </p> + <p> + He broke out into a soft little laugh, then, with his old good-natured + manner, caught her hand as he did the first night she came to Greyhope, + patted it in a fatherly fashion, and said: + </p> + <p> + “It is the wrong way about, Lali; I ought to be thanking you, not you me. + Why, look what a stupid old fogy I was then, toddling about the place with + too much time on my hands, reading a lot and forgetting everything; and + here you came in, gave me something to do, made the little I know of any + use, and ran a pretty gold wire down the rusty fiddle of life. If there + are any speeches of gratitude to be made, they are mine, they are mine.” + </p> + <p> + “Richard,” she said very quietly and gravely, “I owe you more than I can + ever say—in English. You have taught me to speak in your tongue + enough for all the usual things of life, but one can only speak from the + depths of one’s heart in one’s native tongue. And see,” she added, with a + painful little smile, “how strange it would sound if I were to tell you + all I thought in the language of my people—of my people, whom I + shall never see again. Richard, can you understand what it must be to have + a father whom one is never likely to see again—whom, if one did see + again, something painful would happen? We grow away from people against + our will; we feel the same towards them, but they cannot feel the same + towards us; for their world is in another hemisphere. We want to love + them, and we love, remember, and are glad to meet them again, but they + feel that we are unfamiliar, and, because we have grown different + outwardly, they seem to miss some chord that used to ring. Richard, I—I—” + She paused. + </p> + <p> + “Yes, Lali,” he assented—“yes, I understand you so far; but speak + out.” + </p> + <p> + “I am not happy,” she said. “I never shall be happy. I have my child, and + that is all I have. I cannot go back to the life in which I was born; I + must go on as I am, a stranger among a strange people, pitied, suffered, + cared for a little—and that is all.” + </p> + <p> + The nurse had drawn away a little distance with the child. The rest of the + family were making their preparations inside the house. There was no one + near to watch the singular little drama. + </p> + <p> + “You should not say that,” he added; “we all feel you to be one of us.” + </p> + <p> + “But all your world does not feel me to be one of them,” she rejoined. + </p> + <p> + “We shall see about that when you go up to town. You are a bit morbid, + Lali. I don’t wonder at your feeling a little shy; but then you will + simply carry things before you—now you take my word for it! For I + know London pretty well.” + </p> + <p> + She held out her ungloved hands. + </p> + <p> + “Do they compare with the white hands of the ladies you know?” she said. + </p> + <p> + “They are about the finest hands I have ever seen,” he replied. “You can’t + see yourself, sister of mine.” + </p> + <p> + “I do not care very much to see myself,” she said. “If I had not a maid I + expect I should look very shiftless, for I don’t care to look in a mirror. + My only mirror used to be a stream of water in summer,” she added, “and a + corner of a looking-glass got from the Hudson’s Bay fort in the winter.” + </p> + <p> + “Well, you are missing a lot of enjoyment,” he said, “if you do not use + your mirror much. The rest of us can appreciate what you would see there.” + </p> + <p> + She reached out and touched his arm. + </p> + <p> + “Do you like to look at me?” she questioned, with a strange simple + candour. + </p> + <p> + For the first time in many a year, Richard Armour blushed like a girl + fresh from school. The question had come so suddenly, it had gone so + quickly into a sensitive corner of his nature, that he lost command of + himself for the instant, yet had little idea why the command was lost. He + touched the fingers on his arm affectionately. + </p> + <p> + “Like to look at you—like to look at you? Why, of course we all like + to look at you. You are very fine and handsome and interesting.” + </p> + <p> + “Richard,” she said, drawing her hands away, “is that why you like to look + at me?” + </p> + <p> + He had recovered himself. He laughed in his old hearty way, and said: + </p> + <p> + “Yes, yes; why, of course! Come, let us go and see the boy,” he added, + taking her arm and hurrying her down the steps. “Come and let us see + Richard Joseph, the pride of all the Armours.” + </p> + <p> + She moved beside him in a kind of dream. She had learned much since she + came to Greyhope, and yet she could not at that moment have told exactly + why she asked Richard the question that had confused him, nor did she know + quite what lay behind the question. But every problem which has life works + itself out to its appointed end, if fumbling human fingers do not meddle + with it. Half the miseries of this world are caused by forcing issues, in + every problem of the affections, the emotions, and the soul. There is a + law working with which there should be no tampering, lest in foolish + interruption come only confusion and disaster. Against every such question + there should be written the one word, “Wait.” + </p> + <p> + Richard Armour stooped over the child. “A beauty,” he said, “a perfect + little gentleman. Like Richard Joseph Armour there is none,” he added. + </p> + <p> + “Whom do you think he looks like, Richard?” she asked. This was a question + she had never asked before since the child was born. Whom the child looked + like every one knew; but within the past year and a half Francis Armour’s + name had seldom been mentioned, and never in connection with the child. + The child’s mother asked the question with a strange quietness. Richard + answered it without hesitation. + </p> + <p> + “The child looks like Frank,” he said. “As like him as can be.” + </p> + <p> + “I am glad,” she said, “for all your sakes.” + </p> + <p> + “You are very deep this morning, Lali,” Richard said, with a kind of + helplessness. “Frank will be pretty proud of the youngster when he comes + back. But he won’t be prouder of him than I am.” + </p> + <p> + “I know that,” she said. “Won’t you be lonely without the boy—and + me, Richard?” + </p> + <p> + Again the question went home. “Lonely? I should think I would,” he said. + “I should think I would. But then, you see, school is over, and the master + stays behind and makes up the marks. You will find London a jollier master + than I am, Lali. There’ll be lots of shows, and plenty to do, and smart + frocks, and no end of feeds and frolics; and that is more amusing than + studying three hours a day with a dry old stick like me. I tell you what, + when Frank comes—” + </p> + <p> + She interrupted him. “Do not speak of that,” she said. Then, with a sudden + burst of feeling, though her words were scarcely audible: “I owe you + everything, Richard—everything that is good. I owe him nothing, + Richard—nothing but what is bitter.” + </p> + <p> + “Hush, hush,” he said; “you must not speak that way. Lali, I want to say + to you—” + </p> + <p> + At that moment General Armour, Mrs. Armour, and Marion appeared on the + door-step, and the carriage came wheeling up the drive. What Richard + intended to say was left unsaid. The chances were it never would be said. + </p> + <p> + “Well, well,” said General Armour, calling down at them, “escort his + imperial highness to the chariot which awaits him, and then ho! for London + town. Come along, my daughter,” he said to Lali; “come up here and take + the last whiff of Greyhope that you will have for six months. Dear, dear, + what lunatics we all are, to be sure! Why, we’re as happy as little birds + in their nests out in the decent country, and yet we scamper off to a + smoky old city by the Thames to rush along with the world, instead of + sitting high and far away from it and watching it go by. God bless my + soul, I’m old enough to know better! Well, let me help you in, my dear,” + he added to his wife; “and in you go, Marion; and in you go, your imperial + highness”—he passed the child awkwardly in to Marion; “and in you + go, my daughter,” he added, as he handed Lali in, pressing her hand with a + brusque fatherliness as he did so. He then got in after them. + </p> + <p> + Richard came to the side of the carriage and bade them all good-bye one by + one. Lali gave him her hand, but did not speak a word. He called a + cheerful adieu, the horses were whipped up, and in a moment Richard was + left alone on the steps of the house. He stood for a time looking, then he + turned to go into the house, but changed his mind, sat down, lit a cigar, + and did not move from his seat until he was summoned to his lonely + luncheon. + </p> + <p> + Nobody thought much of leaving Richard behind at Greyhope. It seemed the + natural thing to do. But still he had not been left alone—entirely + alone—for three years or more. + </p> + <p> + The days and weeks went on. If Richard had been accounted eccentric + before, there was far greater cause for the term now. Life dragged. Too + much had been taken out of his life all at once; for, in the first place, + the family had been drawn together more during the trouble which Lali’s + advent had brought; then the child and its mother, his pupil, were gone + also. He wandered about in a kind of vague unrest. The hardest thing in + this world to get used to is the absence of a familiar footstep and the + cheerful greeting of a familiar eye. And the man with no chick or child + feels even the absence of his dog from the hearth-rug when he returns from + a journey or his day’s work. It gives him a sense of strangeness and loss. + But when it is the voice of a woman and the hand of a child that is + missed, you can back no speculation upon that man’s mood or mind or + conduct. There is no influence like the influence of habit, and that is + how, when the minds of people are at one, physical distances and + differences, no matter how great, are invisible, or at least not obvious. + </p> + <p> + Richard Armour was a sensible man; but when one morning he suddenly packed + a portmanteau and went up to town to Cavendish Square, the act might be + considered from two sides of the equation. If he came back to enter again + into the social life which, for so many years, he had abjured, it was not + very sensible, because the world never welcomes its deserters; it might, + if men and women grew younger instead of older. If he came to see his + family, or because he hungered for his godchild, or because—but we + are hurrying the situation. It were wiser not to state the problem yet. + The afternoon that he arrived at Cavendish Square all his family were out + except his brother’s wife. Lali was in the drawing-room, receiving a + visitor who had asked for Mrs. Armour and Mrs. Francis Armour. The visitor + was received by Mrs. Francis Armour. The visitor knew that Mrs. Armour was + not at home. She had by chance seen her and Marion in Bond Street, and was + not seen by them. She straightway got into her carriage and drove up to + Cavendish Square, hoping to find Mrs. Francis Armour at home. There had + been house-parties at Greyhope since Lali had come there to live, but this + visitor, though once an intimate friend of the family, had never been a + guest. + </p> + <p> + The visitor was Lady Haldwell, once Miss Julia Sherwood, who had made + possible what was called Francis Armour’s tragedy. Since Lali had come to + town Lady Haldwell had seen her, but had never met her. She was not at + heart wicked, but there are few women who can resist an opportunity of + anatomising and reckoning up the merits and demerits of a woman who has + married an old lover. When that woman is in the position of Lali, the + situation has an unusual piquancy and interest. Hence Lady Haldwell’s + journey of inquisition to Cavendish Square. + </p> + <p> + As Richard passed the drawing-room door to ascend the stairs, he + recognised the voices. + </p> + <p> + Once a sort of heathen, as Mrs. Francis Armour had been, she still could + grasp the situation with considerable clearness. There is nothing keener + than one woman’s instinct regarding another woman, where a man is + concerned. Mrs. Francis Armour received Lady Haldwell with a quiet + stateliness, which, if it did not astonish her, gave her sufficient + warning that matters were not, in this little comedy, to be all her own + way. + </p> + <p> + Thrown upon the mere resources of wit and language, Mrs. Francis Armour + must have been at a disadvantage. For Lady Haldwell had a good gift of + speech, a pretty talent for epithet, and no unnecessary tenderness. She + bore Lali no malice. She was too decorous and high for that. In her mind + the wife of the man she had discarded was a mere commonplace catastrophe, + to be viewed without horror, maybe with pity. She had heard the alien + spoken well of by some people; others had seemed indignant that the + Armours should try to push “a red woman” into English society. Truth is, + the Armours did not try at all to push her. For over three years they had + let society talk. They had not entertained largely in Cavendish Square + since Lali came, and those invited to Greyhope had a chance to refuse the + invitations if they chose. Most people did not choose to decline them. But + Lady Haldwell was not of that number. She had never been invited. But now + in town, when entertainment must be more general, she and the Armours were + prepared for social interchange. + </p> + <p> + Behind Lady Haldwell’s visit curiosity chiefly ran. She was in a way sorry + for Frank Armour, for she had been fond of him after a fashion, always + fonder of him than of Lord Haldwell. She had married with her fingers + holding the scales of advantage; and Lord Haldwell dressed well, was + immensely rich, and the title had a charm. + </p> + <p> + When Mrs. Francis Armour met her with her strange, impressive dignity, she + was the slightest bit confused, but not outwardly. She had not expected + it. At first Lali did not know who her visitor was. She had not caught the + name distinctly from the servant. + </p> + <p> + Presently Lady Haldwell said, as Lali gave her hand “I am Lady Haldwell. + As Miss Sherwood I was an old friend of your husband.” + </p> + <p> + A scornful glitter came into Mrs. Armour’s eyes—a peculiar touch of + burnished gold, an effect of the light at a certain angle of the lens. It + gave for the instant an uncanny look to the face, almost something + malicious. She guessed why this woman had come. She knew the whole history + of the past, and it touched her in a tender spot. She knew she was had at + an advantage. Before her was a woman perfectly trained in the fine social + life to which she was born, whose equanimity was as regular as her + features. Herself was by nature a creature of impulse, of the woods and + streams and open life. The social convention had been engrafted. As yet + she was used to thinking and speaking with all candour. She was to have + her training in the charms of superficiality, but that was to come; and + when it came she would not be an unskilful apprentice. Perhaps the latent + subtlety of her race came to help her natural candour at the moment. For + she said at once, in a slow, quiet tone: + </p> + <p> + “I never heard my husband speak of you. Will you sit down?” + </p> + <p> + “And Mrs. Armour and Marion are not in? No, I suppose your husband did not + speak much of his old friends.” + </p> + <p> + The attack was studied and cruel. But Lady Haldwell had been stung by Mrs. + Armour’s remark, and it piqued her that this was possible. + </p> + <p> + “Well, yes, he spoke of some of his friends, but not of you.” + </p> + <p> + “Indeed! That is strange.” + </p> + <p> + “There was no necessity,” said Mrs. Armour quietly. + </p> + <p> + “Of discussing me? I suppose not. But by some chance—” + </p> + <p> + “It was just as well, perhaps, not to anticipate the pleasure of our + meeting.” + </p> + <p> + Lady Haldwell was surprised. She had not expected this cleverness. They + talked casually for a little time, the visitor trying in vain to + delicately give the conversation a personal turn. At last, a little + foolishly, she grew bolder, with a needless selfishness. + </p> + <p> + “So old a friend of your husband as I am, I am hopeful you and I may be + friends also.” + </p> + <p> + Mrs. Armour saw the move. + </p> + <p> + “You are very kind,” she said conventionally, and offered a cup of tea. + </p> + <p> + Lady Haldwell now ventured unwisely. She was nettled at the other’s + self-possession. + </p> + <p> + “But then, in a way, I have been your friend for a long time, Mrs. + Armour.” + </p> + <p> + The point was veiled in a vague tone, but Mrs. Armour understood. Her + reply was not wanting. “Any one who has been a friend to my husband has, + naturally, claims upon me.” + </p> + <p> + Lady Haldwell, in spite of herself, chafed. There was a subtlety in the + woman before her not to be reckoned with lightly. + </p> + <p> + “And if an enemy?” she said, smiling. + </p> + <p> + A strange smile also flickered across Mrs. Armour’s face as she said: + </p> + <p> + “If an enemy of my husband called, and was penitent, I should—offer + her tea, no doubt.” + </p> + <p> + “That is, in this country; but in your own country, which, I believe, is + different, what would you do?” Mrs. Armour looked steadily and coldly into + her visitor’s eyes. + </p> + <p> + “In my country enemies do not compel us to be polite.” + </p> + <p> + “By calling on you?” Lady Haldwell was growing a little reckless. “But + then, that is a savage country. We are different here. I suppose, however, + your husband told you of these things, so that you were not surprised. And + when does he come? His stay is protracted. Let me see, how long is it? Ah + yes, near four years.” Here she became altogether reckless, which she + regretted afterwards, for she knew, after all, what was due herself. “He + will comeback, I suppose?” + </p> + <p> + Lady Haldwell was no coward, else she had hesitated before speaking in + that way before this woman, in whose blood was the wildness of the + heroical North. Perhaps she guessed the passion in Lali’s breast, perhaps + not. In any case she would have said what she listed at the moment. + </p> + <p> + Wild as were the passions in Lali’s breast, she thought on the instant of + her child, of what Richard Armour would say; for he had often talked to + her about not showing her emotions and passions, had told her that + violence of all kinds was not wise or proper. Her fingers ached to grasp + this beautiful, exasperating woman by the throat. But after an effort at + calmness she remained still and silent, looking at her visitor with a + scornful dignity. Lady Haldwell presently rose,—she could not endure + the furnace of that look,—and said good-bye. She turned towards the + door. Mrs. Armour remained immovable. At that instant, however, some one + stepped from behind a large screen just inside the door. It was Richard + Armour. He was pale, and on his face was a sternness the like of which + this and perhaps only one other woman had ever seen on him. He interrupted + her. + </p> + <p> + “Lady Haldwell has a fine talent for irony,” he said, “but she does not + always use it wisely. In a man it would bear another name, and from a man + it would be differently received.” He came close to her. “You are a brave + woman,” he said, “or you would have been more careful. Of course you knew + that my mother and sister were not at home?” + </p> + <p> + She smiled languidly. “And why ‘of course’?” + </p> + <p> + “I do not know that; only I know that I think so; and I also think that my + brother Frank’s worst misfortune did not occur when Miss Julia Sherwood + trafficked without compunction in his happiness.” + </p> + <p> + “Don’t be oracular, my dear Richard Armour,” she replied. “You are trying, + really. This seems almost melodramatic; and melodrama is bad enough at + Drury Lane.” + </p> + <p> + “You are not a good friend even to yourself,” he answered. + </p> + <p> + “What a discoverer you are! And how much in earnest! Do come back to the + world, Mr. Armour; you would be a relief, a new sensation.” + </p> + <p> + “I fancy I shall come back, if only to see the ‘engineer hoist with his + own’—torpedo.” + </p> + <p> + He paused before the last word to give it point, for her husband’s father + had made his money out of torpedoes. She felt the sting in spite of + herself, and she saw the point. + </p> + <p> + “And then we will talk it over at the end of the season,” he added, “and + compare notes. Good-afternoon.” + </p> + <p> + “You stake much on your hazard,” she said, glancing back at Lali, who + still stood immovable. “Au revoir!” She left the room. Richard heard the + door close after her and the servant retire. Then he turned to Lali. + </p> + <p> + As he did so, she ran forward to him with a cry. “Oh, Richard, Richard!” + she exclaimed, with a sob, threw her arms over his shoulder, and let her + forehead drop on his breast. Then came a sudden impulse in his blood. Long + after he shuddered when he remembered what he thought at that instant; + what he wished to do; what rich madness possessed him. He knew now why he + had come to town; he also knew why he must not stay, or, if staying, what + must be his course. + </p> + <p> + He took her gently by the arm and led her to a chair, speaking cheerily to + her. Then he sat down beside her, and all at once again, her face wet and + burning, she flung herself forward on her knees beside him, and clung to + him. + </p> + <p> + “Oh, Richard, I am glad you have come,” she said. “I would have killed her + if I had not thought of you. I want you to stay; I am always better when + you are with me. I have missed you, and I know that baby misses you too.” + </p> + <p> + He had his cue. He rose, trembling a little. “Come, come,” he said + heartily, “it’s all right, it’s all right-my sister. Let us go and see the + youngster. There, dry your eyes, and forget all about that woman. She is + only envious of you. Come, for his imperial highness!” + </p> + <p> + She was in a tumult of feeling. It was seldom that she had shown emotion + in the past two years, and it was the more ample when it did break forth. + But she dried her eyes, and together they went to the nursery. She + dismissed the nurse and they were left alone by the sleeping child. She + knelt at the head of the little cot, and touched the child’s forehead with + her lips. He stooped down also beside it. + </p> + <p> + “He’s a grand little fellow,” he said. “Lali,” he continued presently, “it + is time Frank came home. I am going to write for him. If he does not come + at once, I shall go and fetch him.” + </p> + <p> + “Never! never!” Her eyes flashed angrily. “Promise that you will not. Let + him come when he is ready. + </p> + <p> + “He does not, care.” She shuddered a little. + </p> + <p> + “But he will care when he comes, and you—you care for him, Lali?” + </p> + <p> + Again she shuddered, and a whiteness ran under the hot excitement of her + cheeks. She said nothing, but looked up at him, then dropped her face in + her hands. + </p> + <p> + “You do care for him, Lali,” he said earnestly, almost solemnly, his lips + twitching slightly. “You must care for him; it is his right; and he will—I + swear to you I know he will—care for you.” + </p> + <p> + In his own mind there was another thought, a hard, strange thought; and it + had to do with the possibility of his brother not caring for this wife. + </p> + <p> + Still she did not speak. + </p> + <p> + “To a good woman, with a good husband,” he continued, “there is no one—there + should be no one—like the father of her child. And no woman ever + loved her child more than you do yours.” He knew that this was special + pleading. + </p> + <p> + She trembled, and then dropped her cheek beside the child’s. “I want Frank + to be happy,” he went on; “there is no one I care more for than for + Frank.” + </p> + <p> + She lifted her face to him now, in it a strange light. Then her look ran + to confusion, and she seemed to read all that he meant to convey. He knew + she did. He touched her shoulder. + </p> + <p> + “You must do the best you can every way, for Frank’s sake, for all our + sakes. I will help you—God knows I will—all I can.” + </p> + <p> + “Ah, yes, yes,” she whispered, from the child’s pillow. + </p> + <p> + He could see the flame in her cheek. “I understand.” She put out her hand + to him, but did not look up. “Leave me alone with my baby, Richard,” she + pleaded. + </p> + <p> + He took her hand and pressed it again and again in his old, unconscious + way. Then he let it go, and went slowly to the door. There he turned and + looked back at her. He mastered the hot thought in him. “God help me!” she + murmured from the cot. The next morning Richard went back to Greyhope. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0007" id="link2HCH0007"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + CHAPTER VII. A COURT-MARTIAL + </h2> + <p> + It was hard to tell, save for a certain deliberateness of speech and a + colour a little more pronounced than that of a Spanish woman, that Mrs. + Frank Armour had not been brought up in England. She had a kind of grave + sweetness and distant charm which made her notable at any table or in any + ballroom. Indeed, it soon became apparent that she was to be the pleasant + talk, the interest of the season. This was tolerably comforting to the + Armours. Again Richard’s prophecy had been fulfilled, and as he sat alone + at Greyhope and read the Morning Post, noticing Lali’s name at + distinguished gatherings, or, picking up the World, saw how the + lion-hunters talked extravagantly of her, he took some satisfaction to + himself that he had foreseen her triumph where others looked for her + downfall. Lali herself was not elated; it gratified her, but she had been + an angel, and a very unsatisfactory one, if it had not done so. As her + confidence grew (though outwardly she had never appeared to lack it + greatly), she did not hesitate to speak of herself as an Indian, her + country as a good country, and her people as a noble if dispossessed race; + all the more so if she thought reference to her nationality and past was + being rather conspicuously avoided. She had asked General Armour for an + interview with her husband’s solicitor. This was granted. When she met the + solicitor, she asked him to send no newspaper to her husband containing + any reference to herself, nor yet to mention her in his letters. + </p> + <p> + She had never directly received a line from him but once, and that was + after she had come to know the truth about his marriage with her. She + could read in the conventional sentences, made simple as for a child, the + strained politeness, and his absolute silence as to whether or not a child + had been born to them, the utter absence of affection for her. She had + also induced General Armour and his wife to give her husband’s solicitor + no information regarding the birth of the child. There was thus apparently + no more inducement for him to hurry back to England than there was when he + had sent her off on his mission of retaliation, which had been such an + ignominious failure. For the humiliation of his family had been + short-lived, the affront to Lady Haldwell nothing at all. The Armours had + not been human if they had failed to enjoy their daughter-in-law’s + success. Although they never, perhaps, would quite recover the + disappointment concerning Lady Agnes Martling, the result was so much + better than they in their cheerfulest moments dared hope for, that they + appeared genuinely content. + </p> + <p> + To their grandchild they were devotedly attached. Marion was his faithful + slave and admirer, so much so that Captain Vidall, who now and then was + permitted to see the child, declared himself jealous. He and Marion were + to be married soon. The wedding had been delayed owing to his enforced + absence abroad. Mrs. Edward Lambert, once Mrs. Townley, shyly regretted in + Lali’s presence that the child, or one as sweet, was not hers. Her husband + evidently shared her opinion, from the extraordinary notice he took of it + when his wife was not present. Not that Richard Joseph Armour, Jun., was + always en evidence, but when asked for by his faithful friends and + admirers he was amiably produced. + </p> + <p> + Meanwhile, Frank Armour across the sea was engaged with many things. His + business concerns had not prospered prodigiously, chiefly because his + judgment, like his temper, had grown somewhat uncertain. His popularity in + the Hudson’s Bay country had been at some tension since he had shipped his + wife away to England. Even the ordinary savage mind saw something unusual + and undomestic in it, and the general hospitality declined a little. + Armour did not immediately guess the cause; but one day, about a year + after his wife had gone, he found occasion to reprove a half-breed, by + name Jacques Pontiac; and Jacques, with more honesty than politeness, said + some hard words, and asked how much he paid for his English hired devils + to kill his wife. Strange to say, he did not resent this startling remark. + It set him thinking. He began to blame himself for not having written + oftener to his people—and to his wife. He wondered how far his + revenge had succeeded. He was most ashamed of it now. He knew that he had + done a dishonourable thing. The more he thought upon it the more angry + with himself he became. Yet he dreaded to go back to England and face it + all: the reproach of his people; the amusement of society; his wife + herself. He never attempted to picture her as a civilised being. He + scarcely knew her when he married her. She knew him much better, for + primitive people are quicker in the play of their passions, and she had + come to love him before he had begun to notice her at all. + </p> + <p> + Presently he ate his heart out with mortification. To be yoked for ever to—a + savage! It was horrible. And their children? It was strange he had not + thought of that before. Children? He shrugged his shoulders. There might + possibly be a child, but children—never! But he doubted even + regarding a child, for no word had come to him concerning that + possibility. He was even most puzzled at the tone and substance of their + letters. From the beginning there had been no reproaches, no excitement, + no railing, but studied kindness and conventional statements, through + which Mrs. Armour’s solicitous affection scarcely ever peeped. He had shot + his bolt, and got—consideration, almost imperturbability. They + appeared to treat the matter as though he were a wild youth who would not + yet mend his ways. He read over their infrequent letters to him; his to + them had been still more infrequent. In one there was the statement that + “she was progressing favourably with her English”; in another, that “she + was riding a good deal”; again, that “she appeared anxious to adapt + herself to her new life.” + </p> + <p> + At all these he whistled a little to himself, and smiled bitterly. Then, + all at once, he got up and straightway burned them all. He again tried to + put the matter behind him for the present, knowing that he must face it + one day, and staving off its reality as long as possible. He did his + utmost to be philosophical and say his quid refert, but it was easier + tried than done; for Jacques Pontiac’s words kept rankling in his mind, + and he found himself carrying round a vague load, which made him + abstracted occasionally, and often a little reckless in action and speech. + In hunting bear and moose he had proved himself more daring than the + oldest hunter, and proportionately successful. He paid his servants well, + but was sharp with them. + </p> + <p> + He made long, hard expeditions, defying the weather as the hardiest of + prairie and mountain men mostly hesitate to defy it; he bought up much + land, then, dissatisfied, sold it again at a loss, but subsequently made + final arrangements for establishing a very large farm. When he once became + actually interested in this he shook off something of his moodiness and + settled himself to develop the thing. He had good talent for initiative + and administration, and at last, in the time when his wife was a feature + of the London season, he found his scheme in working order, and the + necessity of going to England was forced upon him. + </p> + <p> + Actually he wished that the absolute necessity had presented itself + before. There was always the moral necessity, of course—but then! + Here now was a business need; and he must go. Yet he did not fix a day or + make definite arrangements. He could hardly have believed himself such a + coward. With liberal emphasis he called himself a sneak, and one day at + Fort Charles sat down to write to his solicitor in Montreal to say that he + would come on at once. Still he hesitated. As he sat there thinking, + Eye-of-the-Moon, his father-in-law, opened the door quietly and entered. + He had avoided the chief ever since he had come back to Fort Charles, and + practically had not spoken to him for a year. Armour flushed slightly with + annoyance. But presently, with a touch of his old humour, he rose, held + out his hand, and said ironically: “Well, father-in-law, it’s about time + we had a big talk, isn’t it? We’re not very intimate for such close + relatives.” + </p> + <p> + The old Indian did not fully understand the meaning or the tone of + Armour’s speech, but he said “How!” and, reaching out his hand for the + pipe offered him, lighted it, and sat down, smoking in silence. Armour + waited; but, seeing that the other was not yet moved to talk, he turned to + his letter again. After a time, Eye-of-the-Moon said gravely, getting to + his feet: “Brother!” + </p> + <p> + Armour looked up, then rose also. The Indian bowed to him courteously, + then sat down again. Armour threw a leg over a corner of the table and + waited. + </p> + <p> + “Brother,” said the Indian presently, “you are of the great race that + conquers us. You come and take our land and our game, and we at last have + to beg of you for food and shelter. Then you take our daughters, and we + know not where they go. They are gone like the down from the thistle. We + see them not, but you remain. And men say evil things. There are bad words + abroad. Brother, what have you done with my daughter?” + </p> + <p> + Had the Indian come and stormed, begged money of him, sponged on him, or + abused him, he had taken it very calmly—he would, in fact, have been + superior. But there was dignity in the chief’s manner; there was solemnity + in his speech; his voice conveyed resoluteness and earnestness, which the + stoic calm of his face might not have suggested; and Armour felt that he + had no advantage at all. Besides, Armour had a conscience, though he had + played some rare tricks with it of late, and it needed more hardihood than + he possessed to face this old man down. And why face him down? Lali was + his daughter, blood of his blood, the chieftainess of one branch of his + people, honoured at least among these poor savages, and the old man had a + right to ask, as asked another more famous, “Where is my daughter?” + </p> + <p> + His hands in his pockets, Armour sat silent for a minute, eyeing his boot, + as he swung his leg to and fro. Presently he said: “Eye-of-the-Moon, I + don’t think I can talk as poetically as you, even in my own language, and + I shall not try. But I should like to ask you this: Do you believe any + harm has come to your daughter—to my wife?” + </p> + <p> + The old Indian forgot to blow the tobacco-smoke from his mouth, and, as he + sat debating, lips slightly apart, it came leaking out in little trailing + clouds and gave a strange appearance to his iron-featured face. He looked + steadily at Armour, and said: “You are of those who rule in your land,”—here + Armour protested,—“you have much gold to buy and sell. I am a + chief,” he drew himself up,—“I am poor: we speak with the straight + tongue; it is cowards who lie. Speak deep as from the heart, my brother, + and tell me where my daughter is.” + </p> + <p> + Armour could not but respect the chief for the way this request was put, + but still it galled him to think that he was under suspicion of having + done any bodily injury to his wife, so he quietly persisted: “Do you think + I have done Lali any harm?” + </p> + <p> + “The thing is strange,” replied the other. “You are of those who are great + among your people. You married a daughter of a red man. Then she was yours + for less than one moon, and you sent her far away, and you stayed. Her + father was as a dog in your sight. Do men whose hearts are clear act so? + They have said strange things of you. I have not believed; but it is good + I know all, that I may say to the tale-bearers, ‘You have crooked + tongues.’” + </p> + <p> + Armour sat for a moment longer, his face turned to the open window. He was + perfectly still, but he had become grave. He was about to reply to the + chief, when the trader entered the room hurriedly with a newspaper in his + hand. He paused abruptly when he saw Eye-of-the-Moon. Armour felt that the + trader had something important to communicate. He guessed it was in the + paper. He mutely held out his hand for it. The trader handed it to him + hesitatingly, at the same time pointing to a paragraph, and saying: “It is + nearly two years old, as you see. I chanced upon it by accident to-day.” + </p> + <p> + It was a copy of a London evening paper, containing a somewhat sensational + account of Lali’s accident. It said that she was in a critical condition. + This time Armour did not ask for brandy, but the trader put it out beside + him. He shook his head. “Gordon,” he said presently, “I shall leave here + in the morning. Please send my men to me.” + </p> + <p> + The trader whispered to him: “She was all right, of course, long ago, Mr. + Armour, or you would have heard.” + </p> + <p> + Armour looked at the date of the paper. He had several letters from + England of a later date, and these said nothing of her illness. It + bewildered him, made him uneasy. Perhaps the first real sense of his duty + as a husband came home to him there. For the first time he was anxious + about the woman for her own sake. The trader had left the room. + </p> + <p> + “What a scoundrel I’ve been!” said Armour between his teeth, oblivious, + for the moment, of Eye-of-the-Moon’s presence. Presently, bethinking + himself, he turned to the Indian. “I’ve been debating,” he said. + “Eye-of-the-Moon, my wife is in England, at my father’s home. I am going + to her. Men have lied in thinking I would do her any injury, but—but—never + mind, the harm was of another kind. It isn’t wise for a white man and an + Indian to marry, but when they are married—well, they must live as + man and wife should live, and, as I said, I am going to my wife.” + </p> + <p> + To say all this to a common Indian, whose only property was a dozen ponies + and a couple of tepees, required something very like moral courage; but + then Armour had not been exercising moral courage during the last year or + so, and its exercise was profitable to him. The next morning he was on his + way to Montreal, and Eye-of-the-Moon was the richest chief in British + North America, at that moment, by five thousand dollars or so. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0008" id="link2HCH0008"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + CHAPTER VIII. TO EVERY MAN HIS HOUR + </h2> + <p> + It was the close of the season: many people had left town, but festivities + were still on. To a stranger the season might have seemed at its height. + The Armours were giving a large party in Cavendish Square before going + back again to Greyhope, where, for the sake of Lali and her child, they + intended to remain during the rest of the summer, in preference to going + on the Continent or to Scotland. The only unsatisfactory feature of Lali’s + season was the absence of her husband. Naturally there were those who said + strange things regarding Frank Armour’s stay in America; but it was pretty + generally known that he was engaged in land speculations, and his club + friends, who perhaps took the pleasantest view of the matter, said that he + was very wise indeed, if a little cowardly, in staying abroad until his + wife was educated and ready to take her position in society. There was one + thing on which they were all agreed: Mrs. Frank Armour either had a mind + superior to the charms of their sex, or was incapable of that vanity which + hath many suitors, and says: “So far shalt thou go, and—” The fact + is, Mrs. Frank Armour’s mind was superior. She had only one object—to + triumph over her husband grandly, as a woman righteously might. She had + vanity, of course, but it was not ignoble. She kept one thing in view; she + lived for it. + </p> + <p> + Her translation had been successful. There were times when she remembered + her father, the wild days on the prairies, the buffalo-hunt, tracking the + deer, tribal battles, the long silent hours of the winter, and the warm + summer nights when she slept in the prairie grass or camped with her + people in the trough of a great landwave. Sometimes the hunger for its + freedom, and its idleness, and its sport, came to her greatly; but she + thought of her child, and she put it from her. She was ambitious for him; + she was keen to prove her worth as a wife against her husband’s + unworthiness. This perhaps saved her. She might have lost had her life + been without this motive. + </p> + <p> + The very morning of this notable reception, General Armour had received a + note from Frank Armour’s solicitor, saying that his son was likely to + arrive in London from America that day or the next. Frank had written to + his people no word of his coming; to his wife, as we have said, he had not + written for months; and before he started back he would not write, because + he wished to make what amends he could in person. He expected to find her + improved, of course, but still he could only think of her as an Indian, + showing her common prairie origin. His knowledge of her before their + marriage had been particularly brief; she was little more in his eyes than + a thousand other Indian women, save that she was better-looking, was + whiter than most, and had finer features. He could not very clearly + remember the tones of her voice, because after marriage, and before he had + sent her to England, he had seen little or nothing of her. + </p> + <p> + When General Armour received the news of Frank’s return he told his wife + and Marion, and they consulted together whether it were good to let Lali + know at once. He might arrive that evening. If so, the position would be + awkward, because it was impossible to tell how it might affect her. If + they did tell her, and Frank happened not to arrive, it might unnerve her + so as to make her appearance in the evening doubtful. Richard, the + wiseacre, the inexhaustible Richard, was caring for his cottagers and + cutting the leaves of new books—his chiefest pleasure—at + Greyhope. They felt it was a matter they ought to be able to decide for + themselves, but still it was the last evening of Lali’s stay in town, and + they did not care to take any risk. Strange to say, they had come to take + pride in their son’s wife; for even General and Mrs. Armour, high-minded + and of serene social status as they were, seemed not quite insensible to + the pleasure of being an axle on which a system of social notoriety + revolved. + </p> + <p> + At the opportune moment Captain Vidall was announced, and, because he and + Marion were soon to carry but one name between them, he was called into + family consultation. It is somewhat singular that in this case the women + were quite wrong and the men were quite right. For General Armour and + Captain Vidall were for silence until Frank came, if he came that day, or + for telling her the following morning, when the function was over. And the + men prevailed. + </p> + <p> + Marion was much excited all day; she had given orders that Frank’s room + should be made ready, but for whom she gave no information. While Lali was + dressing for the evening, something excited and nervous, she entered her + room. They were now the best of friends. The years had seen many shifting + scenes in their companionship; they had been as often at war as at peace; + but they had respected each other, each after her own fashion; and now + they had a real and mutual regard. Lali’s was a slim, lithe figure, + wearing its fashionable robes with an air of possession; and the face + above it, if not entirely beautiful, had a strange, warm fascination. The + girl had not been a chieftainess for nothing. A look of quiet command was + there, but also a far-away expression which gave a faint look of sadness + even when a smile was at the lips. The smile itself did not come quickly, + it grew; but above it all was hair of perfect brown, most rare,—setting + off her face as a plume does a helmet. She showed no surprise when Marion + entered. She welcomed her with a smile and outstretched hand, but said + nothing. + </p> + <p> + “Lali,” said Marion somewhat abruptly,—she scarcely knew why she + said it,—“are you happy?” + </p> + <p> + It was strange how the Indian girl had taken on those little manners of + society which convey so much by inflection. She lifted her eyebrows at + Marion, and said presently, in a soft, deliberate voice, “Come, Marion, we + will go and see little Richard; then I shall be happy.” + </p> + <p> + She linked her arm through Marion’s. Marion drummed her fingers lightly on + the beautiful arm, and then fell to wondering what she should say next. + They passed into the room where the child lay sleeping; they went to his + little bed, and Lali stretched out her hand gently, touching the curls of + the child. Running a finger through one delicately, she said, with a still + softer tone than before: “Why should not one be happy?” + </p> + <p> + Marion looked up slowly into her eyes, let a hand fall on her shoulder + gently, and replied: “Lali, do you never wish Frank to come?” + </p> + <p> + Lali’s fingers came from the child, the colour mounted slowly to her + forehead, and she drew the girl away again into the other room. Then she + turned and faced Marion, a deep fire in her eyes, and said, in a whisper + almost hoarse in its intensity: “Yes; I wish he would come to-night.” + </p> + <p> + She looked harder yet at Marion; then, with a flash of pride and her hands + clasping before her, she drew herself up, and added: “Am I not worthy to + be his wife now? Am I not beautiful—for a savage?” + </p> + <p> + There was no common vanity in the action. It had a noble kind of + wistfulness, and a serenity that entirely redeemed it. Marion dated her + own happiness from the time when Lali met her accident, for in the evening + of that disastrous day she issued to Captain Hume Vidall a commission + which he could never—wished never—to resign. Since then she + had been at her best,—we are all more or less selfish creatures,—and + had grown gentler, curbing the delicate imperiousness of her nature, and + frankly, and without the least pique, taken a secondary position of + interest in the household, occasioned by Lali’s popularity. She looked + Lali up and down with a glance in which many feelings met, and then, + catching her hands warmly, she lifted them, put them on her own shoulders, + and said: “My dear beautiful savage, you are fit and worthy to be Queen of + England; and Frank, when he comes—” + </p> + <p> + “Hush!” said the other dreamily, and put a finger on Marion’s lips. “I + know what you are going to say, but I do not wish to hear it. He did not + love me then. He used me—” She shuddered, put her hands to her eyes + with a pained, trembling motion, then threw her head back with a quick + sigh. “But I will not speak of it. Come, we are for the dance, Marion. It + is the last, to-night. To-morrow—” She paused, looking straight + before her, lost in thought. + </p> + <p> + “Yes, to-morrow, Lali?” + </p> + <p> + “I do not know about to-morrow,” was the reply. “Strange things come to + me.” + </p> + <p> + Marion longed to tell her then and there the great news, but she was + afraid to do so, and was, moreover, withheld by the remembrance that it + had been agreed she should not be told. She said nothing. + </p> + <p> + At eleven o’clock the rooms were filled. For the fag end of the season, + people seemed unusually brilliant. The evening itself was not so hot as + common, and there was an extra array of distinguished guests. Marion was + nervous all the evening, though she showed little of it, being most + prettily employed in making people pleased with themselves. Mrs. Armour + also was not free from apprehension. In reply to inquiries concerning her + son she said, as she had often said during the season, that he might be + back at any time now. Lali had answered always in the same fashion, and + had shown no sign that his continued absence was singular. As the evening + wore on, the probability of Frank’s appearance seemed less; and the + Armours began to breathe more freely. + </p> + <p> + Frank had, however, arrived. He had driven straight from Euston to + Cavendish Square, but, seeing the house lighted up, and guests arriving, + he had a sudden feeling of uncertainty. He ordered the cabman to take him + to his club. There he put himself in evening-dress, and drove back again + to the house. He entered quietly. At the moment the hall was almost + deserted; people were mostly in the ballroom and supper-room. He paused a + moment, biting his moustache as if in perplexity. A strange timidity came + on him. All his old dash and self-possession seemed to have forsaken him. + Presently, seeing a number of people entering the hall, he made for the + staircase, and went hastily up. Mechanically he went to his own room, and + found it lighted. Flowers were set about, and everything was made ready as + for a guest. He sat down, not thinking, but dazed. + </p> + <p> + Glancing up, he saw his face in a mirror. It was bronzed, but it looked + rather old and careworn. He shrugged a shoulder at that. Then, in the + mirror, he saw also something else. It startled him so that he sat + perfectly still for a moment looking at it. It was some one laughing at + him over his shoulder—a child! He got to his feet and turned round. + On the table was a very large photograph of a smiling child—with his + eyes, his face. He caught the chair-arm, and stood looking at it a little + wildly. Then he laughed a strange laugh, and the tears leaped to his eyes. + He caught the picture in his hands, and kissed it,—very foolishly, + men not fathers might think,—and read the name beneath, Richard + Joseph Armour; and again, beneath that, the date of birth. He then put it + back on the table and sat looking at it-looking, and forgetting, and + remembering. + </p> + <p> + Presently, the door opened, and some one entered. It was Marion. She had + seen him pass through the hall; she had then gone and told her father and + mother, to prepare them, and had followed him upstairs. He did not hear + her. She stepped softly forwards. “Frank!” she said—“Frank!” and + laid a hand on his shoulder. He started up and turned his face on her. + </p> + <p> + Then he caught her hands and kissed her. “Marion!” he said, and he could + say no more. But presently he pointed towards the photograph. + </p> + <p> + She nodded her head. “Yes, it is your child, Frank. Though, of course, you + don’t deserve it.... Frank dear,” she added, “I am glad—we shall all + be glad-to have you back; but you are a wicked man.” She felt she must say + that. + </p> + <p> + Now he only nodded, and still looked at the portrait. “Where is—my + wife?” he added presently. + </p> + <p> + “She is in the ballroom.” Marion was wondering what was best to do. + </p> + <p> + He caught his thumb-nail in his teeth. He winced in spite of himself. “I + will go to her,” he said, “and then—the baby.” + </p> + <p> + “I am glad,” she replied, “that you have so much sense of justice left, + Frank: the wife first, the baby afterwards. But do you think you deserve + either?” + </p> + <p> + He became moody, and made an impatient gesture. “Lady Agnes Martling is + here, and also Lady Haldwell,” she persisted cruelly. She did not mind, + because she knew he would have enough to compensate him afterwards. + </p> + <p> + “Marion,” he said, “say it all, and let me have it over. Say what you + like, and I’ll not whimper. I’ll face it. But I want to see my child.” + </p> + <p> + She was sorry for him. She had really wanted to see how much he was + capable of feeling in the matter. + </p> + <p> + “Wait here, Frank,” she said. “That will be best; and I will bring your + wife to you.” + </p> + <p> + He said nothing, but assented with a motion of the hand, and she left him + where he was. He braced himself for the interview. Assuredly a man loses + something of natural courage and self-confidence when he has done a thing + of which he should be, and is, ashamed. + </p> + <p> + It seemed a long time (it was in reality but a couple of minutes) before + the door opened again, and Marion said: “Frank, your wife!” and then + retreated. + </p> + <p> + The door closed, leaving a stately figure standing just inside it. The + figure did not move forwards, but stood there, full of life and fine + excitement, but very still also. + </p> + <p> + Frank Armour was confounded. He came forwards slowly, looking hard. Was + this distinguished, handsome, reproachful woman his wife—Lali, the + Indian girl, whom he had married in a fit of pique and brandy? He could + hardly believe his eyes; and yet hers looked out at him with something + that he remembered too, together with something which he did not remember, + making him uneasy. Clearly, his great mistake had turned from ashes into + fruit. “Lali!” he said, and held out his hand. + </p> + <p> + She reached out hers courteously, but her fingers gave him no response. + </p> + <p> + “We have many things to say to each other,” she said, “but they cannot be + said now. I shall be missed from the ballroom.” + </p> + <p> + “Missed from the ballroom!” He almost laughed to think how strange this + sounded in his ears. As if interpreting his thought, she added: “You see, + it is our last affair of the season, and we are all anxious to do our duty + perfectly. Will you go down with me? We can talk afterwards.” + </p> + <p> + Her continued self-possession utterly confused him. She had utterly + confused Marion also, when told that her husband was in the house. She had + had presentiments, and, besides, she had been schooling herself for this + hour for a long time. She turned towards the door. + </p> + <p> + “But,” he asked, like a supplicant, “our child! I want to see the boy.” + </p> + <p> + She lifted her eyebrows, then, seeing the photograph of the baby on the + table, understood how he knew. “Come with me, then,” she said, with a + little more feeling. + </p> + <p> + She led the way along the landing, and paused at her door. “Remember that + we have to appear amongst the guests directly,” she said, as though to + warn him against any demonstration. Then they entered. She went over to + the cot and drew back the fleecy curtain from over the sleeping boy’s + head. His fingers hungered to take his child to his arms. “He is + magnificent—magnificent!” he said, with a great pride. “Why did you + never let me know of it?” + </p> + <p> + “How could I tell what you would do?” she calmly replied. “You married me—wickedly, + and used me wickedly afterwards; and I loved the child.” + </p> + <p> + “You loved the child,” he repeated after her. “Lali,” he added, “I don’t + deserve it, but forgive me, if you can—for the child’s sake.” + </p> + <p> + “We had better go below,” she calmly replied. “We have both duties to do. + You will of course—appear with me—before them?” + </p> + <p> + The slight irony in the tone cut him horribly. He offered his arm in + silence. They passed on to the staircase. + </p> + <p> + “It is necessary,” she said, “to appear cheerful before one’s guests.” + </p> + <p> + She had him at an advantage at every point. “We will be cheerful, then,” + was his reply, spoken with a grim kind of humour. “You have learned it + all, haven’t you?” he added. + </p> + <p> + They were just entering the ballroom. “Yes, with your kind help—and + absence,” she replied. + </p> + <p> + The surprise of the guests was somewhat diminished by the fact that + Marion, telling General Armour and his wife first of Frank’s return, + industriously sent the news buzzing about the room. + </p> + <p> + The two went straight to Frank’s father and mother. Their parts were all + excellently played. Then Frank mingled among the guests, being very + heartily greeted, and heard congratulations on all sides. Old club friends + rallied him as a deserter, and new acquaintances flocked about him; and + presently he awakened to the fact that his Indian wife had been an + interest of the season, was not the least admired person present. It was + altogether too good luck for him; but he had an uncomfortable conviction + that he had a long path of penance to walk before he could hope to enjoy + it. + </p> + <p> + All at once he met Lady Haldwell, who, in spite of all, still accepted + invitations to General Armour’s house—the strange scene between Lali + and herself never having been disclosed to the family. He had nothing but + bitterness in his heart for her, but he spoke a few smooth words, and she + languidly congratulated him on his bronzed appearance. He asked for a + dance, but she had not one to give him. As she was leaving, she suddenly + turned as though she had forgotten something, and looking at him, said: “I + forgot to congratulate you on your marriage. I hope it is not too late?” + </p> + <p> + He bowed. “Your congratulations are so sincere,” he said, “that they would + be a propos late or early.” When he stood with his wife whilst the guests + were leaving, and saw with what manner she carried it all off,—as + though she had been born in the good land of good breeding,—he was + moved alternately with wonder and shame—shame that he had intended + this noble creature as a sacrifice to his ugly temper and spite. + </p> + <p> + When all the guests were gone and the family stood alone in the + drawing-room, a silence suddenly fell amongst them. Presently Marion said + to her mother in a half-whisper, “I wish Richard were here.” + </p> + <p> + They all felt the extreme awkwardness of the situation, especially when + Lali bade General Armour, Mrs. Armour, and Marion good-night, and then, + turning to her husband, said, “Good-night”—she did not even speak + his name. “Perhaps you would care to ride to-morrow morning? I always go + to the Park at ten, and this will be my last ride of the season.” + </p> + <p> + Had she written out an elaborate proclamation of her intended attitude + towards her husband, it could not have more clearly conveyed her mind than + this little speech, delivered as to a most friendly acquaintance. General + Armour pulled his moustache fiercely, and, it is possible, enjoyed the + situation, despite its peril. Mrs. Armour turned to the mantel and seemed + tremulously engaged in arranging some bric-a-brac. Marion, however, with a + fine instinct, slid her arm through that of Lali, and gently said: “Yes, + of course Frank will be glad of a ride in the Park. He used to ride with + me every morning. But let us go, us three, and kiss the baby good-night—‘good-night + till we meet in the morning.’” + </p> + <p> + She linked her arm now through Frank’s, and as she did so he replied to + Lali: “I shall be glad to ride in the morning, but—” + </p> + <p> + “But we can arrange it at breakfast,” said his wife hurriedly. At the same + time she allowed herself to be drawn away to the hall with her husband. + </p> + <p> + He was very angry, but he knew he had no right to be so. He choked back + his wrath and moved on amiably enough, and suddenly the fashion in which + the tables had been turned on him struck him with its tragic comedy, and + he involuntarily smiled. His sense of humour saved him from words and acts + which might possibly have made the matter a pure tragedy after all. He + loosed his arm from Marion’s. + </p> + <p> + “I must bid father and mother good-night. Then I will join you both—‘in + the court of the king.’” And he turned and went back, and said to his + father as he kissed his mother: “I am had at an advantage, General.” + </p> + <p> + “And serves you right, my boy. You had the odds with you, but she has + captured them like a born soldier.” His mother said to him gently: “Frank, + you blamed us, but remember that we wished only your good. Take my advice, + dear, and try to love your wife and win her confidence.” + </p> + <p> + “Love her—try to love her!” he said. “I shall easily do that. But + the other—?” He shook his head a little, though what he meant + perhaps he did not know quite himself, and then followed Marion and Lali + upstairs. Marion had tried to escape from Lali, but was told that she must + stay; and the three met at the child’s cot. Marion stooped down and kissed + its forehead. Frank stooped also and kissed its cheek. Then the wife + kissed the other cheek. The child slept peacefully on. “You can always see + the baby here before breakfast, if you choose,” said Lali; and she held + out her hand again in good-night. At this point Marion stole away, in + spite of Lah’s quick little cry of “Wait, Marion!” and the two were left + alone again. + </p> + <p> + “I am very tired,” she said. “I would rather not talk to-night.” The + dismissal was evident. + </p> + <p> + He took her hand, held it an instant, and presently said: “I will not + detain you, but I would ask you, Lali, to remember that you are my wife. + Nothing can alter that.” + </p> + <p> + “Still we are only strangers, as you know,” she quietly rejoined. + </p> + <p> + “You forget the days we were together—after we were married,” he + cautiously urged. + </p> + <p> + “I am not the same girl,... you killed her... We have to start again.... I + know all.” + </p> + <p> + “You know that in my wretched anger and madness I—” + </p> + <p> + “Oh, please do not speak of it,” she said; “it is so bad even in thought.” + </p> + <p> + “But will you never forgive me, and care for me? We have to live our lives + together.” + </p> + <p> + “Pray let us not speak of it now,” she said, in a weary voice; then, + breathlessly: “It is of much more consequence that you should love me—and + the child.” + </p> + <p> + He drew himself up with a choking sigh, and spread out his arms to her. + “Oh, my wife!” he exclaimed. + </p> + <p> + “No, no,” she cried, “this is unreasonable; we know so little of each + other.... Good-night, again.” + </p> + <p> + He turned at the door, came back, and, stooping, kissed the child on the + lips. Then he said: “You are right. I deserve to suffer.... Good-night.” + </p> + <p> + But when he was gone she dropped on her knees, and kissed the child many + times on the lips also. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0009" id="link2HCH0009"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + CHAPTER IX. THE FAITH OF COMRADES + </h2> + <p> + When Francis Armour left his wife’s room he did not go to his own, but + quietly descended the stairs, went to the library, and sat down. The + loneliest thing in the world is to be tete-a-tete with one’s conscience. A + man may have a bad hour with an enemy, a sad hour with a friend, a + peaceful hour with himself, but when the little dwarf, conscience, perches + upon every hillock of remembrance and makes slow signs—those strange + symbols of the language of the soul—to him, no slave upon the + tread-mill suffers more. + </p> + <p> + The butler came in to see if anything was required, but Armour only + greeted him silently and waved him away. His brain was painfully alert, + his memory singularly awake. It seemed that the incident of this hour had + so opened up every channel of his intelligence that all his life ran past + him in fantastic panorama, as by that illumination which comes to the + drowning man. He seemed under some strange spell. Once or twice he rose, + rubbed his eyes, and looked round the room—the room where as a boy + he had spent idle hours, where as a student he had been in the hands of + his tutor, and as a young man had found recreations such as belong to + ambitious and ardent youth. Every corner was familiar. Nothing was + changed. The books upon the shelves were as they were placed twenty years + ago. And yet he did not seem a part of it. It did not seem natural to him. + He was in an atmosphere of strangeness—that atmosphere which + surrounds a man, as by a cloud, when some crisis comes upon him and his + life seems to stand still, whirling upon its narrow base, while the world + appears at an interminable distance, even as to a deaf man who sees yet + cannot hear. + </p> + <p> + There came home to him at that moment with a force indescribable the + shamelessness of the act he committed four years ago. He had thought to + come back to miserable humiliation. For four years he had refused to do + his duty as a man towards an innocent woman,—a woman, though in part + a savage,—now transformed into a gentle, noble creature of delight + and goodness. How had he deserved it? He had sown the storm, it was but + just that he should reap the whirlwind; he had scattered thistles, could + he expect to gather grapes? He knew that the sympathy of all his father’s + house was not with him, but with the woman he had wronged. He was glad it + was so. Looking back now, it seemed so poor and paltry a thing that he, a + man, should stoop to revenge himself upon those who had given him birth, + as a kind of insult to the woman who had lightly set him aside, and should + use for that purpose a helpless, confiding girl. To revenge one’s self for + wrong to one’s self is but a common passion, which has little dignity; to + avenge some one whom one has loved, man or woman,—and, before all, + woman,—has some touch of nobility, is redeemed by loyalty. For his + act there was not one word of defence to be made, and he was not prepared + to make it. + </p> + <p> + The cigars and liquors were beside him, but he did not touch them. He + seemed very far away from the ordinary details of his life: he knew he had + before him hard travel, and he was not confident of the end. He could not + tell how long he sat there.—After, a time the ticking of the clock + seemed painfully loud to him. Now and again he heard a cab rattling + through the Square, and the foolish song of some drunken loiterer in the + night caused him to start painfully. Everything jarred on him. Once he got + up, went to the window, and looked out. The moon was shining full on the + Square. He wondered if it would be well for him to go out and find some + quiet to his nerves in walking. He did so. Out in the Square he looked up + to his wife’s window. It was lighted. Long time he walked up and down, his + eyes on the window. It held him like a charm. Once he leaned against the + iron railings of the garden and looked up, not moving for a time. + Presently he saw the curtain of the window raised, and against the dim + light of the room was outlined the figure of his wife. He knew it. She + stood for a moment looking out into the night. She could not see him, nor + could he see her features at all plainly, but he knew that she, like him, + was alone with the catastrophe which his wickedness had sent upon her. + Soon the curtain was drawn down again, and then he went once more to the + house and took his old seat beside the table. He fell to brooding, and at + last, exhausted, dropped to a troubled sleep. He woke with a start. Some + one was in the room. He heard a step behind him. He came to his feet + quickly, a wild light in his eyes. He faced his brother Richard. + </p> + <p> + Late in the afternoon Marion had telegraphed to Richard that Frank was + coming. He had been away visiting some poor and sick people, and when he + came back to Greyhope it was too late to catch the train. But the horses + were harnessed straightway, and he was driven into town, a three-hours’ + drive. He had left the horses at the stables, and, having a latch-key, had + come in quietly. He had seen the light in the study, and guessed who was + there. He entered, and saw his brother asleep. He watched him for a moment + and studied him. Then he moved away to take off his hat, and, as he did + so, stumbled slightly. Then it was Frank waked, and for the first time in + five years they looked each other in the eyes. They both stood immovable + for a moment, and then Richard caught Frank’s hand in both of his and + said: “God bless you, my boy! I am glad you are back.” + </p> + <p> + “Dick! Dick!” was the reply, and Frank’s other hand clutched Richard’s + shoulder in his strong emotion. They stood silent for a moment longer, and + then Richard recovered himself. He waved his hand to the chairs. The + strain of the situation was a little painful for them both. Men are shy + with each other where their emotions are in play. + </p> + <p> + “Why, my boy,” he said, waving a hand to the spirits and liqueurs, “full + bottles and unopened boxes? Tut, tut! here’s a pretty how-d’ye-do. Is this + the way you toast the home quarters? You’re a fine soldier for an old + mess!” + </p> + <p> + So saying, he poured out some whiskey, then opened the box of cigars and + pushed them towards his brother. He did not care particularly to drink or + smoke himself, but a man—an Englishman—is a strange creature. + He is most natural and at ease when he is engaged in eating and drinking. + He relieves every trying situation by some frivolous and selfish + occupation, as of dismembering a partridge, or mixing a punch. + </p> + <p> + “Well, Frank,” said his brother, “now what have you to say for yourself? + Why didn’t you come long ago? You have played the adventurer for five + years, and what have you to show for it? Have you a fortune?” Frank shook + his head, and twisted a shoulder. “What have you done that is worth the + doing, then?” + </p> + <p> + “Nothing that I intended to do, Dick,” was the grave reply. + </p> + <p> + “Yes, I imagined that. You have seen them, have you?” he added, in a + softer voice. + </p> + <p> + Frank blew a great cloud of smoke about his face, and through it he said: + “Yes, I have seen a damned sight more than I deserved to see.” + </p> + <p> + “Oh, of course; I know that, my boy; but, so far as I can see, in another + direction you are getting quite what you deserve: your wife and child are + upstairs—you are here.” + </p> + <p> + He paused, was silent for a moment, then leaned over, caught his brother’s + arm, and said, in a low, strenuous voice: “Frank Armour, you laid a + hateful little plot for us. It wasn’t manly, but we forgave it and did the + best we could. But see here, Frank, take my word for it, you have had a + lot of luck. There isn’t one woman out of ten thousand that would have + stood the test as your wife has stood it; injured at the start, constant + neglect, temptation—” he paused. “My boy, did you ever think of + that, of the temptation to a woman neglected by her husband? The + temptation to men? Yes, you have had a lot of luck. There has been a + special providence for you, my boy; but not for your sake. God doesn’t + love neglectful husbands, but I think He is pretty sorry for neglected + wives.” + </p> + <p> + Frank was very still. His head drooped, the cigar hung unheeded in his + fingers for a moment, and he said at last: “Dick, old boy, I’ve thought it + all over to-night since I came back—everything that you’ve said. I + have not a word of defence to make, but, by heaven! I’m going to win my + wife’s love if I can, and when I do it I’ll make up for all my cursed + foolishness—see if I don’t.” + </p> + <p> + “That sounds well, Frank,” was the quiet reply. “I like to hear you talk + that way. You would be very foolish if you did not. What do you think of + the child?” + </p> + <p> + “Can you ask me what I think? He is a splendid little fellow.” + </p> + <p> + “Take care of him, then—take good care of him: you may never have + another,” was the grim rejoinder. Frank winced. His brother rose, took his + arm, and said: “Let us go to our rooms, Frank. There will be time enough + to talk later, and I am not so young as I once was.” + </p> + <p> + Truth to say, Richard Armour was not so young as he seemed a few months + before. His shoulders were a little stooped, he was greyer about the + temples. The little bit of cynicism which had appeared in that remark + about the care of the child showed also in the lines of his mouth; yet his + eyes had the same old true, honest look. But a man cannot be hit in mortal + places once or twice in his life without its being etched on his face or + dropped like a pinch of aloe from his tongue. + </p> + <p> + Still they sat and talked much longer, Frank showing better than when his + brother came, Richard gone grey and tired. At last Richard rose and + motioned towards the window. “See, Frank,” he said, “it is morning.” Then + he went and lifted the blind. The grey, unpurged air oozed on the glass. + The light was breaking over the tops of the houses. A crossing-sweeper + early to his task, or holding the key of the street, went pottering by, + and a policeman glanced up at them as he passed. Richard drew down the + curtain again. + </p> + <p> + “Dick,” said Frank suddenly, “you look old. I wonder if I have changed as + much?” + </p> + <p> + Six months before, Frank Armour would have said hat his brother looked + young. + </p> + <p> + “Oh, you look young enough, Frank,” was the reply. “But I am a good deal + older than I was five years ago... Come, let us go to bed.” + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0010" id="link2HCH0010"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + CHAPTER X. THOU KNOWEST THE SECRETS OF OUR HEARTS + </h2> + <p> + And Lali? How had the night gone for her? When she rose from the child’s + cot, where her lips had caught the warmth that her husband had left on + them, she stood for a moment bewildered in the middle of the room. She + looked at the door out of which he had gone, her bosom beating hard, her + heart throbbing so that it hurt her—that she could have cried out + from mere physical pain. The wifedom in her was plundering the wild stores + of her generous soul for the man, for—as Richard had said that day, + that memorable day!—the father of her child. But the woman, the pure + translated woman, who was born anew when this frail life in its pink and + white glory crept out into the dazzling world, shrank back, as any girl + might shrink that had not known marriage. This child had come—from + what?—She shuddered now—how many times had she done so since + she first waked to the vulgar sacrilege of her marriage? She knew now that + every good mother, when her first child is born, takes it in her arms, + and, all her agony gone, and the ineffable peace of delivered motherhood + come, speaks the name of its father, and calls it his child. But—she + remembered it now—when her child was born, this little waif, the + fruit of a man’s hot, malicious hour, she wrapped it in her arms, pressed + its delicate flesh to the silken folds of her bosom, and weeping, + whispered only: “My child, my little, little child!” + </p> + <p> + She had never, as many a wife far from her husband has done, talked to her + child of its father, told it of his beauty and his virtues, arrayed it day + by day in sweet linen and pretty adornments, as if he were just then + knocking at her door; she had never imagined what he would say when he did + come. What could such a father think of his child, born of a woman whose + very life he had intended as an insult? No, she had loved it for father + and mother also. She had tried to be good, a good mother, living a life + unutterably lonely, hard in all that it involved of study, new duty, + translation, and burial of primitive emotions. And with all the care and + tearful watchfulness that had been needed, she had grown so proud, so + exacting—exacting for her child, proud for herself. + </p> + <p> + How could she know now that this hasty declaration of affection was + anything more than the mere man in him? Years ago she had not been able to + judge between love and insult—what guarantee had she here? Did he + think that she could believe in him? She was not the woman he had married, + he was not the man she had married. He had deceived her basely—she + had been a common chattel. She had been miserable enough—could she + give herself over to his flying emotions again so suddenly? + </p> + <p> + She paced the room, her face now in her hands, her hands now clasping and + wringing before her. Her wifely duty? She straightened to that. Duty! She + was first and before all a good, unpolluted woman. No, no, it could not + be. Love him? Again she shrank. Then came flooding on her that afternoon + when she had flung herself on Richard’s breast, and all those hundred days + of happiness in Richard’s company—Richard the considerate, the + strong, who had stood so by his honour in an hour of peril. + </p> + <p> + Now as she thought of it a hot wave shivered through all her body, and + tingled to her hair. Her face again dropped in her hands, and, as on that + other day, she knelt beside the cot, and, bursting into tears, said + through her sobs: “My baby, my own dear baby! Oh, that we could go away—away—and + never come back again!” + </p> + <p> + She did not know how intense her sobs were. They waked the child from its + delicate sleep; its blue eyes opened wide and wise all on the instant, its + round soft arm ran up to its mother’s neck, and it said: “Don’t c’y! I + want to s’eep wif you! I’se so s’eepy!” + </p> + <p> + She caught the child to her wet face, smiled at it through her tears, went + with it to her own bed, put it away in the deep whiteness, kissed it, and + fondled it away again into the heaven of sleep. When this was done she + felt calmer. How she hungered over it! This—this could not be denied + her. This, at least, was all hers, without clause or reservation, an + absolute love, and an absolute right. + </p> + <p> + She disrobed and drew in beside the child, and its little dewy cheek + touching her breast seemed to ease the ache in her soul. + </p> + <p> + But sleep would not come. All the past four years trooped by, with their + thousand incidents magnified in the sharp, throbbing light of her mind, + and at last she knew and saw clearly what was before her, what trials, + what duty, and what honour demanded—her honour. + </p> + <p> + Richard? Once for all she gently put him away from her into that infinite + distance of fine respect which a good woman can feel, who has known what + she and Richard had known—and set aside. But he had made for her so + high a standard, that for one to be measured thereby was a severe + challenge. + </p> + <p> + Could Frank come even to that measure? She dared not try to answer the + question. She feared, she shrank, she grew sick at heart. She did not + reckon with that other thing, that powerful, infinite influence which ties + a woman, she knows not how or why, to the man who led her to the world of + motherhood. Through all the wrongs which she may suffer by him, there runs + this cable of unhappy attraction, testified to by how many sorrowful + lives! + </p> + <p> + But Lali was trying to think it out, not only to feel, and she did not + count that subterranean force which must play its part in this new + situation in her drama of life. Could she love him? She crept away out of + the haven where her child was, put on her dressing-gown, went to the + window, and looked out upon the night, all unconscious that her husband + was looking at her from the Square below. Love him?—Love him?—Love + him? Could she? Did he love her? Her eyes wandered over the Square. + Nowhere else was there a light, but a chimney-flue was creaking somewhere. + It jarred on her so that she shrank. Then all at once she smiled to think + how she had changed. Four years ago she could have slept amid the hammers + of a foundry. The noise ceased. Her eyes passed from the cloud of trees in + the Square to the sky-all stars, and restful deep blue. That—that + was the same. How she knew it! Orion and Ashtaroth, and Mars and the + Pleiades, and the long trail of the Milky Way. As a little child hanging + in the trees, or sprawled beside a tepee, she had made friends with them + all, even as she learned and loved all the signs of the earth beneath—the + twist of a blade of grass, the portent in the cry of a river-hen, the + colour of a star, the smell of a wind. She had known Nature then, now she + knew men. And knowing them, and having suffered, and sick at heart as she + was, standing by this window in the dead of night, the cry that shook her + softly was not of her new life, but of the old, primitive, child-like. + </p> + <p> + ‘Pasagathe, omarki kethose kolokani vorgantha pestorondikat Oni.’ + </p> + <p> + “A spear hath pierced me, and the smart of the nettle is in my wound. + Maker of the soft night, bind my wounds with sleep, lest I cry out and be + a coward and unworthy.” + </p> + <p> + Again and again, unconsciously, the words passed from her lips + </p> + <p> + ‘Vorganthe, pestorondikat Oni.’ + </p> + <p> + At last she let down the blind, came to the bed, and once more gathered + her child in her arms with an infinite hunger. This love was hers—rich, + untrammelled, and so sacred. No matter what came, and she did not know + what would come, she had the child. There was a kind of ecstasy in it, and + she lay and trembled with the feeling, but at last fell into a troubled + sleep. + </p> + <p> + She waked suddenly to hear footsteps passing her door. She listened. One + footstep was heavier than the other—heavier and a little stumbling; + she recognised them, Frank and Richard. In that moment her heart hardened. + Frank Armour must tread a difficult road. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0011" id="link2HCH0011"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + CHAPTER XI. UPON THE HIGHWAY + </h2> + <p> + Frank visited the child in the morning, and was received with a casual + interest. Richard Joseph Armour was fastidious, was not to be won at the + grand gallop. Besides, he had just had a visit from his uncle, and the + good taste of that gay time was yet in his mouth. He did not resent the + embraces, but he did not respond to them, and he straightened himself with + relief when the assault was over. Some one was paying homage to him, that + was all he knew; but for his own satisfaction and pleasure he preferred as + yet his old comrades, Edward Lambert, Captain Vidall, General Armour, and, + above all, Richard. He only showed real interest at the last, when he + asked, as it were in compromise, if his father would give him a sword. No + one had ever talked to him of his father, and he had no instinct for him + so far as could be seen. The sword was, therefore, after the manner of a + concession. Frank rashly promised it, and was promptly told by Marion that + it couldn’t be; and she was backed by Captain Vidall, who said it had + already been tabooed, and Frank wasn’t to come in and ask for favours or + expect them. + </p> + <p> + The husband and wife met at breakfast. He was down first. When his wife + entered, he came to her, they touched hands, and she presently took a seat + beside him. More than once he paused suddenly in his eating, when he + thought of his inexplicable case. He was now face to face with a reversed + situation. He had once picked up a pebble from the brown dirt of a + prairie, that he might toss it into the pool of this home life; and he had + tossed it, and from the sweet bath there had come out a precious stone, + which he longed to wear, and knew that he could not—not yet. He + could have coerced a lower being, but for his manhood’s sake—he had + risen to that now, it is curious how the dignity of fatherhood helps to + make a man—he could not coerce here, and if he did, he knew that the + product would be disaster. + </p> + <p> + He listened to her talk with Marion and Captain Vidall. Her voice was + musical, balanced, her language breathed; it had manner, and an + indescribable cadence of intelligence, joined to a deliberation, which + touched her off with distinction. When she spoke to him—and she + seemed to do that as by studied intention and with tact at certain + intervals—her manner was composed and kind. She had resolved on her + part. She asked him about his journey over, about his plans for the day, + and if he had decided to ride with her in the Park,—he could have + the general’s mount, she was sure, for the general was not going that day,—and + would he mind doing a little errand for her afterwards in Regent Street, + for the child—she feared she herself would not have time? + </p> + <p> + Just then General Armour entered, and, passing behind her, kissed her on + the cheek, dropping his hand on Frank’s shoulder at the same time with a + hearty greeting. Of course, Frank could have his mount, he said. Mrs. + Armour did not come down, but she sent word by Richard, who entered last, + that she would be glad to see Frank for a moment before he left for the + Park. As of old, Richard took both Lali’s hands in his, patted them, and + cheerily said: + </p> + <p> + “Well, well, Lali, we’ve got the wild man home again safe and sound, + haven’t we—the same old vagabond? We’ll have to turn him into a + Christian again—‘For while the lamp holds out to burn’—” + </p> + <p> + He did not give her time to reply, but their eyes met honestly, kindly, + and from the look they both passed into life and time again with a fresh + courage. She did not know, nor did he, how near they had been to an abyss; + and neither ever knew. One furtive glance at the moment, one hesitating + pressure of the hand, one movement of the head from each other’s gaze, and + there had been unhappiness for them all. But they were safe. + </p> + <p> + In the Park, Frank and his wife talked little. They met many who greeted + them cordially, and numbers of Frank’s old club friends summoned him to + the sacred fires at his earliest opportunity. The two talked chiefly of + the people they met, and Frank thrilled with admiration at his wife’s + gentle judgment of everybody. + </p> + <p> + “The true thing, absolutely the true thing,” he said; and he was + conscious, too, that her instincts were right and searching, for once or + twice he saw her face chill a little when they met one or two men whose + reputations as chevaliers des dames were pronounced. These men had had one + or two confusing minutes with Lali in their time. + </p> + <p> + “How splendidly you ride!” he said, as he came up swiftly to her, after + having chatted for a moment with Edward Lambert. “You sit like wax, and so + entirely easy.” + </p> + <p> + “Thank you,” she said. “I suppose I really like it too well to ride badly, + and then I began young on horses not so good as Musket here—bareback, + too!” she added, with a little soft irony. + </p> + <p> + He thought—she did not, however—that she was referring to that + first letter he sent home to his people, when he consigned her, like any + other awkward freight, to their care. He flushed to his eyes. It cut him + deep, but her eyes only had a distant, dreamy look which conveyed nothing + of the sting in her words. Like most men, he had a touch of vanity too, + and he might have resented the words vaguely, had he not remembered his + talk with his mother an hour before. + </p> + <p> + She had begged him to have patience, she had made him promise that he + would not in any circumstance say an ungentle or bitter thing, that he + would bide the effort of constant devotion, and his love of the child. + Especially must he try to reach her through love of the child. + </p> + <p> + By which it will be seen that Mrs. Armour had come to some wisdom by + reason of her love for Frank’s wife and child. + </p> + <p> + “My son,” she had said, “through the child is the surest way, believe me; + for only a mother can understand what that means, how much and how far it + goes. You are a father, but until last night you never had the flush of + that love in your veins. You stand yet only at the door of that life which + has done more to guide, save, instruct, and deepen your wife’s life than + anything else, though your brother Richard—to whom you owe a debt + that you can never repay—has done much in deed. Be wise, my dear, as + I have learned a little to be since first your wife came. All might easily + have gone wrong. It has all gone well; and we, my son, have tried to do + our duty lovingly, consistently, to dear Lali and the child.” + </p> + <p> + She made him promise that he would wait, that he would not try to hurry + his wife’s affection for him by any spoken or insistent claim. “For, Frank + dear,” she said, “you are only legally married, not morally, not as God + can bless—not yet. But I pray that what will sanctify all may come + soon, very soon, to the joy of us all. But again—and I cannot say it + too prayerfully—do not force one little claim that your marriage + gave you, but prove yourself to her, who has cause to distrust you so + much. Will you forgive your mother, my dear, for speaking to you?” + </p> + <p> + He had told her then that what she had asked he had intended as his own + course, yet what she had said would keep it in his mind always, for he was + sure it was right. Mrs. Armour had then embraced him, and they parted. + Dealing with Lali had taught them all much of the human heart that they + had never known before, and the result thereof was wisdom. + </p> + <p> + They talked casually enough for the rest of the ride, and before they + parted at the door Frank received his commission for Regent Street, and + accepted it with delight, as a schoolboy might a gift. He was absurdly + grateful for any favours from her, any sign of her companionship. They met + at luncheon; then, because Lali had to keep an engagement in Eaton Square, + they parted again, and Frank and Richard took a walk, after a long hour + with the child, who still so hungered for his sword that Frank disobeyed + orders, and dragged Richard off to Oxford Street to get one. He was + reduced to a beatific attitude of submission, for he knew that he had few + odds with him now, and that he must live by virtue of new virtues. He was + no longer proud of himself in any way, and he knew that no one else was, + or rather he felt so, and that was just the same. + </p> + <p> + He talked of the boy, he talked of his wife, he laid plans, he tore them + down, he built them up again, he asked advice, he did not wait to hear it, + but rambled on, excited, eager. Truth is, there had suddenly been lifted + from his mind the dread and shadow of four years. Wherever he had gone, + whatever he had been or done, that dread shadow had followed him, and now + to know that instead of having to endure a hell he had to win a heaven, + and to feel as if his brain had been opened and a mass of vapours and + naughty little mannikins of remorse had been let out, was a trifle + intoxicating even to a man of his usual vigour and early acquaintance with + exciting things. + </p> + <p> + “Dick, Dick!” he said enthusiastically, “you’ve been royal. You always + were better than any chap I ever knew. You’re always doing for others. + Hang it, Dick, where does your fun come in? Nobody seems ever to do + anything for you.” + </p> + <p> + Richard gave his arm a squeeze. “Never mind about me, boy. I’ve had all + the fun I want, and all I’m likely to get, and so long as you’re all + willing to have me around, I’m satisfied. There’s always a lot to do among + the people in the village, one way and another, and I’ve a heap of reading + on, and what more does a fellow want?” + </p> + <p> + “You didn’t always feel that way, Dick?” + </p> + <p> + “No. You see, at different times in life you want different kinds of + pleasures. I’ve had a good many kinds, and the present kind is about as + satisfactory as any.” + </p> + <p> + “But, Dick, you ought to get married. You’ve got coin, you’ve got sense, + you’re a bit distinguished-looking, and I’ll back your heart against a + thousand bishops. You’ve never been in danger of making a fool of yourself + as I have. Why didn’t you—why don’t you—get married?” + </p> + <p> + Richard patted his brother’s shoulder. + </p> + <p> + “Married, boy? Married? I’ve got too much on my hands. I’ve got to bring + you up yet. And when that’s done I shall have to write a book called ‘How + to bring up a Parent.’ Then I’ve got to help bring your boy up, as I’ve + done these last three years and more. I’ve got to think of that boy for a + long while yet, for I know him better than you do, and I shall need some + of my coin to carry out my plans.” + </p> + <p> + “God bless you, Dick! Bring me up as you will, only bring her along too; + and as for the boy, you’re far more his father than I am. And mother says + that it’s you that’s given me the wife I’ve got now—so what can I + say?—what can I say?” + </p> + <p> + It was the middle of the Green Park, and Richard turned and clasped Frank + by both shoulders. + </p> + <p> + “Say? Say that you’ll stand by the thing you swore to one mad day in the + West as well as any man that ever lived—‘to have and to hold, to + love and to cherish from this day forth till death us do part, Amen.’” + </p> + <p> + Richard’s voice was low and full of a strange, searching something. + </p> + <p> + Frank, wondering at this great affection and fondness of his brother, + looked him in the eyes warmly, solemnly, and replied: “For richer or for + poorer, for better or for worse, in sickness and in health—so help + me God, and her kindness and forgiveness!” + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0012" id="link2HCH0012"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + CHAPTER XII. “THE CHASE OF THE YELLOW SWAN” + </h2> + <p> + Frank and Lali did not meet until dinner was announced. The conversation + at dinner was mainly upon the return to Greyhope, which was fixed for the + following morning, and it was deftly kept gay and superficial by Marion + and Richard and Captain Vidall, until General Armour became reminiscent, + and held the interest of the table through a dozen little incidents of + camp and barrack life until the ladies rose. There had been an engagement + for late in the evening, but it had been given up because of Frank’s + home-coming, and there was to be a family gathering merely—for + Captain Vidall was now as much one of the family as Frank or Richard, by + virtue of his approaching marriage with Marion. The men left alone, + General Armour questioned Frank freely about life in the Hudson’s Bay + country, and the conversation ran on idly till it was time to join the + ladies. + </p> + <p> + When they reached the drawing-room, Marion was seated at the piano, + playing a rhapsody of Raff’s, and Mrs. Armour and Lali were seated side by + side. Frank thrilled at seeing his wife’s hand in his mother’s. Marion + nodded over the piano at the men, and presently played a snatch of Carmen, + then wandered off into the barbaric strength of Tannhauser, and as + suddenly again into the ballet music of Faust. + </p> + <p> + “Why so wilful, my girl?” asked her father, who had a keen taste for + music. “Why this tangle? Let us have something definite.” + </p> + <p> + Marion sprang up from the piano. “I can’t. I’m not definite myself + to-night.” Then, turning to Lali: “Lali dear, sing something—do! + Sing my favourite, ‘The Chase of the Yellow Swan.’” + </p> + <p> + This was a song which in the later days at Greyhope, Lali had sung for + Marion, first in her own language, with the few notes of an Indian chant, + and afterwards, by the help of the celebrated musician who had taught her + both music and singing, both of which she had learned but slowly, it was + translated and set to music. Lali looked Marion steadily in the eyes for a + moment and then rose. It cost her something to do this thing, for while + she had often talked much and long with Richard about that old life, it + now seemed as if she were to sing it to one who would not quite understand + why she should sing it at all, or what was her real attitude towards her + past—that she looked upon it from the infinite distance of + affectionate pity, knowledge, and indescribable change, and yet loved the + inspiring atmosphere and mystery of that lonely North, which once in the + veins never leaves it—never. Would he understand that she was + feeling, not the common detail of the lodge and the camp-fire and the + Company’s post, but the deep spirit of Nature, filtering through the + senses in a thousand ways—the wild ducks’ flight, the sweet smell of + the balsam, the exquisite gallop of the deer, the powder of the frost, the + sun and snow and blue plains of water, the thrilling eternity of plain and + the splendid steps of the hills, which led away by stair and entresol to + the Kimash Hills, the Hills of the Mighty Men? + </p> + <p> + She did not know what he would think, and again on second thought she + determined to make him, by this song, contrast her as she was when he + married her, and now—how she herself could look upon that past + unabashed, speak of it without blushing, sing of it with pride, having + reached a point where she could look down and say: “This was the way by + which I came.” + </p> + <p> + She rose, and was accompanied to the piano by General Armour, Frank + admiring her soft, springing steps, her figure so girlish and lissom. She + paused for a little before she began. Her eyes showed for a moment over + the piano, deep, burning, in-looking; then they veiled; her fingers + touched the keys, wandered over them in a few strange, soft chords, + paused, wandered again, more firmly and very intimately, and then she + sang. Her voice was a good contralto, well balanced, true, of no great + range, but within its compass melodious, and having some inexpressible + charm of temperament. Frank did not need to strain his ears to hear the + words; every one came clear, searching, delicately valued: + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + “In the flash of the singing dawn, + At the door of the Great One, + The joy of his lodge knelt down, + Knelt down, and her hair in the sun + Shone like showering dust, + And her eyes were as eyes of the fawn. + And she cried to her lord, + ‘O my lord, O my life, + From the desert I come; + From the hills of the Dawn.’ + And he lifted the curtain and said, + ‘Hast thou seen It, the Yellow Swan?’ + + “And she lifted her head, and her eyes + Were as lights in the dark, + And her hands folded slow on her breast, + And her face was as one who has seen + The gods and the place where they dwell; + And she said: ‘Is it meet that I kneel, + That I kneel as I speak to my lord?’ + And he answered her: ‘Nay, but to stand, + And to sit by my side; + But speak, thou hast followed the trail, + Hast thou found It, the Yellow Swan?’ + + “And she stood as a queen, and her voice + Was as one who hath seen the Hills, + The Hills of the Mighty Men, + And hath heard them cry in the night, + Hath heard them call in the dawn, + Hath seen It, the Yellow Swan. + And she said: ‘It is not for my lord;’ + And she murmured, ‘I cannot tell, + But my lord must go as I went, + And my lord must come as I came, + And my lord shall be wise.’ + + “And he cried in his wrath, + ‘What is thine, it is mine, + And thine eyes are my eyes + Thou shalt speak of the Yellow Swan!’ + But she answered him: ‘Nay, though I die. + I have lain in the nest of the Swan, + I have heard, I have known; + When thine eyes too have seen, + When thine ears too have heard, + Thou shalt do with me then as thou wilt!’ + + “And he lifted his hand to strike, + And he straightened his spear to slay, + But a great light struck on his eyes, + And he heard the rushing of wings, + And his long spear fell from his hand, + And a terrible stillness came. + And when the spell passed from his eyes, + He stood in his doorway alone, + And gone was the queen of his soul, + And gone was the Yellow Swan.” + </pre> + <p> + Frank Armour listened as in a dream. The song had the wild swing of savage + life, the deep sweetness of a monotone, but it had also the fine + intelligence, the subtle allusiveness of romance. He could read between + the lines. The allegory touched him where his nerves were sensitive. Where + she had gone he could not go until his eyes had seen and known what hers + had seen and known; he could not grasp his happiness all in a moment; she + was no longer at his feet, but equal with him, and wiser than he. She had + not meant the song to be allusive when she began, but to speak to him + through it by singing the heathen song as his own sister might sing it. As + the song went on, however, she felt the inherent suggestion in it, so that + when she had finished it required all her strength to get up calmly, come + among them again, and listen to their praises and thanks. She had no + particular wish to be alone with Frank just yet, but the others soon + arranged themselves so that the husband and wife were left in a cosey + corner of the room. + </p> + <p> + Lali’s heart fluttered a little at first, for the day had been trying, and + she was not as strong as she could wish. Admirably as she had gone through + the season, it had worn on her, and her constitution had become sensitive + and delicate, while yet strong. The life had almost refined her too much. + Always on the watch that she should do exactly as Marion or Mrs. Armour, + always so sensitive as to what was required of her, always preparing for + this very time, now that it had come, and her heart and mind were strong, + her body seemed to weaken. Once or twice during the day she had felt a + little faint, but it had passed off, and she had scolded herself. She did + not wish a serious talk with her husband to-night, but she saw now that it + was inevitable. + </p> + <p> + He said to her as he sat down beside her: “You sing very well indeed. The + song is full of meaning, and you bring it all out.” + </p> + <p> + “I am glad you like it,” she responded conventionally. “Of course it’s an + unusual song for an English drawing-room.” + </p> + <p> + “As you sing it, it would be beautiful and acceptable anywhere, Lali.” + </p> + <p> + “Thank you again,” she answered, closing and unclosing her fan, her eyes + wandering to where Mrs. Armour was. She wished she could escape, for she + did not feel like talking, and yet though the man was her husband she + could not say that she was too tired to talk; she must be polite. Then, + with a little dainty malice: “It is more interesting, though, in the + vernacular—and costume!” + </p> + <p> + “Not unless you sang it so,” he answered gallantly, and with a kind of + earnestness. + </p> + <p> + “You have not forgotten the way of London men,” she rejoined. + </p> + <p> + “Perhaps that is well, for I do not know the way of women,” he said, with + a faint bitterness. “Yet, I don’t speak unadvisedly in this,”—here + he meant to be a little bold and bring the talk to the past,—“for I + heard you sing that song once before.” + </p> + <p> + She turned on him half puzzled, a little nervous. “Where did you hear me + sing it?” + </p> + <p> + He had made up his mind, wisely enough, to speak with much openness and + some tact also, if possible. “It was on the Glow Worm River at the Clip + Claw Hills. I came into your father’s camp one evening in the autumn, + hungry and tired and knocked about. I was given the next tent to yours. It + was night, and just before I turned in I heard your voice singing. I + couldn’t understand much of the language, but I had the sense of it, and I + know it when I hear it again.” + </p> + <p> + “Yes, I remember singing it that night,” she said. “Next day was the Feast + of the Yellow Swan.” + </p> + <p> + Her eyes presently became dreamy, and her face took on a distant, rapt + look. She sat looking straight before her for a moment. + </p> + <p> + He did not speak, for he interpreted the look aright, and he was going to + be patient, to wait. + </p> + <p> + “Tell me of my father,” she said. “You have been kind to him?” + </p> + <p> + He winced a little. “When I left Fort Charles he was very well,” he said, + “and he asked me to tell you to come some day. He also has sent you a + half-dozen silver-fox skins, a sash, and moccasins made by his own hands. + The things are not yet unpacked.” + </p> + <p> + Moccasins?—She remembered when last she had moccasins on her feet—the + day she rode the horse at the quick-set hedge, and nearly lost her life. + How very distant that all was, and yet how near too! Suddenly she + remembered also why she took that mad ride, and her heart hardened a + little. + </p> + <p> + “You have been kind to my father since I left?” she asked. + </p> + <p> + He met her eyes steadily. “No, not always; not more than I have been kind + to you. But at the last, yes.” Suddenly his voice became intensely direct + and honest. “Lali,” he continued, “there is much that I want to say to + you.” She waved her hand in a wearied fashion. “I want to tell you that I + would do the hardest penance if I could wipe out these last four years.” + </p> + <p> + “Penance?” she said dreamily—“penance? What guarantee of happiness + would that be? One would not wish another to do penance if—” + </p> + <p> + She paused. + </p> + <p> + “I understand,” he said—“if one cared—if one loved. Yes, I + understand. But that does not alter the force or meaning of the wish. I + swear to you that I repent with all my heart—the first wrong to you, + the long absence—the neglect—everything.” + </p> + <p> + She turned slowly to him. “Everything-Everything?” she repeated after him. + “Do you understand what that means? Do you know a woman’s heart? No. Do + you know what a shameful neglect is at the most pitiful time in your life? + No. How can a man know! He has a thousand things—the woman has + nothing, nothing at all except the refuge of home, that for which she gave + up everything!” + </p> + <p> + Presently she broke off, and something sprang up and caught her in the + throat. Years of indignation were at work in her. “I have had a home,” she + said, in a low, thrilling voice—“a good home; but what did that cost + you? Not one honest sentiment of pity, kindness, or solicitude. You + clothed me, fed me, abandoned me, as—how can one say it? Do I not + know, if coming back you had found me as you expected to find me, what the + result would have been? Do I not know? You would have endured me if I did + not thrust myself upon you, for you have after all a sense of legal duty, + a kind of stubborn honour. But you would have made my life such that some + day one or both of us would have died suddenly. For”—she looked him + with a hot clearness in the eyes—“for there is just so much that a + woman can bear. I wish this talk had not come now, but, since it has come, + it is better to speak plainly. You see, you misunderstand. A heathen has a + heart as another—has a life to be spoiled or made happy as another. + Had there been one honest passion in your treatment of me—in your + marrying me—there would be something on which to base mutual + respect, which is more or less necessary when one is expected to love. But—but + I will not speak more of it, for it chokes me, the insult to me, not as I + was, but as I am. Then it would probably have driven me mad, if I had + known; now it eats into my life like rust.” + </p> + <p> + He made a motion as if to take her hands, but lifting them away quietly + she said: “You forget that there are others present, as well as the fact + that we can talk better without demonstration.” + </p> + <p> + He was about to speak, but she stopped him. “No, wait,” she said; “for I + want to say a little more. I was only an Indian girl, but you must + remember that I had also in my veins good white blood, Scotch blood. + Perhaps it was that which drew me to you then—for Lali the Indian + girl loved you. Life had been to me pleasant enough—without care, + without misery, open, strong and free; our people were not as those others + which had learned the white man’s vices. We loved the hunt, the + camp-fires, the sacred feasts, the legends of the Mighty Men; and the + earth was a good friend, whom we knew as the child knows its mother.” + </p> + <p> + She paused. Something seemed to arrest her attention. Frank followed her + eyes. She was watching Captain Vidall and Marion. He guessed what she was + thinking—how different her own wooing had been from theirs, how + concerning her courtship she had not one sweet memory—the thing that + keeps alive more love and loyalty in this world than anything else. + Presently General Armour joined them, and Frank’s opportunity was over for + the present. + </p> + <p> + Captain Vidall and Marion were engaged in a very earnest conversation, + though it might not appear so to observers. + </p> + <p> + “Come, now, Marion,” he said protestingly, “don’t be impossible. Please + give the day a name. Don’t you think we’ve waited about long enough?” + </p> + <p> + “There was a man in the Bible who served seven years.” + </p> + <p> + “I’ve served over three in India since I met you at the well, and that + counts double. Why so particular to a day? It’s a bit Jewish. Anyhow, that + seven years was rough on Rachel.” + </p> + <p> + “How, Hume? Because she got passee?” + </p> + <p> + “Well, that counted; but do you suppose that Jew was going to put in those + seven years without interest? Don’t you believe it. Rachel paid capital + and interest back, or Jacob was no Jew. Tell me, Marion, when shall it + be?” + </p> + <p> + “Hume, for a man who has trifled away years in India, you are strangely + impatient.” + </p> + <p> + “Mrs. Lambert says that I have the sweetest disposition.” + </p> + <p> + “My dear sir!” + </p> + <p> + “Don’t look at me like that at this distance, or I shall have to wear + goggles, as the man did who went courting the Sun.” + </p> + <p> + “How supremely ridiculous you are! And I thought you such a sensible, + serious man.” + </p> + <p> + “Mrs. Lambert put that in your head. We used to meet at the annual dinners + of the Bible Society.” + </p> + <p> + “Why do you tell me such stuff?” + </p> + <p> + “It’s a fact. Her father and my aunt were in that swim, and we were + sympathisers.” + </p> + <p> + “Mercenary people!” + </p> + <p> + “It worked very well in her case; not so well in mine. But we conceived a + profound respect for each other then. But tell me, Marion, when is it to + be? Why put off the inevitable?” + </p> + <p> + “It isn’t inevitable—and I’m only twenty-three.” + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + “Only twenty-three, + And as good fish in the sea” + </pre> + <p> + he responded, laughing. “Yes, but you’ve set the precedent for a courtship + of four years and a bit, and what man could face it?” + </p> + <p> + “You did.” + </p> + <p> + “Yes, but I wasn’t advertised of the fact beforehand. Suppose I had seen + the notice at the start: ‘This mortgage cannot be raised inside of four + years—and a bit!’ There’s a limit to human endurance.” + </p> + <p> + “Why shouldn’t I hold to the number, but alter the years to days?” + </p> + <p> + “You wouldn’t dare. A woman must live up to her reputation.” + </p> + <p> + “Indeed? What an ambition!” + </p> + <p> + “And a man to his manners.” + </p> + <p> + “An unknown quantity.” + </p> + <p> + “And a lover to his promises.” + </p> + <p> + “A book of jokes.” Marion had developed a taste for satire. + </p> + <p> + “Which reminds me of Lady Halwood and Mrs. Lambert. Lady Halwood was more + impertinent than usual the other day at the Sinclairs’ show, and had a + little fling at Mrs. Lambert. The talk turned on gowns. Lady Halwood was + much interested at once. She has a weakness that way. ‘Why,’ said she, ‘I + like these fashions this year, but I’m not sure that they suit me. They’re + the same as when the Queen came to the throne.’ ‘Well,’ said Mrs. Lambert + sweetly, ‘if they suited you then—’ There was an audible titter, and + Mrs. Lambert had an enemy for life.” + </p> + <p> + “I don’t see the point of your story in this connection.” + </p> + <p> + “No? Well, it was merely to suggest that if you had to live up to this + scheme of four-years’ probation, other people besides lovers would make up + books of jokes, and—” + </p> + <p> + “That’s like a man—to threaten.” + </p> + <p> + “Yes, I threaten—on my knees.” + </p> + <p> + “Hume, how long do you think Frank will have to wait?” + </p> + <p> + They were sitting where they had a good view of the husband and wife, and + Vidall, after a moment, said: “I don’t know. She has waited four years, + too; now it looks as if, like Jacob, she was going to gather in her + shekels of interest compounded.” + </p> + <p> + “It isn’t going to be a bit pleasant to watch.” + </p> + <p> + “But you won’t be here to see.” + </p> + <p> + Marion ignored the suggestion. “She seems to have hardened since he came + yesterday. I hardly know her; and yet she looks awfully worn to-night, + don’t you think?” + </p> + <p> + “Yes, as if she had to keep a hand on herself. But it’ll come out all + right in the end, you’ll see.” + </p> + <p> + “Yes, of course; but she might be sensible and fall in love with Frank at + once. That’s what she did when—” + </p> + <p> + “When she didn’t know man.” + </p> + <p> + “Yes, but where would you all be if we women acted on what we know of + you?” + </p> + <p> + “On our knees chiefly, as I am. Remember this, Marion, that half a sinner + is better than no man.” + </p> + <p> + “You mean that no man is better than half a saint?” + </p> + <p> + “How you must admire me!” + </p> + <p> + “Why?” + </p> + <p> + “As you are about to name the day, I assume that I’m a whole saint in your + eyes.” + </p> + <p> + “St. Augustine!” + </p> + <p> + “Who was he?” + </p> + <p> + “A man that reformed.” + </p> + <p> + “Before or after marriage?” + </p> + <p> + “Before, I suppose.” + </p> + <p> + “I don’t think he died happy.” + </p> + <p> + “Why not?” + </p> + <p> + “I’ve a faint recollection that he was boiled.” + </p> + <p> + “Don’t be horrid. What has that to do with it?” + </p> + <p> + “Nothing, perhaps. But he probably broke out again after marriage, and + sank at last into that caldron. That’s what it means by being-steeped in + crime.” + </p> + <p> + “How utterly nonsensical you are!” + </p> + <p> + “I feel light-headed. You’ve been at sea, on a yacht becalmed, haven’t + you? when along comes a groundswell, and as you rock in the sun there + comes trouble, and your head goes round like a top? Now, that’s my case. + I’ve been becalmed four years, and while I pray for a little wind to take + me—home, you rock me in the trough of uncertainty. Suspense is very + gall and wormwood. You know what the jailer said to the criminal who was + hanging on a reprieve: ‘Rope deferred maketh the heart sick.’ Marion, give + me the hour, or give me the rope.” + </p> + <p> + “The rope enough to hang yourself?” + </p> + <p> + She suddenly reached up and pulled a hair from her head. She laid it in + his hand-a long brown silken thread. “Hume,” she said airily yet gently, + “there is the rope. Can you love me for a month of Sundays?” + </p> + <p> + “Yes, for ever and a day!” + </p> + <p> + “I will cancel the day, and take your bond for the rest. I will be + generous. I will marry you in two months-and a day.” + </p> + <p> + “My dearest girl!”—he drew her hand into both of his—“I can’t + have you more generous than myself, I’ll throw off the month.” But his + eyes were shining very seriously, though his mouth smiled. + </p> + <p> + “Two months and a day,” she repeated. + </p> + <p> + “We must all bundle off to Greyhope to-morrow,” came General Armour’s + voice across the room. “Down comes the baby, cradle and all.” + </p> + <p> + Lali rose. “I am very tired,” she said; “I think I will say good-night.” + </p> + <p> + “I’ll go and see the boy with you,” Frank said, rising also. + </p> + <p> + Lali turned towards Marion. Marion’s face was flushed, and had a sweet, + happy confusion. With a low, trembling good-night to Captain Vidall, a + hurried kiss on her mother’s cheek, and a tip-toed caress on her father’s + head, she ran and linked her arm in Lali’s, and together they proceeded to + the child’s room. Richard was there when they arrived, mending a broken + toy. Two hours later, the brothers parted at Frank’s door. + </p> + <p> + “Reaping the whirlwind, Dick?” Frank said, dropping his hand on his + brother’s arm. + </p> + <p> + Richard pointed to the child’s room. + </p> + <p> + “Nonsense! Do you want all the world at once? You are reaping the + forgiveness of your sins.” Somehow Richard’s voice was a little stern. + </p> + <p> + “I was thinking of my devilry, Dick. That’s the whirlwind—here!” His + hand dropped on his breast. + </p> + <p> + “That’s where it ought to be. Good-night.” + </p> + <p> + “Good-night.” + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0013" id="link2HCH0013"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + CHAPTER XIII. A LIVING POEM + </h2> + <p> + Part of Frank’s most trying interview, next to the meeting with his wife, + was that with Mackenzie, who had been his special commissioner in the + movement of his masquerade. Mackenzie also had learned a great deal since + she had brought Lali—home. She, like others, had come to care truly + for the sweet barbarian, and served her with a grim kind of reverence. + Just in proportion as this had increased, her respect for Frank had + decreased. No man can keep a front of dignity in the face of an unbecoming + action. However, Mackenzie had her moment, and when it was over, the new + life began at no general disadvantage to Frank. To all save the immediate + family Frank and Lali were a companionable husband and wife. She rode with + him, occasionally walked with him, now and again sang to him, and they + appeared in the streets of St. Albans and at the Abbey together, and + oftener still in the village church near, where the Armours of many + generations were proclaimed of much account in the solid virtues of tomb + and tablet. + </p> + <p> + The day had gone by when Lali attracted any especial notice among the + villagers, and she enjoyed the quiet beauty and earnestness of the + service. But she received a shock one Sunday. She had been nervous all the + week, she could not tell why, and others remarked how her face had taken + on a new sensitiveness, a delicate anxiety, and that her strength was not + what it had been. As, for instance, after riding she required to rest, a + thing before unknown, and she often lay down for an hour before dinner. + Then, too, at table once she grew suddenly pale and swayed against Edward + Lambert, who was sitting next to her. She would not, however, leave the + table, but sat the dinner out, to Frank’s apprehension. He was devoted, + but it was clear to Marion and her mother at least that his attentions + were trying to her. They seemed to put her under an obligation which to + meet was a trial. There is nothing more wearing to a woman than + affectionate attentions from a man who has claims upon her, but whom she + does not love. These same attentions from one who has no claims give her a + thrill of pleasure. It is useless to ask for justice in such a matter. + These things are governed by no law; and rightly so, else the world would + be in good time a loveless multitude, held together only by the hungering + ties of parent and child. + </p> + <p> + But this Sunday wherein Lali received a shock. She did not know that the + banns for Marion’s and Captain Vidall’s marriage were to be announced, and + at the time her thoughts were far away. She was recalled to herself by the + clergyman’s voice pronouncing their names, and saying: “If any of you do + know cause or just impediment why these two people should not be joined + together in the bonds of holy matrimony, ye are to declare it.” All at + once there came back to her her own marriage when the Protestant + missionary, in his nasal monotone, mumbled these very words, not as if he + expected that any human being would, or could, offer objection. + </p> + <p> + She almost sprang from her seat now. Her nerves all at once came to such a + tension that she could have cried out. Why had there been no one there at + her marriage to say: “I forbid it”? How shameful it had all been! And the + first kiss her husband had given her had the flavour of brandy! If she + could but turn back the hands upon the clock of Time! Under the influence + of the music and the excited condition of her nerves, the event became + magnified, distorted; it burned into her brain. It was not made less + poignant by the sermon from the text: “Mene, Mene, Tekel, Upharsin.” When + the words were first announced in the original, it sounded like her own + language, save that it was softer, and her heart throbbed fast. Then came + the interpretation: “Thou art weighed in the balance and found wanting.” + </p> + <p> + Then suddenly swept over her a new feeling, one she had never felt before. + Up to this point a determination to justify her child, to reverse the + verdict of the world, to turn her husband’s sin upon himself, had made her + defiant, even bitter; in all things eager to live up to her new life, to + the standard that Richard had by manner and suggestion, rather than by + words, laid down for her. But now there came in upon her a flood of + despair. At best she was only of this race through one-third of her + parentage, and education and refinement and all things could do no more + than make her possible. There must always be in the record: “She was of a + strange people. She was born in a wigwam.” She did not know that failing + health was really the cause of this lapse of self-confidence, this growing + self-depreciation, this languor for which she could not account. She found + that she could not toss the child and frolic with it as she had done; she + was conscious that within a month there had stolen upon her the desire to + be much alone, to avoid noises and bustle—it irritated her. She + found herself thinking more and more of her father, her father to whom she + had never written one line since she had left the North. She had had good + reasons for not writing—writing could do no good whatever, + particularly to a man who could not read, and who would not have + understood her new life if he had read. Yet now she seemed not to know why + she had not written, and to blame herself for neglect and forgetfulness. + It weighed on her. Why had she ever been taken from the place of + tamarack-trees and the sweeping prairie grass? No, no, she was not, after + all, fit for this life. She had been mistaken, and Richard had been + mistaken—Richard, who was so wise. The London season? Ah! that was + because people had found a novelty, and herself of better manners than had + been expected. + </p> + <p> + The house was now full of preparations for the wedding. It stared her in + the face every day, almost every hour. Dressmakers, milliners, tailors, + and all those other necessary people. Did the others think what all this + meant to her? It was impossible that they should. When Marion came back + from town at night and told of her trials among the dressmakers, when she + asked the general opinion and sometimes individual judgment, she could not + know that it was at the expense of Lali’s nerves. + </p> + <p> + Lali, when she married, had changed her moccasins, combed her hair, and + put on a fine red belt, and that was all. She was not envious now, not at + all. But somehow it all was a deadly kind of evidence against herself and + her marriage. Her reproach was public, the world knew it, and no woman can + forgive a public shame, even was it brought about by a man she loved, or + loves. Her chiefest property in life is her self-esteem and her name + before the world. Rob her of these, and her heaven has fallen, and if a + man has shifted the foundations of her peace, there is no forgiveness for + him till her Paradise has been reconquered. So busy were all the others + that they did not see how her strength was failing. There were three weeks + between the day the banns were announced and the day of the wedding, which + was to be in the village church, not in town; for, as Marion said, she had + seen too many marriages for one day’s triumph and criticism; she wanted + hers where there would be neither triumph nor criticism, but among people + who had known her from her childhood up. A happy romance had raised + Marion’s point of view. + </p> + <p> + Meanwhile Frank was winning the confidence of his own child, who, however, + ranked Richard higher always, and became to a degree his father’s tyrant. + But Frank’s nature was undergoing a change. His point of view also had + enlarged. The suffering, bitterness, and humiliation of his life in the + North had done him good. He was being disciplined to take his position as + a husband and father, but he sometimes grew heavy-hearted when he saw how + his attentions oppressed his wife, and had it not been for Richard he + might probably have brought on disaster, for the position was trying to + all concerned. A few days before the wedding Edward Lambert and his wife + arrived, and he, Captain Vidall, and Frank Armour took rides and walks + together, or set the world right in the billiard-room. Richard seldom + joined them, though their efforts to induce him to do so were many. He had + his pensioners, his books, his pipe, and “the boy,” and he had returned in + all respects, in so far as could be seen, to his old life, save for the + new and larger interest of his nephew. + </p> + <p> + One evening the three men with General Armour were all gathered in the + billiard-room. Conversation had been general and without particular force, + as it always is when merely civic or political matters are under view. But + some one gave a social twist to the talk, and presently they were launched + upon that sea where every man provides his own chart, or he is a very worm + and no man. Each man had been differently trained, each viewed life from a + different stand-point, and yet each had been brought up in the same social + atmosphere, in the same social sets, had imbibed the same traditions, been + moved generally by the same public considerations. + </p> + <p> + “But there’s little to be said for a man who doesn’t, outwardly at least, + live up to the social necessity,” said Lambert. + </p> + <p> + “And keep the Ten Commandments in the vulgar tongue,” rejoined Vidall. + </p> + <p> + “I’ve lived seventy-odd years, and I’ve knocked about a good deal in my + time,” said the general, “but I’ve never found that you could make a + breach of social necessity, as you call it, without paying for it one way + or another. The trouble with us when we’re young is that we want to get + more out of life than there really is in it. There is not much in it, + after all. You can stand just so much fighting, just so much work, just so + much emotion—and you can stand less emotion than anything else. I’m + sure more men and women break up from a hydrostatic pressure of emotion + than from anything else. Upon my soul, that’s so.” + </p> + <p> + “You are right, General,” said Lambert. “The steady way is the best way. + The world is a passable place, if a fellow has a decent income by + inheritance, or can earn a big one, but to be really contented to earn + money it must be a big one, otherwise he is far better pleased to take the + small inherited income. It has a lot of dignity, which the other can only + bring when it is large.” + </p> + <p> + “That’s only true in this country; it’s not true in America,” said Frank, + “for there the man who doesn’t earn money is looked upon as a muff, and is + treated as such. A small inherited income is thought to be a trifle + enervating. But there is a country of emotions, if you like. The American + heart is worn upon the American sleeve, and the American mind is the most + active thing in this world. That’s why they grow old so young.” + </p> + <p> + “I met a woman a year or so ago at dinner,” said Vidall, “who looked + forty. She looked it, and she acted it. She was younger than any woman + present, but she seemed older. There was a kind of hopeless languor about + her which struck me as pathetic. Yet she had been beautiful, and might + even have been so when I saw her, if it hadn’t been for that look. It was + the look of a person who had no interest in things. And the person who has + no interest in things is the person who once had a great deal of interest + in things, who had too passionate an interest. The revulsion is always + terrible. Too much romance is deadly. It is as false a stimulant as opium + or alcohol, and leaves a corresponding mark. Well, I heard her history. + She was married at fifteen—ran away to be married; and in spite of + the fact that a railway accident nearly took her husband from her on the + night of her marriage—one would have thought that would make a + strong bond—she was soon alive to the attentions that are given a + pretty and—considerate woman. At a ball at Naples, her husband, + having in vain tried to induce her to go home, picked her up under his arm + and carried her out of the ballroom. Then came a couple of years of + opium-eating, fierce social excitement, divorce, new marriage, and so on, + until her husband agreeably decided to live in Nice, while she lived + somewhere else. Four days after I had met her at the dinner I saw her + again. I could scarcely believe my eyes. The woman had changed completely. + She was young again-twenty-five, in face and carriage, in the eye and + hand, in step and voice.” + </p> + <p> + “Who was the man?” suggested Frank Armour. “A man about her own age, or a + little more, but who was an infant beside her in knowledge of the world.” + “She was in love with the fellow? It was a grande passion?” asked Lambert. + </p> + <p> + “In love with him? No, not at all. It was a momentary revival of an + old-possibility.” + </p> + <p> + “You mean that such women never really love?” + </p> + <p> + “Perhaps once, Frank, but only after a fashion. The rest was mere + imitation of their first impulses.” + </p> + <p> + “And this woman?” + </p> + <p> + “Well, the end came sooner than I expected. I tell you I was shocked at + the look in her face when I saw it again. That light had flickered out; + the sensitive alertness of hand, eye, voice, and carriage had died away; + lines had settled in the face, and the face itself had gone cold, with + that hard, cold passiveness which comes from exhausted emotions and a + closed heart. The jewels she wore might have been put upon a statue with + equal effect.” + </p> + <p> + “It seems to me that we might pitch into men in these things and not make + women the dreadful examples,” said a voice from the corner. It was the + voice of Richard, who had but just entered. + </p> + <p> + “My dear Dick,” said his father, “men don’t make such frightful examples, + because these things mean less to men than they do to women. Romance is an + incident to a man; he can even come through an affaire with no ideals + gone, with his mental fineness unimpaired; but it is different with a + woman. She has more emotion than mind, else there were no cradles in the + land. Her standards are set by the rules of the heart, and when she has + broken these rules she has lost her standard too. But to come back, it is + true, I think, as I said, that man or woman must not expect too much out + of life, but be satisfied with what they can get within the normal courses + of society and convention and home, and the end thereof is peace—yes, + upon my soul, it’s peace.” + </p> + <p> + There was something very fine in the blunt, honest words of the old man, + whose name had ever been sweet with honour. + </p> + <p> + “And the chief thing is that a man live up to his own standard,” said + Lambert. “Isn’t that so, Dick?—you’re the wise man.” + </p> + <p> + “Every man should have laws of his own, I should think; commandments of + his own, for every man has a different set of circumstances wherein to + work—or worry.” + </p> + <p> + “The wisest man I ever knew,” said Frank, dropping his cigar, “was a + little French-Canadian trapper up in the Saskatchewan country. A priest + asked him one day what was the best thing in life, and he answered: ‘For a + young man’s mind to be old, and an old man’s heart to be young.’ The + priest asked him how that could be. And he said: ‘Good food, a good woman + to teach him when he is young, and a child to teach him when he is old.’ + Then the priest said: ‘What about the Church and the love of God?’ The + little man thought a little, and then said: ‘Well, it is the same—the + love of man and woman came first in the world, then the child, then God in + the garden.’ Afterwards he made a little speech of good-bye to us, for we + were going to the south while he remained in a fork of the Far Off River. + It was like some ancient blessing: that we should always have a safe tent + and no sorrow as we travelled; that we should always have a cache for our + food, and food for our cache; that we should never find a tree that would + not give sap, nor a field that would not grow grain; that our bees should + not freeze in winter, and that the honey should be thick, and the comb + break like snow in the teeth; that we keep hearts like the morning, and + that we come slow to the Four Corners where man says Good-night.” + </p> + <p> + Each of the other men present wondered at that instant if Frank Armour + would, or could, have said this with the same feelings two months before. + He seemed almost transformed. + </p> + <p> + “It reminds me,” said the general, “of an inscription from an Egyptian + monument which an officer of the First put into English verse for me years + ago: + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + “Fair be the garden where their loves shall dwell, + Safe be the highway where their feet may go, + Rich be the fields wherein their hands may toil, + The fountains many where their good wines flow. + Full be their harvest-bins with corn and oil, + To sorrow may their humour be a foil; + Quick be their hearts all wise delights to know, + Tardy their footsteps to the gate Farewell.” + </pre> + <p> + There was a moment’s silence after he had finished, and then there was + noise without, a sound of pattering feet; the door flew open, and in ran a + little figure in white—young Richard in his bed-gown, who had broken + away from his nurse, and had made his way to the billiard-room, where he + knew his uncle had gone. + </p> + <p> + The child’s face was flashing with mischief and adventure. He ran in among + the group, and stretched out his hands with a little fighting air. His + uncle Richard made a step towards him, but he ran back; his father made as + if to take him in his arms, but he evaded him. Presently the door opened, + the nurse entered, the child sprang from among the group, and ran with a + laughing defiance to the farthest end of the room, and, leaning his chin + on the billiard-table, flashed a look of defiant humour at his pursuer. + Presently the door opened again, and the figure of the mother appeared. + All at once the child’s face altered; he stood perfectly still, and waited + for his mother to come to him. Lali had not spoken, and she did not speak + until, lifting the child, she came the length of the billiard-table and + faced them. + </p> + <p> + “I beg your pardon,” she said, “for intruding; but Richard has led us a + dance, and I suppose the mother may go where her child goes.” + </p> + <p> + “The mother and the child are always welcome wherever they go,” said + General Armour quietly. + </p> + <p> + All the men had risen to their feet, and they made a kind of semicircle + before her. The white-robed child had clasped its arms about her neck, and + nestled its face against hers, as if, with perfect satisfaction, it had + got to the end of its adventure; but the look of humour was still in the + eyes as they ran from Richard to his father and back again. + </p> + <p> + Frank Armour stepped forwards and took the child’s hand, as it rested on + the mother’s shoulder. Lali’s face underwent a slight change as her + husband’s fingers touched her neck. + </p> + <p> + “I must go,” she said. “I hope I have not broken up a serious conversation—or + were you not so serious after all?” she said, glancing archly at General + Armour. “We were talking of women,” said Lambert. + </p> + <p> + “The subject is wide,” replied Lali, “and the speakers many. One would + think some wisdom might be got in such a case.” + </p> + <p> + “Believe me, we were not trying to understand the subject,” said Captain + Vidall; “the most that a mere man can do is to appreciate it.” + </p> + <p> + “There are some things that are hidden from the struggling mind of man, + and are revealed unto babes and the mothers of babes,” said General Armour + gravely, as, reaching out his hands, he took the child from the mother’s + arms, kissed it full upon the lips, and added: “Men do not understand + women, because men’s minds have not been trained in the same school. When + once a man has mastered the very alphabet of motherhood, then he shall + have mastered the mind of woman; but I, at least, refuse to say that I do + not understand, from the stand-point of modern cynicism.” + </p> + <p> + “Ah, General, General!” said Lambert, “we have lost the chivalric way of + saying things, which belongs to your generation.” + </p> + <p> + By this time the wife had reached the door. She turned and held out her + arms for the child. General Armour came and placed the boy where he had + found it, and, with eyes suddenly filling, laid both his hands upon Lali’s + and they clasped the child, and said: “It is worth while to have lived so + long and to have seen so much.” Her eyes met his in a wistful, anxious + expression, shifted to those of her husband, dropped to the cheeks of the + child, and with the whispered word, which no one, not even the general, + heard, she passed from the room, the nurse following her. + </p> + <p> + Perhaps some of the most striking contrasts are achieved in the least + melodramatic way. The sudden incursion of the child and its mother into + the group, the effect of their presence, and their soft departure, leaving + behind them, as it were, a trail of light, changed the whole atmosphere of + the room, as though some new life had been breathed into it, charged each + mind with new sensations, and gave each figure new attitude. Not a man + present but had had his full swing with the world, none worse than most + men, none better than most, save that each had latent in him a good sense + of honour concerning all civic and domestic virtues. They were not men of + sentimentality; they were not accustomed to exposing their hearts upon + their sleeve, but each, as the door closed, recognised that something for + one instant had come in among them, had made their past conversation to + appear meagre, crude, and lacking in both height and depth. Somehow, they + seemed to feel, although no words expressed the thought, that for an + instant they were in the presence of a wisdom greater than any wisdom of a + man’s smoking-room. + </p> + <p> + “It is wonderful, wonderful,” said the general slowly, and no man asked + him why he said it, or what was wonderful. But Richard, sitting apart, + watched Frank’s face acutely, himself wondering when the hour would come + that the wife would forgive her husband, and this situation so fraught + with danger would be relieved. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0014" id="link2HCH0014"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + CHAPTER XIV. ON THE EDGE OF A FUTURE + </h2> + <p> + At last the day of the wedding came, a beautiful September day, which may + be more beautiful in uncertain England than anywhere else. Lali had been + strangely quiet all the day before, and she had also seemed strangely + delicate. Perhaps, or perhaps not, she felt the crisis was approaching. It + is probable that when the mind has been strained for a long time, and the + heart and body suffered much, one sees a calamity vaguely, and cannot + define it; appreciates it, and does not know it. She came to Marion’s room + about a half-hour before they were to start for the church. Marion was + already dressed and ready, save for the few final touches, which, though + they have been given a dozen times, must still again be given just before + the bride starts for the church. Such is the anxious mind of women on + these occasions. The two stood and looked at each other a moment, each + wondering what were the thoughts of the other. Lali was struck by that + high, proud look over which lay a glamour of infinite satisfaction, of + sweetness, which comes to every good woman’s face when she goes to the + altar in a marriage which is not contingent on the rise or fall in stocks, + or a satisfactory settlement. Marion, looking, saw, as if it had been + revealed to her all at once, the intense and miraculous change which had + come over the young wife, even within the past two months. Indeed, she had + changed as much within that time as within all the previous four years—that + is, she had been brought to a certain point in her education and + experience, where without a newer and deeper influence she could go no + further. That newer and deeper influence had come, and the result thereof + was a woman standing upon the verge of the real tragedy to her life, which + was not in having married the man, but in facing that marriage with her + new intelligence and a transformed soul. Men can face that sort of thing + with a kind of philosophy, not because men are better or wiser, but + because it really means less to them. They have resources of life, they + can bury themselves in their ambitions good or bad, but a woman can only + bury herself in her affections, unless her heart has been closed; and in + that case she herself has lost much of what made her adorable. And while + she may go on with the closed heart and become a saint, even saintship is + hardly sufficient to compensate any man or woman for a half-lived life. + The only thing worth doing in this world is to live life according to + one’s convictions—and one’s heart. He or she who sells that fine + independence for a mess of pottage, no matter if the mess be spiced, + sells, as the Master said, the immortal part of him. + </p> + <p> + And so Lali, just here on the edge of Marion’s future, looking into that + mirror, was catching the reflection of her own life. When two women come + so near that, like the lovers in the Tempest, they have changed eyes, in + so far as to read each other’s hearts, even indifferently, which is much + where two women are concerned, there is only one resource, and that is to + fall into each other’s arms, and to weep if it be convenient, or to hold + their tears for a more fitting occasion; and most people will admit that + tears need not add to a bride’s beauty. + </p> + <p> + Marion might, therefore, be pardoned if she had her tears in her throat + and not in her eyes, and Lali, if they arose for a moment no higher than + her heart. But they did fall into each other’s arms despite veils and + orange blossoms, and somehow Marion had the feeling for Lali that she had + on that first day at Greyhope, four years ago, when standing on the + bridge, the girl looked down into the water, tears dropping on her hands, + and Marion said to her: “Poor girl! poor girl!” The situations were the + same, because Lali had come to a new phase of her life, and what that + phase would be who could tell-happiness or despair? + </p> + <p> + The usual person might think that Lali was placing herself and her wifely + affection at a rather high price, but then it is about the only thing that + a woman can place high, even though she be one-third a white woman and + two-thirds an Indian. Here was a beautiful woman, who had run the gamut of + a London season, who had played a pretty social part, admirably trained + therefor by one of the best and most cultured families of England. + Besides, why should any woman sell her affections even to her husband, + bargain away her love, the one thing that sanctifies “what God hath joined + let no man put asunder”? Lali was primitive, she was unlike so many in a + trivial world, but she was right. She might suffer, she might die, but, + after all, there are many things worse than that. Man is born in a day, + and he dies in a day, and the thing is easily over; but to have a sick + heart for three-fourths of one’s lifetime is simply to have death renewed + every morning; and life at that price is not worth living. In this + sensitive age we are desperately anxious to save life, as if it was the + really great thing in the world; but in the good, strong times of the + earth—and in these times, indeed, when necessity knows its hour—men + held their lives as lightly as a bird upon the housetop which any chance + stone might drop. + </p> + <p> + It is possible that at this moment the two women understood each other + better than they had ever done, and respected each other more. Lali, + recovering herself, spoke a few soft words of congratulation, and then + appeared to busy herself in putting little touches to Marion’s dress, that + soft persuasion of fingers which does so much to coax mere cloth into a + sort of living harmony with the body. + </p> + <p> + They had no more words of confidence, but in the porch of the church, + Marion, as she passed Lali, caught the slender fingers in her own and + pressed them tenderly. Marion was giving comfort, and yet if she had been + asked why she could not have told. She did not try to define it further + than to say to herself that she herself was having almost too much + happiness. The village was en fete, and peasants lined the street leading + to the church, ready with their hearty God-bless-you’s. Lali sat between + her husband and Mrs. Armour, apparently impassive until there came the + question: “Who giveth this woman to be married to this man?” and General + Armour’s voice came clear and strong: “I do.” Then a soft little cry broke + from her, and she shivered slightly. Mrs. Armour did not notice, but Frank + and Mrs. Lambert heard and saw, and both were afterwards watchful and + solicitous. Frank caught Mrs. Lambert’s eye, and it said, to a little + motion of the head: “Do not appear to notice.” + </p> + <p> + Lali was as if in a dream. She never took her eyes from the group at the + altar until the end, and the two, now man and wife, turned to go into the + vestry. Then she appeared to sink away into herself for a moment, before + she fell into conversation with the others, as they moved towards the + vestry. + </p> + <p> + “It was beautiful, wasn’t it?” ventured Edward Lambert. + </p> + <p> + “The most beautiful wedding I ever saw,” she answered, with a little + shadow of meaning; and Lambert guessed that it was the only one she had + seen since she came to England. + </p> + <p> + “How well Vidall looked,” said Frank, “and as proud as a sultan. Did you + hear what he said, as Marion came up the aisle?” + </p> + <p> + “No,” responded Lambert. + </p> + <p> + “He said, ‘By Jove, isn’t she fine!’ He didn’t seem conscious that other + people were present.” + </p> + <p> + “Well, if a man hasn’t some inspirations on his wedding-day when is he to + have them?” said Mrs. Lambert. “For my part, I think that the woman always + does that sort of thing better than a man. It is her really great + occasion, and she masters it—the comedy is all hers.” They were just + then entering the vestry. + </p> + <p> + “Or the tragedy, as the case may be,” said Lali quietly, smiling at + Marion. She had, as it were, recovered herself, and her words had come + with that airy, impersonal tone which permits nothing of what is said in + it to be taken seriously. Something said by the others had recalled her to + herself, and she was now returned very suddenly to the old position of + alertness and social finesse. Something icy seemed to pass over her, and + she immediately lost all self-consciousness, and began to speak to her + husband with less reserve than she had shown since he had come. But he was + not deceived. He saw that at that very instant she was further away from + him than she had ever been. He sighed, in spite of himself, as Lali, with + well-turned words, said some loving greetings to Marion, and then talked a + moment with Captain Vidall. + </p> + <p> + “Who can understand a woman?” said Lambert to his wife meaningly. + </p> + <p> + “Whoever will,” she answered. “How do you mean?” + </p> + <p> + “Whoever will wait like the saint upon the pillar, will suffer like the + traveller in the desert; serve like a slave, and demand like a king; have + patience greater than Job; love ceaseless as a fountain in the hills; who + sees in the darkness and is not afraid of light; who distrusts not, + neither believes, but stands ready to be taught; who is prepared for a + kiss this hour and a reproach the next; who turneth neither to right nor + left at her words, but hath an unswerving eye—these shall understand + a woman.” + </p> + <p> + “I never knew you so philosophical. Where did you get this deliverance on + the subject?” + </p> + <p> + “May not even a woman have a moment of inspiration?” + </p> + <p> + “I should expect that of my wife.” + </p> + <p> + “And I should expect that of my husband. It is trite to say that men are + vain; I shall remark that they sit so much in their own light that they + are surprised if another being crosses their disc.” + </p> + <p> + “You always were clever, my dear, and you always were twice too good for + me.” + </p> + <p> + “Well, every woman—worth the knowing—is a missionary.” + </p> + <p> + “Where does Lali come in?” + </p> + <p> + “Can you ask? To justify the claims of womanhood in spite of race—and + all.” + </p> + <p> + “To bring one man to a sense of the duty of sex to sex, eh?” + </p> + <p> + “Truly. And is she not doing it well? See her now.” They were now just + leaving the church, and Lali had taken General Armour’s arm, while Richard + led his mother to the carriage. + </p> + <p> + Lali was moving with a little touch of grandeur in her manner and a more + than ordinary deliberation. She had had a moment of great weakness, and + then there had come the reaction—carried almost too far by the force + of the will. She was indeed straining herself too far. Four years of + tension were culminating. + </p> + <p> + “See her now, Edward,” repeated Mrs. Lambert. “Yes, but if I’m not + mistaken, my dear, she is doing so well that she’s going to pieces. She’s + overstrung to-day. If it were you, you’d be in hysterics.” + </p> + <p> + “I believe you are right,” was the grave reply. “There will be an end to + this comedy one way or another very soon.” + </p> + <p> + A moment afterwards they were in a carriage rolling away to Greyhope. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0015" id="link2HCH0015"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + CHAPTER XV. THE END OF THE TRAIL + </h2> + <p> + When Marion was about leaving with her husband for the railway station, + she sought out Lali, and found her standing half hidden by the curtains of + a window, looking out at little Richard, who was parading his pony up and + down before the house. An unutterable sweetness looked out of Marion’s + eyes. She had found, as it seemed to her, and as so many have believed + until their lives’ end, the secret of existence. Lali saw the glistening + joy, and responded to it, just as it was in her being to respond to every + change of nature—that sensitiveness was in her as deep as being. + </p> + <p> + “You are very happy, dear?” she said to Marion. “You cannot think how + happy, Lali. And I want to say that I feel sure that you will yet be as + happy, even happier than I. Oh, it will come—it will come. And you + have the boy now-so fine, so good.” + </p> + <p> + Lali looked out to where little Richard disported himself; her eyes shone, + and she turned with a responsive but still sad smile to Marion. “Marion,” + she said gently, “the other should have come before he came.” “Frank loves + you, Lali.” + </p> + <p> + “Who knows? And then, oh, I cannot tell! How can one force one’s heart? + No, no! One has to wait, and wait, even if the heart grows harder, and one + gets hopeless.” + </p> + <p> + Marion kissed her on the cheek and smiled. “Some day soon the heart will + open up, and then such a flood will pour out! See, Lali. I am going now, + and our lives won’t run together so much again ever, perhaps. But I want + to tell you now that your coming to us has done me a world of good—helped + me to be a wiser girl; and I ought to be a better woman for it. Good-bye.” + </p> + <p> + They were calling to her, and with a hurried embrace the two parted, and + in a few moments the bride and bridegroom were on their way to the new + life. As the carriage disappeared in a turn of the limes, Lali vanished + also to her room. She was not seen at dinner. Mackenzie came to say that + she was not very well, and that she would keep to her room. Frank sent + several times during the evening to inquire after her, and was told that + she was resting comfortably. He did not try to see her, and in this was + wise. He had now fallen into a habit of delicate consideration, which + brought its own reward. He had given up hope of winning her heart or + confidence by storm, and had followed his finer and better instincts—had + come to the point where he made no claims, and even in his own mind stood + upon no rights. His mother brought him word from Lali before he retired, + to say that she was sorry she could not see him, but giving him a message + and a commission into town the following morning for their son. Her tact + had grown is her strength had declined. There is something in failing + health—ill-health without disease—which sharpens and refines + the faculties, and makes the temper exquisitely sensitive—that is, + with people of a certain good sort. The aplomb and spirited manner in + which Lali had borne herself at the wedding and after, was the last + flicker of her old strength, and of the second phase in her married life. + The end of the first phase came with the ride at the quick-set hedge, this + with a less intent but as active a temper. + </p> + <p> + The next morning she did not appear at breakfast, but sent a message to + Frank to say that she was better, and adding another commission for town. + All day, save for an hour on the balcony, she kept to her room, and lay + down for the greater part of the afternoon. In the evening, when Frank + returned, his mother sent for him, and frankly told him that she thought + it would be better for him to go away for a few weeks or so; that Lali was + in a languid, nervous state, and she thought that by the time he got back—if + he would go—she would be better, and that better things would come + for him. + </p> + <p> + Frank was no longer the vain, selfish fellow who had married Lali—something + of the best in him was at work. He understood, and suggested a couple of + weeks with Richard at their little place in Scotland. Also, he saw his + wife for a little while that evening. She had been lying down, but she + disposed herself in a deep chair before he entered. He was a little + shocked to see, as it were all at once, how delicate she looked. He came + and sat down near her, and after a few moments of friendly talk, in which + he spoke solicitously of her health, he told her that he thought of going + up to Scotland with Richard for a few weeks, if she saw no objection. + </p> + <p> + She did not quite understand why he was going. She thought that perhaps he + felt the strain of the situation, and that a little absence would be good + for both. This pleased her. She did not shrink, as she had so often done + since his return, when he laid his hand on hers for an instant, as he + asked her if she were willing that he should go. Sometimes in the past few + weeks she had almost hated him. Now she was a little sorry for him, but + she said that of course he must go; that no doubt it was good that he + should go, and so on, in gentle, allusive phrases. The next evening she + came down to dinner, and was more like herself as she was before Frank + came back, but she ate little, and before the men came into the + drawing-room she had excused herself, and retired; at which Mrs. Lambert + shook her head apprehensively at herself, and made up her mind to stay at + Greyhope longer than she intended. + </p> + <p> + Which was good for all concerned; for, two nights after Frank and Richard + had gone, Mackenzie hurried down to the drawing-room with the news that + Lali had been found in a faint on her chamber floor. That was the + beginning of weeks of anxiety, in which Mrs. Lambert was to Mrs. Armour + what Marion would have been, and more; and both to Lali all that mother + and sister could be. + </p> + <p> + Their patient was unlike any other that they had known. Feverish, she had + no fever; with a gentle, hacking cough, she had no lung trouble; nervous, + she still was oblivious to very much that went on around her; hungering + often for her child, she would not let him remain long with her when he + came. Her sleep was broken, and she sometimes talked to herself, whether + consciously or unconsciously they did not know. The doctor had no remedies + but tonics—he did not understand the case; but he gently ventured + the opinion that it was mostly a matter of race, that she was pining + because civilisation had been infused into her veins—the old + insufficient theory. + </p> + <p> + “Stuff and nonsense!” said General Armour, when his wife told him. “The + girl bloomed till Frank came back. God bless my soul! she’s falling in + love, and doesn’t know what it is.” + </p> + <p> + He was only partly right, perhaps, but he was nearer the truth than the + dealer in quinine and a cheap philosophy of life. “She’ll come around all + right, you’ll see. Decline—decline be hanged! The girl shall live,—damn + it, she shall!” he blurted out, as his wife’s eyes filled with tears. + </p> + <p> + Mrs. Lambert was much of the same mind as the general, but went further. + She said to Mrs. Armour that in all her life she had never seen so sweet a + character, so sensitive a mind—a mind whose sorrow was imagination. + And therein the little lady showed herself a person of wisdom. For none of + them had yet reckoned with that one great element in Lali’s character—that + thing which is the birthright of all who own the North for a mother, the + awe of imagination, the awe and the pain, which in its finest expression + comes near, very near, to the supernatural. Lali’s mind was all pictures; + she never thought of things in words, she saw them; and everything in her + life arrayed itself in a scene before her, made vivid by her sensitive + soul, so much more sensitive now with health failing, the spirit wearing + out the body. There was her malady—the sick heart and mind. + </p> + <p> + A new sickness wore upon her. It had not touched her from the day she left + the North until she sang “The Chase of the Yellow Swan” that first evening + after Frank’s return. Ever since then her father was much in her mind—the + memory of her childhood, and its sweet, inspiring friendship with Nature. + All the roughness and coarseness of the life was refined in her memory by + the exquisite atmosphere of the North, the good sweet earth, the strong + bracing wind, the camaraderie of trees and streams and grass and animals. + And in it all stood her father, whom she had left alone, in that + interminable interval between the old life and the new. + </p> + <p> + Had she done right? She had cut him off, as if he had never been—her + people, her country also; and for what? For this—for this sinking + sense, this failing body, this wear and tear of mind and heart, this + constant study to be possible where she had once been declared by the + world to be impossible. + </p> + <p> + One night she lay sleeping after a rather feverish day, when it was + thought best to keep the child from her. Suddenly she waked, and sat up. + Looking straight before her, she said: + </p> + <p> + “I will arise, and will go to my Father, and will say unto Him, Father, I + have sinned against heaven and before Thee, and am no more worthy to be + called Thy son.” + </p> + <p> + She said nothing more than this, and presently lay back, with eyes wide + open, gazing before her. Like this she lay all night long, a strange, + aching look in her face. There had come upon her the sudden impulse to + leave it all, and go back to her father. But the child—that gave her + pause. Towards morning she fell asleep, and slept far on into the day, a + thing that had not occurred for a long time. + </p> + <p> + At noon a letter arrived for her. It came into General Armour’s hands, and + he, seeing that it bore the stamp of the Hudson’s Bay Company, with the + legend, From Fort St. Charles, concluded that it was news of Lali’s + father. Then came the question whether the letter should be given to her. + The general was for doing so, and he prevailed. If it were bad news, he + said, it might raise her out of her present apathy and by changing the + play of her emotions do her good in the end. + </p> + <p> + The letter was given to her in the afternoon. She took it apathetically, + but presently, seeing where it was from, she opened it hurriedly with a + little cry which was very like a moan too. There were two letters inside + one from the factor at Fort Charles in English, and one from her father in + the Indian language. She read her father’s letter first, the other + fluttered to her feet from her lap. General Armour, looking down, saw a + sentence in it which, he felt, warranted him in picking it up, reading it, + and retaining it, his face settling into painful lines as he did so. Days + afterwards, Lali read her father’s letter to Mrs. Armour. It ran: + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + My daughter, + + Lali, the sweet noise of the Spring: + + Thy father speaks. + + I have seen more than half a hundred moons come like the sickle and + go like the eye of a running buck, swelling with fire, but I hear + not thy voice at my tent door since the first one came and went. + + Thou art gone. + + Thy face was like the sun on running water; thy hand hung on thy + wrists like the ear of a young deer; thy foot was as soft on the + grass as the rain on a child’s cheek; thy words were like snow in + summer, which melts in richness on the hot earth. Thy bow and arrow + hang lonely upon the wall, and thy empty cup is beside the pot. + + Thou art gone. + + Thou hast become great with a great race, and that is well. Our + race is not great, and shall not be, until the hour when the Mighty + Men of the Kimash Hills arise from their sleep and possess the land + again. + + Thou art gone. + + But thou hast seen many worlds, and thou hast learned great things, + and thou and I shall meet no more; for how shall the wise kneel at + the feet of the foolish, as thou didst kneel once at thy father’s + feet? + + Thou art gone. + + High on the Clip Claw Hills the trees are green, in the Plain of the + Rolling Stars the wings of the wild fowl are many, and fine is the + mist upon Goldfly Lake; and the heart of Eye-of-the-Moon is strong. + + Thou art here. + + The trail is open to the White Valley, and the Scarlet Hunter hath + saved me, when my feet strayed in the plains and my eyes were + blinded. + + Thou art here. + + I have friends on the Far Off River who show me the yards where the + musk-ox gather; I have found the gardens of the young sable, and my + tents are full of store. + + Thou art here. + + In the morning my spirit is light, and I have harvest where I would + gather, and the stubble is for my foes. In the evening my limbs are + heavy, and I am at rest in my blanket. The hunt is mine and sleep + is mine, and my soul is cheerful when I remember thee. + + Thou art here. + + I have built for thee a place where thy spirit comes. I hear thee + when thou callest to me, and I kneel outside the door, for thou art + wise, and thou speakest to me; but thee as thou art in a far land I + shall see no more. This is my word to thee, that thou mayst know + that I am not alone. Thou shalt not come again, as thou once went; + it is not meet. But by these other ways I will speak to thee. + + Thou art here. + + Farewell. I have spoken. +</pre> + <p> + Lali finished reading, and then slowly folded up the letter. The writing + was that of the wife of the factor at Fort Charles—she knew it. She + sat for a minute looking straight before her. She read her father’s + allegory. Barbarian in so much as her father was, he had beaten this thing + out with the hammer of wisdom. He missed her, but she must not come back; + she had outgrown the old life—he knew it and she was with him in + spirit, in his memory; she understood his picturesque phrases, borrowed + from the large, affluent world about him. Something of the righteousness + and magnanimity of this letter passed into her, giving her for an instant + a sort of peace. She had needed it—needed it to justify herself, and + she had been justified. To return was impossible—she had known that + all along, though she had not admitted it; the struggle had been but a + kind of remorse, after all. That her father should come to her was also + impossible—it was neither for her happiness nor his. She had been + two different persons in her life, and the first was only a memory to the + second. The father had solved the problem for her. He too was now a memory + that she could think on with pleasure, as associated with the girl she + once was. He had been well provided for by her husband, and General Armour + put his hand on hers gently and said: + </p> + <p> + “Lali, without your permission I have read this other letter.” + </p> + <p> + She did not appear curious. She was thinking still of her father’s letter + to her. She nodded abstractedly. “Lali,” he continued, “this says that + your father wished that letter to be written to you just as he said it at + the Fort, on the day of the Feast of the Yellow Swan. He stood up—the + factor writes so here—and said that he had been thinking much for + years, and that the time had come when he must speak to his daughter over + the seas—” + </p> + <p> + General Armour paused. Lali inclined her head, smiled wistfully, and held + up the letter for him to see. The general continued: + </p> + <p> + “So he spoke as has been written to you, and then they had the Feast of + the Yellow Swan, and that night—” He paused again, but presently, + his voice a little husky, he went on: “That night he set out on a long + journey,”—he lifted the letter and looked at it, then met the + serious eyes of his daughter-in-law, “on a long journey to the Hills of + the Mighty Men; and, my dear, he never came back; for, as he said, there + was peace in the White Valley, and he would rest till the world should + come to its Spring again, and the noise of its coming should be in his + ears. Those, Lali, are his very words.” + </p> + <p> + His hand closed on hers, he reached out and took the other hand, from + which the paper fluttered, and clasped both tight in his own firm grasp. + </p> + <p> + “My daughter,” he said, “you have another father.” With a low cry, like + that of a fawn struck in the throat, she slid forward on her knees beside + him, and buried her face on his arm. She understood. Her father was dead. + Mrs. Armour came forward, and, kneeling also, drew the dark head to her + bosom. Then that flood came which sweeps away the rust that gathers in the + eyes and breaks through the closed dikes of the heart. + </p> + <p> + Hours after, when she had fallen into a deep sleep, General Armour and his + wife met outside her bedroom door. + </p> + <p> + “I shall not leave her,” Mrs. Armour said. “Send for Frank. His time has + almost come.” + </p> + <p> + But it would not have come so soon had not something else occurred. The + day that he came back from Scotland he entered his wife’s room, prepared + for a change in her, yet he did not find so much to make him happy as he + had hoped. She received him with a gentleness which touched him, she let + her hand rest in his, she seemed glad to have him with her. All bars had + been cast down between them, but he knew that she had not given him all, + and she knew it also. But she hoped he did not know, and she dreaded the + hour when he would speak out of his now full heart. He did not yet urge + his affection on her, he was simply devoted, and watchful, and tender, and + delightedly hopeful. + </p> + <p> + But one night she came tapping at his door. When he opened it, she said: + “Oh come, come! Richard is ill! I have sent for the doctor.” + </p> + <p> + Henceforth she was her old self again, with a transformed spirit, her + motherhood spending itself in a thousand ways. She who was weak bodily + became now much stronger; the light of new vigour came to her eyes; she + and her husband, in the common peril, worked together, thinking little of + themselves, and all of the child. The last stage of the journey to + happiness was being passed, and if it was not obvious to themselves, the + others, Marion and Captain Vidall included, saw it. + </p> + <p> + One anxious day, after the family doctor had left the sick child’s room, + Marion, turning to the father and mother, said: “Greyhope will be itself + again. I will go and tell Richard that the danger is over.” + </p> + <p> + As she turned to do so, Richard entered the room. “I have seen the + doctor,” he began, “and the little chap is going to pull along like a + house afire.” + </p> + <p> + Tapping Frank affectionately on the arm, he was about to continue, but he + saw what stopped him. He saw the last move in Frank Armour’s + tragic-comedy. He and Marion left the room as quickly as was possible to + him, for, as he said himself, he was “slow at a quick march”; and a moment + afterwards the wife heard without demur her husband’s tale of love for + her. + </p> + <p> + Yet, as if to remind him of the wrong he had done, Heaven never granted + Frank Armour another child. + </p> + <p> + <br /> <br /> + </p> + <hr /> + <p> + <br /> <br /> + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + ETEXT EDITOR’S BOOKMARKS: + + Being young, she exaggerated the importance of the event + Every man should have laws of his own + Flood came which sweeps away the rust that gathers in the eyes + His duties were many, or he made them so + How can one force one’s heart? No, no! One has to wait + If fumbling human fingers do not meddle with it + Man or woman must not expect too much out of life + May be more beautiful in uncertain England than anywhere else + Men must have their bad hours alone + Men are shy with each other where their emotions are in play + Miseries of this world are caused by forcing issues + Most important lessons of life—never to quarrel with a woman + Prepared for a kiss this hour and a reproach the next + Reading a lot and forgetting everything + Romance is an incident to a man + Simply to have death renewed every morning + Sympathy and consolation might be much misplaced + The world never welcomes its deserters + There should be written the one word, “Wait.” + There is no influence like the influence of habit + These little pieces of art make life possible + Think of our position + To sorrow may their humour be a foil + Training in the charms of superficiality + We grow away from people against our will + We want to get more out of life than there really is in it + We speak with the straight tongue; it is cowards who lie + Who never knew self-consciousness + Who can understand a woman? + Worth while to have lived so long and to have seen so much + You never can make a scandal less by trying to hide it +</pre> + <p> + <br /> <br /> + </p> + <hr /> + <p> + <br /> <br /> + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Translation of a Savage, Complete +by Gilbert Parker + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE TRANSLATION OF A SAVAGE, *** + +***** This file should be named 6214-h.htm or 6214-h.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + https://www.gutenberg.org/6/2/1/6214/ + +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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