\"Itmusthavebeenveryuncomfortable,\"saidMr.Chester,addingcomplacently:\"IhaveneverpassedthesummerinNewYork.Ishouldfinditquiteintolerable.\"
\"A
richmancanconsulthisownwishes,\"saidMabel.\"Ifyouwereapoorschoolteacheritwouldbedifferent.\"
RandolphChesteralwaysenjoyedallusionstohiswealth,ItgratifiedhimthatMabelseemedawareofhiseasycircumstances.
\"Quitetrue,MissFrost,\"heanswered.\"IoftenfeelhowfortunateIaminmyworldlycircumstances.Yououghttoberich,\"hecontinued.\"Youhaveaccomplishmentswhichwouldgraceahighsocialposition.\"
\"I
amafraidyouflatterme,Mr.Chester.\"
\"UponmywordIdonot,\"saidthebachelorwarmly.Hewasdangerouslyneardeclaringhimself,butstoppeduponthebrink.Hedidnotwishtobeprecipitate.
\"AreyougoingtothepicniconSaturday,MissFrost?\"
\"I
believeso.Everybodywillgo,andIdonotwanttobeoutoffashion.\"
\"Permitmetooffermyescort,\"saidRandolphChestergallantly.
\"Youaretoolate,Mr.Chester,\"saidMabel,withasmile.\"Someonehasalreadyinvitedme.\"
\"Indeed!\"saidthebachelorstiffly,andlookingoffended.\"MayIinquirewhothatsomebodyis?\"
\"Certainly;itisnosecret.IhavepromisedtoaccompanyMr.AllanThorpe.\"
\"Oh!Theartist!\"
Thewordswerefew,butthetonespokevolumes.Itexpresseddisdain,andimpliedthattobeanartistwassomethingexceedinglydisreputable.
\"Yes,\"saidMabel,notunwillingtoteaseherelderlyadmirer,\"asyousay,heisanartist.Hepaintsverycleverpictures.Haveyoueverseenanyofthem,Mr,Chester?\"
\"Can\'tsayIhave,\"answeredMr.Chestershortly.
\"Hepromisestobeeminentsomeday,\"continuedMabel.
\"Doeshe?AgoodmanypromisesareunfulfilledIdon\'tthinkmuchofartists.\"
\"Howcanyousaythat,Mr.Chester?IthoughteverymanofcultureadmiredthepicturesofTitianandRaffaelle.\"
\"Ofcourse,\"saidMr.Chester,suspectingthathehadgonetoofar.
\"Theyaretheoldmasters,youknow.It\'sthemoderndaubersofcanvasthatIwasspeakingof.\"
\"Butarenotsomeoftheartistsofthepresentdaytobecomeeminent?\"askedMabel.
\"WhentheyhavebecomesoIwilladmirethem.Idon\'tthinkMr.ThorpestandsmuchchanceofitifhewasteshistimeinGranville.\"
\"Thenyoudon\'tknowthatheispaintingapicturehere?\"
\"I
knownothingoftheyoungman\'smovements,\"saidMr.RandolphChesterloftily.\"ThenIshallnothavethepleasureofescortingyou,MissFrost?\"
\"I
fearnot.Ihope,however,tomeetyouthere.\"
\"I
amnotsurethatIshallgo,\"returnedMr.Chesterdiscontentedly.
\"I
believeMissBassettisunprovidedwithanescort,Mr.Chester,\"suggestedMabel,stillbentonteasinghim.
\"I
don\'tcaretoescortaMaypole,\"saidthebachelorquickly.\"MissBassettisnottomytaste.\"
\"I
amafraidyouareveryfastidious,Mr.Chester.\"
\"I
admitthatIamso.IprefertoleaveMissClarissatosomeonewhoappreciateshermorethanIdo.\"
SoonafterRandolphChestertookhisleave.HewentfromthepresenceofMabelinaveryuncomfortableframeofmind.Hisfeelingstowardtheartistwerefarfromcordial.
\"Whycouldn\'thegosomewhereelse?\"soliloquizedMr.Chester.
\"Iamsurenobodywantedhimhere.\"ButtheideawouldintrudeitselfthatperhapsMissFrostwantedhim.Hewouldnotentertainit.\"Sheislikeallthegirls,\"hereflected.\"Sheistryingtobringmetothepoint.Sosheisplayingoffthebeggarlyartistagainstme.IwishIcouldretaliate.IfIcouldfindsomeothertotakeImightmakeherjealous.\"
ThisstruckMr.Chesterasahappythought.Butwhomcouldheselect?TherewasClarissaBassett;butnogirlinhersobersenseswouldthinkofbeingjealousofher.Stillundecided,Mr.Chesterreachedthehotel,when,tohissatisfaction,hefoundtheRaymonds,ofBrooklyn,hadarrivedtospendacoupleofweeks.thereforrecreation.
TheRaymondsincludedMrs.Raymondandhertwodaughters.Theelderwasagirloftwentyfour,notpretty,butwithplentyofpretension.Theyounger,tenyearsyounger,wasstillaschoolgirl.Thefamilywassupposedtooccupyaveryexaltedsocialposition.AllthatwasknownonthesubjectinGranvillecamefromthemselves,andsurelytheyoughttoknow.Theywereconstantlymakingreferencestotheiraristocraticacquaintancesandconnections,andevidentlyfeltthatinvisitingGranvilletheywereconferringamarkedfavoronthatobscureplace.
RandolphChesterhadnotaparticleofadmirationforClementinaRaymond,buthehailedherarrivalwithgreatsatisfaction.ShewasquiteadifferentpersonfromClarissaBassett.Hewouldinvitehertothepicnicandpayhermarkedattention.Thus,hedidnotdoubt,hecouldarousethejealousyofMabel,andpunishherforacceptingtheescortofAllanThorpe.
\"I
amdelightedtoseeyou,MissRaymond,\"hesaid.
Clementinareceivedhimverygraciously.Sheunderstoodthathewasaneligibleparti,andshehadnotfoundsuitorsplentiful.TheRaymondsencouragedtheideathattheywereveryrich,butitwasafiction.Theywere,intruth,considerablystraitened,andthisprobablyaccountedfortheirselecting,asasummerhome,themodesthotelatGranville,whereforsevendollarsaweektheycouldlivebetterthantheyallowedthemselvestodoathome,andkeepuptheirsocialstatusbybeing\"outoftown.\"Clementinanotonlydesiredtomarry,buttomarryamanofmeans,anditwasunderstoodthatMr.RandolphChesterwasrich.Hemustbenearlyfifty,tobesure,whileshewasonlytwentyfour;butthiswouldnotproveaninsuperableobjectiontothematch.
\"Howlonghaveyoubeenhere,Mr.Chester?\"askedMissRaymondlanguidly.
\"Twoweeksormore,MissRaymond.IbegantofearyouwouldoverlookGranvillethissummer.\"
\"WehadhalfamindtogotoNewport,\"saidClementina.\"Somanyofoursetthere,youknow.Butmammalikesquiet,andpreferredtocomehere.
Therestoftheyear,Iamsogay——Iamsureyouknowwhatatyrantsocietyis——thatwithballs,parties,andreceptions,Iwasreallyquiterundown,andourphysicianstronglyadvisedsomequietplacelikethis.Iwasafraidofbeingbored,butsinceyouarehere,Mr.Chester,Ifeelquiteencouraged.\"
Mr.
ChestercarednothingforMissRaymond,buthedidlikeflattery,andhewaspleasedwiththiscompliment.
\"I
amquiteatyourservice,MissRaymond,\"herespondedcheerfully.
\"Youwon\'tfindinGranvillethegayetyofBrooklynorNewYork,butwehaveouramusements.Forinstance,dayaftertomorrowthereistobeaunionpicnicatThurber\'sPond.\"
\"Howcharming!Ishallcertainlygo;thatis,ifladiescangounattended.\"
\"Thatwillbequiteenregle,butifyouwillacceptmyescort,MissRaymond——\"
\"I
shallbedelighted,Mr.Chester,Iamsure.Maymammagotoo?\"
\"Certainly,\"saidMr.Chester,buthedidnotlookdelighted.
\"Mydear,\"saidthethoughtfulmother,\"Ihardlyfeelequaltoremainingtherealltheafternoon.YougowithMr.Chester,sinceheissokindastoinviteyou.Imayappearthereinthecourseoftheafternoon.\"
\"Sinceyoupreferit,Iwill,mamma,\"saidClementinasoftly.Nodaughterwasmorefilialandconsideratethanshe——inpublic.
MabelwaswithAllanThorpe,watchingtheamusementsofthechildren,whensherecognizedMr.RandolphChesterapproaching.ByhissidewalkedMissClementina,astatelyfigure,overtoppingherescort.
\"WhoisthatladywithMr.Chester?\"sheasked,insomecuriosity.
\"MissRaymond,ofBrooklyn,\"repliedThorpe.\"TheRaymondsareatthehotel.\"
\"Sheseemstobeayoungladyofsomepretension,\"remarkedMabel,ratheramusedbyClementina\'sairs.
\"Quiteso,\"saidMr.Thorpe.\"Sheisapersonofveryconsiderableimportance——inherowneyes.\"
\"Youmaybeindanger,Mr.Thorpe;Ibelieveyouarefellowboarders.\"
\"Thedangerisslight;MissClementinaregardsmeasapoorartist,quiteunworthyofherattentions.Occasionallyshecondescendstonoticeme;butinhereyes,Iamaninferiorbeing.\"
\"I
fancyIshallbeclassedinthesamecategorywhenshelearnsthatIamthevillageschoolmistress.\"
\"I
suspectyouareright.Willitmateriallydetractfromyourenjoyment,MissFrost,ifthisprovestobeso?\"
Mabellaughedmerrily.
\"I
haveconsiderablefortitude,\"shereplied,\"andIhopetobearupunderit.See,theyarecomingthisway.\".
RandolphChesterhadnotfailedtonoticeMabel,anditcausedhimapangofjealousytoseeherundertheescortofanother.Hemeantthatsheshouldseehim,and,withMissRaymondbyhisside,advancedtowheretheywerestanding.
\"Oh,thisisMissFrost,thenewteacher,\"hesaid.\"Letmeintroduceyou.\"
\"I
believeyouareateacher,MissFrost,\"saidClementina,whenthisformalityhadbeenaccomplished.
\"I
teachthegrammarschoolinthisvillage,MissRaymond,\"repliedMabeldemurely.
\"A
veryusefulvocation,\"remarkedMissRaymondpatronizingly.\"IreallyfeelashamedofmyselfwhenIcomparemyselfwithyou.Iamafraidwefashionablegirlsareveryuseless.\"
\"Notnecessarilyso.Yourmeansofusefulnessaregreater,\"repliedMabel.
\"Tobesure.Wecontributetocharities,andallthat,butitisn\'tliketakingpartinthework.\"
ItwouldprobablybeextremelydifficulttodiscoveranycharitiesthatweremateriallyassistedbyMissRaymond,butitsuitedhertoconveytheimpressionthatshegaveliberally.
\"I
agreewithyou,MissRaymond,\"saidAllanThorpe,speakingforthefirsttime.\"Itisnotenoughtogivemoney.\"
\"I
pleadguilty,Mr.Thorpe,\"saidClementina,readytochargeherselfwithanysinthatwasfashionable;\"butreally,ifyouonlyknewhowhardsocietygirlsfindittogivetheirtime——therearesomanyclaimsuponus——
parties,receptions,theopera.Oh,Iknowwhatyouwillsay.Weshouldsacrificeourinclinations,andstealtimetodogood.Idaresayyouthinkso,MissFrost.\"
\"Itseemstomethatitwouldbecomeapleasureaswellasadutytodosomethingforothers.\"
\"Excuseme,MissFrost,butyoucannottelltillyouareplacedasIam.
\"Possiblynot.\"
AllthiswasveryamusingtoMabel.ShestronglysuspectedthatMissRaymond\'sclaimstohighsocialpositionwouldnotbearexamination.Itwasanovelsensationtobetreatedasonewhohadnoknowledgeofthegreatworldfromwhichshehadvoluntarilyexiledherself,andshehadnodesiretodisturbMissRaymondinherdelusion.Mr.Thorpealsoenjoyedthescene.Thoughhebelievedhertobeinreducedcircumstances,hehadseenherplayingabrilliantpartinNewYorksociety,andhewasequallyconfidentthatMissRaymondwasasocialhumbug.
\"Shallwepromenade,Mr.Chester?\"askedClementina.
\"Ifyoudesireit,\"saidherescort,withashowofdevotionintendedtocreateuneasinessinMabel.
\"MayIcometoyourschoolsomeday,MissFrost?\"askedMissRaymond.
\"Ishouldliketovisitacountryschool.\"
\"I
shallbegladtoseeyou,\"saidMabelpolitely.
\"Thankyousomuch.IwillcomeifIcaninduceMr.RandolphChestertoaccompanyme.\"
Mr.
Chesterhasalreadyfavoredmewithavisit,\"saidMabel,smiling.
Clementinaglancedsuspiciouslyatherescort.Wasitpossiblethathefeltaninterestintheschoolteacher?
\"Youwilllethimcomeagain?sheasked,smilingsweetly.
\"Mostcertainly.\"
\"Whatdoyouthinkofher?askedMr.Chesterwithpeculiarinterest,afterthetwocoupleshadseparated.
\"I
ratherlikeherappearance,\"drawledClementinaslightingly,\"butyouknowthereisalwayssomethingplebeianaboutpeopleofherclass,howevertheymaydress.\"
\"I
can\'tquiteagreewithyou,MissRaymond,\"saidthebachelor,whodidnotliketohearthefutureMrs.RandolphChesterspokenofinsuchcontemptuousterms.\"MissMabelFrostisfromthecityofNewYork,andisahighlyaccomplishedgirl.Isuspectshehasseenbetterdays,thoughatpresentreducedtoschoolteaching.\"
Clementinawasquickwitted,andsawhowthelandlay.Havingresolvedtocapturethegentlemanatherside,shedeterminedtocheckhisevidentadmirationforMabel.
\"Mr.Chester,\"shesaid,\"Idon\'twonderyouaredeceived.Thegirlhasasuperficialpolish,whichagentlemanisnotlikelytoseethrough.
Ihavebeenagreatdealinsociety,andcanatoncedistinguishthecounterfeitfromthegenuine.Thisschoolteacherhasprobablyreceivedmorethanordinaryadvantages;butbloodwilltell.Relyuponit,sheisaplebeian.\"
Mr.
Chesterdidnotthinkanythebetterofhiscompanionforthisspeech.HewastoodeeplyinterestedinMabel,andasstrongaseverinthedeterminationtomakeherMrs.Chester.
\"I
fancythatthisMr.Thorpeisverydevotedtoher,\"continuedClementina.
\"I
didn\'tnoticeit,\"repliedMr.Chestershortly.
\"Butthedevotionwasverymarked,andIamquitedisposedtothinkitwasmutual.Didyoueverthink,Mr.Chester,howinterestingitistostudylovemakingbetweenpeopleoftheirclass?Andreally,whenyoucometothinkofit,\"sherattledon,muchtothedisgustofherescort,\"itwouldbeacapitalmatch.Heisapoorartist,youknow,andtheywouldhavetoliveinaverymodeststyle,butsheisusedtothat.Idonotsupposeshewouldobjecttodoingherownwork,andofcourseshewouldbeobligedtodosoatfirst.Ihopetheywillinviteustothewedding.\"
\"I
don\'tbelievetherewillbeanywedding,\"saidMr.Chesteruncomfortably.
\"Heisonlypayingheralittleordinaryattention.Shewouldn\'taccepthim,Iamconfident.\"
\"Whywouldn\'tshe?Shecan\'texpectahusbandinyourposition,forinstance,Mr.Chester.Sheprobablyhaslowrelations,anditwouldn\'tbesuitableorpleasant.\"
Mr.
ChesterthoughtofthebakeronSixthAvenue;butthetimehadpassedwheneventhatcoulddeterhim.InspiteofallthatMissRaymondcouldsuggesthismindwasmadeup.
Chapter10
Thurber\'spondwasofmoderatesize,probablycoveringthirtyorfortyacres.Neartheedgeitwasshallow,buttowardthemiddlethewaterwasofconsiderabledepth.Thereweretwoboatsmooredatthelittlepierbuiltoutatthefootofthepicnicgrounds,oneasailboatandtheotherarowboat.
Towardthemiddleoftheafternoonitwasproposedtopresstheseboatsintotheserviceofsomeoftheoldervisitors.Thechildrenwerescatteredthroughtheneighboringfields,playinggamesthatinterestedthem.Thesailboatprovedthemoreattractive,andwasalreadyfullbeforeMabel,Clementina,andtheirescortsbecameawareoftheplanproposed.
Clementinawasverymuchannoyed.
\"It\'ssoprovoking,\"shecomplained.\"Idoteonthewater.Isn\'tthereroomforme?\"
Butthesailboatwas,ifanything,toofullalready,andnobodyofferedtogetout.
AllanThorpeandMabelwerestandingby,bothalittledisappointed.Theartist\'seyefellupontherowboat.
\"Doyourow,Mr.Chester?\"heasked,\"A
little,\"wastheanswer.
\"Thensuppose,sinceweareunabletogointhesailboat,wegivetheladiesarow.Wouldyoulikeit,MissFrost?\"
Thankyou,\"saidMabel.\"Ishouldenjoyitverymuch.\"
\"Andyou,MissRaymond?\"
\"Itwillbebetterthanmopinghere.\"
Sothefourseatedthemselvesintheboat,andthegentlementookuptheoars.Mr.
Chesterprovedtobeveryawkward,andAllanThorpeofferedtorowalone.Thebacheloracceptedwithalacrity,andseatedhimselfnexttoMabel,leavingMissRaymondattheotherendoftheboat.ThisdidnotsuitClementina,whostraightwaylostherinterestintheexcursion.Shefeltherselfillusedatthisactofdesertiononthepartofherescort.Mabelreadherdiscontent,andwantedtosuggesttoMr.Chesterthatshecoulddispensewithhiscompany,butthiswasdifficulttodo.Hisfacebeamedwithsatisfaction,andMissRaymondsawit,andwasprovoked.Sheevendeignedtobejealousoftheschoolmistress.
\"Youarenotveryconsiderate,Mr.Chester,\"shesaidsharply,\"inleavingMr.Thorpetodoallthework.\"
\"Helikesit,\"repliedRandolphlazily.\"Don\'tyou,Mr.
Thorpe?\"
\"I
alwaysenjoyrowing,\"saidAllan,whounderstoodverywellthatMr.
Chestercouldnotmanagebothoars.
\"I
wouldratherlookon,\"continuedChestercontentedly.\"Howareyougettingonwithyourschool,MissFrost?\"
\"Verywell,thankyou.\"
\"I
wishIwasyoungenoughtoenrollmyselfamongyourscholars,\"saidthebachelorgallantly.
\"Youwouldfindmeverystrict,Mr.Chester.\"
\"I
shouldtakecarenottogiveyouanytrouble.\"
MissRaymonddidnotenjoythisbadinage,andmentallypronouncedMabelanartfulgirl,whohaddesignsuponMr.Chester\'saffections.Shecouldnotresistthetemptationtorevengeherselfonherescort.
\"I
supposeyoucanhardlyrememberyourschooldays,Mr.Chester?\"saidshe.
\"Really,MissRaymond,Iamnotquiteanantediluvian,\"exclaimedRandolphChester,somewhatprovoked.
\"Excuseme,Mr.Chester.Ididn\'tsupposeyouweresensitiveaboutyourage.Ireallyhopeyou\'llexcuseme.\"
\"I
donotknowthatIhaveanyreasontobesensitiveasyet,\"saidMr.Chesterstiffly.\"ItwillbetimeenoughforthatwhenIreachfifty.\"
Hewasthatalready;butthiswasasecretbetweenhimselfandtheoldBible,whichneitherofhishearerswaslikelytohaveachanceofseeing.
Clementina\'spurposewasachieved.ShehadmadeMr.Chesteruncomfortable,andinterruptedhistete-a-tetewithMabel.ShefollowedupheradvantagebybecomingverysociablewithAllanThorpe.
\"Areyouatworkuponanothercharmingpicture,Mr.Thorpe?\"sheaskedgraciously.
\"Youareverykind,MissRaymond;Iampaintinganotherpicture.Ihopeitmaydeservetheadjectiveyouuse.\"
\"I
likeyourpaintingssomuch.HaveyoueverbeentoItaly?\"
\"No,\"saidMr.Thorperegretfully.\"IwishIcouldgo.\"
\"Youreallyoughttodoso.Iadoreartmyself.IshouldlikenothingbetterthantoseethegrandItaliangalleries,withsomeonetopointoutthebestpictures——someonelikeyourself,whounderstandsthesubject.\"
\"Haveyoueverbeenabroad,MissRaymond?\"askedMabel.
\"No,\"saidClementina.\"Mammahassuchahorrorofthesea;sheissoliabletobeseasick.Itissuchapity,whenonehasthemeans,thatthereshouldbeadrawback.\"
ThiswasanotherofClementina\'slittlefictions.Inplaintruth,wantofmeanswastheonlyobjectiontoaEuropeantriponthepartoftheRaymonds.
\"Whenyouaremarried,MissRaymond,youwillnotbedependentonyourmotherasacompanion;,thenyoucangratifyyourtaste.\"
\"SoIcan,\"saidClementinawithnaivesimplicity,asiftheideahadjustoccurredtoher.\"IfIcan\'tgoinanyotherway,Ishallbewillingtopaytheexpensesofthetourmyself.Soyou\'rereallyatworkuponanewpicture,Mr.Thorpe?\"
\"I
havenotmademuchprogressyet,butIhavemadeabeginning.\"
\"I
shouldliketoseeit.Icouldn\'t,ofcourse,hopetoofferanysuggestion,butIcantellwhetherIlikeit.\"
\"Thankyou.WhenitismoreadvancedIshallbegladtoaskyouropinionofit.\"
\"Doyouevergivelessonsinpainting,Mr,Thorpe?\"
\"I
didatonetime,butIfoundthatitinterferedwithmywork.\"
\"ThenIcannothopetosecureyouasateacher.Itwouldbesonicetogooutinthefields,andtakelessonsfromsocompetentaninstructor.\"
\"Youflatterme,MissRaymond.\"
\"Youonlysaysobecauseofyourmodesty,Mr.Thorpe.Ihaveahighopinionofyourtalent,andIshalltakeeveryopportunityofmentioningyouinmyset.\"
\"Thankyou.\"
AllanThorpewasclearsightedenoughtoestimateMissRaymond\'ssuddeninterestinhimatitsrightvalue.Healsohadasuspicionthathersetwasnotonelikelytocaremuchforartsorartists.ButitamusedhimtowatchClementina\'sjealousy,andtopenetratehermotivesinturningherattentiontohim.
\"IfIcanhelphertosecureahusband,\"hethought,\"sheisquitewelcometomakeuseofme.\"
Itdidnotseem,however,thatshehadaccomplishedmuch.Mr.ChesterwaschattingcontentedlywithMabel,gladthatClementinawasotherwiseoccupiedthaninteasinghim.
\"ThenyouarenotsurethatyouwillremaininGranvilleafterthesummer,MissFrost?\"heinquired.
\"Myplansarequiteundecided,\"answeredMabel.
\"I
supposeyouwillcontinuetoteach?\"
\"Eventhatisnotcertain.PerhapsImightobtainasituationascompaniontoanelderlylady.Doyouknowofanylikelytowantmyservices,Mr.
Chester?\"
Mr.
Chesterwouldhavelikedtosuggestthatthepositionofcompaniontoagentlemanwasopentoheracceptance;buttheoccasionwastoopublic.
\"I
mayhearofsuchaposition,MissFrost,\"hesaid;\"andifyouwillleavemeyouraddress,incaseyoudonotremaininGranville,Iwill,certainlyletyouknow.\"
\"Thankyou,Mr.Chester.\"
Atthispointtherewasastartlinginterruption.MissRaymondhadbeensittingforfiveminutessilentandincensed.HerlittleflirtationwithMr.ThorpehadnotruffledMr.Chester\'sserenitynorinterruptedhisdevotiontotheschoolmistress.Sherosefromherseat,lostherbalance,andfellagainstthesideoftheboat,upsettingit,andprecipitatingthefourwhooccupieditintothewater.
Fortunatelytheywerenotfarfromshore.Still,thewaterwassixfeetdeep,andofcoursetherewasdanger.Mr.Chestercouldswimalittle,and,withoutathoughtofhiscompanions,hestruckoutfortheshore.AllanThorpecouldswimalso.Fortunatelyhewascoolinthemomentofperil.HisfirstthoughtwasforMabel.
\"Clingtome,Mabel,\"hesaid,forgettingceremonyatthismoment.
\"Iwillhelpyou.\"
Clementina,wildwithterror,hadgraspedhimbythecoat,andthishamperedhismovements;butwithagreateffort,hesucceededinconveyingbothgirlstomoreshallowwater.Hadthedistancebeengreater,itisdoubtfulifhewouldhavesucceeded.
\"Youareoutofdanger,\"hesaid.\"Thewaterisnotdeephere.
Wecanwalkashore.\"
RandolphChester,stillalittlepale,wasdrippingonthebankwhenAllanandthetwogirlsjoinedhim.
\"I
amsogladyouaresafe,ladies,\"hesaidalittlesheepishly,forhewasconsciousthathehadnotplayedaheroicpart.
\"Smallthankstoyou,Mr.Chester!\"retortedClementinasharply.
\"Wemighthavedrowned,sofarasyouwereconcerned.\"
\"I
cannotswimmuch,\"saidMr.Chesteruneasily.\"Ineverregretteditsomuchasnow.\"
\"Youcouldswimwellenoughtosaveyourself.Mr.Thorpe,youaremypreserver!\"exclaimedClementinagushingly.
\"Donotmagnifymyservice,MissRaymond.Wewereverynearshoalwater.\"
\"Butyousavedmylife,\"persistedClementina.\"Ishallneverforgetit.\"
Mabelsaidnothing,butsheimpulsivelyextended,herhand.AllanThorpewasbetterpleasedthanwithMissRaymond\'sdemonstrativeexpressionsofgratitude.
\"Now,youngladies,\"saidtheartist,\"thoughIamnophysician,youmustallowmetoprescribeanimmediatereturnhome.Otherwiseyou\'llrunagreatriskofcatchingcold.Mr.Chester,ifyouwilltakechargeofMissRaymond,IwillaccompanyMissFrost.Foryourownsake,youwillfinditbesttogoatonce.\"
MissRaymondwasrathersulky,but,thoughirritatedwithherescort,policyprevailed,andsheforcedherselfintoagoodhumor.ShehadmadeuphermindtomarryMr.Chester,andherequireddelicatemanagement.Sosheacceptedthelameapologyheofferedforleavinghertoherfate,andbythetimetheyreachedthehoteltheywereoutwardlyongoodterms.
Onthedayafterthepicnic,AllanThorpewrotethefollowinglettertohisfriendandfellowartistJohnFleming,whowasspendingthesummeratBethlehemDEAR
JACK——YouwonderwhyIprefertospendthesummeratGranville,andrefusetojoinyouatBethlehem.Yoursurpriseisnatural.IadmitthatbetweenGranvilleandBethlehemthereisnocomparison.Thelatteriscertainlyfarmoreattractivetoanartistwhohasonlyhisartinview.But,Jack,thereisanotherreason.Youwerealwaysmyfatherconfessor——atleastyouhavebeensincethehappydaywhenourfriendshipbegin——andIamwillingtoconfesstoyouthatIhavelostmyheart.ThereisacharmingschoolmistressinGranville,towhomIhavetransferreditwhollyandunconditionally.
Notanordinaryschoolmistress,mindyou;MissFrostisnotonlycharminginperson,butthoroughlyaccomplished.Iknowyouwillbeincredulous;butwhenIexplainthemysterywhichenvironsheryouwillloseyourskepticism.Letmetellyou,then,inconfidence,thatlastwinter,atanartists\'receptioninNewYork,I
wasintroducedtoagirlwhosenameIknewasthatofanacknowledgedqueenofsociety.Alittleconversationconvincedmethatshewasmorethanthat;thatshehadagenuineanddiscriminatingloveofart;thatshedespisedthefrivolousnothingswhicharedignifiedasconversationsbythebutterfliesoffashion,andthatsheregardedlifeassomethingmorethanasuccessionofpartiesandreceptions.Iwasstronglyattracted;butIlearnedthatshewasthepossessorofalargefortune,andthisprecludedthethoughtofanyintimatefriendshipwithheronthepartofapennilessartist.
Well,Jack,ontheseconddayaftermyarrivalinGranville,Imetthissamegirlagain.Imaginemyastonishmentatdiscoveringthatshewasteachingthegrammarschoolinthevillage,onthesplendidstipendofsevendollarsaweek.Ofcourseshehaslostherfortune——how,Ihavebeenunabletolearn.Sheisreticentonthissubject;butthelossdoesnotseemtoaffectherspirits.Sheisdevotingherselfearnestlytotheworkshehaschosen,andissucceedingadmirably.IdeclaretoyouthatIyieldMissFrosthigherrespectnowthatsheisaplaincountryschoolteacherthanwhenshewasasocialleader.Thatsheshouldgiveup,uncomplainingly,thegaydelightsherfortunehasprocuredforheranddevoteherselftoausefulbutcontractedandperhapsmonotonousroutineofwork,indicates;anobilityofnatureofwhichpreviouslyIhadnoassurance.
Youwillasktowhatallthistends.Itmeans,Jack,thatIhavemadeupmymindtowinherifpossible.Betweenthestrugglingartistandthewealthyheiresstherewasadistancetoogreattobespannedevenbylove,butnowthatherestateisonalevelwithmyownIneednothesitate.Thesamespiritthathasenabledhertomeetandconqueradversitywillsustainherintheselfdenialandselfsacrificetowhichshemaybecalledasthewifeofapoorman.IhaveresolvedtoputmyfortunetothetestbeforethecloseofherschooltermcallsherfromGranville.Ihavesomereasontobelievethatsheesteemsme,atleast.IfIamnottooprecipitate,Ihopethatesteemmaypavethewayforadeeperandwarmersentiment.IhopethetimemaycomewhenIcanaskyoutocongratulateme,asIamsureyouwilldomostheartily,mydearJack.Everyours,ALLANTHORPE.
P.S——
LestyoushouldwasteyourvaluabletimeinexploringbacknumbersofthenewspapersforsomementionofMissFrostintheirsocietygossip,Imayaswelltellyouthatthisisnotherrealname.Ingivingupherfashionablecareershehas,foratimeatleast,leftbehindthenamewhichwasassociatedwithit,andtakenanewonewiththenewvocationshehasadopted.Thismightleadtoembarrassment;butthatwillbeobviatedifshewillonlyconsenttoacceptmyname,whichhasneverhadanyfashionableassociations.
P.S——
Thereisanothergirlspendingthesummerhere,aMissClementinaRaymond,ofBrooklyn,whoassumesairsandgraces,enoughfortwo.Perhapsitiswellthatyouarenothereforyoumightbesmitten,andsheisafterhighergame.Shehas\"sethercap\"forMr.RandolphChester,awealthybacheloroffiftyormore,alsoasummerresident;butIsuspectthatheprefersMissFrost.Idonotgivemyselfanytroubleonthatscore.MissFrostmayrejectme,butshecertainlywillnotacceptMr.Chester.
Chapter11
\"Theophilus,\"saidMrs.Wilson,\"theflourisout,andwehavebuthalfapoundofsugarleft.\"
Theministerlookedgrave.
\"Mydear,\"heanswered,\"itseemstomethatsomethingisalwaysout.\"
\"Then,\"saidhiswife,smilingfaintly,\"Isupposeyouareoutofmoneyalso.\"
