CHAPTER IV
"WHAT do you think of the evening, Aunt Ruth?" Ethel was in heraunt's room, comfortably wrapped in a pink kimono, when she asked thisquestion.
"What do you think of it, Ethel?"
"I am not sure."
"The dinner was well served."
"Yes. Who was the little dark man you talked with, aunt?"
"He was a Mr. Marriot, a banker, and a friend of Bryce Denning's. He isa fresh addition to society, I think. He had the word 'gold' always onhis lips; and he believes in it as good men believe in God. The generalconversation annoyed him; he could not understand men being entertainedby it."
"They were, though, for once Jamie Sayer forgot to talk about hispictures."
"Is that the name of your escort?"
"Yes."
"And is he an artist?"
"A second-rate one. He is painting Dora's picture, and is a greatfavorite of Mrs. Denning's."
"A strange, wild-looking man. When I saw him first he was lying,dislocated, over his ottoman rather than sitting on it."
"Oh, that is a part of his affectations. He is really a childish,self-conscious creature, with a very decided dash of vulgarity. He onlytries to look strange and wild, and he would be delighted if he knew youhad thought him so."
"I was glad to see Claudine Jeffrys. How slim and graceful she is! And,pray, who is that Miss Ullman?"
"A very rich woman. She has Bryce under consideration. Many other menhave been in the same position, for she is sure they all want her moneyand not her. Perhaps she is right. I saw you talking to her, aunt."
"For a short time. I did not enjoy her company. She is so mercilesslyrealistic, she takes all the color out of life. Everything about her,even her speech, is sharp-lined as the edge of a knife. She could makeBryce's life very miserable."
"Perhaps it might turn out the other way. Bryce Denning has capacitiesin the same line. How far apart, how far above every man there, stoodBasil Stanhope!"
"He is strikingly handsome and graceful, and I am sure that his luminousserenity does not arise from apathy. I should say he was a man of verystrong and tender feelings."
"And he gives all the strength and tenderness of his feelings to Dora.Men are strange creatures."
"Who directed Dora's dress this evening?"
"Herself or her maid. I had nothing to do with it. The effect wasstunning."
"Fred thought so. In fact, Fred Hostyn----"
"Fell in love with her."
"Exactly. 'Fell,' that is the word--fell prostrate. Usually the loverof to-day walks very timidly and carefully into the condition, stepby step, and calculating every step before he takes it. Fredplunged headlong into the whirling vortex. I am very sorry. It is acatastrophe."
"I never witnessed the accident before. I have heard of men gettingwounds and falls, and developing new faculties in consequence, but wesaw the phenomenon take place this evening."
"Love, if it be love, is known in a moment. Man who never saw thesun before would know it was the sun. In Fred's case it was aninstantaneous, impetuous passion, flaming up at the sight of suchunexpected beauty--a passion that will probably fade as rapidly as itrose."
"Fred is not that kind of a man, aunt. He does not like every one andeverything, but whoever or whatever he does like becomes a lasting partof his life. Even the old chairs and tables at Mostyn are held as sacredobjects by him, though I have no doubt an American girl would trundlethem off to the garret. It is the same with the people. He actuallyregards the Rawdons as belonging in some way to the Mostyns; and I donot believe he has ever been in love before."
"Nonsense!"
"He was so surprised by the attack. If it had been the tenth ortwentieth time he would have taken it more philosophically; besides, ifhe had ever loved any woman, he would have gone on loving her, and weshould have known all about her perfections by this time."
"Dora is nearly a married woman, and Mostyn knows it."
"Nearly may make all the difference. When Dora is married he will becompelled to accept the inevitable and make the best of it."
"When Dora is married he will idealize her, and assure himself that hermarriage is the tragedy of both their lives."
"Dora will give him no reason to suppose such a thing. I am sure shewill not. She is too much in love with Mr. Stanhope to notice any otherlover."
"You are mistaken, Ethel. Swiftly as Fred was vanquished she noticedit, and many times--once even while leaning on Mr. Stanhope's arm--sheturned the arrow in the heart wound with sweet little glances andsmiles, and pretty appeals to the blind adoration of her new lover. Itwas, to me, a humiliating spectacle. How could she do it?"
"I am sure Dora meant no wrong. It is so natural for a lovely girl toshow off a little. She will marry and forget Fred Mostyn lives."
"And Fred will forget?"
"Fred will not forget."
"Then I shall be very sorry for your father and grandmother."
"What have they to do with Fred marrying?"
"A great deal. Fred has been so familiar and homely the last two orthree weeks, that they have come to look upon him as a future memberof the family. It has been 'Cousin Ethel' and 'Aunt Ruth' and even'grandmother' and 'Cousin Fred,' and no objections have been made to theuse of such personal terms. I think your father hopes for a closer tiebetween you and Fred Mostyn than cousinship."
"Whatever might have been is over. Do you imagine I could consent to bethe secondary deity, to come after Dora--Dora of all the girls I haveever known? The idea is an insult to my heart and my intelligence.Nothing on earth could make me submit to such an indignity."
"I do not suppose, Ethel, that any wife is the first object of herhusband's love."
"At least they tell her she is so, swear it an inch deep; and no womanis fool enough to look beyond that oath, but when she is sure that sheis a second best! AH! That is not a position I will ever take in anyman's heart knowingly."
"Of course, Fred Mostyn will have to marry."
"Of course, he will make a duty of the event. The line of Mostyns mustbe continued. England might go to ruin if the Mostyns perished off theEnglish earth; but, Aunt Ruth, I count myself worthy of a better fatethan to become a mere branch in the genealogical tree of the Mostyns.And that is all Fred Mostyn's wife will ever be to him, unless hemarries Dora."
"But that very supposition implies tragedy, and it is most unlikely."
"Yes, for Dora is a good little thing. She has never been familiarwith vice. She has even a horror of poor women divorced from impossiblehusbands. She believes her marriage will be watched by the angels, andrecorded in heaven. Basil has instructed her to regard marriage as aholy sacrament, and I am sure he does the same."
"Then why should we forecast evil to their names? As for Cousin Fred, Idare say he is comfortably asleep."
"I am sure he is not. I believe he is smoking and calling himself namesfor not having come to New York last May, when father first invited him.Had he done so things might have been different."
"Yes, they might. When Good Fortune calls, and the called 'will not whenthey may,' then, 'when they will' Good Fortune has become Misfortune.Welcome a pleasure or a gain at once, or don't answer it at all. It wason this rock, Ethel, the bark that carried my love went to pieces. Iknow; yes, I know!"
"My dear aunt!"
"It is all right now, dear; but things might have been that are not. Asto Dora, I think she may be trusted with Basil Stanhope. He is one ofthe best and handsomest men I ever saw, and he has now rights in Dora'slove no one can tamper with. Mostyn is an honorable man."
"All right, but--
"Love will venture in, Where he daurna well be seen; O Love will venture in, Where Wisdom once has been--
and then, aunt, what then?"
PART SECOND -- PLAYING WITH FIRE
The Man Between: An International Romance Page 4