第6章

"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."