It strikes me were rather particular, his companion remarked.
Oh yes, theres no doubt were particular, Lord Warburton murmured. And then the three men remained silent a while; the two younger ones standing looking down at the other, who presently asked for more tea. I should think you would be very unhappy with that shawl, Lord Warburton resumed while his companion filled the old mans cup again.
Oh no, he must have the shawl! cried the gentleman in the velvet coat. Dont put such ideas as that into his head.
It belongs to my wife, said the old man simply.
Oh, if its for sentimental reasons And Lord Warburton made a gesture of apology.
I suppose I must give it to her when she comes, the old man went on.
Youll please to do nothing of the kind. Youll keep it to cover your poor old legs.
Well, you mustnt abuse my legs, said the old man. I guess they are as good as yours.
Oh, youre perfectly free to abuse mine, his son replied, giving him his tea.
Well, were two lame ducks; I dont think theres much difference.
Im much obliged to you for calling me a duck. Hows your tea?
Well, its rather hot.
Thats intended to be a merit.
Ah, theres a great deal of merit, murmured the old man, kindly. Hes a very good nurse, Lord Warburton.
Isnt he a bit clumsy? asked his lordship.
Oh no, hes not clumsyconsidering that hes an invalid himself. Hes a very good nursefor a sick-nurse. I call him my sick-nurse because hes sick himself.
Oh, come, daddy! the ugly young man exclaimed.
Well, you are; I wish you werent. But I suppose you cant help it.
I might try: thats an idea, said the young man.
Were you ever sick, Lord Warburton? his father asked.
Lord Warburton considered a moment. Yes, sir, once, in the Persian Gulf.
Hes making light of you, daddy, said the other young man. Thats a sort of joke.
Well, there seem to be so many sorts now, daddy replied, serenely. You dont look as if you had been sick, anyway, Lord Warburton.
Hes sick of life; he was just telling me so; going on fearfully about it, said Lord Warburtons friend.
Is that true, sir? asked the old man gravely.
If it is, your son gave me no consolation. Hes a wretched fellow to talk toa regular cynic. He doesnt seem to believe in anything.
Thats another sort of joke, said the person accused of cynicism.
Its because his health is so poor, his father explained to Lord Warburton. It affects his mind and colours his way of looking at things; he seems to feel as if he had never had a chance. But its almost entirely theoretical, you know; it doesnt seem to affect his spirits. Ive hardly ever seen him when he wasnt cheerfulabout as he is at present. He often cheers me up.
The young man so described looked at Lord Warburton and laughed. Is it a glowing eulogy or an accusation of levity? Should you like me to carry out my theories, daddy?
By Jove, we should see some queer things! cried Lord Warburton.
I hope you havent taken up that sort of tone, said the old man.
Warburtons tone is worse than mine; he pretends to be bored. Im not in the least bored; I find life only too interesting.
Ah, too interesting; you shouldnt allow it to be that, you know!
Im never bored when I come here, said Lord Warburton. One gets such uncommonly good talk.
Is that another sort of joke? asked the old man. Youve no excuse for being bored anywhere. When I was your age I had never heard of such a thing.
You must have developed very late.
No, I developed very quick; that was just the reason. When I was twenty years old I was very highly developed indeed. I was working tooth and nail. You wouldnt be bored if you had something to do; but all you young men are too idle. You think too much of your pleasure. Youre too fastidious, and too indolent, and too rich.
Oh, I say, cried Lord Warburton, youre hardly the person to accuse a fellow-creature of being too rich!
Do you mean because Im a banker? asked the old man.
Because of that, if you like; and because you havehavent you?such unlimited means.
He isnt very rich, the other young man mercifully pleaded. He has given away an immense deal of money.
Well, I suppose it was his own, said Lord Warburton; and in that case could there be a better proof of wealth? Let not a public benefactor talk of ones being too fond of pleasure.
Daddys very fond of pleasureof other peoples.
The old man shook his head. I dont pretend to have contributed anything to the amusement of my contemporaries.
My dear father, youre too modest!
Thats a kind of joke, sir, said Lord Warburton.
You young men have too many jokes. When there are no jokes youve nothing left.
Fortunately there are always more jokes, the ugly young man remarked.
I dont believe itI believe things are getting more serious. You young men will find that out.
The increasing seriousness of things, then thats the great opportunity of jokes.
Theyll have to be grim jokes, said the old man. Im convinced there will be great changes, and not all for the better.
I quite agree with you, sir, Lord Warburton declared. Im very sure there will be great changes, and that all sorts of queer things will happen. Thats why I find so much difficulty in applying your advice; you know you told me the other day that I ought to take hold of something. One hesitates to take hold of a thing that may the next moment be knocked sky-high.
You ought to take hold of a pretty woman, said his companion. Hes trying hard to fall in love, he added, by way of explanation, to his father.
The pretty women themselves may be sent flying! Lord Warburton exclaimed.
No, no, theyll be firm, the old man rejoined; theyll not be affected by the social and political changes I just referred to.
You mean they wont be abolished? Very well, then, Ill lay hands on one as soon as possible and tie her round my neck as a life-preserver.
The ladies will save us, said the old man; that is the best of them willfor I make a difference between them. Make up to a good one and marry her, and your life will become much more interesting.
A momentary silence marked perhaps on the part of his auditors a sense of the magnanimity of this speech, for it was a secret neither for his son nor for his visitor that his own experiment in matrimony had not been a happy one. As he said, however, he made a difference; and these words may have been intended as a confession of personal error; though of course it was not in place for either of his companions to remark that apparently the lady of his choice had not been one of the best.
If I marry an interesting woman I shall be interested: is that what you say? Lord Warburton asked. Im not at all keen about marryingyour son misrepresented me; but theres no knowing what an interesting woman might do with me.
I should like to see your idea of an interesting woman, said his friend.
My dear fellow, you cant see ideasespecially such highly ethereal ones as mine. If I could only see it myselfthat would be a great step in advance.
Well, you may fall in love with whomsoever you please; but you mustnt fall in love with my niece, said the old man.
His son broke into a laugh. Hell think you mean that as a provocation! My dear father, youve lived with the English for thirty years, and youve picked up a good many of the things they say. But youve never learned the things they dont say!
I say what I please, the old man returned with all his serenity.
I havent the honour of knowing your niece, Lord Warburton said. I think its the first time Ive heard of her.
Shes a niece of my wifes; Mrs. Touchett brings her to England.
Then young Mr. Touchett explained. My mother, you know, has been spending the winter in America, and were expecting her back. She writes that she has discovered a niece and that she has invited her to come out with her.
I see,very kind of her, said Lord Warburton. Is the young lady interesting?
We hardly know more about her than you; my mother has not gone into details. She chiefly communicates with us by means of telegrams, and her telegrams are rather inscrutable. They say women dont know how to write them, but my mother has thoroughly mastered the art of condensation. Tired America, hot weather awful, return England with niece, first steamer decent cabin. Thats the sort of message we get from herthat was the last that came. But there had been another before, which I think contained the first mention of the niece. Changed hotel, very bad, impudent clerk, address here. Taken sisters girl, died last year, go to Europe, two sisters, quite independent. Over that my father and I have scarcely stopped puzzling; it seems to admit of so many interpretations.
Theres one thing very clear in it, said the old man; she has given the hotel-clerk a dressing.
Im not sure even of that, since he has driven her from the field. We thought at first that the sister mentioned might be the sister of the clerk; but the subsequent mention of a niece seems to prove that the allusion is to one of my aunts. Then there was a question as to whose the two other sisters were; they are probably two of my late aunts daughters. But whos quite independent, and in what sense is the term used?that points not yet settled. Does the expression apply more particularly to the young lady my mother has adopted, or does it characterise her sisters equally?and is it used in a moral or in a financial sense? Does it mean that theyve been left well off, or that they wish to be under no obligations? or does it simply mean that theyre fond of their own way?
Whatever else it means, its pretty sure to mean that, Mr. Touchett remarked.
Youll see for yourself, said Lord Warburton. When does Mrs. Touchett arrive?
Were quite in the dark; as soon as she can find a decent cabin. She may be waiting for it yet; on the other hand she may already have disembarked in England.
In that case she would probably have telegraphed to you.
She never telegraphs when you would expect itonly when you dont, said the old man. She likes to drop on me suddenly; she thinks shell find me doing something wrong. She has never done so yet, but shes not discouraged.
Its her share in the family trait, the independence she speaks of. Her sons appreciation of the matter was more favourable. Whatever the high spirit of those young ladies may be, her own is a match for it. She likes to do everything for herself and has no belief in any ones power to help her. She thinks me of no more use than a postage-stamp without gum, and she would never forgive me if I should presume to go to Liverpool to meet her.
Will you at least let me know when your cousin arrives? Lord Warburton asked.
Only on the condition Ive mentionedthat you dont fall in love with her! Mr. Touchett replied.
That strikes me as hard, dont you think me good enough?
I think you too goodbecause I shouldnt like her to marry you. She hasnt come here to look for a husband, I hope; so many young ladies are doing that, as if there were no good ones at home. Then shes probably engaged; American girls are usually engaged, I believe. Moreover Im not sure, after all, that youd be a remarkable husband.
Very likely shes engaged; Ive known a good many American girls, and they always were; but I could never see that it made any difference, upon my word! As for my being a good husband, Mr. Touchetts visitor pursued, Im not sure of that either. One can but try!
Try as much as you please, but dont try on my niece, smiled the old man, whose opposition to the idea was broadly humorous.
Ah, well, said Lord Warburton with a humour broader still, perhaps, after all, shes not worth trying on!
CHAPTER II
While this exchange of pleasantries took place between the two Ralph Touchett wandered away a little, with his usual slouching gait, his hands in his pockets and his little rowdyish terrier at his heels. His face was turned toward the house, but his eyes were bent musingly on the lawn; so that he had been an object of observation to a person who had just made her appearance in the ample doorway for some moments before he perceived her. His attention was called to her by the conduct of his dog, who had suddenly darted forward with a little volley of shrill barks, in which the note of welcome, however, was more sensible than that of defiance. The person in question was a young lady, who seemed immediately to interpret the greeting of the small beast. He advanced with great rapidity and stood at her feet, looking up and barking hard; whereupon, without hesitation, she stooped and caught him in her hands, holding him face to face while he continued his quick chatter. His master now had had time to follow and to see that Bunchies new friend was a tall girl in a black dress, who at first sight looked pretty. She was bareheaded, as if she were staying in the housea fact which conveyed perplexity to the son of its master, conscious of that immunity from visitors which had for some time been rendered necessary by the latters ill-health. Meantime the two other gentlemen had also taken note of the new-comer.
Dear me, whos that strange woman? Mr. Touchett had asked.
Perhaps its Mrs. Touchetts niecethe independent young lady, Lord Warburton suggested. I think she must be, from the way she handles the dog.
The collie, too, had now allowed his attention to be diverted, and he trotted toward the young lady in the doorway, slowly setting his tail in motion as he went.
But wheres my wife then? murmured the old man.
I suppose the young lady has left her somewhere: thats a part of the independence.
The girl spoke to Ralph, smiling, while she still held up the terrier. Is this your little dog, sir?
He was mine a moment ago; but youve suddenly acquired a remarkable air of property in him.
Couldnt we share him? asked the girl. Hes such a perfect little darling.
Ralph looked at her a moment; she was unexpectedly pretty. You may have him altogether, he then replied.