I see, Im to act as a sort of bridesmaid and to give her away, Mrs. Nettlepoint obligingly said. Kind enough in fact for anything, she showed on this occasion that it was easy enough to know her. There is notoriously nothing less desirable than an imposed aggravation of effort at sea, but she accepted without betrayed dismay the burden of the young ladys dependence and allowed her, as Mrs. Mavis said, to hook herself on. She evidently had the habit of patience, and her reception of her visitors story reminded me afreshI was reminded of it whenever I returned to my native landthat my dear compatriots are the people in the world who most freely take mutual accommodation for granted. They have always had to help themselves, and have rather magnanimously failed to learn just where helping others is distinguishable from that. In no country are there fewer forms and more reciprocities.
It was doubtless not singular that the ladies from Merrimac Avenue shouldnt feel they were importunate: what was striking was that Mrs. Nettlepoint didnt appear to suspect it. However, she would in any case have thought it inhuman to show thisthough I could see that under the surface she was amused at everything the more expressive of the pilgrims from the South End took for granted. I scarce know whether the attitude of the younger visitor added or not to the merit of her good nature. Mr. Porterfields intended took no part in the demonstration, scarcely spoke, sat looking at the Back Bay and the lights on the long bridge. She declined the lemonade and the other mixtures which, at Mrs. Nettlepoints request, I offered her, while her mother partook freely of everything and I reflectedfor I as freely drained a glass or two in which the ice tinkledthat Mr. Jasper had better hurry back if he wished to enjoy these luxuries.
Was the effect of the young womans reserve meanwhile ungracious, or was it only natural that in her particular situation she shouldnt have a flow of compliment at her command? I noticed that Mrs. Nettlepoint looked at her often, and certainly though she was undemonstrative Miss Mavis was interesting. The candlelight enabled me to see that though not in the very first flower of her youth she was still fresh and handsome. Her eyes and hair were dark, her face was pale, and she held up her head as if, with its thick braids and everything else involved in it, it were an appurtenance she wasnt ashamed of. If her mother was excellent and common she was not commonnot at least flagrantly soand perhaps also not excellent. At all events she wouldnt be, in appearance at least, a dreary appendage; which in the case of a person hooking on was always something gained. Was it because something of a romantic or pathetic interest usually attaches to a good creature who has been the victim of a long engagement that this young lady made an impression on me from the firstfavoured as I had been so quickly with this glimpse of her history? I could charge her certainly with no positive appeal; she only held her tongue and smiled, and her smile corrected whatever suggestion might have forced itself upon me that the spirit within her was deadthe spirit of that promise of which she found herself doomed to carry out the letter.
What corrected it less, I must add, was an odd recollection which gathered vividness as I listened to ita mental association evoked by the name of Mr. Porterfield. Surely I had a personal impression, over-smeared and confused, of the gentleman who was waiting at Liverpool, or who presently would be, for Mrs. Nettlepoints protégée. I had met him, known him, some time, somewhere, somehow, on the other side. Wasnt he studying something, very hard, somewhereprobably in Paristen years before, and didnt he make extraordinarily neat drawings, linear and architectural? Didnt he go to a table dhôte, at two francs twenty-five, in the Rue Bonaparte, which I then frequented, and didnt he wear spectacles and a Scotch plaid arranged in a manner which seemed to say Ive trustworthy information that thats the way they do it in the Highlands? Wasnt he exemplary to positive irritation, and very poor, poor to positive oppression, so that I supposed he had no overcoat and his tartan would be what he slept under at night? Wasnt he working very hard still, and wouldnt he be, in the natural course, not yet satisfied that he had found his feet or knew enough to launch out? He would be a man of long preparationsMiss Maviss white face seemed to speak to one of that. It struck me that if I had been in love with her I shouldnt have needed to lay such a train for the closer approach. Architecture was his line and he was a pupil of the École des Beaux Arts. This reminiscence grew so much more vivid with me that at the end of ten minutes I had an odd sense of knowingby implicationa good deal about the young lady.
Even after it was settled that Mrs. Nettlepoint would do everything possible for her the other visitor sat sipping our iced liquid and telling how low Mr. Mavis had been. At this period the girls silence struck me as still more conscious, partly perhaps because she deprecated her mothers free flowshe was enough of an improvement to measure thatand partly because she was too distressed by the idea of leaving her infirm, her perhaps dying father. It wasnt indistinguishable that they were poor and that she would take out a very small purse for her trousseau. For Mr. Porterfield to make up the sum his own case would have had moreover greatly to change. If he had enriched himself by the successful practice of his profession I had encountered no edifice he had rearedhis reputation hadnt come to my ears.
Mrs. Nettlepoint notified her new friends that she was a very inactive person at sea: she was prepared to suffer to the full with Miss Mavis, but not prepared to pace the deck with her, to struggle with her, to accompany her to meals. To this the girl replied that she would trouble her little, she was sure: she was convinced she should prove a wretched sailor and spend the voyage on her back. Her mother scoffed at this picture, prophesying perfect weather and a lovely time, and I interposed to the effect that if I might be trusted, as a tame bachelor fairly sea-seasoned, I should be delighted to give the new member of our party an arm or any other countenance whenever she should require it. Both the ladies thanked me for thistaking my professions with no sort of abatementand the elder one declared that we were evidently going to be such a sociable group that it was too bad to have to stay at home. She asked Mrs. Nettlepoint if there were any one else in our party, and when our hostess mentioned her sonthere was a chance of his embarking but (wasnt it absurd?) he hadnt decided yetshe returned with extraordinary candour: Oh dear, I do hope hell go: that would be so lovely for Grace.
Somehow the words made me think of poor Mr. Porterfields tartan, especially as Jasper Nettlepoint strolled in again at that moment. His mother at once challenged him: it was ten oclock; had he by chance made up his great mind? Apparently he failed to hear her, being in the first place surprised at the strange ladies and then struck with the fact that one of them wasnt strange. The young man, after a slight hesitation, greeted Miss Mavis with a handshake and a Oh good-evening, how do you do? He didnt utter her namewhich I could see he must have forgotten; but she immediately pronounced his, availing herself of the American girls discretion to present him to her mother.
Well, you might have told me you knew him all this time! that lady jovially cried. Then she had an equal confidence for Mrs. Nettlepoint. It would have saved me a worryan acquaintance already begun.
Somehow the words made me think of poor Mr. Porterfields tartan, especially as Jasper Nettlepoint strolled in again at that moment. His mother at once challenged him: it was ten oclock; had he by chance made up his great mind? Apparently he failed to hear her, being in the first place surprised at the strange ladies and then struck with the fact that one of them wasnt strange. The young man, after a slight hesitation, greeted Miss Mavis with a handshake and a Oh good-evening, how do you do? He didnt utter her namewhich I could see he must have forgotten; but she immediately pronounced his, availing herself of the American girls discretion to present him to her mother.
Well, you might have told me you knew him all this time! that lady jovially cried. Then she had an equal confidence for Mrs. Nettlepoint. It would have saved me a worryan acquaintance already begun.
Ah my sons acquaintances! our hostess murmured.
Yes, and my daughters too! Mrs. Mavis gaily echoed. Mrs. Allen didnt tell us you were going, she continued to the young man.
Shed have been clever if she had been able to! Mrs. Nettlepoint sighed.
Dear mother, I have my telegram, Jasper remarked, looking at Grace Mavis.
I know you very little, the girl said, returning his observation.
Ive danced with you at some ballfor some sufferers by something or other.
I think it was an inundation or a big fire, she a little languidly smiled. But it was a long time agoand I havent seen you since.
Ive been in far countriesto my loss. I should have said it was a big fire.
It was at the Horticultural Hall. I didnt remember your name, said Grace Mavis.
Thats very unkind of you, when I recall vividly that you had a pink dress.
Oh I remember that dressyour strawberry tarletan: you looked lovely in it! Mrs. Mavis broke out. You must get another just like iton the other side.
Yes, your daughter looked charming in it, said Jasper Nettlepoint. Then he added to the girl: Yet you mentioned my name to your mother.
It came back to meseeing you here. I had no idea this was your home.
Well, I confess it isnt, much. Oh there are some drinks!he approached the tray and its glasses.
Indeed there are and quite deliciousMrs. Mavis largely wiped her mouth.
Wont you have another then?a pink one, like your daughters gown.
With pleasure, sir. Oh do see them over, Mrs. Mavis continued, accepting from the young mans hand a third tumbler.
My mother and that gentleman? Surely they can take care of themselves, he freely pleaded.
Then my daughtershe has a claim as an old friend.
But his mother had by this time interposed. Jasper, what does your telegram say?
He paid her no heed: he stood there with his glass in his hand, looking from Mrs. Mavis to Miss Grace.
Ah leave her to me, madam; Im quite competent, I said to Mrs. Mavis.
Then the young man gave me his attention. The next minute he asked of the girl: Do you mean youre going to Europe?
Yes, tomorrow. In the same ship as your mother.
Thats what weve come here for, to see all about it, said Mrs. Mavis.
My son, take pity on me and tell me what light your telegram throws, Mrs. Nettlepoint went on.
I will, dearest, when Ive quenched my thirst. And he slowly drained his glass.
Well, I declare youre worse than Gracie, Mrs. Mavis commented. She was first one thing and then the otherbut only about up to three oclock yesterday.
Excuse mewont you take something? Jasper inquired of Gracie; who however still declined, as if to make up for her mothers copious consommation. I found myself quite aware that the two ladies would do well to take leave, the question of Mrs. Nettlepoints good will being so satisfactorily settled and the meeting of the morrow at the ship so near at hand and I went so far as to judge that their protracted stay, with their hostess visibly in a fidget, gave the last proof of their want of breeding. Miss Grace after all then was not such an improvement on her mother, for she easily might have taken the initiative of departure, in spite of Mrs. Maviss evident game of making her own absorption of refreshment last as long as possible. I watched the girl with increasing interest; I couldnt help asking myself a question or two about her and even perceiving already (in a dim and general way) that rather marked embarrassment, or at least anxiety attended her. Wasnt it complicating that she should have needed, by remaining long enough, to assuage a certain suspense, to learn whether or no Jasper were going to sail? Hadnt something particular passed between them on the occasion or at the period to which we had caught their allusion, and didnt she really not know her mother was bringing her to his mothers, though she apparently had thought it well not to betray knowledge? Such things were symptomaticthough indeed one scarce knew of whaton the part of a young lady betrothed to that curious cross-barred phantom of a Mr. Porterfield. But I am bound to add that she gave me no further warrant for wonder than was conveyed in her all tacitly and covertly encouraging her mother to linger. Somehow I had a sense that she was conscious of the indecency of this. I got up myself to go, but Mrs. Nettlepoint detained me after seeing that my movement wouldnt be taken as a hint, and I felt she wished me not to leave my fellow visitors on her hands. Jasper complained of the closeness of the room, said that it was not a night to sit in a roomone ought to be out in the air, under the sky. He denounced the windows that overlooked the water for not opening upon a balcony or a terrace, until his mother, whom he hadnt yet satisfied about his telegram, reminded him that there was a beautiful balcony in front, with room for a dozen people. She assured him we would go and sit there if it would please him.
It will be nice and cool tomorrow, when we steam into the great ocean, said Miss Mavis, expressing with more vivacity than she had yet thrown into any of her utterances my own thought of half an hour before. Mrs. Nettlepoint replied that it would probably be freezing cold, and her son murmured that he would go and try the drawing-room balcony and report upon it. Just as he was turning away he said, smiling, to Miss Mavis: Wont you come with me and see if its pleasant?