Doctor Feeder followed the direction of his eyes and after a moment understood his allusion. Little Jackson Lemon passed, on his big horse, along the avenue again, riding beside one of the bright creatures who had come that way shortly before under escort of Lord Canterville. His lordship followed in conversation with the other, his younger daughter. As they advanced Jackson Lemon turned his eyes to the multitude under the trees, and it so happened that they rested on the Dexter Freers. He smiled, he raised his hat with all possible friendliness, and his three companions turned to see whom he so frankly greeted. As he settled his hat on his head he espied the young man from Cincinnati, whom he had at first overlooked; whereupon he laughed for the luck of it and waved Sidney Feeder an airy salutation with his hand, reining in a little at the same time just for an instant, as if he half-expected this apparition to come and speak to him. Seeing him with strangers, none the less, Sidney Feeder hung back, staring a little as he rode away.
It is open to us to know that at this moment the young lady by whose side he was riding put him the free question: Who are those people you bowed to?
Some old friends of mineAmericans, said Jackson Lemon.
Of course theyre Americans; theres nothing anywhere but Americans now.
Oh yes, our turns coming round! laughed the young man.
But that doesnt say who they are, his companion continued. Its so difficult to say who Americans are, she added before he had time to answer her.
Dexter Freer and his wifetheres nothing difficult about that. Every one knows them, Jackson explained.
I never heard of them, said the English girl.
Ah, thats your fault and your misfortune. I assure you everybody knows them.
And does everybody know the little man with the fat face to whom you kissed your hand?
I didnt kiss my hand, but I would if I had thought of it. Hes a great chum of minea fellow-student at Vienna.
And whats his name?
Doctor Feeder.
Jackson Lemons companion had a dandling pause. Are all your friends doctors?
Nosome of them are in other businesses.
Are they all in some business?
Most of themsave two or three like Dexter Freer.
Dexter Freer? I thought you said Doctor Freer.
The young man gave a laugh. You heard me wrong. Youve got doctors on the brain, Lady Barb.
Im rather glad, said Lady Barb, giving the rein to her horse, who bounded away.
Well yes, shes very handsome, the reason, Doctor Feeder remarked as he sat under the trees.
Is he going to marry her? Mrs. Freer inquired.
Marry her? I hope not.
Why do you hope not?
Because I know nothing about her. I want to know something about the woman that man marries.
I suppose youd like him to marry in Cincinnati, Mrs. Freer not unadventurously threw out.
Well, Im not particular where it is; but I want to know her first. Doctor Feeder was very sturdy.
We were in hopes youd know all about it, said his other entertainer.
No, I havent kept up with him there.
Weve heard from a dozen people that he has been always with her for the last monthand that kind of thing, in England, is supposed to mean something. Hasnt he spoken of her when youve seen him?
No, he has only talked about the new treatment of spinal meningitis. Hes very much interested in spinal meningitis.
I wonder if he talks about it to Lady Barb, said Mrs. Freer.
Who is she anyway? the young man wanted to know.
Well, his companions both let him. Lady Barb Clement.
And whos Lady Barb Clement?
The daughter of Lord Canterville.
And whos Lord Canterville?
Dexter must tell you that, said Mrs. Freer.
And Dexter accordingly told him that the Marquis of Canterville had been in his day a great sporting nobleman and an ornament to English society, and had held more than once a high post in her Majestys household. Dexter Freer knew all these thingshow his lordship had married a daughter of Lord Treherne, a very serious intelligent and beautiful woman who had redeemed him from the extravagance of his youth and presented him in rapid succession with a dozen little tenants for the nurseries at Pasternsthis being, as Mr. Freer also knew, the name of the principal seat of the Cantervilles. The head of that house was a Tory, but not a particular dunce for a Tory, and very popular in society at large; good-natured, good-looking, knowing how to be rather remarkably free and yet remain a grand seigneur, clever enough to make an occasional telling speech and much associated with the fine old English pursuits as well as with many of the new improvementsthe purification of the Turf, the opening of the museums on Sunday, the propagation of coffee-taverns, the latest ideas on sanitary reform. He disapproved of the extension of the suffrage but had positively drainage on the brain. It had been said of him at least onceand, if this historian is not mistaken, in printthat he was just the man to convey to the popular mind the impression that the British aristocracy is still a living force. He was unfortunately not very richfor a man who had to exemplify such truthsand of his twelve children no less than seven were daughters. Lady Barb, Jackson Lemons friend, was the second; the eldest had married Lord Beauchemin. Mr. Freer had caught quite the right pronunciation of this name, which he successfully sounded as Bitumen. Lady Lucretia had done very well, for her husband was rich and she had brought him nothing to speak of; but it was hardly to be expected they would all achieve such flights. Happily the younger girls were still in the schoolroom, and before they had come up, Lady Canterville, who was a woman of bold resource, would have worked off the two that were out. It was Lady Agathas first season; she wasnt so pretty as her sister, but was thought to be cleverer. Half-a-dozen people had spoken to him of Jackson Lemons being a great deal at the Cantervilles. He was supposed to be enormously rich.
Well, so he is, said Sidney Feeder, who had listened to Mr. Freers report with attention, with eagerness even, but, for all its lucidity, with an air of imperfect apprehension.
Yes, but not so rich as they probably think.
Do they want his money? Is that what theyre after?
You go straight to the point! Mrs. Freer rang out.
I havent the least idea, said her husband. Hes a very good sort in himself.
Yes, but hes a doctor, Mrs. Freer observed.
What have they got against that? asked Sidney Feeder.
Why, over here, you know, they only call them in to prescribe, said his other friend. The profession isntawhat youd call aristocratic.
Well, I dont know it, and I dont know that I want to know it. How do you mean, aristocratic? What profession is? It would be rather a curious one. Professions are meant to do the work of professions; and what works done without your sleeves rolled up? Many of the gentlemen at the congress there are quite charming.
I like doctors very much, said Mrs. Freer; my father was a doctor. But they dont marry the daughters of marquises.
I dont believe Jackson wants to marry that one, Sidney Feeder calmly argued.
I dont believe Jackson wants to marry that one, Sidney Feeder calmly argued.
Very possibly notpeople are such asses, said Dexter Freer. But hell have to decide. I wish youd find out, by the way. You can if you will.
Ill ask himup at the congress; I can do that. I suppose he has got to marry some one. The young man added in a moment: And she may be a good thing.
Shes said to be charming.
Very well then, it wont hurt him. I must say, however, Im not sure I like all that about her family.
What I told you? Its all to their honour and glory, said Mr. Freer.
Are they quite on the square? Its like those people in Thackeray.
Oh if Thackeray could have done this! And Mrs. Freer yearned over the lost hand.
You mean all this scene? asked the young man.
No; the marriage of a British noblewoman and an American doctor. It would have been a subject for a master of satire.
You see you do want it, my dear, said her husband quietly.
I want it as a story, but I dont want it for Doctor Lemon.
Does he call himself Doctor still? Mr. Freer asked of young Feeder.
I suppose he doesI call him so. Of course he doesnt practise. But once a doctor always a doctor.
Thats doctrine for Lady Barb!
Sidney Feeder wondered. Hasnt she got a title too? What would she expect him to be? President of the United States? Hes a man of real abilityhe might have stood at the head of his profession. When I think of that I want to swear. What did his father want to go and make all that money for?
It must certainly be odd to them to see a medical man with six or eight millions, Mr. Freer conceded.
They use much the same term as the Choctaws, said his wife.
Why, some of their own physicians make immense fortunes, Sidney Feeder remarked.
Couldnt he, she went on, be made a baronet by the Queen?
Yes, then hed be aristocratic, said the young man. But I dont see why he should want to marry over here; it seems to me to be going out of his way. However, if hes happy I dont care. I like him very much; he has A1 ability. If it hadnt been for his father hed have made a splendid doctor. But, as I say, he takes a great interest in medical science and I guess he means to promote it all he canwith his big fortune. Hell be sure to keep up his interest in research. He thinks we do know something and is bound we shall know more. I hope she wont lower him, the young marchionessis that her rank? And I hope theyre really good people. He ought to be very useful. I should want to know a good deal about the foreign family I was going to marry into.
He looked to me, riding there, as if he knew a good deal about the Clements, Dexter Freer said, getting to his feet as his wife suggested they ought to be going; and he looked to me pleased with the knowledge. There they come down the other side. Will you walk away with us or will you stay?
Stop him and ask him, and then come and tell usin Jermyn Street. This was Mrs. Freers parting injunction to Sidney Feeder.
He ought to come himselftell him that, her husband added.
Well, I guess Ill stay, said the young man as his companions merged themselves in the crowd that now was tending toward the gates. He went and stood by the barrier and saw Doctor Lemon and his friends pull up at the entrance to the Row, where they apparently prepared to separate. The separation took some time and Jacksons colleague became interested. Lord Canterville and his younger daughter lingered to talk with two gentlemen, also mounted, who looked a good deal at the legs of Lady Agathas horse. Doctor Lemon and Lady Barb were face to face, very near each other, and she, leaning forward a little, stroked the overlapping neck of his glossy bay. At a distance he appeared to be talking and she to be listening without response. Oh yes, hes making love to her, thought Sidney Feeder. Suddenly her father and sister turned away to leave the Park, and she joined them and disappeared while Jackson came up on the left again as for a final gallop. He hadnt gone far before he perceived his comrade, who awaited him at the rail; and he repeated the gesture Lady Barb had described as a kiss of the hand, though it had not to his friends eyes that full grace. When he came within hail he pulled up.
If I had known you were coming here Id have given you a mount, he immediately and bountifully cried. There was not in his person that irradiation of wealth and distinction which made Lord Canterville glow like a picture; but as he sat there with his neat little legs stuck out he looked very bright and sharp and happy, wearing in his degree the aspect of one of Fortunes favourites. He had a thin keen delicate face, a nose very carefully finished, a quick eye, a trifle hard in expression, and a fine dark moustache, a good deal cultivated. He was not striking, but he had his intensity, and it was easy to see that he had his purposes.
How many horses have you gotabout forty? his compatriot inquired in response to his greeting.
About five hundred, said Jackson Lemon.
Did you mount your friendsthe three you were riding with?
Mount them? Theyve got the best horses in England.
Did they sell you this one? Sidney Feeder continued in the same humorous strain.
What do you think of him? said his friend without heed of this question.
Well, hes an awful old screw. I wonder he can carry you.
Where did you get your hat? Jackson asked both as a retort and as a relevant criticism.
I got it in New York. Whats the matter with it?
Its very beautiful. I wish I had brought over one like it.
The heads the thingnot the hat. I dont mean yoursI mean mine, Sidney Feeder laughed. Theres something very deep in your question. I must think it over.
Dontdont, said Jackson Lemon; youll never get to the bottom of it. Are you having a good time?
A glorious time. Have you been up to-day?
Up among the doctors? NoIve had a lot of things to do, Jackson was obliged to plead.
Welland his friend richly recovered itwe had a very interesting discussion. I made a few remarks.
You ought to have told me. What were they about?
About the intermarriage of races from the point of view And Sidney Feeder paused a moment, occupied with the attempt to scratch the nose of the beautiful horse.
From the point of view of the progeny, I suppose?
Not at all. From the point of view of the old friends.
Damn the old friends! Doctor Lemon exclaimed with jocular crudity.
Is it true that youre going to marry a young marchioness?
The face of the speaker in the saddle became just a trifle rigid, and his firm eyes penetrated the other. Who has played that on you?
Mr. and Mrs. Freer, whom I met just now.
Mr. and Mrs. Freer be hanged too. And who told them?
Ever so many fashionable people. I dont know who.
Gad, how things are tattled! cried Jackson Lemon with asperity.
I can see its true by the way you say that, his friend ingenuously stated.
Do Freer and his wife believe it? Jackson went on impatiently.