The hostess arose; a rustle and flurry of silk and lace and the scraping of chairs, a lingering word or laugh, and the colour vanished from the room leaving a circle of men in black standing around the table.
Here and there a man, lighting a cigarette, bolted his coffee and cognac and strolled out to the gun-room. Ferrall, gesticulating vigorously, resumed his preprandial dog story to Captain Voucher; Belwether buttonholed Alderdene and bored him with an interminably facetious tale until that nobleman, threatened with maxillary dislocation, fairly wrenched himself loose and came over to Siward, squinting furiously.
Old ass! he muttered; his chop whiskers look like the chops of a Southdown ramand hes got the wits of one. Look here, Stephen, I hear you fell into no end of a scrape in town
Tu quoque, Blinky? Oh, read the newspapers and let it go at that!
Just as you like old chap! returned his lordship unabashed. All I meant wasanything Voucher and I can doof course
Youre very good. Im not dead you know.
Not dead, you know, repeated Major Belwether coming up behind them with his sprightly step; that reminds me of a good one He sat down and lighted a cigar, then, vainly attempting to control his countenance as though roguishly anticipating the treat awaiting them, he began another endless story.
Tradition had hallowed the popular notion that Major Belwether was a wit. The sycophant of the outer world seldom even awaited his first word before bursting into premature mirth. Besides he was very wealthy.
Siward watched him with mixed emotions; the lambent-eyed, sheepy expression had given place to the buck rabbit; his smooth baby-pink skin and downy white side whiskers quivered in premature sympathy with his listeners overwhelming hilarity.
The Page boys, very callow, very much delighted, and a little in awe of such a celebrated personage, laughed heartily. And altogether there was sufficient attention and sufficient laughter to make a very respectable noise. This, being the majors cue for an exit, he rose, one sleek hand raised in sprightly protest as though to shield the invisible ladies, to whose bournes he was bound, from an uproar too masculine and mighty for the ears of such a sex.
Ass! muttered Alderdene, getting up and pattering about the room in his big, shiny pumps. Give me a pegsomebody!
Mortimer swallowed his brandy, lingered, lifted the decanter, mechanically considering its remaining contents and his own capacity; then:
Bridge, Captain?
Certainly, said Captain Voucher briskly.
Ill go and shoo the major into the gun-room, observed Ferrallunless looking questioningly at Siward.
Ive a date with your wife, observed that young man, strolling toward the hall.
The Page boys, Rena Bonnesdel, and Eileen Shannon were seated at a card table together, very much engaged with one another, the sealed pack lying neglected on the green cloth, a vast pink box of bon-bons beside it, not neglected.
OHara and Quarrier with Marion Page and Mrs. Mortimer were immersed in the game, already stony faced and oblivious to outer sounds.
About the rooms were distributed girls en tête-à -tête, girls eating bon-bons and watching the cardsamong them Sylvia Landis, hands loosely clasped behind her, standing at Quarriers elbow to observe and profit by an expert performance.
As Siward strolled in she raised her dainty head for an instant, smiled in silence, and resumed a study of her fiancés game.
A moment later, when Quarrier had emerged brilliantly from the mêlée, she looked up again, triumphantly, supposing Siward was lingering somewhere waiting to join her. And she was just a trifle surprised and disappointed to find him nowhere in sight. She had wished him to observe the brilliancy of Mr. Quarriers game.
But Siward, outside on the veranda, was saying at that moment to his hostess: I shall be very glad to read my mothers letter at any time you choose.
It must be later, Stephen. Im to cut in when Kemp sends for me. He has a lot of letters to attend to.... Tell me, what do you think of Sylvia Landis?
I like her, of course, he replied pleasantly.
Grace Ferrall stood thinking a moment: That sketch you made proved a great success, didnt it? And she laughed under her breath.
Did it? I thought Mr. Quarrier seemed annoyed
Really? What a muff that cousin of mine is. Hes such a muff, you know, that the very sight of his pointed beard and pompadour hair and his complacency sets me in fidgets to stir him up.
I dont think youd best use me for the stick next time, said Siward. Hes not my cousin you know.
Mrs. Ferrall shrugged her boyish shoulders: By the wayshe said curiouslywho was that girl?
What girl, he asked coolly, looking at his hostess, now the very incarnation of delicate mockery with her pretty laughing mouth, her boyish sunburn and freckles.
You wont tell me I suppose?
Im sorry
Was she pretty, Stephen?
Yes, he said sulkily; I wish you wouldnt
Nonsense! Do you think Im going to let you off without some sort of confession? If I had time nowbut I havent. Kemp has business letters: hell be furious; so Ive got to take his cards or we wont have any pennies to buy gasoline for our adored and shrieking Mercedes.
She retreated backward with a gay nod of malice, turned to enter the house, and met Sylvia Landis face to face in the hallway.
You minx! she whispered; arent you ashamed?
Very much, dear. What for? And catching sight of Siward outside in the starlight, divined perhaps something of her hostess meaning, for she laughed uneasily, like a child who winces under a stern eye.
You dont suppose for a moment, she began, that I have
Yes I do. You always do.
Not with that sort of man, she returned naïvely; he wont.
Mrs. Ferrall regarded her suspiciously: You always pick out exactly the wrong man to play with
They had moved back side by side into the hall, the hostess arm linked in the arm of the younger girl.
The wrong man? repeated Sylvia, instinctively freeing her arm, her straight brows beginning to bend inward.
I didnt mean thatexactly. You know how much I care for his motherand for him. The obstinate downward trend of the brows, the narrowing blue gaze signalled mutiny to the woman who knew her so well.
What is so wrong with Mr. Siward? she asked.
Nothing. There was an affair
This spring in town. I know it. Is that all?
Yesfor the present, replied Grace Ferrall uncomfortably; then: For goodness sake, Sylvia, dont cross examine me that way! I care a great deal for that boy
So do I. Ive made him take my dog.
There was an abrupt pause, and presently Mrs. Ferrall began to laugh.
I mean itreally, said Sylvia quietly; I like him immensely.
Dearest, you mean it generouslywith your usual exaggeration. You have heard that he has been foolish, and because hes so young, so likable, every instinct, every impulse in you is aroused toto be nice to him
And if that were
There is no harm, dear Mrs. Ferrall hesitated, her grey eyes softening to a graver revery. Then looking up: Its rather pathetic, she said in a low voice. Kemp thinks hes foredoomedlike all the Siwards. Its an hereditary failing with him,no, its hereditary damnation. Siward after Siward, generation after generation you know She bit her lip, thinking a moment. His grandfather was a friend of my grand-parents, brilliant, handsome, generous, anddoomed! His own father was found dying in a dreadful resort in London where he had wandered when stupefieda Siward! Think of it! So you see what that outbreak of Stephens means to those whose families have been New Yorkers since New York was. It is ominous, it is more than ominousit means that the master-vice has seized on one more Siward. But I shall never, never admit it to his mother.
And if that were
There is no harm, dear Mrs. Ferrall hesitated, her grey eyes softening to a graver revery. Then looking up: Its rather pathetic, she said in a low voice. Kemp thinks hes foredoomedlike all the Siwards. Its an hereditary failing with him,no, its hereditary damnation. Siward after Siward, generation after generation you know She bit her lip, thinking a moment. His grandfather was a friend of my grand-parents, brilliant, handsome, generous, anddoomed! His own father was found dying in a dreadful resort in London where he had wandered when stupefieda Siward! Think of it! So you see what that outbreak of Stephens means to those whose families have been New Yorkers since New York was. It is ominous, it is more than ominousit means that the master-vice has seized on one more Siward. But I shall never, never admit it to his mother.
The younger girl sat wide-eyed, silent; the elders gaze was upon her, but her thoughts, remote, centred on the hapless mother of such a son.
Such indulgence was once fashionable; moderation is the present fashion. Perhaps he will fall into line, said Mrs. Ferrall thoughtfully. The main thing is to keep him among people, not to drop him. The gregarious may be shamed, but if anything, any incident, happens to drive him outside by himself, if he should become solitary, theres not a chance in the world for him.... Its a pity. I know he meant to make himself the exception to the ruleand look! Already one carouse of his has landed him in the daily papers!
Sylvia flushed and looked up: Grace, may I ask you a plain question?
Yes, child, she answered absently.
Has it occurred to you that what you have said about this boy touches me very closely?
Mrs. Ferralls wits returned nimbly from woolgathering, and she shot a startled, inquiring glance at the girl beside her.
Youyou mean the matter of heredity, Sylvia?
Yes. I think my uncle Major Belwether chose you as his august mouthpiece for that little sermon on the dangers of hereditythe danger of being ignorant concerning what women of my race had donebefore I came into the world they found so amusing.
I told you several things, returned Mrs. Ferrall composedly. Your uncle thought it best for you to know.
Yes. The marriage vows sat lightly upon some of my ancestors, I gather. In fact, she added coolly, where the women of my race loved they usually found the wayrather unconventionally. There was, if I understood you, enough of divorce, of general indiscretion and irregularity to seriously complicate any family tree and coat of arms I might care to claim
Sylvia!
The girl lifted her pretty bare shoulders. Im sorry, but could I help it? Very well; all I can do is to prove a decent exception. Very well; Im doing it, am I not?practically scared into the first solidly suitable marriage offeredseizing the unfortunate Howard with both hands for fear hed get away and leave me alone with only a queer family record for company! Very well! Now then, I want to ask you why everybody, in my case, didnt go about with sanctimonious faces and dolorous mien repeating: Her grand-mother eloped! Her mother ran away. Poor child, shes doomed! doomed!
Sylvia, I
Yeswhy didnt they? Thats the way they talk about that boy out there! She swept a rounded arm toward the veranda.
Yes, but he has already broken loose, while you
So did Inearly! Had it not been for you, you know well enough I might have run away with that dreadful Englishman at Newport! For I adored himI did! I did! and you know it. And look at my endless escapes from compromising myself! Can you count them?all those indiscretions when mere living seemed to intoxicate me that first winterand only my uncle and you to break me in!
In other words, said Mrs. Ferrall slowly, you dont think Mr. Siward is getting what is known as a square deal?
No, I dont. Major Belwether has already hintedno, not even thatbut has somehow managed to dampen my pleasure in Mr. Siward.
Mrs. Ferrall considered the girl beside hernow very lovely and flushed in her suppressed excitement.
After all, she said, you are going to marry somebody else. So why become quite so animated about a man you may never again see?
I shall see him if I desire to!
Oh!
I am not taking the black veil, am I? asked the girl hotly.
Only the wedding veil, dear. But after all your husband ought to have something to suggest concerning a common visiting list
He may suggestcertainly. In the meantime I shall be loyal to my own friendsand afterward, too, she murmured to herself, as her hostess rose, calmly dropping care like a mantle from her shoulders.
Go and be good to this poor young man then; I adore rowsand youll have a few on your hands Ill warrant. Let me remind you that your uncle can make it unpleasant for you yet, and that your amiable fiancé has a will of his own under his pompadour and silky beard.
What a pity to have it clash with mine, said the girl serenely.
Mrs. Ferrall looked at her: Mercy on us! Howards pompadour would stick up straight with horror if he could hear you! Dont be silly; dont for an impulse, for a caprice, break off anything desirable on account of a man for whom you really care nothingwhose amiable exterior and prospective misfortune merely enlist a very natural and generous sympathy in you.
Do you suppose that I shall endure interference from anybody?from my uncle, from Howard?
Dear, you are making a mountain out of a mole-hill. Dont be emotional; dont let loose impulses that you and I know about, knew about in our school years, know all about now, and which you and I have decided must be eliminated
You mean subdued; theyll always be there.
Very well; who cares, as long as you have them in leash?
Looking at one another, the excited colour cooling in the younger girls cheeks, they laughed, one with relief, the other a little ashamed.
Kemp will be furious; I simply must cut in! said Mrs. Ferrall, hastily turning toward the gun-room. Miss Landis looked after her, subdued, vaguely repentant, the consciousness dawning upon her that she had probably made considerable conversation about nothing.
Its been so all day, she thought impatiently; Ive exaggerated; Ive worked up a scene about a man whose habits are not the slightest concern of mine. Besides that Ive neglected Howard shamefully! She was walking slowly, her thoughts outstripping her errant feet, but it seemed that neither her thoughts nor her steps were leading her toward the neglected gentleman within; for presently she found herself at the breezy veranda door, looking rather fixedly at the stars.
The stars, shining impartially upon the just and the unjust, illuminated the person of Siward, who sat alone, rather limply, one knee crossed above the other. He looked up by chance, and, seeing her star-gazing in the doorway, straightened out and rose to his feet.
Aware of him apparently for the first time, she stepped across the threshold meeting his advance half-way.
Would you care to go down to the rocks? he asked. The surf is terrific.
NoI dont think I care
They stood listening a moment to the stupendous roar.
A storm somewhere at sea, he concluded.
Is it very finethe surf?
Very fineand very relentless he laughed; it is an unfriendly creature, the sea, you know.