a far country-第67章

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indisputable；　in　a　day　when　most　American　women　were　credited　with　a
craving　for　social　ambition　that　I；　of　all　men；　should　have　married　a
wife　in　whom　the　craving　was　wholly　absent！　　She　might　have　had　what
other　women　would　have　given　their　souls　for。　　There　were　many　reasons
why　I　wished　her　to　take　what　I　deemed　her　proper　place　in　the　community
as　my　wifenot　that　I　cared　for　what　is　called　society　in　the　narrow
sense；　with　me；　it　was　a　logical　part　of　a　broader　scheme　of　life；　an
auxiliary　rather　than　an　essential；　but　a　needful　auxiliary；　a　means　of
dignifying　and　adorning　the　position　I　was　taking。　　Not　only　that；　but　I
felt　the　need　of　intercourseof　intercourse　of　a　lighter　and　more
convivial　nature　with　men　and　women　who　saw　life　as　I　saw　it。　　In　the
evenings　when　we　did　not　go　out　into　that　world　our　city　afforded　ennui
took　possession　of　me：　I　had　never　learned　to　care　for　books；　I　had　no
resources　outside　of　my　profession；　and　when　I　was　not　working　on　some
legal　problem　I　dawdled　over　the　newspapers　and　went　to　bed。　　I　don't
mean　to　imply　that　our　existence；　outside　of　our　continued　intimacy　with
the　Peterses　and　the　Blackwoods；　was　socially　isolated。　　We　gave　little
dinners　that　Maude　carried　out　with　skill　and　taste；　but　it　was　I　who
suggested　them；　we　went　out　to　other　dinners；　sometimes　to　Nancy's
though　we　saw　less　and　less　of　hersometimes　to　other　houses。　　But　Maude
had　given　evidence　of　domestic　tastes　and　a　disinclination　for　gaiety
that　those　who　entertained　more　were　not　slow　to　sense。　　I　should　have
liked　to　take　a　larger　house；　but　I　felt　the　futility　of　suggesting　it；
the　children　were　still　small；　and　she　was　occupied　with　them。　　Meanwhile
I　beheld；　and　at　times　with　considerable　irritation；　the　social　world
changing；　growing　larger　and　more　significant；　a　more　important　function
of　that　higher　phase　of　American　existence　the　new　century　seemed
definitely　to　have　initiated。　　A　segregative　process　was　away　to　which
Maude　was　wholly　indifferent。　　Our　city　was　throwing　off　its　social
conservatism；　wealth　（which　implied　ability　and　superiority）　was　playing
a　greater　part；　entertainments　were　more　luxurious；　lines　more　strictly
drawn。　　We　had　an　elaborate　country　club　for　those　who　could　afford
expensive　amusements。　　Much　of　this　transformation　had　been　due　to　the
initiative　and　leadership　of　Nancy　Durrett。。。。

Great　and　sudden　wealth；　however；　if　combined　with　obscure　antecedents
and　questionable　qualifications；　was　still　looked　upon　askance。　　In　spite
of　the　fact　that　Adolf　Scherer　had　〃put　us　on　the　map；〃　the　family　of　the
great　iron…master　still　remained　outside　of　the　social　pale。　　He　himself
might　have　entered　had　it　not　been　for　his　wife；　who　was　supposed　to　be
〃queer；〃　who　remained　at　home　in　her　house　opposite　Gallatin　Park　and
made　little　German　cakes；a　huge　house　which　an　unknown　architect　had
taken　unusual　pains　to　make　pretentious　and　hideous；　for　it　was　Rhenish；
Moorish　and　Victorian　by　turns。　　Its　geometric　grounds　matched　those　of
the　park；　itself　a　monument　to　bad　taste　in　landscape。　　The　neighbourhood
was　highly　respectable；　and　inhabited　by　families　of　German　extraction。
There　were　two　flaxen…haired　daughters　who　had　just　graduated　from　an
expensive　boarding…school　in　New　York；　where　they　had　received　the　polish
needful　for　future　careers。　　But　the　careers　were　not　forthcoming。

I　was　thrown　constantly　with　Adolf　Scherer；　I　had　earned　his　gratitude；　I
had　become　necessary　to　him。　　But　after　the　great　coup　whereby　he　had
fulfilled　Mr。　Watling's　prophecy　and　become　the　chief　factor　in　our
business　world　he　began　to　show　signs　of　discontent；　of　an　irritability
that　seemed　foreign　to　his　character；　and　that　puzzled　me。　　One　day；
however；　I　stumbled　upon　the　cause　of　this　fermentation；　to　wonder　that　I
had　not　discovered　it　before。　　In　many　ways　Adolf　Scherer　was　a　child。
We　were　sitting　in　the　Boyne　Club。

〃Moneyyes！〃　he　exclaimed；　apropos　of　some　demand　made　upon　him　by　a
charitable　society。　　〃They　come　to　me　for　my　moneythere　is　always
Scherer；　they　say。　　He　will　make　up　the　deficit　in　the　hospitals。　　But
what　is　it　they　do　for　me？　　Nothing。　　Do　they　invite　me　to　their　houses；
to　their　parties？〃

This　was　what　he　wanted；　then；social　recognition。　　I　said　nothing；　but
I　saw　my　opportunity：　I　had　the　clew；　now；　to　a　certain　attitude　he　had
adopted　of　late　toward　me；　an　attitude　of　reproach；　as　though；　in　return
for　his　many　favours　to　me；　there　were　something　I　had　left　undone。　　And
when　I　went　home　I　asked　Maude　to　call　on　Mrs。　Scherer。

〃On　Mrs。　Scherer！〃　　she　repeated。

〃Yes；　I　want　you　to　invite　them　to　dinner。〃　　The　proposal　seemed　to　take
away　her　breath。　　〃I　owe　her　husband　a　great　deal；　and　I　think　he　feels
hurt　that　the　wives　of　the　men　he　knows　down　town　haven't　taken　up　his
family。〃　　I　felt　that　it　would　not　be　wise；　with　Maude；　to　announce　my
rather　amazing　discovery　of　the　iron…master's　social　ambitions。

〃But；　Hugh；　they　must　be　very　happy；　they　have　their　friends。　　And　after
all　this　time　wouldn't　it　seem　like　an　intrusion？〃

〃I　don't　think　so；〃　I　said；　〃I'm　sure　it　would　please　him；　and　them。　　You
know　how　kind　he's　been　to　us；　how　he　sent　us　East　in　his　private　car
last　year。〃

〃Of　course　I'll　go　if　you　wish　it；　if　you're　sure　they　feel　that　way。〃
She　did　make　the　call；　that　very　week；　and　somewhat　to　my　surprise
reported　that　she　liked　Mrs。　Scherer　and　the　daughters：　Maude's　likes　and
dislikes；　needless　to　say；　were　not　governed　by　matters　of　policy。

〃　You　were　right；　Hugh；〃　she　informed　me；　almost　with　enthusiasm；
〃they　did　seem　lonely。　　And　they　were　so　glad　to　see　me；　it　was　rather
pathetic。　　Mr。　Scherer；　it　seems；　had　talked　to　them　a　great　deal　about
you。　　They　wanted　to　know　why　I　hadn't　come　before。　　That　was　rather
embarrassing。　　Fortunately　they　didn't　give　me　time　to　talk；　I　never
heard　people　talk　as　they　do。　　They　all　kissed　me　when　I　went　away；　and
came　down　the　steps　with　me。　　And　Mrs。　Scherer　went　into　the　conservatory
and　picked　a　huge　bouquet。　　There　it　is；〃　she　said；　laughingly；　pointing
to　several　vases。　　〃I　separated　the　colours　as　well　as　I　could　when　I　got
home。　　We　had　coffee；　and　the　most　delicious　German　cakes　in　the　Turkish
room；　or　the　Moorish　room；　whichever　it　is。　　I'm　sure　I　shan't　be　able
to　eat　anything　more　for　days。　　When　do　you　wish　to　have　them　for　dinner？〃

〃Well；〃　I　said；　〃we　ought　to　have　time　to　get　the　right　people　to　meet
them。　　We'll　ask　Nancy　and　Ham。〃

Maude　opened　her　eyes。

〃Nancy！　　Do　you　think　Nancy　would　like　them？〃

〃I'm　going　to　give　her　a　chance；　anyway；〃　I　replied。。。。

It　was；　in　some　ways；　a　memorable　dinner。　　I　don't　know　what　I　expected
in　Mrs。　Schererfrom　Maude's　description　a　benevolent　and　somewhat
stupid；　blue…eyed　German　woman；　of　peasant　extraction。　　There　could　be　no
doubt　about　the　peasant　extraction；　but　when　she　hobbled　into　our　little
parlour　with　the　aid　of　a　stout；　gold…headed　cane　she　dominated　it。　　Her
very　lameness　added　to　a　distinction　that　evinced　itself　in　a　dozen　ways。
Her　nose　was　hooked；　her　colour　high；despite　the　years　in　Steelville；
her　peculiar　costume　heightened　the　effect　of　her　personality；　her　fire…
lit　black　eyes　bespoke　a　spirit　accustomed　to　rule；　and　instead　of　being
an　aspirant　for　social　honours；　she　seemed　to　confer　them。　　Conversation
ceased　at　her　entrance。

〃I'm　sorry　we　are　late；　my　dear；〃　she　said；　as　she　greeted　Maude
affectionately；　〃but　we　have　far　to　come。　　And　this　is　your　husband！〃
she　exclaimed；　as　I　was　introduced。　　She　scrutinized　me。　　〃I　have　heard
something　of　you；　Mr。　Paret。　　You　are　smart。　　Shall　I　tell　you　the
smartest　thing　you　ever　did？〃　　She　patted　Maude's　shoulder。　　〃When　you
married　your　wifethat　was　it。　　I　have　fallen　in　love　with　her。　　If　you
do　not　know　it；　I　tell　you。〃

Next；　Nancy　was　introduced。

〃So　you　are　Mrs。　Hambleton　Durrett？〃

Nancy　acknowledged　her　identity　with　a　smile；　but　the　next　remark　was　a
bombshell。

〃The　leader　of　society。〃

〃Alas！〃　exclaimed　Nancy；　〃I　have　been　accused　of　many　terrible　things。〃

Their　glances　met。　　Nancy's　was　amused；　baffling；　like　a　spark　in　amber。
Each；　in　its　way；　was　redoubtab