ragged lady, v2-第3章
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it did not touch his fancy； it certainly did not offend his taste。 A
real artistocracy is above social prejudice； when it will； he had known
some of his order choose the mothers of their heirs from the music halls；
and when it came to a question of distinctions among Americans； he could
not feel them。 They might be richer or poorer； but they could not be
more patrician or more plebeian。
The passengers； he told Clementina； were getting up； at this point of the
ship's run； an entertainment for the benefit of the seaman's hospital in
Liverpool； that well…known convention of ocean…travel； which is sure at
some time or other； to enlist all the talent on board every English
steamer in some sort of public appeal。 He was not very clear how he came
to be on the committee for drumming up talent for the occasion； his
distinction seemed to have been conferred by a popular vote in the
smoking room； as nearly as he could make out； but here he was； and he was
counting upon Miss Claxon to help him out。 He said Mrs。 Milray had told
him about that charming affair they had got up in the mountains； and he
was sure they could have something of the kind again。 〃Perhaps not a
coaching party； that mightn't be so easy to manage at sea。 But isn't
there something elsesome tableaux or something？ If we couldn't have
the months of the year we might have the points of the compass； and you
could take your choice。〃
He tried to get something out of the notion； but nothing came of it that
Mrs。 Milray thought possible。 She said； across her husband； on whose
further side she had sunk into a chair； that they must have something
very informal； everybody must do what they could； separately。 〃I know
you can do anything you like； Clementina。 Can't you play something； or
sing？〃 At Clementina's look of utter denial； she added； desperately；
〃Or dance something？ 〃A light came into the girl's face at which she
caught。 〃I know you can dance something！ Why； of course！ Now； what is
it？〃
Clementina smiled at her vehemence。 〃Why； it's nothing。 And I don't
know whether I should like to。〃
〃Oh； yes；〃 urged Lord Lioncourt。 〃Such a good cause； you know。〃
〃What is it？〃 Mrs。 Milray insisted。 〃Is it something you could do
alone？〃
〃It's just a dance that I learned at Woodlake。 The teacha said that all
the young ladies we'e leaning it。 It's a skut…dance〃
〃The very thing！〃 Mrs。 Milray shouted。 〃It'll be the hit of the
evening。〃
〃But I've never done it before any one；〃 Clementina faltered。
〃They'll all be doing their turns；〃 the Englishman said。 〃Speaking； and
singing； and playing。〃
Clementina felt herself giving way； and she pleaded in final reluctance；
〃But I haven't got a pleated skut in my steama trunk。〃
〃No matter！ We can manage that。〃 Mrs。 Milray jumped to her feet and
took Lord Lioncourt's arm。 〃Now we must go and drum up somebody else。〃
He did not seem eager to go； but he started。 〃Then that's all settled；〃
she shouted over her shoulder to Clementina。
〃No； no； Mrs。 Milray！ 〃Clementina called after her。 〃The ship tilts
so〃
〃Nonsense！ It's the smoothest run she ever made in December。 And I'll
engage to have the sea as steady as a rock for you。 Remember； now；
you've promised。〃
Mrs。 Milray whirled her Englishman away； and left Clementina sitting
beside her husband。
〃Did you want to dance for them； Clementina？〃 he asked。
〃I don't know；〃 she said； with the vague smile of one to whom a pleasant
hope has occurred。
〃I thought perhaps you were letting Mrs。 Milray bully you into it。 She's
a frightful tyrant。〃
〃Oh； I guess I should like to do it； if you think it would benice。〃
〃I dare say it will be the nicest thing at their ridiculous show。〃
Milray laughed as if her willingness to do the dance had defeated a
sentimental sympathy in him。
〃I don't believe it will be that；〃 said Clementina； beaming joyously。
〃But I guess I shall try it； if I can find the right kind of a dress。〃
〃Is a pleated skirt absolutely necessary；〃 asked Milray； gravely。
〃I don't see how I could get on without it；〃 said Clementina。
She was so serious still when she went down to her state…room that Mrs。
Lander was distracted from her potential ailments to ask： 〃What is it；
Clementina？〃
〃Oh； nothing。 Mrs。 Milray has got me to say that I would do something at
a concert they ah' going to have on the ship。〃 She explained； 〃It's that
skut dance I learnt at Woodlake of Miss Wilson。〃
〃Well； I guess if you're worryin' about that you needn't to。〃
〃Oh； I'm not worrying about the dance。 I was just thinking what I should
wear。 If I could only get at the trunks！〃
〃It won't make any matte what you wear；〃 said Mrs。 Lander。 〃It'll be the
greatest thing； and if 't wa'n't for this sea…sickness that I have to
keep fightin' off he'a； night and day； I should come up and see you
myself。 You ah' just lovely in that dance； Clementina。〃
〃Do you think so； Mrs。 Landa？〃 asked the girl； gratefully。 〃Well； Mr。
Milray didn't seem to think that I need to have a pleated skut。 Any
rate； I'm going to look over my things； and see if I can't make something
else do。〃
XVII。
The entertainment was to be the second night after that； and Mrs。 Milray
at first took the whole affair into her own hands。 She was willing to
let the others consult with her； but she made all the decisions； and she
became so prepotent that she drove Lord Lioncourt to rebellion in the
case of some theatrical people whom he wanted in the programme。 He
wished her to let them feel that they were favoring rather than favored；
and she insisted that it should be quite the other way。 She professed a
scruple against having theatrical people in the programme at all； which
she might not have felt if her own past had been different； and she spoke
with an abhorrence of the stage which he could by no means tolerate in
the case。 She submitted with dignity when she could not help it。
Perhaps she submitted with too much dignity。 Her concession verged upon
hauteur； and in her arrogant meekness she went back to another of her
young men； whom she began to post again as the companion of her
promenades。
He had rather an anxious air in the enjoyment of the honor； but the
Englishman seemed unconscious of its loss； or else he chose to ignore it。
He frankly gave his leisure to Clementina； and she thought he was very
pleasant。 There was something different in his way from that of any of
the other men she had met； something very natural and simple； a way of
being easy in what he was； and not caring whether he was like others or
not； he was not ashamed of being ignorant of anything he did not know；
and she was able to instruct him on some points。 He took her quite
seriously when she told him about Middlemount； and how her family came to
settle there； and then how she came to be going to Europe with Mrs。
Lander。 He said Mrs。 Milray had spoken about it； but he had not
understood quite how it was before； and he hoped Mrs。 Lander was coming
to the entertainment。
He did not seem aware that Mrs。 Milray was leaving the affair more and
more to him。 He went forward with it and was as amiable with her as she
would allow。 He was so amiable with everybody that he reconciled many
true Americans to his leadership； who felt that as nearly all the
passengers were Americans； the chief patron of the entertainment ought to
have been some distinguished American。 The want of an American who was
very distinguished did something to pacify them； but the behavior of an
English lord who put on no airs was the main agency。 When the night came
they filled the large music room of the 'Asia Minor'； and stood about in
front of the sofas and chairs so many deep that it was hard to see or
hear through them。
They each paid a shilling admittance； they were prepared to give
munificently besides when the hat came round； and after the first burst
of blundering from Lord Lioncourt； they led the magnanimous applause。
He said he never minded making a bad speech in a good cause； and he made
as bad a one as very well could be。 He closed it by telling Mark Twain's
whistling story so that those who knew it by heart miss
