the riverman-第32章

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itself　about　herthe　cool；　sweet　fragrance　of　daintiness。　　They　

entered　busily　into　conversation。　　Her　attitudes　were　no　longer　

relaxed　and　languidly　graceful　as　in　the　easy　chairs　under　the　

lamplight。　　She　sat　forward；　her　hands　crossed　on　her　lap；　a　fire　

smouldering　deep　beneath　the　cool　surface　lights　of　her　eyes。



The　sounds　in　the　next　room　increased　in　volume；　as　though　several　

people　must　have　entered　that　apartment。　　In　a　moment　or　so　the　

curtains　to　the　hall　parted　to　frame　the　servant。



〃Mrs。　Bishop　wishes　to　know；　miss；〃　said　that　functionary；　〃if　

you're　not　coming　to　breakfast。〃



Orde　sprang　to　his　feet。



〃Haven't　you　had　your　breakfast　yet？〃　he　cried；　conscience　stricken。



〃Didn't　you　gather　the　fact　that　I'm　just　up？〃　she　mocked　him。　　〃I　

assure　you　it　doesn't　matter。　　The　family　has　just　come　down。〃



〃But；〃　cried　Orde；　〃I　wasn't　here　until　nine　o'clock。　　I　thought；　of　

course；　you'd　be　around。　　I'm　mighty　sorry〃



〃Oh；　la　la！〃　she　cried；　cutting　him　short。　　〃What　a　bother　about　

nothing。　　Don't　you　seeI'm　ahead　a　whole　hour　of　good　talk。〃



〃You　see；　you　told　me　in　your　note　to　come　early；〃　said　Orde。



〃I　forgot　you　were　one　of　those　dreadful　outdoor　men。　　You　didn't　

see　any　worms；　did　you？　　Next　time　I'll　tell　you　to　come　the　day　

after。〃



Orde　was　for　taking　his　leave；　but　this　she　would　not　have。



〃You　must　meet　my　family；〃　she　negatived。　　〃For　if　you're　here　for　

so　short　a　time　we　want　to　see　something　of　you。　　Come　right　out　

now。〃



Orde　thereupon　followed　her　down　a　narrow；　dark　hall；　squeezed　

between　the　stairs　and　the　wall；　to　a　door　that　opened　slantwise　

into　a　dining…room　the　exact　counterpart　in　shape　to　the　parlour　at　

the　other　side　of　the　house。　　Only　in　this　case　the　morning　sun　and　

more　diaphanous　curtains　lent　an　air　of　brightness；　further　enhanced　

by　a　wire　stand　of　flowers　in　the　bow…windows。



The　centre　of　the　room　was　occupied　by　a　round　table；　about　which　

were　grouped　several　people　of　different　ages。　　With　her　back　to　the　

bow…window　sat　a　woman　well　beyond　middle　age；　but　with　evidently　

some　pretensions　to　youth。　　She　was　tall；　desiccated；　quick　in　

movement。　　Dark　rings　below　her　eyes　attested　either　a　nervous　

disease；　an　hysterical　temperament；　or　both。　　Immediately　at　her　

left　sat　a　boy　of　about　fourteen　years　of　age；　his　face　a　curious　

contradiction　between　a　naturally　frank　and　open　expression　and　a　

growing　sullenness。　　Next　him　stood　a　vacant　chair；　evidently　for　

Miss　Bishop。　　Opposite　lolled　a　young　man；　holding　a　newspaper　in　

one　hand　and　a　coffee　cup　in　the　other。　　He　was　very　handsome；　with　

a　drooping　black　moustache；　dark　eyes；　under　lashes　almost　too　

luxuriant；　and　a　long；　oval　face；　dark　in　complexion；　and　a　trifle　

sardonic　in　expression。　　In　the　VIS…A…VIS　to　Mrs。　Bishop；　Orde　was　

surprised　to　find　his　ex…military　friend　of　the　street　car。　　Miss　

Bishop　performed　the　necessary　introductions；　which　each　

acknowledged　after　his　fashion；　but　with　an　apparent　indifference　

that　dashed　Orde；　accustomed　to　a　more　Western　cordiality。　　Mrs。　

Bishop　held　out　a　languidly　graceful　hand；　the　boy　mumbled　a　

greeting；　the　young　man　nodded　lazily　over　his　newspaper。　　Only　

General　Bishop；　recognising　him；　arose　and　grasped　his　hand；　with　a　

real；　though　rather　fussy；　warmth。



〃My　dear　sir；〃　he　cried；　〃I　am　honoured　to　see　you　again。　　This；　my　

dear；〃　he　addressed　his　wife；　〃is　the　young　man　I　was　telling　you　

aboutin　the　street　car；〃　he　explained。



〃How　very　interesting；〃　said　Mrs。　Bishop；　with　evidently　no　

comprehension　and　less　interest。



Gerald　Bishop　cast　an　ironically　amused　glance　across　at　Orde。　　The　

boy　looked　up　at　him　quickly；　the　sullenness　for　a　moment　gone　from　

his　face。



Carroll　Bishop　appeared　quite　unconscious　of　an　atmosphere　which　

seemed　to　Orde　strained；　but　sank　into　her　place　at　the　table　and　

unfolded　her　napkin。　　The　silent　butler　drew　forward　a　chair　for　

Orde；　and　stood　looking　impassively　in　Mrs。　Bishop's　direction。



〃You　will　have　some　breakfast　with　us？〃　she　inquired。　　〃No？　　A　cup　

of　coffee；　at　least？〃



She　began　to　manipulate　the　coffee　pot；　without　paying　the　slightest　

attention　to　Orde's　disclaimer。　　The　general　puffed　out　his　cheeks；　

and　coughed　a　bit　in　embarrassment。



〃A　good　cup　of　coffee　is　never　amiss　to　an　old　campaigner；〃　he　said　

to　Orde。　　〃It's　as　good　as　a　full　meal　in　a　pinch。　　I　remember　when　

I　was　a　major　in　the　Eleventh；　down　near　the　City　of　Mexico；　in　'48；　

the　time　Hardy's　command　was　so　nearly　wiped　out　by　that　viaduct〃　　

He　half　turned　toward　Orde；　his　face　lighting　up；　his　fingers　

reaching　for　the　fork　with　which；　after　the　custom　of　old　soldiers；　

to　trace　the　chart　of　his　reminiscences。



Mrs。　Bishop　rattled　her　cup　and　saucer　with　an　uncontrollably　

nervous　jerk　of　her　slender　body。　　For　some　moments　she　had　awaited　

a　chance　to　get　the　general's　attention。　　〃Spare　us；　father；〃　she　

said　brusquely。　　〃Will　you　have　another　cup　of　coffee？〃



The　old　gentleman；　arrested　in　mid…career；　swallowed；　looked　a　

trifle　bewildered；　but　subsided　meekly。



〃No；　thank　you；　my　dear；〃　said　he；　and　went　furiously　at　his　

breakfast。



Orde；　overwhelmed　by　embarrassment；　discovered　that　none　of　the　

others　had　paid　the　incident　the　slightest　attention。　　Only　on　the　

lips　of　Gerald　Bishop　he　surprised　a　fine；　detached　smile。



At　this　moment　the　butler　entered　bearing　the　mail。　　Mrs。　Bishop　

tore　hers　open　rapidly；　dropping　the　mangled　envelopes　at　her　side。　　

The　contents　of　one　seemed　to　vex　her。



〃Oh！〃　she　cried　aloud。　　〃That　miserable　Marie！　　She　promised　me　to　

have　it　done　to…day；　and　now　she　puts　it　off　until　Monday。　　It's　too　

provoking！〃　　She　turned　to　Orde　for　sympathy。　　〃Do　you　know　ANYTHING　

more　aggravating　than　to　work　and　slave　to　the　limit　of　endurance；　

and　then　have　everything　upset　by　the　stupidity　of　some　one　else？〃



Orde　murmured　an　appropriate　reply；　to　which　Mrs。　Bishop　paid　no　

attention　whatever。　　She　started　suddenly　up　from　the　table。



〃I　must　see　about　it！〃　she　cried。　　〃I　plainly　see　I　shall　have　to　do　

it　myself。　　I　WILL　do　it　myself。　　I　promised　it　for　Sunday。〃



〃You　mustn't　do　another　stitch；　mother；〃　put　in　Carroll　Bishop　

decidedly。　　〃You　know　what　the　doctor　told　you。　　You'll　have　

yourself　down　sick。〃



〃Well；　see　for　yourself！〃　cried　Mrs。　　Bishop。　　〃That's　what　comes　of　

leaving　things　to　others！　　If　I'd　done　it　myself；　it　would　have　

saved　me　all　this　bother　and　fuss；　and　it　would　have　been　done。　　And　

now　I've　got　to　do　it　anyway。〃



〃My　dear；〃　put　in　the　general；　〃perhaps　Carroll　can　see　Marie　about　

it。　　In　any　case；　there's　nothing　to　work　yourself　up　into　such　an　

excitement　about。〃



〃It's　very　easy　for　you　to　talk；　isn't　it？〃　cried　Mrs。　Bishop；　

turning　on　him。　　〃I　like　the　way　you　all　sit　around　like　lumps　and　

do　nothing；　and　then　tell　me　how　I　ought　to　have　done　it。　　John；　

have　the　carriage　around　at　once。〃　　She　turned　tensely　to　Orde。　　〃I　

hope　you'll　excuse　me；〃　she　said　very　briefly；　〃I　have　something　

very　important　to　attend　to。〃



Carroll　had　also　risen。　　Orde　held　out　his　hand。



〃I　must　be　going；〃　said　he。



〃Well；〃　she　conceded；　〃I　suppose　I'd　better　see　if　I　can't　help　

mother　out。　　But　you'll　come　in　again。　　Come　and　dine　with　us　this　

evening。　　Mother　will　be　delighted。〃



As　Mrs。　Bishop　had　departed　from　the　room；　Orde　had　to　take　for　

granted　the　expression　of　this　delight。　　He　bowed　to　the　other　

occupants　of　the　table。　　The　general　was　eating　nervously。　　Gerald's　

eyes　were　fixed　amusedly　on　Orde。



To　Orde's　surprise；　he　was　almost　immediately　joined　on　the　street　

by　young　Mr。　Bishop；　most　correctly　appointed。



〃Going　anywhere　in　particular？〃　he　inquired。　　〃Let's　go　up　the　

avenue；　then。　　Everybody　will　be　out。〃



They　turned　up　the　great　promenade；　a　tour　of　which　was　then；　even