a far country-第68章
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Their glances met。 Nancy's was amused； baffling； like a spark in amber。
Each； in its way； was redoubtable。 A greater contrast between two women
could scarcely have been imagined。 It was well said （and not snobbishly）
that generations had been required to make Nancy's figure： she wore a
dress of blue sheen； the light playing on its ripples； and as she stood；
apparently wholly at ease； looking down at the wife of Adolf Scherer； she
reminded me of an expert swordsman who； with remarkable skill； was
keeping a too pressing and determined aspirant at arm's length。 I was
keenly aware that Maude did not possess this gift； and I realized for the
first time something of the similarity between Nancy's career and my own。
She； too； in her feminine sphere； exercised； and subtly； a power in which
human passions were deeply involved。
If Nancy Durrett symbolized aristocracy； established order and prestige；
what did Mrs。 Scherer represent？ Not democracy； mob rulecertainly。
The stocky German peasant woman with her tightly drawn hair and heavy
jewels seemed grotesquely to embody something that ultimately would have
its way； a lusty and terrible force in the interests of which my own
services were enlisted； to which the old American element in business and
industry； the male counterpart of Nancy Willett； had already succumbed。
And now it was about to storm the feminine fastnesses！ I beheld a woman
who had come to this country with a shawl aver her head transformed into
a new species of duchess； sure of herself； scorning the delicate
euphemisms in which Fancy's kind were wont to refer to asocial realm；
that was no less real because its boundaries had not definitely been
defined。 She held her stick firmly； and gave Nancy an indomitable look。
〃I want you to meet my daughters。 Gretchen； Anna； come here and be
introduced to Mrs。 Durrett。〃
It was not without curiosity I watched these of the second generation as
they made their bows； noted the differentiation in the type for which an
American environment and a 〃finishing school〃 had been responsible。
Gretchen and Anna had learnedin crises； such as the presentto
restrain the superabundant vitality they had inherited。 If their
cheekbones were a little too high； their Delft blue eyes a little too
small； their colour was of the proverbial rose…leaves and cream。 Gene
Hollister's difficulty was to know which to marry。 They were nice
girls；of that there could be no doubt； there was no false modesty in
their attitude toward 〃society〃； nor did they pretendas so many silly
people did； that they were not attempting to get anywhere in particular；
that it was less desirable to be in the centre than on the dubious outer
walks。 They； too； were so glad to meet Mrs。 Durrett。
Nancy's eyes twinkled as they passed on。
〃You see what I have let you in for？〃 I said。
〃My dear Hugh；〃 she replied； 〃sooner or later we should have had to face
them anyhow。 I have recognized that for some time。 With their money；
and Mr。 Scherer's prestige； and the will of that lady with the stick； in
a few years we should have had nothing to say。 Why； she's a female
Napoleon。 Hilda's the man of the family。〃
After that； Nancy invariably referred to Mrs。 Scherer as Hilda。
If Mrs。 Scherer was a surprise to us； her husband was a still greater
one； and I had difficulty in recognizing the Adolf Scherer who came to
our dinner party as the personage of the business world before whom
lesser men were wont to cringe。 He seemed rather mysteriously to have
shed that personality； become an awkward； ingratiating； rather too
exuberant； ordinary man with a marked German accent。 From time to time I
found myself speculating uneasily on this phenomenon as I glanced down
the table at his great torso； white waist…coated for the occasion。 He
was plainly 〃making up〃 to Nancy； and to Mrs。 Ogilvy； who sat opposite
him。 On the whole； the atmosphere of our entertainment was rather
electric。 〃Hilda〃 was chiefly responsible for this； her frankness was of
the breath…taking kind。 Far from attempting to hide or ignore the
struggle by which she and her husband had attained their present
position； she referred with the utmost naivete to incidents in her
career； while the whole table paused to listen。
〃Before we had a carriage； yes； it was hard for me to get about。 I had
to be helped by the conductors into the streetcars。 I broke my hip when
we lived in Steelville； and the doctor was a numbskull。 He should be put
in prison； is what I tell Adolf。 I was standing on a clothes…horse； when
it fell。 I had much washing to do in those days。〃
〃Andcan nothing be done； Mrs。 Scherer？〃 asked Leonard Dickinson；
sympathetically。
〃For an old woman？ I am fifty…five。 I have had many doctors。 I would
put them all in prison。 How much was it you paid Dr。 Stickney； in New
York； Adolf？ Five thousand dollars？ And he did nothingnothing。 I'd
rather be poor again； and work。 But it is well to make the best of
it。〃。。。
〃Your grandfather was a fine man； Mr。 Durrett；〃 she informed Hambleton。
〃It is a pity for you； I think； that you do not have to work。〃
Ham； who sat on her other side； was amused。
〃My grandfather did enough work for both of us；〃 he said。
〃If I had been your grandfather； I would have started you in puddling；〃
she observed； as she eyed with disapproval the filling of his third glass
of champagne。 〃I think there is too much gay life； too much games for
rich young men nowadays。 You will forgive me for saying what I think to
young men？〃
〃I'll forgive you for not being my grandfather； at any rate；〃 replied
Ham； with unaccustomed wit。
She gazed at him with grim humour。
〃It is bad for you I am not；〃 she declared。
There was no gainsaying her。 What can be done with a lady who will not
recognize that morality is not discussed； and that personalities are
tabooed save between intimates。 Hilda was a personage as well as a
Tartar。 Laws； conventions； usagesto all these she would conform when
it pleased her。 She would have made an admirable inquisitorial judge；
and quite as admirable a sick nurse。 A rare criminal lawyer； likewise；
was wasted in her。 She was one of those individuals； I perceived； whose
loyalties dominate them； and who； in behalf of those loyalties； carry
chips on their shoulders。
〃It is a long time that I have been wanting to meet you；〃 she informed
me。 〃You are smart。〃
I smiled； yet I was inclined to resent her use of the word； though I was
by no means sure of the shade of meaning she meant to put into it。 I
had； indeed； an uneasy sense of the scantiness of my fund of humour to
meet and turn such a situation； for I was experiencing； now； with her；
the same queer feeling I had known in my youth in the presence of Cousin
Robert Breckthe suspicion that this extraordinary person saw through
me。 It was as though she held up a mirror and compelled me to look at my
soul features。 I tried to assure myself that the mirror was distorted。
I lost； nevertheless； the sureness of touch that comes from the
conviction of being all of a piece。 She contrived to resolve me again
into conflicting elements。 I was； for the moment； no longer the self…
confident and triumphant young attorney accustomed to carry all before
him； to command respect and admiration； but a complicated being whose
unity had suddenly been split。 I glanced around the table at Ogilvy； at
Dickinson； at Ralph Hambleton。 These men were functioning truly。 But
was I？ If I were not； might not this be the reason for the lack of
synthesisof which I was abruptly though vaguely aware between my
professional life； my domestic relationships； and my relationships with
friends。 The loyalty of the woman beside me struck me forcibly as a
supreme trait。 Where she had given； she did not withdraw。 She had
conferred it instantly on Maude。 Did I feel that loyalty towards a
single human being？ towards Maude herselfmy wife？ or even towards
Nancy？ I pulled myself together； and resolved to give her credit for
using the word 〃smart〃 in its unobjectionable sense。 After all； Dickens
had so used it。
〃A lawyer must needs know something of what he is about； Mrs。 Sch
