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work from mohnin' till night。 But if you're afraid I shall put upon her〃
〃No； no；〃 said the rector； and he threw back his head with a laugh。
〃When it was all arranged； a few days later； after the verification of
certain of Mrs。 Lander's references by letters to Boston； he said to
Clementina's father and mother； 〃There's only one danger； now； and that
is that she will spoil Clementina； but there's a reasonable hope that she
won't know how。〃 He found the Claxons struggling with a fresh misgiving；
which Claxon expressed。 〃The way I look at it is like this。 I don't
want that woman should eva think Clem was after her money。 On the face
of it there a'n't very much to her that would make anybody think but what
we was after it； and I should want it pootty well undastood that we
wa'n't that kind。 But I don't seem to see any way of tellin' her。〃
〃No；〃 said the rector； with a sympathetic twinkle； 〃that would be
difficult。〃
〃It's plain to be seen；〃 Mrs。 Claxon interposed； 〃that she thinks a good
deal of her money； and I d' know but what she'd think she was doin' Clem
most too much of a favor anyway。 If it can't be a puffectly even thing；
all round； I d' know as I should want it to be at all。〃
〃You're quite right。； Mrs。 Claxon； quite right。 But I believe Mrs。
Lander may be safely left to look out for her own interests。 After all；
she has merely asked Clementina to pass the winter with her。 It will be
a good opportunity for her to see something of the world； and perhaps it
may bring her the chance of placing herself in life。 We have got to
consider these things with reference to a young girl。〃
Mrs。 Claxon said； 〃Of cou'se；〃 but Claxon did not assent so readily。
〃I don't feel as if I should want Clem to look at it in that light。 If
the chance don't come to her； I don't want she should go huntin' round
for it。〃
〃I thoroughly agree with you；〃 said the rector。 〃But I was thinking that
there was not only no chance worthy of her in Middlemount； but there is
no chance at all。〃
〃I guess that's so；〃 Claxon owned with a laugh。 〃Well； I guess we can
leave it to Clem to do what's right and proper everyway。 As you say；
she's got lots of sense。〃
From that moment he emptied his mind of care concerning the matter； but
husband and wife are never both quite free of care on the same point of
common interest； and Mrs。 Claxon assumed more and more of the anxieties
which he had abandoned。 She fretted under the load； and expressed an
exasperated tenderness for Clementina when the girl seemed forgetful of
any of the little steps to be taken before the great one in getting her
clothes ready for leaving home。 She said finally that she presumed they
were doing a wild thing； and that it looked crazier and crazier the more
she thought of it； but all was； if Clem didn't like； she could come home。
By this time her husband was in something of that insensate eagerness to
have the affair over that people feel in a house where there is a
funeral。
At the station； when Clementina started for Boston with Mrs。 Lander； her
father and mother； with the rector and his wife； came to see her off。
Other friends mistakenly made themselves of the party； and kept her
talking vacuities when her heart was full； till the train drew up。 Her
father went with her into the parlor car； where the porter of the
Middlemount House set down Mrs。 Lander's hand baggage and took the final
fee she thrust upon him。 When Claxon came out he was not so satisfactory
about the car as he might have been to his wife； who had never been
inside a parlor car； and who had remained proudly in the background；
where she could not see into it from the outside。 He said that he had
felt so bad about Clem that he did not notice what the car was like。
But he was able to report that she looked as well as any of the folks in
it； and that； if there were any better dressed； he did not see them。 He
owned that she cried some； when he said good…bye to her。
〃I guess；〃 said his wife； grimly； 〃we're a passel o' fools to let her go。
Even if she don't like； the'a； with that crazy…head； she won't be the
same Clem when she comes back。〃
They were too heavy…hearted to dispute much； and were mostly silent as
they drove home behind Claxon's self…broken colt： a creature that had
taken voluntarily to harness almost from its birth； and was an example to
its kind in sobriety and industry。
The children ran out from the house to meet them； with a story of having
seen Clem at a point in the woods where the train always slowed up before
a crossing； and where they had all gone to wait for her。 She had seen
them through the car…window； and had come out on the car platform； and
waved her handkerchief； as she passed； and called something to them；
but they could not hear what it was； they were all cheering so。
At this their mother broke down； and went crying into the house。 Not to
have had the last words of the child whom she should never see the same
again if she ever saw her at all； was more； she said； than heart could
bear。
The rector's wife arrived home with her husband in a mood of mounting
hopefulness； which soared to tops commanding a view of perhaps more of
this world's kingdoms than a clergyman's wife ought ever to see； even for
another。 She decided that Clementina's chances of making a splendid
match； somewhere； were about of the nature of certainties； and she
contended that she would adorn any station； with experience； and with her
native tact； especially if it were a very high station in Europe； where
Mrs。 Lander would now be sure to take her。 If she did not take her to
Europe； however； she would be sure to leave her all her money； and this
would serve the same end； though more indirectly。
Mr。 Richling scoffed at this ideal of Clementina's future with a contempt
which was as little becoming to his cloth。 He made his wife reflect
that； with all her inherent grace and charm； Clementina was an ignorant
little country girl； who had neither the hardness of heart nor the
greediness of soul； which gets people on in the world； and repair for
them the disadvantages of birth and education。 He represented that even
if favorable chances for success in society showed themselves to the
girl； the intense and inexpugnable vulgarity of Mrs。 Lander would spoil
them； and he was glad of this； he said； for he believed that the best
thing which could happen to the child would be to come home as sweet and
good as she had gone away； he added this was what they ought both to pray
for。
His wife admitted this； but she retorted by asking if he thought such a
thing was possible； and he was obliged to own that it was not possible。
He marred the effect of his concession by subjoining that it was no more
possible than her making a brilliant and triumphant social figure in
society； either at home or in Europe。
XIV。
So far from embarking at once for Europe； Mrs。 Lander went to that hotel
in a suburb of Boston； where she had the habit of passing the late autumn
months； in order to fortify herself for the climate of the early winter
months in the city。 She was a little puzzled how to provide for
Clementina； with respect to herself； but she decided that the best thing
would be to have her sleep in a room opening out of her own； with a
folding bed in it； so that it could be used as a sort of parlor for both
of them during the day； and be within easy reach； for conversation； at
all times。
On her part； Clementina began by looking after Mrs。 Lander's comforts；
large and little； like a daughter； to her own conception and to that of
Mrs。 Lander； but to other eyes； like a servant。 Mrs。 Lander shyly shrank
from acquaintance among the other ladies； and in the absence of this； she
could not introduce Clementina； who went down to an early breakfast
alone； and sat apart with her at lunch and dinner； ministering to her in
public as she did in private。 She ran back to their rooms to fetch her
shawl； or her handkerchief； or whichever drops or powders she happened to
be taking with her meals； and adjusted with closer care the hassock which
the head waiter had officially placed at her feet。 They seldom sat in
the parlor where the ladies met； after dinner； they talked only to each
other； and there； as elsewhere； the girl kept her filial care of the old
woman。 The question of her relation to Mrs。 Lander became so pressing
among several of the guests that； after Clementina had watched over the
banisters； with throbbing heart and feet； a little dance one night which
the other girls had got up among themselves； and had fled back to her
room at the approach of one of the kindlier and bolder of them； the
landlord felt forced to learn from Mrs。 Lander how Miss Claxon was to be
regarded。 He managed delicately； by saying he would give the Sunday
paper she had ordered to her nurse； 〃Or； I beg your pardon；〃 he added； as
if he had made a mistake。 〃Why； she a'n't my nuhse；〃 Mrs。 Lander
explained； simply； neither annoyed nor amused； 〃 she's just a young lady
that's visiting me； as you may say；〃 and this put an end to the misgiving
among the ladies。 But it suggested something to Mrs。 Lander； and a few
days