按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
o last longer。 I was first on the gangway； and stood to wait and give them a hand out； but she lingered； and； rising slowly； spoke her first word to him； softly：
〃And so I owe you my life。〃
〃And so I restore it to you complete；〃 said John； instantly。
None could have heard it but myselfunless the sailor； beyond whose comprehension it wasand I doubted for a moment if I could have heard right； but it was for a moment only。 Hortense stood stiff； and then； turning； came in front of him； and I read her face for an instant longer before the furious hate in it was mastered to meet her father's embrace； as I helped her up the gang
〃Daughter mine！〃 said the General； with a magnificent break in his voice。
But Hortense was game to the end。 She took Kitty's…hysterics and the men's various grades of congratulation； her word to Gazza would have been supreme； but for his imperishable rejoinder。
〃I told you you wouldn't jump；〃 was what she said。
Gazza stretched both arms； pointing to John。 〃But a native！ He was surer to find you！〃
At this they all remembered John； whom they thus far hadn't thought of。
〃Where is that lion…hearted boy？〃 the General called out。
John hadn't got out of the boat； he thought he ought to change his clothes； he said； and when Charley； truly astonished； proffered his entire wardrobe and reminded him of lunch； it was thank you very much； but if he could be put ashoreI looked for Hortense； to see what she would do； but Hortense； had gone below with Kitty to change her clothes； and the genuinely hearty protestations from all the rest brought merely pleasantly firm politeness from John； as he put on again the coat he had flung off on jumping。 At least he would take a drink； urged Charley。 Yes； thank you； he would； and he chose brandy…and…soda； of which he poured himself a remarkably stiff one。 Charley and I poured ourselves milder ones； for the sake of company。
〃Here's how；〃 said Charley to John。
〃Yes； here's how；〃 I added more emphatically。
John looked at Charley with a somewhat extraordinary smile。 〃Here's unquestionably how！〃 he exclaimed。
We had a gay lunch； I should have supposed there was plenty of room in the Hermana's refrigerator； nor did the absence of Hortense and John； the cause of our jubilation； at all interfere with the jubilation itself； by the time the launch was ready to put me ashore； Gazza had sung several miles of 〃good music〃 and double that quantity of 〃razzla…dazzla；〃 and General Rieppe was crying copiously； and assuring everybody that God was very good to him。 But Kitty had told us all that she intended Hortense to remain quiet in her cabin； and she kept her word。
Quite suddenly； as the launch was speeding me toward Kings Port； I exclaimed aloud： 〃The cake！〃
And； I thought； the cake was now settled forever。
XXII： Behind the Times
It was my lot to attend but one of the weddings which Hortense precipitated （or at least determined） by her plunge into the water； and； truth to say； the honor of my presence at the other was not requested； therefore I am unable to describe the nuptials of Hortense and Charley。 But the papers were full of them； what the female guests wore； what the male guests were worth； and what both ate and drank； were set forth in many columns of printed matter； and if you did not happen to see this； just read the account of the next wedding that occurs among the New York yellow rich； and you will know how Charley and Hortense were married； for it's always the same thing。 The point of mark in this particular ceremony of union lay in Charley's speech； Charley found a happy thought at the breakfast。 The bridal party （so the papers had it） sat on a dais； and was composed exclusively of Oil； Sugar； Beef； Steel； and Union Pacific； merely at this one table five hundred million dollars were sitting （so the papers computed）； and it helped the bridegroom to his idea； when； by the importunate vociferations of the company； he was forced to get on his unwilling legs。
〃Poets and people of that sort say〃 （Charley concluded； after thanking them） 〃that happiness cannot be bought with money。 Well； I guess a poet never does learn how to make a dollar do a dollar's work。 But I am no poet； and I have learned it is as well to have a few dollars around。 And I guess that my friends and I； right here at this table； could organize a corner in happiness any day we chose。 And if we do； we will let you all in on it。〃
I am told that the bride looked superb； both in church and at the reception which took place in the house of Kitty； and that General Rieppe； in spite of his shattered health； maintained a noble appearance through the whole ordeal of parting with his daughter。 I noticed that Beverly Rodgers and Gazza figured prominently among the invited guests： Bohm did not have to be invited； for some time before the wedding he had become the husband of the successfully divorced Kitty。 So much for the nuptials of Hortense and Charley； they were； as one paper pronounced them； 〃up to date and distingue。〃 The paper omitted the accent in the French word； which makes it； I think； fit this wedding even more happily。
〃So Hortense；〃 I said to myself as I read the paper； 〃has squared herself with Charley after all。〃 And I sat wondering if she would be happy。 But she was not constructed for happiness。 You cannot be constructed for all the different sorts of experiences which this world offers： each of our natures has its specialty。 Hortense was constructed for pleasure； and I have no doubt she got it； if not through Charley； then by other means。
The marriage of Eliza La Heu and John Mayrant was of a different quality； no paper pronounced it 〃up to date；〃 or bestowed any other adjectival comments upon it； for； being solemnized in Kings Port； where such purely personal happenings are still held （by the St。 Michael family； at any rate） to be no business of any one's save those immediately concerned； the event escaped the famishment of publicity。 Yes； this marriage was solemnized； a word that I used above without forethought； and now repeat with intention； for certainly no respecter of language would write it of the yellow rich and their blatant unions。 If you're a Bohm or a Charley； you may trivialize or vulgarize or bestialize your wedding； but solemnize it you don't； for that is not 〃up to date。〃
And to the marriage of Eliza and John I went； for not only was the honor of my presence requested； but John wrote me； in both their names； a personal note； which came to me far away in the mountains； whither I had gone from Kings Port。 This was the body of the note：
〃To the formal invitation which you will receive； Miss La Heu joins her wish with mine that you will not be absent on that day。 We should both really miss you。 Miss La Heu begs me to add that if this is not sufficient inducement； you shall have a slice of Lady Baltimore。〃
Not a long note！ But you will imagine how genuinely I was touched by their joint message。 I was not an old acquaintance； and I had done little to help them in their troubles； but I came into the troubles； with their memory of those days I formed a part； and it was a part which it warmed me to know they did not dislike to recall。 I had actually been present at their first meeting； that day when John visited the Exchange to order his wedding…cake； and Eliza had rushed after him； because in his embarrassment he had forgotten to tell her the date for which he wanted it。 The cake had begun it； the cake had continued it； the cake had brought them together； and in Eliza's retrospect now I doubted If she could find the moment when her love for John had awakened； but if with women there ever is such a moment； then； as I have before said； it was when the girl behind the counter looked across at the handsome； blushing boy； and felt stirred to help him in his stumbling attempts to be businesslike about that cake。 If his youth unwittingly kindled hers； how could he or she help that？ But； had he ever once known it and shown it to her during his period of bondage to Hortense； then； indeed； the flame would have turned to ice in Eliza's breast。 What saved him for her was his blind steadfastness against her。 That was the very thing she prized most； once it became hers； whereas； any secret swerving toward her from Hortense during his heavy hours of probation would have degraded John to nothing in Eliza's eyes。 And so； making all this out by myself in the mountains after reading John's note； I ordered from the North the handsomest old china cake…dish that Aunt Carola could find to be sent to Miss Eliza La Heu with my card。 I wanted to write on the card； 〃Rira bien qui viva le dernier〃； but alas！ so many pleasant thoughts may never be said aloud in this world of ours。 That I ordered china； instead of silver； was due to my surmise that in Kings Portor at any rate by Mrs。 Weguelin and Miss Josephine St。 Michaelsilver from any one not of the family would be considered vulgar； it was only a surmise； and； of course； it was precisely the sort of thing that I could not verify by asking any of them。
But （you may be asking） how on earth did all this come about？ What happened in Kings Port on the day following that important swim which Hortense and John took together