The Wings of the Dove Henry James (android based ebook reader TXT) đ
- Author: Henry James
Book online «The Wings of the Dove Henry James (android based ebook reader TXT) đ». Author Henry James
âYou were certainly,â she went on with more reserve, âentitled to direct news. Ours came late last night: Iâm not sure otherwise I shouldnât have gone to you. But youâre coming,â she asked, âto me?â
He had had a minute by this time to think further, and the window of the brougham was still within range. Her rich âme,â reaching him moreover through the mild damp, had the effect of a thump on his chest. âSquared,â Aunt Maud? She was indeed squared, and the extent of it just now perversely enough took away his breath. His look from where they stood embraced the aperture at which the person sitting in the carriage might have shown, and he saw his interlocutress, on her side, understand the question in it, which he moreover then uttered. âShall you be alone?â It was, as an immediate instinctive parley with the image of his condition that now flourished in her, almost hypocritical. It sounded as if he wished to come and overflow to her, yet this was exactly what he didnât. The need to overflow had suddenlyâ âsince the night beforeâ âdried up in him, and he had never been aware of a deeper reserve.
But she had meanwhile largely responded. âCompletely alone. I should otherwise never have dreamed; feeling, dear friend, but too much!â Failing on her lips what she felt came out for him in the offered hand with which she had the next moment condolingly pressed his own. âDear friend, dear friend!ââ âshe was deeply âwithâ him, and she wished to be still more so: which was what made her immediately continue. âOr wouldnât you this evening, for the sad Christmas it makes us, dine with me tĂȘte-Ă -tĂȘte?â
It put the thing off, the question of a talk with herâ âmaking the difference, to his relief, of several hours; but it also rather mystified him. This however didnât diminish his need of caution. âShall you mind if I donât tell you at once?â
âNot in the leastâ âleave it open: it shall be as you may feel, and you neednât even send me word. I only will mention that today, of all days, I shall otherwise sit there alone.â
Now at least he could ask. âWithout Miss Croy?â
âWithout Miss Croy. Miss Croy,â said Mrs. Lowder, âis spending her Christmas in the bosom of her more immediate family.â
He was afraid, even while he spoke, of what his face might show. âYou mean she has left you?â
Aunt Maudâs own face for that matter met the enquiry with a consciousness in which he saw a reflection of events. He was made sure by it, even at the moment and as he had never been before, that since he had known these two women no confessed nor commented tension, no crisis of the cruder sort would really have taken form between them: which was precisely a high proof of how Kate had steered her boat. The situation exposed in Mrs. Lowderâs present expression lighted up by contrast that superficial smoothness; which afterwards, with his time to think of it, was to put before him again the art, the particular gift, in the girl, now so placed and classed, so intimately familiar for him, as her talent for life. The peace, within a day or twoâ âsince his seeing her lastâ âhad clearly been broken; differences, deep down, kept there by a diplomacy on Kateâs part as deep, had been shaken to the surface by some exceptional jar; with which, in addition, he felt Lord Markâs odd attendance at such an hour and season vaguely associated. The talent for life indeed, it at the same time struck him, would probably have shown equally in the breach, or whatever had occurred; Aunt Maud having suffered, he judged, a strain rather than a stroke. Of these quick thoughts, at all events, that lady was already abreast. âShe went yesterday morningâ âand not with my approval, I donât mind telling youâ âto her sister: Mrs. Condrip, if you know who I mean, who lives somewhere in Chelsea. My other niece and her affairsâ âthat I should have to say such things today!â âare a constant worry; so that Kate, in consequenceâ âwell, of events!â âhas simply been called in. My own idea, Iâm bound to say, was that with such events she need have, in her situation, next to nothing to do.â
âBut she differed with you?â
âShe differed with me. And when Kate differs with youâ â!â
âOh I can imagine.â He had reached the point in the scale of hypocrisy at which he could ask himself why a little more or less should signify. Besides, with the intention he had had he must know. Kateâs move, if he didnât know, might simply disconcert him; and of being disconcerted his horror was by this time fairly superstitious. âI hope you donât allude to events at all calamitous.â
âNoâ âonly horrid and vulgar.â
âOh!â said Merton Densher.
Mrs. Lowderâs soreness, it was still not obscure, had discovered in free speech to him a momentary balm. âTheyâve the misfortune to have, I suppose you know, a dreadful horrible father.â
âOh!â said Densher again.
âHeâs too bad almost to name, but he has come upon Marian, and Marian has shrieked for help.â
Densher wondered at this with intensity; and his curiosity compromised for an instant with his discretion. âCome upon herâ âfor money?â
âOh for that of course always. But, at this blessed season, for refuge, for safety: for God knows what. Heâs there, the brute. And Kateâs with them. And that,â Mrs. Lowder wound up, going down the steps, âis her Christmas.â
She had stopped again at the bottom while he thought of an answer. âYours then is after all rather better.â
âItâs at least more decent.â And her hand once more came out. âBut why do I talk of our troubles? Come if you can.â
He showed a faint smile. âThanks. If I can.â
âAnd nowâ âI dare sayâ âyouâll go to church?â
She had asked it, with her good intention, rather in the air and by way of sketching for him, in the line of support,
Comments (0)